"Very well; they're all right!" said Reuben confidently, as he arose from the table, put on his hat, took two account-books from the shelf, and went out followed by Sam.
Ishmael as usual went into the garden to work, and tried to keep his thoughts from dwelling upon Claudia.
At dinner-time Gray returned, and Ishmael met him at the table. And Gray could talk of nothing but the improvement, beauty, and the grace of Miss Merlin.
"She is just too beautiful for this world, Hannah," he concluded, after having exhausted all his powers of description upon his subject.
After dinner Ishmael went upstairs to his books, and Hannah took advantage of his absence to say to Gray:
"Reuben, I wish you would never mention Miss Claudia Merlin's name before Ishmael."
"Law! why?" inquired Gray.
"Because I want him to forget her."
"But why so?"
"Oh, Reuben, how dull you are! Well, if I must tell you, he likes her."