"Dear, no, sir! not likely!"
"Nor little Kitty's?"
"Why, law, sir! little Kitty has been in Californy a year or more! How did you like the 'rangement of your liber-airy, sir?" inquired Gray, with apparent irrelevance, as he glanced around upon the book-lined walls.
"Very much, indeed, Gray! I never had my books so well classified. It was the work of young Ramsey, the schoolmaster, I suppose, and furnished him with employment during the midsummer holidays. You must tell him that I am very much pleased with the work and that he must send in his account immediately."
"Law bless you, sir; it was not Master Ramsey as did it," said Gray, with a broad grin.
"Who, then? Whoever it was, it is all the same to me; I am pleased with the work, and willing to testify my approval by a liberal payment."
"It was the same hand, sir, as made out the farm-books."
"And who was that?"
"It was my nephew, Ishmael Worth, sir," replied Reuben, with a little pardonable pride.
"Ishmael Worth again!" exclaimed the judge.