He could have spoken of his parents to either Hannah or Reuben separately; but he felt that he could not enter upon the subject in the presence of both together.
Now he drew his chair to the side of Gray and said:
"Uncle Reuben, I have something serious to say to you."
"Eh! Ishmael! what have I been doing of? I dessay something wrong in the bringing up of the young uns!" said Reuben, in dismay, expecting to be court-martialed upon some grave charge.
"It is of my parents that I wish to speak, Uncle Reuben."
"Oh!" said the latter, with an air of relief.
"You knew my mother, Uncle Reuben; but did you know who my father was?"
"No," said Reuben thoughtfully. "All I knowed was as he married of your mother in a private manner, and from sarcumstances never owned up to it; but left her name and yourn to suffer for it—the cowardly rascal, whoever he was!"
"Hush, Uncle Reuben, hush! You are speaking of my father!"
"And a nice father he wur to let your good mother's fair name come to grief and leave you to perish a'most!"