Be not amazed at life. 'Tis still
The mode of God with his elect:
Their hopes exactly to fulfill,
In times and ways they least expect.
Who marry as they choose, and choose,
Not as they ought, they mock the priest,
And leaving out obedience, lose
The finest flavor of the feast.
—Coventry Patmore.
Ishmael stood transfixed to the spot—for a moment, and then, breaking the spell with which the sound of Claudia's voice had bound him, he passed into the hall, took his hat from the rack, and said to Jim, who was still in attendance there:
"Give my respects to your master, and say that I have an engagement this evening that obliges me to withdraw. And give him my adieus."
"But, Mr. Ishmael, sir, you will wait for tea. Lady Vincent is here, sir, just arrived—" began Jim, with the affectionate freedom of a petted servant.
But Ishmael had left the hall, to keep his promise of spending the evening with Reuben and Hannah.
Claudia, standing by her father's side in the library, had also heard the sound of Ishmael's voice, as he spoke to the servant in the hall; and she suddenly ceased talking and looked as if turned to stone.
"Why, what is the matter, my dear?" inquired the judge, surprised at the panic into which she had been cast.
"Papa, he here!" she said.
"Who?"