ISHMAEL OR IN THE DEPTHS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 6

ISHMAEL OR IN THE DEPTHS.

BY MKS EMMA D. E. N. SOUTH WORTH.. .Author of “?f lf-nai'cd," ” Fair J’ia.v." “Tin it.issin't rh\’ '* v ooitt Lord, How \Lo Win Ho:-," lie I‘vinco of “ ’ tied for Her j.if..', ’ Etc.. Etc,

CHAPTER LV.~(Continued.) ‘An! you—l have been expecting this. You come from my—l mean Mr Walsh ?’ the poor schoolmistress inquired, palpitating with panic. ‘ No, madam,’ said Ishmael, in a sweet, reassured, and reassuring tone, for compassion for her had restored confidence to him. «No, madam, lam not the counsel of Mr Walsh.’ « You you come from court, then ? Perhaps you are going to have the writ of habeas corpus , with which I have been threatened, served upon mo?. .You need not! I won’t give up my children ! they are my own ! I won’t for twenty writs of habeas corpus !’ she exclaimed, excitedly. ‘But, madam,’ began shmael, sooth ‘ ingly.

‘ Hush ! I know what you are going, to say ; you needn’t say it! You are going to tell me that a writ of habeas corpus is the most powerful engine the law. can bring to bear upon me, that to resist it would be flagrant contempt of court, subjecting me to fine and imprisonment. Ido not care ! I do nob care ! I have contempt, a very profound contempt, for any court, or any law, that would try to wreb from a Christian mother the childrens that she has borne, fed, clothed and educated all herself, and give them to a man who has totally neglected them all their lives. Nature is hard enough upon woman, the Lord knows ! giving her a weaker frame and a heavier burden than is allotted to man ! bub the law is harder still, taking from her the sacred rights with which nature in compensation has invested her ! But I will not yield mine ! There ! Do your worst! Serve your writ of habeas corpus ! I will resist it ! I will notgive up my own children ! I will nob bring them into court ! I will nob tell you where they are ? They are in a place of safety, thank God ! and as for me —fine, imprison, torture me as much as you like, you will find me rock !’ she exclaimed, with her eyes flashing and all her little dark figure bristling with terror and resistance, for all the world like a poor little frightened kitten spluttering defiance at a big dog. Ishmael did not interrupt her ; he let her go on with her wild talk ; he had been too long used to poor Hannah’s excitable nerves nob'to have learned patience with women. ‘ Yes, you will find me rock —rock !’ she repeated ; and to prove how much of a rock she was, the poor little creature dropped her head upon the desk, burst into tears, and sobbed hysterically. Ishmaels experience taught him to let her sob on until her fib of passion had exhausted itself. Meanwhile one of the two of the most sensitive little girls, seeing their teacher weep, fell to crying for company; others whispered among themselves ; and others, again, looked belligerent. ‘ Go tell him to go away, Mary,’ said one little one. ‘ I don’t like to ; you go, Ellen,’ said another. ‘ I’m afraid.’ ‘Oh ! you scary things ! I’ll go myself,’ said a third : and, rising, this little one came to the rescue, and standing up firmly before the intruder said : 4 What do you come here for, making our teacher cry ? Go home this minute ; if you don’t I’ll run right across the street and fetch my father from the shop bo you ! he’s as big as you are !’ Ishmael turned his beautiful eyes upon this little champion of six summers, and smiling upon her, said gently : ‘ I did nob come here bo make anybody cry, my dear ; I came to do your teacher a service.’ The child met his glance with a searching look, such as only babes can give, and turned and went back and reported to her companions. • He’s good ; he won’t hurt anybody.’ Mrs Walsh having sobbed herself into quietness, wiped her eyes, looked up and said : ‘ Well, sir, why don’t you proceed with your business ? Why don’t you serve your writ ?’ ‘ My dear madam, it is nob my business to serve writs. And if it was I have none to serve,’ said Ishmael, very gently. She looked at him in doubt. ‘ You have mistaken my errand here, madam. lam nob retained on the other side. I have heard your story; my sympathies are with you ; and I have come here to offer you my professional services,’ said Ishmael gravely. She looked at him earnestly as if she would read his soul. The woman of thirty was nob so quick at reading character as the little child of six had been.

‘Have you counsel:’ inquired lshmael. ; ‘ Counsel? No ! Where should I get it?’ * Will you accept me as your counsel ? I came here to oiler you my services.’ ‘ I tell you that I have no means, sir.’ ‘ I do not want any remuneration in your case; I wish to serve you, for your own sake and for God’s ; something we must do for God’s sake and for our fellow-creatures. I wish to be your counsel in the approaching trial. I think, with the favour of the Divine Providence, I can bring vour case to a successful issue and secure you in the peaceful possession of your children. ‘Do you think so? Oil! do you think so ?’ she inquired, eagerly, warmly. «I really do ! I think so, even from the showing of the other side, who, of course, put the fairest face upon their own cause.’ * And will you ? Oh ! will you ?’ ‘ With the help of Heaven, I will.’ ‘ Oh. surely Heaven has sent you to my aid.’ . At this moment the little school-clock struck out sharply the hour of noon. ‘lt is the children’s recess,’ said the teacher. ‘ Lay aside your books, dears, and leave the room quietly and in good order.’ Tho children took their hoods and cloaks frpm the pegs on which they hung, and went out one by one—each child turning to make her little curtsey before passing the door. Thus all went two little sisters, who living at a distance had brought their luncheon, which they now took to the open front door, where they sat on. the steps in the pleasant winter sunshine to eat. The teacher turned to her young visitor. * Will you sit down ? And ah ! will you pardon me for the rude reception I s'ave you ?’ ' " c*o not think -of it! It was so natural that I have riot given it a thought,’ said lshmael gently. .? It is not my disposition to do so ; but I have suflered so much ; I have been goaded nearly: to desperation !’ , VI see that, madam ; you are excessively nervous. ’ •

‘ Nervous ! why, women have been driven to madness and death, with less cause than I have had !’ ‘Do nob think of your troubles in that manner, madam ; do nob excite yourself, compose yourself, rather. Believe me, it is of the utmost importance to your succees that you should exhibit coolness and selfpossession.’ ‘ Oh, but I have had so much sorrow for so many years !’ ‘ Then, in the very nature of things, your sorrows must soon be over ! Nothing lasts long in this world. But you have had a recent bereavement,’ said Ishmael, gently, and glancing at her black dress; for. he thought it was better that she should think of her chastening from the hands of God, rather than her wrongs from those of men. But, to his surprise, the woman smiled faintly, as she also glanced at her dress, and replied : «Oh, no ! I have lost no friend by death since the decease of my parents many years ago, far back in my childhood. Ho, lam not wearing mourning for anyone. I wear this black alpaca because it is cheap and decent and protective.’ ‘ Protective ?’ ‘ Ah, yes ! no one knows how protective tho black dress is to a woman, better than Ido ! There are few who would venture to treat with levity or disrespect a quiet woman in a black dress. And so I, who have no father, brother, or husband to protect me, take a shelter under a black alpaca. It repels dirt, too, as well as disrespect. It is clean as well as safe, and that is a great desideratum to a poor school-mistress,’ she said, smiling, with an almost child-like candour. ‘ I am glad to see you smile again. ; and now, shall we go to business ?’ said Ishmael. ‘ Oh, yes, thank you.’ 4 1 must ask you to be perfectly candid with me ; it is necessary.’ ‘ Oh, yes, I know it is, and I will be so ; for I can trust you, now.’ ‘Tell me, then, as clearly, as fully, and asjjcalmly as you can, the circumstances of your case. ‘ I will try to do so,’ said the woman. It is useless to repeat her story here. It was only the same old story —of the young girl of fortune marrying a spendthrift, who dissipated her property, estranged her friends, alienated her affections, and then left her penniless, to struggle alone with all the ills of poverty to bring up her three little girls. By her own unaided efforts she had fed, clothed, and educated her three children for the last nine years. And now he had come back and wanted her to live with him again. But she had not only ceased to love him, but began to dread him, lest he should get into debt and make way with the little personal property s he had gathered by years of labour, frugality, self-denial. ‘ He says that he is wealthy, how is that ?’ questioned Ishmael. * A spasm of pain passed over her sensitive face.

‘I did nob like to tell you, although I promised to be candid with you ; but ah ! I cannot benefit by his weatlh ; I could nob conscientiously appropriate one dollar ; and even if I could do so, I could noi trust its continuance; the money is ill-gotten and evanescent; it is the money of a gambler, who is a prince one hour and a pauper for the next.’ Then seeing Ishmael shrink back in painful surprise, she added : ‘ To do him justice, Mr Worth, that is his only vice; it has ruined my little family; it has brought us to the very verge of beggary; it must nob be permitted to do so again. I must defend my little home and little girls against the spoiler.’ ‘ Certainly,’ said Ishmael, whose time was growing short; ‘ give me a pen and ink ; 1 will take down minutes of the statement that you have made me, and then read it to you, to see if it is correct.’ She placed stationery before him on one of the school-desks, and he sab down and went to work.

‘You have witnesses to support your statement?’ he inquired. * Oh, yes ! scores of them, if wanted.’ ‘Give me the names of the most important and the facts they can swear to.’ Mrs Walsh complied, and he took them down. When he had finished and read over the brief to her, and received her assurance that it was correct, he arose to take his leave. ‘ Bnb will not all those witnesses cost a great deal of money ? And will not there be other heavy expenses apart from the services of counsel that you are so good as to give me ?’ inquired the teacher, anxiously. ‘Nob for you,’ replied Ishmael in a soothing voice, as he shook hands with her, and with the promise to see her again at the same hour the next day, took his leave. He smiled upon the little sisters as he passed them in the doorway, and then left the school-houso and hurried on towards homo.

‘ Well,’ said Judge Merlin, who was waiting for him in the library, ‘ havo you decided ? Are you counsel for the plaintiff in the great suit of Walsh v. Walsh ?’ ‘ No,’answered lshmael, ‘I am retained for the defendant. I have just had a consultation with my client.’ ‘ Great Jove !’* exclaimed the judge, in unbounded astonishment. ‘ It was raving madness in you to refuse the plaintiff’s brief; but to accept the defendant’s ’ ‘I did not only accept it! I went and asked for it,’ said lshmael, smiling. * Mad ! mad ! You will lose your first case ; and that will throw back your success for years !’ ‘I hope not, sir! “Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just,” ’ smiled lshmael. At the luncheon-table that day the judge told the story of Ishmael’s Quixotism, as he called it, in refusing the brief and the thumping fee of the plaintiff, who had the law all on his side; and whom his counsel would be sure to bring through victoriously ; and taking in hand the cause of the defendant who had no money to pay her counsel, no law on her side, and who was bound to be defeated. 1 But she has justice and mercy on her side ; and it shall go hard but I prove the law on her side, too.’ ‘ A forlorn hope, lshmael ! a forlorn hope !’ said Mr Middleton. * Forlorn hopes are always led by heroes, papa,’ said Bee. ‘ And fools !’ blurted out John Merlin. lshmael did not take offence, he knew all that was said was well meant ; the judge talked to him with the plainness of a parent ; and lshmael rather enjoyed being affectionately blown up by Claudia’s father. Miss Merlin now 7 looked up, and condescended to say : ‘ I am very sorry, lshmael, thatyou refused the rich client; he might have been the making of you.’ ‘ The making of lshmael! With the blessing of Heaven, he will make himself ! I am very glad he refused the oppressor's gold !’ exclaimed Bee, before lshmael could reply. When Bee ceased to speak, he said : * I am very sorry, Miss Merlin, to oppose your sentiments in any instance, but in this I could not do otherwise.’ * It is simply a question of right or wrong ! If the man’s cause was bad,

Ishmael was right to refuse his brief ; if the woman’s cause wa3 good, he was right to take her brief,’ said Mrs Middleton, as they all arose from the table. That evening Ishmael found himself by chance alone in the drawing-room with Bee. He was standing before the front window, gazing sadly into vacancy. The carriage, containing Miss Merlin, Lord Vincent, and Mrs Middleton as chaperone, had just rolled away from the door. They were going to a dinner-party at the President’s. And Ishmael was gazing sadly after them, when Bee came up to his side and spoke : * I am very glad, Ishmael, that you have taken sides with the poor mother ; it was well done !’

‘Thank you, dear Bee ! I hope it was well done; I do nob regret doing it; bub they say that I have ruined my prospects for many years to come,’ replied the young man.

4 Do not believe it, Ishmael ! Have more faith in the triumph of right against overwhelming odds. I like the lines you quoted—“ Thrice is he armed who feels his quarrel just!” The poets teach us a great deal, Ishmael. Only today I happened to be reading in Scott—in one of his novels, by the way, this was how-ever-of the deadly encounter in the lists between the Champion of Wrong, the terrible knight Brian de Bois Guilbert, and the Champion of Right, the gentle knight Ivanhoe. Do you remember, Ishmael, how Ivanhoe arose from his bed of illness, pale, feeble, reeling, scarcely able bo bear the weight of his armour, or to sit his horse, much less encounter such a thunderbolt of war as Bois Guilbert? There seemed nob a hope in the world for Ivanhoe. Yet, in the first encounter of the knights, it was the terrible Bois Guilbert that rolled in the dust! Might is nob right; but right is might, Ishmael !’ ‘ I know it, dear Bee ! thank you, thank you for making me feel it also !’ said ishmael, fervently. ‘ The alternative presented to you last night and this morning was sent as a trial, Ishmael ! such a trial as I think every man must encounter once in his life, as a decisive test of his spirit. Even our Saviour was tempted, offered all the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them, if He would fall down and worship Satan. Bub He rebuked the tempter and the devil fled from him.’

‘ And arnjels came and ministered to him ,’ said Ishmael, in a voice of ineffable tenderness, as the tears filled his eyes and. he approached his arm toward Bee. His impulse was to draw her to his bosom and press a kiss on her brow—as a brother’s embrace of a loved sister ; but Ishmael’s nature was asVetined and delicate as it was fervent and earnest ; and he abstained from this caress ; he said instead :

‘ You ore my guardian angel, Bee ! I have felt it long, little sister! you nev'er fail in a crisis !’

‘ And while I live I never will, Ishmael ! You will nob need man’s help' for you will help yourself, but what woman may do to aid and comfort, that will I do for you, my brother.’ ‘ What a heavenly spirit is yours, Bee !’■ said Ishmael, fervently. ‘ And now let us balk of business, please,’ said practical little Bee, who never indulged in sentiment long. ‘ That poor mother ! You give her your services, gratuitously of course? * Certainly, said Ishmael. ‘ But, apart from her counsel’s fee, will she not have other expenses to meet in conducting this suit? ‘ Yes.’ ‘ How will she meet them ?’ ‘ Bee, dear, I have saved a little money ; I mean to use it in her service.’ ‘ What !’ exclaimed the young girl; ‘do you moan to give her your professional aid and pay all her expenses besides ?’ * Yes,’ said Ishmael, ‘ as far as the money will go. Ido this, dear Bee, as a “ thankoffering ” to the Lord for all the success He has given me, up to this time. When I think of the days of my childhood in that poor Hill Hut, and compare them to these days, I am deeply impressed by the mercy He has shown me ; and I think that I can never do enough to show my gratitude. I consider it the right and proper thing to offer the first fruits of my professional life to Him, through His suffering children.’ ‘ You are right, Ishmael, for God has blest your earnest efforts, as, indeed. He would bless those of anyone so conscientious and persevering as yourself! But, Ishmael, will you have money enough to carry on the suit ?’ ‘ I hope so, Bee ; I do not know.’ * Here, then, Ishmael, take this roll of notes; it is a hundred dollars; use it for the woman.’ she said, putting in his hand a small parcel. Ishmael hesitated a moment; but Bee hastened to reassure him by saying : ‘ You had as well take it as not, Ishmael. I can very well spare it. or twice as much. Papa makes me a much larger allowance than one of ray simple tastes can spend. And I should like,’ she added, smiling, ‘to go partners with you in this enterprise.’ ‘ I thank you, dear Bee ; and I will take your generous donation and use it if necessary. It may nob be necessary,’ said Ishmael.

‘ And now I must leave you, lshmael, and go to little l.u ; she is not well this evening.’ And the little Madonna-like maiden glided like a spirit from the room. The next morning lshmael went to see his client. He showed her the absolute necessity of submission to the writ of habeas corpus ; he promised to use his utmost skill in her case ; urged her to trust the result with her Heavenly Father ; and encouraged her to hope for success. Even as he spoke, a bailiff entered and served the writ that ordered her to bring the children into court on the fifth of the ensuing month. She' followed Ishmael's advice; she promised to obey the order, adding : ‘lt will be on Wednesday in Easter weak. That will be fortunate, as the school will have a holiday, and I shall be able to attend without neglecting the work that brings us bread.’ ‘ Are the children far away ? Can you get them without inconvenience in so short a time?’ inquired lshmael. ‘Oh, yes ; they are in the country, with a good, honest couple named Gray, who were here on the Christmas holidays, and boarded with my aunt, who keeps the “ Farmer’s Rost,” near the Centre Market. My aunt recommended them to me, and when I saw’ the man I felt as if I could,, have trusted uncounted gold with him—he looked so true ! He and his wife took my three little girls home with them, and would not take a cent of pay ; and they have kept my secret religiously.’ ‘ They have indeed !’ said lshmael, in astonishment ; ‘for they are my near relatives and never told me !’

CHAPTER LVI. TRIAL AND TRIUSIPH, Let circumstance oppose him. He bends it to his will; And if the flood o’erflows him. He dives and stems it still; No hindering dull material Shall conquer or control His energies ethereal, His gladiator soul! Let lower spirits linger, For beck and nod,

He always sees the finger Of an onward urging God! M. F Tupper. Like most zealous, young professional men, Ishmael did a groat deal more work for his first client than either custom or duty exacted of him. Authorised by her, he wrote to Reuben Gray to bring the children to the city. And accordingly, in three days after, Reuben arrived at the ‘Farmer’s Rest,’ with his waggonful of family. For he not only brought the three l’ttle girls he was required to bring, but also Hannah, her children, and her nursemaid Sally. As soon as he had seen his party in comfortable quarters, he walked up to the Washington House to report himself to Ishmael; for somehow or other, Reuben had grown to look upon Ishmael as bis superior officer in the battle of life, and did him honour, very much as the. veteran sergeant does to the young captain of his company. Arrived in Ishmael’s room, he took off his hat and said : ‘ Here I am, sir : and I’ve brung ’em all along.’ ‘All Mrs Walsh’s little girls, of course,, for they are required,’ said Ishmael, shaking bands with Gray. ‘ Yes, and all the rest on ’em, Hannah and the little uns, and Wally and Sam,’ said Reuben, rubbing his hands gleefully. ‘ But that was a great task 1’ said Ishmael, in surprise. 4 Well, no, it wasn’t, sir; not half so hard a task as it would have been to ’a’ left them all behind, poor things. You see, sir, the reason why I brung ’em all along was because I sort o’ think they love me a deal; ’pon my soul I do, sir, old and grey and rugged as I am ; and I don’t like to be parted from ’em, ’specially from Hannah, no, not for a day ; ’cause the dear knows, sir, as we was parted long enough, poor Hannah and mo : and now as we is married, and the Lord has donated us a son and daughter at the eleventh hour, unexpected, praise be unto Him for all His mercies, I never mean to part with any on ’em no more, not even for a day, till death do us part, amen ; bub take ’em all’long with me, wherever I’m called to go, ’specially as me and poor Hannah was married so late in life that we ain’t got many more years before, us to be together.’ ‘Nonsense, Uncle Reuben ! You and aunt Hannah will live forty or fifty years longer, yes, and see your grandchildren, and maybe your great grandchildren. You two are the stuff that centenarians are made of,’ exclaimed the young man, cheeringly. ‘ Centenrian3 ? what’s them, sir ?’ ‘ People who live a hundred years.’ ‘Law! Well, I have heard of such things happening to other folks, and why not to me and poor Hannah? Why, sir, I would be the happiest man in the world if I thought as how I had all them there years to live long o’ Hannah and the little uns in this ?>leasant world. Bub Hie will be done !’ said Gray, reverently raising his hat.

•The little girls are all right, I hope?’ inquired Ishmael. * Yes, sir ; all on ’em, and a deal fatter and rosier and healthier nor they was when I fust took 'em down. Perby, little darlings ! Didn’t they enjoy being in the country, neither, though it teas the depth of winter time ? Law, Ish—sir, I mean—it’s a mortal sin ag’in natur’ to keep chil’en in town if it can be helped 1 But their ma, poor thing, couldn’t help it, I know. Law, Ish sir, I mean —if you had ’a’ seen her that same said Christmas day, as she ran in with her chil’en to her aunt as is hostess at the “Farmer’s.” If ever you see a poor little white bantam trying to cover her chicks when the hawk was hovering nigh by, yon may have some idea of the way she looked when she was trying to hide her chil’en and didn’t know where ’cause she daren’t keep ’em at home and daren’t hide ’em at her aunt’s, for her home would be the first place inwaded and her aunt's the second. They was all so flustered, they took no more notice o’ me standin’ in the parlour ’n if I had been a pillar-post, till feeling of pityful towards the poor things I made so bold to go forward and offer bo tt.ke ’em home ’long o’ me, and which was accepted with thanks and tears as soon as the landlady recommended me as an old acquaintance, and well beknown to herself. So it was settled. That night when you come to spend the evening with us, Ish—sir, I mean, I really did feel guilty in having of a secret as I wouldn’t tell you; bub you see, sir, I was bound up to secrecy, and besides I thought as you was stopping in Washington City, if you knowed anybhink about it you might be speened afore the court and be obliged to tell all, you know.’ - ‘You did quite right, Uncle Reuben,’ answered Ishmael, affectionately. ‘You call me Uncle Reuben, sir ?’ ‘ Why nob Uncle Reuben ? and why do you call me sir ?’ ‘ Well—sir, because you are a gentleman now—not but what you allers was a gentleman by natur’ ; bub now you are one by profession. They say you hev come to be a lawyer in the court, sir, and can stand up and plead before the judge, theirselves.’ ‘ I have been admitted to the bar, Uncle Reuben.’

‘ Yes, that’s what they call ib ; see there now, you know, I’m only a poor ignorant man, and you have no call to own the like o’ me for uncle, ’cause, come to the rights of it, I ain’t your uncle at all, sir, though your friend and well-wisher allers ; and to claim the likes o’ me as an uncle might do you a mischief with them as thinks riches and family and outside show and book-learning is everything. So Ish sir, I mean, I won’t bake no offence, nor likewise feel hurted if you leaves off calling of me uncle and calls me plain “Gray” like Judge Merlin does.’ ‘ Uncle Reuben,’ said lshmael, with feeling. ‘ I am very anxious to advance myself in the world, very ambitious of distinction ; but if I thought worldly success w’ould or could estrange me from the friends of my boyhood, I would cease to wish for ib. If I must cease to be true, in order to be great, I prefer to remain in obscurity. Give me your hand, uncle Reuben, and call me lshmael and know me for your boy.’ ‘ There then, lshmael ! I’m glad bo find you again ! God bless my boy ! But law ! what's the use o’ my axing of Him to do that? He’ll do it any ways, without my axing !’ said Reuben, pressing the hand cf lshmael, ‘And now,’he added, ‘will you be round to the “Farmer’s” this evening to see Hannah and the young uns ?’ ‘ Yes, Uncle Reuben ; but first I must go and let Mrs Walsh know that you have brought her little girls back. I suppose she will think it best to leave them with her aunt until the day of the trial.’ ‘ It will be the safest place for ’em ! besides the old lady being spunky, I shall be able to protect ’em ; for I mean to stay till that same said trial and hear you make your fust speech afore the judge, and soe that woman righted afore ever I goes back home again et ib costs me fifty dollars.’ I’m afraid you will find it very expensive, Uncle Reuben.’ ‘No, I won’t, sir -lshmael, I mean ; because, you see, I fobch up a.Job o’ spring chickens and eggs and early vegetables, and the profit I shall get offen them will

pay my expenses here ab the very least,’ said Reuben, as he arose and stood waiting with hat in hand for Ishmael’s motions.

ißhmael got up and took his own hat and gloves. ‘ Be you going round to see the schoolmisb’es3 now, sir—lahmael, I mean ?’ ‘Yes, Uncle Reuben.’ ‘ Well, I think J’d like to walk round with you, if you don’t mind. I kind o’ want to see the little woman, and I kind o’ don't want to part with you just yet, sir— Ishmael, I mean.’

‘Come along, then, Uncle Reuben, she will be delighted to see her children’s kind protector and I shall enjoy your company on the way.’ ‘And then, sir—Ishmael, I mean—when we have seen her, you will go back with me to the “ Farmer's ” and see Hannah and the little ’uns and spend the evening long of us ?’

‘Yes, Uncle Reuben ; and I faucy Mrs Walsh vvill go with us.’ ‘Sartain, sure, so she will, sir—lshmael, I mean.’ It was too late to find her at the schoolhouse, as it would be sure to be closed at this hour. So they walked directly to the little suburban cottage, where she lived with one faithful old negro servant, who had been her nurse, and with her cow and pig and poultry and her pet dog and cat. They made her heart glad with the news of the children’s arrival, and they waited until, with fingers that trembled almost too much to do the work, she pub on her bonnet and mantle to accompany them to the * Farmer’s.’

The meeting between mother and children was very affecting. She informed them that, this being Holy Thursday evening, she had dismissed the school for the Easter holidays and so could be with them all the time until she should take them into the court on the Wednesday of the ensuing week. Then in family council it was arranged that both herself and the children should remain at the “ Farmer’s ” until the day of the trial. As soon as all this matter was satisfactorily settled Ishmael arose and bade them all good night, promising to repeat his visit often while his relatives remained at the hotel.

It was late when Ishmael reached home, bub the drawing-room was ablaze with light, and, as he passed its open door, he saw that its only occupants were the Viscount Vincent and Claudia Merlin. They were together on the sofa, talking in low confidential tones. How beautiful she looked ! smiling up to the handsome face that was bent in deferential admiration over hers. A pang of love and jealousy wrung IshmaePs heart as he hurried past and ran up the stairs to his den. There he sat down at his desk, and bidding vain dreams begone, concentrated his thoughts upon the work before him—the first speech he was to make at the Bar.

Ishmael worked very hard the day preceding the trial ; he took great pains getting up his case, not only for his own sake, but for the sake of that poor mother and her children in whom he felt so deeply interested. No farther allusion was made to the affair by any member of Judge Merlin’s family until Wednesday morning, when, as they all sat around the breakfast table, the judge said : ‘ Well, Ishmael, the case of Walsh versus Walshcomeson to-day, Ihear. How do yon feel? a little nervous over your first case, eh ?’ 4 Not yet; I feel only great confidence in the justice of my cause, as an earnest of success.’ ‘ The justice of his cause ! Poor fellow, how much he has to learn yet ! Why, Ishmael, how many times have you seen justice overthrown by law ?’ * Too many times, sir ! but there is no earthly reason why that should happen in this case.’ ‘ Have you got your maiden speech all cut and dried and ready to deliver ?’ ‘I have made some notes: but for the rest I shall trust to the inspiration of the instant.’ ‘ Bad plan that. ’Spose the inspiration don’t come ? or s’pose you lose your presence of mind? Better have your speech carefully written off, and then, inspiration or no inspiration, you will be able to read ab least.’ * ‘My notes are very carefully arranged ; they contain the whole argument.’ ‘ And for the rest “ it shall be given ye in that hour, what ye shall speak,”’ said Beatrice, earnestly. They all arose and left the table. ‘ Thank you, dearest Bee,’ said Ishmael, as he passed her. ‘God aid you, Ishmael,’ she replied, fervently He hurried upstairs to collect his documents, and then hastened to the City Hall, where Mrs Walsh and her children were to meet him.

He found them all in the ante-chamber of the court-room, attended by a bodyguard composed of Reuben, Hannah, and the landlady. He 3poke a few encouraging words to his client, shook hands with the members of her party, and then took them all into the court-room and showed them their places. The plaintiff was not present . The judges had not yet taken their seats. And the court-room was occupied only by a few lawyers,clerks, bailiffs, constables and other officials. (To be Continued.)