Ishmael | Page 6

with light hair, light
blue eyes, high aquiline features, and a haughty air. She wore a rich
gray moire antique, and a fine lace cap.
Behind them came the two young lady sisters, so like their mother that
no one could have mistaken them. They wore white muslin dresses,
sashes of blue ribbon, and wreaths of blue harebells. They advanced
with smiles intended to be gracious, but which were only
condescending.
The eyes of all the people in the barn were fixed upon this party, except
those of Nora Worth, which were riveted upon the young heir.
And this was destiny!
There was nothing unmaidenly in her regard. She looked upon him as a

peasant girl might look upon a passing prince--as something grand,
glorious, sunlike, and immeasurably above her sphere; but not as a
human being, not as a young man precisely like other young men.
While thus, with fresh lips glowingly apart, and blushing cheeks, and
eyes full of innocent admiration, she gazed upon him, he suddenly
turned around, and their eyes met full. He smiled sweetly, bowed lowly,
and turned slowly away. And she, with childlike delight, seized her
sister's arm and exclaimed:
"Oh, Hannah, the young heir bowed to me, he did indeed!"
"He could do no less, since you looked at him so hard," replied the
sister gravely.
"But to me, Hannah, to me--just think of it! No one ever bowed to me
before, not even the negroes! and to think of him--Mr.
Brudenell--bowing to me--me!"
"I tell you he could do no less; he caught you looking at him; to have
continued staring you in the face would have been rude; to have turned
abruptly away would have been equally so; gentlemen are never guilty
of rudeness, and Mr. Brudenell is a gentleman; therefore he bowed to
you, as I believe he would have bowed to a colored girl even."
"Oh, but he smiled! he smiled so warmly and brightly, just for all the
world like the sun shining out, and as if, as if--"
"As if what, you little goose?"
"Well, then, as if he was pleased."
"It was because he was amused; he was laughing at you, you silly
child!"
"Do you think so?" asked Nora, with a sudden change of tone from gay
to grave.
"I am quite sure of it, dear," replied the elder sister, speaking her real
opinion.
"Laughing at me," repeated Nora to herself, and she fell into thought.
Meanwhile, with a nod to one a smile to another and a word to a third,
the young heir and his party passed down the whole length of the room,
and retired through an upper door. As soon as they were gone the negro
fiddlers, six in number, led by Jovial, entered, took their seats, tuned
their instruments, and struck up a lively reel.
There was an, immediate stir; the rustic beaus sought their belles, and
sets were quickly formed.

A long, lanky, stooping young man, with a pale, care-worn face and
grayish hair, and dressed in a homespun jacket and trousers, came up to
the sisters.
"Dance, Hannah?" he inquired.
"No, thank you, Reuben; take Nora out--she would like to."
"Dance, Nora?" said Reuben Gray, turning obediently to the younger
sister.
"Set you up with it, after asking Hannah first, right before my very eyes.
I'm not a-going to take anybody's cast-offs, Mr. Reuben!"
"I hope you are not angry with, me for that, Nora? It was natural I
should prefer to dance with your sister. I belong to her like, you know.
Don't be mad with me," said Reuben meekly.
"Nonsense, Rue! you know I was joking. Make Hannah dance; it will
do her good; she mopes too much," laughed Nora.
"Do, Hannah, do, dear; you know I can't enjoy myself otherways," said
the docile fellow.
"And it is little enjoyment you have in this world, poor soul!" said
Hannah Worth, as she rose and placed her hand in his.
"Ah, but I have a great deal, Hannah, dear, when I'm along o' you," he
whispered gallantly, as he led her off to join the dancers.
And they were soon seen tritting, whirling, heying, and selling with the
best of them--forgetting in the contagious merriment of the music and
motion all their cares.
Nora was besieged with admirers, who solicited her hand for the dance.
But to one and all she returned a negative. She was tired with her long
walk, and would not dance, at least not this set; she preferred to sit still
and watch the others. So at last she was left to her chosen occupation.
She had sat thus but a few moments, her eyes lovingly following the
flying forms of Reuben and Hannah through the mazes of the dance,
her heart rejoicing in their