Ishmael | Page 7

joy, when a soft voice murmured at her ear.
"Sitting quite alone, Nora? How is that? The young men have not lost
their wits, I hope?"
She started, looked up, and with a vivid blush recognized her young
landlord. He was bending over her with the same sweet ingenuous
smile that had greeted her when their eyes first met that morning. She
drooped the long, dark lashes over her eyes until they swept her
carmine cheeks, but she did not answer.

"I have just deposited my mother and sisters in their drawing-room, and
I have returned to look at the dancers. May I take this seat left vacant
by your sister?" he asked.
"Certainly you may, sir," she faltered forth, trembling with, a vague
delight.
"How much they enjoy themselves--do they not?" he asked, as he took
the seat and looked upon the dancers with a benevolent delight that
irradiated his fair, youthful countenance.
"Oh, indeed they do, sir," said Nora, unconsciously speaking more
from her own personal experience of present happiness than from her
observation of others.
I wish I could arrive at my majority every few weeks, or else have
some other good excuse for giving a great feast. I do so love to see
people happy, Nora. It is the greatest pleasure I have in the world."
"Yet you must have a great many other pleasures, sir; all wealthy
people must," said Nora, gaining courage to converse with one so
amiable as she found her young landlord.
"Yes, I have many others; but the greatest of all is the happiness of
making others happy. But why are you not among these dancers,
Nora?"
"I was tired with my long walk up and down hill and dale. So I would
not join them this set."
"Are you engaged for the next?"
"No, sir."
"Then be my partner for it, will you?"
"Oh, sir!" And the girl's truthful face flashed with surprise and delight.
"Will you dance with me, then, for the next set?"
"Yes, sir, please."
"Thank you, Nora. But now tell me, did you recollect me as well as I
remembered you?"
"No, sir."
"But that is strange; for I knew you again the instant I saw you."
"But, sir, you know I was but a baby when you went away?"
"That is true."
"But how, then, did you know me again?" she wonderingly inquired.
"Easily enough. Though you have grown up into such a fine young
woman, your face has not changed its character, Nora. You have the

same broad, fair forehead and arched brows; the same dark gray eyes
and long lashes; the same delicate nose and budding mouth; and the
same peculiar way of smiling only with your eyes; in a word--but
pardon me, Nora, I forgot myself in speaking to you so plainly. Here is
a new set forming already. Your sister and her partner are going to
dance together again; shall we join them?" he suddenly inquired, upon
seeing that his direct praise, in which he had spoken in ingenuous
frankness, had brought the blushes again to Nora's cheeks.
She arose and gave him her hand, and he led her forth to the head of the
set that was now forming, where she stood with downcast and blushing
face, admired by all the men, and envied by all the women that were
present.
This was not the only time he danced with her. He was cordial to all his
guests, but he devoted himself to Nora. This exclusive attention of the
young heir to the poor maiden gave anxiety to her sister and offense to
all the other women.
"No good will come of it," said one.
"No good ever does come of a rich young man paying attention to a
poor girl," added another.
"He is making a perfect fool of himself," said a third indignantly.
"He is making a perfect fool of her, you had better say," amended a
fourth, more malignant than the rest.
"Hannah, I don't like it! I'm a sort of elder brother-in-law to her, you
know, and I don't like it. Just see how he looks at her, Hannah! Why, if
I was to melt down my heart and pour it all into my face, I couldn't
look at you that-a-way, Hannah, true as I love you. Why, he's just
eating of her up with his eyes, and as for her, she looks as if it was
pleasant to be swallowed by him!" said honest Reuben Gray, as he
watched the ill-matched young pair as they sat absorbed in each other's
society in a remote corner of the barn.
"Nor do I like it, Reuben," sighed Hannah.
"I've a great mind to interfere! I've a right to! I'm her brother-in-law to
be."
"No, do not, Reuben; it would