s curls of jet. The storm, which had abated for a time,
now arose with redoubled violence. The party of women and children,
though gathered under a group of cedars, were still somewhat exposed to
its fury.

Grainger, the overseer, who with his men had been unremitting in his
endeavors to arrest the progress of the flames, now came up, and taking
off his hat to Mrs. Middleton, said:

"Madam, I think, please the Lord, we shall bring the fire under
presently and save all of the building except that wing, which must go.
But, if you please, ma'am, I don't see as you can do any good standing
here looking on. So, now that the young gentlemen are safe, hadn't you
all better take shelter in my house? It is poor and plain; but it is
roomy and weather-tight, and altogether you and the young gentlemen and
ladies would be better off there than here."

"I thank you, Grainger. I thank you for your offer as well as for your
efforts here to-night, and I will gladly accept the shelter of your roof
for myself and young friends. Show us the way. Come, my children. Come,
you also, Ishmael."

"Thank you very much, ma'am; but, if I can't be of any more use here, I
must go home. Aunt Hannah will be looking for me." And with a low bow
the boy left the scene.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ISHMAEL'S FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER.

There is a proud modesty in merit
Averse to asking, and resolved to pay
Ten times the gift it asks.

--_Dryden_.

Early the next morning the professor made his appearance at the Hill
Hut. Ishmael and Hannah had eaten breakfast, and the boy was helping his
aunt to put the warp in the loom for a new piece of cloth.

"Morning, Miss Hannah; morning, young Ishmael! You are wanted, sir, up
to the Hall this morning, and I am come to fetch you," said the
professor, as he stood within the door, hat in hand.

"Yes, I thought I would be; there must be no end of the rubbish to clear
away, and the work to do up there now, and I knew you would be expecting
me to help you, and so I meant to go up to your house just as soon as
ever I had done helping aunt to put the warp in her loom," answered
Ishmael simply.

"Oh, you think you are wanted only to be set to work, do you? All right!
But now as we are in a hurry, I'll just lend a hand to this little job,
and help it on a bit." And with that the artist, who was as expert at
one thing as at another, began to aid Hannah with such good will that
the job was soon done.

"And no