"My dear Mr. Worth," said the elder lady, approaching and taking his hand, "we hear that you are going to Europe. How sudden, and how we shall miss you! But we hope that you will have a pleasant time." "Yes, indeed!" joined in her sister, coming up to shake hands; "we do so! and I am sure in church, yesterday, when we came to that part of the litany in which we pray for 'all who travel by land or by water,' I thought of you and bore you up on that prayer. And I shall continue to do it until you get back safe." "And so shall I," added the elder. "Thank you! thank you!" said Ishmael, fervently shaking both their hands. "I am sure if your good wishes and pious prayers can effect it, I shall have a pleasant and prosperous voyage." "That you will," they simultaneously and cordially responded. "And now permit me to introduce my friends: Judge Merlin, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones." The gentlemen bowed and the ladies courtesied, and they presently sat down to supper. The conversation turned on the projected voyage. "Judge, you will have an unexpected fellow-passenger--an old friend," said Ishmael. "Ah! who is he?" sighed the judge, who never spoke now without a sigh. "Mr. Brudenell is going over in the 'Oceana.'" "Indeed! What takes him over?" "I do not know; unless it is the desire of seeing his mother and sisters. He did not tell me, and I did not ask him. In fact, we had so short a time together there was no opportunity." "Oh! you have seen him? Where did you meet him? And where is he now?" "I met him at the Beacon, en route for Washington. He left there this morning, to embark on the 'Errand Boy,' which expects to reach the city to-morrow, in time for the express train North." "Ah! coming by the 'Errand Boy,' is he? That's a risk, under all the circumstances, for the 'Errand Boy' is sometimes three or four hours behind time. And if he should miss the early train to-morrow morning he can never be in time to meet the Boston steamer, that is certain. Why couldn't he have dashed up on horseback with you?" "I fancy, sir, he was not strong enough to bear such a forced ride as I was obliged to undertake." As it was eleven o'clock when they arose from the supper-table the judge almost immediately took his leave, having previously arranged with Ishmael to join him at his hotel the next morning, to proceed from there to the station. The two young clerks remained longer, to go over certain documents with their employer, and receive his final instructions. When they had departed, Ishmael went into his bedroom, where he found the professor waiting for him. "At last!" said the latter, as his master entered. "What, Morris, you up yet? Do you know what time it is?" demanded Ishmael, in surprise. "Yes, sir; it is two o'clock in the morning." "Then you know you ought to have been in bed, hours ago."