And so conversing they passed through the town and entered the deep forest that lay along the shores of the river between Baymouth and Shelton. They rode all the morning through the pleasant woods and stopped an hour at noon to rest and refresh themselves and their horses; and then resumed their journey and rode all the afternoon and arrived at Woodside just as the sun was setting. As before, Reuben, Hannah, Sam, Sally, the children, and the dog, all rushed out to welcome Ishmael. Much astonished was Hannah to see her old friend, the professor, and much delighted to hear that he was going up to Washington to fill the place of major-domo to Ishmael. For Hannah shared the old woman's superstition, that the young man is never able to take care of himself; and notwithstanding all that had come and gone-- notwithstanding that Ishmael had taken care of himself and her too, from the time he was eight years old, for years more, still she thought that he would be all the safer for having "an old head to look after him." There was plenty of news to tell, too. As soon as the bounteous supper that Reuben and Hannah always provided for favored guests was over, and they were all gathered around the bright little wood fire that the capricious autumn weather rendered desirable, the budget was opened. Lord and Lady Vincent were to have an evening reception, at Tanglewood. And on the first of October they were to sail for Europe. Lady Vincent was going to take three of the servants with her--old Aunt Katie, Jim, and Sally. Jim was to go as lady's footman; Sally as lady's maid; and old Aunt Katie in no particular capacity, but because she refused to be separated from the two beings she loved the most of all in the world. She had nursed Miss Claudia, and she was bound to nurse Miss Claudia's children, she said. Lady Vincent had decided to take her, and was rather glad to do it. Lord Vincent, it was supposed, did not like the arrangement, and stigmatized the black servants as "gorillas," but Lady Vincent, it was confidently asserted, never deigned to consult his lordship, or pay the slightest attention to his prejudices. And so matters stood for the present. All this was communicated to Ishmael by Reuben and Hannah. And in the midst of their talk, in walked one of the subjects of their conversation--Aunt Katie. She was immediately welcomed and provided with a seat in the chimney-corner. She was inflated with the subject of her expected voyage and glowing with the importance of her anticipated office. She expatiated on the preparations in progress. "But don't you feel sorry to leave your native home, Aunt Katie?" inquired Hannah.