"'There's nothing original in me Excepting original sin.'" Ishmael smiled. "And, now, will you follow my advice?" "To the letter, dear Bee, whenever you are so good as to advise me. Ah, Bee, you seem to comprise in yourself all that that I have missed of family affection, and to compensate me for the unknown love of her mother, sister, friend." "Do I, Ishmael? Oh, I wish that I really did!" said Bee, impulsively; and then she blushed deeply at suddenly apprehending the construction that might he put upon her words. But Ishmael answered those words in the spirit in which they were uttered: "Believe me, dearest Bee, you do. If I never feel the want of home affections it is because I have them all in you. My heart finds rest in you, Bee. But oh, little sister, what can I ever render to you for all the good you have done me from my childhood up?" "Render yourself good and wise and great, Ishmael, and I shall be sufficiently happy in watching your upward progress," said Bee. And quietly putting down on the table a bunch of grapes that she had brought, she withdrew from the office. CHAPTER II. HERMAN AND ISHMAEL. With a deep groan he cried--"Oh, gifted one, I am thy father! Hate me not, my son!" --_Anon_. Nor are my mother's wrongs forgot; Her slighted love and ruined name, Her offspring's heritage of shame, Shall witness for thee from the dead How trusty and how tender were Thy youthful love--paternal care! --_Byron_. Her exit was almost immediately followed by the entrance of Mr. Brudenell. He also had noticed Ishmael's condition, and attributed it to overwork, and to the want of rest, with change of air. He was preparing to leave Washington for Brudenell Hall. He was going a few days in advance of Judge Merlin and the Middletons, and he intended to invite Ishmael to accompany him, or to come after him, and make a visit to Brudenell. He earnestly desired to have Ishmael there to himself for a week or two. It was with this desire that he now entered the library. Ishmael arose from his packing, and, smiling a welcome, set a chair for his visitor. "You are not looking well, Mr. Worth," said Herman Brudenell, as he took the offered seat. "I am not well just at present, but I shall be so in a day or two," returned Ishmael.