Ishmael Hears a Secret From an Enemy

Shame come to Romeo? Blistered be thy tongue
For such a wish! He was not born to shame;
Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit;
For 'tis a throne where honor may be crowned,
Sole monarch of the universal earth!

--Shakspere.

In the interval the drawing room was rapidly cleared out and prepared
for dancing. The staging at the upper end, which had been appropriated
to the use of the examining committee, was now occupied by a band of six
negro musicians, headed by the Professor of Odd Jobs. They were seated
all in a row, engaged in tuning their instruments under the instructions
of Morris. The room wore a gay, festive, and inviting aspect. It was
brightly lighted up; its white walls were festooned with wreaths of
flowers; its oak floor was polished and chalked for the dancers; and
its windows were all open to admit the pleasant summer air and the
perfume of flowers, so much more refreshing in the evening than at any
other time of the day.

At a very early hour the young ladies and gentlemen of the school, whose
gala dresses needed but the addition of wreaths and bouquets for the
evening, began to gather in the drawing room; the girls looking very
pretty in their white muslin dresses, pink sashes, and coronets of red
roses; and the boys very smart in their holiday clothes, with rosebuds
stuck into their buttonholes. Ishmael was made splendid by the addition
of his gold watch and chain, and famous by his success of the morning.
All the girls, and many of the boys, gathered around him, sympathizing
with his triumph and complimenting him upon his abilities. Ishmael was
clearly the hero of the evening; but he bore himself with an aspect half
of pleasure, half of pain, until Walter Middleton approached him, and
taking his arm walked him down the room, until they were out of earshot
from the others, when he said: "Now do, Ishmael, put off that distressed look and enjoy your success as
you ought! Make much of your watch, my boy! I know if it were not for
thoughts of me, you would enjoy the possession of it vastly--would you
not, now?"