Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/258

 could not have been more minute in his inquiries. More than once I glided insensibly into the character of one relating what he has seen, rather than merely repeating what he has read. At this Hulmar manifested no surprise; attributing it, as I supposed, to the influence of a vivid imagination.

"Yes, we have done a good morning's work," said Hulmar, in reply to Reva's inquiry, as we sat at table in the middle of the day. "So well, indeed," he continued, "have we employed our time, that, should I now, by some unforeseen mischance, be deprived of Ismar's further assistance, I could manage to make shift without. The most important points are now in my possession: the rest are matters of detail."

It may be imagined with what feelings I listened to this announcement. What followed, however, was more encouraging.

"Yet I should sorely grudge the labor involved in these details," he went on, "if left to my own resources. With Ismar I can accomplish in a pleasant morning's work what without him would take months of drudgery to accomplish."

Reva seemed so pleased at her father's evident satisfaction, expressed, not in words, but by her whole demeanor, so much gratitude for the zest I was imparting to his life, that I felt amply repaid for the labors of the morning. It was with cheerfulness, therefore, that I followed him to the study, willing to earn her approbation by even greater exertions.

"I am not so utterly unreasonable as to impose further on your kindness to-day," said Hulmar with a smile, on