And when Ishmael had breakfasted and thanked them, and returned to
his rooms to tie up some last little parcels, they called in the
professor, who had now come back, and they plied him with all the
luxuries on the breakfast table.

And when to their great satisfaction the old man had made an
astonishing meal and risen from the table, they beckoned him
mysteriously aside and gave a well-filled hamper into his charge,
saying:

"You know, professor, it is a long journey from Washington to
Boston, and in going straight through you can't get anything fit to
eat on the road; and so we have packed this hamper for your master.
There's ham sandwiches and chicken pie, and roast partridges and
fried oysters, and French rolls and celery, and plenty of pickles
and pepper and salt and things. And I have put in some plates and
knives and napkins, all comfortable."

The professor thanked them heartily on the part of his master; and
took the hamper immediately to the hack that was standing before the
door.

Ishmael had already caused the luggage to be carried out and placed
on the hack, and now nothing remained to be done but to take leave
of the two old ladies. He shook hands with them affectionately, and
they blessed him fervently. And as soon as he had got into the hack
and it had driven off with him, they turned and clasped each other
around the neck and cried.