Beulah - Page 120/348

Though utterly miserable, now that her guardian seemed so completely

estranged, her proud nature rebelled at his stern dismissal, and a

feeling of reckless defiance speedily dried the tears on her cheek.

That he should look down upon her with scornful indifference stung

her almost to desperation, and she resolved, instead of weeping, to

meet and part with him as coldly as his contemptuous treatment

justified. Weary in mind and body she fell asleep, and soon forgot

all her plans and sorrows. The sun was high in the heavens when

Harriet waked her, and, starting up, she asked: "What time is it? How came I to sleep so late?"

"It is eight o'clock. Master ate breakfast an hour ago. Look here,

child; what is to pay? Master is going off to the North, to be gone

till October. He sat up all night, writing and giving orders about

things on the place, 'specially the greenhouse and the flower seeds

to be saved in the front yard. He has not been in such a way since

seven years ago. What is in the wind now? What ails him?" Harriet

sat with her elbows on her knees, and her wrinkled face resting in

the palms of her hands. She looked puzzled and discontented.

"He told me last night that he expected to leave home this evening;

that he was going to New York on business." Beulah affected

indifference; but the searching eyes of the old woman were fixed on

her, and, as she turned away, Harriet exclaimed: "Going this evening! Why, child, he has gone. Told us all good-by,

from Mrs. Watson down to Charon. Said his trunk must be sent down to

the wharf at three o'clock; that he would not have time to come home

again. There, good gracious! you are as white as a sheet; I will

fetch you some wine." She hurried out, and Beulah sank into a chair,

stunned by the intelligence.

When Harriet proffered a glass of cordial she declined it, and said

composedly: "I will come, after a while, and take my breakfast. There is no

accounting for your master's movements. I would as soon engage to

keep up with a comet. There, let go my dress; I am going into the

study for a while." She went slowly down the steps and, locking the

door of the study to prevent intrusion, looked around the room.

There was an air of confusion, as though books and chairs had been

hastily moved about. On the floor lay numerous shreds of crape, and,

glancing up, she saw, with surprise, that the portrait had been

closely wrapped in a sheet and suspended with the face to the wall.

Instantly an uncontrollable desire seized her to look at that face.

She had always supposed it to be his wife's likeness, and longed to

gaze upon the features of one whose name her husband had never

mentioned. The mantel was low, and, standing on a chair, she

endeavored to catch the cord which supported the frame; but it hung

too high. She stood on the marble mantel, and stretched her hands

eagerly up; but though her fingers touched the cord she could not

disengage it from the hook, and, with a sensation of keen

disappointment, she was forced to abandon the attempt. A note on the

desk attracted her attention. It was directed to her, and contained

only a few words: "Accompanying this is a purse containing a hundred dollars. In any

emergency which the future may present, do not hesitate to call on

YOUR GUARDIAN."