Beulah - Page 123/348

"What is the meaning of all this commotion? Hal says you ordered the

carriage to be ready at five o'clock to take you away from here. Oh,

child! what are things coming to? What will master say? What won't

he say? What are you quitting this house for, where you have been

treated as well as if it belonged to you? What ails you?"

"Nothing. I have always intended to leave here as soon as I was able

to support myself. I can do so now, very easily, and am going to

board. Your master knows I intend to teach."

"But he has no idea that you are going to leave here before he comes

home, for he gave us all express orders to see that you had just

what you wanted. Oh, he will be in a tearing rage when he hears of

it! Don't anger him, child! Do, pray, for mercy's sake, don't anger

him! He never forgets anything! When he once sets his head he is

worse than David or the Philistines! If he is willing to support you

it is his own lookout. He is able, and his money is his own. His kin

won't get it. He and his brother don't speak; and as for Miss May!

they never did get along in peace, even before he was married. So,

if he chooses to give some of his fortune to you, it is nobody's

business but his own; and you are mighty simple, I can tell you, if

you don't stay here and take it."

"That will do, Harriet. I do not wish any more advice. I don't want

your master's fortune, even if I had the offer of it! I am

determined to make my own living; so just say no more about it."

"Take care, child. Remember, 'Pride goeth before a fall'!"

"What do you mean?" cried Beulah angrily.

"I mean that the day is coming when you will be glad enough to come

back and let my master take care of you! That's what I mean. And see

if it doesn't come to pass. But he will not do it then; I tell you

now he won't. There is no forgiving spirit about him; he is as

fierce, and bears malice as long, as a Comanche Injun! It is no

business of mine though. I have said my say; and I will be bound you

will go your own gait. You are just about as hard-headed as he is

himself. Anybody would almost believe you belonged to the Hartwell

family. Every soul of them is alike in the matter of temper; only

Miss Pauline has something of her pa's disposition. I suppose, now

her ma is married again, she will want to come back to her uncle;

should not wonder if he 'dopted her, since you have got the bit

between your teeth."