Beulah - Page 160/348

"How are you?" said Beulah, as they shook hands and seated

themselves.

"Just as usual. How did you contrive to escape the plague?"

"By resolving not to have it, I believe."

"You have a wan, sickly look, I think."

"So have you, I am sure. I hoped that you would come home strong and

well." Beulah noted, with a feeling of compassion, the thin, hollow

cheeks and sunken, yet burning, eyes before her. Cornelia bit her

lip, and asked haughtily: "Who told you that I was not well?"

"Your countenance would tell me, if I had never heard it from

others," replied Beulah, with an instantaneous recollection of her

guardian's warning.

"Did you receive my note yesterday?"

"Yes. I am obliged by your invitation, but cannot accept it."

"So I supposed, and therefore came to make sure of you. You are too

proud to come until all the family call upon you, eh?"

"No; only people who consider themselves inferior are on the watch

for slights, and scrupulously exact the minutest requirements of

etiquette. On the plane of equality these barriers melt away."

As Beulah spoke she looked steadily into the searching, black eyes,

which seemed striving to read her soul. An expression of pleasure

lighted the sallow face, and the haughty lines about the beautiful

mouth melted into a half-smile.

"Then you have not forgiven my rudeness during early schooldays?"

"I had nothing to forgive. I had forgotten the affair until you

spoke."

"Then, why will you not come?"

"For reasons which would not be removed by a recapitulation."

"And you positively will not come?"

"Not this evening. Another time I certainly will come with

pleasure."

"Say to-morrow, then."

"To-morrow I shall be engaged."

"Where? Excuse my pertinacity."

"At Dr. Asbury's. I have promised to practice some duets with

Helen."

"Do you play well, Beulah? Are you a good musician?"

"Yes."

Cornelia mused a moment, and then said slowly, as if watching the

effect of her question: "You have seen Eugene, of course?"

"Yes."

"He has changed very much in his appearance, has he not?"

"More than I was prepared to expect."

"He is to be a merchant, like my father."

"So he wrote me."

"You endeavored to dissuade him from complying with my father's

wishes, did you not?"