Beulah - Page 200/348

"Why Beulah, that room is as cold as a Texas norther! What on earth

are you doing there without a fire? Come in here, child, and warm

your frozen digits. Where are those two harum-scarum specimens of

mine?"

"I believe they are still entertaining company, sir. The parlor was

full when I came, and they know nothing of my being here." She sat

down by the bright fire, and held her stiff fingers toward the

glowing coals.

"Yes, confound their dear rattlepates; that is about the sum-total

of their cogitations." He drew up his chair, put his feet on the

fender of the grate, and, lighting his cigar, added: "Is my spouse also in the parlor?"

"I suppose so, sir."

"Time was, Beulah, when Saturday was the great day of preparation

for all housekeepers. Bless my soul! My mother would just about as

soon have thought of anticipating the discovery of the open Polar

Sea, by a trip thither, as going out to visit on Saturday. Why, from

my boyhood, Saturday has been synonymous with scouring, window

washing, pastry baking, stocking darning, and numerous other

venerable customs, which this age is rapidly dispensing with. My

wife had a lingering reverence for the duties of the day, and tried

to excuse herself, but I suppose those pretty wax dolls of mine have

coaxed her into 'receiving,' as they call it. Beulah, my wife is an

exception; but the mass of married women nowadays, instead of being

thorough housewives (as nature intended they should), are delicate,

do-nothing, know-nothing, fine ladies. They have no duties. 'O

tempora, O mores!'" He paused to relight his cigar, and, just then,

Georgia came in, dressed very richly. He tossed the taper into the

grate, and exclaimed, as she threw her arms round his neck and

kissed him: "You pretty imp; what is to pay now? Here Beulah has been sitting,

nobody knows how long, in that frigid zone you call your music room.

What are you rigged out in all that finery for?"

"We are going to dine out to-day, father. Beulah will excuse me, I

know."

"Indeed! Dine where?"

"Mrs. Delmont came round this morning to invite us to dine with some

of her young friends from New Orleans."

"Well, I shan't go, that is all."

"Oh, you are not expected, sir," laughed Georgia, brushing the gray

locks from his ample forehead.

"Not expected, eh? Does your lady mother contemplate leaving me to

discuss my dinner in doleful solitude?"