Beulah - Page 247/348

"What are you going to do?"

"I have means enough to live plainly the remainder of my life. I

intend to rent or buy a small house, and settle down and be quiet. I

feel now as if I should like to spend my days in peace."

"Do you intend to live alone?"

"Yes, child; except a servant, I suppose I shall be quite alone. But

you will come to see me often, and perhaps Eugene will remember me

some day, when he is in trouble."

"No, I shall not come to see you at all! I mean to come and live

with you--that is, if I may?" cried Beulah, springing up and laying

her hand on the matron's.

"God bless you, dear child; how glad I shall be!" She wound her arms

round the slender form, and laughed through her tears.

Beulah gently put back the gray locks that had fallen from the

border of her cap, and said hopefully: "I am sick of boarding--sick of town! Let us get a nice little

house, where I can walk in and out to my school. Have you selected

any particular place?"

"No. I have looked at two or three, but none suited me exactly. Now

you can help me. I am so thankful you are going to be with me! Will

you come as soon as I can be released here?"

"Yes; just as soon as you are ready for me; and I think I know a

house for rent which will just suit us. Now I want it understood

that I am to pay the rent."

"Oh, no, child! I won't hear to it, for I am--"

"Very well, then; I will stay where I am."

"Oh, Beulah! you are not in earnest?"

"Yes, I am; so say no more about it. I will come on no other

condition. I will see the owner of the house, ascertain what I can

obtain it for, and send you word. Then you can look at it and

decide."

"I am quite willing to trust it to you, child; only I can't bear the

thought of your paying the rent for it. But we can arrange that

afterward."

"No; you must be perfectly satisfied with the house. I will go by

this evening and find out about it, so as to let you know at once.

Have you any idea when the 'board' will procure another matron?"

"They have advertised, and several persons applied, I believe, but

they were not exactly pleased with the applicants. I suppose,

however, that in a few days they will find a substitute for me."