Beulah - Page 333/348

"Then I must buy it myself!" said Beulah resolutely.

"In the name of common sense, tell me what you will do with it?"

"I don't know yet; keep it, I suppose, until he comes home again.

How much do you suppose the Farleys ask for it?"

"I really cannot conjecture. But, child, you must not think of this.

I will see the agent about it, and perhaps I may purchase it, to

oblige you. I will not hear of your buying it. Guy certainly cannot

contemplate heathenating much longer. There is that eternal door-

bell again! Somebody that believes I am constructed of wire and

gutta-percha, I dare say."

He leaned back, and watched the door very uneasily. A servant looked

in.

"Mr. Leonard, to see Miss Beulah."

"Thank Heaven, it is nobody to see me!" The doctor settled himself

comfortably, and laughed at the perturbed expression of Beulah's

countenance.

"Ask him to excuse me this evening," said she, without rising.

"Nay, my dear; he was here this afternoon, and you had gone to walk.

It would be rude not to see him. Go into the parlor; do, my dear;

perhaps he will not detain you long," remonstrated Mrs. Asbury.

Beulah said nothing; she set her lips firmly, rose, and went to the

parlor.

"I will wager my head he won't stay fifteen minutes, after he gets a

glimpse of her face. Hugh ought to have sense enough to see that she

does not fancy him," said the doctor, laughing.

"I should very much like to see the man she would fancy," answered

his wife, knitting away busily on a purse for some sewing society.

"Oh, Alice! do you wonder she does not like Hugh Leonard? He is a

'catch,' as far as position, and money, and a certain sort of

talent, and is very clever, and upright, I know; but he does not

suit Beulah. If she would not marry Reginald, of course she won't

marry Hugh."

Jangle! went the door bell once more, and this time the doctor was

forced to leave his chair and slippers.

The winter had been very gay, and, without doubt, the belle of the

season was Claudia Grayson. She had grown up a brilliant, imperious

beauty. Petted most injudiciously by Mr. and Mrs. Grayson, the best

elements of her character, instead of being fostered and developed,

were smothered beneath vanity and arrogance; and soon selfishness

became the dominant characteristic. To those whom she considered her

inferiors she was supercilious and overbearing; while, even in her

adopted home, she tyrannized over both servants and parents.

Flattered and sought after in society, she was never happy unless

the center of a gay circle. Ere long she discovered the

heartlessness of her admirers; learned the malice and envy of the

very people she visited most intimately; and once acquainted with

their natures and habits, she found her greatest amusement in

ridiculing those who did precisely the same thing the moment she

left them. Beulah had never been able to conquer her feelings

sufficiently to enter Mrs. Grayson's house; but she had met Claudia

several times. The latter, when accompanied by any of her

fashionable acquaintances, always shrank from recognizing her; and

finally, thinking any allusion to former years, and the asylum, a

personal insult, she passed her without even a bow. The first time

this occurred Beulah was deeply wounded; she had loved Claudia very

warmly, and her superciliousness was hard to bear. But the slight

was repeated several times, and she learned to pity her weakness

most sincerely.