Accordingly, after school, Beulah went to the house where they were
boarding. Claudia met her rather awkwardly, but Beulah kissed her as
if nothing had ever occurred to mar their intercourse; and, after
some desultory conversation, asked her what they expected to do.
"Heaven only knows! starve, I suppose." She spoke gloomily, and
folded her soft white hands over each other, as if the idea of work
was something altogether foreign to her mind.
"But, Claudia, I reckon you hardly expect to starve," answered
Beulah, who could not forbear smiling.
"Dear knows what is to become of us--I am sure I don't! Mamma has a
brother living in some out-of-the-way place up the country. But he
does not like me--thinks some of his own children ought to have been
adopted in my place. Heaven knows I have made nothing by the
operation but a great disappointment; he need not be uneasy about
the amount I am to get. But you see they don't want me, having an
old spite at me, and mamma dislikes to ask them to take me; besides,
I would almost as soon be buried at once as go to that farm, or
plantation, or whatever it is. They have written to mamma to come,
and she does not know what to do."
"You are a good musician, are you not?"
"No, not particularly. I never could endure to practice."
"Don't you draw and paint finely? I have heard that you did."
"Yes; but what good will it do me now, I should like to know?" She
twirled her little plump, jeweled fingers indolently.
"It might do you a great deal of good, if you chose. You might
support yourself by giving lessons," said Beulah decisively.
She drew up her shoulders, frowned, and pouted without making any
answer.
"Claudy, you do not wish to be dependent on a man who dislikes you?"
"Not if I can help myself!"
"And you certainly do not wish to be the means of preventing Mrs.
Grayson from having a comfortable home with her brother?"
Claudia burst into tears. She did not love her mother, did not even
respect her, she was so very weak and childish; yet the young orphan
felt very desolate, and knew not what to do. Beulah took her hand,
and said kindly: "If you are willing to help yourself, dear Claudy, I will gladly do
all I can to assist you. I think I can secure you a situation as
teacher of drawing, and, until you can make something at it, I will
pay your board; and you shall stay with me, if you like. You can
think about it, and let me know as soon as you decide." Claudia
thanked her cordially, and, returning home, Beulah immediately
imparted the plan to her friends. They thought it would scarcely
succeed, Claudia had been so petted and spoiled. Beulah sat gazing
into the fire for a while; then, looking at the doctor, said
abruptly: "There is that Graham money, sir, doing nobody any good."