Beulah - Page 4/348

The weekly visiting committee consisted of four of the lady

managers, but to-day the number was swelled to six. A glance at the

inspectors sufficed to inform Beulah that something of more than

ordinary interest had convened them on the present occasion, and she

was passing on to her accustomed place when her eyes fell upon a

familiar face, partially concealed by a straw bonnet. It was her

Sabbath-school teacher. A sudden, glad light flashed over the girl's

countenance, and the pale lips disclosed a set of faultlessly

beautiful teeth, as she smiled and hastened to her friend.

"How do you do, Mrs. Mason? I am so glad to see you!"

"Thank you, Beulah; I have been promising myself this pleasure a

great while. I saw Eugene this morning, and told him I was coming

out. He sent you a book and a message. Here is the book. You are to

mark the passages you like particularly, and study them well until

he comes. When did you see him last?"

Mrs. Mason put the volume in her hand as she spoke.

"It has been more than a week since he was here, and I was afraid he

was sick. He is very kind and good to remember the book he promised

me, and I thank you very much, Mrs. Mason, for bringing it." The

face was radiant with newborn joy, but it all died out when Miss

Dorothea White (little Claudia's particular aversion) fixed her pale

blue eyes upon her, and asked, in a sharp, discontented tone: "What ails that girl, Mrs. Williams? She does not work enough or she

would have some blood in her cheeks. Has she been sick?"

"No, madam, she has not been sick exactly; but somehow she never

looks strong and hearty like the others. She works well enough.

There is not a better or more industrious girl in the asylum; but I

rather think she studies too much. She will sit up and read of

nights, when the others are all sound asleep; and very often, when

Kate and I put out the hall lamp, we find her with her book alone in

the cold. I can't get my consent to forbid her reading, especially

as it never interferes with her regular work, and she is so fond of

it." As the kind-hearted matron uttered these words she glanced at

the child and sighed involuntarily. "You are too indulgent, Mrs.

Williams; we cannot afford to feed and clothe girls of her age, to

wear themselves out reading trash all night. We are very much in

arrears at best, and I think some plan should be adopted to make

these large girls, who have been on hand so long, more useful. What

do you say, ladies?" Miss Dorothea looked around for some

encouragement and support in her move.