Beulah - Page 47/348

"Aha! so you have come to your senses again, have you? How are you,

child?"

"I am weak."

"Which isn't strange, seeing that you haven't eat a teaspoonful in

more than a week. Now, look here, little one; I am ordered to nurse

and take charge of you till you are strong enough to look out for

yourself. So you must not object to anything I tell you to do."

Without further parley, she washed and wiped Beulah's face and

hands, shook up the pillows, and placed her comfortably on them. To

the orphan, accustomed all her life to wait upon others, there was

something singularly novel in being thus carefully handled; and,

nestling her head close to the pillows, she shut her eyes, lest the

tears that were gathering should become visible. Harriet quitted the

room for a short time, and returned with a salver containing some

refreshments.

"I can't eat anything. Thank you; but take it away." Beulah put her

hands over her face, but Harriet resolutely seated herself on the

side of the bed, lifted her up, and put a cup of tea to the

quivering lips.

"It is no use talking; master said you had to eat, and you might

just as well do it at once. Poor thing! you are hiding your eyes to

cry. Well, drink this tea and eat a little; you must, for folks

can't live forever without eating." There was no alternative, and

Beulah swallowed what was given her. Harriet praised her obedient

spirit, and busied herself about the room for some time. Finally,

stooping over the bed, she said abruptly: "Honey, are you crying?"

There was no reply, and, kneeling down, she said cautiously: "If you knew as much about this family as I do, you would cry, sure

enough, for something. My master says he has adopted you, and since

he has said it, everything will work for good to you. But, child,

there will come times when you need a friend besides master, and be

sure you come to me when you do. I won't say any more now; but

remember what I tell you when you get into trouble. Miss Pauline has

come, and if she happens to take a fancy to you (which I think she

won't), she will stand by you till the stars fall; and if she don't,

she will hate you worse than Satan himself for--" Harriet did not

complete the sentence, for she detected her master's step in the

passage, and resumed her work.

"How is she?"