Beulah - Page 81/348

By the pale moonlight she could see that her master's face was rigid

as steel; but his voice was even calmer than usual when he asked:

"Are you sure she is now at the asylum?"

"Yes, sir; sure."

"Very well; she is safe then for the present. Does anyone know that

you heard the conversation?"

"Not a soul, sir, except yourself."

"Keep the matter perfectly quiet till I come home. I shall be away a

day, or perhaps longer. Meantime, see that Beulah does not get out

of your sight. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir--I do."

The buggy rolled swiftly on, and Harriet returned to the house by a

circuitous route, surmising that "Miss May's" eyes might detect her

movements.

The same night Clara Sanders sat on the doorstep of her tumble

cottage home. The moonlight crept through the clustering honeysuckle

and silvered the piazza floor with grotesque fretwork, while it

bathed lovingly the sad face of the girlish watcher. Her chin rested

in her palms, and the soft eyes were bent anxiously on the

countenance of her infirm and aged companion.

"Grandpa, don't look so troubled. I am very sorry, too, about the

diploma; but if I am not to have it, why, there is no use in

worrying about it. Madam St. Cymon is willing to employ me as I am,

and certainly I should feel grateful for her preference, when there

are several applicants for the place. She told me this evening that

she thought I would find no difficulty in performing what would be

required of me."

This was uttered in a cheerful tone, which might have succeeded very

well had the sorrowful face been veiled.

"Ah, Clara, you don't dream of the burden you are taking upon

yourself! The position of assistant teacher in an establishment like

Madam St. Cymon's is one that you are by nature totally unfitted

for. Child, it will gall your spirit; it will be unendurable." The

old man sighed heavily.

"Still, I have been educated with an eye to teaching, and though I

am now to occupy a very subordinate place, the trials will not be

augmented. On the whole, I do not know but it is best as it is. Do

not try to discourage me. It is all I can do, and I am determined I

will not despond about what can't be helped."

"My dear child, I did not mean to depress you. But you are so young

to bow your neck to such a yoke! How old are you?" He turned round

to look at her.