Part 61 (1/2)
”What are you going to do?”
”I have means enough to live plainly the remainder of my life. I intend to rent or buy a small house, and settle down and be quiet. I feel now as if I should like to spend my days in peace.”
”Do you intend to live alone?”
”Yes, child; except a servant, I suppose I shall be quite alone. But you will come to see me often, and perhaps Eugene will remember me some day, when he is in trouble.”
”No, I shall not come to see you at all! I mean to come and live with you--that is, if I may?” cried Beulah, springing up and laying her hand on the matron's.
”G.o.d bless you, dear child; how glad I shall be!” She wound her arms round the slender form, and laughed through her tears.
Beulah gently put back the gray locks that had fallen from the border of her cap, and said hopefully:
”I am sick of boarding--sick of town! Let us get a nice little house, where I can walk in and out to my school. Have you selected any particular place?”
”No. I have looked at two or three, but none suited me exactly. Now you can help me. I am so thankful you are going to be with me! Will you come as soon as I can be released here?”
”Yes; just as soon as you are ready for me; and I think I know a house for rent which will just suit us. Now I want it understood that I am to pay the rent.”
”Oh, no, child! I won't hear to it, for I am--”
”Very well, then; I will stay where I am.”
”Oh, Beulah! you are not in earnest?”
”Yes, I am; so say no more about it. I will come on no other condition. I will see the owner of the house, ascertain what I can obtain it for, and send you word. Then you can look at it and decide.”
”I am quite willing to trust it to you, child; only I can't bear the thought of your paying the rent for it. But we can arrange that afterward.”
”No; you must be perfectly satisfied with the house. I will go by this evening and find out about it, so as to let you know at once.
Have you any idea when the 'board' will procure another matron?”
”They have advertised, and several persons applied, I believe, but they were not exactly pleased with the applicants. I suppose, however, that in a few days they will find a subst.i.tute for me.”
”Well, be sure you get a good servant; and now I must go.”
She put on her bonnet and shawl with unwonted haste, and ran down the steps. In her frequent walks she had noticed two cottages in course of erection, not very far from the pine grove in front of the asylum, and now, crossing the common, she directed her steps toward them. The lots were small, and belonged to Dr. Asbury, who said he would build a couple of cottages for poor families to rent at cheap rates. As Beulah approached the houses she saw the doctor's buggy standing near the door, and, thinking it a good omen, quickened her steps. Each building contained only three rooms and a hall, with a gallery or rather portico in front. They were genuine cottages ornes, built after Downing's plans, and presented a tasteful, inviting appearance. The windows were arched and the woodwork elaborately carved. Beulah pushed open the freshly painted gate, ran up the steps and into the hall. The carpenters were still at work in the kitchen, and, as she conjectured, here she found her friend, giving some final directions. She looked round the snug little kitchen, and, walking up to Dr. Asbury, who stood with his back to the door, she shook his hand with a cheerful salutation.
”Halloo, Beulah! where did you drop from? Glad to see you. Glad to see you. How came you prying into my new houses? Answer me that! Did you see my spouse as you came through the hall?”
”No; I will go back and hunt for her--”
”You need not; there she comes down the steps of the house. She would insist on seeing about some shelves for this precious kitchen; thinks I am bound to put pantries, and closets, and shelves all over the house, for my future tenants. I suppose before the first poor family takes possession I shall be expected to fill the closet with table linen and cutlery, and the larder with sugar, flour, and wax candles. Look here, Mrs. Asbury, how many more shelves is this kitchen to have?”
”It is well she has a conscience, sir, since nature denied you one,”
answered Beulah, whom Mrs. Asbury received very affectionately.
”Conscience! Bless my soul! she has none, as regards my unlucky purse. Positively she wanted to know, just now, if I would not have that little patch of ground between the house and the paling laid off into beds; and if I would not plant a few rose bushes and vines, for the first rascally set of children to tear up by the roots, just as soon as their parents moved in. There's conscience for you with a vengeance.”
”And what did you say, sir?”
”What did I say? Why, just what every other meek husband says to appeals which 'won't cost much, you know.' Of course I had no opinion of my own. Madame, here, is infallible; so I am put down for maybe a hundred dollars more. You need not have asked the result, you true daughter of Eve; every one of you understand wheedling.