"Poor Charon! I wish I might have him," said she sadly.
"I dare say the doctor would give him to you," answered Clara very
simply.
"I would just as soon think of asking him for his own head," replied
Beulah.
"It is a mystery to me, Beulah, how you can feel so coldly toward
Dr. Hartwell."
"I should very much like to know what you mean by that?" said
Beulah, involuntarily crushing the flowers she held.
"Why, you speak of him just as you would of anybody else."
"Well?"
"You seem to be afraid of him."
"To a certain extent, I am; and so is everybody else who knows him
intimately."
"This fear is unjust to him."
"How so, pray?"
"Because he is too noble to do aught to inspire it."
"Certainly he is feared, nevertheless, by all who know him well."
"It seems to me that, situated as you have been, you would almost
worship him!"
"I am not addicted to worshiping anything but God!" answered Beulah
shortly.
"You are an odd compound, Beulah. Sometimes I think you must be
utterly heartless!"
"Thank you!"
"Don't be hurt. But you are so cold, so freezing; you chill me."
"Do I? Dr. Hartwell (your Delphic oracle, it seems) says I am as
fierce as a tropical tornado."
"I do not understand how you can bear to give up such an enchanting
home, and go to hard work, as if you were driven to it from
necessity."
"Do not go over all that beaten track again, if you please. It is
not my home! I can be just as happy, nay, happier, in my little
room."
"I doubt it," said Clara pertinaciously.
Stopping suddenly, and fixing her eyes steadily on her companion,
Beulah hastily asked: "Clara Sanders, why should you care if my guardian and I are
separated?"
A burning blush dyed cheek and brow, as Clara drooped her head, and
answered: "Because he is my friend also, and I know that your departure will
grieve him."
"You overestimate my worth and his interest. He is a man who lives
in a world of his own and needs no society, save such as is afforded
in his tasteful and elegant home. He loves books, flowers, music,
paintings, and his dog! He is a stern man, and shares his griefs and
joys with no one. All this I have told you before."