“Most gratefully, sir!  I admit that I can never liquidate it:  I can repay you only with the most earnest gratitude.”  Large tears hung upon her lashes, and, with an uncontrollable impulse, she raised his hand to her lips.

“I am about to test the sincerity of your gratitude, I doubt it.”

She trembled, and looked at Mm uneasily.  He laid his hand on her shoulder, and said slowly: 

“Relinquish the idea of teaching.  Let me present you to society as my adopted child.  Thus you can requite the debt.”

“I cannot!  I cannot!” cried Beulah firmly, though tears gushed over her cheeks.

“Cannot? cannot?” repeated the doctor, pressing heavily upon her shoulders.

“Will not, then!” said she proudly.

They looked at each other steadily.  A withering smile of scorn and bitterness distorted his Apollo-like features, and he pushed her from him, saying, in the deep, concentrated tone of intense disappointment: 

“I might have known it.  I might have expected it; for Fate has always decreed me just such returns.”

Leaning against the sculptured Niobe, which stood near, Beulah exclaimed, in a voice of great anguish: 

“Oh, Dr. Hartwell! do not make me repent the day I entered this house.  God knows I am grateful, very grateful, for your unparalleled kindness.  Oh, that it were in my power to prove to you my gratitude!  Do not upbraid me.  You knew that I came here only to be educated.  Even then I could not bear the thought of always imposing on your generosity; and every day that passed strengthened this impatience of dependence.  Through your kindness it is now in my power to maintain myself, and, after the opening of next session, I cannot remain any longer the recipient of your bounty.  Oh, sir, do not charge me with ingratitude!  It is more than I can bear; more than I can bear!”

“Mark me, Beulah!  Your pride will wreck you; wreck your happiness, your peace of mind.  Already its iron hand is crushing your young heart.  Beware lest, in yielding to its decrees, you become the hopeless being a similar course has rendered me.  Beware!  But why should I warn you?  Have not my prophecies ever proved Cassandran?  Leave me.”

“No, I will not leave you in anger.”  She drew near him and took his hand in both hers.  The fingers were cold and white as marble, rigid and inflexible as steel.

“My guardian, would you have me take a step (through fear of your displeasure) which would render my life a burden?  Will you urge me to remain, when I tell you that I cannot be happy here?  I think not.”