“Claudy, I do not ask you to fight for her; I want you to love her.  Oh, love her! always be kind to her,” murmured Beulah.

“I do love her better than anything in the world, don’t I, Lilly dear!” She softly kissed one of the child’s hands.

At this moment the matron entered, with a large bundle neatly wrapped.  Her eyes were red, and there were traces of tears on her cheek.  Looking tenderly down upon the trio, she said very gently: 

“Come, my pets; they will not wait any longer for you.  I hope you will try to be good, and love each other, and Beulah shall come to see you.”  She took Claudia’s hand and led her down the steps.  Beulah lifted her sister, and carried her in her arms, as she had done from her birth, and at every step kissed her lips and brow.

Mr. and Mrs. Grayson were standing at the front door; they both looked pleased, as Lilly had ceased crying, and the carriage door was opened to admit them.

“Ah, my dears, now for a nice ride; Claudia, jump in,” said Mr. Grayson, extending his hand to assist her.  She paused, kissed her kind matron, and then approached Beulah.  She could not bear to leave her, and, as she threw her arms around her, sobbed out: 

“Good-by, dear, good Beulah.  I will take care of Lilly.  Please love me, and ask God for me too.”  She was lifted into the carriage with tears streaming over her face.

Beulah drew near to Mrs. Grayson, and said in a low but imploring tone: 

“Oh, madam, love my sister, and always speak affectionately to her, then she will be good and obedient.  I may come to see her often, may I not?”

“Certainly,” replied the lady, in a tone which chilled poor Beulah’s heart.  She swallowed a groan of agony, and, straining the loved one to her bosom, pressed her lips to Lilly’s.

“God bless my little sister, my darling, my all!” She put the child in Mr. Grayson’s extended arms, and only saw that her sister looked back appealingly to her.  Miss White came up and said something which she did not hear, and, turning hastily away, she went up to the dormitory, and seated herself on Lilly’s vacant bed.  The child knew not how the hours passed; she sat with her face buried in her hands, until the light of a candle flashed into the darkened chamber, and the kind voice of the matron fell on her ear.

“Beulah, will you try to eat some supper?  Do, dear.”

“No, thank you, I don’t want anything.”

“Poor child, I would have saved you all this had it been in my power; but, when once decided by the managers, you know I could not interfere.  They disliked to separate you and Lily, but thought that, under the circumstances, it was the best arrangement they could make.  Beulah, I want to tell you something, if you will listen to me.”  She seated herself on the edge of the bed, and took one of the girl’s hands between both hers.