She held out her hands entreatingly; but he took no notice of the movement, and, hurrying by, left the house.  For a moment Beulah bowed her head and sobbed; then she brushed the tears from her cheek, and the black brows met in a heavy frown.  True, she had not expected much else, yet she felt bitterly grieved, and it was many months are she ceased to remember the pain of this interview; notwithstanding the contempt she could not avoid feeling for his weakness.

The Grahams all accompanied Eugene, and, after the marriage, went North for the summer.  A handsome house was erected near Mr. Graham’s residence, and in the fall the young people were to take possession of it.  Mr. Lockhart rallied sufficiently to be removed to his home “up the country,” and, save Dr. Asbury’s family, Beulah saw no one but Clara and her pupils.  With July came the close of the session, and the young teacher was free again.  One afternoon she put on her bonnet and walked to a distant section of the town to inquire after Kate Ellison (one of her assistant teachers), who, she happened to hear, was quite ill.  She found her even worse than she had expected, and, on offering her services to watch over the sick girl, was anxiously requested to remain with her during the night.  She dispatched a message to Mrs. Hoyt, cheerfully laid aside her bonnet, and took a seat near the sufferer, while the infirm mother retired to rest.  The family were very poor, and almost entirely dependent on Kate’s salary for a support.  The house was small arid comfortless; the scanty furniture of the plainest kind.  About dusk Beulah left her charge in a sound sleep, and, cautiously opening the blinds, seated herself on the window sill.  The solitary candle on the table gave but a dim light, and she sat for a long time looking out into the street and up at the quiet, clear sky.  A buggy drew up beneath the window—­she supposed it was the family physician.  Mrs. Ellison had not mentioned his coming, but of course it must be a physician, and sure enough there was a knock at the door.  She straightened one or two chairs, picked up some articles of clothing scattered about the floor, and opened the door.

She knew not what doctor Mrs. Ellison employed, and, as her guardian entered, she drew back with a start of surprise.  She had not seen him since the morning of Pauline’s marriage, five months before, and then he had not noticed her.  Now he stopped suddenly, looked at her a moment, and said, as if much chagrined: 

“What are you doing here, Beulah?”

“Nursing Kate, sir.  Don’t talk so loud; she is asleep,” answered Beulah rather frigidly.

She did not look at him, but knew his eyes were on her face, and presently he said: 

“You are always where you ought not to be.  That girl has typhus fever, and, ten to one, you will take it.  In the name of common sense! why don’t you let people take care of their own sick, and stay at home, instead of hunting up cases like a professed nurse?  I suppose the first confirmed case of smallpox you hear of, you will hasten to offer your services.  You don’t intend to spend the night here, it is to be hoped?”