“Well, I don’t see, for my part, what is to become of us all, now master’s gone—­”

“Gone!” echoed Beulah.

“Why, to be sure.  He started to the plantation yesterday, to set things all in order there, and then he is going straight on to New York.  The house looks desolate enough, and I feel like I was about to dig my own grave.  Just before he left he called me into the study, and told me that, as soon as he had gone, I was to bring Charon over to you and ask you to keep him and take care of him.  He tried to unlock the collar on his neck, but somehow the key would not turn.  Master looked dreadful sad when he patted poor Char’s head and let the brute put his paws on his shoulders for the last time.  Just as the boat pushed off he called to me to be sure to bring him to you; so here he is; and, Miss Beulah, the poor fellow seems to know something is wrong; he whined all night, and ran over the empty house this morning, growling and snuffing.  You are to keep him till master comes home; the Lord only knows when that will be.  I tried to find out; but he looked for the world like one of them stone faces in the study, and gave me no satisfaction.  Miss Beulah, Dr. Asbury was at the house just as I started, and he sent over this box to you.  Told me to tell you that he had all the pictures moved to his house, but had not room to hang all, so he sent one over for you to take care of.  Shall I take it out of the case?”

“Never mind, Hal; I can do that.  Did your master leave no other message for me? was there no note?” She leaned heavily on a chair to support herself.

“None that I know of, except that you must be kind to Charon.  I have no time to spare; Dr. Asbury needs me; so good-by, Miss Beulah.  I will stop some day when I am passing, and see how the dog comes on.  I know he will be satisfied with you.”

The faithful servant touched his hat and withdrew.  The storm of grief could no longer be repressed, and, sinking down on the floor, Beulah clasped her arms round Charon’s neck and hid her face in his soft, curling hair, while her whole frame shook with convulsive sobs.  She had not believed her guardian would leave without coming again, and had confidently expected him, and now he had gone.  Perhaps forever; at best, for many years.  She might never see him again, and this thought was more than she could endure.  The proud restraint she was wont to impose upon her feelings all vanished, and in her despairing sorrow she wept and moaned as she had never done before, even when Lilly was taken from her.  Charon crouched close to her, with a mute grief clearly written in his sober, sagacious countenance, and each clung to the other, as to a last stay and solace.  He was a powerful animal, with huge limbs, and a think, shaggy covering, sable as midnight, without a speck of white about him.  Around his neck was a silver chain, supporting a broad piece of plate, on which was engraved, in German letters, the single word, “Hartwell.”  How long she sat there Beulah knew not; but a growl roused her, and she saw Mrs. Williams looking sorrowfully at her.