“How beautiful! how very beautiful!” Her lips were parted; her eyes clear and sparkling with delight.  Dr. Hartwell sighed, and, turning from the bay road, approached his home.  Beulah longed to speak to him of what was pressing on her heart; but, glancing at his countenance to see whether it was an auspicious time, she was deterred by the somber sternness which overshadowed it, and before she could summon courage to speak, they stopped at the front gate.

“Jump out, and go home; I have not time to drive in.”

She got out of the buggy, and, looking up at him as he rose to adjust some part of the harness, said bravely: 

“I am very much obliged to you for my ride.  I have not had such a pleasure for years.  I thank you very much.”

“All very unnecessary, child.  I am glad you enjoyed it.”

He seated himself, and gathered up the reins, without looking at her.  But she put her hand on the top of the wheel, and said in an apologetic tone: 

“Excuse me, sir; but may I wait in your study till you come home?  I want to ask you something.”  Her face flushed, and her voice trembled with embarrassment.

“It may be late before I come home to-night.  Can’t you tell me now what you want?  I can wait.”

“Thank you, sir; to-morrow will do as well, I suppose.  I will not detain you.”  She opened the gate and entered the yard.  Dr. Hartwell looked after her an instant, and called out, as he drove on: 

“Do as you like, Beulah, about waiting for me.  Of course the study is free to you at all times.”

The walk, or rather carriage road, leading up to the house was bordered by stately poplars and cedars, whose branches interlaced overhead, and formed a perfect arch.  Beulah looked up at the dark-green depths among the cedars, and walked on with a feeling of contentment, nay, almost of happiness, which was a stranger to her heart.  In front of the house, and in the center of a grassy circle, was a marble basin, from which a fountain ascended.  She sat down on the edge of the reservoir, and, taking off her bonnet, gave unrestrained license to her wandering thoughts.  Wherever her eyes turned, verdure, flowers, statuary met her gaze; the air was laden with the spicy fragrance of jasmines, and the low, musical babble of the fountain had something very soothing in its sound.  With her keen appreciation of beauty, there was nothing needed to enhance her enjoyment; and she ceased to remember her sorrows.  Before long, however, she was startled by the sight of several elegantly dressed ladies emerging from the house; at the same instant a handsome carriage, which she had not previously observed, drove from a turn in the walk and drew up to the door to receive them.  Mrs. Chilton stood on the steps, exchanging smiles and polite nothings, and, as one of the party requested permission to break a sprig of geranium growing near, she gracefully offered to collect a bouquet, adding, as she severed some elegant clusters of heliotrope and jasmine: