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Something serious had occurred; but when she had gone to the house to pick up further information, old Betta, who was particularly snappish with her, had refused her admission quite rudely.
“You see w’en father died, fo’ year ago, mother she went back to France, t’her folks there; she never could stan’ this country an’ lef’ us boys to manage the place. Hec, he took charge the firs’ year an’ run it in debt. Placide an’ me did’n’ have no betta luck the naxt year. Then the creditors come up from New Orleans an’ took holt. That’s the time I packed my duds an’ lef’.” “And you came here?”
"I don't want she should have anything to say against me, to you, Clementina; she'd be glad enough to. But I guess it's just as well you'a back. That scratched-out baron has been he'e twice, and he's waitin' for you in the pahla', now. I presume he'll keep comin' till you do see him. I guess you betta have it ova; whatever it is." "I guess you're right, Mrs. Lander."
Nilus, the treasurer, had come with her to deliver a message to Paula; but he had gone first to the convent. Paula desired the old woman to go thither and fetch him; as soon as Perpetua had left the room, she exclaimed: "There, you see, is some one who is quite of your opinion. What creatures we are! Last evening my good Betta would have thought no pit of hell too deep for our enemy, and now?
"Yes, the little Nabathaean is come," replied her nurse with some hesitation, "and he indeed but for God's sake, child, form no vain hopes! Hiram came to me soon after sun-down. . ." "Betta!" screamed the girl, clinging to her nurse's arm. "What has he heard, what news does he bring?" "Nothing, nothing! How you rush at conclusions! What he found out is next to nothing.
Lander did things at times to worry her, though she ended compassionately with the reflection: "She's sick." "I don't think she's very sick, now," retorted her friend. "No; that's the reason she's so worrying. When she's really sick, she's betta." "Because she's frightened, I suppose. And how long do you propose to stand it? "I don't know," Clementina listlessly answered.
As soon as Betta received these things, she shut herself up in a chamber, and began to make a great quantity of paste of almonds and sugar, mixed with rosewater and perfumes, and set to work to form a most beautiful youth, making his hair of gold thread, his eyes of sapphires, his teeth of pearls, his lips of rubies; and she gave him such grace that speech alone was wanting to him.
And he, the hero of Damascus, who was called Thomas in the world, believing that I was dead, has no doubt dedicated himself to the service of God and of Christ, and has taken the name of Paulus, as Saul, the other man of Damascus did after his con version, exactly like him! Oh! Betta, Hiram, you will see: it is he, it must be! How can you doubt it?"
She peered out around the side of the carry-all and scrutinized the landscape. "Hold on! No, yes it is, too! Whoa! Whoa! The'e's a man in that hay-field, now!" She laid hold of the reins and pulled the horse to a stand. Mr. Lander looked round over his shoulder at her. "Hadn't you betta wait till you get within half a mile of the man?" "Well, I want you should stop when you do git to him.
"Do they?" asked Clementina. "I didn't know it." She left him still sitting before the table, and came back with some bank-notes in her hand. "Are you sure you hadn't betta take moa?" she asked. "I think that five dollars will be all that I shall require," he answered, with dignity. "I should be unwilling to accept more. I shall undoubtedly receive some remittances soon."
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