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Beckard was a farmer living near Utica, and now that the match was declared and approved, it was thought well that Hetta should know her future husband's family. So she went for a week, and Mr. Beckard went with her. "He will be back in plenty of time for me to speak to him before Aaron Dunn's six weeks are over," said Mrs. Bell to herself. But things did not go exactly as she expected.
Beckard gave Hetta a testament bound in Morocco? had not she smiled, and looked gratified, and kissed her sister, and declared that Phineas Beckard was a nice dear man, and by far the most elegant preacher at the Springs? Why should Hetta be so cruel? "I don't see that, my dear," said the mother. Hetta would not explain before her sister, so they all went to bed.
In the course of the next fortnight the family arrangements all altered themselves. Unless when Beckard was there Aaron would sit in the widow's place, the widow would take Susan's chair, and the two girls would be opposite. And then Dunn would read to them; not sermons, but passages from Shakspeare, and Byron, and Longfellow. "He reads much better than Mr. Beckard," Susan had said one night.
And the conference ended in a resolution that Phineas Beckard should have a conversation with Aaron Dunn, as to his worldly means and position; and that he, Phineas, should decide whether Aaron might, or might not be at once accepted as a lover, according to the tenor of that conversation. Poor Susan was not told anything of all this. "Better not," said Hetta the demure.
Beckard in the widow's presence Hetta had retired in obedience to her lover informed him of the court's decision, there came over his face the look which he had worn when he burned the picture. "Mrs. Bell," he said, "had encouraged his engagement; and he did not understand why other people should now come and disturb it." "Not an engagement, Aaron," said Mrs. Bell piteously.
Why could she not have told him something of all this? And so the few days of his second sojourn at Saratoga passed away, not altogether satisfactorily. It was settled that he should return to New York on Saturday night, leaving Saratoga on that evening; and as the Beckards Hetta was already regarded quite as a Beckard were to be back to dinner on that day, Mrs.
"He was able and willing to work," he said, "and knew his profession. What young man of his age had done better than he had?" and he glanced round at them with perhaps more pride than was quite becoming. Then Mr. Beckard spoke out, very wisely no doubt, but perhaps a little too much at length.
Why he did not they could not then learn. During the whole long summer they heard not a word of him nor from him; and then when the cold winter months came and their boarders had left them, Mrs. Beckard congratulated her sister in that she had given no further encouragement to a lover who cared so little for her. This was very hard to bear. But Susan did bear it. That winter was very sad.
I'll just open the door as I come down. Perhaps Mrs. Bell will be here." And then he rushed up stairs. But Mrs. Bell did not come in. She and Hetta were at a weekly service at Mr. Beckard's meeting-house, and Mr. Beckard it seemed had much to say. Susan, when left alone, sat down and tried to think. But she could not think; she could only love.
Beckard be gone off to Utica, just man-and-wife like! and so they are, more power to them." "Oh indeed; I'm very glad," said Aaron and so he was; very glad to have Hetta the demure out of the way. And then he made his way into the parlour, doubting much, and hoping much. Mrs. Bell rose from her chair, and tried to look grave. Aaron glancing round the room saw that Susan was not there.
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