第2章

"Why!he"sperfectlysplendid.Whoeverheardofsuchastrange,rarecreature!I"veflirtedwithlotsofpoorartists,butneverwitharichone.Bringhimtome,andintroducehimatonce."

"Heisnotonethatyoucanflirtwith,liketheattenuatedyouthwhohasjustmeanderedtothebarroom."

"Whynot?"

"Ifyouhadeyesforanythingsaveyourownprettyface,andthepublicstare,youwouldhaveseenthatmyfriendisnota"creature,"

butaman."

"Come,CousinIk,"sherepliedinmorenaturaltones,"toomuchofyourhouseismadeofglassforyoutothrowstones.Flirtingandfrolickingareasgoodanydayaseating,smoking,anddawdling."

Stantonbithislip,butretorted,"Idon"tprofesstobeabitbetterthanyouare,Coz;butIatleasthavethesensetoappreciatethosewhoaremysuperiors."

"SohaveI,whenIfindthem;Iambeginningtothink,however,thatyoumenareverymuchalike.Allyouaskisaprettyface,foryouallthinkthatyouhavebrainsenoughfortwo.Butbringyourparagonandintroducehim,thatImayshareinyourgapingadmiration."

"Youwould,indeed,mydearCoz,yawnoverhisconversation,foryoucouldn"tunderstandhalfofit.Ithinkwehadbetterremainwherewearetillyourshadowreturnswithhiseyesandnoseslightlyinflamed.Heisawareofatleastonemethodofbecomingaspiritedyouth,itseems."

"Amanwhoisworthhalfamillionisusuallyregardedasrathersubstantial,"sheretorted.

"Yes,butinthiscasethemoney-bagsoutweighthemantooridiculously.Forheaven"ssake,Coz,donotmakeaspectacleofyourselfbymarryingthisattenuation,orsocietywillasserttherewasaregularlydrawnbillofsale."

"IassureyouthatIdonotintendtoputmyselfunderanyman"sthumbforalongtimetocome.Iamhavingtoogoodatime;andthatremindsmethatIwouldenjoymeetingyourfriendmuchmorethanlisteningtoyourcynicalspeeches.DidInotknowthatyouwerelikemylittleKingCharles——allbarkratherthanbite——I

wouldn"tstandthem;andIwon"tanylonger,to-night.Sogoandbringyourgreatembryoartist,orhewillbecomeoneoftheoldmastersbeforeIseehim."

"IfearImustgiveyouaweebitofbitethistime.Ihaveofferedtointroducehimandhedeclinesthehonor."

"Howisthat?"sheasked,flushingwithanger.

"Iwillquotehiswordsexactly,andthenyoucaninterpretthemasyouthinkbest.Hesaid,"IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven"sfinestsymphonies.""

Theyounggirl"sfacelookedanythingbutamiableinresponsetothisspeech;but,afteramoment,shetossedherhead,andreplied:

""N"importe"——thereareplentywhocanusenotonlycivilwordsbutcomplimentaryones."

"Yes,andthemischiefofitisthatyouwilllistentothemandtonoothers.Whatsortofmusclecanonemakewholivesonlyonsugar-plums?"

"Theyagreewithmebetterthanthevinegardropsyouandyourunmannerlyfrienddelightin.Idon"tbelieveheeverpaintedanythingbetterthanawoodensquawforoneofyourbelovedcigar-shops——welcomebackMr.Minty.Youhavebeenawayanunconscionablylongtime."

"Thanksforthecomplimentofbeingmissed.Ihavetriedtomakeamendsbyorderinga"petitsouper"forthree,forIwassureyourcousinwouldjoinus.Itwillbebroughttooneofyonderstalls,where,whileweenjoyit,wecanbothseeandhear."

Surmisingthattheviandswouldconsistofthechoicestdelicaciesoftheseason,Stantonreadilyacceptedtheinvitation,anditsohappenedthattheclothwaslaidforthepartyinthestallnexttothatinwhichVanBergwasquietlyenjoyingacigarandafrugalglassoflager.Theytooktheirplacesquiteunawareofhisproximity,andhelistenedwithconsiderableinteresttothetonesandwordsofthefairstrangerwhohadsounexpectedlytakenpossessionofhisthoughts.Wereitnotforaslightshrillnessandloudnessattimes,andthefashionableaffectationoftheday,hervoicewouldhavebeensweetandgirlishenough.Asitwas,itsuggestedaninstrumenttunedtoafalsekeyandconsequentlydiscordantwithalltrueandwomanlyharmonies.HerconversationwithyoungMintywasasinsipidashimself,butoccasionallyStanton"scynicalbanterevokedsomethinglikereparteeandwit.

Inthecourseofhertalkshesaid:"Bytheway,Ik,motherandIstartforthecountrynextweek.WearetospendthesummerattheLakeHouse,whichisuptheHudsonsomewhere——youknowwherebetterthanI.IfyouwillbringyourbaysandalightwagonIshallbeverygladtoseeyouthere;otherwiseIshallwelcomeyou——well——asmycousin."

"IfIcomeIwillsurelybringmybays,andpossiblymayinviteyoutodrivewithme."

"Oh,Iwillsaveyoualltroubleinthatrespectbyinvitingmyself,whensoinclined."

TheorchestrawasnowabouttogiveaselectionthatVanBergwishedtoheartobetteradvantagethanhecouldinhispresentposition;

therefore,unobservedbythepartyontheothersideofthethinpartition,hereturnedtohisoldseatinthemainhallway.Notverylongafter,Stanton,withhiscousinandMr.Minty,enteredfromthepromenade,andagainVanBergreceivedthesamevividimpressionofbeauty,and,withmanyothers,couldnotwithdrawhiseyesfromtheexquisitefeaturesthatwereslightlyflushedwithchampagneandexcitement.But,asbefore,thisimpressionpassedquickly,andthefaceagainbecameasexasperatingtotheartistasthevisageoftheVenusofMilowouldbeshouldsomevandalhandpenciluponitaleerorasmirk.Aheavyfrownwasgatheringuponhisbrowwhentheyounglady,happeningtoturnsuddenly,caughtandfullyrecognizedhisloweringexpression.Itaccordedonlytoowellwithhercousin"swordsinregardtoVanBerg"sestimateofherself,andgreatlyincreasedherresentmenttowardstheonewhohadalreadywoundedhervanity——themostvulnerableandsensitivetraitinhercharacter.Theflushthatdeepenedsosuddenlyuponherfacewasunmistakablythatofanger.Shepromptlyturnedherbackuponhercritic,nordidshelooktowardshimagainuntilthecloseoftheevening.Thathiswordsandmannerrankledinhermemory,however,wasprovedbyaslightlypreoccupiedmanner,followedbyfitsofgayetynotaltogethernatural,andchieflybythefactthatshecouldnotleavetheplacewithoutaswiftglanceatthedisturbingcauseofherwontedself-approval.ButVanBergtookpainstomanifesthisindifferencebystandingwithhisbacktowardsherwhensheknewthathemustbeawareofherdeparture,fromherslightlyostentatiousleave-takingofhercousin,inwhich,ofcourse,thespoiledbeautyhadnootherobjectthantoattractattentiontoherself.

AsVanBerg,withhisfriend,waspassingoutafewminuteslater,heaskedratherabruptly,showingthathealsowasnotsoindifferentashehadpretendedtobe:

"Whatisyourcousin"sname,Stanton?"

"Hernameisasprettyasherself——IdaMayhew,anditisworsethanadisquietingghostinagoodmanyheadsandheartsthatIknowof.IndeeditsownerhasrobbedmenthatIthoughtsensible,notonlyoftheirpeace,but,Ishouldsay,oftheirwitsalso.IhadonefriendofwhomIthoughtagreatdeal,anditwaspitiabletoseetheabjectstatetowhichtheheartlesslittleminxreducedhim.Iamgladtofindthatherwitcheryhasnospellforyou,andthatyoudetectjustwhatsheisthroughherdisguiseofbeauty.

"Entrenous,"Van,Iwilltellyouasecret.Iwasonceoverearsinlovewithhermyself,butmycousinlyrelationshipenabledmetoseehersooftenandintimatelythatshecuredmeofmyfollyonhomeopathicprinciples."Similiasimilibuscurantur."Eventheblindnessoflovecouldnotfailtodiscoverthatwhenonesubtractedvanity,coquetry,andherstrikingexternalbeautyfromIdaMayhew,butlittlewasleft,andthatlittlenotaheavenlycompound.Thosewhoknowherleast,andwhoaddtoherbeautymanyidealperfections,aretheonesthatraveabouthermost.I

doubtwhethersheeverhadaheart;ifso,itwasfritteredawaylongagoinhernumberlessflirtations.Butwithallherfollyshehaseverhadthesensetokeepwithintheconventionalitiesofherownfashionable"coterie,"whichistheonlyworldsheknowsanythingabout,andwhoseunwrittenlawsareheronlycreedandreligion.Herdisappointedsuitorscanjustlychargeherwithcruelty,silliness,ignorance,andimmeasurablevanity,butneverwithindiscretion.ShehastoperfectiontheAmericangirl"sabilitytotakecareofherself,andnomanwillseetwicetotakealibertybeyondthatwhichetiquettepermits.IhavenowgivenyouinbriefthetruecharacterofIdaMayhew.Itisnosecret,forallwhocometoknowherwell,arriveatthesameopinion.WhenIsawyouhadobservedherthiseveningforthefirsttime,Iwasquiteinterestedinwatchingtheimpressionshewouldmakeuponyou,andIamverygladthatyourjudgmenthasbeenbothgoodandprompt;forIslightlyfearedthatyourloveofbeautymightmakeyoublindtoeverythingelse."

Stanton"sconcludingwordswereasincensetoVanBerg,forhepridedhimselfinnoslightdegreeonhisevenpulseandsensibleheart,that,thusfar,hadgivenhimsolittletrouble;andhethereforereplied,withacertaintingeofcomplacencyandconsciousnessofsecurity:

"Youknowmewellenough,Ik,tobeawarethatIambecomingalmostamonomaniacinmyart.Awoman"sfaceistomelittlemorethanapicturewhichIanalyzefromanartisticstand-point.AMERELY

PRETTYfaceislikealineofverseofmusicalrhythm,butwithoutsenseormeaning.Thisisbadandprovokingenough;butwhenthemostexquisitefeaturesgiveexpressiononlytosomeofthemeanestandunworthiestqualitiesthatcaninfestawoman"ssoul,oneisexasperatedalmostbeyondendurance.AtleastIam,forI

amoffendedinmystrongestinstincts.ThinkofemployingstatelyHomericwordsandmeasureindescribingabelle"stoilettablewithitsrouge-pots,falsehair,andotherabominations!Muchworseisit,inmyestimation,thatthefeaturesofagoddessshouldtellusonlyofsuchmoralverminasvanity,silliness,andtheegotismofapoorlittleselfthatthinksofnothing,andknowsnothingsaveitsownsmallcravings.Pardonme,Ik;Iamnotspeakingofyourcousinbutintheabstract.Inregardtothatyounglady,asyousaw,Iwasverymuchstruckwiththeface.Indeed,totellthehonesttruth,Ineversawsomuchbeautyspoiledbefore,andthefacthasputmeinsobadahumorthatyou,nodoubt,aregladIhavereachedmycornerandsomustsaygood-night."

"IdaMayhewcanrealizeallsuchabstractions,"mutteredIkStanton,ashewalkedonalone.

Thereaderwillbeapttosurmise,however,thatsomeresentment,resultingfromhisformerandunrequitedsentimenttowardsthegirl,gaveanunjustbiastohisjudgement.

ChapterIII.AnArtist"sFreak.

VanBerg"snight-keyadmittedhimtoabeautifulhome,whichhenowhadwhollytohimself,sincehisparentsandsisterhadsailedforEuropeearlyinthespring,intendingtospendthesummerabroad.Theyoungmanhadalreadytravelledandstudiedforyearsinthelandsnaturallyattractivetoanartist,anditwasnowhispurposetofamiliarizehimselfmorethoroughlywiththesceneryofhisowncountry.

Onreachinghisownapartmenthetookdownaprosybook,thathemightreadhimselfintothatconditionofdrowsinesswhichwouldrendersleeppossible;butsleepwouldnotcome,andthesentenceswerelikethepassers-byinthestreet,whomweseebutdonotnote,andforwhosecomingandgoingweknownotthereasons.BetweenhimselfandthepagehesawcontinuallytheexquisitefeaturesandtheexasperatingfaceofIdaMayhew.Atlasthethrewasidethebook,lightedacigar,andgavehimselfuptothereveriestowhichthisbeautiful,butdiscordantvisagesostronglypredisposedhim.

Itsperfectioninonerespect,itsstronglymarkedimperfectioninanother,bothappealedequallytohisartisticandthoughtfulmind.Atonemomentitwouldappearbeforehimwithanideallovelinesssuchashadneverblessedtheeyeofhisfancyeven;

butwhileheyetlookedthefeatureswoulddistortthemselvesintothevividexpressionofsomecontemptibletrait,solikewhathehadseeninreality,duringtheevening,that,inuncontrollableirritation,hewouldstartupandpacethefloor.

Hisuncurbedimaginationconjuredupallkindsofweirdandgrotesqueimagery.Hefoundhimselfcommiseratingthegirl"sfeaturesasiftheywerehigh-tonedcaptivesheldindegradingbondagebyaspitefullittlemonster,thatdelightedtoputthemtolowandmenialuses.

Tooneofhistemperamentsuchbeautyashehadjustwitnessed,controlledby,andministeringto,someofthemeanestandpettiestofhumanvices,waslikeMaryMagdalenewhenheldinthraldombysevendevils.

Acoolandmatter-of-factpersoncouldscarcelyunderstandVanBerg"sannoyanceandperturbation.Ifatrueartistwerecompelledtoseebeforehimaportraitthatrequiredonlyafewskillfultouchesinordertobecomeaperfectlikeness,andyetcouldnotgivethosetouches,thepicturewouldbecomeaconstantvexation;

andthebetterthepicture,theneareritapproachedthetruth,thedeeperwouldbetheirritationthatallshouldbespoiledthroughdefectsforwhichtherewasnonecessity.

InthefacethatpersistentlyhauntedhimVanBergsawabeautythatmightfulfilhisbestideal;andhealsosawjustwhyitdidnotandnevercould,untilitsdefectswereremedied.Hefeltasenseofpersonallossthatheshouldhavediscoveredagemsonearlyperfectandyetmarredbysofatalaflaw.

Thenextdayitwasstillthesame.ThefaceofIdaMayhewinterposeditselfbeforeeverythingthathesoughttodoorsee.Whetheritweretrueornot,itappearedtohimthatinallhiswanderingsandobservationshehadneverseenfeaturessocapableoffulfillinghishighestconceptionofbeautydidtheybutexpressthehigherqualitiesandemotionsofthesoul.Healsofeltthatneverbeforehadheseenafacethatwouldseemtohimsohideousinitsperversion.

Hethrewdownhisbrushandpaletteindespairandagaingavehimselfuptohisfancies.Hethensketchedinoutlinethebeautifulfaceasexpressingjoy,hope,courage,thoughtorlove,butwasprovokedtofindthatheeverobtainedthebestlikenesswhenportrayingthevanity,silliness,orpetulancewhichhadbeentheonlycharacteristicshehadseen.

Henowgrewmetaphysicalandtriedtoanalyzethegirl"smind.

Hesoughttogropementallyhiswaybackintotherecessesofthesoul,whichhadlooked,acted,andspokenthepreviousevening.

Astrangelittleplaceheimaginedit,andoddlyfurnished.Itoccurredtohimthatitborearesemblancetoherdressingroom,andwasfullofqueerfemininemysteriesandartificialideasthathadbeencreatedbyconventionalsocietyratherthaninspiredbynature.

Heaskedhimself,"Canitbethathereisacharacterinwhichtheelementsofatrueandgoodwomandonotexist?Hasshenoheart,nomind,noconscienceworthyofthename?Atherageshecannothavelostthesequalities.Havetheyneverbeenawakened?Dotheyexisttothatdegreethattheycanbearousedintocontrollingactivity?Isupposetherecanbeprettyidiots.Aspeoplearebornblindorscrofulous,soIsupposeotherscanbeborndevoidofheartorconscience,inheritingfromadegenerateancestrysundrymeanandvilepropensitiesintheirplaces.Humannatureisascalethatrunsbothupanddown,anditisastonishinghowfartheextremescanbeapart."

"Howhighisitpossibleforthesameindividualtoriseinthisscale?Iimagineweareallpronetojudgeofpeopleasiftheywerefinishedpictures,andtothinkthatthedefectsourfirstscrutinydiscoverswillremainforalltime.Itisinreallifemuchasinfiction.Fromfirsttolastavillainisavillain,asifhehadbeencreatedone.Theheroineisamossrose-budbyequalandunchangingnecessity.Isthisgirlafool,andwillsheremainonebyanyinnatecompulsion?ByJove!Iwouldliketoseeheragaininthesearchinglightofday.Iwouldliketofollowhercareersufficientlylong,todiscoverwhethernaturehasbeenguiltyofthegrotesquecrimeofassociatinginseparablywiththatfineformandthoseexquisitefeatures,ahideouslittlemindthatmustgoonintensifyingitsdwarfeddeformity,untildeathsnuffsitout.Ifthisbetrue,thebeautifullittlemonsterthatisbotheringmesosuggestsaknottyproblemtowiserheadsthanmine."

Somewhatlaterhismusingsledhimtoindulgeinabroadlaugh.

"Possibly,"hesaidaloud,"sheisamodernandfashionableUndine,andhasneveryetreceivedawoman"ssoul.ThegoodLorddelivermefromtryingtoawakenit,asdidtheknightofoldinthestory,byswellingthelonglistofhervictims.Icanscarcelyimagineamorepitiableandabjectcreaturethanaman(oncesaneandsensible)inthraldomtosuchatantalizingsemblanceofawoman.

Shewouldnomoreappreciatehisdevotionthanthejackdawthepearlnecklaceitpeckedat.

"IfearmyUndinetheorywon"tanswer.Stantonsaysshehasnoheart,andherfaceandmannerconfirmhiswords.ButnowIthinkofit,theoriginalUndinelivedalongtimeago——intheageofprimevalsimplicity,whenevencool-bloodedwaternymphshadhearts.Oneisinducedtothink,inourage,thatthisorganwilleventuallydisappearwiththeothercharacteristicsofancientandundevelopedman,andthatthebrain,orwhatstandsforit,willbecomeallinall.Inthefirstinstancethewoman"ssoulcameinthroughtheheart;butIsupposethatinthecaseofamodernUndineitcouldentermostreadilythroughthehead.Iwonderifthereissomethinglikeanunawakenedmind,sleepingunderthatbroadlowbrowthatmocksonewithitsfairintellectualoutline.Iwonderifitwouldbepossibletosetherthinking,andsoeventuallyrenderhercapableofreceivingawoman"ssoul.Asitisnowsheseemstopossessonlycertaindisagreeablefemininepropensities.Onemightengageinsuchanexperimentasaphilosopherratherthanalover;or,whatismoretomypurpose,asanartist.

"ByJove!Iwouldhalfliketomaketheattempt;itwouldgivezesttoone"ssummervacation.Well,whatistohinder?NowIthinkofitsheremarkedthatshewastospendtheseasonattheLakeHouse,notfarfromtheHudson,aplacewellsuitedtomypurposes.

Therearethewildhighlandsononeside,andasoftpastoralcountryontheother.Icouldtherefindabundantopportunityforvariedstudiesinscenery,andatthesametimebeguilemyidlehoursatthehotelwiththisfaceofmarvellouscapabilitiesandpossibilities.

Thefeaturesalreadyexist,andwouldbebeautifulifthegirlweredead,andtheycouldbenolongerdistortedbythesmallvicesofthespiritbackofthem.Theymightbecometranscendentlybeautiful,couldsheinverytruthreceivethesoulofatrueandthoughtfulwoman——asoulsuchasmakesmymotherbeautifulinherplainoldage.

"I"minclinedtofollowthisoddfancy.Thatgirlisa"raraavis"suchashasneverflownacrossmypathbefore.IshallhaveaquarrelwithnatureallmylifeifImustbelieveshecanfashionafacecapableofmeaningsomuchandyetactuallymeaningsolittle,andthatlittledisgusting."

Afterafewmomentsofdeepthought,heagainstartedtohisfeetandcommencedpacinghisstudio.

"Suppose,"hesoliloquized,"Iattemptanovelbitofartisticworkasmysummerrecreation.SupposeItakethefaceofthisstrangerinsteadofapieceofcanvasandtrytoillumineitwiththought,withwomanlycharacterandintelligence.IfIfail,asIprobablyshall,noharmwillbedone.Ifhersillinessandvanityareingrainedandessentialpartsofhernature,sheshalllearnthatthereisatleastonemanwhocanseeherassheis,andwhoseheartisnotwaxonwhichtostampherprettyandsenselessimage.

IfIonlypartiallysucceed,ifIdiscernshehasamind,butsofeeblethatitcanonlyhalfreclaimherfromherweaknessandfolly,stillsomethingwillbeaccomplished.Herfeaturesaresobeautiful,thatshouldtheycometoexpresseventheglimmeringsofthatwhichisadmirable,thefacewillbeinpartredeemed.

Butifbysomehappymiracle,asintheinstanceoftheoriginalUndine,amindcanbeawakenedthatwillgraduallyprepareaplaceforthesoulofatruewoman,Ishallaccomplishthebestworkofmylife,evenestimatedfromanartisticpointofview.Possibly,formyreward,shewillpermitmetopaintherportraitasasouvenirofoursummer"sacquaintance."

ItdidnottakeVanBerglongtocompletehisarrangementsforleavingtown.HewrotealinetohisfriendStanton,sayingthatheproposedspendingafewweeksinthevicinityoftheHighlandsontheHudson,andthathecouldnotsaywhenhewouldbeathisroomsorathomeagain.Theafternoonofthefollowingdayfoundhimapassengeronafleetsteamboat,andfullybentuponcarryingouthisoddartisticfreak.

ChapterIV.AParthianArrow.

As,inthequietJuneevening,HaroldVanBergglidedthroughtheshadowsoftheHighlands,therecameaslightchangeoverhisspiritofphilosophicalandartisticexperiment.Theseasoncomportedwithhisearlymanhood,andthewitchinghourandthescenerywerenotconducivetocoldphilosophy.Hewhopridedhimselfonhissteadypulseandadevotiontoartsoabsorbingthatitevenpromptedhisimpulsesandgavecharactertohisrecreation,wasledtofeel,onthisoccasion,thathismistresswasvagueandshadowy,andtohalfwishforthatcompanionshipwhichthemostself-reliantnatureshavecravedattimes,eversincemanfirstfelt,andGodknew,thatitwas"notgoodforhimtobealone."Ifhecouldturnfromthebeautyofthesun-tippedhillsandrocksandthegloamingshadowstoanappreciativeandsympatheticface,suchashecouldatleastimaginethevisageofIdaMayhewmightbecome,wouldnothisenjoymentofthebeautyhesawbedoublyenhanced?Inhisdeepestconsciousnesshewascompelledtoadmitthatitwould.Hecaughtaglimpseofthetruththathewouldneverattaininhishighestmanhooduntilhehadalliedhimselftoawomanhoodwhichheshouldcometobelievesupremelytrueandbeautiful.

Theringingofthebellannouncedhislanding,andinthehurryandbustleoflookingafterhisluggageandobtainingaticketwhichhehadforgottentoprocure,hespeedilybecameagain,intheworld"sestimation,andperhapsinhisown,apractical,sensibleman.Anhourortwo"srideamonghehillsbroughthimatlasttotheLakeHouse,whereheselectedaroomthathadafineprospectofthemountains,thefardistantriver,andtheadjacentopencountry,engagingitonlyforabrieftimesothathemightdepartwhenhechose,incasetheobjectofhispursuitshouldnotappear,orheshouldwearyoftheeffort,ordespairofitssuccess.

Afewdayspassed,butthefacewhichhadsohauntedhisfancypresentednoactualappearance.Thescenery,however,wasbeautiful,theweathersoperfect,andheenjoyedhisramblesamongthehillsandhisexcursionsonthewatersothoroughlythathewasalreadygrowingslightlyforgetfulofhispurposeandsatisfiedthathecouldenjoyhimselfafewweekswithoutthezestofartisticallyredeemingthefaceofIdaMayhew.Butoneday,whileatdinner,heoverheardsomegossipconcerninga"greatbelle"whowastocomethatevening,andheatoncesurmisedthatitwasthefairstrangerhehadseenattheconcert.

Atthetime,therefore,ofthearrivaloftheeveningstageheobservantlypuffedhiscigarinacornerofthepiazza,andwassoonrewardedbyseeingtheobjectofhiscontemplatedexperimentstepoutofthevehicle,withtheairygraceandconfidenceofonewhoregardseachnewabiding-placeasasceneofcomingpleasuresandconquests,andwhofeelssureeveryglancetowardherisoneofadmiration.Therewereeyes,however,thatnoteddisapprovinglyherjauntyself-assuranceandself-assertion,andwhenshemetthoseeyeshercomplacencyseemeddisturbedatonce,forsheflushedandpromptlyturnedherbackuponthem.Infact,fromthetimeshehadfirstseenVanBerg"sfrowningfaceithadbeenadisagreeablememory,andnowhereitwasagainandfrowningstill.Althoughhesatatadistancefromthelanding-place,hereyesseemeddrawntowardshisasifbysomefascination,andshealreadyhadthefeelingthatwheneverhewaspresentshewouldbeconsciousofhiscool,criticalobservation.

VanBerghadscarcelytimetonotearatherstoutandoverdressedpersonemergefromthestage,howwasevidentlytheyounglady"smother,whenIkStanton,withhisbaysandalightcountrywagon,dasheduptothemainentrance.StantonwasanelementintheartisticproblemthatVanBerghadnotbargainedfor,andwhatinfluencehewouldhave,friendlyoradverse,onlytimecouldshow.

WhileStantonwasaccompanyinghisauntandcousintotheregister,asthegentlemanoftheparty,theyoungladysaidtohim:

"Thathorridartistfriendofyoursishere.Iwishhehadn"tcome.Didyoutellhimwewerecominghere?"

"No,"ponmyhonor."