第3章

"Ihavebelieveyoudid.IfsoI"llneverforgiveyou,fortheverysightofhimspoilseverything."

"Comenow,Coz,bereasonable.FromalltheindicationsIhaveseen,VanBergisthelastmantofollowyouhereoranywhereelse,eventhoughheknewofyourprospectivemovements.Heishere,asscoresofothersare,forhisownpleasure.Sofollowyourmothertoyourroom,smoothyourruffledplumageandcomedowntosupper."

EvenMissMayhew"segotismcouldfindnofaultwithsoreasonableanexplanation,andshewentpoutingupthestairwayinanythingbutacomplacentmood.

Stantonsteppedoutuponthepiazzatogreethisfriend,saying:

"Why,Van,itisanunexpectedpleasuretofindyouhere."

"Iwasequallyandquiteasagreeablysurprisedtoseeyoudrivetothedoor.IfyoucousinhadnotcomeImighthavehelpedyouexerciseyourbays.Iamdoingsomesketchinginthevicinity."

"Mycousinshallnotkeepyoufrommanyanidlehourbehindthebays——thatis,ifyouwillnotcarryyourantipathysofarastocutmeonaccountofmyrelationship."

"I"mnotconsciousofanyantipathyforMissMayhew,"repliedVanBerg,withaslightshrug.

"Oh,onlyindifference!Well,ifyouwillbothmaintainthatattitudetherewillbenotroubleaboutthebaysoranythingelse.

I"llsmokewithyouaftersupper."

"Sheevidentlyhasanantipathyforme,"musedVanBerg."Stanton,nodoubt,hastoldherofmyuncomplimentaryremarks,andpossiblyofthefactthatIdeclinedanintroduction.That"sawkward,forifIshouldnowasktobepresentedtoher,shewouldverynaturallydecline,andsowemightdriftintosomethingascloselyresemblingaquarrelasispossibleinthecaseoftwopeoplewhohaveneverspokentoeachother."

Heconcludedthatitwouldbebesttoleavetochancetheoccasionwhichshouldplacethemonspeakingterms,andtriedtopersuadehimselfthatherunpromisingattitudetowardshimwasnotwhollyunfavorabletohispurpose.Henevercouldhopetoaccomplishanythingwithoutatfirstpiquingherprideandwoundinghervanity.

Hisonlyfearwasthatthishadbeendonetooeffectually,andthatfromfirsttolastshewouldsimplydetesthim.

Inhispreoccupationheforgotthatthesupperhourwaspassing,butatlaststartedhastilyforhisroom.Asherapidlyturnedasharpcornerhenearlyranintotwoladieswhowerecomingfromanoppositedirection,andlookingupsawMrs.Mayhewandtheflushed,resentfulfaceofherdaughter.Inspiteofhimselfoureven-pulsedphilosopherflushedalso,butinstantlyremovinghishatheejaculated:

"Ibegyourpardon,"andpassedon.

AsIdajoinedhercousinatthesupper-tableshewhisperedexultantly:

"Hehasspokentome."

"Whohasspokentoyou?"

"Yourartist-bear."

"Howdidthathappen?"

"Well,henearlyranoverme——horridthing!Isupposethat"sanotherofhispeculiarways."

"Didheembraceyou?"

"Embraceme!Goodheavens,whatanescapeIhavehad!Sothistooischaracteristicofyourfriend?"

"Yousaidhewasabear.Ifso,heshouldhavegivenyouahugonthefirstopportunity."

"Hedidn"thaveanopportunity,andheneverwill."

"Poorfellow!ItwillmakehimsickifItellhimso.Well,sinceitisanothercaseofbeautyandthebeast,whatdidthebeastsay?"

"Hesaidthatitwasveryproperheshouldsaytomeafterallhishatefulness.Hesaid,"Ibegyourpardon.""

"AndthenIsupposeyoukissedandmadeup."

"Hush,youhorridthing.InoticedhimnomorethanIwouldachairthatImighthavestumbledover."

"Thusdisplayingthatsweettraitofyours——Charity.ButIthoughtitwashethatstumbledoveryou?"

"Amusty,miserablepun!Itwashe,andI"mdelighteditsohappened,thatthefirsttimeheeverspoketomehehadtoaskmypardon."

"Well,well!I"mgladitsohappened,too,andthattheiceisbrokenbetweenyou,forVanBergisagoodfriendofmine,anditwouldbeconfoundedlydisagreeabletohaveyoutwoloweringateachotheracrossabloodychasmofdark,revengefulthoughts."

"Theiceisn"tbrokenatall.Hehasbeggedmypardonasheoughttodoahundredtimes;butIhaven"tgrantedit,andIneverwill.

What"smore,I"llneverspeaktohiminallmylife;never,never!"

"Swearitbythe"inconstantmoon"!"

"Hush,herehecomes.Ah,"peste!"histableisrightoppositeours."

"Whoisthattallandratherdistinguished-lookinggentlemanthatjustentered?"askedMrs.Mayhew,suddenlyemergingfromapre-occupationwithhersupperwhichagoodappetitehadinduced.

"HeISdistinguished,orwillbe.He"saparticularfriendofIda"s,andisasrichasCroesus."

"Threeitemsinhisfavor,"saidMrs.Mayhewcomplacently;"butIdahassomanyfriends,orbeaux,rather,thatIcan"tkeeptrackofthem.Herfriendsspeedilybecomefurnace-likelovers,orelseescapefortheirlivesintothedimandremoteregionofmerebowingacquaintanceship.Ioncetriedtokeepalistofthevariousandvariegatedgentlemenwithredwhiskersandblackwhiskers,withwhiskerssandy,brown,andoccasionallyalmostwhite,butborrowingagoldenhuefromtheirpurses,thatappearedanddisappearedsorapidly,astoalmostmakemedizzy.IwasaboutasbewilderedasthepoorIndianwhosoughttotakethecensusofLondonbynotchingastickforeverypasser-byhemet.Andnowbeforewearethroughsupperonthefirsteveningofourarrival,anotherappears,whoisevidentlyaneligible"parti"andtwiceasgoodastheminxdeserves;butinafewdayshe,too,willvanishintothinair,andanotheranddifferentstyleofmanwilltakehisplace.Markmywords,Ida,youwillbethroughthewoodsbeforelong,andI

expectyouwilltakeupwiththecrookedestofcrookedsticksonthefartherside,"andthevolubleMrs.Mayhewresumedhersupperwithazestwhichthisdismalprospectdidnotbyanymeansimpair.

"IfIwereinsearchofacrabbed,crookedstick,Iwouldnothavetolookfartherthanyondertable,"saidtheyounglady,petulantly.

"Whatyousupposeaboutthatdabblerinpaintisaboutasfarfromthetruthasyoursketchofthosewhoaremyfriends.Thatmanneverwasmyfriend,andnevershallbe.Idon"twantyoutogetacquaintedwithhimorspeaktohim.Youmustnotintroducehimtome,forifyoudo,Ishallberudetohim."

"Hoity-toity!what"sthematter?"

"Idon"tlikehim.OnlyIkthinkshe"swonderful.Hehasprobablyblindedourcousintohisfaultsbypaintingaflatteringlikenessofthevainyouthhere."

"Butinsuggestinganotherportraitthatwasnotaltogetherpleasing,hesinnedbeyondhope,"whisperedStanton.

Idabitherlipandfrowned,recallingtheobnoxiousartist"sportraitofherselfasgigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven"ssymphonies;andshesaidspitefully:

"Hecanneverhopeforanythingfromme."

"Poor,hopelesswretch!"groanedStanton."Howcanhesiphisteayondersocomplacentlyobliviousofhisdoom?"

"Mother,I"minearnest,"resumedthedaughter."Ihavereasonsfordislikingthatman,andIdonotwishtheannoyanceofhisacquaintance."

"Well,well,"saidMrs.Mayhew;"aslongasthewindblowsfromthatcoolquarter,wecankeepcooltillitchanges.IfImistakenot,heisthesamegentlemanwhometusinthecorridor.I"msurehehasfinemanners."

"Ifitisfinemannersinamantonearlyrunovertwoladies,heisperfect.ButIamsickofhearingabouthim,andespeciallyofseeinghim.Iinsist,Ik,thatyouhaveourtablechangedtoyondercorner,andthenarrangeitsothatIcansitwithmybacktowardshim."

"IamyourCaliban,butwouldhint,myamiableCoz,thatyoushouldnotbiteoffyourownprettynoseinspite.Mustallyourkinjoininthisbitterfeud?MayInotsmokewithmyancientfamiliar?"

"Oh,beoff,andifyouandyourfrienddisappearlikeyourcigars,theworldwillsurvive."

"Ifearitisbecausemyfriendwillneverdissolveinsighsthatyouaresowillingheshouldendinsmoke."

HavingwingedthisParthianarrowoverhisshoulder,StantonstrolledoutonthepiazzawhitherVanBerghadprecededhim.

ChapterV.Spite.

MissMayhewapparentlyhadnotgivenasingleglancetotheartist,ashesatoppositetoherandbutalittleoutofearshot.Indeed,sowelldidshesimulateunconsciousnessofhispresence,thatwereifnotforanoccasionalglancefromMrs.Mayhewhemighthavethoughthimselfunnoticed;butsomethinginthatlady"smanner,ascaughtbyoccasionalglances,ledhimtosuspectthathewasthesubjectoftheirconversation.

ButIda"sindifferencewas,intruth,onlyseeming;foralthoughsheneverlookeddirectlyathim,shesubjectedhisimage,whichwasconstantlyflittingacrosstheretinaofhereye,totheclosestscrutiny,andnoactorexpressionofhisescapedher.Shewaspiquedbythefactthatheshowednodisturbedconsciousnessofherpresence,andthathisglancewasoccasionallyasfreeandnaturaltowardsherastowardsanyotherguestofthehouse.Hisbearingannoyedherexcessively,foritseemedaneasyandquietassertionofindifferenceandsuperiority——twomanifestationsthatweretoherasobjectionableasunusual.Neitherinlooksnormannerdidsheappearveryagreeableduringthebrieftimeshespentinthepublicparlors.Theguestsofthehouse,eventotheladieswhoforesawaneclipseoftheirowncharms,werecompelledtoadmitthatshewasverypretty;butitwasageneralremarkthatherfacedidnotmakeorleaveapleasantimpression.

VanBergsurmisedthatStanton"sdispositiontoteazeandbanterwouldleadhimtorepeatand,perhaps,distort,anythinghemightsayconcerningtheyounglady,sohemadenoreferencewhatevertotheMayhews,buttookpainstogivetheimpressionthathewasdeeplyinterestedinthescenery.

"Ishallprobablybeoffwithmysketch-bookbeforeyouareup,"hesaid;"forifIremembercorrectly,youareupwiththelarkonlywhenyouhavebeenupover-night."

"Youarethegreatersinnerofthetwo,"yawnedStanton;"forifI

occasionallykeepunseasonablehoursatnight,youdosohabituallyinthemorning.Eitheryouarenotasbrilliantasusualthisevening,orelsethecountryairmakesmedrowsy.Good-night.Wewilltakearideto-morrow,andyoucansketchfivemilesoffenceifyoufindthatyoucannotresistyourmaniaforwork."

PerhapsStantonHADfoundhisfriendslightlypreoccupied,for,inspiteoftheconstrainthehadputuponhimselftoappearasusual,thissecondandcloserviewofthefacewhichhadtakensostrongaholduponhisfancydidnotdissipatehisfirstimpressions.

Indeed,theyweredeepenedrather,forhesawagainandmoreclearlythesamemarvellouscapabilitiesinthefeatures,andalsotheirexasperatingfailuretomakeabeautifulface.

Hedreamedoverhisprojectsomelittletimeafterhisfriendhadretired,andtheconclusionofhisreverywas:

"Imustsoonmakesomeprogressinmyexperimentorelsedecamp,forthatgirl"scontradictoryfaceisaconstantincentivetoprofanity."

AfterseeingMrs.Mayhew,however,hefeltthatjusticerequiredhimtoadmitthatthedaughterwasanaturalandlogicalsequence;

andinthemotherhesawanelementmorehopelesslyinartisticanddishearteningthananythinginthegirlherself;forevenifthelattercouldbechanged,wouldnottheshadowofthestoutanddressymothereverfallathwartthepicture?

VanBergretiredwiththefeelingthathisprojectofilluminatingafacebyawakeningamindthat,asyet,hadslept,didnotpromiseverybrilliantly.

MissMayhewtriedtopersuadeherselfthatitwasareliefnottoseethecriticalartistatbreakfast,nortomeethimasshestrolledfromtheparlorstothepiazzaandthencetothecroquet-ground,whereshelistlesslydeclinedtotakepartinagame.

Therewas,intruth,greatneedthathermindshouldbeawakenedandherwholenatureradicallychanged,ifitwereapossiblething,——aneedshownbythefactthefairJunemorning,withitsfragranceandbeauty,couldnotlightupherfacewithitsownfreshnessandgladness.Thevariousnotesofthebirdswereonlysounds;thelandscape,seenforthefirsttime,waslikethemapofSwitzerland,that,inthedaysofhergeographylessons,gaveherasvividanideaofthecountryasadrysermondoesofheaven.

Althoughherearsandeyesweresopretty,shewas,inthedeepestandtruestsenseoftheword,deafandblind.Thelackofsomepettyandcongenialexcitementmadetimehangheavilyonherhandsandcloudedherfacewith"ennui.""

Evenhercousinhadfailedher,forhewasdownatthestables,makingarrangementsforthecareofhisbaysandhiscarriage.Thusfromveryidlenessshefelltonursinghersmallspiteagainstthemanwhosevoicehadmadesuchharshdiscordwiththehoneyedchorusofflatterytowhichshewasaccustomed.Shewishedthathewouldappear,andthatinsomewayshemightshowhowlittleshecaredforhimorhisopinion;butashedidnot,sheatlastloungedtoherroomandsoughttokillafewhourswithanovel.

Herwoundedpride,however,inducedhertodressquiteelaboratelyfordinner;forshehadfaithinnobetterwayofassertingherpersonalitythanthataffordedbythetoilet.Shewouldteachhim,bytheadmirationsheexcitedinothers,howmistakenhehadbeeninhisestimate,andhervanitywhisperedthatevenhecouldnotlookuponherbeautyforanylengthoftimewithoutbeingwonbyitassomanyothershadbeen.

Thechangeofseatshavingbeeneffected,shescarcelythoughtitnecessarytoturnherbackuponhimwhilesittingatsuchadimdistance.Indeedshewasinclinedtoregretthechange,fornowhertoiletandlittleairs,whichsheimaginedtobesopretty,wouldbelostuponhim.

Itwouldseemthattheywere,forVanBergatehisdinnerasquietly,andchattedasunconcernedlytothoseabouthimasifshehadnoexistence.Neverhadamanignoredhersocompletelybefore,andshefeltthatshecouldneverforgivehim.

Aftertheeventofthedaywasover,andtheguestswerecirclingandeddyingthroughthehallsandparlorsandoutonthepiazza,IdastillhadtheannoyanceofobservingthatVanBergwasutterlyobliviousofherasfarasshecouldperceive.Hespokehereandtherewiththeeaseandfreedomofonefamiliarwithsociety,andshesawmoreeyesfollowinghistallformapprovinglythanwereturnedtowardsherself.Fewgentlemenremainedatthehouseduringtheweek,andMissMayhewwasnotafavoritewithherownsex.

Thosewhomostcloselyresembledherincharacterenviedratherthanadmiredher,andthosewhowerebetterendowedanddevelopedfoundfaultevenwithherbeautyfromamoralpointofview,asVanBerghadonartisticgrounds.Sheconsoledherself,however,withthethoughtthatitwasSaturday,andthattheeveningboatandtrainswouldbringanumberofgentlemen,amongwhomshetoldStanton,exultantly,thatshehad"somefriends"——mothsratherwhosewingswereindangerofbeingsinged.

Astheafternoonwasnotsultry,Stantonhadsaidtohisfriendthattheycouldenjoytheircigarsandarideatthesametime,andthathewoulddrivearoundforhiminafewminutes.Idaoverheardtheremark,and,quietlyslippingofftoherroom,returnedwithherhatandshawl.Ashercousinapproachedshehasteneddownthesteps,pastVanBerg,exclaiming:

"Oh,thankyou,Ik!Howgoodofyou!Iwasdyingforaride.

Don"ttroubleyourself.Icangetinwithoutaid,"andshespranglightlyintothebuggybeforehercousincouldutteraword.

Heturnedwithalookofcomicdismayanddeprecationtohisfriend,whostoodlaughingonthesteps.Ida,also,couldnotresistherinclinationtocatchaglimpseoftheartist"schagrinanddisappointment,butshewasprovokedbeyondmeasuretofindhimactingasifStantonwerethevictimratherthanhimself.Asthesweepoftheroadagainbroughttheminviewofthepiazza,thisimpressionwasconfirmedbyseeingVanBergstrollcarelesslyaway,complacentlypuffinghiscigarasifhehadalreadydismissedherfromhismind.

"Really,"grumbledStanton,"Ineverhadbeautyandhappinessthrustuponmesounexpectedlybefore."

"Verywellthen,"retortedIda;"stopyourhorsesandthrustmeoutintotheroad.I"drathergoback,evenifIhavetowalk."

"Oh,no!thereistobenogoingbackfortwohoursormore.I

oncecuredahorseofrunningawaybymakinghimrunlongafterhewantedtostop."

"Youseemtobelearningyourfriend"shatefulmanners."

"Iaskedyouthismorningifyouwouldtakeadrive,andyoudeclined."

"Ichangedmymind."

"Veryabruptly,indeed,itseemed.Sinceyoutooksomuchtoubletoannoymyfriend,it"sapityyoufailed."

"Idon"tbelieveIfailed.He"sprobablyascrossasyouareaboutit,onlyhecankeepittohimself."

"Dove-likecreatiah!thanks.WillyoupleasedrivewhileIlightacigar?"

"Idon"tlikeanyonetosmokeasnearmeasyouare."

"IfyourtheoryinregardtoVanBergiscorrect,noneofuswillenjoywhatwelikethisafternoon.OfcourseIneversmokewithoutalady"spermission,butunlessquietedbyacigar,Iamaveryrecklessdriver,"andheenforcedhiswordsbyasharpcrackofthewhip,whichsentthehorsesofflikethewind.

"Oh,stopthem;smoke;doanythinghatefulyouwish,soyoudon"tbreakmyneck.Iwillneverridewithyouagain,andIwishIhadnevercometothishorridplace;andifyoursneeringpainterdoesnotleavesoon,Iwill."

"I"mafraidVanwouldsurvive,andyouonlysufferfromyourspite.

Butcome,sinceyouhavesosweetlypermittedmetosmoke,I"llmakeyourpenanceaslightaspossible,andthenwewillconsidermattersevenbetweenus,"andawaytheybowledupbreezyhillsanddownintoshadyvalleys,Stantonstolidlysmoking,andIdanursingherpettywrath.Twoflittingghostshasteningtoescapefromthelightofday,couldnothaveseenless,orhavefeltlesssympathywiththewarmbeautifulscenesthroughwhichtheywerepassing.

Thereisnoinsulationsoperfectasthatofsmall,selfishnaturespreoccupiedwithapique.

When,lateintheafternoon,hercousin,withmockpoliteness,assistedhertoalightattheentranceofthehotel,Idawascompelledtofeelthatshehadindeedbeenthechiefvictimofherownspite.

but,withtheusuallogicofhumannature,sheneverthoughtofblamingherself,andherresentmentwaschieflydirectedagainstthemanwhoseeverywordandglance,althoughhewasbutastranger,hadseemedtopossessapowertoannoyandwoundfromthefirst.

Shefeltanalmostvenomousdesiretoretaliate;butheappearedinvulnerableinhisquietandeasysuperiority,whileshe,whoexpected,asamatterofcourse,thatallmasculinethoughtsshouldfollowheradmiringly,hadbeencompelledtoseethathiscriticaleyeshaddetectedthatinherwhichhadawakenedhiscontempt.

"I"llteachhimthisevening,whenmygentlemenfriendsarrive,howridiculousarehisairs,"shemuttered,asshewenttoherroomandsoughttoenhanceherbeautybyalltheartsofwhichshewasthemistress."I"llshowhimthatthereareplentywhocanseewhathecannot,orwillnot.Becauseheisanartist,heneednotthinkhecanfacemeoutoftheknowledgeofmybeauty,theexistenceofwhichIhavebeenassuredofbysomanyeyesandtongueseversinceIcanremember."

Whenshecamedowntoawaitthearrivalofthestagesandcarriages,shewasindeedradiantwithallthebeautyofwhichshewasthencapable.Herneckandshoulders,withtheirexquisitelinesandcurves,weremoresuggestivelyrevealedthanhiddenbyaslightdraperyofgauze-likeillusion,andherwhiteroundedarmswerebare.Shetrodwiththelightairygraceofyouth,andyetwiththeassuredmannerofonewhoislookingforwardtothefamiliarexperiencesofareigningbelle.

VanBerg,fromhisquietcornerofobservation,wascompelledtoadmitthat,seenatherpresentdistance,shealmostembodiedhisbestdreams,andmightdosowhollyweretherelessofthefashionableartofthehour,andmoreofnatureinherappearance.Butheknewwellthatifshecamenearer,andspokesoastorevealherself,thefataldefectinherbeautywouldbeasapparentasablacklinerunningathwartthesculpturedfaceofaGreekgoddess.Theonlyquestionwithhimwas,didtheominousdeformityliesonearthesurfacethatitcouldberefinedaway,orwasitingrainedintotheverymaterialofhernature,thusforminganessentialpartofherself?Hefearedthatthelattermightbetrue,orthattheremedywasfarbeyondhisskillorpower;buteveryglancehecaughtofthegirl,aswithhermothershepacedthefartherendofthepiazza,deepenedhisregret,asanartist,thatsomuchbeautyshouldbeindegradingbondagetoaseemingfool.

ChapterVI.RecklessWordsandDeeds.

Lightcarriagesnowbegantowheelrapidlyuptotheentrance,andwerefollowedsoonbythelumberingandheavily-ladenstages.

Joyousgreetingsandmerryreparteemadethescenepleasanttowitnessevenbyonewho,likeVanBerg,hadnopartinit.Stanton,whoatthismomentjoinedhim,drewhisspecialattentiontoathinandunder-sizedgentlemansomewhatpastmiddleage,whomountedthestepswithatreadthatwasasinelasticashisfacewasdevoidofanimation.

"ThereispoorUncleMayhew,"remarkedtheyoungmanindifferently.

"IsupposeImustgoandspeaktohim."

"Mr.Mayhew?"saidVanBerg,insomesurprise."Youhavenotspokenofhimbefore.Iwasnotawarethattherewasanysuchpersoninexistence."

"Youarenottoblameforthat,"repliedStantonwithashrug.