第4章

"Youmighthavebeenoneofthefriendsofthefamilyandscarcelyhavelearnedthefact.Indeed,poorman,heonlyabouthalfexists,forhehasbeensolongovershadowedbyhisfashionablewifeanddaughter,thatheisbutasicklyplantofaman."

VanBergsawthatthegreetingreceivedbyMr.Mayhewfromhiswifeanddaughterwasveryundemonstrativetosaytheleast,andthatthenthegentlemanquicklydisappeared,asiffearingthathemightbeintheway.

"Frommyverylimitedmeansofjudging,"VanBergremarked,"I

cannotseeanythingmoreobjectionableintheheadofthefamilythanintheothermembers."

"Yourphrase,"headofthefamily,"asappliedtoMr.Mayhew,makesmesmile.Hisnamefiguresattheheadofthelargefamilybills,butscarcelyelsewherewithmuchprominence.Youwillsoonlearn,ifyouremainhere,thatMr.Mayhewimbibesrathermorethanisgoodforhim,soImayaswellmentionthedisagreeablefactatonce.Buttodothepoormanjustice,Isupposehedrinkstokeephisspiritsuptotheordinarylevel,ratherthanfromanyhopeofbecomingalittlejollyoccasionally.WhymyauntmarriedhimIscarcelyknow;andyetIhaveoftenthoughtthathemightbeaverydifferentdidshenotsoquenchhimbyamannerallherown.

Asitis,hislifeseemstoconsistoftoilingandmoilingalltheweek,andofstolidlyandjoylesslysoakinghimselfintosemi-stupidityonSunday.ItthiswretchedstateofaffairscouldbekeptsecretIwouldnotmentioniteventoyou,myintimatefriend;but,sinceitcontinuesnosecretwherevertheyhappentoremainforanylengthoftime,Iwouldrathertellyoutheexacttruthatonce,thanpermityoutoguessatitthroughdistortedrumors.Asyouartistsoccasionallyexpressyourselvesconcerningpictures,soIsupposeyouwillthinkthatthisfamily,withallitswealthisquitelackingintone."

"Well,Stanton,ImustadmitthatIfindmyselfchieflyinclinedtowardsthesubduedandneutral-tintedMr.Mayhew.IfyouhaveachanceIwishyouwouldintroducemetohim."

"Areyouinearnest?"

"Certainly."

"ThenI"llaskhimtosmokewithusaftersupper.Well,Van,Icongratulateyouagainthatyourcorrectandcultivatedtasteenabledyoutoseethefatalflawinmycousin"sbeauty.Ifyouhadbeenbewitchedbyher,andhadinsistedonimagining(assomanyothershavedone)thatherfaultlessfeatureswerethereflexofwhatsheisorcouldbecomeinmindandcharacter,Imighthavehadagooddealoftroublewithyou;foryouareamulishfellowwhenyougetapurposeinyourhead.Idon"tcarehowbadlysingedtheaveragerunofmothsbecome.Youmayseetwoorthreeflutteringaroundto-night,ifyoucaretolookon,butIwishnofriendofminetomakesport,atseriouscosttohimself,foryonderincorrigiblecoquette,ifsheismycousin.Butafterwhatyouhaveseenandnowknow,youwouldbesafeenough,evenifpredisposedtofolly.Thelittleminx!butIpunishedherwellforherspitethisafternoon."

"OmostprudentUlysses!youhaveindeedfilledmyearswithwax.

Ithankyouallthesameasifmydangerweregreater."

"Well,viewthemallwithsuchcharityasyoucan.Ihopeyouwerenotverymuchannoyedbythelossofyourride.Theyoungladywillnotbeinahurrytoplaysuchatrickagain.I"lljoinyouaftersupperinthisyourfavoriteandout-of-the-waycorner."

"Wasbeautyeverenvironedwithinandwithoutbysuchdesperatelyprosaicandinartisticsurroundings?"musedVanBerg."Itglistenslikealostjewelinanash-barrel;or,morecorrectly,itislikeanexquisiteflowerthatnaturehasperverselymadetheoutcomeofarankandpoisonousvine.Ofcoursetheflowerispoisonousalso,andassoonasitsfirstdelicatebloomisover,willgrowasrankandrepulsiveasthevinethatbearsit.Likeproduceslike;andwithsuchparentage,whathopeisthereforher?Iamgladnoonesuspectsmyabsurdproject;foreveryhourconvincesmeofitsimpracticability.TheancientUndinewasamyth,andmymodernUndinemightbecalledawhitelie,butonethatwillgrowdarkereveryday.Atadistanceshepresentsthesemblanceofaveryfairwoman,butIhavebeenunabletodetectasingleelementyetthatwillpreventherfromdevelopingintoanoldanduglyhag,inspiteofallthatartandcostumecandoforher."

AftersupperStantonbroughtMr.MayhewtoVanBerg"sretirednook,andtheartistgavethehandoftheweary,listlessmansuchacordialpressureastocausehimaslightsurprise,butaftersatisfyinghisfaintinterestbyabriefglance,heturnedthebackofhischairtowardsallthegaycompany,althoughitcontainedhiswifeanddaughter,puffedmechanicallyathiscigar,andlookedvacantlyintospace.Beforetheeveningwasover,however,Vanberghaddrawnfromhimseveralquiteanimatedremarks,andsecuredthepromisethathewouldjoinhimandStantoninarambleimmediatelyafterbreakfastthefollowingmorning.

Norhadtheyoungmanbeenobliviousofthedaughterwhonowseemedinhernativeelement.Fromhisduskypointofobservationhecaughtfrequentglimpsesofher,nowwhirlingthroughawaltzintheparlor,nowtalkingandlaughinginaratherpronouncedwayfromthemidstofagroupofgentlemen,andagaincoquettishlystealingoffwithoneofthemthroughthemoonlitwalks.Hermanner,whetherassumedorreal,wasthatofextravagantgaiety.Occasionallysheseemedtoglancetowardstheirobscurecorner,butneithershenorhermothercametoseekthemanwhohadbeentoilingalltheweektomaintaintheiridleluxury.

AsMrs.Mayhewandherdaughterwerepreparingfordinneronthefollowingday,Mr.Mayhewenteredwithabriskerstepthanusual.

"Why,father,wherehaveyoubeen?"Idaasked,surprisedbythefactthathehadnotbeendrinkinganddozinginhisroomallthemorning.

"IhavebeenshownaglimpseofsomethingthatIhavenotseenformanyyears."

"Indeed,andwhatisthat?"

"Beautythatseemedbeautiful."

"That"sacomplimenttous,"remarkedMrs.Mayhew,acidly.

"Imeanthekindofbeautywhichdoesonegoodandmakesamanwishthathewereaman."

"Doyoumeananunmarriedman?"saidhiswifewithadiscordantlaugh.

"Probablyyourownwishessuggestedthatspeech,madam,"repliedthehusband,bitterly.

"Andpray,wheredidyoufindsomuchbeauty?"saidMrs.Mayhew,ignoringhislastremark.

"Onabreezyhill-side.It"sakindofbeauty,too,thatonecanenjoywithoutpayingnumberlessbillsforitsenhancement.Irefertothatofthescenery."

"Oh,"remarkedMrs.Mayhew,indifferently;"itwouldhavebeenmoretoyourcreditifyouhadgonetochurchinsteadoftrampingaroundthefields."

"Ithinkthefieldshavedonemoreformethanchurchforyou."

"Whyso?"wasthesharpresponse.

"Theyhaveatleastkeptmefromindulginginonebadhabit.Iamsober."

"Theydonotkeepyoufrommakingill-naturedremarks,"saidMrs.

Mayhew,sailingoutoftheroomfullybedizenedforthesolemnityofdinner.

"Yousayyouwere"shown"allthisbeauty,"remarkedIda,whowasgivingthefinishingtouchestohertoiletbeforealargemirror,andbywhomthefrequentbickeringsofherparentswerescarcelynoted."Whoofficiatedasshowman?"

"Amanwhounderstandsthebeautiesofalandscapesowellthathecouldmakethemvisibleeventomydimeyes,andattractivetomydeadenedandbesottednature.I"dgivealltheworldifIcouldbeyoung,strong,andhopefullikehim,again.Itwasgoodofhim——yes,goodofhim,totrytocheerastrangerwithpleasantthoughtsandsights.IsupposeyouareacquaintedwithMr.VanBerg,sinceheisafriendofIk"s?"

"No,I"mnot,"wasthesharpreply;"nordoIwishtobe."

"Whynot?"askedMr.Mayhewinsomesurprise.

"It"ssufficientthatIdon"tlikehim."

"He"snotyourstyle,Isupposeyoumeantosay?"

"Indeedheisnot."

"Somuchworseforyourstyle,Ida."

Shewassweepingpetulantlyfromtheroomwhenherfatheraddedwithadepthoffeelingveryunlikehiswontedapathy:"O,Ida,itwerebetterthatallthreeofushadneverbeenbornthantoliveaswedo!Yourlifeandyourmother"sisfroth,andmineismud.

HowIhateditallthisbrightJunemorning,asMr.VanBerggavemeaglimpseintoanotherandbetterworld!"

"DoyoumeantosaythatMr.VanBergpresumedtocriticisemymodeoflife?"Idaaskedwithadarkeningface.

"Oh,no,no!Howsmallandegotisticalallyourideasare!Henevermentionedyou,andprobablyneverthoughtofyou.Heonlytookalittlepainsthatatiredanddispiritedmanmightseeandfeeltheeternalbeautyandfreshnessofnature,asonemightgive,inpassing,acupofwatertoatraveller."

"Idon"tseewhatreasonyouhaveforfeelingandappearingsoforlornly,thusaskingforsympathyfromstrangers,asitwere,andcausingittoseemasifweweremakingamartyrofyou.Asforthisartist,withhissuperiorairs,Idetesthim.Heneverlosesachancetoannoyandmortifyme.I"venodoubthehopedyouwouldcomehomeandtellus,asyouhave,howmuchbetterhewasthan——"

"There,there,quitthatkindoftalkorI"llbedrunkinhalfanhour."saidherfather,harshly."Ifyouhadtheheartofawoman,letalonethatofadaughter,youwouldthankthemanwhohadunwittinglykeptmefrommakingabeastofmyselfforonedayatleast.Godowntoyourdinner,I"minnomoodforeating."

Shewentwithoutaword,butwithamoreseverecompunctionofconsciencethanshehadeverfeltbeforeinherlife.Herfather"sfaceandwordssmoteherwithakeenreproach,piercingthethickarmorofhervanityandselfishness.Shesaw,foramoment,howunnaturalandunlovelyshemustappeartohim,inspiteofherbeauty,andthethoughtcrossedhermind:

"Mr.VanBergdespisesmebecauseheseesmeinthesamelight.

HowIhatehiscold,criticaleyes!"

EvenathisfarremoveVanBergcouldseethatshewasillateaseduringthedinnerhour.Therewouldbetimesofforcedandunnaturalgayety,followedbyasuddenclouduponthebrowandanabstractedair,asifherthoughtshadnaughttodowiththechatteringgrouparoundher.Itwouldalsoappearthatherappetitewasflaggingunusually,andonceortwicehethoughtshedartedanangrylooktowardshim.

Asifsomethingwereburdeninghermind,sheatlastleftthetablehastily,beforetheotherswerethroughwiththeirdessert.

Asmaybesurmised,shesoughtherfather"sroom.Receivingnoresponsetoherknock,sheenteredandsawataglancetheconfirmationofherfears.Herfathersatinanarm-chairwithhisheaduponhisbreast.Abrandybottlestoodonthetablebesidehim.Atthesoundofherstephelookedupforamomentwithheavyeyes,andmumbled:

"Heain"tofyourstyle,ishe?Norofmine,either.Frothandmud!"

Idagaveasuddenstampofrageanddisgust,andwhirledfromtheroom.

VanBerghappenedtoseeherasshedescendedtothemainhall-way,andherfacewassorepulsiveastosuggesttohimthelinesfromShakespeare:

"Innaturethere"snoblemish,butthemind;

Nonecanbecalleddeformed,buttheunkind;

Virtueisbeauty;butthebeauteous——evilAreemptytrunks,o"erflourishedbythedevil."

Thatafternoonandeveningherrecklesslevityandopencoquetrysecuredunfavorablecommentnotonlyfromtheartist,butfromothersfarmoreindifferent,whoseattentionshehalfcompelledbyamannerthatdidnotsuggestspringviolets.

VanBergwasdisgusted.Hewaslessversedinhumannaturethanart,anddidnotrecognizeintheforcedandobtrusivegayetytheefforttostiflethevoiceofanarousedconscience.Eventoherbluntedsenseofrightitseemedahatefulanddisgracefultruththatastrangerhadhelpedherfathertowardsmanhood,anthatshehaddestroyedthetransientandsalutaryinfluence.HercomplacencyhadbeendisturbedfromthetimehercousinhadrepeatedVanBerg"sremark,"IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven"sfinestsymphonies;"

andnow,throughanunexpectedchainofcircumstances,shehad,forthefirsttimeinherlife,reachedapointofself-disgustandself-loathing.Suchamoralconditionisevil"sopportunitywhenadispositiontowardspenitenceorreformiseitherabsentorresisted.Thethought,therefore,ofherfather"sdrunkennessthatday,andofherselfastheimmediatecause,madehersowretchedandrecklessthatshetriedtoforgethermiserableselfinexcitement,ashehadinlethargy.Evenhermotherchidedher,askingifshedidnot"remembertheday."

"Indeed,Ishallhaveoccasiontorememberit,"washerambiguousanswer;"butMondaysinthecountryarealwaysblue,andI"lldomyrepentingthen.IfIwereagoodCatholicI"dhuntupapriestto-morrow."

"I"llbeyourfather-confessorto-day,"saidablack-eyedyoungman,twirlinghismustache.

"You,Mr.Sibely?Youwouldleadmeintomorenaughtinessthanyouwouldhelpmeoutof,twiceover.FormyconfessorIwouldchooseanancientmanwhohadhadhisdinner.Whatacomfortablebeliefitis,tobesure!Allonehastodoistobuzzone"ssinsthroughagrating(thatislikeanindefinitenumberofkey-holes)toadozingoldgentlemaninside,andthenawaywithaheartlikeafeather,toloadupagain.I"dblessthemanwhocouldconvertmetoaPapist."

Butshehatedthemanwhohadmadeherfeeltheneedofabsolution,andwhoseemedaninseparablepartofallherdisagreeableexperiences.

Althoughheappearedtoavoidanylocalityinwhichsheremained,sheobservedhiseyesturnedtowardshermorethanoncebeforethedayclosed,anditexasperatedheralmostbeyondallendurancetobelievethattheirexpressionwasonlythatofcontempt.

Shemighthavebeenalittlebetterpleased,perhaps,ifshehadknownthatshemadetheartistalmostasuncomfortableasherself.

Neverbeforehadthereseemedtohimsogreatacontrastbetweenherbeautyandherself,herfeaturesandherface.Thelattercouldnotfailtoexcitehisincreaseddisgust,whiletheformerwassogreatthathefoundhimselfbecomingresolutelybentonredeemingthemfromwhatseemedahorridprofanation.Inaccordancewithoneofhischaracteristics,themoredifficulttheprojectseemed,themoreobstinatelyfixedbecamehispurposetodiscoverwhethershehadamindofsufficientcalibretotransformherintowhatshemightbe,incontrastwithwhatshewas.Themorehesawofherthemorehisinterestasanartist,and,indirectly,asastudentofcharacter,wasdeepened.Ifshehadnomindworthnaminghewouldgivetheproblemuptothesolutionoftime,which,however,promisednothingbutagradualfadingawayofallbeauty,andtheintensifyingofinwarddeformityuntilfullyreproducedinoutwardugliness.

ChapterVII.AnotherFeminineProblem.

EarlyonMondaymorning,Mr.Mayhewhastenedfromthebreakfast-tabletothestage.Hiswifeanddaughterwerenotdowntoseehimoff,andheseemeddesirousofshunningallrecognition.Withtheexceptionthatthathiseyeswereheavyandbloodshotfromhisdebauch,hisfacehadthesamedreary,apatheticexpressionwhichVanBerghadnotedonhisarrival.Andsohewentbacktohiscityoffice,where,fortunatelyforhim,mechanicalroutinebroughtgoldenrewards,sincehewasinnostateforbusinessenterprise.

Fromhisappearance,VanBergcouldnothelpsurmisingwhathadbeenhisconditionthepreviousday.IndeedStanton,withacontemptuousshrug,hadthesameassaidonSabbathevening,thathisunclehad"droppedintotheoldslough."AlthoughneitheroftheyoungmenknewhowgreatanimpetusIdahadgivenherfathertowardssuchdegradation,theybothfeltthatifhiswifeanddaughterhadhadthetacttodetectandappreciatehisbettermood,producedbythemorningramble,theymighthavesustainedhim,andgivenhimatleastonedaythathecouldrememberwithoutshameanddiscouragement.

VanBergfoundsomethingpatheticinMr.Mayhew"swearyanddisheartenedmanner.Itwaslikethatofasoldierwhohassuffereddefeat,butwhogoesonwithhisroutineinamechanical,spiritlessmanner,becausethereisnothingelsetodo.Heseemedtohavenohope,norevenathoughtofretrievingthepastandofreassertinghisownmanhood.Accustomedastheyoungartisthadeverbeentoahouseholdinwhichaffection,alliedtohigh-bredcourtesyandmutualrespect,madeevenhomelydailylifenobleandbeautiful,hecouldnotlookonthediscordantMayhewfamilywiththecharity,ortheindifference,ofthosewhohaveseenmoreofthewrongsideoflife.Hadtherebeenonlypoor,besmirchedMr.Mayhew,andstout,dressy,volubleMrs.Mayhew,hewouldneverhaveglancedtowardsthemthesecondtime;buthisartist"seyeshadfallenonthecontradictorybeingthatlinkedthemtogether.Morallyandmentallysheseemedonewithherparentstock;butherbeauty,insomeofitsaspects,wassomarvellous,thatthedesiretoredeemitfromitshatefulandgrotesqueassociationsgrewstrongereveryhour.

Instead,therefore,ofgoingoffuponsolitaryrambles,ashehaddonehitherto,hemingledmorefrequentlyintheamusementsoftheguestsofthehouse,withthehopehewouldthusbebroughtsooftenincontactwiththesubjectofhisexperiment,thatherpiquewouldwearawaysufficientlytopermitthemtomeetonsomethinglikefriendlyterms.

Asfarastheotherguestswereconcerned,hehadnottrouble.

Theywelcomedhimtocroquet,towalkingandboatingexcursions,andtotheireveninggamesandpromenades.Suchoftheladiesasdancedwerepleasedtosecurehimasapartner.Indeed,fromthedearthofgentlemenduringtheweek,hesoonfoundhimselfmoreindemandthanhecaredtobe,andsawthateventhelandlordwasbeginningtorelyuponhimtokeepupastateofpleasurableeffervescenceamonghispatrons.Hislanguidfriend,Stanton,wasnotalittlesurprised,andatlastremarked:

"Why,Van,whathascomeoveryou?Ineversawyouintheroleofasocietyfellowbefore!"

Buthisunwontedcourtesiesseemedwhollyinvain.Hepropitiatedandwonallsaveone,andthatonewasthesoleobjectofhiseffort.

Whileallotherssmiled,herfaceremainedcoldandaverted.Indeedshetooksuchpainstoignoreandavoidhim,thatitwasgenerallyrecognizedthattherewasadifferencebetweenthem,andofcoursetherewasanendlessamountofgossipingsurmise.Asthehostilityseemedwhollyonthelady"sside,VanBergappearedtothebetteradvantage,andIdawasallthemoreprovokedassherecognizedthefact.

Shenowbegantowishthatshehadtakenadifferentcourse.AsVanBergpursuedhispresenttactics,herfeminineintuitionwasnotsodullbutthatshewasledtobelievehewishedtomakeheracquaintance.Ofcoursetherewas,tohermind,butoneexplanationofthisfact——hewasbecomingfascinated,likesomanyothers.

"IfIwereonlyonspeakingandflirtingterms,"shethought(thetworelationswereaboutsynonymousinherestimation),"Imightdrawhimontoapointwhichwouldgivemeachanceofpunishinghimfarmorethanisnowpossiblebysullenlykeepingaloof.Asitis,itlookstothesepeoplehereasifhehadjiltedmeinsteadofIhim,andthatIamsulkingoverit."

Butshehadentangledherselfinthesnarlofherownpreviouswordsandmanner.Shehadchargedhermotherandcousintopermitnooverturesofpeace;andonceortwice,whenminehost,inhisgood-natured,off-handmanner,hadsoughttointroducethem,shehadbeensoblindanddeaftohispurposeastoappearpositivelyrude.Herrepugnancetotheartisthadbecomeagenerallyrecognizedfact;andshehadbuiltupsuchabarrierthatshecouldnotbreakitdownwithoutaskingformorehelpthanwasagreeabletoherpride.Butshechafedinwardlyatherfalseposition,andattheincreasingpopularityoftheobjectofherspite.

Evenhermotheratlastformedhisacquaintance;and,astheartistlistenedtothegarrulousladyforhalfanhourwithscarcelyaninterruption,shepronouncedhimoneofthemostentertainingofmen.

AsMrs.Mayhewwaschantinghispraisesthatevening,Idabrokeoutpetulantly:

"Wasthereeversuchagad-flyasthisartist!Hepestersmefrommorningtillnight."

"Pestersyou!Ineversawaladysoseverelyletaloneasyouarebyhim.Whateveristhecauseofyourspiteitseemstoharmonlyyourself,andIshouldjudgefromyourremarkthatitdisturbsyoumuchmorethanyouwouldhaveitappear——certainlyfarmorethanitdoeshim."

Therewasnosoothingbalminthesewords,asmaywellbesupposed;

andyettheimpressiongrewuponIdathattheartistwouldbefriendlyifhecould;andthebeliefstrengthenedwithhimalsothatshetookfartoomuchpainstomanifestwhatshewouldhaveothersthinktobemereindifferenceanddislike,andheinterceptedbesides,withincreasingfrequency,furtiveglancestowardshimself.

Somuchicehadaccumulatedbetweenthem,howeverthatneitherknewhowitwastobebroken.

Oneday,aboutthemiddleoftheweek,VanBergfoundastrangerseatedoppositetohimatthedinnertable.Hisfirstimpressionwas,thattheladywasnotveryyoungandthatherfeatureswerequiteplain;butbeforethemealwasoverheconcludedthatherfacewasdecidedlyinteresting,andthatthesuggestionofagehadbeenmadebymaturityofcharacterandtheimpresswhichsomerealanddeepexperiencegivestothecountenance,ratherthanbythetraceofyears.

Whileyetastranger,theexpressionofherblueeyes,assheglancedaround,wassokindlythatsheatoncewonthegood-willofallwhoencounteredthem.Thisgenial,friendlylightinhereyesseemedamarkedcharacteristic.Itwassodifferentfromtheobtrusive,forwardmannerwithwhichsomeseektomakeacquaintances,thatitwouldnothavesuggestedadeparturefrommodestreserve,eventothemostcynical.Itratherindicatedaheartaglowwithgentlefeelingandgenialgood-will,likeamaple-woodfireonahospitalityhearth,thatwarmsallwhocomewithinthesphereofitsinfluence.

VanBergwasnaturallyreserved,andslowtomakenewacquaintances.

Butbeforehehadstolenmanyglancesofthefaceoppositehimhebegantowishfortheprivilegeofspeakingtoher——awishthatwasincreasedbythefactthattheywerealoneatthetable,theotherguestswhousuallyoccupiedthechairsnothavingreturnedfromtheirmorningdrive.shedidnotlookathiminparticular,norappeartobeintheleaststruckbyhis"distingue"air,asIdahadbeenbeforeshewasblindedbyprejudice;butshelookedoutupontheworldatlargewithsuchafriendlyaspectthathewassureshehadsomethingpleasanttosay.Hewasthereforewellpleasedwhenatlastthelandlordbustledupinhisbrusquewayandsaid: