第5章

"Mr.VanBerg,permitmetomakeyouacquaintedwithMissBurton.

Shehashadthefaithtoputherselfundermychargeforafewweeks,andIshallrewardherbysharingtheresponsibilitywithyou,whoseemblessedwiththebenevolentdesireofgivingusallagoodtime,"andthenhebustledofftolookaftersomeothermatterwhichrequiredhisattentionduringthecriticalhourofdinner.

MissBurtonacknowledgedtheyoungman"sbowwithoutatraceofaffectationorreserve.

"Ishalltrynottoproveaburdentoeitherofyou,"shesaid,withasmile.

"Ihavealreadydiscoveredthatyouwillnotbe,"saidVanBerg,"andwaswishingforanintroduction."

"Ihopeyourwishesmayalwaysfindsoreadyafulfillment."

"That"sakindlywish,MissBurton,butavainone."

"Werewemisanthropicalpeople,Mr.VanBerg,wemightsigh,"andsucharehumanwishesgenerally.""

"Oneisoftentemptedtodothatanyway,evenwhennotespeciallypronetolookaskanceatfortune."

"Thereisaneasywayofescapingthattemptation."

"How?"

"Donotformmanywishes."

"Haveyouveryfewwishes?"

Withaslightandpiquantmotionofherheadshereplied,"Iwasonlygivingabitoftriteadvice.It"saskingagreatdealtorequirethatoneshouldbothpreachandpractice."

"Ithinkyouarepossessedbyonewishwhichswallowsupmostothers,"saidVanBerg,alittleabruptly.

Avisiblepalloroverspreadherface,andshedrewbackperceptiblyasonemightshrinkfromablow.

"Youknowhowstrongfirstimpressionsare,"resumedVanBerghastily,"andthethoughthaspassedthroughmymindthatyoumightbesopreoccupiedinwishinggoodthingsforothersastoquiteforgetyourself."

"Ifonecouldbecompletelyoccupiedinthatway,"shesaid,withafaintsmilewhichsuggestedratherthanrevealedavistaofherpastexperience,"onemighthavelittleoccasiontowishforanythingforself.But,Mr.VanBerg,onlywepoorunreasoningwomenputmuchfaithinfirstimpressions;andyouknowhowoftentheymisleadevenus,whoaresupposedtohavesafeinstincts."

"Dotheyoftenmisleadyou?"

"Indeed,sir,"shereplied,withamerrytwinkleinhereye,"I

thinkyoumusthavelearnedthequestionsinthecatechism,ifnottheanswers."

VanBer

gbithislip.Herewasasuggestionofathorninthesweetbrierhebelievedhehaddiscovered.

"NowseehowfarIamastray,"sheresumedwithafranknesswhichhadinitnotraceoffamiliarity."Itismyimpressionyouarealawyer."

AtthisVanBerglaughedoutrightandsaid:"Youareindeedmistaken.Ihavenoconnectionwiththeinfluentialclasswhosebusinessitistomakeandevadethelaws.Iamonlyoneamongthehumblemasseswhoaimtoobeythem.ButperhapsyouthinkyourintuitiongoesdeeperthansurfacefactsandthatIOUGHTtohavebeenacross-questioner."

"Iamquitesuremyintuitioniscorrectinthinkingthatyouwouldnotbeverycrossaboutit."

"Perhapsnot,ifdisarmedbysosmilingafaceasyours."

Theothers,whohadbeendelayedbyalongerridethanusual,nowenteredandtookthevacantchairsaroundthetable.VanBergfeltsufficientlyacquaintedwiththemtointroduceMissBurton,forhewascurioustoobservewhethershewouldmakethesameimpressiononthemashehadbeenconsciousofhimself.

Theybowedwiththequiet,well-bredmannerofsocietypeople,butwereatfirstinclinedtopaylittleheedtotheplainlydressedandratherplainappearingyoungstranger.Asoneandanother,however,glancedtowardsher,somethingaboutherseemedtolingerintheirmemoriesandcausethemtolookagain.Theladynexttoherofferedacommonplaceremark,chieflyoutofpoliteness,andreceivedsopleasantareplyinreturnthatsheturnedherthoughtsaswellashereyestoseewhoitreallywasthathadmadeit.Thenanotherspoke,andtheresponseledhertospeakagainandagain;

andsoontheentirepartyweredescribingtheirdriveandlivingoveritspleasantestfeatures;andbeforethemealendedtheywereallgathered,metaphorically,aroundthemystical,maple-woodfirethatburnedonthehearthofanaturethatseemedsohospitableandkindlyastohavenoothermissionthantocheerandentertain.

"Whoisthatlittlebrownthrushofawomanthatyouweresotakenwithatdinner?"askedStanton,astheywereenjoyingaquietsmokeintheirfavoritecornerofthepiazza.

"Goodforyou,Stanton.Ineverknewyoutobesoappreciativebefore.Yourtermquiteaccuratelydescribesher.Sheisbothshyandreserved,butnotdiffidentorawkwardintheleast.Indeedhermannermightstrikesomeasbeingpeculiarlyfrank.Butthereissomethingbackofitall;foryoungassheundoubtedlyis,herfacesuggeststomesomedeepandunusualexperience."

"JupiterAmmon!Whatanabyssofmystery,surmise,andmetaphysicsyoufellintowhileIwaseatingmydinner!Iusedthephrase"brownthrush,"onlyinreferencetoherdressandgeneralhomeliness."

"Oh,Ibegyourpardon!Itakeallbackaboutyourniceappreciationofcharacter.Inowgraspthewholetruth——yourattentionwanderedsufficientlyfromyourdinnertoobservethatsheworeabrowndress,andtheonefactaboutthethrushthathasimpressedyouisthatitisbrown."Herebetruths"whichleavenothingmoretobesaid."

"Youimaginativefellowsareoftenridiculouslyastrayontheothertack,andseeathousand-foldmorethanexists.Butit"sapityyoucouldnotreadalltherewasinthisyoungwoman"sface,foritwascertainlyPLAINenough.Atthisrateyouwillbeaskingourburlylandlordtounbosomhimself,insistingthathehasa"silentsorrow"tuckedawaysomewhereunderhisamplewaistcoat."

"Histroubles,likeyours,arebanishedbythedinnerhour.I

recognizeyourfeeblewitticismaboutherplainface,andforgiveyoubecauseIthoughtitplainalsoatfirst,butwhenshecametospeakandsmileitceasedtobeplain.Idonotsayshehashadtrouble,butshehashadsomeexperienceinherpasthistorywhichneitheryounorIcouldunderstand."

"Quitelikely;themeasles,forinstance,whichIneverhadtomyknowledge.Possiblyshehashadaloverwhowasnotlonginfindingaprettierface,andsolefther,butnotsodisconsolatethatshecouldnotsmilebewilderinglyuponyou."

"Comenow,Stanton,I"llforewarnandforearmyou.Iconfidentlypredictthatthevoiceofthisbrownthrushwilllureyououtofalifewhich,toputitmildly,isatriflematter-of-factandmaterial.Youhaveglancedather,butyouhavenotseenheryet.

Markmywords;yourappetitewillflagbeforemanyweekspass."

"IwishIcouldpinyoudowntoalargewageronthisabsurdity."

"Iagreetopaintyouapictureifmypredictionfails."

"Andtofinishitwithinanaturallifetime?"saidStanton,withmuchanimation.

"Tofinishaspromptlyasgoodworkcanbedone."

"Pardonme,Van.Youhadtoomuchwinefordinner;Idon"twanttotakeadvantageofyou."

"Ididnothaveany."

"Inordertocarryoutthistransactionhonestly,amIexpectedtomakeconsciousandpatientefforttocomeundertheinfluenceofthismaideninbrown,whohashadsomemysteriouscomplaintinthepast,aboutwhich"neitheryou,norI,noranybodyknows,"asthepoetsaith:or,liketheancientmariner,willshe"holdmewithherglitteringeye?""

"Youhaveonlytojogoninyouroldwaysuntilshewakesyouupandmakesamanofyou."

"Isurelyamdreaming;forneverdidthelevel-headedVanBergtalksucharrantnonsensebefore.Ifsheseemstoyousuchamarvel,whydon"tyouopenyourownmouthandlettheripecherrydropintoit."

"Onereasonwillanswer,weretherenoothers——shewouldn"tdrop.

Ifyoueverwinher,myboy,youwillhavetobestiryourself."

"I"dratherwinthepicture.Letmesee——IknowtheveryplaceinmyroomwhereIshallhangit."

"Youarealittlepremature.Thatchickenisnotyethatched,andyoumayfeellikehangingyourselfintheplaceofthepicturebeforethesummerisover."

"Letmewrapyourheadinice-water,Van.There"sminehost——O,Mr.

Burleigh!"hecriedtothelandlord,whoatthatmomenthappenedtocrossthepiazza;"pleasestephere.MyfriendMr.VanBerghasbeenstrangelyfascinatedbythestrangerinbrownwhomyou,withsomedeepandmaliciousdesign,placedoppositetohimatthetable.Whatareherantecedents,andwhoareheruncles?Itakeafriendlyinterestinthisyoungman.Indeed,I"msortofaguardianangeltohim,havingsavedhislifemanyatime."

"Savedhislife!"ejaculatedthelandlord."How?"

"Byquenchinghisconsuminggeniuswithgooddinners.Butcome——solveformethisriddleinbrown.Myfriendusuallygivesbutlittleheedtothefeminineconundrumsthatsmilinglyasktobeanswered,butforsomeoccultreasonheisinastateofsleeplessinterestoverthisone,andIknowthathiswaistcoatissellingwithgratitudetomeforhavingthecouragetoaskthesequestions."

"Heisspeakingseveralwordsforhimselftooneforme,"saidVanBerg;"andyetIadmitthatherfaceandmannerstruckmeverypleasantly."

"Well,shehasapleasantlittlephiz,nowhasn"tshe,Mr.VanBerg?

Idon"twonderMr.Stantonwastakenbyher,forIwasmyself.

It"sbutlittleIcantellyou,savethatsheisateacherinoneoftheNewEnglandfemalecolleges,andthatshebringsletterstomefromthemostrespectableparties,whointroduceherasaladyinthebestsenseoftheword.Furtherthanthatnothingwaswritten,nordoIknowanythingconcerningher.Butanyonewhocan"tseethatshe"saperfectladyisnojudgeofthearticle."

"Iwillstakeanyamountonthat,basingmybeliefonlyonthefirstimpressionofoneinterview,"addedVanBerg,decidedly.

"Younowseehowdeeplymyfriendisimpressed,"saidStanton,withasatiricalsmile."Thanks,Mr.Burleigh;wewillnotdetainyouanylonger."

Whenaloneagain,heresumed,withanexpressionofdisgust:

"A"NewEnglandFEMALEcollege!"Howaptlyhewordsit.Ifthere"sanyregiononthefaceoftheearththatIdetest,it"sNewEngland;

andifthereisonetypeofwomenthatI"dshunasIwould"everangrybears,"it"saNewEnglandschool-ma"am."

""Butifthyflightlaytowardtheragingsea"ofarestless,all-absorbingpassion,"Thou"dstmeetthebearI"themouth,"asyouwilltrytointhiscase.Youwillbereadytobarteryourearsforakissbeforeverylong."

"ItwillbeaftertheyhavegrownprodigiouslylongandhairyinsometransformationscenelikethatinwhichtheimmortalBottomwasthevictim."

"Yourillustrationtellsagainstyou,foritwasonlyafterhisappropriatetransformationthatBottomsawthefairyqueen;butinyourcasethedesireto"munch"willbebanned."

"Come,Van,wehavehadenoughchaffonthistopic,alreadywornthreadbare.Inowknowallaboutthemysteriouscomplaint,theimpressofwhichonthefaceoftheschool-ma"amhassodazedyou.It"saNewEnglandfemalecollege——aplacewheretheygivearazor-likeedgetothewitsofYankeewomen,alreadytoosharp,anddevelopinattenuatedmaidensthehatchetfacesoftheirsires.

Youmayaswellsetaboutthatpictureatonce,wheneveryoufeelinthemoodforwork."

"IadmitthatIhavebeenspeakingnonsense,andyetyoumayfindmanygrainsoftruthinmychaff,nevertheless."

"Butismypicturetoendinchaff?"

"Iwillstandbymypromise.IfIlose,perhapsI"llpaintyoutheschool-ma"am"sportrait."

"Thenwewouldbothlose,forIwouldhavenoearthlyuseforthat."

"Well,Iwillpaintwhatyouwish,withinreason."

"I"mcontent,andwithgoodreason,forneverdidIhavesuchabsurdgoodluckbefore."

"Ha!lookyonder——quick!"

Boththeyoungmenstartedtotheirfeet,butbeforetheycouldspringforward,theevent,whichhadsosuddenlyarousedthem,wasanaccomplishedfact.

Bothdrewalongbreathofreliefastheylookedateachother,andVanBergremarked,withsomeemphasis:

"Actfirst,scenefirst,anditdoesnotopenlikeacomedyeither."

ChapterVIII.GlimpsesofTragedy.

Stantonthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar——anactwhichprovedhimstronglymoved——andstroderapidlytowardsthemainentrancenearwhichalittlegrouphadalreadygathered,andamongtheothers,IdaMayhew.Notahairofanybody"sheadwashurt,butaneventhadalmostoccurredwhichwouldhavemorethansatisfiedStanton"sspiteagainst"Yankeeschool-ma"ams,"andwouldalsohavemadehimverymiserableformonthstocome.

Hehadorderedhisbaystothefartherendofthepiazzawheretheyweresmoking,asheproposedtotakeVanBergoutforadrive.Hiscoachmenlikedtowheelaroundthecornerofthehotelandpastthemainentranceinadashingshowystyle,andthusfarhadsufferednorebukefromhismasterforthishabit.Butonthisoccasionacarelessnurserymaid,neglectfulofhercharge,hadleftalittlechildtotoddletothecentreofthecarriagedriveandthereithadstood,balancingitselfwiththeuncertainfootingcharacteristicoffirststeps.Evenifitcouldhaveseentherapidlyapproachingcarriagethatwashiddenbytheangleofthebuilding,itsbabyfeetcouldnothavecarrieditoutofharm"swayintime,anditismorethanprobablethatitsinexperiencewouldhavepreventedanysenseofdanger.

Buthelpwasathandinthepersonofonewhoneverseemedsopreoccupiedwithselfastoloseanopportunitytoserveothers.

Twooftheladies,whohadcasuallyformedMissBurton"sacquaintanceatdinner,stilllingeredinthedoor-waytotalkwithher,wonderinginthemeantimewhytheyremainedsolong,andmeaningtobreakawayeverymoment,buttheexpressionoftheyounglady"seyeswassopleasant,andhermanner,morethananythingshesaid,solikespringsunshinethattheywerestillstandinginthedoor-waywhentherumbleandrushofthecarriagewasheard.Theothersdidnotnoticethesesounds,butMissBurton,whoseeyeshadbeenfollowingthechildwithanamusedinterest,suddenlybrokeoffinthemidstofasentence,listenedasecond,thenswiftlyspringingdownthesteps,dartedtowardsthechild.

Quickasshehadbeenitseemedasifshewouldbetoolate,for,withcriesofhorror,thestartledladiesonthepiazzasawthehorsescomingsorapidlythatitappearedthatboththemaidenandthechildmustbetrampledundertheirfeet.Andsotheywouldhavebeen,hadMissBurtonsoughttosnatchupthechildandreturn,butwithrarepresenceofmindshecarriedthechildacrossthecarriagetracktoitsfartherside,thusmakingthemostoftheimpetuswithwhichshehadrushedtotherescue.

Theexclamationsoftheladiesdrewmanyeyestothescene,andallheldtheirbreathasthehorsesdashedpast,thedrivervainlyendeavoringtopullthemupintime.Havingpassed,evenStantonwascompelledtoadmitthatthe"school-ma"am"appearedtoverygreatadvantageasshestoodpanting,andwithheightenedcolor,holdinginherarmsthelaughingchildthatseemedtothinkthatthewholeexcitementwascreatedforitsamusement.Shewasabouttorestorethechildtoitsnursequietly,whonowcamebustlingupwithmanyprotestations,whenshewasarrestedbyaloudvoiceexclaiming:

"Don"tletthathatefulcreaturetouchmychildagain——givehimtome,"andalady,whohadbeendrawntothescenebytheoutcry,randownthesteps,andsnatchingthechild,almostdevouredhimwithkisses.Then,turningtothetremblingnurse,shesaidharshly:

"Begone;Ineverwishtoseeyourfaceagain.Haditnotbeenforthislady,mychildwouldhavebeenkilledthroughyourcarelessness.

Excuseme,Miss——Miss——"

"MissBurton,"saidtheyoungladyquietly.

"Excusemyshowoffeeling;butyoucan"trealizetheserviceyouhavedoneus.Bertieisouronlychild,andwejustidolizehim.

I"msoagitated,Imustgotomyroom."

Whentheladyhaddisappeared,MissBurtonturnedtothesobbingnurseandsaid:

"WillyoupromisemetobecarefulinthefutureifIintercedeforyou?"

"Dade,Miss,an"Iwill."

"Cometome,then,aftersupper.Inthemeantimeremainwhereyourmistresscansummonyoushouldsheneedyourservices,orbeinclinedtoforgiveyouofherownaccord,"andleavingthecrudeandoffendingjumbleofhumanitymuchcomforted,shereturnedtothepiazzaagain.

Ofcoursemanypressedaroundherwithcongratulationsandwordsofcommendation.VanBergwasmuchinterestedinobservinghowshewouldreceivethissuddengushofmingledhonestpraiseandextravagantflattery,forherecognizedthattheoccasionwouldproveasearchinganddelicatetestofcharacterforwhichtherewasnotimetoprepare.Shedidnotlistentotheirwordswithdeprecatorysmirk,norwiththepainedexpressionofthosesensitivesoulstowhomheartywordsanddemonstrationsarelikeroughwinds;

norwasthereatraceofexultationandself-complacencyinherbearing.VanBergthoughtthathermannerwaspeculiarlyherown,forshelookedintothefacesaroundherwithfrankgladness,andherunconsciousnessofherselfcanbe,perhaps,bestsuggestedbyherownwords.

"Howfortunateitwas,"shesaid,"thatIstoodwhereIdid,andhappenedtobelookingatthechild.Ifsomebodyhadnotbeenathanditmighthavegonehardwiththelittlefellow.NotthatI

thinkhewouldhavebeenkilled,buthemighthavebeenmaimedordisfiguredinawaythatwouldhavecausedhimpainandmortificationallhislife."

"MissBurton,Itakemyhattoyou,"saidVanBerg,laughing.

"Ladiesandgentlemen,IhopeyouallappreciatetheforceofMissBurton"sphrase,"somebody,"sinceitimpliesthatanyoneofuswouldhaveshownlikecourageandpresenceofmindifwehadonlybeen"athand,"orhadstoodwhereshedid.ReallyMissBurton,youarelikesmilingfortune,and"thrustupon"us"greatness"andheroism."

"Mr.VanBerg,youarelaughingatme,andyourquotationsuggeststhatotherShakespeareanwordsareinyourmind——towit,"muchadoaboutnothing."NowifYOUhadhadtheopportunityyouwouldhaveachievedtherescueinawaythatwouldhavebeenheroicandstriking.Insteadofscramblingoutofthewaywiththechild,likeatimidwoman,youwouldhaverusheduponthehorses,seizedthembytheirheads,thrownthembackupontheirhaunches,andwhileposinginthatmasterfulattitude,youwouldhavecalledoutinstentoriantones——"Removethechild.""

Alllaughedatthisunexpectedsally,andnooneenjoyeditmorethanStanton,who,alittlebefore,hadbeenexcessivelyangryathiscoachman,and,likethemotherofthechild,hadsummarilydismissedthepoorfellowfromhisservice.Quiteforgetfulofhisuncomplimentarywordsconcerning"Yankeeschool-ma"ams"ingeneral,andthisoneinparticular,henowstoodnear,andwasregardinghernotonlywithapprovalbutwithadmiration.HerreadyreplytoVanBergpleasedhimexceedingly,especiallyastherisingcolorinthefaceofhisself-possessedfriendindicatedapalpablehit.

Buttheartistwasequaltotheoccasion,andquicklyrepliedasonewhohadfeltaslightspur.

"Ifearyouareinpartcorrect,MissBurton.Insteadofdeftlysavingthechildandtakingbothitandmyselfoutofharm"sway,afteryourquietwomanlyfashion,Ishould,nodoubt,have"rusheduponthehorsesandseizedthembytheirheads."ButIfearyourstrikingtableau,inwhichIappearedtosuchadvantage,wouldhavebeenwhollywanting.Icouldnothavestoppedthehorsesintime;thechildwouldhavebeenrunoverandkilled;thebig,fatcoronerwouldhavecomeandsatonitandhavemadeusall,whowitnessedthescene,swearoverthematter;thepoormotherwouldhavegonetothelunaticasylum;thefatherwouldhavecommittedsuicide;thenurserymaidwouldhave——obtainedanotherplaceandbeenthedeathofanindefinitenumberofotherinnocentbabies;

andlast,butnotleast,Ishouldhavebeendraggedandtrampledupon,mylegsandarmsbroken,andperhapsmyhead,andsoyouwouldallhavehadtotakecareofme——andyouknowacrossbearisapleasantersubjectthanasickman."

"Oh,whatachapterofhorrors!"exclaimedseveralladiesinchorus.

"Nevertheless,wewouldhavebeenequaltotheoccasion,evenifyouhadbeensodreadfullyfractured,"saidMissBurton."Weallwouldhavebecomeyourdevotednurses,andeachoneofuswouldhavehadaseparateandinfallibleremedy,which,outofcourtesy,youwouldhavebeencompelledtouse."

"Oh,blessmysoul!"exclaimedVanBerg;"Ihavehadagreaterescapethanthechild.Inbeing"athand"asyouexpressit,MissBurton,Iambeginningtofeelthatyouhavesavedmefromdeathbytorture."