第6章

"Whatacomplimenttous!"saidMissBurton,appealingtotheladies;

"heregardsourministrationsasequivalenttodeathbytorture."

"Oh,pardonme,Ireferredtothenumberless"separateandinfallibleremedies,"theverythoughtofwhichcurdlesmyblood."

"Icannothelpthinkingthatmyfriend"sprospectswouldhavebeenverydismal,"putinStanton;"forwithbrokenlegsandarmsandheadhewouldhavebeenverybadlyfracturedindeedtobeginwith,andthensomeoneofhisfairnursesmighthavebrokenhisheart."

"Myfriendprobablythinks,fromadirefulexperience,"saidVanBerg,"thatthiswouldbeworsethanalltheotherfracturesputtogether;andperhapsitwould.Anadditionalcauseforgratitude,MissBurton,thatyou,andnotI,were"athand.""

"MyreasonsforgratitudetoMissBurton,"saidStanton,"donotrestonwhatundoubtedlywouldhavehappenedhadmyfriendattemptedtherescue,butonwhathashappened;andifMr.VanBergwillintroducemeIwillcordiallyexpressmythanks."

"Withallmyheart.MissBurton,permitmetopresenttoyouMr.

Stanton,whoseonlyfaultisaslightmonomaniaforNewEnglandandherinstitutions."

TheladyrecognizedStantonwithherwontedsmilingandpleasantmanner,whichseemedsofrankandopen,butbehindwhichsomepresenteventuallylearnedtherealwomanwashiding,andsaid:

"IaminclinedtothinkthatMr.VanBerg"sEnglish,likeHebrew,readsbackwards.IwarnyouMr.Stanton,nottoexpressanyindebtednesstome,orIshallstraightwayexhibitoneoftheYankeetraitswhichyouundoubtedlydetest,andattemptabargain."

"AlthoughassuredthatIshallgettheworstofthisbargain,I

shallneverthelessheartilythankyouthatyouwerenotonly"athand,"butthatyouactedsopromptlyandcourageouslythatthechildwassaved.WhatpleasurecouldIhavetakenwithmyhorsesiftheirfeethadtrampledthatlittleboy?"

"Iseemyopportunity,"repliedMissBurton,withadecisivelittlenod."Yourafternoondrivesmighthavebeenmarredbyunpleasantthoughtsasone"ssleepissometimesdisturbedbybaddreams.YouhavenoideawhatadelightitistotheaverageNewEnglandmind,Mr.Stanton,tosecurethevantagegroundinabargain.Inviewofyourownvoluntaryadmissions,youcanscarcelydootherwisethanletmehavemyownway."

WiththeexceptionofthetwoorthreewhohadformedMissBurton"sacquaintanceatdinner,thosewhoatfirsthadgatheredaroundherhadbythistimedwindledaway.IdaMayhewsatnearinanopenwindowoftheparlor,ostensiblyreadinganovel,butinrealityobservantofallthatoccurred.BothsheandVanBerghadbeenamusedbythefactthatStanton,usuallysolanguidandnonchalant,hadbeenforoncethoroughlyaroused.Betweenangerathiscoachmen,alarmforthechild,andinterestinitspreserver,hewasquiteshakenoutofhiswontedequanimity,whichwascomposedequallyofindolentgood-nature,self-complacency,andadispositiontosatirizethebusy,earnestworldaroundhim.ItwasapparentthathewassomewhatnonplussedbyMissBurton"smannerandwords,andthosewhoknewhimwellenjoyedhisperplexity,althoughatalossthemselvestoimaginewhatobjectMissBurtoncouldhaveinview.

HalfunconsciouslyVanBergturnedhissmiling,interestedfacetowardsIdaMayhew,whowasregardinghercousinwithasimilarexpression,butthemomentshecaughttheartist"seyesshecoldlydroppedherowntoherbookagain.

"Well,MissBurton,"saidStanton,withaslightlyembarrassedlaugh,"IadmitthatIamcornered,soyoucanmakeyourownterms."

"Theyshallbegrievous,Iassureyou.Doyouseethatruefulfaceinyourcarriageyonder?"

"Thatofmycoachman?Badlucktohisill-omenedvisage!Yes."

"Noneedofwishingbadlucktoanypoorcreature——itwillcomeonlytoosoonwithout.Inviewoftheindebtedness——whichyouhavesogracefullyacknowledged——tooneofthattradingandthriftyracethatneverlosesanopportunitytoturn,ifnotapennymoreorlesshonest,why,somethingelse,totheiradvantage,Istipulatethatyougiveyourdependentthereanotherchance.Iheardyoudismisshimfromyourserviceashorttimesince,andheevidentlydoesnotwishtogo.Hisdisconsolatefacetroublesme;sopleasebanishhisdismallooks,andhe"llbemorecarefulhereafter."

"Andhaveyouhadtimetoseeandthinkabouthim?"saidStanton,withalittlesurpriseinhistone."Youshallbanishhisdismallooksyourself.Barney,"hecalled,"driveclosetothepiazzahere.Thisladyhasprobablysavedyoufromarrest,andshenowintercedesinyourbehalf.Incompliancewithherrequest,Iwillkeepyouinmyservice,butIwishyoutothankherandnotme."

Barneytookoffhishatandejaculated:"Mayyeesshaddernivergrowless,meleddy,an"maythePowersgrantthatyeesbrighteyesmayseenotroubleo"theirown,bainthey"resoquicktoseeapoorman"sbadluck."

Thesmilingmannerwithwhichsheacknowledgedhisgoodwishesseemedtowarmthemanallover,andhelookedasiftransformedashedrovebacktohisstand.

"Howisthis,MissBurton?"saidStanton."IfeelasifIhadhadthebestofthisbargain."

"ThatimpressioniswhollyduetomyYankeeshrewdness;andnow,havinggainedmypoint,"sheadded,withagracefulinclination,"Iwillnotkeepyoufromyourdriveanylonger."

"MyconsciencewillnotpermitmetocompletethistransactionuntilIhaveassuredyouthatmyhorsesandcarriageareatyourserviceatanytime."

"Becareful;Imaytakeadvantageofyouagain."

"Pleasedoso,"repliedStanton,liftinghishat;andthenhewenttohiscarriagemoresurprisedathimselfthanatanythingelsethathadoccurred.MissBurtonreturnedtothedoorwayandquietlyresumedtheconversationthathadbeeninterruptedbytheperilofthechild.

VanBergwasabouttofollowhisfriend,butanacquaintancecomingupthesteps,detainedhimafewmoments.

"Oh,Harold,come!"criedStanton,impatiently.

MissBurtonstartedviolently.Thesentenceuponherlipswasneverfinished,andherfacebecameashenincolor.ShelookedatVanBergwithastrangeexpressionashe,unconsciousofheragitation,answered:

"Yes,I"mcoming,"andmovedaway.

"MydearMissBurton,"saidtheladywithwhomshewasspeaking,"youareill;youlookreadytofaint.Thisexcitementhasbeenagreaterstrainuponyouthanyouhaverealized."

"PerhapsIhadbettergotomyroom,"falteredtheyounglady;andshefledwithaprecipitancythathercompanioncouldnotunderstand.

IdaMayhewalsowitnessedthisunexpectedbitofmystery,anditpuzzledhernotalittle.Shehadlefttheparlorandwasstandinginthehall-waywhenhercousin"svoicesummonedhisfriendafterhisfamiliarfashion.WhyshouldthisstrangerlookatMr.VanBergasifthesoundofhisChristiannamewereamortalwound?Orwasthatamerecoincidence——andinreactionfromexcitementandunwontedefforthadshesuddenlytakenill?Forawonder,shethoughtmoreaboutMissBurtonthanherselfthatafternoon.Shehaddecidedfromthefirstthatshedidnotlikethisnew-comer.

Thatpointhadbeensettledbythefactthattheartist"sfirstimpressionsconcerningherhadevidentlybeenfavorable,andsherememberedthathisearliestglancesandwordsinregardtoherselfhadbeenanythingbutcomplimentary.

ChapterIX.UnexpectedlyThrownTogether.

"Isupposeyouaresatisfiedbythistime,Stanton,"beganVanBerg,astheydroveaway,"thatIwasverysafeinofferingyouthatpictureontheconditionsnamed,andthatyouhavenottheghostofachanceofobtainingit."

"Nonsense,"repliedStanton."Thepictureispracticallywonalready.

IadmitthatMissBurtonisanexceptiontoallherspecies;and,nowthatIhaveseenher,IprovehowlittleIamundertheinfluenceofprejudicebyacknowledgingthefact,andbygivinghercreditforhercourageandagreeablemanners.Buthowabsurdtoimaginethatthisplainlittlestrangercaneverbetomemorethansheisto-day——asummeracquaintanceatasummerresort!Shewillsoondropfromourmemoriesandleavenomoretracethantheserustlingleavesoverheadaftertheyhavefulfilledtheirbriefpurpose."

"Here"sasymptomalready,"criedVanBerg."Mymatter-of-factfriendisalreadyinthesubtlecurrent,andunconsciouslydropsintosentiment,andexpresseshimselfinpoetictrope.Iforeseethatthe"rustlingleaves"willendinarustlingwedding-robeandgorgeousapparel;forwhenyoucagethe"brownthrush"youwillhavethebadtastetoinsistonachangeofplumage."

"Ibegintounderstandyouatlast,"retortedStanton."Youhavebeensmittenyourself,andthisisyourstrategytoconcealthefact.

Thetroubleisthatyouhaveoverdonethematter,andrevealedyourtransfixedheartlongbeforeIshouldhavesuspectedthewound.

Hadyounotbettercommenceonthepicturesoon,forthismattermaydisableyouforaseason?"

"Iwon"tswearthatIwillnotbecomeyourrival,forourlittleheroineinterestsmehugely.Thereissomethingbackofhersmilingface.Hermannerseemslikecrystalinitsfrankness,andyetI

thinkfewinthehousewilleverbecomebetteracquaintedwithherthantheyareto-day."

"Ishalltakemorethanalanguidinterestinwatchingyouprogresswiththissmilingsphinx,"saidStanton,"andinthemeantimeshallgloatovermypicture."

"Well,Barney,"saidVanBerg,astheydroveuptothestablesontheirreturn,"youdidhaveastreakofgoodluckthisafternoon.

Ihopeyouaregratefultotheladywhosecureditforyou."

"Faix,sur,an"Iniverseedthelikeso"herafore.Thesmilin"

lookshegavemejistwarmedtheverycoreo"meheart,andherswateeyesseemedtosay,"Naryabito"ill-luckwouldyehaveagain,Barney,hadImeway."What"smore,she"sagoin"tointercadeforthenurse-maid.Theynadn"ttellmethatallthehereticswillstayinpurgatory."

"Lookhere,Stanton,wereIatheologianI"dmakeanoteofthat.

MissBurtonhasdiscoveredalogicthatroutssuperstition."

VanBergquitelongedforthesupperhour,thathemightresumeconversationwiththeinterestingstranger,andhewaspromptlyinhisplaceatthetable.Butshedidnotappear.Theladywithwhomshehadbeenconversing,remarked:

"Shewastakensuddenlyill,justasyouandyourfrienddroveawaythisafternoon.LearningfromMr.Burleighthatsheisherealoneandwithoutfriends,IknockedatherdoorbeforeIcamedown,andaskedifIcoulddoanythingforher.Shesaidthatshewouldbebetterinthemorning,andthatallsheneededwasperfectquiet.It"sstrangehowsuddenlyshewastakenill!Sheseemedperfectlywellonemoment,andthenshefledtoherroomasiftheghostwereinpursuit.Isupposeitwasreactionfromexcitement;

orshemayhavesomeformofheartdisease."

"Areheartdifficultiessoseriousasthatwithladies?"askedVanBergwithasmile.

"Ineverhadacutesymptomsofanykind,"theladyreplied."IndeedIthinkIamatriflecoldandmatter-of-factinmydisposition,butIbegantothawsoperceptiblyunderMissBurton"sinfluencethatIbecamequiteinterestedinher.IthinkIdeservesomecreditforsavingthechildalso,foritwasIwhokepthertalkinginthedoorway.Mostpeopleareawearinesstome,andIwassurprisedtofindsomarkedanexception."

ItmustnotbesupposedthatVanBerg"sinterestinthenewarrivalhadledhimtoforgetthemotivewhichhadbroughthimtotheLakeHouse.Thiswouldnotbeinaccordancewithhischaracter,andasfaraspossible,hehadbeencloselyobservantofMissMayhewduringthescenesoftheafternoon.Hehadbeenrewardedbydiscovering,forthefirsttime,thatshewasatleastcapableofagoodandgenerousimpulse,forherfacehadbeenexpressiveofgenuineadmirationandgladnesswhenshesawMissBurtonwiththerescuedchildinherarmsafterthecarriagesweptby.Inthisexpressionheobtainedaclearerhintthanhehadeverbeforereceivedofthebeautythatmightbeherconstantpossessioncouldthemeanandmarringtraitsofhercharacterbeexchangedforqualitiesinharmonywithherperfectfeatures.Butwhilethisgleam,thisflashofidealbeautyincreasedhisdesireforsuccessinhisexperiment,theyounglady"sbearingtowardshimwasasdiscouragingasever.IfhehadnotbeenatMissBurton"sside,hebelievedthatshewouldhavecomeforwardandofferedhercongratulationsashadseveralotherladies.Itwouldseemthathervanityhadbeensoseverelywoundedshewouldneverforgivehim,andhedeterminedhewouldnolongermakeamartyrofhimselfbyplayingtheagreeabletoallinthehotelinthehopethat,bypouringsomuchoilonthewaters,evenherasperitymightberemoved.Hehalfbelievedthatsherecognizedhisefforttoformheracquaintance,andfoundamaliciouspleasureinthwartinghim.

Therefore,hedecidedtotakehissketch-bookandgooffuponthehillsinthemorning,thusenjoyingalittlerespitefromhisapparentlyphilanthropiclabors.

Beforeheleftthebreakfasttablethefollowingday,MissBurtonappeared.Hethoughthedetectedanominousrednessabouthereyes,aswellasthepallorwhichwouldbethenaturalresultofillness;butsheseemedtohaverecoveredherspirits,andtheratherquietandself-absorbedlittlegroupthathadhithertoseriouslydevotedthemselvestosteakandcoffee,speedilybrightenedupunderherpleasantries.IndeedshekeptthemlingeringsolongthattheMayhewsandStantonpassedoutbeforethem,thelattercastingawistfulglanceatthecheerfulparty,forhehadbeenhavingastupidtime.

When,muchlaterthanheexpected,hestartedonhisbriefsketchingexcursionhefoundthathismindwaskindledandaglowwithpleasantthoughts,andthatthesummerlandscapehadbeenmadesunnierbythesunnyfacehehadjustleft.

Butasheploddedhiswaybacklateintheafternoon,thesunbeams,nolongergenial,becameoppressive,andhewasgladtohailoneofthehotelstagesthatwasreturningfromaneighboringvillage.

Thevehiclealreadycontainedtwoadultpassengers.Onewasastout,red-facedwomanwithababyandanindefinitenumberofparcels,andtheotherwas——IdaMayhew,whowasreturningfromabriefshoppingexcursion.

AsthelattersawVanBergentershecolored,bitherlip,halffrowned,andlookedsteadfastlyawayfromhim.Thusthestagelumberedonwithitsoddlyassortedinmates,that,althoughbelongingtothesamehumanfamily,seemedtohaveaslittleincommonasifeachhadcomefromadifferentplanet.ThatMissMayhewlookedsoresolutelyawayfromhimwasrathertoVanBerg"sadvantage,foritgavehimachancetocompareherexquisiteprofilewiththeexpanse,slightlydiversified,ofthebroadredfaceopposite.

Thestoutwomanheldherbabyasifitwereabundle,andstaredstraightbeforeher.AsfarasVanBergcouldobserve,notatraceofanideaorachangeofexpressionflittedacrossthewideareaofhersultryvisage,andhefoundhimselfspeculatingastowhetherthemindsofthesetwowomendifferedasgreatlyastheiroutwardappearance.Indeedhequestionedwhetheronehadanymoremindthantheother,andwasinclinedtothinkthatdespitetheirwidelyseparatedspheresoflifetheywereequallydwarfed.

Whilehewasthusamusinghimselfwiththecontrasts,physicalandmetaphysical,whichthetwopassengersoppositehimpresented,thestoutwomansuddenlylookedoutofthewindowatherside,andthen,inatonethatwouldstartlethequietestnerves,shoutedtothedriver:

"Holdon!"

MissMayhewhalfrosefromherseatandlookedaroundwithsomethinglikedismay;butassheonlyencounteredVanBerg"sslightlyhumorousexpression,shecoloredmoredeeplythanbefore,andrecalledhereyestothefartherangleofthestagewithafixednessandrigidityasgreatasifithadcontainedtheheadofMedusa.

Meantimethedriverdrewuptoasmallcottagebytheroad-side,andscrambleddownfromhisseatthathemightassistthestoutwomanwithheraccumulationofbundles.Shehandedhimoutthebaby,preferringtolookafterthemorepreciousparcelsherself.

VanBergpolitelyheldthedooropenforher;butjustasshewassqueezingthroughthestageentrancewithherarmsfullandhadherfootonthelaststep,hercottagedoorflewopenwithsomethingtotheeffectofanexplosion,andoutburstthreeorfourchildrenwithaperfectdinofcriesandshouts.Twovociferousdogsjoinedinthesuddenuproar;thehithertodrowsyhorsesstartedasifabomb-shellhaddroppedundertheirnoses,andspeedilybrokeintoamadgallop,leavingthestoutwomanprostrateuponherbundlesintheroad,andthedriverhelplesslyholdingherbaby.

MissMayhew"scoldrigidityvanishedatonce.Indeeddignitywasimpossibleintheswaying,boundingvehicle.Therewasamomentaryefforttoignorehercompanion,andthenterrorovercameallscruples.Turningherwhitefacetowardshim,sheexclaimed:

"Arewenotingreatdanger?"

"IadmitIwouldratherbeinmychaironMr.Burleigh"spiazza.

Withyourpermission,Iwillcometoyourendofthestageandspeaktothehorsesthroughtheopenwindow."

"Oh,come——doanythingunderheaventostopthesehorridbeasts."

VanBergedgedhiswayupalittlepastMissMayhew,andbeganspeakingtothefrightenedhorsesinfirm,quiettones.Atfirsttheypaidnoheedtohim,andasthestagemadeasuddenanddesperatelurch,theyoungladycommencedtoscream.

"Ifyoudothatyouwillinsurethebreakingofbothournecks,"

saidVanBerg,sharply."IfyouwillkeepquietIthinkIcanstopthem.See,wehavequiteastretchoflevelroadbeyondus,beforewecometoahill.Givemeachancetoquietthem."

Theterror-strickengirlkeptstillforamoment,andthenstartedup,saying"Ishallspringout."

"No,MissMayhew,youmustnotdothat,"saidVanBerg,decidedly.

"Youmustbegreatlyinjured,andyouwouldwithalmostcertaintybedisfiguredforlifeifyousprangoutuponthestonyroad.Youcouldnothelpfallingonyourface."

"Oh,horrible!"sheexclaimed.

Atthenextheavylurchofthestageshehalf-roseagaintocarryoutherrashpurpose,buttheartistseizedherhandandheldherinherplace,atthesametimespeakingkindlyandfirmlytothehorses.Theynowbegantoheedhisvoice,andtorecoverfromtheirpanic.

"See,MissMayhew,"hesaid,"youhaveonlytocontrolyourselfafewmomentslonger,andourdangerisover."

"Oh,dostopthem,quick,"shegasped,clingingtohishandasifhewereheronlyhope,"andI"llneverforgetyourkind——oh,mercifulheaven!"

Atthisfavorablemoment,whenthehorseswerefastcomingundercontrol,aspitefulcurcametearingoutafterthem,renewingtheirpanicwithtenfoldintensity.Asthedogbarkedononesidetheysheeredoffontheother,untiltheyplungeddownthesideoftheroad.Thestagewasnearlyoverturned,andthenitstoppedwithasuddenandheavythump.MissMayhewwasprecipitatedintoMr.

VanBerg"sarms,andsheclungtohimforamomentinaparoxysmofterror.Hiswitshadnotsofardesertedhimbutthatheperceivedthatthestagehadstruckagainstatree,thatthehorseshadbrokenaway,andthatheandhiscompanionwereperfectlysafe.Ifthewholetruthmustbetold,itcannotbesaidthatheenduredtheyounglady"sembracewithonlycoldandstoicalphilosophy.Hefounditwhollynovelandnotapainfulexperience.Indeedhewasconsciousofatemptationtodelaytheinformationoftheirescape,butasecond"sthoughttaughthimthathemustatonceemployallhistactinthedelicateanddifficulttaskofreconcilingthefrightenedgirltoherselfandherownconduct;otherwiseherpride,andalsohersenseofdelicacy,wouldnowreceiveanewandfardeeperwound,andamorehopelessestrangementfollow.Hethereforepromptlyliftedherup,andplacedherlimpformontheoppositeseat.

"Iassureyouwearenowperfectlysafe,MissMayhew,"hesaid;

"andletmecongratulateyouthatyourself-controlpreventedyoufromleavingthestage,forifyouhaddonesoyouwouldundoubtedlyhavebeengreatlyinjured."

"Where——whereare——thehorses?"shefaltered.

"Ireallydonotknow!Theyhavedisappeared.Thestagestruckatree,andthebrutesbrokeaway.Theywillprobablygallophometothealarmandexcitementofeveryoneaboutthehotel.Praycomposeyourself.Thehouseisnotfaraway,andwecansoonreachitifyouarenotverymuchhurt."

"Areyousurethedangerisallover?"

"Yes;thisisnownottheslightestchanceofatragedy."

Theremusthavebeenafainttwinkleinhiseye,forsheexclaimed,passionately:

"Thewholethinghasbeenacomedytoyou,andIhalfbelieveyoubroughtitallabouttoannoyme."

"Youdomegreatinjustice,MissMayhew,"saidVanBerg,warmly.

"Herewearesittinginthishorridoldstagebytheroadside,"

sheresumed,intonesofstrongvexation."Wasthereeveranythingmoreabsurdandridiculousthanithasallbeen!Iammortifiedbeyondexpression,andsupposeIshallneverhearthelastofit,"

andsheburstintoahystericalpassionoftears.

"MissMayhew,"saidVanBerghastily,"youcertainlymustrealizethatwehavepassedthroughverygreatperiltogether,andifyouthinkmecapableofsayingawordaboutthisepisodethatisnottoyourcredit,youwerenevermoremistakeninyourlife."

Atthisassuranceshebecamemorecalm.

"Iknowyoudislikememostheartily,"VanBergcontinued;"butyouhavelessreasontodosothanyouthink——"

"Ihavegoodreasontodislikeyou.Youdespiseme;andnowthatIhavebeensuchacowardyouarecomparingmewithMissBurtonwhoactedsodifferentlyyesterday."