第8章

"Van,"saidStantoninavexedtone,"there"ssomemischiefonfoot;"

andhementionedwhathiscousinhadsaid,adding:"CanIdahavebeenputtingthatbrassyMrs.ChintsuptosomeabsurdperformancethatwillhurtMissBurton"sfeelings?"

Theyroseandsauntereddownthepiazza,VanBergtryingtoimaginewhatwasabouttotakeplaceandhowhecouldshieldtheyoungladyfromanyannoyance.

Shesatinsidetheentranceofthemainparlorfacingtheopenwindows,andalittlegrouphadgatheredaroundher,includingtheladieswhosatathertable,withwhomshehadalreadybecomeafavorite.Idahaddemurelyenteredbyoneoftheopenwindowsandwasapparentlyreadinganovelunderoneofthegasjetsnotfaraway.Groupsofpeoplewerechattingnearorwereseatedaroundcard-tables;otherswerequietlypromenadinginthehall-waysandonthepiazza.Therewasnotanindicationofanyexpectedorunexpected"scene."OnlyIda"sconscious,observantexpressionandtheabsenceofMrs.Chintsforebodedmischief.

"Whatenormitycanthatodiousfamilybeabouttoperpetrate?"

whisperedStanton.

"Icannotsurmise,"answeredVanBerg;"somethinginreferencetotherescueofherchild,Isuppose.IwishIcouldthwartthem,forMissBurton"spositionwillplaceherfullinthepubliceye,andIdonotwishhertobethevictimoftheirvulgarity."

Afteralittlefurtherhesitationandthoughthesteppedin,andapproachingMissBurton,said:

"Pardonmeforinterruptingyou,butIwishtoshowyousomethingonthepiazzathatwillinterestyou."

Sherosetofollowhim,butbeforeshecouldtakeastepMrs.Chintssweptinonthearmofherhusband,followedbythenurse——whohadbeenretainedatMissBurton"sintercession——bearinginherarmsthelittleboy,thatstaredatthelightsandpeoplewiththeroundeyesofchildishwonder.

Everyonelookedupinsurpriseatthesuddenappearanceofthelittlegroup,thatsuggestedachristeningmorethananythingelse.

PlantingthemselvesbeforeMissBurton,thusbarringallegress,Mr.Chintsfumbledamomentinhispocketanddrewoutanenvelope,andwithaloud,prefatory"Ahem!"began:

"MydearMissBurton——thatisthewayMrs.ChintssaysIshouldaddressyou,thoughtitstrikesmeasatriflefamiliarandaffectionate;

butImeannoharm——we"reunderpecul——verygreatobligationstoYOU.Welearn——mywifehas——thatyouareengaged——engaged——in——I

meanthatyou——teach.I"msurethat"salawfulcalling——Imeanalaudableone,andnoonecandenythatit"suseful.Inmyviewit"stoyourcreditthatyouareengaged——in——thatyouteach.

Iworkmyself,andalwaysmeanto.InfactIenjoyitmorethanmakingspeeches.ButfeelingthatwewereunderwonderfulobligationstoYOU,andlearning——mywifedid——thatyouweredependenton——onyourownlabor,wethoughtthatifthislittlefellowthatyousavedsohandsomelyshouldhandyouthischeckforfivehundreddollarsitwouldn"tbeamiss."Andhere,accordingtorehearsal,thenursewithgreatparadehandedthechildtoMrs.Chints,whonow,withmuch"empressement,"advancedtoapositionimmediatelybeforeMissBurton;meanwhilethepoor,perspiringMr.Chintsputtheenvelopeintothechild"schubbyhand,saying:

"Giveittothelady,Augustus."

ButthesmallAugustus,onthecontrary,staredattheladyandputtheenvelopeinhismouth,tothegreatmortificationofMrs.

Chints,whohadbeensopreoccupiedwiththeChintssideoftheaffair,andtheimpressiontheyweremakingontheextemporizedaudience,thatshehadnoeyesforMissBurton.

Andthatyounglady"sfacewas,intruth,astudy.Anexpressionofsurprisewasfollowedquicklybyoneofresentment.EvenStantonwasobligedtoadmitthatforamomentthelittle"school-ma"am"

lookedformidable.ButasMr.Chintsflounderedoninhisspeech,assomepoorwretchwhocouldnotswimmightstruggletogetoutofthedeepwaterintowhichhehadbeenthrown,theexpressionofherfacesoftened,andonemightimaginethethoughtpassingthroughhermind——"Theydon"tknowanybetter;"andwhen,atlast,thechild,insteadofcarryingouttheclimaxthatMrs.Chintshadintended,beganvigorouslytomunchtheenvelopecontainingthepreciouscheck,therewasevenatwinkleofhumorintheyounglady"seyes.Butsherespondedgravely:

"Mr.Chints,Iwasatfirstinclinedtoresentthisscene,buttimehasbeengivenmetoperceivethatneitheryounoryourwifewishtohurtmyfeelings,andthatyouareinpart,atleast,actuatedbyfeelingsofgratitudefortheservicethatIwassofortunateastorenderyou.ButIfearyoudonotquiteunderstandme.Youarerightinonerespect,however.Idolaborformyownlivelihood,anditisasourceofthedeepestsatisfactiontomethatIcanlivefrommyownworkandnotfromgifts.Ifyourheartspromptthislargedonation,therearehundredsofpoorlittlewaifsinthecitytowhomthismoneywillbringalittleofthecareandcomfortwhichblessesyourchild.Asformyself,thisisalltherewardthatIwishorcanreceive,"andshestoopedandkissedthechildonbothcheeks.ThentakingVanBerg"sarm,shegladlyescapedtothecoolandduskypiazza.

Mr.ChintslookedatMrs.Chintsindismay.Mrs.Chintshandedthebabytothenurse,andbeatanundramaticandhastyretreat,herhusbandfollowinginadazedsortofmanner,treadingonhertrainateveryotherstep.

AsVanBergpassedoutoftheparlor,hesawIdaMayhewvanishingfromitsfartherside,withStantoninclosepursuit.WhenMissBurtonendedthedisagreeableaffairbykissingthechild,therehadbeenaslightmurmurofapplause.SignificantsmilesandarisinghimofvoicesdescantingontheaffairinawaynotatallcomplimentarytothecrestfallenChintsfamily,followedthedisappearancesofalltheactorsintheunexpectedscene.

ChapterXII.MissMayhewisPuzzled.

"MissBurton,"saidVanBerg,assoonastheywerealone,"IwishIcouldhavesavedyoufromthisdisagreeableexperience.Itriedtodoso,butwasnotquickenough.ImuchblamemyslowwitsthatIwasnotmoreprompt."

"Iwishitmighthavebeenprevented,"shereplied,"fortheirsakesaswellasmyown."

"Ihavenocompunctionsontheiraccountwhatever,"saidVanBerg,"andfeelthatyouletthemoffmuchtookindly.Ithink,however,thattheyandallothersherewillunderstandyoumuchbetterhereafter.Icannotexpresstoostronglytoyouhowthoroughlyourbriefacquaintancehastaughtmetorespectyou,andifyouwillpermitmetogiveanearnestmeaningtoMr.Burleigh"sjestingoffertosharewithmetheresponsibilityofyourcare,Iwillesteemitanhonor."

"Isincerelythankyou,Mr.VanBerg,andshouldIeverneedtheservicesofagentleman,"——shelaidaslightemphasisupontheterm——"Ishall,withoutanyhesitancy,turntoyou.ButIhavelongsincelearnedtobemyownprotectress,as,afterall,onemustbe,situatedasIam."

"Youseemtohavetheability,notonlytotakecareofyourself,butofothers,MissBurton.NeverthelessIshall,withyourpermission,establishasortofprotectorateoveryouwhichshallbeexceedinglyunobtrusiveandundemonstrative,andnotintheleastlikethatwhichsomepowersmaketheexcuseforexactions,untiltheprotectedpartyisreadytocryoutindesperationtobedeliveredfromitsfriends.Ihesitatedtoolongthiseveningfromthefearofbeingforward;andyetIdidnotknowwhatwascoming,andhadlearnedonlyaccidentallybutafewmomentsbeforethatanythingwascoming."

"Well,"repliedMissBurtonwithaslightlaugh,"it"sacomfortablethoughtthatthere"safortnear,towhichonecanrunshouldanenemyappear;andapleasanterthoughtstill,thatthefortisstrongandstaunch.but,tochangethefigure,Ihaveagreatfancyforpaddlingmyownlightcanoe,andsuchsmallcraftwilloftenfloat,youknow,whereashipofthelinewouldstrike."

"Iwilladmit,MissBurton,thatshipsofthelineareoftenunwieldyandclumsilydeepinthewater;butifyoueverdoneedagunboatwithahowitzerortwoondeck,mayIhopetobesummoned?"

"Icouldaskfornobetterchampion.Ifairlytrembleatthebroadsidethatwouldfollow."

"Areyouthinkingofthedischargeortherecoil?"

"Bothmightinvolvedanger,"saidMissBurton,laughing;"butI

haveconcludedtokeeponyoursidethroughsuchwarsasmayrageattheLakeHouseduringmysojourn.IcannothelpthinkingofpoorMr.andMrs.Chints.IfeelalmostassorryforsuchpeopleasIdofortheblindanddeaf.Theyseemtolackacertainsensewhich,ifpossessed,wouldteachthemtoavoidsuchscenes."

"Idetestsuchpeopleandliketosnubthemunmercifully,"saidVanBerg,heartily.

"Thatmaybeinaccordancewithagunboatcharacter;butisitknightly?"

"Whynot?Whatdoessnobbishnessandrichvulgaritydeserveatanyman"shands?"

"Nothingbutsturdyblows.Butwhatdoweak,imperfect,half-educatedmenandwomen,whohaveneverhadatitheofyouradvantages,NEED

atyourhands?Canwenotcondemnfaults,andatthesametimepityandhelpthefaulty?Thegunboatsendsitsshotcrashingtoomuchatrandom.Itseemstomethattrueknighthoodwouldspareweaknessofanykind."

"I"mgladyouhavenotsparedmine.Youhavedemolishedmeasagunboat,butIwouldfainbeyourknight."

"ItisMrs.Chintswhoneedsaknightatpresent,andnotI.Ittroublesmetothinkofherworrimentoverthisfoolishlittleepisode,andwithyourpermissionIwillgoandtrytobanishthecloud."

AssheturnedshewasinterceptedbyStanton,whosaid:

"MissBurton,letmypresenttoyoumycousin,MissMayhew."

ArayfromaparlorlampfelluponIda"sface,andVanBergsawatoncethatitwascloudedandunamiableinitsexpression.Stantonhadevidentlybeenreproachingherseverely.

MissBurtonheldoutherhandcordiallyandsaid;"Iwishtothankyouformaintainingthecreditofoursexthismorning.Thesesuperiormenaresofondofportrayingusashysterical,clingingcreatureswhoseonlyinstinctinperilistothrowthemselvesonman"sprotection,thatIalwaysfeelalittleexultationwhenoneofthe"weakerandgentlersex,"aswearetermed,showthecourageandpresenceofmindwhichtheycoollyappropriateasmasculinequalities."

"Areyouanadvocateofwoman"srights,MissBurton?"askedMissMayhew,stungbytheunconscioussarcasmofthelady"swords,toreplyinalmostasresentfulamannerasifawoundhadbeenintended.

"Notofwoman"s,particularly,"wasthequietanswer;"Iwouldbegladifeveryonehadtheirrights."

"Youphilanthropyisverywide,certainly."

"Andthereforeverythin,perhapsyouthink,sinceitcoverssomuchground.Iagreewithyou,MissMayhew,thatgeneralgood-willisascoldandthinasmoonshine.Onerayofsunlightthatwarmssomeparticularthingintolifeisworthitall."

"Indeed!IthinkIprefermoonlight."

"Therearecertainabsorbingavocationsinlifetowhichmoonshineisbetteradaptedthensunlight,isprobablythethoughtinmycousin"smind,"saidStanton,satirically.

"Andwhatarethey?"askedMissBurton.

"Flirtation,forinstance."

"Mycousinisspeakingforhimself,"saidIda,acidly;"andknowsbetterwhatisinhisownmindthaninmine."

"Ifsomeladiesthemselvesneverknowtheirownminds,howcananotherknow?"Stantonretorted.

"Well,"saidMissBurton,withalaugh,"ifweacceptapracticalphilosophymuchinvogue——thatoftakingtheworldaswefindit——flirtingisoneofthecommonestpursuitsofmankind."

"I"mquitesure,MissBurton,"saidVanBerg,"thatyourphilosophyoflifeisthereverseoftakingtheworldaswefindit."

"Indeed,youaremistaken,sir;Iamexceedinglyprosaicinmyviews,andcherishnoUtopiandreamsandtheories.Idoindeedtaketheoldmatter-of-factworldasIfindit,andtrytomakethebestofit."

"Ah,yourlastisaverysavingclause.Toomanyareseeminglytryingtomaketheworstofit,andunfortunatelytheysucceed."

Idahereshotaquickandvengefulglanceatthespeaker.

"Pleasedonotpresentmeasageneralreformer,Mr.VanBerg,"

protestedMissBurton,withalightlaugh;"Ihavemyhandsfullinmendingmyownways."

"Andsomightweall,nodoubt,"saidStanton;"onlymostofusleaveourwaysunmended.butIamcurioustoknow,MissBurton,howyouwouldmakethebestofaflirtation;sincethisisemphaticallyapartoftheworldaswefindit,especiallyatasummerhotel."

"Thebestthatwecandowithmanythingsthatexist,"shereplied,"istoleavethemalone.Italyispre-eminentlythelandofgarlicandart;butfortunatelyweshallnotfinditnecessarytoindulgeinbothandinequalproportionswhenwearesohappyastogoabroad."

"Agreatmanypeoplepreferthegarlic,"saidStanton.

"Oh,certainly,"sheanswered;"it"samatteroftaste."

"Sothengarlicandflirtationarecorrespondingtermsinyourvocabulary?"

"Icannotsaywhichtermoutrankstheother,butitseemstomethatifawomanregardsherloveasasacredthing,shecannotpermitanindefinitenumberofcommonplacepeopleeventoattempttostainitwiththeirsoilingtouch."

"Ithinkgentlemenshowjustasmuchofadispositiontoflirtasladies,"saidIda,withresentmentinhertone.

"Iwillnotdisputethatstatement,"repliedMissBurton,withalaugh;"indeed,I"minclinedtothinktheyareveryhuman."

"Humane,youmean,"interposedStanton."Yes,Ioftenwonderatourpatientendurance."

"Whichshallbetaxednolongerto-nightbyme.Good-evening,MissMayhew.Good-evening,patientmartyrs."

"Humane,indeed!"saidStanton."Areyouthatwayinclined,Van?"

"Ihavenooccasiontobeotherwise."

"Well,Ifeelsavageenoughtoscalpsomeone."

"SoIshouldjudge,"remarkedIda.

"Perhapsthen,asmymoodcontrastssomewhatfavorablywithyourcousin"s,youwillventuretowalkwithmeforawhile?"saidVanBerg.

"Indeed,sir,"shereplied,takinghisarm,"therearetimeswhenanychangeisarelief."

"Icannotbeverygreatlyelatedoverthatviewofthecase,certainly,"remarkedVanBerg,withalaugh.

Shedidnotreplyatonce,butafteramomentsaid:"Isupposeyouregardmeasahopelesscaseatbest."

"whatsuggeststhatthoughttoyou,MissMayhew?"

"Youarenotsodullastoneedtoaskthatquestion,andyouonlyaskittodrawmeout.Foronething,youprobablythinkthatIinstigatedMr.andMrs.Chintstoactastheydid.Thisisnottrue."

"I"mverygladtohearit."

"I"mnomoretoblamethanMr.Burleighwas.HeknewaboutitaswellasIdid,butMrs.Chintswasboundtocarryoutherproject."

"Willyoupermitasuggestion?"

"IsupposeyouwishtoinsinuatethatIactedlikeaheathen,insteadofsayingthatIamoneplainly,asdoesCousinIk?"

"Ithinkyouactedalittlethoughtlessly.IfMissBurtonhadbeeninyourplace,shewouldhavetriedtopreventthedisagreeablescene."

"Oh,certainly!sheisperfect."

"No;sheiskind."

"Woulditbepossibletospeakuponsomeagreeablesubject,Mr.

VanBerg?Ihavehadenoughmortificationsforoneday."

Hewaspuzzled.Whattopiccouldheintroducethatwouldinterestthisspoiledandpetulantbeauty.

Hetouchedonart,butshewasonlyartfulinhersmallway,andcouldnotfollowhim.Hetriedliterature,andheretheyhadevenlessincommon.Hewouldnotandindeedcouldnotreadthethinsocietynovelswhichreflectedmodesoflifeastrivialasherown,andhisbooksmighthavebeenwritteninanotherlanguage,soslightwasheracquaintancewiththem.Thevariouspolitical,social,orscientificquestionsofthedayhadneverpuzzledherbrain.VanBergcautiouslyfelthiswaytowardshiscompanion"sknowledgeoftwoorthreeofthemostpopularofthem.Heranswers,however,weresosuperficialandirrelevant,andalsosoevidentlyembarrassed,thathesawhisonlyresourcestobesocietychit-chat,gossipaboutmutualacquaintances,thelatestmodes,theattractionsofpleasureresortsinthecity,andofsummerresortsinthecountry.

Buthegavehismindtotheseunwontedthemes,andlaboredhardtobeentertaining;fornowthathehadgainedthevantage-groundhesought,hewasdeterminedtodiscoverwhethertherewasasleepingmindoravacuumbehindMissMayhew"sshapelyforehead.Grantingthattherewasawomanlyintelligencethere,asyetunquickened,hewasnotsoirrationalastoimaginehecouldjostleitintoilluminingactivityinoneshorthour,orday,orweek.Butitseemedtohimthatifanymindexistedworththename,itwouldgivesuchencouragingsignsoflifebeforemanydayspassedaswouldpromisesuccessofhisexperiment.Hefeltthathisfirstaimmustbetoestablishanintimacythatwouldpermitasfullandfrankanexchangeofthoughtaswaspossiblebetweenpeoplesodissimilar.

Whilehetriedtobringhimselfdowntothelittlenessofherdailylife,hedeterminedtoshowhisdisapprovalofeveryphraseofitsmeannessasfarashecouldwithoutoffendingher.HehadmadeherfeelthathecondemnedhercoursetowardsMissBurtonthatevening,andhehadmeanttodoso.

Sheresentedthisdisapproval,andatthesametimerespectedhimforit.Indeedhepuzzledher.Heevidentlysoughtandwishedforhersociety;andyetastheywalkedbackandforth,eventhoughshedidnotlookathimwhenthelightgavehertheopportunitytodoso,shefeltintuitivelythathedidnotenjoyhercompany.

Shesawthathewaslaboringhardtomakehimselfagreeable;buthissmalltalkhadnotthefamiliarflippancyandfluencyofonespeakinginhisnativetongue;norwashismannerthatofonewho,infatuatedwithherbeauty,hadthrownasideallotherconsiderations.

Shefeltthatthemanathersidemeasuredher,andunderstoodherlittlenessthoroughly.

Andsheherselfhadagrowingconsciousnessofinsignificancethatwasaspainfulasitwasnovel.Addingtoallthehumiliationsofthisdayherewasaman,notsoverymucholderthanherself,tryingtocomedowntoherlevel,ashewouldaccommodatehislanguagetoachild.Nolaboredargumentcouldhaverevealedherignorancetohersoclearly,asherconsciousinabilitytofollowhimintohisordinaryrangeofthought.Unwittinglyhehaddemonstratedhissuperiorityinawaythatshecouldnotdeny,howevermuchshemightbeinclinedtoresentit.Andyethetreatedherwithasortofrespect,andoccasionallyshesawthathebenthiseyesuponherfaceasifinsearchofsomething.

Afteratransientefforttoignoreeverythingandtalkinherusualsuperficialmanner,shebecamemoreandmoresilentandoppressed,and,atlastsaid,somewhatabruptly: