第10章

Stantonthrewawayhiscigarandmetherattheofficeregister.

"Gentleshepherdess,"heasked,"whitherareyouleadingyourflock?"

"Howbehindtheageyouare!"shereplied."Canyounotseethattheflockisleadingme?"

"IfIwereawolfIwouldnottroubletheflockbutwouldcarryofftheshepherdess——toagameofbilliards."

"What,then,wouldbecomeoftheflock?"

"that"saquestionthatnevertroublesawolf."

"Awolfishanswertruly.Ithink,however,youhavereversedtheparable,andarebutawell-meaningsheepthathasdonnedawolf"sskin,andsowewillputyoutothetest.Weyoungpeoplewillgiveyouachancetodrawupourpetition,which,ifyouwouldsaveyourcharacter,youmustdoatoncewithsheep-likedocility,askingnoquestionsandcausingnodelay.There,thatwillanswer;

verysheepishlydone,butnosheep"seyes,ifyouplease,"sheadded,asStantonpretendedtolookuptoherforinspiration,whilewriting."Now,allsign.IthinkIcantrustyou,sir,ontheoutskirtsoftheflock.Here,mylittlemanandwoman,gotoeachoftheladiesandgentlemen,makeabowandacourtesy,andpresentthepetition."

"MayInotgambolwiththeshepherdessinthecomingpastoral?"

askedStanton.

"No,indeed!Youaremuchtooold;besides,Iamgoingtoplay.

Youmaylookgravelyon."

Everyoneintheparlorsmilingassentedtotheoddlittlecouplethatbobbedupanddownbeforethem,andmovedoutofthewayforthedancers.Thepetitionersthereforesoonreturnedandwerewelcomedwithapplause.

"NowgototheinnerofficeandpresentthepetitiontoMr.Burleigh,"

saidMissBurton.

"Hollo!"criedthatgentleman,lookingaroundwithagreatshowofsavagery,asthelittlegirlpulledtheskirtofhiscoattoattracthisattention;"where"sKingHerod?"

"Wewishtotryanothermethodwiththechildren,"answeredMissBurton."Willitpleaseyouthereforegraciouslytoreadthepetition.Allintheparlorhaveassented."

"Mygoodnessgracious——"

"Noswearing,sir,ifyouplease."

"Womanhasbeentoomanyformaneversinceshegothimintotroublebyeatinggreenapples,"ejaculatedMr.Burleighwithadespairinggesture."Whydoyoumockmewithpetitions?THEREisthepowerbehindthethrone,"pointingtoMissBurton.

"Takeyourplaces,smallladiesandgentlemen,"shecried."That"sMr.Burleigh"swayofsayingyes.Whileyouareforming,I"llplayafewbarstogiveyouthetime."

Didshebewitchthepianothatitrespondedsowonderfullytohertouch?Wherehadshefoundsuchquaint,daintymusic,simpleastheold-fashioneddanceitself,sothatthelittleonescouldkeeptimetoit,andyetpleasingVanBerg"sfastidiousearwithitsunhackneyedandrefinedmelody.Butthemarkedandmarvellousfeatureinherplayingwasanairyrolicksomenessthatwasasirresistibleasapanic.Oldladies"headsbegantobobovertheirfancyworkmostabsurdly.Twoquartetsofelderlygentlemenatwhistwereevidentlybeginningtoplaybadly,theirfeetmeantimetappingthefloorinamostunwontedmanner.

"WereIasdeadasJuliusCaesarIcouldnotresistthatquickstep,"

criedStanton;andherushedovertohisaunt,Mrs.Mayhew,anddraggedherintoline.

"WhatinthenameofallthewitchesofSalemhasgotintothatpiano!"criedMr.Burleigh,burstingintotheparlorfromtheoffice,withhispenstuckbehindhisear,andhishairbrushedupperpendicularly."There"ssorceryintheair.I"mpractisedupon——Keepstill?No,notifIwasnailedupinoneofthesoldier"s"woodenovercoats."Theworldistransformed,transfigured,transmogrified,and"thingsarenotwhattheyseem!"Here"sabloominggirlwho"lldancewithme,"andheseizedthehandofawhite-hairedoldladywhoyieldedtothecontagionsofarastotakeaplaceinthelinebesidehergranddaughter.

Indeed,inafewmoments,allwhohadbeenfamiliarwiththepastimeintheiryouth,caughtthejoyousinfection,andlengthenedoutthelines,eachnewaccessionbeinggreetedwithshoutsandlaughter.

ThesceneapproachedincharacterthatdescribedbyHawthorneasoccurringinthegroundsoftheVillaBorghesewhenDonatello,withasimple"tambourine,"producedmusicofsuch"indescribablypotency"thatsallow,haggard,half-starvedpeasants,Frenchsoldiers,scarlet-costumedcontadinas,Swissguards,Germanartists,Englishlords,andherdsmenfromtheCampagna,all"joinedhandsinthedance"whichthemusicianhimselfledwiththefrisky,frolicsomestepofthemythicalfaun.

Inthelatterinstanceitwasacontagious,madexcitementeasilypossibleamonghot-bloodedpeopleandwanderingpleasure-seekers,theprimallawsofwhosebeingareimpulseandpassion.ThatthejoyousexhilarationwhichfilledMr.Burleigh"sparlorwasakintothewild,halfpaganfrenzythatthegreatmasteroffictionimaginedasseizingupontheloiterersneartheVillaBorghesecannotbedenied.Bothphasesofexcitementwouldspringnaturallyfromtheuniversalcravingforpleasurablelifeandactivity.Theone,however,wasarankgrowthfromaranksoil——thepassionateebullitionofpassion-swayednatures;theotherwasinspiredbythemagneticspiritofaNewEnglandmaiden,who,bysomelawofhernatureorconsecrationofherlife,devotedeverypowerofherbeingtothevivifyingofothers,andthefrolicshehadinstigatedwasasfreefromthegrosserelementsasthetossingwildflowersofhernativehills.WiththeexceptionperhapsofVanBerg,shehadimpressedeveryoneaspossessingapeculiarlysunnytemperament.

Bethisasitmay,itcertainlyappearedtruethatshefoundherhappinessinenliveningothers;anditisdifficulteventoimaginehowmuchagiftedmindcanaccomplishinthisrespectwheneveryfacultyisdevotedtotheministryofkindness.

ThisviewofMissBurton"scharacterwouldaccountinpart,butnotwholly,forthepowersheexercisedoverothers.VanBergthoughtheattimesdetectedasuppressedexcitementinhermanner.A

lightsometimesflickeredinherdeepblueeyesthatmighthavebeencausedbyaconsumingandhiddenfire,ratherthanbygenialandjoyousthoughts.

Ashewatchedhernowthroughtheparlorwindow,hereyeswereburning,herfaceremindedhimofadelicateflame,andherwholebeingappearedconcentratedintothepresentmoment.Initsvividlifeitseemedoneofthemostremarkablefacesheeversaw;butthethoughtoccurredagainandagain——"IfthefeaturesofIdaMayhewcouldbelighteduplikethatI"dgiveyearsofmylifetimetobeabletopaintthebeautythatwouldresult."

Justatthismomenthesawthatyoungladyapproachtheparlorentrancewithanexpressionofwonderonherface.Heimmediatelyjoinedher,andshesaid:

"Mr.VanBerg,whatmiraclehascausedthisscene?"

"ComewithmeandI"llshowyou,"heansweredandheledhertothewindowoppositetoMissBurton,whereshesatatthepiano.

"There,"hesaid,"isthemiracle,——agifted,magnetic,unselfishwomandevotingherselfwhollytotheenjoymentofothers.ShehascreatedmoresunshinethisdismaldaythanwehavehadinthehousesinceI"vebeenhere.Isnotthatfacetherearevelation?"

"Arevelationofwhat?"sheaskedwithrisingcolor.

"Ofthepossibilitiesofthehumanfacetogrowinbeautyandpower,ifkindledbyanobleandanimatingmind.Yegods!"criedtheartist,expressingtheexcitementwhichhefeltincommonwithothersinaccordancewiththelawofhisownrulingpassion,"butIwouldgivemuchtoreproducethatfaceoncanvas;"andthenheaddedwithadespairinggesture,"butwhocanpaintflameandspirit?"

Afteramomentheexclaimed,withflushedcheeksandflashingeyes:

"Itappearstomethatifkindledbysuchamindasthatwhichisburninginyonderface,Icouldattemptanythingandaccomplisheverything.Limitationsmeltawaybeforeagrowingsenseofpower.

Whataninspirationawomancanbetoaman,orwhatamill-stoneabouthisneck,accordingtowhatsheis!Ah!——"

Thecauseofthisexclamationcannotbeexplainedinthebrieftimethatitoccurred.StantonhadhappenedatthatmomenttocatchaglimpseofVanBergandhiscousin,andhecalledquiteloudly:

"Harold,bringMissMayhewinandjoinus."

AtthesameinstantMr.Burleigh"sheavysteppassingnearthepiano,jarreddownapicturethatwashunginsecurely,anditfellwithacrashatMissBurton"sside.Wasittheshockofthefallingpictureuponunpreparedandoverstrainednerves,orwhatwasitthatproducedtheinstantaneouschangeinthejoyous-appearingmaiden?

Herhandsdroppednervelessfromthekeys.Sogreatwasthepallorthatsweptoverherfacethatitsuggestedtoheartistthesuddenextinguishmentofalamp.Shebowedherheadandtrembledamomentandthenescapedbyasidedoor.

VanBergwalkedhastilytothemainentrance,thinkingshewasill,butonlysawhervanishingupthestairwaywithhastysteps.

Manyofthedancers,intheirkindlysolicitude,hadtriedtointercepther,buthadbeentoolate.Itwouldseemthatallascribedherindispositiontoanervousshock.

"Itisevident,"saidtheladywhohadbeenconversingwithherwhenshehadactedinalikemanneronthefirstdayofherarrival,"thatshepossessesahighlysensitiveorganism,whichsuddenlygiveswaywhensubjectedtoastraintoosevere;"andsheremainedVanBergofherformermanifestationofweakness.

Heacceptedthisviewasthemostnaturalexplanationthatcouldbegiven.

ChapterXV.Contrasts.

Genuineandgenialwerethewordsofsympathythatwereexpressedoneverysidefortheyoungladywhohadbeentransformingthedulldayintooneofexceptionaljollity.Adeputationofladiescalleduponher,butfromwithinherlockeddoorsheconfirmedtheimpressionthatitwasanervousshock,andthatafewhoursofperfectquietwouldrestoreher.

Anditwouldseemthatshewasright,forshecamedowntosupperapparentlyasgenialandsmilingasever.Beyondaslightpallorandalittlefulnessabouthereyes,VanBergcoulddetectnotraceofhersuddenindisposition.

TheremainderofthedaywaspassedmorequietlybytheguestsoftheLakeHouse,buttheforceofMissBurton"sexampledidnotspenditselfatonce,andonthepartofsometherewasdevelopedquiteamarkeddispositiontomakekindlyeffortstopromotetheenjoymentofothers.Theunwontedexhilarationwithwhichshehadinspiredherfellowguestswassomethingtheycouldscarcelyaccountfor,andyetthemeansemployedhadbeensosimpleandweresoplainlywithinthereachofall,astosuggestthatagenialmannerandanunselfishregardforothersweretheonlyconditionsrequiredtoenableeachonetodosomethingtobrighteneverycloudyday.

AfterMissBurton"sdeparture,theyoungpeoplehadthedancetothemselves,theireldersresumingtheavocationsandsobererpleasuresfromwhichtheyhadbeensweptbyanimpulseevokedfromtheirhalf-forgottenyouth.

WhenVanBergjoinedMissMayhewagain,hefoundhermotherandStantontryingtoexplainhowitallcameabout.

"Thereisnouseofmultiplyingwords,"concludedStanton;"MissBurtonisgiftedwithamind,andsheusesitforthebenefitofothersinsteadoftaskingitsolelyonherownaccount,whichisthegeneralrule."

AtthismomentaletterwashandedtoMrs.Mayhew,whichshereadwithaslightfrownandpassedtoherdaughter.ItwasfromMr.

Mayhew,andcontainedbutabriefsentencetotheeffectthathisabsencewouldprobablybearelief,andthereforehewouldnotspendthecomingSabbathwiththem.

Idadidnotshowthesuperficialvexationthathermothermanifested,andwhichwasmoreassumedthanreal.Hercheekpaledalittle,andsheinstinctivelyglancedatVanBergasifhersuddensenseofguiltwereapparenttohiskeeneyes.Hewaslookingathesearchingly,andsheturnedawaywithaquickflush,nordidshegivehimachancetospeakwithheragainthatday;buthiswords——"whatamillstoneaboutaman"sneckawomancanbe!"——hauntedhercontinually.StilloftenerrosebeforeherMissBurton"sflushedandkindledface,andtheartist"semphaticassertionofthepowerofmindandcharactertoaddtonativebeauty.Hadshenotbeenamillstoneaboutherfather"sneck?Wastherenotafatalflawinthebeautyofwhichshewassoproud,thatspoileditforeyesthatwerecriticalandunblinded?

Oppressedbythesethoughtsandbeinginnomoodforhercousin"sbanter,ortheartist"ssocietywhichalwaysseemedtorenderhermoreuncomfortable,shewasgladtoescapetothesolitudeofherownroom.

Another"revelation"wasslowlydawninguponhermind,namely——justwhatshe,IdaMayhew,was.Awomanisan"inspiration"ora"millstoneaccordingtowhatsheis,"thisstranger,thisdisturberofherpeace,fromwhomitseemedshecouldnotescape,hadnotonlyassertedbutprovedbyshowingheraladyshewouldhavepassedasplainandinsignificant,butwhoneverthelesspossessedsomesweetpotencythatwonandcheeredallhearts,andwho,shewascompelledtoadmit,waspositivelybeautifulasshesatatthepiano,radiantwithherpurposetocausegladnessinothers.MissBurtonhadcreatedsunshineenoughtoenliventhedismalday,andhadquickenedahundredpulseswithpleasure.Shehadbeenaburdeneventoherself.

Everything,fromtheartist"sfirstdisturbingfrowntothepresenthour,hadbeenpreparingthewayforthesharpandpainfulcontrastthatcircumstanceshadforceduponherattentionto-day.

Butthethoughtthattroubledhermost,wasthathesawthiscontrastmoreplainlythanitwaspossibleforhertoseeit.

Vaguely,andyetwithsomeapproachtothetruth,herintuitionbegantorevealtohertheattitudeofhismindtowardsher.Shebelievedthathewasattracted,butalsosawthathewasnotblindedbyherbeauty.Shewasalreadybeginningtoreviseherfirstimpressionthathewasshuttinghiseyestoeveryotherconsideration,asshehadseensomanydointheirbriefinfatuation.Hismannerwasnotthatofonewhoistakingcounselofpassiononly.Thoseominouswords——"accordingtowhatsheis"——indicatedthathewaslookingintohermind,hercharacter.Withasenseofdismay,shewasawakeningtoaknowledgeofthedwarfeduglinessherbeautybutpartiallyconcealed,andshefeltthathe,fromthefirst,hadbeendiscoveringthosedefectsofwhichshehadbeenscarcelyconsciousherself.Shebegantofearthathercousin"swordswouldprovetrue,andthathewouldnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithher.Thereforetheopportunitytoretaliateandtopunishhimforallthemortificationsthathehadoccasionedher,wouldnevercome.Onthecontrary,hemightinflictuponher,anyday,thecrowninghumiliationofdeclaring,beindifferenceofmanner,thathehadfoundheroutsothoroughly,astoentertainforheronlyfeelingsofdisgustandrepugnance.

"Well,"sheconcluded,recklessly,"whyshouldIcarewhathethinks?Ihavelivedthusfarwithouthisgoodopinion,andI

canlivealittlelonger,Iimagine.Ihavehadagoodtimeforeighteenyearsaftermyownfashion,andIwilljustignorehimandhaveagoodtimestill.IndeedI"llshockhimto-nightandto-morrowsothoroughly,thathewon"tcomenearmeagain;forI"msickofhissuperiorairs.I"msickofhislearnedtalkaboutbooks,pictures,andpolitics,asifayoungsocietygirlwereexpectedtoknowaboutthesethings;andasforhissmalltalk,itremindedmeofanelephanttryingtodanceajig;"andshesprangupwithasnatchofsongfromthe"operabouffe,"andbeganhertoiletfordinner.

Inafewmoments,however,shedroppedherhairbrushabsently,andforgottolookatherfairfaceinthemirror.

"Iwonder,"shemused,"ifheandMissBurtonevermetbeforetheycamehere?Ithasbeenastrangecoincidencethatsheshouldhavefeltsuchasuddenindispositionineachinstanceatthesamemomentthathisnamewascasuallymentioned.True,onbothoccasions,eventsoccurredthatmightaccountforthesuddengivingwayofhernerves,butIcannothelpthinkingthatshehassomeassociationwithhimthattherestofusknownothingabout.Shecertainlyseemsmoreinterestedinhimthaninanyoneelseinthehouse,forIhaveseveraltimesnoticedpeculiarandfurtiveglancestowardshim;besides,theyareevidentlygrowingtobeverygoodfriends.AsforIk,heseemsquiteinclinedtoenteruponaseriousflirtationwithher.ButwhatdoIcareforeitherofthem!Mr.Sibleywillbehereto-night,andI"llenablethisartisttobringhisinvestigationstoacloseatonce.IamwhatIam,andthat"stheendofit,andIwon"tmopeandhaveastupidtimeforanybody,andcertainlynotforhim.Lethimmarrytheschool-ma"am.Shecantalkbooks,art,andallthe"isms"going,tohisheart"scontent.

I,aswellasMissBurton,havemyopinionofflirting,andknowfromsomelittleexperiencethatitisjollygoodfun.

"Hecangohisway,I"llgomine;

E"enthoughhefrowns,thesunwillshine."

Andwithacarelessgesturesheaffectedtodismisshimfromherthoughts.

Tojudgefromhermannerthateveningandthefollowingday,onemightsupposethatshesucceededveryfully.Sibley,withanunwontedventuresomeness,didriskhisoneimmaculatepossession,hisclothes,andcamefromthecitythroughthestorm.Idaandhimself,betweenthem,broughtaboutthenearestapproachtoa"ball"possibleinthecircumstances.

Thedancing,undertheirauspices,differedfromthatofthemorning,notmerelyinnameandform,butinitssubtlecharacter.Intheoneinstanceithadbeenaninnocentpastime,occasionedbychildlikeandjoyousimpulses.Thepeople"smannermighthaveremindedoneofabitofdarkenedlandscapethathadbeenrapidlyfilledwithlight,andalmostecstaticlifebytheadventofaMaymorning.

Intheevening,however,everythingwasartificialandinkeepingwiththegaslight.Theladieswereconsciousoftheirtoilets,consciousofthemselves,lookingforadmirationratherthanheartyenjoyment.Eventheolderboysandgirls,whohadbeenjoyouschildreninthemorning,werenowsmallparodiesoffashionablemenandwomen!Abandofhiredperformerstwangedoutthehackneyeddancingmusictheninvogue,goingovertheirsmall"repertoire"

withwearisomerepetition.Peopledancedatfirstbecauseitwasthethingtodo,andnotfromanyinspirationfromthemelody.Astheeveningworeon,Sibley,whohadbeendrinkingquitefreely,triedtointroduce,asfaraspossible,theexcitementofarevel,callingchieflyforswiftwaltzesandgallopsthroughwhichheandIdawhirledinawaythatmadepeople"sheadsdizzy.

MissBurton,aftergoingthroughaquadrillewithStantonearlyintheevening,haddeclinedtodanceanymore.Shedidnotfeelverywell,sheexplainedtoVanBergashesoughtherforthenextform;butheimaginedthatsheearlyforesawthatSibleyandothers,andamongthemevenStanton,wereinclinedtogivetheeveningacharacterthatwasnottohertaste.

AsIdahadmadeherselfsomewhatprominentininauguratingthe"ball,"asSibleytookpainstotermitonalloccasions,VanBerg,asapartofhistacticstowinthebeauty"sgood-will,triedatfirsttomaketheaffairsuccessful.Hedancedwithothers,andtwicesoughtherhand;butineachcasesheratherindifferentlytoldhimthatshewasengaged.Hewouldnothavesoughtherasapartnerafterhisfirstrebuffhadhenotimagined,fromoccasionalandfurtiveglances,thatshewasnotasindifferentassheseemed.

Earlyintheeveningitoccurredtohimthatherslightlyrecklessmannerwasassumed,buthesawthatshewasabandoningherselftothegrowingexcitementofthedance,asSibley,hermostfrequentpartner,andothers,weretothestrongerexcitementofliquor.

Observantmotherscalledawaytheirdaughters.Ladies,inwhomtheinstinctsoftruerefinedwomanhoodwereintheascendancy,lookedsignificantlyateachother,anddeclinedfurtherinvitations.

VanBerghadalsowithdrawn,butwithhisdispositiontowatchmanifestationsofcharacteringeneral,andofonepresentinparticular,hestillstoodataparlorwindowlookingon.Thebandhadjuststruckupalivelierwaltzthanusual,andIdaandSibleywerewhirlingthroughthewideapartmentasiftreadingonair;

butwhen,afewmomentslater,theycirclednearwherehestood,hesawupontheyoungman"sfaceanexpressionofearthinessandgrossnessthatwasanythingbutethereal.IndeedsounmistakablywantonwasthelookwhichSibleybentuponhiscompanion,whoseheavingbosomheclaspedagainsthiswon,thattheartistfrowneddarklyathim,andfelthishandtinglingtostrikethefellowablow.

She,lookingup,caughthisfrown,andinheregotismandexcitement,thoughtitmeantonlyjealousyofthemanshehadsofavoredduringtheevening.

"PerhapsheismoredeeplysmittenthanIimagined,andIcanpunishhimyet,"wasthehopethatenteredhermind;andthisprospectaddedtotheelationandexcitementwhichhadmasteredher.

"Cansheknowhowthatscoundrelislookingather?IfIbelieveditI"dleavehermarvellousfeaturestotheirfate,"wasthethoughtthatpassedthroughhismind.

Inhisperturbationhewalkeddownthelongpiazza.Happeningtoglanceintooneofthesmallprivateparlors,hewitnessedascenethatmadeaverysharpcontrastwiththeonehehadjustleft.

Anoldwhite-haired,white-beardedman,awell-knownguestofthehouse,reclinedinaneasy-chairwithanexpressionofrealenjoymentonhisface.Hisagedwifesatnear,knittingawayastranquillyasifathome,whileunderthegas-jetwasMissBurton,readinganewspaper,withtwoorthreeothersuponherlap.Shehadevidentlyfoundtheoldgentlemantryingtoglean,withhisfeeblesight,theeveningjournalsthathadbeenbroughtfromthecity,andwaslendinghimheryoungeyesandmellowvoiceforanhour.Thepicturestruckhimsopleasantlythathetookouthisnotebookandindicatedthefortunategroupingwithin,forafuturesketch.

"Itwouldmakesomedifferenceinaman"sfuture,"hemuttered,"whetherthismaidenortheoneinyonderroue"sembracewereinstalledasthemistressofhishome."

GoingbackintothemainhallwayhemetStantoncomingdownthestairswithhisfaceunusuallyflushed.

"Oh,Van,"hecried,"wherehaveyoubeenkeepingyourself?Comewithmeandhavesomeofthebestbrandyyouevertasted."

"Whereisit?"

"InSibley"sroom.Hebroughtupacoupleofbottlesoftheprimeoldarticle,andhasinvitedallhisfriendstomakefreewithit."

"I"mnotoneofhisfriends."

"Ohwell,you"remyfriend!What"stheodds?Aswigofsuchbrandywilldoyougood,socomealong."

"Comeoutonthepiazza,Stanton.Iwanttoshowyousomething."

"Can"tyouwaitafewmoments?Iwanttohaveawhirlinthisjollywaltzbeforeit"sover."

"No;thenitwillbetoolate.Iwon"tkeepyoulong,"andStantonreluctantlyfollowedhim.

VanBergunderstoodhisfriendsufficientlywelltoknowthatanyordinaryremonstrancewouldhavenoinfluenceinhispresentcondition,andsosoughttousealittlestrategy.Takinghimtothewindowofthesmallprivateparlor,heshowedandexplainedtohimtheprettyandquietscenewithin.

Stanton"smannerchangedinstantly,andheseemedinnohastetoreturntothewaltz.

"Ithoughtitwouldstrikeyouasaprettypicture,asitdidme,"

remarkedVanBerg,quietly;"andIalsothoughtthatafterseeingityouwouldnotwantanymoreofSibley"sbrandy.Itwouldchokeme."

"Youareright,Van.IfearI"vetakentoomuchofitalready.

I"mgladyoushowedmethisquietpicture——itmakesmewishIwereabetterman."

"Ilikethat,Ik;Ialwaysknewyouhadplentyofgoodmetalinyou.

NowIdon"twanttobeofficious,butIwouldnotletacousinofminedancewithSibleyanylongerifIcouldpreventitwithoutattractingattention.Howevergeneroushemayhavebeenwithhisbrandy,hehashadmorethanhissharehimself."

"Thankyou,Van;Iunderstandyou.ByJove,I"lltrythesametacticswithherthatyouhavewithme.I"llbringherhereandshowherascenethathasbeentomelikeaquietingandrestraininghand."

Afewmomentslaterthewaltzceased,andMissMayhewcameoutonthecool,duskypiazza,leaningonSibley"sarm.Stantonjoinedherandsaid:

"Ida,comewithme;Iwishtospeakwithyouamoment.Mr.Sibley,pleaseexcuseus."

"Indeed,Mr.Stanton,"saidSibleyintonesofmaudlinsentiment,"youarecrueltodeprivemeofyourcousin"ssocietyevenforamoment.I"llforgiveyouthisonce,butneveragain."Andthenheavailedhimselfoftheopportunitytopayanothervisittohisbrandy.

"Ida,"saidStanton,"Iwanttoshowyoualittlepicturethathasdonemegood."

Buttheyoungladywasinnomoodforpicturesormoralizing.Herbloodwascoursingfeverishlythroughherveins,herspirithadbeenmaderecklessbythewilfulviolencethatshewasdoingherconscience,andalsobyherdeepandgrowingdissatisfactionwithherself,thatwaslikeanirritatingwound.Shewasthereforepreparedtoresentanyinterruptiontothewhirlofexcitement,whichgaveherakindofpleasureintheplaceofthehappinessthatwasimpossibletooneinhercondition.