第11章

"Youcallthataprettypicture!"shesaiddisdainfully;"MissBurtonreadinganewspapertotwostupidoldpeoplewhooughttobeabed!AmorehumdrumsceneIneversaw.Truly,bothyourbreathandyourwordsshowthatyouhavebeendrinkingtoomuch.ButyouneednotexpectmetoshareinyourtipsysentimentoverMissBurton.DidMr.VanBergaskyoutoshowmethismatter-of-factgroupwhich,inhisartisticjargon,youcallapicture?"

"Ifhehad,heshowedyouagreaterkindnessthanyoudeserved."

"Yes,andagreateronethanIaskedorwishedfromhim."

"ThenyouaregoingbacktodancewithSibley?"

"Yes,Iam."

"Theprospectsare,thatyouandMrs.Chintsandacoupleofhalf-tipsymenwillsoonhaveitalltoyourselves.Isupposetheoldadageabout"birdsofafeather"swillstillholdgood.Iwasinhopes,however,thatevenifyouhadnoappreciationofwhatwasbeautiful,refined,andunselfishinanotherwoman"saction,youstillhadsomeself-respect,oratleastsomefearofridicule,left.Sinceyouwon"tlistentome,Ishallwarnyourmother.

IfSibleyandtwoorthreeothersdrinkmuchmore,Burleighwillinterfereforthecreditofhishouse."

"YouhavebeendrinkingaswellasMr.Sibley."

"Well,thankstoVanBerg,IstoppedbeforeIlostmyhead."

"FromyourmaudlinsentimentoverMissBurton,Ithinkyouhavelostyourheadandheartboth."

"Go;dancewithSibley,then,"hesaidinsuddenirritation;"dancewithhimtillyouandMrs.Chintsbetweenyouhavetoholdhimonhisfeet.DancewithhimtillBurleighsendsacoupleofcoloredwaiterstotakehimfromyourembraceandcarryhimofftobed."

Shemadeagestureofrageanddisgust,andwentstraighttoherroom.

Sibley,inthemeantime,paidalengthenedvisittohisbrandy,andhavingalreadypassedthepointofdiscretion,drankrecklessly.

Whenhedescendedthestairsagaintolookforhispartner,hisstepwasuncertainandhisutterancethick.

StantongaveMr.Burleighahintthattheyoungmanneededlookingafter,andtheadroithost,skilledinmanagingallkindsofpeopleandineverycondition,inducedhimtoreturntohisroom,underthepretenceofwishingtotastehisfineoldbrandy,andthenkepthimthereuntilthelethargicstagesetinastheresultofhisexcess.Andsoanaffair,whichmighthavecreatedmuchscandal,wassmuggledoutofsightandknowledgeasfaraspossible.Mrs.

Mayhewhadbeensooccupiedwithwhistthatshehadnotobservedthatanythingwasamiss,andmerelyremarkedthat"Mr.Sibley"sballhadendedearlierthanusual."

ChapterXVI.OutAmongShadows.

TheexpressionofIdaMayhew"sfacewascoldanddefiantonthefollowingday.Shedidnotattendchurchwithhermother,butremainedallthemorninginherroom.ShenotonlyavoidedopportunitiesofspeakingtoVanBergwhencomingdowntodinnerandduringtheafternoon,butshewouldnotevenlooktowardshim;andhermannertowardshercousinalsowasdecidedlyicy.

"Idon"tknowwhatisthematterwithIda,"hermotherremarkedtoStanton;"shehasactedsostrangelyoflate."

"It"stheoldcomplaint,Iimagine,"herepliedwithashrug.

"What"sthat?"

"Caprice."

"Oh,well!she"snoworsethanotherpretty,fashionablegirls,"

saidMissMayhew,carelessly.

Stanton,inhisangeronthepreviousevening,hadnotspokenofhiscousintoVanBerginaverycomplimentaryway;buttheartistrememberedthattheyoungmanhimselfwasnotinaconditiontoformeitheracorrectorcharitablejudgment;whilethefactthatIda,asaresultofhisremonstrance,hadgonedirectlytoherroom,wasinherfavor.Hestillresolvedtosuspendhisfinalopinionandnottogiveoverhisprojectuntilsatisfiedthathernaturecontainedtoomuchalloytopermitofitssuccess.Hepaidnoheedthereforetohercoldnessofmanner;andwhenatlastmeetingherfacetofaceonthepiazzaSundayevening,heliftedhishataspolitelyaspossible.

Sibleydidnotappearuntilthearrivalofthedinnerhour.Hewasundertheimpressionthathehadgonealittletoofarthenightbefore,andtriedtomakeamendsbyanimmaculatetoiletandanurbaneyetdignifiedcourtesytowardsallwhomheknew.Societyveryreadilywinksattheindiscretionsofwealthyyoungmen.

Moreover,hehadbeeninveigledbacktohisroombeforehisconditionhadbeenobservedtoanyextent.Thereforehefoundhimselfsowellreceivedinthemain,thathesoonfullyrecoveredhiswontedself-assurance.

Mrs.Mayhewwasparticularlygracious;andIda,whoatfirsthadbeensomewhatdistanttowardshimaswellasallothers,concludedthatshehadnotsufficientcausetobeashamedofhim,andsoitcameaboutthattheyspentmuchoftheafternoonandeveningtogether.Shedidnotfailtonote,however,thatwhenheapproachedVanBerghereceivedacoldandcurtreception.Wasjealousythecauseofthis?Inherelationandexcitementonthepreviousevening,shehadbeeninclinedtothinkso,butnowshefearedthatitwasbecausetheartistdespisedtheman;andinhersecretsoulshewascompelledtoadmitthathehadreasontodespisehim——yes,todespisethemboth.Shefelt,withbitterhumiliation,thathissuperioritywasnotassumedbutreal.

Morethanoncebeforethedayclosed,shefoundherselfcontrastingthetwomen.Theonehadnothadashredoftrueworthabouthim.

Stanton,toteazeherandtojustifyhisinterference,hadtoldherthatMr.Burleighhadbeencompelledtotakechargeofhercompanioninordertopreventhimfromdisgracinghimselfandthehouse.

Althoughtooproudtoacknowledgeit,shestillsawplainlythatitwashercousin"sinterference,andindirectlytheinterventionoftheartistthathadkeptherfrombeinginvolvedinthatdisgrace.

Evenherpervertedmindrecognizedthatonewasagentleman,andtheother——well,"afashionableyoungman,"asshewouldphraseit.Theone,asafriend,wouldshieldherfromeverydetractingbreath;theother,ifgivenachance,wouldinevitablytumbleintosomesloughofinfamyhimself,anddragherafterhimwithrecklessselfishness.

Still,withsomethinglikeself-loathing,shesawthatSibleywashernaturalallyandcompanion,andthatshehadfarmoreincommonwithhimthanwiththeartist.Shecouldeasilymaintainwithhimtheinanechatteroftheirfrivolouslife,butshecouldnottalkwiththeartist,norhewithher,withoutaneffortthatwasashumiliatingasitwasapparent.

Whatwasmore,shesawthatallothersclassedherwithSibley,andthatthepeopleinthehousewhowereakintotheartistincharacterandhighbreeding,stoodcourteouslybutcoollyalooffrombothherselfandhermother.Shealsofeltthatshecouldnotlayalltheblameofthisuponherpoorfather.Indeed,sincethepreviousmiserableSundayonwhichVanBerghadtriedtowinMr.Mayhewfromhisevilhabitforonedayatleast,andshehadthwartedhiskindlyintention,shehadbeguntofeelthatsheandhermotherwerethechiefcausesofhisincreasingdegradation.

Others,shefeared,andespeciallyVanBerg,tookthesameview.

Withsuchthoughtssurgingupinhermindandcloudingherbrow,Sibleydidnotfindheraltogetherthesamegirlthatshehadbeentheeveningbefore.Still,ashasbeensaid,hewashernaturalally,andshetriedtosecondhiseffortstore-establishagoodcharacterandtokeepuptheappearanceoffashionablerespect.

Stantonwasinsomethingofadilemma.HedidnotlikeSibley,andwasashamedofhisrecentexcess;buthavingdrankwithhim,andso,inasense,havingacceptedhishospitality,felthimselfobligedtoberatheraffable.Hemanagedthematterbykeepingoutofthewayasfaraspossible,andwasgladtorememberthattheyoungmanwoulddepartinthemorning.Whilescarcelyacknowledgingthefacttohimself,hewasonthealertmostofthedaytofindanopportunityofenjoyingaconversationwithMissBurton;butshekeptherselfverymuchsecluded.Afterattendingchurchataneighboringvillageinthemorning,shespentmostoftheafternoonwithMrs.Burleigh,assistingherinthecareofthecrossbaby.

VanBerg,muchtoStanton"senvy,foundherasgenialandcheeryaseverwhentheymetatthetable.Helearned,fromhermannermorethanfromanythingshesaid,thatthedayanditsassociationsweresacredtoher.Sheaffectednosolemnityandseemedundernoconstraint,onlyherthoughtandbearinghadasomewhatsoberercoloring,liketheshadingofapicture.Tohisminditwasbutanotherexampleofherentirereticenceinregardtoherself,whilehersmilingfaceseemedasopenasthelight.

Butasshecameoutfromsupperthechildrenpounceduponher,clamorousforastory.SheassentedonconditionthatMr.Burleighwouldgivethemtheuseofoneoftheprivateparlors——astipulationspeedilycompliedwith;andsoonshehadnearlyallthesmallfolkinthehotelgatheredroundher.

"Ishallstandwithout,likethe"Periatthegate,""Stantonfoundachancetosay.

"Theresemblanceisverystriking,"washersmilingreply;butforsomereasonhewincedunderitandwishedhehadnotspoken.

Whenshedismissedherlittleaudiencethereweretracesoftearsonsomeofthechildren"sfaces,provingthatshecouldtellapathetic,aswellasajollystory;andVanBergobservedwithinteresthowthepowerofhermagnetismkeptthemlingeringnearherevenaftersheenteredtheparlorandsoughtaquietnookneartheoldgentlemanandladytowhomshehadbeenreadingthepreviousevening.

Mrs.Chints,wholikedtobeprominentonalloccasions,veryproudlyfeltthatsacredmusicwouldbetherightthingonSabbathevening,and,withafewofhewownilk,wasgivingafloridandimperfectrenderingofthatpeculiarstyleofcompositionthatsuggestsapooroperawhilemakingarathershockingandirreverentuseofwordstakenfromScriptures.

VanBergandStanton,whowereoutonthepiazza,werereadytogratetheirteethinanguish,findingthenarcoticinfluenceofthestrongestcigarnomatchforMrs.Chints"svoice.

SuddenlythatirrepressibleladyspiedMissBurton,andsheswoopeddownuponherinacharacteristicmanner,exclaiming:

"Youcan"tdecline;youneedn"tsayyoudon"t;I"veheardyou.IfyousinghalfaswellforusasyoudidtoMrs.Burleigh"sbabythisafternoon,we"llbemorethansatisfied.Nowcome;onesweetsolo——justone."

Stantoncranedhisneckfromwherehesattoseetheresultofthisonslaught,butMissBurtonshookherhead.

"Well,then,won"tyoujoininwithus?"persistedMrs.Chints.

"SacredmusicissolovelyandappropriateonSundaynight."

"Youarerightinthatrespect,Mrs.Chints.IfitisthewishofthosepresentIthinksomesimplehymnsinwhichwecanalljoinmightbegenerallyenjoyed."

"Now,mydear,youhavejusthitit,"saidtheoldladyatherside."I,forone,wouldverymuchliketohearsomesimplemusiclikethatwehadwhenIwasyoung."

Theoldlady"spreferencewastakenupandechoedoneveryside.

IndeedthemajoritywerereadyforanychangefromMrs.Chints"sstridenttones.

"Well,mydear,"saidthelady,"itshallbeasyousay."Thensheadded,"sottovoce,"withacomplacentnod,"Isupposethemusicweweregivingisbeyondthemasses,butifyoucouldoncehearMadameSkaronnirenderitinourchoirattheChurchofthe(somethingthatsoundedlike"pica-ninny,"asbyMrs.Chintspronounced)youwouldwishfornoother.Willyouplay,mydear?"

"Ah,yes,pleasedo,"exclaimedsomeofthechildrenwhohadgatheredaroundher.

"Inmercytouspoormortalsforwhomthereisnoescapesavegoingtobed,pleasecomply,"whisperedtheoldladyinherear.

ThelightinMissBurton"seyeswasmirthfulratherthansacredassheroseandwenttothepiano,andatonceanairofbreezyandinterestedexpectancytooktheplaceofthepreviousboredexpression.

"Come,Van,"saidStanton,throwingawayhiscigar,"we"llneedyourtenorvoice.Wemuststandbythatlittlewoman.TheChintstribehaveincitedtoprofanitylongenough,andshallmakethenighthideousnomore.Ifwecouldonlydrowntheminsteadoftheirvoices,whatamercyitwouldbe!"andtheyoungmenwentaroundandstoodintheopendoornearthepiano.

"Youaretosing,"saidMissBurton,withadecidedlittlenodatthem.

"Weintendto,"repliedStanton,"sinceyouaretoaccompanyus."

Shestarted"Coronation,"thatspiritedandalwaysinspiritingbattlesongofthechurch——jubilantandmilitant——amelodythatisalsoadmirablyadaptedforblendingroughandinharmoniousvoices.

Foramomentherownvoicewaslikethatofasinginglark,mountingfromitsdaisycovert;orrather,liketheflowofasilverrillwhosemusicwassoonlost,however,inthetumultuousrushofothertributarystreamsofsound;still,thegeneraleffectwasgood,andthepeopleenjoyedit.Bythetimethesecondstanzawasreachedthemajorityweresingingwithheartygood-will,thechildrengatheringnearandjoininginwithdelight.

Otherfamiliarandold-fashionedhymnsfollowed,andthenoneandanotherbegantoaskfortheirfavorites.FortunatelyMrs.Chints"sknowledgeofsacredmusicwaslimited,andsosheretiredonthelaurelsofhavingcalledMissBurtonout,informinghalfthecompanyofthefactwithanimportantnod;andinremembranceofthisfacttheywereinclinedtoforgivehertheanguishshehadpersonallycausedthem.

Mrs.Burleigh,whohadstolenintotheparlorforalittlewhilethatshemightenjoythesinging,rememberedthatshehadapileofnote-booksthathadgrowndustyonashelfsincethebabyhadfurnishedthemusicofthehousehold.Thesewerebrought,andhigherandfullermusicalthemeswereattempted,untilthesingersdwindledtoaquartetcomposedofaladywhohadafairsopranovoice,MissBurton,StantonandVanBerg.Theirselections,however,continuedtrulysacredincharacter,thusdifferingradicallyfromthefloridstylethatMrs.Chintshadintroduced.

ThesweetandpenetratingpowerofMissBurton"svoicecouldnowbedistinguished.Forsomereasonitthrilledandtoucheditshearersinawaythattheycouldnotaccountfor.Themajoritypresentatoncerealizedthatshewasnot,andnevercouldbecome,agreatsinger.Butwithinthecompassofhervoice,shecouldpronouncesacredwordsinamannerthatsendthemhometothehearsofthelistenerslikeraysthatcouldbothcheerandmelt.

Atlastsherosefromthepiano,remarkingthattherewereothermusicianspresent;andnoamountofpersuasioncouldinducehertoremainthereanylonger.

"Perhapsyougentlemenplay,"shesaid,turningtotheyoungmenwhowereabouttodepart."Aman"stouchandleadershipissomuchmoredecisiveandvigorousthanalady"s!"

"Mr.VanBergplaysverywellindeed,consideringhisyouthanddiffidence!"remarkedStanton.

"Andhehasbeentakingadvantageofadefencelesswomanallthistime!Mr.VanBerg,ifyoudonotwishtoloseyourcharacterutterly,youmusttakemyplaceatthepiano."

"Iadmit,"hereplied,"thatIhavetakenmorepleasurethanyouwillbelieveinyourinyourcontributiontoourevening"senjoyment,butratherthanloseyourgoodopinionIwillattempttoplayorsinganythingyoudictate,eventhoughIputeveryoneintheparlortoflight,withtheirfingersintheirears."

"Andyoufearmytastewillimposeonyousomesuchblood-curdlingcombinationofsounds?Thankyou."

"Now,Van,youhavetaughtuswhatunconditionalsurrendermeans.

MissBurton,askhimtoplayandsingsomeselectionsfromtheOratoriooftheMessiah."

"Areyoufamiliarwiththat?"sheasked,withasuddenlightingupofherface.

"Somewhatso,onlyasanamateurcanbe;butIsee,fromyourexpression,thatyouare."

"I"vecontributedmysharethisevening,"shesaid,decisively.

"PleasegiveussomeselectionsfromtheOratorio."

"Layyourcommand,then,onStantonalso.There"sapartthatwehavesungtogetherasaduetoccasionally,althoughitisnot"sonominatedinthebond,"orscore,rather."

"IfMr.Stantondoesnotstandbyhisfriend,thenheshouldbelefttostandbyhimself."

"Inthecorner,Isupposeyoumean.Butdonotleave,MissBurton.

IfyoudonotstandbyMr.VanBergandsingwithhimtheduetthatbeginswiththewords——

"Odeath!whereisthysting?"

youwilldepriveusallofthechiefpleasureoftheevening,andit"snotinyournaturetodothat."

"Please,pleasedo,MissBurton,"criedascoreofvoices.

"Youknownothingaboutmynature,sir.IassureyouthatIcanbeaveritabledragon.ButoutofregardforMr.VanBerg"s"youthanddiffidence"Iwillsustainhim."

VanBerg"svoicewasnotstrong,buthesangwithtasteandgoodexpression.Itsuggestedrefinementandcultureratherthandeep,repressedfeeling,ashadbeenthecaseinMissBurton"ssinging.

Hisstylewouldbeadmired,andwouldnotgivemuchoccasionforcriticism,but,asageneralthing,itwouldnotstirandmovetheheart.Still,theaudiencegavecloseandpleasedattention.

IdaMayhew,whoallthistimehadbeenoutonthepiazzaandbuthalflisteningtoMr.Sibley"scomplimentsinherattentiontothescenesatthepiano,nowroseandcametooneoftheopenwindows,where,whilehiddenfromthesinger,shecouldhearmoredistinctly.

Herfeaturesdidnotindicatethatshesharedinthepleasureexpressedontheotherfaceswithin,andhergatheringfrownwasdeepenedbytheshadowofthewindowframe.

"Youdonotenjoyit!"saidMr.Sibley,complacently.

"No,"sheanswered,laconically;butforreasonshelittleunderstood.

"Nowyoushowyourtaste,MissMayhew."

"IfearIdo.Hush!"ButwhenVanBerg"ssoloended,shebreathedadeepsigh.

ThenStanton"srich,butuncultivatedbassvoicejoinedinthemelody.Stilltheeffectwasbettertahnwouldhavebeenexpectedfromamateurs.Afterafewmoments,StantonstoodbackandMissBurtonandVanBergsangtogether;theneveryoneleanedforwardandlistenedwithabreathlesshush.Hervoiceseemedtopervadehiswithsouldandfeelingthathadbeenlackinghitherto.

Asthelastrichchordsdiedaway,thestrongestexpressionofpleasurewereheardoneveryside;butIdaMayhewsteppedabruptlyoutintotheduskofthepiazzawithclenchedhandsandcompressedlips.

""Peste!""sheexclaimedunderherbreath."WhatacontrastbetweenSibleyandmyselflasteveningandthesetwopeopleto-night!WhataworsecontrasttheremighthavebeenifIkhadnotinterferedintime!Ihaveagoodvoice,buttheguestsofthehousehavenoteventhoughtofmeinconnectionwiththisevening"sentertainment.

IamassociatedonlywiththeSibleystyleofamusements."

ChapterXVII.NewForcesDeveloping.

AfterMr.VanBergandMissBurtonfinishedtheselectionfromtheOratoriomentionedinthepreviouschapter,theoldwhite-hairedgentlemanatwhosesidethelatterhadbeensittingintheearlierpartoftheeveningroseandsaid:

"Iwanttothankallthesingers,andespeciallytheyoungladyandgentlemannowatthepiano,notonlyforthepleasuretheyhavegivenusall,butalsoforthecomfortingandsustainingthoughtsthatthesacredwordshavesuggested.Myenjoymentsinthisworldarebutfew,andarefastdiminishing;andIknowthattheywillnotrefuseanoldman"srequestthattheyclosethisserviceofsongbyeachsingingalongsomehymnthatwillstrengthenourfaithintheunseenFriendwhowatchesoverusall."

VanBerglookedatMissBurton.

"Wecannotrefusesuchanappeal,"shesaid.

"IfearthatIshallseemahypocriteincomplying,"VanBerganswered,inalowtone."HowcanImakeadistinctlyrecognizedefforttostrengthenfaithinotherswhenlackingfaithmyself."

Hereyesflasheduptohis,insuddenandstrongapproval."I

likethat,"shesaid."ItalwaysgivesmeasenseofsecurityandsafetywhenImeetdownrighthonesty.Innowaycanyoubetterstrengthenourfaiththanbybeingperfectlytrue.Yougivemeagoodexampleofsincerity,"sheaddedslowly,"andperhapsmyhymnwillteachsubmissionmorethanfaith.WhileIamsingingityoumayfindsomethingthatwillnotexpressmorethanyoufeel."

Inhersweet,low,yetpenetratingvoice,thatnowhadapathoswhichmeltedeveryheart,shesangthefollowingwords,which,liketheperfumeofcrushedviolets,haveriseninprayerfrommanybruisedandbrokensprits:

"MyGod,myfather,whileIstrayFarfrommyhomeonlife"sroughway,Ohteachmefrommyhearttosay,Thywillbedone.

WhatthoughinlonelygriefIsighForfriendsbelovednolongernigh;

SubmissivestillwouldIreply,Thywillbedone.

Renewmywillfromdaytoday;

BlenditwithThine,andtakeawayWhate"ernowmakesithardtosay,Thywillbedone.

ThenwhenonearthIbreathenomore,Theprayeroftmixedwithtearsbefore,I"llsinguponahappiershore,Thywillbedone."

Stanton,warm-heartedandgenuinewithallhisfaults,retiredwellintotheshadowofthehallwayandlookedatthesingerthroughthelensesofsympathetictears.

"Poororphangirl,"hemuttered."Whatavillainamanwouldbewhocouldpurposeharmtoyou!"

VanBerg,inaccordancewithhiscoolerandlessdemonstrativenature,kepthispositionatherside,butheregardedherwithanexpressionofrespectandinterestthatcausedIdaMayhew,whowaswatchingfromhercovertnear,asenseofpainandenvythatsurprisedherbyitskeenness.

Withasuddenlongingwhichindicatedthatthewishcamedirectfromfromherheart,shesighed:

"WhatwouldInotgivetoseehimlookatmewiththatexpressiononhisface!"

Then,startledbyherownthought,sovividhaditbeen,shelookedaroundasifinfearitwasapparenttohercompanion.

Hiseyeswereintruthbentuponher,andinthedusktheyseemedlikelividcoals.Amomentlater,aswithashrinkingsenseoffearshefurtivelylookedathimagain,hiseyessuggestedthoseofsomeanimalofpreythatispossessedonlywiththewolfishdesiretodevour,caringforthevictimonlyasitmaygratifytheravenousappetite.

Heleanedforwardandwhisperedinherear:

"MissIda,youdonotknowhowstrangely,howtemptinglybeautifulyouareto-night.Onemightwellperilhissoulforsuchbeautyasyours."

"Hush,"shesaidimperiously,andwitharepellinggesture,shesteppedfurtherintothelighttowardsthesingers.

"Then,whenonearthIbreathenomore,"sangMissBurton.

Thethoughtwastotheheartoftheunhappylistenerlikethetouchoficetothehand.TherewasakindlinglightofhopeinMissBurton"sface,andsomethinginhertonethatindicatedthecourageofanunfalteringtrustasshesangtheclosinglines:

"I"llsinguponahappiershore,Thywillbedone."

ButthewordsbroughtadeeperdespondencytoIdaMayhew.Inbitternesssheaskedherself,"Whatchanceisthereformetoreach"thathappiershore,"withthetempteratmysideandeverythinginthepresentandpastcombiningtodragmedown?"

"There,thankheaven"meetin"sover,""whisperedSibley,asMissBurtonrosefromthepiano."I"msickofallthispioustwaddle,andwouldathousand-foldratherlistentothemusicofyourvoiceoutunderthetrees."

"You"thankheaven"!"sherepeatedwitharecklesslaugh."I"minclinedtothink,Mr.Sibley,fromthenatureofyourwords,younamedthewronglocality."

Theansweringlookhegaveherindicatedthatshepuzzledhim.