第13章

TheinterviewdescribedinthepreviouschaptertouchedVanBergdeeply,butitsclosepuzzledhim.Undertheinfluencesofhisarousedfeelingshadhisfaceexpressedmorethanmeresympathy?

Hadherstrongintuition,thatwaslikeasecondsight,interpretedhisheartmoreclearlythanhehadbeenabletounderstandithimselfasyet?Reasonandjudgement,hisprivycouncil,hadalreadybeguntoadvisehimtowinifpossiblethisunselfishmaiden,whowithadivinealchemytransmutedhershadowsintosunshineforothers,andoftensuggestedthethought,ifshecandothisinsorrow,howinexpressiblyhappyshemightmakeyouandyouragedfatherandmotherifyoucouldfirstfindoutinsomewayhowtomakeherhappy.

Indeed,soclearacasedidthesecounsellorsmakeout,thatconscienceaddedherauthoritativevoicealso,andassuredhimthathewouldbefalsetohimselfandhisfuturedidhenot,totheutmost,availhimselfandhisfuturedidhenot,totheutmost,availhimselfoftheopportunityofwinningonewhosesocietyfromthefirsthadbeenaninspirationtobetterthoughtsandbetterliving.

Untilthiseveninghishearthadremainedsluggish.Sweetandpotentashervoicehadbeen,ithadnotpenetratedtothe"holyofholies"withinhissoul.Buthadnotherlowsadtonesechoedthereto-nightinthehalfinvoluntaryconfidenceshehadgivenhim?

Inhisdeepsympathy,intheansweringfeelingevokedbyherstrongbutrepressedemotion,hethoughthishearthadbeenstirredtoitsdepths,andthathenceforthitschiefdesirewouldbetobanishthesorrowfulmemoriestypifiedtohermindbytheblackcloudsabovehim.Hadhisfacerevealedthisimpulseofhisheartbeforehehadbeenfullyconsciousofithimself?Wasitanunwelcomediscovery,thatshesohastilyfledfromit?Orhadshebeenonlystartled——hermaidenlyreserveshrinkingfromthefirstfore-shadowingofthesupremerequestthatsheshouldunveilthemysteriesofherlifetoonewhobutnowhadbeenastranger?Hedidnotknow.Hefelthescarcelyunderstoodherorhimself;buthewasconsciousofahopethatbothmightmeettheirhappyfateineachother.

Heleanedthusforatimeabsorbedinthoughtagainstapillarwhereshehadlefthim,thensaunteredwithbowedheadandpreoccupiedmannertothemainentrance,downthestepsandoutintothedarkness.

HedidnotevennoticethathepassedIdaMayhew,whereshestoodamongagroupofgaychatteringyoungpeople.StilllessdidheknowthatshehadbeenfurtivelywatchinghisinterviewwithMissBurton,andthatwhenhepassedherwithoutaglanceherfacewasaspaleashadbeenthatoftheobjectofhisthoughts.Buthehadnotstrolledveryfardownagravelledpathbeforeshecompelledhimtodistinguishherrecklesslaughandtonesabovealltheothers.

Withanimpatientgesturehemuttered,"Godmadethemboth,I

suppose;andsothere"sanothermystery."

AsVanBerg"sinterestinMissBurtonhaddeepened,ithadnaturallyflaggedtowardtheonewhosemarvelouslyfairfeatureshadfirstcaughthisattentionandnowpromisedtobelinksinachainofcausesthatmightproduceeffectslittleanticipated.Hehadvirtuallyabandonedtheprojectofseekingtoennobleandharmonizethesefeaturesthatsuggestednewpossibilitiesofbeautytoalmosteveryglance,forthereasonthathenotonlybelievedtherewasnomindtobeawakened,butalsobecausehehadbeenledtothinkthegirlsodepravedandselfishatheartthattheverythoughtofalarger,purerlifewasrepugnanttoher.Hebelievedshedislikedandevendetestedhim,notsomuchonpersonalgroundsasbecauseherepresentedtohermindaclassofideasandaself-restraintthatwerehateful.CircumstanceshadassociatedherinhismindwithSibley,whothuscastabalefulshadowathwartevenherbeautyandmadeitrepulsive.Indeedthemockingperfectionofherfeaturesirritatedhim,andhebegantomakeaconsciousandpersistenteffortnottolooktowardher.Henowregardedhishopetoillumineherfacefromwithin,bydelicatetouchesofmind,thought,andmotive,asvainasanattempttocarvetheVenusofMilooutofmottledpumice-stone.Stillhedidnotregretto-nightthefreakoffancythathadbroughthimtotheLakeHouse,sinceithadledtohismeetingawomanwhowastohimanewandbeautifulrevelationoftherarestexcellenceandgrace.

ButtherewasnosuchcompensatingoutlookforpoorIda.Toher,hiscomingpromiseddailytoresultinincreasingwretchedness.

FromthemiserableSundaynightonwhichshehadsobbedherselftosleep,theconsciousnesshadcontinuallygrownclearerthatshecouldneverfindinheroldmodeoflifeanysatisfyingpleasure.

Shehadcaughtaglimpseofsomethingsomuchbetter,thatherformerworldlookedastawdryasthemimicsceneryofasecond-ratetheatre.Agenuineman,suchasshehadnotseenoratleastnotrecognizedbefore,hadsteppedoutbeforethegiltandtinsel,andthemiserableshamswereseenincontrastintheirrightfulcharacter.

But,inbringingtherevelation,ithappenedhehadsodeeplywoundedherpride,thatshehadassuredherself,againandagain,shewouldhatehisverynameaslongasshelived.DidshehatehimasshesawhimabsorbedinconversationwithMissBurtonwheneverhecouldobtaintheopportunity?Didshehatehimasshesawthathiseyesconsciouslyavoidedherandrestedapprovinglyonanotherwoman?Werehateandlovesonearakin?Couldthebeliefthathedespisedhermakehersowretchedifsheonlyhatedhim?

Duringtheearlypartofthepresentweekshehadstruggledalmostfiercelytoretainherholdonheroldlife.Unitingherselftoacliqueofthoughtlessyoungpeople,whomadeamusementandexcitementtheironlypursuit,sheseemedtobethegayestandmostrecklessofthemall,whileherheartwassinkinglikelead.Everyglancetowardthecold,avertedfaceoftheartist,inspiredherwithmorethanhisownscorntowardwhatshewasandthefrivolitiesofherlife.Shetriedtoshuthereyestothetruth,andclungdesperatelytoeveryimpedingtrifle;butfeltallthetimethatanirresistibletideofeventswascarryinghertowardtherevelationthatshelovedamanwhodespisedher,andalwayswoulddespiseher.

Andonthisnight,whenshesawtheirdimformsandheardtheirlowtonesasMissBurtonandVanBergtalkedearnestlyonthefartherendofthepiazza;whenshesawthattheygraspedhandsinparting,andnotedtheraptlookuponhisfaceashepassedherbyuncaringlyandunnotingly——therevelationcame.Itwasassharplyandpainfullydistinctasifhehadstoppedandplungedaknifeintoherheart.

Withallherfaultsandfollies,Idahadneverbeenapaleshadowycreature,fullofcomplexpsychologicalmoodswhichneithershenoranyoneelsecoulduntangle.Sheknewwhomandwhatshelikedanddisliked,anditwasnothernaturetodothingsbyhalves.

Therehadalwaysbeenakindofsimplicityandstraightforwardnesseveninherwickedness;andsheusuallyseemedtopeoplequiteasbad,andindeedworse,thanshereallywas.

Whyofallothersshelovedthisman,andhowitallhadcomeabout,wasamysterythatpuzzledhersorely;butshehadnolabyrinthineheartinwhichtoplayhideandseekwithherownconsciousness.

Andsovividlyconsciouswasshenowofthisnewandabsorbingpassion,thatshehastilyturnedherfacefromhercompanionstowardthecloudysky,thatlookedasdarktoherasithadtoJennieBurton,andforamomentsoughtdesperatelytorecoverfromadizzy,reelingsenseofpainthatwaswell-nighoverwhelming.Thenthewomanlyinstincttohidehersecretasserteditself,andamomentlaterherlaughjarreddiscordantlyonVanBerg"sears,andheinterpreteditaswiselyashavethousandsofotherswhofailtorecognizethetruththatoftennocryofpainissobitterasarecklesslaugh.

Alittlelater,however,hercompanionsmissedher.Laterstillhermothersoughtadmissiontoherroominvain.

Whenshecamedowntobreakfastthenextmorning,shewasveryquietandself-possessed,butherfacewassopaleandthetracesofsufferingweresomanifest,thathermotherinsistedthatshewasnotwell.

Shecoldlyadmittedthefact.

Thevolubleladylaunchedoutintoanindefinitenumberofquestionsandsuggestionsofremedies.

"Mother,"saidIda,withaflashofhereyesandanaccentwhichcausednotonlythatladybutseveralotherstolooktowardherwithalittlesurprise,"ifyouhaveanythingfurthertosaytomeinregardtomyhealth,pleasesayitinmyownroom."

VanBergglancedtowardsherseveraltimesafterthis,andwascompelledtoadmitthatwhateverfaulthemightjustlyfind,thefacewithwhichsheconfrontedhimthatmorningwasanythingbutweakandtrivialinitsexpression.

ButhericyreserveandcoldnessdidnotcomparefavorablywithMissBurton,whohadnowfullyregainedhersmilingreticence,actingasusualasiftheonlylawofherbeingwastouttergenialwordsandtobestowwithconsummatetactlittlegiftsofattentionandkindnessoneveryside,asthesummersunwithoutwasscatteringitsvivifyingrays.

ChapterXXI.ADeliberateWooer.

MissBurton"sbearingtowardVanBergwasveryfriendly,buthefailedtodetectinhermannertheslightestproofthatshehadeverthoughtofhimotherwisethanasafriend.Therewasnosuddendroopingofhereyelashes,orheighteningofcolorwhenhespoketoher,orpermittedhiseyestodwelluponherfacewithanexpressionthatwasrathermorethanfriendly.Hecoulddetectnofurtiveglances,nothingtoindicatethatshehadcaughtaglimpseofthatsecretsointerestingtoeverywomanthatshewouldlookagain,thoughcoldasicetowardthemancherishingit.Norwastheretheslightesttraceoftheconstraintandreservebywhichallwomenwhoarenotcoquettesseektocheck,aswithanearlyfrost,thefirstgrowthofanunwelcomeregard.Hermannerwassimplywhatwouldbenaturaltowardagentlemanshethoroughlyrespectedandliked,withwhomherthoughts,fornohiddencause,wereespeciallypreoccupied.

Whythenhadshelookedathimsostrangelytheprecedingevening?

Whyhadsheapparentlyshrunkfromtheexpressionofhisface,asifshehadseentherearevelationsosuddenandoverwhelmingthatshetrembledatitasashy,sensitivemaidenmightinrecognizingthefactthatastrong,resolutemanwasseekingentrancetotheverycitadelofherheart?Hefelthimselfutterlyunabletoexplainheraction.

Whatwasmore,hewaspuzzledathimself.ThesympathyhefeltforMissBurtonthepreviouseveninghadnotbyanymeanslefthim,butitwasnolongerastrongandabsorbingemotion.Hispulsewasascalmandquietasthebreathlesssummermorning.Hewasconsciousofnopremonitorychillsandthrills,which,accordingtohispreconceivednotionsofthe"grandpassion,"oughttobefelteveninitsincipiency.Heevenfoundhimselfcriticisingherface,andwonderinghowfeaturessoordinaryinthemselvescouldcombineinsowinningandhappyaneffect;andthenhementallycursedhiscold-bloodedness,andpositivelyenviedStantoninwhosemanner,inspiteofhiseffortsatconcealment,anardentaffectionbegantomanifestitself.

DuringthedayitoccurredtohimmorethanoncethathercoursewaschangingtowardStanton.Therewasnolessreturnonherpartofhislightbanteringstyleofconversation.Indeed,sheseemedtotakegreatpainstogiveahumoroustwisttoeverythinghesaid,asifsheregardedeventhewordsinwhichhetriedtounfoldhisdeeperthoughtsasmerejests.ButVanBergimaginedshebegantomakeherselfmoreinaccessibletoStanton.Sheentrenchedherselfamongotherguestsintheparlor;shetookpainstobesooccupiedastomakehimfeelthathisapproachwouldbeaninterruption;andwhenevertheydidmeetatthetableandelsewhere,itappearedasifsheweretryingtoteachhimbyasmiling,friendlyindifferencethathewasnotinherthoughtsatall.

ThepositivecoldnessandaversionIdasoughttomanifesttowardVanBergwouldnothavebeensodishearteningasMissBurton"sdeviceofseemingtobesoagreeablypreoccupiedwithotherpeoplethatshecouldnotorwouldnotseetheofferingStantonwaseagertolayatherfeet.

Hefeltthiskeenly,andchafedunderit;butherwoman"stactmadehershiningarmorinvulnerable.Shepersistedinregardinghimasthegay,self-seeking,pleasure-lovingmanoftheworldthatshehadrecognizedhimtobeonthefistdayoftheiracquaintance.Heimaginedthatagreatandradicalchangehadtakenplaceinhisnature,butshegavehimnoopportunityoftellingherso.Atfirstshehad,withlaughingcourtesy,ignoredhisgallantry,asifitwereonlyafashionofhistowardsanywomanwhoforthetimehappenedtotakehisfancy;butsofarfromshunninghimshehadseemedinclinedtoemploywhatsheregardedasacapriceorabitofmalecoquetry,asthemeansofaddingtotheenjoymentofasmanyaspossible;andVanBerghadoftensmiledtoseehislanguidfriendofyoresecondingMissBurton"seffortswithanapparentzealthatwasquitemarvellous.ToStanton"sinfiniterelief,VanBergdidnottwithimconcerningthissurprisingdeparturefromhisoldways.Indeed,MissBurtonhadbecometoodelicateandsacredathemeinbothoftheirmindstopermitoftheiroldbanter.Theyhadbeenfriendsandweresostill,yeteachrecognizedthefactthateventswerecomingthatwouldsorelytestandperhapsdestroytheirfriendship.Whiletheygraduallyfellaloof,asmenwillwhoarelearningthattheirdearestinterestsaredestinedtoconflict,theyeachtriedneverthelesstomaintainanhonorablerivalry,andtheirbearingtowardeachother,althoughtingedwithagrowingreticenceanddignity,wasgenuinelykindandcourteous.

Astheweekdrewtoaclose,however,itgaveVanBergpleasure——thoughnotbyanymeansinthesamedegreethatitcausedStantonpain——toobservethatMissBurtonwasshunningthelatter"ssocietyasfaraspolitenesspermitted.

Atthesametime,whilesheevidentlyenjoyedhiscompanionship,VanBergobservedthatshedidnotseemtospeciallycraveit;norintruthdidhefindhimselfwhenawayfromher"distrait,"vacant,andmiserable,aswasmanifestlythecasewithhisfriend.Heconcludedthatitwasdifferenceoftemperament——thatitwashisnaturetobegovernedbyjudgmentandtaste,asitwasthatofStantontobeswayedbyfeelingandpassion.Allthehigherfacultiesofhismindgavetheirvoiceforthiswomanwithincreasingemphasis.

Hisheartundoubtedlywouldslowlyandsurelygravitateinthesamedirection.

Howtowinherthereforewasgraduallybecomingtheoneinterestingandmostdifficultquestionhehadtosolve.Althoughshewaspoorandaloneintheworld,itwasevidentthatmerewealthandpositionwouldcountbutlittlewithher.Stantonwashandsome,rich,well-connected,andintelligent;butitseemedclear,assherecognizedthesincerityofhissuit,shewithdrewfromit.Somecoarse,ill-naturedpeopleinthehouse,whoatfirst,withsignificantnods,hadintimatedthat"thelittleschool-ma"am"wasbentonbetteringherfortunes,weresoonnonplussedbyhercourse.

ThusfarVanBerg"snamehadnotbeenassociatedwithhersinanysuchmannerasStanton"s.Hiscoolerhead,orheartmorecorrectly,hadenabledhimtoactveryprudently.Hewouldenjoyawalkorconversationwithher,andthereitwouldend.Neitherbylingeringglancesnorstepsdidheshowthathecouldnotinteresthimselfinotherpeopleandthings.HedidnotattendtheexcursionsorridestowhichStantoninvitedher,andotherstopleaseher,becauseheknewhisfriend"dotedonhisabsence."HefelttoothattheoccasionwasStanton"sprivateproperty,andthatitwouldbemeannottoleavehimthefulladvantageofthedevice,whichmightcausehimmoreeffortinaforenoonoraneveningthanhehadbeenaccustomedtoputforthinaweek.

ButpoorStantonsoonlearnedthathislaborsofloveweredestinedtobeverypromiscuous.Henevercouldmanagetocarryheroffaloneinalightskiffuponthelake;hecouldneverinveigleherintothenarrowseatofhisbuggy,norcouldhismostwilystrategylongseparateherfromtheircompanionsonapicnicthathadofferedtohisardentfancyachanceforastrollintosomefavoringsolitudebythemselves.Hadshebeenaprincessoftheblood,surroundedbyaguardofwatchfulduennas,shecouldnothavebeenmoreunapproachabletolover-likeadvances.Yet,withavexationakintothatofoldTantalushimself,heconstantlycursedhisstupidityfornotmakingbetterprogresstowardsecuringthesmilingaffablemaiden,whobyeverylawofhispasexperienceoughttosecondhiseffortstowinher.

VanBerg,whoremainedatthehotel,orwentoffbyhimselfonramblesandsketchingexpeditions,wouldwatchhisopportunityandquietlyandnaturallyjoinheronthepiazzaorintheparlor,ashemightapproachanyotherlady.Asaresulttheyhadlonganimatedconversations,andfoundtheyhadmuchincommontotalkabout.

StantonwouldgnawhislipwithenvyattheseinterviewsandwonderhowVanBergbroughtthemaboutsoeasily,butfoundhecouldnotsecurethem,saveintheimmediatepresenceofothers.ThusitcameaboutthatVanBergpracticallyenjoyedmuchmoreofMissBurton"ssocietythantheonewhomadesuchuntiringeffortstoobtainit.

InStanton"stooeagersuit,VanBergthoughthesawthedangerhemustavoid,andhecomplacentlycongratulatedhimselfthathepossessedatemperamentwhichpermittedthoughtfulandwaryapproaches.Hewouldnotfrightenthisshybirdbytoohastyadvances.Throughunobtrusivecompanionshiphewouldfirstgrowfamiliartoherthoughts;andthen,ifpossible,wouldmakehimselfinseparablefromthem.

HereachedthisconclusionduringarambleonSaturdaymorning,andwithelastictreadreturnedtothehoteltocarryouthiswelldigestedpolicy.AshemountedthestepshesawMissBurtonintheparlor,andatonceenteredthroughanopenwindow.Shewasseatedinacorneroftheroomwithtwoorthreelittlegirlsaroundher,andwasdressingdolls.

"Doyouenjoythat?"heasked,incredulously.

"I"mnotastar,"sherepliedlookingupwithaquietsmile,"butonlyaplanet——oneofthesmallerasteroids——andshinewithborrowedlight.Theselittlewomenenjoythishugely;andIreceiveapalereflectionoftheirpleasure."

"Youarecertainlyhappyinyouranswer,ifnotinyourwork,"heremarked.

"Mr.VanBerg,"saidoneofthechildrenemphatically,"MissBurtonisthebestladythateverlived."

"Iagreewithyou,mydear,"respondedtheartist,withansweringemphasis.

"Yes,children,"saidMissBurton,hereyesdancingwithmischief,"andIwantyoutoappreciateMr.VanBerg"sgeniustoo.Heisthegreatestartistthateverlived,andthereneverweresuchpicturesashepaints."

"MissBurton,Ibegoff,"interruptedVanBerg,laughing."Youalwaysgetthebetterofone.No,children,"hecontinuedinanswertotheirlooksofwonder,"Iknowlessaboutpaintingpictures,incomparison,thanyoudoofdressingdolls."

"ButMissBurtonalwaystellsusthetruth,"persistedthechild.

"Nowyouseetheresultofourfolly,"saidtheyounglady,shakingherheadathim."Wehavegiventhischildanexampleofinsincerity.Wewerejesting,mydear.Mr.VanBergandIdidnotmeanwhatwesaid."

"ButIdidmeanwhatIsaid,"repliedthechild,earnestly.

"Sinceonlydownrighthonesty,"theartistresumedwithalaugh,"ispermittedinthislittlegroup,sonearnature"sheart,IthinkImustfollowthissmallmaiden"sexample,andsticktomyoriginalstatement.Foronce,MissBurton,wehavewontheadvantageoveryou,andhaveprovedthatyoursaretheonlyinsincerewordsthathavebeenspoken.ButIknowthatifIstayanothermomentIshallbeworsted.SoIshallleavethefieldbeforevictoryisexchangedforanotherreverse."

Asheturnedlaughinglyawayhesaw——whathehadnotobservedbefore——thatIdaMayhewwassittingnear.Shewasostensiblyreading;butevenhisbriefglanceassuredhimthatherdowncasteyeswerenotfollowingthelines.Herfacewassopale,sorigid,solikeasculpturedidealofsomekindofsufferinghecouldnotunderstand,thatithauntedhim.

Hehadgivenbutlittlethoughttoherforthepasttwodays,andindeedhadrarelyseenher.Shehadmanagedtotakehermealswhenhewasnotpresent,andononeortwooccasionshadhadthemsenttoherroom,pleadingillnessasthereason.Indeedherflaggingappetiteandalteredappearancedidnotmakemuchfeigningonherpartnecessary.

Shehadevidentlyheardtheconversationjustnarrated;andshebelievedthatVanBerghadechoedthechild"sbeliefinregardtoMissBurtonmoreintruththaninjest.

Therulingpassionoftheartistwasaroused.Aplainwomanmighthavelookedunutterablethings,andhewouldhavepassedonwithashrug,orbutathoughtofcommiseration.Butthatoval,downcastfacefollowedhim.Itssadnessandpaininterestedhimbecauseconveyedtohiseyebyaperfectcontour.

"Wasitatrick?"hethought,"orafortuitouscombinationofthefeaturesthemselves,thatenabledthemtoexpresssomuch!Itmustbeso,forsurelytheshallowcoquettehadnotmuchtoexpress."

"Aplagueontheperversityofnature,"heexclaimed,"togivethegirlsuchfeatures.IfJennieBurtonhadthem,shewouldbetheidealwomanoftheworld."

Thepracticalresult,however,wasthathehalfforgotduringdinnerthatshewas"thebestwomanthateverlived"inhisfurtiveefforttostudyIda"sfaceinitspresentaspect;andthathealsospentmostoftheafternooninhisroomsketchingitfrommemory.

ChapterXXII.AVainWish.

Asthewitch-hazelisbelievedtohavethepowerofindicatingspringsofwaterhoweverfarbeneaththesurface,soMissBurton,byasubtleaffinity,seemedtobecomespeedilyconsciousofthesorrowsandtroublesofothers,evenwhensedulouslyhiddenfromgeneralobservation.

ShediscoveredthatsomethingwasamisswithIdaalmostassoonasdidthetroubledgirlherself;butforonceherquickperceptionofcausesfailedher.ShehadexplainedIda"sapparentantipathytoVanBergonthegroundofthenaturalresentmentofafrivoloussocietygirltowardthemanwhohad,byhismannerandcharacter,askedhertothinkandbeawoman.Itappearedtoher,fromherlimitedacquaintance,thatIdawasdevelopingintothecounterpartofhermother;andforsuchapersonasMrs.Mayhew,VanBergcouldneverhaveanythingmorethanpolitetoleration.

MissBurtonwasawarethattheartist"smannertowardIdahadindeedbeenhumiliating.Duringthepreviousweekhehadsoughthersociety;butintheemphaticlanguageofhisaction,hehadalmostthesameassaidoflate:

"EvenforthesakeofyourbeautyIcannotendureyourshallownessandmoraldeformity."

Littlewonderthattheflatteredbelleshouldfeelhateoratleastspitetowardthemanwhohadvirtuallygivenhersuchastingingrebuke.

ButwhilethisfactandthedifferencesofcharacterexplainedIda"smannertowardtheartist,itdidnotaccountfortheexpressionofpainandperplexitythatsheoccasionallydetectedintheyounggirl"sface.Itdidnotexplainwhysheshouldsitforanhouratatime,asshehadthatmorningintheparlor,hereyesfixedonvacancy,andherfacefullofdreadandtrouble,asifthereweresomethingpresenttohermindfromwhichsheshrankinexpressibly.

Shetriedseveraltimestomakeadvancestowardtheunhappygirl,butwasineveryinstancerepelled,coldlyanddecidedly.

"WhatISpreyinguponMissMayhew"smind?"shequeriedwithincreasingfrequency.Herexperienceasateacherofyounggirlsmadeherquicktodetectthepresenceofthosedangerousthoughtswhichbesettheentranceonmaturewomanhood.Withafrownthatformedamarkedcontrastwithhercustomarygentleandgenialexpression,shesurmised:"CanSibley,oranyoneelse,beseekingtotemptandleadherastray?"

AsthemostplausibleexplanationshefinallyconcludedthatIdawasbroodingoverherfather"sunhappytendencies.Mrs.BurleighhadtoldMissBurtonthewholestory;andshehadlistened,notastoabitofscandal,butastoanotherinstanceofthatkindoftroublewhicheverevokedfromhermoreofsympathythancensure.

Idamighttreatherfanciedrival,therefore,ascoldlyasshechose,butthefactofsufferingandtheshadowrestinguponherfromherfather"scourse,wouldbindJennieBurtontoherasawatchfulfriendwithatiethatonlyreturninghappinesscouldsunder.

StantonandVanBergwerestandingtogetheronSaturdayevening,whenMrs.Mayhewandherdaughtercamedowntoawaitthearrivalofthestage.Idadidnotseethematfirst,andVanBergwasagainstruckbythepallorandstonyapathyofherface.Shelookedlikeoneweariedbyconflictofmind;butthequietofherfacewasnotthatofpeaceordecision.Itwassimplythevacancyandlanguorofonewornoutwithcontendingemotions.

"Ioncesaid,"thoughtVanBerg,"thatshewouldbebeautifulifsheweredead,andherfrivolousmindcouldnolongermarthereposeofherfeatureswiththesuggestionofpettythoughtsandignoblevices.ByJove,Ineverrealizedhowtruemywordswere.Ashermotionlessfigureandpallidexpressionappearinyonderdoor-way,shewouldmakeagoodpictureoftheclayofEve,beforeGodbreathedlifeintotheperfectform.Oh!thatIhadsuchpower!Iwouldgiveyearstolightupthatfacetherewiththeexpressionsofwhichitiscapable."

ThenIdasawhim,andsheturnedhastilyaway,butnotbeforehecaughtaglimpseofthebloodmountingswiftlytoherface.Shewasbeginningtopuzzlehim,andtosuggestthatpossiblyhisestimateofhercharacterhadbeensuperficial.

"Yourcousinhasnotseemedwellforthepastfewdays,"heremarkedtoStanton.

"Oh!IdaisasfullofmoodsasanAprilday,onlytheyscarcelyhaveavernalsimplicity,"wasthesatiricalanswer.Fromsomecapriceorothersheisaffectingthepaleandinterestingstylenow.

See!shehasdressedherselfthiseveningwithseveresimplicity;

buttheminxknowsthatthinwhitedraperyismorebecomingtohermarblecheeksandneckthantherichestcolors.Besides,sheremembersthatitisasultryevening,andsogetsherselfupascoolasacucumber.Byallthejollygods!butsheisstatuesque,isn"tshe?SaywhatyoupleaseVan,thebestofyouartistscouldn"timagineamuchfairersemblanceofawomanthanyouseeyonder——butwhenyoucometohermentalandmoralfurniture——theGoodLorddeliverus!"

""Tispity,"tispity,"saidVanBerg,inalow,regretfultone.

"An"pity"tis,"tistrue,"addedStanton,withashrug.

"Ican"tthinkitisonlyaffectionthathasmadeherappearillthelasttwoorthreedays,"resumedVanBerg,musingly."Herfacesuggeststroubleandsufferingofsomekind."