第15章

Thesunlightmockedher;andherspiritwassooutoftunethatthesweetsoundsofnaturemadejarringdiscord.

Butthechurchbellcaughtherattention.HownaturalandalmostuniversalistheinstinctwhichleadsuswhenintroubletoseekthesupportofsomeHigherpower.Nomatterhowwaywardthehumanchildmayhavebeen,howhardenedbyyearsofwrong,orarrogantlyentrenchedinsomephaseofrationalphilosophy,whenthedarknessofdangerorsorrowblotsoutthelightofearthlyhopes,orhidesthepathwhichwastroddensoconfidently,then,withtheimpulseoffrightenedchildrenwhomnighthassuddenlyovertaken,thereisalongingfortheFather"shandandtheFather"sreassuringvoice.

IfthereisnoGodtoloveandhelpus,humannatureisalie.

ThusfarIdaMayhewhadnomorethoughtofturningHeavenwardforhelpthantothephilosophyofPlato.Indeed,religionasasystemoftruth,andGreekphilosophywerealmostequallyunknowntoher.

Butthatchurch-bellremindedherofthesourceofhopeandhelptowhichburdenedheartshavebeenturninginalltheages,andwiththevaguethoughtthatshemightfindsomelightandcheerthatwasnotinthesunshine,shehastilydressedandwentdownintimetocatchoneofthelastcarriages.Whenshereachedthechurch,shefoundhermotherhadprecededher,andthathercousinIkStantonwasalsothere;butshecorrectlysurmisedthattheonlydevotiontowhichhewasinclinedhadbeeninspiredbyMissBurton,whosatnotfaraway.ShewassoonsatisfiedthatVanBergwasnotpresent.

Asageneralthing,whenatchurch,Idahadgivenmoreconsiderationtothepeopleandthetoiletsaboutherthantoeithertheserviceorthesermon;butto-dayshewistfullyturnedherthoughtstoboth,inthehopethattheymightdohergood,althoughshehadasvagueanideaastothemodeorprocessasifbothwereanIndianincantation.

Butshewasthoroughlydisappointed.Herthoughtswanderedcontinuallyfromtheservices.Withalmostthevividnessofbodilypresence,threefaceswerelookinguponher——herfather"swithaninfinitereproach;Sibley"s,withsmilinglipsandwolfisheyes;andVanBerg"s,firstcoollyquestioningandexploringinitsexpression,andthencoldlyavertedandscornfulinconsequenceofwhathehaddiscovered.Nothouses,butmindsarehaunted.

Theclergyman,however,wasanable,forciblespeaker,andheldherattentionfromthefirst.Hissermonwastopicalratherthantextualinitscharacter;thatis,heenlargedonwhathetermed"theirreconcilableenmitybetweenGodandtheworld,"takingashistextsthefollowingselections:

"ThecarnalmindisenmityagainstGod."

Andagain,"Whosoever,therefore,willbeafriendoftheworld,istheenemyofGod."

Thesermonwaschieflyanargument;andthepointofitwasthattherecouldbenocompromisebetweenthesecontendingpowers——Godononeside,theworldontheother——andheinsistedthathishearersmustbe,andwerewithonepartyortheother.Thetroublewas,thatinconcentratinghisthoughtsonthesinglepointhemeanttomake,hetooktoomuchforgranted——namely,thatallhishearersunderstoodsufficientlythecharacterofGod,andthesenseinwhichtheBibleusestheterm"world,"nottomisapprehendthenatureofhis"enmity."Toseasonedchurch-goersthesermonwasbothtrueandverysatisfactory.

Butwhentheministerreachedtheconclusionofhisargumentwiththewords,"Sothen,theythatareinthefleshcannotpleaseGod,"

poorIdadrewalongdrearysigh,andwishedshehadremainedathome.Shewascertainly"intheflesh,"ifanyonewere;andinadditiontothefactthatsheneitherpleasedherselfnoranyoneelsethatsherespectedandloved,shewasnowgiventheassurance,apparentlyfortifiedbyHolyWrit,thatshecouldnot"pleaseGod."

Thesimpleanddivinediplomacybywhichthis"enmity"isremovedwasunknowntoher.

SheturnedtonotehowMissBurtonreceivedamessagethatwassounwelcometoherself,andsawthatshewasnotlistening.Therewasadreamyfar-awaylookinhereyesthatclearlywasnotinspiredbythethoughtof"enmity."

"Sheisprobablythinkingoftheartistandtheidealfuturethathecangiveher.HowfoolishitisinpoorIktheretotrytorivalHIM!Itwasanunluckydayforusboth,cousinofmine,whenwecametothisplace!"

Moredisheartenedanddespondentthanever,sherodehomewardwithhermother,answeringquestionsonlyinmonosyllables.Allthatreligionhadsaidtoherthatmorningwas:"Giveuptheworld——allwithwhichyouhavehithertobeenfamiliar,andhaveenjoyed."Godwasaninfinite,all-powerful,remoteabstraction,andyetforHissakeshemustresigneverythingwhichwouldenablehertoforget,oratleastdisguisethepainandjealousywhichwereattimesalmostunendurable;andsheknewofnosubstitutewithwhichtoreplace"theworld"shewasaskedtoforego.

Thisreligionofmerenegation,expulsion,andrestraintistoooftenpresentedtothemind.Dykesandleveesareveryuseful,andinsomeplacesessential;butiflowmalarialshorescouldbeliftedupintobreezyhillsandtable-lands,thiswouldbebetter.

Thisisnotonlypossible,butitisthetruemethodinrespecttothehumansoul;andoneshouldseektogrowbetternotbysedulousefforttokeepoutanevilworld,butrathertofilluphisheartwithagoodpureworldsuchasGodmadeandblessed.

ThesermonIdaheardthatmorning,therefore,onlyaddedtotheburdenthatwasalreadytooheavytobecarriedmuchlonger.

ChapterXXVI.SundayTable-talk.

TothereliefofallsaveMrs.Mayhew,Sibleydinedwithacoupleofyoung,fastmen,whoenforcedtheirinvitationbytheirresistibleattractionofabottleofwine.

"Thereistoomuchstarchanddignityatthattabletosuitme,anyway,"heremarked."Therearethosetwomodelsaints,wholedourdevotionslastSundayevening,flirtingwithponderousgravitywiththatdeeplittleschool-ma"am,whohasturnedboththeirheads,butcan"tmakeuphermindwhichofthemtocapture,bothbeingsuchmarvellouslygoodgameforoneofherclass.CuteYankeeasshebelievesherselftobe,she"safooltothinkthateitherofthemismorethanplayingwithher.ByJupiter!butitwouldbesporttocut"embothout;andIcoulddoitifIwereuphereaweek.ThosewhoknowtheworldknowthatsuchwomencipheroutthesemattersinthespiritofNewEnglandthrift,andyouhaveonlytomisleadthemwithsufficientplausibledatatocapturethembodyandsoul."AndSibleycomplacentlysippedhiswineasifhehadstatedalltherewastobesaidonthesubject.Fewmenpridedthemselvesmoreonaprofoundknowledgeoftheworldthanhe.

Ida"sdespondencywhileatdinnerwassogreatshecouldnotthrowitoff.Listlesslyandwearilyshebarelytastedofthedifferentcoursesastheywerepassedtoher.Sheconsciouslymadeonlyoneeffort,andthatwastoappearutterlyindifferenttoVanBerg;andbothcircumstancesandhiscontemptuousneglectmadebutlittlefeigningnecessary.TheeveningbeforehadassociatedhersoinseparablyinhismindwithSibley,thathewasbeginningtoregardherwithaversion.

"Trivialnaturesaredisturbedbytrivialcauses,"hethought;"andshelooksasiftheworldhadturnedblackbecauseSibleyhasbeenluredfromhersideforanhourbyabottleofwine.He"llreviveheragainbeforesupper."

"Howwintrythatoldgentlemanlookswhoisjustentering!"Stantonremarked."Itmakesoneshivertothinkofbecomingasfrostyandwhiteashe."

"Oh,don"tspeakofbeingold!"criedMrs.Mayhew."Remembertherearesomeatthetablewhoareingreaterdangerofthatfinalmisfortunethanyouyoungpeople."

"Doyoudreadbeingold,MissBurton?"VanBergasked.

"No;butIdotheprocessofgrowingold."

"Foroncewethinkalike,MissBurton,"saidIdaabruptly."Tothinkofploddingonthroughindefinitedrearyyearstowardthemiserableconclusionofoldage!andyetitissaidnothingissosweetaslife."

"Really,Cousin,youradvancedowntheagesremindsonemoreofaquickstepthanof"plodding,""remarkedStanton.

"Thestepmatterslittle,"sheretorted,"aslongasyoufeelasifyouweregoingtoyourownfuneral.IagreewithMissBurton,thatgrowingoldisworsethanbeingold,thoughtHeavenknowsthatbotharebadenough."

"I"mnotsurethatHeavenwouldagreewitheitherofus,"saidMissBurton,gently.

"Ifearthesermondidnotdoyoumuchgood,Coz,"saidStanton,maliciously.

"No;itdidnot.Itdidmeharm,ifsuchathingwerepossible,"

wastherecklessreply.

"Humannatureisgenerallyregardedascapableofimprovement,"

remarkedStanton,sententiously.

"Iwasnotspeakingofhumannaturegenerally,"saidIda;"Iwasthinkingofmyself."

"Asusual,mycharmingCousin."

Sheflushedresentfully,butdidnotreply.

"AndIfeelthatMissMayhewhasdoneherselfinjusticeinherthought,"saidMissBurton,withasympatheticglanceatIda."Andhowisitwithyou,Mr.VanBerg?Doyoudreadgrowingold?"

"IfearmyopinionwillremindyouofJackBunsby,"repliedtheartist."Growingoldislikeaprospectivejourney.Somuchdependsuponthecountrythroughwhichyoutravelandyourcompany.

MyfatherandmotheraretakingasummerexcursionthroughNorwayandSweden,andIknowtheyareenjoyingthemselvesabundantly.

Theyhavehadagoodtimegrowingold.Whyshouldnotothers?"

Idaappearedtoresenthiswordsbitterly;andwithatoneandmannerthatsurprisedeveryoneshesaid:

"Mr.VanBerg,Icouldnothavebelievedthatyouwerecapableofmakingsosuperficialareply.Whynotsay,ifthepoorwererich,iftheuglywerebeautiful,ifthesickwerewell,ifthebadweregood,andweallhadourheart"sdesires,wecouldjourneyoncomplacentlyandprosperously?"

Theartistflusheddeeplyunderthisaddress,comingfromsuchanunexpectedquarter;butherepliedquietly:

"ThatallusionwithwhichIprefacedmyremark,MissMayhew,provedthatIregardmyopinionasoflittlevalue;andyetIhavenobetteronetooffer.Nothingismoretritethanthecomparisonoflifetoajourneyorapilgrimage.Ifonewerecompelledtotravelwithverydisagreeablepeople,infifth-rateconveyances,andthroughregionsuninterestingorrepulsive,thejourney,ortoabandonthefigure,growingold,mightwellbedreaded.FrommysoulIwouldpityonecondemnedtosuchafate.Itwould,indeed,be"drearyplodding"whereone"sbesthopewouldbethathemightstumbleuponhisgraveassoonaspossible.ButIdonotbelieveinanysuchdrearyfatalism.Weareendowedwithintelligencetochoosecarefullyourpathsandcompanions;andIcannothelpthinkingthatthemajoritymightchoosewiselyenoughtomakelifeanagreeablejourneyinthemain."

"Lookhere,Van;I"mnocasuist,"saidStantonwithashrug;"butIcandetectaflawinyourphilosophyatonce.Supposeonewantedgoodcompanyandcouldnotgetit."

"Hehadbetterjogonalone,inthatcase,thantakebadcompany."

"Andheavyjoggingitmightbetoo,"mutteredStanton,withafrown.

Ida"sheaddroppedlowandherfacebecameverypale.Herimpulsivecousininexpressinghisowntormentingfear,hadunconsciouslydefinedwhatpromisedtobeherwretchedexperience.Shefeltthattheartist"seyeswereuponher;andintheblindimpulsetoshieldhersecret,whichthenwassovividlyplaintoherconsciousness,sheraisedherheadsuddenly,andwitharecklesslaughremarked:

"ForawonderIalsocanhalfagreewithMr.VanBerg——congenialsocietyformeornoneatall."

AsecondlatershecouldhavebittenhertongueoutbeforeutteringwordsvirtuallyclaimedSibleyashermostcongenialcompanion.

"MissMayhewisbetterthanmostofusinthatshelivesuptohertheories,"VanBergremarked,coldly.

Hereyesshotathimasuddenflashofimpotentprotestandresentment,andthensheloweredherheadwithaflushofthedeepestshame.

AtthatmomentalouddiscordantlaughfromSibleycausedmanytolookaroundtowardhim,andnotafewshooktheirheadsandexchangedsignificantglances,intimatingthattheythoughttheyoungmanwasina"badway."

"Yourphilosophy,Mr.VanBerg,"saidMissBurton,"mayanswerverywellforthewiseandfortunate,forthosewhoselivesareasyetunspoiledandunblightedbythemselvesorothers.Butevenanartist,whobyhisvocationgiveshisattentiontothebeautiful,mustneverthelessseethattherearemanyintheworldwhoareneitherwisenorfortunate——whoseempredestinedbytheircircumstances,folly,anddefectivenaturestoblunderandsintilltheyreachapointwherereasonandintelligencecandolittlemoreforthemthanrevealhowfoolishandwrongtheyhavebeen,orhowgreatagoodtheyhavemissedandlostirrevocably.Thepast,withitsopportunities,hasgone,andtheremnantofearthlylifeofferssuchadismalprospect,andtheyfindthemselvessoshutuptoacertainlot,soshackledbytheveryconditionsinwhichtheyexist,thattheyaredisheartened.Itishardformanyofusnottofeelthatwehavebeenutterlydefeatedandsosinkintofatalapathy."

Mr.Mayhew,whohadbeencoldlyimpassiveandresolutelytaciturnthusfar,nowleanedbackinhischair,andhiseyesglowedliketwolampsfrombeneaththeeavesofhisshaggybrows.Ayoungandlovelywomanwasgivingvoicetohisowncrushedandill-starrednature;andstrangetosay,sheidentifiedherselfwiththeclassforwhichshespoke.inthedepthsofhisheartheboweddown,reverenced,andthankedherforclaimingthiskinshiptohimself,eventhoughtheknewitmustbemisfortuneandnotwrongthathadmarredherlife.

IfVanBerghadnotbeensopreoccupiedwiththespeaker,hewouldhaveseenthatthedaughteralsowashangingonthelipsthatwereexpressingsimplyandeloquentlythethoughtswithwhichherownheavyheartwasburdened.Butwhentheartistbegantospeak,Ida"sfacegrewpalerthaneverasshesawtheglowofadmirationandsympathythatlighteduphisfeatures.Complimentsshehadreceivedinendlessvarietyallherlife,butneverhadsheseenamanlookatherwiththatexpression.

"Pardonme,MissBurton,"hesaid,"ifIprotestagainstyourusingthepronounyoudid.Noonewilleverbeabletoassociatetheword"defeat"withyou.Idonotunderstandyourphilosophy;

butIknowitisfarbetterthanmine.WhileIadmitthetruthofyourwordsthatIdoprofessionallyshutmyeyesasfaraspossibletoalltheuglyfactsoflife,stillIhavebeencompelledtonotethattheworldisfullofevilsforwhichIcanseenoremedy,andasamatterofcommonexperiencetheyapparentlyneverareremedied.

Goodsteeringandcarefulseamanshipareimmenselyimportant;butofwhatusearetheyifoneiscaughtinatornadoormaelstrom,orwedgedinamongrocks,sothatgoingtopiecesisonlyaquestionoftime?Goodseamanshipoughttokeeponefromsuchafate,itmaybesaid.Soitdoesinthemajorityofinstances;butoftenthewisestarecaught.Ifyouwillrealizeit,MissBurton,allinthishouse,men,women,andchildren,areaboutasabletotakeashipacrosstheAtlantic,astomakethelifevoyagewiselyandsafely.Asaruleweonlysailandsail.Wherewearegoing,andwhatweshallmeet,theLordonlyknows——wedon"t.Ihavetravelledabroadattimes,andhaveseenalittleofsocietyathome,andifgrowingselfish,mean,andvicious,isgoingtothebad,thanitwouldseemthatmorefindthebottomthananyport."

"Oh,hush,Mr.VanBerg,"criedMissBurton."Youwillfilltheworldwithablind,stupidfateandthebestonecanhopeforistheraregoodluckortheskilfuldodgingwhichenablesonetoescapetherandomblowsandstorms.IbelieveinGodandlaw,althoughIconfessIcanunderstandneither.AsthegoodMussulmanlookstowardsMecca,soIlooktowardthemandprayandhopeon.Thissnarloflifewillyetbeuntangled."

"IassureyouthatItrytodothesame,butnotwithyoursuccess,Ifear.Yourillustrationstrikesmeasunfortunate.TheMoslemlookstowardMecca;butwhatisthereinMeccaworthlookingtoward?Ifheonlythoughtso,mighthenotaswelllookinanyotherdirection?"

"Pleasedon"ttalkso,Mr.VanBerg.Don"tyouseethathecan"tlookinanyotherdirection?Hehasbeentaughttolookthithertillitispartofhisnaturetodoso.Indestroyinghisfaithyoumaydestroyhim.Pardonme,ifIaskyoutopleaserememberthatfaithinGodandafuturelifeismorevitallyimportanttosomeofusthanourdailybread.Wemaynotbeabletoexplainit,butwemusthopeandtrustorperish.Togobacktoyournauticalillustration,supposesomewhohadbeenwreckedwereclingingtoarockyshore,andtryingtoclamberupoutofthecoldsprayandsurftowarmthandsafety;woulditnotbeacruelthingtogoalongtheshoreandunloosenthepoornumbhandshowevergentlyandscientificallyitmightbedone?Loosingthatholdmeanssinkingtounknowndepths.Withcomplacentself-approvalandwithlearnedAthenianairs,manyofthesavansofthedayarevirtuallyguiltyofthishorriblecruelty."

"IdonottakesideswiththeAthenianswhocalledSt.Paulababbler,"saidVanBerg,flushing;"yettruthcompelsmetoadmitthatIcouldworshipmoresincerelyatthe"AlteroftheunknownGod,"thanbeforeanyconceptionofDeitythatmodernTheologyhaspresentedtomymind.Thatdoesnotprovemuch,Iamboundtosay,forIhavenevergiventhesesubjectssufficientattentiontobeentitledtohaveopinions.Still,Ilikefairplay,whateverbetheconsequences.Yourarraignmentoftalkingskepticsisasevereoneandstrikesmeinanewlight.Mighttheynoturge,inself-defence,thattherewasadeeperanddarkerabyssonthefarthersideoftherocktowhichthewreckedwereclinging?Maytheynotarguethatthegraspoffaithmayleadtoadeeperandmorebitterdisappointment?"

"Howcantheyknowthat?Howcantheyknowwhatshallbeintheagestocome?"repliedMissBurton,speakingrapidly."Thisisthesituation:——Iamclingingtosomehope,somethingthatIbelievewillbetruthwhichsustainsme,andtheonlyforceoftheskeptic"swordsistoloosenmygrasp.Nobettersupportisgiven,nonewhopeinspired.Believeme,"sheconcludedpassionately,"IwouldratherdieathousanddeathsbytorturethanlosemyfaiththatthereisaGodwhowillbringorderoutofthischaosofbroken,thwartedlives,ofwhichtheworldisfull,andthatthosewhoseeka"happiershore"willeventuallyfindit."

"Youwillfindit,"saidVanBerg,inlowemphatictones;andthenheaddedwithashrug,asherosefromthetable,"Iwishmychanceswereasgood."

Ida,whoafewweeksbeforewouldhaveheardthisconversationwithunqualifieddisgust,hadlistenedwitheagereyesandpartedlips,andshenowsaidcoldly,butwithadeepsigh:

"YourGodandhappyshore,MissBurton,aretoovagueandfaraway.

Troublesandtemptationsareinourveryhearts."

VanBerglookedhastilytowardher,butsheroseandturnedherfacefromhim.

Mr.Mayhewshookhisheaddespondently,asifhisdaughter"swordsfoundadeep,sadechoinhisownnature.

"Letusheartheconclusionofthewholematter;saidthewisemanofold,"allisvanityandvexationofspirit,""criedStanton,withtheairofonewhowastryingtoescapefromanightmare.

MissBurtonatoncebecameherold,smilingself.

"Youdonotquote"thewiseman"correctly,"shesaid;"butyouremindmethathedidsay"amerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine."

Itislikemercy"twiceblessed."Thismuch,atleast,Iknowistrue;andMr.VanBerg"swordshaveputusallatseatosuchanextantthatitiswelltofindoneweesolidpointtostandon."

Astheartistpassedouthefoundopportunitytowhisperinherear:

"IcannottellyouhowmuchIhonorthewomanwhowithherSAD

heartmakesothers"merry.""

Sheblushedandsmiled,butonlysaid:"Howblindyouare,Mr.VanBerg!Can"tyouperceivethatnothingelsedoesmesomuchgood?

NowyouseehowselfishIam."

Idasawhimwhisper,andnotedtheansweringsmileandblush.Wasitstrangethatsoslightathingshoulddepresshermorethanalltheevilsofthepresentworldandtheworldtocome?

Surely,sincehumanheartsarewhattheyare,afar-awayGodwouldbelikethesunofthetropicstotheice-boundatthepoles.

ChapterXXVII.AFamilyGroup.

Theoldadage,that"asthewinecomesinthemanstepsout,"wasnottrueofSibley,forthemanhadsteppedoutpermanentlylongsince.Butnotverymuchwinewasrequiredtooverthrowtheflimsybarriersofself-restraintandcourtesythathetriedtointerposeinhissobermomentsbetweenhistrueselfandsociety.Mr.Burleighfrownedathimmorethanonceduringthedinner-hour,andwasgladtoseehimstrolloffinthegroundswithhisbooncompanions.

StantonfollowedtheMayhewstotheirrooms,forhewishedtoremonstratewithIdaandMrs.Mayhewinregardtotheirapparentintimacywiththefellow.

"Ida,"hesaid,"doyourealizedtheforceofyourwordstoMr.

VanBergatthetableto-day,takeninconnectionwithyouraction?

Yousaid,"congenialsocietyforme,ornoneatall."WhateverVan"sfaultsare,heisaperfectgentleman;andyetyoutreathimasrudelyandcoldlyasyoucan,andassertbyyouractionsthatSibley"ssocietyisbyfarthemostcongenialtoyou."

Ida"soverstrainednervesgaveway,andshesaid,irritably:

"Youunderstoodthecheerfulquestionsofourappetizingtable-talkto-daybetterthanyouunderstandme;sopleasebestill."

"Oh,pshaw,Ik,"commencedMrs.Mayhew,whonowbegantowakeupsincethethemewasquitewithinhersphere,"youareaffectingveryPuritanicalviewsoflate.ItdoesnotseemsoverylongsinceyouandSibleyweregoodfriends."

"Itiswithinthememoryofwoman,ifnotofman,"addedIda,maliciously,"sinceyoudrankhisbrandy,andconsiderableofit,too."

Stantonflushedangrilybutcontrolledhimself.

"Hewasnevermyfriend——nevermorethananacquaintance,"hesaidemphatically,"andIneverbeforeknewhimaswellasIdonow.Moreover,Imayaswellsayitplainly,Iamthroughwiththatstyleofmen,forever.Thereislittleprospectofmyeverbecomingsaint-like,butIshall,atleast,ceasetobevulgarinmyassociations.IprotestagainstSibley"scomingtoourtableagain."

"Youareabsurdlyunreasonable,"repliedMrs.Mayhewinanaggrievedtone."Sibleyisonlysowinghiswildoatsnowasyoudidinthepast.Idon"tknowwhyheisnotasgoodasyourfriendMr.VanBerg,who,asfarasIcanmakeout,ismoreofaninfidelthananythingelse.Inevercouldendurethesedoubting,unsettlingpeople."

"IadmitthatSibleyisestablished,"saidStanton."Thereislittleprospectofhisevergettingoutofthemireinwhichheisnowimbedded."

"Nonsense!WhathasSibleydonethatisparticularlyoutoftheway,morethanyouandotheryoungmen?I"msurehisfamilyisquiteasrichandfashionableasthatofthisartist."

"Morerichandfashionable.ThereisjustthedifferencebetweentheSibleysandtheVanBergsthatthereisbetweenadropcurtainatatheatreandoneofBierstadt"soilpaintings.Thereismorepaintandsurfaceintheformer,buttruthandgeniusinthelatter.

Ifyoupreferpaintandsurfaceitisamatteroftaste."

"Iwon"tenduresuchinsinuationsfromyou,"saidMrs.Mayhew,indignantly.

"Oh,hushmother!"saidIda,quietly."IthinkIkisverymagnanimousinpraisinghisfriendinviewofcircumstancesthatarebecomingquiteapparent.Possiblyheisexaggeratingalittle,inordertoshowuswhatagreat,generoussoulhehas.Forone,IwouldliketoknowwhereinthissuperiorraceofVanBergsdiffersfromthosewhohavehadthepresumptiontosupposethemselvesatleastequals."

Ida"sallusionandtonestungStantonintosayingmorethanheintended,andthusthegirl"sartificebecamesuccessful.HearingaboutVanbergandallthatrelatedtohimwaslikelookingoutofadesertintoafruitfuloasis;andyetcruelaswasthefascination,itwasalsoirresistible.

"ThemannerinwhichtheVanBergslive,wouldbearevelationtoyou,"saidStanton,angrily,"andoneundoubtedlynotatalltoyourtaste.IncomparisonwiththeSibleyshow-rooms,whicharestuffedandcrowdedwithcostlyandincongruoustrumpery,Mrs.VanBerg"shousewouldseemveryplain;buttoonecapableofdistinguishingthedifference,theevidenceofmindandtaste,insteadofmeremoney,isseenoneveryside.Simplicityandbeautyareunitedasfaraspossible.Everythingisthebestofitskindanddevoidofveneerandsham.Thereisnolavishandvulgarprofusion,andthereisaharmonyofcoloranddecorationthatmakeseveryroomapictureinitself.Moreover,thehousedoesnotgrowsuddenlyshabbyafteryouleavethosepartswhichareseenbyvisitors.Itisallgenuineandhigh-toned,likethepeoplewholiveinit."

"WhatsortofpeopleareMrs.VanBergandherdaughter?"Idaasked,withavertedfaceandlowconstrainedvoice.

"Mrs.VanBergcomesofafamilythathasbeenaristocraticforseveralgenerations,andonethathasbeensingularlyfreefromblacksheep.Sheappearstostrangerssomewhatreservedandstately,butwhenyoubecomebetteracquaintedyoufindshehasawarm,kindheart.Butshehasaperfecthorrorofvulgarity.IfshehadseenthisSibleytakemorewinethanheoughtandmakeaspectacleofhimselfatapublictable,shewouldnomoreadmithimtoherparlorthanaBoweryrough.Merewealthwouldnotturnthescaleahairinhisfavor.Ifshehasimpressedonhersononetraitmorethananother,itisthisdisgustwithallkindsofvulgarpeopleandvulgarvice.Idon"tthinkVanwillsitdownatthesametablewithSibleyagain,orpermitMissBurtontodoso."

Idaavertedherfacestillfarther,butsaidnothing.

"Indeed!"saidMrs.Mayhew;"andhasMissBurtongivenhimtherightsofaprotector."

"Sorrytodisappointyou,aunt;butIhavenonicebitofgossiptoreport.MissBurtonisanorphan,andsoanyfriendofhershasarighttoprotecther.IwouldhavetakenthismatterintomyownhandswereitnotoutofconsiderationforyouandIda,whounfortunatelyhavepermittedyourselvestobeidentifiedwithSibleyashisespecialfriends.Indeed,mostinthehouseregardhimasIda"sfavoredoracceptedsuitor.ButIwarnyoutocutloosefromhimatonceoryoumaysufferaseverehumiliation.IfyouandIdawillcontinuetoencouragehim,thenItellyouplainlyIshallfollowyounofurtherintotheslough."

Themaidenstampedherfootandmadeanemphaticgestureofrageandprotest,butdidnottrustherselftoanswerthecruelwords,eachoneofwhichwaslikethethrustofaknife.

ButMrs.Mayhew,whosedesiretoberespectablewasarulingpassion,nowbecamethoroughlyalarmedandsaidhastily:

"Mr.Sibleyiscertainlynothingtome,andIhopenothingtoIda.

Getridofhimanywayyoucan,sincethingshavereachedthepassyourepresent.Ifsocietyisgoingtoputhimunderban,wemustcuthim;that"sallthereisaboutit,andhisbehavioratdinnergivesusanexcuse."

DuringthisconversationMr.Mayhewhadbeenlyingonthesofawithclosedeyes,andasmotionlessasifheweredead.Nowhesaidinlow,bittertones:

"Markitwell——anexcuse,notareason.O,virtue!howbeautifulthouart!"

"Youarethelastoneintheworldtospeakonthissubject,"saidMrs.Mayhew,angrily.

"Rightagain.Yousee,Ik,myfamilyneverbeforemetamanwhopromisedtomakesuchanappropriateadditiontoournumber.It"sapityyouareinterfering;"andhepouredoutalargeglassofbrandy.

"WouldtoGodIhaddiedbeforeIhadseenthisday!"criedIdainatoneofsuchsharpagonythatallturnedtowardsherinaquestioningsurprise;butsherushedintoherownroomandlockedthedoorafterher.

"ThingshavegonefartherbetweenherandSibleythanwethought,"

saidStanton,gloomily.

"Well,Ik,"saidMr.Mayhewwithalaughthatwasdreadfultohear,"youhadbettercutloosefromus.Weareallgoingtothedevilbytheshortestcut."

"WouldtoheavenIhadneverseenyou!"criedMrs.Mayhew,hysterically."YOUaretheonewhoisdraggingusdown.Ifmynephewdesertsus,Iwillbrandhimasacowardandnogentleman."