第17章

"Isyourfriend,then,sohonorableaman?"sheasked.

"Heis,indeed,"repliedVanBerg,earnestly,whileagenerousflushsuffusedhisface,"atrue,noble-heartedfellow.Heshowshisworstsideatonce,butyouwoulddiscovernewandgoodtraitshinhimeveryday."

Sheturnedawaywithalowlaugh."Sinceyouaresoloyaltoyouroldfriend,"shesaid,"Ithinkyouwillprovetruetoyournewone.IshallputMr.Stantontothetest,anddiscoverwhetherhewillgiveuphisquarrelwithMr.SibleyforthesakeofsuchpoorthanksasIcangive.Oncemore,good-night."

Shewashasteningaway,whenheseizedherhandandsaid:

"Whydoyougowithavertedface?HaveIoffendedyou?"

Shetrembledviolently."Pleasedonotlookatmeso,"shesaid,falteringly."Icannotendureit.Pitymyweakness."

Hishandtightenedinitswarmgrasp,andtheexpressionofhisfacegrewmoreardent.

Shelookedupwithasuddenflashinhereyes,andsaid,almoststernly:

"Youmustnotlookatmeinthatway,orelseevenfriendshipwillbeimpossibleandwemustbecomestrangers.Perhaps,afterall,thiswillbethewisestcourseforusboth,"sheadded,inagentlertone.

Hedroppedherhand,butsaidfirmly,"No,MissJennie,youhavegivenmetherighttocallyoumyfriend,andIhaveseenfriendshipinyoureyes,andfriendsatleastweshallbetilltheendoftime.

Ishallnotsaygood-night.Ishallnotletyougoawayandbroodbyyourself.Ihavelearnedthatcheeringothersistheveryelixirofyourlife;so,comeintotheparlor.IwillfindStantonandourfriendwiththesopranovoice,andtheguestsofthehouseshallagainblessthestarsthatsentyoutous,asIdodaily."

Shesmiledfaintlyandsaid:

"I"lljoinyouthereafteralittlewhile,"andsheflittedoutintothedarkeninghall-way,andsoughtherroombyasidestair.

AfewmomentslaterStanton,findingtheobjectofhisthoughtsdidnotappearamongtheguestswhosoughttoescapethesultrinessoftheeveningonthewidepiazzasorinthelarge,spaciousparlor,begantowanderrestlesslyinahalf-unconscioussearch.Aservantwasjustlightingthegasinthesmallandremotereception-roomasheglancedin.Theapartmentwasempty,andnoechoesofthewordsjustspokenwerelingering.

AlittlelaterMissBurtoncamedownthemainstair-wayinherbreezy,cheerymanner,andhisjealousfearswerequieted.

Hejoinedheratonce,sayingthatitwastheunanimouswishthatsheshouldgivethemsomemusicagainthatevening.

Shewouldjoinwithhimandothers,shesaid;andhermannerwassoperfectlyfrankandcordial,solikeherbearingtowardsaladyfriendtowhomshenextspoke,thathefairlygroanedindespairoftouchingaheartthatseemedtooverflowwithkindnesstowardall.

VanBergsoonappeared,butMissBurton,onthisoccasion,managedthatthesingingshouldbemaintainedbyquitealargegroupaboutthepiano,andonaccountofthesultrinessoftheeveningtheserviceofsongwasbrief.

WhileVanBergwasleadingahymnthathadbeenaskedforbyoneoftheguests,MissBurtonfoundtheopportunityofsaying,"Mr.

Stanton,Iwishtothankyouforyourchivalricdefenceto-dayofonewhoispoorandorphaned.Mr.VanBergtoldmeofyourgenerousandfriendlycourse.ThusfarIcanbelievethatyourconducthasbeeninspiredbythetruestandmostmanlyimpulses.ButifinanywayyouagainhaveaughttodowithMr.Sibley,Ishallfeeldeeplywoundedandhumiliated.Irefusetobeassociatedwiththatman,evenintheremotestdegree.Yourdelicatesenseofhonorwillteachyouthatifanyfurthertroublegrowsoutofthisaffairnoeffortonyourpartcanseparatemynamefromit.Theworldrarelydistinguishesbetweenagentlemanlyquarrelandavulgarbrawl,especiallywhereoneofthepartiesisessentiallyvulgar.Asagentlemanyouwillsurelyshieldmefromanysuchassociations."

Stanton,rememberinghisappointmentwithSibley,bowedlowtohidehisconfusion.

"Iwouldgladlyshieldyouwithmylifefromanythingthatcouldcauseyoupain,"hesaid,earnestly.

"Idonotmakeanysuchvastandtragicdemands,"shereplied,smilingly,andholdingoutherhand;"onlysimpleandprosaicself-control,whentipsy,vulgarmenactaccordingtotheirnature.

Good-night."

Hewasabouttokissherhand,whenshegentlywithdrewit,remarking:

"WeplainpeopleofNewEnglandarenotdescendedfromtheCavaliers,remember."

Hewatcheduntilindespairofherappearingagainthatevening,andthenstrolledoutintothenight,feelinginhisdespondencythatnostarinthesummerskywasmoreunattainablethanthepoorandorphanedgirl,theimpressofwhosewarmclaspstillseemedwithinhishand.

ChapterXXXI.AnEmblem.

ForsometimeIdaMayhewneitherheedednorheardthechoralmusicintheparlorbelow,butatlastaclearer,louderstrain,inwhichVanBerg"svoicewaspre-eminent,caughtherattentionandshestartedupandlistenedatthewindow.

"HeissingingsongsofHeavenwithJennieBurton,andI——cantherebeanyworseperditionthanthis?"shesaidinalow,agonizedtone.

Asifbyasuddenimpulseshequietlyunfastenedthedoorthatledtoherfatherandmother"sroom.Perceivingthathermotherwasnotthere,shestolenoiselesslyin,andturnedupthelamp.

Mr.Mayhewreclineduponaloungeinthedeepstuporofintoxication,hisdarkhairstreakedwithgrayfallingacrosshisfaceinamannerthatmadeitpeculiarlyghastlyandrepulsive.

"Thisismywork,"shegroaned."JennieBurtonmadeanoble-lookingmanofhimlastevening.Ihavemadehimthis."Shewrithedandwrungherhandsoverhisunconsciousform,appearingasmightoneofMilton"sfallenangelsthathadlostHeavenandhappinessbutnottheprimalbeautyofhisbirth-place.

"Well,"sheexclaimedwiththesuddenrecklessnesswhichwasoneofhercharacteristics,"ifIhavecausedyourdegradationIcanatleastshareinit;"andshetookanopiatethatsheknewwouldproducespeedyandalmostasdeepalethargyasthatwhichparalyzedherfather;thenthrewherself,dressed,uponhercouch,anddidnotwakenuntillatethefollowingday.

StantonwassorelytroubledoverhisrashpromisethathewouldmeetSibleyatdaylightonMondaymorning.AfterMissBurton"swordshefeltthathecouldnotkeephisappointment,andyetheshrankfromtheridiculehebelievedSibleywouldheapuponhim.

HisperturbationwassogreatthathehuntedupVanBergbeforeretiring,andtoldhimofhisdilemma.Theartistgreatlyrelievedhismindbysaying:

"Ithinkwebothhavehadalesson,Stanton,inregardtoquarrelingwithsuchfellowsasSibley,althoughIhardlyseehowwecouldhaveacteddifferently.Butvillainsareusuallycowardsaftertheirpassioncoolsandtheybecomesober.Thecaseinhandisnoexception.BurleightellsmehehasjustlearnedthatSibleytookalateboattothecity,andsodoesnotmeantokeeptheappointmentto-morrow.Therefore,sleepthesleepofthejust,oldfellow.

Good-night."

ThethrobbingpaininIda"sheadwassogreatwhensheawokeonMondaythatshehalfforgottheacheinherheart.ShefoundthatherfatherhadgonetotheCityandthatthedaywaswelladvanced.

Hermothersatlookingatherwithanexpressioninwhichanxietyandreproachwereequallyblended.

Theunhappywomanhadlearnedfromherhusband"shabitstoknowwhatremediestoemploy,andsowasablegraduallytorelieveherdaughter"sphysicaldistress;butIda"swearylassitudeandreticencewereproofagainstallherquestionsandreproaches.Itseemedasifnothingcouldrouseorstingheroutofthedullapathyintowhichshehadreactedafterthedesperateexcitementoftheprecedingday.

Shepleadedillness,andstubbornlyrefusedtogodowntodinner.

Atlasthermother,muchtoherrelief,lefthertoherself,andwentouttodrivewithStanton,hopingthatshemighthituponsomeplanofactioninregardtothetwodifficultproblemspresentedinherhusbandanddaughter.

TowardseveningIdaslowlyandlanguidlydressedforsupper,andthensauntereddowntothemainpiazzaforalittlefreshair.

ThepoorgirldidnotexaggeratetheshadowthathadfallenuponherassociationwithSibley,andhersupposedgriefandresentmentathistreatment.Twoorthreewhomshemetbowedcoldlyanddistantly,andonepassedwithoutrecognition.EvenJennieBurtonhadbeenindignantalldaythatoneofhersexcouldbeinfatuatedwithsuchafellow;andinhercharitablethoughtsshewouldbegladtoexplainsuchperversityastheresultofadisorderedanduncurbedfancy,ratherthanofadepravedheart.

Itwasnotstrange,however,thatsheshouldsupposeIda"smannerandindispositionwerecausedbySibley"signominiousejectmentfromthehouse,whenherownmotherandcousinsharedthesameview.

Whatanunknownmysteryeachlifeis,eventothelivesnearesttoit!

Aswithslow,heavysteps,Idaapproachedthemainentrance,shenotedthedistantmannerofthoseshemet,anddivinedthecause;

butherapathywassogreatthatneitherangernorshamebroughtthefaintestcolortohercheeks.

Shestoodinthedoorwayandlookedoutafewmoments;butthelovelysummerlandscape,withthecoolshadowslengtheningacrossit,wasaweariness,andsheturnedfromitasthemiserabledofromsightsthatonlymockbytheirpleasantcontrast.

Thepiazzawasnearlyempty,butbeforeshesteppedoutuponitshesawnotfarawayagentlemanreading,whoatlastdidcausethebloodtorushtumultuouslyintoherface.

Atanothertimeshewouldhaveturnedhastilyfromhim;butinherpresentmorbidmoodsheactedfromadifferentimpulse.Theartisthadnotobservedherapproach,andstandingalittlebackintheshadowofthehall-wayshefoundacruelfascinationincomparingthemanshelovedwiththelowfellowwhoseshadownowfellsodarklyacrossherowncharacter.Shelookedsteadilyathisdowncastfaceuntileverylineandcurveinhisstrongprofilewasimpressedonhermemory.Inthehealthfulcolorofhisfinely-chiseledfeaturestherewerenoindicationsofthatexcesswhichalreadymarredSibley"scountenance.Thedecidedcontourcorrespondedwiththepositivenature.Theunhappygirlfeltinstinctivelythatifhewereonherside,hewouldbeafaithfulally;butifagainsther,shewouldfindhisinflexiblewillagranitewallagainstalltheallurementsofherbeauty.Thefacebeforeherindicatedamancontrolledbyhishigher,notlowernature;andinherdeephumiliationshenowfeltthatevenifheknewallthatwaspassinginherheart,hewouldbestowonlytransientpity,mingledwithcontempt.

Shebelievedshecouldhopefornothingfromhim;andyet,didnotthatbeliefleaveherhopeless?Towhatelse,towhomelsecouldsheturn?Nothingelse,nooneelsethenseemedtopromiseanyhelp,anyhappiness.HerwretchedexperiencehadcomeasunexpectedlyasoneofthosemysteriouswavesthatsweepthesunnyshoreofPeru.

Whitheritwouldcarryhershedidnotknow,buteverymomentseparatedhermorehopelesslyfromhimwhoappearedlikeanimmovablerockinhisquietstrength.

ShewasturningdespondentlyawaywhensheheardJennieBurton"svoice,andamomentlaterthatyoungladymountedtheadjacentstepsandsaidtoVanBerg:

"SeewhataprizeIcapturedatthislateseason.RosesearlyinAugustarelikehiddentreasures.See,theyaregenuinehybrids.

HaveInothadraregoodfortune?"

VanBergroseatonce,andmetheratthetopofthesteps;andIda,whostillremainedunseeninthehall,nowsteppedforwardintothedoorway,sothatshemightnotseemafurtivelistener,ashewasstandingwithhisbacktowardsher.

"HadImyway,MissBurton,"saidtheartist,"youshouldhavethisraregoodfortuneeverydayoftheyear."

Sheblushedslightly,andsaid,rathercoldly,"Goodevening,MissMayhew,"thusrenderingVanBergawareofthelatter"spresence.

Theartistonlyfrowned,andgavenootherrecognitionofIda"sproximity.

"Sinceyoucan"thaveyourway,Ishallmakethemostofmypresentgoodfortune.Isnotthatabeautifulcluster?"

"Itisindeed,withoneexception.Doyounotseethatthisdefectivebudmarsthebeautyofalltheothers?"

"A"wormI"thebudfellonitsdamaskcheek."Itookitoutandkilledit,andwasinhopesthatifIplacedtheinjuredflowerinwaterwiththeothersitmightstillmakeapartialbloom.YouwillthinkmeabsurdwhenItellyouIfeltsorryforit,andthoughthowmanyrosesandliveswouldbemoreperfectwereitnotforsomegnawing"wormi"thebud.""

"The"worm"inShakespeare"sallusion,"saidtheartist,lightly,"isredeemedbyitsassociationandsymbolism;buttheonethathasbeenatworkherewasadisagreeablyprosaicthingthatyourightlyputyourfootupon.Thebud,asitnowappears,suggestthewormmorethananythingelse.So,please,letmecutitout;

forartcannottolerateanythingsoradicallymarredanddefective.

Itsworm-eatenheartspoilsthebeautyoftheentirecluster."

"Ifearyouartistsbecometoocriticalandexacting.Well,cutitout.Iwillsubmittoartinroses,butfeelthatmarredanddefectivelivesshouldhaveverydifferenttreatment."

"Thatdepends.Ifpeoplepersistincherishingsomewormofevil,theycannotexpecttobeheldinthesameesteemasthosewhoareaimingatamoreperfectdevelopment.There,now!doesnotourclusterappearmuchbetter?"

"Yes;andyetIcannothelpfeelingsorryforthepoorlittlebudthathasmisseditsonechancetobloom,andallwillwitherunlessIhastentomyroomandputtheminwater."

InherprejudiceagainstIdashehadnotlookedtowardsherwhiletalkingwithVanBerg,butinpassing,ahastyglancealmostcausedhertostayandspeaktoher,forshethoughtshesawhereyesfullofunshedtears.Butherglancewasbriefandherprejudicestrong.MissBurtonhadnotalittleofthewholesomefeminineintoleranceforcertainweaknessesinhersex.Shewouldcounselawifetoendureabadhusbandwithameekandpatientspirit.Butgentleasshewas,shewouldscornthemaidenwhocouldbeattractedbyacorruptman,andalmostloatheherforindulginginsuchanaffinity.ShecouldpityIda——shecouldpityanyone;butthepoorgirl"sunfortunateassociationwithSibley,andherseeminginterestinhim,wouldsubordinatepitytoindignationandcontempt.

Herthoughtwasthis:

"MissMayhewisstillamaidenfreetochoose.Shameonherthatshechoosessoignobly!Shameonherthatsheturnshereyeslonginglytofetidpools,insteadofupwardtothebreezyhills.

Whatkindofnatureisthatwhichpromptssuchachoice?"

TheartistwasmorecapableofJennieBurton"sindignationandcontemptthanofherpity;andalthoughheknewIdastillstoodinthedoorwayhedidnotturntospeaktoher.Hisveryattitudeseemedtoindicatetotheunhappygirlahaughtyindifference,andyetshewassounhappy,soinneedofakindwordorreassuringglancethatshecouldnotturnaway.

"Whatawretchedmysteryitallis,"shethought."Ioughttohate,yetIlovehim.ProudasIhavethoughtmyself,IcouldkneelathisfeetforonesuchwordandglanceashejustgaveMissBurton.

ForcontemptIreturnhimhonorandadmiration.Icannothelpmyself.Bysomestrangeperversityofmyheart,Ihavebecomehisveryslave.Howcanhebesoblind!HethinksmepiningforamanthatIdespiseandhatemorethanheevercan,thoughthefellowattemptedhislife.Sibleyhascomebetweenmeandthatwhichismorethanlife——mychanceforhappinessandrightliving.

Ishallbecomedesperateandbad,likehim,ifthiscontinues.

Howstrangeitisthatsomesense,someinstinctdoesnottellhimtherethatthegirlwhostandssonearislavishingeverytreasureofhersouluponhim!

"Thatpoorlittlerose-budrepresentsmetohismind.Howruthlesslyheispullingopenitsheart!Willheseeanythingelsetheresavetheworkofthedestroyer?Canitnotawakenathoughtofpity?

Iwill——Imustspeaktohim."

Shetookahesitatingsteportwotowardshim.Shecouldalmosthearherheartbeat.Twice,thrice,wordsdieduponherlips.

Whenwassheeversotimidbefore!Ifhewouldonlygiveheranencouragingglance!Ifhewouldonlyturnalittletowardsherandrelaxthathaughty,unbendingattitude——

"Mr.VanBerg,"shesaidatlast,inavoicethatwasconstrainedandhardfromherefforttobecalm,"youseemveryvindictivetowardsthatpoorlittleflower."

Heturnedpartiallytowardsherandcoldlysaid,"GoodeveningMissMayhew;"then,afterasecond,addedcarelessly:"Iadmitthatthisworm-eatenbudisrathervexatious.Ithas——whatisleftofit——exquisitecolor,andinformnaturehaddesignedittobeperfect;but"(withaslightcontemptuousshrug)"youseewhatitis,"andhetosseditdownintotheroadway.

Herfacewasverypaleandhervoicelow,assheanswered:"Andsoyoucondemnittobetrampledunderfoot."

"Icondemnit!Notatall.Itsownimperfectioncondemnsit."

"Theresultisallthesame,"shereplied,withsuddenchangeofmanner."Itistossedcontemptuouslyawaytobetroddenunderfoot.Dullandignorantasyoudiscoveredmetobe,Mr.VanBerg,IamnotsostupidbutthatIcanunderstandyouthisevening.

ImperfectasIamIcouldpitythatunfortunateflowerwhosefragrancerosetoyoulikealowappealforalittleconsideration,atleast.Woulditnothavebloomedasperfectlyastheothersifthewormhadletitalone?But,Isuppose,withartist,ifrosesorhumanlivesareimperfect,thatistheendofthem.Misfortunecountsfornothing."

VanBerglistenedinsurprisetothesewords,andhishaughtycomplacencywasdecidedlydisturbed.Hewasabouttoreplythat"Evilchosenandcherishedwasnotamisfortunebutafault,"whensheturnedfromhimwithmorethanherformercoldnessandenteredthehouse.

Animpulsethathewouldhavefounddifficulttoanalyzeledhimtodescendthestepsandpickupthesymbolicbud,nowtornandwitheringfast,andtoplaceitbetweentheleavesofhisnote-book.

Ifshehadonlyseenthisactitwouldhavemadeagreatdifference;

but,everpresenttoherthought,itlaywherehehadtossedit,theemblemofherself.

ChapterXXXII.TheDangersofDespair.

Discouragementanddespairaredangerousandoftendestructivetocharacter.ThiswouldbeespeciallytrueofonelikeIdaMayhew;

foreveninherimperfectionshepossessedasimplicityandunitywhichmadeitimpossibleforapartofsuchmoralnatureasshepossessedtostand,ifanotherpartwereunderminedorbrokendown.

Thewholefabricwouldstandorfalltogether.

Shehadbeenawaywardchild,moreneglectedthanpetted,andhadnaturallydevelopedapassionforhavingherownwill,rightorwrong.Asshegrewolder,herextraordinarydowerofbeautythreatenedtobeafatalone.Itbroughtherattentioncontinuousadmirationandflatteryfromthosewhocarednothingforherpersonally.Shehadreceivedinchildhoodbutlittleofthepraisewhichloveprompts,thetender,indulgentidolatrywhich,althoughdangerousindeedtoone"sbestdevelopment,sometimessoftensandhumanizes,insteadofrenderingselfishandarrogant.

Mrs.Mayhewpettedandscoldedherchildaccordingtohermood,butwasquiteconsistentinhergeneralneglect.Mr.Mayhewwasatired,busyman,whovisitedathisownhomeratherthanlivedthere.Thusthegrowinggirlwasleftchieflytoherownimpulses,andaveragehumannatureensuredthatthehabitofthinkingofherselffirstandofpleasingherselfatalltimesshouldbeearlyformed.Then,asshesawandbecamecapableofunderstandingthehomagethatwaitsonmerebeauty,theworldover,prideandvanitygrewinovershadowingrankness.Theattentionshereceived,however,waschieflymadeupoftheboldstareofstrangers,andtheopenflatteryofthosewhoadmiredherbeautyastheywouldthatofapicture,unconsciouslybutcorrectlyleavingtheimpressionthattheycaredforheronlybecauseofherbeauty.Thatthegirl"snatureshouldgrowhardandcallousundersuchinfluenceswaswhatmighthavebeenexpected.

Neglectandamiserableshamofaneducationhaddwarfedhermind.

Shehadbeen"finished"byanultrafashionableschoolbeforesheunderstoodthemeaningofthestudieswhichshepassedoverinadaintyquickstep,scarcelytouchingthesurface.

Herheartandmoralnaturewerealmostequallyundeveloped.Hithertoshehadknownbutlittleexperiencetendingtoevokegentlefeelingorgenerousaction.Shehadconfoundedthefewgenuineadmirers,who,infatuatedwithherbeauty,endowedherwithallheavenlygraces,awaitingonlytheawakeninghandoftheirlove,withtheheartlessorbrainlessfellowswhowerenotparticularaboutheavenlygraces,providedagirlhadafinefigureandafairface.

Whentheartistfirstmetherattheconcertgarden,shewasintruthamodernUndine.Shehadfemininequalitiesandvices,butnotawoman"ssoul.Shewasnotcapableofanystrong,womanlyactionorfeeling.Herschemeoflifewassimpleindeed,althoughshewaslearningtobeveryartfulincarryingitout.Itwastohave"agoodtime,"asshewouldphraseit,andatanyandeverycosttoothers.Afterwearyingofthelifeofabelle,sheproposedtomarrythebestestablishmentthatcameherway,andbecamealeaderoffashion.

Itwouldseemthatnotafewfineladiescarryoutthissimpleschemeoflife,andneverreceiveawoman"ssoul.ThereareUndinesatsixtyaswellasatsixteen.

Theartisthadbeenattractedbyherbeauty,likesomanyothers,butunlikeothershehadnot(aswasthecasewithnotafewsensiblemen)givenanadmiringglanceattheface,andthen,recognizingthefactthattherewasnotawomanbackofit,passedonindifferently;

norhadhebestoweduponherimaginaryvirtues;andmuchlesshadhebeensatisfiedwithmorefleshandblood.

Hismannerhadbeenexploring,questioning.Hewaslookingforherwoman"ssoul,eventhoughhemightfinditunawakened,likethefabledbeautyinthemythicalcastle.

Hiskeeneyeshaddisturbedherequanimityfromthefirst.Ashepursuedhisquest,herundefinedfearsandmisgivingsincreased.

Atlastshewascompelledtofollowhisquestioningglances,andlookpastoutwardbeautytoherrealselfwithin.Fromthathourtherankandevilweedsofprideandvanitybegantowither.Honestself-scrutinywaslikeaknifeattheirroots.

Butthesetraitsgiveatransientsupportlikeafalsestimulant.

Astheyfailedtherewasnothingtotaketheirplace——nofaithinGod,noself-respectorself-reliance.Shecouldnotturntoherownfamilyforsustainingsympathy,suchasmanyfindintheirhomes,andwhichisallthemoregratefulbecausenotinquisitivenorexpressedinformalterms.Inherselfishpleasure-seekinglifeshefoundthatshehadmadeanendlessnumberofacquaintances,butnofriends.Shehadnoteventheresourcesofacultivatedmindthatcouldexistuponitsownstoresthroughthissuddenfaminewhichhadimpoverishedherworld,norcouldshethinkofasingleinnocent,attractive,pursuitbywhichshecouldfillthewearydays.Shewaslikeachildthathaddweltinatropicaloasis,theflowersandfruitsofwhichhadseemedaslimitlessasitsextent.

Shehadsupposedthatthewholeworldwouldbelikethisoasis,andtheonlynecessityeverimposedonherwouldbethatofchoicefromitsrichprofusion.Butereshewasawareshehadlostherselfinadesert;theoasishadvanishedlikeamirage,andshehadnochoiceatall.Thatwhichherheartcravedwithanintensitywhichfairlymadeitache,seemedashopelessasasuddenbloomandfruitagefromaridsands.

Insteadofgoingdowntosuppershereturnedtothesolitudeofherownroom,buttheapathyoftheearlierpartofthedayhadvanishedutterly.Indeed,bodyadsoulseemedtoquiverwithpainlikeawoundednerve.Anger,whichhadgivenabriefsupport,fadedout,andleftonlyshameanddespairasinmemoryshesawtheemblem,representingherself,tossedcontemptuouslyintothecarriage-waybythemansheloved.

"Irememberreading,"shegroaned,"whenatschool,howconquerorsputtheirfeetonthenecksoftheircaptives.Hehasputhisspurningfootonmyheart.Oh,hatefulriddle!WhyshouldIlovethemanthatdespisesme?"

Hermother,andthenStanton,calledatherdoorandaskedhertocomedowntosupper.

"No,"shesaid,brieflytoeach.

"Ifyouknewwhatpeopleweresayingandsurmisingyouwouldnotcontinuetomakeaspectacleofyourself,"saidhercousin,throughthecloseddoor.

"ThatisonereasonwhyIdonotcomedown,"shereplied."I"mnotinthemoodtomakeaspectacleofmyself.Ihavebeenshownhowoneperfectmemberofsocietyregardsme,andIamnotequaltomeetinganymorefaultlesspeopleto-night."

"Oh,nonsense!"criedStanton,irritably."Youmustcomedown."

"Breakinthedoorthen,andcarrymedown,"wasthesharpreply.

Withamutteredoathhedescendedtothesupper-room,andhismoodyandabsentmannerrevealedtoMrs.MayhewandVanBergthathisinterviewwithhiscousinhadbeenanythingbutsatisfactory.