第19章

Mrs.Mayhewsankintoachair,andaheavyfrowngatheredonherbrowasshethoughtdeeplyforafewmoments.

"Thatgirlmeansmischief,"shemuttered."IwonderifsheisholdinganycommunicationwithSibley?IalwaysthoughtIdawouldtakecareofherself,butshe"llbearwatchingnow.Shehasn"tbeenlikeherselfsinceshecametothisplace.ImustconsultIkatonce.Thingsarebadenoughnow,heavenknows;butifIdashoulddoanythingdisgraceful,I"dhavetothrowupthegame."(Mrs.

Mayhewwasaninveteratecard-player,andherfavoriteamusementoftencoloredherthoughtsandwords.)

Stantonwasfoundsmokingandpretendingtoreadanewspaperinaretiredcornerofthepiazza,butfromwhich,nevertheless,hecouldseewhetherMissBurtonmadeherappearanceduringthemorning.

Mrs.Mayhewexplainedherfears,andtheyoungmanusedverystronglanguageinexpressinghisdisgustandirritation.

"Acurseuponitall!"heconcluded."Sinceshemust,andapparentlywillgratifythislowtaste,canyounotreturntoNewYork,patchupthefellowintosomesortofrespectabilityandmarrythemwithablareofbrazeninstrumentsthatwilldrowntheworld"sunpleasantremarks?"

"Thatwouldbebetterthanthescandalofanelopement,"musedperplexedMrs.Mayhew."Fromwhatyousay,Sibleyisbadenough,andIdaseemsrecklessenoughtodoanything.Iwishwehadnevercomehere."

"SodoI,"groanedStanton."No,Idon"t,either.InfactI"minadevilofamessmyself.Youknowit,andIsupposeallseeit.

Ican"thelpitiftheydo.Mypassion,nodoubt,isvain,butit"stomycredit.Ida"sisdisgracefultoherselfandtousall.

IfI"dbeenherealoneandVanBerghadnotcome,Imighthavesucceeded;butNOW"——andwithadespairinggestureheturnedaway.

"Ik,comeback,"criedhisaunt,"ofcourseIfeelforyou.Youareindependent,andcanmarrywhomyouplease,thoughheavenknowsyoucoulddobetterthan——"

"Heavenknowsnothingofthekind,"heinterrupted,irritably,"andifyouwerenearerheaven——butthere,what"stheuse."

"You"rerightnow,Ik.Wecan"taffordtoquarrel.YoumusttalktoIda.Wemustwatchher.Findoutifyoucanwhatisinhermind,andiftheworstcomestotheworst,theywillhavetobemarried.IsupposeitwillbewisetohinttoherthatifsheWILLmarrySibleyshehadbetterdoitinasrespectableandquietawayaspossible."

"Theideaofanythingbeingrespectableandquietwheretheyareconcerned!"snarledStanton.

"Well,well,"groanedMrs.Mayhew,"doyourbest."

ButIdawasnottobefound.

Sheappearedatdinner,however,andnotafewlookedather,andstolefurtiveglancesagainandagain.Amongtheseobserverswastheartist,anditwasevidentthathewasbothperplexedandtroubled.Wasthiscold,marble-cheekedwomanthebutterflythathadflutteredintothecountryafewweekssince?

"Shemaybeabadwoman,"hethought,"butshehasbecomeawomaninthelastfewdays.Shelooksyearsolder.Ithoughthershallow,butshe"stoodeepforme.ForsomereasonIcan"tassociatethatface,asitnowappears,withSibley,andyetitissofullofmingledpainanddefiance,thatonemightalmostthinkshemeditatedacrime.Shelooksill.Sheisill——sheisgrowingthinandhollow-eyed.Whatamagnificentstudyshewouldmakeofahalf-famishedcaptive;orofbeautychained——notmarriedtoamanhatefulandhated;or,possibly,ofinnocencemeditatingguilt,andyetseekingvainlytodisguisethedarkthoughtsbyamarblemask.ThereissometransformingprocessgoingoninIdaMayhew"smind,andfromherappearanceIratherdreadtheoutcome;butherfaceisbecomingararestudy."

Althoughwiththeexceptionofaslightresponsetohisformalbowshehadsoughttoignorehispresenceandtoavoidhiseyes,shewasstillconsciousofthisfurtivescrutiny,andithurthercruelly.Itseemedasifhewerestudyingherasonemightapeculiarspecimen.

"Hiscriticaleyesaretryingtolookintomeheartastheydidintothepoorlittlerose-bud,"shethought;andherfacegrewmorerigidandinscrutableunderhisgaze.asearlyaspossiblesheleftthetable.

"IwishIknewjustwhathertroublewas,"thoughttheartist."IfnotconnectedwiththatwretchSibley,Icouldpityherwithallmyheart.Well,takeallthegoodthegodssend,I"llsketchherfacethisafternoonasIhavelastseenit."

"Yourcousinbeginstolookdecidedlyill,"hesaidtoStanton,afterdinner.

Hisfriend"sonlyreplywasanimprecation.

"Yourremarkisemphaticenough,butIdon"tunderstanditanybetterthanIdoMissMayhew."

"It"stoyourcredityoudon"t.HermotherhasreasontobelievethatthereissomedeviltryonfootbetweenherandSibley.I"mtofindoutandthwartherifIcan.IsupposeIshallhavetosay,insubstance:"Sinceyouwillthrowyourselfawayonthefellow,gothroughalltheformalitiesthatsocietydemands.Insuchcaseyourfamilywillsubmit,iftheycan"tapprove.YouseeI"mfrankwithyou,asI"vebeenfromthefirst."Wouldtoheavenshehadnevercomehere,andnowthinkofittherehasbeenachangeinherfortheworseeversinceshecame.ItmustbetheinfluenceofthatcursedSibley.Somewomenarefoolstobeginwith;butfromafoolinfatuatedwithavillain,goodLorddeliverus!"

"Youfearanelopementthen?"saidVanBerg,hisfacedarkeningintohisdeepestfrown.

"Ifearworsethanthat.Sibleyisastreacherousasaquagmire.

Ifawomanventuredintoafalsepositionwithhimhewouldmarryheronlywhencompelledtodoso.I"msavageenoughtoshootthemboththisafternoon.Iseebutonewayout.Imustwarnherpromptly,andinlanguagesoemphaticthatshewillunderstandit,thateverythingmustbeaftertheregulationstyle."

VanBergmadeagestureofcontempt,butsaidtohisfriend:

"Stanton,I"msorryforyou.Suchtroubleasthiswouldcutmedeeperthananyotherkind.IfIcandoanythingtohelpyou,countonme.I"minthemoodmyselftoshootSibley,forhehasspoiledformethefairestfacethatevileverperverted."

VanBergdidnotsketchIdaMayhew"sfacethatafternoon.Onthecontrary,heresolutelysoughttobanishherimagefromhismind.

Whenlasthesawthatface,itseemedmadeofParianmarble.Nowitrosebeforehimsoblackenedandbesmirchedthathethoughtofitonlywithangeranddisgust.

IdakeptherselfsosecludedintheafternoonthatStantoncouldnotfindher,butthisveryseclusion,whichthepoorgirlsoughtinordertohideherwounds,onlyincreasedhisownandMrs.Mayhew"sfearsdeepenedtheirsuspicions.

Shewasalittlelateinappearingatthesuper-table,forherreturnfromthewanderingsoftheafternoonhadrequiredmoretimethanshesupposed.Shewasveryweary;moreover,thehoursspentinsolitudewithnaturehadquietedheroverstrungnerves.Thesunhadshoneuponher,thoughtheworldseemedtofrown.Flowershadlookedshylyandsweetlyintoherfaceasiftheysawnothingtheretocriticise.Shehadpluckedafewandfastenedthemintoherbreast-pin,andtheirfaintperfumewaslikealow,soothingvoice.Shewasinasoftenedandreceptivemood,andakindword,evenakindglance,mighthavetunedthescaleinfavorofbetterthoughtsandbetterliving.

Butshedidnotreceivethem.Hercomingtothetablewasgreetedwithanominoussilence,foreachonewasconsciousofthoughtssogreatlytoherprejudicethattheyscarcelywishedtomeethereye.Mrs.Mayhewlookedexcessivelyworriedandanxious.Stantonwasflushedandangry.Theartistwasicyasheonlyknewhowtobewhenhedeemedtherewassufficientoccasion;andinhisopinion,thepresenceoftheprospectiveandwillingbrideofthemanwhohadattemptedhislife,and,whatwasfarworse,insultedthewomanhemosthonored,wasoccasion,indeed.

Fromtimetotimehegaveheracold,curiousglance,asonemightlookatsomestrange,abnormalthingforwhichthereisnoaccounting;

buthisslightscrutinywasnolongerfurtive.HelookedatheropenlyashewouldatanOBJECT,andnotatawomanwhosefeelingshewouldnotwoundfortheworld.Histhoughtwas:"AcreatureakintoSibleydeservesnoconsideration,andcanputinnojustclaimfordelicacy."

Indeedhefeltapeculiarvindictivenesstowardsherto-night,becauseshehadsothwartedhim,andwasabouttocarryherextraordinarydowerofbeautytothemoralsloughthatseeminglyawaitedher.Therefore,hisglancesweptcarelesslyoverherwithacoldindifferencethatchilledherverysoul.

Butthesetransientglancescaughtenoughtotroublehimwithavagueuneasiness.Althoughhewassteeledagainstherbyprejudiceandanger,somethinginherappearancesopleadedinherfavorthatmisgivingswouldarise.Oncehethoughtshemethiseyeswithsomethinglikeanappealinherown,buthewouldnotlooklongenoughtobesure.Amomentlaterhewasvexedwithhimselfthathehadnot.

Thesilenceortheforcedremarksatthetablewereequallyoppressive,andIdaimmediatelyfeltthatshewasthecauseoftherestraint.

Shewasabouttoleavethetableinordertorelievethemofherpresence,whenMissBurtonunexpectedlyenteredandtookherchair,whichhithertohadbeenvacant.Shewasalittlepaleandwan,butthisonlymadeherlookthemoreinteresting,andbothStantonandVanBergwelcomedherastheywouldthesunshineafteradrearystorm.EvenMrs.Mayhewseemedtofindawonderfulreliefinhercoming,andaddedhervolublecongratulations.

"Ihavehadnervousheadachesmyself,andknowhowtosympathizewithyou,"sheconcluded.

"Shedoesnotknowhowtosympathizewithme,"sighedherdaughter.

ThesighcaughtVanBerg"sattention,andhewassurprisedtoseethatthemaiden"seyeswerefulloftears.Shebowedherheadamomenttohidethem,andthenabruptlyleftthetableandtheroom.

Theartist"smisgivingsendedinsomethinglikecompunction,ashethought:"Hertearsarecausedbythecontrastbetweentheicyreceptionwegaveher,andthecordialwelcomewehavejustgivenMissBurton.Confounditall!IwishIknewtheexacttruth,orthatshewouldleaveforpartsunknownwhereIcouldneverseeheragain."

MissBurtonglancedwistfullyaftertheretreatingmaiden,butnoexplanationwasoffered.Then,asiffeelingthatshehadlostaday"sopportunityfordiffusingsunshine,shebecamemoregenialandbrilliantthanVanBerghadeverknownhertobe.Theylingeredlongatthetable;Mr.Burleighandothersjoinedthem.TheirlaughterrangoutanduptotheduskyroominwhichpoorIdawassobbing,"IwishIweredeadandoutofeveryone"sway."

VanBerglaughedwiththeothers,butneverforamomentdidhelosetheuneasyconsciousnessthathemightpossiblybemisjudgingIdaMayhew.AlthoughMr.Burleigh"sportlyformoccupiedherchair,itdidnotpreventhimfromseeingapaletearfulfacethatwasfartoobeautiful,fartoofreefromallgrossandsensualelements,toharmonizewiththecharacterhewassupposinghertopossess.Here-calledwhatshehadsaidaboutthe"fragrance"oftherose-budhehadtornandtossedaway,risingtohimlike"alow,timidappealformercy."Hadsheshylyandtimidlyappealedtohimforakinderjudgementthatevening,andhadhebeentooblindandprejudicedtoseeanythingsavethestainsleftbySibley"sname?IfsheproposedtogotoSibley,whywasshenotlikehiminmanner?Itwasstrangethatoneakintosuchafellowshouldfastenwildflowersonherbosom,andstillmorestrangethattheyshouldbesobecoming.

ThecoolandsagaciousVanBerg,whosopridedhimselfonhiscorrectjudgment,wasdecidedlyperplexedandperturbed.

ChapterXXXV.DesperatelyWounded.

StantonbaskedinMissBurton"ssmilesuntilasignificantlookfromMrs.Mayhewremindedhimofhisdisagreeabletask,fortheperformanceofwhichthereseemedagreaterurgencythanever.

Ida"sratherprecipitatewithdrawalfromthesupper-roomwasanotherproofintheireyesthatsomemischiefwasbrewing.

Helistenedatherdoorforamoment,andcouldnotfailtohearthestifledsoundofherpassionategrief;thenknocked,buttherewasnoresponse.

"Ida,"hesaid,inakindertonethanusual,"Iwanttoseeyou."

Shetriedtoquiethersobbing,andafteramomentfaltered:"Youhadbetterleavemetomyself."

"No,Imustseeyou,"hesaidkindlybutfirmly."Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou."

Thepoorgirlwassolonelyandheart-broken,thatshewasreadyfortheleastrayofcomfort.Shenowsawthatshewasignorantandexceedinglyfaulty.Shewasreadytoadmitthefactthatshehadactedveryfoolishlyandunwisely,andthatcircumstanceswereagainsther.Ill-omenedcircumstanceshavebroughttocondemnationanddeathinnocentmen.Idawouldnotnowclaimthatshewasinnocentofblame,buteventshadseemedsounfortunateoflate,thatshewashalfreadytothinkthatsomevindictivehandwasshapingthem.

Butshedidnotfeelthatshewasnowworsethanshehadbeen.

Onthecontrary,shehadlongingsforabetterlifeandabroaderculturesuchasshehadneverexperiencedbefore.Theartist"seyes,insearchingforherwoman"ssoul,revealedtoherthatshehadbeenafool;butnowshewouldgladlybecomeawomanifsomeonewouldonlypointouttheway.

"MotherandIkmightlearnthatIamnotwhollybadiftheywouldonlytakethetroubletofindout,"shemurmured."Ikusedtobekind-hearted,andIthoughthecaredalittleforme,inspiteofoursparing.Whyishesohardonmeoflate?Whycan"thebelievethatIamjustascapableofdetestingSibleyasheis?Perhapshedoesmeantosayakindword,andgivemeachancetoexplain."

Thesethoughtspassedthroughhermindasshelightedthegasandbathedherface,thatshemight,tosomeextent,removetheevidencesofgrief.

Stantonmisunderstoodherwholly.ThenewIda,thatdeepfeelingandrecenteventsweredeveloping,wasunknowntohim,andhehadbeentoopreoccupiedtoseethechanges,evenhadtheybeenmoreapparent.Hedidfeelasortfcommiserationforherevidentsuffering,forhewastookind-heartednottosympathizeevenwhenhebelievedpaintobewell-deserved.Buthethoughthemuststilldealwithherasawayward,passionatechild,ashehadinthepast,whenshecriedtillsheobtainedwhatshewished,rightorwrong.Henowbelievedthatshewasasfullybentoncarryingoutherownunreasonablewill,butrememberedthatshewasnolongerachild,andmightbeguiltyoffollythatsocietywouldnotforgiveaschildish.Thereforehewishedtoseeherface,andwasdisposedtobewaryandobservant.

Hegaveheraquick,keenglanceasheenteredandthensaid:

"What"sthematter,Ida?Whydoyousithereintheshadows?It"sasdarkasapocket;"andheturnedthegashigher.

Shedidnotanswer,butsatdownwithherfaceavertedfromhimandthelight."Hehascomehereasaspy,andnotasacomforter,"

shethought.

Helookedatheramoment,mistookhersilenceasanexpressionofthesettledobstinacyofherpurpose.

"Well,Ida,"hesaid,alittleirritably,"Iknowyouofold.I

supposeyouwillhaveyourownwayasusual.Ifwemustsubmit,whythenwemust;butyoucan"texpectustodosowithanygrace.

Ifyouwon"tgiveupthisSibley,forheaven"ssakeletyourmotherarrangethematterafterthefashionoftheday!Outofregardforyourfamily,gothroughalltheregularformalities."

Shestartedviolentlyandthenleanedbackinherchairasifshewerefaint,andhalfstunnedbyablow.Heregardedhermannerasevidenceofguilt,or,atleast,ofproposedcriminalimprudenceonherpart,andwentonstillmoreplainly:

"Ifyoucan"texistwithoutSibley——why,marryhim;butseetoitthatthereisaplentyofpriest,altar,andservice;foryouknow,oryououghtto,thathe"samanwhocan"tbetrustedahair"sbreadth."

Sheavertedherfacestillfarther,andsaidinalowconstrainedtone:

"Myfamily,then,consentthatIshouldmarryMr.Sibley?"

"No;wesubmittothemarriageasanodiousnecessity,onconditionthatyouputthewholematterintoyourmother"shandsandallowhertoarrangeeverythingaccordingtosociety"srequirements."

"Pleaseletmeunderstandyou,"shesaidinalowervoice."MyfamilyoffertosubmittothemarriageasadirenecessitylestmyrelationswithMr.Sibleycoverthemwithadeepershame?"

"Well,inplainEnglish,yes."

"ItisindeedextraordinarilyplainEnglish——brutallyplain.Anddoes——doesMr.VanBergshareinyourestimateofme?"

HermannerandwordsbegantopuzzleStanton,andherememberedtheartist"squestion——"AreyouabsolutelysurethatSibleyisthecauseofhertrouble?"Hethoughtthatperhapsitmightbegoodpolicytocontrastthetwomen.

"Tobefrank,"hereplied,"IthinkMr.VanBerghasbothwishedandtriedtothinkwellofyou.Headmiredyourbeautyimmensely,andsoughttofindsomethinginyourcharacterthatcorrespondedwithit.Evenafteryourstudiedrudenesstohim,youropenpreferenceofSibley"ssocietytohis,andyourremarkexplainingyourcourse,"congenialsocietyornoneatall""(Idafairlygroanedasherecalledherfolly),"hetriedtotreatyoupolitely.ThatyoushouldrefusethesocietyofagentlemanlikemyfriendforthesakeofsuchalowfellowasSibley,istousalladisgustingandfathomlessmystery.Thebeliefthatyoucouldthrowyourselfandyourrarebeautyintothisabominableslough,wassorevoltingtoVanBerg,thatheneverwouldwhollyacceptofituntilto-day."

Sherosetoherfeetandturneduponhim.Hereyeswerefairlyblazingwithindignation,andherfacewaswhiteandterriblefromheranger.Intonessuchashehadneverheardanywomanusebefore,shesaid:

"Butto-dayyouhavesucceededinsatisfyinghimthatthisisnotonlypossible,butthemostnaturalthingformetodo.Youhavetoldhimthatmyfamilywillsubmittomymarriagewithaloathsomewretch,whogotdrunkinthepresenceofladies,insultedanorphangirl,andattemptedmurder——andallinoneSundayafternoon.I

supposeyouthoughtmecaptivated,andcarriedawaybysuchaburstandblazeofvillainy;andsomyhigh-tonedfamilyexplaintothefaultlessandaristocraticMr.VanBergthattheywillsubmittoanodiousmarriagelestIclandestinelyfollowthescoundrelwhowasveryproperlydrivenaway,likethebasecurheis.Thisiswhyyoureceivedmeto-nightasifIwereapestilence.ThisiswhyIwastreatedatthetableasifIwereadeath"shead.Thisiswhyyourperfectfriendlookedtowardsmeasifmychairwerevacant.HerefusedeventorecognizetheexistenceofsuchaloathsomethingasmyfamilyexplaintohimthatIam.Greatheaven!mayIneverlivetoreceiveadeeperhumiliationthanthis!"

"But,Ida,"criedStanton,deeplyalarmedandagitatedbyhermanner,"howelsecouldweexplainyouractionandyourrecklesswordstoyourmother?"

"Oh,Iadmitthatcircumstancesareagainstme,butthereisnoexcuseforthisoutrage!Idon"tknowwhatIdidsaytomother.

I"vebeentoowretchedanddiscouragedtoremember.SheISmymother,andI"llsaynothingagainsther,though,heavenknows,shehasbeenastrangemothertome.WouldtoGodIhadafatherthatIcouldgoto,orabrother!ButitseemsIhavenotafriendinthegreat,scornfulworld.Don"tinterruptme.Wordscountfornothingnow,andmineleastofall.Ifyouwereallreadytobelievemecapableofwhatyouhaveplainlyintimated,youneedsomethingstrongerthanwordstoconvinceyoutothecontrary.OfonethingIshallmakesure——youandyourfaithlessfriendshallneverhavethechancetoinsultmeagain.Iwishyoutoleavemyroom."

"Ohcome,Ida,listentoreason,"Stantonbegancoaxingly.

"Iadmittedyou,"sheinterruptedwitharepellantgesture,"inthehopeofreceivingalittlekindness,forwhichIwasfamishing,butIwouldratheryouhadstabbedmethanhavesaidwhatyouhave.

Hush,notawordmore.Thebrutalwronghasbeendone.Willyounotgo?Thisismyprivateapartment.Icommandyoutoleaveit;andifyouwillnotobeyIwillsummonMr.Burleigh;"andsheplacedherhandonthebell.

HermannerwasatoncesocommandingandthreateningthatStanton,withagestureofdeprecationandprotest,silentlyobeyed.

Hewassosurprisedandunnervedbytheinterviewinwhichthemaidenhadturneduponhimwithafieryindignationthatwasalmostvolcanic,thathewishedtothinktheaffairalloverandregainhiscomposurebeforemeetinganyone.ClearlytheyhadfailedtounderstandIdaoflate,andhadmisjudgedherutterly.Andyet,guidedbyappearances,hefeltthattheycouldscarcelyhavecometoanyotherconclusion.

Nowthathehadbeenjostledoutofhispreoccupation,hebegantorealizethatIdahadnotappearedoflatelikethefrivolousgirlthathadaccompaniedhimtothecountry.Changesweretakingplaceinheraswellasinhimself,"butnotfromthesamecause,"

hethought."Afterherwordsandmannerto-night,IcannotdoubtthatSibleyhasdisgustedheraswellastherestofus,althoughshehadastrangewayofshowingit.Itcannotbethatawomanwouldspeakofamanforwhomshehadanyregard,asIdadidofthewretchwithwhomwewereassociatingher;andasforVanBerg,shehastakennopainstoconcealherstrongdislikeforhimfromthefirstdayoftheirmeeting.Ican"tthinkofanyoneelseatpresent(althoughtheremightbeascore)whoisdisturbingtheshallowwatersofhermind.

"I"minclinedtothinkthatsheisdeeplymortifiedatthefalsepositioninwhichSibleyhasplacedher,andistooproudtomakeexplanations.Itmaybealsothatsheisrealizingmorefullythedisgraceofherfather"scourse,anditisalsopossiblethatsheiswakinguptoasenseofherowndeficiencies.AlthoughshecouldnotfailtodislikesuchpeopleasJennieBurtonandVanBerg,shewouldbeapttocontrastherselfwiththemandtheimpressionwhichsheandtheymadeonsociety.Confounditall!IwishIhadnottakenitforgrantedthatshewaspiningforSibleyandreadytothrowherselfawayforhissake.Ithasplacedmeinadeucedlyawkwardposition.Idoubtifsheeverfullyforgivesme,andI

can"tblameherifshedoesn"t."

"Well?"saidMrs.Mayhew,asStantonmoodilyapproachedher.

"Comewithme,"hesaid.Whentheywerealoneheprefacedhisstorywiththeirritableremark:

"It"sapityyoucan"tunderstandyourdaughterbetter.ShedetestsSibley."

"Thankheavenforthat,"exclaimedthemother.

"Ishouldbemoreinclinedtothankbothheavenandyourselfifyouhaddiscoveredthefactbeforesendingmeonsuchanintenselydisagreeablemission.Youmustmanageyourdaughteryourselfhereafter,forshe"llnevertakeanythingmorefromme;"andhetoldhersubstantiallythenatureofhisinterview,andhissurmisesastotherealcausesofhertrouble.

"Ithinkyouareright,"saidMrs.Mayhew,whoseimpressionswereaschangeableassuperficial;"andI"mexcessivelygladtothinkso.

Withherbeauty,Idacan,inspiteofherfather,makeabrilliantmatch,ineverysenseoftheword;"andwiththeprospectofthissupremeconsummationofliferegained,thewifeandmothergaveasighofgreatrelief.

"Butshe"sinanawfulmood,Icantellyou,"saidStanton,dubiously.

"Ineverknewawomantolookandspeakasshedidto-night.Ifyoudon"tmanagebettershe"llmakeustroubleyet."

"Oh,I"musedtoIda"stantrums.Theydon"tlast.Nothingdoeswithher.Timeandanotheradmirerwillbringheraround."

"Well,yououghttoknow,"saidStantonwithashrug;"butIretirefromthemanagement.Ican"thelpsaying,however,thatsomethinginherlooksandwordsmakesmeuneasy.IregretexceedinglyI

spokeasIdid,andshallapologizeatthefirstopportunity."

"You"llhavethatinthemorning.ThingsaresomuchbetterthanIfearedthatIamgreatlyrelieved.She"llcomearoundnowifnothingmoreissaid.Roiledwateralwayssettleswhenkeptquiet;"

andMrs.Mayhewreturnedtotheparlorinmuchbetterspirits.

StantonfollowedhisauntandjoinedasmallgroupthathadgatheredaroundMissBurton.VanBerggavehimaquick,questioninglook,butgatheredtheimpressiononlythathehadbeensubjectedtoaverypainfulinterview.

"Shehasevidentlyrealizedhisworstfears,"hethought;"cursesonher!"andhisfacegrewfairlyblackforamomentwithangeranddisgust.

ButJennieBurton"ssilvertonguesooncharmedawaytheevilspiritsfromboththeyoungmen.

Shehadfineconversationpowers,andherkeenintuitionandhercontrollingpassiontogivepleasureenabledhertodetectanddrawoutthebestthoughtsofothers.Herevidentsympathyputeveryoneatease,andgavepeoplethepowerofsuchhappyexpressionthattheyweresurprisedatthemselves,andledtobelievethattheynotonlyreceivedbutgavesomethingbetterthanaverage.

Therefore,underthemagicofhergood-will,botheyesandmindskindled,andevencommon-placepersonsbecamealmostbrilliantandeloquent.

Stanton"swastheonlycloudedfaceinhercirclethatevening;andtruetoherinstinct,shesetaboutbanishinghistrouble,whateveritmightbe——aneasytaskwithherpoweroverhim.

Sinceitdailybecamemoreevidenttoherthatshemustwoundhisvanity,andperhapshisheartalittle,shetriedtomakeamendsbyshowinghimsuchpublicconsiderationasmightrobhisdisappointmentofhumiliationandbitterness.

Stanton,therefore,soonforgotIda"sdesperateface,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisbest.

YetIda"sfacebutfaintlyrevealedherheart.Itseemedthattheendhadnowcomeinverytruth,andshewasconsciouschieflyofawildimpulsetoescapefromhershameandsuffering.Therewasalsoabittersenseofwrongandawishtoretaliate.

"I"llteachthemallalesson,"shemuttered,asshepacedherroomswiftlytoandfro."ThisproudartistthinkshecanlookatmeasifIwereemptyair;thathecanforgetmeashehastherose-budhetossedaway.Iwillinsurethathelooksatmeoncewithafaceaswhiteasminewillthenbe,andthatheremembersmetohisdyingday."

Afterbecomingmorecalm,andasifactingunderasuddenimpulse,shehastilymadeasimplebutsingulartoilet.

Whencompleted,hermirrorreflectedaplain,close-fitting,blackgown,whichleftherneckandarmsbare.Aroundherwhitethroatsheplacedablackvelvetband,andjoineditbyasmalljetponiardstuddedwithdiamonds.Hersunnyhairwaswoundintoaseverelysimplecoil,andalsofastenedwithalargerponiard,fromthehaftandguardofwhichglisteneddiamondsofpeculiarbrilliancy.Shetookoffallherrings,andworenootherornaments.Thentakingfromhertableabook,bearingconspicuouslyasitstitletheword"Misjudged,"shewentdowntotheparlor.

Shepausedamomentonthethresholdbeforeshewasnoticed.Hermotherwaseagerlygossipingwithtwoorthreefashionablewomenaboutascandalthatshehopedmightcauseherownfamily"sshort-comingstobeforgotteninpart.MissBurtonwastellingastoryinherowninimitablestyle,andripplesofsmilesandlaughtereddiedfromherconstantly.Stanton"sandVanBerg"sfaceswereaglowwithpleasure,anditwasplainthespeakerabsorbedalltheirthoughts.

"Inthesamewayhewillforgetme,afterIamdead,"saidtheunhappygirltoherself,andthethoughtsentacolderchilltoherheart,andadeeperpallortoherface.

Hergazeseemedtodrawhis,forhelookedupsuddenly.Onrecognizingherhisfirstimpulsewastocoldlyaverthiseyes,butinasecondherunusualappearancerivetedhisattention.Shesawtheimpulse,however,andwouldnotlooktowardshimagain.Sheenteredasquietlyandasunexpectedlyasaghost,andthepeopleseemedasmuchsurprisedandperplexedasifshewereaghost.

Shetookaseatsomewhatapartfromallothers,andapparentlycommencedreading.ShewasnotsofarawaybutthatVanBergcoulddecipherthetitle,"Misjudged,"andhavingmadeoutthesignificantword,itslettersgrewluminouslikethediamondsinherhair.

Neverbeforehadhebeensoimpressedbyherbeauty,andyettherewasanelementinitwhichmadehimshiverwithadreadhecouldnotexplaintohimself.Hewassurprisedandshockedtofindhowpaleandwanherfacehadbecome,butineveryseveremarblecurveofherfeatureshesawtheword,"Misjudged."Hecouldscarcelyrecognizeherasthebloominggirlthathehadfirstseenintheconcertgarden.Suffering,troubleofmind,wasevidentlythedarkmagicianthatwasthustransformingher;butwhydidshesuffersodeeply?Asshesattherebeforehim,notonlyhisdeeperinstincts,buthisreasonrefusedalmostindignantlytoassociateheranylongerwithSibley.Therewasatimewhensheseemedakintohim;

butnowshesuggesteddeeptrouble,despair,deatheven,ratherthanagross"bonvivant."Wassheill!Yes,evidently,buthedoubtedifhermaladyhadphysicalcauses.