Asmaybegatheredfromthefollowingpages,mytitlewasobtainedanumberofyearsago,andthestoryhassincebeentakingformandcolorinmymind.WhathasbecomeofthebeautifulbutdiscordantfaceIsawattheconcertgardenIdonotknow,butItrustthatthecountenanceitsuggested,anditschangesmaynotprovesovagueandunsatisfactoryastobeindistincttothereader.Ithaslookeduponthewriterduringthepastyearalmostlikethefaceofalivingmaiden,andIhavefelt,inawaythatwouldbehardtoexplain,thatIhavehadbutlittletodowithitsexpressions,andthatforcesandinfluencesoverwhichIhadnocontrolweremouldingcharacter.
Theoldgarden,andtheagedmanwhogrewyoungwithinit,arenotcreations,butsacredmemories.
ThatthebookmaytendtoennobleotherfacesthanthatofIdaMayhew,istheearnestwishofE.P.Roe.
Althoughthesunwasapproachingthehorizon,itsslantingraysfoundayoungartiststillbendingoverhiseasel.Thathisshouldersarebroadisapparentataglance;thatuponthemisplacedashapelyhead,wellthatchedwithcrispblackhair,isalsoseenatonce;thattheheadisnotanemptyoneisprovedbythepictureontheeasel,whichissufficientlyadvancedtoshowcorrectandspiriteddrawing.Abrainthatcandirectthehandhowtodoonethingwell,islikeageneralwhohasoccupiedastrategicpointwhichwillgivehimthevictoryifhefollowsuphisadvantage.
Aknockatthedoorisnotansweredatoncebytheintentandpreoccupiedartist,butitssharpandimpatientrepetitionsecurestheratherreluctantinvitation,\"Comein,\"andevenashespokehebentforwardtogiveanotherstroke.
\"Sixo\'clock,andworkingstill!\"criedtheintruder.\"Youwillkeepthepaintmarketactive,ifyouachievenothingelseasanartist.\"
\"Heigho!Ik,isthatyou?\"saidheofthepalette,good-naturedly;
andrisingslowlyhegavealingeringlookathiswork,thenturnedandgreetedhisfriendwiththequietcordialityoflongandfamiliaracquaintance.\"Whatamarplotyouarewithyouridleways!\"headded.\"Sitdownhereandmakeyourselfusefulforoncebydoingnothingnothingfortenminutes.IaminjustthemoodandhavejustthelightforabitofworkwhichperhapsIcanneverdoaswellagain,\"andtheartistreturnedpromptlytohispicture.
Ingreetinghisfriendhehadrevealedthathewasabovemiddleheight,thathehadfullblackeyesthatwerenotonlygoodforseeing,butcouldalso,ifhechose,givegreatemphasistohiswords,andattimesbeevenmoreexpressive.Athickmustachecoveredhislip,buttherestofhisfacewascleanlyshaven,andwasstronganddecidedinitsoutlinesratherthanhandsome.
\"Theysayawoman\'sworkisneverdone,\"remarkedIkStanton,droppingintotheeasiestchairinthestudio,\"andforthisreason,weretherenoother,yourmuseisevidentlyofthefemininepersuasion.
Ialsoadmitthatsheisaladyofgreatantiquity.IndeedIwouldplacehernearertothetimewhen\'AdamdelvedandEvespan\'thantotheclassicage.\"
\"MydearIk,\"respondedtheartist,\"IamoftenatalosstoknowwhetherIloveordespiseyoumost.Ifalittleofthewhirrofourgreatgrandam\'sspinningwheelwouldonlygetintoyourbraintheworldmighthearfromyou.Youareamanofunboundedstomachandunboundedheart,andsoyouhavewonallthereisofmeexceptmyhead,andthatdisapprovesofyou.\"
\"Afigfortheworld!whatgoodwillitdomeorittohaveithearfromme?youambitiousfellowsarealreadymakingsuchadinthatthepooroldworldishalfreadyforBedlam;andwouldgostarkmadwereitnotforusquiet,easy-goingpeople,whohavetimeforagooddinnerandasnackbetweenmeals.You\'vegotageniusthat\'slikeawindmillinatradewind,alwaysinmotion;youareworthmoremoneythanIshalleverhave,butyouarethegreatestdrudgeinthestudiobuilding,andworkasmanyhoursasahouse-painter.\"
\"Whenyourbrainoncegetsinmotion,Ik,fictionwillbeitsnaturalproduct.YoumustadmitthatIhavenotpaintedmanypictures.\"
\"ThatisoneofthethingsIcomplainof;I,yourbosomfriendandfamiliar,your,Imightadd,guardianangel——I,whohavesooftensavedyourlifebyquenchingtheflameofyourconsuminggeniuswithaheartydinner,havebeenabletoobtainonepictureonlyfromyou,andasonemightdrawatooth.Yourpicturesarelikeoldmaid\'schildren——theymustbesoperfectthattheycan\'texistatall.Butcome,thetenminutesareup.Here\'stheprogrammefortheevening——adriveintheParkandalittledinneratacoolrestaurantnearThomas\'sGarden,andthentheconcert.Thatprinceofmusicalcaterershasmadeafineselectionforto-night,and,withthecigarstandononesideofusandtheorchestraontheother,wearecertaintokillacoupleofhoursthatwilldielikeswans.\"
\"Youmentionthecigar-standfirst.\"
\"Whynot?Smokeismorerealthanemptysound.\"
\"Areyounotequallyempty,Ik,saveafterdinner?Howhavetheprecedinghoursofthislongdaybeenkilled?\"
\"Likeboas.Theyhaveenfoldedmewithawearyweight.\"
\"Thesnakesinyourcomparisonarelargerthanyourpun,andthepun,ratherthanyourself,suggestsaconstrictor\'ssqueeze.\"
\"Come,youareonlyabusingmetogaintime,andyoumaygaintoomuch.Myhorseshavemoremettlethantheirmaster,andmaycarryoffmytrapandgroomtopartsunknown,whileyouarewastingpaintandwords.YouareliketheanimalsatthePark,thataregood-naturedonlyaftertheyarefed.Soshutupyouroldpaintshop,andcomealong;wewillshortenourrideandlengthenourdinner.\"
Withmutualchaffingandlaughtertheyoungmenatlastwentdowntowherealiveriedcoachmanandapairofhandsomebayswereinwaiting.Takingthehighfrontseatandgatheringupthereins,IkStanton,withhisfriendHaroldVanBergathisside,bowledawaytowardstheParkatarapidpace.
HaroldVanBergwas,intruth,somethingofaparadox.Hewasanartist,andyetwasrich;hehadinheritedlargewealth,andyethadformedhabitsofcarefulindustry.Themajorityofhisyoungacquaintances,whohadbeenlaunchedfromhomeslikehisown,wereknownonlyassonsoftheirfathers,anddegeneratesonsatthat.
VanBergwasalreadywinningaplaceamongmenonthegroundofwhathewasandcoulddohimself.
Itwerehardtosaywhichwasthestrongermotive,hisambitionortheloveofhisart;butitseemedcertainthatbetweenthetwo,suchtalentashehadbeenendowedwithwouldbedevelopedquitethoroughly.Andhedidpossessdecidedtalent,ifnotgenius.Buthisartisticgiftaccordedwithhischaracter,andwascontrolledbyjudgement,correcttaste,andintellectualityratherthanbystronganderraticimpulses.Hisaimsweredefiniteanddecidedratherthanvagueanddiffusive;buthisstandardsweresohighthat,thusfar,hehadscarcelyattemptedmorethanstudiesthatwerelikethemusician\'sscalesbywhichheseekstoacquireaskillintouchthatshallenablehimtorenderjustlytheworksofthegreatcomposers.
Hisfamilyhadpraisedhisworkunstintedly,andhonestlythoughtitwonderful;hehadalsobeendelugedwiththatkindofflatterywhichrelaxestherulesofcriticisminfavorofthewealthy.Thusitwasnotstrangethattheyoungfellow,atonetime,believedthathewasborntogreatnessbyakindlydecreeoffate.Butashishorizonwidenedhewastaughtbetter.Hismind,fortunately,grewfasterthanhisvanity,andashecomparedhiscrudebutpromisingworkwiththatofmaturegenius,hewasnotstrickenwiththatmosthelplessphaseofblindness——theinabilitytoseethesuperiorityofotherstoone\'sself.Everyday,therefore,ofstudyandobservationwasnowchasteningHaroldVanBergandpreparinghimtobuildhisfuturesuccessonthesolidgroundofpositivemeritascomparedwiththatofotherandgiftedartists.
VanBerg\'stasteandtalentledhimtoselect,ashisspecialty,thehumanformandcountenance,andhechieflydelightedinthosefaceswhichwereexpressiveofsomestrikingorsubtlecharacteristicoftheindwellingmind.Hewouldneverbecontenttopaintsurfacescorrectly,givingtofeaturesmerelytheirexactproportions.Whetherthefacewerehistorical,ideal,oraportrait,thecontrollingtraitortraitsofthespiritwithinmustshinethrough,orelseheregardedthepictureasscarcelyhalffinished.
AmoresincereidolatorthanVanBerg,inhisworshipofbeauty,neverexisted;butitwasthebeautyofacompletemanoracompletewoman.Eveninhisearlyyouthhehadnotbeensosensuousastobecaptivatedbythatopaquefragmentofawoman——anattractiveformdevoidofamind.Indeedwiththeexceptionofafewboyishfollies,hisarthadbeenhismistressthusfar,anditwasbeginningtoabsorbbothheartandbrain.
Withwhataquietpulse——withwhatacomplacentsenseofsecurityweoftenmeetthoseseeminglytrivialeventswhichmaychangethewholecharacterofourlives!Theridehadbeentaken,thedinnerenjoyed,andthetwofriendswereseatedinthelargecoolhallwayofftheconcertgarden,wheretheycouldsmokewithoutoffence.Theunrivalledleader,Thomas,hadjustliftedhisbaton——thatmagicwandwhosegracefulyetmysteriousmotionevokeswithequalease,seemingly,thethunderofastorm,thesongofabird,thehorriddinofaninferno,oraharmonysopureandloftyastosuggestheavenlystrains.OneofBeethoven\'sexquisitesymphonieswastoberendered,andVanBergthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar,settledhimselfinhischairandglancedaroundwithacongratulatoryair,asiftosay,\"Nowwearetohaveoneofthosepleasureswhichfillsthecupoflifetooverflowing.\"
Oh,thatcasualglance!Itwasoneofthosethingsthatwemightjustlycall\"little.\"Couldanythinghavebeenmoretrivial,slight,andapparentlyinconsequentialthanthishalfinvoluntaryact?Indeeditwastooaimlesseventohavebeenpromptedbyaconsciouseffortofthewill.Butthisbookisoneoftheleastresultsofthatmomentarysweepoftheeye.Anotherwas,thatVanBergdidnotenjoythesymphonyatall,andwassooninaverybadhumor.Thatcasualglancehadrevealed,notfaraway,afacethatwithhispassionforbeauty,atoncerivetedhisattention.Hisslightstartandfaintexclamation,causedIkStantontolookaroundalso,andthen,withamischievousandobservanttwinkleinhiseyes,thebonvivantresumedhiscigar,whichnosymphonycouldexorcisefromhismouth.
Atatablejustwithinthemainaudienceroom,theresatayoungladyandgentleman.EvenVanberg,whomadeithisbusinesstodiscoverandstudybeauty,wassooncompelledtoadmittohimselfthathehadneverseenfinerfeaturesthanwerepossessedbythisfairyoungstranger.Hernosewasstraight,herupperlipwasshort,andmighthavebeenmodelledfromCupid\'sbow;herchindidnotformaperfectovalafterthecoldandsevereGreciantype,butwasslightlyfirmandprominent,recedingwithdecidedyetexquisitecurvestothefullwhitethroat.Hercheekshadatransparentfairness,inwhichthecolorcameandwentinsteadoflingeringinanyconventionalplaceandmanner;herhairwastoolighttobecalledbrownandtoodarktobegolden,butwasshadedlikethatonwhichthesunlightfallsinoneofBougereau\'spicturesof\"MotherandChild;\"anditrippledawayfromabroadlowbrowinnaturalwaves,halfhidingthesmall,shell-likeears.
VanBergatfirstthoughhereyestobeherfinestfeature,buthesoonregardedthemastheworst,andforthesamereason,ashespeedilydiscovered,thattheface,eachfeatureofwhichseemedperfect,became,afterbriefstudy,sounsatisfactoryastocausepositiveannoyance.Toapassingglancetheywerelarge,dark,beautifuleyes,buttheyloststeadilyunderthoughtfulscrutiny.
Aflashinggemmayseemrealatfirst,butasitsmeretriciousraysareanalyzed,theylosetheircharmbecauserevealingastonenotonlyworthlessworsethanworthless,sinceitmocksuswithafalseresemblance,thusraisinghopesonlytodisappointthem.TheotherfeaturesremainedbeautifulandsatisfactorytoVanBerg\'sfurtiveobservationbecausefurtherremovedfromtheinformingmind,andthereforemorejustlycapableofadmirationupontheirownmerits;
buttheeyesaretoonearakintotheanimatingspiritnottosufferfromtherelationship,shouldthespiritbeessentiallydefective.
Thatthebeautifulfacewasbutatransparentmaskofadeformed,dwarfed,contemptiblelittlesoulwasspeedilymadeevident.Thecreamandasillyflirtationwithherempty-headedattendant——apallidyouthwhopartedhishairlikeagirlandhadnototherpartsworthnaming——absorbedherwholly,andtheexquisitesymphonywasnomoretoherthananannoyingdinwhichmadeitdifficulttohearhercompanion\'scomplimentsthatwereassweet,heavy,andstaleasMailard\'schocolates,leftayearontheshelves.Theirmutualgiggleandchatteratlastbecamesoobtrusivethatanoldandmusic-lovingGermanturnedhisbroadfacetowardsthem,andhissedouttheword\"Hist!\"withsuchvindictiveforceastosuggestthatallthewindshadsuddenlybrokenlosefromthecaveofAeolus.
IkStanton,whohadbeenwatchingVanBerg\'sperturbed,loweringface,andtheweakcomedyattheadjacenttable,wasobviouslymuchamused,althoughhetookpainstoappearblindtoitallandkepthisback,asfaraspossible,towardstheyounglady.
TheGerman\'s\"hist\"hadbeensofierceastobealmostlikearapfromapoliceman\'sclub,andtherewasanenforcedandtemporarysuspensionoftheinanechatter.Theattendantyouthtriedtoassumetheincensedandthreateninglookwithwhichanancientgallantwouldhavelaidhishandonthehiltofhissword.Butsomeanimalsandmenonlybecomeabsurdwhentheytrytoappearformidable.ItwasludicroustoseehimweaklyfrowningatthesturdyTeutonwhohadalreadyforgottenhisexistenceascompletelyashemightthatofabuzzingmosquitohehadexterminatedwithaslap.
Theyyounggirl\'sfacegrewevenlesssatisfactoryasitbecamemorequiet.Amuddypool,rippledbyabreeze,willsparklequitebrilliantlywhileinmotion;butwhenquietitisseenthemoreplainlytobeonlyashallowpool.Atfirstthebeautifulfeaturesexpressedonlypettyresentmentatthepublicrebuke.AsthisfaintlyluridlightfadedoutandleftthecountenanceinitsnormalstateitbecamemoreheavyandearthyinitsexpressionthanVanBergwouldhavedeemedpossible,anditeverremainedamysterytohimhowfeaturessodelicate,beautiful,andessentiallyfemininecouldcombinetoshowsoclearlythattheindwellingnaturewaslargelyalloyedwithclay.therewasnotthatdewyfreshnessinthefairyoungfacewhichonemightexpecttoseeintheearlymorningofexistence.TheLordfromheavenbreathedthebreathoflifeintothefirstfairwoman;butthisgirlmightseemtohavebeenthenaturalproductofevolution,andhersoultobeastrulyoftheearthasherbody.
Itwasevidentthatshehadbeenmadefamiliartooearlyandthoroughlywithconventionalandfashionablesociety,and,althoughthisfractionoftheworldisseldomwithoutitsgloves,itstouchneverthelesshadsoiledhernature.Herfacedidnotexpressanyactiveormalignantprincipleofevil;butacloseobserver,likeVanBerg,inwhomthemanwasintheascendantovertheanimal,coulddetecttheabsenceoftheserene,maidenlypurityofexpression,characteristicofthosegirlswhohaveobtainedtheirideasoflifefromgoodmothers,ratherthanfromFrenchnovels,Frenchplays,andaphaseofsocietythatborrowsitsinspirationfromfashionableParis.
Withtheendingofthesymphonythechattingandflirtingatthetablebeganagain,toVanBerg\'sincreaseddisgust.Indeed,hewassoirritatedthathecouldnolongercontrolhimself,androseabruptly,sayingtohiscompanion:
\"Come,letuswalkoutside.\"
Hissuddenmovementdrewtheyounglady\'sattention,butbythistimehehadonlyhisbroadshouldersturnedtowardsher.ShesawIkStantonlookingather,however,withafacefullofmischief,andsherecognizedhimwithanodandasmile.
He,withthefamiliaritythatindicatedrelationship,butwithamotiontooslighttobenoticedbyothers,threwherakissfromthetipsofhisfingers,asonemighttossasugar-plumtoachild,andthenfollowedhisfriend.
ChapterII.IdaMayhew.
Whatisthematter,Van?Youremindmeofacertainhornedbeastthathasseenaredflag,\"saidIkStanton,linkinghisarminthatofVanBerg\'s.
\"Anaptillustration.Ihavebeenbaitedandirritatedforthelasttwentyminutes.\"
\"IthoughtyouenjoyedBeethoven\'smusic,andsurelyThomasrendereditdivinelyto-night.\"
\"Thatisoneofthechiefofmygrievances.Ihaven\'tbeenabletohearanote,\"wasthewrathfulresponse.
\"That\'sstrange,\"saidStantonwithmockgravity.\"WereInotafraidyouwouldtakeitamissIwouldhintthatyourearsareofgoodlysize.Howcomesitthattheyhavesosuddenlyfailedyou?\"
\"Havingseenyourdinneryouhavenoeyesforanythingelse.Ifyouhad,youwouldhaveseenafacenearus.\"
\"Isawascoreoffacesnearus.AGermanhadonewiththeareaofanacre.\"
\"Washetheonewhosaid,\'hist,\'likeablastfromtheNorth?\"
\"Fromaporpoiserather.\"
\"Didyouobservethegirltowardswhomhisgustyrebukewasdirected?\"
\"Yes,aninoffensiveyounglady.\"
\"Inoffensive,indeed!\"interruptedVanBerg.\"Shehasputmeintopurgatory.\"
\"Youdoseemquiteablaze.Well,youarenotthefirstonethatshehasputthere.Butreally,Van,Ididnotknowthatyouweresoinflammable.\"
\"IfyouhadanyoftheinstinctsofanartistyouwouldknowthatIaminflamedwithnogentlerfeelingthananger.\"
\"Why!whathasthepoorchilddonetoyou?\"
\"Sheisnotachild.Sheknowstoomuchaboutsomethings.\"
\"I\'venodoubtsheisbetterthaneitheryouorI,\"saidStanton,sharply.
\"Thatfactwouldbefarfromprovingherasaint.\"
\"Whatthedickensmakesyousovindictiveagainstthegirl?\"
\"Becauseshehasthefeaturesofanangelandthefaceofafool.
Whatbusinesshasawomantomockanddisappointoneso!WhenI
firstsawherIthoughtIhaddiscoveredaprize——anewrevelationofbeauty;butamomentlatershelookedsoineffablysillythatIfeltasifIhadbittenintoanappleofSodom.Ofcoursethegirlisnothingtome.IneversawherbeforeandhopeImayneverseeheragain;butherfeaturesweresoperfectthatIcouldnothelplookingatthem,andthemoreIlookedthemoreannoyedIbecametofindthat,insteadofbeingblendedtogetherintoadivinefacebythemindwithin,theywerethereluctantslavesofaspicayuneasoulasevermaintaineditsmicroscopicexistenceinahumanbody.Itisexasperatingtothinkwhatthatfacemightbe,andtoseewhatitis.Howcannaturemakesuchabsurdblunders?Theideaofbuildingsofairatempleforsuchanuglylittledivinity!\"
\"Ithoughtyouartistsweresatisfiedwithfleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes.\"
\"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes.\"
\"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandblood,onewouldhavetobecontent;butnoonesavethe\'unspeakableTurk,\'believesinsuchawoman,orwantsher.Whoadmiressuchafragmentofawomansavethemanthatisasyetundevelopedbeyondtheanimal?Mymotherismyfriend,mycompanion,myinspiration.
TheideaofyondersillycreaturebeingthecompanionofaMAN.\"
\"Goodevening,Coz,\"saidavoicethatwasatrifleshrillandloudforapublicplace,andlookingup,thefriendssawthesubjectoftheirconversation,who,withherspindlingattendantwasalsotakingapromenade.
Stantonraisedhishatwithasmile,whileVanBergtouchedhisbutcoldly.
\"Iwishtospeakwithyou,\"shesaidinpassing.
\"Iwilljoinyousoon,\"Stantonanswered.
\"Sothisladyisyourcousin?\"remarkedVanBerg.
\"Sheis,\"saidStantonlaughing.
\"YouwilldomethejusticetorememberthatIspokeinignoranceofthefact.IfIwereyouIwouldgivehersomecousinlyadvice.\"
\"Blessyou!Ihave,butit\'slikepouringwateronaduck\'sback.ForonesensiblewordIcansaytohershegetsathousandcomplimentsfromrichandempty-headedyoungfools,liketheonenowwithher,whowilleventuallybeworthhalfamillioninhisownname.Iwasinterestedtoseehowherfacewouldstrikeyou,andIimaginethatyourestimatehashitprettycloseuponthetruth,forinmyjudgmentsheistheprettiestandsilliestgirlinNewYork.Shehasrecentlyreturnedfromayear\'sabsenceabroad,andIwasinhopesthatshewouldfindsomethingtorememberbesidesherownhandsomeface,butIimagineshehasseenlittleelsethanitandtheadmiringglanceswhicheverywherefollowher.Takeusasweaverage,Van,Mr.Darwinhasnotgousveryfaralongyet,andifthefaceofawomansuitsusweareapttostareatitasfarassuchpolitenessaswepossesspermits,withoutgivingmuchthoughttoherintellectualendowments.Whenitcomestocompanionship,however,Iagreewithyou.Heavenhelpthemanwhoistiedtosuchawomanforlife.Still,inthefashionablecrowdmycousintrainswith,thismakeslittledifference.Thehusbandgoeshiswayandthewifehers,andtheyarenotlongingettingagoodwaysapart.Butcome,letmeintroduceyou,Ihavealwaysthoughtthelittlefoolhadsomefinegoldmingledwithherdross,andyouaresuchaskilfulanalystthatperhapsyouwilldiscoverit.\"
\"No,Ithankyou,\"saidVanBerg,withaslightexpressionofdisgust.\"IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven\'sfinestsymphonies.\"
\"Wellwell,\"saidStantonlaughing,\"Iamrathergladtofindonemanwhoisnotdrawntoherprettyfacelikeamothtoacandle.
Iwilljoinyouagainbyandby.\"
VanBergsatdowninoneofthelittlestallsthatstoodopentothemainpromenade,andsawhisfriendthreadhiswayamongthemovingfigures,andaddresshiscousin.AssheturnedtospeakwithStanton,theartistreceivedagainthatvividimpressionofbeauty,whichherfaceevercausedbeforetimewasgivenforcloserscrutiny.Indeedfromhissomewhatdistantpointofobservation,andinthelesssearchinglight,thefatalflawcouldscarcelybedetected.Heraffectedtonesandsillywordscouldnotbeheard,andhesawonlydarklustrouseyeslightingupfeaturesthatwerealmostarevelationeventohimwithhisartisticfamiliaritywithbeauty.
\"IfIcouldalwayskeepherataboutthatdistance,\"hemuttered,\"andarrangethelightsandshadowsinwhichtoviewherface,I
couldnotaskforabetterstudy,forshewouldgivemeabasisofperfectbeauty,andIcouldaddanyexpressionofcharacteristicthatIdesired.\"Andnowhefeastedhiseyesasacompensation,inpart,fortheannoyanceshehadcausedhimintheglareoftheaudienceroom.
Hesoonsawafrownloweruponherhithertolaughingfaceliketheshadowofapassingcloud,anditwasevidentthatsomethinghadbeensaidthatwasnotagreeabletohervanity.
AmomentortwoafterStantonhadjoinedtheyoungladyherescortfortheeveninghadexcusedhimselfforabrieftime,andhadleftthecousinstogether.Shehadthenasked,\"Isay,Ik,whowasthatgentlemanyouweretalkingwith?\"
\"He\'sanoldfriendofmine.\"
\"He\'snotanOLDfriendofanyone.Heisyoungandquitegood-looking,orratherhehasacertain\'distingue\'airthatmakesonelookathimtwice.Whoishe?\"
\"Heisanartist,andifhelivesandworksasheisnowdoing,throughanordinarylifetime,hewillindeedbydistinguished.Infact,hestandshighalready.\"
\"Hownice,\"sheexclaimed.
\"Hehasanothercharacteristic,whichyouwillappreciatefarmorethananythinghewilleveraccomplishwithhisbrush——heisveryrich.\"
