Stantonthrewawayhiscigarandmetherattheofficeregister.
\"Gentleshepherdess,\"heasked,\"whitherareyouleadingyourflock?\"
\"Howbehindtheageyouare!\"shereplied.\"Canyounotseethattheflockisleadingme?\"
\"IfIwereawolfIwouldnottroubletheflockbutwouldcarryofftheshepherdess——toagameofbilliards.\"
\"What,then,wouldbecomeoftheflock?\"
\"that\'saquestionthatnevertroublesawolf.\"
\"Awolfishanswertruly.Ithink,however,youhavereversedtheparable,andarebutawell-meaningsheepthathasdonnedawolf\'sskin,andsowewillputyoutothetest.Weyoungpeoplewillgiveyouachancetodrawupourpetition,which,ifyouwouldsaveyourcharacter,youmustdoatoncewithsheep-likedocility,askingnoquestionsandcausingnodelay.There,thatwillanswer;
verysheepishlydone,butnosheep\'seyes,ifyouplease,\"sheadded,asStantonpretendedtolookuptoherforinspiration,whilewriting.\"Now,allsign.IthinkIcantrustyou,sir,ontheoutskirtsoftheflock.Here,mylittlemanandwoman,gotoeachoftheladiesandgentlemen,makeabowandacourtesy,andpresentthepetition.\"
\"MayInotgambolwiththeshepherdessinthecomingpastoral?\"
askedStanton.
\"No,indeed!Youaremuchtooold;besides,Iamgoingtoplay.
Youmaylookgravelyon.\"
Everyoneintheparlorsmilingassentedtotheoddlittlecouplethatbobbedupanddownbeforethem,andmovedoutofthewayforthedancers.Thepetitionersthereforesoonreturnedandwerewelcomedwithapplause.
\"NowgototheinnerofficeandpresentthepetitiontoMr.Burleigh,\"
saidMissBurton.
\"Hollo!\"criedthatgentleman,lookingaroundwithagreatshowofsavagery,asthelittlegirlpulledtheskirtofhiscoattoattracthisattention;\"where\'sKingHerod?\"
\"Wewishtotryanothermethodwiththechildren,\"answeredMissBurton.\"Willitpleaseyouthereforegraciouslytoreadthepetition.Allintheparlorhaveassented.\"
\"Mygoodnessgracious——\"
\"Noswearing,sir,ifyouplease.\"
\"Womanhasbeentoomanyformaneversinceshegothimintotroublebyeatinggreenapples,\"ejaculatedMr.Burleighwithadespairinggesture.\"Whydoyoumockmewithpetitions?THEREisthepowerbehindthethrone,\"pointingtoMissBurton.
\"Takeyourplaces,smallladiesandgentlemen,\"shecried.\"That\'sMr.Burleigh\'swayofsayingyes.Whileyouareforming,I\'llplayafewbarstogiveyouthetime.\"
Didshebewitchthepianothatitrespondedsowonderfullytohertouch?Wherehadshefoundsuchquaint,daintymusic,simpleastheold-fashioneddanceitself,sothatthelittleonescouldkeeptimetoit,andyetpleasingVanBerg\'sfastidiousearwithitsunhackneyedandrefinedmelody.Butthemarkedandmarvellousfeatureinherplayingwasanairyrolicksomenessthatwasasirresistibleasapanic.Oldladies\'headsbegantobobovertheirfancyworkmostabsurdly.Twoquartetsofelderlygentlemenatwhistwereevidentlybeginningtoplaybadly,theirfeetmeantimetappingthefloorinamostunwontedmanner.
\"WereIasdeadasJuliusCaesarIcouldnotresistthatquickstep,\"
criedStanton;andherushedovertohisaunt,Mrs.Mayhew,anddraggedherintoline.
\"WhatinthenameofallthewitchesofSalemhasgotintothatpiano!\"criedMr.Burleigh,burstingintotheparlorfromtheoffice,withhispenstuckbehindhisear,andhishairbrushedupperpendicularly.\"There\'ssorceryintheair.I\'mpractisedupon——Keepstill?No,notifIwasnailedupinoneofthesoldier\'s\'woodenovercoats.\'Theworldistransformed,transfigured,transmogrified,and\'thingsarenotwhattheyseem!\'Here\'sabloominggirlwho\'lldancewithme,\"andheseizedthehandofawhite-hairedoldladywhoyieldedtothecontagionsofarastotakeaplaceinthelinebesidehergranddaughter.
Indeed,inafewmoments,allwhohadbeenfamiliarwiththepastimeintheiryouth,caughtthejoyousinfection,andlengthenedoutthelines,eachnewaccessionbeinggreetedwithshoutsandlaughter.
ThesceneapproachedincharacterthatdescribedbyHawthorneasoccurringinthegroundsoftheVillaBorghesewhenDonatello,withasimple\"tambourine,\"producedmusicofsuch\"indescribablypotency\"thatsallow,haggard,half-starvedpeasants,Frenchsoldiers,scarlet-costumedcontadinas,Swissguards,Germanartists,Englishlords,andherdsmenfromtheCampagna,all\"joinedhandsinthedance\"whichthemusicianhimselfledwiththefrisky,frolicsomestepofthemythicalfaun.
Inthelatterinstanceitwasacontagious,madexcitementeasilypossibleamonghot-bloodedpeopleandwanderingpleasure-seekers,theprimallawsofwhosebeingareimpulseandpassion.ThatthejoyousexhilarationwhichfilledMr.Burleigh\'sparlorwasakintothewild,halfpaganfrenzythatthegreatmasteroffictionimaginedasseizingupontheloiterersneartheVillaBorghesecannotbedenied.Bothphasesofexcitementwouldspringnaturallyfromtheuniversalcravingforpleasurablelifeandactivity.Theone,however,wasarankgrowthfromaranksoil——thepassionateebullitionofpassion-swayednatures;theotherwasinspiredbythemagneticspiritofaNewEnglandmaiden,who,bysomelawofhernatureorconsecrationofherlife,devotedeverypowerofherbeingtothevivifyingofothers,andthefrolicshehadinstigatedwasasfreefromthegrosserelementsasthetossingwildflowersofhernativehills.WiththeexceptionperhapsofVanBerg,shehadimpressedeveryoneaspossessingapeculiarlysunnytemperament.
Bethisasitmay,itcertainlyappearedtruethatshefoundherhappinessinenliveningothers;anditisdifficulteventoimaginehowmuchagiftedmindcanaccomplishinthisrespectwheneveryfacultyisdevotedtotheministryofkindness.
ThisviewofMissBurton\'scharacterwouldaccountinpart,butnotwholly,forthepowersheexercisedoverothers.VanBergthoughtheattimesdetectedasuppressedexcitementinhermanner.A
lightsometimesflickeredinherdeepblueeyesthatmighthavebeencausedbyaconsumingandhiddenfire,ratherthanbygenialandjoyousthoughts.
Ashewatchedhernowthroughtheparlorwindow,hereyeswereburning,herfaceremindedhimofadelicateflame,andherwholebeingappearedconcentratedintothepresentmoment.Initsvividlifeitseemedoneofthemostremarkablefacesheeversaw;butthethoughtoccurredagainandagain——\"IfthefeaturesofIdaMayhewcouldbelighteduplikethatI\'dgiveyearsofmylifetimetobeabletopaintthebeautythatwouldresult.\"
Justatthismomenthesawthatyoungladyapproachtheparlorentrancewithanexpressionofwonderonherface.Heimmediatelyjoinedher,andshesaid:
\"Mr.VanBerg,whatmiraclehascausedthisscene?\"
\"ComewithmeandI\'llshowyou,\"heansweredandheledhertothewindowoppositetoMissBurton,whereshesatatthepiano.
\"There,\"hesaid,\"isthemiracle,——agifted,magnetic,unselfishwomandevotingherselfwhollytotheenjoymentofothers.ShehascreatedmoresunshinethisdismaldaythanwehavehadinthehousesinceI\'vebeenhere.Isnotthatfacetherearevelation?\"
\"Arevelationofwhat?\"sheaskedwithrisingcolor.
\"Ofthepossibilitiesofthehumanfacetogrowinbeautyandpower,ifkindledbyanobleandanimatingmind.Yegods!\"criedtheartist,expressingtheexcitementwhichhefeltincommonwithothersinaccordancewiththelawofhisownrulingpassion,\"butIwouldgivemuchtoreproducethatfaceoncanvas;\"andthenheaddedwithadespairinggesture,\"butwhocanpaintflameandspirit?\"
Afteramomentheexclaimed,withflushedcheeksandflashingeyes:
\"Itappearstomethatifkindledbysuchamindasthatwhichisburninginyonderface,Icouldattemptanythingandaccomplisheverything.Limitationsmeltawaybeforeagrowingsenseofpower.
Whataninspirationawomancanbetoaman,orwhatamill-stoneabouthisneck,accordingtowhatsheis!Ah!——\"
Thecauseofthisexclamationcannotbeexplainedinthebrieftimethatitoccurred.StantonhadhappenedatthatmomenttocatchaglimpseofVanBergandhiscousin,andhecalledquiteloudly:
\"Harold,bringMissMayhewinandjoinus.\"
AtthesameinstantMr.Burleigh\'sheavysteppassingnearthepiano,jarreddownapicturethatwashunginsecurely,anditfellwithacrashatMissBurton\'sside.Wasittheshockofthefallingpictureuponunpreparedandoverstrainednerves,orwhatwasitthatproducedtheinstantaneouschangeinthejoyous-appearingmaiden?
Herhandsdroppednervelessfromthekeys.Sogreatwasthepallorthatsweptoverherfacethatitsuggestedtoheartistthesuddenextinguishmentofalamp.Shebowedherheadandtrembledamomentandthenescapedbyasidedoor.
VanBergwalkedhastilytothemainentrance,thinkingshewasill,butonlysawhervanishingupthestairwaywithhastysteps.
Manyofthedancers,intheirkindlysolicitude,hadtriedtointercepther,buthadbeentoolate.Itwouldseemthatallascribedherindispositiontoanervousshock.
\"Itisevident,\"saidtheladywhohadbeenconversingwithherwhenshehadactedinalikemanneronthefirstdayofherarrival,\"thatshepossessesahighlysensitiveorganism,whichsuddenlygiveswaywhensubjectedtoastraintoosevere;\"andsheremainedVanBergofherformermanifestationofweakness.
Heacceptedthisviewasthemostnaturalexplanationthatcouldbegiven.
ChapterXV.Contrasts.
Genuineandgenialwerethewordsofsympathythatwereexpressedoneverysidefortheyoungladywhohadbeentransformingthedulldayintooneofexceptionaljollity.Adeputationofladiescalleduponher,butfromwithinherlockeddoorsheconfirmedtheimpressionthatitwasanervousshock,andthatafewhoursofperfectquietwouldrestoreher.
Anditwouldseemthatshewasright,forshecamedowntosupperapparentlyasgenialandsmilingasever.Beyondaslightpallorandalittlefulnessabouthereyes,VanBergcoulddetectnotraceofhersuddenindisposition.
TheremainderofthedaywaspassedmorequietlybytheguestsoftheLakeHouse,buttheforceofMissBurton\'sexampledidnotspenditselfatonce,andonthepartofsometherewasdevelopedquiteamarkeddispositiontomakekindlyeffortstopromotetheenjoymentofothers.Theunwontedexhilarationwithwhichshehadinspiredherfellowguestswassomethingtheycouldscarcelyaccountfor,andyetthemeansemployedhadbeensosimpleandweresoplainlywithinthereachofall,astosuggestthatagenialmannerandanunselfishregardforothersweretheonlyconditionsrequiredtoenableeachonetodosomethingtobrighteneverycloudyday.
AfterMissBurton\'sdeparture,theyoungpeoplehadthedancetothemselves,theireldersresumingtheavocationsandsobererpleasuresfromwhichtheyhadbeensweptbyanimpulseevokedfromtheirhalf-forgottenyouth.
WhenVanBergjoinedMissMayhewagain,hefoundhermotherandStantontryingtoexplainhowitallcameabout.
\"Thereisnouseofmultiplyingwords,\"concludedStanton;\"MissBurtonisgiftedwithamind,andsheusesitforthebenefitofothersinsteadoftaskingitsolelyonherownaccount,whichisthegeneralrule.\"
AtthismomentaletterwashandedtoMrs.Mayhew,whichshereadwithaslightfrownandpassedtoherdaughter.ItwasfromMr.
Mayhew,andcontainedbutabriefsentencetotheeffectthathisabsencewouldprobablybearelief,andthereforehewouldnotspendthecomingSabbathwiththem.
Idadidnotshowthesuperficialvexationthathermothermanifested,andwhichwasmoreassumedthanreal.Hercheekpaledalittle,andsheinstinctivelyglancedatVanBergasifhersuddensenseofguiltwereapparenttohiskeeneyes.Hewaslookingathesearchingly,andsheturnedawaywithaquickflush,nordidshegivehimachancetospeakwithheragainthatday;buthiswords——\"whatamillstoneaboutaman\'sneckawomancanbe!\"——hauntedhercontinually.StilloftenerrosebeforeherMissBurton\'sflushedandkindledface,andtheartist\'semphaticassertionofthepowerofmindandcharactertoaddtonativebeauty.Hadshenotbeenamillstoneaboutherfather\'sneck?Wastherenotafatalflawinthebeautyofwhichshewassoproud,thatspoileditforeyesthatwerecriticalandunblinded?
Oppressedbythesethoughtsandbeinginnomoodforhercousin\'sbanter,ortheartist\'ssocietywhichalwaysseemedtorenderhermoreuncomfortable,shewasgladtoescapetothesolitudeofherownroom.
Another\"revelation\"wasslowlydawninguponhermind,namely——justwhatshe,IdaMayhew,was.Awomanisan\"inspiration\"ora\"millstoneaccordingtowhatsheis,\"thisstranger,thisdisturberofherpeace,fromwhomitseemedshecouldnotescape,hadnotonlyassertedbutprovedbyshowingheraladyshewouldhavepassedasplainandinsignificant,butwhoneverthelesspossessedsomesweetpotencythatwonandcheeredallhearts,andwho,shewascompelledtoadmit,waspositivelybeautifulasshesatatthepiano,radiantwithherpurposetocausegladnessinothers.MissBurtonhadcreatedsunshineenoughtoenliventhedismalday,andhadquickenedahundredpulseswithpleasure.Shehadbeenaburdeneventoherself.
Everything,fromtheartist\'sfirstdisturbingfrowntothepresenthour,hadbeenpreparingthewayforthesharpandpainfulcontrastthatcircumstanceshadforceduponherattentionto-day.
Butthethoughtthattroubledhermost,wasthathesawthiscontrastmoreplainlythanitwaspossibleforhertoseeit.
Vaguely,andyetwithsomeapproachtothetruth,herintuitionbegantorevealtohertheattitudeofhismindtowardsher.Shebelievedthathewasattracted,butalsosawthathewasnotblindedbyherbeauty.Shewasalreadybeginningtoreviseherfirstimpressionthathewasshuttinghiseyestoeveryotherconsideration,asshehadseensomanydointheirbriefinfatuation.Hismannerwasnotthatofonewhoistakingcounselofpassiononly.Thoseominouswords——\"accordingtowhatsheis\"——indicatedthathewaslookingintohermind,hercharacter.Withasenseofdismay,shewasawakeningtoaknowledgeofthedwarfeduglinessherbeautybutpartiallyconcealed,andshefeltthathe,fromthefirst,hadbeendiscoveringthosedefectsofwhichshehadbeenscarcelyconsciousherself.Shebegantofearthathercousin\'swordswouldprovetrue,andthathewouldnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithher.Thereforetheopportunitytoretaliateandtopunishhimforallthemortificationsthathehadoccasionedher,wouldnevercome.Onthecontrary,hemightinflictuponher,anyday,thecrowninghumiliationofdeclaring,beindifferenceofmanner,thathehadfoundheroutsothoroughly,astoentertainforheronlyfeelingsofdisgustandrepugnance.
\"Well,\"sheconcluded,recklessly,\"whyshouldIcarewhathethinks?Ihavelivedthusfarwithouthisgoodopinion,andI
canlivealittlelonger,Iimagine.Ihavehadagoodtimeforeighteenyearsaftermyownfashion,andIwilljustignorehimandhaveagoodtimestill.IndeedI\'llshockhimto-nightandto-morrowsothoroughly,thathewon\'tcomenearmeagain;forI\'msickofhissuperiorairs.I\'msickofhislearnedtalkaboutbooks,pictures,andpolitics,asifayoungsocietygirlwereexpectedtoknowaboutthesethings;andasforhissmalltalk,itremindedmeofanelephanttryingtodanceajig;\"andshesprangupwithasnatchofsongfromthe\"operabouffe,\"andbeganhertoiletfordinner.
Inafewmoments,however,shedroppedherhairbrushabsently,andforgottolookatherfairfaceinthemirror.
\"Iwonder,\"shemused,\"ifheandMissBurtonevermetbeforetheycamehere?Ithasbeenastrangecoincidencethatsheshouldhavefeltsuchasuddenindispositionineachinstanceatthesamemomentthathisnamewascasuallymentioned.True,onbothoccasions,eventsoccurredthatmightaccountforthesuddengivingwayofhernerves,butIcannothelpthinkingthatshehassomeassociationwithhimthattherestofusknownothingabout.Shecertainlyseemsmoreinterestedinhimthaninanyoneelseinthehouse,forIhaveseveraltimesnoticedpeculiarandfurtiveglancestowardshim;besides,theyareevidentlygrowingtobeverygoodfriends.AsforIk,heseemsquiteinclinedtoenteruponaseriousflirtationwithher.ButwhatdoIcareforeitherofthem!Mr.Sibleywillbehereto-night,andI\'llenablethisartisttobringhisinvestigationstoacloseatonce.IamwhatIam,andthat\'stheendofit,andIwon\'tmopeandhaveastupidtimeforanybody,andcertainlynotforhim.Lethimmarrytheschool-ma\'am.Shecantalkbooks,art,andallthe\'isms\'going,tohisheart\'scontent.
I,aswellasMissBurton,havemyopinionofflirting,andknowfromsomelittleexperiencethatitisjollygoodfun.
\"Hecangohisway,I\'llgomine;
E\'enthoughhefrowns,thesunwillshine.\"
Andwithacarelessgesturesheaffectedtodismisshimfromherthoughts.
Tojudgefromhermannerthateveningandthefollowingday,onemightsupposethatshesucceededveryfully.Sibley,withanunwontedventuresomeness,didriskhisoneimmaculatepossession,hisclothes,andcamefromthecitythroughthestorm.Idaandhimself,betweenthem,broughtaboutthenearestapproachtoa\"ball\"possibleinthecircumstances.
Thedancing,undertheirauspices,differedfromthatofthemorning,notmerelyinnameandform,butinitssubtlecharacter.Intheoneinstanceithadbeenaninnocentpastime,occasionedbychildlikeandjoyousimpulses.Thepeople\'smannermighthaveremindedoneofabitofdarkenedlandscapethathadbeenrapidlyfilledwithlight,andalmostecstaticlifebytheadventofaMaymorning.
Intheevening,however,everythingwasartificialandinkeepingwiththegaslight.Theladieswereconsciousoftheirtoilets,consciousofthemselves,lookingforadmirationratherthanheartyenjoyment.Eventheolderboysandgirls,whohadbeenjoyouschildreninthemorning,werenowsmallparodiesoffashionablemenandwomen!Abandofhiredperformerstwangedoutthehackneyeddancingmusictheninvogue,goingovertheirsmall\"repertoire\"
withwearisomerepetition.Peopledancedatfirstbecauseitwasthethingtodo,andnotfromanyinspirationfromthemelody.Astheeveningworeon,Sibley,whohadbeendrinkingquitefreely,triedtointroduce,asfaraspossible,theexcitementofarevel,callingchieflyforswiftwaltzesandgallopsthroughwhichheandIdawhirledinawaythatmadepeople\'sheadsdizzy.
MissBurton,aftergoingthroughaquadrillewithStantonearlyintheevening,haddeclinedtodanceanymore.Shedidnotfeelverywell,sheexplainedtoVanBergashesoughtherforthenextform;butheimaginedthatsheearlyforesawthatSibleyandothers,andamongthemevenStanton,wereinclinedtogivetheeveningacharacterthatwasnottohertaste.
AsIdahadmadeherselfsomewhatprominentininauguratingthe\"ball,\"asSibleytookpainstotermitonalloccasions,VanBerg,asapartofhistacticstowinthebeauty\'sgood-will,triedatfirsttomaketheaffairsuccessful.Hedancedwithothers,andtwicesoughtherhand;butineachcasesheratherindifferentlytoldhimthatshewasengaged.Hewouldnothavesoughtherasapartnerafterhisfirstrebuffhadhenotimagined,fromoccasionalandfurtiveglances,thatshewasnotasindifferentassheseemed.
Earlyintheeveningitoccurredtohimthatherslightlyrecklessmannerwasassumed,buthesawthatshewasabandoningherselftothegrowingexcitementofthedance,asSibley,hermostfrequentpartner,andothers,weretothestrongerexcitementofliquor.
Observantmotherscalledawaytheirdaughters.Ladies,inwhomtheinstinctsoftruerefinedwomanhoodwereintheascendancy,lookedsignificantlyateachother,anddeclinedfurtherinvitations.
VanBerghadalsowithdrawn,butwithhisdispositiontowatchmanifestationsofcharacteringeneral,andofonepresentinparticular,hestillstoodataparlorwindowlookingon.Thebandhadjuststruckupalivelierwaltzthanusual,andIdaandSibleywerewhirlingthroughthewideapartmentasiftreadingonair;
butwhen,afewmomentslater,theycirclednearwherehestood,hesawupontheyoungman\'sfaceanexpressionofearthinessandgrossnessthatwasanythingbutethereal.IndeedsounmistakablywantonwasthelookwhichSibleybentuponhiscompanion,whoseheavingbosomheclaspedagainsthiswon,thattheartistfrowneddarklyathim,andfelthishandtinglingtostrikethefellowablow.
She,lookingup,caughthisfrown,andinheregotismandexcitement,thoughtitmeantonlyjealousyofthemanshehadsofavoredduringtheevening.
\"PerhapsheismoredeeplysmittenthanIimagined,andIcanpunishhimyet,\"wasthehopethatenteredhermind;andthisprospectaddedtotheelationandexcitementwhichhadmasteredher.
\"Cansheknowhowthatscoundrelislookingather?IfIbelieveditI\'dleavehermarvellousfeaturestotheirfate,\"wasthethoughtthatpassedthroughhismind.
Inhisperturbationhewalkeddownthelongpiazza.Happeningtoglanceintooneofthesmallprivateparlors,hewitnessedascenethatmadeaverysharpcontrastwiththeonehehadjustleft.
Anoldwhite-haired,white-beardedman,awell-knownguestofthehouse,reclinedinaneasy-chairwithanexpressionofrealenjoymentonhisface.Hisagedwifesatnear,knittingawayastranquillyasifathome,whileunderthegas-jetwasMissBurton,readinganewspaper,withtwoorthreeothersuponherlap.Shehadevidentlyfoundtheoldgentlemantryingtoglean,withhisfeeblesight,theeveningjournalsthathadbeenbroughtfromthecity,andwaslendinghimheryoungeyesandmellowvoiceforanhour.Thepicturestruckhimsopleasantlythathetookouthisnotebookandindicatedthefortunategroupingwithin,forafuturesketch.
\"Itwouldmakesomedifferenceinaman\'sfuture,\"hemuttered,\"whetherthismaidenortheoneinyonderroue\'sembracewereinstalledasthemistressofhishome.\"
GoingbackintothemainhallwayhemetStantoncomingdownthestairswithhisfaceunusuallyflushed.
\"Oh,Van,\"hecried,\"wherehaveyoubeenkeepingyourself?Comewithmeandhavesomeofthebestbrandyyouevertasted.\"
\"Whereisit?\"
\"InSibley\'sroom.Hebroughtupacoupleofbottlesoftheprimeoldarticle,andhasinvitedallhisfriendstomakefreewithit.\"
\"I\'mnotoneofhisfriends.\"
\"Ohwell,you\'remyfriend!What\'stheodds?Aswigofsuchbrandywilldoyougood,socomealong.\"
\"Comeoutonthepiazza,Stanton.Iwanttoshowyousomething.\"
\"Can\'tyouwaitafewmoments?Iwanttohaveawhirlinthisjollywaltzbeforeit\'sover.\"
\"No;thenitwillbetoolate.Iwon\'tkeepyoulong,\"andStantonreluctantlyfollowedhim.
VanBergunderstoodhisfriendsufficientlywelltoknowthatanyordinaryremonstrancewouldhavenoinfluenceinhispresentcondition,andsosoughttousealittlestrategy.Takinghimtothewindowofthesmallprivateparlor,heshowedandexplainedtohimtheprettyandquietscenewithin.
Stanton\'smannerchangedinstantly,andheseemedinnohastetoreturntothewaltz.
\"Ithoughtitwouldstrikeyouasaprettypicture,asitdidme,\"
remarkedVanBerg,quietly;\"andIalsothoughtthatafterseeingityouwouldnotwantanymoreofSibley\'sbrandy.Itwouldchokeme.\"
\"Youareright,Van.IfearI\'vetakentoomuchofitalready.
I\'mgladyoushowedmethisquietpicture——itmakesmewishIwereabetterman.\"
\"Ilikethat,Ik;Ialwaysknewyouhadplentyofgoodmetalinyou.
NowIdon\'twanttobeofficious,butIwouldnotletacousinofminedancewithSibleyanylongerifIcouldpreventitwithoutattractingattention.Howevergeneroushemayhavebeenwithhisbrandy,hehashadmorethanhissharehimself.\"
\"Thankyou,Van;Iunderstandyou.ByJove,I\'lltrythesametacticswithherthatyouhavewithme.I\'llbringherhereandshowherascenethathasbeentomelikeaquietingandrestraininghand.\"
Afewmomentslaterthewaltzceased,andMissMayhewcameoutonthecool,duskypiazza,leaningonSibley\'sarm.Stantonjoinedherandsaid:
\"Ida,comewithme;Iwishtospeakwithyouamoment.Mr.Sibley,pleaseexcuseus.\"
\"Indeed,Mr.Stanton,\"saidSibleyintonesofmaudlinsentiment,\"youarecrueltodeprivemeofyourcousin\'ssocietyevenforamoment.I\'llforgiveyouthisonce,butneveragain.\"Andthenheavailedhimselfoftheopportunitytopayanothervisittohisbrandy.
\"Ida,\"saidStanton,\"Iwanttoshowyoualittlepicturethathasdonemegood.\"
Buttheyoungladywasinnomoodforpicturesormoralizing.Herbloodwascoursingfeverishlythroughherveins,herspirithadbeenmaderecklessbythewilfulviolencethatshewasdoingherconscience,andalsobyherdeepandgrowingdissatisfactionwithherself,thatwaslikeanirritatingwound.Shewasthereforepreparedtoresentanyinterruptiontothewhirlofexcitement,whichgaveherakindofpleasureintheplaceofthehappinessthatwasimpossibletooneinhercondition.
