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\'tthinkofanyoneelseatpresentalthoughtheremightbeascorewhoisdisturbingtheshallowwatersofhermind.
\"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.