第7章

"IhavenoteventhoughtofMissBurton,"protestedVanBerg,atthesametimeconscious,nowthathernamehadbeenrecalledtohismemory,thatshewouldhaveactedamuchbetterpart."Iamonlysincerelygladthatourneckswerenotbroken,andIhopethatyouhavenotsufferedanyseverebruises.Astomydespisingyou,ifyouwillhonormewithyouracquaintanceyoumaydiscoverthatyouaregreatlyinerror."

"Thenyoutrulythinkthatwehavebeenindanger?"sheasked,wipinghereyes.

"Mostassuredly.Whenyoucometothinkthematterovercalmly,youwillrealizethatwewereinverygreatdanger.Ithinktheaffairhasendedmosthappilyratherthanabsurdly."

"Really,sir,whenIrememberhowthe\'affair,\'asyoutermit,actuallydidend,IfeelasifIneverwishedtoseeyouagain."

"MissMayhew,Iappealtoyourgenerosity.WasItoblameforthatwhichwassodisagreeabletoyou?SurelyyouwillnotbesounfairastopunishmeforwhatneitheryounorIcouldhelp.I

thinkfatemeansweshallbefriends,andhasemployedthisunexpectedepisodetobreaktheicebetweenus.IfyouarenowsufficientlycomposedIwillassistyoutoalight,inorderthatthedriver,whoisapproaching,mayberelievedofallfearsonouraccount."

"Oh,certainly.Asitis,Isupposehewillhavearidiculousstorytotell."

"Thereisnothingthathe,ortheotherswhoarefollowinghimcantell,savethatthehorsesranawayandthatwemostfortunatelyescapedallinjury.Ah!Iseethatyouarealittlelame.Pleasetakemyarm;thehotelisbutaquarterofamileaway.OrperhapsyouwouldpreferthatIshouldsendthedriverforacarriage.Youcouldwaitinyondercottage,orhere,intheshadeofthetrees."

"Iamnotverylame,andifIwereIwouldnotmindit.Mywishisthatthehorridaffairmayoccasionaslittleremarkaspossible.

Icanreachmyroombyasideentrance,andsocomequietlydowntodinner.IsupposethatImusttakeyourarmsinceIcannotwalkverywellwithoutit."

Theythereforeturnedtheirbacksonthebreathlessdriverandhiseagerquestions,andproceededslowlytowardsthehotel.Afterabriefexaminationoftheshatteredstage,themanranpantingpasttheminsearchofhishorses;andtheywereagainleftalone.

ChapterX.PhrasestooSuggestive.

ForafewmomentsMissMayhewandVanBergwalkedoninsilence,eachverydoubtfuloftheother.Atlasttheartistbegan:

"Iamwellaware,MissMayhew,thatthisunexpectedepisodeandthisenforcedcompanionshipgivemenorightswhatever.Idonotproposetoannoyyou,afterseeingyousafelytothehotel,byassumingthatweareacquainted,nordoIintendtosubjectmyselftothemortificationofbeinginformedpublicly,byyourmanner,thatwearenotonspeakingterms.Iwouldbegladtohavethisquestionsettlednow.IaskyourpardonforanythingthatImayhavesaidordonetohurtyourfeelings,andhavingthusgonemorethanhalf-wayitwouldbeungenerousonyourpartnottorespondinlikespirit."

"Youapologize,then?"

"No;Iaskyourpardonforanythingthatmayhavehurtyourfeelings."

"Youhavesaidverydisagreeablethingsaboutme,Mr.VanBerg."

"Ididnotknowyouthen."

"Idonotthinkyouhavechangedyouropinionofmeintheleast."

"Ievidentlyhaveamuchhigheropinionofyouthanyouofme,andIamseekingyouracquaintancewithapersistencesuchasInevermanifestedinthecaseofanyotherlady.Thustheoddsareallinyourfavor.Havingbeensounexpectedlythrowntogether——"

"\'Throwntogether,\'indeed——Mr.VanBerg,youAREmockingme,"andhereyesagainfilledwithtearsofvexation.

"IassureyouIamnot,"saidVanBergearnestly."Icouldnotbesomeanastotwityouwithanaccidentwhichyoucouldnothelp,andwithanactwhichwaswhollyinvoluntaryonyourpart.Canwenotbothletby-gonesbyby-gonesandcommenceanew?"

MissMayhewbitherlipandhesitatedafewmoments.

"Ithinkthatwillbethebetterway,"shesaid."Wewillbothletby-gones,especiallythisridiculousepisodeinthestage.I\'llputyouonyourgoodbehavior."

"Thankyou,MissMayhew.Iwouldtakeourlaterisktwentytimesforsucharesult."

"Iwouldnottakeitagainonanyaccountwhatever.Pleaserefertoitnomore.Ideclare,therecomesCousinIkandMr.Burleightomeetus.Wasone\'sfortuneeversoexasperating!Ikwillteazemeoutofallcomfortforweekstocome."

"Saylittleandleavealltomydiscretion,"saidVanBerg,reassuringly;

"and,bytheway,youmightlimpalittlemoredecidedly,"whichsheimmediatelydid.

"MydearMissMayhew,Itrustyouarenotseriouslyhurt,"beganMr.Burleighwhilestillseveralyardsoff.

Stanton\'sfacewasastudyasheapproached.Indeedheseemedhalfreadytoexplodewithsuppressedmerriment,butbeforehecouldspeakawarningglancefromVanBergcheckedhim.

"MissMayhewmighthavebeenseriouslyandpossiblyfatallyinjured,"

saidtheartistgravely,"haditnotbeenforherself-control.

Althoughitseemedthatthestagewouldbedashedtopieceseverymoment,Itoldherthatinmyjudgementitwouldbesafertoremainwithinitthantospringoutuponthehardandstonyroad,andI

amverygladthatthefinaleventconfirmedmyopinion."

Astheywerebythistimeneartothehotel,otherswhohadbeenalarmedbyseeingthehorsestearinguptothestabledoor,nowhastilyjoinedthem;andlast,butnotleast,Mrs.Mayhewcamepantinguponthescene.VanBergfeltthehandoftheyoungladytremblinginnervousapprehensionuponhisarm,fromwhich,inherembarrassment,sheforgottoremoveit.Buttheartistdidnotfailher,andinanswertoMr.Burleigh\'seagerquestionsastothecauseoftheaccident,explainedallsoplausibly,andinsuchamatter-of-factmannerasleftlittlemoreeventobesurmised.

Hisbriefandprosaichistoryoftheaffairconcludedwiththefollowingimpliedtributetohiscompanion,whichstillfurtherrelievedherfromfearofridicule:

"MissMayhew,"hesaid,"insteadofjumpingout,afterthefranticterror-blindedmannerofmostpeople,remainedinthestageandsohasescaped,Itrust,withnothingworsethanaslightlamenesscausedbytheviolentmotionofthevehicle.Iwillnowresignhertoyourcare,Mr.Stanton,andIamgladtobelievethattheoccasionwillrequiretheservicesofthewheelwrightandharness-makeronly,andnotthoseofasurgeon,"andliftinghishattoMrs.Mayhewandherdaughterhebowedhimselfoffthescene.

Ida,leaningonthearmofhercousin,limpedappropriatelytoherroom,whithershehadherdinnersenttoher,moreforthepurposeofgainingtimetocomposehernervesthanforanyotherreason.

Theimpressionthatshehadbehavedcourageouslyinperilwasrapidlyincreasedasthestorywasrepeatedbyoneandanother,andshereceivedseveralcongratulatoryvisitsintheafternoonfromherladyacquaintances;andwhenshecamedowntosuppershefoundthatshewasevenagreaterheroinethanMissBurtonhadbeen.Inanswertomanysympatheticinquiries,shesaidthatshe"feltaswellasever,"andshetriedtoproveitbyhergayetyandcarefultoilet.

Butshewasdecidedlyillatease.Heroldself-complacencywasebbingawayfasterthanever.Fromthetimethatithadfirstbeendisturbedbytheartist\'sfrownintheconcertgarden,shehadbeenconsciousofasecretandgrowingself-dissatisfaction.

Itseemedtobethisstranger\'smissiontobreakthespellvanityandflatteryhadwovenabouther.Thecongratulationsshewasnowreceivingweresecuredbyafraudulentimpression,ifnotbyactualfalsehood,andshepermittedthisimpressiontoremainandgrow.

Theone,whoaboveallothersshemostfearedanddisliked,knewthis.Insmilinglyacceptingthecomplimentsshowereduponherfromallsidesshefeltthatshemustappeartohimasifreceivingstolengoods,andshebelievedthatinhishearthedespisedhermorethoroughlythanever.

Tothedegreethathecausedherdisquietudeandsecrethumiliation,herdesiretoretaliateincreased,andsheresolved,beforethedayclosed,touseherbeautyasaweapontoinflictuponhimtheseverestwoundpossible.Ifitwerewithinthepowerofherartshewouldbringhimtoherfeetandkeephimthereuntilshecould,inthemostdecidedandpublicmanner,spurnhisabjecthomage.

Shewouldhavenoscrupleindoingthisinanycase,but,inthisinstance,successwouldgiveherthekeenestsatisfaction.

Hisverydesireforheracquaintance,assheunderstoodit,washumiliating,and,inacertainsense,demoralizing.Herothersuitorshadimaginedthatshehadgoodtraitsbackofherbeauty,andhithertoshehadbeencarelesslycontenttobelievethatshecoulddisplaysuchtraitsinabundanceshouldtheoccasionrequirethem.Herewasone,however,who,whiledespisingthewoman,wasapparentlyseekingherforthesakeofherbeautymerely;andherwoman\'ssoul,warpedanddwarfedasitwas,resentedanhomagethatwasseeminglysensuousandsuperficial,andwould,ofnecessity,betransient.InherignoranceofVanBerg\'smotives,andintheutterimpossibilityofsurmisingthem,shecouldscarcelycometoanyotherconclusion;andshedeterminedtopunishhimtotheutmostextentofherability.

ThusitcametopassthatMissMayhewhaddesignsagainstVanBergthatwerenotquiteasamiableasthoseoftheartistinregardtoherself.

Stanton,inalowtone,remarkedtoheratthesuppertable,"NowthatfatehasthrowyouandVanBergtogetherinsucharemarkablemanner"(theyoungladycoloreddeeplyatthisunfortunateexpressionandlookedathimkeenly),"Itrustthatyouwillyieldgracefullytodestinyandtreathimwithordinarycourtesywhenyoumeet.

Otherwiseyoumayoccasionsurmisesthatwillnotbeagreeabletoyou."

"Hashebeentellingyouanythingaboutthismorning?"sheaskedquickly.

"Nothingmorethanhesaidinyourpresence.Why,wasthereanythingmoretotell?"

"Certainlynot,buthemadeill-naturedremarksaboutmeonce——thatis,yousaidhedid——andwhyshouldhenotagain?"

"Well,hehasnot.Ithinkhespokeveryhandsomelyofyouthismorning.Ihopehedidn\'texaggerateyourgoodbehavior."

"Ifyouprefertobelieveillofmeyouarewelcometodoso.Formypart,IbelieveyouexaggeratewhatMr.VanBergsaidattheconcert,andthathenevermeanttobesorude.AsfarasIcanjudge,hehasshownnosuchunmannerlydispositionsincecominghere."

"Indeed,youareright.Ithinkhisdispositionhascomparedfavorablywithyourown."

"Well,"shereplied,withapeculiarsmile,"weareonspeakingtermsforthepresent."

"Thatsmilebodesnogood-willtowardsmyfriend,butforonceyouwillfindamanwhowillnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithyourmerebeauty."

"IfyouwillglanceatyondertableyoucanseethatMissBurtonhasalreadysoabsorbedhimthathehaseyesfornooneelse."

"Theyhavejollygoodtimesatthattable.Iwishwewerethere."

"Indeed!areyoubewitchedalso?Ican\'tseewhatitisthatpeoplefindsoattractiveinthatplain-lookinggirl."

"Well,foronething,shehasamind.Beautywithoutmindislikesaladwithoutdressing."

"AnddoyoumeantosaythatIhavenomind?"Idaasked,withasuddenflush.

"MydearCoz,wewerespeakingsolelyofMissBurton.Indeed,I

thinkyouhaveaverydecidedwillofyourown."

"Iunderstandyou.Well,inwhatotherrespectsisMissBurtonmysuperior?"

"IdoubtifMissBurtoneverthinksofherselfassuperiortoanyone,andthat\'sanotherveryamiabletraitinher."

"Canyounotsumupherperfectionsalittlemorerapidly?Lifeisshort,"remarkedIda,acidly.

"Come,Coz,letmegetyousomesweet-oilbeforeyoufinishyoursupper.YouknowyouarethehandsomestgirlintheState,andthat\'sdistinctionenoughforonewoman.Toyou,MissBurtonisonlyaplainschool-teacher.Whyshouldyouenvyher?"

"Idonotenvyher,norcanIseewhypeoplearesocarriedawaywithher."

"ItISremarkabletoseewhatanimpressionshehasmadeintwobriefdays.Ofcoursehercourageinsavingthechildservedasageneralandfavorableintroduction,butitdoesnotbyanymeansexplainhergrowingpopularity.Forsomereasonorotherthoseaboutheralwaysseemtobehavingagoodtime.Seehowanimatedandpleasedistheexpressionofallthefacesathertableyonder.

Itwasthesameonthecroquet-groundthismorning.Sheeffervescedlikechampagne,andbeforeweknewitwewereallinastateofexhilarationandthemorninghadgone."

"Ihatethesebold,forwardwomenwhoarequicktobecomeacquaintedwitheveryone.Amanofthistypeisbadenough,butawomanisunendurable."

"Iagreewithyouintheabstractmostheartily;buttheonlyboldthingthatIhaveseenMissBurtondowastorununderthefeetofmyhorses.Youmightaswellcallarayofsunshineboldandforward;andpeoplelikesunshinewhenitisasnicelytemperedashermanneris.IconfessthatwhenIfirstlearnedwhoshewas,andbeforeIhadmetherpersonally,Iwasgreatlyprejudicedagainsther,butonewouldhavetobeachurlindeedtoremainproofagainsthergenialgood-nature.FormypartIintendtoenjoyit,asIdoalltheothergoodthingsthegodsthrowinmyway."

"Thegodswouldindeedbecarelesstoleaveanygoodthingswithinyourreach,unlesstheyweremeantforyou,"snappedIda.

"Goodforyou,Coz;yourridewithVanBerghasalreadybrightenedyouup.Thereisnotellingwhatyoumightnotbecomeifyouwouldonlyassociatewithmenwhohadsufficientbrainsnottogrowspooneyoveryourprettyface."

AsIdaandhermotherpassedoutonthepiazza,VanBergjoinedthemandsaid:

"Iamgladtoseethatyouhavesofullyrecovered,MissMayhew.

Youproveagainthatyoupossessgoodstrongnerves."

"Thankyou,"saidtheyounglady,laconically,andwithasuddenaccessionofcolor.

"Mr.VanBerg,"beganMrs.Mayhewwithgreatanimation,"I\'mexcessivelythankfulthatyouhappenedtobeontheroad,andthatthestageovertookyouthismorning.ItwassofortunatethatIalmostthinkitprovidential.HowdreadfulitwouldhavebeenifIdahadbeenaloneinsuchfrightfulperil!IcannottellyoualsohowdelightedIamthatmydaughterbehavedsobeautifully.

Indeed,ImustconfessthatIamagreeablysurprised,forIdawasneverfamousforhercourage.Yourownmannermusthaveinspiredconfidenceinher;andnowthatyouhavebeensofortunatelyTHROWN

TOGETHER,Itrustyoumaybebetterfriendsinthefuture."

MissMayhew\'srisingcolordeepenedintoanintensescarlet,and,assheturnedawaytohideherconfusion,shecouldnotforbearshootingawrathfulglanceattheartist.Hehadsufficientself-controlnottochangeamuscle,ortoappearintheslightestdegreeawareoftheembarrassmentcausedbyhermother\'swords,andespeciallytheuseofthephrase——growntobemosthatefulfromitsassociations——thatsovividlyrecalledtotheincensedmaidentheanomalouspositioninwhichshefoundherselfattheendofherperilousmorningride.

"Youladiesdifferfavorablyfromusmen,"saidVanBerg,quietly.

"Yourisetomeetanemergencybyaninnatequalityofyoursex,whereas,inourcase,ifournativestrengthisnotequaltotheoccasionwefallbelowitasamatterofcourse."

"Oh,thataccountsforIda\'scomingoffwithsuchflyingcolors——sherosetomeettheemergency.Ihope,however,shewillEMBRACE

nomoresuchopportunitiesofshowinghercourage——why!Ida,whatISthematter?whathaveIsaid?"buttheyounglady,withfaceinflamed,vanishedinthedirectionofherroom.

"Well,thisISstrange,"remarkedtheladywithasharpglanceofinquiryattheartist,whostillmanagedtomaintainanexpressionoflamb-likeinnocence."Idobelievethepoorchildisill,and,nowIthinkofit,shehasnotactedlikeherselfforseveraldays;"

andshesoughtherdaughterwithhastysteps.

Buttheyoungladydidnotgotoherroom,beingwellawarethathermotherwouldsoonfollowfortheexplanationwhichshecouldnotgive.Therefore,takingasidecorridor,shejoinedsomeacquaintancesonanotherpiazza.

ChapterXI.A"TableauVivant."

"MissMayhew,willyoupleasestephere?"saidaveryfashionablydressedlady.

Turning,Idasawnearherthemotherofthechildthathadbeenrescuedthepreviousday.She,withherhusband,hadbeentalkingveryearnestlytoMr.Burleigh,theproprietorofthehouse,whoseemedinratheradubiousstateofmindoversomepropositionoftheirs.

"MissMayhew,wewantyouropinioninregardtoacertainmatter,"

begantheladyvolubly."OfcourseIandmyhusbandfeelverygratefultotheyoungwomanwhosavedourchildfromyourcousin\'shorsesyesterday.Indeed,myhusbandfeelssodeeplyindebtedthathewishestomakesomereturnandIhavesuggestedthathepresentherwithacheckforfivehundreddollars.IlearnfromMr.Burleighthatsheisateacher,andtherefore,ofcourse,shemustbepoor.

Now,inmyview,ifmyhusbandorsomeothergentlemanshouldpresentthischeckintheparlor,withanappropriatelittlespeech,itwouldbeaniceacknowledgmentofheract.Don\'tyouthinkso?"

"IdonotthinkIamqualifiedtogiveanopinion,"saidIda,"asIhavenoacquaintancewiththeladywhatever."

"I\'msureitwillbejustthethingtodo,"saidthelady,becomingmoreinfatuatedwithherprojecteverymoment."Doyouthinkyourcousinwouldbewillingtomakethespeech?"

AtthissuggestionIdalaughedoutright."Theidea,"shesaid,"ofmycousinmakingaspeechofanykind,orinanycircumstances!"

"NowIthinkofit,"persistedthelady,"MissBurtonandMr.VanBergsitatthesametable,andheseemsbetteracquaintedwithherthananyofthegentlemen.He\'stheonetomakethespeech,onlyIdonotfeelthatIknowhimwellenoughtoaskhim.Doyou,MissMayhew?"

"IndeedIdonot,"saidtheyounglady,decisively;"IamthelastoneinthehousetoaskanyfavorsofMr.VanBerg."

"Well,then,Mr.Burleighcanexplaineverythingandaskhim."

"Reallynow,Mrs.Chints"——forsuchwasthelady\'sname——"Idon\'tquitebelievethatMr.VanBergwouldapproveofgivingMissBurtonmoneyinpublic,andbeforeanythingfurtherisdoneIwouldliketoaskhisjudgement.Itallmaybeeminentlyproper,asyousay,andIwouldnotliketostandinthewayoftheyounglady\'sreceivingsohandsomeapresent,andwouldnotfortheworldifI

thoughtitwouldbeagreeabletoher;butthereissomethingaboutherthat——"

"Ihaveit,"interruptedthepositive-mindedlady,unheedingandscarcelyhearingMr.Burleigh\'sdubiouscircumlocution,andsheputherfingertoherforeheadforamomentinanaffectedstage-likemanner,asifherideasofthe"eternalfitnessofthings"hadbeenobtainedfromthesensationaldrama."Ihaveit:thechildhimselfshallhandherthegiftfromhisownlittlehand,andyou,Mr.Chints,cansayallthatneedbesaid.Itwillbeaprettyscene,a\'tableauvivant.\'Mr.Chints,comewithmebeforetheyoungwomanleavesherpresentfavorablepositionneartheparlordoor.Mr.Burleigh,yourscruplesaresentimentalandgroundless.

Ofcoursetheyoungwomanwillbedelightedtoreceiveinoneeveningasmuch,andperhapsmore,thanherwholeyear\'ssalaryamountsto.Come,Mr.Chints,Mr.Burleigh,ifyouwish,youmaygroupsomeofyourfriendsnear;"andawaysherustled,sweepingthefloorwithhersilkentrain.

Mr.Chintslumberedafterherwithaperplexedandmartyr-likeexpression.HewasamightymaninWashingtonMarket,butinamatterlikethishewasashelplessasastrandedwhale.Thegiftoffivehundreddollarsdidnottroublehimintheleast;hecouldsoonmakethatup;buttakingpartina"tableauvivant"undertheauspicesofhisdramaticwifewaslikebeingimpaled.

"Well,"saidMr.Burleigh,shakinghishead,"Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter.Fivehundreddollarsisasnugsum,butIdoubtifthatlittlewomantakesit.I\'mmoreafraidshe\'llbeoffendedandhurt.Whatdoyouthink,MissMayhew?"

"I\'venoopiniontooffer,Mr.Burleigh.Thesepeopleareallcomparativestrangerstome.Mrs.Chintsisdeterminedtohaveherownway,andnothingthatyouorIcansaywouldmakeanydifference.Myruleistoletpeoplealone,andiftheygetintoscrapesitsometimesdoesthemgood;"andshelefthimthatshemightwitnesstheChints\'tableau.

"That\'sjustthedifferencebetweenyouandMissBurton,"mutteredMr.Burleigh,noddinghisheadsignificantlyafterher."She\'dhelpafellowoutofascrapeandyou\'dhelphimintoone.Well,iftheoldsaying\'strue,\'Handsomeisthathandsomedoes,\'thelittleschool-teacherwouldbethegirlformewereIlookingformymate."

Onherwaytotheentranceofthemainparlor,IdastoppedamomentatanopenwindownearthecornerwhereStantonandVanBergweresmoking.

"CousinIk,"shesaid,\'sottovoce.\'

Heroseandjoinedher.

"Ifyouwishtoseearichscene,hoverneartheentranceofthemainparlor."

"Whatdoyoumean?"

"I\'velearnedthatMr.andMrs.Chints,andpossiblyyourfavoritenewperformer,MissBurton,aregoingtoactalittlecomedytogether:comeandsee;"andshevanished.