下载辰思小说免费APP
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.
