\"Why!he\'sperfectlysplendid.Whoeverheardofsuchastrange,rarecreature!I\'veflirtedwithlotsofpoorartists,butneverwitharichone.Bringhimtome,andintroducehimatonce.\"
\"Heisnotonethatyoucanflirtwith,liketheattenuatedyouthwhohasjustmeanderedtothebarroom.\"
\"Whynot?\"
\"Ifyouhadeyesforanythingsaveyourownprettyface,andthepublicstare,youwouldhaveseenthatmyfriendisnota\'creature,\'
butaman.\"
\"Come,CousinIk,\"sherepliedinmorenaturaltones,\"toomuchofyourhouseismadeofglassforyoutothrowstones.Flirtingandfrolickingareasgoodanydayaseating,smoking,anddawdling.\"
Stantonbithislip,butretorted,\"Idon\'tprofesstobeabitbetterthanyouare,Coz;butIatleasthavethesensetoappreciatethosewhoaremysuperiors.\"
\"SohaveI,whenIfindthem;Iambeginningtothink,however,thatyoumenareverymuchalike.Allyouaskisaprettyface,foryouallthinkthatyouhavebrainsenoughfortwo.Butbringyourparagonandintroducehim,thatImayshareinyourgapingadmiration.\"
\"Youwould,indeed,mydearCoz,yawnoverhisconversation,foryoucouldn\'tunderstandhalfofit.Ithinkwehadbetterremainwherewearetillyourshadowreturnswithhiseyesandnoseslightlyinflamed.Heisawareofatleastonemethodofbecomingaspiritedyouth,itseems.\"
\"Amanwhoisworthhalfamillionisusuallyregardedasrathersubstantial,\"sheretorted.
\"Yes,butinthiscasethemoney-bagsoutweighthemantooridiculously.Forheaven\'ssake,Coz,donotmakeaspectacleofyourselfbymarryingthisattenuation,orsocietywillasserttherewasaregularlydrawnbillofsale.\"
\"IassureyouthatIdonotintendtoputmyselfunderanyman\'sthumbforalongtimetocome.Iamhavingtoogoodatime;andthatremindsmethatIwouldenjoymeetingyourfriendmuchmorethanlisteningtoyourcynicalspeeches.DidInotknowthatyouwerelikemylittleKingCharles——allbarkratherthanbite——I
wouldn\'tstandthem;andIwon\'tanylonger,to-night.Sogoandbringyourgreatembryoartist,orhewillbecomeoneoftheoldmastersbeforeIseehim.\"
\"IfearImustgiveyouaweebitofbitethistime.Ihaveofferedtointroducehimandhedeclinesthehonor.\"
\"Howisthat?\"sheasked,flushingwithanger.
\"Iwillquotehiswordsexactly,andthenyoucaninterpretthemasyouthinkbest.Hesaid,\'IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven\'sfinestsymphonies.\'\"
Theyounggirl\'sfacelookedanythingbutamiableinresponsetothisspeech;but,afteramoment,shetossedherhead,andreplied:
\"\'N\'importe\'——thereareplentywhocanusenotonlycivilwordsbutcomplimentaryones.\"
\"Yes,andthemischiefofitisthatyouwilllistentothemandtonoothers.Whatsortofmusclecanonemakewholivesonlyonsugar-plums?\"
\"Theyagreewithmebetterthanthevinegardropsyouandyourunmannerlyfrienddelightin.Idon\'tbelieveheeverpaintedanythingbetterthanawoodensquawforoneofyourbelovedcigar-shops——welcomebackMr.Minty.Youhavebeenawayanunconscionablylongtime.\"
\"Thanksforthecomplimentofbeingmissed.Ihavetriedtomakeamendsbyorderinga\'petitsouper\'forthree,forIwassureyourcousinwouldjoinus.Itwillbebroughttooneofyonderstalls,where,whileweenjoyit,wecanbothseeandhear.\"
Surmisingthattheviandswouldconsistofthechoicestdelicaciesoftheseason,Stantonreadilyacceptedtheinvitation,anditsohappenedthattheclothwaslaidforthepartyinthestallnexttothatinwhichVanBergwasquietlyenjoyingacigarandafrugalglassoflager.Theytooktheirplacesquiteunawareofhisproximity,andhelistenedwithconsiderableinteresttothetonesandwordsofthefairstrangerwhohadsounexpectedlytakenpossessionofhisthoughts.Wereitnotforaslightshrillnessandloudnessattimes,andthefashionableaffectationoftheday,hervoicewouldhavebeensweetandgirlishenough.Asitwas,itsuggestedaninstrumenttunedtoafalsekeyandconsequentlydiscordantwithalltrueandwomanlyharmonies.HerconversationwithyoungMintywasasinsipidashimself,butoccasionallyStanton\'scynicalbanterevokedsomethinglikereparteeandwit.
Inthecourseofhertalkshesaid:\"Bytheway,Ik,motherandIstartforthecountrynextweek.WearetospendthesummerattheLakeHouse,whichisuptheHudsonsomewhere——youknowwherebetterthanI.IfyouwillbringyourbaysandalightwagonIshallbeverygladtoseeyouthere;otherwiseIshallwelcomeyou——well——asmycousin.\"
\"IfIcomeIwillsurelybringmybays,andpossiblymayinviteyoutodrivewithme.\"
\"Oh,Iwillsaveyoualltroubleinthatrespectbyinvitingmyself,whensoinclined.\"
TheorchestrawasnowabouttogiveaselectionthatVanBergwishedtoheartobetteradvantagethanhecouldinhispresentposition;
therefore,unobservedbythepartyontheothersideofthethinpartition,hereturnedtohisoldseatinthemainhallway.Notverylongafter,Stanton,withhiscousinandMr.Minty,enteredfromthepromenade,andagainVanBergreceivedthesamevividimpressionofbeauty,and,withmanyothers,couldnotwithdrawhiseyesfromtheexquisitefeaturesthatwereslightlyflushedwithchampagneandexcitement.But,asbefore,thisimpressionpassedquickly,andthefaceagainbecameasexasperatingtotheartistasthevisageoftheVenusofMilowouldbeshouldsomevandalhandpenciluponitaleerorasmirk.Aheavyfrownwasgatheringuponhisbrowwhentheyounglady,happeningtoturnsuddenly,caughtandfullyrecognizedhisloweringexpression.Itaccordedonlytoowellwithhercousin\'swordsinregardtoVanBerg\'sestimateofherself,andgreatlyincreasedherresentmenttowardstheonewhohadalreadywoundedhervanity——themostvulnerableandsensitivetraitinhercharacter.Theflushthatdeepenedsosuddenlyuponherfacewasunmistakablythatofanger.Shepromptlyturnedherbackuponhercritic,nordidshelooktowardshimagainuntilthecloseoftheevening.Thathiswordsandmannerrankledinhermemory,however,wasprovedbyaslightlypreoccupiedmanner,followedbyfitsofgayetynotaltogethernatural,andchieflybythefactthatshecouldnotleavetheplacewithoutaswiftglanceatthedisturbingcauseofherwontedself-approval.ButVanBergtookpainstomanifesthisindifferencebystandingwithhisbacktowardsherwhensheknewthathemustbeawareofherdeparture,fromherslightlyostentatiousleave-takingofhercousin,inwhich,ofcourse,thespoiledbeautyhadnootherobjectthantoattractattentiontoherself.
AsVanBerg,withhisfriend,waspassingoutafewminuteslater,heaskedratherabruptly,showingthathealsowasnotsoindifferentashehadpretendedtobe:
\"Whatisyourcousin\'sname,Stanton?\"
\"Hernameisasprettyasherself——IdaMayhew,anditisworsethanadisquietingghostinagoodmanyheadsandheartsthatIknowof.IndeeditsownerhasrobbedmenthatIthoughtsensible,notonlyoftheirpeace,but,Ishouldsay,oftheirwitsalso.IhadonefriendofwhomIthoughtagreatdeal,anditwaspitiabletoseetheabjectstatetowhichtheheartlesslittleminxreducedhim.Iamgladtofindthatherwitcheryhasnospellforyou,andthatyoudetectjustwhatsheisthroughherdisguiseofbeauty.
\'Entrenous,\'Van,Iwilltellyouasecret.Iwasonceoverearsinlovewithhermyself,butmycousinlyrelationshipenabledmetoseehersooftenandintimatelythatshecuredmeofmyfollyonhomeopathicprinciples.\'Similiasimilibuscurantur.\'Eventheblindnessoflovecouldnotfailtodiscoverthatwhenonesubtractedvanity,coquetry,andherstrikingexternalbeautyfromIdaMayhew,butlittlewasleft,andthatlittlenotaheavenlycompound.Thosewhoknowherleast,andwhoaddtoherbeautymanyidealperfections,aretheonesthatraveabouthermost.I
doubtwhethersheeverhadaheart;ifso,itwasfritteredawaylongagoinhernumberlessflirtations.Butwithallherfollyshehaseverhadthesensetokeepwithintheconventionalitiesofherownfashionable\'coterie,\'whichistheonlyworldsheknowsanythingabout,andwhoseunwrittenlawsareheronlycreedandreligion.Herdisappointedsuitorscanjustlychargeherwithcruelty,silliness,ignorance,andimmeasurablevanity,butneverwithindiscretion.ShehastoperfectiontheAmericangirl\'sabilitytotakecareofherself,andnomanwillseetwicetotakealibertybeyondthatwhichetiquettepermits.IhavenowgivenyouinbriefthetruecharacterofIdaMayhew.Itisnosecret,forallwhocometoknowherwell,arriveatthesameopinion.WhenIsawyouhadobservedherthiseveningforthefirsttime,Iwasquiteinterestedinwatchingtheimpressionshewouldmakeuponyou,andIamverygladthatyourjudgmenthasbeenbothgoodandprompt;forIslightlyfearedthatyourloveofbeautymightmakeyoublindtoeverythingelse.\"
Stanton\'sconcludingwordswereasincensetoVanBerg,forhepridedhimselfinnoslightdegreeonhisevenpulseandsensibleheart,that,thusfar,hadgivenhimsolittletrouble;andhethereforereplied,withacertaintingeofcomplacencyandconsciousnessofsecurity:
\"Youknowmewellenough,Ik,tobeawarethatIambecomingalmostamonomaniacinmyart.Awoman\'sfaceistomelittlemorethanapicturewhichIanalyzefromanartisticstand-point.AMERELY
PRETTYfaceislikealineofverseofmusicalrhythm,butwithoutsenseormeaning.Thisisbadandprovokingenough;butwhenthemostexquisitefeaturesgiveexpressiononlytosomeofthemeanestandunworthiestqualitiesthatcaninfestawoman\'ssoul,oneisexasperatedalmostbeyondendurance.AtleastIam,forI
amoffendedinmystrongestinstincts.ThinkofemployingstatelyHomericwordsandmeasureindescribingabelle\'stoilettablewithitsrouge-pots,falsehair,andotherabominations!Muchworseisit,inmyestimation,thatthefeaturesofagoddessshouldtellusonlyofsuchmoralverminasvanity,silliness,andtheegotismofapoorlittleselfthatthinksofnothing,andknowsnothingsaveitsownsmallcravings.Pardonme,Ik;Iamnotspeakingofyourcousinbutintheabstract.Inregardtothatyounglady,asyousaw,Iwasverymuchstruckwiththeface.Indeed,totellthehonesttruth,Ineversawsomuchbeautyspoiledbefore,andthefacthasputmeinsobadahumorthatyou,nodoubt,aregladIhavereachedmycornerandsomustsaygood-night.\"
\"IdaMayhewcanrealizeallsuchabstractions,\"mutteredIkStanton,ashewalkedonalone.
Thereaderwillbeapttosurmise,however,thatsomeresentment,resultingfromhisformerandunrequitedsentimenttowardsthegirl,gaveanunjustbiastohisjudgement.
ChapterIII.AnArtist\'sFreak.
VanBerg\'snight-keyadmittedhimtoabeautifulhome,whichhenowhadwhollytohimself,sincehisparentsandsisterhadsailedforEuropeearlyinthespring,intendingtospendthesummerabroad.Theyoungmanhadalreadytravelledandstudiedforyearsinthelandsnaturallyattractivetoanartist,anditwasnowhispurposetofamiliarizehimselfmorethoroughlywiththesceneryofhisowncountry.
Onreachinghisownapartmenthetookdownaprosybook,thathemightreadhimselfintothatconditionofdrowsinesswhichwouldrendersleeppossible;butsleepwouldnotcome,andthesentenceswerelikethepassers-byinthestreet,whomweseebutdonotnote,andforwhosecomingandgoingweknownotthereasons.BetweenhimselfandthepagehesawcontinuallytheexquisitefeaturesandtheexasperatingfaceofIdaMayhew.Atlasthethrewasidethebook,lightedacigar,andgavehimselfuptothereveriestowhichthisbeautiful,butdiscordantvisagesostronglypredisposedhim.
Itsperfectioninonerespect,itsstronglymarkedimperfectioninanother,bothappealedequallytohisartisticandthoughtfulmind.Atonemomentitwouldappearbeforehimwithanideallovelinesssuchashadneverblessedtheeyeofhisfancyeven;
butwhileheyetlookedthefeatureswoulddistortthemselvesintothevividexpressionofsomecontemptibletrait,solikewhathehadseeninreality,duringtheevening,that,inuncontrollableirritation,hewouldstartupandpacethefloor.
Hisuncurbedimaginationconjuredupallkindsofweirdandgrotesqueimagery.Hefoundhimselfcommiseratingthegirl\'sfeaturesasiftheywerehigh-tonedcaptivesheldindegradingbondagebyaspitefullittlemonster,thatdelightedtoputthemtolowandmenialuses.
Tooneofhistemperamentsuchbeautyashehadjustwitnessed,controlledby,andministeringto,someofthemeanestandpettiestofhumanvices,waslikeMaryMagdalenewhenheldinthraldombysevendevils.
Acoolandmatter-of-factpersoncouldscarcelyunderstandVanBerg\'sannoyanceandperturbation.Ifatrueartistwerecompelledtoseebeforehimaportraitthatrequiredonlyafewskillfultouchesinordertobecomeaperfectlikeness,andyetcouldnotgivethosetouches,thepicturewouldbecomeaconstantvexation;
andthebetterthepicture,theneareritapproachedthetruth,thedeeperwouldbetheirritationthatallshouldbespoiledthroughdefectsforwhichtherewasnonecessity.
InthefacethatpersistentlyhauntedhimVanBergsawabeautythatmightfulfilhisbestideal;andhealsosawjustwhyitdidnotandnevercould,untilitsdefectswereremedied.Hefeltasenseofpersonallossthatheshouldhavediscoveredagemsonearlyperfectandyetmarredbysofatalaflaw.
Thenextdayitwasstillthesame.ThefaceofIdaMayhewinterposeditselfbeforeeverythingthathesoughttodoorsee.Whetheritweretrueornot,itappearedtohimthatinallhiswanderingsandobservationshehadneverseenfeaturessocapableoffulfillinghishighestconceptionofbeautydidtheybutexpressthehigherqualitiesandemotionsofthesoul.Healsofeltthatneverbeforehadheseenafacethatwouldseemtohimsohideousinitsperversion.
Hethrewdownhisbrushandpaletteindespairandagaingavehimselfuptohisfancies.Hethensketchedinoutlinethebeautifulfaceasexpressingjoy,hope,courage,thoughtorlove,butwasprovokedtofindthatheeverobtainedthebestlikenesswhenportrayingthevanity,silliness,orpetulancewhichhadbeentheonlycharacteristicshehadseen.
Henowgrewmetaphysicalandtriedtoanalyzethegirl\'smind.
Hesoughttogropementallyhiswaybackintotherecessesofthesoul,whichhadlooked,acted,andspokenthepreviousevening.
Astrangelittleplaceheimaginedit,andoddlyfurnished.Itoccurredtohimthatitborearesemblancetoherdressingroom,andwasfullofqueerfemininemysteriesandartificialideasthathadbeencreatedbyconventionalsocietyratherthaninspiredbynature.
Heaskedhimself,\"Canitbethathereisacharacterinwhichtheelementsofatrueandgoodwomandonotexist?Hasshenoheart,nomind,noconscienceworthyofthename?Atherageshecannothavelostthesequalities.Havetheyneverbeenawakened?Dotheyexisttothatdegreethattheycanbearousedintocontrollingactivity?Isupposetherecanbeprettyidiots.Aspeoplearebornblindorscrofulous,soIsupposeotherscanbeborndevoidofheartorconscience,inheritingfromadegenerateancestrysundrymeanandvilepropensitiesintheirplaces.Humannatureisascalethatrunsbothupanddown,anditisastonishinghowfartheextremescanbeapart.\"
\"Howhighisitpossibleforthesameindividualtoriseinthisscale?Iimagineweareallpronetojudgeofpeopleasiftheywerefinishedpictures,andtothinkthatthedefectsourfirstscrutinydiscoverswillremainforalltime.Itisinreallifemuchasinfiction.Fromfirsttolastavillainisavillain,asifhehadbeencreatedone.Theheroineisamossrose-budbyequalandunchangingnecessity.Isthisgirlafool,andwillsheremainonebyanyinnatecompulsion?ByJove!Iwouldliketoseeheragaininthesearchinglightofday.Iwouldliketofollowhercareersufficientlylong,todiscoverwhethernaturehasbeenguiltyofthegrotesquecrimeofassociatinginseparablywiththatfineformandthoseexquisitefeatures,ahideouslittlemindthatmustgoonintensifyingitsdwarfeddeformity,untildeathsnuffsitout.Ifthisbetrue,thebeautifullittlemonsterthatisbotheringmesosuggestsaknottyproblemtowiserheadsthanmine.\"
Somewhatlaterhismusingsledhimtoindulgeinabroadlaugh.
\"Possibly,\"hesaidaloud,\"sheisamodernandfashionableUndine,andhasneveryetreceivedawoman\'ssoul.ThegoodLorddelivermefromtryingtoawakenit,asdidtheknightofoldinthestory,byswellingthelonglistofhervictims.Icanscarcelyimagineamorepitiableandabjectcreaturethanamanoncesaneandsensibleinthraldomtosuchatantalizingsemblanceofawoman.
Shewouldnomoreappreciatehisdevotionthanthejackdawthepearlnecklaceitpeckedat.
\"IfearmyUndinetheorywon\'tanswer.Stantonsaysshehasnoheart,andherfaceandmannerconfirmhiswords.ButnowIthinkofit,theoriginalUndinelivedalongtimeago——intheageofprimevalsimplicity,whenevencool-bloodedwaternymphshadhearts.Oneisinducedtothink,inourage,thatthisorganwilleventuallydisappearwiththeothercharacteristicsofancientandundevelopedman,andthatthebrain,orwhatstandsforit,willbecomeallinall.Inthefirstinstancethewoman\'ssoulcameinthroughtheheart;butIsupposethatinthecaseofamodernUndineitcouldentermostreadilythroughthehead.Iwonderifthereissomethinglikeanunawakenedmind,sleepingunderthatbroadlowbrowthatmocksonewithitsfairintellectualoutline.Iwonderifitwouldbepossibletosetherthinking,andsoeventuallyrenderhercapableofreceivingawoman\'ssoul.Asitisnowsheseemstopossessonlycertaindisagreeablefemininepropensities.Onemightengageinsuchanexperimentasaphilosopherratherthanalover;or,whatismoretomypurpose,asanartist.
\"ByJove!Iwouldhalfliketomaketheattempt;itwouldgivezesttoone\'ssummervacation.Well,whatistohinder?NowIthinkofitsheremarkedthatshewastospendtheseasonattheLakeHouse,notfarfromtheHudson,aplacewellsuitedtomypurposes.
Therearethewildhighlandsononeside,andasoftpastoralcountryontheother.Icouldtherefindabundantopportunityforvariedstudiesinscenery,andatthesametimebeguilemyidlehoursatthehotelwiththisfaceofmarvellouscapabilitiesandpossibilities.
Thefeaturesalreadyexist,andwouldbebeautifulifthegirlweredead,andtheycouldbenolongerdistortedbythesmallvicesofthespiritbackofthem.Theymightbecometranscendentlybeautiful,couldsheinverytruthreceivethesoulofatrueandthoughtfulwoman——asoulsuchasmakesmymotherbeautifulinherplainoldage.
\"I\'minclinedtofollowthisoddfancy.Thatgirlisa\'raraavis\'suchashasneverflownacrossmypathbefore.IshallhaveaquarrelwithnatureallmylifeifImustbelieveshecanfashionafacecapableofmeaningsomuchandyetactuallymeaningsolittle,andthatlittledisgusting.\"
Afterafewmomentsofdeepthought,heagainstartedtohisfeetandcommencedpacinghisstudio.
\"Suppose,\"hesoliloquized,\"Iattemptanovelbitofartisticworkasmysummerrecreation.SupposeItakethefaceofthisstrangerinsteadofapieceofcanvasandtrytoillumineitwiththought,withwomanlycharacterandintelligence.IfIfail,asIprobablyshall,noharmwillbedone.Ifhersillinessandvanityareingrainedandessentialpartsofhernature,sheshalllearnthatthereisatleastonemanwhocanseeherassheis,andwhoseheartisnotwaxonwhichtostampherprettyandsenselessimage.
IfIonlypartiallysucceed,ifIdiscernshehasamind,butsofeeblethatitcanonlyhalfreclaimherfromherweaknessandfolly,stillsomethingwillbeaccomplished.Herfeaturesaresobeautiful,thatshouldtheycometoexpresseventheglimmeringsofthatwhichisadmirable,thefacewillbeinpartredeemed.
Butifbysomehappymiracle,asintheinstanceoftheoriginalUndine,amindcanbeawakenedthatwillgraduallyprepareaplaceforthesoulofatruewoman,Ishallaccomplishthebestworkofmylife,evenestimatedfromanartisticpointofview.Possibly,formyreward,shewillpermitmetopaintherportraitasasouvenirofoursummer\'sacquaintance.\"
ItdidnottakeVanBerglongtocompletehisarrangementsforleavingtown.HewrotealinetohisfriendStanton,sayingthatheproposedspendingafewweeksinthevicinityoftheHighlandsontheHudson,andthathecouldnotsaywhenhewouldbeathisroomsorathomeagain.Theafternoonofthefollowingdayfoundhimapassengeronafleetsteamboat,andfullybentuponcarryingouthisoddartisticfreak.
ChapterIV.AParthianArrow.
As,inthequietJuneevening,HaroldVanBergglidedthroughtheshadowsoftheHighlands,therecameaslightchangeoverhisspiritofphilosophicalandartisticexperiment.Theseasoncomportedwithhisearlymanhood,andthewitchinghourandthescenerywerenotconducivetocoldphilosophy.Hewhopridedhimselfonhissteadypulseandadevotiontoartsoabsorbingthatitevenpromptedhisimpulsesandgavecharactertohisrecreation,wasledtofeel,onthisoccasion,thathismistresswasvagueandshadowy,andtohalfwishforthatcompanionshipwhichthemostself-reliantnatureshavecravedattimes,eversincemanfirstfelt,andGodknew,thatitwas\"notgoodforhimtobealone.\"Ifhecouldturnfromthebeautyofthesun-tippedhillsandrocksandthegloamingshadowstoanappreciativeandsympatheticface,suchashecouldatleastimaginethevisageofIdaMayhewmightbecome,wouldnothisenjoymentofthebeautyhesawbedoublyenhanced?Inhisdeepestconsciousnesshewascompelledtoadmitthatitwould.Hecaughtaglimpseofthetruththathewouldneverattaininhishighestmanhooduntilhehadalliedhimselftoawomanhoodwhichheshouldcometobelievesupremelytrueandbeautiful.
Theringingofthebellannouncedhislanding,andinthehurryandbustleoflookingafterhisluggageandobtainingaticketwhichhehadforgottentoprocure,hespeedilybecameagain,intheworld\'sestimation,andperhapsinhisown,apractical,sensibleman.Anhourortwo\'srideamonghehillsbroughthimatlasttotheLakeHouse,whereheselectedaroomthathadafineprospectofthemountains,thefardistantriver,andtheadjacentopencountry,engagingitonlyforabrieftimesothathemightdepartwhenhechose,incasetheobjectofhispursuitshouldnotappear,orheshouldwearyoftheeffort,ordespairofitssuccess.
Afewdayspassed,butthefacewhichhadsohauntedhisfancypresentednoactualappearance.Thescenery,however,wasbeautiful,theweathersoperfect,andheenjoyedhisramblesamongthehillsandhisexcursionsonthewatersothoroughlythathewasalreadygrowingslightlyforgetfulofhispurposeandsatisfiedthathecouldenjoyhimselfafewweekswithoutthezestofartisticallyredeemingthefaceofIdaMayhew.Butoneday,whileatdinner,heoverheardsomegossipconcerninga\"greatbelle\"whowastocomethatevening,andheatoncesurmisedthatitwasthefairstrangerhehadseenattheconcert.
Atthetime,therefore,ofthearrivaloftheeveningstageheobservantlypuffedhiscigarinacornerofthepiazza,andwassoonrewardedbyseeingtheobjectofhiscontemplatedexperimentstepoutofthevehicle,withtheairygraceandconfidenceofonewhoregardseachnewabiding-placeasasceneofcomingpleasuresandconquests,andwhofeelssureeveryglancetowardherisoneofadmiration.Therewereeyes,however,thatnoteddisapprovinglyherjauntyself-assuranceandself-assertion,andwhenshemetthoseeyeshercomplacencyseemeddisturbedatonce,forsheflushedandpromptlyturnedherbackuponthem.Infact,fromthetimeshehadfirstseenVanBerg\'sfrowningfaceithadbeenadisagreeablememory,andnowhereitwasagainandfrowningstill.Althoughhesatatadistancefromthelanding-place,hereyesseemeddrawntowardshisasifbysomefascination,andshealreadyhadthefeelingthatwheneverhewaspresentshewouldbeconsciousofhiscool,criticalobservation.
VanBerghadscarcelytimetonotearatherstoutandoverdressedpersonemergefromthestage,howwasevidentlytheyounglady\'smother,whenIkStanton,withhisbaysandalightcountrywagon,dasheduptothemainentrance.StantonwasanelementintheartisticproblemthatVanBerghadnotbargainedfor,andwhatinfluencehewouldhave,friendlyoradverse,onlytimecouldshow.
WhileStantonwasaccompanyinghisauntandcousintotheregister,asthegentlemanoftheparty,theyoungladysaidtohim:
\"Thathorridartistfriendofyoursishere.Iwishhehadn\'tcome.Didyoutellhimwewerecominghere?\"
\"No,\'ponmyhonor.\"