\"Mr.VanBerg,permitmetomakeyouacquaintedwithMissBurton.
Shehashadthefaithtoputherselfundermychargeforafewweeks,andIshallrewardherbysharingtheresponsibilitywithyou,whoseemblessedwiththebenevolentdesireofgivingusallagoodtime,\"andthenhebustledofftolookaftersomeothermatterwhichrequiredhisattentionduringthecriticalhourofdinner.
MissBurtonacknowledgedtheyoungman\'sbowwithoutatraceofaffectationorreserve.
\"Ishalltrynottoproveaburdentoeitherofyou,\"shesaid,withasmile.
\"Ihavealreadydiscoveredthatyouwillnotbe,\"saidVanBerg,\"andwaswishingforanintroduction.\"
\"Ihopeyourwishesmayalwaysfindsoreadyafulfillment.\"
\"That\'sakindlywish,MissBurton,butavainone.\"
\"Werewemisanthropicalpeople,Mr.VanBerg,wemightsigh,\'andsucharehumanwishesgenerally.\'\"
\"Oneisoftentemptedtodothatanyway,evenwhennotespeciallypronetolookaskanceatfortune.\"
\"Thereisaneasywayofescapingthattemptation.\"
\"How?\"
\"Donotformmanywishes.\"
\"Haveyouveryfewwishes?\"
Withaslightandpiquantmotionofherheadshereplied,\"Iwasonlygivingabitoftriteadvice.It\'saskingagreatdealtorequirethatoneshouldbothpreachandpractice.\"
\"Ithinkyouarepossessedbyonewishwhichswallowsupmostothers,\"saidVanBerg,alittleabruptly.
Avisiblepalloroverspreadherface,andshedrewbackperceptiblyasonemightshrinkfromablow.
\"Youknowhowstrongfirstimpressionsare,\"resumedVanBerghastily,\"andthethoughthaspassedthroughmymindthatyoumightbesopreoccupiedinwishinggoodthingsforothersastoquiteforgetyourself.\"
\"Ifonecouldbecompletelyoccupiedinthatway,\"shesaid,withafaintsmilewhichsuggestedratherthanrevealedavistaofherpastexperience,\"onemighthavelittleoccasiontowishforanythingforself.But,Mr.VanBerg,onlywepoorunreasoningwomenputmuchfaithinfirstimpressions;andyouknowhowoftentheymisleadevenus,whoaresupposedtohavesafeinstincts.\"
\"Dotheyoftenmisleadyou?\"
\"Indeed,sir,\"shereplied,withamerrytwinkleinhereye,\"I
thinkyoumusthavelearnedthequestionsinthecatechism,ifnottheanswers.\"
VanBer
gbithislip.Herewasasuggestionofathorninthesweetbrierhebelievedhehaddiscovered.
\"NowseehowfarIamastray,\"sheresumedwithafranknesswhichhadinitnotraceoffamiliarity.\"Itismyimpressionyouarealawyer.\"
AtthisVanBerglaughedoutrightandsaid:\"Youareindeedmistaken.Ihavenoconnectionwiththeinfluentialclasswhosebusinessitistomakeandevadethelaws.Iamonlyoneamongthehumblemasseswhoaimtoobeythem.ButperhapsyouthinkyourintuitiongoesdeeperthansurfacefactsandthatIOUGHTtohavebeenacross-questioner.\"
\"Iamquitesuremyintuitioniscorrectinthinkingthatyouwouldnotbeverycrossaboutit.\"
\"Perhapsnot,ifdisarmedbysosmilingafaceasyours.\"
Theothers,whohadbeendelayedbyalongerridethanusual,nowenteredandtookthevacantchairsaroundthetable.VanBergfeltsufficientlyacquaintedwiththemtointroduceMissBurton,forhewascurioustoobservewhethershewouldmakethesameimpressiononthemashehadbeenconsciousofhimself.
Theybowedwiththequiet,well-bredmannerofsocietypeople,butwereatfirstinclinedtopaylittleheedtotheplainlydressedandratherplainappearingyoungstranger.Asoneandanother,however,glancedtowardsher,somethingaboutherseemedtolingerintheirmemoriesandcausethemtolookagain.Theladynexttoherofferedacommonplaceremark,chieflyoutofpoliteness,andreceivedsopleasantareplyinreturnthatsheturnedherthoughtsaswellashereyestoseewhoitreallywasthathadmadeit.Thenanotherspoke,andtheresponseledhertospeakagainandagain;
andsoontheentirepartyweredescribingtheirdriveandlivingoveritspleasantestfeatures;andbeforethemealendedtheywereallgathered,metaphorically,aroundthemystical,maple-woodfirethatburnedonthehearthofanaturethatseemedsohospitableandkindlyastohavenoothermissionthantocheerandentertain.
\"Whoisthatlittlebrownthrushofawomanthatyouweresotakenwithatdinner?\"askedStanton,astheywereenjoyingaquietsmokeintheirfavoritecornerofthepiazza.
\"Goodforyou,Stanton.Ineverknewyoutobesoappreciativebefore.Yourtermquiteaccuratelydescribesher.Sheisbothshyandreserved,butnotdiffidentorawkwardintheleast.Indeedhermannermightstrikesomeasbeingpeculiarlyfrank.Butthereissomethingbackofitall;foryoungassheundoubtedlyis,herfacesuggeststomesomedeepandunusualexperience.\"
\"JupiterAmmon!Whatanabyssofmystery,surmise,andmetaphysicsyoufellintowhileIwaseatingmydinner!Iusedthephrase\'brownthrush,\'onlyinreferencetoherdressandgeneralhomeliness.\"
\"Oh,Ibegyourpardon!Itakeallbackaboutyourniceappreciationofcharacter.Inowgraspthewholetruth——yourattentionwanderedsufficientlyfromyourdinnertoobservethatsheworeabrowndress,andtheonefactaboutthethrushthathasimpressedyouisthatitisbrown.\'Herebetruths\'whichleavenothingmoretobesaid.\"
\"Youimaginativefellowsareoftenridiculouslyastrayontheothertack,andseeathousand-foldmorethanexists.Butit\'sapityyoucouldnotreadalltherewasinthisyoungwoman\'sface,foritwascertainlyPLAINenough.Atthisrateyouwillbeaskingourburlylandlordtounbosomhimself,insistingthathehasa\'silentsorrow\'tuckedawaysomewhereunderhisamplewaistcoat.\"
\"Histroubles,likeyours,arebanishedbythedinnerhour.I
recognizeyourfeeblewitticismaboutherplainface,andforgiveyoubecauseIthoughtitplainalsoatfirst,butwhenshecametospeakandsmileitceasedtobeplain.Idonotsayshehashadtrouble,butshehashadsomeexperienceinherpasthistorywhichneitheryounorIcouldunderstand.\"
\"Quitelikely;themeasles,forinstance,whichIneverhadtomyknowledge.Possiblyshehashadaloverwhowasnotlonginfindingaprettierface,andsolefther,butnotsodisconsolatethatshecouldnotsmilebewilderinglyuponyou.\"
\"Comenow,Stanton,I\'llforewarnandforearmyou.Iconfidentlypredictthatthevoiceofthisbrownthrushwilllureyououtofalifewhich,toputitmildly,isatriflematter-of-factandmaterial.Youhaveglancedather,butyouhavenotseenheryet.
Markmywords;yourappetitewillflagbeforemanyweekspass.\"
\"IwishIcouldpinyoudowntoalargewageronthisabsurdity.\"
\"Iagreetopaintyouapictureifmypredictionfails.\"
\"Andtofinishitwithinanaturallifetime?\"saidStanton,withmuchanimation.
\"Tofinishaspromptlyasgoodworkcanbedone.\"
\"Pardonme,Van.Youhadtoomuchwinefordinner;Idon\'twanttotakeadvantageofyou.\"
\"Ididnothaveany.\"
\"Inordertocarryoutthistransactionhonestly,amIexpectedtomakeconsciousandpatientefforttocomeundertheinfluenceofthismaideninbrown,whohashadsomemysteriouscomplaintinthepast,aboutwhich\'neitheryou,norI,noranybodyknows,\'asthepoetsaith:or,liketheancientmariner,willshe\'holdmewithherglitteringeye?\'\"
\"Youhaveonlytojogoninyouroldwaysuntilshewakesyouupandmakesamanofyou.\"
\"Isurelyamdreaming;forneverdidthelevel-headedVanBergtalksucharrantnonsensebefore.Ifsheseemstoyousuchamarvel,whydon\'tyouopenyourownmouthandlettheripecherrydropintoit.\"
\"Onereasonwillanswer,weretherenoothers——shewouldn\'tdrop.
Ifyoueverwinher,myboy,youwillhavetobestiryourself.\"
\"I\'dratherwinthepicture.Letmesee——IknowtheveryplaceinmyroomwhereIshallhangit.\"
\"Youarealittlepremature.Thatchickenisnotyethatched,andyoumayfeellikehangingyourselfintheplaceofthepicturebeforethesummerisover.\"
\"Letmewrapyourheadinice-water,Van.There\'sminehost——O,Mr.
Burleigh!\"hecriedtothelandlord,whoatthatmomenthappenedtocrossthepiazza;\"pleasestephere.MyfriendMr.VanBerghasbeenstrangelyfascinatedbythestrangerinbrownwhomyou,withsomedeepandmaliciousdesign,placedoppositetohimatthetable.Whatareherantecedents,andwhoareheruncles?Itakeafriendlyinterestinthisyoungman.Indeed,I\'msortofaguardianangeltohim,havingsavedhislifemanyatime.\"
\"Savedhislife!\"ejaculatedthelandlord.\"How?\"
\"Byquenchinghisconsuminggeniuswithgooddinners.Butcome——solveformethisriddleinbrown.Myfriendusuallygivesbutlittleheedtothefeminineconundrumsthatsmilinglyasktobeanswered,butforsomeoccultreasonheisinastateofsleeplessinterestoverthisone,andIknowthathiswaistcoatissellingwithgratitudetomeforhavingthecouragetoaskthesequestions.\"
\"Heisspeakingseveralwordsforhimselftooneforme,\"saidVanBerg;\"andyetIadmitthatherfaceandmannerstruckmeverypleasantly.\"
\"Well,shehasapleasantlittlephiz,nowhasn\'tshe,Mr.VanBerg?
Idon\'twonderMr.Stantonwastakenbyher,forIwasmyself.
It\'sbutlittleIcantellyou,savethatsheisateacherinoneoftheNewEnglandfemalecolleges,andthatshebringsletterstomefromthemostrespectableparties,whointroduceherasaladyinthebestsenseoftheword.Furtherthanthatnothingwaswritten,nordoIknowanythingconcerningher.Butanyonewhocan\'tseethatshe\'saperfectladyisnojudgeofthearticle.\"
\"Iwillstakeanyamountonthat,basingmybeliefonlyonthefirstimpressionofoneinterview,\"addedVanBerg,decidedly.
\"Younowseehowdeeplymyfriendisimpressed,\"saidStanton,withasatiricalsmile.\"Thanks,Mr.Burleigh;wewillnotdetainyouanylonger.\"
Whenaloneagain,heresumed,withanexpressionofdisgust:
\"A\'NewEnglandFEMALEcollege!\'Howaptlyhewordsit.Ifthere\'sanyregiononthefaceoftheearththatIdetest,it\'sNewEngland;
andifthereisonetypeofwomenthatI\'dshunasIwould\'everangrybears,\'it\'saNewEnglandschool-ma\'am.\"
\"\'Butifthyflightlaytowardtheragingsea\'ofarestless,all-absorbingpassion,\'Thou\'dstmeetthebearI\'themouth,\'asyouwilltrytointhiscase.Youwillbereadytobarteryourearsforakissbeforeverylong.\"
\"ItwillbeaftertheyhavegrownprodigiouslylongandhairyinsometransformationscenelikethatinwhichtheimmortalBottomwasthevictim.\"
\"Yourillustrationtellsagainstyou,foritwasonlyafterhisappropriatetransformationthatBottomsawthefairyqueen;butinyourcasethedesireto\'munch\'willbebanned.\"
\"Come,Van,wehavehadenoughchaffonthistopic,alreadywornthreadbare.Inowknowallaboutthemysteriouscomplaint,theimpressofwhichonthefaceoftheschool-ma\'amhassodazedyou.It\'saNewEnglandfemalecollege——aplacewheretheygivearazor-likeedgetothewitsofYankeewomen,alreadytoosharp,anddevelopinattenuatedmaidensthehatchetfacesoftheirsires.
Youmayaswellsetaboutthatpictureatonce,wheneveryoufeelinthemoodforwork.\"
\"IadmitthatIhavebeenspeakingnonsense,andyetyoumayfindmanygrainsoftruthinmychaff,nevertheless.\"
\"Butismypicturetoendinchaff?\"
\"Iwillstandbymypromise.IfIlose,perhapsI\'llpaintyoutheschool-ma\'am\'sportrait.\"
\"Thenwewouldbothlose,forIwouldhavenoearthlyuseforthat.\"
\"Well,Iwillpaintwhatyouwish,withinreason.\"
\"I\'mcontent,andwithgoodreason,forneverdidIhavesuchabsurdgoodluckbefore.\"
\"Ha!lookyonder——quick!\"
Boththeyoungmenstartedtotheirfeet,butbeforetheycouldspringforward,theevent,whichhadsosuddenlyarousedthem,wasanaccomplishedfact.
Bothdrewalongbreathofreliefastheylookedateachother,andVanBergremarked,withsomeemphasis:
\"Actfirst,scenefirst,anditdoesnotopenlikeacomedyeither.\"
ChapterVIII.GlimpsesofTragedy.
Stantonthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar——anactwhichprovedhimstronglymoved——andstroderapidlytowardsthemainentrancenearwhichalittlegrouphadalreadygathered,andamongtheothers,IdaMayhew.Notahairofanybody\'sheadwashurt,butaneventhadalmostoccurredwhichwouldhavemorethansatisfiedStanton\'sspiteagainst\'Yankeeschool-ma\'ams,\'andwouldalsohavemadehimverymiserableformonthstocome.
Hehadorderedhisbaystothefartherendofthepiazzawheretheyweresmoking,asheproposedtotakeVanBergoutforadrive.Hiscoachmenlikedtowheelaroundthecornerofthehotelandpastthemainentranceinadashingshowystyle,andthusfarhadsufferednorebukefromhismasterforthishabit.Butonthisoccasionacarelessnurserymaid,neglectfulofhercharge,hadleftalittlechildtotoddletothecentreofthecarriagedriveandthereithadstood,balancingitselfwiththeuncertainfootingcharacteristicoffirststeps.Evenifitcouldhaveseentherapidlyapproachingcarriagethatwashiddenbytheangleofthebuilding,itsbabyfeetcouldnothavecarrieditoutofharm\'swayintime,anditismorethanprobablethatitsinexperiencewouldhavepreventedanysenseofdanger.
Buthelpwasathandinthepersonofonewhoneverseemedsopreoccupiedwithselfastoloseanopportunitytoserveothers.
Twooftheladies,whohadcasuallyformedMissBurton\'sacquaintanceatdinner,stilllingeredinthedoor-waytotalkwithher,wonderinginthemeantimewhytheyremainedsolong,andmeaningtobreakawayeverymoment,buttheexpressionoftheyounglady\'seyeswassopleasant,andhermanner,morethananythingshesaid,solikespringsunshinethattheywerestillstandinginthedoor-waywhentherumbleandrushofthecarriagewasheard.Theothersdidnotnoticethesesounds,butMissBurton,whoseeyeshadbeenfollowingthechildwithanamusedinterest,suddenlybrokeoffinthemidstofasentence,listenedasecond,thenswiftlyspringingdownthesteps,dartedtowardsthechild.
Quickasshehadbeenitseemedasifshewouldbetoolate,for,withcriesofhorror,thestartledladiesonthepiazzasawthehorsescomingsorapidlythatitappearedthatboththemaidenandthechildmustbetrampledundertheirfeet.Andsotheywouldhavebeen,hadMissBurtonsoughttosnatchupthechildandreturn,butwithrarepresenceofmindshecarriedthechildacrossthecarriagetracktoitsfartherside,thusmakingthemostoftheimpetuswithwhichshehadrushedtotherescue.
Theexclamationsoftheladiesdrewmanyeyestothescene,andallheldtheirbreathasthehorsesdashedpast,thedrivervainlyendeavoringtopullthemupintime.Havingpassed,evenStantonwascompelledtoadmitthatthe\"school-ma\'am\"appearedtoverygreatadvantageasshestoodpanting,andwithheightenedcolor,holdinginherarmsthelaughingchildthatseemedtothinkthatthewholeexcitementwascreatedforitsamusement.Shewasabouttorestorethechildtoitsnursequietly,whonowcamebustlingupwithmanyprotestations,whenshewasarrestedbyaloudvoiceexclaiming:
\"Don\'tletthathatefulcreaturetouchmychildagain——givehimtome,\"andalady,whohadbeendrawntothescenebytheoutcry,randownthesteps,andsnatchingthechild,almostdevouredhimwithkisses.Then,turningtothetremblingnurse,shesaidharshly:
\"Begone;Ineverwishtoseeyourfaceagain.Haditnotbeenforthislady,mychildwouldhavebeenkilledthroughyourcarelessness.
Excuseme,Miss——Miss——\"
\"MissBurton,\"saidtheyoungladyquietly.
\"Excusemyshowoffeeling;butyoucan\'trealizetheserviceyouhavedoneus.Bertieisouronlychild,andwejustidolizehim.
I\'msoagitated,Imustgotomyroom.\"
Whentheladyhaddisappeared,MissBurtonturnedtothesobbingnurseandsaid:
\"WillyoupromisemetobecarefulinthefutureifIintercedeforyou?\"
\"Dade,Miss,an\'Iwill.\"
\"Cometome,then,aftersupper.Inthemeantimeremainwhereyourmistresscansummonyoushouldsheneedyourservices,orbeinclinedtoforgiveyouofherownaccord,\"andleavingthecrudeandoffendingjumbleofhumanitymuchcomforted,shereturnedtothepiazzaagain.
Ofcoursemanypressedaroundherwithcongratulationsandwordsofcommendation.VanBergwasmuchinterestedinobservinghowshewouldreceivethissuddengushofmingledhonestpraiseandextravagantflattery,forherecognizedthattheoccasionwouldproveasearchinganddelicatetestofcharacterforwhichtherewasnotimetoprepare.Shedidnotlistentotheirwordswithdeprecatorysmirk,norwiththepainedexpressionofthosesensitivesoulstowhomheartywordsanddemonstrationsarelikeroughwinds;
norwasthereatraceofexultationandself-complacencyinherbearing.VanBergthoughtthathermannerwaspeculiarlyherown,forshelookedintothefacesaroundherwithfrankgladness,andherunconsciousnessofherselfcanbe,perhaps,bestsuggestedbyherownwords.
\"Howfortunateitwas,\"shesaid,\"thatIstoodwhereIdid,andhappenedtobelookingatthechild.Ifsomebodyhadnotbeenathanditmighthavegonehardwiththelittlefellow.NotthatI
thinkhewouldhavebeenkilled,buthemighthavebeenmaimedordisfiguredinawaythatwouldhavecausedhimpainandmortificationallhislife.\"
\"MissBurton,Itakemyhattoyou,\"saidVanBerg,laughing.
\"Ladiesandgentlemen,IhopeyouallappreciatetheforceofMissBurton\'sphrase,\'somebody,\'sinceitimpliesthatanyoneofuswouldhaveshownlikecourageandpresenceofmindifwehadonlybeen\'athand,\'orhadstoodwhereshedid.ReallyMissBurton,youarelikesmilingfortune,and\'thrustupon\'us\'greatness\'andheroism.\"
\"Mr.VanBerg,youarelaughingatme,andyourquotationsuggeststhatotherShakespeareanwordsareinyourmind——towit,\'muchadoaboutnothing.\'NowifYOUhadhadtheopportunityyouwouldhaveachievedtherescueinawaythatwouldhavebeenheroicandstriking.Insteadofscramblingoutofthewaywiththechild,likeatimidwoman,youwouldhaverusheduponthehorses,seizedthembytheirheads,thrownthembackupontheirhaunches,andwhileposinginthatmasterfulattitude,youwouldhavecalledoutinstentoriantones——\'Removethechild.\'\"
Alllaughedatthisunexpectedsally,andnooneenjoyeditmorethanStanton,who,alittlebefore,hadbeenexcessivelyangryathiscoachman,and,likethemotherofthechild,hadsummarilydismissedthepoorfellowfromhisservice.Quiteforgetfulofhisuncomplimentarywordsconcerning\"Yankeeschool-ma\'ams\"ingeneral,andthisoneinparticular,henowstoodnear,andwasregardinghernotonlywithapprovalbutwithadmiration.HerreadyreplytoVanBergpleasedhimexceedingly,especiallyastherisingcolorinthefaceofhisself-possessedfriendindicatedapalpablehit.
Buttheartistwasequaltotheoccasion,andquicklyrepliedasonewhohadfeltaslightspur.
\"Ifearyouareinpartcorrect,MissBurton.Insteadofdeftlysavingthechildandtakingbothitandmyselfoutofharm\'sway,afteryourquietwomanlyfashion,Ishould,nodoubt,have\'rusheduponthehorsesandseizedthembytheirheads.\'ButIfearyourstrikingtableau,inwhichIappearedtosuchadvantage,wouldhavebeenwhollywanting.Icouldnothavestoppedthehorsesintime;thechildwouldhavebeenrunoverandkilled;thebig,fatcoronerwouldhavecomeandsatonitandhavemadeusall,whowitnessedthescene,swearoverthematter;thepoormotherwouldhavegonetothelunaticasylum;thefatherwouldhavecommittedsuicide;thenurserymaidwouldhave——obtainedanotherplaceandbeenthedeathofanindefinitenumberofotherinnocentbabies;
andlast,butnotleast,Ishouldhavebeendraggedandtrampledupon,mylegsandarmsbroken,andperhapsmyhead,andsoyouwouldallhavehadtotakecareofme——andyouknowacrossbearisapleasantersubjectthanasickman.\"
\"Oh,whatachapterofhorrors!\"exclaimedseveralladiesinchorus.
\"Nevertheless,wewouldhavebeenequaltotheoccasion,evenifyouhadbeensodreadfullyfractured,\"saidMissBurton.\"Weallwouldhavebecomeyourdevotednurses,andeachoneofuswouldhavehadaseparateandinfallibleremedy,which,outofcourtesy,youwouldhavebeencompelledtouse.\"
\"Oh,blessmysoul!\"exclaimedVanBerg;\"Ihavehadagreaterescapethanthechild.Inbeing\'athand\'asyouexpressit,MissBurton,Iambeginningtofeelthatyouhavesavedmefromdeathbytorture.\"