\"Whatacomplimenttous!\"saidMissBurton,appealingtotheladies;
\"heregardsourministrationsasequivalenttodeathbytorture.\"
\"Oh,pardonme,Ireferredtothenumberless\'separateandinfallibleremedies,\'theverythoughtofwhichcurdlesmyblood.\"
\"Icannothelpthinkingthatmyfriend\'sprospectswouldhavebeenverydismal,\"putinStanton;\"forwithbrokenlegsandarmsandheadhewouldhavebeenverybadlyfracturedindeedtobeginwith,andthensomeoneofhisfairnursesmighthavebrokenhisheart.\"
\"Myfriendprobablythinks,fromadirefulexperience,\"saidVanBerg,\"thatthiswouldbeworsethanalltheotherfracturesputtogether;andperhapsitwould.Anadditionalcauseforgratitude,MissBurton,thatyou,andnotI,were\'athand.\'\"
\"MyreasonsforgratitudetoMissBurton,\"saidStanton,\"donotrestonwhatundoubtedlywouldhavehappenedhadmyfriendattemptedtherescue,butonwhathashappened;andifMr.VanBergwillintroducemeIwillcordiallyexpressmythanks.\"
\"Withallmyheart.MissBurton,permitmetopresenttoyouMr.
Stanton,whoseonlyfaultisaslightmonomaniaforNewEnglandandherinstitutions.\"
TheladyrecognizedStantonwithherwontedsmilingandpleasantmanner,whichseemedsofrankandopen,butbehindwhichsomepresenteventuallylearnedtherealwomanwashiding,andsaid:
\"IaminclinedtothinkthatMr.VanBerg\'sEnglish,likeHebrew,readsbackwards.IwarnyouMr.Stanton,nottoexpressanyindebtednesstome,orIshallstraightwayexhibitoneoftheYankeetraitswhichyouundoubtedlydetest,andattemptabargain.\"
\"AlthoughassuredthatIshallgettheworstofthisbargain,I
shallneverthelessheartilythankyouthatyouwerenotonly\'athand,\'butthatyouactedsopromptlyandcourageouslythatthechildwassaved.WhatpleasurecouldIhavetakenwithmyhorsesiftheirfeethadtrampledthatlittleboy?\"
\"Iseemyopportunity,\"repliedMissBurton,withadecisivelittlenod.\"Yourafternoondrivesmighthavebeenmarredbyunpleasantthoughtsasone\'ssleepissometimesdisturbedbybaddreams.YouhavenoideawhatadelightitistotheaverageNewEnglandmind,Mr.Stanton,tosecurethevantagegroundinabargain.Inviewofyourownvoluntaryadmissions,youcanscarcelydootherwisethanletmehavemyownway.\"
WiththeexceptionofthetwoorthreewhohadformedMissBurton\'sacquaintanceatdinner,thosewhoatfirsthadgatheredaroundherhadbythistimedwindledaway.IdaMayhewsatnearinanopenwindowoftheparlor,ostensiblyreadinganovel,butinrealityobservantofallthatoccurred.BothsheandVanBerghadbeenamusedbythefactthatStanton,usuallysolanguidandnonchalant,hadbeenforoncethoroughlyaroused.Betweenangerathiscoachmen,alarmforthechild,andinterestinitspreserver,hewasquiteshakenoutofhiswontedequanimity,whichwascomposedequallyofindolentgood-nature,self-complacency,andadispositiontosatirizethebusy,earnestworldaroundhim.ItwasapparentthathewassomewhatnonplussedbyMissBurton\'smannerandwords,andthosewhoknewhimwellenjoyedhisperplexity,althoughatalossthemselvestoimaginewhatobjectMissBurtoncouldhaveinview.
HalfunconsciouslyVanBergturnedhissmiling,interestedfacetowardsIdaMayhew,whowasregardinghercousinwithasimilarexpression,butthemomentshecaughttheartist\'seyesshecoldlydroppedherowntoherbookagain.
\"Well,MissBurton,\"saidStanton,withaslightlyembarrassedlaugh,\"IadmitthatIamcornered,soyoucanmakeyourownterms.\"
\"Theyshallbegrievous,Iassureyou.Doyouseethatruefulfaceinyourcarriageyonder?\"
\"Thatofmycoachman?Badlucktohisill-omenedvisage!Yes.\"
\"Noneedofwishingbadlucktoanypoorcreature——itwillcomeonlytoosoonwithout.Inviewoftheindebtedness——whichyouhavesogracefullyacknowledged——tooneofthattradingandthriftyracethatneverlosesanopportunitytoturn,ifnotapennymoreorlesshonest,why,somethingelse,totheiradvantage,Istipulatethatyougiveyourdependentthereanotherchance.Iheardyoudismisshimfromyourserviceashorttimesince,andheevidentlydoesnotwishtogo.Hisdisconsolatefacetroublesme;sopleasebanishhisdismallooks,andhe\'llbemorecarefulhereafter.\"
\"Andhaveyouhadtimetoseeandthinkabouthim?\"saidStanton,withalittlesurpriseinhistone.\"Youshallbanishhisdismallooksyourself.Barney,\"hecalled,\"driveclosetothepiazzahere.Thisladyhasprobablysavedyoufromarrest,andshenowintercedesinyourbehalf.Incompliancewithherrequest,Iwillkeepyouinmyservice,butIwishyoutothankherandnotme.\"
Barneytookoffhishatandejaculated:\"Mayyeesshaddernivergrowless,meleddy,an\'maythePowersgrantthatyeesbrighteyesmayseenotroubleo\'theirown,bainthey\'resoquicktoseeapoorman\'sbadluck.\"
Thesmilingmannerwithwhichsheacknowledgedhisgoodwishesseemedtowarmthemanallover,andhelookedasiftransformedashedrovebacktohisstand.
\"Howisthis,MissBurton?\"saidStanton.\"IfeelasifIhadhadthebestofthisbargain.\"
\"ThatimpressioniswhollyduetomyYankeeshrewdness;andnow,havinggainedmypoint,\"sheadded,withagracefulinclination,\"Iwillnotkeepyoufromyourdriveanylonger.\"
\"MyconsciencewillnotpermitmetocompletethistransactionuntilIhaveassuredyouthatmyhorsesandcarriageareatyourserviceatanytime.\"
\"Becareful;Imaytakeadvantageofyouagain.\"
\"Pleasedoso,\"repliedStanton,liftinghishat;andthenhewenttohiscarriagemoresurprisedathimselfthanatanythingelsethathadoccurred.MissBurtonreturnedtothedoorwayandquietlyresumedtheconversationthathadbeeninterruptedbytheperilofthechild.
VanBergwasabouttofollowhisfriend,butanacquaintancecomingupthesteps,detainedhimafewmoments.
\"Oh,Harold,come!\"criedStanton,impatiently.
MissBurtonstartedviolently.Thesentenceuponherlipswasneverfinished,andherfacebecameashenincolor.ShelookedatVanBergwithastrangeexpressionashe,unconsciousofheragitation,answered:
\"Yes,I\'mcoming,\"andmovedaway.
\"MydearMissBurton,\"saidtheladywithwhomshewasspeaking,\"youareill;youlookreadytofaint.Thisexcitementhasbeenagreaterstrainuponyouthanyouhaverealized.\"
\"PerhapsIhadbettergotomyroom,\"falteredtheyounglady;andshefledwithaprecipitancythathercompanioncouldnotunderstand.
IdaMayhewalsowitnessedthisunexpectedbitofmystery,anditpuzzledhernotalittle.Shehadlefttheparlorandwasstandinginthehall-waywhenhercousin\'svoicesummonedhisfriendafterhisfamiliarfashion.WhyshouldthisstrangerlookatMr.VanBergasifthesoundofhisChristiannamewereamortalwound?Orwasthatamerecoincidence——andinreactionfromexcitementandunwontedefforthadshesuddenlytakenill?Forawonder,shethoughtmoreaboutMissBurtonthanherselfthatafternoon.Shehaddecidedfromthefirstthatshedidnotlikethisnew-comer.
Thatpointhadbeensettledbythefactthattheartist\'sfirstimpressionsconcerningherhadevidentlybeenfavorable,andsherememberedthathisearliestglancesandwordsinregardtoherselfhadbeenanythingbutcomplimentary.
ChapterIX.UnexpectedlyThrownTogether.
\"Isupposeyouaresatisfiedbythistime,Stanton,\"beganVanBerg,astheydroveaway,\"thatIwasverysafeinofferingyouthatpictureontheconditionsnamed,andthatyouhavenottheghostofachanceofobtainingit.\"
\"Nonsense,\"repliedStanton.\"Thepictureispracticallywonalready.
IadmitthatMissBurtonisanexceptiontoallherspecies;and,nowthatIhaveseenher,IprovehowlittleIamundertheinfluenceofprejudicebyacknowledgingthefact,andbygivinghercreditforhercourageandagreeablemanners.Buthowabsurdtoimaginethatthisplainlittlestrangercaneverbetomemorethansheisto-day——asummeracquaintanceatasummerresort!Shewillsoondropfromourmemoriesandleavenomoretracethantheserustlingleavesoverheadaftertheyhavefulfilledtheirbriefpurpose.\"
\"Here\'sasymptomalready,\"criedVanBerg.\"Mymatter-of-factfriendisalreadyinthesubtlecurrent,andunconsciouslydropsintosentiment,andexpresseshimselfinpoetictrope.Iforeseethatthe\'rustlingleaves\'willendinarustlingwedding-robeandgorgeousapparel;forwhenyoucagethe\'brownthrush\'youwillhavethebadtastetoinsistonachangeofplumage.\"
\"Ibegintounderstandyouatlast,\"retortedStanton.\"Youhavebeensmittenyourself,andthisisyourstrategytoconcealthefact.
Thetroubleisthatyouhaveoverdonethematter,andrevealedyourtransfixedheartlongbeforeIshouldhavesuspectedthewound.
Hadyounotbettercommenceonthepicturesoon,forthismattermaydisableyouforaseason?\"
\"Iwon\'tswearthatIwillnotbecomeyourrival,forourlittleheroineinterestsmehugely.Thereissomethingbackofhersmilingface.Hermannerseemslikecrystalinitsfrankness,andyetI
thinkfewinthehousewilleverbecomebetteracquaintedwithherthantheyareto-day.\"
\"Ishalltakemorethanalanguidinterestinwatchingyouprogresswiththissmilingsphinx,\"saidStanton,\"andinthemeantimeshallgloatovermypicture.\"
\"Well,Barney,\"saidVanBerg,astheydroveuptothestablesontheirreturn,\"youdidhaveastreakofgoodluckthisafternoon.
Ihopeyouaregratefultotheladywhosecureditforyou.\"
\"Faix,sur,an\'Iniverseedthelikeso\'herafore.Thesmilin\'
lookshegavemejistwarmedtheverycoreo\'meheart,andherswateeyesseemedtosay,\'Naryabito\'ill-luckwouldyehaveagain,Barney,hadImeway.\'What\'smore,she\'sagoin\'tointercadeforthenurse-maid.Theynadn\'ttellmethatallthehereticswillstayinpurgatory.\"
\"Lookhere,Stanton,wereIatheologianI\'dmakeanoteofthat.
MissBurtonhasdiscoveredalogicthatroutssuperstition.\"
VanBergquitelongedforthesupperhour,thathemightresumeconversationwiththeinterestingstranger,andhewaspromptlyinhisplaceatthetable.Butshedidnotappear.Theladywithwhomshehadbeenconversing,remarked:
\"Shewastakensuddenlyill,justasyouandyourfrienddroveawaythisafternoon.LearningfromMr.Burleighthatsheisherealoneandwithoutfriends,IknockedatherdoorbeforeIcamedown,andaskedifIcoulddoanythingforher.Shesaidthatshewouldbebetterinthemorning,andthatallsheneededwasperfectquiet.It\'sstrangehowsuddenlyshewastakenill!Sheseemedperfectlywellonemoment,andthenshefledtoherroomasiftheghostwereinpursuit.Isupposeitwasreactionfromexcitement;
orshemayhavesomeformofheartdisease.\"
\"Areheartdifficultiessoseriousasthatwithladies?\"askedVanBergwithasmile.
\"Ineverhadacutesymptomsofanykind,\"theladyreplied.\"IndeedIthinkIamatriflecoldandmatter-of-factinmydisposition,butIbegantothawsoperceptiblyunderMissBurton\'sinfluencethatIbecamequiteinterestedinher.IthinkIdeservesomecreditforsavingthechildalso,foritwasIwhokepthertalkinginthedoorway.Mostpeopleareawearinesstome,andIwassurprisedtofindsomarkedanexception.\"
ItmustnotbesupposedthatVanBerg\'sinterestinthenewarrivalhadledhimtoforgetthemotivewhichhadbroughthimtotheLakeHouse.Thiswouldnotbeinaccordancewithhischaracter,andasfaraspossible,hehadbeencloselyobservantofMissMayhewduringthescenesoftheafternoon.Hehadbeenrewardedbydiscovering,forthefirsttime,thatshewasatleastcapableofagoodandgenerousimpulse,forherfacehadbeenexpressiveofgenuineadmirationandgladnesswhenshesawMissBurtonwiththerescuedchildinherarmsafterthecarriagesweptby.Inthisexpressionheobtainedaclearerhintthanhehadeverbeforereceivedofthebeautythatmightbeherconstantpossessioncouldthemeanandmarringtraitsofhercharacterbeexchangedforqualitiesinharmonywithherperfectfeatures.Butwhilethisgleam,thisflashofidealbeautyincreasedhisdesireforsuccessinhisexperiment,theyounglady\'sbearingtowardshimwasasdiscouragingasever.IfhehadnotbeenatMissBurton\'sside,hebelievedthatshewouldhavecomeforwardandofferedhercongratulationsashadseveralotherladies.Itwouldseemthathervanityhadbeensoseverelywoundedshewouldneverforgivehim,andhedeterminedhewouldnolongermakeamartyrofhimselfbyplayingtheagreeabletoallinthehotelinthehopethat,bypouringsomuchoilonthewaters,evenherasperitymightberemoved.Hehalfbelievedthatsherecognizedhisefforttoformheracquaintance,andfoundamaliciouspleasureinthwartinghim.
Therefore,hedecidedtotakehissketch-bookandgooffuponthehillsinthemorning,thusenjoyingalittlerespitefromhisapparentlyphilanthropiclabors.
Beforeheleftthebreakfasttablethefollowingday,MissBurtonappeared.Hethoughthedetectedanominousrednessabouthereyes,aswellasthepallorwhichwouldbethenaturalresultofillness;butsheseemedtohaverecoveredherspirits,andtheratherquietandself-absorbedlittlegroupthathadhithertoseriouslydevotedthemselvestosteakandcoffee,speedilybrightenedupunderherpleasantries.IndeedshekeptthemlingeringsolongthattheMayhewsandStantonpassedoutbeforethem,thelattercastingawistfulglanceatthecheerfulparty,forhehadbeenhavingastupidtime.
When,muchlaterthanheexpected,hestartedonhisbriefsketchingexcursionhefoundthathismindwaskindledandaglowwithpleasantthoughts,andthatthesummerlandscapehadbeenmadesunnierbythesunnyfacehehadjustleft.
Butasheploddedhiswaybacklateintheafternoon,thesunbeams,nolongergenial,becameoppressive,andhewasgladtohailoneofthehotelstagesthatwasreturningfromaneighboringvillage.
Thevehiclealreadycontainedtwoadultpassengers.Onewasastout,red-facedwomanwithababyandanindefinitenumberofparcels,andtheotherwas——IdaMayhew,whowasreturningfromabriefshoppingexcursion.
AsthelattersawVanBergentershecolored,bitherlip,halffrowned,andlookedsteadfastlyawayfromhim.Thusthestagelumberedonwithitsoddlyassortedinmates,that,althoughbelongingtothesamehumanfamily,seemedtohaveaslittleincommonasifeachhadcomefromadifferentplanet.ThatMissMayhewlookedsoresolutelyawayfromhimwasrathertoVanBerg\'sadvantage,foritgavehimachancetocompareherexquisiteprofilewiththeexpanse,slightlydiversified,ofthebroadredfaceopposite.
Thestoutwomanheldherbabyasifitwereabundle,andstaredstraightbeforeher.AsfarasVanBergcouldobserve,notatraceofanideaorachangeofexpressionflittedacrossthewideareaofhersultryvisage,andhefoundhimselfspeculatingastowhetherthemindsofthesetwowomendifferedasgreatlyastheiroutwardappearance.Indeedhequestionedwhetheronehadanymoremindthantheother,andwasinclinedtothinkthatdespitetheirwidelyseparatedspheresoflifetheywereequallydwarfed.
Whilehewasthusamusinghimselfwiththecontrasts,physicalandmetaphysical,whichthetwopassengersoppositehimpresented,thestoutwomansuddenlylookedoutofthewindowatherside,andthen,inatonethatwouldstartlethequietestnerves,shoutedtothedriver:
\"Holdon!\"
MissMayhewhalfrosefromherseatandlookedaroundwithsomethinglikedismay;butassheonlyencounteredVanBerg\'sslightlyhumorousexpression,shecoloredmoredeeplythanbefore,andrecalledhereyestothefartherangleofthestagewithafixednessandrigidityasgreatasifithadcontainedtheheadofMedusa.
Meantimethedriverdrewuptoasmallcottagebytheroad-side,andscrambleddownfromhisseatthathemightassistthestoutwomanwithheraccumulationofbundles.Shehandedhimoutthebaby,preferringtolookafterthemorepreciousparcelsherself.
VanBergpolitelyheldthedooropenforher;butjustasshewassqueezingthroughthestageentrancewithherarmsfullandhadherfootonthelaststep,hercottagedoorflewopenwithsomethingtotheeffectofanexplosion,andoutburstthreeorfourchildrenwithaperfectdinofcriesandshouts.Twovociferousdogsjoinedinthesuddenuproar;thehithertodrowsyhorsesstartedasifabomb-shellhaddroppedundertheirnoses,andspeedilybrokeintoamadgallop,leavingthestoutwomanprostrateuponherbundlesintheroad,andthedriverhelplesslyholdingherbaby.
MissMayhew\'scoldrigidityvanishedatonce.Indeeddignitywasimpossibleintheswaying,boundingvehicle.Therewasamomentaryefforttoignorehercompanion,andthenterrorovercameallscruples.Turningherwhitefacetowardshim,sheexclaimed:
\"Arewenotingreatdanger?\"
\"IadmitIwouldratherbeinmychaironMr.Burleigh\'spiazza.
Withyourpermission,Iwillcometoyourendofthestageandspeaktothehorsesthroughtheopenwindow.\"
\"Oh,come——doanythingunderheaventostopthesehorridbeasts.\"
VanBergedgedhiswayupalittlepastMissMayhew,andbeganspeakingtothefrightenedhorsesinfirm,quiettones.Atfirsttheypaidnoheedtohim,andasthestagemadeasuddenanddesperatelurch,theyoungladycommencedtoscream.
\"Ifyoudothatyouwillinsurethebreakingofbothournecks,\"
saidVanBerg,sharply.\"IfyouwillkeepquietIthinkIcanstopthem.See,wehavequiteastretchoflevelroadbeyondus,beforewecometoahill.Givemeachancetoquietthem.\"
Theterror-strickengirlkeptstillforamoment,andthenstartedup,saying\"Ishallspringout.\"
\"No,MissMayhew,youmustnotdothat,\"saidVanBerg,decidedly.
\"Youmustbegreatlyinjured,andyouwouldwithalmostcertaintybedisfiguredforlifeifyousprangoutuponthestonyroad.Youcouldnothelpfallingonyourface.\"
\"Oh,horrible!\"sheexclaimed.
Atthenextheavylurchofthestageshehalf-roseagaintocarryoutherrashpurpose,buttheartistseizedherhandandheldherinherplace,atthesametimespeakingkindlyandfirmlytothehorses.Theynowbegantoheedhisvoice,andtorecoverfromtheirpanic.
\"See,MissMayhew,\"hesaid,\"youhaveonlytocontrolyourselfafewmomentslonger,andourdangerisover.\"
\"Oh,dostopthem,quick,\"shegasped,clingingtohishandasifhewereheronlyhope,\"andI\'llneverforgetyourkind——oh,mercifulheaven!\"
Atthisfavorablemoment,whenthehorseswerefastcomingundercontrol,aspitefulcurcametearingoutafterthem,renewingtheirpanicwithtenfoldintensity.Asthedogbarkedononesidetheysheeredoffontheother,untiltheyplungeddownthesideoftheroad.Thestagewasnearlyoverturned,andthenitstoppedwithasuddenandheavythump.MissMayhewwasprecipitatedintoMr.
VanBerg\'sarms,andsheclungtohimforamomentinaparoxysmofterror.Hiswitshadnotsofardesertedhimbutthatheperceivedthatthestagehadstruckagainstatree,thatthehorseshadbrokenaway,andthatheandhiscompanionwereperfectlysafe.Ifthewholetruthmustbetold,itcannotbesaidthatheenduredtheyounglady\'sembracewithonlycoldandstoicalphilosophy.Hefounditwhollynovelandnotapainfulexperience.Indeedhewasconsciousofatemptationtodelaytheinformationoftheirescape,butasecond\'sthoughttaughthimthathemustatonceemployallhistactinthedelicateanddifficulttaskofreconcilingthefrightenedgirltoherselfandherownconduct;otherwiseherpride,andalsohersenseofdelicacy,wouldnowreceiveanewandfardeeperwound,andamorehopelessestrangementfollow.Hethereforepromptlyliftedherup,andplacedherlimpformontheoppositeseat.
\"Iassureyouwearenowperfectlysafe,MissMayhew,\"hesaid;
\"andletmecongratulateyouthatyourself-controlpreventedyoufromleavingthestage,forifyouhaddonesoyouwouldundoubtedlyhavebeengreatlyinjured.\"
\"Where——whereare——thehorses?\"shefaltered.
\"Ireallydonotknow!Theyhavedisappeared.Thestagestruckatree,andthebrutesbrokeaway.Theywillprobablygallophometothealarmandexcitementofeveryoneaboutthehotel.Praycomposeyourself.Thehouseisnotfaraway,andwecansoonreachitifyouarenotverymuchhurt.\"
\"Areyousurethedangerisallover?\"
\"Yes;thisisnownottheslightestchanceofatragedy.\"
Theremusthavebeenafainttwinkleinhiseye,forsheexclaimed,passionately:
\"Thewholethinghasbeenacomedytoyou,andIhalfbelieveyoubroughtitallabouttoannoyme.\"
\"Youdomegreatinjustice,MissMayhew,\"saidVanBerg,warmly.
\"Herewearesittinginthishorridoldstagebytheroadside,\"
sheresumed,intonesofstrongvexation.\"Wasthereeveranythingmoreabsurdandridiculousthanithasallbeen!Iammortifiedbeyondexpression,andsupposeIshallneverhearthelastofit,\"
andsheburstintoahystericalpassionoftears.
\"MissMayhew,\"saidVanBerghastily,\"youcertainlymustrealizethatwehavepassedthroughverygreatperiltogether,andifyouthinkmecapableofsayingawordaboutthisepisodethatisnottoyourcredit,youwerenevermoremistakeninyourlife.\"
Atthisassuranceshebecamemorecalm.
\"Iknowyoudislikememostheartily,\"VanBergcontinued;\"butyouhavelessreasontodosothanyouthink——\"
\"Ihavegoodreasontodislikeyou.Youdespiseme;andnowthatIhavebeensuchacowardyouarecomparingmewithMissBurtonwhoactedsodifferentlyyesterday.\"