\"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.