\"Van,\"saidStantoninavexedtone,\"there\'ssomemischiefonfoot;\"
andhementionedwhathiscousinhadsaid,adding:\"CanIdahavebeenputtingthatbrassyMrs.ChintsuptosomeabsurdperformancethatwillhurtMissBurton\'sfeelings?\"
Theyroseandsauntereddownthepiazza,VanBergtryingtoimaginewhatwasabouttotakeplaceandhowhecouldshieldtheyoungladyfromanyannoyance.
Shesatinsidetheentranceofthemainparlorfacingtheopenwindows,andalittlegrouphadgatheredaroundher,includingtheladieswhosatathertable,withwhomshehadalreadybecomeafavorite.Idahaddemurelyenteredbyoneoftheopenwindowsandwasapparentlyreadinganovelunderoneofthegasjetsnotfaraway.Groupsofpeoplewerechattingnearorwereseatedaroundcard-tables;otherswerequietlypromenadinginthehall-waysandonthepiazza.Therewasnotanindicationofanyexpectedorunexpected\"scene.\"OnlyIda\'sconscious,observantexpressionandtheabsenceofMrs.Chintsforebodedmischief.
\"Whatenormitycanthatodiousfamilybeabouttoperpetrate?\"
whisperedStanton.
\"Icannotsurmise,\"answeredVanBerg;\"somethinginreferencetotherescueofherchild,Isuppose.IwishIcouldthwartthem,forMissBurton\'spositionwillplaceherfullinthepubliceye,andIdonotwishhertobethevictimoftheirvulgarity.\"
Afteralittlefurtherhesitationandthoughthesteppedin,andapproachingMissBurton,said:
\"Pardonmeforinterruptingyou,butIwishtoshowyousomethingonthepiazzathatwillinterestyou.\"
Sherosetofollowhim,butbeforeshecouldtakeastepMrs.Chintssweptinonthearmofherhusband,followedbythenurse——whohadbeenretainedatMissBurton\'sintercession——bearinginherarmsthelittleboy,thatstaredatthelightsandpeoplewiththeroundeyesofchildishwonder.
Everyonelookedupinsurpriseatthesuddenappearanceofthelittlegroup,thatsuggestedachristeningmorethananythingelse.
PlantingthemselvesbeforeMissBurton,thusbarringallegress,Mr.Chintsfumbledamomentinhispocketanddrewoutanenvelope,andwithaloud,prefatory\"Ahem!\"began:
\"MydearMissBurton——thatisthewayMrs.ChintssaysIshouldaddressyou,thoughtitstrikesmeasatriflefamiliarandaffectionate;
butImeannoharm——we\'reunderpecul——verygreatobligationstoYOU.Welearn——mywifehas——thatyouareengaged——engaged——in——I
meanthatyou——teach.I\'msurethat\'salawfulcalling——Imeanalaudableone,andnoonecandenythatit\'suseful.Inmyviewit\'stoyourcreditthatyouareengaged——in——thatyouteach.
Iworkmyself,andalwaysmeanto.InfactIenjoyitmorethanmakingspeeches.ButfeelingthatwewereunderwonderfulobligationstoYOU,andlearning——mywifedid——thatyouweredependenton——onyourownlabor,wethoughtthatifthislittlefellowthatyousavedsohandsomelyshouldhandyouthischeckforfivehundreddollarsitwouldn\'tbeamiss.\"Andhere,accordingtorehearsal,thenursewithgreatparadehandedthechildtoMrs.Chints,whonow,withmuch\'empressement,\'advancedtoapositionimmediatelybeforeMissBurton;meanwhilethepoor,perspiringMr.Chintsputtheenvelopeintothechild\'schubbyhand,saying:
\"Giveittothelady,Augustus.\"
ButthesmallAugustus,onthecontrary,staredattheladyandputtheenvelopeinhismouth,tothegreatmortificationofMrs.
Chints,whohadbeensopreoccupiedwiththeChintssideoftheaffair,andtheimpressiontheyweremakingontheextemporizedaudience,thatshehadnoeyesforMissBurton.
Andthatyounglady\'sfacewas,intruth,astudy.Anexpressionofsurprisewasfollowedquicklybyoneofresentment.EvenStantonwasobligedtoadmitthatforamomentthelittle\"school-ma\'am\"
lookedformidable.ButasMr.Chintsflounderedoninhisspeech,assomepoorwretchwhocouldnotswimmightstruggletogetoutofthedeepwaterintowhichhehadbeenthrown,theexpressionofherfacesoftened,andonemightimaginethethoughtpassingthroughhermind——\"Theydon\'tknowanybetter;\"andwhen,atlast,thechild,insteadofcarryingouttheclimaxthatMrs.Chintshadintended,beganvigorouslytomunchtheenvelopecontainingthepreciouscheck,therewasevenatwinkleofhumorintheyounglady\'seyes.Butsherespondedgravely:
\"Mr.Chints,Iwasatfirstinclinedtoresentthisscene,buttimehasbeengivenmetoperceivethatneitheryounoryourwifewishtohurtmyfeelings,andthatyouareinpart,atleast,actuatedbyfeelingsofgratitudefortheservicethatIwassofortunateastorenderyou.ButIfearyoudonotquiteunderstandme.Youarerightinonerespect,however.Idolaborformyownlivelihood,anditisasourceofthedeepestsatisfactiontomethatIcanlivefrommyownworkandnotfromgifts.Ifyourheartspromptthislargedonation,therearehundredsofpoorlittlewaifsinthecitytowhomthismoneywillbringalittleofthecareandcomfortwhichblessesyourchild.Asformyself,thisisalltherewardthatIwishorcanreceive,\"andshestoopedandkissedthechildonbothcheeks.ThentakingVanBerg\'sarm,shegladlyescapedtothecoolandduskypiazza.
Mr.ChintslookedatMrs.Chintsindismay.Mrs.Chintshandedthebabytothenurse,andbeatanundramaticandhastyretreat,herhusbandfollowinginadazedsortofmanner,treadingonhertrainateveryotherstep.
AsVanBergpassedoutoftheparlor,hesawIdaMayhewvanishingfromitsfartherside,withStantoninclosepursuit.WhenMissBurtonendedthedisagreeableaffairbykissingthechild,therehadbeenaslightmurmurofapplause.SignificantsmilesandarisinghimofvoicesdescantingontheaffairinawaynotatallcomplimentarytothecrestfallenChintsfamily,followedthedisappearancesofalltheactorsintheunexpectedscene.
ChapterXII.MissMayhewisPuzzled.
\"MissBurton,\"saidVanBerg,assoonastheywerealone,\"IwishIcouldhavesavedyoufromthisdisagreeableexperience.Itriedtodoso,butwasnotquickenough.ImuchblamemyslowwitsthatIwasnotmoreprompt.\"
\"Iwishitmighthavebeenprevented,\"shereplied,\"fortheirsakesaswellasmyown.\"
\"Ihavenocompunctionsontheiraccountwhatever,\"saidVanBerg,\"andfeelthatyouletthemoffmuchtookindly.Ithink,however,thattheyandallothersherewillunderstandyoumuchbetterhereafter.Icannotexpresstoostronglytoyouhowthoroughlyourbriefacquaintancehastaughtmetorespectyou,andifyouwillpermitmetogiveanearnestmeaningtoMr.Burleigh\'sjestingoffertosharewithmetheresponsibilityofyourcare,Iwillesteemitanhonor.\"
\"Isincerelythankyou,Mr.VanBerg,andshouldIeverneedtheservicesofagentleman,\"——shelaidaslightemphasisupontheterm——\"Ishall,withoutanyhesitancy,turntoyou.ButIhavelongsincelearnedtobemyownprotectress,as,afterall,onemustbe,situatedasIam.\"
\"Youseemtohavetheability,notonlytotakecareofyourself,butofothers,MissBurton.NeverthelessIshall,withyourpermission,establishasortofprotectorateoveryouwhichshallbeexceedinglyunobtrusiveandundemonstrative,andnotintheleastlikethatwhichsomepowersmaketheexcuseforexactions,untiltheprotectedpartyisreadytocryoutindesperationtobedeliveredfromitsfriends.Ihesitatedtoolongthiseveningfromthefearofbeingforward;andyetIdidnotknowwhatwascoming,andhadlearnedonlyaccidentallybutafewmomentsbeforethatanythingwascoming.\"
\"Well,\"repliedMissBurtonwithaslightlaugh,\"it\'sacomfortablethoughtthatthere\'safortnear,towhichonecanrunshouldanenemyappear;andapleasanterthoughtstill,thatthefortisstrongandstaunch.but,tochangethefigure,Ihaveagreatfancyforpaddlingmyownlightcanoe,andsuchsmallcraftwilloftenfloat,youknow,whereashipofthelinewouldstrike.\"
\"Iwilladmit,MissBurton,thatshipsofthelineareoftenunwieldyandclumsilydeepinthewater;butifyoueverdoneedagunboatwithahowitzerortwoondeck,mayIhopetobesummoned?\"
\"Icouldaskfornobetterchampion.Ifairlytrembleatthebroadsidethatwouldfollow.\"
\"Areyouthinkingofthedischargeortherecoil?\"
\"Bothmightinvolvedanger,\"saidMissBurton,laughing;\"butI
haveconcludedtokeeponyoursidethroughsuchwarsasmayrageattheLakeHouseduringmysojourn.IcannothelpthinkingofpoorMr.andMrs.Chints.IfeelalmostassorryforsuchpeopleasIdofortheblindanddeaf.Theyseemtolackacertainsensewhich,ifpossessed,wouldteachthemtoavoidsuchscenes.\"
\"Idetestsuchpeopleandliketosnubthemunmercifully,\"saidVanBerg,heartily.
\"Thatmaybeinaccordancewithagunboatcharacter;butisitknightly?\"
\"Whynot?Whatdoessnobbishnessandrichvulgaritydeserveatanyman\'shands?\"
\"Nothingbutsturdyblows.Butwhatdoweak,imperfect,half-educatedmenandwomen,whohaveneverhadatitheofyouradvantages,NEED
atyourhands?Canwenotcondemnfaults,andatthesametimepityandhelpthefaulty?Thegunboatsendsitsshotcrashingtoomuchatrandom.Itseemstomethattrueknighthoodwouldspareweaknessofanykind.\"
\"I\'mgladyouhavenotsparedmine.Youhavedemolishedmeasagunboat,butIwouldfainbeyourknight.\"
\"ItisMrs.Chintswhoneedsaknightatpresent,andnotI.Ittroublesmetothinkofherworrimentoverthisfoolishlittleepisode,andwithyourpermissionIwillgoandtrytobanishthecloud.\"
AssheturnedshewasinterceptedbyStanton,whosaid:
\"MissBurton,letmypresenttoyoumycousin,MissMayhew.\"
ArayfromaparlorlampfelluponIda\'sface,andVanBergsawatoncethatitwascloudedandunamiableinitsexpression.Stantonhadevidentlybeenreproachingherseverely.
MissBurtonheldoutherhandcordiallyandsaid;\"Iwishtothankyouformaintainingthecreditofoursexthismorning.Thesesuperiormenaresofondofportrayingusashysterical,clingingcreatureswhoseonlyinstinctinperilistothrowthemselvesonman\'sprotection,thatIalwaysfeelalittleexultationwhenoneofthe\'weakerandgentlersex,\'aswearetermed,showthecourageandpresenceofmindwhichtheycoollyappropriateasmasculinequalities.\"
\"Areyouanadvocateofwoman\'srights,MissBurton?\"askedMissMayhew,stungbytheunconscioussarcasmofthelady\'swords,toreplyinalmostasresentfulamannerasifawoundhadbeenintended.
\"Notofwoman\'s,particularly,\"wasthequietanswer;\"Iwouldbegladifeveryonehadtheirrights.\"
\"Youphilanthropyisverywide,certainly.\"
\"Andthereforeverythin,perhapsyouthink,sinceitcoverssomuchground.Iagreewithyou,MissMayhew,thatgeneralgood-willisascoldandthinasmoonshine.Onerayofsunlightthatwarmssomeparticularthingintolifeisworthitall.\"
\"Indeed!IthinkIprefermoonlight.\"
\"Therearecertainabsorbingavocationsinlifetowhichmoonshineisbetteradaptedthensunlight,isprobablythethoughtinmycousin\'smind,\"saidStanton,satirically.
\"Andwhatarethey?\"askedMissBurton.
\"Flirtation,forinstance.\"
\"Mycousinisspeakingforhimself,\"saidIda,acidly;\"andknowsbetterwhatisinhisownmindthaninmine.\"
\"Ifsomeladiesthemselvesneverknowtheirownminds,howcananotherknow?\"Stantonretorted.
\"Well,\"saidMissBurton,withalaugh,\"ifweacceptapracticalphilosophymuchinvogue——thatoftakingtheworldaswefindit——flirtingisoneofthecommonestpursuitsofmankind.\"
\"I\'mquitesure,MissBurton,\"saidVanBerg,\"thatyourphilosophyoflifeisthereverseoftakingtheworldaswefindit.\"
\"Indeed,youaremistaken,sir;Iamexceedinglyprosaicinmyviews,andcherishnoUtopiandreamsandtheories.Idoindeedtaketheoldmatter-of-factworldasIfindit,andtrytomakethebestofit.\"
\"Ah,yourlastisaverysavingclause.Toomanyareseeminglytryingtomaketheworstofit,andunfortunatelytheysucceed.\"
Idahereshotaquickandvengefulglanceatthespeaker.
\"Pleasedonotpresentmeasageneralreformer,Mr.VanBerg,\"
protestedMissBurton,withalightlaugh;\"Ihavemyhandsfullinmendingmyownways.\"
\"Andsomightweall,nodoubt,\"saidStanton;\"onlymostofusleaveourwaysunmended.butIamcurioustoknow,MissBurton,howyouwouldmakethebestofaflirtation;sincethisisemphaticallyapartoftheworldaswefindit,especiallyatasummerhotel.\"
\"Thebestthatwecandowithmanythingsthatexist,\"shereplied,\"istoleavethemalone.Italyispre-eminentlythelandofgarlicandart;butfortunatelyweshallnotfinditnecessarytoindulgeinbothandinequalproportionswhenwearesohappyastogoabroad.\"
\"Agreatmanypeoplepreferthegarlic,\"saidStanton.
\"Oh,certainly,\"sheanswered;\"it\'samatteroftaste.\"
\"Sothengarlicandflirtationarecorrespondingtermsinyourvocabulary?\"
\"Icannotsaywhichtermoutrankstheother,butitseemstomethatifawomanregardsherloveasasacredthing,shecannotpermitanindefinitenumberofcommonplacepeopleeventoattempttostainitwiththeirsoilingtouch.\"
\"Ithinkgentlemenshowjustasmuchofadispositiontoflirtasladies,\"saidIda,withresentmentinhertone.
\"Iwillnotdisputethatstatement,\"repliedMissBurton,withalaugh;\"indeed,I\'minclinedtothinktheyareveryhuman.\"
\"Humane,youmean,\"interposedStanton.\"Yes,Ioftenwonderatourpatientendurance.\"
\"Whichshallbetaxednolongerto-nightbyme.Good-evening,MissMayhew.Good-evening,patientmartyrs.\"
\"Humane,indeed!\"saidStanton.\"Areyouthatwayinclined,Van?\"
\"Ihavenooccasiontobeotherwise.\"
\"Well,Ifeelsavageenoughtoscalpsomeone.\"
\"SoIshouldjudge,\"remarkedIda.
\"Perhapsthen,asmymoodcontrastssomewhatfavorablywithyourcousin\'s,youwillventuretowalkwithmeforawhile?\"saidVanBerg.
\"Indeed,sir,\"shereplied,takinghisarm,\"therearetimeswhenanychangeisarelief.\"
\"Icannotbeverygreatlyelatedoverthatviewofthecase,certainly,\"remarkedVanBerg,withalaugh.
Shedidnotreplyatonce,butafteramomentsaid:\"Isupposeyouregardmeasahopelesscaseatbest.\"
\"whatsuggeststhatthoughttoyou,MissMayhew?\"
\"Youarenotsodullastoneedtoaskthatquestion,andyouonlyaskittodrawmeout.Foronething,youprobablythinkthatIinstigatedMr.andMrs.Chintstoactastheydid.Thisisnottrue.\"
\"I\'mverygladtohearit.\"
\"I\'mnomoretoblamethanMr.Burleighwas.HeknewaboutitaswellasIdid,butMrs.Chintswasboundtocarryoutherproject.\"
\"Willyoupermitasuggestion?\"
\"IsupposeyouwishtoinsinuatethatIactedlikeaheathen,insteadofsayingthatIamoneplainly,asdoesCousinIk?\"
\"Ithinkyouactedalittlethoughtlessly.IfMissBurtonhadbeeninyourplace,shewouldhavetriedtopreventthedisagreeablescene.\"
\"Oh,certainly!sheisperfect.\"
\"No;sheiskind.\"
\"Woulditbepossibletospeakuponsomeagreeablesubject,Mr.
VanBerg?Ihavehadenoughmortificationsforoneday.\"
Hewaspuzzled.Whattopiccouldheintroducethatwouldinterestthisspoiledandpetulantbeauty.
Hetouchedonart,butshewasonlyartfulinhersmallway,andcouldnotfollowhim.Hetriedliterature,andheretheyhadevenlessincommon.Hewouldnotandindeedcouldnotreadthethinsocietynovelswhichreflectedmodesoflifeastrivialasherown,andhisbooksmighthavebeenwritteninanotherlanguage,soslightwasheracquaintancewiththem.Thevariouspolitical,social,orscientificquestionsofthedayhadneverpuzzledherbrain.VanBergcautiouslyfelthiswaytowardshiscompanion\'sknowledgeoftwoorthreeofthemostpopularofthem.Heranswers,however,weresosuperficialandirrelevant,andalsosoevidentlyembarrassed,thathesawhisonlyresourcestobesocietychit-chat,gossipaboutmutualacquaintances,thelatestmodes,theattractionsofpleasureresortsinthecity,andofsummerresortsinthecountry.
Buthegavehismindtotheseunwontedthemes,andlaboredhardtobeentertaining;fornowthathehadgainedthevantage-groundhesought,hewasdeterminedtodiscoverwhethertherewasasleepingmindoravacuumbehindMissMayhew\'sshapelyforehead.Grantingthattherewasawomanlyintelligencethere,asyetunquickened,hewasnotsoirrationalastoimaginehecouldjostleitintoilluminingactivityinoneshorthour,orday,orweek.Butitseemedtohimthatifanymindexistedworththename,itwouldgivesuchencouragingsignsoflifebeforemanydayspassedaswouldpromisesuccessofhisexperiment.Hefeltthathisfirstaimmustbetoestablishanintimacythatwouldpermitasfullandfrankanexchangeofthoughtaswaspossiblebetweenpeoplesodissimilar.
Whilehetriedtobringhimselfdowntothelittlenessofherdailylife,hedeterminedtoshowhisdisapprovalofeveryphraseofitsmeannessasfarashecouldwithoutoffendingher.HehadmadeherfeelthathecondemnedhercoursetowardsMissBurtonthatevening,andhehadmeanttodoso.
Sheresentedthisdisapproval,andatthesametimerespectedhimforit.Indeedhepuzzledher.Heevidentlysoughtandwishedforhersociety;andyetastheywalkedbackandforth,eventhoughshedidnotlookathimwhenthelightgavehertheopportunitytodoso,shefeltintuitivelythathedidnotenjoyhercompany.
Shesawthathewaslaboringhardtomakehimselfagreeable;buthissmalltalkhadnotthefamiliarflippancyandfluencyofonespeakinginhisnativetongue;norwashismannerthatofonewho,infatuatedwithherbeauty,hadthrownasideallotherconsiderations.
Shefeltthatthemanathersidemeasuredher,andunderstoodherlittlenessthoroughly.
Andsheherselfhadagrowingconsciousnessofinsignificancethatwasaspainfulasitwasnovel.Addingtoallthehumiliationsofthisdayherewasaman,notsoverymucholderthanherself,tryingtocomedowntoherlevel,ashewouldaccommodatehislanguagetoachild.Nolaboredargumentcouldhaverevealedherignorancetohersoclearly,asherconsciousinabilitytofollowhimintohisordinaryrangeofthought.Unwittinglyhehaddemonstratedhissuperiorityinawaythatshecouldnotdeny,howevermuchshemightbeinclinedtoresentit.Andyethetreatedherwithasortofrespect,andoccasionallyshesawthathebenthiseyesuponherfaceasifinsearchofsomething.
Afteratransientefforttoignoreeverythingandtalkinherusualsuperficialmanner,shebecamemoreandmoresilentandoppressed,and,atlastsaid,somewhatabruptly: