Thesunlightmockedher;andherspiritwassooutoftunethatthesweetsoundsofnaturemadejarringdiscord.
Butthechurchbellcaughtherattention.HownaturalandalmostuniversalistheinstinctwhichleadsuswhenintroubletoseekthesupportofsomeHigherpower.Nomatterhowwaywardthehumanchildmayhavebeen,howhardenedbyyearsofwrong,orarrogantlyentrenchedinsomephaseofrationalphilosophy,whenthedarknessofdangerorsorrowblotsoutthelightofearthlyhopes,orhidesthepathwhichwastroddensoconfidently,then,withtheimpulseoffrightenedchildrenwhomnighthassuddenlyovertaken,thereisalongingfortheFather\'shandandtheFather\'sreassuringvoice.
IfthereisnoGodtoloveandhelpus,humannatureisalie.
ThusfarIdaMayhewhadnomorethoughtofturningHeavenwardforhelpthantothephilosophyofPlato.Indeed,religionasasystemoftruth,andGreekphilosophywerealmostequallyunknowntoher.
Butthatchurch-bellremindedherofthesourceofhopeandhelptowhichburdenedheartshavebeenturninginalltheages,andwiththevaguethoughtthatshemightfindsomelightandcheerthatwasnotinthesunshine,shehastilydressedandwentdownintimetocatchoneofthelastcarriages.Whenshereachedthechurch,shefoundhermotherhadprecededher,andthathercousinIkStantonwasalsothere;butshecorrectlysurmisedthattheonlydevotiontowhichhewasinclinedhadbeeninspiredbyMissBurton,whosatnotfaraway.ShewassoonsatisfiedthatVanBergwasnotpresent.
Asageneralthing,whenatchurch,Idahadgivenmoreconsiderationtothepeopleandthetoiletsaboutherthantoeithertheserviceorthesermon;butto-dayshewistfullyturnedherthoughtstoboth,inthehopethattheymightdohergood,althoughshehadasvagueanideaastothemodeorprocessasifbothwereanIndianincantation.
Butshewasthoroughlydisappointed.Herthoughtswanderedcontinuallyfromtheservices.Withalmostthevividnessofbodilypresence,threefaceswerelookinguponher——herfather\'swithaninfinitereproach;Sibley\'s,withsmilinglipsandwolfisheyes;andVanBerg\'s,firstcoollyquestioningandexploringinitsexpression,andthencoldlyavertedandscornfulinconsequenceofwhathehaddiscovered.Nothouses,butmindsarehaunted.
Theclergyman,however,wasanable,forciblespeaker,andheldherattentionfromthefirst.Hissermonwastopicalratherthantextualinitscharacter;thatis,heenlargedonwhathetermed\"theirreconcilableenmitybetweenGodandtheworld,\"takingashistextsthefollowingselections:
\"ThecarnalmindisenmityagainstGod.\"
Andagain,\"Whosoever,therefore,willbeafriendoftheworld,istheenemyofGod.\"
Thesermonwaschieflyanargument;andthepointofitwasthattherecouldbenocompromisebetweenthesecontendingpowers——Godononeside,theworldontheother——andheinsistedthathishearersmustbe,andwerewithonepartyortheother.Thetroublewas,thatinconcentratinghisthoughtsonthesinglepointhemeanttomake,hetooktoomuchforgranted——namely,thatallhishearersunderstoodsufficientlythecharacterofGod,andthesenseinwhichtheBibleusestheterm\"world,\"nottomisapprehendthenatureofhis\"enmity.\"Toseasonedchurch-goersthesermonwasbothtrueandverysatisfactory.
Butwhentheministerreachedtheconclusionofhisargumentwiththewords,\"Sothen,theythatareinthefleshcannotpleaseGod,\"
poorIdadrewalongdrearysigh,andwishedshehadremainedathome.Shewascertainly\"intheflesh,\"ifanyonewere;andinadditiontothefactthatsheneitherpleasedherselfnoranyoneelsethatsherespectedandloved,shewasnowgiventheassurance,apparentlyfortifiedbyHolyWrit,thatshecouldnot\"pleaseGod.\"
Thesimpleanddivinediplomacybywhichthis\"enmity\"isremovedwasunknowntoher.
SheturnedtonotehowMissBurtonreceivedamessagethatwassounwelcometoherself,andsawthatshewasnotlistening.Therewasadreamyfar-awaylookinhereyesthatclearlywasnotinspiredbythethoughtof\"enmity.\"
\"Sheisprobablythinkingoftheartistandtheidealfuturethathecangiveher.HowfoolishitisinpoorIktheretotrytorivalHIM!Itwasanunluckydayforusboth,cousinofmine,whenwecametothisplace!\"
Moredisheartenedanddespondentthanever,sherodehomewardwithhermother,answeringquestionsonlyinmonosyllables.Allthatreligionhadsaidtoherthatmorningwas:\"Giveuptheworld——allwithwhichyouhavehithertobeenfamiliar,andhaveenjoyed.\"Godwasaninfinite,all-powerful,remoteabstraction,andyetforHissakeshemustresigneverythingwhichwouldenablehertoforget,oratleastdisguisethepainandjealousywhichwereattimesalmostunendurable;andsheknewofnosubstitutewithwhichtoreplace\"theworld\"shewasaskedtoforego.
Thisreligionofmerenegation,expulsion,andrestraintistoooftenpresentedtothemind.Dykesandleveesareveryuseful,andinsomeplacesessential;butiflowmalarialshorescouldbeliftedupintobreezyhillsandtable-lands,thiswouldbebetter.
Thisisnotonlypossible,butitisthetruemethodinrespecttothehumansoul;andoneshouldseektogrowbetternotbysedulousefforttokeepoutanevilworld,butrathertofilluphisheartwithagoodpureworldsuchasGodmadeandblessed.
ThesermonIdaheardthatmorning,therefore,onlyaddedtotheburdenthatwasalreadytooheavytobecarriedmuchlonger.
ChapterXXVI.SundayTable-talk.
TothereliefofallsaveMrs.Mayhew,Sibleydinedwithacoupleofyoung,fastmen,whoenforcedtheirinvitationbytheirresistibleattractionofabottleofwine.
\"Thereistoomuchstarchanddignityatthattabletosuitme,anyway,\"heremarked.\"Therearethosetwomodelsaints,wholedourdevotionslastSundayevening,flirtingwithponderousgravitywiththatdeeplittleschool-ma\'am,whohasturnedboththeirheads,butcan\'tmakeuphermindwhichofthemtocapture,bothbeingsuchmarvellouslygoodgameforoneofherclass.CuteYankeeasshebelievesherselftobe,she\'safooltothinkthateitherofthemismorethanplayingwithher.ByJupiter!butitwouldbesporttocut\'embothout;andIcoulddoitifIwereuphereaweek.ThosewhoknowtheworldknowthatsuchwomencipheroutthesemattersinthespiritofNewEnglandthrift,andyouhaveonlytomisleadthemwithsufficientplausibledatatocapturethembodyandsoul.\"AndSibleycomplacentlysippedhiswineasifhehadstatedalltherewastobesaidonthesubject.Fewmenpridedthemselvesmoreonaprofoundknowledgeoftheworldthanhe.
Ida\'sdespondencywhileatdinnerwassogreatshecouldnotthrowitoff.Listlesslyandwearilyshebarelytastedofthedifferentcoursesastheywerepassedtoher.Sheconsciouslymadeonlyoneeffort,andthatwastoappearutterlyindifferenttoVanBerg;andbothcircumstancesandhiscontemptuousneglectmadebutlittlefeigningnecessary.TheeveningbeforehadassociatedhersoinseparablyinhismindwithSibley,thathewasbeginningtoregardherwithaversion.
\"Trivialnaturesaredisturbedbytrivialcauses,\"hethought;\"andshelooksasiftheworldhadturnedblackbecauseSibleyhasbeenluredfromhersideforanhourbyabottleofwine.He\'llreviveheragainbeforesupper.\"
\"Howwintrythatoldgentlemanlookswhoisjustentering!\"Stantonremarked.\"Itmakesoneshivertothinkofbecomingasfrostyandwhiteashe.\"
\"Oh,don\'tspeakofbeingold!\"criedMrs.Mayhew.\"Remembertherearesomeatthetablewhoareingreaterdangerofthatfinalmisfortunethanyouyoungpeople.\"
\"Doyoudreadbeingold,MissBurton?\"VanBergasked.
\"No;butIdotheprocessofgrowingold.\"
\"Foroncewethinkalike,MissBurton,\"saidIdaabruptly.\"Tothinkofploddingonthroughindefinitedrearyyearstowardthemiserableconclusionofoldage!andyetitissaidnothingissosweetaslife.\"
\"Really,Cousin,youradvancedowntheagesremindsonemoreofaquickstepthanof\'plodding,\'\"remarkedStanton.
\"Thestepmatterslittle,\"sheretorted,\"aslongasyoufeelasifyouweregoingtoyourownfuneral.IagreewithMissBurton,thatgrowingoldisworsethanbeingold,thoughtHeavenknowsthatbotharebadenough.\"
\"I\'mnotsurethatHeavenwouldagreewitheitherofus,\"saidMissBurton,gently.
\"Ifearthesermondidnotdoyoumuchgood,Coz,\"saidStanton,maliciously.
\"No;itdidnot.Itdidmeharm,ifsuchathingwerepossible,\"
wastherecklessreply.
\"Humannatureisgenerallyregardedascapableofimprovement,\"
remarkedStanton,sententiously.
\"Iwasnotspeakingofhumannaturegenerally,\"saidIda;\"Iwasthinkingofmyself.\"
\"Asusual,mycharmingCousin.\"
Sheflushedresentfully,butdidnotreply.
\"AndIfeelthatMissMayhewhasdoneherselfinjusticeinherthought,\"saidMissBurton,withasympatheticglanceatIda.\"Andhowisitwithyou,Mr.VanBerg?Doyoudreadgrowingold?\"
\"IfearmyopinionwillremindyouofJackBunsby,\"repliedtheartist.\"Growingoldislikeaprospectivejourney.Somuchdependsuponthecountrythroughwhichyoutravelandyourcompany.
MyfatherandmotheraretakingasummerexcursionthroughNorwayandSweden,andIknowtheyareenjoyingthemselvesabundantly.
Theyhavehadagoodtimegrowingold.Whyshouldnotothers?\"
Idaappearedtoresenthiswordsbitterly;andwithatoneandmannerthatsurprisedeveryoneshesaid:
\"Mr.VanBerg,Icouldnothavebelievedthatyouwerecapableofmakingsosuperficialareply.Whynotsay,ifthepoorwererich,iftheuglywerebeautiful,ifthesickwerewell,ifthebadweregood,andweallhadourheart\'sdesires,wecouldjourneyoncomplacentlyandprosperously?\"
Theartistflusheddeeplyunderthisaddress,comingfromsuchanunexpectedquarter;butherepliedquietly:
\"ThatallusionwithwhichIprefacedmyremark,MissMayhew,provedthatIregardmyopinionasoflittlevalue;andyetIhavenobetteronetooffer.Nothingismoretritethanthecomparisonoflifetoajourneyorapilgrimage.Ifonewerecompelledtotravelwithverydisagreeablepeople,infifth-rateconveyances,andthroughregionsuninterestingorrepulsive,thejourney,ortoabandonthefigure,growingold,mightwellbedreaded.FrommysoulIwouldpityonecondemnedtosuchafate.Itwould,indeed,be\'drearyplodding\'whereone\'sbesthopewouldbethathemightstumbleuponhisgraveassoonaspossible.ButIdonotbelieveinanysuchdrearyfatalism.Weareendowedwithintelligencetochoosecarefullyourpathsandcompanions;andIcannothelpthinkingthatthemajoritymightchoosewiselyenoughtomakelifeanagreeablejourneyinthemain.\"
\"Lookhere,Van;I\'mnocasuist,\"saidStantonwithashrug;\"butIcandetectaflawinyourphilosophyatonce.Supposeonewantedgoodcompanyandcouldnotgetit.\"
\"Hehadbetterjogonalone,inthatcase,thantakebadcompany.\"
\"Andheavyjoggingitmightbetoo,\"mutteredStanton,withafrown.
Ida\'sheaddroppedlowandherfacebecameverypale.Herimpulsivecousininexpressinghisowntormentingfear,hadunconsciouslydefinedwhatpromisedtobeherwretchedexperience.Shefeltthattheartist\'seyeswereuponher;andintheblindimpulsetoshieldhersecret,whichthenwassovividlyplaintoherconsciousness,sheraisedherheadsuddenly,andwitharecklesslaughremarked:
\"ForawonderIalsocanhalfagreewithMr.VanBerg——congenialsocietyformeornoneatall.\"
AsecondlatershecouldhavebittenhertongueoutbeforeutteringwordsvirtuallyclaimedSibleyashermostcongenialcompanion.
\"MissMayhewisbetterthanmostofusinthatshelivesuptohertheories,\"VanBergremarked,coldly.
Hereyesshotathimasuddenflashofimpotentprotestandresentment,andthensheloweredherheadwithaflushofthedeepestshame.
AtthatmomentalouddiscordantlaughfromSibleycausedmanytolookaroundtowardhim,andnotafewshooktheirheadsandexchangedsignificantglances,intimatingthattheythoughttheyoungmanwasina\"badway.\"
\"Yourphilosophy,Mr.VanBerg,\"saidMissBurton,\"mayanswerverywellforthewiseandfortunate,forthosewhoselivesareasyetunspoiledandunblightedbythemselvesorothers.Butevenanartist,whobyhisvocationgiveshisattentiontothebeautiful,mustneverthelessseethattherearemanyintheworldwhoareneitherwisenorfortunate——whoseempredestinedbytheircircumstances,folly,anddefectivenaturestoblunderandsintilltheyreachapointwherereasonandintelligencecandolittlemoreforthemthanrevealhowfoolishandwrongtheyhavebeen,orhowgreatagoodtheyhavemissedandlostirrevocably.Thepast,withitsopportunities,hasgone,andtheremnantofearthlylifeofferssuchadismalprospect,andtheyfindthemselvessoshutuptoacertainlot,soshackledbytheveryconditionsinwhichtheyexist,thattheyaredisheartened.Itishardformanyofusnottofeelthatwehavebeenutterlydefeatedandsosinkintofatalapathy.\"
Mr.Mayhew,whohadbeencoldlyimpassiveandresolutelytaciturnthusfar,nowleanedbackinhischair,andhiseyesglowedliketwolampsfrombeneaththeeavesofhisshaggybrows.Ayoungandlovelywomanwasgivingvoicetohisowncrushedandill-starrednature;andstrangetosay,sheidentifiedherselfwiththeclassforwhichshespoke.inthedepthsofhisheartheboweddown,reverenced,andthankedherforclaimingthiskinshiptohimself,eventhoughtheknewitmustbemisfortuneandnotwrongthathadmarredherlife.
IfVanBerghadnotbeensopreoccupiedwiththespeaker,hewouldhaveseenthatthedaughteralsowashangingonthelipsthatwereexpressingsimplyandeloquentlythethoughtswithwhichherownheavyheartwasburdened.Butwhentheartistbegantospeak,Ida\'sfacegrewpalerthaneverasshesawtheglowofadmirationandsympathythatlighteduphisfeatures.Complimentsshehadreceivedinendlessvarietyallherlife,butneverhadsheseenamanlookatherwiththatexpression.
\"Pardonme,MissBurton,\"hesaid,\"ifIprotestagainstyourusingthepronounyoudid.Noonewilleverbeabletoassociatetheword\'defeat\'withyou.Idonotunderstandyourphilosophy;
butIknowitisfarbetterthanmine.WhileIadmitthetruthofyourwordsthatIdoprofessionallyshutmyeyesasfaraspossibletoalltheuglyfactsoflife,stillIhavebeencompelledtonotethattheworldisfullofevilsforwhichIcanseenoremedy,andasamatterofcommonexperiencetheyapparentlyneverareremedied.
Goodsteeringandcarefulseamanshipareimmenselyimportant;butofwhatusearetheyifoneiscaughtinatornadoormaelstrom,orwedgedinamongrocks,sothatgoingtopiecesisonlyaquestionoftime?Goodseamanshipoughttokeeponefromsuchafate,itmaybesaid.Soitdoesinthemajorityofinstances;butoftenthewisestarecaught.Ifyouwillrealizeit,MissBurton,allinthishouse,men,women,andchildren,areaboutasabletotakeashipacrosstheAtlantic,astomakethelifevoyagewiselyandsafely.Asaruleweonlysailandsail.Wherewearegoing,andwhatweshallmeet,theLordonlyknows——wedon\'t.Ihavetravelledabroadattimes,andhaveseenalittleofsocietyathome,andifgrowingselfish,mean,andvicious,isgoingtothebad,thanitwouldseemthatmorefindthebottomthananyport.\"
\"Oh,hush,Mr.VanBerg,\"criedMissBurton.\"Youwillfilltheworldwithablind,stupidfateandthebestonecanhopeforistheraregoodluckortheskilfuldodgingwhichenablesonetoescapetherandomblowsandstorms.IbelieveinGodandlaw,althoughIconfessIcanunderstandneither.AsthegoodMussulmanlookstowardsMecca,soIlooktowardthemandprayandhopeon.Thissnarloflifewillyetbeuntangled.\"
\"IassureyouthatItrytodothesame,butnotwithyoursuccess,Ifear.Yourillustrationstrikesmeasunfortunate.TheMoslemlookstowardMecca;butwhatisthereinMeccaworthlookingtoward?Ifheonlythoughtso,mighthenotaswelllookinanyotherdirection?\"
\"Pleasedon\'ttalkso,Mr.VanBerg.Don\'tyouseethathecan\'tlookinanyotherdirection?Hehasbeentaughttolookthithertillitispartofhisnaturetodoso.Indestroyinghisfaithyoumaydestroyhim.Pardonme,ifIaskyoutopleaserememberthatfaithinGodandafuturelifeismorevitallyimportanttosomeofusthanourdailybread.Wemaynotbeabletoexplainit,butwemusthopeandtrustorperish.Togobacktoyournauticalillustration,supposesomewhohadbeenwreckedwereclingingtoarockyshore,andtryingtoclamberupoutofthecoldsprayandsurftowarmthandsafety;woulditnotbeacruelthingtogoalongtheshoreandunloosenthepoornumbhandshowevergentlyandscientificallyitmightbedone?Loosingthatholdmeanssinkingtounknowndepths.Withcomplacentself-approvalandwithlearnedAthenianairs,manyofthesavansofthedayarevirtuallyguiltyofthishorriblecruelty.\"
\"IdonottakesideswiththeAthenianswhocalledSt.Paulababbler,\"saidVanBerg,flushing;\"yettruthcompelsmetoadmitthatIcouldworshipmoresincerelyatthe\'AlteroftheunknownGod,\'thanbeforeanyconceptionofDeitythatmodernTheologyhaspresentedtomymind.Thatdoesnotprovemuch,Iamboundtosay,forIhavenevergiventhesesubjectssufficientattentiontobeentitledtohaveopinions.Still,Ilikefairplay,whateverbetheconsequences.Yourarraignmentoftalkingskepticsisasevereoneandstrikesmeinanewlight.Mighttheynoturge,inself-defence,thattherewasadeeperanddarkerabyssonthefarthersideoftherocktowhichthewreckedwereclinging?Maytheynotarguethatthegraspoffaithmayleadtoadeeperandmorebitterdisappointment?\"
\"Howcantheyknowthat?Howcantheyknowwhatshallbeintheagestocome?\"repliedMissBurton,speakingrapidly.\"Thisisthesituation:——Iamclingingtosomehope,somethingthatIbelievewillbetruthwhichsustainsme,andtheonlyforceoftheskeptic\'swordsistoloosenmygrasp.Nobettersupportisgiven,nonewhopeinspired.Believeme,\"sheconcludedpassionately,\"IwouldratherdieathousanddeathsbytorturethanlosemyfaiththatthereisaGodwhowillbringorderoutofthischaosofbroken,thwartedlives,ofwhichtheworldisfull,andthatthosewhoseeka\'happiershore\'willeventuallyfindit.\"
\"Youwillfindit,\"saidVanBerg,inlowemphatictones;andthenheaddedwithashrug,asherosefromthetable,\"Iwishmychanceswereasgood.\"
Ida,whoafewweeksbeforewouldhaveheardthisconversationwithunqualifieddisgust,hadlistenedwitheagereyesandpartedlips,andshenowsaidcoldly,butwithadeepsigh:
\"YourGodandhappyshore,MissBurton,aretoovagueandfaraway.
Troublesandtemptationsareinourveryhearts.\"
VanBerglookedhastilytowardher,butsheroseandturnedherfacefromhim.
Mr.Mayhewshookhisheaddespondently,asifhisdaughter\'swordsfoundadeep,sadechoinhisownnature.
\"Letusheartheconclusionofthewholematter;saidthewisemanofold,\'allisvanityandvexationofspirit,\'\"criedStanton,withtheairofonewhowastryingtoescapefromanightmare.
MissBurtonatoncebecameherold,smilingself.
\"Youdonotquote\'thewiseman\'correctly,\"shesaid;\"butyouremindmethathedidsay\'amerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine.\'
Itislikemercy\'twiceblessed.\'Thismuch,atleast,Iknowistrue;andMr.VanBerg\'swordshaveputusallatseatosuchanextantthatitiswelltofindoneweesolidpointtostandon.\"
Astheartistpassedouthefoundopportunitytowhisperinherear:
\"IcannottellyouhowmuchIhonorthewomanwhowithherSAD
heartmakesothers\'merry.\'\"
Sheblushedandsmiled,butonlysaid:\"Howblindyouare,Mr.VanBerg!Can\'tyouperceivethatnothingelsedoesmesomuchgood?
NowyouseehowselfishIam.\"
Idasawhimwhisper,andnotedtheansweringsmileandblush.Wasitstrangethatsoslightathingshoulddepresshermorethanalltheevilsofthepresentworldandtheworldtocome?
Surely,sincehumanheartsarewhattheyare,afar-awayGodwouldbelikethesunofthetropicstotheice-boundatthepoles.
ChapterXXVII.AFamilyGroup.
Theoldadage,that\"asthewinecomesinthemanstepsout,\"wasnottrueofSibley,forthemanhadsteppedoutpermanentlylongsince.Butnotverymuchwinewasrequiredtooverthrowtheflimsybarriersofself-restraintandcourtesythathetriedtointerposeinhissobermomentsbetweenhistrueselfandsociety.Mr.Burleighfrownedathimmorethanonceduringthedinner-hour,andwasgladtoseehimstrolloffinthegroundswithhisbooncompanions.
StantonfollowedtheMayhewstotheirrooms,forhewishedtoremonstratewithIdaandMrs.Mayhewinregardtotheirapparentintimacywiththefellow.
\"Ida,\"hesaid,\"doyourealizedtheforceofyourwordstoMr.
VanBergatthetableto-day,takeninconnectionwithyouraction?
Yousaid,\'congenialsocietyforme,ornoneatall.\'WhateverVan\'sfaultsare,heisaperfectgentleman;andyetyoutreathimasrudelyandcoldlyasyoucan,andassertbyyouractionsthatSibley\'ssocietyisbyfarthemostcongenialtoyou.\"
Ida\'soverstrainednervesgaveway,andshesaid,irritably:
\"Youunderstoodthecheerfulquestionsofourappetizingtable-talkto-daybetterthanyouunderstandme;sopleasebestill.\"
\"Oh,pshaw,Ik,\"commencedMrs.Mayhew,whonowbegantowakeupsincethethemewasquitewithinhersphere,\"youareaffectingveryPuritanicalviewsoflate.ItdoesnotseemsoverylongsinceyouandSibleyweregoodfriends.\"
\"Itiswithinthememoryofwoman,ifnotofman,\"addedIda,maliciously,\"sinceyoudrankhisbrandy,andconsiderableofit,too.\"
Stantonflushedangrilybutcontrolledhimself.
\"Hewasnevermyfriend——nevermorethananacquaintance,\"hesaidemphatically,\"andIneverbeforeknewhimaswellasIdonow.Moreover,Imayaswellsayitplainly,Iamthroughwiththatstyleofmen,forever.Thereislittleprospectofmyeverbecomingsaint-like,butIshall,atleast,ceasetobevulgarinmyassociations.IprotestagainstSibley\'scomingtoourtableagain.\"
\"Youareabsurdlyunreasonable,\"repliedMrs.Mayhewinanaggrievedtone.\"Sibleyisonlysowinghiswildoatsnowasyoudidinthepast.Idon\'tknowwhyheisnotasgoodasyourfriendMr.VanBerg,who,asfarasIcanmakeout,ismoreofaninfidelthananythingelse.Inevercouldendurethesedoubting,unsettlingpeople.\"
\"IadmitthatSibleyisestablished,\"saidStanton.\"Thereislittleprospectofhisevergettingoutofthemireinwhichheisnowimbedded.\"
\"Nonsense!WhathasSibleydonethatisparticularlyoutoftheway,morethanyouandotheryoungmen?I\'msurehisfamilyisquiteasrichandfashionableasthatofthisartist.\"
\"Morerichandfashionable.ThereisjustthedifferencebetweentheSibleysandtheVanBergsthatthereisbetweenadropcurtainatatheatreandoneofBierstadt\'soilpaintings.Thereismorepaintandsurfaceintheformer,buttruthandgeniusinthelatter.
Ifyoupreferpaintandsurfaceitisamatteroftaste.\"
\"Iwon\'tenduresuchinsinuationsfromyou,\"saidMrs.Mayhew,indignantly.
\"Oh,hushmother!\"saidIda,quietly.\"IthinkIkisverymagnanimousinpraisinghisfriendinviewofcircumstancesthatarebecomingquiteapparent.Possiblyheisexaggeratingalittle,inordertoshowuswhatagreat,generoussoulhehas.Forone,IwouldliketoknowwhereinthissuperiorraceofVanBergsdiffersfromthosewhohavehadthepresumptiontosupposethemselvesatleastequals.\"
Ida\'sallusionandtonestungStantonintosayingmorethanheintended,andthusthegirl\'sartificebecamesuccessful.HearingaboutVanbergandallthatrelatedtohimwaslikelookingoutofadesertintoafruitfuloasis;andyetcruelaswasthefascination,itwasalsoirresistible.
\"ThemannerinwhichtheVanBergslive,wouldbearevelationtoyou,\"saidStanton,angrily,\"andoneundoubtedlynotatalltoyourtaste.IncomparisonwiththeSibleyshow-rooms,whicharestuffedandcrowdedwithcostlyandincongruoustrumpery,Mrs.VanBerg\'shousewouldseemveryplain;buttoonecapableofdistinguishingthedifference,theevidenceofmindandtaste,insteadofmeremoney,isseenoneveryside.Simplicityandbeautyareunitedasfaraspossible.Everythingisthebestofitskindanddevoidofveneerandsham.Thereisnolavishandvulgarprofusion,andthereisaharmonyofcoloranddecorationthatmakeseveryroomapictureinitself.Moreover,thehousedoesnotgrowsuddenlyshabbyafteryouleavethosepartswhichareseenbyvisitors.Itisallgenuineandhigh-toned,likethepeoplewholiveinit.\"
\"WhatsortofpeopleareMrs.VanBergandherdaughter?\"Idaasked,withavertedfaceandlowconstrainedvoice.
\"Mrs.VanBergcomesofafamilythathasbeenaristocraticforseveralgenerations,andonethathasbeensingularlyfreefromblacksheep.Sheappearstostrangerssomewhatreservedandstately,butwhenyoubecomebetteracquaintedyoufindshehasawarm,kindheart.Butshehasaperfecthorrorofvulgarity.IfshehadseenthisSibleytakemorewinethanheoughtandmakeaspectacleofhimselfatapublictable,shewouldnomoreadmithimtoherparlorthanaBoweryrough.Merewealthwouldnotturnthescaleahairinhisfavor.Ifshehasimpressedonhersononetraitmorethananother,itisthisdisgustwithallkindsofvulgarpeopleandvulgarvice.Idon\'tthinkVanwillsitdownatthesametablewithSibleyagain,orpermitMissBurtontodoso.\"
Idaavertedherfacestillfarther,butsaidnothing.
\"Indeed!\"saidMrs.Mayhew;\"andhasMissBurtongivenhimtherightsofaprotector.\"
\"Sorrytodisappointyou,aunt;butIhavenonicebitofgossiptoreport.MissBurtonisanorphan,andsoanyfriendofhershasarighttoprotecther.IwouldhavetakenthismatterintomyownhandswereitnotoutofconsiderationforyouandIda,whounfortunatelyhavepermittedyourselvestobeidentifiedwithSibleyashisespecialfriends.Indeed,mostinthehouseregardhimasIda\'sfavoredoracceptedsuitor.ButIwarnyoutocutloosefromhimatonceoryoumaysufferaseverehumiliation.IfyouandIdawillcontinuetoencouragehim,thenItellyouplainlyIshallfollowyounofurtherintotheslough.\"
Themaidenstampedherfootandmadeanemphaticgestureofrageandprotest,butdidnottrustherselftoanswerthecruelwords,eachoneofwhichwaslikethethrustofaknife.
ButMrs.Mayhew,whosedesiretoberespectablewasarulingpassion,nowbecamethoroughlyalarmedandsaidhastily:
\"Mr.Sibleyiscertainlynothingtome,andIhopenothingtoIda.
Getridofhimanywayyoucan,sincethingshavereachedthepassyourepresent.Ifsocietyisgoingtoputhimunderban,wemustcuthim;that\'sallthereisaboutit,andhisbehavioratdinnergivesusanexcuse.\"
DuringthisconversationMr.Mayhewhadbeenlyingonthesofawithclosedeyes,andasmotionlessasifheweredead.Nowhesaidinlow,bittertones:
\"Markitwell——anexcuse,notareason.O,virtue!howbeautifulthouart!\"
\"Youarethelastoneintheworldtospeakonthissubject,\"saidMrs.Mayhew,angrily.
\"Rightagain.Yousee,Ik,myfamilyneverbeforemetamanwhopromisedtomakesuchanappropriateadditiontoournumber.It\'sapityyouareinterfering;\"andhepouredoutalargeglassofbrandy.
\"WouldtoGodIhaddiedbeforeIhadseenthisday!\"criedIdainatoneofsuchsharpagonythatallturnedtowardsherinaquestioningsurprise;butsherushedintoherownroomandlockedthedoorafterher.
\"ThingshavegonefartherbetweenherandSibleythanwethought,\"
saidStanton,gloomily.
\"Well,Ik,\"saidMr.Mayhewwithalaughthatwasdreadfultohear,\"youhadbettercutloosefromus.Weareallgoingtothedevilbytheshortestcut.\"
\"WouldtoheavenIhadneverseenyou!\"criedMrs.Mayhew,hysterically.\"YOUaretheonewhoisdraggingusdown.Ifmynephewdesertsus,Iwillbrandhimasacowardandnogentleman.\"