\"I\'llnotdesertyouunlessyoudesertyourself,\"saidStanton,withagestureofdisgustandimpatience;\"butifyoupersistingoingdownintothedeepestquagmiresyoucanfind,youcannotexpectmetofollowyou;\"andwiththesewordshelefttheroom.
Mr.Mayhewwassoonsunkinthedeepestlethargy,andhiswifespenttheafternooninimpotentlyfrettingandfumingagainsther\"miserablefate,\"asshetermedit,andintryingtodevisesomewayofkeepingupappearances.
ChapterXXVIII.RatherVolcanic.
Stantonwasgladtoescapefromthehouseaftertheinterviewdescribedinthepreviouschapter;andobservingthatVanBergwasrecliningunderatreeatsomelittledistancefromthehotel,stolledthitherandthrewhimselfdownonthegrassbesidehim.
Buthisperturbationwassoevidentthathisfriendremarked:
\"Youareoutofsorts,Ik.What\'sthematter?\"
\"I\'vebeensettlingthisSibleybusinesswithmyauntandcousin,\"
snarledStanton;\"andsomewomenalwaysmakesuchblastedfoolsofthemselves.Buttheywon\'thaveanythingmoretodowithhim;atleast,I\'msuremyauntwon\'t.AsforIda——butthelesssaidthebetter.I\'msooutofpatiencewithherfollythatIcan\'ttrustmyselftospeakofher.\"
\"Stanton,\"saidVanBerg,gloomily,\"youhavenoideaoftheregretanddisquietwhichthatgirlhascausedmeasanartist.Ihaveseenherfeaturesnowforweeks,andIcannothelplookingatthem,fortheyalmostrealizemyideaofperfection.Buttheassociationsofthisbeautyarebeginningtoirritatemebeyondendurance.\"
\"ItwasamotleycrowdthatIwasthemeansofbringingtoyourtable,\"saidStanton,withanoath;\"andI\'venodoubtyouhavewishedusallawaymanytimes.\"
VanBerglaidhishandonhisfriend\'sarm,andlookedintohiseyes.
\"Ik,\"hesaidslowly,\"IwasyourfriendwhenIcamehere——Iamyourfriendstill.IfIcannotloveyoubetterthanIdomyself,youmustforgiveme.ButIshallnevertakeoneunfairadvantageofyou,andIrecognizethefactthatyouhaveequalrightswithmyself.Ik,letusbefrankwitheachotherthisoncemore,andthenthefuturemustsettleallquestions.Thewomanwebothloveistoopureandgoodforeitherofustodoameanthingtowinher.
Doyourbest,oldfellow.Ifyousucceed,Iwillcongratulateyouwithanhonesthearteventhoughtitbeaheavyone.Ishallnotdetractfromyouintheslightestdegree,orceasetoshowforyouthethoroughlikingandrespectthatIfeel.Itshallsimplybeamaiden\'schoicebetweenustwo;andyouknowitissaidthattheheartmakesthischoiceforreasonsinexplicableeventoitself.\"
\"Van,youareanoble,generousfellow,\"saidtheimpulsiveStanton,graspinghisfriend\'shand.\"Imustadmitthatyouhavebeenafairandconsideraterival.Evenmyjealousycouldfindnofault.\"
Thenheadded,indeepdespondency:\"Butitisofnouse.Youhavevirtuallywonheralready.\"
\"No,\"saidVanBerg,thoughtfully,\"Iwishyouwerenotmistaken,butyouare.ThereissomethinginhermannertowardsmeattimeswhichIcannotunderstand;butIhaveaconvictionthatIhavenottouchedherheart.\"
\"Shedoesnotavoidyouasshedoesme,\"saidStanton,moodily.
\"No,sheacceptsmysocietymuchtoofranklyandcomposedly,\"answeredVanBergwithashrug.\"IfearthatIcanjoinheranywhereandatanytimewithoutquickeningherpulseordeepeningthecolorinhercheeks.Now,Ik,weunderstandeachother.Happythemanwhowins,andifyouarethefortunateone,I\'lldanceatyourwedding,andnooneshallseethatIcarryathousandpoundsweight,moreorless,inmyheart.\"
\"Ican\'tpromisetodoasmuchforyou,Van,\"saidStanton,tryingtosmile.\"Icouldnotcometoyourwedding.Infact,Van,I——I
hardlyknowwhatIwoulddo——whatIwilldo.Afewweekssinceandtheworldwasabundantlysatisfactory.Nowitisbecomingavacuum.IfearIhaven\'taghostofachance,andI——I——don\'tliketothinkofthefuture.Yegods!Whatachangeonelittlewomancanmakeinaman\'slife!Iusedtolaughatthesethings,andforthepastfewyearsthoughtmyselfinvulnerable.Andyet,Van,\"
headdedwithsuddenenergy,\"IthinkthebetterofmyselfthatI
canloveandhonorthatwoman.DidIregardhernowasIsupposedIwouldwhenyoufirstutteredyourhalf-jestingprophecy,whatabase,soullessanatomyIwouldbe——\"
\"SACRE!herecomesSibleyandothersofthesameilk,gabblingliketheunmitigatedfoolsthattheyare.\"
VanBergturnedhisbackupontheadvancingpartyinanunmistakablemanner,andStantonsmokedwithastolid,impassivefacethathadanythingbutwelcomeinit.Sibleywasjustsufficientlyexcitedbywinetoactoutrecklesslyhisevilself.
\"What\'sthematter,Stanton?\"heexclaimed.\"Yourphizisaslongasiftheworldlookedblackandblueasaprize-fighter\'seye.IsSundayanoffdayinyourflirtation?Doesthelittleschool-ma\'amtakeafterherPuritandaddies,andsay\'HoldthyhandtillMonday?\'
Getheroutofthecrowd,andyou\'llfinditallapretence.\"
Stantonrosetohisfeet,butwassoquietthatSibleydidnotrealizethestormhewasraising.VanBergremainedonthegroundwithhisbacktotheparty,butwassmokingfuriously.
Byaneffortatself-controlthatmadehisvoiceharshandconstrained,Stantonsaid,briefly:
\"Mr.Sibley,Irequestthatyounevermentionthatlady\'snametomeagaininanycircumstances.Irequestthatyounevermentionhernametoanyoneelseexceptintonesandwordsoftheutmostrespect.Imaketheserequestspolitely,asisbefittingthedayandmyownself-respect;butifyoudisregardthemtheconsequencestoyouwillbeveryserious.\"
\"GoodLord,Stanton!hasshetreatedyousobadly!Butdon\'ttakeittoheart.It\'sallYankeethrift,designedtoenhancehervalue.
Weareallmenoftheworldhere,andknowwhatwomenare.Ifitistrueeverymanhashisprice,everywomanhasasmaller——\"
BeforehecouldutteranotherwordablowinhisfacefromStantonsenthimsprawlingtotheearth.Hesprangupandwasabouttodrawaconcealedweapon,whenhiscompanionsinterferedandheldhim.
\"Ishallsettlewithyouforthis,\"hehalfshouted,grindinghisteeth.
\"Youshallindeed,sir,\"saidStanton,\"andasearly,too,asthelightwillpermitto-morrow.HereismyfriendMr.VanBerg,\"
pointingtotheartistwhostoodbesidehim,\"andyouhaveyourfriendswithyou.Youmusteitherapologize,ormeetmeassoonasSundayispast.\"
\"I\'llmeetyounow,\"criedSibley,withavolleyofoaths.\"IwantnocowardlysubterfugeofSunday.\"
Stantonhesitatedamoment,andthensaiddecidedly:
\"No;I\'mnotablackguardlikeyourself,andoutofrespectfortheSabbathandothersIwillhavenothingmoretodowithyouto-day;
butIwillmeetyoutomorrowassoonasitislight;\"andStantonturnedawaytoavoidfurtherprovocation.
VanBergthusfarhadstoodquietlytooneside,buthisfacehadthatwhite,rigidaspectwhichindicatestherarebutdangerousangerofmenusuallyquietandundemonstrativeintheirnatures.
\"Nowthatyouarethrough,Stanton,Ihavesomethingtosayconcerningthisaffair,\"hebegan,inwordsthatwereasclean-cutandhardassteel.\"Ifyouproposetogivethisfellowadog\'swhippingto-morrow,Iwillgowithyouandwitnessthewell-deservedchastisement.Butifyouareintendingaconventionalduel,I\'llhavenothingtodowithit,fortworeasons.Thefirstreasonthisfellowwillnotunderstand.Duelingisagainstmyprinciples,andheknowsnothingofprinciple.ButevenifIacceptedtheoldandbarbarouscode,Ishouldinsistthatafriendofmineshouldfightwithagentleman,andnotalowblackguard.\"
\"Youusethatepithetagainatyourperil,\"hissedSibley,advancingasteptowardshim.
VanBergmadeagestureofcontempttowardthespeakerasheturnedandsaid:
\"Youunderstandme,Stanton;itisnotfromanylackofloyaltytowardyouasmyfriend;butIwouldnotbeworthyofyourfriendshipwereIfalsetomysenseofdutyandhonor.\"
\"Youarebothwhite-liveredcowards,\"roaredSibley.\"Onesneaksoffundercoveroftheday——Ineversawafellowtakenwithapiousfitsosuddenlybefore.Theother,inordertokeephisskinwhole,pratesofhisdreadlesthisprinciplesbepunctured.thedeviltakeyoubothforabraceofchampionsneaks;\"andheturnedonhisheelandwasabouttostalkawaywithagrandairofsuperiority,whenVanBergsaid,emphatically:
\"Waitamoment;I\'mnotthroughwithyouyet.Igiveyoubutabriefhalf-hourtocompleteyourarrangementsforleavingthehotel.\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"saidSibley,turningfiercelyuponhim.
\"Imean,sir,thatyourpresenceinthathouseisaninsulttoeveryladyinit,whichI,asagentleman,shallnolongerpermit.
Curseyou,hadyounomotherthatyoucouldthusinsultallgoodwomenbytheremarkyoumadeafewmomentssince?\"
Halfbesidehimselfwithrage,Sibleydrewapistol;butbeforehecouldaimcorrectlyoneofhiscompanionsstruckuphishandandthebulletwhizzedharmlesslyoverVanBerg\'shead.
Therewasafaintscreamfromthehouse,whichindicatedthatthescenehadbeenwitnessedbysomeladythere.
Theintensepassionoftheartist,whichmanifesteditselfcharacteristically,heldhimunflinchingtohispurpose.
\"Soyoucanbeamurdereralso?\"hesaid,scornfully.\"ItwouldalmostcompensateamanforbeingSHOT,if,asaresult,youcouldbeHUNG.\"
Sibley\'scompanionsspeedilydisarmedhim,stronglyremonstratinginthemeantime.He,insuddenrevulsion,begantorealizewhathehadattempted,andhisflushedfacebecameverypale.
\"Letthemleavemealone,\"hegrowledsullenly,\"andI\'llleavethemalone.\"
\"ForHeaven\'ssake,Mr.VanBerg,\"criedSibley\'scompanions,\"letthematterendhere,lestworsecomeofit.\"
Inthesamesteely,relentlesstones,whichmadeverywordseemlikeabullet,VanBergtookouthiswatch,andsaid:
\"Itisnowfouro\'clock,sir.Afterhalf-pastfour,youmustnotshowyourlibertine\'sfaceinthathouseagain,whilethere\'saladyinitthatIrespect.\"
\"Burleighisproprietorofthathouse,\"repliedSibley,doggedly;
\"andI\'llstayuptheentireweek,justtospiteyou.\"
\"LetusgotoBurleigh,then,\"saidtheartist,promptly.\"Wewillsettlethisquestionatonce.\"
Sibleyreadilyagreedtothisappealtohishost,fullybelievingthathewouldtrytosmoothovermattersandassureVanBergthathecouldnotturnawayawealthyandprofitableguest;andso,withoutfurtherparley,theyallrepairedtoMr.Burleigh\'sprivateoffice,arousingthatgentlemanfromanafternoonnaptoastateofmindthateffectuallybanisheddrowsinessfortheremainderoftheday.
\"Mr.Burleigh,\"beganSibley,indignantly,\"thisfellow,VanBerg,hastheimpudencetosaythatImustleavethishousewithinhalfanhour.IwishyoutoinformhimthatYOUaretheproprietorofthisestablishment.\"
\"Humph,\"remarkedMr.Burleigh,phlegmatically,\"thatisyoursideofthestory.Now,Mr.VanBerg,letushaveyours.\"
\"Mr.Burleigh,\"saidVanBerg,intonesthatstraightenedupthelanguidhostinhiseasychair,\"wouldyoupermitaknownandrecognizeddisreputablewomantobeflauntingaboutthishotel?\"
\"Youknowmebetterthantoasksuchaquestion,\"saidthelandlord,thecolorofhisruddycheekssuddenlydeepening.
\"Well,sir,Iclaimthatamanwhobearspreciselythesamecharacterisnomoretobetolerated;andIhavelearnedtorespectyouasonewhomnoconsiderationcouldinducetopermitthepresenceofahumanbeast,whoseeverythoughtofwomanisaninsult.\"
\"It\'sallaninfernallie,\"beganSibley.\"Ionlymadeaslight,half-jestingallusiontothatprudishlittleschool-ma\'amthatthesefellowsaresocrackedover;andtheyhavegoneonlikemadbullseversince.\"
Mr.Burleighstartedtohisfeetwithatremendousoath.
\"Youmadean\'allusion,\'asyoutermit,toMissBurton,eh!——theyoungladywhowasputundermycharge,andwhocomesfromoneofthebestfamiliesinNewEngland.Iknowwhatkindofallusionsfellowsofyourkidneymake;\"andtheincensedhoststruckhisbellsharply.
\"Sendtheporterhereinstantly,\"hesaidtotheboywhoanswered.
\"Whatdoyoumeantodo?\"askedSibley,turningpale.
\"Imeantoputyououtofmyhousewithinthenexttenminutes,\"
saidMr.Burleigh,emphatically.\"YoumightaswellhavemadeanallusiontomywifeastoMissBurton;andletmetellyouthatifyouwagyourwantontongueagain,I\'llhavemycoloredwaiterswhipyouoffthepremises.\"
\"ButwhereshallIgo?\"whinedSibley,nowthoroughlycowed.
\"Gotothenearestkennelorstyyoucanfind.Eitherplacewouldbemoreappropriateforyouthanmyhouse.Mr.VanBergandMr.
Stanton,Ithinkyouforyourconductinthisaffair.YouarecorrectinsupposingthatIwishtoentertainonlygentlemenandladies.\"
Sibleynowbegantoblusteraboutlawandvengeance.
\"Bestill,sir,\"thunderedMr.Burleigh.\"Oneofthecarriageswilltakeyoutothedepotorlandingasyouchoose.Afterthat,troublemeormineagainatyourperil.Now,beoff.No,I\'llnottakeanyofyourdirtymoney;andifthesefriendsofyourswishtogowithyou,theyarewelcometodoso.\"
\"WeareonlyacquaintancesofMr.Sibley\'s,\"chorusedhislatecompanions,\"andcameinmerelytoseefairplay.\"
\"Well,youhaven\'tseen\'fairplay,\'\"growledMr.Burleigh.\"I\'vetreatedthefellowmuchbetterthanhedeserves.\"
BeforeSibleycouldrealizeit,acarriagewhirledhimandhisbaggageaway.Hisrecklessangerhavingevaporated,thebaseandcowardlyinstinctsofhisnatureresumedtheirsway,andhewasgladtoslinkofftoNewYork,thusescapingfurtherdangerandtrouble.
ChapterXXIX.EvilLivesCastDarkShadows.
Changesintheworldwithoutoftenmakesadhavocinourcontentandhappiness.Lossoffortuneandfriends,removaltonewscenes,deathanddisaster,sometimessoaltertheoutlookthatwehavetoaskourselves:Isthisthesameearthinwhichwehavedwelthitherto?Butthechangesthatcanmostblastandblacken,or,ontheotherhand,glorifytheworldaboutus,arethosewhichtakeplacewithinoursouls.
SucharadicalchangehadapparentlytakenplaceinIdaMayhew\'sworld.Shewasbewilderedwithhertrouble,andcouldnotunderstandthedrearyoutlook.ShehadcometotheLakeHousebutafewweeksbefore,avain,light-heartedmaiden,lookinguponlifewithlaughingandthoughtlessglances,andhavingnomoredefinitepurposesthanthebutterflythatflitsfromflowertoflower,caringnotwhichareharmlessandwhichpoisonous,sothattheyyieldamomentarysweetness.
Butnow,forcausesutterlyunforeseenandhalf-inexplicable,allflowershadwithered,andtheoldpleasuresoncesoexhilaratingwereawearinesseveninthought.Herworld,onceapleasuregarden,hadbeentransformedintoapathsothornyandflintythateverystepbroughtnewbruisesandlacerations;anditledawayamongshadowssocoldanddark,thatsheshiveredatthethoughtofherprospectivelife.
Herhearthadsosuddenlyandthoroughlybetrayedher,thatshewasoverwhelmedwithasenseofhelplessnessandperplexity.Thespoiledandflatteredgirlhadalwaysbeenaccustomedtohaveherownway.Self-gratificationhadbeentheruleandhabitofherlife.IfVanBerghadonlyadmiredandcomplimentedher,ifhehadjoinedthehoneyedchorusofflatterythathadwaitedonhersensuousbeauty,hisvoicewouldprobablyhavebeenunheededandlostamongmanyothers.Buthissharpdemandforsomethingmorethanafaceandformhadawakenedher,andtoherdismayshelearnedthatherrealandlastingselfwasasdwarfedanddeformedashertransientandoutwardselfwasperfect.
Theartistseemedtoherprincely,regaleven,inhisstrongcultivatedmanhood,hisloftycallingandambition,andhishighsocialrank.Asforherself,itnowappearedthatherbeauty,whosespellshehadthoughtnomancouldresist,hadluredhimtohersideonlylongenoughtodiscoverwhatshewasandwhoshewas,andthenhehadturnedawayindisgust.
Fromtheirfirstmomentofmeeting,shefeltthatshehadbeenpeculiarlyunfortunateintheimpressionsshehadmadeuponhim.
Herattendantattheconcert-gardenhadbeenafool;andnowhewasassociatingherwithamanwhomhemorethandespised.Shebelievedthathepitiedherfatherasthevictimofawife\'sheartlessnessandadaughter\'sselfishnessandfrivolity,andthathefeltarepugnancetowardhermotherwhichhispolitenesscouldnotwhollydisguise.Hewasprobablylearningtocharacterizetheminhismindbyherfather\'shorriblewords——\"frothandmud.\"
Suchmiserablethoughtswereflockingroundherlikecroakingravensasshesatrigidandmotionlessinherroom,herformtensefromtheseverityofhermentaldistress.SuddenlySibley\'sloudtones,andhercousin\'svoiceinreply,caughtherattention,andsheopenedthelatticeoftheblinds.ShehadscarcelydonesobeforeshesawStantonstriketheblowwhichhadfelledSibleytotheearth.
WithbreathlessinterestshewatchedthescenetillVanBergsteppedforward.Thenshesprangtoadrawer,andtakingoutasmallfield-glasswhichshecarriedonhersummerexcursionswasabletoseetheexpressionoftheyoungmen\'sfaces,althoughshecouldnotdistinguishtheirwords.Thestern,menacingaspectoftheartistmadehertrembleevenatherdistance,anditwasevidentthathiswordswerethrowingSibleyintoatransportofrage;andwheninhispassionhetriedtoshootVanBerg,shecouldnotrepressthecrythatattractedtheirattention.
Hermother,intheadjoiningroom,commencedknockingatthedoor,askingwhatwasthematter,butreceivednoansweruntilIdasawthattheyoungmenwerecomingtowardthehouse.Thenshethrewopenthedoor,andtoldMrs.Mayhewthatshehadseensomethingthatlookedlikealargespider,andthatnothingwasthematter.
Withoutwaitingforfurtherquestioningsheflittedhastilydown-stairsandfromoneconcealedpostofobservationtoanotheruntilshesawtheangrypartyenterMr.Burleigh\'sprivateoffice.
Asmallparlornexttoitwasempty,andoncewithinit,theloudtonesspokenontheothersideoftheslightpartitionweredistinctlyheard.
AsshelistenedtothewordswhichVanBergandMr.Burleighaddressedtothemanwhomallinthehousehadregardedasheracceptedlover,oratleasthercongenialfriend,hercheeksgrewscarlet,andwhenhewasdismissedfromthehouse,shefledtoherroom;wishingthatitwereaplaceinwhichshemighthideforever,sooverwhelmingwashersenseofshameandhumiliation.
HowcouldshemeettheguestsoftheLakeHouseagain?Worsethanall,howcouldshemeetthescornfuleyesofthemanwhohaddrivenfromtheplacethesuitorthatshewassupposedtofavorashemighthavescourgedawayadog.
ShecouldnotnowexplainthatSibleywasandeverhadbeenlessthannothingtoher——thatshehadbothdetestedanddespisedhim.
Shehadpermittedherselftotouchpitch,andithadofnecessityleftitsstain.Togoaboutnowandproclaimherrealsentimentstowardthemanwhoapparentlyhadbeenherfavorite,wouldseemtoothers,shethought,thequintessenceofmeanness.Shefeltthatshehadbeencaughtinthemeshesofanevilweb,andthatitwasuselesstostruggle.
Despairing,hopeless,hercheeksburningwithshameaswithafever,shesathourafterhourrefusingtoseeanyone.Shewouldnotgodowntosupper.Sheleftthefooduntastedthatwassenttoherroom.Shesatstaringatvacancyuntilherfacebecameadimpaleoutlineinthedeepeningtwilight,andfinallywaslostintheshadowofnight.Butthedarknessthatgatheredaroundthepoorgirl\'sheartwasdeeperandalmostakintotheraylessgloomthatpositivecrimecreates,sonearlydidshefeelthatshewasassociatedwithonefromwhomherwoman\'ssoul,pervertedasitwas,shrankwithinexpressibleloathing.
\"Idaisinoneofherworsttantrums,\"whisperedMrs.MayhewtoStanton;\"Ineverknewhertoactsobadlyasshehasoflate.I
wouldn\'thavethoughtthatsuchamanasyouhavefoundSibleytobecouldgainsogreataholduponherfeelings.Butlaw!she\'llbealloveritinadayortwo.NothinglastswithIda,andleastofall,abeau.\"
\"Well,\"saidStanton,bitterly,\"sheisdisgracingherselfandallrelatedtoherbyherinexcusablefollyinthisinstance.ThosewhopretendedtobeSibley\'sfriendsatdinner,arenowtryingtowinalittlerespectabilitybyturningagainsthim,andthestoryofhisbehavioriscirculatingthroughthehouse.AllwillsoonknowthatheshotatVanBerg,andthathemadeinsultingremarksaboutMissBurton.ItwillappeartoeveryoneasifIdaweresulkinginherroomonSibley\'saccount;andpeopleareusuallythoughttobenobetterthantheirfriends.\"
\"Oh,dear!\"halfsobbedMrs.Mayhew,\"won\'tyougouptoherroomandshowhertheconsequencesofherfolly?\"
\"No,\"saidStanton,irritably;\"notto-night.Iknowhertoowell.Shewilltakenoadvicefrommeoranyoneelseatpresent.
To-morrowIwillhaveonemoreplaintalkwithher;andifshewon\'tlistentoreasonIwashmyhandsofher.WhereisUncle?\"
\"Don\'taskme.Wasthereeveramoreunfortunatewoman?Withsuchahusbandanddaughter,howcanIkeepupappearances?\"
Stantonwalkedawaywithagestureofdisgustandimpatience.
\"Curseitall!\"hemuttered;\"andtheirshadowsfallonmetoo.
WhatchancehaveIwiththesnow-whitemaidenI\'dgivemylifeforwhenfollowedbysuchassociations?\"
ChapterXXX.TheDeliberateWooerSpeaksFirst.
Mr.Burleighwasoneofthosefortunatemenwhowhentheweatherisroughoutside——aswasoftenthecaseinhiscalling——canalwaysfindsmoothwaterinthedomestichavenofawife\'sapartment.ThusMrs.Burleighsoonlearnedthecauseofhisperturbation;andassheknewJennieBurtonwouldhearthestoryfromsomeoneelse,couldnotdenyherselfthefeminineenjoymentofbeingthefirsttotellit,andofcongratulatingherontheknightlydefendershehadsecured;forthequarrelhadcomebeforeMr.BurleighinsuchaformastomakeVanBergtheprincipalintheaffair.
MissBurton\'scheekflusheddeeplyandresentfullyassheheardthecircumstancesinwhichhernamehadbeenspoken,andshesaidwithemphasis:
\"Mr.VanBergimpressedmeasachivalricmanfromthefirstdayofourmeeting.ButIwishhehadpaidnoheedtothewordsofsuchacreatureasMr.Sibley.ThathislifewasendangeredonmyaccountpainsmemorethanIcantellyou;\"andshesoongrewsowhiteandfaintthatMrs.Burleighmadehertakeaglassofwine.
\"Deathseemssuchaterriblethingtoayoung,strongman,\"sheadded,shudderingly,afteramoment,andshepressedherhandsagainsthereyesasiftoshutoutavisionfromwhichsheshrank.
\"Mayhenotstillbeindangerfromthisruffian\'srevenge?\"sheasked,lookingupinsuddenalarm.
\"I\'mafraidthathewillbe,\"saidMrs.Burleigh,catchingtheinfectionofherfears.\"IwillhaveMr.Burleighseethatheiskeptawayfromthisplace.\"
Soonafter,asMissBurtonwaspassingthroughthemainhall-way,shemettheartist,andsteppingintooneofthesmallparlorsthatwasunoccupied,shesaid:
\"Mr.VanBerg,Iwishtospeakwithyou.Iwishbothtothankyou,andtoaskafavor.\"
\"Pleasedothelatteronly,\"hereplied,smiling.
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"sheresumed,lookingintohisfacewithanexpressionthatmadehisheartbeatmorequickly,\"yourlifewasendangeredonmyaccountthisafternoon.\"
\"That\'sapleasantthoughttome,\"hesaid,takingherhand,\"thatisifyouarenotoffendedthatIpresumedtobeyourknight.\"
\"Itisadreadfulthoughttome,\"sheanswered,earnestly;theninastrangeandexcitedmannersheadded:\"Youcannotknow——deathtosomeisahorriblething——itpreventssomuch——I\'veknown——letitcometotheoldandsad——Icouldwelcomeit——buttosuchasyou——OmercifulHeaven!Grantme,pleasegrantme,thefavorI
wouldask,\"shecontinued,clingingtohishand.\"TheysaythismanSibleyisverypassionateandrevengeful.Hemaystilltrytocarryouthisdreadfulpurpose.Pleaseshunhim,pleaseavoidhim——inmercydo.I\'vemorethanIcanbearnow;andif——if——\"
andsheburiedherfaceinherhands.
\"Andcanmypoorlifebeofsuchvaluetoyou,MissBurton?\"heasked,inadeeplowtone.
\"Ah!youcannotunderstand,\"shesaid,withasuddenandpassionategesture,\"andIentreatyounottoaskmetoexplain.Fromthefirstyouhavebeenkindtome.IhavefeltfromthedaywemetthatIhadfoundafriendinyou;andyourrisk,yourcareformeto-day,givesyouapeculiarclaimasafriend,butinmercydonotaskmetoexplainwhyIamsourgentinmyrequest.Icannot,indeedIcannot——atleastnotnow,inthisplace.Somethinghappened——Suddendeathinoneyoung,strong,andfullofhope,likeyou,seemstomehorrible——horrible.Inmercypromisetoincurnoriskonmyaccount,\"shesaidpassionately,andalmostwildly.
\"Mypoorlittlefriend,howneedlesslyfrightenedyouare!\"hesaid,soothinglyandgently.\"There,Iwillpromiseyouanythingthatamanofhonorcan.Butawordagainstyou,JennieBurton,touchesmeclose,veryclose.AssaidtheEarlofKent,\'Itinvadestheregionofmyheart.\'\"
Shelookedupswiftlyandquestioningly,andthenasuddencrimsonsuffusedherface.Withastronganduncontrollableinstinctsheappearedtoshrinkfromhim.
\"Kentservedonewhohadlostthepowertomakereturn,\"shesaid,shakingherheadsadlyassheturnedaway.
\"LetmereplywithKentagain,\"heearnestlyresponded.\"\'Youhavethatinyourcountenance\'——inyourcharacter——\'whichIwouldfaincallmaster\';andIammastered,norcanIbeshakenfrommyallegiance.IcanatleastimitateKent\'sfaithfulness,ifnothisobtrusiveness,intheserviceofhisking.Youhavealreadyclaimedmeasafriend,andsomuchatleastIshalleverbe.LetmewinmoreifIcan.\"
Shebecameveryquietnow,andlookedsteadilyintohisflushed,eagerfacewithanexpressionofsorrowfulregretandpainthatwouldhaverestrainedhimhadaten-foldstrongerandmoreimpetuouslovebeenseekingutterance,andbyagesture,simpleyeteloquentlyimpressive,sheputherfingertoherlips.Thengivinghimherhandshesaid,withstrongemphasis:
\"Mr.VanBerg,IwouldvaluesuchaFRIENDasyoucouldbetomemorethanIcantellyou.\"
\"Ishallbetoyouallthatyouwillpermit,\"hesaid,gentlyyetfirmly.\"AsyounowappearIcouldassoonthinkofurgingmyclamoroushumanloveonasad-eyedsaintthathadsufferedsomecruelformofmartyrdomforherfaith,andthen,asthelegendsteach,hadbeensentfromheavenamongusmortalsuponsomeerrandofmercy.\"
\"Yourwordsaretruerthanyouthink,\"shereplied,thepallordeepeninginherface.\"Ihavesufferedastrange,cruelformofmartyrdom.ButIamnotasaint,onlyaweakwoman.Iwouldvaluesuchafriendasyoucouldbeexceedingly.Indeed——indeed,\"shecontinuedhesitatingly,\"therearepeculiarreasonswhyIwishwemightmeetasfriendsoccasionally.Ifyouknew——ifyouknewall——youwouldnotasktobemore.Canyoutrustonewhoiscloudedbysadnessandmystery?\"
Hetookherhandinbothofhisandanswered,\"JennieBurton,therecouldnogreatermisfortunebefallmethantolosemyfaithinyou.Iassociateyouwithallthatismostsacredtome.Everyinstinctofmyheartassuresmethatalthoughthemysterythatenshroudsyourlifemaybeascoldasdeath,itis,asfarasyouareconcerned,aswhiteassnow.\"
\"Yes,andasfarasanotherisconcernedalso,\"shesaidsolemnly.\"Yourtrustisgenerous,andIamvery,verygrateful.
Perhaps——possiblyImay——sometime——tellyou,foryouriskedyourlifeforme;and——and——thereisanotherreason.ButIhaveneverspokenofityet.Good-night.\"
\"Stay,\"hesaid,\"Icannotbeginbeingatruefriendtoyoubybeingafalsefriendtoanother.IamashamedthatIhavebeensopreoccupiedwithmyselfthatIhavenotspokenofitbefore.Mr.
StantonresentedSibley\'sinsultinglanguagemorepromptlythanI
did.Ihavebeenbaselyacceptingagratitudethatrightlybelongstohim,andIassureyouheisinfarmoredangerfromSibleythanIam.\"
Herbrowcontractedinasuddenfrown,andtherewassomethinglikeirritationinhertonesasshesaid:
\"Dangeragain!andtoanother,formysake!MustIbetorturedwithfearandanxiety,becausealowfellow,truetohisnature,willbescurrilous?Mr.VanBerg,\"shecontinued,withasuddenflashofhereyes,\"areyouandMr.StantonquarrellingwithMr.
Sibleyonyourownaccount,oronmine?FromhenceforthIrefusetohavetheremotestrelationtosuchaquarrel.NoremarksofamanlikeSibleycaninsultme,andhereafteranyfriendofminewholowershimselftoresentthem,orhasaughttodowiththefellow,willbothwoundandhumiliateme.\"
\"Aftersuchwords,MissBurton,\"VanBergansweredwithasmile,\"restassuredIshallavoidhimasIwouldapestilence.Butremember,IhavebeenasguiltyasStanton,yes,moreso;forStantonreceivedthefirstprovocation,andheisnaturallymoreimpetuousthanIam.ButIhavebeenthanked,aswellaswarnedandjustlyrebuked.Ithink,\"headded,asifthewordscosthimaneffort,\"thatifyouwillkindlyaskStantontohavenothingmoretodowithSibley,hewillaccedetoyourwishes;andwhateverhepromises,hewillperform.\"