\"Ihavebelieveyoudid.IfsoI\'llneverforgiveyou,fortheverysightofhimspoilseverything.\"
\"Comenow,Coz,bereasonable.FromalltheindicationsIhaveseen,VanBergisthelastmantofollowyouhereoranywhereelse,eventhoughheknewofyourprospectivemovements.Heishere,asscoresofothersare,forhisownpleasure.Sofollowyourmothertoyourroom,smoothyourruffledplumageandcomedowntosupper.\"
EvenMissMayhew\'segotismcouldfindnofaultwithsoreasonableanexplanation,andshewentpoutingupthestairwayinanythingbutacomplacentmood.
Stantonsteppedoutuponthepiazzatogreethisfriend,saying:
\"Why,Van,itisanunexpectedpleasuretofindyouhere.\"
\"Iwasequallyandquiteasagreeablysurprisedtoseeyoudrivetothedoor.IfyoucousinhadnotcomeImighthavehelpedyouexerciseyourbays.Iamdoingsomesketchinginthevicinity.\"
\"Mycousinshallnotkeepyoufrommanyanidlehourbehindthebays——thatis,ifyouwillnotcarryyourantipathysofarastocutmeonaccountofmyrelationship.\"
\"I\'mnotconsciousofanyantipathyforMissMayhew,\"repliedVanBerg,withaslightshrug.
\"Oh,onlyindifference!Well,ifyouwillbothmaintainthatattitudetherewillbenotroubleaboutthebaysoranythingelse.
I\'llsmokewithyouaftersupper.\"
\"Sheevidentlyhasanantipathyforme,\"musedVanBerg.\"Stanton,nodoubt,hastoldherofmyuncomplimentaryremarks,andpossiblyofthefactthatIdeclinedanintroduction.That\'sawkward,forifIshouldnowasktobepresentedtoher,shewouldverynaturallydecline,andsowemightdriftintosomethingascloselyresemblingaquarrelasispossibleinthecaseoftwopeoplewhohaveneverspokentoeachother.\"
Heconcludedthatitwouldbebesttoleavetochancetheoccasionwhichshouldplacethemonspeakingterms,andtriedtopersuadehimselfthatherunpromisingattitudetowardshimwasnotwhollyunfavorabletohispurpose.Henevercouldhopetoaccomplishanythingwithoutatfirstpiquingherprideandwoundinghervanity.
Hisonlyfearwasthatthishadbeendonetooeffectually,andthatfromfirsttolastshewouldsimplydetesthim.
Inhispreoccupationheforgotthatthesupperhourwaspassing,butatlaststartedhastilyforhisroom.Asherapidlyturnedasharpcornerhenearlyranintotwoladieswhowerecomingfromanoppositedirection,andlookingupsawMrs.Mayhewandtheflushed,resentfulfaceofherdaughter.Inspiteofhimselfoureven-pulsedphilosopherflushedalso,butinstantlyremovinghishatheejaculated:
\"Ibegyourpardon,\"andpassedon.
AsIdajoinedhercousinatthesupper-tableshewhisperedexultantly:
\"Hehasspokentome.\"
\"Whohasspokentoyou?\"
\"Yourartist-bear.\"
\"Howdidthathappen?\"
\"Well,henearlyranoverme——horridthing!Isupposethat\'sanotherofhispeculiarways.\"
\"Didheembraceyou?\"
\"Embraceme!Goodheavens,whatanescapeIhavehad!Sothistooischaracteristicofyourfriend?\"
\"Yousaidhewasabear.Ifso,heshouldhavegivenyouahugonthefirstopportunity.\"
\"Hedidn\'thaveanopportunity,andheneverwill.\"
\"Poorfellow!ItwillmakehimsickifItellhimso.Well,sinceitisanothercaseofbeautyandthebeast,whatdidthebeastsay?\"
\"Hesaidthatitwasveryproperheshouldsaytomeafterallhishatefulness.Hesaid,\'Ibegyourpardon.\'\"
\"AndthenIsupposeyoukissedandmadeup.\"
\"Hush,youhorridthing.InoticedhimnomorethanIwouldachairthatImighthavestumbledover.\"
\"Thusdisplayingthatsweettraitofyours——Charity.ButIthoughtitwashethatstumbledoveryou?\"
\"Amusty,miserablepun!Itwashe,andI\'mdelighteditsohappened,thatthefirsttimeheeverspoketomehehadtoaskmypardon.\"
\"Well,well!I\'mgladitsohappened,too,andthattheiceisbrokenbetweenyou,forVanBergisagoodfriendofmine,anditwouldbeconfoundedlydisagreeabletohaveyoutwoloweringateachotheracrossabloodychasmofdark,revengefulthoughts.\"
\"Theiceisn\'tbrokenatall.Hehasbeggedmypardonasheoughttodoahundredtimes;butIhaven\'tgrantedit,andIneverwill.
What\'smore,I\'llneverspeaktohiminallmylife;never,never!\"
\"Swearitbythe\'inconstantmoon\'!\"
\"Hush,herehecomes.Ah,\'peste!\'histableisrightoppositeours.\"
\"Whoisthattallandratherdistinguished-lookinggentlemanthatjustentered?\"askedMrs.Mayhew,suddenlyemergingfromapre-occupationwithhersupperwhichagoodappetitehadinduced.
\"HeISdistinguished,orwillbe.He\'saparticularfriendofIda\'s,andisasrichasCroesus.\"
\"Threeitemsinhisfavor,\"saidMrs.Mayhewcomplacently;\"butIdahassomanyfriends,orbeaux,rather,thatIcan\'tkeeptrackofthem.Herfriendsspeedilybecomefurnace-likelovers,orelseescapefortheirlivesintothedimandremoteregionofmerebowingacquaintanceship.Ioncetriedtokeepalistofthevariousandvariegatedgentlemenwithredwhiskersandblackwhiskers,withwhiskerssandy,brown,andoccasionallyalmostwhite,butborrowingagoldenhuefromtheirpurses,thatappearedanddisappearedsorapidly,astoalmostmakemedizzy.IwasaboutasbewilderedasthepoorIndianwhosoughttotakethecensusofLondonbynotchingastickforeverypasser-byhemet.Andnowbeforewearethroughsupperonthefirsteveningofourarrival,anotherappears,whoisevidentlyaneligible\'parti\'andtwiceasgoodastheminxdeserves;butinafewdayshe,too,willvanishintothinair,andanotheranddifferentstyleofmanwilltakehisplace.Markmywords,Ida,youwillbethroughthewoodsbeforelong,andI
expectyouwilltakeupwiththecrookedestofcrookedsticksonthefartherside,\"andthevolubleMrs.Mayhewresumedhersupperwithazestwhichthisdismalprospectdidnotbyanymeansimpair.
\"IfIwereinsearchofacrabbed,crookedstick,Iwouldnothavetolookfartherthanyondertable,\"saidtheyounglady,petulantly.
\"Whatyousupposeaboutthatdabblerinpaintisaboutasfarfromthetruthasyoursketchofthosewhoaremyfriends.Thatmanneverwasmyfriend,andnevershallbe.Idon\'twantyoutogetacquaintedwithhimorspeaktohim.Youmustnotintroducehimtome,forifyoudo,Ishallberudetohim.\"
\"Hoity-toity!what\'sthematter?\"
\"Idon\'tlikehim.OnlyIkthinkshe\'swonderful.Hehasprobablyblindedourcousintohisfaultsbypaintingaflatteringlikenessofthevainyouthhere.\"
\"Butinsuggestinganotherportraitthatwasnotaltogetherpleasing,hesinnedbeyondhope,\"whisperedStanton.
Idabitherlipandfrowned,recallingtheobnoxiousartist\'sportraitofherselfasgigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven\'ssymphonies;andshesaidspitefully:
\"Hecanneverhopeforanythingfromme.\"
\"Poor,hopelesswretch!\"groanedStanton.\"Howcanhesiphisteayondersocomplacentlyobliviousofhisdoom?\"
\"Mother,I\'minearnest,\"resumedthedaughter.\"Ihavereasonsfordislikingthatman,andIdonotwishtheannoyanceofhisacquaintance.\"
\"Well,well,\"saidMrs.Mayhew;\"aslongasthewindblowsfromthatcoolquarter,wecankeepcooltillitchanges.IfImistakenot,heisthesamegentlemanwhometusinthecorridor.I\'msurehehasfinemanners.\"
\"Ifitisfinemannersinamantonearlyrunovertwoladies,heisperfect.ButIamsickofhearingabouthim,andespeciallyofseeinghim.Iinsist,Ik,thatyouhaveourtablechangedtoyondercorner,andthenarrangeitsothatIcansitwithmybacktowardshim.\"
\"IamyourCaliban,butwouldhint,myamiableCoz,thatyoushouldnotbiteoffyourownprettynoseinspite.Mustallyourkinjoininthisbitterfeud?MayInotsmokewithmyancientfamiliar?\"
\"Oh,beoff,andifyouandyourfrienddisappearlikeyourcigars,theworldwillsurvive.\"
\"Ifearitisbecausemyfriendwillneverdissolveinsighsthatyouaresowillingheshouldendinsmoke.\"
HavingwingedthisParthianarrowoverhisshoulder,StantonstrolledoutonthepiazzawhitherVanBerghadprecededhim.
ChapterV.Spite.
MissMayhewapparentlyhadnotgivenasingleglancetotheartist,ashesatoppositetoherandbutalittleoutofearshot.Indeed,sowelldidshesimulateunconsciousnessofhispresence,thatwereifnotforanoccasionalglancefromMrs.Mayhewhemighthavethoughthimselfunnoticed;butsomethinginthatlady\'smanner,ascaughtbyoccasionalglances,ledhimtosuspectthathewasthesubjectoftheirconversation.
ButIda\'sindifferencewas,intruth,onlyseeming;foralthoughsheneverlookeddirectlyathim,shesubjectedhisimage,whichwasconstantlyflittingacrosstheretinaofhereye,totheclosestscrutiny,andnoactorexpressionofhisescapedher.Shewaspiquedbythefactthatheshowednodisturbedconsciousnessofherpresence,andthathisglancewasoccasionallyasfreeandnaturaltowardsherastowardsanyotherguestofthehouse.Hisbearingannoyedherexcessively,foritseemedaneasyandquietassertionofindifferenceandsuperiority——twomanifestationsthatweretoherasobjectionableasunusual.Neitherinlooksnormannerdidsheappearveryagreeableduringthebrieftimeshespentinthepublicparlors.Theguestsofthehouse,eventotheladieswhoforesawaneclipseoftheirowncharms,werecompelledtoadmitthatshewasverypretty;butitwasageneralremarkthatherfacedidnotmakeorleaveapleasantimpression.
VanBergsurmisedthatStanton\'sdispositiontoteazeandbanterwouldleadhimtorepeatand,perhaps,distort,anythinghemightsayconcerningtheyounglady,sohemadenoreferencewhatevertotheMayhews,buttookpainstogivetheimpressionthathewasdeeplyinterestedinthescenery.
\"Ishallprobablybeoffwithmysketch-bookbeforeyouareup,\"hesaid;\"forifIremembercorrectly,youareupwiththelarkonlywhenyouhavebeenupover-night.\"
\"Youarethegreatersinnerofthetwo,\"yawnedStanton;\"forifI
occasionallykeepunseasonablehoursatnight,youdosohabituallyinthemorning.Eitheryouarenotasbrilliantasusualthisevening,orelsethecountryairmakesmedrowsy.Good-night.Wewilltakearideto-morrow,andyoucansketchfivemilesoffenceifyoufindthatyoucannotresistyourmaniaforwork.\"
PerhapsStantonHADfoundhisfriendslightlypreoccupied,for,inspiteoftheconstrainthehadputuponhimselftoappearasusual,thissecondandcloserviewofthefacewhichhadtakensostrongaholduponhisfancydidnotdissipatehisfirstimpressions.
Indeed,theyweredeepenedrather,forhesawagainandmoreclearlythesamemarvellouscapabilitiesinthefeatures,andalsotheirexasperatingfailuretomakeabeautifulface.
Hedreamedoverhisprojectsomelittletimeafterhisfriendhadretired,andtheconclusionofhisreverywas:
\"Imustsoonmakesomeprogressinmyexperimentorelsedecamp,forthatgirl\'scontradictoryfaceisaconstantincentivetoprofanity.\"
AfterseeingMrs.Mayhew,however,hefeltthatjusticerequiredhimtoadmitthatthedaughterwasanaturalandlogicalsequence;
andinthemotherhesawanelementmorehopelesslyinartisticanddishearteningthananythinginthegirlherself;forevenifthelattercouldbechanged,wouldnottheshadowofthestoutanddressymothereverfallathwartthepicture?
VanBergretiredwiththefeelingthathisprojectofilluminatingafacebyawakeningamindthat,asyet,hadslept,didnotpromiseverybrilliantly.
MissMayhewtriedtopersuadeherselfthatitwasareliefnottoseethecriticalartistatbreakfast,nortomeethimasshestrolledfromtheparlorstothepiazzaandthencetothecroquet-ground,whereshelistlesslydeclinedtotakepartinagame.
Therewas,intruth,greatneedthathermindshouldbeawakenedandherwholenatureradicallychanged,ifitwereapossiblething,——aneedshownbythefactthefairJunemorning,withitsfragranceandbeauty,couldnotlightupherfacewithitsownfreshnessandgladness.Thevariousnotesofthebirdswereonlysounds;thelandscape,seenforthefirsttime,waslikethemapofSwitzerland,that,inthedaysofhergeographylessons,gaveherasvividanideaofthecountryasadrysermondoesofheaven.
Althoughherearsandeyesweresopretty,shewas,inthedeepestandtruestsenseoftheword,deafandblind.Thelackofsomepettyandcongenialexcitementmadetimehangheavilyonherhandsandcloudedherfacewith\'ennui.\'\"
Evenhercousinhadfailedher,forhewasdownatthestables,makingarrangementsforthecareofhisbaysandhiscarriage.Thusfromveryidlenessshefelltonursinghersmallspiteagainstthemanwhosevoicehadmadesuchharshdiscordwiththehoneyedchorusofflatterytowhichshewasaccustomed.Shewishedthathewouldappear,andthatinsomewayshemightshowhowlittleshecaredforhimorhisopinion;butashedidnot,sheatlastloungedtoherroomandsoughttokillafewhourswithanovel.
Herwoundedpride,however,inducedhertodressquiteelaboratelyfordinner;forshehadfaithinnobetterwayofassertingherpersonalitythanthataffordedbythetoilet.Shewouldteachhim,bytheadmirationsheexcitedinothers,howmistakenhehadbeeninhisestimate,andhervanitywhisperedthatevenhecouldnotlookuponherbeautyforanylengthoftimewithoutbeingwonbyitassomanyothershadbeen.
Thechangeofseatshavingbeeneffected,shescarcelythoughtitnecessarytoturnherbackuponhimwhilesittingatsuchadimdistance.Indeedshewasinclinedtoregretthechange,fornowhertoiletandlittleairs,whichsheimaginedtobesopretty,wouldbelostuponhim.
Itwouldseemthattheywere,forVanBergatehisdinnerasquietly,andchattedasunconcernedlytothoseabouthimasifshehadnoexistence.Neverhadamanignoredhersocompletelybefore,andshefeltthatshecouldneverforgivehim.
Aftertheeventofthedaywasover,andtheguestswerecirclingandeddyingthroughthehallsandparlorsandoutonthepiazza,IdastillhadtheannoyanceofobservingthatVanBergwasutterlyobliviousofherasfarasshecouldperceive.Hespokehereandtherewiththeeaseandfreedomofonefamiliarwithsociety,andshesawmoreeyesfollowinghistallformapprovinglythanwereturnedtowardsherself.Fewgentlemenremainedatthehouseduringtheweek,andMissMayhewwasnotafavoritewithherownsex.
Thosewhomostcloselyresembledherincharacterenviedratherthanadmiredher,andthosewhowerebetterendowedanddevelopedfoundfaultevenwithherbeautyfromamoralpointofview,asVanBerghadonartisticgrounds.Sheconsoledherself,however,withthethoughtthatitwasSaturday,andthattheeveningboatandtrainswouldbringanumberofgentlemen,amongwhomshetoldStanton,exultantly,thatshehad\"somefriends\"——mothsratherwhosewingswereindangerofbeingsinged.
Astheafternoonwasnotsultry,Stantonhadsaidtohisfriendthattheycouldenjoytheircigarsandarideatthesametime,andthathewoulddrivearoundforhiminafewminutes.Idaoverheardtheremark,and,quietlyslippingofftoherroom,returnedwithherhatandshawl.Ashercousinapproachedshehasteneddownthesteps,pastVanBerg,exclaiming:
\"Oh,thankyou,Ik!Howgoodofyou!Iwasdyingforaride.
Don\'ttroubleyourself.Icangetinwithoutaid,\"andshespranglightlyintothebuggybeforehercousincouldutteraword.
Heturnedwithalookofcomicdismayanddeprecationtohisfriend,whostoodlaughingonthesteps.Ida,also,couldnotresistherinclinationtocatchaglimpseoftheartist\'schagrinanddisappointment,butshewasprovokedbeyondmeasuretofindhimactingasifStantonwerethevictimratherthanhimself.Asthesweepoftheroadagainbroughttheminviewofthepiazza,thisimpressionwasconfirmedbyseeingVanBergstrollcarelesslyaway,complacentlypuffinghiscigarasifhehadalreadydismissedherfromhismind.
\"Really,\"grumbledStanton,\"Ineverhadbeautyandhappinessthrustuponmesounexpectedlybefore.\"
\"Verywellthen,\"retortedIda;\"stopyourhorsesandthrustmeoutintotheroad.I\'drathergoback,evenifIhavetowalk.\"
\"Oh,no!thereistobenogoingbackfortwohoursormore.I
oncecuredahorseofrunningawaybymakinghimrunlongafterhewantedtostop.\"
\"Youseemtobelearningyourfriend\'shatefulmanners.\"
\"Iaskedyouthismorningifyouwouldtakeadrive,andyoudeclined.\"
\"Ichangedmymind.\"
\"Veryabruptly,indeed,itseemed.Sinceyoutooksomuchtoubletoannoymyfriend,it\'sapityyoufailed.\"
\"Idon\'tbelieveIfailed.He\'sprobablyascrossasyouareaboutit,onlyhecankeepittohimself.\"
\"Dove-likecreatiah!thanks.WillyoupleasedrivewhileIlightacigar?\"
\"Idon\'tlikeanyonetosmokeasnearmeasyouare.\"
\"IfyourtheoryinregardtoVanBergiscorrect,noneofuswillenjoywhatwelikethisafternoon.OfcourseIneversmokewithoutalady\'spermission,butunlessquietedbyacigar,Iamaveryrecklessdriver,\"andheenforcedhiswordsbyasharpcrackofthewhip,whichsentthehorsesofflikethewind.
\"Oh,stopthem;smoke;doanythinghatefulyouwish,soyoudon\'tbreakmyneck.Iwillneverridewithyouagain,andIwishIhadnevercometothishorridplace;andifyoursneeringpainterdoesnotleavesoon,Iwill.\"
\"I\'mafraidVanwouldsurvive,andyouonlysufferfromyourspite.
Butcome,sinceyouhavesosweetlypermittedmetosmoke,I\'llmakeyourpenanceaslightaspossible,andthenwewillconsidermattersevenbetweenus,\"andawaytheybowledupbreezyhillsanddownintoshadyvalleys,Stantonstolidlysmoking,andIdanursingherpettywrath.Twoflittingghostshasteningtoescapefromthelightofday,couldnothaveseenless,orhavefeltlesssympathywiththewarmbeautifulscenesthroughwhichtheywerepassing.
Thereisnoinsulationsoperfectasthatofsmall,selfishnaturespreoccupiedwithapique.
When,lateintheafternoon,hercousin,withmockpoliteness,assistedhertoalightattheentranceofthehotel,Idawascompelledtofeelthatshehadindeedbeenthechiefvictimofherownspite.
but,withtheusuallogicofhumannature,sheneverthoughtofblamingherself,andherresentmentwaschieflydirectedagainstthemanwhoseeverywordandglance,althoughhewasbutastranger,hadseemedtopossessapowertoannoyandwoundfromthefirst.
Shefeltanalmostvenomousdesiretoretaliate;butheappearedinvulnerableinhisquietandeasysuperiority,whileshe,whoexpected,asamatterofcourse,thatallmasculinethoughtsshouldfollowheradmiringly,hadbeencompelledtoseethathiscriticaleyeshaddetectedthatinherwhichhadawakenedhiscontempt.
\"I\'llteachhimthisevening,whenmygentlemenfriendsarrive,howridiculousarehisairs,\"shemuttered,asshewenttoherroomandsoughttoenhanceherbeautybyalltheartsofwhichshewasthemistress.\"I\'llshowhimthatthereareplentywhocanseewhathecannot,orwillnot.Becauseheisanartist,heneednotthinkhecanfacemeoutoftheknowledgeofmybeauty,theexistenceofwhichIhavebeenassuredofbysomanyeyesandtongueseversinceIcanremember.\"
Whenshecamedowntoawaitthearrivalofthestagesandcarriages,shewasindeedradiantwithallthebeautyofwhichshewasthencapable.Herneckandshoulders,withtheirexquisitelinesandcurves,weremoresuggestivelyrevealedthanhiddenbyaslightdraperyofgauze-likeillusion,andherwhiteroundedarmswerebare.Shetrodwiththelightairygraceofyouth,andyetwiththeassuredmannerofonewhoislookingforwardtothefamiliarexperiencesofareigningbelle.
VanBerg,fromhisquietcornerofobservation,wascompelledtoadmitthat,seenatherpresentdistance,shealmostembodiedhisbestdreams,andmightdosowhollyweretherelessofthefashionableartofthehour,andmoreofnatureinherappearance.Butheknewwellthatifshecamenearer,andspokesoastorevealherself,thefataldefectinherbeautywouldbeasapparentasablacklinerunningathwartthesculpturedfaceofaGreekgoddess.Theonlyquestionwithhimwas,didtheominousdeformityliesonearthesurfacethatitcouldberefinedaway,orwasitingrainedintotheverymaterialofhernature,thusforminganessentialpartofherself?Hefearedthatthelattermightbetrue,orthattheremedywasfarbeyondhisskillorpower;buteveryglancehecaughtofthegirl,aswithhermothershepacedthefartherendofthepiazza,deepenedhisregret,asanartist,thatsomuchbeautyshouldbeindegradingbondagetoaseemingfool.
ChapterVI.RecklessWordsandDeeds.
Lightcarriagesnowbegantowheelrapidlyuptotheentrance,andwerefollowedsoonbythelumberingandheavily-ladenstages.
Joyousgreetingsandmerryreparteemadethescenepleasanttowitnessevenbyonewho,likeVanBerg,hadnopartinit.Stanton,whoatthismomentjoinedhim,drewhisspecialattentiontoathinandunder-sizedgentlemansomewhatpastmiddleage,whomountedthestepswithatreadthatwasasinelasticashisfacewasdevoidofanimation.
\"ThereispoorUncleMayhew,\"remarkedtheyoungmanindifferently.
\"IsupposeImustgoandspeaktohim.\"
\"Mr.Mayhew?\"saidVanBerg,insomesurprise.\"Youhavenotspokenofhimbefore.Iwasnotawarethattherewasanysuchpersoninexistence.\"
\"Youarenottoblameforthat,\"repliedStantonwithashrug.