"Touchofdyspepsia,likeenough.However,Sibleywillbehereinafewminutesandhewillcheerherup,neverfear.I'mdisgustedwithherthatshetakessotothatfellow;foralthoughnosaintmyself,Ican'tstomachhim."
AtthementionofSibley'sname,VanBergfrowned,turnedonhisheelandwalkedaway.
"IfStantonisrightaboutthatfellow'spoweroverher,"hemuttered,"I'lltearupthesketchImadethisafternoonandnevergiveheranotherthought."
ThemomentIdabecameconsciousofVanBerg'sobservanteyesherlanguorpassedaway.Shehadscarcelyglancedathimwhileatdinner,butshehadfelt,bysomesubtlepowerofperception,thathewasfurtivelywatchingher,andshealsofelttherewasmoreofcuriositythankindlinessinhisregard.Withaninstinctasstrongasthatofself-preservation,shesoughttohidehersecret,andwhenafewmomentslaterthestagewasdriventothedoor,shewaspreparedtowelcomethemanshenowdetested,inordertoconcealherheartfromthemansheloved.
VanBerg,leaningagainstapillarnear,sawMr.Mayhewwithhissallow,listlessfaceandlifelesstreadmountthestepstogreethiswifeanddaughter;but,beforehecouldtakeIda'shand,Sibley,insnowylinenandacoatfromwhichthestainsanddustofearthseemedeverkeptmiraculously,brushedpasthim,andseizingthedaughter'shand,exclaimed:
"YouseeI'vekeptmypromise,andamhere."Andthenhewhisperedinherear:"ByJupiter,MissIda,youlooklikeahourijustfromParadiseto-night."
Mr.Mayhewpausedamomentandlookedfromtheforwardyouthtohisdaughter'sscarletface,frownedheavily,andthengaveherandhermotheraverycoolgreetingbeforepassingontohisroom.
IdacouldnotforbearstealingalookatVanBerg,andherfacegrewpaleagainassheencounteredhisscornfulglance.Pridewasoneofherpredominanttraits,andhismannertouchedittothequick.Sheresolvedtoreturnhimscornforscorn,andtoshowhimthatinspiteofherheartthathadturnedagainstherandbecomehisally,shecouldstillbeheroldgayself.ThereforeshegaveSibleybackhisbadinageinkind;andinreparteethatwasbrightandsharpaswellasreckless,sheansweredthecomplimentsofothergayyoungfellowswhoalsogatheredaroundher.
"DidInottellyouSibleywouldreviveher?"Stantonremarkedastheywentdowntosupper."SuchhumdrumfellowsasyouandIarenottothetasteofonewhohasbeenbroughtuponadietofcayennepepperandchocolatecream."
"Butwhatkindofblooddoessuchadietmake?"
"Judgeforyourself.Itlookswellasitcomesandgoesinaprettyface."
"Lookhere,Stanton,"saidVanBerg,pausingatthediningroomdoor;"thereisthatSibleyatourtable."
"Oh,certainly!HeclaimstobeIda'sfriend,andyouseethatMrs.Mayhewisverygracioustohim.He'srich,andwillinherithisfather'sbusinessalso;andmysagaciousauntinquiresnofurther."
"Stanton,webothfeethatheisnotfittositatthesametablewithMissBurton."
"Youareright,Van,"Stantonrepliedwithadeepflush;"butIcandonothingwithoutdrawingattentiontomyrelatives.Afterall,itisonlyacasualandtransientassociationinapublicplace,overwhichwehavenocontrol.Whilesheseemstooneartohimthereyouknowthatheavenisasneartohellastheyaretoeachother.ForthesakeofpoorMr.Mayhew,iffornooneelse,letthematterpass."
"Verywell,Stanton;butitmustnothappensoanotherweek;"andthentheyoungmenwhohadwithdrawnintothehall-wayentered,buttheexpressionofcoldnessanddispleasuredidnotwhollypassfromtheirfaces.
ChapterXXIII.JennieBurton's"Remedies."
FortunatelyMr.Mayhewhadbeenplacedatthesupper-tablenexttoMissBurton,andVanBergspeedilybecameabsorbedinwatchingtheimpressionmadeoneachotherbythesetwocharactersthatweresoutterlydiverse.ItneededbutaglancetoseethatMr.Mayhewwasaheavy-hearted,broken-spiritedman.Hisshrunkeninanimatefeatures,andslight,bentform,lookedallthemoredimandshadowyincontrastwithhisstout,floridwife,whoeveninpublicscarcelymorethantoleratedhispresence.ThiseveningshedevotedherselftoSibley,whosatbetweenherandherdaughter.
Mr.Mayhewseemedunusuallydepressedevenforhim,andbegantomakeasupperonlyinform.JennieBurtonstoleafewshyglancesathissallowface,andseemedtofindanattractioninitshecouldnotresist.Twohandsomeloverssatnearher,butsheevidentlyforgotthemwhollysavewhentheyaddressedher;andshewooedtheelderlymanathersidewithconsummatetactandgrace.
Atfirsthewasunconsciousofherpresence.Shewasbutanotherhumanatom,andofnomoreinteresttohimthanthechaironwhichshesat.Mechanicallyhedeclinedoneortwothingsshepassedtohim,andinanabsentmannerrepliedtothefewcasualremarksbywhichshesoughttoengagehiminconversation.Atlastshesaid,inavoicethatwasindescribablywinningandsympathetic:
"Mr.Mayhew,yoursultryweekintownhasweariedyou.Ourcountryairwilldoyougood."
Therewassomuchmoreinhertonesthaninherwordsthatheturnedtolookather,andthen,forthefirsttime,becameawarethathewasnotsittingatthesideofanordinary,well-bredlady.
"Countryairisgoodasfarasitgoes,"hesaidslowly,scanningherfaceashespoke;"butitdoesnotmakemuchdifferencewithme."
"Thereareotherremedies,"sheresumedinherlowgentletone,"which,liketheair,arenotexactlytangible,andyetaremorepotent."
"Indeed,"hesaid,thedawninginterestdeepeninginhisface;
"whatarethey?"
"Idonotmeantotellyou,"sherepliedwithalittlepiquantnodandsmile."I'velearnedbetterthanthosepeoplewhohaveadozeninfalliblemedicinesattheirtongues'endforeverytroubleunderheaven.Inevernamemyremedies;forifIdid,peoplewouldturnawayincontemptforsuchcommonplacesimples."
"Icanguessoneofthemalready,"hesaidwithapleasedlightcomingintohiseyes.
"Soquickly,Mr.Mayhew?Idoubtit."
"Kindness,"hesaid,inalowtone.
"Well,"sherepliedwithaslightflush,"Icanstoutlyassertthatthisremedydidmegoodwhenallthelong-nameddrugsinthe'MateriaMedica'couldnothavehelpedme."
Helookedathersearchinglyamoment,andthensaidinthesamelowtone:
"Andsoyouaretryingtoapplyyourremedytome?Itcertainlyisverygoodofyou.Mostpeoplewhentheyarecured,throwawaythemedicine,forgettinghowmanyothersaresick."
"Perhapswecanneverexactlysaywearecuredinthislife;butIthinkwecanallgetbetter."
"Itdependsagreatdealuponthedisease,"hereplied,withashrug.
"No,Mr.Mayhew,"shesaid;and,althoughhertonewaslow,itwasalmostpassionateinitsearnestness."Godforbidthatthereshouldbeadiseasewithoutaremedy."
Heagainlookedatherwithapeculiarexpression,andthenslowlyturnedtowardhiswifeanddaughter.Mrs.Mayhewwastoopreoccupiedtoheedhim,andSibleywasjustsaying:
"MissIda,Iclaimyouforthefirstwaltzthisevening,andonlywishthatitwouldlastindefinitely."
"Pardonmeforsayingittoonesoyoungandhopefulasyourself,MissBurton,"Mr.Mayhewresumedgloomily,"butthatwhichbothGodandgood-senseforbidseemsthethingmostsuretotakeplaceinthisworld."
Althoughsodissimilar,deepandsadexperiencesmadethemkin,andMissBurtonfoundshemustmakeaneffortnottolettheirthoughtscolortheirwordstoodarklyforthetimeandplace.
"Ishallnotletyoudestroymyfaithinmyold-fashionedsimples,"
shesaidintonesthatwerelighterthanhermeaning."Youmustnotbesurethatbecauseyouaresomuchmysenior,allmycomplaintshavebeenmerelychildren'stroubles.Appearancesareoftenmisleading,youknow."
"Notinyourcase,Ithink,MissBurton.Ihavelostfaithinalmosteverything,andmostofallinmyself;butthisunexpectedlittletalkhastouchedmedeeperthanyoucanknow,andIcannothelphavingfaithinyou."
"Iwillbelieveit,"shesaidwithasmile,"ifyouwillgivemealittleofyoursocietybeforeyougobacktothecity."
Helookedatherwithsuddensuspicion."Doyoumeanwhatyousay?"
"Ido."
"Whydoyouwishmysociety?"
Shehesitated.
Hisfacedarkenedstillmore,forherememberedwhathewas,andhowlittlethisyoungandlovelygirlhadincommonwithhim.
"Answermetruly,"heinsisted;"whyshouldyouwishmysociety?
I'venotaparticleofvanity.IknowwhatIam,andyouundoubtedlyknowalso.Ifyouwishtoadvisemeandpreachatme,letmetellyouplainlybutcourteouslythatyourefforts,however,wellintentioned,wouldbeinvain,andnotaltogetherwelcome.Icanconceiveofnootherreasonwhyyoushouldwishformysociety."
Herfacebecameverypale,butshelookedhimfullinhiseyesasshereplied:
"Idonotwishtopreachoradviseatall.Canyounotunderstandthatonemayeaseone'sownpainbytryingtorelievethesufferingofanother?NowyouseehowselfishIam."
Hisfacesoftenedinstantly,andhesaid:
"MissBurton,thatistoodivineaphilosophyformetograspatonce.Astheworldgoesnow,Ithinkyouarefoundingaschoolofyourown.Youwillfindmeaneagerlistener,ifnotanaptscholar,wheneveryouwillhonormewithyourcompany."Andsmilinghisthanksheroseandleftthetable.
Thisconversationhadbeencarriedonintonestoolowandquiettobeheardbyothersinthecrowdedandnoisydining-room.VanBerg,whosatopposite,hadtakenpainsnottofollowitandtoappearoblivious,andyethecouldnotrefrainfromobservingitsgeneraldriftandscopeinMr.Mayhew'smanner;andhiseyesglowedwithadmirationforherwinningtactandkindness.Theglancehebentuponherwasperhapsmoreardentandapprovingthanhewasaware,forshe,lookingupfromtheabstractionwhichtherecentconversationhadoccasioned,seemedstrangelyaffectedbyit,forshetrembledandherfaceblanchedwithasuddenpallor,whilehereyeswererivetedtohisface.
"Youarenotwell,MissBurton,"saidStantonhastily,butinalowtone."Letmegetyousomewine."
Shestartedperceptibly,andthenasuddencrimsonsuffusedherfaceasshebecameconsciousthatothereyeswereuponher.
Inalmostasecondsherecoveredherselffully,andreplied,withasmile:
"No,Ithinkyou,Mr.Stanton.Acupofteaisapanaceaforallawoman'stroubles,andyouseeIhaveithere.Ididnotfeelwellforamoment,butambetternow."
TheeyesofStantonandIdamet.Bothhadseenthislittleepisode,andeachdrewfromitconclusionsthatwereanythingbutinspiriting.ButVanBergwasthoroughlypuzzled.Whileashefelthenhewouldhavegladlydrawnencouragementfromit,andperhapsdidsotosomeextent,hestillfelttherewassomethingpeculiarinhermanner,ofwhichheseemedtheoccasion,butwasnottheadequatecause.
MissBurtonsoonaftersoughtherroom,andforafewmomentspaceditindeepdisquiet,andherwholeformseemedtobecometenseandrigid.Inlowtonesshecommunedwithherself:
"Ismywillsoweak?ShallIcontinuebetrayingmyselfatanyunexpectedmoment?ShallIshowtostrangerssomethingthatI
wouldhidefromalleyessavethoseofGod?Letmerealizeitatonce,andsomaintainself-controlhenceforth.Thisisanillusion——ameretrickofmyoverwroughtmind;andyetitseemedsolike——"
Apassionofgriefinterruptedfurtherwords.Suchbitter,uncontrollablesorrowinonesoyoungwasterrible.Shewrithedandstruggledwiththisanguishforatimeashelplesslyasifshewereinthegraspofagiant.
Atlastshegrewcalm.Therewerenotearsinhereyes.Shewasbeyondsuchsimpleandnaturalexpressionofsorrow.Shehadreadytearsforthetroublesofothers,butnowhereyesweredryandfeverish.
"OGod,"shegasped,"teachmepatience!Keepmesubmissive.Letmestillsay,'Thywillbedone.'Andyetthetimeisdrawingnearwhen——oh,hush!hush!Letmenotthinkofit——
"There,there,bestill,"shesaidmorequietlywithherhanduponherside."Hundredsofotherheartsbesidesyourownareaching.
Forgetyourselfinrelievingthem."
Shebathedherface,putsomebrighterflowersinherhair,andwentdownamongtheotherguests,seeminglytheveryembodimentofsunshine.AlleyessavethoseofIdaMayhewwelcomedher;thechildrengatheredroundher;StantonandVanBergwerebotheagerforhersocietyinthedance,orbetterstill,forapromenade;butshesawMr.Mayhewlookingwistfullyather,andshewentstraighttohim.
Withunerringtactshefoundoutthesubjectsthatwereinterestingtohim,andrevivinghisfaithinhisownintelligence,ledhismindthroughsunny,breezyrangesofthoughtthatmadethetimehespentwithherlikeanescapefromthenarrowwallsandstiflingairandgloomofaprison.
ChapterXXIV.AHateful,WretchedLife.
TheadventofhalfascoreofyoungmenfromthecitynaturallymadedancingtheorderoftheoccasiononSaturdayevening.Mr.
Burleigh,however,gaveSibleyahintthatthefeatureshehadintroducedthepreviousweekmustbeomittedtonight,sincenothingthatwouldintheslightestdegreelowerthecharacterofhishousewouldbetolerated.TheexcitementthereforethatSibleyhadformerlyreceivedfromCognac,henowsoughttoobtainbypursuingwithgreaterardorhisflirtationwithIda.Indeed,tosuchanatureashis,herbeautywasquiteasintoxicatingasthe"spiritofwine."Therewasabrilliancyinherappearancetonightandapiquancyinherwordsthatstruckhimasveryunusual.
Norwashealoneinhisadmiration.Theyoungmenfromthecitythrongedabouther,andherhandwassoonengagedforeverydanceuntillateintheevening;butonthisoccasionshehadnoopportunity,asbefore,ofdeclininginvitationsfromVanBerg.
Thesolicitationsofotherswentforlittle,theadmiringeyesthatshesawfollowingheroneverysidecouldnotcompensateforthelackofallattentionfromhim.Hedancedseveraltimes,butitwaswiththosewhoseemedtobeneglectedbyothers.Inhisquiet,dignifiedbearing,inhisunselfishaffabilitytowardthosewhootherwisewouldhavehadadullevening,heappearedtoherinmostfavorablecontrasttothegiddyyoungfellowswhoflutteredaroundher,andwhosesupremethoughtswerealwaysofthemselves,andofheronlyasshecouldministertotheirpleasure.
"MissBurtonhassoplainlywonhim,"shethought,"thathehasadoptedhertacticsoflookingafterthosewhomeveryoneneglects.
Icouldsoonshowhimtheonehehasthegreatestpowerofcheering,andIknowthatshehasthedeepestneedofcheerofanyoneinthiscrowdedhouse,butI'dratherdiethangiveonehintofourfirstmeetinghehashumiliatedme,andIinreturnlovehim!Butheshallneverknowit.Mylookscanbeascoldashis."
Andsotheyweretowardhim,butforallothersshehadhadthegayestsmilesandrepartee.Vividlyconsciousofthesecretshewouldsojealouslyguard,shesoughtbyeverymeansinherpowertomaskitfromhimandallothers.Shewouldevenpermithernameforatimetobeassociatedwithamanshedetestedanddespised,sincethusthetruthcouldbemoreeffectivelyconcealed.
Sibley'sattentionswerecertainlyardentenoughtoattractattention,andoccasionallytherewasaboldnessinhiscompliments,whichshe,eveninherrecklessmood,sharplyresented.Hiseyesseemedtogrowmorewolfisheverytimesheencounteredthem,andmorethanoncethethoughtcrossedhermind:
"WhataheavenitwouldbetolookupintotheeyesofamanI
couldtrust,andwhohonoredme."
Whattortureitwastoseesuchamanpresent,andyettofeelthathejustlyscornedher.
Excitementandherstrongwillkeptherupforalongtime,butastheeveningadvanceddespondencyandwearinessbegantogainthemastery.Sibleycametoherandsaid:"MissIda,Ihaveyourhandforthenextwaltz,butIseeyouarewornandtired.Letusgooutonthecoolpiazzainsteadofdancing."
Listlesslyshetookhisarmandpassedthroughoneoftheopenwindowsnear.VanBerghaddisappearedsometimebefore,andtherewasnolongeranymotivetokeepuptheillusionofgayety.
Hardlyhadshesteppedonthepiazzabeforesheheardherfathersay:
"MissBurton,ifitwillgiveyouanypleasuretoknowthatyouhavemadethiseveningmemorablybrighttoonewhoselifeispeculiarlyclouded,youcancertainlyenjoythatassuranceinthefullestmeasure.Youhavekeptyourwordandhavenotpreachedatmeatall;andyetIfeelIoughttobeabettermanforthisinterview."
"O,MissIda,"exclaimedSibley,"thisistheopportunitythatI
havebeenwishingforalltheevening.IcannottellyouhowgladlyIexchangetheglareofthatroomforthelightofyoureyesonly.
Wouldthatlifewerebutonelongsummerevening,andyoureyestheonlystartsinmysky."
"Absurd,"shecarelesslyreplied;andthentheypassedoutofhearing.
"Good-night,MissBurton,"saidMr.Mayhewabruptly;andhehastilydescendedthestepsandwassoonlostfromviewinthedarkness.
Hisdaughterandthemanwhoseemedtobethecompanionofherchoice,broughtbackatoncetheoldconditionsofhislife.Theprisonwallsclosedaroundhimagain,theairseemedallthemorefoulandstiflingincontrastwiththepureatmospherewhichhehadbeenbreathing,andthegloomofthenightwaslightincomparisonwithhisthoughtsashemuttered:
"IfIdawereonlylikethisgoodangelshemightsaveevenme;butaftermylongabsencesheleavesmewhollytomyselfforthesakeofamanwhooughttobeanoffencetoher.IfItellherandhermotherwhathisreputationinNewYorkistheywillnotlistentome.Althoughheistheknownslaveofeveryvice,mydaughtersmilesuponhim.Frothandmudwearenowandeverwillbe.Afteraglimpseintothelifeofthatpure,goodwomanwhohastriedtobeGod'smessengertometo-night,IcanfindnowordstoexpressmyloathingofthesloughinwhichIandminehavemired.Myonlychild,bytheforceofnaturalselection,bidsfairtoaddtoournumberadrunkardandalibertine;andIampowerlesstopreventit.Themotherthatshouldguardandguideherchild,isblindtoeverythingsavethatheisrich.Frothandmud!Frothandmud!"
Unabletoendurehisthoughts,hewenttohisroomandfoundoblivioninthestuporofintoxication.
Onreachingtheendofthelongpiazza,SibleyledIdatoaverandalittlefrequentedatthathour,saying,ashedidso:
"Letusgetawayfrompryingeyes.Ialwaysfeelwhenwithyouthatthreeisanenormouscrowd."
Agentlemanwhohadbeensmokingrosehastilyatthisbroadhint,whichhecouldnothelpoverhearing,andwalkedhaughtilyaway.
Ida,witharegretdeeperthanshecouldhavethoughtpossible,sawthatitwasVanBerg.Herfirstimpulsewastocompelhercompaniontogoback;butthatwouldlooklikefollowinghim.Weary,disheartenedbythefatethatseemedeveragainsther,shesankintothechairhehadjustvacated.
ForatimeshedidnotheedorscarcelyhearSibley'scharacteristicflatteries,butatlasthesaidplainly:
"MissIda,doyouknowthatyouaretheonewomanofalltheworldtome?"
"Oh,hush!"shereplied,rising."Iknowyousaythattoeveryprettywomanwhowilllistentoyou,asIshallnolongerto-night.
Come."
Baffledandpuzzledalsobythemoodygirl,whooflateseemedsodifferentfromherformerself,hehadnoresourcebuttoaccompanyherbacktothemainentrance.Here,wheretheeyesofotherswereuponher,shesaidabruptly,butwithacharmingsmile:
"Good-night,Mr.Sibley,"andwentdirectlytoherroom.
Theyoungmanlookedrathernonplussedandmutteredanoathashewalkedawaytoconsolehimselfafterthefashionofhiskind.
"Istherenoescapefromthiswretchedlife?"Idasighedasshewearilythrewherselfintoachaironreachingherroom."Amanwhoseaddressesareaninsultismylover.TheonlymanIcaneverloveassociatesmeinhismindwiththislowfellow.Myfatherobtainswhatlittlecomforthegetsfromthecharityofastranger.
HowcanIfacethisprospectdayafterday.Oh,thatIhadnevercomehere!"
"Ida,"saidhermotherenteringhastily,"whathashappenedtoputyourfatheroutso?Ihadaheadachethisevening,andcameupearly.Alittlewhileagohestalkedinwithhisabsurdtragicair.
'Whatisthematter,'Iasked.'Looktoyourdaughter,'hesaid.
'Whatdoyoumean?'Iasked,quitefrightened.'Ifyouwereatruemother,'hereplied,'youwouldnomoreleaveherwiththatroueSibley,thanwithsomuchpitch.Yetheiscourtingheropenly;
andwhatisworse,shereceiveshisaddresses,andpermitsherselftobeidentifiedwithhim.''Oh,pshaw,'Iansweredcarelessly;
'Sibleyisaboutonaparwithhalftheyoungmeninsociety,andIdamightdoagreatdealworse.Nofearofher;forthereisn'tagirllivingwhoknowshowtotakecareofherselfbetterthanshe.''Bah!'hesaid,'ifsheknewhowtotakecareofherself,shewouldpermitasnaketotouchhersoonerthanthatman.Idamightdoworse,mightshe?Godknowshow:Idon't.Aprettyfamilyweshallbewhenheisaddedtoourcharminggroup.Themudwillpredominatethen;'andwiththatheopenedabottleofbrandyanddrankhimselfstupid."
AsMrs.Mayhewrattledthisconversationoffinaloudwhisper,Idaseemedturningintostone,butatitscloseshesaidicily:
"Inspeakingofsuchaunionaspossible,myparentshaveshowntheiropinionofme.Good-night.Iwishtobealone."
"Butdidanythinghappenbetweenyoutosetyourfatheroffso?"
persistedMrs.Mayhew.
"Nothingunusual.IsupposefatherheardoneofMr.Sibley'scompliments;andthatwasenoughtodisgustanysensibleman.
Good-night."
"Mygracious!Youmightaswellturnmeoutofyourroom."
"Mother,Iwishtobealone,"saidIda,passionately.
"AprettylifeIleadofitbetweenyouandyourfather,"sobbedMrs.Mayhew,retreatingtoherownapartment.
"Ahateful,wretchedlifeweallthreeshallleadtotheendoftime,foraughtthatIcansee,"Idagroanedassherestlesslypacedherroom;"butIhavenobetterresourcethantofollowfather'sexample."
Shetookanopiate,andsoescapedfromthoughtforatimeinthedeeplethargyitbrought.
ChapterXXV.Half-truths.
AchurchbellwasringinginaneighboringvillagethefollowingmorningwhenIdaawoke.Thesunlightstreamedinattheopenwindowthroughthehalf-closedblinds,fleckingthefloorwithbarsoflight.Birdsweresinginginthetreeswithout,andasouthernbreezerustledthroughthefoliageasasweetlowaccompaniment.
Surelyitwasabrightpleasantworldonwhichherheavyeyeswereopening.
Poorchild!shewasfastlearningnowthatthedarkestcloudsthatshadowourpathsarenotthevaporsthatrisefromtheearth,butthethoughtsandmemoriesofanunhappyandasinfulheart.