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."