"Isyourfriend,then,sohonorableaman?"sheasked.
　　"Heis,indeed,"repliedVanBerg,earnestly,whileagenerousflushsuffusedhisface,"atrue,noble-heartedfellow.Heshowshisworstsideatonce,butyouwoulddiscovernewandgoodtraitshinhimeveryday."
　　Sheturnedawaywithalowlaugh."Sinceyouaresoloyaltoyouroldfriend,"shesaid,"Ithinkyouwillprovetruetoyournewone.IshallputMr.Stantontothetest,anddiscoverwhetherhewillgiveuphisquarrelwithMr.SibleyforthesakeofsuchpoorthanksasIcangive.Oncemore,good-night."
　　Shewashasteningaway,whenheseizedherhandandsaid:
　　"Whydoyougowithavertedface?HaveIoffendedyou?"
　　Shetrembledviolently."Pleasedonotlookatmeso,"shesaid,falteringly."Icannotendureit.Pitymyweakness."
　　Hishandtightenedinitswarmgrasp,andtheexpressionofhisfacegrewmoreardent.
　　Shelookedupwithasuddenflashinhereyes,andsaid,almoststernly:
　　"Youmustnotlookatmeinthatway,orelseevenfriendshipwillbeimpossibleandwemustbecomestrangers.Perhaps,afterall,thiswillbethewisestcourseforusboth,"sheadded,inagentlertone.
　　Hedroppedherhand,butsaidfirmly,"No,MissJennie,youhavegivenmetherighttocallyoumyfriend,andIhaveseenfriendshipinyoureyes,andfriendsatleastweshallbetilltheendoftime.
　　Ishallnotsaygood-night.Ishallnotletyougoawayandbroodbyyourself.Ihavelearnedthatcheeringothersistheveryelixirofyourlife;so,comeintotheparlor.IwillfindStantonandourfriendwiththesopranovoice,andtheguestsofthehouseshallagainblessthestarsthatsentyoutous,asIdodaily."
　　Shesmiledfaintlyandsaid:
　　"I'lljoinyouthereafteralittlewhile,"andsheflittedoutintothedarkeninghall-way,andsoughtherroombyasidestair.
　　AfewmomentslaterStanton,findingtheobjectofhisthoughtsdidnotappearamongtheguestswhosoughttoescapethesultrinessoftheeveningonthewidepiazzasorinthelarge,spaciousparlor,begantowanderrestlesslyinahalf-unconscioussearch.Aservantwasjustlightingthegasinthesmallandremotereception-roomasheglancedin.Theapartmentwasempty,andnoechoesofthewordsjustspokenwerelingering.
　　AlittlelaterMissBurtoncamedownthemainstair-wayinherbreezy,cheerymanner,andhisjealousfearswerequieted.
　　Hejoinedheratonce,sayingthatitwastheunanimouswishthatsheshouldgivethemsomemusicagainthatevening.
　　Shewouldjoinwithhimandothers,shesaid;andhermannerwassoperfectlyfrankandcordial,solikeherbearingtowardsaladyfriendtowhomshenextspoke,thathefairlygroanedindespairoftouchingaheartthatseemedtooverflowwithkindnesstowardall.
　　VanBergsoonappeared,butMissBurton,onthisoccasion,managedthatthesingingshouldbemaintainedbyquitealargegroupaboutthepiano,andonaccountofthesultrinessoftheeveningtheserviceofsongwasbrief.
　　WhileVanBergwasleadingahymnthathadbeenaskedforbyoneoftheguests,MissBurtonfoundtheopportunityofsaying,"Mr.
　　Stanton,Iwishtothankyouforyourchivalricdefenceto-dayofonewhoispoorandorphaned.Mr.VanBergtoldmeofyourgenerousandfriendlycourse.ThusfarIcanbelievethatyourconducthasbeeninspiredbythetruestandmostmanlyimpulses.ButifinanywayyouagainhaveaughttodowithMr.Sibley,Ishallfeeldeeplywoundedandhumiliated.Irefusetobeassociatedwiththatman,evenintheremotestdegree.Yourdelicatesenseofhonorwillteachyouthatifanyfurthertroublegrowsoutofthisaffairnoeffortonyourpartcanseparatemynamefromit.Theworldrarelydistinguishesbetweenagentlemanlyquarrelandavulgarbrawl,especiallywhereoneofthepartiesisessentiallyvulgar.Asagentlemanyouwillsurelyshieldmefromanysuchassociations."
　　Stanton,rememberinghisappointmentwithSibley,bowedlowtohidehisconfusion.
　　"Iwouldgladlyshieldyouwithmylifefromanythingthatcouldcauseyoupain,"hesaid,earnestly.
　　"Idonotmakeanysuchvastandtragicdemands,"shereplied,smilingly,andholdingoutherhand;"onlysimpleandprosaicself-control,whentipsy,vulgarmenactaccordingtotheirnature.
　　Good-night."
　　Hewasabouttokissherhand,whenshegentlywithdrewit,remarking:
　　"WeplainpeopleofNewEnglandarenotdescendedfromtheCavaliers,remember."
　　Hewatcheduntilindespairofherappearingagainthatevening,andthenstrolledoutintothenight,feelinginhisdespondencythatnostarinthesummerskywasmoreunattainablethanthepoorandorphanedgirl,theimpressofwhosewarmclaspstillseemedwithinhishand.
　　ChapterXXXI.AnEmblem.
　　ForsometimeIdaMayhewneitherheedednorheardthechoralmusicintheparlorbelow,butatlastaclearer,louderstrain,inwhichVanBerg'svoicewaspre-eminent,caughtherattentionandshestartedupandlistenedatthewindow.
　　"HeissingingsongsofHeavenwithJennieBurton,andI——cantherebeanyworseperditionthanthis?"shesaidinalow,agonizedtone.
　　Asifbyasuddenimpulseshequietlyunfastenedthedoorthatledtoherfatherandmother'sroom.Perceivingthathermotherwasnotthere,shestolenoiselesslyin,andturnedupthelamp.
　　Mr.Mayhewreclineduponaloungeinthedeepstuporofintoxication,hisdarkhairstreakedwithgrayfallingacrosshisfaceinamannerthatmadeitpeculiarlyghastlyandrepulsive.
　　"Thisismywork,"shegroaned."JennieBurtonmadeanoble-lookingmanofhimlastevening.Ihavemadehimthis."Shewrithedandwrungherhandsoverhisunconsciousform,appearingasmightoneofMilton'sfallenangelsthathadlostHeavenandhappinessbutnottheprimalbeautyofhisbirth-place.
　　"Well,"sheexclaimedwiththesuddenrecklessnesswhichwasoneofhercharacteristics,"ifIhavecausedyourdegradationIcanatleastshareinit;"andshetookanopiatethatsheknewwouldproducespeedyandalmostasdeepalethargyasthatwhichparalyzedherfather;thenthrewherself,dressed,uponhercouch,anddidnotwakenuntillatethefollowingday.
　　StantonwassorelytroubledoverhisrashpromisethathewouldmeetSibleyatdaylightonMondaymorning.AfterMissBurton'swordshefeltthathecouldnotkeephisappointment,andyetheshrankfromtheridiculehebelievedSibleywouldheapuponhim.
　　HisperturbationwassogreatthathehuntedupVanBergbeforeretiring,andtoldhimofhisdilemma.Theartistgreatlyrelievedhismindbysaying:
　　"Ithinkwebothhavehadalesson,Stanton,inregardtoquarrelingwithsuchfellowsasSibley,althoughIhardlyseehowwecouldhaveacteddifferently.Butvillainsareusuallycowardsaftertheirpassioncoolsandtheybecomesober.Thecaseinhandisnoexception.BurleightellsmehehasjustlearnedthatSibleytookalateboattothecity,andsodoesnotmeantokeeptheappointmentto-morrow.Therefore,sleepthesleepofthejust,oldfellow.
　　Good-night."
　　ThethrobbingpaininIda'sheadwassogreatwhensheawokeonMondaythatshehalfforgottheacheinherheart.ShefoundthatherfatherhadgonetotheCityandthatthedaywaswelladvanced.
　　Hermothersatlookingatherwithanexpressioninwhichanxietyandreproachwereequallyblended.
　　Theunhappywomanhadlearnedfromherhusband'shabitstoknowwhatremediestoemploy,andsowasablegraduallytorelieveherdaughter'sphysicaldistress;butIda'swearylassitudeandreticencewereproofagainstallherquestionsandreproaches.Itseemedasifnothingcouldrouseorstingheroutofthedullapathyintowhichshehadreactedafterthedesperateexcitementoftheprecedingday.
　　Shepleadedillness,andstubbornlyrefusedtogodowntodinner.
　　Atlasthermother,muchtoherrelief,lefthertoherself,andwentouttodrivewithStanton,hopingthatshemighthituponsomeplanofactioninregardtothetwodifficultproblemspresentedinherhusbandanddaughter.
　　TowardseveningIdaslowlyandlanguidlydressedforsupper,andthensauntereddowntothemainpiazzaforalittlefreshair.
　　ThepoorgirldidnotexaggeratetheshadowthathadfallenuponherassociationwithSibley,andhersupposedgriefandresentmentathistreatment.Twoorthreewhomshemetbowedcoldlyanddistantly,andonepassedwithoutrecognition.EvenJennieBurtonhadbeenindignantalldaythatoneofhersexcouldbeinfatuatedwithsuchafellow;andinhercharitablethoughtsshewouldbegladtoexplainsuchperversityastheresultofadisorderedanduncurbedfancy,ratherthanofadepravedheart.
　　Itwasnotstrange,however,thatsheshouldsupposeIda'smannerandindispositionwerecausedbySibley'signominiousejectmentfromthehouse,whenherownmotherandcousinsharedthesameview.
　　Whatanunknownmysteryeachlifeis,eventothelivesnearesttoit!
　　Aswithslow,heavysteps,Idaapproachedthemainentrance,shenotedthedistantmannerofthoseshemet,anddivinedthecause;
　　butherapathywassogreatthatneitherangernorshamebroughtthefaintestcolortohercheeks.
　　Shestoodinthedoorwayandlookedoutafewmoments;butthelovelysummerlandscape,withthecoolshadowslengtheningacrossit,wasaweariness,andsheturnedfromitasthemiserabledofromsightsthatonlymockbytheirpleasantcontrast.
　　Thepiazzawasnearlyempty,butbeforeshesteppedoutuponitshesawnotfarawayagentlemanreading,whoatlastdidcausethebloodtorushtumultuouslyintoherface.
　　Atanothertimeshewouldhaveturnedhastilyfromhim;butinherpresentmorbidmoodsheactedfromadifferentimpulse.Theartisthadnotobservedherapproach,andstandingalittlebackintheshadowofthehall-wayshefoundacruelfascinationincomparingthemanshelovedwiththelowfellowwhoseshadownowfellsodarklyacrossherowncharacter.Shelookedsteadilyathisdowncastfaceuntileverylineandcurveinhisstrongprofilewasimpressedonhermemory.Inthehealthfulcolorofhisfinely-chiseledfeaturestherewerenoindicationsofthatexcesswhichalreadymarredSibley'scountenance.Thedecidedcontourcorrespondedwiththepositivenature.Theunhappygirlfeltinstinctivelythatifhewereonherside,hewouldbeafaithfulally;butifagainsther,shewouldfindhisinflexiblewillagranitewallagainstalltheallurementsofherbeauty.Thefacebeforeherindicatedamancontrolledbyhishigher,notlowernature;andinherdeephumiliationshenowfeltthatevenifheknewallthatwaspassinginherheart,hewouldbestowonlytransientpity,mingledwithcontempt.
　　Shebelievedshecouldhopefornothingfromhim;andyet,didnotthatbeliefleaveherhopeless?Towhatelse,towhomelsecouldsheturn?Nothingelse,nooneelsethenseemedtopromiseanyhelp,anyhappiness.HerwretchedexperiencehadcomeasunexpectedlyasoneofthosemysteriouswavesthatsweepthesunnyshoreofPeru.
　　Whitheritwouldcarryhershedidnotknow,buteverymomentseparatedhermorehopelesslyfromhimwhoappearedlikeanimmovablerockinhisquietstrength.
　　ShewasturningdespondentlyawaywhensheheardJennieBurton'svoice,andamomentlaterthatyoungladymountedtheadjacentstepsandsaidtoVanBerg:
　　"SeewhataprizeIcapturedatthislateseason.RosesearlyinAugustarelikehiddentreasures.See,theyaregenuinehybrids.
　　HaveInothadraregoodfortune?"
　　VanBergroseatonce,andmetheratthetopofthesteps;andIda,whostillremainedunseeninthehall,nowsteppedforwardintothedoorway,sothatshemightnotseemafurtivelistener,ashewasstandingwithhisbacktowardsher.
　　"HadImyway,MissBurton,"saidtheartist,"youshouldhavethisraregoodfortuneeverydayoftheyear."
　　Sheblushedslightly,andsaid,rathercoldly,"Goodevening,MissMayhew,"thusrenderingVanBergawareofthelatter'spresence.
　　Theartistonlyfrowned,andgavenootherrecognitionofIda'sproximity.
　　"Sinceyoucan'thaveyourway,Ishallmakethemostofmypresentgoodfortune.Isnotthatabeautifulcluster?"
　　"Itisindeed,withoneexception.Doyounotseethatthisdefectivebudmarsthebeautyofalltheothers?"
　　"A'wormI'thebudfellonitsdamaskcheek.'Itookitoutandkilledit,andwasinhopesthatifIplacedtheinjuredflowerinwaterwiththeothersitmightstillmakeapartialbloom.YouwillthinkmeabsurdwhenItellyouIfeltsorryforit,andthoughthowmanyrosesandliveswouldbemoreperfectwereitnotforsomegnawing'wormi'thebud.'"
　　"The'worm'inShakespeare'sallusion,"saidtheartist,lightly,"isredeemedbyitsassociationandsymbolism;buttheonethathasbeenatworkherewasadisagreeablyprosaicthingthatyourightlyputyourfootupon.Thebud,asitnowappears,suggestthewormmorethananythingelse.So,please,letmecutitout;
　　forartcannottolerateanythingsoradicallymarredanddefective.
　　Itsworm-eatenheartspoilsthebeautyoftheentirecluster."
　　"Ifearyouartistsbecometoocriticalandexacting.Well,cutitout.Iwillsubmittoartinroses,butfeelthatmarredanddefectivelivesshouldhaveverydifferenttreatment."
　　"Thatdepends.Ifpeoplepersistincherishingsomewormofevil,theycannotexpecttobeheldinthesameesteemasthosewhoareaimingatamoreperfectdevelopment.There,now!doesnotourclusterappearmuchbetter?"
　　"Yes;andyetIcannothelpfeelingsorryforthepoorlittlebudthathasmisseditsonechancetobloom,andallwillwitherunlessIhastentomyroomandputtheminwater."
　　InherprejudiceagainstIdashehadnotlookedtowardsherwhiletalkingwithVanBerg,butinpassing,ahastyglancealmostcausedhertostayandspeaktoher,forshethoughtshesawhereyesfullofunshedtears.Butherglancewasbriefandherprejudicestrong.MissBurtonhadnotalittleofthewholesomefeminineintoleranceforcertainweaknessesinhersex.Shewouldcounselawifetoendureabadhusbandwithameekandpatientspirit.Butgentleasshewas,shewouldscornthemaidenwhocouldbeattractedbyacorruptman,andalmostloatheherforindulginginsuchanaffinity.ShecouldpityIda——shecouldpityanyone;butthepoorgirl'sunfortunateassociationwithSibley,andherseeminginterestinhim,wouldsubordinatepitytoindignationandcontempt.
　　Herthoughtwasthis:
　　"MissMayhewisstillamaidenfreetochoose.Shameonherthatshechoosessoignobly!Shameonherthatsheturnshereyeslonginglytofetidpools,insteadofupwardtothebreezyhills.
　　Whatkindofnatureisthatwhichpromptssuchachoice?"
　　TheartistwasmorecapableofJennieBurton'sindignationandcontemptthanofherpity;andalthoughheknewIdastillstoodinthedoorwayhedidnotturntospeaktoher.Hisveryattitudeseemedtoindicatetotheunhappygirlahaughtyindifference,andyetshewassounhappy,soinneedofakindwordorreassuringglancethatshecouldnotturnaway.
　　"Whatawretchedmysteryitallis,"shethought."Ioughttohate,yetIlovehim.ProudasIhavethoughtmyself,IcouldkneelathisfeetforonesuchwordandglanceashejustgaveMissBurton.
　　ForcontemptIreturnhimhonorandadmiration.Icannothelpmyself.Bysomestrangeperversityofmyheart,Ihavebecomehisveryslave.Howcanhebesoblind!HethinksmepiningforamanthatIdespiseandhatemorethanheevercan,thoughthefellowattemptedhislife.Sibleyhascomebetweenmeandthatwhichismorethanlife——mychanceforhappinessandrightliving.
　　Ishallbecomedesperateandbad,likehim,ifthiscontinues.
　　Howstrangeitisthatsomesense,someinstinctdoesnottellhimtherethatthegirlwhostandssonearislavishingeverytreasureofhersouluponhim!
　　"Thatpoorlittlerose-budrepresentsmetohismind.Howruthlesslyheispullingopenitsheart!Willheseeanythingelsetheresavetheworkofthedestroyer?Canitnotawakenathoughtofpity?
　　Iwill——Imustspeaktohim."
　　Shetookahesitatingsteportwotowardshim.Shecouldalmosthearherheartbeat.Twice,thrice,wordsdieduponherlips.
　　Whenwassheeversotimidbefore!Ifhewouldonlygiveheranencouragingglance!Ifhewouldonlyturnalittletowardsherandrelaxthathaughty,unbendingattitude——
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"shesaidatlast,inavoicethatwasconstrainedandhardfromherefforttobecalm,"youseemveryvindictivetowardsthatpoorlittleflower."
　　Heturnedpartiallytowardsherandcoldlysaid,"GoodeveningMissMayhew;"then,afterasecond,addedcarelessly:"Iadmitthatthisworm-eatenbudisrathervexatious.Ithas——whatisleftofit——exquisitecolor,andinformnaturehaddesignedittobeperfect;but"withaslightcontemptuousshrug"youseewhatitis,"andhetosseditdownintotheroadway.
　　Herfacewasverypaleandhervoicelow,assheanswered:"Andsoyoucondemnittobetrampledunderfoot."
　　"Icondemnit!Notatall.Itsownimperfectioncondemnsit."
　　"Theresultisallthesame,"shereplied,withsuddenchangeofmanner."Itistossedcontemptuouslyawaytobetroddenunderfoot.Dullandignorantasyoudiscoveredmetobe,Mr.VanBerg,IamnotsostupidbutthatIcanunderstandyouthisevening.
　　ImperfectasIamIcouldpitythatunfortunateflowerwhosefragrancerosetoyoulikealowappealforalittleconsideration,atleast.Woulditnothavebloomedasperfectlyastheothersifthewormhadletitalone?But,Isuppose,withartist,ifrosesorhumanlivesareimperfect,thatistheendofthem.Misfortunecountsfornothing."
　　VanBerglistenedinsurprisetothesewords,andhishaughtycomplacencywasdecidedlydisturbed.Hewasabouttoreplythat"Evilchosenandcherishedwasnotamisfortunebutafault,"whensheturnedfromhimwithmorethanherformercoldnessandenteredthehouse.
　　Animpulsethathewouldhavefounddifficulttoanalyzeledhimtodescendthestepsandpickupthesymbolicbud,nowtornandwitheringfast,andtoplaceitbetweentheleavesofhisnote-book.
　　Ifshehadonlyseenthisactitwouldhavemadeagreatdifference;
　　but,everpresenttoherthought,itlaywherehehadtossedit,theemblemofherself.
　　ChapterXXXII.TheDangersofDespair.
　　Discouragementanddespairaredangerousandoftendestructivetocharacter.ThiswouldbeespeciallytrueofonelikeIdaMayhew;
　　foreveninherimperfectionshepossessedasimplicityandunitywhichmadeitimpossibleforapartofsuchmoralnatureasshepossessedtostand,ifanotherpartwereunderminedorbrokendown.
　　Thewholefabricwouldstandorfalltogether.
　　Shehadbeenawaywardchild,moreneglectedthanpetted,andhadnaturallydevelopedapassionforhavingherownwill,rightorwrong.Asshegrewolder,herextraordinarydowerofbeautythreatenedtobeafatalone.Itbroughtherattentioncontinuousadmirationandflatteryfromthosewhocarednothingforherpersonally.Shehadreceivedinchildhoodbutlittleofthepraisewhichloveprompts,thetender,indulgentidolatrywhich,althoughdangerousindeedtoone'sbestdevelopment,sometimessoftensandhumanizes,insteadofrenderingselfishandarrogant.
　　Mrs.Mayhewpettedandscoldedherchildaccordingtohermood,butwasquiteconsistentinhergeneralneglect.Mr.Mayhewwasatired,busyman,whovisitedathisownhomeratherthanlivedthere.Thusthegrowinggirlwasleftchieflytoherownimpulses,andaveragehumannatureensuredthatthehabitofthinkingofherselffirstandofpleasingherselfatalltimesshouldbeearlyformed.Then,asshesawandbecamecapableofunderstandingthehomagethatwaitsonmerebeauty,theworldover,prideandvanitygrewinovershadowingrankness.Theattentionshereceived,however,waschieflymadeupoftheboldstareofstrangers,andtheopenflatteryofthosewhoadmiredherbeautyastheywouldthatofapicture,unconsciouslybutcorrectlyleavingtheimpressionthattheycaredforheronlybecauseofherbeauty.Thatthegirl'snatureshouldgrowhardandcallousundersuchinfluenceswaswhatmighthavebeenexpected.
　　Neglectandamiserableshamofaneducationhaddwarfedhermind.
　　Shehadbeen"finished"byanultrafashionableschoolbeforesheunderstoodthemeaningofthestudieswhichshepassedoverinadaintyquickstep,scarcelytouchingthesurface.
　　Herheartandmoralnaturewerealmostequallyundeveloped.Hithertoshehadknownbutlittleexperiencetendingtoevokegentlefeelingorgenerousaction.Shehadconfoundedthefewgenuineadmirers,who,infatuatedwithherbeauty,endowedherwithallheavenlygraces,awaitingonlytheawakeninghandoftheirlove,withtheheartlessorbrainlessfellowswhowerenotparticularaboutheavenlygraces,providedagirlhadafinefigureandafairface.
　　Whentheartistfirstmetherattheconcertgarden,shewasintruthamodernUndine.Shehadfemininequalitiesandvices,butnotawoman'ssoul.Shewasnotcapableofanystrong,womanlyactionorfeeling.Herschemeoflifewassimpleindeed,althoughshewaslearningtobeveryartfulincarryingitout.Itwastohave"agoodtime,"asshewouldphraseit,andatanyandeverycosttoothers.Afterwearyingofthelifeofabelle,sheproposedtomarrythebestestablishmentthatcameherway,andbecamealeaderoffashion.
　　Itwouldseemthatnotafewfineladiescarryoutthissimpleschemeoflife,andneverreceiveawoman'ssoul.ThereareUndinesatsixtyaswellasatsixteen.
　　Theartisthadbeenattractedbyherbeauty,likesomanyothers,butunlikeothershehadnotaswasthecasewithnotafewsensiblemengivenanadmiringglanceattheface,andthen,recognizingthefactthattherewasnotawomanbackofit,passedonindifferently;
　　norhadhebestoweduponherimaginaryvirtues;andmuchlesshadhebeensatisfiedwithmorefleshandblood.
　　Hismannerhadbeenexploring,questioning.Hewaslookingforherwoman'ssoul,eventhoughhemightfinditunawakened,likethefabledbeautyinthemythicalcastle.
　　Hiskeeneyeshaddisturbedherequanimityfromthefirst.Ashepursuedhisquest,herundefinedfearsandmisgivingsincreased.
　　Atlastshewascompelledtofollowhisquestioningglances,andlookpastoutwardbeautytoherrealselfwithin.Fromthathourtherankandevilweedsofprideandvanitybegantowither.Honestself-scrutinywaslikeaknifeattheirroots.
　　Butthesetraitsgiveatransientsupportlikeafalsestimulant.
　　Astheyfailedtherewasnothingtotaketheirplace——nofaithinGod,noself-respectorself-reliance.Shecouldnotturntoherownfamilyforsustainingsympathy,suchasmanyfindintheirhomes,andwhichisallthemoregratefulbecausenotinquisitivenorexpressedinformalterms.Inherselfishpleasure-seekinglifeshefoundthatshehadmadeanendlessnumberofacquaintances,butnofriends.Shehadnoteventheresourcesofacultivatedmindthatcouldexistuponitsownstoresthroughthissuddenfaminewhichhadimpoverishedherworld,norcouldshethinkofasingleinnocent,attractive,pursuitbywhichshecouldfillthewearydays.Shewaslikeachildthathaddweltinatropicaloasis,theflowersandfruitsofwhichhadseemedaslimitlessasitsextent.
　　Shehadsupposedthatthewholeworldwouldbelikethisoasis,andtheonlynecessityeverimposedonherwouldbethatofchoicefromitsrichprofusion.Butereshewasawareshehadlostherselfinadesert;theoasishadvanishedlikeamirage,andshehadnochoiceatall.Thatwhichherheartcravedwithanintensitywhichfairlymadeitache,seemedashopelessasasuddenbloomandfruitagefromaridsands.
　　Insteadofgoingdowntosuppershereturnedtothesolitudeofherownroom,buttheapathyoftheearlierpartofthedayhadvanishedutterly.Indeed,bodyadsoulseemedtoquiverwithpainlikeawoundednerve.Anger,whichhadgivenabriefsupport,fadedout,andleftonlyshameanddespairasinmemoryshesawtheemblem,representingherself,tossedcontemptuouslyintothecarriage-waybythemansheloved.
　　"Irememberreading,"shegroaned,"whenatschool,howconquerorsputtheirfeetonthenecksoftheircaptives.Hehasputhisspurningfootonmyheart.Oh,hatefulriddle!WhyshouldIlovethemanthatdespisesme?"
　　Hermother,andthenStanton,calledatherdoorandaskedhertocomedowntosupper.
　　"No,"shesaid,brieflytoeach.
　　"Ifyouknewwhatpeopleweresayingandsurmisingyouwouldnotcontinuetomakeaspectacleofyourself,"saidhercousin,throughthecloseddoor.
　　"ThatisonereasonwhyIdonotcomedown,"shereplied."I'mnotinthemoodtomakeaspectacleofmyself.Ihavebeenshownhowoneperfectmemberofsocietyregardsme,andIamnotequaltomeetinganymorefaultlesspeopleto-night."
　　"Oh,nonsense!"criedStanton,irritably."Youmustcomedown."
　　"Breakinthedoorthen,andcarrymedown,"wasthesharpreply.
　　Withamutteredoathhedescendedtothesupper-room,andhismoodyandabsentmannerrevealedtoMrs.MayhewandVanBergthathisinterviewwithhiscousinhadbeenanythingbutsatisfactory.