Mrs.Mayhewsankintoachair,andaheavyfrowngatheredonherbrowasshethoughtdeeplyforafewmoments.
　　"Thatgirlmeansmischief,"shemuttered."IwonderifsheisholdinganycommunicationwithSibley?IalwaysthoughtIdawouldtakecareofherself,butshe'llbearwatchingnow.Shehasn'tbeenlikeherselfsinceshecametothisplace.ImustconsultIkatonce.Thingsarebadenoughnow,heavenknows;butifIdashoulddoanythingdisgraceful,I'dhavetothrowupthegame."Mrs.
　　Mayhewwasaninveteratecard-player,andherfavoriteamusementoftencoloredherthoughtsandwords.
　　Stantonwasfoundsmokingandpretendingtoreadanewspaperinaretiredcornerofthepiazza,butfromwhich,nevertheless,hecouldseewhetherMissBurtonmadeherappearanceduringthemorning.
　　Mrs.Mayhewexplainedherfears,andtheyoungmanusedverystronglanguageinexpressinghisdisgustandirritation.
　　"Acurseuponitall!"heconcluded."Sinceshemust,andapparentlywillgratifythislowtaste,canyounotreturntoNewYork,patchupthefellowintosomesortofrespectabilityandmarrythemwithablareofbrazeninstrumentsthatwilldrowntheworld'sunpleasantremarks?"
　　"Thatwouldbebetterthanthescandalofanelopement,"musedperplexedMrs.Mayhew."Fromwhatyousay,Sibleyisbadenough,andIdaseemsrecklessenoughtodoanything.Iwishwehadnevercomehere."
　　"SodoI,"groanedStanton."No,Idon't,either.InfactI'minadevilofamessmyself.Youknowit,andIsupposeallseeit.
　　Ican'thelpitiftheydo.Mypassion,nodoubt,isvain,butit'stomycredit.Ida'sisdisgracefultoherselfandtousall.
　　IfI'dbeenherealoneandVanBerghadnotcome,Imighthavesucceeded;butNOW"——andwithadespairinggestureheturnedaway.
　　"Ik,comeback,"criedhisaunt,"ofcourseIfeelforyou.Youareindependent,andcanmarrywhomyouplease,thoughheavenknowsyoucoulddobetterthan——"
　　"Heavenknowsnothingofthekind,"heinterrupted,irritably,"andifyouwerenearerheaven——butthere,what'stheuse."
　　"You'rerightnow,Ik.Wecan'taffordtoquarrel.YoumusttalktoIda.Wemustwatchher.Findoutifyoucanwhatisinhermind,andiftheworstcomestotheworst,theywillhavetobemarried.IsupposeitwillbewisetohinttoherthatifsheWILLmarrySibleyshehadbetterdoitinasrespectableandquietawayaspossible."
　　"Theideaofanythingbeingrespectableandquietwheretheyareconcerned!"snarledStanton.
　　"Well,well,"groanedMrs.Mayhew,"doyourbest."
　　ButIdawasnottobefound.
　　Sheappearedatdinner,however,andnotafewlookedather,andstolefurtiveglancesagainandagain.Amongtheseobserverswastheartist,anditwasevidentthathewasbothperplexedandtroubled.Wasthiscold,marble-cheekedwomanthebutterflythathadflutteredintothecountryafewweekssince?
　　"Shemaybeabadwoman,"hethought,"butshehasbecomeawomaninthelastfewdays.Shelooksyearsolder.Ithoughthershallow,butshe'stoodeepforme.ForsomereasonIcan'tassociatethatface,asitnowappears,withSibley,andyetitissofullofmingledpainanddefiance,thatonemightalmostthinkshemeditatedacrime.Shelooksill.Sheisill——sheisgrowingthinandhollow-eyed.Whatamagnificentstudyshewouldmakeofahalf-famishedcaptive;orofbeautychained——notmarriedtoamanhatefulandhated;or,possibly,ofinnocencemeditatingguilt,andyetseekingvainlytodisguisethedarkthoughtsbyamarblemask.ThereissometransformingprocessgoingoninIdaMayhew'smind,andfromherappearanceIratherdreadtheoutcome;butherfaceisbecomingararestudy."
　　Althoughwiththeexceptionofaslightresponsetohisformalbowshehadsoughttoignorehispresenceandtoavoidhiseyes,shewasstillconsciousofthisfurtivescrutiny,andithurthercruelly.Itseemedasifhewerestudyingherasonemightapeculiarspecimen.
　　"Hiscriticaleyesaretryingtolookintomeheartastheydidintothepoorlittlerose-bud,"shethought;andherfacegrewmorerigidandinscrutableunderhisgaze.asearlyaspossiblesheleftthetable.
　　"IwishIknewjustwhathertroublewas,"thoughttheartist."IfnotconnectedwiththatwretchSibley,Icouldpityherwithallmyheart.Well,takeallthegoodthegodssend,I'llsketchherfacethisafternoonasIhavelastseenit."
　　"Yourcousinbeginstolookdecidedlyill,"hesaidtoStanton,afterdinner.
　　Hisfriend'sonlyreplywasanimprecation.
　　"Yourremarkisemphaticenough,butIdon'tunderstanditanybetterthanIdoMissMayhew."
　　"It'stoyourcredityoudon't.HermotherhasreasontobelievethatthereissomedeviltryonfootbetweenherandSibley.I'mtofindoutandthwartherifIcan.IsupposeIshallhavetosay,insubstance:'Sinceyouwillthrowyourselfawayonthefellow,gothroughalltheformalitiesthatsocietydemands.Insuchcaseyourfamilywillsubmit,iftheycan'tapprove.YouseeI'mfrankwithyou,asI'vebeenfromthefirst.'Wouldtoheavenshehadnevercomehere,andnowthinkofittherehasbeenachangeinherfortheworseeversinceshecame.ItmustbetheinfluenceofthatcursedSibley.Somewomenarefoolstobeginwith;butfromafoolinfatuatedwithavillain,goodLorddeliverus!"
　　"Youfearanelopementthen?"saidVanBerg,hisfacedarkeningintohisdeepestfrown.
　　"Ifearworsethanthat.Sibleyisastreacherousasaquagmire.
　　Ifawomanventuredintoafalsepositionwithhimhewouldmarryheronlywhencompelledtodoso.I'msavageenoughtoshootthemboththisafternoon.Iseebutonewayout.Imustwarnherpromptly,andinlanguagesoemphaticthatshewillunderstandit,thateverythingmustbeaftertheregulationstyle."
　　VanBergmadeagestureofcontempt,butsaidtohisfriend:
　　"Stanton,I'msorryforyou.Suchtroubleasthiswouldcutmedeeperthananyotherkind.IfIcandoanythingtohelpyou,countonme.I'minthemoodmyselftoshootSibley,forhehasspoiledformethefairestfacethatevileverperverted."
　　VanBergdidnotsketchIdaMayhew'sfacethatafternoon.Onthecontrary,heresolutelysoughttobanishherimagefromhismind.
　　Whenlasthesawthatface,itseemedmadeofParianmarble.Nowitrosebeforehimsoblackenedandbesmirchedthathethoughtofitonlywithangeranddisgust.
　　IdakeptherselfsosecludedintheafternoonthatStantoncouldnotfindher,butthisveryseclusion,whichthepoorgirlsoughtinordertohideherwounds,onlyincreasedhisownandMrs.Mayhew'sfearsdeepenedtheirsuspicions.
　　Shewasalittlelateinappearingatthesuper-table,forherreturnfromthewanderingsoftheafternoonhadrequiredmoretimethanshesupposed.Shewasveryweary;moreover,thehoursspentinsolitudewithnaturehadquietedheroverstrungnerves.Thesunhadshoneuponher,thoughtheworldseemedtofrown.Flowershadlookedshylyandsweetlyintoherfaceasiftheysawnothingtheretocriticise.Shehadpluckedafewandfastenedthemintoherbreast-pin,andtheirfaintperfumewaslikealow,soothingvoice.Shewasinasoftenedandreceptivemood,andakindword,evenakindglance,mighthavetunedthescaleinfavorofbetterthoughtsandbetterliving.
　　Butshedidnotreceivethem.Hercomingtothetablewasgreetedwithanominoussilence,foreachonewasconsciousofthoughtssogreatlytoherprejudicethattheyscarcelywishedtomeethereye.Mrs.Mayhewlookedexcessivelyworriedandanxious.Stantonwasflushedandangry.Theartistwasicyasheonlyknewhowtobewhenhedeemedtherewassufficientoccasion;andinhisopinion,thepresenceoftheprospectiveandwillingbrideofthemanwhohadattemptedhislife,and,whatwasfarworse,insultedthewomanhemosthonored,wasoccasion,indeed.
　　Fromtimetotimehegaveheracold,curiousglance,asonemightlookatsomestrange,abnormalthingforwhichthereisnoaccounting;
　　buthisslightscrutinywasnolongerfurtive.HelookedatheropenlyashewouldatanOBJECT,andnotatawomanwhosefeelingshewouldnotwoundfortheworld.Histhoughtwas:"AcreatureakintoSibleydeservesnoconsideration,andcanputinnojustclaimfordelicacy."
　　Indeedhefeltapeculiarvindictivenesstowardsherto-night,becauseshehadsothwartedhim,andwasabouttocarryherextraordinarydowerofbeautytothemoralsloughthatseeminglyawaitedher.Therefore,hisglancesweptcarelesslyoverherwithacoldindifferencethatchilledherverysoul.
　　Butthesetransientglancescaughtenoughtotroublehimwithavagueuneasiness.Althoughhewassteeledagainstherbyprejudiceandanger,somethinginherappearancesopleadedinherfavorthatmisgivingswouldarise.Oncehethoughtshemethiseyeswithsomethinglikeanappealinherown,buthewouldnotlooklongenoughtobesure.Amomentlaterhewasvexedwithhimselfthathehadnot.
　　Thesilenceortheforcedremarksatthetablewereequallyoppressive,andIdaimmediatelyfeltthatshewasthecauseoftherestraint.
　　Shewasabouttoleavethetableinordertorelievethemofherpresence,whenMissBurtonunexpectedlyenteredandtookherchair,whichhithertohadbeenvacant.Shewasalittlepaleandwan,butthisonlymadeherlookthemoreinteresting,andbothStantonandVanBergwelcomedherastheywouldthesunshineafteradrearystorm.EvenMrs.Mayhewseemedtofindawonderfulreliefinhercoming,andaddedhervolublecongratulations.
　　"Ihavehadnervousheadachesmyself,andknowhowtosympathizewithyou,"sheconcluded.
　　"Shedoesnotknowhowtosympathizewithme,"sighedherdaughter.
　　ThesighcaughtVanBerg'sattention,andhewassurprisedtoseethatthemaiden'seyeswerefulloftears.Shebowedherheadamomenttohidethem,andthenabruptlyleftthetableandtheroom.
　　Theartist'smisgivingsendedinsomethinglikecompunction,ashethought:"Hertearsarecausedbythecontrastbetweentheicyreceptionwegaveher,andthecordialwelcomewehavejustgivenMissBurton.Confounditall!IwishIknewtheexacttruth,orthatshewouldleaveforpartsunknownwhereIcouldneverseeheragain."
　　MissBurtonglancedwistfullyaftertheretreatingmaiden,butnoexplanationwasoffered.Then,asiffeelingthatshehadlostaday'sopportunityfordiffusingsunshine,shebecamemoregenialandbrilliantthanVanBerghadeverknownhertobe.Theylingeredlongatthetable;Mr.Burleighandothersjoinedthem.TheirlaughterrangoutanduptotheduskyroominwhichpoorIdawassobbing,"IwishIweredeadandoutofeveryone'sway."
　　VanBerglaughedwiththeothers,butneverforamomentdidhelosetheuneasyconsciousnessthathemightpossiblybemisjudgingIdaMayhew.AlthoughMr.Burleigh'sportlyformoccupiedherchair,itdidnotpreventhimfromseeingapaletearfulfacethatwasfartoobeautiful,fartoofreefromallgrossandsensualelements,toharmonizewiththecharacterhewassupposinghertopossess.Here-calledwhatshehadsaidaboutthe"fragrance"oftherose-budhehadtornandtossedaway,risingtohimlike"alow,timidappealformercy."Hadsheshylyandtimidlyappealedtohimforakinderjudgementthatevening,andhadhebeentooblindandprejudicedtoseeanythingsavethestainsleftbySibley'sname?IfsheproposedtogotoSibley,whywasshenotlikehiminmanner?Itwasstrangethatoneakintosuchafellowshouldfastenwildflowersonherbosom,andstillmorestrangethattheyshouldbesobecoming.
　　ThecoolandsagaciousVanBerg,whosopridedhimselfonhiscorrectjudgment,wasdecidedlyperplexedandperturbed.
　　ChapterXXXV.DesperatelyWounded.
　　StantonbaskedinMissBurton'ssmilesuntilasignificantlookfromMrs.Mayhewremindedhimofhisdisagreeabletask,fortheperformanceofwhichthereseemedagreaterurgencythanever.
　　Ida'sratherprecipitatewithdrawalfromthesupper-roomwasanotherproofintheireyesthatsomemischiefwasbrewing.
　　Helistenedatherdoorforamoment,andcouldnotfailtohearthestifledsoundofherpassionategrief;thenknocked,buttherewasnoresponse.
　　"Ida,"hesaid,inakindertonethanusual,"Iwanttoseeyou."
　　Shetriedtoquiethersobbing,andafteramomentfaltered:"Youhadbetterleavemetomyself."
　　"No,Imustseeyou,"hesaidkindlybutfirmly."Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou."
　　Thepoorgirlwassolonelyandheart-broken,thatshewasreadyfortheleastrayofcomfort.Shenowsawthatshewasignorantandexceedinglyfaulty.Shewasreadytoadmitthefactthatshehadactedveryfoolishlyandunwisely,andthatcircumstanceswereagainsther.Ill-omenedcircumstanceshavebroughttocondemnationanddeathinnocentmen.Idawouldnotnowclaimthatshewasinnocentofblame,buteventshadseemedsounfortunateoflate,thatshewashalfreadytothinkthatsomevindictivehandwasshapingthem.
　　Butshedidnotfeelthatshewasnowworsethanshehadbeen.
　　Onthecontrary,shehadlongingsforabetterlifeandabroaderculturesuchasshehadneverexperiencedbefore.Theartist'seyes,insearchingforherwoman'ssoul,revealedtoherthatshehadbeenafool;butnowshewouldgladlybecomeawomanifsomeonewouldonlypointouttheway.
　　"MotherandIkmightlearnthatIamnotwhollybadiftheywouldonlytakethetroubletofindout,"shemurmured."Ikusedtobekind-hearted,andIthoughthecaredalittleforme,inspiteofoursparing.Whyishesohardonmeoflate?Whycan'thebelievethatIamjustascapableofdetestingSibleyasheis?Perhapshedoesmeantosayakindword,andgivemeachancetoexplain."
　　Thesethoughtspassedthroughhermindasshelightedthegasandbathedherface,thatshemight,tosomeextent,removetheevidencesofgrief.
　　Stantonmisunderstoodherwholly.ThenewIda,thatdeepfeelingandrecenteventsweredeveloping,wasunknowntohim,andhehadbeentoopreoccupiedtoseethechanges,evenhadtheybeenmoreapparent.Hedidfeelasortfcommiserationforherevidentsuffering,forhewastookind-heartednottosympathizeevenwhenhebelievedpaintobewell-deserved.Buthethoughthemuststilldealwithherasawayward,passionatechild,ashehadinthepast,whenshecriedtillsheobtainedwhatshewished,rightorwrong.Henowbelievedthatshewasasfullybentoncarryingoutherownunreasonablewill,butrememberedthatshewasnolongerachild,andmightbeguiltyoffollythatsocietywouldnotforgiveaschildish.Thereforehewishedtoseeherface,andwasdisposedtobewaryandobservant.
　　Hegaveheraquick,keenglanceasheenteredandthensaid:
　　"What'sthematter,Ida?Whydoyousithereintheshadows?It'sasdarkasapocket;"andheturnedthegashigher.
　　Shedidnotanswer,butsatdownwithherfaceavertedfromhimandthelight."Hehascomehereasaspy,andnotasacomforter,"
　　shethought.
　　Helookedatheramoment,mistookhersilenceasanexpressionofthesettledobstinacyofherpurpose.
　　"Well,Ida,"hesaid,alittleirritably,"Iknowyouofold.I
　　supposeyouwillhaveyourownwayasusual.Ifwemustsubmit,whythenwemust;butyoucan'texpectustodosowithanygrace.
　　Ifyouwon'tgiveupthisSibley,forheaven'ssakeletyourmotherarrangethematterafterthefashionoftheday!Outofregardforyourfamily,gothroughalltheregularformalities."
　　Shestartedviolentlyandthenleanedbackinherchairasifshewerefaint,andhalfstunnedbyablow.Heregardedhermannerasevidenceofguilt,or,atleast,ofproposedcriminalimprudenceonherpart,andwentonstillmoreplainly:
　　"Ifyoucan'texistwithoutSibley——why,marryhim;butseetoitthatthereisaplentyofpriest,altar,andservice;foryouknow,oryououghtto,thathe'samanwhocan'tbetrustedahair'sbreadth."
　　Sheavertedherfacestillfarther,andsaidinalowconstrainedtone:
　　"Myfamily,then,consentthatIshouldmarryMr.Sibley?"
　　"No;wesubmittothemarriageasanodiousnecessity,onconditionthatyouputthewholematterintoyourmother'shandsandallowhertoarrangeeverythingaccordingtosociety'srequirements."
　　"Pleaseletmeunderstandyou,"shesaidinalowervoice."MyfamilyoffertosubmittothemarriageasadirenecessitylestmyrelationswithMr.Sibleycoverthemwithadeepershame?"
　　"Well,inplainEnglish,yes."
　　"ItisindeedextraordinarilyplainEnglish——brutallyplain.Anddoes——doesMr.VanBergshareinyourestimateofme?"
　　HermannerandwordsbegantopuzzleStanton,andherememberedtheartist'squestion——"AreyouabsolutelysurethatSibleyisthecauseofhertrouble?"Hethoughtthatperhapsitmightbegoodpolicytocontrastthetwomen.
　　"Tobefrank,"hereplied,"IthinkMr.VanBerghasbothwishedandtriedtothinkwellofyou.Headmiredyourbeautyimmensely,andsoughttofindsomethinginyourcharacterthatcorrespondedwithit.Evenafteryourstudiedrudenesstohim,youropenpreferenceofSibley'ssocietytohis,andyourremarkexplainingyourcourse,'congenialsocietyornoneatall'"Idafairlygroanedasherecalledherfolly,"hetriedtotreatyoupolitely.ThatyoushouldrefusethesocietyofagentlemanlikemyfriendforthesakeofsuchalowfellowasSibley,istousalladisgustingandfathomlessmystery.Thebeliefthatyoucouldthrowyourselfandyourrarebeautyintothisabominableslough,wassorevoltingtoVanBerg,thatheneverwouldwhollyacceptofituntilto-day."
　　Sherosetoherfeetandturneduponhim.Hereyeswerefairlyblazingwithindignation,andherfacewaswhiteandterriblefromheranger.Intonessuchashehadneverheardanywomanusebefore,shesaid:
　　"Butto-dayyouhavesucceededinsatisfyinghimthatthisisnotonlypossible,butthemostnaturalthingformetodo.Youhavetoldhimthatmyfamilywillsubmittomymarriagewithaloathsomewretch,whogotdrunkinthepresenceofladies,insultedanorphangirl,andattemptedmurder——andallinoneSundayafternoon.I
　　supposeyouthoughtmecaptivated,andcarriedawaybysuchaburstandblazeofvillainy;andsomyhigh-tonedfamilyexplaintothefaultlessandaristocraticMr.VanBergthattheywillsubmittoanodiousmarriagelestIclandestinelyfollowthescoundrelwhowasveryproperlydrivenaway,likethebasecurheis.Thisiswhyyoureceivedmeto-nightasifIwereapestilence.ThisiswhyIwastreatedatthetableasifIwereadeath'shead.Thisiswhyyourperfectfriendlookedtowardsmeasifmychairwerevacant.HerefusedeventorecognizetheexistenceofsuchaloathsomethingasmyfamilyexplaintohimthatIam.Greatheaven!mayIneverlivetoreceiveadeeperhumiliationthanthis!"
　　"But,Ida,"criedStanton,deeplyalarmedandagitatedbyhermanner,"howelsecouldweexplainyouractionandyourrecklesswordstoyourmother?"
　　"Oh,Iadmitthatcircumstancesareagainstme,butthereisnoexcuseforthisoutrage!Idon'tknowwhatIdidsaytomother.
　　I'vebeentoowretchedanddiscouragedtoremember.SheISmymother,andI'llsaynothingagainsther,though,heavenknows,shehasbeenastrangemothertome.WouldtoGodIhadafatherthatIcouldgoto,orabrother!ButitseemsIhavenotafriendinthegreat,scornfulworld.Don'tinterruptme.Wordscountfornothingnow,andmineleastofall.Ifyouwereallreadytobelievemecapableofwhatyouhaveplainlyintimated,youneedsomethingstrongerthanwordstoconvinceyoutothecontrary.OfonethingIshallmakesure——youandyourfaithlessfriendshallneverhavethechancetoinsultmeagain.Iwishyoutoleavemyroom."
　　"Ohcome,Ida,listentoreason,"Stantonbegancoaxingly.
　　"Iadmittedyou,"sheinterruptedwitharepellantgesture,"inthehopeofreceivingalittlekindness,forwhichIwasfamishing,butIwouldratheryouhadstabbedmethanhavesaidwhatyouhave.
　　Hush,notawordmore.Thebrutalwronghasbeendone.Willyounotgo?Thisismyprivateapartment.Icommandyoutoleaveit;andifyouwillnotobeyIwillsummonMr.Burleigh;"andsheplacedherhandonthebell.
　　HermannerwasatoncesocommandingandthreateningthatStanton,withagestureofdeprecationandprotest,silentlyobeyed.
　　Hewassosurprisedandunnervedbytheinterviewinwhichthemaidenhadturneduponhimwithafieryindignationthatwasalmostvolcanic,thathewishedtothinktheaffairalloverandregainhiscomposurebeforemeetinganyone.ClearlytheyhadfailedtounderstandIdaoflate,andhadmisjudgedherutterly.Andyet,guidedbyappearances,hefeltthattheycouldscarcelyhavecometoanyotherconclusion.
　　Nowthathehadbeenjostledoutofhispreoccupation,hebegantorealizethatIdahadnotappearedoflatelikethefrivolousgirlthathadaccompaniedhimtothecountry.Changesweretakingplaceinheraswellasinhimself,"butnotfromthesamecause,"
　　hethought."Afterherwordsandmannerto-night,IcannotdoubtthatSibleyhasdisgustedheraswellastherestofus,althoughshehadastrangewayofshowingit.Itcannotbethatawomanwouldspeakofamanforwhomshehadanyregard,asIdadidofthewretchwithwhomwewereassociatingher;andasforVanBerg,shehastakennopainstoconcealherstrongdislikeforhimfromthefirstdayoftheirmeeting.Ican'tthinkofanyoneelseatpresentalthoughtheremightbeascorewhoisdisturbingtheshallowwatersofhermind.
　　"I'minclinedtothinkthatsheisdeeplymortifiedatthefalsepositioninwhichSibleyhasplacedher,andistooproudtomakeexplanations.Itmaybealsothatsheisrealizingmorefullythedisgraceofherfather'scourse,anditisalsopossiblethatsheiswakinguptoasenseofherowndeficiencies.AlthoughshecouldnotfailtodislikesuchpeopleasJennieBurtonandVanBerg,shewouldbeapttocontrastherselfwiththemandtheimpressionwhichsheandtheymadeonsociety.Confounditall!IwishIhadnottakenitforgrantedthatshewaspiningforSibleyandreadytothrowherselfawayforhissake.Ithasplacedmeinadeucedlyawkwardposition.Idoubtifsheeverfullyforgivesme,andI
　　can'tblameherifshedoesn't."
　　"Well?"saidMrs.Mayhew,asStantonmoodilyapproachedher.
　　"Comewithme,"hesaid.Whentheywerealoneheprefacedhisstorywiththeirritableremark:
　　"It'sapityyoucan'tunderstandyourdaughterbetter.ShedetestsSibley."
　　"Thankheavenforthat,"exclaimedthemother.
　　"Ishouldbemoreinclinedtothankbothheavenandyourselfifyouhaddiscoveredthefactbeforesendingmeonsuchanintenselydisagreeablemission.Youmustmanageyourdaughteryourselfhereafter,forshe'llnevertakeanythingmorefromme;"andhetoldhersubstantiallythenatureofhisinterview,andhissurmisesastotherealcausesofhertrouble.
　　"Ithinkyouareright,"saidMrs.Mayhew,whoseimpressionswereaschangeableassuperficial;"andI'mexcessivelygladtothinkso.
　　Withherbeauty,Idacan,inspiteofherfather,makeabrilliantmatch,ineverysenseoftheword;"andwiththeprospectofthissupremeconsummationofliferegained,thewifeandmothergaveasighofgreatrelief.
　　"Butshe'sinanawfulmood,Icantellyou,"saidStanton,dubiously.
　　"Ineverknewawomantolookandspeakasshedidto-night.Ifyoudon'tmanagebettershe'llmakeustroubleyet."
　　"Oh,I'musedtoIda'stantrums.Theydon'tlast.Nothingdoeswithher.Timeandanotheradmirerwillbringheraround."
　　"Well,yououghttoknow,"saidStantonwithashrug;"butIretirefromthemanagement.Ican'thelpsaying,however,thatsomethinginherlooksandwordsmakesmeuneasy.IregretexceedinglyI
　　spokeasIdid,andshallapologizeatthefirstopportunity."
　　"You'llhavethatinthemorning.ThingsaresomuchbetterthanIfearedthatIamgreatlyrelieved.She'llcomearoundnowifnothingmoreissaid.Roiledwateralwayssettleswhenkeptquiet;"
　　andMrs.Mayhewreturnedtotheparlorinmuchbetterspirits.
　　StantonfollowedhisauntandjoinedasmallgroupthathadgatheredaroundMissBurton.VanBerggavehimaquick,questioninglook,butgatheredtheimpressiononlythathehadbeensubjectedtoaverypainfulinterview.
　　"Shehasevidentlyrealizedhisworstfears,"hethought;"cursesonher!"andhisfacegrewfairlyblackforamomentwithangeranddisgust.
　　ButJennieBurton'ssilvertonguesooncharmedawaytheevilspiritsfromboththeyoungmen.
　　Shehadfineconversationpowers,andherkeenintuitionandhercontrollingpassiontogivepleasureenabledhertodetectanddrawoutthebestthoughtsofothers.Herevidentsympathyputeveryoneatease,andgavepeoplethepowerofsuchhappyexpressionthattheyweresurprisedatthemselves,andledtobelievethattheynotonlyreceivedbutgavesomethingbetterthanaverage.
　　Therefore,underthemagicofhergood-will,botheyesandmindskindled,andevencommon-placepersonsbecamealmostbrilliantandeloquent.
　　Stanton'swastheonlycloudedfaceinhercirclethatevening;andtruetoherinstinct,shesetaboutbanishinghistrouble,whateveritmightbe——aneasytaskwithherpoweroverhim.
　　Sinceitdailybecamemoreevidenttoherthatshemustwoundhisvanity,andperhapshisheartalittle,shetriedtomakeamendsbyshowinghimsuchpublicconsiderationasmightrobhisdisappointmentofhumiliationandbitterness.
　　Stanton,therefore,soonforgotIda'sdesperateface,andwasenjoyinghimselfathisbest.
　　YetIda'sfacebutfaintlyrevealedherheart.Itseemedthattheendhadnowcomeinverytruth,andshewasconsciouschieflyofawildimpulsetoescapefromhershameandsuffering.Therewasalsoabittersenseofwrongandawishtoretaliate.
　　"I'llteachthemallalesson,"shemuttered,asshepacedherroomswiftlytoandfro."ThisproudartistthinkshecanlookatmeasifIwereemptyair;thathecanforgetmeashehastherose-budhetossedaway.Iwillinsurethathelooksatmeoncewithafaceaswhiteasminewillthenbe,andthatheremembersmetohisdyingday."
　　Afterbecomingmorecalm,andasifactingunderasuddenimpulse,shehastilymadeasimplebutsingulartoilet.
　　Whencompleted,hermirrorreflectedaplain,close-fitting,blackgown,whichleftherneckandarmsbare.Aroundherwhitethroatsheplacedablackvelvetband,andjoineditbyasmalljetponiardstuddedwithdiamonds.Hersunnyhairwaswoundintoaseverelysimplecoil,andalsofastenedwithalargerponiard,fromthehaftandguardofwhichglisteneddiamondsofpeculiarbrilliancy.Shetookoffallherrings,andworenootherornaments.Thentakingfromhertableabook,bearingconspicuouslyasitstitletheword"Misjudged,"shewentdowntotheparlor.
　　Shepausedamomentonthethresholdbeforeshewasnoticed.Hermotherwaseagerlygossipingwithtwoorthreefashionablewomenaboutascandalthatshehopedmightcauseherownfamily'sshort-comingstobeforgotteninpart.MissBurtonwastellingastoryinherowninimitablestyle,andripplesofsmilesandlaughtereddiedfromherconstantly.Stanton'sandVanBerg'sfaceswereaglowwithpleasure,anditwasplainthespeakerabsorbedalltheirthoughts.
　　"Inthesamewayhewillforgetme,afterIamdead,"saidtheunhappygirltoherself,andthethoughtsentacolderchilltoherheart,andadeeperpallortoherface.
　　Hergazeseemedtodrawhis,forhelookedupsuddenly.Onrecognizingherhisfirstimpulsewastocoldlyaverthiseyes,butinasecondherunusualappearancerivetedhisattention.Shesawtheimpulse,however,andwouldnotlooktowardshimagain.Sheenteredasquietlyandasunexpectedlyasaghost,andthepeopleseemedasmuchsurprisedandperplexedasifshewereaghost.
　　Shetookaseatsomewhatapartfromallothers,andapparentlycommencedreading.ShewasnotsofarawaybutthatVanBergcoulddecipherthetitle,"Misjudged,"andhavingmadeoutthesignificantword,itslettersgrewluminouslikethediamondsinherhair.
　　Neverbeforehadhebeensoimpressedbyherbeauty,andyettherewasanelementinitwhichmadehimshiverwithadreadhecouldnotexplaintohimself.Hewassurprisedandshockedtofindhowpaleandwanherfacehadbecome,butineveryseveremarblecurveofherfeatureshesawtheword,"Misjudged."Hecouldscarcelyrecognizeherasthebloominggirlthathehadfirstseenintheconcertgarden.Suffering,troubleofmind,wasevidentlythedarkmagicianthatwasthustransformingher;butwhydidshesuffersodeeply?Asshesattherebeforehim,notonlyhisdeeperinstincts,buthisreasonrefusedalmostindignantlytoassociateheranylongerwithSibley.Therewasatimewhensheseemedakintohim;
　　butnowshesuggesteddeeptrouble,despair,deatheven,ratherthanagross"bonvivant."Wassheill!Yes,evidently,buthedoubtedifhermaladyhadphysicalcauses.