"Mr.VanBerg,permitmetomakeyouacquaintedwithMissBurton.
　　Shehashadthefaithtoputherselfundermychargeforafewweeks,andIshallrewardherbysharingtheresponsibilitywithyou,whoseemblessedwiththebenevolentdesireofgivingusallagoodtime,"andthenhebustledofftolookaftersomeothermatterwhichrequiredhisattentionduringthecriticalhourofdinner.
　　MissBurtonacknowledgedtheyoungman'sbowwithoutatraceofaffectationorreserve.
　　"Ishalltrynottoproveaburdentoeitherofyou,"shesaid,withasmile.
　　"Ihavealreadydiscoveredthatyouwillnotbe,"saidVanBerg,"andwaswishingforanintroduction."
　　"Ihopeyourwishesmayalwaysfindsoreadyafulfillment."
　　"That'sakindlywish,MissBurton,butavainone."
　　"Werewemisanthropicalpeople,Mr.VanBerg,wemightsigh,'andsucharehumanwishesgenerally.'"
　　"Oneisoftentemptedtodothatanyway,evenwhennotespeciallypronetolookaskanceatfortune."
　　"Thereisaneasywayofescapingthattemptation."
　　"How?"
　　"Donotformmanywishes."
　　"Haveyouveryfewwishes?"
　　Withaslightandpiquantmotionofherheadshereplied,"Iwasonlygivingabitoftriteadvice.It'saskingagreatdealtorequirethatoneshouldbothpreachandpractice."
　　"Ithinkyouarepossessedbyonewishwhichswallowsupmostothers,"saidVanBerg,alittleabruptly.
　　Avisiblepalloroverspreadherface,andshedrewbackperceptiblyasonemightshrinkfromablow.
　　"Youknowhowstrongfirstimpressionsare,"resumedVanBerghastily,"andthethoughthaspassedthroughmymindthatyoumightbesopreoccupiedinwishinggoodthingsforothersastoquiteforgetyourself."
　　"Ifonecouldbecompletelyoccupiedinthatway,"shesaid,withafaintsmilewhichsuggestedratherthanrevealedavistaofherpastexperience,"onemighthavelittleoccasiontowishforanythingforself.But,Mr.VanBerg,onlywepoorunreasoningwomenputmuchfaithinfirstimpressions;andyouknowhowoftentheymisleadevenus,whoaresupposedtohavesafeinstincts."
　　"Dotheyoftenmisleadyou?"
　　"Indeed,sir,"shereplied,withamerrytwinkleinhereye,"I
　　thinkyoumusthavelearnedthequestionsinthecatechism,ifnottheanswers."
　　VanBer
　　gbithislip.Herewasasuggestionofathorninthesweetbrierhebelievedhehaddiscovered.
　　"NowseehowfarIamastray,"sheresumedwithafranknesswhichhadinitnotraceoffamiliarity."Itismyimpressionyouarealawyer."
　　AtthisVanBerglaughedoutrightandsaid:"Youareindeedmistaken.Ihavenoconnectionwiththeinfluentialclasswhosebusinessitistomakeandevadethelaws.Iamonlyoneamongthehumblemasseswhoaimtoobeythem.ButperhapsyouthinkyourintuitiongoesdeeperthansurfacefactsandthatIOUGHTtohavebeenacross-questioner."
　　"Iamquitesuremyintuitioniscorrectinthinkingthatyouwouldnotbeverycrossaboutit."
　　"Perhapsnot,ifdisarmedbysosmilingafaceasyours."
　　Theothers,whohadbeendelayedbyalongerridethanusual,nowenteredandtookthevacantchairsaroundthetable.VanBergfeltsufficientlyacquaintedwiththemtointroduceMissBurton,forhewascurioustoobservewhethershewouldmakethesameimpressiononthemashehadbeenconsciousofhimself.
　　Theybowedwiththequiet,well-bredmannerofsocietypeople,butwereatfirstinclinedtopaylittleheedtotheplainlydressedandratherplainappearingyoungstranger.Asoneandanother,however,glancedtowardsher,somethingaboutherseemedtolingerintheirmemoriesandcausethemtolookagain.Theladynexttoherofferedacommonplaceremark,chieflyoutofpoliteness,andreceivedsopleasantareplyinreturnthatsheturnedherthoughtsaswellashereyestoseewhoitreallywasthathadmadeit.Thenanotherspoke,andtheresponseledhertospeakagainandagain;
　　andsoontheentirepartyweredescribingtheirdriveandlivingoveritspleasantestfeatures;andbeforethemealendedtheywereallgathered,metaphorically,aroundthemystical,maple-woodfirethatburnedonthehearthofanaturethatseemedsohospitableandkindlyastohavenoothermissionthantocheerandentertain.
　　"Whoisthatlittlebrownthrushofawomanthatyouweresotakenwithatdinner?"askedStanton,astheywereenjoyingaquietsmokeintheirfavoritecornerofthepiazza.
　　"Goodforyou,Stanton.Ineverknewyoutobesoappreciativebefore.Yourtermquiteaccuratelydescribesher.Sheisbothshyandreserved,butnotdiffidentorawkwardintheleast.Indeedhermannermightstrikesomeasbeingpeculiarlyfrank.Butthereissomethingbackofitall;foryoungassheundoubtedlyis,herfacesuggeststomesomedeepandunusualexperience."
　　"JupiterAmmon!Whatanabyssofmystery,surmise,andmetaphysicsyoufellintowhileIwaseatingmydinner!Iusedthephrase'brownthrush,'onlyinreferencetoherdressandgeneralhomeliness."
　　"Oh,Ibegyourpardon!Itakeallbackaboutyourniceappreciationofcharacter.Inowgraspthewholetruth——yourattentionwanderedsufficientlyfromyourdinnertoobservethatsheworeabrowndress,andtheonefactaboutthethrushthathasimpressedyouisthatitisbrown.'Herebetruths'whichleavenothingmoretobesaid."
　　"Youimaginativefellowsareoftenridiculouslyastrayontheothertack,andseeathousand-foldmorethanexists.Butit'sapityyoucouldnotreadalltherewasinthisyoungwoman'sface,foritwascertainlyPLAINenough.Atthisrateyouwillbeaskingourburlylandlordtounbosomhimself,insistingthathehasa'silentsorrow'tuckedawaysomewhereunderhisamplewaistcoat."
　　"Histroubles,likeyours,arebanishedbythedinnerhour.I
　　recognizeyourfeeblewitticismaboutherplainface,andforgiveyoubecauseIthoughtitplainalsoatfirst,butwhenshecametospeakandsmileitceasedtobeplain.Idonotsayshehashadtrouble,butshehashadsomeexperienceinherpasthistorywhichneitheryounorIcouldunderstand."
　　"Quitelikely;themeasles,forinstance,whichIneverhadtomyknowledge.Possiblyshehashadaloverwhowasnotlonginfindingaprettierface,andsolefther,butnotsodisconsolatethatshecouldnotsmilebewilderinglyuponyou."
　　"Comenow,Stanton,I'llforewarnandforearmyou.Iconfidentlypredictthatthevoiceofthisbrownthrushwilllureyououtofalifewhich,toputitmildly,isatriflematter-of-factandmaterial.Youhaveglancedather,butyouhavenotseenheryet.
　　Markmywords;yourappetitewillflagbeforemanyweekspass."
　　"IwishIcouldpinyoudowntoalargewageronthisabsurdity."
　　"Iagreetopaintyouapictureifmypredictionfails."
　　"Andtofinishitwithinanaturallifetime?"saidStanton,withmuchanimation.
　　"Tofinishaspromptlyasgoodworkcanbedone."
　　"Pardonme,Van.Youhadtoomuchwinefordinner;Idon'twanttotakeadvantageofyou."
　　"Ididnothaveany."
　　"Inordertocarryoutthistransactionhonestly,amIexpectedtomakeconsciousandpatientefforttocomeundertheinfluenceofthismaideninbrown,whohashadsomemysteriouscomplaintinthepast,aboutwhich'neitheryou,norI,noranybodyknows,'asthepoetsaith:or,liketheancientmariner,willshe'holdmewithherglitteringeye?'"
　　"Youhaveonlytojogoninyouroldwaysuntilshewakesyouupandmakesamanofyou."
　　"Isurelyamdreaming;forneverdidthelevel-headedVanBergtalksucharrantnonsensebefore.Ifsheseemstoyousuchamarvel,whydon'tyouopenyourownmouthandlettheripecherrydropintoit."
　　"Onereasonwillanswer,weretherenoothers——shewouldn'tdrop.
　　Ifyoueverwinher,myboy,youwillhavetobestiryourself."
　　"I'dratherwinthepicture.Letmesee——IknowtheveryplaceinmyroomwhereIshallhangit."
　　"Youarealittlepremature.Thatchickenisnotyethatched,andyoumayfeellikehangingyourselfintheplaceofthepicturebeforethesummerisover."
　　"Letmewrapyourheadinice-water,Van.There'sminehost——O,Mr.
　　Burleigh!"hecriedtothelandlord,whoatthatmomenthappenedtocrossthepiazza;"pleasestephere.MyfriendMr.VanBerghasbeenstrangelyfascinatedbythestrangerinbrownwhomyou,withsomedeepandmaliciousdesign,placedoppositetohimatthetable.Whatareherantecedents,andwhoareheruncles?Itakeafriendlyinterestinthisyoungman.Indeed,I'msortofaguardianangeltohim,havingsavedhislifemanyatime."
　　"Savedhislife!"ejaculatedthelandlord."How?"
　　"Byquenchinghisconsuminggeniuswithgooddinners.Butcome——solveformethisriddleinbrown.Myfriendusuallygivesbutlittleheedtothefeminineconundrumsthatsmilinglyasktobeanswered,butforsomeoccultreasonheisinastateofsleeplessinterestoverthisone,andIknowthathiswaistcoatissellingwithgratitudetomeforhavingthecouragetoaskthesequestions."
　　"Heisspeakingseveralwordsforhimselftooneforme,"saidVanBerg;"andyetIadmitthatherfaceandmannerstruckmeverypleasantly."
　　"Well,shehasapleasantlittlephiz,nowhasn'tshe,Mr.VanBerg?
　　Idon'twonderMr.Stantonwastakenbyher,forIwasmyself.
　　It'sbutlittleIcantellyou,savethatsheisateacherinoneoftheNewEnglandfemalecolleges,andthatshebringsletterstomefromthemostrespectableparties,whointroduceherasaladyinthebestsenseoftheword.Furtherthanthatnothingwaswritten,nordoIknowanythingconcerningher.Butanyonewhocan'tseethatshe'saperfectladyisnojudgeofthearticle."
　　"Iwillstakeanyamountonthat,basingmybeliefonlyonthefirstimpressionofoneinterview,"addedVanBerg,decidedly.
　　"Younowseehowdeeplymyfriendisimpressed,"saidStanton,withasatiricalsmile."Thanks,Mr.Burleigh;wewillnotdetainyouanylonger."
　　Whenaloneagain,heresumed,withanexpressionofdisgust:
　　"A'NewEnglandFEMALEcollege!'Howaptlyhewordsit.Ifthere'sanyregiononthefaceoftheearththatIdetest,it'sNewEngland;
　　andifthereisonetypeofwomenthatI'dshunasIwould'everangrybears,'it'saNewEnglandschool-ma'am."
　　"'Butifthyflightlaytowardtheragingsea'ofarestless,all-absorbingpassion,'Thou'dstmeetthebearI'themouth,'asyouwilltrytointhiscase.Youwillbereadytobarteryourearsforakissbeforeverylong."
　　"ItwillbeaftertheyhavegrownprodigiouslylongandhairyinsometransformationscenelikethatinwhichtheimmortalBottomwasthevictim."
　　"Yourillustrationtellsagainstyou,foritwasonlyafterhisappropriatetransformationthatBottomsawthefairyqueen;butinyourcasethedesireto'munch'willbebanned."
　　"Come,Van,wehavehadenoughchaffonthistopic,alreadywornthreadbare.Inowknowallaboutthemysteriouscomplaint,theimpressofwhichonthefaceoftheschool-ma'amhassodazedyou.It'saNewEnglandfemalecollege——aplacewheretheygivearazor-likeedgetothewitsofYankeewomen,alreadytoosharp,anddevelopinattenuatedmaidensthehatchetfacesoftheirsires.
　　Youmayaswellsetaboutthatpictureatonce,wheneveryoufeelinthemoodforwork."
　　"IadmitthatIhavebeenspeakingnonsense,andyetyoumayfindmanygrainsoftruthinmychaff,nevertheless."
　　"Butismypicturetoendinchaff?"
　　"Iwillstandbymypromise.IfIlose,perhapsI'llpaintyoutheschool-ma'am'sportrait."
　　"Thenwewouldbothlose,forIwouldhavenoearthlyuseforthat."
　　"Well,Iwillpaintwhatyouwish,withinreason."
　　"I'mcontent,andwithgoodreason,forneverdidIhavesuchabsurdgoodluckbefore."
　　"Ha!lookyonder——quick!"
　　Boththeyoungmenstartedtotheirfeet,butbeforetheycouldspringforward,theevent,whichhadsosuddenlyarousedthem,wasanaccomplishedfact.
　　Bothdrewalongbreathofreliefastheylookedateachother,andVanBergremarked,withsomeemphasis:
　　"Actfirst,scenefirst,anditdoesnotopenlikeacomedyeither."
　　ChapterVIII.GlimpsesofTragedy.
　　Stantonthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar——anactwhichprovedhimstronglymoved——andstroderapidlytowardsthemainentrancenearwhichalittlegrouphadalreadygathered,andamongtheothers,IdaMayhew.Notahairofanybody'sheadwashurt,butaneventhadalmostoccurredwhichwouldhavemorethansatisfiedStanton'sspiteagainst'Yankeeschool-ma'ams,'andwouldalsohavemadehimverymiserableformonthstocome.
　　Hehadorderedhisbaystothefartherendofthepiazzawheretheyweresmoking,asheproposedtotakeVanBergoutforadrive.Hiscoachmenlikedtowheelaroundthecornerofthehotelandpastthemainentranceinadashingshowystyle,andthusfarhadsufferednorebukefromhismasterforthishabit.Butonthisoccasionacarelessnurserymaid,neglectfulofhercharge,hadleftalittlechildtotoddletothecentreofthecarriagedriveandthereithadstood,balancingitselfwiththeuncertainfootingcharacteristicoffirststeps.Evenifitcouldhaveseentherapidlyapproachingcarriagethatwashiddenbytheangleofthebuilding,itsbabyfeetcouldnothavecarrieditoutofharm'swayintime,anditismorethanprobablethatitsinexperiencewouldhavepreventedanysenseofdanger.
　　Buthelpwasathandinthepersonofonewhoneverseemedsopreoccupiedwithselfastoloseanopportunitytoserveothers.
　　Twooftheladies,whohadcasuallyformedMissBurton'sacquaintanceatdinner,stilllingeredinthedoor-waytotalkwithher,wonderinginthemeantimewhytheyremainedsolong,andmeaningtobreakawayeverymoment,buttheexpressionoftheyounglady'seyeswassopleasant,andhermanner,morethananythingshesaid,solikespringsunshinethattheywerestillstandinginthedoor-waywhentherumbleandrushofthecarriagewasheard.Theothersdidnotnoticethesesounds,butMissBurton,whoseeyeshadbeenfollowingthechildwithanamusedinterest,suddenlybrokeoffinthemidstofasentence,listenedasecond,thenswiftlyspringingdownthesteps,dartedtowardsthechild.
　　Quickasshehadbeenitseemedasifshewouldbetoolate,for,withcriesofhorror,thestartledladiesonthepiazzasawthehorsescomingsorapidlythatitappearedthatboththemaidenandthechildmustbetrampledundertheirfeet.Andsotheywouldhavebeen,hadMissBurtonsoughttosnatchupthechildandreturn,butwithrarepresenceofmindshecarriedthechildacrossthecarriagetracktoitsfartherside,thusmakingthemostoftheimpetuswithwhichshehadrushedtotherescue.
　　Theexclamationsoftheladiesdrewmanyeyestothescene,andallheldtheirbreathasthehorsesdashedpast,thedrivervainlyendeavoringtopullthemupintime.Havingpassed,evenStantonwascompelledtoadmitthatthe"school-ma'am"appearedtoverygreatadvantageasshestoodpanting,andwithheightenedcolor,holdinginherarmsthelaughingchildthatseemedtothinkthatthewholeexcitementwascreatedforitsamusement.Shewasabouttorestorethechildtoitsnursequietly,whonowcamebustlingupwithmanyprotestations,whenshewasarrestedbyaloudvoiceexclaiming:
　　"Don'tletthathatefulcreaturetouchmychildagain——givehimtome,"andalady,whohadbeendrawntothescenebytheoutcry,randownthesteps,andsnatchingthechild,almostdevouredhimwithkisses.Then,turningtothetremblingnurse,shesaidharshly:
　　"Begone;Ineverwishtoseeyourfaceagain.Haditnotbeenforthislady,mychildwouldhavebeenkilledthroughyourcarelessness.
　　Excuseme,Miss——Miss——"
　　"MissBurton,"saidtheyoungladyquietly.
　　"Excusemyshowoffeeling;butyoucan'trealizetheserviceyouhavedoneus.Bertieisouronlychild,andwejustidolizehim.
　　I'msoagitated,Imustgotomyroom."
　　Whentheladyhaddisappeared,MissBurtonturnedtothesobbingnurseandsaid:
　　"WillyoupromisemetobecarefulinthefutureifIintercedeforyou?"
　　"Dade,Miss,an'Iwill."
　　"Cometome,then,aftersupper.Inthemeantimeremainwhereyourmistresscansummonyoushouldsheneedyourservices,orbeinclinedtoforgiveyouofherownaccord,"andleavingthecrudeandoffendingjumbleofhumanitymuchcomforted,shereturnedtothepiazzaagain.
　　Ofcoursemanypressedaroundherwithcongratulationsandwordsofcommendation.VanBergwasmuchinterestedinobservinghowshewouldreceivethissuddengushofmingledhonestpraiseandextravagantflattery,forherecognizedthattheoccasionwouldproveasearchinganddelicatetestofcharacterforwhichtherewasnotimetoprepare.Shedidnotlistentotheirwordswithdeprecatorysmirk,norwiththepainedexpressionofthosesensitivesoulstowhomheartywordsanddemonstrationsarelikeroughwinds;
　　norwasthereatraceofexultationandself-complacencyinherbearing.VanBergthoughtthathermannerwaspeculiarlyherown,forshelookedintothefacesaroundherwithfrankgladness,andherunconsciousnessofherselfcanbe,perhaps,bestsuggestedbyherownwords.
　　"Howfortunateitwas,"shesaid,"thatIstoodwhereIdid,andhappenedtobelookingatthechild.Ifsomebodyhadnotbeenathanditmighthavegonehardwiththelittlefellow.NotthatI
　　thinkhewouldhavebeenkilled,buthemighthavebeenmaimedordisfiguredinawaythatwouldhavecausedhimpainandmortificationallhislife."
　　"MissBurton,Itakemyhattoyou,"saidVanBerg,laughing.
　　"Ladiesandgentlemen,IhopeyouallappreciatetheforceofMissBurton'sphrase,'somebody,'sinceitimpliesthatanyoneofuswouldhaveshownlikecourageandpresenceofmindifwehadonlybeen'athand,'orhadstoodwhereshedid.ReallyMissBurton,youarelikesmilingfortune,and'thrustupon'us'greatness'andheroism."
　　"Mr.VanBerg,youarelaughingatme,andyourquotationsuggeststhatotherShakespeareanwordsareinyourmind——towit,'muchadoaboutnothing.'NowifYOUhadhadtheopportunityyouwouldhaveachievedtherescueinawaythatwouldhavebeenheroicandstriking.Insteadofscramblingoutofthewaywiththechild,likeatimidwoman,youwouldhaverusheduponthehorses,seizedthembytheirheads,thrownthembackupontheirhaunches,andwhileposinginthatmasterfulattitude,youwouldhavecalledoutinstentoriantones——'Removethechild.'"
　　Alllaughedatthisunexpectedsally,andnooneenjoyeditmorethanStanton,who,alittlebefore,hadbeenexcessivelyangryathiscoachman,and,likethemotherofthechild,hadsummarilydismissedthepoorfellowfromhisservice.Quiteforgetfulofhisuncomplimentarywordsconcerning"Yankeeschool-ma'ams"ingeneral,andthisoneinparticular,henowstoodnear,andwasregardinghernotonlywithapprovalbutwithadmiration.HerreadyreplytoVanBergpleasedhimexceedingly,especiallyastherisingcolorinthefaceofhisself-possessedfriendindicatedapalpablehit.
　　Buttheartistwasequaltotheoccasion,andquicklyrepliedasonewhohadfeltaslightspur.
　　"Ifearyouareinpartcorrect,MissBurton.Insteadofdeftlysavingthechildandtakingbothitandmyselfoutofharm'sway,afteryourquietwomanlyfashion,Ishould,nodoubt,have'rusheduponthehorsesandseizedthembytheirheads.'ButIfearyourstrikingtableau,inwhichIappearedtosuchadvantage,wouldhavebeenwhollywanting.Icouldnothavestoppedthehorsesintime;thechildwouldhavebeenrunoverandkilled;thebig,fatcoronerwouldhavecomeandsatonitandhavemadeusall,whowitnessedthescene,swearoverthematter;thepoormotherwouldhavegonetothelunaticasylum;thefatherwouldhavecommittedsuicide;thenurserymaidwouldhave——obtainedanotherplaceandbeenthedeathofanindefinitenumberofotherinnocentbabies;
　　andlast,butnotleast,Ishouldhavebeendraggedandtrampledupon,mylegsandarmsbroken,andperhapsmyhead,andsoyouwouldallhavehadtotakecareofme——andyouknowacrossbearisapleasantersubjectthanasickman."
　　"Oh,whatachapterofhorrors!"exclaimedseveralladiesinchorus.
　　"Nevertheless,wewouldhavebeenequaltotheoccasion,evenifyouhadbeensodreadfullyfractured,"saidMissBurton."Weallwouldhavebecomeyourdevotednurses,andeachoneofuswouldhavehadaseparateandinfallibleremedy,which,outofcourtesy,youwouldhavebeencompelledtouse."
　　"Oh,blessmysoul!"exclaimedVanBerg;"Ihavehadagreaterescapethanthechild.Inbeing'athand'asyouexpressit,MissBurton,Iambeginningtofeelthatyouhavesavedmefromdeathbytorture."