"Van,"saidStantoninavexedtone,"there'ssomemischiefonfoot;"
　　andhementionedwhathiscousinhadsaid,adding:"CanIdahavebeenputtingthatbrassyMrs.ChintsuptosomeabsurdperformancethatwillhurtMissBurton'sfeelings?"
　　Theyroseandsauntereddownthepiazza,VanBergtryingtoimaginewhatwasabouttotakeplaceandhowhecouldshieldtheyoungladyfromanyannoyance.
　　Shesatinsidetheentranceofthemainparlorfacingtheopenwindows,andalittlegrouphadgatheredaroundher,includingtheladieswhosatathertable,withwhomshehadalreadybecomeafavorite.Idahaddemurelyenteredbyoneoftheopenwindowsandwasapparentlyreadinganovelunderoneofthegasjetsnotfaraway.Groupsofpeoplewerechattingnearorwereseatedaroundcard-tables;otherswerequietlypromenadinginthehall-waysandonthepiazza.Therewasnotanindicationofanyexpectedorunexpected"scene."OnlyIda'sconscious,observantexpressionandtheabsenceofMrs.Chintsforebodedmischief.
　　"Whatenormitycanthatodiousfamilybeabouttoperpetrate?"
　　whisperedStanton.
　　"Icannotsurmise,"answeredVanBerg;"somethinginreferencetotherescueofherchild,Isuppose.IwishIcouldthwartthem,forMissBurton'spositionwillplaceherfullinthepubliceye,andIdonotwishhertobethevictimoftheirvulgarity."
　　Afteralittlefurtherhesitationandthoughthesteppedin,andapproachingMissBurton,said:
　　"Pardonmeforinterruptingyou,butIwishtoshowyousomethingonthepiazzathatwillinterestyou."
　　Sherosetofollowhim,butbeforeshecouldtakeastepMrs.Chintssweptinonthearmofherhusband,followedbythenurse——whohadbeenretainedatMissBurton'sintercession——bearinginherarmsthelittleboy,thatstaredatthelightsandpeoplewiththeroundeyesofchildishwonder.
　　Everyonelookedupinsurpriseatthesuddenappearanceofthelittlegroup,thatsuggestedachristeningmorethananythingelse.
　　PlantingthemselvesbeforeMissBurton,thusbarringallegress,Mr.Chintsfumbledamomentinhispocketanddrewoutanenvelope,andwithaloud,prefatory"Ahem!"began:
　　"MydearMissBurton——thatisthewayMrs.ChintssaysIshouldaddressyou,thoughtitstrikesmeasatriflefamiliarandaffectionate;
　　butImeannoharm——we'reunderpecul——verygreatobligationstoYOU.Welearn——mywifehas——thatyouareengaged——engaged——in——I
　　meanthatyou——teach.I'msurethat'salawfulcalling——Imeanalaudableone,andnoonecandenythatit'suseful.Inmyviewit'stoyourcreditthatyouareengaged——in——thatyouteach.
　　Iworkmyself,andalwaysmeanto.InfactIenjoyitmorethanmakingspeeches.ButfeelingthatwewereunderwonderfulobligationstoYOU,andlearning——mywifedid——thatyouweredependenton——onyourownlabor,wethoughtthatifthislittlefellowthatyousavedsohandsomelyshouldhandyouthischeckforfivehundreddollarsitwouldn'tbeamiss."Andhere,accordingtorehearsal,thenursewithgreatparadehandedthechildtoMrs.Chints,whonow,withmuch'empressement,'advancedtoapositionimmediatelybeforeMissBurton;meanwhilethepoor,perspiringMr.Chintsputtheenvelopeintothechild'schubbyhand,saying:
　　"Giveittothelady,Augustus."
　　ButthesmallAugustus,onthecontrary,staredattheladyandputtheenvelopeinhismouth,tothegreatmortificationofMrs.
　　Chints,whohadbeensopreoccupiedwiththeChintssideoftheaffair,andtheimpressiontheyweremakingontheextemporizedaudience,thatshehadnoeyesforMissBurton.
　　Andthatyounglady'sfacewas,intruth,astudy.Anexpressionofsurprisewasfollowedquicklybyoneofresentment.EvenStantonwasobligedtoadmitthatforamomentthelittle"school-ma'am"
　　lookedformidable.ButasMr.Chintsflounderedoninhisspeech,assomepoorwretchwhocouldnotswimmightstruggletogetoutofthedeepwaterintowhichhehadbeenthrown,theexpressionofherfacesoftened,andonemightimaginethethoughtpassingthroughhermind——"Theydon'tknowanybetter;"andwhen,atlast,thechild,insteadofcarryingouttheclimaxthatMrs.Chintshadintended,beganvigorouslytomunchtheenvelopecontainingthepreciouscheck,therewasevenatwinkleofhumorintheyounglady'seyes.Butsherespondedgravely:
　　"Mr.Chints,Iwasatfirstinclinedtoresentthisscene,buttimehasbeengivenmetoperceivethatneitheryounoryourwifewishtohurtmyfeelings,andthatyouareinpart,atleast,actuatedbyfeelingsofgratitudefortheservicethatIwassofortunateastorenderyou.ButIfearyoudonotquiteunderstandme.Youarerightinonerespect,however.Idolaborformyownlivelihood,anditisasourceofthedeepestsatisfactiontomethatIcanlivefrommyownworkandnotfromgifts.Ifyourheartspromptthislargedonation,therearehundredsofpoorlittlewaifsinthecitytowhomthismoneywillbringalittleofthecareandcomfortwhichblessesyourchild.Asformyself,thisisalltherewardthatIwishorcanreceive,"andshestoopedandkissedthechildonbothcheeks.ThentakingVanBerg'sarm,shegladlyescapedtothecoolandduskypiazza.
　　Mr.ChintslookedatMrs.Chintsindismay.Mrs.Chintshandedthebabytothenurse,andbeatanundramaticandhastyretreat,herhusbandfollowinginadazedsortofmanner,treadingonhertrainateveryotherstep.
　　AsVanBergpassedoutoftheparlor,hesawIdaMayhewvanishingfromitsfartherside,withStantoninclosepursuit.WhenMissBurtonendedthedisagreeableaffairbykissingthechild,therehadbeenaslightmurmurofapplause.SignificantsmilesandarisinghimofvoicesdescantingontheaffairinawaynotatallcomplimentarytothecrestfallenChintsfamily,followedthedisappearancesofalltheactorsintheunexpectedscene.
　　ChapterXII.MissMayhewisPuzzled.
　　"MissBurton,"saidVanBerg,assoonastheywerealone,"IwishIcouldhavesavedyoufromthisdisagreeableexperience.Itriedtodoso,butwasnotquickenough.ImuchblamemyslowwitsthatIwasnotmoreprompt."
　　"Iwishitmighthavebeenprevented,"shereplied,"fortheirsakesaswellasmyown."
　　"Ihavenocompunctionsontheiraccountwhatever,"saidVanBerg,"andfeelthatyouletthemoffmuchtookindly.Ithink,however,thattheyandallothersherewillunderstandyoumuchbetterhereafter.Icannotexpresstoostronglytoyouhowthoroughlyourbriefacquaintancehastaughtmetorespectyou,andifyouwillpermitmetogiveanearnestmeaningtoMr.Burleigh'sjestingoffertosharewithmetheresponsibilityofyourcare,Iwillesteemitanhonor."
　　"Isincerelythankyou,Mr.VanBerg,andshouldIeverneedtheservicesofagentleman,"——shelaidaslightemphasisupontheterm——"Ishall,withoutanyhesitancy,turntoyou.ButIhavelongsincelearnedtobemyownprotectress,as,afterall,onemustbe,situatedasIam."
　　"Youseemtohavetheability,notonlytotakecareofyourself,butofothers,MissBurton.NeverthelessIshall,withyourpermission,establishasortofprotectorateoveryouwhichshallbeexceedinglyunobtrusiveandundemonstrative,andnotintheleastlikethatwhichsomepowersmaketheexcuseforexactions,untiltheprotectedpartyisreadytocryoutindesperationtobedeliveredfromitsfriends.Ihesitatedtoolongthiseveningfromthefearofbeingforward;andyetIdidnotknowwhatwascoming,andhadlearnedonlyaccidentallybutafewmomentsbeforethatanythingwascoming."
　　"Well,"repliedMissBurtonwithaslightlaugh,"it'sacomfortablethoughtthatthere'safortnear,towhichonecanrunshouldanenemyappear;andapleasanterthoughtstill,thatthefortisstrongandstaunch.but,tochangethefigure,Ihaveagreatfancyforpaddlingmyownlightcanoe,andsuchsmallcraftwilloftenfloat,youknow,whereashipofthelinewouldstrike."
　　"Iwilladmit,MissBurton,thatshipsofthelineareoftenunwieldyandclumsilydeepinthewater;butifyoueverdoneedagunboatwithahowitzerortwoondeck,mayIhopetobesummoned?"
　　"Icouldaskfornobetterchampion.Ifairlytrembleatthebroadsidethatwouldfollow."
　　"Areyouthinkingofthedischargeortherecoil?"
　　"Bothmightinvolvedanger,"saidMissBurton,laughing;"butI
　　haveconcludedtokeeponyoursidethroughsuchwarsasmayrageattheLakeHouseduringmysojourn.IcannothelpthinkingofpoorMr.andMrs.Chints.IfeelalmostassorryforsuchpeopleasIdofortheblindanddeaf.Theyseemtolackacertainsensewhich,ifpossessed,wouldteachthemtoavoidsuchscenes."
　　"Idetestsuchpeopleandliketosnubthemunmercifully,"saidVanBerg,heartily.
　　"Thatmaybeinaccordancewithagunboatcharacter;butisitknightly?"
　　"Whynot?Whatdoessnobbishnessandrichvulgaritydeserveatanyman'shands?"
　　"Nothingbutsturdyblows.Butwhatdoweak,imperfect,half-educatedmenandwomen,whohaveneverhadatitheofyouradvantages,NEED
　　atyourhands?Canwenotcondemnfaults,andatthesametimepityandhelpthefaulty?Thegunboatsendsitsshotcrashingtoomuchatrandom.Itseemstomethattrueknighthoodwouldspareweaknessofanykind."
　　"I'mgladyouhavenotsparedmine.Youhavedemolishedmeasagunboat,butIwouldfainbeyourknight."
　　"ItisMrs.Chintswhoneedsaknightatpresent,andnotI.Ittroublesmetothinkofherworrimentoverthisfoolishlittleepisode,andwithyourpermissionIwillgoandtrytobanishthecloud."
　　AssheturnedshewasinterceptedbyStanton,whosaid:
　　"MissBurton,letmypresenttoyoumycousin,MissMayhew."
　　ArayfromaparlorlampfelluponIda'sface,andVanBergsawatoncethatitwascloudedandunamiableinitsexpression.Stantonhadevidentlybeenreproachingherseverely.
　　MissBurtonheldoutherhandcordiallyandsaid;"Iwishtothankyouformaintainingthecreditofoursexthismorning.Thesesuperiormenaresofondofportrayingusashysterical,clingingcreatureswhoseonlyinstinctinperilistothrowthemselvesonman'sprotection,thatIalwaysfeelalittleexultationwhenoneofthe'weakerandgentlersex,'aswearetermed,showthecourageandpresenceofmindwhichtheycoollyappropriateasmasculinequalities."
　　"Areyouanadvocateofwoman'srights,MissBurton?"askedMissMayhew,stungbytheunconscioussarcasmofthelady'swords,toreplyinalmostasresentfulamannerasifawoundhadbeenintended.
　　"Notofwoman's,particularly,"wasthequietanswer;"Iwouldbegladifeveryonehadtheirrights."
　　"Youphilanthropyisverywide,certainly."
　　"Andthereforeverythin,perhapsyouthink,sinceitcoverssomuchground.Iagreewithyou,MissMayhew,thatgeneralgood-willisascoldandthinasmoonshine.Onerayofsunlightthatwarmssomeparticularthingintolifeisworthitall."
　　"Indeed!IthinkIprefermoonlight."
　　"Therearecertainabsorbingavocationsinlifetowhichmoonshineisbetteradaptedthensunlight,isprobablythethoughtinmycousin'smind,"saidStanton,satirically.
　　"Andwhatarethey?"askedMissBurton.
　　"Flirtation,forinstance."
　　"Mycousinisspeakingforhimself,"saidIda,acidly;"andknowsbetterwhatisinhisownmindthaninmine."
　　"Ifsomeladiesthemselvesneverknowtheirownminds,howcananotherknow?"Stantonretorted.
　　"Well,"saidMissBurton,withalaugh,"ifweacceptapracticalphilosophymuchinvogue——thatoftakingtheworldaswefindit——flirtingisoneofthecommonestpursuitsofmankind."
　　"I'mquitesure,MissBurton,"saidVanBerg,"thatyourphilosophyoflifeisthereverseoftakingtheworldaswefindit."
　　"Indeed,youaremistaken,sir;Iamexceedinglyprosaicinmyviews,andcherishnoUtopiandreamsandtheories.Idoindeedtaketheoldmatter-of-factworldasIfindit,andtrytomakethebestofit."
　　"Ah,yourlastisaverysavingclause.Toomanyareseeminglytryingtomaketheworstofit,andunfortunatelytheysucceed."
　　Idahereshotaquickandvengefulglanceatthespeaker.
　　"Pleasedonotpresentmeasageneralreformer,Mr.VanBerg,"
　　protestedMissBurton,withalightlaugh;"Ihavemyhandsfullinmendingmyownways."
　　"Andsomightweall,nodoubt,"saidStanton;"onlymostofusleaveourwaysunmended.butIamcurioustoknow,MissBurton,howyouwouldmakethebestofaflirtation;sincethisisemphaticallyapartoftheworldaswefindit,especiallyatasummerhotel."
　　"Thebestthatwecandowithmanythingsthatexist,"shereplied,"istoleavethemalone.Italyispre-eminentlythelandofgarlicandart;butfortunatelyweshallnotfinditnecessarytoindulgeinbothandinequalproportionswhenwearesohappyastogoabroad."
　　"Agreatmanypeoplepreferthegarlic,"saidStanton.
　　"Oh,certainly,"sheanswered;"it'samatteroftaste."
　　"Sothengarlicandflirtationarecorrespondingtermsinyourvocabulary?"
　　"Icannotsaywhichtermoutrankstheother,butitseemstomethatifawomanregardsherloveasasacredthing,shecannotpermitanindefinitenumberofcommonplacepeopleeventoattempttostainitwiththeirsoilingtouch."
　　"Ithinkgentlemenshowjustasmuchofadispositiontoflirtasladies,"saidIda,withresentmentinhertone.
　　"Iwillnotdisputethatstatement,"repliedMissBurton,withalaugh;"indeed,I'minclinedtothinktheyareveryhuman."
　　"Humane,youmean,"interposedStanton."Yes,Ioftenwonderatourpatientendurance."
　　"Whichshallbetaxednolongerto-nightbyme.Good-evening,MissMayhew.Good-evening,patientmartyrs."
　　"Humane,indeed!"saidStanton."Areyouthatwayinclined,Van?"
　　"Ihavenooccasiontobeotherwise."
　　"Well,Ifeelsavageenoughtoscalpsomeone."
　　"SoIshouldjudge,"remarkedIda.
　　"Perhapsthen,asmymoodcontrastssomewhatfavorablywithyourcousin's,youwillventuretowalkwithmeforawhile?"saidVanBerg.
　　"Indeed,sir,"shereplied,takinghisarm,"therearetimeswhenanychangeisarelief."
　　"Icannotbeverygreatlyelatedoverthatviewofthecase,certainly,"remarkedVanBerg,withalaugh.
　　Shedidnotreplyatonce,butafteramomentsaid:"Isupposeyouregardmeasahopelesscaseatbest."
　　"whatsuggeststhatthoughttoyou,MissMayhew?"
　　"Youarenotsodullastoneedtoaskthatquestion,andyouonlyaskittodrawmeout.Foronething,youprobablythinkthatIinstigatedMr.andMrs.Chintstoactastheydid.Thisisnottrue."
　　"I'mverygladtohearit."
　　"I'mnomoretoblamethanMr.Burleighwas.HeknewaboutitaswellasIdid,butMrs.Chintswasboundtocarryoutherproject."
　　"Willyoupermitasuggestion?"
　　"IsupposeyouwishtoinsinuatethatIactedlikeaheathen,insteadofsayingthatIamoneplainly,asdoesCousinIk?"
　　"Ithinkyouactedalittlethoughtlessly.IfMissBurtonhadbeeninyourplace,shewouldhavetriedtopreventthedisagreeablescene."
　　"Oh,certainly!sheisperfect."
　　"No;sheiskind."
　　"Woulditbepossibletospeakuponsomeagreeablesubject,Mr.
　　VanBerg?Ihavehadenoughmortificationsforoneday."
　　Hewaspuzzled.Whattopiccouldheintroducethatwouldinterestthisspoiledandpetulantbeauty.
　　Hetouchedonart,butshewasonlyartfulinhersmallway,andcouldnotfollowhim.Hetriedliterature,andheretheyhadevenlessincommon.Hewouldnotandindeedcouldnotreadthethinsocietynovelswhichreflectedmodesoflifeastrivialasherown,andhisbooksmighthavebeenwritteninanotherlanguage,soslightwasheracquaintancewiththem.Thevariouspolitical,social,orscientificquestionsofthedayhadneverpuzzledherbrain.VanBergcautiouslyfelthiswaytowardshiscompanion'sknowledgeoftwoorthreeofthemostpopularofthem.Heranswers,however,weresosuperficialandirrelevant,andalsosoevidentlyembarrassed,thathesawhisonlyresourcestobesocietychit-chat,gossipaboutmutualacquaintances,thelatestmodes,theattractionsofpleasureresortsinthecity,andofsummerresortsinthecountry.
　　Buthegavehismindtotheseunwontedthemes,andlaboredhardtobeentertaining;fornowthathehadgainedthevantage-groundhesought,hewasdeterminedtodiscoverwhethertherewasasleepingmindoravacuumbehindMissMayhew'sshapelyforehead.Grantingthattherewasawomanlyintelligencethere,asyetunquickened,hewasnotsoirrationalastoimaginehecouldjostleitintoilluminingactivityinoneshorthour,orday,orweek.Butitseemedtohimthatifanymindexistedworththename,itwouldgivesuchencouragingsignsoflifebeforemanydayspassedaswouldpromisesuccessofhisexperiment.Hefeltthathisfirstaimmustbetoestablishanintimacythatwouldpermitasfullandfrankanexchangeofthoughtaswaspossiblebetweenpeoplesodissimilar.
　　Whilehetriedtobringhimselfdowntothelittlenessofherdailylife,hedeterminedtoshowhisdisapprovalofeveryphraseofitsmeannessasfarashecouldwithoutoffendingher.HehadmadeherfeelthathecondemnedhercoursetowardsMissBurtonthatevening,andhehadmeanttodoso.
　　Sheresentedthisdisapproval,andatthesametimerespectedhimforit.Indeedhepuzzledher.Heevidentlysoughtandwishedforhersociety;andyetastheywalkedbackandforth,eventhoughshedidnotlookathimwhenthelightgavehertheopportunitytodoso,shefeltintuitivelythathedidnotenjoyhercompany.
　　Shesawthathewaslaboringhardtomakehimselfagreeable;buthissmalltalkhadnotthefamiliarflippancyandfluencyofonespeakinginhisnativetongue;norwashismannerthatofonewho,infatuatedwithherbeauty,hadthrownasideallotherconsiderations.
　　Shefeltthatthemanathersidemeasuredher,andunderstoodherlittlenessthoroughly.
　　Andsheherselfhadagrowingconsciousnessofinsignificancethatwasaspainfulasitwasnovel.Addingtoallthehumiliationsofthisdayherewasaman,notsoverymucholderthanherself,tryingtocomedowntoherlevel,ashewouldaccommodatehislanguagetoachild.Nolaboredargumentcouldhaverevealedherignorancetohersoclearly,asherconsciousinabilitytofollowhimintohisordinaryrangeofthought.Unwittinglyhehaddemonstratedhissuperiorityinawaythatshecouldnotdeny,howevermuchshemightbeinclinedtoresentit.Andyethetreatedherwithasortofrespect,andoccasionallyshesawthathebenthiseyesuponherfaceasifinsearchofsomething.
　　Afteratransientefforttoignoreeverythingandtalkinherusualsuperficialmanner,shebecamemoreandmoresilentandoppressed,and,atlastsaid,somewhatabruptly: