Stantonthrewawayhiscigarandmetherattheofficeregister.
　　"Gentleshepherdess,"heasked,"whitherareyouleadingyourflock?"
　　"Howbehindtheageyouare!"shereplied."Canyounotseethattheflockisleadingme?"
　　"IfIwereawolfIwouldnottroubletheflockbutwouldcarryofftheshepherdess——toagameofbilliards."
　　"What,then,wouldbecomeoftheflock?"
　　"that'saquestionthatnevertroublesawolf."
　　"Awolfishanswertruly.Ithink,however,youhavereversedtheparable,andarebutawell-meaningsheepthathasdonnedawolf'sskin,andsowewillputyoutothetest.Weyoungpeoplewillgiveyouachancetodrawupourpetition,which,ifyouwouldsaveyourcharacter,youmustdoatoncewithsheep-likedocility,askingnoquestionsandcausingnodelay.There,thatwillanswer;
　　verysheepishlydone,butnosheep'seyes,ifyouplease,"sheadded,asStantonpretendedtolookuptoherforinspiration,whilewriting."Now,allsign.IthinkIcantrustyou,sir,ontheoutskirtsoftheflock.Here,mylittlemanandwoman,gotoeachoftheladiesandgentlemen,makeabowandacourtesy,andpresentthepetition."
　　"MayInotgambolwiththeshepherdessinthecomingpastoral?"
　　askedStanton.
　　"No,indeed!Youaremuchtooold;besides,Iamgoingtoplay.
　　Youmaylookgravelyon."
　　Everyoneintheparlorsmilingassentedtotheoddlittlecouplethatbobbedupanddownbeforethem,andmovedoutofthewayforthedancers.Thepetitionersthereforesoonreturnedandwerewelcomedwithapplause.
　　"NowgototheinnerofficeandpresentthepetitiontoMr.Burleigh,"
　　saidMissBurton.
　　"Hollo!"criedthatgentleman,lookingaroundwithagreatshowofsavagery,asthelittlegirlpulledtheskirtofhiscoattoattracthisattention;"where'sKingHerod?"
　　"Wewishtotryanothermethodwiththechildren,"answeredMissBurton."Willitpleaseyouthereforegraciouslytoreadthepetition.Allintheparlorhaveassented."
　　"Mygoodnessgracious——"
　　"Noswearing,sir,ifyouplease."
　　"Womanhasbeentoomanyformaneversinceshegothimintotroublebyeatinggreenapples,"ejaculatedMr.Burleighwithadespairinggesture."Whydoyoumockmewithpetitions?THEREisthepowerbehindthethrone,"pointingtoMissBurton.
　　"Takeyourplaces,smallladiesandgentlemen,"shecried."That'sMr.Burleigh'swayofsayingyes.Whileyouareforming,I'llplayafewbarstogiveyouthetime."
　　Didshebewitchthepianothatitrespondedsowonderfullytohertouch?Wherehadshefoundsuchquaint,daintymusic,simpleastheold-fashioneddanceitself,sothatthelittleonescouldkeeptimetoit,andyetpleasingVanBerg'sfastidiousearwithitsunhackneyedandrefinedmelody.Butthemarkedandmarvellousfeatureinherplayingwasanairyrolicksomenessthatwasasirresistibleasapanic.Oldladies'headsbegantobobovertheirfancyworkmostabsurdly.Twoquartetsofelderlygentlemenatwhistwereevidentlybeginningtoplaybadly,theirfeetmeantimetappingthefloorinamostunwontedmanner.
　　"WereIasdeadasJuliusCaesarIcouldnotresistthatquickstep,"
　　criedStanton;andherushedovertohisaunt,Mrs.Mayhew,anddraggedherintoline.
　　"WhatinthenameofallthewitchesofSalemhasgotintothatpiano!"criedMr.Burleigh,burstingintotheparlorfromtheoffice,withhispenstuckbehindhisear,andhishairbrushedupperpendicularly."There'ssorceryintheair.I'mpractisedupon——Keepstill?No,notifIwasnailedupinoneofthesoldier's'woodenovercoats.'Theworldistransformed,transfigured,transmogrified,and'thingsarenotwhattheyseem!'Here'sabloominggirlwho'lldancewithme,"andheseizedthehandofawhite-hairedoldladywhoyieldedtothecontagionsofarastotakeaplaceinthelinebesidehergranddaughter.
　　Indeed,inafewmoments,allwhohadbeenfamiliarwiththepastimeintheiryouth,caughtthejoyousinfection,andlengthenedoutthelines,eachnewaccessionbeinggreetedwithshoutsandlaughter.
　　ThesceneapproachedincharacterthatdescribedbyHawthorneasoccurringinthegroundsoftheVillaBorghesewhenDonatello,withasimple"tambourine,"producedmusicofsuch"indescribablypotency"thatsallow,haggard,half-starvedpeasants,Frenchsoldiers,scarlet-costumedcontadinas,Swissguards,Germanartists,Englishlords,andherdsmenfromtheCampagna,all"joinedhandsinthedance"whichthemusicianhimselfledwiththefrisky,frolicsomestepofthemythicalfaun.
　　Inthelatterinstanceitwasacontagious,madexcitementeasilypossibleamonghot-bloodedpeopleandwanderingpleasure-seekers,theprimallawsofwhosebeingareimpulseandpassion.ThatthejoyousexhilarationwhichfilledMr.Burleigh'sparlorwasakintothewild,halfpaganfrenzythatthegreatmasteroffictionimaginedasseizingupontheloiterersneartheVillaBorghesecannotbedenied.Bothphasesofexcitementwouldspringnaturallyfromtheuniversalcravingforpleasurablelifeandactivity.Theone,however,wasarankgrowthfromaranksoil——thepassionateebullitionofpassion-swayednatures;theotherwasinspiredbythemagneticspiritofaNewEnglandmaiden,who,bysomelawofhernatureorconsecrationofherlife,devotedeverypowerofherbeingtothevivifyingofothers,andthefrolicshehadinstigatedwasasfreefromthegrosserelementsasthetossingwildflowersofhernativehills.WiththeexceptionperhapsofVanBerg,shehadimpressedeveryoneaspossessingapeculiarlysunnytemperament.
　　Bethisasitmay,itcertainlyappearedtruethatshefoundherhappinessinenliveningothers;anditisdifficulteventoimaginehowmuchagiftedmindcanaccomplishinthisrespectwheneveryfacultyisdevotedtotheministryofkindness.
　　ThisviewofMissBurton'scharacterwouldaccountinpart,butnotwholly,forthepowersheexercisedoverothers.VanBergthoughtheattimesdetectedasuppressedexcitementinhermanner.A
　　lightsometimesflickeredinherdeepblueeyesthatmighthavebeencausedbyaconsumingandhiddenfire,ratherthanbygenialandjoyousthoughts.
　　Ashewatchedhernowthroughtheparlorwindow,hereyeswereburning,herfaceremindedhimofadelicateflame,andherwholebeingappearedconcentratedintothepresentmoment.Initsvividlifeitseemedoneofthemostremarkablefacesheeversaw;butthethoughtoccurredagainandagain——"IfthefeaturesofIdaMayhewcouldbelighteduplikethatI'dgiveyearsofmylifetimetobeabletopaintthebeautythatwouldresult."
　　Justatthismomenthesawthatyoungladyapproachtheparlorentrancewithanexpressionofwonderonherface.Heimmediatelyjoinedher,andshesaid:
　　"Mr.VanBerg,whatmiraclehascausedthisscene?"
　　"ComewithmeandI'llshowyou,"heansweredandheledhertothewindowoppositetoMissBurton,whereshesatatthepiano.
　　"There,"hesaid,"isthemiracle,——agifted,magnetic,unselfishwomandevotingherselfwhollytotheenjoymentofothers.ShehascreatedmoresunshinethisdismaldaythanwehavehadinthehousesinceI'vebeenhere.Isnotthatfacetherearevelation?"
　　"Arevelationofwhat?"sheaskedwithrisingcolor.
　　"Ofthepossibilitiesofthehumanfacetogrowinbeautyandpower,ifkindledbyanobleandanimatingmind.Yegods!"criedtheartist,expressingtheexcitementwhichhefeltincommonwithothersinaccordancewiththelawofhisownrulingpassion,"butIwouldgivemuchtoreproducethatfaceoncanvas;"andthenheaddedwithadespairinggesture,"butwhocanpaintflameandspirit?"
　　Afteramomentheexclaimed,withflushedcheeksandflashingeyes:
　　"Itappearstomethatifkindledbysuchamindasthatwhichisburninginyonderface,Icouldattemptanythingandaccomplisheverything.Limitationsmeltawaybeforeagrowingsenseofpower.
　　Whataninspirationawomancanbetoaman,orwhatamill-stoneabouthisneck,accordingtowhatsheis!Ah!——"
　　Thecauseofthisexclamationcannotbeexplainedinthebrieftimethatitoccurred.StantonhadhappenedatthatmomenttocatchaglimpseofVanBergandhiscousin,andhecalledquiteloudly:
　　"Harold,bringMissMayhewinandjoinus."
　　AtthesameinstantMr.Burleigh'sheavysteppassingnearthepiano,jarreddownapicturethatwashunginsecurely,anditfellwithacrashatMissBurton'sside.Wasittheshockofthefallingpictureuponunpreparedandoverstrainednerves,orwhatwasitthatproducedtheinstantaneouschangeinthejoyous-appearingmaiden?
　　Herhandsdroppednervelessfromthekeys.Sogreatwasthepallorthatsweptoverherfacethatitsuggestedtoheartistthesuddenextinguishmentofalamp.Shebowedherheadandtrembledamomentandthenescapedbyasidedoor.
　　VanBergwalkedhastilytothemainentrance,thinkingshewasill,butonlysawhervanishingupthestairwaywithhastysteps.
　　Manyofthedancers,intheirkindlysolicitude,hadtriedtointercepther,buthadbeentoolate.Itwouldseemthatallascribedherindispositiontoanervousshock.
　　"Itisevident,"saidtheladywhohadbeenconversingwithherwhenshehadactedinalikemanneronthefirstdayofherarrival,"thatshepossessesahighlysensitiveorganism,whichsuddenlygiveswaywhensubjectedtoastraintoosevere;"andsheremainedVanBergofherformermanifestationofweakness.
　　Heacceptedthisviewasthemostnaturalexplanationthatcouldbegiven.
　　ChapterXV.Contrasts.
　　Genuineandgenialwerethewordsofsympathythatwereexpressedoneverysidefortheyoungladywhohadbeentransformingthedulldayintooneofexceptionaljollity.Adeputationofladiescalleduponher,butfromwithinherlockeddoorsheconfirmedtheimpressionthatitwasanervousshock,andthatafewhoursofperfectquietwouldrestoreher.
　　Anditwouldseemthatshewasright,forshecamedowntosupperapparentlyasgenialandsmilingasever.Beyondaslightpallorandalittlefulnessabouthereyes,VanBergcoulddetectnotraceofhersuddenindisposition.
　　TheremainderofthedaywaspassedmorequietlybytheguestsoftheLakeHouse,buttheforceofMissBurton'sexampledidnotspenditselfatonce,andonthepartofsometherewasdevelopedquiteamarkeddispositiontomakekindlyeffortstopromotetheenjoymentofothers.Theunwontedexhilarationwithwhichshehadinspiredherfellowguestswassomethingtheycouldscarcelyaccountfor,andyetthemeansemployedhadbeensosimpleandweresoplainlywithinthereachofall,astosuggestthatagenialmannerandanunselfishregardforothersweretheonlyconditionsrequiredtoenableeachonetodosomethingtobrighteneverycloudyday.
　　AfterMissBurton'sdeparture,theyoungpeoplehadthedancetothemselves,theireldersresumingtheavocationsandsobererpleasuresfromwhichtheyhadbeensweptbyanimpulseevokedfromtheirhalf-forgottenyouth.
　　WhenVanBergjoinedMissMayhewagain,hefoundhermotherandStantontryingtoexplainhowitallcameabout.
　　"Thereisnouseofmultiplyingwords,"concludedStanton;"MissBurtonisgiftedwithamind,andsheusesitforthebenefitofothersinsteadoftaskingitsolelyonherownaccount,whichisthegeneralrule."
　　AtthismomentaletterwashandedtoMrs.Mayhew,whichshereadwithaslightfrownandpassedtoherdaughter.ItwasfromMr.
　　Mayhew,andcontainedbutabriefsentencetotheeffectthathisabsencewouldprobablybearelief,andthereforehewouldnotspendthecomingSabbathwiththem.
　　Idadidnotshowthesuperficialvexationthathermothermanifested,andwhichwasmoreassumedthanreal.Hercheekpaledalittle,andsheinstinctivelyglancedatVanBergasifhersuddensenseofguiltwereapparenttohiskeeneyes.Hewaslookingathesearchingly,andsheturnedawaywithaquickflush,nordidshegivehimachancetospeakwithheragainthatday;buthiswords——"whatamillstoneaboutaman'sneckawomancanbe!"——hauntedhercontinually.StilloftenerrosebeforeherMissBurton'sflushedandkindledface,andtheartist'semphaticassertionofthepowerofmindandcharactertoaddtonativebeauty.Hadshenotbeenamillstoneaboutherfather'sneck?Wastherenotafatalflawinthebeautyofwhichshewassoproud,thatspoileditforeyesthatwerecriticalandunblinded?
　　Oppressedbythesethoughtsandbeinginnomoodforhercousin'sbanter,ortheartist'ssocietywhichalwaysseemedtorenderhermoreuncomfortable,shewasgladtoescapetothesolitudeofherownroom.
　　Another"revelation"wasslowlydawninguponhermind,namely——justwhatshe,IdaMayhew,was.Awomanisan"inspiration"ora"millstoneaccordingtowhatsheis,"thisstranger,thisdisturberofherpeace,fromwhomitseemedshecouldnotescape,hadnotonlyassertedbutprovedbyshowingheraladyshewouldhavepassedasplainandinsignificant,butwhoneverthelesspossessedsomesweetpotencythatwonandcheeredallhearts,andwho,shewascompelledtoadmit,waspositivelybeautifulasshesatatthepiano,radiantwithherpurposetocausegladnessinothers.MissBurtonhadcreatedsunshineenoughtoenliventhedismalday,andhadquickenedahundredpulseswithpleasure.Shehadbeenaburdeneventoherself.
　　Everything,fromtheartist'sfirstdisturbingfrowntothepresenthour,hadbeenpreparingthewayforthesharpandpainfulcontrastthatcircumstanceshadforceduponherattentionto-day.
　　Butthethoughtthattroubledhermost,wasthathesawthiscontrastmoreplainlythanitwaspossibleforhertoseeit.
　　Vaguely,andyetwithsomeapproachtothetruth,herintuitionbegantorevealtohertheattitudeofhismindtowardsher.Shebelievedthathewasattracted,butalsosawthathewasnotblindedbyherbeauty.Shewasalreadybeginningtoreviseherfirstimpressionthathewasshuttinghiseyestoeveryotherconsideration,asshehadseensomanydointheirbriefinfatuation.Hismannerwasnotthatofonewhoistakingcounselofpassiononly.Thoseominouswords——"accordingtowhatsheis"——indicatedthathewaslookingintohermind,hercharacter.Withasenseofdismay,shewasawakeningtoaknowledgeofthedwarfeduglinessherbeautybutpartiallyconcealed,andshefeltthathe,fromthefirst,hadbeendiscoveringthosedefectsofwhichshehadbeenscarcelyconsciousherself.Shebegantofearthathercousin'swordswouldprovetrue,andthathewouldnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithher.Thereforetheopportunitytoretaliateandtopunishhimforallthemortificationsthathehadoccasionedher,wouldnevercome.Onthecontrary,hemightinflictuponher,anyday,thecrowninghumiliationofdeclaring,beindifferenceofmanner,thathehadfoundheroutsothoroughly,astoentertainforheronlyfeelingsofdisgustandrepugnance.
　　"Well,"sheconcluded,recklessly,"whyshouldIcarewhathethinks?Ihavelivedthusfarwithouthisgoodopinion,andI
　　canlivealittlelonger,Iimagine.Ihavehadagoodtimeforeighteenyearsaftermyownfashion,andIwilljustignorehimandhaveagoodtimestill.IndeedI'llshockhimto-nightandto-morrowsothoroughly,thathewon'tcomenearmeagain;forI'msickofhissuperiorairs.I'msickofhislearnedtalkaboutbooks,pictures,andpolitics,asifayoungsocietygirlwereexpectedtoknowaboutthesethings;andasforhissmalltalk,itremindedmeofanelephanttryingtodanceajig;"andshesprangupwithasnatchofsongfromthe"operabouffe,"andbeganhertoiletfordinner.
　　Inafewmoments,however,shedroppedherhairbrushabsently,andforgottolookatherfairfaceinthemirror.
　　"Iwonder,"shemused,"ifheandMissBurtonevermetbeforetheycamehere?Ithasbeenastrangecoincidencethatsheshouldhavefeltsuchasuddenindispositionineachinstanceatthesamemomentthathisnamewascasuallymentioned.True,onbothoccasions,eventsoccurredthatmightaccountforthesuddengivingwayofhernerves,butIcannothelpthinkingthatshehassomeassociationwithhimthattherestofusknownothingabout.Shecertainlyseemsmoreinterestedinhimthaninanyoneelseinthehouse,forIhaveseveraltimesnoticedpeculiarandfurtiveglancestowardshim;besides,theyareevidentlygrowingtobeverygoodfriends.AsforIk,heseemsquiteinclinedtoenteruponaseriousflirtationwithher.ButwhatdoIcareforeitherofthem!Mr.Sibleywillbehereto-night,andI'llenablethisartisttobringhisinvestigationstoacloseatonce.IamwhatIam,andthat'stheendofit,andIwon'tmopeandhaveastupidtimeforanybody,andcertainlynotforhim.Lethimmarrytheschool-ma'am.Shecantalkbooks,art,andallthe'isms'going,tohisheart'scontent.
　　I,aswellasMissBurton,havemyopinionofflirting,andknowfromsomelittleexperiencethatitisjollygoodfun.
　　"Hecangohisway,I'llgomine;
　　E'enthoughhefrowns,thesunwillshine."
　　Andwithacarelessgesturesheaffectedtodismisshimfromherthoughts.
　　Tojudgefromhermannerthateveningandthefollowingday,onemightsupposethatshesucceededveryfully.Sibley,withanunwontedventuresomeness,didriskhisoneimmaculatepossession,hisclothes,andcamefromthecitythroughthestorm.Idaandhimself,betweenthem,broughtaboutthenearestapproachtoa"ball"possibleinthecircumstances.
　　Thedancing,undertheirauspices,differedfromthatofthemorning,notmerelyinnameandform,butinitssubtlecharacter.Intheoneinstanceithadbeenaninnocentpastime,occasionedbychildlikeandjoyousimpulses.Thepeople'smannermighthaveremindedoneofabitofdarkenedlandscapethathadbeenrapidlyfilledwithlight,andalmostecstaticlifebytheadventofaMaymorning.
　　Intheevening,however,everythingwasartificialandinkeepingwiththegaslight.Theladieswereconsciousoftheirtoilets,consciousofthemselves,lookingforadmirationratherthanheartyenjoyment.Eventheolderboysandgirls,whohadbeenjoyouschildreninthemorning,werenowsmallparodiesoffashionablemenandwomen!Abandofhiredperformerstwangedoutthehackneyeddancingmusictheninvogue,goingovertheirsmall"repertoire"
　　withwearisomerepetition.Peopledancedatfirstbecauseitwasthethingtodo,andnotfromanyinspirationfromthemelody.Astheeveningworeon,Sibley,whohadbeendrinkingquitefreely,triedtointroduce,asfaraspossible,theexcitementofarevel,callingchieflyforswiftwaltzesandgallopsthroughwhichheandIdawhirledinawaythatmadepeople'sheadsdizzy.
　　MissBurton,aftergoingthroughaquadrillewithStantonearlyintheevening,haddeclinedtodanceanymore.Shedidnotfeelverywell,sheexplainedtoVanBergashesoughtherforthenextform;butheimaginedthatsheearlyforesawthatSibleyandothers,andamongthemevenStanton,wereinclinedtogivetheeveningacharacterthatwasnottohertaste.
　　AsIdahadmadeherselfsomewhatprominentininauguratingthe"ball,"asSibleytookpainstotermitonalloccasions,VanBerg,asapartofhistacticstowinthebeauty'sgood-will,triedatfirsttomaketheaffairsuccessful.Hedancedwithothers,andtwicesoughtherhand;butineachcasesheratherindifferentlytoldhimthatshewasengaged.Hewouldnothavesoughtherasapartnerafterhisfirstrebuffhadhenotimagined,fromoccasionalandfurtiveglances,thatshewasnotasindifferentassheseemed.
　　Earlyintheeveningitoccurredtohimthatherslightlyrecklessmannerwasassumed,buthesawthatshewasabandoningherselftothegrowingexcitementofthedance,asSibley,hermostfrequentpartner,andothers,weretothestrongerexcitementofliquor.
　　Observantmotherscalledawaytheirdaughters.Ladies,inwhomtheinstinctsoftruerefinedwomanhoodwereintheascendancy,lookedsignificantlyateachother,anddeclinedfurtherinvitations.
　　VanBerghadalsowithdrawn,butwithhisdispositiontowatchmanifestationsofcharacteringeneral,andofonepresentinparticular,hestillstoodataparlorwindowlookingon.Thebandhadjuststruckupalivelierwaltzthanusual,andIdaandSibleywerewhirlingthroughthewideapartmentasiftreadingonair;
　　butwhen,afewmomentslater,theycirclednearwherehestood,hesawupontheyoungman'sfaceanexpressionofearthinessandgrossnessthatwasanythingbutethereal.IndeedsounmistakablywantonwasthelookwhichSibleybentuponhiscompanion,whoseheavingbosomheclaspedagainsthiswon,thattheartistfrowneddarklyathim,andfelthishandtinglingtostrikethefellowablow.
　　She,lookingup,caughthisfrown,andinheregotismandexcitement,thoughtitmeantonlyjealousyofthemanshehadsofavoredduringtheevening.
　　"PerhapsheismoredeeplysmittenthanIimagined,andIcanpunishhimyet,"wasthehopethatenteredhermind;andthisprospectaddedtotheelationandexcitementwhichhadmasteredher.
　　"Cansheknowhowthatscoundrelislookingather?IfIbelieveditI'dleavehermarvellousfeaturestotheirfate,"wasthethoughtthatpassedthroughhismind.
　　Inhisperturbationhewalkeddownthelongpiazza.Happeningtoglanceintooneofthesmallprivateparlors,hewitnessedascenethatmadeaverysharpcontrastwiththeonehehadjustleft.
　　Anoldwhite-haired,white-beardedman,awell-knownguestofthehouse,reclinedinaneasy-chairwithanexpressionofrealenjoymentonhisface.Hisagedwifesatnear,knittingawayastranquillyasifathome,whileunderthegas-jetwasMissBurton,readinganewspaper,withtwoorthreeothersuponherlap.Shehadevidentlyfoundtheoldgentlemantryingtoglean,withhisfeeblesight,theeveningjournalsthathadbeenbroughtfromthecity,andwaslendinghimheryoungeyesandmellowvoiceforanhour.Thepicturestruckhimsopleasantlythathetookouthisnotebookandindicatedthefortunategroupingwithin,forafuturesketch.
　　"Itwouldmakesomedifferenceinaman'sfuture,"hemuttered,"whetherthismaidenortheoneinyonderroue'sembracewereinstalledasthemistressofhishome."
　　GoingbackintothemainhallwayhemetStantoncomingdownthestairswithhisfaceunusuallyflushed.
　　"Oh,Van,"hecried,"wherehaveyoubeenkeepingyourself?Comewithmeandhavesomeofthebestbrandyyouevertasted."
　　"Whereisit?"
　　"InSibley'sroom.Hebroughtupacoupleofbottlesoftheprimeoldarticle,andhasinvitedallhisfriendstomakefreewithit."
　　"I'mnotoneofhisfriends."
　　"Ohwell,you'remyfriend!What'stheodds?Aswigofsuchbrandywilldoyougood,socomealong."
　　"Comeoutonthepiazza,Stanton.Iwanttoshowyousomething."
　　"Can'tyouwaitafewmoments?Iwanttohaveawhirlinthisjollywaltzbeforeit'sover."
　　"No;thenitwillbetoolate.Iwon'tkeepyoulong,"andStantonreluctantlyfollowedhim.
　　VanBergunderstoodhisfriendsufficientlywelltoknowthatanyordinaryremonstrancewouldhavenoinfluenceinhispresentcondition,andsosoughttousealittlestrategy.Takinghimtothewindowofthesmallprivateparlor,heshowedandexplainedtohimtheprettyandquietscenewithin.
　　Stanton'smannerchangedinstantly,andheseemedinnohastetoreturntothewaltz.
　　"Ithoughtitwouldstrikeyouasaprettypicture,asitdidme,"
　　remarkedVanBerg,quietly;"andIalsothoughtthatafterseeingityouwouldnotwantanymoreofSibley'sbrandy.Itwouldchokeme."
　　"Youareright,Van.IfearI'vetakentoomuchofitalready.
　　I'mgladyoushowedmethisquietpicture——itmakesmewishIwereabetterman."
　　"Ilikethat,Ik;Ialwaysknewyouhadplentyofgoodmetalinyou.
　　NowIdon'twanttobeofficious,butIwouldnotletacousinofminedancewithSibleyanylongerifIcouldpreventitwithoutattractingattention.Howevergeneroushemayhavebeenwithhisbrandy,hehashadmorethanhissharehimself."
　　"Thankyou,Van;Iunderstandyou.ByJove,I'lltrythesametacticswithherthatyouhavewithme.I'llbringherhereandshowherascenethathasbeentomelikeaquietingandrestraininghand."
　　Afewmomentslaterthewaltzceased,andMissMayhewcameoutonthecool,duskypiazza,leaningonSibley'sarm.Stantonjoinedherandsaid:
　　"Ida,comewithme;Iwishtospeakwithyouamoment.Mr.Sibley,pleaseexcuseus."
　　"Indeed,Mr.Stanton,"saidSibleyintonesofmaudlinsentiment,"youarecrueltodeprivemeofyourcousin'ssocietyevenforamoment.I'llforgiveyouthisonce,butneveragain."Andthenheavailedhimselfoftheopportunitytopayanothervisittohisbrandy.
　　"Ida,"saidStanton,"Iwanttoshowyoualittlepicturethathasdonemegood."
　　Buttheyoungladywasinnomoodforpicturesormoralizing.Herbloodwascoursingfeverishlythroughherveins,herspirithadbeenmaderecklessbythewilfulviolencethatshewasdoingherconscience,andalsobyherdeepandgrowingdissatisfactionwithherself,thatwaslikeanirritatingwound.Shewasthereforepreparedtoresentanyinterruptiontothewhirlofexcitement,whichgaveherakindofpleasureintheplaceofthehappinessthatwasimpossibletooneinhercondition.