a face illumined-第44章

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that　misgivings　would　arise。　　Once　he　thought　she　met　his　eyes　with

something　like　an　appeal　in　her　own；　but　he　would　not　look　long

enough　to　be　sure。　　A　moment　later　he　was　vexed　with　himself　that

he　had　not。



The　silence　or　the　forced　remarks　at　the　table　were　equally　oppressive；

and　Ida　immediately　felt　that　she　was　the　cause　of　the　restraint。

She　was　about　to　leave　the　table　in　order　to　relieve　them　of　her

presence；　when　Miss　Burton　unexpectedly　entered　and　took　her　chair；

which　hitherto　had　been　vacant。　　She　was　a　little　pale　and　wan；

but　this　only　made　her　look　the　more　interesting；　and　both　Stanton

and　Van　Berg　welcomed　her　as　they　would　the　sunshine　after　a　dreary

storm。　　Even　Mrs。　Mayhew　seemed　to　find　a　wonderful　relief　in　her

coming；　and　added　her　voluble　congratulations。



〃I　have　had　nervous　headaches　myself；　and　know　how　to　sympathize

with　you；〃　she　concluded。



〃She　does　not　know　how　to　sympathize　with　me；〃　sighed　her　daughter。



The　sigh　caught　Van　Berg's　attention；　and　he　was　surprised　to　see

that　the　maiden's　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　　She　bowed　her　head　a

moment　to　hide　them；　and　then　abruptly　left　the　table　and　the　room。



The　artist's　misgivings　ended　in　something　like　compunction；　as

he　thought：　　〃Her　tears　are　caused　by　the　contrast　between　the　icy

reception　we　gave　her；　and　the　cordial　welcome　we　have　just　given

Miss　Burton。　　Confound　it　all！　　I　wish　I　knew　the　exact　truth；　or

that　she　would　leave　for　parts　unknown　where　I　could　never　see　her

again。〃



Miss　Burton　glanced　wistfully　after　the　retreating　maiden；　but　no

explanation　was　offered。　　Then；　as　if　feeling　that　she　had　lost　a

day's　opportunity　for　diffusing　sunshine；　she　became　more　genial

and　brilliant　than　Van　Berg　had　ever　known　her　to　be。　　They　lingered

long　at　the　table；　Mr。　Burleigh　and　others　joined　them。　　Their

laughter　rang　out　and　up　to　the　dusky　room　in　which　poor　Ida　was

sobbing；



〃I　wish　I　were　dead　and　out　of　every　one's　way。〃



Van　Berg　laughed　with　the　others；　but　never　for　a　moment　did　he

lose　the　uneasy　consciousness　that　he　might　possibly　be　misjudging

Ida　Mayhew。　　Although　Mr。　Burleigh's　portly　form　occupied　her

chair；　it　did　not　prevent　him　from　seeing　a　pale　tearful　face　that

was　far　too　beautiful；　far　too　free　from　all　gross　and　sensual

elements；　to　harmonize　with　the　character　he　was　supposing　her　to

possess。　　He　re…called　what　she　had　said　about　the　〃fragrance〃　of

the　rose…bud　he　had　torn　and　tossed　away；　rising　to　him　like　〃a

low；　timid　appeal　for　mercy。〃　　Had　she　shyly　and　timidly　appealed

to　him　for　a　kinder　judgement　that　evening；　and　had　he　been　too

blind　and　prejudiced　to　see　anything　save　the　stains　left　by　Sibley's

name？　　If　she　proposed　to　go　to　Sibley；　why　was　she　not　like　him

in　manner？　　It　was　strange　that　one　akin　to　such　a　fellow　should

fasten　wild　flowers　on　her　bosom；　and　still　more　strange　that　they

should　be　so　becoming。



The　cool　and　sagacious　Van　Berg；　who　so　prided　himself　on　his

correct　judgment；　was　decidedly　perplexed　and　perturbed。











Chapter　XXXV。　　Desperately　Wounded。









Stanton　basked　in　Miss　Burton's　smiles　until　a　significant　look

from　Mrs。　Mayhew　reminded　him　of　his　disagreeable　task；　for　the

performance　of　which　there　seemed　a　greater　urgency　than　ever。

Ida's　rather　precipitate　withdrawal　from　the　supper…room　was　another

proof　in　their　eyes　that　some　mischief　was　brewing。



He　listened　at　her　door　for　a　moment；　and　could　not　fail　to　hear

the　stifled　sound　of　her　passionate　grief；　then　knocked；　but　there

was　no　response。



〃Ida；〃　he　said；　in　a　kinder　tone　than　usual；　〃I　want　to　see　you。〃



She　tried　to　quiet　her　sobbing；　and　after　a　moment　faltered：　　〃You

had　better　leave　me　to　myself。〃



〃No；　I　must　see　you；〃　he　said　kindly　but　firmly。　　〃I　have　something

to　say　to　you。〃



The　poor　girl　was　so　lonely　and　heart…broken；　that　she　was　ready

for　the　least　ray　of　comfort。　　She　now　saw　that　she　was　ignorant

and　exceedingly　faulty。　　She　was　ready　to　admit　the　fact　that　she

had　acted　very　foolishly　and　unwisely；　and　that　circumstances　were

against　her。　　Ill…omened　circumstances　have　brought　to　condemnation

and　death　innocent　men。　　Ida　would　not　now　claim　that　she　was

innocent　of　blame；　but　events　had　seemed　so　unfortunate　of　late；

that　she　was　half　ready　to　think　that　some　vindictive　hand　was

shaping　them。



But　she　did　not　feel　that　she　was　now　worse　than　she　had　been。

On　the　contrary；　she　had　longings　for　a　better　life　and　a　broader

culture　such　as　she　had　never　experienced　before。　　The　artist's

eyes；　in　searching　for　her　woman's　soul；　revealed　to　her　that　she

had　been　a　fool；　but　now　she　would　gladly　become　a　woman　if　some

one　would　only　point　out　the　way。



〃Mother　and　Ik　might　learn　that　I　am　not　wholly　bad　if　they　would

only　take　the　trouble　to　find　out；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Ik　used　to　be

kind…hearted；　and　I　thought　he　cared　a　little　for　me；　in　spite　of

our　sparing。　　Why　is　he　so　hard　on　me　of　late？　　Why　can't　he　believe

that　I　am　just　as　capable　of　detesting　Sibley　as　he　is？　　Perhaps

he　does　mean　to　say　a　kind　word；　and　give　me　a　chance　to　explain。〃



These　thoughts　passed　through　her　mind　as　she　lighted　the　gas　and

bathed　her　face；　that　she　might；　to　some　extent；　remove　the　evidences

of　grief。



Stanton　misunderstood　her　wholly。　　The　new　Ida；　that　deep　feeling

and　recent　events　were　developing；　was　unknown　to　him；　and　he　had

been　too　preoccupied　to　see　the　changes；　even　had　they　been　more

apparent。　　He　did　feel　a　sort　f　commiseration　for　her　evident

suffering；　for　he　was　too　kind…hearted　not　to　sympathize　even

when　he　believed　pain　to　be　well…deserved。　　But　he　thought　he　must

still　deal　with　her　as　a　wayward；　passionate　child；　as　he　had　in

the　past；　when　she　cried　till　she　obtained　what　she　wished；　right

or　wrong。　　He　now　believed　that　she　was　as　fully　bent　on　carrying

out　her　own　unreasonable　will；　but　remembered　that　she　was　no

longer　a　child；　and　might　be　guilty　of　folly　that　society　would

not　forgive　as　childish。　　Therefore　he　wished　to　see　her　face；　and

was　disposed　to　be　wary　and　observant。



He　gave　her　a　quick；　keen　glance　as　he　entered　and　then　said：



〃What's　the　matter；　Ida？　　Why　do　you　sit　here　in　the　shadows？　　It's

as　dark　as　a　pocket；〃　and　he　turned　the　gas　higher。



She　did　not　answer；　but　sat　down　with　her　face　averted　from　him　and

the　light。　　〃He　has　come　here　as　a　spy；　and　not　as　a　comforter；〃

she　thought。



He　looked　at　her　a　moment；　mistook　her　silence　as　an　expression　of

the　settled　obstinacy　of　her　purpose。



〃Well；　Ida；〃　he　said；　a　little　irritably；　〃I　know　you　of　old。　　I

suppose　you　will　have　your　own　way　as　usual。　　If　we　must　submit；

why　then　we　must；　but　you　can't　expect　us　to　do　so　with　any　grace。

If　you　won't　give　up　this　Sibley；　for　heaven's　sake　let　your　mother

arrange　the　matter　after　the　fashion　of　the　day！　　Out　of　regard

for　your　family；　go　through　all　the　regular　formalities。〃



She　started　violently　and　then　leaned　back　in　her　chair　as　if　she

were　faint；　and　half　stunned　by　a　blow。　　He　regarded　her　manner　as

evidence　of　guilt；　or；　at　least；　of　proposed　criminal　imprudence

on　her　part；　and　went　on　still　more　plainly：



〃If　you　can't　exist　without　Sibleywhy；　marry　him；　but　see　to　it

that　there　is　a　plenty　of　priest；　altar；　and　service；　for　you　know；

or　you　ought　to；　that　he's　a　man　who　can't　be　trusted　a　hair's

breadth。〃



She　averted　her　face　still　farther；　and　said　in　a　low　constrained

tone：



〃My　family；　then；　consent　that　I　should　marry　Mr。　Sibley？〃



〃No；　we　submit　to　the　marriage　as　an　odious　necessity；　on　condition

that　you　put　the　whole　matter　into　your　mother's　hands　and　allow

her　to　arrange　everything　according　to　society's　requirements。〃



〃Please　let　me　understand　you；〃　she　said　in　a　lower　voice。　　〃My

family　offer　to　submit　to　the　marriage　as　a　dire　necessity　lest　my

relations　with　Mr。　Sibley　cover　them　with　a　deeper　shame？〃



〃Well；　in　plain　English；　yes。〃



〃It　is　indeed　extraordinarily　plain　Englishbrutally　plain。　　And

doesdoes　Mr。　Van　Berg　share　in　your　estimate　of　me？〃



Her　manner　and　words　began　to　puzzle　Stanton；　and　he　remembered

the　artist's　question〃Are　you　absolutely　sure　that　Sibley　is　the

cause　of　her　trouble？〃　　He　thought　that　perhaps　it　might　be　good

policy　to　contrast　the　two　men。



〃To　be　frank；〃　he　replied；　〃I　think　Mr。　Van　Berg　has　both　wished

and　tried　to　think　well　of　you。　　He　admired　your　beauty　immensely；

and　sought　to　find　something　in　your　character　that　corresponded　with

it。　　Even　after　your　studied　rudeness　to　him；　your　open　preference

of　Sibley's　society　to　his；　and　your　remark　explaining　your　course；

'congenial　society　or　none　at　all'〃　（Ida　fairly　groaned　as　he

recalled　her　folly）；　〃he　tried　to　treat　you　politely。　　That　you

should　refuse　the　society　of　a　gentleman　like　my　friend　for　the

sake　of　such　a　low　fellow　as　Sibley；　is　to　us　all　a　disgusting　and

fathomless　mystery。　　The　belief　that　you　could　throw　yourself　and

your　rare　beauty　into　this　abominable　slough；　was　so　revolting　to

Van　Berg；　that　he　never　would　wholly　accept　of　it　until　to…day。〃



She　rose　to　her　feet　and　turned　upon　him。　　Her　eyes　were　fairly

blazing　with　indignation；　and　her　face　was　white　and　terrible

from　her　anger。　　In　tones　such　as　he　had　never　heard　any　woman　use

before；　she　said：



〃But　to…day　you　have　succeeded　in　satisfying　him　that　this　is　not

only　possible；　but　the　most　natural　thing　for　me　to　do。　　You　have

told　him　that　my　family　will　submit　to　my　marriage　with　a　loathsome

wretch；　who　got　drunk　in　the　presence　of　ladies；　insulted　an　orphan

girl；　and　attempted　murderand　all　in　one　Sunday　afternoon。　　I

suppose　you　thought　me　captivated；　and　carried　away　by　such　a　burst

and　blaze　of　villainy；　and　so　my　high…toned　family　explain　to　the

faultless　and　aristocratic　Mr。　Van　Berg　that　they　will　submit　to

an　odious　marriage　lest　I　clandestinely　follow　the　scoundrel　who

was　very　properly　driven　away；　like　the　base　cur　he　is。　　This　is

why　you　received　me　to…night　as　if　I　were　a　pestilence。　　This　is

why　I　was　treated　at　the　table　as　if　I　were　a　death's　head。　　This

is　why　your　perfect　friend　looked　towards　me　as　if　my　chair

were　vacant。　　He　refused　even　to　recognize　the　existence　of　such

a　loathsome　thing　as　my　family　explain　to　him　that　I　am。　　Great

heaven！　may　I　never　live　to　receive　a　deeper　humiliation　than　this！〃



〃But；　Ida；〃　cried　Stanton；　deeply　alarmed　and　agitated　by　her　manner；

〃how　else　could　we　explain　your　action　and　your　reckless　words　to

your　mother？〃



〃Oh；　I　admit　that　circumstances　are　against　me；　but　there　is　no

excuse　for　this　outrage！　　I　don't　know　what　I　did　say　to　mother。

I've　been　too　wretched　and　discouraged　to　remember。　　She　IS　my

mother；　and　I'll　say　nothing　against　her；　though；　heaven　knows；

she　has　been　a　strange　mothe