a face illumined-第67章

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where　your　error　lies。　　Miss　Mayhew　and　myself　are　not　pellucid

drops　of　dew　that　you　look　through　at　a　glance。　　We　are　women：　　and

the　one　thing　in　this　world　which　men　never　will　learn　to　understand

is　a　woman。　　I'm　going　to　puzzle　you　still　further。　　I　am　learning

to　have　a　very　thorough　respect　for　Miss　Mayhew。　　I　am　beginning　to

admire　her　exceedingly；　and　to　think　that　she　is　growing　exquisitely

beautiful；　and　yet　were　she　here　this　week　you　would　find　that　I

would　not　seek　her　society。　　Give　your　mind　to　your　art；　and　never

hope　to　untangle　the　snarl　of　a　woman's　mind。　　Men；　in　attempting

such　folly；　have　become　hopelessly　entangled。　　Take　a　woman's　word

for　itwhat　you　see　you　can't　reason　out。　　I've　no　doubt　but　that

Miss　Mayhew　has　excellent　reasons　for　disliking　me；　and　the　fact

that　you　can't　understand　them　is　nothing　against　them。〃



〃Miss　Jennie；〃　said　Van　Berg　resolutely；　〃for　once　I　cannot　take

your　word　for　it。　　You　two　ladies　have　puzzled　me　all　summer；　and

I'll　never　be　content　till　I　solve　the　mysteries　which　so　baffle

me。　　My　interest　is　not　curiosity；　but　friendship；　to　say　the

least；　that　I　hope　will　last　through　life。　　You　will　tell　me　some

day　all　your　trouble；　and　you　will　feel　the　better　for　telling　me。〃



She　became　very　pale　at　these　words；　and　said　gravely：　　〃I　cannot

promise　thatI　doubt　it。　　You　may　have　to　trust　me　blindly　till

you　forget　me。〃



〃I　do　not　trust　you　blindly；　I　never　will　forget　you；〃　he　began；

impetuously。



〃Good…night；　Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　she　said；　and　in　a　moment　he　was　alone

on　the　piazza。



〃She　is　an　angel　of　light；　he　muttered；　〃and　not　a　woman。　　I　could

worship　her；　but　I'm　too　earthy　in　my　nature　to　lover　her　as　I

ought。〃



He　took　the　earliest　train　to　New　York；　and　so　had　a　long　afternoon

in　his　studio。　　He　was　surprised　to　find　how　absorbed　he　soon　became

in　his　work。　　〃Miss　Jennie　is　right；〃　he　thought；　〃I'm　an　artist；

and　not　a　reformer　or　a　metaphysician；　and　I　had　better　spend　my

time　here　than　in　trying　to　solve　feminine　enigmas；〃　and　he　worked

like　a　beaver　until　the　fading　light　compelled　him　to　desist。

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　a　fair　beginning。　　Two　or　three　more

days　of　work　like　this　will　secure　me；　I　think；　a　friendlier　glance

than　Miss　Ida　gave　me　last。〃　　From　which　words　it　might　be　gathered

that　he　was　thinking　of　other　rewards　than　mere　success　in　his　art。



In　the　evening　the　wand　of　Theodore　Thomas　had　a　spell　which

he　never　thought　of　resisting；　and　it　must　be　admitted　that　there

lurked　in　his　mind　the　hope　that　Ida　and　her　father　might　be　drawn

to　the　concert　garden　also。　　If　so；　he　was　sure　he　would　pursue

his　investigations。



He　was　rewarded；　for　Mr。　Mayhew　and　his　daughter　soon　entered　and

took　seats　in　the　main　lobby；　where　he　and　Stanton　had　sat　nearly

three　months　before。　　Van　Berg　congratulated　himself　that　he　was

outside　in　the　promenade；　and　so　had　not　been　observed；　and　he　sought

a　dusky　seat　from　which　he　might　seek　some　further　knowledge　of　a

character　that　had　won　and　retained　a　deepening　interest　from　the

time　of　their　first　meeting；　which　now　seemed　an　age　ago。　　Events

mark　time　more　truthfully　than　the　course　of　the　sun。



At　first　she　seemed　only　solicitous　about　her　father；　who　lighted

a　cigar　and　said　something　to　her　that　must　have　been　very　reassuring

and　pleasant；　for　a　glad　smile　broke　over　her　pale　face。　　But　it

vanished　quickly；　and　the　artist　saw　that　her　habitual　expression

was　sad；　and　even　dejected。　　She　did　not　look　around　with　the　breezy

alertness　natural　to　a　young　girl　in　such　a　place。　　The　curiously

diverse　people　around　her　excited　no　interest；　and　she　appeared

inclined　to　lapse　into　deep　reveries；　even　when　the　music　was

light　and　gay；　as　was　the　character　of　the　earlier　part　of　the

entertainment。　　At　times　she　would　start　perceptibly　when　her　father

spoke　to　her；　and　hesitate　in　her　answer；　as　if　she　had　to　recall

her　thoughts　from　far…off　wanderings。　　It　would　seem　that　Mr。

Mayhew　was　troubled　by　her　sad　face　and　absent　manner。　　He　justly

felt　that　the　brilliant　music　ought　to　enliven　her　like　sunlight；

and　that　it　did　not　proved　the　presence　of　some　intervening　cloud。



Van　Berg's　sympathies　and　interest　at　last　became　so　strong　that

he　determined　to　speak　to　her　at　once；　but　before　he　could　take

a　step　towards　her　the　orchestra　began　playing　Beethoven's　Fifth

Symphony；　the　very　music　she　ignored　for　the　sake　of　Mr。　Minty's

compliments　when　first　she　had　so　exasperated　him　by　her　marvellously

perfect　features；　but　disagreeable　face。　　He　had　not　looked　at　the

programme；　and　that　this　symphony　should　now　be　repeated　seemed

such　a　fortunate　coincidence　that　he　could　not　resist　the　temptation

of　contrasting　the　woman　before　him　with　the　silly　and　undeveloped

girl　he　first　had　seen。　　Moreover；　he　knew　that　the　music　must

remind　her　of　him；　and　he　might　gain　a　hint　of　her　present　feelings

toward　him。　　Either　the　beauty　or　something　familiar　in　the　exquisite

strains　soon　caught　her　attention；　and　she　took　up　her　programme；

which　hitherto　had　lain　neglected　on　her　lap。　　She　crimsoned

instantly；　and　her　brow　contracted　into　a　frown；　a　moment　later　an

expression　of　intense　disgust　passed　over　her　face。



〃Now　I　know　what　she　thinks　of　me；〃　he　thought　with　a　sinking

heart。　　〃I　doubt　whether　I　had　better　speak　to　her　this　evening；

and　at　this　place。〃



〃What's　the　matter；　Ida？〃　asked　her　father。　　〃Don't　you　like　the

music？〃



〃I　have　disagreeable　associations　connected　with　it。　　The　fault　is

wholly　in　me；　and　not　the　music。〃



〃Ida；　darling；　you　are　making　me　so　happy　that　I　wish　I　could　do

as　much　for　you。〃



〃Don't　worry；　father；〃　she　said；　trying　to　smile。　　〃I'm　happier

than　I　deserve。　　Listen！〃



As　the　last　exquisite　cadences　died　away；　Van　Berg　saw　that　there

were　tears　in　her　eyes。　　What　did　they　mean？　　〃Stanton　repeated　my

harsh　words　and　she　recalls　them；〃　was　the　best　explanation　he　could

think　of。　　〃By　the　fates！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃if　there　isn't　Sibley

with　a　toilet　as　spotless　as　he　is　himself　smirched　and　blackened。

Curse　him！　he　actually　has　the　impudence　to　speak　to　Miss　Mayhew；〃

and　the　artist　started　up　threateningly；　but　before　discovering

himself；　he　remembered　that　Ida's　natural　protector　was　at　her

side。　　And　yet　he　fairly　trembled　with　rage　and　protest；　that　this

fellow　should　be　so　near　her　again。　　He　also　saw　that　Mr。　Mayhew

rose　and　looked　very　menacing。　　But　Ida　was　equal　to　the　emergency；

and　extricated　herself　with　womanly　dignity；　for　while　she　blushed

scarlet　with　shame；　she　was　quiet　and　self…possessed；　and　paid　no

heed　to　his　eagerly　proffered　hand。



〃I　was　not　myself　that　hateful　day；　Miss　Ida；〃　he　said　hastily。



〃I　fear　you　were；　sir；〃　she　coldly　replied。　　〃At　any　rate；　I　am

not　my　old　self；　and　until　you　win　and　maintain　the　character　of

a　gentleman；　we　must　be　strangers。　　Good　evening；　sir；〃　and　she

turned　her　back　upon　him。



His　face　became　fairly　livid　with　rage；　but　on　encountering　the

stern　and　threatening　eyes　of　Mr。　Mayhew　he　slunk　away　and　left

the　building。



〃That's　my　peerless；　noble　Ida；〃　whispered　her　father。　　〃Oh　thank

God！　thank　God！　I　could　not　have　survived　if　you　had　realized　the

fears　I　once　had　about　that　low　scoundrel。〃



Ida's　lip　quivered　as　she　said；　〃Father；　please　take　me　home。　　I

don't　enjoy　myself　here。〃　　They　had　taken　but　a　few　steps　toward

the　door　when　the　artist　confronted　them　with　eyes　aglow　with

admiration　and　sympathy。



Poor　Ida　had　no　time　to　mask　her　feelings　or　check　her　impulses；

and　she　took　his　extended　hand　as　if　she　were　sinking；　while　the

color　and　light　of　welcome　flashed　brightly　into　her　face。　　Then

her　beautiful　confusion　suggested　that　she　felt　her　greeting　had

been　too　cordial；　and　she　sought　with　indifferent　success　to　regain

her　dignity。



〃Please　don't　go　just　yet；〃　said　Van　Berg　eagerly。　　〃The　concert

is　but　half　over；　and　there　are　some　pretty　things　still　to　come。〃



Ida　hesitated　and　looked　doubtfully　at　her　father。



〃I　shall　be　very　glad　to　stay；〃　he　said　with　a　smile；　〃if　you

feel　able　to。　　My　daughter　is　not　very　well；　I　fear；〃　he　added　in

explanation　to　the　artist。



〃Perhaps　it　has　been　a　little　close　here　in　the　lobby；〃　suggested

Van　Berg；　〃and　a　walk　in　the　open　air　will　be　agreeable。　　If　you

will　trust　your　daughter　to　me；　sir；　I　promise　to　bring　her　back

before　she　is　tired。　　I　have　much　to　tell　her　about　her　old　friend；

Mr。　　Eltinge；　whom　I　visited　yesterday；　and　the　pictures。　　Perhaps

you　will　go　with　us；　for　I　know　what　I　have　to　say　will　interest

you　also。〃



〃I　think　I'll　light　another　cigar　and　wait　for　you　here；〃　Mr。　Mayhew

answered　quietly。　　〃Old　people　like　to　sit　still　after　their　day's

work；　and　if　Ida　feels　strong　enough　I　would　enjoy　hearing　the　rest

of　the　concert。〃



〃It　would　be　hard　to　resist　the　temptation　to　hear　anything　about

dear　old　Mr。　Eltinge；〃　said　Ida；　taking　the　artist's　arm；　and

feeling　as　if　she　were　being　swept　away　on　a　shining　tide。



〃You　WERE　glad　to　see　me；　Miss　Mayhew；　and　you　can't　deny　it；〃　Van

Berg　began　exultantly。



〃You　almost　crushed　my　hand；　and　it　aches　still；〃　was　her　demure

reply。



〃Well；　that　was　surely　the　wound　of　a　friend。〃



〃You　are　very　good　to　speak　to　me　at　all；　after　all　that's　happened；〃

she　said　in　a　low　tone　and　with　downcast　face。



〃What　a　strange　coincidence！　　That　is　exactly　what　I　was　thinking

of　you。　　I　almost　feared　you　would　treat　me　as　you　did　Sibley。　　How

much　good　it　did　me　to　see　him　slinking　away　like　a　whipped　cur！　　I

never　realized　before　how　perfectly　helpless　even　brazen　villainy

is　in　the　presence　of　womanly　dignity。〃



〃Why；　were　you　present　then？〃　she　asked；　with　a　quick　blush。



〃Not　exactly　present；　but　I　saw　your　face　and　his；　and　a　stronger

contrast　I　scarcely　expect　to　see　again。〃



〃You　artists　look　at　everything　and　everybody　as　pictures。〃



〃Now；　Miss　Mayhew；　you　are　growing　severe　again。　　I　don't　carry

the　shop　quite　as　far　as　that；　and　I　have　not　been　looking　at　you

as　a　picture　at　all　this　evening。　　I　shall　make　known　the　whole

enormity　of　my　offence；　and　the　if　I　must　follow　Sibley；　I　must；

but　I　shall　carry　with　me　a　little　shred　of　your　respect　for　telling

the　truth。　　I　had　a　faint　hope　that　you　and　your　father　would　come

to…night；　and　I　was　looking　for　you；　and　when　you　came　I　watched

you。　　I　could　not　resist　the　temptation　of　comparing　the　Miss　Mayhew

I　now　so　highly　esteem　and　respect；　with　the　lady　I　first　met　at

this　place。〃



〃Oh；　Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　said　Ida；　in　a　low；　hurt　tone；　〃I　don't　think

that　was　fair　to　me；　or　right。〃



〃I　am　confessing　and　not　excusing　myself；　Miss　Mayhew。　　I　once　very

justly　appeared　to　you　like　a　prig；　and　now　I　fear　I　shall　seem

a　spy；　but　after　our　visit　to　that　old　garden　together；　and　your

frankness　to　me；