a face illumined-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



deeper　thoughts　as　mere　jests。　　But　Van　Berg　imagined　she　began　to

make　herself　more　inaccessible　to　Stanton。　　She　entrenched　herself

among　other　guests　in　the　parlor；　she　took　pains　to　be　so　occupied

as　to　make　him　feel　that　his　approach　would　be　an　interruption；　and

whenever　they　did　meet　at　the　table　and　elsewhere；　it　appeared　as

if　she　were　trying　to　teach　him　by　a　smiling；　friendly　indifference

that　he　was　not　in　her　thoughts　at　all。



The　positive　coldness　and　aversion　Ida　sought　to　manifest　toward　Van

Berg　would　not　have　been　so　disheartening　as　Miss　Burton's　device

of　seeming　to　be　so　agreeably　preoccupied　with　other　people　that

she　could　not　or　would　not　see　the　offering　Stanton　was　eager　to

lay　at　her　feet。



He　felt　this　keenly；　and　chafed　under　it；　but　her　woman's　tact　made

her　shining　armor　invulnerable。　　She　persisted　in　regarding　him　as

the　gay；　self…seeking；　pleasure…loving　man　of　the　world　that　she

had　recognized　him　to　be　on　the　fist　day　of　their　acquaintance。　　He

imagined　that　a　great　and　radical　change　had　taken　place　in　his

nature；　but　she　gave　him　no　opportunity　of　telling　her　so。　　At

first　she　had；　with　laughing　courtesy；　ignored　his　gallantry；　as　if

it　were　only　a　fashion　of　his　towards　any　woman　who　for　the　time

happened　to　take　his　fancy；　but　so　far　from　shunning　him　she　had

seemed　inclined　to　employ　what　she　regarded　as　a　caprice　or　a　bit

of　male　coquetry；　as　the　means　of　adding　to　the　enjoyment　of　as

many　as　possible；　and　Van　Berg　had　often　smiled　to　see　his　languid

friend　of　yore　seconding　Miss　Burton's　efforts　with　an　apparent

zeal　that　was　quite　marvellous。　　To　Stanton's　infinite　relief；　Van

Berg　did　not　twit　him　concerning　this　surprising　departure　from　his

old　ways。　　Indeed；　Miss　Burton　had　become　too　delicate　and　sacred

a　theme　in　both　of　their　minds　to　permit　of　their　old　banter。　　They

had　been　friends　and　were　so　still；　yet　each　recognized　the　fact

that　events　were　coming　that　would　sorely　test　and　perhaps　destroy

their　friendship。　　While　they　gradually　fell　aloof；　as　men　will　who

are　learning　that　their　dearest　interests　are　destined　to　conflict；

they　each　tried　nevertheless　to　maintain　an　honorable　rivalry；　and

their　bearing　toward　each　other；　although　tinged　with　a　growing

reticence　and　dignity；　was　genuinely　kind　and　courteous。



As　the　week　drew　to　a　close；　however；　it　gave　Van　Berg　pleasurethough

not　by　any　means　in　the　same　degree　that　it　caused　Stanton　painto

observe　that　Miss　Burton　was　shunning　the　latter's　society　as　far

as　politeness　permitted。



At　the　same　time；　while　she　evidently　enjoyed　his　companionship；

Van　Berg　observed　that　she　did　not　seem　to　specially　crave　it；　nor

in　truth　did　he　find　himself　when　away　from　her　〃distrait；〃　vacant；

and　miserable；　as　was　manifestly　the　case　with　his　friend。　　He

concluded　that　it　was　difference　of　temperamentthat　it　was　his

nature　to　be　governed　by　judgment　and　taste；　as　it　was　that　of　Stanton

to　be　swayed　by　feeling　and　passion。　　All　the　higher　faculties　of

his　mind　gave　their　voice　for　this　woman　with　increasing　emphasis。

His　heart　undoubtedly　would　slowly　and　surely　gravitate　in　the　same

direction。



How　to　win　her　therefore　was　gradually　becoming　the　one　interesting

and　most　difficult　question　he　had　to　solve。　　Although　she　was

poor　and　alone　in　the　world；　it　was　evident　that　mere　wealth　and

position　would　count　but　little　with　her。　　Stanton　was　handsome；

rich；　well…connected；　and　intelligent；　but　it　seemed　clear；　as　she

recognized　the　sincerity　of　his　suit；　she　withdrew　from　it。　　Some

coarse；　ill…natured　people　in　the　house；　who　at　first；　with

significant　nods；　had　intimated　that　〃the　little　school…ma'am〃　was

bent　on　bettering　her　fortunes；　were　soon　nonplussed　by　her　course。



Thus　far　Van　Berg's　name　had　not　been　associated　with　hers　in　any

such　manner　as　Stanton's。　　His　cooler　head；　or　heart　more　correctly；

had　enabled　him　to　act　very　prudently。　　He　would　enjoy　a　walk　or

conversation　with　her；　and　there　it　would　end。　　Neither　by　lingering

glances　nor　steps　did　he　show　that　he　could　not　interest　himself　in

other　people　and　things。　　He　did　not　attend　the　excursions　or　rides

to　which　Stanton　invited　her；　and　others　to　please　her；　because

he　knew　his　friend　〃doted　on　his　absence。〃　　He　felt　too　that　the

occasion　was　Stanton's　private　property；　and　that　it　would　be　mean

not　to　leave　him　the　full　advantage　of　the　device；　which　might

cause　him　more　effort　in　a　forenoon　or　an　evening　than　he　had　been

accustomed　to　put　forth　in　a　week。



But　poor　Stanton　soon　learned　that　his　labors　of　love　were　destined

to　be　very　promiscuous。　　He　never　could　manage　to　carry　her　off

alone　in　a　light　skiff　upon　the　lake；　he　could　never　inveigle　her

into　the　narrow　seat　of　his　buggy；　nor　could　his　most　wily　strategy

long　separate　her　from　their　companions　on　a　picnic　that　had　offered

to　his　ardent　fancy　a　chance　for　a　stroll　into　some　favoring　solitude

by　themselves。　　Had　she　been　a　princess　of　the　blood；　surrounded

by　a　guard　of　watchful　duennas；　she　could　not　have　been　more

unapproachable　to　lover…like　advances。　　Yet；　with　a　vexation　akin

to　that　of　old　Tantalus　himself；　he　constantly　cursed　his　stupidity

for　not　making　better　progress　toward　securing　the　smiling　affable

maiden；　who　by　every　law　of　his　pas　experience　ought　to　second　his

efforts　to　win　her。



Van　Berg；　who　remained　at　the　hotel；　or　went　off　by　himself　on

rambles　and　sketching　expeditions；　would　watch　his　opportunity　and

quietly　and　naturally　join　her　on　the　piazza　or　in　the　parlor；　as

he　might　approach　any　other　lady。　　As　a　result　they　had　long　animated

conversations；　and　found　they　had　much　in　common　to　talk　about。



Stanton　would　gnaw　his　lip　with　envy　at　these　interviews　and　wonder

how　Van　Berg　brought　them　about　so　easily；　but　found　he　could　not

secure　them；　save　in　the　immediate　presence　of　others。　　Thus　it　came

about　that　Van　Berg　practically　enjoyed　much　more　of　Miss　Burton's

society　than　the　one　who　made　such　untiring　efforts　to　obtain　it。



In　Stanton's　too　eager　suit；　Van　Berg　thought　he　saw　the　danger

he　must　avoid；　and　he　complacently　congratulated　himself　that

he　possessed　a　temperament　which　permitted　thoughtful　and　wary

approaches。　　He　would　not　frighten　this　shy　bird　by　too　hasty

advances。　　Through　unobtrusive　companionship　he　would　first　grow

familiar　to　her　thoughts；　and　then；　if　possible；　would　make　himself

inseparable　from　them。



He　reached　this　conclusion　during　a　ramble　on　Saturday　morning；

and　with　elastic　tread　returned　to　the　hotel　to　carry　out　his　well

digested　policy。　　As　he　mounted　the　steps　he　saw　Miss　Burton　in

the　parlor；　and　at　once　entered　through　an　open　window。　　She　was

seated　in　a　corner　of　the　room　with　two　or　three　little　girls　around

her；　and　was　dressing　dolls。



〃Do　you　enjoy　that？〃　he　asked；　incredulously。



〃I'm　not　a　star；〃　she　replied　looking　up　with　a　quiet　smile；　〃but

only　a　planetone　of　the　smaller　asteroidsand　shine　with　borrowed

light。　　These　little　women　enjoy　this　hugely；　and　I　receive　a　pale

reflection　of　their　pleasure。〃



〃You　are　certainly　happy　in　your　answer；　if　not　in　your　work；〃　he

remarked。



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　said　one　of　the　children　emphatically；　〃Miss　Burton

is　the　best　lady　that　ever　lived。〃



〃I　agree　with　you；　my　dear；〃　responded　the　artist；　with　answering

emphasis。



〃Yes；　children；〃　said　Miss　Burton；　her　eyes　dancing　with　mischief；

〃and　I　want　you　to　appreciate　Mr。　Van　Berg's　genius　too。　　He　is　the

greatest　artist　that　ever　lived；　and　there　never　were　such　pictures

as　he　paints。〃



〃Miss　Burton；　I　beg　off；〃　interrupted　Van　Berg；　laughing。　　〃You

always　get　the　better　of　one。　　No；　children；〃　he　continued　in　answer

to　their　looks　of　wonder；　〃I　know　less　about　painting　pictures；　in

comparison；　than　you　do　of　dressing　dolls。〃



〃But　Miss　Burton　always　tells　us　the　truth；〃　persisted　the　child。



〃Now　you　see　the　result　of　our　folly；〃　said　the　young　lady；

shaking　her　head　at　him。　　〃We　have　given　this　child　an　example　of

insincerity。　　We　were　jesting；　my　dear。　　Mr。　Van　Berg　and　I　did

not　mean　what　we　said。〃



〃But　I　did　mean　what　I　said；〃　replied　the　child；　earnestly。



〃Since　only　downright　honesty；〃　the　artist　resumed　with　a　laugh；

〃is　permitted　in　this　little　group；　so　near　nature's　heart；　I　think

I　must　follow　this　small　maiden's　example；　and　stick　to　my　original

statement。　　For　once；　Miss　Burton；　we　have　won　the　advantage　over

you；　and　have　proved　that　yours　are　the　only　insincere　words　that

have　been　spoken。　　But　I　know　that　if　I　stay　another　moment　I　shall

be　worsted。　　So　I　shall　leave　the　field　before　victory　is　exchanged

for　another　reverse。〃



As　he　turned　laughingly　away　he　sawwhat　he　had　not　observed

beforethat　Ida　Mayhew　was　sitting　near。　　She　was　ostensibly

reading；　but　even　his　brief　glance　assured　him　that　her　downcast

eyes　were　not　following　the　lines。　　Her　face　was　so　pale；　so　rigid；

so　like　a　sculptured　ideal　of　some　kind　of　suffering　he　could　not

understand；　that　it　haunted　him。



He　had　given　but　little　thought　to　her　for　the　past　two　days；　and

indeed　had　rarely　seen　her。　　She　had　managed　to　take　her　meals　when

he　was　not　present；　and　on　one　or　two　occasions　had　had　them　sent

to　her　room；　pleading　illness　as　the　reason。　　Indeed　her　flagging

appetite　and　altered　appearance　did　not　make　much　feigning　on　her

part　necessary。



She　had　evidently　heard　the　conversation　just　narrated；　and　she

believed　that　Van　Berg　had　echoed　the　child's　belief　in　regard　to

Miss　Burton　more　in　truth　than　in　jest。



The　ruling　passion　of　the　artist　was　aroused。　　A　plain　woman　might

have　looked　unutterable　things；　and　he　would　have　passed　on　with　a

shrug；　or　but　a　thought　of　commiseration。　　But　that　oval；　downcast

face　followed　him。　　Its　sadness　and　pain　interested　him　because

conveyed　to　his　eye　by　a　perfect　contour。



〃Was　it　a　trick？〃　he　thought；　〃or　a　fortuitous　combination　of　the

features　themselves；　that　enabled　them　to　express　so　much！　　It　must

be　so；　for　surely　the　shallow　coquette　had　not　much　to　express。〃



〃A　plague　on　the　perversity　of　nature；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃to　give　the

girl　such　features。　　If　Jennie　Burton　had　them；　she　would　be　the

ideal　woman　of　the　world。〃



The　practical　result；　however；　was　that　he　half　forgot　during　dinner

that　she　was　〃the　best　woman　that　ever　lived〃　in　his　furtive　effort

to　study　Ida's　face　in　its　present　aspect；　and　that　he　also　spent

most　of　the　afternoon　in　his　room　sketching　it　from　memory。











Chapter　XXII。　　A　Vain　Wish。









As　the　witch…hazel　is　believed　to　have　the　power　of　indicating

springs　of　water　however　far　beneath　the　surface；　so　Miss　Burton；

by　a　subtle　affinity；　seemed　to　become　speedily　conscious　of　the

sorrows　and　troubles　of　others；　even　when　sedulously　hidden　from

general　observation。



She