a face illumined-第37章

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Her　attendant　at　the　concert…garden　had　been　a　fool；　and　now　he

was　associating　her　with　a　man　whom　he　more　than　despised。　　She

believed　that　he　pitied　her　father　as　the　victim　of　a　wife's

heartlessness　and　a　daughter's　selfishness　and　frivolity；　and　that

he　felt　a　repugnance　toward　her　mother　which　his　politeness　could

not　wholly　disguise。　　He　was　probably　learning　to　characterize　them

in　his　mind　by　her　father's　horrible　words〃froth　and　mud。〃



Such　miserable　thoughts　were　flocking　round　her　like　croaking

ravens　as　she　sat　rigid　and　motionless　in　her　room；　her　form　tense

from　the　severity　of　her　mental　distress。　　Suddenly　Sibley's　loud

tones；　and　her　cousin's　voice　in　reply；　caught　her　attention；　and

she　opened　the　lattice　of　the　blinds。　　She　had　scarcely　done　so

before　she　saw　Stanton　strike　the　blow　which　had　felled　Sibley　to

the　earth。



With　breathless　interest　she　watched　the　scene　till　Van　Berg

stepped　forward。　　Then　she　sprang　to　a　drawer；　and　taking　out　a

small　field…glass　which　she　carried　on　her　summer　excursions　was

able　to　see　the　expression　of　the　young　men's　faces；　although　she

could　not　distinguish　their　words。　　The　stern；　menacing　aspect

of　the　artist　made　her　tremble　even　at　her　distance；　and　it　was

evident　that　his　words　were　throwing　Sibley　into　a　transport　of

rage；　and　when　in　his　passion　he　tried　to　shoot　Van　Berg；　she　could

not　repress　the　cry　that　attracted　their　attention。



Her　mother；　in　the　adjoining　room；　commenced　knocking　at　the　door；

asking　what　was　the　matter；　but　received　no　answer　until　Ida　saw

that　the　young　men　were　coming　toward　the　house。　　Then　she　threw

open　the　door；　and　told　Mrs。　Mayhew　that　she　had　seen　something

that　looked　like　a　large　spider；　and　that　nothing　was　the　matter。

Without　waiting　for　further　questioning　she　flitted　hastily

down…stairs　and　from　one　concealed　post　of　observation　to　another

until　she　saw　the　angry　party　enter　Mr。　Burleigh's　private　office。

A　small　parlor　next　to　it　was　empty；　and　once　within　it；　the　loud

tones　spoken　on　the　other　side　of　the　slight　partition　were　distinctly

heard。



As　she　listened　to　the　words　which　Van　Berg　and　Mr。　Burleigh

addressed　to　the　man　whom　all　in　the　house　had　regarded　as　her

accepted　lover；　or　at　least　her　congenial　friend；　her　cheeks　grew

scarlet；　and　when　he　was　dismissed　from　the　house；　she　fled　to　her

room；　wishing　that　it　were　a　place　in　which　she　might　hide　forever；

so　overwhelming　was　her　sense　of　shame　and　humiliation。



How　could　she　meet　the　guests　of　the　Lake　House　again？　　Worse　than

all；　how　could　she　meet　the　scornful　eyes　of　the　man　who　had　driven

from　the　place　the　suitor　that　she　was　supposed　to　favor　as　he

might　have　scourged　away　a　dog。



She　could　not　now　explain　that　Sibley　was　and　ever　had　been　less

than　nothing　to　herthat　she　had　both　detested　and　despised　him。

She　had　permitted　herself　to　touch　pitch；　and　it　had　of　necessity

left　its　stain。　　To　go　about　now　and　proclaim　her　real　sentiments

toward　the　man　who　apparently　had　been　her　favorite；　would　seem　to

others；　she　thought；　the　quintessence　of　meanness。　　She　felt　that

she　had　been　caught　in　the　meshes　of　an　evil　web；　and　that　it　was

useless　to　struggle。



Despairing；　hopeless；　her　cheeks　burning　with　shame　as　with　a　fever；

she　sat　hour　after　hour　refusing　to　see　any　one。　　She　would　not　go

down　to　supper。　　She　left　the　food　untasted　that　was　sent　to　her

room。　　She　sat　staring　at　vacancy　until　her　face　became　a　dim　pale

outline　in　the　deepening　twilight；　and　finally　was　lost　in　the

shadow　of　night。　　But　the　darkness　that　gathered　around　the　poor

girl's　heart　was　deeper　and　almost　akin　to　the　rayless　gloom　that

positive　crime　creates；　so　nearly　did　she　feel　that　she　was　associated

with　one　from　whom　her　woman's　soul；　perverted　as　it　was；　shrank

with　inexpressible　loathing。



〃Ida　is　in　one　of　her　worst　tantrums；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Mayhew　to

Stanton；　〃I　never　knew　her　to　act　so　badly　as　she　has　of　late。　　I

wouldn't　have　thought　that　such　a　man　as　you　have　found　Sibley　to

be　could　gain　so　great　a　hold　upon　her　feelings。　　But　law！　she'll

be　all　over　it　in　a　day　or　two。　　Nothing　lasts　with　Ida；　and　least

of　all；　a　beau。〃



〃Well；〃　said　Stanton；　bitterly；　〃she　is　disgracing　herself　and　all

related　to　her　by　her　inexcusable　folly　in　this　instance。　　Those

who　pretended　to　be　Sibley's　friends　at　dinner；　are　now　trying　to

win　a　little　respectability　by　turning　against　him；　and　the　story

of　his　behavior　is　circulating　through　the　house。　　All　will　soon

know　that　he　shot　at　Van　Berg；　and　that　he　made　insulting　remarks

about　Miss　Burton。　　It　will　appear　to　every　one　as　if　Ida　were

sulking　in　her　room　on　Sibley's　account；　and　people　are　usually

thought　to　be　no　better　than　their　friends。〃



〃Oh；　dear！〃　half　sobbed　Mrs。　Mayhew；　〃won't　you　go　up　to　her　room

and　show　her　the　consequences　of　her　folly？〃



〃No；〃　said　Stanton；　irritably；　〃not　to…night。　　I　know　her　too

well。　　She　will　take　no　advice　from　me　or　any　one　else　at　present。

To…morrow　I　will　have　one　more　plain　talk　with　her；　and　if　she

won't　listen　to　reason　I　wash　my　hands　of　her。　　Where　is　Uncle？〃



〃Don't　ask　me。　　Was　there　ever　a　more　unfortunate　woman？　　With　such

a　husband　and　daughter；　how　can　I　keep　up　appearances？〃



Stanton　walked　away　with　a　gesture　of　disgust　and　impatience。



〃Curse　it　all！〃　he　muttered；　〃and　their　shadows　fall　on　me　too。

What　chance　have　I　with　the　snow…white　maiden　I'd　give　my　life　for

when　followed　by　such　associations？〃











Chapter　XXX。　　The　Deliberate　Wooer　Speaks　First。









Mr。　Burleigh　was　one　of　those　fortunate　men　who　when　the　weather

is　rough　outsideas　was　often　the　case　in　his　callingcan　always

find　smooth　water　in　the　domestic　haven　of　a　wife's　apartment。　　Thus

Mrs。　　Burleigh　soon　learned　the　cause　of　his　perturbation；　and　as

she　knew　Jennie　Burton　would　hear　the　story　from　some　one　else；

could　not　deny　herself　the　feminine　enjoyment　of　being　the　first

to　tell　it；　and　of　congratulating　her　on　the　knightly　defender　she

had　secured；　for　the　quarrel　had　come　before　Mr。　Burleigh　in　such

a　form　as　to　make　Van　Berg　the　principal　in　the　affair。



Miss　Burton's　cheek　flushed　deeply　and　resentfully　as　she　heard

the　circumstances　in　which　her　name　had　been　spoken；　and　she　said

with　emphasis：



〃Mr。　Van　Berg　impressed　me　as　a　chivalric　man　from　the　first　day　of

our　meeting。　　But　I　wish　he　had　paid　no　heed　to　the　words　of　such

a　creature　as　Mr。　Sibley。　　That　his　life　was　endangered　on　my

account　pains　me　more　than　I　can　tell　you；〃　and　she　soon　grew　so

white　and　faint　that　Mrs。　Burleigh　made　her　take　a　glass　of　wine。



〃Death　seems　such　a　terrible　thing　to　a　young；　strong　man；〃　she

added；　shudderingly；　after　a　moment；　and　she　pressed　her　hands

against　her　eyes　as　if　to　shut　out　a　vision　from　which　she　shrank。

〃May　he　not　still　be　in　danger　from　this　ruffian's　revenge？〃　she

asked；　looking　up　in　sudden　alarm。



〃I'm　afraid　that　he　will　be；〃　said　Mrs。　Burleigh；　catching　the

infection　of　her　fears。　　〃I　will　have　Mr。　Burleigh　see　that　he　is

kept　away　from　this　place。〃



Soon　after；　as　Miss　Burton　was　passing　through　the　main　hall…way；

she　met　the　artist；　and　stepping　into　one　of　the　small　parlors　that

was　unoccupied；　she　said：



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；　I　wish　to　speak　with　you。　　I　wish　both　to　thank　you；

and　to　ask　a　favor。〃



〃Please　do　the　latter　only；〃　he　replied；　smiling。



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　she　resumed；　looking　into　his　face　with　an　expression

that　made　his　heart　beat　more　quickly；　〃your　life　was　endangered

on　my　account　this　afternoon。〃



〃That's　a　pleasant　thought　to　me；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hand；　〃that

is　if　you　are　not　offended　that　I　presumed　to　be　your　knight。〃



〃It　is　a　dreadful　thought　to　me；〃　she　answered；　earnestly；　then　in

a　strange　and　excited　manner　she　added：　　〃You　cannot　knowdeath

to　some　is　a　horrible　thingit　prevents　so　muchI've　knownlet

it　come　to　the　old　and　sadI　could　welcome　itbut　to　such　as

youO　merciful　Heaven！　　Grant　me；　please　grant　me；　the　favor　I

would　ask；〃　she　continued；　clinging　to　his　hand。　　〃They　say　this

man　Sibley　is　very　passionate　and　revengeful。　　He　may　still　try

to　carry　out　his　dreadful　purpose。　　Please　shun　him；　please　avoid

himin　mercy　do。　　I've　more　than　I　can　bear　now；　and　ifif〃

and　she　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。



〃And　can　my　poor　life　be　of　such　value　to　you；　Miss　Burton？〃　he

asked；　in　a　deep　low　tone。



〃Ah！　you　cannot　understand；〃　she　said；　with　a　sudden　and　passionate

gesture；　〃and　I　entreat　you　not　to　ask　me　to　explain。　　From　the

first　you　have　been　kind　to　me。　　I　have　felt　from　the　day　we　met

that　I　had　found　a　friend　in　you；　and　your　risk；　your　care　for　me

to…day；　gives　you　a　peculiar　claim　as　a　friend；　but　in　mercy　do

not　ask　me　to　explain　why　I　am　so　urgent　in　my　request。　　I　cannot；

indeed　I　cannotat　least　not　now；　in　this　place。　　Something

happenedSudden　death　in　one　young；　strong；　and　full　of　hope；　like

you；　seems　to　me　horriblehorrible。　　In　mercy　promise　to　incur　no

risk　on　my　account；〃　she　said　passionately；　and　almost　wildly。



〃My　poor　little　friend；　how　needlessly　frightened　you　are！〃　he

said；　soothingly　and　gently。　　〃There；　I　will　promise　you　anything

that　a　man　of　honor　can。　　But　a　word　against　you；　Jennie　Burton；

touches　me　close；　very　close。　　As　said　the　Earl　of　Kent；　'It　invades

the　region　of　my　heart。'〃



She　looked　up　swiftly　and　questioningly；　and　then　a　sudden　crimson

suffused　her　face。　　With　a　strong　and　uncontrollable　instinct　she

appeared　to　shrink　from　him。



〃Kent　served　one　who　had　lost　the　power　to　make　return；〃　she　said；

shaking　her　head　sadly　as　she　turned　away。



〃Let　me　reply　with　Kent　again；〃　he　earnestly　responded。　　〃'You

have　that　in　your　countenance'in　your　character'which　I　would

fain　call　master'；　and　I　am　mastered；　nor　can　I　be　shaken　from　my

allegiance。　　I　can　at　least　imitate　Kent's　faithfulness；　if　not

his　obtrusiveness；　in　the　service　of　his　king。　　You　have　already

claimed　me　as　a　friend；　and　so　much　at　least　I　shall　ever　be。　　Let

me　win　more　if　I　can。〃



She　became　very　quiet　now；　and　looked　steadily　into　his　flushed；

eager　face　with　an　expression　of　sorrowful　regret　and　pain　that

would　have　restrained　him　had　a　ten…fold　stronger　and　more　impetuous

love　been　seeking　utterance；　and　by　a　gesture；　simple　yet　eloquently

impressive；　she　put　her　finger　to　her　lips。　　Then　giving　him　her

hand　she　said；　with　strong　emphasis：



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；　I　would　value　such　a　FRIEND　as　you　could　be　to　me

more　than　I　can　tell　you。〃



〃I　shall　be　to　you　all　that　you　will　permit；〃　he　said；　gently　yet

firmly。　　〃As　you　now　appear　I　could　as　soon　think　of　urging　my

clamorous　human　love　on　a　sad…eyed　saint　that　had　suffered　some

cruel　form　of　martyrdom　for　her　faith；　and　then；　as　the　legends

teach；　had　been　sent　from　heaven　among　us　mortals