a face illumined-第43章
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misjudges me； what can I expect of others？〃
Mrs。 Mayhew followed her daughter to her room with a perplexed and
worried look。
〃Ida；〃 she began； 〃you are all out of sorts； you are bilious； you've
got this horrid malaria； that the doctors are always talking about；
in your system。 Let me send for our city physician； Doctor Betts。
Never was such a man at diagnosis。 He seems to look right inside
of one and see everything that's going on wrong。〃
〃For heaven's sake don't send for him then！〃 exclaimed Ida。
Mrs。 Mayhew looked askance at her daughter a moment； and then asked
bluntly：
〃Why？ What's going on wrong in you？〃
〃I do not know of anything that's going on right；to use your own
phraseology。〃
〃You mean to say； then； that there is something wrong？〃
〃You intimated at the breakfast…table that everything was going
wrong。 So it has seemed to me； for some time。 But come； mother；
drugs can't reach my trouble； and so you can't help me。 You must
leave me to myself。〃
〃I think you might tell your own mother what is the matter；〃 whined
Mrs。 Mayhew。
〃I think I might also；〃 said Ida； coldly。 〃It is not my fault but
my great misfortune that I cannot。〃
At this Mrs。 Mayhew whimpered： 〃You are very cruel to talk to me
in that way。〃
〃I suppose I'm everything that's bad；〃 Ida answered recklessly。
〃That seems to be the general verdict。 Perhaps it would be best
for you all were I out of the way。 I can scarcely remember when
I have had a friendly look from any one。 Things could not be much
worse with me than they are now。 I think I would like a change；
and may have a very decided one。〃 Then seizing her hat； she left
her mother to herself。
Mrs。 Mayhew sank into a chair； and a heavy frown gathered on her
brow as she thought deeply for a few moments。
〃That girl means mischief；〃 she muttered。 〃I wonder if she is
holding any communication with Sibley？ I always thought Ida would
take care of herself； but she'll bear watching now。 She hasn't
been like herself since she came to this place。 I must consult
Ik at once。 Things are bad enough now； heaven knows； but if Ida
should do anything disgraceful； I'd have to throw up the game。〃 （Mrs。
Mayhew was an inveterate card…player； and her favorite amusement
often colored her thoughts and words。）
Stanton was found smoking and pretending to read a newspaper in
a retired corner of the piazza； but from which； nevertheless； he
could see whether Miss Burton made her appearance during the morning。
Mrs。 Mayhew explained her fears； and the young man used very strong
language in expressing his disgust and irritation。
〃A curse upon it all！〃 he concluded。 〃Since she must； and apparently
will gratify this low taste； can you not return to New York； patch
up the fellow into some sort of respectability and marry them with
a blare of brazen instruments that will drown the world's unpleasant
remarks？〃
〃That would be better than the scandal of an elopement；〃 mused
perplexed Mrs。 Mayhew。 〃From what you say； Sibley is bad enough；
and Ida seems reckless enough to do anything。 I wish we had never
come here。〃
〃So do I；〃 groaned Stanton。 〃No； I don't； either。 In fact I'm in
a devil of a mess myself。 You know it； and I suppose all see it。
I can't help it if they do。 My passion； no doubt； is vain； but
it's to my credit。 Ida's is disgraceful to herself and to us all。
If I'd been here alone and Van Berg had not come； I might have
succeeded； but NOW〃and with a despairing gesture he turned away。
〃Ik； come back；〃 cried his aunt； 〃of course I feel for you。 You
are independent； and can marry whom you please； though heaven knows
you could do better than…〃
〃Heaven knows nothing of the kind；〃 he interrupted； irritably； 〃and
if you were nearer heavenbut there； what's the use。〃
〃You're right now； Ik。 We can't afford to quarrel。 You must
talk to Ida。 We must watch her。 Find out if you can what is in
her mind； and if the worst comes to the worst； they will have to
be married。 I suppose it will be wise to hint to her that if she
WILL marry Sibley she had better do it in as respectable and quiet
a way as possible。〃
〃The idea of anything being respectable and quiet where they are
concerned！〃 snarled Stanton。
〃Well； well；〃 groaned Mrs。 Mayhew； 〃do your best。〃
But Ida was not to be found。
She appeared at dinner； however； and not a few looked at her；
and stole furtive glances again and again。 Among these observers
was the artist； and it was evident that he was both perplexed and
troubled。 Was this cold； marble…cheeked woman the butterfly that
had fluttered into the country a few weeks since？
〃She may be a bad woman；〃 he thought； 〃but she has become a woman
in the last few days。 She looks years older。 I thought her shallow；
but she's too deep for me。 For some reason I can't associate
that face； as it now appears； with Sibley； and yet it is so full
of mingled pain and defiance； that one might almost think she
meditated a crime。 She looks ill。 She is illshe is growing
thin and hollow…eyed。 What a magnificent study she would make of
a half…famished captive； or of beauty chainednot married to a
man hateful and hated； or； possibly； of innocence meditating guilt；
and yet seeking vainly to disguise the dark thoughts by a marble
mask。 There is some transforming process going on in Ida Mayhew's
mind； and from her appearance I rather dread the outcome； but her
face is becoming a rare study。〃
Although with the exception of a slight response to his formal
bow she had sought to ignore his presence and to avoid his eyes；
she was still conscious of this furtive scrutiny； and it hurt
her cruelly。 It seemed as if he were studying her as one might a
peculiar specimen。
〃His critical eyes are trying to look into me heart as they did
into the poor little rose…bud；〃 she thought； and her face grew
more rigid and inscrutable under his gaze。 as early as possible
she left the table。
〃I wish I knew just what her trouble was；〃 thought the artist。 〃If
not connected with that wretch Sibley； I could pity her with all
my heart。 Well； take all the good the gods send； I'll sketch her
face this afternoon as I have last seen it。〃
〃Your cousin begins to look decidedly ill；〃 he said to Stanton；
after dinner。
His friend's only reply was an imprecation。
〃Your remark is emphatic enough； but I don't understand it any
better than I do Miss Mayhew。〃
〃It's to your credit you don't。 Her mother has reason to believe
that there is some deviltry on foot between her and Sibley。 I'm to
find out and thwart her if I can。 I suppose I shall have to say；
in substance： 'Since you will throw yourself away on the fellow；
go through all the formalities that society demands。 In such case
your family will submit； if they can't approve。 You see I'm frank
with you； as I've been from the first。' Would to heaven she had
never come here； and now think of it there has been a change in
her for the worse ever since she came。 It must be the influence of
that cursed Sibley。 Some women are fools to begin with； but from
a fool infatuated with a villain； good Lord deliver us！〃
〃You fear an elopement then？〃 said Van Berg； his face darkening
into his deepest frown。
〃I fear worse than that。 Sibley is as treacherous as a quagmire。
If a woman ventured into a false position with him he would marry
her only when compelled to do so。 I'm savage enough to shoot
them both this afternoon。 I see but one way out。 I must warn her
promptly； and in language so emphatic that she will understand it；
that everything must be after the regulation style。〃
Van Berg made a gesture of contempt； but said to his friend：
〃Stanton； I'm sorry for you。 Such trouble as this would cut
me deeper than any other kind。 If I can do anything to help you；
count on me。 I'm in the mood myself to shoot Sibley； for he has
spoiled for me the fairest face that evil ever perverted。〃
Van Berg did not sketch Ida Mayhew's face that afternoon。 On the
contrary； he resolutely sought to banish her image from his mind。
When last he saw that face； it seemed made of Parian marble。 Now
it rose before him so blackened and besmirched that he thought of
it only with anger and disgust。
Ida kept herself so secluded in the afternoon that Stanton could
not find her； but this very seclusion； which the poor girl sought
in order to hide her wounds； only increased his own and Mrs。 Mayhew's
fears deepened their suspicions。
She was a little late in appearing at the super…table； for her
return from the wanderings of the afternoon had required more time
than she supposed。 She was very weary； moreover； the hours spent
in solitude with nature had quieted her overstrung nerves。 The
sun had shone upon her； though the world seemed to frown。 Flowers
had looked shyly and sweetly into her face as if they saw nothing
there to criticise。 She had plucked a few and fastened them into
her breast…pin； and their faint perfume was like a low； soothing
voice。 She was in a softened and receptive mood； and a kind word；
even a kind glance； might have tuned the scale in favor of better
thoughts and better living。
But she did not receive them。 Her coming to the table was greeted
with an ominous silence； for each one was conscious of thoughts
so greatly to her prejudice that they scarcely wished to meet her
eye。 Mrs。 Mayhew looked excessively worried and anxious。 Stanton
was flushed and angry。 The artist was icy as he only knew how to
be when he deemed there was sufficient occasion； and in his opinion；
the presence of the prospective and willing bride of the man who
had attempted his life； and； what was far worse； insulted the woman
he most honored； was occasion； indeed。
From time to time he gave her a cold； curious glance； as one might
look at some strange； abnormal thing for which there is no accounting；
but his slight scrutiny was no longer furtive。 He looked at her
openly as he would at an OBJECT； and not at a woman whose feelings
he would not wound for the world。 His thought was： 〃A creature
akin to Sibley deserves no consideration； and can put in no just
claim for delicacy。〃
Indeed he felt a peculiar vindictiveness towards her to…night； because
she had so thwarted him； and was about to carry her extraordinary
dower of beauty to the moral slough that seemingly awaited
her。 Therefore； his glance swept carelessly over her with a cold
indifference that chilled her very soul。
But these transient glances caught enough to trouble him with a
vague uneasiness。 Although he was steeled against her by prejudice
and anger； something in her appearance so pleaded in her favor
that misgivings would arise。 Once he thought she met his eyes with
something like an appeal in he
