a face illumined-第52节
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〃I am too weak and unnerved to do more than say good…night again;〃
she said; trying to smile。 〃You are fast learning that if you
would be my friend you must be a patient and generous one。〃
〃Thank heaven I came to the Lake House!〃 ejaculated the artist as
he strolled out into the star…light。 Thank heaven for this mingling
mystery and crystal purity。 It does me good to trust her。 There
is a deep and abiding joy in the very generosity she inspires。 I
am learning the spell under which Emily Musgrave came。 But how
strange it all is! She expected some one to…night; whom she would
have welcomed as she never will me。 〃The only rival I have to fear
may not be dead; as I supposed; and yet my perverse heart is more
full of pity for her than jealousy。 I had no idea that I was capable
of such self…abnegation。 Has she the art of spiritual alchemy;
and so can transmute natures full of alloy into fine gold?〃
Van Berg was an acute observer; and had large acquaintance with
the world in which he lived; and its inhabitants。 He was in the
main; however; an unknown quantity to himself。
Chapter XXXIV。 Puzzled。
Tuesday was dreary enough to more than one at the Lake House。
Clouds covered the sky; yet they gave little promise of the rain
which the thirsty earth so needed。 To Ida; as she looked out late
in the morning; they seemed like a leaden wall around her; shutting
off all avenues of escape。
Her mother joined her as she went down to a cold and dismal breakfast;
long after all the other guests had left the dining…room; and she
commenced fretting and fuming; as was her custom when the world
did not arrange itself to suit her mood。
〃Everything is on the bias to…day;〃 she said; 〃and you most of all
from your appearance。 I wish I could see things straightened out
for once。 The little school…ma'am; who turns everybody's head; is
sick in her room; and did not come down to breakfast。 Therefore
we had a Quaker meeting。 If you had been present with your long
face; the occasion would have been one of oppressive solemnity。 Ik
appeared as dejected as if he were to be executed before dinner;
and scarcely ate a mouthful; I never saw a fellow so changed in all
my life。 Although your artist friend had a rapt; absorbed look;
he was still able to absorb a good deal of steak and coffee。 I
saw him and Miss Burton emerge from a private parlor last night;
and he probably understands Miss Burton's malady better than the
rest of us。 Whywhat's the matter? Would to heaven I understood
your malady better! Are you sick?〃
〃Yes;〃 said Ida; rising abruptly from the table; 〃I am sicksick
of myself; sick of the world。〃
〃Good gracious!〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Mayhew; sharply; 〃are you so wrapt
up in that fellow Sibley; that you can't live without him?〃
Ida made a slight but expressive gesture of protest and disgust;
then said; in a low tone; as if to herself: 〃If my own mother so
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 r