"Why!he'sperfectlysplendid.Whoeverheardofsuchastrange,rarecreature!I'veflirtedwithlotsofpoorartists,butneverwitharichone.Bringhimtome,andintroducehimatonce."
　　"Heisnotonethatyoucanflirtwith,liketheattenuatedyouthwhohasjustmeanderedtothebarroom."
　　"Whynot?"
　　"Ifyouhadeyesforanythingsaveyourownprettyface,andthepublicstare,youwouldhaveseenthatmyfriendisnota'creature,'
　　butaman."
　　"Come,CousinIk,"sherepliedinmorenaturaltones,"toomuchofyourhouseismadeofglassforyoutothrowstones.Flirtingandfrolickingareasgoodanydayaseating,smoking,anddawdling."
　　Stantonbithislip,butretorted,"Idon'tprofesstobeabitbetterthanyouare,Coz;butIatleasthavethesensetoappreciatethosewhoaremysuperiors."
　　"SohaveI,whenIfindthem;Iambeginningtothink,however,thatyoumenareverymuchalike.Allyouaskisaprettyface,foryouallthinkthatyouhavebrainsenoughfortwo.Butbringyourparagonandintroducehim,thatImayshareinyourgapingadmiration."
　　"Youwould,indeed,mydearCoz,yawnoverhisconversation,foryoucouldn'tunderstandhalfofit.Ithinkwehadbetterremainwherewearetillyourshadowreturnswithhiseyesandnoseslightlyinflamed.Heisawareofatleastonemethodofbecomingaspiritedyouth,itseems."
　　"Amanwhoisworthhalfamillionisusuallyregardedasrathersubstantial,"sheretorted.
　　"Yes,butinthiscasethemoney-bagsoutweighthemantooridiculously.Forheaven'ssake,Coz,donotmakeaspectacleofyourselfbymarryingthisattenuation,orsocietywillasserttherewasaregularlydrawnbillofsale."
　　"IassureyouthatIdonotintendtoputmyselfunderanyman'sthumbforalongtimetocome.Iamhavingtoogoodatime;andthatremindsmethatIwouldenjoymeetingyourfriendmuchmorethanlisteningtoyourcynicalspeeches.DidInotknowthatyouwerelikemylittleKingCharles——allbarkratherthanbite——I
　　wouldn'tstandthem;andIwon'tanylonger,to-night.Sogoandbringyourgreatembryoartist,orhewillbecomeoneoftheoldmastersbeforeIseehim."
　　"IfearImustgiveyouaweebitofbitethistime.Ihaveofferedtointroducehimandhedeclinesthehonor."
　　"Howisthat?"sheasked,flushingwithanger.
　　"Iwillquotehiswordsexactly,andthenyoucaninterpretthemasyouthinkbest.Hesaid,'IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven'sfinestsymphonies.'"
　　Theyounggirl'sfacelookedanythingbutamiableinresponsetothisspeech;but,afteramoment,shetossedherhead,andreplied:
　　"'N'importe'——thereareplentywhocanusenotonlycivilwordsbutcomplimentaryones."
　　"Yes,andthemischiefofitisthatyouwilllistentothemandtonoothers.Whatsortofmusclecanonemakewholivesonlyonsugar-plums?"
　　"Theyagreewithmebetterthanthevinegardropsyouandyourunmannerlyfrienddelightin.Idon'tbelieveheeverpaintedanythingbetterthanawoodensquawforoneofyourbelovedcigar-shops——welcomebackMr.Minty.Youhavebeenawayanunconscionablylongtime."
　　"Thanksforthecomplimentofbeingmissed.Ihavetriedtomakeamendsbyorderinga'petitsouper'forthree,forIwassureyourcousinwouldjoinus.Itwillbebroughttooneofyonderstalls,where,whileweenjoyit,wecanbothseeandhear."
　　Surmisingthattheviandswouldconsistofthechoicestdelicaciesoftheseason,Stantonreadilyacceptedtheinvitation,anditsohappenedthattheclothwaslaidforthepartyinthestallnexttothatinwhichVanBergwasquietlyenjoyingacigarandafrugalglassoflager.Theytooktheirplacesquiteunawareofhisproximity,andhelistenedwithconsiderableinteresttothetonesandwordsofthefairstrangerwhohadsounexpectedlytakenpossessionofhisthoughts.Wereitnotforaslightshrillnessandloudnessattimes,andthefashionableaffectationoftheday,hervoicewouldhavebeensweetandgirlishenough.Asitwas,itsuggestedaninstrumenttunedtoafalsekeyandconsequentlydiscordantwithalltrueandwomanlyharmonies.HerconversationwithyoungMintywasasinsipidashimself,butoccasionallyStanton'scynicalbanterevokedsomethinglikereparteeandwit.
　　Inthecourseofhertalkshesaid:"Bytheway,Ik,motherandIstartforthecountrynextweek.WearetospendthesummerattheLakeHouse,whichisuptheHudsonsomewhere——youknowwherebetterthanI.IfyouwillbringyourbaysandalightwagonIshallbeverygladtoseeyouthere;otherwiseIshallwelcomeyou——well——asmycousin."
　　"IfIcomeIwillsurelybringmybays,andpossiblymayinviteyoutodrivewithme."
　　"Oh,Iwillsaveyoualltroubleinthatrespectbyinvitingmyself,whensoinclined."
　　TheorchestrawasnowabouttogiveaselectionthatVanBergwishedtoheartobetteradvantagethanhecouldinhispresentposition;
　　therefore,unobservedbythepartyontheothersideofthethinpartition,hereturnedtohisoldseatinthemainhallway.Notverylongafter,Stanton,withhiscousinandMr.Minty,enteredfromthepromenade,andagainVanBergreceivedthesamevividimpressionofbeauty,and,withmanyothers,couldnotwithdrawhiseyesfromtheexquisitefeaturesthatwereslightlyflushedwithchampagneandexcitement.But,asbefore,thisimpressionpassedquickly,andthefaceagainbecameasexasperatingtotheartistasthevisageoftheVenusofMilowouldbeshouldsomevandalhandpenciluponitaleerorasmirk.Aheavyfrownwasgatheringuponhisbrowwhentheyounglady,happeningtoturnsuddenly,caughtandfullyrecognizedhisloweringexpression.Itaccordedonlytoowellwithhercousin'swordsinregardtoVanBerg'sestimateofherself,andgreatlyincreasedherresentmenttowardstheonewhohadalreadywoundedhervanity——themostvulnerableandsensitivetraitinhercharacter.Theflushthatdeepenedsosuddenlyuponherfacewasunmistakablythatofanger.Shepromptlyturnedherbackuponhercritic,nordidshelooktowardshimagainuntilthecloseoftheevening.Thathiswordsandmannerrankledinhermemory,however,wasprovedbyaslightlypreoccupiedmanner,followedbyfitsofgayetynotaltogethernatural,andchieflybythefactthatshecouldnotleavetheplacewithoutaswiftglanceatthedisturbingcauseofherwontedself-approval.ButVanBergtookpainstomanifesthisindifferencebystandingwithhisbacktowardsherwhensheknewthathemustbeawareofherdeparture,fromherslightlyostentatiousleave-takingofhercousin,inwhich,ofcourse,thespoiledbeautyhadnootherobjectthantoattractattentiontoherself.
　　AsVanBerg,withhisfriend,waspassingoutafewminuteslater,heaskedratherabruptly,showingthathealsowasnotsoindifferentashehadpretendedtobe:
　　"Whatisyourcousin'sname,Stanton?"
　　"Hernameisasprettyasherself——IdaMayhew,anditisworsethanadisquietingghostinagoodmanyheadsandheartsthatIknowof.IndeeditsownerhasrobbedmenthatIthoughtsensible,notonlyoftheirpeace,but,Ishouldsay,oftheirwitsalso.IhadonefriendofwhomIthoughtagreatdeal,anditwaspitiabletoseetheabjectstatetowhichtheheartlesslittleminxreducedhim.Iamgladtofindthatherwitcheryhasnospellforyou,andthatyoudetectjustwhatsheisthroughherdisguiseofbeauty.
　　'Entrenous,'Van,Iwilltellyouasecret.Iwasonceoverearsinlovewithhermyself,butmycousinlyrelationshipenabledmetoseehersooftenandintimatelythatshecuredmeofmyfollyonhomeopathicprinciples.'Similiasimilibuscurantur.'Eventheblindnessoflovecouldnotfailtodiscoverthatwhenonesubtractedvanity,coquetry,andherstrikingexternalbeautyfromIdaMayhew,butlittlewasleft,andthatlittlenotaheavenlycompound.Thosewhoknowherleast,andwhoaddtoherbeautymanyidealperfections,aretheonesthatraveabouthermost.I
　　doubtwhethersheeverhadaheart;ifso,itwasfritteredawaylongagoinhernumberlessflirtations.Butwithallherfollyshehaseverhadthesensetokeepwithintheconventionalitiesofherownfashionable'coterie,'whichistheonlyworldsheknowsanythingabout,andwhoseunwrittenlawsareheronlycreedandreligion.Herdisappointedsuitorscanjustlychargeherwithcruelty,silliness,ignorance,andimmeasurablevanity,butneverwithindiscretion.ShehastoperfectiontheAmericangirl'sabilitytotakecareofherself,andnomanwillseetwicetotakealibertybeyondthatwhichetiquettepermits.IhavenowgivenyouinbriefthetruecharacterofIdaMayhew.Itisnosecret,forallwhocometoknowherwell,arriveatthesameopinion.WhenIsawyouhadobservedherthiseveningforthefirsttime,Iwasquiteinterestedinwatchingtheimpressionshewouldmakeuponyou,andIamverygladthatyourjudgmenthasbeenbothgoodandprompt;forIslightlyfearedthatyourloveofbeautymightmakeyoublindtoeverythingelse."
　　Stanton'sconcludingwordswereasincensetoVanBerg,forhepridedhimselfinnoslightdegreeonhisevenpulseandsensibleheart,that,thusfar,hadgivenhimsolittletrouble;andhethereforereplied,withacertaintingeofcomplacencyandconsciousnessofsecurity:
　　"Youknowmewellenough,Ik,tobeawarethatIambecomingalmostamonomaniacinmyart.Awoman'sfaceistomelittlemorethanapicturewhichIanalyzefromanartisticstand-point.AMERELY
　　PRETTYfaceislikealineofverseofmusicalrhythm,butwithoutsenseormeaning.Thisisbadandprovokingenough;butwhenthemostexquisitefeaturesgiveexpressiononlytosomeofthemeanestandunworthiestqualitiesthatcaninfestawoman'ssoul,oneisexasperatedalmostbeyondendurance.AtleastIam,forI
　　amoffendedinmystrongestinstincts.ThinkofemployingstatelyHomericwordsandmeasureindescribingabelle'stoilettablewithitsrouge-pots,falsehair,andotherabominations!Muchworseisit,inmyestimation,thatthefeaturesofagoddessshouldtellusonlyofsuchmoralverminasvanity,silliness,andtheegotismofapoorlittleselfthatthinksofnothing,andknowsnothingsaveitsownsmallcravings.Pardonme,Ik;Iamnotspeakingofyourcousinbutintheabstract.Inregardtothatyounglady,asyousaw,Iwasverymuchstruckwiththeface.Indeed,totellthehonesttruth,Ineversawsomuchbeautyspoiledbefore,andthefacthasputmeinsobadahumorthatyou,nodoubt,aregladIhavereachedmycornerandsomustsaygood-night."
　　"IdaMayhewcanrealizeallsuchabstractions,"mutteredIkStanton,ashewalkedonalone.
　　Thereaderwillbeapttosurmise,however,thatsomeresentment,resultingfromhisformerandunrequitedsentimenttowardsthegirl,gaveanunjustbiastohisjudgement.
　　ChapterIII.AnArtist'sFreak.
　　VanBerg'snight-keyadmittedhimtoabeautifulhome,whichhenowhadwhollytohimself,sincehisparentsandsisterhadsailedforEuropeearlyinthespring,intendingtospendthesummerabroad.Theyoungmanhadalreadytravelledandstudiedforyearsinthelandsnaturallyattractivetoanartist,anditwasnowhispurposetofamiliarizehimselfmorethoroughlywiththesceneryofhisowncountry.
　　Onreachinghisownapartmenthetookdownaprosybook,thathemightreadhimselfintothatconditionofdrowsinesswhichwouldrendersleeppossible;butsleepwouldnotcome,andthesentenceswerelikethepassers-byinthestreet,whomweseebutdonotnote,andforwhosecomingandgoingweknownotthereasons.BetweenhimselfandthepagehesawcontinuallytheexquisitefeaturesandtheexasperatingfaceofIdaMayhew.Atlasthethrewasidethebook,lightedacigar,andgavehimselfuptothereveriestowhichthisbeautiful,butdiscordantvisagesostronglypredisposedhim.
　　Itsperfectioninonerespect,itsstronglymarkedimperfectioninanother,bothappealedequallytohisartisticandthoughtfulmind.Atonemomentitwouldappearbeforehimwithanideallovelinesssuchashadneverblessedtheeyeofhisfancyeven;
　　butwhileheyetlookedthefeatureswoulddistortthemselvesintothevividexpressionofsomecontemptibletrait,solikewhathehadseeninreality,duringtheevening,that,inuncontrollableirritation,hewouldstartupandpacethefloor.
　　Hisuncurbedimaginationconjuredupallkindsofweirdandgrotesqueimagery.Hefoundhimselfcommiseratingthegirl'sfeaturesasiftheywerehigh-tonedcaptivesheldindegradingbondagebyaspitefullittlemonster,thatdelightedtoputthemtolowandmenialuses.
　　Tooneofhistemperamentsuchbeautyashehadjustwitnessed,controlledby,andministeringto,someofthemeanestandpettiestofhumanvices,waslikeMaryMagdalenewhenheldinthraldombysevendevils.
　　Acoolandmatter-of-factpersoncouldscarcelyunderstandVanBerg'sannoyanceandperturbation.Ifatrueartistwerecompelledtoseebeforehimaportraitthatrequiredonlyafewskillfultouchesinordertobecomeaperfectlikeness,andyetcouldnotgivethosetouches,thepicturewouldbecomeaconstantvexation;
　　andthebetterthepicture,theneareritapproachedthetruth,thedeeperwouldbetheirritationthatallshouldbespoiledthroughdefectsforwhichtherewasnonecessity.
　　InthefacethatpersistentlyhauntedhimVanBergsawabeautythatmightfulfilhisbestideal;andhealsosawjustwhyitdidnotandnevercould,untilitsdefectswereremedied.Hefeltasenseofpersonallossthatheshouldhavediscoveredagemsonearlyperfectandyetmarredbysofatalaflaw.
　　Thenextdayitwasstillthesame.ThefaceofIdaMayhewinterposeditselfbeforeeverythingthathesoughttodoorsee.Whetheritweretrueornot,itappearedtohimthatinallhiswanderingsandobservationshehadneverseenfeaturessocapableoffulfillinghishighestconceptionofbeautydidtheybutexpressthehigherqualitiesandemotionsofthesoul.Healsofeltthatneverbeforehadheseenafacethatwouldseemtohimsohideousinitsperversion.
　　Hethrewdownhisbrushandpaletteindespairandagaingavehimselfuptohisfancies.Hethensketchedinoutlinethebeautifulfaceasexpressingjoy,hope,courage,thoughtorlove,butwasprovokedtofindthatheeverobtainedthebestlikenesswhenportrayingthevanity,silliness,orpetulancewhichhadbeentheonlycharacteristicshehadseen.
　　Henowgrewmetaphysicalandtriedtoanalyzethegirl'smind.
　　Hesoughttogropementallyhiswaybackintotherecessesofthesoul,whichhadlooked,acted,andspokenthepreviousevening.
　　Astrangelittleplaceheimaginedit,andoddlyfurnished.Itoccurredtohimthatitborearesemblancetoherdressingroom,andwasfullofqueerfemininemysteriesandartificialideasthathadbeencreatedbyconventionalsocietyratherthaninspiredbynature.
　　Heaskedhimself,"Canitbethathereisacharacterinwhichtheelementsofatrueandgoodwomandonotexist?Hasshenoheart,nomind,noconscienceworthyofthename?Atherageshecannothavelostthesequalities.Havetheyneverbeenawakened?Dotheyexisttothatdegreethattheycanbearousedintocontrollingactivity?Isupposetherecanbeprettyidiots.Aspeoplearebornblindorscrofulous,soIsupposeotherscanbeborndevoidofheartorconscience,inheritingfromadegenerateancestrysundrymeanandvilepropensitiesintheirplaces.Humannatureisascalethatrunsbothupanddown,anditisastonishinghowfartheextremescanbeapart."
　　"Howhighisitpossibleforthesameindividualtoriseinthisscale?Iimagineweareallpronetojudgeofpeopleasiftheywerefinishedpictures,andtothinkthatthedefectsourfirstscrutinydiscoverswillremainforalltime.Itisinreallifemuchasinfiction.Fromfirsttolastavillainisavillain,asifhehadbeencreatedone.Theheroineisamossrose-budbyequalandunchangingnecessity.Isthisgirlafool,andwillsheremainonebyanyinnatecompulsion?ByJove!Iwouldliketoseeheragaininthesearchinglightofday.Iwouldliketofollowhercareersufficientlylong,todiscoverwhethernaturehasbeenguiltyofthegrotesquecrimeofassociatinginseparablywiththatfineformandthoseexquisitefeatures,ahideouslittlemindthatmustgoonintensifyingitsdwarfeddeformity,untildeathsnuffsitout.Ifthisbetrue,thebeautifullittlemonsterthatisbotheringmesosuggestsaknottyproblemtowiserheadsthanmine."
　　Somewhatlaterhismusingsledhimtoindulgeinabroadlaugh.
　　"Possibly,"hesaidaloud,"sheisamodernandfashionableUndine,andhasneveryetreceivedawoman'ssoul.ThegoodLorddelivermefromtryingtoawakenit,asdidtheknightofoldinthestory,byswellingthelonglistofhervictims.Icanscarcelyimagineamorepitiableandabjectcreaturethanamanoncesaneandsensibleinthraldomtosuchatantalizingsemblanceofawoman.
　　Shewouldnomoreappreciatehisdevotionthanthejackdawthepearlnecklaceitpeckedat.
　　"IfearmyUndinetheorywon'tanswer.Stantonsaysshehasnoheart,andherfaceandmannerconfirmhiswords.ButnowIthinkofit,theoriginalUndinelivedalongtimeago——intheageofprimevalsimplicity,whenevencool-bloodedwaternymphshadhearts.Oneisinducedtothink,inourage,thatthisorganwilleventuallydisappearwiththeothercharacteristicsofancientandundevelopedman,andthatthebrain,orwhatstandsforit,willbecomeallinall.Inthefirstinstancethewoman'ssoulcameinthroughtheheart;butIsupposethatinthecaseofamodernUndineitcouldentermostreadilythroughthehead.Iwonderifthereissomethinglikeanunawakenedmind,sleepingunderthatbroadlowbrowthatmocksonewithitsfairintellectualoutline.Iwonderifitwouldbepossibletosetherthinking,andsoeventuallyrenderhercapableofreceivingawoman'ssoul.Asitisnowsheseemstopossessonlycertaindisagreeablefemininepropensities.Onemightengageinsuchanexperimentasaphilosopherratherthanalover;or,whatismoretomypurpose,asanartist.
　　"ByJove!Iwouldhalfliketomaketheattempt;itwouldgivezesttoone'ssummervacation.Well,whatistohinder?NowIthinkofitsheremarkedthatshewastospendtheseasonattheLakeHouse,notfarfromtheHudson,aplacewellsuitedtomypurposes.
　　Therearethewildhighlandsononeside,andasoftpastoralcountryontheother.Icouldtherefindabundantopportunityforvariedstudiesinscenery,andatthesametimebeguilemyidlehoursatthehotelwiththisfaceofmarvellouscapabilitiesandpossibilities.
　　Thefeaturesalreadyexist,andwouldbebeautifulifthegirlweredead,andtheycouldbenolongerdistortedbythesmallvicesofthespiritbackofthem.Theymightbecometranscendentlybeautiful,couldsheinverytruthreceivethesoulofatrueandthoughtfulwoman——asoulsuchasmakesmymotherbeautifulinherplainoldage.
　　"I'minclinedtofollowthisoddfancy.Thatgirlisa'raraavis'suchashasneverflownacrossmypathbefore.IshallhaveaquarrelwithnatureallmylifeifImustbelieveshecanfashionafacecapableofmeaningsomuchandyetactuallymeaningsolittle,andthatlittledisgusting."
　　Afterafewmomentsofdeepthought,heagainstartedtohisfeetandcommencedpacinghisstudio.
　　"Suppose,"hesoliloquized,"Iattemptanovelbitofartisticworkasmysummerrecreation.SupposeItakethefaceofthisstrangerinsteadofapieceofcanvasandtrytoillumineitwiththought,withwomanlycharacterandintelligence.IfIfail,asIprobablyshall,noharmwillbedone.Ifhersillinessandvanityareingrainedandessentialpartsofhernature,sheshalllearnthatthereisatleastonemanwhocanseeherassheis,andwhoseheartisnotwaxonwhichtostampherprettyandsenselessimage.
　　IfIonlypartiallysucceed,ifIdiscernshehasamind,butsofeeblethatitcanonlyhalfreclaimherfromherweaknessandfolly,stillsomethingwillbeaccomplished.Herfeaturesaresobeautiful,thatshouldtheycometoexpresseventheglimmeringsofthatwhichisadmirable,thefacewillbeinpartredeemed.
　　Butifbysomehappymiracle,asintheinstanceoftheoriginalUndine,amindcanbeawakenedthatwillgraduallyprepareaplaceforthesoulofatruewoman,Ishallaccomplishthebestworkofmylife,evenestimatedfromanartisticpointofview.Possibly,formyreward,shewillpermitmetopaintherportraitasasouvenirofoursummer'sacquaintance."
　　ItdidnottakeVanBerglongtocompletehisarrangementsforleavingtown.HewrotealinetohisfriendStanton,sayingthatheproposedspendingafewweeksinthevicinityoftheHighlandsontheHudson,andthathecouldnotsaywhenhewouldbeathisroomsorathomeagain.Theafternoonofthefollowingdayfoundhimapassengeronafleetsteamboat,andfullybentuponcarryingouthisoddartisticfreak.
　　ChapterIV.AParthianArrow.
　　As,inthequietJuneevening,HaroldVanBergglidedthroughtheshadowsoftheHighlands,therecameaslightchangeoverhisspiritofphilosophicalandartisticexperiment.Theseasoncomportedwithhisearlymanhood,andthewitchinghourandthescenerywerenotconducivetocoldphilosophy.Hewhopridedhimselfonhissteadypulseandadevotiontoartsoabsorbingthatitevenpromptedhisimpulsesandgavecharactertohisrecreation,wasledtofeel,onthisoccasion,thathismistresswasvagueandshadowy,andtohalfwishforthatcompanionshipwhichthemostself-reliantnatureshavecravedattimes,eversincemanfirstfelt,andGodknew,thatitwas"notgoodforhimtobealone."Ifhecouldturnfromthebeautyofthesun-tippedhillsandrocksandthegloamingshadowstoanappreciativeandsympatheticface,suchashecouldatleastimaginethevisageofIdaMayhewmightbecome,wouldnothisenjoymentofthebeautyhesawbedoublyenhanced?Inhisdeepestconsciousnesshewascompelledtoadmitthatitwould.Hecaughtaglimpseofthetruththathewouldneverattaininhishighestmanhooduntilhehadalliedhimselftoawomanhoodwhichheshouldcometobelievesupremelytrueandbeautiful.
　　Theringingofthebellannouncedhislanding,andinthehurryandbustleoflookingafterhisluggageandobtainingaticketwhichhehadforgottentoprocure,hespeedilybecameagain,intheworld'sestimation,andperhapsinhisown,apractical,sensibleman.Anhourortwo'srideamonghehillsbroughthimatlasttotheLakeHouse,whereheselectedaroomthathadafineprospectofthemountains,thefardistantriver,andtheadjacentopencountry,engagingitonlyforabrieftimesothathemightdepartwhenhechose,incasetheobjectofhispursuitshouldnotappear,orheshouldwearyoftheeffort,ordespairofitssuccess.
　　Afewdayspassed,butthefacewhichhadsohauntedhisfancypresentednoactualappearance.Thescenery,however,wasbeautiful,theweathersoperfect,andheenjoyedhisramblesamongthehillsandhisexcursionsonthewatersothoroughlythathewasalreadygrowingslightlyforgetfulofhispurposeandsatisfiedthathecouldenjoyhimselfafewweekswithoutthezestofartisticallyredeemingthefaceofIdaMayhew.Butoneday,whileatdinner,heoverheardsomegossipconcerninga"greatbelle"whowastocomethatevening,andheatoncesurmisedthatitwasthefairstrangerhehadseenattheconcert.
　　Atthetime,therefore,ofthearrivaloftheeveningstageheobservantlypuffedhiscigarinacornerofthepiazza,andwassoonrewardedbyseeingtheobjectofhiscontemplatedexperimentstepoutofthevehicle,withtheairygraceandconfidenceofonewhoregardseachnewabiding-placeasasceneofcomingpleasuresandconquests,andwhofeelssureeveryglancetowardherisoneofadmiration.Therewereeyes,however,thatnoteddisapprovinglyherjauntyself-assuranceandself-assertion,andwhenshemetthoseeyeshercomplacencyseemeddisturbedatonce,forsheflushedandpromptlyturnedherbackuponthem.Infact,fromthetimeshehadfirstseenVanBerg'sfrowningfaceithadbeenadisagreeablememory,andnowhereitwasagainandfrowningstill.Althoughhesatatadistancefromthelanding-place,hereyesseemeddrawntowardshisasifbysomefascination,andshealreadyhadthefeelingthatwheneverhewaspresentshewouldbeconsciousofhiscool,criticalobservation.
　　VanBerghadscarcelytimetonotearatherstoutandoverdressedpersonemergefromthestage,howwasevidentlytheyounglady'smother,whenIkStanton,withhisbaysandalightcountrywagon,dasheduptothemainentrance.StantonwasanelementintheartisticproblemthatVanBerghadnotbargainedfor,andwhatinfluencehewouldhave,friendlyoradverse,onlytimecouldshow.
　　WhileStantonwasaccompanyinghisauntandcousintotheregister,asthegentlemanoftheparty,theyoungladysaidtohim:
　　"Thathorridartistfriendofyoursishere.Iwishhehadn'tcome.Didyoutellhimwewerecominghere?"
　　"No,'ponmyhonor."