"I'llnotdesertyouunlessyoudesertyourself,"saidStanton,withagestureofdisgustandimpatience;"butifyoupersistingoingdownintothedeepestquagmiresyoucanfind,youcannotexpectmetofollowyou;"andwiththesewordshelefttheroom.
　　Mr.Mayhewwassoonsunkinthedeepestlethargy,andhiswifespenttheafternooninimpotentlyfrettingandfumingagainsther"miserablefate,"asshetermedit,andintryingtodevisesomewayofkeepingupappearances.
　　ChapterXXVIII.RatherVolcanic.
　　Stantonwasgladtoescapefromthehouseaftertheinterviewdescribedinthepreviouschapter;andobservingthatVanBergwasrecliningunderatreeatsomelittledistancefromthehotel,stolledthitherandthrewhimselfdownonthegrassbesidehim.
　　Buthisperturbationwassoevidentthathisfriendremarked:
　　"Youareoutofsorts,Ik.What'sthematter?"
　　"I'vebeensettlingthisSibleybusinesswithmyauntandcousin,"
　　snarledStanton;"andsomewomenalwaysmakesuchblastedfoolsofthemselves.Buttheywon'thaveanythingmoretodowithhim;atleast,I'msuremyauntwon't.AsforIda——butthelesssaidthebetter.I'msooutofpatiencewithherfollythatIcan'ttrustmyselftospeakofher."
　　"Stanton,"saidVanBerg,gloomily,"youhavenoideaoftheregretanddisquietwhichthatgirlhascausedmeasanartist.Ihaveseenherfeaturesnowforweeks,andIcannothelplookingatthem,fortheyalmostrealizemyideaofperfection.Buttheassociationsofthisbeautyarebeginningtoirritatemebeyondendurance."
　　"ItwasamotleycrowdthatIwasthemeansofbringingtoyourtable,"saidStanton,withanoath;"andI'venodoubtyouhavewishedusallawaymanytimes."
　　VanBerglaidhishandonhisfriend'sarm,andlookedintohiseyes.
　　"Ik,"hesaidslowly,"IwasyourfriendwhenIcamehere——Iamyourfriendstill.IfIcannotloveyoubetterthanIdomyself,youmustforgiveme.ButIshallnevertakeoneunfairadvantageofyou,andIrecognizethefactthatyouhaveequalrightswithmyself.Ik,letusbefrankwitheachotherthisoncemore,andthenthefuturemustsettleallquestions.Thewomanwebothloveistoopureandgoodforeitherofustodoameanthingtowinher.
　　Doyourbest,oldfellow.Ifyousucceed,Iwillcongratulateyouwithanhonesthearteventhoughtitbeaheavyone.Ishallnotdetractfromyouintheslightestdegree,orceasetoshowforyouthethoroughlikingandrespectthatIfeel.Itshallsimplybeamaiden'schoicebetweenustwo;andyouknowitissaidthattheheartmakesthischoiceforreasonsinexplicableeventoitself."
　　"Van,youareanoble,generousfellow,"saidtheimpulsiveStanton,graspinghisfriend'shand."Imustadmitthatyouhavebeenafairandconsideraterival.Evenmyjealousycouldfindnofault."
　　Thenheadded,indeepdespondency:"Butitisofnouse.Youhavevirtuallywonheralready."
　　"No,"saidVanBerg,thoughtfully,"Iwishyouwerenotmistaken,butyouare.ThereissomethinginhermannertowardsmeattimeswhichIcannotunderstand;butIhaveaconvictionthatIhavenottouchedherheart."
　　"Shedoesnotavoidyouasshedoesme,"saidStanton,moodily.
　　"No,sheacceptsmysocietymuchtoofranklyandcomposedly,"answeredVanBergwithashrug."IfearthatIcanjoinheranywhereandatanytimewithoutquickeningherpulseordeepeningthecolorinhercheeks.Now,Ik,weunderstandeachother.Happythemanwhowins,andifyouarethefortunateone,I'lldanceatyourwedding,andnooneshallseethatIcarryathousandpoundsweight,moreorless,inmyheart."
　　"Ican'tpromisetodoasmuchforyou,Van,"saidStanton,tryingtosmile."Icouldnotcometoyourwedding.Infact,Van,I——I
　　hardlyknowwhatIwoulddo——whatIwilldo.Afewweekssinceandtheworldwasabundantlysatisfactory.Nowitisbecomingavacuum.IfearIhaven'taghostofachance,andI——I——don'tliketothinkofthefuture.Yegods!Whatachangeonelittlewomancanmakeinaman'slife!Iusedtolaughatthesethings,andforthepastfewyearsthoughtmyselfinvulnerable.Andyet,Van,"
　　headdedwithsuddenenergy,"IthinkthebetterofmyselfthatI
　　canloveandhonorthatwoman.DidIregardhernowasIsupposedIwouldwhenyoufirstutteredyourhalf-jestingprophecy,whatabase,soullessanatomyIwouldbe——"
　　"SACRE!herecomesSibleyandothersofthesameilk,gabblingliketheunmitigatedfoolsthattheyare."
　　VanBergturnedhisbackupontheadvancingpartyinanunmistakablemanner,andStantonsmokedwithastolid,impassivefacethathadanythingbutwelcomeinit.Sibleywasjustsufficientlyexcitedbywinetoactoutrecklesslyhisevilself.
　　"What'sthematter,Stanton?"heexclaimed."Yourphizisaslongasiftheworldlookedblackandblueasaprize-fighter'seye.IsSundayanoffdayinyourflirtation?Doesthelittleschool-ma'amtakeafterherPuritandaddies,andsay'HoldthyhandtillMonday?'
　　Getheroutofthecrowd,andyou'llfinditallapretence."
　　Stantonrosetohisfeet,butwassoquietthatSibleydidnotrealizethestormhewasraising.VanBergremainedonthegroundwithhisbacktotheparty,butwassmokingfuriously.
　　Byaneffortatself-controlthatmadehisvoiceharshandconstrained,Stantonsaid,briefly:
　　"Mr.Sibley,Irequestthatyounevermentionthatlady'snametomeagaininanycircumstances.Irequestthatyounevermentionhernametoanyoneelseexceptintonesandwordsoftheutmostrespect.Imaketheserequestspolitely,asisbefittingthedayandmyownself-respect;butifyoudisregardthemtheconsequencestoyouwillbeveryserious."
　　"GoodLord,Stanton!hasshetreatedyousobadly!Butdon'ttakeittoheart.It'sallYankeethrift,designedtoenhancehervalue.
　　Weareallmenoftheworldhere,andknowwhatwomenare.Ifitistrueeverymanhashisprice,everywomanhasasmaller——"
　　BeforehecouldutteranotherwordablowinhisfacefromStantonsenthimsprawlingtotheearth.Hesprangupandwasabouttodrawaconcealedweapon,whenhiscompanionsinterferedandheldhim.
　　"Ishallsettlewithyouforthis,"hehalfshouted,grindinghisteeth.
　　"Youshallindeed,sir,"saidStanton,"andasearly,too,asthelightwillpermitto-morrow.HereismyfriendMr.VanBerg,"
　　pointingtotheartistwhostoodbesidehim,"andyouhaveyourfriendswithyou.Youmusteitherapologize,ormeetmeassoonasSundayispast."
　　"I'llmeetyounow,"criedSibley,withavolleyofoaths."IwantnocowardlysubterfugeofSunday."
　　Stantonhesitatedamoment,andthensaiddecidedly:
　　"No;I'mnotablackguardlikeyourself,andoutofrespectfortheSabbathandothersIwillhavenothingmoretodowithyouto-day;
　　butIwillmeetyoutomorrowassoonasitislight;"andStantonturnedawaytoavoidfurtherprovocation.
　　VanBergthusfarhadstoodquietlytooneside,buthisfacehadthatwhite,rigidaspectwhichindicatestherarebutdangerousangerofmenusuallyquietandundemonstrativeintheirnatures.
　　"Nowthatyouarethrough,Stanton,Ihavesomethingtosayconcerningthisaffair,"hebegan,inwordsthatwereasclean-cutandhardassteel."Ifyouproposetogivethisfellowadog'swhippingto-morrow,Iwillgowithyouandwitnessthewell-deservedchastisement.Butifyouareintendingaconventionalduel,I'llhavenothingtodowithit,fortworeasons.Thefirstreasonthisfellowwillnotunderstand.Duelingisagainstmyprinciples,andheknowsnothingofprinciple.ButevenifIacceptedtheoldandbarbarouscode,Ishouldinsistthatafriendofmineshouldfightwithagentleman,andnotalowblackguard."
　　"Youusethatepithetagainatyourperil,"hissedSibley,advancingasteptowardshim.
　　VanBergmadeagestureofcontempttowardthespeakerasheturnedandsaid:
　　"Youunderstandme,Stanton;itisnotfromanylackofloyaltytowardyouasmyfriend;butIwouldnotbeworthyofyourfriendshipwereIfalsetomysenseofdutyandhonor."
　　"Youarebothwhite-liveredcowards,"roaredSibley."Onesneaksoffundercoveroftheday——Ineversawafellowtakenwithapiousfitsosuddenlybefore.Theother,inordertokeephisskinwhole,pratesofhisdreadlesthisprinciplesbepunctured.thedeviltakeyoubothforabraceofchampionsneaks;"andheturnedonhisheelandwasabouttostalkawaywithagrandairofsuperiority,whenVanBergsaid,emphatically:
　　"Waitamoment;I'mnotthroughwithyouyet.Igiveyoubutabriefhalf-hourtocompleteyourarrangementsforleavingthehotel."
　　"Whatdoyoumean?"saidSibley,turningfiercelyuponhim.
　　"Imean,sir,thatyourpresenceinthathouseisaninsulttoeveryladyinit,whichI,asagentleman,shallnolongerpermit.
　　Curseyou,hadyounomotherthatyoucouldthusinsultallgoodwomenbytheremarkyoumadeafewmomentssince?"
　　Halfbesidehimselfwithrage,Sibleydrewapistol;butbeforehecouldaimcorrectlyoneofhiscompanionsstruckuphishandandthebulletwhizzedharmlesslyoverVanBerg'shead.
　　Therewasafaintscreamfromthehouse,whichindicatedthatthescenehadbeenwitnessedbysomeladythere.
　　Theintensepassionoftheartist,whichmanifesteditselfcharacteristically,heldhimunflinchingtohispurpose.
　　"Soyoucanbeamurdereralso?"hesaid,scornfully."ItwouldalmostcompensateamanforbeingSHOT,if,asaresult,youcouldbeHUNG."
　　Sibley'scompanionsspeedilydisarmedhim,stronglyremonstratinginthemeantime.He,insuddenrevulsion,begantorealizewhathehadattempted,andhisflushedfacebecameverypale.
　　"Letthemleavemealone,"hegrowledsullenly,"andI'llleavethemalone."
　　"ForHeaven'ssake,Mr.VanBerg,"criedSibley'scompanions,"letthematterendhere,lestworsecomeofit."
　　Inthesamesteely,relentlesstones,whichmadeverywordseemlikeabullet,VanBergtookouthiswatch,andsaid:
　　"Itisnowfouro'clock,sir.Afterhalf-pastfour,youmustnotshowyourlibertine'sfaceinthathouseagain,whilethere'saladyinitthatIrespect."
　　"Burleighisproprietorofthathouse,"repliedSibley,doggedly;
　　"andI'llstayuptheentireweek,justtospiteyou."
　　"LetusgotoBurleigh,then,"saidtheartist,promptly."Wewillsettlethisquestionatonce."
　　Sibleyreadilyagreedtothisappealtohishost,fullybelievingthathewouldtrytosmoothovermattersandassureVanBergthathecouldnotturnawayawealthyandprofitableguest;andso,withoutfurtherparley,theyallrepairedtoMr.Burleigh'sprivateoffice,arousingthatgentlemanfromanafternoonnaptoastateofmindthateffectuallybanisheddrowsinessfortheremainderoftheday.
　　"Mr.Burleigh,"beganSibley,indignantly,"thisfellow,VanBerg,hastheimpudencetosaythatImustleavethishousewithinhalfanhour.IwishyoutoinformhimthatYOUaretheproprietorofthisestablishment."
　　"Humph,"remarkedMr.Burleigh,phlegmatically,"thatisyoursideofthestory.Now,Mr.VanBerg,letushaveyours."
　　"Mr.Burleigh,"saidVanBerg,intonesthatstraightenedupthelanguidhostinhiseasychair,"wouldyoupermitaknownandrecognizeddisreputablewomantobeflauntingaboutthishotel?"
　　"Youknowmebetterthantoasksuchaquestion,"saidthelandlord,thecolorofhisruddycheekssuddenlydeepening.
　　"Well,sir,Iclaimthatamanwhobearspreciselythesamecharacterisnomoretobetolerated;andIhavelearnedtorespectyouasonewhomnoconsiderationcouldinducetopermitthepresenceofahumanbeast,whoseeverythoughtofwomanisaninsult."
　　"It'sallaninfernallie,"beganSibley."Ionlymadeaslight,half-jestingallusiontothatprudishlittleschool-ma'amthatthesefellowsaresocrackedover;andtheyhavegoneonlikemadbullseversince."
　　Mr.Burleighstartedtohisfeetwithatremendousoath.
　　"Youmadean'allusion,'asyoutermit,toMissBurton,eh!——theyoungladywhowasputundermycharge,andwhocomesfromoneofthebestfamiliesinNewEngland.Iknowwhatkindofallusionsfellowsofyourkidneymake;"andtheincensedhoststruckhisbellsharply.
　　"Sendtheporterhereinstantly,"hesaidtotheboywhoanswered.
　　"Whatdoyoumeantodo?"askedSibley,turningpale.
　　"Imeantoputyououtofmyhousewithinthenexttenminutes,"
　　saidMr.Burleigh,emphatically."YoumightaswellhavemadeanallusiontomywifeastoMissBurton;andletmetellyouthatifyouwagyourwantontongueagain,I'llhavemycoloredwaiterswhipyouoffthepremises."
　　"ButwhereshallIgo?"whinedSibley,nowthoroughlycowed.
　　"Gotothenearestkennelorstyyoucanfind.Eitherplacewouldbemoreappropriateforyouthanmyhouse.Mr.VanBergandMr.
　　Stanton,Ithinkyouforyourconductinthisaffair.YouarecorrectinsupposingthatIwishtoentertainonlygentlemenandladies."
　　Sibleynowbegantoblusteraboutlawandvengeance.
　　"Bestill,sir,"thunderedMr.Burleigh."Oneofthecarriageswilltakeyoutothedepotorlandingasyouchoose.Afterthat,troublemeormineagainatyourperil.Now,beoff.No,I'llnottakeanyofyourdirtymoney;andifthesefriendsofyourswishtogowithyou,theyarewelcometodoso."
　　"WeareonlyacquaintancesofMr.Sibley's,"chorusedhislatecompanions,"andcameinmerelytoseefairplay."
　　"Well,youhaven'tseen'fairplay,'"growledMr.Burleigh."I'vetreatedthefellowmuchbetterthanhedeserves."
　　BeforeSibleycouldrealizeit,acarriagewhirledhimandhisbaggageaway.Hisrecklessangerhavingevaporated,thebaseandcowardlyinstinctsofhisnatureresumedtheirsway,andhewasgladtoslinkofftoNewYork,thusescapingfurtherdangerandtrouble.
　　ChapterXXIX.EvilLivesCastDarkShadows.
　　Changesintheworldwithoutoftenmakesadhavocinourcontentandhappiness.Lossoffortuneandfriends,removaltonewscenes,deathanddisaster,sometimessoaltertheoutlookthatwehavetoaskourselves:Isthisthesameearthinwhichwehavedwelthitherto?Butthechangesthatcanmostblastandblacken,or,ontheotherhand,glorifytheworldaboutus,arethosewhichtakeplacewithinoursouls.
　　SucharadicalchangehadapparentlytakenplaceinIdaMayhew'sworld.Shewasbewilderedwithhertrouble,andcouldnotunderstandthedrearyoutlook.ShehadcometotheLakeHousebutafewweeksbefore,avain,light-heartedmaiden,lookinguponlifewithlaughingandthoughtlessglances,andhavingnomoredefinitepurposesthanthebutterflythatflitsfromflowertoflower,caringnotwhichareharmlessandwhichpoisonous,sothattheyyieldamomentarysweetness.
　　Butnow,forcausesutterlyunforeseenandhalf-inexplicable,allflowershadwithered,andtheoldpleasuresoncesoexhilaratingwereawearinesseveninthought.Herworld,onceapleasuregarden,hadbeentransformedintoapathsothornyandflintythateverystepbroughtnewbruisesandlacerations;anditledawayamongshadowssocoldanddark,thatsheshiveredatthethoughtofherprospectivelife.
　　Herhearthadsosuddenlyandthoroughlybetrayedher,thatshewasoverwhelmedwithasenseofhelplessnessandperplexity.Thespoiledandflatteredgirlhadalwaysbeenaccustomedtohaveherownway.Self-gratificationhadbeentheruleandhabitofherlife.IfVanBerghadonlyadmiredandcomplimentedher,ifhehadjoinedthehoneyedchorusofflatterythathadwaitedonhersensuousbeauty,hisvoicewouldprobablyhavebeenunheededandlostamongmanyothers.Buthissharpdemandforsomethingmorethanafaceandformhadawakenedher,andtoherdismayshelearnedthatherrealandlastingselfwasasdwarfedanddeformedashertransientandoutwardselfwasperfect.
　　Theartistseemedtoherprincely,regaleven,inhisstrongcultivatedmanhood,hisloftycallingandambition,andhishighsocialrank.Asforherself,itnowappearedthatherbeauty,whosespellshehadthoughtnomancouldresist,hadluredhimtohersideonlylongenoughtodiscoverwhatshewasandwhoshewas,andthenhehadturnedawayindisgust.
　　Fromtheirfirstmomentofmeeting,shefeltthatshehadbeenpeculiarlyunfortunateintheimpressionsshehadmadeuponhim.
　　Herattendantattheconcert-gardenhadbeenafool;andnowhewasassociatingherwithamanwhomhemorethandespised.Shebelievedthathepitiedherfatherasthevictimofawife'sheartlessnessandadaughter'sselfishnessandfrivolity,andthathefeltarepugnancetowardhermotherwhichhispolitenesscouldnotwhollydisguise.Hewasprobablylearningtocharacterizetheminhismindbyherfather'shorriblewords——"frothandmud."
　　Suchmiserablethoughtswereflockingroundherlikecroakingravensasshesatrigidandmotionlessinherroom,herformtensefromtheseverityofhermentaldistress.SuddenlySibley'sloudtones,andhercousin'svoiceinreply,caughtherattention,andsheopenedthelatticeoftheblinds.ShehadscarcelydonesobeforeshesawStantonstriketheblowwhichhadfelledSibleytotheearth.
　　WithbreathlessinterestshewatchedthescenetillVanBergsteppedforward.Thenshesprangtoadrawer,andtakingoutasmallfield-glasswhichshecarriedonhersummerexcursionswasabletoseetheexpressionoftheyoungmen'sfaces,althoughshecouldnotdistinguishtheirwords.Thestern,menacingaspectoftheartistmadehertrembleevenatherdistance,anditwasevidentthathiswordswerethrowingSibleyintoatransportofrage;andwheninhispassionhetriedtoshootVanBerg,shecouldnotrepressthecrythatattractedtheirattention.
　　Hermother,intheadjoiningroom,commencedknockingatthedoor,askingwhatwasthematter,butreceivednoansweruntilIdasawthattheyoungmenwerecomingtowardthehouse.Thenshethrewopenthedoor,andtoldMrs.Mayhewthatshehadseensomethingthatlookedlikealargespider,andthatnothingwasthematter.
　　Withoutwaitingforfurtherquestioningsheflittedhastilydown-stairsandfromoneconcealedpostofobservationtoanotheruntilshesawtheangrypartyenterMr.Burleigh'sprivateoffice.
　　Asmallparlornexttoitwasempty,andoncewithinit,theloudtonesspokenontheothersideoftheslightpartitionweredistinctlyheard.
　　AsshelistenedtothewordswhichVanBergandMr.Burleighaddressedtothemanwhomallinthehousehadregardedasheracceptedlover,oratleasthercongenialfriend,hercheeksgrewscarlet,andwhenhewasdismissedfromthehouse,shefledtoherroom;wishingthatitwereaplaceinwhichshemighthideforever,sooverwhelmingwashersenseofshameandhumiliation.
　　HowcouldshemeettheguestsoftheLakeHouseagain?Worsethanall,howcouldshemeetthescornfuleyesofthemanwhohaddrivenfromtheplacethesuitorthatshewassupposedtofavorashemighthavescourgedawayadog.
　　ShecouldnotnowexplainthatSibleywasandeverhadbeenlessthannothingtoher——thatshehadbothdetestedanddespisedhim.
　　Shehadpermittedherselftotouchpitch,andithadofnecessityleftitsstain.Togoaboutnowandproclaimherrealsentimentstowardthemanwhoapparentlyhadbeenherfavorite,wouldseemtoothers,shethought,thequintessenceofmeanness.Shefeltthatshehadbeencaughtinthemeshesofanevilweb,andthatitwasuselesstostruggle.
　　Despairing,hopeless,hercheeksburningwithshameaswithafever,shesathourafterhourrefusingtoseeanyone.Shewouldnotgodowntosupper.Sheleftthefooduntastedthatwassenttoherroom.Shesatstaringatvacancyuntilherfacebecameadimpaleoutlineinthedeepeningtwilight,andfinallywaslostintheshadowofnight.Butthedarknessthatgatheredaroundthepoorgirl'sheartwasdeeperandalmostakintotheraylessgloomthatpositivecrimecreates,sonearlydidshefeelthatshewasassociatedwithonefromwhomherwoman'ssoul,pervertedasitwas,shrankwithinexpressibleloathing.
　　"Idaisinoneofherworsttantrums,"whisperedMrs.MayhewtoStanton;"Ineverknewhertoactsobadlyasshehasoflate.I
　　wouldn'thavethoughtthatsuchamanasyouhavefoundSibleytobecouldgainsogreataholduponherfeelings.Butlaw!she'llbealloveritinadayortwo.NothinglastswithIda,andleastofall,abeau."
　　"Well,"saidStanton,bitterly,"sheisdisgracingherselfandallrelatedtoherbyherinexcusablefollyinthisinstance.ThosewhopretendedtobeSibley'sfriendsatdinner,arenowtryingtowinalittlerespectabilitybyturningagainsthim,andthestoryofhisbehavioriscirculatingthroughthehouse.AllwillsoonknowthatheshotatVanBerg,andthathemadeinsultingremarksaboutMissBurton.ItwillappeartoeveryoneasifIdaweresulkinginherroomonSibley'saccount;andpeopleareusuallythoughttobenobetterthantheirfriends."
　　"Oh,dear!"halfsobbedMrs.Mayhew,"won'tyougouptoherroomandshowhertheconsequencesofherfolly?"
　　"No,"saidStanton,irritably;"notto-night.Iknowhertoowell.Shewilltakenoadvicefrommeoranyoneelseatpresent.
　　To-morrowIwillhaveonemoreplaintalkwithher;andifshewon'tlistentoreasonIwashmyhandsofher.WhereisUncle?"
　　"Don'taskme.Wasthereeveramoreunfortunatewoman?Withsuchahusbandanddaughter,howcanIkeepupappearances?"
　　Stantonwalkedawaywithagestureofdisgustandimpatience.
　　"Curseitall!"hemuttered;"andtheirshadowsfallonmetoo.
　　WhatchancehaveIwiththesnow-whitemaidenI'dgivemylifeforwhenfollowedbysuchassociations?"
　　ChapterXXX.TheDeliberateWooerSpeaksFirst.
　　Mr.Burleighwasoneofthosefortunatemenwhowhentheweatherisroughoutside——aswasoftenthecaseinhiscalling——canalwaysfindsmoothwaterinthedomestichavenofawife'sapartment.ThusMrs.Burleighsoonlearnedthecauseofhisperturbation;andassheknewJennieBurtonwouldhearthestoryfromsomeoneelse,couldnotdenyherselfthefeminineenjoymentofbeingthefirsttotellit,andofcongratulatingherontheknightlydefendershehadsecured;forthequarrelhadcomebeforeMr.BurleighinsuchaformastomakeVanBergtheprincipalintheaffair.
　　MissBurton'scheekflusheddeeplyandresentfullyassheheardthecircumstancesinwhichhernamehadbeenspoken,andshesaidwithemphasis:
　　"Mr.VanBergimpressedmeasachivalricmanfromthefirstdayofourmeeting.ButIwishhehadpaidnoheedtothewordsofsuchacreatureasMr.Sibley.ThathislifewasendangeredonmyaccountpainsmemorethanIcantellyou;"andshesoongrewsowhiteandfaintthatMrs.Burleighmadehertakeaglassofwine.
　　"Deathseemssuchaterriblethingtoayoung,strongman,"sheadded,shudderingly,afteramoment,andshepressedherhandsagainsthereyesasiftoshutoutavisionfromwhichsheshrank.
　　"Mayhenotstillbeindangerfromthisruffian'srevenge?"sheasked,lookingupinsuddenalarm.
　　"I'mafraidthathewillbe,"saidMrs.Burleigh,catchingtheinfectionofherfears."IwillhaveMr.Burleighseethatheiskeptawayfromthisplace."
　　Soonafter,asMissBurtonwaspassingthroughthemainhall-way,shemettheartist,andsteppingintooneofthesmallparlorsthatwasunoccupied,shesaid:
　　"Mr.VanBerg,Iwishtospeakwithyou.Iwishbothtothankyou,andtoaskafavor."
　　"Pleasedothelatteronly,"hereplied,smiling.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"sheresumed,lookingintohisfacewithanexpressionthatmadehisheartbeatmorequickly,"yourlifewasendangeredonmyaccountthisafternoon."
　　"That'sapleasantthoughttome,"hesaid,takingherhand,"thatisifyouarenotoffendedthatIpresumedtobeyourknight."
　　"Itisadreadfulthoughttome,"sheanswered,earnestly;theninastrangeandexcitedmannersheadded:"Youcannotknow——deathtosomeisahorriblething——itpreventssomuch——I'veknown——letitcometotheoldandsad——Icouldwelcomeit——buttosuchasyou——OmercifulHeaven!Grantme,pleasegrantme,thefavorI
　　wouldask,"shecontinued,clingingtohishand."TheysaythismanSibleyisverypassionateandrevengeful.Hemaystilltrytocarryouthisdreadfulpurpose.Pleaseshunhim,pleaseavoidhim——inmercydo.I'vemorethanIcanbearnow;andif——if——"
　　andsheburiedherfaceinherhands.
　　"Andcanmypoorlifebeofsuchvaluetoyou,MissBurton?"heasked,inadeeplowtone.
　　"Ah!youcannotunderstand,"shesaid,withasuddenandpassionategesture,"andIentreatyounottoaskmetoexplain.Fromthefirstyouhavebeenkindtome.IhavefeltfromthedaywemetthatIhadfoundafriendinyou;andyourrisk,yourcareformeto-day,givesyouapeculiarclaimasafriend,butinmercydonotaskmetoexplainwhyIamsourgentinmyrequest.Icannot,indeedIcannot——atleastnotnow,inthisplace.Somethinghappened——Suddendeathinoneyoung,strong,andfullofhope,likeyou,seemstomehorrible——horrible.Inmercypromisetoincurnoriskonmyaccount,"shesaidpassionately,andalmostwildly.
　　"Mypoorlittlefriend,howneedlesslyfrightenedyouare!"hesaid,soothinglyandgently."There,Iwillpromiseyouanythingthatamanofhonorcan.Butawordagainstyou,JennieBurton,touchesmeclose,veryclose.AssaidtheEarlofKent,'Itinvadestheregionofmyheart.'"
　　Shelookedupswiftlyandquestioningly,andthenasuddencrimsonsuffusedherface.Withastronganduncontrollableinstinctsheappearedtoshrinkfromhim.
　　"Kentservedonewhohadlostthepowertomakereturn,"shesaid,shakingherheadsadlyassheturnedaway.
　　"LetmereplywithKentagain,"heearnestlyresponded."'Youhavethatinyourcountenance'——inyourcharacter——'whichIwouldfaincallmaster';andIammastered,norcanIbeshakenfrommyallegiance.IcanatleastimitateKent'sfaithfulness,ifnothisobtrusiveness,intheserviceofhisking.Youhavealreadyclaimedmeasafriend,andsomuchatleastIshalleverbe.LetmewinmoreifIcan."
　　Shebecameveryquietnow,andlookedsteadilyintohisflushed,eagerfacewithanexpressionofsorrowfulregretandpainthatwouldhaverestrainedhimhadaten-foldstrongerandmoreimpetuouslovebeenseekingutterance,andbyagesture,simpleyeteloquentlyimpressive,sheputherfingertoherlips.Thengivinghimherhandshesaid,withstrongemphasis:
　　"Mr.VanBerg,IwouldvaluesuchaFRIENDasyoucouldbetomemorethanIcantellyou."
　　"Ishallbetoyouallthatyouwillpermit,"hesaid,gentlyyetfirmly."AsyounowappearIcouldassoonthinkofurgingmyclamoroushumanloveonasad-eyedsaintthathadsufferedsomecruelformofmartyrdomforherfaith,andthen,asthelegendsteach,hadbeensentfromheavenamongusmortalsuponsomeerrandofmercy."
　　"Yourwordsaretruerthanyouthink,"shereplied,thepallordeepeninginherface."Ihavesufferedastrange,cruelformofmartyrdom.ButIamnotasaint,onlyaweakwoman.Iwouldvaluesuchafriendasyoucouldbeexceedingly.Indeed——indeed,"shecontinuedhesitatingly,"therearepeculiarreasonswhyIwishwemightmeetasfriendsoccasionally.Ifyouknew——ifyouknewall——youwouldnotasktobemore.Canyoutrustonewhoiscloudedbysadnessandmystery?"
　　Hetookherhandinbothofhisandanswered,"JennieBurton,therecouldnogreatermisfortunebefallmethantolosemyfaithinyou.Iassociateyouwithallthatismostsacredtome.Everyinstinctofmyheartassuresmethatalthoughthemysterythatenshroudsyourlifemaybeascoldasdeath,itis,asfarasyouareconcerned,aswhiteassnow."
　　"Yes,andasfarasanotherisconcernedalso,"shesaidsolemnly."Yourtrustisgenerous,andIamvery,verygrateful.
　　Perhaps——possiblyImay——sometime——tellyou,foryouriskedyourlifeforme;and——and——thereisanotherreason.ButIhaveneverspokenofityet.Good-night."
　　"Stay,"hesaid,"Icannotbeginbeingatruefriendtoyoubybeingafalsefriendtoanother.IamashamedthatIhavebeensopreoccupiedwithmyselfthatIhavenotspokenofitbefore.Mr.
　　StantonresentedSibley'sinsultinglanguagemorepromptlythanI
　　did.Ihavebeenbaselyacceptingagratitudethatrightlybelongstohim,andIassureyouheisinfarmoredangerfromSibleythanIam."
　　Herbrowcontractedinasuddenfrown,andtherewassomethinglikeirritationinhertonesasshesaid:
　　"Dangeragain!andtoanother,formysake!MustIbetorturedwithfearandanxiety,becausealowfellow,truetohisnature,willbescurrilous?Mr.VanBerg,"shecontinued,withasuddenflashofhereyes,"areyouandMr.StantonquarrellingwithMr.
　　Sibleyonyourownaccount,oronmine?FromhenceforthIrefusetohavetheremotestrelationtosuchaquarrel.NoremarksofamanlikeSibleycaninsultme,andhereafteranyfriendofminewholowershimselftoresentthem,orhasaughttodowiththefellow,willbothwoundandhumiliateme."
　　"Aftersuchwords,MissBurton,"VanBergansweredwithasmile,"restassuredIshallavoidhimasIwouldapestilence.Butremember,IhavebeenasguiltyasStanton,yes,moreso;forStantonreceivedthefirstprovocation,andheisnaturallymoreimpetuousthanIam.ButIhavebeenthanked,aswellaswarnedandjustlyrebuked.Ithink,"headded,asifthewordscosthimaneffort,"thatifyouwillkindlyaskStantontohavenothingmoretodowithSibley,hewillaccedetoyourwishes;andwhateverhepromises,hewillperform."