"Ihavebelieveyoudid.IfsoI'llneverforgiveyou,fortheverysightofhimspoilseverything."
　　"Comenow,Coz,bereasonable.FromalltheindicationsIhaveseen,VanBergisthelastmantofollowyouhereoranywhereelse,eventhoughheknewofyourprospectivemovements.Heishere,asscoresofothersare,forhisownpleasure.Sofollowyourmothertoyourroom,smoothyourruffledplumageandcomedowntosupper."
　　EvenMissMayhew'segotismcouldfindnofaultwithsoreasonableanexplanation,andshewentpoutingupthestairwayinanythingbutacomplacentmood.
　　Stantonsteppedoutuponthepiazzatogreethisfriend,saying:
　　"Why,Van,itisanunexpectedpleasuretofindyouhere."
　　"Iwasequallyandquiteasagreeablysurprisedtoseeyoudrivetothedoor.IfyoucousinhadnotcomeImighthavehelpedyouexerciseyourbays.Iamdoingsomesketchinginthevicinity."
　　"Mycousinshallnotkeepyoufrommanyanidlehourbehindthebays——thatis,ifyouwillnotcarryyourantipathysofarastocutmeonaccountofmyrelationship."
　　"I'mnotconsciousofanyantipathyforMissMayhew,"repliedVanBerg,withaslightshrug.
　　"Oh,onlyindifference!Well,ifyouwillbothmaintainthatattitudetherewillbenotroubleaboutthebaysoranythingelse.
　　I'llsmokewithyouaftersupper."
　　"Sheevidentlyhasanantipathyforme,"musedVanBerg."Stanton,nodoubt,hastoldherofmyuncomplimentaryremarks,andpossiblyofthefactthatIdeclinedanintroduction.That'sawkward,forifIshouldnowasktobepresentedtoher,shewouldverynaturallydecline,andsowemightdriftintosomethingascloselyresemblingaquarrelasispossibleinthecaseoftwopeoplewhohaveneverspokentoeachother."
　　Heconcludedthatitwouldbebesttoleavetochancetheoccasionwhichshouldplacethemonspeakingterms,andtriedtopersuadehimselfthatherunpromisingattitudetowardshimwasnotwhollyunfavorabletohispurpose.Henevercouldhopetoaccomplishanythingwithoutatfirstpiquingherprideandwoundinghervanity.
　　Hisonlyfearwasthatthishadbeendonetooeffectually,andthatfromfirsttolastshewouldsimplydetesthim.
　　Inhispreoccupationheforgotthatthesupperhourwaspassing,butatlaststartedhastilyforhisroom.Asherapidlyturnedasharpcornerhenearlyranintotwoladieswhowerecomingfromanoppositedirection,andlookingupsawMrs.Mayhewandtheflushed,resentfulfaceofherdaughter.Inspiteofhimselfoureven-pulsedphilosopherflushedalso,butinstantlyremovinghishatheejaculated:
　　"Ibegyourpardon,"andpassedon.
　　AsIdajoinedhercousinatthesupper-tableshewhisperedexultantly:
　　"Hehasspokentome."
　　"Whohasspokentoyou?"
　　"Yourartist-bear."
　　"Howdidthathappen?"
　　"Well,henearlyranoverme——horridthing!Isupposethat'sanotherofhispeculiarways."
　　"Didheembraceyou?"
　　"Embraceme!Goodheavens,whatanescapeIhavehad!Sothistooischaracteristicofyourfriend?"
　　"Yousaidhewasabear.Ifso,heshouldhavegivenyouahugonthefirstopportunity."
　　"Hedidn'thaveanopportunity,andheneverwill."
　　"Poorfellow!ItwillmakehimsickifItellhimso.Well,sinceitisanothercaseofbeautyandthebeast,whatdidthebeastsay?"
　　"Hesaidthatitwasveryproperheshouldsaytomeafterallhishatefulness.Hesaid,'Ibegyourpardon.'"
　　"AndthenIsupposeyoukissedandmadeup."
　　"Hush,youhorridthing.InoticedhimnomorethanIwouldachairthatImighthavestumbledover."
　　"Thusdisplayingthatsweettraitofyours——Charity.ButIthoughtitwashethatstumbledoveryou?"
　　"Amusty,miserablepun!Itwashe,andI'mdelighteditsohappened,thatthefirsttimeheeverspoketomehehadtoaskmypardon."
　　"Well,well!I'mgladitsohappened,too,andthattheiceisbrokenbetweenyou,forVanBergisagoodfriendofmine,anditwouldbeconfoundedlydisagreeabletohaveyoutwoloweringateachotheracrossabloodychasmofdark,revengefulthoughts."
　　"Theiceisn'tbrokenatall.Hehasbeggedmypardonasheoughttodoahundredtimes;butIhaven'tgrantedit,andIneverwill.
　　What'smore,I'llneverspeaktohiminallmylife;never,never!"
　　"Swearitbythe'inconstantmoon'!"
　　"Hush,herehecomes.Ah,'peste!'histableisrightoppositeours."
　　"Whoisthattallandratherdistinguished-lookinggentlemanthatjustentered?"askedMrs.Mayhew,suddenlyemergingfromapre-occupationwithhersupperwhichagoodappetitehadinduced.
　　"HeISdistinguished,orwillbe.He'saparticularfriendofIda's,andisasrichasCroesus."
　　"Threeitemsinhisfavor,"saidMrs.Mayhewcomplacently;"butIdahassomanyfriends,orbeaux,rather,thatIcan'tkeeptrackofthem.Herfriendsspeedilybecomefurnace-likelovers,orelseescapefortheirlivesintothedimandremoteregionofmerebowingacquaintanceship.Ioncetriedtokeepalistofthevariousandvariegatedgentlemenwithredwhiskersandblackwhiskers,withwhiskerssandy,brown,andoccasionallyalmostwhite,butborrowingagoldenhuefromtheirpurses,thatappearedanddisappearedsorapidly,astoalmostmakemedizzy.IwasaboutasbewilderedasthepoorIndianwhosoughttotakethecensusofLondonbynotchingastickforeverypasser-byhemet.Andnowbeforewearethroughsupperonthefirsteveningofourarrival,anotherappears,whoisevidentlyaneligible'parti'andtwiceasgoodastheminxdeserves;butinafewdayshe,too,willvanishintothinair,andanotheranddifferentstyleofmanwilltakehisplace.Markmywords,Ida,youwillbethroughthewoodsbeforelong,andI
　　expectyouwilltakeupwiththecrookedestofcrookedsticksonthefartherside,"andthevolubleMrs.Mayhewresumedhersupperwithazestwhichthisdismalprospectdidnotbyanymeansimpair.
　　"IfIwereinsearchofacrabbed,crookedstick,Iwouldnothavetolookfartherthanyondertable,"saidtheyounglady,petulantly.
　　"Whatyousupposeaboutthatdabblerinpaintisaboutasfarfromthetruthasyoursketchofthosewhoaremyfriends.Thatmanneverwasmyfriend,andnevershallbe.Idon'twantyoutogetacquaintedwithhimorspeaktohim.Youmustnotintroducehimtome,forifyoudo,Ishallberudetohim."
　　"Hoity-toity!what'sthematter?"
　　"Idon'tlikehim.OnlyIkthinkshe'swonderful.Hehasprobablyblindedourcousintohisfaultsbypaintingaflatteringlikenessofthevainyouthhere."
　　"Butinsuggestinganotherportraitthatwasnotaltogetherpleasing,hesinnedbeyondhope,"whisperedStanton.
　　Idabitherlipandfrowned,recallingtheobnoxiousartist'sportraitofherselfasgigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven'ssymphonies;andshesaidspitefully:
　　"Hecanneverhopeforanythingfromme."
　　"Poor,hopelesswretch!"groanedStanton."Howcanhesiphisteayondersocomplacentlyobliviousofhisdoom?"
　　"Mother,I'minearnest,"resumedthedaughter."Ihavereasonsfordislikingthatman,andIdonotwishtheannoyanceofhisacquaintance."
　　"Well,well,"saidMrs.Mayhew;"aslongasthewindblowsfromthatcoolquarter,wecankeepcooltillitchanges.IfImistakenot,heisthesamegentlemanwhometusinthecorridor.I'msurehehasfinemanners."
　　"Ifitisfinemannersinamantonearlyrunovertwoladies,heisperfect.ButIamsickofhearingabouthim,andespeciallyofseeinghim.Iinsist,Ik,thatyouhaveourtablechangedtoyondercorner,andthenarrangeitsothatIcansitwithmybacktowardshim."
　　"IamyourCaliban,butwouldhint,myamiableCoz,thatyoushouldnotbiteoffyourownprettynoseinspite.Mustallyourkinjoininthisbitterfeud?MayInotsmokewithmyancientfamiliar?"
　　"Oh,beoff,andifyouandyourfrienddisappearlikeyourcigars,theworldwillsurvive."
　　"Ifearitisbecausemyfriendwillneverdissolveinsighsthatyouaresowillingheshouldendinsmoke."
　　HavingwingedthisParthianarrowoverhisshoulder,StantonstrolledoutonthepiazzawhitherVanBerghadprecededhim.
　　ChapterV.Spite.
　　MissMayhewapparentlyhadnotgivenasingleglancetotheartist,ashesatoppositetoherandbutalittleoutofearshot.Indeed,sowelldidshesimulateunconsciousnessofhispresence,thatwereifnotforanoccasionalglancefromMrs.Mayhewhemighthavethoughthimselfunnoticed;butsomethinginthatlady'smanner,ascaughtbyoccasionalglances,ledhimtosuspectthathewasthesubjectoftheirconversation.
　　ButIda'sindifferencewas,intruth,onlyseeming;foralthoughsheneverlookeddirectlyathim,shesubjectedhisimage,whichwasconstantlyflittingacrosstheretinaofhereye,totheclosestscrutiny,andnoactorexpressionofhisescapedher.Shewaspiquedbythefactthatheshowednodisturbedconsciousnessofherpresence,andthathisglancewasoccasionallyasfreeandnaturaltowardsherastowardsanyotherguestofthehouse.Hisbearingannoyedherexcessively,foritseemedaneasyandquietassertionofindifferenceandsuperiority——twomanifestationsthatweretoherasobjectionableasunusual.Neitherinlooksnormannerdidsheappearveryagreeableduringthebrieftimeshespentinthepublicparlors.Theguestsofthehouse,eventotheladieswhoforesawaneclipseoftheirowncharms,werecompelledtoadmitthatshewasverypretty;butitwasageneralremarkthatherfacedidnotmakeorleaveapleasantimpression.
　　VanBergsurmisedthatStanton'sdispositiontoteazeandbanterwouldleadhimtorepeatand,perhaps,distort,anythinghemightsayconcerningtheyounglady,sohemadenoreferencewhatevertotheMayhews,buttookpainstogivetheimpressionthathewasdeeplyinterestedinthescenery.
　　"Ishallprobablybeoffwithmysketch-bookbeforeyouareup,"hesaid;"forifIremembercorrectly,youareupwiththelarkonlywhenyouhavebeenupover-night."
　　"Youarethegreatersinnerofthetwo,"yawnedStanton;"forifI
　　occasionallykeepunseasonablehoursatnight,youdosohabituallyinthemorning.Eitheryouarenotasbrilliantasusualthisevening,orelsethecountryairmakesmedrowsy.Good-night.Wewilltakearideto-morrow,andyoucansketchfivemilesoffenceifyoufindthatyoucannotresistyourmaniaforwork."
　　PerhapsStantonHADfoundhisfriendslightlypreoccupied,for,inspiteoftheconstrainthehadputuponhimselftoappearasusual,thissecondandcloserviewofthefacewhichhadtakensostrongaholduponhisfancydidnotdissipatehisfirstimpressions.
　　Indeed,theyweredeepenedrather,forhesawagainandmoreclearlythesamemarvellouscapabilitiesinthefeatures,andalsotheirexasperatingfailuretomakeabeautifulface.
　　Hedreamedoverhisprojectsomelittletimeafterhisfriendhadretired,andtheconclusionofhisreverywas:
　　"Imustsoonmakesomeprogressinmyexperimentorelsedecamp,forthatgirl'scontradictoryfaceisaconstantincentivetoprofanity."
　　AfterseeingMrs.Mayhew,however,hefeltthatjusticerequiredhimtoadmitthatthedaughterwasanaturalandlogicalsequence;
　　andinthemotherhesawanelementmorehopelesslyinartisticanddishearteningthananythinginthegirlherself;forevenifthelattercouldbechanged,wouldnottheshadowofthestoutanddressymothereverfallathwartthepicture?
　　VanBergretiredwiththefeelingthathisprojectofilluminatingafacebyawakeningamindthat,asyet,hadslept,didnotpromiseverybrilliantly.
　　MissMayhewtriedtopersuadeherselfthatitwasareliefnottoseethecriticalartistatbreakfast,nortomeethimasshestrolledfromtheparlorstothepiazzaandthencetothecroquet-ground,whereshelistlesslydeclinedtotakepartinagame.
　　Therewas,intruth,greatneedthathermindshouldbeawakenedandherwholenatureradicallychanged,ifitwereapossiblething,——aneedshownbythefactthefairJunemorning,withitsfragranceandbeauty,couldnotlightupherfacewithitsownfreshnessandgladness.Thevariousnotesofthebirdswereonlysounds;thelandscape,seenforthefirsttime,waslikethemapofSwitzerland,that,inthedaysofhergeographylessons,gaveherasvividanideaofthecountryasadrysermondoesofheaven.
　　Althoughherearsandeyesweresopretty,shewas,inthedeepestandtruestsenseoftheword,deafandblind.Thelackofsomepettyandcongenialexcitementmadetimehangheavilyonherhandsandcloudedherfacewith'ennui.'"
　　Evenhercousinhadfailedher,forhewasdownatthestables,makingarrangementsforthecareofhisbaysandhiscarriage.Thusfromveryidlenessshefelltonursinghersmallspiteagainstthemanwhosevoicehadmadesuchharshdiscordwiththehoneyedchorusofflatterytowhichshewasaccustomed.Shewishedthathewouldappear,andthatinsomewayshemightshowhowlittleshecaredforhimorhisopinion;butashedidnot,sheatlastloungedtoherroomandsoughttokillafewhourswithanovel.
　　Herwoundedpride,however,inducedhertodressquiteelaboratelyfordinner;forshehadfaithinnobetterwayofassertingherpersonalitythanthataffordedbythetoilet.Shewouldteachhim,bytheadmirationsheexcitedinothers,howmistakenhehadbeeninhisestimate,andhervanitywhisperedthatevenhecouldnotlookuponherbeautyforanylengthoftimewithoutbeingwonbyitassomanyothershadbeen.
　　Thechangeofseatshavingbeeneffected,shescarcelythoughtitnecessarytoturnherbackuponhimwhilesittingatsuchadimdistance.Indeedshewasinclinedtoregretthechange,fornowhertoiletandlittleairs,whichsheimaginedtobesopretty,wouldbelostuponhim.
　　Itwouldseemthattheywere,forVanBergatehisdinnerasquietly,andchattedasunconcernedlytothoseabouthimasifshehadnoexistence.Neverhadamanignoredhersocompletelybefore,andshefeltthatshecouldneverforgivehim.
　　Aftertheeventofthedaywasover,andtheguestswerecirclingandeddyingthroughthehallsandparlorsandoutonthepiazza,IdastillhadtheannoyanceofobservingthatVanBergwasutterlyobliviousofherasfarasshecouldperceive.Hespokehereandtherewiththeeaseandfreedomofonefamiliarwithsociety,andshesawmoreeyesfollowinghistallformapprovinglythanwereturnedtowardsherself.Fewgentlemenremainedatthehouseduringtheweek,andMissMayhewwasnotafavoritewithherownsex.
　　Thosewhomostcloselyresembledherincharacterenviedratherthanadmiredher,andthosewhowerebetterendowedanddevelopedfoundfaultevenwithherbeautyfromamoralpointofview,asVanBerghadonartisticgrounds.Sheconsoledherself,however,withthethoughtthatitwasSaturday,andthattheeveningboatandtrainswouldbringanumberofgentlemen,amongwhomshetoldStanton,exultantly,thatshehad"somefriends"——mothsratherwhosewingswereindangerofbeingsinged.
　　Astheafternoonwasnotsultry,Stantonhadsaidtohisfriendthattheycouldenjoytheircigarsandarideatthesametime,andthathewoulddrivearoundforhiminafewminutes.Idaoverheardtheremark,and,quietlyslippingofftoherroom,returnedwithherhatandshawl.Ashercousinapproachedshehasteneddownthesteps,pastVanBerg,exclaiming:
　　"Oh,thankyou,Ik!Howgoodofyou!Iwasdyingforaride.
　　Don'ttroubleyourself.Icangetinwithoutaid,"andshespranglightlyintothebuggybeforehercousincouldutteraword.
　　Heturnedwithalookofcomicdismayanddeprecationtohisfriend,whostoodlaughingonthesteps.Ida,also,couldnotresistherinclinationtocatchaglimpseoftheartist'schagrinanddisappointment,butshewasprovokedbeyondmeasuretofindhimactingasifStantonwerethevictimratherthanhimself.Asthesweepoftheroadagainbroughttheminviewofthepiazza,thisimpressionwasconfirmedbyseeingVanBergstrollcarelesslyaway,complacentlypuffinghiscigarasifhehadalreadydismissedherfromhismind.
　　"Really,"grumbledStanton,"Ineverhadbeautyandhappinessthrustuponmesounexpectedlybefore."
　　"Verywellthen,"retortedIda;"stopyourhorsesandthrustmeoutintotheroad.I'drathergoback,evenifIhavetowalk."
　　"Oh,no!thereistobenogoingbackfortwohoursormore.I
　　oncecuredahorseofrunningawaybymakinghimrunlongafterhewantedtostop."
　　"Youseemtobelearningyourfriend'shatefulmanners."
　　"Iaskedyouthismorningifyouwouldtakeadrive,andyoudeclined."
　　"Ichangedmymind."
　　"Veryabruptly,indeed,itseemed.Sinceyoutooksomuchtoubletoannoymyfriend,it'sapityyoufailed."
　　"Idon'tbelieveIfailed.He'sprobablyascrossasyouareaboutit,onlyhecankeepittohimself."
　　"Dove-likecreatiah!thanks.WillyoupleasedrivewhileIlightacigar?"
　　"Idon'tlikeanyonetosmokeasnearmeasyouare."
　　"IfyourtheoryinregardtoVanBergiscorrect,noneofuswillenjoywhatwelikethisafternoon.OfcourseIneversmokewithoutalady'spermission,butunlessquietedbyacigar,Iamaveryrecklessdriver,"andheenforcedhiswordsbyasharpcrackofthewhip,whichsentthehorsesofflikethewind.
　　"Oh,stopthem;smoke;doanythinghatefulyouwish,soyoudon'tbreakmyneck.Iwillneverridewithyouagain,andIwishIhadnevercometothishorridplace;andifyoursneeringpainterdoesnotleavesoon,Iwill."
　　"I'mafraidVanwouldsurvive,andyouonlysufferfromyourspite.
　　Butcome,sinceyouhavesosweetlypermittedmetosmoke,I'llmakeyourpenanceaslightaspossible,andthenwewillconsidermattersevenbetweenus,"andawaytheybowledupbreezyhillsanddownintoshadyvalleys,Stantonstolidlysmoking,andIdanursingherpettywrath.Twoflittingghostshasteningtoescapefromthelightofday,couldnothaveseenless,orhavefeltlesssympathywiththewarmbeautifulscenesthroughwhichtheywerepassing.
　　Thereisnoinsulationsoperfectasthatofsmall,selfishnaturespreoccupiedwithapique.
　　When,lateintheafternoon,hercousin,withmockpoliteness,assistedhertoalightattheentranceofthehotel,Idawascompelledtofeelthatshehadindeedbeenthechiefvictimofherownspite.
　　but,withtheusuallogicofhumannature,sheneverthoughtofblamingherself,andherresentmentwaschieflydirectedagainstthemanwhoseeverywordandglance,althoughhewasbutastranger,hadseemedtopossessapowertoannoyandwoundfromthefirst.
　　Shefeltanalmostvenomousdesiretoretaliate;butheappearedinvulnerableinhisquietandeasysuperiority,whileshe,whoexpected,asamatterofcourse,thatallmasculinethoughtsshouldfollowheradmiringly,hadbeencompelledtoseethathiscriticaleyeshaddetectedthatinherwhichhadawakenedhiscontempt.
　　"I'llteachhimthisevening,whenmygentlemenfriendsarrive,howridiculousarehisairs,"shemuttered,asshewenttoherroomandsoughttoenhanceherbeautybyalltheartsofwhichshewasthemistress."I'llshowhimthatthereareplentywhocanseewhathecannot,orwillnot.Becauseheisanartist,heneednotthinkhecanfacemeoutoftheknowledgeofmybeauty,theexistenceofwhichIhavebeenassuredofbysomanyeyesandtongueseversinceIcanremember."
　　Whenshecamedowntoawaitthearrivalofthestagesandcarriages,shewasindeedradiantwithallthebeautyofwhichshewasthencapable.Herneckandshoulders,withtheirexquisitelinesandcurves,weremoresuggestivelyrevealedthanhiddenbyaslightdraperyofgauze-likeillusion,andherwhiteroundedarmswerebare.Shetrodwiththelightairygraceofyouth,andyetwiththeassuredmannerofonewhoislookingforwardtothefamiliarexperiencesofareigningbelle.
　　VanBerg,fromhisquietcornerofobservation,wascompelledtoadmitthat,seenatherpresentdistance,shealmostembodiedhisbestdreams,andmightdosowhollyweretherelessofthefashionableartofthehour,andmoreofnatureinherappearance.Butheknewwellthatifshecamenearer,andspokesoastorevealherself,thefataldefectinherbeautywouldbeasapparentasablacklinerunningathwartthesculpturedfaceofaGreekgoddess.Theonlyquestionwithhimwas,didtheominousdeformityliesonearthesurfacethatitcouldberefinedaway,orwasitingrainedintotheverymaterialofhernature,thusforminganessentialpartofherself?Hefearedthatthelattermightbetrue,orthattheremedywasfarbeyondhisskillorpower;buteveryglancehecaughtofthegirl,aswithhermothershepacedthefartherendofthepiazza,deepenedhisregret,asanartist,thatsomuchbeautyshouldbeindegradingbondagetoaseemingfool.
　　ChapterVI.RecklessWordsandDeeds.
　　Lightcarriagesnowbegantowheelrapidlyuptotheentrance,andwerefollowedsoonbythelumberingandheavily-ladenstages.
　　Joyousgreetingsandmerryreparteemadethescenepleasanttowitnessevenbyonewho,likeVanBerg,hadnopartinit.Stanton,whoatthismomentjoinedhim,drewhisspecialattentiontoathinandunder-sizedgentlemansomewhatpastmiddleage,whomountedthestepswithatreadthatwasasinelasticashisfacewasdevoidofanimation.
　　"ThereispoorUncleMayhew,"remarkedtheyoungmanindifferently.
　　"IsupposeImustgoandspeaktohim."
　　"Mr.Mayhew?"saidVanBerg,insomesurprise."Youhavenotspokenofhimbefore.Iwasnotawarethattherewasanysuchpersoninexistence."
　　"Youarenottoblameforthat,"repliedStantonwithashrug.