"Youmighthavebeenoneofthefriendsofthefamilyandscarcelyhavelearnedthefact.Indeed,poorman,heonlyabouthalfexists,forhehasbeensolongovershadowedbyhisfashionablewifeanddaughter,thatheisbutasicklyplantofaman."
　　VanBergsawthatthegreetingreceivedbyMr.Mayhewfromhiswifeanddaughterwasveryundemonstrativetosaytheleast,andthatthenthegentlemanquicklydisappeared,asiffearingthathemightbeintheway.
　　"Frommyverylimitedmeansofjudging,"VanBergremarked,"I
　　cannotseeanythingmoreobjectionableintheheadofthefamilythanintheothermembers."
　　"Yourphrase,'headofthefamily,'asappliedtoMr.Mayhew,makesmesmile.Hisnamefiguresattheheadofthelargefamilybills,butscarcelyelsewherewithmuchprominence.Youwillsoonlearn,ifyouremainhere,thatMr.Mayhewimbibesrathermorethanisgoodforhim,soImayaswellmentionthedisagreeablefactatonce.Buttodothepoormanjustice,Isupposehedrinkstokeephisspiritsuptotheordinarylevel,ratherthanfromanyhopeofbecomingalittlejollyoccasionally.WhymyauntmarriedhimIscarcelyknow;andyetIhaveoftenthoughtthathemightbeaverydifferentdidshenotsoquenchhimbyamannerallherown.
　　Asitis,hislifeseemstoconsistoftoilingandmoilingalltheweek,andofstolidlyandjoylesslysoakinghimselfintosemi-stupidityonSunday.ItthiswretchedstateofaffairscouldbekeptsecretIwouldnotmentioniteventoyou,myintimatefriend;but,sinceitcontinuesnosecretwherevertheyhappentoremainforanylengthoftime,Iwouldrathertellyoutheexacttruthatonce,thanpermityoutoguessatitthroughdistortedrumors.Asyouartistsoccasionallyexpressyourselvesconcerningpictures,soIsupposeyouwillthinkthatthisfamily,withallitswealthisquitelackingintone."
　　"Well,Stanton,ImustadmitthatIfindmyselfchieflyinclinedtowardsthesubduedandneutral-tintedMr.Mayhew.IfyouhaveachanceIwishyouwouldintroducemetohim."
　　"Areyouinearnest?"
　　"Certainly."
　　"ThenI'llaskhimtosmokewithusaftersupper.Well,Van,Icongratulateyouagainthatyourcorrectandcultivatedtasteenabledyoutoseethefatalflawinmycousin'sbeauty.Ifyouhadbeenbewitchedbyher,andhadinsistedonimaginingassomanyothershavedonethatherfaultlessfeatureswerethereflexofwhatsheisorcouldbecomeinmindandcharacter,Imighthavehadagooddealoftroublewithyou;foryouareamulishfellowwhenyougetapurposeinyourhead.Idon'tcarehowbadlysingedtheaveragerunofmothsbecome.Youmayseetwoorthreeflutteringaroundto-night,ifyoucaretolookon,butIwishnofriendofminetomakesport,atseriouscosttohimself,foryonderincorrigiblecoquette,ifsheismycousin.Butafterwhatyouhaveseenandnowknow,youwouldbesafeenough,evenifpredisposedtofolly.Thelittleminx!butIpunishedherwellforherspitethisafternoon."
　　"OmostprudentUlysses!youhaveindeedfilledmyearswithwax.
　　Ithankyouallthesameasifmydangerweregreater."
　　"Well,viewthemallwithsuchcharityasyoucan.Ihopeyouwerenotverymuchannoyedbythelossofyourride.Theyoungladywillnotbeinahurrytoplaysuchatrickagain.I'lljoinyouaftersupperinthisyourfavoriteandout-of-the-waycorner."
　　"Wasbeautyeverenvironedwithinandwithoutbysuchdesperatelyprosaicandinartisticsurroundings?"musedVanBerg."Itglistenslikealostjewelinanash-barrel;or,morecorrectly,itislikeanexquisiteflowerthatnaturehasperverselymadetheoutcomeofarankandpoisonousvine.Ofcoursetheflowerispoisonousalso,andassoonasitsfirstdelicatebloomisover,willgrowasrankandrepulsiveasthevinethatbearsit.Likeproduceslike;andwithsuchparentage,whathopeisthereforher?Iamgladnoonesuspectsmyabsurdproject;foreveryhourconvincesmeofitsimpracticability.TheancientUndinewasamyth,andmymodernUndinemightbecalledawhitelie,butonethatwillgrowdarkereveryday.Atadistanceshepresentsthesemblanceofaveryfairwoman,butIhavebeenunabletodetectasingleelementyetthatwillpreventherfromdevelopingintoanoldanduglyhag,inspiteofallthatartandcostumecandoforher."
　　AftersupperStantonbroughtMr.MayhewtoVanBerg'sretirednook,andtheartistgavethehandoftheweary,listlessmansuchacordialpressureastocausehimaslightsurprise,butaftersatisfyinghisfaintinterestbyabriefglance,heturnedthebackofhischairtowardsallthegaycompany,althoughitcontainedhiswifeanddaughter,puffedmechanicallyathiscigar,andlookedvacantlyintospace.Beforetheeveningwasover,however,Vanberghaddrawnfromhimseveralquiteanimatedremarks,andsecuredthepromisethathewouldjoinhimandStantoninarambleimmediatelyafterbreakfastthefollowingmorning.
　　Norhadtheyoungmanbeenobliviousofthedaughterwhonowseemedinhernativeelement.Fromhisduskypointofobservationhecaughtfrequentglimpsesofher,nowwhirlingthroughawaltzintheparlor,nowtalkingandlaughinginaratherpronouncedwayfromthemidstofagroupofgentlemen,andagaincoquettishlystealingoffwithoneofthemthroughthemoonlitwalks.Hermanner,whetherassumedorreal,wasthatofextravagantgaiety.Occasionallysheseemedtoglancetowardstheirobscurecorner,butneithershenorhermothercametoseekthemanwhohadbeentoilingalltheweektomaintaintheiridleluxury.
　　AsMrs.Mayhewandherdaughterwerepreparingfordinneronthefollowingday,Mr.Mayhewenteredwithabriskerstepthanusual.
　　"Why,father,wherehaveyoubeen?"Idaasked,surprisedbythefactthathehadnotbeendrinkinganddozinginhisroomallthemorning.
　　"IhavebeenshownaglimpseofsomethingthatIhavenotseenformanyyears."
　　"Indeed,andwhatisthat?"
　　"Beautythatseemedbeautiful."
　　"That'sacomplimenttous,"remarkedMrs.Mayhew,acidly.
　　"Imeanthekindofbeautywhichdoesonegoodandmakesamanwishthathewereaman."
　　"Doyoumeananunmarriedman?"saidhiswifewithadiscordantlaugh.
　　"Probablyyourownwishessuggestedthatspeech,madam,"repliedthehusband,bitterly.
　　"Andpray,wheredidyoufindsomuchbeauty?"saidMrs.Mayhew,ignoringhislastremark.
　　"Onabreezyhill-side.It'sakindofbeauty,too,thatonecanenjoywithoutpayingnumberlessbillsforitsenhancement.Irefertothatofthescenery."
　　"Oh,"remarkedMrs.Mayhew,indifferently;"itwouldhavebeenmoretoyourcreditifyouhadgonetochurchinsteadoftrampingaroundthefields."
　　"Ithinkthefieldshavedonemoreformethanchurchforyou."
　　"Whyso?"wasthesharpresponse.
　　"Theyhaveatleastkeptmefromindulginginonebadhabit.Iamsober."
　　"Theydonotkeepyoufrommakingill-naturedremarks,"saidMrs.
　　Mayhew,sailingoutoftheroomfullybedizenedforthesolemnityofdinner.
　　"Yousayyouwere'shown'allthisbeauty,"remarkedIda,whowasgivingthefinishingtouchestohertoiletbeforealargemirror,andbywhomthefrequentbickeringsofherparentswerescarcelynoted."Whoofficiatedasshowman?"
　　"Amanwhounderstandsthebeautiesofalandscapesowellthathecouldmakethemvisibleeventomydimeyes,andattractivetomydeadenedandbesottednature.I'dgivealltheworldifIcouldbeyoung,strong,andhopefullikehim,again.Itwasgoodofhim——yes,goodofhim,totrytocheerastrangerwithpleasantthoughtsandsights.IsupposeyouareacquaintedwithMr.VanBerg,sinceheisafriendofIk's?"
　　"No,I'mnot,"wasthesharpreply;"nordoIwishtobe."
　　"Whynot?"askedMr.Mayhewinsomesurprise.
　　"It'ssufficientthatIdon'tlikehim."
　　"He'snotyourstyle,Isupposeyoumeantosay?"
　　"Indeedheisnot."
　　"Somuchworseforyourstyle,Ida."
　　Shewassweepingpetulantlyfromtheroomwhenherfatheraddedwithadepthoffeelingveryunlikehiswontedapathy:"O,Ida,itwerebetterthatallthreeofushadneverbeenbornthantoliveaswedo!Yourlifeandyourmother'sisfroth,andmineismud.
　　HowIhateditallthisbrightJunemorning,asMr.VanBerggavemeaglimpseintoanotherandbetterworld!"
　　"DoyoumeantosaythatMr.VanBergpresumedtocriticisemymodeoflife?"Idaaskedwithadarkeningface.
　　"Oh,no,no!Howsmallandegotisticalallyourideasare!Henevermentionedyou,andprobablyneverthoughtofyou.Heonlytookalittlepainsthatatiredanddispiritedmanmightseeandfeeltheeternalbeautyandfreshnessofnature,asonemightgive,inpassing,acupofwatertoatraveller."
　　"Idon'tseewhatreasonyouhaveforfeelingandappearingsoforlornly,thusaskingforsympathyfromstrangers,asitwere,andcausingittoseemasifweweremakingamartyrofyou.Asforthisartist,withhissuperiorairs,Idetesthim.Heneverlosesachancetoannoyandmortifyme.I'venodoubthehopedyouwouldcomehomeandtellus,asyouhave,howmuchbetterhewasthan——"
　　"There,there,quitthatkindoftalkorI'llbedrunkinhalfanhour."saidherfather,harshly."Ifyouhadtheheartofawoman,letalonethatofadaughter,youwouldthankthemanwhohadunwittinglykeptmefrommakingabeastofmyselfforonedayatleast.Godowntoyourdinner,I'minnomoodforeating."
　　Shewentwithoutaword,butwithamoreseverecompunctionofconsciencethanshehadeverfeltbeforeinherlife.Herfather'sfaceandwordssmoteherwithakeenreproach,piercingthethickarmorofhervanityandselfishness.Shesaw,foramoment,howunnaturalandunlovelyshemustappeartohim,inspiteofherbeauty,andthethoughtcrossedhermind:
　　"Mr.VanBergdespisesmebecauseheseesmeinthesamelight.
　　HowIhatehiscold,criticaleyes!"
　　EvenathisfarremoveVanBergcouldseethatshewasillateaseduringthedinnerhour.Therewouldbetimesofforcedandunnaturalgayety,followedbyasuddenclouduponthebrowandanabstractedair,asifherthoughtshadnaughttodowiththechatteringgrouparoundher.Itwouldalsoappearthatherappetitewasflaggingunusually,andonceortwicehethoughtshedartedanangrylooktowardshim.
　　Asifsomethingwereburdeninghermind,sheatlastleftthetablehastily,beforetheotherswerethroughwiththeirdessert.
　　Asmaybesurmised,shesoughtherfather'sroom.Receivingnoresponsetoherknock,sheenteredandsawataglancetheconfirmationofherfears.Herfathersatinanarm-chairwithhisheaduponhisbreast.Abrandybottlestoodonthetablebesidehim.Atthesoundofherstephelookedupforamomentwithheavyeyes,andmumbled:
　　"Heain'tofyourstyle,ishe?Norofmine,either.Frothandmud!"
　　Idagaveasuddenstampofrageanddisgust,andwhirledfromtheroom.
　　VanBerghappenedtoseeherasshedescendedtothemainhall-way,andherfacewassorepulsiveastosuggesttohimthelinesfromShakespeare:
　　"Innaturethere'snoblemish,butthemind;
　　Nonecanbecalleddeformed,buttheunkind;
　　Virtueisbeauty;butthebeauteous——evilAreemptytrunks,o'erflourishedbythedevil."
　　Thatafternoonandeveningherrecklesslevityandopencoquetrysecuredunfavorablecommentnotonlyfromtheartist,butfromothersfarmoreindifferent,whoseattentionshehalfcompelledbyamannerthatdidnotsuggestspringviolets.
　　VanBergwasdisgusted.Hewaslessversedinhumannaturethanart,anddidnotrecognizeintheforcedandobtrusivegayetytheefforttostiflethevoiceofanarousedconscience.Eventoherbluntedsenseofrightitseemedahatefulanddisgracefultruththatastrangerhadhelpedherfathertowardsmanhood,anthatshehaddestroyedthetransientandsalutaryinfluence.HercomplacencyhadbeendisturbedfromthetimehercousinhadrepeatedVanBerg'sremark,"IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven'sfinestsymphonies;"
　　andnow,throughanunexpectedchainofcircumstances,shehad,forthefirsttimeinherlife,reachedapointofself-disgustandself-loathing.Suchamoralconditionisevil'sopportunitywhenadispositiontowardspenitenceorreformiseitherabsentorresisted.Thethought,therefore,ofherfather'sdrunkennessthatday,andofherselfastheimmediatecause,madehersowretchedandrecklessthatshetriedtoforgethermiserableselfinexcitement,ashehadinlethargy.Evenhermotherchidedher,askingifshedidnot"remembertheday."
　　"Indeed,Ishallhaveoccasiontorememberit,"washerambiguousanswer;"butMondaysinthecountryarealwaysblue,andI'lldomyrepentingthen.IfIwereagoodCatholicI'dhuntupapriestto-morrow."
　　"I'llbeyourfather-confessorto-day,"saidablack-eyedyoungman,twirlinghismustache.
　　"You,Mr.Sibely?Youwouldleadmeintomorenaughtinessthanyouwouldhelpmeoutof,twiceover.FormyconfessorIwouldchooseanancientmanwhohadhadhisdinner.Whatacomfortablebeliefitis,tobesure!Allonehastodoistobuzzone'ssinsthroughagratingthatislikeanindefinitenumberofkey-holestoadozingoldgentlemaninside,andthenawaywithaheartlikeafeather,toloadupagain.I'dblessthemanwhocouldconvertmetoaPapist."
　　Butshehatedthemanwhohadmadeherfeeltheneedofabsolution,andwhoseemedaninseparablepartofallherdisagreeableexperiences.
　　Althoughheappearedtoavoidanylocalityinwhichsheremained,sheobservedhiseyesturnedtowardshermorethanoncebeforethedayclosed,anditexasperatedheralmostbeyondallendurancetobelievethattheirexpressionwasonlythatofcontempt.
　　Shemighthavebeenalittlebetterpleased,perhaps,ifshehadknownthatshemadetheartistalmostasuncomfortableasherself.
　　Neverbeforehadthereseemedtohimsogreatacontrastbetweenherbeautyandherself,herfeaturesandherface.Thelattercouldnotfailtoexcitehisincreaseddisgust,whiletheformerwassogreatthathefoundhimselfbecomingresolutelybentonredeemingthemfromwhatseemedahorridprofanation.Inaccordancewithoneofhischaracteristics,themoredifficulttheprojectseemed,themoreobstinatelyfixedbecamehispurposetodiscoverwhethershehadamindofsufficientcalibretotransformherintowhatshemightbe,incontrastwithwhatshewas.Themorehesawofherthemorehisinterestasanartist,and,indirectly,asastudentofcharacter,wasdeepened.Ifshehadnomindworthnaminghewouldgivetheproblemuptothesolutionoftime,which,however,promisednothingbutagradualfadingawayofallbeauty,andtheintensifyingofinwarddeformityuntilfullyreproducedinoutwardugliness.
　　ChapterVII.AnotherFeminineProblem.
　　EarlyonMondaymorning,Mr.Mayhewhastenedfromthebreakfast-tabletothestage.Hiswifeanddaughterwerenotdowntoseehimoff,andheseemeddesirousofshunningallrecognition.Withtheexceptionthatthathiseyeswereheavyandbloodshotfromhisdebauch,hisfacehadthesamedreary,apatheticexpressionwhichVanBerghadnotedonhisarrival.Andsohewentbacktohiscityoffice,where,fortunatelyforhim,mechanicalroutinebroughtgoldenrewards,sincehewasinnostateforbusinessenterprise.
　　Fromhisappearance,VanBergcouldnothelpsurmisingwhathadbeenhisconditionthepreviousday.IndeedStanton,withacontemptuousshrug,hadthesameassaidonSabbathevening,thathisunclehad"droppedintotheoldslough."AlthoughneitheroftheyoungmenknewhowgreatanimpetusIdahadgivenherfathertowardssuchdegradation,theybothfeltthatifhiswifeanddaughterhadhadthetacttodetectandappreciatehisbettermood,producedbythemorningramble,theymighthavesustainedhim,andgivenhimatleastonedaythathecouldrememberwithoutshameanddiscouragement.
　　VanBergfoundsomethingpatheticinMr.Mayhew'swearyanddisheartenedmanner.Itwaslikethatofasoldierwhohassuffereddefeat,butwhogoesonwithhisroutineinamechanical,spiritlessmanner,becausethereisnothingelsetodo.Heseemedtohavenohope,norevenathoughtofretrievingthepastandofreassertinghisownmanhood.Accustomedastheyoungartisthadeverbeentoahouseholdinwhichaffection,alliedtohigh-bredcourtesyandmutualrespect,madeevenhomelydailylifenobleandbeautiful,hecouldnotlookonthediscordantMayhewfamilywiththecharity,ortheindifference,ofthosewhohaveseenmoreofthewrongsideoflife.Hadtherebeenonlypoor,besmirchedMr.Mayhew,andstout,dressy,volubleMrs.Mayhew,hewouldneverhaveglancedtowardsthemthesecondtime;buthisartist'seyeshadfallenonthecontradictorybeingthatlinkedthemtogether.Morallyandmentallysheseemedonewithherparentstock;butherbeauty,insomeofitsaspects,wassomarvellous,thatthedesiretoredeemitfromitshatefulandgrotesqueassociationsgrewstrongereveryhour.
　　Instead,therefore,ofgoingoffuponsolitaryrambles,ashehaddonehitherto,hemingledmorefrequentlyintheamusementsoftheguestsofthehouse,withthehopehewouldthusbebroughtsooftenincontactwiththesubjectofhisexperiment,thatherpiquewouldwearawaysufficientlytopermitthemtomeetonsomethinglikefriendlyterms.
　　Asfarastheotherguestswereconcerned,hehadnottrouble.
　　Theywelcomedhimtocroquet,towalkingandboatingexcursions,andtotheireveninggamesandpromenades.Suchoftheladiesasdancedwerepleasedtosecurehimasapartner.Indeed,fromthedearthofgentlemenduringtheweek,hesoonfoundhimselfmoreindemandthanhecaredtobe,andsawthateventhelandlordwasbeginningtorelyuponhimtokeepupastateofpleasurableeffervescenceamonghispatrons.Hislanguidfriend,Stanton,wasnotalittlesurprised,andatlastremarked:
　　"Why,Van,whathascomeoveryou?Ineversawyouintheroleofasocietyfellowbefore!"
　　Buthisunwontedcourtesiesseemedwhollyinvain.Hepropitiatedandwonallsaveone,andthatonewasthesoleobjectofhiseffort.
　　Whileallotherssmiled,herfaceremainedcoldandaverted.Indeedshetooksuchpainstoignoreandavoidhim,thatitwasgenerallyrecognizedthattherewasadifferencebetweenthem,andofcoursetherewasanendlessamountofgossipingsurmise.Asthehostilityseemedwhollyonthelady'sside,VanBergappearedtothebetteradvantage,andIdawasallthemoreprovokedassherecognizedthefact.
　　Shenowbegantowishthatshehadtakenadifferentcourse.AsVanBergpursuedhispresenttactics,herfeminineintuitionwasnotsodullbutthatshewasledtobelievehewishedtomakeheracquaintance.Ofcoursetherewas,tohermind,butoneexplanationofthisfact——hewasbecomingfascinated,likesomanyothers.
　　"IfIwereonlyonspeakingandflirtingterms,"shethoughtthetworelationswereaboutsynonymousinherestimation,"Imightdrawhimontoapointwhichwouldgivemeachanceofpunishinghimfarmorethanisnowpossiblebysullenlykeepingaloof.Asitis,itlookstothesepeoplehereasifhehadjiltedmeinsteadofIhim,andthatIamsulkingoverit."
　　Butshehadentangledherselfinthesnarlofherownpreviouswordsandmanner.Shehadchargedhermotherandcousintopermitnooverturesofpeace;andonceortwice,whenminehost,inhisgood-natured,off-handmanner,hadsoughttointroducethem,shehadbeensoblindanddeaftohispurposeastoappearpositivelyrude.Herrepugnancetotheartisthadbecomeagenerallyrecognizedfact;andshehadbuiltupsuchabarrierthatshecouldnotbreakitdownwithoutaskingformorehelpthanwasagreeabletoherpride.Butshechafedinwardlyatherfalseposition,andattheincreasingpopularityoftheobjectofherspite.
　　Evenhermotheratlastformedhisacquaintance;and,astheartistlistenedtothegarrulousladyforhalfanhourwithscarcelyaninterruption,shepronouncedhimoneofthemostentertainingofmen.
　　AsMrs.Mayhewwaschantinghispraisesthatevening,Idabrokeoutpetulantly:
　　"Wasthereeversuchagad-flyasthisartist!Hepestersmefrommorningtillnight."
　　"Pestersyou!Ineversawaladysoseverelyletaloneasyouarebyhim.Whateveristhecauseofyourspiteitseemstoharmonlyyourself,andIshouldjudgefromyourremarkthatitdisturbsyoumuchmorethanyouwouldhaveitappear——certainlyfarmorethanitdoeshim."
　　Therewasnosoothingbalminthesewords,asmaywellbesupposed;
　　andyettheimpressiongrewuponIdathattheartistwouldbefriendlyifhecould;andthebeliefstrengthenedwithhimalsothatshetookfartoomuchpainstomanifestwhatshewouldhaveothersthinktobemereindifferenceanddislike,andheinterceptedbesides,withincreasingfrequency,furtiveglancestowardshimself.
　　Somuchicehadaccumulatedbetweenthem,howeverthatneitherknewhowitwastobebroken.
　　Oneday,aboutthemiddleoftheweek,VanBergfoundastrangerseatedoppositetohimatthedinnertable.Hisfirstimpressionwas,thattheladywasnotveryyoungandthatherfeatureswerequiteplain;butbeforethemealwasoverheconcludedthatherfacewasdecidedlyinteresting,andthatthesuggestionofagehadbeenmadebymaturityofcharacterandtheimpresswhichsomerealanddeepexperiencegivestothecountenance,ratherthanbythetraceofyears.
　　Whileyetastranger,theexpressionofherblueeyes,assheglancedaround,wassokindlythatsheatoncewonthegood-willofallwhoencounteredthem.Thisgenial,friendlylightinhereyesseemedamarkedcharacteristic.Itwassodifferentfromtheobtrusive,forwardmannerwithwhichsomeseektomakeacquaintances,thatitwouldnothavesuggestedadeparturefrommodestreserve,eventothemostcynical.Itratherindicatedaheartaglowwithgentlefeelingandgenialgood-will,likeamaple-woodfireonahospitalityhearth,thatwarmsallwhocomewithinthesphereofitsinfluence.
　　VanBergwasnaturallyreserved,andslowtomakenewacquaintances.
　　Butbeforehehadstolenmanyglancesofthefaceoppositehimhebegantowishfortheprivilegeofspeakingtoher——awishthatwasincreasedbythefactthattheywerealoneatthetable,theotherguestswhousuallyoccupiedthechairsnothavingreturnedfromtheirmorningdrive.shedidnotlookathiminparticular,norappeartobeintheleaststruckbyhis"distingue"air,asIdahadbeenbeforeshewasblindedbyprejudice;butshelookedoutupontheworldatlargewithsuchafriendlyaspectthathewassureshehadsomethingpleasanttosay.Hewasthereforewellpleasedwhenatlastthelandlordbustledupinhisbrusquewayandsaid: