"IhavenoteventhoughtofMissBurton,"protestedVanBerg,atthesametimeconscious,nowthathernamehadbeenrecalledtohismemory,thatshewouldhaveactedamuchbetterpart."Iamonlysincerelygladthatourneckswerenotbroken,andIhopethatyouhavenotsufferedanyseverebruises.Astomydespisingyou,ifyouwillhonormewithyouracquaintanceyoumaydiscoverthatyouaregreatlyinerror."
　　"Thenyoutrulythinkthatwehavebeenindanger?"sheasked,wipinghereyes.
　　"Mostassuredly.Whenyoucometothinkthematterovercalmly,youwillrealizethatwewereinverygreatdanger.Ithinktheaffairhasendedmosthappilyratherthanabsurdly."
　　"Really,sir,whenIrememberhowthe'affair,'asyoutermit,actuallydidend,IfeelasifIneverwishedtoseeyouagain."
　　"MissMayhew,Iappealtoyourgenerosity.WasItoblameforthatwhichwassodisagreeabletoyou?SurelyyouwillnotbesounfairastopunishmeforwhatneitheryounorIcouldhelp.I
　　thinkfatemeansweshallbefriends,andhasemployedthisunexpectedepisodetobreaktheicebetweenus.IfyouarenowsufficientlycomposedIwillassistyoutoalight,inorderthatthedriver,whoisapproaching,mayberelievedofallfearsonouraccount."
　　"Oh,certainly.Asitis,Isupposehewillhavearidiculousstorytotell."
　　"Thereisnothingthathe,ortheotherswhoarefollowinghimcantell,savethatthehorsesranawayandthatwemostfortunatelyescapedallinjury.Ah!Iseethatyouarealittlelame.Pleasetakemyarm;thehotelisbutaquarterofamileaway.OrperhapsyouwouldpreferthatIshouldsendthedriverforacarriage.Youcouldwaitinyondercottage,orhere,intheshadeofthetrees."
　　"Iamnotverylame,andifIwereIwouldnotmindit.Mywishisthatthehorridaffairmayoccasionaslittleremarkaspossible.
　　Icanreachmyroombyasideentrance,andsocomequietlydowntodinner.IsupposethatImusttakeyourarmsinceIcannotwalkverywellwithoutit."
　　Theythereforeturnedtheirbacksonthebreathlessdriverandhiseagerquestions,andproceededslowlytowardsthehotel.Afterabriefexaminationoftheshatteredstage,themanranpantingpasttheminsearchofhishorses;andtheywereagainleftalone.
　　ChapterX.PhrasestooSuggestive.
　　ForafewmomentsMissMayhewandVanBergwalkedoninsilence,eachverydoubtfuloftheother.Atlasttheartistbegan:
　　"Iamwellaware,MissMayhew,thatthisunexpectedepisodeandthisenforcedcompanionshipgivemenorightswhatever.Idonotproposetoannoyyou,afterseeingyousafelytothehotel,byassumingthatweareacquainted,nordoIintendtosubjectmyselftothemortificationofbeinginformedpublicly,byyourmanner,thatwearenotonspeakingterms.Iwouldbegladtohavethisquestionsettlednow.IaskyourpardonforanythingthatImayhavesaidordonetohurtyourfeelings,andhavingthusgonemorethanhalf-wayitwouldbeungenerousonyourpartnottorespondinlikespirit."
　　"Youapologize,then?"
　　"No;Iaskyourpardonforanythingthatmayhavehurtyourfeelings."
　　"Youhavesaidverydisagreeablethingsaboutme,Mr.VanBerg."
　　"Ididnotknowyouthen."
　　"Idonotthinkyouhavechangedyouropinionofmeintheleast."
　　"Ievidentlyhaveamuchhigheropinionofyouthanyouofme,andIamseekingyouracquaintancewithapersistencesuchasInevermanifestedinthecaseofanyotherlady.Thustheoddsareallinyourfavor.Havingbeensounexpectedlythrowntogether——"
　　"'Throwntogether,'indeed——Mr.VanBerg,youAREmockingme,"andhereyesagainfilledwithtearsofvexation.
　　"IassureyouIamnot,"saidVanBergearnestly."Icouldnotbesomeanastotwityouwithanaccidentwhichyoucouldnothelp,andwithanactwhichwaswhollyinvoluntaryonyourpart.Canwenotbothletby-gonesbyby-gonesandcommenceanew?"
　　MissMayhewbitherlipandhesitatedafewmoments.
　　"Ithinkthatwillbethebetterway,"shesaid."Wewillbothletby-gones,especiallythisridiculousepisodeinthestage.I'llputyouonyourgoodbehavior."
　　"Thankyou,MissMayhew.Iwouldtakeourlaterisktwentytimesforsucharesult."
　　"Iwouldnottakeitagainonanyaccountwhatever.Pleaserefertoitnomore.Ideclare,therecomesCousinIkandMr.Burleightomeetus.Wasone'sfortuneeversoexasperating!Ikwillteazemeoutofallcomfortforweekstocome."
　　"Saylittleandleavealltomydiscretion,"saidVanBerg,reassuringly;
　　"and,bytheway,youmightlimpalittlemoredecidedly,"whichsheimmediatelydid.
　　"MydearMissMayhew,Itrustyouarenotseriouslyhurt,"beganMr.Burleighwhilestillseveralyardsoff.
　　Stanton'sfacewasastudyasheapproached.Indeedheseemedhalfreadytoexplodewithsuppressedmerriment,butbeforehecouldspeakawarningglancefromVanBergcheckedhim.
　　"MissMayhewmighthavebeenseriouslyandpossiblyfatallyinjured,"
　　saidtheartistgravely,"haditnotbeenforherself-control.
　　Althoughitseemedthatthestagewouldbedashedtopieceseverymoment,Itoldherthatinmyjudgementitwouldbesafertoremainwithinitthantospringoutuponthehardandstonyroad,andI
　　amverygladthatthefinaleventconfirmedmyopinion."
　　Astheywerebythistimeneartothehotel,otherswhohadbeenalarmedbyseeingthehorsestearinguptothestabledoor,nowhastilyjoinedthem;andlast,butnotleast,Mrs.Mayhewcamepantinguponthescene.VanBergfeltthehandoftheyoungladytremblinginnervousapprehensionuponhisarm,fromwhich,inherembarrassment,sheforgottoremoveit.Buttheartistdidnotfailher,andinanswertoMr.Burleigh'seagerquestionsastothecauseoftheaccident,explainedallsoplausibly,andinsuchamatter-of-factmannerasleftlittlemoreeventobesurmised.
　　Hisbriefandprosaichistoryoftheaffairconcludedwiththefollowingimpliedtributetohiscompanion,whichstillfurtherrelievedherfromfearofridicule:
　　"MissMayhew,"hesaid,"insteadofjumpingout,afterthefranticterror-blindedmannerofmostpeople,remainedinthestageandsohasescaped,Itrust,withnothingworsethanaslightlamenesscausedbytheviolentmotionofthevehicle.Iwillnowresignhertoyourcare,Mr.Stanton,andIamgladtobelievethattheoccasionwillrequiretheservicesofthewheelwrightandharness-makeronly,andnotthoseofasurgeon,"andliftinghishattoMrs.Mayhewandherdaughterhebowedhimselfoffthescene.
　　Ida,leaningonthearmofhercousin,limpedappropriatelytoherroom,whithershehadherdinnersenttoher,moreforthepurposeofgainingtimetocomposehernervesthanforanyotherreason.
　　Theimpressionthatshehadbehavedcourageouslyinperilwasrapidlyincreasedasthestorywasrepeatedbyoneandanother,andshereceivedseveralcongratulatoryvisitsintheafternoonfromherladyacquaintances;andwhenshecamedowntosuppershefoundthatshewasevenagreaterheroinethanMissBurtonhadbeen.Inanswertomanysympatheticinquiries,shesaidthatshe"feltaswellasever,"andshetriedtoproveitbyhergayetyandcarefultoilet.
　　Butshewasdecidedlyillatease.Heroldself-complacencywasebbingawayfasterthanever.Fromthetimethatithadfirstbeendisturbedbytheartist'sfrownintheconcertgarden,shehadbeenconsciousofasecretandgrowingself-dissatisfaction.
　　Itseemedtobethisstranger'smissiontobreakthespellvanityandflatteryhadwovenabouther.Thecongratulationsshewasnowreceivingweresecuredbyafraudulentimpression,ifnotbyactualfalsehood,andshepermittedthisimpressiontoremainandgrow.
　　Theone,whoaboveallothersshemostfearedanddisliked,knewthis.Insmilinglyacceptingthecomplimentsshowereduponherfromallsidesshefeltthatshemustappeartohimasifreceivingstolengoods,andshebelievedthatinhishearthedespisedhermorethoroughlythanever.
　　Tothedegreethathecausedherdisquietudeandsecrethumiliation,herdesiretoretaliateincreased,andsheresolved,beforethedayclosed,touseherbeautyasaweapontoinflictuponhimtheseverestwoundpossible.Ifitwerewithinthepowerofherartshewouldbringhimtoherfeetandkeephimthereuntilshecould,inthemostdecidedandpublicmanner,spurnhisabjecthomage.
　　Shewouldhavenoscrupleindoingthisinanycase,but,inthisinstance,successwouldgiveherthekeenestsatisfaction.
　　Hisverydesireforheracquaintance,assheunderstoodit,washumiliating,and,inacertainsense,demoralizing.Herothersuitorshadimaginedthatshehadgoodtraitsbackofherbeauty,andhithertoshehadbeencarelesslycontenttobelievethatshecoulddisplaysuchtraitsinabundanceshouldtheoccasionrequirethem.Herewasone,however,who,whiledespisingthewoman,wasapparentlyseekingherforthesakeofherbeautymerely;andherwoman'ssoul,warpedanddwarfedasitwas,resentedanhomagethatwasseeminglysensuousandsuperficial,andwould,ofnecessity,betransient.InherignoranceofVanBerg'smotives,andintheutterimpossibilityofsurmisingthem,shecouldscarcelycometoanyotherconclusion;andshedeterminedtopunishhimtotheutmostextentofherability.
　　ThusitcametopassthatMissMayhewhaddesignsagainstVanBergthatwerenotquiteasamiableasthoseoftheartistinregardtoherself.
　　Stanton,inalowtone,remarkedtoheratthesuppertable,"NowthatfatehasthrowyouandVanBergtogetherinsucharemarkablemanner"theyoungladycoloreddeeplyatthisunfortunateexpressionandlookedathimkeenly,"Itrustthatyouwillyieldgracefullytodestinyandtreathimwithordinarycourtesywhenyoumeet.
　　Otherwiseyoumayoccasionsurmisesthatwillnotbeagreeabletoyou."
　　"Hashebeentellingyouanythingaboutthismorning?"sheaskedquickly.
　　"Nothingmorethanhesaidinyourpresence.Why,wasthereanythingmoretotell?"
　　"Certainlynot,buthemadeill-naturedremarksaboutmeonce——thatis,yousaidhedid——andwhyshouldhenotagain?"
　　"Well,hehasnot.Ithinkhespokeveryhandsomelyofyouthismorning.Ihopehedidn'texaggerateyourgoodbehavior."
　　"Ifyouprefertobelieveillofmeyouarewelcometodoso.Formypart,IbelieveyouexaggeratewhatMr.VanBergsaidattheconcert,andthathenevermeanttobesorude.AsfarasIcanjudge,hehasshownnosuchunmannerlydispositionsincecominghere."
　　"Indeed,youareright.Ithinkhisdispositionhascomparedfavorablywithyourown."
　　"Well,"shereplied,withapeculiarsmile,"weareonspeakingtermsforthepresent."
　　"Thatsmilebodesnogood-willtowardsmyfriend,butforonceyouwillfindamanwhowillnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithyourmerebeauty."
　　"IfyouwillglanceatyondertableyoucanseethatMissBurtonhasalreadysoabsorbedhimthathehaseyesfornooneelse."
　　"Theyhavejollygoodtimesatthattable.Iwishwewerethere."
　　"Indeed!areyoubewitchedalso?Ican'tseewhatitisthatpeoplefindsoattractiveinthatplain-lookinggirl."
　　"Well,foronething,shehasamind.Beautywithoutmindislikesaladwithoutdressing."
　　"AnddoyoumeantosaythatIhavenomind?"Idaasked,withasuddenflush.
　　"MydearCoz,wewerespeakingsolelyofMissBurton.Indeed,I
　　thinkyouhaveaverydecidedwillofyourown."
　　"Iunderstandyou.Well,inwhatotherrespectsisMissBurtonmysuperior?"
　　"IdoubtifMissBurtoneverthinksofherselfassuperiortoanyone,andthat'sanotherveryamiabletraitinher."
　　"Canyounotsumupherperfectionsalittlemorerapidly?Lifeisshort,"remarkedIda,acidly.
　　"Come,Coz,letmegetyousomesweet-oilbeforeyoufinishyoursupper.YouknowyouarethehandsomestgirlintheState,andthat'sdistinctionenoughforonewoman.Toyou,MissBurtonisonlyaplainschool-teacher.Whyshouldyouenvyher?"
　　"Idonotenvyher,norcanIseewhypeoplearesocarriedawaywithher."
　　"ItISremarkabletoseewhatanimpressionshehasmadeintwobriefdays.Ofcoursehercourageinsavingthechildservedasageneralandfavorableintroduction,butitdoesnotbyanymeansexplainhergrowingpopularity.Forsomereasonorotherthoseaboutheralwaysseemtobehavingagoodtime.Seehowanimatedandpleasedistheexpressionofallthefacesathertableyonder.
　　Itwasthesameonthecroquet-groundthismorning.Sheeffervescedlikechampagne,andbeforeweknewitwewereallinastateofexhilarationandthemorninghadgone."
　　"Ihatethesebold,forwardwomenwhoarequicktobecomeacquaintedwitheveryone.Amanofthistypeisbadenough,butawomanisunendurable."
　　"Iagreewithyouintheabstractmostheartily;buttheonlyboldthingthatIhaveseenMissBurtondowastorununderthefeetofmyhorses.Youmightaswellcallarayofsunshineboldandforward;andpeoplelikesunshinewhenitisasnicelytemperedashermanneris.IconfessthatwhenIfirstlearnedwhoshewas,andbeforeIhadmetherpersonally,Iwasgreatlyprejudicedagainsther,butonewouldhavetobeachurlindeedtoremainproofagainsthergenialgood-nature.FormypartIintendtoenjoyit,asIdoalltheothergoodthingsthegodsthrowinmyway."
　　"Thegodswouldindeedbecarelesstoleaveanygoodthingswithinyourreach,unlesstheyweremeantforyou,"snappedIda.
　　"Goodforyou,Coz;yourridewithVanBerghasalreadybrightenedyouup.Thereisnotellingwhatyoumightnotbecomeifyouwouldonlyassociatewithmenwhohadsufficientbrainsnottogrowspooneyoveryourprettyface."
　　AsIdaandhermotherpassedoutonthepiazza,VanBergjoinedthemandsaid:
　　"Iamgladtoseethatyouhavesofullyrecovered,MissMayhew.
　　Youproveagainthatyoupossessgoodstrongnerves."
　　"Thankyou,"saidtheyounglady,laconically,andwithasuddenaccessionofcolor.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"beganMrs.Mayhewwithgreatanimation,"I'mexcessivelythankfulthatyouhappenedtobeontheroad,andthatthestageovertookyouthismorning.ItwassofortunatethatIalmostthinkitprovidential.HowdreadfulitwouldhavebeenifIdahadbeenaloneinsuchfrightfulperil!IcannottellyoualsohowdelightedIamthatmydaughterbehavedsobeautifully.
　　Indeed,ImustconfessthatIamagreeablysurprised,forIdawasneverfamousforhercourage.Yourownmannermusthaveinspiredconfidenceinher;andnowthatyouhavebeensofortunatelyTHROWN
　　TOGETHER,Itrustyoumaybebetterfriendsinthefuture."
　　MissMayhew'srisingcolordeepenedintoanintensescarlet,and,assheturnedawaytohideherconfusion,shecouldnotforbearshootingawrathfulglanceattheartist.Hehadsufficientself-controlnottochangeamuscle,ortoappearintheslightestdegreeawareoftheembarrassmentcausedbyhermother'swords,andespeciallytheuseofthephrase——growntobemosthatefulfromitsassociations——thatsovividlyrecalledtotheincensedmaidentheanomalouspositioninwhichshefoundherselfattheendofherperilousmorningride.
　　"Youladiesdifferfavorablyfromusmen,"saidVanBerg,quietly.
　　"Yourisetomeetanemergencybyaninnatequalityofyoursex,whereas,inourcase,ifournativestrengthisnotequaltotheoccasionwefallbelowitasamatterofcourse."
　　"Oh,thataccountsforIda'scomingoffwithsuchflyingcolors——sherosetomeettheemergency.Ihope,however,shewillEMBRACE
　　nomoresuchopportunitiesofshowinghercourage——why!Ida,whatISthematter?whathaveIsaid?"buttheyounglady,withfaceinflamed,vanishedinthedirectionofherroom.
　　"Well,thisISstrange,"remarkedtheladywithasharpglanceofinquiryattheartist,whostillmanagedtomaintainanexpressionoflamb-likeinnocence."Idobelievethepoorchildisill,and,nowIthinkofit,shehasnotactedlikeherselfforseveraldays;"
　　andshesoughtherdaughterwithhastysteps.
　　Buttheyoungladydidnotgotoherroom,beingwellawarethathermotherwouldsoonfollowfortheexplanationwhichshecouldnotgive.Therefore,takingasidecorridor,shejoinedsomeacquaintancesonanotherpiazza.
　　ChapterXI.A"TableauVivant."
　　"MissMayhew,willyoupleasestephere?"saidaveryfashionablydressedlady.
　　Turning,Idasawnearherthemotherofthechildthathadbeenrescuedthepreviousday.She,withherhusband,hadbeentalkingveryearnestlytoMr.Burleigh,theproprietorofthehouse,whoseemedinratheradubiousstateofmindoversomepropositionoftheirs.
　　"MissMayhew,wewantyouropinioninregardtoacertainmatter,"
　　begantheladyvolubly."OfcourseIandmyhusbandfeelverygratefultotheyoungwomanwhosavedourchildfromyourcousin'shorsesyesterday.Indeed,myhusbandfeelssodeeplyindebtedthathewishestomakesomereturnandIhavesuggestedthathepresentherwithacheckforfivehundreddollars.IlearnfromMr.Burleighthatsheisateacher,andtherefore,ofcourse,shemustbepoor.
　　Now,inmyview,ifmyhusbandorsomeothergentlemanshouldpresentthischeckintheparlor,withanappropriatelittlespeech,itwouldbeaniceacknowledgmentofheract.Don'tyouthinkso?"
　　"IdonotthinkIamqualifiedtogiveanopinion,"saidIda,"asIhavenoacquaintancewiththeladywhatever."
　　"I'msureitwillbejustthethingtodo,"saidthelady,becomingmoreinfatuatedwithherprojecteverymoment."Doyouthinkyourcousinwouldbewillingtomakethespeech?"
　　AtthissuggestionIdalaughedoutright."Theidea,"shesaid,"ofmycousinmakingaspeechofanykind,orinanycircumstances!"
　　"NowIthinkofit,"persistedthelady,"MissBurtonandMr.VanBergsitatthesametable,andheseemsbetteracquaintedwithherthananyofthegentlemen.He'stheonetomakethespeech,onlyIdonotfeelthatIknowhimwellenoughtoaskhim.Doyou,MissMayhew?"
　　"IndeedIdonot,"saidtheyounglady,decisively;"IamthelastoneinthehousetoaskanyfavorsofMr.VanBerg."
　　"Well,then,Mr.Burleighcanexplaineverythingandaskhim."
　　"Reallynow,Mrs.Chints"——forsuchwasthelady'sname——"Idon'tquitebelievethatMr.VanBergwouldapproveofgivingMissBurtonmoneyinpublic,andbeforeanythingfurtherisdoneIwouldliketoaskhisjudgement.Itallmaybeeminentlyproper,asyousay,andIwouldnotliketostandinthewayoftheyounglady'sreceivingsohandsomeapresent,andwouldnotfortheworldifI
　　thoughtitwouldbeagreeabletoher;butthereissomethingaboutherthat——"
　　"Ihaveit,"interruptedthepositive-mindedlady,unheedingandscarcelyhearingMr.Burleigh'sdubiouscircumlocution,andsheputherfingertoherforeheadforamomentinanaffectedstage-likemanner,asifherideasofthe"eternalfitnessofthings"hadbeenobtainedfromthesensationaldrama."Ihaveit:thechildhimselfshallhandherthegiftfromhisownlittlehand,andyou,Mr.Chints,cansayallthatneedbesaid.Itwillbeaprettyscene,a'tableauvivant.'Mr.Chints,comewithmebeforetheyoungwomanleavesherpresentfavorablepositionneartheparlordoor.Mr.Burleigh,yourscruplesaresentimentalandgroundless.
　　Ofcoursetheyoungwomanwillbedelightedtoreceiveinoneeveningasmuch,andperhapsmore,thanherwholeyear'ssalaryamountsto.Come,Mr.Chints,Mr.Burleigh,ifyouwish,youmaygroupsomeofyourfriendsnear;"andawaysherustled,sweepingthefloorwithhersilkentrain.
　　Mr.Chintslumberedafterherwithaperplexedandmartyr-likeexpression.HewasamightymaninWashingtonMarket,butinamatterlikethishewasashelplessasastrandedwhale.Thegiftoffivehundreddollarsdidnottroublehimintheleast;hecouldsoonmakethatup;buttakingpartina"tableauvivant"undertheauspicesofhisdramaticwifewaslikebeingimpaled.
　　"Well,"saidMr.Burleigh,shakinghishead,"Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter.Fivehundreddollarsisasnugsum,butIdoubtifthatlittlewomantakesit.I'mmoreafraidshe'llbeoffendedandhurt.Whatdoyouthink,MissMayhew?"
　　"I'venoopiniontooffer,Mr.Burleigh.Thesepeopleareallcomparativestrangerstome.Mrs.Chintsisdeterminedtohaveherownway,andnothingthatyouorIcansaywouldmakeanydifference.Myruleistoletpeoplealone,andiftheygetintoscrapesitsometimesdoesthemgood;"andshelefthimthatshemightwitnesstheChints'tableau.
　　"That'sjustthedifferencebetweenyouandMissBurton,"mutteredMr.Burleigh,noddinghisheadsignificantlyafterher."She'dhelpafellowoutofascrapeandyou'dhelphimintoone.Well,iftheoldsaying'strue,'Handsomeisthathandsomedoes,'thelittleschool-teacherwouldbethegirlformewereIlookingformymate."
　　Onherwaytotheentranceofthemainparlor,IdastoppedamomentatanopenwindownearthecornerwhereStantonandVanBergweresmoking.
　　"CousinIk,"shesaid,'sottovoce.'
　　Heroseandjoinedher.
　　"Ifyouwishtoseearichscene,hoverneartheentranceofthemainparlor."
　　"Whatdoyoumean?"
　　"I'velearnedthatMr.andMrs.Chints,andpossiblyyourfavoritenewperformer,MissBurton,aregoingtoactalittlecomedytogether:comeandsee;"andshevanished.