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But she had entangled herself in the snarl of her own previous
words and manner。 She had charged her mother and cousin to permit
no overtures of peace； and once or twice； when mine host； in his
good…natured； off…hand manner； had sought to introduce them； she
had been so blind and deaf to his purpose as to appear positively
rude。 Her repugnance to the artist had become a generally recognized
fact； and she had built up such a barrier that she could not break
it down without asking for more help than was agreeable to her
pride。 But she chafed inwardly at her false position； and at the
increasing popularity of the object of her spite。
Even her mother at last formed his acquaintance； and； as the artist
listened to the garrulous lady for half an hour with scarcely an
interruption； she pronounced him one of the most entertaining of
men。
As Mrs。 Mayhew was chanting his praises that evening； Ida broke
out petulantly：
〃Was there ever such a gad…fly as this artist！ He pesters me from
morning till night。〃
〃Pesters you！ I never saw a lady so severely let alone as you are
by him。 Whatever is the cause of your spite it seems to harm only
yourself； and I should judge from your remark that it disturbs you
much more than you would have it appearcertainly far more than
it does him。〃
There was no soothing balm in these words； as may well be supposed；
and yet the impression grew upon Ida that the artist would be
friendly if he could； and the belief strengthened with him also
that she took far too much pains to manifest what she would have
others think to be mere indifference and dislike； and he intercepted
besides； with increasing frequency； furtive glances towards himself。
So much ice had accumulated between them； however that neither knew
how it was to be broken。
One day； about the middle of the week； Van Berg found a stranger
seated opposite to him at the dinner table。 His first impression
was； that the lady was not very young and that her features were
quite plain； but before the meal was over he concluded that her
face was decidedly interesting； and that the suggestion of age had
been made by maturity of character and the impress which some real
and deep experience gives to the countenance； rather than by the
trace of years。
While yet a stranger； the expression of her blue eyes； as she
glanced around； was so kindly that she at once won the good…will
of all who encountered them。 This genial； friendly light in her
eyes seemed a marked characteristic。 It was so different from the
obtrusive； forward manner with which some seek to make acquaintances；
that it would not have suggested a departure from modest reserve；
even to the most cynical。 It rather indicated a heart aglow with
gentle feeling and genial good…will； like a maple…wood fire on a
hospitality hearth； that warms all who come within the sphere of
its influence。
Van Berg was naturally reserved； and slow to make new acquaintances。
But before he had stolen many glances of the face opposite him he
began to wish for the privilege of speaking to hera wish that
was increased by the fact that they were alone at the table； the
other guests who usually occupied the chairs not having returned
from their morning drive。 she did not look at him in particular；
nor appear to be in the least struck by his 〃distingue〃 air； as
Ida had been before she was blinded by prejudice； but she looked
out upon the world at large with such a friendly aspect that he
was sure she had something pleasant to say。 He was therefore well
pleased when at last the landlord bustled up in his brusque way
and said：
〃Mr。 Van Berg； permit me to make you acquainted with Miss Burton。
She has had the faith to put herself under my charge for a few
weeks； and I shall reward her by sharing the responsibility with
you； who seem blessed with the benevolent desire of giving us all
a good time；〃 and then he bustled off to look after some other matter
which required his attention during the critical hour of dinner。
Miss Burton acknowledged the young man's bow without a trace of
affectation or reserve。
〃I shall try not to prove a burden to either of you；〃 she said；
with a smile。
〃I have already discovered that you will not be；〃 said Van Berg；
〃and was wishing for an introduction。〃
〃I hope your wishes may always find so ready a fulfillment。〃
〃That's a kindly wish； Miss Burton； but a vain one。〃
〃Were we misanthropical people； Mr。 Van Berg； we might sigh； 'and
such are human wishes generally。'〃
〃One is often tempted to do that anyway； even when not especially
prone to look askance at fortune。〃
〃There is an easy way of escaping that temptation。〃
〃How？〃
〃Do not form many wishes。〃
〃Have you very few wishes？〃
With a slight and piquant motion of her head she replied； 〃I was
only giving a bit of trite advice。 It's asking a great deal to
require that one should both preach and practice。〃
〃I think you are possessed by one wish which swallows up most
others；〃 said Van Berg； a little abruptly。
A visible pallor overspread her face； and she drew back perceptibly
as one might shrink from a blow。
〃You know how strong first impressions are；〃 resumed Van Berg
hastily； 〃and the thought has passed through my mind that you might
be so preoccupied in wishing good things for others as to quite
forget yourself。〃
〃If one could be completely occupied in that way；〃 she said； with
a faint smile which suggested rather than revealed a vista of her
past experience； 〃one might have little occasion to wish for anything
for self。 But； Mr。 Van Berg； only we poor unreasoning women put
much faith in first impressions； and you know how often they mislead
even us； who are supposed to have safe instincts。〃
〃Do they often mislead you？〃
〃Indeed； sir；〃 she replied； with a merry twinkle in her eye； 〃I
think you must have learned the questions in the catechism； if not
the answers。〃
Van Berg bit his lip。 Here was a suggestion of a thorn in the
sweetbrier he believed he had discovered。
〃Now see how far I am astray；〃 she resumed with a frankness which
had in it no trace of familiarity。 〃It is my impression you are
a lawyer。〃
At this Van Berg laughed outright and said： 〃You are indeed
mistaken。 I have no connection with the influential class whose
business it is to make and evade the laws。 I am only one among
the humble masses who aim to obey them。 But perhaps you think your
intuition goes deeper than surface facts and that I OUGHT to have
been a cross…questioner。〃
〃I am quite sure my intuition is correct in thinking that you would
not be very cross about it。〃
〃Perhaps not； if disarmed by so smiling a face as yours。〃
The others； who had been delayed by a longer ride than usual； now
entered and took the vacant chairs around the table。 Van Berg felt
sufficiently acquainted with them to introduce Miss Burton； for he
was curious to observe whether she would make the same impression
on them as he had been conscious of himself。
They bowed with the quiet； well…bred manner of society people； but
were at first inclined to pay little heed to the plainly dressed
and rather plain appearing young stranger。 As one and another；
however； glanced towards her； something about her seemed to linger
in their memories and cause them to look again。 The lady next to
her offered a commonplace remark； chiefly out of politeness； and
received so pleasant a reply in return that she turned her thoughts
as well as her eyes to see who it really was that had made it。 Then
another spoke； and the response led her to speak again and again；
and soon the entire party were describing their drive and living
over its pleasantest features； and before the meal ended they were
all gathered； metaphorically； around the mystical； maple…wood fire
that burned on the hearth of a nature that seemed so hospitable
and kindly as to have no other mission than to cheer and entertain。
〃Who is that little brown thrush of a woman that you were so taken
with at dinner？〃 asked Stanton； as they were enjoying a quiet smoke
in their favorite corner of the piazza。
〃Good for you； Stanton。 I never knew you to be so appreciative
before。 Your term quite accurately describes her。 She is both shy
and reserved； but not diffident or awkward in the least。 Indeed
her manner might strike some as being peculiarly frank。 But there
is something back of it all； for young as she undoubtedly is； her
face suggests to me some deep and unusual experience。〃
〃Jupiter Ammon！ What an abyss of mystery； surmise； and metaphysics
you fell into while I was eating my dinner！ I used the phrase
'brown thrush；' only in reference to her dress and general homeliness。〃
〃Oh； I beg your pardon！ I take all back about your nice appreciation
of character。 I now grasp the whole tru