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reads backwards。 I warn you Mr。 Stanton； not to express any
indebtedness to me； or I shall straightway exhibit one of the Yankee
traits which you undoubtedly detest； and attempt a bargain。〃
〃Although assured that I shall get the worst of this bargain； I
shall nevertheless heartily thank you that you were not only 'at
hand；' but that you acted so promptly and courageously that the
child was saved。 What pleasure could I have taken with my horses
if their feet had trampled that little boy？〃
〃I see my opportunity；〃 replied Miss Burton； with a decisive little
nod。 〃Your afternoon drives might have been marred by unpleasant
thoughts as one's sleep is sometimes disturbed by bad dreams。 You
have no idea what a delight it is to the average New England mind；
Mr。 Stanton； to secure the vantage ground in a bargain。 In view of
your own voluntary admissions； you can scarcely do otherwise than
let me have my own way。〃
With the exception of the two or three who had formed Miss Burton's
acquaintance at dinner； those who at first had gathered around her
had by this time dwindled away。 Ida Mayhew sat near in an open
window of the parlor； ostensibly reading a novel； but in reality
observant of all that occurred。 Both she and Van Berg had been
amused by the fact that Stanton； usually so languid and nonchalant；
had been for once thoroughly aroused。 Between anger at his coachmen；
alarm for the child； and interest in its preserver； he was quite
shaken out of his wonted equanimity； which was composed equally
of indolent good…nature； self…complacency； and a disposition to
satirize the busy； earnest world around him。 It was apparent that
he was somewhat nonplussed by Miss Burton's manner and words； and
those who knew him well enjoyed his perplexity； although at a loss
themselves to imagine what object Miss Burton could have in view。
Half unconsciously Van Berg turned his smiling； interested face
towards Ida Mayhew； who was regarding her cousin with a similar
expression； but the moment she caught the artist's eyes she coldly
dropped her own to her book again。
〃Well； Miss Burton；〃 said Stanton； with a slightly embarrassed
laugh； 〃I admit that I am cornered； so you can make your own terms。〃
〃They shall be grievous； I assure you。 Do you see that rueful face
in your carriage yonder？〃
〃That of my coachman？ Bad luck to his ill…omened visage！ Yes。〃
〃No need of wishing bad luck to any poor creatureit will come only
too soon without。 In view of the indebtednesswhich you have so
gracefully acknowledgedto one of that trading and thrifty race
that never loses an opportunity to turn； if not a penny more or
less honest； why； something else； to their advantage； I stipulate
that you give your dependent there another chance。 I heard you
dismiss him from your service a short time since； and he evidently
does not wish to go。 His disconsolate face troubles me； so please
banish his dismal looks； and he'll be more careful hereafter。〃
〃And have you had time to see and think about him？〃 said Stanton；
with a little surprise in his tone。 〃You shall banish his dismal
looks yourself。 Barney；〃 he called； 〃drive close to the piazza
here。 This lady has probably saved you from arrest； and she now
intercedes in your behalf。 In compliance with her request； I will
keep you in my service； but I wish you to thank her and not me。〃
Barney took off his hat and ejaculated： 〃May yees shadder niver
grow less； me leddy； an' may the Powers grant that yees bright
eyes may see no trouble o' their own； bain they're so quick to see
a poor man's bad luck。〃
The smiling manner with which she acknowledged his good wishes
seemed to warm the man all over； and he looked as if transformed
as he drove back to his stand。
〃How is this； Miss Burton？〃 said Stanton。 〃I feel as if I had had
the best of this bargain。〃
〃That impression is wholly due to my Yankee shrewdness； and now；
having gained my point；〃 she added； with a graceful inclination；
〃I will not keep you from your drive any longer。〃
〃My conscience will not permit me to complete this transaction
until I have assured you that my horses and carriage are at your
service at any time。〃
〃Be careful； I may take advantage of you again。〃
〃Please do so；〃 replied Stanton； lifting his hat； and then he went
to his carriage more surprised at himself than at anything else
that had occurred。 Miss Burton returned to the doorway and quietly
resumed the conversation that had been interrupted by the peril of
the child。
Van Berg was about to follow his friend； but an acquaintance coming
up the steps； detained him a few moments。
〃Oh； Harold； come！〃 cried Stanton； impatiently。
Miss Burton started violently。 The sentence upon her lips was never
finished； and her face became ashen in color。 She looked at Van
Berg with a strange expression as he； unconscious of her agitation；
answered：
〃Yes； I'm coming；〃 and moved away。
〃My dear Miss Burton；〃 said the lady with whom she was speaking；
〃you are ill； you look ready to faint。 This excitement has been
a greater strain upon you than you have realized。〃
〃Perhaps I had better go to my room；〃 faltered the young lady； and
she fled with a precipitancy that her companion could not understand。
Ida Mayhew also witnessed this unexpected bit of mystery； and it
puzzled her not a little。 She had left the parlor and was standing
in the hall…way when her cousin's voice summoned his friend after
his familiar fashion。 Why should this stranger look at Mr。 Van
Berg as if the sound of his Christian name were a mortal wound？ Or
was that a mere coincidenceand in reaction from excitement and
unwonted effort had she suddenly taken ill？ For a wonder； she
thought more about Miss Burton than herself that afternoon。 She
had decided from the first that she did not like this new…comer。
That point had been settled by the fact that the artist's first
impressions concerning her had evidently been favorable； and she
remembered that his earliest glances and words in regard to herself
had been anything but complimentary。
Chapter IX。 Unexpectedly Thrown Together。
〃I suppose you are satisfied by this time； Stanton；〃 began Van
Berg； as they drove away； 〃that I was very safe in offering you
that picture on the conditions named； and that you have not the
ghost of a chance of obtaining it。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 replied Stanton。 〃The picture is practically won already。
I admit that Miss Burton is an exception to all her species； and；
now that I have seen her； I prove how little I am under the influence
of prejudice by acknowledging the fact； and by giving her credit
for her courage and agreeable manners。 But how absurd to imagine
that this plain little stranger can ever be to me more than she is
to…daya summer acquaintance at a summer resort！ She will soon
drop from our memories and leave no more trace than these rustling
leaves overhead after they have fulfilled their brief purpose。〃
〃Here's a symptom already；〃 cried Van Berg。 〃My matter…of…fact
friend is already in the subtle current； and unconsciously drops
into sentiment； and expresses himself in poetic trope。 I foresee
that the 'rustling leaves' will end in a rustling wedding…robe and
gorgeous apparel； for when you cage the 'brown thrush' you will
have the bad taste to insist on a change of plumage。〃
〃I begin to understand you at last；〃 retorted Stanton。 〃You have
been smitten yourself； and this is your strategy to conceal the fact。
The trouble is that you have overdone the matter； and revealed your
transfixed heart long before I should have suspected the wound。
Had you not better commence on the picture soon； for this matter
may disable you for a season？〃
〃I won't swear that I will not become your rival； for our little
heroine interests me hugely。 There is something back of her smiling
face。 Her manner seems like crystal in its frankness； and yet I
think few in the house will ever become better acquainted with her
than they are to…day。〃
〃I shall take more than a languid interest in watching you progress
with this smiling sphinx；〃 said Stanton； 〃and in the mean time
shall gloat over my picture。〃
〃Well； Barney；〃 said Van Berg； as they drove up to the stables on
their return； 〃you did have a streak of good luck this afternoon。
I hope you are grateful to the lady who secured it for you。〃
〃Faix； sur； an' I niver seed the likes o' her afore。 The smilin'
look she gave me jist warmed the very core o' me heart； and her swate
eyes seemed to say； 'Nary a bit o' ill…luck would ye have again；
Barney； had I me way。' What's more； she's a goin' to intercade
for the nurse…maid。 They nadn't tell me that all the heretics will
stay in purgatory。〃
〃Look here； Stanton； were I a theologian I'd make a note of that。
Miss Burton has discovered a logi