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〃Look here； Stanton； were I a theologian I'd make a note of that。
Miss Burton has discovered a logic that routs superstition。〃
Van Berg quite longed for the supper hour； that he might resume
conversation with the interesting stranger； and he was promptly
in his place at the table。 But she did not appear。 The lady with
whom she had been conversing； remarked：
〃She was taken suddenly ill； just as you and your friend drove
away this afternoon。 Learning from Mr。 Burleigh that she is here
alone and without friends； I knocked at her door before I came
down； and asked if I could do anything for her。 She said that she
would be better in the morning； and that all she needed was perfect
quiet。 It's strange how suddenly she was taken ill！ She seemed
perfectly well one moment； and then she fled to her room as if the
ghost were in pursuit。 I suppose it was reaction from excitement；
or she may have some form of heart disease。〃
〃Are heart difficulties so serious as that with ladies？〃 asked Van
Berg with a smile。
〃I never had acute symptoms of any kind；〃 the lady replied。 〃Indeed
I think I am a trifle cold and matter…of…fact in my disposition；
but I began to thaw so perceptibly under Miss Burton's influence
that I became quite interested in her。 I think I deserve some credit
for saving the child also； for it was I who kept her talking in the
doorway。 Most people are a weariness to me； and I was surprised
to find so marked an exception。〃
It must not be supposed that Van Berg's interest in the new arrival
had led him to forget the motive which had brought him to the Lake
House。 This would not be in accordance with his character； and
as far as possible； he had been closely observant of Miss Mayhew
during the scenes of the afternoon。 He had been rewarded by
discovering； for the first time； that she was at least capable of
a good and generous impulse； for her face had been expressive of
genuine admiration and gladness when she saw Miss Burton with the
rescued child in her arms after the carriage swept by。 In this
expression he obtained a clearer hint than he had ever before
received of the beauty that might be her constant possession could
the mean and marring traits of her character be exchanged for
qualities in harmony with her perfect features。 But while this
gleam； this flash of ideal beauty increased his desire for success
in his experiment； the young lady's bearing towards him was as
discouraging as ever。 If he had not been at Miss Burton's side；
he believed that she would have come forward and offered her
congratulations as had several other ladies。 It would seem that
her vanity had been so severely wounded she would never forgive
him； and he determined he would no longer make a martyr of himself
by playing the agreeable to all in the hotel in the hope that；
by pouring so much oil on the waters； even her asperity might be
removed。 He half believed that she recognized his effort to form
her acquaintance； and found a malicious pleasure in thwarting him。
Therefore； he decided to take his sketch…book and go off upon
the hills in the morning； thus enjoying a little respite from his
apparently philanthropic labors。
Before he left the breakfast table the following day； Miss Burton
appeared。 He thought he detected an ominous redness about her
eyes； as well as the pallor which would be the natural result of
illness； but she seemed to have recovered her spirits； and the rather
quiet and self…absorbed little group that had hitherto seriously
devoted themselves to steak and coffee； speedily brightened up
under her pleasantries。 Indeed she kept them lingering so long
that the Mayhews and Stanton passed out before them； the latter
casting a wistful glance at the cheerful party； for he had been
having a stupid time。
When； much later than he expected； he started on his brief sketching
excursion he found that his mind was kindled and aglow with pleasant
thoughts； and that the summer landscape had been made sunnier by
the sunny face he had just left。
But as he plodded his way back late in the afternoon； the sunbeams；
no longer genial； became oppressive； and he was glad to hail one
of the hotel stages that was returning from a neighboring village。
The vehicle already contained two adult passengers。 One was
a stout； red…faced woman with a baby and an indefinite number of
parcels； and the other wasIda Mayhew； who was returning from a
brief shopping excursion。
As the latter saw Van Berg enter she colored； bit her lip； half
frowned； and looked steadfastly away from him。 Thus the stage
lumbered on with its oddly assorted inmates； that； although belonging
to the same human family； seemed to have as little in common as if
each had come from a different planet。 That Miss Mayhew looked so
resolutely away from him was rather to Van Berg's advantage； for
it gave him a chance to compare her exquisite profile with the
expanse； slightly diversified； of the broad red face opposite。
The stout woman held her baby as if it were a bundle； and stared
straight before her。 As far as Van Berg could observe； not a trace
of an idea or a change of expression flitted across the wide area
of her sultry visage； and he found himself speculating as to whether
the minds of these two women differed as greatly as their outward
appearance。 Indeed he questioned whether one had any more mind
than the other； and was inclined to think that despite their widely
separated spheres of life they were equally dwarfed。
While he was thus amusing himself with the contrasts； physical
and metaphysical； which the two passengers opposite him presented；
the stout woman suddenly looked out of the window at her side； and
then； in a tone that would startle the quietest nerves； shouted to
the driver：
〃Hold on！〃
Miss Mayhew half rose from her seat and looked around with something
like dismay； but as she only encountered Van Berg's slightly humorous
expression； she colored more deeply than before； and recalled her
eyes to the farther angle of the stage with a fixedness and rigidity
as great as if it had contained the head of Medusa。
Meantime the driver drew up to a small cottage by the road…side；
and scrambled down from his seat that he might assist the stout
woman with her accumulation of bundles。 She handed him out the
baby； preferring to look after the more precious parcels herself。
Van Berg politely held the door open for her； but just as she was
squeezing through the stage entrance with her arms full and had her
foot on the last step； her cottage door flew open with something
to the effect of an explosion； and out burst three or four children
with a perfect din of cries and shouts。 Two vociferous dogs joined
in the sudden uproar； the hitherto drowsy horses started as if a
bomb…shell had dropped under their noses； and speedily broke into
a mad gallop； leaving the stout woman prostrate upon her bundles
in the road； and the driver helplessly holding her baby。
Miss Mayhew's cold rigidity vanished at once。 Indeed dignity was
impossible in the swaying； bounding vehicle。 There was a momentary
effort to ignore her companion； and then terror overcame all
scruples。 Turning her white face towards him； she exclaimed：
〃Are we not in great danger？〃
〃I admit I would rather be in my chair on Mr。 Burleigh's piazza。
With your permission； I will come to your end of the stage and
speak to the horses through the open window。〃
〃Oh； comedo anything under heaven to stop these horrid beasts。〃
Van Berg edged his way up a little past Miss Mayhew； and began
speaking to the frightened horses in firm； quiet tones。 At first
they paid no heed to him； and as the stage made a sudden and
desperate lurch； the young lady commenced to scream。
〃If you do that you will insure the breaking of both our necks；〃
said Van Berg； sharply。 〃If you will keep quiet I think I can
stop them。 See； we have quite a stretch of level road beyond us；
before we come to a hill。 Give me a chance to quiet them。〃
The terror…stricken girl kept still for a moment； and then started
up； saying
〃I shall spring out。〃
〃No； Miss Mayhew； you must not do that；〃 said Van Berg； decidedly。
〃You must be greatly injured； and you would with almost certainty
be disfigured for life if you sprang out upon the stony road。 You
could not help falling on your face。〃
〃Oh； horrible！〃 she exclaimed。
At the next heavy lurch of the stage she half…rose again to carry
out her rash purpose； but the artist seized her hand and held her
in her place； at the same time speaking kindly and firmly to the
horses。 They now began to heed his voice； and to recover from
their panic。
〃See； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； 〃you have only to control yourself a
few moments longer； and our danger is over。〃
〃Oh； do stop them； quick；〃 she gasped； clinging to his hand as i