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required to enable each one to do something to brighten every cloudy
day。
After Miss Burton's departure； the young people had the dance
to themselves； their elders resuming the avocations and soberer
pleasures from which they had been swept by an impulse evoked from
their half…forgotten youth。
When Van Berg joined Miss Mayhew again； he found her mother and
Stanton trying to explain how it all came about。
〃There is no use of multiplying words；〃 concluded Stanton； 〃Miss
Burton is gifted with a mind； and she uses it for the benefit of
others instead of tasking it solely on her own account； which is
the general rule。〃
At this moment a letter was handed to Mrs。 Mayhew； which she read
with a slight frown and passed to her daughter。 It was from Mr。
Mayhew； and contained but a brief sentence to the effect that his
absence would probably be a relief； and therefore he would not
spend the coming Sabbath with them。
Ida did not show the superficial vexation that her mother manifested；
and which was more assumed than real。 Her cheek paled a little；
and she instinctively glanced at Van Berg as if her sudden sense
of guilt were apparent to his keen eyes。 He was looking at he
searchingly； and she turned away with a quick flush； nor did she give
him a chance to speak with her again that day； but his words〃what
a millstone about a man's neck a woman can be！〃haunted her
continually。 Still oftener rose before her Miss Burton's flushed
and kindled face； and the artist's emphatic assertion of the power
of mind and character to add to native beauty。 Had she not been a
millstone about her father's neck？ Was there not a fatal flaw in
the beauty of which she was so proud； that spoiled it for eyes that
were critical and unblinded？
Oppressed by these thoughts and being in no mood for her cousin's
banter； or the artist's society which always seemed to render her
more uncomfortable； she was glad to escape to the solitude of her
own room。
Another 〃revelation〃 was slowly dawning upon her mind； namelyjust
what she； Ida Mayhew； was。 A woman is an 〃inspiration〃 or a
〃millstone according to what she is；〃 this stranger； this disturber
of her peace； from whom it seemed she could not escape； had not only
asserted but proved by showing her a lady she would have passed as
plain and insignificant； but who nevertheless possessed some sweet
potency that won and cheered all hearts； and who； she was compelled
to admit； was positively beautiful as she sat at the piano； radiant
with her purpose to cause gladness in others。 Miss Burton had
created sunshine enough to enliven the dismal day； and had quickened a
hundred pulses with pleasure。 She had been a burden even to herself。
Everything； from the artist's first disturbing frown to the present
hour； had been preparing the way for the sharp and painful contrast
that circumstances had forced upon her attention to…day。
But the thought that troubled her most； was that he saw this contrast
more plainly than it was possible for her to see it。
Vaguely； and yet with some approach to the truth； her intuition
began to reveal to her the attitude of his mind towards her。 She
believed that he was attracted； but also saw that he was not blinded
by her beauty。 She was already beginning to revise her first impression
that he was shutting his eyes to every other consideration； as she
had seen so many do in their brief infatuation。 His manner was not
that of one who is taking counsel of passion only。 Those ominous
words〃according to what she is〃indicated that he was looking
into her mind； her character。 With a sense of dismay； she was
awakening to a knowledge of the dwarfed ugliness her beauty but
partially concealed； and she felt that he； from the first； had been
discovering those defects of which she had been scarcely conscious
herself。 She began to fear that her cousin's words would prove true；
and that he would not fall helplessly in love with her。 Therefore
the opportunity to retaliate and to punish him for all the
mortifications that he had occasioned her； would never come。 On
the contrary； he might inflict upon her； any day； the crowning
humiliation of declaring； be indifference of manner； that he had
found her out so thoroughly； as to entertain for her only feelings
of disgust and repugnance。
〃Well；〃 she concluded； recklessly； 〃why should I care what
he thinks？ I have lived thus far without his good opinion； and I
can live a little longer； I imagine。 I have had a good time for
eighteen years after my own fashion； and I will just ignore him
and have a good time still。 Indeed I'll shock him to…night and
to…morrow so thoroughly； that he won't come near me again； for
I'm sick of his superior airs。 I'm sick of his learned talk about
books； pictures； and politics； as if a young society girl were
expected to know about these things； and as for his small talk； it
reminded me of an elephant trying to dance a jig；〃 and she sprang
up with a snatch of song from the 〃opera bouffe；〃 and began her
toilet for dinner。
In a few moments； however； she dropped her hairbrush absently； and
forgot to look at her fair face in the mirror。
〃I wonder；〃 she mused； 〃if he and Miss Burton ever met before they
came here？ It has been a strange coincidence that she should have
felt such a sudden indisposition in each instance at the same moment
that his name was casually mentioned。 True； on both occasions；
events occurred that might account for the sudden giving way of her
nerves； but I cannot help thinking that she has some association
with him that the rest of us know nothing about。 She certainly
seems more interested in him than in any one else in the house； for
I have several times noticed peculiar and furtive glances towards
him； besides； they are evidently growing to be very good friends。 As
for Ik； he seems quite inclined to enter upon a serious flirtation
with her。 But what do I care for either of them！ Mr。 Sibley
will be here to…night； and I'll enable this artist to bring his
investigations to a close at once。 I am what I am； and that's the
end of it； and I won't mope and have a stupid time for anybody； and
certainly not for him。 Let him marry the school…ma'am。 She can
talk books； art； and all the 'isms' going； to his heart's content。
I； as well as Miss Burton； have my opinion of flirting； and know
from some little experience that it is jolly good fun。
〃He can go his way； I'll go mine；
E'en though he frowns； the sun will shine。〃
And with a careless gesture she affected to dismiss him from her
thoughts。
To judge from her manner that evening and the following day；
one might suppose that she succeeded very fully。 Sibley； with an
unwonted venturesomeness； did risk his one immaculate possession；
his clothes； and came from the city through the storm。 Ida and
himself； between them； brought about the nearest approach to a
〃ball〃 possible in the circumstances。
The dancing； under their auspices； differed from that of the morning；
not merely in name and form； but in its subtle character。 In the
one instance it had been an innocent pastime； occasioned by childlike
and joyous impulses。 The people's manner might have reminded one
of a bit of darkened landscape that had been rapidly filled with
light； and almost ecstatic life by the advent of a May morning。
In the evening； however； everything was artificial and in keeping
with the gaslight。 The ladies were conscious of their toilets；
conscious of themselves； looking for admiration rather than hearty
enjoyment。 Even the older boys and girls； who had been joyous
children in the morning； were now small parodies of fashionable men
and women！ A band of hired performers twanged out the hackneyed
dancing music then in vogue； going over their small 〃repertoire〃
with wearisome repetition。 People danced at first because it was
the thing to do； and not from any inspiration from the melody。 As
the evening wore on； Sibley； who had been drinking quite freely；
tried to introduce； as far as possible； the excitement of a revel；
calling chiefly for swift waltzes and gallops through which he and
Ida whirled in a way that made people's heads dizzy。
Miss Burton； after going through a quadrille with Stanton early
in the evening； had declined to dance any more。 She did not feel
very well； she explained to Van Berg as he sought her for the
next form； but he imagined that she early foresaw that Sibley and
others； and among them even Stanton； were inclined to give the
evening a character that was not to her taste。
As Ida had made herself somewhat prominent in inaugurating the
〃ball；〃 as Sibley took pains to term it on all occasions； Van Berg；
as a part of his tactics to win the beauty's good…will； tried at
first to make the affair successful。 He danced with others； and
twice sought her hand； but in each case she r