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first to make the affair successful。 He danced with others； and
twice sought her hand； but in each case she rather indifferently
told him that she was engaged。 He would not have sought her as a
partner after his first rebuff had he not imagined； from occasional
and furtive glances； that she was not as indifferent as she seemed。
Early in the evening it occurred to him that her slightly reckless
manner was assumed； but he saw that she was abandoning herself to
the growing excitement of the dance； as Sibley； her most frequent
partner； and others； were to the stronger excitement of liquor。
Observant mothers called away their daughters。 Ladies； in whom the
instincts of true refined womanhood were in the ascendancy； looked
significantly at each other； and declined further invitations。
Van Berg had also withdrawn； but with his disposition to watch
manifestations of character in general； and of one present in
particular； he still stood at a parlor window looking on。 The band
had just struck up a livelier waltz than usual； and Ida and Sibley
were whirling through the wide apartment as if treading on air；
but when； a few moments later； they circled near where he stood；
he saw upon the young man's face an expression of earthiness and
grossness that was anything but ethereal。 Indeed so unmistakably
wanton was the look which Sibley bent upon his companion； whose
heaving bosom he clasped against his won； that the artist frowned
darkly at him； and felt his hand tingling to strike the fellow a
blow。
She； looking up； caught his frown； and in her egotism and excitement；
thought it meant only jealousy of the man she had so favored during
the evening。
〃Perhaps he is more deeply smitten than I imagined； and I can punish
him yet；〃 was the hope that entered her mind； and this prospect
added to the elation and excitement which had mastered her。
〃Can she know how that scoundrel is looking at her？ If I believed
it I'd leave her marvellous features to their fate；〃 was the thought
that passed through his mind。
In his perturbation he walked down the long piazza。 Happening to
glance into one of the small private parlors； he witnessed a scene
that made a very sharp contrast with the one he had just left。
An old white…haired； white…bearded man； a well…known guest of the
house； reclined in an easy…chair with an expression of real enjoyment
on his face。 His aged wife sat near； knitting away as tranquilly
as if at home； while under the gas…jet was Miss Burton； reading a
newspaper； with two or three others upon her lap。 She had evidently
found the old gentleman trying to glean； with his feeble sight；
the evening journals that had been brought from the city； and
was lending him her young eyes and mellow voice for an hour。 The
picture struck him so pleasantly that he took out his notebook and
indicated the fortunate grouping within； for a future sketch。
〃It would make some difference in a man's future；〃 he muttered；
〃whether this maiden or the one in yonder roue's embrace were
installed as the mistress of his home。〃
Going back into the main hallway he met Stanton coming down the
stairs with his face unusually flushed。
〃Oh； Van；〃 he cried； 〃where have you been keeping yourself？ Come
with me and have some of the best brandy you ever tasted。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃In Sibley's room。 He brought up a couple of bottles of the prime
old article； and has invited all his friends to make free with it。〃
〃I'm not one of his friends。〃
〃Oh well； you're my friend！ What's the odds？ A swig of such brandy
will do you good； so come along。〃
〃Come out on the piazza； Stanton。 I want to show you something。〃
〃Can't you wait a few moments？ I want to have a whirl in this
jolly waltz before it's over。〃
〃No； then it will be too late。 I won't keep you long；〃 and Stanton
reluctantly followed him。
Van Berg understood his friend sufficiently well to know that
any ordinary remonstrance would have no influence in his present
condition； and so sought to use a little strategy。 Taking him to
the window of the small private parlor； he showed and explained to
him the pretty and quiet scene within。
Stanton's manner changed instantly； and he seemed in no haste to
return to the waltz。
〃I thought it would strike you as a pretty picture； as it did me；〃
remarked Van Berg； quietly； 〃and I also thought that after seeing
it you would not want any more of Sibley's brandy。 It would choke
me。〃
〃You are right； Van。 I fear I've taken too much of it already。
I'm glad you showed me this quiet pictureit makes me wish I were
a better man。〃
〃I like that； Ik； I always knew you had plenty of good metal in you。
Now I don't want to be officious； but I would not let a cousin of
mine dance with Sibley any longer if I could prevent it without
attracting attention。 However generous he may have been with his
brandy； he has had more than his share himself。〃
〃Thank you； Van； I understand you。 By Jove； I'll try the same
tactics with her that you have with me。 I'll bring her here and
show her a scene that has been to me like a quieting and restraining
hand。〃
A few moments later the waltz ceased； and Miss Mayhew came out on
the cool； dusky piazza； leaning on Sibley's arm。 Stanton joined
her and said：
〃Ida； come with me； I wish to speak with you a moment。 Mr。 Sibley；
please excuse us。〃
〃Indeed； Mr。 Stanton；〃 said Sibley in tones of maudlin sentiment；
〃you are cruel to deprive me of your cousin's society even for a
moment。 I'll forgive you this once； but never again。〃 And then
he availed himself of the opportunity to pay another visit to his
brandy。
〃Ida；〃 said Stanton； 〃I want to show you a little picture that has
done me good。〃
But the young lady was in no mood for pictures or moralizing。 Her
blood was coursing feverishly through her veins； her spirit had
been made reckless by the wilful violence that she was doing her
conscience； and also by her deep and growing dissatisfaction with
herself； that was like an irritating wound。 She was therefore
prepared to resent any interruption to the whirl of excitement；
which gave her a kind of pleasure in the place of the happiness
that was impossible to one in her condition。
〃You call that a pretty picture！〃 she said disdainfully； 〃Miss
Burton reading a newspaper to two stupid old people who ought to be
abed！ A more humdrum scene I never saw。 Truly； both your breath
and your words show that you have been drinking too much。 But
you need not expect me to share in your tipsy sentiment over Miss
Burton。 Did Mr。 Van Berg ask you to show me this matter…of…fact
group which； in his artistic jargon； you call a picture？〃
〃If he had； he showed you a greater kindness than you deserved。〃
〃Yes； and a greater one than I asked or wished from him。〃
〃Then you are going back to dance with Sibley？〃
〃Yes； I am。〃
〃The prospects are； that you and Mrs。 Chints and a couple of
half…tipsy men will soon have it all to yourselves。 I suppose the
old adage about 'birds of a feather' swill still hold good。 I was
in hopes； however； that even if you had no appreciation of what
was beautiful； refined； and unselfish in another woman's action；
you still had some self…respect； or at least some fear of ridicule；
left。 Since you won't listen to me； I shall warn your mother。
If Sibley and two or three others drink much more； Burleigh will
interfere for the credit of his house。〃
〃You have been drinking as well as Mr。 Sibley。〃
〃Well； thanks to Van Berg； I stopped before I lost my head。〃
〃From your maudlin sentiment over Miss Burton； I think you have
lost your head and heart both。〃
〃Go； dance with Sibley； then；〃 he said in sudden irritation； 〃dance
with him till you and Mrs。 Chints between you have to hold him on
his feet。 Dance with him till Burleigh sends a couple of colored
waiters to take him from your embrace and carry him off to bed。〃
She made a gesture of rage and disgust； and went straight to her
room。
Sibley； in the mean time； paid a lengthened visit to his brandy；
and having already passed the point of discretion； drank recklessly。
When he descended the stairs again to look for his partner； his
step was uncertain and his utterance thick。
Stanton gave Mr。 Burleigh a hint that the young man needed looking
after； and the adroit host； skilled in managing all kinds of people
and in every condition； induced him to return to his room； under
the pretence of wishing to taste his fine old brandy； and then kept
him there until the lethargic stage set in as the result of his
excess。 And so an affair； which might have created much scandal；
was smuggled out of sight and knowledge as far as possible。 Mrs。
Mayhew had been so occupied with whist that she had not observed
that anything was amiss； and merely remarked that 〃Mr。 Si