按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The German's 〃hist〃 had been so fierce as to be almost like a rap
from a policeman's club； and there was an enforced and temporary
suspension of the inane chatter。 The attendant youth tried
to assume the incensed and threatening look with which an ancient
gallant would have laid his hand on the hilt of his sword。 But
some animals and men only become absurd when they try to appear
formidable。 It was ludicrous to see him weakly frowning at the
sturdy Teuton who had already forgotten his existence as completely
as he might that of a buzzing mosquito he had exterminated with a
slap。
They young girl's face grew even less satisfactory as it became
more quiet。 A muddy pool； rippled by a breeze； will sparkle quite
brilliantly while in motion； but when quiet it is seen the more
plainly to be only a shallow pool。 At first the beautiful features
expressed only petty resentment at the public rebuke。 As this
faintly lurid light faded out and left the countenance in its normal
state it became more heavy and earthy in its expression than Van
Berg would have deemed possible； and it ever remained a mystery to
him how features so delicate； beautiful； and essentially feminine
could combine to show so clearly that the indwelling nature
was largely alloyed with clay。 there was not that dewy freshness
in the fair young face which one might expect to see in the early
morning of existence。 The Lord from heaven breathed the breath of
life into the first fair woman； but this girl might seem to have
been the natural product of evolution； and her soul to be as truly
of the earth as her body。
It was evident that she had been made familiar too early and
thoroughly with conventional and fashionable society； and； although
this fraction of the world is seldom without its gloves； its touch
nevertheless had soiled her nature。 Her face did not express any
active or malignant principle of evil； but a close observer； like
Van Berg； in whom the man was in the ascendant over the animal； could
detect the absence of the serene； maidenly purity of expression；
characteristic of those girls who have obtained their ideas of life
from good mothers； rather than from French novels； French plays；
and a phase of society that borrows its inspiration from fashionable
Paris。
With the ending of the symphony the chatting and flirting at the
table began again； to Van Berg's increased disgust。 Indeed； he
was so irritated that he could no longer control himself； and rose
abruptly； saying to his companion：
〃Come； let us walk outside。〃
His sudden movement drew the young lady's attention； but by this
time he had only his broad shoulders turned towards her。 She saw
Ik Stanton looking at her； however； with a face full of mischief；
and she recognized him with a nod and a smile。
He； with the familiarity that indicated relationship； but with a
motion too slight to be noticed by others； threw her a kiss from
the tips of his fingers； as one might toss a sugar…plum to a child；
and then followed his friend。
Chapter II。 Ida Mayhew。
What is the matter； Van？ You remind me of a certain horned beast
that has seen a red flag；〃 said Ik Stanton； linking his arm in that
of Van Berg's。
〃An apt illustration。 I have been baited and irritated for the
last twenty minutes。〃
〃I thought you enjoyed Beethoven's music； and surely Thomas rendered
it divinely to…night。〃
〃That is one of the chief of my grievances。 I haven't been able
to hear a note；〃 was the wrathful response。
〃That's strange；〃 said Stanton with mock gravity。 〃Were I not
afraid you would take it amiss I would hint that your ears are of
goodly size。 How comes it that they have so suddenly failed you？〃
〃Having seen your dinner you have no eyes for anything else。 If
you had； you would have seen a face near us。〃
〃I saw a score of faces near us。 A German had one with the area
of an acre。〃
〃Was he the one who said； 'hist；' like a blast from the North？〃
〃From a porpoise rather。〃
〃Did you observe the girl towards whom his gusty rebuke was directed？〃
〃Yes； an inoffensive young lady。〃
〃Inoffensive； indeed！〃 interrupted Van Berg。 〃She has put me into
purgatory。〃
〃You do seem quite ablaze。 Well； you are not the first one that
she has put there。 But really； Van； I did not know that you were
so inflammable。〃
〃If you had any of the instincts of an artist you would know that
I am inflamed with no gentler feeling than anger。〃
〃Why！ what has the poor child done to you？〃
〃She is not a child。 She knows too much about some things。〃
〃I've no doubt she is better than either you or I；〃 said Stanton；
sharply。
〃That fact would be far from proving her a saint。〃
〃What the dickens makes you so vindictive against the girl？〃
〃Because she has the features of an angel and the face of a fool。
What business has a woman to mock and disappoint one so！ When I
first saw her I thought I had discovered a prizea new revelation
of beauty； but a moment later she looked so ineffably silly that
I felt as if I had bitten into an apple of Sodom。 Of course the
girl is nothing to me。 I never saw her before and hope I may never
see her again； but her features were so perfect that I could not
help looking at them； and the more I looked the more annoyed I became
to find that； instead of being blended together into a divine face
by the mind within； they were the reluctant slaves of as picayune
a soul as ever maintained its microscopic existence in a human
body。 It is exasperating to think what that face might be； and
to see what it is。 How can nature make such absurd blunders？ The
idea of building so fair a temple for such an ugly little divinity！〃
〃I thought you artists were satisfied with flesh and blood women；
if only put together in a way pleasing to your fastidious eyes。〃
〃If nature had designed that women should consist only of flesh
and blood women； if only put together in a way pleasing to your
fastidious eyes。〃
〃If nature had designed that women should consist only of flesh and
blood； one would have to be content； but no one save the 'unspeakable
Turk；' believes in such a woman； or wants her。 Who admires such a
fragment of a woman save the man that is as yet undeveloped beyond
the animal？ My mother is my friend； my companion； my inspiration。
The idea of yonder silly creature being the companion of a MAN。〃
〃Good evening； Coz；〃 said a voice that was a trifle shrill and loud
for a public place； and looking up； the friends saw the subject
of their conversation； who； with her spindling attendant was also
taking a promenade。
Stanton raised his hat with a smile； while Van Berg touched his
but coldly。
〃I wish to speak with you；〃 she said in passing。
〃I will join you soon；〃 Stanton answered。
〃So this lady is your cousin？〃 remarked Van Berg。
〃She is；〃 said Stanton laughing。
〃You will do me the justice to remember that I spoke in ignorance
of the fact。 If I were you I would give her some cousinly advice。〃
〃Bless you！ I have； but it's like pouring water on a duck's
back。 For one sensible word I can say to her she gets a thousand
compliments from rich and empty…headed young fools； like the one
now with her； who will eventually be worth half a million in his
own name。 I was interested to see how her face would strike you；
and I imagine that your estimate has hit pretty close upon the
truth； for in my judgment she is the prettiest and silliest girl in
New York。 She has recently returned from a year's absence abroad；
and I was in hopes that she would find something to remember besides
her own handsome face； but I imagine she has seen little else than
it and the admiring glances which everywhere follow her。 Take us
as we average； Van； Mr。 Darwin has not go us very far along yet；
and if the face of a woman suits us we are apt to stare at it
as far as such politeness as we possess permits； without giving
much thought to her intellectual endowments。 When it comes to
companionship； however； I agree with you。 Heaven help the man who
is tied to such a woman for life。 Still； in the fashionable crowd
my cousin trains with； this makes little difference。 The husband
goes his way and the wife hers； and they are not long in getting
a good ways apart。 But come； let me introduce you； I have always
thought the little fool had some fine gold mingled with her dross；
and you are such a skilful analyst that perhaps you will discover
it。〃
〃No； I thank you；〃 said Van Berg； with a slight expression of
disgust。 〃I could not speak civilly to a lady that I had just seen
giggling and flirting through one of Beethoven's finest symphonies。〃
〃Well well；〃 said Stanton laughing； 〃I am rather glad to find one
man who is not drawn to her pretty face like a moth to a candle。
I will join