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found a deep； sad echo in his own nature。
〃Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter； said the wise man
of old； 'all is vanity and vexation of spirit；'〃 cried Stanton；
with the air of one who was trying to escape from a nightmare。
Miss Burton at once became her old； smiling self。
〃You do not quote 'the wise man' correctly；〃 she said； 〃but you
remind me that he did say 'a merry heart doeth good like a medicine。'
It is like mercy 'twice blessed。' This much； at least； I know is
true； and Mr。 Van Berg's words have put us all at sea to such an
extant that it is well to find one wee solid point to stand on。〃
As the artist passed out he found opportunity to whisper in her
ear：
〃I cannot tell you how much I honor the woman who with her SAD
heart makes others 'merry。'〃
She blushed and smiled； but only said： 〃How blind you are； Mr。 Van
Berg！ Can't you perceive that nothing else does me so much good？
Now you see how selfish I am。〃
Ida saw him whisper； and noted the answering smile and blush。 Was
it strange that so slight a thing should depress her more than all
the evils of the present world and the world to come？
Surely； since human hearts are what they are； a far…away God would
be like the sun of the tropics to the ice…bound at the poles。
Chapter XXVII。 A Family Group。
The old adage； that 〃as the wine comes in the man steps out；〃 was
not true of Sibley； for the man had stepped out permanently long
since。 But not very much wine was required to overthrow the flimsy
barriers of self…restraint and courtesy that he tried to interpose
in his sober moments between his true self and society。 Mr。 Burleigh
frowned at him more than once during the dinner…hour； and was glad
to see him stroll off in the grounds with his boon companions。
Stanton followed the Mayhews to their rooms； for he wished to
remonstrate with Ida and Mrs。 Mayhew in regard to their apparent
intimacy with the fellow。
〃Ida；〃 he said； 〃do you realized the force of your words to Mr。
Van Berg at the table to…day； taken in connection with your action？
You said； 'congenial society for me； or none at all。' Whatever
Van's faults are； he is a perfect gentleman； and yet you treat him
as rudely and coldly as you can； and assert by your actions that
Sibley's society is by far the most congenial to you。〃
Ida's overstrained nerves gave way； and she said； irritably：
〃You understood the cheerful questions of our appetizing table…talk
to…day better than you understand me； so please be still。〃
〃Oh； pshaw； Ik；〃 commenced Mrs。 Mayhew； who now began to wake up
since the theme was quite within her sphere； 〃you are affecting
very Puritanical views of late。 It does not seem so very long
since you and Sibley were good friends。〃
〃It is within the memory of woman； if not of man；〃 added Ida；
maliciously； 〃since you drank his brandy； and considerable of it；
too。〃
Stanton flushed angrily but controlled himself。
〃He was never my friendnever more than an acquaintance；〃 he
said emphatically； 〃and I never before knew him as well as I do
now。 Moreover； I may as well say it plainly； I am through with
that style of men； forever。 There is little prospect of my ever
becoming saint…like； but I shall； at least； cease to be vulgar in
my associations。 I protest against Sibley's coming to our table
again。〃
〃You are absurdly unreasonable；〃 replied Mrs。 Mayhew in an aggrieved
tone。 〃Sibley is only sowing his wild oats now as you did in the
past。 I don't know why he is not as good as your friend Mr。 Van
Berg； who； as far as I can make out； is more of an infidel than
anything else。 I never could endure these doubting； unsettling
people。〃
〃I admit that Sibley is established；〃 said Stanton。 〃There is
little prospect of his ever getting out of the mire in which he is
now imbedded。〃
〃Nonsense！ What has Sibley done that is particularly out of the
way； more than you and other young men？ I'm sure his family is
quite as rich and fashionable as that of this artist。〃
〃More rich and fashionable。 There is just the difference between
the Sibleys and the Van Bergs that there is between a drop curtain
at a theatre and one of Bierstadt's oil paintings。 There is more
paint and surface in the former； but truth and genius in the latter。
If you prefer paint and surface it is a matter of taste。〃
〃I won't endure such insinuations from you；〃 said Mrs。 Mayhew；
indignantly。
〃Oh； hush mother！〃 said Ida； quietly。 〃I think Ik is very magnanimous
in praising his friend in view of circumstances that are becoming
quite apparent。 Possibly he is exaggerating a little； in order to
show us what a great； generous soul he has。 For one； I would like
to know wherein this superior race of Van Bergs differs from those
who have had the presumption to suppose themselves at least equals。〃
Ida's allusion and tone stung Stanton into saying more than he
intended； and thus the girl's artifice became successful。 Hearing
about Van berg and all that related to him was like looking out of
a desert into a fruitful oasis； and yet cruel as was the fascination；
it was also irresistible。
〃The manner in which the Van Bergs live； would be a revelation to
you；〃 said Stanton； angrily； 〃and one undoubtedly not at all to
your taste。 In comparison with the Sibley show…rooms； which are
stuffed and crowded with costly and incongruous trumpery； Mrs。 Van
Berg's house would seem very plain； but to one capable of distinguishing
the difference； the evidence of mind and taste； instead of mere
money； is seen on every side。 Simplicity and beauty are united
as far as possible。 Everything is the best of its kind and devoid
of veneer and sham。 There is no lavish and vulgar profusion； and
there is a harmony of color and decoration that makes every room
a picture in itself。 Moreover； the house does not grow suddenly
shabby after you leave those parts which are seen by visitors。 It
is all genuine and high…toned； like the people who live in it。〃
〃What sort of people are Mrs。 Van Berg and her daughter？〃 Ida asked；
with averted face and low constrained voice。
〃Mrs。 Van Berg comes of a family that has been aristocratic for
several generations； and one that has been singularly free from black
sheep。 She appears to strangers somewhat reserved and stately；
but when you become better acquainted you find she has a warm； kind
heart。 But she has a perfect horror of vulgarity。 If she had seen
this Sibley take more wine than he ought and make a spectacle of
himself at a public table； she would no more admit him to her parlor
than a Bowery rough。 Mere wealth would not turn the scale a hair
in his favor。 If she has impressed on her son one trait more than
another； it is this disgust with all kinds of vulgar people and
vulgar vice。 I don't think Van will sit down at the same table
with Sibley again； or permit Miss Burton to do so。〃
Ida averted her face still farther； but said nothing。
〃Indeed！〃 said Mrs。 Mayhew； 〃and has Miss Burton given him the
rights of a protector。〃
〃Sorry to disappoint you； aunt； but I have no nice bit of gossip
to report。 Miss Burton is an orphan； and so any friend of hers
has a right to protect her。 I would have taken this matter into
my own hands were it not out of consideration for you and Ida；
who unfortunately have permitted yourselves to be identified with
Sibley as his especial friends。 Indeed； most in the house regard
him as Ida's favored or accepted suitor。 But I warn you to cut
loose from him at once or you may suffer a severe humiliation。 If
you and Ida will continue to encourage him； then I tell you plainly
I shall follow you no further into the slough。〃
The maiden stamped her foot and made an emphatic gesture of rage
and protest； but did not trust herself to answer the cruel words；
each one of which was like the thrust of a knife。
But Mrs。 Mayhew； whose desire to be respectable was a ruling passion；
now became thoroughly alarmed and said hastily：
〃Mr。 Sibley is certainly nothing to me； and I hope nothing to Ida。
Get rid of him any way you can； since things have reached the pass
you represent。 If society is going to put him under ban； we must
cut him； that's all there is about it； and his behavior at dinner
gives us an excuse。〃
During this conversation Mr。 Mayhew had been lying on the sofa with
closed eyes； and as motionless as if he were dead。 Now he said in
low； bitter tones：
〃Mark it wellan excuse； not a reason。 O； virtue！ how beautiful
thou art！〃
〃You are the last one in the world to speak on this subject；〃 said
Mrs。 Mayhew； angrily。
〃Right again。 You see； Ik； my family never before met a man who
promised to make such an appropriate addition to our number。 It's
a pity you are interfering；〃 and he poured out a large glass of
brandy。