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gentleman you will surely shield me from any such associations。〃
Stanton； remembering his appointment with Sibley； bowed low to hide
his confusion。
〃I would gladly shield you with my life from anything that could
cause you pain；〃 he said； earnestly。
〃I do not make any such vast and tragic demands；〃 she replied；
smilingly； and holding out her hand； 〃only simple and prosaic
self…control； when tipsy； vulgar men act according to their nature。
Good…night。〃
He was about to kiss her hand； when she gently withdrew it； remarking：
〃We plain people of New England are not descended from the Cavaliers；
remember。〃
He watched until in despair of her appearing again that evening；
and then strolled out into the night； feeling in his despondency
that no star in the summer sky was more unattainable than the poor
and orphaned girl； the impress of whose warm clasp still seemed
within his hand。
Chapter XXXI。 An Emblem。
For some time Ida Mayhew neither heeded nor heard the choral music
in the parlor below； but at last a clearer； louder strain； in
which Van Berg's voice was pre…eminent； caught her attention and
she started up and listened at the window。
〃He is singing songs of Heaven with Jennie Burton； and Ican there
be any worse perdition than this？〃 she said in a low； agonized
tone。
As if by a sudden impulse she quietly unfastened the door that led
to her father and mother's room。 Perceiving that her mother was
not there； she stole noiselessly in； and turned up the lamp。
Mr。 Mayhew reclined upon a lounge in the deep stupor of intoxication；
his dark hair streaked with gray falling across his face in a manner
that made it peculiarly ghastly and repulsive。
〃This is my work；〃 she groaned。 〃Jennie Burton made a noble…looking
man of him last evening。 I have made him this。〃 She writhed and
wrung her hands over his unconscious form； appearing as might one
of Milton's fallen angels that had lost Heaven and happiness but
not the primal beauty of his birth…place。
〃Well；〃 she exclaimed with the sudden recklessness which was one
of her characteristics； 〃if I have caused your degradation I can
at least share in it；〃 and she took an opiate that she knew would
produce speedy and almost as deep a lethargy as that which paralyzed
her father； then threw herself； dressed； upon her couch； and did
not waken until late the following day。
Stanton was sorely troubled over his rash promise that he would
meet Sibley at daylight on Monday morning。 After Miss Burton's
words he felt that he could not keep his appointment； and yet he
shrank from the ridicule he believed Sibley would heap upon him。
His perturbation was so great that he hunted up Van Berg before
retiring； and told him of his dilemma。 The artist greatly relieved
his mind by saying：
〃I think we both have had a lesson； Stanton； in regard to quarreling
with such fellows as Sibley； although I hardly see how we could
have acted differently。 But villains are usually cowards after
their passion cools and they become sober。 The case in hand is no
exception。 Burleigh tells me he has just learned that Sibley took
a late boat to the city； and so does not mean to keep the appointment
to…morrow。 Therefore； sleep the sleep of the just； old fellow。
Good…night。〃
The throbbing pain in Ida's head was so great when she awoke on
Monday that she half forgot the ache in her heart。 She found that
her father had gone to the City and that the day was well advanced。
Her mother sat looking at her with an expression in which anxiety
and reproach were equally blended。
The unhappy woman had learned from her husband's habits to know
what remedies to employ； and so was able gradually to relieve her
daughter's physical distress； but Ida's weary lassitude and reticence
were proof against all her questions and reproaches。 It seemed as
if nothing could rouse or sting her out of the dull apathy into which
she had reacted after the desperate excitement of the preceding day。
She pleaded illness； and stubbornly refused to go down to dinner。
At last her mother； much to her relief； left her to herself； and
went out to drive with Stanton； hoping that she might hit upon some
plan of action in regard to the two difficult problems presented
in her husband and daughter。
Towards evening Ida slowly and languidly dressed for supper； and
then sauntered down to the main piazza for a little fresh air。
The poor girl did not exaggerate the shadow that had fallen upon
her association with Sibley； and her supposed grief and resentment
at his treatment。 Two or three whom she met bowed coldly and
distantly； and one passed without recognition。 Even Jennie Burton
had been indignant all day that one of her sex could be infatuated
with such a fellow； and in her charitable thoughts she would be
glad to explain such perversity as the result of a disordered and
uncurbed fancy； rather than of a depraved heart。
It was not strange； however； that she should suppose Ida's manner
and indisposition were caused by Sibley's ignominious ejectment from
the house； when her own mother and cousin shared the same view。
What an unknown mystery each life is； even to the lives nearest to
it！
As with slow； heavy steps； Ida approached the main entrance； she
noted the distant manner of those she met； and divined the cause；
but her apathy was so great that neither anger nor shame brought
the faintest color to her cheeks。
She stood in the doorway and looked out a few moments； but the
lovely summer landscape； with the cool shadows lengthening across
it； was a weariness； and she turned from it as the miserable do
from sights that only mock by their pleasant contrast。
The piazza was nearly empty； but before she stepped out upon it
she saw not far away a gentleman reading； who at last did cause
the blood to rush tumultuously into her face。
At another time she would have turned hastily from him； but in her
present morbid mood she acted from a different impulse。 The artist
had not observed her approach； and standing a little back in the
shadow of the hall…way she found a cruel fascination in comparing
the man she loved with the low fellow whose shadow now fell so darkly
across her own character。 She looked steadily at his downcast face
until every line and curve in his strong profile was impressed on
her memory。 In the healthful color of his finely…chiseled features
there were no indications of that excess which already marred Sibley's
countenance。 The decided contour corresponded with the positive
nature。 The unhappy girl felt instinctively that if he were on her
side； he would be a faithful ally； but if against her； she would
find his inflexible will a granite wall against all the allurements
of her beauty。 The face before her indicated a man controlled by
his higher； not lower nature； and in her deep humiliation she now
felt that even if he knew all that was passing in her heart； he
would bestow only transient pity； mingled with contempt。
She believed she could hope for nothing from him； and yet； did not
that belief leave her hopeless？ To what else； to whom else could
she turn？ Nothing else； no one else then seemed to promise any help；
any happiness。 Her wretched experience had come as unexpectedly as
one of those mysterious waves that sweep the sunny shore of Peru。
Whither it would carry her she did not know； but every moment separated
her more hopelessly from him who appeared like an immovable rock
in his quiet strength。
She was turning despondently away when she heard Jennie Burton's
voice； and a moment later that young lady mounted the adjacent
steps and said to Van Berg：
〃See what a prize I captured at this late season。 Roses early in
August are like hidden treasures。 See； they are genuine hybrids。
Have I not had rare good fortune？〃
Van Berg rose at once； and met her at the top of the steps； and
Ida； who still remained unseen in the hall； now stepped forward
into the doorway； so that she might not seem a furtive listener；
as he was standing with his back towards her。
〃Had I my way； Miss Burton；〃 said the artist； 〃you should have this
rare good fortune every day of the year。〃
She blushed slightly； and said； rather coldly； 〃Good evening； Miss
Mayhew；〃 thus rendering Van Berg aware of the latter's presence。
The artist only frowned； and gave no other recognition of Ida's
proximity。
〃Since you can't have your way； I shall make the most of my present
good fortune。 Is not that a beautiful cluster？〃
〃It is indeed； with one exception。 Do you not see that this
defective bud mars the beauty of all the others？〃
〃A 'worm I' the bud fell on its damask cheek。' I took it out and
killed it； and was in hopes that if I placed the injured flower in
water with the others it might still make a partial bloom。 Yo