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for the least ray of comfort。 She now saw that she was ignorant
and exceedingly faulty。 She was ready to admit the fact that she
had acted very foolishly and unwisely； and that circumstances were
against her。 Ill…omened circumstances have brought to condemnation
and death innocent men。 Ida would not now claim that she was
innocent of blame； but events had seemed so unfortunate of late；
that she was half ready to think that some vindictive hand was
shaping them。
But she did not feel that she was now worse than she had been。
On the contrary； she had longings for a better life and a broader
culture such as she had never experienced before。 The artist's
eyes； in searching for her woman's soul； revealed to her that she
had been a fool； but now she would gladly become a woman if some
one would only point out the way。
〃Mother and Ik might learn that I am not wholly bad if they would
only take the trouble to find out；〃 she murmured。 〃Ik used to be
kind…hearted； and I thought he cared a little for me； in spite of
our sparing。 Why is he so hard on me of late？ Why can't he believe
that I am just as capable of detesting Sibley as he is？ Perhaps
he does mean to say a kind word； and give me a chance to explain。〃
These thoughts passed through her mind as she lighted the gas and
bathed her face； that she might； to some extent； remove the evidences
of grief。
Stanton misunderstood her wholly。 The new Ida； that deep feeling
and recent events were developing； was unknown to him； and he had
been too preoccupied to see the changes； even had they been more
apparent。 He did feel a sort f commiseration for her evident
suffering； for he was too kind…hearted not to sympathize even
when he believed pain to be well…deserved。 But he thought he must
still deal with her as a wayward； passionate child； as he had in
the past； when she cried till she obtained what she wished； right
or wrong。 He now believed that she was as fully bent on carrying
out her own unreasonable will； but remembered that she was no
longer a child； and might be guilty of folly that society would
not forgive as childish。 Therefore he wished to see her face； and
was disposed to be wary and observant。
He gave her a quick； keen glance as he entered and then said：
〃What's the matter； Ida？ Why do you sit here in the shadows？ It's
as dark as a pocket；〃 and he turned the gas higher。
She did not answer； but sat down with her face averted from him and
the light。 〃He has come here as a spy； and not as a comforter；〃
she thought。
He looked at her a moment； mistook her silence as an expression of
the settled obstinacy of her purpose。
〃Well； Ida；〃 he said； a little irritably； 〃I know you of old。 I
suppose you will have your own way as usual。 If we must submit；
why then we must； but you can't expect us to do so with any grace。
If you won't give up this Sibley； for heaven's sake let your mother
arrange the matter after the fashion of the day！ Out of regard
for your family； go through all the regular formalities。〃
She started violently and then leaned back in her chair as if she
were faint； and half stunned by a blow。 He regarded her manner as
evidence of guilt； or； at least； of proposed criminal imprudence
on her part； and went on still more plainly：
〃If you can't exist without Sibleywhy； marry him； but see to it
that there is a plenty of priest； altar； and service； for you know；
or you ought to； that he's a man who can't be trusted a hair's
breadth。〃
She averted her face still farther； and said in a low constrained
tone：
〃My family； then； consent that I should marry Mr。 Sibley？〃
〃No； we submit to the marriage as an odious necessity； on condition
that you put the whole matter into your mother's hands and allow
her to arrange everything according to society's requirements。〃
〃Please let me understand you；〃 she said in a lower voice。 〃My
family offer to submit to the marriage as a dire necessity lest my
relations with Mr。 Sibley cover them with a deeper shame？〃
〃Well； in plain English； yes。〃
〃It is indeed extraordinarily plain Englishbrutally plain。 And
doesdoes Mr。 Van Berg share in your estimate of me？〃
Her manner and words began to puzzle Stanton； and he remembered
the artist's question〃Are you absolutely sure that Sibley is the
cause of her trouble？〃 He thought that perhaps it might be good
policy to contrast the two men。
〃To be frank；〃 he replied； 〃I think Mr。 Van Berg has both wished
and tried to think well of you。 He admired your beauty immensely；
and sought to find something in your character that corresponded with
it。 Even after your studied rudeness to him； your open preference
of Sibley's society to his； and your remark explaining your course；
'congenial society or none at all'〃 （Ida fairly groaned as he
recalled her folly）； 〃he tried to treat you politely。 That you
should refuse the society of a gentleman like my friend for the
sake of such a low fellow as Sibley； is to us all a disgusting and
fathomless mystery。 The belief that you could throw yourself and
your rare beauty into this abominable slough； was so revolting to
Van Berg； that he never would wholly accept of it until to…day。〃
She rose to her feet and turned upon him。 Her eyes were fairly
blazing with indignation； and her face was white and terrible
from her anger。 In tones such as he had never heard any woman use
before； she said：
〃But to…day you have succeeded in satisfying him that this is not
only possible； but the most natural thing for me to do。 You have
told him that my family will submit to my marriage with a loathsome
wretch； who got drunk in the presence of ladies； insulted an orphan
girl； and attempted murderand all in one Sunday afternoon。 I
suppose you thought me captivated； and carried away by such a burst
and blaze of villainy； and so my high…toned family explain to the
faultless and aristocratic Mr。 Van Berg that they will submit to
an odious marriage lest I clandestinely follow the scoundrel who
was very properly driven away； like the base cur he is。 This is
why you received me to…night as if I were a pestilence。 This is
why I was treated at the table as if I were a death's head。 This
is why your perfect friend looked towards me as if my chair
were vacant。 He refused even to recognize the existence of such
a loathsome thing as my family explain to him that I am。 Great
heaven！ may I never live to receive a deeper humiliation than this！〃
〃But； Ida；〃 cried Stanton； deeply alarmed and agitated by her manner；
〃how else could we explain your action and your reckless words to
your mother？〃
〃Oh； I admit that circumstances are against me； but there is no
excuse for this outrage！ I don't know what I did say to mother。
I've been too wretched and discouraged to remember。 She IS my
mother； and I'll say nothing against her； though； heaven knows；
she has been a strange mother to me。 Would to God I had a father
that I could go to； or a brother！ But it seems I have not a friend
in the great； scornful world。 Don't interrupt me。 Words count
for nothing now； and mine least of all。 If you were all ready to
believe me capable of what you have plainly intimated； you need
something stronger than words to convince you to the contrary。 Of
one thing I shall make sureyou and your faithless friend shall
never have the chance to insult me again。 I wish you to leave my
room。〃
〃Oh come； Ida； listen to reason；〃 Stanton began coaxingly。
〃I admitted you；〃 she interrupted with a repellant gesture； 〃in
the hope of receiving a little kindness； for which I was famishing；
but I would rather you had stabbed me than have said what you have。
Hush； not a word more。 The brutal wrong has been done。 Will you
not go？ This is my private apartment。 I command you to leave
it； and if you will not obey I will summon Mr。 Burleigh；〃 and she
placed her hand on the bell。
Her manner was at once so commanding and threatening that Stanton；
with a gesture of deprecation and protest； silently obeyed。
He was so surprised and unnerved by the interview in which the
maiden had turned upon him with a fiery indignation that was almost
volcanic； that he wished to think the affair all over and regain
his composure before meeting any one。 Clearly they had failed to
understand Ida of late； and had misjudged her utterly。 And yet；
guided by appearances； he felt that they could scarcely have come
to any other conclusion。
Now that he had been jostled out of his preoccupation； he began to
realize that Ida had not appeared of late like the frivolous girl
that had accompanied him to the country。 Changes were taking
place in her as well as in himself； 〃but not from the same cause；〃
he thought。 〃After her words and manner to…night； I cannot doubt
that Sibley has disgusted her as well as the rest of us； although
she had