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that Sibley has disgusted her as well as the rest of us； although
she had a strange way of showing it。 It cannot be that a woman
would speak of a man for whom she had any regard； as Ida did of
the wretch with whom we were associating her； and as for Van Berg；
she has taken no pains to conceal her strong dislike for him from
the first day of their meeting。 I can't think of anyone else at
present （although there might be a score） who is disturbing the
shallow waters of her mind。
〃I'm inclined to think that she is deeply mortified at the false
position in which Sibley has placed her； and is too proud to make
explanations。 It may be also that she is realizing more fully the
disgrace of her father's course； and it is also possible that she
is waking up to a sense of her own deficiencies。 Although she
could not fail to dislike such people as Jennie Burton and Van Berg；
she would be apt to contrast herself with them and the impression
which she and they made on society。 Confound it all！ I wish I had
not taken it for granted that she was pining for Sibley and ready
to throw herself away for his sake。 It has placed me in a deucedly
awkward position。 I doubt if she ever fully forgives me； and I
can't blame her if she doesn't。〃
〃Well？〃 said Mrs。 Mayhew； as Stanton moodily approached her。
〃Come with me；〃 he said。 When they were alone he prefaced his
story with the irritable remark：
〃It's a pity you can't understand your daughter better。 She detests
Sibley。〃
〃Thank heaven for that；〃 exclaimed the mother。
〃I should be more inclined to thank both heaven and yourself if
you had discovered the fact before sending me on such an intensely
disagreeable mission。 You must manage your daughter yourself
hereafter； for she'll never take anything more from me；〃 and he told
her substantially the nature of his interview； and his surmises as
to the real causes of her trouble。
〃I think you are right；〃 said Mrs。 Mayhew； whose impressions were
as changeable as superficial； 〃and I'm excessively glad to think so。
With her beauty； Ida can； in spite of her father； make a brilliant
match； in every sense of the word；〃 and with the prospect of this
supreme consummation of life regained； the wife and mother gave a
sigh of great relief。
〃But she's in an awful mood； I can tell you；〃 said Stanton； dubiously。
〃I never knew a woman to look and speak as she did to…night。 If
you don't manage better she'll make us trouble yet。〃
〃Oh； I'm used to Ida's tantrums。 They don't last。 Nothing does
with her。 Time and another admirer will bring her around。〃
〃Well； you ought to know；〃 said Stanton with a shrug； 〃but I retire
from the management。 I can't help saying； however； that something
in her looks and words makes me uneasy。 I regret exceedingly I
spoke as I did； and shall apologize at the first opportunity。〃
〃You'll have that in the morning。 Things are so much better than
I feared that I am greatly relieved。 She'll come around now if
nothing more is said。 Roiled water always settles when kept quiet；〃
and Mrs。 Mayhew returned to the parlor in much better spirits。
Stanton followed his aunt and joined a small group that had gathered
around Miss Burton。 Van Berg gave him a quick； questioning look；
but gathered the impression only that he had been subjected to a
very painful interview。
〃She has evidently realized his worst fears；〃 he thought； 〃curses
on her！〃 and his face grew fairly black for a moment with anger
and disgust。
But Jennie Burton's silver tongue soon charmed away the evil spirits
from both the young men。
She had fine conversation powers； and her keen intuition and her
controlling passion to give pleasure enabled her to detect and draw
out the best thoughts of others。 Her evident sympathy put every
one at ease； and gave people the power of such happy expression
that they were surprised at themselves； and led to believe that
they not only received but gave something better than average。
Therefore； under the magic of her good…will； both eyes and minds
kindled； and even common…place persons became almost brilliant and
eloquent。
Stanton's was the only clouded face in her circle that evening； and
true to her instinct； she set about banishing his trouble； whatever
it might bean easy task with her power over him。
Since it daily became more evident to her that she must wound his
vanity； and perhaps his heart a little； she tried to make amends by
showing him such public consideration as might rob his disappointment
of humiliation and bitterness。
Stanton； therefore； soon forgot Ida's desperate face； and was
enjoying himself at his best。
Yet Ida's face but faintly revealed her heart。 It seemed that the
end had now come in very truth； and she was conscious chiefly of
a wild impulse to escape from her shame and suffering。 There was
also a bitter sense of wrong and a wish to retaliate。
〃I'll teach them all a lesson；〃 she muttered； as she paced her room
swiftly to and fro。 〃This proud artist thinks he can look at me as
if I were empty air； that he can forget me as he has the rose…bud
he tossed away。 I will insure that he looks at me once with
a face as white as mine will then be； and that he remembers me to
his dying day。〃
After becoming more calm； and as if acting under a sudden impulse；
she hastily made a simple but singular toilet。
When completed； her mirror reflected a plain； close…fitting； black
gown； which left her neck and arms bare。 Around her white throat
she placed a black velvet band； and joined it by a small jet poniard
studded with diamonds。 Her sunny hair was wound into a severely
simple coil； and also fastened with a larger poniard； from the haft
and guard of which glistened diamonds of peculiar brilliancy。 She
took off all her rings； and wore no other ornaments。 Then taking
from her table a book； bearing conspicuously as its title the word
〃Misjudged；〃 she went down to the parlor。
She paused a moment on the threshold before she was noticed。 Her
mother was eagerly gossiping with two or three fashionable
women about a scandal that she hoped might cause her own family's
short…comings to be forgotten in part。 Miss Burton was telling a
story in her own inimitable style； and ripples of smiles and laughter
eddied from her constantly。 Stanton's and Van Berg's faces were
aglow with pleasure； and it was plain the speaker absorbed all
their thoughts。
〃In the same way he will forget me； after I am dead；〃 said the
unhappy girl to herself； and the thought sent a colder chill to
her heart； and a deeper pallor to her face。
Her gaze seemed to draw his； for he looked up suddenly。 On
recognizing her his first impulse was to coldly avert his eyes；
but in a second her unusual appearance riveted his attention。 She
saw the impulse； however； and would not look towards him again。 She
entered as quietly and as unexpectedly as a ghost； and the people
seemed as much surprised and perplexed as if she were a ghost。
She took a seat somewhat apart from all others； and apparently
commenced reading。 She was not so far away but that Van Berg could
decipher the title； 〃Misjudged；〃 and having made out the significant
word； its letters grew luminous like the diamonds in her hair。
Never before had he been so impressed by her beauty； and yet there
was an element in it which made him shiver with a dread he could
not explain to himself。 He was surprised and shocked to find how
pale and wan her face had become； but in every severe marble curve
of her features he saw the word； 〃Misjudged。〃 He could scarcely
recognize her as the blooming girl that he had first seen in the
concert garden。 Suffering； trouble of mind； was evidently the dark
magician that was thus transforming her； but why did she suffer so
deeply？ As she sat there before him； not only his deeper instincts；
but his reason refused almost indignantly to associate her any
longer with Sibley。 There was a time when she seemed akin to him；
but now she suggested deep trouble； despair； death even； rather
than a gross 〃bon vivant。〃 Was she ill！ Yes； evidently； but he
doubted if her malady had physical causes。
〃What a very strange toilet she has made！〃 he thought； 〃simple and
plain to the last degree； and yet singularly effective and striking。
Her fingers were once loaded with rings； but she has taken them all
off； and now her hands are as perfect as her features。 She does
not wear a single ornament； save those ominous poniards。 Does she
mean to signify by these that she is wounded； or that she proposes
to inflict wounds？ Ye gods！ how strangely； terribly； exasperatingly
beautiful she is！ I have certainly both misjudged and misunderstood
her。〃
These thoughts passed through his mind as he stole an occasional
glance at their object； who sat with her profile towards him almost
in the line