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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 of his vision。 At the same time he was apparently
listening to a prosy and interminable story from one of the group
of which he was a member。 They had been telling anecdotes of travel；
and the last speaker's experience was； like his journey； long and
uninteresting。
Van Berg soon observed that many others besides himself were observing
Miss Mayhew。 She seemed to fascinate； perplex； and trouble all
who looked towards her。 The singular beauty and striking toilet
might account； in part； for the lingering glances； but not for the
perplexity and uneasiness they caused。 If Ida had been dead her
features could not have been more colorless； and they had a stern；
hard； desperate expression that was sadly out of harmony with what
should be the appearance of a happy young girl。
Her presence seemed to cause an increasing chill and restraint。
The healthful and normal minds of those about her grew vaguely
conscious of another mind that had been deeply moved； shaken to
its foundations； and so had become almost abnormal and dangerous
in its impulses。
There is a very general tendency both to observe and to shrink
from that which is unnatural； and if the departure from what is
customary is shown in unexpected and unusual mental action； the
stronger become the uneasiness and dread in those who witness it。
All who saw Ida recognized that she was not only unlike herself；
but unlike any one in an ordinary state of mind； and people who were
intimate looked at each other significantly； as if to ask〃What
is the matter with Miss Mayhew？ What is the matter with us all？〃
Were it not that the maiden occasionally turned a leaf； in order
to keep up the illusion that she was reading； she might have been
a statue； so motionless was her form； and so pallid her face。
But she felt that she was perplexing and troubling those who had
wounded her； and the consciousness gave secret satisfaction。 Her
past experience taught her to appreciate stage effect； and； since
she meditated a tragedy； she proposed that everything should be as
tragic and blood…curdling as possible。
There is usually but a short step between high tragedy and painful
absurdity； which exasperates us while we laugh at it； but poor
Ida's thoughts were so desperately dark and despairing； and her
exquisite features； made almost transparent by grief and fasting；
so perfectly interpreted her unfeigned wretchedness； that even those
who knew her but slightly were touched and troubled in a way that
they could not explain even to themselves。
Miss Burton was evidently meditating how she could approach Ida；
who seemed encased in a repellant atmosphere。 Van Berg saw that
Stanton looked anxious and perplexed； and that Mrs。 Mayhew was
exceedingly worried and annoyed。 At last he hastily approached
her daughter and whispered；
〃For heaven's sake； Ida； what's the matter？ You look as if you
had gone into mourning。〃
The young lady glanced coldly up and said stonily：
〃You have at least taught me to dress appropriately。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 continued the mother； in a low； irritable tone。 〃Why
can't you cheer up and act like other people？ Don't you see you're
giving us all the shivers？〃
She slowly swept the room with her eyes； and saw that not a few
curious glances were directed towards her。 Then； with bowed head；
she glided from the room without a word。
Miss Burton caught up with her in the hall…way。 〃You are ill； Miss
Mayhew；〃 she said； with gentle solicitude。
〃Yes；〃 Ida replied； in the same stony； repellant manner； 〃but you
are not a physician； Miss Burton。 Good evening。〃 And she went
swiftly up to her own room； as if determined to speak with no one
else that evening。
Chapter XXXVI。 Temptation's Voice
Van Berg had been so near that he could not help overhearing Mrs。
Mayhew's words which had led to the abrupt and silent departure of
her daughter from the parlor。
〃There is some misunderstanding here；〃 he thought； 〃whose effects
are becoming outrageously cruel。 The poor girl was driven away
from the supper…table； and now she is driven out of the parlor。
She has been an anomaly from the moment I saw her； and I now mean
to fathom the mystery。 Her exquisite face indicates that she
is almost desperate from some kind of trouble。 She is becoming
illshe is wasting under it。 Sibley would be a fatal malady to
any respectable girl； but I must give up all pretence of skill at
diagnosis if he is the cause； for were her heart set on him why the
mischief can't she go to him with all her old reckless flippancy？
There is no need of any elopement； as Ik fears。 She can easily
compel her mother to go to the city； and her father would have no
power to prevent the alliance； were she bent upon it。 I believe her
family misunderstand and are wronging her； and I may have occasion
to go down on my knees myself； metaphorically； and ask her pardon
for my superior airs。〃
These and kindred other thoughts passed through his mind as he
slowly paced up and down a side piazza which he often sought when
he wished to be alone。 Stanton； having lost Miss Burton for the
evening； soon joined him； and threw himself dejectedly into a chair。
〃Van；〃 he said； 〃I used to be rather self…complacent。 I thought
I had learned to take life so philosophically that I should have a
good time as long as my health lasted。 But to…night I feel as if
life were a horribly heavy burden which I； an overladen jackass；
must carry for many a weary day。 How little we know what we are
and what is before us！ I've been a fool； I am a fool！〃
〃Well； Ik；〃 replied Van Berg with a shrug； 〃I imagine there is a
pair of us。 My reasonall that's decent in merefuses to regard
Sibley as the cause of your cousin's most evident distress。 For
heaven's sake don't confirm your words of this afternoon； or I shall
feel like taking the first train； in order to escape from the most
exasperating paradox that ever contradicted a man's senses。〃
〃Van； you are right。 I am mortified with myself beyond measure；
and I am bitterly ashamed that my aunt； her own mother； should
have so grossly misjudged her。 Sibley； no doubt； IS the occasion
of her trouble in part； for she seems fairly to writhe under the
false position in which he has placed her by leading every one to
associate her name with his； but I now believe that she loathes
and detests him more than you or I can。 Certainly no woman could
speak of a man in harsher or more scathing terms than she spoke
of him to…night。 Well； to sum up the whole miserable trough； by
taking her mother's view for granted； I made such a mess of it that
I doubt if she ever speaks civilly to either of us again。〃
〃Why！ was my name mentioned？〃 asked Van Berg； quickly。
〃Yes； confound it all！ When things are going wrong there is a
miserable fatality about them； and the worst always happens。 She
asked me point…blank if you shared my estimate of her； and I suppose
got the impression you did。〃
〃Well really； Stanton；〃 said Van Berg； with some irritation； 〃I
think you must have been unfortunate in your language。〃
〃Worse than unfortunate。 The whole blunder is unpardonable。
Still； do me justice。 I could not answer her question with a bold
lie。 And what would have been its use？ How could you explain your
bearing towards her at the supper table？ Your manner would have
frozen Jezebel herself。〃
〃I was an infernal fool；〃 groaned Van Berg。
〃It is due to us both that I should say I told her you had tried
to form a good opinion of her； and very reluctantly received the
view her mother suggested。 I said； in effect； you wished to think
well of her； although she had treated you so badly。〃
〃Treated me badly！ I have treated her a thousandfold worse。 She；
at least； has never insulted me； and I can never forgive myself
for the insult I have offered her。
〃Well； I hope to find her in the mood to accept an apology in the
morning；〃 said Stanton。
〃I'm in a confoundedly awkward position to apologize；〃 growled
Van Berg。 〃Any reference to such an affair will be like another
insult；〃 and the friends parted in an unsatisfactory state of mind
towards each other； and especially towards themselves。
But that was a sad and memorable night to Ida Mayhew。 She felt
that it might be her last on earth； for her dark purpose was rapidly
taking definite form。
she was passing into that unhealthful condition of mental excitement；
in which the salutary restraints of the physical nature lose their
power。 In the place of drowsiness and weariness； she began to
experience an unnatural exaltation which would make any reckless
folly possible； if it took the guise of sublime and tragic action。