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steps； past Van Berg； exclaiming：
〃Oh； thank you； Ik！ How good of you！ I was dying for a ride。
Don't trouble yourself。 I can get in without aid；〃 and she sprang
lightly into the buggy before her cousin could utter a word。
He turned with a look of comic dismay and deprecation to his friend；
who stood laughing on the steps。 Ida； also； could not resist
her inclination to catch a glimpse of the artist's chagrin and
disappointment； but she was provoked beyond measure to find him
acting as if Stanton were the victim rather than himself。 As the
sweep of the road again brought them in view of the piazza； this
impression was confirmed by seeing Van Berg stroll carelessly away；
complacently puffing his cigar as if he had already dismissed her
from his mind。
〃Really；〃 grumbled Stanton； 〃I never had beauty and happiness thrust
upon me so unexpectedly before。〃
〃Very well then；〃 retorted Ida； 〃stop your horses and thrust me
out into the road。 I'd rather go back； even if I have to walk。〃
〃Oh； no！ there is to be no going back for two hours or more。 I
once cured a horse of running away by making him run long after he
wanted to stop。〃
〃You seem to be learning your friend's hateful manners。〃
〃I asked you this morning if you would take a drive； and you
declined。〃
〃I changed my mind。〃
〃Very abruptly； indeed； it seemed。 Since you took so much touble
to annoy my friend； it's a pity you failed。〃
〃I don't believe I failed。 He's probably as cross as you are about
it； only he can keep it to himself。〃
〃Dove…like creatiah！ thanks。 Will you please drive while I light
a cigar？〃
〃I don't like any one to smoke as near me as you are。〃
〃If your theory in regard to Van Berg is correct； none of us will
enjoy what we like this afternoon。 Of course I never smoke without
a lady's permission； but unless quieted by a cigar； I am a very
reckless driver；〃 and he enforced his words by a sharp crack of
the whip； which sent the horses off like the wind。
〃Oh； stop them； smoke； do anything hateful you wish； so you don't
break my neck。 I will never ride with you again； and I wish I had
never come to this horrid place； and if your sneering painter does
not leave soon； I will。〃
〃I'm afraid Van would survive； and you only suffer from your spite。
But come； since you have so sweetly permitted me to smoke； I'll
make your penance as light as possible； and then we will consider
matters even between us；〃 and away they bowled up breezy hills and
down into shady valleys； Stanton stolidly smoking； and Ida nursing
her petty wrath。 Two flitting ghosts hastening to escape from the
light of day； could not have seen less； or have felt less sympathy
with the warm beautiful scenes through which they were passing。
There is no insulation so perfect as that of small； selfish natures
preoccupied with a pique。
When； late in the afternoon； her cousin； with mock politeness； assisted
her to alight at the entrance of the hotel； Ida was compelled to
feel that she had indeed been the chief victim of her own spite。
but； with the usual logic of human nature； she never thought of
blaming herself； and her resentment was chiefly directed against
the man whose every word and glance； although he was but a stranger；
had seemed to possess a power to annoy and wound from the first。
She felt an almost venomous desire to retaliate； but he appeared
invulnerable in his quiet and easy superiority； while she； who
expected； as a matter of course； that all masculine thoughts should
follow her admiringly； had been compelled to see that his critical
eyes had detected that in her which had awakened his contempt。
〃I'll teach him this evening； when my gentlemen friends arrive；
how ridiculous are his airs；〃 she muttered； as she went to her room
and sought to enhance her beauty by all the arts of which she was
the mistress。 〃I'll show him that there are plenty who can see
what he cannot； or will not。 Because he is an artist； he need not
think he can face me out of the knowledge of my beauty； the existence
of which I have been assured of by so many eyes and tongues ever
since I can remember。〃
When she came down to await the arrival of the stages and carriages；
she was indeed radiant with all the beauty of which she was then
capable。 Her neck and shoulders； with their exquisite lines and
curves； were more suggestively revealed than hidden by a slight
drapery of gauze…like illusion； and her white rounded arms were
bare。 She trod with the light airy grace of youth； and yet with
the assured manner of one who is looking forward to the familiar
experiences of a reigning belle。
Van Berg； from his quiet corner of observation； was compelled to
admit that； seen at her present distance； she almost embodied his
best dreams； and might do so wholly were there less of the fashionable
art of the hour； and more of nature in her appearance。 But he knew
well that if she came nearer； and spoke so as to reveal herself；
the fatal defect in her beauty would be as apparent as a black line
running athwart the sculptured face of a Greek goddess。 The only
question with him was； did the ominous deformity lie so near the
surface that it could be refined away； or was it ingrained into
the very material of her nature； thus forming an essential part
of herself？ He feared that the latter might be true； or that the
remedy was far beyond his skill or power； but every glance he caught
of the girl； as with her mother she paced the farther end of the
piazza； deepened his regret； as an artist； that so much beauty
should be in degrading bondage to a seeming fool。
Chapter VI。 Reckless Words and Deeds。
Light carriages now began to wheel rapidly up to the entrance；
and were followed soon by the lumbering and heavily…laden stages。
Joyous greetings and merry repartee made the scene pleasant to
witness even by one who； like Van Berg； had no part in it。 Stanton；
who at this moment joined him； drew his special attention to a thin
and under…sized gentleman somewhat past middle age； who mounted the
steps with a tread that was as inelastic as his face was devoid of
animation。
〃There is poor Uncle Mayhew；〃 remarked the young man indifferently。
〃I suppose I must go and speak to him。〃
〃Mr。 Mayhew？〃 said Van Berg； in some surprise。 〃You have not spoken
of him before。 I was not aware that there was any such person in
existence。〃
〃You are not to blame for that；〃 replied Stanton with a shrug。
〃You might have been one of the friends of the family and scarcely
have learned the fact。 Indeed； poor man； he only about half exists；
for he has been so long overshadowed by his fashionable wife and
daughter； that he is but a sickly plant of a man。〃
Van Berg saw that the greeting received by Mr。 Mayhew from his wife
and daughter was very undemonstrative to say the least； and that
then the gentleman quickly disappeared； as if fearing that he might
be in the way。
〃From my very limited means of judging；〃 Van Berg remarked； 〃I
cannot see anything more objectionable in the head of the family
than in the other members。〃
〃Your phrase； 'head of the family；' as applied to Mr。 Mayhew； makes
me smile。 His name figures at the head of the large family bills；
but scarcely elsewhere with much prominence。 You will soon learn；
if you remain here； that Mr。 Mayhew imbibes rather more than is
good for him； so I may as well mention the disagreeable fact at
once。 But to do the poor man justice； I suppose he drinks to keep
his spirits up to the ordinary level； rather than from any hope
of becoming a little jolly occasionally。 Why my aunt married him
I scarcely know； and yet I have often thought that he might be a
very different did she not so quench him by a manner all her own。
As it is； his life seems to consist of toiling and moiling all the
week； and of stolidly and joylessly soaking himself into semi…stupidity
on Sunday。 It this wretched state of affairs could be kept secret
I would not mention it even to you； my intimate friend； but； since it
continues no secret wherever they happen to remain for any length
of time； I would rather tell you the exact truth at once； than
permit you to guess at it through distorted rumors。 As you artists
occasionally express yourselves concerning pictures； so I suppose
you will think that this family； with all its wealth is quite
lacking in tone。〃
〃Well； Stanton； I must admit that I find myself chiefly inclined
towards the subdued and neutral…tinted Mr。 Mayhew。 If you have a
chance I wish you would introduce me to him。〃
〃Are you in earnest？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Then I'll ask him to smoke with us after supper。 Well； Van；
I congratulate you again that your correct and cultivated taste
enabled you to see the fatal flaw in my cousin's beauty。 If you
had been bewitched by her； and had insist