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caused by the violent motion of the vehicle。 I will now resign her
to your care； Mr。 Stanton； and I am glad to believe that the occasion
will require the services of the wheelwright and harness…maker only；
and not those of a surgeon；〃 and lifting his hat to Mrs。 Mayhew
and her daughter he bowed himself off the scene。
Ida； leaning on the arm of her cousin； limped appropriately to her
room； whither she had her dinner sent to her； more for the purpose
of gaining time to compose her nerves than for any other reason。
The impression that she had behaved courageously in peril was
rapidly increased as the story was repeated by one and another； and
she received several congratulatory visits in the afternoon from
her lady acquaintances； and when she came down to supper she found
that she was even a greater heroine than Miss Burton had been。 In
answer to many sympathetic inquiries； she said that she 〃felt as
well as ever；〃 and she tried to prove it by her gayety and careful
toilet。
But she was decidedly ill at ease。 Her old self…complacency was
ebbing away faster than ever。 From the time that it had first been
disturbed by the artist's frown in the concert garden； she had been
conscious of a secret and growing self…dissatisfaction。
It seemed to be this stranger's mission to break the spell vanity
and flattery had woven about her。 The congratulations she was now
receiving were secured by a fraudulent impression； if not by actual
falsehood； and she permitted this impression to remain and grow。
The one； who above all others she most feared and disliked； knew
this。 In smilingly accepting the compliments showered upon her
from all sides she felt that she must appear to him as if receiving
stolen goods； and she believed that in his heart he despised her
more thoroughly than ever。
To the degree that he caused her disquietude and secret humiliation；
her desire to retaliate increased； and she resolved； before the
day closed； to use her beauty as a weapon to inflict upon him the
severest wound possible。 If it were within the power of her art
she would bring him to her feet and keep him there until she could；
in the most decided and public manner； spurn his abject homage。
She would have no scruple in doing this in any case； but； in this
instance； success would give her the keenest satisfaction。
His very desire for her acquaintance； as she understood it； was
humiliating； and； in a certain sense； demoralizing。 Her other
suitors had imagined that she had good traits back of her beauty；
and hitherto she had been carelessly content to believe that she
could display such traits in abundance should the occasion require
them。 Here was one； however； who； while despising the woman； was
apparently seeking her for the sake of her beauty merely； and her
woman's soul； warped and dwarfed as it was； resented an homage that
was seemingly sensuous and superficial； and would； of necessity；
be transient。 In her ignorance of Van Berg's motives； and in the
utter impossibility of surmising them； she could scarcely come to
any other conclusion； and she determined to punish him to the utmost
extent of her ability。
Thus it came to pass that Miss Mayhew had designs against Van Berg
that were not quite as amiable as those of the artist in regard to
herself。
Stanton； in a low tone； remarked to her at the supper table； 〃Now
that fate has throw you and Van Berg together in such a remarkable
manner〃 （the young lady colored deeply at this unfortunate expression
and looked at him keenly）； 〃I trust that you will yield gracefully
to destiny and treat him with ordinary courtesy when you meet。
Otherwise you may occasion surmises that will not be agreeable to
you。〃
〃Has he been telling you anything about this morning？〃 she asked
quickly。
〃Nothing more than he said in your presence。 Why； was there anything
more to tell？〃
〃Certainly not； but he made ill…natured remarks about me oncethat
is； you said he didand why should he not again？〃
〃Well； he has not。 I think he spoke very handsomely of you this
morning。 I hope he didn't exaggerate your good behavior。〃
〃If you prefer to believe ill of me you are welcome to do so。 For
my part； I believe you exaggerate what Mr。 Van Berg said at the
concert； and that he never meant to be so rude。 As far as I can
judge； he has shown no such unmannerly disposition since coming
here。〃
〃Indeed； you are right。 I think his disposition has compared
favorably with your own。〃
〃Well；〃 she replied； with a peculiar smile； 〃we are on speaking
terms for the present。〃
〃That smile bodes no good…will towards my friend； but for once you
will find a man who will not fall helplessly in love with your mere
beauty。〃
〃If you will glance at yonder table you can see that Miss Burton
has already so absorbed him that he has eyes for no one else。〃
〃They have jolly good times at that table。 I wish we were there。〃
〃Indeed！ are you bewitched also？ I can't see what it is that people
find so attractive in that plain…looking girl。〃
〃Well； for one thing； she has a mind。 Beauty without mind is like
salad without dressing。〃
〃And do you mean to say that I have no mind？〃 Ida asked； with a
sudden flush。
〃My dear Coz； we were speaking solely of Miss Burton。 Indeed； I
think you have a very decided will of your own。〃
〃I understand you。 Well； in what other respects is Miss Burton my
superior？〃
〃I doubt if Miss Burton ever thinks of herself as superior to any
one； and that's another very amiable trait in her。〃
〃Can you not sum up her perfections a little more rapidly？ Life
is short；〃 remarked Ida； acidly。
〃Come； Coz； let me get you some sweet…oil before you finish your
supper。 You know you are the handsomest girl in the State； and
that's distinction enough for one woman。 To you； Miss Burton is
only a plain school…teacher。 Why should you envy her？〃
〃I do not envy her； nor can I see why people are so carried away
with her。〃
〃It IS remarkable to see what an impression she has made in two
brief days。 Of course her courage in saving the child served as
a general and favorable introduction； but it does not by any means
explain her growing popularity。 For some reason or other those
about her always seem to be having a good time。 See how animated
and pleased is the expression of all the faces at her table yonder。
It was the same on the croquet…ground this morning。 She effervesced
like champagne； and before we knew it we were all in a state of
exhilaration and the morning had gone。〃
〃I hate these bold； forward women who are quick to become acquainted
with every one。 A man of this type is bad enough； but a woman is
unendurable。〃
〃I agree with you in the abstract most heartily； but the only bold
thing that I have seen Miss Burton do was to run under the feet
of my horses。 You might as well call a ray of sunshine bold and