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this large donation； there are hundreds of poor little waifs in
the city to whom this money will bring a little of the care and
comfort which blesses your child。 As for myself； this is all the
reward that I wish or can receive；〃 and she stooped and kissed
the child on both cheeks。 Then taking Van Berg's arm； she gladly
escaped to the cool and dusky piazza。
Mr。 Chints looked at Mrs。 Chints in dismay。 Mrs。 Chints handed
the baby to the nurse； and beat an undramatic and hasty retreat；
her husband following in a dazed sort of manner； treading on her
train at every other step。
As Van Berg passed out of the parlor； he saw Ida Mayhew vanishing
from its farther side； with Stanton in close pursuit。 When Miss
Burton ended the disagreeable affair by kissing the child； there had
been a slight murmur of applause。 Significant smiles and a rising
him of voices descanting on the affair in a way not at all complimentary
to the crestfallen Chints family； followed the disappearances of
all the actors in the unexpected scene。
Chapter XII。 Miss Mayhew is Puzzled。
〃Miss Burton；〃 said Van Berg； as soon as they were alone； 〃I wish
I could have saved you from this disagreeable experience。 I tried
to do so； but was not quick enough。 I much blame my slow wits that
I was not more prompt。〃
〃I wish it might have been prevented；〃 she replied； 〃for their
sakes as well as my own。〃
〃I have no compunctions on their account whatever；〃 said Van Berg；
〃and feel that you let them off much too kindly。 I think； however；
that they and all others here will understand you much better
hereafter。 I cannot express too strongly to you how thoroughly our
brief acquaintance has taught me to respect you； and if you will
permit me to give an earnest meaning to Mr。 Burleigh's jesting offer
to share with me the responsibility of your care； I will esteem it
an honor。〃
〃I sincerely thank you； Mr。 Van Berg； and should I ever need the
services of a gentleman；〃she laid a slight emphasis upon the
term〃I shall； without any hesitancy； turn to you。 But I have
long since learned to be my own protectress； as； after all； one
must be； situated as I am。〃
〃You seem to have the ability； not only to take care of yourself；
but of others； Miss Burton。 Nevertheless I shall； with your
permission； establish a sort of protectorate over you which shall
be exceedingly unobtrusive and undemonstrative； and not in the
least like that which some powers make the excuse for exactions；
until the protected party is ready to cry out in desperation to
be delivered from its friends。 I hesitated too long this evening
from the fear of being forward； and yet I did not know what was
coming； and had learned only accidentally but a few moments before
that anything was coming。〃
〃Well；〃 replied Miss Burton with a slight laugh； 〃it's a comfortable
thought that there's a fort near； to which one can run should an
enemy appear； and a pleasanter thought still； that the fort is strong
and staunch。 but； to change the figure； I have a great fancy for
paddling my own light canoe； and such small craft will often float；
you know； where a ship of the line would strike。〃
〃I will admit； Miss Burton； that ships of the line are often unwieldy
and clumsily deep in the water； but if you ever do need a gunboat
with a howitzer or two on deck； may I hope to be summoned？〃
〃I could ask for no better champion。 I fairly tremble at the
broadside that would follow。〃
〃Are you thinking of the discharge or the recoil？〃
〃Both might involve danger；〃 said Miss Burton； laughing； 〃but I
have concluded to keep on your side through such wars as may rage
at the Lake House during my sojourn。 I cannot help thinking of
poor Mr。 and Mrs。 Chints。 I feel almost as sorry for such people
as I do for the blind and deaf。 They seem to lack a certain sense
which； if possessed； would teach them to avoid such scenes。〃
〃I detest such people and like to snub them unmercifully；〃 said
Van Berg； heartily。
〃That may be in accordance with a gunboat character； but is it
knightly？〃
〃Why not？ What does snobbishness and rich vulgarity deserve at
any man's hands？〃
〃Nothing but sturdy blows。 But what do weak； imperfect； half…educated
men and women； who have never had a tithe of your advantages； NEED
at your hands？ Can we not condemn faults； and at the same time
pity and help the faulty？ The gunboat sends its shot crashing too
much at random。 It seems to me that true knighthood would spare
weakness of any kind。〃
〃I'm glad you have not spared mine。 You have demolished me as a
gunboat； but I would fain be your knight。〃
〃It is Mrs。 Chints who needs a knight at present； and not I。 It
troubles me to think of her worriment over this foolish little
episode； and with your permission I will go and try to banish the
cloud。〃
As she turned she was intercepted by Stanton； who said：
〃Miss Burton； let my present to you my cousin； Miss Mayhew。〃
A ray from a parlor lamp fell upon Ida's face； and Van Berg saw at
once that it was clouded and unamiable in its expression。 Stanton
had evidently been reproaching her severely。
Miss Burton held out her hand cordially and said； 〃I wish to thank
you for maintaining the credit of our sex this morning。 These
superior men are so fond of portraying us as hysterical； clinging
creatures whose only instinct in peril is to throw themselves on
man's protection； that I always feel a little exultation when one
of the 'weaker and gentler sex；' as we are termed； show the courage
and presence of mind which they coolly appropriate as masculine
qualities。〃
〃Are you an advocate of woman's rights； Miss Burton？〃 asked Miss
Mayhew； stung by the unconscious sarcasm of the lady's words； to reply
in almost as resentful a manner as if a wound had been intended。
〃Not of woman's； particularly；〃 was the quiet answer； 〃I would be
glad if every one had their rights。〃
〃You philanthropy is very wide； certainly。〃
〃And therefore very thin； perhaps you think； since it covers so much
ground。 I agree with you； Miss Mayhew； that general good…will is
as cold and thin as moonshine。 One ray of sunlight that warms some
particular thing into life is worth it all。〃
〃Indeed！ I think I prefer moonlight。〃
〃There are certain absorbing avocations in life to which moonshine
is better adapted then sunlight； is probably the thought in my
cousin's mind；〃 said Stanton； satirically。
〃And what are they？〃 asked Miss Burton。
〃Flirtation； for instance。〃
〃My cousin is speaking for himself；〃 said Ida； acidly； 〃and knows
better what is in his own mind than in mine。〃
〃If some ladies themselves never know their own minds； how can
another know？〃 Stanton retorted。
〃Well；〃 said Miss Burton； with a laugh； 〃if we accept a practical
philosophy much in voguethat of taking the world as we find
itfl