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as if to say； 〃Now we are to have one of those pleasures which
fills the cup of life to overflowing。〃
Oh； that casual glance！ It was one of those things that we might
justly call 〃little。〃 Could anything have been more trivial；
slight； and apparently inconsequential than this half involuntary
act？ Indeed it was too aimless even to have been prompted by a
conscious effort of the will。 But this book is one of the least
results of that momentary sweep of the eye。 Another was； that Van
Berg did not enjoy the symphony at all； and was soon in a very bad
humor。 That casual glance had revealed； not far away； a face that
with his passion for beauty； at once riveted his attention。 His
slight start and faint exclamation； caused Ik Stanton to look around
also； and then； with a mischievous and observant twinkle in his
eyes； the bon vivant resumed his cigar； which no symphony could
exorcise from his mouth。
At a table just within the main audience room； there sat a young
lady and gentleman。 Even Van berg； who made it his business to
discover and study beauty； was soon compelled to admit to himself
that he had never seen finer features than were possessed by this
fair young stranger。 Her nose was straight； her upper lip was
short； and might have been modelled from Cupid's bow； her chin did
not form a perfect oval after the cold and severe Grecian type； but
was slightly firm and prominent； receding with decided yet exquisite
curves to the full white throat。 Her cheeks had a transparent
fairness； in which the color came and went instead of lingering
in any conventional place and manner； her hair was too light to be
called brown and too dark to be golden； but was shaded like that on
which the sunlight falls in one of Bougereau's pictures of 〃Mother
and Child；〃 and it rippled away from a broad low brow in natural
waves； half hiding the small； shell…like ears。
Van Berg at first though her eyes to be her finest feature； but
he soon regarded them as the worst； and for the same reason； as he
speedily discovered； that the face； each feature of which seemed
perfect； became； after brief study； so unsatisfactory as to cause
positive annoyance。 To a passing glance they were large； dark；
beautiful eyes； but they lost steadily under thoughtful scrutiny。
A flashing gem may seem real at first； but as its meretricious rays
are analyzed； they lose their charm because revealing a stone not
only worthless worse than worthless； since it mocks us with a false
resemblance； thus raising hopes only to disappoint them。 The other
features remained beautiful and satisfactory to Van Berg's furtive
observation because further removed from the informing mind； and
therefore more justly capable of admiration upon their own merits；
but the eyes are too near akin to the animating spirit not to suffer
from the relationship； should the spirit be essentially defective。
That the beautiful face was but a transparent mask of a deformed；
dwarfed； contemptible little soul was speedily made evident。 The
cream and a silly flirtation with her empty…headed attendanta
pallid youth who parted his hair like a girl and had not other parts
worth namingabsorbed her wholly； and the exquisite symphony was
no more to her than an annoying din which made it difficult to hear
her companion's compliments that were as sweet； heavy； and stale
as Mailard's chocolates； left a year on the shelves。 Their mutual
giggle and chatter at last became so obtrusive that an old and
music…loving German turned his broad face towards them； and hissed
out the word 〃Hist！〃 with such vindictive force as to suggest that
all the winds had suddenly broken lose from the cave of Aeolus。
Ik Stanton； who had been watching Van Berg's perturbed； lowering
face； and the weak comedy at the adjacent table； was obviously much
amused； although he took pains to appear blind to it all and kept
his back； as far as possible； towards the young lady。
The German's 〃hist〃 had been so fierce as to be almost like a rap
from a policeman's club； and there was an enforced and temporary
suspension of the inane chatter。 The attendant youth tried
to assume the incensed and threatening look with which an ancient
gallant would have laid his hand on the hilt of his sword。 But
some animals and men only become absurd when they try to appear
formidable。 It was ludicrous to see him weakly frowning at the
sturdy Teuton who had already forgotten his existence as completely
as he might that of a buzzing mosquito he had exterminated with a
slap。
They young girl's face grew even less satisfactory as it became
more quiet。 A muddy pool； rippled by a breeze； will sparkle quite
brilliantly while in motion； but when quiet it is seen the more
plainly to be only a shallow pool。 At first the beautiful features
expressed only petty resentment at the public rebuke。 As this
faintly lurid light faded out and left the countenance in its normal
state it became more heavy and earthy in its expression than Van
Berg would have deemed possible； and it ever remained a mystery to
him how features so delicate； beautiful； and essentially feminine
could combine to show so clearly that the indwelling nature
was largely alloyed with clay。 there was not that dewy freshness
in the fair young face which one might expect to see in the early
morning of existence。 The Lord from heaven breathed the breath of
life into the first fair woman； but this girl might seem to have
been the natural product of evolution； and her soul to be as truly
of the earth as her body。
It was evident that she had been made familiar too early and
thoroughly with conventional and fashionable society； and； although
this fraction of the world is seldom without its gloves； its touch
nevertheless had soiled her nature。 Her face did not express any
active or malignant principle of evil； but a close observer； like
Van Berg； in whom the man was in the ascendant over the animal； could
detect the absence of the serene； maidenly purity of expression；
characteristic of those girls who have obtained their ideas of life
from good mothers； rather than from French novels； French plays；
and a phase of society that borrows its inspiration from fashionable
Paris。
With the ending of the symphony the chatting and flirting at the
table began again； to Van Berg's increased disgust。 Indeed； he
was so irritated that he could no longer control himself； and rose
abruptly； saying to his companion：
〃Come； let us walk outside。〃
His sudden movement drew the young lady's attention； but by this
time he had only his broad shoulders turned towards her。 She saw
Ik Stanton looking at her； however； with a face full of mischief；
and she recognized him with a nod and a smile。
He； with the familiarity that indicated relationship； but with a
motion too slight to be noticed by others； threw her a kiss from
the tips of his fingers； as one might toss a sugar…plum to a child