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The next day threatened to be a dreary one； for the rain fell so
steadily as to make all sunny； out…of…door pleasures impossible。
Many looked abroad with faces as dismal and cloudy as the sky；
for the number of those who rise above their circumstances with a
cheery courage are but few。 Human faces can shine； although the
sun be clouded； but； as a rule； the shadow falls on the face also；
and the regal spirit succumbs like a clod of earth。
The people came straggling down late to breakfast in the dark
morning； and； with a childish egotism that considers only self and
immediate desires； the lowering weather which meant renewed beauty
and wealth to all the land； was berated as if it were a small spite
against the handful of people at the Lake House。 Van Berg heard
Ida Mayhew exclaiming against the clouds as if this spite were
aimed at herself only。
〃Some of her friends might not venture from the city；〃 she said。
〃They youths are not venturesome； then；〃 remarked Stanton； who
never lost an opportunity to tease。
〃Of course they don't wish to get wet；〃 she pouted。
〃And yet I'll wager any amount that they are not of the 'salt of
the earth' in any scriptural sense。 Well； they had better stay
in town； for this would be an instance of 'much ventured； nothing
gained。'〃
〃You remind me of a certain fox who could not say enough hard things
about the grapes that were out of reach。 But mark my words； Mr。
Sibley will come； if it pours。〃
〃He wouldn't risk the spoiling of his clothes for any woman living。〃
〃You judge him by yourself。 Oh； dear； how shall I get through this
long； horrible day！ You men can smoke like bad chimneys through
a storm； but for me there is no resource to…day； but a dull novel
that I've read once before。 Let me see； I'll read an hour and
sleep three； and then it will be time to dress for dinner。 Oh；
good…morning； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she says to the artist who had been
listening to her while apparently giving close attention to Mrs。
Mayhew's interminable tirade against rainy days； 〃I have just been
envying you gentlemen who can kill stupid hours by smoking。〃
〃I admit that it is almost as bad as sleeping。〃
〃I see that you have a homily prepared on improving the time； so
I shall escape at once。〃
On the stairs she met Miss Burton； who was descending with a breezy
swiftness as if she were making a charge on the general gloom and
sullenness of the day。
〃Good…morning； Miss Mayhew；〃 she said； 〃I'm glad to see you looking
so well after the severe shaking up you had yesterday。 You would
almost tempt one to believe that rough usage is sometimes good for
us。〃
〃I have no such belief； I assure you。 Yesterday was bad enough；
but to…day promises to be worse。 I was going to make up a boating
party； but what can one do when the water is overhead instead of
under the keel？〃
〃Scores of things；〃 was the cheery reply。 〃I'm going to have a
good time。〃
〃I'm going to sleep；〃 said Ida； passing on。
〃Miss Burton；〃 said Stanton； joining her at the foot of the stairs；
〃I perceive； even from your manner of descending to our lower world；
that you are destined to vanquish the dullness of this rainy day。
Don't you wish an ally？〃
〃Would you be an ally； Mr。 Stanton； if you saw I was destined to
be vanquished？〃
〃Of course I would。〃
〃Look in the parlor then。 There are at least a dozen ladies
already vanquished。 They are oppressed by the foul…fiend； 'ennui。'
Transfer your chivalric offer to them and deliver them。〃
〃Stanton；〃 laughed Van Berg； 〃you are in honor bound to devote
yourself to those oppressed ladies。〃
〃The prospect is so dark and depressing that I shall at least cheer
myself first with the light of a cigar。〃
〃And so your chivalry will end in smoke；〃 she said。
〃Yes； Miss Burton； the smoke of battle； where you are concerned。〃
〃I fear your wit is readier than your sword。 The soldier that
boasts how he would overwhelm some other foe than the one before
him loses credit to the degree that he protests。〃
〃You are more exacting； Miss Burton； than the lady who threw her
glove down among the lions。 What chance would Hercules himself
have of lifting those twelve heavy females out of the dumps？〃
〃It's not what we do； but what we attempt； that shows our spirit。〃
〃Then I shall expect to see you attempt great things。〃
〃I'm only a woman。〃
〃And I'm only a man。〃
〃Only a man！ what greater vantage…ground could one have than to be
a man？〃
〃The advantage is not so uncommon that one need be unduly elated；〃
state Stanton with a shrug。 〃I forget how many hundred millions
of us there are。 But I'm curious to see how you will set about
rendering the hues of this leaden day prismatic。〃
〃Only by being the innocent cause of your highly colored language；
I imagine。〃
〃Oh； dear；〃 exclaimed a little boy petulantly； as he strolled through
the hall and looked out at the steady downfall of rain。 〃Oh dear！
Why can't it stop raining？〃
〃There's the philosophy of our time for you in a nutshell；〃 said
Van Berg。 〃When a human atom wants anything； what business has
the universe to stand in its way？〃
〃But you have no better philosophy to offer the disconsolate little
fellow； Mr。 Ban Berg？〃 Miss Burton asked。
〃Now； Van； it's your turn。 Remember； Miss Burton； he has the same
vantage…ground that I have。 Indeed he's half an inch taller。〃
〃The world long ago learned better than to measure men by inches；
Mr。 Stanton。〃
〃Alas； Miss Burton；〃 said Van Berg； 〃the best philosophy I have is
this： when it rains； let it rain。〃
〃And thus I'm privileged to meet representatives of those two
ancient and honorable schools； the Stoic and Epicurean； and you both
think； I fear； that if Xanthippe had founded a school； my philosophy
would also be defined。 But perhaps you will think better of me if
I tell that little fellow a story to pass the time for him。 What's
the matter； little folk？〃 she asked； for two or three more small
clouded faces had gathered at the door。
〃Matter enough；〃 said the boy。 〃This horrid old rain keeps us in
the house； where we can't do anything or stay anywhere。 We mustn't
play in the parlor； we mustn't make a noise in the halls； we mustn't
run on the piazzas。 I'd like to live in a world where there was
some place for boys。〃
〃Poor child；〃 said Miss Burton； 〃this rain is as bad for you as
the deluge to Noah's dove； it has left you no refuge for the sole
of your foot。 Will you come with me？ No one has said you must
not hear a jolly story。〃
〃You won't tell me about any good little boys who died when they
were as big as I am？〃
〃I'll keep my wordit shall be a jolly story。〃
〃May we hear it too？〃 asked the other children。
〃Yes； all of you。〃
〃Where shall we go？〃
〃We won't disturb any one in the far corner of the parlor by th