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any ordinary remonstrance would have no influence in his present
condition； and so sought to use a little strategy。 Taking him to
the window of the small private parlor； he showed and explained to
him the pretty and quiet scene within。
Stanton's manner changed instantly； and he seemed in no haste to
return to the waltz。
〃I thought it would strike you as a pretty picture； as it did me；〃
remarked Van Berg； quietly； 〃and I also thought that after seeing
it you would not want any more of Sibley's brandy。 It would choke
me。〃
〃You are right； Van。 I fear I've taken too much of it already。
I'm glad you showed me this quiet pictureit makes me wish I were
a better man。〃
〃I like that； Ik； I always knew you had plenty of good metal in you。
Now I don't want to be officious； but I would not let a cousin of
mine dance with Sibley any longer if I could prevent it without
attracting attention。 However generous he may have been with his
brandy； he has had more than his share himself。〃
〃Thank you； Van； I understand you。 By Jove； I'll try the same
tactics with her that you have with me。 I'll bring her here and
show her a scene that has been to me like a quieting and restraining
hand。〃
A few moments later the waltz ceased； and Miss Mayhew came out on
the cool； dusky piazza； leaning on Sibley's arm。 Stanton joined
her and said：
〃Ida； come with me； I wish to speak with you a moment。 Mr。 Sibley；
please excuse us。〃
〃Indeed； Mr。 Stanton；〃 said Sibley in tones of maudlin sentiment；
〃you are cruel to deprive me of your cousin's society even for a
moment。 I'll forgive you this once； but never again。〃 And then
he availed himself of the opportunity to pay another visit to his
brandy。
〃Ida；〃 said Stanton； 〃I want to show you a little picture that has
done me good。〃
But the young lady was in no mood for pictures or moralizing。 Her
blood was coursing feverishly through her veins； her spirit had
been made reckless by the wilful violence that she was doing her
conscience； and also by her deep and growing dissatisfaction with
herself； that was like an irritating wound。 She was therefore
prepared to resent any interruption to the whirl of excitement；
which gave her a kind of pleasure in the place of the happiness
that was impossible to one in her condition。
〃You call that a pretty picture！〃 she said disdainfully； 〃Miss
Burton reading a newspaper to two stupid old people who ought to be
abed！ A more humdrum scene I never saw。 Truly； both your breath
and your words show that you have been drinking too much。 But
you need not expect me to share in your tipsy sentiment over Miss
Burton。 Did Mr。 Van Berg ask you to show me this matter…of…fact
group which； in his artistic jargon； you call a picture？〃
〃If he had； he showed you a greater kindness than you deserved。〃
〃Yes； and a greater one than I asked or wished from him。〃
〃Then you are going back to dance with Sibley？〃
〃Yes； I am。〃
〃The prospects are； that you and Mrs。 Chints and a couple of
half…tipsy men will soon have it all to yourselves。 I suppose the
old adage about 'birds of a feather' swill still hold good。 I was
in hopes； however； that even if you had no appreciation of what
was beautiful； refined； and unselfish in another woman's action；
you still had some self…respect； or at least some fear of ridicule；
left。 Since you won't listen to me； I shall warn your mother。
If Sibley and two or three others drink much more； Burleigh will
interfere for the credit of his house。〃
〃You have been drinking as well as Mr。 Sibley。〃
〃Well； thanks to Van Berg； I stopped before I lost my head。〃
〃From your maudlin sentiment over Miss Burton； I think you have
lost your head and heart both。〃
〃Go； dance with Sibley； then；〃 he said in sudden irritation； 〃dance
with him till you and Mrs。 Chints between you have to hold him on
his feet。 Dance with him till Burleigh sends a couple of colored
waiters to take him from your embrace and carry him off to bed。〃
She made a gesture of rage and disgust； and went straight to her
room。
Sibley； in the mean time； paid a lengthened visit to his brandy；
and having already passed the point of discretion； drank recklessly。
When he descended the stairs again to look for his partner； his
step was uncertain and his utterance thick。
Stanton gave Mr。 Burleigh a hint that the young man needed looking
after； and the adroit host； skilled in managing all kinds of people
and in every condition； induced him to return to his room； under
the pretence of wishing to taste his fine old brandy； and then kept
him there until the lethargic stage set in as the result of his
excess。 And so an affair； which might have created much scandal；
was smuggled out of sight and knowledge as far as possible。 Mrs。
Mayhew had been so occupied with whist that she had not observed
that anything was amiss； and merely remarked that 〃Mr。 Sibley's
ball had ended earlier than usual。〃
Chapter XVI。 Out Among Shadows。
The expression of Ida Mayhew's face was cold and defiant on the
following day。 She did not attend church with her mother； but remained
all the morning in her room。 She not only avoided opportunities
of speaking to Van Berg when coming down to dinner and during the
afternoon； but she would not even look towards him； and her manner
towards her cousin also was decidedly icy。
〃I don't know what is the matter with Ida；〃 her mother remarked to
Stanton； 〃she has acted so strangely of late。〃
〃It's the old complaint； I imagine；〃 he replied with a shrug。
〃What's that？〃
〃Caprice。〃
〃Oh； well！ she's no worse than other pretty； fashionable girls；〃
said Miss Mayhew； carelessly。
Stanton； in his anger on the previous evening； had not spoken of
his cousin to Van Berg in a very complimentary way； but the artist
remembered that the young man himself was not in a condition to
form either a correct or charitable judgment； while the fact that
Ida； as a result of his remonstrance； had gone directly to her room；
was in her favor。 He still resolved to suspend his final opinion
and not to give over his project until satisfied that her nature
contained too much alloy to permit of its success。 He paid no heed
therefore to her coldness of manner； and when at last meeting her
face to face on the piazza Sunday evening； he lifted his hat as
politely as possible。
Sibley did not appear until the arrival of the dinner hour。 He was
under the impression that he had gone a little too far the night
before； and tried to make amends by an immaculate toilet and an
urbane yet dignified courtesy towards all whom he knew。 Society
very readily winks at the indiscretions of wealthy young men。
Moreover； he had been inveigled back to his room before his condition
had been observed to any extent。 There fore he found himself so
well received in the main； tha