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perfect beauty； and I could add any expression of characteristic
that I desired。〃 And now he feasted his eyes as a compensation；
in part； for the annoyance she had caused him in the glare of the
audience room。
He soon saw a frown lower upon her hitherto laughing face like the
shadow of a passing cloud； and it was evident that something had
been said that was not agreeable to her vanity。
A moment or two after Stanton had joined the young lady her escort
for the evening had excused himself for a brief time； and had left
the cousins together。 She had then asked； 〃I say； Ik； who was that
gentleman you were talking with？〃
〃He's an old friend of mine。〃
〃He's not an OLD friend of any one。 He is young and quite good…looking；
or rather he has a certain 'distingue' air that makes one look at
him twice。 Who is he？〃
〃He is an artist； and if he lives and works as he is now doing；
through an ordinary lifetime； he will indeed by distinguished。 In
fact； he stands high already。〃
〃How nice；〃 she exclaimed。
〃He has another characteristic； which you will appreciate far more
than anything he will ever accomplish with his brushhe is very
rich。〃
〃Why！ he's perfectly splendid。 Whoever heard of such a strange；
rare creature！ I've flirted with lots of poor artists； but never
with a rich one。 Bring him to me； and introduce him at once。〃
〃He is not one that you can flirt with； like the attenuated youth
who has just meandered to the barroom。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃If you had eyes for anything save your own pretty face； and the
public stare； you would have seen that my friend is not a 'creature；'
but a man。〃
〃Come； Cousin Ik；〃 she replied in more natural tones； 〃too much
of your house is made of glass for you to throw stones。 Flirting
and frolicking are as good any day as eating； smoking； and dawdling。〃
Stanton bit his lip； but retorted； 〃I don't profess to be a bit
better than you are； Coz； but I at least have the sense to appreciate
those who are my superiors。〃
〃So have I； when I find them； I am beginning to think； however；
that you men are very much alike。 All you ask is a pretty face；
for you all think that you have brains enough for two。 But bring
your paragon and introduce him； that I may share in your gaping
admiration。〃
〃You would； indeed； my dear Coz； yawn over his conversation； for
you couldn't understand half of it。 I think we had better remain
where we are till your shadow returns with his eyes and nose
slightly inflamed。 He is aware of at least one method of becoming
a spirited youth； it seems。〃
〃A man who is worth half a million is usually regarded as rather
substantial；〃 she retorted。
〃Yes； but in this case the money…bags outweigh the man too
ridiculously。 For heaven's sake； Coz； do not make a spectacle of
yourself by marrying this attenuation； or society will assert there
was a regularly drawn bill of sale。〃
〃I assure you that I do not intend to put myself under any man's
thumb for a long time to come。 I am having too good a time； and
that reminds me that I would enjoy meeting your friend much more
than listening to your cynical speeches。 Did I not know that you
were like my little King Charlesall bark rather than biteI
wouldn't stand them； and I won't any longer； to…night。 So go and
bring your great embryo artist； or he will become one of the old
masters before I see him。〃
〃I fear I must give you a wee bit of bite this time。 I have offered
to introduce him and he declines the honor。〃
〃How is that？〃 she asked； flushing with anger。
〃I will quote his words exactly； and then you can interpret them
as you think best。 He said； 'I could not speak civilly to a lady
that I had just seen giggling and flirting through one of Beethoven's
finest symphonies。'〃
The young girl's face looked anything but amiable in response to
this speech； but； after a moment； she tossed her head； and replied：
〃'N'importe'there are plenty who can use not only civil words
but complimentary ones。〃
〃Yes； and the mischief of it is that you will listen to them and
to no others。 What sort of muscle can one make who lives only on
sugar…plums？〃
〃They agree with me better than the vinegar drops you and your
unmannerly friend delight in。 I don't believe he ever painted
anything better than a wooden squaw for one of your beloved
cigar…shopswelcome back Mr。 Minty。 You have been away an
unconscionably long time。〃
〃Thanks for the compliment of being missed。 I have tried to make
amends by ordering a 'petit souper' for three； for I was sure your
cousin would join us。 It will be brought to one of yonder stalls；
where； while we enjoy it； we can both see and hear。〃
Surmising that the viands would consist of the choicest delicacies
of the season； Stanton readily accepted the invitation； and it so
happened that the cloth was laid for the party in the stall next to
that in which Van Berg was quietly enjoying a cigar and a frugal glass
of lager。 They took their places quite unaware of his proximity；
and he listened with considerable interest to the tones and words
of the fair stranger who had so unexpectedly taken possession of
his thoughts。 Were it not for a slight shrillness and loudness at
times； and the fashionable affectation of the day； her voice would
have been sweet and girlish enough。 As it was； it suggested an
instrument tuned to a false key and consequently discordant with
all true and womanly harmonies。 Her conversation with young Minty
was as insipid as himself； but occasionally Stanton's cynical banter
evoked something like repartee and wit。
In the course of her talk she said： 〃By the way； Ik； mother and
I start for the country next week。 We are to spend the summer at
the Lake House； which is up the Hudson somewhereyou know where
better than I。 If you will bring your bays and a light wagon
I shall be very glad to see you there； otherwise I shall welcome
youwellas my cousin。〃
〃If I come I will surely bring my bays； and possibly may invite
you to drive with me。〃
〃Oh； I will save you all trouble in that respect by inviting myself；
when so inclined。〃
The orchestra was now about to give a selection that Van Berg wished
to hear to better advantage than he could in his present position；
therefore； unobserved by the party on the other side of the thin
partition； he returned to his old seat in the main hallway。 Not
very long after； Stanton； with his cousin and Mr。 Minty； entered
from the promenade； and again Van Berg received the same vivid
impression of beauty； and； with many others； could not withdraw his
eyes from the exquisite features that were slightly flushed with
champagne and excitement。 But； as before； this impression passed
quickly； and the face again became as exasperating to the artist
as the visage of the Venus of Milo would be should some vandal hand
pencil upon it a leer or a smirk。