按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃For once we think alike； Miss Burton；〃 said Ida abruptly。 〃To
think of plodding on through indefinite dreary years toward the
miserable conclusion of old age！ and yet it is said nothing is so
sweet as life。〃
〃Really； Cousin； your advance down the ages reminds one more of a
quickstep than of 'plodding；'〃 remarked Stanton。
〃The step matters little；〃 she retorted； 〃as long as you feel as
if you were going to your own funeral。 I agree with Miss Burton；
that growing old is worse than being old； thought Heaven knows that
both are bad enough。〃
〃I'm not sure that Heaven would agree with either of us；〃 said Miss
Burton； gently。
〃I fear the sermon did not do you much good； Coz；〃 said Stanton；
maliciously。
〃No； it did not。 It did me harm； if such a thing were possible；〃
was the reckless reply。
〃Human nature is generally regarded as capable of improvement；〃
remarked Stanton； sententiously。
〃I was not speaking of human nature generally；〃 said Ida； 〃I was
thinking of myself。〃
〃As usual； my charming Cousin。〃
She flushed resentfully； but did not reply。
〃And I feel that Miss Mayhew has done herself injustice in her
thought；〃 said Miss Burton； with a sympathetic glance at Ida。 〃And
how is it with you； Mr。 Van Berg？ Do you dread growing old？〃
〃I fear my opinion will remind you of Jack Bunsby；〃 replied
the artist。 〃Growing old is like a prospective journey。 So much
depends upon the country through which you travel and your company。
My father and mother are taking a summer excursion through Norway
and Sweden； and I know they are enjoying themselves abundantly。
They have had a good time growing old。 Why should not others？〃
Ida appeared to resent his words bitterly； and with a tone and
manner that surprised every one she said：
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I could not have believed that you were capable
of making so superficial a reply。 Why not say； if the poor were
rich； if the ugly were beautiful； if the sick were well； if the bad
were good； and we all had our heart's desires； we could journey on
complacently and prosperously？〃
The artist flushed deeply under this address； coming from such an
unexpected quarter； but he replied quietly：
〃That allusion with which I prefaced my remark； Miss Mayhew； proved
that I regard my opinion as of little value； and yet I have no
better one to offer。 Nothing is more trite than the comparison
of life to a journey or a pilgrimage。 If one were compelled to
travel with very disagreeable people； in fifth…rate conveyances；
and through regions uninteresting or repulsive； the journey； or to
abandon the figure； growing old； might well be dreaded。 From my
soul I would pity one condemned to such a fate。 It would； indeed；
be 'dreary plodding' where one's best hope would be that he might
stumble upon his grave as soon as possible。 But I do not believe
in any such dreary fatalism。 We are endowed with intelligence
to choose carefully our paths and companions； and I cannot help
thinking that the majority might choose wisely enough to make life
an agreeable journey in the main。〃
〃Look here； Van； I'm no casuist；〃 said Stanton with a shrug； 〃but
I can detect a flaw in your philosophy at once。 Suppose one wanted
good company and could not get it。〃
〃He had better jog on alone； in that case； than take bad company。〃
〃And heavy jogging it might be too；〃 muttered Stanton； with a frown。
Ida's head dropped low and her face became very pale。 Her impulsive
cousin in expressing his own tormenting fear； had unconsciously
defined what promised to be her wretched experience。 She felt
that the artist's eyes were upon her； and in the blind impulse to
shield her secret； which then was so vividly plain to her consciousness；
she raised her head suddenly； and with a reckless laugh remarked：
〃For a wonder I also can half agree with Mr。 Van Bergcongenial
society for me or none at all。〃
A second later she could have bitten her tongue out before uttering
words virtually claimed Sibley as her most congenial companion。
〃Miss Mayhew is better than most of us in that she lives up to her
theories；〃 Van Berg remarked； coldly。
Her eyes shot at him a sudden flash of impotent protest and resentment；
and then she lowered her head with a flush of the deepest shame。
At that moment a loud discordant laugh from Sibley caused many to
look around toward him； and not a few shook their heads and exchanged
significant glances； intimating that they thought the young man
was in a 〃bad way。〃
〃Your philosophy； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 said Miss Burton； 〃may answer very
well for the wise and fortunate； for those whose lives are as yet
unspoiled and unblighted by themselves or others。 But even an
artist； who by his vocation gives his attention to the beautiful；
must nevertheless see that there are many in the world who are neither
wise nor fortunatewho seem predestined by their circumstances；
folly； and defective natures to blunder and sin till they reach
a point where reason and intelligence can do little more for them
than reveal how foolish and wrong they have been； or how great
a good they have missed and lost irrevocably。 The past； with its
opportunities； has gone； and the remnant of earthly life offers
such a dismal prospect； and they find themselves so shut up to
a certain lot； so shackled by the very conditions in which they
exist； that they are disheartened。 It is hard for many of us not
to feel that we have been utterly defeated and so sink into fatal
apathy。〃
Mr。 Mayhew； who had been coldly impassive and resolutely taciturn
thus far； now leaned back in his chair； and his eyes glowed like
two lamps from beneath the eaves of his shaggy brows。 A young and
lovely woman was giving voice to his own crushed and ill…starred
nature； and strange to say； she identified herself with the class
for which she spoke。 in the depths of his heart he bowed down；
reverenced； and thanked her for claiming this kinship to himself；
even thought he knew it must be misfortune and not wrong that had
marred her life。
If Van Berg had not been so preoccupied with the speaker； he would
have seen that the daughter also was hanging on the lips that were
expressing simply and eloquently the thoughts with which her own
heavy heart was burdened。 But when the artist began to speak；
Ida's face grew paler than ever as she saw the glow of admiration
and sympathy that lighted up his features。 Compliments she had
received in endless variety all her life； but never had she seen
a man look at her with that expression。
〃Pardon me； Miss Burton；〃 he said； 〃if I protest against your
using the pronoun you did。 No one will ever be able to associate
the word 'defeat' with you。 I do not understand your philosophy；
but I know it is far better than mine。 While I admit the truth of
your words that I do professionally shut my eyes as far as possible
to all the ugly facts