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a face illumined-第6章

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as the visage of the Venus of Milo would be should some vandal hand

pencil upon it a leer or a smirk。  A heavy frown was gathering upon

his brow when the young lady; happening to turn suddenly; caught

and fully recognized his lowering expression。  It accorded only

too well with her cousin's words in regard to Van Berg's estimate

of herself; and greatly increased her resentment towards the one who

had already wounded her vanitythe most vulnerable and sensitive

trait in her character。  The flush that deepened so suddenly upon

her face was unmistakably that of anger。  She promptly turned her

back upon her critic; nor did she look towards him again until

the close of the evening。  That his words and manner rankled in

her memory; however; was proved by a slightly preoccupied manner;

followed by fits of gayety not altogether natural; and chiefly by

the fact that she could not leave the place without a swift glance

at the disturbing cause of her wonted self…approval。  But Van Berg

took pains to manifest his indifference by standing with his back

towards her when she knew that he must be aware of her departure;

from her slightly ostentatious leave…taking of her cousin; in which;

of course; the spoiled beauty had no other object than to attract

attention to herself。



As Van Berg; with his friend; was passing out a few minutes later;

he asked rather abruptly; showing that he also was not so indifferent

as he had pretended to be:



〃What is your cousin's name; Stanton?〃



〃Her name is as pretty as herselfIda Mayhew; and it is worse than

a disquieting ghost in a good many heads and hearts that I know

of。  Indeed its owner has robbed men that I thought sensible; not

only of their peace; but; I should say; of their wits also。  I had

one friend of whom I thought a great deal; and it was pitiable to

see the abject state to which the heartless little minx reduced

him。  I am glad to find that her witchery has no spell for you; and

that you detect just what she is through her disguise of beauty。

'Entre nous;' Van; I will tell you a secret。  I was once over ears

in love with her myself; but my cousinly relationship enabled me

to see her so often and intimately that she cured me of my folly

on homeopathic principles。  'Similia similibus curantur。'  Even

the blindness of love could not fail to discover that when one

subtracted vanity; coquetry; and her striking external beauty from

Ida Mayhew; but little was left; and that little not a heavenly

compound。  Those who know her least; and who add to her beauty

many ideal perfections; are the ones that rave about her most。  I

doubt whether she ever had a heart; if so; it was frittered away

long ago in her numberless flirtations。  But with all her folly

she has ever had the sense to keep within the conventionalities of

her own fashionable 'coterie;' which is the only world she knows

anything about; and whose unwritten laws are her only creed and

religion。  Her disappointed suitors can justly charge her with

cruelty; silliness; ignorance; and immeasurable vanity; but never

with indiscretion。  She has to perfection the American girl's

ability to take care of herself; and no man will see twice to take

a liberty beyond that which etiquette permits。  I have now given

you in brief the true character of Ida Mayhew。  It is no secret;

for all who come to know her well; arrive at the same opinion。  When

I saw you had observed her this evening for the first time; I was

quite interested in watching the impression she would make upon

you; and I am very glad that your judgment has been both good and

prompt; for I slightly feared that your love of beauty might make

you blind to everything else。〃



Stanton's concluding words were as incense to Van Berg; for he

prided himself in no slight degree on his even pulse and sensible

heart; that; thus far; had given him so little trouble; and he therefore

replied; with a certain tinge of complacency and consciousness of

security:



〃You know me well enough; Ik; to be aware that I am becoming almost

a monomaniac in my art。  A woman's face is to me little more than

a picture which I analyze from an artistic stand…point。  A MERELY

PRETTY face is like a line of verse of musical rhythm; but without

sense or meaning。  This is bad and provoking enough; but when

the most exquisite features give expression only to some of the

meanest and unworthiest qualities that can infest a woman's soul;

one is exasperated almost beyond endurance。  At least I am; for I

am offended in my strongest instincts。  Think of employing stately

Homeric words and measure in describing a belle's toilet table with

its rouge…pots; false hair; and other abominations!  Much worse is

it; in my estimation; that the features of a goddess should tell

us only of such moral vermin as vanity; silliness; and the egotism

of a poor little self that thinks of nothing; and knows nothing

save its own small cravings。  Pardon me; Ik; I am not speaking of

your cousin but in the abstract。  In regard to that young lady;

as you saw; I was very much struck with the face。  Indeed; to tell

the honest truth; I never saw so much beauty spoiled  before; and

the fact has put me in so bad a humor that you; no doubt; are glad

I have reached my corner and so must say good…night。〃



〃Ida Mayhew can realize all such abstractions;〃 muttered Ik Stanton;

as he walked on alone。



The reader will be apt to surmise; however; that some resentment;

resulting from his former and unrequited sentiment towards the

girl; gave an unjust bias to his judgement。











Chapter III。  An Artist's Freak。









Van Berg's night…key admitted him to a beautiful home; which he

now had wholly to himself; since his parents and sister had sailed

for Europe early in the spring; intending to spend the summer

abroad。  The young man had already travelled and studied for years

in the lands naturally attractive to an artist; and it was now his

purpose to familiarize himself more thoroughly with the scenery of

his own country。



On reaching his own apartment he took down a prosy book; that he

might read himself into that condition of drowsiness which would

render sleep possible; but sleep would not come; and the sentences

were like the passers…by in the street; whom we see but do not note;

and for whose coming and going we know not the reasons。  Between

himself and the page he saw continually the exquisite features and

the exasperating face of Ida Mayhew。  At last he threw aside the

book; lighted a cigar; and gave himself up to the reveries to which

this beautiful; but discordant visage so strongly predisposed him。

Its perfection in one respect; its strongly marked imperfection

in another; both appealed equally to his artistic and thoughtful

mind。  At one moment it would appear before him with an ideal

loveliness such as had never blessed the eye of his fancy even;

but while he yet looked the features would distort themsel
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