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should be so becoming。
The cool and sagacious Van Berg； who so prided himself on his
correct judgment； was decidedly perplexed and perturbed。
Chapter XXXV。 Desperately Wounded。
Stanton basked in Miss Burton's smiles until a significant look
from Mrs。 Mayhew reminded him of his disagreeable task； for the
performance of which there seemed a greater urgency than ever。
Ida's rather precipitate withdrawal from the supper…room was another
proof in their eyes that some mischief was brewing。
He listened at her door for a moment； and could not fail to hear
the stifled sound of her passionate grief； then knocked； but there
was no response。
〃Ida；〃 he said； in a kinder tone than usual； 〃I want to see you。〃
She tried to quiet her sobbing； and after a moment faltered： 〃You
had better leave me to myself。〃
〃No； I must see you；〃 he said kindly but firmly。 〃I have something
to say to you。〃
The poor girl was so lonely and heart…broken； that she was ready
for the least ray of comfort。 She now saw that she was ignorant
and exceedingly faulty。 She was ready to admit the fact that she
had acted very foolishly and unwisely； and that circumstances were
against her。 Ill…omened circumstances have brought to condemnation
and death innocent men。 Ida would not now claim that she was
innocent of blame； but events had seemed so unfortunate of late；
that she was half ready to think that some vindictive hand was
shaping them。
But she did not feel that she was now worse than she had been。
On the contrary； she had longings for a better life and a broader
culture such as she had never experienced before。 The artist's
eyes； in searching for her woman's soul； revealed to her that she
had been a fool； but now she would gladly become a woman if some
one would only point out the way。
〃Mother and Ik might learn that I am not wholly bad if they would
only take the trouble to find out；〃 she murmured。 〃Ik used to be
kind…hearted； and I thought he cared a little for me； in spite of
our sparing。 Why is he so hard on me of late？ Why can't he believe
that I am just as capable of detesting Sibley as he is？ Perhaps
he does mean to say a kind word； and give me a chance to explain。〃
These thoughts passed through her mind as she lighted the gas and
bathed her face； that she might； to some extent； remove the evidences
of grief。
Stanton misunderstood her wholly。 The new Ida； that deep feeling
and recent events were developing； was unknown to him； and he had
been too preoccupied to see the changes； even had they been more
apparent。 He did feel a sort f commiseration for her evident
suffering； for he was too kind…hearted not to sympathize even
when he believed pain to be well…deserved。 But he thought he must
still deal with her as a wayward； passionate child； as he had in
the past； when she cried till she obtained what she wished； right
or wrong。 He now believed that she was as fully bent on carrying
out her own unreasonable will； but remembered that she was no
longer a child； and might be guilty of folly that society would
not forgive as childish。 Therefore he wished to see her face； and
was disposed to be wary and observant。
He gave her a quick； keen glance as he entered and then said：
〃What's the matter； Ida？ Why do you sit here in the shadows？ It's
as dark as a pocket；〃 and he turned the gas higher。
She did not answer； but sat down with her face averted from him and
the light。 〃He has come here as a spy； and not as a comforter；〃
she thought。
He looked at her a moment； mistook her silence as an expression of
the settled obstinacy of her purpose。
〃Well； Ida；〃 he said； a little irritably； 〃I know you of old。 I
suppose you will have your own way as usual。 If we must submit；
why then we must； but you can't expect us to do so with any grace。
If you won't give up this Sibley； for heaven's sake let your mother
arrange the matter after the fashion of the day！ Out of regard
for your family； go through all the regular formalities。〃
She started violently and then leaned back in her chair as if she
were faint； and half stunned by a blow。 He regarded her manner as
evidence of guilt； or； at least； of proposed criminal imprudence
on her part； and went on still more plainly：
〃If you can't exist without Sibleywhy； marry him； but see to it
that there is a plenty of priest； altar； and service； for you know；
or you ought to； that he's a man who can't be trusted a hair's
breadth。〃
She averted her face still farther； and said in a low constrained
tone：
〃My family； then； consent that I should marry Mr。 Sibley？〃
〃No； we submit to the marriage as an odious necessity； on condition
that you put the whole matter into your mother's hands and allow
her to arrange everything according to society's requirements。〃
〃Please let me understand you；〃 she said in a lower voice。 〃My
family offer to submit to the marriage as a dire necessity lest my
relations with Mr。 Sibley cover them with a deeper shame？〃
〃Well； in plain English； yes。〃
〃It is indeed extraordinarily plain Englishbrutally plain。 And
doesdoes Mr。 Van Berg share in your estimate of me？〃
Her manner and words began to puzzle Stanton； and he remembered
the artist's question〃Are you absolutely sure that Sibley is the
cause of her trouble？〃 He thought that perhaps it might be good
policy to contrast the two men。
〃To be frank；〃 he replied； 〃I think Mr。 Van Berg has both wished
and tried to think well of you。 He admired your beauty immensely；
and sought to find something in your character that corresponded with
it。 Even after your studied rudeness to him； your open preference
of Sibley's society to his； and your remark explaining your course；
'congenial society or none at all'〃 （Ida fairly groaned as he
recalled her folly）； 〃he tried to treat you politely。 That you
should refuse the society of a gentleman like my friend for the
sake of such a low fellow as Sibley； is to us all a disgusting and
fathomless mystery。 The belief that you could throw yourself and
your rare beauty into this abominable slough； was so revolting to
Van Berg； that he never would wholly accept of it until to…day。〃
She rose to her feet and turned upon him。 Her eyes were fairly
blazing with indignation； and her face was white and terrible
from her anger。 In tones such as he had never heard any woman use
before； she said：
〃But to…day you have succeeded in satisfying him that this is not
only possible； but the most natural thing for me to do。 You have
told him that my family will submit to my marriage with a loathsome
wretch； who got drunk in the presence of ladies； insulted an orphan
girl； and attempted murderand all in one Sunday afternoon。 I
suppose you thought me captivated； and carried away by such a burst
and blaze of villainy； and so my high…toned family explain to the
faultles