第6章 Ida Mayhew.(2)

Van Berg sat down in one of the little stalls that stood open to the main promenade,and saw his friend thread his way among the moving figures,and address his cousin.As she turned to speak with Stanton,the artist received again that vivid impression of beauty,which her face ever caused before time was given for closer scrutiny.Indeed from his somewhat distant point of observation,and in the less searching light,the fatal flaw could scarcely be detected.Her affected tones and silly words could not be heard,and he saw only dark lustrous eyes lighting up features that were almost a revelation even to him with his artistic familiarity with beauty.

"If I could always keep her at about that distance,"he muttered,"and arrange the lights and shadows in which to view her face,Icould not ask for a better study,for she would give me a basis of 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 brush--he 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 Charles--all bark rather than bite--Iwouldn'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: