第12章 A Parthian Arrow.(2)

"She evidently has an antipathy for me,"mused Van Berg."Stanton,no doubt,has told her of my uncomplimentary remarks,and possibly of the fact that I declined an introduction.That's awkward,for if I should now ask to be presented to her,she would very naturally decline,and so we might drift into something as closely resembling a quarrel as is possible in the case of two people who have never spoken to each other."He concluded that it would be best to leave to chance the occasion which should place them on speaking terms,and tried to persuade himself that her unpromising attitude towards him was not wholly unfavorable to his purpose.He never could hope to accomplish anything without at first piquing her pride and wounding her vanity.

His only fear was that this had been done too effectually,and that from first to last she would simply detest him.

In his preoccupation he forgot that the supper hour was passing,but at last started hastily for his room.As he rapidly turned a sharp corner he nearly ran into two ladies who were coming from an opposite direction,and looking up saw Mrs.Mayhew and the flushed,resentful face of her daughter.In spite of himself our even-pulsed philosopher flushed also,but instantly removing his hat he ejaculated:

"I beg your pardon,"and passed on.

As Ida joined her cousin at the supper-table she whispered exultantly:

"He has spoken to me."

"Who has spoken to you?"

"Your artist-bear."

"How did that happen?"

"Well,he nearly ran over me--horrid thing!I suppose that's another of his peculiar ways.""Did he embrace you?"

"Embrace me!Good heavens,what an escape I have had!So this too is characteristic of your friend?""You said he was a bear.If so,he should have given you a hug on the first opportunity.""He didn't have an opportunity,and he never will.""Poor fellow!It will make him sick if I tell him so.Well,since it is another case of beauty and the beast,what did the beast say?""He said that it was very proper he should say to me after all his hatefulness.He said,'I beg your pardon.'""And then I suppose you kissed and made up.""Hush,you horrid thing.I noticed him no more than I would a chair that I might have stumbled over.""Thus displaying that sweet trait of yours--Charity.But I thought it was he that stumbled over you?""A musty,miserable pun!It was he,and I'm delighted it so happened,that the first time he ever spoke to me he had to ask my pardon.""Well,well!I'm glad it so happened,too,and that the ice is broken between you,for Van Berg is a good friend of mine,and it would be confoundedly disagreeable to have you two lowering at each other across a bloody chasm of dark,revengeful thoughts.""The ice isn't broken at all.He has begged my pardon as he ought to do a hundred times;but I haven't granted it,and I never will.

What's more,I'll never speak to him in all my life;never,never!""Swear it by the 'inconstant moon'!"

"Hush,here he comes.Ah,'peste!'his table is right opposite ours.""Who is that tall and rather distinguished-looking gentleman that just entered?"asked Mrs.Mayhew,suddenly emerging from a pre-occupation with her supper which a good appetite had induced.