第39章 Nature's Broken Promise.(2)

"Sweet transformation scene;deep hush;my wife asleep in her rocking-chair,the baby asleep in the arms of Miss Burton,who held up a warning finger at me to be quiet.But the mischief was done;my wife started up and was mortified beyond measure that she had treated her guest so rudely.The good fairy,however,was so genuinely delighted that she had quieted the baby and given the tired mother a little rest,that we had to come to the conclusion that she found pleasure in ways that are a trifle uncommon.By some miracle or other she kept the baby asleep,and then my wife and I tried to entertain her a little,but we were the ones that were entertained.Before we knew it,the supper-bell rang,and then I'm blessed if the little chap didn't wake up and grin at us all.To think then that I should reward her by letting Mr.Chints slap her face with a five-hundred-dollar check!I guess we'll all know better next time.""Did she tell you anything further about her history or her connections?"asked Stanton.

Mr.Burleigh stroked his beard and looked rather blank for a moment.

"Now I think of it,"he ejaculated,"I be hanged if she said a word about herself.And now I think further of it,she somehow or other got Mrs.Burleigh and myself a-talking,and seemed so interested in us and what we said,that I be hanged again if we didn't tell her all we know about ourselves.""She impresses every one as being remarkably frank,and yet Ithink it will be found that she is peculiarly reticent in regard to herself,"remarked Van Berg musingly."Well,it's not often Itake people on trust,but I have given this lady my entire respect and confidence.""I assure you that there is no trust in this business,"said Mr.

Burleigh,emphatically."I can't afford to indulge in sentiment,gentlemen;besides,it couldn't be any more becoming in me than in Tom Chints.I wouldn't take an unprotected,unknown female into my house if she came with a pair of wings.But Miss Burton brings letters that establish her character as a lady as truly as that of any other woman in the house.I ought to have prevented this Chints business,but then five hundred is a nice little plum,and before I pulled my slow wits together the thing was done.""By the way,Mr.Burleigh,"remarked Stanton,"I hear that the parties who are now at my friend Van Berg's table are soon to leave for the sea-shore.Can you give me three seats there after their departure?""Certainly;put you down right alongside of Miss Burton.""Perhaps Van Berg feels that he has the first claim to so good a position?""No,Stanton,I shall not place a straw in your way.""You never were a man of straw,Van.If I were seeking more than to enjoy the society of this young lady,who seems to be embodied sunshine,I would be sorry to have you place yourself in the way.""Sunshine brought to a focus kindles even green wood,"remarked Van Berg,with a significant nod at his friend.

"Well,"said Mr.Burleigh,rising,"if I had not found my mate,I'd be a burr that that little woman wouldn't get rid of very easily.

Good-night,gentlemen.I'll give either one of you my blessing.""Good-night,Van,"said Stanton,also."I'm not going to stay and listen to your absurd predictions.Neither shall I permit you to enjoy all by yourself the delicate wine of that woman's wit.When good things are passing round,I propose to have my share.My presence can't hurt your prospects.""And if it did,Ik,do you think me such a churl as to try to crowd you away?""That's magnanimous.I suppose you and my cousin can manage to keep the peace between you.""I think the change will be far more disagreeable to Miss Mayhew than to me.""You are very polite to say so.Good-night.""Well,"mused Van Berg,when left to himself;"I've made progress to-day after a fashion.We have been quite thoroughly introduced--in fact 'thrown together,'as fate and all her friends will have it.

I might have been weeks in gaining as much insight into her character as circumstances have given me in a few brief hours.But what a miserable revelation she has made of herself--cowardice this morning--fraud this afternoon,and cold selfishness,that can amuse itself with the mortification and misfortunes of others,this evening.This is the moral side of the picture.But when I came to 'speer'around to see whether she had any mind or real culture,the exhibition was still more pitiable.Ye gods!that a girl can live to her age and know so little that is worth knowing!She knows how to dress--that is,how to enhance her physical beauty;and that,I admit,is a great deal.As far as it goes it is well.

But of the taste of a beautiful and,at the same time,intellectual and highly cultivated woman,she has no conception;with her it is a question of flesh and blood only.""I wonder if it will ever be otherwise?I wonder if her marvellous beauty,which is now like a budding rose,that partly conceals the worm in its heart,will soon,like the overblown flower,reveal so clearly what mars its life that scarcely anything else will be noticed.What a fate for a man--to be tied for life to a woman who will,with sure gradation,pass from at least outward beauty to utter hideousness!Beauty,in a case like this,is but a mask which time or the loathsome fingers of disease would surely strip off;and then what an object would confront the disenchanted lover!

It would be like marrying a disguised death's-head.Never before did I realize how essential is mental and moral culture to give value to mere external beauty.

"And yet she seems to have a kind of quickness and aptness.She is not wanting in womanly intuition.I still am inclined to believe she has been dwarfed by circumstances and her wretched associations.

Her mind has been given no better means of development than the knowledge of her beauty,the general and superficial homage that it always receives,the little round of thought that centres about self,and the daily question of dress.That's narrowing the world down to a cage large enough only for a poll-parrot.If the bird within has a parrot's nature,what is the use of opening the door and showing it larks singing in the sky?I fear that's what I'm trying to do,and that I shall go back to my fall work with a meagre portfolio and a grudge against nature,for mocking me with the fairest broken promise ever made."