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well that if she came nearer； and spoke so as to reveal herself；
the fatal defect in her beauty would be as apparent as a black line
running athwart the sculptured face of a Greek goddess。 The only
question with him was； did the ominous deformity lie so near the
surface that it could be refined away； or was it ingrained into
the very material of her nature； thus forming an essential part
of herself？ He feared that the latter might be true； or that the
remedy was far beyond his skill or power； but every glance he caught
of the girl； as with her mother she paced the farther end of the
piazza； deepened his regret； as an artist； that so much beauty
should be in degrading bondage to a seeming fool。
Chapter VI。 Reckless Words and Deeds。
Light carriages now began to wheel rapidly up to the entrance；
and were followed soon by the lumbering and heavily…laden stages。
Joyous greetings and merry repartee made the scene pleasant to
witness even by one who； like Van Berg； had no part in it。 Stanton；
who at this moment joined him； drew his special attention to a thin
and under…sized gentleman somewhat past middle age； who mounted the
steps with a tread that was as inelastic as his face was devoid of
animation。
〃There is poor Uncle Mayhew；〃 remarked the young man indifferently。
〃I suppose I must go and speak to him。〃
〃Mr。 Mayhew？〃 said Van Berg； in some surprise。 〃You have not spoken
of him before。 I was not aware that there was any such person in
existence。〃
〃You are not to blame for that；〃 replied Stanton with a shrug。
〃You might have been one of the friends of the family and scarcely
have learned the fact。 Indeed； poor man； he only about half exists；
for he has been so long overshadowed by his fashionable wife and
daughter； that he is but a sickly plant of a man。〃
Van Berg saw that the greeting received by Mr。 Mayhew from his wife
and daughter was very undemonstrative to say the least； and that
then the gentleman quickly disappeared； as if fearing that he might
be in the way。
〃From my very limited means of judging；〃 Van Berg remarked； 〃I
cannot see anything more objectionable in the head of the family
than in the other members。〃
〃Your phrase； 'head of the family；' as applied to Mr。 Mayhew； makes
me smile。 His name figures at the head of the large family bills；
but scarcely elsewhere with much prominence。 You will soon learn；
if you remain here； that Mr。 Mayhew imbibes rather more than is
good for him； so I may as well mention the disagreeable fact at
once。 But to do the poor man justice； I suppose he drinks to keep
his spirits up to the ordinary level； rather than from any hope
of becoming a little jolly occasionally。 Why my aunt married him
I scarcely know； and yet I have often thought that he might be a
very different did she not so quench him by a manner all her own。
As it is； his life seems to consist of toiling and moiling all the
week； and of stolidly and joylessly soaking himself into semi…stupidity
on Sunday。 It this wretched state of affairs could be kept secret
I would not mention it even to you； my intimate friend； but； since it
continues no secret wherever they happen to remain for any length
of time； I would rather tell you the exact truth at once； than
permit you to guess at it through distorted rumors。 As you artists
occasionally express yourselves concerning pictures； so I suppose
you will think that this family； with all its wealth is quite
lacking in tone。〃
〃Well； Stanton； I must admit that I find myself chiefly inclined
towards the subdued and neutral…tinted Mr。 Mayhew。 If you have a
chance I wish you would introduce me to him。〃
〃Are you in earnest？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Then I'll ask him to smoke with us after supper。 Well； Van；
I congratulate you again that your correct and cultivated taste
enabled you to see the fatal flaw in my cousin's beauty。 If you
had been bewitched by her； and had insisted on imagining （as so
many others have done） that her faultless features were the reflex
of what she is or could become in mind and character； I might have
had a good deal of trouble with you； for you are a mulish fellow when
you get a purpose in your head。 I don't care how badly singed the
average run of moths become。 You may see two or three fluttering
around to…night； if you care to look on； but I wish no friend of mine
to make sport； at serious cost to himself； for yonder incorrigible
coquette； if she is my cousin。 But after what you have seen and now
know； you would be safe enough； even if predisposed to folly。 The
little minx！ but I punished her well for her spite this afternoon。〃
〃O most prudent Ulysses！ you have indeed filled my ears with wax。
I thank you all the same as if my danger were greater。〃
〃Well； view them all with such charity as you can。 I hope you were
not very much annoyed by the loss of your ride。 The young lady
will not be in a hurry to play such a trick again。 I'll join you
after supper in this your favorite and out…of…the…way corner。〃
〃Was beauty ever environed within and without by such desperately
prosaic and inartistic surroundings？〃 mused Van Berg。 〃It glistens
like a lost jewel in an ash…barrel； or； more correctly； it is like
an exquisite flower that nature has perversely made the outcome
of a rank and poisonous vine。 Of course the flower is poisonous
also； and as soon as its first delicate bloom is over； will grow
as rank and repulsive as the vine that bears it。 Like produces
like； and with such parentage； what hope is there for her？ I am
glad no one suspects my absurd project； for every hour convinces
me of its impracticability。 The ancient Undine was a myth； and my
modern Undine might be called a white lie； but one that will grow
darker every day。 At a distance she presents the semblance of a
very fair woman； but I have been unable to detect a single element
yet that will prevent her from developing into an old and ugly hag；
in spite of all that art and costume can do for her。〃
After supper Stanton brought Mr。 Mayhew to Van Berg's retired
nook； and the artist gave the hand of the weary； listless man such
a cordial pressure as to cause him a slight surprise； but after
satisfying his faint interest by a brief glance； he turned the back
of his chair towards all the gay company； although it contained
his wife and daughter； puffed mechanically at his cigar； and looked
vacantly into space。 Before the evening was over； however； Van berg
had drawn from him several quite animated remarks； and secured the
promise that he would join him and Stanton in a ramble immediately
after breakfast the following morning。
Nor had the young man been oblivious of the daughter who now seemed
in her native element。 From his dusky point of observation he
caught frequent glimpses of her； now whirling through a waltz in
the parlor； now talking and laughing in a rather pronounced way fro