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out； also glad to escape。 An hour and a half later I went back to
see if I could not coax my wife away for a drive； and what do you
suppose I saw？〃
〃The baby in convulsions；〃 said Stanton。
〃Give it up；〃 added Van Berg。
〃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 I
think it will be found that she is peculiarly reticent in regard
to herself；〃 remarked Van Berg musingly。 〃Well； it's not often I
take 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 introducedin
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 herselfcowardice this
morningfraud 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 dressthat 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 manto 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。〃
Chapter XIV。 A Revelation。
The next day threatened to be a dreary one； for the rain fell so
steadily as to make all sunny； out…of…door pleasures imp