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for Ik； he seems quite inclined to enter upon a serious flirtation
with her。 But what do I care for either of them！ Mr。 Sibley
will be here to…night； and I'll enable this artist to bring his
investigations to a close at once。 I am what I am； and that's the
end of it； and I won't mope and have a stupid time for anybody； and
certainly not for him。 Let him marry the school…ma'am。 She can
talk books； art； and all the 'isms' going； to his heart's content。
I； as well as Miss Burton； have my opinion of flirting； and know
from some little experience that it is jolly good fun。
〃He can go his way； I'll go mine；
E'en though he frowns； the sun will shine。〃
And with a careless gesture she affected to dismiss him from her
thoughts。
To judge from her manner that evening and the following day；
one might suppose that she succeeded very fully。 Sibley； with an
unwonted venturesomeness； did risk his one immaculate possession；
his clothes； and came from the city through the storm。 Ida and
himself； between them； brought about the nearest approach to a
〃ball〃 possible in the circumstances。
The dancing； under their auspices； differed from that of the morning；
not merely in name and form； but in its subtle character。 In the
one instance it had been an innocent pastime； occasioned by childlike
and joyous impulses。 The people's manner might have reminded one
of a bit of darkened landscape that had been rapidly filled with
light； and almost ecstatic life by the advent of a May morning。
In the evening； however； everything was artificial and in keeping
with the gaslight。 The ladies were conscious of their toilets；
conscious of themselves； looking for admiration rather than hearty
enjoyment。 Even the older boys and girls； who had been joyous
children in the morning； were now small parodies of fashionable men
and women！ A band of hired performers twanged out the hackneyed
dancing music then in vogue； going over their small 〃repertoire〃
with wearisome repetition。 People danced at first because it was
the thing to do； and not from any inspiration from the melody。 As
the evening wore on； Sibley； who had been drinking quite freely；
tried to introduce； as far as possible； the excitement of a revel；
calling chiefly for swift waltzes and gallops through which he and
Ida whirled in a way that made people's heads dizzy。
Miss Burton； after going through a quadrille with Stanton early
in the evening； had declined to dance any more。 She did not feel
very well； she explained to Van Berg as he sought her for the
next form； but he imagined that she early foresaw that Sibley and
others； and among them even Stanton； were inclined to give the
evening a character that was not to her taste。
As Ida had made herself somewhat prominent in inaugurating the
〃ball；〃 as Sibley took pains to term it on all occasions； Van Berg；
as a part of his tactics to win the beauty's good…will； tried at
first to make the affair successful。 He danced with others； and
twice sought her hand； but in each case she rather indifferently
told him that she was engaged。 He would not have sought her as a
partner after his first rebuff had he not imagined； from occasional
and furtive glances； that she was not as indifferent as she seemed。
Early in the evening it occurred to him that her slightly reckless
manner was assumed； but he saw that she was abandoning herself to
the growing excitement of the dance； as Sibley； her most frequent
partner； and others； were to the stronger excitement of liquor。
Observant mothers called away their daughters。 Ladies； in whom the
instincts of true refined womanhood were in the ascendancy； looked
significantly at each other； and declined further invitations。
Van Berg had also withdrawn； but with his disposition to watch
manifestations of character in general； and of one present in
particular； he still stood at a parlor window looking on。 The band
had just struck up a livelier waltz than usual； and Ida and Sibley
were whirling through the wide apartment as if treading on air；
but when； a few moments later； they circled near where he stood；
he saw upon the young man's face an expression of earthiness and
grossness that was anything but ethereal。 Indeed so unmistakably
wanton was the look which Sibley bent upon his companion； whose
heaving bosom he clasped against his won； that the artist frowned
darkly at him； and felt his hand tingling to strike the fellow a
blow。
She； looking up； caught his frown； and in her egotism and excitement；
thought it meant only jealousy of the man she had so favored during
the evening。
〃Perhaps he is more deeply smitten than I imagined； and I can punish
him yet；〃 was the hope that entered her mind； and this prospect
added to the elation and excitement which had mastered her。
〃Can she know how that scoundrel is looking at her？ If I believed
it I'd leave her marvellous features to their fate；〃 was the thought
that passed through his mind。
In his perturbation he walked down the long piazza。 Happening to
glance into one of the small private parlors； he witnessed a scene
that made a very sharp contrast with the one he had just left。
An old white…haired； white…bearded man； a well…known guest of the
house； reclined in an easy…chair with an expression of real enjoyment
on his face。 His aged wife sat near； knitting away as tranquilly
as if at home； while under the gas…jet was Miss Burton； reading a
newspaper； with two or three others upon her lap。 She had evidently
found the old gentleman trying to glean； with his feeble sight；
the evening journals that had been brought from the city； and
was lending him her young eyes and mellow voice for an hour。 The
picture struck him so pleasantly that he took out his notebook and
indicated the fortunate grouping within； for a future sketch。
〃It would make some difference in a man's future；〃 he muttered；
〃whether this maiden or the one in yonder roue's embrace were
installed as the mistress of his home。〃
Going back into the main hallway he met Stanton coming down the
stairs with his face unusually flushed。
〃Oh； Van；〃 he cried； 〃where have you been keeping yourself？ Come
with me and have some of the best brandy you ever tasted。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃In Sibley's room。 He brought up a couple of bottles of the prime
old article； and has invited all his friends to make free with it。〃
〃I'm not one of his friends。〃
〃Oh well； you're my friend！ What's the odds？ A swig of such brandy
will do you good； so come along。〃
〃Come out on the piazza； Stanton。 I want to show you something。〃
〃Can't you wait a few moments？ I want to have a whirl in this
jolly waltz before it's over。〃
〃No； then it will be too late。 I won't keep you long；〃 and Stanton
reluctantly followed him。
Van Berg understood his friend sufficiently well to know that
any ordinary remonstrance would have no influence in h