a face illumined- 第18部分

and　he　mentioned　what　his　cousin　had　said；　adding：　　〃Can　Ida　have

been　putting　that　brassy　Mrs。　Chints　up　to　some　absurd　performance

that　will　hurt　Miss　Burton's　feelings？〃



They　rose　and　sauntered　down　the　piazza；　Van　Berg　trying　to　imagine

what　was　about　to　take　place　and　how　he　could　shield　the　young　lady

from　any　annoyance。



She　sat　inside　the　entrance　of　the　main　parlor　facing　the　open

windows；　and　a　little　group　had　gathered　around　her；　including

the　ladies　who　sat　at　her　table；　with　whom　she　had　already　become

a　favorite。　　Ida　had　demurely　entered　by　one　of　the　open　windows

and　was　apparently　reading　a　novel　under　one　of　the　gas　jets　not

far　away。　　Groups　of　people　were　chatting　near　or　were　seated　around

card…tables；　others　were　quietly　promenading　in　the　hall…ways　and

on　the　piazza。　　There　was　not　an　indication　of　any　expected　or

unexpected　〃scene。〃　　Only　Ida's　conscious；　observant　expression

and　the　absence　of　Mrs。　Chints　foreboded　mischief。



〃What　enormity　can　that　odious　family　be　about　to　perpetrate？〃

whispered　Stanton。



〃I　cannot　surmise；〃　answered　Van　Berg；　〃something　in　reference　to

the　rescue　of　her　child；　I　suppose。　　I　wish　I　could　thwart　them；

for　Miss　Burton's　position　will　place　her　full　in　the　public　eye；

and　I　do　not　wish　her　to　be　the　victim　of　their　vulgarity。〃



After　a　little　further　hesitation　and　thought　he　stepped　in；　and

approaching　Miss　Burton；　said：



〃Pardon　me　for　interrupting　you；　but　I　wish　to　show　you　something

on　the　piazza　that　will　interest　you。〃



She　rose　to　follow　him；　but　before　she　could　take　a　step　Mrs。　Chints

swept　in　on　the　arm　of　her　husband；　followed　by　the　nursewho　had

been　retained　at　Miss　Burton's　intercessionbearing　in　her　arms

the　little　boy；　that　stared　at　the　lights　and　people　with　the　round

eyes　of　childish　wonder。



Every　one　looked　up　in　surprise　at　the　sudden　appearance　of　the

little　group；　that　suggested　a　christening　more　than　anything　else。



Planting　themselves　before　Miss　Burton；　thus　barring　all　egress；

Mr。　　Chints　fumbled　a　moment　in　his　pocket　and　drew　out　an　envelope；

and　with　a　loud；　prefatory　〃Ahem！〃　began：



〃My　dear　Miss　Burtonthat　is　the　way　Mrs。　Chints　says　I　should　address

you；　thought　it　strikes　me　as　a　trifle　familiar　and　affectionate；

but　I　mean　no　harmwe're　under　peculvery　great　obligations　to

YOU。　　We　learnmy　wife　hasthat　you　are　engagedengagedinI

mean　that　youteach。　　I'm　sure　that's　a　lawful　callingI　mean

a　laudable　one；　and　no　one　can　deny　that　it's　useful。　　In　my　view

it's　to　your　credit　that　you　are　engagedinthat　you　teach。

I　work　myself；　and　always　mean　to。　　In　fact　I　enjoy　it　more　than

making　speeches。　　But　feeling　that　we　were　under　wonderful　obligations

to　YOU；　and　learningmy　wife　didthat　you　were　dependent　onon

your　own　labor；　we　thought　that　if　this　little　fellow　that　you　saved

so　handsomely　should　hand　you　this　check　for　five　hundred　dollars

it　wouldn't　be　amiss。〃　　And　here；　according　to　rehearsal；　the　nurse

with　great　parade　handed　the　child　to　Mrs。　Chints；　who　now；　with

much　'empressement；'　advanced　to　a　position　immediately　before　Miss

Burton；　meanwhile　the　poor；　perspiring　Mr。　Chints　put　the　envelope

into　the　child's　chubby　hand；　saying：



〃Give　it　to　the　lady；　Augustus。〃



But　the　small　Augustus；　on　the　contrary；　stared　at　the　lady　and

put　the　envelope　in　his　mouth；　to　the　great　mortification　of　Mrs。

Chints；　who　had　been　so　preoccupied　with　the　Chints　side　of　the

affair；　and　the　impression　they　were　making　on　the　extemporized

audience；　that　she　had　no　eyes　for　Miss　Burton。



And　that　young　lady's　face　was；　in　truth；　a　study。　　An　expression

of　surprise　was　followed　quickly　by　one　of　resentment。　　Even　Stanton

was　obliged　to　admit　that　for　a　moment　the　little　〃school…ma'am〃

looked　formidable。　　But　as　Mr。　Chints　floundered　on　in　his　speech；

as　some　poor　wretch　who　could　not　swim　might　struggle　to　get　out

of　the　deep　water　into　which　he　had　been　thrown；　the　expression

of　her　face　softened；　and　one　might　imagine　the　thought　passing

through　her　mind〃They　don't　know　any　better；〃　and　when；　at　last；

the　child；　instead　of　carrying　out　the　climax　that　Mrs。　Chints　had

intended；　began　vigorously　to　munch　the　envelope　containing　the

precious　check；　there　was　even　a　twinkle　of　humor　in　the　young

lady's　eyes。　　But　she　responded　gravely：



〃Mr。　Chints；　I　was　at　first　inclined　to　resent　this　scene；　but　time

has　been　given　me　to　perceive　that　neither　you　nor　your　wife　wish

to　hurt　my　feelings；　and　that　you　are　in　part；　at　least；　actuated

by　feelings　of　gratitude　for　the　service　that　I　was　so　fortunate

as　to　render　you。　　But　I　fear　you　do　not　quite　understand　me。　　You

are　right　in　one　respect；　however。　　I　do　labor　for　my　own　livelihood；

and　it　is　a　source　of　the　deepest　satisfaction　to　me　that　I　can

live　from　my　own　work　and　not　from　gifts。　　If　your　hearts　prompt

this　large　donation；　there　are　hundreds　of　poor　little　waifs　in

the　city　to　whom　this　money　will　bring　a　little　of　the　care　and

comfort　which　blesses　your　child。　　As　for　myself；　this　is　all　the

reward　that　I　wish　or　can　receive；〃　and　she　stooped　and　kissed

the　child　on　both　cheeks。　　Then　taking　Van　Berg's　arm；　she　gladly

escaped　to　the　cool　and　dusky　piazza。



Mr。　Chints　looked　at　Mrs。　Chints　in　dismay。　　Mrs。　Chints　handed

the　baby　to　the　nurse；　and　beat　an　undramatic　and　hasty　retreat；

her　husband　following　in　a　dazed　sort　of　manner；　treading　on　her

train　at　every　other　step。



As　Van　Berg　passed　out　of　the　parlor；　he　saw　Ida　Mayhew　vanishing

from　its　farther　side；　with　Stanton　in　close　pursuit。　　When　Miss

Burton　ended　the　disagreeable　affair　by　kissing　the　child；　there　had

been　a　slight　murmur　of　applause。　　Significant　smiles　and　a　rising

him　of　voices　descanting　on　the　affair　in　a　way　not　at　all　complimentary

to　the　crestfallen　Chints　family；　followed　the　disappearances　of

all　the　actors　in　the　unexpected　scene。











Chapter　XII。　　Miss　Mayhew　is　Puzzled。









〃Miss　Burton；〃　said　Van　Berg；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；　〃I　wish

I　could　have　saved　you　from　this　disagreeable　experience。　　I　tried

to　do　so；　but　was　not　quick　enough。　　I　much　blame　my　slow　wits　that

I　was　not　more　prompt。〃



〃I　wish　it　might　have　been　prevented；〃　she　replied；　〃for　their

sakes　as　well　as　my　own。〃



〃I　have　no　compunctions　on　their　account　whatever；〃　said　Van　Berg；

〃and　feel　that　you　let　them　off　much　too　kindly。　　I　think；　however；

that　they　and　all　others　here　will　understand　you　much　better

hereafter。　　I　cannot　express　too　strongly　to　you　how　thoroughly　our

brief　acquaintance　has　taught　me　to　respect　you；　and　if　you　will

permit　me　to　give　an　earnest　meaning　to　Mr。　Burleigh's　jesting　offer

to　share　with　me　the　responsibility　of　your　care；　I　will　esteem　it

an　honor。〃



〃I　sincerely　thank　you；　Mr。　Van　Berg；　and　should　I　ever　need　the

services　of　a　gentleman；〃she　laid　a　slight　emphasis　upon　the

term〃I　shall；　without　any　hesitancy；　turn　to　you。　　But　I　have

long　since　learned　to　be　my　own　protectress；　as；　after　all；　one

must　be；　situated　as　I　am。〃



〃You　seem　to　have　the　ability；　not　only　to　take　care　of　yourself；

but　of　others；　Miss　Burton。　　Nevertheless　I　shall；　with　your

permission；　establish　a　sort　of　protectorate　over　you　which　shall

be　exceedingly　unobtrusive　and　undemonstrative；　and　not　in　the

least　like　that　which　some　powers　make　the　excuse　for　exactions；

until　the　protected　party　is　ready　to　cry　out　in　desperation　to

be　delivered　from　its　friends。　　I　hesitated　too　long　this　evening

from　the　fear　of　being　forward；　and　yet　I　did　not　know　what　was

coming；　and　had　learned　only　accidentally　but　a　few　moments　before

that　anything　was　coming。〃



〃Well；〃　replied　Miss　Burton　with　a　slight　laugh；　〃it's　a　comfortable

thought　that　there's　a　fort　near；　to　which　one　can　run　should　an

enemy　appear；　and　a　pleasanter　thought　still；　that　the　fort　is　strong

and　staunch。　　but；　to　change　the　figure；　I　have　a　great　fancy　for

paddling　my　own　light　canoe；　and　such　small　craft　will　often　float；

you　know；　where　a　ship　of　the　line　would　strike。〃



〃I　will　admit；　Miss　Burton；　that　ships　of　the　line　are　often　unwieldy

and　clumsily　deep　in　the　water；　but　if　you　ever　do　need　a　gunboat

with　a　howitzer　or　two　on　deck；　may　I　hope　to　be　summoned？〃



〃I　could　ask　for　no　better　champion。　　I　fairly　tremble　at　the

broadside　that　would　follow。〃



〃Are　you　thinking　of　the　discharge　or　the　recoil？〃



〃Both　might　involve　danger；〃　said　Miss　Burton；　laughing；　〃but　I

have　concluded　to　keep　on　your　side　through　such　wars　as　may　rage

at　the　Lake　House　during　my　sojourn。　　I　cannot　help　thinking　of

poor　Mr。　　and　Mrs。　Chints。　　I　feel　almost　as　sorry　for　such　people

as　I　do　for　the　blind　and　deaf。　　They　seem　to　lack　a　certain　sense

which；　if　possessed；　would　teach　them　to　avoid　such　scenes。〃



〃I　detest　such　people　and　like　to　snub　them　unmercifully；〃　said

Van　Berg；　heartily。



〃That　may　be　in　accordance　with　a　gunboat　character；　but　is　it

knightly？〃



〃Why　not？　　What　does　snobbishness　and　rich　vulgarity　deserve　at

any　man's　hands？〃



〃Nothing　but　sturdy　blows。　　But　what　do　weak；　imperfect；　half…educated

men　and　women；　who　have　never　had　a　tithe　of　your　advantages；　NEED

at　your　hands？　　Can　we　not　condemn　faults；　and　at　the　same　time

pity　and　help　the　faulty？　　The　gunboat　sends　its　shot　crashing　too

much　at　random。　　It　seems　to　me　that　true　knighthood　would　spare

weakness　of　any　kind。〃



〃I'm　glad　you　have　not　spared　mine。　　You　have　demolished　me　as　a

gunboat；　but　I　would　fain　be　your　knight。〃



〃It　is　Mrs。　Chints　who　needs　a　knight　at　present；　and　not　I。　　It

troubles　me　to　think　of　her　worriment　over　this　foolish　little

episode；　and　with　your　permission　I　will　go　and　try　to　banish　the

cloud。〃



As　she　turned　she　was　intercepted　by　Stanton；　who　said：



〃Miss　Burton；　let　my　present　to　you　my　cousin；　Miss