a face illumined-第5部分
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at the disturbing cause of her wonted self…approval。 But Van Berg
took pains to manifest his indifference by standing with his back
towards her when she knew that he must be aware of her departure；
from her slightly ostentatious leave…taking of her cousin； in which；
of course； the spoiled beauty had no other object than to attract
attention to herself。
As Van Berg； with his friend； was passing out a few minutes later；
he asked rather abruptly； showing that he also was not so indifferent
as he had pretended to be：
〃What is your cousin's name； Stanton？〃
〃Her name is as pretty as herselfIda Mayhew； and it is worse than
a disquieting ghost in a good many heads and hearts that I know
of。 Indeed its owner has robbed men that I thought sensible； not
only of their peace； but； I should say； of their wits also。 I had
one friend of whom I thought a great deal； and it was pitiable to
see the abject state to which the heartless little minx reduced
him。 I am glad to find that her witchery has no spell for you； and
that you detect just what she is through her disguise of beauty。
'Entre nous；' Van； I will tell you a secret。 I was once over ears
in love with her myself； but my cousinly relationship enabled me
to see her so often and intimately that she cured me of my folly
on homeopathic principles。 'Similia similibus curantur。' Even
the blindness of love could not fail to discover that when one
subtracted vanity； coquetry； and her striking external beauty from
Ida Mayhew； but little was left； and that little not a heavenly
compound。 Those who know her least； and who add to her beauty
many ideal perfections； are the ones that rave about her most。 I
doubt whether she ever had a heart； if so； it was frittered away
long ago in her numberless flirtations。 But with all her folly
she has ever had the sense to keep within the conventionalities of
her own fashionable 'coterie；' which is the only world she knows
anything about； and whose unwritten laws are her only creed and
religion。 Her disappointed suitors can justly charge her with
cruelty； silliness； ignorance； and immeasurable vanity； but never
with indiscretion。 She has to perfection the American girl's
ability to take care of herself； and no man will see twice to take
a liberty beyond that which etiquette permits。 I have now given
you in brief the true character of Ida Mayhew。 It is no secret；
for all who come to know her well； arrive at the same opinion。 When
I saw you had observed her this evening for the first time； I was
quite interested in watching the impression she would make upon
you； and I am very glad that your judgment has been both good and
prompt； for I slightly feared that your love of beauty might make
you blind to everything else。〃
Stanton's concluding words were as incense to Van Berg； for he
prided himself in no slight degree on his even pulse and sensible
heart； that； thus far； had given him so little trouble； and he therefore
replied； with a certain tinge of complacency and consciousness of
security：
〃You know me well enough； Ik； to be aware that I am becoming almost
a monomaniac in my art。 A woman's face is to me little more than
a picture which I analyze from an artistic stand…point。 A MERELY
PRETTY face is like a line of verse of musical rhythm； but without
sense or meaning。 This is bad and provoking enough； but when
the most exquisite features give expression only to some of the
meanest and unworthiest qualities that can infest a woman's soul；
one is exasperated almost beyond endurance。 At least I am； for I
am offended in my strongest instincts。 Think of employing stately
Homeric words and measure in describing a belle's toilet table with
its rouge…pots； false hair； and other abominations！ Much worse is
it； in my estimation； that the features of a goddess should tell
us only of such moral vermin as vanity； silliness； and the egotism
of a poor little self that thinks of nothing； and knows nothing
save its own small cravings。 Pardon me； Ik； I am not speaking of
your cousin but in the abstract。 In regard to that young lady；
as you saw； I was very much struck with the face。 Indeed； to tell
the honest truth； I never saw so much beauty spoiled before； and
the fact has put me in so bad a humor that you； no doubt； are glad
I have reached my corner and so must say good…night。〃
〃Ida Mayhew can realize all such abstractions；〃 muttered Ik Stanton；
as he walked on alone。
The reader will be apt to surmise； however； that some resentment；
resulting from his former and unrequited sentiment towards the
girl； gave an unjust bias to his judgement。
Chapter III。 An Artist's Freak。
Van Berg's night…key admitted him to a beautiful home； which he
now had wholly to himself； since his parents and sister had sailed
for Europe early in the spring； intending to spend the summer
abroad。 The young man had already travelled and studied for years
in the lands naturally attractive to an artist； and it was now his
purpose to familiarize himself more thoroughly with the scenery of
his own country。
On reaching his own apartment he took down a prosy book； that he
might read himself into that condition of drowsiness which would
render sleep possible； but sleep would not come； and the sentences
were like the passers…by in the street； whom we see but do not note；
and for whose coming and going we know not the reasons。 Between
himself and the page he saw continually the exquisite features and
the exasperating face of Ida Mayhew。 At last he threw aside the
book； lighted a cigar； and gave himself up to the reveries to which
this beautiful； but discordant visage so strongly predisposed him。
Its perfection in one respect； its strongly marked imperfection
in another； both appealed equally to his artistic and thoughtful
mind。 At one moment it would appear before him with an ideal
loveliness such as had never blessed the eye of his fancy even；
but while he yet looked the features would distort themselves into
the vivid expression of some contemptible trait； so like what he
had seen in reality； during the evening； that； in uncontrollable
irritation； he would start up and pace the floor。
His uncurbed imagination conjured up all kinds of weird and grotesque
imagery。 He found himself commiserating the girl's features as if
they were high…toned captives held in degrading bondage by a spiteful
little monster； that delighted to put them to low and menial uses。
To one of his temperament such beauty as he had just witnessed；
controlled by； and ministering to； some of the meanest and pettiest
of human vices； was like Mary Magdalene when held in thraldom by
seven devils。
A cool and matter…of…fact person could scarcely understand Van
Berg's annoyance and perturbation。 If a true artist were compelled
to see before him a portrait that required only a few skillful
touches in order to become a perfect likeness； and yet could not
give those touches； the picture would become a constant vexation；
and the better the picture； the nearer it approached the truth； the
deeper would be the irritation that all should be spoiled through
defects for which there was no necessity。
In the face that persistently haunted him Van Berg saw a beauty
that might fulfil his best ideal； and he also saw just why it did
not and never could； until its defects were remedied。 He felt
a sense of personal loss that he should have discovered a gem so
nearly perfect and yet marred by so fatal a flaw。
The next day it was still the same。 The face of Ida Mayhew interposed
itself before everything that he sought to do or see。 Whether it
were true or not； it appeared to him that in all his wanderings and
observations he had never seen features so capable of fulfilling
his highest conception of beauty did they but express the higher
qualities and emotions of the soul。 He also felt that never
before had he seen a face that would seem to him so hideous in its
perversion。
He threw down his brush and palette in despair and again gave himself
up to his fancies。 He then sketched in outline the beautiful face
as expressing joy； hope； courage； thought or love； but was provoked
to find that he ever obtained the best likeness when portraying
the vanity； silliness； or petulance which had been the only
characteristics he had seen。
He now grew metaphysical and tried to analyze the girl's mind。
He sought to grope mentally his way back into the recesses of the
soul； which had looked； acted； and spoken the previous evening。
A strange little place he imagined it； and oddly furnished。 It
occurred to him that it bore a resemblance to her dressing room；
and was full of queer feminine mysteries and artificial ideas that
had been created by conventional society rather than inspired by
nature。
He asked himself； 〃Can it be that here is a character in which the
