"Come,Coz,let me get you some sweet-oil before you finish your supper.You know you are the handsomest girl in the State,and that's distinction enough for one woman.To you,Miss Burton is only a plain school-teacher.Why should you envy her?""I do not envy her,nor can I see why people are so carried away with her.""It IS remarkable to see what an impression she has made in two brief days.Of course her courage in saving the child served as a general and favorable introduction,but it does not by any means explain her growing popularity.For some reason or other those about her always seem to be having a good time.See how animated and pleased is the expression of all the faces at her table yonder.
It was the same on the croquet-ground this morning.She effervesced like champagne,and before we knew it we were all in a state of exhilaration and the morning had gone.""I hate these bold,forward women who are quick to become acquainted with every one.A man of this type is bad enough,but a woman is unendurable.""I agree with you in the abstract most heartily;but the only bold thing that I have seen Miss Burton do was to run under the feet of my horses.You might as well call a ray of sunshine bold and forward;and people like sunshine when it is as nicely tempered as her manner is.I confess that when I first learned who she was,and before I had met her personally,I was greatly prejudiced against her,but one would have to be a churl indeed to remain proof against her genial good-nature.For my part I intend to enjoy it,as I do all the other good things the gods throw in my way.""The gods would indeed be careless to leave any good things within your reach,unless they were meant for you,"snapped Ida.
"Good for you,Coz;your ride with Van Berg has already brightened you up.There is no telling what you might not become if you would only associate with men who had sufficient brains not to grow spooney over your pretty face."As Ida and her mother passed out on the piazza,Van Berg joined them and said:
"I am glad to see that you have so fully recovered,Miss Mayhew.
You prove again that you possess good strong nerves.""Thank you,"said the young lady,laconically,and with a sudden accession of color.
"Mr.Van Berg,"began Mrs.Mayhew with great animation,"I'm excessively thankful that you happened to be on the road,and that the stage overtook you this morning.It was so fortunate that I almost think it providential.How dreadful it would have been if Ida had been alone in such frightful peril!I cannot tell you also how delighted I am that my daughter behaved so beautifully.
Indeed,I must confess that I am agreeably surprised,for Ida was never famous for her courage.Your own manner must have inspired confidence in her;and now that you have been so fortunately THROWNTOGETHER,I trust you may be better friends in the future."Miss Mayhew's rising color deepened into an intense scarlet,and,as she turned away to hide her confusion,she could not forbear shooting a wrathful glance at the artist.He had sufficient self-control not to change a muscle,or to appear in the slightest degree aware of the embarrassment caused by her mother's words,and especially the use of the phrase--grown to be most hateful from its associations--that so vividly recalled to the incensed maiden the anomalous position in which she found herself at the end of her perilous morning ride.
"You ladies differ favorably from us men,"said Van Berg,quietly.
"You rise to meet an emergency by an innate quality of your sex,whereas,in our case,if our native strength is not equal to the occasion we fall below it as a matter of course.""Oh,that accounts for Ida's coming off with such flying colors--she rose to meet the emergency.I hope,however,she will EMBRACEno more such opportunities of showing her courage--why!Ida,what IS the matter?what have I said?"but the young lady,with face inflamed,vanished in the direction of her room.
"Well,this IS strange,"remarked the lady with a sharp glance of inquiry at the artist,who still managed to maintain an expression of lamb-like innocence."I do believe the poor child is ill,and,now I think of it,she has not acted like herself for several days;"and she sought her daughter with hasty steps.
But the young lady did not go to her room,being well aware that her mother would soon follow for the explanation which she could not give.Therefore,taking a side corridor,she joined some acquaintances on another piazza.
