第1章

Asmaybegatheredfromthefollowingpages,mytitlewasobtainedanumberofyearsago,andthestoryhassincebeentakingformandcolorinmymind.WhathasbecomeofthebeautifulbutdiscordantfaceIsawattheconcertgardenIdonotknow,butItrustthatthecountenanceitsuggested,anditschangesmaynotprovesovagueandunsatisfactoryastobeindistincttothereader.Ithaslookeduponthewriterduringthepastyearalmostlikethefaceofalivingmaiden,andIhavefelt,inawaythatwouldbehardtoexplain,thatIhavehadbutlittletodowithitsexpressions,andthatforcesandinfluencesoverwhichIhadnocontrolweremouldingcharacter.

Theoldgarden,andtheagedmanwhogrewyoungwithinit,arenotcreations,butsacredmemories.

ThatthebookmaytendtoennobleotherfacesthanthatofIdaMayhew,istheearnestwishofE.P.Roe.

Althoughthesunwasapproachingthehorizon,itsslantingraysfoundayoungartiststillbendingoverhiseasel.Thathisshouldersarebroadisapparentataglance;thatuponthemisplacedashapelyhead,wellthatchedwithcrispblackhair,isalsoseenatonce;thattheheadisnotanemptyoneisprovedbythepictureontheeasel,whichissufficientlyadvancedtoshowcorrectandspiriteddrawing.Abrainthatcandirectthehandhowtodoonethingwell,islikeageneralwhohasoccupiedastrategicpointwhichwillgivehimthevictoryifhefollowsuphisadvantage.

Aknockatthedoorisnotansweredatoncebytheintentandpreoccupiedartist,butitssharpandimpatientrepetitionsecurestheratherreluctantinvitation,\"Comein,\"andevenashespokehebentforwardtogiveanotherstroke.

\"Sixo\'clock,andworkingstill!\"criedtheintruder.\"Youwillkeepthepaintmarketactive,ifyouachievenothingelseasanartist.\"

\"Heigho!Ik,isthatyou?\"saidheofthepalette,good-naturedly;

andrisingslowlyhegavealingeringlookathiswork,thenturnedandgreetedhisfriendwiththequietcordialityoflongandfamiliaracquaintance.\"Whatamarplotyouarewithyouridleways!\"headded.\"Sitdownhereandmakeyourselfusefulforoncebydoingnothingnothingfortenminutes.IaminjustthemoodandhavejustthelightforabitofworkwhichperhapsIcanneverdoaswellagain,\"andtheartistreturnedpromptlytohispicture.

Ingreetinghisfriendhehadrevealedthathewasabovemiddleheight,thathehadfullblackeyesthatwerenotonlygoodforseeing,butcouldalso,ifhechose,givegreatemphasistohiswords,andattimesbeevenmoreexpressive.Athickmustachecoveredhislip,buttherestofhisfacewascleanlyshaven,andwasstronganddecidedinitsoutlinesratherthanhandsome.

\"Theysayawoman\'sworkisneverdone,\"remarkedIkStanton,droppingintotheeasiestchairinthestudio,\"andforthisreason,weretherenoother,yourmuseisevidentlyofthefemininepersuasion.

Ialsoadmitthatsheisaladyofgreatantiquity.IndeedIwouldplacehernearertothetimewhen\'AdamdelvedandEvespan\'thantotheclassicage.\"

\"MydearIk,\"respondedtheartist,\"IamoftenatalosstoknowwhetherIloveordespiseyoumost.Ifalittleofthewhirrofourgreatgrandam\'sspinningwheelwouldonlygetintoyourbraintheworldmighthearfromyou.Youareamanofunboundedstomachandunboundedheart,andsoyouhavewonallthereisofmeexceptmyhead,andthatdisapprovesofyou.\"

\"Afigfortheworld!whatgoodwillitdomeorittohaveithearfromme?youambitiousfellowsarealreadymakingsuchadinthatthepooroldworldishalfreadyforBedlam;andwouldgostarkmadwereitnotforusquiet,easy-goingpeople,whohavetimeforagooddinnerandasnackbetweenmeals.You\'vegotageniusthat\'slikeawindmillinatradewind,alwaysinmotion;youareworthmoremoneythanIshalleverhave,butyouarethegreatestdrudgeinthestudiobuilding,andworkasmanyhoursasahouse-painter.\"

\"Whenyourbrainoncegetsinmotion,Ik,fictionwillbeitsnaturalproduct.YoumustadmitthatIhavenotpaintedmanypictures.\"

\"ThatisoneofthethingsIcomplainof;I,yourbosomfriendandfamiliar,your,Imightadd,guardianangel——I,whohavesooftensavedyourlifebyquenchingtheflameofyourconsuminggeniuswithaheartydinner,havebeenabletoobtainonepictureonlyfromyou,andasonemightdrawatooth.Yourpicturesarelikeoldmaid\'schildren——theymustbesoperfectthattheycan\'texistatall.Butcome,thetenminutesareup.Here\'stheprogrammefortheevening——adriveintheParkandalittledinneratacoolrestaurantnearThomas\'sGarden,andthentheconcert.Thatprinceofmusicalcaterershasmadeafineselectionforto-night,and,withthecigarstandononesideofusandtheorchestraontheother,wearecertaintokillacoupleofhoursthatwilldielikeswans.\"

\"Youmentionthecigar-standfirst.\"

\"Whynot?Smokeismorerealthanemptysound.\"

\"Areyounotequallyempty,Ik,saveafterdinner?Howhavetheprecedinghoursofthislongdaybeenkilled?\"

\"Likeboas.Theyhaveenfoldedmewithawearyweight.\"

\"Thesnakesinyourcomparisonarelargerthanyourpun,andthepun,ratherthanyourself,suggestsaconstrictor\'ssqueeze.\"

\"Come,youareonlyabusingmetogaintime,andyoumaygaintoomuch.Myhorseshavemoremettlethantheirmaster,andmaycarryoffmytrapandgroomtopartsunknown,whileyouarewastingpaintandwords.YouareliketheanimalsatthePark,thataregood-naturedonlyaftertheyarefed.Soshutupyouroldpaintshop,andcomealong;wewillshortenourrideandlengthenourdinner.\"

Withmutualchaffingandlaughtertheyoungmenatlastwentdowntowherealiveriedcoachmanandapairofhandsomebayswereinwaiting.Takingthehighfrontseatandgatheringupthereins,IkStanton,withhisfriendHaroldVanBergathisside,bowledawaytowardstheParkatarapidpace.

HaroldVanBergwas,intruth,somethingofaparadox.Hewasanartist,andyetwasrich;hehadinheritedlargewealth,andyethadformedhabitsofcarefulindustry.Themajorityofhisyoungacquaintances,whohadbeenlaunchedfromhomeslikehisown,wereknownonlyassonsoftheirfathers,anddegeneratesonsatthat.

VanBergwasalreadywinningaplaceamongmenonthegroundofwhathewasandcoulddohimself.

Itwerehardtosaywhichwasthestrongermotive,hisambitionortheloveofhisart;butitseemedcertainthatbetweenthetwo,suchtalentashehadbeenendowedwithwouldbedevelopedquitethoroughly.Andhedidpossessdecidedtalent,ifnotgenius.Buthisartisticgiftaccordedwithhischaracter,andwascontrolledbyjudgement,correcttaste,andintellectualityratherthanbystronganderraticimpulses.Hisaimsweredefiniteanddecidedratherthanvagueanddiffusive;buthisstandardsweresohighthat,thusfar,hehadscarcelyattemptedmorethanstudiesthatwerelikethemusician\'sscalesbywhichheseekstoacquireaskillintouchthatshallenablehimtorenderjustlytheworksofthegreatcomposers.

Hisfamilyhadpraisedhisworkunstintedly,andhonestlythoughtitwonderful;hehadalsobeendelugedwiththatkindofflatterywhichrelaxestherulesofcriticisminfavorofthewealthy.Thusitwasnotstrangethattheyoungfellow,atonetime,believedthathewasborntogreatnessbyakindlydecreeoffate.Butashishorizonwidenedhewastaughtbetter.Hismind,fortunately,grewfasterthanhisvanity,andashecomparedhiscrudebutpromisingworkwiththatofmaturegenius,hewasnotstrickenwiththatmosthelplessphaseofblindness——theinabilitytoseethesuperiorityofotherstoone\'sself.Everyday,therefore,ofstudyandobservationwasnowchasteningHaroldVanBergandpreparinghimtobuildhisfuturesuccessonthesolidgroundofpositivemeritascomparedwiththatofotherandgiftedartists.

VanBerg\'stasteandtalentledhimtoselect,ashisspecialty,thehumanformandcountenance,andhechieflydelightedinthosefaceswhichwereexpressiveofsomestrikingorsubtlecharacteristicoftheindwellingmind.Hewouldneverbecontenttopaintsurfacescorrectly,givingtofeaturesmerelytheirexactproportions.Whetherthefacewerehistorical,ideal,oraportrait,thecontrollingtraitortraitsofthespiritwithinmustshinethrough,orelseheregardedthepictureasscarcelyhalffinished.

AmoresincereidolatorthanVanBerg,inhisworshipofbeauty,neverexisted;butitwasthebeautyofacompletemanoracompletewoman.Eveninhisearlyyouthhehadnotbeensosensuousastobecaptivatedbythatopaquefragmentofawoman——anattractiveformdevoidofamind.Indeedwiththeexceptionofafewboyishfollies,hisarthadbeenhismistressthusfar,anditwasbeginningtoabsorbbothheartandbrain.

Withwhataquietpulse——withwhatacomplacentsenseofsecurityweoftenmeetthoseseeminglytrivialeventswhichmaychangethewholecharacterofourlives!Theridehadbeentaken,thedinnerenjoyed,andthetwofriendswereseatedinthelargecoolhallwayofftheconcertgarden,wheretheycouldsmokewithoutoffence.Theunrivalledleader,Thomas,hadjustliftedhisbaton——thatmagicwandwhosegracefulyetmysteriousmotionevokeswithequalease,seemingly,thethunderofastorm,thesongofabird,thehorriddinofaninferno,oraharmonysopureandloftyastosuggestheavenlystrains.OneofBeethoven\'sexquisitesymphonieswastoberendered,andVanBergthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar,settledhimselfinhischairandglancedaroundwithacongratulatoryair,asiftosay,\"Nowwearetohaveoneofthosepleasureswhichfillsthecupoflifetooverflowing.\"

Oh,thatcasualglance!Itwasoneofthosethingsthatwemightjustlycall\"little.\"Couldanythinghavebeenmoretrivial,slight,andapparentlyinconsequentialthanthishalfinvoluntaryact?Indeeditwastooaimlesseventohavebeenpromptedbyaconsciouseffortofthewill.Butthisbookisoneoftheleastresultsofthatmomentarysweepoftheeye.Anotherwas,thatVanBergdidnotenjoythesymphonyatall,andwassooninaverybadhumor.Thatcasualglancehadrevealed,notfaraway,afacethatwithhispassionforbeauty,atoncerivetedhisattention.Hisslightstartandfaintexclamation,causedIkStantontolookaroundalso,andthen,withamischievousandobservanttwinkleinhiseyes,thebonvivantresumedhiscigar,whichnosymphonycouldexorcisefromhismouth.

Atatablejustwithinthemainaudienceroom,theresatayoungladyandgentleman.EvenVanberg,whomadeithisbusinesstodiscoverandstudybeauty,wassooncompelledtoadmittohimselfthathehadneverseenfinerfeaturesthanwerepossessedbythisfairyoungstranger.Hernosewasstraight,herupperlipwasshort,andmighthavebeenmodelledfromCupid\'sbow;herchindidnotformaperfectovalafterthecoldandsevereGreciantype,butwasslightlyfirmandprominent,recedingwithdecidedyetexquisitecurvestothefullwhitethroat.Hercheekshadatransparentfairness,inwhichthecolorcameandwentinsteadoflingeringinanyconventionalplaceandmanner;herhairwastoolighttobecalledbrownandtoodarktobegolden,butwasshadedlikethatonwhichthesunlightfallsinoneofBougereau\'spicturesof\"MotherandChild;\"anditrippledawayfromabroadlowbrowinnaturalwaves,halfhidingthesmall,shell-likeears.

VanBergatfirstthoughhereyestobeherfinestfeature,buthesoonregardedthemastheworst,andforthesamereason,ashespeedilydiscovered,thattheface,eachfeatureofwhichseemedperfect,became,afterbriefstudy,sounsatisfactoryastocausepositiveannoyance.Toapassingglancetheywerelarge,dark,beautifuleyes,buttheyloststeadilyunderthoughtfulscrutiny.

Aflashinggemmayseemrealatfirst,butasitsmeretriciousraysareanalyzed,theylosetheircharmbecauserevealingastonenotonlyworthlessworsethanworthless,sinceitmocksuswithafalseresemblance,thusraisinghopesonlytodisappointthem.TheotherfeaturesremainedbeautifulandsatisfactorytoVanBerg\'sfurtiveobservationbecausefurtherremovedfromtheinformingmind,andthereforemorejustlycapableofadmirationupontheirownmerits;

buttheeyesaretoonearakintotheanimatingspiritnottosufferfromtherelationship,shouldthespiritbeessentiallydefective.

Thatthebeautifulfacewasbutatransparentmaskofadeformed,dwarfed,contemptiblelittlesoulwasspeedilymadeevident.Thecreamandasillyflirtationwithherempty-headedattendant——apallidyouthwhopartedhishairlikeagirlandhadnototherpartsworthnaming——absorbedherwholly,andtheexquisitesymphonywasnomoretoherthananannoyingdinwhichmadeitdifficulttohearhercompanion\'scomplimentsthatwereassweet,heavy,andstaleasMailard\'schocolates,leftayearontheshelves.Theirmutualgiggleandchatteratlastbecamesoobtrusivethatanoldandmusic-lovingGermanturnedhisbroadfacetowardsthem,andhissedouttheword\"Hist!\"withsuchvindictiveforceastosuggestthatallthewindshadsuddenlybrokenlosefromthecaveofAeolus.

IkStanton,whohadbeenwatchingVanBerg\'sperturbed,loweringface,andtheweakcomedyattheadjacenttable,wasobviouslymuchamused,althoughhetookpainstoappearblindtoitallandkepthisback,asfaraspossible,towardstheyounglady.

TheGerman\'s\"hist\"hadbeensofierceastobealmostlikearapfromapoliceman\'sclub,andtherewasanenforcedandtemporarysuspensionoftheinanechatter.Theattendantyouthtriedtoassumetheincensedandthreateninglookwithwhichanancientgallantwouldhavelaidhishandonthehiltofhissword.Butsomeanimalsandmenonlybecomeabsurdwhentheytrytoappearformidable.ItwasludicroustoseehimweaklyfrowningatthesturdyTeutonwhohadalreadyforgottenhisexistenceascompletelyashemightthatofabuzzingmosquitohehadexterminatedwithaslap.

Theyyounggirl\'sfacegrewevenlesssatisfactoryasitbecamemorequiet.Amuddypool,rippledbyabreeze,willsparklequitebrilliantlywhileinmotion;butwhenquietitisseenthemoreplainlytobeonlyashallowpool.Atfirstthebeautifulfeaturesexpressedonlypettyresentmentatthepublicrebuke.AsthisfaintlyluridlightfadedoutandleftthecountenanceinitsnormalstateitbecamemoreheavyandearthyinitsexpressionthanVanBergwouldhavedeemedpossible,anditeverremainedamysterytohimhowfeaturessodelicate,beautiful,andessentiallyfemininecouldcombinetoshowsoclearlythattheindwellingnaturewaslargelyalloyedwithclay.therewasnotthatdewyfreshnessinthefairyoungfacewhichonemightexpecttoseeintheearlymorningofexistence.TheLordfromheavenbreathedthebreathoflifeintothefirstfairwoman;butthisgirlmightseemtohavebeenthenaturalproductofevolution,andhersoultobeastrulyoftheearthasherbody.

Itwasevidentthatshehadbeenmadefamiliartooearlyandthoroughlywithconventionalandfashionablesociety,and,althoughthisfractionoftheworldisseldomwithoutitsgloves,itstouchneverthelesshadsoiledhernature.Herfacedidnotexpressanyactiveormalignantprincipleofevil;butacloseobserver,likeVanBerg,inwhomthemanwasintheascendantovertheanimal,coulddetecttheabsenceoftheserene,maidenlypurityofexpression,characteristicofthosegirlswhohaveobtainedtheirideasoflifefromgoodmothers,ratherthanfromFrenchnovels,Frenchplays,andaphaseofsocietythatborrowsitsinspirationfromfashionableParis.

Withtheendingofthesymphonythechattingandflirtingatthetablebeganagain,toVanBerg\'sincreaseddisgust.Indeed,hewassoirritatedthathecouldnolongercontrolhimself,androseabruptly,sayingtohiscompanion:

\"Come,letuswalkoutside.\"

Hissuddenmovementdrewtheyounglady\'sattention,butbythistimehehadonlyhisbroadshouldersturnedtowardsher.ShesawIkStantonlookingather,however,withafacefullofmischief,andsherecognizedhimwithanodandasmile.

He,withthefamiliaritythatindicatedrelationship,butwithamotiontooslighttobenoticedbyothers,threwherakissfromthetipsofhisfingers,asonemighttossasugar-plumtoachild,andthenfollowedhisfriend.

ChapterII.IdaMayhew.

Whatisthematter,Van?Youremindmeofacertainhornedbeastthathasseenaredflag,\"saidIkStanton,linkinghisarminthatofVanBerg\'s.

\"Anaptillustration.Ihavebeenbaitedandirritatedforthelasttwentyminutes.\"

\"IthoughtyouenjoyedBeethoven\'smusic,andsurelyThomasrendereditdivinelyto-night.\"

\"Thatisoneofthechiefofmygrievances.Ihaven\'tbeenabletohearanote,\"wasthewrathfulresponse.

\"That\'sstrange,\"saidStantonwithmockgravity.\"WereInotafraidyouwouldtakeitamissIwouldhintthatyourearsareofgoodlysize.Howcomesitthattheyhavesosuddenlyfailedyou?\"

\"Havingseenyourdinneryouhavenoeyesforanythingelse.Ifyouhad,youwouldhaveseenafacenearus.\"

\"Isawascoreoffacesnearus.AGermanhadonewiththeareaofanacre.\"

\"Washetheonewhosaid,\'hist,\'likeablastfromtheNorth?\"

\"Fromaporpoiserather.\"

\"Didyouobservethegirltowardswhomhisgustyrebukewasdirected?\"

\"Yes,aninoffensiveyounglady.\"

\"Inoffensive,indeed!\"interruptedVanBerg.\"Shehasputmeintopurgatory.\"

\"Youdoseemquiteablaze.Well,youarenotthefirstonethatshehasputthere.Butreally,Van,Ididnotknowthatyouweresoinflammable.\"

\"IfyouhadanyoftheinstinctsofanartistyouwouldknowthatIaminflamedwithnogentlerfeelingthananger.\"

\"Why!whathasthepoorchilddonetoyou?\"

\"Sheisnotachild.Sheknowstoomuchaboutsomethings.\"

\"I\'venodoubtsheisbetterthaneitheryouorI,\"saidStanton,sharply.

\"Thatfactwouldbefarfromprovingherasaint.\"

\"Whatthedickensmakesyousovindictiveagainstthegirl?\"

\"Becauseshehasthefeaturesofanangelandthefaceofafool.

Whatbusinesshasawomantomockanddisappointoneso!WhenI

firstsawherIthoughtIhaddiscoveredaprize——anewrevelationofbeauty;butamomentlatershelookedsoineffablysillythatIfeltasifIhadbittenintoanappleofSodom.Ofcoursethegirlisnothingtome.IneversawherbeforeandhopeImayneverseeheragain;butherfeaturesweresoperfectthatIcouldnothelplookingatthem,andthemoreIlookedthemoreannoyedIbecametofindthat,insteadofbeingblendedtogetherintoadivinefacebythemindwithin,theywerethereluctantslavesofaspicayuneasoulasevermaintaineditsmicroscopicexistenceinahumanbody.Itisexasperatingtothinkwhatthatfacemightbe,andtoseewhatitis.Howcannaturemakesuchabsurdblunders?Theideaofbuildingsofairatempleforsuchanuglylittledivinity!\"

\"Ithoughtyouartistsweresatisfiedwithfleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes.\"

\"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes.\"

\"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandblood,onewouldhavetobecontent;butnoonesavethe\'unspeakableTurk,\'believesinsuchawoman,orwantsher.Whoadmiressuchafragmentofawomansavethemanthatisasyetundevelopedbeyondtheanimal?Mymotherismyfriend,mycompanion,myinspiration.

TheideaofyondersillycreaturebeingthecompanionofaMAN.\"

\"Goodevening,Coz,\"saidavoicethatwasatrifleshrillandloudforapublicplace,andlookingup,thefriendssawthesubjectoftheirconversation,who,withherspindlingattendantwasalsotakingapromenade.

Stantonraisedhishatwithasmile,whileVanBergtouchedhisbutcoldly.

\"Iwishtospeakwithyou,\"shesaidinpassing.

\"Iwilljoinyousoon,\"Stantonanswered.

\"Sothisladyisyourcousin?\"remarkedVanBerg.

\"Sheis,\"saidStantonlaughing.

\"YouwilldomethejusticetorememberthatIspokeinignoranceofthefact.IfIwereyouIwouldgivehersomecousinlyadvice.\"

\"Blessyou!Ihave,butit\'slikepouringwateronaduck\'sback.ForonesensiblewordIcansaytohershegetsathousandcomplimentsfromrichandempty-headedyoungfools,liketheonenowwithher,whowilleventuallybeworthhalfamillioninhisownname.Iwasinterestedtoseehowherfacewouldstrikeyou,andIimaginethatyourestimatehashitprettycloseuponthetruth,forinmyjudgmentsheistheprettiestandsilliestgirlinNewYork.Shehasrecentlyreturnedfromayear\'sabsenceabroad,andIwasinhopesthatshewouldfindsomethingtorememberbesidesherownhandsomeface,butIimagineshehasseenlittleelsethanitandtheadmiringglanceswhicheverywherefollowher.Takeusasweaverage,Van,Mr.Darwinhasnotgousveryfaralongyet,andifthefaceofawomansuitsusweareapttostareatitasfarassuchpolitenessaswepossesspermits,withoutgivingmuchthoughttoherintellectualendowments.Whenitcomestocompanionship,however,Iagreewithyou.Heavenhelpthemanwhoistiedtosuchawomanforlife.Still,inthefashionablecrowdmycousintrainswith,thismakeslittledifference.Thehusbandgoeshiswayandthewifehers,andtheyarenotlongingettingagoodwaysapart.Butcome,letmeintroduceyou,Ihavealwaysthoughtthelittlefoolhadsomefinegoldmingledwithherdross,andyouaresuchaskilfulanalystthatperhapsyouwilldiscoverit.\"

\"No,Ithankyou,\"saidVanBerg,withaslightexpressionofdisgust.\"IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven\'sfinestsymphonies.\"

\"Wellwell,\"saidStantonlaughing,\"Iamrathergladtofindonemanwhoisnotdrawntoherprettyfacelikeamothtoacandle.

Iwilljoinyouagainbyandby.\"

VanBergsatdowninoneofthelittlestallsthatstoodopentothemainpromenade,andsawhisfriendthreadhiswayamongthemovingfigures,andaddresshiscousin.AssheturnedtospeakwithStanton,theartistreceivedagainthatvividimpressionofbeauty,whichherfaceevercausedbeforetimewasgivenforcloserscrutiny.Indeedfromhissomewhatdistantpointofobservation,andinthelesssearchinglight,thefatalflawcouldscarcelybedetected.Heraffectedtonesandsillywordscouldnotbeheard,andhesawonlydarklustrouseyeslightingupfeaturesthatwerealmostarevelationeventohimwithhisartisticfamiliaritywithbeauty.

\"IfIcouldalwayskeepherataboutthatdistance,\"hemuttered,\"andarrangethelightsandshadowsinwhichtoviewherface,I

couldnotaskforabetterstudy,forshewouldgivemeabasisofperfectbeauty,andIcouldaddanyexpressionofcharacteristicthatIdesired.\"Andnowhefeastedhiseyesasacompensation,inpart,fortheannoyanceshehadcausedhimintheglareoftheaudienceroom.

Hesoonsawafrownloweruponherhithertolaughingfaceliketheshadowofapassingcloud,anditwasevidentthatsomethinghadbeensaidthatwasnotagreeabletohervanity.

AmomentortwoafterStantonhadjoinedtheyoungladyherescortfortheeveninghadexcusedhimselfforabrieftime,andhadleftthecousinstogether.Shehadthenasked,\"Isay,Ik,whowasthatgentlemanyouweretalkingwith?\"

\"He\'sanoldfriendofmine.\"

\"He\'snotanOLDfriendofanyone.Heisyoungandquitegood-looking,orratherhehasacertain\'distingue\'airthatmakesonelookathimtwice.Whoishe?\"

\"Heisanartist,andifhelivesandworksasheisnowdoing,throughanordinarylifetime,hewillindeedbydistinguished.Infact,hestandshighalready.\"

\"Hownice,\"sheexclaimed.

\"Hehasanothercharacteristic,whichyouwillappreciatefarmorethananythinghewilleveraccomplishwithhisbrush——heisveryrich.\"