a face illumined-第15部分

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expanse；　slightly　diversified；　of　the　broad　red　face　opposite。



The　stout　woman　held　her　baby　as　if　it　were　a　bundle；　and　stared

straight　before　her。　　As　far　as　Van　Berg　could　observe；　not　a　trace

of　an　idea　or　a　change　of　expression　flitted　across　the　wide　area

of　her　sultry　visage；　and　he　found　himself　speculating　as　to　whether

the　minds　of　these　two　women　differed　as　greatly　as　their　outward

appearance。　　Indeed　he　questioned　whether　one　had　any　more　mind

than　the　other；　and　was　inclined　to　think　that　despite　their　widely

separated　spheres　of　life　they　were　equally　dwarfed。



While　he　was　thus　amusing　himself　with　the　contrasts；　physical

and　metaphysical；　which　the　two　passengers　opposite　him　presented；

the　stout　woman　suddenly　looked　out　of　the　window　at　her　side；　and

then；　in　a　tone　that　would　startle　the　quietest　nerves；　shouted　to

the　driver：



〃Hold　on！〃



Miss　Mayhew　half　rose　from　her　seat　and　looked　around　with　something

like　dismay；　but　as　she　only　encountered　Van　Berg's　slightly　humorous

expression；　she　colored　more　deeply　than　before；　and　recalled　her

eyes　to　the　farther　angle　of　the　stage　with　a　fixedness　and　rigidity

as　great　as　if　it　had　contained　the　head　of　Medusa。



Meantime　the　driver　drew　up　to　a　small　cottage　by　the　road…side；

and　scrambled　down　from　his　seat　that　he　might　assist　the　stout

woman　with　her　accumulation　of　bundles。　　She　handed　him　out　the

baby；　preferring　to　look　after　the　more　precious　parcels　herself。

Van　Berg　politely　held　the　door　open　for　her；　but　just　as　she　was

squeezing　through　the　stage　entrance　with　her　arms　full　and　had　her

foot　on　the　last　step；　her　cottage　door　flew　open　with　something

to　the　effect　of　an　explosion；　and　out　burst　three　or　four　children

with　a　perfect　din　of　cries　and　shouts。　　Two　vociferous　dogs　joined

in　the　sudden　uproar；　the　hitherto　drowsy　horses　started　as　if　a

bomb…shell　had　dropped　under　their　noses；　and　speedily　broke　into

a　mad　gallop；　leaving　the　stout　woman　prostrate　upon　her　bundles

in　the　road；　and　the　driver　helplessly　holding　her　baby。



Miss　Mayhew's　cold　rigidity　vanished　at　once。　　Indeed　dignity　was

impossible　in　the　swaying；　bounding　vehicle。　　There　was　a　momentary

effort　to　ignore　her　companion；　and　then　terror　overcame　all

scruples。　　Turning　her　white　face　towards　him；　she　exclaimed：



〃Are　we　not　in　great　danger？〃



〃I　admit　I　would　rather　be　in　my　chair　on　Mr。　Burleigh's　piazza。

With　your　permission；　I　will　come　to　your　end　of　the　stage　and

speak　to　the　horses　through　the　open　window。〃



〃Oh；　comedo　anything　under　heaven　to　stop　these　horrid　beasts。〃



Van　Berg　edged　his　way　up　a　little　past　Miss　Mayhew；　and　began

speaking　to　the　frightened　horses　in　firm；　quiet　tones。　　At　first

they　paid　no　heed　to　him；　and　as　the　stage　made　a　sudden　and

desperate　lurch；　the　young　lady　commenced　to　scream。



〃If　you　do　that　you　will　insure　the　breaking　of　both　our　necks；〃

said　Van　Berg；　sharply。　　〃If　you　will　keep　quiet　I　think　I　can

stop　them。　　See；　we　have　quite　a　stretch　of　level　road　beyond　us；

before　we　come　to　a　hill。　　Give　me　a　chance　to　quiet　them。〃



The　terror…stricken　girl　kept　still　for　a　moment；　and　then　started

up；　saying



〃I　shall　spring　out。〃



〃No；　Miss　Mayhew；　you　must　not　do　that；〃　said　Van　Berg；　decidedly。

〃You　must　be　greatly　injured；　and　you　would　with　almost　certainty

be　disfigured　for　life　if　you　sprang　out　upon　the　stony　road。　　You

could　not　help　falling　on　your　face。〃



〃Oh；　horrible！〃　she　exclaimed。



At　the　next　heavy　lurch　of　the　stage　she　half…rose　again　to　carry

out　her　rash　purpose；　but　the　artist　seized　her　hand　and　held　her

in　her　place；　at　the　same　time　speaking　kindly　and　firmly　to　the

horses。　　They　now　began　to　heed　his　voice；　and　to　recover　from

their　panic。



〃See；　Miss　Mayhew；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　only　to　control　yourself　a

few　moments　longer；　and　our　danger　is　over。〃



〃Oh；　do　stop　them；　quick；〃　she　gasped；　clinging　to　his　hand　as　if

he　were　her　only　hope；　〃and　I'll　never　forget　your　kindoh；　merciful

heaven！〃



At　this　favorable　moment；　when　the　horses　were　fast　coming　under

control；　a　spiteful　cur　came　tearing　out　after　them；　renewing　their

panic　with　tenfold　intensity。　　As　the　dog　barked　on　one　side　they

sheered　off　on　the　other；　until　they　plunged　down　the　side　of　the

road。　　The　stage　was　nearly　overturned；　and　then　it　stopped　with

a　sudden　and　heavy　thump。　　Miss　Mayhew　was　precipitated　into　Mr。

Van　Berg's　arms；　and　she　clung　to　him　for　a　moment　in　a　paroxysm　of

terror。　　His　wits　had　not　so　far　deserted　him　but　that　he　perceived

that　the　stage　had　struck　against　a　tree；　that　the　horses　had　broken

away；　and　that　he　and　his　companion　were　perfectly　safe。　　If　the

whole　truth　must　be　told；　it　cannot　be　said　that　he　endured　the

young　lady's　embrace　with　only　cold　and　stoical　philosophy。　　He

found　it　wholly　novel　and　not　a　painful　experience。　　Indeed　he　was

conscious　of　a　temptation　to　delay　the　information　of　their　escape；

but　a　second's　thought　taught　him　that　he　must　at　once　employ　all

his　tact　in　the　delicate　and　difficult　task　of　reconciling　the

frightened　girl　to　herself　and　her　own　conduct；　otherwise　her　pride；

and　also　her　sense　of　delicacy；　would　now　receive　a　new　and　far

deeper　wound；　and　a　more　hopeless　estrangement　follow。　　He　therefore

promptly　lifted　her　up；　and　placed　her　limp　form　on　the　opposite

seat。



〃I　assure　you　we　are　now　perfectly　safe；　Miss　Mayhew；〃　he　said；

〃and　let　me　congratulate　you　that　your　self…control　prevented　you

from　leaving　the　stage；　for　if　you　had　done　so　you　would　undoubtedly

have　been　greatly　injured。〃



〃Wherewhere　arethe　horses？〃　she　faltered。



〃I　really　do　not　know！　　They　have　disappeared。　　The　stage　struck

a　tree；　and　the　brutes　broke　away。　　They　will　probably　gallop　home

to　the　alarm　and　excitement　of　every　one　about　the　hotel。　　Pray

compose　yourself。　　The　house　is　not　far　away；　and　we　can　soon　reach

it　if　you　are　not　very　much　hurt。〃



〃Are　you　sure　the　danger　is　all　over？〃



〃Yes；　this　is　now　not　the　slightest　chance　of　a　tragedy。〃



There　must　have　been　a　faint　twinkle　in　his　eye；　for　she　exclaimed；


passionately：



〃The　whole　thing　has　been　a　comedy　to　you；　and　I　half　believe　you

brought　it　all　about　to　annoy　me。〃



〃You　do　me　great　injustice；　Miss　Mayhew；〃　said　Van　Berg；　warmly。



〃Here　we　are　sitting　in　this　horrid　old　stage　by　the　roadside；〃

she　resumed；　in　tones　of　strong　vexation。　　〃Was　there　ever　anything

more　absurd　and　ridiculous　than　it　has　all　been！　　I　am　mortified

beyond　expression；　and　suppose　I　shall　never　hear　the　last　of　it；〃

and　she　burst　into　a　hysterical　passion　of　tears。



〃Miss　Mayhew；〃　said　Van　Berg　hastily；　〃you　certainly　must　realize

that　we　have　passed　through　very　great　peril　together；　and　if　you

think　me　capable　of　saying　a　word　about　this　episode　that　is　not

to　your　credit；　you　were　never　more　mistaken　in　your　life。〃



At　this　assurance　she　became　more　calm。



〃I　know　you　dislike　me　most　heartily；〃　Van　Berg　continued；　〃but

you　have　less　reason　to　do　so　than　you　think…〃



〃I　have　good　reason　to　dislike　you。　　You　despise　me；　and　now　that

I　have　been　such　a　coward　you　are　comparing　me　with　Miss　Burton

who　acted　so　differently　yesterday。〃



〃I　have　not　even　thought　of　Miss　Burton；〃　protested　Van　Berg；　at

the　same　time　conscious；　now　that　her　name　had　been　recalled　to　his

memory；　that　she　would　have　acted　a　much　better　part。　　〃I　am　only

sincerely　glad　that　our　necks　were　not　broken；　and　I　hope　that　you

have　not　suffered　any　severe　bruises。　　As　to　my　despising　you；　if

you　will　honor　me　with　your　acquaintance　you　may　discover　that　you

are　greatly　in　error。〃



〃Then　you　truly　think　that　we　have　been　in　danger？〃　she　asked；

wiping　her　eyes。



〃Most　assuredly。　　When　you　come　to　think　the　matter　over　calmly；

you　will　realize　that　we　were　in　very　great　danger。　　I　think　the

affair　has　ended　most　happily　rather　than　absurdly。〃



〃Really；　sir；　when　I　remember　how　the　'affair；'　as　you　term　it；

actually　did　end；　I　feel　as　if　I　never　wished　to　see　you　again。〃



〃Miss　Mayhew；　I　appeal　to　your　generosity。　　Was　I　to　blame　for

that　which　was　so　disagreeable　to　you？　　Surely　you　will　not　be　so

unfair　as　to　punish　me　for　what　neither　you　nor　I　could　help。　　I

think　fate　means　we　shall　be　friends；　and　has　employed　this　unexpected

episode　to　break　the　ice　between　us。　　If　you　are　now　sufficiently

composed　I　will　assist　you　to　alight；　in　order　that　the　driver；

who　is　approaching；　may　be　relieved　of　all　fears　on　our　account。〃



〃Oh；　certainly。　　As　it　is；　I　suppose　he　will　have　a　ridiculous

story　to　tell。〃



〃There　is　nothing　that　he；　or　the　others　who　are　following　him　can

tell；　save　that　the　horses　ran　away　and　that　we　most　fortunately

escaped　all　injury。　　Ah！　　I　see　that　you　are　a　little　lame。　　Please

take　my　arm；　the　hotel　is　but　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away。　　Or　perhaps

you　would　prefer　that　I　should　send　the　driver　for　a　carriage。　　You

could　wait　in　yonder　cottage；　or　here；　in　the　shade　of　the　trees。〃



〃I　am　not　very　lame；　and　if　I　were　I　would　not　mind　it。　　My　wish　is

that　the　horrid　affair　may　occasion　as　little　remark　as　possible。

I　can　reach　my　room　by　a　side　entrance；　and　so　come　quietly　down

to　dinner。　　I　suppose　that　I　must　take　your　arm　since　I　cannot　walk

very　well　without　it。〃



They　therefore　turned　their　backs　on　the　breathless　driver　and　his

eager　questions；　and　proceeded　slowly　towards　the　hotel。　　After　a

brief　examination　of　the　shattered　stage；　the　man　ran　panting　past

them　in　search　of　his　horses；　and　they　were　again　left　alone。











Chapter　X。　　Phrases　too　Suggestive。









For　a　few　moments　Miss　Mayhew　and　Van　Berg　walked　on　in　silence；

each　very　doubtful　of　the　other。　　At　last　the　artist　began：



〃I　am　well　aware；　Miss　Mayhew；　that　this　unexpected　episode　and

this　enforced　com