a face illumined-第69部分

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in　this　light。　　While　he　shuddered　at　her　terrible　purpose　he

recognized　the　high；　strong　spirit　which　in　it　perversion　and　wrong

had　rendered　the　deed　possible；　and　her　dark　design　made　a　grand

and　sombre　background　against　which　the　maiden　he　had　sketched　that

morning　was　all　the　more　luminous。　　Hitherto　everything　connected

with　her　change　of　character　had　been　not　only　conventional；　but

had　appealed　to　his　aesthetic　temperament　as　singularly　beautiful。

The　quaint　garden　with　its　flowers；　brook；　and　allegorical　tree

were　associations　that　harmonized　with　Ida's　loveliness；　while

Mr。　Eltinge；　who　had　rendered　such　an　immeasurable　service　to　them

both；　realized　his　best　ideal　of　dignified　and　venerable　age。



But　when　he　compared　her　spiritual　father　with　the　man　she　expected

that　night；　he　found　his　whole　nature　becoming　full　of　irritable

protest　and　dissatisfaction。



〃This　morning；〃　he　muttered；　〃she　appeared　capable　of　realizing　a

poet's　dreams；　but　already　I　see　the　hard　and　prosaic　conditions

of　her　lot　dwarfing　her　growth　and　throwing　their　grotesque　shadows

across　her　beauty。　　What　can　she　do　while　inseparable　from　such

a　father　and　mother？　　The　more　unlike　them　she　becomes　the　more

hideous　they　will　appear。　　Mrs。　Mayhew　is　essentially　lacking

in　womanly　delicacy；　and　mere　coarseness　is　more　tolerable　than

fashionable；　veneered　vulgarity。　　Mr。　Mayhew　is　a　spiritless　wretch

whose　only　protest　against　his　wife's　overbearance　and　indifference

has　been　intoxication。　　Linked　on　either　side　to　so　much　deformity；

what　chance　has　the　daughter　unless　she　escapes　from　them　and

develops　a　separate　life？　　But　are　not　the　ties　of　nature　too　close

to　permit　such　escape；　and　would　it　not　be　wrong　to　seek　it？　　It

certainly　would　not　be　Christian；　and　I　am　confident　Mr。　Eltinge

would　not　advise　it。　　Her　lot　is　indeed　a　cruel　one。　　No　wonder　she

clings　to　Mr。　Eltinge　and　the　garden；　and　that　the　outside　world

seems　full　of　thorns　and　thistles。　　Well；　I　pity　her　from　the　depths

of　my　heart；　and　cannot　see　how　she　will　solve　the　harsh　problem

of　her　life。　　I　imagine　she　will　soon　become　discouraged　and　seek

by　marriage　to　obliterate　her　present　ties　as　far　as　possible。〃



Having　reached　this　unsatisfactory　conclusion　he　threw　his　sketch

impatiently　aside　and　went　down　to　the　piazza。　　Ida　and　her　mother

were　already　there；　for　it　was　about　time　for　arrivals　from　the

earlier　train。　　Van　Berg　felt　almost　sure　that　Ida　must　have　been

aware　that　he　was　standing　near　her；　but　she　exhibited　no　consciousness

of　his　presence。　　When　a　little　later　they　met　in　promenade　she

bowed　politely　but　absently；　and　in　a　way　that　would　lead　any　who

were　observing　them　to　think　that　he　was　not　in　her　thoughts。　　So

he　was　led　to　believe　himself；　but　Miss　Burton；　who　was　reading　in

one　of　the　parlor　windows；　smiled　and　whispered　to　herself；　〃Well

done。〃



Ida　was　in　hopes　that　her　father　would　take　the　first　opportunity

of　reaching　the　Lake　House；　and　she　was　not　disappointed。　　The　telegram

had　flashed　into　his　leaden…hued　life　that　day　like　a　meteor。　　Did

it　portend　good　or　evil？　　Evil　only；　he　feared；　for　it　seemed　to

him　that　evil　would　ever　be　his　portion。　　It　was　therefore　with　a

vague　sense　of　apprehension　that　he　looked　forward　to　meeting　his

wife　and　daughter。



As　he　emerged　from　the　stage　with　the　others　he　found　Ida　half…way

down　the　steps　to　greet　him。



〃I'm　so　glad　you've　come！〃　she　said　in　a　low　earnest　voice；　and

she　kissed　him；　not　in　the　old　formal　way；　as　if　it　were　the　only

proper　thing　to　do；　but　as　a　daughter　greeting　her　father。　　Then；

before　he　could　recover　from　his　surprise；　his　light　travelling

bag　was　taken　from　him　and　the　young　girl's　arm　linked　lovingly　in

his；　and　he　led　to　Mrs。　Mayhew；　who　also　kissed　him；　but　in　a　way；

it　must　be　admitted；　that　suggested　a　duty　rather　than　a　pleasure。



Her　husband　scarcely　gave　to　her　a　glance；　however；　but　kept　his

eyes　fixed　on　his　daughter。



〃Ida　is　bewitched；〃　said　Mr。　Mayhew。



〃And　I　hope　you　will　find　me　bewitching；　father；　for　I　want　as

much　of　your　society　as　you　will　give　me　during　this　visit。〃　　She

tried　to　speak　playfully　and　naturally；　but　tears　were　gathering　in

her　eyes；　for　his　expression　of　perplexity　was　singularly　pathetic

and　full　of　the　keenest　reproach。　　〃O　God；〃　she　murmured；　〃what　have

I　been　that　he　should　be　speechless　from　surprise；　when　I　merely

greet　him　as　a　daughter　should！〃



Van　Berg　turned　hastily　away；　for　he　felt　that　scenes　were　coming；

on　which　he　had　no　right　to　look。　　There　was　nothing　yet　to　indicate

a　wish　on　Ida's　part　to　avoid　inartistic　associations；　and　deep　in

his　heart　he　was　compelled　to　admit　that　she　had　never　appeared　so

supremely　beautiful　as　when　she　looked　love　and　welcome　into　the

eyes　of　the　smirched　and　disheartened　man　to　whom　nature　gave　the

best　right　to　claim　these　gifts。



〃Come　with　me；　father；〃　said　Ida；　trying　to　give　him　a　reassuring

smile；　〃and　I　will　answer　your　scared　and　questioning　glances　in

your　room；〃　and　he　went　with　her　as　if　walking　in　a　dream。



Tears　now　gathered　in　Jennie　Burton's　eyes；　but　she　smiled　again

as　she　thought；　〃Better　done　still；　Ida　Mayhew；　and　Mr。　Van　Berg；

who　is　stalking　away　so　rapidly　yonder；　is　not　the　man　I　think

him；　if　you　have　not　now　made　your　best　and　deepest　impression　on

his　heart。〃



〃Ida；〃　her　father　faltered；　after　they　had　reached　the　privacy　of

his　room；　〃what　does　your　telegram　mean？　　What　is　important？〃



〃YOU　are　to　me。　　O　father；　please；　please　forgive　me；〃　and　she　put

her　arms　around　his　neck　and　burst　into　a　passion　of　tears。



The　bewildered　man　began　to　tremble。　　〃Can　itcan　it　be　that　my

daughter　has　a　heart？〃　he　muttered。



〃Yes；　father；　but　it's　broken　because　of　my　cruel　treatment　of　you；

I　now　hope　better　days　are　coming　for　us　all。〃



He　held　her　away　from　him　and　looked　into　her　face　with　a　longing

intensity　that　suggested　a　soul　perishing　for　the　lack　of　love　and

hope。



〃Father；　father；　I　can't　bear　that　look。　　Oh；　God　forgive　me；　how

I　have　wronged　you！〃　and　she　buried　her　face　on　his　shoulder　again。



〃Ida；〃　he　said；　slowly　and　pleadingly；　〃be　very　carefulbe　sure　this

is　not　a　passing　impulse；　a　mere　remorseful　twinge　of　conscience。

I've　been　hoping　for　yearsI　would　have　prayed；　if　I　dared　tofor

some　token　that　I　was　not　a　burden　to　you　and　your　mother。　　You

seemed　to　love　me　some　when　you　were　little；　but　as　you　grew　older

you　grew　away　from　me。　　I've　tried　to　forget　that　I　had　a　heart。

I've　tried　to　become　a　beast　because　it　was　agony　to　be　a　man。　　why

I　have　lived　I　scarcely　know。　　I　thought　I　had　suffered　all　that　I

could　suffer　in　this　world；　but　I　was　mistaken。　　I　left　this　place

last　Monday　with　the　fear　that　my　beautiful　daughter　was　giving

her　love　to　a　man　even　baser　than　I　am；　base　and　low　from　choice；

base　and　corrupt　in　every　fibre　of　his　soul　and　body；　and　from

that　hour　to　this　it　has　seemed　as　if　I　were　ground　between　two

millstones；〃　and　he　shuddered　as　if　smitten　with　an　ague。　　〃Ida；〃

he　concluded　piteously；　〃I'm　too　weak；　I'm　too　far　gone　to　bear

disappointment。　　　This　is　more　than　an　impulse；　is　it　not？　　You　will

not　throw　yourself　away？　　Oh；　Ida；　my　only　child；　if　you　could　be

in　heart　what　you　were　in　your　face　as　you　greeted　me　to…night；　I

could　die　content！〃



For　a　few　minutes　the　poor　girl　could　only　sob　convulsively　on　his

breast。　　At　last　she　faltered　brokenly：



〃Yes；　fatherit　is　an　impulsean　impulse　from　heaven；　but　I　shall

pray　daily　that　it　be　not　a　passing　one。　　II　have　lost　confidence

in　myself；　but　with　my　Saviour's　help；　I　will　try　to　be　a　loving

daughter　to　you　and　make　your　wishes　first　in　everything。〃



〃Great　God！〃　he　muttered；　〃can　this　be　true？〃



〃Yes；　father；　because　God　IS　great；　and　very；　VERY；　kind。〃



His　bent　form　became　erect　and　almost　steely　in　its　tenseness。　　He

gently　but　firmly　placed　her　in　a　chair；　and　then　paced　the　room

rapidly　a　moment　or　two；　his　dark　eyes　glowing　with　a　strong　and

kindling　excitement。　　Ida　began　to　regard　him　with　wonder　and　almost

alarm。　　Suddenly　he　raised　his　hand　to　heaven；　and　said　solemnly：



〃This　shall　be　no　one…sided　affair　so　help　me　God！〃



Then　opening　his　valise；　he　took　out　a　bottle　of　brandy　and　thew

it；　with　a　crash；　into　the　empty　grate。



Ida　sprang　towards　him　with　a　glad　cry；　exclaiming；　〃O　father；　now

I　understand　you！　　Thank　God！　thank　God！〃



He　kissed　her　tearful；　upturned　face　again　and　again；　as　if　he

found　there　the　very　elixir　of　life。



〃Ida；　my　dear　little　Ida；〃　he　said；　huskily；　〃you　have　saved　your

father　from　a　drunkard's　endfrom　a　drunkard's　grave。　　I　was　in

a　drunkard's　hell　already。〃



Mr。　Mayhew　requested　that　supper　should　be　served　in　his　own　room；

for　neither　he　nor　his　daughter　was　in　a　mood　to　meet　strangers

that　evening。　　Ida　called　her　mother；　and　tried　to　explain　to　her

why　they　did　not　wish　to　go　down；　but　the　poor　woman　was　not　able

to　grasp　very　much　of　the　truth；　and　was　decidedly　mystified　by　the

domestic　changes　which　she　had　very　limited　power　to　appreciate；

and　in　which　she　had　so　little　part。　　She　was　not　a　coarse　woman；

but　matter　of　fact；　superficial；　and　worldly　to　the　last　degree。



Van　Berg　could　scarcely　believe　his　eyes　when　Mr。　Mayhew　came　down　to

breakfast　with　his　family　Sunday　morning。　　The　bondman　had　become

free；　the　slave　of　a　degrading　vice　had　been　transformed　into

a　quiet；　dignified　gentleman。　　His　form　was　erect；　and　while　his

bearing　was　singularly　modest　and　retiring；　there　was　nothing　of

the　old　cowering；　shrinking　manner　which　suggested　defeat；　loss　of

self…respect；　and　hopeless　dejection。　　All　who　knew　him　instinctively

felt　that　the　prostrate　man　had　risen　to　his　feet；　and　there　was

something　in　his　manner　that　made　them　believe　he　would　hold　his

footing　among　other　men　hereafter。



The　artist