To the degree that he caused her disquietude and secret humiliation,her desire to retaliate increased,and she resolved,before the day closed,to use her beauty as a weapon to inflict upon him the severest wound possible.If it were within the power of her art she would bring him to her feet and keep him there until she could,in the most decided and public manner,spurn his abject homage.
She would have no scruple in doing this in any case,but,in this instance,success would give her the keenest satisfaction.
His very desire for her acquaintance,as she understood it,was humiliating,and,in a certain sense,demoralizing.Her other suitors had imagined that she had good traits back of her beauty,and hitherto she had been carelessly content to believe that she could display such traits in abundance should the occasion require them.Here was one,however,who,while despising the woman,was apparently seeking her for the sake of her beauty merely;and her woman's soul,warped and dwarfed as it was,resented an homage that was seemingly sensuous and superficial,and would,of necessity,be transient.In her ignorance of Van Berg's motives,and in the utter impossibility of surmising them,she could scarcely come to any other conclusion;and she determined to punish him to the utmost extent of her ability.
Thus it came to pass that Miss Mayhew had designs against Van Berg that were not quite as amiable as those of the artist in regard to herself.
Stanton,in a low tone,remarked to her at the supper table,"Now that fate has throw you and Van Berg together in such a remarkable manner"(the young lady colored deeply at this unfortunate expression and looked at him keenly),"I trust that you will yield gracefully to destiny and treat him with ordinary courtesy when you meet.
Otherwise you may occasion surmises that will not be agreeable to you.""Has he been telling you anything about this morning?"she asked quickly.
"Nothing more than he said in your presence.Why,was there anything more to tell?""Certainly not,but he made ill-natured remarks about me once--that is,you said he did--and why should he not again?""Well,he has not.I think he spoke very handsomely of you this morning.I hope he didn't exaggerate your good behavior.""If you prefer to believe ill of me you are welcome to do so.For my part,I believe you exaggerate what Mr.Van Berg said at the concert,and that he never meant to be so rude.As far as I can judge,he has shown no such unmannerly disposition since coming here.""Indeed,you are right.I think his disposition has compared favorably with your own.""Well,"she replied,with a peculiar smile,"we are on speaking terms for the present.""That smile bodes no good-will towards my friend,but for once you will find a man who will not fall helplessly in love with your mere beauty.""If you will glance at yonder table you can see that Miss Burton has already so absorbed him that he has eyes for no one else.""They have jolly good times at that table.I wish we were there.""Indeed!are you bewitched also?I can't see what it is that people find so attractive in that plain-looking girl.""Well,for one thing,she has a mind.Beauty without mind is like salad without dressing.""And do you mean to say that I have no mind?"Ida asked,with a sudden flush.
"My dear Coz,we were speaking solely of Miss Burton.Indeed,Ithink you have a very decided will of your own.""I understand you.Well,in what other respects is Miss Burton my superior?""I doubt if Miss Burton ever thinks of herself as superior to any one,and that's another very amiable trait in her.""Can you not sum up her perfections a little more rapidly?Life is short,"remarked Ida,acidly.