She sat inside the entrance of the main parlor facing the open windows,and a little group had gathered around her,including the ladies who sat at her table,with whom she had already become a favorite.Ida had demurely entered by one of the open windows and was apparently reading a novel under one of the gas jets not far away.Groups of people were chatting near or were seated around card-tables;others were quietly promenading in the hall-ways and on the piazza.There was not an indication of any expected or unexpected "scene."Only Ida's conscious,observant expression and the absence of Mrs.Chints foreboded mischief.
"What enormity can that odious family be about to perpetrate?"whispered Stanton.
"I cannot surmise,"answered Van Berg;"something in reference to the rescue of her child,I suppose.I wish I could thwart them,for Miss Burton's position will place her full in the public eye,and I do not wish her to be the victim of their vulgarity."After a little further hesitation and thought he stepped in,and approaching Miss Burton,said:
"Pardon me for interrupting you,but I wish to show you something on the piazza that will interest you."She rose to follow him,but before she could take a step Mrs.Chints swept in on the arm of her husband,followed by the nurse--who had been retained at Miss Burton's intercession--bearing in her arms the little boy,that stared at the lights and people with the round eyes of childish wonder.
Every one looked up in surprise at the sudden appearance of the little group,that suggested a christening more than anything else.
Planting themselves before Miss Burton,thus barring all egress,Mr.Chints fumbled a moment in his pocket and drew out an envelope,and with a loud,prefatory "Ahem!"began:
"My dear Miss Burton--that is the way Mrs.Chints says I should address you,thought it strikes me as a trifle familiar and affectionate;but I mean no harm--we're under pecul--very great obligations to YOU.We learn--my wife has--that you are engaged--engaged--in--Imean that you--teach.I'm sure that's a lawful calling--I mean a laudable one,and no one can deny that it's useful.In my view it's to your credit that you are engaged--in--that you teach.
I work myself,and always mean to.In fact I enjoy it more than making speeches.But feeling that we were under wonderful obligations to YOU,and learning--my wife did--that you were dependent on--on your own labor,we thought that if this little fellow that you saved so handsomely should hand you this check for five hundred dollars it wouldn't be amiss."And here,according to rehearsal,the nurse with great parade handed the child to Mrs.Chints,who now,with much 'empressement,'advanced to a position immediately before Miss Burton;meanwhile the poor,perspiring Mr.Chints put the envelope into the child's chubby hand,saying:
"Give it to the lady,Augustus."
But the small Augustus,on the contrary,stared at the lady and put the envelope in his mouth,to the great mortification of Mrs.
Chints,who had been so preoccupied with the Chints side of the affair,and the impression they were making on the extemporized audience,that she had no eyes for Miss Burton.
And that young lady's face was,in truth,a study.An expression of surprise was followed quickly by one of resentment.Even Stanton was obliged to admit that for a moment the little "school-ma'am"looked formidable.But as Mr.Chints floundered on in his speech,as some poor wretch who could not swim might struggle to get out of the deep water into which he had been thrown,the expression of her face softened,and one might imagine the thought passing through her mind--"They don't know any better;"and when,at last,the child,instead of carrying out the climax that Mrs.Chints had intended,began vigorously to munch the envelope containing the precious check,there was even a twinkle of humor in the young lady's eyes.But she responded gravely:
"Mr.Chints,I was at first inclined to resent this scene,but time has been given me to perceive that neither you nor your wife wish to hurt my feelings,and that you are in part,at least,actuated by feelings of gratitude for the service that I was so fortunate as to render you.But I fear you do not quite understand me.You are right in one respect,however.I do labor for my own livelihood,and it is a source of the deepest satisfaction to me that I can live from my own work and not from gifts.If your hearts prompt this large donation,there are hundreds of poor little waifs in the city to whom this money will bring a little of the care and comfort which blesses your child.As for myself,this is all the reward that I wish or can receive,"and she stooped and kissed the child on both cheeks.Then taking Van Berg's arm,she gladly escaped to the cool and dusky piazza.
Mr.Chints looked at Mrs.Chints in dismay.Mrs.Chints handed the baby to the nurse,and beat an undramatic and hasty retreat,her husband following in a dazed sort of manner,treading on her train at every other step.
As Van Berg passed out of the parlor,he saw Ida Mayhew vanishing from its farther side,with Stanton in close pursuit.When Miss Burton ended the disagreeable affair by kissing the child,there had been a slight murmur of applause.Significant smiles and a rising him of voices descanting on the affair in a way not at all complimentary to the crestfallen Chints family,followed the disappearances of all the actors in the unexpected scene.