The next day threatened to be a dreary one,for the rain fell so steadily as to make all sunny,out-of-door pleasures impossible.
Many looked abroad with faces as dismal and cloudy as the sky;for the number of those who rise above their circumstances with a cheery courage are but few.Human faces can shine,although the sun be clouded;but,as a rule,the shadow falls on the face also,and the regal spirit succumbs like a clod of earth.
The people came straggling down late to breakfast in the dark morning,and,with a childish egotism that considers only self and immediate desires,the lowering weather which meant renewed beauty and wealth to all the land,was berated as if it were a small spite against the handful of people at the Lake House.Van Berg heard Ida Mayhew exclaiming against the clouds as if this spite were aimed at herself only.
"Some of her friends might not venture from the city,"she said.
"They youths are not venturesome,then,"remarked Stanton,who never lost an opportunity to tease.
"Of course they don't wish to get wet,"she pouted.
"And yet I'll wager any amount that they are not of the 'salt of the earth'in any scriptural sense.Well,they had better stay in town,for this would be an instance of 'much ventured,nothing gained.'""You remind me of a certain fox who could not say enough hard things about the grapes that were out of reach.But mark my words,Mr.
Sibley will come,if it pours."
"He wouldn't risk the spoiling of his clothes for any woman living.""You judge him by yourself.Oh,dear,how shall I get through this long,horrible day!You men can smoke like bad chimneys through a storm,but for me there is no resource to-day,but a dull novel that I've read once before.Let me see,I'll read an hour and sleep three,and then it will be time to dress for dinner.Oh,good-morning,Mr.Van Berg,"she says to the artist who had been listening to her while apparently giving close attention to Mrs.
Mayhew's interminable tirade against rainy days;"I have just been envying you gentlemen who can kill stupid hours by smoking.""I admit that it is almost as bad as sleeping.""I see that you have a homily prepared on improving the time,so I shall escape at once."On the stairs she met Miss Burton,who was descending with a breezy swiftness as if she were making a charge on the general gloom and sullenness of the day.
"Good-morning,Miss Mayhew,"she said;"I'm glad to see you looking so well after the severe shaking up you had yesterday.You would almost tempt one to believe that rough usage is sometimes good for us.""I have no such belief,I assure you.Yesterday was bad enough,but to-day promises to be worse.I was going to make up a boating party,but what can one do when the water is overhead instead of under the keel?""Scores of things,"was the cheery reply."I'm going to have a good time.""I'm going to sleep,"said Ida,passing on.
"Miss Burton,"said Stanton,joining her at the foot of the stairs,"I perceive,even from your manner of descending to our lower world,that you are destined to vanquish the dullness of this rainy day.
Don't you wish an ally?"
"Would you be an ally,Mr.Stanton,if you saw I was destined to be vanquished?""Of course I would."
"Look in the parlor then.There are at least a dozen ladies already vanquished.They are oppressed by the foul-fiend,'ennui.'
Transfer your chivalric offer to them and deliver them.""Stanton,"laughed Van Berg,"you are in honor bound to devote yourself to those oppressed ladies.""The prospect is so dark and depressing that I shall at least cheer myself first with the light of a cigar.""And so your chivalry will end in smoke,"she said.
"Yes,Miss Burton,the smoke of battle,where you are concerned.""I fear your wit is readier than your sword.The soldier that boasts how he would overwhelm some other foe than the one before him loses credit to the degree that he protests.""You are more exacting,Miss Burton,than the lady who threw her glove down among the lions.What chance would Hercules himself have of lifting those twelve heavy females out of the dumps?""It's not what we do,but what we attempt,that shows our spirit.""Then I shall expect to see you attempt great things.""I'm only a woman."
"And I'm only a man."
"Only a man!what greater vantage-ground could one have than to be a man?""The advantage is not so uncommon that one need be unduly elated,"state Stanton with a shrug."I forget how many hundred millions of us there are.But I'm curious to see how you will set about rendering the hues of this leaden day prismatic.""Only by being the innocent cause of your highly colored language,I imagine.""Oh,dear,"exclaimed a little boy petulantly,as he strolled through the hall and looked out at the steady downfall of rain."Oh dear!
Why can't it stop raining?"
"There's the philosophy of our time for you in a nutshell,"said Van Berg."When a human atom wants anything,what business has the universe to stand in its way?""But you have no better philosophy to offer the disconsolate little fellow,Mr.Ban Berg?"Miss Burton asked.
"Now,Van,it's your turn.Remember,Miss Burton,he has the same vantage-ground that I have.Indeed he's half an inch taller.""The world long ago learned better than to measure men by inches,Mr.Stanton.""Alas,Miss Burton,"said Van Berg;"the best philosophy I have is this:when it rains,let it rain.""And thus I'm privileged to meet representatives of those two ancient and honorable schools,the Stoic and Epicurean,and you both think,I fear,that if Xanthippe had founded a school,my philosophy would also be defined.But perhaps you will think better of me if I tell that little fellow a story to pass the time for him.What's the matter,little folk?"she asked,for two or three more small clouded faces had gathered at the door.