After the event of the day was over,and the guests were circling and eddying through the halls and parlors and out on the piazza,Ida still had the annoyance of observing that Van Berg was utterly oblivious of her as far as she could perceive.He spoke here and there with the ease and freedom of one familiar with society,and she saw more eyes following his tall form approvingly than were turned towards herself.Few gentlemen remained at the house during the week,and Miss Mayhew was not a favorite with her own sex.
Those who most closely resembled her in character envied rather than admired her,and those who were better endowed and developed found fault even with her beauty from a moral point of view,as Van Berg had on artistic grounds.She consoled herself,however,with the thought that it was Saturday,and that the evening boat and trains would bring a number of gentlemen,among whom she told Stanton,exultantly,that she had "some friends"--moths rather whose wings were in danger of being singed.
As the afternoon was not sultry,Stanton had said to his friend that they could enjoy their cigars and a ride at the same time,and that he would drive around for him in a few minutes.Ida overheard the remark,and,quietly slipping off to her room,returned with her hat and shawl.As her cousin approached she hastened down the steps,past Van Berg,exclaiming:
"Oh,thank you,Ik!How good of you!I was dying for a ride.
Don't trouble yourself.I can get in without aid,"and she sprang lightly into the buggy before her cousin could utter a word.
He turned with a look of comic dismay and deprecation to his friend,who stood laughing on the steps.Ida,also,could not resist her inclination to catch a glimpse of the artist's chagrin and disappointment,but she was provoked beyond measure to find him acting as if Stanton were the victim rather than himself.As the sweep of the road again brought them in view of the piazza,this impression was confirmed by seeing Van Berg stroll carelessly away,complacently puffing his cigar as if he had already dismissed her from his mind.
"Really,"grumbled Stanton,"I never had beauty and happiness thrust upon me so unexpectedly before.""Very well then,"retorted Ida;"stop your horses and thrust me out into the road.I'd rather go back,even if I have to walk.""Oh,no!there is to be no going back for two hours or more.Ionce cured a horse of running away by making him run long after he wanted to stop.""You seem to be learning your friend's hateful manners.""I asked you this morning if you would take a drive,and you declined.""I changed my mind."
"Very abruptly,indeed,it seemed.Since you took so much touble to annoy my friend,it's a pity you failed.""I don't believe I failed.He's probably as cross as you are about it,only he can keep it to himself.""Dove-like creatiah!thanks.Will you please drive while I light a cigar?""I don't like any one to smoke as near me as you are.""If your theory in regard to Van Berg is correct,none of us will enjoy what we like this afternoon.Of course I never smoke without a lady's permission,but unless quieted by a cigar,I am a very reckless driver,"and he enforced his words by a sharp crack of the whip,which sent the horses off like the wind.