The old adage,that "as the wine comes in the man steps out,"was not true of Sibley,for the man had stepped out permanently long since.But not very much wine was required to overthrow the flimsy barriers of self-restraint and courtesy that he tried to interpose in his sober moments between his true self and society.Mr.Burleigh frowned at him more than once during the dinner-hour,and was glad to see him stroll off in the grounds with his boon companions.
Stanton followed the Mayhews to their rooms,for he wished to remonstrate with Ida and Mrs.Mayhew in regard to their apparent intimacy with the fellow.
"Ida,"he said,"do you realized the force of your words to Mr.
Van Berg at the table to-day,taken in connection with your action?
You said,'congenial society for me,or none at all.'Whatever Van's faults are,he is a perfect gentleman;and yet you treat him as rudely and coldly as you can,and assert by your actions that Sibley's society is by far the most congenial to you."Ida's overstrained nerves gave way,and she said,irritably:
"You understood the cheerful questions of our appetizing table-talk to-day better than you understand me;so please be still.""Oh,pshaw,Ik,"commenced Mrs.Mayhew,who now began to wake up since the theme was quite within her sphere,"you are affecting very Puritanical views of late.It does not seem so very long since you and Sibley were good friends.""It is within the memory of woman,if not of man,"added Ida,maliciously,"since you drank his brandy,and considerable of it,too."Stanton flushed angrily but controlled himself.
"He was never my friend--never more than an acquaintance,"he said emphatically,"and I never before knew him as well as I do now.Moreover,I may as well say it plainly,I am through with that style of men,forever.There is little prospect of my ever becoming saint-like,but I shall,at least,cease to be vulgar in my associations.I protest against Sibley's coming to our table again.""You are absurdly unreasonable,"replied Mrs.Mayhew in an aggrieved tone."Sibley is only sowing his wild oats now as you did in the past.I don't know why he is not as good as your friend Mr.Van Berg,who,as far as I can make out,is more of an infidel than anything else.I never could endure these doubting,unsettling people.""I admit that Sibley is established,"said Stanton."There is little prospect of his ever getting out of the mire in which he is now imbedded.""Nonsense!What has Sibley done that is particularly out of the way,more than you and other young men?I'm sure his family is quite as rich and fashionable as that of this artist.""More rich and fashionable.There is just the difference between the Sibleys and the Van Bergs that there is between a drop curtain at a theatre and one of Bierstadt's oil paintings.There is more paint and surface in the former,but truth and genius in the latter.
If you prefer paint and surface it is a matter of taste.""I won't endure such insinuations from you,"said Mrs.Mayhew,indignantly.
"Oh,hush mother!"said Ida,quietly."I think Ik is very magnanimous in praising his friend in view of circumstances that are becoming quite apparent.Possibly he is exaggerating a little,in order to show us what a great,generous soul he has.For one,I would like to know wherein this superior race of Van Bergs differs from those who have had the presumption to suppose themselves at least equals."Ida's allusion and tone stung Stanton into saying more than he intended,and thus the girl's artifice became successful.Hearing about Van berg and all that related to him was like looking out of a desert into a fruitful oasis;and yet cruel as was the fascination,it was also irresistible.