a face illumined-第33章
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〃Mr。 Van Berg plays very well indeed； considering his youth and
diffidence！〃 remarked Stanton。
〃And he has been taking advantage of a defenceless woman all this
time！ Mr。 Van Berg； if you do not wish to lose your character
utterly； you must take my place at the piano。〃
〃I admit；〃 he replied； 〃that I have taken more pleasure than you
will believe in your in your contribution to our evening's enjoyment；
but rather than lose your good opinion I will attempt to play or
sing anything you dictate； even though I put every one in the parlor
to flight； with their fingers in their ears。〃
〃And you fear my taste will impose on you some such blood…curdling
combination of sounds？ Thank you。〃
〃Now； Van； you have taught us what unconditional surrender means。
Miss Burton； ask him to play and sing some selections from the
Oratorio of the Messiah。〃
〃Are you familiar with that？〃 she asked； with a sudden lighting up
of her face。
〃Somewhat so； only as an amateur can be； but I see； from your
expression； that you are。〃
〃I've contributed my share this evening；〃 she said； decisively。
〃Please give us some selections from the Oratorio。〃
〃Lay your command； then； on Stanton also。 There's a part that we
have sung together as a duet occasionally； although it is not 'so
nominated in the bond；' or score； rather。〃
〃If Mr。 Stanton does not stand by his friend； then he should be
left to stand by himself。〃
〃In the corner； I suppose you mean。 But do not leave； Miss Burton。
If you do not stand by Mr。 Van Berg and sing with him the duet that
begins with the words
'O death！ where is thy sting？'
you will deprive us all of the chief pleasure of the evening； and
it's not in your nature to do that。〃
〃Please； please do； Miss Burton；〃 cried a score of voices。
〃You know nothing about my nature； sir。 I assure you that I can
be a veritable dragon。 But out of regard for Mr。 Van Berg's 'youth
and diffidence' I will sustain him。〃
Van Berg's voice was not strong； but he sang with taste and good
expression。 It suggested refinement and culture rather than deep；
repressed feeling； as had been the case in Miss Burton's singing。
His style would be admired； and would not give much occasion for
criticism； but； as a general thing； it would not stir and move the
heart。 Still； the audience gave close and pleased attention。
Ida Mayhew； who all this time had been out on the piazza and but
half listening to Mr。 Sibley's compliments in her attention to the
scenes at the piano； now rose and came to one of the open windows；
where； while hidden from the singer； she could hear more distinctly。
Her features did not indicate that she shared in the pleasure
expressed on the other faces within； and her gathering frown was
deepened by the shadow of the window frame。
〃You do not enjoy it！〃 said Mr。 Sibley； complacently。
〃No；〃 she answered； laconically； but for reasons he little understood。
〃Now you show your taste； Miss Mayhew。〃
〃I fear I do。 Hush！〃 But when Van Berg's solo ended； she breathed
a deep sigh。
Then Stanton's rich； but uncultivated bass voice joined in the
melody。 Still the effect was better tahn would have been expected
from amateurs。 After a few moments； Stanton stood back and Miss
Burton and Van Berg sang together； then every one leaned forward
and listened with a breathless hush。 Her voice seemed to pervade
his with sould and feeling that had been lacking hitherto。
As the last rich chords died away； the strongest expression of
pleasure were heard on every side； but Ida Mayhew stepped abruptly
out into the dusk of the piazza with clenched hands and compressed
lips。
〃'Peste！'〃 she exclaimed under her breath。 〃What a contrast between
Sibley and myself last evening and these two people to…night！ What
a worse contrast there might have been if Ik had not interfered in
time！ I have a good voice； but the guests of the house have not
even thought of me in connection with this evening's entertainment。
I am associated only with the Sibley style of amusements。〃
Chapter XVII。 New Forces Developing。
After Mr。 Van Berg and Miss Burton finished the selection from the
Oratorio mentioned in the previous chapter； the old white…haired
gentleman at whose side the latter had been sitting in the earlier
part of the evening rose and said：
〃I want to thank all the singers； and especially the young lady
and gentleman now at the piano； not only for the pleasure they have
given us all； but also for the comforting and sustaining thoughts
that the sacred words have suggested。 My enjoyments in this world
are but few； and are fast diminishing； and I know that they will
not refuse an old man's request that they close this service of song
by each singing along some hymn that will strengthen our faith in
the unseen Friend who watches over us all。〃
Van Berg looked at Miss Burton。
〃We cannot refuse such an appeal；〃 she said。
〃I fear that I shall seem a hypocrite in complying；〃 Van Berg
answered； in a low tone。 〃How can I make a distinctly recognized
effort to strengthen faith in others when lacking faith myself。〃
Her eyes flashed up to his； in sudden and strong approval。 〃I
like that；〃 she said。 〃It always gives me a sense of security and
safety when I meet downright honesty。 In no way can you better
strengthen our faith than by being perfectly true。 You give me a
good example of sincerity；〃 she added slowly； 〃and perhaps my hymn
will teach submission more than faith。 While I am singing it you
may find something that will not express more than you feel。〃
In her sweet； low； yet penetrating voice； that now had a pathos which
melted every heart； she sang the following words； which； like the
perfume of crushed violets； have risen in prayer from many bruised
and broken sprits：
〃My God； my father； while I stray
Far from my home on life's rough way；
Oh teach me from my heart to say；
Thy will be done。
What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved no longer nigh；
Submissive still would I reply；
Thy will be done。
Renew my will from day to day；
Blend it with Thine； and take away
Whate'er now makes it hard to say；
Thy will be done。
Then when on earth I breathe no more；
The prayer oft mixed with tears before；
I'll sing upon a happier shore；
Thy will be done。〃
Stanton； warm…hearted and genuine with all his faults； retired well
into the shadow of the hallway and looked at the singer through
the lenses of sympathetic tears。
〃Poor orphan girl；〃 he muttered。 〃What a villain a man would be
who could purpose harm to you！〃
Van Berg； in accordance with his cooler and less demonstrative
nature； kept his position at her side； but he regarded her with
an expression of respect and interest that caused Ida Mayhew； who
was watching from her covert near； a sense of pain and envy that
surprised her by its keenness。
With a sudden longing which indicated that the wish came direct
from from her heart； she sighed：
〃What would I not give to see him look at me with that expression
on his face！〃
Then； startled by her own thought； so vivid had it been； she looked
around as if in fear it was apparent to her companion。
His eyes were in truth bent upon her； and in the dusk they seemed
like livid coals。 A moment later； as with a shrinking sense of
fear she furtively looked at him again； his eyes suggested those of
some animal of prey that is possessed only with the wolfish desire
to devour； caring for the victim only as it may gratify the ravenous
appetite。
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear：
〃Miss Ida； you do not know how strangely； how temptingly beautiful
you are to…night。 One might well peril his soul for such beauty
as yours。〃
〃Hush；〃 she said imperiously； and with a rep
