第22章 Another Feminine Problem.(3)

They bowed with the quiet,well-bred manner of society people,but were at first inclined to pay little heed to the plainly dressed and rather plain appearing young stranger.As one and another,however,glanced towards her,something about her seemed to linger in their memories and cause them to look again.The lady next to her offered a commonplace remark,chiefly out of politeness,and received so pleasant a reply in return that she turned her thoughts as well as her eyes to see who it really was that had made it.Then another spoke,and the response led her to speak again and again;and soon the entire party were describing their drive and living over its pleasantest features;and before the meal ended they were all gathered,metaphorically,around the mystical,maple-wood fire that burned on the hearth of a nature that seemed so hospitable and kindly as to have no other mission than to cheer and entertain.

"Who is that little brown thrush of a woman that you were so taken with at dinner?"asked Stanton,as they were enjoying a quiet smoke in their favorite corner of the piazza.

"Good for you,Stanton.I never knew you to be so appreciative before.Your term quite accurately describes her.She is both shy and reserved,but not diffident or awkward in the least.Indeed her manner might strike some as being peculiarly frank.But there is something back of it all;for young as she undoubtedly is,her face suggests to me some deep and unusual experience.""Jupiter Ammon!What an abyss of mystery,surmise,and metaphysics you fell into while I was eating my dinner!I used the phrase 'brown thrush,'only in reference to her dress and general homeliness.""Oh,I beg your pardon!I take all back about your nice appreciation of character.I now grasp the whole truth--your attention wandered sufficiently from your dinner to observe that she wore a brown dress,and the one fact about the thrush that has impressed you is that it is brown.'Here be truths'which leave nothing more to be said.""You imaginative fellows are often ridiculously astray on the other tack,and see a thousand-fold more than exists.But it's a pity you could not read all there was in this young woman's face,for it was certainly PLAIN enough.At this rate you will be asking our burly landlord to unbosom himself,insisting that he has a 'silent sorrow'tucked away somewhere under his ample waistcoat.""His troubles,like yours,are banished by the dinner hour.Irecognize your feeble witticism about her plain face,and forgive you because I thought it plain also at first,but when she came to speak and smile it ceased to be plain.I do not say she has had trouble,but she has had some experience in her past history which neither you nor I could understand.""Quite likely;the measles,for instance,which I never had to my knowledge.Possibly she has had a lover who was not long in finding a prettier face,and so left her,but not so disconsolate that she could not smile bewilderingly upon you.""Come now,Stanton,I'll forewarn and forearm you.I confidently predict that the voice of this brown thrush will lure you out of a life which,to put it mildly,is a trifle matter-of-fact and material.You have glanced at her,but you have not seen her yet.

Mark my words;your appetite will flag before many weeks pass.""I wish I could pin you down to a large wager on this absurdity.""I agree to paint you a picture if my prediction fails.""And to finish it within a natural lifetime?"said Stanton,with much animation.

"To finish as promptly as good work can be done.""Pardon me,Van.You had too much wine for dinner;I don't want to take advantage of you.""I did not have any."