第33章 A "Tableau Vivant."(1)
"Miss Mayhew,will you please step here?"said a very fashionably dressed lady.
Turning,Ida saw near her the mother of the child that had been rescued the previous day.She,with her husband,had been talking very earnestly to Mr.Burleigh,the proprietor of the house,who seemed in rather a dubious state of mind over some proposition of theirs.
"Miss Mayhew,we want your opinion in regard to a certain matter,"began the lady volubly."Of course I and my husband feel very grateful to the young woman who saved our child from your cousin's horses yesterday.Indeed,my husband feels so deeply indebted that he wishes to make some return and I have suggested that he present her with a check for five hundred dollars.I learn from Mr.Burleigh that she is a teacher,and therefore,of course,she must be poor.
Now,in my view,if my husband or some other gentleman should present this check in the parlor,with an appropriate little speech,it would be a nice acknowledgment of her act.Don't you think so?""I do not think I am qualified to give an opinion,"said Ida,"as I have no acquaintance with the lady whatever.""I'm sure it will be just the thing to do,"said the lady,becoming more infatuated with her project every moment."Do you think your cousin would be willing to make the speech?"At this suggestion Ida laughed outright."The idea,"she said,"of my cousin making a speech of any kind,or in any circumstances!""Now I think of it,"persisted the lady,"Miss Burton and Mr.Van Berg sit at the same table,and he seems better acquainted with her than any of the gentlemen.He's the one to make the speech,only I do not feel that I know him well enough to ask him.Do you,Miss Mayhew?""Indeed I do not,"said the young lady,decisively;"I am the last one in the house to ask any favors of Mr.Van Berg.""Well,then,Mr.Burleigh can explain everything and ask him.""Really now,Mrs.Chints"--for such was the lady's name--"I don't quite believe that Mr.Van Berg would approve of giving Miss Burton money in public,and before anything further is done I would like to ask his judgement.It all may be eminently proper,as you say,and I would not like to stand in the way of the young lady's receiving so handsome a present,and would not for the world if Ithought it would be agreeable to her;but there is something about her that---""I have it,"interrupted the positive-minded lady,unheeding and scarcely hearing Mr.Burleigh's dubious circumlocution,and she put her finger to her forehead for a moment in an affected stage-like manner,as if her ideas of the "eternal fitness of things"had been obtained from the sensational drama."I have it:the child himself shall hand her the gift from his own little hand,and you,Mr.Chints,can say all that need be said.It will be a pretty scene,a 'tableau vivant.'Mr.Chints,come with me before the young woman leaves her present favorable position near the parlor door.Mr.Burleigh,your scruples are sentimental and groundless.
Of course the young woman will be delighted to receive in one evening as much,and perhaps more,than her whole year's salary amounts to.Come,Mr.Chints,Mr.Burleigh,if you wish,you may group some of your friends near;"and away she rustled,sweeping the floor with her silken train.
Mr.Chints lumbered after her with a perplexed and martyr-like expression.He was a mighty man in Washington Market,but in a matter like this he was as helpless as a stranded whale.The gift of five hundred dollars did not trouble him in the least;he could soon make that up;but taking part in a "tableau vivant"under the auspices of his dramatic wife was like being impaled.
"Well,"said Mr.Burleigh,shaking his head,"I wash my hands of the whole matter.Five hundred dollars is a snug sum,but I doubt if that little woman takes it.I'm more afraid she'll be offended and hurt.What do you think,Miss Mayhew?""I've no opinion to offer,Mr.Burleigh.These people are all comparative strangers to me.Mrs.Chints is determined to have her own way,and nothing that you or I can say would make any difference.My rule is to let people alone,and if they get into scrapes it sometimes does them good;"and she left him that she might witness the Chints'tableau.
"That's just the difference between you and Miss Burton,"muttered Mr.Burleigh,nodding his head significantly after her."She'd help a fellow out of a scrape and you'd help him into one.Well,if the old saying's true,'Handsome is that handsome does,'the little school-teacher would be the girl for me were I looking for my mate."On her way to the entrance of the main parlor,Ida stopped a moment at an open window near the corner where Stanton and Van Berg were smoking.
"Cousin Ik,"she said,'sotto voce.'
He rose and joined her.
"If you wish to see a rich scene,hover near the entrance of the main parlor.""What do you mean?"
"I've learned that Mr.and Mrs.Chints,and possibly your favorite new performer,Miss Burton,are going to act a little comedy together:come and see;"and she vanished.
"Van,"said Stanton in a vexed tone,"there's some mischief on foot;"and he mentioned what his cousin had said,adding:"Can Ida have been putting that brassy Mrs.Chints up to some absurd performance that will hurt Miss Burton's feelings?"They rose and sauntered down the piazza,Van Berg trying to imagine what was about to take place and how he could shield the young lady from any annoyance.