Van
Berg, who sat opposite, had taken pains not to follow it and to
appear oblivious, and yet he could not refrain from observing its
general drift and scope in Mr. Mayhew's manner; and his eyes glowed
with admiration for her winning tact and kindness. The glance he
bent upon her was perhaps more ardent and approving than he was
aware, for she, looking up from the abstraction which the recent
conversation had occasioned, seemed strangely affected by it, for
she trembled and her face blanched with a sudden pallor, while her
eyes were riveted to his face.
"You are not well, Miss Burton," said Stanton hastily, but in a
low tone. "Let me get you some wine."
She started perceptibly, and then a sudden crimson suffused her
face as she became conscious that other eyes were upon her.
In almost a second she recovered herself fully, and replied, with
a smile:
"No, I think you, Mr. Stanton. A cup of tea is a panacea for all
a woman's troubles, and you see I have it here. I did not feel
well for a moment, but am better now."
The eyes of Stanton and Ida met. Both had seen this little
episode, and each drew from it conclusions that were anything but
inspiriting.
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