If society is going to put him under ban, we must
cut him; that's all there is about it, and his behavior at dinner
gives us an excuse."
During this conversation Mr. Mayhew had been lying on the sofa with
closed eyes, and as motionless as if he were dead. Now he said in
low, bitter tones:
"Mark it well--an excuse, not a reason. O, virtue! how beautiful
thou art!"
"You are the last one in the world to speak on this subject," said
Mrs. Mayhew, angrily.
"Right again. You see, Ik, my family never before met a man who
promised to make such an appropriate addition to our number. It's
a pity you are interfering;" and he poured out a large glass of
brandy.
"Would to God I had died before I had seen this day!" cried Ida
in a tone of such sharp agony that all turned towards her in a
questioning surprise; but she rushed into her own room and locked
the door after her.
"Things have gone farther between her and Sibley than we thought,"
said Stanton, gloomily.
"Well, Ik," said Mr. Mayhew with a laugh that was dreadful to hear,
"you had better cut loose from us. We are all going to the devil
by the shortest cut."
"Would to heaven I had never seen you!" cried Mrs.
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