There is usually but a short step between high tragedy and painful
absurdity, which exasperates us while we laugh at it; but poor
Ida's thoughts were so desperately dark and despairing, and her
exquisite features, made almost transparent by grief and fasting,
so perfectly interpreted her unfeigned wretchedness, that even those
who knew her but slightly were touched and troubled in a way that
they could not explain even to themselves.
Miss Burton was evidently meditating how she could approach Ida,
who seemed encased in a repellant atmosphere. Van Berg saw that
Stanton looked anxious and perplexed, and that Mrs. Mayhew was
exceedingly worried and annoyed. At last he hastily approached
her daughter and whispered,
"For heaven's sake, Ida, what's the matter? You look as if you
had gone into mourning."
The young lady glanced coldly up and said stonily:
"You have at least taught me to dress appropriately."
"Nonsense," continued the mother, in a low, irritable tone. "Why
can't you cheer up and act like other people? Don't you see you're
giving us all the shivers?"
She slowly swept the room with her eyes, and saw that not a few
curious glances were directed towards her.
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