\"MissBurton,\"saidVanBerg,afterdinner,\"IwishyouwouldcallonMissMayhew.Ithinksheisgreatlyinneedofalittleofyourinimitabletactandskill.\'Awoundedspiritwhocanbear?\'Andinsuchanemergency,youarethebestsurgeonIknowof.IthinksomeofuswoundedherdeeplyandunpardonablybycontinuingtoassociateherwithSibley,afterherevealedwhatanunmitigatedrascalhewas.Strongasappearanceswereagainsther,IfeelthatIcannotforgivemyselfthatItookanythingforgrantedinacaselikethat.\"
\"Iamglad,\"sheanswered,\"thatyouhavecometomyownconclusion,thatMissMayhew,withallherfaults,istoogoodagirltobeguiltyofapassionforamanlikeSibley.IfsheregardshiminanysuchwayasIdo,Idonotwonderthatithasmadeherilltobesomisjudged.Imustpleadguiltyalsotohavingwrongedherinmythoughts.WhileItrytoexercisethebroadestcharity,mycalling,asateacher,hasbroughtmeincontactwithmanygirlsthat——throughimmaturityandinnatefoolishness——areguiltyofconductthattaxesone\'sfaithinhumannatureseverely.Goodishsortofgirlsaresometimesinfatuatedwithverybadmen.IsupposeitisevidenttoallthatMissMayhew\'searlyand,indeed,presentinfluencesaresadlyagainsther;butunfortunateashavebeenherassociationsoflate,Iamcomingtothebeliefthat,howeverfaultyshemaybe,sheisnotnaturallyeithersillyorweak.Butmyacquaintancewithherisveryslight,andImustconfessIdonotunderstandherverywell.Forsomereasonsheshunsmeandhasevidentlydislikedmefromthefirst.\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandheratall,\"saidVanBerg,inatonethatprovedhimgreatlyannoyedwithhimself.\"IhavethoughtthatI
hadsoundedtheshallowdepthsofhercharacterseveraltimes,andthensomenewandperplexingphasewouldpresentitself,andputmealltoseaagain.Itmayseemludicroustoyouthatherbeautyshouldirritatemesogreatlybecauseofitsincongruousassociations.\"
\"Notatall,\"shereplied,withalittlenod.\"Iwasnotlongindiscoveringthatyouwereapagan,andthatbeautywasyourdivinity.\"