\"Myheartoverflowswithgratitudetoyou,\"hesaidpromptly,butwithrisingcolor;\"andasIsaidwhenyourescuedme,sonowI
vowagain,Idedicatemylifetoyou.Idonotaskyoutoforgetthepastallatonce——Idonotaskyoutoforgetitatall——butonlytoletmeaidyouintakingthebitternessoutofthosememoriesthatnowaredestroyingassweetandbeneficentalifeasGodevergave.Ihavesuspectedthatyouhadsomeunselfishguileinthatlastpromiseyouobtainedfromme,butIshallbeloyaltothepromiseIintendedtomake,andwhichwasinmymind;IshallbeloyaltothepromiseImadeyouatfirst,towinyouifIcould,andIshallwaittillIcan.\"
\"What,then,willIdaMayhewdo?\"sheaskedlookinghimfullintheface.
Hecoloredstillmoredeeply,butmeetinghersearchinggazewithoutblenching,hesaid,firmlyandquietly:\"Shewillalwaysdowhatisrightandnoble,Godblessher!\"
MissBurtonappearedalittleperplexedandtroubledforamoment,andthensaid,slowly:\"IcalledyoumyfriendlastJuly,andwhenIspeakinthemoodIwasinthenImeanallthatIsay.Friendsshouldbeveryfrankwhentheoccasionrequires,orelsetheyarebutacquaintances.Iamgoingtobeveryfrankwithyouto-day,andifIerr,chargeittofriendshiponly.IdaMayhewlovesyou,Mr.VanBerg;shehaslovedyoualmostfromthefirst;andnowthatherlifehasbecomesonobleandbeautiful,Iamgreatlymistakenifyoudonotreturnheraffection.Ifthisbetrue,whatareyouofferingme?\"
\"IHAVEgivenyou,MissBurton,mytruthandloyaltyforallcomingtime.Youmaydeclinethemnow——youprobablywill——butyoucannotchangemyattitudetowardsyouoraltermycourse.Ishallnotattempttohideanythingfromyou.Indeed,todosowouldbevain,andIhaveneverbeenintentionallyinsincerewithyou.\"ThenhetoldherofthefreakoffancythathadledhimtofollowIdatothecountryinthefirstinstance,andmuchthatfollowedsince,makingnoreference,however,toherdarkpurposeagainstherself.
Inconclusionhesaid:\"Oflate,forreasonsobvioustoyou,shehashadstrongfascinationsforme,butaboveandbeyondthesehasbeenherinfluenceonthesideofallthat\'sright,manly,andtrue.IhaveneverspokenoflovetoMissMayhew.Honor,loyalty,unboundedgratitude,anddeepaffectionbindmetoyou,andshallthroughlife.Pleasesaynomore,MissJennie,forifanyquestionwaseversettled,thisis.\"
\"ThenyouproposetosacrificeyourselfandMissMayhewfortheshadowychanceofmakingmealittlehappier?\"
\"Ishallnotbesacrificed,andIdaMayhewwouldjustlyrejectmewithscornwereIdisloyaltoyou.Icangiveyoumorelove,JennieBurton,thanIfearyouwillevergiveme,butIshallwaitpatiently.Whenmonthsandyearshaveprovedtoyouthetruthofmywords,youmayfeeldifferently.Letusleavethesubjecttillthen.\"
\"Oh,Mr.VanBerg,Ishallhavetotellyouafterall,\"shesaidburyingherfaceinherhands.
\"Youneednotnow,\"herepliedgently.\"Youhavebeenillandarenotstrongenoughforthisagitation.Youneverneedtotellmeunlessitwillmakeyourburdenlighter.\"
\"Itwillmakemyburdenlighterto-day,\"shesaidhurriedly.\"PardonmeifItellmystoryinthebriefestandmostprosaicway.Youarethefirstonethathasheardit.Itmaynotseemmuchtoyouandothers;buttomeitisanawfultragedy,andIsometimesfearmylifemaybeaneternalconditionofsuspenseandwaiting.Youhavebeenverygenerousintakingmesofullyontrust,butnowyoushallknowall.Iamtheonlydaughterofapoor,unworldlyNewEnglandclergyman.MymotherdiedbeforeIcanremember,andmyfathergavetomeallthetimehecouldsparefromthedutiesofasmallvillageparish.Heandthebeautifulregioninwhichwelivedweremyonlyteachers.OneJunemorningHarroldFleetwoodcametotheparsonagewithlettersofintroduction,sayingthathisphysicianhadbanishedhimfrombooksandcitylife,andheaskedifhecouldbetakenasalodgerforafewweeks.Poorandunworldlyasfatherwas,formysakehemadecarefulinquiriesandlearnedthattheyoungmanwasfromoneofthebestandwealthiestfamiliesofBoston,andboreanunblemishedreputation.Then,sinceweweresoverypoor,heyieldedtoMr.Fleetwood\'swishes,hopingthustobeabletobuysomebooks,hesaid,onwhichourmindscouldliveduringthecomingwinter.
\"Tome,HarroldFleetwoodwasaveryremarkablecharacter.Whilehealwaystreatedmewithkindnessandrespect,hedidnottakemuchnoticeofmeatfirst;andIthinkhefoundmeverydiffident,tosaytheleast.But,ashehadovertaxedhiseyes,Ibegantoreadtohim;andthen,aswebecamebetteracquainted,heresumedahabithehad,asIsoonlearned,ofspeakinginhalf-soliloquyconcerningthesubjectsthatoccupiedhismind.Hesaidthataninvalidsisterhadindulgedhiminthishabit,andhehadtriedtothinkaloudpartlytobeguileherweariness.ButtomeitwastherevelationoftherichestandmostversatilemindIhaveeverknown.AtlastIventuredtoshowmyinterestandtoasksomequestions,andthenhegraduallybecameinterestedinmeforsomereason.\"
\"Icanunderstandhisreasons,\"saidVanBergemphatically.
\"Hedidnotknowatfirsthowmuchtimefatherhadgivenmeandtowhatgooduseswehadputthebookswehad.Well,Imustbebrief.
Everydaybroughtusnearertogether,untilitseemedthatwesharedourthoughtsincommon.Ioughtnottocomplain,forperhapsinfewlonglivesdoestherecomemorehappinessthanwascrowdedinthosefewweeks.Itwasthehappinessofheaven——itwasthehappinessoftwosoulsattunedtoperfectharmonyandrangingtogethertherichestfieldsoftruthandfancy.Dearoldfatherwasblindtoitall,andIhadscarcelythoughtwhithertheshiningtidewascarryingmeuntillastTuesdayfiveyearsago,Mr.Fleetwoodsaidtome,\'Jennie,oursoulswerematedinheaven,ifanyeverwere,andIclaimyouasthefulfillmentofwhatmusthavebeenaDivinepurpose.\'Ifoundthatmyheartechoedeverywordhesaid.
\"ThenheappearedtroubledandsaidthatImustgivehimtimetountangleasnarlintowhichhehaddriftedratherthaninvolvedhimself.Hisfamilywerewealthyandambitious,andtheyhadalwaysspokenofhismarriagewithacousinwhowasanheiress,asasettledthing.Hehadneverboundhimselfbywordoract,andoftenlaughinglytoldhisparentsthattheycouldnotarrangethesemattersonstrictlybusinessprinciples,asdidaristocratsabroad——thattheyoungladyherselfmighthavesomethingtosay,ifhehadnot.Buthewaswraptupinhisstudies——hewaspreparingforaliterarylife——andeventsdriftedonuntilhefoundthateveryoneofhishouseholdhadsettheirheartsonthisalliance.Allthathecouldsayagainstitwasthathewasindifferent.Theladywasprettyandtriedtomakeherselfagreeabletohim;whilehefeltthattheyhadlittleincommon,andwasalsoledtobelievethatshewouldgood-naturedlyleavehimtohisownpursuits,andsoheenterednoprotesttothefamilyschemes,butdrifted.Thatwastheonedefectofhischaracter.Hewasamanofthoughtandfancyratherthanofdecisionandaction.
\"Whenhereturnedhomeandtoldhisparentsofhisattachmentforme,theywerefurious,andwroteverybitterletterstobothfatherandmyself,accusingusofhavingintriguedtoobtainawealthyalliance.ThankGod!fatherneversawtheletter,ashediedsuddenly,beforeheknewhowsoreawoundIhadreceived.NordidIevershowthelettertoMr.Fleetwood,formyfatherhadtrainedmetoowelltosowdissensionbetweenparentsandson.
\"Anaunttookmetoherhome.Shewasakindheartedoldlady,butverymatter-of-factandwhollyengrossedinherhousekeeping,andItoldhernothing.IwaitedtillMr.Fleetwoodsoughtmeout,whichhesoondid.Isawthathisfamilyweremovingheavenandearthtobreakoffhisengagementwithme,anditevidentlypainedhimdeeplythathemustsogreatlydisappointhisparents.Buttheconsiderationthatweighedmostwithhimwasthis:theyurgeduponhimineverypossiblewaythathopeshadbeenraisedintheheartoftheyoungladyherself,andalthoughhewasalwaysveryreticentinregardtoher.Ithinkshesecondedthefamilyscheme,forthemarriagewouldhavejoinedtwoverylargeestates.Althoughmyheartoftenstoodstillwithfearwhileheapparentlywaveredalittle,IcanhonestlysayIlefthimfreetomakehisownchoice.
Theypersecutedandurgedhimtothatextent,andsoconfusedhissenseofrightandwrong,that,inordertoescapefromhisdilemma,hemanagedtogetalieutenant\'scommissioninthearmyinspiteofhisphysician\'sprotest,andbeforehisfamilyrealizedwhattheyregardedasanimmeasurabledisasterhewasintheUnionranksatthefront.ItHASprovedanimmeasurabledisastertome.
\"Hecametoseemebeforehewentsouth,andtoldmethathepreferreddeathtoanyotherbridethanmyself.InsadforebodingIbeggedhimtogivemeupratherthangointothatawfulwarwithhisimperfecthealth.Buthewent.Therestofmystoryissoontold.
Lifeinthefieldseemedtobracehimupeveryway.Hewrotemethathehadlivedhithertoinbooksanddreams,andthatcontactwithstrong,forcefulmenwasjustwhatheneeded.Hewrotealmostdaily,andIlivedonhisletters.Hegrewstrongandheroicinhisexposuretodangerandhardship,andwonpromotiononthesimplegroundofmerit.Atlast,afteranarduouscampaign,hewasslightlywoundedandgreatlyworn,andhereceivedalongleaveofabsenceafterthetroopswentintowinterquarters.Hewrotethenthathewascominghometomarryme,andnopoweronearthcouldpreventitexceptmy\'ownlittleself,\'asheexpressedit——oh!Icanrepeatallthoseletterswordforword.Hewrotemetheverydayandhouronwhichhewouldstart,andIhavewaitedeversince;andIhavevowedbeforeGodthatIwillwaittillhecomes.\"Andshebowedherhead,hereyesweretearless,andshewentonstillmorehurriedly.
\"Iafterwardslearnedfromabrotherofficer,andalsofromthepapers,thathelefthisregimentalheadquartersatthetimehesaid,butthathehadtoridethrougharegioninfestedwithguerrillas,andthatisabsolutelyallIknow.Iamsurehewrotetohisfamilyofhisintentionsinregardtome,buttheyhaveneverrecognizedmeintheslightestway.Theyoungladytowhomtheywouldhavemarriedhimworemourningayear,andthenwasledtothealterbyanotherman.But,asmyHarroldsaid,Godmatedoursouls,andI
shallwaittillhejoinsourlives.YournamestartledmegreatlywhenIhearditlastJuneforthefirsttimesinceIhadspokenitmyselftoonewhohasseeminglyvanishedbutiseverpresenttome,andwhileyoudonotresemblehiminappearancetoanycloseextent,thereisattimessomethinginyourexpressionthatissingularlylikehis;andthisfactmustexplainandexcusealltheweakexhibitionsofmyselfthissummer.Andnow,myfriend,permitmetosaythatyourratherardentwordsononeortwooccasionsneverdeceivedmeforamoment.Youmistookyourwarmsympathyforlove.I,whohadseenandknowntheloveofHarroldFleetwood,couldnotmakesuchamistake.YoudoloveIdaMayhew,andsheisworthy;andinnopossiblewaycouldyoudosomuchtoaddtomyhappiness,nowandalways,asbyaidingthatbeautifulgirldevelophernewandbeautifullife.HaroldVanBerg,IwouldregarditasaninsultifyoueverspoketomeofloveandmarriageafterwhatIhavetoldyouto-day.Ishallalwaysvalueyourfriendshipvery,verymuch,forIamnowaloneintheworld,andIthinkIhavefoundinyouafriendinwhomIcantrustabsolutely,andtowhomIcouldgoincasethereshouldbeneed.Probablythereneverwillbe,for,inmysimple,busylife,Ihavefewwants.YoumaytellMr.StantonwhatyouthinkbestofmystoryafterIamgone.I
regretunspeakablythatheshouldthinkofmeashedoes,forIhavelearnedtorespecthimasatrue,noble-heartedgentleman.Itisonemoreoflife\'sstrangemysteries.Mr.VanBerg,\"shesaid,springingup,\"youhavemadetomeonepledgethatyoucankeep——onlyone.Youhavepromisedto\'makemehappyinmyownway.\'BraveIdaMayhewcaughtmeinherarmswhenIfaintedlastTuesday,andshewatchedatmysidetillmorning.Yes,shedid;thenobleandgenerousgirl!ButIpromisedmyselfthepleasureofrewardingher,ifpossible.Now,ifyouwishtodosomethingformethatdemandsprompt,heroicaction,scrambleintoabuggyandletoneofMr.Burleigh\'smendriveyoutothatoldgardenbeforesheleavesit.Shefoundhernewspirituallifethere,letheralsofindherhappyearthlylifeinthesamelovedplace.Notaword,butgoatonceifyouhaveanyregardformyfeelingsandwishes.AsIhavetoldmystory,yoursympatheticfacehasbeenmoreeloquentthananywords,andleavesnothingtobesaid.IrefusetoseeyouorspeaktoyouagaintillyouhavefulfilledtheonlypromiseIeveraskedorwishedyoutomake,\"andshelefthimandquicklydisappeared.
TenminuteslaterVanBergwasbeingdriventowardsMr.Eltinge\'splace,ataspeedwhichthreatened,incaseofaccident,toplacehimbeyondtheuseofcrutches.AsherodealonginfrontofthehousehesawthatIda\'soldhorseandlowphaetonwerestillintheshadeofthetrees;therefore,dismissinghisdriver,hehobbledwithsingularalacrityacrossthelawnandsuddenlypresentedhimselfbeforeMr.EltingeandIda,muchtothesurpriseofthelatter,whohastilywipedhereyesandsoughttohidethefactthatherthoughtshadnotbeenverycheerful.
\"Pardonme,\"hesaid,\"butIleftmysketchbookheresomedayssince;
andIespeciallywishedtobidMr.Eltingegood-byandtothankhimwithallthewarmthandfulnessthatcanbeputintowords.\"
Mr.Eltingewascordiallyandgravelykindinhisreception,butIdakeptherfaceaverted,forsheknewthatthetracesofgriefweretooapparent.
AfterafewmomentsMr.Eltingesaid:\"Sincethisisyourlastvisit,Icannotthinkoflettingeitherofyougobackbeforedinner,and,ifyouwillexcusemeforalittletime,Isooncanseethatoursimplearrangementsaremade.\"
\"Ishallbeverygladtoremain,\"saidVanBerg,sopromptlythatIdaturnedandlookedathimwithsurprise.Shewasstillmoresurprisedwhen,assoonastheywerealone,hehobbledtotherusticseatandsatdownbesideher.
\"MissIda,\"hesaid,\"youhavealwaysgivenmesuchadmirableadvicethatIcometoyouagain.MissBurtonrefusesmeabsolutelyandirrevocably,andinlanguagethatrendersitimpossibleformeevertoaddressheragainonthesubject.Youthusperceivewhataforlornobjectisbeforeyou——arejectedmanandacripple!\"
\"MissBurtonrefusedyou!\"exclaimedIdainutteramazement.\"Youwerebutacoldwooer,Iimagine,\"sheaddedreproachfully,andsherosefromtheseatandstoodalooffromhim.
\"Youknowwell,MissIda,\"hesaidearnestly,\"thatafalsehoodwouldbeimpossibleinthisplace,andIassureyouIhonestlydidthebestIcould.Wehaveplightedourfaithinafriendshipthatwillbeabrother\'sloveonmypart,butshesaidsolemnlythatshewouldregardoffersofmarriagefromme,noworatanyfuturetime,asaninsult.Inbrief,shehasatlasttoldmeherstory.
Herloverisdead,anditwasbecauseshedetectedcertainresemblancesinmyappearancetohimthatshelookedatmesometimesinthewayyoudescribed.Ihadsurmisedasmuchbefore,butatonetimehopedthatthisaccidentalresemblancemightgivemeavantage-groundinwinningherfromapastthatIknewmusthavebeenverysadindeed.Myresemblancewasonlyanoutwardone,themanhimselfwasimmeasurablymysuperior,andontheprincipleofcontrastaloneJennieBurtoncouldneverthinkofme.ButherloveforHarroldFleetwoodisherlife.Itisastrange,unearthlydevotionthattimeonlyincreases.IfeltweekssincethatIcouldworshipherasasaintfareasierthanIcouldloveherasawoman,andInowknowthereason.Itwouldindeedbeaninsultforanymantospeaktoherofloveandmarriage,ifheknewwhatIhavelearnedto-day.\"
\"ThenpoorCousinIkhasnochanceeither,\"saidIda,withtearsinhereyes.
\"No,Idonotthinkhehas,althoughshehaslearnedtoappreciatehim.Shespokeofhimasa\'true,noble-heartedgentleman,\'andsuchtermsfromthelipsofawomanlikeJennieBurtonarebetterthanaking\'stitle.Asfarasmycomplacentanddeliberatewooingoflastsummerisconcerned,Ibelievethatwhenitdidnotpainandannoyhershewasratheramusedbyit.Shehadseenthegenuinething,youknow,andthusIwastheonlyoneimposeduponbyasentimentwhichatthetimereceivedtheunqualifiedapprovalofmyinfalliblereasonandjudgment.TheverysuperiorMr.HaroldVanBergoncedeclinedyouracquaintance,asyoumayremember.Takeyourfullrevengeuponhimnow,foryouseetowhatabatteredanddilapidatedconditionofbodyandmindhehasbeenreduced.Hehasdevelopedageniusforblunderingandgettinghimselfandotherpeopleintotrouble,thatisquitesublime.Ifeveramanneededdailyadviceandcounsel,hedoes,andtheincalculableservicethatyouhaverenderedhiminthisrespectleadshimtocometoyouagain.\"
\"Indeed,sir,\"saidIda,turningawaywithacrimsonface,\"Ihavenofurtheradvicetogiveyou.Mr.Eltingewillsoonbeback;
takehimasyourcounsellor.I\'mgoingtogathersomeflowersfordinner.\"
Heatoncewasonhiscrutchesandinclosepursuit,butsheflittedawaybeforehimtillindespairhereturnedtotherusticseat.Thensheshylyandhesitatinglybegantoapproach,apparentlyabsorbedintyingupherflowers.
\"Haven\'tyouobservedthatIamacripple?\"heasked.
\"Ihaveobservedthatyouareaverynimbleone.\"
\"Ithinkyouareverycrueltotreatahelplessmaninthisstyle.\"
\"Indeed,sir,Ihavenottakenawayyourcrutches.Whenyouspokeofahelplessman,towhomdidyourefer?\"
\"Ithoughtyouoncesaidthatmercywas\'twicebless\'d.\'\"
\"That\'satruismthathasbecomealittletrite.Don\'tyouthinkMr.Eltingewilllikemybouquet?\"
\"Hereisaflowerthattomeisworthallthateverbloomed.Comeandtellmeifyoustillrecognizeit,\"andhetookoutthelittlenote-bookinwhichwaspressedtheimperfectandemblematicrose-bud.
\"Poorlittlething!\"Idasighed,lookingoverhisshoulder,\"howfadedithasbecome!\"
Byamotionthatwasalmostinstantaneoushedroppedthenote-bookandcaughtherhand.\"Yes,Ida,\"hesaideagerly,itisfaded,butitgrowsdearertomedaily,asyouwilllongaftertheexquisitecolorhasfadedfromyourface.IdaMayhew,thebrookhasstoppednowbecauseitcannothelpitself,norwillitevergoonagain,eveninspringorsummer,unlessitbearsyouawaywithit.\"
Sheturnedandlookedhimfullinhiseyes,inaccordancewithhercustomwhenshefeltthatshemustknowtheinnermostthoughtsofthespeaker.
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"shesaidverygravely,\"letthatlittleemblemthereremindyouthatyouarespeakingtoaveryfaultyandignorantgirl.IcannotregaininafewweekswhatIhavelostinawastedlife.Youmayregret——\"
\"Hush,Ida;foronceIwillnotlistentoyou.WhenIbelievedmyselfdyingmychiefthoughtwasofyou,andwhenIheardsoundsnearme,inmyhalfunconsciousstateIcalledyourname.\"
\"Oh,thatithadbeenmyprivilegetoanswer,\"shesighed.
\"YousavedmewhenIwasinfarworseperil,\"heresumedinwordsthatflowedlikeatorrent.\"Yousavedmyhonor,mymanhood;yousavedmefromfollythatwouldhaveblastedmylife.IowefarmoretoyouthantoJennieBurton,andIknowatwhatcosttoyourself.
Ida,Ishallneverhideanythingfromyou.IcamebacklastMondayformysketch-book,andIheardyousay:\'Itwouldbeeasierformetodiethangivehimupforyoursake,JennieBurton.\'ThenonlyIlearnedyoursecret;thenforthefirstIunderstoodyourself-sacrificeforthesakeofhonorandduty.UntilthenIthoughtthestruggletoforgetwouldbeonmypartonly.FromthatmomentneverdidamanhonorawomanmorethanIhonorandreverenceyou.
MymothergavemethisringandtoldmenevertopartwithituntilIfoundawomanthatIcouldloveandhonorevenmorethanher,andInevershallpartwithittillIputitonyourhand,\"andshehadscarcelytimetoglancedown,beforeshesawadiamondglitteringonherengagementfinger.
\"IgaveupthatwhichwaslifetomeforHissake,andthussoonHegivesbacktomefarmore,\"Idamurmured,andsherestedherheadonVanBerg\'sshoulderwithalookofinfinitecontent.Amomentlatersheadded:\"Oh,I\'msogladforfather\'ssake.\"
\"Areyounotalittlegladforyourown?\"
\"Oh,Harold!comparethis——God\'swayoutoftroublewiththeoneIchose!\"
\"Thepasthasgonebyforever,Ida,andyouhavereceivedyourwoman\'ssoulinthegoodold-fashionedway.InmyheartofheartsIhavechangedyournamefromIdatoIdeal.\"
TheyhadnotnoticedthatMr.Eltingehadcomedownthegardenwalktosummonthemtodinner.Theoldgentlemandiscoveredthattherehadbeenatransformationsceneinhisabsence,althoughhetookoffhisspectaclestwice,andwipedthembeforeheseemedfullysatisfiedofitsreality.
\"Ahem!Ifearourplaindinnerwillbeaveryprosaicinterruption;
but——\"hebegan.
\"Oh,Mr.Eltinge,\"criedIda,springingtohim,hercheeksputtingtoshameanyflowerofhisgarden,\"Ioweallthistoyou!\"
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"saidMr.Eltinge,withthestatelycourtesyoftheoldschool,\"withyourpermissionInowshalltakefullpayment,\"
andstoopingdownhekissedhertenderly,withafervent\"Godblessyou,mychild!Godblessyouboth!Ithoughtitwouldallendinthisway.\"
ItwaslateinthedaywhenIdadroveuptothestepsoftheLakeHouseandassistedVanBergtoalightwithacareandsolicitudethatStanton,whowasgrimlywatchingthem,thoughtatrifletooapparent.Shegaveahastyside-glancetohercousin,butwouldnottrustherselftodomoreinthepresenceofothers.
\"Mr.VanBerg,Iwouldliketoseeyoualoneafewmoments,\"saidStantoninalowtone.
Theartisthobbledcheerfullyintooneofthesmallprivateparlors,andstretchedhimselfoutveryluxuriouslyonthesofa,sayingashedidso,\"Taketherocking-chair,Ik.\"
\"No,sir,\"saidStantonstiffly.\"Ishalltrespassbutafewmomentsonyourtime——onlylongenoughtokeepapromiseandperformaduty.Incircumstancesthatyoucanscarcelyhaveforgotten,youassuredmethatIwasinhonorboundtogivemycousin,MissMayhew,abrother\'scare.Youassertedveryemphaticallythatwithherpeculiartemperamentsheoughttobesavedfromanyserioustrouble.WhatIthenpromisedfromasenseofdutyInowperformfromwarmaffection.Asfarasabrother\'sloveandcareisconcerned,IdaMayhewismysister,andasabrotherIinsist,inviewofyourrelationswithMissBurton,thatyoudonotgivetohersomuchofyoursociety.NotthatImeantoinsinuateinthefaintestpossibleway,thatmycousinentertainsforyouanythingmorethananordinaryandfriendlyregard.Itismyintentiononlytoremindyouthatyourcoursehasbeenalittlepeculiaroflate,tosaytheleast,andthatitisoftenfarbettertopreventtroublethanremedyit.\"
\"Themischiefisalldone,Ik;youaretoolate.\"
\"Whatdoyoumean,sir?\"
\"Well,onethingatatime.MissBurtonhasrefusedmeabsolutely.\"
\"Idon\'twonder!\"saidStantonindignantly.
\"NorIeither,Ik.YouareahundredfoldmoreworthyofherthanIamoreverwas.Ionceregardedmyselfasslightlyyoursuperior,Isaac,butcircumstanceshaveprovedthatyouhaveenoughgoodmetalinyoutomakeadozensuchmenasIam.\"
\"Iwantexplanations,notcompliments,\"saidStantonsternly.
\"Sitdown,andI\'lltellyoueverything.Thenyoucanbrainmewithoneofthecrutches,ifyouwish,\"andVanBergrelatedtoStantonsubstantiallyallthatoccurredbetweenhimselfandJennieBurton.\"ShesaidIcouldtellyouaftershewasgone,butIthinkitisbestyoushouldknowbefore.Sheunderstandsandhonorsyou,andyoushouldunderstandher.Herheartisburiedsodeepinsomeunnamed,unmarkedgravethatitwillfind,Ifear,noresurrectiononearth.Itoldyouthefirstdayshecametothishousethatshehadhadanexperiencethatseparatedherfromordinaryhumanity,andalsopredictedthatshewouldwakeyouupandmakeamanofyou.Shehasmadeyouaprinceamongmen.Youaremyelderbrother,Ik,fromthistimeforth,andIwon\'tputonanymoreairswithyou.AsIsaid,yourremarksinregardtoyourcousincamealittlelate.Yousee,myringisgone,andyouknowIhaveoftenlaughinglytoldyouthatmymothergaveittomeonconditionsthatmadeitverysafeproperty.Ihavepartedwithit,however,andveryhonestlytoo;butyouwillseeitagain,soon.\"
\"Van,\"saidStanton,withaslightquaverinhisvoice,andaverysicklyattemptathisoldhumor,\"Ihaveforfeitedmywagerthatfollowedyourprediction,whichIthoughtsoabsurdatthetime;
butI\'llforgiveyoueverything,andbestowmyblessingonyouandIda,ifyouwillpaintmeaportraitofMissBurton.\"
\"ThebestIcanpossiblymake,Ik,andsheshalllookasshedidwhenshecalledyouatrue,noble-heartedgentleman.\"
VanBergnowfoundnodifficultyinbringingaboutafriendshipbetweenIdaandJennieBurton,andthetwomaidensspentthegreaterpartofSabbathafternoontogether.Idahidnothinginherfullconfidence,noteventhecrimethathadbeeninherthoughts,andwhichmighthavedestroyedthelifethatnowwasgrowingsorichandbeautiful.Whenherpatheticstorywascompleted,Jenniesaid:
\"Mr.VanBerghastoldmesomethingsinyourfavorthatyouhaveomitted.Icannotflattermyselfnowthatmyloveisstrongerthanyours,butyouarestronger,youarebraver.Whatisthesecretofyourstrength?Yourreligionseemstodoyoumoregoodthanminedoesme.\"
\"Well,Jennie,\"saidIdamusingly,thereseemstomethisdifference.
\"YouhaveaGod,IhaveaSaviour;youhaveafaith,IhaveatenderandhelpfulFriend.JesusChristhassaidtothosewholoveandtrusthim:\'Letnotyourheartsbetroubled.\'Hesaidthesewordstomenwhoweretosufferallthings,anddidso,Mr.Eltingetoldme.It\'sjustthesameasifhesaid,Youdon\'tknow,Ido;leaveeverythingtome,anditshallallbeforthebestintheend.Seehowallmytroublethissummerhasjustpreparedforthishappiness,andIbelieve,Jennie,thatyoureternityofhappinesswillbemadeallthericherforeverysaddayofyourunselfishlife.ThesoulsofsuchmenasHarroldFleetwoodareGod\'srichesttreasures,andhewhosenameisLovesurelykindledsuchloveasyoursandhis.TheGodthattheBiblerevealstomewillnotpermitittobelost,\"andwithJennie\'sheadonherbosomshesanglowandsweetly:
Nohope,\'tissaid,thoughburieddeep,Butangelso\'eritvigilskeep;
Noloveinsepulchreshallstay,ForChristourFriendhasrolledawayTheheavystoneofdeath.
\"Oh,singmethosewordsagain,\"sobbedJennie:\"singthemagainandagain,tilltheyfillmyheartwithhope.\"
Idadidso.
\"OIda!God\'sgoodangeltomeaswellastoHaroldVanBerg,\"
saidJennie,smilingthroughhertears.\"Iblessyouforthosehopefulwords.TheywillrepeatthemselvesinmyhearttillallisclearandoursoulsthatGodmatedarejoinedagain.MyHarroldwasnotonewhosaid\'Lord,Lord\'veryoften,butIknowthathetriedto\'dothewillofhisFatherwhichisinheaven.\'IamgoingtoyourFriend,Ida,forifeverapoormortalneededmorethanmortalhelpandcheer,Ido.Ishalljustgiveupeverythingintohishands,andwaitpatiently.\"