MissBurton,withherkeen,delicateperceptions,recognizedthisdifferencemorefullythananyoftheothers;andherinstinct,ratherthananythingshesawinIda,enabledhertodivinethecauseinpart.\"IknowofbutonethingthatcanaccountforMissMayhew\'sbehavior,\"shethought,\"andthoughsheguardshersecretwell,shecannotdeceiveawomanwhohaspassedthroughmyexperience.
Ibegintoseeitall.SheusedSibleyasablind,andshewasblindherself,poorchild,whenshedidso,toeverythingsavetheonewomanlynecessityofhidinganunsoughtlove.Well,well,myoutspokenloverhaseyesforhersweet,chastenedbeautyto-night.
Perhapshethinksheisstudyingherfaceasanartist.Perhapsheis.ButitstrikesmethathehaslostthecriticalandjudicialexpressionwhichIhavenoticedhitherto,\"andaglimmerofasmilethatdidnotintheleastsuggestthe\"green-eyedmonster\"hoveredforamomentlikearayoflightoverJennieBurton\'sface.
\"Mother,\"saidIda,inalow,sympathetictone,\"Iseeoneofyourheadachescomingon.Letmebatheyourheadaftertea.\"
\"Ida,\"whisperedMrs.Mayhew,\"youaresochangedIdon\'tknowyou.\"
Theyounggirlflushedslightly,andbyaquick,warninglookcheckedallfurtherremarkofthistendency.
\"Sheisindeedmarvelouslychanged,\"thoughtMissBurton.\"IfeelitevenmorethanIcanseeit.Theremustbesomeotherinfluenceatwork.Whoarethesefriendssheisvisiting,andwhosendherbacktousdailywithsomeunexpectedgrace?Yesterdayitwastruthfulness——to-dayanindescribablecharmofmannerthathasbanishedtheelementofearthinessfromherbeauty.IthinkIwilljoinmyfriendwhoimagineshimselfsomethingmoreinthestudyofaproblemthatisbecomingintenselyinteresting.\"
\"MissMayhew,\"VanBergfoundachancetosayaftersupper,\"youarebecomingagreaterenigmatomethanever.\"
\"Well,\"shereplied,avertingherfacetohidethecolorthatwouldriseathisratherabruptandpointedaddress,\"I\'dratherbeaChinesepuzzletoyouthanwhatIwas.\"
\"AndInodoubthaveappearedtoyoulikeaChineseMandarin,GrandTurk,GreatMogul,notnameself-satisfiedPharisees,andallofthatilk.\"
\"Ican\'tsaythatyouhave,andyetI\'vekeenlyfeltyoursuperiority.
Ithinkthecharacteryouarenowenactingismorebecomingthananyofthosewouldbe,however.\"
\"Whatisthat?\"heaskedquickly.
\"Well,\"shesaidhesitatingly,\"Ihardlyknowhowtodescribeit,butitsuggestsalittlethekindnesswhich,theysay,makesalltheworldkin.Good-night,Mr.VanBerg.\"
\"MissJennie,\"hesaid,laterintheevening,\"youhaveaninsightintocharacterwhichwegrossermortalsdonotpossess.DoyouthinkthatthereisamarkedchangetakingplaceinMissMayhew?\"
\"AndsoyouexpectmetoreadMissMayhew\'ssecretsandgossipaboutthemwithyou?\"sheansweredwithoneofherpiquantsmiles.
\"Whatasweetbrieryouare!NowtellmeinyourownhappywayhowyouwoulddescribethischangewhichyouseeandunderstandfarmoreclearlythanI.\"
\"I\'llgiveyouonethoughtthathasoccurredtomeandthenleaveyoutosolvetheproblemforyourself.Haveyoueverseenapersonwhohadbeendeliriousorderangedbecomesandandquiet,simpleandnatural?AlthoughMissMayhew\'sexpressionandmanneraresodifferentfromwhatwehaveseenhitherto,shelooksandactsto-nightjustasoneinstinctivelyfeelssheoughtalwaystoappearinordertobehertrueself.Beforetherewasdiscord;nowthereisharmony.\"
\"IfIhadyoureyesI\'dneverreadbooks.Yousuggesttheeffectperfectly,butwhatisthecause?\"
\"Wasamaneversatisfied?\"
\"Onecertainlyneveriswhereyouareconcerned,butwillalwaysechoOliverTwist\'splaintiveappealfor\'more.\'\"
\"Oconstantmoon!registerthatvow,\"saidMissBurton,laughing.
\"Mr.VanBerg,oneofthefirstrulesthatIteachmyyoungladiesistosaygood-eveningtoagentlemanwhenhegrowssentimental,\"
andshesmilingvanishedthroughawindowthatopenedonthepiazza.
\"JennieBurton,\"hemuttered,\"youareawraith,anexquisiteghostthatwillhauntmeallmydays,butonwhichIcanneverlaymyhands.\"
Thenextmorningtheartist,inhiskindlinginterest,wasguiltyofastratagem.Hetookanearlybreakfastbyhimself,underthepretencethathewasgoingonasketchingexpedition;buthewentstraighttothebrowofalittlehillthatoverlookedtheroadwhichIdamusttakeshouldshevisithernew-foundfriendsagain.
Hesoonbecameverybusywithhissketch-book,butinsteadofoutlinesofthelandscapebeforehimtakingshapeonthepaper,youmighthaveseentheformofayounggirlonastairwaywithherheadbowedonherrightarmthatrestedonthebalusterrail,whichshetimidlyheldoutherlefthandinthepaceofwordsshecouldnotspeak.
ItwaswithaforebodingsighthatIdarealizedhowmuchshemissedhimatbreakfast.
BeforethemealwasoveraletterwashandedtoMrs.Mayhew.Itcontainedonlythesewordsfromherhusband:\"InmemoryofmylastvisitIconcludeitwillbemutuallyagreeabletousallthatIspendSundayelsewhere.Youneednotdreadmycoming.\"
Shehandedthelettertoherdaughterwithafrownandtheremark:
\"It\'sjustlikehim.\"
ButIdaseemedmuchpainedbyitscontents,andafteramomentsprangup,saying:\"CousinIk,mayIspeakwithyou?\"
Whentheywerealoneshecontinued:\"Seewhatfatherhaswritten.Hemustcometo-nightorI\'llgotohim.Can\'tIsendhimatelegram?\"
\"Yes,Coz,andI\'lltakeitovertothedepotatonce.\"
\"Ah,Ik,youaredoingmeagreaterkindnessthanyouknow.Butit\'salongdrive.\"
\"Thelongerthebetter.Willyougowithme?\"
\"IwouldhadInotpromisedmyoldfriendsIvisitedyesterdayI\'dcomeagainto-day.Theyaredoingmegood.I\'lltellyouaboutitsometime,\"andshewrotethefollowingtelegramtoherfather:
\"CometoLakeHouseto-day.Veryimportant.\"
\"IwishMissBurtonwouldgowithyou,\"shesaidlookingupasthethoughtoccurredtoher.\"ShallIaskher?\"
Stanton\'swistfulfaceprovedhowgreatlyhewouldenjoysuchanarrangement,butafteramomenthesaiddecisively:\"No.Itwouldpainhertodecline,butshewould.\"
\"Youareveryconsiderateofher.\"
\"Sheissorryforme,Ida.Icanseethat.Shehasneverexultedamomentinherpoweroverme.Myloveisonlyanotherburdentohersadlife.Ican\'thelpit,butIcanmakeitaslightaspossible.\"
TearscameintoIda\'seyesandshefaltered:\"Ik,Iunderstandyou.\"
Alittlelatertheybothdroveofftheirdifferentways.
Inspiteofeverything,Idafoundthatherheartwouldgrowlightandglandasshepursuedherwayalongthequietcountryroad,nowintheshadewherethetreescrowdedupontheeasternside,andagaininthesunlightbetweenwidestubblefieldsinwhichthequailswerewhistlingmellowlytoeachother.
VanBergwatchedhercomingwithaheartthatbeatalittlequicklyforsocoolandphilosophicalaninvestigator,andwasgladthatherquietoldhorseresumedaslowwalkatthefirstsuggestionofthehillonwhichhehadpostedhimself.
Idaleanedbackinthephaetonwiththeabandonofthosewhothinkthemselvesalone,andsangasnatchfromanoldEnglishhymnthatVanBergrememberedasonehismotherhadcroonedoverhimwhenachild.Thismelody,doublysacredtohimfromitsassociations,wouldhavegratedharshlyonhisearifithadbeensungbyIdaMayhewaweekbefore;but,strangetosay,thegirlishvoicethatfloateduptohimwasallthesweeterforthusblendingitselfwithsomeofhisdearestmemories.
Whentheascentwashalfmadetheartistsprangdownfromhisrockyperch,andhorseandmaidenweresostartledthattheybothstoppedinstantly.
\"Donotbealarmed,\"saidVanBerg,laughing;\"I\'mnotaveryvicioustramp,andamarmedwithnothingworsethanasketch-book.
IfIcouldonlyinduceyoutobeanhourincomingupthishillI\'dputyouandthephaetoninit.Iwishitwerepossibletoputthesongin,too.Why,MissMayhew!AmIanogre,thatIfrightenyouso?\"
\"Iwasnotexpectingtoseeyou,\"shefaltered,deeplyvexedthathercheekswouldcrimsonandherhandthatheldthereinstremblesoplainly.\"YounaturallythinkIhaveaveryguiltyconsciencetobesofrightened,\"sheaddedafterasecond,andregainingalittleself-control.
\"Thatquaintoldhymntunedidnotsuggestaguiltyconscience,\"
hesaidkindly.
\"IthinkImusthavehearditatchurch,\"shereplied.\"It\'sbeenrunninginmyheadallthemorning.\"Henowrememberedwithsuddenpitythatnomemoriesofsacredwordsandsongcouldfollowherfromherhomeandchildhood.\"ButIsupposeyouthinkitisstrangeIcansingatall,Mr.VanBerg,\"shecontinuedgravely.
\"YoumustthinkmeverysuperficialthatIdonotappeartorealizemoreacrimethatmakesitexceedinglykindofyoueventospeaktome,sinceyouknowaboutit.ButIhaverealizedthewickednessofthatactmorebitterlythanyoucaneverknow.\"
\"MissMayhew,IadmitthatIcan\'tunderstandyouatall.Youhavebecomeagreatermysterytomethanever.Yousee,Iimitateyourtruthfulness.\"
\"Thereisnonecessityofsolvingtheproblem,\"shesaidinalowtone,andavertingherface.
\"Doyoumean,\"heasked,flushingslightly,\"thatmyinterestisobtrusiveandnotagreeabletoyou?\"
\"Ifinspiredbycuriosity——yes,\"andshelookedhimsteadilyintheface.
\"Butifinspiredbyagenuineandearnestwishtobeyourfriendandtoatonefortheunpardonableinjusticewhichcameaboutfrommynotunderstandingyou?\"
\"IfIbelievedthat,\"shesaid,withsomethinglikeasmile,\"I\'dtakeyouwithmethismorningandrevealallthemysterythereisaboutmypoorlittleselfinonebriefhour.\"
\"HowcanIproveit?\"heaskedeagerly.
\"Sayit,\"sheansweredsimply.
\"Idosayit\'strue,onmyhonor,\"hereplied,givingherhishand.
\"Youmaycome,then,ononeothercondition.Iwouldlikeyoutodrawformeayoungpear-tree,andanoldgentlemansittingunderit.\"
\"Iwillagreetoanyconditions,\"hesaid,springinginbyherside.
\"Isitthetreethatborethepearyougaveme?Ihopeyoudon\'tthinkIwascapableofeatingthatpear.\"
\"Didyouthrowitaway?\"sheasked,withashyglance.
\"MissMayhew,I\'vesomethingIwishyoutosee,\"andhetookouthisnote-bookandshowedhertherose-budhehadtossedaway.\"Doyourecognizethat?\"
Inspiteofherselfthebloodrushedtumultuouslyintoherface.
\"Ithoughtthatwastrampledintodustlongago,\"shesaidinalowtone.
\"Ishallneverforgetyourwordsasyouleftmethatevening,MissMayhew.ItwastheseverestandmostdeservedrebukeIeverhad.
Ipickedupthebudimmediately,Iassureyou.\"
\"Ithoughtyouleftitthere,\"shesaid,inastilllowertone,andthenaddedhastily:\"ButIhavenodoubtyouactedfromasenseofduty.\"
\"Ican\'tsaythatIdid,\"heanswered,dryly.
\"Willyoupleasegiveittome?\"
\"Notunlessyoucompelmeto,\"andheclosedthebookandreturnedittoaninsidebreast-pocket.\"IwouldliketocarryitasatalismanagainstPhariseeism,themosthatefulofvices.\"
\"Oh,verywell,\"andsheturnedawayherfaceagain.
\"Butpleasetellmeaboutthispear-tree,\"heresumed.
\"Itwon\'tseemtoyouasitdidtome,\"shereplied,withanembarrassedair,\"andI\'msorryIspokeofit,butnowthatIhaveImayaswellgoon.ToexplainImustgobackalittle.Mr.
VanBerg,I\'mtakingyoutoseetheoldgentlemanwhosavedmefrom——from——\"Herfacewaspaleenoughnow.
\"MydearMissMayhew,don\'tpainyourselfbyreferringtothat.\"
\"Imust,\"shesaidslowly.\"Bysomestrangefateyouhaveseenmeatmyworst,andsinceyousayyoucare,youshallknowtherest.
ItmayrelieveyourmindofafearthatI\'veseeninyourfacesince.Ididn\'tthinkI\'lleverbesowickedanddesperateagain,andIwishyoutoknowmyreasonsforthinkingso.Well,onthatdreadfulnightthepartyIwaswithwentintoaprayer-meeting,morebythewayoffrolicthananythingelse.Ididnotwishtogoin,but,strangeasitmayseemtoyou,Iwasafraidtowalkhome,andsohadtofollowmycompany.GoodoldMr.Eltingespoketous.HesaidheknewfromhisownlongexperiencethattherewasaDivineFriendwhowasableandwillingtocureeveryearthlytrouble,andhespokesosimplyandkindlythathecaughtmyattentionandrevivedmyhope.IfeltwhenIenteredthatplaceIhadn\'tafriendintheworldoroutofit.Iwasjustblindanddesperatewithshameanddiscouragement,and——and——butperhapsyouhavereadtheletterIgaveyou?\"
\"MissMayhew,everywordofitisburnedintomymemory.Iscarcelymovedafterreadingittillthemorningdawned,andthenIwentoutandwalkedforhoursbeforeIcouldcomposemyselfanddaredtomeetanyone.AsItoldyouthen,soIsayagain,Ihadagreaterescapethanyouhad.\"
\"I\'mvery,verysorry,\"shereplied,inatoneofdeepregret.
\"Itooamvery,verysorry,butitisforyou.\"
Shelookedupquickly,andsawthathiseyeswerefulloftears.
\"I\'mnotashamedoftheminthisinstance,MissMayhew,\"hesaid,dashingthemaway.
Shelookedathimwonderingly,andthenmurmured:\"Oh,thankGodithasallturnedoutasithas.\"Afteramomentsheadded:\"I\'vemisjudgedyoualso,Mr.VanBerg.\"
\"How?Pleasetellme,forIfeelIhavemorecausetobedisgustedwithmyselfthanyoueverhad.\"
\"Well——howshallIsaywhatImean?Ithoughtyouhadmoremindthanheart.\"
\"ItappearstomeI\'vedisplayedalamentablelackofboth.Imusthaveseemedtoyoulikeananimatedinterrogationpoint.\"
\"Isoonlearnedyouwereverygreatlymysuperior,\"shesaidsimply.
\"MissMayhew,spareme,\"herepliedquickly,withadeprecatorygesture.\"Thestoryyouweretellinginterestsmemoredeeplythanyouwillbelieve,andIthinkweshallbebetteracquaintedbeforethedayisover.\"
\"Well,therestofmystoryismoreeasilytoldthanunderstood,andperhapsyourman\'sreasonmaynotfinditverysatisfactory.
YouknowtheoldsuperstitionthatthesingofthecrossputstoflighttheEvilOne.Idon\'tbelievethat,butIbelievethattheOnewhosufferedonthecrossputshimtoflight.Mr.Eltinge\'ssimple,downrightassertionthatJesuscouldremedyeveryearthlytrouble——thathewouldbeapatient,helpfulFriend——broketheevilspellbywhichdespairhadblindedme,andIresolvedtotryandliveifIcould.AftertheoldgentlemancameoutofthechurchI
askedhimtoletmevisithim,andhehasbeenvery,verykind.I
toldhimeverything.ThefirstdayhesawIwasgreatlydiscouraged,andtoldmethehistoryofayoungpear-treeagainstwhichhewasleaning,andwhichwasfullofbeautifulfruit.Hesaidthatonastormynightitwasbrokenbythewind,andtrampleduponbysomestraycattle,andhescarcelythoughtitcouldlive,foritwasprostrateontheground,butheliftedit,andtookcareofit,andgavenatureachancetorestoreit.Youwouldthinknaturewaslikeakindofmother,tohearhimtalk.ThenhereasonedthatJesus,theAuthorofnature,woulddoformewhatnaturehaddoneforthewoundedtree,butthatImustnotexpecttoomuchatfirst——thatImustbereceptiveandwillingtogrowpatientlyasthetreehaddone,inanewandbetterlife.Thusthetreehasbecometomeanemblemofhope,andItrustaprophecyofmyfuture,althoughIdonotexpectevertoreachanythingliketheperfectionsuggestedbythepear-treeanditsdeliciousfruit.Thefactsthathaveimpressedmemostarethatitwasbruised,prostrate,andreadytodie,andnowitisaliveanduseful.OldMr.Eltingelovesit,andlikestoleanagainstit,asyouwillsee.\"
\"Thefactthathasimpressedmemostinthisallegory,\"groanedVanBerg,\"isthatIwasthebrutethattrampledonyou.\"
\"Youaretoosevereonyourself,\"shesaidearnestly.\"Ishallhavetotakeyourpart.\"
\"Pleasedo.Ithrowmyselfwhollyonyourmercy.\"
\"IbelieveShakespearewasright,\"shesaid,withashylaughandavertedface.\"Mercyisalwaystwicebless\'d.ButIhavenottoldyouall,Mr.VanBerg.Yesterdaywasthemostmemorabledayofmylife.OnThursdayMr.EltingesawIneededencouragement;
yesterdayhesawthatIhadnotrealizedthecrimeIhadalmostcommitted,andthatIwasstoppingshortofhimwhoalonecouldchangemywholenature.Indeed,IthinkhesawthatIwaseveninclinedtobecomewellpleasedwithmyself,andcontentwithmyprospectsofwinningbacktheesteemofothers.Hewasfaithfulwithmeaswellaskind.Byanillustration,whichyouwillpardonmefornotrepeating,hemadeitcleartomeasthelightthatintheintentofmyheartIhadbeenguiltyofmurder.Mr.VanBerg,mayyouneverknowtheagonyandremorsethatIsufferedforthefewmomentsIsawmysinsomewhatasitmustappeartoGod,andtogoodmenlikeMr.Eltinge.Iwasoverwhelmed.Itseemedasifmycrimewouldcrushme.Idon\'tthinkIcouldhavelivedifthesenseofterroranddespairhadlasted.ButdearoldMr.Eltingestoodbymeinthatterriblemoment.Heputhishandonmyheadasafathermighthavedone,andintonesthatseemedlikeavoicefromheaven,said:\'BeholdtheLambofGod,thattakethawaythesinoftheworld.\'IfeltthatIcouldnotbearmysinaninstantlonger;itwaslikeamountainoflead,andwithadesperateimpulsetoescape,IlookedtoChrist——Ijustfledtohim,asitwere,anditwasthesameasifhehadopenedhisarmsandreceivedme.FromthatmomentIhavefeltsafe,andalmosthappy.Ican\'texplainallthistoyou,Ionlytellyouwhathappened.Itdoesn\'tseemlikesuperstitionorexcitedimagination,asI\'veheardsomecharacterizethesethings.Itwasalltooreal:Mr.VanBerg,thesimpletruthis——I\'vefoundaFriend,whoispledgedtotakecareofme.IKNOWIT.Iamreadingthestoryofhislife,underMr.
Eltinge\'sguidance,andthatiswhyIcomehere.Nowyouknowallthemysterythereisaboutthefaultygirlinwhomcircumstanceshavegivenyouapassinginterest.Sinceyouknewsomuchthatwasagainstme,perhapsyouwillnotthinkitstrangethatIwaswillingyoushouldlearnwhatisnowinmyfavor.Itissimplythis——I\'vefoundaDivineFriendwhowillhelpmeliveabetterlife.\"
TheyhadnowreachedMr.Eltinge\'sgate,andVanBergsteppedouttoopenit.Butbeforedoingso,heturnedtohiscompanion,andwitheyesmoistwithfeeling,saidearnestly:
\"MissMayhew,circumstancesmighthavegivenmebutapassinginterestinyou,butYOUhavewonanabidinginterest.Youhavebeengenerousenoughtoforgiveme,andnowyouwillhavetorepelmeresolutely,topreventmybeingyourfriend.IndeedIshallbeoneinhearthereafter,eventhoughyoumaynotpermitmetoenjoyyoursociety,foryoumayverynaturallywishtoshunonewhocannotfailtoremindyouofsomuchthatispainful.Asforyourstory,itisarevelationtome.Imayneverpossessyourhappyfaith,butIwillrespectit;\"andalthoughheturnedhastilyawayshecouldnotfailtoseethathewasdeeplymoved.
Mr.Eltingereceivedtheyoungmanwithsomesurprise,anddidnotseemtoregardhispresenceasaltogetherwelcome.Theartistthoughttodisarmtheoldgentlemanbyadecidedmanifestationoffranknessandcourtesy:
\"IfeelthatinacertainsenseIamanintruderinyourbeautifulgardento-day.MissMayhewmetmeontheroad,andIfearImustownthatIhadthebadgracealmostthesameastoinvitemyselfhither.AtleastshesawthatIwasexceedinglyanxioustocome.\"
\"DoyouknowMissMayhew\'smotiveincominghither?\"askedMr.
Eltinge,gravely.
\"Ido,andIrespectit.\"
\"Youtakesafegroundthere,sir,\"saidMr.Eltinge,withincreasingdignity.\"Christianityisatleastrespectable.Butdoyoubelieveittobeabsolutelytrueandbindingontheconscience?\"
Theartistwassilent.
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"resumedtheoldgentleman,withagravitythattendedeventowardssternness,\"Iwouldnotfailinanyactofcourtesytowardsyou,especiallyheratmyownhome;butjustice,mercy,andtruthareaboveallotherconsiderations.BothyouandIknowthischild\'shistorysufficientlywelltobeawarethatitisadangerousthingtoexertaninfluenceatrandomonhumanlives.Yousayyouknowhermotiveincominghither.Letmestatethetruthveryplainly:shehasturnedherfaceheavenward;sheistakingherfirstuncertainstepsasapilgrimtowardsthebetterhome.Injusticetoyouandinmercytoyoubothletmequotethewordsofhimbeforewhomweallshallstand;\"andplacinghishandonIda\'sshoulderherepeatedwiththeaspectofoneofGod\'sancientprophetsthosesolemnwordsthattoomanydaretoignore:\"\'Whososhalloffendoneoftheselittleoneswhichbelieveinme,itwerebetterforhimthatamillstonewerehangedabouthisneck,andthatheweredrownedinthedepthofthesea.\'Mr.VanBerg,inmemoryofthepast,bewarelestconsciouslyorevenunconsciously,throughyourindifferencetoherfaith,youlayastrawinthischild\'sway.
TheweakandthehelplessareveryneartotheheartofGod,andthemostdangerousactamanevercommitsiswhenhecausesoneoftheselittleonestooffend.\"
Idatrembledbeneathherfriend\'shandandwishedshehadnotpermittedtheartisttocome,buttheyoungman\'ssincerityandgood-breedingenabledhimtopasstheordeal.Removinghishat,herepliedtoMr.Eltingewithafineblendingofdignityandhumility:
\"Ihonoryou,sir,\"hesaid,\"foryourfaithfulnesstotheonewhohascometoyouforcounselandinacertainsenseforprotection;
andIcondemnmyselfwithbitternessthatyouwillneverunderstand,thatIwrongedherinmythoughtsandwoundedherbyanymanner.I
ameagertomakeanyandeveryatonementinmypower.Nolanguagecanexpressmygladnessthatsheheardandheededyourwords.
Pardonme,sir,whenIsayIamnotindifferenttoherfaith.Itis,indeed,amysterytome,butanoblemysterywhichIreverefromthefruitsthatIhavealreadywitnessed.Inmyunpardonablestupidityandprejudice——inaPharisaicpride——IhavecausedMissMayhewtooffend.Shehasgenerouslyforgivenme.MyselfIshallneverforgive.Ifshewillhonormewithherfriendshiphereafter,Ipledgeyoumywordthatnoactofmine,sofarasIcanhelpit,shallevercauseyouanxietyforoneinwhomyouhavesostrongandnaturalaninterest.\"
Mr.Eltinge\'smannerchangeddecidedly,andwhenVanBergconcludedheextendedhishandandsaidcordially:
\"Aftersuchmanly,straightforwardwordsIcangiveyoutherighthandofrespectandconfidence,ifnotoffellowship.Totellyouthetruth,sir,Iwasinclinedtobelievethatmylittlefriendherehadabetteropinionofyouthanyoudeserved,butnowIcanwelcomeyouinsteadofscoldingherforbringingyou.\"
AtthereferencetoherselfIda,seemingly,hadanimpulsetopluckaflowerthatwasbloomingatalittledistance.ThemomenthewasunobservedVanBergseizedtheoldgentleman\'shandandsaid,earnestly,whiletearssprangtohiseyes:
\"Godblessyouforthewordsyouspoketothatpoorchild.Ioweyoumorethanshedoes.YouhavesavedmefromalifethatIwoulddreadmorethandeath,\"andthenhe,too,turnedawayhastilyandpretendedtobeverybusyinfindingthematerialsforhissketch.
Idareturnedshyly,anditwouldseemthatsomeofthecolorofherflowerhadfounditswayintohercheeks.
\"Mr.Eltinge,\"shesaid,hesitatingly,\"Idon\'tbelieveIcanmakeyouunderstandhowmuchIwouldlikeapictureofthispear-treeandyourselfsittingunderitasIhaveseenyouforthepasttwodays.ImustadmitthatthewishtohavesuchasketchwasoneofthemotivesthatledmetobringMr.VanBerg.\"Thensheadded,withdeepeningcolorstill,\"myconsciencetroublesmewhenIhearMr.VanBergcondemnhimselfsoharshly.IhavelearnedthatI
misjudgedhimastrulyashedidme,andIhavesincerealizedhowsadlybothfactsandappearanceswereagainstme.\"
\"Well,MissIda,\"saidtheoldgentleman,musingly,\"Iaminclinedtothinktherehasbeenmoreofmisunderstandingthanofintentionalanddeliberateharshness.Mylonglifehastaughtmethatitisastonishinghowblindweoftenaretothethoughtsandfeelingsofothers.ButIwarneverybodytobecarefulhowtheyvisitthisoldgarden,forit\'sawonderfulplaceforbringingoutthetruth.
Natureisintheascendanthere,\"andhelookedkeenlyandhumorouslyattheartist,whoremained,however,unconsciousofhisscrutiny,forhiseyeswerefollowingIda.Shehadsuddenlyturnedherbackuponthembothagain,andwassoonbendingoverthelittlebrookwhosemurmurhefaintlyheard.
\"Theseallusionstothepastareallpainfultoher,\"hethought,\"andshereferstothemonlybecause,asshesays,herconsciencecompelsherto.Itmustbemytasktomakeherforgetthepastinthepresentandfuture.\"
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"shesaid,returning,\"youhavevisitedtheJordanIbelieve,butIdoubtwhetheritswatersdidyoumoregoodthanthatlittlebrookovertheredoesme.That\'sright,\"sheadded,lookingoverhisshoulderattheoutlineshewasrapidlytracing;
\"I\'mgladyouarelosingnotime.\"
\"Iremembertheconditiononwhichyouallowedmetocome,\"hereplied,lookingupwithasmileintoherface,\"andI\'vealreadylearned,asMr.Eltingesuggests,thatnothingwilldointhisgardenbutdownrighthonesty.\"Somethinginherfacecausedhiseyestolinger,andheaddedhastily:\"You\'rerightabouttheJordan.Thebrookseemsmuchmorepotent,forapparentlyithaswashedyourtroubleallaway,buthasleft——wellyoumightthinkitflatteryifIshouldtellyouallIsee.thisgardenseemstocontaintheelixiroflifeforyou,MissIda.Myheartwasachingtoseehowpaleyouwerebecoming,buthere——\"
\"Mr.VanBerg,\"saidIda,abruptly,\"willyoupardonasuggestion?\"
Helookedupatheragainalittlewonderinglyandbowed.
\"Therehasbeenasortofnecessity,\"sheresumed,\"thatmyfaultyselfshouldbethethemeofourconversationto-day,butallthemysteryinwhichyouimaginedmeenvelopedmusthavevanishedsinceyoucamehere.InowmustaskthatwedwellhereafteronmoreagreeablesubjectsthanIdaMayhew.\"
\"Imustbringthistendencytopersonalallusionstoanendatonce,\"
shethought,\"orelseIshallbetraymyselftomybittermortification.\"
Helookedupwithadeprecatingsmile,\"Iamatyourmercy,\"hereplied,\"andasIsaidbeforeIwillsubmittoanyconditions.\"
\"Thisisaneasyone,\"saidIda,withemphasis,andthenshetookuptheBibleandbeganreadingtoMr.Eltinge,whofromhisseatunderthepear-treehadbeenwatchingthemwithapleasedandplacidinterestonhissereneoldface.Theiryounglifeappearedbeautifulnow,andfullofhopeandpromise,buthedidnotenvyit.Theprospectbeforehimwasbetterthanthebestthatearthcouldoffer.
VanBergneverforgotthehourthatfollowed.Hispencilwasbusybuthisthoughtswerebusier.Hefelthisartistlifeandpowerkindlingwithinhiminawaythatwasexhilaratingandgrand.Whilehisthemesweresimplehefeltthattheywerenobleandbeautifulinthehighestdegree.Thetree——aprettyobjectinitself——hadbeenendowedwithahumaninterestandsuggestedadivinephilosophy.
Mr.Eltinge,whosatatitsfoot,becametohimoneoftheworld\'schiefheroes——amanwhohadmetandvanquishedevilforalmostacentury.Hiswhitehairandsilverbeardwereahaloofgloryaroundthequietfacethatwasturnedinkindlysympathytowardshiscompanion,andVanBergdidhisbesttobringoutthenobleprofile.