VanBerghasteneddowneagerlytoassisthertoalight,forherreappearanceliftedaterribleloadofanxietyfromhismind.Inspiteofherselfthecolorrushedintothecheekswhichoflatehadbecomesopale,andthehandshegavehimtrembledashehelpedherfromthephaeton.
\"IcannottellyouhowgladIamtoseeyouagain.I\'vebeenoppressedwithfearallday,\"hecouldnotforbearsaying,inalowtone.
\"Isupposeyounaturallyfeltthatyoucouldnottrustme,\"shereplied,avertingherface.\"I\'vebeenspendingthedaywithafriend.\"
\"Forgiveme,\"hesaideagerly.\"Iseemfatedtowoundyou,butI
wishtheymighthereafterbethewoundsofafriend.\"
Shewouldnottrustherselftolookuptillshebecamemorecomposed,butcouldnotresisttheimpulsetosay:\"Dofriendsgiveonlywounds?\"
VanBergbithislipandfollowedherslowlyupthesteps.
\"Iseefromyourbasket,\"saidMissBurton,kindly,\"thatyouhavebeenforaging.Ihopeyouhadgoodsuccess.\"
\"Yes,IthinkI\'vebeensuccessful,\"repliedIda,whowasdesperatelysorrythatMissBurtonhadinterceptedherandmustseeherburningcheeks.\"Ihavenotfoundroses,asyoudid,butperhapsthesearemoreinkeepingwithmyprosaicandmaterialnature;\"andsheliftedthecoverandofferedthefruit.
\"YoutreatmebetterthanIdidyou,\"saidMissBurton,smilingly,andignoringanimpliedsatirewhichIdahadnotintended.\"Ididnotgiveyouanyofmyroses.\"
Idashotasideglanceattheartistwhichsaidtohimplainly:
\"ButMr.VanBergdid,\"andheflusheddeeply.
Thensheselectedasuperbpear,andafterlookingatitkeenlyamoment,handedittohimwiththelowwords:
\"Ithinkyouwillfindthatnowormhasbeeninthat.\"
Hetookitwithevidentembarrassmentandwasabouttospeakeagerly,butshepassedquicklyin,andwenttoherroom.
\"Iamjustlypunished,\"saidVanBergfrankly.\"MissBurton,pleaseletmeexplainherallusion.\"
\"Iwouldratheryouwouldnot,\"sherepliedpromptly,\"forMissMayhewmadeitinalowtone,showingthatsheintendeditforyourearonly.\"
\"Well,thenImustcontentmyselfbysayingthatstandingnearthisspot,notlongsince,Iactedlikeafool.\"
\"It\'sanexcellentsignofwisdom,Mr.VanBerg,\"shesaidlaughingly,\"thatyouhavediscoveredthefact.Theonlyfoolstobedespairedofarethosewhoneverfindthemselvesout.\"
\"Didyoueverdoaveryfoolishthing,MissJennie?\"
\"Itwouldbeaveryfoolishthingformetolistentoanymoreofsuchmonstrousflattery.OrperhapsyouaresatiricalandtakethisroundaboutwayoftellingmethatI\'mhumanlikeyourself.
I\'mgoingdowntosupper,forIpreferMr.Burleigh\'stoasttosuchdoubtfulcompliments.\"
\"MissJennie,Iprotest,Ineverofferedyouacomplimentinmylife,\"hesaid,accompanyingher.
\"InthenameoftheKing\'sEnglish,whatarecompliments,then?\"
\"Mereverbalsugar-plums,sweet,cloying,andoftenpoisonous.Myexpressionsofhonestopinionare,likeMr.Burleigh\'stoastyouaresofondof,madeofthefinestwheatoftruth,leavenedbymyirrepressibleadmiration,anddonetothenicestshadeofbrownbythewarmthofmyFRIENDLYregard.\"
\"Oh,oh,OH!Yourcomplimentsareverbalballoons.\"
\"Yes,thatfiguremightapplytothemalso,fortheseopinionsofmine——notcompliments,mark!——oftencarrymeupabovethecloudsandvaporsofearth.\"
\"Whereyouwillfindtheatmosphereexceedinglythinandcold,I
assureyou,\"saidMissBurton,withsomethinglikeseriousnessinhertone.\"Imustremindyou,Mr.VanBerg,thatevenJackBunsbydidnotgivehisopinionstilltheywereasked,andIwilltakesometoast,ifyouplease,intheirstead.\"
StantonandMrs.Mayhewnowappeared,andtheconversationbecamegeneral,inwhichtheformermaderatherfutileeffortstoconcealhisdejection.HisaunthadtoldhimthatIdahadmerelysaidshehadspentthedaywithafriend,andthatshewouldexplainherabsenceatthepropertime.\"Shehassuchadignifiedwayofspeaking,thatyouaremadetofeelitisaninsulttoaskaquestion,soI
shalljusttakeheratherword,andleavehertoherself,\"concludedthelady.
\"She\'llneverforgiveme,\"mutteredStanton.
Alittlelaterthantheothers,theobjectofhisthoughtscamedowntosupper.Thedeepcolorwhichtheunexpectedepisodewiththeartisthadcausednowlingeredonlyasafaintglowinhercheeks.Shehadfastenedafewpearleavesinherhair,andworenootherornament.Herthinwhitedresssuggestedratherthanreveatedtheexquisitesymmetryofherneckandarms,andVanBergwascompelledtoadmittohimselfthathistrainedandcriticaleyescouldscarcelydetectaflawinhermarvellousbeauty,orinthetasteshowninhercostume.
Buttherewassomethingabouthermannerwhichappealedtohimmorethanherbeautyeven.Theeveningbeforeshehadchilledtheirheartsbyherunnaturalandicywordsandbearing.Nowtherewasanexpressionofhumilityanddiffidencewhollyunlikeanythinghehadeverseenbefore.Shedidnotseeminclinedtoenterintoconversation,andyetshewasnotrepellantandcold,butratherseemedtoshrinkfromnotice,andtoindicatethatpastmemorieswereembarrassing.Butshewouldnotlookathercousin,forshestillfeltadeepresentmenttowardshim.Shewasnosaintbecauseshehadcherishedsomegoodthoughtsandimpulsesthatday,andasforpoorStanton,hebecamesodepressedthathelapsedintouttersilence.
MissBurtonwasbecomingdeeplyinterestedinIda.Whenshesawhercrimsonfaceastheartisthastenedtothephaeton,asuddenlighthadflashedintohereyes,andthethoughtcrossedhermind:
\"Mr.VanBergisthemagicianwhoisunwittinglypractisinguponherandmakinghersounlikeherformerself,\"andasshehurriedlyrecalledthepast,shefoundtherewasmuchinIda\'smannernotinconsistentwiththistheory.Stillitwasnotwithanyprying,gossipyinterest,thatsheobservedclosely,inordertodiscoverifthereweregoodreasonsforhersurmise.
ButIda\'smannerwassoquietandguardeditwouldhaverequiredkeenereyesthanevenJennieBurton\'stodetectthehiddenfire.
Themealpromisedtopass,withsomeconstraint,itistrue,butwithoutanyembarrassingincident,whenMrs.MayhewwasthemeansofplacingpoorIdainaverypainfuldilemma.Underageneralimpulsetoconciliateherdaughterandmakeamends,andwithherusualwantoftact,shesuddenlyandsententiouslysaid:
\"Well,IthinkIda\'sverybravetobeabletodriveforherself.\"
Therewasamomentofembarrassedsilenceafterthisunexpectedremark,andthenMissBurtonmademattersfarworsebysaying,withthekindestintentions:
\"AfterMissMayhew\'sadventureinthestagenoonecandoubthercourage,andI\'msureIadmireabravewomanmuchmorethanabraveman.Menarebraveasamatterofcourse.\"ThenshesawfromthesuddenscarletthatflamedupintoIda\'scheeks,andthemanneroftheartist,whosuddenlybecamewhollyabsorbedinhissupper,thatshehadmadeanunfortunateallusion.Therewasnothingtodobutpromptlychangethesubject,sosheturnedandasked:
\"Whatisthegreatestnumberofmilesyouhaveeverdriveninaday,Mr.Stanton?\"
\"Ibegyourpardon!\"saidthepreoccupiedyoungman,startingatthesoundofhisname.
MissBurtonrepeatedherquestion.ButinthemeantimeitwasevidentasevereconflictwasgoingoninIdaMayhew\'smind.HowcouldsheobeyMr.Eltinge\'sinjunctiontobehonestandtrue,ifsheletthisfalseimpressionconcerningherbehaviorinthestageremain?HowcouldshehopetowinaparticleofrespectfromVanBergifshereceivedagainthisundeservedpraise?Howcouldshelookherkindoldfriendinthefaceifshecontinuedsilent?Shefeltshemusteitherspeakortakethepearleavesoutofherhair.
Itwashard,bitterhardtospeakthenandtherebeforethemall,butherindecisionsoongaveplacetotheresolvetolayatoncewhatMr.Eltingehadcalledthecorner-stoneofcharacter.
\"MissBurton,\"shesaidabruptly,asStantonwastryingtocollecthiswitssoastomakeasuitablereply.
Theyalllookedatherinvoluntarily.Herfacewaspalenow,andhadthewhite,resoluteaspectoftenseeninthoseabouttofacegreatdanger.
\"MissBurton,Iamsorrytosayyouhaveafalseimpressionofmyconductinthestage.Sofarfromshowingpresenceofmindandcourageonthatoccasion,Iwasterror-strickenand,Ibelieve,hysterical.Withallmyfaults,IshallatLEASTtrytotellthetruthhereafter.\"
\"ByJupiter!\"criedtheimpulsiveStanton,\"that\'sthepluckiestthingIeversawawomando,ormaneither.Ida,fromthisdayI\'mproudofyou,thoughyouhavelittleoccasiontobesoofme.\"
ThepoorgirlhadlookedsteadilyatMissBurtonwhilespeaking,butthemomenttheordealwasoverherlipquiveredlikethatofachild,andshehastilyleftthetable.
ShehadscarcelymountedhalfthestairsthatledtoherroombeforeVanBergwasatherside.
\"MissMayhew,\"hesaideagerly,\"Ididnotsleeplastnight,norcanIto-nightuntilassuredofyourforgiveness.MyselfIcanneverforgive.\"
Herheartwasfullandhernervesoverstrainedalready.Shecouldnotspeak,butshebowedherheadontherailofthebalustrade,hidingherfaceagainstherarm,andstrovehardtochecktherisingsobs.
\"MissMayhew,\"hecontinued,inlow,pleadingtones,\"inallmylifeInevercondemnedmyselfsobitterlyasIhaveformytreatmentofyou.Icanonlyappealtoyourgenerosity.INEEDyourforgiveness,\"
andhewaitedforheranswer.
Butshecouldnotanswer.Itseemedasifshecouldnotmaintainevenherpartialself-controlamomentlonger.Herheartforgavehim,however,andshewishedhimtoknowit,sowithoutliftingherheadsheheldoutherhandintheplaceofthewordsshecouldnottrustherselftoutter.Heseizediteagerly,anditsotrembledandthrobbedinhisgraspthatitmadehimthinkofawoundedbirdthatheoncehadcaptured.
\"Itakeyourhand,MissMayhew,\"hesaidearnestly,\"notasasignoftrucebetweenus,butasatokenofforgiveness,andthepledgeofreconciliationandfriendship.Yourbravetruth-tellingto-nighthasatonedforyourpast.Pleasegivemeachanceatleasttotrytoatoneformine.\"
Hisonlyreplywasafaintpressurefromherhandandthenshespedupthestairway.Hedidnotseeheragaintillshecamedowntobreakfastthefollowingmorning,whenshetreatedhimwithaquiet,distant,well-bredcourtesythatdidnotsuggestthesobbinggirlwhohadfledfromhimtheeveningbefore,muchlessthedespairing,desperatewomanwhohadgivenhimthedrugwithwhichshehadintendedtoendherexistence.Theywhoseeconventionalsurfacesonlyknowbutlittleoflife.
Truthfulasshewastryingtobe,shewaspuzzlinghimmorethanever,althoughhewasgivingagreatdealofthoughttotheproblem.
ChapterXLIII.A\"HeavenlyMystery.\"
WhileIda\'smanneratthebreakfast-tablewasquietandself-possessed,shestillmaintainedthesamedistantbearingwhichhadbeencharacteristictheeveningbefore.ItwasevidenttoVanBerg,however,thatpride,woundedvanity,andresentmentwerenolongerthemotivesfortheseclusioninwhichshesoughttoremain,evenwhileundertheeyesofothers.Itwasthenaturalshrinkingofonewhowouldhideweakness,trouble,andimperfection.Itwasthebearingofonewhohadbeendeeplyhumiliated,andwhowasconsciousofapartialestrangementtowardsthosehavingaknowledgeofthishumiliation.Thusfarhecouldunderstandher;andintheproportionshewasdepressedandwithdrewfromsocialrecognitionandencouragement,hissympathyandrespectweredrawnouttowardsher.
\"Sheisnottrivialandsuperficial,asIsupposed,\"hethoughttwentytimesthatmorning.\"Thereisnotasuddencalmafterthestormthathasbeenraging,aswouldbethecaseweresheincharacterlikeashallowpool.Hermannernowprovesdailythelargenessofthenaturethathasbeensodeeplymoved,andwhich,liketheagitatedsea,regainsitspeacebutslowly;\"andthesagaciousVanBerg,whoseimaginationwasnotunderverygoodcontrolbegantoreactintotheotherextreme,andquerywhetherIdaMayhew\'smoralnature,nowthatitwasaroused,wasnotherchiefcharacteristic.
Meanwhile,thesubjectofhismany-coloredspeculationshaddrivenawayinthelowbasketphaeton,havingfirstexplainedbrieflytohermotherthatsheintendedtospendthemorningagainwiththetwooldpeopleshehadvisitedthepreviousday.
Stantonvolunteeredthisamountofinformationtohisfriend,andtherewasmuchsurmiseandcuriosityintheirmindsinregardtothese\"oldpeople,\"andhermotiveinseekingthem.ButevenMrs.
MayhewhadbeguntorealizethattheymusttakeIdaatherwordandleavehertoherself.
ItwaswithsomethingevenmorethanhopefulnessthatIdadrewneartothegardenagain.Shewasalive;thatfact,incontrastwithwhatmighthavebeen,waslikesolidgroundbeneathherfeet.Then,again,intheplaceofthecold,distantmanneroftheguests,afterthedepartureofSibley,shehadalreadynoticedfriendlyglancesandanevidentdispositiontomakeamends.Italsogavehernotalittlesatisfactionthathercousinandtheartistwereexperiencingsuchsincerecompunctions,andwererealizingtheenormityoftheiroffence.Idawasveryhuman,andalwayswouldbe.Shewasalsoalittleelatedoverthefactthatshehadbeenabletotellthetruththeeveningbefore.Thememory,however,thatnestledmostwarmlyinherheartwastheassertionofVanBerg,\"INEEDyourforgiveness.\"\"Howmuchdoesthatmean?\"sheaskedherselfagainandagain.\"Doeshereallywishtobeafriend,orisheonlytryingtosmoothovermattersandcalmmedownsohecanleavemedecorously,asafterourhatefulepisodeonthestage?\"
Herwishescoloredherthoughts.\"Hespoketooearnestlytomeansolittle,\"shesaidtoherself,withadreamysmilethatVanBerg,asanartistmerely,wouldhavegivenmuchtosee.
Afterall,perhapsoneofthechiefcausesofherrevivingspiritswasinthefactshewasyoung.Shecouldnottakeaverysombreviewoflifethatfreshsummermorning,eveninviewofthepastandthefuture,andhermannerofgreetingMr.Eltingeandoftellingherexperiencessincetheypartedsuggestedtohimthatshewasgaininginself-complacency,earthlyhope,andyouthfulspirits,ratherthaninthedeepandlastingpeaceandmoralstrengthwhichisbuiltupfromtheLivingRock.Shewasfindingrelieffromdepressionandsufferingfromcausesastransientastheyweresuperficial.Chiefofall,shehadnotrealizedashehadsupposedtheshadowoftheawfulcrimethatwasrestinguponher,andtheneedofGod\'sforgiveness.Almostunconsciouslytheoldman,wiseandexperiencedinspirituallife,sigheddeeplyasshefinishedherstory.
Herquickearcaughtthesigh,andherwoman\'sintuitiongatheredfromhisfacethattheoutlookdidnotseemsoencouragingtohim.
Herheartbegantosink,andshesaidearnestly:
\"Mr.Eltinge,I\'vetriedtobetrue;Iwantyoutobefaithfultome.Don\'thideanythingfromme.\"
Yes,mychild,\"herepliedgravely,\"youaresincere——youhidenothing.IthinkIunderstandyou.IthankGodhegaveyoustrengthlastnighttotellthetruthunderverytryingcircumstances,andyouhavegreatlyincreasedmyrespectforyouthatyoudidso.But,tousealittlefigurativelanguage,ifIwereyourdoctorImighttellyouthatyoudon\'trealizehowsickyouareandhavebeen.
Therehavebeensomeencouragingsymptomsandcircumstances,andyourspiritsandhopearereviving,andyouarelookingtothesethingsratherthantohimwhotakethawaythesinoftheworld.I
triedtoencourageyouyesterday,mychild,becauseIsawyouweredeeplydepressed;andtodiscourageusisoneofthechiefaimsoftheEvilOne.Idonotwishtodiscourageyouto-day——farfromit——butIwishtorealizethatonlytheforgivenessandhealingtouchoftheSonofGodareequaltoyourneed.
\"Mychild,\"hecontinued,withasolemnitythatmadehergrowverypale,\"supposeIshouldtakeyoutoaroominthehousethere,showyouafairgirlwitheyesthatshouldlookforherdutyinlifeclosedforever,andthehandsthatshouldfaithfullyandbravelydoitparalyzedindeath.SupposeIshouldtellyouthatIhadgivenherapoisonousdrugthenightbefore,whatwouldIbe?\"
\"Amurderer,\"whisperedthegirlwitheyesdilatedwithfearandhorror.
\"Yes,\"saidtheoldman,shakinghisheadsadly;\"IwouldhavedestroyedalifethatGodhadgiven,anddestroyedendlesschancesforhappinessandusefulness,andsentapoorsoultojudgement,perhapsunforgivenandunprepared.Mychild,itcutsmetothehearttopainyouso,butthephysician\'sprobemustgotothedepthofthewound.Itisnokindnesstothepatienttoputonasoothingsurfaceapplicationandleavedeathtorankleintheblood.WehavenoreasontobelievethatintheeyeofGodhethatdestroyshimselfisanythelessguiltythanhethatkillsanother,andeveninthejudgmentofmanit\'sacowardlyflightfrommisfortunesthatshouldbetriumphedoverwithcourageandpatience,orenduredwithfortitudeandresignation.Markmywords,itisonlyaflight,notanescape,foreveryevilyousoughttoshunwouldhavebeenintensifiedandrenderedeternal.Now,thesimpletruthis,weholdourownlivesintrustfromGod,tobeusedaccordingtohiswill,andwehavenomorerighttodestroythelifeheentruststousthanthelifehegivestoothers.\"
Idahadburiedherfaceinherhandsandwastremblingviolently.
\"Ididnotrealizeitbefore,\"shemurmuredinalow,shudderingtone.\"Oh,whatshallIdo?WhatshallIdo?Whydoesn\'ttheearthopenandswallowmeup?\"
Theoldmancametohersideagain,andplacinghisrighthandgentlyonherbowedheadandholdingaBibleinhisleft,continuedingravebyverygentletones:
\"TakethisBook,mychild;itwilltellyouwhattodo.Itwilltellyouthatmercifulandall-powerfularmsareopentoreceiveyou,andnotahopelessgrave.TheSonofGodhassaidtotheheavyladen,\'Comeuntome,\'and\'whosoevercomethIwillinnowisecastout.\'Heavenisfull,mychild,ofjustsuchguiltysoulsasyours,butitwasHEwhosavedthem.ItwasHispreciousbloodthatwashedthemwhiterthansnow.WhenyouseekforforgivenessandhealingatHisfeetallwillbewell,butnottillthen,andnotelsewhere.\"
\"O,Mr.Eltinge,\"shesobbed,\"youhavepiercedmyheartaswithasword.\"
\"Ihave,indeed,mypoorchild——withtheswordoftruth;andwhat\'smore,Ican\'thealthewoundI\'vemade.\"
\"WhatshallIdo?oh,whatshallIdo?\"andshefairlywrithedintheagonyofherremorse.
\"\'BeholdtheLambofGod,thattakethawaythesinoftheworld,\'\"
hesaidgentlybutfirmly,andhisstrongfaithandthewordsofHolyWritwerelikearock,atwhich,fromoutoftheoverwhelmingtorrentofherremorsefuldespair,shegraspedasheronechance,heronehope.
Liftingherstreamingeyestoheaven,andclaspingherhands,shecriedpassionately:
\"OChrist,hopeofthesinful,ifthereismercyforsuchasI,forgiveme,formycrimeislikeafallingmountain!\"
Amomentlatershesprangupandputherarmsaroundtheoldman\'sneck.
\"Myfriend,mymorethanfather!\"shesobbed,\"Ithink——IalmostbelieveGodhasheardme.ItseemsasifIhadescapedfromdeath,and——and——myheartwasbreaking;butnow——oh,it\'sallaheavenlymystery!\"
\"Yes,\"repliedMr.Eltingebrokenly,andwithansweringemotion,\"itisaheavenlymystery.\'Notbymight,norbypower,butbymySpirit,saiththeLord.\'\"
Idacouldneverforgettheremaininghourswhichshespentthatdayintheoldgarden.itwasthenandtherethatsheexperiencedthesensationsofthoseenteringanewspirituallifeandanewworld;andwithsome,thesefirstimpressionsareveryvivid;andwithsome,thesefirstimpressionsareveryvivid.
ItwasaccordingtonaturethatitshouldbesointheinstanceofIdaMayhew,forshewassimple,positive,andwarminherfeelings,ratherthancoldandcomplex.Butshewassane,andaboundedinthehomelycommonsensewhichenabledhertounderstandherselfandthoseabouther.Sheformedfairlycorrectestimatesofallwhomshehadmet,andwiththesamesimpledirectnessshebegantorecognizethecharacteroftheDivineManthatMr.EltingeandtheBibletheyreadtogetherpresented.
Noearthlycasuistrycouldeverleadhertodoubtthathehadheardherprayerthatmorning.Shemightreplysimplytoallcavilandquestioning:
\"Iknowheheardandansweredme,andifIdonotknowthistobetrue,Icannotknowanythingtobetrue;\"forneverbeforehadherconsciousnessmadeanythingsodistinctandreal.
Tosaythatsheandmultitudesofothersaremistaken,isbeggingthewholequestion.Itisbaldlytakingthegroundofdenialofeverythingoutsideofpersonalunderstandingandknowledge.Theskepticismofverymanywouldblotoutthegreaterpartofscience,history,andgeography.ThefactsofChristianexperienceandChristiantestimonyareastrulyfactsasthosewhicharediscoveredbypeoplewhoarehostileorindifferenttotheBible.
Thebroad,liberalmanishewhoacceptsalltruthandhumblywaitstillthefullerwisdomofcomingagesreconcileswhatisnowapparentlyconflicting.Thebigotishewhoshutshiseyestotruthhedoesnotlike,ordoesnotunderstand;andheisasapttobeascientistasthemanwhohaslearnedthattheGodwhomadehimcanalsospeaktohim,throughhisinspiredwordandall-pervadingSpirit.
Wearesurroundedbyearthlymysterieswhichthewisestcannotsolve,andsomeofthemareverysadanddark.Whyshouldtherenotbe,asIdasaid,aheavenlymystery?
Afterall,itisaquestionoffact.TheChristoftheNewTestamentofferstogivepeaceandspiritualhealing.Doeshekeephisword?
Wesayyes,onthebroadgroundofhumanexperienceandhumantestimony——thegroundonwhichisbuiltthegreaterpartofhumanknowledge.
Ifthisbetrue,whatareproachiscontainedinthewordsofourLord:\"Yewillnotcomeuntomethatyemighthavelife\"!
ChapterXLIV.\"TheGardenofEden.\"
\"Mr.Eltinge,\"Idaasked,astheywereabouttopart,\"haveIarighttothegladsenseofescapeandsafetythathascomesounexpectedly?\"
\"Yourright,\"hereplied,\"dependsonthecharacteroftheFriendyouhavefound.Doyouthinkheisableandwillingtokeephisword?\"
\"Oh,Mr.Eltinge,howplainyoumakeitall!\"
\"No,mydear;itwasmadeplaincenturiesago.Youhaveasmuchrighttoyourhappyfeelingsastothesunshine;butneverputyourfeelingsintheplaceofChrist,andtrustinthem.That\'slikeputtingfaithinone\'sgratitude,insteadofthefriendwhoseservicesinspiredthegratitude.Butcomeagainto-morrow,andwe\'llgoonwiththe\'old,oldstory.\'I\'vereaditscoresoftimes,butamenjoyingitnowwithyoumorethanever.Good-by.\"
AsIdadrewneartothehotel,Stantonsteppedfromtheroadsidetomeether.
\"Ida,\"hesaid,\"ifyoucannotforgiveme(andperhapsyoucannot),I\'llleaveto-morrowmorning——andperhapsIhadbetteranyway.I
fearitwasanevildayforusbothwhenwecametothisplace.\"
\"I\'vethoughtsotoo,CousinIk,\"shesaidkindly;\"butIdon\'tnow.I\'mgladIcamehere,thoughithascostmeagreatdealofsufferingand——and——may——butnomatter.Iwasbetterandworsethanyouthoughtme.Imustinsinceritysaythatithasbeenhardtoforgiveyou,foryoursuspicionwoundedmemoredeeplythanyou\'lleverknow.Butmyownneedofforgivenesshastaughtmetoforgiveothers;andInowseethatIalsohavebeenverydisagreeabletoyou,Ik.Letusexchangeforgivenessandbefriends.\"
\"Ida,whathascomeoveryou?YouarenomorelikethegirlthatIbroughttothecountrythanI\'mliketheself-satisfiedfoolthataccompaniedyou.\"
\"No,Ik,youarenotafool,andneverwere;but,likemyself,youhadagooddealofself-complacency,andnotmuchcauseforit.
Pardonmeforspeakingplainly,butafterwhathaspassedbetweenuswecanaffordtobefrank.YoumaynotwinJennieBurton,butIbelieveshe\'llwakeyouup,andmakeastrong,genuinemanofyou.\"
\"Ida,\"hesaidinalowtone,andwithlipsthatquiveredalittle,\"I\'mnotsorrythatIloveJennieBurton,thoughinconsequenceI
mayneverseeanotherhappyday.Butgood-by;I\'mtooconfoundedlyblueto-daytospeaktoanothermortal.It\'sagreatrelief,though,thatyouhaveforgivenme.Iwouldn\'tifIhadbeeninyourplace,anddon\'tthinkIforgivemyselfbecauseyouhaveletmeoffsoeasily;\"andheturnedhastilyaway,andwassoonlosttoherviewintheshrubberybytheroadside.
IfIdahadpuzzledVanBerginthemorning,hewasstillmoreperplexedintheevening.Slighttracesofherdeepemotionstilllingeredaroundhereyes,butintheeyesthemselvesthereshonealightandhopefulnesswhichhehadneverseenbefore,andwhichhecouldnotinterpret.Moreover,herfacewasgrowingsogentleandwomanly,sofreefromtheimpressofallthathadmarreditheretofore,thathecouldnothelpstealingglancessooftenthatwereJennieBurtonofajealousdispositionshemightthinkhisinterestnotwhollyartistic.Althoughtherewasmuchoftheshrinkingandretiringmannerofthemorning,andshedidnotjoininthegeneralconversation,alltracesofresentmentandcoldnesstowardshercompanionshadvanished.Shewasconsiderateandevenkindtohermother,butinreplytoherquestionsconcerningthepeopleshehadvisited,saidgentlybutfirmly:
\"Iwilltakeyoutheresomeday,mother,andthenyoucanjudgeforyourself.\"
Butwiththeexceptionofapromptnesstocheckallreferencetoherselfandtheday\'sexperiences,hermannerwassodifferentfromwhatMrs.Mayhewhadbeenaccustomedto,thatshecouldnothelpturningmanyperplexedandcuriousglancestowardherdaughter,andwasevidentlynobetterabletounderstandthesubtleandyetrealchangethanwastheartisthimself.
