Shehadnotseemedto-dayliketheshallowgirlwhohadhithertoacceptedofhismoreinnocentcomplimentsasiftheyweresugar-plums,andmerelyraisedherfingerinmockwarningatsuchascontainedaspiceofwickednessandboldness.Thereseemedacurrentofthoughtinhermindwhichhecouldnotfathom,andwhetheritwerecarryingherawayortowardhimhewasnotsure.Heunderstoodandwelcomedtheelementofrecklessness,butdidnotlikethewayinwhichshelookedatVanBerg,nordiditsuithispurposesthatsheshouldhearsomuchofwhathecharacterizedas"pioustwaddle."
　　Hewhisperedagainbolderwordsthanhehadeverspokentoherbefore.
　　"Iwishnobetterheaventhanthetouchofyourhandandthelightofyoureyes.See,themoonisrising;comewithme,forthisistheverywitchinghourforaramble."
　　Sheturneduponhimastartledlook,forheseemedtheveryembodimentoftemptation.Butsheonlysaidcoldly:
　　"Hush!Mr.VanBergisabouttosing,"andshesteppedsofarintothelightedroomthattheartistsawher.
　　WhenMissBurtonrosefromthepianoshedidnotreturntoherseatintheparlor,butstoodintheshadowofthedoor-wayleadingintothehall.Thethoughtofherhymnhadcomesodirectlyfromherheart,thathereyeswereslightlymoistwithanemotionthatwasmoreplainlymanifestonmanyotherfaces.Theoldgentlemanwhohadaskedhertosinghadtakenoffhisspectaclesandwasopenlywipinghiseyes.
　　Stanton,ashamedtohaveherseethefeelingshehadevoked,turnedhisbackuponherandslowlywalkeddownthecorridor.Shemisunderstoodhisactandthoughtitcausedbyindifferenceordislikeforthesentimentshehadexpressed.Hehadseemedtoherthusfaronlyasuperficialmanoftheworld,andthisactstruckherascharacteristic.Butbeyondthispassingimpressionshedidnotgivehimathought,andturned,withgenuineinterest,tolistentoVanBergwhohadsaidtoher:
　　"IrememberafewsimpleverseswhichhavenomeritsavethattheyexpresswhatIwishratherthanwhatIam."
　　Withmuchmorefeeling,andthereforepower,thanwashiscustom,hesangasfollows:
　　"IwouldIknewTheebetter——
　　Thattrustcouldbanishdoubt;
　　Iwishthatfrom'theletter'
　　ThySpiritmightshineout.
　　Iwishthatheavenwerenearer——
　　ThatearthweremoreakinTothehomethatshouldbedearerThantheonesomarredbysin.
　　IwishthatdesertsdrearyMightblossomastherose,Thatsouls,despairing,weary,Mightsmileandfindrepose."
　　BeforesingingthenextstanzahecouldnotforbearlookingtoseeifMissMayhewwerelistening,andthusithappenedthathisglancegavepeculiaremphasistothethoughtexpressed.Shewaslookingathimwithanintensityofexpressionthathedidnotunderstand.
　　Nothingthathedidescapedher,andthequickflashofhiseyesinherdirectionunintentionallygavethefollowingwordstheforceandpointednessofanopenrebuke;
　　"IwishthatoutwardbeautyWerethemirroroftheheart,ThatpurityanddutySupplantedwilyart."
　　Hedidnotseethatwithasuddenflameofscarletinherfaceshesteppedbackontheduskypiazzaasabruptlyasifshehadreceivedablow.Hadhedoneso,hemightnothavesungaseffectivelytheremainingverses.Afterthefirstconfusedmomentofshameandresentmentpassed,shepausedonlylongenoughtonotewithasenseofreliefthatothershadnotseenormadeanysuchapplicationofhiswordsasshebelievedhehadintended,andthenshetookMr.
　　Sibley'sarmandwalkedaway,leavingtheremaningtwoversesunheard——
　　"IwishthatallwerebetterAndnearertotheirGod——
　　Thatevil'sbrokenfetterWereburiedwithHisrod;
　　Thatlovemightlastforever,Andwe,infuture,findThereisnopowertoseverThestrongandtrueinmind."
　　AshesangthelastversetherewasalsoarapidchangeintheexpressionofMissBurton'sface.Therewassomethingofheroldpallorthathasbeenmentionedbefore.Shelookedathimquestioninglyamomentasiftoseeifhewereconsciouslymakinganallusionthattouchedherverynearly,andthen,seeminglyovercomebysomesuddenemotionthatshewouldgladlyhide,shequicklyvanisheddownthedimlylightedhallway,andwasseennomoreuntilshecamedowntobreakfastthefollowingmorning,assmilingandcheeryasever.
　　"Confoundyou,Van,"saidStanton,astheartistescapedfromthethanksoftheaudienceintothehall,"Whatdidyouputinthatlastversefor?Youmadeherthinkofseeingherdeadfriendsagain,andsoshewasinnomoodtospeaktouspoormortalswhoarestillploddingoninthis'valeoftears.'I'dgivemyearsforaquietchatwithherto-night.ByJove,Ineverwassostirredupbefore,andcouldturnChristian,Mohammedan,Buddhist,oranythingelse,ifsheaskedmeto."
　　"Ineithercase,Ik,"saidVanBerg,"yourworshipwouldbethesame,Iimagine,andwouldneverrisehigherthanthepriestess."
　　"Curseitall,"exclaimedStantonimpetuously,"Ifeelto-nightasifthatwerehigherthanIcaneverrise.Ineverwasafraidofawomanbefore;butno'divinity'ever'hedgedaking'likethatwhichfillsmewithanindescribableawewhenIapproachthisunassuminglittlewomanwhousuallyseemsnomoreformidablethanaflickeringsunbeam.Iagreewithyounow.Shehasevidentlyhadsomedeepexperienceinthepastthatgivestohercharacterapoweranddepththatweonlyhalfunderstand.IwishIknewherbetter."
　　"Good-night,"saidVanBerg,alittleabruptly;"Ithinkthatafterthisevening'sexperience,neitherofusisinthemoodforfurthertalk."
　　Stantonlookedafterhimwithaloweringbrowandmuttered:"Ishesosensitiveonthissubject?ByJove.I'msorry!Ifearwemustbecomerivals,Van.Andyet,"headdedwithadespairinggesture,"whatchancewouldIhavewithhimagainstme?"
　　"Icouldnotheardistinctly,"SibleyhadremarkedasIdatookhisarmandwalkedawayfromherpostofobservation."Wereyoudisgustedwithhispiouswailongeneralprinciples,ordidsomethinginhistheologyoffendyou?"
　　"It'senoughthatIwasnotpleased,"sherepliedbriefly.
　　"Littlewonder.I'msurprisedyoustooditsolong.VanBergandStantonarenicefellowstoleadaconventicle.IthinkI'lltakeahandatitmyselfnextSundayevening,andcertainlywouldwithyoursupport.I'llsaynothingofthesinger,butifyouwillgowithmetotherusticseatinyondershadywalk,I'llsingyouasongthatIknowwillbemoretoyourtastethananyyouhaveheardthisevening."
　　"Pleaseexcuseme,Mr.Sibley;I'mafraidofthenightair."
　　"Youareunusuallyprudent,"hesaid,alittletauntingly.
　　"WhichprovesthatIpossessatleastonegoodquality,"shereplied.
　　"PerhapsifMr.VanBergaskedyoutogoyouwouldtaketherisk."
　　"PerhapsImight,"sheadmitted,halfunconsciouslyandfromthemereforceofhabit,givingthenaturalanswerofacoquette.
　　"Hehadbetternotcrossmypath,"saidSibley,withsuddenvindictiveness.
　　"Come,come!"repliedMissMayhew,withacarelesslaugh,"let'shavenohightragedy.I'minnomoodforitto-night,andyouhavenooccasionforalarm.Ifhecrossesyourpathhewillstepdaintilyoveritatrightangles."
　　AtthatmomentVanBergcameoutonthepiazza.Althoughhecouldnothearherwords,herlaughandtonesjarredunpleasantlyonhisear.
　　"Yonderisagenuineaffinity,"hemuttered,"whichIwasafooltothinkIcouldbreakup;"andwithaslightcontemptuousgestureheturnedonhisheelandwenttohisroom.
　　"Icannotaltogetherunderstandyouthisevening,MissMayhew,"
　　saidSibley,withsomeresentmentinhistone.
　　"Youarenottoblameforthat,Mr.Sibley,forIdonotunderstandmyself.Ihavenotfeltwellto-day,andsohadbettersaygood-night."
　　Butbeforeshecouldleavehimheseizedherhandandexclaimed,inhissoft,insinuatingtones:
　　"Thatthenistheonlytroublebetweenus.NextSaturdayeveningIshallfindyouyouroldcharmingself?"
　　"Perhaps,"washerunsatisfactoryanswer.
　　Withastepthatgrewslowerandheaviereverymoment,shewenttoherroom,turnedupthelight,andlookedfixedlyatherselfintheglass,"IwishthatoutwardbeautyWerethemirroroftheheart,"
　　sherepeatedinaudibly,andtheherexquisitelipcurledinself-contempt.
　　"Ida,whatISthematterwithyou?"drawledhermother,lookingthroughtheopendoor-wayofheradjacentroom."Youactasifyouweredemented."
　　"WhydidyoumakemewhatIam?"sheexclaimed,turninguponhermotherinasuddenpassion.
　　"Goodgracious!whatareyou?"ejaculatedthatmatter-of-factlady.
　　"I'masgoodasyouare——asgoodasoursetaverages,Isuppose,"
　　sheansweredinaweary,carelesstone."Goodnight;"andsheclosedandlockedherdoor.
　　"Oh,pshaw!"saidMrs.Mayhew,petulantly;"thosehymnshavemadeheroutofsortswithherselfandeverything.Theyusedtostirmeupinthesameway.Whycan'tpeoplelearntoperformtheirreligiousdutiesproperlyandthenletthematterrest;"andwithayawnsheretiredatpeacewithherselfandalltheworld.
　　Idathrewherselfonaloungeandlookedstraightbeforeherwiththatfixed,vacantstarewhichindicatesthatnothingisseensavebytheeyeofthemind.
　　"Father'sdrunkto-night,"shemoaned;"IknowitassurelyasifIsawhim.IalsoknowthatI'minparttoblameforit.Couldoutwardbeautymaskablackerheartthanmine?Itdoesnotmaskitfromhimwhosangthosewords,"andsheburiedherfaceinherhandsandsobbed,until,exhaustedanddisheartened,shesoughsuchpoorrestandrespiteasafewhoursoftroubledsleepcouldbring.
　　ChapterXVIII.LovePuttoWork.
　　OnthefollowingdaytherewastheusualbustleofchangeanddeparturethatischaracteristicofalargesummerresortonMondaymorning.StantonfoundMrs.Mayhewveryreadytooccupytheseatshehadobtained,andallthemoresofromhisstatementofthefactthatseveralothershadspokenforthem.
　　"Ida,mydear,"calledhermother;"comehere,I'vegoodnewsforyou.Ikhasgotusoutofthatodiouscornerofthedining-room,andsecuredseatsforusatMr.VanBerg'stable."
　　"Iwishnoseatthere,"shesaiddecisively.
　　"Oh,itsallarranged,mydear;andagoodmanyotherswanttheseats,butIkwastooprompt."
　　"I'llstaywhereIam,"saidIda,sullenly.
　　"Andhaveeveryoneinthehouseaskingwhy?"addedStanton,provokingly."Mr.VanBergtreatsyouasagentlemanshould.Whycannotyouactlikealadytowardhim?IfIwereyouIwouldnotcarrymypreferencesfortheSibleystyleoffellowssofarthatIcouldnotbeciviltoamanlikemyfriend."
　　"Youmisjudgeme,"criedIda,passionately.
　　"Youhaveastrangewayofprovingit.Allthatisaskedofyouistositatthesametablewithagentlemanwhohaswontherespectandadmirationofeveryoneinthehotel,whosesocietyispeculiarlyagreeabletoyourmotherandmyself,andwhohasalsoshownunusualcourtesytowardsyoueversincehelearnedwhoyouwere.WhatelsecanIthink——whatelsecanothersthink,thanthatyourtasteleanssodecidedlytotheSibleystylethatyoucannotevenbepolitetoamanofhighcultureandgenuineworth?"
　　"Youaretoosevere,Ik,"saidMrs.Mayhew."ForsomereasonthatIcannotfathom,Idadoesnotlikethisartist;andyetIthinkmyselfthatshewouldsubjectherselftoveryunpleasantremarksifshemadeanytroubleaboutsittingatthesametablewithhim."
　　"Canyounotsee,"retortedIda,irritably,"thatIkhasnotconsideredusatall,butonlyhimself?HewishestobenearMissBurton,andwithoutgivingusanychancetoobject,hasmadeallthearrangementssothatwemusteithercomplyorelsebethetalkofthehouse.It'sjustapieceofhisselfishness,"sheconcludedwithtearsofvexationinhereyes.
　　"Oh,comeIda!"saidhermothercoaxingly,"Icanseeonlyamole-hillinthismatter,andIwouldn'tmakeamountainoutofit.AsfarasIamconcerned,Ishouldenjoythechangeverymuch,and,asyousay,theaffairhasgonetoofarnowtomakeobjection.Idonotintendthateitheryouormyselfshallbethesubjectofunpleasantremark."
　　Andsothematterwassettled,butIda'scoldnessandconstraint,whentheyallmetatdinner,veryclearlyindicatedthatthechangehadbeenmadewithoutherconsent.VanBergaddressedheraffablytwoorthreetimes,butreceivedbriefanddiscouraginganswers.
　　"Yourcousinevidentlyisnotpleasedwiththenewarrangementyouhavebroughtabout.IcannotseewhatIhavedoneoflatetovexher."
　　"I'lltellyouthetrouble.YouoffendherbynotbeingthecounterpartofMr.Sibley,"saidStanton,irritably.
　　VanBerg'sbrowdarkened."Doyouthink,"heaskedinameaningtone,"thatsheunderstandswhatkindofamanheis?"
　　"Oh,sheknowsthathecandance,flirt,andtalknonsense,andsheasksfornothingmoreandthinksofnothingfurther.I'moutofpatiencewithher."
　　Stanton'swordscontainedthemostplausibleexplanationofIda'sconductthatoccurredtoVanBerg.Theepisodeinthestagehadmadethemacquainted,andherpreconceivedprejudiceandhostilityhadbeensofarremovedastopermitacertaindegreeofsocialcompanionship,whoseresultwouldnowseemonlyincreaseddislikeanddistaste.Ashesupposedshewouldexpressherself,"hewasnotofherstyle."HadshenotspentthegreaterpartofSundayafternoonandeveningwithSibley?Whatotherconclusionwastheresavethathewas"ofherstyle,"congenialbothinthoughtandcharacter!Andyethestillrefusedtoentertainthebeliefthatsherecognizedinhimmorethanafashionablemanoftheworld.
　　Ifonlyastheresultofthepiqueoriginatingontheeveningoftheconcert,IdaMayhewhadstoodalooffromhim,hecouldhopetoremovethisearlyprejudicebybetteracquaintance.Butiffulleracquaintanceincreasedheraversion,thenhemustbelievethatthedefectsinhercharacterwereradical,inwroughtthroughthewholewebandwoofofhernature.Hecouldnotassumethe"Sibleystyle"ifhewould,andwouldnotifhecould,wereherbeautyahundred-foldgreater,werethatpossible.
　　Hewasfastcomingtotheconclusion,therefore,thathemustabandontheprojectwhichhadsofascinatedhim,andwhosesuccesshadsostronglykindledhisimagination.Andyethedidsoreluctantly,veryregretfully,chafingasonlythestrong-willeddo,whenconfrontedandthwartedbythatwhichisonlyapparentlyimpossible,andwhichtheystillfeelmightandoughttobeaccomplished.
　　"Ifeelastheoldalchemistsmusthavedone,"heoftenthought.
　　"Hereisabasemetal.WhycanInottransmuteitintogold?"
　　Butastheconvictionofhisimpotencegrewuponhimhefeltsomethinglikeresentmenttowardtheonewhohadthwartedhispurpose;andsoitnaturallyhappenedthatwhentheymetagainatthesupper-table,hiscoolandindifferentmannercorrespondedwiththatofMissMayhewtoadegreethatgaveheradeeperpainthanshecouldunderstand.
　　"Whyshouldshecare?"sheaskedherselfahundredtimesthatevening.Buttheunpleasanttruthhourlygrewmoreplaintoherthatshedidcare.
　　Stantonandhermotherquietlyignoredher"foolishpique,"astheytermedit.IntruththeformerwassopreoccupiedwithMissBurton,andwithjealousyofhisfriend,thathehadfewthoughtsforanythingelse.
　　Headmittedtohimselfthathehadneverbeforebeensothoroughlyfascinatedandawakened;anditwasinaccordancewithhispleasure-loving,self-indulgentnaturetodriftonthisshiningtidewithersoeveritmightcarryhim.
　　ButwithagrowingfeelingofdisquietudehesawthatVanBergalsowasdeeplyinterestedinMissBurton,and,whatwasworse,hethoughthedetectedanansweringinterestonherpart.
　　Occasionally,whentheartist'sfacewasturnedawaysothatsheobtainedagoodprofileviewofit,Stantonobservedherlookingathimwithanexpressionwhichbothpuzzledandtroubledhim.Sheseemedtoforgeteverythingandeveryone,andtogazeforamomentwithawistful,longingintensitythathewouldgivehisfortuneforweretheglancedirectedtowardhimself.AndyetwhenVanBergaddressedher,soughthersociety,methersuddenly,therewasnoheighteningofcolor,noratraceofthe"sweetconfusion"thatisusuallyinseparablefromanewandgrowingaffectioninamaiden'sheart.
　　Apartfromthisoccasion,furtive,andwistfullookduringwhichhercheekswouldgrowpaleandsheappearforthemomentobliviousofpresentsurroundings,hermannertowardtheartistwasasfrankandnaturalastowardanyoneelse.Itwasevidentthatshelikedandrespectedhim,butevenhisjealousycouldnotdetectthecertaintyofanythingmore.
　　ButwhatwasthetendencyofVanBerg'smindtowardher?Thatwasthequestionwhichtroubledhimmoreandmoreeveryday.FromthetimeoftheirpartingonthepreviousSabbatheveningtherehadbeenagrowingreluctanceonthepartofeachtospeakofonewhosolargelyoccupiedthethoughtsofboth.Theoldjestandbanteraboutthe"schoolma'am"ceasedutterly,andtheymentionedheronlyoccasionallyas"MissBurton."Theoldfrankconfidencebetweenthemdiminisheddaily,andintheirsecretconsciousnesstheybegantorecognizethefactthattheymightsoonbecomeopenrivals.
　　TheattitudeofVanBergtowardtheyoungstrangerwhohadsodeeplyinterestedhimfromthefirsthouroftheirmeeting,waspeculiarbutcharacteristic.Hisreasonapprovedofher.Neverbeforehadhemetawomanwhohadseemedendowedwithsomanyattractivequalities.Shewasnotbeautiful,——acardinalvirtuewithhim——butherfaceoftenlightedupwithsomethingsonearakintobeautyastoleavelittlecausetoregretitsabsenceandtheconvictiongrewuponhimthatthespiritenshrinedwithinthegracefulandfragileformwasalmostperfectionitself.
　　Itbecameclearertohimeverydaythatsomedeepexperienceorsorrowhassothoroughlyrefinedawaythedrossofhernatureastomakeherseemtheembodimentoftruthandpurity.Whatthoughshestillmaintainedcompletereticenceastothepast,avoidingintheirconversationallallusiontoherself,asfaraspossible;
　　hestill,inhisinmostsoul,knewhecouldtrusther,andthatwhilehersmilingface,likethesunlitripplingsurfaceofmountainlakesnotfaraway,mighthidedark,silentdepths,itconcealednothingimpure.
　　Healsofeltthattherewasnooccasiontoimagineanydeepmysterytobepartofherpasthistory.Thefactsthatshewaspoorandorphanedsuggestedalltheexplanationsneeded,andhefeltsurethatthesorrowsshesosacredlyandunselfishlyshroudedfromthegeneralviewwouldbefranklyrevealedtothemanwhomightwintherighttocomfortandsustainher.
　　Couldhewinthatright?Didhewishtowinit?Asdayafterdaypassedhefeltthisquestiontobegrowingmoreandmorevitallyimportant.
　　Hewasnotonehebelievedwho,likeStanton,couldbecarriedawaybyasuddenandabsorbingpassion.Inanyandeverycase,reason,judgment,andtastewouldoffertheircounsel,andtheiradvicewouldbecarefullyweighed.Withincreasingdistinctness,thiscabinetwithinhisownbreasturgedhimtoobservethismaidenwelllestthechiefopportunityofhislifepassbeyondrecall.
　　Andhedidstudyhercharactercarefully.Stanton,withthekeenpainofjealousy,andIdaMayhewwithadisquietandsinkingofheartthatshecouldnotunderstand,notedthatheveryquietlyandunobtrusivelysoughthersociety.Whenshespoke,helistened.
　　Whenitwaspossiblewithoutattractingattentionhiseyesfollowedher,andyethisconductwasgovernedsothoroughlybygoodtasteandchivalricregardfortheladyherself,thatonlyeyesrenderedpenetratingbythepromptingsoftheheartwouldhaveseenanythingmorethanthegeneralfriendlinesswhichsheinspiredoneveryside.
　　Stanton,onthecontrary,grewmoreundisguisedanddemonstrativeinhisattentions,althoughheaimedtoconcealhisfeelingunderthehumorousandbanteringstyleofaddressthatwashabitualwithhim.TheguestsofthehousewerenotverylonginrecognizinginhimanadmirerofMissBurton,buttheyimaginedthathisdevotionwascausedmorebyawishtowhileawayhisidlehoursthanfromanyothermotive;anditwasalsoquiteevidentthattheyoungladyherselftookthesameview.Shegavealightandhumorousaspecttoeverythingshesaid,andpermittedhimscarcelyanopportunityforasolitary"tete-a-tete."Invainheplacedhisbaysandbuggyatherdisposal.
　　"Iamsocialandgregariousinmytastes,"shewouldreply,"andneedtheexhilarationofapartytoenjoymyself."
　　ThusStantonwasledtoacourseofactiondecidedlyincontrastwithhispasttendencies.Hewouldattachhisbaystoaroomycarriage,givinghera"carte-blanche"inmakingupthepartyifshewouldbeoneofthenumber.Hewouldperspirelikeaheroinanyboatingexcursionorpicnicthatshewouldoriginate;andthusthefastidiousandelegantfellowoftenfoundhimselfinunwontedcompany,for,withaninstinctpeculiarlyherown,shesoonfoundoutthecomparativelypoorandneglectedinthehotel,andappearedtoderiveherchiefpleasureinenliveningtheirdulldays.
　　Quick-wittedStantonearlylearnedthatthesurestwaytowinningasmilefromherwastobepolitetopeoplethat,hitherto,hehadhabituallyignored.ToMissBurtonherselfhemadenosecretofthefactthathiscoursewaspromptedonlybyadesiretopleaseher,butshesmilingpersistedinascribingitalltohisgood-natureandkindnessofheart.
　　ChapterXIX.Man'sHighestHonor.
　　VanBerghadnotbeenverylongindiscoveringthatMissBurtonhadarulingpassion,anditseemedtohimaratheruniqueone.
　　Hewasfamiliarwiththemanyformsofself-seeking,commoninsociety;heknewofthosewhoweredevotedtoliterature,science,orsomefavoritecalling,ashewastohisart;hehadseenafewwhoapparentlysoaboundedingenialgood-naturethattheyrarelylostanopportunityofperformingakindact;andthereweremenandwomenintheworldwho,hebelieved,hadfullyconsecratedthemselvestotheworkofdoinggoodfromthepurestanddivinestmotives:buthedidnotrememberofeverhavingmetwithonewhosewholethoughtappearedbentondisseminatingimmediatesunshine.
　　AndyetthisseemedtrueofMissBurton.Withadmirabletact,withatirelesspatience,andanenergyoutofproportioninonesofragile,shekeptherselfquietlyandunobtrusivelybusyamongthemiscellaneouspeopleofthehouse.Hercharitywaswideenoughforall.Wherevershecoulddiscovergloom,despondency,dulness,orpain,thereshetriedtoshinelikeasunbeam,asifthatweretheprimallawofherbeing.Sherarelysoughtto"dogood"intheordinaryacceptanceoftheterm;stillmorerarelydidshespeakofherownpersonalfaith;tocheerandtobrightenappearedtobeheroneconstantimpulse.Itwasevidentthatthishadbecomeakindofsecondnatureinhernow;butthethoughtoccurredmorethanoncetoVanBergthatshehadadoptedthiscourseatfirsttoescapefromherselfandherownunhappymemories.Everydayincreasedtheconvictionthatsorrowwastheblack,heavysoilthatproducedthisconstantbloomofunselfishdeeds.
　　Beforetheweekwasovershegavehimspecialreasontobelievethatthiswastrue.Theywerewalkingupanddownthepiazzaoneeveningandhadbeentalkingwithmuchanimationonasubjectofmutualinterest.Butsheprovedthattherewasinhermindadeeperandstrongercurrentofthoughtthanthatwhichhadbeenapparent.
　　Astheduskinessincreased,andasintheirpromenadetheirfaceswereturnedawayfromthosewhomighthaveobservedthem,shesaidalittleabruptlyandyetwithtremuloushesitancy:
　　"Mr.VanBerg,doesyourphilosophyteachyoutobelieve,asyousung,onSabbathevening,that'ThereisnopowertoseverThestrongandtrueinmind?'"
　　Beforeansweringheturnedtolookather.Herfaceseemedtostandoutfromthegloomofthenightwithalightofitsown,andwassowhiteandeagerastobealmostspirit-like.Histonesweresadashereplied:
　　"IwishIcouldansweryouotherwisethanasImust,fortheimpulsetosaysomewordsofcomfort,whichIfeelyouneed,isverystrong.
　　IonlysangofwhatIwishedonSundayevening.Ihavelittlephilosophy,andstilllessofdefinitebeliefinregardtothefuturelife.WhileIamnotatheoreticskeptic,allquestionsoffaitharetomesovagueandincomprehensiblethatIamapracticalmaterialist,andliveonlyinthepresenthour."
　　"But,Mr.VanBerg,"shesaid,inalowtremuloustone,"canyounotunderstandthatsomepeoplecannotliveinthepresenthour,tryastheymay?Oh,howdesperatelyhardItrytodoso!Canyounotimaginethatsomethinginone'spastmaymakeafuturenecessarytosavefromdespair?IfIlostmyholdonthatfutureIshouldgomad,"sheaddedinawhisper."Howcananymaterialisticphilosophybetruewhenitfailsusandsobitterlydisappointsusinourneed?"
　　"Idonotsayitistrue,"hereplied,earnestly."Indeedyourwordsandmannerprovetome,ascouldnolaboredargument,whatapoorsuperficialthingitis.Ifeel,withtheforceofconviction,thatitcannomoremeetyourneedthancouldthehuskswhichtheswinedideat."
　　"Sinceyouweresincere,Iwillbealso,"shecontinuedinthesamelowtone,lookingawayfromhimintothedarkcloudysky."AsthehymnIsungmayhavesuggestedtoyou,Ihavenotgotveryfarbeyondmeresubmissionandhope.Somethinginmyownsoulaswellasinrevelationtellsmethatthereisa'happiershore,'andI
　　amtryingtoreachit;buttheway,toooften,islikethatsky,utterlyopaqueandrayless."
　　"Iregretmoredeeplythanyoucaneverknow,MissBurton,thatI
　　findnothinginmyownknowledgeorexperiencetohelpyou.AllIcanofferismyhonestsympathy,andthatyouhavehadfromthefirst;forfromthetimeofourfirstmeetingtheimpressionhasbeengrowinguponmethatyourcharacterhadobtaineditspowerandbeautythroughsomedeepandsorrowfulexperience.ButwhileIamunabletogiveyouanyhelp,perhapsIcansuggestapleasantthoughtfromyourownillustration.Theblackcloudsyonderwhichseemtoyouatruetypeoftheshadowsthathavefallenacrossyourpath,are,afterall,butafilminthesky.Thesun,andamultitudeofotherluminousworlds,areshiningbeyondthemintheheavens.IwouldIhadyourchancesofreachinga'happiershore.'"
　　"That'saprettysentiment,"shesaid,shakingherheadslowly;
　　"butthoseluminousworldsareagreatwayoff,withcoldandvastreachesofspacebetweenthem.Besides,aluminousworldwouldnotdomeonebitofgood.Iwant——"shestoppedabruptlywithsomethinglikealowsob."There,there,"sheresumedhastilydashingawayafewtears."Ihaveoccupiedyourthoughtstoolongwithmyforlornlittleself.Ididnotmeantoshowthisweakness,buthavebeenbetrayedintodoingos,Ithink,becauseyouimpressedmeasbeinghonest,andIthoughtthatperhaps——perhapsyourman'sreasonmighthavethoughtofsomeargumentorprobablyconjecturerelatingtothesubjectthat,forcausesobvioustoyou,wouldbenaturallyinterestingtoonesoaloneintheworldasIam."
　　"IamsorryindeedthatIneverusedmyreasontosogoodapurpose,"
　　hereplied;"andyet,asIsaidatfirst,thesesubjectshaveeverseemedtomesoaboveandbeyondmyreasonthatIhavecarelesslygiventhemthego-by.MyprofessionhaswhollyabsorbedmesinceIhavebeencapableofanythingworththenameofthought,andtheworld,towardwhichyourmindisturning,issolargeandvaguethatIcannotevenfollowyou,muchlessguide."
　　Shesighed:"Itisindeed'largeandvague.'"Thensheaddedinfirm,quiettones:"Mr.VanBerg,pleaseforgetwhatIhavesaid.
　　Theweakmustshowtheirweaknessattimesinspiteofthemselves,andyourkindnessandsincerityhavebeguiledmeintoinflictingmyselfuponyou."
　　"Youaskthatwhichisimpossible,MissBurton,"herepliedearnestly.
　　"Icannotforgetwhatyouhavesaid,nordoIwishto.Ineednotassureyou,however,thatIregardyourconfidenceassacredasifitcamefrommyownsister.WillyoualsoletmesaythatIneverfeltsohonoredbeforeinmylifeasIhaveto-night,inthefactthatIseemedtoyourwoman'sintuitionworthyofyourtrust."
　　Theywerenowturnedtowardsthelightthatstreameddimlyfromoneofthewindows.Shelookedupathimwithabright,gratefulsmile,butsheapparentlysawsomethinginhiseagerfaceandmannerwhichcheckedhersmileassuddenlyasifhehadbeenanapparition.
　　shegavehimherhand,sayinghastily,"Good-night,Mr.VanBerg;
　　Ithankyou.I——I——donotfeelverywell,"andshepassedswiftlytoasidedooranddisappeared.
　　ChapterXX.AWretchedSecretthatMustbeKept.