"MissBurton,"saidVanBerg,afterdinner,"IwishyouwouldcallonMissMayhew.Ithinksheisgreatlyinneedofalittleofyourinimitabletactandskill.'Awoundedspiritwhocanbear?'Andinsuchanemergency,youarethebestsurgeonIknowof.IthinksomeofuswoundedherdeeplyandunpardonablybycontinuingtoassociateherwithSibley,afterherevealedwhatanunmitigatedrascalhewas.Strongasappearanceswereagainsther,IfeelthatIcannotforgivemyselfthatItookanythingforgrantedinacaselikethat."
　　"Iamglad,"sheanswered,"thatyouhavecometomyownconclusion,thatMissMayhew,withallherfaults,istoogoodagirltobeguiltyofapassionforamanlikeSibley.IfsheregardshiminanysuchwayasIdo,Idonotwonderthatithasmadeherilltobesomisjudged.Imustpleadguiltyalsotohavingwrongedherinmythoughts.WhileItrytoexercisethebroadestcharity,mycalling,asateacher,hasbroughtmeincontactwithmanygirlsthat——throughimmaturityandinnatefoolishness——areguiltyofconductthattaxesone'sfaithinhumannatureseverely.Goodishsortofgirlsaresometimesinfatuatedwithverybadmen.IsupposeitisevidenttoallthatMissMayhew'searlyand,indeed,presentinfluencesaresadlyagainsther;butunfortunateashavebeenherassociationsoflate,Iamcomingtothebeliefthat,howeverfaultyshemaybe,sheisnotnaturallyeithersillyorweak.Butmyacquaintancewithherisveryslight,andImustconfessIdonotunderstandherverywell.Forsomereasonsheshunsmeandhasevidentlydislikedmefromthefirst."
　　"Idon'tunderstandheratall,"saidVanBerg,inatonethatprovedhimgreatlyannoyedwithhimself."IhavethoughtthatI
　　hadsoundedtheshallowdepthsofhercharacterseveraltimes,andthensomenewandperplexingphasewouldpresentitself,andputmealltoseaagain.Itmayseemludicroustoyouthatherbeautyshouldirritatemesogreatlybecauseofitsincongruousassociations."
　　"Notatall,"shereplied,withalittlenod."Iwasnotlongindiscoveringthatyouwereapagan,andthatbeautywasyourdivinity."
　　"Correctinallrespectssavethedivinity,"heansweredpromptly;
　　andhewouldhavesaidmore,butshepassedintotheparloramongtheotherguests.
　　Idafoundherselftooweakandunnervedtowalkfar,butshediscoveredasecludednookintowhichthesunlightstreamedwithagratefulwarmth;foralthoughthedaywaswarm,sheshiveredwithcoldasifthechillinherhearthaddiffuseditselfeventoherhandsandfeet.DenseshrubberyhidherfromthepathalongwhichshesawStantonpassinhisfruitlessquest.
　　Foralongtimeshesatindrearyapathy,almostasmotionlessasthemossyrockbeneathher,andwasconsciousonlyofherthrobbingforeheadandachingheart.Gradually,however,nature'svitaltouchbegantoreviveher.Thesunlightwarmedandtranquilizedtheexquisiteformthathadbeenenteringitsshudderingprotestagainstthechillandcorruptionofthegrave.Thesouthwind,ladenwithfreshwoodlandodors,fannedhercheeks,andwhisperedthattherewereflowersbloomingthatshecouldnotsee,andthatthefuturealsomightrevealjoysnowhiddenandunknown,ifshewouldonlybepatient.Everyrustlingleafthatflutteredinthegale,butdidnotfall,calledtoherwithitstinyvoice:"Clingtoyourplace,aswedo,tillthefrostofageortheblightofdiseasebringstheendinGod'sowntimeandway."Apartridgewithherbroodrustledbyalongtheedgeoftheforest,andthepoorgirlimaginedshesawintheparentbird,assheledforwardherplumplittlebevy,theprideandcomplacencyofahappymotherhood,whichnowwouldneverbehers;andfromthedepthsofherwoman'sheartcamenature'sprotest.Thenherheavyeyeswereattractedbythesportoftwograysquirrelsthatwereracingtothetopofonetree,scramblingdownanother,fallingandcatchingagain,andtumblingovereachotherintheirmadexcitement.Shefeltthat,atherage,theirexuberantlifeandenjoymentshouldbeatypeofherown,buttheirwild,innocentfun,incontrastwithherdespair,becamesounendurablethatshesprangupandfrightenedthemaway.
　　Butaftershewasquiettheysoonreturned,barkingvociferously,andsportingwiththeiroldabandon.Itwasnotlongsincetheyhadleftthenextintheoldhemlocktree,andtheywerestilllikeIda,beforeshehadlearnedthattherewasanythingintheworldthatcouldharmher.Otherwildcreaturesfleworscamperedby,somestoppingtolookatherwiththeirbrightquickeyes,asifwonderingwhyshewassostillandsad.thewoodsseemedfullofjoyousmidsummerlife,andIdasighed:
　　"Innocent,happylittlethings;butiftheyknewwhatwasinmyheart,theywouldbesofrightenedtheycouldscarcelycreepawaytohide."
　　Thenwithasuddenrushofpassionategrief,shecried:
　　"Oh,whycannotIlifeandbehappy,too?"andshesobbedtillshelayexhaustedonthemossyrock.
　　Whethershehadswooned,orfromweaknesshadbecomeunconscious,shedidnotknow,when,considerablylater,sherousedherselffromwhatseemedlikeaheavyandunrefreshingsleep.Herdresswasdampwithdew,thesunhadsunksolowastofilltheforestwithasombreshade;thehappylifethathadsportedaroundherwashushedandhidden,andthewindnowsighedmournfullythroughthetrees.Gloomanddarkeningshadowshadtakentheplaceofthelightandjoyousnessshefirsthadseen.Inthefaceandvoicesofnature,asinthoseofearthlyfriends,thechangesareoftensogreatthatwearetemptedtoaskindismay,arethey——cantheybethesame?
　　Shewasstiffandcoldassherosefromherrockycouch,butshewearilyturnedherfacetowardsthehotel,muttering,assheploddedheavilyalong,"Thelittlepeopleofthewoodsarehappywhiletheycanbe,asI
　　was,butthesportsman'sgun,orthehawk,orwinter'scold,willsoonbringtothembitterpain,anddeath.theirbriefdaywillsoonbeover,asmineis."
　　"Ah,thesunissinkingbehindthatcloud,"shesaid,inalowtone,asshecameoutintotheopenfields."Ishallnotseeitagain;
　　itwillnotbeabletowarmmeto-morrow;"andwithaslightgestureoffarewell,shecontinuedonherwaywithbowedhead.
　　ChapterXXXVIII.AGoodManSpeaks.
　　AsIdaapproachedthehotel,VanBergandStantonsawher,andthelatterhasteneddownthestepstojoinher.
　　"Why,Ida!"heexclaimed,"wherehaveyoubeen?I'vesearchedforyouhighandlow."
　　"Youhadnorighttodoso,sir,"shesaidcoldly,asshepassedon.
　　"Waitamoment,Ida,please.Iwishtospeakwithyou——toaskyourpardon——toapologizeinthestrongestterms."
　　Shewouldnotbreakagainherominoussilence,butcontinuedonwithbowedhead,upthesteps,andthroughthehall.Stanton,tosaveappearancesbeforetheguestswhowerenear,walkedatherside,buthermannerchilledandembarrassedhimsogreatly,thatonlyasshewasabouttoenterherroomdidheagainaddressher,andnowentreatingly:
　　"Ida,won'tyouspeaktome?"
　　"No!"washerstern,briefresponse;andshelockedherdooragainsthim.
　　"Van,"saidStantongloomily,"I'dgiveayear'sincomeifIhadnotspokentomycousinasIdidlastnight.She'llneverforgiveme.Itseemsasifmywordshadturnedherintoice,sheissocoldandcalm;andyethereyeswereredwithweeping.Ihavestrangemisgivingsaboutthegirl."
　　"Yes,Ik,"saidtheartist,gloomily,"wehavebothmadeanunpardonableblunder.IfMissBurtoncannotthawherout,Ishallnotdaretotry."
　　"Withherusualperversity,"repliedStanton,"shedislikesMissBurton,andIdoubtifshewilllistentoher."
　　"Ihavegreatfaithinhertactandgenuinegoodwill.ItwaswonderfulhowquicklyshebroughtMr.Mayhewunderhergenialspells.Shehaspromisedtoseeyourcousinthisevening."
　　"I'msorry,"saidStanton,gloomily,"thatitshouldhavebeenatyourrequestratherthanmine.ButIsupposeyourwishesarebecomingomnipotentwithher."
　　"No,Ik;Iregrettosaythattheyweighwithheronlyasthoseofafriend,"wasVanBerg'squietresponse.
　　"Well,well,Van,bearwithme,forI'minadevilofascrape."
　　EvenMissBurton'seffortscouldnotbrightenthecloudedfacesthatgatheredatthesupper-table.Intruth,herattemptswerebriefandfitful,forsheseemedabsorbedinthoughtherself.SheheardMrs.MayhewwhispertoStanton,"IfIwereaperfectstrangershecouldnotkeepmeatagreaterdistance.Icandonothingwithherorforher."
　　Totheirsurprise,Idaquietlywalkedinandtookherplace.Herfacewasverygraveandverypale;thetracesofhergriefwerestillapparent,andtheycausedinVanBergtheseverestcompunction.
　　Shewasnowdressedrichly,butplainlyandunobtrusively.Hermannerwasquietandself-possessed,buttherewasanexpressionofdesperatetroubleinhereyesthatsoonfilledVanBergwithastrongandincreasinguneasiness.Shereturnedhisbowpolitely,butdistantly.PoorStantonscarcelydaredtolooktowardsher.Atsupper,onthepreviousevening,hehadtakennopainstoconcealhiscontemptanddispleasure;nowhewasunabletohidhisembarrassmentandfear.Asintheparloronthepreviouseveningsonowagain,therewasanelementinIdaMayhew'sappearanceorinherselfthatcauseddeepdisquietude.
　　"I'mveryglad,Ida,you'vechangedyourmindandcomedown,"beganMrs.Mayhew,volubly.
　　"Ihavenotchangedmymind,"shereplied,withsuchsad,sternemphasisthattheyallinvoluntarilylookedatherforamoment.
　　PoorMrs.Mayhewwassoquenchedanddepressedthatshedidnotventuretospeakagain.
　　OnlyMissBurtonwasabletomaintainherself-possessionandtact,andshewasintentlybutunobtrusivelystudyingMissMayhew.Hercollege-lifehadmadeheracquaintedwithsomanystrangefeminineproblemsthatshehadthenerveandexperienceofaveteran,butshecouldnotpenetratethedarkmysteryinwhichIdahadnowshroudedherself.Resolving,however,thatshewouldnotsuccumbtothechillandrestraintthatparalyzedtheothers,shepersistedinconversingwithherinsimple,naturaltones.
　　Idarepliedinperfectcourtesyandnotwithunnecessarybrevity,butifherwordswerepolished,theywerealsoascoldandhardasice.NothingthatMissBurtonsaidcouldbringtheglimmerofasmileathwartherfeaturesthatweregrowingsothinandtransparentthatevenanapproachtoapleasantthoughtwouldhavelightedthemupwithamomentarygleam.MissBurtonfoundhertaskadifficultone.
　　"Sheaffectedmeasstrangely,"sheafterwardssaidtoVanBerg,"asifadeadmaidenweresittingatmyside,whohadstill,bysomehorriblemystery,thepowerofspeech."
　　AsforVanBerg,hehadhithertosupposedthathisquiet,well-bredeasewouldbeequaltoeverysocialemergency,buthenowfoundhimselftongue-tiedandembarrassedtothelastdegree.Hecouldnotspeaktothewomanwhomhefelthehadsodeeplywrongedinhisthoughtsandmanner,andwhowasalsowellawareofthefact.
　　Hefeltthathehadnorighttospeaktoheruntilhehadfirstaskedandsecuredherforgiveness.Thiscouldnotbedoneinpublic,andhegreatlydoubtedwhethersheeverwouldpardonhim.
　　Asachivalricmanofhonor,hewasoverwhelmedwithasenseoftheinsulthehadunwittinglyofferedtothemaidenoppositehim,whonowappearedasifmortallywounded.BeyondafewforcedremarkstoStantonandMissBurton,hemadeashowofeatinghissupperinsilence.Buthelongedtoescapefromhispresentordeal,andresolvedtoleavethetableassoonasappearancespermitted.
　　OnethinginIda'smannerperplexedhimgreatly.Shenowlookedathimasifhewereanobject,scruplingnottomeethiseyewithherstrange,unwaveringgaze.Therewasnothingofthehaughtyindifferencewhichshehadmanifestedtheeveningbeforeinheroccasionalglances.Sheratherlookedasonewhoistryingtofixanobjectinhismemorythathemaycarryanaccuratepictureofitawaywithhim.
　　Thethoughtcrossedhismindmorethanonce,"WehavewakenedourUndine'ssleepingmindwithavengeance,buthavejostleditsorudelythatIfearthefrailarticleishopelesslyshattered."
　　MissBurtontriedoncemoretomaketheconversationgeneral,buthereffortendedratherdisastrously.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"shesaid,"I'vebeenreadinganessaythisafternooninwhichthewritertriestoprovethatsciencehasdonemoreforhumanitythanartandreligioncombined.NowIsupposeyouwouldbeinclinedtotakethesamegroundinregardtoartthatIoughtinrespecttoreligion."
　　VanBergwasabouttoreply,whenhisattentionwascaughtbyavividgleaminthefaceofIda,wholookedupasifshewishedtospeak.
　　"IthinkMissMayhewhasanopiniononthissubject,"hesaid,withabow.
　　Shelookedsteadilyathimassherepliedpromptly,"Ihaveadecidedopinion,thoughIbaseitonsuchpoorandnarrowgroundsaspersonalexperience.Ithinkartisbyfarthemostpotent.
　　Ithasaccomplishedformemuchmorethanscienceorreligioneverdid,orcould."
　　"Whathasitdoneforyou,MissMayhew?"heasked,dreadingtheanswer.
　　"Ithasfilledmewithdespair,"sherepliedwithaglanceandtonewhichheneverafterwardsforgot.Then,withthesamecold,quietmannerinwhichshehadcome,sheleftthetable.
　　VanBergturnedverypale,forheatonceunderstoodherreferencetotheemblematicrose-budhehadthrownaway,andhisremark,"Artcantoleratenosuchimperfection."
　　Herwordsandmannerhopelesslyperplexedtheothers,butVanBergbelievedhehadfoundlightontheproblemthathadhithertobaffledhim,butsofarfrombeingreassured,hehadneverbeenatsuchbitteroddswithhimselfbefore.
　　Healsosoonafterleftthetable,hopingtofindanopportunitytoexpresshisregretthathehadbeensoharshbyprejudice;butMissMayhewwasnottobefound.
　　"Canitbe,"hethought,ashestrodeoffintotheshrubbery,"thatIhavebeenblindtotheveryeffectsthatIhopedtocause?Canitbethatshehasbeenmadetofeelherimperfectionsokeenly,andinsuchawayastocreateonlyutterdiscouragement?Sheevidentlyunderstandstheworm-eatenrose-budItossedawaytobetheemblemofherself.Oh,thecurseofPhariseeism——the'holierthanthou'business,whateverformittakes.Ithasmadeanegregiousfoolofme."
　　"ButherrelationswithSibley,confounditall!Ican'tunderstandthem.Whydidsheassociatewithhimsoconstantly,andthensay,'Congenialsociety,ornoneatall'?Seemstomesheoughttohaveseenwhathewasbeforeheshowedhisclovenfeetsoplainly.
　　Well,perhapsthemostrationalaswellascharitableexplanationisthathereyeswereopenedtoseehiminhistruecolors,aswellasherself.HadTitania'seyesbeendisenchantedwhenshewasfondlingtheimmortalWeaver,shemighthaveperishedwithdisgust;
　　anditisscarcelystrangethatMissMayhewshouldbeillonfindingthatshewasinfatuatedwithamanwhowasbothassandvillain.
　　Sheevidentlyseesthingsnowastheyare,andsincehervisionhasbecomesogood,IamverysorryIdonotappeartobetteradvantage.
　　Peoplewhostalkalongthroughlifewithelevatednoses,arenotpleasingoredifyingspectacles."
　　Hisdisquietudesooncausedhimtoreturntothehotel,inhopesofseeingtheobjectofhisthoughts.
　　HehadhardlyreachedthepiazzabeforeIdaappeared,dressedinaplainwalkingsuit.Shehesitatedamomentinthedoor-wayasifundecidedinhercourse.Apartyofgayyoungpeoplewerejuststartingonastrolltoaneighboringvillage.Withapparenthesitancy,shesaidtooneoftheyounggirls:
　　"Ihaveanerrandtothevillage;mayIwalkwithyouforcompany?"
　　"Oh,certainly,"repliedthegirl,butevidentlynotwelcomingthisadditiontotheirparty,andIdawentawaywiththem,butnotasoneofthem,isolatedmore,however,byherownmannerthanbythebearingofhercompanions.
　　Theexplanationofheractionwasthis:onopeningherdrawerafterreturningtoherroom,shefound,withasenseofdismay——asifamisfortunehadoccurredinsteadofanincidentthatgaveachanceforbetterthought——thatintakingtheopiatethenightbefore,shehadreplacedthecorkinthephialinsecurely,andthatnearlyallitscontentshadoozedaway.Somemighthaveregardedthisincidentasanomenoraprovidentialinterference;butIdawasneithersuperstitiousnorspeculativeinhernature;shewaspositiveandwillful,rather,andthecurrentofherpurposesalwaysflowedstrongly,thoughitmightbeinnarrowchannels.
　　"Thereisnothingleftformetodo,"shemuttered,"butgotothevillage.Idon'tknowwhetherMr.Burleighhaslaudanum,andmyaskingforitmightexcitesuspicion."
　　Itwasterribletoseeherfairyoungfacegrowhardlikemarbleinhersterndeterminationtocarryoutherawfuldesign,andtheimpressofthisremorselesspurposefilledVanBergwithsogreatforebodingthathecouldnotresisttheimpulsetofollowthedesperategirl.Ifharmshouldcometoherthroughtheharshnessofothers,andashenowfeared,moreespeciallyhisown,hewouldneverforgivehimself.
　　Mrs.MayhewandStantondidnotseeherdeparture——theywereinanxiousconsultationinoneofthesmallprivateparlors,andtheartist,todisarmsuspicionofhisdesign,enteredthehotel,andpassedoutagainbyasidedoor,fromwhichhetookashort-cutacrossthefieldintendingtowatchIda,withoutbeinghimselfobserved.
　　Havingfoundsomedensecopse-woodbytheroad-side,andneartothevillage,hesatdownandwaited.Thegay,chatteringpartysoonpassed,Idawalkingbyherselfontheoppositesideoftheroad,withheadbowedasifwhollywrappedinherownthoughts.Herunhappyfaceappealedtohissympathyevenmorethanhergracefulcarriagetohissenseofbeauty,andhelongedtojoinherandmakesuchamendsaswerepossible.
　　Henowfollowedattoogreatadistanceforrecognitioninthedeepeningtwilight,andsawtheyoungpeopleenteraconfectioneryshop,butobserved,withincreaseduneasiness,thatMissMayhewpartedfromthemandwenttoanadjacentdrug-store.Shesoonjoinedthepartyagain,however,andtheyallapparentlystartedhomeward.
　　VanBergatoncedeterminedtogotothisdrug-storeandlearn,ifpossible,iftherewereanythingtoconfirmthehorriblesuspicionthatcrossedhismind.Herememberedthatdespairanddesperatedeedsoftenwenttogether,andthedailypresshadtaughthimhowmanypeople,withwarpedandungovernedmoralnatures,placetheirtroublesbeyondremedybythesupremefollyofself-destruction.
　　Byaconsiderabledetourthroughasidestreet,hereachedthestoreunperceived,andfoundthedruggistratherdisquietedhimself.
　　"AreyoustayingatBurleigh's?"heasked.
　　"Iam,"VanBergreplied.
　　"Doyouknowayoungladyboardingtherewithlargedarkeyesandauburnhair?"
　　"Ido."
　　"Isthere——isthereanythingwrongabouther?"
　　"Whyshouldtherebe?Whydoyouask?"
　　"Shehasjustbeeninhere,andshelookedsickandstrangely,andallshewantedwasalargephialoflaudanum.Somehowherlooksandpurchasehavemademeuneasy.Ineversawsowhiteafaceinmylife,andsheseemedweakandverytired.Ifshe'ssick,howcomesitshe'swalkingtothevillage?Besides,sheseemedtohaveverylittletodowiththepartyshejoinedafterleavinghere."
　　VanBergcontrolledhimselfonlybyapowerfuleffort,andwasverygladthatthebrimofhissofthatconcealedthepallorofhisownface.Hemanagedtosayquietly:
　　"Theyoungladyyoudescribehasnotbeenwell,andhasprobablyfoundthewalklongerandmorewearisomethanshesupposed.Asforthelaudanum,that'susedinmanyways.Somecigars,ifyouplease——thankyou.I'lljointheladyandseethatshereacheshomesafely,"andhehastilyleftthestoreandwalkedswiftlyaway.
　　"Hewouldn'tgoasfastasthatifhewasn'talittleuneasy,too,"
　　mutteredthedruggist,whosedearthofbusinessgavehimabundantleisuretoseeallthatwasgoingon,andtoimaginemuchmore.
　　VanBergdeterminedtoovertakeIdabeforeshereachedthehotel,andhisstrideswereaslongandswiftasmortaldreadcouldmakethem.
　　Inthemeantime,whiletheartistwasmakingthedetournecessarytoreachthedrug-storewithoutmeetingIda,sheandhercompanionshadstartedhomeward.Astheyapproachedachurchontheoutskirtsofthevillage,thebellinthesteeplecommencedtolling.
　　"What'sthatfor?"askedayoungmanofthepartyofaplain,farmer-likeappearingman,whowasjustabouttoenter.
　　"Forprayer-meetin',"wasthegood-naturedreply."Itwouldn'thurtyoutocometoit;"andthespeakerpassedintothelecture-room.
　　"Icallthisfrivolousassemblagetoorder,"criedtheyouth,turningaroundtohiscompanions."Ifanyoneofournumberhaseverattendedaprayer-meeting,lethimholduphisrighthand.
　　Iusethemasculinepronoun,becausethemanalwaysembracesthewoman——whenhegetsachance."
　　Nohandswereheldup.
　　"Heathen,everymother'ssonofus,"criedthefirstspeaker.
　　"Thedaughtersareangels,ofcourse,anddon'tneedtogotoprayer-meetin',asheofthecowhidesandalsjusttermedit.Butforthenoveltyofthething,andforthewantofsomethingbettertodo,Imovethatweallgoto-night.Ifitshouldbeborous,why,wecancomeout."
　　Thepropositionpleasedthefancyoftheparty,andwithgaywordsandlaughterthatscarcelyceasedatthevestibule,theyenteredtheplaceofprayerandlighteddownamongthesober-visaged,soberly-dressedworshipperslikeaflockoftropicalbirds.
　　Idareluctantlyfollowedthem.Atfirstshehalfdecidedtowalkhomealone,butfearedtodoso.Shewhohadresolvedonfacingthe"KingofTerrors"shrank,withawoman'sinstinct,fromalonelywalkinthestarlight.
　　Shesatindrearypreoccupationalittleapartfromtheothersandpaidnomoreheedtotheopeningservicesthantotheirill-concealedmerriment.
　　theministerwasawayonhisAugustvacation.Prayer-meetingswereoutofseason,andveryfewwerepresent.Theplainfarmerwastryingtoconducttheserviceaswellashecould,butitwasevidenthewouldhavebeenmuchmoreateaseholdingthehandleofaploworthereinsofhisrattlingteam,thanahymn-book.Dr.
　　WattsandJohnWesleymighthavelostsomeoftheirheavenlyserenitycouldtheyhaveheardhimreadtheirverses,andcertainlyonlyalong-sufferingandmercifulGodcouldlistentohisprayer.Andyetrarelyonthebattle-fieldistheremoremoralcouragedisplayedthanplainThomasSmithputforththatnightinhisconscientiousefforttoperformanunwontedtask;andwhenatlasthesatdownandsaid,"Bruthren,themeetin'isnowopen,"hewasmoreexhaustedthanhethanhewouldhavebeenfromalongdayoftoil.
　　"TheLordlookethattheheart"isatruththatchillsmanywithdread,butitwasapreciousthoughttoFarmerSmithashesawthathisfellowchurchmembersdidnotlookveryappreciative,andthatthegayyoungcity-peopleoftengiggledoutrightathisuncouthwordsandmanner.
　　Idawouldhavebeenasgreatlyamusedasanyofthemafewweekssince,butnowshescarcelyheardthepoorman'sstumblings,orthewailingofthehymnsthatweremangledanewbythepeople.Shesatwithhereyesfixedonvacancy,thinkinghowdrearyandemptytheworldhadbecome;anditseemedtoherthatreligionwasthemostdrearyandemptythinginit.
　　"Whatgoodcanthiswretchedlittlemeetingdoanyone?"shethought,morethanonce.
　　Shewasanswered.
　　Nearherwasaveryoldmanwhohadbeenregardingtheill-behavedpartywithanexpressionofmingleddispleasureandpity.Nowthatthemeetingwasopentoallheroseslowlytohisfeet,steadyinghimselfwithhiscane.
　　"HelooksliketheAncientMariner,"giggledanexceedinglyimmatureyouth,whosatnexttoIda.
　　Sheturneduponhimsharplyandsaid,inalowtone,"Ifyouhavethefaintestinstinctsofagentlemanyouwillrespectthatvenerableman."
　　Theyouthwassoeffectuallyquenchedthatheboretheaspectofaturnip-beetduringtheremainderoftheservice.
　　"Myyoungfriends,"begantheoldmainintonesofgentledignity,"willyoulistenpatientlyandquietlytoonethatyouseewillnothavethechancetospeakmanymorewords.Myeyesarealittledim,butyouallappearyoungandhappy;andyetIamsorryforyou,verysorryforyou.Youdon'trealizewhatyouareandwhatisbeforeyou.Youremindmeofanumberofpleasureboatsjuststartingouttosea.Ihavebeenacrossthisocean,andhavealmostreachedtheothershore.Iknowwhatterriblestormsanddangersyouwillmeet.Youcan'tescapethesestorms,myyoungfriends.
　　Noonecan,andyoudon'tseempreparedtomeetthem.
　　"Yourmannerhaspainedmeverymuch,andyet,asmyMastersaid,soIhavefelt,you'knownotwhatyoudo.'ThereisaKinglyPresenceinthisplacethatyouhavenotrecognized.Doyounotrememberwhoitwasthatsaid,'Wheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmyname,thereamIinthemidstofthem'?
　　"Iamveryold,butmymemoryisgood.ItseemsbutashorttimeagothatIwasasyoungthoughtlessasanyoneofyou,andyetitwasseventyyearsago.IhavetestedthefriendshipofJesusChristforoverhalfacentury.HaveInotthenarighttospeakofit?
　　OughtInottoknowsomethingabouthim?
　　"DoyouaskmeifmyMasterhaskeptmefromtroubleandsufferingalltheseyears?Farfromit.Indeed,IthinkhehascausedmeagooddealoftroubleandpaininadditiontothatwhichIbroughtonmyselfbymyownfollyandmistakes;butInowseethathecauseditonlyasthegoodphysiciangivespain,inordertomakethepatientstrongandwell.Butonethingiscertainlytrue.Hehasstoodbymeasafaithfulfriendalltheseyears,andhasbroughtgoodtomeoutofalltheevil.Ihavebeeninsoretemptationsanddeepdiscouragement.Myheartattimeshasseemedbreakingwithsorrow.Minehasbeenthecommonlot.Butwhenthestormwasloudestandmostterrible,hishandwasonthehelm,andnowIamenteringthequietharbor.Therehasbeenmuchthatwasdarkandhardtounderstand;thereismuchstill;butthereisplentytoprovethatmyHeavenlyFatherisleadingmehomeasalittlechild.
　　"Itisaprecious,blessedtruththatIwishtobringyoufacttofacewithto-night,andyetitmaybecomeaverysadandterribletruth,ifyoushutyoureyestoitnowandrememberitonlywhenitistoolate.Iwishtoassureyou,onthegroundofsimple,down-rightexperience,throughalltheseyears,thatGod's'unspeakablegift,'hisonlySon,isjustwhatourpoorhumannatureneeds.
　　JesusChrist'isabletosavethemottheuttermostthatcometoGodbyhim.'Hehelpsusovercomethatawfuldisease——sin.Hebringstoourunhappyheartsimmortallifeandhealth.IknowitasIknowthatIexist.Hehashelpedmewhenandwheretherewasnohumanhelp.Ihaveoftenseenhisredeemingworkinthelivesofotherfaulty,sinfulpeoplelikemyself.
　　"Thequestionthereforewhichyoumusteachdecideisnotwhetheryouwillbelievethisorthatdoctrine,ordowhatthisorthatmanteaches.Thequestionisthis:——Hereisatender,merciful,DivineFriend.Heofferstoleadyousafelythroughallthedangersandhardplacesinthisworld,asashepherdleadshisflockthroughthewilderness.Willyoufollowhim,orwillyouremaininthewildernessandperishwhenthenightcomes,asitsurelywill?Ifyouwillfollowhimaswellasyoucan,he'llbringyoutoahappyandeternalhome.Thankstohispatientkindnesswhichneverfalters,hehasbroughmealmostthere.
　　"Andnow,myyoungfriends,beatwithanoldman,andletmesay,inconclusion,thatyouallneedthekind,patient,faithfulFriendthatIfoundsolongago.Noevil,nomisfortunecancomeintoanyhumanlifethatisbeyondhispowertoremedyandfinallybanishforever.IyouhavenotfoundthisFriend,thisLife-giver,Iamyoungerandhappierthanyouareto-day,althoughIameighty-eightyearsold."
　　Oncebeforearash,despairingmanliftedhishandagainsthislife,butGod'smessagetohim,throughhisapostle,was,"Dothyselfnoharm."Andnowagainafaithfulservant,speakingforhimwhosecomingwasGod'ssupremeexpressionofgood-willtowardsmen,hadbroughtalikemercifulmessagetoanotherpoorsoulthathadtakencounselofdespair.IdaMayhewmightlearn,asdidthejailerofPhilippi,thatGodhasabetterremedythandeathforseeminglyirretrievabledisasters.
　　Theoldgentleman'swordscamehometoherwithsuchaforceofpersonalapplicationthatshewasdeeplymoved,andevenawed.
　　Theyseemedlikeadivinemessage——naymore,likearestraininghand."Howstrangeitwas,"shethought,thatshehadcometothisplace!——howstrangethatasereneold,man,withheaven'speacealreadyonhisbrow,shouldhaveutteredthewordsbestadaptedtoherdesperateneed.Ifhehadspokenofduty,obligation,oftruthintheabstract,histoneswouldhavebeenlikethesoundofawintrywind.ButhehadspokenofaFriend,astender,patient,andhelpfulashewaspowerful.Whatwasfarmore,hespokewiththestrongconvincingconfidenceofpersonalknowledge.HehadtriedthisFriendthroughallthevicissitudesofoverhalfacentury,andfoundhimtrue.Couldhumanassurance——couldhumantestimonygofarther?Deepinherheartshewasconsciousthathopewasrevivingagain——thattheendhadnotyetcome.