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.