Butthemaidenherself——whydidhiseyesturnsooftentoher,andwhydidhe,unasked,introduceherintothesketchwithacareandlingeringdelicacyoftouchthatmadeevenherpencilledimageseemalivinggirl?Whennotaffectedorrenderedconventionalbysociety,hervoicewassingularlygirlishandnatural,andtherewouldoftenbeatoneinaplaintiveandminorkeythatvibratedlikealow,sweetchordinhisheartratherthaninhisears.Itmustbeadmittedthathegavelittleheedtothesacredwordssheread;buttheflexiblemusicofhervoice,mingledwiththemurmurofthebrook,therustleoftheleavesandtheoccasionalsongofabird,allcombinedtoformthesweetestsymphonyhehadeverheard.
　　Asanartistheexulted.Hishandhadnotlostitscunning,andhisrulingpassion,whichthestrangeexperiencesofthepastfewweekshadheldinabeyance,wasreassertingitselfwithafuller,richerpowerthanhehadknownbefore.ThatWASIdaMayhew'sfacethatwasgrowingbeautifulandfullofhernewandbetterlifeunderhisappreciativeandskilfultouch,andtheconsciousnessofsuccessinthekindofeffortinwhichsuccessmeanttohimsomuch,filledhimwithastrongenthusiasm.
　　OnceortwiceIdaglancedshylyathim,andhisappearancedidnottendtofixherthoughtswhollyonthesacredtext.
　　AtlastMr.Eltingesaid:"Thatwilldoforto-day.Ithink,underthecircumstances,youhavegivenmostpraiseworthyattentiontowhatyouhaveread,andtowhatlittleIcouldsayinthewayofexplanation.Nowforthepicture,andIconfessI'maseagerasachildtoseeit;"andtheycameandlookedoverVanBerg'sshoulder.
　　AlmostinstantlyIdaclappedherhands,exclaimingwithdelight:
　　"Thetreeisperfect,andoh,Mr.Eltinge,Ishallalwayshaveyounow,withyourdearkindfaceturnedtowardsmeasIhaveseenitto-day!"Suddenlyhermannerchanged,andinatonefullofdisappointmentsheadded,"Oh,Mr.VanBerg,howcouldyouspoilmypicture?Youhaveputmeinit."
　　"Certainly,"hereplieddemurely,"youwereapartofthepicture."
　　"Notanecessarypart.Ididnotaskyoutodothat,"sheanswered,inawaythatprovedherfeelingswerehurt.
　　"Iamwillingtodomorethanyouask,andifyouinsistonitI
　　willeffaceyourimage,althoughIshouldmuchregrettodoso."
　　"Iprotestagainstthat,"criedMr.Eltinge."Sofarfromspoilingthepicture,yourbeingtheremakesitinvaluabletome.I'mgoingtotaxMr.VanBerg'sgenerosity,andaskforthisinthehopethathewillmakeanotherdrawingoftheoldmanandthetreeonly,foryou."
　　"Wouldyouliketohaveitsoverymuch?"saidIda,muchpleasedwiththisarrangement.
　　"Yes,mydear,verymuchindeed,andI'llplaceitnearmyfavoritechimneycorner,whereIcanseeyouallwinter.Mr.VanBerg,Icongratulateyou;I'mnotmuchofajudgeofart,butthisismylittlefriendhere,truetolife.YouhavebeenveryhappyincatchingtheexpressionwhichIamlearningtoknowsowell."
　　"Yourwordshaveafullermeaningthanyouthink,"repliedtheartist,heartily."Ihaveindeedbeenveryhappyinmywork.I
　　neverenjoyedamorningmoreinmylife."
　　"ButI'mtogohomewithoutanypicture,"saidIda,tryingtohideherpleasurebyassumedreproachfulness.
　　"Thereisnopictureyet,foranyone,"heanswered,"thisisonlyasketchfromwhichIshalltrytomaketwopicturesthatwillsuggestasceneparticularlyattractivetooneofmycalling,tosaytheleast."
　　Asheplacedthesketchinhisbook,theworkhehadbeenengagedonthatmorningwhenIdamethimbytheroadside,droppedout,andshesawherselfleaningonthebalusterrailofthestaircase,withherhandhalfextendedasatokenofforgivenessandreconciliation.
　　Hercheeksflushedinstantly,butshewasabletoremarkquietly:
　　"Isupposethatisthewayyouartistskeepamemorandumofcurrentevents."
　　Herepliedgravely,butwithsomeansweringcoloralso:"Yes,MissMayhew,whenthecurrentisdeepandstrong."
　　VanBergfelthimselfhappyinsecuringfromMr.Eltingeaninvitationtocomeagain.Astheywereridinghome,Idaremarked,shyly:
　　"Ididnotknowyoucoulddrawsowell."
　　"NordidIeitherbefore.Thatoldgardenisenchantedground."
　　"Yes,"saidIda,"poorEvewasdrivenoutoftheGardenofEden,butIfeelasifIhadfoundmywayintoit.IonlywishIcouldstaythere,"andhersighwaslonganddeep.
　　"Doestheworldoutsideseemveryfullofthornsandthistles?"heasked,kindly.
　　Afteramomentshereplied,simplyandbriefly,"Yes."
　　Helookedathersympatheticallyforamoment,andthensaidearnestly:
　　"MissIda,pardonmeifIventureaprediction.Whereveryoudwell,hereafter,allthatisgoodandbeautifulinlifeandcharacterwhichthegardentypifieswillbegintotaketheplaceofthornsandthistles."
　　"Ihopeso,"shefaltered,"butthatinvolvesbleedinghands,Mr.
　　VanBerg.Iamnotcastinheroicmould.Iamweakandwavering,andasaproofIamdwellingontheverysubjectthatIhadforbidden.
　　Itrustthatyouwillbetoomanlytotakeadvantageofmyweaknesshenceforthandwilltrytohelpmeforgetmyself."
　　"Thatmaybeahardertaskthanyouthink,butIwillattemptwhateveryouask,"andfromherpleasedandinterestedexpressionitwouldseemthatduringthenexthalfhourhesucceededremarkablywell.Suddenly,asifahappythoughthadstruckhim,hesaidalittleabruptly:
　　"IforeseethatyouandMissBurtonaredestinedtobecomegreatfriends.Youhavenotyetlearnedwhatalovelycharactershepossessesandhowbroadanddeeparehersympathies."
　　Ida'ssilencecausedhimtoturnandlookather,andhesawthatthelightandcolorhadfadedfromherface,butshesaid,emphatically:
　　"MissBurtonisevenmoreadmirablethanyouthinkhertobe,ifthatwerepossible."
　　"Iampleasedtohearoneladyspeaksostronglyandgenerouslyofanother.Itisnotusual.Ishalldomyutmosttomakeyoubetteracquaintedwitheachother,andinthispleasanttaskamsureI
　　shallrenderyouaverygreatservice."
　　"Mr.VanBerg,Ibegyouwillnot,"sheexclaimed,hastily,andhesawwithsurprisethatsheappearedpainfullyembarrassed.
　　"Pardonme,MissMayhew,"hesaid;"Ididnotmeantobeofficious."
　　Idasawnowayofextricatingherselfsavebypromptlychangingthesubject,andthisshedid;butshecouldnotfailtoobservethathercompanionwashurtbyherapparentunfriendlinesstowardsoneonwhomhebelievedhehadbestowedthebestamancouldgive.Theremainderofthedrivewasnotenjoyedbyeitherofthemastheearlierparthadbeen,andsomethinglikeconstrainttingedthemannerandwordsofboth.
　　AstheydroveuptothehotelStantongavealowwhistleofsurprise,butwasinnomoodforhisold-timebanter.
　　ChapterXLV.ProblemsBeyondArt.
　　WhenVanBergleftthegardenhethoughthehadlearnedtounderstandIdaalmostasclearlyashesawthepebblybedofthelittlebrookthroughthelimpidcurrentthatflowedoverit,andyetwithinabriefhalf-houranotherbafflingmysteryhadarisen.WhydidshedislikeJennieBurton?WhysheHADdislikedherwasplain,butitseemedtofollowinevitablythatonewhocouldloveoldMr.Eltingemustalsofindacongenialfriendinthewomanhesogreatlyadmired.
　　Astheremainderofthedaypassed,thisnewclouddarkenedandseemedtoshadowevenhimself.Whilehecoulddetectnoflawinhercourtesy,hecouldnothelpfeelingthatshemadeaconsciousefforttoavoidthemboth.Atdinnersheconversedchieflywithhercousin.VanBerg'seyeswouldwanderoftentoherface,butsheneverlookedtowardshimunlesshespoketoher.WhenheorMissBurtonaddressedhertherewasnotatraceofcoldnessinhermannerofresponding;asuperficialobserverwouldmerelythinktheywerepeopleinwhomshewasnotespeciallyinterested.
　　"Poorchild,"thoughtJennieBurton,"sheactsherpartwell,"andshepuzzledtheartiststillfurtherbytakinglessnoticeofIdathanusual.
　　"ButwhenIthinkofit,"hemused,"it'sjustlikemyuniquelittlefriend.Onlythoseintroubleinteresther,andMissMayhewisonastraightroadtohappinessnow,shebelieves,althoughtheyoungladyherselfseemstodreadaworldfullofthornsandthistles,andherfatherandmother,atleast,willinsureanabundanceofbothinherownhome.ButherrepulsionfromMissBurton,theveryonetowardswhomIsupposedshewouldbeattractedinhernewlife,iswhatperplexesmemost.Iimagineallwomenaremysterieswhenyoucometoscrutinizetheirmotivesandimpulsesclosely.Thetwowhohaveoccupiedmythoughtsthissummercertainlyare,andI'llsticktopaintingifIevergetoutofthismuddle."
　　AfterdinnerhefoundachancetoaskStantonifMr.Mayhewwasexpectedthatevening.
　　"Yes,"wasthereply."InmemoryoflastSundayhewrotehewouldnotcome,butIdasentatelegramaskinghimtobeherewithoutfail.Itookitovertothestationforher,andmadesurethatmyunclereceivedit.Shewillpuzzlehimmorethanshehastherestofus,Isuppose,andIamquitecurioustoseetheresult."
　　Theartistmadenoreply,butwenttohisroomandtriedtoworkonhispictures.Hewasmorethancurious——hewasdeeplyinterested,butfeltthathewastrenchingondelicateground.Therelationsbetweenthefatheranddaughterweretoosacred,hebelieved,forevensympatheticobservationonhispart.
　　Hesoonthrewasidehiswork.Theinspirationofthemorningwasallgone,andinitsplacehadcomeanunaccountabledissatisfactionwithhimselfandtheworldingeneral.Hehadleftthegardenwithasenseofexhilarationthatmadelifeappearbeautifulandfullofrichestpromise.Hehadbeensavedfromdisasterthatwouldhavebeencrushing;hisobjectincomingtothecountryhadbeenaccomplished,andtheUndinehediscoveredHADreceivedawoman'ssoulthatwasblendingtheperfectbutdiscordantfeaturesintoanexquisitelybeautifulface.Theresult,certainly,hadnotbeenbroughtaboutasheexpected,norinawaytendingtoincreasehisself-complacency,buthefeltthathewouldbeabroaderandbettermanfortheordealthroughwhichhehadpassed.HealsorealizedthatthechangesinIdawerenotthesuperficialoneshehadcontemplated.hehadregardedherfaceandcharacteraslittlebetterthanapieceofcanvasonwhichtherewasalreadyadrawingofgreatpromise,butverydefective.Byerasureshereandskillfultouchestherehehadhopedtoassistnatureincarryingoutherevidentintentions.Thetragedythatwell-nighresultedtaughthimthathumanlivesaredangerousplaythings,andthatquackeryinattemptingspiritualreforminvolvedmoreperilthanignorantinterferencewithphysicallaws.
　　Andyetthatmorninghadprovedthatthedesiredchangehadbeenaccomplished,evenmorethoroughlythanhehadhoped.Thedangerousperiodoftransitionhadbeensafelypassed,andthebeautifulfaceexpressedthatwhichwasmorethanwomanlyrefinement,thoughtandculture.Theseelementswoulddevelopwithtime.Butthecountenanceonwhichhehadseentheimpressofvanity,pride,andinsincerity,andlaterthedespairofawrongedanddesperatewoman,hadgrownopenandchildlikeagainasshetoldhimherstoryandreadtoMr.Eltinge;andinit,asthroughacleartransparency,hehadwitnessedthekindlinglightoftheChristianfaithhismotherhadtaughthimtorespectatleast,longyearsbefore.
　　HehadleftthegardenwiththebeliefthathehadsecuredthefriendshipofthisrareUndine,andthatshewouldbringtohisartaninspirationlikethatofwhichhewassograndlyconsciouswhilemakingthepictureinwhichsheformedtheloveliestfeature.
　　Hehadexpectedwithinstinctivecertaintythatshewouldnowbedrawntowardsthewomanhehopedtomakehiswife,andthatfriendshipswouldbecementedthatwouldlastthroughlife.
　　ButinsuggestingthishopeandexpectationtoIdaithadbeenasifacloudhadsuddenlypassedbeforethesun,andnowthewholeskywasdarkening.JennieBurtonseemedmoreshadowyandremotethanever——morewrappedupinapastinwhichshehadnopart;andthemaidenintowhoseverysoulhethoughthehadlookedbecameinscrutableagaininthedistantcourtesyofhermanner.Evenduringthebriefhourofdinnerhewasledtofeelthathehadnoinevitableplaceinthethoughtsofeitheroftheladies,andthisimpressionwasincreasedashesoughttheirsocietylaterintheday.
　　Moreover,inhischangedmoodheagainbegantochafeirritablyatIda'sassociations.Sheherselfhadbeenthoroughlyredeemedinanartisticpointofview,anditwashisnaturetolookatthingsinthislight.Whileheshudderedatherterriblepurposeherecognizedthehigh,strongspiritwhichinitperversionandwronghadrenderedthedeedpossible,andherdarkdesignmadeagrandandsombrebackgroundagainstwhichthemaidenhehadsketchedthatmorningwasallthemoreluminous.Hithertoeverythingconnectedwithherchangeofcharacterhadbeennotonlyconventional,buthadappealedtohisaesthetictemperamentassingularlybeautiful.
　　Thequaintgardenwithitsflowers,brook,andallegoricaltreewereassociationsthatharmonizedwithIda'sloveliness,whileMr.Eltinge,whohadrenderedsuchanimmeasurableservicetothemboth,realizedhisbestidealofdignifiedandvenerableage.
　　Butwhenhecomparedherspiritualfatherwiththemansheexpectedthatnight,hefoundhiswholenaturebecomingfullofirritableprotestanddissatisfaction.
　　"Thismorning,"hemuttered,"sheappearedcapableofrealizingapoet'sdreams,butalreadyIseethehardandprosaicconditionsofherlotdwarfinghergrowthandthrowingtheirgrotesqueshadowsacrossherbeauty.Whatcanshedowhileinseparablefromsuchafatherandmother?Themoreunlikethemshebecomesthemorehideoustheywillappear.Mrs.Mayhewisessentiallylackinginwomanlydelicacy,andmerecoarsenessismoretolerablethanfashionable,veneeredvulgarity.Mr.Mayhewisaspiritlesswretchwhoseonlyprotestagainsthiswife'soverbearanceandindifferencehasbeenintoxication.Linkedoneithersidetosomuchdeformity,whatchancehasthedaughterunlesssheescapesfromthemanddevelopsaseparatelife?Butarenotthetiesofnaturetooclosetopermitsuchescape,andwoulditnotbewrongtoseekit?ItcertainlywouldnotbeChristian,andIamconfidentMr.Eltingewouldnotadviseit.Herlotisindeedacruelone.NowondersheclingstoMr.Eltingeandthegarden,andthattheoutsideworldseemsfullofthornsandthistles.Well,Ipityherfromthedepthsofmyheart,andcannotseehowshewillsolvetheharshproblemofherlife.Iimagineshewillsoonbecomediscouragedandseekbymarriagetoobliterateherpresenttiesasfaraspossible."
　　Havingreachedthisunsatisfactoryconclusionhethrewhissketchimpatientlyasideandwentdowntothepiazza.Idaandhermotherwerealreadythere,foritwasabouttimeforarrivalsfromtheearliertrain.VanBergfeltalmostsurethatIdamusthavebeenawarethathewasstandingnearher,butsheexhibitednoconsciousnessofhispresence.Whenalittlelatertheymetinpromenadeshebowedpolitelybutabsently,andinawaythatwouldleadanywhowereobservingthemtothinkthathewasnotinherthoughts.Sohewasledtobelievehimself,butMissBurton,whowasreadinginoneoftheparlorwindows,smiledandwhisperedtoherself,"Welldone."
　　IdawasinhopesthatherfatherwouldtakethefirstopportunityofreachingtheLakeHouse,andshewasnotdisappointed.Thetelegramhadflashedintohisleaden-huedlifethatdaylikeameteor.Diditportendgoodorevil?Evilonly,hefeared,foritseemedtohimthatevilwouldeverbehisportion.Itwasthereforewithavaguesenseofapprehensionthathelookedforwardtomeetinghiswifeanddaughter.
　　AsheemergedfromthestagewiththeothershefoundIdahalf-waydownthestepstogreethim.
　　"I'msogladyou'vecome!"shesaidinalowearnestvoice,andshekissedhim,notintheoldformalway,asifitweretheonlyproperthingtodo,butasadaughtergreetingherfather.Then,beforehecouldrecoverfromhissurprise,hislighttravellingbagwastakenfromhimandtheyounggirl'sarmlinkedlovinglyinhis,andheledtoMrs.Mayhew,whoalsokissedhim,butinaway,itmustbeadmitted,thatsuggestedadutyratherthanapleasure.
　　Herhusbandscarcelygavetoheraglance,however,butkepthiseyesfixedonhisdaughter.
　　"Idaisbewitched,"saidMr.Mayhew.
　　"AndIhopeyouwillfindmebewitching,father,forIwantasmuchofyoursocietyasyouwillgivemeduringthisvisit."Shetriedtospeakplayfullyandnaturally,buttearsweregatheringinhereyes,forhisexpressionofperplexitywassingularlypatheticandfullofthekeenestreproach."OGod,"shemurmured,"whathaveIbeenthatheshouldbespeechlessfromsurprise,whenImerelygreethimasadaughtershould!"
　　VanBergturnedhastilyaway,forhefeltthatsceneswerecoming,onwhichhehadnorighttolook.TherewasnothingyettoindicateawishonIda'sparttoavoidinartisticassociations,anddeepinhishearthewascompelledtoadmitthatshehadneverappearedsosupremelybeautifulaswhenshelookedloveandwelcomeintotheeyesofthesmirchedanddisheartenedmantowhomnaturegavethebestrighttoclaimthesegifts.
　　"Comewithme,father,"saidIda,tryingtogivehimareassuringsmile,"andIwillansweryourscaredandquestioningglancesinyourroom,"andhewentwithherasifwalkinginadream.
　　TearsnowgatheredinJennieBurton'seyes,butshesmiledagainasshethought,"Betterdonestill,IdaMayhew,andMr.VanBerg,whoisstalkingawaysorapidlyyonder,isnotthemanIthinkhim,ifyouhavenotnowmadeyourbestanddeepestimpressiononhisheart."
　　"Ida,"herfatherfaltered,aftertheyhadreachedtheprivacyofhisroom,"whatdoesyourtelegrammean?Whatisimportant?"
　　"YOUaretome.Ofather,please,pleaseforgiveme,"andsheputherarmsaroundhisneckandburstintoapassionoftears.
　　Thebewilderedmanbegantotremble."Canit——canitbethatmydaughterhasaheart?"hemuttered.
　　"Yes,father,butit'sbrokenbecauseofmycrueltreatmentofyou;
　　Inowhopebetterdaysarecomingforusall."
　　Heheldherawayfromhimandlookedintoherfacewithalongingintensitythatsuggestedasoulperishingforthelackofloveandhope.
　　"Father,father,Ican'tbearthatlook.Oh,Godforgiveme,howIhavewrongedyou!"andsheburiedherfaceonhisshoulderagain.
　　"Ida,"hesaid,slowlyandpleadingly,"beverycareful——besurethisisnotapassingimpulse,amereremorsefultwingeofconscience.
　　I'vebeenhopingforyears——Iwouldhaveprayed,ifIdaredto——forsometokenthatIwasnotaburdentoyouandyourmother.Youseemedtolovemesomewhenyouwerelittle,butasyougrewolderyougrewawayfromme.I'vetriedtoforgetthatIhadaheart.
　　I'vetriedtobecomeabeastbecauseitwasagonytobeaman.whyIhavelivedIscarcelyknow.IthoughtIhadsufferedallthatI
　　couldsufferinthisworld,butIwasmistaken.IleftthisplacelastMondaywiththefearthatmybeautifuldaughterwasgivingherlovetoamanevenbaserthanIam,baseandlowfromchoice,baseandcorruptineveryfibreofhissoulandbody,andfromthathourtothisithasseemedasifIweregroundbetweentwomillstones,"andheshudderedasifsmittenwithanague."Ida,"
　　heconcludedpiteously,"I'mtooweak,I'mtoofargonetobeardisappointment.Thisismorethananimpulse,isitnot?Youwillnotthrowyourselfaway?Oh,Ida,myonlychild,ifyoucouldbeinheartwhatyouwereinyourfaceasyougreetedmeto-night,I
　　coulddiecontent!"
　　Forafewminutesthepoorgirlcouldonlysobconvulsivelyonhisbreast.Atlastshefalteredbrokenly:
　　"Yes,father——itisanimpulse——animpulsefromheaven;butIshallpraydailythatitbenotapassingone.I——Ihavelostconfidenceinmyself,butwithmySaviour'shelp,Iwilltrytobealovingdaughtertoyouandmakeyourwishesfirstineverything."
　　"GreatGod!"hemuttered,"canthisbetrue?"
　　"Yes,father,becauseGodISgreat,andvery,VERY,kind."
　　Hisbentformbecameerectandalmoststeelyinitstenseness.Hegentlybutfirmlyplacedherinachair,andthenpacedtheroomrapidlyamomentortwo,hisdarkeyesglowingwithastrongandkindlingexcitement.Idabegantoregardhimwithwonderandalmostalarm.Suddenlyheraisedhishandtoheaven,andsaidsolemnly:
　　"Thisshallbenoone-sidedaffairsohelpmeGod!"
　　Thenopeninghisvalise,hetookoutabottleofbrandyandthewit,withacrash,intotheemptygrate.
　　Idasprangtowardshimwithagladcry,exclaiming,"Ofather,nowIunderstandyou!ThankGod!thankGod!"
　　Hekissedhertearful,upturnedfaceagainandagain,asifhefoundtheretheveryelixiroflife.
　　"Ida,mydearlittleIda,"hesaid,huskily,"youhavesavedyourfatherfromadrunkard'send——fromadrunkard'sgrave.Iwasinadrunkard'shellalready."
　　Mr.Mayhewrequestedthatsuppershouldbeservedinhisownroom,forneitherhenorhisdaughterwasinamoodtomeetstrangersthatevening.Idacalledhermother,andtriedtoexplaintoherwhytheydidnotwishtogodown,butthepoorwomanwasnotabletograspverymuchofthetruth,andwasdecidedlymystifiedbythedomesticchangeswhichshehadverylimitedpowertoappreciate,andinwhichshehadsolittlepart.Shewasnotacoarsewoman,butmatteroffact,superficial,andworldlytothelastdegree.
　　VanBergcouldscarcelybelievehiseyeswhenMr.MayhewcamedowntobreakfastwithhisfamilySundaymorning.Thebondmanhadbecomefree;theslaveofadegradingvicehadbeentransformedintoaquiet,dignifiedgentleman.Hisformwaserect,andwhilehisbearingwassingularlymodestandretiring,therewasnothingoftheoldcowering,shrinkingmannerwhichsuggesteddefeat,lossofself-respect,andhopelessdejection.Allwhoknewhiminstinctivelyfeltthattheprostratemanhadrisentohisfeet,andtherewassomethinginhismannerthatmadethembelievehewouldholdhisfootingamongothermenhereafter.
　　Theartistfoundhimselfbowingtothe"spiritlesswretch"withapolitenessthatwasbynomeansassumed,andfromthenaturalandalmostcordialmannerinwhichMr.Mayhewreturnedhissalutation,hewasverygladtobelievethatIdahadnottoldhimthedeeperanddarkersecretsofherexperienceduringthepastweek.
　　"Thisisherwork,"hethought,andIda'sradiantfaceconfirmedtheimpression.Shethenfeltthatafterherfather'swords,"Youhavesavedme,"shecouldneverbeveryunhappyagain.Ahundredtimesshehadmurmured,"Oh,howmuchbetterGod'swayoutoftroublehasbeenthanmine!"
　　Mr.MayhewhadalwayshadpeculiarattractionsforMissBurton,andtheyatonceenteredintoconversation.Butassherecognizedthemarvellouschangeinhim,thepleasedwonderofherfacegrewsoapparent,thatherepliedtoitinlowtones:
　　"Inowbelieveinyour'remedies,'MissBurton;butagreatdealdependsonwhoadministersthem.MylittlegirlandIhavebeendiscoveringhownearlyrelatedweare."
　　Hereyesgrewmoistwithhersympathyandgladness."Mr.Mayhew,"
　　shesaid,"I'minclinedtothinkthatheavenisalwayswithinasteportwoofus,ifwecouldonlytaketherightsteps."
　　"Tomeithasseemedbeyondthefartheststar,"hereplied,verygravely."Tosome,however,thewordisasindefiniteastheplace,andacessationofpainappearsheaven.IcouldbecontenttoasknothingbetterthanthisSabbathmorninghasbroughtme.IhavefoundwhatIthoughtlostforever."
　　JennieBurtonbecameverypale,asdeepfromherheartrosethequery,"ShallIeverfindwhatIhavelost?"Thenwithastronginstincttomaintainherself-controlandshunaperilousnearnesstoherhiddensorrow,shechangedthesubject.
　　ItwastouchingtoseehowoftenMr.Mayhew'seyesturnedtowardshisdaughter,asiftoreassurehimselfthatthechangeinhermannertowardshimwasnotadream,andtheexpressionofherfaceasshemethisscrutinyseemedtobrightenandcheerhimlikeacomingdawn.
　　"WhatheavenlymagicistransformingMissMayhew?"JennieBurtonaskedofVanBerg,astheysaunteredoutonthepiazza.
　　"Withyourwontedfelicity,youexpressitexactly,"hereplied.
　　"ItisaheavenlymagicwhichIdon'tunderstandintheleast,butmustbelievein,sincecauseandeffectaredirectlyundermyeyes.Ithasbeenmygoodfortunetowitnessasbeautifulasceneasevermortalsaw.Sincesherefersnaturallyandopenlytothefriendswhomshehasvisitedduringthepastweek,ImaytellyouaboutMr.Eltinge'sinfluenceandteachingwithoutviolatinganyconfidence,"andinharmonywiththefrankandfriendlyrelationswhichhenowsustainedtoMissBurton,herelatedhisexperienceofthepreviousday,remainingscrupulouslyreticentoneverypoint,however,thatheevenimaginedIdawouldwishveiledfromtheknowledgeofothers."Icannottellyou,"heconcluded,"howdeeplythesceneaffectedme.Itnotonlyawokealltheartistinme,butthemanalso.InonebriefhourIlearnedtoreverethatnobleoldgentleman,andifyoucouldhaveseenhimleaningagainsttheemblematictree,asIdid,Ithinkhewouldhaverealizedyouridealofage,whollydevoidofweaknessandbleakness.AndthenMissMayhew'sface,asshereadandlistenedtohim,seemedindeed,initscontrastwithwhatwehaveseenduringthepastsummer,theresultof'heavenlymagic.'ItwillbenoheavytasktofulfiltheconditionsonwhichIwaspermittedtoentertheenchantedgarden.
　　Theyexpectmorepencilsketches,butIshalleventuallygivethemastruthfulapictureasIamcapableofpainting,foritisraregoodfortunetofindthemessoinspiring."
　　GuardedasVanBergwasinhisnarrative,MissBurtonwasabletoreadmore"betweenthelines"thaninhiswords.Hedidnotunderstandhermotivewhenshesaid,asifitwereherfirstobviousthought:
　　"Thepicturewhichyouhavepresented,eventotheeyeofmyfancy,isuniquelybeautiful,andIthinkitmustredeemMissMayhewinyourmind,fromallherdisagreeableassociations.Butinmyestimationsheappearedtoevenbetteradvantageinthegreetingshegaveherfatherlastevening.Wasthereeveramoredelicioussurpriseonearth,thanthatpoormanhadwhenhereturnedandfoundatrueandlovingdaughterawaitinghim?Withherfilialhandsshehasalreadyliftedhimoutofthemireofhisdegradation,andto-dayheisagentlemanwhomyouinvoluntarilyrespect.O
　　Mr.VanBerg,Icannottellouhowinexpressiblybeautifulandreassuringsuchthingsaretome!Youlookatthechangeswearewitnessingfromthestandpointofanartist,Ifromthatofpoorwoundedhumanity;andwhatIhaveseeninIdaMayhewandherfather,isprooftomethatthereisagoodGodaboveallthechaosaroundme,whichIcannotunderstandandwhichattimesdisheartensme.
　　Theirhappierandennobledfacesareaprophecyandanearnestofthattimewhentheswayofevilshallbebroken,whenfamishingsoulsandemptyheartsshallbefilled,whenbroken,thwartedlivesaremadeperfect,andwhatwasmissedandlostregained."
　　Shelookedawayfromhimintothesummersky,whichthesunwasfloodingwithcloudlesslight.Therewerenotearsinhereyes,butanexpressionofintenseandsorrowfullongingthatwasfarbeyondsuchsimpleandnaturalexpression.
　　"JennieBurton,"saidVanBerg,inalow,earnestvoice,"therearetimeswhenIcouldsufferallthingstomakeyouhappy."
　　Shestartedasifshehadalmostforgottenhispresence,andansweredquietly:"Youcouldnotmakemehappybysuffering.OnlyasI
　　canbanishalittlepainandgloomhereandtheredoIfindsolace.
　　ButIcandosovery,verylittle.ItreassuresmetoseeGoddoingthisworkinhisgrand,largeway.Andyetitseemstomethathemightbrightentheworldasthesunfillsthisskywithlight.Asitis,theraysthatillumineheartsandfacesglintonlyhereandtherebetweenthethreateningcloudsofevil.Mr.
　　VanBerg,youdonotknow——youneverrealizedhowshadowedhumanityis.Withinamileofyourstudio,thatisfulloflightandbeauty,therearethousandswhoareperishinginaslow,remorselesspain.
　　Itisthisawfulmysteryofevil——thiscontinuousgroanandcryofanguishthathasgoneuptoheaventhroughalltheages——thatappallsmyheartandstaggersmyfaith.Butthere——afterwhatIhaveseento-dayIhavenorighttosuchgloomythoughts.Isupposemyreligionseemstoyounomorethanaclingingfaithinafar-away,incomprehensibleGod,andsoisnotveryattractive?IwishIcouldsuggesttoyousomethingmoresatisfactory,butsinceIcannotI'llleaveyoutofindbetterinfluences."
　　"Itdoesseemtomethatrash,faultyIdaMayhewhasabetterfaiththanthis,"hethought;"shebelievesshehasfoundanearandhelpfulFriend,whilemysad-eyedsainthasonlyaGod,andisalwaysinpatheticdoubtwhetherherprayercanbridgetheinfinitedistancebetweenthem.Whoisright?Iseitherright?IusedtobeimpressedwithhowmuchIknew;I'mgladtheoppositeimpressionisbecomingsostrong,for,asMissBurtonsays,thehopelessfoolsarethosewhoneverfindthemselvesout.
　　"Shewasright.IdaMayhewwilleverappeartobetteradvantageinaidingherpoorfathertoregainhismanhood,thanbythemostartisticcombinationofcircumstancesthatIcouldimagine.Allthemaninmerecognizesthesacrednessofthedutyandthebeautyofitsperformance.AndyetbutyesterdayIwasstupidenoughtobelievethatherbestchancefordevelopmentwastoescapefromherfatherandliveaseparatelife.Ithastakenonlyafewhourstoprovehowsuperficialwasmyphilosophyoflife.Guidedsimplybytheinstinctofloveandduty,thisfaultygirlhasaccomplishedmorethanIhadsupposedpossible.Buthermotherwillcontinueathorninherside,"andVanBergwasnotfarastray.
　　ChapterXLVI.AResolutePhilosopher.