"ThankstoCousinIk.WhenIgetachancetopaintsuchapictureasthisIdo,indeed,wishtomakethemostofit."
　　"ButhowlongmustMr.Eltingewaitforit?"
　　"IthinkwecansendittohimasaChristmaspresent."
　　"We?You,rather,willsendit."
　　"No,WE;orrather,ingivingmethesittingsyougiveMr.Eltingeallthatmakesthepicturevaluabletohim."
　　Ida'scheeksbegantoburn,fortheartist'swordssuggestedapowerfultemptationthat;inaccordancewithherimpetuousnature,cameintheformofanimpulseratherthananinsidiousandlurkingthought.Theimpulsewastoacceptoftheopportunitieshepresseduponher,and,ifpossible,winhimawayfromJennieBurton.Atfirstitseemedameananddishonorablethingtodo,andherfacegrewcrimsonwithshameattheverythought.VanBerglookedatherwithsurprise.ConscioushimselfthatwhilehemeantthatMr.Eltingeshouldprofitrichlyfromhervisits,itwasnotbyanymeansforthesakeoftheoldgentlemanonlythathehadbeenrequestinghertocomesooften,hisowncolorbegantorise.
　　"Shebeginstoseethatmymotivesarealittlemixed,andthatiswhatisembarrassingher,"hethoughtashebentoverhisworktohidehisownconfusion.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,I'mgettingtiredofsittingstill,"Idaexclaimed.
　　"It'scontrarytomyrestlessdisposition.MayInotmakeanexploringtouraroundyourstudio?YouhavenoideawhataconstraintI'vebeenputtingonmyfemininecuriosity."
　　"Igiveyoua'carte-blanche'todoasyouplease.Haveyoumuchcuriosity?"
　　"I'madaughterofEve."
　　"Well,I'mcomingtotheconclusionthatthereisagooddealof'oldAdam'inme,"andhefeltthatasshethenappearedshecouldtempthimtoalmostanything.
　　Nowthatherbackwastowardshimshefeltsafer,andhermellowlaughtrilledoutasshesaid,"Wemayhavetodubthisplaceaconfessionalratherthanastudioofyoutalkinthatway."
　　"IfIconfessedallmysinsagainstyou,MissMayhew,itwould,indeed,beaconfessional."Hespokesoearnestlythatshegavehimaquickglanceofsurprise.
　　"Thereisnoneed,"shesaid,hesitatingly,"sinceIhavegivenyoufullabsolution,"andshesuddenlybecameinterestedinsomethinginthefarthestcorneroftheapartment.Afteramomentsheadded,"IfIamtocomehereImustsaytoyouagain,asIdidonthedayIsodisgustedyoubymybehaviorinthestage——youmustletby-gonesbeby-gones."
　　Itwasnowtheartist'sturntolaugh,andhismerrimentwassoheartyandprolongedthatsheturnedavexedandcrimsonfacetowardshimandsaid,"Ithinkit'stoobadinyoutolaughatmeso."
　　"MissMayhew,IassureyouI'mnotlaughingatyouatall.Butyourwordssuggestagoodomen.Didn'tthatstageteachyouthatfatemeansustobegoodfriendsinspiteofallyoucando?BeforewemetinthatcaroffortuneIhadbeentryingforaweekormoretomakeyouracquaintance,andmadeamartyrofmyselfintheeffort.
　　Iplayedtheagreeabletonearlyeveryladyinthehotel,andperspiredonpicnicsandboatingpartiesthatIdidnotenjoy.I
　　playedcroquetandothergamestillIwashalfboredtodeath,andallintheefforttoproducesuchagenialatmosphereofenjoymentandgood-feelingthatyouwouldthawalittletowardsme;butyouwouldn'tspeaktome,norevenlookatme.AtlastIgaveupindespairandwentoffamongthehillswithmysketch-book,andwhenreturningthatblessedoldstageovertookme.Wasn'tIpleasedwhenIfoundyouwereafellow-passenger!andletmenowexpressmythanksthatyoulookedsoresolutelyawayfromme,foritgavemeachancetocontrastaprofileinwhichIcoulddetectnofaultwiththebroad,sultryvisageofthestoutwomanoppositeme.Andthen,thankheaven,thehorsesranaway.Whoeverheardofstagehorsesrunningawaybefore?Itwasasmileoffortune——amiracle.
　　Submittodestiny,MissMayhew,forit'sdecreedthatweshouldbegoodfriends,"andhelaughedagaininhugeenjoymentofthewholescene.
　　InspiteofherselfIdafoundhishumorcontagiousandirresistible,andshelaughedalsotillthetearscameintohereyes.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"sheexclaimed,"Ioughttobeindignant,orIoughttobeashamedtolookyouintheface.Idon'tknowwhatIoughttodo,onlyI'msureitisn'ttheproperthingatallformetobelaughinginthisway.IthinkI'llgohomeatonce,forI'monlywastingyourtime.
　　Hisanswerwasnotveryrelevant,forhesaidimpetuously,"Oh,MissIda,Iwouldgivefiveyearsofmylifetobeabletopaintyourportraitasyounowappear,forthepicturewouldcureoldmelancholyhimselfandfillaprison-cellwithlight."
　　"Iwon'tcomehereanymoreifyoulaughatmeso,"shesaid,puttingonherhat.
　　"See,"hesaid,"I'masgraveasajudge.IwillneverlaughATyou,butIhopetolaughWITHyoumanyatime,fortotellyouthetruththeexperiencehasremindedmeofthe'inextinguishablelaughteroftheGods.'Pleasedon'tgoyet."
　　"IfImustcomesooftenmyvisitsmustbebrief."
　　"Thenyouwillcome?"
　　"Ihaven'tpromisedanythingexceptforto-morrow.Good-morning."
　　"Letmewalkhomewithyou."
　　"No,positively.Youhavewastedtoomuchtimealready."
　　"Youwillatleastshakehandsintokenofpeaceandamitybeforewepart?"
　　"Oh,certainly,ifyouthinkitworththewhilewhenwearetomeetsosoonagain.Oh!youhurtme.Youdidthatoncebefore."
　　Hisfacesuddenlybecamegraveandeventenderinitsexpression,ashesaid,inalow,deepvoice,"Morethanonce,MissIda.Don'tthinkIforgetorforgivemyselfbecauseyoutreatmesogenerously."
　　Shewouldnotlookupandmeethiseyes,butreplied,intonesthattrembledwithrepressedfeeling,"Icouldforgiveanythingafteryourmannertowardsfatherthismorning.NeverthinkIcanforgetsuchfavors,"andthenshesnatchedawayherhandandwentswiftlyout.Hertearsfellfastasshesoughtherhomebyquietstreetswithbowedheadandvaildrawntightlydown,andshemurmured:
　　"Icannotgivehimup——Icannot,indeed,Icannot.IfIlosehimitmustbebecausethereisnohelpforit."
　　Thenconscienceuttereditslow,faintprotestandhertearsfellfasterstill.
　　Whenreachingherroomshethrewherselfonthesofaandsobbed,"Woulditbesovery,verywrongtowinhimifIcould?shecan'tlovehimasmuchasIdo.Why,Iwasreadytodieeventowinhisrespect,andnowinthesevisitshegivesmeachancetowinhislove.IshepledgedtoMissBurtonyet?Ifheis,Idonotknowit.Hedoesseemtocareforme——thereisoftensomethinginhisfaceandtonethatwhispershope.IfhelovesherasIlovehimhecouldnotbehereinNewYorkallthisweek.Butit'sherlovethattroublesme——I'veseenitinhereyeswhenhewasnotobserving,andIfearshejustworshipshim.Alas,hegaveherreason.Hismannerhasbeenthatofalover,andnoone——heleastofall——wouldthinkofflirtingwithJennieBurton.ButdoesheloverhersodeeplythatIcouldnotwinhimifIhadachance?WoulditbeverywickedifIdid?MustIgiveupmyhappinessforherhappiness?
　　IcametoNewYorktogetawayfromdangerandtemptationandhereIamrightinthemidstofit.WhatshallIdo!Oh,mySaviour,I'mhalfafraidtospeaktotheeaboutthis."
　　"IfIcouldonlyseeMr.Eltinge,"shemurmured,afteranhourofdistractedthoughtandindecision."Thereisnotimetowrite——indeed,Icouldnotwriteonsuchasubject,and——and——I'mafraidhe'dadvisemeagainstit.Hecan'tunderstandawoman'sfeelingsinacaselikethis,atleasthecouldnotunderstandapassionate,faultygirllikeme.I'venopatience——nofortitude.
　　Icoulddieformylove——Ithink,Ihope,Icouldformyfaith,——butIfeelnopowerwithinmetoendurepatientlyyearafteryear.I
　　wouldbelikethepoor,weakwomentheyshutupintheInquisitionandwhosufferedontotheendonlythroughremorselesscompulsion,becausethewallsweretoothickforescape,andthetormentor'shandsandtherackwereirresistible.Mysoulwouldsuccumbaswellasmybody.Thiswouldseemwild,wickedtalktoMr.Eltinge;itwouldseemweakandirrationaltoanyman.ButI'monlyIdaMayhew,andsuchismynature.I'vebeenmadeallthemoreincapableofpatientself-sacrificebyself-indulgencefrommychildhoodup.
　　Oh,willitbevery,verywrongtowinhimifIcan?"andthepassionatetearsandsobsthatfollowedthesewordswouldseemtoindicatethatsheunderstoodhernatureonlytoowell.
　　Atlastsheconcluded,inwearinessandexhaustion,"I'mtooweakanddistractedtothinkanymore.Ihardlyknowwhetherit'srightorwrong.Ihopeitisn'tverywrong.Iwon'tdecidenow.LetmatterstaketheirowncourseastheyhavedoneandImayseeclearerbyandby."
　　Butdeepinherheartshefeltthatthiswasaboutthesameasyieldingtothetemptation.
　　Shebathedhereyes,triedtothinkhowshecouldspendtheinterveninghoursbeforetheywouldmeetagain.Thenwithasenseofdismayshebegantoconsider,"Ifwearetomeetsooftenwhatarewetotalkabout?Heoncetriedtoconversewithmeandfoundmesoignoranthecouldn't.ItseemedtomeIdidn'tknowanythingthatevening,andhe'llsoongrowdisgustedwithmeagainasheseesmypoorlittlepackofknowledgeislikeatramp'sbundlethathecarriesaroundwithhim.Imustread——Imuststudyeverymoment,orIhaven'ttheremotestchanceofsuccess.Success!Oh,mercifulheaven!it'sthesameasifIweresettingaboutitalldeliberatelyandthere'snouseofdeceivingmyself.Ihopeitisn'tvery,verywrong."
　　Shewenttoherfather'slibrarywithflushedcheeksandhesitatingsteps,asifitwerethetreefromwhichshemightpluckthefruitofforbiddenknowledge.Thelongrowsofponderousandneglectedbooksappalledher;shetookdowntwoorthreeandtheyseemedlikeunopenedmines,deepandrocky.Shefeltinstinctivelythattherewasnottimeforhertotransmutetheiroresintogracefulandnaturalmentaladornments.
　　"Methuselahhimselfcouldn'treadthemall,"sheexclaimed."Bythepowers!ifhereisn'tmorebooksthanIcancarry,ononesubject.
　　Isupposecartloadshavebeenwrittenaboutart.I'venodoubthe'sreadthemall,butInevercan;Ifearmyattempttoreadupisliketryingtogetstrongbyeatingawholeoxatonce.Oh,whydidIwastemyschool-days,andindeedallmylifeasIhave!"
　　andshestampedherfootinherimpatienceandirritation.
　　"Well,"shesighedatlast,withagrimsortofhumor;"ImustdothebestIcan.It'sthesameasifIwereonadesertisland.I
　　musttietogethersomesortofaraftinordertocrossthegulfthatseparatesus,forInevercanstandittostayherealone.
　　SinceIhavenottimetospareImayaswellcommencewiththatencyclopaedia,andlearnalittleaboutasmanythingsaspossible;
　　thenifheintroducesasubjectheshallatleastseethatIknowwhatheistalkingabout."Andduringtheafternoonthepoorgirlploddedthroughseverarticles,oftenrecallingherwanderingthoughtsbyimpatientlittlegestures,andbythetimeherfatherreturnedshewasconsciousofknowingaverylittleindeedaboutanumberofthings."Nomatter,"shethought,compressingherlips,"Iwon'tgiveuptillImust.It'smyonechanceforhappinessinthisworld,andI'llclingtoitwhilethereisashredofhopeleft."
　　Itwaswithaneagerandresolutefacethatsheconfrontedherfatherthatevening,astheysatdowntodinner.Hethoughtshewoulddescantonherexperiencesofthemorning,andhewasanxiousforachancetosayhowtrulyheappreciatedMr.VanBerg'scordialmanner,butshesurprisedhimbyaskingabruptly:
　　"Father,whendoweelectanotherpresident?"
　　Hetoldher,andthenfollowedarapidfireofquestionsaboutthegeneralandstategovernment,andthenamesandcharactersofthemenwhoheldthechiefoffices.AtlastMr.Mayhewlaiddownhisknifeandforkinhisastonishment,andaskedsententiously:
　　"Howlongisitsinceyoudecidedtogointopolitics?"
　　Ida'slaughwasveryreassuring,andshesaid,"Poorfather!I
　　don'twonderyouthinkI'velostmywits,nowthatI'mtryingtousethefewIhave.Don'tyousee?Idon'tknowanythingthat'sworthknowing.Iwastedmytimeatschool,formyheadwasfullofbeaux,dress,andnonsense.Besides,Idon'tthinkmyteacherstookmuchpainstomakemeunderstandanything.Atanyrate,mydancing-master,andperhapsmymusic-teacher——alittlebit——aretheonlyonesthathaveanyreasontobeproudoftheresult.NowIwantyoutobrushupyourideasabouteverything,soyoucananswertheendlessquestionsIamgoingtoaskyou."
　　"Whyblessyou,child,youtakeawaymybreath.Romewasn'tbuiltinaday."
　　"ThewaytheybuiltRomewillneveranswerforme.ImustgrowlikeoneofourWesterncitiesthathasamayorandopera-housealmostbeforetheIndiansandwolvesaredrivenoutoftown.SpeakingofRomeremindsmehowlittleIknowofthatcity,andit'saburningshame,too,forIspentamonththere."
　　"Well,"saidMr.Mayhew,withkindlinginterest,"supposewetakeupacourseofreadingaboutRomeforthewinter."
　　"Forthewinter!Thatwon'tdoatall.Can'tyoutellmesomethingofinterestaboutRomethisevening?"
　　"I'vealreadymentionedtheinterestingfact——thatitwasn'tbuiltinaday.Ithinkthat'sthemostimportantthingthatyouneedtoknowaboutRomeandeverythingelsethisevening.Why,Ida,youcan'tbecomewiseasanostrichmakesitssupper——byswallowingeverythingthatcomesinitsway.Youarenotabitlikeanostrich."
　　"Anostrichisasillybirdthatputsitsheadunderthesandandthinsitswholegreatbodyhiddenbecauseitcan'tseeitself,isn'tit,father?"
　　"I'veheardthatstorytoldofit,"repliedMr.Mayhew,laughing.
　　"Anythingbutanostrich,then.Come,I'llreadtheeveningpapertoyouonconditionyoutellmetheleadingquestionsoftheday.
　　Whatisjustnowtheleadingquestionoftheday?"
　　"Well,"saidMr.Mayhew,demurely,butwithasparkleofhumorinhiseye,"oneoftheleadingquestionsofthisdaywithmehasbeenwhetherMr.VanBergwouldnotenjoydiningwithusto-morroweveningnowthatheisherealoneinthecity?"
　　Idainstantlyheldthenewspaperbeforehercrimsonfaceandsaid:
　　"Father,yououghttobeashamedthustodivertmymindfromthepursuitofusefulknowledge."
　　Herfathercametohersideandsaidverykindly:"Ida,darling,youarealittlebitlikeanostrichnow."
　　Shesprangup,and,hidingherfaceonhisshoulder,trembledlikealeaf."Oh,father,"shewhispered,"Iwouldnothavehimknowfortheworld.Isitsoveryplain?"
　　"Nottohim,mychild,buttheeyesofalovelikemineareverykeen.Soyouneedn'tbeonyourguardbeforeyouroldfatherasyoumustbebeforehimandtheworld.YoushallhaveonlyrestandsympathyathomeasfarasIcangivethem.Indeed,ifyouwillletme,I'llbecomeaveryunobtrusive,butperhaps,usefulally.
　　Atanyrate,I'lltrynottomakeanystupid,ignorantblunders.
　　IhavelikeMr.VanBergfromthefirsthourofourmeeting,andIwouldthankGodfromthedepthsofmyheartifthiscouldbe."
　　"Dear,goodfather,howlittleIunderstoodyou.I'vebeenlivinginpovertyoveragoldmine.Butfather,I'msoignorantandMr.
　　VanBergknowseverything."
　　"Notquite,you'llfind.He'sonlyaman,Ida.Butyoucanneverwinhimthroughpoliticsorbydiscussingwithhimthequestionsoftheday.Thesearenotinyourlinenorhis."
　　"WhatcanIdo,father.Indeed,itdoesnotseemtomemaidenlytodoanything."
　　"Itwouldnotbemaidenly,Ida,tosteponehair'sbreadthbeyondthelineofscrupulous,womanlydelicacy,andbyanysuchcourseyouwouldonlydefeatandthwartyourself.Awomanmustalwaysbesought;andasarule,shelosesassheseeks.ButIstrusttoyourinstinctstoguideyouhere.Youhaveonlytobesimpleandtrue,asyouhavebeensincethehappymiraclethattransformedyou.UnlessamanisinfatuatedasI——butnomatter.Amanthatkeepshissensewelcomestruthfulness——ahighdelicatesenseofhonor——aboveallthingsinawoman,foritgiveshimasenseofsecurityandrest.BytruthfulnessIdonotmeantheindiscreetblurtingoutofthingsthatgoodtastewouldleaveunsaid,butclear-eyedintegritythathidesnoguile.Then,again,unlessamanisblindedbypassionorsomekindofinfatuationheknowsthatthechiefneedofhislifeisahomelightedandwarmedbyanunwaveringlove.Withthesehishappinessandsuccessaresecured,asfarastheycanbeinthisworld,unlessheisabruteandafool,andhasnorighttoexistatall.ButIamgrowingpreachy.
　　LetmesuggestsomethingsthatIhaveobservedinthisartist.Heisahigh-tonedpaganandworshipsbeauty;butwiththisoutwardperfectionhealsodemandsspiritualloveliness,forwithhimmindandhonorareintheascendant.Headmiredyouimmenselyfromthefirst,andsinceyourcharacterhasbeengrowinginharmonywithyourfacehehassoughtyoursociety.So,besimple,true,andmodest,andyouwillwinhimifthethingispossible.Youwillneverwinhimbybeinganythingelse,andyoumightloseyourownrespectandhistoo."
　　"I'llsufferanythingratherthanthat,father.Ithinkyouhadbetternotinvitehimto-morrowevening."
　　"I'llbegovernedbywhatIseeto-morrow,"hereplied,musingly.
　　"Bothmybusinessandmyhabitofmindhavetaughtmetoobserveandstudymen'smotivesandimpulsesveryclosely.Youcouldorderasuitabledinnerafterleavingthestudio,couldyounot?"
　　"Yes,father."
　　"Well,then,myPrincessIda,I'llbeyourgrandvizier,andI'lltreatwiththisforeignpowerwithsuchafinediplomacythatheshallappreciatealltheprivilegesheobtains.Butwewillkeepourself-respecthereafter,Ida,andthenwecanlooktheworldinthefaceandasknooddsofit."
　　"Yes,father,letuskeepthatatallevents.AndyetI'monlyawoman."
　　"Youarethewomanthathasmademehappy,andIthinkthereisanothermanwhowillwanttobemadehappyalso.Andnowwewilldeferallotherquestionsoftheday,forImustgooutforatime.
　　DonotthinkIundervalueyourcravingforinformation,andyoushallhaveitasfastasyoucantakecareofit.Youhavegrownpaleandthinthissummer,butIdonotexpectyoutobecomeplumpandrosyagaininaday."
　　"Oh,I'mrosytoooftenasitis.Whyisitthatgirlsmustblushsoridiculouslywhentheydon'twantto?That'sthequestionofthedayforme.Icouldflirtdesperatelyinoldtimes,andyetlookasdemureandcoolasifIwereaninnocent.Butnow,oh!
　　I'mfairlyenragedwithmyselfattimes."
　　"Theysayblushesarelove'strail,"saidMr.Mayhewwithalaugh,"andsinceheisaroundIsupposehemustleavehistracks.Ifyouwishforamorescientificreasonletmeaddthatphysiologyteachesusthatthebloodcomesfromtheheart.Icanassureyou,however,thattherearebutfewgentlemenwhoadmireladiesthatcannotblush,andMr.VanBergisnotoneofthem."
　　Idaspenttheeveningatherpianoinsteadofovertheencyclopaedia,butshesighedagainandagain.
　　"Simpleandtrue!IfearJennieBurtonandMr.EltingewouldsayIwasneitheriftheyknewwhatwasinmyheart.ButIcan'thelpit——Ican'tgivehimupafterwhathashappenedsinceIcametothecity,unlessImust."
　　Butthemusicsheselectedwassimpleandtrue.Tossingherbrilliantandfloridpiecesimpatientlyaside,sheplayedorsangonlythatwhichwasplaintive,low,andinharmonywithherthoughts.Italsoseemedtohaveapeculiarattractivenesstoatallgentlemanwholingeredsomemomentsbeneaththewindows,andeventookoneortwostepsuptowardsthedoor,andthenturnedandstrodeawayasifconsciousthathemusteitherenterordepartatonce.
　　ChapterXLIX.TheBlindGod.
　　TheMissMayhewthatcrossedtheartist'sthresholdthefollowingmorningmighthavebeentakenasamodelofgracefulself-possession,butshedisguisedamaidenwithasflutteringaheartandtremblingasoulaseverfacedoneofthesuprememomentsofdestiny.Herfather,however,provedafaithfulandintelligentally,andhismannertowardsVanBergwasafineblendingofcourtesyanddignity,suggestingamanascapableofconferringasofreceivingfavors.
　　HishostwouldindeedhavebeenblindandstupidifhehadtriedtopatronizeMr.Mayhewthatmorning.
　　Althoughunconsciousofthefact,VanBergwasforatimesubjectedtotheclosestscrutiny.Lovehaddeepifnotdarkdesignsagainsthim,andtheglanceshebentonIdamightsuggestthathewasonlytooreadytobecomeavictim.Hehadwelcomedtohisstudytwoconspiratorswhowerecommittedtotheirplotbythestrongestofmotives,andyettheyweresuchnovelconspiratorsthataword,aglance,anexpressionevenof"ennui"orindifferencewouldhavesotouchedtheirpridethattheywouldhaveabandonedtheirwilesateverycosttothemselves.Weretheytryingtoensnarehim?
　　Neverweresuchfilmsandgossamerthreadsusedinlikeentanglementbefore.Hecouldhavebrushedthemallawaybyonecoldsweepofhiseyes,andthemaidenwhohadnotscrupledatdeathtogainmerelyhisrespect,wouldhaveleftthestudiowithacolderglancethanhis,norwouldherwomanlystrengthhavefailedheruntilshereachedarefugewhichhiseyecouldnotpenetrate;butthen——Godpityher.Thetragediesoverwhichtheangelsweeparethebloodlesswoundsofthespirit.
　　ButitwouldseemthattheatmosphereofVanBerg'sstudiothatsummermorningwasnotatallconducivetotragedyofanykind,norwerethereinhisfaceormanneranyindicationsofcomedy,whichtopoorIdawouldhavebeenfarworse;foranairofcareless"bonhomie"onhispartwhenshewassodesperatelyinearnestwouldhavemadehissmilesandjestslikeheartlessmockery.
　　Andyet,inspiteofhismannerthepreviousday,thepoorgirlhadcometothestudiofearingfarmorethanshehoped,andburdenedalsowithatroubledconscience.Shewasalmostsureshewasnotdoingright,andyetthetemptationwastoostrongtoberesisted.
　　Butwhenhetookherhandingreetingthatmorning,andsaidwithasmilethatseemedtoflashoutfromthedepthsofhissoul,"Iwon'thurtyouanymoreifIcanhelpit,"allscruples,allhesitancyvanishedforatime,likefrostworkinthesun.Hismagnetismwasirresistible,andshefeltthatitwouldrequireallhertactandresolutiontokeephimbysomecareless,randomwordoract,frombrushingasidetheveilbehindwhichshrankhertrembling,andasyet,unsoughtlove.
　　ButVanBergwasevenararerstudythanthemaiden,andhismannertowardsbothIdaandherfathermightwellleadonetothinkthathewasinclinedtobecomethechiefconspiratorinthedesignagainsthimself.Hehadscarcelybeenconsciousoftimeorplacesincepartingthepreviousdaywiththefriendhewassobentonsecuring,andwhenatlasthesleptinthesmallhoursofthemorninghedreamtthathehadbeencaughtbyamightytidalwavethatwasbearinghimswiftlytowardsheavenonitssilvercrest.
　　Whenheawoke,thewave,sofarfrombeingabubble,seemedagrandspiritualreality,andhefeltasifhehadalreadyreachedaseventhheavenofvague,undefinedexhilaration.Neverbeforehadlifeappearedsorichapossessionandsofullofgloriouspossibilities.Neverinthepasthadhefelthisprofessiontobesonobleandworthyofhisdevotion,andneverhadthefamehehopedtograspbymeansofitseemedsonear.Beautybecametohimsoinfinitelybeautifulanddivinethathefelthecouldworshipitwereitonlyembodied,andthenwithastrangeandexquisitethrillofexultationheexclaimed:"Rightorwrong,tomyeyeitisembodiedinIdaMayhew,andshewillfillmystudiowithlightagainto-dayandmanydaystocome.Ifeveranartistwasfortunateinsecuringasafriend,asaninspiration,aperfectandbuddingflowerofpersonalandspiritualloveliness,Iamthathappyman."
　　TheVanBergofotherdayswouldhavecalledtheVanBergthatwaitedimpatientlyforhisgueststhatmorningarhapsodicalfool,andthegreaterpartoftheworldwouldoffernodissent.Theworldisverypronetocalleverymanwhoispossessedbyalittleearnestnessorenthusiasmafool,butitisusuallyanopenquestionwhichisthemorefoolish——theworldortheman;andperhapsweshallalllearnsomedaythattherewasmoreofsanityinourrhapsodiesthanintheshrewdcalculationsthatvergedtowardsmeanness.Bethisasitmayintheabstract,VanBergregardedhimselfasthemostrationalmaninthecitythatmorning.Hedidnottrytoaccountforhismentalstatebymustyandproverbialwisdomorlong-establishedprinciplesofpsychology.Theglad,strongconsciousnessofhisownsoulsatisfiedhimandmadeeverythingappearnatural.SinceheHADthisstrongandgrowingfriendshipforthismaiden,whowasevidentlypleasedtocomeagaintohisstudio,thoughsocoyandshyinadmittingit,whyshouldhenothaveit?Therewasnothinginhiscreedagainstsuchafriendship,andeverythingforit.
　　Menoftalent,nottomentiongenius,hadeversoughtinspirationfromthosemostcapableofimpartingit,andthisgirl'sbeautyandcharacterwerekindlinghismindtothatextentthathebegantohopehecouldnowdosomeofthefinestworkofhislife.Thefactthathefelttowardsherthestrongestfriendlyregardwasinitselfenough,andVanBergwastoogoodamodernthinkertodisputewithfacts,especiallyagreeableones.
　　Thepracticaloutcomeofthefriendshipwhichhelostnochanceofmanifestingthatmorning,wasthatMr.Mayhew,inaneasy,informalmanner,extendedhisinvitation,andtheartistacceptedinawaythatprovedhewasconstrainedbysomethingmorethancourtesyorasenseofduty,andConspiratorNumberTwowalkeddownBroadwaymutteringasdoallconspirators:"Thoseyoungpeopleareliabletostumbleintoparadiseatanymoment."
　　"HowdidyoumanagetogetthroughahotAugustdayintownafteryouwerereleasedfromdurancehere?"askedVanBerg.
　　"Idonotknowthatitrequiredanyspecialmanagement,"repliedIdademurely."IsupposeYOUtookanapafteryourseverelaborsofthemorning."
　　"Nowyouaresatirical.Mylaborwasallintheafternoon,forI
　　workedfromthetimeyouleftmetilldusk."
　　"Didn'tyoustopforlunchordinner?"exclaimedIda,withsurprise.
　　"Notamoment."
　　"Why,Mr.VanBerg,whatwasthematterwithyou?ItwillneverdoformetocomehereandwasteyourforenoonsifyoutrytomakeupsounmercifullyafterI'mgone."
　　"Youwereindeedaltogethertoblame.Somethings,likefinemusicoragreatpaintingor——ithappenedtobeyourselfyesterday——oftencausewhatIcallmyworkingmoods,whenIfeelabletodothebestthingsofwhichI'mcapable.Notthattheyarewonderfuloreverwillbe——theyaresimplymybestefforts——andIassureyouI'mnotfoolishenoughtowastesuchmomentsintheprosaictaskofeating."
　　"I'monlyamatter-of-factperson.Plainfoodatregularintervalsisveryessentialtome."
　　Helookedupatherquicklyandsaid:"Nowyouarementallylaughingatmeagain.IassureyouIatelikeanostrichaftermyworkwasover.IevenupsetthedignityofanurbaneDelmonicowaiter."
　　Idabitherlipassherecalledcertainresemblancesonherownparttothatsuggestivebird,butshesaidsympathetically:"Itmustberatherstupidtodinealoneatarestaurant."
　　"Ifounditinsufferablystupid,andI'mmoregratefultoyourfatherforhisinvitationthanyouwouldbelieve."
　　Idacouldscarcelydisguiseherpleasure,andwithmirthfuleyesshesaid:
　　"Really,Mr.VanBerg,youplacemeinquiteadilemma.Ifindthatinonemoodyoudonotwishtoeatatall,andagainyousayyouhavetheratherpeculiarappetiteofthebirdyounamed.NowI'mhousekeeperatpresent,andscarcelyknowhowtoprovide.Whatkindofviandsarebestadaptedtoartistsandpoets,and——"
　　"Andidiotsingeneral,youmightconclude,"saidVanBerg,laughing.
　　"Aftersittingsonearmeatthetableallsummeryoumusthavenoticedthatnothingbutambrosiaandnectarwillservemypurpose."
　　Ida'slaughingeyessuddenlybecamedeepanddreamyasshesaid:
　　"Thattimeseemsagesago.IcannotrealizethatwearethesamepeoplethatmetsoofteninMr.Burleigh'sdining-room,andincircumstancesthattomewereoftensoverydismal."
　　"PleaserememberthatIamnotthesameperson.Iwillesteemitagreatfavorifyouwillleavethemanyousawatthattimeinthelimboofthepast——thefartheroffthebetter."