"Youwereratherdistantthen,"Idaremarkedwithapiquantsmile.
　　"ButamInow?Answermethat,"hesaidsoeagerlythatshewasagainmentallyenragedathertell-talecolor,andshesaidhastily:
　　"ButwhereamItofindtheambrosiaandnectarthatyouwillexpectthisevening?"
　　"Anymarketcanfurnishthecrudematerials.Itisthetouchofthehostessthattransmutesthem."
　　"Alas,"saidIda,"Ineverlearnedhowtocook.IfIshouldprepareyourdinner,youwouldhaveanawfulmoodto-morrow,andprobablysendforthedoctor."
　　"Iwouldneedanursemorethanadoctor."
　　"Iknowofanancientwoman——aperfectMrs.Harris,"saidIda,gleefully.
　　"Wouldn'tyoucomeandseemeifIwereveryill?"
　　"Imightcallatthedoorandaskhowyouwere,"shereplied,hesitatingly.
　　"Now,MissIda,theundertakerwoulddoasmuchasthat."
　　"Ourmotivesmightdifferjustalittle,"shesaid,droppinghereyes.
　　"Well,"saidtheartist,laughing,"ifyouwillpreparethedinner,I'llriskundertaker,ancientwoman,andall,ratherthanspendsuchanotherlongstupideveningasIdidlastnight.Iexpectedtomeetyouattheconcertgardenagain."
　　"That'sstrange,"shesaid.
　　"IshouldsayratherthatIhopedtomeetyouandyourfatherthere.
　　WouldyouhavegoneifIhadaskedyou?"
　　"Imight."
　　"I'llsetthatdownasoneofthelostopportunitiesoflife."
　　"Whydidn'tyoulistentothemusic?"
　　"Well,Ididn't.IthoughtI'dinflictmystupidityonyouforawhile,andcameasfarasyourdoorstepsbeforeIrememberedthatIhadnotbeeninvited;soyouseewhatanarrowescapeyouhad."
　　InspiteofherselfIdacouldnothelpappearingdisappointedasshesaid,alittlereproachfully,"Wouldafriendhavewaitedforaformalinvitation?"
　　"Afrienddid,"repliedVanBergregretfully;"buthewon'tagain."
　　"I'mnotsosureaboutthat;mymusicmusthavefrightenedyouaway."
　　"IlisteneduntilIfearedthepolicemightthinkIhaddesignsagainstthehouse.Ididn'tknowyouwereamusician.MissMayhew,I'malwaysfindingoutsomethingnewaboutyou,andI'mgoingtoaskyouthiseveningtosingagainformeaballadthemelodyofwhichremindedmeofarunningbrook.Ittookholdonmyfancyandhasbeenrunninginmyheadeversince."
　　"Oh,youwon'tlikethat;it'sasilly,sentimentallittlething.
　　Idon'twonderyoupausedandretreated."
　　"Spareme,MissIda;Ialreadyfeelthatitwasafaint-heartedretreat,inwhichIsufferedseriousloss.Ihaveaccountedformyselfsinceweparted;howdidYOUspendthetime?Ofcourseyouyawnedoveryourmorning'sfatigue,andtookalongnap."
　　"IndeedIdidnotsleepawink.WhyshouldIbeanymoreindolentthanyourself?Ireadmostoftheafternoon,anddrummedonthepianointheevening."
　　"IknowthatIlikeyourdrumming,butamnotyetsureaboutyourauthor;buthemustbeanexceedinglyinterestingone,toholdyourattentionalonghotafternoon."
　　Idacoloredinsuddenembarrassment,butsaid,afteramoment:"I
　　shallnotgratifyyourcuriosityanyfurther,foryouwouldlaughatmeagainifItoldyou."
　　"Now,indeed,youhavepiquedmycuriosity."
　　"Sinceyou,aman,admithavingsomuchofthisfeminineweakness,Iwhoamonlyawomanmaybepardonedforshowingjustalittle.
　　Whatworkwasitthatsoabsorbedyouyesterdayafternoonthatyouceasedtobehumaninyourneeds?"
　　"MissMayhew,youhavebeenlaughingatmeinyoursleeveeversinceyoucamethismorning.Ishalltakemyrevengeonyouatoncebyheapingcoalsoffireonyourhead,"andheturnedtowardsheralargepicture,allofwhichwasyetinoutline,saveMr.Eltinge'sbustandface.
　　Idasprangdownonherkneesbeforeit,exclaiming:"O!mydear,kindoldfriend!He'sjustspeakingtome.Mr.VanBerg,I'llnowmaintainyouareageniusagainstalltheworld.Youhaveputkindness,love,fatherhoodintohisface.Youhavemadeitastrongandnoble,andyettenderandgentleasthemanhimself.I
　　neverknewitwaspossibleforaportraittoexpresssomuch,"andtearsofstrong,gratefulfeelingfilledhereyes.
　　Wasitsuccessinhisartorpraisefromherlipsthatgaveherlistenersuchanexquisitethrillofpleasure?Hedidnotstoptoconsider,forhewasnotinananalyticalmoodatthattime.
　　Hewasonthecrestofthespiritualwavethatwassweepinghimheavenward,ortowardssomebeatificstateofwhichhehadnotdreamtbefore.Hisfaceglowedwithpleasureashesaid:
　　"Sinceitpleasesyou,it'snomorethanjusticethatyoushouldknowthatyourvisitwasthecauseofmysuccess.Eitheryourlaughoryourkindpartingwordsbrushedthecobwebsfrommymind,andIwasabletodobetterworkinafewhoursthanImighthaveaccomplishedinweeks."
　　Shetriedtolookatthepicturemoreclosely,butfast-comingtearsblindedher.Thensherose,andavertingherfacehastily,wipedhereyes,asshesaidinalowtone:"Ican'tunderstanditatall,andthememoryofMr.Eltinge'skindnessalwaysovercomesme.Pleasepardonmyweakness.There,Iwon'twasteanymoreofyourtime,"andshereturnedtoherchair.ButherfacestillworetheuncertaintyofanAprilday.
　　"YouraffectionforMr.Eltinge,"hesaidgently,"isasbeautifulasitisnatural.Nomanifestationofitneedsanyapology,andleastofalltome,forIowetohimfarmorethanlife.ButIampainingyoubyrecallingthepast,"hesaidregretfully,asIda'stearsbegantogatheragain."Letmetrytomakeamendsbyreturningatoncetothepresentandtomywork.BeforeIgoonanyfartherwithyourportraitIwantyoutoputthisrose-budinyourhair,"
　　andfromahiddennookhebroughtalittlevasecontainingonlyoneexquisitebud.Idahadbarelytimetoseethatitwasincolorandsizepreciselyliketheemblemofherselfthathehadthrownaway,andforafewminutessheutterlylostherself-control.Sheburiedherfaceinherhands,andherlow,stifledsobsfilledVanBergwiththekeenestdistressandperplexity.
　　"MissIda,"hesaidearnestly,"Iwouldrathereverytearyouaresheddingwereadropofmyblood,"buthiswordsonlymadethemflowfasterstill.
　　Suddenlyshesprangup,andturningherbackuponhim,dashedawayhertearsalmostfiercely."Oh!thisisshameful!"sheexclaimed,inlow,indignanttones."Mr.VanBerg,whatmustyouthinkofme?PleaseturnMr.Eltinge'sfaceaway,forheislookingatmejustashedidwhenmyheartwasbreaking,and——and——I'velostmyself-control,andIhadbetternotcomeheretillIcanceasebeingsoweakandfoolish."
　　"Isitweaktobegrateful?"heasked,gently."Isitfoolishtoloveonesothoroughlyentitledtoyourlove?IhonoryouforyourdeepandtenderaffectionforMr.Eltinge,andeverytearyouhaveshedprovestomethatinthisperfectflowerIamnowfindingthetrueemblemofyourself."
　　"No,"shesaid,almostpassionately,"Ihavenorighttoit.Theotheronethatyouthrewawayistrueofme,andalwayswillbe.
　　Thisbutmocksmewithitsperfection.IwouldbeahypocriteifIshouldputitinmyhair,andsmilecomplacentlywhileyoupaintedit.Myheartclingstotheotheremblem,andIknowImustdevelopasbestIcan,asthatwouldhavedoneafteritsdestroyerwastakenaway.No,Mr.VanBerg.Ihaveseenmyselfinthestrong,sharplightoftruth.Ifyouarewillingtobemyfriend,pleasebeanhonestone.Myfaithfuloldfriendinthecountrywouldscarcelytakemyportraitifthisperfectflowerwereintroducedwithanysuchmeaningasyouattachtoit,andIcertainlywouldbeashamedtogiveittohim.Mr.Vanberg,weMUSTletbygonesbybygones,orwenevercangeton.SeehowabsurdlyIhaveactedbothyesterdayandto-day,andallthroughrecallingthepast.
　　Indeed,indeed,itwillneverdoformetocomehereagain,andifyoucanmakesuchamarvellouslikenessofMr.Eltingeasyouhave,Iscarcelythinktherewillbeanyneed."
　　"MysuccesswithMr.Eltinge'sportraitistheresultofafewhappystrokesthatImightnotbeabletogiveagainifItriedayear.
　　Believeme,MissMayhew,Inotonlywishtobeanhonestfriend,butaveryconsiderateone.Ipromisenevertourgeyoutodoanythingthatwillcauseyoupain.Icanunderstandhowthefeaturesofyourkindfriendhavetouchedthetenderestchordsofyourheart,andIrespectyourstudyfidelitytoyourconscienceinrefusingtoletmepaintthisbudinyourhair;butyoumustalsodomethejusticetobelievethatImeantnohollowcomplimentwhenIsearchedforitamongtheflorists.MustIthrowthisoneaway,too?"heasked,withaglancethatwasveryardentforafriend;"forsinceIobtaineditforyou,itmustreceiveitsfateatyourhandsonly."
　　"I'llwearit,simplyasyourgift,withpleasure,"andshefasteneditinherbreastpin,sothatitscrimsonblushrestedagainstthesnowywhitenessofherneck.
　　Helookedherfullintheeyesandsaid,withlow,sademphasis:
　　"Idonotdeservesuchrespect."Thentheknowledgethatshewasharboringapurposewhichtroubledherconscience,butwhichshecouldnotabandon,becamethecauseofatraceofheroldrecklessnessofmanner.Sheassumedasuddengayety,asifshehadsteppedoutofshadowsintotoostrongalight,asshesaid:
　　"Mr.VanBerg,youmaywellhesitatetobringtheappetiteyousayhadlastnighttoourhousethisevening,andifIstayamomentlonger,youwillgetnodinneratall.Ihavenotbeenafterthecrudematerial——asyoucallit——yet,andI'mtoldthatthereisnotamanlivingsoamiableandphilosophical,butthatapoordinnerprovokesmartyr-likeexpression,ifnothingworse;"andwithasmileandapiquancyofmannerthatseemedpeculiarlybrilliantagainstthebackgroundofherdeepandrepressedfeeling,sheagainlefthim.
　　Hetriedtoreturntohiswork,butfoundhimselfoncemorepossessedbythedemonofunrestandimpatience.Thespiritualwavethathadbeenliftinghimhigherandhigherwaschangingitscharacterandbecomingasmoothlyglidingcurrent.Itwassoirresistiblethatheneverthoughtofresisting."Whyshouldheresist?"heaskedhimself.CircumstanceshadinterestedhiminthisrareUndinebeforeshereceivedawoman'ssoul;circumstanceshadentangledhislifeandhersinwhathadalmostbeenanawfultragedy;andnowcircumstances,orsomethingfarbeyond,wereswiftlydevelopingbeforehiseyesaspirituallovelinessthatwasthecounterpartofheroutwardbeauty,andheassuredhimselfthatitwouldbethegreatestfollyofhislifetoloseatraceoftheexquisiteprocessthathemightbeprivilegedtosee.WhatartistorpoethasnotpicturedhimselfthefairfaceofEveasGodfirstbreathedintoherperfectclaythebreathoflife,orhasnot,inimagination,seentheclosedeyesopeninginsurpriseandintelligenceorkindlingwiththelightoflove?AndyetthechangeinIdaMayhewseemedtoVanBergfarmorewonderfulandinteresting;andtohisfancyif,insteadoflyinginthebeautyofherbreathless,statuesquepreparationforlife,Evehadbeenpossessedbyalegionofdistortingimps,shewouldhavebeenthetypeofthemaidenhefirsthadrecognized.Buthehadseentheseevilspiritsexorcised,andintheirplacewascominganoble,womanlysoul——sweet,tender,andstrong——andtheperfectformandfeaturesseemedbutatransparentmould,acrystalvaseintowhichheavenwaspouringanewanddivinelife.Whyshouldhenotlongtoescapefromthedustymatter-of-factworldandwitnessthisspiritualrepetitionofthemostbeautifulstoryofthepast?ThushisphilosophicalmindwasableoncemoretoreasonthewholematteroutclearlyandprovethathiswishtoannihilatetheinterveninghoursbeforehecoulddaretopresenthimselftoIdaMayhew,wasthemostnaturalandproperdesireimaginable.HeconcludedthatawalkthroughCentralParkmightbanishhisdisquietude,andleavetimeforacarefultoilet,sinceforsomeoccultreasontheoccasionseemedtohimtorequireunusualpreparation.
　　HeknewhewasunfashionablyearlywhenherangMr.Mayhew'sdoor-bell,buthehadfounditimpossibletocurbhisimpatiencetoseeinwhatnewaspectIdawouldpresentherselfthatevening.
　　Ahundredtimeshehadqueriedhowshewouldappearinherownhome,howshewouldpresideashostess,andwhetherthetasteofthefloridandfashionablemotherwouldnotbesoapparentastoannoyhimlikeabadtoneinthepicture.yes,thatwasMrs.Mayhew'sparlorintowhichhewasshown.Itdidnotsuggestthemaidenwhohadcometovisit,northequiet,dignifiedgentlemanMr.Mayhewwasseentobewhenatthetouchoflove'swandadegradingvicefellawayfromhim.Buttheartistcouldfindnofaultwiththehostwhogreetedhimpromptly,andwhen,afewmomentslater,therewasabreezyrustleonthestairsandheturnedtogreethishostess,hisfaceflushedwithadmirationandpleasure.Itbecameevidentthattheworshipperofbeautywasinthepresenceofhisdivinity,andhiseveryglanceburnedincensetoherhonor.Shehadtwinedafewrose-leavesinherhair,butworenootherornamentsavetherosehehadgivenherinthemorning,whichevidentlyhadbeenkeptcarefullyfortheoccasion,foritwasunchanged,withtheexceptionthatitrevealeditsheartalittlemoreopenly,asdidIdaherself.Andyetshedidherbesttoinsurethathermannershouldbenomorecordialthanhercharacterofhostessdemanded.
　　Butinspiteofallshecoulddo,thelightofexultationandintensejoywouldflashintohereyesandtrembleinhertonesthatevening.AmaidenwouldhavebeenblindindeedhadshenotbeenabletoreadtheriddleofVanBerg'sardentfriendshipnow,andIdahadseenthatexpressiontoooftennottoknowitsmeaningwell.Inthemorningshehadstronglyhoped,nowshebelieved.
　　Shenolongerwalkedbyfaithbutinfullvision,andshetrodwiththegraceofaqueenwhoknowsherpowerintherealmthatwomanlovesbest.Theglowofhereyes,herrepressedexcitement,thatvitalizedeverythingshesaidordid,mystifiedwhiletheycharmedherguest."Shehasbecometruetonature,"hethought,"andlikenatureisfullofmysteriouschanges,forwhichweknownotthecause.Atonetimeitisasharpnorthwind,againthesouthwind.
　　Thismorningtherewasasuddenshoweroftears,andbeforeitwasoverthesunlightofsmilesflashedthroughthem.NowsheappearslikeaJunemorning,andIpraytheweatherholds."
　　"Oh,"thoughtIda,inthewild,madgleeofherheart,"howcanI
　　behavemyselfandlookinnocentandunconscious,seeingwhatIdo?
　　Heismyverygoodfriendishe?Iwishforonlyonesuchfriendintheworld.Itwouldn'tbepropertohaveanother.Oh,butisn'titrichtoseehowunconsciousheisofhimself!Heispassingintoanexceedinglyacuteattackofmyowncomplaint,andthepoormandoesn'tknowwhatisthematter.Idon'tbelieveheeverlookedatJennieBurtonashelooksatme.Ah,JennieBurton!"Thejoyousnesssuddenlyfadedoutofherfaceandshesigheddeeply.
　　ItseemedtoVanBergforatimethathisJunemorningmightbecomecloudedafterall,butwhilehisfacewasturnedtowardsherwiththeexpressionitnowworenosadthoughtsormisgivingscouldshadowIdaverylong.
　　ChapterL.SweptAway.
　　TherewasnovulgarprofusioninthedinnerwhichIdahadordered,norwereitscoursesinterminable;andasshegracefullyandquietlydirectedeverything,thethoughtwouldkeepinsinuatingitselfinVanBerg'smind,thatthehomeoverwhichshemighteventuallypresidewouldbeanearsuburbofParadise.HeheartilysecondedIda'spurposethatherfathershouldtakepartintheirconversation,anditwasanotherdeepsourceofhergladnessthattheonewhomshehadseensodepressedanddespairing,nowlookedasshewouldalwayswishhimtoappear."Oh,it'stoogoodtolast,"shesighed,asherheartfairlyachedwithitsexcessofjoy.
　　AfterdinnerMr.MayhewaskedVanBergtolightacigarwithhiminhisstudy,buttheartistdeclinedandfollowedIdatotheparlor.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"shesaid,withagreatshowofsurprise,"howisityoudon'tsmokethisevening?ItseemedtomethatyouandCousinIkweredrawntoacertaincornerofMr.Burleigh'spiazzawiththecertaintyofgravitationafterdinner,andthenyouwerelostintheclouds."
　　"OnthisoccasionIhavetakenmychoiceofpleasuresandhavefollowedyou."
　　"Thisisaproudmomentforme,"shesaid,withamirthfultwinkleinhereyes."Ineverexpectedtorivalagentleman'scigar,andIdon'tthinkIeverdidbefore."
　　"Anotherproofofmyfriendship,MissIda."
　　"Yes,"shereplieddemurely,"anactlikethisgoesagoodwaytowardsmakingmebelieveyouaresincere."
　　"MissIda,youarealwayslaughingatme.IwishIcouldfindsomewaytogetevenwithyou,andIwilltoo."
　　"Youdomeinjustice.I,inturn,willlayanofferingonthealtaroffriendshipandwillgowithyouthiseveningtotheconcertgarden."
　　"Ithinkyouexceedingly,butwillleavetheofferingonthealtar,ifyouwillpermitme.Iwouldmuchratherremaininyourparlor."
　　"Why,Mr.VanBerg,youarebentonbeingamartyrformysakethisevening."
　　"Yes,whollybentuponit."
　　"Howamiablegentlemenareafterdinner!"sheexclaimed."Butwherewasyourappetitethisevening?ClearlyourcookknowsnothingofthepreparationofambrosianorIofnectar,althoughImadethecoffeemyself."
　　"Didyou?Thataccountsforitsdivineflavor.Don'tyourememberItooktwocups?"
　　"Isawthatyourpolitenessledyoutosendmeyourcupasecondtime.Isupposeyouaccomplishedavastdealagainto-dayafteryouwereoncefinallyridofanembodimentofAprilweather?"
　　"IwouldloseyourrespectaltogetherifIshouldtellyouhowI
　　havespenttheafternoon.Youwouldthinkmeanabsurdjumbleofmoodsandtenses.Imayaswellownup,Isuppose.Ihavedonenothingbutkilltime,andtothatendItookawalkthroughCentralPark."
　　"Thishotafternoon!Mr.VanBerg,whatpossessedyou?"
　　"Ademonofimpatience.ItseemedasifoldJoshuahadcommandedthesuntostandstillagain."
　　"Youmustindeedbyagenius,Mr.VanBerg,forI'vealwaysheardthatthepeculiarlygiftedwerefullofunaccountablemoods."
　　"Iunderstandthesatireofyourexpression'PECULIARLYgifted,'
　　butmyturnwillcomebeforetheeveningisover,"andheleanedluxuriouslybackagainstthesofacushionwithalookofinfinitecontentwiththeprospectbeforehim."Blessme,whatisthisoverwhichIhavehalfbrokenmyback,"heexclaimed,andhedraggedoutofitspartialconcealmentahugevolume.
　　"Pleaseletmetakethatoutofyourway,"saidIda,steppinghastilyforwardwithcrimsoncheeks.
　　"Don'ttroubleyourself,MissMayhew;fortuneisfavoringmeoncemore,andIamonthepointofdiscoveringthefavoriteauthoryouwouldnotmentionthismorning.Anencyclopedia,asIlive!fromAtoB,withahair-pininsertedsharplyatthewordAmsterdam.
　　Really,MissIda,Ican'taccountforyourabsorbinginterestinAmsterdam."
　　"Mr.VanBerg,thereisnouseintryingtohideanythingfromyou.
　　YoufindmeouteverytimeandI'mreallygrowingsuperstitiousaboutit."
　　"Iwishyourwordsweretrue;but,forthelifeofme,Ican'tunderstandwhyyoushouldcraveencyclopaediasasAugustreading,norcanIseetheremotestconnectionbetweentheexquisitecolorofyourfaceandtheoldDutchcityofAmsterdam."
　　"Well,theFatesareagainstmeoncemore.WhyIleftthatbookthereIdon'tknow,forI'mnotusuallysocareless.Mr.VanBerg,Iscarcelyneedtoremindyouofafactthatyoudiscoveredlongago——Idon'tknowanything.Doyounotrememberhowyoutriedtotalkwithmeoneevening?Youtouchedonalmostasmanysubjectsasthathugevolumecontains,andmyfaceremainedasvacantthroughthemallastheblankpagesinthatbookbeforetheprintedmatterbegins."
　　"Butnow,MissIda,yourfaceistomelikethisbookaftertheprintedmatterbegins,onlyIreadtherethatwhichinterestsmefarmorethananythingwhichthisbulkytomecontains,evenunderthewordAmsterdam."
　　"Youimaginefarmorethanyousee.Ithinkartistsarelikepoets,andaregiventogreatflights.Besides,youarebecomingversedinmysmalltalk.WhenyoutrieditontheeveningIreferredto,youwerejustatrifleponderous."
　　"Yes,Icannowseemyselfperforminglikealameelephant.Didyouproposetoreadthisencyclopaediaentirelythrough?"
　　"Imighthaveskippedartasasubjectfartoodeepforme."
　　"Whenyoucometothatletmetaketheplaceoftheencyclopaedia.
　　Iwillsitjustherewhereyoukeepyourbookandgiveyouaseriesoffamiliarlectures."
　　"Ineverenjoyedbeinglectured,sir!"
　　"ThenI'llteachyouaftertheSocraticmethod,andaskyouquestions."
　　"Ifearsomeofthemmightbetoopersonal.Youhavesuchamaniaforsolvingeverything."
　　"AnddidyoufearthatatsomeofthemanysittingsIshallneedthisfallImightagainbroacheverysubjectunderthesun,andsoyouwereledtoreadanencyclopaediatobeprepared?"
　　"IsthatwhatyoumeanbytheSocraticmethod?Ideclineanylessonsconcerningartoranythingelseonthatplan,foryouwouldfindouteverything."
　　"Ishall,anyway.HowlongagoitseemssincewetookthatstupidwalktogetheronMr.Burleigh'spiazza!Wearenearertogethernow,MissIda,thanwewerethen."
　　"Oh!no,indeed,"sherepliedquickly;"Ihadyourarmonthatoccasion."
　　"Butyouhavemysincerefriendshipandrespectnow.Ican'ttellyouhowpleasedIwaswhenIsawhowyouhadhonoredthelittleemblematicflowerIgaveyouthismorning.Thatyouwearitto-nightasyouronlyornamentgivesmehopethatyoudovaluemyrespectandregard."
　　"IthinkIhadbetterlettherose-budansweryou,andIconfessIliketothinkhowperfectitiswhenIrememberthemeaningyougavetoit,thoughhowyoucanrespectmeatallIcannotunderstand.
　　Still,Iamlikefather——nexttoGod'sfavortherespectofthoseIesteemdoesmosttosustainandreassureme.But,oh!Mr.VanBerg,youcan'tknowwhatanhonestsenseofill-desertIhave.Itissohardjusttodoright,nomatterwhattheconsequencesmaybe."
　　"ThetroublewithmeisthatIamnottryingasyouare.ButI
　　know,withabsolutecertainty,thatthestrongestimpulseoftruefriendship,oratleastofmine,inthisinstance,istorendersomeservicetomyfriend.YouwillmakemeveryhappyifyouwilltellmesomethingIcandoforyou."
　　"Youarehelpingmeverymuchinyourmannertowardsfather,andIdothankyoufromtheverydepthsofmyheart.Innowaycouldyouhavewonfrommeadeepergratitude.And——well——yourkindnessalmosttemptsmetoaskforanotherfavor,Mr.VanBerg."
　　Hesprangtohersideandtookherhand.
　　Quicklywithdrawingit,shesaidwithalittledecisivenode:"Youmustsitdownandsitstill,forIhavealong,tiresomestorytotell,andaveryprosaicfavortoask;"forshehadresolved,"heshallgoforwardnowwithhiseyesopen,andheshallneversayI
　　wonhimbyseemingwhatIwasnot.IfIcan'tdealrightbyJennieBurton,Iwillbyhim."
　　"Ishallfindnoserviceprosaic;see,I'mallattention,"andhedidlookveryeagerindeed.
　　"Thatencyclopaediasuggestsmystory,andImayhavetoreferincidentallytomyself."
　　"Leavethebookout;I'lllistenforages."
　　"Ishouldbeoutofbreathbeforethat.Mr.VanBerg,I'minearnest;
　　Idon'tknowanythingworthknowing.Mylifehasbeenworsethanwasted,andtheonlytwothingsIunderstandwellaredancingandflirting.NowIknowyouaredisgusted,butitsthetruth.Myold,fashionablelifeseemstomelikethetawdryscenesofasecond-ratetheatre,whereeverythingisforeffectandnothingisreal.I
　　havehostsofacquaintances,butIhaven'tanyfriendsexceptMr.
　　Eltinge."
　　"AndHaroldVanBerg,"putintheartist,promptly.
　　"It'sgoodofyoutosaythataftersuchconfessions,"shecontinued,withashyglance."Ihopeitwasn'toutofpoliteness.Well,I'vewakedupatlast.Ithinkyoufirststartledmeoutofmyinsufferablestupidityandsillinessattheconcertgarden,andI'mverymuchobligedtoyoufortheremarkyoumadetoCousinIkonthatoccasion."
　　"Yes,Iremember,"VanBerggroaned."IwakedyouupasifIweretryingtoputyourshoulderoutofjoint.Well,I'mwakingupalso."
　　"YouhavenoideawhataperfectshamofalifeIled,"andshetoldhimfranklyofherwastedschooldaysandofhertripabroad,forwhichshehadnopreparationofmindorcharacter."Abutterflymighthaveflownoverthesamegroundandcomebackjustaswise,"
　　shesaid."ButIhavesuddenlyenteredanewworldoftruthandduty,andIambewildered;Iamanxioustofitmyselfforthesocietyofsensible,cultivatedpeople,andIamdiscouragedbythetaskbeforeme.Iwenttofather'slibraryyesterdayandwasperfectlyappalledbythenumberofbooksandsubjectsthatIknownothingabout.ThefactthatIstumbledintothatencyclopaedia,whichgaveyouthelaughagainstme,showshowhelplessIam.
　　Indeed,I'mlikealittlechildtryingtofinditswaythroughawildernessofknowledge.IblunderedonasfarasAmsterdam,andthereIstoppedindespair.Ididn'tknowwhatwasbeforeme,andIwasgettingeverythingIhadbeenoverconfusedandmixedupinmymind.Andnow,Mr.VanBerg,withyourthorougheducationandwideexperienceyoucantellmewhattoreadandhowtoread."
　　VanBerg'sfacewasfairlyalivewithinterest,andhesaideagerly:
　　"Thefavoryouasksuggestsafargreateroneonmypart.Letmegowithyouthroughthiswildernessofknowledge.Wecantakeupcoursesofreadingtogether."
　　AtthismomentMr.Mayhewentered,andtheartisthesitatedtogoonwithhisfar-reachingoffers,and,indeed,hesuddenlybegantorealize,withsomeembarrassment,howmuchtheydidinvolve.
　　ButIdamaintainedherpresenceofmind,andsaid,simply:"Thatwouldbeimpossible,thoughnodoubtexceedinglyhelpfultome.
　　Here,asintheinstanceofthepictures,yourgood-natureandkindnesscarryyoufarbeyondwhatIeverdreamedofasking.I
　　merelythoughtthatinsomeofyourmomentsofleisureyoucouldjotdownsomebooksandsubjectsthatwouldbethesameasifyouhadpointedoutsmoothandshadypaths.Yousee,inmyignorance,I'vetriedtopushmywaythroughthewildernessstraightacrosseverything.LasteveningIpesteredmyfatherwithsomanyquestionsaboutpoliticsandthetopicsoftheday,thathethoughtIhadlostmywits."
　　Mr.Mayhewleanedbackinhischairandlaughedheartily,ashementallyejaculated:"Welldone,littlegirl!"
　　"Iwillbrushupmyliteraryideas,anddothebestIcan,verygladly,"saidVanBerg."Butyougreatlyunderrateyourselfandoverratemyability.Iamstillbutontheedgeofthiswildernessofknowledgemyself,andincrossingawildernessonelikescompany."
　　"Oh,Icouldneverkeepupwithyourmanlystrides,"saidIda,withasuddentrilloflaughter."Havingsecuredmywish,Ishallnowrewardyouwithsomeverypoormusic,whichwillsuggestmyneedoflessonsinthatdirectionalso."
　　VanBergwasnotlongindiscoveringthatshewouldneverbecomeagreatmusician,nomatterhowmanylessonsshehad.Butsheplayedwithtasteandagracefulrhythm,whichprovedthatmusicinitssimplestformsmightbecomealanguagebywhichshecouldexpressherthoughtandfeeling.
　　"Ida,"saidMr.Mayhew,alittleabruptly,"Iwishtoseeafriendattheclub.I'llbebackbeforetheeveningisover."
　　"Pleasedon'tstaylong,"Idaanswered,lookingwistfullyafterhim.
　　Thentheyfoundsomeballad-musicthattheycouldsingtogether,andVanBergexpressedgreatpleasureinfindinghowwelltheirvoicesblended.
　　"Youhavemodestlykeptquiteallsummer,andIamjustfindingoutthatyouplayandsing,"hesaid.