"Myheartoverflowswithgratitudetoyou,"hesaidpromptly,butwithrisingcolor;"andasIsaidwhenyourescuedme,sonowI
　　vowagain,Idedicatemylifetoyou.Idonotaskyoutoforgetthepastallatonce——Idonotaskyoutoforgetitatall——butonlytoletmeaidyouintakingthebitternessoutofthosememoriesthatnowaredestroyingassweetandbeneficentalifeasGodevergave.Ihavesuspectedthatyouhadsomeunselfishguileinthatlastpromiseyouobtainedfromme,butIshallbeloyaltothepromiseIintendedtomake,andwhichwasinmymind;IshallbeloyaltothepromiseImadeyouatfirst,towinyouifIcould,andIshallwaittillIcan."
　　"What,then,willIdaMayhewdo?"sheaskedlookinghimfullintheface.
　　Hecoloredstillmoredeeply,butmeetinghersearchinggazewithoutblenching,hesaid,firmlyandquietly:"Shewillalwaysdowhatisrightandnoble,Godblessher!"
　　MissBurtonappearedalittleperplexedandtroubledforamoment,andthensaid,slowly:"IcalledyoumyfriendlastJuly,andwhenIspeakinthemoodIwasinthenImeanallthatIsay.Friendsshouldbeveryfrankwhentheoccasionrequires,orelsetheyarebutacquaintances.Iamgoingtobeveryfrankwithyouto-day,andifIerr,chargeittofriendshiponly.IdaMayhewlovesyou,Mr.VanBerg;shehaslovedyoualmostfromthefirst;andnowthatherlifehasbecomesonobleandbeautiful,Iamgreatlymistakenifyoudonotreturnheraffection.Ifthisbetrue,whatareyouofferingme?"
　　"IHAVEgivenyou,MissBurton,mytruthandloyaltyforallcomingtime.Youmaydeclinethemnow——youprobablywill——butyoucannotchangemyattitudetowardsyouoraltermycourse.Ishallnotattempttohideanythingfromyou.Indeed,todosowouldbevain,andIhaveneverbeenintentionallyinsincerewithyou."ThenhetoldherofthefreakoffancythathadledhimtofollowIdatothecountryinthefirstinstance,andmuchthatfollowedsince,makingnoreference,however,toherdarkpurposeagainstherself.
　　Inconclusionhesaid:"Oflate,forreasonsobvioustoyou,shehashadstrongfascinationsforme,butaboveandbeyondthesehasbeenherinfluenceonthesideofallthat'sright,manly,andtrue.IhaveneverspokenoflovetoMissMayhew.Honor,loyalty,unboundedgratitude,anddeepaffectionbindmetoyou,andshallthroughlife.Pleasesaynomore,MissJennie,forifanyquestionwaseversettled,thisis."
　　"ThenyouproposetosacrificeyourselfandMissMayhewfortheshadowychanceofmakingmealittlehappier?"
　　"Ishallnotbesacrificed,andIdaMayhewwouldjustlyrejectmewithscornwereIdisloyaltoyou.Icangiveyoumorelove,JennieBurton,thanIfearyouwillevergiveme,butIshallwaitpatiently.Whenmonthsandyearshaveprovedtoyouthetruthofmywords,youmayfeeldifferently.Letusleavethesubjecttillthen."
　　"Oh,Mr.VanBerg,Ishallhavetotellyouafterall,"shesaidburyingherfaceinherhands.
　　"Youneednotnow,"herepliedgently."Youhavebeenillandarenotstrongenoughforthisagitation.Youneverneedtotellmeunlessitwillmakeyourburdenlighter."
　　"Itwillmakemyburdenlighterto-day,"shesaidhurriedly."PardonmeifItellmystoryinthebriefestandmostprosaicway.Youarethefirstonethathasheardit.Itmaynotseemmuchtoyouandothers;buttomeitisanawfultragedy,andIsometimesfearmylifemaybeaneternalconditionofsuspenseandwaiting.Youhavebeenverygenerousintakingmesofullyontrust,butnowyoushallknowall.Iamtheonlydaughterofapoor,unworldlyNewEnglandclergyman.MymotherdiedbeforeIcanremember,andmyfathergavetomeallthetimehecouldsparefromthedutiesofasmallvillageparish.Heandthebeautifulregioninwhichwelivedweremyonlyteachers.OneJunemorningHarroldFleetwoodcametotheparsonagewithlettersofintroduction,sayingthathisphysicianhadbanishedhimfrombooksandcitylife,andheaskedifhecouldbetakenasalodgerforafewweeks.Poorandunworldlyasfatherwas,formysakehemadecarefulinquiriesandlearnedthattheyoungmanwasfromoneofthebestandwealthiestfamiliesofBoston,andboreanunblemishedreputation.Then,sinceweweresoverypoor,heyieldedtoMr.Fleetwood'swishes,hopingthustobeabletobuysomebooks,hesaid,onwhichourmindscouldliveduringthecomingwinter.
　　"Tome,HarroldFleetwoodwasaveryremarkablecharacter.Whilehealwaystreatedmewithkindnessandrespect,hedidnottakemuchnoticeofmeatfirst;andIthinkhefoundmeverydiffident,tosaytheleast.But,ashehadovertaxedhiseyes,Ibegantoreadtohim;andthen,aswebecamebetteracquainted,heresumedahabithehad,asIsoonlearned,ofspeakinginhalf-soliloquyconcerningthesubjectsthatoccupiedhismind.Hesaidthataninvalidsisterhadindulgedhiminthishabit,andhehadtriedtothinkaloudpartlytobeguileherweariness.ButtomeitwastherevelationoftherichestandmostversatilemindIhaveeverknown.AtlastIventuredtoshowmyinterestandtoasksomequestions,andthenhegraduallybecameinterestedinmeforsomereason."
　　"Icanunderstandhisreasons,"saidVanBergemphatically.
　　"Hedidnotknowatfirsthowmuchtimefatherhadgivenmeandtowhatgooduseswehadputthebookswehad.Well,Imustbebrief.
　　Everydaybroughtusnearertogether,untilitseemedthatwesharedourthoughtsincommon.Ioughtnottocomplain,forperhapsinfewlonglivesdoestherecomemorehappinessthanwascrowdedinthosefewweeks.Itwasthehappinessofheaven——itwasthehappinessoftwosoulsattunedtoperfectharmonyandrangingtogethertherichestfieldsoftruthandfancy.Dearoldfatherwasblindtoitall,andIhadscarcelythoughtwhithertheshiningtidewascarryingmeuntillastTuesdayfiveyearsago,Mr.Fleetwoodsaidtome,'Jennie,oursoulswerematedinheaven,ifanyeverwere,andIclaimyouasthefulfillmentofwhatmusthavebeenaDivinepurpose.'Ifoundthatmyheartechoedeverywordhesaid.
　　"ThenheappearedtroubledandsaidthatImustgivehimtimetountangleasnarlintowhichhehaddriftedratherthaninvolvedhimself.Hisfamilywerewealthyandambitious,andtheyhadalwaysspokenofhismarriagewithacousinwhowasanheiress,asasettledthing.Hehadneverboundhimselfbywordoract,andoftenlaughinglytoldhisparentsthattheycouldnotarrangethesemattersonstrictlybusinessprinciples,asdidaristocratsabroad——thattheyoungladyherselfmighthavesomethingtosay,ifhehadnot.Buthewaswraptupinhisstudies——hewaspreparingforaliterarylife——andeventsdriftedonuntilhefoundthateveryoneofhishouseholdhadsettheirheartsonthisalliance.Allthathecouldsayagainstitwasthathewasindifferent.Theladywasprettyandtriedtomakeherselfagreeabletohim;whilehefeltthattheyhadlittleincommon,andwasalsoledtobelievethatshewouldgood-naturedlyleavehimtohisownpursuits,andsoheenterednoprotesttothefamilyschemes,butdrifted.Thatwastheonedefectofhischaracter.Hewasamanofthoughtandfancyratherthanofdecisionandaction.
　　"Whenhereturnedhomeandtoldhisparentsofhisattachmentforme,theywerefurious,andwroteverybitterletterstobothfatherandmyself,accusingusofhavingintriguedtoobtainawealthyalliance.ThankGod!fatherneversawtheletter,ashediedsuddenly,beforeheknewhowsoreawoundIhadreceived.NordidIevershowthelettertoMr.Fleetwood,formyfatherhadtrainedmetoowelltosowdissensionbetweenparentsandson.
　　"Anaunttookmetoherhome.Shewasakindheartedoldlady,butverymatter-of-factandwhollyengrossedinherhousekeeping,andItoldhernothing.IwaitedtillMr.Fleetwoodsoughtmeout,whichhesoondid.Isawthathisfamilyweremovingheavenandearthtobreakoffhisengagementwithme,anditevidentlypainedhimdeeplythathemustsogreatlydisappointhisparents.Buttheconsiderationthatweighedmostwithhimwasthis:theyurgeduponhimineverypossiblewaythathopeshadbeenraisedintheheartoftheyoungladyherself,andalthoughhewasalwaysveryreticentinregardtoher.Ithinkshesecondedthefamilyscheme,forthemarriagewouldhavejoinedtwoverylargeestates.Althoughmyheartoftenstoodstillwithfearwhileheapparentlywaveredalittle,IcanhonestlysayIlefthimfreetomakehisownchoice.
　　Theypersecutedandurgedhimtothatextent,andsoconfusedhissenseofrightandwrong,that,inordertoescapefromhisdilemma,hemanagedtogetalieutenant'scommissioninthearmyinspiteofhisphysician'sprotest,andbeforehisfamilyrealizedwhattheyregardedasanimmeasurabledisasterhewasintheUnionranksatthefront.ItHASprovedanimmeasurabledisastertome.
　　"Hecametoseemebeforehewentsouth,andtoldmethathepreferreddeathtoanyotherbridethanmyself.InsadforebodingIbeggedhimtogivemeupratherthangointothatawfulwarwithhisimperfecthealth.Buthewent.Therestofmystoryissoontold.
　　Lifeinthefieldseemedtobracehimupeveryway.Hewrotemethathehadlivedhithertoinbooksanddreams,andthatcontactwithstrong,forcefulmenwasjustwhatheneeded.Hewrotealmostdaily,andIlivedonhisletters.Hegrewstrongandheroicinhisexposuretodangerandhardship,andwonpromotiononthesimplegroundofmerit.Atlast,afteranarduouscampaign,hewasslightlywoundedandgreatlyworn,andhereceivedalongleaveofabsenceafterthetroopswentintowinterquarters.Hewrotethenthathewascominghometomarryme,andnopoweronearthcouldpreventitexceptmy'ownlittleself,'asheexpressedit——oh!Icanrepeatallthoseletterswordforword.Hewrotemetheverydayandhouronwhichhewouldstart,andIhavewaitedeversince;andIhavevowedbeforeGodthatIwillwaittillhecomes."Andshebowedherhead,hereyesweretearless,andshewentonstillmorehurriedly.
　　"Iafterwardslearnedfromabrotherofficer,andalsofromthepapers,thathelefthisregimentalheadquartersatthetimehesaid,butthathehadtoridethrougharegioninfestedwithguerrillas,andthatisabsolutelyallIknow.Iamsurehewrotetohisfamilyofhisintentionsinregardtome,buttheyhaveneverrecognizedmeintheslightestway.Theyoungladytowhomtheywouldhavemarriedhimworemourningayear,andthenwasledtothealterbyanotherman.But,asmyHarroldsaid,Godmatedoursouls,andI
　　shallwaittillhejoinsourlives.YournamestartledmegreatlywhenIhearditlastJuneforthefirsttimesinceIhadspokenitmyselftoonewhohasseeminglyvanishedbutiseverpresenttome,andwhileyoudonotresemblehiminappearancetoanycloseextent,thereisattimessomethinginyourexpressionthatissingularlylikehis;andthisfactmustexplainandexcusealltheweakexhibitionsofmyselfthissummer.Andnow,myfriend,permitmetosaythatyourratherardentwordsononeortwooccasionsneverdeceivedmeforamoment.Youmistookyourwarmsympathyforlove.I,whohadseenandknowntheloveofHarroldFleetwood,couldnotmakesuchamistake.YoudoloveIdaMayhew,andsheisworthy;andinnopossiblewaycouldyoudosomuchtoaddtomyhappiness,nowandalways,asbyaidingthatbeautifulgirldevelophernewandbeautifullife.HaroldVanBerg,IwouldregarditasaninsultifyoueverspoketomeofloveandmarriageafterwhatIhavetoldyouto-day.Ishallalwaysvalueyourfriendshipvery,verymuch,forIamnowaloneintheworld,andIthinkIhavefoundinyouafriendinwhomIcantrustabsolutely,andtowhomIcouldgoincasethereshouldbeneed.Probablythereneverwillbe,for,inmysimple,busylife,Ihavefewwants.YoumaytellMr.StantonwhatyouthinkbestofmystoryafterIamgone.I
　　regretunspeakablythatheshouldthinkofmeashedoes,forIhavelearnedtorespecthimasatrue,noble-heartedgentleman.Itisonemoreoflife'sstrangemysteries.Mr.VanBerg,"shesaid,springingup,"youhavemadetomeonepledgethatyoucankeep——onlyone.Youhavepromisedto'makemehappyinmyownway.'BraveIdaMayhewcaughtmeinherarmswhenIfaintedlastTuesday,andshewatchedatmysidetillmorning.Yes,shedid;thenobleandgenerousgirl!ButIpromisedmyselfthepleasureofrewardingher,ifpossible.Now,ifyouwishtodosomethingformethatdemandsprompt,heroicaction,scrambleintoabuggyandletoneofMr.Burleigh'smendriveyoutothatoldgardenbeforesheleavesit.Shefoundhernewspirituallifethere,letheralsofindherhappyearthlylifeinthesamelovedplace.Notaword,butgoatonceifyouhaveanyregardformyfeelingsandwishes.AsIhavetoldmystory,yoursympatheticfacehasbeenmoreeloquentthananywords,andleavesnothingtobesaid.IrefusetoseeyouorspeaktoyouagaintillyouhavefulfilledtheonlypromiseIeveraskedorwishedyoutomake,"andshelefthimandquicklydisappeared.
　　TenminuteslaterVanBergwasbeingdriventowardsMr.Eltinge'splace,ataspeedwhichthreatened,incaseofaccident,toplacehimbeyondtheuseofcrutches.AsherodealonginfrontofthehousehesawthatIda'soldhorseandlowphaetonwerestillintheshadeofthetrees;therefore,dismissinghisdriver,hehobbledwithsingularalacrityacrossthelawnandsuddenlypresentedhimselfbeforeMr.EltingeandIda,muchtothesurpriseofthelatter,whohastilywipedhereyesandsoughttohidethefactthatherthoughtshadnotbeenverycheerful.
　　"Pardonme,"hesaid,"butIleftmysketchbookheresomedayssince;
　　andIespeciallywishedtobidMr.Eltingegood-byandtothankhimwithallthewarmthandfulnessthatcanbeputintowords."
　　Mr.Eltingewascordiallyandgravelykindinhisreception,butIdakeptherfaceaverted,forsheknewthatthetracesofgriefweretooapparent.
　　AfterafewmomentsMr.Eltingesaid:"Sincethisisyourlastvisit,Icannotthinkoflettingeitherofyougobackbeforedinner,and,ifyouwillexcusemeforalittletime,Isooncanseethatoursimplearrangementsaremade."
　　"Ishallbeverygladtoremain,"saidVanBerg,sopromptlythatIdaturnedandlookedathimwithsurprise.Shewasstillmoresurprisedwhen,assoonastheywerealone,hehobbledtotherusticseatandsatdownbesideher.
　　"MissIda,"hesaid,"youhavealwaysgivenmesuchadmirableadvicethatIcometoyouagain.MissBurtonrefusesmeabsolutelyandirrevocably,andinlanguagethatrendersitimpossibleformeevertoaddressheragainonthesubject.Youthusperceivewhataforlornobjectisbeforeyou——arejectedmanandacripple!"
　　"MissBurtonrefusedyou!"exclaimedIdainutteramazement."Youwerebutacoldwooer,Iimagine,"sheaddedreproachfully,andsherosefromtheseatandstoodalooffromhim.
　　"Youknowwell,MissIda,"hesaidearnestly,"thatafalsehoodwouldbeimpossibleinthisplace,andIassureyouIhonestlydidthebestIcould.Wehaveplightedourfaithinafriendshipthatwillbeabrother'sloveonmypart,butshesaidsolemnlythatshewouldregardoffersofmarriagefromme,noworatanyfuturetime,asaninsult.Inbrief,shehasatlasttoldmeherstory.
　　Herloverisdead,anditwasbecauseshedetectedcertainresemblancesinmyappearancetohimthatshelookedatmesometimesinthewayyoudescribed.Ihadsurmisedasmuchbefore,butatonetimehopedthatthisaccidentalresemblancemightgivemeavantage-groundinwinningherfromapastthatIknewmusthavebeenverysadindeed.Myresemblancewasonlyanoutwardone,themanhimselfwasimmeasurablymysuperior,andontheprincipleofcontrastaloneJennieBurtoncouldneverthinkofme.ButherloveforHarroldFleetwoodisherlife.Itisastrange,unearthlydevotionthattimeonlyincreases.IfeltweekssincethatIcouldworshipherasasaintfareasierthanIcouldloveherasawoman,andInowknowthereason.Itwouldindeedbeaninsultforanymantospeaktoherofloveandmarriage,ifheknewwhatIhavelearnedto-day."
　　"ThenpoorCousinIkhasnochanceeither,"saidIda,withtearsinhereyes.
　　"No,Idonotthinkhehas,althoughshehaslearnedtoappreciatehim.Shespokeofhimasa'true,noble-heartedgentleman,'andsuchtermsfromthelipsofawomanlikeJennieBurtonarebetterthanaking'stitle.Asfarasmycomplacentanddeliberatewooingoflastsummerisconcerned,Ibelievethatwhenitdidnotpainandannoyhershewasratheramusedbyit.Shehadseenthegenuinething,youknow,andthusIwastheonlyoneimposeduponbyasentimentwhichatthetimereceivedtheunqualifiedapprovalofmyinfalliblereasonandjudgment.TheverysuperiorMr.HaroldVanBergoncedeclinedyouracquaintance,asyoumayremember.Takeyourfullrevengeuponhimnow,foryouseetowhatabatteredanddilapidatedconditionofbodyandmindhehasbeenreduced.Hehasdevelopedageniusforblunderingandgettinghimselfandotherpeopleintotrouble,thatisquitesublime.Ifeveramanneededdailyadviceandcounsel,hedoes,andtheincalculableservicethatyouhaverenderedhiminthisrespectleadshimtocometoyouagain."
　　"Indeed,sir,"saidIda,turningawaywithacrimsonface,"Ihavenofurtheradvicetogiveyou.Mr.Eltingewillsoonbeback;
　　takehimasyourcounsellor.I'mgoingtogathersomeflowersfordinner."
　　Heatoncewasonhiscrutchesandinclosepursuit,butsheflittedawaybeforehimtillindespairhereturnedtotherusticseat.Thensheshylyandhesitatinglybegantoapproach,apparentlyabsorbedintyingupherflowers.
　　"Haven'tyouobservedthatIamacripple?"heasked.
　　"Ihaveobservedthatyouareaverynimbleone."
　　"Ithinkyouareverycrueltotreatahelplessmaninthisstyle."
　　"Indeed,sir,Ihavenottakenawayyourcrutches.Whenyouspokeofahelplessman,towhomdidyourefer?"
　　"Ithoughtyouoncesaidthatmercywas'twicebless'd.'"
　　"That'satruismthathasbecomealittletrite.Don'tyouthinkMr.Eltingewilllikemybouquet?"
　　"Hereisaflowerthattomeisworthallthateverbloomed.Comeandtellmeifyoustillrecognizeit,"andhetookoutthelittlenote-bookinwhichwaspressedtheimperfectandemblematicrose-bud.
　　"Poorlittlething!"Idasighed,lookingoverhisshoulder,"howfadedithasbecome!"
　　Byamotionthatwasalmostinstantaneoushedroppedthenote-bookandcaughtherhand."Yes,Ida,"hesaideagerly,itisfaded,butitgrowsdearertomedaily,asyouwilllongaftertheexquisitecolorhasfadedfromyourface.IdaMayhew,thebrookhasstoppednowbecauseitcannothelpitself,norwillitevergoonagain,eveninspringorsummer,unlessitbearsyouawaywithit."
　　Sheturnedandlookedhimfullinhiseyes,inaccordancewithhercustomwhenshefeltthatshemustknowtheinnermostthoughtsofthespeaker.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"shesaidverygravely,"letthatlittleemblemthereremindyouthatyouarespeakingtoaveryfaultyandignorantgirl.IcannotregaininafewweekswhatIhavelostinawastedlife.Youmayregret——"
　　"Hush,Ida;foronceIwillnotlistentoyou.WhenIbelievedmyselfdyingmychiefthoughtwasofyou,andwhenIheardsoundsnearme,inmyhalfunconsciousstateIcalledyourname."
　　"Oh,thatithadbeenmyprivilegetoanswer,"shesighed.
　　"YousavedmewhenIwasinfarworseperil,"heresumedinwordsthatflowedlikeatorrent."Yousavedmyhonor,mymanhood;yousavedmefromfollythatwouldhaveblastedmylife.IowefarmoretoyouthantoJennieBurton,andIknowatwhatcosttoyourself.
　　Ida,Ishallneverhideanythingfromyou.IcamebacklastMondayformysketch-book,andIheardyousay:'Itwouldbeeasierformetodiethangivehimupforyoursake,JennieBurton.'ThenonlyIlearnedyoursecret;thenforthefirstIunderstoodyourself-sacrificeforthesakeofhonorandduty.UntilthenIthoughtthestruggletoforgetwouldbeonmypartonly.FromthatmomentneverdidamanhonorawomanmorethanIhonorandreverenceyou.
　　MymothergavemethisringandtoldmenevertopartwithituntilIfoundawomanthatIcouldloveandhonorevenmorethanher,andInevershallpartwithittillIputitonyourhand,"andshehadscarcelytimetoglancedown,beforeshesawadiamondglitteringonherengagementfinger.
　　"IgaveupthatwhichwaslifetomeforHissake,andthussoonHegivesbacktomefarmore,"Idamurmured,andsherestedherheadonVanBerg'sshoulderwithalookofinfinitecontent.Amomentlatersheadded:"Oh,I'msogladforfather'ssake."
　　"Areyounotalittlegladforyourown?"
　　"Oh,Harold!comparethis——God'swayoutoftroublewiththeoneIchose!"
　　"Thepasthasgonebyforever,Ida,andyouhavereceivedyourwoman'ssoulinthegoodold-fashionedway.InmyheartofheartsIhavechangedyournamefromIdatoIdeal."
　　TheyhadnotnoticedthatMr.Eltingehadcomedownthegardenwalktosummonthemtodinner.Theoldgentlemandiscoveredthattherehadbeenatransformationsceneinhisabsence,althoughhetookoffhisspectaclestwice,andwipedthembeforeheseemedfullysatisfiedofitsreality.
　　"Ahem!Ifearourplaindinnerwillbeaveryprosaicinterruption;
　　but——"hebegan.
　　"Oh,Mr.Eltinge,"criedIda,springingtohim,hercheeksputtingtoshameanyflowerofhisgarden,"Ioweallthistoyou!"
　　"Mr.VanBerg,"saidMr.Eltinge,withthestatelycourtesyoftheoldschool,"withyourpermissionInowshalltakefullpayment,"
　　andstoopingdownhekissedhertenderly,withafervent"Godblessyou,mychild!Godblessyouboth!Ithoughtitwouldallendinthisway."
　　ItwaslateinthedaywhenIdadroveuptothestepsoftheLakeHouseandassistedVanBergtoalightwithacareandsolicitudethatStanton,whowasgrimlywatchingthem,thoughtatrifletooapparent.Shegaveahastyside-glancetohercousin,butwouldnottrustherselftodomoreinthepresenceofothers.
　　"Mr.VanBerg,Iwouldliketoseeyoualoneafewmoments,"saidStantoninalowtone.
　　Theartisthobbledcheerfullyintooneofthesmallprivateparlors,andstretchedhimselfoutveryluxuriouslyonthesofa,sayingashedidso,"Taketherocking-chair,Ik."
　　"No,sir,"saidStantonstiffly."Ishalltrespassbutafewmomentsonyourtime——onlylongenoughtokeepapromiseandperformaduty.Incircumstancesthatyoucanscarcelyhaveforgotten,youassuredmethatIwasinhonorboundtogivemycousin,MissMayhew,abrother'scare.Youassertedveryemphaticallythatwithherpeculiartemperamentsheoughttobesavedfromanyserioustrouble.WhatIthenpromisedfromasenseofdutyInowperformfromwarmaffection.Asfarasabrother'sloveandcareisconcerned,IdaMayhewismysister,andasabrotherIinsist,inviewofyourrelationswithMissBurton,thatyoudonotgivetohersomuchofyoursociety.NotthatImeantoinsinuateinthefaintestpossibleway,thatmycousinentertainsforyouanythingmorethananordinaryandfriendlyregard.Itismyintentiononlytoremindyouthatyourcoursehasbeenalittlepeculiaroflate,tosaytheleast,andthatitisoftenfarbettertopreventtroublethanremedyit."
　　"Themischiefisalldone,Ik;youaretoolate."
　　"Whatdoyoumean,sir?"
　　"Well,onethingatatime.MissBurtonhasrefusedmeabsolutely."
　　"Idon'twonder!"saidStantonindignantly.
　　"NorIeither,Ik.YouareahundredfoldmoreworthyofherthanIamoreverwas.Ionceregardedmyselfasslightlyyoursuperior,Isaac,butcircumstanceshaveprovedthatyouhaveenoughgoodmetalinyoutomakeadozensuchmenasIam."
　　"Iwantexplanations,notcompliments,"saidStantonsternly.
　　"Sitdown,andI'lltellyoueverything.Thenyoucanbrainmewithoneofthecrutches,ifyouwish,"andVanBergrelatedtoStantonsubstantiallyallthatoccurredbetweenhimselfandJennieBurton."ShesaidIcouldtellyouaftershewasgone,butIthinkitisbestyoushouldknowbefore.Sheunderstandsandhonorsyou,andyoushouldunderstandher.Herheartisburiedsodeepinsomeunnamed,unmarkedgravethatitwillfind,Ifear,noresurrectiononearth.Itoldyouthefirstdayshecametothishousethatshehadhadanexperiencethatseparatedherfromordinaryhumanity,andalsopredictedthatshewouldwakeyouupandmakeamanofyou.Shehasmadeyouaprinceamongmen.Youaremyelderbrother,Ik,fromthistimeforth,andIwon'tputonanymoreairswithyou.AsIsaid,yourremarksinregardtoyourcousincamealittlelate.Yousee,myringisgone,andyouknowIhaveoftenlaughinglytoldyouthatmymothergaveittomeonconditionsthatmadeitverysafeproperty.Ihavepartedwithit,however,andveryhonestlytoo;butyouwillseeitagain,soon."
　　"Van,"saidStanton,withaslightquaverinhisvoice,andaverysicklyattemptathisoldhumor,"Ihaveforfeitedmywagerthatfollowedyourprediction,whichIthoughtsoabsurdatthetime;
　　butI'llforgiveyoueverything,andbestowmyblessingonyouandIda,ifyouwillpaintmeaportraitofMissBurton."
　　"ThebestIcanpossiblymake,Ik,andsheshalllookasshedidwhenshecalledyouatrue,noble-heartedgentleman."
　　VanBergnowfoundnodifficultyinbringingaboutafriendshipbetweenIdaandJennieBurton,andthetwomaidensspentthegreaterpartofSabbathafternoontogether.Idahidnothinginherfullconfidence,noteventhecrimethathadbeeninherthoughts,andwhichmighthavedestroyedthelifethatnowwasgrowingsorichandbeautiful.Whenherpatheticstorywascompleted,Jenniesaid:
　　"Mr.VanBerghastoldmesomethingsinyourfavorthatyouhaveomitted.Icannotflattermyselfnowthatmyloveisstrongerthanyours,butyouarestronger,youarebraver.Whatisthesecretofyourstrength?Yourreligionseemstodoyoumoregoodthanminedoesme."
　　"Well,Jennie,"saidIdamusingly,thereseemstomethisdifference.
　　"YouhaveaGod,IhaveaSaviour;youhaveafaith,IhaveatenderandhelpfulFriend.JesusChristhassaidtothosewholoveandtrusthim:'Letnotyourheartsbetroubled.'Hesaidthesewordstomenwhoweretosufferallthings,anddidso,Mr.Eltingetoldme.It'sjustthesameasifhesaid,Youdon'tknow,Ido;leaveeverythingtome,anditshallallbeforthebestintheend.Seehowallmytroublethissummerhasjustpreparedforthishappiness,andIbelieve,Jennie,thatyoureternityofhappinesswillbemadeallthericherforeverysaddayofyourunselfishlife.ThesoulsofsuchmenasHarroldFleetwoodareGod'srichesttreasures,andhewhosenameisLovesurelykindledsuchloveasyoursandhis.TheGodthattheBiblerevealstomewillnotpermitittobelost,"andwithJennie'sheadonherbosomshesanglowandsweetly:
　　Nohope,'tissaid,thoughburieddeep,Butangelso'eritvigilskeep;
　　Noloveinsepulchreshallstay,ForChristourFriendhasrolledawayTheheavystoneofdeath.
　　"Oh,singmethosewordsagain,"sobbedJennie:"singthemagainandagain,tilltheyfillmyheartwithhope."
　　Idadidso.
　　"OIda!God'sgoodangeltomeaswellastoHaroldVanBerg,"
　　saidJennie,smilingthroughhertears."Iblessyouforthosehopefulwords.TheywillrepeatthemselvesinmyhearttillallisclearandoursoulsthatGodmatedarejoinedagain.MyHarroldwasnotonewhosaid'Lord,Lord'veryoften,butIknowthathetriedto'dothewillofhisFatherwhichisinheaven.'IamgoingtoyourFriend,Ida,forifeverapoormortalneededmorethanmortalhelpandcheer,Ido.Ishalljustgiveupeverythingintohishands,andwaitpatiently."