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was in the darkened room in which poor Jennie was resting； more
from her long passionate struggle with a sorrow she could not bury
than from the exhaustion caused by her rescue of Van Berg。
Friday morning happened to be very warm； and Ida did not visit Mr。
Eltinge； but ensconced herself in a distant corner of the piazza
with a book； the pages of which were not turned very regularly。
〃I wonder；〃 she thought； 〃when； if ever； we shall have another
friendly talk。 What a strange； deep hush； as it were； has come
after the passionate joy and desperate sorrow and fear of the past
week！ It is the type of what my inner life will be。 But I must
not complain； thousands of hearts； no doubt； are the burial…places
of as dear a hope as mine； and One is pledged to give me back my
life in some way； and at some time。
〃Miss Ida；〃 said a voice that made her start and crimson in spite
of herself； 〃may I come out and talk with you a little while？〃 and
she saw that Van Berg was speaking to her through the window blinds
of one of the private parlors。
〃Yes；〃 she said hesitatingly； 〃if you think it is best。〃
He went around and came openly to her side； bringing a small camp…chair
with him。 as he steadied himself against a piazza column in taking
his seat； and leaned his crutches on the railing； her looks were
very sympathetic。 With a smile he took on of his crutches in his
hands as he said：
〃I have come to these very properly at last； and you must have
seen their significance。 It is my spiritual and moral lameness；
however； that now troubles me most； Miss Mayhew。 When lying at the
bottom of that ravine； expecting death； I vowed； like most sinners
in similar circumstances； I suppose； that if I ever escaped I
would become a Christian man。 I intend to keep the vow if it is
a possible thing。 But I make no progress。 I prayed then； and I
have prayed and read my Bible since； but everything is forced and
formal； and the thought will come to me continually； that I might
as well pray to Socrates or Plato as to Christ。 I wish you could
teach me your faith。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 replied Ida； with a troubled face； 〃I'm not wise
enough to guide you in such a matter。 I would much rather you
would talk with Mr。 Eltinge or some learned； good man。〃
〃I shall be glad to see Mr。 Eltinge； but I don't care to go to the
learned man just yet。 We might get into an argument； in which of
course I should be worsted； but I fear not convinced。 I have never
known anything so real as your faith has seemed； but I can obtain
nothing that in the least corresponds with it。 I ask； but receive
no more response than if I spoke to the empty air。 Then comes the
strong temptation to relapse into the old materialistic philosophy；
which I had practically accepted； and to believe that religious
experiences are imaginary； or the result of education and
temperament。 At the same time I have found this philosophy such a
wretched support； either in life or in the prospect of death； that
I would be glad to throw it away as worthless。〃
〃I fear to speak to you on this subject；〃 she said； 〃and shall not
for a moment attempt to teach you anything。 They say facts are
stubborn things； and I'll tell you a few； which to my simple； homely
common…sense are conclusive。 To a man's reason they may count for
little。 My religious experiences are not the result of education
or temperament； but are contrary to both； and if they are imaginary；
all my experiences are imaginary。 Perhaps I can best tell you what
I mean by an illustration that is a pleasant one to me。 There is
a partially finished picture in your studio that I hope to hang
some day in my own sanctum at home。 How shall I ever know that I
have that picture？ How shall I ever know that you have given it to
me？ I shall know it because you keep your promise and send it to
me。 I shall have it in my possession； and I shall enjoy it daily。
Are not hope； patience； peace； when the world could give no peace；
as real as your picture？ Is not the honest purpose to overcome
a nature that you know is so very faulty； as real a gift as any I
could receive？ If the Friend I have found promises me such things；
and at once begins to keep his word； why should I not trust him？
But remember； you must not expect from me very much at first； any
more than did Mr。 Eltinge from the little pear…tree he lifted up
and gave a chance to live。 Now； with one more thought； my small
cup of theology is emptied。 To go back to my illustration： Suppose
some person should say that he had not a picture of Mr。 Eltinge；
that would be no proof that I did not have one； or that you had
not given one to me。 I don't see； Mr。 Van Berg； that the fact that
you have no faith this morning； is anything against the fact that
I and Mr。 Eltinge； and so many others do have faith； with good
reasons for it； and are able to say； 〃I KNOW that my Redeemer
liveth。' The testimony of other people counts for something in
most matters。 Why must such men as Mr。 Eltinge be set down either
as deceivers or deceived； when they state some of the most certain
facts of their experience？〃
〃I knew you were the right one to come to；〃 he said； looking at
her so earnestly that her eyes fell before his； 〃but why is it； do
you think； that I receive no answer？〃
〃As I told you； my little cup of knowledge is empty； but it seems
to me that in your happy； wonderful rescue you were answered。 You
have promised to become a Christian； Mr。 Van Berg。 You certainly
did not limit your effort to this week。 Surely to be a Christian
is worth a lifetime of effort。〃
〃I understand you again；〃 he said with a smile； 〃you leave me
no other choice than to make a lifetime of effort。 But I fear it
will be awfully up…hill work。 The Bible seems to me an old…world
book。 Many parts take a strong hold on my imagination； and of
course I know its surpassing literary merit； but I don't find in
it much that seems personally applicable or helpful。 Do you？ I
admit； though； that when I read words this morning to the effect
that 'a brutish man knoweth not； neither doth a fool understand。'
I felt that the good old saint must have had his prophetic eye on
me at the time of writing。〃
〃You are as unjust towards yourself as ever； I see；〃 she said。
〃I have found another Psalm that to me meant so much that I have
committed the first part of it to memory。 You can understand why
the following words are significant；〃 and in the plaintive tones that
had vibrated so deeply in his heart when she read to Mr。 Eltinge；
she repeated：
〃I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplication。
〃Because he hath inclined his ear unto me； therefore will I call
upon him as long as I live。
〃The sorrows of death compassed me； and the pains of hell got hold
upon me： I found trouble and sorrow。
〃Then called I upon the name of the Lord； O Lord； I beseech thee；
deliver my soul。
〃The Lord preserveth the simple： I was brought low and he HELPED
me。
〃Return unto thy rest； O my soul； for the Lord hath dealt bountifully
with thee。
〃For thou hast delivered my soul from death； mine eyes from tears；
and my feet from falling。
〃And this is my conclusion； Mr。 Van Berg； 'I will walk before the
Lord in the land of the living。' I am going to find plenty of
good； live； wholesome work to do 'in the land of the living；' and
I intend to do it as if I enjoyed it； indeed； I think I shall enjoy
it；〃 and she rose and left him with a genial and cheery smile。
But he sat still and thought long and deeply。 At last he muttered
in conclusion： 〃'By their fruits ye shall know them。' Once more；
God bless Ida Mayhew for all she has been to me！〃
When they were gathered at dinner； Jennie Burton walked in and took
her seat in the most quiet and matter of course way possible。
Van Berg laid down his knife and fork and exclaimed： 〃You have
stolen a march on us。 We designed giving you an ovation when you
came down。〃
〃Will you please pass me the bread in its place； Mr。 Van Berg？〃 she
replied in her former piquant； mirthful way。 〃With the appetite
that is coming back to me； one of Mr。 Burleigh's good dinners is far
more to my taste than an ovation which I now decline with thanks。〃
Very pale and slight she certainly had become； but they saw her old
cheery； indomitable spirit once more looked out of her blue eyes
and vibrated in the tones of her voice。 With the changes indicated；
she was the same bright little 〃enigma in brown〃 that had so
fascinated Van Berg the first day of her arrival； and led him to make
the half…jesting prediction to Stanton that had been so thoroughly
fulfilled。 In spite of themselves her irresistible grace； wit；
and humor created continuous and irrepressible merriment at their
table； which Ida seconded with a tact and piquancy but little
inferior to that of Mis