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fashion； so you must let me。 I'll always try to make a little
low； sweet music for you； if not for the world。 So please do not
commence puzzling your poor tired brain how to make me happy or
gay； or want to take me here and there。 Just leave me to myself；
let me have my own way for awhile at least； and if you can do
anything for me I promise to tell you。〃
Ever since her drive with Van Berg the previous day； there had been
a deep undercurrent of thought in Ida's mind； and she had at last
concluded that she could scarcely keep her secret with any certainty
while under his eyes； and especially those of Miss Burton。 She was
too direct and positive in her nature； and her love was too strong
and absorbing for the cool and indifferent bearing she was trying
to maintain。 Her eyes； her cheeks； her tones； and even words；
might prove traitors at any time and betray her。 She longed to be
alone； and teh large empty city house seemed the quiet refuge that
she needed。 At the same time it would give her deep satisfaction
to be with her father after hs return from business； and make amends
for years of neglect。
He looked at her wistfully； feeling； in a vague way； that he did
not understand her yet。 There was a minor chord in her voice；
and there had been a sadness in her eyes at times which began to
suggest to him that he had not learned all the causes that were so
marvellously transforming her form her old self。 Her mother would
question and question。 He； on the contrary； would wait patiently
till the confidence was given； and so he merely said gently；
〃All right； little girl； I'll try to make you happy in your own
way。〃
Van Berg； going out for a walk after tea； again heard the girlish
voice singing the quaint hymn tune that had awakened the memories
of his childhood the previous day。 He instantly concealed himself
by the roadside； and in a moment or two Ida and her father drove
by。 He was able in the dusk to note only that her head rested on
her father's shoulder； and her voice was sweet and plaintive as
she sang words that he could not hear distinctly； but which were
as follows； as far as he could catch them：
I know not the way he is leading me
But I know he is leading me home；
Though lonely the path and dark to me；
It is safe and it wends to my home。
Home of the blest；
Home that is rest
To the weary pilgrim's feet； to the weary pilgrim's heart。
and then her words were lost in the distance。
With an impulse he did not think of resisting he followed them back
to the hotel and waited patiently till she and her father came out
from supper。
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； a little discontentedly； 〃I have scarcely
had a chance to say a word to you to…day； and it seems to me that
I have a great deal to say。〃
She looked at him with some surprise as she replied； 〃Well； I think
I might at least become a good listener。〃
〃Do you mean a patient one？〃
〃I never had any patience；〃 she answered； with something like a
smile。
〃And I was never so possessed by the demon of impatience as I have
been this afternoon。 There hasn't been a soul around that I cared
to talk with； and if you knew how out of conceit I am with my own
company； you would feel some commiseration。 How I envied you your
visit to the garden this afternoon； for I felt sure you took your
father thither。 May I not go with you again to…morrow； or soon？ I
wish to make my sketch more accurate before beginning your picture。〃
She hesitated a moment； and he little know how he was tempting her。
Then she replied； so quietly and decisively as to seem almost cold；
〃Mr。 Eltinge； I'm sure； will be very glad to see you； but I shall
go to the city with my father in the morning and remain in town
all the week。〃 She was puzzled at his unmistakable expression of
regret and disappointment； and added； hastily； 〃Mr。 Van Berg； you
are taking far too much trouble。 I would be more satisfiedI
would be delighted with such a sketch as you made to…day； with the
omission of myself。〃
〃But if； instead of being trouble； it gave me great pleasure to
make the picture with the utmost care？〃
〃I suppose；〃 she replied； 〃that you have a high artistic sense that
must be satisfied； and that you see imperfections that I cannot。〃
〃You are too severe upon me； Miss Mayhew； but since you have such
good reason； I cannot complain。 Still； in justice to myself； I
must say that satisfying my artistic sense was not my motive。〃
〃I did not mean to be severeI do not mean what you think；〃 Ida
began； very eagerly。 Then she checked herself and added； after a
moment； with a slight tinge of sadness in her tone； 〃I fear we are
fated to misunderstand each other。 Good…night； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 and
she turned decisively away and joined her father who was talking
with Stanton。
The artist was both hurt and perplexed； and he abruptly left the
hall and started again on the walk which had been so unexpectedly
interrupted。 He strode away through the starlight with a swiftness
that was scarcely in harmony with the warm； still summer night。
Before he was aware of it he was a mile away。 Stopping suddenly
he muttered：
〃I won't be so baffled and puzzled。 I will learn to understand
this Ida Mayhew before this summer is over。 It's ridiculous that
I should be so dull and stupid。 She says she fears we are 'fated
to misunderstand each other。' I defy such a blind stupid fate。 I
used to have some brains and tact before I came to this place； and
I scarcely think I've become an idiot。 I am determined to win that
girl's friendship； and I intend to follow her career and watch the
rare and beautiful development of her character。 That one hour in
the garden yesterday taught me what an inspiration her exquisite
beauty can be in my profession； and surely with the vantage…ground I
already possess I ought to have skill enough to win a place among
her friends；〃 and he walked back almost as quickly as he had stalked
away。
Ida had seen his departure and recognized the fact that she had
hurt his feelings。 It was strange that so little a thing could
depress her so greatly； for she felt that the first real Sabbath
she had ever spent and which had been in truth a SUN…day to her
thus far； was now ending in shadows darker than the night。 〃How
weak I am；〃 she thought； 〃I must go away as soon as possible；
or else I shall be sorry。 The companionship that he can give so
easily and frankly when Miss Burton is not at hand to occupy him is
impossible for me； and would only end in the betrayal of a secret
that I would hide even more anxiously than the crime I could
not conceal from him。 My duty and my father must be everything
hereafter；〃 and she turned resolutely to him； saying：
〃Father； take a seat in the parlor while I go and find mother。 I
want these people to see that you have a family who at least show
that they appreciate all the luxuries and comforts you are providing
for them。〃
Mr。 Mayhew was more deeply gratified by her words than she
could understand； for any recognition of his manhood and rightful
position which was quiet and unobtrusive； was balm and healing to
his wounded self…respect。 Hitherto he had believed correctly that
his family wished to keep him out of sight； and at no time before
had he realized the change that had taken place in Ida more keenly
than when she made this simple and natural proposition。 His grateful
smile as he complied with her request did her good； but she soon
discovered that in her mother she had a very difficult subject
to manage。 She found that lady in her room wearing a gloomy and
injured expression。
〃You have condescended at last to come and see whether I was alive；
I see；〃 she said； as Ida entered the room。
Her daughter went directly to her and kissing her replied； 〃We haven't
intended to leave you so long or to neglect you in the least； and
I'll explain。〃
〃Oh； no need of explaining。 Excuses always make matters worse。
Here is the factI've been left all the afternoon to myself。〃
〃Have you noticed no other fact to…day； mother？〃 asked Ida； gravely。
〃Yes； I've noticed that you and your father have been so wrapped
up in each other that I'm nobody； and might as well be Mrs。 John
Smith as Mrs。 Mayhew。〃
〃Pardon me； mother； you are exaggerating；〃 said Ida； firmly。
〃Father was very polite to you at breakfast and dinner； and he went
to church with you this morning； and I can scarcely remember when
he has done this before。 I am chiefly to blame for keeping him
away so long this afternoon； for I wanted him to see and talk with
my friend Mr。 Eltinge； who has done me so much good。 I thought
he might help father too； and I truly believe he has。 I repeat to
you again； in all sincerity and love； that we have not intended to
neglect you； and father now wishes you to come down and join h