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such an enthusiastic friend before。 He might have considered how
often he had kept awake and counted the hours till he should meet
a friend from whom he had just parted。 That these obvious thoughts
and contrasts did not occur to him only proved that he was smitten
already by that blindness which a certain spiritual malady usually
occasions in its earlier stages。
As for poor Ida； she still felt that her little boat was being
carried forward by a shining tidewhither she dared not think。
She had come to the city to escape from the artist； and as a result
she might spend long hours alone with him in his studio and see
far more of him than if she had remained in the country。 She had
not sought itshe had not even dared to hope or dream of such a
thing； but now that this exquisite cup of pleasure had been pressed
to her very lips by other hands she could not refuse it。
Her father had watched her keenly but furtively since she had been
his companion； and until the artist had accosted her the evening
before had not been able to understand the depression which she
could not disguise wholly from him； but the light and welcome that
flashed into her face when greeting Van Berg had suggested her
secret； and all that followed confirmed his surmise。 The truth
was plainer still when she came down to their early breakfast the
next morning with color in her cheeks and a fitful light of excitement
in her eyes。
As he realized the truth he fairly trembled with apprehension and
longing。 〃Oh； if Ida could only marry that man I would be almost
beside myself with joy；〃 he thought； 〃but I fear it is rash even
to hope for such a thing。 Indeed； I myself am the obstacle that
would probably prevent it all。 The Van Bergs are a proud race；
and this young man's father knows me too well。 O God！ I could be
annihilated if thereby my child could be happy。〃
〃Ida；〃 he said； hesitatingly； 〃perhaps I had better not go with you
this morning。 I imagine Mr。 Van Berg asked me out of politeness
rather than from any wish to see me andandI think I had better
not go。〃
She looked up at him swiftly； and the rich color mantled her face；
for she read his thoughts in part。 But she only said quietly：
〃Then I will not go。〃
〃That would not be right or courteous； Ida；〃 but I think you young
people will get on better without me。〃
〃You are mistaken； Father； I never intend to get on without you；
and any friend of mine who does not welcome you becomes a stranger
from that hour。 But I think you are doing Mr。 Van Berg an injustice。
At any rate we will give him a chance to show a better spirit。〃
〃Ida； my child； if you only knew how gladly I would sacrifice myself
to make you happy！〃
She came to him and put her arms around his neck and looking up
into his face said； with the earnestness and solemnity of a vow；
〃I will take no happiness which I cannot receive as your loving
daughter。 As long as you are the man you have been since Sunday I
will stand proudly at your side。 If you should ever be weak again
you will drag me down with you。〃
He held her from him and looked at her as a miser might gloat over
his treasure。
〃Ida； my good angel；〃 he murmured。
〃Nonsense！〃 she exclaimed； trying to hide her feelings by a little
brusqueness； 〃I'm as human a girl as there is in this city； and will
try your patience a hundred times before the year is out。 Come；
let us go and visit this proud artist。 He had better beware； or
he may find an expression on my face that he won't like if I should
decide to give him a sitting。〃
But the artist did like the expression of Ida's face as he glanced
up from his work with great frequency and with an admiring glow in
his eyes that was anything but cool and business…like。 Even her
jealous love had not detected a tone or act in his reception of
her father that was not all she could ask； and she had never seen
the poor man look so pleased and hopeful as when he left the studio
for his office。 There had not been a particle of patronage in
Van Berg's manner； but only the cordial and respectful courtesy of
a younger gentleman towards an elderly one。 Mr。 Mayhew had been
made at home at once； and before he left； the artist had obtained
his promise to come again with his daughter on the following morning。
〃His bearing towards father was the perfection of good breeding；〃
thought Ida； and it would seem that some of the gratitude with
which her heart overflowed found its way into her tones and eyes。
〃You look so pleasantly and kindly； that you must be thinking of
Mr。 Eltinge；〃 said Van Berg。
〃You are not to paint my thoughts；〃 said Ida； with a quick flush。
〃I wish I could。〃
〃I'm glad you can't。〃
〃You do puzzle one； Miss Mayhew。 On the day of our visit to the
old garden your thoughts seemed as clear to me as the water of the
little brook； and I supposed I saw all that was in your mind。 But
before the day was over I felt that I did not understand you at
all。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I'm astonished you are an artist。〃
〃Because of the character of my work？〃
〃No； indeed。 But such a wonderful taste for solving problems
suggests a metaphysician。 I think you would become discouraged
with such tasks。 Just think how many ladies there are in the world；
and I'm sure any one of them is a more abstruse problem than I am。〃
The artist looked up at her in surprise and bit his lip with a faint
trace of embarrassment； but he said； after a moment； 〃But it does
not follow that they are interesting problems。〃
〃You don't know；〃 she replied。
〃And never shall；〃 he added。 〃I do know； however； that you are a
very interesting one。〃
〃I didn't agree to come here to be solved as a problem；〃 she said
demurely； but with a mirthful twinkle in her eyes； 〃I only promised
you a sitting for the sake of Mr。 Eltinge。〃
〃Two sittings； Miss Mayhew。〃
〃Well； yes； if two are needful。〃
〃By all the nine muses！ you do not expect me to make a good picture
from only two sittings？〃
〃You know how slight is my acquaintance with any of those superior
divinities； and in this sacred haunt of theirs I feel that I should
express all my opinions with bated breath； but truly； Mr。 Van Berg；
I thought you could make a picture from the sketch you made in the
garden。〃
〃Yes； I could make A picture； but every sitting you will give enables
me to make a better picture； and you know how much we both owe to
Mr。 Eltinge。〃
〃I'm learning every day how much； how very much； I owe to him；〃
she said； earnestly。
〃Then for his sake you will promise to come as often as I wish you
to；〃 was his eager response； and it was so eager that she looked
up at him in surprise。
〃Really； Mr。 Van Berg； I am becoming bewildered as to what that
little sketch I asked you to make may involve。〃
〃Will it be so wearisome for you to come here？〃 he asked； with a
look of disappointment that surprised her still more。
〃I didn't say that；〃 was her quick reply； 〃and I promise to come
to…morrow。 Perhaps you will find that sufficient。〃
〃I know it won't be sufficient。〃
〃Cousin Ik has told me that you are very painstaking and conscientious
in your work。〃
〃Thanks to Cousin Ik。 When I get a chance to paint such a picture
as this I do； indeed； wish to make the most of it。〃
〃But how long must Mr。 Eltinge wait for it？〃
〃I think we can send it to him as a Christmas present。〃
〃We？ You； rather； will send it。〃
〃No； WE； or rather； in giving me the sittings you give Mr。 Eltinge
all that makes the picture valuable to him。〃
Ida's cheeks began to burn； for the artist's words suggested a
powerful temptation that； in accordance with her impetuous nature；
came in the form of an impulse rather than an insidious and lurking
thought。 The impulse was to accept of the opportunities he pressed
upon her； and； if possible； win him away from Jennie Burton。 At
first it seemed a mean and dishonorable thing to do； and her face
grew crimson with shame at the very thought。 Van Berg looked
at her with surprise。 Conscious himself that while he meant that
Mr。 Eltinge should profit richly from her visits； it was not by
any means for the sake of the old gentleman only that he had been
requesting her to come so often； his own color began to rise。
〃She begins to see that my motives are a little mixed； and that is
what is embarrassing her；〃 he thought as he bent over his work to
hide his own confusion。
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I'm getting tired of sitting still；〃 Ida exclaimed。
〃It's contrary to my restless disposition。 May I not make an exploring
tour around your studio？ You have no idea what a constraint I've
been putting on my feminine curiosity。〃
〃I give you a 'carte…blanche' to do as you please。 Have you much
curiosity？〃
〃I'm a daughter of Eve。〃
〃Well； I'm coming to the conclus