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powers！ if here isn't more books than I can carry； on one subject。
I suppose cartloads have been written about art。 I've no doubt
he's read them all； but I never can； I fear my attempt to read up
is like trying to get strong by eating a whole ox at once。 Oh；
why did I waste my school…days； and indeed all my life as I have！〃
and she stamped her foot in her impatience and irritation。
〃Well；〃 she sighed at last； with a grim sort of humor； 〃I must do
the best I can。 It's the same as if I were on a desert island。 I
must tie together some sort of a raft in order to cross the gulf
that separates us； for I never can stand it to stay here alone。
Since I have not time to spare I may as well commence with that
encyclopaedia； and learn a little about as many things as possible；
then if he introduces a subject he shall at least see that I know
what he is talking about。〃 And during the afternoon the poor
girl plodded through sever articles； often recalling her wandering
thoughts by impatient little gestures； and by the time her father
returned she was conscious of knowing a very little indeed about a
number of things。 〃No matter；〃 she thought； compressing her lips；
〃I won't give up till I must。 It's my one chance for happiness
in this world； and I'll cling to it while there is a shred of hope
left。〃
It was with an eager and resolute face that she confronted her
father that evening； as they sat down to dinner。 He thought she
would descant on her experiences of the morning； and he was anxious
for a chance to say how truly he appreciated Mr。 Van Berg's cordial
manner； but she surprised him by asking abruptly：
〃Father； when do we elect another president？〃
He told her； and then followed a rapid fire of questions about the
general and state government； and the names and characters of the
men who held the chief offices。 At last Mr。 Mayhew laid down his
knife and fork in his astonishment； and asked sententiously：
〃How long is it since you decided to go into politics？〃
Ida's laugh was very reassuring； and she said； 〃Poor father！ I
don't wonder you think I've lost my wits； now that I'm trying to
use the few I have。 Don't you see？ I don't know anything that's
worth knowing。 I wasted my time at school； for my head was full
of beaux； dress； and nonsense。 Besides； I don't think my teachers
took much pains to make me understand anything。 At any rate； my
dancing…master； and perhaps my music…teachera little bitare
the only ones that have any reason to be proud of the result。 Now
I want you to brush up your ideas about everything； so you can
answer the endless questions I am going to ask you。〃
〃Why bless you； child； you take away my breath。 Rome wasn't built
in a day。〃
〃The way they built Rome will never answer for me。 I must grow like
one of our Western cities that has a mayor and opera…house almost
before the Indians and wolves are driven out of town。 Speaking of
Rome reminds me how little I know of that city； and it's a burning
shame； too； for I spent a month there。〃
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew； with kindling interest； 〃suppose we take
up a course of reading about Rome for the winter。〃
〃For the winter！ That won't do at all。 Can't you tell me something
of interest about Rome this evening？〃
〃I've already mentioned the interesting factthat it wasn't built
in a day。 I think that's the most important thing that you need
to know about Rome and everything else this evening。 Why； Ida；
you can't become wise as an ostrich makes its supperby swallowing
everything that comes in its way。 You are not a bit like an
ostrich。〃
〃An ostrich is a silly bird that puts its head under the sand and
thins its whole great body hidden because it can't see itself；
isn't it； father？〃
〃I've heard that story told of it；〃 replied Mr。 Mayhew； laughing。
〃Anything but an ostrich； then。 Come； I'll read the evening paper
to you on condition you tell me the leading questions of the day。
What is just now the leading question of the day？〃
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew； demurely； but with a sparkle of humor
in his eye； 〃one of the leading questions of this day with me has
been whether Mr。 Van Berg would not enjoy dining with us to…morrow
evening now that he is here alone in the city？〃
Ida instantly held the newspaper before her crimson face and said：
〃Father； you ought to be ashamed thus to divert my mind from the
pursuit of useful knowledge。〃
Her father came to her side and said very kindly： 〃Ida； darling；
you are a little bit like an ostrich now。〃
She sprang up； and； hiding her face on his shoulder； trembled like
a leaf。 〃Oh； father；〃 she whispered； 〃I would not have him know
for the world。 Is it so very plain？〃
〃Not to him； my child； but the eyes of a love like mine are very
keen。 So you needn't be on your guard before your old father as
you must be before him and the world。 You shall have only rest and
sympathy at home as far as I can give them。 Indeed； if you will
let me； I'll become a very unobtrusive； but perhaps； useful ally。
At any rate； I'll try not to make any stupid； ignorant blunders。
I have like Mr。 Van Berg from the first hour of our meeting； and
I would thank God from the depths of my heart if this could be。〃
〃Dear； good father； how little I understood you。 I've been living
in poverty over a gold mine。 But father； I'm so ignorant and Mr。
Van Berg knows everything。〃
〃Not quite； you'll find。 He's only a man； Ida。 But you can never
win him through politics or by discussing with him the questions
of the day。 These are not in your line nor his。〃
〃What can I do； father。 Indeed； it does not seem to me maidenly
to do anything。〃
〃It would not be maidenly； Ida； to step one hair's breadth beyond
the line of scrupulous； womanly delicacy； and by any such course
you would only defeat and thwart yourself。 A woman must always
be sought； and as a rule； she loses as she seeks。 But I strust to
your instincts to guide you here。 You have only to be simple and
true； as you have been since the happy miracle that transformed
you。 Unless a man is infatuated as Ibut no matter。 A man that
keeps his sense welcomes truthfulnessa high delicate sense of
honorabove all things in a woman； for it gives him a sense of
security and rest。 By truthfulness I do not mean the indiscreet
blurting out of things that good taste would leave unsaid； but
clear…eyed integrity that hides no guile。 Then； again； unless
a man is blinded by passion or some kind of infatuation he knows
that the chief need of his life is a home lighted and warmed by an
unwavering love。 With these his happiness and success are secured；
as far as they can be in this world； unless he is a brute and a
fool； and has no right to exist at all。 But I am growing preachy。
Let me suggest some things that I have observed in this artist。 He
is a high…toned pagan and worships beauty； but with this outward
perfection he also demands spiritual loveliness； for with him mind
and honor are in the ascendant。 He admired you immensely from the
first； and since your character has been growing in harmony with
your face he has sought your society。 So； be simple； true； and
modest； and you will win him if the thing is possible。 You will
never win him by being anything else； and you might lose your own
respect and his too。〃
〃I'll suffer anything rather than that； father。 I think you had
better not invite him to…morrow evening。〃
〃I'll be governed by what I see to…morrow；〃 he replied； musingly。
〃Both my business and my habit of mind have taught me to observe
and study men's motives and impulses very closely。 You could order
a suitable dinner after leaving the studio； could you not？〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃Well； then； my Princess Ida； I'll be your grand vizier； and I'll
treat with this foreign power with such a fine diplomacy that he
shall appreciate all the privileges he obtains。 But we will keep
our self…respect hereafter； Ida； and then we can look the world in
the face and ask no odds of it。〃
〃Yes； father； let us keep that at all events。 And yet I'm only a
woman。〃
〃You are the woman that has made me happy； and I think there is
another man who will want to be made happy also。 And now we will
defer all other questions of the day； for I must go out for a time。
Do not think I undervalue your craving for information； and you
shall have it as fast as you can take care of it。 You have grown
pale and thin this summer； but I do not expect you to become plump
and rosy again in a day。〃
〃Oh； I'm rosy too often as it is。 Why is it that girls must blush
so ridiculously when they don't want to？ That's the question of
the day for me。 I could flirt desperately in old times； and yet
look as demure and cool as if I were an innocent。 But now； oh！
I'm fairly enraged with myself at times。〃
〃They say blushes are