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at me again。 I assure you I ate like an ostrich after my work was
over。 I even upset the dignity of an urbane Delmonico waiter。〃
Ida bit her lip as she recalled certain resemblances on her own
part to that suggestive bird； but she said sympathetically： 〃It
must be rather stupid to dine alone at a restaurant。〃
〃I found it insufferably stupid； and I'm more grateful to your
father for his invitation than you would believe。〃
Ida could scarcely disguise her pleasure； and with mirthful eyes
she said：
〃Really； Mr。 Van Berg； you place me in quite a dilemma。 I find
that in one mood you do not wish to eat at all； and again you say
you have the rather peculiar appetite of the bird you named。 Now
I'm housekeeper at present； and scarcely know how to provide。 What
kind of viands are best adapted to artists and poets； and…〃
〃And idiots in general； you might conclude；〃 said Van Berg； laughing。
〃After sitting so near me at the table all summer you must have
noticed that nothing but ambrosia and nectar will serve my purpose。〃
Ida's laughing eyes suddenly became deep and dreamy as she said：
〃That time seems ages ago。 I cannot realize that we are the same
people that met so often in Mr。 Burleigh's dining…room； and in
circumstances that to me were often so very dismal。〃
〃Please remember that I am not the same person。 I will esteem it
a great favor if you will leave the man you saw at that time in
the limbo of the pastthe farther off the better。〃
〃You were rather distant then；〃 Ida remarked with a piquant smile。
〃But am I now？ Answer me that；〃 he said so eagerly that she was
again mentally enraged at her tell…tale color； and she said hastily：
〃But where am I to find the ambrosia and nectar that you will expect
this evening？〃
〃Any market can furnish the crude materials。 It is the touch of
the hostess that transmutes them。〃
〃Alas；〃 said Ida； 〃I never learned how to cook。 If I should prepare
your dinner； you would have an awful mood to…morrow； and probably
send for the doctor。〃
〃I would need a nurse more than a doctor。〃
〃I know of an ancient womana perfect Mrs。 Harris；〃 said Ida；
gleefully。
〃Wouldn't you come and see me if I were very ill？〃
〃I might call at the door and ask how you were；〃 she replied；
hesitatingly。
〃Now； Miss Ida； the undertaker would do as much as that。〃
〃Our motives might differ just a little；〃 she said； dropping her
eyes。
〃Well；〃 said the artist； laughing； 〃if you will prepare the dinner；
I'll risk undertaker； ancient woman； and all； rather than spend
such another long stupid evening as I did last night。 I expected
to meet you at the concert garden again。〃
〃That's strange；〃 she said。
〃I should say rather that I hoped to meet you and your father there。
Would you have gone if I had asked you？〃
〃I might。〃
〃I'll set that down as one of the lost opportunities of life。〃
〃Why didn't you listen to the music？〃
〃Well； I didn't。 I thought I'd inflict my stupidity on you for
awhile； and came as far as your doorsteps before I remembered that
I had not been invited； so you see what a narrow escape you had。〃
In spite of herself Ida could not help appearing disappointed as
she said； a little reproachfully； 〃Would a friend have waited for
a formal invitation？〃
〃A friend did；〃 replied Van Berg regretfully； 〃but he won't again。〃
〃I'm not so sure about that； my music must have frightened you
away。〃
〃I listened until I feared the police might think I had designs
against the house。 I didn't know you were a musician。 Miss Mayhew；
I'm always finding out something new about you； and I'm going to
ask you this evening to sing again for me a ballad the melody of
which reminded me of a running brook。 It took hold on my fancy
and has been running in my head ever since。〃
〃Oh； you won't like that； it's a silly； sentimental little thing。
I don't wonder you paused and retreated。〃
〃Spare me； Miss Ida； I already feel that it was a faint…hearted
retreat； in which I suffered serious loss。 I have accounted for
myself since we parted； how did YOU spend the time？ Of course you
yawned over your morning's fatigue； and took a long nap。〃
〃Indeed I did not sleep a wink。 Why should I be any more indolent
than yourself？ I read most of the afternoon； and drummed on the
piano in the evening。〃
〃I know that I like your drumming； but am not yet sure about your
author； but he must be an exceedingly interesting one； to hold your
attention a long hot afternoon。〃
Ida colored in sudden embarrassment； but said； after a moment： 〃I
shall not gratify your curiosity any further； for you would laugh
at me again if I told you。〃
〃Now； indeed； you have piqued my curiosity。〃
〃Since you； a man； admit having so much of this feminine weakness；
I who am only a woman may be pardoned for showing just a little。
What work was it that so absorbed you yesterday afternoon that you
ceased to be human in your needs？〃
〃Miss Mayhew； you have been laughing at me in your sleeve ever since
you came this morning。 I shall take my revenge on you at once by
heaping coals of fire on your head；〃 and he turned towards her a
large picture； all of which was yet in outline； save Mr。 Eltinge's
bust and face。
Ida sprang down on her knees before it； exclaiming： 〃O！ my dear；
kind old friend！ He's just speaking to me。 Mr。 Van Berg； I'll
now maintain you are a genius against all the world。 You have
put kindness； love； fatherhood into his face。 You have made it a
strong and noble； and yet tender and gentle as the man himself。 I
never knew it was possible for a portrait to express so much；〃 and
tears of strong； grateful feeling filled her eyes。
Was it success in his art or praise from her lips that gave her
listener such an exquisite thrill of pleasure？ He did not stop
to consider； for he was not in an analytical mood at that time。
He was on the crest of the spiritual wave that was sweeping him
heavenward； or towards some beatific state of which he had not
dreamt before。 His face glowed with pleasure as he said：
〃Since it pleases you； it's no more than justice that you should
know that your visit was the cause of my success。 Either your
laugh or your kind parting words brushed the cobwebs from my mind；
and I was able to do better work in a few hours than I might have
accomplished in weeks。〃
She tried to look at the picture more closely； but fast…coming
tears blinded her。 Then she rose； and averting her face hastily；
wiped her eyes； as she said in a low tone： 〃I can't understand it
at all； and the memory of Mr。 Eltinge's kindness always overcomes
me。 Please pardon my weakness。 There； I won't waste any more of
your time；〃 and she returned to her chair。 But her face still wore
the uncertainty of an April day。
〃Your affection for Mr。 Eltinge；〃 he said gently； 〃is as beautiful
as it is natural。 No manifestation of it needs any apology； and
least of all to me； for I owe to him far more than life。 But I am
paining you by recalling the past；〃 he said regretfully； as Ida's
tears began to gather again。 〃Let me try to make amends by returning
at once to the present and to my work。 Before I go on any farther
with your portrait I want you to put this rose…bud in your hair；〃
and from a hidden nook he brought a little vase containing only
one exquisite bud。 Ida had barely time to see that it was in color
and size precisely like the emblem of herself that he had thrown
away； and for a few minutes she utterly lost her self…control。 She
buried her face in her hands； and her low； stifled sobs filled Van
Berg with the keenest distress and perplexity。
〃Miss Ida；〃 he said earnestly； 〃I would rather every tear you are
shedding were a drop of my blood；〃 but his words only made them
flow faster still。
Suddenly she sprang up； and turning her back upon him； dashed away
her tears almost fiercely。 〃Oh！ this is shameful！〃 she exclaimed；
in low； indignant tones。 〃Mr。 Van Berg； what must you think of
me？ Please turn Mr。 Eltinge's face away； for he is looking at me
just as he did when my heart was breaking； andandI've lost my
self…control； and I had better not come here till I can cease being
so weak and foolish。〃
〃Is it weak to be grateful？〃 he asked； gently。 〃Is it foolish to
love one so thoroughly entitled to your love？ I honor you for your
deep and tender affection for Mr。 Eltinge； and every tear you have
shed proves to me that in this perfect flower I am now finding the
true emblem of yourself。〃
〃No；〃 she said； almost passionately； 〃I have no right to it。 The
other one that you threw away is true of me； and always will be。
This but mocks me with its perfection。 I would be a hypocrite if
I should put it in my hair； and smile complacently while you painted
it。 My heart clings to the other emblem； and I kno