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it。 My heart clings to the other emblem； and I know I must develop
as best I can； as that would have done after its destroyer was
taken away。 No； Mr。 Van Berg。 I have seen myself in the strong；
sharp light of truth。 If you are willing to be my friend； please
be an honest one。 My faithful old friend in the country would
scarcely take my portrait if this perfect flower were introduced
with any such meaning as you attach to it； and I certainly would
be ashamed to give it to him。 Mr。 Van berg； we MUST let bygones
by bygones； or we never can get on。 See how absurdly I have acted
both yesterday and to…day； and all through recalling the past。
Indeed； indeed； it will never do for me to come here again； and
if you can make such a marvellous likeness of Mr。 Eltinge as you
have； I scarcely think there will be any need。〃
〃My success with Mr。 Eltinge's portrait is the result of a few happy
strokes that I might not be able to give again if I tried a year。
Believe me； Miss Mayhew； I not only wish to be an honest friend； but
a very considerate one。 I promise never to urge you to do anything
that will cause you pain。 I can understand how the features of
your kind friend have touched the tenderest chords of your heart；
and I respect your study fidelity to your conscience in refusing
to let me paint this bud in your hair； but you must also do me the
justice to believe that I meant no hollow compliment when I searched
for it among the florists。 Must I throw this one away； too？〃 he
asked； with a glance that was very ardent for a friend； 〃for since
I obtained it for you； it must receive its fate at your hands only。〃
〃I'll wear it； simply as your gift； with pleasure；〃 and she fastened
it in her breastpin； so that its crimson blush rested against the
snowy whiteness of her neck。
He looked her full in the eyes and said； with low； sad emphasis：
〃I do not deserve such respect。〃 Then the knowledge that she was
harboring a purpose which troubled her conscience； but which she
could not abandon； became the cause of a trace of her old recklessness
of manner。 She assumed a sudden gayety； as if she had stepped out
of shadows into too strong a light； as she said：
〃Mr。 Van Berg； you may well hesitate to bring the appetite you say
had last night to our house this evening； and if I stay a moment
longer； you will get no dinner at all。 I have not been after the
crude materialas you call ityet； and I'm told that there is not
a man living so amiable and philosophical； but that a poor dinner
provokes martyr…like expression； if nothing worse；〃 and with a smile
and a piquancy of manner that seemed peculiarly brilliant against
the background of her deep and repressed feeling； she again left
him。
He tried to return to his work； but found himself once more possessed
by the demon of unrest and impatience。 The spiritual wave that
had been lifting him higher and higher was changing its character
and becoming a smoothly gliding current。 It was so irresistible
that he never thought of resisting。 〃Why should he resist？〃 he
asked himself。 Circumstances had interested him in this rare Undine
before she received a woman's soul； circumstances had entangled
his life and hers in what had almost been an awful tragedy； and
now circumstances； or something far beyond； were swiftly developing
before his eyes a spiritual loveliness that was the counterpart
of her outward beauty； and he assured himself that it would be the
greatest folly of his life to lose a trace of the exquisite process
that he might be privileged to see。 What artist or poet has not
pictured himself the fair face of Eve as God first breathed into
her perfect clay the breath of life； or has not； in imagination；
seen the closed eyes opening in surprise and intelligence or kindling
with the light of love？ And yet the change in Ida Mayhew seemed
to Van Berg far more wonderful and interesting； and to his fancy
if； instead of lying in the beauty of her breathless； statuesque
preparation for life； Eve had been possessed by a legion
of distorting imps； she would have been the type of the maiden he
first had recognized。 But he had seen these evil spirits exorcised；
and in their place was coming a noble； womanly soulsweet；
tender； and strongand the perfect form and features seemed but
a transparent mould； a crystal vase into which heaven was pouring
a new and divine life。 Why should he not long to escape from the
dusty matter…of…fact world and witness this spiritual repetition
of the most beautiful story of the past？ Thus his philosophical
mind was able once more to reason the whole matter out clearly and
prove that his wish to annihilate the intervening hours before he
could dare to present himself to Ida Mayhew； was the most natural
and proper desire imaginable。 He concluded that a walk through
Central Park might banish his disquietude； and leave time for a
careful toilet； since for some occult reason the occasion seemed
to him to require unusual preparation。
He knew he was unfashionably early when he rang Mr。 Mayhew's
door…bell； but he had found it impossible to curb his impatience
to see in what new aspect Ida would present herself that evening。
A hundred times he had queried how she would appear in her own
home； how she would preside as hostess； and whether the taste of the
florid and fashionable mother would not be so apparent as to annoy
him like a bad tone in the picture。 yes； that was Mrs。 Mayhew's
parlor into which he was shown。 It did not suggest the maiden who
had come to visit； nor the quiet； dignified gentleman Mr。 Mayhew was
seen to be when at the touch of love's wand a degrading vice fell
away from him。 But the artist could find no fault with the host
who greeted him promptly； and when； a few moments later； there was
a breezy rustle on the stairs and he turned to greet his hostess；
his face flushed with admiration and pleasure。 It became evident
that the worshipper of beauty was in the presence of his divinity；
and his every glance burned incense to her honor。 She had twined
a few rose…leaves in her hair； but wore no other ornament save
the rose he had given her in the morning； which evidently had been
kept carefully for the occasion； for it was unchanged； with the
exception that it revealed its heart a little more openly； as did
Ida herself。 And yet she did her best to insure that her manner
should be no more cordial than her character of hostess demanded。
But in spite of all she could do； the light of exultation and
intense joy would flash into her eyes and tremble in her tones that
evening。 A maiden would have been blind indeed had she not been
able to read the riddle of Van Berg's ardent friendship now； and
Ida had seen that expression too often not to know its meaning
well。 In the morning she had strongly hoped； now she believed。
She no longer walked by faith but in full vision； and she trod with
the grace of a queen who knows her power in the realm that woman
loves best。 The glow of her eyes； her repressed excitement； that
vitalized everything she said or did； mystified while they charmed
her guest。 〃She has become true to nature；〃 he thought； 〃and like
nature is full of mysterious changes； for which we know not the
cause。 At one time it is a sharp north wind； again the south wind。
This morning there was a sudden shower of tears； and before it was
over the sunlight of smiles flashed through them。 Now she appears
like a June morning； and I pray the weather holds。〃
〃Oh；〃 thought Ida； in the wild； mad glee of her heart； 〃how can I
behave myself and look innocent and unconscious； seeing what I do？
He is my very good friend is he？ I wish for only one such friend
in the world。 It wouldn't be proper to have another。 Oh； but isn't
it rich to see how unconscious he is of himself！ He is passing into
an exceedingly acute attack of my own complaint； and the poor man
doesn't know what is the matter。 I don't believe he ever looked
at Jennie Burton as he looks at me。 Ah； Jennie Burton！〃 The
joyousness suddenly faded out of her face and she sighed deeply。
It seemed to Van Berg for a time that his June morning might become
clouded after all； but while his face was turned towards her with
the expression it now wore no sad thoughts or misgivings could
shadow Ida very long。
Chapter L。 Swept Away。
There was no vulgar profusion in the dinner which Ida had ordered；
nor were its courses interminable； and as she gracefully and quietly
directed everything； the thought would keep insinuating itself
in Van Berg's mind； that the home over which she might eventually
preside would be a near suburb of Paradise。 He heartily seconded
Ida's purpose that her father should take part in their conversation；
and it was another deep source of her gladness that the one whom
she had seen so depressed and despairing； now looked as she would
always wish