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very much that I have left her alone all the week； and I shall try
to make all the amends I can by getting what she wishes。〃
〃Oh！ your terrible conscience！〃 he said。
〃Yes； it has been scolding me all day for wasting so much of your
time。 Now don't burden yours with any denials。 Good…night。〃
He turned eagerly to protest against her words； but she was retreating
rapidly； she gave him a smile over her shoulder； however； that was
at once full of mirth and something moresomething that he could
not explain or grasp any more than he could the soft； silvery light
of the moon that filled the sky； and was as real as it was intangible。
He walked away as if in a dream； he continued his aimless wanderings
for hours； but swift as were his strides a swifter current of
passion； deep and strong； was sweeping him away from Jennie Burton
and the power to make good his open pledge to win her if he could。
He still was dreaming； he still was lost in the luminous mists
of his own imagination。 But the hour of waking and clear vision
was drawing near； and Harold Van Berg would learn anew that the
cool； well…balanced reason on which he had once so prided himself
was scarcely equal to all the questions which complex human life
presents。
Chapter LI。 From Deep Experience。
With the night dreams began to vanish and the prose of reality
gradually to take form and outline in Van Berg's mind。 He was
compelled to admit that the plausible theories by which he had
hitherto satisfied himself scarcely accounted for his moods and
sensations the past few days； and memory quietly informed him that
it had never had any consciousness of such a friendship as he now
was forming。 But like many another man in the process of conviction
against his will； he became irritable and angrily blind to a truth
that would place him in an intolerable dilemma。 He went to his
studio； and worded with dogged obstinacy on the picture designed for
Ida； giving his time to those details which required only artistic
skill； for his perturbed mind was in no mood for any nice creative
work。
He had agreed to meet Ida and her father on the afternoon boat；
and his impatience； and the early hour he started to keep the
appointment； was another straw which he was compelled to see in
spite of himself； nor could he fail to note which way the current
was bearing him。
〃Well；〃 he muttered； with the fatuity common in all strong temptations；
〃I'll spend a few more hours with this rare Undine； this genuine
woman； whoinfinitely more beautiful than Venusis rising out of
the dark waters of sorrow； shame； and despair； and then if I find
that it will be wiser and safer to be only a somewhat unobtrusive and
distant friend； showing my good…will more by deeds than by seeking
her society； I can gradually take this course without wounding
her feelings or exciting suspicion of the cause。 She was right；
although she little imagines the reason； we could never have those
readings together； and I fear I must manage with far fewer visits
to my studio than I had hoped for。 What an accursed chaotic old
world it is anyway！ How grateful she is because I merely treat
her father politely！ It would be impossible to do anything else；
now that he is himself again； and yet； by this simple； easy method；
I have won a friendlier regard than I could by any other means。
Like an idiot； I once thought she would have to withdraw from her
father to develop her new and beautiful life。 If even in faintest
suggestion I had revealed that thought to her； I don't believe
she would have spoken to me again； and I foresee that I shall have
to be exceedingly polite to Mrs。 Mayhew also； for my Undine is
developing a conscience that might become a man's implacable enemy。
But what am I thinking about！ If I do not intend to see much of
the daughter； I shall not waste any time on the mother。 I wonder
if Miss Mayhew meant anything by that odd little ballad last evening。
Could she have intended to remind me of blue…eyed Jennie Burton？
No； for she was singing it by herself； when she did not know I was
listening。 The idiotic brook！ If I had given my whole heart to
the effort I might have won Jennie Burton by this time。 Ida Mayhew
was right； no woman that I wish to win will show a lover any favor
till he cannot help stopping and staying； too。〃
A moment later he stopped short in the street。 〃Great God！〃 muttered
he； 〃do I wish to win Jennie Burton？ Whither am I drifting？ Would
to heaven I had not made this appointment this afternoon。 Well；
I'm in for it now；〃 and he strode along as if he were going to
battle； resolving to be guarded to the last degree； lest Ida should
suspect his weakness。
He saw her come on the boat with her father at the last moment；
her cheeks flushed with the heat and her eyes aglow with the hurry
and excitement of the occasion。 He saw one and another of her
young gentlemen acquaintances step eagerly forward to speak to her
and admiring eyes turning towards her on every side。 〃She won't
lack for friends and companions now； and I soon will be little
missed；〃 he thought bitterly。 One gentleman； in his impatience
for her society； sought to obtain her small travelling…bag； ad was
assuring her that he could obtain seats for herself and father on
the crowded boat； when； by her timid glance around； she showed that
she was expecting some one； and Van Berg hastened forward and said
quietly； 〃I have seats reserved in the pilot…house。〃
She gave him a glad smile of welcome； but almost instantly her face
became grave and questioning in its expression； and she looked at
him keenly as he cordially shook hands with her father。 As they
went away with him； as if by a prearrangement several guests of the
Lake House looked at each other and nodded their heads significantly。
While on the way to the pilot…house； and during their conversation
after arriving there； Ida often turned a quick； questioning glance
towards Van Berg； and her expression reminded him of some children's
faces he had seen as they tried to read the thoughts or intentions
of those who had their interests in keeping。 He tried his best
to be cordial and natural in mannerto be； in brief； the sincere
friend that he had professed himselfand Mr。 Mayhew did not notice
anything amiss； but even at some inflection of his voice； or at a
pause in the conversation； Ida would turn towards him this sudden；
questioning； child…like look； which touched him deeply while it
puzzled him。 But she gradually began to grow 〃distrait〃 and quiet；
and to look less and less often。 Van Berg had a deep affection for
the noble river on which they were sailing； and had familiarized
himself with its history and legends。 By means of these he sought
to entertain Ida and her father； and with the latter he succeeded
abundantly； but he often doubted whether Ida heard him； for her
eyes and thoughts seemed to be wandering beyond the blue Highlands
which they now were entering。 At last Mr。 Mayhew left them for a
while； and Van Berg turned and said gently：
〃Miss Ida； you are not in good spirits this afternoon。〃
She did not answer for a moment； but averted her face still further
from him。 At last she said； in a low tone： 〃Mr。 Van Berg； did
you ever have a presentiment of evil？〃
〃I don't believe in such things；〃 he replied promptly。
〃Of course not； you are a man。 But I have such a presentiment this
afternoon； and it will come true。〃
〃What do you fear； Miss Ida？〃
〃What does a woman always fear？ Earthquakes； political changes；
disturbances in the world at large； of course。〃
〃I have heard that a woman's kingdom was her heart；〃 Van Berg was
indiscreet enough to say。
〃It is a pity；〃 Ida replied with one of her reckless laughs； 〃for
it so often happens that she cannot keep it； and those who wrest
it from her do not care to keep it； and so it comes to be what the
geographies used to call one of the 'waste places of the earth。'
As the world goes； I think I had better retain my kingdom； small
as it is。〃
He turned very pale； and swift as light he thought： 〃Has she； by
the aid of her woman's intuition； read my thoughts？ Has she seen
the beginnings of a regard for her far warmer than my professed
friendship； and； remembering my suit to Jennie Burton； is she learning
to despise me as fickle； or； worse； as a hypocritical specimen of
that meanest type of human vermina male flirt？〃 and his face grew
so white that Ida in her turn was not only perplexed； but alarmed。
But after a moment he said quietly： 〃It is not the size of the
kingdom that makes its value； but what it contains。 I hope you will
keep treasures of yours till you find some one worthy to receive
them； and I can scarcely imagine that such an idiot exists that he
would not retain them if he could。 That is Fort Montgomery yonder；〃
and he resolute