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but you are now taking counsel of passion and turning your back
on duty。 While almost insane from self…reproach and wounded pride
you are taking steps that may blast your own life and the lives
of others。 To my mind there is an infinite distance between the
error you naturally fell into in view of Miss Burton's loveliness
of character and any base intent； but even if I should share in
your harsh judgementwhich I never canI would still say that you
cannot help the past； and you are now bound by all that's sacred to
ask only what is right； and to do that at every cost to yourself。
You are pledged to Miss Burton； and you must make good your pledge。〃
〃What！ I go to that snow…white maiden with a lie on my lips！〃 he
exclaimed indignantly。
〃No！ go to her with truth on your lips and in your heart； except
as in unselfish loyalty to her and to your word you may hide some
truth that would give her pain。 Mr。 Van Berg； you word is pledged。
You have won her love and this is your only honorable course。 Thus
far you have not done her intentional wrong； but if you rush away
from duty now in cowardly flight you will do her a bitter and fatal
wrong； for she loves you as only few women can love。 She has grown
wan and pale in your absence； and it touched me to the heart to see
her yesterday； though she made such brave efforts to be cheerful
and to encourage father。 O God； forgive me that IGo to her when
you have become calmyour true self。 Love like hers will take
what you can give till you can give more； and surely one so lovely
will soon win all。 If ever I have seen human idolatry in any face
it has been in hers； and she will soon banish all this wild passion
from your mind。 But be that as it may you must keep your word if
you would keep my respect； and I would not lose my respect for you
for the world。 I know you too well to doubt but that you will take
up this sacred duty and seek to perform it with the whole strength
of your manhood。〃
Never for a moment had Van Berg removed his eyes from Ida's face；
and her words and manner seemed both to awe and control him。 As
she spoke； his expression became quiet and strong； and when she
concluded he came to her side and said earnestly：
〃Miss Mayhew； since it is still possible； I will keep your respect；
for it is absolutely essential to me。 God has indeed given you a
woman's soul； and he NEVER MADE A NOBLER WOMAN。 You are a friend
in truth and not in name； and you have saved me from madly destroying
my own future； and perhaps the future of others； which is of far
more consequence。 If I fail in obeying both the letter and spirit
of your words it will be because I cannot help myself。〃
Her face； which had been so sweet and luminous with her generous
impulse and noble thoughts； was growing very pale now； but she
rose and gave him her hand； saying with a faint smile that was like
the fading light of evening； 〃I knew you would not disappoint me；
I was sure you were worthy of my trust。 Let the honest right be
our motto henceforth； and all will be well some day。 Good…by。〃
He pressed her hand in both of his as he said fervently； 〃God bless
you； Ida Mayhew！〃 Then he turned and hastened away； flying from
his own weakness and a womanly loveliness which at the moment far
excelled any ideal he had ever formed。
He had scarcely reached the road before he remembered that he had
left his sketch…book； and he went back for it； but as he turned
the corner of the shady path he stopped instantly。 The strong；
clear…eyed maiden who had rallied the forces of his shattered
manhood； and given him the vantage…ground again in life's battle；
had bowed her head on the arm of the rustic seat and was sobbing
convulsively。 Indeed； her grief was so uncontrollable and passionate
that in his very soul he trembled before it。
〃Oh； Jennie Burton；〃 she moaned； 〃it would have been easier for
me to die for you than to give him up。 God help himGod help me
through the dreadful years to come！〃
His first impulse was to spring to her side； but he hesitated；
and then with a gesture and look of infinite regret he turned and
stole silently away。
Chapter LIII。 A Night's Vigil。
As Van Berg left Mr。 Eltinge's grounds he had the aspect of a man
who had seen a vision。 He had seen more； for the human face expressive
of absolute； even though brief； mastery over evil is a nobler object
than can be the serene visage of a sinless and untempted angel。
At last he understood Ida Mayhew。 If he had deeply honored her when
he supposed that as a sincere； honest friend only she had spoken
her strong； true words； which might save him from wrecking his life
from impulses of shame and wounded pride； how instantaneously was
this honor changed into reverence and wonder as he recognized her
self…sacrifice at the dictates of conscience。 All was now perfectly
clear。 The truth of her love had flashed out from the dark cloud
of her passionate grief； and in its white radiance all the baffling
mystery of her past action was dissipated instantly。 Now he knew
why the brilliant music at the concert garden could not brighten
her face； and the end of the symphony saw her in tears。 Now he
understood why she could not be Jennie Burton's friend； even though
capable of becoming a martyr for her sake from a sense of duty。 The
despairing farewell letter she had once written to him now became
fraught with a deeper meaning； and he saw that in throwing away
the imperfect rose…bud； and in looking at her as a creature akin
to Sibley； he had inflicted mortal wounds on a heart that gave him
only love in return。 In her desperate effort to conceal an unsought
love she had sought the nearest covert； and the stains Sibley had
left upon her were no more hers than if he had been a blackened
wall。 After all her woman's soul had come to her as in the old
and simple times when even water nymphs had hearts； and love was
still the mightiest force in the universe。
His feeling now was far too deep for his former half…frenzied
excitement。 There was not a trace of exultation in his manner；
and there was indeed no ground for rapture。 Only the knowledge
that he carried away her respect； and that he was going to the
performance of what he believed a sacred duty； kept him from despair。
He did not blame himself as bitterly as might have been supposed
that he had not discovered her secret earlier； and it increased
his admiration for her； if that were possible； that she had so
carefully maintained her maidenly reserve。 A conceited man； or
at least a man whose soul was infested with the meanest kind of
conceitthat of imagining that the woman who gives him a friendly
word or smile is disposed to throw herself into his armswould no
doubt have surmised her secret before； but although Van Berg was
intensely proud； as we have seen； and had been rendered self…complacent
and self…confident by the circumstances of his lot； he had none of
this contemptible vanity。 The discovery of Ida's love caused him
far greater surprise than when he recognized his own； and it was a
source of deep satisfaction to him that this modern and conventional
Undine had received a nature of such true and womanly delicacy that
it had led her to conceal her love like the trailing…arbutus that
hides its fragrant blossoms under fallen leaves。
The light had been so clear that he even saw the temptation which
he unconsciously had suggested to her while in the city。 Unlike
the little violet that weakly bowed its head and died because the
brook would not stop； she had resolutely set about the task of
making him stop； and yet never let him suspect that she was even
looking at him。 Hence her attempt to penetrate the wilderness of
knowledge which was at once so pathetic and comical； hence also
her wish to learn the authors and subjects which interested him。
〃And she had every reason to believe that she might have won me
from the one honorable allegiance I can give；〃 he exclaimed； in
deep humiliation； 〃and probably she would have done so eventually
had she not acted liek a saint rather than a woman。 I've lost
faith utterly in Harold Van Berg； and it will require a great many
years to regain it。〃
When he reached a dense tract of woodland through which the road
ran； he concealed himself and waited till she should pass。 Two
hours elapsed before she did so。 The passionate grief that had
overwhelmed her was no slight and passing gust。 He saw that she
leaned back weakly and languidly in the phaeton； and had hidden her
face by a vail of double thickness。 He followed her at a distance
far too great for recognition until she entered the hotel； and
then sought to obtain a little rest and food at the nearest village
inn； for he found now that his fierce paroxysm of rage and mental
torment was over； he had become very faint and exhausted。 After
he