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twilight and dusk before they approached the hotel。
〃See； father； there is the new moon； and it hangs over your right
shoulder；〃 cried Ida； gleefully。
〃It's over your right shoulder； too； and that thought pleases me
better still。 I wish I could make you very happy。 Tell me what
I can do for you。〃
〃Take me to New York with you to…morrow；〃 said Ida； promptly。
〃Now you are trying to make a martyr of yourself for me。 You forget
how hot and dusty the city is in August。〃
〃I'm going with you；〃 she said decisively； 〃unless you say no。〃
〃I'm going to spend part of the time with you until your vacation
begins next month； and then we'll explore every nook and corner of
this region。〃
〃There Ida； say no more to…day。 My cup is overflowing now； and
the fear is already growing that such happiness won't lastcan't
last in a world like ours。〃
〃Father；〃 said Ida； gently； 〃I've found a Friend that has promised
me more than present happiness。 He has promised me eternal life。
He is pledged to make all seemingly evil result in my final good。
How it can be I don't see at all； but I'm trying to take him at
his word。 You must not worry if I'm not always in good spirits。 I
suppose every one in the world has a burden to carry； but I don't
think it can crush us if our Saviour helps us carry it。 My faith
is very simple； you see； I feel I'm like one of those little children
he took in his arms and blessed； and I'm sure his blessing is not
an empty form。 It has made me love and trust him； and that's all
the religion I have or know anything about。 You must not expect
great things of me； you must not watch me too closely。 Just let
me take my own quiet way in life； for I want my life henceforth to
be as quiet and unobtrusive as the little brook that runs through
Mr。 Eltinge's garden； that is often in the shade； you know； as
well as in the light； but Mr。 Eltinge lets it flow after its own
fashion； so you must let me。 I'll always try to make a little
low； sweet music for you； if not for the world。 So please do not
commence puzzling your poor tired brain how to make me happy or
gay； or want to take me here and there。 Just leave me to myself；
let me have my own way for awhile at least； and if you can do
anything for me I promise to tell you。〃
Ever since her drive with Van Berg the previous day； there had been
a deep undercurrent of thought in Ida's mind； and she had at last
concluded that she could scarcely keep her secret with any certainty
while under his eyes； and especially those of Miss Burton。 She was
too direct and positive in her nature； and her love was too strong
and absorbing for the cool and indifferent bearing she was trying
to maintain。 Her eyes； her cheeks； her tones； and even words；
might prove traitors at any time and betray her。 She longed to be
alone； and teh large empty city house seemed the quiet refuge that
she needed。 At the same time it would give her deep satisfaction
to be with her father after hs return from business； and make amends
for years of neglect。
He looked at her wistfully； feeling； in a vague way； that he did
not understand her yet。 There was a minor chord in her voice；
and there had been a sadness in her eyes at times which began to
suggest to him that he had not learned all the causes that were so
marvellously transforming her form her old self。 Her mother would
question and question。 He； on the contrary； would wait patiently
till the confidence was given； and so he merely said gently；
〃All right； little girl； I'll try to make you happy in your own
way。〃
Van Berg； going out for a walk after tea； again heard the girlish
voice singing the quaint hymn tune that had awakened the memories
of his childhood the previous day。 He instantly concealed himself
by the roadside； and in a moment or two Ida and her father drove
by。 He was able in the dusk to note only that her head rested on
her father's shoulder； and her voice was sweet and plaintive as
she sang words that he could not hear distinctly； but which were
as follows； as far as he could catch them：
I know not the way he is leading me
But I know he is leading me home；
Though lonely the path and dark to me；
It is safe and it wends to my home。
Home of the blest；
Home that is rest
To the weary pilgrim's feet； to the weary pilgrim's heart。
and then her words were lost in the distance。
With an impulse he did not think of resisting he followed them back
to the hotel and waited patiently till she and her father came out
from supper。
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； a little discontentedly； 〃I have scarcely
had a chance to say a word to you to…day； and it seems to me that
I have a great deal to say。〃
She looked at him with some surprise as she replied； 〃Well； I think
I might at least become a good listener。〃
〃Do you mean a patient one？〃
〃I never had any patience；〃 she answered； with something like a
smile。
〃And I was never so possessed by the demon of impatience as I have
been this afternoon。 There hasn't been a soul around that I cared
to talk with； and if you knew how out of conceit I am with my own
company； you would feel some commiseration。 How I envied you your
visit to the garden this afternoon； for I felt sure you took your
father thither。 May I not go with you again to…morrow； or soon？ I
wish to make my sketch more accurate before beginning your picture。〃
She hesitated a moment； and he little know how he was tempting her。
Then she replied； so quietly and decisively as to seem almost cold；
〃Mr。 Eltinge； I'm sure； will be very glad to see you； but I shall
go to the city with my father in the morning and remain in town
all the week。〃 She was puzzled at his unmistakable expression of
regret and disappointment； and added； hastily； 〃Mr。 Van Berg； you
are taking far too much trouble。 I would be more satisfiedI
would be delighted with such a sketch as you made to…day； with the
omission of myself。〃
〃But if； instead of being trouble； it gave me great pleasure to
make the picture with the utmost care？〃
〃I suppose；〃 she replied； 〃that you have a high artistic sense that
must be satisfied； and that you see imperfections that I cannot。〃
〃You are too severe upon me； Miss Mayhew； but since you have such
good reason； I cannot complain。 Still； in justice to myself； I
must say that satisfying my artistic sense was not my motive。〃
〃I did not mean to be severeI do not mean what you think；〃 Ida
began； very eagerly。 Then she checked herself and added； after a
moment； with a slight tinge of sadness in her tone； 〃I fear we are
fated to misunderstand each other。 Good…night； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 and
she turned decisively away and joined her father who was talking
with Stanton。
The artist was both hurt and perplexed； and he abruptly left the
hall and started again on the walk which had been so unexpectedly
interrupted。 He st