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any encouraging recognition from those who have known his past； has
great weight with him。 At the same time it must be very unobtrusive
and come as a matter of course as it were。 You gave him your society
one Sunday morning last June in a way that did him a great deal
of good； and if I had only seconded your efforts then； everything
might have been different。 I can never remember that day without
a blush of shame。 I can't help the past； but my whole soul is now
bent on making amends to father。 I fear； however； my deep solicitude
has led me to ask more than good taste can sanction。〃
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 said the artist； eagerly； 〃this is one of the best
moments of my life。 You could not have made such a request unless
you trusted me； unless you had fully forgiven me all the wrong I
have done you。 I doubted if I could ever win your friendship； but
I think I can claim a friend's place already in your esteem； since
you are willing to let me share in so sacred a duty。 I renew my
pledge with double emphasis。〃
He never forgot the smile with which she rewarded him； as she said；
in a low tone； 〃That's better than I thought。 You are very kind
to me。 But I'm staying too long from father。〃
〃We'll understand each other eventually；〃 he said gently。 〃Now I
know why tears were in your eyes before the symphony was over。〃
〃No you don't；〃 she whispered to herself。
As they took their seats by Mr。 Mayhew he remarked with a smile；
〃Mr。 Van Berg must have had a long budget of news frm your good
old friend。〃
Ida looked at the artist in dismay； and was still more embarrassed
as she saw a sudden flash of mirth and exultation in his eyes。 But
he turned to Mr。 Mayhew and replied； promptly； 〃Two pictures are
growing out of my visits to Mr。 Eltinge and his garden。 The one
that is for Mr。 Eltinge contains a portrait of Miss Mayhew as I
saw her reading to him。 I wish you and your daughter would visit
my studio to…morrow and see the sketches； and if Miss Mayhew would
give me one or two sittings； I could make a much better picture for
Mr。 Eltinge than now is possible； and I'm anxious to do the very
best I can for him。〃
〃I would be very glad to come；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew； and his pleased
expression confirmed his words。 〃Will a visit before I go down
town be too early？〃
〃Not at all。 I am always at work early。〃
〃Well； Ida； does Mr。 Eltinge miss your visits very much？ It's
selfish in me to let you stay in the city。〃
〃He does indeed； sir；〃 said the artist answering for her。 〃He
talked to me continually about her yesterday； although I can't say
I tried to change the subject。〃
〃Father； Mr。 Van Berg shall not shield my short…comings；〃 said Ida；
with crimson cheeks。 〃I forgot to ask about Mr。 Eltinge。 To tell
the truth； we were talking of old times。 I met Mr。 Van Berg here
last June and I made a very bad impression on him。〃
〃And I at the same time made a worse impression on Miss Mayhew；〃
added the artist。
〃Well；〃 said her father； with a doubtful smile and a puzzled glace
from one to the other； 〃one almost might be tempted to believe that
you had been revising your impressions。〃
〃Mine has not been revised； but changed altogether；〃 said Van Berg；
decisively。
〃Come； father； let us go at once lest Mr。 Van Berg's impressions
change again；〃 and her mirthful glance as she gave him her hand
in parting revealed a new element in her character。 She was not
developing the cloying sweetness of honey。
Chapter XLVIII。 Ida's Temptation。
If Van Berg had given thought to himself that evening as he did to
Ida Mayhew he might have discovered some rather odd phenomena in
his varying mental states。 Earlier in the summer he had been a
very deliberate and conscientious wooer。 He had leisurely taken
counsel of his reason； judgment； and good taste； he mentally
consulted his parents； and satisfied himself that Miss Burton would
have peculiar charms for them； and so it had come to seem almost
a duty as well as a privilege to seek that young lady's hand。 The
sagacity and nice appreciation of character on which he had so
greatly prided himself led to the belief that fortune in giving him
a chance to win such a maiden had been very kind。 That his pulse
was so even and his heart had so little to say in the matter was
only a proof that he did not possess an unbalanced head…long nature
like that of Stanton； who had soon become wholly mastered by his
passion。 He had at one time reasoned it all out to his satisfaction；
and believed he was paying his suit to the woman he would make his
wife in an eminently proper way。 but now that he was merely trying
to obtain a young girl's friendship； the cool and masterful poise
which he had then been able to maintain； was apparently deserting
him。 He might have asked himself if he ever remembered being
such an enthusiastic friend before。 He might have considered how
often he had kept awake and counted the hours till he should meet
a friend from whom he had just parted。 That these obvious thoughts
and contrasts did not occur to him only proved that he was smitten
already by that blindness which a certain spiritual malady usually
occasions in its earlier stages。
As for poor Ida； she still felt that her little boat was being
carried forward by a shining tidewhither she dared not think。
She had come to the city to escape from the artist； and as a result
she might spend long hours alone with him in his studio and see
far more of him than if she had remained in the country。 She had
not sought itshe had not even dared to hope or dream of such a
thing； but now that this exquisite cup of pleasure had been pressed
to her very lips by other hands she could not refuse it。
Her father had watched her keenly but furtively since she had been
his companion； and until the artist had accosted her the evening
before had not been able to understand the depression which she
could not disguise wholly from him； but the light and welcome that
flashed into her face when greeting Van Berg had suggested her
secret； and all that followed confirmed his surmise。 The truth
was plainer still when she came down to their early breakfast the
next morning with color in her cheeks and a fitful light of excitement
in her eyes。
As he realized the truth he fairly trembled with apprehension and
longing。 〃Oh； if Ida could only marry that man I would be almost
beside myself with joy；〃 he thought； 〃but I fear it is rash even
to hope for such a thing。 Indeed； I myself am the obstacle that
would probably prevent it all。 The Van Bergs are a proud race；
and this young man's father knows me too well。 O God！ I could be
annihilated if thereby my child could be happy。〃
〃Ida；〃 he said； hesitatingly； 〃perhaps I had better not go with you
this morning。 I imagine Mr。 Van Berg asked me out of politeness
rather than from any wish to see me andandI think I ha