按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 him to appear。 〃Oh； it's too good to last；〃 she sighed；
as her heart fairly ached with its excess of joy。
After dinner Mr。 Mayhew asked Van Berg to light a cigar with him in
his study； but the artist declined and followed Ida to the parlor。
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said； with a great show of surprise； 〃how is it
you don't smoke this evening？ It seemed to me that you and Cousin
Ik were drawn to a certain corner of Mr。 Burleigh's piazza with
the certainty of gravitation after dinner； and then you were lost
in the clouds。〃
〃On this occasion I have taken my choice of pleasures and have
followed you。〃
〃This is a proud moment for me；〃 she said； with a mirthful twinkle
in her eyes。 〃I never expected to rival a gentleman's cigar； and
I don't think I ever did before。〃
〃Another proof of my friendship； Miss Ida。〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied demurely； 〃an act like this goes a good way
towards making me believe you are sincere。〃
〃Miss Ida； you are always laughing at me。 I wish I could find some
way to get even with you； and I will too。〃
〃You do me injustice。 I； in turn； will lay an offering on the
altar of friendship and will go with you this evening to the concert
garden。〃
〃I think you exceedingly； but will leave the offering on the altar；
if you will permit me。 I would much rather remain in your parlor。〃
〃Why； Mr。 Van Berg； you are bent on being a martyr for my sake this
evening。〃
〃Yes； wholly bent upon it。〃
〃How amiable gentlemen are after dinner！〃 she exclaimed。 〃But where
was your appetite this evening？ Clearly our cook knows nothing of
the preparation of ambrosia nor I of nectar； although I made the
coffee myself。〃
〃Did you？ That accounts for its divine flavor。 Don't you remember
I took two cups？〃
〃I saw that your politeness led you to send me your cup a second
time。 I suppose you accomplished a vast deal again to…day after
you were once finally rid of an embodiment of April weather？〃
〃I would lose your respect altogether if I should tell you how I
have spent the afternoon。 You would think me an absurd jumble of
moods and tenses。 I may as well own up； I suppose。 I have done
nothing but kill time； and to that end I took a walk through Central
Park。〃
〃This hot afternoon！ Mr。 Van Berg； what possessed you？〃
〃A demon of impatience。 It seemed as if old Joshua had commanded
the sun to stand still again。〃
〃You must indeed by a genius； Mr。 Van Berg； for I've always heard
that the peculiarly gifted were full of unaccountable moods。〃
〃I understand the satire of your expression 'PECULIARLY gifted；'
but my turn will come before the evening is over；〃 and he leaned
luxuriously back against the sofa cushion with a look of infinite
content with the prospect before him。 〃Bless me； what is this over
which I have half broken my back；〃 he exclaimed； and he dragged
out of its partial concealment a huge volume。
〃Please let me take that out of your way；〃 said Ida； stepping
hastily forward with crimson cheeks。
〃Don't trouble yourself； Miss Mayhew； fortune is favoring me once
more； and I am on the point of discovering the favorite author you
would not mention this morning。 An encyclopedia； as I live！ from
A to B； with a hair…pin inserted sharply at the word Amsterdam。
Really； Miss Ida； I can't account for your absorbing interest in
Amsterdam。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg； there is no use in trying to hide anything from you。
You find me out every time and I'm really growing superstitious
about it。〃
〃I wish your words were true； but； for the life of me； I can't
understand why you should crave encyclopaedias as August reading；
nor can I see the remotest connection between the exquisite color
of your face and the old Dutch city of Amsterdam。〃
〃Well； the Fates are against me once more。 Why I left that book
there I don't know； for I'm not usually so care