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〃Well； the Fates are against me once more。 Why I left that book
there I don't know； for I'm not usually so careless。 Mr。 Van Berg；
I scarcely need to remind you of a fact that you discovered long
agoI don't know anything。 Do you not remember how you tried to
talk with me one evening？ You touched on almost as many subjects
as that huge volume contains； and my face remained as vacant through
them all as the blank pages in that book before the printed matter
begins。〃
〃But now； Miss Ida； your face is to me like this book after the
printed matter begins； only I read there that which interests me
far more than anything which this bulky tome contains； even under
the word Amsterdam。〃
〃You imagine far more than you see。 I think artists are like poets；
and are given to great flights。 Besides； you are becoming versed
in my small talk。 When you tried it on the evening I referred to；
you were just a trifle ponderous。〃
〃Yes； I can now see myself performing like a lame elephant。 Did
you propose to read this encyclopaedia entirely through？〃
〃I might have skipped art as a subject far too deep for me。〃
〃When you come to that let me take the place of the encyclopaedia。
I will sit just here where you keep your book and give you a series
of familiar lectures。〃
〃I never enjoyed being lectured； sir！〃
〃Then I'll teach you after the Socratic method； and ask you
questions。〃
〃I fear some of them might be too personal。 You have such a mania
for solving everything。〃
〃And did you fear that at some of the many sittings I shall need
this fall I might again broach every subject under the sun； and so
you were led to read an encyclopaedia to be prepared？〃
〃Is that what you mean by the Socratic method？ I decline any lessons
concerning art or anything else on that plan； for you would find
out everything。〃
〃I shall； anyway。 How long ago it seems since we took that stupid
walk together on Mr。 Burleigh's piazza！ We are nearer together
now； Miss Ida； than we were then。〃
〃Oh！ no； indeed；〃 she replied quickly； 〃I had your arm on that
occasion。〃
〃But you have my sincere friendship and respect now。 I can't tell
you how pleased I was when I saw how you had honored the little
emblematic flower I gave you this morning。 That you wear it
to…night as your only ornament gives me hope that you do value my
respect and regard。〃
〃I think I had better let the rose…bud answer you； and I confess
I like to think how perfect it is when I remember the meaning you
gave to it； though how you can respect me at all I cannot understand。
Still； I am like fathernext to God's favor the respect of those
I esteem does most to sustain and reassure me。 But； oh！ Mr。 Van
Berg； you can't know what an honest sense of ill…desert I have。 It
is so hard just to do right； no matter what the consequences may
be。〃
〃The trouble with me is that I am not trying as you are。 But I
know； with absolute certainty； that the strongest impulse of true
friendship； or at least of mine； in this instance； is to render
some service to my friend。 You will make me very happy if you will
tell me something I can do for you。〃
〃You are helping me very much in your manner towards father； and
I do thank you from the very depths of my heart。 In no way could
you have won from me a deeper gratitude。 Andwellyour kindness
almost tempts me to ask for another favor； Mr。 Van Berg。〃
He sprang to her side and took her hand。
Quickly withdrawing it； she said with a little decisive node： 〃You
must sit down and sit still； for I have along； tiresome story to
tell； and a very prosaic favor to ask；〃 for she had resolved； 〃he
shall go forward now with his eyes open； and he shall never say I
won him by seeming what I was not。 If I can't deal right by Jennie
Burton； I will by him。〃
〃I shall find no service prosaic； see； I'm all attention；〃 and he
did look very eager indeed。
〃That encyclopaedia suggests my story； and I may have to refer
incidentally to myself。〃
〃Leave the book out； I'll listen for ages。〃
〃I should be out of breath before that。 Mr。 Van Berg； I'm in earnest；
I don't know anything worth knowing。 My life has been worse than
wasted； and the only two things I understand well are dancing and
flirting。 Now I know you are disgusted； but its the truth。 My old；
fashionable life seems to me like the tawdry scenes of a second…rate
theatre； where everything is for effect and nothing is real。 I
have hosts of acquaintances； but I haven't any friends except Mr。
Eltinge。〃
〃And Harold Van Berg；〃 put in the artist； promptly。
〃It's good of you to say that after such confessions；〃 she continued；
with a shy glance。 〃I hope it wasn't out of politeness。 Well；
I've waked up at last。 I think you first startled me out of my
insufferable stupidity and silliness at the concert garden； and
I'm very much obliged to you for the remark you made to Cousin Ik
on that occasion。〃
〃Yes； I remember；〃 Van Berg groaned。 〃I waked you up as if I were
trying to put your shoulder out of joint。 Well； I'm waking up
also。〃
〃You have no idea what a perfect sham of a life I led；〃 and she
told him frankly of her wasted school days and of her trip abroad；
for which she had no preparation of mind or character。 〃A butterfly
might have flown over the same ground and come back just as wise；〃
she said。 〃But I have suddenly entered a new world of truth
and duty； and I am bewildered； I am anxious to fit myself for the
society of sensible； cultivated people； and I am discouraged by
the task before me。 I went to father's library yesterday and was
perfectly appalled by the number of books and subjects that I know
nothing about。 The fact that I stumbled into that encyclopaedia；
which gave you the laugh against me； shows how helpless I am。
Indeed； I'm like a little child trying to find its way through a
wilderness of knowledge。 I blundered on as far as Amsterdam； and
there I stopped in despair。 I didn't know what was before me； and
I was getting everything I had been over confused and mixed up in
my mind。 And now； Mr。 Van Berg； with your thorough education and
wide experience you can tell me what to read and how to read。〃
Van Berg's face was fairly alive with interest； and he said eagerly：
〃The favor you ask suggests a far greater one on my part。 Let me
go with you through this wilderness of knowledge。 We can take up
courses of reading together。〃
At this moment Mr。 Mayhew entered； and the artist hesitated to go
on with his far…reaching offers； and； indeed； he suddenly began to
realize； with some embarrassment； how much they did involve。
But Ida maintained her presence of mind； and said； simply： 〃That
would be impossible； though no doubt exceedingly helpful to me。
Here； as in the instance of the pictures； your good…nature and
kindness carry you far beyond what I ever dreamed of asking。 I
merely t