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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 had regained somewhat the power to think and act； he turned his
steps towards a narrow； secluded ravine； about a mile from the hotel；
knowing that here he would find the deepest solitude in which to
grow calm and prepare himself for the quiet self…sacrifice of which
Ida had given the example； and which no eye must be able to detect
save his to whom the secrets of all hearts are open。
He made no effort to follow any path； but sprang carelessly and
rapidly down the steep hillside。 When he had almost reached the
bottom of the ravine； his foot slipped on a rock half hidden by
leaves； and he fell and rolled helplessly down。 Before he could
recover himself； the rock； which had been loosely imbedded in the
soil and which his foot had struck so heavily； rolled after him
and on his leg and foot。 In sudden and increasing dismay； he found
that he could not extricate himself。 The stone would have been
beyond his ability to lift even if he had the full use of all his
powers； but he was held in a position that gave him very little
chance to exert his strength。
When he found that it was utterly impossible to push the stone
away； he tried to excavate the earth； by means of sticks and his
small pocket…knife； from under his leg； but soon found； with a sense
of mortal fear； that his limb was resting in a little depression
between two other large rocks deeply imbedded in the bottom of
the ravine。 This depression； and the soft； dry leaves which had
covered it like a cushion； prevented the stone from crushing his
limb and foot； but also held him in a sort of natural sock。
As these appalling facts became clear； he saw that he was in imminent
danger of death by starvation。 Then a worse fear than that chilled
his very soul。 He might die in that lonely spot and never be
discovered。 The prowling vermin of the night might tear away his
flesh； and drag his bones hither and thither； till the leaves that
now would soon fall covered them forever from sight and knowledge；
but Id