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had passed； and she was profoundly grateful that it had ended in
physical exhaustion rather than in vain and agonized regret。 She
readily obeyed the physician's injunction to keep very quiet for
two or three days； for memory during the past few weeks had caused
a fever of mind that was scarcely less wearing than would have
been the disease against which rest was the best safeguard。 The
condition in which she found Van Berg suggested some light on the
dark problem of her life； but she only sighed deeply： 〃I shall
never know in this world why he does not come。〃
When told how Ida had taken care of her and watched till all danger
was passed； she murmured to herself； 〃Brave； noble Ida Mayhew！ but
I may be able to reward her yet。〃 She needed very little care；
and felt no surprise that Ida now permitted others to render these
attentions； contenting herself with brief but gentle inquiries
concerning her welfare。 Jennie only took pains to learn that Ida
would not leave the Lake House till Monday of the following week；
and then rested and waited。 She was not sure of Van Berg； and until
she was she would shield Ida as herself。 But if it were true； as
she surmised that Van Berg imagined that honor and loyalty bound
him to her； while his heart was disposed to reward the maiden who
had given him hers； she hoped that a little wise diplomacy on her
part might do no harm。 She very justly feared that Van Berg's
gratitude to herself would be so strong that he would consider
nothing else； and she also feared that in order to accomplish her
kind intentions towards them； it might become necessary for her
to tell him the sad story of her lifea story which she had never
yet put in words。 Therefore she sought to obtain the strength and
tranquility of mind which this effort might tax to the utmost。 She
also imagined that if she could only see Ida and Van Berg together
a few times； her course would be clearer。
Van Berg's vital forces had not been drained by weeks of mental
distress； and he rallied rapidly。 Stanton took care of him with a
sort of grim faithfulness which his friend appreciated； but neither
of them made any reference to the subject uppermost in their minds。
On the afternoon of the day following his rescue； he was able to
use crutches； and seated in his arm…chair was carried down to the
hotel parlor。 The guests thronged around him with congratulations；
and Ida came forward promptly with the others but her manner was
the most undemonstrative and quiet of any who spoke to him。 His
earnest look and the pressure of his hand meant so much to her；
however； that she soon retreated to the solitude of her room； and
her smile was almost glad as she murmured：
〃Oh； how much better it is to just take God at his word and do
right！ If I had yielded to my strong temptation I would not have
won him； for now he is bound to Miss Burton by every motive。 But
by doing right I have kept his respect。 Thank God for the glance
I have just received； for it is worth far more than any expressions
of dishonorable passion。 My conscience is light； if my heart is
heavy！〃
In the quiet and friendly courtesy that Van Berg and Ida maintained
towards each other； a casual observer would have seen nothing to
excite remark； and the gossips at the house believed they had been
misled by the facts that the artist had followed Ida to the city；
and returned with her as if by arrangement。 They now all agreed
that he could not do less than bestow himself as a reward upon
the 〃pretty little school ma'am；〃 as some of the tattling genus
persisted in calling Miss Burton。 Mr。 Mayhew had written that
unexpected business complications had arisen which required his
whole attention； and as he was acting in trust for others he could
not give his time just then to making the change that Ida had
wished； but that he would arrange matters so he could enter on his
vacation the following week； and then would take Ida wherever she
wished to go。 He wrote daily； and his letters were sources of
double cheer to Ida； for she read between the lines her father's
deep sympathy and in the lines found increasing proof that he was
a changed man。
Now that events had taken their strange and unexpected turn； she
was not sorry to remain。 She had no belief that change of place
would make any difference in her feelings； and she found that her
heart clung strongly to the scenes with which were associated her
recent deep experiences。 There was nothing in Van Berg's manner
now that made it embarrassing for her to meet him。 While in his
honest effort to keep his pledges； she saw that he apparently gave
the most of his thoughts to Miss Burton； and daily had conveyed
to her room the rarest flowers and fruits he could obtain； sending
to the city for them as well as having the country scoured for
its choicest treasures； she also occasionally caught a glimpse of
the truth that he honored and reverenced her from the depths of
his heart。 Although in her sincere diffidence she did not regard
herself as worthy of such esteem； still the poor girl； who had been
so deeply humiliated and discouraged； was comforted and sustained
by his strong and silent homage。 She would also be very sorry to
forego her daily visits to Mr。 Eltinge。
As Thursday was warm； Van Berg spent the greater part of it
on the cool piazza； for he was now able to move about on crutches
very well。 He had no lack of company； but all found him reticent
concerning his accident and the causes which had led to it。 The
most persistent gossip in the house learned no more than the bare
facts； and was inclined to believe there was nothing more to learn。
That Stanton was so distant was explained by the fact that he was
an unsuccessful rival。 Both Van Berg and Ida puzzled Stanton as
far as he gave them thought； but in his honest loyalty his heart
was in the darkened room in which poor Jennie was resting； more
from her long passionate struggle with a sorrow she could not bury
than from the exhaustion caused by her rescue of Van Berg。
Friday morning happened to be very warm； and Ida did not visit Mr。
Eltinge； but ensconced herself in a distant corner of the piazza
with a book； the pages of which were not turned very regularly。
〃I wonder；〃 she thought； 〃when； if ever； we shall have another
friendly talk。 What a strange； deep hush； as it were； has come
after the passionate joy and desperate sorrow and fear of the past
week！ It is the type of what my inner life will be。 But I must
not complain； thousands of hearts； no doubt； are the burial…places
of as dear a hope as mine； and One is pledged to give me back my
life in some way； and at some time。
〃Miss Ida；〃 said a voice that made her start and crimson in spite
of herself； 〃may I come out and talk with you a little while？〃 and
she saw that Van Berg was speaking to her through the window blinds
of one of the private parlors。
〃Yes；〃 she said hesitatingly