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Van Berg laid down his knife and fork and exclaimed： 〃You have
stolen a march on us。 We designed giving you an ovation when you
came down。〃
〃Will you please pass me the bread in its place； Mr。 Van Berg？〃 she
replied in her former piquant； mirthful way。 〃With the appetite
that is coming back to me； one of Mr。 Burleigh's good dinners is far
more to my taste than an ovation which I now decline with thanks。〃
Very pale and slight she certainly had become； but they saw her old
cheery； indomitable spirit once more looked out of her blue eyes
and vibrated in the tones of her voice。 With the changes indicated；
she was the same bright little 〃enigma in brown〃 that had so
fascinated Van Berg the first day of her arrival； and led him to make
the half…jesting prediction to Stanton that had been so thoroughly
fulfilled。 In spite of themselves her irresistible grace； wit；
and humor created continuous and irrepressible merriment at their
table； which Ida seconded with a tact and piquancy but little
inferior to that of Miss Burton herself。 Straightforward and
rather slow…witted Stanton rubbed his eyes and vowed between the
first hearty laughs he had known for many a long day that he was
practised upon； and that he intended to have Miss Burton indicted
as a witch； and Ida as an accomplice。
But Jennie Burton could not escape the ovation； for she had won
a secure and large place in the esteem； and in many instances； in
the affections of her summer associates。 After dinner； no matter
which way she turned； hands were extended and hearty words spoken；
and while at dinner even the colored waiters grinned approvingly
whenever she looked towards them。 Mr。 Burleigh finally brought
the congratulations and jollity to a climax by hoisting the flag
and trying to drum 〃Hail Columbia〃 on a gong。
〃That's his way；〃 said Mrs。 Burleigh in an aside to Jennie； 〃but
would you believe it； the poor man has scarcely eaten or slept
since you have been ill。 If it had been any one else but you I'd
been jealous。〃
But Van Berg knew well that all this geniality was like the ripple
and sparkle that play above deep waters。 Occasionally he found
Miss Burton's eyes directed towards himself in a way that caused
him deep anxiety； and he had an uneasy consciousness that she was
reading his innermost thoughts。 While he exerted his utmost power
to banish everything from his mind that was not loyal to her； he
made no effort to avoid Ida or say little to her at the table and
during the afternoon； but rather took pains to treat her with frank
and cordial courtesy； however； in spite of himself； he could not
keep out of his eyes at all times the reverence and gratitude with
which his very soul overflowed； for he felt that he owed to Ida；
who had saved his manhood； far more than to Jennie； who had saved
his life only。
Ida also observed Miss Burton's slight and carefully disguised
scrutiny with a fluttering heart。 〃I suppose he does the best he
can；〃 she thought； 〃but she'll surely find him out； there is no
use of trying to hide anything from a woman who loves。 Well； well；
let her but remain discreetly blind for a little time； and with
her powers of fascination she will win him heart and soul。〃
Before Jennie slept that night her mind was clear as to her course。
〃I think；〃 she murmured； 〃I understand them both now。 His manner
towards Miss Mayhew is certainly not that of a conventional
lover； but as I have seen him look at her twice as if he could say
his prayers to her； I think I'll venture on the only match…making
I ever attempted。 But what to do with Mr。 Stanton； I don't know。
Poor man！ he might as well love a shadow as me； and yet he seems
so simple； honest； and real himself。 He is disappointing me daily；
and I have wronged him very much。 I thought him a selfish man of
the world； but he persists in offering me a chivalric； unselfish
devotion； for which he asks nothing in return。 Alas！ I can give
him nothingnothing compared with what he gives。〃
〃I am going to make my last visit to Mr。 Eltinge and the old
garden；〃 said Ida to Van Berg as she passed him on the piazza the
following morning。
He looked after her so wistfully； and sighed so deeply； that Jennie
Burton； unseen herself； smiled as if she had discovered something
that gave her deep satisfaction。
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said a few moments later 〃can you give me a
little of your valuable time to…day？〃
〃All of it；〃 he said promptly。
〃Thanks。 I shall take； then； all I want。 Come with me to yonder
shady rustic seat； for I long to be out of doors again； and you
have learned to hobble so gracefully and deftly that you can manage
the journey； I'm sure。〃
He accompanied her； wondering a little at her words and manner。
When they had reached the seclusion she sought her manner changed；
and she became very grave and earnest； for she felt that it might
be the crisis moment of two lives； and she was not one who could
self…complacently and confidently seek to shape human destiny。
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said； 〃I shall not use any tedious circumlocution；
for your time is precious this morning； more so than you think at
this moment。 Nor shall I try to entrap you by guile and feminine
diplomacy； but you made me a very explicit pledge when I found you
last Tuesday morning。〃
〃Yes； Jennie Burton； I am yours； body and soul。〃
〃But how about your heart； Mr。 Van Berg？〃
〃My heart overflows with gratitude to you；〃 he said promptly； but
with rising color； 〃and as I said when you rescued me； so now I
vow again； I dedicate my life to you。 I do not ask you to forget
the past all at onceI do not ask you to forget it at allbut only
to let me aid you in taking the bitterness out of those memories
that now are destroying as sweet and beneficent a life as God ever
gave。 I have suspected that you had some unselfish guile in that
last promise you obtained from me； but I shall be loyal to the
promise I intended to make； and which was in my mind； I shall be
loyal to the promise I made you at first； to win you if I could；
and I shall wait till I can。〃
〃What； then； will Ida Mayhew do？〃 she asked looking him full in
the face。
He colored still more deeply； but meeting her searching gaze without
blenching； he said； firmly and quietly： 〃She will always do what
is right and noble； God bless her！〃
Miss Burton appeared a little perplexed and troubled for a moment；
and then said； slowly： 〃I called you my friend last July； and when
I speak in the mood I was in then I mean all that I say。 Friends
should be very frank when the occasion requires； or else they are
but acquaintances。 I am going to be very frank with you to…day；
and if I err； charge it to friendship only。 Ida Mayhew loves you；
Mr。 Van Berg； she has loved you almost from the first； and now that
her life has become so noble and beautiful； I am greatly mistaken
if you do not return her affecti