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〃Now you show your taste； Miss Mayhew。〃
〃I fear I do。 Hush！〃 But when Van Berg's solo ended； she breathed
a deep sigh。
Then Stanton's rich； but uncultivated bass voice joined in the
melody。 Still the effect was better tahn would have been expected
from amateurs。 After a few moments； Stanton stood back and Miss
Burton and Van Berg sang together； then every one leaned forward
and listened with a breathless hush。 Her voice seemed to pervade
his with sould and feeling that had been lacking hitherto。
As the last rich chords died away； the strongest expression of
pleasure were heard on every side； but Ida Mayhew stepped abruptly
out into the dusk of the piazza with clenched hands and compressed
lips。
〃'Peste！'〃 she exclaimed under her breath。 〃What a contrast between
Sibley and myself last evening and these two people to…night！ What
a worse contrast there might have been if Ik had not interfered in
time！ I have a good voice； but the guests of the house have not
even thought of me in connection with this evening's entertainment。
I am associated only with the Sibley style of amusements。〃
Chapter XVII。 New Forces Developing。
After Mr。 Van Berg and Miss Burton finished the selection from the
Oratorio mentioned in the previous chapter； the old white…haired
gentleman at whose side the latter had been sitting in the earlier
part of the evening rose and said：
〃I want to thank all the singers； and especially the young lady
and gentleman now at the piano； not only for the pleasure they have
given us all； but also for the comforting and sustaining thoughts
that the sacred words have suggested。 My enjoyments in this world
are but few； and are fast diminishing； and I know that they will
not refuse an old man's request that they close this service of song
by each singing along some hymn that will strengthen our faith in
the unseen Friend who watches over us all。〃
Van Berg looked at Miss Burton。
〃We cannot refuse such an appeal；〃 she said。
〃I fear that I shall seem a hypocrite in complying；〃 Van Berg
answered； in a low tone。 〃How can I make a distinctly recognized
effort to strengthen faith in others when lacking faith myself。〃
Her eyes flashed up to his； in sudden and strong approval。 〃I
like that；〃 she said。 〃It always gives me a sense of security and
safety when I meet downright honesty。 In no way can you better
strengthen our faith than by being perfectly true。 You give me a
good example of sincerity；〃 she added slowly； 〃and perhaps my hymn
will teach submission more than faith。 While I am singing it you
may find something that will not express more than you feel。〃
In her sweet； low； yet penetrating voice； that now had a pathos which
melted every heart； she sang the following words； which； like the
perfume of crushed violets； have risen in prayer from many bruised
and broken sprits：
〃My God； my father； while I stray
Far from my home on life's rough way；
Oh teach me from my heart to say；
Thy will be done。
What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved no longer nigh；
Submissive still would I reply；
Thy will be done。
Renew my will from day to day；
Blend it with Thine； and take away
Whate'er now makes it hard to say；
Thy will be done。
Then when on earth I breathe no more；
The prayer oft mixed with tears before；
I'll sing upon a happier shore；
Thy will be done。〃
Stanton； warm…hearted and genuine with all his faults； retired well
into the shadow of the hallway and looked at the singer through
the lenses of sympathetic tears。
〃Poor orphan girl；〃 he muttered。 〃What a villain a man would be
who could purpose harm to you！〃
Van Berg； in accordance with his cooler and less demonstrative
nature； kept his position at her side； but he regarded her with
an expression of respect and interest that caused Ida Mayhew； who
was watching from her covert near； a sense of pain and envy that
surprised her by its keenness。
With a sudden longing which indicated that the wish came direct
from from her heart； she sighed：
〃What would I not give to see him look at me with that expression
on his face！〃
Then； startled by her own thought； so vivid had it been； she looked
around as if in fear it was apparent to her companion。
His eyes were in truth bent upon her； and in the dusk they seemed
like livid coals。 A moment later； as with a shrinking sense of
fear she furtively looked at him again； his eyes suggested those of
some animal of prey that is possessed only with the wolfish desire
to devour； caring for the victim only as it may gratify the ravenous
appetite。
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear：
〃Miss Ida； you do not know how strangely； how temptingly beautiful
you are to…night。 One might well peril his soul for such beauty
as yours。〃
〃Hush；〃 she said imperiously； and with a repelling gesture； she
stepped further into the light towards the singers。
〃Then； when on earth I breathe no more；〃 sang Miss Burton。
The thought was to the heart of the unhappy listener like the touch
of ice to the hand。 There was a kindling light of hope in Miss
Burton's face； and something in her tone that indicated the courage
of an unfaltering trust as she sang the closing lines：
〃I'll sing upon a happier shore；
Thy will be done。〃
But the words brought a deeper despondency to Ida Mayhew。 In
bitterness she asked herself； 〃What chance is there for me to reach
'that happier shore；' with the tempter at my side and everything
in the present and past combining to drag me down？〃
〃There； thank heaven 'meetin's over；'〃 whispered Sibley； as Miss
Burton rose from the piano。 〃I'm sick of all this pious twaddle；
and would a thousand…fold rather listen to the music of your voice
out under the trees。〃
〃You 'thank heaven'！〃 she repeated with a reckless laugh。 〃I'm
inclined to think； Mr。 Sibley； from the nature of your words； you
named the wrong locality。〃
The answering look he gave her indicated that she puzzled him。
She had not seemed to…day like the shallow girl who had hitherto
accepted of his more innocent compliments as if they were sugar…plums；
and merely raised her finger in mock warning at such as contained
a spice of wickedness and boldness。 There seemed a current of
thought in her mind which he could not fathom； and whether it were
carrying her away or toward him he was not sure。 He understood and
welcomed the element of recklessness； but did not like the way in
which she looked at Van Berg； nor did it suit his purposes that
she should hear so much of what he characterized as 〃pious twaddle。〃
He whispered again bolder words than he had ever spoken to her
before。
〃I wish no better heaven than the touch of your hand and the light
of your eyes。 See； the moon is rising； come with me； for this is
the very witch