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〃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 witching hour for a ramble。〃
She turned upon him a startled look； for he seemed the very embodiment
of temptation。 But she only said coldly：
〃Hush！ Mr。 Van Berg is about to sing；〃 and she stepped so far into
the lighted room that the artist saw her。
When Miss Burton rose from the piano she did not return to her
seat in the parlor； but stood in the shadow of the door…way leading
into the hall。 The thought of her hymn had come so directly from
her heart； that her eyes were slightly moist with an emotion that
was more plainly manifest on many other faces。 The old gentleman
who had asked her to sing had taken off his spectacles and was
openly wiping his eyes。
Stanton； ashamed to have her see the feeling she had evoked；
turned his back upon her and slowly walked down the corridor。 She
misunderstood his act and thought it caused by indifference or
dislike for the sentiment she had expressed。 He had seemed to her
thus far only a superficial man of the world； and this act struck
her as characteristic。 But beyond this passing impression she
did not give him a thought； and turned； with genuine interest； to
listen to Van Berg who had said to her：
〃I remember a few simple verses which have no merit save that they
express what I wish rather than what I am。〃
With much more feeling； and therefore power； than was his custom；
he sang as follows：
〃I would I knew Thee better
That trust could banish doubt；
I wish that from 'the letter'
Thy Spirit might shine out。
I wish that heaven were nearer
That earth were more akin
To the home that should be dearer
Than the one so marred by sin。
I wish that deserts dreary
Might blossom as the rose；
That souls； despairing； weary；
Might smile and find repose。〃
Before singing the next stanza he could not forbear looking to see
if Miss Mayhew were listening； and thus it happened that his glance
gave peculiar emphasis to the thought expressed。 She was looking
at him with an intensity of expression that he did not understand。
Nothing that he did escaped her； and the quick flash of his eyes
in her direction unintentionally gave the following words the force
and pointedness of an open rebuke；
〃I wish that outward beauty
Were the mirror of the heart；
That purity and duty
Supplanted wily art。〃
He did not see that with a sudden flame of scarlet in her face she
stepped back on the dusky piazza as abruptly as if she had received
a blow。 Had he done so； he might not have sung as effectively the
remaining verses。 After the first confused moment of shame and
resentment passed； she paused only long enough to note with a sense
of relief that others had not seen or made any such application of
his words as she believed he had intended； and then she took Mr。
Sibley's arm and walked away； leaving the remaning two verses
unheard
〃I wish that all were better
And nearer to their God
That evil's broken fetter
Were buried with His rod；
That love might last forever；
And we； in future； find
There is no power to sever
The strong and true in mind。〃
As he sang the last verse there was also a rapid change
in the expression of Miss Burton's face。 There was something of
her old pallor that has been mentioned before。 She looked at him
questioningly a moment as if to see if he were consciously making
an allusion that touched her very nearly； and then； seemingly
overcome by some sudden emotion that she would gladly hide； she
quickly vanished down the dimly lighted hallway； and was seen no
more until she came down to breakfast the following morning； as
smiling and cheery as ever。
〃Confound you； Van；〃 said Stanton； as the artist escaped from the
thanks of the audience into the hall； 〃What did you put in that last
verse for？ You made her think of seeing her dead friends again；
and so she was in no mood to speak to us poor mortals who are still
plodding on in this 'vale of tears。' I'd give my ears for a quiet
chat with her to…night。 By Jove； I never was so stirred up before；
and could turn Christian； Mohammedan； Buddhist； or anything else；
if she asked me to。〃
〃In either case； Ik；〃 said Van Berg； 〃your worship would be the
same； I imagine； and would never rise higher than the priestess。〃
〃Curse it all；〃 exclaimed Stanton impetuously； 〃I feel to…night as
if that were higher than I can ever rise。 I never was afraid of
a woman before； but no 'divinity' ever 'hedged a king' like that
which fills me with an indescribable awe when I approach this
unassuming little woman who usually seems no more formidable than
a flickering sunbeam。 I agree with you now。 She has evidently
had some deep experience in the past that gives to her character
a power and depth that we only half understand。 I wish I knew her
better。〃
〃Good…night；〃 said Van Berg； a little abruptly； 〃I think that
after this evening's experience； neither of us is in the mood for
further talk。〃
Stanton looked after him with a lowering brow and muttered： 〃Is
he so sensitive on this subject？ By Jove。 I'm sorry！ I fear
we must become rivals； Van。 And yet；〃 he added with a despairing
gesture； 〃what chance would I have with him against me？〃
〃I could not hear distinctly；〃 Sibley had remarked as Ida took
his arm and walked away from her post of observation。 〃Were you
disgusted with his pious wail on general principles； or did something
in his theology offend you？〃
〃It's enough that I was not pleased；〃 she replied briefly。
〃Little wonder。 I'm surprised you stood it so long。 Van Berg and
Stanton are nice fellows to lead a conventicle。 I think I'll take
a hand at it myself next Sunday evening； and certainly would with
your support。 I'll say nothing of the singer； but if you will go
with me to the rustic seat in yonder shady walk； I'll sing you a
song that I know will be more to your taste than any you have heard
this evening。〃
〃Please excuse me； Mr。 Sibley； I'm afraid of the night air。〃
〃You are unusually prudent；〃 he said； a little tauntingly。
〃Which proves that I possess at least one good quality；〃 she replied。
〃Perhaps if Mr。 Van Berg asked you to go you would take the risk。〃
〃Perhaps I might；〃 she admitted； half unconsciously and from the
mere force of habit； giving the natural answer of a coquette。
〃He had better not cross my path；〃 said Sibley； with sudden
vindictiveness。
〃Come； come！〃 replied Miss Mayhew； with a careless laugh； 〃let's
have no high tragedy。 I'm in no mood for it to…night； and you
have no occasion for alarm。 If he crosses your path he will step
daintily over it at right angles。〃
At that moment Van Berg came out on the piazza。 Although he could
not hear her words； her laugh and tone