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relating to the subject that； for causes obvious to you； would be
naturally interesting to one so alone in the world as I am。〃
〃I am sorry indeed that I never used my reason to so good a purpose；〃
he replied； 〃and yet； as I said at first； these subjects have ever
seemed to me so above and beyond my reason that I have carelessly
given them the go…by。 My profession has wholly absorbed me since
I have been capable of anything worth the name of thought； and the
world； toward which your mind is turning； is so large and vague
that I cannot even follow you； much less guide。〃
She sighed： 〃It is indeed 'large and vague。'〃 Then she added in
firm； quiet tones： 〃Mr。 Van Berg； please forget what I have said。
The weak must show their weakness at times in spite of themselves；
and your kindness and sincerity have beguiled me into inflicting
myself upon you。〃
〃You ask that which is impossible； Miss Burton；〃 he replied earnestly。
〃I cannot forget what you have said； nor do I wish to。 I need not
assure you； however； that I regard your confidence as sacred as if
it came from my own sister。 Will you also let me say that I never
felt so honored before in my life as I have to…night； in the fact
that I seemed to your woman's intuition worthy of your trust。〃
They were now turned towards the light that streamed dimly from
one of the windows。 She looked up at him with a bright； grateful
smile； but she apparently saw something in his eager face and manner
which checked her smile as suddenly as if he had been an apparition。
she gave him her hand； saying hastily； 〃Good…night； Mr。 Van Berg；
I thank you。 IIdo not feel very well；〃 and she passed swiftly
to a side door and disappeared。
Chapter XX。 A Wretched Secret that Must be Kept。
The interview described in the previous chapter touched Van Berg
deeply； but its close puzzled him。 Under the influences of his
aroused feelings had his face expressed more than mere sympathy？
Had her strong intuition； that was like a second sight； interpreted
his heart more clearly than he had been able to understand it himself
as yet？ Reason and judgement； his privy council； had already begun
to advise him to win if possible this unselfish maiden； who with
a divine alchemy transmuted her shadows into sunshine for others；
and often suggested the thought； if she can do this in sorrow； how
inexpressibly happy she might make you and your aged father and
mother if you could first find out in some way how to make her
happy。
Indeed； so clear a case did these counsellors make out； that conscience
added her authoritative voice also； and assured him that he would
be false to himself and his future did he not； to the utmost； avail
himself and his future did he not； to the utmost； avail himself
of the opportunity of winning one whose society from the first had
been an inspiration to better thoughts and better living。
Until this evening his heart had remained sluggish。 Sweet and
potent as her voice had been； it had not penetrated to the 〃holy
of holies〃 within his soul。 But had not her low sad tones echoed
there to…night in the half involuntary confidence she had given
him？
In his deep sympathy； in the answering feeling evoked by her strong
but repressed emotion； he thought his heart had been stirred to
its depths； and that henceforth its chief desire would be to banish
the sorrowful memories typified to her mind by the black clouds
above him。 Had his face revealed this impulse of his heart before
he had been fully conscious of it himself？ Was it an unwelcome
discovery； that she so hastily fled from it？ Or had she been only
startledher maidenly reserve shrinking from the first fore…shadowing
of the supreme request that she should unveil the mysteries of her
life to one who but now had been a stranger？ He did not know。 He
felt he scarcely understood her or himself； but he was conscious
of a hope that both might meet their happy fate in each other。
He leaned thus for a time absorbed in thought against a pillar where
she had left him； then sauntered with bowed head and preoccupied
manner to the main entrance； down the steps and out into the darkness。
He did not even notice that he passed Ida Mayhew； where she stood
among a group of gay chattering young people。 Still less did he
know that she had been furtively watching his interview with Miss
Burton； and that when he passed her without a glance her face was
as pale as had been that of the object of his thoughts。 But he
had not strolled very far down a gravelled path before she compelled
him to distinguish her reckless laugh and tones above all the
others。
With an impatient gesture he muttered； 〃God made them both； I
suppose； and so there's another mystery。〃
As Van Berg's interest in Miss Burton had deepened； it had naturally
flagged toward the one whose marvelously fair features had first
caught his attention and now promised to be links in a chain
of causes that might produce effects little anticipated。 He had
virtually abandoned the project of seeking to ennoble and harmonize
these features that suggested new possibilities of beauty to almost
every glance； for the reason that he not only believed there was
no mind to be awakened； but also because he had been led to think
the girl so depraved and selfish at heart that the very thought of
a larger； purer life was repugnant to her。 He believed she disliked
and even detested him； not so much on personal grounds as because
he represented to her mind a class of ideas and a self…restraint
that were hateful。 Circumstances had associated her in his mind
with Sibley； who thus cast a baleful shadow athwart even her beauty
and made it repulsive。 Indeed the mocking perfection of her features
irritated him； and he began to make a conscious and persistent effort
not to look toward her。 He now regarded his hope to illumine her
face from within； by delicate touches of mind； thought； and motive；
as vain as an attempt to carve the Venus of Milo out of mottled
pumice…stone。 Still he did not regret to…night the freak of fancy
that had brought him to the Lake House； since it had led to his
meeting a woman who was to him a new and beautiful revelation of
the rarest excellence and grace。
But there was no such compensating outlook for poor Ida。 To her；
his coming promised daily to result in increasing wretchedness。
From the miserable Sunday night on which she had sobbed herself
to sleep； the consciousness had continually grown clearer that she
could never find in her old mode of life any satisfying pleasure。
She had caught a glimpse of something so much better； that her
former world looked as tawdry as the mimic scenery of a second…rate
theatre。 A genuine man； such as she had not seen or at least not
recognized before； had stepped out before the gilt and tinsel； and
the miserable shams were seen in contrast in their rightful character。