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catch one of the last carriages。 When she reached the church； she
found her mother had preceded her； and that her cousin Ik Stanton
was also there； but she correctly surmised that the only devotion
to which he was inclined had been inspired by Miss Burton； who sat
not far away。 She was soon satisfied that Van Berg was not present。
As a general thing； when at church； Ida had given more consideration
to the people and the toilets about her than to either the service
or the sermon； but to…day she wistfully turned her thoughts to
both； in the hope that they might do her good； although she had as
vague an idea as to the mode or process as if both were an Indian
incantation。
But she was thoroughly disappointed。 Her thoughts wandered continually
from the services。 With almost the vividness of bodily presence；
three faces were looking upon herher father's with an infinite
reproach； Sibley's； with smiling lips and wolfish eyes； and Van
Berg's； first coolly questioning and exploring in its expression；
and then coldly averted and scornful in consequence of what he had
discovered。 Not houses； but minds are haunted。
The clergyman； however； was an able； forcible speaker； and held
her attention from the first。 His sermon was topical rather than
textual in its character； that is； he enlarged on what he termed
〃the irreconcilable enmity between God and the world；〃 taking as
his texts the following selections：
〃The carnal mind is enmity against God。〃
And again； 〃Whosoever； therefore； will be a friend of the world；
is the enemy of God。〃
The sermon was chiefly an argument； and the point of it was that
there could be no compromise between these contending powersGod
on one side； the world on the otherand he insisted that his hearers
must be； and were with one party or the other。 The trouble was；
that in concentrating his thoughts on the single point he meant to
make； he took too much for grantednamely； that all his hearers
understood sufficiently the character of God； and the sense in which
the Bible uses the term 〃world；〃 not to misapprehend the nature
of his 〃enmity。〃 To seasoned church…goers the sermon was both true
and very satisfactory。
But when the minister reached the conclusion of his argument with
the words； 〃So then； they that are in the flesh cannot please God；〃
poor Ida drew a long dreary sigh； and wished she had remained at
home。 She was certainly 〃in the flesh；〃 if any one were； and in
addition to the fact that she neither pleased herself nor any one
else that she respected and loved； she was now given the assurance；
apparently fortified by Holy Writ； that she could not 〃please God。〃
The simple and divine diplomacy by which this 〃enmity〃 is removed
was unknown to her。
She turned to note how Miss Burton received a message that was so
unwelcome to herself； and saw that she was not listening。 There
was a dreamy far…away look in her eyes that clearly was not inspired
by the thought of 〃enmity。〃
〃She is probably thinking of the artist and the ideal future that
he can give her。 How foolish it is in poor Ik there to try to rival
HIM！ It was an unlucky day for us both； cousin of mine； when we
came to this place！〃
More disheartened and despondent than ever； she rode homeward with
her mother； answering questions only in monosyllables。 All that
religion had said to her that morning was： 〃Give up the worldall
with which you have hitherto been familiar； and have enjoyed。〃 God
was an infinite； all…powerful； remote abstraction； and yet for His
sake she must resign everything which would enable her to forget；
or at least disguise the pain and jealousy which were at times
almost unendurable； and she knew of no substitute with which to
replace 〃the world〃 she was asked to forego。
This religion of mere negation； expulsion； and restraint is too
often presented to the mind。 Dykes and levees are very useful；
and in some places essential； but if low malarial shores could be
lifted up into breezy hills and table…lands； this would be better。
This is not only possible； but it is the true method in respect to
the human soul； and one should seek to grow better not by sedulous
effort to keep out an evil world； but rather to fill up his heart
with a good pure world such as God made and blessed。
The sermon Ida heard that morning； therefore； only added to the
burden that was already too heavy to be carried much longer。
Chapter XXVI。 Sunday Table…talk。
To the relief of all save Mrs。 Mayhew； Sibley dined with a couple
of young； fast men； who enforced their invitation by the irresistible
attraction of a bottle of wine。
〃There is too much starch and dignity at that table to suit me；
any way；〃 he remarked。 〃There are those two model saints； who led
our devotions last Sunday evening； flirting with ponderous gravity
with that deep little school…ma'am； who has turned both their
heads； but can't make up her mind which of them to capture； both
being such marvellously good game for one of her class。 Cute Yankee
as she believes herself to be； she's a fool to think that either
of them is more than playing with her。 By Jupiter！ but it would
be sport to cut 'em both out； and I could do it if I were up here
a week。 Those who know the world know that such women cipher out
these matters in the spirit of New England thrift； and you have
only to mislead them with sufficient plausible data to capture them
body and soul。〃 And Sibley complacently sipped his wine as if he
had stated all there was to be said on the subject。 Few men prided
themselves more on a profound knowledge of the world than he。
Ida's despondency while at dinner was so great she could not throw
it off。 Listlessly and wearily she barely tasted of the different
courses as they were passed to her。 She consciously made only one
effort； and that was to appear utterly indifferent to Van Berg； and
both circumstances and his contemptuous neglect made but little
feigning necessary。 The evening before had associated her so
inseparably in his mind with Sibley； that he was beginning to regard
her with aversion。
〃Trivial natures are disturbed by trivial causes；〃 he thought； 〃and
she looks as if the world had turned black because Sibley has been
lured from her side for an hour by a bottle of wine。 He'll revive
her again before supper。〃
〃How wintry that old gentleman looks who is just entering！〃 Stanton
remarked。 〃It makes one shiver to think of becoming as frosty and
white as he。〃
〃Oh； don't speak of being old！〃 cried Mrs。 Mayhew。 〃Remember
there are some at the table who are in greater danger of that final
misfortune than you young people。〃
〃Do you dread being old； Miss Burton？〃 Van Berg asked。
〃No； but I do the process of growing old。〃
〃For once we think alike； Miss Burton；〃 said Ida abruptly。 〃To
think of plodding on through indefinite dreary years toward the