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heart； they would be so frightened they could scarcely creep away
to hide。〃
Then with a sudden rush of passionate grief； she cried：
〃Oh； why cannot I life and be happy； too？〃 and she sobbed till she
lay exhausted on the mossy rock。
Whether she had swooned； or from weakness had become unconscious；
she did not know； when； considerably later； she roused herself
from what seemed like a heavy and unrefreshing sleep。 Her dress
was damp with dew； the sun had sunk so low as to fill the forest
with a sombre shade； the happy life that had sported around her
was hushed and hidden； and the wind now sighed mournfully through
the trees。 Gloom and darkening shadows had taken the place of the
light and joyousness she first had seen。 In the face and voices
of nature； as in those of earthly friends； the changes are often
so great that we are tempted to ask in dismay； are theycan they
be the same？
She was stiff and cold as she rose from her rocky couch； but she
wearily turned her face towards the hotel； muttering； as she plodded
heavily along；
〃The little people of the woods are happy while they can be； as I
was； but the sportsman's gun； or the hawk； or winter's cold； will
soon bring to them bitter pain； and death。 their brief day will
soon be over； as mine is。〃
〃Ah； the sun is sinking behind that cloud；〃 she said； in a low tone；
as she came out into the open fields。 〃I shall not see it again；
it will not be able to warm me to…morrow；〃 and with a slight gesture
of farewell； she continued on her way with bowed head。
Chapter XXXVIII。 A Good Man Speaks。
As Ida approached the hotel； Van Berg and Stanton saw her； and the
latter hastened down the steps to join her。
〃Why； Ida！〃 he exclaimed； 〃where have you been？ I've searched for
you high and low。〃
〃You had no right to do so； sir；〃 she said coldly； as she passed
on。
〃Wait a moment； Ida； please。 I wish to speak with youto ask your
pardonto apologize in the strongest terms。〃
She would not break again her ominous silence； but continued on
with bowed head； up the steps； and through the hall。 Stanton； to
save appearances before the guests who were near； walked at her
side； but her manner chilled and embarrassed him so greatly； that
only as she was about to enter her room did he again address her；
and now entreatingly：
〃Ida； won't you speak to me？〃
〃No！〃 was her stern； brief response； and she locked her door against
him。
〃Van；〃 said Stanton gloomily； 〃I'd give a year's income if I had
not spoken to my cousin as I did last night。 She'll never forgive
me。 It seems as if my words had turned her into ice； she is so cold
and calm； and yet her eyes were red with weeping。 I have strange
misgivings about the girl。〃
〃Yes； Ik；〃 said the artist； gloomily； 〃we have both made an
unpardonable blunder。 If Miss Burton cannot thaw her out； I shall
not dare to try。〃
〃With her usual perversity；〃 replied Stanton； 〃she dislikes Miss
Burton； and I doubt if she will listen to her。〃
〃I have great faith in her tact and genuine goodwill。 It was wonderful
how quickly she brought Mr。 Mayhew under her genial spells。 She
has promised to see your cousin this evening。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Stanton； gloomily； 〃that it should have been
at your request rather than mine。 But I suppose your wishes are
becoming omnipotent with her。〃
〃No； Ik； I regret to say that they weigh with her only as those of
a friend；〃 was Van Berg's quiet response。
〃Well； well； Van； bear with me； for I'm in a devil of a scrape。〃
Even Miss Burton's efforts could not brighten the clouded faces
that gathered at the supper…table。 In truth； her attempts were
brief and fitful； for she seemed absorbed in thought herself。 She
heard Mrs。 Mayhew whisper to Stanton；
〃If I were a perfect stranger she could not keep me at a greater
distance。 I can do nothing with her or for her。〃
To their surprise； Ida quietly walked in and took her place。 Her
face was very grave and very pale； the traces of her grief were
still apparent； and they caused in Van Berg the severest compunction。
She was now dressed richly； but plainly and unobtrusively。 Her
manner was quiet and self…possessed； but there was an expression
of desperate trouble in her eyes that soon filled Van Berg with a
strong and increasing uneasiness。 She returned his bow politely；
but distantly。 Poor Stanton scarcely dared to look towards her。 At
supper； on the previous evening； he had taken no pains to conceal
his contempt and displeasure； now he was unable to hid his
embarrassment and fear。 As in the parlor on the previous evening
so now again； there was an element in Ida Mayhew's appearance or
in herself that caused deep disquietude。
〃I'm very glad； Ida； you've changed your mind and come down；〃 began
Mrs。 Mayhew； volubly。
〃I have not changed my mind；〃 she replied； with such sad； stern
emphasis that they all involuntarily looked at her for a moment。
Poor Mrs。 Mayhew was so quenched and depressed that she did not
venture to speak again。
Only Miss Burton was able to maintain her self…possession and tact；
and she was intently but unobtrusively studying Miss Mayhew。 Her
college…life had made her acquainted with so many strange feminine
problems that she had the nerve and experience of a veteran； but she
could not penetrate the dark mystery in which Ida had now shrouded
herself。 Resolving； however； that she would not succumb to the
chill and restraint that paralyzed the others； she persisted in
conversing with her in simple； natural tones。
Ida replied in perfect courtesy and not with unnecessary brevity；
but if her words were polished； they were also as cold and hard
as ice。 Nothing that Miss Burton said could bring the glimmer of
a smile athwart her features that were growing so thin and transparent
that even an approach to a pleasant thought would have lighted them
up with a momentary gleam。 Miss Burton found her task a difficult
one。
〃She affected me as strangely；〃 she afterwards said to Van Berg；
〃as if a dead maiden were sitting at my side； who had still； by
some horrible mystery； the power of speech。〃
As for Van Berg； he had hitherto supposed that his quiet； well…bred
ease would be equal to every social emergency； but he now found
himself tongue…tied and embarrassed to the last degree。 He could
not speak to the woman whom he felt he had so deeply wronged in
his thoughts and manner； and who was also well aware of the fact。
He felt that he had no right to speak to her until he had first
asked and secured her forgiveness。 This could not be done in
public； and he greatly doubted whether she ever would pardon him。
As a chivalric man of honor； he was overwhelmed with a sense of
the insult he had unwittingly offered to the maiden opposite him；
who now appeared as if mortally wounded。 Beyond a few forced
remarks to