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His mind and taste had been fostered with untiring care； and yet
every new development praised as unstintedly as if all were of
native growth。 Fortunately he abounded in virile force and good
sense； and so gradually passed from self…complacency and conceit
to the self…reliance and courage of a strong man； who； while aware
of his ability and vantage…ground； also recognizes the fact that
nothing can take the place of skillfully directed industry in
well…defined directions。 The confidence that had been created by
the favorable conditions of his lot had been increased far more
by the knowledge that he could go out into the world and hold his
own among men on the common ground of hard work and innate strength。
He expected esteem； respectful courtesyand even admirationas
a matter of course。 They were in part his birthright and partly
the result of his own achievement； and he received them as quietly
as his customary income。 Their presence was like his excellent
health； to which he scarcely gave a thought； but their withdrawal
would have affected him keenly； although he had never considered
the possibility of such a thing。
What in him was confidence and self…reliance had been in Ida little
else than vanity and pride； and these； circumstances had enabled
him to wound unto death。 He had； from the first； calmly and
philosophically recognized the fact that he must break down； in
part； the Chinese wall of her self…approval； before any elevating
ideas and ennobling impulses could enter； and as much through
unforeseen events as by his effort； this had been done to a degree
that threatened results that appalled him。 He had been taught
thoroughly that faulty and ignorant as she undoubtedly was； she
was by no means shallow or weak。 To his mind the depth of her
despondency was the measure of her power to realize her imperfection；
for he now supposed her depression was caused immediately by the
fact that she had been so harshly misjudged； but in the main because
of her resemblance to the flower he had tossed away and which he now
remembered； with deep satisfaction； was in his note…book； ready to
aid in the reassuring and encouraging work upon which he was eager
to enter。
He did not dream that by tactics the reverse of those pursued by
her numerous admirers he had won her heart； and that the apparent
hopelessness of her passion had outweighed all other burdens。
Her kindest sentiment towards him； he believed； was the cold respect；
mingled with fear and dislike； in which a sever but honest critic
is sometimes held； and as he recalled his course towards her he
now felt that she had little reason for even this degree of regard。
He had awakened her sleeping mind not to an atmosphere of kindness
and sympathy like that in which the beauty in the fabled castle
had revived； but to a biting frost of harsh criticism and unjust
suspicion。 That there seemed； at the time； good reason for these
on his part did not make it any easier for her to bear them；
and in the fact that he had so misunderstood and wronged her； his
confidence in his own sagacity received the severest shock it had
ever experienced。 He felt that he could never go forward in life
with his old assured tread and manner。
Moreover the kindness and respect which he now proposed to show
Ida were caused more by compunction and fear than by any warmer
and friendlier motive。 He wished to make amends for his injustice；
to reassure the girl； to smooth over matters and extricate himself
from his fateful office of critic。 This experimenting with human
souls for artistic purposes was a much more serious matter than
he could have imagined。 He had entered upon it as a part of his
summer recreation； but had found himself playing with forces that
had well…nigh destroyed him as well as the subject of his fancied
skill。 Hereafter he proposed to illumine faces with thought；
feeling； and spiritual beauty on canvas only； so that； in case he
should become discouraged or disgusted with his efforts and throw
the work aside； there might be no such tragic protest as Ida
Mayhew had almost offered。 While he pitied； and now in a certain
sense respected her； she filled him with the uncomfortable dread
and nervous apprehension which rash and unbalanced natures always
inspire。 The charge he had given Stanton revealed his opinion。
She was one who must be watched over； not with the tender care and
sympathy that he hoped to bestow on Jennie Burton； but with kind；
yet firm and wary vigilance； in order to prevent action dangerous
both to herself and others； and a heavy； anxious task he believed
such care would be。
His aim was not to heal the wounds he had made by a decided
manifestation of kindness and respect which should be as sincere
as possible in view of his knowledge of her faults； and if her
present good impulses were anything more than passing moods； to
encourage them； as far as he could； and then retire from the scene
as soon as circumstances permitted。 He had been too thoroughly
frightened to wish to continue in the role of a spiritual reformer；
and he had a growing perception that； with his present motive and
knowledge； the work was infinitely beyond him。 He began to fear
that he was like certain physicians； whose skill consists chiefly
in their power to aggravate disease rather than to cure it。 He
had found Ida a vain； silly girl； apparently。 He had parted the
previous evening from a desperate woman； capable of self…destruction；
and her letter inseparably linked him with the marvellous change。
Thus he gained the uneasy impression that there was too much
nitro…glycerine in human nature in general； and in Ida Mayhew in
particular； for him to use such material in working out metaphysical
and artistic problems。
At the end of his long morning walk he concluded：
〃Poor child！ after her eyes were opened she could not help seeing
a great deal that was exceedingly depressing。 In regard to her
parents； she is far worse off than if orphaned。 In regard to herself；
she finds that her best years are gone； and she has neither culture
of mind nor heartthat her beauty is but a mask that cannot long
conceal the enduring imperfection and deformity of her character。
She associates these discoveries with me because I first disturbed
her vanity； but the beauty of Jennie Burton's life； the dastardly
behavior of Sibley； and the deep humiliation received through him；
with other circumstances； have all combined to bring about the
revelation。 And yet； confound it all！ I did act the stupid Pharisee
on several occasions； and I might as well own it both to her and
myself。 A Pharisee is a fool 'per se。' Well； I'm sorry to say； her
outlook for life is dark at best； even if she were not so fearfully
rash and unbalanced。 As it is I expect to hear some sad story of
Ida Mayhew before many years pass。 I'll try to brighten a few days
for her； however； before I go to town； and then the farth