按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
well； no matter！ I know YOU。 There are people whose names I've
known half my life； and yet I don't know them and don't trust 'em。〃
〃My name is Ida Mayhew；〃 said the young girl simply。 〃I heard Mr。
Eltinge speak at the prayer…meeting last night in such a way that
I wanted to see him and ask his help and advice； and he has been
very； very kind to me。 He can tell you all。〃
〃Yes； if he chooses；〃 said the old gentleman with a laugh。 〃Sister
knows me too well in my character of father confessor to expect me
to tell everything。〃
They made her at home as the simple and well…bred only can do。
After dinner Miss Eltinge tried to entertain her for a while； but
at last said； with appreciative tact：
〃My dear； I think you will best enjoy yourself if you are left to
range the old house and place at will。 After my brother has rested
he will join you again。〃
Ida was glad to be alone。 She had made a promise of far…reaching
and vital import that morning。 Life was taking on new aspects that
were so unfamiliar that she was bewildered。 She went back to the
garden； and； taking Mr。 Eltinge's seat； leaned against the emblematic
pear…tree； which she curiously began to associate with herself；
and for which she was already conscious of something like affection。
〃Oh；〃 she sighed； 〃if my life would only come to abound with deeds
corresponding to the fruit that is bending these boughs above me；
it could not be a burden； thought it might be very sad and lonely。
I now begin to understand Jennie Burtonher constant effort in
behalf of others。 But HE will comfort her before long。 Her dark
days are nearly over。 No matter how deep or great her troubles may
have been； they must vanish in the sunshine of such a man's love。
I wonder if he has spoken plainly yetbut what need of words？
His eyes and manner have told her all a hundred times。 I wish she
could be my friend； I wish I could speak to her plainly； for she
is so kind and wise； but I must shun her； or else she'll discover
the secret that I'd hide from her even more carefully than from him；
if such a thing were possible。 I wonder if they ever met before
they came here。 I never saw one human being look at another as
she sometimes looks at him。 I believe that deep in her heart she
fairly idolizes him； although her singular self…control enables
her； as a general thing； to treat him with the ease and frankness
of a friend。 Well； she may love him more deeply than I do because
possessing a deeper nature。 I can but give all I have。 But I think
my love would be like the little brook over there。 It's not very
deep or obtrusive； but Mr。 Eltinge says it has never failed。 Well；
well！ these are not the thoughts for me； though how I can help them
I cannot tell。 I will try to win a little respect from him before
we part； and then my life； like this pear…tree； must be full of
good deeds for those who have the best right to receive them；〃 and
taking a small pen…knife from her pocket she mounted the chair； and
carved within the two lower branches where they could not easily
be discovered the words；
〃Ida Mayhew。〃
Chapter XLII。 The Corner…Stone of Character。
After the characteristic act by which Ida had identified the
treeonce so bruised and brokenwith herself； she sat down again
at its foot and thought long and deeply。 The deep hush and quiet
of the quaint old garden was just what she needed after the delirium
of her passion and despair。 Her pulse began to grow more even；
and her beautiful face sweet and noble with the better thoughts she
now was entertaining。 As she sat there leaning her head against
the bole of the tree； the shadows of the leaves above deepening
and brightening across her pale features； and her large； dark eyes
often growing humid with sympathy with her thoughts； she made as
fair a picture as could Eve herself； were she dreaming over her
lost garden…home。 At last she said slowly：
〃I wonder if it will be possible for a Divine love gradually to
supplant a human love？ 'Whom to know is eternal life。' This hope
seems to be my only hopemy only remedy； my one chance。 I must
soon go back to the city； where I cannot see good old Mr。 Eltinge；
where I will no longer have the excitement of occasionally meeting
Mr。 Van Berg； where I shall be fact to face with only the hard；
prosaic difficulties that will abound in the world without； but
especially in my own home。 I plainly foresee that I shall become
bitter； selfish； and reckless again； unless I find such a Friend
as Mr。 Eltinge describes； who will give me daily and positive help；
a mere decorous； formal religion will be of no more use to me than
pictures of bread to the famishing。 I must have a strong； patient
Friend who will see me through my troubles； or I'm lost。 I may
even grow as desperate and wicked as I have been again；〃 and she
buried her face in her hands and fairly trembled with apprehension。
〃Come； my child； cheer up！ All will end well yet。 Take an old man's
word for it。 I've lived through several troubles that I thought
would finish me； thanks to the good Lord； and here I am now； safe
and sound and in the possession of two good homesthis one and
the better one over the river they say is so dark。 I don't believe
it's much more of a river to the Christian than yonder little brook；
but I can tell you； my child； we'll find a wonderful difference
between the two shores。〃
Ida found that the old gentleman had joined her unperceived； and
she told him of her fears。
〃Now； don't worry；〃 he answered； 〃about what will happen when you
go back to the city。 Christ himself has said： 'Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof。' Your whole duty is to do your best
now； and he'll take care of the future。 He did not call himself
the 'Good Shepherd' for nothing； as I and millions of others； know
from experience。 He'll see you over all the hard places； if you
ask him to； and just follow patiently。 You may not be able to see
the way or know where he is leading you； any more than the sheep；
but the path； however flinty and thorny； will end in the fold。 Of
that be assured。〃 And he gave her one or two sad chapters from
his own life of which he could now speak calmly and understandingly。
As they were about to part； Ida said： 〃Mr。 Eltinge； I'm so ignorant
that I have not the remotest idea how to commence this Christian
life。 I greatly wish to form a character worthy of respect； but
I don't know how to set about it。〃
〃Commence by living simple and true； my dear。 Truthfulness is
the corner…stone of the character that men most respect and God
will honor。 None of us can be perfect； but we can all be honest；
and pretend to be no better than we are。 Just simply follow your
conscience； pray daily for light and guidance； and do the best you
can。 Live up to the light as you get it； and remember the good
Lord will be as patient with you as a