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〃You are very considerate of her。〃
〃She is sorry for me； Ida。 I can see that。 She has never exulted
a moment in her power over me。 My love is only another burden
to her sad life。 I can't help it； but I can make it as light as
possible。〃
Tears came into Ida's eyes and she faltered： 〃Ik； I understand
you。〃
A little later they both drove off their different ways。
In spite of everything； Ida found that her heart would grow light
and gland as she pursued her way along the quiet country road； now
in the shade where the trees crowded up on the eastern side； and
again in the sunlight between wide stubble fields in which the
quails were whistling mellowly to each other。
Van Berg watched her coming with a heart that beat a little quickly
for so cool and philosophical an investigator； and was glad that
her quiet old horse resumed a slow walk at the first suggestion of
the hill on which he had posted himself。
Ida leaned back in the phaeton with the abandon of those who think
themselves alone； and sang a snatch from an old English hymn that
Van Berg remembered as one his mother had crooned over him when a
child。 This melody； doubly sacred to him from its associations；
would have grated harshly on his ear if it had been sung by Ida
Mayhew a week before； but； strange to say； the girlish voice that
floated up to him was all the sweeter for thus blending itself with
some of his dearest memories。
When the ascent was half made the artist sprang down from his
rocky perch； and horse and maiden were so startled that they both
stopped instantly。
〃Do not be alarmed；〃 said Van Berg； laughing； 〃I'm not a very
vicious tramp； and am armed with nothing worse than a sketch…book。
If I could only induce you to be an hour in coming up this hill
I'd put you and the phaeton in it。 I wish it were possible to put
the song in； too。 Why； Miss Mayhew！ Am I an ogre； that I frighten
you so？〃
〃I was not expecting to see you；〃 she faltered； deeply vexed that
her cheeks would crimson and her hand that held the reins tremble
so plainly。 〃You naturally think I have a very guilty conscience
to be so frightened；〃 she added after a second； and regaining a
little self…control。
〃That quaint old hymn tune did not suggest a guilty conscience；〃
he said kindly。
〃I think I must have heard it at church；〃 she replied。 〃It's
been running in my head all the morning。〃 （He now remembered with
sudden pity that no memories of sacred words and song could follow
her from her home and childhood。） 〃But I suppose you think it is
strange I can sing at all； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she continued gravely。
〃You must think me very superficial that I do not appear to realize
more a crime that makes it exceedingly kind of you even to speak
to me； since you know about it。 But I have realized the wickedness
of that act more bitterly than you can ever know。〃
〃Miss Mayhew； I admit that I can't understand you at all。 You have
become a greater mystery to me than ever。 You see； I imitate your
truthfulness。〃
〃There is no necessity of solving the problem；〃 she said in a low
tone； and averting her face。
〃Do you mean；〃 he asked； flushing slightly； 〃that my interest is
obtrusive and not agreeable to you？〃
〃If inspired by curiosityyes；〃 and she looked him steadily in
the face。
〃But if inspired by a genuine and earnest wish to be your friend
and to atone for the unpardonable injustice which came about from
my not understanding you？〃
〃If I believed that；〃 she said； with something like a smile； 〃I'd
take you with me this morning and reveal all the mystery there is
about my poor little self in one brief hour。〃
〃How can I prove it？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃Say it；〃 she answered simply。
〃I do say it's true； on my honor；〃 he replied； giving her his hand。
〃You may come； then； on one other condition。 I would like you to
draw for me a young pear…tree； and an old gentleman sitting under
it。〃
〃I will agree to any conditions；〃 he said； springing in by her side。
〃Is it the tree that bore the pear you gave me？ I hope you don't
think I was capable of eating that pear。〃
〃Did you throw it away？〃 she asked； with a shy glance。
〃Miss Mayhew； I've something I wish you to see；〃 and he took out
his note…book and showed her the rose…bud he had tossed away。 〃Do
you recognize that？〃
In spite of herself the blood rushed tumultuously into her face。
〃I thought that was trampled into dust long ago；〃 she said in a
low tone。
〃I shall never forget your words as you left me that evening； Miss
Mayhew。 It was the severest and most deserved rebuke I ever had。
I picked up the bud immediately； I assure you。〃
〃I thought you left it there；〃 she said； in a still lower tone； and
then added hastily： 〃But I have no doubt you acted from a sense
of duty。〃
〃I can't say that I did；〃 he answered； dryly。
〃Will you please give it to me？〃
〃Not unless you compel me to；〃 and he closed the book and returned
it to an inside breast…pocket。 〃I would like to carry it as a
talisman against Phariseeism； the most hateful of vices。〃
〃Oh； very well；〃 and she turned away her face again。
〃But please tell me about this pear…tree；〃 he resumed。
〃It won't seem to you as it did to me；〃 she replied； with an
embarrassed air； 〃and I'm sorry I spoke of it； but now that I have
I may as well go on。 To explain I must go back a little。 Mr。
Van Berg； I'm taking you to see the old gentleman who saved me
fromfrom…〃 Her face was pale enough now。
〃My dear Miss Mayhew； don't pain yourself by referring to that。〃
〃I must；〃 she said slowly。 〃By some strange fate you have seen me
at my worst； and since you say you care； you shall know the rest。
It may relieve your mind of a fear that I've seen in your face
since。 I didn't think I'll ever be so wicked and desperate again；
and I wish you to know my reasons for thinking so。 Well； on that
dreadful night the party I was with went into a prayer…meeting；
more by the way of frolic than anything else。 I did not wish to
go in； but； strange as it may seem to you； I was afraid to walk
home； and so had to follow my company。 Good old Mr。 Eltinge spoke
to us。 He said he knew from his own long experience that there
was a Divine Friend who was able and willing to cure every earthly
trouble； and he spoke so simply and kindly that he caught my attention
and revived my hope。 I felt when I entered that place I hadn't a
friend in the world or out of it。 I was just blind and desperate
with shame and discouragement； andandbut perhaps you have read
the letter I gave you？〃
〃Miss Mayhew； every word of it is burned into my memory。 I scarcely
moved after reading it till the morning dawned； and then I went
out and walked for hours before I could compose myself and dared to
meet any one。 As I told you then； so I say again； I had a greater
escape than you had。〃