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hither。 At least she saw that I was exceedingly anxious to come。〃
〃Do you know Miss Mayhew's motive in coming hither？〃 asked Mr。
Eltinge； gravely。
〃I do； and I respect it。〃
〃You take safe ground there； sir；〃 said Mr。 Eltinge； with increasing
dignity。 〃Christianity is at least respectable。 But do you believe
it to be absolutely true and binding on the conscience？〃
The artist was silent。
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 resumed the old gentleman； with a gravity that tended
even towards sternness； 〃I would not fail in any act of courtesy
towards you； especially her at my own home； but justice； mercy； and
truth are above all other considerations。 Both you and I know this
child's history sufficiently well to be aware that it is a dangerous
thing to exert an influence at random on human lives。 You say
you know her motive in coming hither。 Let me state the truth very
plainly： she has turned her face heavenward； she is taking her first
uncertain steps as a pilgrim towards the better home。 In justice
to you and in mercy to you both let me quote the words of him before
whom we all shall stand；〃 and placing his hand on Ida's shoulder
he repeated with the aspect of one of God's ancient prophets those
solemn words that too many dare to ignore： 〃'Whoso shall offend
one of these little ones which believe in me； it were better for
him that a millstone were hanged about his neck； and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea。' Mr。 Van Berg； in memory of the
past； beware lest consciously or even unconsciously； through your
indifference to her faith； you lay a straw in this child's way。
The weak and the helpless are very near to the heart of God； and
the most dangerous act a man ever commits is when he causes one of
these little ones to offend。〃
Ida trembled beneath her friend's hand and wished she had not
permitted the artist to come； but the young man's sincerity and
good…breeding enabled him to pass the ordeal。 Removing his hat； he
replied to Mr。 Eltinge with a fine blending of dignity and humility：
〃I honor you； sir；〃 he said； 〃for your faithfulness to the one who
has come to you for counsel and in a certain sense for protection；
and I condemn myself with bitterness that you will never understand；
that I wronged her in my thoughts and wounded her by any manner。 I
am eager to make any and every atonement in my power。 No language
can express my gladness that she heard and heeded your words。
Pardon me； sir； when I say I am not indifferent to her faith。 It
is； indeed； a mystery to me； but a noble mystery which I revere
from the fruits that I have already witnessed。 In my unpardonable
stupidity and prejudicein a Pharisaic prideI have caused Miss
Mayhew to offend。 She has generously forgiven me。 Myself I shall
never forgive。 If she will honor me with her friendship hereafter；
I pledge you my word that no act of mine； so far as I can help it；
shall ever cause you anxiety for one in whom you have so strong
and natural an interest。〃
Mr。 Eltinge's manner changed decidedly； and when Van Berg concluded
he extended his hand and said cordially：
〃After such manly； straightforward words I can give you the right
hand of respect and confidence； if not of fellowship。 To tell you
the truth； sir； I was inclined to believe that my little friend
here had a better opinion of you than you deserved； but now I can
welcome you instead of scolding her for bringing you。〃
At the reference to herself Ida； seemingly； had an impulse to pluck
a flower that was blooming at a little distance。 The moment he
was unobserved Van Berg seized the old gentleman's hand and said；
earnestly； while tears sprang to his eyes：
〃God bless you for the words you spoke to that poor child。 I owe
you more than she does。 You have saved me from a life that I would
dread more than death；〃 and then he； too； turned away hastily and
pretended to be very busy in finding the materials for his sketch。
Ida returned shyly； and it would seem that some of the color of
her flower had found its way into her cheeks。
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 she said； hesitatingly； 〃I don't believe I can make
you understand how much I would like a picture of this pear…tree
and yourself sitting under it as I have seen you for the past two
days。 I must admit that the wish to have such a sketch was one of
the motives that led me to bring Mr。 Van Berg。〃 Then she added；
with deepening color still； 〃my conscience troubles me when I hear
Mr。 Van Berg condemn himself so harshly。 I have learned that I
misjudged him as truly as he did me； and I have since realized how
sadly both facts and appearances were against me。〃
〃Well； Miss Ida；〃 said the old gentleman； musingly； 〃I am inclined
to think there has been more of misunderstanding than of intentional
and deliberate harshness。 My long life has taught me that it is
astonishing how blind we often are to the thoughts and feelings
of others。 But I warn everybody to be careful how they visit this
old garden； for it's a wonderful place for bringing out the truth。
Nature is in the ascendant here；〃 and he looked keenly and humorously
at the artist； who remained； however； unconscious of his scrutiny；
for his eyes were following Ida。 She had suddenly turned her back
upon them both again； and was soon bending over the little brook
whose murmur he faintly heard。
〃These allusions to the past are all painful to her；〃 he thought；
〃and she refers to them only because； as she says； her conscience
compels her to。 It must be my task to make her forget the past in
the present and future。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said； returning； 〃you have visited the Jordan
I believe； but I doubt whether its waters did you more good than
that little brook over there does me。 That's right；〃 she added；
looking over his shoulder at the outlines he was rapidly tracing；
〃I'm glad you are losing no time。〃
〃I remember the condition on which you allowed me to come；〃 he
replied； looking up with a smile into her face； 〃and I've already
learned； as Mr。 Eltinge suggests； that nothing will do in this
garden but downright honesty。〃 Something in her face caused his
eyes to linger； and he added hastily： 〃You're right about the
Jordan。 The brook seems much more potent； for apparently it has
washed your trouble all away； but has leftwell you might think
it flattery if I should tell you all I see。 this garden seems to
contain the elixir of life for you； Miss Ida。 My heart was aching
to see how pale you were becoming； but here…〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 said Ida； abruptly； 〃will you pardon a suggestion？〃
He looked up at her again a little wonderingly and bowed。
〃There has been a sort of necessity；〃 she resumed； 〃that my faulty
self should be the theme of our conversation to…day； but all the
mystery in which you imagined me enveloped must have vanished since
you came here。 I now must ask that we dwell hereafter on more
agreeable subjects than Ida M