VanBerghasteneddowneagerlytoassisthertoalight,forherreappearanceliftedaterribleloadofanxietyfromhismind.Inspiteofherselfthecolorrushedintothecheekswhichoflatehadbecomesopale,andthehandshegavehimtrembledashehelpedherfromthephaeton.
　　"IcannottellyouhowgladIamtoseeyouagain.I'vebeenoppressedwithfearallday,"hecouldnotforbearsaying,inalowtone.
　　"Isupposeyounaturallyfeltthatyoucouldnottrustme,"shereplied,avertingherface."I'vebeenspendingthedaywithafriend."
　　"Forgiveme,"hesaideagerly."Iseemfatedtowoundyou,butI
　　wishtheymighthereafterbethewoundsofafriend."
　　Shewouldnottrustherselftolookuptillshebecamemorecomposed,butcouldnotresisttheimpulsetosay:"Dofriendsgiveonlywounds?"
　　VanBergbithislipandfollowedherslowlyupthesteps.
　　"Iseefromyourbasket,"saidMissBurton,kindly,"thatyouhavebeenforaging.Ihopeyouhadgoodsuccess."
　　"Yes,IthinkI'vebeensuccessful,"repliedIda,whowasdesperatelysorrythatMissBurtonhadinterceptedherandmustseeherburningcheeks."Ihavenotfoundroses,asyoudid,butperhapsthesearemoreinkeepingwithmyprosaicandmaterialnature;"andsheliftedthecoverandofferedthefruit.
　　"YoutreatmebetterthanIdidyou,"saidMissBurton,smilingly,andignoringanimpliedsatirewhichIdahadnotintended."Ididnotgiveyouanyofmyroses."
　　Idashotasideglanceattheartistwhichsaidtohimplainly:
　　"ButMr.VanBergdid,"andheflusheddeeply.
　　Thensheselectedasuperbpear,andafterlookingatitkeenlyamoment,handedittohimwiththelowwords:
　　"Ithinkyouwillfindthatnowormhasbeeninthat."
　　Hetookitwithevidentembarrassmentandwasabouttospeakeagerly,butshepassedquicklyin,andwenttoherroom.
　　"Iamjustlypunished,"saidVanBergfrankly."MissBurton,pleaseletmeexplainherallusion."
　　"Iwouldratheryouwouldnot,"sherepliedpromptly,"forMissMayhewmadeitinalowtone,showingthatsheintendeditforyourearonly."
　　"Well,thenImustcontentmyselfbysayingthatstandingnearthisspot,notlongsince,Iactedlikeafool."
　　"It'sanexcellentsignofwisdom,Mr.VanBerg,"shesaidlaughingly,"thatyouhavediscoveredthefact.Theonlyfoolstobedespairedofarethosewhoneverfindthemselvesout."
　　"Didyoueverdoaveryfoolishthing,MissJennie?"
　　"Itwouldbeaveryfoolishthingformetolistentoanymoreofsuchmonstrousflattery.OrperhapsyouaresatiricalandtakethisroundaboutwayoftellingmethatI'mhumanlikeyourself.
　　I'mgoingdowntosupper,forIpreferMr.Burleigh'stoasttosuchdoubtfulcompliments."
　　"MissJennie,Iprotest,Ineverofferedyouacomplimentinmylife,"hesaid,accompanyingher.
　　"InthenameoftheKing'sEnglish,whatarecompliments,then?"
　　"Mereverbalsugar-plums,sweet,cloying,andoftenpoisonous.Myexpressionsofhonestopinionare,likeMr.Burleigh'stoastyouaresofondof,madeofthefinestwheatoftruth,leavenedbymyirrepressibleadmiration,anddonetothenicestshadeofbrownbythewarmthofmyFRIENDLYregard."
　　"Oh,oh,OH!Yourcomplimentsareverbalballoons."
　　"Yes,thatfiguremightapplytothemalso,fortheseopinionsofmine——notcompliments,mark!——oftencarrymeupabovethecloudsandvaporsofearth."
　　"Whereyouwillfindtheatmosphereexceedinglythinandcold,I
　　assureyou,"saidMissBurton,withsomethinglikeseriousnessinhertone."Imustremindyou,Mr.VanBerg,thatevenJackBunsbydidnotgivehisopinionstilltheywereasked,andIwilltakesometoast,ifyouplease,intheirstead."
　　StantonandMrs.Mayhewnowappeared,andtheconversationbecamegeneral,inwhichtheformermaderatherfutileeffortstoconcealhisdejection.HisaunthadtoldhimthatIdahadmerelysaidshehadspentthedaywithafriend,andthatshewouldexplainherabsenceatthepropertime."Shehassuchadignifiedwayofspeaking,thatyouaremadetofeelitisaninsulttoaskaquestion,soI
　　shalljusttakeheratherword,andleavehertoherself,"concludedthelady.
　　"She'llneverforgiveme,"mutteredStanton.
　　Alittlelaterthantheothers,theobjectofhisthoughtscamedowntosupper.Thedeepcolorwhichtheunexpectedepisodewiththeartisthadcausednowlingeredonlyasafaintglowinhercheeks.Shehadfastenedafewpearleavesinherhair,andworenootherornament.Herthinwhitedresssuggestedratherthanreveatedtheexquisitesymmetryofherneckandarms,andVanBergwascompelledtoadmittohimselfthathistrainedandcriticaleyescouldscarcelydetectaflawinhermarvellousbeauty,orinthetasteshowninhercostume.
　　Buttherewassomethingabouthermannerwhichappealedtohimmorethanherbeautyeven.Theeveningbeforeshehadchilledtheirheartsbyherunnaturalandicywordsandbearing.Nowtherewasanexpressionofhumilityanddiffidencewhollyunlikeanythinghehadeverseenbefore.Shedidnotseeminclinedtoenterintoconversation,andyetshewasnotrepellantandcold,butratherseemedtoshrinkfromnotice,andtoindicatethatpastmemorieswereembarrassing.Butshewouldnotlookathercousin,forshestillfeltadeepresentmenttowardshim.Shewasnosaintbecauseshehadcherishedsomegoodthoughtsandimpulsesthatday,andasforpoorStanton,hebecamesodepressedthathelapsedintouttersilence.
　　MissBurtonwasbecomingdeeplyinterestedinIda.Whenshesawhercrimsonfaceastheartisthastenedtothephaeton,asuddenlighthadflashedintohereyes,andthethoughtcrossedhermind:
　　"Mr.VanBergisthemagicianwhoisunwittinglypractisinguponherandmakinghersounlikeherformerself,"andasshehurriedlyrecalledthepast,shefoundtherewasmuchinIda'smannernotinconsistentwiththistheory.Stillitwasnotwithanyprying,gossipyinterest,thatsheobservedclosely,inordertodiscoverifthereweregoodreasonsforhersurmise.
　　ButIda'smannerwassoquietandguardeditwouldhaverequiredkeenereyesthanevenJennieBurton'stodetectthehiddenfire.
　　Themealpromisedtopass,withsomeconstraint,itistrue,butwithoutanyembarrassingincident,whenMrs.MayhewwasthemeansofplacingpoorIdainaverypainfuldilemma.Underageneralimpulsetoconciliateherdaughterandmakeamends,andwithherusualwantoftact,shesuddenlyandsententiouslysaid:
　　"Well,IthinkIda'sverybravetobeabletodriveforherself."
　　Therewasamomentofembarrassedsilenceafterthisunexpectedremark,andthenMissBurtonmademattersfarworsebysaying,withthekindestintentions:
　　"AfterMissMayhew'sadventureinthestagenoonecandoubthercourage,andI'msureIadmireabravewomanmuchmorethanabraveman.Menarebraveasamatterofcourse."ThenshesawfromthesuddenscarletthatflamedupintoIda'scheeks,andthemanneroftheartist,whosuddenlybecamewhollyabsorbedinhissupper,thatshehadmadeanunfortunateallusion.Therewasnothingtodobutpromptlychangethesubject,sosheturnedandasked:
　　"Whatisthegreatestnumberofmilesyouhaveeverdriveninaday,Mr.Stanton?"
　　"Ibegyourpardon!"saidthepreoccupiedyoungman,startingatthesoundofhisname.
　　MissBurtonrepeatedherquestion.ButinthemeantimeitwasevidentasevereconflictwasgoingoninIdaMayhew'smind.HowcouldsheobeyMr.Eltinge'sinjunctiontobehonestandtrue,ifsheletthisfalseimpressionconcerningherbehaviorinthestageremain?HowcouldshehopetowinaparticleofrespectfromVanBergifshereceivedagainthisundeservedpraise?Howcouldshelookherkindoldfriendinthefaceifshecontinuedsilent?Shefeltshemusteitherspeakortakethepearleavesoutofherhair.
　　Itwashard,bitterhardtospeakthenandtherebeforethemall,butherindecisionsoongaveplacetotheresolvetolayatoncewhatMr.Eltingehadcalledthecorner-stoneofcharacter.
　　"MissBurton,"shesaidabruptly,asStantonwastryingtocollecthiswitssoastomakeasuitablereply.
　　Theyalllookedatherinvoluntarily.Herfacewaspalenow,andhadthewhite,resoluteaspectoftenseeninthoseabouttofacegreatdanger.
　　"MissBurton,Iamsorrytosayyouhaveafalseimpressionofmyconductinthestage.Sofarfromshowingpresenceofmindandcourageonthatoccasion,Iwasterror-strickenand,Ibelieve,hysterical.Withallmyfaults,IshallatLEASTtrytotellthetruthhereafter."
　　"ByJupiter!"criedtheimpulsiveStanton,"that'sthepluckiestthingIeversawawomando,ormaneither.Ida,fromthisdayI'mproudofyou,thoughyouhavelittleoccasiontobesoofme."
　　ThepoorgirlhadlookedsteadilyatMissBurtonwhilespeaking,butthemomenttheordealwasoverherlipquiveredlikethatofachild,andshehastilyleftthetable.
　　ShehadscarcelymountedhalfthestairsthatledtoherroombeforeVanBergwasatherside.
　　"MissMayhew,"hesaideagerly,"Ididnotsleeplastnight,norcanIto-nightuntilassuredofyourforgiveness.MyselfIcanneverforgive."
　　Herheartwasfullandhernervesoverstrainedalready.Shecouldnotspeak,butshebowedherheadontherailofthebalustrade,hidingherfaceagainstherarm,andstrovehardtochecktherisingsobs.
　　"MissMayhew,"hecontinued,inlow,pleadingtones,"inallmylifeInevercondemnedmyselfsobitterlyasIhaveformytreatmentofyou.Icanonlyappealtoyourgenerosity.INEEDyourforgiveness,"
　　andhewaitedforheranswer.
　　Butshecouldnotanswer.Itseemedasifshecouldnotmaintainevenherpartialself-controlamomentlonger.Herheartforgavehim,however,andshewishedhimtoknowit,sowithoutliftingherheadsheheldoutherhandintheplaceofthewordsshecouldnottrustherselftoutter.Heseizediteagerly,anditsotrembledandthrobbedinhisgraspthatitmadehimthinkofawoundedbirdthatheoncehadcaptured.
　　"Itakeyourhand,MissMayhew,"hesaidearnestly,"notasasignoftrucebetweenus,butasatokenofforgiveness,andthepledgeofreconciliationandfriendship.Yourbravetruth-tellingto-nighthasatonedforyourpast.Pleasegivemeachanceatleasttotrytoatoneformine."
　　Hisonlyreplywasafaintpressurefromherhandandthenshespedupthestairway.Hedidnotseeheragaintillshecamedowntobreakfastthefollowingmorning,whenshetreatedhimwithaquiet,distant,well-bredcourtesythatdidnotsuggestthesobbinggirlwhohadfledfromhimtheeveningbefore,muchlessthedespairing,desperatewomanwhohadgivenhimthedrugwithwhichshehadintendedtoendherexistence.Theywhoseeconventionalsurfacesonlyknowbutlittleoflife.
　　Truthfulasshewastryingtobe,shewaspuzzlinghimmorethanever,althoughhewasgivingagreatdealofthoughttotheproblem.
　　ChapterXLIII.A"HeavenlyMystery."
　　WhileIda'smanneratthebreakfast-tablewasquietandself-possessed,shestillmaintainedthesamedistantbearingwhichhadbeencharacteristictheeveningbefore.ItwasevidenttoVanBerg,however,thatpride,woundedvanity,andresentmentwerenolongerthemotivesfortheseclusioninwhichshesoughttoremain,evenwhileundertheeyesofothers.Itwasthenaturalshrinkingofonewhowouldhideweakness,trouble,andimperfection.Itwasthebearingofonewhohadbeendeeplyhumiliated,andwhowasconsciousofapartialestrangementtowardsthosehavingaknowledgeofthishumiliation.Thusfarhecouldunderstandher;andintheproportionshewasdepressedandwithdrewfromsocialrecognitionandencouragement,hissympathyandrespectweredrawnouttowardsher.
　　"Sheisnottrivialandsuperficial,asIsupposed,"hethoughttwentytimesthatmorning."Thereisnotasuddencalmafterthestormthathasbeenraging,aswouldbethecaseweresheincharacterlikeashallowpool.Hermannernowprovesdailythelargenessofthenaturethathasbeensodeeplymoved,andwhich,liketheagitatedsea,regainsitspeacebutslowly;"andthesagaciousVanBerg,whoseimaginationwasnotunderverygoodcontrolbegantoreactintotheotherextreme,andquerywhetherIdaMayhew'smoralnature,nowthatitwasaroused,wasnotherchiefcharacteristic.
　　Meanwhile,thesubjectofhismany-coloredspeculationshaddrivenawayinthelowbasketphaeton,havingfirstexplainedbrieflytohermotherthatsheintendedtospendthemorningagainwiththetwooldpeopleshehadvisitedthepreviousday.
　　Stantonvolunteeredthisamountofinformationtohisfriend,andtherewasmuchsurmiseandcuriosityintheirmindsinregardtothese"oldpeople,"andhermotiveinseekingthem.ButevenMrs.
　　MayhewhadbeguntorealizethattheymusttakeIdaatherwordandleavehertoherself.
　　ItwaswithsomethingevenmorethanhopefulnessthatIdadrewneartothegardenagain.Shewasalive;thatfact,incontrastwithwhatmighthavebeen,waslikesolidgroundbeneathherfeet.Then,again,intheplaceofthecold,distantmanneroftheguests,afterthedepartureofSibley,shehadalreadynoticedfriendlyglancesandanevidentdispositiontomakeamends.Italsogavehernotalittlesatisfactionthathercousinandtheartistwereexperiencingsuchsincerecompunctions,andwererealizingtheenormityoftheiroffence.Idawasveryhuman,andalwayswouldbe.Shewasalsoalittleelatedoverthefactthatshehadbeenabletotellthetruththeeveningbefore.Thememory,however,thatnestledmostwarmlyinherheartwastheassertionofVanBerg,"INEEDyourforgiveness.""Howmuchdoesthatmean?"sheaskedherselfagainandagain."Doeshereallywishtobeafriend,orisheonlytryingtosmoothovermattersandcalmmedownsohecanleavemedecorously,asafterourhatefulepisodeonthestage?"
　　Herwishescoloredherthoughts."Hespoketooearnestlytomeansolittle,"shesaidtoherself,withadreamysmilethatVanBerg,asanartistmerely,wouldhavegivenmuchtosee.
　　Afterall,perhapsoneofthechiefcausesofherrevivingspiritswasinthefactshewasyoung.Shecouldnottakeaverysombreviewoflifethatfreshsummermorning,eveninviewofthepastandthefuture,andhermannerofgreetingMr.Eltingeandoftellingherexperiencessincetheypartedsuggestedtohimthatshewasgaininginself-complacency,earthlyhope,andyouthfulspirits,ratherthaninthedeepandlastingpeaceandmoralstrengthwhichisbuiltupfromtheLivingRock.Shewasfindingrelieffromdepressionandsufferingfromcausesastransientastheyweresuperficial.Chiefofall,shehadnotrealizedashehadsupposedtheshadowoftheawfulcrimethatwasrestinguponher,andtheneedofGod'sforgiveness.Almostunconsciouslytheoldman,wiseandexperiencedinspirituallife,sigheddeeplyasshefinishedherstory.
　　Herquickearcaughtthesigh,andherwoman'sintuitiongatheredfromhisfacethattheoutlookdidnotseemsoencouragingtohim.
　　Herheartbegantosink,andshesaidearnestly:
　　"Mr.Eltinge,I'vetriedtobetrue;Iwantyoutobefaithfultome.Don'thideanythingfromme."
　　Yes,mychild,"herepliedgravely,"youaresincere——youhidenothing.IthinkIunderstandyou.IthankGodhegaveyoustrengthlastnighttotellthetruthunderverytryingcircumstances,andyouhavegreatlyincreasedmyrespectforyouthatyoudidso.But,tousealittlefigurativelanguage,ifIwereyourdoctorImighttellyouthatyoudon'trealizehowsickyouareandhavebeen.
　　Therehavebeensomeencouragingsymptomsandcircumstances,andyourspiritsandhopearereviving,andyouarelookingtothesethingsratherthantohimwhotakethawaythesinoftheworld.I
　　triedtoencourageyouyesterday,mychild,becauseIsawyouweredeeplydepressed;andtodiscourageusisoneofthechiefaimsoftheEvilOne.Idonotwishtodiscourageyouto-day——farfromit——butIwishtorealizethatonlytheforgivenessandhealingtouchoftheSonofGodareequaltoyourneed.
　　"Mychild,"hecontinued,withasolemnitythatmadehergrowverypale,"supposeIshouldtakeyoutoaroominthehousethere,showyouafairgirlwitheyesthatshouldlookforherdutyinlifeclosedforever,andthehandsthatshouldfaithfullyandbravelydoitparalyzedindeath.SupposeIshouldtellyouthatIhadgivenherapoisonousdrugthenightbefore,whatwouldIbe?"
　　"Amurderer,"whisperedthegirlwitheyesdilatedwithfearandhorror.
　　"Yes,"saidtheoldman,shakinghisheadsadly;"IwouldhavedestroyedalifethatGodhadgiven,anddestroyedendlesschancesforhappinessandusefulness,andsentapoorsoultojudgement,perhapsunforgivenandunprepared.Mychild,itcutsmetothehearttopainyouso,butthephysician'sprobemustgotothedepthofthewound.Itisnokindnesstothepatienttoputonasoothingsurfaceapplicationandleavedeathtorankleintheblood.WehavenoreasontobelievethatintheeyeofGodhethatdestroyshimselfisanythelessguiltythanhethatkillsanother,andeveninthejudgmentofmanit'sacowardlyflightfrommisfortunesthatshouldbetriumphedoverwithcourageandpatience,orenduredwithfortitudeandresignation.Markmywords,itisonlyaflight,notanescape,foreveryevilyousoughttoshunwouldhavebeenintensifiedandrenderedeternal.Now,thesimpletruthis,weholdourownlivesintrustfromGod,tobeusedaccordingtohiswill,andwehavenomorerighttodestroythelifeheentruststousthanthelifehegivestoothers."
　　Idahadburiedherfaceinherhandsandwastremblingviolently.
　　"Ididnotrealizeitbefore,"shemurmuredinalow,shudderingtone."Oh,whatshallIdo?WhatshallIdo?Whydoesn'ttheearthopenandswallowmeup?"
　　Theoldmancametohersideagain,andplacinghisrighthandgentlyonherbowedheadandholdingaBibleinhisleft,continuedingravebyverygentletones:
　　"TakethisBook,mychild;itwilltellyouwhattodo.Itwilltellyouthatmercifulandall-powerfularmsareopentoreceiveyou,andnotahopelessgrave.TheSonofGodhassaidtotheheavyladen,'Comeuntome,'and'whosoevercomethIwillinnowisecastout.'Heavenisfull,mychild,ofjustsuchguiltysoulsasyours,butitwasHEwhosavedthem.ItwasHispreciousbloodthatwashedthemwhiterthansnow.WhenyouseekforforgivenessandhealingatHisfeetallwillbewell,butnottillthen,andnotelsewhere."
　　"O,Mr.Eltinge,"shesobbed,"youhavepiercedmyheartaswithasword."
　　"Ihave,indeed,mypoorchild——withtheswordoftruth;andwhat'smore,Ican'thealthewoundI'vemade."
　　"WhatshallIdo?oh,whatshallIdo?"andshefairlywrithedintheagonyofherremorse.
　　"'BeholdtheLambofGod,thattakethawaythesinoftheworld,'"
　　hesaidgentlybutfirmly,andhisstrongfaithandthewordsofHolyWritwerelikearock,atwhich,fromoutoftheoverwhelmingtorrentofherremorsefuldespair,shegraspedasheronechance,heronehope.
　　Liftingherstreamingeyestoheaven,andclaspingherhands,shecriedpassionately:
　　"OChrist,hopeofthesinful,ifthereismercyforsuchasI,forgiveme,formycrimeislikeafallingmountain!"
　　Amomentlatershesprangupandputherarmsaroundtheoldman'sneck.
　　"Myfriend,mymorethanfather!"shesobbed,"Ithink——IalmostbelieveGodhasheardme.ItseemsasifIhadescapedfromdeath,and——and——myheartwasbreaking;butnow——oh,it'sallaheavenlymystery!"
　　"Yes,"repliedMr.Eltingebrokenly,andwithansweringemotion,"itisaheavenlymystery.'Notbymight,norbypower,butbymySpirit,saiththeLord.'"
　　Idacouldneverforgettheremaininghourswhichshespentthatdayintheoldgarden.itwasthenandtherethatsheexperiencedthesensationsofthoseenteringanewspirituallifeandanewworld;andwithsome,thesefirstimpressionsareveryvivid;andwithsome,thesefirstimpressionsareveryvivid.
　　ItwasaccordingtonaturethatitshouldbesointheinstanceofIdaMayhew,forshewassimple,positive,andwarminherfeelings,ratherthancoldandcomplex.Butshewassane,andaboundedinthehomelycommonsensewhichenabledhertounderstandherselfandthoseabouther.Sheformedfairlycorrectestimatesofallwhomshehadmet,andwiththesamesimpledirectnessshebegantorecognizethecharacteroftheDivineManthatMr.EltingeandtheBibletheyreadtogetherpresented.
　　Noearthlycasuistrycouldeverleadhertodoubtthathehadheardherprayerthatmorning.Shemightreplysimplytoallcavilandquestioning:
　　"Iknowheheardandansweredme,andifIdonotknowthistobetrue,Icannotknowanythingtobetrue;"forneverbeforehadherconsciousnessmadeanythingsodistinctandreal.
　　Tosaythatsheandmultitudesofothersaremistaken,isbeggingthewholequestion.Itisbaldlytakingthegroundofdenialofeverythingoutsideofpersonalunderstandingandknowledge.Theskepticismofverymanywouldblotoutthegreaterpartofscience,history,andgeography.ThefactsofChristianexperienceandChristiantestimonyareastrulyfactsasthosewhicharediscoveredbypeoplewhoarehostileorindifferenttotheBible.
　　Thebroad,liberalmanishewhoacceptsalltruthandhumblywaitstillthefullerwisdomofcomingagesreconcileswhatisnowapparentlyconflicting.Thebigotishewhoshutshiseyestotruthhedoesnotlike,ordoesnotunderstand;andheisasapttobeascientistasthemanwhohaslearnedthattheGodwhomadehimcanalsospeaktohim,throughhisinspiredwordandall-pervadingSpirit.
　　Wearesurroundedbyearthlymysterieswhichthewisestcannotsolve,andsomeofthemareverysadanddark.Whyshouldtherenotbe,asIdasaid,aheavenlymystery?
　　Afterall,itisaquestionoffact.TheChristoftheNewTestamentofferstogivepeaceandspiritualhealing.Doeshekeephisword?
　　Wesayyes,onthebroadgroundofhumanexperienceandhumantestimony——thegroundonwhichisbuiltthegreaterpartofhumanknowledge.
　　Ifthisbetrue,whatareproachiscontainedinthewordsofourLord:"Yewillnotcomeuntomethatyemighthavelife"!
　　ChapterXLIV."TheGardenofEden."
　　"Mr.Eltinge,"Idaasked,astheywereabouttopart,"haveIarighttothegladsenseofescapeandsafetythathascomesounexpectedly?"
　　"Yourright,"hereplied,"dependsonthecharacteroftheFriendyouhavefound.Doyouthinkheisableandwillingtokeephisword?"
　　"Oh,Mr.Eltinge,howplainyoumakeitall!"
　　"No,mydear;itwasmadeplaincenturiesago.Youhaveasmuchrighttoyourhappyfeelingsastothesunshine;butneverputyourfeelingsintheplaceofChrist,andtrustinthem.That'slikeputtingfaithinone'sgratitude,insteadofthefriendwhoseservicesinspiredthegratitude.Butcomeagainto-morrow,andwe'llgoonwiththe'old,oldstory.'I'vereaditscoresoftimes,butamenjoyingitnowwithyoumorethanever.Good-by."
　　AsIdadrewneartothehotel,Stantonsteppedfromtheroadsidetomeether.
　　"Ida,"hesaid,"ifyoucannotforgivemeandperhapsyoucannot,I'llleaveto-morrowmorning——andperhapsIhadbetteranyway.I
　　fearitwasanevildayforusbothwhenwecametothisplace."
　　"I'vethoughtsotoo,CousinIk,"shesaidkindly;"butIdon'tnow.I'mgladIcamehere,thoughithascostmeagreatdealofsufferingand——and——may——butnomatter.Iwasbetterandworsethanyouthoughtme.Imustinsinceritysaythatithasbeenhardtoforgiveyou,foryoursuspicionwoundedmemoredeeplythanyou'lleverknow.Butmyownneedofforgivenesshastaughtmetoforgiveothers;andInowseethatIalsohavebeenverydisagreeabletoyou,Ik.Letusexchangeforgivenessandbefriends."
　　"Ida,whathascomeoveryou?YouarenomorelikethegirlthatIbroughttothecountrythanI'mliketheself-satisfiedfoolthataccompaniedyou."
　　"No,Ik,youarenotafool,andneverwere;but,likemyself,youhadagooddealofself-complacency,andnotmuchcauseforit.
　　Pardonmeforspeakingplainly,butafterwhathaspassedbetweenuswecanaffordtobefrank.YoumaynotwinJennieBurton,butIbelieveshe'llwakeyouup,andmakeastrong,genuinemanofyou."
　　"Ida,"hesaidinalowtone,andwithlipsthatquiveredalittle,"I'mnotsorrythatIloveJennieBurton,thoughinconsequenceI
　　mayneverseeanotherhappyday.Butgood-by;I'mtooconfoundedlyblueto-daytospeaktoanothermortal.It'sagreatrelief,though,thatyouhaveforgivenme.Iwouldn'tifIhadbeeninyourplace,anddon'tthinkIforgivemyselfbecauseyouhaveletmeoffsoeasily;"andheturnedhastilyaway,andwassoonlosttoherviewintheshrubberybytheroadside.
　　IfIdahadpuzzledVanBerginthemorning,hewasstillmoreperplexedintheevening.Slighttracesofherdeepemotionstilllingeredaroundhereyes,butintheeyesthemselvesthereshonealightandhopefulnesswhichhehadneverseenbefore,andwhichhecouldnotinterpret.Moreover,herfacewasgrowingsogentleandwomanly,sofreefromtheimpressofallthathadmarreditheretofore,thathecouldnothelpstealingglancessooftenthatwereJennieBurtonofajealousdispositionshemightthinkhisinterestnotwhollyartistic.Althoughtherewasmuchoftheshrinkingandretiringmannerofthemorning,andshedidnotjoininthegeneralconversation,alltracesofresentmentandcoldnesstowardshercompanionshadvanished.Shewasconsiderateandevenkindtohermother,butinreplytoherquestionsconcerningthepeopleshehadvisited,saidgentlybutfirmly:
　　"Iwilltakeyoutheresomeday,mother,andthenyoucanjudgeforyourself."
　　Butwiththeexceptionofapromptnesstocheckallreferencetoherselfandtheday'sexperiences,hermannerwassodifferentfromwhatMrs.Mayhewhadbeenaccustomedto,thatshecouldnothelpturningmanyperplexedandcuriousglancestowardherdaughter,andwasevidentlynobetterabletounderstandthesubtleandyetrealchangethanwastheartisthimself.