a face illumined- 第71部分

twilight　and　dusk　before　they　approached　the　hotel。



〃See；　father；　there　is　the　new　moon；　and　it　hangs　over　your　right

shoulder；〃　cried　Ida；　gleefully。



〃It's　over　your　right　shoulder；　too；　and　that　thought　pleases　me

better　still。　　I　wish　I　could　make　you　very　happy。　　Tell　me　what

I　can　do　for　you。〃



〃Take　me　to　New　York　with　you　to…morrow；〃　said　Ida；　promptly。



〃Now　you　are　trying　to　make　a　martyr　of　yourself　for　me。　　You　forget

how　hot　and　dusty　the　city　is　in　August。〃



〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　she　said　decisively；　〃unless　you　say　no。〃



〃I'm　going　to　spend　part　of　the　time　with　you　until　your　vacation

begins　next　month；　and　then　we'll　explore　every　nook　and　corner　of

this　region。〃



〃There　Ida；　say　no　more　to…day。　　My　cup　is　overflowing　now；　and

the　fear　is　already　growing　that　such　happiness　won't　lastcan't

last　in　a　world　like　ours。〃



〃Father；〃　said　Ida；　gently；　〃I've　found　a　Friend　that　has　promised

me　more　than　present　happiness。　　He　has　promised　me　eternal　life。

He　is　pledged　to　make　all　seemingly　evil　result　in　my　final　good。

How　it　can　be　I　don't　see　at　all；　but　I'm　trying　to　take　him　at

his　word。　　You　must　not　worry　if　I'm　not　always　in　good　spirits。　　I

suppose　every　one　in　the　world　has　a　burden　to　carry；　but　I　don't

think　it　can　crush　us　if　our　Saviour　helps　us　carry　it。　　My　faith

is　very　simple；　you　see；　I　feel　I'm　like　one　of　those　little　children

he　took　in　his　arms　and　blessed；　and　I'm　sure　his　blessing　is　not

an　empty　form。　　It　has　made　me　love　and　trust　him；　and　that's　all

the　religion　I　have　or　know　anything　about。　　You　must　not　expect

great　things　of　me；　you　must　not　watch　me　too　closely。　　Just　let

me　take　my　own　quiet　way　in　life；　for　I　want　my　life　henceforth　to

be　as　quiet　and　unobtrusive　as　the　little　brook　that　runs　through

Mr。　Eltinge's　garden；　that　is　often　in　the　shade；　you　know；　as

well　as　in　the　light；　but　Mr。　Eltinge　lets　it　flow　after　its　own

fashion；　so　you　must　let　me。　　I'll　always　try　to　make　a　little

low；　sweet　music　for　you；　if　not　for　the　world。　　So　please　do　not

commence　puzzling　your　poor　tired　brain　how　to　make　me　happy　or

gay；　or　want　to　take　me　here　and　there。　　Just　leave　me　to　myself；

let　me　have　my　own　way　for　awhile　at　least；　and　if　you　can　do

anything　for　me　I　promise　to　tell　you。〃



Ever　since　her　drive　with　Van　Berg　the　previous　day；　there　had　been

a　deep　undercurrent　of　thought　in　Ida's　mind；　and　she　had　at　last

concluded　that　she　could　scarcely　keep　her　secret　with　any　certainty

while　under　his　eyes；　and　especially　those　of　Miss　Burton。　　She　was

too　direct　and　positive　in　her　nature；　and　her　love　was　too　strong

and　absorbing　for　the　cool　and　indifferent　bearing　she　was　trying

to　maintain。　　Her　eyes；　her　cheeks；　her　tones；　and　even　words；

might　prove　traitors　at　any　time　and　betray　her。　　She　longed　to　be

alone；　and　teh　large　empty　city　house　seemed　the　quiet　refuge　that

she　needed。　　At　the　same　time　it　would　give　her　deep　satisfaction

to　be　with　her　father　after　hs　return　from　business；　and　make　amends

for　years　of　neglect。



He　looked　at　her　wistfully；　feeling；　in　a　vague　way；　that　he　did

not　understand　her　yet。　　There　was　a　minor　chord　in　her　voice；

and　there　had　been　a　sadness　in　her　eyes　at　times　which　began　to

suggest　to　him　that　he　had　not　learned　all　the　causes　that　were　so

marvellously　transforming　her　form　her　old　self。　　Her　mother　would

question　and　question。　　He；　on　the　contrary；　would　wait　patiently

till　the　confidence　was　given；　and　so　he　merely　said　gently；



〃All　right；　little　girl；　I'll　try　to　make　you　happy　in　your　own

way。〃



Van　Berg；　going　out　for　a　walk　after　tea；　again　heard　the　girlish

voice　singing　the　quaint　hymn　tune　that　had　awakened　the　memories

of　his　childhood　the　previous　day。　　He　instantly　concealed　himself

by　the　roadside；　and　in　a　moment　or　two　Ida　and　her　father　drove

by。　　He　was　able　in　the　dusk　to　note　only　that　her　head　rested　on

her　father's　shoulder；　and　her　voice　was　sweet　and　plaintive　as

she　sang　words　that　he　could　not　hear　distinctly；　but　which　were

as　follows；　as　far　as　he　could　catch　them：





I　know　not　the　way　he　is　leading　me

　　But　I　know　he　is　leading　me　home；

Though　lonely　the　path　and　dark　to　me；

　　It　is　safe　and　it　wends　to　my　home。

　　　　　　Home　of　the　blest；

　　　　　　Home　that　is　rest

To　the　weary　pilgrim's　feet；　to　the　weary　pilgrim's　heart。





and　then　her　words　were　lost　in　the　distance。



With　an　impulse　he　did　not　think　of　resisting　he　followed　them　back

to　the　hotel　and　waited　patiently　till　she　and　her　father　came　out

from　supper。



〃Miss　Mayhew；〃　he　said；　a　little　discontentedly；　〃I　have　scarcely

had　a　chance　to　say　a　word　to　you　to…day；　and　it　seems　to　me　that

I　have　a　great　deal　to　say。〃



She　looked　at　him　with　some　surprise　as　she　replied；　〃Well；　I　think

I　might　at　least　become　a　good　listener。〃



〃Do　you　mean　a　patient　one？〃



〃I　never　had　any　patience；〃　she　answered；　with　something　like　a

smile。



〃And　I　was　never　so　possessed　by　the　demon　of　impatience　as　I　have

been　this　afternoon。　　There　hasn't　been　a　soul　around　that　I　cared

to　talk　with；　and　if　you　knew　how　out　of　conceit　I　am　with　my　own

company；　you　would　feel　some　commiseration。　　How　I　envied　you　your

visit　to　the　garden　this　afternoon；　for　I　felt　sure　you　took　your

father　thither。　　May　I　not　go　with　you　again　to…morrow；　or　soon？　　I

wish　to　make　my　sketch　more　accurate　before　beginning　your　picture。〃



She　hesitated　a　moment；　and　he　little　know　how　he　was　tempting　her。

Then　she　replied；　so　quietly　and　decisively　as　to　seem　almost　cold；

〃Mr。　Eltinge；　I'm　sure；　will　be　very　glad　to　see　you；　but　I　shall

go　to　the　city　with　my　father　in　the　morning　and　remain　in　town

all　the　week。〃　　She　was　puzzled　at　his　unmistakable　expression　of

regret　and　disappointment；　and　added；　hastily；　〃Mr。　Van　Berg；　you

are　taking　far　too　much　trouble。　　I　would　be　more　satisfiedI

would　be　delighted　with　such　a　sketch　as　you　made　to…day；　with　the

omission　of　myself。〃



〃But　if；　instead　of　being　trouble；　it　gave　me　great　pleasure　to

make　the　picture　with　the　utmost　care？〃



〃I　suppose；〃　she　replied；　〃that　you　have　a　high　artistic　sense　that

must　be　satisfied；　and　that　you　see　imperfections　that　I　cannot。〃



〃You　are　too　severe　upon　me；　Miss　Mayhew；　but　since　you　have　such

good　reason；　I　cannot　complain。　　Still；　in　justice　to　myself；　I

must　say　that　satisfying　my　artistic　sense　was　not　my　motive。〃



〃I　did　not　mean　to　be　severeI　do　not　mean　what　you　think；〃　Ida

began；　very　eagerly。　　Then　she　checked　herself　and　added；　after　a

moment；　with　a　slight　tinge　of　sadness　in　her　tone；　〃I　fear　we　are

fated　to　misunderstand　each　other。　　Good…night；　Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　and

she　turned　decisively　away　and　joined　her　father　who　was　talking

with　Stanton。



The　artist　was　both　hurt　and　perplexed；　and　he　abruptly　left　the

hall　and　started　again　on　the　walk　which　had　been　so　unexpectedly

interrupted。　　He　strode　away　through　the　starlight　with　a　swiftness

that　was　scarcely　in　harmony　with　the　warm；　still　summer　night。

Before　he　was　aware　of　it　he　was　a　mile　away。　　Stopping　suddenly

he　muttered：



〃I　won't　be　so　baffled　and　puzzled。　　I　will　learn　to　understand

this　Ida　Mayhew　before　this　summer　is　over。　　It's　ridiculous　that

I　should　be　so　dull　and　stupid。　　She　says　she　fears　we　are　'fated

to　misunderstand　each　other。'　　I　defy　such　a　blind　stupid　fate。　　I

used　to　have　some　brains　and　tact　before　I　came　to　this　place；　and

I　scarcely　think　I've　become　an　idiot。　　I　am　determined　to　win　that

girl's　friendship；　and　I　intend　to　follow　her　career　and　watch　the

rare　and　beautiful　development　of　her　character。　　That　one　hour　in

the　garden　yesterday　taught　me　what　an　inspiration　her　exquisite

beauty　can　be　in　my　profession；　and　surely　with　the　vantage…ground　I

already　possess　I　ought　to　have　skill　enough　to　win　a　place　among

her　friends；〃　and　he　walked　back　almost　as　quickly　as　he　had　stalked

away。



Ida　had　seen　his　departure　and　recognized　the　fact　that　she　had

hurt　his　feelings。　　It　was　strange　that　so　little　a　thing　could

depress　her　so　greatly；　for　she　felt　that　the　first　real　Sabbath

she　had　ever　spent　and　which　had　been　in　truth　a　SUN…day　to　her

thus　far；　was　now　ending　in　shadows　darker　than　the　night。　　〃How

weak　I　am；〃　she　thought；　〃I　must　go　away　as　soon　as　possible；

or　else　I　shall　be　sorry。　　The　companionship　that　he　can　give　so

easily　and　frankly　when　Miss　Burton　is　not　at　hand　to　occupy　him　is

impossible　for　me；　and　would　only　end　in　the　betrayal　of　a　secret

that　I　would　hide　even　more　anxiously　than　the　crime　I　could

not　conceal　from　him。　　My　duty　and　my　father　must　be　everything

hereafter；〃　and　she　turned　resolutely　to　him；　saying：



〃Father；　take　a　seat　in　the　parlor　while　I　go　and　find　mother。　　I

want　these　people　to　see　that　you　have　a　family　who　at　least　show

that　they　appreciate　all　the　luxuries　and　comforts　you　are　providing

for　them。〃



Mr。　Mayhew　was　more　deeply　gratified　by　her　words　than　she

could　understand；　for　any　recognition　of　his　manhood　and　rightful

position　which　was　quiet　and　unobtrusive；　was　balm　and　healing　to

his　wounded　self…respect。　　Hitherto　he　had　believed　correctly　that

his　family　wished　to　keep　him　out　of　sight；　and　at　no　time　before

had　he　realized　the　change　that　had　taken　place　in　Ida　more　keenly

than　when　she　made　this　simple　and　natural　proposition。　　His　grateful

smile　as　he　complied　with　her　request　did　her　good；　but　she　soon

discovered　that　in　her　mother　she　had　a　very　difficult　subject

to　manage。　　She　found　that　lady　in　her　room　wearing　a　gloomy　and

injured　expression。



〃You　have　condescended　at　last　to　come　and　see　whether　I　was　alive；

I　see；〃　she　said；　as　Ida　entered　the　room。



Her　daughter　went　directly　to　her　and　kissing　her　replied；　〃We　haven't

intended　to　leave　you　so　long　or　to　neglect　you　in　the　least；　and

I'll　expla