a face illumined-第73章

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it。　　My　heart　clings　to　the　other　emblem；　and　I　know　I　must　develop

as　best　I　can；　as　that　would　have　done　after　its　destroyer　was

taken　away。　　No；　Mr。　Van　Berg。　　I　have　seen　myself　in　the　strong；

sharp　light　of　truth。　　If　you　are　willing　to　be　my　friend；　please

be　an　honest　one。　　My　faithful　old　friend　in　the　country　would

scarcely　take　my　portrait　if　this　perfect　flower　were　introduced

with　any　such　meaning　as　you　attach　to　it；　and　I　certainly　would

be　ashamed　to　give　it　to　him。　　Mr。　Van　berg；　we　MUST　let　bygones

by　bygones；　or　we　never　can　get　on。　　See　how　absurdly　I　have　acted

both　yesterday　and　to…day；　and　all　through　recalling　the　past。

Indeed；　indeed；　it　will　never　do　for　me　to　come　here　again；　and

if　you　can　make　such　a　marvellous　likeness　of　Mr。　Eltinge　as　you

have；　I　scarcely　think　there　will　be　any　need。〃



〃My　success　with　Mr。　Eltinge's　portrait　is　the　result　of　a　few　happy

strokes　that　I　might　not　be　able　to　give　again　if　I　tried　a　year。

Believe　me；　Miss　Mayhew；　I　not　only　wish　to　be　an　honest　friend；　but

a　very　considerate　one。　　I　promise　never　to　urge　you　to　do　anything

that　will　cause　you　pain。　　I　can　understand　how　the　features　of

your　kind　friend　have　touched　the　tenderest　chords　of　your　heart；

and　I　respect　your　study　fidelity　to　your　conscience　in　refusing

to　let　me　paint　this　bud　in　your　hair；　but　you　must　also　do　me　the

justice　to　believe　that　I　meant　no　hollow　compliment　when　I　searched

for　it　among　the　florists。　　Must　I　throw　this　one　away；　too？〃　he

asked；　with　a　glance　that　was　very　ardent　for　a　friend；　〃for　since

I　obtained　it　for　you；　it　must　receive　its　fate　at　your　hands　only。〃



〃I'll　wear　it；　simply　as　your　gift；　with　pleasure；〃　and　she　fastened

it　in　her　breastpin；　so　that　its　crimson　blush　rested　against　the

snowy　whiteness　of　her　neck。



He　looked　her　full　in　the　eyes　and　said；　with　low；　sad　emphasis：

〃I　do　not　deserve　such　respect。〃　　Then　the　knowledge　that　she　was

harboring　a　purpose　which　troubled　her　conscience；　but　which　she

could　not　abandon；　became　the　cause　of　a　trace　of　her　old　recklessness

of　manner。　　She　assumed　a　sudden　gayety；　as　if　she　had　stepped　out

of　shadows　into　too　strong　a　light；　as　she　said：



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；　you　may　well　hesitate　to　bring　the　appetite　you　say

had　last　night　to　our　house　this　evening；　and　if　I　stay　a　moment

longer；　you　will　get　no　dinner　at　all。　　I　have　not　been　after　the

crude　materialas　you　call　ityet；　and　I'm　told　that　there　is　not

a　man　living　so　amiable　and　philosophical；　but　that　a　poor　dinner

provokes　martyr…like　expression；　if　nothing　worse；〃　and　with　a　smile

and　a　piquancy　of　manner　that　seemed　peculiarly　brilliant　against

the　background　of　her　deep　and　repressed　feeling；　she　again　left

him。



He　tried　to　return　to　his　work；　but　found　himself　once　more　possessed

by　the　demon　of　unrest　and　impatience。　　The　spiritual　wave　that

had　been　lifting　him　higher　and　higher　was　changing　its　character

and　becoming　a　smoothly　gliding　current。　　It　was　so　irresistible

that　he　never　thought　of　resisting。　　〃Why　should　he　resist？〃　he

asked　himself。　　Circumstances　had　interested　him　in　this　rare　Undine

before　she　received　a　woman's　soul；　circumstances　had　entangled

his　life　and　hers　in　what　had　almost　been　an　awful　tragedy；　and

now　circumstances；　or　something　far　beyond；　were　swiftly　developing

before　his　eyes　a　spiritual　loveliness　that　was　the　counterpart

of　her　outward　beauty；　and　he　assured　himself　that　it　would　be　the

greatest　folly　of　his　life　to　lose　a　trace　of　the　exquisite　process

that　he　might　be　privileged　to　see。　　What　artist　or　poet　has　not

pictured　himself　the　fair　face　of　Eve　as　God　first　breathed　into

her　perfect　clay　the　breath　of　life；　or　has　not；　in　imagination；

seen　the　closed　eyes　opening　in　surprise　and　intelligence　or　kindling

with　the　light　of　love？　　And　yet　the　change　in　Ida　Mayhew　seemed

to　Van　Berg　far　more　wonderful　and　interesting；　and　to　his　fancy

if；　instead　of　lying　in　the　beauty　of　her　breathless；　statuesque

preparation　for　life；　Eve　had　been　possessed　by　a　legion

of　distorting　imps；　she　would　have　been　the　type　of　the　maiden　he

first　had　recognized。　　But　he　had　seen　these　evil　spirits　exorcised；

and　in　their　place　was　coming　a　noble；　womanly　soulsweet；

tender；　and　strongand　the　perfect　form　and　features　seemed　but

a　transparent　mould；　a　crystal　vase　into　which　heaven　was　pouring

a　new　and　divine　life。　　Why　should　he　not　long　to　escape　from　the

dusty　matter…of…fact　world　and　witness　this　spiritual　repetition

of　the　most　beautiful　story　of　the　past？　　Thus　his　philosophical

mind　was　able　once　more　to　reason　the　whole　matter　out　clearly　and

prove　that　his　wish　to　annihilate　the　intervening　hours　before　he

could　dare　to　present　himself　to　Ida　Mayhew；　was　the　most　natural

and　proper　desire　imaginable。　　He　concluded　that　a　walk　through

Central　Park　might　banish　his　disquietude；　and　leave　time　for　a

careful　toilet；　since　for　some　occult　reason　the　occasion　seemed

to　him　to　require　unusual　preparation。



He　knew　he　was　unfashionably　early　when　he　rang　Mr。　Mayhew's

door…bell；　but　he　had　found　it　impossible　to　curb　his　impatience

to　see　in　what　new　aspect　Ida　would　present　herself　that　evening。

A　hundred　times　he　had　queried　how　she　would　appear　in　her　own

home；　how　she　would　preside　as　hostess；　and　whether　the　taste　of　the

florid　and　fashionable　mother　would　not　be　so　apparent　as　to　annoy

him　like　a　bad　tone　in　the　picture。　　yes；　that　was　Mrs。　Mayhew's

parlor　into　which　he　was　shown。　　It　did　not　suggest　the　maiden　who

had　come　to　visit；　nor　the　quiet；　dignified　gentleman　Mr。　Mayhew　was

seen　to　be　when　at　the　touch　of　love's　wand　a　degrading　vice　fell

away　from　him。　　But　the　artist　could　find　no　fault　with　the　host

who　greeted　him　promptly；　and　when；　a　few　moments　later；　there　was

a　breezy　rustle　on　the　stairs　and　he　turned　to　greet　his　hostess；

his　face　flushed　with　admiration　and　pleasure。　　It　became　evident

that　the　worshipper　of　beauty　was　in　the　presence　of　his　divinity；

and　his　every　glance　burned　incense　to　her　honor。　　She　had　twined

a　few　rose…leaves　in　her　hair；　but　wore　no　other　ornament　save

the　rose　he　had　given　her　in　the　morning；　which　evidently　had　been

kept　carefully　for　the　occasion；　for　it　was　unchanged；　with　the

exception　that　it　revealed　its　heart　a　little　more　openly；　as　did

Ida　herself。　　And　yet　she　did　her　best　to　insure　that　her　manner

should　be　no　more　cordial　than　her　character　of　hostess　demanded。



But　in　spite　of　all　she　could　do；　the　light　of　exultation　and

intense　joy　would　flash　into　her　eyes　and　tremble　in　her　tones　that

evening。　　A　maiden　would　have　been　blind　indeed　had　she　not　been

able　to　read　the　riddle　of　Van　Berg's　ardent　friendship　now；　and

Ida　had　seen　that　expression　too　often　not　to　know　its　meaning

well。　　In　the　morning　she　had　strongly　hoped；　now　she　believed。

She　no　longer　walked　by　faith　but　in　full　vision；　and　she　trod　with

the　grace　of　a　queen　who　knows　her　power　in　the　realm　that　woman

loves　best。　　The　glow　of　her　eyes；　her　repressed　excitement；　that

vitalized　everything　she　said　or　did；　mystified　while　they　charmed

her　guest。　　〃She　has　become　true　to　nature；〃　he　thought；　〃and　like

nature　is　full　of　mysterious　changes；　for　which　we　know　not　the

cause。　　At　one　time　it　is　a　sharp　north　wind；　again　the　south　wind。

This　morning　there　was　a　sudden　shower　of　tears；　and　before　it　was

over　the　sunlight　of　smiles　flashed　through　them。　　Now　she　appears

like　a　June　morning；　and　I　pray　the　weather　holds。〃



〃Oh；〃　thought　Ida；　in　the　wild；　mad　glee　of　her　heart；　〃how　can　I

behave　myself　and　look　innocent　and　unconscious；　seeing　what　I　do？

He　is　my　very　good　friend　is　he？　　I　wish　for　only　one　such　friend

in　the　world。　　It　wouldn't　be　proper　to　have　another。　Oh；　but　isn't

it　rich　to　see　how　unconscious　he　is　of　himself！　　He　is　passing　into

an　exceedingly　acute　attack　of　my　own　complaint；　and　the　poor　man

doesn't　know　what　is　the　matter。　　I　don't　believe　he　ever　looked

at　Jennie　Burton　as　he　looks　at　me。　　Ah；　Jennie　Burton！〃　　The

joyousness　suddenly　faded　out　of　her　face　and　she　sighed　deeply。

It　seemed　to　Van　Berg　for　a　time　that　his　June　morning　might　become

clouded　after　all；　but　while　his　face　was　turned　towards　her　with

the　expression　it　now　wore　no　sad　thoughts　or　misgivings　could

shadow　Ida　very　long。











Chapter　L。　　Swept　Away。







There　was　no　vulgar　profusion　in　the　dinner　which　Ida　had　ordered；

nor　were　its　courses　interminable；　and　as　she　gracefully　and　quietly

directed　everything；　the　thought　would　keep　insinuating　itself

in　Van　Berg's　mind；　that　the　home　over　which　she　might　eventually

preside　would　be　a　near　suburb　of　Paradise。　　He　heartily　seconded

Ida's　purpose　that　her　father　should　take　part　in　their　conversation；

and　it　was　another　deep　source　of　her　gladness　that　the　one　whom

she　had　seen　so　depressed　and　despairing；　now　looked　as　she　would

always　wish　him　to　appear。　　〃Oh；　it's　too　good　to　last；〃　she　sighed；

as　her　heart　fairly　ached　with　its　excess　of　joy。



After　dinner　Mr。　Mayhew　asked　Van　Berg　to　light　a　cigar　with　him　in

his　study；　but　the　artist　declined　and　followed　Ida　to　the　parlor。



〃Mr。　Van　Berg；〃　she　said；　with　a　great　show　of　surprise；　〃how　is　it

you　don't　smoke　this　evening？　　It　seemed　to　me　that　you　and　Cousin

Ik　were　drawn　to　a　certain　corner　of　Mr。　Burleigh's　piazza　with

the　certainty　of　gravitation　after　dinner；　and　then　you　were　lost

in　the　clouds。〃



〃On　this　occasion　I　have　taken　my　choice　of　pleasures　and　have

followed　you。〃



〃This　is　a　proud　moment　for　me；〃　she　said；　with　a　mirthful　twinkle

in　her　eyes。　　〃I　never　expected　to　rival　a　gentleman's　cigar；　and

I　don't　think　I　ever　did　before。〃



〃Another　proof　of　my　friendship；　Miss　Ida。〃



〃Yes；〃　she　replied　demurely；　〃an　act　like　this　goes　a　good　way

towards　making　me　believe　you　are　sincere。〃



〃Miss　Ida；　you　are　always　laughing　at　me。　　I　wish　I　could　find　some

way　to　get　even　with　you；　and　I　will　too。〃



〃You　do　me　injustice。　　I；　in　turn；　will　lay　an　offering　on　the

altar　of　friendship　and　will　go　with　you　this　evening　to　the　concert

garden。〃



〃I　think　you　exceedingly；　but　will　leave　the　offering　on　the　altar；

if　you　will　permit　me。　　I　would　much　rather　remain　in　your　parlor。〃



〃Why；　Mr。　Van　Berg；　you　are　bent　on　being　a　martyr　for　my　sake　this

evening。〃



〃Yes；　wholly　bent　upon　it。〃



〃How　amiable　gentlemen　are　after　dinner！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃But　where

was　your　appetite　this　evening？　　Clearly　our　cook　knows　nothing　of

the　preparation　of　ambrosia　nor　I　of　nectar；　although　I　made　the

coffee　myself。〃



〃Did　you？　　That　accounts　for　its　divine　flavor。　　Don't　you　remember

I　took　two　cups？〃



〃I　saw　that　your　politeness　led　you　to　send　me　your　cup　a　second

time。　　I　suppose　you　accomplished　a　vast　deal　again　to…day　after

you　were　once　finally　rid　of　an　embodimen