a face illumined-第75部分
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kindling within him in a way that was exhilarating and grand。 While
his themes were simple he felt that they were noble and beautiful
in the highest degree。 The treea pretty object in itselfhad
been endowed with a human interest and suggested a divine philosophy。
Mr。 Eltinge； who sat at its foot； became to him one of the world's
chief heroesa man who had met and vanquished evil for almost
a century。 His white hair and silver beard were a halo of glory
around the quiet face that was turned in kindly sympathy towards
his companion； and Van Berg did his best to bring out the noble
profile。
But the maiden herselfwhy did his eyes turn so often to her；
and why did he； unasked； introduce her into the sketch with a care
and lingering delicacy of touch that made even her pencilled image
seem a living girl？ When not affected or rendered conventional by
society； her voice was singularly girlish and natural； and there
would often be a tone in a plaintive and minor key that vibrated
like a low； sweet chord in his heart rather than in his ears。 It
must be admitted that he gave little heed to the sacred words she
read； but the flexible music of her voice； mingled with the murmur
of the brook； the rustle of the leaves and the occasional song of a
bird； all combined to form the sweetest symphony he had ever heard。
As an artist he exulted。 His hand had not lost its cunning； and
his ruling passion； which the strange experiences of the past few
weeks had held in abeyance； was reasserting itself with a fuller；
richer power than he had known before。 That WAS Ida Mayhew's face
that was growing beautiful and full of her new and better life
under his appreciative and skilful touch； and the consciousness
of success in the kind of effort in which success meant to him so
much； filled him with a strong enthusiasm。
Once or twice Ida glanced shyly at him； and his appearance did not
tend to fix her thoughts wholly on the sacred text。
At last Mr。 Eltinge said： 〃That will do for to…day。 I think； under
the circumstances； you have given most praiseworthy attention to
what you have read； and to what little I could say in the way of
explanation。 Now for the picture； and I confess I'm as eager as a
child to see it；〃 and they came and looked over Van Berg's shoulder。
Almost instantly Ida clapped her hands； exclaiming with delight：
〃The tree is perfect； and oh； Mr。 Eltinge； I shall always have
you now； with your dear kind face turned towards me as I have seen
it to…day！〃 Suddenly her manner changed； and in a tone full of
disappointment she added； 〃Oh； Mr。 Van Berg； how could you spoil
my picture？ You have put me in it。〃
〃Certainly；〃 he replied demurely； 〃you were a part of the picture。〃
〃Not a necessary part。 I did not ask you to do that；〃 she answered；
in a way that proved her feelings were hurt。
〃I am willing to do more than you ask； and if you insist on it I
will efface your image； although I should much regret to do so。〃
〃I protest against that；〃 cried Mr。 Eltinge。 〃So far from spoiling
the picture； your being there makes it invaluable to me。 I'm going
to tax Mr。 Van Berg's generosity； and ask for this in the hope that
he will make another drawing of the old man and the tree only； for
you。〃
〃Would you like to have it so very much？〃 said Ida； much pleased
with this arrangement。
〃Yes； my dear； very much indeed； and I'll place it near my favorite
chimney corner； where I can see you all winter。 Mr。 Van Berg；
I congratulate you； I'm not much of a judge of art； but this is
my little friend here； true to life。 You have been very happy in
catching the expression which I am learning to know so well。〃
〃Your words have a fuller meaning than you think；〃 replied the
artist； heartily。 〃I have indeed been very happy in my work。 I
never enjoyed a morning more in my life。〃
〃But I'm to go home without any picture；〃 said Ida； trying to hide
her pleasure by assumed reproachfulness。
〃There is no picture yet； for any one；〃 he answered； 〃this is only
a sketch from which I shall try to make two pictures that will
suggest a scene particularly attractive to one of my calling； to
say the least。〃
As he placed the sketch in his book； the work he had been engaged
on that morning when Ida met him by the roadside； dropped out； and
she saw herself leaning on the baluster rail of the staircase； with
her hand half extended as a token of forgiveness and reconciliation。
Her cheeks flushed instantly； but she was able to remark quietly：
〃I suppose that is the way you artists keep a memorandum of current
events。〃
He replied gravely； but with some answering color also： 〃Yes； Miss
Mayhew； when the current is deep and strong。〃
Van Berg felt himself happy in securing from Mr。 Eltinge an invitation
to come again。 As they were riding home； Ida remarked； shyly：
〃I did not know you could draw so well。〃
〃Nor did I either before。 That old garden is enchanted ground。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ida； 〃poor Eve was driven out of the Garden of Eden；
but I feel as if I had found my way into it。 I only wish I could
stay there；〃 and her sigh was long and deep。
〃Does the world outside seem very full of thorns and thistles？〃 he
asked； kindly。
After a moment she replied； simply and briefly； 〃Yes。〃
He looked at her sympathetically for a moment； and then said
earnestly：
〃Miss Ida； pardon me if I venture a prediction。 Wherever you dwell；
hereafter； all that is good and beautiful in life and character
which the garden typifies will begin to take the place of thorns
and thistles。〃
〃I hope so；〃 she faltered； 〃but that involves bleeding hands； Mr。
Van Berg。 I am not cast in heroic mould。 I am weak and wavering； and
as a proof I am dwelling on the very subject that I had forbidden。
I trust that you will be too manly to take advantage of my weakness
henceforth and will try to help me forget myself。〃
〃That may be a harder task than you think； but I will attempt
whatever you ask；〃 and from her pleased and interested expression
it would seem that during the next half hour he succeeded remarkably
well。 Suddenly； as if a happy thought had struck him； he said a
little abruptly：
〃I foresee that you and Miss Burton are destined to become great
friends。 You have not yet learned what a lovely character she
possesses and how broad and deep are her sympathies。〃
Ida's silence caused him to turn and look at her； and he saw that the
light and color had faded from her face； but she said； emphatically：
〃Miss Burton is even more admirable than you think her to be； if
that were possible。〃
〃I am pleased to hear one lady speak so strongly and generously of
another。 It is not usual。 I shall do my utmost to make you better
acquainted with each other； and in this pleasant task am sure I
shall render you a very great service。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I beg you will not；〃 she exclaimed； hastily； and he
saw with surprise that she appeared painfully embarrassed。
〃Pardon me； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； 〃I did not mean to be officious。〃
Ida saw no way of extricating herself save by promptly changing the
subject； and this she did； but she could not fail to observe that
her companion was hurt by her apparent unfriendliness towards one
on whom he believed he had bestowed the best a man could give。 The
remainder of the drive was not enjoyed by either of them as the
earlier part had been； and something like constraint tinged the
manner and words of both。
As they drove up to the hotel Stanton gave a low whistle of surprise；
but was in no mood for his old…time banter。
Chapter XLV。 Problems Beyond Art。
When Van Berg left the garden he thought he had learned to understand
Ida almost as clearly as he saw the pebbly bed of the little brook
through the limpid current that flowed over it； and yet within a
brief half…hour another baffling mystery had arisen。 Why did she
dislike Jennie Burton？ Why she HAD disliked her was plain； but it
seemed to follow inevitably that one who could love old Mr。 Eltinge
must also find a congenial friend in the woman he so greatly admired。
As the remainder of the day passed； this new cloud darkened and
seemed to shadow even himself。 While he could detect no flaw in
her courtesy； he could not help feeling that she made a conscious
effort to avoid them both。 At dinner she conversed chiefly with
her cousin。 Van Berg's eyes would wander often to her face； but
she never looked towards him unless he spoke to her。 When he or
Miss Burton addressed her there was not a trace of coldness in her
manner of responding； a superficial observer would merely think
they were people in whom she was not especially interested。
〃Poor child；〃 thought Jennie Burton； 〃she acts her part well；〃 and
she puzzled the artist still further by taking less notice of Ida
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