a face illumined-第83部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
forget the one with the other。 I must admit that this impression
was greatly strengthened by the expression of your face； and I
almost decided to leave the place without speaking to you。 But I
found I could not； andwell； you know I did not。 You see I'm at
your mercy again。〃
Ida was greatly relieved； for she now learned that he had discovered
nothing in his favor； and that she was still mistress of the
situation。
〃I do not think you are very penitent； I fear you would do the same
thing over again；〃 she said。
〃Indeed； Miss Mayhew； when I first met you here I thought I would
always do the right and proper thing； and I fear I thought some
things right because I did them。 I've lived a hundred years since
that time； and am beginning to find myself out。 Didn't you think me
the veriest prig that ever smiled in a superior way at the world？〃
〃I don't think I shall give you my opinion；〃 she replied； averting
her face to hide a blush and a laugh。
〃No need。 I saw your opinion in your face when you looked down at
your programme half an hour since。〃
〃You are mistaken； I was thinking of myself at that moment； for I
could not help remembering what a fool I must have appeared to you
on that occasion。〃
He looked at her in surprise。 〃Miss Burton was right；〃 he ejaculated；
〃I never shall understand you。〃
〃Was she talking about me？〃 asked Ida； in a low tone。
〃Yes； and she spoke of you in the most complimentary way； as you
did of her。 Why the mischief you two ladies do not become the
warmest friends is beyond me。 Sit down here a little while； Miss
Mayhew； for you are growing tired；〃 and she was very glad to comply。
As she made no effort to continue the conversation he resumed； 〃You
haven't told me what my punishment is to be。〃
〃Are you so anxious to be punished？〃 she asked； looking up shyly
at him。
〃Well； my conscience troubles me greatly； and I feel I ought to do
something for you in the way of expiation。〃
〃And so I gather that anything done for me would be such severe
penance that your conscience would be appeased。〃
〃Now； Miss Mayhew；〃 he replied； looking earnestly into her face；
〃tell me truly； do you gather any such impression from my words
and manner？〃
But she kept her eyes resolutely on the ground； and said demurely；
〃Such was the obvious meaning of your words。〃
〃Do you know why I am in the city？〃 he asked after a moment。
〃I have not presumed to think why。〃
〃Perhaps I can make a little inroad in your indifference when I
tell you that I have spent several hours in my studio working on
your picture； and that I intend to work the remainder of the week
so as to have it ready for you Saturday evening。〃
She looked up now with a face radiant with surprise and pleasure；
〃O Mr。 Van Berg； I did not dream of your taking so much trouble
for me。〃
〃That's a small payment on an old debt。 What can I do for you
while I am in the city； to atone for my rudeness？〃
She looked at him hesitatingly and wistfully a moment。
〃I know you wish something； but fear to ask it；〃 he said； gently；
〃and I'm sorry to remember I've done so little to inspire your
confidence。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said in a low tone； looking earnestly at him
while she spoke； so as to learn from his expression how he received
her request。 〃Your kindness does tempt me to ask a favor。 Please
remember I'm acting from an impulse caused by this unexpected talk
we are having； and pardon me if I overstep the bounds of reserve
or suggest a task that you might very naturally shrink from as
disagreeable。〃
〃I pledge you my word at once to do what you wish。〃
〃No； don't do that。 Wait till you hear all。 If when it comes easily
and naturally in your way you will do a little towards helping me
keep father the man he can be； my gratitude will be deeper than you
can understand。 I am studying him very carefully and I find that
any encouraging recognition from those who have known his past； has
great weight with him。 At the same time it must be very unobtrusive
and come as a matter of course as it were。 You gave him your society
one Sunday morning last June in a way that did him a great deal
of good； and if I had only seconded your efforts then； everything
might have been different。 I can never remember that day without
a blush of shame。 I can't help the past； but my whole soul is now
bent on making amends to father。 I fear； however； my deep solicitude
has led me to ask more than good taste can sanction。〃
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 said the artist； eagerly； 〃this is one of the best
moments of my life。 You could not have made such a request unless
you trusted me； unless you had fully forgiven me all the wrong I
have done you。 I doubted if I could ever win your friendship； but
I think I can claim a friend's place already in your esteem； since
you are willing to let me share in so sacred a duty。 I renew my
pledge with double emphasis。〃
He never forgot the smile with which she rewarded him； as she said；
in a low tone； 〃That's better than I thought。 You are very kind
to me。 But I'm staying too long from father。〃
〃We'll understand each other eventually；〃 he said gently。 〃Now I
know why tears were in your eyes before the symphony was over。〃
〃No you don't；〃 she whispered to herself。
As they took their seats by Mr。 Mayhew he remarked with a smile；
〃Mr。 Van Berg must have had a long budget of news frm your good
old friend。〃
Ida looked at the artist in dismay； and was still more embarrassed
as she saw a sudden flash of mirth and exultation in his eyes。 But
he turned to Mr。 Mayhew and replied； promptly； 〃Two pictures are
growing out of my visits to Mr。 Eltinge and his garden。 The one
that is for Mr。 Eltinge contains a portrait of Miss Mayhew as I
saw her reading to him。 I wish you and your daughter would visit
my studio to…morrow and see the sketches； and if Miss Mayhew would
give me one or two sittings； I could make a much better picture for
Mr。 Eltinge than now is possible； and I'm anxious to do the very
best I can for him。〃
〃I would be very glad to come；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew； and his pleased
expression confirmed his words。 〃Will a visit before I go down
town be too early？〃
〃Not at all。 I am always at work early。〃
〃Well； Ida； does Mr。 Eltinge miss your visits very much？ It's
selfish in me to let you stay in the city。〃
〃He does indeed； sir；〃 said the artist answering for her。 〃He
talked to me continually about her yesterday； although I can't say
I tried to change the subject。〃
〃Father； Mr。 Van Berg shall not shield my short…comings；〃 said Ida；
with crimson cheeks。 〃I forgot to ask about Mr。 Eltinge。 To tell
the truth； we were talking of old times。 I met Mr。 Van Berg here
last June and I made a very bad impression on him。〃
〃And I at the same time made a worse impression on Miss Mayhew；〃
added the artist。
〃Well；〃 said her father； with a doubtful smile and a puzzled glace
from one to the other； 〃one almost might be tempted to believe that
you had been revising your impressions。〃
〃Mine has not been revised； but changed altogether；〃 said Van Berg；
decisively。
〃Come； father； let us go at once lest Mr。 Van Berg's impressions
change again；〃 and her mirthful glance as she gave him her hand
in parting revealed a new element in her character。 She was not
developing the cloying sweetness of honey。
Chapter XLVIII。 Ida's Temptation。
If Van Berg had given thought to himself that evening as he did to
Ida Mayhew he might have discovered some rather odd phenomena in
his varying mental states。 Earlier in the summer he had been a
very deliberate and conscientious wooer。 He had leisurely taken
counsel of his reason； judgment； and good taste； he mentally
consulted his parents； and satisfied himself that Miss Burton would
have peculiar charms for them； and so it had come to seem almost
a duty as well as a privilege to seek that young lady's hand。 The
sagacity and nice appreciation of character on which he had so
greatly prided himself led to the belief that fortune in giving him
a chance to win such a maiden had been very kind。 That his pulse
was so even and his heart had so little to say in the matter was
only a proof that he did not possess an unbalanced head…long nature
like that of Stanton； who had soon become wholly mastered by his
passion。 He had at one time reasoned it all out to his satisfaction；
and believed he was paying his suit to the woman he would make his
wife in an eminently proper way。 but now that he was merely trying
to obtain a young girl's friendship； the cool and masterful poise
which he had then been able to maintain； was apparently deserting
him。 He might have asked himself if he ever remembered being
such an enthusiastic friend before。 He might have considered how
often he had
