While Ida's manner at the breakfast-table was quiet and self-possessed,she still maintained the same distant bearing which had been characteristic the evening before.It was evident to Van Berg,however,that pride,wounded vanity,and resentment were no longer the motives for the seclusion in which she sought to remain,even while under the eyes of others.It was the natural shrinking of one who would hide weakness,trouble,and imperfection.It was the bearing of one who had been deeply humiliated,and who was conscious of a partial estrangement towards those having a knowledge of this humiliation.Thus far he could understand her;and in the proportion she was depressed and withdrew from social recognition and encouragement,his sympathy and respect were drawn out towards her.
"She is not trivial and superficial,as I supposed,"he thought twenty times that morning."There is not a sudden calm after the storm that has been raging,as would be the case were she in character like a shallow pool.Her manner now proves daily the largeness of the nature that has been so deeply moved,and which,like the agitated sea,regains its peace but slowly;"and the sagacious Van Berg,whose imagination was not under very good control began to react into the other extreme,and query whether Ida Mayhew's moral nature,now that it was aroused,was not her chief characteristic.
Meanwhile,the subject of his many-colored speculations had driven away in the low basket phaeton,having first explained briefly to her mother that she intended to spend the morning again with the two old people she had visited the previous day.
Stanton volunteered this amount of information to his friend,and there was much surmise and curiosity in their minds in regard to these "old people,"and her motive in seeking them.But even Mrs.
Mayhew had begun to realize that they must take Ida at her word and leave her to herself.
It was with something even more than hopefulness that Ida drew near to the garden again.She was alive;that fact,in contrast with what might have been,was like solid ground beneath her feet.Then,again,in the place of the cold,distant manner of the guests,after the departure of Sibley,she had already noticed friendly glances and an evident disposition to make amends.It also gave her not a little satisfaction that her cousin and the artist were experiencing such sincere compunctions,and were realizing the enormity of their offence.Ida was very human,and always would be.She was also a little elated over the fact that she had been able to tell the truth the evening before.The memory,however,that nestled most warmly in her heart was the assertion of Van Berg,"I NEED your forgiveness.""How much does that mean?"she asked herself again and again."Does he really wish to be a friend,or is he only trying to smooth over matters and calm me down so he can leave me decorously,as after our hateful episode on the stage?"Her wishes colored her thoughts."He spoke too earnestly to mean so little,"she said to herself,with a dreamy smile that Van Berg,as an artist merely,would have given much to see.
After all,perhaps one of the chief causes of her reviving spirits was in the fact she was young.She could not take a very sombre view of life that fresh summer morning,even in view of the past and the future,and her manner of greeting Mr.Eltinge and of telling her experiences since they parted suggested to him that she was gaining in self-complacency,earthly hope,and youthful spirits,rather than in the deep and lasting peace and moral strength which is built up from the Living Rock.She was finding relief from depression and suffering from causes as transient as they were superficial.Chief of all,she had not realized as he had supposed the shadow of the awful crime that was resting upon her,and the need of God's forgiveness.Almost unconsciously the old man,wise and experienced in spiritual life,sighed deeply as she finished her story.
Her quick ear caught the sigh,and her woman's intuition gathered from his face that the outlook did not seem so encouraging to him.
Her heart began to sink,and she said earnestly:
"Mr.Eltinge,I've tried to be true;I want you to be faithful to me.Don't hide anything from me."Yes,my child,"he replied gravely,"you are sincere--you hide nothing.I think I understand you.I thank God he gave you strength last night to tell the truth under very trying circumstances,and you have greatly increased my respect for you that you did so.But,to use a little figurative language,if I were your doctor I might tell you that you don't realize how sick you are and have been.
There have been some encouraging symptoms and circumstances,and your spirits and hope are reviving,and you are looking to these things rather than to him who taketh away the sin of the world.Itried to encourage you yesterday,my child,because I saw you were deeply depressed;and to discourage us is one of the chief aims of the Evil One.I do not wish to discourage you to-day--far from it--but I wish to realize that only the forgiveness and healing touch of the Son of God are equal to your need.
"My child,"he continued,with a solemnity that made her grow very pale,"suppose I should take you to a room in the house there,show you a fair girl with eyes that should look for her duty in life closed forever,and the hands that should faithfully and bravely do it paralyzed in death.Suppose I should tell you that I had given her a poisonous drug the night before,what would I be?""A murderer,"whispered the girl with eyes dilated with fear and horror.