Mr.Eltinge received the young man with some surprise,and did not seem to regard his presence as altogether welcome.The artist thought to disarm the old gentleman by a decided manifestation of frankness and courtesy:
"I feel that in a certain sense I am an intruder in your beautiful garden to-day.Miss Mayhew met me on the road,and I fear I must own that I had the bad grace almost the same as to invite myself hither.At least she saw that I was exceedingly anxious to come.""Do you know Miss Mayhew's motive in coming hither?"asked Mr.
Eltinge,gravely.
"I do,and I respect it."
"You take safe ground there,sir,"said Mr.Eltinge,with increasing dignity."Christianity is at least respectable.But do you believe it to be absolutely true and binding on the conscience?"The artist was silent.
"Mr.Van Berg,"resumed the old gentleman,with a gravity that tended even towards sternness,"I would not fail in any act of courtesy towards you,especially her at my own home;but justice,mercy,and truth are above all other considerations.Both you and I know this child's history sufficiently well to be aware that it is a dangerous thing to exert an influence at random on human lives.You say you know her motive in coming hither.Let me state the truth very plainly:she has turned her face heavenward;she is taking her first uncertain steps as a pilgrim towards the better home.In justice to you and in mercy to you both let me quote the words of him before whom we all shall stand;"and placing his hand on Ida's shoulder he repeated with the aspect of one of God's ancient prophets those solemn words that too many dare to ignore:"'Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.'Mr.Van Berg,in memory of the past,beware lest consciously or even unconsciously,through your indifference to her faith,you lay a straw in this child's way.
The weak and the helpless are very near to the heart of God,and the most dangerous act a man ever commits is when he causes one of these little ones to offend."Ida trembled beneath her friend's hand and wished she had not permitted the artist to come,but the young man's sincerity and good-breeding enabled him to pass the ordeal.Removing his hat,he replied to Mr.Eltinge with a fine blending of dignity and humility:
"I honor you,sir,"he said,"for your faithfulness to the one who has come to you for counsel and in a certain sense for protection;and I condemn myself with bitterness that you will never understand,that I wronged her in my thoughts and wounded her by any manner.Iam eager to make any and every atonement in my power.No language can express my gladness that she heard and heeded your words.
Pardon me,sir,when I say I am not indifferent to her faith.It is,indeed,a mystery to me,but a noble mystery which I revere from the fruits that I have already witnessed.In my unpardonable stupidity and prejudice--in a Pharisaic pride--I have caused Miss Mayhew to offend.She has generously forgiven me.Myself I shall never forgive.If she will honor me with her friendship hereafter,I pledge you my word that no act of mine,so far as I can help it,shall ever cause you anxiety for one in whom you have so strong and natural an interest."Mr.Eltinge's manner changed decidedly,and when Van Berg concluded he extended his hand and said cordially:
"After such manly,straightforward words I can give you the right hand of respect and confidence,if not of fellowship.To tell you the truth,sir,I was inclined to believe that my little friend here had a better opinion of you than you deserved,but now I can welcome you instead of scolding her for bringing you."At the reference to herself Ida,seemingly,had an impulse to pluck a flower that was blooming at a little distance.The moment he was unobserved Van Berg seized the old gentleman's hand and said,earnestly,while tears sprang to his eyes:
"God bless you for the words you spoke to that poor child.I owe you more than she does.You have saved me from a life that I would dread more than death,"and then he,too,turned away hastily and pretended to be very busy in finding the materials for his sketch.
Ida returned shyly,and it would seem that some of the color of her flower had found its way into her cheeks.
"Mr.Eltinge,"she said,hesitatingly,"I don't believe I can make you understand how much I would like a picture of this pear-tree and yourself sitting under it as I have seen you for the past two days.I must admit that the wish to have such a sketch was one of the motives that led me to bring Mr.Van Berg."Then she added,with deepening color still,"my conscience troubles me when I hear Mr.Van Berg condemn himself so harshly.I have learned that Imisjudged him as truly as he did me,and I have since realized how sadly both facts and appearances were against me.""Well,Miss Ida,"said the old gentleman,musingly,"I am inclined to think there has been more of misunderstanding than of intentional and deliberate harshness.My long life has taught me that it is astonishing how blind we often are to the thoughts and feelings of others.But I warn everybody to be careful how they visit this old garden,for it's a wonderful place for bringing out the truth.
Nature is in the ascendant here,"and he looked keenly and humorously at the artist,who remained,however,unconscious of his scrutiny,for his eyes were following Ida.She had suddenly turned her back upon them both again,and was soon bending over the little brook whose murmur he faintly heard.