a face illumined-第58章
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received his warm gratitude。 She leaned wearily back in her chair；
and for a moment closed her eyes。 There was far more resignation
than of pleasure in her face； and she had the air of one submitting
to a fate which one could not and ought not to resist。
〃Your three lives are much happier then？〃 she said； gently； as if
wishing to hear the reassuring truth again。
〃You do not realize your service to us；〃 said Mr。 Musgrave； eagerly。
〃Our lives were not happy at all。 There seemed nothing before us
but increasing pain。 You have not added to a happiness already
existing merely； but have caused us to exchange positive suffering
for happiness。 Emily seems to have learned the art of making every
day of our lives a blessing； and she says you taught her how。 I
would go around the world to say to you； 'God bless you for it！'〃
〃Such assurances ought to make one resigned； if not content；〃
she murmured in a low tone； as if half speaking to herself。 Then
rising； by an evident effort； she cordially gave her hand to Mr。
Musgrave； and said：
〃You see； sir； that I am scarcely myself to…night。 I think I could
give you a better impression of your daughter's friend to…morrow。
Give her my sincere love and congratulations。 She is evidently
bearing her burden better than I mine。 You cannot know how much
good your words have done me to…night。 I needed them； and they
will help me for years to come。〃
The gentleman's eyes grew moist again； and he said； huskily：
〃I know you are rather alone in the world； but if it should ever
happen that there is anything that I could do for you were I your
father； call on John Musgrave。 There； I cannot trust myself to
speak to you any more； though I have so much to say。 Good…night；
and good…by；〃 and he made a very precipitate retreat； thoroughly
overcome by his warm Southern heart。
〃I dread to leave you looking so sad and ill； or else I would say
good…night also；〃 said Van Berg。
She started as if she had half forgotten his presence； and kept
her face averted as she replied：
〃I will say good…night to you； Mr。 Van Berg。 I would prove poor
company this evening。〃
〃Before you go I wish to thank you for letting me stay；〃 he said；
hastily。 〃As Mr。 Musgrave asserted； you would indeed never have
told me what I have heard； and yet I would not have missed hearing
it for more than you will believe。 How many lives have you blessed；
Jennie Burton？〃
〃Not very many； I fear； but I half wish I knew。 Each one would be
like an argument。〃
〃Arguments that should prove that you ought to let the dead past
bury its dead； and live in the richer present；〃 he said； earnestly。
〃The richer present！〃 she repeated slowly； and her face grew almost
stern in its reproach。
〃Forgive mein the present you so enrich； then；〃 he said； eagerly。
Again she averted her face； and he saw that for some reason she
wished to avoid his eyes。
〃I am too weak and unnerved to do more than say good…night again；〃
she said； trying to smile。 〃You are fast learning that if you
would be my friend you must be a patient and generous one。〃
〃Thank heaven I came to the Lake House！〃 ejaculated the artist as
he strolled out into the star…light。 Thank heaven for this mingling
mystery and crystal purity。 It does me good to trust her。 There
is a deep and abiding joy in the very generosity she inspires。 I
am learning the spell under which Emily Musgrave came。 But how
strange it all is！ She expected some one to…night； whom she would
have welcomed as she never will me。 〃The only rival I have to fear
may not be dead； as I supposed； and yet my perverse heart is more
full of pity for her than jealousy。 I had no idea that I was capable
of such self…abnegation。 Has she the art of spiritual alchemy；
and so can transmute natures full of alloy into fine gold？〃
Van Berg was an acute observer； and had large acquaintance with
the world in which he lived； and its inhabitants。 He was in the
main； however； an unknown quantity to himself。
Chapter XXXIV。 Puzzled。
Tuesday was dreary enough to more than one at the Lake House。
Clouds covered the sky； yet they gave little promise of the rain
which the thirsty earth so needed。 To Ida； as she looked out late
in the morning； they seemed like a leaden wall around her； shutting
off all avenues of escape。
Her mother joined her as she went down to a cold and dismal breakfast；
long after all the other guests had left the dining…room； and she
commenced fretting and fuming； as was her custom when the world
did not arrange itself to suit her mood。
〃Everything is on the bias to…day；〃 she said； 〃and you most of all
from your appearance。 I wish I could see things straightened out
for once。 The little school…ma'am； who turns everybody's head； is
sick in her room； and did not come down to breakfast。 Therefore
we had a Quaker meeting。 If you had been present with your long
face； the occasion would have been one of oppressive solemnity。 Ik
appeared as dejected as if he were to be executed before dinner；
and scarcely ate a mouthful； I never saw a fellow so changed in all
my life。 Although your artist friend had a rapt； absorbed look；
he was still able to absorb a good deal of steak and coffee。 I
saw him and Miss Burton emerge from a private parlor last night；
and he probably understands Miss Burton's malady better than the
rest of us。 Whywhat's the matter？ Would to heaven I understood
your malady better！ Are you sick？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ida； rising abruptly from the table； 〃I am sicksick
of myself； sick of the world。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Mayhew； sharply； 〃are you so wrapt
up in that fellow Sibley； that you can't live without him？〃
Ida made a slight but expressive gesture of protest and disgust；
then said； in a low tone； as if to herself： 〃If my own mother so
misjudges me； what can I expect of others？〃
Mrs。 Mayhew followed her daughter to her room with a perplexed and
worried look。
〃Ida；〃 she began； 〃you are all out of sorts； you are bilious； you've
got this horrid malaria； that the doctors are always talking about；
in your system。 Let me send for our city physician； Doctor Betts。
Never was such a man at diagnosis。 He seems to look right inside
of one and see everything that's going on wrong。〃
〃For heaven's sake don't send for him then！〃 exclaimed Ida。
Mrs。 Mayhew looked askance at her daughter a moment； and then asked
bluntly：
〃Why？ What's going on wrong in you？〃
〃I do not know of anything that's going on right；to use your own
phraseology。〃
〃You mean to say； then； that there is something wrong？〃
〃You intimated at the breakfast…table that everything was going
wrong。 So it has seemed to me； for some time。 But come； mother；
drugs can't reach my trouble； and so you can't help me。 You must
leave me to myself。〃
〃I think you might tell your own mother what is the matter；〃 whined
Mrs。 Mayhew。
〃I think I might also；〃 said Ida； coldly。 〃It is not my fault but
my great misfortune that I cannot。〃
At this Mrs。 Mayhew whimpered： 〃You are very cruel to talk to me
in that way。〃
〃I suppose I'm everything that's bad；〃 Ida answered recklessly。
〃That seems to be the general verdict。 Perhaps it would be best
for you all were I out of the way。 I can scarcely remember when
I have had a friendly look from any one。 Things could not be much
worse with me than they are now。 I think I would like a change；
and may have a very decided one。〃 Then seizing her hat； she left
her mother to herself。
Mrs。 Mayhew sank into a chair； and a heavy frown gathered on her
brow as she thought deeply for a few moments。
〃That girl means mischief；〃 she muttered。 〃I wonder if she is
holding any communication with Sibley？ I always thought Ida would
take care of herself； but she'll bear watching now。 She has
