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He had expected with instinctive certainty that she would now be drawn
towards the woman he hoped to make his wife； and that friendships
would be cemented that would last through life。
But in suggesting this hope and expectation to Ida it had been as
if a cloud had suddenly passed before the sun； and now the whole
sky was darkening。 Jennie Burton seemed more shadowy and remote
than evermore wrapped up in a past in which she had no part； and
the maiden into whose very soul he thought he had looked became
inscrutable again in the distant courtesy of her manner。 Even
during the brief hour of dinner he was led to feel that he had no
inevitable place in the thoughts of either of the ladies； and this
impression was increased as he sought their society later in the
day。
Moreover； in his changed mood he again began to chafe irritably at
Ida's associations。 She herself had been thoroughly redeemed in
an artistic point of view； and it was his nature to look at things
in this light。 While he shuddered at her terrible purpose he
recognized the high； strong spirit which in it perversion and wrong
had rendered the deed possible； and her dark design made a grand
and sombre background against which the maiden he had sketched that
morning was all the more luminous。 Hitherto everything connected
with her change of character had been not only conventional； but
had appealed to his aesthetic temperament as singularly beautiful。
The quaint garden with its flowers； brook； and allegorical tree
were associations that harmonized with Ida's loveliness； while
Mr。 Eltinge； who had rendered such an immeasurable service to them
both； realized his best ideal of dignified and venerable age。
But when he compared her spiritual father with the man she expected
that night； he found his whole nature becoming full of irritable
protest and dissatisfaction。
〃This morning；〃 he muttered； 〃she appeared capable of realizing a
poet's dreams； but already I see the hard and prosaic conditions
of her lot dwarfing her growth and throwing their grotesque shadows
across her beauty。 What can she do while inseparable from such
a father and mother？ The more unlike them she becomes the more
hideous they will appear。 Mrs。 Mayhew is essentially lacking
in womanly delicacy； and mere coarseness is more tolerable than
fashionable； veneered vulgarity。 Mr。 Mayhew is a spiritless wretch
whose only protest against his wife's overbearance and indifference
has been intoxication。 Linked on either side to so much deformity；
what chance has the daughter unless she escapes from them and
develops a separate life？ But are not the ties of nature too close
to permit such escape； and would it not be wrong to seek it？ It
certainly would not be Christian； and I am confident Mr。 Eltinge
would not advise it。 Her lot is indeed a cruel one。 No wonder she
clings to Mr。 Eltinge and the garden； and that the outside world
seems full of thorns and thistles。 Well； I pity her from the depths
of my heart； and cannot see how she will solve the harsh problem
of her life。 I imagine she will soon become discouraged and seek
by marriage to obliterate her present ties as far as possible。〃
Having reached this unsatisfactory conclusion he threw his sketch
impatiently aside and went down to the piazza。 Ida and her mother
were already there； for it was about time for arrivals from the
earlier train。 Van Berg felt almost sure that Ida must have been
aware that he was standing near her； but she exhibited no consciousness
of his presence。 When a little later they met in promenade she
bowed politely but absently； and in a way that would lead any who
were observing them to think that he was not in her thoughts。 So
he was led to believe himself； but Miss Burton； who was reading in
one of the parlor windows； smiled and whispered to herself； 〃Well
done。〃
Ida was in hopes that her father would take the first opportunity
of reaching the Lake House； and she was not disappointed。 The telegram
had flashed into his leaden…hued life that day like a meteor。 Did
it portend good or evil？ Evil only； he feared； for it seemed to
him that evil would ever be his portion。 It was therefore with a
vague sense of apprehension that he looked forward to meeting his
wife and daughter。
As he emerged from the stage with the others he found Ida half…way
down the steps to greet him。
〃I'm so glad you've come！〃 she said in a low earnest voice； and
she kissed him； not in the old formal way； as if it were the only
proper thing to do； but as a daughter greeting her father。 Then；
before he could recover from his surprise； his light travelling
bag was taken from him and the young girl's arm linked lovingly in
his； and he led to Mrs。 Mayhew； who also kissed him； but in a way；
it must be admitted； that suggested a duty rather than a pleasure。
Her husband scarcely gave to her a glance； however； but kept his
eyes fixed on his daughter。
〃Ida is bewitched；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew。
〃And I hope you will find me bewitching； father； for I want as
much of your society as you will give me during this visit。〃 She
tried to speak playfully and naturally； but tears were gathering in
her eyes； for his expression of perplexity was singularly pathetic
and full of the keenest reproach。 〃O God；〃 she murmured； 〃what have
I been that he should be speechless from surprise； when I merely
greet him as a daughter should！〃
Van Berg turned hastily away； for he felt that scenes were coming；
on which he had no right to look。 There was nothing yet to indicate
a wish on Ida's part to avoid inartistic associations； and deep in
his heart he was compelled to admit that she had never appeared so
supremely beautiful as when she looked love and welcome into the
eyes of the smirched and disheartened man to whom nature gave the
best right to claim these gifts。
〃Come with me； father；〃 said Ida； trying to give him a reassuring
smile； 〃and I will answer your scared and questioning glances in
your room；〃 and he went with her as if walking in a dream。
Tears now gathered in Jennie Burton's eyes； but she smiled again
as she thought； 〃Better done still； Ida Mayhew； and Mr。 Van Berg；
who is stalking away so rapidly yonder； is not the man I think
him； if you have not now made your best and deepest impression on
his heart。〃
〃Ida；〃 her father faltered； after they had reached the privacy of
his room； 〃what does your telegram mean？ What is important？〃
〃YOU are to me。 O father； please； please forgive me；〃 and she put
her arms around his neck and burst into a passion of tears。
The bewildered man began to tremble。 〃Can itcan it be that my
daughter has a heart？〃 he muttered。
〃Yes； father； but it's broken because of my cruel treatment of you；
I now hope better days are coming for us all。〃
He held her away from him and looked into her face with a longing
intensity that suggested a soul perishing for th