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seemed in themselves to be half a refutation of his doubts。
〃It was easy for me to give you daring advice； then； Ralph；〃 she said。
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〃Like most school… girls； I thought that life was a great and glorious thing；
and that happiness was a fruit which hung within reach of every hand。
Now I have lived for six years trying single…handed to relieve the want and
suffering of the needy people with whom I come in contact； and their
squalor and wretchedness have sickened me； and； what is still worse； I feel
that all I can do is as a drop in the ocean； and after all； amounts to nothing。
I know I am no longer the same reckless girl； who； with the very best
intention； sent you wandering through the wide world； and I thank God
that it proved to be for your good； although the whole now appears quite
incredible to me。 My thoughts have moved so long within the narrow
circle of these mountains that they have lost their youthful elasticity； and
can no more rise above them。〃
Ralph detected； in the midst of her despondency； a spark of her former
fire； and grew eloquent in his endeavors to persuade her that she was
unjust to herself； and that there was but a wider sphere of life needed to
develop all the latent powers of her rich nature。
At the dinner…table； her father again sat eyeing his guest with that same
cold look of distrust and suspicion。 And when the meal was at an end； he
rose abruptly and called his daughter into another room。 Presently Ralph
heard his angry voice resounding through the house； interrupted now and
then by a woman's sobs； and a subdued； passionate pleading。 When
Bertha again entered the room； her eyes were very red； and he saw that she
had been weeping。 She threw a shawl over her shoulders； beckoned to
him with her hand； and he arose and followed her。 She led the way
silently until they reached a thick copse of birch and alder near the strand。
She dropped down upon a bench between two trees； and he took his seat at
her side。
〃Ralph；〃 began she； with a visible effort； 〃I hardly know what to say to
you； but there is something which I must tell youmy father wishes you to
leave us at once。〃
〃And YOU； Bertha？〃
〃WellyesI wish it too。〃
She saw the painful shock which her words gave him； and she strove
hard to speak。 Her lips trembled； her eyes became suffused with tears；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
which grew and grew； but never fell； she could not utter a word。
〃Well； Bertha；〃 answered he； with a little quiver in his voice； 〃if you；
too； wish me to go； I shall not tarry。 Good…bye。〃
He rose quickly； and； with averted face； held out his hand to her； but as
she made no motion to grasp the hand； he began distractedly to button his
coat； and moved slowly away。
〃Ralph。〃
He turned sharply； and； before he knew it； she lay sobbing upon his
breast。
〃Ralph；〃 she murmured； while the tears almost choked her words； 〃I
could not have you leave me thus。 It is hard enoughit is hard enough〃
〃What is hard； beloved？〃
She raised her head abruptly； and turned upon him a gaze full of hope
and doubt； and sweet perplexity。
〃Ah； no； you do not love me；〃 she whispered； sadly。
〃Why should I come to seek you； after these many years； dearest； if I
did not wish to make you my wife before God and men？ Why should I
〃
〃Ah； yes； I know；〃 she interrupted him with a fresh fit of weeping；
〃you are too good and honest to wish to throw me away； now when you
have seen how my soul has hungered for the sight of you these many years；
how even now I cling to you with a despairing clutch。 But you cannot
disguise yourself； Ralph； and I saw from the first moment that you loved
me no more。〃
〃Do not be such an unreasonable child；〃 he remonstrated； feebly。 〃I
do not love you with the wild； irrational passion of former years； but I
have the tenderest regard for you； and my heart warms at the sight of your
sweet face； and I shall do all in my power to make you as happy as any
man can make you who〃
〃Who does not love me；〃 she finished。
A sudden shudder seemed to shake her whole frame； and she drew
herself more tightly up to him。
〃Ah； no；〃 she continued； after a while； sinking back upon her seat。
〃It is a hopeless thing to compel a reluctant heart。 I will accept no
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sacrifice from you。 You owe me nothing； for you have acted toward me
honestly and uprightly； and I shall be a stronger； orat least a better
woman for what you gave meand for what you could not give me； even
though you would。〃
〃But； Bertha；〃 exclaimed he； looking mournfully at her； 〃it is not true
when you say that I owe you nothing。 Six years ago； when first I wooed
you； you could not return my love； and you sent me out into the world； and
even refused to accept any pledge or promise for the future。〃
〃And you returned；〃 she responded； 〃a man； such as my hope had
pictured you； but； while I had almost been standing still； you had
outgrown me； and outgrown your old self； and； with your old self；
outgrown its love for me； for your love was not of your new self； but of
the old。 Alas！ it is a sad tale； but it is true。〃
She spoke gravely now； and with a steadier voice； but her eyes hung
upon his face with an eager look of expectation； as if yearning to detect
there some gleam of hope； some contradiction of the dismal truth。 He
read that look aright； and it pierced him like a sharp sword。 He made a
brave effort to respond to its appeal； but his features seemed hard as stone；
and he could only cry out against his destiny； and bewail his misfortune
and hers。
Toward evening； Ralph was sitting in an open boat； listening to the
measured oar…strokes of the boatmen who were rowing him out to the
nearest stopping…place of the steamer。 The mountains lifted their great
placid heads up among the sun…b