'"
She blushed and smiled, but only said: "How blind you are, Mr. Van
Berg! Can't you perceive that nothing else does me so much good?
Now you see how selfish I am."
Ida saw him whisper, and noted the answering smile and blush. Was
it strange that so slight a thing should depress her more than all
the evils of the present world and the world to come?
Surely, since human hearts are what they are, a far-away God would
be like the sun of the tropics to the ice-bound at the poles.
Chapter XXVII. A Family Group.
The old adage, that "as the wine comes in the man steps out," was
not true of Sibley, for the man had stepped out permanently long
since. But not very much wine was required to overthrow the flimsy
barriers of self-restraint and courtesy that he tried to interpose
in his sober moments between his true self and society. Mr. Burleigh
frowned at him more than once during the dinner-hour, and was glad
to see him stroll off in the grounds with his boon companions.
Stanton followed the Mayhews to their rooms, for he wished to
remonstrate with Ida and Mrs. Mayhew in regard to their apparent
intimacy with the fellow.
"Ida," he said, "do you realized the force of your words to Mr.
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