But they won't have anything more to do with him; at
least, I'm sure my aunt won't. As for Ida--but the less said the
better. I'm so out of patience with her folly that I can't trust
myself to speak of her."
"Stanton," said Van Berg, gloomily, "you have no idea of the regret
and disquiet which that girl has caused me as an artist. I have
seen her features now for weeks, and I cannot help looking at them,
for they almost realize my idea of perfection. But the associations
of this beauty are beginning to irritate me beyond endurance."
"It was a motley crowd that I was the means of bringing to your
table," said Stanton, with an oath; "and I've no doubt you have
wished us all away many times."
Van Berg laid his hand on his friend's arm, and looked into his
eyes.
"Ik," he said slowly, "I was your friend when I came here--I am
your friend still. If I cannot love you better than I do myself,
you must forgive me. But I shall never take one unfair advantage
of you, and I recognize the fact that you have equal rights with
myself. Ik, let us be frank with each other this once more, and
then the future must settle all questions. The woman we both love
is too pure and good for either of us to do a mean thing to win her.
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