"You treat me better than I did you," said Miss Burton, smilingly,
and ignoring an implied satire which Ida had not intended. "I did
not give you any of my roses."
Ida shot a side glance at the artist which said to him plainly:
"But Mr. Van Berg did," and he flushed deeply.
Then she selected a superb pear, and after looking at it keenly a
moment, handed it to him with the low words:
"I think you will find that no worm has been in that."
He took it with evident embarrassment and was about to speak eagerly,
but she passed quickly in, and went to her room.
"I am justly punished," said Van Berg frankly. "Miss Burton, please
let me explain her allusion."
"I would rather you would not," she replied promptly, "for Miss
Mayhew made it in a low tone, showing that she intended it for your
ear only."
"Well, then I must content myself by saying that standing near this
spot, not long since, I acted like a fool."
"It's an excellent sign of wisdom, Mr. Van Berg," she said laughingly,
"that you have discovered the fact. The only fools to be despaired
of are those who never find themselves out."
"Did you ever do a very foolish thing, Miss Jennie?"
"It would be a very foolish thing for me to listen to any more of
such monstrous flattery.
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