My heart was aching
to see how pale you were becoming, but here---"
"Mr. Van Berg," said Ida, abruptly, "will you pardon a suggestion?"
He looked up at her again a little wonderingly and bowed.
"There has been a sort of necessity," she resumed, "that my faulty
self should be the theme of our conversation to-day, but all the
mystery in which you imagined me enveloped must have vanished since
you came here. I now must ask that we dwell hereafter on more
agreeable subjects than Ida Mayhew."
"I must bring this tendency to personal allusions to an end at once,"
she thought, "or else I shall betray myself to my bitter mortification."
He looked up with a deprecating smile, "I am at your mercy," he
replied, "and as I said before I will submit to any conditions."
"This is an easy one," said Ida, with emphasis, and then she took
up the Bible and began reading to Mr. Eltinge, who from his seat
under the pear-tree had been watching them with a pleased and
placid interest on his serene old face. Their young life appeared
beautiful now, and full of hope and promise, but he did not envy
it. The prospect before him was better than the best that earth
could offer.
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