"
"I shall, anyway. How long ago it seems since we took that stupid
walk together on Mr. Burleigh's piazza! We are nearer together
now, Miss Ida, than we were then."
"Oh! no, indeed," she replied quickly; "I had your arm on that
occasion."
"But you have my sincere friendship and respect now. I can't tell
you how pleased I was when I saw how you had honored the little
emblematic flower I gave you this morning. That you wear it
to-night as your only ornament gives me hope that you do value my
respect and regard."
"I think I had better let the rose-bud answer you, and I confess
I like to think how perfect it is when I remember the meaning you
gave to it, though how you can respect me at all I cannot understand.
Still, I am like father--next to God's favor the respect of those
I esteem does most to sustain and reassure me. But, oh! Mr. Van
Berg, you can't know what an honest sense of ill-desert I have. It
is so hard just to do right, no matter what the consequences may
be."
"The trouble with me is that I am not trying as you are. But I
know, with absolute certainty, that the strongest impulse of true
friendship, or at least of mine, in this instance, is to render
some service to my friend.
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