Butthemaidenherself——whydidhiseyesturnsooftentoher,andwhydidhe,unasked,introduceherintothesketchwithacareandlingeringdelicacyoftouchthatmadeevenherpencilledimageseemalivinggirl?Whennotaffectedorrenderedconventionalbysociety,hervoicewassingularlygirlishandnatural,andtherewouldoftenbeatoneinaplaintiveandminorkeythatvibratedlikealow,sweetchordinhisheartratherthaninhisears.Itmustbeadmittedthathegavelittleheedtothesacredwordssheread;buttheflexiblemusicofhervoice,mingledwiththemurmurofthebrook,therustleoftheleavesandtheoccasionalsongofabird,allcombinedtoformthesweetestsymphonyhehadeverheard.
Asanartistheexulted.Hishandhadnotlostitscunning,andhisrulingpassion,whichthestrangeexperiencesofthepastfewweekshadheldinabeyance,wasreassertingitselfwithafuller,richerpowerthanhehadknownbefore.ThatWASIdaMayhew\'sfacethatwasgrowingbeautifulandfullofhernewandbetterlifeunderhisappreciativeandskilfultouch,andtheconsciousnessofsuccessinthekindofeffortinwhichsuccessmeanttohimsomuch,filledhimwithastrongenthusiasm.
OnceortwiceIdaglancedshylyathim,andhisappearancedidnottendtofixherthoughtswhollyonthesacredtext.
AtlastMr.Eltingesaid:\"Thatwilldoforto-day.Ithink,underthecircumstances,youhavegivenmostpraiseworthyattentiontowhatyouhaveread,andtowhatlittleIcouldsayinthewayofexplanation.Nowforthepicture,andIconfessI\'maseagerasachildtoseeit;\"andtheycameandlookedoverVanBerg\'sshoulder.
AlmostinstantlyIdaclappedherhands,exclaimingwithdelight: