第3章
"Iwaslikethoseboysonce，"saidHarz。
Christianturnedtohimquickly。"Ah！thatwaswhyyoufelttheplay，somuch。"
"It’smycountryupthere。Iwasbornamongstthemountains。I
lookedafterthecows，andsleptinhay—cocks，andcutthetreesinwinter。Theyusedtocallmea’blacksheep，’a’loafer’inmyvillage。"
"Why？"
"Ah！why？Iworkedashardasanyofthem。ButIwantedtogetaway。DoyouthinkIcouldhavestayedthereallmylife？"
Christian’seyesgreweager。
"Ifpeopledon’tunderstandwhatitisyouwanttodo，theyalwayscallyoualoafer！"mutteredHarz。
"Butyoudidwhatyoumeanttodoinspiteofthem，"Christiansaid。
Forherselfitwassohardtofinishordecide。WhenintheolddaysshetoldGretastories，thelatter，whoseinstinctwasalwaysforthedefinite，wouldsay:"Andwhatcameattheend，Chris？Dofinishitthismorning！"butChristiannevercould。Herthoughtsweredeep，vague，dreamy，invadedbybothsidesofeveryquestion。Whatevershedid，herneedlework，herverse—making，herpainting，allhaditscharm;butitwasnotalwayswhatitwasintendedforatthebeginning。NicholasTreffryhadoncesaidofher:"WhenChrisstartsouttomakeahat，itmayturnoutanaltar—cloth，butyoumaybetitwon’tbeahat。"Itwasherinstincttolookforwhatthingsmeant;
andthistookmorethanallhertime。Sheknewherselfbetterthanmostgirlsofnineteen，butitwasherreasonthathadinformedher，notherfeelings。Inhershelteredlife，herhearthadneverbeenruffledexceptbyrarefitsofpassion——"tantrums"oldNicholasTreffrydubbedthem——atwhatseemedtohermeanorunjust。
"IfIwereaman，"shesaid，"andgoingtobegreat，Ishouldhavewantedtobeginattheverybottomasyoudid。"
"Yes，"saidHarzquickly，"oneshouldbeabletofeeleverything。"
Shedidnotnoticehowsimplyheassumedthathewasgoingtobegreat。Hewenton，asmiletwistinghismouthunpleasantlybeneathitsdarkmoustache"Notmanypeoplethinklikeyou！It’sacrimenottohavebeenbornagentleman。"
"That’sasneer，"saidChristian;"Ididn’tthinkyouwouldhavesneered！"
"Itistrue。Whatistheuseofpretendingthatitisn’t？"
"Itmaybetrue，butitisfinernottosayit！"
"ByHeavens！"saidHarz，strikingonehandintotheother，"ifmoretruthwerespokentherewouldnotbesomanyshams。"
Christianlookeddownathimfromherseatonthestile。
"Youarerightallthesame，FrauleinChristian，"headdedsuddenly;
"that’saverylittlebusiness。Workiswhatmatters，andtryingtoseethebeautyintheworld。"
Christian’sfacechanged。Sheunderstood，wellenough，thiscravingafterbeauty。Slippingdownfromthestile，shedrewaslowdeepbreath。
"Yes！"shesaid。Neitherspokeforsometime，thenHarzsaidshyly:
"IfyouandFrauleinGretawouldeverliketocomeandseemystudio，Ishouldbesohappy。Iwouldtryandcleanitupforyou！"
"Ishouldliketocome。Icouldlearnsomething。Iwanttolearn。"
Theywerebothsilenttillthepathjoinedtheroad。
"Wemustbeinfrontoftheothers;it’snicetobeinfront——let’sdawdle。Iforgot——youneverdawdle，HerrHarz。"
"Afterabigfitofwork，Icandawdleagainstanyone;thenIgetanotherfitofwork——it’slikeappetite。"
"I’malwaysdawdling，"answeredChristian。
Bytheroadsideapeasantwomanscreweduphersun—driedface，sayinginalowvoice:"Please，graciouslady，helpmetoliftthisbasket！"
Christianstooped，butbeforeshecouldraiseit，Harzhoistedituponhisback。
"Allright，"henodded;"thisgoodladydoesn’tmind。"
Thewoman，lookingverymuchashamed，walkedalongbyChristian;shekeptrubbingherbrownhandstogether，andsaying;"Graciouslady，I
wouldnothavewished。Itisheavy，butIwouldnothavewished。"
"I’msurehe’drathercarryit，"saidChristian。
Theyhadnotgonefaralongtheroad，however，beforetheotherspassedtheminacarriage，andatthestrangesightMissNaylorcouldbeseenpursingherlips;CousinTeresanoddingpleasantly;asmileonDawney’sface;andbesidehimGreta，verydemure。Harzbegantolaugh。
"Whatareyoulaughingat？"askedChristian。
"YouEnglisharesofunny。Youmustn’tdothishere，youmustn’tdothatthere，it’slikesittinginafieldofnettles。IfIweretowalkwithyouwithoutmycoat，thatlittleladywouldfalloffherseat。"HislaughinfectedChristian;theyreachedthestationfeelingthattheykneweachotherbetter。
Thesunhaddippedbehindthemountainswhenthelittletrainsteameddownthevalley。Allweresubdued，andGreta，withanoddinghead，sleptfitfully。Christian，inhercorner，waslookingoutofthewindow，andHarzkeptstudyingherprofile。
Hetriedtoseehereyes。Hehadremarkedindeedthat，whatevertheirexpression，thebrows，archedandratherwideapart，gavethemapeculiarlookofunderstanding。Hethoughtofhispicture。Therewasnothinginherfacetoseizeon，itwastoosympathetic，toomuchlikelight。Yetherchinwasfirm，almostobstinate。
Thetrainstoppedwithajerk;shelookedroundathim。Itwasasthoughshehadsaid:"Youaremyfriend。"
AtVillaRubein，HerrPaulhadkilledthefattedcalfforGreta’sFest。Whenthewholepartywereassembled，healoneremainedstanding;andwavinghisarmabovethecloth，cried:"Mydears！Yourhappiness！Therearegoodthingshere——Come！"Andwithaslylook，theairofaconjurerproducingrabbits，hewhippedthecoveroffthesouptureen:
"Soup—turtle，fat，greenfat！"Hesmackedhislips。
Noservantswereallowed，because，asGretasaidtoHarz:
"Itisthatwearetobegladthisevening。"
GenialityradiatedfromHerrPaul’scountenance，mellowasabowlofwine。Hetoastedeverybody，exhortingthemtopleasure。
HarzpassedacrackersecretlybehindGreta’shead，andMissNaylor，movedbyamysteriousimpulse，pulleditwithasortofgleefulhorror;itexploded，andGretasprangoffherchair。Scruff，seeingthis，appearedsuddenlyonthesideboardwithhisforelegsinaplateofsoup;withoutmovingthem，heturnedhishead，andappearedtoaccusethecompanyofhisfalseposition。Itwasthesignalforshrieksoflaughter。Scruffmadenoattempttofreehisforelegs;
butsniffedthesoup，andfindingthatnothinghappened，begantolapit。
"Takehimout！Oh！takehimout！"wailedGreta，"heshallbeill！"
"Allons！Moncher！"criedHerrPaul，"c’estmagnifique，mais，voussavez，cenestguerelaguerre！"Scruff，withawildspring，leapedpasthimtotheground。
"Ah！"criedMissNaylor，"thecarpet！"Freshmoansofmirthshookthetable;forhavingtastedthewineoflaughter，allwantedasmuchmoreastheycouldget。WhenScruffandhistraceswereeffaced，HerrPaultookaladleinhishand。
"Ihaveatoast，"hesaid，wavingitforsilence;"atoastwewilldrinkalltogetherfromourhearts;thetoastofmylittledaughter，whoto—dayhasthirteenyearsbecome;andthereisalsoinourhearts，"hecontinued，puttingdowntheladleandsuddenlybecominggrave，"thethoughtofonewhoisnottodaywithustoseethisjoyfuloccasion;toher，too，inthisourhappinessweturnourheartsandglassesbecauseitisherjoythatweshouldyetbejoyful。Idrinktomylittledaughter;mayGodhershadowbless！"
Allstoodup，clinkingtheirglasses，anddrank:then，inthehushthatfollowed，Greta，accordingtocustom，begantosingaGermancarol;attheendofthefourthlineshestopped，abashed。
HeirPaulblewhisnoseloudly，and，takingupacapthathadfallenfromacracker，putiton。
Everyonefollowedhisexample，MissNaylorattainingthedistinctionofapairofdonkey’sears，whichshewore，afteranotherglassofwine，withanairofsacrificingtothepublicgood。
Attheendofsuppercamethemomentfortheofferingofgifts。HerrPaulhadtiedahandkerchiefoverGreta’seyes，andonebyonetheybroughtherpresents。Greta，underforfeitofakiss，wasboundtotellthegiverbythefeelofthegift。Herswift，supplelittlehandsexplorednoiselessly;andineverycasesheguessedright。
Dawney’spresent，akitten，madeascenebyclawingatherhair。
"ThatisDr。Edmund’s，"shecriedatonce。ChristiansawthatHarzhaddisappeared，butsuddenlyhecamebackbreathless，andtookhisplaceattheendoftherankofgivers。
Advancingontiptoe，heputhispresentintoGreta’shands。ItwasasmallbronzecopyofaDonatellostatue。
"Oh，HerrHarz！"criedGreta;"Isawitinthestudiothatday。Itstoodonthetable，anditislovely。"
Mrs。Decie，thrustingherpaleeyesclosetoit，murmured:
"Charming！"
Mr。Treffrytookitinhisforgers。
"Rumlittletoad！Costapotofmoney，Iexpect！"HeeyedHarzdoubtfully。
Theywentintothenextroomnow，andHerrPaul，takingGreta’sbandage，transferredittohisowneyes。
"Takecare——takecare，all！"hecried;"Iamadevilofacatcher，"
and，feelingtheaircautiously，hemovedforwardlikeabearabouttohug。Hecaughtnoone。ChristianandGretawhiskedunderhisarmsandlefthimgraspingattheair。Mrs。Decieslippedpastwithastonishingagility。Mr。Treffry，smokinghiscigar，andbarricadedinacorner，jeered:"Bravo，Paul！Theactivebeggar！Can’therun！
Goit，Greta！"
AtlastHerrPaulcaughtCousinTeresa，who，fattenedagainstthewall，lostherhead，andstoodutteringtinyshrieks。
SuddenlyMrs。DeciestartedplayingTheBlueDanube。HerrPauldroppedthehandkerchief，twistedhismoustacheupfiercely，glaredroundtheroom，andseizingGretabythewaist，begandancingfuriously，bobbingupanddownlikeacorkinlumpywater。CousinTeresafollowedsuitwithMissNaylor，bothverysolemn，anddancingquitedifferentsteps。Harz，wentuptoChristian。
"Ican’tdance，"hesaid，"thatis，Ihaveonlydancedonce，but——ifyouwouldtrywithme！"
Sheputherhandonhisarm，andtheybegan。Shedanced，lightasafeather，eyesshining，feetflying，herbodybentalittleforward。
Itwasnotagreatsuccessatfirst，butassoonasthetimehadgotintoHarz’sfeet，theywentswingingonwhenalltheresthadstopped。Sometimesonecoupleoranotherslippedthroughthewindowtodanceontheveranda，andcamewhirlinginagain。Thelamplightglowedonthegirls’whitedresses;onHerrPaul’sperspiringface。
Heconstitutedinhimselfaperfectorgy，andwhenthemusicstoppedflunghimself，fulllength，onthesofagaspingout:
"MyGod！But，myGod！"
SuddenlyChristianfeltHarzclingtoherarm。
Glowingandpantingshelookedathim。
"Giddy！"hemurmured:"Idancesobadly;butI’llsoonlearn。"
Gretaclappedherhands:"Everyeveningwewilldance，everyeveningwewilldance。"
HarzlookedatChristian;thecolourhaddeepenedinherface。
"I’llshowyouhowtheydanceinmyvillage，feetupontheceiling！"
AndrunningtoDawney，hesaid:
"Holdmehere！Liftme——so！Now，on——two，"hetriedtoswinghisfeetabovehishead，but，withan"Ouch！"fromDawney，theycollapsed，andsatabruptlyonthefloor。Thisuntimelyeventbroughttheeveningtoanend。Dawneyleft，escortingCousinTeresa，andHarzstrodehomehummingTheBlueDanube，stillfeelingChristian’swaistagainsthisarm。
Intheirroomthetwogirlssatlongatthewindowtocoolthemselvesbeforeundressing。
"Ah！"sighedGreta，"thisisthehappiestbirthdayIhavehad。"
Cristiantoothought:’IhaveneverbeensohappyinmylifeasI
havebeento—day。Ishouldlikeeverydaytobelikethis！’Andsheleantoutintothenight，tolettheaircoolhercheeks。
"Chris！"saidGretasomedaysafterthis，"MissNaylordancedlastevening;Ithinksheshallhaveaheadacheto—day。ThereismyFrenchandmyhistorythismorning。"
"Well，Icantakethem。"
"Thatisnice;thenwecantalk。Iamsorryabouttheheadache。I
shallgivehersomeofmyEaudeCologne。"
MissNaylor’sheadachesafterdancingwerethingsonwhichtocalculate。Thegirlscarriedtheirbooksintothearbour;itwasashoweryday，andtheyhadtorunforshelterthroughtheraindropsandsunlight。
"TheFrenchfirst，Chris！"GretalikedherFrench，inwhichshewasnotfarinferiortoChristian;thelessonthereforeproceededinanadmirablefashion。Afteronehourexactlybyherwatch（Mr。Treffry’sbirthdaypresentlovedandadmiredatleastonceeveryhour）Gretarose。
"Chris，Ihavenotfedmyrabbits。"
"Bequick！there’snotmuchtimeforhistory。"
Gretavanished。Christianwatchedthebrightwaterdrippingfromtheroof;herlipswerepartedinasmile。ShewasthinkingofsomethingHarzhadsaidthenightbefore。Adiscussionhavingbeenstartedastowhetheraverageopiniondid，ordidnot，safeguardSociety，Harz，aftersittingsilent，hadburstout:"Ithinkonemaninearnestisbetterthantwentyhalf—heartedmenwhofollowtamely;intheendhedoesSocietymostgood。"
Dawneyhadanswered:"IfyouhadyourwaytherewouldbenoSociety。"
"IhateSocietybecauseitlivesupontheweak。"
"Bah！"HerrPaulchimedin;"theweakgoestothewall;thatisascertainasthatyouandIarehere。"
"Letthemfallagainstthewall，"criedHarz;"don’tpushthemthere……"
Gretareappeared，walkingpensivelyintherain。
"Bino，"shesaid，sighing，"haseatentoomuch。Iremembernow，I
didfeedthembefore。Mustwedothehistory，Chris？"
"Ofcourse！"
Gretaopenedherbook，andputafingerinthepage。"HerrHarzisverykindtome，"shesaid。"Yesterdayhebroughtabirdwhichhad。
comeintohisstudiowithahurtwing;hebroughtitverygentlyinhishandkerchief——heisverykind，thebirdwasnotevenfrightenedofhim。Youdidnotknowaboutthat，Chris？"
Chrisflushedalittle，andsaidinahurtvoice"Idon’tseewhatithasto——dowithme。"
"No，"assentedGreta。
Christian’scolourdeepened。"Goonwithyourhistory，Greta。"
"Only，"pursuedGreta，"thathealwaystellsyouallaboutthings，Chris。"
"Hedoesn’t！Howcanyousaythat！"
"Ithinkhedoes，anditisbecauseyoudonotmakehimangry。Itisveryeasytomakehimangry;youhaveonlytothinkdifferently，andheshallbeangryatonce。"
"Youarealittlecat！"saidChristian;"itisn’ttrue，atall。Hehatesshams，andcan’tbearmeanness;anditismeantocoverupdislikesandpretendthatyouagreewithpeople。"
"Papasaysthathethinkstoomuchabouthimself。"
"Father！"beganChristianhotly;bitingherlipsshestopped，andturnedherwrathfuleyesonGreta。
"Youdonotalwaysshowyourdislikes，Chris。"
"I？Whathasthattodowithit？Becauseoneisacowardthatdoesn’tmakeitanybetter，doesit？"
"Ithinkthathehasagreatmanydislikes，"murmuredGreta。
"Iwishyouwouldattendtoyourownfaults，andnotpryintootherpeople’s，"andpushingthebookaside，Christiangazedinfrontofher。
Someminutespassed，thenGretaleaningover，rubbedacheekagainsthershoulder。
"Iamverysorry，Chris——Ionlywantedtobetalking。ShallIreadsomehistory？"
"Yes，"saidChristiancoldly。
"Areyouangrywithme，Chris？"
Therewasnoanswer。Thelingeringraindropspattereddownontheroof。Gretapulledathersister’ssleeve。
"Look，Chris！"shesaid。"ThereisHerrHarz！"
Christianlookedup，droppedhereyesagain，andsaid:"Willyougoonwiththehistory，Greta？"
Gretasighed。
"Yes，Iwill——but，oh！Chris，thereistheluncheongong！"andshemeeklyclosedthebook。
Duringthefollowingweekstherewasa"sitting"nearlyeveryafternoon。MissNaylorusuallyattendedthem;thelittleladywas，toacertainextent，carriedpastobjection。Shehadbeguntotakeaninterestinthepicture，andtowatchtheprocessoutofthecornerofhereye;inthedepthsofherdearmind，however，sheneverquitegotusedtothevanityandwasteoftime;herlipswouldmoveandherknitting—needlesclickinsuppressedremonstrances。
WhatHarzdidfasthedidbest;ifhehadleisurehe"sawtoomuch，"
lovinghisworksopassionatelythathecouldnevertellexactlywhentostop。Hehatedtolaythingsaside，alwaysthinking:"Icangetitbetter。"Gretawasfinished，butwithChristian，tryashewould，hewasnotsatisfied;fromdaytodayherfaceseemedtohimtochange，asifhersoulweregrowing。
Therewerethingstooinhereyesthathecouldneitherreadnorreproduce。
Dawneywouldoftenstrollouttothemafterhisdailyvisit，andlyingonthegrass，hisarmscrossedbehindhishead，andabigcigarbetweenhislips，wouldgentlybantereverybody。Teacameatfiveo’clock，andthenMrs。Decieappearedarmedwithamagazineornovel，forshewasproudofherliteraryknowledge。Thesittingwassuspended;Harz，withacigarette，wouldmovebetweenthetableandthepicture，drinkinghistea，puttingatouchinhereandthere;heneversatdowntillitwasalloverfortheday。Duringthese"rests"therewastalk，usuallyendingindiscussion。Mrs。Deciewashappiestinconversationsofaliteraryorder，makingfrequentuseofsuchexpressionsas:"Afterall，itproducesanillusion——doesanythingelsematter？""Ratheraposeur，ishenot？""Aquestion，that，oftemperament，"or"Amatterofthedefinitionofwords";andothercharminggeneralities，whichsoundwell，andseemtogofar，andarepleasinglyirrefutable。SometimesthediscussionturnedonArt——onpointsofcolourortechnique;whetherrealismwasquitejustified;andshouldwebepre—Raphaelites？Whenthesediscussionsstarted，Christian’seyeswouldgrowbiggerandclearer，withasortofshiningreasonableness;asthoughtheyweretryingtoseeintothedepths。AndHarzwouldstareatthem。Butthelookinthoseeyeseludedhim，asiftheyhadnomoremeaningthanMrs。Decie’s，which，withtheirpale，watchfulsmile，alwaysseemedsaying:"Come，letustakealittleintellectualexercise。"
Greta，pullingScruff’sears，wouldgazeupatthespeakers;whenthetalkwasover，shealwaysshookherself。Butifnoonecametothe"sittings，"therewouldsometimesbeveryearnest，quicktalk，sometimeslongsilences。
OnedayChristiansaid:"Whatisyourreligion？"
Harzfinishedthetouchhewasputtingonthecanvas，beforeheanswered:"RomanCatholic，Isuppose;IwasbaptisedinthatChurch。"
"Ididn’tmeanthat。Doyoubelieveinafuturelife？"
"Christian，"murmuredGreta，whowasplaitingbladesofgrass，"shallalwayswanttoknowwhatpeoplethinkaboutafuturelife;thatissofunny！"
"HowcanItell？"saidHarz;"I’veneverreallythoughtofit——neverhadthetime。"
"Howcanyouhelpthinking？"Christiansaid:"Ihaveto——itseemstomesoawfulthatwemightcometoanend。"
Sheclosedherbook，anditslippedoffherlap。Shewenton:"Theremustbeafuturelife，we’resoincomplete。What’sthegoodofyourwork，forinstance？What’stheuseofdevelopingifyouhavetostop？"
"Idon’tknow，"answeredHarz。"Idon’tmuchcare。AllIknowis，I’vegottowork。"
"Butwhy？"
"Forhappiness——therealhappinessisfighting——therestisnothing。
Ifyouhavefinishedathing，doesiteversatisfyyou？Youlookforwardtothenextthingatonce;towaitiswretched！"
Christianclaspedherhandsbehindherneck;sunlightflickeredthroughtheleavesontothebosomofherdress。
"Ah！Staylikethat！"criedHarz。
Shelethereyesrestonhisface，swingingherfootalittle。
"Youworkbecauseyoumust;butthat’snotenough。Whydoyoufeelyoumust？Iwanttoknowwhat’sbehind。WhenIwastravellingwithAuntConstancethewinterbeforelastweoftentalked——I’veheardherdiscussitwithherfriends。ShesayswemoveincirclestillwereachNirvana。ButlastwinterIfoundIcouldn’ttalktoher;itseemedasifsheneverreallymeantanything。ThenIstartedreading——KantandHegel——"
"Ah！"putinHarz，"iftheywouldteachmetodrawbetter，ortoseeanewcolourinaflower，oranexpressioninaface，Iwouldreadthemall。"
Christianleanedforward:"Itmustberighttogetasneartruthaspossible;everystepgainedissomething。Youbelieveintruth;
truthisthesameasbeauty——thatwaswhatyousaid——youtrytopaintthetruth，youalwaysseethebeauty。Buthowcanweknowtruth，unlessweknowwhatisattherootofit？"
"I——think，"murmuredGreta，sottovoce，"youseeoneway——andheseesanother——because——youarenotoneperson。"
"Ofcourse！"saidChristianimpatiently，"butwhy——"
Asoundofhumminginterruptedher。
NicholasTreffrywascomingfromthehouse，holdingtheTimesinonehand，andahugemeerschaumpipeintheother。
"Aha！"hesaidtoHarz:"howgoesthepicture？"andheloweredhimselfintoachair。
"Betterto—day，Uncle？"saidChristiansoftly。
Mr。Treffrygrowled。"Confoundedhumbugs，doctors！"hesaid。"Yourfatherusedtoswearbythem;why，hisdoctorkilledhim——madehimdrinksuchalotofstuff！"
"Whythendoyouhaveadoctor，UncleNic？"askedGreta。
Mr。Treffrylookedather;hiseyestwinkled。"Idon’tknow，mydear。Iftheygethalfachance，theywon’tletgoofyou！"
Therehadbeenagentlebreezeallday，butnowithaddiedaway;notaleafquivered，notabladeofgrasswasstirring;fromthehousewereheardfaintsoundsasofsomeoneplayingonapipe。A
blackbirdcamehoppingdownthepath。
"Whenyouwereaboy，didyougoafterbirds’nests，UncleNic？"
Gretawhispered。
"Ibelieveyou，Greta。"Theblackbirdhoppedintotheshrubbery。
"Youfrightenedhim，UncleNic！PapasaysthatatSchlossKonig，wherehelivedwhenhewasyoung，hewouldalwaysbeafterjackdaws’
nests。"
"Gammon，Greta。Yourfathernevertookajackdaw’snest，hislegsaremuchtooround！"
"Areyoufondofbirds，UncleNic？"
"Askmeanother，Greta！Well，Is’poseso。"
"Thenwhydidyougobird—nesting？Ithinkitiscruel"
Mr。Treffrycoughedbehindhispaper:"Thereyouhaveme，Greta，"heremarked。
Harzbegantogatherhisbrushes:"Thankyou，"hesaid，"that’sallI
candoto—day。"
"CanIlook？"Mr。Treffryinquired。
"Certainly！"
UncleNicgotupslowly，andstoodinfrontofthepicture。"Whenit’sforsale，"hesaidatlast，"I’llbuyit。"
Harzbowed;butforsomereasonhefeltannoyed，asifhehadbeenaskedtopartwithsomethingpersonal。
"Ithankyou，"hesaid。Agongsounded。
"You’llstayandhaveasnackwithus？"saidMr。Treffry;"thedoctor’sstopping。"Gatheringuphispaper，hemovedofftothehousewithhishandonGreta’sshoulder，theterrierrunninginfront。HarzandChristianwereleftalone。Hewasscrapinghispalette，andshewassittingwithherelbowsrestingonherknees;
betweenthem，agleamofsunlightdyedthepathgolden。Itwaseveningalready;thebushesandtheflowers，aftertheday’sheat，werebreathingoutperfume;thebirdshadstartedtheirevensong。
"Areyoutiredofsittingforyourportrait，FrauleinChristian？"
Christianshookherhead。
"Ishallgetsomethingintoitthateverybodydoesnotsee——somethingbehindthesurface，thatwilllast。"
Christiansaidslowly:"That’slikeachallenge。Youwererightwhenyousaidfightingishappiness——foryourself，butnotforme。I’macoward。Ihatetohurtpeople，Ilikethemtolikeme。Ifyouhadtodoanythingthatwouldmakethemhateyou，youwoulddoitallthesame，ifithelpedyourwork;that’sfine——it’swhatIcan’tdo。
It’s——it’severything。DoyoulikeUncleNic？"
Theyoungpainterlookedtowardsthehouse，whereundertheverandaoldNicholasTreffrywasstillinsight;asmilecameonhislips。