第5章

"Idon’tthinkyoucare，"shewentonwithasortofdesperatehaste，"whetheryouhurtpeopleornot。Youhavebeenhereallthistimewithoutevengoingtoseeyourfatherandmother。"

"Doyouthinktheywouldwanttoseeme？"

Christianlookedup。

"It’sallbeensosoftforyou，"hesaidbitterly;"youdon’tunderstand。"

Heturnedhisheadaway，andthenburstout:"I’mproudtocomestraightfromthesoil——Iwouldn’thaveitotherwise;buttheyareof’thepeople，’everythingisnarrowwiththem——theyonlyunderstandwhattheycanseeandtouch。"

"I’msorryIspokelikethat，"saidChristiansoftly;"you’venevertoldmeaboutyourself。"

Therewassomethingjustalittlecruelinthewaythepainterlookedather，thenseemingtofeelcompunction，hesaidquickly:"Ialwayshated——thepeasantlife——Iwantedtogetawayintotheworld;Ihadafeelinginhere——Iwanted——Idon’tknowwhatIwanted！Ididrunawayatlasttoahouse—painteratMeran。Thepriestwrotemealetterfrommyfather——theythrewmeoff;that’sall。"

Christian’seyeswereverybright，herlipsmoved，likethelipsofachildlisteningtoastory。

"Goon，"shesaid。

"IstayedatMerantwoyears，tillI’dlearntallIcouldthere，thenabrotherofmymother’shelpedmetogettoVienna;Iwasluckyenoughtofindworkwithamanwhousedtodecoratechurches。Wewentaboutthecountrytogether。OncewhenhewasillIpaintedtheroofofachurchentirelybymyself;Ilayonmybackonthescaffoldboardsalldayforaweek——Iwasproudofthatroof。"Hepaused。

"Whendidyoubeginpaintingpictures？"

"AfriendaskedmewhyIdidn’ttryfortheAcademie。Thatstartedmegoingtothenightschools;Iworkedeveryminute——Ihadtogetmylivingaswell，ofcourse，soIworkedatnight。

Thenwhentheexaminationcame，IthoughtIcoulddonothing——itwasjustasifIhadneverhadabrushorpencilinmyhand。Buttheseconddayaprofessorinpassingmesaid，’Good！Quitegood！’Thatgavemecourage。IwassureIhadfailedthough;butIwassecondoutofsixty。"

Christiannodded。

"ToworkintheschoolsafterthatIhadtogiveupmybusiness，ofcourse。Therewasonlyoneteacherwhoevertaughtmeanything;theothersallseemedfools。Thismanwouldcomeandruboutwhatyou’ddonewithhissleeve。Iusedtocrywithrage——butItoldhimI

couldonlylearnfromhim，andhewassoastonishedthathegotmeintohisclass。"

"Buthowdidyoulivewithoutmoney？"askedChristian。

Hisfaceburnedwithadarkflush。"Idon’tknowhowIlived;youmusthavebeenthroughthesethingstoknow，youwouldneverunderstand。"

"ButIwanttounderstand，please。"

"Whatdoyouwantmetotellyou？HowIwenttwiceaweektoeatfreedinners！HowItookcharity！HowIwashungry！Therewasarichcousinofmymother’s——Iusedtogotohim。Ididn’tlikeit。

Butifyou’restarvinginthewinter"

Christianputoutherhand。

"Iusedtoborrowapronsfulofcoalsfromotherstudentswhowereaspoor——butIneverwenttotherichstudents。"

Theflushhaddiedoutofhisface。

"Thatsortofthingmakesyouhatetheworld！Youworktillyoustagger;you’recoldandhungry;youseerichpeopleintheircarriages，wrappedinfurs，andallthetimeyouwanttodosomethinggreat。Youprayforachance，anychance;nothingcomestothepoor！

Itmakesyouhatetheworld。"

Christian’seyesfilledwithtears。Hewenton:

"ButIwasn’ttheonlyoneinthatcondition;weusedtomeet。

Garin，aRussianwithabrownbeardandpatchesofcheekshowingthrough，andyellowteeth，whoalwayslookedhungry。Paunitz，whocamefromsympathy！Hehadfatcheeksandlittleeyes，andabiggoldchain——theswine！AndlittleMisek。Itwasinhisroomwemet，withthepaperpeelingoffthewalls，andtwodoorswithcracksinthem，sothattherewasalwaysadraught。Weusedtositonhisbed，andpullthedirtyblanketsoverusforwarmth;andsmoke——tobaccowasthelastthingweeverwentwithout。OverthebedwasaVirginandChild——MisekwasaverydevoutCatholic;butonedaywhenhehadhadnodinnerandadealerhadkepthispicturewithoutpayinghim，hetooktheimageandthrewitonthefloorbeforeoureyes;itbroke，andhetrampledonthebits。Lendorfwasanother，aheavyfellowwhowasalwayspuffingouthiswhitecheeksandsmitinghimself，andsaying:’Cursedsociety！’AndSchonborn，anaristocratwhohadquarrelledwithhisfamily。Hewasthepoorestofusall;

butonlyheandIwouldeverhavedaredtodoanything——theyallknewthat！"

Christianlistenedwithawe。"Doyoumean？"shesaid，"doyoumean，thatyou——？"

"Yousee！you’reafraidofmeatonce。It’simpossibleevenforyoutounderstand。Itonlymakesyouafraid。Ahungrymanlivingoncharity，sickwithrageandshame，isawolfeventoyou！"

Christianlookedstraightintohiseyes。

"That’snottrue。IfIcan’tunderstand，Icanfeel。Wouldyoubethesamenowifitweretocomeagain？"

"Yes，itdrivesmemadevennowtothinkofpeoplefattedwithprosperity，sneeringandholdinguptheirhandsatpoordevilswhohavesufferedtentimesmorethanthemostthosesoftanimalscouldbear。I’molder;I’velived——Iknowthingscan’tbeputrightbyviolence——nothingwillputthingsright，butthatdoesn’tstopmyfeeling。"

"Didyoudoanything？Youmusttellmeallnow。"

"Wetalked——wewerealwaystalking。"

"No，tellmeeverything！"

Unconsciouslysheclaimed，andheseemedunconsciouslytoadmitherrighttothisknowledge。

"There’snotmuchtotell。Onedaywebegantalkinginlowvoices——

Garinbeganit;hehadbeeninsomeaffairinRussia。Wetookanoath;afterthatweneverraisedourvoices。Wehadaplan。Itwasallnewtome，andIhatedthewholething——butIwasalwayshungry，orsickfromtakingcharity，andIwouldhavedoneanything。Theyknewthat;theyusedtolookatmeandSchonborn;weknewthatnooneelsehadanycourage。HeandIweregreatfriends，butwenevertalkedofthat;wetriedtokeepourmindsawayfromthethoughtofit。Ifwehadagooddayandwerenotsohungry，itseemedunnatural;butwhenthedayhadnotbeengood——thenitseemednaturalenough。Iwasn’tafraid，butIusedtowakeupinthenight;Ihatedtheoathwehadtaken，Ihatedeveryoneofthosefellows;thethingwasnotwhatIwasmadefor，itwasn’tmywork，itwasn’tmynature，itwasforcedonme——Ihatedit，butsometimesIwaslikeamadman。"

"Yes，yes，"shemurmured。

"AllthistimeIwasworkingattheAcademie，andlearningallI

could……Oneeveningthatwemet，Paunitzwasnotthere。Misekwastellingushowthethinghadbeenarranged。SchonbornandIlookedateachother——itwaswarm——perhapswewerenothungry——itwasspringtime，too，andintheSpringit’sdifferent。Thereissomething。"

Christiannodded。

"Whileweweretalkingtherecameaknockatthedoor。Lendorfputhiseyetothekeyhole，andmadeasign。Thepolicewerethere。

Nobodysaidanything，butMisekcrawledunderthebed;weallfollowed;andtheknockinggrewlouderandlouder。Inthewallatthebackofthebedwasalittledoorintoanemptycellar。Wecreptthrough。Therewasatrap—doorbehindsomecases，wheretheyusedtorollbarrelsin。Wecrawledthroughthatintothebackstreet。Wewentdifferentways。"

Hepaused，andChristiangasped。

"IthoughtIwouldgetmymoney，buttherewasapolicemanbeforemydoor。Theyhadusfinely。ItwasPaunitz;ifImethimevennowI

shouldwringhisneck。IsworeIwouldn’tbecaught，butIhadnoideawheretogo。ThenIthoughtofalittleItalianbarberwhousedtoshavemewhenIhadmoneyforashave;Iknewhewouldhelp。HebelongedtosomeItalianSociety;heoftentalkedtome，underhisbreath，ofcourse。Iwenttohim。Hewasshavinghimselfbeforegoingtoaball。Itoldhimwhathadhappened;itwasfunnytoseehimputhisbackagainstthedoor。Hewasveryfrightened，understandingthissortofthingbetterthanIdid——forIwasonlytwentythen。Heshavedmyheadandmoustacheandputmeonafairwig。Thenhebroughtmemacaroni，andsomemeat，toeat。Hegavemeabigfairmoustache，andacap，andhidthemoustacheinthelining。

Hebroughtmeacloakofhisown，andfourgulden。Allthetimehewasextremelyfrightened，andkeptlistening，andsaying:’Eat！’

"WhenIhaddone，hejustsaid:’Goaway，Irefusetoknowanythingmoreofyou。’

"Ithankedhimandwentout。Iwalkedaboutallthatnight;forI

couldn’tthinkofanythingtodooranywheretogo。InthemorningI

sleptonaseatinoneofthesquares。ThenIthoughtIwouldgototheGallerien;andIspentthewholedaylookingatthepictures。

WhentheGallerieswereshutIwasverytired，soIwentintoacafe，andhadsomebeer。WhenIcameoutIsatonthesameseatintheSquare。Imeanttowaittilldarkandthenwalkoutofthecityandtakethetrainatsomelittlestation，butwhileIwassittingthereIwenttosleep。Apolicemanwokeme。Hehadmywiginhishand。

"’Whydoyouwearawig？’hesaid。

"Ianswered:’BecauseIambald。’

"’No，’hesaid，’you’renotbald，you’vebeenshaved。Icanfeelthehaircoming。’

"Heputhisfingeronmyhead。Ifeltrecklessandlaughed。

"’Ah！’hesaid，’you’llcomewithmeandexplainallthis;yournoseandeyesarelookedfor。’

"Iwentwithhimquietlytothepolice—station……"

Harzseemedcarriedawaybyhisstory。Hisquickdarkfaceworked，hissteel—greyeyesstaredasthoughhewereagainpassingthroughalltheselong—pastemotions。

Thehotsunstruckdown;Christiandrewherselftogether，sittingwithherhandsclaspedroundherknees。

X

"Ididn’tcarebythenwhatcameofit。Ididn’teventhinkwhatI

wasgoingtosay。Heledmedownapassagetoaroomwithbarsacrossthewindowsandlongseats，andmapsonthewalls。Wesatandwaited。Hekepthiseyeonmeallthetime;andIsawnohope。

PresentlytheInspectorcame。’Bringhiminhere，’hesaid;I

rememberfeelingIcouldkillhimfororderingmeabout！Wewentintothenextroom。Ithadalargeclock，awriting—table，andawindow，withoutbars，lookingonacourtyard。Longpolicemen’scoatsandcapswerehangingfromsomepegs。TheInspectortoldmetotakeoffmycap。Itookitoff，wigandall。HeaskedmewhoIwas，butIrefusedtoanswer。Justthentherewasaloudsoundofvoicesintheroomwehadcomefrom。TheInspectortoldthepolicemantolookafterme，andwenttoseewhatitwas。Icouldhearhimtalking。Hecalledout:’Comehere，Becker！’Istoodveryquiet，andBeckerwenttowardsthedoor。IheardtheInspectorsay:’GoandfindSchwartz，Iwillseeafterthisfellow。’Thepolicemanwent，andtheInspectorstoodwithhisbacktomeinthehalf—opendoor，andbeganagaintotalktothemanintheotherroom。Onceortwicehelookedroundatme，butIstoodquietallthetime。Theybegantodisagree，andtheirvoicesgotangry。TheInspectormovedalittleintotheotherroom。’Now！’Ithought，andslippedoffmycloak。Ihookedoffapoliceman’scoatandcap，andputthemon。MyheartbeattillIfeltsick。Iwentontiptoetothewindow。Therewasnooneoutside，butattheentranceamanwasholdingsomehorses。Iopenedthewindowalittleandheldmybreath。IheardtheInspectorsay:’Iwillreportyouforimpertinence！’andslippedthroughthewindow。Thecoatcamedownnearlytomyheels，andthecapovermyeyes。Iwalkeduptothemanwiththehorses，andsaid:’Good—evening。’Oneofthehorseshadbeguntokick，andheonlygruntedatme。Igotintoapassingtram;itwasfiveminutestotheWestBahnhof;Igotoutthere。

Therewasatrainstarting;theywereshouting’Einsteigen！’Iran。

Thecollectortriedtostopme。Ishouted:’Business——important！’

Heletmeby。Ijumpedintoacarriage。Thetrainstarted。"

Hepaused，andChristianheavedasigh。

Harzwenton，twistingatwigofivyinhishands:"Therewasanothermaninthecarriagereadingapaper。PresentlyIsaidtohim，’Wheredowestopfirst？’’St。Polten。’ThenIknewitwastheMunichexpress——St。Polten，Amstetten，Linz，andSalzburg——fourstopsbeforethefrontier。Themanputdownhispaperandlookedatme;hehadabigfairmoustacheandrathershabbyclothes。Hislookingatmedisturbedme，forIthoughteveryminutehewouldsay:’You’renopoliceman！’Andsuddenlyitcameintomymindthatiftheylookedformeinthistrain，itwouldbeasapoliceman！——theywouldknow，ofcourse，atthestationthatapolicemanhadrunpastatthelastminute。Iwantedtogetridofthecoatandcap，butthemanwasthere，andIdidn’tliketomoveoutofthecarriageforotherpeopletonotice。SoIsaton。WecametoSt。Poltenatlast。Themaninmycarriagetookhisbag，gotout，andlefthispaperontheseat。

Westartedagain;Ibreathedatlast，andassoonasIcouldtookthecapandcoatandthrewthemoutintothedarkness。Ithought:’I

shallgetacrossthefrontiernow。’ItookmyowncapoutandfoundthemoustacheLuigigaveme;rubbedmyclothesascleanaspossible;

stuckonthemoustache，andwithsomelittleendsofchalkinmypocketmademyeyebrowslight;thendrewsomelinesinmyfacetomakeitolder，andpulledmycapwelldownabovemywig。Ididitprettywell——Iwasquitelikethemanwhohadgotout。Isatinhiscorner，tookuphisnewspaper，andwaitedforAmstetten。Itseemedatremendoustimebeforewegotthere。FrombehindmypaperIcouldseefiveorsixpolicemenontheplatform，onequiteclose。Heopenedthedoor，lookedatme，andwalkedthroughthecarriageintothecorridor。Itooksometobaccoandrolledupacigarette，butitshook，"Harzliftedtheivytwig，"likethis。Inaminutetheconductorandtwomorepolicemencame。’Hewashere，’saidtheconductor，’withthisgentleman。’Oneofthemlookedatme，andasked:’Haveyouseenapolicemantravellingonthistrain？’’Yes，’

Isaid。’Where？’’HegotoutatSt。Polten。’Thepolicemanaskedtheconductor:’Didyouseehimgetoutthere？’Theconductorshookhishead。Isaid:’Hegotoutasthetrainwasmoving。’’Ah！’saidthepoliceman，’whatwashelike？’’Rathershort，andnomoustache。

Why？’’Didyounoticeanythingunusual？’’No，’Isaid，’onlythatheworecolouredtrousers。What’sthematter？’Onepolicemansaidtotheother:’That’sourman！SendatelegramtoSt。Polten;hehasmorethananhour’sstart。’HeaskedmewhereIwasgoing。Itoldhim:’Linz。’’Ah！’hesaid，’you’llhavetogiveevidence;yournameandaddressplease？’’JosefReinhardt，17DonauStrasse。’Hewroteitdown。Theconductorsaid:’Wearelate，canwestart？’Theyshutthedoor。Iheardthemsaytotheconductor:’SearchagainatLinz，andreporttotheInspectorthere。’Theyhurriedontotheplatform，andwestarted。AtfirstIthoughtIwouldgetoutassoonasthetrainhadleftthestation。Then，thatIshouldbetoofarfromthefrontier;bettertogoontoLinzandtakemychancethere。Isatstillandtriednottothink。

Afteralongtime，webegantorunmoreslowly。Iputmyheadoutandcouldseeinthedistancearingoflightshangingintheblackness。Iloosenedthecarriagedoorandwaitedforthetraintorunslowerstill;Ididn’tmeantogointoLinzlikearatintoatrap。AtlastIcouldwaitnolonger;Iopenedthedoor，jumpedandfellintosomebushes。Iwasnotmuchhurt，butbruised，andthebreathknockedoutofme。AssoonasIcould，Icrawledout。Itwasverydark。Ifeltheavyandsore，andforsometimewentstumblinginandoutamongsttrees。PresentlyIcametoaclearspace;ononesideIcouldseethetown’sshapedrawninlightedlamps，andontheotheradarkmass，whichIthinkwasforest;inthedistancetoowasathinchainoflights。Ithought:’Theymustbethelightsofabridge。’Justthenthemooncameout，andIcouldseetherivershiningbelow。Itwascoldanddamp，andIwalkedquickly。AtlastIcameoutonaroad，pasthousesandbarkingdogs，downtotheriverbank;thereIsatagainstashedandwenttosleep。Iwokeverystiff。Itwasdarkerthanbefore;themoonwasgone。Icouldjustseetheriver。Istumbledon，togetthroughthetownbeforedawn。

Itwasallblackshapes—housesandsheds，andthesmelloftheriver，thesmellofrottinghay，apples，tar，mud，fish;andhereandthereonawharfalantern。Istumbledovercasksandropesandboxes;I

sawIshouldnevergetclear——thedawnhadbegunalreadyontheotherside。Somemencamefromahousebehindme。Ibent，andcreptbehindsomebarrels。Theypassedalongthewharf;theyseemedtodropintotheriver。Iheardoneofthemsay:’Passaubeforenight。’

Istoodupandsawtheyhadwalkedonboardasteamerwhichwaslyingheadup—stream，withsomebargesintow。Therewasaplanklaidtothesteamer，andalanternattheotherend。Icouldhearthefellowsmovingbelowdeck，gettingupsteam。Iranacrosstheplankandcrepttotheendofthesteamer。ImeanttogowiththemtoPassau！Theropewhichtowedthebargeswasnearlytaut;andIknewifIcouldgetontothebargesIshouldbesafe。Iclimbeddownonthisropeandcrawledalong。Iwasdesperate，Iknewthey’dsoonbecomingup，anditwasgettinglight。IthoughtIshouldfallintothewaterseveraltimes，butIgottothebargeatlast。Itwasladenwithstraw。Therewasnobodyonboard。Iwashungryandthirsty——Ilookedforsomethingtoeat;therewasnothingbuttheashesofafireandaman’scoat。Icreptintothestraw。Soonaboatbroughtmen，oneforeachbarge，andthereweresoundsofsteam。

Assoonaswebeganmovingthroughthewater，Ifellasleep。WhenI

wokewewerecreepingthroughaheavymist。Imadealittleholeinthestrawandsawthebargeman。Hewassittingbyafireatthebarge’sedge，sothatthesparksandsmokeblewawayoverthewater。

Heateanddrankwithbothhands，andfunnyenoughhelookedinthemist，likeabigbirdflappingitswings;therewasagoodsmellofcoffee，andIsneezed。Howthefellowstarted！Butpresentlyhetookapitchforkandproddedthestraw。ThenIstoodup。Icouldn’thelplaughing，hewassosurprised——ahuge，darkman，withagreatblackbeard。Ipointedtothefireandsaid’Givemesome，brother！’

Hepulledmeoutofthestraw;Iwassostiff，Icouldn’tmove。I

satbythefire，andateblackbreadandturnips，anddrankcoffee;

whilehestoodby，watchingmeandmuttering。Icouldn’tunderstandhimwell——hespokeadialectfromHungary。Heaskedme:HowIgotthere——whoIwas——whereIwasfrom？Ilookedupinhisface，andhelookeddownatme，suckinghispipe。Hewasabigman，helivedaloneontheriver，andIwastiredoftellinglies，soItoldhimthewholething。WhenIhaddonehejustgrunted。Icanseehimnowstandingoverme，withthemisthanginginhisbeard，andhisgreatnakedarms。Hedrewmesomewater，andIwashedandshowedhimmywigandmoustache，andthrewthemoverboard。Allthatdaywelayoutonthebargeinthemist，withourfeettothefire，smoking;nowandthenhewouldspitintotheashesandmutterintohisbeard。Ishallneverforgetthatday。Thesteamerwaslikeamonsterwithfierynostrils，andtheotherbargesweredumbcreatureswitheyes，wherethefireswere;wecouldn’tseethebank，butnowandthenabluffandhightrees，oracastle，showedinthemist。IfIhadonlyhadpaintandcanvasthatday！"Hesighed。

"ItwasearlySpring，andtheriverwasinflood;theyweregoingtoRegensburgtounloadthere，takefreshcargo，andbacktoLinz。Assoonasthemistbegantoclear，thebargemanhidmeinthestraw。

AtPassauwasthefrontier;theylaythereforthenight，butnothinghappened，andIsleptinthestraw。ThenextdayIlayoutonthebargedeck;therewasnomist，butIwasfree——thesunshonegoldonthestrawandthegreensacking;thewaterseemedtodance，andI

laughed——Ilaughedallthetime，andthebargemanlaughedwithme。

Afinefellowhewas！AtRegensburgIhelpedthemtounload;formorethanaweekweworked;theynicknamedmebaldhead，andwhenitwasalloverIgavethemoneyIearnedfortheunloadingtothebigbargeman。Wekissedeachotheratparting。IhadstillthreeoftheguldenthatLuigigaveme，andIwenttoahouse—painterandgotworkwithhim。ForsixmonthsIstayedtheretosavemoney;thenIwrotetomymother’scousininVienna，andtoldhimIwasgoingtoLondon。

Hegavemeanintroductiontosomefriendsthere。IwenttoHamburg，andfromtheretoLondoninacargosteamer，andI’veneverbeenbacktillnow。"

XI

Afteraminute’ssilenceChristiansaidinastartledvoice:"Theycouldarrestyouthen！"

Harzlaughed。

"Iftheyknew;butit’ssevenyearsago。"

"Whydidyoucomehere，whenit’ssodangerous？"

"Ihadbeenworkingtoohard，Iwantedtoseemycountry——aftersevenyears，andwhenit’sforbidden！ButI’mreadytogobacknow。"Helookeddownather，frowning。

"HadyouahardtimeinLondon，too？"

"Harder，atfirst——Icouldn’tspeakthelanguage。Inmyprofessionit’shardworktogetrecognised，it’shardworktomakealiving。

Therearetoomanywhoseinterestitistokeepyoudown——Ishan’tforgetthem。"

"Buteveryoneisnotlikethat？"

"No;therearefinefellows，too。Ishan’tforgetthemeither。I

cansellmypicturesnow;I’mnolongerweak，andIpromiseyouI

shan’tforget。IfinthefutureIhavepower，andIshallhavepower——Ishan’tforget。"

Ashoweroffinegravelcamerattlingonthewall。Dawneywasstandingbelowthemwithanamusedexpressiononhisupturnedface。

"Areyougoingtostaythereallnight？"heasked。"GretaandIhaveboredeachother。"

"We’recoming，"calledChristianhastily。

Onthewaybackneitherspokeaword，butwhentheyreachedtheVilla，Harztookherhand，andsaid:"FrauleinChristian，Ican’tdoanymorewithyourpicture。Ishan’ttouchitagainafterthis。"

Shemadenoanswer，buttheylookedateachother，andbothseemedtoask，toentreat，somethingmore;thenhereyesfell。Hedroppedherhand，andsaying，"Good—night，"ranafterDawney。

Inthecorridor，Dominique，carryingadishoffruit，metthesisters;heinformedthemthatMissNaylorhadretiredtobed;thatHerrPaulwouldnotbehometodinner;hismasterwasdininginhisroom;dinnerwouldbeservedforMrs。Decieandthetwoyoungladiesinaquarterofanhour:"Andthefishisgoodto—night;littletrouts！trythem，Signorina！"Hemovedonquickly，softly，likeacat，thetailsofhisdress—coatflapping，andtheheelsofhiswhitesocksgleaming。

Christianranupstairs。Sheflewaboutherroom，feelingthatifsheoncestoodstillitwouldallcrystalliseinhardpainfulthought，whichmotionalonekeptaway。Shewashed，changedherdressandshoes，andrandowntoheruncle’sroom。Mr。Treffryhadjustfinisheddinner，pushedthelittletableback，andwassittinginhischair，withhisglassesonhisnose，readingtheTines。Christiantouchedhisforeheadwithherlips。

"Gladtoseeyou，Chris。Yourstepfather’souttodinner，andI

can’tstandyourauntwhenshe’sinoneofhertalkingmoods——bitofahumbug，Chris，betweenourselves;eh，isn’tshe？"Hiseyestwinkled。

Christiansmiled。Therewasacurioushappyrestlessnessinherthatwouldnotletherkeepstill。

"Picturefinished？"Mr。Treffryaskedsuddenly，takingupthepaperwithacrackle。"Don’tgoandfallinlovewiththepainter，Chris。"

Christianwasstillenoughnow。

’Whynot？’shethought。’Whatshouldyouknowabouthim？Isn’thegoodenoughforme？’Agongsounded。

"There’syourdinner，"Mr。Treffryremarked。

Withsuddencontritionshebentandkissedhim。

ButwhenshehadlefttheroomMr。TreffryputdowntheTimesandstaredatthedoor，hummingtohimself，andthoughtfullyfingeringhischin。

Christiancouldnoteat;shesat，indifferenttothehoveringsofDominique，tormentedbyuneasyfearandlongings。SheansweredMrs。

Decieatrandom。Gretakeptstealinglooksatherfromunderherlashes。

"Decidedcharactersarecharming，don’tyouthinkso，Christian？"

Mrs。Deciesaid，thrustingherchinalittleforward，andmodellingthewords。"ThatiswhyIlikeMr。Harzsomuch;suchanimmenseadvantageforamantoknowhismind。Youhaveonlytolookatthatyoungmantoseethatheknowswhathewants，andmeanstohaveit。"

Christianpushedherplateaway。Greta，flushing，saidabruptly:

"DoctorEdmundisnotadecidedcharacter，Ithink。Thisafternoonhesaid:’ShallIhavesomebeer—yes，Ishall——no，Ishallnot’;thenheorderedthebeer，so，whenitcame，hegaveittothesoldiers。"

Mrs。Decieturnedherenigmaticsmilefromonegirltotheother。

Whendinnerwasovertheywentintoherroom。Gretastoleatoncetothepiano，whereherlonghairfellalmosttothekeys;silentlyshesattherefingeringthenotes，smilingtoherself，andlookingatheraunt，whowasreadingPater’sessays。Christiantoohadtakenupabook，butsoonputitdown——ofseveralpagesshehadnotunderstoodaword。Shewentintothegardenandwanderedaboutthelawn，claspingherhandsbehindherhead。Theairwasheavy;verydistantthundertrembledamongthemountains，flashesofsummerlightningplayedoverthetrees;andtwogreatmothswerehoveringaboutarosebush。