第6章

Christianwatchedtheirsoftuncertainrushes。Goingtothelittlesummer—housesheflungherselfdownonaseat，andpressedherhandstoherheart。

Therewasastrangeandsuddenachingthere。Washegoingfromher？

Ifso，whatwouldbeleft？Howlittleandhownarrowseemedtheoutlookofherlife——withtheworldwaitingforher，theworldofbeauty，effort，self—sacrifice，fidelity！Itwasasthoughaflashofthatsummerlightninghadfledby，singeingher，takingfromherallpowersofflight，burningoffherwings，asoffoneofthosepalehoveringmoths。Tearsstartedup，andtrickleddownherface。

’Blind！’shethought;’howcouldIhavebeensoblind？’

Someonecamedownthepath。

"Who’sthere？"shecried。

Harzstoodinthedoorway。

"Whydidyoucomeout？"hesaid。"Ah！whydidyoucomeout？"Hecaughtherhand;Christiantriedtodrawitfromhim，andtoturnhereyesaway，butshecouldnot。Heflunghimselfdownonhisknees，andcried:"Iloveyou！"

InaraptureofsoftterrorChristianbentherforeheaddowntohishand。

"Whatareyoudoing？"sheheardhimsay。"Isitpossiblethatyouloveme？"andshefelthiskissesonherhair。

"Mysweet！itwillbesohardforyou;youaresolittle，solittle，andsoweak。"Claspinghishandclosertoherface，shemurmured:"I

don’tcare。"

Therewasalong，softsilence，thatseemedtolastforever。

Suddenlyshethrewherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。

"Whatevercomes！"shewhispered，andgatheringherdress，escapedfromhimintothedarkness。

XII

Christianwokenextmorningwithasmile。Inherattitudes，hervoice，hereyes，therewasahappyandsweetseriousness，asifshewerehuggingsomeholythought。Afterbreakfastshetookabookandsatintheopenwindow，whenceshecouldseethepoplar—treesguardingtheentrance。Therewasabreeze;therosesclosebykeptnoddingtoher;thecathedralbellswereinfullchime;beeshummedabovethelavender;andintheskysoftcloudswerefloatinglikehuge，whitebirds。

ThesoundsofMissNaylor’sstaccatodictationtravelledacrosstheroom，andGreta’ssighsasshetookitdown，oneeyeonherpaper，oneeyeonScruff，wholaywithablackearflappedacrosshispaw，andhistaneyebrowsquivering。Hewasindisgrace，forDominique，comingonhimunawares，hadseenhim"sayhisprayers"beforeapudding，andtakethepuddingforreward。

Christianputherbookdowngently，andslippedthroughthewindow。

Harzwascominginfromtheroad。"Iamallyours！"shewhispered。

Hisfingersclosedonhers，andhewentintothehouse。

Sheslippedback，tookupherbook，andwaited。Itseemedlongbeforehecameout，butwhenhedidhewavedherback，andhurriedon;shehadaglimpseofhisface，whitetothelips。Feelingfaintandsick，sheflewtoherstepfather’sroom。

HerrPaulwasstandinginacornerwiththeutterlydisturbedappearanceofaneasy—goingman，visitedbytheunexpected。Hisfineshirt—frontwascrumpledasifhisbreasthadheavedtoosuddenlyunderstrongemotion;hissmokedeyeglassesdangleddownhisback;

hisfingerswereembeddedinhisbeard。Hewasfixinghiseyeonaspotinthefloorasthoughheexpectedittoexplodeandblowthemtofragments。InanothercornerMrs。Decie，withhalf—closedeyes，wasrunningherfinger—tipsacrossherbrow。

"Whathaveyousaidtohim？"criedChristian。

HerrPaulregardedherwithglassyeyes。

"MeinGott！"hesaid。"YourauntandI！"

"Whathaveyousaidtohim？"repeatedChristian。

"Theimpudence！Ananarchist！。Abeggar！"

"Paul！"murmuredMrs。Decie。

"Theoutlaw！Thefellow！"HerrPaulbegantostrideabouttheroom。

Quiveringfromheadtofoot，Christiancried:"Howdaredyou？"andranfromtheroom，pushingasideMissNaylorandGreta，whostoodblanchedandfrightenedinthedoorway。

HerrPaulstoppedinhistramp，and，stillwithhiseyesfixedonthefloor，growled:

"Afinething—hein？What’scoming？Willyoupleasetellme？Ananarchist——abeggar！"

"Paul！"murmuredMrs。Decie。

"Paul！Paul！Andyou！"hepointedtoMissNaylor——"Twowomenwitheyes！——hein！"

"Thereisnothingtobegainedbyviolence，"Mrs。Deciemurmured，passingherhandkerchiefacrossherlips。MissNaylor，whosethinbrowncheekshadflushed，advancedtowardshim。

"Ihopeyoudonot——"shesaid;"IamsuretherewasnothingthatI

couldhaveprevented——Ishouldbegladifthatwereunderstood。"

And，turningwithsomedignity，thelittleladywentaway，closingthedoorbehindher。

"Youhear！"HerrPaulsaid，violentlysarcastic:"nothingshecouldhaveprevented！Enfin，！WillyoupleasetellmewhatIamtodo？"

"Menoftheworld"——whosephilosophyisacreatureofcircumstanceandacceptedthings——findanydeviationfromthepathoftheirconvictionsdangerous，shocking，andanintolerablebore。HerrPaulhadspenthislifelaughingatconvictions;thematterhadbuttotouchhimpersonally，andthetapoflaughterwasturnedoff。Thatanyonetowhomhewasthelawfulguardianshouldmarryotherthanawell—groomedman，properlyendowedwithgoods，properlyselected，wasbeyondexpressionhorrid。Fromhispointofviewhehadgreatexcuseforhorror;andhewasnaturallyunabletojudgewhetherhehadexcuseforhorrorfromotherpointsofview。Hisamazementhadinitaspiceofthepathetic;hewaslikeachildinthepresenceofathingthatheabsolutelycouldnotunderstand。Theinterviewhadlefthimwithasenseofinsecuritywhichhefelttobeparticularlyunfair。

Thedoorwasagainopened，andGretaflewin，hercheeksflushed，herhairfloatingbehindher，andtearsstreamingdownhercheeks。

"Papa！"shecried，"youhavebeencrueltoChris。Thedoorislocked;Icanhearhercrying——whyhaveyoubeencruel？"Withoutwaitingtobeanswered，sheflewoutagain。

HerrPaulseizedhishairwithbothhishands:"Good！Verygood！Myownchild，please！Whatnextthen？"

Mrs。Decierosefromherchairlanguidly。"Myheadisverybad，"shesaid，shadinghereyesandspeakinginlowtones:"Itisnousemakingafuss——nothingcancomeofthis——hehasnotapenny。

Christianwillhavenothingtillyoudie，whichwillnotbeforalongtimeyet，ifyoucanbutavoidanapoplecticfit！"

AttheselastwordsHerrPaulgaveastartofrealdisgust。"Hum！"

hemuttered;itwasasiftheworldwerebentonbeingbrutaltohim。

Mrs。Deciecontinued:

"IfIknowanythingofthisyoungman，hewillnotcomehereagain，afterthewordsyouhavespoken。AsforChristian——youhadbettertalktoNicholas。Iamgoingtoliedown。"

HerrPaulnervouslyfingeredtheshirt—collarroundhisstout，shortneck。

"Nicholas！Certainly——agoodidea。Quellediabled’afaire！"

’French！’thoughtMrs。Decie;’weshallsoonhavepeace。PoorChristian！I’msorry！Afterall，thesethingsareamatteroftimeandopportunity。’Thisconsoledheragooddeal。

ButforChristianthehourswerealongnightmareofgriefandshame，fearandanger。Wouldheforgive？Wouldhebetruetoher？Orwouldhegoawaywithoutaword？Sinceyesterdayitwasasifshehadsteppedintoanotherworld，andlostitagain。Inplaceofthatnewfeeling，intoxicatingaswine，whatwascoming？Whatbitter;

dreadfulending？

Arudeentrancethisintothelifeoffacts，andprimitiveemotions！

SheletGretaintoherroomafteratime，forthechildhadbegunsobbing;butshewouldnottalk，andsathourafterhouratthewindowwiththeairfanningherface，andthepaininhereyesturnedtotheskyandtrees。Afteroneortwoattemptsatconsolation，Gretasankonthefloor，andremainedthere，humblygazingathersisterinasilenceonlybrokenwhenChristianclearedherthroatoftears，andbythesongofbirdsinthegarden。Intheafternoonsheslippedawayanddidnotcomebackagain。

AfterhisinterviewwithMr。Treffry，HerrPaultookabath，perfumedhimselfwithprecision，andcausedittobeclearlyunderstoodthat，undercircumstancessuchasthese，aman’shousewasnotsuitedforapigtolivein。HeshortlyafterwardswentouttotheKurbaus，andhadnotreturnedbydinner—time。

Christiancamedownfordinner。Therewerecrimsonspotsinhercheeks，darkcirclesroundhereyes;shebehaved，however，asthoughnothinghadhappened。MissNaylor，affectedbythekindnessofherheartandtheshockhersystemhadsustained，rolledanumberofbreadpills，lookingateachasitcame，withanairofsurprise，andconcealingitwithdifficulty。Mr。Treffrywascoughing，andwhenhetalkedhisvoiceseemedtorumbleevenmorethanusual。Gretawasdumb，tryingtocatchChristian’seye;Mrs。Deciealoneseemedatease。AfterdinnerMr。Treffrywentofftohisroom，leaningheavilyonChristian’sshoulder。Ashesankintohischair，hesaidtoher:

"Pullyourselftogether，mydear！"Christiandidnotanswerhim。

OutsidehisroomGretacaughtherbythesleeve。

"Look！"shewhispered，thrustingapieceofpaperintoChristian’shand。"ItistomefromDr。Edmund，butyoumustreadit。"

Christianopenedthenote，whichranasfollows:

"MYPHILOSOPHERANDFRIEND，——Ireceivedyournote，andwenttoourfriend’sstudio;hewasnotin，buthalfanhouragoIstumbledonhiminthePlatz。Heisnotquitehimself;hashadatouchofthesun——nothingserious:Itookhimtomyhotel，whereheisinbed。Ifhewillstaytherehewillbeallrightinadayortwo。Inanycaseheshallnoteludemyclutchesforthepresent。

"MywarmrespectstoMistressChristian。——Yoursinfriendshipandphilosophy，EDMUNDDAWNEY。"

Christianreadandre—readthisnote，thenturnedtoGreta。

"WhatdidyousaytoDr。Dawney？"

Gretatookbackthepieceofpaper，andreplied:"Isaid:

"’DEARDR。EDMUND，——WeareanxiousaboutHerrHarz。Wethinkheisperhapsnotverywellto—day。We（IandChristian）shouldliketoknow。Youcantellus。Pleaseshallyou？GRETA。’

"ThatiswhatIsaid。"

Christiandroppedhereyes。"Whatmadeyouwrite？"

Gretagazedathermournfully:"Ithought——OChris！comeintothegarden。Iamsohot，anditissodullwithoutyou！"

ChristianbentherheadforwardandrubbedhercheekagainstGreta’s，thenwithoutanotherwordranupstairsandlockedherselfintoherroom。Thechildstoodlistening;hearingthekeyturninthelock，shesankdownonthebottomstepandtookScruffinherarms。

HalfanhourlaterMissNaylor，carryingacandle，foundhertherefastasleep，withherheadrestingontheterrier’sback，andtearstainsonhercheeks……

Mrs。Deciepresentlycameout，alsocarryingacandle，andwenttoherbrother’sroom。Shestoodbeforehischair，withfoldedhands。

"Nicholas，whatistobedone？"

Mr。Treffrywaspouringwhiskyintoaglass。

"Damnit，Con！"heanswered;"howshouldIknow？"

"There’ssomethinginChristianthatmakesinterferencedangerous。I

knowverywellthatI’venoinfluencewithheratall。"

"You’rerightthere，Con，"Mr。Treffryreplied。

Mrs。Decie’spaleeyes，fastenedonhisface，forcedhimtolookup。

"Iwishyouwouldleaveoffdrinkingwhiskyandattendtome。Paulisanelement——"

"Paul，"Mr。Treffrygrowled，"isanass！"

"Paul，"pursuedMrs。Decie，"isanelementofdangerinthesituation;anyill—timedoppositionofhismightdrivehertoIdon’tknowwhat。Christianisgentle，sheis’sympathetic’astheysay;

butthwarther，andsheisasobstinateas……

"YouorI！Leaveheralone！"

"Iunderstandhercharacter，butIconfessthatIamatalosswhattodo。"

"Donothing！"Hedrankagain。

Mrs。Decietookupthecandle。

"Men！"shesaidwithamysteriousintonation;shrugginghershoulders，shewalkedout。

Mr。Treffryputdownhisglass。

’Understand？’hethought;’no，youdon’t，andIdon’t。Whounderstandsayounggirl？Vapourings，dreams，moonshineI……Whatdoessheseeinthispainterfellow？Iwonder！’Hebreathedheavily。’Byheavens！Iwouldn’thavehadthishappenforahundredthousandpounds！’

XIII

FormanyhoursafterDawneyhadtakenhimtohishotel，Harzwasprostratewithstunningpainsintheheadandneck。Hehadbeenalldaywithoutfood，exposedtoburningsun，sufferingviolentemotion。

Movementofanysortcausedhimsuchagonythathecouldonlylieinstupor，countingthespotsdancingbefore，hiseyes。Dawneydideverythingforhim，andHarzresentedinalistlesswaytheintentscrutinyofthedoctor’scalm，blackeyes。

Towardstheendoftheseconddayhewasabletogetup;Dawneyfoundhimsittingonthebedinshirtandtrousers。

"Myson，"hesaid，"youhadbettertellmewhatthetroubleis——itwilldoyourstubborncarcasegood。"

"Imustgobacktowork，"saidHarz。

"Work！"saidDawneydeliberately:"youcouldn’t，ifyoutried。"

"Imust。"

"Mydearfellow，youcouldn’ttellonecolourfromanother。"

"Imustbedoingsomething;Ican’tsithereandthink。"

Dawneyhookedhisthumbsintohiswaistcoat:"Youwon’tseethesunforthreedaysyet，ifIcanhelpit。"

Harzgotup。

"I’mgoingtomystudioto—morrow，"hesaid。"Ipromisenottogoout。ImustbewhereIcanseemywork。IfIcan’tpaint，Icandraw;Icanfeelmybrushes，movemythingsabout。IshallgomadifIdonothing。"

Dawneytookhisarm，andwalkedhimupanddown。

"I’llletyougo，"hesaid，"butgivemeachance！It’sasmuchtometoputyoustraightasitistoyoutopaintadecentpicture。

Nowgotobed;I’llhaveacarriageforyouto—morrowmorning。"

Harzsatdownonthebedagain，andforalongtimestayedwithoutmoving，hiseyesfixedonthefloor。Thesightofhim，sodesperateandmiserable，hurttheyoungdoctor。

"Canyougettobedbyyourself？"heaskedatlast。

Harznodded。

"Then，good—night，oldchap！"andDawneylefttheroom。

HetookhishatandturnedtowardstheVilla。Betweenthepoplarshestoppedtothink。Thefarthertreeswerefret—workedblackagainstthelingeringgoldofthesunset;ahugemoth，attractedbythetipofhiscigar，cameflutteringinhisface。Themusicofaconcertinaroseandfell，likethesighingofsomedisillusionedspirit。Dawneystoodforseveralminutesstaringatthehouse。

HewasshowntoMrs。Decie’sroom。Shewasholdingamagazinebeforehereyes，andreceivedhimwithasmuchreliefasphilosophypermitted。

"YouaretheverypersonIwantedtosee，"shesaid。

Henoticedthatthemagazinesheheldwasuncut。

"Youareayoungman，"pursuedMrs。Decie，"butasmydoctorIhavearighttoyourdiscretion。"

Dawneysmiled;thefeaturesofhisbroad，clean—shavenfacelookedridiculouslysmallonsuchoccasions，buthiseyesretainedtheirairofcalculation。

"Thatisso，"heanswered。

"Itisaboutthisunfortunateaffair。IunderstandthatMr。Harziswithyou。Iwantyoutouseyourinfluencetodissuadehimfromattemptingtoseemyniece。"

"Influence！"saidDawney;"youknowHarz！"

Mrs。Decie’svoicehardened。

"Everybody，"shesaid，"hashisweakpoints。Thisyoungmanisopentoapproachfromatleasttwoquarters——hisprideisone，hisworkanother。Iamseldomwrongingaugingcharacter;thesearehisvitalspots，andtheyareoftheessenceofthismatter。I’msorryforhim，ofcourse——butathisage，andlivingaman’slife，thesethings——"Hersmilewasextrapale。"Iwishyoucouldgivemesomethingformyhead。It’sfoolishtoworry。Nervesofcourse！

ButIcan’thelpit！Youknowmyopinion，Dr。Dawney。Thatyoungmanwillgofarifheremainsunfettered;hewillmakeaname。Youwillbedoinghimagreatserviceifyoucouldshowhimtheaffairasitreallyis——adragonhim，andquiteunworthyofhispride！Dohelpme！Youarejustthemantodoit！"

Dawneythrewuphisheadasiftoshakeoffthisimpeachment;thecurveofhischinthusdisplayedwasimposinginitsfulness;

altogetherhewasimposing，havinganairofcapability。

Shestruckhim，indeed，asreallyscared;itwasasifhermaskofsmilehadbecomeawry，andfailedtocoverheremotion;andhewaspuzzled，thinking，’Iwouldn’thavebelievedshehaditinher……’

"It’snotaneasybusiness，"hesaid;"I’llthinkitover。"

"Thankyou！"murmuredMrs。Decie。"Youaremostkind。"

Passingtheschoolroom，helookedinthroughtheopendoor。

Christianwassittingthere。Thesightofherfaceshockedhim，itwassowhite，soresolutelydumb。Abooklayonherknees;shewasnotreading，butstaringbeforeher。Hethoughtsuddenly:’Poorthing！IfIdon’tsaysomethingtoher，Ishallbeabrute！’

"MissDevorell，"hesaid:"Youcanreckononhim。"

Christiantriedtospeak，butherlipstrembledsothatnothingcameforth。

"Good—night，"saidDawney，andwalkedout……

ThreedayslaterHarzwassittinginthewindowofhisstudio。Itwasthefirstdayhehadfounditpossibletowork，andnow，tiredout，hestaredthroughtheduskattheslowlylengtheningshadowsoftherafters。Asolitarymosquitohummed，andtwohousesparrows，whohadbuiltbeneaththeroof，chirrupedsleepily。Swallowsdartedbythewindow，dippingtheirbluewingstowardsthequietwater;ahushhadstolenovereverything。Hefellasleep。

Hewoke，withadimimpressionofsomenearpresence。Inthepaleglimmerfrominnumerablestars，theroomwasfullofshadowyshapes。

Helithislantern。Theflamedartedforth，bickered，thenslowlylitupthegreatroom。

"Who’sthere？"

Arustlingseemedtoanswer。Hepeeredabout，wenttothedoorway，anddrewthecurtain。Awoman’scloakedfigureshrankagainstthewall。Herfacewasburiedinherhands;herarms，fromwhichthecloakfellback，werealonevisible。

"Christian？"

Sheranpasthim，andwhenhehadputthelanterndown，wasstandingatthewindow。Sheturnedquicklytohim。"Takemeawayfromhere！

Letmecomewithyou！"

"Doyoumeanit？"

"Yousaidyouwouldn’tgivemeup！"

"Youknowwhatyouaredoing？"

Shemadeamotionofassent。

"Butyoudon’tgraspwhatthismeans。Thingstobearthatyouknownothingof——hungerperhaps！Think，evenhunger！Andyourpeoplewon’tforgive——you’llloseeverything。"

Sheshookherhead。

"Imustchoose——it’sonethingortheother。Ican’tgiveyouup！

Ishouldbeafraid！"

"But，dear;howcanyoucomewithme？Wecan’tbemarriedhere。"

"Iamgivingmylifetoyou。"

"Youaretoogoodforme，"saidHarz。"Thelifeyou’regoinginto——

maybedark，likethat！"hepointedtothewindow。

Asoundoffootstepsbrokethehush。Theycouldseeafigureonthepathbelow。Itstopped，seemedtoconsider，vanished。Theyheardthesoundsofgropinghands，ofacreakingdoor，ofuncertainfeetonthestairs。

Harzseizedherhand。

"Quick！"hewhispered;"behindthiscanvas！"

Christianwastremblingviolently。Shedrewherhoodacrossherface。Theheavybreathingandejaculationsofthevisitorwerenowplainlyaudible。

"He’sthere！Quick！Hide！"

Sheshookherhead。

Withathrillathisheart，Harzkissedher，thenwalkedtowardstheentrance。Thecurtainwaspulledaside。

ItwasHerrPaul，holdingacigarinonehand，hishatintheother，andbreathinghard。

"Pardon！"hesaidhuskily，"yourstairsaresteep，anddark！maisen，fin！nousvoila！Ihaveventuredtocomeforatalk。"Hisglancefellonthecloakedfigureintheshadow。

"Pardon！Athousandpardons！Ihadnoidea！Ibegyoutoforgivethisindiscretion！Imaytakeityouresignpretensionsthen？Youhavealadyhere——Ihavenothingmoretosay;Ionlybegamillionpardonsforintruding。Athousandtimesforgiveme！Good—night！"

Hebowedandturnedtogo。Christiansteppedforward，andletthehoodfallfromherhead。

"It’sI！"

HerrPaulpirouetted。

"GoodGod！"hestammered，droppingcigarandhat。"GoodGod！"

Thelanternflaredsuddenly，revealinghiscrimson，shakingcheeks。

"Youcamehere，atnight！You，thedaughterofmywife！"Hiseyeswanderedwithadullglareroundtheroom。

"Takecare！"criedHarz:"Ifyousayawordagainsther———"

Thetwomenstaredateachother’seyes。Andwithoutwarning，thelanternflickeredandwentout。Christiandrewthecloakroundheragain。HerrPaul’svoicebrokethesilence;hehadrecoveredhisself—possession。

"Ah！ah！"hesaid:"Darkness！Tantmieux！Therightthingforwhatwehavetosay。Sincewedonotesteemeachother，itiswellnottoseetoomuch。"

"Justso，"saidHarz。

Christianhadcomeclosetothem。Herpalefaceandgreatshiningeyescouldjustbeseenthroughthegloom。

HerrPaulwavedhisarm;thegesturewasimpressive，annihilating。

"Thisisamatter，Ibelieve，betweentwomen，"hesaid，addressingHarz。"Letuscometothepoint。Iwilldoyouthecredittosupposethatyouhaveamarriageinview。Youknow，perhaps，thatMissDevorellhasnomoneytillIdie？"

"Yes。"

"AndIampassablyyoung！Youhavemoney，then？"

"No。"

"Inthatcase，youwouldproposetoliveonair？"

"No，towork;ithasbeendonebefore。"

"Itiscalculatedtoincreasehunger！YouarepreparedtotakeMissDevorell，ayoungladyaccustomedtoluxury，intoplaceslike——this！"

hepeeredabouthim，"intoplacesthatsmellofpaint，intothemilieuof’thepeople，’intothesocietyofBohemians——whoknows？ofanarchists，perhaps？"

Harzclenchedhishands:"Iwillanswernomorequestions。"

"Inthatevent，wereachtheultimatum，"saidHerrPaul。"Listen，HerrOutlaw！Ifyouhavenotleftthecountrybynoonto—morrow，youshallbeintroducedtothepolice！"

Christianutteredacry。Foraminuteinthegloomtheonlysoundheardwastheshort，hardbreathingofthetwomen。

SuddenlyHarzcried:"Youcoward，Idefyyou！"

"Coward！"HerrPaulrepeated。"Thatisindeedthelastword。Looktoyourself，myfriend！"