第7章

Stoopingandfumblingonthefloor，hepickeduphishat。Christianhadalreadyvanished;thesoundofherhurryingfootstepswasdistinctlyaudibleatthetopofthedarkstairs。HerrPaulstoodstillaminute。

"Looktoyourself，mydearfriend！"hesaidinathickvoice，gropingforthewall。Plantinghishataskewonhishead，hebeganslowlytodescendthestairs。

XV

NicholasTreffrysatreadingthepaperinhisroombythelightofalampwithagreenshade;onhissoundfoottheterrierScruffwasasleepandsnoringlightly——thedoghabituallycamedownwhenGretawasinbed，andremainedtillMr。Treffry，alwaysthelatestmemberofthehousehold，retiredtorest。

Throughthelongwindowalittleriveroflightshoneoutontheverandatiles，and，flowingpast，cutthegardenintwo。

Therewasthesoundofhurriedfootsteps，arustlingofdraperies;

Christian，runningthroughthewindow，stoodbeforehim。

Mr。Treffrydroppedhispaper，suchafuryofpassionandalarmshoneinthegirl’seyes。

"Chris！Whatisit？"

"Hateful！"

"Chris！"

"Oh！Uncle！He’sinsulted，threatened！AndIlovehislittlefingermorethanallthe，world！"

Herpassionatevoicetrembled，hereyeswereshining。

Mr。Treffry’sprofounddiscomfortfoundventinthegruffwords:"Sitdown！"

"I’llneverspeaktoFatheragain！Oh！Uncle！Ilovehim！"

Quietintheextremityofhisdisturbance，Mr。Treffryleanedforwardinhischair，restedhisbighandsonitsarms，andstaredather。

Chris！Herewasawomanhedidnotknow！Hislipsmovedundertheheavydroopofhismoustache。Thegirl’sfacehadsuddenlygrownwhite。Shesankdownonherknees，andlaidhercheekagainsthishand。Hefeltitwet;andalumproseinhisthroat。Drawinghishandaway，hestaredatit，andwipeditwithhissleeve。

"Don’tcry！"hesaid。

Sheseizeditagainandclungtoit;thatclutchseemedtofillhimwithsuddenrage。

"What’sthematter？HowthedevilcanIdoanythingifyoudon’ttellme？"

Shelookedupathim。Thedistressofthelastdays，thepassionandfearofthelasthour，thetideofthatnewlifeofthespiritandtheflesh，stirringwithinher，flowedoutinastreamofwords。

Whenshehadfinished，therewassodeadasilencethattheflutteringofamothroundthelampcouldbeheardplainly。

Mr。Treffryraisedhimself，crossedtheroom，andtouchedthebell。

"Tellthegroom，"hesaidtoDominique，"toputthehorsesto，andhave’emroundatonce;bringmyoldboots;wedriveallnight……"

Hisbentfigurelookedhuge，bodyandlegsoutlinedbylight，headandshoulderstoweringintoshadow。"Heshallhavearunforhismoney！"hesaid。Hiseyesstareddownsombrelyathisniece。"It’smorethanhedeserves！——it’smorethanyoudeserve，Chris。Sitdownthereandwritetohim;tellhimtoputhimselfentirelyinmyhands。"Heturnedhisbackonher，andwentintohisbedroom。

Christianrose，andsatdownatthewriting—table。Awhisperstartledher。ItcamefromDominique，whowasholdingoutapairofboots。

"M’mselleChris，whatisthis？——torunaboutallnight？"ButChristiandidnotanswer。

"M’mselleChris，areyouill？"Thenseeingherface，heslippedawayagain。

Shefinishedherletterandwentouttothecarriage。Mr。Treffrywasseatedunderthehood。

"Shan’twantyou，"hecalledouttothegroom，"Getup，Dominique。"

Christianthrustherletterintohishand。"Givehimthat，"shesaid，clingingtohisarmwithsuddenterror。"Oh！Uncle！dotakecare！"

"Chris，ifIdothisforyou——"Theylookedwistfullyatoneanother。Then，shakinghishead，Mr。Treffrygatheredupthereins。

"Don’tfret，mydear，don’tfret！Whoa，mare！"

Thecarriagewithajerkplungedforwardintodarkness，curvedwithacrunchofwheels，andvanished，swingingbetweentheblacktreepillarsattheentrance……

Christianstood，strainingtocatchthefailingsoundofthehoofs。

Downthepassagecameaflutterofwhitegarments;softlimbsweretwinedabouther，someendsofhairfellonherface。

"Whatisit，Chris？Wherehaveyoubeen？WhereisUncleNicgoing？

Tellme！"

Christiantoreherselfaway。"Idon’tknow，"shecried，"Iknownothing！"

Gretastrokedherface。"PoorChris！"shemurmured。Herbarefeetgleamed，herhairshonegoldagainsthernightdress。"Cometobed，poorChris！"

Christianlaughed。"Youlittlewhitemoth！FeelhowhotIam！

You’llburnyourwings！"

Harzhadlaindown，fullydressed。Hewasnolongerangry，butfeltthathewouldratherdiethanyield。Presentlyheheardfootstepscomingupthestairs。

"M’sieu！"

ItwasthevoiceofDominique，whoseface，illuminedbyamatch，woreanexpressionofironicaldisgust。

"Mymaster，"hesaid，"makesyouhiscompliments;hesaysthereisnotimetowaste。Youaretopleasecomeanddrivewithhim！"

"Yourmasterisverykind。TellhimI’minbed。"

"Ah，M’sieu，"saidDominique，grimacing，"Imustnotgobackwithsuchananswer。Ifyouwouldnotcome，Iwastogiveyouthis。"

HarzbrokethesealandreadChristian’sletter。

"Iwillcome，"hesaid。

Aclockwasstrikingastheywentoutthroughthegate。FromwithinthedarkcaveofthephaetonhoodMr。Treffrysaidgruffly:"Comealong，sir！"

Harzflunghisknapsackin，andfollowed。

Hiscompanion’sfigureswayed，thewhiplashslidsoftlyalongtheflankoftheoffhorse，and，asthecarriagerattledforward，Mr。

Treffrycalledout，asifbyafterthought:"Hallo，Dominique！"

Dominque’svoice，shakenandironical，answeredfrombehind:"M’

v’la，M’sieu！"

Inthelongstreetofsilenthouses，mensittinginthelightedcafesturnedwithglassesattheirlipstostareafterthecarriage。Thenarrowriveroftheskyspreadsuddenlytoavast，limpidoceantremulouswithstars。TheyhadturnedintotheroadforItaly。

Mr。Treffrytookapullathishorses。"Whoa，mare！Doggeddoesit！"

andthenearhorse，throwingupherhead，whinnied;afleckoffoamdriftedintoHarz’sface。

Thepainterhadcomeonimpulse;becauseChristianhadtoldhimto，notofhisownfreewill。Hewasangrywithhimself，woundedinself—esteem，forhavingallowedanyonetorenderhimthisservice。

Thesmoothswiftmovementthroughvelvetblacknesssplashedoneitherhandwiththeflyinglamp—light;thestrongsweetairblowinginhisface—airthathadkissedthetopsofmountainsandstolentheirspirit;thesnortandsnuffleofthehorses，andcrisprattlingoftheirhoofs——allthissoonrousedinhimanotherfeeling。HelookedatMr。Treffry’sprofile，withitstuftedchin;atthegreyroadadventuringindarkness;atthepurplemassofmountainspiledaboveit。Allseemedutterlyunreal。

Asifsuddenlyawarethathehadaneighbour，Mr。Treffryturnedhishead。"Weshalldobetterthanthispresently，"hesaid，"bitofaslopecoming。Haven’thad’emoutforthreedays。Whoa—mare！

Steady！"

"Whyareyoutakingthistroubleforme？"askedHarz。

"I’manoldchap，Mr。Harz，andanoldchapmaydoastupidthingonceinawhile！"

"Youareverygood，"saidHarz，"butIwantnofavours。"

Mr。Treffrystaredathim。

"Justso，"hesaiddrily，"butyouseethere’smyniecetobethoughtof。Lookhere！We’renotatthefrontieryet，Mr。Harz，byfortymiles;it’slongoddswedon’tgetthere——so，don’tspoilsport！"Hepointedtotheleft。

Harzcaughttheglintofsteel。Theywerealreadycrossingtherailway。Thesighofthetelegraphwiresflutteredabovethem。

"Hear’em，"saidMr。Treffry，"butifwegetawayupthemountains，we’lldoyet！"Theyhadbeguntorise，thespeedslackened。Mr。

Treffryrummagedoutaflask。

"Notbadstuff，Mr。Harz——tryit。Youwon’t？Mother’smilk！Finenight，eh？"Belowthemthevalleywaslitbywebsofmilkymistliketheglimmerofdewongrass。

Thesetwomensittingsidebyside——unlikeinface，age，stature，thought，andlife——begantofeeldrawntowardseachother，asif，intherollingofthewheels，thesnortingofthehorses，thehugedarkspace，thehugeuncertainty，theyhadfoundsomethingtheycouldenjoyincommon。The，steamfromthehorses’flanksandnostrilsenvelopedthemwithanodourasofglue。

"Yousmoke，Mr。Harz？"

Harztooktheprofferedweed，andlighteditfromtheglowingtipofMr。Treffry’scigar，bylightofwhichhisheadandhatlookedlikesomegiantmushroom。Suddenlythewheelsjoltedonarubbleofloosestones;thecarriagewasswungsideways。Thescaredhorses，strainingasunder，leapedforward，andspeddownwards，inthedarkness。

Pastrocks，trees，dwellings，pastalightedhousethatgleamedandvanished。Withaclinkandclatter，aflirtofdustandpebbles，andthesidelampsthrowingoutafriskyorangeblink，thecarriagedasheddown，sinkingandrisinglikeaboatcrossingbillows。Theworldseemedtorockandsway;todanceup，andbeflungflatagain。

Onlythestarsstoodstill。

Mr。Treffry，puttingonthebrake，mutteredapologetically:"Alittleouto’hand！"

Suddenlywithaheadlongdive，thecarriageswayedasifitwouldflyinpieces，slitheredalong，andwithajerksteadieditself。Harzliftedhisvoiceinashoutofpureexcitement。Mr。Treffryletoutashortshakyhowl，andfrombehindthereroseawail。Butthehillwasoverandthestartledhorseswerecanteringwithafree，smoothmotion。Mr。TreffryandHarzlookedateachother。

XVII

Mr。Treffrysaidwithasortoflaugh:"Neargo，eh？Youdrive？No？

That’sapity！Brokenmostofmybonesatthegame——nothinglikeit！"Eachfeltakindofadmirationfortheotherthathehadnotfeltbefore。PresentlyMr。Treffrybegan:"Lookhere，Mr。Harz，mynieceisaslipofathing，withallayounggirl’snotions！Whathaveyougottogiveher，eh？Yourself？That’ssurelynotenough;

mindthis——sixmonthsaftermarriageweallturnoutmuchthesame——aselfishlot！Nottomentionthisanarchistaffair！

You’renotofherblood，norofherwayoflife，noranything——it’stakingchances——and——"hishandcamedownontheyoungman’sknee，"I’mfondofher，yousee。"

"Ifyouwereinmyplace，"saidHarz，"wouldyougiveherup？"

Mr。Treffrygroaned。"Lordknows！"

"Menhavemadethemselvesbeforenow。Forthosewhodon’tbelieveinfailure，there’snosuchthing。Supposeshedoessufferalittle？

Willitdoheranyharm？Fairweatherloveisnogood。"

Mr。Treffrysighed。

"Bravewords，sir！You’llpardonmeifI’mtoooldtounderstand’emwhenthey’reusedaboutmyniece。"

Hepulledthehorsesup，andpeeredintothedarkness。"We’regoingthroughthisbitquietly;iftheylosetrackofusheresomuchthebetter。Dominique！putoutthelamps。Soho，mybeauties！"Thehorsespacedforwardatawalkthemuffledbeatoftheirhoofsinthedusthardlybrokethehush。Mr。Treffrypointedtotheleft:"It’llbeanotherthirty—fivemilestothefrontier。"

Theypassedthewhitewashedhouses，andvillagechurchwithitssentinelcypress—trees。Afrogwascroakinginarunlet;therewasafaintspicyscentoflemons。Butnothingstirred。

Itwaswoodnowoneitherside，thehighpines，breathingtheirfragranceoutintothedarkness，and，likeghostsamongstthem，thesilverstemsofbirch—trees。

Mr。Treffrysaidgruffly:"Youwon’tgiveherup？Herhappinessmeansalottome。"

"Toyou！"saidHarz:"tohim！AndIamnothing！DoyouthinkI

don’tcareforherhappiness？Isitacrimeformetoloveher？"

"Almost，Mr。Harz——considering……"

"ConsideringthatI’venomoney！Alwaysmoney！"

TothissneerMr。Treffrymadenoanswer，cluckingtohishorses。

"Myniecewasbornandbredalady，"hesaidatlast。"IaskyouplainlyWhatpositionhaveyougottogiveher？"

"Ifshemarriesme，"saidHarz，"shecomesintomyworld。YouthinkthatI’macommon……"

Mr。Treffryshookhishead:"Answermyquestion，youngman。"

Butthepainterdidnotanswerit，andsilencefell。

Alightbreezehadsprungup;thewhisperinginthetrees，therollingofthewheelsinthisnightprogress，thepine—druggedair，sentHarztosleep。Whenhewokeitwastothesametune，variedbyMr。Treffry’suneasysnoring;thereinswerehangingloose，and，peeringout，hesawDominiqueshufflingalongatthehorses’heads。

Hejoinedhim，and，oneoneachside，theyploddedupandup。Ahazehadbeguntobathethetrees，thestarsburntdim，theairwascolder。Mr。Treffrywokecoughing。Itwaslikesomelongnightmare，thisinterminableexperienceofmuffledsoundsandshapes，ofperpetualmotion，conceived，andcarriedoutindarkness。Butsuddenlythedaybroke。Heraldedbythesnuffleofthehorses，lightbeganglimmeringoverachaosoflinesandshadows，paleasmother—

o’—pearl。Thestarsfaded，andinasmoulderingzigzagthedawnfledalongthemountaintops，flingingoutlittleislesofcloud。Fromalake，curledinahollowlikeapatchofsmoke，camethecryofawater—bird。Acuckoostartedasoftmocking;andclosetothecarriagealarkflewup。Beastsandmenalikestoodstill，drinkingintheair—sweetwithsnowsanddew，andvibratingfaintlywiththerunningofthewaterandtherustlingoftheleaves。

ThenighthadplayedsadtrickswithMr。NicholasTreffry;hishatwasgreywithdust;hischeeksbrownish—purple，therewereheavypouchesbeneathhiseyes，whichstaredpainfully。

"We’llcallahalt，"hesaid，"andgivethegeestheirgrub，poorthings。Canyoufindsomewater，Mr。Harz？There’sarubberbucketinbehind。

Can’tgetaboutmyselfthismorning;makethatlazyfellowofminestirhisstumps。"

Harzsawthathehaddrawnoffoneofhisboots，andstretchedthefootoutonacushion。

"You’renotfittogofarther，"hesaid;"you’reill。"

"Ill！"repliedMr。Treffry;"notabitofit！"

Harzlookedathim，thencatchingupthebucket，madeoffinsearchofwater。Whenhecamebackthehorseswerefeedingfromanindia—

rubbertroughslungtothepole;theystretchedtheirheadstowardsthebucket，pushingasideeachother’snoses。

Theflameintheeasthaddied，butthetopsofthelarcheswerebathedinagentleradiance;andthepeaksaheadwerelikeamber。

Everywherewerethreadsofwater，threadsofsnow，andlittlethreadsofdewygreen，glisteninglikegossamer。

Mr。Treffrycalledout:"Givemeyourarm，Mr。Harz;I’dliketoshakethereefsoutofme。Whenonecomestostandoverattheknees，it’snosucheasymatter，eh？"Hegroanedasheputhisfootdown，andgrippedtheyoungman’sshoulderasinavise。Presentlyheloweredhimselfontoastone。

"’Allovernow！’asChriswouldsaywhenshewaslittle;nastytempershehadtoo——kickandscreamonthefloor！Neverlastedlongthough……’Kissher！takeherup！showherthepictures！’AmazingfondofpicturesChriswas！"HelookeddubiouslyatHarz;thentookalongpullathisflask。"Whatwouldthedoctorsay？Whiskyatfourinthemorning！Well！ThanktheLordDoctorsaren’talwayswithus。"Sittingonthestone，withonehandpressedagainsthisside，andtheothertiltinguptheflask，hewasgreyfromheadtofoot。

Harzhaddroppedontoanotherstone。He，too，waswornoutbytheexcitementandfatigue，comingsosoonafterhisillness。Hisheadwaswhirling，andthenextthingherememberedwasatreewalkingathim，turninground，yellowfromtherootsup;everythingseemedyellow，evenhisownfeet。Somebodyoppositetohimwasjumpingupanddown，agreybear——withahat——Mr。Treffry！Hecried:"Ha—

alloo！"Andthefigureseemedtofallanddisappear……

WhenHarzcametohimselfahandwaspouringliquorintohismouth，andawetclothwasmuffledroundhisbrows;anoiseofhummingandhoofsseemedfamiliar。Mr。Treffryloomedupalongside，smokingacigar;hewasmuttering:"Alowtrick，Paul——bitofmymind！"Then，asifacurtainhadbeensnatchedaside，thevisionbeforeHarzclearedagain。Thecarriagewaswindingbetweenuneven，black—eavedhouses，pastdoorwaysfromwhichgoatsandcowswerecomingout，withbellsontheirnecks。Black—eyedboys，andhereandthereadrowsymanwithalong，cherry—stemmedpipebetwenhisteeth，stoodasidetostare。

Mr。Treffryseemedtohavetakenanewleaseofstrength;likeanangryolddog，hestaredfromsidetoside。"Mybone！"heseemedtosay:"let’sseewho’sgoingtotouchit！"

Thelasthousevanished，glowingintheearlysunshine，andthecarriagewithitstrailofdustbecameentombedoncemoreinthegloomoftalltrees，alongaroadthatcleftawildernessofmossgrownrocks，anddewystems，throughwhichthesunhadnotyetdrivenpaths。

Dominiquecameroundtothem，bearingappearanceofonewhohasseenbetterdays，andapotofcoffeebrewedonaspiritlamp。Breakfast——hesaid——wasserved！

Theearsofthehorsesweretwitchingwithfatigue。Mr。Treffrysaidsadly:"IfIcanseethisthrough，youcan。Geton，mybeauties！"

Assoonasthesunstruckthroughthetrees，Mr。Treffry’sstrengthebbedagain。Heseemedtosuffergreatly;butdidnotcomplain。

Theyhadreachedthepassatlast，andtheuncheckedsunlightwasstreamingdownwithablindingglare。

"Jumpup！"Mr。Treffrycriedout。"We’llmakeafinishofit！"andhegavethereinsajerk。Thehorsesflunguptheirheads，andthebleakpasswithitscirclingcrownofjaggedpeakssoonslippedaway。

Betweenthehousesontheverytop，theypassedataslowtrot;andsoonbeganslantingdowntheotherside。Mr。Treffrybroughtthemtoahaltwhereamuletrackjoinedtheroad。

"That’sallIcandoforyou;you’dbetterleavemehere，"hesaid。

"Keepthistrackdowntotheriver——gosouth——you’llbeinItalyinacoupleofhours。GetrailatFeltre。Money？Yes？Well！"Heheldouthishand;Harzgrippedit。

"Giveherup，eh？"

Harzshookhishead。

"No？Thenit’s’pulldevil，pullbaker，’betweenus。Good—bye，andgoodlucktoyou！"Andmusteringhisstrengthforalastattemptatdignity，Mr。Treffrygatheredupthereins。

Harzwatchedhisfigurehuddledagainbeneaththehood。Thecarriagemovedslowlyaway。

XVIII

AtVillaRubeinpeoplewentabout，avoidingeachotherasifdetectedinconspiracy。MissNaylor，whoforaninscrutablereasonhadputonherbestfrock，apurple，relievedatthechestwithbird’s—eyeblue，conveyedanimpressionoftryingtocountachickenwhichranabouttoofast。WhenGretaaskedwhatshehadlostshewasheardtomutter:"Mr。——Needlecase。

Christian，withbigcirclesroundhereyes，satsilentatherlittletable。Shehadhadnosleep。HerrPaulcomingintotheroomaboutnoongaveherafurtivelookandwentoutagain;afterthishewenttohisbedroom，tookoffallhisclothes，flungthempassionatelyonebyoneintoafootbath，andgotintobed。

"Imightbeacriminal！"hemutteredtohimself，whilethebuttonsofhisgarmentsrattledonthebath。

"AmIherfather？HaveIauthority？DoIknowtheworld？Bssss！I

mightbeafrog！"

Mrs。Decie，havingcausedherselftobeannounced，foundhimsmokingacigar，andcountingthefliesontheceiling。

"Ifyouhavereallydonethis，Paul，"shesaidinarestrainedvoice，"youhavedoneaveryunkindthing，andwhatisworse，youhavemadeusallridiculous。Butperhapsyouhavenotdoneit？"

"Ihavedoneit，"criedHerrPaul，staringdreadfully:"Ihavedoneit，Itellyou，Ihavedoneit——"

"Verywell，youhavedoneit——andwhy，pray？Whatconceivablegoodwasthereinit？IsupposeyouknowthatNicholashasdrivenhimtothefrontier？Nicholasisprobablymoredeadthanalivebythistime;youknowhisstateofhealth。"

HerrPaul’sfingersplougheduphisbeard。

"Nicholasismad——andthegirlismad！Leavemealone！Iwillnotbemadeangry;doyouunderstand？Iwillnotbeworried——Iamnotfitforit。"Hisprominentbrowneyesstaredroundtheroom，asiflookingforawayofescape。

"IfImayprophesy，youwillbeworriedagooddeal，"saidMrs。Deciecoldly，"beforeyouhavefinishedwiththisaffair。"

Theanxious，uncertainglancewhichHerrPaulgaveheratthesewordsrousedanunwillingfeelingofcompunctioninher。

"Youarenotmadefortheoutragedfatherofthefamily，"shesaid。

"Youhadbettergiveuptheattitude，Paul;itdoesnotsuityou。"

HerrPaulgroaned。

"Isupposeitisnotyourfault，"sheadded。

Justthenthedoorwasopened，andFritz，withanairofsayingtherightthing，announced:

"Agentlemanofthepolicetoseeyou，sir。"

HerrPaulbounded。

"Keephimout！"hecried。

Mrs。Decie，coveringherlips，disappearedwitharustlingofsilk;

inherplacestoodastiffmaninblue……

Thusthemorningdraggeditselfawaywithoutanyonebeingabletosettletoanything，exceptHerrPaul，whowassettledinbed。Aswasfittinginahousethathadlostitssoul，mealswereneglected，evenbythedog。

Aboutthreeo’clockatelegramcameforChristian，containingthesewords:"Allright;selfreturnsto—morrow。Treffry。"Afterreadingitsheputonherhatandwentout，followedcloselybyGreta，who，whenshethoughtthatshewouldnotbesentaway，ranupfrombehindandpulledherbythesleeve。

"Letmecome，Chris——Ishallnottalk。"

Thetwogirlswalkedontogether。WhentheyhadgonesomedistanceChristiansaid:

"I’mgoingtogethispictures，andtakechargeofthem！"

"Oh！"saidGretatimidly。

"Ifyouareafraid，"saidChristian，"youhadbettergobackhome。"

"Iamnotafraid，Chris，"saidGretameekly。

Neithergirlspokeagaintilltheyhadtakenthepathalongthewall。

Overthetopsofthevinestheheatwasdancing。

"Thesun—fairiesareonthevines！"murmuredGretatoherself。

Attheoldhousetheystopped，andChristian，breathingquickly，pushedthedoor;itwasimmovable。

"Look！"saidGreta，"theyhavescrewedit！"Shepointedoutthreescrewswitharosy—tippedforefinger。

Christianstampedherfoot。

"Wemustn’tstandhere，"shesaid;"let’ssitonthatbenchandthink。"

"Yes，"murmuredGreta，"letusthink。"Danglinganendofhair，sheregardedChristianwithherwideblueeyes。

"Ican’tmakeanyplan，"Christiancriedatlast，"whileyoustareatmelikethat。"

"Iwasthinking，"saidGretahumbly，"iftheyhavescreweditup，perhapsweshallscrewitdownagain;thereisthebigscrew—driverofFritz。"

"Itwouldtakealongtime;peoplearealwayspassing。"

"Peopledonotpassintheevening，"murmuredGreta，"becausethegateatourendisalwaysshut。"

Christianrose。

"Wewillcomethisevening，justbeforethegateisshut。"

"But，Chris，howshallwegetbackagain？"

"Idon’tknow;Imeantohavethepictures。"

"Itisnotahighgate，"murmuredGreta。