第9章

"Let’shearwhatyoumakeofme，"hesaid。

WhenDawneyhadexaminedhim，heasked:

"Well？"

"Well，"answeredDawneyslowly，"there’strouble，ofcourse。"

Mr。Treffrybrokeoutwithahuskywhisper:"Outwithit，Doctor;

don’thumbugme。"

Dawneybentdown，andtookhiswrist。

"Idon’tknowhowyou’vegotintothisstate，sir，"hesaidwiththebrusquenessofemotion。"You’reinabadway。It’stheoldtrouble;

andyouknowwhatthatmeansaswellasI。AllIcantellyouis，I’mgoingtohaveabigfightwithit。Itshan’tbemyfault，there’smyhandonthat。"

Mr。Treffrylaywithhiseyesfixedontheceiling;atlasthesaid:

"Iwanttolive。"

"Yes——yes。"

"Ifeelbetternow;don’tmakeafussaboutit。It’llbeveryawkwardifIdiejustnow。Patchmeup，forthesakeofmyniece。"

Dawneynodded。"Oneminute，thereareafewthingsIwant，"andhewentout。

AmomentlaterGretastoleinontiptoe。ShebentovertillherhairtouchedMr。Treffry’sface。

"UncleNic！"shewhispered。Heopenedhiseyes。

"Hallo，Greta！"

"Ihavecometobringyoumylove，UncleNic，andtosaygood—bye。

PapasaysthatIandScruffandMissNayloraregoingtoViennawithhim;wehavehadtopackinhalfanhour;infiveminuteswearegoingtoVienna，anditismyfirstvisitthere，UncleNic。"

"ToVienna！"Mr。Treffryrepeatedslowly。"Don’thaveaguide，Greta;they’rehumbugs。"

"No，UncleNic，"saidGretasolemnly。

"Drawthecurtains，oldgirl，let’shavealookatyou。Why，you’reassmartasninepence！"

"Yes，"saidGretawithasigh，touchingthebuttonsofhercape，"becauseIamgoingtoVienna;butIamsorrytoleaveyou，UncleNic。"

"Areyou，Greta？"

"ButyouwillhaveChris，andyouarefonderofChristhanofme，UncleNic。"

"I’veknownherlonger。"

"Perhapswhenyou’veknownmeaslongasChris，youshallbeasfondofme。"

"WhenI’veknownyouaslong——maybe。"

"WhileIamgone，UncleNic，youaretogetwell，youarenotverywell，youknow。"

"Whatputthatintoyourhead？"

"Ifyouwerewellyouwouldbesmokingacigar——itisjustthreeo’clock。Thiskissisformyself，thisisforScruff，andthisisforMissNaylor。"

Shestooduprightagain;atremulous，joyfulgravitywasinhereyesandonherlips。

"Good—bye，mydear;takecareofyourselves;anddon’tyouhaveaguide，they’rehumbugs。"

"No，UncleNic。Thereisthecarriage！ToVienna，UncleNic！"Thedeadgoldofherhairgleamedinthedoorway。Mr。Treffryraisedhimselfuponhiselbow。

"Giveusonemore，forluck！"

Gretaranback。

"Iloveyouverymuch！"shesaid，andkissinghim，backedslowly，then，turning，flewoutlikeabird。

Mr。Treffryfixedhiseyesontheshutdoor。

XXI

Aftermanydaysofhot，stillweather，thewindhadcome，andwhirledthedustalongtheparchedroads。Theleaveswereallastir，liketinywings。RoundVillaRubeinthepigeonscooeduneasily，alltheotherbirdsweresilent。LateintheafternoonChristiancameoutontheveranda，readingaletter:

"DEARCHRIS，——Weareherenowsixdays，anditisaverylargeplacewithmanychurches。Inthefirstplacethenwehavebeentoagreatmany，butthenicestofthemisnotSt。Stephan’sKirche，itisanother，butIdonotrememberthename。Papaisoutnearlyallthenight;hesaysheisrestinghere，soheisnotabletocometothechurcheswithus，butIdonotthinkherestsverymuch。Thedaybeforeyesterdaywe，thatis，Papa，I，andMissNaylor，wenttoanexhibitionofpictures。Itwasquitebeautifulandinteresting（MissNaylorsaysitisnotrighttosay’quite’beautiful，butIdonotknowwhatotherwordcouldmean’quite’excepttheword’quite，’

becauseitisnotexceedinglyandnotextremely。AndOChris！therewasonepicturepaintedbyhim;itwasaboutashipwithoutmasts——

MissNaylorsaysitisabarge，butIdonotknowwhatabargeis——onfire，and，floatingdownariverinafog。Ithinkitisextremelybeautiful。MissNaylorsaysitisveryimpressionistick——whatisthat？andPapasaid’Puh！’buthedidnotknowitwaspaintedbyHerrHarz，soIdidnottellhim。

"TherehasalsobeenstayingatourhotelthatCountSarelliwhocameoneeveningtodinneratourhouse，butheisgoneawaynow。Hesatalldayinthewintergardenreading，andatnighthewentoutwithPapa。MissNaylorsaysheisunhappy，butIthinkhedoesnottakeenoughexercise;andOChris！onedayhesaidtome，’Thatisyoursister，Mademoiselle，thatyoungladyinthewhitedress？Doesshealwayswearwhitedresses？’andIsaidtohim:’Itisnotalwaysawhitedress;inthepicture，itisgreen，becausethepictureiscalled"Spring。’"ButIdidnottellhimthecoloursofallyourdressesbecausehelookedsotired。Thenhesaidtome:’Sheisverycharming。’SoItellyouthis，Chris，becauseIthinkyoushallliketoknow。Scruff’hasasoretoe;itisbecausehehaseatentoomuchmeat。

"Itisnotnicewithoutyou，Chris，andMissNaylorsaysIamimprovingmymindhere，butIdonotthinkitshallimproveverymuch，becauseatnightIlikeitalwaysbest，whentheshopsarelightedandthecarriagesaredrivingpast;thenIamwantingtodance。ThefirstnightPapasaidhewouldtakemetothetheatre，butyesterdayhesaiditwasnotgoodforme;perhapsto—morrowheshallthinkitgoodformeagain。

"YesterdaywehavebeeninthePrater，andsawmanypeople，andsomethatPapaknew;andthencamethemostinterestingpartofall，sittingunderthetreesintherainfortwohoursbecausewecouldnotgetacarriage（veryexciting）。

"Thereisoneyoungladyhere，onlysheisnotanylongerveryyoung，whoknewPapawhenhewasaboy。Ilikeherverymuch;sheshallsoonknowmequitetothebottomandisverykind。

"TheillhusbandofCousinTeresawhowentwithustoMeranandlostherumbrellaandDr。Edmundwassosorryaboutit，hasbeenverymuchworse，sosheisnotherebutinBaden。Iwrotetoherbuthavenonews，soIdonotknowwhetherheisstilllivingornot，atanyratehecan’tgetwellagainsosoon（andIdon’tthinkheevershall）。I

thinkastheweatherisverywarmyouandUncleNicaresittingmuchoutofdoors。Iamsendingpresentstoyouallinawoodenboxandscrewedveryfirm，soyoushallhavetouseagainthebigscrew—

driverofFritz。ForAuntConstance，photographs;forUncleNic，agreenbirdonastandwithaholeinthebackofthebirdtoputhisashesin;itisagoodgreenandnotexpensifpleasetellhim，becausehedoesnotlikeexpensifpresents（MissNaylorsaysthebirdhasaninquiringeye——itisaparrat）;foryou，alittlebroochofturquoisebecauseIlikethembest;forDr。EdmundamachinetoweighmedicinesinbecausehesaidhecouldnotgetagoodoneinBotzen;

thisisaverygoodone，theshopmantoldmeso，andisthemostexpensifofallthepresents——sothatisallmymoney，excepttwogulden。IfPapashallgivemesomemore，IshallbuyforMissNayloraparasol，becauseitisusefulandthehandleofhersis’wobbley’

（thatisoneofDr。Edmund’swordsandIlikeit）。

"Good—byeforthistime。Gretasendsyouherkiss。

"PS。——MissNaylorhasreadallthisletter（exceptabouttheparasol）

andthereareseveralthingsshedidnotwantmetoput，soIhavecopieditwithoutthethings，butatthelastIhavekeptthatcopymyself，sothatiswhythisissmudgyandseveralwordsarenotspeltwell，butallthethingsarehere。"

Christianread，smiling，buttofinishitwaslikedroppingatalisman，andherfaceclouded。Asuddendraughtblewherhairabout，andfromwithin，Mr。Treffry’scoughmingledwiththesoughingofthewind;theskywasfastblackening。Shewentindoors，tookapenandbegantowrite:

"MYFRIEND，——Whyhaven’tyouwrittentome？Itisso，longtowait。

UnclesaysyouareinItaly——itisdreadfulnottoknowforcertain。

Ifeelyouwouldhavewrittenifyoucould;andIcan’thelpthinkingofallthethingsthatmayhavehappened。Iamunhappy。UncleNicisill;hewillnotconfessit，thatishisway;butheisveryill。

Thoughperhapsyouwillneverseethis，Imustwritedownallmythoughts。SometimesIfeelthatIambrutaltobealwaysthinkingaboutyou，scheminghowtobewithyouagain，whenheislyingtheresoill。Howgoodhehasalwaysbeentome;itisterriblethatloveshouldpulloneapartso。Surelyloveshouldbebeautiful，andpeaceful，insteadoffillingmewithbitter，wickedthoughts。Iloveyou——andIlovehim;IfeelasifIweretornintwo。Whyshoulditbeso？Whyshouldthebeginningofonelifemeantheendingofanother，onelovethedestructionofanother？Idon’tunderstand。

Thesamespiritmakesmeloveyouandhim，thesamesympathy，thesametrust——yetitsometimesseemsasifIwereacriminalinlovingyou。Youknowwhathethinks——heistoohonestnottohaveshownyou。Hehastalkedtome;helikesyouinaway，butyouareaforeigner——hesays—yourlifeisnotmylife。’Heisnotthemanforyou！’Thosewerehiswords。Andnowhedoesn’ttalktome，butwhenIamintheroomhelooksatme——that’sworse——athousandtimes;whenhetalksitrousesmetofight——whenit’shiseyesonly，I’macowardatonce;IfeelIwoulddoanything，anything，onlynottohurthim。

Whycan’thesee？Isitbecausehe’soldandweareyoung？Hemayconsent，buthewillnever，neversee;itwillalwayshurthim。

"Iwanttotellyoueverything;Ihavehadworsethoughtsthanthese—

—sometimesIhavethoughtthatIshouldneverhavethecouragetofacethestrugglewhichyouhavetoface。ThenIfeelquitebroken;

itislikesomethinggivingwayinme。ThenIthinkofyou，anditisover;butithasbeenthere，andIamashamed——ItoldyouIwasacoward。It’slikethefeelingonewouldhavegoingoutintoastormonadarknight，awayfromawarmfire——onlyofthespiritnotthebody——whichmakesitworse。Ihadtotellyouthis;youmustn’tthinkofitagain，Imeantofightitawayandforgetthatithaseverbeenthere。ButUncleNic——whatamItodo？IhatemyselfbecauseIamyoung，andheisoldandweak——sometimesIseemeventohatehim。Ihaveallsortsofthoughts，andalwaysattheendofthem，likeadarkholeattheendofapassage，thethoughtthatI

oughttogiveyouup。OughtI？Tellme。Iwanttoknow，Iwanttodowhatisright;Istillwanttodothat，thoughsometimesIthinkI

amallmadeofevil。

"Doyourememberoncewhenweweretalking，yousaid:’Naturealwayshasananswerforeveryquestion;youcannotgetananswerfromlaws，conventions，theories，words，onlyfromNature。’Whatdoyousaytomenow;doyoutellmeitisNaturetocometoyouinspiteofeverything，andso，thatitmustberight？Ithinkyouwould;butcanitbeNaturetodosomethingwhichwillhurtterriblyonewhomI

loveandwholovesme？Ifitis——Natureiscruel。Isthatoneofthe’lessonsoflife’？IsthatwhatAuntConstancemeanswhenshesays:’Iflifewerenotaparadox，wecouldnotgetonatall’？Iambeginningtoseethateverythinghasitsdarkside;Ineverbelievedthatbefore。

"UncleNicdreadsthelifeforme;hedoesn’tunderstand（howshouldhe？——hehasalwayshadmoney）howlifecanbetolerablewithoutmoney——itishorriblethattheaccidentofmoneyshouldmakesuchdifferenceinourlives。Iamsometimesafraidmyself，andIcan’toutfacethatfearinhim;heseestheshadowofhisfearinme——hiseyesseemtoseeeverythingthatisinmenow;theeyesofoldpeoplearethesaddestthingsintheworld。Iamwritinglikeawretchedcoward，butyouwillneverseethisletterIsuppose，andsoitdoesn’tmatter;butifyoudo，andIpraythatyoumay——well，ifIamonlyworthtakingatmybest，Iamnotworthtakingatall。Iwantyoutoknowtheworstofme——you，andnooneelse。

"WithUncleNicitisnotaswithmystepfather;hisoppositiononlymakesmeangry，mad，readytodoanything，butwithUncleNicIfeelsobruised——sosore。Hesaid:’Itisnotsomuchthemoney，becausethereisalwaysmine。’Icouldneverdoathinghecannotbear，andtakehismoney，andyouwouldneverletme。Oneknowsverylittleofanythingintheworldtilltroublecomes。Youknowhowitiswithflowersandtrees;intheearlyspringtheylooksoquietandself—

contained;thenallinamomenttheychange——Ithinkitmustbelikethatwiththeheart。IusedtothinkIknewagreatdeal，understoodwhyandhowthingscameabout;Ithoughtself—possessionandreasonsoeasy;nowIknownothing。AndnothingintheworldmattersbuttoseeyouandhideawayfromthatlookinUncleNic’seyes。ThreemonthsagoIdidnotknowyou，nowIwritelikethis。WhateverI

lookat，Itrytoseeasyouwouldsee;Ifeel，nowyouareawayevenmorethanwhenyouwerewithme，whatyourthoughtswouldbe，howyouwouldfeelaboutthisorthat。Somethingsyouhavesaidseemalwaysinmymindlikelights——"

Aslantingdriftofrainwasstrikingtheverandatileswithacold，ceaselesshissing。Christianshutthewindow，andwentintoheruncle’sroom。

Hewaslyingwithclosedeyes，growlingatDominique，whomovedaboutnoiselessly，puttingtheroomreadyforthenight。Whenhehadfinished，andwithacompassionatebowhadlefttheroom，Mr。Treffryopenedhiseyes，andsaid:

"Thisisbeastlystuffofthedoctor’s，Chris，itputsmymonkeyup;

Ican’thelpswearingafterI’vetakenit;it’sasbeastlyasavulgarwoman’slaugh，andIdon’tknowanythingbeastlierthanthat！"

"IhavealetterfromGreta，UncleNic;shallIreadit？"

Henodded，andChristianreadtheletter，leavingoutthementionofHarz，andforsomeundefinedreasonthepartaboutSarelli。

"Ay！"saidMr。Treffrywithafeeblelaugh，"Gretaandhermoney！

Sendhersomemore，Chris。WishIwereayoungsteragain;that’sabeastofaproverbaboutadogandhisday。I’dliketogofishingagainintheWestCountry！Afinetimewehadwhenwewereyoungsters。Youdon’tgetsuchtimesthesedays。’Twasn’toftenthefishing—smackswentoutwithoutus。We’dwatchtheirlightsfromourbedroomwindow;whentheywereswungaboardwewereoutanddowntothequaybeforeyoucouldsay’knife。’Theyalwayswaitedforus;

butyourUncleDanwasthefavourite，hewasthechapforluck。WhenIgetonmylegs，wemightgodownthere，youandI？Forabit，justtosee？Whatd’yousay，oldgirl？"

Theireyesmet。

"I’dliketolookatthesmacklightsgoingtoseaonadarknight;

pityyou’resuchadufferinaboat——wemightgooutwiththem。Doyouapowerofgood！You’renotlookingthething，mydear。"

Hisvoicediedwistfully，andhisglance，sweepingherface，restedonherhands，whichheldandtwistedGreta’sletter。Afteraminuteortwoofsilenceheboomedoutagainwithsuddenenergy:

"Youraunt’llwanttocomeandsitwithme，afterdinner;don’tlether，Chris，Ican’tstandit。TellherI’masleep——thedoctor’llbeheredirectly;askhimtomakeupsomehumbugforyou——it’shisbusiness。"

Hewasseizedbyaviolentfitofpainwhichseemedtostabhisbreathaway，andwhenitwasoversignedthathewouldbeleftalone。

Christianwentbacktoherletterintheotherroom，andhadwrittenthesewords，whenthegongsummonedhertodinner:

’I’mlikealeafinthewind，Iputoutmyhandtoonething，andit’sseizedandtwistedandflungaside。Iwantyou——Iwantyou;ifIcouldseeyouIthinkIshouldknowwhattodo——"

XXII

Theraindrovewithincreasingfury。Thenightwasveryblack。

NicholasTreffrysleptheavily。Bythesideofhisbedthenight—

lampcastontotheoppositewallabrightdiscfestoonedbythehangingshadowoftheceiling。Christianwasleaningoverhim。Forthemomenthefilledallherheart，lyingthere，sohelpless。Fearfulofwakinghimsheslippedintothesitting—room。Outsidethewindowstoodamanwithhisfacepressedtothepane。Herheartthumped;

shewentupandunlatchedthewindow。ItwasHarz，withtheraindrippingoffhim。Heletfallhishatandcape。

"You！"shesaid，touchinghissleeve。"You！You！"

Hewassoddenwithwet，hisfacedrawnandtired;adarkgrowthofbeardcoveredhischeeksandchin。

"Whereisyouruncle？"hesaid;"Iwanttoseehim。"

Sheputherhanduptohislips，buthecaughtitandcovereditwithkisses。

"He’sasleep——ill——speakgently！"

"Icametohimfirst，"hemuttered。

Christianlitthelamp;andhelookedatherhungrilywithoutaword。

"It’snotpossibletogoonlikethis;Icametotellyouruncleso。

Heisaman。Asfortheother，Iwanttohavenothingtodowithhim！Icamebackonfootacrossthemountains。It’snotpossibletogoonlikethis，Christian。"

Shehandedhimherletter。Heheldittothelight，clearinghisbrowofraindrops。Whenhehadreadtothelastwordhegaveitherback，andwhispered:"Come！"

Herlipsmoved，butshedidnotspeak。

"WhilethisgoesonIcan’twork;Icandonothing。Ican’t——Iwon’tbargainwithmywork;ifit’stobethat，wehadbetterendit。Whatarewewaitingfor？Soonerorlaterwemustcometothis。I’msorrythathe’sill，Godknows！Butthatchangesnothing。Towaitistyingmehandandfoot——it’smakingmeafraid！Fearkills！Itwillkillyou！Itkillswork，andImustwork，Ican’twastetime——I

won’t！Iwillsoonergiveyouup。"Heputhishandsonhershoulders。"Iloveyou！Iwantyou！Lookinmyeyesandseeifyoudareholdback！"

Christianstoodwiththegripofhisstronghandsonhershoulders，withoutamovementorsign。Herfacewasverywhite。Andsuddenlyhebegantokissthatpale，stillface，tokissitseyesandlips，tokissitfromitschinuptoitshair;anditstayedpale，asawhiteflower，beneaththosekisses——asawhiteflower，whosestalkthefingersbendbackalittle。

Therewasasoundofknockingonthewall;Mr。Treffrycalledfeebly。

ChristianbrokeawayfromHarz。

"To—morrow！"hewhispered，andpickinguphishatandcloak，wentoutagainintotherain。

XXIII

ItwasnottillmorningthatChristianfellintoatroubledsleep。

Shedreamedthatavoicewascallingher，andshewasfilledwithahelpless，dumbdreamterror。

Whenshewokethelightwasstreamingin;itwasSunday，andthecathedralbellswerechiming。HerfirstthoughtwasofHarz。Onestep，onemomentofcourage！Whyhadshenottoldheruncle？Ifhehadonlyasked！Butwhy——whyshouldshetellhim？Whenitwasoverandshewasgone，hewouldseethatallwasforthebest。

HereyesfellonGreta’semptybed。Shesprangup，andbendingover，kissedthepillow。’Shewillmindatfirst;butshe’ssoyoung！

Nobodywillreallymissme，exceptUncleNic！’Shestoodalongwhileinthewindowwithoutmoving。Whenshewasdressedshecalledouttohermaid:

"Bringmesomemilk，Barbi;I’mgoingtochurch。"

"Ach！gnadigesFrdulein，willyounobreakfasthave？"

"Nothankyou，Barbi。"

"LiebesFraulein，whatabeautifulmorningaftertherainithasbecome！Howcool！Itisforyougood——forthecolourinyourcheeks;nowtheywillbloomagain！"andBarbistrokedherownwell—

colouredcheeks。

Dominique，sunninghimselfoutsidewithaclothacrosshisarm，bowedasshepassed，andsmiledaffectionately:

"Heisbetterthismorning，M’mselle。Wemarch——wearegettingon。

Goodnewswillputtheheartintoyou。"

Christianthought:’Howsweeteveryoneisto—day！’

EventheVillaseemedtogreether，withthesunaslantonit;andthetrees，tremblingandweepinggoldentears。Atthecathedralshewasearlyfortheservice，buthereandtherewerefiguresontheirknees;thefaint，sicklyodouroflong—burntincenseclungintheair;apriestmovedsilentlyatthefarend。Sheknelt，andwhenatlastsherosetheservicehadbegun。Withthesoundoftheintoningasenseofpeacecametoher——thepeaceofresolution。Forgoodorbadshefeltthatshehadfacedherfate。

Shewentoutwithalookofquietserenityandwalkedhomealongthedyke。ClosetoHarz’sstudioshesatdown。Now——itwasherown;allthathadbelongedtohim，thathadeverhadapartinhim。

Anoldbeggar，whohadbeenwatchingher，camegentlyfrombehind。

"Graciouslady！"hesaid，peeringathereyes，"thisistheluckydayforyou。Ihavelostmyluck。"

Christianopenedherpurse，therewasonlyonecoininit，agoldpiece;thebeggar’seyessparkled。

Shethoughtsuddenly:’It’snolongermine;Imustbegintobecareful，’butshefeltashamedwhenshelookedattheoldman。

"Iamsorry，"shesaid;"yesterdayIwouldhavegivenyouthis，but——

butnowit’salreadygiven。"

Heseemedsooldandpoor——whatcouldshegivehim？Sheunhookedalittlesilverbroochatherthroat。"Youwillgetsomethingforthat，"shesaid;"it’sbetterthannothing。Iamverysorryyouaresooldandpoor。"

Thebeggarcrossedhimself。"Graciouslady，"hemuttered，"mayyouneverwant！"

Christianhurriedon;therustlingofleavessooncarriedthewordsaway。Shedidnotfeelinclinedtogoin，andcrossingthebridgebegantoclimbthehill。Therewasagentlebreeze，driftingthecloudsacrossthesun;lizardsdartedoutoverthewalls，lookedather，andwhiskedaway。

Thesunshine，dapplingthroughthetopsoftrees，gasheddownonatorrent。Theearthsmeltsweet，thevineyardsroundthewhitefarmsglistened;everythingseemedtoleapanddancewithsapandlife;itwasamomentofSpringinmidsummer。Christianwalkedon，wonderingatherownhappiness。

’AmIheartless？’shethought。’Iamgoingtoleavehim——Iamgoingintolife;Ishallhavetofightnow，there’llbenolookingback。’

Thepathbrokeawayandwounddowntothelevelofthetorrent;ontheothersideitroseagain，andwaslostamongtrees。Thewoodsweredank;shehastenedhome。

Inherroomshebegantopack，sortingandtearingupoldletters。

’Onlyonethingmatters，’shethought;’singlenessofheart;toseeyourway，andkeeptoitwithallyourmight。’

ShelookedupandsawBarbistandingbeforeherwithtowelsinherhands，andascaredface。

"Areyougoingajourney，gnadigesFraulein？"

"Iamgoingawaytobemarried，Barbi，"saidChristianatlast;

"don’tspeakofittoanyone，please。"

Barbileantalittleforwardwiththetowelsclaspedtothebluecottonbosomofherdress。

"No，no！Iwillnotspeak。But，dearFraulein，thatisabigmatter;haveyouwellthought？"

"Thought，Barbi？HaveInot！"

"But，dearFrauIein，willyouberich？"

"No！Ishallbeaspoorasyou。"

"Ach！dearGod！thatisterrible。Katrina，mysister，sheismarried;shetellsmeallherlife;shetellsmeitisveryhard，andbutforthemoneyinherstockingitwouldbeharder。DearFraulein，thinkagain！Andishegood？Sometimestheyarenotgood。"

"Heisgood，"saidChristian，rising;"itisallsettled！"andshekissedBarbionthecheek。

"Youarecrying，liebesFraulein！Thinkyetagain，perhapsitisnotquiteallsettled;itisnotpossiblethatamaidenshouldnotawayoutleave？"

Christiansmiled。"Idon’tdothingsthatway，Barbi。"

Barbihungthetowelsonthehorse，andcrossedherself。

Mr。Treffry’sgazewasfixedonatortoise—shellbutterflyflutteringroundtheceiling。Theinsectseemedtofascinatehim，asthingswhichmovequicklyalwaysfascinatethehelpless。Christiancamesoftlyin。

"Couldn’tstayinbed，Chris，"hecalledoutwithanairofguilt。

"Theheatwassomethingawful。Thedoctorpipedoffinahuff，justbecauseo’this。"Hemotionedtowardsajugofclaret—cupandapipeonthetablebyhiselbow。"Iwasonlylookingat’em。"

Christian，sittingdownbesidehim，tookupafan。

"IfIcouldgetoutofthisheat——"hesaid，andclosedhiseyes。

’Imusttellhim，’shethought;’Ican’tslinkaway。’

"Pourmeoutsomeofthatstuff，Chris。"

Shereachedforthejug。Yes！Shemusttellhim！Herheartsank。

Mr。Treffrytookalengthydraught。"Brokenmypromise;don’tmatter——won’thurtanyonebutme。"Hetookupthepipeandpressedtobaccointoit。"I’vebeenlyingherewiththispaingoingrightthroughme，andneverasmoke！D’youtellmeanythingtheparsonssaycandomehalfthegoodofthispipe？"Heleanedback，steepedinaluxuryofsatisfaction。Hewenton，pursuingaprivatetrainofthought:"Thingshavechangedalotsincemyyoungdays。WhenIwasayoungster，ayoungfellowhadtolookoutforpeckandperch——heputthefutureinhispocket。Hedidwellornot，accordingashehadstuffinhim。Nowhe’snotcontentwiththat，itseems——tradesonhisownopinionofhimself;thinksheiswhathesayshe’sgoingtobe。"

"Youareunjust，"saidChristian。

Mr。Treffrygrunted。"Ah，well！IliketoknowwhereIam。IfI

lendmoneytoaman，Iliketoknowwhetherhe’sgoingtopayitback;Imaynotcarewhetherhedoesornot，butIliketoknow。Thesamewithotherthings。Idon’tcarewhatamanhas——though，mindyou，Chris，it’snotabadrulethatmeasuresmenbythebalanceattheirbanks;butwhenitcomestomarriage，there’saverysimplerule，What’snotenoughforoneisnotenoughfortwo。Youcan’ttalkblackwhite，orbreadintoyourmouth。Idon’tcaretospeakaboutmyself，asyouknow，Chris，butItellyouthis——whenIcametoLondonIwantedtomarry——Ihadn’tanymoney，andIhadtowant。

WhenIhadthemoney——butthat’sneitherherenorthere！"Hefrowned，fingeringhispipe。