"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。