"Iwaslikethoseboysonce，"saidHarz。
　　Christianturnedtohimquickly。"Ah！thatwaswhyyoufelttheplay，somuch。"
　　"It’smycountryupthere。Iwasbornamongstthemountains。I
　　lookedafterthecows，andsleptinhay—cocks，andcutthetreesinwinter。Theyusedtocallmea’blacksheep，’a’loafer’inmyvillage。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Ah！why？Iworkedashardasanyofthem。ButIwantedtogetaway。DoyouthinkIcouldhavestayedthereallmylife？"
　　Christian’seyesgreweager。
　　"Ifpeopledon’tunderstandwhatitisyouwanttodo，theyalwayscallyoualoafer！"mutteredHarz。
　　"Butyoudidwhatyoumeanttodoinspiteofthem，"Christiansaid。
　　Forherselfitwassohardtofinishordecide。WhenintheolddaysshetoldGretastories，thelatter，whoseinstinctwasalwaysforthedefinite，wouldsay:"Andwhatcameattheend，Chris？Dofinishitthismorning！"butChristiannevercould。Herthoughtsweredeep，vague，dreamy，invadedbybothsidesofeveryquestion。Whatevershedid，herneedlework，herverse—making，herpainting，allhaditscharm;butitwasnotalwayswhatitwasintendedforatthebeginning。NicholasTreffryhadoncesaidofher:"WhenChrisstartsouttomakeahat，itmayturnoutanaltar—cloth，butyoumaybetitwon’tbeahat。"Itwasherinstincttolookforwhatthingsmeant;
　　andthistookmorethanallhertime。Sheknewherselfbetterthanmostgirlsofnineteen，butitwasherreasonthathadinformedher，notherfeelings。Inhershelteredlife，herhearthadneverbeenruffledexceptbyrarefitsofpassion——"tantrums"oldNicholasTreffrydubbedthem——atwhatseemedtohermeanorunjust。
　　"IfIwereaman，"shesaid，"andgoingtobegreat，Ishouldhavewantedtobeginattheverybottomasyoudid。"
　　"Yes，"saidHarzquickly，"oneshouldbeabletofeeleverything。"
　　Shedidnotnoticehowsimplyheassumedthathewasgoingtobegreat。Hewenton，asmiletwistinghismouthunpleasantlybeneathitsdarkmoustache"Notmanypeoplethinklikeyou！It’sacrimenottohavebeenbornagentleman。"
　　"That’sasneer，"saidChristian;"Ididn’tthinkyouwouldhavesneered！"
　　"Itistrue。Whatistheuseofpretendingthatitisn’t？"
　　"Itmaybetrue，butitisfinernottosayit！"
　　"ByHeavens！"saidHarz，strikingonehandintotheother，"ifmoretruthwerespokentherewouldnotbesomanyshams。"
　　Christianlookeddownathimfromherseatonthestile。
　　"Youarerightallthesame，FrauleinChristian，"headdedsuddenly;
　　"that’saverylittlebusiness。Workiswhatmatters，andtryingtoseethebeautyintheworld。"
　　Christian’sfacechanged。Sheunderstood，wellenough，thiscravingafterbeauty。Slippingdownfromthestile，shedrewaslowdeepbreath。
　　"Yes！"shesaid。Neitherspokeforsometime，thenHarzsaidshyly:
　　"IfyouandFrauleinGretawouldeverliketocomeandseemystudio，Ishouldbesohappy。Iwouldtryandcleanitupforyou！"
　　"Ishouldliketocome。Icouldlearnsomething。Iwanttolearn。"
　　Theywerebothsilenttillthepathjoinedtheroad。
　　"Wemustbeinfrontoftheothers;it’snicetobeinfront——let’sdawdle。Iforgot——youneverdawdle，HerrHarz。"
　　"Afterabigfitofwork，Icandawdleagainstanyone;thenIgetanotherfitofwork——it’slikeappetite。"
　　"I’malwaysdawdling，"answeredChristian。
　　Bytheroadsideapeasantwomanscreweduphersun—driedface，sayinginalowvoice:"Please，graciouslady，helpmetoliftthisbasket！"
　　Christianstooped，butbeforeshecouldraiseit，Harzhoistedituponhisback。
　　"Allright，"henodded;"thisgoodladydoesn’tmind。"
　　Thewoman，lookingverymuchashamed，walkedalongbyChristian;shekeptrubbingherbrownhandstogether，andsaying;"Graciouslady，I
　　wouldnothavewished。Itisheavy，butIwouldnothavewished。"
　　"I’msurehe’drathercarryit，"saidChristian。
　　Theyhadnotgonefaralongtheroad，however，beforetheotherspassedtheminacarriage，andatthestrangesightMissNaylorcouldbeseenpursingherlips;CousinTeresanoddingpleasantly;asmileonDawney’sface;andbesidehimGreta，verydemure。Harzbegantolaugh。
　　"Whatareyoulaughingat？"askedChristian。
　　"YouEnglisharesofunny。Youmustn’tdothishere，youmustn’tdothatthere，it’slikesittinginafieldofnettles。IfIweretowalkwithyouwithoutmycoat，thatlittleladywouldfalloffherseat。"HislaughinfectedChristian;theyreachedthestationfeelingthattheykneweachotherbetter。
　　Thesunhaddippedbehindthemountainswhenthelittletrainsteameddownthevalley。Allweresubdued，andGreta，withanoddinghead，sleptfitfully。Christian，inhercorner，waslookingoutofthewindow，andHarzkeptstudyingherprofile。
　　Hetriedtoseehereyes。Hehadremarkedindeedthat，whatevertheirexpression，thebrows，archedandratherwideapart，gavethemapeculiarlookofunderstanding。Hethoughtofhispicture。Therewasnothinginherfacetoseizeon，itwastoosympathetic，toomuchlikelight。Yetherchinwasfirm，almostobstinate。
　　Thetrainstoppedwithajerk;shelookedroundathim。Itwasasthoughshehadsaid:"Youaremyfriend。"
　　AtVillaRubein，HerrPaulhadkilledthefattedcalfforGreta’sFest。Whenthewholepartywereassembled，healoneremainedstanding;andwavinghisarmabovethecloth，cried:"Mydears！Yourhappiness！Therearegoodthingshere——Come！"Andwithaslylook，theairofaconjurerproducingrabbits，hewhippedthecoveroffthesouptureen:
　　"Soup—turtle，fat，greenfat！"Hesmackedhislips。
　　Noservantswereallowed，because，asGretasaidtoHarz:
　　"Itisthatwearetobegladthisevening。"
　　GenialityradiatedfromHerrPaul’scountenance，mellowasabowlofwine。Hetoastedeverybody，exhortingthemtopleasure。
　　HarzpassedacrackersecretlybehindGreta’shead，andMissNaylor，movedbyamysteriousimpulse，pulleditwithasortofgleefulhorror;itexploded，andGretasprangoffherchair。Scruff，seeingthis，appearedsuddenlyonthesideboardwithhisforelegsinaplateofsoup;withoutmovingthem，heturnedhishead，andappearedtoaccusethecompanyofhisfalseposition。Itwasthesignalforshrieksoflaughter。Scruffmadenoattempttofreehisforelegs;
　　butsniffedthesoup，andfindingthatnothinghappened，begantolapit。
　　"Takehimout！Oh！takehimout！"wailedGreta，"heshallbeill！"
　　"Allons！Moncher！"criedHerrPaul，"c’estmagnifique，mais，voussavez，cenestguerelaguerre！"Scruff，withawildspring，leapedpasthimtotheground。
　　"Ah！"criedMissNaylor，"thecarpet！"Freshmoansofmirthshookthetable;forhavingtastedthewineoflaughter，allwantedasmuchmoreastheycouldget。WhenScruffandhistraceswereeffaced，HerrPaultookaladleinhishand。
　　"Ihaveatoast，"hesaid，wavingitforsilence;"atoastwewilldrinkalltogetherfromourhearts;thetoastofmylittledaughter，whoto—dayhasthirteenyearsbecome;andthereisalsoinourhearts，"hecontinued，puttingdowntheladleandsuddenlybecominggrave，"thethoughtofonewhoisnottodaywithustoseethisjoyfuloccasion;toher，too，inthisourhappinessweturnourheartsandglassesbecauseitisherjoythatweshouldyetbejoyful。Idrinktomylittledaughter;mayGodhershadowbless！"
　　Allstoodup，clinkingtheirglasses，anddrank:then，inthehushthatfollowed，Greta，accordingtocustom，begantosingaGermancarol;attheendofthefourthlineshestopped，abashed。
　　HeirPaulblewhisnoseloudly，and，takingupacapthathadfallenfromacracker，putiton。
　　Everyonefollowedhisexample，MissNaylorattainingthedistinctionofapairofdonkey’sears，whichshewore，afteranotherglassofwine，withanairofsacrificingtothepublicgood。
　　Attheendofsuppercamethemomentfortheofferingofgifts。HerrPaulhadtiedahandkerchiefoverGreta’seyes，andonebyonetheybroughtherpresents。Greta，underforfeitofakiss，wasboundtotellthegiverbythefeelofthegift。Herswift，supplelittlehandsexplorednoiselessly;andineverycasesheguessedright。
　　Dawney’spresent，akitten，madeascenebyclawingatherhair。
　　"ThatisDr。Edmund’s，"shecriedatonce。ChristiansawthatHarzhaddisappeared，butsuddenlyhecamebackbreathless，andtookhisplaceattheendoftherankofgivers。
　　Advancingontiptoe，heputhispresentintoGreta’shands。ItwasasmallbronzecopyofaDonatellostatue。
　　"Oh，HerrHarz！"criedGreta;"Isawitinthestudiothatday。Itstoodonthetable，anditislovely。"
　　Mrs。Decie，thrustingherpaleeyesclosetoit，murmured:
　　"Charming！"
　　Mr。Treffrytookitinhisforgers。
　　"Rumlittletoad！Costapotofmoney，Iexpect！"HeeyedHarzdoubtfully。
　　Theywentintothenextroomnow，andHerrPaul，takingGreta’sbandage，transferredittohisowneyes。
　　"Takecare——takecare，all！"hecried;"Iamadevilofacatcher，"
　　and，feelingtheaircautiously，hemovedforwardlikeabearabouttohug。Hecaughtnoone。ChristianandGretawhiskedunderhisarmsandlefthimgraspingattheair。Mrs。Decieslippedpastwithastonishingagility。Mr。Treffry，smokinghiscigar，andbarricadedinacorner，jeered:"Bravo，Paul！Theactivebeggar！Can’therun！
　　Goit，Greta！"
　　AtlastHerrPaulcaughtCousinTeresa，who，fattenedagainstthewall，lostherhead，andstoodutteringtinyshrieks。
　　SuddenlyMrs。DeciestartedplayingTheBlueDanube。HerrPauldroppedthehandkerchief，twistedhismoustacheupfiercely，glaredroundtheroom，andseizingGretabythewaist，begandancingfuriously，bobbingupanddownlikeacorkinlumpywater。CousinTeresafollowedsuitwithMissNaylor，bothverysolemn，anddancingquitedifferentsteps。Harz，wentuptoChristian。
　　"Ican’tdance，"hesaid，"thatis，Ihaveonlydancedonce，but——ifyouwouldtrywithme！"
　　Sheputherhandonhisarm，andtheybegan。Shedanced，lightasafeather，eyesshining，feetflying，herbodybentalittleforward。
　　Itwasnotagreatsuccessatfirst，butassoonasthetimehadgotintoHarz’sfeet，theywentswingingonwhenalltheresthadstopped。Sometimesonecoupleoranotherslippedthroughthewindowtodanceontheveranda，andcamewhirlinginagain。Thelamplightglowedonthegirls’whitedresses;onHerrPaul’sperspiringface。
　　Heconstitutedinhimselfaperfectorgy，andwhenthemusicstoppedflunghimself，fulllength，onthesofagaspingout:
　　"MyGod！But，myGod！"
　　SuddenlyChristianfeltHarzclingtoherarm。
　　Glowingandpantingshelookedathim。
　　"Giddy！"hemurmured:"Idancesobadly;butI’llsoonlearn。"
　　Gretaclappedherhands:"Everyeveningwewilldance，everyeveningwewilldance。"
　　HarzlookedatChristian;thecolourhaddeepenedinherface。
　　"I’llshowyouhowtheydanceinmyvillage，feetupontheceiling！"
　　AndrunningtoDawney，hesaid:
　　"Holdmehere！Liftme——so！Now，on——two，"hetriedtoswinghisfeetabovehishead，but，withan"Ouch！"fromDawney，theycollapsed，andsatabruptlyonthefloor。Thisuntimelyeventbroughttheeveningtoanend。Dawneyleft，escortingCousinTeresa，andHarzstrodehomehummingTheBlueDanube，stillfeelingChristian’swaistagainsthisarm。
　　Intheirroomthetwogirlssatlongatthewindowtocoolthemselvesbeforeundressing。
　　"Ah！"sighedGreta，"thisisthehappiestbirthdayIhavehad。"
　　Cristiantoothought:’IhaveneverbeensohappyinmylifeasI
　　havebeento—day。Ishouldlikeeverydaytobelikethis！’Andsheleantoutintothenight，tolettheaircoolhercheeks。
　　"Chris！"saidGretasomedaysafterthis，"MissNaylordancedlastevening;Ithinksheshallhaveaheadacheto—day。ThereismyFrenchandmyhistorythismorning。"
　　"Well，Icantakethem。"
　　"Thatisnice;thenwecantalk。Iamsorryabouttheheadache。I
　　shallgivehersomeofmyEaudeCologne。"
　　MissNaylor’sheadachesafterdancingwerethingsonwhichtocalculate。Thegirlscarriedtheirbooksintothearbour;itwasashoweryday，andtheyhadtorunforshelterthroughtheraindropsandsunlight。
　　"TheFrenchfirst，Chris！"GretalikedherFrench，inwhichshewasnotfarinferiortoChristian;thelessonthereforeproceededinanadmirablefashion。Afteronehourexactlybyherwatch（Mr。Treffry’sbirthdaypresentlovedandadmiredatleastonceeveryhour）Gretarose。
　　"Chris，Ihavenotfedmyrabbits。"
　　"Bequick！there’snotmuchtimeforhistory。"
　　Gretavanished。Christianwatchedthebrightwaterdrippingfromtheroof;herlipswerepartedinasmile。ShewasthinkingofsomethingHarzhadsaidthenightbefore。Adiscussionhavingbeenstartedastowhetheraverageopiniondid，ordidnot，safeguardSociety，Harz，aftersittingsilent，hadburstout:"Ithinkonemaninearnestisbetterthantwentyhalf—heartedmenwhofollowtamely;intheendhedoesSocietymostgood。"
　　Dawneyhadanswered:"IfyouhadyourwaytherewouldbenoSociety。"
　　"IhateSocietybecauseitlivesupontheweak。"
　　"Bah！"HerrPaulchimedin;"theweakgoestothewall;thatisascertainasthatyouandIarehere。"
　　"Letthemfallagainstthewall，"criedHarz;"don’tpushthemthere……"
　　Gretareappeared，walkingpensivelyintherain。
　　"Bino，"shesaid，sighing，"haseatentoomuch。Iremembernow，I
　　didfeedthembefore。Mustwedothehistory，Chris？"
　　"Ofcourse！"
　　Gretaopenedherbook，andputafingerinthepage。"HerrHarzisverykindtome，"shesaid。"Yesterdayhebroughtabirdwhichhad。
　　comeintohisstudiowithahurtwing;hebroughtitverygentlyinhishandkerchief——heisverykind，thebirdwasnotevenfrightenedofhim。Youdidnotknowaboutthat，Chris？"
　　Chrisflushedalittle，andsaidinahurtvoice"Idon’tseewhatithasto——dowithme。"
　　"No，"assentedGreta。
　　Christian’scolourdeepened。"Goonwithyourhistory，Greta。"
　　"Only，"pursuedGreta，"thathealwaystellsyouallaboutthings，Chris。"
　　"Hedoesn’t！Howcanyousaythat！"
　　"Ithinkhedoes，anditisbecauseyoudonotmakehimangry。Itisveryeasytomakehimangry;youhaveonlytothinkdifferently，andheshallbeangryatonce。"
　　"Youarealittlecat！"saidChristian;"itisn’ttrue，atall。Hehatesshams，andcan’tbearmeanness;anditismeantocoverupdislikesandpretendthatyouagreewithpeople。"
　　"Papasaysthathethinkstoomuchabouthimself。"
　　"Father！"beganChristianhotly;bitingherlipsshestopped，andturnedherwrathfuleyesonGreta。
　　"Youdonotalwaysshowyourdislikes，Chris。"
　　"I？Whathasthattodowithit？Becauseoneisacowardthatdoesn’tmakeitanybetter，doesit？"
　　"Ithinkthathehasagreatmanydislikes，"murmuredGreta。
　　"Iwishyouwouldattendtoyourownfaults，andnotpryintootherpeople’s，"andpushingthebookaside，Christiangazedinfrontofher。
　　Someminutespassed，thenGretaleaningover，rubbedacheekagainsthershoulder。
　　"Iamverysorry，Chris——Ionlywantedtobetalking。ShallIreadsomehistory？"
　　"Yes，"saidChristiancoldly。
　　"Areyouangrywithme，Chris？"
　　Therewasnoanswer。Thelingeringraindropspattereddownontheroof。Gretapulledathersister’ssleeve。
　　"Look，Chris！"shesaid。"ThereisHerrHarz！"
　　Christianlookedup，droppedhereyesagain，andsaid:"Willyougoonwiththehistory，Greta？"
　　Gretasighed。
　　"Yes，Iwill——but，oh！Chris，thereistheluncheongong！"andshemeeklyclosedthebook。
　　Duringthefollowingweekstherewasa"sitting"nearlyeveryafternoon。MissNaylorusuallyattendedthem;thelittleladywas，toacertainextent，carriedpastobjection。Shehadbeguntotakeaninterestinthepicture，andtowatchtheprocessoutofthecornerofhereye;inthedepthsofherdearmind，however，sheneverquitegotusedtothevanityandwasteoftime;herlipswouldmoveandherknitting—needlesclickinsuppressedremonstrances。
　　WhatHarzdidfasthedidbest;ifhehadleisurehe"sawtoomuch，"
　　lovinghisworksopassionatelythathecouldnevertellexactlywhentostop。Hehatedtolaythingsaside，alwaysthinking:"Icangetitbetter。"Gretawasfinished，butwithChristian，tryashewould，hewasnotsatisfied;fromdaytodayherfaceseemedtohimtochange，asifhersoulweregrowing。
　　Therewerethingstooinhereyesthathecouldneitherreadnorreproduce。
　　Dawneywouldoftenstrollouttothemafterhisdailyvisit，andlyingonthegrass，hisarmscrossedbehindhishead，andabigcigarbetweenhislips，wouldgentlybantereverybody。Teacameatfiveo’clock，andthenMrs。Decieappearedarmedwithamagazineornovel，forshewasproudofherliteraryknowledge。Thesittingwassuspended;Harz，withacigarette，wouldmovebetweenthetableandthepicture，drinkinghistea，puttingatouchinhereandthere;heneversatdowntillitwasalloverfortheday。Duringthese"rests"therewastalk，usuallyendingindiscussion。Mrs。Deciewashappiestinconversationsofaliteraryorder，makingfrequentuseofsuchexpressionsas:"Afterall，itproducesanillusion——doesanythingelsematter？""Ratheraposeur，ishenot？""Aquestion，that，oftemperament，"or"Amatterofthedefinitionofwords";andothercharminggeneralities，whichsoundwell，andseemtogofar，andarepleasinglyirrefutable。SometimesthediscussionturnedonArt——onpointsofcolourortechnique;whetherrealismwasquitejustified;andshouldwebepre—Raphaelites？Whenthesediscussionsstarted，Christian’seyeswouldgrowbiggerandclearer，withasortofshiningreasonableness;asthoughtheyweretryingtoseeintothedepths。AndHarzwouldstareatthem。Butthelookinthoseeyeseludedhim，asiftheyhadnomoremeaningthanMrs。Decie’s，which，withtheirpale，watchfulsmile，alwaysseemedsaying:"Come，letustakealittleintellectualexercise。"
　　Greta，pullingScruff’sears，wouldgazeupatthespeakers;whenthetalkwasover，shealwaysshookherself。Butifnoonecametothe"sittings，"therewouldsometimesbeveryearnest，quicktalk，sometimeslongsilences。
　　OnedayChristiansaid:"Whatisyourreligion？"
　　Harzfinishedthetouchhewasputtingonthecanvas，beforeheanswered:"RomanCatholic，Isuppose;IwasbaptisedinthatChurch。"
　　"Ididn’tmeanthat。Doyoubelieveinafuturelife？"
　　"Christian，"murmuredGreta，whowasplaitingbladesofgrass，"shallalwayswanttoknowwhatpeoplethinkaboutafuturelife;thatissofunny！"
　　"HowcanItell？"saidHarz;"I’veneverreallythoughtofit——neverhadthetime。"
　　"Howcanyouhelpthinking？"Christiansaid:"Ihaveto——itseemstomesoawfulthatwemightcometoanend。"
　　Sheclosedherbook，anditslippedoffherlap。Shewenton:"Theremustbeafuturelife，we’resoincomplete。What’sthegoodofyourwork，forinstance？What’stheuseofdevelopingifyouhavetostop？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"answeredHarz。"Idon’tmuchcare。AllIknowis，I’vegottowork。"
　　"Butwhy？"
　　"Forhappiness——therealhappinessisfighting——therestisnothing。
　　Ifyouhavefinishedathing，doesiteversatisfyyou？Youlookforwardtothenextthingatonce;towaitiswretched！"
　　Christianclaspedherhandsbehindherneck;sunlightflickeredthroughtheleavesontothebosomofherdress。
　　"Ah！Staylikethat！"criedHarz。
　　Shelethereyesrestonhisface，swingingherfootalittle。
　　"Youworkbecauseyoumust;butthat’snotenough。Whydoyoufeelyoumust？Iwanttoknowwhat’sbehind。WhenIwastravellingwithAuntConstancethewinterbeforelastweoftentalked——I’veheardherdiscussitwithherfriends。ShesayswemoveincirclestillwereachNirvana。ButlastwinterIfoundIcouldn’ttalktoher;itseemedasifsheneverreallymeantanything。ThenIstartedreading——KantandHegel——"
　　"Ah！"putinHarz，"iftheywouldteachmetodrawbetter，ortoseeanewcolourinaflower，oranexpressioninaface，Iwouldreadthemall。"
　　Christianleanedforward:"Itmustberighttogetasneartruthaspossible;everystepgainedissomething。Youbelieveintruth;
　　truthisthesameasbeauty——thatwaswhatyousaid——youtrytopaintthetruth，youalwaysseethebeauty。Buthowcanweknowtruth，unlessweknowwhatisattherootofit？"
　　"I——think，"murmuredGreta，sottovoce，"youseeoneway——andheseesanother——because——youarenotoneperson。"
　　"Ofcourse！"saidChristianimpatiently，"butwhy——"
　　Asoundofhumminginterruptedher。
　　NicholasTreffrywascomingfromthehouse，holdingtheTimesinonehand，andahugemeerschaumpipeintheother。
　　"Aha！"hesaidtoHarz:"howgoesthepicture？"andheloweredhimselfintoachair。
　　"Betterto—day，Uncle？"saidChristiansoftly。
　　Mr。Treffrygrowled。"Confoundedhumbugs，doctors！"hesaid。"Yourfatherusedtoswearbythem;why，hisdoctorkilledhim——madehimdrinksuchalotofstuff！"
　　"Whythendoyouhaveadoctor，UncleNic？"askedGreta。
　　Mr。Treffrylookedather;hiseyestwinkled。"Idon’tknow，mydear。Iftheygethalfachance，theywon’tletgoofyou！"
　　Therehadbeenagentlebreezeallday，butnowithaddiedaway;notaleafquivered，notabladeofgrasswasstirring;fromthehousewereheardfaintsoundsasofsomeoneplayingonapipe。A
　　blackbirdcamehoppingdownthepath。
　　"Whenyouwereaboy，didyougoafterbirds’nests，UncleNic？"
　　Gretawhispered。
　　"Ibelieveyou，Greta。"Theblackbirdhoppedintotheshrubbery。
　　"Youfrightenedhim，UncleNic！PapasaysthatatSchlossKonig，wherehelivedwhenhewasyoung，hewouldalwaysbeafterjackdaws’
　　nests。"
　　"Gammon，Greta。Yourfathernevertookajackdaw’snest，hislegsaremuchtooround！"
　　"Areyoufondofbirds，UncleNic？"
　　"Askmeanother，Greta！Well，Is’poseso。"
　　"Thenwhydidyougobird—nesting？Ithinkitiscruel"
　　Mr。Treffrycoughedbehindhispaper:"Thereyouhaveme，Greta，"heremarked。
　　Harzbegantogatherhisbrushes:"Thankyou，"hesaid，"that’sallI
　　candoto—day。"
　　"CanIlook？"Mr。Treffryinquired。
　　"Certainly！"
　　UncleNicgotupslowly，andstoodinfrontofthepicture。"Whenit’sforsale，"hesaidatlast，"I’llbuyit。"
　　Harzbowed;butforsomereasonhefeltannoyed，asifhehadbeenaskedtopartwithsomethingpersonal。
　　"Ithankyou，"hesaid。Agongsounded。
　　"You’llstayandhaveasnackwithus？"saidMr。Treffry;"thedoctor’sstopping。"Gatheringuphispaper，hemovedofftothehousewithhishandonGreta’sshoulder，theterrierrunninginfront。HarzandChristianwereleftalone。Hewasscrapinghispalette，andshewassittingwithherelbowsrestingonherknees;
　　betweenthem，agleamofsunlightdyedthepathgolden。Itwaseveningalready;thebushesandtheflowers，aftertheday’sheat，werebreathingoutperfume;thebirdshadstartedtheirevensong。
　　"Areyoutiredofsittingforyourportrait，FrauleinChristian？"
　　Christianshookherhead。
　　"Ishallgetsomethingintoitthateverybodydoesnotsee——somethingbehindthesurface，thatwilllast。"
　　Christiansaidslowly:"That’slikeachallenge。Youwererightwhenyousaidfightingishappiness——foryourself，butnotforme。I’macoward。Ihatetohurtpeople，Ilikethemtolikeme。Ifyouhadtodoanythingthatwouldmakethemhateyou，youwoulddoitallthesame，ifithelpedyourwork;that’sfine——it’swhatIcan’tdo。
　　It’s——it’severything。DoyoulikeUncleNic？"
　　Theyoungpainterlookedtowardsthehouse，whereundertheverandaoldNicholasTreffrywasstillinsight;asmilecameonhislips。