"Idon’tthinkyoucare，"shewentonwithasortofdesperatehaste，"whetheryouhurtpeopleornot。Youhavebeenhereallthistimewithoutevengoingtoseeyourfatherandmother。"
　　"Doyouthinktheywouldwanttoseeme？"
　　Christianlookedup。
　　"It’sallbeensosoftforyou，"hesaidbitterly;"youdon’tunderstand。"
　　Heturnedhisheadaway，andthenburstout:"I’mproudtocomestraightfromthesoil——Iwouldn’thaveitotherwise;buttheyareof’thepeople，’everythingisnarrowwiththem——theyonlyunderstandwhattheycanseeandtouch。"
　　"I’msorryIspokelikethat，"saidChristiansoftly;"you’venevertoldmeaboutyourself。"
　　Therewassomethingjustalittlecruelinthewaythepainterlookedather，thenseemingtofeelcompunction，hesaidquickly:"Ialwayshated——thepeasantlife——Iwantedtogetawayintotheworld;Ihadafeelinginhere——Iwanted——Idon’tknowwhatIwanted！Ididrunawayatlasttoahouse—painteratMeran。Thepriestwrotemealetterfrommyfather——theythrewmeoff;that’sall。"
　　Christian’seyeswereverybright，herlipsmoved，likethelipsofachildlisteningtoastory。
　　"Goon，"shesaid。
　　"IstayedatMerantwoyears，tillI’dlearntallIcouldthere，thenabrotherofmymother’shelpedmetogettoVienna;Iwasluckyenoughtofindworkwithamanwhousedtodecoratechurches。Wewentaboutthecountrytogether。OncewhenhewasillIpaintedtheroofofachurchentirelybymyself;Ilayonmybackonthescaffoldboardsalldayforaweek——Iwasproudofthatroof。"Hepaused。
　　"Whendidyoubeginpaintingpictures？"
　　"AfriendaskedmewhyIdidn’ttryfortheAcademie。Thatstartedmegoingtothenightschools;Iworkedeveryminute——Ihadtogetmylivingaswell，ofcourse，soIworkedatnight。
　　Thenwhentheexaminationcame，IthoughtIcoulddonothing——itwasjustasifIhadneverhadabrushorpencilinmyhand。Buttheseconddayaprofessorinpassingmesaid，’Good！Quitegood！’Thatgavemecourage。IwassureIhadfailedthough;butIwassecondoutofsixty。"
　　Christiannodded。
　　"ToworkintheschoolsafterthatIhadtogiveupmybusiness，ofcourse。Therewasonlyoneteacherwhoevertaughtmeanything;theothersallseemedfools。Thismanwouldcomeandruboutwhatyou’ddonewithhissleeve。Iusedtocrywithrage——butItoldhimI
　　couldonlylearnfromhim，andhewassoastonishedthathegotmeintohisclass。"
　　"Buthowdidyoulivewithoutmoney？"askedChristian。
　　Hisfaceburnedwithadarkflush。"Idon’tknowhowIlived;youmusthavebeenthroughthesethingstoknow，youwouldneverunderstand。"
　　"ButIwanttounderstand，please。"
　　"Whatdoyouwantmetotellyou？HowIwenttwiceaweektoeatfreedinners！HowItookcharity！HowIwashungry！Therewasarichcousinofmymother’s——Iusedtogotohim。Ididn’tlikeit。
　　Butifyou’restarvinginthewinter"
　　Christianputoutherhand。
　　"Iusedtoborrowapronsfulofcoalsfromotherstudentswhowereaspoor——butIneverwenttotherichstudents。"
　　Theflushhaddiedoutofhisface。
　　"Thatsortofthingmakesyouhatetheworld！Youworktillyoustagger;you’recoldandhungry;youseerichpeopleintheircarriages，wrappedinfurs，andallthetimeyouwanttodosomethinggreat。Youprayforachance，anychance;nothingcomestothepoor！
　　Itmakesyouhatetheworld。"
　　Christian’seyesfilledwithtears。Hewenton:
　　"ButIwasn’ttheonlyoneinthatcondition;weusedtomeet。
　　Garin，aRussianwithabrownbeardandpatchesofcheekshowingthrough，andyellowteeth，whoalwayslookedhungry。Paunitz，whocamefromsympathy！Hehadfatcheeksandlittleeyes，andabiggoldchain——theswine！AndlittleMisek。Itwasinhisroomwemet，withthepaperpeelingoffthewalls，andtwodoorswithcracksinthem，sothattherewasalwaysadraught。Weusedtositonhisbed，andpullthedirtyblanketsoverusforwarmth;andsmoke——tobaccowasthelastthingweeverwentwithout。OverthebedwasaVirginandChild——MisekwasaverydevoutCatholic;butonedaywhenhehadhadnodinnerandadealerhadkepthispicturewithoutpayinghim，hetooktheimageandthrewitonthefloorbeforeoureyes;itbroke，andhetrampledonthebits。Lendorfwasanother，aheavyfellowwhowasalwayspuffingouthiswhitecheeksandsmitinghimself，andsaying:’Cursedsociety！’AndSchonborn，anaristocratwhohadquarrelledwithhisfamily。Hewasthepoorestofusall;
　　butonlyheandIwouldeverhavedaredtodoanything——theyallknewthat！"
　　Christianlistenedwithawe。"Doyoumean？"shesaid，"doyoumean，thatyou——？"
　　"Yousee！you’reafraidofmeatonce。It’simpossibleevenforyoutounderstand。Itonlymakesyouafraid。Ahungrymanlivingoncharity，sickwithrageandshame，isawolfeventoyou！"
　　Christianlookedstraightintohiseyes。
　　"That’snottrue。IfIcan’tunderstand，Icanfeel。Wouldyoubethesamenowifitweretocomeagain？"
　　"Yes，itdrivesmemadevennowtothinkofpeoplefattedwithprosperity，sneeringandholdinguptheirhandsatpoordevilswhohavesufferedtentimesmorethanthemostthosesoftanimalscouldbear。I’molder;I’velived——Iknowthingscan’tbeputrightbyviolence——nothingwillputthingsright，butthatdoesn’tstopmyfeeling。"
　　"Didyoudoanything？Youmusttellmeallnow。"
　　"Wetalked——wewerealwaystalking。"
　　"No，tellmeeverything！"
　　Unconsciouslysheclaimed，andheseemedunconsciouslytoadmitherrighttothisknowledge。
　　"There’snotmuchtotell。Onedaywebegantalkinginlowvoices——
　　Garinbeganit;hehadbeeninsomeaffairinRussia。Wetookanoath;afterthatweneverraisedourvoices。Wehadaplan。Itwasallnewtome，andIhatedthewholething——butIwasalwayshungry，orsickfromtakingcharity，andIwouldhavedoneanything。Theyknewthat;theyusedtolookatmeandSchonborn;weknewthatnooneelsehadanycourage。HeandIweregreatfriends，butwenevertalkedofthat;wetriedtokeepourmindsawayfromthethoughtofit。Ifwehadagooddayandwerenotsohungry，itseemedunnatural;butwhenthedayhadnotbeengood——thenitseemednaturalenough。Iwasn’tafraid，butIusedtowakeupinthenight;Ihatedtheoathwehadtaken，Ihatedeveryoneofthosefellows;thethingwasnotwhatIwasmadefor，itwasn’tmywork，itwasn’tmynature，itwasforcedonme——Ihatedit，butsometimesIwaslikeamadman。"
　　"Yes，yes，"shemurmured。
　　"AllthistimeIwasworkingattheAcademie，andlearningallI
　　could……Oneeveningthatwemet，Paunitzwasnotthere。Misekwastellingushowthethinghadbeenarranged。SchonbornandIlookedateachother——itwaswarm——perhapswewerenothungry——itwasspringtime，too，andintheSpringit’sdifferent。Thereissomething。"
　　Christiannodded。
　　"Whileweweretalkingtherecameaknockatthedoor。Lendorfputhiseyetothekeyhole，andmadeasign。Thepolicewerethere。
　　Nobodysaidanything，butMisekcrawledunderthebed;weallfollowed;andtheknockinggrewlouderandlouder。Inthewallatthebackofthebedwasalittledoorintoanemptycellar。Wecreptthrough。Therewasatrap—doorbehindsomecases，wheretheyusedtorollbarrelsin。Wecrawledthroughthatintothebackstreet。Wewentdifferentways。"
　　Hepaused，andChristiangasped。
　　"IthoughtIwouldgetmymoney，buttherewasapolicemanbeforemydoor。Theyhadusfinely。ItwasPaunitz;ifImethimevennowI
　　shouldwringhisneck。IsworeIwouldn’tbecaught，butIhadnoideawheretogo。ThenIthoughtofalittleItalianbarberwhousedtoshavemewhenIhadmoneyforashave;Iknewhewouldhelp。HebelongedtosomeItalianSociety;heoftentalkedtome，underhisbreath，ofcourse。Iwenttohim。Hewasshavinghimselfbeforegoingtoaball。Itoldhimwhathadhappened;itwasfunnytoseehimputhisbackagainstthedoor。Hewasveryfrightened，understandingthissortofthingbetterthanIdid——forIwasonlytwentythen。Heshavedmyheadandmoustacheandputmeonafairwig。Thenhebroughtmemacaroni，andsomemeat，toeat。Hegavemeabigfairmoustache，andacap，andhidthemoustacheinthelining。
　　Hebroughtmeacloakofhisown，andfourgulden。Allthetimehewasextremelyfrightened，andkeptlistening，andsaying:’Eat！’
　　"WhenIhaddone，hejustsaid:’Goaway，Irefusetoknowanythingmoreofyou。’
　　"Ithankedhimandwentout。Iwalkedaboutallthatnight;forI
　　couldn’tthinkofanythingtodooranywheretogo。InthemorningI
　　sleptonaseatinoneofthesquares。ThenIthoughtIwouldgototheGallerien;andIspentthewholedaylookingatthepictures。
　　WhentheGallerieswereshutIwasverytired，soIwentintoacafe，andhadsomebeer。WhenIcameoutIsatonthesameseatintheSquare。Imeanttowaittilldarkandthenwalkoutofthecityandtakethetrainatsomelittlestation，butwhileIwassittingthereIwenttosleep。Apolicemanwokeme。Hehadmywiginhishand。
　　"’Whydoyouwearawig？’hesaid。
　　"Ianswered:’BecauseIambald。’
　　"’No，’hesaid，’you’renotbald，you’vebeenshaved。Icanfeelthehaircoming。’
　　"Heputhisfingeronmyhead。Ifeltrecklessandlaughed。
　　"’Ah！’hesaid，’you’llcomewithmeandexplainallthis;yournoseandeyesarelookedfor。’
　　"Iwentwithhimquietlytothepolice—station……"
　　Harzseemedcarriedawaybyhisstory。Hisquickdarkfaceworked，hissteel—greyeyesstaredasthoughhewereagainpassingthroughalltheselong—pastemotions。
　　Thehotsunstruckdown;Christiandrewherselftogether，sittingwithherhandsclaspedroundherknees。
　　X
　　"Ididn’tcarebythenwhatcameofit。Ididn’teventhinkwhatI
　　wasgoingtosay。Heledmedownapassagetoaroomwithbarsacrossthewindowsandlongseats，andmapsonthewalls。Wesatandwaited。Hekepthiseyeonmeallthetime;andIsawnohope。
　　PresentlytheInspectorcame。’Bringhiminhere，’hesaid;I
　　rememberfeelingIcouldkillhimfororderingmeabout！Wewentintothenextroom。Ithadalargeclock，awriting—table，andawindow，withoutbars，lookingonacourtyard。Longpolicemen’scoatsandcapswerehangingfromsomepegs。TheInspectortoldmetotakeoffmycap。Itookitoff，wigandall。HeaskedmewhoIwas，butIrefusedtoanswer。Justthentherewasaloudsoundofvoicesintheroomwehadcomefrom。TheInspectortoldthepolicemantolookafterme，andwenttoseewhatitwas。Icouldhearhimtalking。Hecalledout:’Comehere，Becker！’Istoodveryquiet，andBeckerwenttowardsthedoor。IheardtheInspectorsay:’GoandfindSchwartz，Iwillseeafterthisfellow。’Thepolicemanwent，andtheInspectorstoodwithhisbacktomeinthehalf—opendoor，andbeganagaintotalktothemanintheotherroom。Onceortwicehelookedroundatme，butIstoodquietallthetime。Theybegantodisagree，andtheirvoicesgotangry。TheInspectormovedalittleintotheotherroom。’Now！’Ithought，andslippedoffmycloak。Ihookedoffapoliceman’scoatandcap，andputthemon。MyheartbeattillIfeltsick。Iwentontiptoetothewindow。Therewasnooneoutside，butattheentranceamanwasholdingsomehorses。Iopenedthewindowalittleandheldmybreath。IheardtheInspectorsay:’Iwillreportyouforimpertinence！’andslippedthroughthewindow。Thecoatcamedownnearlytomyheels，andthecapovermyeyes。Iwalkeduptothemanwiththehorses，andsaid:’Good—evening。’Oneofthehorseshadbeguntokick，andheonlygruntedatme。Igotintoapassingtram;itwasfiveminutestotheWestBahnhof;Igotoutthere。
　　Therewasatrainstarting;theywereshouting’Einsteigen！’Iran。
　　Thecollectortriedtostopme。Ishouted:’Business——important！’
　　Heletmeby。Ijumpedintoacarriage。Thetrainstarted。"
　　Hepaused，andChristianheavedasigh。
　　Harzwenton，twistingatwigofivyinhishands:"Therewasanothermaninthecarriagereadingapaper。PresentlyIsaidtohim，’Wheredowestopfirst？’’St。Polten。’ThenIknewitwastheMunichexpress——St。Polten，Amstetten，Linz，andSalzburg——fourstopsbeforethefrontier。Themanputdownhispaperandlookedatme;hehadabigfairmoustacheandrathershabbyclothes。Hislookingatmedisturbedme，forIthoughteveryminutehewouldsay:’You’renopoliceman！’Andsuddenlyitcameintomymindthatiftheylookedformeinthistrain，itwouldbeasapoliceman！——theywouldknow，ofcourse，atthestationthatapolicemanhadrunpastatthelastminute。Iwantedtogetridofthecoatandcap，butthemanwasthere，andIdidn’tliketomoveoutofthecarriageforotherpeopletonotice。SoIsaton。WecametoSt。Poltenatlast。Themaninmycarriagetookhisbag，gotout，andlefthispaperontheseat。
　　Westartedagain;Ibreathedatlast，andassoonasIcouldtookthecapandcoatandthrewthemoutintothedarkness。Ithought:’I
　　shallgetacrossthefrontiernow。’ItookmyowncapoutandfoundthemoustacheLuigigaveme;rubbedmyclothesascleanaspossible;
　　stuckonthemoustache，andwithsomelittleendsofchalkinmypocketmademyeyebrowslight;thendrewsomelinesinmyfacetomakeitolder，andpulledmycapwelldownabovemywig。Ididitprettywell——Iwasquitelikethemanwhohadgotout。Isatinhiscorner，tookuphisnewspaper，andwaitedforAmstetten。Itseemedatremendoustimebeforewegotthere。FrombehindmypaperIcouldseefiveorsixpolicemenontheplatform，onequiteclose。Heopenedthedoor，lookedatme，andwalkedthroughthecarriageintothecorridor。Itooksometobaccoandrolledupacigarette，butitshook，"Harzliftedtheivytwig，"likethis。Inaminutetheconductorandtwomorepolicemencame。’Hewashere，’saidtheconductor，’withthisgentleman。’Oneofthemlookedatme，andasked:’Haveyouseenapolicemantravellingonthistrain？’’Yes，’
　　Isaid。’Where？’’HegotoutatSt。Polten。’Thepolicemanaskedtheconductor:’Didyouseehimgetoutthere？’Theconductorshookhishead。Isaid:’Hegotoutasthetrainwasmoving。’’Ah！’saidthepoliceman，’whatwashelike？’’Rathershort，andnomoustache。
　　Why？’’Didyounoticeanythingunusual？’’No，’Isaid，’onlythatheworecolouredtrousers。What’sthematter？’Onepolicemansaidtotheother:’That’sourman！SendatelegramtoSt。Polten;hehasmorethananhour’sstart。’HeaskedmewhereIwasgoing。Itoldhim:’Linz。’’Ah！’hesaid，’you’llhavetogiveevidence;yournameandaddressplease？’’JosefReinhardt，17DonauStrasse。’Hewroteitdown。Theconductorsaid:’Wearelate，canwestart？’Theyshutthedoor。Iheardthemsaytotheconductor:’SearchagainatLinz，andreporttotheInspectorthere。’Theyhurriedontotheplatform，andwestarted。AtfirstIthoughtIwouldgetoutassoonasthetrainhadleftthestation。Then，thatIshouldbetoofarfromthefrontier;bettertogoontoLinzandtakemychancethere。Isatstillandtriednottothink。
　　Afteralongtime，webegantorunmoreslowly。Iputmyheadoutandcouldseeinthedistancearingoflightshangingintheblackness。Iloosenedthecarriagedoorandwaitedforthetraintorunslowerstill;Ididn’tmeantogointoLinzlikearatintoatrap。AtlastIcouldwaitnolonger;Iopenedthedoor，jumpedandfellintosomebushes。Iwasnotmuchhurt，butbruised，andthebreathknockedoutofme。AssoonasIcould，Icrawledout。Itwasverydark。Ifeltheavyandsore，andforsometimewentstumblinginandoutamongsttrees。PresentlyIcametoaclearspace;ononesideIcouldseethetown’sshapedrawninlightedlamps，andontheotheradarkmass，whichIthinkwasforest;inthedistancetoowasathinchainoflights。Ithought:’Theymustbethelightsofabridge。’Justthenthemooncameout，andIcouldseetherivershiningbelow。Itwascoldanddamp，andIwalkedquickly。AtlastIcameoutonaroad，pasthousesandbarkingdogs，downtotheriverbank;thereIsatagainstashedandwenttosleep。Iwokeverystiff。Itwasdarkerthanbefore;themoonwasgone。Icouldjustseetheriver。Istumbledon，togetthroughthetownbeforedawn。
　　Itwasallblackshapes—housesandsheds，andthesmelloftheriver，thesmellofrottinghay，apples，tar，mud，fish;andhereandthereonawharfalantern。Istumbledovercasksandropesandboxes;I
　　sawIshouldnevergetclear——thedawnhadbegunalreadyontheotherside。Somemencamefromahousebehindme。Ibent，andcreptbehindsomebarrels。Theypassedalongthewharf;theyseemedtodropintotheriver。Iheardoneofthemsay:’Passaubeforenight。’
　　Istoodupandsawtheyhadwalkedonboardasteamerwhichwaslyingheadup—stream，withsomebargesintow。Therewasaplanklaidtothesteamer，andalanternattheotherend。Icouldhearthefellowsmovingbelowdeck，gettingupsteam。Iranacrosstheplankandcrepttotheendofthesteamer。ImeanttogowiththemtoPassau！Theropewhichtowedthebargeswasnearlytaut;andIknewifIcouldgetontothebargesIshouldbesafe。Iclimbeddownonthisropeandcrawledalong。Iwasdesperate，Iknewthey’dsoonbecomingup，anditwasgettinglight。IthoughtIshouldfallintothewaterseveraltimes，butIgottothebargeatlast。Itwasladenwithstraw。Therewasnobodyonboard。Iwashungryandthirsty——Ilookedforsomethingtoeat;therewasnothingbuttheashesofafireandaman’scoat。Icreptintothestraw。Soonaboatbroughtmen，oneforeachbarge，andthereweresoundsofsteam。
　　Assoonaswebeganmovingthroughthewater，Ifellasleep。WhenI
　　wokewewerecreepingthroughaheavymist。Imadealittleholeinthestrawandsawthebargeman。Hewassittingbyafireatthebarge’sedge，sothatthesparksandsmokeblewawayoverthewater。
　　Heateanddrankwithbothhands，andfunnyenoughhelookedinthemist，likeabigbirdflappingitswings;therewasagoodsmellofcoffee，andIsneezed。Howthefellowstarted！Butpresentlyhetookapitchforkandproddedthestraw。ThenIstoodup。Icouldn’thelplaughing，hewassosurprised——ahuge，darkman，withagreatblackbeard。Ipointedtothefireandsaid’Givemesome，brother！’
　　Hepulledmeoutofthestraw;Iwassostiff，Icouldn’tmove。I
　　satbythefire，andateblackbreadandturnips，anddrankcoffee;
　　whilehestoodby，watchingmeandmuttering。Icouldn’tunderstandhimwell——hespokeadialectfromHungary。Heaskedme:HowIgotthere——whoIwas——whereIwasfrom？Ilookedupinhisface，andhelookeddownatme，suckinghispipe。Hewasabigman，helivedaloneontheriver，andIwastiredoftellinglies，soItoldhimthewholething。WhenIhaddonehejustgrunted。Icanseehimnowstandingoverme，withthemisthanginginhisbeard，andhisgreatnakedarms。Hedrewmesomewater，andIwashedandshowedhimmywigandmoustache，andthrewthemoverboard。Allthatdaywelayoutonthebargeinthemist，withourfeettothefire，smoking;nowandthenhewouldspitintotheashesandmutterintohisbeard。Ishallneverforgetthatday。Thesteamerwaslikeamonsterwithfierynostrils，andtheotherbargesweredumbcreatureswitheyes，wherethefireswere;wecouldn’tseethebank，butnowandthenabluffandhightrees，oracastle，showedinthemist。IfIhadonlyhadpaintandcanvasthatday！"Hesighed。
　　"ItwasearlySpring，andtheriverwasinflood;theyweregoingtoRegensburgtounloadthere，takefreshcargo，andbacktoLinz。Assoonasthemistbegantoclear，thebargemanhidmeinthestraw。
　　AtPassauwasthefrontier;theylaythereforthenight，butnothinghappened，andIsleptinthestraw。ThenextdayIlayoutonthebargedeck;therewasnomist，butIwasfree——thesunshonegoldonthestrawandthegreensacking;thewaterseemedtodance，andI
　　laughed——Ilaughedallthetime，andthebargemanlaughedwithme。
　　Afinefellowhewas！AtRegensburgIhelpedthemtounload;formorethanaweekweworked;theynicknamedmebaldhead，andwhenitwasalloverIgavethemoneyIearnedfortheunloadingtothebigbargeman。Wekissedeachotheratparting。IhadstillthreeoftheguldenthatLuigigaveme，andIwenttoahouse—painterandgotworkwithhim。ForsixmonthsIstayedtheretosavemoney;thenIwrotetomymother’scousininVienna，andtoldhimIwasgoingtoLondon。
　　Hegavemeanintroductiontosomefriendsthere。IwenttoHamburg，andfromtheretoLondoninacargosteamer，andI’veneverbeenbacktillnow。"
　　XI
　　Afteraminute’ssilenceChristiansaidinastartledvoice:"Theycouldarrestyouthen！"
　　Harzlaughed。
　　"Iftheyknew;butit’ssevenyearsago。"
　　"Whydidyoucomehere，whenit’ssodangerous？"
　　"Ihadbeenworkingtoohard，Iwantedtoseemycountry——aftersevenyears，andwhenit’sforbidden！ButI’mreadytogobacknow。"Helookeddownather，frowning。
　　"HadyouahardtimeinLondon，too？"
　　"Harder，atfirst——Icouldn’tspeakthelanguage。Inmyprofessionit’shardworktogetrecognised，it’shardworktomakealiving。
　　Therearetoomanywhoseinterestitistokeepyoudown——Ishan’tforgetthem。"
　　"Buteveryoneisnotlikethat？"
　　"No;therearefinefellows，too。Ishan’tforgetthemeither。I
　　cansellmypicturesnow;I’mnolongerweak，andIpromiseyouI
　　shan’tforget。IfinthefutureIhavepower，andIshallhavepower——Ishan’tforget。"
　　Ashoweroffinegravelcamerattlingonthewall。Dawneywasstandingbelowthemwithanamusedexpressiononhisupturnedface。
　　"Areyougoingtostaythereallnight？"heasked。"GretaandIhaveboredeachother。"
　　"We’recoming，"calledChristianhastily。
　　Onthewaybackneitherspokeaword，butwhentheyreachedtheVilla，Harztookherhand，andsaid:"FrauleinChristian，Ican’tdoanymorewithyourpicture。Ishan’ttouchitagainafterthis。"
　　Shemadenoanswer，buttheylookedateachother，andbothseemedtoask，toentreat，somethingmore;thenhereyesfell。Hedroppedherhand，andsaying，"Good—night，"ranafterDawney。
　　Inthecorridor，Dominique，carryingadishoffruit，metthesisters;heinformedthemthatMissNaylorhadretiredtobed;thatHerrPaulwouldnotbehometodinner;hismasterwasdininginhisroom;dinnerwouldbeservedforMrs。Decieandthetwoyoungladiesinaquarterofanhour:"Andthefishisgoodto—night;littletrouts！trythem，Signorina！"Hemovedonquickly，softly，likeacat，thetailsofhisdress—coatflapping，andtheheelsofhiswhitesocksgleaming。
　　Christianranupstairs。Sheflewaboutherroom，feelingthatifsheoncestoodstillitwouldallcrystalliseinhardpainfulthought，whichmotionalonekeptaway。Shewashed，changedherdressandshoes，andrandowntoheruncle’sroom。Mr。Treffryhadjustfinisheddinner，pushedthelittletableback，andwassittinginhischair，withhisglassesonhisnose，readingtheTines。Christiantouchedhisforeheadwithherlips。
　　"Gladtoseeyou，Chris。Yourstepfather’souttodinner，andI
　　can’tstandyourauntwhenshe’sinoneofhertalkingmoods——bitofahumbug，Chris，betweenourselves;eh，isn’tshe？"Hiseyestwinkled。
　　Christiansmiled。Therewasacurioushappyrestlessnessinherthatwouldnotletherkeepstill。
　　"Picturefinished？"Mr。Treffryaskedsuddenly，takingupthepaperwithacrackle。"Don’tgoandfallinlovewiththepainter，Chris。"
　　Christianwasstillenoughnow。
　　’Whynot？’shethought。’Whatshouldyouknowabouthim？Isn’thegoodenoughforme？’Agongsounded。
　　"There’syourdinner，"Mr。Treffryremarked。
　　Withsuddencontritionshebentandkissedhim。
　　ButwhenshehadlefttheroomMr。TreffryputdowntheTimesandstaredatthedoor，hummingtohimself，andthoughtfullyfingeringhischin。
　　Christiancouldnoteat;shesat，indifferenttothehoveringsofDominique，tormentedbyuneasyfearandlongings。SheansweredMrs。
　　Decieatrandom。Gretakeptstealinglooksatherfromunderherlashes。
　　"Decidedcharactersarecharming，don’tyouthinkso，Christian？"
　　Mrs。Deciesaid，thrustingherchinalittleforward，andmodellingthewords。"ThatiswhyIlikeMr。Harzsomuch;suchanimmenseadvantageforamantoknowhismind。Youhaveonlytolookatthatyoungmantoseethatheknowswhathewants，andmeanstohaveit。"
　　Christianpushedherplateaway。Greta，flushing，saidabruptly:
　　"DoctorEdmundisnotadecidedcharacter，Ithink。Thisafternoonhesaid:’ShallIhavesomebeer—yes，Ishall——no，Ishallnot’;thenheorderedthebeer，so，whenitcame，hegaveittothesoldiers。"
　　Mrs。Decieturnedherenigmaticsmilefromonegirltotheother。
　　Whendinnerwasovertheywentintoherroom。Gretastoleatoncetothepiano，whereherlonghairfellalmosttothekeys;silentlyshesattherefingeringthenotes，smilingtoherself，andlookingatheraunt，whowasreadingPater’sessays。Christiantoohadtakenupabook，butsoonputitdown——ofseveralpagesshehadnotunderstoodaword。Shewentintothegardenandwanderedaboutthelawn，claspingherhandsbehindherhead。Theairwasheavy;verydistantthundertrembledamongthemountains，flashesofsummerlightningplayedoverthetrees;andtwogreatmothswerehoveringaboutarosebush。