Afterdinnerthegirlswenttotheirroom，Gretabearingwithherthebigscrew—driverofFritz。Atdusktheyslippeddownstairsandout。
　　Theyarrivedattheoldhouse，andstood，listening，intheshadowofthedoorway。Theonlysoundswerethoseofdistantbarkingdogs，andofthebuglesatthebarracks。
　　"Quick！"whisperedChristian;andGreta，withallthestrengthofhersmallhands，begantoturnthescrews。Itwassometimebeforetheyyielded;thethirdwasveryobstinate，tillChristiantookthescrew—
　　driverandpassionatelygavethescrewastartingtwist。
　　"Itislikeapig——thatone，"saidGreta，rubbingherwristsmournfully。
　　Theopeneddoorrevealedthegloomofthedankroomsandtwistingstaircase，thenfelltobehindthemwithaclatter。
　　Gretagavealittlescream，andcaughthersister’sdress。
　　"Itisdark，"shegasped;"OChris！itisdark！"
　　Christiangropedforthebottomstair，andGretafeltherarmshaking。
　　"Supposethereisamantokeepguard！OChris！supposetherearebats！"
　　"Youareababy！"Christianansweredinatremblingvoice。"Youhadbettergohome！"
　　Gretachokedalittleinthedark。
　　"Iam——not——goinghome，butI’mafraidofbats。OChris！aren’tyouafraid？"
　　"Yes，"saidChristian，"butI’mgoingtohavethepictures。"
　　Hercheekswereburning;shewastremblingallover。HavingfoundthebottomstepshebegantomountwithGretaclingingtoherskirts。
　　Thehazeaboveinspiredalittlecourageinthechild，who，ofallthings，hateddarkness。Theblanketacrossthedoorwayofthelofthadbeentakendown，therewasnothingtoveiltheemptyroom。
　　"Nobodyhere，yousee，"saidChristian。
　　"No—o，"whisperedGreta，runningtothewindow，andclingingtothewall，likeoneofthebatsshedreaded。
　　"Buttheyhavebeenhere！"criedChristianangrily。"Theyhavebrokenthis。"Shepointedtothefragmentsofaplastercastthathadbeenthrowndown。
　　Outofthecornershebegantopullthecanvasessetinrough，woodenframes，draggingthemwithallherstrength。
　　"Helpme！"shecried;"itwillbedarkdirectly。"
　　Theycollectedaheapofsketchesandthreelargepictures，pilingthembeforethewindow，andpeeringattheminthefailinglight。
　　Gretasaidruefully:
　　"OChris！theyareheavyones;weshallnevercarrythem，andthegateisshutnow！"
　　Christiantookapointedknifefromthetable。
　　"Ishallcutthemoutoftheframes，"shesaid。"Listen！What’sthat？"
　　Itwasthesoundofwhistling，whichstoppedbeneaththewindow。Thegirls，claspingeachother’shands，droppedontheirknees。
　　"Hallo！"criedavoice。
　　Gretacrepttothewindow，and，placingherfacelevelwiththefloor，peeredover。
　　"ItisonlyDr。Edmund;hedoesn’tknow，then，"shewhispered;"I
　　shallcallhim;heisgoingaway！"criedChristiancatchinghersister’s"Don’t！"criedChristiancatchinghersister’sdress。
　　"Hewouldhelpus，"Gretasaidreproachfully，"anditwouldnotbesodarkifhewerehere。"
　　Christian’scheekswereburning。
　　"Idon’tchoose，"shesaid，andbeganhandlingthepictures，feelingtheiredgeswithherknife。
　　"Chris！Supposeanybodycame？"
　　"Thedoorisscrewed，"Christianansweredabsently。
　　"OChris！Wescreweditunscrewed;anybodywhowishesshallcome！"
　　Christian，leaningherchininherhands，gazedatherthoughtfully。
　　"Itwilltakealongtimetocutthesepicturesoutcarefully;or，perhapsIcangetthemoutwithoutcutting。Youmustscrewmeupandgohome。Inthemorningyoumustcomeearly，whenthegateisopen，unscrewmeagain，andhelpcarrythepictures。"
　　Gretadidnotansweratonce。Atlastsheshookherheadviolently。
　　"Iamafraid，"shegasped。
　　"Wecan’tbothstayhereallnight，"saidChristian;"ifanyonecomestoourroomtherewillbenobodytoanswer。Wecan’tliftthesepicturesoverthegate。Oneofusmustgoback;youcanclimboverthegate——thereisnothingtobeafraidof"
　　Gretapressedherhandstogether。
　　"Doyouwantthepicturesbadly，Chris？"
　　Christiannodded。
　　"Verybadly？"
　　"Yes——yes——yes！"
　　Gretaremainedsittingwhereshewas，shiveringviolently，asalittleanimalshiverswhenitscentsdanger。Atlastsherose。
　　"Iamgoing，"shesaidinadespairingvoice。Atthedoorwaysheturned。
　　"IfMissNaylorshallaskmewhereyouare，Chris，Ishallbetellingherastory。"
　　Christianstarted。
　　"Iforgotthat—OGreta，Iamsorry！Iwillgoinstead。"
　　Gretatookanotherstep——aquickone。
　　"IshalldieifIstayherealone，"shesaid;"Icantellherthatyouareinbed;youmustgotobedhere，Chris，soitshallbetrueafterall。"
　　Christianthrewherarmsabouther。
　　"Iamsosorry，darling;IwishIcouldgoinstead。Butifyouhavetotellalie，Iwouldtellastraightone。"
　　"Wouldyou？"saidGretadoubtfully。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Ithink，"saidGretatoherself，beginningtodescendthestairs，"I
　　thinkIwilltellitinmyway。"Sheshudderedandwentongropinginthedarkness。
　　Christianlistenedforthesoundofthescrews。Itcameslowly，threateningherwithdangerandsolitude。
　　Sinkingonherkneesshebegantoworkatfreeingthecanvasofapicture。Herheartthrobbeddistressfully;atthestirofwind—
　　breathoranydistantnoteofclamourshestopped，andheldherbreathing。Nosoundscamenear。Shetoiledon，tryingonlytothinkthatshewasattheveryspotwherelastnighthisarmshadbeenroundher。Howlongagoitseemed！Shewasfullofvagueterror，overmasteredbythedarkness，dreadfullyalone。Thenewglowofresolutionseemedsuddenlytohavedieddowninherheart，andlefthercold。
　　Shewouldneverbefittobehiswife，ifatthefirsttesthercouragefailed！Shesetherteeth;andsuddenlyshefeltakindofexultation，asifshetoowereenteringintolife，wereknowingsomethingwithinherselfthatshehadneverknownbefore。Herfingershurt，andthepainevengavepleasure;hercheekswereburning;herbreathcamefast。Theycouldnotstophernow！Thisfeverishtaskindarknesswasherbaptismintolife。Shefinished;
　　androllingthepicturesverycarefully，tiedthemwithcord。Shehaddonesomethingforhim！Nobodycouldtakethatfromher！Shehadapartofhim！Thisnighthadmadehimhers！Theymightdotheirworst！Shelaydownonhismattressandsoonfellasleep……
　　ShewasawakenedbyScruff’stongueagainstherface。Gretawasstandingbyherside。
　　"Wakeup，Chris！Thegateisopen！"
　　Inthecoldearlylightthechildseemedtoglowwithwarmthandcolour;hereyesweredancing。
　　"Iamnotafraidnow;ScruffandIsatupallnight，tocatchthemorning——I——thinkitwasfun;andOChris！"sheendedwitharuefulgleaminhereyes，"Itoldit。"
　　Christianhuggedher。
　　"Come——quick！Thereisnobodyabout。Arethosethepictures？"
　　Eachsupportinganend，thegirlscarriedthebundledownstairs，andsetoutwiththeircorpse—likeburdenalongthewall—pathbetweentheriverandthevines。
　　XIX
　　Hiddenbytheshadeofrose—bushesGretalaystretchedatlength，cheekonarm，sleepingthesleepoftheunrighteous。Throughtheflowersthesunflickedherpartedlipswithkisses，andspilledthewitheredpetalsonher。Inadenserisletofshade，Scrufflaysnappingatafly。Hisheadlolleddrowsilyinthemiddleofasnap，andsnappedinthemiddleofaloll。
　　Atthreeo’clockMissNaylortoocameout，carryingabasketandpairofscissors。Liftingherskirtstoavoidthelakesofwaterleftbythegardenhose，shestoppedinfrontofarose—bush，andbegantosnipofftheshrivelledflowers。Thelittlelady’ssilveredheadandthin，brownfacesustainedtheshowerofsunlightunprotected，andhadagentledignityintheirfreedom。
　　Presently，asthescissorsflitteredinandoutoftheleaves，she，begantalkingtoherself。
　　"Ifgirlsweremorelikewhattheyusedtobe，thiswouldnothavehappened。Perhapswedon’tunderstand;it’sveryeasytoforget。"
　　Buryinghernoseandlipsinarose，shesniffed。"Poordeargirl！
　　It’ssuchapityhisfatheris——a——"
　　"Afarmer，"saidasleepyvoicebehindtherosebush。
　　MissNaylorleaped。"Greta！Howyoustartledme！Afarmer——thatis—
　　—an——anagriculturalist！"
　　"Afarmerwithvineyards——hetoldus，andheisnotashamed。Whyisitapity，MissNaylor？"
　　MissNaylor’slipslookedverythin。
　　"Formanyreasons，ofwhichyouknownothing。"
　　"Thatiswhatyoualwayssay，"pursuedthesleepyvoice;"andthatiswhy，whenIamtobemarried，thereshallalsobeapity。"
　　"Greta！"MissNaylorcried，"itisnotproperforagirlofyouragetotalklikethat。"
　　"Why？"saidGreta。"Becauseitisthetruth？"
　　MissNaylormadenoreplytothis，butvexedlycutoffasoundrose，whichshehastilypickedupandregardedwithcontrition。Gretaspokeagain:
　　"Chrissaid:’Ihavegotthepictures，Ishalltellher’;butIshalltellyouinstead，becauseitwasIthattoldthestory。"
　　MissNaylorstared，wrinklinghernose，andholdingthescissorswideapart……
　　"Lastnight，"saidGretaslowly，"IandChriswenttohisstudioandtookhispictures，andso，becausethegatewasshut，Icamebacktotellit;andwhenyouaskedmewhereChriswas，Itoldit;becauseshewasinthestudioallnight，andIandScruffsatupallnight，andinthemorningwebroughtthepictures，andhidthemunderourbeds，andthatiswhy——we——are——so——sleepy。"
　　Overtherose—bushMissNaylorpeereddownather;andthoughshewasobligedtostandontiptoethisdidnotaltogetherdestroyherdignity。
　　"Iamsurprisedatyou，Greta;IamsurprisedatChristian，moresurprisedatChristian。Theworldseemsupsidedown。"
　　Greta，asunbeamentangledinherhair，regardedherwithinscrutable，innocenteyes。
　　"Whenyouwereagirl，Ithinkyouwouldbesuretobeinlove，"shemurmureddrowsily。
　　MissNaylor，flushingdeeply，snippedoffaparticularlyhealthybud。
　　"Andso，becauseyouarenotmarried，Ithink——"
　　Thescissorshissed。
　　Gretanestleddownagain。"Ithinkitiswickedtocutoffallthegoodbuds，"shesaid，andshuthereyes。
　　MissNaylorcontinuedtopeeracrosstherosebush;butherthinface，closetotheglisteningleaves，hadbecomeoddlysoft，pink，andgirlish。AtadeeperbreathfromGreta，thelittleladyputdownherbasket，andbegantopacethelawn，followeddubiouslybyScruff。ItwasthusthatChristiancameonthem。
　　MissNaylorslippedherarmintothegirl’sandthoughshemadenosound，herlipskeptopeningandshutting，likethebeakofabirdcontemplatingaworm。
　　Christianspokefirst:
　　"MissNaylor，Iwanttotellyouplease——"
　　"Oh，mydear！Iknow;Gretahasbeenintheconfessionalbeforeyou。"Shegavethegirl’sarmasqueeze。"Isn’titalovelyday？
　　Didyoueversee’FiveFingers’looksobeautiful？"AndshepointedtothegreatpeaksoftheFunffingerspitzeglitteringinthesunlikegiantcrystals。
　　"Ilikethembetterwithcloudsaboutthem。"
　　"Well，"agreedMissNaylornervously，"theycertainlyarenicerwithcloudsaboutthem。Theylookalmosthotandgreasy，don’tthey……
　　Mydear！"shewenton，givingChristian’sarmadozenlittlesqueezes，"weallofus——thatis，weallofus——"
　　Christianturnedhereyesaway。
　　"Mydear，"MissNaylortriedagain，"Iamfar——thatis，Imean，toallofusatsometimeoranother——andthenyousee——well——itishard！"
　　Christiankissedtheglovedhandrestingonherarm。MissNaylorbobbedherhead;ateartrickledoffhernose。
　　"Doletuswindyourskeinofwoof！"shesaidwithresoundinggaiety。
　　Somehalf—hourlaterMrs。DeciecalledChristiantoherroom。
　　"Mydear！"shesaid;"comehereaminute;Ihaveamessageforyou。"
　　Christianwentwithanodd，setlookabouthermouth。
　　Herauntwassitting，backtothelight，tappingabowlofgoldfishwiththetipofapolishedfinger—nail;theroomwasverycool。Sheheldaletterout。"Youruncleisnotcomingbacktonight。"
　　Christiantooktheletter。Itwascurtlyworded，inathin，topplinghand:
　　"DEARCON——Can’tgetbackto—night。SendingDominiqueforthings。
　　TellChristiantocomeoverwithhimfornightifpossible。——Yr。
　　aff。brother，NICLS。TREFFRY。"
　　"Dominiquehasacarriagehere，"saidMrs。Decie。"Youwillhavenicetimetocatchthetrain。Givemylovetoyouruncle。YoumusttakeBarbiwithyou，Iinsistonthat。"SherosefromherchairandheldChristian’shand:"Mydear！Youlookverytired——very！Almostill。Idon’tliketoseeyoulooklikethat。Come！"Shethrustherpalelipsforward，andkissedthegirl’spalercheek。
　　ThenasChristianlefttheroomshesankbackinherchair，withcreasesinherforehead，andbeganlanguidlytocutamagazine。
　　’PoorChristian！’shethought，’howhardlyshedoestakeit！Iamsorryforher;butperhapsit’sjustaswell，asthingsareturningout。Psychologicallyitisinteresting！’
　　Christianfoundherthingspacked，andthetwoservantswaiting。Inafewminutestheyweredrivingtothestation。ShemadeDominiquetaketheseatopposite。
　　"Well？"sheaskedhim。
　　Dominique’seyebrowstwitched，hesmileddeprecatingly。
　　"M’mselle，Mr。Treffrytoldmetoholdmytongue。"
　　"Butyoucantellme，Dominique;Barbican’tunderstand。"
　　"Toyou，then，M’mselle，"saidDominique，asonewhoacceptshisfate;"toyou，then，whowilldoubtlessforgetallthatIshalltellyou——mymasterisnotwell;hehasterriblepainhere;hehasacough;heisnotwellatall;notwellatall。"
　　Afeelingofdismayseizedonthegirl。
　　"Wewereacaravanforallthatnight，"Dominiqueresumed。"Inthemorningbynoonweceasedtobeacaravan;SignorHarztookamulepath;hewillbeinItaly——certainlyinItaly。Asforus，westayedatSanMartino，andmymasterwenttobed。Itwastime;Ihadmuchtroublewithhisclothes，hislegswereswollen。Intheafternooncameasignorofpolice，onhorseback，redandhot;IpersuadedhimthatwewereatPaneveggio，butaswewerenot，hecamebackangry——
　　MonDie！asangryasacat。Itwasnotgoodtomeethim——whenhewaswithmymasterIwasoutside。Therewasmuchnoise。Idonotknowwhatpassed，butatlastthesignorcameoutthroughthedoor，andwentawayinahurry。"Dominique’sfeatureswerefixedinasardonicgrin;herubbedthepalmofonehandwiththefingeroftheother。
　　"Mr。Treffrymademegivehimwhiskyafterwards，andhehadnomoneytopaythebill——thatIknowbecauseIpaidit。Well，M’mselle，to—
　　dayhewouldbedressedandveryslowlywecameasfarasAuer;therehecoulddonomore，sowenttobed。Heisnotwellatall。"
　　Christianwasoverwhelmedbyforebodings;therestofthejourneywasmadeinsilence，exceptwhenBarbi，acountrygirl，filledwiththedeliriumofrailwaytravel，sighed:"Ach！gnadigeFriiulein！"lookingatChristianwithpleasanteyes。
　　Atonce，onarrivingatthelittlehostel，Christianwenttoseeheruncle。Hisroomwasdarkened，andsmeltofbeeswax。
　　"Ah！Chris，"hesaid，"gladtoseeyou。"
　　Inablueflannelgown，witharugoverhisfeet，hewaslyingonacouchlengthenedartificiallybychairs;thearmhereachedoutissuedmanyinchesfromitssleeve，andshowedthecordedveinsofthewrist。Christian，settlinghispillows，lookedanxiouslyintohiseyes。
　　"I’mnotquitethething，Chris，"saidMr。Treffry。"Somehow，notquitethething。I’llcomebackwithyouto—morrow。"
　　"LetmesendforDr。Dawney，Uncle？"
　　"No——no！PlentyofhimwhenIgethome。Verygoodyoungfellow，asdoctorsgo，butIcan’tstandhispuddin’s——slopsandpuddin’s，andallthattrumperymedicineonthetop。SendmeDominique，mydear——
　　I’llputmyselftorightsabit！"Hefingeredhisunshavencheek，andclutchedthegowntogetheronhischest。"Gotthisfromthelandlord。Whenyoucomebackwe’llhavealittletalk！"
　　Hewasasleepwhenshecameintotheroomanhourlater。Watchinghisuneasybreathing，shewonderedwhatitwasthathewasgoingtosay。
　　Helookedill！Andsuddenlysherealisedthatherthoughtswerenotofhim……Whenshewaslittlehewouldtakeheronhisback;hehadbuiltcockedhatsforherandpaperboats;hadtaughthertoride;
　　slidherbetweenhisknees;givenherthingswithoutnumber;andtakenhispaymentinkisses。Andnowhewasill，andshewasnotthinkingofhim！Hehadbeenallthatwasmostdeartoher，yetbeforehereyeswouldonlycomethevisionofanother。
　　Mr。Treffrywokesuddenly。"Notbeenasleep，haveI？Thebedshereareinfernalhard。"
　　"UncleNic，won’tyougivemenewsofhim？"
　　Mr。Treffrylookedather，andChristiancouldnotbearthatlook。
　　"He’ssafeintoItaly;theyaren’tverykeenafterhim，it’ssolongago;Isquared’emprettyeasily。Now，lookhere，Chris！"
　　Christiancameclose;hetookherhand。
　　"I’dliketoseeyoupullyourselftogether。’Tisn’tsomuchtheposition;’tisn’tsomuchthemoney;becauseafterallthere’salwaysmine——"Christianshookherhead。"But，"hewentonwithshakyemphasis，"there’sthedifferenceofblood，andthat’saseriousthing;andthere’sthisanarch——thispoliticalaffair;andthere’sthesortoflife，an’that’saseriousthing;but——whatI’mcomingtoisthis，Chris——there’stheman！"
　　Christiandrewawayherhand。Mr。Treffrywenton:
　　"Ah！yes。I’manoldchapandfondofyou，butImustspeakoutwhatIthink。He’sgotpluck，he’sstrong，he’sinearnest;buthe’sgotadamnedhottemper，he’sanegotist，and——he’snotthemanforyou。
　　Ifyoumarryhim，assureasIliehere，you’llbesorryforit。
　　You’renotyourfather’schildfornothing;nicefellowaseverlived，butsoftasbutter。Ifyoutakethischap，it’llbelikemixingearthandironstone，andtheydon’tblend！"Hedroppedhisheadbackonthepillows，andstretchingouthishand，repeatedwistfully:"Takemywordforit，mydear，he’snotthemanforyou。"
　　Christian，staringatthewallbeyond，saidquietly:"Ican’ttakeanyone’swordforthat。"
　　"Ah！"mutteredMr。Treffry，"you’reobstinateenough，butobstinacyisn’tstrength。
　　You’llgiveupeverythingtohim，you’lllickhisshoes;andyou’llneverplayanythingbutsecondfiddleinhislife。He’llalwaysbefirstwithhimself，heandhiswork，orwhateverhecallspaintingpictures;andsomedayyou’llfindthatout。Youwon’tlikeit，andIdon’tlikeitforyou，Chris，andthat’sflat。"
　　Hewipedhisbrowwheretheperspirationstoodinbeads。
　　Christiansaid:"Youdon’tunderstand;youdon’tbelieveinhim;youdon’tsee！IfIdocomeafterhiswork——ifIdogivehimeverything，andhecan’tgiveallback——Idon’tcare！He’llgivewhathecan;I
　　don’twantanymore。Ifyou’reafraidofthelifeforme，uncle，ifyouthinkit’llbetoohard——"
　　Mr。Treffrybowedhishead。"Ido，Chris。"
　　"Well，then，Ihatetobewrappedincottonwool;Iwanttobreathe。
　　IfIcometogrief，it’smyownaffair;nobodyneedmind。"
　　Mr。Treffry’sfngerssoughthisbeard。"Ah！yes。Justso！"
　　Christiansankonherknees。
　　"Oh！Uncle！I’maselfishbeast！"
　　Mr。Treffrylaidhishandagainsthercheek。"IthinkIcoulddowithanap，"hesaid。
　　Swallowingalumpinherthroat，shestoleoutoftheroom。
　　ByastrokeofFateMr。Treffry’sreturntoVillaRubeinbefellatthepsychologicalmomentwhenHerrPaul，inasuitofrathertoobrightblue，wasstartingforVienna。
　　Assoonashesawthecarriageappearbetweenthepoplarshebecameaspensiveasaboycaughtintheactofstealingcherries。PitchinghishatboxtoFritz，herecoveredhimself，however，intimetowhistlewhileMr。Treffrywasbeingassistedintothehouse。Havingforgottenhisanger，hewasonlyanxiousnowtosmoothoutitsaftereffects;intheglanceshecastatChristianandhisbrother—in—lawtherewasakindofshamedentreatywhichseemedtosay:"Forgoodness’sake，don’tworrymeaboutthatbusinessagain！Nothing’scomeofit，yousee！"
　　Hecameforward:"Ah！Moncher！Soyoureturn;Iputoffmydeparture，then。Viennamustwaitforme——thatpoorVienna！"
　　ButnoticingtheextremefeeblenessofMr。Treffry’sadvance，heexclaimedwithgenuineconcern:
　　"Whatisit？You’reill？MyGod！"Afterdisappearingforfiveminutes，hecamebackwithawhitishliquidinaglass。
　　"There！"hesaid，"goodforthegout——foracough——foreverything！"
　　Mr。Treffrysniffed，drainedtheglass，andsuckedhismoustache。
　　"Ah！"hesaid。"Nodoubt！Butit’suncommonlylikegin，Paul。"
　　ThenturningtoChristian，hesaid:"Shakehands，youtwo！"
　　Christianlookedfromonetotheother，andatlastheldoutherhandtoHerrPaul，whobrusheditwithhismoustache，gazingafterherasshelefttheroomwithaqueerexpression。
　　"Mydear！"hebegan，"yousupportherinthisexecrablematter？Youforgetmyposition，youmakemeridiculous。Ihavebeenobligedtogotobedinmyownhouse，absolutelytogotobed，becauseIwasindangerofbecomingfunny。"
　　"Lookhere，Paul！"Mr。Treffrysaidgruffly，"ifanyone’stobullyChris，it’sI。"
　　"Inthatcase，"returnedHerrPaulsarcastically，"IwillgotoVienna。"
　　"Youmaygotothedevil！"saidMr。Treffry;"andI’lltellyouwhat—
　　—inmyopinionitwaslowtosetthepoliceonthatyoungchap;alow，dirtytrick。"
　　HerrPauldividedhisbeardcarefullyintwo，tookhisseatontheveryedgeofanarm—chair，andplacinghishandsonhispartedknees，said:
　　"Ihaveregretteditsince——mais，quediable！Hecalledmeacoward—
　　—itisveryhotweather！——thereweredrinksattheKurhaus——Iamherguardian——theaffairisaverybeastlyone——thereweremoredrinks——I
　　wasalittleenfin！"Heshruggedhisshoulders。"Adieu，mydear;I
　　shallbesometimeinVienna;Ineedrest！"Heroseandwenttothedoor;thenheturned，andwavedhiscigar。"Adieu！Begood;getwell！Iwillbuyyousomecigarsupthere。"Andgoingout，heshutthedooronanypossibilityofanswer。
　　Mr。Treffrylaybackamongsthiscushions。Theclockticked;pigeonscooedontheveranda;adooropenedinthedistance，andforamomentatreblevoicewasheard。Mr。Treffry’sheaddroopedforward;acrosshisface，gloomyandrugged，fellathinlineofsunlight。
　　Theclocksuddenlystoppedticking，andoutside，inmysteriousaccord，thepigeonsrosewithagreatflutteringofwings，andflewoff’。Mr。Treffrymadeastartled，heavymovement。Hetriedtogetontohisfeetandreachthebell，butcouldnot，andsatonthesideofthecouchwithdropsofsweatrollingoffhisforehead，andhishandsclawinghischest。Therewasnosoundatallthroughoutthehouse。Helookedabouthim，andtriedtocall，butagaincouldnot。
　　Hetriedoncemoretoreachthebell，and，failing，satstill，withathoughtthatmadehimcold。
　　"I’mdonefor，"hemuttered。"ByGeorge！IbelieveI’mdoneforthistime！"Avoicebehindhimsaid:
　　"Canwehavealookatyou，sir？"
　　"Ah！Doctor，bearahand，there’sagoodfellow。"
　　Dawneyproppedhimagainstthecushions，andloosenedhisshirt。
　　Receivingnoanswertohisquestions，hesteppedalarmedtowardsthebell。Mr。Treffrystoppedhimwithasign。