Thelittleladybeganherintroductionsinabreathlessvoice。
\"Good！\"HerrPaulsaid，puffingouthislips:\"Nowweknoweachother！\"and，brushinguptheendsofhismoustaches，hecarriedoffHarzintoanotherroom，decoratedwithpipe—racks，printsofdancing—
girls，spittoons，easy—chairswell—seasonedbycigarsmoke，Frenchnovels，andnewspapers。
ThehouseholdatVillaRubeinwasindeedofamixedandcuriousnature。Cutonbothfloorsbycorridors，theVillawasdividedintofourdivisions;eachofwhichhaditsseparateinhabitants，anarrangementwhichhadcomeaboutinthefollowingway:
WhenoldNicholasTreffrydied，hisestate，ontheboundaryofCornwall，hadbeensoldanddividedupamonghisthreesurvivingchildren——Nicholas，whowasmuchtheeldest，apartnerinthewell—
knownfirmofForsyteandTreffry，teamen，oftheStrand;Constance，marriedtoamancalledDecie;andMargaret，atherfather’sdeathengagedtothecurateoftheparish，JohnDevorell，whoshortlyafterwardsbecameitsrector。ByhismarriagewithMargaretTreffrytherectorhadonechildcalledChristian。Soonafterthishecameintosomeproperty，anddied，leavingitunfetteredtohiswidow。
Threeyearswentby，andwhenthechildwassixyearsold，Mrs。
Devorell，stillyoungandpretty，cametoliveinLondonwithherbrotherNicholas。ItwastherethatshemetPaulvonMorawitz——thelastofanoldCzechfamily，whohadlivedformanyhundredyearsontheirestatesnearBudweiss。Paulhadbeenleftanorphanattheageoften，andwithoutasolitaryancestralacre。Insteadofacres，heinheritedthefaiththatnothingwastoogoodforavonMorawitz。Inlateryearshissavoirfaireenabledhimtolaughatfaith，butitstayedquietlywithhimallthesame。Theabsenceofacreswasofnogreatconsequence，forthroughhismother，thedaughterofabankerinVienna，hecameintoawell—nursedfortune。ItbefittedavonMorawitzthatheshouldgointotheCavalry，but，unshapedforsoldiering，hesoonlefttheService;somesaidhehadadifferencewithhisColoneloverthequalityoffoodprovidedduringsomemanoeuvres;othersthathehadretiredbecausehischargersdidnotfithislegs，whichwere，indeed，ratherround。
Hehadanadmirableappetiteforpleasure;aman—about—town’slifesuitedhim。Hewenthisgenial，unreflecting，costlywayinVienna，Paris，London。Helovedexclusivelythosetowns，andboastedthathewasasmuchathomeinoneasinanother。Hecombinedexuberantvitalitywithfastidiousnessofpalate，anddevotedbothtotheacquisitionofaspecialtasteinwomen，weeds，andwines;aboveallhewasblessedwitharemarkabledigestion。HewasthirtywhenhemetMrs。Devorell;andshemarriedhimbecausehewassoverydifferentfromanybodyshehadeverseen。Peoplemoredissimilarwerenevermated。ToPaul——accustomedtostagedoors——freshness，serenetranquillity，andobviouspuritywerethebaits;hehadrunthroughmorethanhalfhisfortune，too，andthefactthatshehadmoneywaspossiblynotoverlooked。Bethatasitmay，hewasfondofher;hisheartwassoft，hedevelopedadomesticside。
Gretawasborntothemafterayearofmarriage。Theinstinctofthe\"freeman\"was，however，notdeadinPaul;hebecameagambler。Helosttheremainderofhisfortunewithoutbeinggreatlydisturbed。
Whenhebegantolosehiswife’sfortunetoothingsnaturallybecamemoredifficult。NottoomuchremainedwhenNicholasTreffrysteppedin，andcausedhissistertosettlewhatwasleftonherdaughters，afterprovidingalife—interestforherselfandPaul。Losinghissupplies，thegoodmanhadgivenuphiscards。Buttheinstinctofthe\"freeman\"wasstilllivinginhisbreast;hetooktodrink。Hewasnevergrosslydrunk，andrarelyverysober。Hiswifesorrowedoverthisnewpassion;herhealth，alreadymuchenfeebled，soonbrokedown。ThedoctorssenthertotheTyrol。Sheseemedtobenefitbythis，andsettleddownatBotzen。Thefollowingyear，whenGretawasjustten，shedied。ItwasashocktoPaul。Hegaveupexcessivedrinking;becameaconstantsmoker，andlentfullreintohisnaturaldomesticity。Hewasfondofboththegirls，butdidnotatallunderstandthem;Greta，hisowndaughter，washisfavourite。VillaRubeinremainedtheirhome;itwascheapandroomy。Money，sincePaulbecamehousekeepertohimself，wasscarce。
AboutthistimeMrs。Decie，hiswife’ssister，whosehusbandhaddiedintheEast，returnedtoEngland;Paulinvitedhertocomeandlivewiththem。Shehadherownrooms，herownservant;thearrangementsuitedPaul——itwaseconomicallysound，andtherewassomeonealwaystheretotakecareofthegirls。Intruthhebegantofeeltheinstinctofthe\"freeman\"risingagainwithinhim;itwaspleasanttorunovertoViennanowandthen;toplaypiquetataClubinGries，ofwhichhewastheshininglight;inaword，togo\"onthetiles\"alittle。Onecouldnotalwaysmourn——evenifawomanwereanangel;
moreover，hisdigestionwasasgoodasever。
ThefourthquarterofthisVillawasoccupiedbyNicholasTreffry，whoseannualsojournoutofEnglandperpetuallysurprisedhimself。
Betweenhimandhisyoungniece，Christian，thereexisted，however，araresympathy;oneofthoseaffectionsbetweentheyoungandold，which，mysteriouslybornlikeeverythinginlife，seemstheonlyendandaimtoboth，tillanotherfeelingcomesintotheyoungerheart。
Sincealonganddangerousillness，hehadbeenorderedtoavoidtheEnglishwinter，andatthecommencementofeachspringhewouldappearatBotzen，drivinghisownhorsesbyeasystagesfromtheItalianRiviera，wherehespentthecoldestmonths。HealwaysstayedtillJunebeforegoingbacktohisLondonClub，andduringallthattimeheletnodaypasswithoutgrowlingatforeigners，theirhabits，food，drink，andraiment，withakindofbigdog’sgrowlingthatdidnobodyanyharm。Theillnesshadbrokenhimverymuch;hewasseventy，butlookedmore。Hehadaservant，aLuganese，namedDominique，devotedtohim。NicholasTreffryhadfoundhimoverworkedinanhotel，andhadengagedhimwiththecaution:\"Look——here，Dominique！Iswear！\"TowhichDominique，darkoffeature，saturnineandironical，hadonlyreplied:\"Tresbiens，M’sieur！\"
III
Harzandhishostsatinleatherchairs;HerrPaul’ssquarebackwaswedgedintoacushion，hisroundlegscrossed。Bothweresmoking，andtheyeyedeachotherfurtively，asmenofdifferentstampdowhenfirstthrowntogether。Theyoungartistfoundhishostextremelynewanddisconcerting;inhispresencehefeltbothshyandawkward。
HerrPaul，ontheotherhand，verymuchatease，wasthinkingindolently:
’Good—lookingyoungfellow——comesofthepeople，Iexpect，notatallthemanneroftheworld;wonderwhathetalksabout。’
PresentlynoticingthatHarzwaslookingataphotograph，hesaid:
\"Ah！yes！thatwasawoman！Theyarenottobefoundinthesedays。
Shecoulddance，thelittleCoralie！Didyoueverseesucharms？
Confessthatsheisbeautiful，hein？\"
\"Shehasindividuality，\"saidHarz。\"Afinetype！\"
HerrPaulblewoutacloudofsmoke。
\"Yes，\"hemurmured，\"shewasfineallover！\"Hehaddroppedhiseyeglasses，andhisfullbrowneyes，withlittlecrow’s—feetatthecorners，wanderedfromhisvisitortohiscigar。
’He’dbelikeaSatyrifhewasn’ttooclean，’thoughtHarz。’Putvineleavesinhishair，painthimasleep，withhishandscrossed，so！’
\"WhenIamtoldapersonhasindividuality，\"HerrPaulwassayinginarichandhuskyvoice，\"Igenerallyexpectbootsthatbulge，anumbrellaofimpropercolour;Iexpectacreatureof’badform’astheysayinEngland;whowillshavesomedaysandsomedayswillnotshave;whosometimessmellsofIndia—rubber，andsometimesdoesnotsmell，whichisdiscouraging！\"
\"Youdonotapproveofindividuality？\"saidHarzshortly。
\"Notifitmeansdoing，andthinking，asthosewhoknowbetterdonotdo，orthink。\"
\"Andwhoarethosewhoknowbetter？\"
\"Ah！mydear，youareaskingmeariddle？Well，then——Society，menofbirth，menofrecognisedposition，menaboveeccentricity，inaword，ofreputation。\"
Harzlookedathimfixedly。\"Menwhohaven’tthecourageoftheirownideas，noteventhecouragetosmellofIndia—rubber;menwhohavenodesires，andsocanspendalltheirtimemakingthemselvesflat！\"
HerrPauldrewoutaredsilkhandkerchiefandwipedhisbeard。\"I
assureyou，mydear，\"hesaid，\"itiseasiertobeflat;itismorerespectabletobeflat。Himmel！whynot，then，beflat？\"
\"Likeanycommonfellow？\"
\"Certes;likeanycommonfellow——likeme，parexemple！\"HerrPaulwavedhishand。Whenheexercisedunusualtact，healwaysmadeuseofaFrenchexpression。
Harzflushed。HerrPaulfolloweduphisvictory。\"Come，come！\"hesaid。\"Passmemymenofrepute！quediable！wearenotanarchists。\"
\"Areyousure？\"saidHarz。
HerrPaultwistedhismoustache。\"Ibegyourpardon，\"hesaidslowly。Butatthismomentthedoorwasopened;arumblingvoiceremarked:\"Morning，Paul。Who’syourvisitor？\"Harzsawatall，bulkyfigureinthedoorway。
\"Comein，\"’calledoutHerrPaul。\"Letmepresenttoyouanewacquaintance，anartist:HerrHarz——Mr。NicholasTreffry。Psummbumm！Allthisintroducingisdrywork。\"Andgoingtothesideboardhepouredoutthreeglassesofalight，foamingbeer。
Mr。Treffrywaveditfromhim:\"Notforme，\"hesaid:\"WishIcould！
Theywon’tletmelookatit。\"Andwalkingover，tothewindowwithaheavytread，whichtrembledlikehisvoice，hesatdown。Therewassomethinginhisgaitlikethemovementsofanelephant’shindlegs。
Hewasverytall（itwassaid，withthecustomaryexaggerationoffamilytradition，thatthereneverhadbeenamaleTreffryundersixfeetinheight），butnowhestooped，andhadgrownstout。Therewassomethingatoncevastandunobtrusiveabouthispersonality。
Heworealoosebrownvelvetjacket，andwaistcoat，cuttoshowasoftfrilledshirtandnarrowblackribbontie;athingoldchainwasloopedroundhisneckandfastenedtohisfob。Hisheavycheekshadfoldsinthemlikethoseinabloodhound’sface。Heworebig，drooping，yellow—greymoustaches，whichhehadahabitofsucking，andagoateebeard。Hehadlonglooseearsthatmightalmosthavebeensaidtogap。Onhisheadtherewasasoftblackhat，largeinthebrimandlowinthecrown。Hisgreyeyes，heavy—lidded，twinkledundertheirbushybrowswithaqueer，kindcynicism。Asayoungmanhehadsownmanyawildoat;buthehadalsoworkedandmademoneyinbusiness;hehad，infact，burnedthecandleatbothends;buthehadneverbeenunreadytodohisfellowsagoodturn。Hehadapassionfordriving，andhisrecklessmethodofpursuingthisarthadcausedhimtobenicknamed:\"ThenotoriousTreffry。\"
Once，whenhewasdrivingtandemdownahillwithalooserein，thefriendbesidehimhadsaid:\"Forallthegoodyou’redoingwiththosereins，Treffry，youmightaswellthrowthemonthehorses’necks。\"
\"Justso，\"Treffryhadanswered。Atthebottomofthehilltheyhadgoneoverawallintoapotatopatch。Treffryhadbrokenseveralribs;hisfriendhadgoneunharmed。
Hewasagreatsufferernow，but，constitutionallyaversetobeingpitied，hehadadisconcertingwayofhumming，andthis，togetherwiththeshakeinhisvoice，andhisfrequentuseofpeculiarphrases，madetheunderstandingofhisspeechdependattimesonintuitionratherthanintelligence。
Theclockbegantostrikeeleven。Harzmutteredanexcuse，shookhandswithhishost，andbowingtohisnewacquaintance，wentaway。
HecaughtaglimpseofGreta’sfaceagainstthewindow，andwavedhishandtoher。IntheroadhecameonDawney，whowasturninginbetweenthepoplars，withthumbsasusualhookedinthearmholesofhiswaistcoat。
\"Hallo！\"thelattersaid。
\"Doctor！\"Harzansweredslyly;\"theFatesoutwittedme，itseems。\"
\"Serveyouright，\"saidDawney，\"foryourconfoundedegoism！WaitheretillIcomeout，Ishan’tbemanyminutes。\"
ButHarzwentonhisway。Acartdrawnbycream—colouredoxenwaspassingslowlytowardsthebridge。Infrontofthebrushwoodpiledonittwopeasantgirlsweresittingwiththeirfeetonamatofgrass——thepictureofcontentment。
\"I’mwastingmytime！\"hethought。\"I’vedonenexttonothingintwomonths。BettergetbacktoLondon！Thatgirlwillnevermakeapainter！\"Shewouldnevermakeapainter，buttherewassomethinginherthathecouldnotdismisssorapidly。Shewasnotexactlybeautiful，butshewassympathetic。Thebrowwaspleasing，withdark—brownhairsoftlyturnedback，andeyessostraightandshining。
Thetwosisterswereverydifferent！Thelittleonewasinnocent，yetmysterious;theelderseemedasclearascrystal！
Hehadenteredthetown，wherethearcadedstreetsexudedtheirpeculiarpungentsmellofcowsandleather，wood—smoke，wine—casks，anddrains。Thesoundofrapidwheelsoverthestonesmadehimturnhishead。Acarriagedrawnbyred—roanhorseswaspassingatagreatpace。Peoplestaredatit，standingstill，andlookingalarmed。Itswungfromsidetosideandvanishedroundacorner。HarzsawMr。
NicholasTreffryinalong，whitishdust—coat;hisItalianservant，perchedbehind，washoldingtotheseat—rail，withanervousgrinonhisdarkface。
’Certainly，’Harzthought，’there’snogettingawayfromthesepeoplethismorning——theyareeverywhere。’
Inhisstudiohebegantosorthissketches，washhisbrushes，anddragoutthingshehadaccumulatedduringhistwomonths’stay。Heevenbegantofoldhisblanketdoor。Butsuddenlyhestopped。Thosetwogirls！Whynottry？Whatapicture！Thetwoheads，thesky，andleaves！Beginto—morrow！Againstthatwindow——no，betterattheVilla！Callthepicture——Spring……！
IV
Thewind，stirringamongtreesandbushes，flungtheyoungleavesskywards。Thetremblingoftheirsilverliningswaslikethejoyfulflutterofaheartatgoodnews。ItwasoneofthoseSpringmorningswheneverythingseemsfullofasweetrestlessness——softcloudschasingfastacrossthesky;softscentsfloatingforthanddying;
thenotesofbirds，nowshrillandsweet，nowhushedinsilences;allnaturestrivingforsomething，nothingatpeace。
VillaRubeinwithstoodtheinfluenceoftheday，andworeitsusuallookofrestandisolation。Harzsentinhiscard，andaskedtosee\"derHerr。\"Theservant，agrey—eyed，clever—lookingSwisswithnohaironhisface，camebacksaying:
\"DerHerr，meinHerr，isintheGardengone。\"Harzfollowedhim。
HerrPaul，asmallwhiteflannelcaponhishead，glovesonhishands，andglassesonhisnose，waswateringarosebush，andhummingtheserenadefromFaust。
Thisaspectofthehousewasverydifferentfromtheother。Thesunfellonit，andoveraverandacreepersclungandscrambledinlongscrolls。Therewasalawn，withfreshlymowngrass;flower—bedswerelaidout，andattheendofanavenueofyoungacaciasstoodanarbourcoveredwithwisteria。
Intheeast，mountainpeaks——fingersofsnow——glitteredabovethemist。Agravesimplicitylayonthatscene，ontheroofsandspires，thevalleysandthedreamyhillsides，withtheiryellowscarsandpurplebloom，andwhitecascades，liketailsofgreyhorsesswishinginthewind。
HerrPaulheldouthishand:\"Whatcanwedoforyou？\"hesaid。
\"Ihavetobegafavour，\"repliedHarz。\"Iwishtopaintyourdaughters。Iwillbringthecanvashere——theyshallhavenotrouble。
Iwouldpainttheminthegardenwhentheyhavenothingelsetodo。\"
HerrPaullookedathimdubiously——eversincethepreviousdayhehadbeenthinking:’Queerbird，thatpainter——thinkshimselfthedevilofaswell！Looksadeterminedfellowtoo！’Now——staringinthepainter’sface——itseemedtohim，onthewhole，bestifsomeoneelserefusedthispermission。
\"Withallthepleasure，mydearsir，\"hesaid。\"Come，letusaskthesetwoyoungladies！\"andputtingdownhishose，heledthewaytowardsthearbour，thinking:’You’llbedisappointed，myyoungconqueror，orI’mmistaken。’
MissNaylorandthegirlsweresittingintheshade，readingLaFontaine’sfables。Greta，withoneeyeonhergoverness，wasstealthilycuttingapigoutoforangepeel。
\"Ah！mydeardears！\"beganHerrPaul，whointhepresenceofMissNayloralwaysparadedhisEnglish。\"Hereisourfriend，whohasaveryflatteringrequesttomake;hewouldpaintyou，yes——bothtogether，alfresco，intheair，inthesunshine，withthebirds，thelittlebirds！\"
Greta，gazingatHarz，gusheddeeppink，andfurtivelyshowedhimherpig。
Christiansaid:\"Paintus？Ohno！\"
ShesawHarzlookingather，andadded，slowly:\"Ifyoureallywishit，Isupposewecould！\"thendroppedhereyes。
\"Ah！\"saidHerrPaulraisinghisbrowstillhisglassesfellfromhisnose:\"AndwhatsaysGretchen？Doesshewanttobehandeduptoposteritiesalittlepeacockalongwiththeotherlittlebirds？\"
Greta，whohadcontinuedstaringatthepainter，said:\"Of——course——
I——want——to——be。\"
\"Prrt！\"saidHerrPaul，lookingatMissNaylor。Thelittleladyindeedopenedhermouthwide，butallthatcameforthwasatinysqueak，assometimeshappenswhenoneisanxioustosaysomething，andhasnotarrangedbeforehandwhatitshallbe。
Theaffairseemedended;Harzheavedasighofsatisfaction。ButHerrPaulhadstillacardtoplay。
\"ThereisyourAunt，\"hesaid;\"therearethingstobeconsidered——
onemustcertainlyinquire——so，weshallsee。\"KissingGretaloudlyonbothcheeks，hewenttowardsthehouse。
\"Whatmakesyouwanttopaintus？\"Christianasked，assoonashewasgone。
\"Ithinkitverywrong，\"MissNaylorblurtedout。
\"Why？\"saidHarz，frowning。
\"Gretaissoyoung——therearelessons——itissuchawasteoftime！\"
Hiseyebrowstwitched:\"Ah！Youthinkso！\"
\"Idon’tseewhyitisawasteoftime，\"saidChristianquietly;
\"therearelotsofhourswhenwesithereanddonothing。\"
\"Anditisverydull，\"putinGreta，withapout。
\"Youarerude，Greta，\"saidMissNaylorinalittlerage，pursingherlips，andtakingupherknitting。
\"Ithinkitseemsalwaysrudetospeakthetruth，\"saidGreta。MissNaylorlookedatherinthatconcentratedmannerwithwhichshewasinthehabitofexpressingdispleasure。
Butatthismomentaservantcame，andsaidthatMrs。DeciewouldbegladtoseeHerrHarz。Thepaintermadethemastiffbow，andfollowedtheservanttothehouse。MissNaylorandthetwogirlswatchedhisprogresswithapprehensiveeyes;itwasclearthathehadbeenoffended。
Crossingtheveranda，andpassingthroughanopenwindowhungwithsilkcurtains，Hartenteredacooldarkroom。ThiswasMrs。Decie’ssanctum，wheresheconductedcorrespondence，receivedhervisitors，readthelatestliterature，andsometimes，whenshehadbadheadaches，layforhoursonthesofa，withafan，andhereyesclosed。Therewasascentofsandalwood，asuggestionoftheEast，akindofmystery，inhere，asifthingslikechairsandtableswerenotreallywhattheyseemed，butsomethingmuchlesscommonplace。
Thevisitorlookedtwice，tobequitesureofanything;thereweremanyplants，beadcurtains，andadealofsilverworkandchina。
Mrs。Deciecameforwardintheslightlyrustlingsilkwhich——whetherinoroutoffashion——alwaysaccompaniedher。Atallwoman，overfifty，shemovedasifshehadbeentiedtogetherattheknees。Herfacewaslong，withbroadbrows，fromwhichhersandy—greyhairwasseverelywavedback;shehadpaleeyes，andaperpetual，pale，enigmaticsmile。HercomplexionhadbeenruinedbylongresidenceinIndia，andmightunkindlyhavebeencalledfawn—coloured。ShecameclosetoHarz，keepinghereyesonhis，withherheadbentslightlyforward。
\"Wearesopleasedtoknowyou，\"shesaid，speakinginavoicewhichhadlostallring。\"ItischarmingtofindsomeoneinthesepartswhocanhelpustorememberthatthereissuchathingasArt。WehadMr。C———herelastautumn，suchacharmingfellow。Hewassointerestedinthenativecustomsanddresses。Youareasubjectpainter，too，Ithink？Won’tyousitdown？\"
Shewentonforsometime，introducingpainters’names，askingquestions，skatingroundtheedgeofwhatwaspersonal。Andtheyoungmanstoodbeforeherwithacuriouslittlesmilefixedonhislips。’ShewantstoknowwhetherI’mworthpowderandshot，’hethought。
\"Youwishtopaintmynieces？\"Mrs。Deciesaidatlast，leaningbackonhersettee。
\"Iwishtohavethathonour，\"Harzansweredwithabow。
\"Andwhatsortofpicturedidyouthinkof？\"
\"That，\"saidHarz，\"isinthefuture。Icouldn’ttellyou。\"Andhethought:’WillsheaskmeifIgetmytintsinParis，likethewomanTrampertoldmeof？’
TheperpetualpalesmileonMrs。Decie’sfaceseemedtoinvitehisconfidence，yettowarnhimthathiswordswouldbesuckedinsomewherebehindthosebroadfinebrows，andcarefullysorted。Mrs。
Decie，indeed，wasthinking:’Interestingyoungman，regularBohemian——noharminthatathisage;somethingNapoleonicinhisface;probablyhasnodressclothes。Yes，shouldliketoseemoreofhim！’Shehadafineeyeforpointsofcelebrity;hisnamewasunfamiliar，wouldprobablyhavebeenscoutedbythatfamousartistMr。C———，butshefeltherinstincturgingherontoknowhim。Shewas，todoherjustice，oneofthose\"lion\"finderswhoseektheanimalforpleasure，notforthegloryitbringsthem;shehadthecourageofherinstincts——lion—entitieswereindispensabletoher，butshetrustedtodivinationtosecurethem;nobodycouldfoista\"lion\"onher。
\"Itwillbeverynice。Youwillstayandhavesomelunch？Thearrangementshereareratherodd。Suchamixedhousehold——butthereisalwayslunchattwoo’clockforanyonewholikes，andwealldineatseven。Youwouldhaveyoursittingsintheafternoons，perhaps？
Ishouldsoliketoseeyoursketches。Youareusingtheoldhouseonthewallforstudio;thatissooriginalofyou！\"
Harzwouldnotstaytolunch，butaskedifhemightbeginworkthatafternoon;heleftalittlesuffocatedbythesandalwoodandsympathyofthissphinx—likewoman。
Walkinghomealongtheriverwall，withthesingingofthelarksandthrushes，therushofwaters，thehummingofthechafersinhisears，hefeltthathewouldmakesomethingfineofthissubject。Beforehiseyesthefacesofthetwogirlscontinuallystartedup，framedbythesky，withyoungleavesgutteringagainsttheircheeks。
V
ThreedayshadpassedsinceHarzbeganhispicture，whenearlyinthemorning，GretacamefromVillaRubeinalongtheriverdykeandsatdownonabenchfromwhichtheoldhouseonthewallwasvisible。
ShehadnotbeentherelongbeforeHarzcameout。
\"Ididnotknock，\"saidGreta，\"becauseyouwouldnothaveheard，anditissoearly，soIhavebeenwaitingforyouaquarterofanhour。\"
Selectingarosebud，fromsomeflowersinherhand，shehandedittohim。\"Thatismyfirstrosebudthisyear，\"shesaid;\"itisforyoubecauseyouarepaintingme。To—dayIamthirteen，HerrHarz;thereisnottobeasitting，becauseitismybirthday;but，instead，weareallgoingtoMerantoseetheplayofAndreasHofer。Youaretocometoo，please;Iamheretotellyou，andtheothersshallbeheredirectly。\"
Harzbowed:\"Andwhoaretheothers？\"
\"Christian，andDr。Edmund，MissNaylor，andCousinTeresa。Herhusbandisill，sosheissad，butto—daysheisgoingtoforgetthat。Itisnotgoodtobealwayssad，isit，HerrHarz？\"
Helaughed:\"Youcouldnotbe。\"
Gretaansweredgravely:\"Ohyes，Icould。Itooamoftensad。Youaremakingfun。Youarenottomakefunto—day，becauseitismybirthday。Doyouthinkgrowingupisnice，HerrHarz？\"
\"No，FrauleinGreta，itisbettertohaveallthetimebeforeyou。\"
Theywalkedonsidebyside。
\"Ithink，\"saidGreta，\"youareverymuchafraidoflosingtime。
Chrissaysthattimeisnothing。\"
\"Timeiseverything，\"respondedHarz。
\"Shesaysthattimeisnothing，andthoughtiseverything，\"Gretamurmured，rubbingaroseagainsthercheek，\"butIthinkyoucannothaveathoughtunlessyouhavethetimetothinkitin。Therearetheothers！Look！\"
Aclusterofsunshadesonthebridgeglowedforamomentandwaslostinshadow。
\"Come，\"saidHarz，\"let’sjointhem！\"
AtMeran，underSchlossTirol，peoplewerestreamingacrossthemeadowsintotheopentheatre。Hereweretallfellowsinmountaindress，withleatherbreeches，bareknees，andhatswitheagles’
feathers;herewerefruit—sellers，burghersandtheirwives，mountebanks，actors，andeverykindofvisitor。Theaudience，packedintoanenclosureofhighboards，swelteredundertheburningsun。
CousinTeresa，tallandthin，withhard，redcheeks，shadedherpleasanteyeswithherhand。
Theplaybegan。ItdepictedtherisingintheTyrolof1809:thevillagelife，dancesandyodelling;murmuringsandexhortations，thewarningbeatofdrums;thenthegathering，withflintlocks，pitchforks，knives;thebattleandvictory;thehomecoming，andfestival。Thenthesecondgathering，theroarofcannon;betrayal，capture，death。TheimpassivefigureofthepatriotAndreasHoferalwaysinfront，black—bearded，leathern—girdled，underthebluesky，againstascreenofmountains。
HarzandChristiansatbehindtheothers。Heseemedsointentontheplaythatshedidnotspeak，butwatchedhisface，rigidwithakindofcoldexcitement;heseemedtobetransportedbythelifepassingbeforethem。Somethingofhisfeelingseizedonher;whentheplaywasovershetoowastrembling。Inpushingtheirwayouttheybecameseparatedfromtheothers。
\"There’sashortcuttothestationhere，\"saidChristian;\"let’sgothisway。\"
Thepathrosealittle;anarrowstreamcreptalongsidethemeadow，andthehedgewasspangledwithwildroses。Christiankeptglancingshylyatthepainter。Sincetheirmeetingontheriverwallherthoughtshadneverbeenatrest。Thisstranger，withhiskeenface，insistenteyes，andceaselessenergy，hadrousedastrangefeelinginher;hiswordshadputshapetosomethinginhernotyetexpressed。
Shestoodasideatastiletomakewayforsomepeasantboys，dustyandrough—haired，whosangandwhistledastheywentby。