\"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。