\"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。