Christianwatchedtheirsoftuncertainrushes。Goingtothelittlesummer—housesheflungherselfdownonaseat，andpressedherhandstoherheart。
Therewasastrangeandsuddenachingthere。Washegoingfromher？
Ifso，whatwouldbeleft？Howlittleandhownarrowseemedtheoutlookofherlife——withtheworldwaitingforher，theworldofbeauty，effort，self—sacrifice，fidelity！Itwasasthoughaflashofthatsummerlightninghadfledby，singeingher，takingfromherallpowersofflight，burningoffherwings，asoffoneofthosepalehoveringmoths。Tearsstartedup，andtrickleddownherface。
’Blind！’shethought;’howcouldIhavebeensoblind？’
Someonecamedownthepath。
\"Who’sthere？\"shecried。
Harzstoodinthedoorway。
\"Whydidyoucomeout？\"hesaid。\"Ah！whydidyoucomeout？\"Hecaughtherhand;Christiantriedtodrawitfromhim，andtoturnhereyesaway，butshecouldnot。Heflunghimselfdownonhisknees，andcried:\"Iloveyou！\"
InaraptureofsoftterrorChristianbentherforeheaddowntohishand。
\"Whatareyoudoing？\"sheheardhimsay。\"Isitpossiblethatyouloveme？\"andshefelthiskissesonherhair。
\"Mysweet！itwillbesohardforyou;youaresolittle，solittle，andsoweak。\"Claspinghishandclosertoherface，shemurmured:\"I
don’tcare。\"
Therewasalong，softsilence，thatseemedtolastforever。
Suddenlyshethrewherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
\"Whatevercomes！\"shewhispered，andgatheringherdress，escapedfromhimintothedarkness。
XII
Christianwokenextmorningwithasmile。Inherattitudes，hervoice，hereyes，therewasahappyandsweetseriousness，asifshewerehuggingsomeholythought。Afterbreakfastshetookabookandsatintheopenwindow，whenceshecouldseethepoplar—treesguardingtheentrance。Therewasabreeze;therosesclosebykeptnoddingtoher;thecathedralbellswereinfullchime;beeshummedabovethelavender;andintheskysoftcloudswerefloatinglikehuge，whitebirds。
ThesoundsofMissNaylor’sstaccatodictationtravelledacrosstheroom，andGreta’ssighsasshetookitdown，oneeyeonherpaper，oneeyeonScruff，wholaywithablackearflappedacrosshispaw，andhistaneyebrowsquivering。Hewasindisgrace，forDominique，comingonhimunawares，hadseenhim\"sayhisprayers\"beforeapudding，andtakethepuddingforreward。
Christianputherbookdowngently，andslippedthroughthewindow。
Harzwascominginfromtheroad。\"Iamallyours！\"shewhispered。
Hisfingersclosedonhers，andhewentintothehouse。
Sheslippedback，tookupherbook，andwaited。Itseemedlongbeforehecameout，butwhenhedidhewavedherback，andhurriedon;shehadaglimpseofhisface，whitetothelips。Feelingfaintandsick，sheflewtoherstepfather’sroom。
HerrPaulwasstandinginacornerwiththeutterlydisturbedappearanceofaneasy—goingman，visitedbytheunexpected。Hisfineshirt—frontwascrumpledasifhisbreasthadheavedtoosuddenlyunderstrongemotion;hissmokedeyeglassesdangleddownhisback;
hisfingerswereembeddedinhisbeard。Hewasfixinghiseyeonaspotinthefloorasthoughheexpectedittoexplodeandblowthemtofragments。InanothercornerMrs。Decie，withhalf—closedeyes，wasrunningherfinger—tipsacrossherbrow。
\"Whathaveyousaidtohim？\"criedChristian。
HerrPaulregardedherwithglassyeyes。
\"MeinGott！\"hesaid。\"YourauntandI！\"
\"Whathaveyousaidtohim？\"repeatedChristian。
\"Theimpudence！Ananarchist！。Abeggar！\"
\"Paul！\"murmuredMrs。Decie。
\"Theoutlaw！Thefellow！\"HerrPaulbegantostrideabouttheroom。
Quiveringfromheadtofoot，Christiancried:\"Howdaredyou？\"andranfromtheroom，pushingasideMissNaylorandGreta，whostoodblanchedandfrightenedinthedoorway。
HerrPaulstoppedinhistramp，and，stillwithhiseyesfixedonthefloor，growled:
\"Afinething—hein？What’scoming？Willyoupleasetellme？Ananarchist——abeggar！\"
\"Paul！\"murmuredMrs。Decie。
\"Paul！Paul！Andyou！\"hepointedtoMissNaylor——\"Twowomenwitheyes！——hein！\"
\"Thereisnothingtobegainedbyviolence，\"Mrs。Deciemurmured，passingherhandkerchiefacrossherlips。MissNaylor，whosethinbrowncheekshadflushed，advancedtowardshim。
\"Ihopeyoudonot——\"shesaid;\"IamsuretherewasnothingthatI
couldhaveprevented——Ishouldbegladifthatwereunderstood。\"
And，turningwithsomedignity，thelittleladywentaway，closingthedoorbehindher。
\"Youhear！\"HerrPaulsaid，violentlysarcastic:\"nothingshecouldhaveprevented！Enfin，！WillyoupleasetellmewhatIamtodo？\"
\"Menoftheworld\"——whosephilosophyisacreatureofcircumstanceandacceptedthings——findanydeviationfromthepathoftheirconvictionsdangerous，shocking，andanintolerablebore。HerrPaulhadspenthislifelaughingatconvictions;thematterhadbuttotouchhimpersonally，andthetapoflaughterwasturnedoff。Thatanyonetowhomhewasthelawfulguardianshouldmarryotherthanawell—groomedman，properlyendowedwithgoods，properlyselected，wasbeyondexpressionhorrid。Fromhispointofviewhehadgreatexcuseforhorror;andhewasnaturallyunabletojudgewhetherhehadexcuseforhorrorfromotherpointsofview。Hisamazementhadinitaspiceofthepathetic;hewaslikeachildinthepresenceofathingthatheabsolutelycouldnotunderstand。Theinterviewhadlefthimwithasenseofinsecuritywhichhefelttobeparticularlyunfair。
Thedoorwasagainopened，andGretaflewin，hercheeksflushed，herhairfloatingbehindher，andtearsstreamingdownhercheeks。
\"Papa！\"shecried，\"youhavebeencrueltoChris。Thedoorislocked;Icanhearhercrying——whyhaveyoubeencruel？\"Withoutwaitingtobeanswered，sheflewoutagain。
HerrPaulseizedhishairwithbothhishands:\"Good！Verygood！Myownchild，please！Whatnextthen？\"
Mrs。Decierosefromherchairlanguidly。\"Myheadisverybad，\"shesaid，shadinghereyesandspeakinginlowtones:\"Itisnousemakingafuss——nothingcancomeofthis——hehasnotapenny。
Christianwillhavenothingtillyoudie，whichwillnotbeforalongtimeyet，ifyoucanbutavoidanapoplecticfit！\"
AttheselastwordsHerrPaulgaveastartofrealdisgust。\"Hum！\"
hemuttered;itwasasiftheworldwerebentonbeingbrutaltohim。
Mrs。Deciecontinued:
\"IfIknowanythingofthisyoungman，hewillnotcomehereagain，afterthewordsyouhavespoken。AsforChristian——youhadbettertalktoNicholas。Iamgoingtoliedown。\"
HerrPaulnervouslyfingeredtheshirt—collarroundhisstout，shortneck。
\"Nicholas！Certainly——agoodidea。Quellediabled’afaire！\"
’French！’thoughtMrs。Decie;’weshallsoonhavepeace。PoorChristian！I’msorry！Afterall，thesethingsareamatteroftimeandopportunity。’Thisconsoledheragooddeal。
ButforChristianthehourswerealongnightmareofgriefandshame，fearandanger。Wouldheforgive？Wouldhebetruetoher？Orwouldhegoawaywithoutaword？Sinceyesterdayitwasasifshehadsteppedintoanotherworld，andlostitagain。Inplaceofthatnewfeeling，intoxicatingaswine，whatwascoming？Whatbitter;
dreadfulending？
Arudeentrancethisintothelifeoffacts，andprimitiveemotions！
SheletGretaintoherroomafteratime，forthechildhadbegunsobbing;butshewouldnottalk，andsathourafterhouratthewindowwiththeairfanningherface，andthepaininhereyesturnedtotheskyandtrees。Afteroneortwoattemptsatconsolation，Gretasankonthefloor，andremainedthere，humblygazingathersisterinasilenceonlybrokenwhenChristianclearedherthroatoftears，andbythesongofbirdsinthegarden。Intheafternoonsheslippedawayanddidnotcomebackagain。
AfterhisinterviewwithMr。Treffry，HerrPaultookabath，perfumedhimselfwithprecision，andcausedittobeclearlyunderstoodthat，undercircumstancessuchasthese，aman’shousewasnotsuitedforapigtolivein。HeshortlyafterwardswentouttotheKurbaus，andhadnotreturnedbydinner—time。
Christiancamedownfordinner。Therewerecrimsonspotsinhercheeks，darkcirclesroundhereyes;shebehaved，however，asthoughnothinghadhappened。MissNaylor，affectedbythekindnessofherheartandtheshockhersystemhadsustained，rolledanumberofbreadpills，lookingateachasitcame，withanairofsurprise，andconcealingitwithdifficulty。Mr。Treffrywascoughing，andwhenhetalkedhisvoiceseemedtorumbleevenmorethanusual。Gretawasdumb，tryingtocatchChristian’seye;Mrs。Deciealoneseemedatease。AfterdinnerMr。Treffrywentofftohisroom，leaningheavilyonChristian’sshoulder。Ashesankintohischair，hesaidtoher:
\"Pullyourselftogether，mydear！\"Christiandidnotanswerhim。
OutsidehisroomGretacaughtherbythesleeve。
\"Look！\"shewhispered，thrustingapieceofpaperintoChristian’shand。\"ItistomefromDr。Edmund，butyoumustreadit。\"
Christianopenedthenote，whichranasfollows:
\"MYPHILOSOPHERANDFRIEND，——Ireceivedyournote，andwenttoourfriend’sstudio;hewasnotin，buthalfanhouragoIstumbledonhiminthePlatz。Heisnotquitehimself;hashadatouchofthesun——nothingserious:Itookhimtomyhotel，whereheisinbed。Ifhewillstaytherehewillbeallrightinadayortwo。Inanycaseheshallnoteludemyclutchesforthepresent。
\"MywarmrespectstoMistressChristian。——Yoursinfriendshipandphilosophy，EDMUNDDAWNEY。\"
Christianreadandre—readthisnote，thenturnedtoGreta。
\"WhatdidyousaytoDr。Dawney？\"
Gretatookbackthepieceofpaper，andreplied:\"Isaid:
\"’DEARDR。EDMUND，——WeareanxiousaboutHerrHarz。Wethinkheisperhapsnotverywellto—day。We（IandChristian）shouldliketoknow。Youcantellus。Pleaseshallyou？GRETA。’
\"ThatiswhatIsaid。\"
Christiandroppedhereyes。\"Whatmadeyouwrite？\"
Gretagazedathermournfully:\"Ithought——OChris！comeintothegarden。Iamsohot，anditissodullwithoutyou！\"
ChristianbentherheadforwardandrubbedhercheekagainstGreta’s，thenwithoutanotherwordranupstairsandlockedherselfintoherroom。Thechildstoodlistening;hearingthekeyturninthelock，shesankdownonthebottomstepandtookScruffinherarms。
HalfanhourlaterMissNaylor，carryingacandle，foundhertherefastasleep，withherheadrestingontheterrier’sback，andtearstainsonhercheeks……
Mrs。Deciepresentlycameout，alsocarryingacandle，andwenttoherbrother’sroom。Shestoodbeforehischair，withfoldedhands。
\"Nicholas，whatistobedone？\"
Mr。Treffrywaspouringwhiskyintoaglass。
\"Damnit，Con！\"heanswered;\"howshouldIknow？\"
\"There’ssomethinginChristianthatmakesinterferencedangerous。I
knowverywellthatI’venoinfluencewithheratall。\"
\"You’rerightthere，Con，\"Mr。Treffryreplied。
Mrs。Decie’spaleeyes，fastenedonhisface，forcedhimtolookup。
\"Iwishyouwouldleaveoffdrinkingwhiskyandattendtome。Paulisanelement——\"
\"Paul，\"Mr。Treffrygrowled，\"isanass！\"
\"Paul，\"pursuedMrs。Decie，\"isanelementofdangerinthesituation;anyill—timedoppositionofhismightdrivehertoIdon’tknowwhat。Christianisgentle，sheis’sympathetic’astheysay;
butthwarther，andsheisasobstinateas……
\"YouorI！Leaveheralone！\"
\"Iunderstandhercharacter，butIconfessthatIamatalosswhattodo。\"
\"Donothing！\"Hedrankagain。
Mrs。Decietookupthecandle。
\"Men！\"shesaidwithamysteriousintonation;shrugginghershoulders，shewalkedout。
Mr。Treffryputdownhisglass。
’Understand？’hethought;’no，youdon’t，andIdon’t。Whounderstandsayounggirl？Vapourings，dreams，moonshineI……Whatdoessheseeinthispainterfellow？Iwonder！’Hebreathedheavily。’Byheavens！Iwouldn’thavehadthishappenforahundredthousandpounds！’
XIII
FormanyhoursafterDawneyhadtakenhimtohishotel，Harzwasprostratewithstunningpainsintheheadandneck。Hehadbeenalldaywithoutfood，exposedtoburningsun，sufferingviolentemotion。
Movementofanysortcausedhimsuchagonythathecouldonlylieinstupor，countingthespotsdancingbefore，hiseyes。Dawneydideverythingforhim，andHarzresentedinalistlesswaytheintentscrutinyofthedoctor’scalm，blackeyes。
Towardstheendoftheseconddayhewasabletogetup;Dawneyfoundhimsittingonthebedinshirtandtrousers。
\"Myson，\"hesaid，\"youhadbettertellmewhatthetroubleis——itwilldoyourstubborncarcasegood。\"
\"Imustgobacktowork，\"saidHarz。
\"Work！\"saidDawneydeliberately:\"youcouldn’t，ifyoutried。\"
\"Imust。\"
\"Mydearfellow，youcouldn’ttellonecolourfromanother。\"
\"Imustbedoingsomething;Ican’tsithereandthink。\"
Dawneyhookedhisthumbsintohiswaistcoat:\"Youwon’tseethesunforthreedaysyet，ifIcanhelpit。\"
Harzgotup。
\"I’mgoingtomystudioto—morrow，\"hesaid。\"Ipromisenottogoout。ImustbewhereIcanseemywork。IfIcan’tpaint，Icandraw;Icanfeelmybrushes，movemythingsabout。IshallgomadifIdonothing。\"
Dawneytookhisarm，andwalkedhimupanddown。
\"I’llletyougo，\"hesaid，\"butgivemeachance！It’sasmuchtometoputyoustraightasitistoyoutopaintadecentpicture。
Nowgotobed;I’llhaveacarriageforyouto—morrowmorning。\"
Harzsatdownonthebedagain，andforalongtimestayedwithoutmoving，hiseyesfixedonthefloor。Thesightofhim，sodesperateandmiserable，hurttheyoungdoctor。
\"Canyougettobedbyyourself？\"heaskedatlast。
Harznodded。
\"Then，good—night，oldchap！\"andDawneylefttheroom。
HetookhishatandturnedtowardstheVilla。Betweenthepoplarshestoppedtothink。Thefarthertreeswerefret—workedblackagainstthelingeringgoldofthesunset;ahugemoth，attractedbythetipofhiscigar，cameflutteringinhisface。Themusicofaconcertinaroseandfell，likethesighingofsomedisillusionedspirit。Dawneystoodforseveralminutesstaringatthehouse。
HewasshowntoMrs。Decie’sroom。Shewasholdingamagazinebeforehereyes，andreceivedhimwithasmuchreliefasphilosophypermitted。
\"YouaretheverypersonIwantedtosee，\"shesaid。
Henoticedthatthemagazinesheheldwasuncut。
\"Youareayoungman，\"pursuedMrs。Decie，\"butasmydoctorIhavearighttoyourdiscretion。\"
Dawneysmiled;thefeaturesofhisbroad，clean—shavenfacelookedridiculouslysmallonsuchoccasions，buthiseyesretainedtheirairofcalculation。
\"Thatisso，\"heanswered。
\"Itisaboutthisunfortunateaffair。IunderstandthatMr。Harziswithyou。Iwantyoutouseyourinfluencetodissuadehimfromattemptingtoseemyniece。\"
\"Influence！\"saidDawney;\"youknowHarz！\"
Mrs。Decie’svoicehardened。
\"Everybody，\"shesaid，\"hashisweakpoints。Thisyoungmanisopentoapproachfromatleasttwoquarters——hisprideisone，hisworkanother。Iamseldomwrongingaugingcharacter;thesearehisvitalspots，andtheyareoftheessenceofthismatter。I’msorryforhim，ofcourse——butathisage，andlivingaman’slife，thesethings——\"Hersmilewasextrapale。\"Iwishyoucouldgivemesomethingformyhead。It’sfoolishtoworry。Nervesofcourse！
ButIcan’thelpit！Youknowmyopinion，Dr。Dawney。Thatyoungmanwillgofarifheremainsunfettered;hewillmakeaname。Youwillbedoinghimagreatserviceifyoucouldshowhimtheaffairasitreallyis——adragonhim，andquiteunworthyofhispride！Dohelpme！Youarejustthemantodoit！\"
Dawneythrewuphisheadasiftoshakeoffthisimpeachment;thecurveofhischinthusdisplayedwasimposinginitsfulness;
altogetherhewasimposing，havinganairofcapability。
Shestruckhim，indeed，asreallyscared;itwasasifhermaskofsmilehadbecomeawry，andfailedtocoverheremotion;andhewaspuzzled，thinking，’Iwouldn’thavebelievedshehaditinher……’
\"It’snotaneasybusiness，\"hesaid;\"I’llthinkitover。\"
\"Thankyou！\"murmuredMrs。Decie。\"Youaremostkind。\"
Passingtheschoolroom，helookedinthroughtheopendoor。
Christianwassittingthere。Thesightofherfaceshockedhim，itwassowhite，soresolutelydumb。Abooklayonherknees;shewasnotreading，butstaringbeforeher。Hethoughtsuddenly:’Poorthing！IfIdon’tsaysomethingtoher，Ishallbeabrute！’
\"MissDevorell，\"hesaid:\"Youcanreckononhim。\"
Christiantriedtospeak，butherlipstrembledsothatnothingcameforth。
\"Good—night，\"saidDawney，andwalkedout……
ThreedayslaterHarzwassittinginthewindowofhisstudio。Itwasthefirstdayhehadfounditpossibletowork，andnow，tiredout，hestaredthroughtheduskattheslowlylengtheningshadowsoftherafters。Asolitarymosquitohummed，andtwohousesparrows，whohadbuiltbeneaththeroof，chirrupedsleepily。Swallowsdartedbythewindow，dippingtheirbluewingstowardsthequietwater;ahushhadstolenovereverything。Hefellasleep。
Hewoke，withadimimpressionofsomenearpresence。Inthepaleglimmerfrominnumerablestars，theroomwasfullofshadowyshapes。
Helithislantern。Theflamedartedforth，bickered，thenslowlylitupthegreatroom。
\"Who’sthere？\"
Arustlingseemedtoanswer。Hepeeredabout，wenttothedoorway，anddrewthecurtain。Awoman’scloakedfigureshrankagainstthewall。Herfacewasburiedinherhands;herarms，fromwhichthecloakfellback，werealonevisible。
\"Christian？\"
Sheranpasthim，andwhenhehadputthelanterndown，wasstandingatthewindow。Sheturnedquicklytohim。\"Takemeawayfromhere！
Letmecomewithyou！\"
\"Doyoumeanit？\"
\"Yousaidyouwouldn’tgivemeup！\"
\"Youknowwhatyouaredoing？\"
Shemadeamotionofassent。
\"Butyoudon’tgraspwhatthismeans。Thingstobearthatyouknownothingof——hungerperhaps！Think，evenhunger！Andyourpeoplewon’tforgive——you’llloseeverything。\"
Sheshookherhead。
\"Imustchoose——it’sonethingortheother。Ican’tgiveyouup！
Ishouldbeafraid！\"
\"But，dear;howcanyoucomewithme？Wecan’tbemarriedhere。\"
\"Iamgivingmylifetoyou。\"
\"Youaretoogoodforme，\"saidHarz。\"Thelifeyou’regoinginto——
maybedark，likethat！\"hepointedtothewindow。
Asoundoffootstepsbrokethehush。Theycouldseeafigureonthepathbelow。Itstopped，seemedtoconsider，vanished。Theyheardthesoundsofgropinghands，ofacreakingdoor，ofuncertainfeetonthestairs。
Harzseizedherhand。
\"Quick！\"hewhispered;\"behindthiscanvas！\"
Christianwastremblingviolently。Shedrewherhoodacrossherface。Theheavybreathingandejaculationsofthevisitorwerenowplainlyaudible。
\"He’sthere！Quick！Hide！\"
Sheshookherhead。
Withathrillathisheart，Harzkissedher，thenwalkedtowardstheentrance。Thecurtainwaspulledaside。
ItwasHerrPaul，holdingacigarinonehand，hishatintheother，andbreathinghard。
\"Pardon！\"hesaidhuskily，\"yourstairsaresteep，anddark！maisen，fin！nousvoila！Ihaveventuredtocomeforatalk。\"Hisglancefellonthecloakedfigureintheshadow。
\"Pardon！Athousandpardons！Ihadnoidea！Ibegyoutoforgivethisindiscretion！Imaytakeityouresignpretensionsthen？Youhavealadyhere——Ihavenothingmoretosay;Ionlybegamillionpardonsforintruding。Athousandtimesforgiveme！Good—night！\"
Hebowedandturnedtogo。Christiansteppedforward，andletthehoodfallfromherhead。
\"It’sI！\"
HerrPaulpirouetted。
\"GoodGod！\"hestammered，droppingcigarandhat。\"GoodGod！\"
Thelanternflaredsuddenly，revealinghiscrimson，shakingcheeks。
\"Youcamehere，atnight！You，thedaughterofmywife！\"Hiseyeswanderedwithadullglareroundtheroom。
\"Takecare！\"criedHarz:\"Ifyousayawordagainsther———\"
Thetwomenstaredateachother’seyes。Andwithoutwarning，thelanternflickeredandwentout。Christiandrewthecloakroundheragain。HerrPaul’svoicebrokethesilence;hehadrecoveredhisself—possession。
\"Ah！ah！\"hesaid:\"Darkness！Tantmieux！Therightthingforwhatwehavetosay。Sincewedonotesteemeachother，itiswellnottoseetoomuch。\"
\"Justso，\"saidHarz。
Christianhadcomeclosetothem。Herpalefaceandgreatshiningeyescouldjustbeseenthroughthegloom。
HerrPaulwavedhisarm;thegesturewasimpressive，annihilating。
\"Thisisamatter，Ibelieve，betweentwomen，\"hesaid，addressingHarz。\"Letuscometothepoint。Iwilldoyouthecredittosupposethatyouhaveamarriageinview。Youknow，perhaps，thatMissDevorellhasnomoneytillIdie？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"AndIampassablyyoung！Youhavemoney，then？\"
\"No。\"
\"Inthatcase，youwouldproposetoliveonair？\"
\"No，towork;ithasbeendonebefore。\"
\"Itiscalculatedtoincreasehunger！YouarepreparedtotakeMissDevorell，ayoungladyaccustomedtoluxury，intoplaceslike——this！\"
hepeeredabouthim，\"intoplacesthatsmellofpaint，intothemilieuof’thepeople，’intothesocietyofBohemians——whoknows？ofanarchists，perhaps？\"
Harzclenchedhishands:\"Iwillanswernomorequestions。\"
\"Inthatevent，wereachtheultimatum，\"saidHerrPaul。\"Listen，HerrOutlaw！Ifyouhavenotleftthecountrybynoonto—morrow，youshallbeintroducedtothepolice！\"
Christianutteredacry。Foraminuteinthegloomtheonlysoundheardwastheshort，hardbreathingofthetwomen。
SuddenlyHarzcried:\"Youcoward，Idefyyou！\"
\"Coward！\"HerrPaulrepeated。\"Thatisindeedthelastword。Looktoyourself，myfriend！\"