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。