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space； the huge uncertainty； they had found something they could
enjoy in common。 The； steam from the horses' flanks and nostrils
enveloped them with an odour as of glue。
〃You smoke； Mr。 Harz？〃
Harz took the proffered weed； and lighted it from the glowing tip of
Mr。 Treffry's cigar； by light of which his head and hat looked like
some giant mushroom。 Suddenly the wheels jolted on a rubble of loose
stones； the carriage was swung sideways。 The scared horses；
straining asunder； leaped forward； and sped downwards； in the
darkness。
Past rocks； trees； dwellings； past a lighted house that gleamed and
vanished。 With a clink and clatter； a flirt of dust and pebbles； and
the side lamps throwing out a frisky orange blink； the carriage
dashed down； sinking and rising like a boat crossing billows。 The
world seemed to rock and sway； to dance up； and be flung flat again。
Only the stars stood still。
Mr。 Treffry； putting on the brake； muttered apologetically： 〃A little
out o'hand！〃
Suddenly with a headlong dive； the carriage swayed as if it would fly
in pieces； slithered along； and with a jerk steadied itself。 Harz
lifted his voice in a shout of pure excitement。 Mr。 Treffry let out
a short shaky howl； and from behind there rose a wail。 But the hill
was over and the startled horses were cantering with a free； smooth
motion。 Mr。 Treffry and Harz looked at each other。
XVII
Mr。 Treffry said with a sort of laugh： 〃Near go； eh？ You drive？ No？
That's a pity！ Broken most of my bones at the gamenothing like
it！〃 Each felt a kind of admiration for the other that he had not
felt before。 Presently Mr。 Treffry began： 〃Look here； Mr。 Harz； my
niece is a slip of a thing； with all a young girl's notions！ What
have you got to give her； eh？ Yourself？ That's surely not enough；
mind thissix months after marriage we all turn out much the samea
selfish lot！ Not to mention this anarchist affair！
You're not of her blood； nor of her way of life； nor anythingit's
taking chancesand〃 his hand came down on the young man's knee；
〃I'm fond of her； you see。〃
〃If you were in my place；〃 said Harz； 〃would you give her up？〃
Mr。 Treffry groaned。 〃Lord knows！〃
〃Men have made themselves before now。 For those who don't believe in
failure； there's no such thing。 Suppose she does suffer a little？
Will it do her any harm？ Fair weather love is no good。〃
Mr。 Treffry sighed。
〃Brave words； sir！ You'll pardon me if I'm too old to understand 'em
when they're used about my niece。〃
He pulled the horses up； and peered into the darkness。 〃We're going
through this bit quietly； if they lose track of us here so much the
better。 Dominique！ put out the lamps。 Soho； my beauties！〃 The
horses paced forward at a walk the muffled beat of their hoofs in the
dust hardly broke the hush。 Mr。 Treffry pointed to the left： 〃It'll
be another thirty…five miles to the frontier。〃
They passed the whitewashed houses； and village church with its
sentinel cypress…trees。 A frog was croaking in a runlet； there was a
faint spicy scent of lemons。 But nothing stirred。
It was wood now on either side； the high pines； breathing their
fragrance out into the darkness； and； like ghosts amongst them； the
silver stems of birch…trees。
Mr。 Treffry said gruffly： 〃You won't give her up？ Her happiness
means a lot to me。〃
〃To you！〃 said Harz： 〃to him！ And I am nothing！ Do you think I
don't care for her happiness？ Is it a crime for me to love her？〃
〃Almost； Mr。 Harzconsidering。。。。〃
〃Considering that I've no money！ Always money！〃
To this sneer Mr。 Treffry made no answer； clucking to his horses。
〃My niece was born and bred a lady；〃 he said at last。 〃I ask you
plainly What position have you got to give her？〃
〃If she marries me；〃 said Harz； 〃she comes into my world。 You think
that I'm a common。。。。〃
Mr。 Treffry shook his head： 〃Answer my question； young man。〃
But the painter did not answer it； and silence fell。
A light breeze had sprung up； the whispering in the trees； the
rolling of the wheels in this night progress； the pine…drugged air；
sent Harz to sleep。 When he woke it was to the same tune； varied by
Mr。 Treffry's uneasy snoring； the reins were hanging loose； and；
peering out； he saw Dominique shuffling along at the horses' heads。
He joined him； and； one on each side； they plodded up and up。 A haze
had begun to bathe the trees； the stars burnt dim； the air was
colder。 Mr。 Treffry woke coughing。 It was like some long nightmare；
this interminable experience of muffled sounds and shapes； of
perpetual motion； conceived； and carried out in darkness。 But
suddenly the day broke。 Heralded by the snuffle of the horses； light
began glimmering over a chaos of lines and shadows； pale as mother…
o'…pearl。 The stars faded； and in a smouldering zigzag the dawn fled
along the mountain tops； flinging out little isles of cloud。 From a
lake； curled in a hollow like a patch of smoke； came the cry of a
water…bird。 A cuckoo started a soft mocking； and close to the
carriage a lark flew up。 Beasts and men alike stood still； drinking
in the air…sweet with snows and dew； and vibrating faintly with the
running of the water and the rustling of the leaves。
The night had played sad tricks with Mr。 Nicholas Treffry； his hat
was grey with dust； his cheeks brownish…purple； there were heavy
pouches beneath his eyes； which stared painfully。
〃We'll call a halt；〃 he said； 〃and give the gees their grub； poor
things。 Can you find some water； Mr。 Harz？ There's a rubber bucket
in behind。
Can't get about myself this morning； make that lazy fellow of mine
stir his stumps。〃
Harz saw that he had drawn off one of his boots； and stretched the
foot out on a cushion。
〃You're not fit to go farther；〃 he said； 〃you're ill。〃
〃Ill！〃 replied Mr。 Treffry； 〃not a bit of it！〃
Harz looked at him； then catching up the bucket； made off in search
of water。 When he came back the horses were feeding from an india…
rubber trough slung to the pole； they stretched their heads towards
the bucket； pushing aside each other's noses。
The flame in the east had died； but the tops of the larches were
bathed in a gentle radiance； and the peaks ahead were like amber。
Everywhere were threads of water； threads of snow； and little threads
of dewy green； glistening like gossamer。
Mr。 Treffry called out： 〃Give me your arm； Mr。 Harz； I'd like to
shake the reefs out of me。 When one comes to stand over at the
knees； it's no such easy matter； eh？〃 He groaned as he put his foot
down； and gripped the young man's shoulder as in a vise。 Presently
he lowered himself on to a stone。
〃'All over now！' as Chris would say when she was little； nasty temper
she had tookick and scream on the floor！ Never lasted long
though。。。。 'Kiss her！ take her up！ show her the pictures！' Amazing
fond of