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and he can't give all backI don't care！ He'll give what he can； I
don't want any more。 If you're afraid of the life for me； uncle； if
you think it'll be too hard〃
Mr。 Treffry bowed his head。 〃I do； Chris。〃
〃Well； then； I hate to be wrapped in cotton wool； I want to breathe。
If I come to grief； it's my own affair； nobody need mind。〃
Mr。 Treffry's fngers sought his beard。 〃Ah！ yes。 Just so！〃
Christian sank on her knees。
〃Oh！ Uncle！ I'm a selfish beast！〃
Mr。 Treffry laid his hand against her cheek。 〃I think I could do
with a nap；〃 he said。
Swallowing a lump in her throat； she stole out of the room。
By a stroke of Fate Mr。 Treffry's return to Villa Rubein befell at
the psychological moment when Herr Paul； in a suit of rather too
bright blue； was starting for Vienna。
As soon as he saw the carriage appear between the poplars he became
as pensive as a boy caught in the act of stealing cherries。 Pitching
his hatbox to Fritz； he recovered himself； however； in time to
whistle while Mr。 Treffry was being assisted into the house。 Having
forgotten his anger； he was only anxious now to smooth out its after
effects； in the glances he cast at Christian and his brother…in…law
there was a kind of shamed entreaty which seemed to say： 〃For
goodness' sake； don't worry me about that business again！ Nothing's
come of it； you see！〃
He came forward： 〃Ah！ Mon cher！ So you return； I put off my
departure； then。 Vienna must wait for methat poor Vienna！〃
But noticing the extreme feebleness of Mr。 Treffry's advance； he
exclaimed with genuine concern：
〃What is it？ You're ill？ My God！〃 After disappearing for five
minutes； he came back with a whitish liquid in a glass。
〃There！〃 he said； 〃good for the goutfor a coughfor everything！〃
Mr。 Treffry sniffed； drained the glass； and sucked his moustache。
〃Ah！〃 he said。 〃No doubt！ But it's uncommonly like gin； Paul。〃
Then turning to Christian； he said： 〃Shake hands； you two！〃
Christian looked from one to the other； and at last held out her hand
to Herr Paul； who brushed it with his moustache； gazing after her as
she left the room with a queer expression。
〃My dear！〃 he began； 〃you support her in this execrable matter？ You
forget my position； you make me ridiculous。 I have been obliged to
go to bed in my own house； absolutely to go to bed； because I was in
danger of becoming funny。〃
〃Look here； Paul！〃 Mr。 Treffry said gruffly； 〃if any one's to bully
Chris； it's I。〃
〃In that case；〃 returned Herr Paul sarcastically； 〃I will go to
Vienna。〃
〃You may go to the devil！〃 said Mr。 Treffry； 〃and I'll tell you what…
…in my opinion it was low to set the police on that young chap； a
low； dirty trick。〃
Herr Paul divided his beard carefully in two； took his seat on the
very edge of an arm…chair； and placing his hands on his parted knees；
said：
〃I have regretted it sincemais； que diable！ He called me a coward…
…it is very hot weather！there were drinks at the KurhausI am her
guardianthe affair is a very beastly onethere were more drinksI
was a little enfin！〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Adieu； my dear； I
shall be some time in Vienna； I need rest！〃 He rose and went to the
door； then he turned； and waved his cigar。 〃Adieu！ Be good； get
well！ I will buy you some cigars up there。〃 And going out； he shut
the door on any possibility of answer。
Mr。 Treffry lay back amongst his cushions。 The clock ticked； pigeons
cooed on the veranda； a door opened in the distance； and for a moment
a treble voice was heard。 Mr。 Treffry's head drooped forward； across
his face； gloomy and rugged； fell a thin line of sunlight。
The clock suddenly stopped ticking； and outside； in mysterious
accord； the pigeons rose with a great fluttering of wings； and flew
off'。 Mr。 Treffry made a startled； heavy movement。 He tried to get
on to his feet and reach the bell； but could not； and sat on the side
of the couch with drops of sweat rolling off his forehead； and his
hands clawing his chest。 There was no sound at all throughout the
house。 He looked about him； and tried to call； but again could not。
He tried once more to reach the bell； and； failing； sat still； with a
thought that made him cold。
〃I'm done for；〃 he muttered。 〃By George！ I believe I'm done for this
time！〃 A voice behind him said：
〃Can we have a look at you； sir？〃
〃Ah！ Doctor； bear a hand； there's a good fellow。〃
Dawney propped him against the cushions； and loosened his shirt。
Receiving no answer to his questions； he stepped alarmed towards the
bell。 Mr。 Treffry stopped him with a sign。
〃Let's hear what you make of me；〃 he said。
When Dawney had examined him； he asked：
〃Well？〃
〃Well；〃 answered Dawney slowly； 〃there's trouble； of course。〃
Mr。 Treffry broke out with a husky whisper： 〃Out with it； Doctor；
don't humbug me。〃
Dawney bent down； and took his wrist。
〃I don't know how you've got into this state； sir；〃 he said with the
brusqueness of emotion。 〃You're in a bad way。 It's the old trouble；
and you know what that means as well as I。 All I can tell you is；
I'm going to have a big fight with it。 It shan't be my fault；
there's my hand on that。〃
Mr。 Treffry lay with his eyes fixed on the ceiling； at last he said：
〃I want to live。〃
〃Yesyes。〃
〃I feel better now； don't make a fuss about it。 It'll be very
awkward if I die just now。 Patch me up； for the sake of my niece。〃
Dawney nodded。 〃One minute； there are a few things I want；〃 and he
went out。
A moment later Greta stole in on tiptoe。 She bent over till her hair
touched Mr。 Treffry's face。
〃Uncle Nic！〃 she whispered。 He opened his eyes。
〃Hallo； Greta！〃
〃I have come to bring you my love； Uncle Nic； and to say good…bye。
Papa says that I and Scruff and Miss Naylor are going to Vienna with
him； we have had to pack in half an hour； in five minutes we are
going to Vienna； and it is my first visit there； Uncle Nic。〃
〃To Vienna！〃 Mr。 Treffry repeated slowly。 〃Don't have a guide；
Greta； they're humbugs。〃
〃No； Uncle Nic；〃 said Greta solemnly。
〃Draw the curtains； old girl； let's have a look at you。 Why； you're
as smart as ninepence！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Greta with a sigh； touching the buttons of her cape；
〃because I am going to Vienna； but I am sorry to leave you； Uncle
Nic。〃
〃Are you； Greta？〃
〃But you will have Chris； and you are fonder of Chris than of me；
Uncle Nic。〃
〃I've known her longer。〃
〃Perhaps when you've known me as long as Chris； you shall be as fond
of me。〃
〃When I've known you as longmay be。〃
〃While I am gone； Uncle Nic； you are to get well； you are not very
well； you know。〃
〃What put that into your head？〃
〃If you were well you would be smoking a cigarit is just three
o'clock。 This kiss is for myself； this is for Scruff； and this is
for Miss N