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〃I am going away to be married； Barbi；〃 said Christian at last；
〃don't speak of it to any one； please。〃
Barbi leant a little forward with the towels clasped to the blue
cotton bosom of her dress。
〃No； no！ I will not speak。 But； dear Fraulein； that is a big
matter； have you well thought？〃
〃Thought； Barbi？ Have I not！〃
〃But； dear FrauIein； will you be rich？〃
〃No！ I shall be as poor as you。〃
〃Ach！ dear God！ that is terrible。 Katrina； my sister； she is
married； she tells me all her life； she tells me it is very hard； and
but for the money in her stocking it would be harder。 Dear Fraulein；
think again！ And is he good？ Sometimes they are not good。〃
〃He is good；〃 said Christian； rising； 〃it is all settled！〃 and she
kissed Barbi on the cheek。
〃You are crying； liebes Fraulein！ Think yet again； perhaps it is not
quite all settled； it is not possible that a maiden should not a way
out leave？〃
Christian smiled。 〃I don't do things that way； Barbi。〃
Barbi hung the towels on the horse； and crossed herself。
Mr。 Treffry's gaze was fixed on a tortoise…shell butterfly fluttering
round the ceiling。 The insect seemed to fascinate him； as things
which move quickly always fascinate the helpless。 Christian came
softly in。
〃Couldn't stay in bed； Chris；〃 he called out with an air of guilt。
〃The heat was something awful。 The doctor piped off in a huff； just
because o' this。〃 He motioned towards a jug of claret…cup and a pipe
on the table by his elbow。 〃I was only looking at 'em。〃
Christian； sitting down beside him； took up a fan。
〃If I could get out of this heat〃 he said； and closed his eyes。
'I must tell him；' she thought； 'I can't slink away。'
〃Pour me out some of that stuff； Chris。〃
She reached for the jug。 Yes！ She must tell him！ Her heart sank。
Mr。 Treffry took a lengthy draught。 〃Broken my promise； don't
matterwon't hurt any one but me。〃 He took up the pipe and pressed
tobacco into it。 〃I've been lying here with this pain going right
through me； and never a smoke！ D'you tell me anything the parsons
say can do me half the good of this pipe？〃 He leaned back； steeped
in a luxury of satisfaction。 He went on； pursuing a private train of
thought： 〃Things have changed a lot since my young days。 When I was
a youngster； a young fellow had to look out for peck and perchhe
put the future in his pocket。 He did well or not； according as he
had stuff in him。 Now he's not content with that； it seemstrades
on his own opinion of himself； thinks he is what he says he's going
to be。〃
〃You are unjust；〃 said Christian。
Mr。 Treffry grunted。 〃Ah； well！ I like to know where I am。 If I
lend money to a man； I like to know whether he's going to pay it
back； I may not care whether he does or not； but I like to know。 The
same with other things。 I don't care what a man hasthough； mind
you； Chris； it's not a bad rule that measures men by the balance at
their banks； but when it comes to marriage； there's a very simple
rule； What's not enough for one is not enough for two。 You can't
talk black white； or bread into your mouth。 I don't care to speak
about myself； as you know； Chris； but I tell you thiswhen I came to
London I wanted to marryI hadn't any money； and I had to want。
When I had the moneybut that's neither here nor there！〃 He
frowned； fingering his pipe。
〃I didn't ask her； Chris； I didn't think it the square thing； it
seems that's out of fashion！〃
Christian's cheeks were burning。
〃I think a lot while I lie here；〃 Mr。 Treffry went on； 〃nothing much
else to do。 What I ask myself is this： What do you know about what's
best for you？ What do you know of life？ Take it or leave it； life's
not all you think； it's give and get all the way； a fair start is
everything。〃
Christian thought： 'Will he never see？'
Mr。 Treffry went on：
〃I get better every day； but I can't last for ever。 It's not
pleasant to lie here and know that when I'm gone there'll be no one
to keep a hand on the check string！〃
〃Don't talk like that； dear！〃 Christian murmured。
〃It's no use blinking facts； Chris。 I've lived a long time in the
world； I've seen things pretty well as they are； and now there's not
much left for me to think about but you。〃
〃But； Uncle； if you loved him； as I do； you couldn't tell me to be
afraid！ It's cowardly and mean to be afraid。 You must have
forgotten！〃
Mr。 Treffry closed his eyes。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I'm old。〃
The fan had dropped into Christian's lap； it rested on her white
frock like a large crimson leaf； her eyes were fixed on it。
Mr。 Treffry looked at her。 〃Have you heard from him？〃 he asked with
sudden intuition。
〃Last night； in that room； when you thought I was talking to
Dominique〃
The pipe fell from his hand。
〃What！〃 he stammered： 〃Back？〃
Christian； without looking up； said：
〃Yes； he's back； he wants meI must go to him； Uncle。〃
There was a long silence。
〃You must go to him？〃 he repeated。
She longed to fling herself down at his knees； but he was so still；
that to move seemed impossible； she remained silent； with folded
hands。
Mr。 Treffry spoke：
〃You'll let me knowbeforeyougo。 Goodnight！〃
Christian stole out into the passage。 A bead curtain rustled in the
draught； voices reached her。
〃My honour is involved； or I would give the case up。〃
〃He is very trying； poor Nicholas！ He always had that peculiar
quality of opposition； it has brought him to grief a hundred times。
There is opposition in our blood； my family all have it。 My eldest
brother died of it； with my poor sister； who was as gentle as a lamb；
it took the form of doing the right thing in the wrong place。 It is
a matter of temperament； you see。 You must have patience。〃
〃Patience；〃 repeated Dawney's voice； 〃is one thing； patience where
there is responsibility is another。 I've not had a wink of sleep
these last two nights。〃
There was a faint； shrill swish of silk。
〃Is he so very ill？〃
Christian held her breath。 The answer came at last。
〃Has he made his will？ With this trouble in the side again； I tell
you plainly； Mrs。 Decie； there's little or no chance。〃
Christian put her hands up to her ears； and ran out into the air。
What was she about to do； thento leave him dying！
On the following day Harz was summoned to the Villa。 Mr。 Treffry had
just risen； and was garbed in a dressing…suit； old and worn； which
had a certain air of magnificence。 His seamed cheeks were newly
shaved。
〃I hope I see you well；〃 he said majestically。
Thinking of the drive and their last parting； Harz felt sorry and
ashamed。 Suddenly Christian came into the room； she stood for a
moment looking at him； then sat down。
〃Chris！〃 said Mr。 Treffry reproachfully。 She shook her head； and did
not move； mournful and intent； her eye