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kept him away from Nicholas！
Herr Paul's eyes fell on the terrier。 〃Ach！ my dear；〃 he said； 〃you
and I； we alone are kept away！〃
He drained a second glass。
What was it？ This life！ Froth…like that！ He tossed off a third
glass。 Forget！ If one could not help； it was better to forget！
He put on his hat。 Yes。 There was no room for him there！ He was
not wanted！
He finished the bottle； and went out into the passage。 Scruff ran
and lay down at Mr。 Treffry's door。 Herr Paul looked at him。 〃Ach！〃
he said； tapping his chest； 〃ungrateful hound！〃 And opening the
front door he went out on tiptoe。。。。
Late that afternoon Greta stole hatless through the lilac bushes； she
looked tired after her night journey； and sat idly on a chair in the
speckled shadow of a lime…tree。
'It is not like home；' she thought； 'I am unhappy。 Even the birds
are silent； but perhaps that is because it is so hot。 I have never
been sad like thisfor it is not fancy that I am sad this time； as
it is sometimes。 It is in my heart like the sound the wind makes
through a wood； it feels quite empty in my heart。 If it is always
like this to be unhappy； then I am sorry for all the unhappy things
in the world； I am sorrier than I ever was before。'
A shadow fell on the grass； she raised her eyes； and saw Dawney。
〃Dr。 Edmund！〃 she whispered。
Dawney turned to her； a heavy furrow showed between his brows。 His
eyes； always rather close together； stared painfully。
〃Dr。 Edmund；〃 Greta whispered； 〃is it true？〃
He took her hand； and spread his own palm over it。
〃Perhaps；〃 he said； 〃perhaps not。 We must hope。〃
Greta looked up； awed。
〃They say he is dying。〃
〃We have sent for the best man in Vienna。〃
Greta shook her head。
〃But you are clever； Dr。 Edmund； and you are afraid。〃
〃He is brave；〃 said Dawney； 〃we must all be brave； you know。 You
too！〃
〃Brave？〃 repeated Greta； 〃what is it to be brave？ If it is not to
cry and make a fussthat I can do。 But if it is not to be sad in
here；〃 she touched her breast； 〃that I cannot do； and it shall not be
any good for me to try。〃
〃To be brave is to hope； don't give up hope； dear。〃
〃No；〃 said Greta； tracing the pattern of the sunlight on her skirt。
〃But I think that when we hope； we are not brave； because we are
expecting something for ourselves。 Chris says that hope is prayer；
and if it is prayer； then all the time we are hoping； we are asking
for something； and it is not brave to ask for things。〃
A smile curved Dawney's mouth。
〃Go on； Philosopher！〃 he said。 〃Be brave in your own way； it will be
just as good as anybody else's。〃
〃What are you going to do to be brave； Dr。 Edmund？〃
〃I？ Fight！ If only we had five years off his life！〃
Greta watched him as he walked away。
〃I shall never be brave；〃 she mourned； 〃I shall always be wanting to
be happy。〃 And； kneeling down； she began to disentangle a fly；
imprisoned in a cobweb。 A plant of hemlock had sprung up in the long
grass by her feet。 Greta thought； dismayed： 'There are weeds！'
It seemed but another sign of the death of joy。
'But it's very beautiful；' she thought； 'the blossoms are like stars。
I am not going to pull it up。 I will leave it； perhaps it will
spread all through the garden； and if it does I do not care； for now
things are not like they used to be and I do not； think they ever
shall be again。'
XXVII
The days went by； those long； hot days； when the heat haze swims up
about ten of the forenoon； and； as the sun sinks level with the
mountains； melts into golden ether which sets the world quivering
with sparkles。
At the lighting of the stars those sparkles die； vanishing one by one
off the hillsides； evening comes flying down the valleys； and life
rests under her cool wings。 The night falls； and the hundred little
voices of the night arise。
It was near grape…gathering； and in the heat the fight for Nicholas
Treffry's life went on； day in； day out； with gleams of hope and
moments of despair。 Doctors came； but after the first he refused to
see them。
〃No；〃 he said to Dawney 〃throwing away money。 If I pull through it
won't be because of them。〃
For days together he would allow no one but Dawney； Dominique； and
the paid nurse in the room。
〃I can stand it better；〃 he said to Christian； 〃when I don't see any
of you； keep away； old girl； and let me get on with it！〃
To have been able to help would have eased the tension of her nerves；
and the aching of her heart。 At his own request they had moved his
bed into a corner so that he might face the wall。 There he would lie
for hours together； not speaking a word； except to ask for drink。
Sometimes Christian crept in unnoticed； and sat watching； with her
arms tightly folded across her breast。 At night； after Greta was
asleep； she would toss from side to side； muttering feverish prayers。
She spent hours at her little table in the schoolroom； writing
letters to Harz that were never sent。 Once she wrote these words： 〃I
am the most wicked of all creaturesI have even wished that he may
die！〃 A few minutes afterwards Miss Naylor found her with her head
buried on her arms。 Christian sprang up； tears were streaming down
her cheeks。 〃Don't touch me！〃 she cried； and rushed away。 Later；
she stole into her uncle's room； and sank down on the floor beside
the bed。 She sat there silently； unnoticed all the evening。 When
night came she could hardly be persuaded to leave the room。
One day Mr。 Treffry expressed a wish to see Herr Paul； it was a long
while before the latter could summon courage to go in。
〃There's a few dozen of the Gordon sherry at my Chambers； in London；
Paul；〃 Mr。 Treffry said； 〃I'd be glad to think you had 'em。 And my
man； Dominique； I've made him all right in my will； but keep your eye
on him； he's a good sort for a foreigner； and no chicken； but sooner
or later； the women'll get hold of him。 That's all I had to say。
Send Chris to me。〃
Herr Paul stood by the bedside speechless。 Suddenly he blurted out。
〃Ah！ my dear！ Courage！ We are all mortal。 You will get well！〃 All
the morning he walked about quite inconsolable。 〃It was frightful to
see him； you know； frightful！ An iron man could not have borne it。〃
When Christian came to him； Mr。 Treffry raised himself and looked at
her a long while。
His wistful face was like an accusation。 But that very afternoon the
news came from the sickroom that he was better； having had no pain
for several hours。
Every one went about with smiles lurking in their eyes； and ready to
break forth at a word。 In the kitchen Barbi burst out crying； and；
forgetting to toss the pan； spoiled a Kaiser…Schmarn she was making。
Dominique was observed draining a glass of Chianti； and solemnly
casting forth the last drops in libation。 An order was given for tea
to