an　unfnished　figure　of　the　nude。
  Greta；　with　feet　crossed；　sat　on　a　coloured　blanket；　dabbling　her
  fnger　in　a　little　pool　of　coffee；　and　gazing　up　at　Harz。　　And　he
  thought：　'I　should　like　to　paint　her　like　that。　　〃A　forget…me…not。〃'
  He　took　out　his　chalks　to　make　a　sketch　of　her。
  〃Shall　you　show　me？〃　cried　out　Greta；　scrambling　to　her　feet。
  〃'Will；'　Greta'will'；　how　often　must　I　tell　you？　　I　think　we　should
  be　goingit　is　very　lateyour　fatherso　very　kind　of　you；　but　I
  think　we　should　be　going。　　Scruff！〃　　　Miss　Naylor　gave　the　floor　two
  taps。　　The　terrier　backed　into　a　plaster　cast　which　came　down　on　his
  tail；　and　sent　him　flying　through　the　doorway。　　Greta　followed
  swiftly；　crying：
  〃Ach！　poor　Scrufee！〃
  Miss　Naylor　crossed　the　room；　bowing；　she　murmured　an　apology；　and
  also　disappeared。
  Harz　was　left　alone；　his　guests　were　gone；　the　little　girl　with　the
  fair　hair　and　the　eyes　like　forget…me…nots；　the　little　lady　with
  kindly　gestures　and　bird…like　walk；　the　terrier。　　He　looked　round
  him；　the　room　seemed　very　empty。　　Gnawing　his　moustache；　he　muttered
  at　the　fallen　cast。
  Then　taking　up　his　brush；　stood　before　his　picture；　smiling　and
  frowning。　　Soon　he　had　forgotten　it　all　in　his　work。
  II
  It　was　early　morning　four　days　later；　and　Harz　was　loitering
  homewards。　　The　shadows　of　the　clouds　passing　across　the　vines　were
  vanishing　over　the　jumbled　roofs　and　green…topped　spires　of　the　town。
  A　strong　sweet　wind　was　blowing　from　the　mountains；　there　was　a　stir
  in　the　branches　of　the　trees；　and　flakes　of　the　late　blossom　were
  drifting　down。　　Amongst　the　soft　green　pods　of　a　kind　of　poplar
  chafers　buzzed；　and　numbers　of　their　little　brown　bodies　were　strewn
  on　the　path。
  He　passed　a　bench　where　a　girl　sat　sketching。　　A　puff　of　wind　whirled
  her　drawing　to　the　ground；　Harz　ran　to　pick　it　up。　　She　took　it　from
  him　with　a　bow；　but；　as　he　turned　away；　she　tore　the　sketch　across。
  〃Ah！〃　he　said；　〃why　did　you　do　that？〃
  This　girl；　who　stood　with　a　bit　of　the　torn　sketch　in　either　hand；
  was　slight　and　straight；　and　her　face　earnest　and　serene。　　She　gazed
  at　Harz　with　large；　clear；　greenish　eyes；　her　lips　and　chin　were
  defiant；　her　forehead　tranquil。
  〃I　don't　like　it。〃
  〃Will　you　let　me　look　at　it？　　I　am　a　painter。〃
  〃It　isn't　worth　looking　at；　butif　you　wish〃
  He　put　the　two　halves　of　the　sketch　together。
  〃You　see！〃　she　said　at　last；　〃I　told　you。〃
  Harz　did　not　answer；　still　looking　at　the　sketch。　　The　girl　frowned。
  Harz　asked　her　suddenly：
  〃Why　do　you　paint？〃
  She　coloured；　and　said：
  〃Show　me　what　is　wrong。〃
  〃I　cannot　show　you　what　is　wrong；　there　is　nothing　wrongbut　why　do
  you　paint？〃
  〃I　don't　understand。〃
  Harz　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  〃You've　no　business　to　do　that；〃　said　the　girl　in　a　hurt　voice；　〃I
  want　to　know。〃
  〃Your　heart　is　not　in　it；〃　said　Harz。
  She　looked　at　him；　startled；　her　eyes　had　grown　thoughtful。
  〃I　suppose　that　is　it。　　There　are　so　many　other　things〃
  〃There　should　be　nothing　else；〃　said　Harz。
  She　broke　in：　〃I　don't　want　always　to　be　thinking　of　myself。
  Suppose〃
  〃Ah！　When　you　begin　supposing！〃
  The　girl　confronted　him；　she　had　torn　the　sketch　again。
  〃You　mean　that　if　it　does　not　matter　enough；　one　had　better　not　do　it
  at　all。　　I　don't　know　if　you　are　rightI　think　you　are。〃
  There　was　the　sound　of　a　nervous　cough；　and　Harz　saw　behind　him　his
  three　visitorsMiss　Naylor　offering　him　her　hand；　Greta；　flushed；
  with　a　bunch　of　wild　flowers；　staring　intently　in　his　face；　and　the
  terrier；　sniffing　at　his　trousers。
  Miss　Naylor　broke　an　awkward　silence。
  〃We　wondered　if　you　would　still　be　here；　Christian。　　I　am　sorry　to
  interrupt　youI　was　not　aware　that　you　knew　Mr。Herr〃
  〃Harz　is　my　namewe　were　just　talking〃
  〃About　my　sketch。　　Oh；　Greta；　you　do　tickle！　　Will　you　come　and　have
  breakfast　with　us　to…day；　Herr　Harz？　　It's　our　turn；　you　know。〃
  Harz；　glancing　at　his　dusty　clothes；　excused　himself。
  But　Greta　in　a　pleading　voice　said：　〃Oh！　do　come！　　Scruff　likes　you。
  It　is　so　dull　when　there　is　nobody　for　breakfast　but　ourselves。〃
  Miss　Naylor's　mouth　began　to　twist。　　Harz　hurriedly　broke　in：
  〃Thank　you。　　I　will　come　with　pleasure；　you　don't　mind　my　being
  dirty？〃
  〃Oh　no！　we　do　not　mind；　then　we　shall　none　of　us　wash；　and　afterwards
  I　shall　show　you　my　rabbits。〃
  Miss　Naylor；　moving　from　foot　to　foot；　like　a　bird　on　its　perch；
  exclaimed：
  〃I　hope　you　won't　regret　it；　not　a　very　good　mealthe　girls　are　so
  impulsivesuch　informal　invitation；　we　shall　be　very　glad。〃
  But　Greta　pulled　softly　at　her　sister's　sleeve；　and　Christian；
  gathering　her　things；　led　the　way。
  Harz　followed　in　amazement；　nothing　of　this　kind　had　come　into　his
  life　before。　　He　kept　shyly　glancing　at　the　girls；　and；　noting　the
  speculative　innocence　in　Greta's　eyes；　he　smiled。　　They　soon　came　to
  two　great　poplar…trees；　which　stood；　like　sentinels；　one　on　either
  side　of　an　unweeded　gravel　walk　leading　through　lilac　bushes　to　a
  house　painted　dull　pink；　with　green…shuttered　windows；　and　a　roof　of
  greenish　slate。　　Over　the　door　in　faded　crimson　letters　were　written
  the　words；　〃Villa　Rubein。〃
  〃That　is　to　the　stables；〃　said　Greta；　pointing　down　a　path；　where
  some　pigeons　were　sunning　themselves　on　a　wall。　　〃Uncle　Nic　keeps　his
  horses　there：　Countess　and　Cuckoohis　horses　begin　with　C；　because
  of　Christhey　are　quite　beautiful。　　He　says　he　could　drive　them　to
  Kingdom…Come　and　they　would　not　turn　their　hair。　　Bow；　and　say　'Good…
  morning'　to　our　house！〃
  Harz　bowed。
  〃Father　said　all　strangers　should；　and　I　think　it　brings　good　luck。〃
  》From　the　doorstep　she　looked　round　at　Harz；　then　ran　into　the　house。
  A　broad；　thick…set　man；　with　stiff；　brushed…up　hair；　a　short；　brown；
  bushy　beard　parted　at　the　chin；　a　fresh　complexion；　and　blue　glasses
  across　a　thick　nose；　came　out；　and　called　in　a　bluff　voice：
  〃Ha！　my　good　dears；　kiss　me　quickprrt！　　How　goes　it　then　this
  morning？　　A　good　walk；　hein？〃　　The　sound　of　many　loud　rapid　kisses
  followed。
  〃Ha；　Fraulein；　good！〃　　He　became　aware　of　Harz's　figure　standing　in
  the　doorway：　〃Und　der　Herr？〃
  Miss　Naylor　hurriedly　explained。
  〃Good！　　An　artist！　　Kommen　Sie　herein；　I　am　delight。　　You　will
  breakfast？　　I　tooyes；　yes；　my　dearsI　too　breakfast　with　you　this
  morning。　　I　have　the　hunter's　appetite。〃
  Harz；　looking　at　him　keenly；　perceived　him　to　be　of　middle　height　and
  age；　stout；　dressed　in　a　loose　holland　jacket；　a　very　white；　starched
  shirt；　and　blue　silk　sash；　that　he　looked　particularly　clean；　had　an
  air　of　belonging　to　Society；　and　exhaled　a　really　fine　aroma　of
  excellent　cigars　and　the　best　hairdresser's　essences。
  The　room　they　entered　was　long　and　rather　bare；　there　was　a　huge　map
  on　the　wall；　and　below　it　a　pair　of　globes　on　crooked　supports；
  resembling　two　inflated　frogs　erect　on　their　hind　legs。　　In　one
  corner　was　a　cottage　piano；　close　to　a　writing…table　heaped　with
  books　and　papers；　this　nook；　sacred　to　Christian；　was　foreign　to　the
  rest　of　the　room；　which　was　arranged　with　supernatural　neatness。　　A
  table　was　laid　for　breakfast；　and　the　sun…warmed　air　came　in　through
  French　windows。
  The　meal　went　merrily；　Herr　Paul　von　Morawitz　was　never　in　such
  spirits　as　at　table。　　Words　streamed　from　him。　　Conversing　with　Harz；
  he　talked　of　Art　as　who　should　say：　〃One　does　not　claim　to　be　a
  connoisseurpas　si　betestill；　one　has　a　little　knowledge；　que
  diable！〃　　He　recommended　him　a　man　in　the　town　who　sold　cigars　that
  were　〃not　so　very　bad。〃　　He　consumed　porridge；　ate　an　omelette；　and
  bending　across　to　Greta　gave　her　a　sounding　kiss；　muttering：　〃Kiss　me
  quick！〃an　expression　he　had　picked　up　in　a　London　music…hall；　long
  ago；　and　considered　chic。　　He　asked　his　daughters'　plans；　and　held
  out　porridge　to　the　terrier；　who　refused　it　with　a　sniff。
  〃Well；〃　he　said　suddenly；　looking　at　Miss　Naylor；　〃here　is　a
  gentleman　who　has　not　even　heard　our　names！〃
  The　little　lady　began　her　introductions　in　a　breathless　voice。
  〃Good！〃　　Herr　Paul　said；　puffing　out　his　lips：　〃Now　we　know　each
  other！〃　and；　brushing　up　the　ends　of　his　moustaches；　he　carried　off
  Harz　into　another　room；　decorated　with　pipe…racks；　prints　of　dancing…
  girls；　spittoons；　easy…chairs　well…seasoned　by　cigar　smoke；　French
  novels；　and　newspapers。
  The　household　at　Villa　Rubein　was　indeed　of　a　mixed　and　curious
  nature。　　Cut　on　both　floors　by　corridors；　the　Villa　was　divided　into
  four　divisions；　each　of　which　had　its　separate　inhabitants；　an
  arrangement　which　had　come　about　in　the　following　way：
  When　old　Nicholas　Treffry　died；　his　estate；　on　the　boundary　of
  Cornwall；　had　been　sold　and　divided　up　among　his　three　surviving
  childrenNicholas；　who　was　much　the　eldest；　a　partner　in　the　well…
  known　firm　of　Forsyte　and　Treffry；　teamen；　of　th