〃It　will　take　a　long　time　to　cut　these　pictures　out　carefully；　or；
  perhaps　I　can　get　them　out　without　cutting。　　You　must　screw　me　up　and
  go　home。　　In　the　morning　you　must　come　early；　when　the　gate　is　open；
  unscrew　me　again；　and　help　carry　the　pictures。〃
  Greta　did　not　answer　at　once。　　At　last　she　shook　her　head　violently。
  〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　gasped。
  〃We　can't　both　stay　here　all　night；〃　said　Christian；　〃if　any　one
  comes　to　our　room　there　will　be　nobody　to　answer。　　We　can't　lift
  these　pictures　over　the　gate。　　One　of　us　must　go　back；　you　can　climb
  over　the　gatethere　is　nothing　to　be　afraid　of〃
  Greta　pressed　her　hands　together。
  〃Do　you　want　the　pictures　badly；　Chris？〃
  Christian　nodded。
  〃Very　badly？〃
  〃Yesyesyes！〃
  Greta　remained　sitting　where　she　was；　shivering　violently；　as　a
  little　animal　shivers　when　it　scents　danger。　　At　last　she　rose。
  〃I　am　going；〃　she　said　in　a　despairing　voice。　　At　the　doorway　she
  turned。
  〃If　Miss　Naylor　shall　ask　me　where　you　are；　Chris；　I　shall　be　telling
  her　a　story。〃
  Christian　started。
  〃I　forgot　that　…O　Greta；　I　am　sorry！　I　will　go　instead。〃
  Greta　took　another　stepa　quick　one。
  〃I　shall　die　if　I　stay　here　alone；〃　she　said；　〃I　can　tell　her　that
  you　are　in　bed；　you　must　go　to　bed　here；　Chris；　so　it　shall　be　true
  after　all。〃
  Christian　threw　her　arms　about　her。
  〃I　am　so　sorry；　darling；　I　wish　I　could　go　instead。　　But　if　you　have
  to　tell　a　lie；　I　would　tell　a　straight　one。〃
  〃Would　you？〃　said　Greta　doubtfully。
  〃Yes。〃
  〃I　think；〃　said　Greta　to　herself；　beginning　to　descend　the　stairs；　〃I
  think　I　will　tell　it　in　my　way。〃　　She　shuddered　and　went　on　groping
  in　the　darkness。
  Christian　listened　for　the　sound　of　the　screws。　　It　came　slowly；
  threatening　her　with　danger　and　solitude。
  Sinking　on　her　knees　she　began　to　work　at　freeing　the　canvas　of　a
  picture。　　Her　heart　throbbed　distressfully；　at　the　stir　of　wind…
  breath　or　any　distant　note　of　clamour　she　stopped；　and　held　her
  breathing。　　No　sounds　came　near。　　She　toiled　on；　trying　only　to　think
  that　she　was　at　the　very　spot　where　last　night　his　arms　had　been
  round　her。　　How　long　ago　it　seemed！　　She　was　full　of　vague　terror；
  overmastered　by　the　darkness；　dreadfully　alone。　　The　new　glow　of
  resolution　seemed　suddenly　to　have　died　down　in　her　heart；　and　left
  her　cold。
  She　would　never　be　fit　to　be　his　wife；　if　at　the　first　test　her
  courage　failed！　She　set　her　teeth；　and　suddenly　she　felt　a　kind　of
  exultation；　as　if　she　too　were　entering　into　life；　were　knowing
  something　within　herself　that　she　had　never　known　before。　　Her
  fingers　hurt；　and　the　pain　even　gave　pleasure；　her　cheeks　were
  burning；　her　breath　came　fast。　　They　could　not　stop　her　now！　　This
  feverish　task　in　darkness　was　her　baptism　into　life。　　She　finished；
  and　rolling　the　pictures　very　carefully；　tied　them　with　cord。　　She
  had　done　something　for　him！　　Nobody　could　take　that　from　her！　　She
  had　a　part　of　him！　　This　night　had　made　him　hers！　　They　might　do
  their　worst！　　She　lay　down　on　his　mattress　and　soon　fell　asleep。。。。
  She　was　awakened　by　Scruff's　tongue　against　her　face。　　Greta　was
  standing　by　her　side。
  〃Wake　up；　Chris！　　The　gate　is　open！〃
  In　the　cold　early　light　the　child　seemed　to　glow　with　warmth　and
  colour；　her　eyes　were　dancing。
  〃I　am　not　afraid　now；　Scruff　and　I　sat　up　all　night；　to　catch　the
  morningIthink　it　was　fun；　and　O　Chris！〃　she　ended　with　a　rueful
  gleam　in　her　eyes；　〃I　told　it。〃
  Christian　hugged　her。
  〃Comequick！　There　is　nobody　about。　　Are　those　the　pictures？〃
  Each　supporting　an　end；　the　girls　carried　the　bundle　downstairs；　and
  set　out　with　their　corpse…like　burden　along　the　wall…path　between　the
  river　and　the　vines。
  XIX
  Hidden　by　the　shade　of　rose…bushes　Greta　lay　stretched　at　length；
  cheek　on　arm；　sleeping　the　sleep　of　the　unrighteous。　　Through　the
  flowers　the　sun　flicked　her　parted　lips　with　kisses；　and　spilled　the
  withered　petals　on　her。　　In　a　denser　islet　of　shade；　Scruff　lay
  snapping　at　a　fly。　　His　head　lolled　drowsily　in　the　middle　of　a　snap；
  and　snapped　in　the　middle　of　a　loll。
  At　three　o'clock　Miss　Naylor　too　came　out；　carrying　a　basket　and　pair
  of　scissors。　　Lifting　her　skirts　to　avoid　the　lakes　of　water　left　by
  the　garden　hose；　she　stopped　in　front　of　a　rose…bush；　and　began　to
  snip　off　the　shrivelled　flowers。　　The　little　lady's　silvered　head　and
  thin；　brown　face　sustained　the　shower　of　sunlight　unprotected；　and
  had　a　gentle　dignity　in　their　freedom。
  Presently；　as　the　scissors　flittered　in　and　out　of　the　leaves；　she；
  began　talking　to　herself。
  〃If　girls　were　more　like　what　they　used　to　be；　this　would　not　have
  happened。　　Perhaps　we　don't　understand；　it's　very　easy　to　forget。〃
  Burying　her　nose　and　lips　in　a　rose；　she　sniffed。　　〃Poor　dear　girl！
  It's　such　a　pity　his　father　isa〃
  〃A　farmer；〃　said　a　sleepy　voice　behind　the　rosebush。
  Miss　Naylor　leaped。　　〃Greta！　How　you　startled　me！　　A　farmerthat　is…
  …anan　agriculturalist！〃
  〃A　farmer　with　vineyardshe　told　us；　and　he　is　not　ashamed。　　Why　is
  it　a　pity；　Miss　Naylor？〃
  Miss　Naylor's　lips　looked　very　thin。
  〃For　many　reasons；　of　which　you　know　nothing。〃
  〃That　is　what　you　always　say；〃　pursued　the　sleepy　voice；　〃and　that　is
  why；　when　I　am　to　be　married；　there　shall　also　be　a　pity。〃
  〃Greta！〃　Miss　Naylor　cried；　〃it　is　not　proper　for　a　girl　of　your　age
  to　talk　like　that。〃
  〃Why？〃　said　Greta。　　〃Because　it　is　the　truth？〃
  Miss　Naylor　made　no　reply　to　this；　but　vexedly　cut　off　a　sound　rose；
  which　she　hastily　picked　up　and　regarded　with　contrition。　　Greta
  spoke　again：
  〃Chris　said：　'I　have　got　the　pictures；　I　shall　tell　her'；　but　I　shall
  tell　you　instead；　because　it　was　I　that　told　the　story。〃
  Miss　Naylor　stared；　wrinkling　her　nose；　and　holding　the　scissors　wide
  apart。。。。
  〃Last　night；〃　said　Greta　slowly；　〃I　and　Chris　went　to　his　studio　and
  took　his　pictures；　and　so；　because　the　gate　was　shut；　I　came　back　to
  tell　it；　and　when　you　asked　me　where　Chris　was；　I　told　it；　because
  she　was　in　the　studio　all　night；　and　I　and　Scruff　sat　up　all　night；
  and　in　the　morning　we　brought　the　pictures；　and　hid　them　under　our
  beds；　and　that　is　whywearesosleepy。〃
  Over　the　rose…bush　Miss　Naylor　peered　down　at　her；　and　though　she　was
  obliged　to　stand　on　tiptoe　this　did　not　altogether　destroy　her
  dignity。
  〃I　am　surprised　at　you；　Greta；　I　am　surprised　at　Christian；　more
  surprised　at　Christian。　　The　world　seems　upside　down。〃
  Greta；　a　sunbeam　entangled　in　her　hair；　regarded　her　with
  inscrutable；　innocent　eyes。
  〃When　you　were　a　girl；　I　think　you　would　be　sure　to　be　in　love；〃　she
  murmured　drowsily。
  Miss　Naylor；　flushing　deeply；　snipped　off　a　particularly　healthy　bud。
  〃And　so；　because　you　are　not　married；　I　think〃
  The　scissors　hissed。
  Greta　nestled　down　again。　　〃I　think　it　is　wicked　to　cut　off　all　the
  good　buds；〃　she　said；　and　shut　her　eyes。
  Miss　Naylor　continued　to　peer　across　the　rosebush；　but　her　thin　face；
  close　to　the　glistening　leaves；　had　become　oddly　soft；　pink；　and
  girlish。　　At　a　deeper　breath　from　Greta；　the　little　lady　put　down　her
  basket；　and　began　to　pace　the　lawn；　followed　dubiously　by　Scruff。　　It
  was　thus　that　Christian　came　on　them。
  Miss　Naylor　slipped　her　arm　into　the　girl's　and　though　she　made　no
  sound；　her　lips　kept　opening　and　shutting；　like　the　beak　of　a　bird
  contemplating　a　worm。
  Christian　spoke　first：
  〃Miss　Naylor；　I　want　to　tell　you　please〃
  〃Oh；　my　dear！　　I　know；　Greta　has　been　in　the　confessional　before
  you。〃　　She　gave　the　girl's　arm　a　squeeze。　　〃Isn't　it　a　lovely　day？
  Did　you　ever　see　'Five　Fingers'　look　so　beautiful？〃　　And　she　pointed
  to　the　great　peaks　of　the　Funffingerspitze　glittering　in　the　sun　like
  giant　crystals。
  〃I　like　them　better　with　clouds　about　them。〃
  〃Well；〃　agreed　Miss　Naylor　nervously；　〃they　certainly　are　nicer　with
  clouds　about　them。　　They　look　almost　hot　and　greasy；　don't　they。。。。
  My　dear！〃　she　went　on；　giving　Christian's　arm　a　dozen　little
  squeezes；　〃we　all　of　usthat　is；　we　all　of　us〃
  Christian　turned　her　eyes　away。
  〃My　dear；〃　Miss　Naylor　tried　again；　〃I　am　farthat　is；　I　mean；　to
  all　of　us　at　some　time　or　anotherand　then　you　seewellit　is
  hard！〃
  Christian　kissed　the　gloved　hand　resting　on　her　arm。　　Miss　Naylor
  bobbed　her　head；　a　tear　trickled　off　her　nose。
  〃Do　let　us　wind　your　skein　of　woof！〃　she　said　with　resounding　gaiety。
  Some　half…hour　later　Mrs。　Decie　called　Christian　to　her　room。
  〃My　dear！〃　she　said；　〃come　here　a　minute；　I　have　a　message　for　you。〃
  Christian　went　with　an　odd；　set　look　about　her　mouth。
  Her　aunt　was　sitting；　back　to　the　light；　tapping　a　bowl　of　goldfish
  with　the　tip　of　a　polished　finger…nail；　the　room　was　very　cool。　　She
  held　a　letter　out。　　〃Your　uncle　is　not　coming　back　tonight。〃
  Ch