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　be　taken　out　under　the　acacias；　where　it　was　always　cool；　it　was
  felt　that　something　in　the　nature　of　high　festival　was　being　held。
  Even　Herr　Paul　was　present；　but　Christian　did　not　come。　　Nobody　spoke
  of　illness；　to　mention　it　might　break　the　spell。
  Miss　Naylor；　who　had　gone　into　the　house；　came　back；　saying：
  〃There　is　a　strange　man　standing　over　there　by　the　corner　of　the
  house。〃
  〃Really！〃　asked　Mrs。　Decie；　〃what　does　he　want？〃
  Miss　Naylor　reddened。　　〃I　did　not　ask　him。　　Idon'tknowwhether
  he　is　quite　respectable。　　His　coat　is　buttoned　very　close；　and　he
  doesn't　seemto　have　acollar。〃
  〃Go　and　see　what　he　wants；　dear　child；〃　Mrs。　Decie　said　to　Greta。
  〃I　don't　knowI　really　do　not　know〃　began　Miss　Naylor；　〃he　has
  veryhighboots；〃　but　Greta　was　already　on　her　way；　with　hands
  clasped　behind　her；　and　demure　eyes　taking　in　the　stranger's　figure。
  〃Please？〃　she　said；　when　she　was　close　to　him。
  The　stranger　took　his　cap　off　with　a　jerk。
  〃This　house　has　no　bells；〃　he　said　in　a　nasal　voice；　〃it　has　a
  tendency　to　discourage　one。〃
  〃Yes；〃　said　Greta　gravely；　〃there　is　a　bell；　but　it　does　not　ring
  now；　because　my　uncle　is　so　ill。〃
  〃I　am　very　sorry　to　hear　that。　　I　don't　know　the　people　here；　but　I
  am　very　sorry　to　hear　that。
  I　would　be　glad　to　speak　a　few　words　to　your　sister；　if　it　is　your
  sister　that　I　want。〃
  And　the　stranger's　face　grew　very　red。
  〃Is　it；〃　said　Greta；　〃that　you　are　a　friend　of　Herr　Harz？　　If　you　are
  a　friend　of　his；　you　will　please　come　and　have　some　tea；　and　while
  you　are　having　tea　I　will　look　for　Chris。〃
  Perspiration　bedewed　the　stranger's　forehead。
  〃Tea？　　Excuse　me！　　I　don't　drink　tea。〃
  〃There　is　also　coffee；〃　Greta　said。
  The　stranger's　progress　towards　the　arbour　was　so　slow　that　Greta
  arrived　considerably　before　him。
  〃It　is　a　friend　of　Herr　Harz；〃　she　whispered；　〃he　will　drink　coffee。
  I　am　going　to　find　Chris。〃
  〃Greta！〃　gasped　Miss　Naylor。
  Mrs。　Decie　put　up　her　hand。
  〃Ah！〃　she　said；　〃if　it　is　so；　we　must　be　very　nice　to　him　for
  Christian's　sake。〃
  Miss　Naylor's　face　grew　soft。　　　　　　…
  〃Ah；　yes！〃　she　said；　〃of　course。〃
  〃Bah！〃　muttered　Herr　Paul；　〃that　recommences。'
  〃Paul！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Decie；　〃you　lack　the　elements　of　wisdom。〃
  Herr　Paul　glared　at　the　approaching　stranger。
  Mrs。　Decie　had　risen；　and　smilingly　held　out　her　hand。
  〃We　are　so　glad　to　know　you；　you　are　an　artist　too；　perhaps？　　I　take
  a　great　interest　in　art；　and　especially　in　that　school　which　Mr。　Harz
  represents。〃
  The　stranger　smiled。
  〃He　is　the　genuine　article；　ma'am；〃　he　said。　　〃He　represents　no
  school；　he　is　one　of　that　kind　whose　corpses　make　schools。〃
  〃Ah！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Decie；　〃you　are　an　American。　　That　is　so　nice。
  Do　sit　down！　　My　niece　will　soon　be　here。〃
  Greta　came　running　back。
  〃Will　you　come；　please？〃　she　said。　　〃Chris　is　ready。〃
  Gulping　down　his　coffee；　the　stranger　included　them　all　in　a　single
  bow；　and　followed　her。
  〃Ach！〃　said　Herr　Paul；　〃garcon　tres　chic；　celui…la！〃
  Christian　was　standing　by　her　little　table。　　The　stranger　began。
  〃I　am　sending　Mr。　Harz's　things　to　England；　there　are　some　pictures
  here。　　He　would　be　glad　to　have　them。〃
  A　flood　of　crimson　swept　over　her　face。
  〃I　am　sending　them　to　London；〃　the　stranger　repeated；　〃perhaps　you
  could　give　them　to　me　to…day。〃
  〃They　are　ready；　my　sister　will　show　you。〃
  Her　eyes　seemed　to　dart　into　his　soul；　and　try　to　drag　something　from
  it。　　The　words　rushed　from　her　lips
  〃Is　there　any　message　for　me？〃
  The　stranger　regarded　her　curiously。
  〃No；〃　he　stammered；　〃no！　I　guess　not。　　He　is　well。。。。　　I　wish。。。。〃　He
  stopped；　her　white　face　seemed　to　flash　scorn；　despair；　and　entreaty
  on　him　all　at　once。　　And　turning；　she　left　him　standing　there。
  XXVII
  When　Christian　went　that　evening　to　her　uncle's　room　he　was　sitting
  up　in　bed；　and　at　once　began　to　talk。　　〃Chris；〃　he　said；　〃I　can't
  stand　this　dying　by　inches。　　I'm　going　to　try　what　a　journey'll　do
  for　me。　　I　want　to　get　back　to　the　old　country。　　The　doctor's
  promised。　　There's　a　shot　in　the　locker　yet！　　I　believe　in　that　young
  chap；　he's　stuck　to　me　like　a　man。。。。　　It'll　be　your　birthday；　on
  Tuesday；　old　girl；　and　you'll　be　twenty。　　Seventeen　years　since　your
  father　died。　　You've　been　a　lot　to　me。。。。　　A　parson　came　here　today。
  That's　a　bad　sign。　　Thought　it　his　duty！　　Very　civil　of　him！
  I　wouldn't　see　him；　though。　　If　there's　anything　in　what　they　tell
  you；　I'm　not　going　to　sneak　in　at　this　time　o'　day。　　There's　one
  thing　that's　rather　badly　on　my　mind。　　I　took　advantage　of　Mr。　Harz
  with　this　damned　pitifulness　of　mine。　　You've　a　right　to　look　at　me
  as　I've　seen　you　sometimes　when　you　thought　I　was　asleep。　　If　I
  hadn't　been　ill　he'd　never　have　left　you。　　I　don't　blame　you；　Chris
  not　I！　　You　love　me？　　I　know　that；　my　dear。　　But　one's　alone　when　it
  comes　to　the　run…in。　　Don't　cry！　　Our　minds　aren't　Sunday…school
  books；　you're　finding　it　out；　that's　all！〃　　He　sighed　and　turned
  away。
  The　noise　of　sun…blinds　being　raised　vibrated　through　the　house。　　A
  feeling　of　terror　seized　on　the　girl；　he　lay　so　still；　and　yet　the
  drawing　of　each　breath　was　a　fight。　　If　she　could　only　suffer　in　his
  place！　　She　went　close；　and　bent　over　him。
  〃It's　air　we　want；　both　you　and　I！〃　he　muttered。　　Christian　beckoned
  to　the　nurse；　and　stole　out　through　the　window。
  A　regiment　was　passing　in　the　road；　she　stood　half…hidden　amongst　the
  lilac　bushes　watching。　　The　poplar　leaves　drooped　lifeless　and　almost
  black　above　her　head；　the　dust　raised　by　the　soldiers'　feet　hung　in
  the　air；　it　seemed　as　if　in　all　the　world　no　freshness　and　no　life
  were　stirring。　　The　tramp　of　feet　died　away。　　Suddenly　within　arm's
  length　of　her　a　man　appeared；　his　stick　shouldered　like　a　sword。　　He
  raised　his　hat。
  〃Good…evening！　　You　do　not　remember　me？　　Sarelli。　　Pardon！　You　looked
  like　a　ghost　standing　there。　　How　badly　those　fellows　marched！　　We
  hang；　you　see；　on　the　skirts　of　our　profession　and　criticise；　it　is
  all　we　are　fit　for。〃　　His　black　eyes；　restless　and　malevolent　like　a
  swan's；　seemed　to　stab　her　face。　　〃A　fine　evening！　　Too　hot。　　The
  storm　is　wanted；　you　feel　that？　　It　is　weary　waiting　for　the　storm；
  but　after　the　storm；　my　dear　young　lady；　comes　peace。〃　　He　smiled；
  gently；　this　time；　and　baring　his　head　again；　was　lost　to　view　in　the
  shadow　of　the　trees。
  His　figure　had　seemed　to　Christian　like　the　sudden　vision　of　a
  threatening；　hidden　force。　　She　thrust　out　her　hands；　as　though　to
  keep　it　off。
  No　use；　it　was　within　her；　nothing　could　keep　it　away！　　She　went　to
  Mrs。　Decie's　room；　where　her　aunt　and　Miss　Naylor　were　conversing　in
  low　tones。　　To　hear　their　voices　brought　back　the　touch　of　this　world
  of　everyday　which　had　no　part　or　lot　in