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QUANTITATIVE ANALYSISAND MODELINGOFEARTH ANDENVIRONMENTAL DATA

Space-TimeandSpacetimeData

Considerations

JIAPING WU

ZhejiangUniversity,China

JUNYU HE

ZhejiangUniversity,China

GEORGE CHRISTAKOS

ZhejiangUniversity,China

SanDiegoStateUniversity,UnitedStates

Elsevier

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Theyweregooddays,therehavebeengooddays. JiapingWu,JunyuHe,andGeorgeChristakos

Prefaceix

1.Chronotopologicdataanalysis

1Fromtopostochronotopos1

2Chronotopologicvariability,dependency anduncertainty9

3Theoryandevidence18

4Chronotopologicestimationandmapping22

5Areviewof CTDA techniques24

6Chronotopologicvisualizationtechnology26

7Therangeof CTDA applications27

8Publicdomainsoftwarelibraries28

9Practiceexercises30

2.Chronotopologytheory

1Introduction33

2Basicchronotopologicnotions35

3Chronotopologicmetricmodeling47

4Metriceffectsonchronotopologicattribute interpolation52

5Practiceexercises55

3.CTDAmethodology

1Methodologicchain57

2Aboutknowledge66

3Bigdata:Whylearn,ifyoucanlookitup?81

4Attributedatascales88

5Emergenceofchronotopology-dependent statistics92

6Moreonchronotopologicvisualization96

7Practiceexercises98

4.Chrono-geographicstatistics

1Introduction101

2 CGS ofdatapointinformation102

3 CGS ofchrono-geographicattributevalues121

4Chrono-geographicclusteringandhotspot (coldspot)analysis136

5Practiceexercises145

5.Classicalgeostatistics

1Historicalintroduction149

2Randomfieldtheory155

3Covariographyandvariography165

4Chronotopologicblockdataanalysis200 5Practiceexercises206

6.Moderngeostatistics

1Towardatheory-driven CTDA 213 2Knowledgebasesrevisited216 3Integratinglawfulanddatafulstatistics229 4Rethinkingchronotopologicdependence243 5Applications253

6Practiceexercises261

7.Chronotopologicinterpolation

1Introduction267

2Deterministicchronotopologicinterpolation techniques273

3Statisticalchronotopologicinterpolation techniques282 4Practiceexercises291

8.Chronotopologickrigology

1TheemergenceofgeostatisticalKriging293 21st Krigingclassification299

3SecondKrigingclassification:point, chronoblockandfunctional320 4Mappingaccuracyindicatorsand cross-validationtests323 5Appliedkrigology:benefitsandconcerns339 6Practiceexercises341

9.ChronotopologicBMEestimation

1Epistemicunderpinnings345

2Mathematicaldevelopments346

3Anoverviewofrealworld BME casestudies356

4Practiceexercises377

10.Studyingphysicallaws

1Theimportantroleofphysical PDE in CTDA 385

2 BME solutionofaphysicallaw389

3 BME solutionofanepidemiclaw397

4Comparingcoreandspecificatory probabilities402

5Practiceexercises405

11. CTDA bydimensionalityreduction

1Themotivation407

2Thespace-timeprojection(STP)method408

3Noteworthy STP features427

4Practiceexercises428

12.DIAmodels

1Introduction431

2Machinelearning433

3Linearregressiontechniques434

4Artificialneuralnetwork438

5Practiceexercises444

13.Synthesesof CTDA techniques with DIA models

1Abroadsynthesisperspective449

2Asynthesisofthe STP and BME techniques452

3Asynthesisofthe STP-BME techniquewith the LUR and ANN models459

4Asynthesisofthe BME techniquewiththe MLR and GWR models464

5Epilogue471

6Practiceexercises472 References477 Index485

Preface

Asitstitledictates,thesubjectofthisbookis thechronotopologicanalysisandmodelingof naturalphenomena,thatis,phenomenathat varyasfunctionsofboththeirspatial(topos)a andthetemporal(chronos)b coordinates,inrealisticconditionsof insitu uncertainty.Theneedto studysuchphenomena,inparticular,hasledto significantdevelopmentsinchronotopologic dataanalysis(CTDA),whichisanimportant partofthebook.

Thenotions,techniques,andthinkingmodes discussedinthebookaimatimprovingthe understandingofthechronotopologiclawsof changeunderlyingtheavailablenumericaldatasets,whiletakingintoconsiderationallrelevant coreandsite-specificknowledgebases,which aresubjecttomulti-sourceduncertaintiesand associatedmeasurementorobservationalerrors (conceptual,technical,computational).Thecore knowledgebasesincludescientifictheories, physicallaws,andmodels,whereassite-specific knowledgebasesmayhavevariousformsand sources,includinghardmeasurements,soft observations,secondaryinformation,andauxiliaryvariables(ground-levelmeasurements,satelliteobservations,scientificinstrumentrecords, protocolsandsurveys,empiricalgraphsand charts).Understandingthespatialdistribution andtemporaldynamicsofknowledgebases suchastheaboveisagreatchallengetothe elucidationofcrucialquestionsinmanyphysical,health,andsocialdisciplines,including geology,hydrology,geophysics,geography,

environmentalscience,agronomy,ecology, publichealth,epidemiology,economics,public policy,andriskmanagement.

Thebookviewsthedifferencebetweentrainingandeducationintermsofthefollowingmetaphor:Thewaytogetpeoplebuildashipisnot toteachthemcarpentry,buttoinspirethemto longfortheinfiniteimmensityofthesea. Accordingly,thebook’smethodologyhasfour stages:Thefirststageis diagnosis (knowing through),thatis,identifyingthebasicfeatures ofthephenomenonofinterest,thesecondstage is cardiognosis (knowingtheheartofthephenomenon),thatis,appreciatingwhatisatstake andchoosingtheappropriatemodeofthinking, thethirdstageis prognosis (foreknowledge),that is,accuratepredictionofcertainimportant aspectsofthephenomenon,andthefourthstage is epignosis (improvedknowledge),thatis,drawingimportantconclusions,inferences,and interpretations.

Thismethodologyhassomeinteresting implicationsthatbecomeevidentthroughout thebook,includingthefollowing:newroutes openwhenonetypeofdatacrossesanother; potentiallydifficultproblemsareconsidered fromalternativestandpoints,assessinghow welldifferentmethodscanhandlethem,and howanimprovedproblemsolutionisobtained byasynthesisofmethodsactinginsynergy;the presentationofworthnoticingpersonalconclusionsbasedonexperienceandinsightis facilitated.

a Theterm“topos”(seetopography,topologyetc.)wastheancientGreektermforspace.

b Theterm“chronos”(seechronologyetc.)wastheancientGreektermfortime.

Toachieveitsparticulargoals,thebook’s focusistherigorouspresentationofthesupportingtheory,followedbyacomprehensiveand balancedfusionoftheory-drivenanddatadriventechniques.Accordingly,theassertions presentedinthebookhavetheory-basedcontent (theexpressionofapropositionaboutthereal phenomenonbeinginacertainway)andare madeinadata-basedcontext(includingthe availableevidentialsupportandrealworld conditions). Inmelioribusannis,thisapproach wouldhaveseemednatural. Inpraesentiannis, however,itisnecessarytostresstheimportance ofthisapproach,sincetheexcessiveuseof technological“black-box”nowadaysrunsthe risktoeventuallycreateimpoverishedhuman “black-boxes.”Severalnumericalexamples andactualcasestudiesareincludedsothat thereadersgainahands-onexperienceand valuableinsightconcerningtheimplementation ofthepresentednotions,models,andtechniquesintherealworld.Practiceexercisesat theendofeachchaptercanhelpthereaders learnmorefromthetextandhonetheircritical andpracticalskills.

Individualtopicsaddressedinthebookmay beprobablyfoundinseparatepublications,but, asfarasweknow,thereisnotanyparticular bookthatcoversallthesetopicsinacomplete, systematic,andintegrativemannerasthepresentbookdoes.Arguably,then,readerswithscientificbackgroundorengineeringtrainingin theaforementioneddisciplineswouldappreciateasystematicpresentationinonevolumeof themostimportantquantitativeconcepts, modelsandtechniquesstudyingthechronotopologicbehavior(combinedspatialdistribution andtemporaldynamics)ofnaturalphenomena underconditionsofuncertaintyandsite-specific measurementerrors(i.e.,thevastmajorityof phenomenaencounteredinthevariousscientificandengineeringdisciplines).

Wewouldliketothankourfamiliesfortheir patience,andMsLindsayC.LawrenceofElsevierforhercontinuingencouragementduring thebook-writingproject.

JiapingWu JunyuHe GeorgeChristakos

1 Chronotopologicdataanalysis

1Fromtopostochronotopos

Thefirstsectionofthebookstartswitha broaddiscussionofdevelopmentsinthecollection,analysis,andinterpretationofdata,from thecasewherethedatavaluesareassumedto varyasfunctionsofthespatial(topos)a coordinatestothecaseinwhichtheyareassumedto varyasfunctionsofboththespatial(topos) andthetemporal(chronos)b coordinates.The lattercaseleadstotheunifiednotionof chronotopology,wherethedatavaluesmayvaryina separate(space-time)oracomposite(spacetime) manner.

1.1Scientificparadigms

But,beforefocusingonchronotopologymatters,andinordertoputthesemattersindueperspective,thediscussionshouldstartwitha reference,albeitabriefone,toafundamental notionofhumaninquiry,asfollows:

A scientificparadigm isaframeworkofconcepts,assumptions,theories,thinkingmodes, results,andpracticesthatdefineascientificdisciplineatanyparticularperiodoftime.c

Historically,theevolutionofthescientific paradigmhasundergonecertainmajordevelopmentalphases:

① Itstarted,afewthousandyearsago,withthe purelyempirical paradigmthatfocusedon thedescriptionofnaturalphenomena usingpurelyempiricalmeans.

② Thiswasfollowed,afewhundredyearsago,by the theory-ladenexperimentation paradigm whenatheoreticalcomponent(involving theories,models,laws,generalizations)was addedtotheempiricalcomponent(inwhich systematicexperimentationplayedakey role).

③ Duringthelastfewdecades,the computation-dominated paradigm

a Theterm“topos”(seetopography,topology,etc.)wastheancientGreektermforspace.

b Theterm“chronos”(seechronology,etc.)wastheancientGreektermfortime.

c Theword παραδειγμα (paradeigma)hasbeenusedinfamoustexts,suchas Plato’sTimaeus,asthemodelorthepattern thatGodusedtocreatethecosmos.

emergedthatischaracterizedbythe additionofasignificantcomputational component(sincetheoriesofcomplex phenomenabecametoocomplicatedto solveanalytically,numericalsimulations neededtobegenerated).

Furthermore,ithasbeenarguedbymany investigators(scientistsandnonscientistsalike) thatwecurrentlyentertheeraofyetanother paradigm:

④ The bigdata-driven paradigmthatseeksto applycomputationalmodelstobreathtaking amountsofdataobtainedbyinstrumentsor generatedbysimulators,thenprocessedby thesoftware,resultingininformationstored incomputers.

Accordingtothisparadigm,insightisgained throughaself-reinforcingloopbetweenexperimentaldataandstatisticalanalysis(Succiand Coveney,2019).Asshouldbeexpected, seriousobjectionstothepurelydata-driven paradigmexist.Amongthem, LewisH.Lapham hassuggestedthat:

@ Dataminingengineershavenouseforthe meaningandvalueofwords.Theycometo burycivilization,nottopraiseit.

Inresponsetotheseandsimilarconcerns,a challengetothepurelydata-drivenperspective hasemerged,asfollows:

• Thebigdataperspectiveoutlinedabove makesextravagantclaims,which,once properlydiscarded,a synergisticsynthesis oflargedatasetswithasoundscientific theorycouldplausiblyleadtoasensical paradigm-shift.

Thisisaseriousmattertoanyonewhotakesa momenttoexamineitwithanattentivemind. Therefore,wewillrevisititinvariouspartsof thebook.

1.2Interplayofscienceandmathematics

Noreadersofthisbook,mostofwhomare presumably quants (i.e.,quantitativeanalysts), needtoberemindedoftheall-importantrelationshipbetweentwokeycomponentsof humaninquiry(see Fig.1.1):

Mathematics,whichfocusesonhowtodevelop abstractrepresentationsoftherealworld,and science,whichisconcernedwiththeinverse process,i.e.,withhowtousetheseabstractrepresentationstoobtainusefulknowledgeaboutthe realworld.d

Admittedly,thisbookusesaconsiderable amountofmathematicsintheformof analysis, modeling, and estimatione notionsandtechniques.Comparedtothecomplexityofthereal

FIG.1.1 Theoppositedirectionsofmathematicsand science.

d Yet,thetwohavesomeinterestingsociologicaldifferences,includingthefactthatinscienceeachgenerationof investigatorsundoestheexistingstructure(replacesthetheoriesofthepreviousgenerationwithnewonesetc.), whereasinmathematicseachgenerationaddsanewpiecetotheexistingstructure.

e Theterm“estimation”generallyincludesinterpolation,extrapolationandprediction.Thedistinctionbetweenthese threekindsofchronotopologicestimationiscritical:ininterpolationandextrapolationattributeestimatesaresoughtat points,respectively,withinandoutsidethechronotopologicsamplingdomain,andinpredictionattributeestimates aresoughtatpointswithinthespatialsamplingareabutoutsidethetemporalsamplingperiod.Theissueisdiscussed invariouspartsofthebook(e.g., Chapter7).

world,thesenotionsandtechniquesarenotas complexassomeinvestigatorsmayseemto believe.Thosewhodonotbelieveso,itisrather duetothefactthattheymaynotrealizehow complicatedreal life actuallyis.

Thelinksofmathematicswithordinarylife areratherobvious.Manymathematicalideas arewaysofmathematizingordinaryideas, e.g.,theideaofaderivativethatisastraightforwardmathematizationoftheordinaryideaof instantaneouschange.Beyondthisrathersimple notion,manycomplexmathematicalconcepts eventuallycomedowntodirectperceptual experience.

Sincescience, anaturaeius,isaboutfinding theanalogyandidentityinthemostremote parts,itshouldbenoticedattheoutsetthatthis book’sowninterpretationof Fig.1.1 isas follows:

The interworkings ofscienceandmathematicsshouldbecarefullyconsideredinbothdirections:notonlymathematicsshouldbeusedin scientificinvestigations,butscienceshouldbe usedinmathematicalinvestigationstoo.

Accordingly,investigatorsshouldclosely fusemathematical symbology withphysical meaning,resultinginapowerfulandproductive structure.Thatis,scientificapplicationsrequire ustointegrateourunderstandingofthereal worldwithsymbolicrelationsofmathematics, thusaddingmeaningandstructuretoboth.Scienceputsmeaningtomathematics,adding additionallevelsofstructure,interpretation, andeventools.Thisbook,then,ismoreinterestedinthescientificallymeaningfulemploymentofmathematicaltoolsthaninthepurely formalfeaturesofthetools.Adirectconsequence oftheaboveconsiderationsisthewarningthat lookingatanequationandtreatingitpurelyas amatterofmathematicalgrammar,while neglectingtoenrichitssymbolswithphysical meaning,leavesonevulnerabletoerrors.

Example1.1 Assumeoneisgiventheequation E ¼ F q ,relatingtheelectricfield E withforce F anda pointcharge q.If q isdividedby2,i.e., q 2,whatisthe corresponding E value?Focusingonthemathematicalgrammaroftheequation,theobvious answeris E ¼ 2F q .Thisanswerisphysicallyincorrect,though,sinceitneglectstheessentialknowledgethat F isproportionalto q,inwhichcasethe correctansweristhatthereisnochangeinthe valueof E.Thiserrorhappenswhenone(who probablylacksthenecessarybackgroundknowledge)looksattheequationandtreatsitpurelyasa matterofmathematicalgrammar,neglectingto enrichitssymbolswithphysicalmeaning.

Sincethisbook’sperspectiveisthatanequation’smathematicalgrammarshouldbeintegratedwithphysicalmeaning,ourfocuswill notbeonlyontechnicaldeductions,butalso ontherichvarietyofinductiveinferencesassociatedwithourreaders’ordinaryexperience. Thesameargumentisobviouslyvalidinterms ofdata,i.e.,datashouldnotbetreatedpurely asnumbers,neglectingtoenrichitwiththe duephysicalmeaning.Inthisrespect,thefollowinggeneralconclusionisreached:

• Readersareencouragedtoavoidfallinginto thetrapofreasoningpurelyintermsof mathematicalgrammarandnumerics,thus missingcluestoadifferent interpretation givenbyphysicalmeaning.

Thepayoffofthisapproach,integrating mathematicalgrammarandnumericswith physicalmeaning,iscomprehensible,sinceit canproducenewknowledge,addtotheexisting bodyofknowledgeinaparticularscientific field,and,inmanycases,scientificfindings canbetransferredintousefultechnology.

1.3Naturalattributes

Quantitativeanalysis,aspracticedinsciences,reliesonthetoolsofthedisciplineof appliedmathematics,whichstudiesthevariationalcharacteristicsofempiricalobservations

ormeasurementsf associatedwithnaturalattributes.Beforeweproceed,weneedaworking definitionofthelatter:

A naturalattribute isameasurableorobservableentitycharacterizingselectedaspectsofa naturalphenomenon(physical,biological,social) thatvaryoveraregionduringatimeperiod.

Simplyput,everythingthatvariesacross spaceand/ortimeinnatureandcanbemeasured(usingsimpledevicesorsophisticated equipmentofvariouskinds)orobserved(via perceptualexperience)canbeconsideredanaturalattribute.Inthissetting,known(measured orobserved)attributevaluesarecharacterized asattribute data.

Example1.2 Thereisawidevarietyofsuch naturalattributes,includingpollutantconcentration,topographicelevation,oceansurface temperature,rainfallintensity,humanexposure,diseaseincidence,populationmortality, land-usevariables,commodityprices,and regionalpovertyindicators.

Incasessuchastheabove,attributecharacteristicsofprimeimportancethatneedtobeadequatelydefinedandunderstoodarethe following:

• The variationalcharacteristics describe attributedynamics,g regionalchanges,and interrelationshipsduetotheunderlying mechanismsofthephenomenonunder study(Section2).

Indeed,datavariationacrossspaceandtimeis adominantcharacteristicthathastremendous impactsontheperformanceofcertainquantitativeanalysisandmodelingaspects.Forexample, theaccuracyofattributeinterpolationat

unsampledpoints(discussedin Section4)may decreaseconsiderablywithincreasingdatavariation.Accordingly,understandingtheattribute’s variationalcharacteristicsbasedontheavailable dataisagreatchallengetotheelucidationofcentralquestionsinmanyphysical,social,andhealth disciplines,includingenvironmentology,geology,agronomy,ecology,geography,public health,epidemiology,economics,socialpolicy, andriskmanagement.

1.4Kindsofscientificdataanalysis

Asregardsthepracticeofdataanalysisinsciences,wherethereisastrongphysicaldependenceofdatavaluesonlocationandtime, threekindsofstudieshavehistoricallyemerged (inascendingorderofmodelingsophistication):

❶ Studiesconcentratingsolelyonthevariation ofdataacrossspace,knownas spatialdata analysis (SDA),orsolelyontemporaldata variation,knownas timedataanalysis (TDA).

❷ Studiesfocusingonsomekindof separable space-timedataanalysis (hereafterdenoted as S-TDA),inthesensethattheyconsider spaceandtimeinisolation.

❸ Studiesfavoringa compositespacetime dataanalysis (denotedas STDA),inthe sensethatspaceandtimeareconsidered asanintegratedwhole,meaningthatthe integrationobeysthephysicsofthe phenomenon.

Intheabovesettings,spaceandtimeindividuallybecomethree-andone-dimensional projectionsofthefour-dimensionaldomain, respectively.Conversely,theclassicalthreedimensionalgeometryof SDA becomesa four-dimensionalgeometryinspace-timeanalysis.Duetoitswidepopularity,letuscommenta littlefurtheron SDA.Althoughitmaybeseen,

f Thedistinctionbetweenmeasurementandobservationisdiscussedlaterinthebook.

g Thetermdynamicsherereferstothetemporalchangeoftheattribute.

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"Butyouhavemademehappy.Ican'ttellyouhalforaquarterofthejoythistriphas beentome.IhavesolongedallmylifetoseeSwissmountains.Andyouhavegivenme thejoy!Idobelievethereisgoingtobeanafterglow,andweshallmissit!Justtimefor tabled'hôte."

OncebeforetheglowhadoccurredwhentheywereallengagedinwhatAmydisdainfully describedas"gormandizing."

"We'vegottobeinbedearlyto-night,mind,Bee.Iwantyoutogetwellrestedfortomorrow'sexertions.Sureyouarefitforit?"

"Ineverwasmorefitinmylife.Itwillbesplendid."

"Andto-morrownightwesleepattheHut."

"Delightful!Suchanexperience!Idon'tbelieveIshallsleepawinkto-night,thinking aboutallwearegoingtosee."

"Youmust,oryouwon'tbeuptothewalking."

Aftertwoweeksoflesserpractice,anddiverssmallclimbs,theyweregoingonareal expedition—theirfirstascent,worthyofthename—underchargeofPeterSteimathen,than whomtheycouldhavefoundnomoredependableguide,andhisson,Abraham.Bothgirls wereofslightphysique;bothwerebynaturesureoffoot;andbothdearlylovedclimbing. SincebothwereLondoners,theiropportunitieshithertohadnotbeengreatinthatline; buttheyhadtakentoitlikeducklingstowater.PeterSteimathen,aftersomeconsultation, pronouncedthattheymightsafely,underhisguidance,maketheattempt.

Attabled'hôteBeatricefoundastrangerbyherside;areticentyoungEnglishclergyman, sliminmake,withquietobservanteyes.Shehadnevermethimbefore;yetsomething onceandagaininhislookseemedfamiliar,andshevainlytriedto"locate"the resemblance.Heandshefelleasilyintotalk—strictlyonthesurfaceofthings.

"Yes,wearegoingforaclimbto-morrow,"shesaidsoon."Nothingbig,ofcourse.Weare onlybeginners.ItiscalledtheRothstock alesserpeakoftheBlümlisalpgroup."

"Youwillwantaguideforthat,ifyouarebeginners."

"WewouldnotventurewithoutPeterSteimathen."

"Iknowhim.Youcouldn'tdobetter."

"Areyougoingupsomewheretoo?"

"TheBlümlisalphorn."

"Notalone!Youhaveaguide."

"No,Ihaveafriend.Nothere—hehasaroominachâletcloseby.Wearebothwellused tothemountains.Noneedforaguide."

"Peoplesaythatisnotsafe."

"Depends!"Andhesmiled."We'vedoneagooddealtogetherthatway."

"Withoutguides?"

"Withoutguides."

"Ihopeyouwon'tcometogriefsomeday."

"Ihopenot!"

"Youthinkitiswise?"dubiously

"Extremelywise.Butyoumustbecareful—excuseme!Therearetrapsforbeginnersthat don'taffectoldhands."

"PeterSteimathen!"shesuggested.

"Heisexcellent.Butyoumustdoashetellsyou."

"Oh,I'velearnttoobey,"laughedBee.

Thenshesawthathisattentionwasdistracted;andherownbecamedistractedalso.Two newarrivalshadjustcomein;amiddle-agedlady,stoutandhandsomelydressed;anda girl,young,andquitelovely.Shehadoneofthosepicture-faceswhichareseentwoor threetimesinahalf-century.NotBee'sgazealonesuffereddistraction.Thewholeroom gazed;andtheobjectofallthisattentionreceiveditcalmly,withoutachangeofcolouror theflickerofaneyelid.

"She'susedtoit,"Beeremarkedtoherself.

Butitwasimpossiblenottogoongazing.Thefacewasonethatnobodycouldglanceat onceandnotglanceagain.Softcurlyfairhairclusteredaboutafairbrow;andthe delicatelytintedcomplexionmadeonethinkofsnowflakesandrose-buds,orofearlydawn inJune.Aslenderfigure,fullofgrace,shell-whitearmsandhands,featuresprettyenough nottodetractfromtheexquisitecolouring,helpedtomakeupthetout-ensemble;andthe forget-me-notblueeyessmiledgraciouslyattheelderlady,atthewaiters,atthetablecloth,atanythingandeverythingthattheyhappenedtoencounter.

Beatricecastaninvoluntaryside-glancetowardsherneighbour.Hetoowasgazing;andin thequieteyesshedetectedasubduedintensity,ofwhichshewouldnothavethought themcapable.

"Isn'tshesweet?"breathedBee.

Theremarkwasnotevenheard,andnoreplycame.Theirbrokentalkwasnotrenewed; andhedisposedofeatableswiththeairofonewhohardlyknewwhatwasbeforehim. Dinnerended,thevisiondisappeared,andsodidBee'sneighbour;butanhourlatershe wasamusedtoseehimatthefurtherendofthesaloon,inclosetalkwiththeprettynew arrival.

Meetinghimstilllaterinapassage,shepausedandmadesomeslightreferencetothe girl.

"Iwonderwhosheis,"Beesaid.

"Afriendofmysister's,"hereplied."Singular,ourmeetinghere.Ihaveheardofher before."

Beenotedagainasuppressedgleaminhiseyes.

CHAPTER VII

THEFrauenbahnHut,atlast!

Foreighthoursandahalf,includingrests,theyhadbeenenroute,withtheirguideand porter,makingthesteepascentfromKandersteg,windingthroughpine-woods,pausingat theroughOeschinenHotel,skirtingthedeep-greywatersofthelakefromwhichittookits name—thenmountingagaintothe"UpperAlp,"onlytoleavethatalsobehind,astheyyet moresteeplyzig-zaggedonwardoverroughshale,withtheglaciertotheirrightandthe Hutfortheiraim.

Anexperiencedmountaineerwouldhavecoveredinsixhoursthedistancetheyhadcome; but,naturally,ittookthemagooddeallonger,whichmeantarrivinglate.

Bothwereverytiredandveryhappy,andinastateofmentalexhilaration,which,despite fatigue,gavesmallpromiseofgettingquicklytosleepamidsuchunwontedsurroundings. Thusfar,thoughthewayhadbeensteep,theyhadhadaruggedpath.Onthemorrow theywouldquitbeatentracks,andwoulddoa"bitoftherealthing,"asAmyexpressedit.

Theguide,PeterSteimathen,hadprovedhimselfapleasantcompanionallthatday Fortunately,sinceneitherofthetwowasapractisedGermanspeaker,hehadsome commandofEnglish.

AroughlittleplacewasthisFrauenbahnHut,thoughbetterthanmostmountainrefuges, for,inadditiontotheroomontheground-floor,itboastedaloftabove,bothbeingon occasionscrammedwithclimbers.Nearlyhalfthelowerroomconsistedofashelf,some threefeetfromthefloor,coveredwithabeddingofstraw;andonthisthegirlswould spendtheirnight,rolledupinrugs,providedforsleepers.Highabovetheirheadsthe guideswouldreposeonanothershelf,toreachwhichsomeagilitywasneeded.

BeatriceandAmycountedthemselvesfortunateinfindingtheHutempty.Apparentlythey wouldhavetheplacetothemselves.Theylookedroundwithinterestatthewoodenwalls, thesmallwindow,andthestoveatwhichtheguidewaspreparingtoboilwaterfortheir soup

"Butcome—comeoutside,"urgedAmy."Don'tletusmissthesunset.Itwon'twaitour pleasure.Wecanexaminethingsinsideby-and-by.Come!"

Andtheywent,commandeeringhutrugsforwraps,sinceitwas"anippingandaneager air"here,ninethousandfeetabovethesea-level.

"Tothinkofit!Upintheverymidstofthemountainamphitheatre!"murmuredAmy.

Whenseatedsidebysideonthebench,silencefell.Theyhadchattedmuchintheearly stageoftheirascent;orrather,AmyhadchattedandBeehadlistened,whichwasanot unusualdivisionoflabourbetweenthem.Beewasagoodlistener.Butmorethanonce Amyhaddetectedawanderingofattention,whichwasnotcommon.Atleast,ithadnot beencommontilllately

"Dreaming,Bee?"shehadasked;andBeeblushed.Amynotedtheblush,puttingthat downalsoassomethingnew

ButAmytooforoncebecamedumb,astheygazedfromtheirAlpineHutoverthewide snowyexpanse.Itwashardlyascenetoinducelightchatter.

ThetrackbywhichtheyhadmountedfromtheOeschinenseewasalreadylostindarkness. ButinfrontstoodforththeroseatepeaksoftheBlümlisalp;notablytheWeisseFrau, square-shouldered,andclothedinamantleofineffablydelicatepink;andbeyondher, almostbendingoverherlikeadevotedbridegroom,stoodtheyetloftierBlümlisalphorn, scarcelylesspure,thoughbrokenbylinesandridgesofrockwhichlayattoosharpan angletoretainsnow.NearerwasthebareandrockyBlümlisalp-stock,coldandgriminthe twilight,risingabruptlyfromthenévéoftheglacier.

Longlingeredthemysteriousradianceoftheafterglowonthespursandslopesofthose greatGothicpeaks,untilthelastfilmyveil,sea-greeninhue,fadedbeforetheonslaught ofnight.ThenattendantstarsbegantotwinkleinthevaultovertheBlümlisalphorn, formingalittlecrownabovehishead.

Thetwogirlsheldtheirbreath,claspinghandsundertherugs.

"It'stoolovely,"murmuredAmy."Whatasplendidworldoursis!Doyourememberwhat Ruskinsays—'Didyoueverseeonesunriselikeanother?DoesnotGodvaryHiscloudsfor youeverymorningandeverynight?'DoesHereally—forus?AreyouandImeanttoenjoy this,Bee?Andhasnobodyeverseen,andwillnobodyelseeversee,justpreciselywhat weareseeingnow?Isn'titaperfectlyextraordinaryidea?Why,evenamileoff—evenhalf amileoff—itwouldn'tbethesame."

Beedidnotansweratonce.ShecouldnotsoreadilyasAmyputherthoughtsintowords. Afterapauseshesuggested—

"Itmakesonefeelhowsmallone'slifeis."

"Doesit?No,no,Bee—justtheotherway.Ialwaysfeelhowterrificallyfulllifeis— absolutelybrim-full!There'sanyamount,everyday,ofwhatonecoulddo,andmightdo, andoughttodo—andofwhatonedoesn'tdo!Isn'tthattrue?"

Then,withachangeoftone—"Bee,doyoueverlookforward,andpicturelifeinthefuture —thinkanddreamofwhatmaylieahead!"Bee'simprisonedhandstirred,fordidshenot? Amywenton,unheedingthemovement—"Ido!I'malwaysandforeverdreamingofthe timewhenyouandIwilllivetogether;whenweshallbejusteverythingtoeachother. Oneknowsthatchangesmustcome,asyearspasson;andwhyshouldn'tonethinkofthe thingsthatwillliebeyondthosechanges?Doyouremembermytellingyoulastsummerof thisvisionofmine?—Ofthedearlittlehomethatistobeours,andofhowthedayswillfly, andofhowIshallshelterandguardandpetmydarling,andofhowweshallwantnothing andnobodyexceptjustourtwoselves!Think—howperfectitwillbe.Youremember—don't you?"

Yes;Beeremembered,though,truthtotell,thesaidtalkhadmadenoveryprofound impressionuponhermind.Amyhadtalked,andshehadlistenedandhadpleasantly assented,onlytodismissthesubjectlaterfromherthoughts.Plainly,Amyhadtakenit muchmoreseriously.

"WhenI'mvexedorworried,nothingcomfortsmelikethinkingaboutthatsweetlittle futurehomeofours.Doesitcomfortyoutoo?"

Beehesitated,tootruthfultosayyes."Idon'tknow—"shemurmuredatlength."Ihaven't thoughtmuchaboutit."

"Youhaven't!"

"Onecan'tlookforwardwithanysortofcertainty.Lifeisoftensodifferent—sounlikewhat onehasfancied."

"Thatwasn'tthewayyoutookitlasttime."

"I'moldernow."

"You'renottwenty;andI'moverthirty."

"Yes,Iknow.Butdon'tyouthinkonelearnstoseethingsalittledifferentlyastimegoes on?"

"Nothingcouldmakemeseethatdifferently.Ihavealwayscountedmyselfyoursforlife— andyoumine.Ihavealwaysfeltsurethatyoudidtoo."

"Atallevents—nothingcaneveralterourfriendship,"remarkedBeecheerfully.

"Itwouldbeverymuchaltered,ifIbelievedthatyoudidn'tcareformeasIcareforyou."

"Idon'tthinkit'saquestionofcaring—butonly—oneneverknowswhatlifemaybebyand-by."

Amymadeanimpatientmovement."OfcourseIseewhatallthismeans.Isupposeyou're thinkingofmarryingsomeday."

Anotherlittlepause,brokenbyBee'ssofttones.

"Onecan'tshutone'seyesquitetopossibilities,"shesaid."EitheryouorImightsomeday comeacrosstherightman.Idaresayitisn'tlikely—butstill—"

"So—that'sit!"Amydrewalongbreath."Whydidn'tyoutellmesooner?Whoisthelucky person?"

"Youaretalkingnonsensenow,Amy.AllIsayisthatthethingmightsomedayhappenfor eitherofus.Andthen—I'mafraidthelittlehouse—"

"Wouldbetenantless!Nodoubt!Andifthissupposititiousindividualdidturnup—you'd careforhim,ofcourse,agreatdealmorethanyoucarefor—"

Beelaughedalittle."Ishouldn'tthinkyoucouldcomparethetwosortsoffeeling.Ishall alwayscareforyou,nomatterwhatelsehappens.ButIdon'tseetheuseofplanningso farahead."

Amywasbusilythinking."Somebodyorotherisatthebottomofthis,"shecogitated. "Whocanitbe?Letmethink—Beehasnotbeenherusualselfsince—since—thatvisitto heraunts!Iknow!Thereweretwohouse-partieswhileshewasthere,andshesawnoend ofpeople.And—yes,shedidmentiononenameseveraltimes—agreatpetoftheold ladies!Iremember!HewastherenearlyaslongasBee.Whatwashisname?"

"Soyoucan'tcomparethetwofeelings!"sheremarkedaloud."Whichmeansthatyou knowboth,mydear!Ah,nowyou'vegivenyourselfaway,youtransparentperson!Come— youmayaswell'fess!Whoistheobjectionableindividual?"

"Youaretalkingnonsenseagain!"

"I'mnotsosure!Letmethink whomhaveyoubeenseeinglately?Wasn'tthereavery delightfulpersonatyouraunts'house—yes,youcertainlyspokeofsomebodytwoorthree

times,andsaidhewasnice.Whichfromyouishighpraise.Whatistheman'sname?"

Beewasthankfulforthedarkness.Shewishednowthatshehadnotbeensofoolishasto differfromAmy.Whyhadshenotfalleninwithherfriend'smood,andallowedherto expatiateaslongasshelikedonthat"sweetlittlehome,"whichinBee'seyeslookedso farfromattractive?Itwouldhavebeenwisernottoriskawakeninghersuspicions.

"Agreatmanynicepeoplewereinthehouse.Amy,lookatthatgleamoflightonthesnow —justdyingaway."

"I'mmoreinterestedinthelightsandshadesofhumanbeings.Isupposehedidn't actuallypropose."

Beestoodup,andhertoneheldatouchofgentledignity.

"Amy,youaretalkinginaveryfoolishway—inawayyouhavenorighttotalk.Iamtired oflistening,andIshallgoinside."

Amywasinaperversemood,attherootofwhichlayjealousy;andthisoffendedher.She, too,jumpedup.

"Justasyoulike!I'llcometoo.Butyoucan'tthrowdustinmyeyes,mydear.Younever canhidethingsfromme,youknow.Muchbetterconfessthatyourpoorlittlehearthas beentakencaptive.Ihaveitnow!Irememberhisname!AndIshallalwaysoweagrudge toWratt-Wrothesleyafterthis.Ofcourse—it'sthatMr.Ivor!Wretchedman,torobmeof myBee!"

SheslightlyraisedhervoicethatBeemighthear.Andasthelatterdisappearedwithinthe hutdoor,makingnoreply,asoftsoundfloateddownfromtheloft,justoverAmy'shead— theunmistakablesoundofasubduedmasculinesnore.

"Gracious!"utteredAmyunderherbreath."Somebodymustbeupthere!Whatamercy he'sasleep!"

ShefoundBeeinside,lookingpale,anddisposedtoholdcoldlyaloof.Amy,already ashamedofherself,wasconstrainedtowhisper

"Nevermind!Iwasonlytalkingnonsense!Iwon'tagain!It'sallright!"

INANAVALANCHE

THEHutwasnot,asAmyandBeatricehadsupposed,occupiedonlybythemselves,their guideandtheirporter.Unknowntothemall,twoguidelessclimbershadarrivedearlier noneotherthantheyoungEnglishclergymanandhisfriend.Theyhadretiredtorestin theloft,purposingtoascendtheBlümlisalphornthenextday.Astheymeanttostartin theverysmallhoursofthemorning,theyweregladtogettosleepwithoutlossoftime; andbythusretreatingtothelofttheyhopedtosecureanabsenceofinterruptions.

CHAPTER VIII

Steimathenhadquicklydiscovered,bytheremainsofafireinthestove,thatsomebody hadprecededthem;butthisfacthehadnothappenedtonametothegirls.

Oneofthetwomen,outofsightintheloft,wasRobertRoyston,nowabroadforhisshort summerholiday.Theother,strangetosay,wasactuallyLancelotDennisIvorhimself with whomBeehadbeenthrownduringherthreeweeks'visittoheraunts.

Beehadknown,andhadnotforgotten,thathewasanadeptatmountaineering.Nay,it washewhohadadvisedhertodoalittlescramblinginthisverydistrict,whenshehad mentionedherhopeofavisittoSwitzerlandinthesummer.Shedidnotdreamofcoming acrosshim,sincehehadsaidthatSwitzerlandthisyearwouldbeforhimanimpossibility, onaccountofcertainengagements.Planshadchanged,however;andherehewasin companywithhisoldcollegefriend,RobertRoyston.

Attabled'hôtetheeveningbefore,thoughRobertalludedtohisproposedascent,hedid notspeakoftheHut;andshefailedtodeducethefactthatheandhisfriendwerelikelyto sleepthere.Neitherdidheutterhisfriend'sname.Possibly,hadPatricianotappearedjust whenshedid,drawingoffeverybody'sattention,hemighthavedoneeither;inwhichcase sheandAmywouldhavebeenupontheirguard.Asthingswere,theyhadnotthesmallest suspicionthatanyhumanbeingwaswithinearshot—theguideandhissonbeingquitecut offbythesolidwalloftheHut.

Voicesundertheopenloft-windowarousedIvorfromalightsleep.Notforsometimefully. Helayinsemi-consciousness—vaguelywishingthathehadnotbeendisturbed,envying thecalmslumberofRob,hearingpartlyasinadreamwhatwassaid,andregardingthe samewiththeuncriticaldetachmentandindifferenceofadreamer.

Thesofttonesofonespeakersoundedfamiliar;andthoughhewastoofargonetoattach aname,theytransportedhiminimaginationtoWratt-Wrothesley;andhesawhimself againwanderingthroughthelovelygroundswithBee.

Agirlishargumentofsomesortseemedtobegoingon;andhetookadrowsydisliketo Amy,asherolledoverandtriedtoforgethimselfoncemore.

Thenthesoundsgrewclearer,moredefinite.Thatgentle-voicedgirlwasbeingpestered— worried—andhefeltatouchofindignation.Itdawneduponhimthathewaslisteningto somethingnotmeantforhisears;andhewasrousinghimselftogivealoudcoughof warning,when—

"Muchbetterconfessthatyourpoorlittlehearthasbeentakencaptive,"checkedhim abruptly,withafeelingthatthelisteninggirlmustnotknowwhathehadheard.Then camethenameoftheplacewherehehadmetBeeMajor,andhisownnamefollowing. Inamomenthewaswideawake.Inamomentalsohehadtheblanketsoverhisears, shuttingoutfurthersounds.

Herecognisednowwellenoughthatsoftvoice.Theonlymarvelwasthathehadnot instantlyknownit.HehadseenmuchofBeeduringthreeweeks,hadlikedhermuch.If theimpressionmadebyhimuponherwasdeep,theimpressionmadebyheruponhim wasnotslight.Headmiredher;heenjoyedintercoursewithher;hehopedsomeday beforelongtomeetheragain;hehadevenrecognisedasapossibilitythathemightbyand-byefindhimselfinlovewithher.

Buthewasnotyetinlove.Hetoldhimselfso,almostangrily,asheclutchedtheblanket roundhishead.Andofallwretchedcontretemps,whatcouldbeworsethanthis?Thathe

andsheshouldhavecometogether,highinthemountains,awayfromthecrowds,neither knowingoftheother'spresence,andthatheshouldhaveoverheard,withoutintendingit, wordswhich—whethertrulyorfalsely—nodoubtimpliedthathehadsomehowcaptured herheart!Itwasappalling!

Ofcourseitmightbeallamistake.Probablyitwasallamistake.Thegirlwasjoking, teasinghercompanion,tryingtogetariseoutofher,asgirlswill;andBeatricemight nevergivethecarelesswordsanotherthought,if—itallhunguponthat!—ifshedidnot discoverthathehadbeencloseathand,andthathehadormighthaveoverheard.Butif shedidfindthisout—hiswholebeingroseinrevoltforBee'ssake.Whatwouldshenot think?Whatwouldshenotfeel?

Smallchanceofsleepremainedtohim.Helaythinkingthematterover,worryinghimself, andplanninghowtoescapeintheearlymorning,beforesheshouldbecomeawareofhis presence.

Anoddrealisationcreptoverhim,ashetossedandturned,that—ifitweretrue—andno doubtitwasnottrue,itwasmerenonsense!—butifitwere,thentobesolovedwouldbe anewandbeautifulthing.Throughhistwenty-fiveyearsoflifehehadneveryetknown whatitwastobefirstinawoman'sheart.Hismotherhaddiedinhisinfancy,andhehad nosisters.Hewaswelloff,successful,andpopular.Match-makingmothershadcourted him;andgirlsofasort—thesorthewouldneverdreamofmarrying,forheheldahigh idealofwhatawomanshouldbe—hadflirtedwithhim.ButheknewBeewellenoughto graspthatthiswouldbealtogetherdifferent.IfBeeMajorloved,herswouldbealove worthhaving.

Ofcourseitwasallnonsense;asillyjokeofthatotherunpleasantgirl.Only—ifitwere—

Heknewhimselftobecompanionableandagreeable,likedbypeopleingeneral,onewho madeandkeptfriends.Buttobeutterlyandabsolutelyfirstwithanother—tobetheone andonlymantooneonlywoman—thatwouldputhimonanewlevel,wouldgivetolifea freshcolouring.

Nousedwellingonallthat,hetoldhimselfimpatiently.BeeMajorhadprobablylaughedat thesillywords;andhehimselfwasnotinlove.Hewas,however,verymuchconcernedto preventherfrombecomingawareofhispresenceintheHut;andwhenoneo'clock arrived,hewakenedRobert,andimpressedonhimtheneedforabnormalcaution,lest theyshoulddisturbtwolady-climbers,sleepingontheground-floor

Withexaggeratedcare,hesettheexample,creepingdowntheladderlikeamouse,and keepingasmuchaspossibleinshadowbehindthestove,lesttheyalsoshouldhave plannedanearlystart,andshouldarousethemselves.Notlikely,atoneo'clockinthe morning;butonsuchoccasionsnothingisimpossible.

Besides,Beatricemightbeawake,despiteherstillness;andthoughsheshouldcatchno glimpseofhisface,shemightrecognisehisvoice.So,insombresilence,andnotwithout somenervousglancestowardsthelowershelf,onwhichlaytwodimly-outlinedfigures rolledinrugs,hedrankhiscoffee.Robkeptequalsilence.

ItwasarelieftoIvortofindhimselfsafeoutsidetheHut.QuietlyheandRobstartedon theirdarkupwardtramp,lightedonlybystars,andbytheglimmeringlanternwhich swayedtoandfrointheleader'shand.Anhourlater,astheywerecrossingthehard frozenneve,hereceivedafreshshock.Somewordspassedabouttheirreturnroute,and RobremarkedthathehadenteredanoteastotheirintentionsintheVisitor'sBookatthe Hut.

"Youdidn'twriteournames!"Ivorinvoluntarilyexclaimed.

"Yes,ofcourse—whynot?"

Whynot,indeed?Ivorcouldoffernoreason.Hesaidonly "Imeanttodoitonourwayback."

"Alwaysbettertoleavewordofone'splansincaseofanaccident."

Thiswastrueenough;andIvormadenofurtherprotest.HerecalledthatRobhadstayed behindforaminuteortwo,whenhehadmadehiswayoutoftheHutinreadinesstostart. Hewasverymuchannoyed—notwithRobfordoingwhatwasquitereasonable,butwith thefact.BeatriceMajorwouldundoubtedlylookatthebook,andshecouldnotfailtosee hisname.Shewouldatoncesurmise,notthathehadactuallyheardherfriend'sfoolish words,butthathemighthavedoneso.Toolatenowtodoanything;butthedaywas moreorlessspoiltforhim.

Suchthoughtshadtobeputononeside,asthedifficultiesofthewayincreased.They werestillthere,lyingasaweightatthebackofhismind,thoughhehadresolutelyto ignorethemandtobendallhisenergiestothetaskinhand.Theascentofthe Blümlisalphornisnotexactlyplaywork,evenforexperiencedclimbers.

Foragoodwhiletherewaseasygoingoverthefrozensnow,andonlyforafewhundred yardswastheirrouteshadowedbythepossibility aslightoneatsuchanearlyhour—ofa fallingavalanche.Breakfastonapurewhitetable-clothfollowed;andafterthisbeganthe excitingpartoftheirascent.

Atfirsttheymountedsnowingoodcondition,lyingonafoundationofrock,whichhere andtherecroppedthrough.Thenitsteepenedandhardened,andthecuttingofsteps becamenecessary,tilltheyreachedthecolornarrowneck,fromwhichonelooksdownon thelittleOeschinenLakeandtheValleyofKandersteg.

Thencetheusualrouteisfollowedbythearête,nowice,nowrock,notonlynarrowbut steeplyascending.Iftheleader,ashecutsstepsuptheknife-edgeofice,shouldslipand fall,theinstantdutyofhiscompanionontheropeistoflinghimselfoverontheopposite side,wherehisweightwouldcounterbalancethatofhisfriend,andsopreventbothfrom beingdashedtopiecesthreethousandfeetbelow.Forsuchpromptaction,insucha position,nolittlenerveisrequisite;yetnottodoitspellsadoublefatality.BothIvorand Robweremenofcalmnerveandquickdecision.

Whiletraversingthearête,nothinkingaboutBeatricecouldbeallowedhimselfbyIvor; andhewashardlyconsciousofthescenery.Nothingbutcloseandexclusiveregardto eachsuccessiveplantingofthefeetensuressafety,as,steadyinghimselfwithhisice-axe, aclimbermovesslowlyupwardandonward,tillthesummitisgained.

Theystoodthereatlength,sidebyside,triumphant,—justintimetorevelinthe magnificentsightofacloudlesspanoramaofpeaks,eachwithitsownwealthofgolden lightandazureshade,itsmorninggloriesandfleetingshadows,itscrumpledandrifted glaciers,itsuncountablerevelationsofbeauty.Silentandentranced,theydrankinthe lovelinesswithsupremeenjoyment;thoughperhapsneithercouldquitebanishfromhis mindarecollectionofthatnerve-testing"knife-edge,"whichhadsoontobedescended. Comingdownsuchamauvaispasis,aseverybodyknows,alwaysfarworsethangoingup it.Doubtless,itwasaswellthattheBlümlisalphorndoesnotlenditselftoapicnicora

lengthyrestuponthesummit;formusclesareapttostiffenwithdelay.Afewminutes wereallthatcouldbesafelyspared.

Astheygazed,neitherofthetwowasthinkingonlyandexclusivelyoftheview.

InRob'smind,togetherwiththemountainglory,laythepictureofagirl'sface,fairand smiling,whichhecouldnotbanish.Patriciahadlaidherspelluponhim;andevenwhilehis attentionwasmosttakenupwiththeperilsoftheway,thatfaceremained.Itsprangup nowwithafreshinsistence.

"IfeverImarry—"hefoundhimselfsaying,ashiseyesrovedfromheighttoheight,from glaciertoglacier—"IfeverImarry,sheshallbemywife!"Hewasnotconsciousofhastein thisdecision—ifadreammaybecalledadecision;andhedidnotevenrememberhis wordstoMagdaaboutnotbeingamarryingman.Hehadnotthen"seenthegirl."To-day hehadseenher.

Ivoralso,whilehisglancewanderedhitherandthither,washauntedbyapresence.His chivalryhadbeentroubledonbehalfofBee;andthethoughtofwhatshemustgo through,whenshebecameawareofhisnearnesstheeveningbefore,presseduponhis mind.Sosoonasactiveexertionceased,theburdenmadeitselffelt;andhebeganagain topictureherstateofmind.

IfhedidnotreallycareforBee,morethanhewasyetaware,itmightseemsingularthat heshouldbesomuchdisturbed.Thisviewofthequestiondidoccur,andhehadnoanswer ready—yetstillhewasdisquieted.When,however,themomentarrivedforstarting;when the"knife-edge"hadoncemoretobetackled—thenheputheroutofhisthoughts;and then,too,RobhadforthetimetoforgetPatricia.Alltheirattention,alltheirnerve,were required.

Chip,chip,wenttheleader'saxe,asheimprovedthestepsmadeontheirascent;and whenonewasclean-cut,thenail-studdedbootslidforward,andfoundgoodhold.Again theaxewasatwork;andtheotherbootcrepttoitsplace.Soeachinturnadvanced;and neverdidthetwoclimbersmovetogether;andneverwastheropethatboundthemina bondofcomradeshipallowedtosag.Itstautnesswastheironlyinsuranceagainstthe disasterwhichmustotherwisehavefolloweduponaslip.But,happily,noslipoccurred.

Theyhadcometoadetermination,ontheprecedingday,thatifallwentwelltheywould returnbyanotherroutefromthecoloverlookingKandersteg—arouterarelyattempted, sincetheconditionofanopencouloir,awidegullyfullofsnow,whichwouldhavetobe descended,wasseldomtempting.Inaddition,therewasalwaysapossibilityofthe bergshrundbelowthecouloir ahugecrevasseatthefootofthesnow-slope—entirely stoppingtheirfurtherprogress,andforcingthemtore-ascendtothecol,afterhalfthe descenthadbeendone.Buttheyhopedtofindeitherabridgeofwintersnowacrossthe bergshrund,orelseaplacewheretheycouldturnit.Andtheywereyoungand enthusiastic,andwillingtorunacertainamountofrisk.

Sotheydecidedtoventureontheattempt.AndthiswastheschemewhichRob,the momentbeforetheystarted,hadscribbledintheVisitors'BookattheHut,togetherwith theirtwonames.

Thevariationfromthemoreordinaryrouteatfirstpromisedwell;andthesoftsnowofthe opencouloirorgullyallowedthem,astheycamedownit,tokickforthemselvesdeepand safesteps.

Butgradually,almostimperceptibly,thecharacterofthesnowchanged.Itbecame powderyinsubstance;andeachdownwardstepstartedaminiatureavalanche—sosmall astodiscountprecaution.

Theywerenowhardlytwohundredyardsfromtheyawningbergshrundatthebottomof theslope;andtoturnbackwithouthavingexamineditwouldbereallytooexasperating. Thusitwasthatthewarninggivenbythatshiftingsnowwasallowedtopassalmost unheeded.Rob,whowasnowtheleader,didhisbesttopackitfirmly,beforetrustinghis weighttoeachfoothold;andsofarallseemedsafe.

Ivorindeedfeltsosecure,asheplungedhisfootintoonedeepstepafteranothermadeby hisfriend,thathealittlerelaxedhiswatchfulcaution,andallowedhisattentiontowander, indulginginspeculationswhetherheandRobwouldfindthetwogirlsstillattheHut.But forthatunfortunateremarkoverheardtheeveningbefore,hewouldhavewishedthatit mightbeso.HewouldhavelikednothingbetterthantoseeBeeMajoragain.Hemight neverreachthepointofactuallyfallinginlovewithher;yetshewasundoubtedlyavery sweetandtakinggirl.

Suchthoughtsweretravellingthroughhismindwhensomethingoccurred,againstwhich notalltheacumenofthemostexperiencedguidescouldhaveinsured,hadtheyventured totrustthemselvesuponsotreacherousaslope.

Thesheetofsnowwhichthetwoweredescendingbegantostir!Atfirstslightly—then moredecisively

Ivor,wellbehindRob,theropebetweenthembeingnearlytaut,wasthefirsttoawaketo theawfulfactthatawavehadformedinfrontofhim.Onlytoowellheknewwhatthat meant;andheinstantaneouslydughisice-axedeepintothesnow.Thishadsmalleffect; for,asthesnow-sheetsliddownward,Robwascarriedwithit.Foronesecondtherope tightenedroundIvor;but,asthesilentonrushoftheavalanchefoughtforthemastery,he toofelthimselfgentlyyetirresistiblydrawnintothewhitestream.Theireyesmet,saying whattheirlipsdidnotutter—"Wearelost!"

Downanddown,sliding,struggling,bornealongbythemovingmass,wentbothmen;but IvorwasmoreintheactualstreamthanRob,whohappenedtobeswepttooneside.It wasasmallavalanche,neitherdeepnorwide;andwhileIvorremainednearthecentre, Robwasontheborder.Thoughperforcemovingwithit,hewassubjecttolessimpetus; andasthewhitewavecurledroundaribofrockoutstandingfromthesnow,therope caughtfirmly.Onswirledtheshallowsnow,andheremainedbehind.

Allmighthavebeenwellwiththemboth,hadtheropeheld.ButwhenIvor'sweightcame onitwithaheavyjerk,itseveredonthesharprock,asthoughcutbyaknife.

Ivorwassweptrapidlydownwards;andwithoutasound,hedisappearedovertheedge, intothebergshrund.Fromthatdeepsnow-prison,evenifthehaplessclimberhadnotbeen atoncekilledbythefall,orsmotheredinthecataractofsnow,Rob—barelyescapingthe samefate,andwithonlyashortendofbrokenrope—waspowerlesstorescuehim.

CHAPTER IX

FOURhoursafterthedepartureofthetwomen,thegirlswereup,startingfortheirsmaller ascentofthelittleRothstock.Theyhadadelightfulfive-hours'scramble,attheendof which,theyagainreachedtheHut.

Nocontretemps,nofalsesteponthepartofeither,hadmarredtheclimb.Amyhad,inthe earlyhours,shownaslighttendencytomoodiness;andBeehadbeensilentandgrave. Butasthecharmoftheirexpeditiongrippedthem,thespiritsofbothgirlsimproved.As yetBeeremainedincompleteignoranceofthepresenceofothersintheloftthroughthe night.ShecouldnoteasilythrowoffherdispleasureatAmy'sconduct;butshedidher besttohideit.AfterallAmyhadnotmeanttobeunkind.Shehadonlybeen—silly!Itwas wiseronherparttotreattheaffairasnonsense.Andasthedaywenton,therecollection sankoutofmind.

Theyresolvedtohaveanhour'srest,beforetacklingtheeasydescenttoKandersteg;and asAmyflungherselfdownoutsidetheHut,Beewentinside,returningwiththeVisitors' Bookinherhands.

"Wehaven'ttakenalookatthelistofclimbersyet,"shesaid.

Amyhadhopedtoavertthis.ThelastthingshewishedwasforBeetoawaketothe possibilityofthoseimprudentwordshavingbeenoverheardbysomechancetourist. UnknowntoBee,shehadfoundoutthat,notonemanonly,buttwomenhadsleptinthe loft;andalldayshehadbeenatpainstokeepclearofthesubject.

"Yes,ofcourse.WemustsignourownnamesasconquerorsoftheRothstock,"shesaid quickly."I'lldothatpresently.You'vegottorestnow.Givemethebook,andI'llreadthe listaloud."

"Thanks,butwecanbothlook.Iliketosee."Beeturnedtothelatestpage,andexclaimed insurprise—"RobertRoyston!—Magda'sbrother—"andthelastwordremainedonlyhalfuttered,ashereyesfelluponthenamefollowing.Adeepflushsuffusedhercheeks.Amy, glancingatthepageandthen,indismay,atherface,knewinamomentthatwhatshe hadhalf-jestinglysurmisedwastrue.

Bee'scolourfadedfasterthanithadarisen.Shegrewwhitetothelipsasifonthevergeof fainting.

"Theywerehere—lastnight!"Hereyesmetthoseofhercompanion."Amy!—Didyou know?"

"OfcourseIdidn'tknow.HowshouldI?Webothfeltsuretherewasnobodyhereexcept ourselves.Ineverdreamtofsuchathing.Butwetalkedsolow—theycouldn'thaveheard aword!"

"Oh,no—no!Youcalledout—loudly!"

"Bee,I'msureIdidn't.Itisn'tmyway.Youarefancying.Andthewindowwouldbeshut—" "TheyareEnglish.Itwouldbeopen."

"Buttheyweresoundasleep.Ofcoursetheyweresound!"AmywasreallygrievedatBee's paledistress."Quitesound!"

"Itiseasytosayso!Youdonotknow."

"ButPetertoldmetheywenttobedveryearly,onpurposetosleep.Yes,Iaskedhim, because—justafteryouwentin,Iheardasnore.Ididn'tseeanyuseinworryingyou,but IdidaskPeter,andhesaidthereweretwoHerrenintheloft,andtheyhadgoneoffinthe night.Iwonderwedidn'thearthemgo.ButIheardthesnorequiteplainly."

"Thatmightshowthatonewasasleep.Not—both!"

"Iftheyhadchancedtooverhearafewwords,theywouldknowitmeantnothing—just fun!Theywouldunderstand."

"Ifonly,onlyyouhadnotdoneit!"Beedespairinglymurmured."IfeelasifIcouldnever beartoseeeitherofthemagain."

"Why,Bee,reallyyouaremakingtoomuchofasmallmatter.Whatdoesitsignify?Justa jestbetweentwogirls!Anysensiblemanwouldknowwhatitwasworth.IfIhadhada notionthatanybodywasthere,ofcourseIwouldn'thaveteasedyou;butIhadnot.And tillthismomentIdidn'tknowtheirnames.Butnowwedoknow,wecanbeperfectlysure thatifeitherofthemwasawake,hewouldneverhavelistened.Hewouldhavedone somethingtoletusknowhewasthere."

"Notifheweretakenbysurprise—ifhewokejustthenandheardhisownname!How couldhespeak?Idaresayitisn'tlikely;butitmighthavehappened!Idothinkthatsort ofjokingisveryverywrongandunkind."

"Well,Iwon'tdoitagain;IpromiseIwon't.AndIwouldn'tthinkanymoreaboutitifI wereyou.Thingscan'tbehelpednow;andtheonlywayistotakesensiblywhat'sdone andcan'tbeundone.YoumaydependuponitMr.Ivorheardnothing."

Beefeltthatitwaseasyforonepersontobephilosophicalaboutanother'strouble.She bentoverthebookwithatroubledface,andreadaloudashortnotescrawledafterthe twonames—"GoingtotrytheBlümlisalphorn,descendingfromthecoltothealpabovethe Oeschinensee."

ShecarriedthebookinsidetheHut,anddrewtheirguide'sattentiontothismemorandum. Steimathenutteredagruffwordofdisapproval.Itwasinhisopinionadifficultand dangerousdeviationfromtheordinaryroute.TheHerrenwouldhavebeenbetteradvised, hesaid,hadtheykepttothatroute—withthesnowinnonetoosoundastate.Naturally, Peterwasnotparticularlypleasedwiththeenterpriseofguidelessparties,onmountains whichhelookeduponashispreserve.

Allthewaydown,asfarastheOeschinenHotel,Beatricewalkedinthoughtfulsilence.She waspondering,partly,thedreadthatIvormighthavebeenawake,andsomighthave heardAmy'simprudentutterance;butalsohermindwasagooddealoccupiedwith Steimathen'sobservations.Moreandmorethepossibilitytookholdofherthatthosetwo wereindanger.Theguide'ssuggestionmight,itwastrue,havebeentosomeextent dictatedbyjealousy;yetsuchasuggestionfromafirst-rateguide,whowasalsoagood anddependableman,couldnotbelightlydismissed.

WhatifthingswereasPeterseemedtofear—iftheyhadchosenaperilousroute—ifthe snowwasinanunsafestate—ifsomethingshouldhappentothemontheirwaydown? Nay,whatifsomethingwerehappeningatthismoment?Thefearcamebetweenhermind andAmy'stalk.Foronceshewishedthatherfriendwerecapableofsilence.

ShemadeanopportunitytotacklePeteranewonthesubject,askingfullerdetailsabout thenatureoftheproposeddescent,andthereasonsforhisuneasiness.Peter's

explanationswerethereverseofcomforting.

Verymuchmorequicklythantheyhadgoneup,theyregainedthelittlehotelontheshore oftheOeschinensee.Nosoonerweretheythere,thanBeemadestraightforthetelescope. ShecalledPeter,gothimtoshowherbywhichwaytheEnglishgentlemenhadplannedto descend,andfoundthat,fromherpresentposition,theentireroutefromthecol— includingariskydescenttowardsaveryundesirablebergshrund,thenatureofwhichhe hadalreadyenlargedupon—couldbesweptbytheglass.

Whethertheyhadyetpassedinsafetythatyawningchasm,Beecouldnotknow,Peter couldnottellher.Iftheyhadnot,therewasnoreasonwhysheshouldnotactuallywatch theirprogress,couldshebutonce"locate"them—or,assheexpressedit,"getholdof them."

Agoodhourwentby,duringwhichshesearchedinvain.Theguidewishedtocontinue theirdescenttoKandersteg;andAmywasgrowingimpatient;butneitherofthemcould induceBeetostir.

"Ican'tjustyet,"shepleaded."Thereisnohurry.Ihavesuchafeelingthatsomethingis wrong.Doletmetryalittlelonger.Yes—itmaybeallfancy—butIwanttomakesure."

Remonstrancesfellondeafears.Theusuallycompliantgirlwasresolute.Shesaidlittle, butsheclungtoherpost.

"Whatanimaginationyouhave!"pettishlycomplainedAmy,whobythistimewasboth tiredandcross.YetstillBeegazed,searchingthewhiteslopes,regardlessofherownor theother'sfatigue.

"Justalittlelonger,Amy!Ishallfindthemsoon.IamsureIshall.Ifyoucannotwait, pleasegoonwithAbraham;andI'llfollowwithPeter."

"Thanks.IfIgo,I'dratherhavePeter.OfcourseIdon'tmeantoleaveyou.Butitissuch nonsense!"

"Petermustwait,incaseanythingiswrong.Hewouldhavetogoandhelpthem."

"Whyonearthshouldanythingbewrong?It'smorethanlikelythattheyhavekepttothe usualroute,andareattheHutbynow.It'sridiculousyourbotheringaboutthemlikethis."

"Ican'thelpit,Amy.IfanythinghappenedtoMagda'sbrother—"

"Oh,youneedn'tpretend,mydear!It'snot—'Magda'sbrother'—"mimickinghertone —"thatexercisesyourmind."

Beatriceliftedherfaceforonemomenttolooksteadilyattheothergirl.

"Idon'tthinkthatisquitelikeyou,"shesaidgravely,andshewentbacktothetelescope. Amybrokealengthysilence,asifithadnotexisted."No;itisn'tlikeme.Atleast,Ihope not.Itisn'tlikemybetterself.I'minthegripoftheGreen-eyedMonsterto-day.Can'tyou see?It'shateful."

Bee'shandcamesoftlyonhers.

"Yes;Iknow.I'vegottoconquer.Butallthesame—oh,bother Iwishthey'dturnupand havedonewithit.I'mtired."

"I'msosorry,"wasallBeesaid;andanothertenminutesofpatientscanningwentby. Thenherattitudechanged,as—"Theretheyare!"escapedherlips.

"Really!"withawakenedinterest.

"Iseethem!Iseethemplainly.Twolittledotsonthesnow.I'msureitisthey."Shecalled eagerlytoPeter."Oh,come!—comeandlook.I'vefoundtheHerren.Whataretheydoing?"

Sherelinquishedherpostasheeagerlyadvanced."Mylady,shehasgoodeyesight.Sheis right.TheHerrenarethere.Nichtwahr?"

"Letmeseeagain.Onemoment,please.Justtomakesure!"

Unwillinglytheguidecomplied,forBeecouldnotcontrolherimpatience.

"Iseethemnow—quiteplainly.Isthatthepartyousaidwaswherethesnowmightbe bad?Howfasttheyarecomingdown!Isitsafe?Buttheyarenotsoveryhighup.It'sall right,isn'tit?Oh!Oh,whatishappening?Whatisit?"SheseizedPeter,andthrusthim vehementlyintoherseat."Tellme—whatdoesitmean?"

Peterdrewalongaudiblebreath.Hewasjustintimetocatchoneclearglimpseofthe rollingfigureofIvor,beforeitvanished.

"Somethingis—notright,"heansweredgravely."Yes;thereisamishap.OneoftheHerren hasfallen.Itmaybe—notfar—butheisgonedown.Nein,nein,Mees—onemoment,"as shegraspedhisarm."Permitme,Mees—itisbetterthatIlook.Meeswillnotunderstand. ThesecondHerrdoesnotmove.Hestaysthere.Hedoesnothing."

"Youwillsendhelp!Youwillgoyourself!Youwillnotleavehimtodie!"urgedthegirl. "Peter whatcanbedone?Oh,pleasemakehaste."

Shewrungherhandstogether,waitingforhisnextwords,whichdidnotcomeatonce. Peter'sgazewasriveted.

"ThefallenHerrisoutofsightstill.TheHerrabovestirsnot.Hestaysinonespot."

"Youwillgo—willyounot?"imploredBee.

"Itisso.Meesmayrestassured.Allshallbedonethatmancando.Theyshallnotbeleft toperish."Threeminuteslongerhestudiedthefar-offscene.

"Peter—tellme—whichHerrisitthathasfallen?"Sheputthequestionfaintly;andinher heartshechidedherselfforhopingthatitmightbeMagda'sbrother—poorMagda!—and nottheother.

"Ach!HowcanItell?"

"Ishe—ishe—dead?"

Peterstoodup."Wemustnotwastethetime,Mees,intalk.Itisthatwemustact.You, ladies,willwaithere—isitnotso?—tillarescue-partyshallreturnfromgoingtothe Herren?"

"Yes,yes—onlydon'tdelay!"pleadedBee.

Twootherguideshadhappilyarrivedwithinthelasthourfromanexpeditionwiththree ladies,whoatonceagreedtomanagetherestoftheirdescentundertheleadershipof

theirporter,sincetheywereunabletowait.Ahurriedconsultationthentookplace;andit wasdecidedthatthethreeguidesshouldstartimmediately,takingropesandrestoratives, andgoingbytheshortestpossibleroute.Peter,fromhisintimateknowledgeofthedistrict, haddivinedthatoneofthe"Herren"musthavefallenintothebergshrund,thoughhe wouldnotsayasmuchtoBee.Heknewtoowellwhatitmightmean.

ForBeatricetherefollowedaperiodofsuspense,suchasshehadneverbeforegone through.Thehoursseemedendless.Itwasnotherwaytotalkofwhatshefelt.Allshe wantedwastobeleftalone,thatshemightcarryonherwatch,silentlypraying. Afterwards,whenshelookedback,sheknewthatherwholebeinghadbeenconcentrated intoonecontinuouswordlesspetition.

Amyreallywassorry,nowthatsheknewtruecauseforfeartoexist.Butheranxietywas moderateandimpersonal;whiletoBeeitseemedthatalljoyinlifehungupontheresult oftheguides'expedition.

Whiledaylightlasted,shesatatthetelescope,searchingandsearching,tillhereyesgrew dimanddazzledwiththestrain.Thatonetinydarkfigurewasalwaysthere;movingfrom timetotime,yetneverstrayingfar.Beatricebuiltmuchuponthefact.Ifthefallenman weredead,whyshouldhisfriendstay?Ontheotherhand,ifthefallenmanwerealive, wouldnothisfriendgoinquestofhelp?Hopewasputtoaseveretest.

Amy,asshefoundhereffortstobestowcomfortofsmalluse,wentindoorsandfellasleep; butBeecouldnotrest.Whendarknessmadethetelescopeofnoavail,shewalkedupand downoutsidethehotel,scarcelyconsciousofthecold,turninggentlyfromwell-meant attemptsonthepartofthehotelpeopletocheerherup,andpicturingtoherselfwithout cessationIvordyingordead,oratbestwaitingontheloneislandofrock,incoldand hungeranddiscomfort,resolutenottoquithisfriend.

Ifonlyhemightescapewithlife,shewouldbecontenttoasknomore.Hemightnever thinkofher;hemightnevercareforher;theymightnevermeetagain;butstillhewould bealive.Shedidnotknowhowtoendurethethoughtofaworldwhichwouldnolonger containhim.

MasteredatlengthbyAmy'sentreaties,shetoowentintothehotel,andlaydownunder blankets,refusingtoundress.WhenAmyagaindroppedsoundlyoff,shearoseandseated herselfatthewindow,togazeinthedirectionofthespotwhere,perhaps,Ivorstillwas;or lookingupatthecalmstarsoverhead,towonderwhetheralreadyhisspiritmighthave takenflighttothosesublimeheights;andhowsoon—ifindeeditwereso—shemightbe permittedtofollow.Woulditbewrongtowishtogo—nottohavetowaitverylong?

Then,refusingtoadmitanysuchpossibilities,sheimaginedtheguidesdrawingneartothe sceneofdisaster,andtriedtosee,asinavision,howtheywouldrescuethefallenman. ThoughPeterhadnottoldherexactlywhatitwasthatheconjectured,shehadbeenquick toputtwoandtwotogether,quicktoreadhisthoughts.Hehadspokenofthebergshrund beforetheaccident;andsheknewatleastsomethingofwhatmightbeinvolved.Scene afterscenepassedbeforehermind'seyestillherbrainwhirled.

Dawnatlastbegan;andwiththeearliestgleamsoflightsheagainplantedherselfatthe postofobservation;longbeforeshecouldhopetomakeoutanything.Timeslowly,slowly draggedby;andpatienceatlengthmetwithitsreward.

Asdaygrewintobeing,shefoundherselfactuallywitnessingthecautiousdescentofthe couloirbytherescue-party.Theyhuggedtherocksononeside,avoidingthecourseofthe avalanche;andBeewatched,withatremblinghopewhichcouldfindnoutterance,tillthey

reachedtheisletofrockwherethatpatientwatcherhadspenthisnight;andthesolitary darkfigurewasreinforcedbyotherlittledarkfigures.Theyseemedtopauseandconsult; thenmovementstookplace.Whatactuallyhappenedwasthatoneoftheguidesattached himselftothefulllengthoftherope,andwasletdowntowardstheshrundbytheothers, tillhevanishedoveritsedge.Then,whenhereachedIvor,hefastenedtheroperound him,andtheyweredrawnuptogether,theguideundermost.

Bee,fromherdistantpost,couldmakeoutsomethingofthis.Shefollowedthedescentof thesmalldarkbody,sawitdisappear,andwithshortenedbreathwaitedthrough interminableminutestillsomethingbecamevisible,comingupslowlyoutofthedepth. Something!Butwasitonemanortwomen?

Shestrainedhereyestosee.Yes,certainly—twospecks,closetogether,yetdistinct,where onlyonehadbeen;bothapparentlybeingdraggedupwardstowardwheretherestofthe partystood.ThesecondmightbeLancelotIvor—orRobertRoyston—oronlyalifeless form,takenfromitssnow-prison.Whocouldtell?

"Anyhow,they'vegothim,"Amyremarked,whenBeeinshortmurmurstoldwhatshesaw. "Ifwehadnotwaited—ifIhadnotfoundthem—"

"Yes.Youwereright.I'mgladnowthatyoupersisted."

"Nobodymighthaveknowntill—toolate!Amy,youwereverypatient."

"Ididn'tfeelpatient,Iassureyou."

Morehourscreptby,andstillBeewatched.Amyatlastprotested— "Youarewornout,Bee.Ifyouwouldbutliedownforanhour!"

"Ican'tjustyet.Pleasedon'taskit."

Nearerandnearerdrewtheparty;moreandmoredistinctinthefieldofthetelescope. ThenAmyheardoneshortsighofrelief."Yes,"shesaid."Icancountthemnow.Theyare resting.Thethreeguides,andboththeothers.Both—both!"

"Yes,dear."

"He'snotkilled.He's—alive!"

SheslidoffherseatintoAmy'sarms;andforamomentAmythoughtshehadfainted away;butshepulledherselftogether.

"Howstupid!Whatmademedothat?"

"Youfeltdizzy.Comeindoorsnowandliedown.Theyareallright;andtheycan'tgethere foreversolong."

"Yes;IthinkIwill.I'malittle—tired."

Shewalkedquietly,stumblingonceortwice,asifuncertainofherfooting.Amyputheron thebed,andcoveredherup.

"Youaretogotosleep.Youshallheareverythingby-and-by."

Amystoopedforakiss;andBeeheldherdown."Dear—youhavebeensokind.Thankyou. Pleasedon'tletanybodyknowthatIhave—minded!"

"No,ofcoursenot!"Amydidnotadd,asshefelttemptedtodo,thatanybodymighthave seen.SheknewthatitwouldbeeasytoexplainBee'sover-anxiety,bythefactthatoneof thetwomenwasthebrotherofherintimatefriend.

"He'ssafe!"droppedslowlyfromBee'slips.Shedrewonelongsigh;herarmsslackened andfell;andalreadyshewasdeadasleep.Alookofchildlikepeaceoverspreadherface.

Amystoodlookingdownuponher."Poorlittledear!That'sallyoucarefornow!He—not even'they.'Andwillheevercareforyou?Andifnot willyoubreakyourpoorlittleheart? Peopledon'tbreaktheirheartsnow-a-days—somesay.ButBeeisnotliketheordinary run."

Beesmiledinhersleep.

"Ishallhatehimifhedoes;andIshallhatehimifhedoesn't!Anicestateofthings!O youGreen-eyedMonster!—HowIdespiseyou!Butyou'vehadthebetterofmeto-day; thoughIdon'tbelieveBeehasfounditout.Andyou'vegottobesquashed,youknow!"

Amyshookherfistasatanenemy

CHAPTER X

THERESCUEDMAN

ONCEasleep,afterherlongwatch,Beatricesleptprofoundly—slepttilllongafterthe rescue-partyandthetwoEnglishmenhadcomein.

TherecouldbenoquestionofgettingbackthatnighttoKandersteg.Ivorwassuffering fromfrostbiteandbruises;andthough,withagooddealofhelp,hehadmanagedtowalk partofthewaydowntotheOeschinenHotel,hecoulddonomore.BothheandRobhad tobewarmedandfed;andforbothagoodnight'srestwasthefirstessential.

Beesawnothingofthemuntilnextmorning,bywhichtimeshewasquiterestoredtoher usualgentleself.ThateveningtalkoutsidetheHutseemedtoherdreamyandunreal,and asifithadhappenedyearsbefore.Shehadalmostlostsightofit,underthegreatstrain ofanxiety;andshecouldnotthinkofitnow,forthejoyofknowingIvortobesafe.For thisherheartsangaceaselesssongofthanksgiving.

Oratleast,shewouldnotletherselfthinkofit.Probably,asAmyinsisted,hehadheard nothing.Ifhehadcaughtafewwords—theonlycourseforherwastobeutterlysimple, utterlynatural,freefromself-consciousness.Thenhewouldforget;hewouldthinkhimself mistaken.Beewascapableofcarryingoutthisrôle;asperhapsmanygirls,lesspractised inself-control,mightnothavebeen.

Ivorappearedlastofanearlyparty.Hecametobreakfastlimping,andstillpale,butwith asmile.

"Allright,oldfellow?"Robasked.

"Thanks—yes."HisglancewentstraighttoBee,andwithouthesitationhecrossedover, holdingouthishand."Wehavemetbefore,"hesaid;forhe,likeBee,hadresolvedon completesimplicityastheonlymodeof"graspingthenettle."

Shemetthehandandsmiledbravely;andbeforeawordcouldbespoken,Peter Steimathen,whohadfollowedIvorin,toseehowthe"Herr"mightbeafterhissevere experience,madematterseasierforbothbybreakingin—

"ItistotheMeesherethatyouoweyourlife,MeinHerr!"HeglancedatBeewith admiration."TheFräuleinshewouldhaveherway!ShewouldnotreturntoKandersteg,till sheshouldseewheretheEnglishHerrenwere.MyselfIhadtoldhertheremightbe difficultiesfortheHerren,andtheFräuleinunderstood.Ach,buthadshenotsodone,we shouldnotsosoonhavegoneinsearch.Nein,trulyweshouldnot."

"Andthatmusthavemeantforme—justallthedifference!"Ivorobservedinalowvoice.

Hewasnotallowedthentosaymore.Robinsistedonattentiontobreakfast.ButBeehad alreadyheardfromtheotherswhatwasthoughtofhershareintherescue;andher feelingsmaybeeasilyimagined.FromIvorshewantednothanks.Itwasenough,and morethanenough,toknowthatshehadbeenthemeansofsavinghislife—astheyall declaredwasthecase.

Afterbreakfast,whenAmywasputtinguptheirthingsandPeterwasconsultingwithRob howtogetIvortoKandersteg—sincehewasclearlyunabletowalkanydistance—she foundherself,quitebyaccident,alonewiththelatter.

Beetookitsimply;andhercompletenaturalnessmadethepositionofaffairseasyforhim.

"Iamafraidyouaresufferingagooddealwithyourfoot,"shesaid.

"Rathernumbstill,thanks;butI'mgettingbackthepropercirculation.Nofearnow,they tellme,thatIshallloseevenatoe."Hesmiled;then,puttingasidehisownhurts,he expressedhisgratitude,inafewstrongwords,forwhatshehaddone.

"NeitherRoystonnorIcaneverforgetit.Weoweourlivestoyourthoughtfulness.I—even morethanhe.Isupposehemighthavegotbackinsafety;butIwashelpless."

"Wouldnottheguideshavestartedinsearchofyou—ifIhaddonenothing?"

"Yes.Thequestionis—whethertheywouldhavebeenintime."

"Iamvery,veryglad!"Thewordssoundedabsurdlyinadequate.Shehadneverinherlife beenhalfsoglad,halfsothankful;yetshespokequietly."Itwascurious—Icouldnothelp waiting.Suchastrongfeelingcamethatsomethingwaswrong—thatIhadtowait!—Even beforeitactuallyhappened."

"Onemaysay,Isuppose,thatitwas—Providential!"HespokewithshyEnglishreserve, yetwithrealfeeling;andthistimeherresponsewaseager.

"Oh,Iamquite,quitesure!"Afterapauseshewenton."Idon'tunderstandwhyMr. Roystonstayedthere.Oughthenottohavegoneatonceforhelp?Supposewehadnot seenyou?Supposetheguideshadnotstartedwhentheydid?"

"Thatwasthequestion—whatheshoulddo.Theshrundwasinnostatetobecrossed, especiallybyonemanalone.Hewouldhavehadtogobackupthemountain,andround bytheusualroute."

"Couldhenotdoit?"

"Thedangerofcourseisgreaterforamanbyhimself.Butheisacoolhand,notsoon flurried.Hewouldhavegoneinthemorning,ifhelphadnotcome.Nothingwouldinduce himtobudgeearlier,thoughIdidmybest.Iknewthatputtingoffmustmakethereturn alonemuchworseforhim."

"Thenitwasforyoursakethathewaited?"

"Entirely.Icouldnotpersuadehimtoleaveme.Itwouldhaveprettywellsettledmatters, Isuppose,sofarasIwasconcerned;andthatwaswhathefelt."

Bee'seyesgrewlarge."Youmeanthathe—?"

"Hehadmadeuphismindthat,ifIhadtospendthenighttherebymyself,Ishouldbe frozenbeforemorning."

"Butwasit wasit—sobadasthat?"Herbreathgrewshort.

"I'mnotsurethatIcouldhaveheldout,ifithadn'tbeenforhim."

"Thecold—?"murmuredBee.

"Well,thecoldwasawful.SometimesIseemedtobeonthevergeofslippingoutofitall— losingholdoflife.AndthenRob'svoicewouldrouseme,andIcouldfighton.Butifhe hadn'tbeenthere—don'tyousee?"

"Yes,Isee."Beehadgrownwhite,butshespokequietly."Youmighthavejustforgotten yourself,andnot—not—"

"Notcometoagain,"endedIvor."Yes,thatwasit.ButofcourseI'dhavegivenanythingto makehimgo.Iknewwhatitmustmean,waitinghourafterhouronthatsteepslope,with noshelterofanysort.He'safinefellow!Iwishyouknewhimbetter."

"PerhapsIshallsomeday.Hissisterisafriendofmine.Yes,hemustbe—splendid!"So wassomebodyelse,thoughtBee,andshedidnotmindthelittleglowwhichhadcometo herface,forhewouldonlythinkitwascalledupbyadmirationofMr.Royston."Andthen —"shesaid—"then,Isuppose,yousawtheguidescoming.Imean,Mr.Roystonsaw them."

"Yes;andhisshoutsoonletmeknow.Hehadjustbeensayinghemuststartsoon.After thatitwasallright.Ionlyhadtobehauledup.Butyouunderstandnowhowmuchwe owetoyou—bothofus."

"NotMr.Royston!"

"Yes,bothofus.Iverymuchdoubtwhether,afterthatnight,hewouldhavebeenequalto thereturnbyhimself.Hefounditquiteenough,evenwiththehelpofaguide.SoIthink wemayprettywellsaythatyouhavesavedbothourlives!"

"I'vealwayslongedtobeablesomedaytosavesomebody'slife,"sherepliedgently Muchmorehecouldhavetoldher,anddidnot.

Hemighthavedescribedatlengththatinterminablenightinhisdrearybergshrundprison, wherehedarednotstir,forfearoffallingyetlower.Hehadfoundalodgmentonanarrow snow-shelfatonesideofthegreatcleft.Blackdepthsofmysterylaybelow;andsteep snow-wallsrosehighbeforeandbehindhim;andtheprojectingupper"lip"oftheshrund overhunghishead;andnothingwasclearlyvisibleexceptastripofskyfar,farabove.At anymomentafreshfallofsnowmightoverwhelmhim;andtimecrawledonwithleaden footsteps,ashewaitedinhisconstrainedposition,sufferingacutelyfromthepiercingcold.

HecouldnotseeRob.Hewaswithoutfood,withoutrestoratives,andinhourlyperilof death.Vainly,fromtimetotime,heurgedhisfriendtoescapewhileescapewaspossible, andtoleavehimtohisfate.Orrather—andheputthisforwardforRob'ssake—toget help.Butheknewwellthatsuchhelpmustalmostcertainlyarrivetoolate;andRob, knowingthesame,alwayscheerilyrefused,biddinghimkeepupabraveheart.

ThroughitallIvorcouldnotbanishBeefromhismind.Hesawherface;hewashaunted byhersofttones;herecalledlittletalkswithherinthespring;heheardagainAmy's utteranceoutsidetheHut.Theconsciousnessofwhatshepossiblyfeltforhim,andfloating visionsofwhatinsomefuturedaytheymightbecomeonetotheother,alternatedwitha pictureofhislifecutshort,hiscareerabruptlyended.Andwiththiscameself-searchings astothemanneroflifehehadlived;notindeedablameworthylife,weighedinordinary scales;yetnotallthatitshouldhavebeen,weighedinloftierscales,seeninthenear prospectoftheLifetofollow.Ithadnotbeenanirreligiousoraprayerlesslife;yetnow, lookingback,hefelthowmuchhadbeenwantinginitofwhole-hearteddevotiontothe serviceofGod;andkeenregretsforthepastmingledwithstrongresolutionsforthefuture —ifheshouldbepermittedtogetthroughsafely.

Asthefiercenumbingcoldofnightenvelopedhim,creepingfromlimbtolimb,stiffening everymuscle,grippinghisverybones,hecouldhearRoystonfarabove,stamping, stirring,everandanonshoutingwordsofencouragement.

Andonce—neverafterwouldIvorlosetheimpressionmade!—once,withoutwarningor introduction,instrongdistincttones,RobrepeatedtheGeneralConfession.Heartandsoul Ivorjoinedin,echoingeachfamiliarpetition,andfindinginthemthefullutteranceofhis owndeepestneed.

Aslightpauseattheend;andthentheemphatictoneswenton,inwordsequallyfamiliar, declaringthat,"HEpardonethandabsolveth!"SentencebysentencecamesoontheLord's Prayer;theeveningCollects;theGeneralThanksgiving;andtheBlessing.

This,Ivorthought,wastheendoftheirstrangeEvensong—aserviceamidunwonted surroundings,andwithanunwontedaudience.Silencefellupontheicyscene;andhe thankfullyfeltthatithaddonehimgood.Deathindeedmightlieahead;nearathand!But therewasONEWho"pardonethandabsolvethallthemthattrulyrepentandunfeignedly believe!"ThewordsgainedanewpoweranddepthforIvorinthathour

Robhadnotdone.Hisvoicepealedforthanew;andnowinsong.Wordsandtunewere alikewell-known.ButneverbeforehadtheycarriedsuchmeaningtoIvor,aswhenhe heardthemfromthedepthsofhissnow-cavern.

"OGod,ourhelpinagespast,

Ourhopeforyearstocome; Ourshelterfromthestormyblast, AndourEternalHome!"

Nowonder,asverseafterverserangthroughthestillnight-air,androlledoverthesnowy slopes,andechoedfromtherocks,thattheybroughtasoundofhopeandpromiseforthe unfortunateprisonerbelow.Attheend,Ivorhaddifficultyincontrollinghisvoice,toshout ahearty—"Thankyou!"

No,hewouldneverforget!Anexperiencesuchasthisleavesitsstamponamanforlife!

CHAPTER XI

PATRICIA'SAFFAIRS

"ALETTERfromMagda,Ideclare!Again—already!"

Patricialaughed.Shewaslounginggracefullyonalowchair,nearthewindowofagoodsizedfirst-floorbedroom.Outsidelaythatsamemountainamphitheatre,whichhad enchainedthegazeofBeatriceMajorfromtwostoreyshigher.Itdidnotenchainthe forget-me-noteyesofPatriciaVincent—thoseeyeshavingbeenengrossedduringanhour pastwiththelatest"Tauchnitz"novel.

Oppositesatagood-lookingandwell-dressedelderlylady.Shehadinhandsomelight fancy-work,andshecastanoccasionalglance—likeAmySmith—attheview.Herchief desirewastotalk,butPatriciawasnotinthemoodfortalk,preferringhernovel,andthe aunthadtowait.

AnEnglishmaidbroughtinletters;andPatriciaturnedhersover,withtheaboveremark.

"Threewholesheets.Gracious!AndIshallhavetowadethroughthem.Magdaalways findsoutifImissasinglesentence."

"Ithoughtyouheardfromhertwodaysago."

"Well,aboutthat.Thedayherbrotherturnedup.Thisisanother!"Patriciaexhibitedthe trioofsheets,holdingthemup,fan-wise."Shewritesanatrocioushand.Itwillhaveto wait."

"Tillyouhavefinishedyournovel,Isuppose."Mrs.Normanhadbeenresentingherniece's determinedpre-occupationwiththebook.

"TillIhavefinishedmynovel,"assentedPatricia,quiteunderstanding,andnotintheleast disposedtogiveway.Shealwaysexpected,asamatterofcourse,thateverybodyelse shouldgivewaytoher.

"YouandthisMiss—whatisthename?—seemtobegreatfriends.Howlonghaveyou knownher?"

"MagdaRoyston.Oh,about—sinceMarch.SheisyearsyoungerthanIam;butsheadores me."

"Andyouliketobeadored!"Therewasasuspicionofironyintheleveltonesoftheelder lady.Patriciafailedtodetectit;butshecouldalwaystalkofherself,andthesubjectwasof

sufficientinteresttomakeherlaydownthebook.

"Why,yes.Mostpeoplelikeadoration—whentheycangetit,auntJu!Magda'sstateis simplyworshipping!Youknowthesortofthing."

"PerhapsIdo.Andyouarefondofher?"

"Yes,ofcourse."Themannerwasnotenthusiastic."Sheisaniceenoughgirl—inherway. School-girlish!"

"AndthatwasherbrotherwhowasgoinguptheBlümlisalp—theoneyouspoketo!"

PatriciahadtakenMrs.Normansomewhataback,aftertabled'hôte,byaccostingRobas thebrotherofhernewBurwoodfriend.Mrs.Normanheldcertainratherold-fashioned notions,andobjectedtocasualacquaintances.

"Yes.Ihadonlyseenhimoncebefore,inafreezingMarchblizzard;butIlikedhisface then—andtherewasnomistakingit!"

"Wouldyounothavebeenwisertowaitforanintroduction?"

Patriciayawnedgracefullybehindherhand,atthefirstsuspicionoffault-finding;andto yawngracefullyisafeatpossibletofew.Awidely-extendedjawshowsmostfacesattheir worst.

"Peopledon'twaitforintroductionsinforeignhotels."

"Itmightbeaswelliftheydidsometimes.Mrs.Framleyisparticular!"

"AndpracticallyIhadanintroduction,inknowinghissister.IassureyouIameveryinch asparticularasauntAnne.IknowwhatI'mabout,auntJu.TheRoystonsareright enough.OtherwiseIshouldneverhavethoughtofnoticinghim."Patriciaobjectedtothe slightestimplicationthatshehaddonewrongly.

"Andhisfriend?Youmayfindyourselfinforhimalso."

"Idon'tmind.IknowallaboutMr.Ivor.Heisabarrister—oneofthemostpromisingon thebench,theysay anynumberofbriefsalready.Ibelievehehasmoneyofhisown,or elseexpectations—butheworkslikeahorse,andheistremendouslyliked.Andheisa friendofthosedelightfulpeople,theWryattsofWratt-Wrothesley."

"Rye—Ratt—Rott what,mydear?"

"Youmaywellask!Itisamouthfulofaname.Twounmarriedsistersinadearoldcountry house;perfectlycharmingwomen.Idon'tknowthemwell;IwishIdid,foritisanideal housetostayin.Anybodywhogoesthereissuretobeallright.Imetthemonceina house-party,andheardallaboutthem.Grand-daughtersofanEarl,andcousinsofaDuke, andallthatsortofthing."

"Mr.Roystonseemedtoknowthatverysweet-lookinggirlnearlyoppositetous—withthe prettydelicateface,andnicebrowneyes."

"No,hedidn't.Theywerestrangers,onlytheyhappenedtobetogether,andpeopledon't sitmumonthoseoccasions.Ishouldn'thavecalledher'pretty,'exactly!"Patriciaseldom calledanywomanpretty."ButIlikedherlook—ifonlyshehadnotsuchaqueerlittlepiece ofgoodsforhertravelling-companion!"

"Yourfriend,MissRoyston,willbeinterestedtohearthatyouhavemetherbrother."

"Magda!I'mnotsure.Idon'tthinkIshallsayanythingabouthimtillIgetback.Nouseto rousejealousies."

"Surelytherecanbenothinginthatforjealousy."

"Ican'ttell.SheisfranticallyjealousofeverysinglepersonthatIspeakto.Itisgettingto beabore.Shewantstokeepmeasaclosepreserveforherself;andthatisoutofthe question.Thingswerewellenoughforthefirstfewweeks,whenIknewveryfewpeoplein theplace;butI'mgettingfullupnowwithengagements,andIcan'thaveMagda perpetuallyhanginground.However Idon'twanttohurtherfeelings.Iwishgirls wouldn'tbesofrightfullysensitive.ButIlikethatbrotherofhers.There'ssomethingabout himoutofthecommon."

"Clergyman?"

"Curateinsomebigparish.I'mnotsurewhere.SouthLondon,Ibelieve."Patriciabeganto laugh."Magdaravesabouthim.Shehasmadeuphermindtolivewithhiminthefuture— tokeephouse,andworkamongthepoor.AboutasfitforitasourPersiancat!Ineversaw amorerecklesslyuntidyperson—andheistheveryessenceoforderliness.Everyinchof themanshowsit.Ifeverthatplancametopass,shewoulddrivehimdemented.Butof courseitneverwill."

"Mendon'tinvariablymarry."

"Anyhow,Magdawon'tsuithimforahousekeeper."

"Whatisallthestirabout?"Mrs.Normanstooduptolookout.

"OneoftheclimbingpartiescomingbackIshouldimagine.Theyhavebeenawaymuch longerthanwasexpected."Patriciashowedsignsofinterest."Bothpartiestogether yes, therearethetwogirls,andthetwomen.Mr.Ivorseemshardlyabletogetalong.Hemust havehadanaccident."

Sherandownstairs,followedmoredeliberatelybyheraunt.Everybodywashurryingoutto welcomethereturnedclimbers,andtohearthestoryoftheirdoings.

MostofthewayfromtheOeschinenHotel,Ivorhadperforcesubmittedtobecarried,but heinsistedonwalkingintoKandersteg.Itwasasmuchashecoulddo,forhisfoot remainedverypainful;andafewdays'restwouldplainlybenecessarybeforehecouldgo farther

ToBeatricethismadenodifference.SheandAmywereleavingnextmorning;andof coursetheykepttotheirplan.

BeehadseenlittleofIvorduringtheirdescent.Thetwogirlshadbeentogetherinfront; Ivorcomingbehindwiththeguides;Robtakingturnswitheither.Nordidsheseemoreof himthislastevening.Hehadtalkedfreelytoherofhisadventure,bytheOeschinenLake; buthemadenoeffortstobethrownmoreinherpath.

HerecognisedbythistimethefactthathewasverymuchdrawntoBee;thathehad beguntolookuponherasaltogetherdifferentandapartfromothergirls;andhecouldnot forgethowshehadhauntedhisimaginationduringthisterribletimeinthebergshrund.If notyetinlove,hewasfastnearingthatcondition.

Buttwostrongreasonswithheldhimfromimmediateaction.Foronething—shehadsaved hislife;anditwouldnotdotorisklettingherthinkthathesoughtheroutofgratitude.For another—shemustbeawarethathemighthaveoverheardMissSmith'sremarkoutside theHut;andthereagainhesensitivelyfearedthatshewouldperhapsimaginehisconduct tohavebeeninspiredbythosecarelesswords.Hissuitwouldhavetocomefreely, naturally,spontaneously—ifeverhedidseekher.

Ivorputitthuscautiouslytohimself.Then,withaglow,healteredthewords."WhenI seekher—!"hesaid.

ThefarewellbetweenhimselfandBeenextmorningwasentirelysimpleandcommonplace. Beesaidsadlyinhermind—"Imayneverseehimagain!"

AndIvorwentofftohisroomwithabook,whichhefoundsupremelyuninteresting.To makemattersworse,hesawlittleofhishithertoconstantfriend.Forthechangeintheir planswhichcouldmeannothingforBeemeantmuchtoRob,andsomethingtoPatricia. Thetwothereafterwereperpetuallycomingtogether.Theyhadendlesstalks,andRobwas captivated.

Patriciaasusualwelcomedwithwarmthanotherworshipperathershrine.Shelivedfor admiration,andshedidnotknowhowtogetonwithoutit.Withhernumerousdevotees, bothmasculineandfeminine,thequestionmightalwaysbeaskedwhetherwhatshereally caredforwastheperson,ortheperson'sdevotionforherself.Butshecertainlydidlike Rob,andhadlikedhimfromthefirst.Hispersonalitytookmoreholduponherthanwas generallythecase.

Mrs.Normanallowedmatterstodriftforthreeorfourdays,thensuddenlyawoketothe factthatthismightmeansomethingserious.Rob'sabsorptioninherniecewaspatentto themostcasualobserver;andPatriciatooshowedsignsofbeingforoncetouched.Mrs. Normandidnotwishfortheresponsibilityofan"affair,"whilePatriciawaswithher.Mr. Roystonmightbeallthatonecouldwishasaman,butacuratewithoutprivatemeansor prospectswouldhardlymeetwithMrs.Framley'sapproval.Soshepromptlydecidedto moveonelsewhere,andshegaveoutthisintention.

Patriciawasnotgiventosulks,forsulksarenotbecoming;butsheactuallydidtreather aunttosomethingnotfarremovedfromoneofMagda's"Novemberfogs"duringtheweek thatfollowed.Notofcourseinpublic,whereshealwayssmiled,butinprivate.

ForobviousreasonsRobsaidnothingaboutPatricia,whenhewrotetoMagda;andfor reasonsperhapslessobvious,despitewhatshehadsaidtoheraunt,Patriciawasequally silent.Beatricefollowedthesamecourse,simplybecauseshedidnotwrite.Herlastthree letterstoMagdahadhadnoreply;andthoughherswasnotaresentfulnature,andshe wasslowtotakeoffence,shehadresolvedtowaittillsheshouldhear.

VirginiaVilla,inwhichsheandhermotherwouldnowlive,waswithinaquarterofanhour ofMagda'shome.ItwasclearlyforMagdatotakethenextstep.

CHAPTER XII

MAGDAwasunhappy,anddistinctlycross.

Shedidnotwishtobecross,andprobablyshewouldnothavecalledherselfso.Buther worldseemedallawry,andhertempersufferedunderthestrain.Self-controlwasnotone ofMagda'sprimevirtues,asbythistimeyouwillhavefoundout.Itisquitepossiblefora persontofeeldesperatelycross,andyetsotoholddownthefeelingthatnoonecanguess itsexistence.ButifMagdawerecross,allaroundknewit.

Merrylcertainlydid.Shecamein,draggingherstepsinanunwontedfashion,lookingpale andheavy-eyed.Magdawasalone,seatedataside-tableoftheschool-room,withan ostentatiousarrayofgrammarsanddictionaries.SincePatricia'sdepartureforthe Continentshehad,inself-defence,takenviolentlytoFrenchandGerman.

"Please,Magda—"

"Oh,don'tbother.I'mbusy."

"MotherwantsanotetakentoMrs.Hodgson."

"Well,Isupposeyoucantakeit."Merrylwastheacknowledgedfamilymessenger.

"Yes—only—"

"Onlywhat?"

"Ithoughtperhapsyouwould—justforonce."

"Ican't,Merryl.Iwanttogetthistranslationdonebeforelunch."

"Couldn'tyoudoit afterlunch?"

"No,Ican't!"sharply."ImustbicycleoverthentoseeifPatriciaisback."

Merryldidnotgiveupyet."It'ssuchalongway andsohot!"shemurmured.

"Idon'tseethatit'sanyfartherorhotterforyouthanforme!"

"No,"ratherfaintly."Only—ifyoucould—onlyjustthisonce."

"I'vetoldyou—Ican't!That'senough."

Merrylsaidnomore.ShestoodstilllookingatMagda.Thenshedraggedherselfslowly fromtheroom.

Thatwasnotlikeher.Ordinarilyshewasallsunshine,allreadinesstodowhatever anybodywished.Thoughnotobservant,Magdafeltalittleuncomfortable.Itoccurredto herthatthechildmightforoncebetired,andthatshecertainlyoughttooffertogoinher stead.

Insteadofrespondinginstantlytothisinwardsuggestion,shesatstillanddebatedwith herself.Shouldshe?Wasitneedful?Itwouldbesuchabother!Shehadmadeuphermind todoacertainamountthatmorning,andshehatedhavingtochangeherplans.Besides, shefeltcrossanddissatisfied—unhappy,shecalledittoherself anddisinclinedforalong hotbicyclerideinthesun.Suchadullstraightroad.Andalltheotherwayinthe afternoon!ShelikedtheideaquiteaslittleasMerryl.Whyshouldshehavetodoit,and

notMerryl?NothingeverhurtMerryl.Andshecouldn'tputoffgoingtoClaughton.That mustcomefirst—sunornosun,MerrylornoMerryl.

Thetranslationwasatastandstill.Magdaleantbackinherchair,lostinthought. Therewasmorethanonetroubleweighingonhermind.

RobhadwrittenonlyasingleshortletterallthetimehehadbeeninSwitzerland.True,he hadsentashowerofpicture-postcards;butwhatarepicture-postcardswhenonewantsa longdelightfuloutpour?Andsincehisreturnonlyoneplainpostcard!Shefeltdeeply injured.

Worsestill,shehadwrittenfivelongletterstotheadoredPatriciaduringherabsenceon theContinent;andonlyonescribblednotehadcomeinresponse,withalistofplaces visited.ShehadpouredouthersoulforPatricia'sbenefit;givingthebestgoldthatshe had;anditbroughtinexchangeafewcoppers.

Norwasthisall.Threedaysearlier,hearingcasuallythatPatriciawasexpected,shehad bicycledoverbeforehand,toleaveflowersandanenthusiasticnoteofwelcome,imploring toknowhowsoonshemightseeheridol.Noreply,nowordofthanks,hadyetarrived.It mightbethatPatricia'sreturnhadbeendelayed.Shecouldnotpassanothernightnot knowing.

Inadditiontotheseworrieswasanother,yetheavier.TheMajorshadarrived,andhad takenpossessionofVirginiaVilla.Shehadseenvanswithluggagebeforethedoorten daysearlier;andbyreferencetoBee'slastunansweredletter,sheknewthatBeeherself mustnowbethere.

Actioncouldnolongerbeputoff.ShewouldhavetotellhermotherandPenrose.She wouldhavetoaskthemtocall.Shewouldhavetoexplainsomehowwhyshehadkept silencesolong.Howshenowwishedthatshehadbeenbraveandsensible,andhad spokenearlier!Itseemedsosilly,soabsurd,nottohavedoneit—andsounkindtoBee. "Mean!"whisperedasmallaccusingvoiceinherheart.

Itwasmean,andsheknewit.Beehadbeensogoodandtrue,alwayskindandhelpful andreadytotaketrouble—surely,theleastshecoulddonowwastowelcomeherfriend, andnottogivewaytofoolishshame,merelybecausethatfriendlivedinasmalland unimportanthouse.

But—Pen'slittlecontemptuouslaugh!

Ifshecouldnotstandalaughforthesakeofafriend,whatwasherfriendshipworth?And whatwassheworth?"Mean!"whisperedagainthataccusingvoice.

"Ohdear!Iwishtheyhadnevercome!"shesighed.

Buttheyhadcome.Itwassheerwasteoftimetositwishingthatherworldhadbeen ordereddifferently.Thequestionwas—not,howthingsmighthavebeen,buthowshewas goingtomeetthemastheywere?

Glancingoutofthewindow,shesawMerrylbicyclingdowntheroad.Sonowitwastoo latetogoinherstead.Thematterwassettled,andshemightbendherattentiontoher work—thatwork,forthesakeofwhich,ostensibly,shehadrefusedtodoalittlekindness. Butthewanderingattentionfailedtobebent.Shehadbeenbeateninonerespect,and nowshewasbeateninanother.TheGermantranslationmadenofurtheradvance;and

whenthegongsoundedforluncheon,shewasstillmoodilynursinghergrievances,still debatingwithherselfwhattodoabouttheMajors—whethertoputoff,whethertospeak, andifshedidspeak,whattosay

Atluncheonshewastobetakenbysurprise—asoneisapttobe,ifonedriftsalong, waitingforcircumstancestodecideone'saction,insteadofsimplyresolvingtodowhatis right.

Merryldidnotappear.ShehadbeensomedistancetotakeanoteforMrs.Royston,the lattersaidregretfully,andhadnotsaidthatshewasnotwell;andtheheathadupsether Shewaslyingdownupstairs.Mr.Roystonwasverymuchdisturbed.Heglaredround angrily,andaskedwhyonearthsomebodyelsehadn'tgone?Itwastoobad!Theyall madearegularCinderellaofMerryl,andnobodyevergaveathoughttohispoorlittlegirl. WhatwasMagdaaboutnottodoit,hewantedtoknow?Heattackedthecoldjoint savagely,castingindignantglances.

Magdafeltguiltyandlookedinjured.

Pentriedtomakeadiversion."IseethatVirginiaVillaistaken,"sheunexpectedly remarked."Peoplearearrivingthere."

"Oh,eversolongago,"pipedFrip'slittlesoprano."Thereweretwowholewaggonsthere, andanothernextday.And,oh,suchafunnylady,mummie—dressedallanyhow.She'dgot asortofbigapron-pinaforealloverherfrock,andshestoodoutsidethedoorinitgiving orders.Andshespokeinasortofslowway,andmadethemenhurry,andtoldthemjust exactlywhereeverysinglethingwastogo.Shewasfunny."

Magdawrithedinternally.

"AndtheVicaragegardenerwasgoingby,justwhentheyweregettingthefurnituredown, andtheycouldn'tmanagethepianoright.Andshesaidtohim—'Willyougiveahelping hand,myman?'Johndiditdirectly,andhedidn'tseemtomind.Butitwasfunnyofher, wasn'tit?Andtherewasoneofthosewickerthings,likewhatPenhangsherskirtonwhen she'smakingone."

"Anotherdressmaker,Isuppose,"Penremarked."Ionlyhopeshewillbeasgoodasthe last.Suchapityshemarriedandwentaway.Ialwayslikedherstyle.Iwonderifthisone willhaveanystyle."

Mrs.Roystonhalfsmiled."JudgingfromFrip'sdescriptionofherdress,thatisdoubtful."

"Anyplatewithanameonthedoor,Frip?"

Fripshookawiselittlehead."Ididn'tseeone,butshemightn'thavehadtimetoputitup yet,mightshe?"

Magdasaidnothing.Shefeltthatshecouldsaynothing.Notatalleventsjustthen.She wishedwithallherheartthatshehadspokenoutsooner.Now—howcouldshe?Tohave herfriend'smothertakenforadressmaker!Itwashopeless!

Luncheonended,shefeltscaredandunhappy.ThethoughtofMerrylwentoutofherhead. Shewasbewildered,andperplexedwhatlinetofollow.

Claughtonhadtocomefirst.Uponthatpointshewasresolute.Nothingandnobodymight interferewithit.Butwhenshehadbeen,whenshehadasshehopedseenPatricia,then nodoubtitwouldbewisetogoandseeBee.Ifshedidnotcallsoon,whocouldsay