race yourself."

With those horrible words--put into her mouth, beyond all doubt by the
woman who had interfered between us--she left me. The long hours of the
day passed: I saw her no more.

People who are unable to imagine what I suffered, are not the people to
whom I now address myself. After all the years that have passed--after
age and contact with the world have hardened me--it is still a trial to
my self-control to look back to that day. Events I can remember with
composure. To events, therefore, let me return.

No communication of any sort reached us from the Cur. Towards evening, I
saw him pacing up and down on the road before the cottage, and speaking
to his new servant. The man (listening attentively) had the master's book
of leaves in his hand, and wrote in it from time to time as replies were
wanted from him. He was probably receiving instructions. The Cur's
discretion was a bad sign. I should have felt more at ease, if he had
tried to annoy Cristel, or to insult me.

Towards bedtime, old Toller's sense of hospitality exhibited marked
improvement. He was honored and happy to have me under his poor roof--a
roof, by the way, which was also in need of repairs--but he protested
against my encountering the needless hardship of sleeping in a chair,
when a bed could be set up for me in the counting-house. "Not what you're
used to, Mr. Gerard. Empty barrels, and samples of flour, and
account-books smelling strong of leather, instead of velvet curtains and
painted ceilings; but better than a chair, sir--better than a chair!"

I was as obstinate as ever. With thanks, I insisted on the chair.

Feverish, anxious, oppressed in my breathing--with nerves unstrung, as a
doctor would have put it--I disturbed the order of the household towards
twelve o'clock by interfering with old Toller in the act of locking up
the house-door.

"Let me get a breath of fresh air," I said to him, "or there will be no
sleep for me to-night."

He opened the door with a resignation to circumstances, so exemplary that
it claimed some return. I promised to be back in a quarter of an hour.
Old Toller stifled a yawn. "I call that truly considerate," he said--and
stifled another yawn. Dear old man!

Stepping into the road, I first examined the Cur's part of the cottage.
Not a sound was audible inside; not a creature was visible outside. The
usual dim light was burning behind the window that looked out on the
road. Nothing, absolutely nothi