d, leaning a trifle crookedly over the
arm of the bench in that weary movement which the first moment of death
brings to man, before its chill severity comes. The sun was already
low, bathing the mute figure in ruddy light, a gentle zephyr stirred a
gray tuft of hair on the pale temple, and the big fly flew back again
with a buzz past the white nose, motionless now. Round about, the ripe
fruit fell heavily upon the turf, making the whir of the field-crickets
cease for a moment. But yonder under the pear-tree sat Billy, looking
into the evening sun with feverishly shining eyes, and still smiling
her expectant, longing smile.

THOMAS MANN

* * * * * *

TONIO KROeGER (1902)

TRANSLATED BY BAYARD QUINCY MORGAN, PH.D.
Assistant Professor of German, University of Wisconsin

The winter sun, only a poor make-believe, hung milky pale behind
cloud strata above the cramped city. Wet and draughty were the
gable-fringed streets, and now and then there fell a sort of soft hail,
not ice and not snow.

School was out. Over the paved yard and from out the barred portal
streamed the throngs of the liberated. Big boys dignifiedly held their
books tightly under their left armpits, while their right arms rowed
them against the wind toward the noon meal; little fellows set off on a
merry canter, so that the icy slush spattered, and the traps of Science
rattled in their knapsacks of seal leather. But here and there all caps
flew off, and a score of reverent eyes did homage to the hat of Odin
and the beard of Jove--on some senior teacher striding along with
measured step ...

"Is it you at last, Hans?" said Tonio Kroeger, who had long been waiting
on the drive; and with a smile he stepped up to his friend, who was
just coming out of the gate in conversation with other comrades, and
who was on the point of going off with them.

"What is it?" asked the latter, looking at Tonio;--"Oh yes, that's so;
well, let's take a little walk, then."

Tonio was silent, and his eyes grew sad. Had Hans forgotten, not to
think of it again until this minute, that they were going to walk a bit
together this noon? And he himself had been looking forward to it
almost uninterruptedly since the plan was made.

"Well, so long, fellows," said Hans Hansen to his comrades. "I'm going
to take a little walk with Kroeger." And they turned to the l