we two-第65章

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stice　he　had　had　to　fight　against。　　Upon　this　side　of　the　question　they　just　turned　their　backs；　pooh…poohed　it；　or；　when　it　was　forced　upon　their　notice；　said　（unanswerable　argument！）：　〃It　wouldn't　be　so！〃

When；　as　they　were　making　the　descent；　Erica　found　the　strong　hand　stretched　out　for　hers　the　moment　the　way　grew　dark；　when　she　was　warned　of　the　slightest　difficulty　by；　〃Take　care；　little　one；　a　narrow　step；〃　or；　〃'Tis　rather　broken　here；〃　she　almost　trembled　to　think　that；　in　spite　of　all　her　efforts；　he　might　have　learned　how　matters　really　were。　　But　by　and　by　his　serenity　reassured　her；　had　he　thought　that　she　was　in　trouble　his　face　would　not　have　been　so　cloudless。

And　in　truth　Raeburn；　spite　of　his　keen　observation；　never　thought　for　a　moment　of　the　true　state　of　the　case。　　He　was　a　very　literal　unimaginative　man；　and　having　once　learned　to　regard　Brian　as　an　old　family　friend　and　as　his　doctor；　he　never　dreamed　of　regarding　him　in　the　light　of　his　daughter's　lover。　　Also；　as　is　not　unfrequently　the　case　when　a　man　has　only　one　child；　he　never　could　take　in　the　fact　that　she　was　quite　grown　up。　　Even　when　he　read　her　articles　in　the　〃Daily　Review；〃　or　discussed　the　most　weighty　topics　with　her；　she　was　always　〃little　son　Eric；〃　or　his　〃little　one。〃　　And　Erica's　unquenchable　high　spirits　served　to　keep　up　the　delusion。　　She　would　as　often　as　not　end　a　conversation　on　Darwinism　by　a　romp　with　Friskarina；　or　write　a　very　thoughtful　article　on　〃Scrutin　de　Liste；〃　and　then　spring　up　from　her　desk　and　play　like　any　child　with　an　India…rubber　ball　nominally　kept　for　children　visitors。

She　managed　to　tide　over　those　days　bravely　and　even　cheerfully　for　her　father's　sake。　　It　was　easier　when　they　had　left　Florence　with　its　overbright　and　oversad　memories。　　Peaceful　old　Verona　was　more　in　accordance　with　her　state　of　mind；　and　from　thence　they　went　to　Trento；　and　over　the　Brenner；　passing　Botzen　and　Brixen　in　their　lovely　valley；　gaining　a　brief　glimpse　of　the　spire…like　Dolomito；　and　gradually　ascending　the　pass；　leaving　the　river　and　its　yellow　reeds；　and　passing　through　the　rich　pasture　land　where　the　fields　were　bright　with　buttercups　and　daisies　gold　and　silver　of　the　people's　property　as　Raeburn　called　them。　　Then　on　once　more　between　crimson　and　purple　porphyry　mountains；　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　snowy　mountain　peaks；　and　at　last；　as　the　day　drew　to　an　end；　they　descended　again；　and　saw　down　below　them　in　the　loveliest　of　valleys　a　little　town；　its　white　houses　suffused　by　a　crimson　sunset　glow。

〃Innsbruck；　madame；　Innsbruck！〃　said　a　fat　old　Tyrolean　man　who　had　been　showing　them　all　the　beauties　of　his　beloved　country　throughout　the　journey。

And；　though　nothing　could　ever　again　have　for　Erica　the　sweet　glamour　of　an　Italian　city；　yet　she　was　glad　now　to　have　seen　the　last　of　that　sunny　land；　and　welcomed　the　homely　little　place　with　its　matter…of…fact　houses　and　prosperous　comfort。　　She　felt　somehow　that　it　would　be　easier　to　endure　now　that　she　was　fairly　out　of　Italy。

The　day　after　their　arrival　at　Innsbruck　was　Sunday。　　There　was　no　English　service　as　yet　for　the　season　had　not　begun；　but　Erica　went　to　the　little　Lutheran　church；　and　Raeburn；　who　had　never　been　to　a　Lutheran　service；　went　with　her　for　the　sake　of　studying　the　congregation；　the　preacher；　and　the　doctrine。　　Also；　perhaps；　because　he　did　not　want　her　to　feel　lonely　in　a　foreign　place。

All　her　life　long　Erica　remembered　that　Sunday。　　The　peaceful　little　church　with　its　high　pews；　where　they　sat　to　sing　and　stood　to　pray；　the　homely　German　pastor　with　his　plain　yet　forcible　sermon　on　〃Das　Gebet；〃：　the　restful　feeling　of　unity　which　so　infinitely　outweighed　all　the　trifling　differences；　and　the　comfort　of　the　sweet　old　German　chorales。　　The　words　of　one　of　them　lingered　always　in　her　memory。

〃Fuhlt　Seel　und　Leib　ein　Wohl　ergehen　So　treib　es　mich　zum　Dank　dafur；　Last　du　mich　deine　Werke　sehen；　So　sey　mein　Ruhmen　stets　von　dir；　Und　find　ich　in　der　Welt　nicht　Ruh；　So　steig　mein　Schmen　Hinmel　zu。〃

After　the　service　was　ended；　they　wandered　out　into　the　public　gardens　where　birds　were　singing　round　the　statue　of　Walter　von　der　Vogelveice；　and　a　sparrow；　to　Erica's　great　delight；　perched　on　his　very　shoulder。　　Then　they　left　the　town　altogether　and　roamed　out　into　the　open　country；　crossing　the　river　by　a　long　and　curiously　constructed　plank　bridge；　and　sauntering　along　the　valley　beneath　the　snowy　mountains；　the　river　flowing　smoothly　onward；　the　birds　singing；　and　a　paradise　of　flowers　on　every　side。　　It　was　quite　the　hottest　day　they　had　had；　and　they　were　not　sorry　to　rest　in　the　first　shady　place　they　came　to。

〃This　is　the　right　way　to　take　pleasure；〃　said　Raeburn；　enjoying　as　only　an　ardent　lover　of　Nature　can　enjoy　a　mountain　view。　　〃Brief　snatches　in　between　hard　work。　　More　than　that　is　hardly　admissible　in　such　times　as　ours。〃　　His　words　seemed　to　them　prophetic　later　on　for　their　pleasure　was　destined　to　be　even　briefer　than　they　had　anticipated。　　The　hotel　at　which　they　were　staying　was　being　painted；　Erica　had　a　room　on　the　second　floor；　but　Raeburn　had　been　put　at　the　top　of　the　house。　　They　had　just　returned　from　a　long　drive　and　were　quietly　sitting　in　Erica's　room　writing　letters；　thinking　every　moment　that　the　gong　would　sound　for　the　six…o'clock　TABLE　D'HOTE；　when　a　sound　of　many　voices　outside　made　Raeburn　look　up。　　He　went　to　the　window。

〃Haloo！　　A　fire　engine！〃　he　exclaimed。

Erica　hastily　joined　him；　a　crowd　was　gathering　beneath　the　window；　shouting；　waving；　gesticulating。

〃Why；　they　are　pointing　up　here！〃　cried　Erica。　　〃The　fire　must　be　here！〃

She　rushed　across　the　room　and　opened　the　door；　the　whole　place　was　in　an　uproar；　people　rushing　to　and　fro；　cries　of　〃FEUER！　　FEUER！〃　a　waiter　with　scared　face　hurrying　from　room　to　room　with　the　announcement　in　broken　English；　〃The　hotel　is　on　fire！〃　or；　sometimes　in　his　haste　and　confusion；　〃The　fire　is　on　hotel！〃　　For　a　moment　Erica's　heart　stood　still；　the　very　vagueness　of　the　terror；　the　uncertainty　as　to　the　extent　of　the　danger　or　the　possibility　of　escape；　was　paralyzing。　　Then　with　the　natural　instinct　of　a　book　lover　she　hastily　picked　up　two　or　three　volumes　from　the　table　and　begged　her　father　to　come。　　He　made　her　put　on　her　hat　and　cloak；　and　shouldering　her　portmanteau；　led　the　way　through　the　corridors　and　down　the　staircase；　steadily　forcing　a　passage　through　the　confused　and　terrified　people；　and　never　pausing　for　an　instant；　not　even　asking　the　whereabouts　of　the　fire；　till　he　had　got　Erica　safely　out　into　the　little　platz　and　had　set　down　her　portmanteau　under　one　of　the　trees。

They　looked　up　then　and　saw　that　the　whole　of　the　roof　and　the　attics　of　the　hotel　were　blazing。　　Raeburn's　room　was　immediately　below　and　was　in　great　danger。　　A　sudden　thought　seemed　to　occur　to　him；　a　look　of　dismay　crossed　his　face；　he　felt　hurriedly　in　his　pocket。

〃Where　did　I　change　my　coat；　Erica？〃　he　asked。

〃You　went　up　to　your　room　to　change　it　just　before　the　drive；〃　she　replied。

〃Then；　by　all　that's　unlucky；　I've　left　in　it　those　papers　for　Hasenbalg！　　Wait　here；　I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃

He　hurried　off；　looking　more　anxious　than　Erica　had　ever　seen　him　look　before。　　The　papers　which　he　had　been　asked　to　deliver　to　Herr　Hasenbalg　in　no　way　concerned　him；　but　they　had　been　intrusted　to　his　care　and　were；　therefore；　of　course　more　to　be　considered　than　the　most　valuable　private　property。　　Much　hindered　by　the　crowd　and　by　the　fire　engine　itself　which　had　been　moved　into　the　entrance　hall；　he　at　length　succeeded　in　fighting　his　way　past　an　unceasing　procession　of　furniture　which　was　being　rescued　from　the　flames；　and　pushing　his　way　up　the　stairs；　　had　almost　gained　his　room　when　a　pitiful　cry　reached　his　ears。　　It　was　impossible　to　a　man　of　Raeburn's　nature　not　to　turn　aside；　the　political　dispatches　might　be　very　important；　but　a　deserted　child　in　a　burning　house　outweighed　all　other　considerations。　　He　threw　open　the　door　of　the　room　whence　the　cry　had　come；　the　scaffolding　outside　had　caught　fire；　and　the　flames　were　darting　in　at　the　window。　　Sitting　up　in　a　little　wooden　cot　was　a　child　of　two　or　three　years　old；　his　baby　face　wild　with　fright。

〃Poor　bairn！〃　exclaimed　Raeburn；　taking　him　in　his　strong　arms。　　〃Have　they　forgotten　you？〃

The　child　was　German　and　did　not　understand　a　word；　but　it　knew　in　a　moment　that　this　man；　so　like　a　fairy…tale　giant；　was　a　rescuer。

〃Guter　Riese！〃　it　sobbed；　appealingly。

The　〃good　giant〃　snatched　a　blanket　from　the　cot；　rolled　it　round　the　shivering　little　bit　of　humanity；　and　carried　him　down　into　the　platz。

〃Keep　this　bairnie　till　his　belongings　claim　him；〃　he　said；　putting　his　charge　into　Erica's　arms。　　And　then　he　hurried　back　again；　once　more　ran　the　gantlet　of　the　descending　wardrobes　and　bedsteads；　and　at　last　reached　his　room。　　It　was　bare　of　all　furniture；　the　lighter　things　his　coat　among　them　had　been　thrown　out　of　the　window；　the　more　solid　things　had　been　carried　down　stairs。　　He　stood　there　baffled　and　for　once　in　his　life　bewildered。

Half…choked　with　the　smoke；　he　crossed　the　room　and　looked　out　of　the　window；　the　hot　breath　of　the　flames　from　the　scaffolding　scorching　his　face。　　But　looking　through　that　frame　of　fire；　he　saw　that　a　cordon　had　been　drawn　round　the　indiscriminate　piles　of　rescued　property；　that　the　military　had　been　called　out；　and　that　the　most　perfect　order　prevailed。　　There　was　still　a　chance　that　he　might　recover　the　lost　papers！　　Then；　as　there　was　no　knowing　that　the　roof　would　not　fall　in　and　crush　him；　he　made　the　best　of　his　way　down　again　among　the　still　flowing　stream　of　furniture。

An　immense　crowd　had　gathered　in　the　square　outside；　the　awe…struck　murmurs　and　exclamations　sounded　like　the　roar　of　distant　thunder；　and　the　shouts　of　〃WASSER！　　WASSER！〃　alternated　with　the　winding　of　bugles　as　the　soldiers　moved　now　in　one　direction；　now　in　another；　their　bright　uniforms　and　the　shining　helmets　of　the　fire　brigade　men　flashing　hither　and　thither　among　the　dark　mass　of　spectators。　　Overhead　the　flames　raged　while　the　wind　blew　down　bits　of　burning　tinder　upon　the　crowd。　　Erica；　wedged　in　among　the　friendly　Tyrolese　people；　watched　anxiously　for　her　father；　not　quite　able　to　believe　his　assurance　that　there　was　no　danger。　　When　at　length　she　saw　the　tall　commanding　figure　emerge　from　the　burning　hotel；　the　white　head　towering　over　the　crowd；　her　heart　gave　a　great　bound　of　relief。　　But　she　saw　in　a　moment　that　he　had　been　unsuccessful。

〃It　must　have　been　thrown　out　of　the　window；〃　he　said；　elbowing　his　way　up　to　her。　　〃The　room　was　quite　bare；　carpet　and　all　gone；　nothing　to　be　found　but　these　valuables；〃　and　with　a　smile；　he　held　up　the　last　number　of　the　〃Idol…Breaker；〃　and　a　tooth　brush。

〃They　are　taking　great　care　of　the　things；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Perhaps　we　shall　find　it　by　and　by。〃

〃We　must　find　it；〃　said　Raeburn；　his　lips　forming　into　the　curve　of　resoluteness　which　they　were　wont　to　assume　when　any　difficulty　arose　to　be　grappled　with。　　〃What　has　become　of　the　bairn？〃

〃A　nurse　came　up　and　claimed　it　and　was　overwhelmingly　grateful　to　you　for　your　rescue。　　She　had　put　the　child　to　bed　early　and　had　gone　for　a　walk　in　the　gardens。　　Oh；　look；　how