we two-第91章

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ter；　but　neither　of　these　were　very　serviceable　articles　to　a　person　bereft　of　every　toilet　requisite。

〃I　shall　have　to　lie　down　tonight　like　a　dog；　and　get　up　in　the　morning；　and　shake　myself；〃　she　said；　laughing。

And　probably　a　good　many　people　in　Innsbruck　were　that　evening　in　like　case。

Notwithstanding　the　discomforts；　however；　and　the　past　excitement；　that　was　the　first　night　in　which　Erica　had　really　slept　since　the　day　at　Fiesole；　the　first　night　unbroken　by　dreams　about　Brian；　unhaunted　by　that　blanched；　rigid　face；　which　had　stamped　its　image　indelibly　upon　her　brain　in　the　amphitheatre。　　She　awoke；　too；　without　that　almost　intolerable　dread　of　the　coming　day　which　had　hitherto　made　early　morning　hateful　to　her。　　It　was　everything　to　have　an　actual　and　practicable　duty　ready　to　hand；　everything　to　have　a　busy　present　which　would　crowd　out　past　and　future；　if　only　for　a　few　hours。　　Also；　the　disaster　had　its　comic　side。　　Through　the　thin　partition　she　could　hear　distinctly　the　complaints　of　the　people　in　the　next　room。

〃How　ARE　we　to　get　on　with　no　soap？　　Do　go　and　see　if　James　has　any。〃

Then　came　steps　in　the　passage；　and　a　loud　knock　at　the　opposite　door。

〃James！〃

No　answer。　　A　furiously　loud　second　knock。

〃JAMES！〃

〃What's　the　matter？　　Another　fire？〃

〃Have　you　any　soap？〃

〃Any　what？〃　sleepily。

〃Any　SOAP？〃

Apparently　James　was　not　the　happy　possessor　of　that　necessary　of　life　for　the　steps　retreated；　and　the　bell　was　violently　rung。

〃'What；　no　soap？'〃　exclaimed　Erica；　laughing；　〃'so　he　died；　and　she　very　imprudently　married　the　barber；　etc。'〃

The　chamber　maid　came　to　answer　the　bell。

〃Send　some　one　to　the　nearest　shop；　please；　and　get　me　some　soap。〃

〃And　a　sponge；〃　said　another。

〃And　a　brush　and　comb；〃　said　the　first。

〃Oh！　And　some　hair　pins；〃　echoed　the　other。　　〃Why；　destruction！　　She　doesn't　understand　a　word！　　What's　the　German　for　soap？　Give　me　'Travel　Talk。'〃

〃It's　burned。〃

〃Well；　then；　show　her　the　soap　dish！　　Brush　your　hair　with　your　hands！　　This　is　something　between　Drum　Crambo　and　Mulberry　Bush！〃

The　whole　day　was　not　unlike　a　fatiguing　game　of　hide…and…seek；　and　had　it　not　been　for　Raeburn's　great　anxiety；　it　would　have　been　exceedingly　amusing。　　Everything　was　now　inside　the　hotel　again；　but　of　course　in　the　wildest　confusion。　　The　personal　property　of　the　visitors　was　placed；　as　it　came　to　light；　in　the　hall　porter's　little　room；　but　things　were　to　be　met　with　in　all　directions。　　At　ten　o'clock；　one　of　Raeburn's　boots　was　found　on　the　third　story；　in　the　evening；　its　fellow　turned　up　in　the　entrance　hall。　　Distracted　tourists　were　to　be　seen　in　all　directions；　burrowing　under　heaps　of　clothes；　or　vainly　opening　cupboards　and　drawers；　and　the　delight　of　finding　even　the　most　trifling　possession　was　great。　　For　hours　Raeburn　and　Erica　searched　for　the　lost　papers　in　vain。　　At　length；　in　the　evening；　the　coat　was　found；　but；　alas！　The　pocket　was　empty。

〃The　envelope　must　have　been　taken　out；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Was　it　directed？〃

〃Unfortunately；　yes；〃　said　Raeburn。　　〃But；　after　all；　there　is　still　a　chance　that　it　may　have　tumbled　out　as　the　coat　fell。　　If　so；　we　may　find　it　elsewhere。　　I've　great　faith　in　the　honesty　of　these　Innsbruck　people；　notwithstanding　the　craze　of　some　of　them　that　property　is　theft。　　That　worthy　man　yesterday　was　right；　I　expect。　　I　hear　that　the　proprietor　had　had　a　threatening　letter　not　long　ago　to　this　effect：

〃'Sein　thun　unser　Dreissig；　Schuren　thun　wir　fleissig。　Dem　Armen　that's　nichts　Dem　Reichen　schad's　nichts。

That　is　tolerably　unmistakable；　I　think。　　I'll　have　it　in　next　week's　'Idol；'　with　an　article　on　the　folly　of　socialism。〃

Judicious　offers　of　reward　failed　to　bring　the　papers　to　light；　and　Raeburn　was　so　much　vexed　about　it；　and　so　determined　to　search　every　nook　and　cranny　of　the　hotel；　that　it　was　hard　to　get　him　away　even　for　meals。　　Erica　could　not　help　feeling　that　it　was　hard　that　the　brief　days　of　relaxation　he　had　allowed　himself　should　be　so　entirely　spoiled。

〃Now；　if　I　were　a　model　daughter；　I　should　dream　where　to　find　the　thing；〃　she　said；　laughingly；　as　she　wished　him　good　night。

She　did　not　dream　at　all；　but　she　was　up　as　soon　as　it　was　light；　searching　once　more　with　minute　faithfulness　in　every　part　of　the　hotel。　　At　length　she　came　to　a　room　piled　from　floor　to　ceiling　with　linen；　blankets；　and　coverlets。

〃Have　all　these　been　shaken？〃　she　asked　of　the　maid　servant　who　had　been　helping　her。

〃Well；　not　shaken；　I　think；〃　owned　the　servant。　　〃We　were　in　a　hurry；　you　see；　but　they　are　all　fresh　folded。〃

〃It　might　have　slipped　into　one　of　them；〃　said　Erica。　　〃Help　me　to　shake　every　one　of　these；　and　I　will　give　you　two　gulden。〃

It　was　hard　work；　and　somewhat　hopeless　work；　but　Erica　set　about　it　with　all　the　earnestness　and　thoroughness　of　her　Raeburn　nature；　and　at　length　came　her　reward。　　At　the　very　bottom　of　the　huge　pile　they　came　to　a　counterpane；　and；　as　they　opened　it；　out　fell　the　large；　thick　envelope　directed　to　Herr　Hasenbalg。　　With　a　cry　of　joy；　Erica　snatched　it　up；　pressed　double　the　reward　into　the　hands　of　the　delighted　servant；　and　flew　in　search　of　her　father。　　She　found　him　groping　in　a　great　heap　of　miscellaneous　goods　in　the　porter's　room。

〃I've　found　my　razors；〃　he　said；　looking　up；　〃and　every　twopenny…halfpenny　thing　out　of　my　traveling　bag；　but　the　papers；　of　course；　are　nowhere。〃

〃What's　your　definition　of　'nowhere'？〃　asked　Erica；　laughingly　covering　his　eyes　while　she　slipped　the　envelope　into　his　hand。

His　look　of　relief　made　her　happier　than　she　had　been　for　days。　　He　stood　up　quickly；　and　turned　the　envelope　over　to　see　that　it　had　not　been　tampered　with。

〃This　is　my　definition　of　a　dear；　good　bairn；〃　he　said；　putting　his　hand　on　her　head。　　〃You　have　taken　a　hundred…weight　off　my　heart；　Eric。　　Where　did　you　find　it？〃

She　described　her　search　to　him。

〃Well；　now；　nothing　will　satisfy　me　but　a　mountain；〃　said　Raeburn。　　〃Are　you　too　tired？　　We　could　have　a　good　climb　before　dinner。〃

〃Oh；　let　us！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　have　had　such　a　longing　to　get　nearer　the　snow。〃

Each　felt　that　the　holiday　had　now　begun。　　They　threw　care　to　the　winds；　and　gave　themselves　up　altogether　to　the　enjoyment　of　the　loveliest　walk　they　had　ever　taken。　　Crossing　the　Kreuzer　bridge；　they　made　their　way　past　little　wooden　chalets；　through　groves　of　oak　where　the　sunlight　came　flickering　in　between　the　leaves；　through　pine　woods　whose　long　vistas　were　solemn　as　cathedral　aisles；　until　at　last　they　gained　the　summit　of　the　lower　range　of　hills；　from　which　was　a　glorious　view　on　every　hand。　　Down　below　lay　the　little　town　which　would　be　forever　memorable　to　them；　while　above　them　rose　the　grand　chain　of　snowy　mountains　which　still　seemed　as　lofty　and　unapproachable　as　ever；　though　they　themselves　were　on　high　ground。　　Soft　and　velvety　and　green　lay　that　great　upward　sweep　in　the　sunshine；　shaded　in　some　places　by　a　dark　patch　of　pines；　or　gleaming　with　a　heap　of　fallen　snow。　　Here　and　there　some　deep　rugged　cleft　would　be　filled　from　top　to　bottom　with　the　gleaming　whiteness；　while　above；　crowning　the　steep　and　barren　height；　the　snow　reigned　supreme；　unmelted　as　yet　even　by　the　hot　May　sun。

And　Erica　was；　in　spite　of　her　sorrow；　unfeignedly　happy。　She　could　not　be　sad　when　her　father　was　so　thoroughly　enjoying　himself；　when　for　once　he　was　altogether　removed　from　the　baleful　influences　of　hatred；　malice；　and　all　uncharitableness。　　Here　instead　of　sweeping　denunciations；　which　invariably　drove　him；　as　they　drove　even　the　patient　Job；　　to　an　assertion　of　his　own　righteousness　there　was　the　silent　yet　most　real　teaching　of　Nature；　and　he　must　be　a　small…souled　　man；　indeed；　who；　in　the　presence　of　grand　mountain　scenery；　can　not　forget　his　own　personality；　realizing　the　infinite　beauty　and　the　unspeakable　greatness　of　nature。　　Erica's　father　was　unquestionably　a　large…souled　man；　in　every　sense　of　the　word；　a　great　man；　but　the　best　man　in　the　world　is　to　a　great　extent　dependent　on　circumstance；　and　the　circumstances　of　Raeburn's　life　had　been　exceptionally　hard。　　Only　two　things　on　earth　acted　as　a　check　upon　the　one　great　fault　which　marred　an　otherwi