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lane that led to the Riverside Road。 Max; unaware of her reason
for choosing the longest way home; remonstrated by halting in the
middle of the lane; wagging his tail rapidly; and uttering gruff
barks。

〃Don't be stupid; sir;〃 said Gertrude impatiently。 〃I am going
this way。〃

Max; apparently understanding; rushed after her; passed her; and
disappeared in a cloud of dust raised by his effort to check
himself when he had left her far enough behind。 When he came back
she kissed his nose; and ran a race with him until she too was
panting; and had to stand still to recover her breath; whilst he
bounded about; barking ferociously。 She had not for many years
enjoyed such a frolic; and the thought of this presently brought
tears to her eyes。 Rather peevishly she bade Max be quiet; walked
slowly to cool herself; and put up her sunshade to avert
freckles。

The sun was now at the meridian。 On a slope to Gertrude's right
hand; Sallust's House; with its cinnamon…colored walls and yellow
frieze; gave a foreign air to the otherwise very English
landscape。 She passed by without remembering who lived there。
Further down; on some waste land separated from the road by a dry
ditch and a low mud wall; a cluster of hemlocks; nearly six feet
high; poisoned the air with their odor。 She crossed the ditch;
took a pair of gardening gloves from her plaited straw
hand…basket; and busied herself with the hemlock leaves; pulling
the tender ones; separating them from the stalk; and filling the
basket with the web。 She forgot Max until an impression of dead
silence; as if the earth had stopped; caused her to look round in
vague dread。 Trefusis; with his hand abandoned to the dog; who
was trying how much of it he could cram into his mouth; was
standing within a few yards of her; watching her intently。
Gertrude turned pale; and came out hastily from among the bushes。
Then she had a strange sensation as if something had happened
high above her head。 There was a threatening growl; a commanding
exclamation; and an unaccountable pause; at the expiration of
which she found herself supine on the sward; with her parasol
between her eyes and the sun。 A sudden scoop of Max's wet warm
tongue in her right ear startled her into activity。 She sat up;
and saw Trefusis on his knees at her side holding the parasol
with an unconcerned expression; whilst Max was snuffing at her in
restless anxiety opposite。

〃I must go home;〃 she said。 〃I must go home instantly。〃

〃Not at all;〃 said Trefusis; soothingly。 〃They have just sent
word to say that everything is settled satisfactorily and that
you need not come。〃

〃Have they?〃 she said faintly。 Then she lay down again; and it
seemed to her that a very long time elapsed。 Suddenly
recollecting that Trefusis had supported her gently with his hand
to prevent her falling back too rudely; she rose again; and this
time got upon her feet with his help。

〃I must go home;〃 she said again。 〃It is a matter of life or
death。〃

〃No; no;〃 he said softly。 〃It is all right。 You may depend on
me。〃

She looked at him earnestly。 He had taken her hand to steady her;
for she was swaying a little。 〃Are you sure;〃 she said; grasping
his arm。 〃Are you quite sure?〃

〃Absolutely certain。 You know I am always right; do you not?〃

〃Yes; oh; yes; you have always been true to me。 You〃 Here her
senses came back with a rush。 Dropping his hand as if it had
become red hot; she said sharply; 〃What are you talking about?〃

〃I don't know;〃 he said; resuming his indifferent manner with a
laugh。 〃Are you better? Let me drive you to the Beeches。 My
stable is within a stone's throw; I can get a trap out in ten
minutes。〃

〃No; thank you;〃 said Gertrude haughtily。 〃I do not wish to
drive。〃 She paused; and added in some bewilderment; 〃What has
happened?〃

〃You fainted; and〃

〃I did not faint;〃 said Gertrude indignantly。 〃I never fainted in
my life。〃

〃Yes; you did。〃

〃Pardon me; Mr。 Trefusis。 I did not。〃

〃You shall judge for yourself。 I was coming through this field
when I saw you gathering hemlock。 Hemlock is interesting on
account of Socrates; and you were interesting as a young lady
gathering poison。 So I stopped to look on。 Presently you came out
from among the bushes as if you had seen a snake there。 Then you
fell into my armswhich led me to suppose that you had
faintedand Max; concluding that it was all my fault; nearly
sprang at my throat。 You were overpowered by the scent of the
water…hemlock; which you must have been inhaling for ten minutes
or more。〃

〃I did not know that there was any danger;〃 said Gertrude;
crestfallen。 〃I felt very tired when I came to。 That was why I
lay so long the second time。 I really could not help it。〃

〃You did not lie very long。〃

〃Not when I first fell; that was only a few seconds; I know。 But
I must have lain there nearly ten minutes after I recovered。〃

〃You were nearly a minute insensible when you first fell; and
when you recovered you only rested for about one second。 After
that you raved; and I invented suitable answers until you
suddenly asked me what I was talking about。〃

Gertrude reddened a little as the possibility of her having raved
indiscreetly occurred to her。 〃It was very silly of me to faint;〃
she said。

〃You could not help it; you are only human。 I shall walk with you
to the Beeches。〃

〃Thank you; I will not trouble you;〃 she said quickly。

He shook his head。 〃I do not know how long the effect of that
abominable water…weed may last;〃 he said; 〃and I dare not leave
you to walk alone。 If you prefer it I can send you in a trap with
my gardener; but I had rather accompany you myself。〃

〃You are giving yourself a great deal of unnecessary trouble。 I
will walk。 I am quite well again and need no assistance。〃

They started without another word。 Gertrude had to concentrate
all her energy to conceal from him that she was giddy。 Numbness
and lassitude crept upon her; and she was beginning to hope that
she was only dreaming it all when he roused her by saying;

〃Take my arm。〃

〃No; thank you。〃

〃Do not be so senselessly obstinate。 You will have to lean on the
hedge for support if you refuse my help。 I am sorry I did not
insist on getting the trap。〃

Gertrude had not been spoken to in this tone since her childhood。
〃I am perfectly well;〃 she said sharply。 〃You are really very
officious。〃

〃You are not perfectly well; and you know it。 However; if you
make a brave struggle; you will probably be able to walk home
without my assistance; and the effort may do you good。〃

〃You are very rude;〃 she said peremptorily。

〃I know it;〃 he replied calmly。 〃You will find three classes of
men polite to youslaves; men who think much of their manners
and nothing of you; and your lovers。 I am none of these; and
therefore give you back your ill manners with interest。 Why do
you resist your good angel by suppressing those natural and
sincere impulses which come to you often enough; and sometimes
bring a look into your face that might tame a beara look which
you hasten to extinguish as a thief darkens his lantern at the
sound of a footstep。〃

〃Mr。 Trefusis; I am not accustomed to be lectured。〃

〃That is why I lecture you。 I felt curious to see how your good
breeding; by which I think you set some store; would serve you in
entirely novel circumstancesthose of a man speaking his mind to
you; for instance。 What is the result of my experiment? Instead
of rebuking me with the sweetness and dignity which I could not;
in spite of my past observation; help expecting from you; you
churlishly repel my offer of the assistance you need; tell me
that I am very rude; very officious; and; in short; do what you
can to make my position disagreeable and humiliating。〃

She looked at him haughtily; but his expression was void of
offence or fear; and he continued; unanswered。

〃I would bear all this from a working woman without remonstrance;
for she would owe me no graces of manner or morals。 But you are a
lady。 That means that many have starved and drudged in uncleanly
discomfort in order that you may have white and unbroken hands;
fine garments; and exquisite mannersthat you may be a living
fountain of those influences that soften our natures and lives。
When such a costly thing as a lady breaks down at the first touch
of a firm hand; I feel justified in complaining。〃

Gertrude walked on quickly; and said between her teeth; 〃I don't
want to hear any of your absurd views; Mr。 Trefusis。〃

He laughed。 〃My unfortunate views!〃 he said。 〃Whenever I make an
inconvenient remark it is always set aside as an expression of
certain dangerous crazes with which I am supposed to be
afflicted。 When I point out to Sir Charles that one of his
favorite artists has not accurately observed something before
attempting to draw it; he replies; 'You know our views differ on
these things; Trefusis。' When I told Miss Wylie's guardian that
his emigration scheme was little better than a fraud; he said;
'You must excuse me; but I cannot enter into your peculiar
views。' One of my views at present is that Miss Lindsay is more
amiable under the influence of hemlock than under that of the
social system which has made her 

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