giving her except a bit of pink paper. He handed this to her, and she whispered "Thank you," and made him a pretty curtsey.
In all his life nobody had ever said "Thank you" like that to him, and he was so upset by it that he began to stare at her stupidly. She took immediate advantage of his bewilderment, and slipped past him like an eel, ran to the maids who were on their way back from her room, and took refuge with them. He called good-night, in a gentle voice, but she did not answer him. So he went back downstairs to the smoking-room, feeling a little mortified.
Theresa spoke to him, "I think you had better go to bed too. You can hardly keep your eyes open."
"We are not sleepy a bit, "they both protested. Then, in order not to be put to bed against their will, they hurried out into the corridor, down the porch steps, and around the corner of the house.
The night was dark and the stars were out, but it was so warm it was almost hot. Somewhere near, out on the rocks, an owl was hooting, and the crickets were chirping madly. Their explorations led them into an immense carriage-shed crammed full of every kind of vehicle, and they climbed up on to the front seat of an enormous coach, buttoned themselves in behind the leather curtain, which came up to their necks, and all tucked up as if they were going to be shaved, snuffed with keen delight the perfume of the harness dressing.
"She is dying," they heard some one saying on the highway near by. "She is rattling now."
"What is rattling?" asked Hänsli in a whisper.
"I don't know exactly but it is something like a snore."
47
