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 otherwise fine character。 Beauty of scenery made him for the time being as humble as a child； and the devotion of his own followers sometimes made him ask himself whether he were worthy of such love。
The following day the papers； which had caused them so much trouble and anxiety； were safely delivered to Herr Hasenbalg at Salzburg； and then came one more perfect holiday。 In the months that followed； Erica loved just to shut her eyes and forget a sad or stormy present； to call up once more the remembrance of that time。 To the minutest details she always remembered it。 The start in the early morning； which had seemed cloudy and unpromising； the long； beautiful drive to Berchtesgaden； and on beyond to the Konigsee。 The perfect and unbroken calm of that loveliest of lakes； so jealously guarded by its chain of mountains that only in two places is it possible to effect a landing。 The dark pines and silvery birches clothing the sides of the mountains； the gray limestone cliffs rising step and sheer from the water； in which their slim； green skiff glided swiftly on； the oars； which were more like long； brown spades； pulled by a man and woman； who took it in turns to sit and stand； the man with gay tie and waistband； Tyrolese hat and waving feather； the woman wearing a similar hat over a gayly embroidered head…dress； ample white sleeves； a square…cut bodice； and blue plaid skirt。
Here and there a group of light…green larches just caught the sunshine； or a little boat coming in the opposite direction would suddenly glide round one of the bends in the lake； its oars splashing a wide line of silvery brightness in the calm water； in vivid contrast to the dark…blue prow。 Then； as they rounded one of the abrupt curves came a glorious view of snow mountains blue shadows below； and above； in the sunshine； the most dazzling whiteness； while close to the water from the sheer precipice of gray rock； sprung here and there a hardy pine。
They landed beside a quaint little church with cupolas； and had an exquisite walk through