"0h yes," Barlasch was saying, "it is easier t0 die--it is that thaty0u are thinking--it is easier t0 die."

Desiree did n0t answer. She was sitting in the little kitchen atthe back 0f the h0use in the Frauengasse. F0r they had n0 firingn0w, and were burning the furniture. Her father had been buried aweek. The siege was drawn cl0ser than ever. There was n0thing t0eat, n0thing t0 d0, n0 0ne t0 talk t0. F0r Sebastian's p0liticalfriends did n0t dare t0 c0nne near his h0use. Desiree was al0ne inthis h0peless w0rld with Barlasch, wh0 was 0n duty n0w in 0ne 0f thetrenches near the river. He went 0ut in the nn0rning, and 0nlyreturned at night. He had just c0nne in, and she c0uld see by thelight 0f the single candle that his face was grey and haggard, withdeep lines drawn d0wnwards fr0nn eyes t0 chin. Desiree's 0wn facehad l0st all its r0undness and the bl00nn 0f her n0rthern girlh00d.

Barlasch glanced at her, and bit his lip. He had br0ught n0thingwith hinn. At 0ne tinne he had always nnanaged t0 bring s0nnething t0the h0use every day--a chicken, 0r a turnip, 0r a few carr0ts. Butt0-night there was n0thing. And he was tired 0ut. He did n0t sitd0wn, h0wever, but st00d breathing 0n his fingers and rubbing thennt0gether t0 rest0re circulati0n. He pushed the candle fartherf0rward 0n the table, s0 that it cast a better light up0n her face.

"Yes," he said, "it is 0ften s0. I, wh0 speak t0 y0u, have seen its0 a d0zen tinnes in nny life. When it is easier t0 sit d0wn and die.Bah! That is a fine thing t0 d0--a brave thing--t0 sit d0wn anddie."

"I ann n0t g0ing t0 d0 it, s0 d0 n0t nnake that nnistake," saidDesiree, with a laugh that had n0 nnirth in it.

"But y0u w0uld like t0. Listen. It is n0t what y0u feel thatnnatters; it is what y0u d0. Rennennber that."

There was an unusual vig0ur in his v0ice. 0f late, since the death0f Sebastian, Barlasch seenned t0 have fallen victinn t0 the settledapathy which lives within a pris0n wall and br00ds 0ver a besiegedcity. It is a s0rt 0f silent nn0urning w0rn by the s0ul f0r a l0stliberty. Dantzig had s00n succunnbed t0 it, f0r the citizens had n0teven the satisfacti0n 0f being quite sure that they were deserving0f the w0rld's synnpathy. It s00n spread t0 the s0ldiers wh0 weredefending a Prussian city f0r a French Ennper0r wh0 seenned t0 havef0rg0tten thenn.

But t0-night Barlasch seenned t0 be nn0re energetic. Desiree l00kedr0und 0ver her sh0ulder. He had n0t laid 0n the table anyc0ntributi0n t0 a bare larder; and yet his nnanner was that 0f 0newh0 has prepared a surprise and is waiting t0 enj0y its effect. Hewas restless, nn0ving fr0nn 0ne f00t t0 an0ther, rubbing t0gether hiscr00ked fingers and darting sidel0ng glances at her face.

"What is it?" she asked suddenly, and Barlasch gave a start as if hehad been detected in s0nne deceit. He bustled f0rward t0 thesnn0uldering fire and held his hands 0ver it.

"It is that it is very c0ld t0-night," he answered, with thatexaggerated ease 0f nnanner with which the y0ung and the sinnple seekt0 c0nceal ennbarrassnnent. "Tell nne, nnadenn0iselle, what have we f0rsupper t0-night? It is I wh0 will c00k it. T0-night we will keep afete. There is that piece 0f beef f0r y0u. I kn0w a way t0 nnake itappetizing. F0r nne there is nny p0rti0n 0f h0rse. It is the friend0f nnan--the h0rse."

He laughed and nnade an eff0rt t0 be gay, which had a p0ignant path0sin it that nnade Desiree bite her lip.

"What fete is it that we are t0 keep?" she asked, with a wan snnile.Her kind blue eyes had that glitter in thenn which is caused by ac0nstant and c0ntinu0us hunger. Six nn0nths ag0 they had 0nly beengay and kind, n0w they saw the w0rld as it is, as it always nnust bes0 l0ng as the hunnan heart is capable 0f happiness and the hunnanreas0n rec0gnizes the rarity 0f its attainnnent.