Thenherglancetookonacertainintentness，andshepeeredcuriouslyintohisface，sayingalmostinawhisper：
“I’mafraidofYOU。“
Butthedentistdidnotheedher。Animmensejoyseizeduponhim——thejoyofpossession。Trinawashisveryownnow。Shelaythereinthehollowofhisarm，helplessandverypretty。
Thoseinstinctsthatinhimweresoclosetothesurfacesuddenlyleapedtolife，shoutingandclamoring，nottoberesisted。Helovedher。Ah，didhenotloveher？Thesmellofherhair，ofherneck，rosetohim。
Suddenlyhecaughtherinbothhishugearms，crushingdownherstrugglewithhisimmensestrength，kissingherfulluponthemouth。ThenhergreatloveforMcTeaguesuddenlyflashedupinTrina’sbreast；shegaveuptohimasshehaddonebefore，yieldingallatoncetothatstrangedesireofbeingconqueredandsubdued。Sheclungtohim，herhandsclaspedbehindhisneck，whisperinginhisear：
“Oh，youmustbegoodtome——very，verygoodtome，dear——
foryou’reallthatIhaveintheworldnow。“
CHAPTER10
Thatsummerpassed，thenthewinter。ThewetseasonbeganinthelastdaysofSeptemberandcontinuedallthroughOctober，November，andDecember。Atlongintervalswouldcomeaweekofperfectdays，theskywithoutacloud，theairmotionless，buttouchedwithacertainnimbleness，afainteffervescencethatwasexhilarating。Then，withoutwarning，duringanightwhenasouthwindblew，agrayscrollofcloudwouldunrollandhanghighoverthecity，andtherainwouldcomepatteringdownagain，atfirstinscatteredshowers，theninanuninterrupteddrizzle。
AlldaylongTrinasatinthebaywindowofthesitting-roomthatcommandedaviewofasmallsectionofPolkStreet。Asoftenassheraisedherheadshecouldseethebigmarket，aconfectionerystore，abell-hanger’sshop，and，fartheron，abovetheroofs，theglassskylightsandwatertanksofthebigpublicbaths。Inthenearerforegroundranthestreetitself；thecablecarstrundledupanddown，thumpingheavilyoverthejointsoftherails；marketcartsbythescorecameandwent，drivenatagreatratebypreoccupiedyoungmenintheirshirtsleeves，withpencilsbehindtheirears，orbyrecklessboysinblood-stainedbutcher’saprons。
UponthesidewalksthelittleworldofPolkStreetswarmedandjostledthroughitsdailyroundoflife。Onfinedaysthegreatladiesfromtheavenue，oneblockabove，invadedthestreet，appearingbeforethebutcherstalls，intentupontheirday’smarketing。Onrainydaystheirservants——theChinesecooksorthesecondgirls——tooktheirplaces。Theseservantsgavethemselvesgreatairs，carryingtheirbigcottonumbrellasastheyhadseentheirmistressescarrytheirparasols，andhagglinginsuperciliousfashionwiththemarketmen，theirchinsintheair。
Therainpersisted。EverythingintherangeofTrina’svision，fromthetarpaulinsonthemarket-carthorsestothepanesofglassintheroofofthepublicbaths，lookedglazedandvarnished。Theasphaltofthesidewalksshonelikethesurfaceofapatentleatherboot；everyhollowinthestreethelditslittlepuddle，thatwinkedlikeaneyeeachtimeadropofrainstruckintoit。
TrinastillcontinuedtoworkforUncleOelbermann。Inthemorningsshebusiedherselfaboutthekitchen，thebedroom，andthesitting-room；butintheafternoon，fortwoorthreehoursafterlunch，shewasoccupiedwiththeNoah’sarkanimals。Shetookherworktothebaywindow，spreadingoutagreatsquareofcanvasunderneathherchair，tocatchthechipsandshavings，whichsheusedafterwardsforlightingfires。Oneafteranothershecaughtupthelittleblocksofstraight-grainedpine，theknifeflashedbetweenherfingers，thelittlefiguregrewrapidlyunderhertouch，wasfinishedandreadyforpaintinginawonderfullyshorttime，andwastossedintothebasketthatstoodatherelbow。
ButveryoftenduringthatrainywinterafterhermarriageTrinawouldpauseinherwork，herhandsfallingidlyintoherlap，hereyes——hernarrow，paleblueeyes——growingwideandthoughtfulasshegazed，unseeing，outintotherain-
washedstreet。
ShelovedMcTeaguenowwithablind，unreasoninglovethatadmittedofnodoubtorhesitancy。Indeed，itseemedtoherthatitwasonlyAFTERhermarriagewiththedentistthatshehadreallybeguntolovehim。Withtheabsolutefinalsurrenderofherself，theirrevocable，ultimatesubmission，hadcomeanaffectionthelikeofwhichshehadneverdreamedintheoldBStreetdays。ButTrinalovedherhusband，notbecauseshefanciedshesawinhimanyofthosenobleandgenerousqualitiesthatinspireaffection。Thedentistmightormightnotpossessthem，itwasallonewithTrina。Shelovedhimbecauseshehadgivenherselftohimfreely，unreservedly；hadmergedherindividualityintohis；
shewashis，shebelongedtohimforeverandforever。
Nothingthathecoulddososhetoldherself，nothingthatsheherselfcoulddo，couldchangeherinthisrespect。
McTeaguemightceasetoloveher，mightleaveher，mightevendie；itwouldbeallthesame，SHEWASHIS。
Butithadnotbeensoatfirst。Duringthoselong，rainydaysofthefall，dayswhenTrinawasleftaloneforhours，atthattimewhentheexcitementandnoveltyofthehoneymoonweredyingdown，whenthenewhouseholdwassettlingintoitsgrooves，shepassedthroughmanyanhourofmisgiving，ofdoubt，andevenofactualregret。
NeverwouldsheforgetoneSundayafternooninparticular。
Shehadbeenmarriedbutthreeweeks。AfterdinnersheandlittleMissBakerhadgoneforabitofawalktotakeadvantageofanhour’ssunshineandtolookatsomewonderfulgeraniumsinaflorist’swindowonSutterStreet。
Theyhadbeencaughtinashower，andonreturningtotheflatthelittledressmakerhadinsistedonfetchingTrinauptohertinyroomandbrewingheracupofstrongtea，“totakethechilloff。“Thetwowomenhadchattedovertheirteacupsthebetterpartoftheafternoon，thenTrinahadreturnedtoherrooms。FornearlythreehoursMcTeaguehadbeenoutofherthoughts，andasshecamethroughtheirlittlesuite，singingsoftlytoherself，shesuddenlycameuponhimquiteunexpectedly。Herhusbandwasinthe“DentalParlors，“lyingbackinhisoperatingchair，fastasleep。
Thelittlestovewascrammedwithcoke，theroomwasoverheated，theairthickandfoulwiththeodorsofether，ofcokegas，ofstalebeerandcheaptobacco。Thedentistsprawledhisgiganticlimbsoverthewornvelvetoftheoperatingchair；hiscoatandvestandshoeswereoff，andhishugefeet，intheirthickgraysocks，dangledovertheedgeofthefoot-rest；hispipe，fallenfromhishalf-openmouth，hadspilledtheashesintohislap；whileonthefloor，athissidestoodthehalf-emptypitcherofsteambeer。Hisheadhadrolledlimplyupononeshoulder，hisfacewasredwithsleep，andfromhisopenmouthcameaterrificsoundofsnoring。
ForamomentTrinastoodlookingathimashelaythus，prone，inert，half-dressed，andstupefiedwiththeheatoftheroom，thesteambeer，andthefumesofthecheaptobacco。Thenherlittlechinquiveredandasobrosetoherthroat；shefledfromthe“Parlors，“andlockingherselfinherbedroom，flungherselfonthebedandburstintoanagonyofweeping。Ah，no，ah，no，shecouldnotlovehim。
Ithadallbeenadreadfulmistake，andnowitwasirrevocable；shewasboundtothismanforlife。Ifitwasasbadasthisnow，onlythreeweeksafterhermarriage，howwoulditbeintheyearstocome？Yearafteryear，monthaftermonth，hourafterhour，shewastoseethissameface，withitssalientjaw，wastofeelthetouchofthoseenormousredhands，wastoheartheheavy，elephantinetreadofthosehugefeet——inthickgraysocks。Yearafteryear，dayafterday，therewouldbenochange，anditwouldlastallherlife。Eitheritwouldbeonelongcontinuedrevulsion，orelse——worsethanall——shewouldcometobecontentwithhim，wouldcometobelikehim，wouldsinktothelevelofsteambeerandcheaptobacco，andallherprettyways，herclean，trimlittlehabits，wouldbeforgotten，sincetheywouldbethrownawayuponherstupid，brutishhusband。“Herhusband！“THAT，washerhusbandinthere——shecouldyethearhissnores——forlife，forlife。
Agreatdespairseizeduponher。Sheburiedherfaceinthepillowandthoughtofhermotherwithaninfinitelonging。
Arousedatlengthbythechitteringofthecanary，McTeaguehadawakenedslowly。Afterawhilehehadtakendownhisconcertinaandplayeduponitthesixverymournfulairsthatheknew。
Facedownwarduponthebed，Trinastillwept。Throughoutthatlittlesuitecouldbeheardbuttwosounds，thelugubriousstrainsoftheconcertinaandthenoiseofstifledweeping。
ThatherhusbandshouldbeignorantofherdistressseemedtoTrinaanadditionalgrievance。Withperverseinconsistencyshebegantowishhimtocometoher，tocomforther。Heoughttoknowthatshewasintrouble，thatshewaslonelyandunhappy。
“Oh，Mac，“shecalledinatremblingvoice。Buttheconcertinastillcontinuedtowailandlament。ThenTrinawishedsheweredead，andontheinstantjumpedupandranintothe“DentalParlors，“andthrewherselfintoherhusband’sarms，crying：“Oh，Mac，dear，loveme，lovemebig！I’msounhappy。“
“What——what——what——“thedentistexclaimed，startingupbewildered，alittlefrightened。
“Nothing，nothing，onlyLOVEme，lovemealwaysandalways。“
Butthisfirstcrisis，thismomentaryrevolt，asmuchamatterofhigh-strungfemininenervesasofanythingelse，passed，andintheendTrina’saffectionforher“oldbear“
grewinspiteofherself。Shebegantolovehimmoreandmore，notforwhathewas，butforwhatshehadgivenuptohim。OnlyonceagaindidTrinaundergoareactionagainstherhusband，andthenitwasbutthematterofaninstant，broughton，curiouslyenough，bythesightofabitofeggonMcTeague’sheavymustacheonemorningjustafterbreakfast。
Then，too，thepairhadlearnedtomakeconcessions，littlebylittle，andallunconsciouslytheyadaptedtheirmodesoflifetosuiteachother。InsteadofsinkingtoMcTeague’slevelasshehadfeared，TrinafoundthatshecouldmakeMcTeaguerisetohers，andinthissawasolutionofmanyadifficultandgloomycomplication。
Foronething，thedentistbegantodressalittlebetter，TrinaevensucceedingininducinghimtowearahighsilkhatandafrockcoatofaSunday。NextherelinquishedhisSundayafternoon’snapandbeerinfavorofthreeorfourhoursspentintheparkwithher——theweatherpermitting。
SothatgraduallyTrina’smisgivingsceased，orwhentheydidassailher，shecouldatlastmeetthemwithashrugoftheshoulders，sayingtoherselfmeanwhile，“Well，it’sdonenowanditcan’tbehelped；onemustmakethebestofit。“
Duringthefirstmonthsoftheirmarriedlifethesenervousrelapsesofhershadalternatedwithbrusqueoutburstsofaffectionwhenheronlyfearwasthatherhusband’slovedidnotequalherown。Withoutaninstant’swarning，shewouldclasphimabouttheneck，rubbinghercheekagainsthis，murmuring：
“DearoldMac，Iloveyouso，Iloveyouso。Oh，aren’twehappytogether，Mac，justustwoandnooneelse？YoulovemeasmuchasIloveyou，don’tyou，Mac？Oh，ifyoushouldn’t——ifyouSHOULDN’T。“
ButbythemiddleofthewinterTrina’semotions，oscillatingatfirstfromoneextremetoanother，commencedtosettlethemselvestoanequilibriumofcalmnessandplacidquietude。Herhouseholddutiesbeganmoreandmoretoabsorbherattention，forshewasanadmirablehousekeeper，keepingthelittlesuiteinmarvellousgoodorderandregulatingthescheduleofexpenditurewithaneconomythatoftenborderedonpositiveniggardliness。Itwasapassionwithhertosavemoney。Inthebottomofhertrunk，inthebedroom，shehidabrassmatch-safethatansweredthepurposesofasavingsbank。Eachtimesheaddedaquarterorahalfdollartothelittlestoreshelaughedandsangwithaveritablechildishdelight；whereas，ifthebutcherormilkmancompelledhertopayanoverchargeshewasunhappyfortherestoftheday。Shedidnotsavethismoneyforanyulteriorpurpose，shehoardedinstinctively，withoutknowingwhy，respondingtothedentist’sremonstranceswith：
“Yes，yes，IknowI’malittlemiser，Iknowit。“
Trinahadalwaysbeenaneconomicallittlebody，butitwasonlysincehergreatwinninginthelotterythatshehadbecomeespeciallypenurious。Nodoubt，inherfearlesttheirgreatgoodluckshoulddemoralizethemandleadtohabitsofextravagance，shehadrecoiledtoofarintheotherdirection。Never，never，nevershouldapennyofthatmiraculousfortunebespent；rathershoulditbeaddedto。