Maggiewasdazed。Shecoulddimlyperceivethatsomethingstupendoushadhappened。ShewonderedwhyPetesawfittoremonstratewiththewoman，pleadingforforgivenesswithhiseyes。
ShethoughtshenotedanairofsubmissionaboutherleoninePete。
Shewasastounded。
Themereboyoccupiedhimselfwithcock-tailsandacigar。Hewastranquillysilentforhalfanhour。Thenhebestirredhimselfandspoke。
\"Well，\"hesaid，sighing，\"Iknewthiswasthewayitwouldbe。\"
Therewasanotherstillness。Themereboyseemedtobemusing。
\"Shewaspullingm’leg。That’sthewholeamountofit，\"hesaid，suddenly。\"It’sabloomin’shamethewaythatgirldoes。
Why，I’vespentovertwodollarsindrinksto-night。Andshegoesoffwiththatplug-uglywholooksasifhehadbeenhitinthefacewithacoin-die。Icallitrockytreatmentforafellahlikeme。
Here，waiter，bringmeacock-tailandmakeitdamnedstrong。\"
Maggiemadenoreply。Shewaswatchingthedoors。\"It’sameanpieceofbusiness，\"complainedthemereboy。Heexplainedtoherhowamazingitwasthatanybodyshouldtreathiminsuchamanner。\"ButI’llgetsquarewithher，youbet。Shewon’tgetfaraheadofyourstruly，youknow，\"headded，winking。\"I’lltellherplainlythatitwasbloomin’meanbusiness。Andshewon’tcomeitovermewithanyofher’now-Freddie-dears。’ShethinksmynameisFreddie，youknow，butofcourseitain’t。Ialwaystellthesepeoplesomenamelikethat，becauseiftheygotontoyourrightnametheymightuseitsometime。Understand？Oh，theydon’tfoolmemuch。\"
Maggiewaspayingnoattention，beingintentuponthedoors。
Themereboyrelapsedintoaperiodofgloom，duringwhichheexterminatedanumberofcock-tailswithadeterminedair，asifreplyingdefiantlytofate。Heoccasionallybrokeforthintosentencescomposedofinvectivesjoinedtogetherinalongstring。
Thegirlwasstillstaringatthedoors。Afteratimethemereboybegantoseecobwebsjustinfrontofhisnose。
Hespurredhimselfintobeingagreeableandinsisteduponherhavingacharlotte-russeandaglassofbeer。
\"They’sgone，\"heremarked，\"they’sgone。\"Helookedatherthroughthesmokewreaths。\"Shay，lil’girl，wemightishwellmakebes’ofit。Youain’tsuchbad-lookin’girl，y’know。Nothalfbad。Can’tcomeuptoNell，though。No，can’tdoit！
Well，I
shouldshaynot！Nellfine-lookin’girl！F——i——n——ine。
Youlookdamnbadlongsiderher，butbyy’selfain’tsobad。Havetodoanyhow。Nellgone。On’yyouleft。Nothalfbad，though。\"
Maggiestoodup。
\"I’mgoinghome，\"shesaid。
Themereboystarted。
\"Eh？What？Home，\"hecried，struckwithamazement。
\"Ibegpardon，didhearsayhome？\"
\"I’mgoinghome，\"sherepeated。
\"GreatGawd，whathavastruck，\"demandedthemereboyofhimself，stupefied。
Inasemi-comatosestateheconductedheronboardanup-towncar，ostentatiouslypaidherfare，leeredkindlyatherthroughtherearwindowandfelloffthesteps。
chapter15
ChapterXV
Aforlornwomanwentalongalightedavenue。Thestreetwasfilledwithpeopledesperatelyboundonmissions。Anendlesscrowddartedattheelevatedstationstairsandthehorsecarswerethrongedwithownersofbundles。
Thepaceoftheforlornwomanwasslow。Shewasapparentlysearchingforsomeone。Sheloiterednearthedoorsofsaloonsandwatchedmenemergefromthem。Shescannedfurtivelythefacesintherushingstreamofpedestrians。Hurryingmen，bentoncatchingsomeboatortrain，jostledherelbows，failingtonoticeher，theirthoughtsfixedondistantdinners。
Theforlornwomanhadapeculiarface。Hersmilewasnosmile。Butwheninreposeherfeatureshadashadowylookthatwaslikeasardonicgrin，asifsomeonehadsketchedwithcruelforefingerindeliblelinesabouthermouth。
Jimmiecamestrollinguptheavenue。Thewomanencounteredhimwithanaggrievedair。
\"Oh，Jimmie，I’vebeenlookin’alloverferyehs——，\"shebegan。
Jimmiemadeanimpatientgestureandquickenedhispace。
\"Ah，don’tbodderme！GoodGawd！\"hesaid，withthesavagenessofamanwhoselifeispestered。
Thewomanfollowedhimalongthesidewalkinsomewhatthemannerofasuppliant。
\"But，Jimmie，\"shesaid，\"yehstoldmeye’d——\"
Jimmieturneduponherfiercelyasifresolvedtomakealaststandforcomfortandpeace。
\"Say，ferGawd’ssake，Hattie，don’follermefromoneendofdehcitytehdehodder。Letup，willyehs！Givemeaminute’sres’，can’tyehs？Yehsmakesmetired，allustaggin’me。
See？
Ain’yehsgotnosense。Doyehswantpeopletehgetontome？
Gochaseyerself，ferGawd’ssake。\"
Thewomansteppedcloserandlaidherfingersonhisarm。
\"But，look-a-here——\"
Jimmiesnarled。\"Oh，gotehhell。\"
Hedartedintothefrontdoorofaconvenientsaloonandamomentlatercameoutintotheshadowsthatsurroundedthesidedoor。Onthebrilliantlylightedavenueheperceivedtheforlornwomandodgingaboutlikeascout。Jimmielaughedwithanairofreliefandwentaway。
Whenhearrivedhomehefoundhismotherclamoring。
Maggiehadreturned。Shestoodshiveringbeneaththetorrentofhermother’swrath。
\"Well，I’mdamned，\"saidJimmieingreeting。
Hismother，totteringabouttheroom，pointedaquiveringforefinger。
\"Lookuther，Jimmie，lookuther。Dere’syersister，boy。
Dere’syersister。Lookuther！Lookuther！\"
Shescreamedinscoffinglaughter。
Thegirlstoodinthemiddleoftheroom。Sheedgedaboutasifunabletofindaplaceonthefloortoputherfeet。
\"Ha，ha，ha，\"bellowedthemother。\"Dereshestands！Ain’
shepurty？Lookuther！Ain’shesweet，dehbeast？
Lookuther！
Ha，ha，lookuther！\"
Shelurchedforwardandputherredandseamedhandsuponherdaughter’sface。Shebentdownandpeeredkeenlyupintotheeyesofthegirl。
\"Oh，she’sjes’dessameassheeverwas，ain’she？She’shermudder’spurtydarlin’yit，ain’she？Lookuther，Jimmie！
Comehere，ferGawd’ssake，andlookuther。\"
Theloud，tremendoussneeringofthemotherbroughtthedenizensoftheRumAlleytenementtotheirdoors。Womencameinthehallways。Childrenscurriedtoandfro。
\"What’sup？DatJohnsonpartyonanuddertear？\"
\"Naw！YoungMag’scomehome！\"
\"Dehhellyehsay？\"
ThroughtheopendoorcuriouseyesstaredinatMaggie。
Childrenventuredintotheroomandogledher，asiftheyformedthefrontrowatatheatre。Women，without，bendedtowardeachotherandwhispered，noddingtheirheadswithairsofprofoundphilosophy。Ababy，overcomewithcuriosityconcerningthisobjectatwhichallwerelooking，sidledforwardandtouchedherdress，cautiously，asifinvestigatingared-hotstove。Itsmother’svoicerangoutlikeawarningtrumpet。Sherushedforwardandgrabbedherchild，castingaterriblelookofindignationatthegirl。
Maggie’smotherpacedtoandfro，addressingthedoorfulofeyes，expoundinglikeaglibshowmanatamuseum。Hervoicerangthroughthebuilding。
\"Dereshestands，\"shecried，wheelingsuddenlyandpointingwithdramaticfinger。\"Dereshestands！Lookuther！
Ain’sheadindy？An’shewassogoodastocomehometehhermudder，shewas！Ain’sheabeaut’？Ain’sheadindy？FerGawd’ssake！\"
Thejeeringcriesendedinanotherburstofshrilllaughter。
Thegirlseemedtoawaken。\"Jimmie——\"
Hedrewhastilybackfromher。
\"Well，now，yerahellofat’ing，ain’yeh？\"hesaid，hislipscurlinginscorn。Radiantvirtuesatuponhisbrowandhisrepellinghandsexpressedhorrorofcontamination。
Maggieturnedandwent。
Thecrowdatthedoorfellbackprecipitately。Ababyfallingdowninfrontofthedoor，wrenchedascreamlikeawoundedanimalfromitsmother。Anotherwomansprangforwardandpickeditup，withachivalrousair，asifrescuingahumanbeingfromanoncomingexpresstrain。
Asthegirlpasseddownthroughthehall，shewentbeforeopendoorsframingmoreeyesstrangelymicroscopic，andsendingbroadbeamsofinquisitivelightintothedarknessofherpath。Onthesecondfloorshemetthegnarledoldwomanwhopossessedthemusicbox。
\"So，\"shecried，\"’ereyehsarebackagain，areyehs？An’
dey’vekickedyehsout？Well，comeinan’staywidmeteh-night。
Iain’gotnomoralstandin’。\"
Fromabovecameanunceasingbabbleoftongues，overallofwhichrangthemother’sderisivelaughter。
chapter16
ChapterXVI
PetedidnotconsiderthathehadruinedMaggie。Ifhehadthoughtthathersoulcouldneversmileagain，hewouldhavebelievedthemotherandbrother，whowerepyrotechnicovertheaffair，toberesponsibleforit。
Besides，inhisworld，soulsdidnotinsistuponbeingabletosmile。
\"Whatdehhell？\"
Hefeltatrifleentangled。Itdistressedhim。Revelationsandscenesmightbringuponhimthewrathoftheownerofthesaloon，whoinsisteduponrespectabilityofanadvancedtype。
\"Whatdehhelldodeywannaraisesuchasmokeaboutitfer？\"
demandedheofhimself，disgustedwiththeattitudeofthefamily。
Hesawnonecessityforanyone’slosingtheirequilibriummerelybecausetheirsisterortheirdaughterhadstayedawayfromhome。
Searchingaboutinhismindforpossiblereasonsfortheirconduct，hecameupontheconclusionthatMaggie’smotiveswerecorrect，butthatthetwootherswishedtosnarehim。Hefeltpursued。
Thewomanofbrillianceandaudacitywhomhehadmetinthehilarioushallshowedadispositiontoridiculehim。
\"Alittlepalethingwithnospirit，\"shesaid。\"Didyounotetheexpressionofhereyes？Therewassomethinginthemaboutpumpkinpieandvirtue。Thatisapeculiarwaytheleftcornerofhermouthhasoftwitching，isn’tit？Dear，dear，mycloud-
compellingPete，whatareyoucomingto？\"
Peteassertedatoncethatheneverwasverymuchinterestedinthegirl。Thewomaninterruptedhim，laughing。
\"Oh，it’snotoftheslightestconsequencetome，mydearyoungman。
Youneedn’tdrawmapsformybenefit。WhyshouldIbeconcernedaboutit？\"
ButPetecontinuedwithhisexplanations。Ifhewaslaughedatforhistastesinwomen，hefeltobligedtosaythattheywereonlytemporaryorindifferentones。
ThemorningafterMaggiehaddepartedfromhome，Petestoodbehindthebar。Hewasimmaculateinwhitejacketandapronandhishairwasplasteredoverhisbrowwithinfinitecorrectness。
Nocustomerswereintheplace。Petewastwistinghisnapkinedfistslowlyinabeerglass，softlywhistlingtohimselfandoccasionallyholdingtheobjectofhisattentionbetweenhiseyesandafewweakbeamsofsunlightthathadfoundtheirwayoverthethickscreensandintotheshadedroom。
Withlingeringthoughtsofthewomanofbrillianceandaudacity，thebartenderraisedhisheadandstaredthroughthevaryingcracksbetweentheswayingbamboodoors。Suddenlythewhistlingpuckerfadedfromhislips。HesawMaggiewalkingslowlypast。Hegaveagreatstart，fearingforthepreviously-
mentionedeminentrespectabilityoftheplace。
Hethrewaswift，nervousglanceabouthim，allatoncefeelingguilty。Noonewasintheroom。
Hewenthastilyovertothesidedoor。Openingitandlookingout，heperceivedMaggiestanding，asifundecided，onthecorner。
Shewassearchingtheplacewithhereyes。
AssheturnedherfacetowardhimPetebeckonedtoherhurriedly，intentuponreturningwithspeedtoapositionbehindthebarandtotheatmosphereofrespectabilityuponwhichtheproprietorinsisted。
Maggiecametohim，theanxiouslookdisappearingfromherfaceandasmilewreathingherlips。
\"Oh，Pete——，\"shebeganbrightly。
Thebartendermadeaviolentgestureofimpatience。
\"Oh，myGawd，\"criedhe，vehemently。\"Whatdehhelldoyehwannahangaroun’herefer？Doyehwannagitmeintehtrouble？\"
hedemandedwithanairofinjury。
Astonishmentsweptoverthegirl’sfeatures。\"Why，Pete！yehstol’me——\"
Peteglancedprofoundirritation。Hiscountenancereddenedwiththeangerofamanwhoserespectabilityisbeingthreatened。
\"Say，yehsmakesmetired。See？Whatdehhelldehyehwannatagaroun’attermefer？Yeh’llgitmeintehtroublewiddehol’
manan’dey’llbehelltehpay！Ifheseesawomanroun’herehe’llgocrazyan’I’lllosemejob！See？Yerbruddercomeinherean’raisedhellan’dehol’manhadaputupferit！An’nowI’mdone！See？I’mdone。\"
Thegirl’seyesstaredintohisface。\"Pete，don’tyehremem——\"
\"Oh，hell，\"interruptedPete，anticipating。
Thegirlseemedtohaveastrugglewithherself。Shewasapparentlybewilderedandcouldnotfindspeech。Finallysheaskedinalowvoice：
\"ButwherekinIgo？\"
ThequestionexasperatedPetebeyondthepowersofendurance。
Itwasadirectattempttogivehimsomeresponsibilityinamatterthatdidnotconcernhim。Inhisindignationhevolunteeredinformation。
\"Oh，gotehhell，\"criedhe。Heslammedthedoorfuriouslyandreturned，withanairofrelief，tohisrespectability。
Maggiewentaway。
Shewanderedaimlesslyforseveralblocks。Shestoppedonceandaskedaloudaquestionofherself：\"Who？\"
Amanwhowaspassingnearhershoulder，humorouslytookthequestioningwordasintendedforhim。
\"Eh？What？Who？Nobody！Ididn’tsayanything，\"
helaughinglysaid，andcontinuedhisway。
Soonthegirldiscoveredthatifshewalkedwithsuchapparentaimlessness，somemenlookedatherwithcalculatingeyes。
Shequickenedherstep，frightened。Asaprotection，sheadoptedademeanorofintentnessasifgoingsomewhere。
Afteratimesheleftrattlingavenuesandpassedbetweenrowsofhouseswithsternnessandstoliditystampedupontheirfeatures。
Shehungherheadforshefelttheireyesgrimlyuponher。
Suddenlyshecameuponastoutgentlemaninasilkhatandachasteblackcoat，whosedecorousrowofbuttonsreachedfromhischintohisknees。ThegirlhadheardoftheGraceofGodandshedecidedtoapproachthisman。
Hisbeaming，chubbyfacewasapictureofbenevolenceandkind-heartedness。Hiseyesshonegood-will。
Butasthegirltimidlyaccostedhim，hegaveaconvulsivemovementandsavedhisrespectabilitybyavigorousside-step。
Hedidnotriskittosaveasoul。Forhowwashetoknowthattherewasasoulbeforehimthatneededsaving？
chapter17
ChapterXVII
Uponawetevening，severalmonthsafterthelastchapter，twointerminablerowsofcars，pulledbyslippinghorses，jangledalongaprominentside-street。Adozencabs，withcoat-enshroudeddrivers，clatteredtoandfro。Electriclights，whirringsoftly，shedablurredradiance。Aflowerdealer，hisfeettappingimpatiently，hisnoseandhiswaresglisteningwithrain-drops，stoodbehindanarrayofrosesandchrysanthemums。Twoorthreetheatresemptiedacrowduponthestorm-sweptpavements。Menpulledtheirhatsovertheireyebrowsandraisedtheircollarstotheirears。Womenshruggedimpatientshouldersintheirwarmcloaksandstoppedtoarrangetheirskirtsforawalkthroughthestorm。Peoplehavingbeencomparativelysilentfortwohoursburstintoaroarofconversation，theirheartsstillkindlingfromtheglowingsofthestage。
Thepavementsbecametossingseasofumbrellas。Mensteppedforthtohailcabsorcars，raisingtheirfingersinvariedformsofpoliterequestorimperativedemand。Anendlessprocessionwendedtowardelevatedstations。Anatmosphereofpleasureandprosperityseemedtohangoverthethrong，born，perhaps，ofgoodclothesandofhavingjustemergedfromaplaceofforgetfulness。
Inthemingledlightandgloomofanadjacentpark，ahandfulofwetwanderers，inattitudesofchronicdejection，wasscatteredamongthebenches。
Agirlofthepaintedcohortsofthecitywentalongthestreet。
Shethrewchangingglancesatmenwhopassedher，givingsmilinginvitationstomenofruraloruntaughtpatternandusuallyseemingsedatelyunconsciousofthemenwithametropolitansealupontheirfaces。
Crossingglitteringavenues，shewentintothethrongemergingfromtheplacesofforgetfulness。Shehurriedforwardthroughthecrowdasifintentuponreachingadistanthome，bendingforwardinherhandsomecloak，daintilyliftingherskirtsandpickingforherwell-shodfeetthedryerspotsuponthepavements。
Therestlessdoorsofsaloons，clashingtoandfro，disclosedanimatedrowsofmenbeforebarsandhurryingbarkeepers。
Aconcerthallgavetothestreetfaintsoundsofswift，machine-likemusic，asifagroupofphantommusicianswerehastening。
Atallyoungman，smokingacigarettewithasublimeair，strollednearthegirl。Hehadoneveningdress，amoustache，achrysanthemum，andalookofennui，allofwhichhekeptcarefullyunderhiseye。Seeingthegirlwalkonasifsuchayoungmanashewasnotinexistence，helookedbacktransfixedwithinterest。
Hestaredglassilyforamoment，butgaveaslightconvulsivestartwhenhediscernedthatshewasneithernew，Parisian，northeatrical。
Hewheeledabouthastilyandturnedhisstareintotheair，likeasailorwithasearch-light。
Astoutgentleman，withpompousandphilanthropicwhiskers，wentstolidlyby，thebroadofhisbacksneeringatthegirl。
Abelatedmaninbusinessclothes，andinhastetocatchacar，bouncedagainsthershoulder。\"Hi，there，Mary，Ibegyourpardon！Braceup，oldgirl。\"Hegraspedherarmtosteadyher，andthenwasawayrunningdownthemiddleofthestreet。
Thegirlwalkedonoutoftherealmofrestaurantsandsaloons。Shepassedmoreglitteringavenuesandwentintodarkerblocksthanthosewherethecrowdtravelled。
Ayoungmaninlightovercoatandderbyhatreceivedaglanceshotkeenlyfromtheeyesofthegirl。Hestoppedandlookedather，thrustinghishandsinhispocketsandmakingamockingsmilecurlhislips。\"Come，now，oldlady，\"hesaid，\"youdon’tmeantotellmethatyousizedmeupforafarmer？\"
Alaboringmanmarchedalongwithbundlesunderhisarms。
Toherremarks，hereplied：\"It’safineevenin’，ain’tit？\"
Shesmiledsquarelyintothefaceofaboywhowashurryingbywithhishandsburiedinhisovercoat，hisblondelocksbobbingonhisyouthfultemples，andacheerysmileofunconcernuponhislips。Heturnedhisheadandsmiledbackather，wavinghishands。
him。\"He’sallright！Hedidn’tmeananything！Letitgo！
He’sagoodfellah！\"
\"Din’heinsul’me？\"askedthemanearnestly。
\"No，\"saidthey。\"Ofcoursehedidn’t！He’sallright！\"
\"Surehedidn’insul’me？\"demandedtheman，withdeepanxietyinhisvoice。
\"No，no！Weknowhim！He’sagoodfellah。Hedidn’tmeananything。\"
\"Well，zen，\"saidtheman，resolutely，\"I’mgo’’pol’gize！\"
Whenthewaitercame，themanstruggledtothemiddleofthefloor。
\"Girlshshedyouinsul’me！Ishaydamnlie！I’pol’gize！\"
\"Allright，\"saidthewaiter。
Themansatdown。Hefeltasleepybutstrongdesiretostraightenthingsoutandhaveaperfectunderstandingwitheverybody。
\"Nell，Iallustrea’syehshquare，din’I？Yehlikesme，don’
yehs，Nell？
I’mgoo’f’ler？\"
\"Sure，\"saidthewomanofbrillianceandaudacity。
\"YehknowsI’mstuckonyehs，don’yehs，Nell？\"
\"Sure，\"sherepeated，carelessly。
Overwhelmedbyaspasmofdrunkenadoration，hedrewtwoorthreebillsfromhispocket，and，withthetremblingfingersofanofferingpriest，laidthemonthetablebeforethewoman。
\"Yehsknows，damnit，yehskinhaveallgot，’causeI’mstuckonyehs，Nell，damn’t，I——I’mstuckonyehs，Nell——buydrinksh——damn’t——we’rehavin’
heluvatime——w’enanyonetrea’smeri’——I——damn’t，Nell——we’rehavin’
heluva——time。\"
Shortlyhewenttosleepwithhisswollenfacefallenforwardonhischest。
Thewomendrankandlaughed，notheedingtheslumberingmaninthecorner。
Finallyhelurchedforwardandfellgroaningtothefloor。
Thewomenscreamedindisgustanddrewbacktheirskirts。
\"Comeahn，\"criedone，startingupangrily，\"let’sgetoutofhere。\"
Thewomanofbrillianceandaudacitystayedbehind，takingupthebillsandstuffingthemintoadeep，irregularly-shapedpocket。
Agutturalsnorefromtherecumbentmancausedhertoturnandlookdownathim。
Shelaughed。\"Whatadamnfool，\"shesaid，andwent。
Thesmokefromthelampssettledheavilydowninthelittlecompartment，obscuringthewayout。Thesmellofoil，stiflinginitsintensity，pervadedtheair。Thewinefromanoverturnedglassdrippedsoftlydownupontheblotchesontheman’sneck。
chapter18
ChapterXVIII
Inaroomawomansatatatableeatinglikeafatmonkinapicture。
Asoiled，unshavenmanpushedopenthedoorandentered。
\"Well，\"saidhe，\"Mag’sdead。\"
\"What？\"saidthewoman，hermouthfilledwithbread。
\"Mag’sdead，\"repeatedtheman。
\"Dehhellsheis，\"saidthewoman。Shecontinuedhermeal。
Whenshefinishedhercoffeeshebegantoweep。
\"Ikinrememberwhenhertwofeetwasnobiggerdanyert’umb，andshewearedworstedboots，\"moanedshe。
\"Well，whatadat？\"saidtheman。
\"Ikinrememberwhenshewearedworstedboots，\"shecried。
Theneighborsbegantogatherinthehall，staringinattheweepingwomanasifwatchingthecontortionsofadyingdog。A
dozenwomenenteredandlamentedwithher。Undertheirbusyhandstheroomstookonthatappallingappearanceofneatnessandorderwithwhichdeathisgreeted。
Suddenlythedooropenedandawomaninablackgownrushedinwithoutstretchedarms。\"Ah，poorMary，\"shecried，andtenderlyembracedthemoaningone。
\"Ah，whatter’bleafflictionisdis，\"continuedshe。Hervocabularywasderivedfrommissionchurches。\"MepoorMary，howIfeelferyehs！
Ah，whatater’bleafflictionisadisobed’entchil’。\"
Hergood，motherlyfacewaswetwithtears。Shetrembledineagernesstoexpresshersympathy。Themournersatwithbowedhead，rockingherbodyheavilytoandfro，andcryingoutinahigh，strainedvoicethatsoundedlikeadirgeonsomeforlornpipe。
\"Ikinrememberwhenshewearedworstedbootsan’hertwofeetswasnobiggerdanyert’umban’shewearedworstedboots，MissSmith，\"shecried，raisingherstreamingeyes。
\"Ah，mepoorMary，\"sobbedthewomaninblack。Withlow，coddlingcries，shesankonherkneesbythemourner’schair，andputherarmsabouther。Theotherwomenbegantogroanindifferentkeys。
\"Yerpoormisguidedchil’isgonenow，Mary，an’letushopeit’sferdehbes’。Yeh’llfergivehernow，Mary，won’tyehs，dear，allherdisobed’ence？Allhert’anklessbehaviortohermudderan’
allherbadness？She’sgonewhereherter’blesinswillbejudged。\"
Thewomaninblackraisedherfaceandpaused。Theinevitablesunlightcamestreaminginatthewindowsandshedaghastlycheerfulnessuponthefadedhuesoftheroom。Twoorthreeofthespectatorsweresniffling，andonewasloudlyweeping。Themourneraroseandstaggeredintotheotherroom。Inamomentsheemergedwithapairoffadedbabyshoesheldinthehollowofherhand。
\"Ikinrememberwhensheusedtoweardem，\"criedshe。
Thewomenburstanewintocriesasiftheyhadallbeenstabbed。
Themournerturnedtothesoiledandunshavenman。
\"Jimmie，boy，gogityersister！Gogityersisteran’we’llputdehbootsonherfeets！\"
\"Deywon’tfithernow，yehdamnfool，\"saidtheman。
\"Gogityersister，Jimmie，\"shriekedthewoman，confrontinghimfiercely。
Themansworesullenly。Hewentovertoacornerandslowlybegantoputonhiscoat。Hetookhishatandwentout，withadragging，reluctantstep。
Thewomaninblackcameforwardandagainbesoughtthemourner。
\"Yeh’llfergiveher，Mary！Yeh’llfergiveyerbad，bad，chil’！Herlifewasacursean’herdayswereblackan’yeh’llfergiveyerbadgirl？She’sgonewherehersinswillbejudged。\"
\"She’sgonewherehersinswillbejudged，\"criedtheotherwomen，likeachoiratafuneral。
\"DehLordgivesanddehLordtakesaway，\"saidthewomaninblack，raisinghereyestothesunbeams。
\"DehLordgivesanddehLordtakesaway，\"respondedtheothers。
\"Yeh’llfergiveher，Mary！\"pleadedthewomaninblack。Themourneressayedtospeakbuthervoicegaveway。Sheshookhergreatshouldersfrantically，inanagonyofgrief。Hottearsseemedtoscaldherquiveringface。Finallyhervoicecameandaroselikeascreamofpain。
\"Oh，yes，I’llfergiveher！I’llfergiveher！\"