第1章
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  MOONSTONEagain,intheyear1909。TheMetho—

  distsaregivinganice—creamsociableinthegroveaboutthenewcourt—house。Itisawarmsummernightoffullmoon。Thepaperlanternswhichhangamongthetreesarefoolishtoys,onlydimming,inlittleluridcircles,thegreatsoftnessofthelunarlightthatfloodstheblueheavensandthehighplateau。Totheeastthesandhillsshinewhiteasofold,buttheempireofthesandisgrad—

  uallydiminishing。Thegrassgrowsthickeroverthedunesthanitusedto,andthestreetsofthetownareharderandfirmerthantheyweretwenty—fiveyearsago。Theoldin—

  habitantswilltellyouthatsandstormsareinfrequentnow,thatthewindblowslesspersistentlyinthespringandplaysamildertune。Cultivationhasmodifiedthesoilandtheclimate,asitmodifieshumanlife。

  ThepeopleseatedaboutunderthecottonwoodsaremuchsmarterthantheMethodistsweusedtoknow。TheinteriorofthenewMethodistChurchlookslikeatheater,withaslopingfloor,andasthecongregationproudlysay,\"operachairs。\"Thematronswhoattendtoservingtherefreshmentsto—nightlookyoungerfortheiryearsthandidthewomenofMrs。Kronborg’stime,andthechildrenalllooklikecitychildren。Thelittleboyswear\"BusterBrowns\"andthelittlegirlsRussianblouses。Thecoun—

  trychild,inmade—oversandcut—downs,seemstohavevanishedfromthefaceoftheearth。

  Atoneofthetables,withherDutch—cuttwinboys,sitsafair—haired,dimpledmatronwhowasonceLilyFisher。Herhusbandispresidentofthenewbank,andshe\"goesEastforhersummers,\"apracticewhichcauses

  envyanddiscontentamongherneighbors。Thetwinsarewell—behavedchildren,biddable,meek,neatabouttheirclothes,andalwaysmindfuloftheproprietiestheyhavelearnedatsummerhotels。Whiletheyareeatingtheirice—

  creamandtryingnottotwistthespoonintheirmouths,alittleshriekoflaughterbreaksfromanadjacenttable。

  Thetwinslookup。Theresitsasprylittleoldspinsterwhomtheyknowwell。Shehasalongchin,alongnose,andsheisdressedlikeayounggirl,withapinksashandalacegardenhatwithpinkrosebuds。Sheissurroundedbyacrowdofboys,——looseandlanky,shortandthick,——

  whoarejokingwithherroughly,butnotunkindly。

  \"Mamma,\"oneofthetwinscomesoutinashrilltreble,\"whyisTillieKronborgalwaystalkingaboutathousanddollars?\"

  Theboys,hearingthisquestion,breakintoaroaroflaughter,thewomentitterbehindtheirpapernapkins,andevenfromTilliethereisalittleshriekofapprecia—

  tion。Theobservingchild’sremarkhadmadeeveryonesuddenlyrealizethatTillieneverstoppedtalkingaboutthatparticularsumofmoney。Inthespring,whenshewenttobuyearlystrawberries,andwastoldthattheywerethirtycentsabox,shewassuretoremindthegrocerthatthoughhernamewasKronborgshedidn’tgetathousanddollarsanight。Intheautumn,whenshewenttobuyhercoalforthewinter,sheexpressedamazementatthepricequotedher,andtoldthedealerhemusthavegothermixedupwithherniecetothinkshecouldpaysuchasum。WhenshewasmakingherChristmaspresents,sheneverfailedtoaskthewomenwhocameintohershopwhatyouCOULDmakeforanybodywhogotathousanddollarsanight。WhentheDenverpapersan—

  nouncedthatTheaKronborghadmarriedFrederickOtten—

  burg,theheadoftheBrewers’Trust,MoonstonepeopleexpectedthatTillie’svain—gloriousnesswouldtakean—

  otherform。ButTilliehadhopedthatTheawouldmarry

  atitle,andshedidnotboastmuchaboutOttenburg,——

  atleastnotuntilafterhermemorabletriptoKansasCitytohearTheasing。

  TillieisthelastKronborgleftinMoonstone。Shelivesaloneinalittlehousewithagreenyard,andkeepsafancy—

  workandmillinerystore。Herbusinessmethodsarein—

  formal,andshewouldnevercomeoutevenattheendoftheyear,ifshedidnotreceiveadraftforagoodroundsumfromhernieceatChristmastime。ThearrivalofthisdraftalwaysrenewsthediscussionastowhatTheawoulddoforherauntifshereallydidtherightthing。MostoftheMoonstonepeoplethinkTheaoughttotakeTillietoNewYorkandkeepherasacompanion。WhiletheyarefeelingsorryforTilliebecauseshedoesnotliveatthePlaza,Tillieistryingnottohurttheirfeelingsbyshow—

  ingtooplainlyhowmuchsherealizesthesuperiorityofherposition。ShetriestobemodestwhenshecomplainstothepostmasterthatherNewYorkpaperismorethanthreedayslate。Itmeansenough,surely,onthefaceofit,thatsheistheonlypersoninMoonstonewhotakesaNewYorkpaperorwhohasanyreasonfortakingone。A

  foolishyounggirl,Tillielivedinthesplendidsorrowsof\"Wanda\"and\"Strathmore\";afoolisholdgirl,shelivesinherniece’striumphs。Assheoftensays,shejustmissedgoingonthestageherself。

  Thatnightafterthesociable,asTillietrippedhomewithacrowdofnoisyboysandgirls,shewasperhapsashadetroubled。Thetwin’squestionratherlingeredinherears。Didshe,perhaps,insisttoomuchonthatthousanddollars?Surely,peopledidn’tforaminutethinkitwasthemoneyshecaredabout?Asforthat,Tillietossedherhead,shedidn’tcarearap。Theymustunderstandthatthismoneywasdifferent。

  Whenthelaughinglittlegroupthatbroughtherhomehadgoneweavingdownthesidewalkthroughtheleafyshadowsandhaddisappeared,Tilliebroughtoutarocking

  chairandsatdownonherporch。Onglorious,softsummernightslikethis,whenthemoonisopulentandfull,thedaysubmergedandforgotten,shelovestosittherebehindherrose—vineandletherfancywanderwhereitwill。IfyouchancedtobepassingdownthatMoonstonestreetandsawthatalertwhitefigurerockingtherebehindthescreenofrosesandlingeringlateintothenight,youmightfeelsorryforher,andhowmistakenyouwouldbe!Tillielivesinalittlemagicworld,fullofsecretsatisfactions。

  TheaKronborghasgivenmuchnoblepleasuretoaworldthatneedsallitcanget,buttonoindividualhasshegivenmorethantoherqueeroldauntinMoonstone。ThelegendofKronborg,theartist,fillsTillie’slife;shefeelsrichandexaltedinit。Whatdelightfulthingshappeninhermindasshesitsthererocking!Shegoesbacktothoseearlydaysofsandandsun,whenTheawasachildandTilliewasherself,soitseemstoher,\"young。\"WhensheusedtohurrytochurchtohearMr。Kronborg’swon—

  derfulsermons,andwhenTheausedtostandupbytheorganofabrightSundaymorningandsing\"Come,YeDisconsolate。\"OrshethinksaboutthatwonderfultimewhentheMetropolitanOperaCompanysangaweek’sengagementinKansasCity,andTheasentforherandhadherstaywithherattheCoatesHouseandgotoeveryperformanceatConventionHall。ThealetTilliegothroughhercostumetrunksandtryonherwigsandjewels。AndthekindnessofMr。Ottenburg!WhenTheadinedinherownroom,hewentdowntodinnerwithTillie,andneverlookedboredorabsent—mindedwhenshechattered。HetookhertothehallthefirsttimeTheasangthere,andsatintheboxwithherandhelpedherthrough\"Lohengrin。\"Afterthefirstact,whenTillieturnedtearfuleyestohimandburstout,\"Idon’tcare,shealwaysseemedgrandlikethat,evenwhenshewasagirl。IexpectI’mcrazy,butshejustseemstomefullofallthemoldtimes!\"——Ottenburgwassosympathetic

  andpattedherhandandsaid,\"Butthat’sjustwhatsheis,fulloftheoldtimes,andyouareawisewomantoseeit。\"Yes,hesaidthattoher。TillieoftenwonderedhowshehadbeenabletobearitwhenTheacamedownthestairsintheweddingrobeembroideredinsilver,withatrainsolongittooksixwomentocarryit。

  Tilliehadlivedfifty—oddyearsforthatweek,butshegotit,andnomiraclewasevermoremiraculousthanthat。

  Whensheusedtobeworkinginthefieldsonherfather’sMinnesotafarm,shecouldn’thelpbelievingthatshewouldsomedayhavetodowiththe\"wonderful,\"thoughherchancesforithadthenlookedsoslender。

  Themorningafterthesociable,Tillie,curledupinbed,wasrousedbytherattleofthemilkcartdownthestreet。

  Thenaneighborboycamedownthesidewalkoutsideherwindow,singing\"CaseyJones\"asifhehadn’tacareintheworld。BythistimeTilliewaswideawake。Thetwin’squestion,andthesubsequentlaughter,camebackwithafainttwinge。Tillieknewshewasshort—sightedaboutfacts,butthistime——Why,therewereherscrap—

  books,fullofnewspaperandmagazinearticlesaboutThea,andhalf—tonecuts,snap—shotsofheronlandandsea,andphotographsofherinallherparts。There,inherparlor,wasthephonographthathadcomefromMr。OttenburglastJune,onThea’sbirthday;shehadonlytogointhereandturniton,andletTheaspeakforherself。TilliefinishedbrushingherwhitehairandlaughedasshegaveitasmartturnandbroughtitintoherusualFrenchtwist。IfMoon—

  stonedoubted,shehadevidenceenough:inblackandwhite,infiguresandphotographs,evidenceinhairlinesonmetaldisks。Foronewhohadsooftenseentwoandtwoasmakingsix,whohadsooftenstretchedapoint,addedatouch,inthegoodgameoftryingtomaketheworldbrighterthanitis,therewaspositiveblissinhavingsuchdeepfoundationsofsupport。SheneednevertrembleinsecretlestshemightsometimestretchapointinThea’s

  favor。——Oh,thecomfort,toasoultoozealous,ofhavingatlastarosesoreditcouldnotbefurtherpainted,alilysotrulyauriferousthatnoamountofgildingcouldexceedthefact!

  Tilliehurriedfromherbedroom,threwopenthedoorsandwindows,andletthemorningbreezeblowthroughherlittlehouse。

  Intwominutesacobfirewasroaringinherkitchenstove,infiveshehadsetthetable。AtherhouseholdworkTilliewasalwaysburstingoutwithshrillsnatchesofsong,andassuddenlystopping,rightinthemiddleofaphrase,asifshehadbeenstruckdumb。Sheemergeduponthebackporchwithoneofthesebursts,andbentdowntogetherbutterandcreamoutoftheice—box。Thecatwaspurringonthebenchandthemorning—glorieswerethrust—

  ingtheirpurpletrumpetsinthroughthelattice—workinafriendlyway。TheyremindedTilliethatwhileshewaswaitingforthecoffeetoboilshecouldgetsomeflowersforherbreakfasttable。Shelookedoutuncertainlyatabushofsweet—briarthatgrewattheedgeofheryard,offacrossthelonggrassandthetomatovines。Thefrontporch,tobesure,wasdrippingwithcrimsonramblersthatoughttobecutforthegoodofthevines;butnevertheroseinthehandforTillie!Shecaughtupthekitchenshearsandoffshedashedthroughgrassanddrenchingdew。

  Snip,snip;theshort—stemmedsweet—briars,salmon—pinkandgolden—hearted,withtheiruniqueandinimitablewoodyperfume,fellintoherapron。

  Aftersheputtheeggsandtoastonthetable,TillietooklastSunday’sNewYorkpaperfromtherackbesidethecupboardandsatdown,withitforcompany。IntheSundaypapertherewasalwaysapageaboutsingers,eveninsummer,andthatweekthemusicalpagebeganwithasympatheticaccountofMadameKronborg’sfirstper—

  formanceofISOLDEinLondon。Attheendofthenotice,therewasashortparagraphaboutherhavingsungforthe

  KingatBuckinghamPalaceandhavingbeenpresentedwithajewelbyHisMajesty。

  SingingfortheKing;butGoodness!shewasalwaysdoingthingslikethat!Tillietossedherhead。Allthroughbreakfastshekeptstickinghersharpnosedownintotheglassofsweet—briar,withtheoldincrediblelightnessofheart,likeachild’sballoontuggingatitsstring。Shehadalwaysinsisted,againstallevidence,thatlifewasfulloffairytales,anditwas!Shehadbeenfeelingalittledown,perhaps,andTheahadansweredher,fromsofar。Fromacommonperson,now,ifyouweretroubled,youmightgetaletter。ButTheaalmostneverwroteletters。Sheansweredeveryone,friendsandfoesalike,inoneway,herownway,heronlyway。OncemoreTilliehastore—

  mindherselfthatitisalltrue,andisnotsomethingshehas\"madeup。\"Likeallromancers,sheisalittleterrifiedatseeingoneofherwildestconceitsadmittedbythehard—

  headedworld。Ifourdreamcomestrue,wearealmostafraidtobelieveit;forthatisthebestofallgoodfortune,andnothingbettercanhappentoanyofus。

  WhenthepeopleonSylvesterStreettireofTillie’sstories,shegoesovertotheeastpartoftown,whereherlegendsarealwayswelcome。ThehumblerpeopleofMoonstonestilllivethere。Thesamelittlehousessitunderthecottonwoods;themensmoketheirpipesinthefrontdoorways,andthewomendotheirwashinginthebackyard。TheolderwomenrememberThea,andhowsheusedtocomekickingherexpresswagonalongtheside—

  walk,steeringbythetongueandholdingThorinherlap。

  Notmuchhappensinthatpartoftown,andthepeoplehavelongmemories。AboygrewupononeofthosestreetswhowenttoOmahaandbuiltupagreatbusiness,andisnowveryrich。MoonstonepeoplealwaysspeakofhimandTheatogether,asexamplesofMoonstoneenter—

  prise。Theydo,however,talkoftenerofThea。Avoicehasevenawiderappealthanafortune。Itistheonegiftthat

  allcreatureswouldpossessiftheycould。DrearyMaggieEvans,deadnearlytwentyyears,isstillrememberedbe—

  causeTheasangatherfuneral\"aftershehadstudiedinChicago。\"

  Howevermuchtheymaysmileather,theoldinhabi—

  tantswouldmissTillie。Herstoriesgivethemsomethingtotalkaboutandtoconjectureabout,cutoffastheyarefromtherestlesscurrentsoftheworld。ThemanynakedlittlesandbarswhichliebetweenVeniceandthemain—

  land,intheseeminglystagnantwaterofthelagoons,aremadehabitableandwholesomeonlybecause,everynight,afootandahalfoftidecreepsinfromtheseaandwindsitsfreshbrineupthroughallthatnetworkofshiningwater—

  ways。So,intoallthelittlesettlementsofquietpeople,tidingsofwhattheirboysandgirlsaredoingintheworldbringrealrefreshment;bringtotheold,memories,andtotheyoung,dreams。

  THEEND

  THESONGOFTHELARK

  byWILLACATHER

  PARTI

  FRIENDSOFCHILDHOOD

  I

  Dr。HowardArchiehadjustcomeupfromagameofpoolwiththeJewishclothierandtwotravel—

  ingmenwhohappenedtobestayingovernightinMoon—

  stone。HisofficeswereintheDukeBlock,overthedrugstore。Larry,thedoctor’sman,hadlittheoverheadlightinthewaiting—roomandthedoublestudent’slamponthedeskinthestudy。Theisinglasssidesofthehard—coalburnerwereaglow,andtheairinthestudywassohotthatashecameinthedoctoropenedthedoorintohislittleoperating—room,wheretherewasnostove。Thewaiting—

  roomwascarpetedandstifflyfurnished,somethinglikeacountryparlor。Thestudyhadworn,unpaintedfloors,buttherewasalookofwintercomfortaboutit。Thedoctor’sflat—topdeskwaslargeandwellmade;thepaperswereinorderlypiles,underglassweights。Behindthestoveawidebookcase,withdoubleglassdoors,reachedfromthefloortotheceiling。Itwasfilledwithmedicalbooksofeverythicknessandcolor。Onthetopshelfstoodalongrowofthirtyorfortyvolumes,boundallalikeindarkmottledboardcovers,withimitationleatherbacks。

  AsthedoctorinNewEnglandvillagesisproverbiallyold,sothedoctorinsmallColoradotownstwenty—fiveyearsagowasgenerallyyoung。Dr。Archiewasbarelythirty。Hewastall,withmassiveshoulderswhichheheldstiffly,andalarge,well—shapedhead。Hewasadistin—

  guished—lookingman,forthatpartoftheworld,atleast。

  Therewassomethingindividualinthewayinwhichhisreddish—brownhair,partedcleanlyattheside,bushedoverhishighforehead。Hisnosewasstraightandthick,andhiseyeswereintelligent。Heworeacurly,reddishmustacheandanimperial,cuttrimly,whichmadehimlookalittlelikethepicturesofNapoleonIII。Hishandswerelargeandwellkept,butruggedlyformed,andthebackswereshadedwithcrinklyreddishhair。Heworeabluesuitofwoolly,wide—waledserge;thetravelingmenhadknownataglancethatitwasmadebyaDenvertailor。Thedoctorwasal—

  wayswelldressed。

  Dr。Archieturnedupthestudent’slampandsatdownintheswivelchairbeforehisdesk。Hesatuneasily,beatingatattooonhiskneeswithhisfingers,andlookedabouthimasifhewerebored。Heglancedathiswatch,thenabsentlytookfromhispocketabunchofsmallkeys,selectedoneandlookedatit。Acontemptuoussmile,barelypercepti—

  ble,playedonhislips,buthiseyesremainedmeditative。

  Behindthedoorthatledintothehall,underhisbuffalo—

  skindriving—coat,wasalockedcupboard。Thisthedoctoropenedmechanically,kickingasideapileofmuddyover—

  shoes。Inside,ontheshelves,werewhiskeyglassesanddecanters,lemons,sugar,andbitters。Hearingastepintheempty,echoinghallwithout,thedoctorclosedthecup—

  boardagain,snappingtheYalelock。Thedoorofthewaiting—roomopened,amanenteredandcameonintotheconsulting—room。

  \"Good—evening,Mr。Kronborg,\"saidthedoctorcare—

  lessly。\"Sitdown。\"

  Hisvisitorwasatall,looselybuiltman,withathinbrownbeard,streakedwithgray。Heworeafrockcoat,abroad—brimmedblackhat,awhitelawnnecktie,andsteel—

  rimmedspectacles。Altogethertherewasapretentiousandimportantairabouthim,asheliftedtheskirtsofhiscoatandsatdown。

  \"Good—evening,doctor。Canyousteparoundtothe

  housewithme?IthinkMrs。Kronborgwillneedyouthisevening。\"Thiswassaidwithprofoundgravityand,curi—

  ouslyenough,withaslightembarrassment。

  \"Anyhurry?\"thedoctoraskedoverhisshoulderashewentintohisoperating—room。

  Mr。Kronborgcoughedbehindhishand,andcontractedhisbrows。Hisfacethreatenedateverymomenttobreakintoasmileoffoolishexcitement。Hecontrolleditonlybycallinguponhishabitualpulpitmanner。\"Well,Ithinkitwouldbeaswelltogoimmediately。Mrs。Kronborgwillbemorecomfortableifyouarethere。Shehasbeensufferingforsometime。\"

  Thedoctorcamebackandthrewablackbaguponhisdesk。Hewrotesomeinstructionsforhismanonapre—

  scriptionpadandthendrewonhisovercoat。\"Allready,\"

  heannounced,puttingouthislamp。Mr。Kronborgroseandtheytrampedthroughtheemptyhallanddownthestairwaytothestreet。Thedrugstorebelowwasdark,andthesaloonnextdoorwasjustclosing。EveryotherlightonMainStreetwasout。

  Oneithersideoftheroadandattheouteredgeoftheboardsidewalk,thesnowhadbeenshoveledintobreast—

  works。Thetownlookedsmallandblack,flatteneddowninthesnow,muffledandallbutextinguished。Overheadthestarsshonegloriously。Itwasimpossiblenottonoticethem。TheairwassoclearthatthewhitesandhillstotheeastofMoonstonegleamedsoftly。FollowingtheReverendMr。Kronborgalongthenarrowwalk,pastthelittledark,sleepinghouses,thedoctorlookedupattheflashingnightandwhistledsoftly。Itdidseemthatpeoplewerestupiderthantheyneedbe;asifonanightlikethisthereoughttobesomethingbettertodothantosleepninehours,ortoassistMrs。Kronborginfunctionswhichshecouldhaveperformedsoadmirablyunaided。HewishedhehadgonedowntoDenvertohearFayTempletonsing\"See—Saw。\"

  Thenherememberedthathehadapersonalinterestinthis

  family,afterall。Theyturnedintoanotherstreetandsawbeforethemlightedwindows;alowstory—and—a—halfhouse,withawingbuiltonattherightandakitchenadditionattheback,everythingalittleontheslant——roofs,windows,anddoors。Astheyapproachedthegate,PeterKron—

  borg’spacegrewbrisker。Hisnervous,ministerialcoughannoyedthedoctor。\"Exactlyasifheweregoingtogiveoutatext,\"hethought。Hedrewoffhisgloveandfeltinhisvestpocket。\"Haveatroche,Kronborg,\"hesaid,producingsome。\"Sentmeforsamples。Verygoodforaroughthroat。\"

  \"Ah,thankyou,thankyou。Iwasinsomethingofahurry。Ineglectedtoputonmyovershoes。Hereweare,doctor。\"Kronborgopenedhisfrontdoor——seemedde—

  lightedtobeathomeagain。

  Thefronthallwasdarkandcold;thehatrackwashungwithanastonishingnumberofchildren’shatsandcapsandcloaks。Theywereevenpiledonthetablebeneaththehatrack。Underthetablewasaheapofrubbersandover—

  shoes。Whilethedoctorhunguphiscoatandhat,PeterKronborgopenedthedoorintotheliving—room。Aglareoflightgreetedthem,andarushofhot,staleair,smellingofwarmingflannels。

  Atthreeo’clockinthemorningDr。Archiewasintheparlorputtingonhiscuffsandcoat——therewasnosparebedroominthathouse。PeterKronborg’sseventhchild,aboy,wasbeingsoothedandcossetedbyhisaunt,Mrs。

  Kronborgwasasleep,andthedoctorwasgoinghome。ButhewantedfirsttospeaktoKronborg,who,coatlessandfluttery,waspouringcoalintothekitchenstove。Asthedoctorcrossedthedining—roomhepausedandlistened。

  Fromoneofthewingrooms,offtotheleft,heheardrapid,distressedbreathing。Hewenttothekitchendoor。

  \"Oneofthechildrensickinthere?\"heasked,noddingtowardthepartition。

  Kronborghungupthestove—lifteranddustedhisfingers。

  \"ItmustbeThea。Imeanttoaskyoutolookather。Shehasacroupycold。Butinmyexcitement——Mrs。Kronborgisdoingfinely,eh,doctor?Notmanyofyourpatientswithsuchaconstitution,Iexpect。\"

  \"Oh,yes。She’safinemother。\"Thedoctortookupthelampfromthekitchentableandunceremoniouslywentintothewingroom。Twochubbylittleboyswereasleepinadoublebed,withthecoverlidsovertheirnosesandtheirfeetdrawnup。Inasinglebed,nexttotheirs,layalittlegirlofeleven,wideawake,twoyellowbraidsstickinguponthepillowbehindher。Herfacewasscarletandhereyeswereblazing。

  Thedoctorshutthedoorbehindhim。\"Feelprettysick,Thea?\"heaskedashetookouthisthermometer。\"Whydidn’tyoucallsomebody?\"

  Shelookedathimwithgreedyaffection。\"Ithoughtyouwerehere,\"shespokebetweenquickbreaths。\"Thereisanewbaby,isn’tthere?Which?\"

  \"Which?\"repeatedthedoctor。

  \"Brotherorsister?\"

  Hesmiledandsatdownontheedgeofthebed。\"Bro—

  ther,\"hesaid,takingherhand。\"Open。\"

  \"Good。Brothersarebetter,\"shemurmuredasheputtheglasstubeunderhertongue。

  \"Now,bestill,Iwanttocount。\"Dr。Archiereachedforherhandandtookouthiswatch。Whenheputherhandbackunderthequilthewentovertooneofthewin—

  dows——theywerebothtightshut——andlifteditalittleway。Hereachedupandranhishandalongthecold,un—

  paperedwall。\"Keepunderthecovers;I’llcomebacktoyouinamoment,\"hesaid,bendingovertheglasslampwithhisthermometer。Hewinkedatherfromthedoorbeforeheshutit。

  PeterKronborgwassittinginhiswife’sroom,holdingthebundlewhichcontainedhisson。Hisairofcheerful

  importance,hisbeardandglasses,evenhisshirt—sleeves,annoyedthedoctor。HebeckonedKronborgintotheliv—

  ing—roomandsaidsternly:——

  \"You’vegotaverysickchildinthere。Whydidn’tyoucallmebefore?It’spneumonia,andshemusthavebeensickforseveraldays。Putthebabydownsomewhere,please,andhelpmemakeupthebed—loungehereintheparlor。She’sgottobeinawarmroom,andshe’sgottobequiet。Youmustkeeptheotherchildrenout。Here,thisthingopensup,Isee,\"swingingbackthetopofthecar—

  petlounge。\"Wecanlifthermattressandcarryherinjustassheis。Idon’twanttodisturbhermorethanisnecessary。\"

  Kronborgwasallconcernimmediately。Thetwomentookupthemattressandcarriedthesickchildintotheparlor。

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