ingandthepartyactuallysetoff。GunnerandAxelwentwithThea，andRayhadaskedSpanishJohnnytocomeandtobringMrs。Tellamantezandhismandolin。Raywasartlesslyfondofmusic，especiallyofMexicanmusic。HeandMrs。Tellamantezhadgotupthelunchbetweenthem，andtheyweretomakecoffeeinthedesert。
WhentheyleftMexicanTown，TheawasonthefrontseatwithRayandJohnny，andGunnerandAxelsatbe—
hindwithMrs。Tellamantez。Theyobjectedtothis，ofcourse，butthereweresomethingsaboutwhichTheawouldhaveherownway。\"AsstubbornasaFinn，\"Mrs。Kron—
borgsometimessaidofher，quotinganoldSwedishsaying。
WhentheypassedtheKohlers’，oldFritzandWunschwerecuttinggrapesatthearbor。Theagavethemabusi—
nesslikenod。Wunschcametothegateandlookedafterthem。HedivinedRayKennedy’shopes，andhedis—
trustedeveryexpeditionthatledawayfromthepiano。
UnconsciouslyhemadeTheapayforfrivolousnessofthissort。
AsRayKennedy’spartyfollowedthefaintroadacrossthesagebrush，theyheardbehindthemthesoundofchurchbells，whichgavethemasenseofescapeandboundlessfreedom。Everyrabbitthatshotacrossthepath，everysagehenthatflewupbythetrail，waslikearunawaythought，amessagethatonesentintothedesert。Astheywentfarther，theillusionofthemiragebecamemorein—
steadoflessconvincing；ashallowsilverlakethatspreadformanymiles，alittlemistyinthesunlight。Hereandthereonesawreflectedtheimageofaheifer，turnedloosetoliveuponthesparsesand—grass。Theyweremagnifiedtoapreposterousheightandlookedlikemammoths，pre—
historicbeastsstandingsolitaryinthewatersthatformanythousandsofyearsactuallywashedoverthatdesert；
——themirageitselfmaybetheghostofthatlong—vanished
sea。Beyondthephantomlakelaythelineofmany—coloredhills；rich，sun—bakedyellow，glowingturquoise，lavender，purple；alltheopen，pastelcolorsofthedesert。
Afterthefirstfivemilestheroadgrewheavier。Thehorseshadtoslowdowntoawalkandthewheelssankdeepintothesand，whichnowlayinlongridges，likewaves，wherethelasthighwindhaddriftedit。TwohoursbroughtthepartytoPedro’sCup，namedforaMexicandesperadowhohadonceheldthesheriffatbaythere。TheCupwasagreatamphitheater，cutoutinthehills，itsfloorsmoothandpackedhard，dottedwithsagebrushandgreasewood。
OneithersideoftheCuptheyellowhillsrannorthandsouth，withwindingravinesbetweenthem，fullofsoftsandwhichdraineddownfromthecrumblingbanks。Onthesurfaceofthisfluidsand，onecouldfindbitsofbrilliantstone，crystalsandagatesandonyx，andpetrifiedwoodasredasblood。Driedtoadsandlizardsweretobefoundthere，too。Birds，decomposingmorerapidly，leftonlyfeatheredskeletons。
Afteralittlereconnoitering，Mrs。Tellamantezdeclaredthatitwastimeforlunch，andRaytookhishatchetandbegantocutgreasewood，whichburnsfiercelyinitsgreenstate。ThelittleboysdraggedthebushestothespotthatMrs。Tellamantezhadchosenforherfire。Mexicanwomenliketocookoutofdoors。
AfterlunchTheasentGunnerandAxeltohuntforagates。\"Ifyouseearattlesnake，run。Don’ttrytokillit，\"sheenjoined。
Gunnerhesitated。\"IfRaywouldletmetakethehatchet，Icouldkilloneallright。\"
Mrs。TellamantezsmiledandsaidsomethingtoJohnnyinSpanish。
\"Yes，\"herhusbandreplied，translating，\"theysayinMexico，killasnakebutneverhurthisfeelings。Downinthehotcountry，MUCHACHA，\"turningtoThea，\"peoplekeepapetsnakeinthehousetokillratsandmice。They
callhimthehousesnake。Theykeepalittlematforhimbythefire，andatnighthecurlupthereandsitwiththefamily，justasfriendly！\"
Gunnersniffedwithdisgust。\"Well，Ithinkthat’sadirtyMexicanwaytokeephouse；sothere！\"
Johnnyshruggedhisshoulders。\"Perhaps，\"hemuttered。
AMexicanlearnstodivebelowinsultsorsoarabovethem，afterhecrossestheborder。
Bythistimethesouthwalloftheamphitheatercastanarrowshelfofshadow，andthepartywithdrewtothisrefuge。RayandJohnnybegantotalkabouttheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，twoplacesmuchshroudedinmysteryinthosedays，andThealistenedintently。Mrs。
Tellamanteztookoutherdrawn—workandpinnedittoherknee。Raycouldtalkwellaboutthelargepartoftheconti—
nentoverwhichhehadbeenknockedabout，andJohnnywasappreciative。
\"Youbeenallover，prettynear。LikeaSpanishboy，\"
hecommentedrespectfully。
Ray，whohadtakenoffhiscoat，whettedhispocket—
knifethoughtfullyonthesoleofhisshoe。\"Ibegantobrowsearoundearly。Ihadamindtoseesomethingofthisworld，andIranawayfromhomebeforeIwastwelve。
Rustledformyselfeversince。\"
\"Ranaway？\"Johnnylookedhopeful。\"Whatfor？\"
\"Couldn’tmakeitgowithmyoldman，anddidn’ttaketofarming。Therewereplentyofboysathome。Iwasn’tmissed。\"
Theawriggleddowninthehotsandandrestedherchinonherarm。\"TellJohnnyaboutthemelons，Ray，pleasedo！\"
Ray’ssolid，sunburnedcheeksgrewashaderedder，andhelookedreproachfullyatThea。\"You’restuckonthatstory，kid。Youliketogetthelaughonme，don’tyou？
ThatwasthefinishingsplitIhadwithmyoldman，John。
Hehadaclaimalongthecreek，notfarfromDenver，and
raisedalittlegardenstuffformarket。Onedayhehadaloadofmelonsandhedecidedtotake’emtotownandsell’emalongthestreet，andhemademegoalonganddriveforhim。Denverwasn’tthequeencityitisnow，byanymeans，butitseemedaterriblebigplacetome；andwhenwegotthere，ifhedidn’tmakemedriverightupCapitolHill！Papgotoutandstoppedatfolkseshousestoaskiftheydidn’twanttobuyanymelons，andIwastodrivealongslow。ThefartherIwentthemadderIgot，butIwastryingtolookunconscious，whentheend—gatecamelooseandoneofthemelonsfelloutandsquashed。Justthenaswellgirl，alldressedup，comesoutofoneofthebighousesandcallsout，`Hello，boy，you’relosingyourmelons！’
Somedudesontheothersideofthestreettooktheirhatsofftoherandbegantolaugh。Icouldn’tstanditanylonger。Igrabbedthewhipandlitintothatteam，andtheytoreupthehilllikejack—rabbits，themdamnedmelonsbouncingoutthebackeveryjump，theoldmancussin’an’
yellin’behindandeverybodylaughin’。Ineverlookedbe—
hind，butthewholeofCapitolHillmusthavebeenamesswiththemsquashedmelons。Ididn’tstoptheteamtillI
gotoutofsightoftown。ThenIpulledupan’left’emwitharancherIwasacquaintedwith，andIneverwenthometogetthelickin’thatwaswaitin’forme。Iexpectit’swaitin’
formeyet。\"
Thearolledoverinthesand。\"Oh，IwishIcouldhaveseenthosemelonsfly，Ray！I’llneverseeanythingasfunnyasthat。Now，tellJohnnyaboutyourfirstjob。\"
Rayhadacollectionofgoodstories。Hewasobservant，truthful，andkindly——perhapsthechiefrequisitesinagoodstory—teller。Occasionallyheusednewspaperphrases，conscientiouslylearnedinhiseffortsatself—instruction，butwhenhetalkednaturallyhewasalwaysworthlisteningto。
Neverhavinghadanyschoolingtospeakof，hehad，almostfromthetimehefirstranaway，triedtomakegoodhisloss。
Asasheep—herderhehadworriedanoldgrammartotatters，
andreadinstructivebookswiththehelpofapocketdic—
tionary。Bythelightofmanycamp—fireshehadpondereduponPrescott’shistories，andtheworksofWashingtonIrving，whichheboughtatahighpricefromabook—agent。
Mathematicsandphysicswereeasyforhim，butgeneralculturecamehard，andhewasdeterminedtogetit。Raywasafreethinker，andinconsistentlybelievedhimselfdamnedforbeingone。Whenhewasbraking，downontheSantaFe，attheendofhisrunheusedtoclimbintotheupperbunkofthecaboose，whileanoisygangplayedpokeraboutthestovebelowhim，andbytheroof—lampreadRobertIngersoll’sspeechesand\"TheAgeofReason。\"
Raywasaloyal—heartedfellow，andithadcosthimagreatdealtogiveuphisGod。Hewasoneofthestep—
childrenofFortune，andhehadverylittletoshowforallhishardwork；theotherfellowalwaysgotthebestofit。
Hehadcomeintoolate，ortooearly，onseveralschemesthathadmademoney。Hebroughtwithhimfromallhiswanderingsagooddealofinformation（moreorlesscorrectinitself，butunrelated，andthereforemisleading），ahighstandardofpersonalhonor，asentimentalvenerationforallwomen，badaswellasgood，andabitterhatredofEnglishmen。TheaoftenthoughtthatthenicestthingaboutRaywashisloveforMexicoandtheMexicans，whohadbeenkindtohimwhenhedrifted，ahomelessboy，overtheborder。InMexico，RaywasSenorKen—ay—dy，andwhenheansweredtothatnamehewassomehowadifferentfellow。HespokeSpanishfluently，andthesunnywarmthofthattonguekepthimfrombeingquiteashardashischin，orasnarrowashispopularscience。
WhileRaywassmokinghiscigar，heandJohnnyfelltotalkingaboutthegreatfortunesthathadbeenmadeintheSouthwest，andaboutfellowstheyknewwhohad\"struckitrich。\"
\"Iguessyoubeeninonsomebigdealsdownthere？\"
Johnnyaskedtrustfully。
Raysmiledandshookhishead。\"I’vebeenoutonsome，John。I’veneverbeenexactlyinonany。Sofar，I’veeitherheldontoolongorletgotoosoon。Butmine’scomingtome，allright。\"Raylookedreflective。Heleanedbackintheshadowanddugoutarestforhiselbowinthesand。
\"ThenarrowestescapeIeverhad，wasintheBridalCham—
ber。IfIhadn’tletgothere，itwouldhavemademerich。
Thatwasaclosecall。\"
Johnnylookeddelighted。\"Youdon’say！Shewassilvermine，Iguess？\"
\"Iguessshewas！DownatLakeValley。Iputupafewhundredfortheprospector，andhegavemeabunchofstock。Beforewe’dgotanythingoutofit，mybrother—in—
lawdiedofthefeverinCuba。MysisterwasbesideherselftogethisbodybacktoColoradotoburyhim。Seemedfoolishtome，butshe’stheonlysisterIgot。It’sexpensivefordeadfolkstotravel，andIhadtosellmystockintheminetoraisethemoneytogetElmeronthemove。Twomonthsafterward，theboysstruckthatbigpocketintherock，fullofvirginsilver。TheynamedhertheBridalChamber。Itwasn’tore，youremember。Itwaspure，softmetalyoucouldhavemeltedrightdownintodollars。Theboyscutitoutwithchisels。IfoldElmerhadn’tplayedthattrickonme，I’dhavebeeninforaboutfiftythousand。
Thatwasaclosecall，Spanish。\"
\"Irecollec’。Whenthepocketgone，thetowngobust。\"
\"Youbet。Higher’nakite。Therewasnovein，justapocketintherockthathadsometimeoranothergotfilledupwithmoltensilver。You’dthinktherewouldbemoresomewhereabout，butNADA。There’sfoolsdiggingholesinthatmountainyet。\"
WhenRayhadfinishedhiscigar，Johnnytookhisman—
dolinandbeganKennedy’sfavorite，\"UltimoAmor。\"Itwasnowthreeo’clockintheafternoon，thehottesthourintheday。Thenarrowshelfofshadowhadwideneduntiltheflooroftheamphitheaterwasmarkedoffintwohalves，
oneglitteringyellow，andonepurple。Thelittleboyshadcomebackandweremakingarobbers’cavetoenactthebolddeedsofPedrothebandit。Johnny，stretchedgrace—
fullyonthesand，passedfrom\"UltimoAmor\"to\"FluviadeOro，\"andthento\"NochesdeAlgeria，\"playinglan—
guidly。
Everyonewasbusywithhisownthoughts。Mrs。
Tellamantezwasthinkingofthesquareinthelittletowninwhichshewasborn；ofthewhitechurchsteps，withpeoplegenuflectingastheypassed，andtheround—toppedacaciatrees，andthebandplayingintheplaza。RayKen—
nedywasthinkingofthefuture，dreamingthelargeWesterndreamofeasymoney，ofafortunekickedupsomewhereinthehills，——anoilwell，agoldmine，aledgeofcopper。Healwaystoldhimself，whenheacceptedacigarfromanewlymarriedrailroadman，thatheknewenoughnottomarryuntilhehadfoundhisideal，andcouldkeepherlikeaqueen。
Hebelievedthatintheyellowheadoverthereinthesandhehadfoundhisideal，andthatbythetimeshewasoldenoughtomarry，hewouldbeabletokeepherlikeaqueen。
Hewouldkickitupfromsomewhere，whenhegotloosefromtherailroad。
Thea，stirredbytalesofadventure，oftheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，wasrecallingagreatadventureofherown。Earlyinthesummerherfatherhadbeeninvitedtoconductareunionofoldfrontiersmen，upinWyoming，nearLaramie，andhetookTheaalongwithhimtoplaytheorganandsingpatrioticsongs。TheretheystayedatthehouseofanoldranchmanwhotoldthemaboutaridgeupinthehillscalledLaramiePlain，wherethewagon—trailsoftheForty—ninersandtheMormonswerestillvisible。TheoldmanevenvolunteeredtotakeMr。
Kronborgupintothehillstoseethisplace，thoughitwasaverylongdrivetomakeinoneday。Theahadbeggedfranticallytogoalong，andtheoldrancher，flatteredbyherraptattentiontohisstories，hadintercededforher。
TheysetoutfromLaramiebeforedaylight，behindastrongteamofmules。AllthewaytherewasmuchtalkoftheForty—niners。TheoldrancherhadbeenateamsterinafreighttrainthatusedtocrawlbackandforthacrosstheplainsbetweenOmahaandCherryCreek，asDenverwasthencalled，andhehadmetmanyawagontrainboundforCalifornia。HetoldofIndiansandbuffalo，thirstandslaughter，wanderingsinsnowstorms，andlonelygravesinthedesert。
Theroadtheyfollowedwasawildandbeautifulone。Itledupandup，bygraniterocksandstuntedpines，arounddeepravinesandechoinggorges。Thetopoftheridge，whentheyreachedit，wasagreatflatplain，strewnwithwhiteboulders，withthewindhowlingoverit。Therewasnotonetrail，asTheahadexpected；therewereascore；deepfur—
rows，cutintheearthbyheavywagonwheels，andnowgrownoverwithdry，whitishgrass。Thefurrowsransidebyside；whenonetrailhadbeenworntoodeep，thenextpartyhadabandoneditandmadeanewtrailtotherightorleft。Theywere，indeed，onlyoldwagonruts，runningeastandwest，andgrownoverwithgrass。ButasThearanaboutamongthewhitestones，herskirtsblowingthiswayandthat，thewindbroughttohereyestearsthatmighthavecomeanyway。Theoldrancherpickedupanironox—shoefromoneofthefurrowsandgaveittoherforakeepsake。Tothewestonecouldseerangeafterrangeofbluemountains，andatlastthesnowyrange，withitswhite，windypeaks，thecloudscaughthereandthereontheirspurs。AgainandagainTheahadtohideherfacefromthecoldforamoment。Thewindneversleptonthisplain，theoldmansaid。Everylittlewhileeaglesflewover。
ComingupfromLaramie，theoldmanhadtoldthemthathewasinBrownsville，Nebraska，whenthefirsttele—
graphwireswereputacrosstheMissouriRiver，andthatthefirstmessagethatevercrossedtheriverwas\"West—
wardthecourseofEmpiretakesitsway。\"Hehadbeen
intheroomwhentheinstrumentbegantoclick，andallthementherehad，withoutthinkingwhattheyweredoing，takenofftheirhats，waitingbareheadedtohearthemes—
sagetranslated。Thearememberedthatmessagewhenshesighteddownthewagontrackstowardthebluemoun—
tains。Shetoldherselfshewouldnever，neverforgetit。
Thespiritofhumancourageseemedtoliveuptherewiththeeagles。Forlongafter，whenshewasmovedbyaFourth—of—Julyoration，oraband，oracircusparade，shewasapttorememberthatwindyridge。
To—dayshewenttosleepwhileshewasthinkingaboutit。WhenRaywakenedher，thehorseswerehitchedtothewagonandGunnerandAxelwerebeggingforaplaceonthefrontseat。Theairhadcooled，thesunwassetting，andthedesertwasonfire。TheacontentedlytookthebackseatwithMrs。Tellamantez。Astheydrovehomewardthestarsbegantocomeout，paleyellowinayellowsky，andRayandJohnnybegantosingoneofthoserailroaddittiesthatareusuallybornontheSouthernPacificandrunthelengthoftheSantaFeandthe\"Q\"systembeforetheydietogiveplacetoanewone。ThiswasasongaboutaGreaserdance，therefrainbeingsomethinglikethis：——
\"Pedro，Pedro，swinghigh，swinglow，Andit’sallamandleftagain；
Forthere’sboysthat’sboldandthere’ssomethat’scold，ButthegoldboyscomefromSpain，Oh，thegoldboyscomefromSpain！\"
VIII
Winterwaslongincomingthatyear。ThroughoutOctoberthedayswerebathedinsunlightandtheairwasclearascrystal。Thetownkeptitscheerfulsum—
meraspect，thedesertglistenedwithlight，thesandhillseverydaywentthroughmagicalchangesofcolor。Thescarletsagebloomedlateinthefrontyards，thecottonwoodleaveswerebrightgoldlongbeforetheyfell，anditwasnotuntilNovemberthatthegreenonthetamarisksbegantocloudandfade。TherewasaflurryofsnowaboutThanks—
giving，andthenDecembercameonwarmandclear。
Theahadthreemusicpupilsnow，littlegirlswhosemothersdeclaredthatProfessorWunschwas\"muchtoosevere。\"TheytooktheirlessonsonSaturday，andthis，ofcourse，cutdownhertimeforplay。Shedidnotreallymindthisbecauseshewasallowedtousethemoney——herpupilspaidhertwenty—fivecentsalesson——tofitupalittleroomforherselfupstairsinthehalf—story。Itwastheendroomofthewing，andwasnotplastered，butwassnuglylinedwithsoftpine。Theceilingwassolowthatagrownpersoncouldreachitwiththepalmofthehand，anditslopeddownoneitherside。Therewasonlyonewindow，butitwasadoubleoneandwenttothefloor。InOctober，whilethedayswerestillwarm，TheaandTilliepaperedtheroom，wallsandceilinginthesamepaper，smallredandbrownrosesonayellowishground。Theaboughtabrowncottoncarpet，andherbigbrother，Gus，putitdownforheroneSunday。Shemadewhitecheeseclothcurtainsandhungthemonatape。Hermothergaveheranoldwalnutdresserwithabrokenmirror，andshehadherowndumpywalnutsinglebed，andabluewashbowlandpitcherwhichshehaddrawnatachurchfairlottery。Attheheadofherbedshe
hadatallroundwoodenhat—crate，fromtheclothingstore。
This，standingonendanddrapedwithcretonne，madeafairlysteadytableforherlantern。Shewasnotallowedtotakealampupstairs，soRayKennedygaveherarailroadlanternbywhichshecouldreadatnight。
InwinterthisloftroomofThea’swasbitterlycold，butagainsthermother’sadvice——andTillie’s——shealwaysleftherwindowopenalittleway。Mrs。Kronborgdeclaredthatshe\"hadnopatiencewithAmericanphysiology，\"
thoughthelessonsabouttheinjuriouseffectsofalcoholandtobaccowerewellenoughfortheboys。TheaaskedDr。Archieaboutthewindow，andhetoldherthatagirlwhosangmustalwayshaveplentyoffreshair，orhervoicewouldgethusky，andthatthecoldwouldhardenherthroat。Theimportantthing，hesaid，wastokeepyourfeetwarm。OnverycoldnightsTheaalwaysputabrickintheovenaftersupper，andwhenshewentupstairsshewrappeditinanoldflannelpetticoatandputitinherbed。Theboys，whowouldneverheatbricksforthem—
selves，sometimescarriedoffThea’s，andthoughtitagoodjoketogetaheadofher。
WhenTheafirstplungedinbetweenherredblankets，thecoldsometimeskeptherawakeforagoodwhile，andshecomfortedherselfbyrememberingallshecouldof\"PolarExplorations，\"afat，calf—boundvolumeherfatherhadboughtfromabook—agent，andbythinkingaboutthemembersofGreely’sparty：howtheylayintheirfrozensleeping—bags，eachmanhoardingthewarmthofhisownbodyandtryingtomakeitlastaslongaspossibleagainsttheon—comingcoldthatwouldbeeverlasting。Afterhalfanhourorso，awarmwavecreptoverherbodyandround，sturdylegs；sheglowedlikealittlestovewiththewarmthofherownblood，andtheheavyquiltsandredblanketsgrewwarmwherevertheytouchedher，thoughherbreathsometimesfrozeonthecoverlid。Beforedaylight，herinter—
nalfireswentdownalittle，andsheoftenwakenedtofind
herselfdrawnupintoatightball，somewhatstiffinthelegs。
Butthatmadeitalltheeasiertogetup。
TheacquisitionofthisroomwasthebeginningofanewerainThea’slife。Itwasoneofthemostimportantthingsthateverhappenedtoher。Hitherto，exceptinsummer，whenshecouldbeoutofdoors，shehadlivedinconstantturmoil；thefamily，thedayschool，theSunday—School。
Theclamoraboutherdrownedthevoicewithinherself。Intheendofthewing，separatedfromtheotherupstairssleeping—roomsbyalong，cold，unfinishedlumberroom，hermindworkedbetter。Shethoughtthingsoutmoreclearly。Pleasantplansandideasoccurredtoherwhichhadnevercomebefore。Shehadcertainthoughtswhichwerelikecompanions，ideaswhichwerelikeolderandwiserfriends。Sheleftthemthereinthemorning，whenshefin—
isheddressinginthecold，andatnight，whenshecameupwithherlanternandshutthedoorafterabusyday，shefoundthemawaitingher。Therewasnopossiblewayofheatingtheroom，butthatwasfortunate，forotherwiseitwouldhavebeenoccupiedbyoneofherolderbrothers。
Fromthetimewhenshemovedupintothewing，Theabegantoliveadoublelife。Duringtheday，whenthehourswerefulloftasks，shewasoneoftheKronborgchildren，butatnightshewasadifferentperson。OnFridayandSatur—
daynightsshealwaysreadforalongwhileaftershewasinbed。Shehadnoclock，andtherewasnoonetonagher。
RayKennedy，onhiswayfromthedepottohisboarding—
house，oftenlookedupandsawThea’slightburningwhentherestofthehousewasdark，andfeltcheeredasbyafriendlygreeting。Hewasafaithfulsoul，andmanydis—
appointmentshadnotchangedhisnature。Hewasstill，atheart，thesameboywho，whenhewassixteen，hadset—
tleddowntofreezewithhissheepinaWyomingblizzard，andhadbeenrescuedonlytoplaythelosinggameoffidel—
itytoothercharges。
Rayhadnoveryclearideaofwhatmightbegoingon
inThea’shead，butheknewthatsomethingwas。HeusedtoremarktoSpanishJohnny，\"Thatgirlisdevelopingsomethingfine。\"TheawaspatientwithRay，eveninregardtothelibertieshetookwithhername。Outsidethefamily，everyoneinMoonstone，exceptWunschandDr。
Archie，calledher\"Thee—a，\"butthisseemedcoldanddis—
tanttoRay，sohecalledher\"Thee。\"Once，inamomentofexasperation，Theaaskedhimwhyhedidthis，andheexplainedthatheoncehadachum，Theodore，whosenamewasalwaysabbreviatedthus，andthatsincehewaskilleddownontheSantaFe，itseemednaturaltocallsomebody\"Thee。\"Theasighedandsubmitted。Shewasalwayshelplessbeforehomelysentimentandusuallychangedthesubject。
ItwasthecustomforeachofthedifferentSunday—
SchoolsinMoonstonetogiveaconcertonChristmasEve。
Butthisyearallthechurchesweretouniteandgive，aswasannouncedfromthepulpits，\"asemi—sacredconcertofpickedtalent\"attheoperahouse。TheMoonstoneOrchestra，underthedirectionofProfessorWunsch，wastoplay，andthemosttalentedmembersofeachSunday—
Schoolweretotakepartintheprogramme。Theawasputdownbythecommittee\"forinstrumental。\"Thismadeherindignant，forthevocalnumberswerealwaysmorepopular。Theawenttothepresidentofthecommitteeanddemandedhotlyifherrival，LilyFisher，weregoingtosing。
Thepresidentwasabig，florid，powderedwoman，afierceW。C。T。U。worker，oneofThea’snaturalenemies。HernamewasJohnson；herhusbandkepttheliverystable，andshewascalledMrs。LiveryJohnson，todistinguishherfromotherfamiliesofthesamesurname。Mrs。JohnsonwasaprominentBaptist，andLilyFisherwastheBaptistprodigy。TherewasanotveryChristianrivalrybetweentheBaptistChurchandMr。Kronborg’schurch。
WhenTheaaskedMrs。Johnsonwhetherherrivalwastobeallowedtosing，Mrs。Johnson，withaneagerness