whichtoldhowshehadwaitedforthismoment，repliedthat\"Lilywasgoingtorecitetobeobliging，andtogiveotherchildrenachancetosing。\"Asshedeliveredthisthrust，hereyesglitteredmorethantheAncientMariner’s，Theathought。Mrs。JohnsondisapprovedofthewayinwhichTheawasbeingbroughtup，ofachildwhosechosenassociateswereMexicansandsinners，andwhowas，asshepointedlyputit，\"boldwithmen。\"Shesoenjoyedanop—
portunitytorebukeThea，that，tightlycorsetedasshewas，shecouldscarcelycontrolherbreathing，andherlaceandhergoldwatchchainroseandfell\"withshort，uneasymotion。\"Frowning，Theaturnedawayandwalkedslowlyhomeward。Shesuspectedguile。LilyFisherwasthemoststuck—updollintheworld，anditwascertainlynotlikehertorecitetobeobliging。Nobodywhocouldsingeverrecited，becausethewarmestapplausealwayswenttothesingers。
However，whentheprogrammewasprintedintheMoon—
stoneGLEAM，thereitwas：\"Instrumentalsolo，TheaKronborg。Recitation，LilyFisher。\"
Becausehisorchestrawastoplayfortheconcert，Mr。
Wunschimaginedthathehadbeenputinchargeofthemusic，andhebecamearrogant。HeinsistedthatTheashouldplaya\"Ballade\"byReinecke。WhenTheacon—
sultedhermother，Mrs。Kronborgagreedwithherthatthe\"Ballade\"would\"nevertake\"withaMoonstoneaudi—
ence。SheadvisedTheatoplay\"somethingwithvaria—
tions，\"or，atleast，\"TheInvitationtotheDance。\"
\"Itmakesnomatterwhattheylike，\"WunschrepliedtoThea’sentreaties。\"Itistimealreadythattheylearnsomething。\"
Thea’sfightingpowershadbeenimpairedbyanulcer—
atedtoothandconsequentlossofsleep，soshegavein。Shefinallyhadthemolarpulled，thoughitwasasecondtoothandshouldhavebeensaved。Thedentistwasaclumsy，ignorantcountryboy，andMr。KronborgwouldnothearofDr。Archie’stakingTheatoadentistinDenver，though
RayKennedysaidhecouldgetapassforher。Whatwiththepainofthetooth，andfamilydiscussionsaboutit，withtryingtomakeChristmaspresentsandtokeepupherschoolworkandpracticing，andgivinglessonsonSatur—
days，Theawasfairlywornout。
OnChristmasEveshewasnervousandexcited。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadeverplayedintheoperahouse，andshehadneverbeforehadtofacesomanypeople。
Wunschwouldnotletherplaywithhernotes，andshewasafraidofforgetting。Beforetheconcertbegan，allthepar—
ticipantshadtoassembleonthestageandsittheretobelookedat。Theaworeherwhitesummerdressandabluesash，butLilyFisherhadanewpinksilk，trimmedwithwhiteswansdown。
Thehallwaspacked。ItseemedasifeveryoneinMoon—
stonewasthere，evenMrs。Kohler，inherhood，andoldFritz。Theseatswerewoodenkitchenchairs，numbered，andnailedtolongplankswhichheldthemtogetherinrows。Asthefloorwasnotraised，thechairswereallonthesamelevel。Themoreinterestedpersonsintheaudiencepeeredovertheheadsofthepeopleinfrontofthemtogetagoodviewofthestage。FromtheplatformTheapickedoutmanyfriendlyfaces。TherewasDr。Archie，whoneverwenttochurchentertainments；therewasthefriendlyjewelerwhoorderedhermusicforher，——hesoldaccor—
dionsandguitarsaswellaswatches，——andthedruggistwhooftenlentherbooks，andherfavoriteteacherfromtheschool。TherewasRayKennedy，withapartyoffreshlybarberedrailroadmenhehadbroughtalongwithhim。
TherewasMrs。Kronborgwithallthechildren，evenThor，whohadbeenbroughtoutinanewwhiteplushcoat。AtthebackofthehallsatalittlegroupofMexicans，andamongthemTheacaughtthegleamofSpanishJohnny’swhiteteeth，andofMrs。Tellamantez’slustrous，smoothlycoiledblackhair。
Aftertheorchestraplayed\"SelectionsfromErminie，\"
andtheBaptistpreachermadealongprayer，TillieKron—
borgcameonwithahighlycoloredrecitation，\"ThePolishBoy。\"Whenitwasovereveryonebreathedmorefreely。
NocommitteehadthecouragetoleaveTillieoffapro—
gramme。Shewasacceptedasatryingfeatureofeveryentertainment。TheProgressiveEuchreClubwastheonlysocialorganizationinthetownthatentirelyescapedTillie。
AfterTilliesatdown，theLadies’Quartettesang，\"Beloved，itisNight，\"andthenitwasThea’sturn。
The\"Ballade\"tooktenminutes，whichwasfiveminutestoolong。Theaudiencegrewrestiveandfelltowhispering。
TheacouldhearMrs。LiveryJohnson’sbraceletsjanglingasshefannedherself，andshecouldhearherfather’snerv—
ous，ministerialcough。Thorbehavedbetterthananyoneelse。WhenTheabowedandreturnedtoherseatatthebackofthestagetherewastheusualapplause，butitwasvigorousonlyfromthebackofthehousewheretheMexi—
canssat，andfromRayKennedy’sCLAQUEURS。Anyonecouldseethatagood—naturedaudiencehadbeenbored。
BecauseMr。Kronborg’ssisterwasontheprogramme，ithadalsobeennecessarytoasktheBaptistpreacher’swife’scousintosing。Shewasa\"deepalto\"fromMcCook，andshesang，\"ThySentinelAmI。\"AfterhercameLilyFisher。Thea’srivalwasalsoablonde，butherhairwasmuchheavierthanThea’s，andfellinlongroundcurlsoverhershoulders。Shewastheangel—childoftheBaptists，andlookedexactlylikethebeautifulchildrenonsoapcalen—
dars。Herpink—and—whiteface，hersetsmileofinnocence，weresurelybornofacolor—press。Shehadlong，droopingeyelashes，alittlepursed—upmouth，andnarrow，pointedteeth，likeasquirrel’s。
Lilybegan：——
\"ROCKOFAGES，CLEFTFORME，carelesslythemaidensang。\"
Theadrewalongbreath。Thatwasthegame；itwasarecitationandasonginone。Lilytrailedthehymn
throughhalfadozenverseswithgreateffect。TheBaptistpreacherhadannouncedatthebeginningoftheconcertthat\"owingtothelengthoftheprogramme，therewouldbenoencores。\"ButtheapplausewhichfollowedLilytoherseatwassuchanunmistakableexpressionofenthusi—
asmthatTheahadtoadmitLilywasjustifiedingoingback。ShewasattendedthistimebyMrs。LiveryJohnsonherself，crimsonwithtriumphandgleaming—eyed，nerv—
ouslyrollingandunrollingasheetofmusic。ShetookoffherbraceletsandplayedLily’saccompaniment。Lilyhadtheeffronterytocomeoutwith，\"ShesangthesongofHome，SweetHome，thesongthattouchedmyheart。\"ButthisdidnotsurpriseThea；asRaysaidlaterintheevening，\"thecardshadbeenstackedagainstherfromthebegin—
ning。\"ThenextissueoftheGLEAMcorrectlystatedthat\"unquestionablythehonorsoftheeveningmustbeac—
cordedtoMissLilyFisher。\"TheBaptistshadeverythingtheirownway。
AftertheconcertRayKennedyjoinedtheKronborgs’
partyandwalkedhomewiththem。Theawasgratefulforhissilentsympathy，evenwhileitirritatedher。Shein—
wardlyvowedthatshewouldnevertakeanotherlessonfromoldWunsch。Shewishedthatherfatherwouldnotkeepcheerfullysinging，\"WhenShepherdsWatched，\"ashemarchedahead，carryingThor。ShefeltthatsilencewouldbecometheKronborgsforawhile。Asafamily，theysomehowseemedalittleridiculous，troopingalonginthestarlight。Thereweresomanyofthem，foronething。
ThenTilliewassoabsurd。ShewasgigglingandtalkingtoAnnajustasifshehadnotmade，asevenMrs。Kronborgadmitted，anexhibitionofherself。
Whentheygothome，RaytookaboxfromhisovercoatpocketandslippeditintoThea’shandashesaidgood—
night。Theyallhurriedintotheglowingstoveintheparlor。Thesleepychildrenweresenttobed。Mrs。Kron—
borgandAnnastayeduptofillthestockings。
\"Iguessyou’retired，Thea。Youneedn’tstayup。\"
Mrs。Kronborg’sclearandseeminglyindifferenteyeusu—
allymeasuredTheaprettyaccurately。
Theahesitated。Sheglancedatthepresentslaidoutonthedining—roomtable，buttheylookedunattractive。EventhebrownplushmonkeyshehadboughtforThorwithsuchenthusiasmseemedtohavelosthiswiseandhumorousexpression。Shemurmured，\"Allright，\"tohermother，litherlantern，andwentupstairs。
Ray’sboxcontainedahand—paintedwhitesatinfan，withpondlilies——anunfortunatereminder。Theasmiledgrimlyandtosseditintoherupperdrawer。Shewasnottobeconsoledbytoys。Sheundressedquicklyandstoodforsometimeinthecold，frowninginthebrokenlooking—
glassatherflaxenpig—tails，atherwhiteneckandarms。
Herownbroad，resolutefacesetitschinather，hereyesflashedintoherowndefiantly。LilyFisherwaspretty，andshewaswillingtobejustasbigafoolaspeoplewantedhertobe。Verywell；TheaKronborgwasn’t。Shewouldratherbehatedthanbestupid，anyday。Shepoppedintobedandreadstubbornlyataqueerpaperbookthedrug—storemanhadgivenherbecausehecouldn’tsellit。Shehadtrainedherselftoputhermindonwhatshewasdoing，otherwiseshewouldhavecometogriefwithhercomplicateddailyschedule。Sheread，asintentlyasifshehadnotbeenflushedwithanger，thestrange\"MusicalMemories\"oftheReverendH。R。Haweis。Atlastsheblewoutthelan—
ternandwenttosleep。Shehadmanycuriousdreamsthatnight。InoneofthemMrs。TellamantezheldhershelltoThea’sear，andsheheardtheroaring，asbefore，anddis—
tantvoicescalling，\"LilyFisher！LilyFisher！\"
IX
Mr。KronborgconsideredTheaaremarkablechild；
butsowereallhischildrenremarkable。Ifoneofthebusinessmendowntownremarkedtohimthathe\"hadamightybrightlittlegirl，there，\"headmittedit，andatoncebegantoexplainwhata\"longheadforbusiness\"
hissonGushad，orthatCharleywas\"anaturalelectri—
cian，\"andhadputinatelephonefromthehousetothepreacher’sstudybehindthechurch。
Mrs。Kronborgwatchedherdaughterthoughtfully。Shefoundhermoreinterestingthanherotherchildren，andshetookhermoreseriously，withoutthinkingmuchaboutwhyshedidso。Theotherchildrenhadtobeguided，di—
rected，keptfromconflictingwithoneanother。CharleyandGuswerelikelytowantthesamething，andtoquarrelaboutit。Annaoftendemandedunreasonableservicefromherolderbrothers；thattheyshouldsitupuntilaftermid—
nighttobringherhomefrompartieswhenshedidnotliketheyouthwhohadofferedhimselfasherescort；orthattheyshoulddrivetwelvemilesintothecountry，onawinternight，totakehertoaranchdance，aftertheyhadbeenworkinghardallday。Gunneroftengotboredwithhisownclothesorstiltsorsled，andwantedAxel’s。ButThea，fromthetimeshewasalittlething，hadherownroutine。Shekeptoutofeveryone’sway，andwashardtomanageonlywhentheotherchildreninterferedwithher。Thentherewastroubleindeed：burstsoftemperwhichusedtoalarmMrs。Kronborg。\"YououghttoknowenoughtoletTheaalone。Sheletsyoualone，\"sheoftensaidtotheotherchildren。
Onemayhavestaunchfriendsinone’sownfamily，butoneseldomhasadmirers。Thea，however，hadoneinthe
personofheraddle—patedaunt，TillieKronborg。Inoldercountries，wheredressandopinionsandmannersarenotsothoroughlystandardizedasinourownWest，thereisabeliefthatpeoplewhoarefoolishaboutthemoreobviousthingsoflifeareapttohavepeculiarinsightintowhatliesbeyondtheobvious。Theoldwomanwhocanneverlearnnottoputthekerosenecanonthestove，mayyetbeabletotellfortunes，topersuadeabackwardchildtogrow，tocurewarts，ortotellpeoplewhattodowithayounggirlwhohasgonemelancholy。Tillie’smindwasacuriousmachine；whenshewasawakeitwentroundlikeawheelwhenthebelthasslippedoff，andwhenshewasasleepshedreamedfollies。Butshehadintuitions。Sheknew，forinstance，thatTheawasdifferentfromtheotherKron—
borgs，worthythoughtheyallwere。Herromanticim—
aginationfoundpossibilitiesinherniece。Whenshewassweepingorironing，orturningtheice—creamfreezeratafuriousrate，sheoftenbuiltupbrilliantfuturesforThea，adaptingfreelythelatestnovelshehadread。
Tilliemadeenemiesforhernieceamongthechurchpeoplebecause，atsewingsocietiesandchurchsuppers，shesometimesspokevauntingly，withatossofherhead，justasifThea’s\"wonderfulness\"wereanacceptedfactinMoonstone，likeMrs。Archie’sstinginess，orMrs。LiveryJohnson’sduplicity。Peopledeclaredthat，onthissubject，Tilliemadethemtired。
Tilliebelongedtoadramaticclubthatonceayearper—
formedintheMoonstoneOperaHousesuchplaysas\"AmongtheBreakers，\"and\"TheVeteranof1812。\"Tillieplayedcharacterparts，theflirtatiousoldmaidorthespitefulINTRIGANTE。Sheusedtostudyherpartsupintheatticathome。Whileshewascommittingthelines，shegotGunnerorAnnatoholdthebookforher，butwhenshebegan\"tobringouttheexpression，\"asshesaid，sheused，verytimorously，toaskTheatoholdthebook。
Theawasusually——notalways——agreeableaboutit。Her
motherhadtoldherthat，sinceshehadsomeinfluencewithTillie，itwouldbeagoodthingforthemallifshecouldtoneherdownashadeand\"keepherfromtakingonanyworsethanneedbe。\"TheawouldsitonthefootofTillie’sbed，herfeettuckedunderher，andstareatthesillytext。
\"Iwouldn’tmakesomuchfuss，there，Tillie，\"shewouldremarkoccasionally；\"Idon’tseethepointinit\"；or，\"Whatdoyoupitchyourvoicesohighfor？Itdon’tcarryhalfaswell。\"
\"Idon’tseehowitcomesTheaissopatientwithTil—
lie，\"Mrs。Kronborgmorethanonceremarkedtoherhus—
band。\"Sheain’tpatientwithmostpeople，butitseemslikeshe’sgotapeculiarpatienceforTillie。\"
TilliealwayscoaxedTheatogo\"behindthescenes\"
withherwhentheclubpresentedaplay，andhelpherwithhermake—up。Theahatedit，butshealwayswent。Shefeltasifshehadtodoit。TherewassomethinginTillie’sadorationofherthatcompelledher。TherewasnofamilyimproprietythatTheawassomuchashamedofasTillie’s\"acting\"andyetshewasalwaysbeingdraggedintoassisther。Tilliesimplyhadher，there。Shedidn’tknowwhy，butitwasso。TherewasastringinhersomewherethatTilliecouldpull；asenseofobligationtoTillie’smisguidedaspirations。Thesaloon—keepershadsomesuchfeelingofresponsibilitytowardSpanishJohnny。
ThedramaticclubwastheprideofTillie’sheart，andherenthusiasmwastheprincipalfactorinkeepingittogether。
Sickorwell，Tilliealwaysattendedrehearsals，andwasalwaysurgingtheyoungpeople，whotookrehearsalslightly，to\"stopfoolingandbeginnow。\"Theyoungmen——bankclerks，groceryclerks，insuranceagents——playedtricks，laughedatTillie，and\"putituponeachother\"
aboutseeingherhome；buttheyoftenwenttotiresomerehearsalsjusttoobligeher。Theyweregood—naturedyoungfellows。Theirtrainerandstage—managerwasyoungUpping，thejewelerwhoorderedThea’smusicforher。
Thoughbarelythirty，hehadfollowedhalfadozenpro—
fessions，andhadoncebeenaviolinistintheorchestraoftheAndrewsOperaCompany，thenwellknowninlittletownsthroughoutColoradoandNebraska。
ByoneamazingindiscretionTillieverynearlylostherholdupontheMoonstoneDramaClub。Theclubhadde—
cidedtoputon\"TheDrummerBoyofShiloh，\"averyambitiousundertakingbecauseofthemanysupersneededandthescenicdifficultiesoftheactwhichtookplaceinAndersonvillePrison。ThemembersoftheclubconsultedtogetherinTillie’sabsenceastowhoshouldplaythepartofthedrummerboy。Itmustbetakenbyaveryyoungperson，andvillageboysofthatageareself—consciousandarenotaptatmemorizing。Thepartwasalongone，andclearlyitmustbegiventoagirl。SomemembersoftheclubsuggestedTheaKronborg，othersadvocatedLilyFisher。Lily’spartisansurgedthatshewasmuchprettierthanThea，andhadamuch\"sweeterdisposition。\"No—
bodydeniedthesefacts。ButtherewasnothingintheleastboyishaboutLily，andshesangallsongsandplayedallpartsalike。Lily’ssimperwaspopular，butitseemednotquitetherightthingfortheheroicdrummerboy。
Upping，thetrainer，talkedtooneandanother：\"Lily’sallrightforgirlparts，\"heinsisted，\"butyou’vegottogetagirlwithsomegingerinherforthis。Thea’sgotthevoice，too。Whenshesings，`JustBeforetheBattle，Mother，’she’llbringdownthehouse。\"
Whenallthemembersoftheclubhadbeenprivatelyconsulted，theyannouncedtheirdecisiontoTillieatthefirstregularmeetingthatwascalledtocasttheparts。
TheyexpectedTillietobeovercomewithjoy，but，onthecontrary，sheseemedembarrassed。\"I’mafraidTheahasn’tgottimeforthat，\"shesaidjerkily。\"Sheisalwayssobusywithhermusic。Guessyou’llhavetogetsomebodyelse。\"
Theclublifteditseyebrows。SeveralofLilyFisher’s
friendscoughed。Mr。Uppingflushed。ThestoutwomanwhoalwaysplayedtheinjuredwifecalledTillie’sattentiontothefactthatthiswouldbeafineopportunityforherniecetoshowwhatshecoulddo。Hertonewasconde—
scending。
Tilliethrewupherheadandlaughed；therewassome—
thingsharpandwildaboutTillie’slaugh——whenitwasnotagiggle。\"Oh，IguessTheahasn’tgottimetodoanyshowingoff。Hertimetoshowoffain’tcomeyet。Iexpectshe’llmakeusallsitupwhenitdoes。Nouseaskinghertotakethepart。She’dturnhernoseupatit。Iguessthey’dbegladtogetherintheDenverDramatics，iftheycould。\"
Thecompanybrokeupintogroupsandexpressedtheiramazement。OfcourseallSwedeswereconceited，buttheywouldneverhavebelievedthatalltheconceitofalltheSwedesputtogetherwouldreachsuchapitchasthis。
TheyconfidedtoeachotherthatTilliewas\"justalittleoff，onthesubjectofherniece，\"andagreedthatitwouldbeaswellnottoexciteherfurther。Tilliegotacoldreceptionatrehearsalsforalongwhileafterward，andTheahadacropofnewenemieswithoutevenknowingit。
X
WunschandoldFritzandSpanishJohnnycele—
bratedChristmastogether，soriotouslythatWunschwasunabletogiveTheaherlessonthenextday。
InthemiddleofthevacationweekTheawenttotheKohl—
ers’throughasoft，beautifulsnowstorm。Theairwasatenderblue—gray，likethecoloronthedovesthatflewinandoutofthewhitedove—houseonthepostintheKohl—
ers’garden。Thesandhillslookeddimandsleepy。Thetamariskhedgewasfullofsnow，likeafoamofblossomsdriftedoverit。WhenTheaopenedthegate，oldMrs。
Kohlerwasjustcominginfromthechickenyard，withfivefresheggsinherapronandapairofoldtop—bootsonherfeet。ShecalledTheatocomeandlookatabantamegg，whichsheheldupproudly。Herbantamhenswereremissinzeal，andshewasalwaysdelightedwhentheyaccom—
plishedanything。ShetookTheaintothesitting—room，verywarmandsmellingoffood，andbroughtheraplatefuloflittleChristmascakes，madeaccordingtooldandhal—
lowedformulae，andputthembeforeherwhileshewarmedherfeet。Thenshewenttothedoorofthekitchenstairsandcalled：\"HerrWunsch，HerrWunsch！\"
Wunschcamedownwearinganoldwaddedjacket，withavelvetcollar。Thebrownsilkwassowornthatthewad—
dingstuckoutalmosteverywhere。HeavoidedThea’seyeswhenhecamein，noddedwithoutspeaking，andpointeddirectlytothepianostool。Hewasnotsoinsistentuponthescalesasusual，andthroughoutthelittlesonataofMozart’sshewasstudying，heremainedlanguidandabsent—minded。Hiseyeslookedveryheavy，andhekeptwipingthemwithoneofthenewsilkhandkerchiefsMrs。
KohlerhadgivenhimforChristmas。Whenthelessonwas
overhedidnotseeminclinedtotalk。Thea，loiteringonthestool，reachedforatatteredbookshehadtakenoffthemusic—restwhenshesatdown。ItwasaveryoldLeipsiceditionofthepianoscoreofGluck’s\"Orpheus。\"Sheturnedoverthepagescuriously。
\"Isitnice？\"sheasked。
\"Itisthemostbeautifuloperaevermade，\"Wunschde—
claredsolemnly。\"Youknowthestory，eh？How，whenshedie，Orpheuswentdownbelowforhiswife？\"
\"Oh，yes，Iknow。Ididn’tknowtherewasanoperaaboutit，though。Dopeoplesingthisnow？\"
\"ABERJA！Whatelse？Youliketotry？See。\"Hedrewherfromthestoolandsatdownatthepiano。Turningovertheleavestothethirdact，hehandedthescoretoThea。
\"Listen，IplayitthroughandyougettheRHYTHMUS。EINS，ZWEI，DREI，VIER。\"HeplayedthroughOrpheus’lament，thenpushedbackhiscuffswithawakeninginterestandnoddedatThea。\"Now，VOMBLATT，MITMIR。\"
\"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，ALL’MEINGLUCKISTNUNDAHIN。\"
Wunschsangtheariawithmuchfeeling。Itwasevidentlyonethatwasverydeartohim。
\"NOCHEINMAL，alone，yourself。\"Heplayedtheintro—
ductorymeasures，thennoddedathervehemently，andshebegan：——
\"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN。\"
Whenshefinished，Wunschnoddedagain。\"SCHON，\"hemutteredashefinishedtheaccompanimentsoftly。HedroppedhishandsonhiskneesandlookedupatThea。
\"Thatisveryfine，eh？Thereisnosuchbeautifulmelodyintheworld。Youcantakethebookforoneweekandlearnsomething，topassthetime。Itisgoodtoknow——always。
EURIDICE，EU——RI——DI——CE，WEHDASSICHAUFERDENBIN！\"hesangsoftly，playingthemelodywithhisrighthand。
Thea，whowasturningoverthepagesofthethirdact，
stoppedandscowledatapassage。TheoldGerman’sblurredeyeswatchedhercuriously。
\"Forwhatdoyoulookso，IMMER？\"puckeringuphisownface。\"Youseesomethingalittledifficult，may—be，andyoumakesuchafacelikeitwasanenemy。\"
Thealaughed，disconcerted。\"Well，difficultthingsareenemies，aren’tthey？Whenyouhavetogetthem？\"
Wunschloweredhisheadandthrewitupasifhewerebuttingsomething。\"Notatall！Bynomeans。\"Hetookthebookfromherandlookedatit。\"Yes，thatisnotsoeasy，there。Thisisanoldbook。Theydonotprintitsonowanymore，Ithink。Theyleaveitout，may—be。Onlyonewomancouldsingthatgood。\"
Thealookedathiminperplexity。
Wunschwenton。\"Itiswrittenforalto，yousee。A
womansingsthepart，andtherewasonlyonetosingthatgoodinthere。Youunderstand？Onlyone！\"Heglancedatherquicklyandliftedhisredforefingeruprightbeforehereyes。
Thealookedatthefingerasifshewerehypnotized。
\"Onlyone？\"sheaskedbreathlessly；herhands，hangingathersides，wereopeningandshuttingrapidly。
Wunschnoddedandstillheldupthatcompellingfinger。
Whenhedroppedhishands，therewasalookofsatisfac—
tioninhisface。
\"Wassheverygreat？\"
Wunschnodded。
\"Wasshebeautiful？\"
\"ABERGARNICHT！Notatall。Shewasugly；bigmouth，bigteeth，nofigure，nothingatall，\"indicatingaluxuriantbosombysweepinghishandsoverhischest。\"Apole，apost！Butforthevoice——ACH！Shehavesomethinginthere，behindtheeyes，\"tappinghistemples。
Theafollowedallhisgesticulationsintently。\"WassheGerman？\"
\"No，SPANISCH。\"Helookeddownandfrownedfora
moment。\"ACH，Itellyou，shelookliketheFrauTella—
mantez，some—thing。Longface，longchin，anduglyal—so。\"
\"Didshediealongwhileago？\"
\"Die？Ithinknot。Ineverhear，anyhow。Iguesssheisalivesomewhereintheworld；Paris，may—be。Butold，ofcourse。IhearherwhenIwasayouth。Sheistoooldtosingnowanymore。\"