\"Wasshethegreatestsingeryoueverheard？\"
Wunschnoddedgravely。\"Quiteso。Shewasthemost——\"hehuntedforanEnglishword，liftedhishandoverhisheadandsnappedhisfingersnoiselesslyintheair，enunciatingfiercely，\"KUNST—LER—ISCH！\"Thewordseemedtoglitterinhisupliftedhand，hisvoicewassofullofemotion。
Wunschrosefromthestoolandbegantobuttonhiswaddedjacket，preparingtoreturntohishalf—heatedroomintheloft。Thearegretfullyputonhercloakandhoodandsetoutforhome。
WhenWunschlookedforhisscorelatethatafternoon，hefoundthatTheahadnotforgottentotakeitwithher。
Hesmiledhisloose，sarcasticsmile，andthoughtfullyrubbedhisstubblychinwithhisredfingers。WhenFritzcamehomeintheearlybluetwilightthesnowwasflyingfaster，Mrs。KohlerwascookingHASENPFEFFERinthekitchen，andtheprofessorwasseatedatthepiano，playingtheGluck，whichheknewbyheart。OldFritztookoffhisshoesquietlybehindthestoveandlaydownontheloungebeforehismasterpiece，wherethefirelightwasplayingoverthewallsofMoscow。Helistened，whiletheroomgrewdarkerandthewindowsduller。Wunschalwayscamebacktothesamething：——
\"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，
EURIDICE，EURIDICE！\"
FromtimetotimeFritzsighedsoftly。He，too，hadlostaEuridice。
XI
OneSaturday，lateinJune，Theaarrivedearlyforherlesson。Assheperchedherselfuponthepianostool，——awobbly，old—fashionedthingthatworkedonacreakyscrew，——shegaveWunschasideglance，smiling。\"Youmustnotbecrosstometo—day。Thisismybirthday。\"
\"So？\"hepointedtothekeyboard。
AfterthelessontheywentouttojoinMrs。Kohler，whohadaskedTheatocomeearly，sothatshecouldstayandsmellthelindenbloom。Itwasoneofthosestilldaysofintenselight，wheneveryparticleofmicainthesoilflashedlikealittlemirror，andtheglarefromtheplainbelowseemedmoreintensethantheraysfromabove。Thesandridgesranglitteringgoldouttowherethemiragelickedthemup，shiningandsteaminglikealakeinthetropics。
Theskylookedlikebluelava，foreverincapableofclouds，——aturquoisebowlthatwasthelidofthedesert。AndyetwithinMrs。Kohler’sgreenpatchthewaterdripped，thebedshadallbeenhosed，andtheairwasfreshwithrapidlyevaporatingmoisture。
Thetwosymmetricallindentreesweretheproudestthingsinthegarden。Theirsweetnessembalmedalltheair。Ateveryturnofthepaths，——whetheronewenttoseethehollyhocksorthebleedingheart，ortolookatthepur—
plemorning—gloriesthatranoverthebean—poles，——wher—
everonewent，thesweetnessofthelindensstruckoneafreshandonealwayscamebacktothem。Undertheroundleaves，wherethewaxenyellowblossomshung，beviesofwildbeeswerebuzzing。Thetamariskswerestillpink，andtheflower—bedsweredoingtheirbestinhonorofthelindenfestival。Thewhitedove—housewasshiningwithafreshcoatofpaint，andthepigeonswerecrooningcontentedly，
flyingdownoftentodrinkatthedripfromthewatertank。
Mrs。Kohler，whowastransplantingpansies，cameupwithhertrowelandtoldTheaitwasluckytohaveyourbirthdaywhenthelindenswereinbloom，andthatshemustgoandlookatthesweetpeas。Wunschaccompaniedher，andastheywalkedbetweentheflower—bedshetookThea’shand。
\"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，\"——
hemuttered。\"YouknowthatvonHeine？IMLEUCHTENDEN
SOMMERMORGEN？\"HelookeddownatTheaandsoftlypressedherhand。
\"No，Idon’tknowit。WhatdoesFLUSTERNmean？\"
\"FLUSTERN？——towhisper。Youmustbeginnowtoknowsuchthings。Thatisnecessary。Howmanybirthdays？\"
\"Thirteen。I’minmy’teensnow。ButhowcanIknowwordslikethat？Ionlyknowwhatyousayatmylessons。
Theydon’tteachGermanatschool。HowcanIlearn？\"
\"Itisalwayspossibletolearnwhenonelikes，\"saidWunsch。Hiswordswereperemptory，asusual，buthistonewasmild，evenconfidential。\"Thereisalwaysaway。
Andifsomedayyouaregoingtosing，itisnecessarytoknowwelltheGermanlanguage。\"
Theastoopedovertopickaleafofrosemary。HowdidWunschknowthat，whentheveryrosesonherwall—paperhadneverheardit？\"ButamIgoingto？\"sheasked，stillstooping。
\"Thatisforyoutosay，\"returnedWunschcoldly。\"YouwouldbettermarrysomeJACOBhereandkeepthehouseforhim，may—be？Thatisasonedesires。\"
Theaflashedupathimaclear，laughinglook。\"No，I
don’twanttodothat。Youknow，\"shebrushedhiscoat—
sleevequicklywithheryellowhead。\"OnlyhowcanI
learnanythinghere？It’ssofarfromDenver。\"
Wunsch’slooselowerlipcurledinamusement。Then，asifhesuddenlyrememberedsomething，hespokeseriously。
\"Nothingisfarandnothingisnear，ifonedesires。The
worldislittle，peoplearelittle，humanlifeislittle。Thereisonlyonebigthing——desire。Andbeforeit，whenitisbig，allislittle。ItbroughtColumbusacrosstheseainalittleboat，UNDSOWEITER。\"Wunschmadeagrimace，tookhispupil’shandanddrewhertowardthegrapearbor。\"Here—
afterIwillmorespeaktoyouinGerman。Now，sitdownandIwillteachyouforyourbirthdaythatlittlesong。Askmethewordsyoudonotknowalready。Now：IMLEUCH—
TENDENSOMMERMORGEN。\"
Theamemorizedquicklybecauseshehadthepoweroflisteningintently。Inafewmomentsshecouldrepeattheeightlinesforhim。Wunschnoddedencouraginglyandtheywentoutofthearborintothesunlightagain。Astheywentupanddownthegravelpathsbetweentheflower—
beds，thewhiteandyellowbutterflieskeptdartingbeforethem，andthepigeonswerewashingtheirpinkfeetatthedripandcrooningintheirhuskybass。OverandoveragainWunschmadehersaythelinestohim。\"Youseeitisnothing。IfyoulearnagreatmanyoftheLIEDER，youwillknowtheGermanlanguagealready。WEITER，NUN。\"Hewouldinclinehisheadgravelyandlisten。
\"IMLEUCHTENDENSOMMERMORGEN
GEH’ICHIMGARTENHERUM；
ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，ICHABER，ICHWANDTESTUMM。
\"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN
UNDSCHAU’NMITLEIDIGMICHAN：
`SEIUNSERERSCHWESTERNICHTBOSE，DUTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN！’\"
（Inthesoft—shiningsummermorningIwanderedthegardenwithin。
Theflowerstheywhisperedandmurmured，ButI，Iwandereddumb。
Theflowerstheywhisperandmurmur，Andmewithcompassiontheyscan：
\"Oh，benotharshtooursister，Thousorrowful，death—paleman！\"）
Wunschhadnoticedbeforethatwhenhispupilreadanythinginversethecharacterofhervoicechangedalto—
gether；itwasnolongerthevoicewhichspokethespeechofMoonstone。Itwasasoft，richcontralto，andshereadquietly；thefeelingwasinthevoiceitself，notindicatedbyemphasisorchangeofpitch。Sherepeatedthelittleversesmusically，likeasong，andtheentreatyoftheflowerswasevensofterthantherest，astheshyspeechofflowersmightbe，andsheendedwiththevoicesuspended，almostwitharisinginflection。Itwasanature—voice，Wunschtoldhim—
self，breathedfromthecreatureandapartfromlanguage，likethesoundofthewindinthetrees，orthemurmurofwater。
\"Whatisittheflowersmeanwhentheyaskhimnottobeharshtotheirsister，eh？\"heasked，lookingdownathercuriouslyandwrinklinghisdullredforehead。
Theaglancedathiminsurprise。\"Isupposehethinkstheyareaskinghimnottobeharshtohissweetheart——orsomegirltheyremindhimof。\"
\"AndwhyTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN？\"
Theyhadcomebacktothegrapearbor，andTheapickedoutasunnyplaceonthebench，whereatortoise—shellcatwasstretchedatfulllength。Shesatdown，bendingoverthecatandteasinghiswhiskers。\"Becausehehadbeenawakeallnight，thinkingabouther，wasn’tit？Maybethatwaswhyhewasupsoearly。\"
Wunschshruggedhisshoulders。\"Ifhethinkaboutherallnightalready，whydoyousaytheflowersremindhim？\"
Thealookedupathiminperplexity。Aflashofcompre—
hensionlitherfaceandshesmiledeagerly。\"Oh，Ididn’tmean`remind’inthatway！Ididn’tmeantheybroughthertohismind！Imeantitwasonlywhenhecameoutinthemorning，thatsheseemedtohimlikethat，——likeoneoftheflowers。\"
\"Andbeforehecameout，howdidsheseem？\"
ThistimeitwasTheawhoshruggedhershoulders。The
warmsmileleftherface。Sheliftedhereyebrowsinannoy—
anceandlookedoffatthesandhills。
Wunschpersisted。\"Whyyounotanswerme？\"
\"Becauseitwouldbesilly。Youarejusttryingtomakemesaythings。Itspoilsthingstoaskquestions。\"
Wunschbowedmockingly；hissmilewasdisagreeable。
Suddenlyhisfacegrewgrave，grewfierce，indeed。Hepulledhimselfupfromhisclumsystoopandfoldedhisarms。\"Butitisnecessarytoknowifyouknowsomethings。Some—
thingscannotbetaught。Ifyounotknowinthebeginning，younotknowintheend。Forasingertheremustbesome—
thingintheinsidefromthebeginning。Ishallnotbelonginthisplace，may—be，andIliketoknow。Yes，\"——hegroundhisheelinthegravel，——\"yes，whenyouarebarelysix，youmustknowthatalready。Thatisthebeginningofallthings；DERGEIST，DIEPHANTASIE。Itmustbeinthebaby，whenitmakesitsfirstcry，likeDERRHYTHMUS，oritisnottobe。Youhavesomevoicealready，andifinthebeginning，whenyouarewiththings—to—play，youknowthatwhatyouwillnottellme，thenyoucanlearntosing，may—be。\"
Wunschbegantopacethearbor，rubbinghishandsto—
gether。Thedarkflushofhisfacehadspreadupundertheiron—graybristlesonhishead。Hewastalkingtohimself，nottoThea。Insidiouspowerofthelindenbloom！\"Oh，muchyoucanlearn！ABERNICHTDIEAMERICANISCHENFRAU—
LEIN。Theyhavenothinginsidethem，\"strikinghischestwithbothfists。\"TheyareliketheonesintheMAR—
CHEN，agrinningfaceandhollowintheinsides。Some—
thingtheycanlearn，oh，yes，may—be！Butthesecret——
whatmaketherosetored，theskytoblue，themantolove——INDERBRUST，INDERBRUSTitis，UNDOHNEDIESESGIEBTES
KEINEKUNST，GIEBTESKEINEKUNST！\"Hethrewuphissquarehandandshookit，allthefingersapartandwagging。Purpleandbreathlesshewentoutofthearborandintothehouse，withoutsayinggood—bye。TheseoutburstsfrightenedWunsch。Theywerealwaysharbingersofill。
Theagothermusic—bookandstolequietlyoutofthegarden。Shedidnotgohome，butwanderedoffintothesanddunes，wherethepricklypearwasinblossomandthegreenlizardswereracingeachotherintheglitteringlight。
Shewasshakenbyapassionateexcitement。ShedidnotaltogetherunderstandwhatWunschwastalkingabout；
andyet，inawaysheknew。Sheknew，ofcourse，thattherewassomethingaboutherthatwasdifferent。Butitwasmorelikeafriendlyspiritthanlikeanythingthatwasapartofherself。Shethoughteverythingtoit，anditan—
sweredher；happinessconsistedofthatbackwardandfor—
wardmovementofherself。Thesomethingcameandwent，sheneverknewhow。Sometimesshehuntedforitandcouldnotfindit；again，sheliftedhereyesfromabook，orsteppedoutofdoors，orwakenedinthemorning，anditwasthere，——
underhercheek，itusuallyseemedtobe，oroverherbreast，——akindofwarmsureness。Andwhenitwasthere，everythingwasmoreinterestingandbeautiful，evenpeople。
Whenthiscompanionwaswithher，shecouldgetthemostwonderfulthingsoutofSpanishJohnny，orWunsch，orDr。Archie。
Onherthirteenthbirthdayshewanderedforalongwhileaboutthesandridges，pickingupcrystalsandlookingintotheyellowprickly—pearblossomswiththeirthousandsta—
mens。ShelookedatthesandhillsuntilshewishedsheWEREasandhill。Andyetsheknewthatshewasgoingtoleavethemallbehindsomeday。Theywouldbechangingalldaylong，yellowandpurpleandlavender，andshewouldnotbethere。Fromthatdayon，shefelttherewasasecretbetweenherandWunsch。Togethertheyhadliftedalid，pulledoutadrawer，andlookedatsomething。Theyhiditawayandneverspokeofwhattheyhadseen；butneitherofthemforgotit。
XII
OneJulynight，whenthemoonwasfull，Dr。Archiewascomingupfromthedepot，restlessanddiscon—
tented，wishingthereweresomethingtodo。Hecarriedhisstrawhatinhishand，andkeptbrushinghishairbackfromhisforeheadwithapurposeless，unsatisfiedgesture。
AfterhepassedUncleBillyBeemer’scottonwoodgrove，thesidewalkranoutoftheshadowintothewhitemoon—
lightandcrossedthesandgullyonhighposts，likeabridge。
Asthedoctorapproachedthistrestle，hesawawhitefigure，andrecognizedTheaKronborg。Hequickenedhispaceandshecametomeethim。
\"Whatareyoudoingoutsolate，mygirl？\"heaskedashetookherhand。
\"Oh，Idon’tknow。Whatdopeoplegotobedsoearlyfor？I’dliketorunalongbeforethehousesandscreechatthem。Isn’titgloriousouthere？\"
Theyoungdoctorgaveamelancholylaughandpressedherhand。
\"Thinkofit，\"Theasnortedimpatiently。\"Nobodyupbutusandtherabbits！I’vestarteduphalfadozenof’em。
Lookatthatlittleonedowntherenow，\"——shestoopedandpointed。Inthegullybelowthemtherewas，indeed，alittlerabbitwithawhitespotofatail，crouchingdownonthesand，quitemotionless。Itseemedtobelappingupthemoonlightlikecream。Ontheothersideofthewalk，downintheditch，therewasapatchoftall，ranksunflowers，theirshaggyleaveswhitewithdust。Themoonstoodoverthecottonwoodgrove。Therewasnowind，andnosoundbutthewheezingofanenginedownonthetracks。
\"Well，wemayaswellwatchtherabbits。\"Dr。Archiesatdownonthesidewalkandlethisfeethangoverthe
edge。HepulledoutasmoothlinenhandkerchiefthatsmelledofGermancolognewater。\"Well，howgoesit？
Workinghard？YoumustknowaboutallWunschcanteachyoubythistime。\"
Theashookherhead。\"Oh，no，Idon’t，Dr。Archie。
He’shardtogetat，buthe’sbeenarealmusicianinhistime。Mothersaysshebelieveshe’sforgottenmorethanthemusic—teachersdowninDenvereverknew。\"
\"I’mafraidhewon’tbearoundheremuchlonger，\"saidDr。Archie。\"He’sbeenmakingatankofhimselflately。
He’llbepullinghisfreightoneofthesedays。That’sthewaytheydo，youknow。I’llbesorryonyouraccount。\"
Hepausedandranhisfreshhandkerchiefoverhisface。
\"Whatthedeuceareweallhereforanyway，Thea？\"hesaidabruptly。
\"Onearth，youmean？\"Theaaskedinalowvoice。
\"Well，primarily，yes。Butsecondarily，whyareweinMoonstone？Itisn’tasifwe’dbeenbornhere。Youwere，butWunschwasn’t，andIwasn’t。IsupposeI’mherebecauseImarriedassoonasIgotoutofmedicalschoolandhadtogetapracticequick。Ifyouhurrythings，youalwaysgetleftintheend。Idon’tlearnanythinghere，andasforthepeople——InmyowntowninMichigan，now，therewerepeoplewholikedmeonmyfather’saccount，whohadevenknownmygrandfather。Thatmeantsomething。Buthereit’salllikethesand：blowsnorthonedayandsouththenext。We’reallalotofgamblerswithoutmuchnerve，playingforsmallstakes。Therailroadistheonerealfactinthiscountry。Thathastobe；theworldhastobegotbackandforth。Buttherestofusareherejustbecauseit’stheendofarunandtheenginehastohaveadrink。
SomedayI’llgetupandfindmyhairturninggray，andI’llhavenothingtoshowforit。\"
Theaslidclosertohimandcaughthisarm。\"No，no。
Iwon’tletyougetgray。You’vegottostayyoungforme。
I’mgettingyoungnow，too。\"
Archielaughed。\"Getting？\"
\"Yes。Peoplearen’tyoungwhenthey’rechildren。LookatThor，now；he’sjustalittleoldman。ButGushasasweetheart，andhe’syoung！\"
\"Somethinginthat！\"Dr。Archiepattedherhead，andthenfelttheshapeofherskullgently，withthetipsofhisfingers。\"Whenyouwerelittle，Thea，Iusedalwaystobecuriousabouttheshapeofyourhead。Youseemedtohavemoreinsideitthanmostyoungsters。Ihaven’texamineditforalongtime。Seemstobetheusualshape，butuncom—
monlyhard，somehow。Whatareyougoingtodowithyourself，anyway？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"Honest，now？\"Heliftedherchinandlookedintohereyes。
Thealaughedandedgedawayfromhim。
\"You’vegotsomethingupyoursleeve，haven’tyou？
Anythingyoulike；onlydon’tmarryandsettledownherewithoutgivingyourselfachance，willyou？\"
\"Notmuch。See，there’sanotherrabbit！\"
\"That’sallrightabouttherabbits，butIdon’twantyoutogettiedup。Rememberthat。\"
Theanodded。\"BenicetoWunsch，then。Idon’tknowwhatI’ddoifhewentaway。\"
\"You’vegotolderfriendsthanWunschhere，Thea。\"
\"Iknow。\"Theaspokeseriouslyandlookedupatthemoon，proppingherchinonherhand。\"ButWunschistheonlyonethatcanteachmewhatIwanttoknow。I’vegottolearntodosomethingwell，andthat’sthethingIcandobest。\"
\"Doyouwanttobeamusic—teacher？\"
\"Maybe，butIwanttobeagoodone。I’dliketogotoGermanytostudy，someday。Wunschsaysthat’sthebestplace，——theonlyplaceyoucanreallylearn。\"Theahesi—
tatedandthenwentonnervously，\"I’vegotabookthatsaysso，too。It’scalled`MyMusicalMemories。’Itmademe
wanttogotoGermanyevenbeforeWunschsaidanything。
Ofcourseit’sasecret。You’rethefirstoneI’vetold。\"
Dr。Archiesmiledindulgently。\"That’salongwayoff。
Isthatwhatyou’vegotinyourhardnoddle？\"Heputhishandonherhair，butthistimesheshookhimoff。
\"No，Idon’tthinkmuchaboutit。Butyoutalkaboutgoing，andabodyhastohavesomethingtogoTO！\"
\"That’sso。\"Dr。Archiesighed。\"You’reluckyifyouhave。PoorWunsch，now，hehasn’t。Whatdosuchfellowscomeoutherefor？He’sbeenaskingmeaboutmyminingstock，andaboutminingtowns。Whatwouldhedoinaminingtown？Hewouldn’tknowapieceoforeifhesawone。He’sgotnothingtosellthataminingtownwantstobuy。Whydon’tthoseoldfellowsstayathome？Wewon’tneedthemforanotherhundredyears。Anenginewipercangetajob，butapianoplayer！Suchpeoplecan’tmakegood。\"
\"MygrandfatherAlstromwasamusician，andhemadegood。\"
Dr。Archiechuckled。\"Oh，aSwedecanmakegoodany—
where，atanything！You’vegotthatinyourfavor，miss。
Come，youmustbegettinghome。\"
Thearose。\"Yes，IusedtobeashamedofbeingaSwede，butI’mnotanymore。Swedesarekindofcommon，butI
thinkit’sbettertobeSOMETHING。\"
\"Itsurelyis！Howtallyouaregetting。Youcomeabovemyshouldernow。\"
\"I’llkeepongrowing，don’tyouthink？Iparticularlywanttobetall。Yes，IguessImustgohome。Iwishthere’dbeafire。\"
\"Afire？\"
\"Yes，sothefire—bellwouldringandtheroundhousewhistlewouldblow，andeverybodywouldcomerunningout。SometimeI’mgoingtoringthefire—bellmyselfandstirthemallup。\"
\"You’dbearrested。\"
\"Well，thatwouldbebetterthangoingtobed。\"
\"I’llhavetolendyousomemorebooks。\"
Theashookherselfimpatiently。\"Ican’treadeverynight。\"
Dr。Archiegaveoneofhislow，sympatheticchucklesasheopenedthegateforher。\"You’rebeginningtogrowup，that’swhat’sthematterwithyou。I’llhavetokeepaneyeonyou。Nowyou’llhavetosaygood—nighttothemoon。\"
\"No，Iwon’t。Isleeponthefloornow，rightinthemoon—
light。Mywindowcomesdowntothefloor，andIcanlookattheskyallnight。\"
Sheshotroundthehousetothekitchendoor，andDr。
Archiewatchedherdisappearwithasigh。Hethoughtofthehard，mean，frizzylittlewomanwhokepthishouseforhim；oncethebelleofaMichigantown，nowdryandwitheredupatthirty。\"IfIhadadaughterlikeTheatowatch，\"hereflected，\"Iwouldn’tmindanything。Iwon—
derifallofmylife’sgoingtobeamistakejustbecauseI
madeabigonethen？Hardlyseemsfair。\"
HowardArchiewas\"respected\"ratherthanpopularinMoonstone。Everyonerecognizedthathewasagoodphysician，andaprogressiveWesterntownlikestobeabletopointtoahandsome，well—set—up，well—dressedmanamongitscitizens。ButagreatmanypeoplethoughtArchie\"distant，\"andtheywereright。Hehadtheuneasymannerofamanwhoisnotamonghisownkind，andwhohasnotseenenoughoftheworldtofeelthatallpeopleareinsomesensehisownkind。Heknewthateveryonewascuriousabouthiswife，thatsheplayedasortofcharacterpartinMoonstone，andthatpeoplemadefunofher，notverydelicately。Herownfriends——mostofthemwomenwhoweredistastefultoArchie——likedtoaskhertocon—
tributetochurchcharities，justtoseehowmeanshecouldbe。Thelittle，lop—sidedcakeatthechurchsupper，thecheapestpincushion，theskimpiestapronatthebazaar，werealwaysMrs。Archie’scontribution。
Allthishurtthedoctor’spride。Butiftherewasonethinghehadlearned，itwasthattherewasnochangingBelle’snature。Hehadmarriedameanwoman；andhemustaccepttheconsequences。EveninColoradohewouldhavehadnopretextfordivorce，and，todohimjus—
tice，hehadneverthoughtofsuchathing。ThetenetsofthePresbyterianChurchinwhichhehadgrownup，thoughhehadlongceasedtobelieveinthem，stillinfluencedhisconductandhisconceptionofpropriety。Tohimtherewassomethingvulgaraboutdivorce。Adivorcedmanwasadisgracedman；atleast，hehadexhibitedhishurt，andmadeitamatterforcommongossip。RespectabilitywassonecessarytoArchiethathewaswillingtopayahighpriceforit。Aslongashecouldkeepupadecentexterior，hecouldmanagetogeton；andifhecouldhaveconcealedhiswife’slittlenessfromallhisfriends，hewouldscarcelyhavecomplained。Hewasmoreafraidofpitythanhewasofanyunhappiness。Hadtherebeenanotherwomanforwhomhecaredgreatly，hemighthavehadplentyofcour—
age；buthewasnotlikelytomeetsuchawomaninMoon—
stone。
TherewasapuzzlingtimidityinArchie’smake—up。Thethingthatheldhisshouldersstiff，thatmadehimresorttoamirthlesslittlelaughwhenhewastalkingtodullpeople，thatmadehimsometimesstumbleoverrugsandcarpets，haditscounterpartinhismind。Hehadnotthecouragetobeanhonestthinker。Hecouldcomforthimselfbyeva—
sionsandcompromises。Heconsoledhimselfforhisownmarriagebytellinghimselfthatotherpeople’swerenotmuchbetter。InhisworkhesawprettydeeplyintomaritalrelationsinMoonstone，andhecouldhonestlysaythattherewerenotmanyofhisfriendswhomheenvied。Theirwivesseemedtosuitthemwellenough，buttheywouldneverhavesuitedhim。
AlthoughDr。Archiecouldnotbringhimselftoregardmarriagemerelyasasocialcontract，butlookeduponitas
somehowmadesacredbyachurchinwhichhedidnotbe—
lieve，——asaphysicianheknewthatayoungmanwhosemarriageismerelynominalmustyetgoonlivinghislife。