XVII
Thesummerflewby。TheawasgladwhenRayKennedyhadaSundayintownandcouldtakeherdriving。Outamongthesandhillsshecouldforgetthe\"newroom\"whichwasthesceneofwearingandfruitlesslabor。Dr。Archiewasawayfromhomeagooddealthatyear。HehadputallhismoneyintominesaboveColo—
radoSprings，andhehopedforgreatreturnsfromthem。
Inthefallofthatyear，Mr。KronborgdecidedthatTheaoughttoshowmoreinterestinchurchwork。Heputittoherfrankly，onenightatsupper，beforethewholefamily。
\"HowcanIinsistontheothergirlsinthecongregationbeingactiveinthework，whenoneofmyowndaughtersmanifestssolittleinterest？\"
\"ButIsingeverySundaymorning，andIhavetogiveuponenightaweektochoirpractice，\"Theadeclaredrebelliously，pushingbackherplatewithanangrydeter—
minationtoeatnothingmore。
\"Onenightaweekisnotenoughforthepastor’sdaugh—
ter，\"herfatherreplied。\"Youwon’tdoanythinginthesewingsociety，andyouwon’ttakepartintheChristianEndeavorortheBandofHope。Verywell，youmustmakeitupinotherways。Iwantsomeonetoplaytheorganandleadthesingingatprayer—meetingthiswinter。DeaconPottertoldmesometimeagothathethoughttherewouldbemoreinterestinourprayer—meetingsifwehadtheorgan。
MissMeyersdon’tfeelthatshecanplayonWednesdaynights。Andthereoughttobesomebodytostartthehymns。
Mrs。Potterisgettingold，andshealwaysstartsthemtoohigh。Itwon’ttakemuchofyourtime，anditwillkeeppeoplefromtalking。\"
ThisargumentconqueredThea，thoughsheleftthe
tablesullenly。Thefearofthetongue，thatterroroflittletowns，isusuallyfeltmorekeenlybytheminister’sfamilythanbyotherhouseholds。WhenevertheKronborgswantedtodoanything，eventobuyanewcarpet，theyhadtotakecounseltogetherastowhetherpeoplewouldtalk。
Mrs。Kronborghadherownconvictionthatpeopletalkedwhentheyfeltlikeit，andsaidwhattheychose，nomatterhowtheminister’sfamilyconductedthemselves。Butshedidnotimpartthesedangerousideastoherchildren。Theawasstillunderthebeliefthatpublicopinioncouldbeplacated；thatifyoucluckedoftenenough，thehenswouldmistakeyouforoneofthemselves。
Mrs。Kronborgdidnothaveanyparticularzestforprayer—meetings，andshestayedathomewhenevershehadavalidexcuse。Thorwastoooldtofurnishsuchanexcusenow，soeveryWednesdaynight，unlessoneofthechildrenwassick，shetrudgedoffwithThea，behindMr。Kronborg。
AtfirstTheawasterriblybored。Butshegotusedtoprayer—
meeting，goteventofeelamournfulinterestinit。
Theexerciseswerealwaysprettymuchthesame。AfterthefirsthymnherfatherreadapassagefromtheBible，usuallyaPsalm。Thentherewasanotherhymn，andthenherfathercommenteduponthepassagehehadreadand，ashesaid，\"appliedtheWordtoournecessities。\"Afterathirdhymn，themeetingwasdeclaredopen，andtheoldmenandwomentookturnsatprayingandtalking。Mrs。
Kronborgneverspokeinmeeting。Shetoldpeoplefirmlythatshehadbeenbroughtuptokeepsilentandletthementalk，butshegaverespectfulattentiontotheothers，sittingwithherhandsfoldedinherlap。
Theprayer—meetingaudiencewasalwayssmall。Theyoungandenergeticmembersofthecongregationcameonlyonceortwiceayear，\"tokeeppeoplefromtalking。\"
TheusualWednesdaynightgatheringwasmadeupofoldwomen，withperhapssixoreightoldmen，andafewsicklygirlswhohadnotmuchinterestinlife；twoofthem，in—
deed，werealreadypreparingtodie。Theaacceptedthemournfulnessoftheprayer—meetingsasakindofspiritualdiscipline，likefunerals。Shealwaysreadlateaftershewenthomeandfeltastrongerwishthanusualtoliveandtobehappy。
ThemeetingswereconductedintheSunday—Schoolroom，wheretherewerewoodenchairsinsteadofpews；
anoldmapofPalestinehungonthewall，andthebracketlampsgaveoutonlyadimlight。TheoldwomensatmotionlessasIndiansintheirshawlsandbonnets；someofthemworelongblackmourningveils。Theoldmendroopedintheirchairs。Everyback，everyface，everyheadsaid\"resignation。\"Oftentherewerelongsilences，whenyoucouldhearnothingbutthecracklingofthesoftcoalinthestoveandthemuffledcoughofoneofthesickgirls。
Therewasoneniceoldlady，——tall，erect，self—respect—
ing，withadelicatewhitefaceandasoftvoice。Sheneverwhined，andwhatshesaidwasalwayscheerful，thoughshespokesonervouslythatTheaknewshedreadedgettingup，andthatshemadearealsacrificeto，asshesaid，\"tes—
tifytothegoodnessofherSaviour。\"Shewasthemotherofthegirlwhocoughed，andTheausedtowonderhowsheexplainedthingstoherself。Therewas，indeed，onlyonewomanwhotalkedbecauseshewas，asMr。Kronborgsaid，\"tonguey。\"Theothersweresomehowimpressive。Theytoldaboutthesweetthoughtsthatcametothemwhiletheywereattheirwork；how，amidtheirhouseholdtasks，theyweresuddenlyliftedbythesenseofadivinePresence。
Sometimestheytoldoftheirfirstconversion，ofhowintheiryouththathigherPowerhadmadeitselfknowntothem。OldMr。Carsen，thecarpenter，whogavehisser—
vicesasjanitortothechurch，usedoftentotellhow，whenhewasayoungmanandascoffer，bentonthedestructionofbothbodyandsoul，hisSaviourhadcometohimintheMichiganwoodsandhadstood，itseemedtohim，besidethetreehewasfelling；andhowhedroppedhisaxeand
kneltinprayer\"toHimwhodiedforusuponthetree。\"
Theaalwayswantedtoaskhimmoreaboutit；abouthismysteriouswickedness，andaboutthevision。
Sometimestheoldpeoplewouldaskforprayersfortheirabsentchildren。SometimestheyaskedtheirbrothersandsistersinChristtopraythattheymightbestrongeragainsttemptations。Oneofthesickgirlsusedtoaskthemtopraythatshemighthavemorefaithinthetimesofdepressionthatcametoher，\"whenallthewaybeforeseemeddark。\"Sherepeatedthathuskyphrasesooften，thatTheaalwaysrememberedit。
Oneoldwoman，whonevermissedaWednesdaynight，andwhonearlyalwaystookpartinthemeeting，cameallthewayupfromthedepotsettlement。Shealwaysworeablackcrocheted\"fascinator\"overherthinwhitehair，andshemadelong，tremulousprayers，fullofrailroadtermin—
ology。Shehadsixsonsintheserviceofdifferentrailroads，andshealwaysprayed\"fortheboysontheroad，whoknownotatwhatmomenttheymaybecutoff。When，inThydivinewisdom，theirhourisuponthem，maythey，OourHeavenlyFather，seeonlywhitelightsalongtheroadtoEternity。\"Sheusedtospeak，too，of\"theenginesthatracewithdeath\"；andthoughshelookedsooldandlittlewhenshewasonherknees，andhervoicewassoshaky，herprayershadathrillofspeedanddangerinthem；theymadeonethinkofthedeepblackcanyons，theslendertrestles，thepoundingtrains。Thealikedtolookathersunkeneyesthatseemedfullofwisdom，atherblackthreadgloves，muchtoolonginthefingersandsomeeklyfoldedoneovertheother。Herfacewasbrown，andwornawayasrocksarewornbywater。Therearemanywaysofdescribingthatcolorofage，butinrealityitisnotlikeparchment，orlikeanyofthethingsitissaidtobelike。Thatbrownnessandthattextureofskinarefoundonlyinthefacesofoldhumancreatures，whohaveworkedhardandwhohavealwaysbeenpoor。
OnebitterlycoldnightinDecembertheprayer—meetingseemedtoThealongerthanusual。Theprayersandthetalkswentonandon。Itwasasiftheoldpeoplewereafraidtogooutintothecold，orwerestupefiedbythehotairoftheroom。Shehadleftabookathomethatshewasimpatienttogetbackto。AtlasttheDoxologywassung，buttheoldpeoplelingeredaboutthestovetogreeteachother，andTheatookhermother’sarmandhurriedouttothefrozensidewalk，beforeherfathercouldgetaway。Thewindwaswhistlingupthestreetandwhippingthenakedcottonwoodtreesagainstthetelegraphpolesandthesidesofthehouses。Thinsnowcloudswereflyingoverhead，sothattheskylookedgray，withadullphosphorescence。
Theicystreetsandtheshingleroofsofthehousesweregray，too。Allalongthestreet，shuttersbangedorwindowsrattled，orgateswobbled，heldbytheirlatchbutshakingonloosehinges。TherewasnotacatoradoginMoonstonethatnightthatwasnotgivenawarmshelter；thecatsunderthekitchenstove，thedogsinbarnsorcoal—sheds。
WhenTheaandhermotherreachedhome，theirmufflerswerecoveredwithice，wheretheirbreathhadfrozen。Theyhurriedintothehouseandmadeadashfortheparlorandthehard—coalburner，behindwhichGunnerwassittingonastool，readinghisJulesVernebook。Thedoorstoodopenintothedining—room，whichwasheatedfromtheparlor。
Mr。Kronborgalwayshadalunchwhenhecamehomefromprayer—meeting，andhispumpkinpieandmilkweresetoutonthedining—table。Mrs。Kronborgsaidshethoughtshefelthungry，too，andaskedTheaifshedidn’twantsomethingtoeat。
\"No，I’mnothungry，mother。IguessI’llgoupstairs。\"
\"Iexpectyou’vegotsomebookupthere，\"saidMrs。
Kronborg，bringingoutanotherpie。\"You’dbetterbringitdownhereandread。Nobody’lldisturbyou，andit’sterriblecoldupinthatloft。\"
Theawasalwaysassuredthatnoonewoulddisturbher
ifshereaddownstairs，buttheboystalkedwhentheycamein，andherfatherfairlydelivereddiscoursesafterhehadbeenrenewedbyhalfapieandapitcherofmilk。
\"Idon’tmindthecold。I’lltakeahotbrickupformyfeet。IputoneinthestovebeforeIleft，ifoneoftheboyshasn’tstolenit。Good—night，mother。\"Theagotherbrickandlantern，anddashedupstairsthroughthewindyloft。
Sheundressedattopspeedandgotintobedwithherbrick。
Sheputapairofwhiteknittedglovesonherhands，andpinnedoverherheadapieceofsoftflannelthathadbeenoneofThor’slongpetticoatswhenhewasababy。Thusequipped，shewasreadyforbusiness。Shetookfromhertableathickpaper—backedvolume，oneofthe\"line\"ofpapernovelsthedruggistkepttoselltotravelingmen。
Shehadboughtit，onlyyesterday，becausethefirstsen—
tenceinterestedherverymuch，andbecauseshesaw，assheglancedoverthepages，themagicalnamesoftwoRussiancities。Thebookwasapoortranslationof\"AnnaKarenina。\"Theaopeneditatamark，andfixedhereyesintentlyuponthesmallprint。Thehymns，thesickgirl，theresignedblackfigureswereforgotten。ItwasthenightoftheballinMoscow。
Theawouldhavebeenastonishedifshecouldhaveknownhow，yearsafterward，whenshehadneedofthem，thoseoldfacesweretocomebacktoher，longaftertheywerehiddenawayundertheearth；thattheywouldseemtoherthenasfullofmeaning，asmysteriouslymarkedbyDestiny，asthepeoplewhodancedthemazurkaundertheelegantKorsunsky。
XVIII
Mr。Kronborgwastoofondofhiseaseandtoosensibletoworryhischildrenmuchaboutreligion。
Hewasmoresincerethanmanypreachers，butwhenhespoketohisfamilyaboutmattersofconductitwasusuallywitharegardforkeepingupappearances。Thechurchandchurchworkwerediscussedinthefamilyliketheroutineofanyotherbusiness。Sundaywastheharddayoftheweekwiththem，justasSaturdaywasthebusydaywiththemerchantsonMainStreet。Revivalswereseasonsofextraworkandpressure，justasthreshing—timewasonthefarms。Visitingeldershadtobelodgedandcookedfor，thefolding—bedintheparlorwasletdown，andMrs。
Kronborghadtoworkinthekitchenalldaylongandattendthenightmeetings。
DuringoneoftheserevivalsThea’ssisterAnnaprofessedreligionwith，asMrs。Kronborgsaid，\"agooddealoffluster。\"WhileAnnawasgoinguptothemourners’benchnightlyandaskingfortheprayersofthecongregation，shedisseminatedgeneralgloomthroughoutthehousehold，andaftershejoinedthechurchshetookonanairof\"set—apart—
ness\"thatwasextremelytryingtoherbrothersandhersister，thoughtheyrealizedthatAnna’ssanctimoniousnesswasperhapsagoodthingfortheirfather。Apreacheroughttohaveonechildwhodidmorethanmerelyacquiesceinreligiousobservances，andTheaandtheboysweregladenoughthatitwasAnnaandnotoneofthemselveswhoassumedthisobligation。
\"Anna，she’sAmerican，\"Mrs。Kronborgusedtosay。
TheScandinavianmouldofcountenance，moreorlessmarkedineachoftheotherchildren，wasscarcelydis—
cernibleinher，andshelookedenoughlikeotherMoon—
stonegirlstobethoughtpretty。Anna’snaturewascon—
ventional，likeherface。Herpositionastheminister’seldestdaughterwasimportanttoher，andshetriedtoliveuptoit。Shereadsentimentalreligiousstory—booksandemulatedthespiritualstrugglesandmagnanimousbehavioroftheirpersecutedheroines。EverythinghadtobeinterpretedforAnna。Heropinionsaboutthesmall—
estandmostcommonplacethingsweregleanedfromtheDenverpapers，thechurchweeklies，fromsermonsandSunday—Schooladdresses。Scarcelyanythingwasattrac—
tivetoherinitsnaturalstate——indeed，scarcelyanythingwasdecentuntilitwasclothedbytheopinionofsomeauthority。Herideasabouthabit，character，duty，love，marriage，weregroupedunderheads，likeabookofpopularquotations，andweretotallyunrelatedtotheemergenciesofhumanliving。ShediscussedallthesesubjectswithotherMethodistgirlsofherage。Theywouldspendhours，forinstance，indecidingwhattheywouldorwouldnottoler—
ateinasuitororahusband，andthefrailtiesofmasculinenatureweretoooftenasubjectofdiscussionamongthem。
InherbehaviorAnnawasaharmlessgirl，mildexceptwhereherprejudiceswereconcerned，neatandindustrious，withnograverfaultthanpriggishness；buthermindhadreallyshockinghabitsofclassification。ThewickednessofDenverandofChicago，andevenofMoonstone，occupiedherthoughtstoomuch。Shehadnoneofthedelicacythatgoeswithanatureofwarmimpulses，butthekindoffishycuriositywhichjustifiesitselfbyanexpressionofhorror。
Thea，andallThea’swaysandfriends，seemedindecor—
oustoAnna。ShenotonlyfeltagravesocialdiscriminationagainsttheMexicans；shecouldnotforgetthatSpanishJohnnywasadrunkardandthat\"nobodyknewwhathedidwhenheranawayfromhome。\"Theapretended，ofcourse，thatshelikedtheMexicansbecausetheywerefondofmusic；buteveryoneknewthatmusicwasno—
thingveryreal，andthatitdidnotmatterinagirl’sre—
lationswithpeople。Whatwasreal，then，andwhatdidmatter？PoorAnna！
AnnaapprovedofRayKennedyasayoungmanofsteadyhabitsandblamelesslife，butsheregrettedthathewasanatheist，andthathewasnotapassengerconductorwithbrassbuttonsonhiscoat。Onthewhole，shewon—
deredwhatsuchanexemplaryyoungmanfoundtolikeinThea。Dr。ArchieshetreatedrespectfullybecauseofhispositioninMoonstone，butsheKNEWhehadkissedtheMexicanbarytone’sprettydaughter，andshehadawholeDOSSIERofevidenceabouthisbehaviorinhishoursofrelax—
ationinDenver。Hewas\"fast，\"anditwasbecausehewas\"fast\"thatThealikedhim。Theaalwayslikedthatkindofpeople。Dr。Archie’swholemannerwithThea，Annaoftentoldhermother，wastoofree。HewasalwaysputtinghishandonThea’shead，orholdingherhandwhilehelaughedandlookeddownather。Thekindliermanifesta—
tionofhumannature（aboutwhichAnnasangandtalked，intheinterestsofwhichshewenttoconventionsandworewhiteribbons）wereneverrealitiestoherafterall。Shedidnotbelieveinthem。Itwasonlyinattitudesofprotestorreproof，clingingtothecross，thathumanbeingscouldbeeventemporarilydecent。
PreacherKronborg’ssecretconvictionswereverymuchlikeAnna’s。Hebelievedthathiswifewasabsolutelygood，buttherewasnotamanorwomaninhiscongregationwhomhetrustedalltheway。
Mrs。Kronborg，ontheotherhand，waslikelytofindsomethingtoadmireinalmostanyhumanconductthatwaspositiveandenergetic。Shecouldalwaysbetakeninbythestoriesoftrampsandrunawayboys。Shewenttothecircusandadmiredthebarebackriders，whowere\"likelygoodenoughwomenintheirway。\"SheadmiredDr。Archie’sfinephysiqueandwell—cutclothesasmuchasTheadid，andsaidshe\"feltitwasaprivilegetobehandledbysuchagentlemanwhenshewassick。\"
SoonafterAnnabecameachurchmembershebegantoremonstratewithTheaaboutpracticing——playing\"secu—
larmusic\"——onSunday。OneSundaythedisputeintheparlorgrewwarmandwascarriedtoMrs。Kronborginthekitchen。ShelistenedjudiciallyandtoldAnnatoreadthechapterabouthowNaamantheleperwaspermittedtobowdowninthehouseofRimmon。Theawentbacktothepiano，andAnnalingeredtosaythat，sinceshewasintheright，hermothershouldhavesupportedher。
\"No，\"saidMrs。Kronborg，ratherindifferently，\"Ican’tseeitthatway，Anna。Ineverforcedyoutopractice，andIdon’tseeasIshouldkeepTheafromit。Iliketohearher，andIguessyourfatherdoes。YouandTheawilllikelyfol—
lowdifferentlines，andIdon’tseeasI’mcalledupontobringyouupalike。\"
Annalookedmeekandabused。\"Ofcourseallthechurchpeoplemusthearher。Oursistheonlynoisyhouseonthisstreet。Youhearwhatshe’splayingnow，don’tyou？\"
Mrs。Kronborgrosefrombrowninghercoffee。\"Yes；
it’stheBlueDanubewaltzes。I’mfamiliarwith’em。Ifanyofthechurchpeoplecomeatyou，youjustsend’emtome。Iain’tafraidtospeakoutonoccasion，andI
wouldn’tmindonebittellingtheLadies’Aidafewthingsaboutstandardcomposers。\"Mrs。Kronborgsmiled，andaddedthoughtfully，\"No，Iwouldn’tmindthatonebit。\"
Annawentaboutwithareservedanddistantairforaweek，andMrs。Kronborgsuspectedthatsheheldalargerplacethanusualinherdaughter’sprayers；butthatwasanotherthingshedidn’tmind。
Althoughrevivalsweremerelyapartoftheyear’swork，likeexaminationweekatschool，andalthoughAnna’spietyimpressedherverylittle，atimecamewhenTheawasperplexedaboutreligion。AscourgeoftyphoidbrokeoutinMoonstoneandseveralofThea’sschoolmatesdiedofit。Shewenttotheirfunerals，sawthemputintothe
ground，andwonderedagooddealaboutthem。Butacertaingrimincident，whichcausedtheepidemic，troubledherevenmorethanthedeathofherfriends。
EarlyinJuly，soonafterThea’sfifteenthbirthday，aparticularlydisgustingsortoftrampcameintoMoonstoneinanemptyboxcar。Theawassittinginthehammockinthefrontyardwhenhefirstcrawleduptothetownfromthedepot，carryingabundlewrappedindirtytickingunderonearm，andundertheotherawoodenboxwithrustyscreeningnailedoveroneend。Hehadathin，hungryfacecoveredwithblackhair。Itwasjustbeforesupper—
timewhenhecamealong，andthestreetsmelledoffriedpotatoesandfriedonionsandcoffee。Theasawhimsniffingtheairgreedilyandwalkingslowerandslower。Helookedoverthefence。Shehopedhewouldnotstopattheirgate，forhermotherneverturnedanyoneaway，andthiswasthedirtiestandmostutterlywretched—lookingtrampshehadeverseen。Therewasaterribleodorabouthim，too。
Shecaughtitevenatthatdistance，andputherhandker—
chieftohernose。Amomentlatershewassorry，forsheknewthathehadnoticedit。Helookedawayandshuffledalittlefaster。
AfewdayslaterTheaheardthatthetramphadcampedinanemptyshackoverontheeastedgeoftown，besidetheravine，andwastryingtogiveamiserablesortofshowthere。Hetoldtheboyswhowenttoseewhathewasdoing，thathehadtraveledwithacircus。Hisbundlecontainedafilthyclown’ssuit，andhisboxheldhalfadozenrattle—
snakes。
Saturdaynight，whenTheawenttothebutchershoptogetthechickensforSunday，sheheardthewhineofanaccordionandsawacrowdbeforeoneofthesaloons。Thereshefoundthetramp，hisbonybodygrotesquelyattiredintheclown’ssuit，hisfaceshavedandpaintedwhite，——thesweattricklingthroughthepaintandwashingitaway，——
andhiseyeswildandfeverish。Pullingtheaccordionin
andoutseemedtobealmosttoogreataneffortforhim，andhepantedtothetuneof\"MarchingthroughGeorgia。\"
Afteraconsiderablecrowdhadgathered，thetrampex—
hibitedhisboxofsnakes，announcedthathewouldnowpassthehat，andthatwhentheonlookershadcontributedthesumofonedollar，hewouldeat\"oneoftheselivingreptiles。\"Thecrowdbegantocoughandmurmur，andthesaloonkeeperrushedoffforthemarshal，whoarrestedthewretchforgivingashowwithoutalicenseandhurriedhimawaytothecalaboose。
Thecalaboosestoodinasunflowerpatch，——anoldhutwithabarredwindowandapadlockonthedoor。Thetrampwasutterlyfilthyandtherewasnowaytogivehimabath。Thelawmadenoprovisiontogrub—stakevagrants，soaftertheconstablehaddetainedthetrampfortwenty—
fourhours，hereleasedhimandtoldhimto\"getoutoftown，andgetquick。\"Thefellow’srattlesnakeshadbeenkilledbythesaloonkeeper。Hehidinaboxcarinthefreightyard，probablyhopingtogetaridetothenextstation，buthewasfoundandputout。Afterthathewasseennomore。Hehaddisappearedandleftnotraceexceptanugly，stupidword，chalkedontheblackpaintoftheseventy—five—footstandpipewhichwasthereservoirfortheMoonstonewater—supply；thesameword，inanothertongue，thattheFrenchsoldiershoutedatWaterloototheEnglishofficerwhobadetheOldGuardsurrender；acommentonlifewhichthedefeated，alongthehardroadsoftheworld，sometimesbawlatthevictorious。
Aweekafterthetrampexcitementhadpassedover，thecitywaterbegantosmellandtotaste。TheKron—
borgshadawellintheirbackyardanddidnotusecitywater，buttheyheardthecomplaintsoftheirneighbors。
Atfirstpeoplesaidthatthetownwellwasfullofrot—
tingcottonwoodroots，buttheengineeratthepumping—
stationconvincedthemayorthatthewaterleftthewelluntainted。Mayorsreasonslowly，but，thewellbeing
eliminated，theofficialmindhadtotraveltowardthestandpipe——therewasnoothertrackforittogoin。
Thestandpipeamplyrewardedinvestigation。ThetramphadgotevenwithMoonstone。Hehadclimbedthestandpipebythehandholdsandlethimselfdownintoseventy—fivefeetofcoldwater，withhisshoesandhatandrollofticking。Thecitycouncilhadamildpanicandpassedanewordinanceabouttramps。Butthefeverhadalreadybrokenout，andseveraladultsandhalfadozenchildrendiedofit。
TheahadalwaysfoundeverythingthathappenedinMoonstoneexciting，disastersparticularlyso。Itwasgrat—
ifyingtoreadsensationalMoonstoneitemsintheDenverpaper。Butshewishedshehadnotchancedtoseethetrampashecameintotownthatevening，sniffingthesupper—ladenair。Hisfaceremainedunpleasantlyclearinhermemory，andhermindstruggledwiththeproblemofhisbehaviorasifitwereahardpageinarithmetic。Evenwhenshewaspracticing，thedramaofthetrampkeptgoingoninthebackofherhead，andshewasconstantlytryingtomakeherselfrealizewhatpitchofhatredordespaircoulddriveamantodosuchahideousthing。Shekeptseeinghiminhisbedraggledclownsuit，thewhitepaintonhisroughlyshavenface，playinghisaccordionbeforethesaloon。Shehadnoticedhisleanbody，hishigh，baldforeheadthatslopedbacklikeacurvedmetallid。Howcouldpeoplefallsofaroutoffortune？ShetriedtotalktoRayKennedyaboutherperplexity，butRaywouldnotdiscussthingsofthatsortwithher。Itwasinhissentimentalconceptionofwomenthattheyshouldbedeeplyreligious，thoughmenwereatlibertytodoubtandfinallytodeny。Apicturecalled\"TheSoulAwakened，\"
popularinMoonstoneparlors，prettywellinterpretedRay’sideaofwoman’sspiritualnature。
Oneeveningwhenshewashauntedbythefigureofthetramp，TheawentuptoDr。Archie’soffice。Shefoundhim
sewinguptwobadgashesinthefaceofalittleboywhohadbeenkickedbyamule。Aftertheboyhadbeenban—
dagedandsentawaywithhisfather，Theahelpedthedoc—
torwashandputawaythesurgicalinstruments。Thenshedroppedintoheraccustomedseatbesidehisdeskandbegantotalkaboutthetramp。Hereyeswerehardandgreenwithexcitement，thedoctornoticed。
\"Itseemstome，Dr。Archie，thatthewholetown’stoblame。I’mtoblame，myself。Iknowhesawmeholdmynosewhenhewentby。Father’stoblame。IfhebelievestheBible，heoughttohavegonetothecalabooseandcleanedthatmanupandtakencareofhim。That’swhatIcan’tunderstand；dopeoplebelievetheBible，ordon’tthey？Ifthenextlifeisallthatmatters，andwe’reputheretogetreadyforit，thenwhydowetrytomakemoney，orlearnthings，orhaveagoodtime？There’snotonepersoninMoonstonethatreallylivesthewaytheNewTestamentsays。Doesitmatter，ordon’tit？\"