IX
THEAreachedMoonstoneinthelateafternoon，andalltheKronborgsweretheretomeetherexcepthertwoolderbrothers。GusandCharleywereyoungmennow，andtheyhaddeclaredatnoonthatitwould\"looksillyifthewholebunchwentdowntothetrain。\"\"There’snousemakingafussoverTheajustbecauseshe’sbeentoChi—
cago，\"Charleywarnedhismother。\"She’sinclinedtothinkprettywellofherself，anyhow，andifyougotreatingherlikecompany，there’llbenolivinginthehousewithher。\"Mrs。KronborgsimplyleveledhereyesatCharley，andhefadedaway，muttering。Shehad，asMr。Kronborgalwayssaidwithaninclinationofhishead，goodcontroloverherchildren。Anna，too，wishedtoabsentherselffromtheparty，butintheendhercuriositygotthebetterofher。SowhenTheasteppeddownfromtheporter’sstool，averycreditableKronborgrepresentationwasgroupedontheplatformtogreether。Aftertheyhadallkissedher（GunnerandAxelshyly），Mr。Kronborghurriedhisflockintothehotelomnibus，inwhichtheyweretobedrivenceremoniouslyhome，withtheneighborslookingoutoftheirwindowstoseethemgoby。
Allthefamilytalkedtoheratonce，exceptThor，——
impressiveinnewtrousers，——whowasgravelysilentandwhorefusedtositonThea’slap。OneofthefirstthingsAnnatoldherwasthatMaggieEvans，thegirlwhousedtocoughinprayermeeting，diedyesterday，andhadmadearequestthatTheasingatherfuneral。
Thea’ssmilefroze。\"I’mnotgoingtosingatallthissummer，exceptmyexercises。BowerssaysItaxedmyvoicelastwinter，singingatfuneralssomuch。IfIbeginthefirstdayafterIgethome，there’llbenoendtoit。
YoucantellthemIcaughtcoldonthetrain，orsome—
thing。\"
TheasawAnnaglanceattheirmother。Thearemem—
beredhavingseenthatlookonAnna’sfaceoftenbefore，butshehadneverthoughtanythingaboutitbecauseshewasusedtoit。Nowsherealizedthatthelookwasdis—
tinctlyspiteful，evenvindictive。ShesuddenlyrealizedthatAnnahadalwaysdislikedher。
Mrs。Kronborgseemedtonoticenothing，andchangedthetrendoftheconversation，tellingTheathatDr。ArchieandMr。Upping，thejeweler，werebothcomingintoseeherthatevening，andthatshehadaskedSpanishJohnnytocome，becausehehadbehavedwellallwinterandoughttobeencouraged。
ThenextmorningTheawakenedearlyinherownroomupundertheeavesandlaywatchingthesunlightshineontherosesofherwall—paper。Shewonderedwhethershewouldeverlikeaplasteredroomaswellasthisonelinedwithscantlings。Itwassnugandtight，likethecabinofalittleboat。Herbedfacedthewindowandstoodagainstthewall，undertheslantoftheceiling。Whenshewentawayshecouldjusttouchtheceilingwiththetipsofherfingers；
nowshecouldtouchitwiththepalmofherhand。Itwassolittlethatitwaslikeasunnycave，withrosesrunningallovertheroof。Throughthelowwindow，asshelaythere，shecouldwatchpeoplegoingbyonthefarthersideofthestreet；men，goingdowntowntoopentheirstores。
Thorwasoverthere，rattlinghisexpresswagonalongthesidewalk。TilliehadputabunchofFrenchpinksinatumblerofwateronherdresser，andtheygaveoutapleas—
antperfume。Thebluejayswerefightingandscreechinginthecottonwoodtreeoutsideherwindow，astheyalwaysdid，andshecouldheartheoldBaptistdeaconacrossthestreetcallinghischickens，asshehadheardhimdoeverysummermorningsinceshecouldremember。Itwaspleasanttowakenupinthatbed，inthatroom，andtofeel
thebrightnessofthemorning，whilelightquiveredaboutthelow，paperedceilingingoldenspots，refractedbythebrokenmirrorandtheglassofwaterthatheldthepinks。
\"IMLEUCHTENDENSOMMERMORGEN\"；thoselines，andthefaceofheroldteacher，camebacktoThea，floatedtoheroutofsleep，perhaps。Shehadbeendreamingsomethingpleas—
ant，butshecouldnotrememberwhat。ShewouldgotocalluponMrs。Kohlerto—day，andseethepigeonswashingtheirpinkfeetinthedripunderthewatertank，andflyingabouttheirhousethatwassuretohaveafreshcoatofwhitepaintonitforsummer。OnthewayhomeshewouldstoptoseeMrs。Tellamantez。OnSundayshewouldcoaxGunnertotakeherouttothesandhills。ShehadmissedtheminChicago；hadbeenhomesickfortheirbrilliantmorninggoldandfortheirsoftcolorsatevening。TheLake，somehow，hadnevertakentheirplace。
Whileshelayplanning，relaxedinwarmdrowsiness，sheheardaknockatherdoor。ShesupposeditwasTillie，whosometimesflutteredinonherbeforeshewasoutofbedtooffersomeservicewhichthefamilywouldhaveridiculed。
Butinstead，Mrs。Kronborgherselfcamein，carryingatraywithThea’sbreakfastsetoutononeofthebestwhitenapkins。Theasatupwithsomeembarrassmentandpulledhernightgowntogetheracrossherchest。Mrs。Kronborgwasalwaysbusydownstairsinthemorning，andTheacouldnotrememberwhenhermotherhadcometoherroombefore。
\"Ithoughtyou’dbetired，aftertraveling，andmightliketotakeiteasyforonce。\"Mrs。Kronborgputthetrayontheedgeofthebed。\"Itooksomethickcreamforyoubeforetheboysgotatit。Theyraisedahowl。\"Shechuckledandsatdowninthebigwoodenrockingchair。
HervisitmadeTheafeelgrown—up，and，somehow，im—
portant。
Mrs。KronborgaskedheraboutBowersandtheHar—
sanyis。ShefeltagreatchangeinThea，inherfaceandin
hermanner。Mr。Kronborghadnoticedit，too，andhadspokenofittohiswifewithgreatsatisfactionwhiletheywereundressinglastnight。Mrs。Kronborgsatlookingatherdaughter，wholayonherside，supportingherselfonherelbowandlazilydrinkinghercoffeefromthetraybe—
foreher。Hershort—sleevednightgownhadcomeopenatthethroatagain，andMrs。Kronborgnoticedhowwhiteherarmsandshoulderswere，asiftheyhadbeendippedinnewmilk。Herchestwasfullerthanwhenshewentaway，herbreastsrounderandfirmer，andthoughshewassowhitewhereshewasuncovered，theylookedrosythroughthethinmuslin。Herbodyhadtheelasticitythatcomesofbeinghighlychargedwiththedesiretolive。Herhair，hangingintwoloosebraids，onebyeithercheek，wasjustenoughdisorderedtocatchthelightinallitscurlyends。
Theaalwayswokewithapinkflushonhercheeks，andthismorninghermotherthoughtshehadneverseenhereyessowide—openandbright；likecleargreenspringsinthewood，whentheearlysunlightsparklesinthem。Shewouldmakeaveryhandsomewoman，Mrs。Kronborgsaidtoherself，ifshewouldonlygetridofthatfiercelookshehadsometimes。Mrs。Kronborgtookgreatpleasureingoodlooks，wherevershefoundthem。Shestillrememberedthat，asababy，Theahadbeenthe\"best—formed\"ofanyofherchildren。
\"I’llhavetogetyoualongerbed，\"sheremarked，assheputthetrayonthetable。\"You’regettingtoolongforthatone。\"
Thealookedupathermotherandlaughed，droppingbackonherpillowwithamagnificentstretchofherwholebody。Mrs。Kronborgsatdownagain。
\"Idon’tliketopressyou，Thea，butIthinkyou’dbettersingatthatfuneralto—morrow。I’mafraidyou’llalwaysbesorryifyoudon’t。Sometimesalittlethinglikethat，thatseemsnothingatthetime，comesbackononeafterwardandtroublesoneagooddeal。Idon’tmeanthe
churchshallrunyoutodeaththissummer，liketheyusedto。I’vespokenmymindtoyourfatheraboutthat，andhe’sveryreasonable。ButMaggietalkedagooddealaboutyoutopeoplethiswinter；alwaysaskedwhatwordwe’dhad，andsaidhowshemissedyoursingingandall。Iguessyououghttodothatmuchforher。\"
\"Allright，mother，ifyouthinkso。\"Thealaylookingathermotherwithintenselybrighteyes。
\"That’sright，daughter。\"Mrs。Kronborgroseandwentovertogetthetray，stoppingtoputherhandonThea’schest。\"You’refillingoutnice，\"shesaid，feelingabout。\"No，Iwouldn’tbotheraboutthebuttons。Leave’emstayoff。Thisisagoodtimetohardenyourchest。\"
Thealaystillandheardhermother’sfirmsteprecedingalongthebarefloorofthetrunkloft。Therewasnoshamabouthermother，shereflected。Hermotherknewagreatmanythingsofwhichshenevertalked，andallthechurchpeoplewereforeverchatteringaboutthingsofwhichtheyknewnothing。Shelikedhermother。
NowforMexicanTownandtheKohlers！Shemeanttoruninontheoldwomanwithoutwarning，andhugher。
X
SPANISHJOHNNYhadnoshopofhisown，buthekeptatableandanorder—bookinonecornerofthedrugstorewherepaintsandwall—paperweresold，andhewassometimestobefoundthereforanhourorsoaboutnoon。Theahadgoneintothedrugstoretohaveafriendlychatwiththeproprietor，whousedtolendherbooksfromhisshelves。ShefoundJohnnythere，trimmingrollsofwall—paperfortheparlorofBankerSmith’snewhouse。
Shesatdownonthetopofhistableandwatchedhim。
\"Johnny，\"shesaidsuddenly，\"IwantyoutowritedownthewordsofthatMexicanserenadeyouusedtosing；
youknow，`ROSADENOCHE。’It’sanunusualsong。I’mgoingtostudyit。IknowenoughSpanishforthat。\"
Johnnylookedupfromhisrollerwithhisbright，affablesmile。\"SI，butitislowforyou，Ithink；VOZCONTRALTO。
Itislowforme。\"
\"Nonsense。IcandomorewithmylowvoicethanI
usedto。I’llshowyou。Sitdownandwriteitoutforme，please。\"Theabeckonedhimwiththeshortyellowpenciltiedtohisorder—book。
Johnnyranhisfingersthroughhiscurlyblackhair。
\"Ifyouwish。IdonotknowifthatSERENATAallrightforyoungladies。Downthereitismoreformarriedladies。
Theysingitforhusbands——orsomebodyelse，may—bee。\"
Johnny’seyestwinkledandheapologizedgracefullywithhisshoulders。Hesatdownatthetable，andwhileThealookedoverhisarm，begantowritethesongdowninalong，slantingscript，withhighlyornamentalcapitals。
Presentlyhelookedup。\"This—asongnotexactlyMexi—
can，\"hesaidthoughtfully。\"Itcomefromfartherdown；
Brazil，Venezuela，may—bee。Ilearnitfromsomefellow
downthere，andhelearnitfromanotherfellow。Itis—amostlikeMexican，butnotquite。\"Theadidnotreleasehim，butpointedtothepaper。Therewerethreeversesofthesonginall，andwhenJohnnyhadwrittenthemdown，hesatlookingatthemmeditatively，hisheadononeside。\"Idon’thinkforahighvoice，SENORITA，\"heobjectedwithpolitepersistence。\"Howyouaccompanywithpiano？\"
\"Oh，thatwillbeeasyenough。\"
\"Foryou，may—bee！\"Johnnysmiledanddrummedonthetablewiththetipsofhisagilebrownfingers。\"Youknowsomething？Listen，Itellyou。\"Heroseandsatdownonthetablebesideher，puttinghisfootonthechair。
Helovedtotalkatthehourofnoon。\"Whenyouwasalittlegirl，nobiggerthanthat，youcometomyhouseoneday’boutnoon，likethis，andIwasinthedoor，playingguitar。Youwasbarehead，barefoot；yourunawayfromhome。Youstandthereandmakeafrownatmean’listen。
By’nbyyousayformetosing。Isingsomelil’ting，andthenIsayforyoutosingwithme。Youdon’knownowords，ofcourse，butyoutaketheairandyousingitjust—
abeauti—ful！Ineverseeachilddothat，outsideMexico。
Youwas，oh，Ido’know——sevenyear，may—bee。By’nbythepreachercomelookforyouandbeginforscold。I
say，`Don’scold，MeesterKronborg。Shecomeforhearguitar。Shegottasomemusicinher，thatchild。Wheresheget？’Thenhetellme’boutyourgran’papaplayoboeintheoldcountry。Ineverforgettathattime。\"
Johnnychuckledsoftly。
Theanodded。\"Irememberthatday，too。Ilikedyourmusicbetterthanthechurchmusic。Whenareyougoingtohaveadanceoverthere，Johnny？\"
Johnnytiltedhishead。\"Well，SaturdaynighttheSpanishboyshavealil’party，someDANZA。YouknowMiguelRamas？Hehavesomeyoungcousins，twoboys，verynice—a，comefromTorreon。TheygoingtoSaltLake
forsomejob—a，andstayoffwithhimtwo—threedays，andhemus’haveaparty。Youliketocome？\"
ThatwashowTheacametogototheMexicanball。
MexicanTownhadbeenincreasedbyhalfadozennewfamiliesduringthelastfewyears，andtheMexicanshadputupanadobedance—hall，thatlookedexactlylikeoneoftheirowndwellings，exceptthatitwasalittlelonger，andwassounpretentiousthatnobodyinMoonstoneknewofitsexistence。The\"Spanishboys\"arereticentabouttheirownaffairs。RayKennedyusedtoknowaboutalltheirlittledoings，butsincehisdeaththerewasnoonewhomtheMexicansconsideredSIMPATICO。
OnSaturdayeveningaftersupperTheatoldhermotherthatshewasgoingovertoMrs。Tellamantez’stowatchtheMexicansdanceforawhile，andthatJohnnywouldbringherhome。
Mrs。Kronborgsmiled。ShenoticedthatTheahadputonawhitedressandhaddoneherhairupwithunusualcare，andthatshecarriedherbestbluescarf。\"Maybeyou’lltakeaturnyourself，eh？Iwouldn’tmindwatchingthemMexicans。They’relovelydancers。\"
Theamadeafeeblesuggestionthathermothermightgowithher，butMrs。Kronborgwastoowiseforthat。SheknewthatTheawouldhaveabettertimeifshewentalone，andshewatchedherdaughtergooutofthegateanddownthesidewalkthatledtothedepot。
Theawalkedslowly。Itwasasoft，rosyevening。Thesandhillswerelavender。Thesunhadgonedownaglow—
ingcopperdisk，andthefleecycloudsintheeastwereaburningrose—color，fleckedwithgold。Theapassedthecottonwoodgroveandthenthedepot，wheresheleftthesidewalkandtookthesandypathtowardMexicanTown。
Shecouldhearthescrapingofviolinsbeingtuned，thetinkleofmandolins，andthegrowlofadoublebass。Wherehadtheygotadoublebass？ShedidnotknowtherewasoneinMoonstone。Shefoundlaterthatitwasthepro—
pertyofoneofRamas’syoungcousins，whowastakingittoUtahwithhimtocheerhimathis\"job—a。\"
TheMexicansneverwaituntilitisdarktobegintodance，andTheahadnodifficultyinfindingthenewhall，becauseeveryotherhouseinthetownwasdeserted。Eventhebabieshadgonetotheball；aneighborwasalwayswillingtoholdthebabywhilethemotherdanced。Mrs。
TellamantezcameouttomeetTheaandledherin。Johnnybowedtoherfromtheplatformattheendoftheroom，wherehewasplayingthemandolinalongwithtwofiddlesandthebass。Thehallwasalonglowroom，withwhite—
washedwalls，afairlytightplankfloor，woodenbenchesalongthesides，andafewbracketlampsscrewedtotheframetimbers。Theremusthavebeenfiftypeoplethere，countingthechildren。TheMexicandanceswereverymuchfamilyaffairs。Thefathersalwaysdancedagainandagainwiththeirlittledaughters，aswellaswiththeirwives。OneofthegirlscameuptogreetThea，herdarkcheeksglowingwithpleasureandcordiality，andintro—
ducedherbrother，withwhomshehadjustbeendancing。
\"Youbettertakehimeverytimeheasksyou，\"shewhis—
pered。\"He’sthebestdancerhere，exceptJohnny。\"
Theasoondecidedthatthepoorestdancerwasherself。
EvenMrs。Tellamantez，whoalwaysheldhershoulderssostiffly，dancedbetterthanshedid。Themusiciansdidnotremainlongattheirpost。Whenoneofthemfeltlikedancing，hecalledsomeotherboytotakehisinstrument，putonhiscoat，andwentdownonthefloor。Johnny，whoworeablousywhitesilkshirt，didnotevenputonhiscoat。
ThedancestherailroadmengaveinFiremen’sHallweretheonlydancesTheahadeverbeenallowedtogoto，andtheywereverydifferentfromthis。Theboysplayedroughjokesandthoughtitsmarttobeclumsyandtorunintoeachotheronthefloor。Forthesquaredancestherewasalwaysthebawlingvoiceofthecaller，whowasalsothecountyauctioneer。
ThisMexicandancewassoftandquiet。Therewasnocalling，theconversationwasverylow，therhythmofthemusicwassmoothandengaging，themenweregracefulandcourteous。SomeofthemTheahadneverbeforeseenoutoftheirworkingclothes，smearedwithgreasefromtheround—houseorclayfromthebrickyard。Sometimes，whenthemusichappenedtobeapopularMexicanwaltzsong，thedancerssangitsoftlyastheymoved。Therewerethreelittlegirlsundertwelve，intheirfirstcommuniondresses，andoneofthemhadanorangemarigoldinherblackhair，justoverherear。Theydancedwiththemenandwitheachother。Therewasanatmosphereofeaseandfriendlypleasureinthelow，dimlylitroom，andTheacouldnothelpwonderingwhethertheMexicanshadnojealousiesorneighborlygrudgesasthepeopleinMoonstonehad。
Therewasnoconstraintofanykindthereto—night，butakindofnaturalharmonyabouttheirmovements，theirgreetings，theirlowconversation，theirsmiles。
Ramasbroughtuphistwoyoungcousins，SilvoandFelipe，andpresentedthem。Theywerehandsome，smil—
ingyouths，ofeighteenandtwenty，withpale—goldskins，smoothcheeks，aquilinefeatures，andwavyblackhair，likeJohnny’s。Theyweredressedalike，inblackvelvetjacketsandsoftsilkshirts，withopalshirt—buttonsandflowingblacktiesloopedthroughgoldrings。Theyhadcharmingmanners，andlow，guitar—likevoices。TheyknewalmostnoEnglish，butaMexicanboycanpayagreatmanycomplimentswithaverylimitedvocabulary。
TheRamasboysthoughtTheadazzlinglybeautiful。TheyhadneverseenaScandinaviangirlbefore，andherhairandfairskinbewitchedthem。\"BLANCOYORO，SEMEJANTELA
PASCUA！\"（Whiteandgold，likeEaster！）theyexclaimedtoeachother。Silvo，theyounger，declaredthathecouldnevergoontoUtah；thatheandhisdoublebasshadreachedtheirultimatedestination。Theelderwasmorecrafty；heaskedMiguelRamaswhetherthere
wouldbe\"plentymoregirlslikethat_A_SaltLake，may—
bee？\"
Silvo，overhearing，gavehisbrotheracontemptuousglance。\"PlentymoreAPARAISOmay—bee！\"heretorted。
Whentheywerenotdancingwithher，theireyesfollowedher，overthecoiffuresoftheirotherpartners。Thatwasnotdifficult；oneblondeheadmovingamongsomanydarkones。
Theahadnotmeanttodancemuch，buttheRamasboysdancedsowellandweresohandsomeandadoringthatsheyieldedtotheirentreaties。Whenshesatoutadancewiththem，theytalkedtoherabouttheirfamilyathome，andtoldherhowtheirmotherhadoncepunnedupontheirname。RAMA，inSpanish，meantabranch，theyexplained。Oncewhentheywerelittleladstheirmothertookthemalongwhenshewenttohelpthewomendeco—
ratethechurchforEaster。Someoneaskedherwhethershehadbroughtanyflowers，andsherepliedthatshehadbroughther\"ramas。\"Thiswasevidentlyacherishedfamilystory。
Whenitwasnearlymidnight，Johnnyannouncedthateveryonewasgoingtohishousetohave\"somelil’ice—
creamandsomelil’MUSICA。\"HebegantoputoutthelightsandMrs。TellamantezledthewayacrossthesquaretoherCASA。TheRamasbrothersescortedThea，andastheysteppedoutofthedoor，Silvoexclaimed，\"HACE
FRIO！\"andthrewhisvelvetcoatabouthershoulders。
MostofthecompanyfollowedMrs。Tellamantez，andtheysataboutonthegravelinherlittleyardwhilesheandJohnnyandMrs。MiguelRamasservedtheice—cream。
TheasatonFelipe’scoat，sinceSilvo’swasalreadyabouthershoulders。Theyouthslaydownontheshininggravelbesideher，oneonherrightandoneonherleft。Johnnyalreadycalledthem\"LOSACOLITOS，\"thealtar—boys。Thetalkallaboutthemwaslow，andindolent。OneofthegirlswasplayingonJohnny’sguitar，anotherwaspicking
lightlyatamandolin。Themoonlightwassobrightthatonecouldseeeveryglanceandsmile，andtheflashoftheirteeth。ThemoonflowersoverMrs。Tellamantez’sdoorwerewideopenandofanunearthlywhite。Themoonitselflookedlikeagreatpaleflowerinthesky。
Afteralltheice—creamwasgone，JohnnyapproachedThea，hisguitarunderhisarm，andtheelderRamasboypolitelygaveuphisplace。Johnnysatdown，tookalongbreath，struckafiercechord，andthenhusheditwithhisotherhand。\"Nowwehavesomelil’SERENATA，eh？Youwan’atry？\"
WhenTheabegantosing，instantsilencefelluponthecompany。Shefeltallthosedarkeyesfixthemselvesuponherintently。Shecouldseethemshine。Thefacescameoutoftheshadowlikethewhiteflowersoverthedoor。
Felipeleanedhisheaduponhishand。Silvodroppedonhisbackandlaylookingatthemoon，undertheimpressionthathewasstilllookingatThea。Whenshefinishedthefirstverse，TheawhisperedtoJohnny，\"Again，Icandoitbetterthanthat。\"
Shehadsungforchurchesandfuneralsandteachers，butshehadneverbeforesungforareallymusicalpeople，andthiswasthefirsttimeshehadeverfelttheresponsethatsuchapeoplecangive。Theyturnedthemselvesandalltheyhadovertoher。Forthemomenttheycaredaboutnothingintheworldbutwhatshewasdoing。Theirfacesconfrontedher，open，eager，unprotected。Shefeltasifallthesewarm—bloodedpeopledebouchedintoher。Mrs。
Tellamantez’sfatefulresignation，Johnny’smadness，theadorationoftheboywholaystillinthesand；inaninstantthesethingsseemedtobewithinherinsteadofwithout，asiftheyhadcomefromherinthefirstplace。
Whenshefinished，herlistenersbrokeintoexcitedmur—
mur。Themenbeganhuntingfeverishlyforcigarettes。
FamosSerranosthebarytonebricklayer，touchedJohnny’sarm，gavehimaquestioninglook，thenheavedadeep
sigh。Johnnydroppedonhiselbow，wipinghisfaceandneckandhandswithhishandkerchief。\"SENORITA，\"hepanted，\"ifyousinglikethatonceintheCityofMexico，theyjust—agocrazy。IntheCityofMexicotheyain’t—asitlikestumpswhentheyhearthat，not—amuch！Whentheylike，theyjust—agiveyouthetown。\"
Thealaughed。She，too，wasexcited。\"Thinkso，Johnny？Come，singsomethingwithme。ELPARRENO；I
haven’tsungthatforalongtime。\"
Johnnylaughedandhuggedhisguitar。\"Younot—aforgethim？\"Hebeganteasinghisstrings。\"Come！\"Hethrewbackhishead，\"ANOCHE—E—E——\"
\"ANOCHEMECONFESSE
CONUNPADRECARMELITE，YMEDIOPENITENCIA
QUEBESARASTUBOQUITA。\"
（LastnightImadeconfessionWithaCarmelitefather，AndhegavemeabsolutionForthekissesyouimprinted。）
Johnnyhadalmosteveryfaultthatatenorcanhave。
Hisvoicewasthin，unsteady，huskyinthemiddletones。
Butitwasdistinctlyavoice，andsometimeshemanagedtogetsomethingverysweetoutofit。Certainlyitmadehimhappytosing。Theakeptglancingdownathimashelaythereonhiselbow。Hiseyesseemedtwiceaslargeasusualandhadlightsinthemlikethosethemoonlightmakesonblack，runningwater。Thearememberedtheoldstoriesabouthis\"spells。\"Shehadneverseenhimwhenhismadnesswasonhim，butshefeltsomethingto—
nightatherelbowthatgaveheranideaofwhatitmightbelike。ForthefirsttimeshefullyunderstoodthecrypticexplanationthatMrs。TellamantezhadmadetoDr。
Archie，longago。Therewerethesameshellsalongthewalk；shebelievedshecouldpickouttheveryone。There
wasthesamemoonupyonder，andpantingatherelbowwasthesameJohnny——fooledbythesameoldthings！
Whentheyhadfinished，Famos，thebarytone，mur—
muredsomethingtoJohnny；whoreplied，\"Surewecansing`Trovatore。’Wehavenoalto，butallthegirlscansingaltoandmakesomenoise。\"
Thewomenlaughed。Mexicanwomenofthepoorerclassdonotsinglikethemen。Perhapstheyaretooin—
dolent。Intheevening，whenthemenaresingingtheirthroatsdryonthedoorstep，oraroundthecamp—firebe—
sidethework—train，thewomenusuallysitandcombtheirhair。
WhileJohnnywasgesticulatingandtellingeverybodywhattosingandhowtosingit，TheaputoutherfootandtouchedthecorpseofSilvowiththetoeofherslipper。