\"Aren’tyougoingtosing，Silvo？\"sheaskedteasingly。
Theboyturnedonhissideandraisedhimselfonhiselbowforamoment。\"Notthisnight，SENORITA，\"hepleadedsoftly，\"notthisnight！\"Hedroppedbackagain，andlaywithhischeekonhisrightarm，thehandlyingpassiveonthesandabovehishead。
\"Howdoesheflattenhimselfintothegroundlikethat？\"
Theaaskedherself。\"IwishIknew。It’sveryeffective，somehow。\"
AcrossthegulchtheKohlers’littlehousesleptamongitstrees，adarkspotonthewhitefaceofthedesert。Thewindowsoftheirupstairsbedroomwereopen，andPaulinahadlistenedtothedancemusicforalongwhilebeforeshedrowsedoff。Shewasalightsleeper，andwhenshewokeagain，aftermidnight，Johnny’sconcertwasatitsheight。
Shelaystilluntilshecouldbearitnolonger。ThenshewakenedFritzandtheywentovertothewindowandleanedout。Theycouldhearclearlythere。
\"DIETHEA，\"whisperedMrs。Kohler；\"itmustbe。ACH，WUNDERSCHON！\"
Fritzwasnotsowideawakeashiswife。Hegruntedand
scratchedonthefloorwithhisbarefoot。Theywerelis—
teningtoaMexicanpart—song；thetenor，thenthesoprano，thenbothtogether；thebarytonejoinsthem，rages，isextinguished；thetenorexpiresinsobs，andthesopranofinishesalone。Whenthesoprano’slastnotediedaway，Fritznoddedtohiswife。\"JA，\"hesaid；\"SCHON。\"
Therewassilenceforafewmoments。Thentheguitarsoundedfiercely，andseveralmalevoicesbeganthesextettefrom\"Lucia。\"Johnny’sreedytenortheyknewwell，andthebricklayer’sbig，opaquebarytone；theothersmightbeanybodyoverthere——justMexicanvoices。Thenattheappointed，attheacute，moment，thesopranovoice，likeafountainjet，shotupintothelight。\"HORCH！HORCH！\"theoldpeoplewhispered，bothatonce。Howitleapedfromamongthoseduskymalevoices！Howitplayedinandaboutandaroundandoverthem，likeagoldfishdartingamongcreekminnows，likeayellowbutterflysoaringaboveaswarmofdarkones。\"Ah，\"saidMrs。Kohlersoftly，\"thedearman；ifhecouldhearhernow！\"
XI
MRS。KRONBORGhadsaidthatTheawasnottobedisturbedonSundaymorning，andshesleptuntilnoon。Whenshecamedownstairsthefamilywerejustsittingdowntodinner，Mr。Kronborgatoneendofthelongtable，Mrs。Kronborgattheother。Anna，stiffandceremonious，inhersummersilk，satatherfather’sright，andtheboyswerestrungalongoneithersideofthetable。
TherewasaplaceleftforTheabetweenhermotherandThor。Duringthesilencewhichprecededtheblessing，Theafeltsomethinguncomfortableintheair。Annaandherolderbrothershadloweredtheireyeswhenshecamein。Mrs。Kronborgnoddedcheerfully，andafterthebless—
ing，asshebegantopourthecoffee，turnedtoher。
\"Iexpectyouhadagoodtimeatthatdance，Thea。I
hopeyougotyoursleepout。\"
\"Highsociety，that，\"remarkedCharley，givingthemashedpotatoesaviciousswat。Anna’smouthandeye—
browsbecamehalf—moons。
Thealookedacrossthetableattheuncompromisingcountenancesofherolderbrothers。\"Why，what’sthematterwiththeMexicans？\"sheasked，flushing。\"Theydon’ttroubleanybody，andtheyarekindtotheirfamiliesandhavegoodmanners。\"
\"Nicecleanpeople；gotsomestyleaboutthem。Doyoureallylikethatkind，Thea，ordoyoujustpretendto？
That’swhatI’dliketoknow。\"Guslookedatherwithpainedinquiry。Butheatleastlookedather。
\"They’rejustascleanaswhitepeople，andtheyhaveaperfectrighttotheirownways。OfcourseIlike’em。
Idon’tpretendthings。\"
\"Everybodyaccordingtotheirowntaste，\"remarked
Charleybitterly。\"Quitcrumbingyourbreadup，Thor。
Ain’tyoulearnedhowtoeatyet？\"
\"Children，children！\"saidMr。Kronborgnervously，lookingupfromthechickenhewasdismembering。Heglancedathiswife，whomheexpectedtomaintainhar—
monyinthefamily。
\"That’sallright，Charley。Dropitthere，\"saidMrs。
Kronborg。\"NousespoilingyourSundaydinnerwithraceprejudices。TheMexicanssuitmeandTheaverywell。Theyareausefulpeople。Nowyoucanjusttalkaboutsomethingelse。\"
Conversation，however，didnotflourishatthatdinner。
Everybodyateasfastaspossible。CharleyandGussaidtheyhadengagementsandleftthetableassoonastheyfinishedtheirapplepie。Annasatprimlyandatewithgreatelegance。Whenshespokeatallshespoketoherfather，aboutchurchmatters，andalwaysinacommiserat—
ingtone，asifhehadmetwithsomemisfortune。Mr。
Kronborg，quiteinnocentofherintentions，repliedkindlyandabsent—mindedly。AfterthedesserthewenttotakehisusualSundayafternoonnap，andMrs。Kronborgcarriedsomedinnertoasickneighbor。TheaandAnnabegantoclearthetable。
\"Ishouldthinkyouwouldshowmoreconsiderationforfather’sposition，Thea，\"Annabeganassoonassheandhersisterwerealone。
Theagaveherasidelongglance。\"Why，whathaveI
donetofather？\"
\"EverybodyatSunday—SchoolwastalkingaboutyougoingoverthereandsingingwiththeMexicansallnight，whenyouwon’tsingforthechurch。Somebodyheardyou，andtolditallovertown。Ofcourse，weallgettheblameforit。\"
\"Anythingdisgracefulaboutsinging？\"Theaaskedwithaprovokingyawn。
\"Imustsayyouchooseyourcompany！Youalways
hadthatstreakinyou，Thea。Weallhopedthatgoingawaywouldimproveyou。Ofcourse，itreflectsonfatherwhenyouarescarcelypolitetothenicepeoplehereandmakeuptotherowdies。\"
\"Oh，it’smysingingwiththeMexicansyouobjectto？\"
Theaputdownatrayfullofdishes。\"Well，Iliketosingoverthere，andIdon’tliketooverhere。I’llsingforthemanytimetheyaskmeto。TheyknowsomethingaboutwhatI’mdoing。They’reatalentedpeople。\"
\"Talented！\"Annamadethewordsoundlikeescapingsteam。\"Isupposeyouthinkit’ssmarttocomehomeandthrowthatatyourfamily！\"
Theapickedupthetray。BythistimeshewasaswhiteastheSundaytablecloth。\"Well，\"sherepliedinacold，eventone，\"I’llhavetothrowitatthemsoonerorlater。
It’sjustaquestionofwhen，anditmightaswellbenowasanytime。\"Shecarriedthetrayblindlyintothekitchen。
Tillie，whowasalwayslisteningandlookingoutforher，tookthedishesfromherwithafurtive，frightenedglanceatherstonyface。Theawentslowlyupthebackstairstoherloft。Herlegsseemedasheavyasleadassheclimbedthestairs，andshefeltasifeverythinginsideherhadsolidi—
fiedandgrownhard。
Aftershuttingherdoorandlockingit，shesatdownontheedgeofherbed。Thisplacehadalwaysbeenherrefuge，buttherewasahostilityinthehousenowwhichthisdoorcouldnotshutout。Thiswouldbeherlastsummerinthatroom。Itsserviceswereover；itstimewasdone。Sheroseandputherhandonthelowceiling。Twotearsrandownhercheeks，asiftheycamefromicethatmeltedslowly。
Shewasnotreadytoleaveherlittleshell。Shewasbeingpulledouttoosoon。Shewouldneverbeabletothinkanywhereelseaswellashere。Shewouldneversleepsowellorhavesuchdreamsinanyotherbed；evenlastnight，suchsweet，breathlessdreams——Theahidherfaceinthepillow。Wherevershewentshewouldliketotakethatlittle
bedwithher。Whenshewentawayfromitforgood，shewouldleavesomethingthatshecouldneverrecover；mem—
oriesofpleasantexcitement，ofhappyadventuresinhermind；ofwarmsleeponhowlingwinternights，andjoyousawakeningsonsummermornings。Therewerecertaindreamsthatmightrefusetocometoheratallexceptinalittlemorningcave，facingthesun——wheretheycametohersopowerfully，wheretheybeatatriumphinher！
Theroomwashotasanoven。Thesunwasbeatingfiercelyontheshinglesbehindtheboardceiling。Sheun—
dressed，andbeforeshethrewherselfuponherbedinherchemise，shefrownedatherselfforalongwhileinherlook—
ing—glass。Yes，sheandItmustfightitouttogether。Thethingthatlookedatheroutofherowneyeswastheonlyfriendshecouldcounton。Oh，shewouldmakethesepeoplesorryenough！Therewouldcomeatimewhentheywouldwanttomakeitupwithher。But，neveragain！Shehadnolittlevanities，onlyonebigone，andshewouldneverforgive。
Hermotherwasallright，buthermotherwasapartofthefamily，andshewasnot。Inthenatureofthings，hermotherhadtobeonbothsides。Theafeltthatshehadbeenbetrayed。Atrucehadbeenbrokenbehindherback。
ShehadneverhadmuchindividualaffectionforanyofherbrothersexceptThor，butshehadneverbeendisloyal，neverfeltscornorheldgrudges。AsalittlegirlshehadalwaysbeengoodfriendswithGunnerandAxel，whenevershehadtimetoplay。Evenbeforeshegotherownroom，whentheywereallsleepinganddressingtogether，likelittlecubs，andbreakfastinginthekitchen，shehadledanabsorbingpersonallifeofherown。Butshehadacubloyaltytotheothercubs。Shethoughtthemniceboysandtriedtomakethemgettheirlessons。Sheoncefoughtabullywho\"pickedon\"Axelatschool。ShenevermadefunofAnna’scrimpingsandcurlingsandbeauty—rites。
Theahadalwaystakenitforgrantedthathersisterand
brothersrecognizedthatshehadspecialabilities，andthattheywereproudofit。Shehaddonethemthehonor，shetoldherselfbitterly，tobelievethatthoughtheyhadnoparticularendowments，THEYWEREOFHERKIND，andnotoftheMoonstonekind。Nowtheyhadallgrownupandbe—
comepersons。Theyfacedeachotherasindividuals，andshesawthatAnnaandGusandCharleywereamongthepeoplewhomshehadalwaysrecognizedashernaturalenemies。Theirambitionsandsacredproprietiesweremeaninglesstoher。ShehadneglectedtocongratulateCharleyuponhavingbeenpromotedfromthegroceryde—
partmentofCommings’sstoretothedrygoodsdepart—
ment。Hermotherhadreprovedherforthisomission。Andhowwasshetoknow，Theaaskedherself，thatAnnaex—
pectedtobeteasedbecauseBertRicenowcameandsatinthehammockwithhereverynight？No，itwasallclearenough。Nothingthatshewouldeverdointheworldwouldseemimportanttothem，andnothingtheywouldeverdowouldseemimportanttoher。
Thealaythinkingintentlyallthroughthestiflingafter—
noon。Tilliewhisperedsomethingoutsideherdooronce，butshedidnotanswer。Shelayonherbeduntilthesecondchurchbellrang，andshesawthefamilygotroopingupthesidewalkontheoppositesideofthestreet，Annaandherfatherinthelead。Annaseemedtohavetakenonaverystory—bookattitudetowardherfather；pat—
ronizingandcondescending，itseemedtoThea。Theolderboyswerenotinthefamilyband。Theynowtooktheirgirlstochurch。Tilliehadstayedathometogetsupper。
Theagotup，washedherhotfaceandarms，andputonthewhiteorgandiedressshehadwornlastnight；itwasgettingtoosmallforher，andshemightaswellwearitout。
Aftershewasdressedsheunlockedherdoorandwentcau—
tiouslydownstairs。Shefeltasifchillinghostilitiesmightbeawaitingherinthetrunkloft，onthestairway，almostanywhere。Inthedining—roomshefoundTillie，sittingby
theopenwindow，readingthedramaticnewsinaDenverSundaypaper。Tilliekeptascrapbookinwhichshepastedclippingsaboutactorsandactresses。
\"ComelookatthispictureofPaulineHallintights，Thea，\"shecalled。\"Ain’tshecute？It’stoobadyoudidn’tgotothetheatermorewhenyouwasinChicago；
suchagoodchance！Didn’tyouevengettoseeClaraMorrisorModjeska？\"
\"No；Ididn’thavetime。Besides，itcostsmoney，Tillie，\"Thearepliedwearily，glancingatthepaperTillieheldouttoher。
Tillielookedupatherniece。\"Don’tyougoandbeupsetaboutanyofAnna’snotions。She’soneofthesenarrowkind。Yourfatherandmotherdon’tpayanyatten—
tiontowhatshesays。Anna’sfussy；sheiswithme，butIdon’tmindher。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tmindher。That’sallright，Tillie。IguessI’lltakeawalk。\"
TheaknewthatTilliehopedshewouldstayandtalktoherforawhile，andshewouldhavelikedtopleaseher。
Butinahouseassmallasthatone，everythingwastoointimateandmixeduptogether。Thefamilywasthefamily，anintegralthing。Onecouldn’tdiscussAnnathere。
Shefeltdifferentlytowardthehouseandeverythinginit，asifthebatteredoldfurniturethatseemedsokindly，andtheoldcarpetsonwhichshehadplayed，hadbeennour—
ishingasecretgrudgeagainstherandwerenottobetrustedanymore。
Shewentaimlesslyoutofthefrontgate，notknow—
ingwhattodowithherself。MexicanTown，somehow，wasspoiledforherjustthen，andshefeltthatshewouldhideifshesawSilvoorFelipecomingtowardher。Shewalkeddownthroughtheemptymainstreet。Allthestoreswereclosed，theirblindsdown。Onthestepsofthebanksomeidleboysweresitting，tellingdisgustingstoriesbecausetherewasnothingelsetodo。Severalofthemhadgone
toschoolwithThea，butwhenshenoddedtothemtheyhungtheirheadsanddidnotspeak。Thea’sbodywasoftencuriouslyexpressiveofwhatwasgoingoninhermind，andto—nighttherewassomethinginherwalkandcarriagethatmadetheseboysfeelthatshewas\"stuckup。\"Ifshehadstoppedandtalkedtothem，theywouldhavethawedoutontheinstantandwouldhavebeenfriendlyandgrateful。ButTheawashurtafresh，andwalkedon，holdingherchinhigherthanever。AsshepassedtheDukeBlock，shesawalightinDr。Archie’soffice，andshewentupthestairsandopenedthedoorintohisstudy。Shefoundhimwithapileofpapersandaccount—
booksbeforehim。Hepointedhertoheroldchairattheendofhisdeskandleanedbackinhisown，lookingatherwithsatisfaction。Howhandsomeshewasgrowing！
\"I’mstillchasingtheelusivemetal，Thea，\"——hepointedtothepapersbeforehim，——\"I’muptomyneckinmines，andI’mgoingtobearichmansomeday。\"
\"Ihopeyouwill；awfullyrich。That’stheonlythingthatcounts。\"Shelookedrestlesslyabouttheconsulting—
room。\"Todoanyofthethingsonewantstodo，onehastohavelotsandlotsofmoney。\"
Dr。Archiewasdirect。\"What’sthematter？Doyouneedsome？\"
Theashrugged。\"Oh，Icangetalong，inalittleway。\"
Shelookedintentlyoutofthewindowatthearcstreet—
lampthatwasjustbeginningtosputter。\"Butit’ssillytoliveatallforlittlethings，\"sheaddedquietly。\"Living’stoomuchtroubleunlessonecangetsomethingbigoutofit。\"
Dr。Archierestedhiselbowsonthearmsofhischair，droppedhischinonhisclaspedhandsandlookedather。
\"Livingisnotroubleforlittlepeople，believeme！\"heexclaimed。\"Whatdoyouwanttogetoutofit？\"
\"Oh——somanythings！\"Theashivered。
\"Butwhat？Money？Youmentionedthat。Well，you
canmakemoney，ifyoucareaboutthatmorethanany—
thingelse。\"Henoddedpropheticallyabovehisinterlacingfingers。
\"ButIdon’t。That’sonlyonething。Anyhow，I
couldn’tifIdid。\"Shepulledherdresslowerattheneckasifsheweresuffocating。\"Ionlywantimpossiblethings，\"
shesaidroughly。\"Theothersdon’tinterestme。\"
Dr。Archiewatchedhercontemplatively，asifshewereabeakerfullofchemicalsworking。Afewyearsago，whensheusedtositthere，thelightfromunderhisgreenlamp—
shadeusedtofallfulluponherbroadfaceandyellowpig—
tails。Nowherfacewasintheshadowandthelineoflightfellbelowherbarethroat，directlyacrossherbosom。Theshrunkenwhiteorgandieroseandfellasifshewerestrug—
glingtobefreeandtobreakoutofitaltogether。Hefeltthatherheartmustbelaboringheavilyinthere，buthewasafraidtotouchher；hewas，indeed。Hehadneverseenherlikethisbefore。Herhair，piledhighonherhead，gaveheracommandinglook，andhereyes，thatusedtobesoin—
quisitive，werestormy。
\"Thea，\"hesaidslowly，\"Iwon’tsaythatyoucanhaveeverythingyouwant——thatmeanshavingnothing，inreality。Butifyoudecidewhatitisyouwantmost，YOU
CANGETIT。\"Hiseyecaughthersforamoment。\"Notevery—
bodycan，butyoucan。Only，ifyouwantabigthing，you’vegottohavenerveenoughtocutoutallthat’seasy，everythingthat’stobehadcheap。\"Dr。Archiepaused。
Hepickedupapaper—cutterand，feelingtheedgeofitsoftlywithhisfingers，headdedslowly，asiftohimself：——
\"Heeitherfearshisfatetoomuch，Orhisdesertsaresmall，WhodaresnotputittothetouchTowin……orloseitall。\"
Thea’slipsparted；shelookedathimfromunderafrown，searchinghisface。\"Doyoumeantobreakloose，too，and——dosomething？\"sheaskedinalowvoice。
\"Imeantogetrich，ifyoucallthatdoinganything。
I’vefoundwhatIcandowithout。Youmakesuchbar—
gainsinyourmind，first。\"
Theasprangupandtookthepaper—cutterhehadputdown，twistingitinherhands。\"Alongwhilefirst，some—
times，\"shesaidwithashortlaugh。\"Butsupposeonecannevergetoutwhatthey’vegotinthem？Supposetheymakeamessofitintheend；thenwhat？\"Shethrewthepaper—cutteronthedeskandtookasteptowardthedoctor，untilherdresstouchedhim。Shestoodlookingdownathim。\"Oh，it’seasytofail！\"Shewasbreathingthroughhermouthandherthroatwasthrobbingwithexcitement。
Ashelookedupather，Dr。Archie’shandstightenedonthearmsofhischair。HehadthoughtheknewTheaKron—
borgprettywell，buthedidnotknowthegirlwhowasstandingthere。Shewasbeautiful，ashislittleSwedehadneverbeen，butshefrightenedhim。Herpalecheeks，herpartedlips，herflashingeyes，seemedsuddenlytomeanonething——hedidnotknowwhat。Alightseemedtobreakuponherfromfaraway——orperhapsfromfarwithin。Sheseemedtogrowtaller，likeascarfdrawnoutlong；lookedasifshewerepursuedandfleeing，and——yes，shelookedtormented。\"It’seasytofail，\"heheardhersayagain，\"andifIfail，you’dbetterforgetaboutme，forI’llbeoneoftheworstwomenthateverlived。I’llbeanawfulwoman！\"
Intheshadowylightabovethelampshadehecaughtherglanceagainandhelditforamoment。Wildashereyeswere，thatyellowgleamatthebackofthemwasashardasadiamonddrill—point。Herosewithanervouslaughanddroppedhishandlightlyonhershoulder。\"No，youwon’t。You’llbeasplendidone！\"
Sheshookhimoffbeforehecouldsayanythingmore，andwentoutofhisdoorwithakindofbound。Sheleftsoquicklyandsolightlythathecouldnotevenhearherfoot—
stepinthehallwayoutside。Archiedroppedbackintohischairandsatmotionlessforalongwhile。
Soitwent；onelovedaquaintlittlegirl，cheerful，in—
dustrious，alwaysontherunandhustlingthroughhertasks；andsuddenlyonelosther。Hehadthoughtheknewthatchildlikethegloveonhishand。Butaboutthistallgirlwhothrewupherheadandglitteredlikethatallover，heknewnothing。Shewasgoadedbydesires，ambitions，revulsionsthatweredarktohim。Onethingheknew：theoldhighroadoflife，wornsafeandeasy，huggingthesunnyslopes，wouldscarcelyholdheragain。
AfterthatnightTheacouldhaveaskedprettymuchanythingofhim。Hecouldhaverefusedhernothing。
Yearsagoacraftylittlebunchofhairandsmileshadshownhimwhatshewanted，andhehadpromptlymarriedher。
To—nightaverydifferentsortofgirl——drivenwildbydoubtsandyouth，bypovertyandriches——hadlethimseethefiercenessofhernature。Shewentoutstilldis—
traught，notknowingorcaringwhatshehadshownhim。
ButtoArchieknowledgeofthatsortwasobligation。Oh，hewasthesameoldHowardArchie！
ThatSundayinJulywastheturning—point；Thea’speaceofminddidnotcomeback。Shefoundithardeventopracticeathome。Therewassomethingintheairtherethatfrozeherthroat。Inthemorning，shewalkedasfarasshecouldwalk。Inthehotafternoonsshelayonherbedinhernightgown，planningfiercely。Shehauntedthepost—office。Shemusthavewornapathinthesidewalkthatledtothepost—office，thatsummer。Shewastherethemomentthemail—sackscameupfromthedepot，morningandevening，andwhiletheletterswerebeingsortedanddistributedshepacedupanddownoutside，underthecottonwoodtrees，listeningtothethump，thump，thumpofMr。Thompson’sstamp。ShehunguponanysortofwordfromChicago；acardfromBowers，aletterfromMrs。Harsanyi，fromMr。Larsen，fromherlandlady，——anythingtoreassureherthatChicagowas
stillthere。ShebegantofeelthesamerestlessnessthathadtorturedherthelastspringwhenshewasteachinginMoonstone。Supposeshenevergotawayagain，afterall？
Supposeonebrokealegandhadtolieinbedathomeforweeks，orhadpneumoniaanddiedthere。Thedesertwassobigandthirsty；ifone’sfootslipped，itcoulddrinkoneuplikeadropofwater。
Thistime，whenThealeftMoonstonetogobacktoChicago，shewentalone。Asthetrainpulledout，shelookedbackathermotherandfatherandThor。Theywerecalmandcheerful；theydidnotknow，theydidnotun—
derstand。Somethingpulledinher——andbroke。ShecriedallthewaytoDenver，andthatnight，inherberth，shekeptsobbingandwakingherself。Butwhenthesunroseinthemorning，shewasfaraway。Itwasallbehindher，andsheknewthatshewouldnevercrylikethatagain。
Peoplelivethroughsuchpainonlyonce；paincomesagain，butitfindsatoughersurface。Thearememberedhowshehadgoneawaythefirsttime，withwhatconfidenceineverything，andwhatpitifulignorance。Suchasilly！Shefeltresentfultowardthatstupid，good—naturedchild。Howmucholdershewasnow，andhowmuchharder！Shewasgoingawaytofight，andshewasgoingawayforever。
EndofPartII