actuallyputtingherfingeronthetone：\"Thereitis，friends！\"
Thismorning，inGounod’s\"AveMaria，\"asMissDar—
ceyapproachedherBnatural，——
DANS———NOSA——LAR——————MES！
outwentthehand，withthesureairygesture，thoughitwaslittleaboveAshegotwithhervoice，whatevershetouchedwithherfinger。OftenBowersletsuchthingspass——withtherightpeople——butthismorninghesnappedhisjawstogetherandmuttered，\"God！\"MissDarceytriedagain，withthesamegestureasofputtingthecrowningtouch，tiltingherheadandsmilingradiantlyatBowers，asiftosay，\"ItisforyouIdoallthis！\"
DANS——NOSA——LAR——————MES！
ThistimeshemadeBflat，andwentoninthehappybeliefthatshehaddonewellenough，whenshesuddenlyfoundthatheraccompanistwasnotgoingonwithher，andthisputheroutcompletely。
SheturnedtoThea，whosehandshadfalleninherlap。
\"Ohwhydidyoustopjustthere！ItIStootrying！Nowwe’dbettergobacktothatotherCRESCENDOandtryitfromthere。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"Theamuttered。\"IthoughtyouwantedtogetthatBnatural。\"Shebeganagain，asMissDarceyindicated。
Afterthesingerwasgone，BowerswalkeduptoTheaandaskedlanguidly，\"WhydoyouhateJessieso？Herlittlevariationsfrompitcharebetweenherandherpublic；
theydon’thurtyou。Hassheeverdoneanythingtoyouexceptbeveryagreeable？\"
\"Yes，shehasdonethingstome，\"Thearetortedhotly。
Bowerslookedinterested。\"What，forexample？\"
\"Ican’texplain，butI’vegotitinforher。\"
Bowerslaughed。\"Nodoubtaboutthat。I’llhaveto
suggestthatyouconcealitalittlemoreeffectually。Thatis——necessary，MissKronborg，\"headded，lookingbackovertheshoulderoftheovercoathewasputtingon。
HewentouttolunchandTheathoughtthesubjectclosed。Butlateintheafternoon，whenhewastakinghisdyspepsiatabletandaglassofwaterbetweenlessons，helookedupandsaidinavoiceironicallycoaxing：——
\"MissKronborg，IwishyouwouldtellmewhyyouhateJessie。\"
TakenbysurpriseTheaputdownthescoreshewasreadingandansweredbeforesheknewwhatshewassay—
ing，\"IhateherforthesakeofwhatIusedtothinkasingermightbe。\"
Bowersbalancedthetabletontheendofhislongfore—
fingerandwhistledsoftly。\"Andhowdidyouformyourconceptionofwhatasingeroughttobe？\"heasked。
\"Idon’tknow。\"Theaflushedandspokeunderherbreath；\"butIsupposeIgotmostofitfromHarsanyi。\"
Bowersmadenocommentuponthisreply，butopenedthedoorforthenextpupil，whowaswaitingintherecep—
tion—room。
ItwasdarkwhenThealeftthestudiothatnight。
SheknewshehadoffendedBowers。Somehowshehadhurtherself，too。Shefeltunequaltotheboarding—housetable，thesneakingdivinitystudentwhosatnextherandhadtriedtokissheronthestairslastnight。ShewentovertothewatersideofMichiganAvenueandwalkedalongbesidethelake。Itwasaclear，frostywinternight。
Thegreatemptyspaceoverthewaterwasrestfulandspokeoffreedom。Ifshehadanymoneyatall，shewouldgoaway。Thestarsglitteredoverthewideblackwater。
Shelookedupatthemwearilyandshookherhead。Shebelievedthatwhatshefeltwasdespair，butitwasonlyoneoftheformsofhope。Shefelt，indeed，asifshewerebid—
dingthestarsgood—bye；butshewasrenewingapromise。
Thoughtheirchallengeisuniversalandeternal，thestars
getnoanswerbutthat，——thebrieflightflashedbacktothemfromtheeyesoftheyoungwhounaccountablyaspire。
Therich，noisy，city，fatwithfoodanddrink，isaspentthing；itschiefconcernisitsdigestionanditslittlegameofhide—and—seekwiththeundertaker。Moneyandofficeandsuccessaretheconsolationsofimpotence。For—
tuneturnskindtosuchsolidpeopleandletsthemsucktheirboneinpeace。Sheflecksherwhipuponfleshthatismorealive，uponthatstreamofhungryboysandgirlswhotrampthestreetsofeverycity，recognizablebytheirprideanddiscontent，whoaretheFuture，andwhopossessthetreasureofcreativepower。
III
WHILEherlivingarrangementsweresocasualandfortuitous，Bowers’sstudiowastheonefixedthinginThea’slife。Shewentoutfromittouncertainties，andhastenedtoitfromnebulousconfusion。ShewasmoreinfluencedbyBowersthansheknew。Unconsciouslyshebegantotakeonsomethingofhisdrycontempt，andtosharehisgrudgewithoutunderstandingexactlywhatitwasabout。Hiscynicismseemedtoherhonest，andtheamiabilityofhispupilsartificial。Sheadmiredhisdrastictreatmentofhisdullpupils。Thestupiddeservedalltheygot，andmore。Bowersknewthatshethoughthimaverycleverman。
OneafternoonwhenBowerscameinfromlunchTheahandedhimacardonwhichhereadthename，\"Mr。
PhilipFrederickOttenburg。\"
\"Hesaidhewouldbeinagainto—morrowandthathewantedsometime。Whoishe？Ilikehimbetterthantheothers。\"
Bowersnodded。\"SodoI。He’snotasinger。He’sabeerprince：sonofthebigbrewerinSt。Louis。He’sbeeninGermanywithhismother。Ididn’tknowhewasback。\"
\"Doeshetakelessons？\"
\"Nowandagain。Hesingsratherwell。He’sattheheadoftheChicagobranchoftheOttenburgbusiness，buthecan’tsticktoworkandisalwaysrunningaway。Hehasgreatideasinbeer，peopletellme。He’swhattheycallanimaginativebusinessman；goesovertoBayreuthandseemstodonothingbutgivepartiesandspendmoney，andbringsbackmoregoodnotionsforthebrewerythanthefellowswhosittightdigoutinfiveyears。Iwasborntoo
longagotobemuchtakeninbythesechestyboyswithfloweredvests，butIlikeFred，allthesame。\"
\"SodoI，\"saidTheapositively。
Bowersmadeasoundbetweenacoughandalaugh。
\"Oh，he’salady—killer，allright！Thegirlsinhereareal—
waysmakingeyesathim。Youwon’tbethefirst。\"Hethrewsomesheetsofmusiconthepiano。\"Betterlookthatover；accompaniment’salittletricky。It’sforthatnewwomanfromDetroit。AndMrs。Priestwillbeinthisafternoon。\"
Theasighed。\"`IKnowthatmyRedeemerLiveth’？\"
\"Thesame。Shestartsonherconcerttournextweek，andwe’llhavearest。Untilthen，Isupposewe’llhavetobegoingoverherprogramme。\"
ThenextdayTheahurriedthroughherluncheonataGermanbakeryandgotbacktothestudioattenminutespastone。Shefeltsurethattheyoungbrewerwouldcomeearly，beforeitwastimeforBowerstoarrive。Hehadnotsaidhewould，butyesterday，whenheopenedthedoortogo，hehadglancedabouttheroomandather，andsome—
thinginhiseyehadconveyedthatsuggestion。
Sureenough，attwentyminutespastonethedoorofthereception—roomopened，andatall，robustyoungmanwithacaneandanEnglishhatandulsterlookedinexpect—
antly。\"Ah——ha！\"heexclaimed，\"IthoughtifIcameearlyImighthavegoodluck。Andhowareyouto—day，MissKronborg？\"
Theawassittinginthewindowchair。Atherleftelbowtherewasatable，anduponthistabletheyoungmansatdown，holdinghishatandcaneinhishand，looseninghislongcoatsothatitfellbackfromhisshoulders。Hewasagleaming，floridyoungfellow。Hishair，thickandyellow，wascutveryshort，andheworeacloselytrimmedbeard，longenoughonthechintocurlalittle。Evenhiseye—
browswerethickandyellow，likefleece。Hehadlivelyblueeyes——Thealookedupatthemwithgreatinterest
ashesatchattingandswinginghisfootrhythmically。
Hewaseasilyfamiliar，andfranklyso。WhereverpeoplemetyoungOttenburg，inhisoffice，onshipboard，inaforeignhotelorrailwaycompartment，theyalwaysfelt（andusuallyliked）thatartlesspresumptionwhichseemedtosay，\"Inthiscasewemaywaiveformalities。Wereallyhaven’ttime。Thisisto—day，butitwillsoonbeto—morrow，andthenwemaybeverydifferentpeople，andinsomeothercountry。\"Hehadawayoffloatingpeopleoutofdullorawkwardsituations，outoftheirowntorpororconstraintordiscouragement。Itwasamarkedpersonaltalent，ofalmostincalculablevalueintherepresentativeofagreatbusinessfoundedonsocialamenities。TheahadlikedhimyesterdayforthewayinwhichhehadpickedherupoutofherselfandherGermangrammarforafewexcitingmoments。
\"Bytheway，willyoutellmeyourfirstname，please？
Thea？Oh，thenyouAREaSwede，sureenough！Ithoughtso。LetmecallyouMissThea，aftertheGermanfashion。
Youwon’tmind？Ofcoursenot！\"Heusuallymadehisassumptionofaspecialunderstandingseematributetotheotherpersonandnottohimself。
\"HowlonghaveyoubeenwithBowershere？Doyouliketheoldgrouch？SodoI。I’vecometotellhimaboutanewsopranoIheardatBayreuth。He’llpretendnottocare，buthedoes。Doyouwarblewithhim？Haveyouanythingofavoice？Honest？Youlookit，youknow。
Whatareyougoinginfor，somethingbig？Opera？\"
Theablushedcrimson。\"Oh，I’mnotgoinginforany—
thing。I’mtryingtolearntosingatfunerals。\"
Ottenburgleanedforward。Hiseyestwinkled。\"I’llengageyoutosingatmine。Youcan’tfoolme，MissThea。
MayIhearyoutakeyourlessonthisafternoon？\"
\"No，youmaynot。Itookitthismorning。\"
Hepickeduparollofmusicthatlaybehindhimonthetable。\"Isthisyours？Letmeseewhatyouaredoing。\"
Hesnappedbacktheclaspandbeganturningoverthesongs。\"Allveryfine，buttame。What’shegotyouatthisMozartstufffor？Ishouldn’tthinkitwouldsuityourvoice。Oh，Icanmakeaprettygoodguessatwhatwillsuityou！Thisfrom`Gioconda’ismoreinyourline。
What’sthisGrieg？Itlooksinteresting。TAKFORDITTROD。
Whatdoesthatmean？\"
\"`ThanksforyourAdvice。’Don’tyouknowit？\"
\"No；notatall。Let’stryit。\"Herose，pushedopenthedoorintothemusic—room，andmotionedTheatoenterbe—
forehim。Shehungback。
\"Icouldn’tgiveyoumuchofanideaofit。It’sabigsong。\"
Ottenburgtookhergentlybytheelbowandpushedherintotheotherroom。Hesatdowncarelesslyatthepianoandlookedoverthemusicforamoment。\"IthinkIcangetyouthroughit。ButhowstupidnottohavetheGer—
manwords。CanyoureallysingtheNorwegian？Whataninfernallanguagetosing。Translatethetextforme。\"
Hehandedherthemusic。
Thealookedatit，thenathim，andshookherhead。\"I
can’t。ThetruthisIdon’tknoweitherEnglishorSwedishverywell，andNorwegian’sstillworse，\"shesaidconfi—
dentially。Shenotinfrequentlyrefusedtodowhatshewasaskedtodo，butitwasnotlikehertoexplainherrefusal，evenwhenshehadagoodreason。
\"Iunderstand。Weimmigrantsneverspeakanylan—
guagewell。Butyouknowwhatitmeans，don’tyou？\"
\"OfcourseIdo！\"
\"Thendon’tfrownatmelikethat，buttellme。\"
Theacontinuedtofrown，butshealsosmiled。Shewasconfused，butnotembarrassed。ShewasnotafraidofOttenburg。Hewasnotoneofthosepeoplewhomadeherspinelikeasteelrail。Onthecontrary，hemadeoneven—
turesome。
\"Well，itgoessomethinglikethis：Thanksforyourad—
vice！ButIprefertosteermyboatintothedinofroaringbreakers。Evenifthejourneyismylast，ImayfindwhatI
haveneverfoundbefore。OnwardmustIgo，forIyearnforthewildsea。Ilongtofightmywaythroughtheangrywaves，andtoseehowfar，andhowlongIcanmakethemcarryme。\"*
Ottenburgtookthemusicandbegan：\"Waitamoment。
Isthattoofast？Howdoyoutakeit？Thatright？\"Hepulleduphiscuffsandbegantheaccompanimentagain。
Hehadbecomeentirelyserious，andheplayedwithfineenthusiasmandwithunderstanding。
Fred’stalentwasworthalmostasmuchtooldOttoOttenburgasthesteadyindustryofhisoldersons。WhenFredsangthePrizeSongataninterstatemeetoftheTURNVEREIN，tenthousandTURNERSwentforthpledgedtoOttenburgbeer。
AsTheafinishedthesongFredturnedbacktothefirstpage，withoutlookingupfromthemusic。\"Now，oncemore，\"hecalled。Theybeganagain，anddidnothearBowerswhenhecameinandstoodinthedoorway。Hestoodstill，blinkinglikeanowlattheirtwoheadsshininginthesun。Hecouldnotseetheirfaces，buttherewassomethingabouthisgirl’sbackthathehadnotnoticedbe—
fore：averyslightandyetveryfreemotion，fromthetoesup。Herwholebackseemedplastic，seemedtobemould—
ingitselftothegallopingrhythmofthesong。Bowersperceivedsuchthingssometimes——unwillingly。Hehadknownto—daythattherewassomethingafoot。Theriverofsoundwhichhaditssourceinhispupilhadcaughthimtwoflightsdown。Hehadstoppedandlistenedwithakindofsneeringadmiration。Fromthedoorhewatchedherwithahalf—incredulous，half—malicioussmile。
Whenhehadstruckthekeysforthelasttime，Otten—
burgdroppedhishandsonhiskneesandlookedupwithaquickbreath。\"Igotyouthrough。Whatastunningsong！
DidIplayitright？\"
Theastudiedhisexcitedface。Therewasagooddealof
meaninginit，andtherewasagooddealinherownassheansweredhim。\"Yousuitedme，\"shesaidungrudgingly。
AfterOttenburgwasgone，TheanoticedthatBowerswasmoreagreeablethanusual。ShehadheardtheyoungbreweraskBowerstodinewithhimathisclubthateven—
ing，andshesawthathelookedforwardtothedinnerwithpleasure。HedroppedaremarktotheeffectthatFredknewasmuchaboutfoodandwinesasanymaninChicago。Hesaidthisboastfully。
\"Ifhe’ssuchagrandbusinessman，howdoeshehavetimetorunaroundlisteningtosinging—lessons？\"Theaaskedsuspiciously。
Asshewenthometoherboarding—housethroughtheFebruaryslush，shewishedsheweregoingtodinewiththem。Atnineo’clockshelookedupfromhergrammartowonderwhatBowersandOttenburgwerehavingtoeat。
Atthatmomenttheyweretalkingofher。
IV
THEAnoticedthatBowerstookrathermorepainswithhernowthatFredOttenburgoftendroppedinateleven—thirtytohearherlesson。AfterthelessontheyoungmantookBowersofftolunchwithhim，andBowerslikedgoodfoodwhenanothermanpaidforit。HeencouragedFred’svisits，andTheasoonsawthatFredknewexactlywhy。
Onemorning，afterherlesson，OttenburgturnedtoBowers。\"Ifyou’lllendmeMissThea，IthinkIhaveanengagementforher。Mrs。HenryNathanmeyerisgoingtogivethreemusicaleveningsinApril，firstthreeSaturdays，andshehasconsultedmeaboutsoloists。Forthefirsteveningshehasayoungviolinist，andshewouldbecharmedtohaveMissKronborg。Shewillpayfiftydollars。
Notmuch，butMissTheawouldmeetsomepeopletherewhomightbeuseful。Whatdoyousay？\"
BowerspassedthequestionontoThea。\"Iguessyoucouldusethefifty，couldn’tyou，MissKronborg？Youcaneasilyworkupsomesongs。\"
Theawasperplexed。\"Ineedthemoneyawfully，\"shesaidfrankly；\"butIhaven’tgottherightclothesforthatsortofthing。IsupposeI’dbettertrytogetsome。\"
Ottenburgspokeupquickly，\"Oh，you’dmakenothingoutofitifyouwenttobuyingeveningclothes。I’vethoughtofthat。Mrs。Nathanmeyerhasatroopofdaugh—
ters，aperfectseraglio，allagesandsizes。She’llbegladtofityouout，ifyouaren’tsensitiveaboutwearingkosherclothes。Letmetakeyoutoseeher，andyou’llfindthatshe’llarrangethateasilyenough。Itoldhershemustproducesomethingnice，blueoryellow，andproperlycut。
IbroughthalfadozenWorthgownsthroughthecustoms
forhertwoweeksago，andshe’snotungrateful。Whencanwegotoseeher？\"
\"Ihaven’tanytimefree，exceptatnight，\"Theare—
pliedinsomeconfusion。
\"To—morrowevening，then？Ishallcallforyouateight。
Bringallyoursongsalong；shewillwantustogiveheralittlerehearsal，perhaps。I’llplayyouraccompaniments，ifyou’venoobjection。ThatwillsavemoneyforyouandforMrs。Nathanmeyer。Sheneedsit。\"OttenburgchuckledashetookdownthenumberofThea’sboarding—house。
TheNathanmeyersweresorichandgreatthatevenTheahadheardofthem，andthisseemedaveryremarkableopportunity。Ottenburghadbroughtitaboutbymerelyliftingafinger，apparently。Hewasabeerprincesureenough，asBowershadsaid。
ThenexteveningataquartertoeightTheawasdressedandwaitingintheboarding—houseparlor。Shewasner—
vousandfidgetyandfounditdifficulttositstillonthehard，convexupholsteryofthechairs。Shetriedthemoneafteranother，movingaboutthedimlylighted，mustyroom，wherethegasalwaysleakedgentlyandsangintheburners。Therewasnooneintheparlorbutthemedicalstudent，whowasplayingoneofSousa’smarchessovigor—
ouslythatthechinaornamentsonthetopofthepianorattled。Inafewmomentssomeofthepension—officegirlswouldcomeinandbegintotwo—step。TheawishedthatOttenburgwouldcomeandletherescape。Sheglancedatherselfinthelong，sombermirror。Shewaswearingherpale—bluebroadclothchurchdress，whichwasnotun—
becomingbutwascertainlytooheavytoweartoany—
body’shouseintheevening。Herslipperswererunoverattheheelandshehadnothadtimetohavethemmended，andherwhitegloveswerenotsocleanastheyshouldbe。
However，sheknewthatshewouldforgettheseannoyingthingsassoonasOttenburgcame。
Mary，theHungarianchambermaid，cametothedoor，
stoodbetweentheplushportieres，beckonedtoThea，andmadeaninarticulatesoundinherthroat。Theajumpedupandranintothehall，whereOttenburgstoodsmiling，hiscapedcloakopen，hissilkhatinhiswhite—kidhand。
TheHungariangirlstoodlikeamonumentonherflatheels，staringatthepinkcarnationinOttenburg’scoat。Herbroad，pockmarkedfaceworetheonlyexpressionofwhichitwascapable，akindofanimalwonder。AstheyoungmanfollowedTheaout，heglancedbackoverhisshoulderthroughthecrackofthedoor；theHunclappedherhandsoverherstomach，openedhermouth，andmadeanotherraucoussoundinherthroat。
\"Isn’tsheawful？\"Theaexclaimed。\"Ithinkshe’shalf—witted。Canyouunderstandher？\"
Ottenburglaughedashehelpedherintothecarriage。
\"Oh，yes；Icanunderstandher！\"HesettledhimselfonthefrontseatoppositeThea。\"Now，Iwanttotellyouaboutthepeoplewearegoingtosee。Wemayhaveamusicalpublicinthiscountrysomeday，butasyetthereareonlytheGermansandtheJews。AlltheotherpeoplegotohearJessieDarceysing，`O，PromiseMe！’TheNathanmeyersarethefinestkindofJews。Ifyoudoany—
thingforMrs。HenryNathanmeyer，youmustputyour—
selfintoherhands。Whatevershesaysaboutmusic，aboutclothes，aboutlife，willbecorrect。Andyoumayfeelateasewithher。Sheexpectsnothingofpeople；shehaslivedinChicagotwentyyears。IfyouweretobehaveliketheMagyarwhowassointerestedinmybuttonhole，shewouldnotbesurprised。IfyouweretosinglikeJessieDarcey，shewouldnotbesurprised；butshewouldmanagenottohearyouagain。\"
\"Wouldshe？Well，that’sthekindofpeopleIwanttofind。\"Theafeltherselfgrowingbolder。
\"Youwillbeallrightwithhersolongasyoudonottrytobeanythingthatyouarenot。Herstandardshavenoth—
ingtodowithChicago。Herperceptions——orhergrand—
mother’s，whichisthesamething——werekeenwhenallthiswasanIndianvillage。Somerelybeyourself，andyouwilllikeher。ShewilllikeyoubecausetheJewsalwayssensetalent，and，\"headdedironically，\"theyadmirecer—
tainqualitiesoffeelingthatarefoundonlyinthewhite—
skinnedraces。\"
Thealookedintotheyoungman’sfaceasthelightofastreetlampflashedintothecarriage。Hissomewhataca—
demicmanneramusedher。
\"Whatmakesyoutakesuchaninterestinsingers？\"
sheaskedcuriously。\"Youseemtohaveaperfectpassionforhearingmusic—lessons。IwishIcouldtradejobswithyou！\"
\"I’mnotinterestedinsingers。\"Histonewasoffended。
\"Iaminterestedintalent。Thereareonlytwointerestingthingsintheworld，anyhow；andtalentisoneofthem。\"
\"What’stheother？\"Thequestioncamemeeklyfromthefigureoppositehim。Anotherarc—lightflashedinatthewindow。
Fredsawherfaceandbrokeintoalaugh。\"Why，you’reguyingme，youlittlewretch！Youwon’tletmebehaveproperly。\"Hedroppedhisglovedhandlightlyonherknee，tookitawayandletithangbetweenhisown。\"Doyouknow，\"hesaidconfidentially，\"IbelieveI’mmoreinearnestaboutallthisthanyouare。\"
\"Aboutallwhat？\"
\"Allyou’vegotinyourthroatthere。\"
\"Oh！I’minearnestallright；onlyIneverwasmuchgoodattalking。JessieDarceyisthesmoothtalker。`YounoticetheeffectIgetthere——’Ifsheonlygot’em，she’dbeawonder，youknow！\"
Mr。andMrs。Nathanmeyerwerealoneintheirgreatlibrary。Theirthreeunmarrieddaughtershaddepartedinsuccessivecarriages，onetoadinner，onetoaNietszcheclub，onetoaballgivenforthegirlsemployedinthebigdepartmentstores。WhenOttenburgandTheaentered，
HenryNathanmeyerandhiswifeweresittingatatableatthefartherendofthelongroom，withareading—lampandatrayofcigarettesandcordial—glassesbetweenthem。
Theoverheadlightsweretoosofttobringoutthecolorsofthebigrugs，andnoneofthepicturelightswereon。
Onecouldmerelyseethattherewerepicturesthere。FredwhisperedthattheywereRousseausandCorots，veryfineoneswhichtheoldbankerhadboughtlongagofornexttonothing。InthehallOttenburghadstoppedTheabeforeapaintingofawomaneatinggrapesoutofapaperbag，andhadtoldhergravelythattherewasthemostbeautifulManetintheworld。Hemadehertakeoffherhatandglovesinthehall，andlookedheroveralittlebeforehetookherin。Butoncetheywereinthelibraryheseemedperfectlysatisfiedwithherandledherdownthelongroomtotheirhostess。
Mrs。Nathanmeyerwasaheavy，powerfuloldJewess，withagreatpompadourofwhitehair，aswarthycomplex—
ion，aneaglenose，andsharp，glitteringeyes。Sheworeablackvelvetdresswithalongtrain，andadiamondnecklaceandearrings。ShetookTheatotheothersideofthetableandpresentedhertoMr。Nathanmeyer，whoapologizedfornotrising，pointingtoaslipperedfootonacushion；
hesaidthathesufferedfromgout。Hehadaverysoftvoiceandspokewithanaccentwhichwouldhavebeenheavyifithadnotbeensocaressing。HekeptTheastand—
ingbesidehimforsometime。Henoticedthatshestoodeasily，lookedstraightdownintohisface，andwasnotembarrassed。EvenwhenMrs。NathanmeyertoldOtten—
burgtobringachairforThea，theoldmandidnotreleaseherhand，andshedidnotsitdown。Headmiredherjustasshewas，asshehappenedtobestanding，andshefeltit。
Hewasmuchhandsomerthanhiswife，Theathought。Hisforeheadwashigh，hishairsoftandwhite，hisskinpink，alittlepuffyunderhisclearblueeyes。Shenoticedhowwarmanddelicatehishandswere，pleasanttotouchandbeauti—
fultolookat。OttenburghadtoldherthatMr。Nathan—
meyerhadaveryfinecollectionofmedalsandcameos，andhisfingerslookedasiftheyhadnevertouchedany—
thingbutdelicatelycutsurfaces。
HeaskedTheawhereMoonstonewas；howmanyin—
habitantsithad；whatherfather’sbusinesswas；fromwhatpartofSwedenhergrandfathercame；andwhethershespokeSwedishasachild。Hewasinterestedtohearthathermother’smotherwasstillliving，andthathergrand—
fatherhadplayedtheoboe。Theafeltathomestandingtherebesidehim；shefeltthathewasverywise，andthathesomewaytookone’slifeupandlookeditoverkindly，asifitwereastory。Shewassorrywhentheylefthimtogointothemusic—room。
Astheyreachedthedoorofthemusic—room，Mrs。
Nathanmeyerturnedaswitchthatthrewonmanylights。
Theroomwasevenlargerthanthelibrary，allglitteringsurfaces，withtwoSteinwaypianos。