IV
ATnineo’clockthateveningourthreefriendswereseatedinthebalconyofaFrenchrestaurant，muchgayerandmoreintimatethananythatexistsinNewYorkto—day。Thisoldrestaurantwasbuiltbyaloverofplea—
sure，whoknewthattodinegaylyhumanbeingsmusthavethereassuranceofcertainlimitationsofspaceandofacertaindefinitestyle；thatthewallsmustbenearenoughtosuggestshelter，theceilinghighenoughtogivethechandeliersasetting。Theplacewascrowdedwiththekindofpeoplewhodinelateandwell，andDr。Archie，ashewatchedtheanimatedgroupsinthelongroombelowthebalcony，foundthismuchthemostfestivescenehehadeverlookedoutupon。Hesaidtohimself，inajovialmoodsomewhatsustainedbythecheeroftheboard，thatthiseveningalonewasworthhislongjourney。Hefollowedattentivelytheorchestra，ensconcedatthefartherendofthebalcony，andtoldTheaitmadehimfeel\"quitemusi—
cal\"torecognize\"TheInvitationtotheDance\"or\"TheBlueDanube，\"andthathecouldrememberjustwhatkindofdayitwaswhenheheardherpracticingthemathome，andlingeredatthegatetolisten。
Forthefirstfewmoments，whenhewasintroducedtoyoungOttenburgintheparloroftheEverettHouse，thedoctorhadbeenawkwardandunbending。ButFred，ashisfatherhadoftenobserved，\"wasnotagoodmixerfornothing。\"HehadbroughtDr。Archiearoundduringtheshortcabride，andinanhourtheyhadbecomeoldfriends。
Fromthemomentwhenthedoctorliftedhisglassand，lookingconsciouslyatThea，said，\"Toyoursuccess，\"Fredlikedhim。Hefelthisquality；understoodhiscourageinsomedirectionsandwhatTheacalledhistimidityinothers，
hisunspentandmiraculouslypreservedyouthfulness。
Mencouldneverimposeuponthedoctor，heguessed，butwomenalwayscould。Fredliked，too，thedoctor’smannerwithThea，hisbashfuladmirationandthelittlehesitancybywhichhebetrayedhisconsciousnessofthechangeinher。Itwasjustthischangethat，atpresent，interestedFredmorethananythingelse。That，hefelt，washis\"createdvalue，\"anditwashisbestchanceforanypeaceofmind。Ifthatwerenotreal，obvioustoanoldfriendlikeArchie，thenhecutaverypoorfigure，indeed。
Fredgotagooddeal，too，outoftheirtalkaboutMoon—
stone。Fromherquestionsandthedoctor’sanswershewasabletoformsomeconceptionofthelittleworldthatwasalmostthemeasureofThea’sexperience，theonebitofthehumandramathatshehadfollowedwithsympathyandunderstanding。Asthetworanoverthelistoftheirfriends，themeresoundofanameseemedtorecallvolumestoeachofthem，toindicateminesofknowledgeandobservationtheyhadincommon。Atsomenamestheylaugheddelightedly，atsomeindulgentlyandeventen—
derly。
\"YoutwoyoungpeoplemustcomeouttoMoonstonewhenTheagetsback，\"thedoctorsaidhospitably。
\"Oh，weshall！\"Fredcaughtitup。\"I’mkeentoknowallthesepeople。Itisverytantalizingtohearonlytheirnames。\"
\"Wouldtheyinterestanoutsiderverymuch，doyouthink，Dr。Archie？\"Thealeanedtowardhim。\"Isn’titonlybecausewe’veknownthemsinceIwaslittle？\"
Thedoctorglancedatherdeferentially。Fredhadnoticedthatheseemedalittleafraidtolookathersquarely——per—
hapsatrifleembarrassedbyamodeofdresstowhichhewasunaccustomed。\"Well，youarepracticallyanoutsideryourself，Thea，now，\"heobservedsmiling。\"Oh，Iknow，\"
hewentonquicklyinresponsetohergestureofprotest，——
\"Iknowyoudon’tchangetowardyouroldfriends，but
youcanseeusallfromadistancenow。It’salltoyouradvantagethatyoucanstilltakeyouroldinterest，isn’tit，Mr。Ottenburg？\"
\"That’sexactlyoneofheradvantages，Dr。Archie。
Nobodycanevertakethatawayfromher，andnoneofuswhocamelatercaneverhopetorivalMoonstoneintheimpressionwemake。HerscaleofvalueswillalwaysbetheMoonstonescale。And，withanartist，thatISanadvantage。\"Frednodded。
Dr。Archielookedathimseriously。\"Youmeanitkeepsthemfromgettingaffected？\"
\"Yes；keepsthemfromgettingoffthetrackgenerally。\"
Whilethewaiterfilledtheglasses，FredpointedouttoTheaabigblackFrenchbarytonewhowaseatingancho—
viesbytheirtailsatoneofthetablesbelow，andthedoctorlookedaboutandstudiedhisfellowdiners。
\"Doyouknow，Mr。Ottenburg，\"hesaiddeeply，\"thesepeoplealllookhappiertomethanourWesternpeopledo。
Isitsimplygoodmannersontheirpart，ordotheygetmoreoutoflife？\"
FredlaughedtoTheaabovetheglasshehadjustlifted。
\"Someofthemaregettingagooddealoutofitnow，doctor。Thisisthehourwhenbench—joybrightens。\"
Theachuckledanddartedhimaquickglance。\"Bench—
joy！Wheredidyougetthatslang？\"
\"Thathappenstobeveryoldslang，mydear。OlderthanMoonstoneorthesovereignStateofColorado。OuroldfriendMr。Nathanmeyercouldtelluswhyithappenstohityou。\"HeleanedforwardandtouchedThea’swrist，\"Seethatfurcoatjustcomingin，Thea。It’sD’Albert。
He’sjustbackfromhisWesterntour。Finehead，hasn’the？\"
\"Togoback，\"saidDr。Archie；\"Iinsistthatpeopledolookhappierhere。I’venoticeditevenonthestreet，andespeciallyinthehotels。\"
Fredturnedtohimcheerfully。\"NewYorkpeoplelive
agooddealinthefourthdimension，Dr。Archie。It’sthatyounoticeintheirfaces。\"
Thedoctorwasinterested。\"Thefourthdimension，\"herepeatedslowly；\"andisthatslang，too？\"
\"No，\"——Fredshookhishead，——\"that’smerelyafigure。Imeanthatlifeisnotquitesopersonalhereasitisinyourpartoftheworld。Peoplearemoretakenupbyhobbies，intereststhatarelesssubjecttoreversesthantheirpersonalaffairs。Ifyou’reinterestedinThea’svoice，forinstance，orinvoicesingeneral，thatinterestisjustthesame，evenifyourminingstocksgodown。\"
Thedoctorlookedathimnarrowly。\"Youthinkthat’sabouttheprincipaldifferencebetweencountrypeopleandcitypeople，don’tyou？\"
Fredwasalittledisconcertedatbeingfollowedupsoresolutely，andheattemptedtodismissitwithapleasantry。
\"I’veneverthoughtmuchaboutit，doctor。ButIshouldsay，onthespurofthemoment，thatthatisoneoftheprincipaldifferencesbetweenpeopleanywhere。It’stheconsolationoffellowslikemewhodon’taccomplishmuch。
Thefourthdimensionisnotgoodforbusiness，butwethinkwehaveabettertime。\"
Dr。Archieleanedbackinhischair。Hisheavyshoulderswerecontemplative。\"Andshe，\"hesaidslowly；\"shouldyousaythatsheisoneofthekindyoureferto？\"Hein—
clinedhisheadtowardtheshimmerofthepale—greendressbesidehim。Theawasleaning，justthen，overthebalconyrail，herheadinthelightfromthechandeliersbelow。
\"Never，never！\"Fredprotested。\"She’sashard—headedastheworstofyou——withadifference。\"
Thedoctorsighed。\"Yes，withadifference；somethingthatmakesagoodmanyrevolutionstothesecond。WhenshewaslittleIusedtofeelherheadtotrytolocateit。\"
Fredlaughed。\"Didyou，though？Soyouwereonthetrackofit？Oh，it’sthere！Wecan’tgetroundit，miss，\"
asThealookedbackinquiringly。\"Dr。Archie，there’sa
fellowtownsmanofyoursIfeelarealkinshipfor。\"HepressedacigaruponDr。Archieandstruckamatchforhim。
\"TellmeaboutSpanishJohnny。\"
Thedoctorsmiledbenignantlythroughthefirstwavesofsmoke。\"Well，Johnny’sanoldpatientofmine，andhe’sanoldadmirerofThea’s。Shewasbornacosmopolitan，andIexpectshelearnedagooddealfromJohnnywhensheusedtorunawayandgotoMexicanTown。Wethoughtitaqueerfreakthen。\"
Thedoctorlaunchedintoalongstory，inwhichhewasofteneagerlyinterruptedorjoyouslyconfirmedbyThea，whowasdrinkinghercoffeeandforcingopenthepetalsoftheroseswithanardentandratherrudehand。Fredset—
tleddownintoenjoyinghiscomprehensionofhisguests。
Thea，watchingDr。Archieandinterestedinhispresenta—
tion，wasunconsciouslyimpersonatinghersuave，gold—
tintedfriend。Itwasdelightfultoseehersoradiantandresponsiveagain。Shehadkeptherpromiseaboutlookingherbest；whenonecouldsoeasilygettogetherthecolorsofanapplebranchinearlyspring，thatwasnothardtodo。
EvenDr。Archiefelt，eachtimehelookedather，afreshconsciousness。Herecognizedthefinetextureofhermother’sskin，withthedifferencethat，whenshereachedacrossthetabletogivehimabunchofgrapes，herarmwasnotonlywhite，butsomehowalittledazzling。Sheseemedtohimtaller，andfreerinallhermovements。Shehadnowawayoftakingadeepbreathwhenshewasinterested，thatmadeherseemverystrong，somehow，andbroughtheratonequiteoverpoweringly。Ifheseemedshy，itwasnotthathewasintimidatedbyherworldlyclothes，butthathergreaterpositiveness，herwholeaugmentedself，madehimfeelthathisaccustomedmannertowardherwasinadequate。
Fred，onhispart，wasreflectingthattheawkwardposi—
tioninwhichhehadplacedherwouldnotconfineorchafeherlong。Shelookedaboutatotherpeople，atotherwomen，
curiously。Shewasnotquitesureofherself，butshewasnotintheleastafraidorapologetic。Sheseemedtositthereontheedge，emergingfromoneworldintoanother，takingherbearings，gettinganideaoftheconcertedmovementabouther，butwithabsoluteself—confidence。Sofarfromshrink—
ing，sheexpanded。ThemerekindlyefforttopleaseDr。
Archiewasenoughtobringherout。
Therewasmuchtalkofauraeatthattime，andFredmusedthateverybeautiful，everycompellinglybeautifulwoman，hadanaura，whetherotherpeopledidorno。Therewas，certainly，aboutthewomanhehadbroughtupfromMexico，suchanemanation。Sheexistedinmorespacethansheoccupiedbymeasurement。Theenvelopingairaboutherheadandshoulderswassubsidized——wasmoremovingthansheherself，forinitlivedtheawakenings，allthefirstsweetnessthatlifekillsinpeople。OnefeltinhersuchawealthofJUGENDZEIT，allthoseflowersofthemindandthebloodthatbloomandperishbythemyriadinthefewexhaustlessyearswhentheimaginationfirstkindles。Itwasinwatchingherassheemergedlikethis，inbeingnearandnottoonear，thatonegot，foramoment，somuchthatonehadlost；amongotherlegendarythingsthelegendarythemeoftheabsolutelymagicalpowerofabeautifulwoman。
AftertheyhadleftTheaatherhotel，Dr。Archieadmit—
tedtoFred，astheywalkedupBroadwaythroughtherap—
idlychillingair，thatoncebeforehehadseentheiryoungfriendflashupintoamorepotentself，butinadarkermood。
Itwasinhisofficeonenight，whenshewasathomethesummerbeforelast。\"AndthenIgottheidea，\"headdedsimply，\"thatshewouldnotlivelikeotherpeople：that，forbetterorworse，shehaduncommongifts。\"
\"Oh，we’llseethatit’sforbetter，youandI，\"Fredreassuredhim。\"Won’tyoucomeuptomyhotelwithme？
Ithinkweoughttohavealongtalk。\"
\"Yes，indeed，\"saidDr。Archiegratefully；\"Ithinkweought。\"
V
THEAwastosailonTuesday，atnoon，andonSaturdayFredOttenburgarrangedforherpassage，whilesheandDr。Archiewentshopping。Withrugsandsea—clothesshewasalreadyprovided；FredhadgoteverythingofthatsortsheneededforthevoyageupfromVeraCruz。OnSundayafternoonTheawenttoseetheHarsanyis。Whenshereturnedtoherhotel，shefoundanotefromOttenburg，sayingthathehadcalledandwouldcomeagainto—morrow。
OnMondaymorning，whileshewasatbreakfast，Fredcamein。Sheknewbyhishurried，distractedairasheenteredthedining—roomthatsomethinghadgonewrong。
Hehadjustgotatelegramfromhome。Hismotherhadbeenthrownfromhercarriageandhurt；aconcussionofsomesort，andshewasunconscious。HewasleavingforSt。Louisthatnightontheeleveno’clocktrain。Hehadagreatdealtoattendtoduringtheday。Hewouldcomethatevening，ifhemight，andstaywithheruntiltraintime，whileshewasdoingherpacking。Scarcelywaitingforherconsent，hehurriedaway。
AlldayTheawassomewhatcastdown。ShewassorryforFred，andshemissedthefeelingthatshewastheonepersoninhismind。Hehadscarcelylookedatherwhentheyexchangedwordsatthebreakfast—table。Shefeltasifsheweresetaside，andshedidnotseemsoimportanteventoherselfasshehadyesterday。Certainly，shereflected，itwashightimethatshebegantotakecareofherselfagain。Dr。Archiecamefordinner，butshesenthimawayearly，tellinghimthatshewouldbereadytogototheboatwithhimathalf—pasttenthenextmorning。Whenshewentupstairs，shelookedgloomilyattheopentrunkinhersitting—room，andatthetrayspiledonthesofa。She
stoodatthewindowandwatchedaquietsnowstormspendingitselfoverthecity。Morethananythingelse，fallingsnowalwaysmadeherthinkofMoonstone；oftheKohlers’garden，ofThor’ssled，ofdressingbylamplightandstartingofftoschoolbeforethepathswerebroken。
WhenFredcame，helookedtired，andhetookherhandalmostwithoutseeingher。
\"I’msosorry，Fred。Haveyouhadanymoreword？\"
\"Shewasstillunconsciousatfourthisafternoon。Itdoesn’tlookveryencouraging。\"Heapproachedthefireandwarmedhishands。Heseemedtohavecontracted，andhehadnotatallhishabitualeaseofmanner。\"Poormother！\"heexclaimed；\"nothinglikethisshouldhavehappenedtoher。Shehassomuchprideofperson。She’snotatallanoldwoman，youknow。She’snevergotbeyondvigorousandratherdashingmiddleage。\"HeturnedabruptlytoTheaandforthefirsttimereallylookedather。
\"Howbadlythingscomeout！She’dhavelikedyouforadaughter—in—law。Oh，you’dhavefoughtlikethedevil，butyou’dhaverespectedeachother。\"Hesankintoachairandthrusthisfeetouttothefire。\"Still，\"hewentonthoughtfully，seemingtoaddresstheceiling，\"itmighthavebeenbadforyou。OurbigGermanhouses，ourgoodGermancooking——youmighthavegotlostintheuphol—
stery。Thatsubstantialcomfortmighttakethetemperoutofyou，dullyouredge。Yes，\"hesighed，\"Iguessyouweremeantforthejoltofthebreakers。\"
\"IguessI’llgetplentyofjolt，\"Theamurmured，turn—
ingtohertrunk。
\"I’mrathergladI’mnotstayingoveruntilto—morrow，\"
Fredreflected。\"Ithinkit’seasierformetoglideoutlikethis。Ifeelnowasifeverythingwererathercasual，any—
how。Athinglikethatdullsone’sfeelings。\"
Thea，standingbyhertrunk，madenoreply。Presentlyheshookhimselfandrose。\"Wantmetoputthosetraysinforyou？\"
\"No，thankyou。I’mnotreadyforthemyet。\"
Fredstrolledovertothesofa，liftedascarffromoneofthetraysandstoodabstractedlydrawingitthroughhisfingers。\"You’vebeensokindtheselastfewdays，Thea，thatIbegantohopeyoumightsoftenalittle；thatyoumightaskmetocomeoverandseeyouthissummer。\"
\"Ifyouthoughtthat，youweremistaken，\"shesaidslowly。\"I’vehardened，ifanything。ButIshan’tcarryanygrudgeawaywithme，ifyoumeanthat。\"
Hedroppedthescarf。\"Andthere’snothing——nothingatallyou’llletmedo？\"
\"Yes，thereisonething，andit’sagooddealtoask。IfI
getknockedout，ornevergeton，I’dlikeyoutoseethatDr。Archiegetshismoneyback。I’mtakingthreethousanddollarsofhis。\"
\"Why，ofcourseIshall。Youmaydismissthatfromyourmind。Howfussyyouareaboutmoney，Thea。Youmakesuchapointofit。\"Heturnedsharplyandwalkedtothewindows。
Theasatdowninthechairhehadquitted。\"It’sonlypoorpeoplewhofeelthatwayaboutmoney，andwhoarereallyhonest，\"shesaidgravely。\"SometimesIthinkthattobereallyhonest，youmusthavebeensopoorthatyou’vebeentemptedtosteal。\"
\"Towhat？\"
\"Tosteal。Iusedtobe，whenIfirstwenttoChicagoandsawallthethingsinthebigstoresthere。Neverany—
thingbig，butlittlethings，thekindI’dneverseenbeforeandcouldneverafford。Ididtakesomethingonce，beforeIknewit。\"
Fredcametowardher。Forthefirsttimeshehadhiswholeattention，inthedegreetowhichshewasaccustomedtohavingit。\"Didyou？Whatwasit？\"heaskedwithinterest。
\"Asachet。Alittlebluesilkbagoforris—rootpowder。
Therewasawholecounterfulofthem，markeddownto
fiftycents。I’dneverseenanybefore，andtheyseemedirresistible。Itookoneupandwanderedaboutthestorewithit。Nobodyseemedtonotice，soIcarrieditoff。\"
Fredlaughed。\"Crazychild！Why，yourthingsalwayssmelloforris；isitapenance？\"
\"No，Iloveit。ButIsawthatthefirmdidn’tloseany—
thingbyme。IwentbackandboughtittherewheneverI
hadaquartertospend。IgotalottotaketoArizona。I
madeituptothem。\"
\"I’llbetyoudid！\"Fredtookherhand。\"Whydidn’tIfindyouthatfirstwinter？I’dhavelovedyoujustasyoucame！\"
Theashookherhead。\"No，youwouldn’t，butyoumighthavefoundmeamusing。TheHarsanyissaidyester—
dayafternoonthatIworesuchafunnycapeandthatmyshoesalwayssqueaked。TheythinkI’veimproved。ItoldthemitwasyourdoingifIhad，andthentheylookedscared。\"
\"DidyousingforHarsanyi？\"
\"Yes。HethinksI’veimprovedthere，too。Hesaidnicethingstome。Oh，hewasverynice！HeagreeswithyouaboutmygoingtoLehmann，ifshe’lltakeme。Hecameouttotheelevatorwithme，afterwehadsaidgood—bye。
Hesaidsomethingniceoutthere，too，butheseemedsad。\"
\"Whatwasitthathesaid？\"
\"Hesaid，`Whenpeople，seriouspeople，believeinyou，theygiveyousomeoftheirbest，so——takecareofit，MissKronborg。’Thenhewavedhishandsandwentback。\"
\"Ifyousang，Iwishyouhadtakenmealong。Didyousingwell？\"Fredturnedfromherandwentbacktothewindow。\"IwonderwhenIshallhearyousingagain。\"
Hepickedupabunchofvioletsandsmelledthem。\"Youknow，yourleavingmelikethis——well，it’salmostinhu—
mantobeabletodoitsokindlyandunconditionally。\"
\"Isupposeitis。Itwasalmostinhumantobeabletoleavehome，too，——thelasttime，whenIknewitwasfor
good。Butallthesame，Icaredagreatdealmorethananybodyelsedid。Ilivedthroughit。Ihavenochoicenow。
Nomatterhowmuchitbreaksmeup，Ihavetogo。DoI
seemtoenjoyit？\"
Fredbentoverhertrunkandpickedupsomethingwhichprovedtobeascore，clumsilybound。\"What’sthis？Didyouevertrytosingthis？\"Heopeneditandontheengravedtitle—pagereadWunsch’sinscription，\"EINST，O
WUNDER！\"HelookedupsharplyatThea。
\"Wunschgavemethatwhenhewentaway。I’vetoldyouabouthim，myoldteacherinMoonstone。Helovedthatopera。\"
Fredwenttowardthefireplace，thebookunderhisarm，singingsoftly：——
\"EINST，OWUNDER，ENTBLUHTAUFMEINEMGRABE，EINEBLUMEDERASCHEMEINESHERZENS；\"
\"Youhavenoideaatallwhereheis，Thea？\"Heleanedagainstthemantelandlookeddownather。
\"No，IwishIhad。Hemaybedeadbythistime。Thatwasfiveyearsago，andheusedhimselfhard。Mrs。Kohlerwasalwaysafraidhewoulddieoffalonesomewhereandbestuckundertheprairie。Whenwelastheardofhim，hewasinKansas。\"
\"Ifheweretobefound，I’dliketodosomethingforhim。
Iseemtogetagooddealofhimfromthis。\"Heopenedthebookagain，wherehekepttheplacewithhisfinger，andscrutinizedthepurpleink。\"HowlikeaGerman！Hadheeversungthesongforyou？\"
\"No。Ididn’tknowwherethewordswerefromuntilonce，whenHarsanyisangitforme，Irecognizedthem。\"
Fredclosedthebook。\"Letmesee，whatwasyournoblebrakeman’sname？\"
Thealookedupwithsurprise。\"Ray，RayKennedy。\"
\"RayKennedy！\"helaughed。\"Itcouldn’twellhavebeenbetter！WunschandDr。Archie，andRay，andI，\"——
hetoldthemoffonhisfingers，——\"yourwhistling—posts！
Youhaven’tdonesobadly。We’vebackedyouaswecould，someinourweaknessandsomeinourmight。Inyourdarkhours——andyou’llhavethem——youmayliketorememberus。\"Hesmiledwhimsicallyanddroppedthescoreintothetrunk。\"Youaretakingthatwithyou？\"
\"SurelyIam。Ihaven’tsomanykeepsakesthatIcanaffordtoleavethat。Ihaven’tgotmanythatIvaluesohighly。\"
\"Thatyouvaluesohighly？\"Fredechoedhergravityplayfully。\"Youaredeliciouswhenyoufallintoyourvernacular。\"Helaughedhalftohimself。
\"What’sthematterwiththat？Isn’titperfectlygoodEnglish？\"
\"PerfectlygoodMoonstone，mydear。Liketheready—
madeclothesthathanginthewindows，madetofitevery—
bodyandfitnobody，aphrasethatcanbeusedonallocca—
sions。Oh，\"——hestartedacrosstheroomagain，——\"that’soneofthefinethingsaboutyourgoing！You’llbewiththerightsortofpeopleandyou’lllearnagood，live，warmGerman，thatwillbelikeyourself。You’llgetanewspeechfullofshadesandcolorlikeyourvoice；alive，likeyourmind。
Itwillbealmostlikebeingbornagain，Thea。\"
Shewasnotoffended。Fredhadsaidsuchthingstoherbefore，andshewantedtolearn。Inthenaturalcourseofthingsshewouldneverhavelovedamanfromwhomshecouldnotlearnagreatdeal。
\"Harsanyisaidonce，\"sheremarkedthoughtfully，\"thatifonebecameanartistonehadtobebornagain，andthatoneowednothingtoanybody。\"
\"Exactly。AndwhenIseeyouagainIshallnotseeyou，butyourdaughter。MayI？\"Hehelduphiscigarettecasequestioninglyandthenbegantosmoke，takingupagainthesongwhichraninhishead：——
\"DEUTLICHSCHIMMERTAUFJEDEM，PURPURBLATTCHEN，ADELAIDE！\"
\"Ihavehalfanhourwithyouyet，andthen，exitFred。\"
Hewalkedabouttheroom，smokingandsingingthewordsunderhisbreath。\"You’lllikethevoyage，\"hesaidab—
ruptly。\"Thatfirstapproachtoaforeignshore，stealinguponitandfindingit——there’snothinglikeit。Itwakesupeverythingthat’sasleepinyou。Youwon’tmindmywritingtosomepeopleinBerlin？They’llbenicetoyou。\"
\"Iwishyouwould。\"Theagaveadeepsigh。\"Iwishonecouldlookaheadandseewhatiscomingtoone。\"
\"Oh，no！\"Fredwassmokingnervously；\"thatwouldneverdo。It’stheuncertaintythatmakesonetry。You’veneverhadanysortofchance，andnowIfancyyou’llmakeituptoyourself。You’llfindthewaytoletyourselfoutinonelongflight。\"
Theaputherhandonherheart。\"Andthendropliketherocksweusedtothrow——anywhere。\"Sheleftthechairandwentovertothesofa，huntingforsomethinginthetrunktrays。WhenshecamebackshefoundFredsit—
tinginherplace。\"Herearesomehandkerchiefsofyours。
I’vekeptoneortwo。They’relargerthanmineandusefulifonehasaheadache。\"
\"Thankyou。Hownicelytheysmellofyourthings！\"
Helookedatthewhitesquaresforamomentandthenputtheminhispocket。Hekeptthelowchair，andasshestoodbesidehimhetookherhandsandsatlookingintentlyatthem，asifhewereexaminingthemforsomespecialpur—
pose，tracingthelongroundfingerswiththetipsofhisown。\"Ordinarily，youknow，therearereefsthatamancatchestoandkeepshisnoseabovewater。Butthisisacasebyitself。ThereseemstobenolimitastohowmuchIcanbeinlovewithyou。Ikeepgoing。\"Hedidnotlifthiseyesfromherfingers，whichhecontinuedtostudywiththesamefervor。\"Everykindofstringedinstrumentthereisplaysinyourhands，Thea，\"hewhispered，pressingthemtohisface。
Shedroppedbesidehimandslippedintohisarms，shut—