"I’llhavetogodowntomyofficetogetsomemedicine，Kronborg。Thedrugstorewon’tbeopen。Keepthecoversonher。Iwon’tbegonelong。Shakedownthestoveandputonalittlecoal，butnottoomuch；soit’llcatchquickly，Imean。Findanoldsheetforme，andputittheretowarm。"
Thedoctorcaughthiscoatandhurriedoutintothedarkstreet。Nobodywasstirringyet，andthecoldwasbitter。
Hewastiredandhungryandinnomildhumor。"Theidea！"hemuttered；"tobesuchanassathisage，abouttheseventh！Andtofeelnoresponsibilityaboutthelittlegirl。
Sillyoldgoat！Thebabywouldhavegotintotheworldsomehow；theyalwaysdo。Butanicelittlegirllikethat——she’sworththewholelitter。Wheresheevergotitfrom——"HeturnedintotheDukeBlockandranupthestairstohisoffice。
TheaKronborg，meanwhile，waswonderingwhyshehappenedtobeintheparlor，wherenobodybutcompany——usuallyvisitingpreachers——everslept。Shehadmo—
mentsofstuporwhenshedidnotseeanything，andmo—
mentsofexcitementwhenshefeltthatsomethingunusualandpleasantwasabouttohappen，whenshesawevery—
thingclearlyintheredlightfromtheisinglasssidesofthehard—coalburner——thenickeltrimmingsonthestoveitself，thepicturesonthewall，whichshethoughtverybeautiful，theflowersontheBrusselscarpet，Czerny’s"DailyStudies"whichstoodopenontheuprightpiano。
Sheforgot，forthetimebeing，allaboutthenewbaby。
Whensheheardthefrontdooropen，itoccurredtoherthatthepleasantthingwhichwasgoingtohappenwasDr。Archiehimself。Hecameinandwarmedhishandsatthestove。Asheturnedtoher，shethrewherselfwearilytowardhim，halfoutofherbed。Shewouldhavetumbledtothefloorhadhenotcaughther。Hegavehersomemedi—
cineandwenttothekitchenforsomethingheneeded。Shedrowsedandlostthesenseofhisbeingthere。Whensheopenedhereyesagain，hewaskneelingbeforethestove，spreadingsomethingdarkandstickyonawhitecloth，withabigspoon；batter，perhaps。Presentlyshefelthimtakingoffhernightgown。Hewrappedthehotplasteraboutherchest。Thereseemedtobestrapswhichhepinnedoverhershoulders。Thenhetookoutathreadandneedleandbe—
gantosewherupinit。That，shefelt，wastoostrange；
shemustbedreaminganyhow，soshesuccumbedtoherdrowsiness。
Theahadbeenmoaningwitheverybreathsincethedoctorcameback，butshedidnotknowit。Shedidnotrealizethatshewassufferingpain。Whenshewascon—
sciousatall，sheseemedtobeseparatedfromherbody；tobeperchedontopofthepiano，oronthehanginglamp，watchingthedoctorsewherup。Itwasperplexingandunsatisfactory，likedreaming。Shewishedshecouldwakenupandseewhatwasgoingon。
ThedoctorthankedGodthathehadpersuadedPeterKronborgtokeepoutoftheway。Hecoulddobetterbythechildifhehadhertohimself。Hehadnochildrenofhisown。Hismarriagewasaveryunhappyone。AsheliftedandundressedThea，hethoughttohimselfwhatabeauti—
fulthingalittlegirl’sbodywas，——likeaflower。Itwassoneatlyanddelicatelyfashioned，sosoft，andsomilkywhite。Theamusthavegotherhairandhersilkyskinfromhermother。ShewasalittleSwede，throughandthrough。
Dr。Archiecouldnothelpthinkinghowhewouldcherishalittlecreaturelikethisifshewerehis。Herhands，solit—
tleandhot，soclever，too，——heglancedattheopenexer—
cisebookonthepiano。Whenhehadstitcheduptheflax—
seedjacket，hewipeditneatlyabouttheedges，wherethepastehadworkedoutontheskin。Heputonherthecleannightgownhehadwarmedbeforethefire，andtuckedtheblanketsabouther。Ashepushedbackthehairthathadfuzzeddownoverhereyebrows，hefeltherheadthought—
fullywiththetipsofhisfingers。No，hecouldn’tsaythatitwasdifferentfromanyotherchild’shead，thoughhebelievedthattherewassomethingverydifferentabouther。Helookedintentlyatherwide，flushedface，frecklednose，fiercelittlemouth，andherdelicate，tenderchin——theonesofttouchinherhardlittleScandinavianface，asifsomefairygodmotherhadcaressedherthereandleftacrypticpromise。Herbrowswereusuallydrawntogetherdefiantly，butneverwhenshewaswithDr。Archie。Heraffectionforhimwasprettierthanmostofthethingsthatwenttomakeupthedoctor’slifeinMoonstone。
Thewindowsgrewgray。Heheardatrampingontheatticfloor，onthebackstairs，thencries："Givememyshirt！""Where’smyotherstocking？"
"I’llhavetostaytilltheygetofftoschool，"hereflected，"orthey’llbeinheretormentingher，thewholelotofthem。"
II
ForthenextfourdaysitseemedtoDr。Archiethathispatientmightslipthroughhishands，dowhathemight。Butshedidnot。Onthecontrary，afterthatsherecoveredveryrapidly。Asherfatherremarked，shemusthaveinheritedthe"constitution"whichhewasnevertiredofadmiringinhermother。
Oneafternoon，whenhernewbrotherwasaweekold，thedoctorfoundTheaverycomfortableandhappyinherbedintheparlor。Thesunlightwaspouringinoverhershoulders，thebabywasasleeponapillowinabigrocking—chairbesideher。Wheneverhestirred，sheputoutherhandandrockedhim。Nothingofhimwasvisiblebutaflushed，puffyfore—
headandanuncompromisinglybig，baldcranium。Thedoorintohermother’sroomstoodopen，andMrs。Kronborgwassittingupinbeddarningstockings。Shewasashort，stalwartwoman，withashortneckandadetermined—lookinghead。Herskinwasveryfair，herfacecalmandunwrinkled，andheryellowhair，braideddownherbackasshelayinbed，stilllookedlikeagirl’s。ShewasawomanwhomDr。Archierespected；active，practical，unruffled；good—
humored，butdetermined。Exactlythesortofwomantotakecareofaflightypreacher。Shehadbroughtherhus—
bandsomeproperty，too，——onefourthofherfather’sbroadacresinNebraska，——butthisshekeptinherownname。
Shehadprofoundrespectforherhusband’seruditionandeloquence。Shesatunderhispreachingwithdeephumility，andwasasmuchtakeninbyhisstiffshirtandwhiteneck—
tiesasifshehadnotironedthemherselfbylamplightthenightbeforetheyappearedcorrectandspotlessinthepul—
pit。Butforallthis，shehadnoconfidenceinhisadminis—
trationofworldlyaffairs。Shelookedtohimformorning
prayersandgraceattable；sheexpectedhimtonamethebabiesandtosupplywhateverparentalsentimenttherewasinthehouse，torememberbirthdaysandanniver—
saries，topointthechildrentomoralandpatrioticideals。
Itwasherworktokeeptheirbodies，theirclothes，andtheirconductinsomesortoforder，andthissheaccom—
plishedwithasuccessthatwasasourceofwondertoherneighbors。Assheusedtoremark，andherhusbandad—
miringlytoecho，she"hadneverlostone。"Withallhisflightiness，PeterKronborgappreciatedthematter—of—fact，punctualwayinwhichhiswifegotherchildrenintotheworldandalonginit。Hebelieved，andhewasrightinbelieving，thatthesovereignStateofColoradowasmuchindebtedtoMrs。Kronborgandwomenlikeher。
Mrs。Kronborgbelievedthatthesizeofeveryfamilywasdecidedinheaven。Moremodernviewswouldnothavestartledher；theywouldsimplyhaveseemedfoolish——
thinchatter，liketheboastsofthemenwhobuiltthetowerofBabel，orlikeAxel’splantobreedostrichesinthechickenyard。FromwhatevidenceMrs。Kronborgformedheropinionsonthisandothermatters，itwouldhavebeendifficulttosay，butonceformed，theywereunchangeable。
Shewouldnomorehavequestionedherconvictionsthanshewouldhavequestionedrevelation。Calmandeven—
tempered，naturallykind，shewascapableofstrongpre—
judices，andsheneverforgave。
WhenthedoctorcameintoseeThea，Mrs。Kronborgwasreflectingthatthewashingwasaweekbehind，andde—
cidingwhatshehadbetterdoaboutit。Thearrivalofanewbabymeantarevisionofherentiredomesticschedule，andasshedroveherneedlealongshehadbeenworkingoutnewsleepingarrangementsandcleaningdays。Thedoctorhadenteredthehousewithoutknocking，aftermakingnoiseenoughinthehalltopreparehispatients。Theawasreading，herbookproppedupbeforeherinthesun—
light。
"Mustn’tdothat；badforyoureyes，"hesaid，asTheashutthebookquicklyandslippeditunderthecovers。
Mrs。Kronborgcalledfromherbed："Bringthebabyhere，doctor，andhavethatchair。Shewantedhiminthereforcompany。"
Beforethedoctorpickedupthebaby，heputayellowpaperbagdownonThea’scoverlidandwinkedather。
Theyhadacodeofwinksandgrimaces。Whenhewentintochatwithhermother，Theaopenedthebagcautiously，tryingtokeepitfromcrackling。Shedrewoutalongbunchofwhitegrapes，withalittleofthesawdustinwhichtheyhadbeenpackedstillclingingtothem。TheywerecalledMalagagrapesinMoonstone，andonceortwiceduringthewintertheleadinggrocergotakegofthem。Theywereusedmainlyfortabledecoration，aboutChristmas—time。
Theahadneverhadmorethanonegrapeatatimebefore。
Whenthedoctorcamebackshewasholdingthealmosttransparentfruitupinthesunlight，feelingthepale—greenskinssoftlywiththetipsofherfingers。Shedidnotthankhim；sheonlysnappedhereyesathiminaspecialwaywhichheunderstood，and，whenhegaveherhishand，putitquicklyandshylyunderhercheek，asifsheweretryingtodosowithoutknowingit——andwithouthisknowingit。
Dr。Archiesatdownintherocking—chair。"Andhow’sTheafeelingto—day？"
Hewasquiteasshyashispatient，especiallywhenathirdpersonoverheardhisconversation。Bigandhand—
someandsuperiortohisfellowtownsmenasDr。Archiewas，hewasseldomathisease，andlikePeterKronborgheoftendodgedbehindaprofessionalmanner。Therewassometimesacontractionofembarrassmentandself—
consciousnessalloverhisbigbody，whichmadehimawk—
ward——likelytostumble，tokickuprugs，ortoknockoverchairs。Ifanyonewasverysick，heforgothimself，buthehadaclumsytouchinconvalescentgossip。
Theacurleduponhersideandlookedathimwithpleasure。"Allright。Iliketobesick。Ihavemorefunthenthanothertimes。"
"How’sthat？"
"Idon’thavetogotoschool，andIdon’thavetoprac—
tice。IcanreadallIwantto，andhavegoodthings，"——
shepattedthegrapes。"IhadlotsoffunthattimeI
mashedmyfingerandyouwouldn’tletProfessorWunschmakemepractice。OnlyIhadtodolefthand，eventhen。
Ithinkthatwasmean。"
Thedoctortookherhandandexaminedtheforefinger，wherethenailhadgrownbackalittlecrooked。"Youmustn’ttrimitdowncloseatthecornerthere，andthenitwillgrowstraight。Youwon’twantitcrookedwhenyou’reabiggirlandwearringsandhavesweethearts。"
Shemadeamockinglittlefaceathimandlookedathisnewscarf—pin。"That’stheprettiestoneyouev—ERhad。
Iwishyou’dstayalongwhileandletmelookatit。Whatisit？"
Dr。Archielaughed。"It’sanopal。SpanishJohnnybroughtitupformefromChihuahuainhisshoe。IhaditsetinDenver，andIworeitto—dayforyourbenefit。"
Theahadacuriouspassionforjewelry。Shewantedeveryshiningstoneshesaw，andinsummershewasalwaysgoingoffintothesandhillstohuntforcrystalsandagatesandbitsofpinkchalcedony。Shehadtwocigarboxesfullofstonesthatshehadfoundortradedfor，andsheimaginedthattheywereofenormousvalue。Shewasalwaysplan—
ninghowshewouldhavethemset。
"Whatareyoureading？"ThedoctorreachedunderthecoversandpulledoutabookofByron’spoems。"Doyoulikethis？"
Shelookedconfused，turnedoverafewpagesrapidly，andpointedto"Mynativeland，good—night。""That，"
shesaidsheepishly。
"Howabout`MaidofAthens’？"
Sheblushedandlookedathimsuspiciously。"Ilike’Therewasasoundofrevelry，’"shemuttered。
Thedoctorlaughedandclosedthebook。ItwasclumsilyboundinpaddedleatherandhadbeenpresentedtotheReverendPeterKronborgbyhisSunday—Schoolclassasanornamentforhisparlortable。
"Comeintotheofficesomeday，andI’lllendyouanicebook。Youcanskipthepartsyoudon’tunderstand。Youcanreaditinvacation。Perhapsyou’llbeabletounder—
standallofitbythen。"
Theafrownedandlookedfretfullytowardthepiano。
"InvacationIhavetopracticefourhourseveryday，andthenthere’llbeThortotakecareof。"Shepronouncedit"Tor。"
"Thor？Oh，you’venamedthebabyThor？"exclaimedthedoctor。
Theafrownedagain，stillmorefiercely，andsaidquickly，"That’sanicename，onlymaybeit’salittle——old—
fashioned。"Shewasverysensitiveaboutbeingthoughtaforeigner，andwasproudofthefactthat，intown，herfatheralwayspreachedinEnglish；verybookishEnglish，atthat，onemightadd。
BorninanoldScandinaviancolonyinMinnesota，PeterKronborghadbeensenttoasmalldivinityschoolinIndianabythewomenofaSwedishevangelicalmission，whowereconvincedofhisgiftsandwhoskimpedandbeggedandgavechurchsupperstogetthelong，lazyyouththroughtheseminary。HecouldstillspeakenoughSwed—
ishtoexhortandtoburythemembersofhiscountrychurchoutatCopperHole，andhewieldedinhisMoon—
stonepulpitasomewhatpompousEnglishvocabularyhehadlearnedoutofbooksatcollege。Healwaysspokeof"theinfantSaviour，""ourHeavenlyFather，"etc。Thepoormanhadnonatural，spontaneoushumanspeech。Ifhehadhissinceremoments，theywereperforceinarticu—
late。Probablyagooddealofhispretentiousnesswasdue
tothefactthathehabituallyexpressedhimselfinabook—
learnedlanguage，whollyremotefromanythingpersonal，native，orhomely。Mrs。KronborgspokeSwedishtoherownsistersandtohersister—in—lawTillie，andcolloquialEnglishtoherneighbors。Thea，whohadarathersensitiveear，untilshewenttoschoolneverspokeatall，exceptinmonosyllables，andhermotherwasconvincedthatshewastongue—tied。Shewasstillineptinspeechforachildsointelligent。Herideaswereusuallyclear，butsheseldomattemptedtoexplainthem，evenatschool，wheresheexcelledin"writtenwork"andneverdidmorethanmutterareply。
"Yourmusicprofessorstoppedmeonthestreetto—dayandaskedmehowyouwere，"saidthedoctor，rising。
"He’llbesickhimself，trottingaroundinthisslushwithnoovercoatorovershoes。"
"He’spoor，"saidTheasimply。
Thedoctorsighed。"I’mafraidhe’sworsethanthat。
Ishealwaysallrightwhenyoutakeyourlessons？Neveractsasifhe’dbeendrinking？"
Thealookedangryandspokeexcitedly。"Heknowsalot。Morethananybody。Idon’tcareifhedoesdrink；
he’soldandpoor。"Hervoiceshookalittle。
Mrs。Kronborgspokeupfromthenextroom。"He’sagoodteacher，doctor。It’sgoodforushedoesdrink。He’dneverbeinalittleplacelikethisifhedidn’thavesomeweakness。Thesewomenthatteachmusicaroundheredon’tknownothing。Iwouldn’thavemychildwastingtimewiththem。IfProfessorWunschgoesaway，Thea’llhavenobodytotakefrom。He’scarefulwithhisscholars；
hedon’tusebadlanguage。Mrs。KohlerisalwayspresentwhenTheatakesherlesson。It’sallright。"Mrs。Kronborgspokecalmlyandjudicially。Onecouldseethatshehadthoughtthematteroutbefore。
"I’mgladtohearthat，Mrs。Kronborg。Iwishwecouldgettheoldmanoffhisbottleandkeephimtidy。Doyou
supposeifIgaveyouanoldovercoatyoucouldgethimtowearit？"ThedoctorwenttothebedroomdoorandMrs。
Kronborglookedupfromherdarning。
"Why，yes，Iguesshe’dbegladofit。He’lltakemostanythingfromme。Hewon’tbuyclothes，butIguesshe’dwear’emifhehad’em。I’veneverhadanyclothestogivehim，havingsomanytomakeoverfor。"
"I’llhaveLarrybringthecoataroundto—night。Youaren’tcrosswithme，Thea？"takingherhand。
Theagrinnedwarmly。"NotifyougiveProfessorWunschacoat——andthings，"shetappedthegrapessig—
nificantly。Thedoctorbentoverandkissedher。
III
Beingsickwasallverywell，butTheaknewfromexperiencethatstartingbacktoschoolagainwasattendedbydepressingdifficulties。OneMondaymorningshegotupearlywithAxelandGunner，whosharedherwingroom，andhurriedintothebackliving—room，betweenthedining—roomandthekitchen。There，besideasoft—coalstove，theyoungerchildrenofthefamilyundressedatnightanddressedinthemorning。Theolderdaughter，Anna，andthetwobigboyssleptupstairs，wheretheroomsweretheoreticallywarmedbystovepipesfrombelow。Thefirst（andtheworst！）thingthatconfrontedTheawasasuitofclean，pricklyredflannel，freshfromthewash。UsuallythetormentofbreakinginacleansuitofflannelcameonSunday，butyesterday，asshewasstayinginthehouse，shehadbeggedoff。Theirwinterunderwearwasatrialtoallthechildren，butitwasbitteresttoTheabecauseshehappenedtohavethemostsensitiveskin。Whileshewastuggingiton，herAuntTilliebroughtinwarmwaterfromtheboilerandfilledthetinpitcher。Theawashedherface，brushedandbraidedherhair，andgotintoherbluecash—
meredress。Overthisshebuttonedalongapron，withsleeves，whichwouldnotberemoveduntilsheputonhercloaktogotoschool。GunnerandAxel，onthesoapboxbehindthestove，hadtheirusualquarrelaboutwhichshouldwearthetighteststockings，buttheyexchangedreproachesinlowtones，fortheywerewholesomelyafraidofMrs。Kronborg’srawhidewhip。Shedidnotchastiseherchildrenoften，butshediditthoroughly。Onlyasome—
whatsternsystemofdisciplinecouldhavekeptanydegreeoforderandquietinthatovercrowdedhouse。
Mrs。Kronborg’schildrenwerealltrainedtodressthem—
selvesattheearliestpossibleage，tomaketheirownbeds，——theboysaswellasthegirls，——totakecareoftheirclothes，toeatwhatwasgiventhem，andtokeepoutoftheway。Mrs。Kronborgwouldhavemadeagoodchess—
player；shehadaheadformovesandpositions。
Anna，theelderdaughter，washermother’slieutenant。
AllthechildrenknewthattheymustobeyAnna，whowasanobstinatecontenderforproprietiesandnotalwaysfair—
minded。ToseetheyoungKronborgsheadedforSunday—
Schoolwaslikewatchingamilitarydrill。Mrs。Kronborgletherchildren’smindsalone。Shedidnotpryintotheirthoughtsornagthem。Sherespectedthemasindividuals，andoutsideofthehousetheyhadagreatdealofliberty。
Buttheircommunallifewasdefinitelyordered。
Inthewinterthechildrenbreakfastedinthekitchen；
GusandCharleyandAnnafirst，whiletheyoungerchil—
drenweredressing。Guswasnineteenandwasaclerkinadry—goodsstore。Charley，eighteenmonthsyounger，workedinafeedstore。Theyleftthehousebythekitchendooratseveno’clock，andthenAnnahelpedherAuntTilliegetthebreakfastfortheyoungerones。Withoutthehelpofthissister—in—law，TillieKronborg，Mrs。Kronborg’slifewouldhavebeenahardone。Mrs。KronborgoftenremindedAnnathat"nohiredhelpwouldeverhavetakenthesameinterest。"
Mr。Kronborgcameofapoorerstockthanhiswife；fromalowly，ignorantfamilythathadlivedinapoorpartofSweden。Hisgreat—grandfatherhadgonetoNorwaytoworkasafarmlaborerandhadmarriedaNorwegiangirl。
ThisstrainofNorwegianbloodcameoutsomewhereineachgenerationoftheKronborgs。TheintemperanceofoneofPeterKronborg’suncles，andthereligiousmaniaofanother，hadbeenalikechargedtotheNorwegiangrandmother。BothPeterKronborgandhissisterTillieweremoreliketheNorwegianrootofthefamilythanliketheSwedish，andthissameNorwegianstrainwas
stronginThea，thoughinherittookaverydifferentcharacter。
Tilliewasaqueer，addle—patedthing，asflightyasagirlatthirty—five，andoverweeninglyfondofgayclothes——
whichtaste，asMrs。Kronborgphilosophicallysaid，didnobodyanyharm。Tilliewasalwayscheerful，andhertonguewasstillforscarcelyaminuteduringtheday。Shehadbeencruellyoverworkedonherfather’sMinnesotafarmwhenshewasayounggirl，andshehadneverbeensohappyasshewasnow；hadneverbefore，asshesaid，hadsuchsocialadvantages。ShethoughtherbrotherthemostimportantmaninMoonstone。Shenevermissedachurchservice，and，muchtotheembarrassmentofthechildren，shealways"spokeapiece"attheSunday—Schoolconcerts。Shehadacompletesetof"StandardRecita—
tions，"whichsheconnedonSundays。Thismorning，whenTheaandhertwoyoungerbrotherssatdowntobreakfast，TilliewasremonstratingwithGunnerbecausehehadnotlearnedarecitationassignedtohimforGeorgeWashingtonDayatschool。TheunmemorizedtextlayheavilyonGunner’sconscienceasheattackedhisbuckwheatcakesandsausage。HeknewthatTilliewasintheright，andthat"whenthedaycamehewouldbeashamedofhimself。"
"Idon’tcare，"hemuttered，stirringhiscoffee；"theyoughtn’ttomakeboysspeak。It’sallrightforgirls。Theyliketoshowoff。"
"Noshowingoffaboutit。Boysoughttoliketospeakupfortheircountry。Andwhatwastheuseofyourfatherbuyingyouanewsuit，ifyou’renotgoingtotakepartinanything？"
"ThatwasforSunday—School。I’dratherwearmyoldone，anyhow。Whydidn’ttheygivethepiecetoThea？"
Gunnergrumbled。
Tilliewasturningbuckwheatcakesatthegriddle。
"Theacanplayandsing，shedon’tneedtospeak。Butyou’vegottoknowhowtodosomething，Gunner，that
youhave。Whatareyougoingtodowhenyougitbigandwanttogitintosociety，ifyoucan’tdonothing？Every—
body’llsay，`Canyousing？Canyouplay？Canyouspeak？Thengitrightoutofsociety。’An’that’swhatthey’llsaytoyou，Mr。Gunner。"
GunnerandAlexgrinnedatAnna，whowaspreparinghermother’sbreakfast。TheynevermadefunofTillie，buttheyunderstoodwellenoughthatthereweresubjectsuponwhichherideaswereratherfoolish。WhenTilliestrucktheshallows，Theawasusuallypromptinturningtheconversation。
"WillyouandAxelletmehaveyoursledatrecess？"
sheasked。
"Allthetime？"askedGunnerdubiously。
"I’llworkyourexamplesforyouto—night，ifyoudo。"
"Oh，allright。There’llbealotof’em。"
"Idon’tmind，Icanwork’emfast。Howaboutyours，Axel？"
Axelwasafatlittleboyofseven，withpretty，lazyblueeyes。"Idon’tcare，"hemurmured，butteringhislastbuckwheatcakewithoutambition；"toomuchtroubletocopy’emdown。JennySmiley’llletmehavehers。"
TheboysweretopullTheatoschoolontheirsled，asthesnowwasdeep。Thethreesetofftogether。Annawasnowinthehighschool，andshenolongerwentwiththefamilyparty，butwalkedtoschoolwithsomeoftheoldergirlswhowereherfriends，andworeahat，notahoodlikeThea。