XVII
　　Thesummerflewby。TheawasgladwhenRayKennedyhadaSundayintownandcouldtakeherdriving。Outamongthesandhillsshecouldforgetthe"newroom"whichwasthesceneofwearingandfruitlesslabor。Dr。Archiewasawayfromhomeagooddealthatyear。HehadputallhismoneyintominesaboveColo—
　　radoSprings，andhehopedforgreatreturnsfromthem。
　　Inthefallofthatyear，Mr。KronborgdecidedthatTheaoughttoshowmoreinterestinchurchwork。Heputittoherfrankly，onenightatsupper，beforethewholefamily。
　　"HowcanIinsistontheothergirlsinthecongregationbeingactiveinthework，whenoneofmyowndaughtersmanifestssolittleinterest？"
　　"ButIsingeverySundaymorning，andIhavetogiveuponenightaweektochoirpractice，"Theadeclaredrebelliously，pushingbackherplatewithanangrydeter—
　　minationtoeatnothingmore。
　　"Onenightaweekisnotenoughforthepastor’sdaugh—
　　ter，"herfatherreplied。"Youwon’tdoanythinginthesewingsociety，andyouwon’ttakepartintheChristianEndeavorortheBandofHope。Verywell，youmustmakeitupinotherways。Iwantsomeonetoplaytheorganandleadthesingingatprayer—meetingthiswinter。DeaconPottertoldmesometimeagothathethoughttherewouldbemoreinterestinourprayer—meetingsifwehadtheorgan。
　　MissMeyersdon’tfeelthatshecanplayonWednesdaynights。Andthereoughttobesomebodytostartthehymns。
　　Mrs。Potterisgettingold，andshealwaysstartsthemtoohigh。Itwon’ttakemuchofyourtime，anditwillkeeppeoplefromtalking。"
　　ThisargumentconqueredThea，thoughsheleftthe
　　tablesullenly。Thefearofthetongue，thatterroroflittletowns，isusuallyfeltmorekeenlybytheminister’sfamilythanbyotherhouseholds。WhenevertheKronborgswantedtodoanything，eventobuyanewcarpet，theyhadtotakecounseltogetherastowhetherpeoplewouldtalk。
　　Mrs。Kronborghadherownconvictionthatpeopletalkedwhentheyfeltlikeit，andsaidwhattheychose，nomatterhowtheminister’sfamilyconductedthemselves。Butshedidnotimpartthesedangerousideastoherchildren。Theawasstillunderthebeliefthatpublicopinioncouldbeplacated；thatifyoucluckedoftenenough，thehenswouldmistakeyouforoneofthemselves。
　　Mrs。Kronborgdidnothaveanyparticularzestforprayer—meetings，andshestayedathomewhenevershehadavalidexcuse。Thorwastoooldtofurnishsuchanexcusenow，soeveryWednesdaynight，unlessoneofthechildrenwassick，shetrudgedoffwithThea，behindMr。Kronborg。
　　AtfirstTheawasterriblybored。Butshegotusedtoprayer—
　　meeting，goteventofeelamournfulinterestinit。
　　Theexerciseswerealwaysprettymuchthesame。AfterthefirsthymnherfatherreadapassagefromtheBible，usuallyaPsalm。Thentherewasanotherhymn，andthenherfathercommenteduponthepassagehehadreadand，ashesaid，"appliedtheWordtoournecessities。"Afterathirdhymn，themeetingwasdeclaredopen，andtheoldmenandwomentookturnsatprayingandtalking。Mrs。
　　Kronborgneverspokeinmeeting。Shetoldpeoplefirmlythatshehadbeenbroughtuptokeepsilentandletthementalk，butshegaverespectfulattentiontotheothers，sittingwithherhandsfoldedinherlap。
　　Theprayer—meetingaudiencewasalwayssmall。Theyoungandenergeticmembersofthecongregationcameonlyonceortwiceayear，"tokeeppeoplefromtalking。"
　　TheusualWednesdaynightgatheringwasmadeupofoldwomen，withperhapssixoreightoldmen，andafewsicklygirlswhohadnotmuchinterestinlife；twoofthem，in—
　　deed，werealreadypreparingtodie。Theaacceptedthemournfulnessoftheprayer—meetingsasakindofspiritualdiscipline，likefunerals。Shealwaysreadlateaftershewenthomeandfeltastrongerwishthanusualtoliveandtobehappy。
　　ThemeetingswereconductedintheSunday—Schoolroom，wheretherewerewoodenchairsinsteadofpews；
　　anoldmapofPalestinehungonthewall，andthebracketlampsgaveoutonlyadimlight。TheoldwomensatmotionlessasIndiansintheirshawlsandbonnets；someofthemworelongblackmourningveils。Theoldmendroopedintheirchairs。Everyback，everyface，everyheadsaid"resignation。"Oftentherewerelongsilences，whenyoucouldhearnothingbutthecracklingofthesoftcoalinthestoveandthemuffledcoughofoneofthesickgirls。
　　Therewasoneniceoldlady，——tall，erect，self—respect—
　　ing，withadelicatewhitefaceandasoftvoice。Sheneverwhined，andwhatshesaidwasalwayscheerful，thoughshespokesonervouslythatTheaknewshedreadedgettingup，andthatshemadearealsacrificeto，asshesaid，"tes—
　　tifytothegoodnessofherSaviour。"Shewasthemotherofthegirlwhocoughed，andTheausedtowonderhowsheexplainedthingstoherself。Therewas，indeed，onlyonewomanwhotalkedbecauseshewas，asMr。Kronborgsaid，"tonguey。"Theothersweresomehowimpressive。Theytoldaboutthesweetthoughtsthatcametothemwhiletheywereattheirwork；how，amidtheirhouseholdtasks，theyweresuddenlyliftedbythesenseofadivinePresence。
　　Sometimestheytoldoftheirfirstconversion，ofhowintheiryouththathigherPowerhadmadeitselfknowntothem。OldMr。Carsen，thecarpenter，whogavehisser—
　　vicesasjanitortothechurch，usedoftentotellhow，whenhewasayoungmanandascoffer，bentonthedestructionofbothbodyandsoul，hisSaviourhadcometohimintheMichiganwoodsandhadstood，itseemedtohim，besidethetreehewasfelling；andhowhedroppedhisaxeand
　　kneltinprayer"toHimwhodiedforusuponthetree。"
　　Theaalwayswantedtoaskhimmoreaboutit；abouthismysteriouswickedness，andaboutthevision。
　　Sometimestheoldpeoplewouldaskforprayersfortheirabsentchildren。SometimestheyaskedtheirbrothersandsistersinChristtopraythattheymightbestrongeragainsttemptations。Oneofthesickgirlsusedtoaskthemtopraythatshemighthavemorefaithinthetimesofdepressionthatcametoher，"whenallthewaybeforeseemeddark。"Sherepeatedthathuskyphrasesooften，thatTheaalwaysrememberedit。
　　Oneoldwoman，whonevermissedaWednesdaynight，andwhonearlyalwaystookpartinthemeeting，cameallthewayupfromthedepotsettlement。Shealwaysworeablackcrocheted"fascinator"overherthinwhitehair，andshemadelong，tremulousprayers，fullofrailroadtermin—
　　ology。Shehadsixsonsintheserviceofdifferentrailroads，andshealwaysprayed"fortheboysontheroad，whoknownotatwhatmomenttheymaybecutoff。When，inThydivinewisdom，theirhourisuponthem，maythey，OourHeavenlyFather，seeonlywhitelightsalongtheroadtoEternity。"Sheusedtospeak，too，of"theenginesthatracewithdeath"；andthoughshelookedsooldandlittlewhenshewasonherknees，andhervoicewassoshaky，herprayershadathrillofspeedanddangerinthem；theymadeonethinkofthedeepblackcanyons，theslendertrestles，thepoundingtrains。Thealikedtolookathersunkeneyesthatseemedfullofwisdom，atherblackthreadgloves，muchtoolonginthefingersandsomeeklyfoldedoneovertheother。Herfacewasbrown，andwornawayasrocksarewornbywater。Therearemanywaysofdescribingthatcolorofage，butinrealityitisnotlikeparchment，orlikeanyofthethingsitissaidtobelike。Thatbrownnessandthattextureofskinarefoundonlyinthefacesofoldhumancreatures，whohaveworkedhardandwhohavealwaysbeenpoor。
　　OnebitterlycoldnightinDecembertheprayer—meetingseemedtoThealongerthanusual。Theprayersandthetalkswentonandon。Itwasasiftheoldpeoplewereafraidtogooutintothecold，orwerestupefiedbythehotairoftheroom。Shehadleftabookathomethatshewasimpatienttogetbackto。AtlasttheDoxologywassung，buttheoldpeoplelingeredaboutthestovetogreeteachother，andTheatookhermother’sarmandhurriedouttothefrozensidewalk，beforeherfathercouldgetaway。Thewindwaswhistlingupthestreetandwhippingthenakedcottonwoodtreesagainstthetelegraphpolesandthesidesofthehouses。Thinsnowcloudswereflyingoverhead，sothattheskylookedgray，withadullphosphorescence。
　　Theicystreetsandtheshingleroofsofthehousesweregray，too。Allalongthestreet，shuttersbangedorwindowsrattled，orgateswobbled，heldbytheirlatchbutshakingonloosehinges。TherewasnotacatoradoginMoonstonethatnightthatwasnotgivenawarmshelter；thecatsunderthekitchenstove，thedogsinbarnsorcoal—sheds。
　　WhenTheaandhermotherreachedhome，theirmufflerswerecoveredwithice，wheretheirbreathhadfrozen。Theyhurriedintothehouseandmadeadashfortheparlorandthehard—coalburner，behindwhichGunnerwassittingonastool，readinghisJulesVernebook。Thedoorstoodopenintothedining—room，whichwasheatedfromtheparlor。
　　Mr。Kronborgalwayshadalunchwhenhecamehomefromprayer—meeting，andhispumpkinpieandmilkweresetoutonthedining—table。Mrs。Kronborgsaidshethoughtshefelthungry，too，andaskedTheaifshedidn’twantsomethingtoeat。
　　"No，I’mnothungry，mother。IguessI’llgoupstairs。"
　　"Iexpectyou’vegotsomebookupthere，"saidMrs。
　　Kronborg，bringingoutanotherpie。"You’dbetterbringitdownhereandread。Nobody’lldisturbyou，andit’sterriblecoldupinthatloft。"
　　Theawasalwaysassuredthatnoonewoulddisturbher
　　ifshereaddownstairs，buttheboystalkedwhentheycamein，andherfatherfairlydelivereddiscoursesafterhehadbeenrenewedbyhalfapieandapitcherofmilk。
　　"Idon’tmindthecold。I’lltakeahotbrickupformyfeet。IputoneinthestovebeforeIleft，ifoneoftheboyshasn’tstolenit。Good—night，mother。"Theagotherbrickandlantern，anddashedupstairsthroughthewindyloft。
　　Sheundressedattopspeedandgotintobedwithherbrick。
　　Sheputapairofwhiteknittedglovesonherhands，andpinnedoverherheadapieceofsoftflannelthathadbeenoneofThor’slongpetticoatswhenhewasababy。Thusequipped，shewasreadyforbusiness。Shetookfromhertableathickpaper—backedvolume，oneofthe"line"ofpapernovelsthedruggistkepttoselltotravelingmen。
　　Shehadboughtit，onlyyesterday，becausethefirstsen—
　　tenceinterestedherverymuch，andbecauseshesaw，assheglancedoverthepages，themagicalnamesoftwoRussiancities。Thebookwasapoortranslationof"AnnaKarenina。"Theaopeneditatamark，andfixedhereyesintentlyuponthesmallprint。Thehymns，thesickgirl，theresignedblackfigureswereforgotten。ItwasthenightoftheballinMoscow。
　　Theawouldhavebeenastonishedifshecouldhaveknownhow，yearsafterward，whenshehadneedofthem，thoseoldfacesweretocomebacktoher，longaftertheywerehiddenawayundertheearth；thattheywouldseemtoherthenasfullofmeaning，asmysteriouslymarkedbyDestiny，asthepeoplewhodancedthemazurkaundertheelegantKorsunsky。
　　XVIII
　　Mr。Kronborgwastoofondofhiseaseandtoosensibletoworryhischildrenmuchaboutreligion。
　　Hewasmoresincerethanmanypreachers，butwhenhespoketohisfamilyaboutmattersofconductitwasusuallywitharegardforkeepingupappearances。Thechurchandchurchworkwerediscussedinthefamilyliketheroutineofanyotherbusiness。Sundaywastheharddayoftheweekwiththem，justasSaturdaywasthebusydaywiththemerchantsonMainStreet。Revivalswereseasonsofextraworkandpressure，justasthreshing—timewasonthefarms。Visitingeldershadtobelodgedandcookedfor，thefolding—bedintheparlorwasletdown，andMrs。
　　Kronborghadtoworkinthekitchenalldaylongandattendthenightmeetings。
　　DuringoneoftheserevivalsThea’ssisterAnnaprofessedreligionwith，asMrs。Kronborgsaid，"agooddealoffluster。"WhileAnnawasgoinguptothemourners’benchnightlyandaskingfortheprayersofthecongregation，shedisseminatedgeneralgloomthroughoutthehousehold，andaftershejoinedthechurchshetookonanairof"set—apart—
　　ness"thatwasextremelytryingtoherbrothersandhersister，thoughtheyrealizedthatAnna’ssanctimoniousnesswasperhapsagoodthingfortheirfather。Apreacheroughttohaveonechildwhodidmorethanmerelyacquiesceinreligiousobservances，andTheaandtheboysweregladenoughthatitwasAnnaandnotoneofthemselveswhoassumedthisobligation。
　　"Anna，she’sAmerican，"Mrs。Kronborgusedtosay。
　　TheScandinavianmouldofcountenance，moreorlessmarkedineachoftheotherchildren，wasscarcelydis—
　　cernibleinher，andshelookedenoughlikeotherMoon—
　　stonegirlstobethoughtpretty。Anna’snaturewascon—
　　ventional，likeherface。Herpositionastheminister’seldestdaughterwasimportanttoher，andshetriedtoliveuptoit。Shereadsentimentalreligiousstory—booksandemulatedthespiritualstrugglesandmagnanimousbehavioroftheirpersecutedheroines。EverythinghadtobeinterpretedforAnna。Heropinionsaboutthesmall—
　　estandmostcommonplacethingsweregleanedfromtheDenverpapers，thechurchweeklies，fromsermonsandSunday—Schooladdresses。Scarcelyanythingwasattrac—
　　tivetoherinitsnaturalstate——indeed，scarcelyanythingwasdecentuntilitwasclothedbytheopinionofsomeauthority。Herideasabouthabit，character，duty，love，marriage，weregroupedunderheads，likeabookofpopularquotations，andweretotallyunrelatedtotheemergenciesofhumanliving。ShediscussedallthesesubjectswithotherMethodistgirlsofherage。Theywouldspendhours，forinstance，indecidingwhattheywouldorwouldnottoler—
　　ateinasuitororahusband，andthefrailtiesofmasculinenatureweretoooftenasubjectofdiscussionamongthem。
　　InherbehaviorAnnawasaharmlessgirl，mildexceptwhereherprejudiceswereconcerned，neatandindustrious，withnograverfaultthanpriggishness；buthermindhadreallyshockinghabitsofclassification。ThewickednessofDenverandofChicago，andevenofMoonstone，occupiedherthoughtstoomuch。Shehadnoneofthedelicacythatgoeswithanatureofwarmimpulses，butthekindoffishycuriositywhichjustifiesitselfbyanexpressionofhorror。
　　Thea，andallThea’swaysandfriends，seemedindecor—
　　oustoAnna。ShenotonlyfeltagravesocialdiscriminationagainsttheMexicans；shecouldnotforgetthatSpanishJohnnywasadrunkardandthat"nobodyknewwhathedidwhenheranawayfromhome。"Theapretended，ofcourse，thatshelikedtheMexicansbecausetheywerefondofmusic；buteveryoneknewthatmusicwasno—
　　thingveryreal，andthatitdidnotmatterinagirl’sre—
　　lationswithpeople。Whatwasreal，then，andwhatdidmatter？PoorAnna！
　　AnnaapprovedofRayKennedyasayoungmanofsteadyhabitsandblamelesslife，butsheregrettedthathewasanatheist，andthathewasnotapassengerconductorwithbrassbuttonsonhiscoat。Onthewhole，shewon—
　　deredwhatsuchanexemplaryyoungmanfoundtolikeinThea。Dr。ArchieshetreatedrespectfullybecauseofhispositioninMoonstone，butsheKNEWhehadkissedtheMexicanbarytone’sprettydaughter，andshehadawholeDOSSIERofevidenceabouthisbehaviorinhishoursofrelax—
　　ationinDenver。Hewas"fast，"anditwasbecausehewas"fast"thatThealikedhim。Theaalwayslikedthatkindofpeople。Dr。Archie’swholemannerwithThea，Annaoftentoldhermother，wastoofree。HewasalwaysputtinghishandonThea’shead，orholdingherhandwhilehelaughedandlookeddownather。Thekindliermanifesta—
　　tionofhumannature（aboutwhichAnnasangandtalked，intheinterestsofwhichshewenttoconventionsandworewhiteribbons）wereneverrealitiestoherafterall。Shedidnotbelieveinthem。Itwasonlyinattitudesofprotestorreproof，clingingtothecross，thathumanbeingscouldbeeventemporarilydecent。
　　PreacherKronborg’ssecretconvictionswereverymuchlikeAnna’s。Hebelievedthathiswifewasabsolutelygood，buttherewasnotamanorwomaninhiscongregationwhomhetrustedalltheway。
　　Mrs。Kronborg，ontheotherhand，waslikelytofindsomethingtoadmireinalmostanyhumanconductthatwaspositiveandenergetic。Shecouldalwaysbetakeninbythestoriesoftrampsandrunawayboys。Shewenttothecircusandadmiredthebarebackriders，whowere"likelygoodenoughwomenintheirway。"SheadmiredDr。Archie’sfinephysiqueandwell—cutclothesasmuchasTheadid，andsaidshe"feltitwasaprivilegetobehandledbysuchagentlemanwhenshewassick。"
　　SoonafterAnnabecameachurchmembershebegantoremonstratewithTheaaboutpracticing——playing"secu—
　　larmusic"——onSunday。OneSundaythedisputeintheparlorgrewwarmandwascarriedtoMrs。Kronborginthekitchen。ShelistenedjudiciallyandtoldAnnatoreadthechapterabouthowNaamantheleperwaspermittedtobowdowninthehouseofRimmon。Theawentbacktothepiano，andAnnalingeredtosaythat，sinceshewasintheright，hermothershouldhavesupportedher。
　　"No，"saidMrs。Kronborg，ratherindifferently，"Ican’tseeitthatway，Anna。Ineverforcedyoutopractice，andIdon’tseeasIshouldkeepTheafromit。Iliketohearher，andIguessyourfatherdoes。YouandTheawilllikelyfol—
　　lowdifferentlines，andIdon’tseeasI’mcalledupontobringyouupalike。"
　　Annalookedmeekandabused。"Ofcourseallthechurchpeoplemusthearher。Oursistheonlynoisyhouseonthisstreet。Youhearwhatshe’splayingnow，don’tyou？"
　　Mrs。Kronborgrosefrombrowninghercoffee。"Yes；
　　it’stheBlueDanubewaltzes。I’mfamiliarwith’em。Ifanyofthechurchpeoplecomeatyou，youjustsend’emtome。Iain’tafraidtospeakoutonoccasion，andI
　　wouldn’tmindonebittellingtheLadies’Aidafewthingsaboutstandardcomposers。"Mrs。Kronborgsmiled，andaddedthoughtfully，"No，Iwouldn’tmindthatonebit。"
　　Annawentaboutwithareservedanddistantairforaweek，andMrs。Kronborgsuspectedthatsheheldalargerplacethanusualinherdaughter’sprayers；butthatwasanotherthingshedidn’tmind。
　　Althoughrevivalsweremerelyapartoftheyear’swork，likeexaminationweekatschool，andalthoughAnna’spietyimpressedherverylittle，atimecamewhenTheawasperplexedaboutreligion。AscourgeoftyphoidbrokeoutinMoonstoneandseveralofThea’sschoolmatesdiedofit。Shewenttotheirfunerals，sawthemputintothe
　　ground，andwonderedagooddealaboutthem。Butacertaingrimincident，whichcausedtheepidemic，troubledherevenmorethanthedeathofherfriends。
　　EarlyinJuly，soonafterThea’sfifteenthbirthday，aparticularlydisgustingsortoftrampcameintoMoonstoneinanemptyboxcar。Theawassittinginthehammockinthefrontyardwhenhefirstcrawleduptothetownfromthedepot，carryingabundlewrappedindirtytickingunderonearm，andundertheotherawoodenboxwithrustyscreeningnailedoveroneend。Hehadathin，hungryfacecoveredwithblackhair。Itwasjustbeforesupper—
　　timewhenhecamealong，andthestreetsmelledoffriedpotatoesandfriedonionsandcoffee。Theasawhimsniffingtheairgreedilyandwalkingslowerandslower。Helookedoverthefence。Shehopedhewouldnotstopattheirgate，forhermotherneverturnedanyoneaway，andthiswasthedirtiestandmostutterlywretched—lookingtrampshehadeverseen。Therewasaterribleodorabouthim，too。
　　Shecaughtitevenatthatdistance，andputherhandker—
　　chieftohernose。Amomentlatershewassorry，forsheknewthathehadnoticedit。Helookedawayandshuffledalittlefaster。
　　AfewdayslaterTheaheardthatthetramphadcampedinanemptyshackoverontheeastedgeoftown，besidetheravine，andwastryingtogiveamiserablesortofshowthere。Hetoldtheboyswhowenttoseewhathewasdoing，thathehadtraveledwithacircus。Hisbundlecontainedafilthyclown’ssuit，andhisboxheldhalfadozenrattle—
　　snakes。
　　Saturdaynight，whenTheawenttothebutchershoptogetthechickensforSunday，sheheardthewhineofanaccordionandsawacrowdbeforeoneofthesaloons。Thereshefoundthetramp，hisbonybodygrotesquelyattiredintheclown’ssuit，hisfaceshavedandpaintedwhite，——thesweattricklingthroughthepaintandwashingitaway，——
　　andhiseyeswildandfeverish。Pullingtheaccordionin
　　andoutseemedtobealmosttoogreataneffortforhim，andhepantedtothetuneof"MarchingthroughGeorgia。"
　　Afteraconsiderablecrowdhadgathered，thetrampex—
　　hibitedhisboxofsnakes，announcedthathewouldnowpassthehat，andthatwhentheonlookershadcontributedthesumofonedollar，hewouldeat"oneoftheselivingreptiles。"Thecrowdbegantocoughandmurmur，andthesaloonkeeperrushedoffforthemarshal，whoarrestedthewretchforgivingashowwithoutalicenseandhurriedhimawaytothecalaboose。
　　Thecalaboosestoodinasunflowerpatch，——anoldhutwithabarredwindowandapadlockonthedoor。Thetrampwasutterlyfilthyandtherewasnowaytogivehimabath。Thelawmadenoprovisiontogrub—stakevagrants，soaftertheconstablehaddetainedthetrampfortwenty—
　　fourhours，hereleasedhimandtoldhimto"getoutoftown，andgetquick。"Thefellow’srattlesnakeshadbeenkilledbythesaloonkeeper。Hehidinaboxcarinthefreightyard，probablyhopingtogetaridetothenextstation，buthewasfoundandputout。Afterthathewasseennomore。Hehaddisappearedandleftnotraceexceptanugly，stupidword，chalkedontheblackpaintoftheseventy—five—footstandpipewhichwasthereservoirfortheMoonstonewater—supply；thesameword，inanothertongue，thattheFrenchsoldiershoutedatWaterloototheEnglishofficerwhobadetheOldGuardsurrender；acommentonlifewhichthedefeated，alongthehardroadsoftheworld，sometimesbawlatthevictorious。
　　Aweekafterthetrampexcitementhadpassedover，thecitywaterbegantosmellandtotaste。TheKron—
　　borgshadawellintheirbackyardanddidnotusecitywater，buttheyheardthecomplaintsoftheirneighbors。
　　Atfirstpeoplesaidthatthetownwellwasfullofrot—
　　tingcottonwoodroots，buttheengineeratthepumping—
　　stationconvincedthemayorthatthewaterleftthewelluntainted。Mayorsreasonslowly，but，thewellbeing
　　eliminated，theofficialmindhadtotraveltowardthestandpipe——therewasnoothertrackforittogoin。
　　Thestandpipeamplyrewardedinvestigation。ThetramphadgotevenwithMoonstone。Hehadclimbedthestandpipebythehandholdsandlethimselfdownintoseventy—fivefeetofcoldwater，withhisshoesandhatandrollofticking。Thecitycouncilhadamildpanicandpassedanewordinanceabouttramps。Butthefeverhadalreadybrokenout，andseveraladultsandhalfadozenchildrendiedofit。
　　TheahadalwaysfoundeverythingthathappenedinMoonstoneexciting，disastersparticularlyso。Itwasgrat—
　　ifyingtoreadsensationalMoonstoneitemsintheDenverpaper。Butshewishedshehadnotchancedtoseethetrampashecameintotownthatevening，sniffingthesupper—ladenair。Hisfaceremainedunpleasantlyclearinhermemory，andhermindstruggledwiththeproblemofhisbehaviorasifitwereahardpageinarithmetic。Evenwhenshewaspracticing，thedramaofthetrampkeptgoingoninthebackofherhead，andshewasconstantlytryingtomakeherselfrealizewhatpitchofhatredordespaircoulddriveamantodosuchahideousthing。Shekeptseeinghiminhisbedraggledclownsuit，thewhitepaintonhisroughlyshavenface，playinghisaccordionbeforethesaloon。Shehadnoticedhisleanbody，hishigh，baldforeheadthatslopedbacklikeacurvedmetallid。Howcouldpeoplefallsofaroutoffortune？ShetriedtotalktoRayKennedyaboutherperplexity，butRaywouldnotdiscussthingsofthatsortwithher。Itwasinhissentimentalconceptionofwomenthattheyshouldbedeeplyreligious，thoughmenwereatlibertytodoubtandfinallytodeny。Apicturecalled"TheSoulAwakened，"
　　popularinMoonstoneparlors，prettywellinterpretedRay’sideaofwoman’sspiritualnature。
　　Oneeveningwhenshewashauntedbythefigureofthetramp，TheawentuptoDr。Archie’soffice。Shefoundhim
　　sewinguptwobadgashesinthefaceofalittleboywhohadbeenkickedbyamule。Aftertheboyhadbeenban—
　　dagedandsentawaywithhisfather，Theahelpedthedoc—
　　torwashandputawaythesurgicalinstruments。Thenshedroppedintoheraccustomedseatbesidehisdeskandbegantotalkaboutthetramp。Hereyeswerehardandgreenwithexcitement，thedoctornoticed。
　　"Itseemstome，Dr。Archie，thatthewholetown’stoblame。I’mtoblame，myself。Iknowhesawmeholdmynosewhenhewentby。Father’stoblame。IfhebelievestheBible，heoughttohavegonetothecalabooseandcleanedthatmanupandtakencareofhim。That’swhatIcan’tunderstand；dopeoplebelievetheBible，ordon’tthey？Ifthenextlifeisallthatmatters，andwe’reputheretogetreadyforit，thenwhydowetrytomakemoney，orlearnthings，orhaveagoodtime？There’snotonepersoninMoonstonethatreallylivesthewaytheNewTestamentsays。Doesitmatter，ordon’tit？"