"Andto—dayisthefirstofMay；May—day。"Harsanyileanedforward，hiselbowsonhisknees，hishandslockedbetweenthem。"Yes，Imusttalktoyouaboutsomething。
　　IhaveaskedMadisonBowerstoletmebringyoutohimonThursday，atyourusuallesson—time。HeisthebestvocalteacherinChicago，anditistimeyoubegantoworkseriouslywithyourvoice。"
　　Thea’sbrowwrinkled。"YoumeantakelessonsofBowers？"
　　Harsanyinodded，withoutliftinghishead。
　　"ButIcan’t，Mr。Harsanyi。Ihaven’tgotthetime，and，besides——"sheblushedanddrewhershouldersupstiffly——"besides，Ican’taffordtopaytwoteachers。"
　　Theafeltthatshehadblurtedthisoutintheworstpossi—
　　bleway，andsheturnedbacktothekeyboardtohideherchagrin。
　　"Iknowthat。Idon’tmeanthatyoushallpaytwoteachers。AfteryougotoBowersyouwillnotneedme。I
　　needscarcelytellyouthatIshan’tbehappyatlosingyou。"
　　Theaturnedtohim，hurtandangry。"ButIdon’twant
　　togotoBowers。Idon’twanttoleaveyou。What’sthematter？Don’tIworkhardenough？I’msureyouteachpeoplethatdon’ttryhalfashard。"
　　Harsanyirosetohisfeet。"Don’tmisunderstandme，MissKronborg。YouinterestmemorethananypupilI
　　have。Ihavebeenthinkingformonthsaboutwhatyououghttodo，sincethatnightwhenyoufirstsangforme。"
　　Hewalkedovertothewindow，turned，andcametowardheragain。"Ibelievethatyourvoiceisworthallthatyoucanputintoit。Ihavenotcometothisdecisionrashly。I
　　havestudiedyou，andIhavebecomemoreandmorecon—
　　vinced，againstmyowndesires。Icannotmakeasingerofyou，soitwasmybusinesstofindamanwhocould。I
　　haveevenconsultedTheodoreThomasaboutit。"
　　"ButsupposeIdon’twanttobeasinger？Iwanttostudywithyou。What’sthematter？DoyoureallythinkI’venotalent？Can’tIbeapianist？"
　　Harsanyipacedupanddownthelongruginfrontofher。"Mygirl，youareverytalented。Youcouldbeapianist，agoodone。Buttheearlytrainingofapianist，suchapianistasyouwouldwanttobe，mustbesomethingtremendous。Hemusthavehadnootherlifethanmusic。
　　Atyouragehemustbethemasterofhisinstrument。
　　Nothingcanevertaketheplaceofthatfirsttraining。Youknowverywellthatyourtechniqueisgood，butitisnotremarkable。Itwillneverovertakeyourintelligence。Youhaveafinepowerofwork，butyouarenotbynatureastu—
　　dent。Youarenotbynature，Ithink，apianist。Youwouldneverfindyourself。Intheefforttodoso，I’mafraidyourplayingwouldbecomewarped，eccentric。"
　　Hethrewbackhisheadandlookedathispupilintentlywiththatoneeyewhichsometimesseemedtoseedeeperthananytwoeyes，asifitssinglenessgaveitprivileges。
　　"Oh，Ihavewatchedyouverycarefully，MissKronborg。
　　Becauseyouhadhadsolittleandhadyetdonesomuchforyourself，Ihadagreatwishtohelpyou。Ibelievethatthe
　　strongestneedofyournatureistofindyourself，toemergeASyourself。UntilIheardyousingIwonderedhowyouweretodothis，butithasgrownclearertomeeveryday。"
　　Thealookedawaytowardthewindowwithhard，nar—
　　roweyes。"YoumeanIcanbeasingerbecauseIhaven’tbrainsenoughtobeapianist。"
　　"Youhavebrainsenoughandtalentenough。Buttodowhatyouwillwanttodo，ittakesmorethanthese——ittakesvocation。Now，Ithinkyouhavevocation，butforthevoice，notforthepiano。Ifyouknew，"——hestoppedandsighed，——"ifyouknewhowfortunateIsometimesthinkyou。Withthevoicethewayissomuchshorter，therewardsaremoreeasilywon。InyourvoiceIthinkNa—
　　tureherselfdidforyouwhatitwouldtakeyoumanyyearstodoatthepiano。Perhapsyouwerenotborninthewrongplaceafterall。Letustalkfranklynow。Wehaveneverdonesobefore，andIhaverespectedyourreticence。
　　Whatyouwantmorethananythingelseintheworldistobeanartist；isthattrue？"
　　Sheturnedherfaceawayfromhimandlookeddownatthekeyboard。Heranswercameinathickenedvoice。
　　"Yes，Isupposeso。"
　　"Whendidyoufirstfeelthatyouwantedtobeanartist？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Therewasalways——something。"
　　"Didyouneverthinkthatyouweregoingtosing？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Howlongagowasthat？"
　　"Always，untilIcametoyou。Itwasyouwhomademewanttoplaypiano。"Hervoicetrembled。"Before，I
　　triedtothinkIdid，butIwaspretending。"
　　Harsanyireachedoutandcaughtthehandthatwashangingatherside。Hepresseditasiftogivehersome—
　　thing。"Can’tyousee，mydeargirl，thatwasonlybe—
　　causeIhappenedtobethefirstartistyouhaveeverknown？
　　IfIhadbeenatromboneplayer，itwouldhavebeenthesame；youwouldhavewantedtoplaytrombone。Butallthewhileyouhavebeenworkingwithsuchgood—will，somethinghasbeenstrugglingagainstme。See，herewewere，youandIandthisinstrument，"——hetappedthepiano，——"threegoodfriends，workingsohard。Butallthewhiletherewassomethingfightingus：yourgift，andthewomanyouweremeanttobe。Whenyoufindyourwaytothatgiftandtothatwoman，youwillbeatpeace。
　　Inthebeginningitwasanartistthatyouwantedtobe；
　　well，youmaybeanartist，always。"
　　Theadrewalongbreath。Herhandsfellinherlap。
　　"SoI’mjustwhereIbegan。Noteacher，nothingdone。
　　Nomoney。"
　　Harsanyiturnedaway。"Feelnoapprehensionaboutthemoney，MissKronborg。Comebackinthefallandweshallmanagethat。IshallevengotoMr。Thomasifneces—
　　sary。Thisyearwillnotbelost。Ifyoubutknewwhatanadvantagethiswinter’sstudy，allyourstudyofthepiano，willgiveyouovermostsingers。Perhapsthingshavecomeoutbetterforyouthanifwehadplannedthemknowingly。"
　　"YoumeantheyhaveIFIcansing。"
　　Theaspokewithaheavyirony，soheavy，indeed，thatitwascoarse。ItgrateduponHarsanyibecausehefeltthatitwasnotsincere，anawkwardaffectation。
　　Hewheeledtowardher。"MissKronborg，answermethis。YOUKNOWTHATYOUCANSING，doyounot？Youhavealwaysknownit。Whileweworkedheretogetheryousometimessaidtoyourself，`Ihavesomethingyouknownothingabout；Icouldsurpriseyou。’Isthatalsotrue？"
　　Theanoddedandhungherhead。
　　"Whywereyounotfrankwithme？DidInotdeserveit？"
　　Sheshuddered。Herbentshoulderstrembled。"Idon’tknow，"shemuttered。"Ididn’tmeantobelikethat。I
　　couldn’t。Ican’t。It’sdifferent。"
　　"Youmeanitisverypersonal？"heaskedkindly。
　　Shenodded。"Notatchurchorfunerals，orwithpeoplelikeMr。Larsen。Butwithyouitwas——personal。I’mnotlikeyouandMrs。Harsanyi。Icomeofroughpeople。
　　I’mrough。ButI’mindependent，too。Itwas——allIhad。
　　Thereisnousemytalking，Mr。Harsanyi。Ican’ttellyou。"
　　"Youneedn’ttellme。Iknow。Everyartistknows。"
　　Harsanyistoodlookingathispupil’sback，bentasifshewerepushingsomething，atherloweredhead。"Youcansingforthosepeoplebecausewiththemyoudonotcom—
　　mityourself。Butthereality，onecannotuncoverTHAT
　　untiloneissure。Onecanfailone’sself，butonemustnotlivetoseethatfail；betterneverrevealit。Letmehelpyoutomakeyourselfsureofit。ThatIcandobetterthanBowers。"
　　Thealiftedherfaceandthrewoutherhands。
　　Harsanyishookhisheadandsmiled。"Oh，promisenothing！Youwillhavemuchtodo。Therewillnotbevoiceonly，butFrench，German，Italian。Youwillhaveworkenough。Butsometimesyouwillneedtobeunder—
　　stood；whatyounevershowtoanyonewillneedcom—
　　panionship。Andthenyoumustcometome。"Hepeeredintoherfacewiththatsearching，intimateglance。"YouknowwhatImean，thethinginyouthathasnobusinesswithwhatislittle，thatwillhavetodoonlywithbeautyandpower。"
　　Theathrewoutherhandsfiercely，asiftopushhimaway。Shemadeasoundinherthroat，butitwasnotarticulate。Harsanyitookoneofherhandsandkisseditlightlyupontheback。Hissalutewasoneofgreeting，notoffarewell，anditwasforsomeonehehadneverseen。
　　WhenMrs。Harsanyicameinatsixo’clock，shefoundherhusbandsittinglistlesslybythewindow。"Tired？"
　　sheasked。
　　"Alittle。I’vejustgotthroughadifficulty。I’vesentMissKronborgaway；turnedherovertoBowers，forvoice。"
　　"SentMissKronborgaway？Andor，whatisthematterwithyou？"
　　"It’snothingrash。I’veknownforalongwhileIoughttodoit。Sheismadeforasinger，notapianist。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyisatdownonthepianochair。Shespokealittlebitterly："Howcanyoubesureofthat？Shewas，atleast，thebestyouhad。Ithoughtyoumeanttohaveherplayatyourstudents’recitalnextfall。Iamsureshewouldhavemadeanimpression。Icouldhavedressedhersothatshewouldhavebeenverystriking。Shehadsomuchindividuality。"
　　Harsanyibentforward，lookingatthefloor。"Yes，I
　　know。Ishallmissher，ofcourse。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyilookedatherhusband’sfineheadagainstthegraywindow。Shehadneverfeltdeepertendernessforhimthanshedidatthatmoment。Herheartachedforhim。"Youwillnevergeton，Andor，"shesaidmourn—
　　fully。
　　Harsanyisatmotionless。"No，Ishallnevergeton，"
　　herepeatedquietly。Suddenlyhesprangupwiththatlightmovementsheknewsowell，andstoodinthewindow，withfoldedarms。"ButsomedayIshallbeabletolookherinthefaceandlaughbecauseIdidwhatIcouldforher。Ibelieveinher。Shewilldonothingcommon。Sheisuncommon，inacommon，commonworld。ThatiswhatIgetoutofit。Itmeansmoretomethanifsheplayedatmyconcertandbroughtmeadozenpupils。AllthisdrudgerywillkillmeifonceinawhileIcannothopesome—
　　thing，forsomebody！IfIcannotsometimesseeabirdflyandwavemyhandtoit。"
　　Histonewasangryandinjured。Mrs。Harsanyiunder—
　　stoodthatthiswasoneofthetimeswhenhiswifewasapartofthedrudgery，ofthe"common，commonworld。"
　　Hehadletsomethinghecaredforgo，andhefeltbitterlyaboutwhateverwasleft。Themoodwouldpass，andhewouldbesorry。Sheknewhim。Itwoundedher，ofcourse，butthathurtwasnotnew。Itwasasoldasherloveforhim。Shewentoutandlefthimalone。
　　VIII
　　ONEwarmdampJunenighttheDenverExpresswasspeedingwestwardacrosstheearthy—smellingplainsofIowa。Thelightsintheday—coachwereturnedlowandtheventilatorswereopen，admittingshowersofsootanddustupontheoccupantsofthenarrowgreenplushchairswhichweretiltedatvariousanglesofdiscomfort。Ineachofthesechairssomeuncomfortablehumanbeinglaydrawnup，orstretchedout，orwrithingfromonepositiontoan—
　　other。Thereweretiredmeninrumpledshirts，theirnecksbareandtheirsuspendersdown；oldwomenwiththeirheadstiedupinblackhandkerchiefs；bedraggledyoungwomenwhowenttosleepwhiletheywerenursingtheirbabiesandforgottobuttonuptheirdresses；dirtyboyswhoaddedtothegeneraldiscomfortbytakingofftheirboots。Thebrakeman，whenhecamethroughatmidnight，sniffedtheheavyairdisdainfullyandlookedupattheventilators。Asheglanceddownthedoublerowsofcon—
　　tortedfigures，hesawonepairofeyesthatwerewideopenandbright，ayellowheadthatwasnotovercomebythestupefyingheatandsmellinthecar。"There’sagirlforyou，"hethoughtashestoppedbyThea’schair。
　　"Liketohavethewindowupalittle？"heasked。
　　Theasmiledupathim，notmisunderstandinghisfriend—
　　liness。"Thegirlbehindmeissick；shecan’tstandadraft。
　　Whattimeisit，please？"
　　Hetookouthisopen—facedwatchandhelditbeforehereyeswithaknowinglook。"Inahurry？"heasked。"I’llleavetheenddooropenandairyouout。Catchawink；
　　thetime’llgofaster。"
　　Theanoddedgood—nighttohimandsettledherheadbackonherpillow，lookingupattheoillamps。Shewas
　　goingbacktoMoonstoneforhersummervacation，andshewassittingupallnightinaday—coachbecausethatseemedsuchaneasywaytosavemoney。Atheragedis—
　　comfortwasasmallmatter，whenonemadefivedollarsadaybyit。Shehadconfidentlyexpectedtosleepafterthecargotquiet，butinthetwochairsbehindherwereasickgirlandhermother，andthegirlhadbeencoughingsteadilysinceteno’clock。TheyhadcomefromsomewhereinPennsylvania，andthiswastheirsecondnightontheroad。
　　ThemothersaidtheyweregoingtoColorado"forherdaughter’slungs。"ThedaughterwasalittleolderthanThea，perhapsnineteen，withpatientdarkeyesandcurlybrownhair。Shewasprettyinspiteofbeingsosootyandtravel—stained。Shehadputonanuglyfiguredsatinekimonooverherloosenedclothes。Thea，whensheboardedthetraininChicago，happenedtostopandplantherheavytelescopeonthisseat。Shehadnotintendedtoremainthere，butthesickgirlhadlookedupatherwithaneagersmileandsaid，"Dositthere，miss。I’dsomuchrathernothaveagentlemaninfrontofme。"
　　Afterthegirlbegantocoughtherewerenoemptyseatsleft，andiftherehadbeenTheacouldscarcelyhavechangedwithouthurtingherfeelings。Themotherturnedonhersideandwenttosleep；shewasusedtothecough。Butthegirllaywideawake，hereyesfixedontheroofofthecar，asThea’swere。Thetwogirlsmusthaveseenverydifferentthingsthere。
　　TheafelltogoingoverherwinterinChicago。Itwasonlyunderunusualoruncomfortableconditionslikethesethatshecouldkeephermindfixeduponherselforherownaffairsforanylengthoftime。Therapidmotionandthevibrationofthewheelsunderherseemedtogiveherthoughtsrapidityandclearness。ShehadtakentwentyveryexpensivelessonsfromMadisonBowers，butshedidnotyetknowwhathethoughtofherorofherability。Hewasdifferentfromanymanwithwhomshehadeverhad
　　todo。Withherotherteachersshehadfeltapersonalrelation；butwithhimshedidnot。Bowerswasacold，bitter，avariciousman，butheknewagreatdealaboutvoices。Heworkedwithavoiceasifhewereinalabora—
　　tory，conductingaseriesofexperiments。Hewasconscien—
　　tiousandindustrious，evencapableofacertaincoldfurywhenhewasworkingwithaninterestingvoice，butHar—
　　sanyideclaredthathehadthesoulofashrimp，andcouldnomoremakeanartistthanathroatspecialistcould。
　　Thearealizedthathehadtaughtheragreatdealintwentylessons。
　　AlthoughshecaredsomuchlessforBowersthanforHarsanyi，Theawas，onthewhole，happiersinceshehadbeenstudyingwithhimthanshehadbeenbefore。Shehadalwaystoldherselfthatshestudiedpianotofither—
　　selftobeamusicteacher。Butsheneveraskedherselfwhyshewasstudyingvoice。Hervoice，morethananyotherpartofher，hadtodowiththatconfidence，thatsenseofwholenessandinnerwell—beingthatshehadfeltatmo—
　　mentseversinceshecouldremember。
　　OfthisfeelingTheahadneverspokentoanyhumanbeinguntilthatdaywhenshetoldHarsanyithat"therehadalwaysbeen——something。"Hithertoshehadfeltbutoneobligationtowardit——secrecy；toprotectitevenfromherself。Shehadalwaysbelievedthatbydoingallthatwasrequiredofherbyherfamily，herteachers，herpupils，shekeptthatpartofherselffrombeingcaughtupinthemeshesofcommonthings。Shetookitforgrantedthatsomeday，whenshewasolder，shewouldknowagreatdealmoreaboutit。Itwasasifshehadanappoint—
　　menttomeettherestofherselfsometime，somewhere。
　　Itwasmovingtomeetherandshewasmovingtomeetit。Thatmeetingawaitedher，justassurelyas，forthepoorgirlintheseatbehindher，thereawaitedaholeintheearth，alreadydug。
　　ForThea，somuchhadbegunwithaholeintheearth。
　　Yes，shereflected，thisnewpartofherlifehadallbegunthatmorningwhenshesatontheclaybankbesideRayKen—
　　nedy，undertheflickeringshadeofthecottonwoodtree。
　　SherememberedthewayRayhadlookedatherthatmorning。Whyhadhecaredsomuch？AndWunsch，andDr。Archie，andSpanishJohnny，whyhadthey？Itwassomethingthathadtodowithherthatmadethemcare，butitwasnotshe。Itwassomethingtheybelievedin，butitwasnotshe。Perhapseachofthemconcealedanotherpersoninhimself，justasshedid。Whywasitthattheyseemedtofeelandtohuntforasecondpersoninherandnotineachother？Theafrownedupatthedulllampintheroofofthecar。Whatifone’ssecondselfcouldsome—
　　howspeaktoallthesesecondselves？Whatifonecouldbringthemout，aswhiskeydidSpanishJohnny’s？Howdeeptheylay，thesesecondpersons，andhowlittleoneknewaboutthem，excepttoguardthemfiercely。Itwastomusic，morethantoanythingelse，thatthesehiddenthingsinpeopleresponded。Hermother——evenhermo—
　　therhadsomethingofthatsortwhichrepliedtomusic。
　　Theafoundherselflisteningforthecoughingbehindherandnothearingit。Sheturnedcautiouslyandlookedbackoverthehead—restofherchair。Thepoorgirlhadfallenasleep。Thealookedatherintently。Whywasshesoafraidofmen？Whydidsheshrinkintoherselfandavertherfacewheneveramanpassedherchair？Theathoughtsheknew；ofcourse，sheknew。Howhorribletowasteawaylikethat，inthetimewhenoneoughttobegrowingfullerandstrongerandroundereveryday。Supposethereweresuchadarkholeopenforher，betweento—nightandthatplacewhereshewastomeetherself？Hereyesnar—
　　rowed。Sheputherhandonherbreastandfelthowwarmitwas；andwithinittherewasafull，powerfulpulsation。Shesmiled——thoughshewasashamedofit——withthenaturalcontemptofstrengthforweakness，withthesenseofphysicalsecuritywhichmakesthesavage
　　merciless。Nobodycoulddiewhiletheyfeltlikethatin—
　　side。Thespringstherewerewoundsotightthatitwouldbealongwhilebeforetherewasanyslackinthem。Thelifeintherewasrooteddeep。Shewasgoingtohaveafewthingsbeforeshedied。Sherealizedthattherewereagreatmanytrainsdashingeastandwestonthefaceofthecon—
　　tinentthatnight，andthattheyallcarriedyoungpeoplewhomeanttohavethings。ButthedifferencewasthatSHEWASGOINGTOGETTHEM！Thatwasall。Letpeopletrytostopher！Shegloweredattherowsoffecklessbodiesthatlaysprawledinthechairs。Letthemtryitonce！Alongwiththeyearningthatcamefromsomedeeppartofher，thatwasselflessandexalted，Theahadahardkindofcockiness，adeterminationtogetahead。Well，therearepassagesinlifewhenthatfierce，stubbornself—assertionwillstanditsgroundafterthenoblerfeelingisover—
　　whelmedandbeatenunder。
　　Havingtoldherselfoncemorethatshemeanttograbafewthings，Theawenttosleep。
　　Shewaswakenedinthemorningbythesunlight，whichbeatfiercelythroughtheglassofthecarwindowuponherface。Shemadeherselfascleanasshecould，andwhilethepeopleallaboutherweregettingcoldfoodoutoftheirlunch—basketssheescapedintothedining—car。Herthriftdidnotgotothepointofenablinghertocarryalunch—
　　basket。Atthatearlyhourtherewerefewpeopleinthedining—car。Thelinenwaswhiteandfresh，thedarkiesweretrimandsmiling，andthesunlightgleamedpleasantlyuponthesilverandtheglasswater—bottles。Oneachtabletherewasaslendervasewithasinglepinkroseinit。WhenTheasatdownshelookedintoherroseandthoughtitthemostbeautifulthingintheworld；itwaswideopen，recklesslyofferingitsyellowheart，andthereweredropsofwateronthepetals。Allthefuturewasinthatrose，allthatonewouldliketobe。Theflowerputherinanabsolutelyregalmood。Shehadawholepotofcoffee，andscrambledeggs
　　withchoppedham，utterlydisregardingtheastonishingpricetheycost。Shehadfaithenoughinwhatshecoulddo，shetoldherself，tohaveeggsifshewantedthem。Atthetableoppositehersatamanandhiswifeandlittleboy——Theaclassifiedthemasbeing"fromtheEast。"Theyspokeinthatquick，surestaccato，whichThea，likeRayKennedy，pretendedtoscornandsecretlyadmired。Peo—
　　plewhocouldusewordsinthatconfidentway，andwhospokethemelegantly，hadagreatadvantageinlife，shereflected。Thereweresomanywordswhichshecouldnotpronounceinspeechasshehadtodoinsinging。Lan—
　　guagewaslikeclothes；itcouldbeahelptoone，oritcouldgiveoneaway。Butthemostimportantthingwasthatoneshouldnotpretendtobewhatonewasnot。
　　Whenshepaidherchecksheconsultedthewaiter。
　　"Waiter，doyousupposeIcouldbuyoneofthoseroses？
　　I’moutoftheday—coach，andthereisasickgirlinthere。
　　I’dliketotakeheracupofcoffeeandoneofthoseflowers。"
　　Thewaiterlikednothingbetterthanadvisingtravelerslesssophisticatedthanhimself。HetoldTheatherewereafewrosesleftintheiceboxandhewouldgetone。Hetooktheflowerandthecoffeeintotheday—coach。Theapointedoutthegirl，butshedidnotaccompanyhim。Shehatedthanksandneverreceivedthemgracefully。Shestoodoutsideontheplatformtogetsomefreshairintoherlungs。ThetrainwascrossingthePlatteRivernow，andthesunlightwassointensethatitseemedtoquiverinlittleflamesontheglitteringsandbars，thescrubwil—
　　lows，andthecurling，frettedshallows。
　　Theafeltthatshewascomingbacktoherownland。
　　ShehadoftenheardMrs。Kronborgsaythatshe"believedinimmigration，"andsodidTheabelieveinit。Thisearthseemedtoheryoungandfreshandkindly，aplacewhererefugeesfromold，sadcountriesweregivenanotherchance。
　　Themereabsenceofrocksgavethesoilakindofamia—
　　bilityandgenerosity，andtheabsenceofnaturalbound—
　　ariesgavethespiritawiderrange。Wirefencesmightmarktheendofaman’spasture，buttheycouldnotshutinhisthoughtsasmountainsandforestscan。Itwasoverflatlandslikethis，stretchingouttodrinkthesun，thatthelarkssang——andone’sheartsangthere，too。Theawasgladthatthiswashercountry，evenifonedidnotlearntospeakelegantlythere。Itwas，somehow，anhonestcoun—
　　try，andtherewasanewsonginthatblueairwhichhadneverbeensungintheworldbefore。Itwashardtotellaboutit，forithadnothingtodowithwords；itwaslikethelightofthedesertatnoon，orthesmellofthesagebrushafterrain；intangiblebutpowerful。Shehadthesenseofgoingbacktoafriendlysoil，whosefriendshipwassome—
　　howgoingtostrengthenher；anaive，generouscountrythatgaveoneitsjoyousforce，itslarge—hearted，childlikepowertolove，justasitgaveoneitscoarse，brilliantflowers。
　　AsshedrewinthatgloriousairThea’smindwentbacktoRayKennedy。He，too，hadthatfeelingofempire；asifalltheSouthwestreallybelongedtohimbecausehehadknockedaboutoveritsomuch，andknewit，ashesaid，"liketheblistersonhisownhands。"Thatfeeling，shereflected，wastherealelementofcompanionshipbetweenherandRay。NowthatshewasgoingbacktoColorado，sherealizedthisasshehadnotdonebefore。