"Aren’tyougoingtosing，Silvo？"sheaskedteasingly。
　　Theboyturnedonhissideandraisedhimselfonhiselbowforamoment。"Notthisnight，SENORITA，"hepleadedsoftly，"notthisnight！"Hedroppedbackagain，andlaywithhischeekonhisrightarm，thehandlyingpassiveonthesandabovehishead。
　　"Howdoesheflattenhimselfintothegroundlikethat？"
　　Theaaskedherself。"IwishIknew。It’sveryeffective，somehow。"
　　AcrossthegulchtheKohlers’littlehousesleptamongitstrees，adarkspotonthewhitefaceofthedesert。Thewindowsoftheirupstairsbedroomwereopen，andPaulinahadlistenedtothedancemusicforalongwhilebeforeshedrowsedoff。Shewasalightsleeper，andwhenshewokeagain，aftermidnight，Johnny’sconcertwasatitsheight。
　　Shelaystilluntilshecouldbearitnolonger。ThenshewakenedFritzandtheywentovertothewindowandleanedout。Theycouldhearclearlythere。
　　"DIETHEA，"whisperedMrs。Kohler；"itmustbe。ACH，WUNDERSCHON！"
　　Fritzwasnotsowideawakeashiswife。Hegruntedand
　　scratchedonthefloorwithhisbarefoot。Theywerelis—
　　teningtoaMexicanpart—song；thetenor，thenthesoprano，thenbothtogether；thebarytonejoinsthem，rages，isextinguished；thetenorexpiresinsobs，andthesopranofinishesalone。Whenthesoprano’slastnotediedaway，Fritznoddedtohiswife。"JA，"hesaid；"SCHON。"
　　Therewassilenceforafewmoments。Thentheguitarsoundedfiercely，andseveralmalevoicesbeganthesextettefrom"Lucia。"Johnny’sreedytenortheyknewwell，andthebricklayer’sbig，opaquebarytone；theothersmightbeanybodyoverthere——justMexicanvoices。Thenattheappointed，attheacute，moment，thesopranovoice，likeafountainjet，shotupintothelight。"HORCH！HORCH！"theoldpeoplewhispered，bothatonce。Howitleapedfromamongthoseduskymalevoices！Howitplayedinandaboutandaroundandoverthem，likeagoldfishdartingamongcreekminnows，likeayellowbutterflysoaringaboveaswarmofdarkones。"Ah，"saidMrs。Kohlersoftly，"thedearman；ifhecouldhearhernow！"
　　XI
　　MRS。KRONBORGhadsaidthatTheawasnottobedisturbedonSundaymorning，andshesleptuntilnoon。Whenshecamedownstairsthefamilywerejustsittingdowntodinner，Mr。Kronborgatoneendofthelongtable，Mrs。Kronborgattheother。Anna，stiffandceremonious，inhersummersilk，satatherfather’sright，andtheboyswerestrungalongoneithersideofthetable。
　　TherewasaplaceleftforTheabetweenhermotherandThor。Duringthesilencewhichprecededtheblessing，Theafeltsomethinguncomfortableintheair。Annaandherolderbrothershadloweredtheireyeswhenshecamein。Mrs。Kronborgnoddedcheerfully，andafterthebless—
　　ing，asshebegantopourthecoffee，turnedtoher。
　　"Iexpectyouhadagoodtimeatthatdance，Thea。I
　　hopeyougotyoursleepout。"
　　"Highsociety，that，"remarkedCharley，givingthemashedpotatoesaviciousswat。Anna’smouthandeye—
　　browsbecamehalf—moons。
　　Thealookedacrossthetableattheuncompromisingcountenancesofherolderbrothers。"Why，what’sthematterwiththeMexicans？"sheasked，flushing。"Theydon’ttroubleanybody，andtheyarekindtotheirfamiliesandhavegoodmanners。"
　　"Nicecleanpeople；gotsomestyleaboutthem。Doyoureallylikethatkind，Thea，ordoyoujustpretendto？
　　That’swhatI’dliketoknow。"Guslookedatherwithpainedinquiry。Butheatleastlookedather。
　　"They’rejustascleanaswhitepeople，andtheyhaveaperfectrighttotheirownways。OfcourseIlike’em。
　　Idon’tpretendthings。"
　　"Everybodyaccordingtotheirowntaste，"remarked
　　Charleybitterly。"Quitcrumbingyourbreadup，Thor。
　　Ain’tyoulearnedhowtoeatyet？"
　　"Children，children！"saidMr。Kronborgnervously，lookingupfromthechickenhewasdismembering。Heglancedathiswife，whomheexpectedtomaintainhar—
　　monyinthefamily。
　　"That’sallright，Charley。Dropitthere，"saidMrs。
　　Kronborg。"NousespoilingyourSundaydinnerwithraceprejudices。TheMexicanssuitmeandTheaverywell。Theyareausefulpeople。Nowyoucanjusttalkaboutsomethingelse。"
　　Conversation，however，didnotflourishatthatdinner。
　　Everybodyateasfastaspossible。CharleyandGussaidtheyhadengagementsandleftthetableassoonastheyfinishedtheirapplepie。Annasatprimlyandatewithgreatelegance。Whenshespokeatallshespoketoherfather，aboutchurchmatters，andalwaysinacommiserat—
　　ingtone，asifhehadmetwithsomemisfortune。Mr。
　　Kronborg，quiteinnocentofherintentions，repliedkindlyandabsent—mindedly。AfterthedesserthewenttotakehisusualSundayafternoonnap，andMrs。Kronborgcarriedsomedinnertoasickneighbor。TheaandAnnabegantoclearthetable。
　　"Ishouldthinkyouwouldshowmoreconsiderationforfather’sposition，Thea，"Annabeganassoonassheandhersisterwerealone。
　　Theagaveherasidelongglance。"Why，whathaveI
　　donetofather？"
　　"EverybodyatSunday—SchoolwastalkingaboutyougoingoverthereandsingingwiththeMexicansallnight，whenyouwon’tsingforthechurch。Somebodyheardyou，andtolditallovertown。Ofcourse，weallgettheblameforit。"
　　"Anythingdisgracefulaboutsinging？"Theaaskedwithaprovokingyawn。
　　"Imustsayyouchooseyourcompany！Youalways
　　hadthatstreakinyou，Thea。Weallhopedthatgoingawaywouldimproveyou。Ofcourse，itreflectsonfatherwhenyouarescarcelypolitetothenicepeoplehereandmakeuptotherowdies。"
　　"Oh，it’smysingingwiththeMexicansyouobjectto？"
　　Theaputdownatrayfullofdishes。"Well，Iliketosingoverthere，andIdon’tliketooverhere。I’llsingforthemanytimetheyaskmeto。TheyknowsomethingaboutwhatI’mdoing。They’reatalentedpeople。"
　　"Talented！"Annamadethewordsoundlikeescapingsteam。"Isupposeyouthinkit’ssmarttocomehomeandthrowthatatyourfamily！"
　　Theapickedupthetray。BythistimeshewasaswhiteastheSundaytablecloth。"Well，"sherepliedinacold，eventone，"I’llhavetothrowitatthemsoonerorlater。
　　It’sjustaquestionofwhen，anditmightaswellbenowasanytime。"Shecarriedthetrayblindlyintothekitchen。
　　Tillie，whowasalwayslisteningandlookingoutforher，tookthedishesfromherwithafurtive，frightenedglanceatherstonyface。Theawentslowlyupthebackstairstoherloft。Herlegsseemedasheavyasleadassheclimbedthestairs，andshefeltasifeverythinginsideherhadsolidi—
　　fiedandgrownhard。
　　Aftershuttingherdoorandlockingit，shesatdownontheedgeofherbed。Thisplacehadalwaysbeenherrefuge，buttherewasahostilityinthehousenowwhichthisdoorcouldnotshutout。Thiswouldbeherlastsummerinthatroom。Itsserviceswereover；itstimewasdone。Sheroseandputherhandonthelowceiling。Twotearsrandownhercheeks，asiftheycamefromicethatmeltedslowly。
　　Shewasnotreadytoleaveherlittleshell。Shewasbeingpulledouttoosoon。Shewouldneverbeabletothinkanywhereelseaswellashere。Shewouldneversleepsowellorhavesuchdreamsinanyotherbed；evenlastnight，suchsweet，breathlessdreams——Theahidherfaceinthepillow。Wherevershewentshewouldliketotakethatlittle
　　bedwithher。Whenshewentawayfromitforgood，shewouldleavesomethingthatshecouldneverrecover；mem—
　　oriesofpleasantexcitement，ofhappyadventuresinhermind；ofwarmsleeponhowlingwinternights，andjoyousawakeningsonsummermornings。Therewerecertaindreamsthatmightrefusetocometoheratallexceptinalittlemorningcave，facingthesun——wheretheycametohersopowerfully，wheretheybeatatriumphinher！
　　Theroomwashotasanoven。Thesunwasbeatingfiercelyontheshinglesbehindtheboardceiling。Sheun—
　　dressed，andbeforeshethrewherselfuponherbedinherchemise，shefrownedatherselfforalongwhileinherlook—
　　ing—glass。Yes，sheandItmustfightitouttogether。Thethingthatlookedatheroutofherowneyeswastheonlyfriendshecouldcounton。Oh，shewouldmakethesepeoplesorryenough！Therewouldcomeatimewhentheywouldwanttomakeitupwithher。But，neveragain！Shehadnolittlevanities，onlyonebigone，andshewouldneverforgive。
　　Hermotherwasallright，buthermotherwasapartofthefamily，andshewasnot。Inthenatureofthings，hermotherhadtobeonbothsides。Theafeltthatshehadbeenbetrayed。Atrucehadbeenbrokenbehindherback。
　　ShehadneverhadmuchindividualaffectionforanyofherbrothersexceptThor，butshehadneverbeendisloyal，neverfeltscornorheldgrudges。AsalittlegirlshehadalwaysbeengoodfriendswithGunnerandAxel，whenevershehadtimetoplay。Evenbeforeshegotherownroom，whentheywereallsleepinganddressingtogether，likelittlecubs，andbreakfastinginthekitchen，shehadledanabsorbingpersonallifeofherown。Butshehadacubloyaltytotheothercubs。Shethoughtthemniceboysandtriedtomakethemgettheirlessons。Sheoncefoughtabullywho"pickedon"Axelatschool。ShenevermadefunofAnna’scrimpingsandcurlingsandbeauty—rites。
　　Theahadalwaystakenitforgrantedthathersisterand
　　brothersrecognizedthatshehadspecialabilities，andthattheywereproudofit。Shehaddonethemthehonor，shetoldherselfbitterly，tobelievethatthoughtheyhadnoparticularendowments，THEYWEREOFHERKIND，andnotoftheMoonstonekind。Nowtheyhadallgrownupandbe—
　　comepersons。Theyfacedeachotherasindividuals，andshesawthatAnnaandGusandCharleywereamongthepeoplewhomshehadalwaysrecognizedashernaturalenemies。Theirambitionsandsacredproprietiesweremeaninglesstoher。ShehadneglectedtocongratulateCharleyuponhavingbeenpromotedfromthegroceryde—
　　partmentofCommings’sstoretothedrygoodsdepart—
　　ment。Hermotherhadreprovedherforthisomission。Andhowwasshetoknow，Theaaskedherself，thatAnnaex—
　　pectedtobeteasedbecauseBertRicenowcameandsatinthehammockwithhereverynight？No，itwasallclearenough。Nothingthatshewouldeverdointheworldwouldseemimportanttothem，andnothingtheywouldeverdowouldseemimportanttoher。
　　Thealaythinkingintentlyallthroughthestiflingafter—
　　noon。Tilliewhisperedsomethingoutsideherdooronce，butshedidnotanswer。Shelayonherbeduntilthesecondchurchbellrang，andshesawthefamilygotroopingupthesidewalkontheoppositesideofthestreet，Annaandherfatherinthelead。Annaseemedtohavetakenonaverystory—bookattitudetowardherfather；pat—
　　ronizingandcondescending，itseemedtoThea。Theolderboyswerenotinthefamilyband。Theynowtooktheirgirlstochurch。Tilliehadstayedathometogetsupper。
　　Theagotup，washedherhotfaceandarms，andputonthewhiteorgandiedressshehadwornlastnight；itwasgettingtoosmallforher，andshemightaswellwearitout。
　　Aftershewasdressedsheunlockedherdoorandwentcau—
　　tiouslydownstairs。Shefeltasifchillinghostilitiesmightbeawaitingherinthetrunkloft，onthestairway，almostanywhere。Inthedining—roomshefoundTillie，sittingby
　　theopenwindow，readingthedramaticnewsinaDenverSundaypaper。Tilliekeptascrapbookinwhichshepastedclippingsaboutactorsandactresses。
　　"ComelookatthispictureofPaulineHallintights，Thea，"shecalled。"Ain’tshecute？It’stoobadyoudidn’tgotothetheatermorewhenyouwasinChicago；
　　suchagoodchance！Didn’tyouevengettoseeClaraMorrisorModjeska？"
　　"No；Ididn’thavetime。Besides，itcostsmoney，Tillie，"Thearepliedwearily，glancingatthepaperTillieheldouttoher。
　　Tillielookedupatherniece。"Don’tyougoandbeupsetaboutanyofAnna’snotions。She’soneofthesenarrowkind。Yourfatherandmotherdon’tpayanyatten—
　　tiontowhatshesays。Anna’sfussy；sheiswithme，butIdon’tmindher。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tmindher。That’sallright，Tillie。IguessI’lltakeawalk。"
　　TheaknewthatTilliehopedshewouldstayandtalktoherforawhile，andshewouldhavelikedtopleaseher。
　　Butinahouseassmallasthatone，everythingwastoointimateandmixeduptogether。Thefamilywasthefamily，anintegralthing。Onecouldn’tdiscussAnnathere。
　　Shefeltdifferentlytowardthehouseandeverythinginit，asifthebatteredoldfurniturethatseemedsokindly，andtheoldcarpetsonwhichshehadplayed，hadbeennour—
　　ishingasecretgrudgeagainstherandwerenottobetrustedanymore。
　　Shewentaimlesslyoutofthefrontgate，notknow—
　　ingwhattodowithherself。MexicanTown，somehow，wasspoiledforherjustthen，andshefeltthatshewouldhideifshesawSilvoorFelipecomingtowardher。Shewalkeddownthroughtheemptymainstreet。Allthestoreswereclosed，theirblindsdown。Onthestepsofthebanksomeidleboysweresitting，tellingdisgustingstoriesbecausetherewasnothingelsetodo。Severalofthemhadgone
　　toschoolwithThea，butwhenshenoddedtothemtheyhungtheirheadsanddidnotspeak。Thea’sbodywasoftencuriouslyexpressiveofwhatwasgoingoninhermind，andto—nighttherewassomethinginherwalkandcarriagethatmadetheseboysfeelthatshewas"stuckup。"Ifshehadstoppedandtalkedtothem，theywouldhavethawedoutontheinstantandwouldhavebeenfriendlyandgrateful。ButTheawashurtafresh，andwalkedon，holdingherchinhigherthanever。AsshepassedtheDukeBlock，shesawalightinDr。Archie’soffice，andshewentupthestairsandopenedthedoorintohisstudy。Shefoundhimwithapileofpapersandaccount—
　　booksbeforehim。Hepointedhertoheroldchairattheendofhisdeskandleanedbackinhisown，lookingatherwithsatisfaction。Howhandsomeshewasgrowing！
　　"I’mstillchasingtheelusivemetal，Thea，"——hepointedtothepapersbeforehim，——"I’muptomyneckinmines，andI’mgoingtobearichmansomeday。"
　　"Ihopeyouwill；awfullyrich。That’stheonlythingthatcounts。"Shelookedrestlesslyabouttheconsulting—
　　room。"Todoanyofthethingsonewantstodo，onehastohavelotsandlotsofmoney。"
　　Dr。Archiewasdirect。"What’sthematter？Doyouneedsome？"
　　Theashrugged。"Oh，Icangetalong，inalittleway。"
　　Shelookedintentlyoutofthewindowatthearcstreet—
　　lampthatwasjustbeginningtosputter。"Butit’ssillytoliveatallforlittlethings，"sheaddedquietly。"Living’stoomuchtroubleunlessonecangetsomethingbigoutofit。"
　　Dr。Archierestedhiselbowsonthearmsofhischair，droppedhischinonhisclaspedhandsandlookedather。
　　"Livingisnotroubleforlittlepeople，believeme！"heexclaimed。"Whatdoyouwanttogetoutofit？"
　　"Oh——somanythings！"Theashivered。
　　"Butwhat？Money？Youmentionedthat。Well，you
　　canmakemoney，ifyoucareaboutthatmorethanany—
　　thingelse。"Henoddedpropheticallyabovehisinterlacingfingers。
　　"ButIdon’t。That’sonlyonething。Anyhow，I
　　couldn’tifIdid。"Shepulledherdresslowerattheneckasifsheweresuffocating。"Ionlywantimpossiblethings，"
　　shesaidroughly。"Theothersdon’tinterestme。"
　　Dr。Archiewatchedhercontemplatively，asifshewereabeakerfullofchemicalsworking。Afewyearsago，whensheusedtositthere，thelightfromunderhisgreenlamp—
　　shadeusedtofallfulluponherbroadfaceandyellowpig—
　　tails。Nowherfacewasintheshadowandthelineoflightfellbelowherbarethroat，directlyacrossherbosom。Theshrunkenwhiteorgandieroseandfellasifshewerestrug—
　　glingtobefreeandtobreakoutofitaltogether。Hefeltthatherheartmustbelaboringheavilyinthere，buthewasafraidtotouchher；hewas，indeed。Hehadneverseenherlikethisbefore。Herhair，piledhighonherhead，gaveheracommandinglook，andhereyes，thatusedtobesoin—
　　quisitive，werestormy。
　　"Thea，"hesaidslowly，"Iwon’tsaythatyoucanhaveeverythingyouwant——thatmeanshavingnothing，inreality。Butifyoudecidewhatitisyouwantmost，YOU
　　CANGETIT。"Hiseyecaughthersforamoment。"Notevery—
　　bodycan，butyoucan。Only，ifyouwantabigthing，you’vegottohavenerveenoughtocutoutallthat’seasy，everythingthat’stobehadcheap。"Dr。Archiepaused。
　　Hepickedupapaper—cutterand，feelingtheedgeofitsoftlywithhisfingers，headdedslowly，asiftohimself：——
　　"Heeitherfearshisfatetoomuch，Orhisdesertsaresmall，WhodaresnotputittothetouchTowin……orloseitall。"
　　Thea’slipsparted；shelookedathimfromunderafrown，searchinghisface。"Doyoumeantobreakloose，too，and——dosomething？"sheaskedinalowvoice。
　　"Imeantogetrich，ifyoucallthatdoinganything。
　　I’vefoundwhatIcandowithout。Youmakesuchbar—
　　gainsinyourmind，first。"
　　Theasprangupandtookthepaper—cutterhehadputdown，twistingitinherhands。"Alongwhilefirst，some—
　　times，"shesaidwithashortlaugh。"Butsupposeonecannevergetoutwhatthey’vegotinthem？Supposetheymakeamessofitintheend；thenwhat？"Shethrewthepaper—cutteronthedeskandtookasteptowardthedoctor，untilherdresstouchedhim。Shestoodlookingdownathim。"Oh，it’seasytofail！"Shewasbreathingthroughhermouthandherthroatwasthrobbingwithexcitement。
　　Ashelookedupather，Dr。Archie’shandstightenedonthearmsofhischair。HehadthoughtheknewTheaKron—
　　borgprettywell，buthedidnotknowthegirlwhowasstandingthere。Shewasbeautiful，ashislittleSwedehadneverbeen，butshefrightenedhim。Herpalecheeks，herpartedlips，herflashingeyes，seemedsuddenlytomeanonething——hedidnotknowwhat。Alightseemedtobreakuponherfromfaraway——orperhapsfromfarwithin。Sheseemedtogrowtaller，likeascarfdrawnoutlong；lookedasifshewerepursuedandfleeing，and——yes，shelookedtormented。"It’seasytofail，"heheardhersayagain，"andifIfail，you’dbetterforgetaboutme，forI’llbeoneoftheworstwomenthateverlived。I’llbeanawfulwoman！"
　　Intheshadowylightabovethelampshadehecaughtherglanceagainandhelditforamoment。Wildashereyeswere，thatyellowgleamatthebackofthemwasashardasadiamonddrill—point。Herosewithanervouslaughanddroppedhishandlightlyonhershoulder。"No，youwon’t。You’llbeasplendidone！"
　　Sheshookhimoffbeforehecouldsayanythingmore，andwentoutofhisdoorwithakindofbound。Sheleftsoquicklyandsolightlythathecouldnotevenhearherfoot—
　　stepinthehallwayoutside。Archiedroppedbackintohischairandsatmotionlessforalongwhile。
　　Soitwent；onelovedaquaintlittlegirl，cheerful，in—
　　dustrious，alwaysontherunandhustlingthroughhertasks；andsuddenlyonelosther。Hehadthoughtheknewthatchildlikethegloveonhishand。Butaboutthistallgirlwhothrewupherheadandglitteredlikethatallover，heknewnothing。Shewasgoadedbydesires，ambitions，revulsionsthatweredarktohim。Onethingheknew：theoldhighroadoflife，wornsafeandeasy，huggingthesunnyslopes，wouldscarcelyholdheragain。
　　AfterthatnightTheacouldhaveaskedprettymuchanythingofhim。Hecouldhaverefusedhernothing。
　　Yearsagoacraftylittlebunchofhairandsmileshadshownhimwhatshewanted，andhehadpromptlymarriedher。
　　To—nightaverydifferentsortofgirl——drivenwildbydoubtsandyouth，bypovertyandriches——hadlethimseethefiercenessofhernature。Shewentoutstilldis—
　　traught，notknowingorcaringwhatshehadshownhim。
　　ButtoArchieknowledgeofthatsortwasobligation。Oh，hewasthesameoldHowardArchie！
　　ThatSundayinJulywastheturning—point；Thea’speaceofminddidnotcomeback。Shefoundithardeventopracticeathome。Therewassomethingintheairtherethatfrozeherthroat。Inthemorning，shewalkedasfarasshecouldwalk。Inthehotafternoonsshelayonherbedinhernightgown，planningfiercely。Shehauntedthepost—office。Shemusthavewornapathinthesidewalkthatledtothepost—office，thatsummer。Shewastherethemomentthemail—sackscameupfromthedepot，morningandevening，andwhiletheletterswerebeingsortedanddistributedshepacedupanddownoutside，underthecottonwoodtrees，listeningtothethump，thump，thumpofMr。Thompson’sstamp。ShehunguponanysortofwordfromChicago；acardfromBowers，aletterfromMrs。Harsanyi，fromMr。Larsen，fromherlandlady，——anythingtoreassureherthatChicagowas
　　stillthere。ShebegantofeelthesamerestlessnessthathadtorturedherthelastspringwhenshewasteachinginMoonstone。Supposeshenevergotawayagain，afterall？
　　Supposeonebrokealegandhadtolieinbedathomeforweeks，orhadpneumoniaanddiedthere。Thedesertwassobigandthirsty；ifone’sfootslipped，itcoulddrinkoneuplikeadropofwater。
　　Thistime，whenThealeftMoonstonetogobacktoChicago，shewentalone。Asthetrainpulledout，shelookedbackathermotherandfatherandThor。Theywerecalmandcheerful；theydidnotknow，theydidnotun—
　　derstand。Somethingpulledinher——andbroke。ShecriedallthewaytoDenver，andthatnight，inherberth，shekeptsobbingandwakingherself。Butwhenthesunroseinthemorning，shewasfaraway。Itwasallbehindher，andsheknewthatshewouldnevercrylikethatagain。
　　Peoplelivethroughsuchpainonlyonce；paincomesagain，butitfindsatoughersurface。Thearememberedhowshehadgoneawaythefirsttime，withwhatconfidenceineverything，andwhatpitifulignorance。Suchasilly！Shefeltresentfultowardthatstupid，good—naturedchild。Howmucholdershewasnow，andhowmuchharder！Shewasgoingawaytofight，andshewasgoingawayforever。
　　EndofPartII