PARTIII
　　STUPIDFACES
　　I
　　Somanygrinning，stupidfaces！TheawassittingbythewindowinBowers’sstudio，waitingforhimtocomebackfromlunch。Onherkneewasthelatestnumberofanillustratedmusicaljournalinwhichmusiciansgreatandlittlestridentlyadvertisedtheirwares。Everyafternoonsheplayedaccompanimentsforpeoplewholookedandsmiledlikethese。Shewasgettingtiredofthehumancountenance。
　　TheahadbeeninChicagofortwomonths。Shehadasmallchurchpositionwhichpartlypaidherlivingex—
　　penses，andshepaidforhersinginglessonsbyplayingBowers’saccompanimentseveryafternoonfromtwountilsix。ShehadbeencompelledtoleaveheroldfriendsMrs。
　　LorchandMrs。Andersen，becausethelongridefromNorthChicagotoBowers’sstudioonMichiganAvenuetooktoomuchtime——anhourinthemorning，andatnight，whenthecarswerecrowded，anhourandahalf。Forthefirstmonthshehadclungtoheroldroom，butthebadairinthecars，attheendofalongday’swork，fatiguedhergreatlyandwasbadforhervoice。SincesheleftMrs。
　　Lorch，shehadbeenstayingatastudents’clubtowhichshewasintroducedbyMissAdler，Bowers’smorningac—
　　companist，anintelligentJewishgirlfromEvanston。
　　TheatookherlessonfromBowerseverydayfromeleven—thirtyuntiltwelve。ThenshewentouttolunchwithanItaliangrammarunderherarm，andcamebacktothestudiotobeginherworkattwo。Intheafternoon
　　Bowerscoachedprofessionalsandtaughthisadvancedpupils。ItwashistheorythatTheaoughttobeabletolearnagreatdealbykeepingherearsopenwhilesheplayedforhim。
　　Theconcert—goingpublicofChicagostillremembersthelong，sallow，discontentedfaceofMadisonBowers。Heseldommissedaneveningconcert，andwasusuallytobeseenloungingsomewhereatthebackoftheconcerthall，readinganewspaperorreview，andconspicuouslyignoringtheeffortsoftheperformers。Attheendofanumberhelookedupfromhispaperlongenoughtosweeptheap—
　　plaudingaudiencewithacontemptuouseye。Hisfacewasintelligent，withanarrowlowerjaw，athinnose，fadedgrayeyes，andaclose—cutbrownmustache。Hishairwasiron—gray，thinanddead—looking。Hewenttoconcertschieflytosatisfyhimselfastohowbadlythingsweredoneandhowgulliblethepublicwas。Hehatedthewholeraceofartists；theworktheydid，thewagestheygot，andthewaytheyspenttheirmoney。Hisfather，oldHiramBowers，wasstillaliveandatwork，agenialoldchoirmasterinBos—
　　ton，fullofenthusiasmatseventy。ButMadisonwasofthecolderstuffofhisgrandfathers，alonglineofNewHamp—
　　shirefarmers；hardworkers，closetraders，withgoodminds，meannatures，andflintyeyes。AsaboyMadisonhadafinebarytonevoice，andhisfathermadegreatsacrificesforhim，sendinghimtoGermanyatanearlyageandkeep—
　　inghimabroadathisstudiesforyears。Madisonworkedunderthebestteachers，andafterwardsanginEnglandinoratorio。Hiscoldnatureandacademicmethodswereagainsthim。Hisaudienceswerealwaysawareofthecontempthefeltforthem。Adozenpoorersingerssuc—
　　ceeded，butBowersdidnot。
　　Bowershadallthequalitieswhichgotomakeagoodteacher——exceptgenerosityandwarmth。Hisintelligencewasofahighorder，histasteneveratfault。Heseldomworkedwithavoicewithoutimprovingit，andinteach—
　　ingthedeliveryoforatoriohewaswithoutarival。Sing—
　　erscamefromfarandneartostudyBachandHandelwithhim。EventhefashionablesopranosandcontraltosofChicago，St。Paul，andSt。Louis（theywereusuallyladieswithveryrichhusbands，andBowerscalledthemthe"pamperedjadesofAsia"）humblyenduredhissardonichumorforthesakeofwhathecoulddoforthem。Hewasnotatallabovehelpingaverylamesingeracross，ifherhusband’scheck—bookwarrantedit。Hehadawholebagoftricksforstupidpeople，"life—preservers，"hecalledthem。"Cheaprepairsforacheap’un，"heusedtosay，butthehusbandsneverfoundtherepairsverycheap。
　　Thosewerethedayswhenlumbermen’sdaughtersandbrewers’wivescontendedinsong；studiedinGermanyandthenfloatedfromSANGERFESTtoSANGERFEST。Choralso—
　　cietiesflourishedinalltherichlakecitiesandrivercities。
　　ThesoloistscametoChicagotocoachwithBowers，andheoftentooklongjourneystohearandinstructachorus。
　　Hewasintenselyavaricious，andfromthesesemi—profes—
　　sionalshereapedagoldenharvest。Theyfedhispocketsandtheyfedhisever—hungrycontempt，hisscornofhim—
　　selfandhisaccomplices。Themoremoneyhemade，themoreparsimonioushebecame。Hiswifewassoshabbythatsheneverwentanywherewithhim，whichsuitedhimexactly。Becausehisclientswereluxuriousandextrava—
　　gant，hetookarevengefulpleasureinhavinghisshoeshalf—
　　soledasecondtime，andingettingthelastwearoutofabrokencollar。HehadfirstbeeninterestedinTheaKron—
　　borgbecauseofherbluntness，hercountryroughness，andhermanifestcarefulnessaboutmoney。ThementionofHarsanyi’snamealwaysmadehimpullawryface。ForthefirsttimeTheahadafriendwho，inhisowncoolandguardedway，likedherforwhateverwasleastadmirableinher。
　　Theawasstilllookingatthemusicalpaper，hergrammarunopenedonthewindow—sill，whenBowerssaunteredin
　　alittlebeforetwoo’clock。Hewassmokingacheapcigar—
　　etteandworethesamesoftfelthathehadwornalllastwinter。Henevercarriedacaneorworegloves。
　　Theafollowedhimfromthereception—roomintothestudio。"Imaycutmylessonoutto—morrow，Mr。Bowers。
　　Ihavetohuntanewboarding—place。"
　　Bowerslookeduplanguidlyfromhisdeskwherehehadbeguntogooverapileofletters。"What’sthematterwiththeStudioClub？Beenfightingwiththemagain？"
　　"TheClub’sallrightforpeoplewholiketolivethatway。Idon’t。"
　　Bowersliftedhiseyebrows。"Whysotempery？"heaskedashedrewacheckfromanenvelopepostmarked"Minneapolis。"
　　"Ican’tworkwithalotofgirlsaround。They’retoofamiliar。Inevercouldgetalongwithgirlsofmyownage。It’salltoochummy。Getsonmynerves。I
　　didn’tcomeheretoplaykindergartengames。"Theabeganenergeticallytoarrangethescatteredmusiconthepiano。
　　Bowersgrimacedgood—humoredlyatheroverthethreecheckshewaspinningtogether。Helikedtoplayataroughgameofbanterwithher。Heflatteredhimselfthathehadmadeherharsherthanshewaswhenshefirstcametohim；thathehadgotoffalittleofthesugar—coatingHarsanyialwaysputonhispupils。
　　"Theartofmakingyourselfagreeablenevercomesamiss，MissKronborg。Ishouldsayyouratherneedalittlepracticealongthatline。Whenyoucometomarket—
　　ingyourwaresintheworld，alittlesmoothnessgoesfartherthanagreatdealoftalentsometimes。Ifyouhap—
　　pentobecursedwitharealtalent，thenyou’vegottobeverysmoothindeed，oryou’llnevergetyourmoneyback。"
　　Bowerssnappedtheelasticbandaroundhisbank—book。
　　Theagavehimasharp，recognizingglance。"Well，that’sthemoneyI’llhavetogowithout，"shereplied。
　　"Justwhatdoyoumean？"
　　"Imeanthemoneypeoplehavetogrinfor。Iusedtoknowarailroadmanwhosaidtherewasmoneyineveryprofessionthatyoucouldn’ttake。He’dtriedagoodmanyjobs，"Theaaddedmusingly；"perhapshewastooparticularaboutthekindhecouldtake，forheneverpickedupmuch。Hewasproud，butIlikedhimforthat。"
　　Bowersroseandclosedhisdesk。"Mrs。Priestislateagain。Bytheway，MissKronborg，remembernottofrownwhenyouareplayingforMrs。Priest。Youdidnotre—
　　memberyesterday。"
　　"Youmeanwhenshehitsatonewithherbreathlikethat？Whydoyoulether？Youwouldn’tletme。"
　　"Icertainlywouldnot。ButthatisamannerismofMrs。Priest’s。Thepubliclikeit，andtheypayagreatdealofmoneyforthepleasureofhearingherdoit。Theresheis。Remember！"
　　Bowersopenedthedoorofthereception—roomandatall，imposingwomanrustledin，bringingwithheraglowofanimationwhichpervadedtheroomasifhalfadozenpersons，alltalkinggayly，hadcomeininsteadofone。Shewaslarge，handsome，expansive，uncontrolled；onefeltthisthemomentshecrossedthethreshold。Sheshonewithcareandcleanliness，maturevigor，unchallengedauthority，graciousgood—humor，andabsoluteconfidenceinherper—
　　son，herpowers，herposition，andherwayoflife；aglowing，overwhelmingself—satisfaction，onlytobefoundwherehumansocietyisyoungandstrongandwithoutyesterdays。
　　Herfacehadakindofheavy，thoughtlessbeauty，likeapinkpeonyjustatthepointofbeginningtofade。Herbrownhairwaswavedinfrontanddoneupbehindinagreattwist，heldbyatortoiseshellcombwithgoldfili—
　　gree。Sheworeabeautifullittlegreenhatwiththreelonggreenfeathersstickingstraightupinfront，alittlecapemadeofvelvetandfurwithayellowsatinroseonit。Hergloves，hershoes，herveil，somehowmadethemselvesfelt。
　　Shegavetheimpressionofwearingacargoofsplendidmerchandise。
　　Mrs。PriestnoddedgraciouslytoThea，coquettishlytoBowers，andaskedhimtountieherveilforher。Shethrewhersplendidwraponachair，theyellowliningout。
　　Theawasalreadyatthepiano。Mrs。Prieststoodbehindher。
　　"`RejoiceGreatly’first，please。Andpleasedon’thurryitinthere，"sheputherarmoverThea’sshoulder，andindicatedthepassagebyasweepofherwhiteglove。Shethrewoutherchest，claspedherhandsoverherabdomen，liftedherchin，workedthemusclesofhercheeksbackandforthforamoment，andthenbeganwithconviction，"Re—jo—oice！Re—jo—oice！"
　　Bowerspacedtheroomwithhiscatliketread。WhenhecheckedMrs。Priest’svehemenceatall，hehandledherroughly；pokedandhammeredhermassivepersonwithcoldsatisfaction，almostasifheweretakingoutagrudgeonthissplendidcreation。Suchtreatmenttheimposingladydidnotatallresent。Shetriedharderandharder，hereyesgrowingallthewhilemorelustrousandherlipsredder。
　　Theaplayedonasshewastold，ignoringthesinger’sstruggles。
　　WhenshefirstheardMrs。Priestsinginchurch，Theaadmiredher。Sinceshehadfoundouthowdullthegood—
　　naturedsopranoreallywas，shefeltadeepcontemptforher。ShefeltthatMrs。Priestoughttobereprovedandevenpunishedforhershortcomings；thatsheoughttobeexposed，——atleasttoherself，——andnotbepermittedtoliveandshineinhappyignoranceofwhatapoorthingitwasshebroughtacrosssoradiantly。Thea’scoldlooksofreproofwerelostuponMrs。Priest；althoughtheladydidmurmuronedaywhenshetookBowershomeinhercarriage，"Howhandsomeyourafternoongirlwouldbeifshedidnothavethatunfortunatesquint；itgivesherthatvacantSwedelook，likeananimal。"Thatamused
　　Bowers。Helikedtowatchthegerminationandgrowthofantipathies。
　　OneofthefirstdisappointmentsTheahadtofacewhenshereturnedtoChicagothatfall，wasthenewsthattheHarsanyiswerenotcomingback。TheyhadspentthesummerinacampintheAdirondacksandweremovingtoNewYork。AnoldteacherandfriendofHarsanyi’s，oneofthebest—knownpianoteachersinNewYork，wasabouttoretirebecauseoffailinghealthandhadarrangedtoturnhispupilsovertoHarsanyi。AndorwastogivetworecitalsinNewYorkinNovember，todevotehim—
　　selftohisnewstudentsuntilspring，andthentogoonashortconcerttour。TheHarsanyishadtakenafurnishedapartmentinNewYork，astheywouldnotattempttosettleaplaceoftheirownuntilAndor’srecitalswereover。
　　ThefirstofDecember，however，TheareceivedanotefromMrs。Harsanyi，askinghertocallattheoldstudio，whereshewaspackingtheirgoodsforshipment。
　　Themorningafterthisinvitationreachedher，Theaclimbedthestairsandknockedatthefamiliardoor。Mrs。
　　Harsanyiherselfopenedit，andembracedhervisitorwarmly。TakingTheaintothestudio，whichwaslitteredwithexcelsiorandpacking—cases，shestoodholdingherhandandlookingatherinthestronglightfromthebigwindowbeforesheallowedhertositdown。Herquickeyesawmanychanges。Thegirlwastaller，herfigurehadbe—
　　comedefinite，hercarriagepositive。Shehadgotusedtolivinginthebodyofayoungwoman，andshenolongertriedtoignoreitandbehaveasifshewerealittlegirl。
　　Withthatincreasedindependenceofbodytherehadcomeachangeinherface；anindifference，somethinghardandskeptical。Herclothes，too，weredifferent，liketheattireofashopgirlwhotriestofollowthefashions；apurplesuit，apieceofcheapfur，athree—corneredpurplehatwithapomponstickingupinfront。Thequeercountryclothes
　　sheusedtowearsuitedhermuchbetter，Mrs。Harsanyithought。Butsuchtrifles，afterall，wereaccidentalandremediable。Sheputherhandonthegirl’sstrongshoulder。
　　"Howmuchthesummerhasdoneforyou！Yes，youareayoungladyatlast。Andorwillbesogladtohearaboutyou。"
　　Thealookedaboutatthedisorderofthefamiliarroom。
　　Thepictureswerepiledinacorner，thepianoandtheCHAISELONGUEweregone。"IsupposeIoughttobegladyouhavegoneaway，"shesaid，"butI’mnot。It’safinethingforMr。Harsanyi，Isuppose。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyigaveheraquickglancethatsaidmorethanwords。"IfyouknewhowlongIhavewantedtogethimawayfromhere，MissKronborg！Heisnevertired，neverdiscouraged，now。"
　　Theasighed。"I’mgladforthat，then。"Hereyestraveledoverthefaintdiscolorationsonthewallswherethepictureshadhung。"Imayrunawaymyself。Idon’tknowwhetherIcanstanditherewithoutyou。"
　　"WehopethatyoucancometoNewYorktostudybeforeverylong。Wehavethoughtofthat。AndyoumusttellmehowyouaregettingonwithBowers。Andorwillwanttoknowallaboutit。"
　　"IguessIgetonmoreorless。ButIdon’tlikemyworkverywell。ItneverseemsseriousasmyworkwithMr。
　　Harsanyidid。IplayBowers’saccompanimentsintheafternoons，youknow。IthoughtIwouldlearnagooddealfromthepeoplewhoworkwithhim，butIdon’tthinkIgetmuch。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyilookedatherinquiringly。Theatookoutacarefullyfoldedhandkerchieffromthebosomofherdressandbegantodrawthecornersapart。"Singingdoesn’tseemtobeaverybrainyprofession，Mrs。Har—
　　sanyi，"shesaidslowly。"ThepeopleIseenowarenotabitliketheonesIusedtomeethere。Mr。Harsanyi’spupils，eventhedumbones，hadmore——well，moreof
　　everything，itseemstome。ThepeopleIhavetoplayaccompanimentsforarediscouraging。Theprofessionals，likeKatharinePriestandMilesMurdstone，areworstofall。IfIhavetoplay`TheMessiah’muchlongerforMrs。
　　Priest，I’llgooutofmymind！"Theabroughtherfootdownsharplyonthebarefloor。
　　Mrs。Harsanyilookeddownatthefootinperplexity。
　　"Youmustn’twearsuchhighheels，mydear。Theywillspoilyourwalkandmakeyoumincealong。Can’tyouatleastlearntoavoidwhatyoudislikeinthesesingers？I
　　wasneverabletocareforMrs。Priest’ssinging。"
　　Theawassittingwithherchinlowered。Withoutmov—
　　ingherheadshelookedupatMrs。Harsanyiandsmiled；
　　asmilemuchtoocoldanddesperatetobeseenonayoungface，Mrs。Harsanyifelt。"Mrs。Harsanyi，itseemstomethatwhatIlearnisjustTODISLIKE。Idislikesomuchandsohardthatittiresmeout。I’vegotnoheartforany—
　　thing。"Shethrewupherheadsuddenlyandsatindefi—
　　ance，herhandclenchedonthearmofthechair。"Mr。
　　Harsanyicouldn’tstandthesepeopleanhour，Iknowhecouldn’t。He’dputthemrightoutofthewindowthere，frizzesandfeathersandall。Now，takethatnewsopranothey’reallmakingsuchafussabout，JessieDarcey。She’sgoingontourwithasymphonyorchestraandshe’swork—
　　ingupherrepertorywithBowers。She’ssingingsomeSchumannsongsMr。Harsanyiusedtogooverwithme。
　　Well，Idon’tknowwhatheWOULDdoifheheardher。"
　　"Butifyourownworkgoeswell，andyouknowthesepeoplearewrong，whydoyouletthemdiscourageyou？"
　　Theashookherhead。"That’sjustwhatIdon’tunder—
　　standmyself。Only，afterI’veheardthemallafternoon，I
　　comeoutfrozenup。Somehowittakestheshineoffofeverything。PeoplewantJessieDarceyandthekindofthingshedoes；sowhat’stheuse？"
　　Mrs。Harsanyismiled。"Thatstileyoumustsimplyvaultover。Youmustnotbegintofretaboutthesuc—
　　cessesofcheappeople。Afterall，whathavetheytodowithyou？"
　　"Well，ifIhadsomebodylikeMr。Harsanyi，perhapsI
　　wouldn’tfretaboutthem。Hewastheteacherforme。
　　Pleasetellhimso。"
　　ThearoseandMrs。Harsanyitookherhandagain。"I
　　amsorryyouhavetogothroughthistimeofdiscourage—
　　ment。IwishAndorcouldtalktoyou，hewouldunder—
　　standitsowell。ButIfeellikeurgingyoutokeepclearofMrs。PriestandJessieDarceyandalltheirworks。"
　　Thealaugheddiscordantly。"Nouseurgingme。Idon’tgetonwiththemATALL。Myspinegetslikeasteelrailwhentheycomenearme。Ilikedthematfirst，youknow。Theirclothesandtheirmannersweresofine，andMrs。PriestIS
　　handsome。ButnowIkeepwantingtotellthemhowstupidtheyare。Seemsliketheyoughttobeinformed，don’tyouthinkso？"TherewasaflashoftheshrewdgrinthatMrs。Harsanyiremembered。Theapressedherhand。
　　"Imustgonow。Ihadtogivemylessonhourthismorn—
　　ingtoaDuluthwomanwhohascomeontocoach，andI
　　mustgoandplay`OnMightyPens’forher。PleasetellMr。HarsanyithatIthinkoratorioisagreatchanceforbluffers。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyidetainedher。"Buthewillwanttoknowmuchmorethanthataboutyou。Youarefreeatseven？
　　Comebackthisevening，then，andwewillgotodinnersomewhere，tosomecheerfulplace。Ithinkyouneedaparty。"
　　Theabrightened。"Oh，Ido！I’lllovetocome；thatwillbelikeoldtimes。Yousee，"shelingeredamoment，soft—
　　ening，"Iwouldn’tmindiftherewereonlyONEofthemI
　　couldreallyadmire。"
　　"HowaboutBowers？"Mrs。Harsanyiaskedastheywereapproachingthestairway。
　　"Well，there’snothingheloveslikeagoodfakir，andnothinghehateslikeagoodartist。Ialwaysremember
　　somethingMr。Harsanyisaidabouthim。HesaidBowerswasthecoldmuffinthathadbeenleftontheplate。"
　　Mrs。Harsanyistoppedshortattheheadofthestairsandsaiddecidedly："IthinkAndormadeamistake。I
　　can’tbelievethatistherightatmosphereforyou。Itwouldhurtyoumorethanmostpeople。It’sallwrong。"
　　"Something’swrong，"Theacalledbackassheclattereddownthestairsinherhighheels。
　　II
　　DURINGthatwinterThealivedinsomanyplacesthatsometimesatnightwhensheleftBowers’sstudioandemergedintothestreetshehadtostopandthinkforamomenttorememberwhereshewaslivingnowandwhatwasthebestwaytogetthere。
　　Whenshemovedintoanewplacehereyeschallengedthebeds，thecarpets，thefood，themistressofthehouse。Theboarding—houseswerewretchedlyconductedandThea’scomplaintssometimestookaninsultingform。
　　Shequarreledwithonelandladyafteranotherandmovedon。Whenshemovedintoanewroom，shewasalmostsuretohateitonsightandtobeginplanningtohuntanotherplacebeforesheunpackedhertrunk。Shewasmoodyandcontemptuoustowardherfellowboarders，excepttowardtheyoungmen，whomshetreatedwithacarelessfamiliaritywhichtheyusuallymisunderstood。
　　Theylikedher，however，andwhensheleftthehouseafterastorm，theyhelpedhertomoveherthingsandcametoseeheraftershegotsettledinanewplace。Butshemovedsooftenthattheysoonceasedtofollowher。Theycouldseenoreasonforkeepingupwithagirlwho，underherjocularity，wascold，self—centered，andunimpression—
　　able。Theysoonfeltthatshedidnotadmirethem。
　　Theausedtowakenupinthenightandwonderwhyshewassounhappy。ShewouldhavebeenamazedifshehadknownhowmuchthepeoplewhomshemetinBowers’sstudiohadtodowithherlowspirits。Shehadneverbeenconsciousofthoseinstinctivestandardswhicharecalledideals，andshedidnotknowthatshewassufferingforthem。Sheoftenfoundherselfsneeringwhenshewasonastreet—car，orwhenshewasbrushingoutherhairbefore
　　hermirror，assomeinaneremarkortoofamiliarmanner—
　　ismflittedacrosshermind。
　　Shefeltnocreaturekindness，notolerantgood—willforMrs。PriestorJessieDarcey。AfteroneofJessieDar—
　　cey’sconcertstheglowingpressnotices，andtheadmiringcommentsthatfloatedaboutBowers’sstudio，causedTheabitterunhappiness。Itwasnotthetormentofper—
　　sonaljealousy。ShehadneverthoughtofherselfasevenapossiblerivalofMissDarcey。Shewasapoormusicstudent，andJessieDarceywasapopularandpettedprofessional。Mrs。Priest，whateveroneheldagainsther，hadafine，big，showyvoiceandanimpressivepresence。
　　Shereadindifferently，wasinaccurate，andwasalwaysputtingotherpeoplewrong，butsheatleasthadthematerialoutofwhichsingerscanbemade。ButpeopleseemedtolikeJessieDarceyexactlybecauseshecouldnotsing；because，astheyputit，shewas"sonaturalandunprofessional。"Hersingingwaspronounced"artless，"
　　hervoice"birdlike。"MissDarceywasthinandawkwardinperson，withasharp，sallowface。Theanoticedthatherplainnesswasaccountedtohercredit，andthatpeoplespokeofitaffectionately。MissDarceywassing—
　　ingeverywherejustthen；onecouldnothelphearingabouther。Shewasbackedbysomeofthepacking—housepeopleandbytheChicagoNorthwesternRailroad。Onlyonecriticraisedhisvoiceagainsther。TheawenttoseveralofJessieDarcey’sconcerts。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadhadanopportunitytoobservethewhimsofthepublicwhichsingerslivebyinteresting。ShesawthatpeoplelikedinMissDarceyeveryqualityasingeroughtnottohave，andespeciallythenervouscomplacencythatstampedherasacommonplaceyoungwoman。TheyseemedtohaveawarmerfeelingforJessiethanforMrs。
　　Priest，anaffectionateandcherishingregard。ChicagowasnotsoverydifferentfromMoonstone，afterall，andJessieDarceywasonlyLilyFisherunderanothername。
　　TheaparticularlyhatedtoaccompanyforMissDarceybecauseshesangoffpitchanddidn’tminditintheleast。
　　Itwasexcruciatingtosittheredayafterdayandhearher；
　　therewassomethingshamelessandindecentaboutnotsingingtrue。
　　OnemorningMissDarceycamebyappointmenttogoovertheprogrammeforherPeoriaconcert。Shewassuchafrail—lookinggirlthatTheaoughttohavefeltsorryforher。True，shehadanarch，sprightlylittlemanner，andaflashofsalmon—pinkoneitherbrowncheek。Butanar—
　　rowupperjawgaveherfaceapinchedlook，andhereye—
　　lidswereheavyandrelaxed。Bythemorninglight，thepurplishbrowncirclesunderhereyeswerepatheticenough，andforetoldnolongorbrilliantfuture。Asingerwithapoordigestionandlowvitality；sheneedednoseertocastherhoroscope。IfTheahadevertakenthepainstostudyher，shewouldhaveseenthat，underallhersmilesandarchness，poorMissDarceywasreallyfrightenedtodeath。
　　ShecouldnotunderstandhersuccessanymorethanTheacould；shekeptcatchingherbreathandliftinghereye—
　　browsandtryingtobelievethatitwastrue。Herloqua—
　　citywasnotnatural，sheforcedherselftoit，andwhensheconfidedtoyouhowmanydefectsshecouldovercomebyherunusualcommandofheadresonance，shewasnotsomuchtryingtopersuadeyouastopersuadeherself。
　　Whenshetookanotethatwashighforher，MissDarceyalwaysputherrighthandoutintotheair，asifshewereindicatingheight，orgivinganexactmeasurement。Someearlyteacherhadtoldherthatshecould"place"atonemoresurelybythehelpofsuchagesture，andshefirmlybelievedthatitwasofgreatassistancetoher。（Evenwhenshewassinginginpublic，shekeptherrighthanddownwithdifficulty，nervouslyclaspingherwhitekidfingerstogetherwhenshetookahighnote。Theacouldalwaysseeherelbowsstiffen。）Sheunvaryinglyexecutedthisgesturewithasmileofgraciousconfidence，asifshewere