Nobodyis。"Herepeatedtheloveliestphrase。"Howdoesshemanageit，Landry？You’veworkedwithher。"
　　Landrydrewcherishinglyonthelastcigarettehemeanttopermithimselfbeforesinging。"Oh，it’saquestionofabigpersonality——andallthatgoeswithit。Brains，ofcourse。Imagination，ofcourse。Buttheimportantthingisthatshewasbornfullofcolor，witharichpersonality。
　　That’sagiftofthegods，likeafinenose。Youhaveit，oryouhaven’t。Againstit，intelligenceandmusicianshipandhabitsofindustrydon’tcountatall。Singersareaconventionalrace。WhenTheawasstudyinginBerlintheothergirlsweremortallyafraidofher。Shehasapretty
　　roughhandwithwomen，dullones，andshecouldberude，too！ThegirlsusedtocallherDIEWOLFIN。"
　　Fredthrusthishandsintohispocketsandleanedbackagainstthepiano。"Ofcourse，evenastupidwomancouldgeteffectswithsuchmachinery：suchavoiceandbodyandface。Buttheycouldn’tpossiblybelongtoastupidwoman，couldthey？"
　　Landryshookhishead。"It’spersonality；that’sasnearasyoucancometoit。That’swhatconstitutesrealequip—
　　ment。Whatshedoesisinterestingbecauseshedoesit。
　　Eventhethingsshediscardsaresuggestive。Iregretsomeofthem。Herconceptionsarecoloredinsomanydifferentways。You’veheardherELIZABETH？Wonderful，isn’tit？
　　Shewasworkingonthatpartyearsagowhenhermotherwasill。Icouldseeheranxietyandgriefgettingmoreandmoreintothepart。Thelastactisheart—breaking。
　　It’sashomelyasacountryprayermeeting：mightbeanylonelywomangettingreadytodie。It’sfullofthethingeveryplaincreaturefindsoutforhimself，butthatnevergetswrittendown。It’sunconsciousmemory，maybe；
　　inheritedmemory，likefolk—music。Icallitpersonality。"
　　Fredlaughed，andturningtothepianobegancoaxingtheFRICKAmusicagain。"Callitanythingyoulike，myboy。Ihaveanameforitmyself，butIshan’ttellyou。"
　　HelookedoverhisshoulderatLandry，stretchedoutbythefire。"Youhaveagreattimewatchingher，don’tyou？"
　　"Oh，yes！"repliedLandrysimply。"I’mnotinterestedinmuchthatgoesoninNewYork。Now，ifyou’llexcuseme，I’llhavetodress。"Herosewithareluctantsigh。
　　"CanIgetyouanything？Somewhiskey？"
　　"Thankyou，no。I’llamusemyselfhere。Idon’toftengetachanceatagoodpianowhenI’mawayfromhome。
　　Youhaven’thadthisonelong，haveyou？Action’sabitstiff。Isay，"hestoppedLandryinthedoorway，"hasTheaeverbeendownhere？"
　　Landryturnedback。"Yes。ShecameseveraltimeswhenIhaderysipelas。Iwasanicemess，withtwonurses。Shebroughtdownsomeinsidewindow—boxes，plantedwithcrocusesandthings。Verycheering，onlyI
　　couldn’tseethemorher。"
　　"Didn’tshelikeyourplace？"
　　"Shethoughtshedid，butIfancyitwasagooddealclutteredupforhertaste。Icouldhearherpacingaboutlikesomethinginacage。Shepushedthepianobackagainstthewallandthechairsintocorners，andshebrokemyamberelephant。"Landrytookayellowobjectsomefourincheshighfromoneofhislowbookcases。"Youcanseewherehislegisgluedon，——asouvenir。Yes，he’slemonamber，veryfine。"
　　LandrydisappearedbehindthecurtainsandinamomentFredheardthewheezeofanatomizer。Heputtheamberelephantonthepianobesidehimandseemedtogetagreatdealofamusementoutofthebeast。
　　IX
　　WHENArchieandOttenburgdinedwithTheaonSaturdayevening，theywereserveddownstairsinthehoteldining—room，buttheyweretohavetheircoffeeinherownapartment。Astheyweregoingupintheele—
　　vatorafterdinner，FredturnedsuddenlytoThea。"Andwhy，please，didyoubreakLandry’samberelephant？"
　　Shelookedguiltyandbegantolaugh。"Hasn’thegotoverthatyet？Ididn’treallymeantobreakit。Iwasper—
　　hapscareless。Histhingsaresoover—pettedthatIwastemptedtobecarelesswithalotofthem。"
　　"Howcanyoubesoheartless，whenthey’reallhehasintheworld？"
　　"Hehasme。I’magreatdealofdiversionforhim；allheneeds。There，"shesaidassheopenedthedoorintoherownhall，"Ishouldn’thavesaidthatbeforetheelevatorboy。"
　　"Evenanelevatorboycouldn’tmakeascandalaboutOliver。He’ssuchacatnipman。"
　　Dr。Archielaughed，butThea，whoseemedsuddenlytohavethoughtofsomethingannoying，repeatedblankly，"Catnipman？"
　　"Yes，helivesoncatnip，andrumtea。Buthe’snottheonlyone。YouarelikeaneccentricoldwomanIknowinBoston，whogoesaboutinthespringfeedingcatniptostreetcats。Youdispenseittoalotoffellows。Yourpullseemstobemorewithmenthanwithwomen，youknow；
　　withseasonedmen，aboutmyage，orolder。EvenonFri—
　　dayafternoonIkeptrunningintothem，oldboysIhadn’tseenforyears，thinatthepartandthickatthegirth，untilIstoodstillinthedraftandheldmyhairon。They’real—
　　waysthere；Ihearthemtalkingaboutyouinthesmoking—
　　room。Probablywedon’tgettothepointofapprehendinganythinggooduntilwe’reaboutforty。Then，inthelightofwhatisgoing，andofwhat，Godhelpus！iscoming，wearriveatunderstanding。"
　　"Idon’tseewhypeoplegototheopera，anyway，——seri—
　　ouspeople。"Shespokediscontentedly。"Isupposetheygetsomething，orthinktheydo。Here’sthecoffee。There，please，"shedirectedthewaiter。Goingtothetableshebe—
　　gantopourthecoffee，standing。Sheworeawhitedresstrimmedwithcrystalswhichhadrattledagooddealdur—
　　ingdinner，asallhermovementshadbeenimpatientandnervous，andshehadtwistedthedarkvelvetroseathergirdleuntilitlookedrumpledandweary。Shepouredthecoffeeasifitwereaceremonyinwhichshedidnotbelieve。
　　"CanyoumakeanythingofFred’snonsense，Dr。Archie？"
　　sheasked，ashecametotakehiscup。
　　Fredapproachedher。"Mynonsenseisallright。Thesamebrandhasgonewithyoubefore。It’syouwhowon’tbejollied。What’sthematter？Youhavesomethingonyourmind。"
　　"I’veagooddeal。Toomuchtobeanagreeablehos—
　　tess。"Sheturnedquicklyawayfromthecoffeeandsatdownonthepianobench，facingthetwomen。"Foronething，there’sachangeinthecastforFridayafternoon。
　　They’regoingtoletmesingSIEGLINDE。"Herfrowndidnotconcealthepleasurewithwhichshemadethisannounce—
　　ment。
　　"Areyougoingtokeepusdanglingabouthereforever，Thea？ArchieandIaresupposedtohaveotherthingstodo。"Fredlookedatherwithanexcitementquiteasap—
　　parentasherown。
　　"HereI’vebeenreadytosingSIEGLINDEfortwoyears，keptintorment，andnowitcomesoffwithintwoweeks，justwhenIwanttobeseeingsomethingofDr。Archie。I
　　don’tknowwhattheirplansaredownthere。AfterFridaytheymayletmecoolforseveralweeks，andtheymayrush
　　me。IsupposeitdependssomewhatonhowthingsgoFri—
　　dayafternoon。"
　　"Oh，they’llgofastenough！That’sbettersuitedtoyourvoicethananythingyou’vesunghere。ThatgivesyoueveryopportunityI’vewaitedfor。"Ottenburgcrossedtheroomandstandingbesideherbegantoplay"DUBISTDERLENZ。"
　　WithaviolentmovementTheacaughthiswristsandpushedhishandsawayfromthekeys。
　　"Fred，can’tyoubeserious？AthousandthingsmayhappenbetweenthisandFridaytoputmeout。Some—
　　thingwillhappen。Ifthatpartweresungwell，aswellasitoughttobe，itwouldbeoneofthemostbeautifulthingsintheworld。That’swhyitneverissungright，andneverwillbe。"Sheclenchedherhandsandopenedthemde—
　　spairingly，lookingoutoftheopenwindow。"It’sinac—
　　cessiblybeautiful！"shebroughtoutsharply。
　　FredandDr。Archiewatchedher。Inamomentsheturnedbacktothem。"It’simpossibletosingapartlikethatwellforthefirsttime，exceptforthesortwhowillneversingitanybetter。Everythinghangsonthatfirstnight，andthat’sboundtobebad。Thereyouare，"sheshruggedimpatiently。"Foronething，theychangethecastattheeleventhhourandthenrehearsethelifeoutofme。"
　　Ottenburgputdownhiscupwithexaggeratedcare。
　　"Still，youreallywanttodoit，youknow。"
　　"Wantto？"sherepeatedindignantly；"ofcourseIwantto！IfthiswereonlynextThursdaynight——ButbetweennowandFridayI’lldonothingbutfretawaymystrength。
　　Oh，I’mnotsayingIdon’tneedtherehearsals！ButI
　　don’tneedthemstrungoutthroughaweek。Thatsys—
　　tem’swellenoughforphlegmaticsingers；itonlydrainsme。Everysinglefeatureofoperaticroutineisdetri—
　　mentaltome。Iusuallygoonlikeahorsethat’sbeenfixedtolosearace。Ihavetoworkhardtodomyworst，
　　letalonemybest。Iwishyoucouldhearmesingwell，once，"sheturnedtoFreddefiantly；"Ihave，afewtimesinmylife，whentherewasnothingtogainbyit。"
　　Fredapproachedheragainandheldouthishand。"I
　　recallmyinstructions，andnowI’llleaveyoutofightitoutwithArchie。Hecan’tpossiblyrepresentmanagerialstu—
　　piditytoyouasIseemtohaveagiftfordoing。"
　　Ashesmileddownather，hisgoodhumor，hisgoodwishes，hisunderstanding，embarrassedherandrecalledhertoherself。Shekeptherseat，stillholdinghishand。
　　"Allthesame，Fred，isn’tittoobad，thattherearesomanythings——"Shebrokeoffwithashakeofthehead。
　　"Mydeargirl，ifIcouldbridgeovertheagonybetweennowandFridayforyou——Butyouknowtherulesofthegame；whytormentyourself？Yousawtheothernightthatyouhadthepartunderyourthumb。Nowwalk，sleep，playwithArchie，keepyourtigerhungry，andshe’llspringallrightonFriday。I’llbetheretoseeher，andthere’llbemorethanI，Isuspect。Harsanyi’sontheWilhelmderGrosse；getsinonThursday。"
　　"Harsanyi？"Thea’seyelighted。"Ihaven’tseenhimforyears。Wealwaysmisseachother。"Shepaused，hesi—
　　tating。"Yes，Ishouldlikethat。Buthe’llbebusy，may—
　　be？"
　　"HegiveshisfirstconcertatCarnegieHall，weekafternext。Bettersendhimaboxifyoucan。"
　　"Yes，I’llmanageit。"Theatookhishandagain。"Oh，Ishouldlikethat，Fred！"sheaddedimpulsively。"EvenifIwereputout，he’dgettheidea，"——shethrewbackherhead，——"forthereisanidea！"
　　"Whichwon’tpenetratehere，"hetappedhisbrowandbegantolaugh。"Youareanungratefulhuzzy，COMMELES
　　AUTRES！"
　　Theadetainedhimasheturnedaway。Shepulledafloweroutofabouquetonthepianoandabsentlydrewthestemthroughthelapelofhiscoat。"Ishallbewalking
　　intheParkto—morrowafternoon，onthereservoirpath，betweenfourandfive，ifyoucaretojoinme。YouknowthatafterHarsanyiI’dratherpleaseyouthananyoneelse。
　　Youknowalot，butheknowsevenmorethanyou。"
　　"Thankyou。Don’ttrytoanalyzeit。SCHLAFENSIE
　　WOHL！"hekissedherfingersandwavedfromthedoor，closingitbehindhim。
　　"He’stherightsort，Thea。"Dr。Archielookedwarmlyafterhisdisappearingfriend。"I’vealwayshopedyou’dmakeitupwithFred。"
　　"Well，haven’tI？Oh，marryhim，youmean！Perhapsitmaycomeabout，someday。Justatpresenthe’snotinthemarriagemarketanymorethanIam，ishe？"
　　"No，Isupposenot。It’sadamnedshamethatamanlikeOttenburgshouldbetiedupasheis，wastingallthebestyearsofhislife。Awomanwithgeneralparesisoughttobelegallydead。"
　　"Don’tletustalkaboutFred’swife，please。Hehadnobusinesstogetintosuchamess，andhehadnobusinesstostayinit。He’salwaysbeenasoftywherewomenwereconcerned。"
　　"Mostofusare，I’mafraid，"Dr。Archieadmittedmeekly。
　　"Toomuchlightinhere，isn’tthere？Tiresone’seyes。
　　Thestagelightsarehardonmine。"Theabeganturningthemout。"We’llleavethelittleone，overthepiano。"
　　ShesankdownbyArchieonthedeepsofa。"Wetwohavesomuchtotalkaboutthatwekeepawayfromitaltogether；
　　haveyounoticed？Wedon’tevennibbletheedges。IwishwehadLandryhereto—nighttoplayforus。He’sverycomforting。"
　　"I’mafraidyoudon’thaveenoughpersonallife，outsideyourwork，Thea。"Thedoctorlookedatheranxiously。
　　Shesmiledathimwithhereyeshalfclosed。"Mydeardoctor，Idon’thaveany。Yourworkbecomesyourper—
　　sonallife。Youarenotmuchgooduntilitdoes。It’slike
　　beingwovenintoabigweb。Youcan’tpullaway，becauseallyourlittletendrilsarewovenintothepicture。Ittakesyouup，andusesyou，andspinsyouout；andthatisyourlife。Notmuchelsecanhappentoyou。"
　　"Didn’tyouthinkofmarrying，severalyearsago？"
　　"YoumeanNordquist？Yes；butIchangedmymind。
　　Wehadbeensingingagooddealtogether。He’sasplendidcreature。"
　　"Wereyoumuchinlovewithhim，Thea？"thedoctoraskedhopefully。
　　Shesmiledagain。"Idon’tthinkIknowjustwhatthatexpressionmeans。I’veneverbeenabletofindout。I
　　thinkIwasinlovewithyouwhenIwaslittle，butnotwithanyonesincethen。Thereareagreatmanywaysofcaringforpeople。It’snot，afterall，asimplestate，likemeaslesortonsilitis。Nordquistisatakingsortofman。
　　HeandIwereoutinarowboatonceinaterriblestorm。
　　Thelakewasfedbyglaciers，——icewater，——andwecouldn’thaveswumastrokeiftheboathadfilled。Ifwehadn’tbothbeenstrongandkeptourheads，we’dhavegonedown。Wepulledforeveryouncetherewasinus，andwejustgotoffwithourlives。Wewerealwaysbeingthrowntogetherlikethat，undersomekindofpressure。
　　Yes，forawhileIthoughthewouldmakeeverythingright。"Shepausedandsankback，restingherheadonacushion，pressinghereyelidsdownwithherfingers。"Yousee，"shewentonabruptly，"hehadawifeandtwochil—
　　dren。Hehadn’tlivedwithherforseveralyears，butwhensheheardthathewantedtomarryagain，shebegantomaketrouble。Heearnedagooddealofmoney，buthewascarelessandalwayswretchedlyindebt。Hecametomeonedayandtoldmehethoughthiswifewouldsettleforahundredthousandmarksandconsenttoadivorce。
　　Igotveryangryandsenthimaway。Nextdayhecamebackandsaidhethoughtshe’dtakefiftythousand。"
　　Dr。Archiedrewawayfromher，totheendofthesofa。
　　"GoodGod，Thea，"——Heranhishandkerchiefoverhisforehead。"Whatsortofpeople——"Hestoppedandshookhishead。
　　Thearoseandstoodbesidehim，herhandonhisshoul—
　　der。"That’sexactlyhowitstruckme，"shesaidquietly。
　　"Oh，wehavethingsincommon，thingsthatgoawayback，undereverything。Youunderstand，ofcourse。Nordquistdidn’t。HethoughtIwasn’twillingtopartwiththemoney。Icouldn’tletmyselfbuyhimfromFruNord—
　　quist，andhecouldn’tseewhy。HehadalwaysthoughtI
　　wascloseaboutmoney，soheattributedittothat。Iamcareful，"——sheranherarmthroughArchie’sandwhenherosebegantowalkabouttheroomwithhim。"I
　　can’tbecarelesswithmoney。Ibegantheworldonsixhundreddollars，anditwasthepriceofaman’slife。RayKennedyhadworkedhardandbeensoberanddeniedhim—
　　self，andwhenhediedhehadsixhundreddollarstoshowforit。Ialwaysmeasurethingsbythatsixhundreddol—
　　lars，justasImeasurehighbuildingsbytheMoonstonestandpipe。Therearestandardswecan’tgetawayfrom。"
　　Dr。Archietookherhand。"Idon’tbelieveweshouldbeanyhappierifwedidgetawayfromthem。Ithinkitgivesyousomeofyourpoise，havingthatanchor。Youlook，"glancingdownatherheadandshoulders，"some—
　　timessolikeyourmother。"
　　"Thankyou。Youcouldn’tsayanythingnicertomethanthat。OnFridayafternoon，didn’tyouthink？"
　　"Yes，butatothertimes，too。Ilovetoseeit。DoyouknowwhatIthoughtaboutthatfirstnightwhenIheardyousing？IkeptrememberingthenightItookcareofyouwhenyouhadpneumonia，whenyouweretenyearsold。
　　Youwereaterriblysickchild，andIwasacountrydoctorwithoutmuchexperience。Therewerenooxygentanksaboutthen。Youprettynearlyslippedawayfromme。
　　Ifyouhad——"
　　Theadroppedherheadonhisshoulder。"I’dhave
　　savedmyselfandyoualotoftrouble，wouldn’tI？DearDr。Archie！"shemurmured。
　　"Asforme，lifewouldhavebeenaprettybleakstretch，withyouleftout。"Thedoctortookoneofthecrystalpendantsthathungfromhershoulderandlookedintoitthoughtfully。"IguessI’maromanticoldfellow，under—
　　neath。Andyou’vealwaysbeenmyromance。Thoseyearswhenyouweregrowingupweremyhappiest。WhenIdreamaboutyou，Ialwaysseeyouasalittlegirl。"
　　Theypausedbytheopenwindow。"Doyou？Nearlyallmydreams，exceptthoseaboutbreakingdownonthestageormissingtrains，areaboutMoonstone。Youtellmetheoldhousehasbeenpulleddown，butitstandsinmymind，everystickandtimber。InmysleepIgoallaboutit，andlookintherightdrawersandcupboardsforeverything。IoftendreamthatI’mhuntingformyrub—
　　bersinthatpileofovershoesthatwasalwaysunderthehatrackinthehall。Ipickupeveryovershoeandknowwhoseitis，butIcan’tfindmyown。ThentheschoolbellbeginstoringandIbegintocry。That’sthehouseIrestinwhenI’mtired。Alltheoldfurnitureandthewornspotsinthecarpet——itrestsmymindtogooverthem。"
　　Theywerelookingoutofthewindow。Theakepthisarm。Downontheriverfourbattleshipswereanchoredinline，brilliantlylighted，andlauncheswerecomingandgoing，bringingthemenashore。Asearchlightfromoneoftheironcladswasplayingonthegreatheadlanduptheriver，whereitmakesitsfirstresoluteturn。Overheadthenight—blueskywasintenseandclear。
　　"There’ssomuchthatIwanttotellyou，"shesaidatlast，"andit’shardtoexplain。Mylifeisfullofjealousiesanddisappointments，youknow。Yougettohatingpeoplewhodocontemptibleworkandwhogetonjustaswellasyoudo。Therearemanydisappointmentsinmyprofession，andbitter，bittercontempts！"Herfacehardened，andlookedmucholder。"Ifyoulovethegoodthingvitally，enoughto
　　giveupforitallthatonemustgiveupforit，thenyoumusthatethecheapthingjustashard。Itellyou，thereissuchathingascreativehate！Acontemptthatdrivesyouthroughfire，makesyouriskeverythingandloseeverything，makesyoualongsightbetterthanyoueverknewyoucouldbe。"AssheglancedatDr。Archie’sface，Theastoppedshortandturnedherownfaceaway。Hereyesfollowedthepathofthesearchlightuptheriverandrestedupontheilluminedheadland。
　　"Yousee，"shewentonmorecalmly，"voicesareacci—
　　dentalthings。Youfindplentyofgoodvoicesincommonwomen，withcommonmindsandcommonhearts。LookatthatwomanwhosangORTRUDEwithmelastweek。She’snewhereandthepeoplearewildabouther。`Suchabeau—
　　tifulvolumeoftone！’theysay。Igiveyoumywordshe’sasstupidasanowlandascoarseasapig，andanyonewhoknowsanythingaboutsingingwouldseethatinaninstant。Yetshe’squiteaspopularasNecker，who’sagreatartist。HowcanIgetmuchsatisfactionoutoftheenthusiasmofahousethatlikesheratrociouslybadper—
　　formanceatthesametimethatitpretendstolikemine？
　　Iftheylikeher，thentheyoughttohissmeoffthestage。
　　Westandforthingsthatareirreconcilable，absolutely。
　　Youcan’ttrytodothingsrightandnotdespisethepeo—
　　plewhodothemwrong。HowcanIbeindifferent？Ifthatdoesn’tmatter，thennothingmatters。Well，some—
　　timesI’vecomehomeasIdidtheothernightwhenyoufirstsawme，sofullofbitternessthatitwasasifmymindwerefullofdaggers。AndI’vegonetosleepandwakenedupintheKohlers’garden，withthepigeonsandthewhiterabbits，sohappy！Andthatsavesme。"Shesatdownonthepianobench。Archiethoughtshehadforgottenallabouthim，untilshecalledhisname。Hervoicewassoftnow，andwonderfullysweet。Itseemedtocomefromsome—
　　wheredeepwithinher，thereweresuchstrongvibrationsinit。"Yousee，Dr。Archie，whatonereallystrivesforin
　　artisnotthesortofthingyouarelikelytofindwhenyoudropinforaperformanceattheopera。Whatonestrivesforissofaraway，sodeep，sobeautiful"——sheliftedhershoulderswithalongbreath，foldedherhandsinherlapandsatlookingathimwitharesignationthatmadeherfacenoble，——"thatthere’snothingonecansayaboutit，Dr。Archie。"
　　Withoutknowingverywellwhatitwasallabout，Archiewaspassionatelystirredforher。"I’vealwaysbe—
　　lievedinyou，Thea；alwaysbelieved，"hemuttered。
　　Shesmiledandclosedhereyes。"Theysaveme：theoldthings，thingsliketheKohlers’garden。Theyareinevery—
　　thingIdo。"
　　"Inwhatyousing，youmean？"
　　"Yes。Notinanydirectway，"——shespokehurriedly，——"thelight，thecolor，thefeeling。Mostofallthefeeling。
　　ItcomesinwhenI’mworkingonapart，likethesmellofagardencominginatthewindow。Itryallthenewthings，andthengobacktotheold。Perhapsmyfeelingswerestrongerthen。Achild’sattitudetowardeverythingisanartist’sattitude。Iammoreorlessofanartistnow，butthenIwasnothingelse。WhenIwentwithyoutoChicagothatfirsttime，Icarriedwithmetheessentials，thefoundationofallIdonow。ThepointtowhichIcouldgowasscratchedinmethen。Ihaven’treachedityet，byalongway。"
　　Archiehadaswiftflashofmemory。Picturespassedbeforehim。"Youmean，"heaskedwonderingly，"thatyouknewthenthatyouweresogifted？"
　　Thealookedupathimandsmiled。"Oh，Ididn’tknowanything！NotenoughtoaskyouformytrunkwhenI
　　neededit。Butyousee，whenIsetoutfromMoonstonewithyou，Ihadhadarich，romanticpast。Ihadlivedalong，eventfullife，andanartist’slife，everyhourofit。
　　Wagnersays，inhismostbeautifulopera，thatartisonlyawayofrememberingyouth。Andtheolderwegrowthe
　　morepreciousitseemstous，andthemorerichlywecanpresentthatmemory。Whenwe’vegotitallout，——thelast，thefinestthrillofit，thebrightesthopeofit，"——sheliftedherhandaboveherheadanddroppedit，——"thenwestop。Wedonothingbutrepeatafterthat。Thestreamhasreachedthelevelofitssource。That’sourmeasure。"
　　Therewasalong，warmsilence。Theawaslookinghardatthefloor，asifshewereseeingdownthroughyearsandyears，andheroldfriendstoodwatchingherbenthead。