whichtoldhowshehadwaitedforthismoment，repliedthat"Lilywasgoingtorecitetobeobliging，andtogiveotherchildrenachancetosing。"Asshedeliveredthisthrust，hereyesglitteredmorethantheAncientMariner’s，Theathought。Mrs。JohnsondisapprovedofthewayinwhichTheawasbeingbroughtup，ofachildwhosechosenassociateswereMexicansandsinners，andwhowas，asshepointedlyputit，"boldwithmen。"Shesoenjoyedanop—
　　portunitytorebukeThea，that，tightlycorsetedasshewas，shecouldscarcelycontrolherbreathing，andherlaceandhergoldwatchchainroseandfell"withshort，uneasymotion。"Frowning，Theaturnedawayandwalkedslowlyhomeward。Shesuspectedguile。LilyFisherwasthemoststuck—updollintheworld，anditwascertainlynotlikehertorecitetobeobliging。Nobodywhocouldsingeverrecited，becausethewarmestapplausealwayswenttothesingers。
　　However，whentheprogrammewasprintedintheMoon—
　　stoneGLEAM，thereitwas："Instrumentalsolo，TheaKronborg。Recitation，LilyFisher。"
　　Becausehisorchestrawastoplayfortheconcert，Mr。
　　Wunschimaginedthathehadbeenputinchargeofthemusic，andhebecamearrogant。HeinsistedthatTheashouldplaya"Ballade"byReinecke。WhenTheacon—
　　sultedhermother，Mrs。Kronborgagreedwithherthatthe"Ballade"would"nevertake"withaMoonstoneaudi—
　　ence。SheadvisedTheatoplay"somethingwithvaria—
　　tions，"or，atleast，"TheInvitationtotheDance。"
　　"Itmakesnomatterwhattheylike，"WunschrepliedtoThea’sentreaties。"Itistimealreadythattheylearnsomething。"
　　Thea’sfightingpowershadbeenimpairedbyanulcer—
　　atedtoothandconsequentlossofsleep，soshegavein。Shefinallyhadthemolarpulled，thoughitwasasecondtoothandshouldhavebeensaved。Thedentistwasaclumsy，ignorantcountryboy，andMr。KronborgwouldnothearofDr。Archie’stakingTheatoadentistinDenver，though
　　RayKennedysaidhecouldgetapassforher。Whatwiththepainofthetooth，andfamilydiscussionsaboutit，withtryingtomakeChristmaspresentsandtokeepupherschoolworkandpracticing，andgivinglessonsonSatur—
　　days，Theawasfairlywornout。
　　OnChristmasEveshewasnervousandexcited。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadeverplayedintheoperahouse，andshehadneverbeforehadtofacesomanypeople。
　　Wunschwouldnotletherplaywithhernotes，andshewasafraidofforgetting。Beforetheconcertbegan，allthepar—
　　ticipantshadtoassembleonthestageandsittheretobelookedat。Theaworeherwhitesummerdressandabluesash，butLilyFisherhadanewpinksilk，trimmedwithwhiteswansdown。
　　Thehallwaspacked。ItseemedasifeveryoneinMoon—
　　stonewasthere，evenMrs。Kohler，inherhood，andoldFritz。Theseatswerewoodenkitchenchairs，numbered，andnailedtolongplankswhichheldthemtogetherinrows。Asthefloorwasnotraised，thechairswereallonthesamelevel。Themoreinterestedpersonsintheaudiencepeeredovertheheadsofthepeopleinfrontofthemtogetagoodviewofthestage。FromtheplatformTheapickedoutmanyfriendlyfaces。TherewasDr。Archie，whoneverwenttochurchentertainments；therewasthefriendlyjewelerwhoorderedhermusicforher，——hesoldaccor—
　　dionsandguitarsaswellaswatches，——andthedruggistwhooftenlentherbooks，andherfavoriteteacherfromtheschool。TherewasRayKennedy，withapartyoffreshlybarberedrailroadmenhehadbroughtalongwithhim。
　　TherewasMrs。Kronborgwithallthechildren，evenThor，whohadbeenbroughtoutinanewwhiteplushcoat。AtthebackofthehallsatalittlegroupofMexicans，andamongthemTheacaughtthegleamofSpanishJohnny’swhiteteeth，andofMrs。Tellamantez’slustrous，smoothlycoiledblackhair。
　　Aftertheorchestraplayed"SelectionsfromErminie，"
　　andtheBaptistpreachermadealongprayer，TillieKron—
　　borgcameonwithahighlycoloredrecitation，"ThePolishBoy。"Whenitwasovereveryonebreathedmorefreely。
　　NocommitteehadthecouragetoleaveTillieoffapro—
　　gramme。Shewasacceptedasatryingfeatureofeveryentertainment。TheProgressiveEuchreClubwastheonlysocialorganizationinthetownthatentirelyescapedTillie。
　　AfterTilliesatdown，theLadies’Quartettesang，"Beloved，itisNight，"andthenitwasThea’sturn。
　　The"Ballade"tooktenminutes，whichwasfiveminutestoolong。Theaudiencegrewrestiveandfelltowhispering。
　　TheacouldhearMrs。LiveryJohnson’sbraceletsjanglingasshefannedherself，andshecouldhearherfather’snerv—
　　ous，ministerialcough。Thorbehavedbetterthananyoneelse。WhenTheabowedandreturnedtoherseatatthebackofthestagetherewastheusualapplause，butitwasvigorousonlyfromthebackofthehousewheretheMexi—
　　canssat，andfromRayKennedy’sCLAQUEURS。Anyonecouldseethatagood—naturedaudiencehadbeenbored。
　　BecauseMr。Kronborg’ssisterwasontheprogramme，ithadalsobeennecessarytoasktheBaptistpreacher’swife’scousintosing。Shewasa"deepalto"fromMcCook，andshesang，"ThySentinelAmI。"AfterhercameLilyFisher。Thea’srivalwasalsoablonde，butherhairwasmuchheavierthanThea’s，andfellinlongroundcurlsoverhershoulders。Shewastheangel—childoftheBaptists，andlookedexactlylikethebeautifulchildrenonsoapcalen—
　　dars。Herpink—and—whiteface，hersetsmileofinnocence，weresurelybornofacolor—press。Shehadlong，droopingeyelashes，alittlepursed—upmouth，andnarrow，pointedteeth，likeasquirrel’s。
　　Lilybegan：——
　　"ROCKOFAGES，CLEFTFORME，carelesslythemaidensang。"
　　Theadrewalongbreath。Thatwasthegame；itwasarecitationandasonginone。Lilytrailedthehymn
　　throughhalfadozenverseswithgreateffect。TheBaptistpreacherhadannouncedatthebeginningoftheconcertthat"owingtothelengthoftheprogramme，therewouldbenoencores。"ButtheapplausewhichfollowedLilytoherseatwassuchanunmistakableexpressionofenthusi—
　　asmthatTheahadtoadmitLilywasjustifiedingoingback。ShewasattendedthistimebyMrs。LiveryJohnsonherself，crimsonwithtriumphandgleaming—eyed，nerv—
　　ouslyrollingandunrollingasheetofmusic。ShetookoffherbraceletsandplayedLily’saccompaniment。Lilyhadtheeffronterytocomeoutwith，"ShesangthesongofHome，SweetHome，thesongthattouchedmyheart。"ButthisdidnotsurpriseThea；asRaysaidlaterintheevening，"thecardshadbeenstackedagainstherfromthebegin—
　　ning。"ThenextissueoftheGLEAMcorrectlystatedthat"unquestionablythehonorsoftheeveningmustbeac—
　　cordedtoMissLilyFisher。"TheBaptistshadeverythingtheirownway。
　　AftertheconcertRayKennedyjoinedtheKronborgs’
　　partyandwalkedhomewiththem。Theawasgratefulforhissilentsympathy，evenwhileitirritatedher。Shein—
　　wardlyvowedthatshewouldnevertakeanotherlessonfromoldWunsch。Shewishedthatherfatherwouldnotkeepcheerfullysinging，"WhenShepherdsWatched，"ashemarchedahead，carryingThor。ShefeltthatsilencewouldbecometheKronborgsforawhile。Asafamily，theysomehowseemedalittleridiculous，troopingalonginthestarlight。Thereweresomanyofthem，foronething。
　　ThenTilliewassoabsurd。ShewasgigglingandtalkingtoAnnajustasifshehadnotmade，asevenMrs。Kronborgadmitted，anexhibitionofherself。
　　Whentheygothome，RaytookaboxfromhisovercoatpocketandslippeditintoThea’shandashesaidgood—
　　night。Theyallhurriedintotheglowingstoveintheparlor。Thesleepychildrenweresenttobed。Mrs。Kron—
　　borgandAnnastayeduptofillthestockings。
　　"Iguessyou’retired，Thea。Youneedn’tstayup。"
　　Mrs。Kronborg’sclearandseeminglyindifferenteyeusu—
　　allymeasuredTheaprettyaccurately。
　　Theahesitated。Sheglancedatthepresentslaidoutonthedining—roomtable，buttheylookedunattractive。EventhebrownplushmonkeyshehadboughtforThorwithsuchenthusiasmseemedtohavelosthiswiseandhumorousexpression。Shemurmured，"Allright，"tohermother，litherlantern，andwentupstairs。
　　Ray’sboxcontainedahand—paintedwhitesatinfan，withpondlilies——anunfortunatereminder。Theasmiledgrimlyandtosseditintoherupperdrawer。Shewasnottobeconsoledbytoys。Sheundressedquicklyandstoodforsometimeinthecold，frowninginthebrokenlooking—
　　glassatherflaxenpig—tails，atherwhiteneckandarms。
　　Herownbroad，resolutefacesetitschinather，hereyesflashedintoherowndefiantly。LilyFisherwaspretty，andshewaswillingtobejustasbigafoolaspeoplewantedhertobe。Verywell；TheaKronborgwasn’t。Shewouldratherbehatedthanbestupid，anyday。Shepoppedintobedandreadstubbornlyataqueerpaperbookthedrug—storemanhadgivenherbecausehecouldn’tsellit。Shehadtrainedherselftoputhermindonwhatshewasdoing，otherwiseshewouldhavecometogriefwithhercomplicateddailyschedule。Sheread，asintentlyasifshehadnotbeenflushedwithanger，thestrange"MusicalMemories"oftheReverendH。R。Haweis。Atlastsheblewoutthelan—
　　ternandwenttosleep。Shehadmanycuriousdreamsthatnight。InoneofthemMrs。TellamantezheldhershelltoThea’sear，andsheheardtheroaring，asbefore，anddis—
　　tantvoicescalling，"LilyFisher！LilyFisher！"
　　IX
　　Mr。KronborgconsideredTheaaremarkablechild；
　　butsowereallhischildrenremarkable。Ifoneofthebusinessmendowntownremarkedtohimthathe"hadamightybrightlittlegirl，there，"headmittedit，andatoncebegantoexplainwhata"longheadforbusiness"
　　hissonGushad，orthatCharleywas"anaturalelectri—
　　cian，"andhadputinatelephonefromthehousetothepreacher’sstudybehindthechurch。
　　Mrs。Kronborgwatchedherdaughterthoughtfully。Shefoundhermoreinterestingthanherotherchildren，andshetookhermoreseriously，withoutthinkingmuchaboutwhyshedidso。Theotherchildrenhadtobeguided，di—
　　rected，keptfromconflictingwithoneanother。CharleyandGuswerelikelytowantthesamething，andtoquarrelaboutit。Annaoftendemandedunreasonableservicefromherolderbrothers；thattheyshouldsitupuntilaftermid—
　　nighttobringherhomefrompartieswhenshedidnotliketheyouthwhohadofferedhimselfasherescort；orthattheyshoulddrivetwelvemilesintothecountry，onawinternight，totakehertoaranchdance，aftertheyhadbeenworkinghardallday。Gunneroftengotboredwithhisownclothesorstiltsorsled，andwantedAxel’s。ButThea，fromthetimeshewasalittlething，hadherownroutine。Shekeptoutofeveryone’sway，andwashardtomanageonlywhentheotherchildreninterferedwithher。Thentherewastroubleindeed：burstsoftemperwhichusedtoalarmMrs。Kronborg。"YououghttoknowenoughtoletTheaalone。Sheletsyoualone，"sheoftensaidtotheotherchildren。
　　Onemayhavestaunchfriendsinone’sownfamily，butoneseldomhasadmirers。Thea，however，hadoneinthe
　　personofheraddle—patedaunt，TillieKronborg。Inoldercountries，wheredressandopinionsandmannersarenotsothoroughlystandardizedasinourownWest，thereisabeliefthatpeoplewhoarefoolishaboutthemoreobviousthingsoflifeareapttohavepeculiarinsightintowhatliesbeyondtheobvious。Theoldwomanwhocanneverlearnnottoputthekerosenecanonthestove，mayyetbeabletotellfortunes，topersuadeabackwardchildtogrow，tocurewarts，ortotellpeoplewhattodowithayounggirlwhohasgonemelancholy。Tillie’smindwasacuriousmachine；whenshewasawakeitwentroundlikeawheelwhenthebelthasslippedoff，andwhenshewasasleepshedreamedfollies。Butshehadintuitions。Sheknew，forinstance，thatTheawasdifferentfromtheotherKron—
　　borgs，worthythoughtheyallwere。Herromanticim—
　　aginationfoundpossibilitiesinherniece。Whenshewassweepingorironing，orturningtheice—creamfreezeratafuriousrate，sheoftenbuiltupbrilliantfuturesforThea，adaptingfreelythelatestnovelshehadread。
　　Tilliemadeenemiesforhernieceamongthechurchpeoplebecause，atsewingsocietiesandchurchsuppers，shesometimesspokevauntingly，withatossofherhead，justasifThea’s"wonderfulness"wereanacceptedfactinMoonstone，likeMrs。Archie’sstinginess，orMrs。LiveryJohnson’sduplicity。Peopledeclaredthat，onthissubject，Tilliemadethemtired。
　　Tilliebelongedtoadramaticclubthatonceayearper—
　　formedintheMoonstoneOperaHousesuchplaysas"AmongtheBreakers，"and"TheVeteranof1812。"Tillieplayedcharacterparts，theflirtatiousoldmaidorthespitefulINTRIGANTE。Sheusedtostudyherpartsupintheatticathome。Whileshewascommittingthelines，shegotGunnerorAnnatoholdthebookforher，butwhenshebegan"tobringouttheexpression，"asshesaid，sheused，verytimorously，toaskTheatoholdthebook。
　　Theawasusually——notalways——agreeableaboutit。Her
　　motherhadtoldherthat，sinceshehadsomeinfluencewithTillie，itwouldbeagoodthingforthemallifshecouldtoneherdownashadeand"keepherfromtakingonanyworsethanneedbe。"TheawouldsitonthefootofTillie’sbed，herfeettuckedunderher，andstareatthesillytext。
　　"Iwouldn’tmakesomuchfuss，there，Tillie，"shewouldremarkoccasionally；"Idon’tseethepointinit"；or，"Whatdoyoupitchyourvoicesohighfor？Itdon’tcarryhalfaswell。"
　　"Idon’tseehowitcomesTheaissopatientwithTil—
　　lie，"Mrs。Kronborgmorethanonceremarkedtoherhus—
　　band。"Sheain’tpatientwithmostpeople，butitseemslikeshe’sgotapeculiarpatienceforTillie。"
　　TilliealwayscoaxedTheatogo"behindthescenes"
　　withherwhentheclubpresentedaplay，andhelpherwithhermake—up。Theahatedit，butshealwayswent。Shefeltasifshehadtodoit。TherewassomethinginTillie’sadorationofherthatcompelledher。TherewasnofamilyimproprietythatTheawassomuchashamedofasTillie’s"acting"andyetshewasalwaysbeingdraggedintoassisther。Tilliesimplyhadher，there。Shedidn’tknowwhy，butitwasso。TherewasastringinhersomewherethatTilliecouldpull；asenseofobligationtoTillie’smisguidedaspirations。Thesaloon—keepershadsomesuchfeelingofresponsibilitytowardSpanishJohnny。
　　ThedramaticclubwastheprideofTillie’sheart，andherenthusiasmwastheprincipalfactorinkeepingittogether。
　　Sickorwell，Tilliealwaysattendedrehearsals，andwasalwaysurgingtheyoungpeople，whotookrehearsalslightly，to"stopfoolingandbeginnow。"Theyoungmen——bankclerks，groceryclerks，insuranceagents——playedtricks，laughedatTillie，and"putituponeachother"
　　aboutseeingherhome；buttheyoftenwenttotiresomerehearsalsjusttoobligeher。Theyweregood—naturedyoungfellows。Theirtrainerandstage—managerwasyoungUpping，thejewelerwhoorderedThea’smusicforher。
　　Thoughbarelythirty，hehadfollowedhalfadozenpro—
　　fessions，andhadoncebeenaviolinistintheorchestraoftheAndrewsOperaCompany，thenwellknowninlittletownsthroughoutColoradoandNebraska。
　　ByoneamazingindiscretionTillieverynearlylostherholdupontheMoonstoneDramaClub。Theclubhadde—
　　cidedtoputon"TheDrummerBoyofShiloh，"averyambitiousundertakingbecauseofthemanysupersneededandthescenicdifficultiesoftheactwhichtookplaceinAndersonvillePrison。ThemembersoftheclubconsultedtogetherinTillie’sabsenceastowhoshouldplaythepartofthedrummerboy。Itmustbetakenbyaveryyoungperson，andvillageboysofthatageareself—consciousandarenotaptatmemorizing。Thepartwasalongone，andclearlyitmustbegiventoagirl。SomemembersoftheclubsuggestedTheaKronborg，othersadvocatedLilyFisher。Lily’spartisansurgedthatshewasmuchprettierthanThea，andhadamuch"sweeterdisposition。"No—
　　bodydeniedthesefacts。ButtherewasnothingintheleastboyishaboutLily，andshesangallsongsandplayedallpartsalike。Lily’ssimperwaspopular，butitseemednotquitetherightthingfortheheroicdrummerboy。
　　Upping，thetrainer，talkedtooneandanother："Lily’sallrightforgirlparts，"heinsisted，"butyou’vegottogetagirlwithsomegingerinherforthis。Thea’sgotthevoice，too。Whenshesings，`JustBeforetheBattle，Mother，’she’llbringdownthehouse。"
　　Whenallthemembersoftheclubhadbeenprivatelyconsulted，theyannouncedtheirdecisiontoTillieatthefirstregularmeetingthatwascalledtocasttheparts。
　　TheyexpectedTillietobeovercomewithjoy，but，onthecontrary，sheseemedembarrassed。"I’mafraidTheahasn’tgottimeforthat，"shesaidjerkily。"Sheisalwayssobusywithhermusic。Guessyou’llhavetogetsomebodyelse。"
　　Theclublifteditseyebrows。SeveralofLilyFisher’s
　　friendscoughed。Mr。Uppingflushed。ThestoutwomanwhoalwaysplayedtheinjuredwifecalledTillie’sattentiontothefactthatthiswouldbeafineopportunityforherniecetoshowwhatshecoulddo。Hertonewasconde—
　　scending。
　　Tilliethrewupherheadandlaughed；therewassome—
　　thingsharpandwildaboutTillie’slaugh——whenitwasnotagiggle。"Oh，IguessTheahasn’tgottimetodoanyshowingoff。Hertimetoshowoffain’tcomeyet。Iexpectshe’llmakeusallsitupwhenitdoes。Nouseaskinghertotakethepart。She’dturnhernoseupatit。Iguessthey’dbegladtogetherintheDenverDramatics，iftheycould。"
　　Thecompanybrokeupintogroupsandexpressedtheiramazement。OfcourseallSwedeswereconceited，buttheywouldneverhavebelievedthatalltheconceitofalltheSwedesputtogetherwouldreachsuchapitchasthis。
　　TheyconfidedtoeachotherthatTilliewas"justalittleoff，onthesubjectofherniece，"andagreedthatitwouldbeaswellnottoexciteherfurther。Tilliegotacoldreceptionatrehearsalsforalongwhileafterward，andTheahadacropofnewenemieswithoutevenknowingit。
　　X
　　WunschandoldFritzandSpanishJohnnycele—
　　bratedChristmastogether，soriotouslythatWunschwasunabletogiveTheaherlessonthenextday。
　　InthemiddleofthevacationweekTheawenttotheKohl—
　　ers’throughasoft，beautifulsnowstorm。Theairwasatenderblue—gray，likethecoloronthedovesthatflewinandoutofthewhitedove—houseonthepostintheKohl—
　　ers’garden。Thesandhillslookeddimandsleepy。Thetamariskhedgewasfullofsnow，likeafoamofblossomsdriftedoverit。WhenTheaopenedthegate，oldMrs。
　　Kohlerwasjustcominginfromthechickenyard，withfivefresheggsinherapronandapairofoldtop—bootsonherfeet。ShecalledTheatocomeandlookatabantamegg，whichsheheldupproudly。Herbantamhenswereremissinzeal，andshewasalwaysdelightedwhentheyaccom—
　　plishedanything。ShetookTheaintothesitting—room，verywarmandsmellingoffood，andbroughtheraplatefuloflittleChristmascakes，madeaccordingtooldandhal—
　　lowedformulae，andputthembeforeherwhileshewarmedherfeet。Thenshewenttothedoorofthekitchenstairsandcalled："HerrWunsch，HerrWunsch！"
　　Wunschcamedownwearinganoldwaddedjacket，withavelvetcollar。Thebrownsilkwassowornthatthewad—
　　dingstuckoutalmosteverywhere。HeavoidedThea’seyeswhenhecamein，noddedwithoutspeaking，andpointeddirectlytothepianostool。Hewasnotsoinsistentuponthescalesasusual，andthroughoutthelittlesonataofMozart’sshewasstudying，heremainedlanguidandabsent—minded。Hiseyeslookedveryheavy，andhekeptwipingthemwithoneofthenewsilkhandkerchiefsMrs。
　　KohlerhadgivenhimforChristmas。Whenthelessonwas
　　overhedidnotseeminclinedtotalk。Thea，loiteringonthestool，reachedforatatteredbookshehadtakenoffthemusic—restwhenshesatdown。ItwasaveryoldLeipsiceditionofthepianoscoreofGluck’s"Orpheus。"Sheturnedoverthepagescuriously。
　　"Isitnice？"sheasked。
　　"Itisthemostbeautifuloperaevermade，"Wunschde—
　　claredsolemnly。"Youknowthestory，eh？How，whenshedie，Orpheuswentdownbelowforhiswife？"
　　"Oh，yes，Iknow。Ididn’tknowtherewasanoperaaboutit，though。Dopeoplesingthisnow？"
　　"ABERJA！Whatelse？Youliketotry？See。"Hedrewherfromthestoolandsatdownatthepiano。Turningovertheleavestothethirdact，hehandedthescoretoThea。
　　"Listen，IplayitthroughandyougettheRHYTHMUS。EINS，ZWEI，DREI，VIER。"HeplayedthroughOrpheus’lament，thenpushedbackhiscuffswithawakeninginterestandnoddedatThea。"Now，VOMBLATT，MITMIR。"
　　"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，ALL’MEINGLUCKISTNUNDAHIN。"
　　Wunschsangtheariawithmuchfeeling。Itwasevidentlyonethatwasverydeartohim。
　　"NOCHEINMAL，alone，yourself。"Heplayedtheintro—
　　ductorymeasures，thennoddedathervehemently，andshebegan：——
　　"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN。"
　　Whenshefinished，Wunschnoddedagain。"SCHON，"hemutteredashefinishedtheaccompanimentsoftly。HedroppedhishandsonhiskneesandlookedupatThea。
　　"Thatisveryfine，eh？Thereisnosuchbeautifulmelodyintheworld。Youcantakethebookforoneweekandlearnsomething，topassthetime。Itisgoodtoknow——always。
　　EURIDICE，EU——RI——DI——CE，WEHDASSICHAUFERDENBIN！"hesangsoftly，playingthemelodywithhisrighthand。
　　Thea，whowasturningoverthepagesofthethirdact，
　　stoppedandscowledatapassage。TheoldGerman’sblurredeyeswatchedhercuriously。
　　"Forwhatdoyoulookso，IMMER？"puckeringuphisownface。"Youseesomethingalittledifficult，may—be，andyoumakesuchafacelikeitwasanenemy。"
　　Thealaughed，disconcerted。"Well，difficultthingsareenemies，aren’tthey？Whenyouhavetogetthem？"
　　Wunschloweredhisheadandthrewitupasifhewerebuttingsomething。"Notatall！Bynomeans。"Hetookthebookfromherandlookedatit。"Yes，thatisnotsoeasy，there。Thisisanoldbook。Theydonotprintitsonowanymore，Ithink。Theyleaveitout，may—be。Onlyonewomancouldsingthatgood。"
　　Thealookedathiminperplexity。
　　Wunschwenton。"Itiswrittenforalto，yousee。A
　　womansingsthepart，andtherewasonlyonetosingthatgoodinthere。Youunderstand？Onlyone！"Heglancedatherquicklyandliftedhisredforefingeruprightbeforehereyes。
　　Thealookedatthefingerasifshewerehypnotized。
　　"Onlyone？"sheaskedbreathlessly；herhands，hangingathersides，wereopeningandshuttingrapidly。
　　Wunschnoddedandstillheldupthatcompellingfinger。
　　Whenhedroppedhishands，therewasalookofsatisfac—
　　tioninhisface。
　　"Wassheverygreat？"
　　Wunschnodded。
　　"Wasshebeautiful？"
　　"ABERGARNICHT！Notatall。Shewasugly；bigmouth，bigteeth，nofigure，nothingatall，"indicatingaluxuriantbosombysweepinghishandsoverhischest。"Apole，apost！Butforthevoice——ACH！Shehavesomethinginthere，behindtheeyes，"tappinghistemples。
　　Theafollowedallhisgesticulationsintently。"WassheGerman？"
　　"No，SPANISCH。"Helookeddownandfrownedfora
　　moment。"ACH，Itellyou，shelookliketheFrauTella—
　　mantez，some—thing。Longface，longchin，anduglyal—so。"
　　"Didshediealongwhileago？"
　　"Die？Ithinknot。Ineverhear，anyhow。Iguesssheisalivesomewhereintheworld；Paris，may—be。Butold，ofcourse。IhearherwhenIwasayouth。Sheistoooldtosingnowanymore。"