"Wasshethegreatestsingeryoueverheard？"
Wunschnoddedgravely。"Quiteso。Shewasthemost——"hehuntedforanEnglishword，liftedhishandoverhisheadandsnappedhisfingersnoiselesslyintheair，enunciatingfiercely，"KUNST—LER—ISCH！"Thewordseemedtoglitterinhisupliftedhand，hisvoicewassofullofemotion。
Wunschrosefromthestoolandbegantobuttonhiswaddedjacket，preparingtoreturntohishalf—heatedroomintheloft。Thearegretfullyputonhercloakandhoodandsetoutforhome。
WhenWunschlookedforhisscorelatethatafternoon，hefoundthatTheahadnotforgottentotakeitwithher。
Hesmiledhisloose，sarcasticsmile，andthoughtfullyrubbedhisstubblychinwithhisredfingers。WhenFritzcamehomeintheearlybluetwilightthesnowwasflyingfaster，Mrs。KohlerwascookingHASENPFEFFERinthekitchen，andtheprofessorwasseatedatthepiano，playingtheGluck，whichheknewbyheart。OldFritztookoffhisshoesquietlybehindthestoveandlaydownontheloungebeforehismasterpiece，wherethefirelightwasplayingoverthewallsofMoscow。Helistened，whiletheroomgrewdarkerandthewindowsduller。Wunschalwayscamebacktothesamething：——
"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，
EURIDICE，EURIDICE！"
FromtimetotimeFritzsighedsoftly。He，too，hadlostaEuridice。
XI
OneSaturday，lateinJune，Theaarrivedearlyforherlesson。Assheperchedherselfuponthepianostool，——awobbly，old—fashionedthingthatworkedonacreakyscrew，——shegaveWunschasideglance，smiling。"Youmustnotbecrosstometo—day。Thisismybirthday。"
"So？"hepointedtothekeyboard。
AfterthelessontheywentouttojoinMrs。Kohler，whohadaskedTheatocomeearly，sothatshecouldstayandsmellthelindenbloom。Itwasoneofthosestilldaysofintenselight，wheneveryparticleofmicainthesoilflashedlikealittlemirror，andtheglarefromtheplainbelowseemedmoreintensethantheraysfromabove。Thesandridgesranglitteringgoldouttowherethemiragelickedthemup，shiningandsteaminglikealakeinthetropics。
Theskylookedlikebluelava，foreverincapableofclouds，——aturquoisebowlthatwasthelidofthedesert。AndyetwithinMrs。Kohler’sgreenpatchthewaterdripped，thebedshadallbeenhosed，andtheairwasfreshwithrapidlyevaporatingmoisture。
Thetwosymmetricallindentreesweretheproudestthingsinthegarden。Theirsweetnessembalmedalltheair。Ateveryturnofthepaths，——whetheronewenttoseethehollyhocksorthebleedingheart，ortolookatthepur—
plemorning—gloriesthatranoverthebean—poles，——wher—
everonewent，thesweetnessofthelindensstruckoneafreshandonealwayscamebacktothem。Undertheroundleaves，wherethewaxenyellowblossomshung，beviesofwildbeeswerebuzzing。Thetamariskswerestillpink，andtheflower—bedsweredoingtheirbestinhonorofthelindenfestival。Thewhitedove—housewasshiningwithafreshcoatofpaint，andthepigeonswerecrooningcontentedly，
flyingdownoftentodrinkatthedripfromthewatertank。
Mrs。Kohler，whowastransplantingpansies，cameupwithhertrowelandtoldTheaitwasluckytohaveyourbirthdaywhenthelindenswereinbloom，andthatshemustgoandlookatthesweetpeas。Wunschaccompaniedher，andastheywalkedbetweentheflower—bedshetookThea’shand。
"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，"——
hemuttered。"YouknowthatvonHeine？IMLEUCHTENDEN
SOMMERMORGEN？"HelookeddownatTheaandsoftlypressedherhand。
"No，Idon’tknowit。WhatdoesFLUSTERNmean？"
"FLUSTERN？——towhisper。Youmustbeginnowtoknowsuchthings。Thatisnecessary。Howmanybirthdays？"
"Thirteen。I’minmy’teensnow。ButhowcanIknowwordslikethat？Ionlyknowwhatyousayatmylessons。
Theydon’tteachGermanatschool。HowcanIlearn？"
"Itisalwayspossibletolearnwhenonelikes，"saidWunsch。Hiswordswereperemptory，asusual，buthistonewasmild，evenconfidential。"Thereisalwaysaway。
Andifsomedayyouaregoingtosing，itisnecessarytoknowwelltheGermanlanguage。"
Theastoopedovertopickaleafofrosemary。HowdidWunschknowthat，whentheveryrosesonherwall—paperhadneverheardit？"ButamIgoingto？"sheasked，stillstooping。
"Thatisforyoutosay，"returnedWunschcoldly。"YouwouldbettermarrysomeJACOBhereandkeepthehouseforhim，may—be？Thatisasonedesires。"
Theaflashedupathimaclear，laughinglook。"No，I
don’twanttodothat。Youknow，"shebrushedhiscoat—
sleevequicklywithheryellowhead。"OnlyhowcanI
learnanythinghere？It’ssofarfromDenver。"
Wunsch’slooselowerlipcurledinamusement。Then，asifhesuddenlyrememberedsomething，hespokeseriously。
"Nothingisfarandnothingisnear，ifonedesires。The
worldislittle，peoplearelittle，humanlifeislittle。Thereisonlyonebigthing——desire。Andbeforeit，whenitisbig，allislittle。ItbroughtColumbusacrosstheseainalittleboat，UNDSOWEITER。"Wunschmadeagrimace，tookhispupil’shandanddrewhertowardthegrapearbor。"Here—
afterIwillmorespeaktoyouinGerman。Now，sitdownandIwillteachyouforyourbirthdaythatlittlesong。Askmethewordsyoudonotknowalready。Now：IMLEUCH—
TENDENSOMMERMORGEN。"
Theamemorizedquicklybecauseshehadthepoweroflisteningintently。Inafewmomentsshecouldrepeattheeightlinesforhim。Wunschnoddedencouraginglyandtheywentoutofthearborintothesunlightagain。Astheywentupanddownthegravelpathsbetweentheflower—
beds，thewhiteandyellowbutterflieskeptdartingbeforethem，andthepigeonswerewashingtheirpinkfeetatthedripandcrooningintheirhuskybass。OverandoveragainWunschmadehersaythelinestohim。"Youseeitisnothing。IfyoulearnagreatmanyoftheLIEDER，youwillknowtheGermanlanguagealready。WEITER，NUN。"Hewouldinclinehisheadgravelyandlisten。
"IMLEUCHTENDENSOMMERMORGEN
GEH’ICHIMGARTENHERUM；
ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN，ICHABER，ICHWANDTESTUMM。
"ESFLUSTERNUNDSPRECHENDIEBLUMEN
UNDSCHAU’NMITLEIDIGMICHAN：
`SEIUNSERERSCHWESTERNICHTBOSE，DUTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN！’"
（Inthesoft—shiningsummermorningIwanderedthegardenwithin。
Theflowerstheywhisperedandmurmured，ButI，Iwandereddumb。
Theflowerstheywhisperandmurmur，Andmewithcompassiontheyscan：
"Oh，benotharshtooursister，Thousorrowful，death—paleman！"）
Wunschhadnoticedbeforethatwhenhispupilreadanythinginversethecharacterofhervoicechangedalto—
gether；itwasnolongerthevoicewhichspokethespeechofMoonstone。Itwasasoft，richcontralto，andshereadquietly；thefeelingwasinthevoiceitself，notindicatedbyemphasisorchangeofpitch。Sherepeatedthelittleversesmusically，likeasong，andtheentreatyoftheflowerswasevensofterthantherest，astheshyspeechofflowersmightbe，andsheendedwiththevoicesuspended，almostwitharisinginflection。Itwasanature—voice，Wunschtoldhim—
self，breathedfromthecreatureandapartfromlanguage，likethesoundofthewindinthetrees，orthemurmurofwater。
"Whatisittheflowersmeanwhentheyaskhimnottobeharshtotheirsister，eh？"heasked，lookingdownathercuriouslyandwrinklinghisdullredforehead。
Theaglancedathiminsurprise。"Isupposehethinkstheyareaskinghimnottobeharshtohissweetheart——orsomegirltheyremindhimof。"
"AndwhyTRAURIGER，BLASSERMANN？"
Theyhadcomebacktothegrapearbor，andTheapickedoutasunnyplaceonthebench，whereatortoise—shellcatwasstretchedatfulllength。Shesatdown，bendingoverthecatandteasinghiswhiskers。"Becausehehadbeenawakeallnight，thinkingabouther，wasn’tit？Maybethatwaswhyhewasupsoearly。"
Wunschshruggedhisshoulders。"Ifhethinkaboutherallnightalready，whydoyousaytheflowersremindhim？"
Thealookedupathiminperplexity。Aflashofcompre—
hensionlitherfaceandshesmiledeagerly。"Oh，Ididn’tmean`remind’inthatway！Ididn’tmeantheybroughthertohismind！Imeantitwasonlywhenhecameoutinthemorning，thatsheseemedtohimlikethat，——likeoneoftheflowers。"
"Andbeforehecameout，howdidsheseem？"
ThistimeitwasTheawhoshruggedhershoulders。The
warmsmileleftherface。Sheliftedhereyebrowsinannoy—
anceandlookedoffatthesandhills。
Wunschpersisted。"Whyyounotanswerme？"
"Becauseitwouldbesilly。Youarejusttryingtomakemesaythings。Itspoilsthingstoaskquestions。"
Wunschbowedmockingly；hissmilewasdisagreeable。
Suddenlyhisfacegrewgrave，grewfierce，indeed。Hepulledhimselfupfromhisclumsystoopandfoldedhisarms。"Butitisnecessarytoknowifyouknowsomethings。Some—
thingscannotbetaught。Ifyounotknowinthebeginning，younotknowintheend。Forasingertheremustbesome—
thingintheinsidefromthebeginning。Ishallnotbelonginthisplace，may—be，andIliketoknow。Yes，"——hegroundhisheelinthegravel，——"yes，whenyouarebarelysix，youmustknowthatalready。Thatisthebeginningofallthings；DERGEIST，DIEPHANTASIE。Itmustbeinthebaby，whenitmakesitsfirstcry，likeDERRHYTHMUS，oritisnottobe。Youhavesomevoicealready，andifinthebeginning，whenyouarewiththings—to—play，youknowthatwhatyouwillnottellme，thenyoucanlearntosing，may—be。"
Wunschbegantopacethearbor，rubbinghishandsto—
gether。Thedarkflushofhisfacehadspreadupundertheiron—graybristlesonhishead。Hewastalkingtohimself，nottoThea。Insidiouspowerofthelindenbloom！"Oh，muchyoucanlearn！ABERNICHTDIEAMERICANISCHENFRAU—
LEIN。Theyhavenothinginsidethem，"strikinghischestwithbothfists。"TheyareliketheonesintheMAR—
CHEN，agrinningfaceandhollowintheinsides。Some—
thingtheycanlearn，oh，yes，may—be！Butthesecret——
whatmaketherosetored，theskytoblue，themantolove——INDERBRUST，INDERBRUSTitis，UNDOHNEDIESESGIEBTES
KEINEKUNST，GIEBTESKEINEKUNST！"Hethrewuphissquarehandandshookit，allthefingersapartandwagging。Purpleandbreathlesshewentoutofthearborandintothehouse，withoutsayinggood—bye。TheseoutburstsfrightenedWunsch。Theywerealwaysharbingersofill。
Theagothermusic—bookandstolequietlyoutofthegarden。Shedidnotgohome，butwanderedoffintothesanddunes，wherethepricklypearwasinblossomandthegreenlizardswereracingeachotherintheglitteringlight。
Shewasshakenbyapassionateexcitement。ShedidnotaltogetherunderstandwhatWunschwastalkingabout；
andyet，inawaysheknew。Sheknew，ofcourse，thattherewassomethingaboutherthatwasdifferent。Butitwasmorelikeafriendlyspiritthanlikeanythingthatwasapartofherself。Shethoughteverythingtoit，anditan—
sweredher；happinessconsistedofthatbackwardandfor—
wardmovementofherself。Thesomethingcameandwent，sheneverknewhow。Sometimesshehuntedforitandcouldnotfindit；again，sheliftedhereyesfromabook，orsteppedoutofdoors，orwakenedinthemorning，anditwasthere，——
underhercheek，itusuallyseemedtobe，oroverherbreast，——akindofwarmsureness。Andwhenitwasthere，everythingwasmoreinterestingandbeautiful，evenpeople。
Whenthiscompanionwaswithher，shecouldgetthemostwonderfulthingsoutofSpanishJohnny，orWunsch，orDr。Archie。
Onherthirteenthbirthdayshewanderedforalongwhileaboutthesandridges，pickingupcrystalsandlookingintotheyellowprickly—pearblossomswiththeirthousandsta—
mens。ShelookedatthesandhillsuntilshewishedsheWEREasandhill。Andyetsheknewthatshewasgoingtoleavethemallbehindsomeday。Theywouldbechangingalldaylong，yellowandpurpleandlavender，andshewouldnotbethere。Fromthatdayon，shefelttherewasasecretbetweenherandWunsch。Togethertheyhadliftedalid，pulledoutadrawer，andlookedatsomething。Theyhiditawayandneverspokeofwhattheyhadseen；butneitherofthemforgotit。
XII
OneJulynight，whenthemoonwasfull，Dr。Archiewascomingupfromthedepot，restlessanddiscon—
tented，wishingthereweresomethingtodo。Hecarriedhisstrawhatinhishand，andkeptbrushinghishairbackfromhisforeheadwithapurposeless，unsatisfiedgesture。
AfterhepassedUncleBillyBeemer’scottonwoodgrove，thesidewalkranoutoftheshadowintothewhitemoon—
lightandcrossedthesandgullyonhighposts，likeabridge。
Asthedoctorapproachedthistrestle，hesawawhitefigure，andrecognizedTheaKronborg。Hequickenedhispaceandshecametomeethim。
"Whatareyoudoingoutsolate，mygirl？"heaskedashetookherhand。
"Oh，Idon’tknow。Whatdopeoplegotobedsoearlyfor？I’dliketorunalongbeforethehousesandscreechatthem。Isn’titgloriousouthere？"
Theyoungdoctorgaveamelancholylaughandpressedherhand。
"Thinkofit，"Theasnortedimpatiently。"Nobodyupbutusandtherabbits！I’vestarteduphalfadozenof’em。
Lookatthatlittleonedowntherenow，"——shestoopedandpointed。Inthegullybelowthemtherewas，indeed，alittlerabbitwithawhitespotofatail，crouchingdownonthesand，quitemotionless。Itseemedtobelappingupthemoonlightlikecream。Ontheothersideofthewalk，downintheditch，therewasapatchoftall，ranksunflowers，theirshaggyleaveswhitewithdust。Themoonstoodoverthecottonwoodgrove。Therewasnowind，andnosoundbutthewheezingofanenginedownonthetracks。
"Well，wemayaswellwatchtherabbits。"Dr。Archiesatdownonthesidewalkandlethisfeethangoverthe
edge。HepulledoutasmoothlinenhandkerchiefthatsmelledofGermancolognewater。"Well，howgoesit？
Workinghard？YoumustknowaboutallWunschcanteachyoubythistime。"
Theashookherhead。"Oh，no，Idon’t，Dr。Archie。
He’shardtogetat，buthe’sbeenarealmusicianinhistime。Mothersaysshebelieveshe’sforgottenmorethanthemusic—teachersdowninDenvereverknew。"
"I’mafraidhewon’tbearoundheremuchlonger，"saidDr。Archie。"He’sbeenmakingatankofhimselflately。
He’llbepullinghisfreightoneofthesedays。That’sthewaytheydo，youknow。I’llbesorryonyouraccount。"
Hepausedandranhisfreshhandkerchiefoverhisface。
"Whatthedeuceareweallhereforanyway，Thea？"hesaidabruptly。
"Onearth，youmean？"Theaaskedinalowvoice。
"Well，primarily，yes。Butsecondarily，whyareweinMoonstone？Itisn’tasifwe’dbeenbornhere。Youwere，butWunschwasn’t，andIwasn’t。IsupposeI’mherebecauseImarriedassoonasIgotoutofmedicalschoolandhadtogetapracticequick。Ifyouhurrythings，youalwaysgetleftintheend。Idon’tlearnanythinghere，andasforthepeople——InmyowntowninMichigan，now，therewerepeoplewholikedmeonmyfather’saccount，whohadevenknownmygrandfather。Thatmeantsomething。Buthereit’salllikethesand：blowsnorthonedayandsouththenext。We’reallalotofgamblerswithoutmuchnerve，playingforsmallstakes。Therailroadistheonerealfactinthiscountry。Thathastobe；theworldhastobegotbackandforth。Buttherestofusareherejustbecauseit’stheendofarunandtheenginehastohaveadrink。
SomedayI’llgetupandfindmyhairturninggray，andI’llhavenothingtoshowforit。"
Theaslidclosertohimandcaughthisarm。"No，no。
Iwon’tletyougetgray。You’vegottostayyoungforme。
I’mgettingyoungnow，too。"
Archielaughed。"Getting？"
"Yes。Peoplearen’tyoungwhenthey’rechildren。LookatThor，now；he’sjustalittleoldman。ButGushasasweetheart，andhe’syoung！"
"Somethinginthat！"Dr。Archiepattedherhead，andthenfelttheshapeofherskullgently，withthetipsofhisfingers。"Whenyouwerelittle，Thea，Iusedalwaystobecuriousabouttheshapeofyourhead。Youseemedtohavemoreinsideitthanmostyoungsters。Ihaven’texamineditforalongtime。Seemstobetheusualshape，butuncom—
monlyhard，somehow。Whatareyougoingtodowithyourself，anyway？"
"Idon’tknow。"
"Honest，now？"Heliftedherchinandlookedintohereyes。
Thealaughedandedgedawayfromhim。
"You’vegotsomethingupyoursleeve，haven’tyou？
Anythingyoulike；onlydon’tmarryandsettledownherewithoutgivingyourselfachance，willyou？"
"Notmuch。See，there’sanotherrabbit！"
"That’sallrightabouttherabbits，butIdon’twantyoutogettiedup。Rememberthat。"
Theanodded。"BenicetoWunsch，then。Idon’tknowwhatI’ddoifhewentaway。"
"You’vegotolderfriendsthanWunschhere，Thea。"
"Iknow。"Theaspokeseriouslyandlookedupatthemoon，proppingherchinonherhand。"ButWunschistheonlyonethatcanteachmewhatIwanttoknow。I’vegottolearntodosomethingwell，andthat’sthethingIcandobest。"
"Doyouwanttobeamusic—teacher？"
"Maybe，butIwanttobeagoodone。I’dliketogotoGermanytostudy，someday。Wunschsaysthat’sthebestplace，——theonlyplaceyoucanreallylearn。"Theahesi—
tatedandthenwentonnervously，"I’vegotabookthatsaysso，too。It’scalled`MyMusicalMemories。’Itmademe
wanttogotoGermanyevenbeforeWunschsaidanything。
Ofcourseit’sasecret。You’rethefirstoneI’vetold。"
Dr。Archiesmiledindulgently。"That’salongwayoff。
Isthatwhatyou’vegotinyourhardnoddle？"Heputhishandonherhair，butthistimesheshookhimoff。
"No，Idon’tthinkmuchaboutit。Butyoutalkaboutgoing，andabodyhastohavesomethingtogoTO！"
"That’sso。"Dr。Archiesighed。"You’reluckyifyouhave。PoorWunsch，now，hehasn’t。Whatdosuchfellowscomeoutherefor？He’sbeenaskingmeaboutmyminingstock，andaboutminingtowns。Whatwouldhedoinaminingtown？Hewouldn’tknowapieceoforeifhesawone。He’sgotnothingtosellthataminingtownwantstobuy。Whydon’tthoseoldfellowsstayathome？Wewon’tneedthemforanotherhundredyears。Anenginewipercangetajob，butapianoplayer！Suchpeoplecan’tmakegood。"
"MygrandfatherAlstromwasamusician，andhemadegood。"
Dr。Archiechuckled。"Oh，aSwedecanmakegoodany—
where，atanything！You’vegotthatinyourfavor，miss。
Come，youmustbegettinghome。"
Thearose。"Yes，IusedtobeashamedofbeingaSwede，butI’mnotanymore。Swedesarekindofcommon，butI
thinkit’sbettertobeSOMETHING。"
"Itsurelyis！Howtallyouaregetting。Youcomeabovemyshouldernow。"
"I’llkeepongrowing，don’tyouthink？Iparticularlywanttobetall。Yes，IguessImustgohome。Iwishthere’dbeafire。"
"Afire？"
"Yes，sothefire—bellwouldringandtheroundhousewhistlewouldblow，andeverybodywouldcomerunningout。SometimeI’mgoingtoringthefire—bellmyselfandstirthemallup。"
"You’dbearrested。"
"Well，thatwouldbebetterthangoingtobed。"
"I’llhavetolendyousomemorebooks。"
Theashookherselfimpatiently。"Ican’treadeverynight。"
Dr。Archiegaveoneofhislow，sympatheticchucklesasheopenedthegateforher。"You’rebeginningtogrowup，that’swhat’sthematterwithyou。I’llhavetokeepaneyeonyou。Nowyou’llhavetosaygood—nighttothemoon。"
"No，Iwon’t。Isleeponthefloornow，rightinthemoon—
light。Mywindowcomesdowntothefloor，andIcanlookattheskyallnight。"
Sheshotroundthehousetothekitchendoor，andDr。
Archiewatchedherdisappearwithasigh。Hethoughtofthehard，mean，frizzylittlewomanwhokepthishouseforhim；oncethebelleofaMichigantown，nowdryandwitheredupatthirty。"IfIhadadaughterlikeTheatowatch，"hereflected，"Iwouldn’tmindanything。Iwon—
derifallofmylife’sgoingtobeamistakejustbecauseI
madeabigonethen？Hardlyseemsfair。"
HowardArchiewas"respected"ratherthanpopularinMoonstone。Everyonerecognizedthathewasagoodphysician，andaprogressiveWesterntownlikestobeabletopointtoahandsome，well—set—up，well—dressedmanamongitscitizens。ButagreatmanypeoplethoughtArchie"distant，"andtheywereright。Hehadtheuneasymannerofamanwhoisnotamonghisownkind，andwhohasnotseenenoughoftheworldtofeelthatallpeopleareinsomesensehisownkind。Heknewthateveryonewascuriousabouthiswife，thatsheplayedasortofcharacterpartinMoonstone，andthatpeoplemadefunofher，notverydelicately。Herownfriends——mostofthemwomenwhoweredistastefultoArchie——likedtoaskhertocon—
tributetochurchcharities，justtoseehowmeanshecouldbe。Thelittle，lop—sidedcakeatthechurchsupper，thecheapestpincushion，theskimpiestapronatthebazaar，werealwaysMrs。Archie’scontribution。
Allthishurtthedoctor’spride。Butiftherewasonethinghehadlearned，itwasthattherewasnochangingBelle’snature。Hehadmarriedameanwoman；andhemustaccepttheconsequences。EveninColoradohewouldhavehadnopretextfordivorce，and，todohimjus—
tice，hehadneverthoughtofsuchathing。ThetenetsofthePresbyterianChurchinwhichhehadgrownup，thoughhehadlongceasedtobelieveinthem，stillinfluencedhisconductandhisconceptionofpropriety。Tohimtherewassomethingvulgaraboutdivorce。Adivorcedmanwasadisgracedman；atleast，hehadexhibitedhishurt，andmadeitamatterforcommongossip。RespectabilitywassonecessarytoArchiethathewaswillingtopayahighpriceforit。Aslongashecouldkeepupadecentexterior，hecouldmanagetogeton；andifhecouldhaveconcealedhiswife’slittlenessfromallhisfriends，hewouldscarcelyhavecomplained。Hewasmoreafraidofpitythanhewasofanyunhappiness。Hadtherebeenanotherwomanforwhomhecaredgreatly，hemighthavehadplentyofcour—
age；buthewasnotlikelytomeetsuchawomaninMoon—
stone。
TherewasapuzzlingtimidityinArchie’smake—up。Thethingthatheldhisshouldersstiff，thatmadehimresorttoamirthlesslittlelaughwhenhewastalkingtodullpeople，thatmadehimsometimesstumbleoverrugsandcarpets，haditscounterpartinhismind。Hehadnotthecouragetobeanhonestthinker。Hecouldcomforthimselfbyeva—
sionsandcompromises。Heconsoledhimselfforhisownmarriagebytellinghimselfthatotherpeople’swerenotmuchbetter。InhisworkhesawprettydeeplyintomaritalrelationsinMoonstone，andhecouldhonestlysaythattherewerenotmanyofhisfriendswhomheenvied。Theirwivesseemedtosuitthemwellenough，buttheywouldneverhavesuitedhim。
AlthoughDr。Archiecouldnotbringhimselftoregardmarriagemerelyasasocialcontract，butlookeduponitas
somehowmadesacredbyachurchinwhichhedidnotbe—
lieve，——asaphysicianheknewthatayoungmanwhosemarriageismerelynominalmustyetgoonlivinghislife。