Itwasanestegg，amonstrous，roc-likenestegg，notsolarge，however，butthatitcouldbemadelarger。AlreadybytheendofthatwinterTrinahadbeguntomakeupthedeficitoftwohundreddollarsthatshehadbeenforcedtoexpendonthepreparationsforhermarriage。
　　McTeague，onhispart，neveraskedhimselfnow-a-dayswhetherhelovedTrinathewifeasmuchashehadlovedTrinatheyounggirl。TherehadbeenatimewhentokissTrina，totakeherinhisarms，hadthrilledhimfromheadtoheelwithahappinessthatwasbeyondwords；eventhesmellofherwonderfulodoroushairhadsentasensationoffaintnessallthroughhim。Thattimewaslongpastnow。
　　Thosesuddenoutburstsofaffectiononthepartofhislittlewoman，outburststhatonlyincreasedinvehemencethelongertheylivedtogether，puzzledratherthanpleasedhim。
　　Hehadcometosubmittothemgood-naturedly，answeringherpassionateinquirieswitha“Sure，sure，Trina，sureIloveyou。What——what’sthematterwithyou？“
　　Therewasnopassioninthedentist’sregardforhiswife。
　　Hedearlylikedtohavehernearhim，hetookanenormouspleasureinwatchingherasshemovedabouttheirrooms，verymuchathome，gayandsingingfrommorningtillnight；
　　anditwashisgreatdelighttocallherintothe“DentalParlors“whenapatientwasinthechairand，whileheheldtheplugger，tohaveherrapinthegoldfillingswiththelittlebox-woodmalletashehadtaughther。Butthattempestofpassion，thatoverpoweringdesirethathadsuddenlytakenpossessionofhimthatdaywhenhehadgivenherether，againwhenhehadcaughtherinhisarmsintheBStreetstation，andagainandagainduringtheearlydaysoftheirmarriedlife，rarelystirredhimnow。Ontheotherhand，hewasneverassailedwithdoubtsastothewisdomofhismarriage。
　　McTeaguehadrelapsedtohiswontedstolidity。Heneverquestionedhimself，neverlookedformotives，neverwenttothebottomofthings。Theyearfollowinguponthesummerofhismarriagewasatimeofgreatcontentmentforhim；afterthenoveltyofthehoneymoonhadpassedheslippedeasilyintotheneworderofthingswithoutaquestion。Thushislifewouldbeforyearstocome。Trinawasthere；hewasmarriedandsettled。Heacceptedthesituation。Thelittleanimalcomfortswhichforhimconstitutedtheenjoymentoflifewereministeredtoateveryturn，orwhentheywereinterferedwith——asinthecaseofhisSundayafternoon’snapandbeer——someagreeablesubstitutewasfound。InherattemptstoimproveMcTeague——toraisehimfromthestupidanimallifetowhichhehadbeenaccustomedinhisbachelordays——Trinawastactfulenoughtomovesocautiouslyandwithsuchslownessthatthedentistwasunconsciousofanyprocessofchange。Inthematterofthehighsilkhat，itseemedtohimthattheinitiativehadcomefromhimself。
　　Graduallythedentistimprovedundertheinfluenceofhislittlewife。Henolongerwentabroadwithfrayedcuffsabouthishugeredwrists——orworse，withoutanycuffsatall。Trinakepthislinencleanandmended，doingmostofhiswashingherself，andinsistingthatheshouldchangehisflannels——thickredflannelstheywere，withenormousbonebuttons——onceaweek，hislinenshirtstwiceaweek，andhiscollarsandcuffseverysecondday。Shebrokehimofthehabitofeatingwithhisknife，shecausedhimtosubstitutebottledbeerintheplaceofsteambeer，andsheinducedhimtotakeoffhishattoMissBaker，toHeise’swife，andtotheotherwomenofhisacquaintance。McTeaguenolongerspentaneveningatFrenna’s。InsteadofthishebroughtacoupleofbottlesofbeeruptotheroomsandshareditwithTrina。Inhis“Parlors“hewasnolongergruffandindifferenttohisfemalepatients；hearrivedatthatstagewherehecouldworkandtalktothematthesametime；
　　heevenaccompaniedthemtothedoor，andhelditopenforthemwhentheoperationwasfinished，bowingthemoutwithgreatnodsofhishugesquare-cuthead。
　　Besidesallthis，hebegantoobservethebroader，largerinterestsoflife，intereststhataffectedhimnotasanindividual，butasamemberofaclass，aprofession，orapoliticalparty。Hereadthepapers，hesubscribedtoadentalmagazine；onEaster，Christmas，andNewYear’shewenttochurchwithTrina。Hecommencedtohaveopinions，convictions——itwasnotfairtodeprivetax-payingwomenoftheprivilegetovote；auniversityeducationshouldnotbeaprerequisiteforadmissiontoadentalcollege；theCatholicpriestsweretoberestrainedintheireffortstogaincontrolofthepublicschools。
　　Butmostwonderfulofall，McTeaguebegantohaveambitions——veryvague，veryconfusedideasofsomethingbetter——ideasforthemostpartborrowedfromTrina。Someday，perhaps，heandhiswifewouldhaveahouseoftheirown。Whatadream！Alittlehomealltothemselves，withsixroomsandabath，withagrassplatinfrontandcalla-lilies。Thentherewouldbechildren。Hewouldhaveason，whosenamewouldbeDaniel，whowouldgotoHighSchool，andperhapsturnouttobeaprosperousplumberorhousepainter。ThenthissonDanielwouldmarryawife，andtheywouldalllivetogetherinthatsix-room-and-bathhouse；Danielwouldhavelittlechildren。McTeaguewouldgrowoldamongthemall。
　　Thedentistsawhimselfasavenerablepatriarchsurroundedbychildrenandgrandchildren。
　　Sothewinterpassed。ItwasaseasonofgreathappinessfortheMcTeagues；thenewlifejostleditselfintoitsgrooves。Aroutinebegan。
　　Onweekdaystheyroseathalf-pastsix，beingawakenedbytheboywhobroughtthebottledmilk，andwhohadinstructionstopounduponthebedroomdoorinpassing。
　　Trinamadebreakfast——coffee，baconandeggs，andarollofViennabreadfromthebakery。Thebreakfastwaseateninthekitchen，ontherounddealtablecoveredwiththeshinyoilclothtable-spreadtackedon。Afterbreakfastthedentistimmediatelybetookhimselftohis“Parlors“tomeethisearlymorningappointments——thosemadewiththeclerksandshopgirlswhostoppedinforhalfanhourontheirwaytotheirwork。
　　Trina，meanwhile，busiedherselfaboutthesuite，clearingawaythebreakfast，spongingofftheoilclothtable-spread，makingthebed，potteringaboutwithabroomordusterorcleaningrag。Towardsteno’clocksheopenedthewindowstoairtherooms，thenputonherdrabjacket，herlittleroundturbanwithitsredwing，tookthebutcher’sandgrocer’sbooksfromtheknifebasketinthedrawerofthekitchentable，anddescendedtothestreet，whereshespentadelicioushour——nowinthehugemarketacrosstheway，nowinthegrocer’sstorewithitsfragrantaromaofcoffeeandspices，andnowbeforethecountersofthehaberdasher’s，intentonabitofshopping，turningoverendsofveiling，stripsofelastic，orsliversofwhalebone。Onthestreetsherubbedelbowswiththegreatladiesoftheavenueintheirbeautifuldresses，oratintervalsshemetanacquaintanceortwo——MissBaker，orHeise’slamewife，orMrs。Ryer。Attimesshepassedtheflatandlookedupatthewindowsofherhome，markedbythehugegoldenmolarthatprojected，flashing，fromthebaywindowofthe“Parlors。“Shesawtheopenwindowsofthesitting-room，theNottinghamlacecurtainsstirringandbillowinginthedraft，andshecaughtsightofMariaMacapa’stowelledheadastheMexicanmaid-of-all-workwenttoandfrointhesuite，sweepingorcarryingawaytheashes。Occasionallyinthewindowsofthe“Parlors“shebeheldMcTeague’sroundedbackashebenttohiswork。Sometimes，even，theysaweachotherandwavedtheirhandsgaylyinrecognition。
　　Byeleveno’clockTrinareturnedtotheflat，herbrownnetreticule——oncehermother’s——fullofparcels。Atonceshesetaboutgettinglunch——sausages，perhaps，withmashedpotatoes；orlastevening’sjointwarmedoverormadeintoastew；chocolate，whichTrinaadored，andasidedishortwo——asaltedherringoracoupleofartichokesorasalad。Athalf-pasttwelvethedentistcameinfromthe“Parlors，“
　　bringingwithhimthesmellofcreosoteandofether。
　　Theysatdowntolunchinthesitting-room。Theytoldeachotheroftheirdoingsthroughouttheforenoon；Trinashowedherpurchases，McTeaguerecountedtheprogressofanoperation。Atoneo’clocktheyseparated，thedentistreturningtothe“Parlors，“TrinasettlingtoherworkontheNoah’sarkanimals。Ataboutthreeo’clocksheputthisworkaway，andfortherestoftheafternoonwasvariouslyoccupied——sometimesitwasthemending，sometimesthewash，sometimesnewcurtainstobeputup，orabitofcarpettobetackeddown，oralettertobewritten，oravisit——
　　generallytoMissBaker——tobereturned。Towardsfiveo’clocktheoldwomanwhomtheyhadhiredforthatpurposecametocooksupper，forevenTrinawasnotequaltothetaskofpreparingthreemealsaday。
　　ThiswomanwasFrench，andwasknowntotheflatasAugustine，noonetakingenoughinterestinhertoinquireforherlastname；allthatwasknownofherwasthatshewasadecayedFrenchlaundress，miserablypoor，hertradelongsinceruinedbyChinesecompetition。Augustinecookedwell，butshewasotherwiseundesirable，andTrinalostpatiencewithherateverymoment。TheoldFrenchwoman’smostmarkedcharacteristicwashertimidity。TrinacouldscarcelyaddressherasimpledirectionwithoutAugustinequailingandshrinking；areproof，howevergentle，threwherintoanagonyofconfusion；whileTrina’sangerpromptlyreducedhertoastateofnervouscollapse，whereinshelostallpowerofspeech，whileherheadbegantobobandnodwithanincontrollabletwitchingofthemuscles，muchliketheoscillationsoftheheadofatoydonkey。Hertimiditywasexasperating，herverypresenceintheroomunstrungthenerves，whilehermorbideagernesstoavoidoffenceonlyservedtodevelopinheraclumsinessthatwasattimesbeyondbelief。MorethanonceTrinahaddecidedthatshecouldnolongerputupwithAugustinebuteachtimeshehadretainedherasshereflecteduponheradmirablycookedcabbagesoupsandtapiocapuddings，and——whichinTrina’seyeswasherchiefestrecommendation——thepittanceforwhichshewascontentedtowork。
　　Augustinehadahusband。Hewasaspirit-medium——a“professor。“Attimesheheldseancesinthelargerroomsoftheflat，playingvigorouslyuponamouth-organandinvokingafamiliarwhomhecalled“Edna，“andwhomheassertedwasanIndianmaiden。
　　TheeveningwasaperiodofrelaxationforTrinaandMcTeague。Theyhadsupperatsix，afterwhichMcTeaguesmokedhispipeandreadthepapersforhalfanhour，whileTrinaandAugustineclearedawaythetableandwashedthedishes。Then，asoftenasnot，theywentouttogether。Oneoftheiramusementswastogo“downtown“afterdarkandpromenadeMarketandKearneyStreets。Itwasverygay；agreatmanyotherswerepromenadingtherealso。Allofthestoreswerebrilliantlylightedandmanyofthemstillopen。
　　Theywalkedaboutaimlessly，lookingintotheshopwindows。
　　TrinawouldtakeMcTeague’sarm，andhe，verymuchembarrassedatthat，wouldthrustbothhandsintohispocketsandpretendnottonotice。Theystoppedbeforethejewellers’andmilliners’windows，findingagreatdelightinpickingoutthingsforeachother，sayinghowtheywouldchoosethisandthatiftheywererich。Trinadidmostofthetalking。McTeaguemerelyapprovingbyagrowloramovementoftheheadorshoulders；shewasinterestedinthedisplaysofsomeofthecheaperstores，buthefoundanirresistiblecharminanenormousgoldenmolarwithfourprongsthathungatacornerofKearneyStreet。SometimestheywouldlookatMarsoratthemoonthroughthestreettelescopesorsitforatimeintherotundaofavastdepartmentstorewhereabandplayedeveryevening。
　　OccasionallytheymetHeisetheharness-makerandhiswife，withwhomtheyhadbecomeacquainted。Thentheeveningwasconcludedbyafour-corneredpartyintheLuxembourg，aquietGermanrestaurantunderatheatre。Trinahadatamaleandaglassofbeer，Mrs。Heisewhowasadecayedwritingteacheratesalads，withglassesofgrenadineandcurrantsyrups。Heisedrankcocktailsandwhiskeystraight，andurgedthedentisttojoinhim。ButMcTeaguewasobstinate，shakinghishead。“Ican’tdrinkthatstuff，“hesaid。“Itdon’tagreewithme，somehow；Igokindacrazyaftertwoglasses。“SohegorgedhimselfwithbeerandfrankfurtersausagesplasteredwithGermanmustard。
　　WhentheannualMechanic’sFairopened，McTeagueandTrinaoftenspenttheireveningsthere，studyingtheexhibitscarefullysinceinTrina’sestimationeducationmeantknowingthingsandbeingabletotalkaboutthem。Wearyingofthistheywouldgoupintothegallery，and，leaningover，lookdownintothehugeamphitheatrefulloflightandcolorandmovement。
　　Thererosetothemthevastshufflingnoiseofthousandsoffeetandasubduedroarofconversationlikethesoundofagreatmill。Mingledwiththiswasthepurringofdistantmachinery，thesplashingofatemporaryfountain，andtherhythmicjanglingofabrassband，whileinthepianoexhibitahiredperformerwasplayinguponaconcertgrandwithagreatflourish。Nearerathandtheycouldcatchendsofconversationandnotesoflaughter，thenoiseofmovingdresses，andtherustleofstifflystarchedskirts。Hereandthereschoolchildrenelbowedtheirwaythroughthecrowd，cryingshrilly，theirhandsfullofadvertisementpamphlets，fans，picturecards，andtoywhips，whiletheairitselfwasfullofthesmelloffreshpopcorn。