Maggiewasdazed。Shecoulddimlyperceivethatsomethingstupendoushadhappened。ShewonderedwhyPetesawfittoremonstratewiththewoman，pleadingforforgivenesswithhiseyes。
ShethoughtshenotedanairofsubmissionaboutherleoninePete。
Shewasastounded。
Themereboyoccupiedhimselfwithcock-tailsandacigar。Hewastranquillysilentforhalfanhour。Thenhebestirredhimselfandspoke。
"Well，"hesaid，sighing，"Iknewthiswasthewayitwouldbe。"
Therewasanotherstillness。Themereboyseemedtobemusing。
"Shewaspullingm’leg。That’sthewholeamountofit，"hesaid，suddenly。"It’sabloomin’shamethewaythatgirldoes。
Why，I’vespentovertwodollarsindrinksto-night。Andshegoesoffwiththatplug-uglywholooksasifhehadbeenhitinthefacewithacoin-die。Icallitrockytreatmentforafellahlikeme。
Here，waiter，bringmeacock-tailandmakeitdamnedstrong。"
Maggiemadenoreply。Shewaswatchingthedoors。"It’sameanpieceofbusiness，"complainedthemereboy。Heexplainedtoherhowamazingitwasthatanybodyshouldtreathiminsuchamanner。"ButI’llgetsquarewithher，youbet。Shewon’tgetfaraheadofyourstruly，youknow，"headded，winking。"I’lltellherplainlythatitwasbloomin’meanbusiness。Andshewon’tcomeitovermewithanyofher’now-Freddie-dears。’ShethinksmynameisFreddie，youknow，butofcourseitain’t。Ialwaystellthesepeoplesomenamelikethat，becauseiftheygotontoyourrightnametheymightuseitsometime。Understand？Oh，theydon’tfoolmemuch。"
Maggiewaspayingnoattention，beingintentuponthedoors。
Themereboyrelapsedintoaperiodofgloom，duringwhichheexterminatedanumberofcock-tailswithadeterminedair，asifreplyingdefiantlytofate。Heoccasionallybrokeforthintosentencescomposedofinvectivesjoinedtogetherinalongstring。
Thegirlwasstillstaringatthedoors。Afteratimethemereboybegantoseecobwebsjustinfrontofhisnose。
Hespurredhimselfintobeingagreeableandinsisteduponherhavingacharlotte-russeandaglassofbeer。
"They’sgone，"heremarked，"they’sgone。"Helookedatherthroughthesmokewreaths。"Shay，lil’girl，wemightishwellmakebes’ofit。Youain’tsuchbad-lookin’girl，y’know。Nothalfbad。Can’tcomeuptoNell，though。No，can’tdoit！
Well，I
shouldshaynot！Nellfine-lookin’girl！F——i——n——ine。
Youlookdamnbadlongsiderher，butbyy’selfain’tsobad。Havetodoanyhow。Nellgone。On’yyouleft。Nothalfbad，though。"
Maggiestoodup。
"I’mgoinghome，"shesaid。
Themereboystarted。
"Eh？What？Home，"hecried，struckwithamazement。
"Ibegpardon，didhearsayhome？"
"I’mgoinghome，"sherepeated。
"GreatGawd，whathavastruck，"demandedthemereboyofhimself，stupefied。
Inasemi-comatosestateheconductedheronboardanup-towncar，ostentatiouslypaidherfare，leeredkindlyatherthroughtherearwindowandfelloffthesteps。
chapter15
ChapterXV
Aforlornwomanwentalongalightedavenue。Thestreetwasfilledwithpeopledesperatelyboundonmissions。Anendlesscrowddartedattheelevatedstationstairsandthehorsecarswerethrongedwithownersofbundles。
Thepaceoftheforlornwomanwasslow。Shewasapparentlysearchingforsomeone。Sheloiterednearthedoorsofsaloonsandwatchedmenemergefromthem。Shescannedfurtivelythefacesintherushingstreamofpedestrians。Hurryingmen，bentoncatchingsomeboatortrain，jostledherelbows，failingtonoticeher，theirthoughtsfixedondistantdinners。
Theforlornwomanhadapeculiarface。Hersmilewasnosmile。Butwheninreposeherfeatureshadashadowylookthatwaslikeasardonicgrin，asifsomeonehadsketchedwithcruelforefingerindeliblelinesabouthermouth。
Jimmiecamestrollinguptheavenue。Thewomanencounteredhimwithanaggrievedair。
"Oh，Jimmie，I’vebeenlookin’alloverferyehs——，"shebegan。
Jimmiemadeanimpatientgestureandquickenedhispace。
"Ah，don’tbodderme！GoodGawd！"hesaid，withthesavagenessofamanwhoselifeispestered。
Thewomanfollowedhimalongthesidewalkinsomewhatthemannerofasuppliant。
"But，Jimmie，"shesaid，"yehstoldmeye’d——"
Jimmieturneduponherfiercelyasifresolvedtomakealaststandforcomfortandpeace。
"Say，ferGawd’ssake，Hattie，don’follermefromoneendofdehcitytehdehodder。Letup，willyehs！Givemeaminute’sres’，can’tyehs？Yehsmakesmetired，allustaggin’me。
See？
Ain’yehsgotnosense。Doyehswantpeopletehgetontome？
Gochaseyerself，ferGawd’ssake。"
Thewomansteppedcloserandlaidherfingersonhisarm。
"But，look-a-here——"
Jimmiesnarled。"Oh，gotehhell。"
Hedartedintothefrontdoorofaconvenientsaloonandamomentlatercameoutintotheshadowsthatsurroundedthesidedoor。Onthebrilliantlylightedavenueheperceivedtheforlornwomandodgingaboutlikeascout。Jimmielaughedwithanairofreliefandwentaway。
Whenhearrivedhomehefoundhismotherclamoring。
Maggiehadreturned。Shestoodshiveringbeneaththetorrentofhermother’swrath。
"Well，I’mdamned，"saidJimmieingreeting。
Hismother，totteringabouttheroom，pointedaquiveringforefinger。
"Lookuther，Jimmie，lookuther。Dere’syersister，boy。
Dere’syersister。Lookuther！Lookuther！"
Shescreamedinscoffinglaughter。
Thegirlstoodinthemiddleoftheroom。Sheedgedaboutasifunabletofindaplaceonthefloortoputherfeet。
"Ha，ha，ha，"bellowedthemother。"Dereshestands！Ain’
shepurty？Lookuther！Ain’shesweet，dehbeast？
Lookuther！
Ha，ha，lookuther！"
Shelurchedforwardandputherredandseamedhandsuponherdaughter’sface。Shebentdownandpeeredkeenlyupintotheeyesofthegirl。
"Oh，she’sjes’dessameassheeverwas，ain’she？She’shermudder’spurtydarlin’yit，ain’she？Lookuther，Jimmie！
Comehere，ferGawd’ssake，andlookuther。"
Theloud，tremendoussneeringofthemotherbroughtthedenizensoftheRumAlleytenementtotheirdoors。Womencameinthehallways。Childrenscurriedtoandfro。
"What’sup？DatJohnsonpartyonanuddertear？"
"Naw！YoungMag’scomehome！"
"Dehhellyehsay？"
ThroughtheopendoorcuriouseyesstaredinatMaggie。
Childrenventuredintotheroomandogledher，asiftheyformedthefrontrowatatheatre。Women，without，bendedtowardeachotherandwhispered，noddingtheirheadswithairsofprofoundphilosophy。Ababy，overcomewithcuriosityconcerningthisobjectatwhichallwerelooking，sidledforwardandtouchedherdress，cautiously，asifinvestigatingared-hotstove。Itsmother’svoicerangoutlikeawarningtrumpet。Sherushedforwardandgrabbedherchild，castingaterriblelookofindignationatthegirl。
Maggie’smotherpacedtoandfro，addressingthedoorfulofeyes，expoundinglikeaglibshowmanatamuseum。Hervoicerangthroughthebuilding。
"Dereshestands，"shecried，wheelingsuddenlyandpointingwithdramaticfinger。"Dereshestands！Lookuther！
Ain’sheadindy？An’shewassogoodastocomehometehhermudder，shewas！Ain’sheabeaut’？Ain’sheadindy？FerGawd’ssake！"
Thejeeringcriesendedinanotherburstofshrilllaughter。
Thegirlseemedtoawaken。"Jimmie——"
Hedrewhastilybackfromher。
"Well，now，yerahellofat’ing，ain’yeh？"hesaid，hislipscurlinginscorn。Radiantvirtuesatuponhisbrowandhisrepellinghandsexpressedhorrorofcontamination。
Maggieturnedandwent。
Thecrowdatthedoorfellbackprecipitately。Ababyfallingdowninfrontofthedoor，wrenchedascreamlikeawoundedanimalfromitsmother。Anotherwomansprangforwardandpickeditup，withachivalrousair，asifrescuingahumanbeingfromanoncomingexpresstrain。
Asthegirlpasseddownthroughthehall，shewentbeforeopendoorsframingmoreeyesstrangelymicroscopic，andsendingbroadbeamsofinquisitivelightintothedarknessofherpath。Onthesecondfloorshemetthegnarledoldwomanwhopossessedthemusicbox。
"So，"shecried，"’ereyehsarebackagain，areyehs？An’
dey’vekickedyehsout？Well，comeinan’staywidmeteh-night。
Iain’gotnomoralstandin’。"
Fromabovecameanunceasingbabbleoftongues，overallofwhichrangthemother’sderisivelaughter。
chapter16
ChapterXVI
PetedidnotconsiderthathehadruinedMaggie。Ifhehadthoughtthathersoulcouldneversmileagain，hewouldhavebelievedthemotherandbrother，whowerepyrotechnicovertheaffair，toberesponsibleforit。
Besides，inhisworld，soulsdidnotinsistuponbeingabletosmile。
"Whatdehhell？"
Hefeltatrifleentangled。Itdistressedhim。Revelationsandscenesmightbringuponhimthewrathoftheownerofthesaloon，whoinsisteduponrespectabilityofanadvancedtype。
"Whatdehhelldodeywannaraisesuchasmokeaboutitfer？"
demandedheofhimself，disgustedwiththeattitudeofthefamily。
Hesawnonecessityforanyone’slosingtheirequilibriummerelybecausetheirsisterortheirdaughterhadstayedawayfromhome。
Searchingaboutinhismindforpossiblereasonsfortheirconduct，hecameupontheconclusionthatMaggie’smotiveswerecorrect，butthatthetwootherswishedtosnarehim。Hefeltpursued。
Thewomanofbrillianceandaudacitywhomhehadmetinthehilarioushallshowedadispositiontoridiculehim。
"Alittlepalethingwithnospirit，"shesaid。"Didyounotetheexpressionofhereyes？Therewassomethinginthemaboutpumpkinpieandvirtue。Thatisapeculiarwaytheleftcornerofhermouthhasoftwitching，isn’tit？Dear，dear，mycloud-
compellingPete，whatareyoucomingto？"
Peteassertedatoncethatheneverwasverymuchinterestedinthegirl。Thewomaninterruptedhim，laughing。
"Oh，it’snotoftheslightestconsequencetome，mydearyoungman。
Youneedn’tdrawmapsformybenefit。WhyshouldIbeconcernedaboutit？"
ButPetecontinuedwithhisexplanations。Ifhewaslaughedatforhistastesinwomen，hefeltobligedtosaythattheywereonlytemporaryorindifferentones。
ThemorningafterMaggiehaddepartedfromhome，Petestoodbehindthebar。Hewasimmaculateinwhitejacketandapronandhishairwasplasteredoverhisbrowwithinfinitecorrectness。
Nocustomerswereintheplace。Petewastwistinghisnapkinedfistslowlyinabeerglass，softlywhistlingtohimselfandoccasionallyholdingtheobjectofhisattentionbetweenhiseyesandafewweakbeamsofsunlightthathadfoundtheirwayoverthethickscreensandintotheshadedroom。
Withlingeringthoughtsofthewomanofbrillianceandaudacity，thebartenderraisedhisheadandstaredthroughthevaryingcracksbetweentheswayingbamboodoors。Suddenlythewhistlingpuckerfadedfromhislips。HesawMaggiewalkingslowlypast。Hegaveagreatstart，fearingforthepreviously-
mentionedeminentrespectabilityoftheplace。
Hethrewaswift，nervousglanceabouthim，allatoncefeelingguilty。Noonewasintheroom。
Hewenthastilyovertothesidedoor。Openingitandlookingout，heperceivedMaggiestanding，asifundecided，onthecorner。
Shewassearchingtheplacewithhereyes。
AssheturnedherfacetowardhimPetebeckonedtoherhurriedly，intentuponreturningwithspeedtoapositionbehindthebarandtotheatmosphereofrespectabilityuponwhichtheproprietorinsisted。
Maggiecametohim，theanxiouslookdisappearingfromherfaceandasmilewreathingherlips。
"Oh，Pete——，"shebeganbrightly。
Thebartendermadeaviolentgestureofimpatience。
"Oh，myGawd，"criedhe，vehemently。"Whatdehhelldoyehwannahangaroun’herefer？Doyehwannagitmeintehtrouble？"
hedemandedwithanairofinjury。
Astonishmentsweptoverthegirl’sfeatures。"Why，Pete！yehstol’me——"
Peteglancedprofoundirritation。Hiscountenancereddenedwiththeangerofamanwhoserespectabilityisbeingthreatened。
"Say，yehsmakesmetired。See？Whatdehhelldehyehwannatagaroun’attermefer？Yeh’llgitmeintehtroublewiddehol’
manan’dey’llbehelltehpay！Ifheseesawomanroun’herehe’llgocrazyan’I’lllosemejob！See？Yerbruddercomeinherean’raisedhellan’dehol’manhadaputupferit！An’nowI’mdone！See？I’mdone。"
Thegirl’seyesstaredintohisface。"Pete，don’tyehremem——"
"Oh，hell，"interruptedPete，anticipating。
Thegirlseemedtohaveastrugglewithherself。Shewasapparentlybewilderedandcouldnotfindspeech。Finallysheaskedinalowvoice：
"ButwherekinIgo？"
ThequestionexasperatedPetebeyondthepowersofendurance。
Itwasadirectattempttogivehimsomeresponsibilityinamatterthatdidnotconcernhim。Inhisindignationhevolunteeredinformation。
"Oh，gotehhell，"criedhe。Heslammedthedoorfuriouslyandreturned，withanairofrelief，tohisrespectability。
Maggiewentaway。
Shewanderedaimlesslyforseveralblocks。Shestoppedonceandaskedaloudaquestionofherself："Who？"
Amanwhowaspassingnearhershoulder，humorouslytookthequestioningwordasintendedforhim。
"Eh？What？Who？Nobody！Ididn’tsayanything，"
helaughinglysaid，andcontinuedhisway。
Soonthegirldiscoveredthatifshewalkedwithsuchapparentaimlessness，somemenlookedatherwithcalculatingeyes。
Shequickenedherstep，frightened。Asaprotection，sheadoptedademeanorofintentnessasifgoingsomewhere。
Afteratimesheleftrattlingavenuesandpassedbetweenrowsofhouseswithsternnessandstoliditystampedupontheirfeatures。
Shehungherheadforshefelttheireyesgrimlyuponher。
Suddenlyshecameuponastoutgentlemaninasilkhatandachasteblackcoat，whosedecorousrowofbuttonsreachedfromhischintohisknees。ThegirlhadheardoftheGraceofGodandshedecidedtoapproachthisman。
Hisbeaming，chubbyfacewasapictureofbenevolenceandkind-heartedness。Hiseyesshonegood-will。
Butasthegirltimidlyaccostedhim，hegaveaconvulsivemovementandsavedhisrespectabilitybyavigorousside-step。
Hedidnotriskittosaveasoul。Forhowwashetoknowthattherewasasoulbeforehimthatneededsaving？
chapter17
ChapterXVII
Uponawetevening，severalmonthsafterthelastchapter，twointerminablerowsofcars，pulledbyslippinghorses，jangledalongaprominentside-street。Adozencabs，withcoat-enshroudeddrivers，clatteredtoandfro。Electriclights，whirringsoftly，shedablurredradiance。Aflowerdealer，hisfeettappingimpatiently，hisnoseandhiswaresglisteningwithrain-drops，stoodbehindanarrayofrosesandchrysanthemums。Twoorthreetheatresemptiedacrowduponthestorm-sweptpavements。Menpulledtheirhatsovertheireyebrowsandraisedtheircollarstotheirears。Womenshruggedimpatientshouldersintheirwarmcloaksandstoppedtoarrangetheirskirtsforawalkthroughthestorm。Peoplehavingbeencomparativelysilentfortwohoursburstintoaroarofconversation，theirheartsstillkindlingfromtheglowingsofthestage。
Thepavementsbecametossingseasofumbrellas。Mensteppedforthtohailcabsorcars，raisingtheirfingersinvariedformsofpoliterequestorimperativedemand。Anendlessprocessionwendedtowardelevatedstations。Anatmosphereofpleasureandprosperityseemedtohangoverthethrong，born，perhaps，ofgoodclothesandofhavingjustemergedfromaplaceofforgetfulness。
Inthemingledlightandgloomofanadjacentpark，ahandfulofwetwanderers，inattitudesofchronicdejection，wasscatteredamongthebenches。
Agirlofthepaintedcohortsofthecitywentalongthestreet。
Shethrewchangingglancesatmenwhopassedher，givingsmilinginvitationstomenofruraloruntaughtpatternandusuallyseemingsedatelyunconsciousofthemenwithametropolitansealupontheirfaces。
Crossingglitteringavenues，shewentintothethrongemergingfromtheplacesofforgetfulness。Shehurriedforwardthroughthecrowdasifintentuponreachingadistanthome，bendingforwardinherhandsomecloak，daintilyliftingherskirtsandpickingforherwell-shodfeetthedryerspotsuponthepavements。
Therestlessdoorsofsaloons，clashingtoandfro，disclosedanimatedrowsofmenbeforebarsandhurryingbarkeepers。
Aconcerthallgavetothestreetfaintsoundsofswift，machine-likemusic，asifagroupofphantommusicianswerehastening。
Atallyoungman，smokingacigarettewithasublimeair，strollednearthegirl。Hehadoneveningdress，amoustache，achrysanthemum，andalookofennui，allofwhichhekeptcarefullyunderhiseye。Seeingthegirlwalkonasifsuchayoungmanashewasnotinexistence，helookedbacktransfixedwithinterest。
Hestaredglassilyforamoment，butgaveaslightconvulsivestartwhenhediscernedthatshewasneithernew，Parisian，northeatrical。
Hewheeledabouthastilyandturnedhisstareintotheair，likeasailorwithasearch-light。
Astoutgentleman，withpompousandphilanthropicwhiskers，wentstolidlyby，thebroadofhisbacksneeringatthegirl。
Abelatedmaninbusinessclothes，andinhastetocatchacar，bouncedagainsthershoulder。"Hi，there，Mary，Ibegyourpardon！Braceup，oldgirl。"Hegraspedherarmtosteadyher，andthenwasawayrunningdownthemiddleofthestreet。
Thegirlwalkedonoutoftherealmofrestaurantsandsaloons。Shepassedmoreglitteringavenuesandwentintodarkerblocksthanthosewherethecrowdtravelled。
Ayoungmaninlightovercoatandderbyhatreceivedaglanceshotkeenlyfromtheeyesofthegirl。Hestoppedandlookedather，thrustinghishandsinhispocketsandmakingamockingsmilecurlhislips。"Come，now，oldlady，"hesaid，"youdon’tmeantotellmethatyousizedmeupforafarmer？"
Alaboringmanmarchedalongwithbundlesunderhisarms。
Toherremarks，hereplied："It’safineevenin’，ain’tit？"
Shesmiledsquarelyintothefaceofaboywhowashurryingbywithhishandsburiedinhisovercoat，hisblondelocksbobbingonhisyouthfultemples，andacheerysmileofunconcernuponhislips。Heturnedhisheadandsmiledbackather，wavinghishands。
him。"He’sallright！Hedidn’tmeananything！Letitgo！
He’sagoodfellah！"
"Din’heinsul’me？"askedthemanearnestly。
"No，"saidthey。"Ofcoursehedidn’t！He’sallright！"
"Surehedidn’insul’me？"demandedtheman，withdeepanxietyinhisvoice。
"No，no！Weknowhim！He’sagoodfellah。Hedidn’tmeananything。"
"Well，zen，"saidtheman，resolutely，"I’mgo’’pol’gize！"
Whenthewaitercame，themanstruggledtothemiddleofthefloor。
"Girlshshedyouinsul’me！Ishaydamnlie！I’pol’gize！"
"Allright，"saidthewaiter。
Themansatdown。Hefeltasleepybutstrongdesiretostraightenthingsoutandhaveaperfectunderstandingwitheverybody。
"Nell，Iallustrea’syehshquare，din’I？Yehlikesme，don’
yehs，Nell？
I’mgoo’f’ler？"
"Sure，"saidthewomanofbrillianceandaudacity。
"YehknowsI’mstuckonyehs，don’yehs，Nell？"
"Sure，"sherepeated，carelessly。
Overwhelmedbyaspasmofdrunkenadoration，hedrewtwoorthreebillsfromhispocket，and，withthetremblingfingersofanofferingpriest，laidthemonthetablebeforethewoman。
"Yehsknows，damnit，yehskinhaveallgot，’causeI’mstuckonyehs，Nell，damn’t，I——I’mstuckonyehs，Nell——buydrinksh——damn’t——we’rehavin’
heluvatime——w’enanyonetrea’smeri’——I——damn’t，Nell——we’rehavin’
heluva——time。"
Shortlyhewenttosleepwithhisswollenfacefallenforwardonhischest。
Thewomendrankandlaughed，notheedingtheslumberingmaninthecorner。
Finallyhelurchedforwardandfellgroaningtothefloor。
Thewomenscreamedindisgustanddrewbacktheirskirts。
"Comeahn，"criedone，startingupangrily，"let’sgetoutofhere。"
Thewomanofbrillianceandaudacitystayedbehind，takingupthebillsandstuffingthemintoadeep，irregularly-shapedpocket。
Agutturalsnorefromtherecumbentmancausedhertoturnandlookdownathim。
Shelaughed。"Whatadamnfool，"shesaid，andwent。
Thesmokefromthelampssettledheavilydowninthelittlecompartment，obscuringthewayout。Thesmellofoil，stiflinginitsintensity，pervadedtheair。Thewinefromanoverturnedglassdrippedsoftlydownupontheblotchesontheman’sneck。
chapter18
ChapterXVIII
Inaroomawomansatatatableeatinglikeafatmonkinapicture。
Asoiled，unshavenmanpushedopenthedoorandentered。
"Well，"saidhe，"Mag’sdead。"
"What？"saidthewoman，hermouthfilledwithbread。
"Mag’sdead，"repeatedtheman。
"Dehhellsheis，"saidthewoman。Shecontinuedhermeal。
Whenshefinishedhercoffeeshebegantoweep。
"Ikinrememberwhenhertwofeetwasnobiggerdanyert’umb，andshewearedworstedboots，"moanedshe。
"Well，whatadat？"saidtheman。
"Ikinrememberwhenshewearedworstedboots，"shecried。
Theneighborsbegantogatherinthehall，staringinattheweepingwomanasifwatchingthecontortionsofadyingdog。A
dozenwomenenteredandlamentedwithher。Undertheirbusyhandstheroomstookonthatappallingappearanceofneatnessandorderwithwhichdeathisgreeted。
Suddenlythedooropenedandawomaninablackgownrushedinwithoutstretchedarms。"Ah，poorMary，"shecried，andtenderlyembracedthemoaningone。
"Ah，whatter’bleafflictionisdis，"continuedshe。Hervocabularywasderivedfrommissionchurches。"MepoorMary，howIfeelferyehs！
Ah，whatater’bleafflictionisadisobed’entchil’。"
Hergood，motherlyfacewaswetwithtears。Shetrembledineagernesstoexpresshersympathy。Themournersatwithbowedhead，rockingherbodyheavilytoandfro，andcryingoutinahigh，strainedvoicethatsoundedlikeadirgeonsomeforlornpipe。
"Ikinrememberwhenshewearedworstedbootsan’hertwofeetswasnobiggerdanyert’umban’shewearedworstedboots，MissSmith，"shecried，raisingherstreamingeyes。
"Ah，mepoorMary，"sobbedthewomaninblack。Withlow，coddlingcries，shesankonherkneesbythemourner’schair，andputherarmsabouther。Theotherwomenbegantogroanindifferentkeys。
"Yerpoormisguidedchil’isgonenow，Mary，an’letushopeit’sferdehbes’。Yeh’llfergivehernow，Mary，won’tyehs，dear，allherdisobed’ence？Allhert’anklessbehaviortohermudderan’
allherbadness？She’sgonewhereherter’blesinswillbejudged。"
Thewomaninblackraisedherfaceandpaused。Theinevitablesunlightcamestreaminginatthewindowsandshedaghastlycheerfulnessuponthefadedhuesoftheroom。Twoorthreeofthespectatorsweresniffling，andonewasloudlyweeping。Themourneraroseandstaggeredintotheotherroom。Inamomentsheemergedwithapairoffadedbabyshoesheldinthehollowofherhand。
"Ikinrememberwhensheusedtoweardem，"criedshe。
Thewomenburstanewintocriesasiftheyhadallbeenstabbed。
Themournerturnedtothesoiledandunshavenman。
"Jimmie，boy，gogityersister！Gogityersisteran’we’llputdehbootsonherfeets！"
"Deywon’tfithernow，yehdamnfool，"saidtheman。
"Gogityersister，Jimmie，"shriekedthewoman，confrontinghimfiercely。
Themansworesullenly。Hewentovertoacornerandslowlybegantoputonhiscoat。Hetookhishatandwentout，withadragging，reluctantstep。
Thewomaninblackcameforwardandagainbesoughtthemourner。
"Yeh’llfergiveher，Mary！Yeh’llfergiveyerbad，bad，chil’！Herlifewasacursean’herdayswereblackan’yeh’llfergiveyerbadgirl？She’sgonewherehersinswillbejudged。"
"She’sgonewherehersinswillbejudged，"criedtheotherwomen，likeachoiratafuneral。
"DehLordgivesanddehLordtakesaway，"saidthewomaninblack，raisinghereyestothesunbeams。
"DehLordgivesanddehLordtakesaway，"respondedtheothers。
"Yeh’llfergiveher，Mary！"pleadedthewomaninblack。Themourneressayedtospeakbuthervoicegaveway。Sheshookhergreatshouldersfrantically，inanagonyofgrief。Hottearsseemedtoscaldherquiveringface。Finallyhervoicecameandaroselikeascreamofpain。
"Oh，yes，I’llfergiveher！I’llfergiveher！"