"I’llhavetogodowntomyofficetogetsomemedicine，Kronborg。Thedrugstorewon’tbeopen。Keepthecoversonher。Iwon’tbegonelong。Shakedownthestoveandputonalittlecoal，butnottoomuch；soit’llcatchquickly，Imean。Findanoldsheetforme，andputittheretowarm。"
　　Thedoctorcaughthiscoatandhurriedoutintothedarkstreet。Nobodywasstirringyet，andthecoldwasbitter。
　　Hewastiredandhungryandinnomildhumor。"Theidea！"hemuttered；"tobesuchanassathisage，abouttheseventh！Andtofeelnoresponsibilityaboutthelittlegirl。
　　Sillyoldgoat！Thebabywouldhavegotintotheworldsomehow；theyalwaysdo。Butanicelittlegirllikethat——she’sworththewholelitter。Wheresheevergotitfrom——"HeturnedintotheDukeBlockandranupthestairstohisoffice。
　　TheaKronborg，meanwhile，waswonderingwhyshehappenedtobeintheparlor，wherenobodybutcompany——usuallyvisitingpreachers——everslept。Shehadmo—
　　mentsofstuporwhenshedidnotseeanything，andmo—
　　mentsofexcitementwhenshefeltthatsomethingunusualandpleasantwasabouttohappen，whenshesawevery—
　　thingclearlyintheredlightfromtheisinglasssidesofthehard—coalburner——thenickeltrimmingsonthestoveitself，thepicturesonthewall，whichshethoughtverybeautiful，theflowersontheBrusselscarpet，Czerny’s"DailyStudies"whichstoodopenontheuprightpiano。
　　Sheforgot，forthetimebeing，allaboutthenewbaby。
　　Whensheheardthefrontdooropen，itoccurredtoherthatthepleasantthingwhichwasgoingtohappenwasDr。Archiehimself。Hecameinandwarmedhishandsatthestove。Asheturnedtoher，shethrewherselfwearilytowardhim，halfoutofherbed。Shewouldhavetumbledtothefloorhadhenotcaughther。Hegavehersomemedi—
　　cineandwenttothekitchenforsomethingheneeded。Shedrowsedandlostthesenseofhisbeingthere。Whensheopenedhereyesagain，hewaskneelingbeforethestove，spreadingsomethingdarkandstickyonawhitecloth，withabigspoon；batter，perhaps。Presentlyshefelthimtakingoffhernightgown。Hewrappedthehotplasteraboutherchest。Thereseemedtobestrapswhichhepinnedoverhershoulders。Thenhetookoutathreadandneedleandbe—
　　gantosewherupinit。That，shefelt，wastoostrange；
　　shemustbedreaminganyhow，soshesuccumbedtoherdrowsiness。
　　Theahadbeenmoaningwitheverybreathsincethedoctorcameback，butshedidnotknowit。Shedidnotrealizethatshewassufferingpain。Whenshewascon—
　　sciousatall，sheseemedtobeseparatedfromherbody；tobeperchedontopofthepiano，oronthehanginglamp，watchingthedoctorsewherup。Itwasperplexingandunsatisfactory，likedreaming。Shewishedshecouldwakenupandseewhatwasgoingon。
　　ThedoctorthankedGodthathehadpersuadedPeterKronborgtokeepoutoftheway。Hecoulddobetterbythechildifhehadhertohimself。Hehadnochildrenofhisown。Hismarriagewasaveryunhappyone。AsheliftedandundressedThea，hethoughttohimselfwhatabeauti—
　　fulthingalittlegirl’sbodywas，——likeaflower。Itwassoneatlyanddelicatelyfashioned，sosoft，andsomilkywhite。Theamusthavegotherhairandhersilkyskinfromhermother。ShewasalittleSwede，throughandthrough。
　　Dr。Archiecouldnothelpthinkinghowhewouldcherishalittlecreaturelikethisifshewerehis。Herhands，solit—
　　tleandhot，soclever，too，——heglancedattheopenexer—
　　cisebookonthepiano。Whenhehadstitcheduptheflax—
　　seedjacket，hewipeditneatlyabouttheedges，wherethepastehadworkedoutontheskin。Heputonherthecleannightgownhehadwarmedbeforethefire，andtuckedtheblanketsabouther。Ashepushedbackthehairthathadfuzzeddownoverhereyebrows，hefeltherheadthought—
　　fullywiththetipsofhisfingers。No，hecouldn’tsaythatitwasdifferentfromanyotherchild’shead，thoughhebelievedthattherewassomethingverydifferentabouther。Helookedintentlyatherwide，flushedface，frecklednose，fiercelittlemouth，andherdelicate，tenderchin——theonesofttouchinherhardlittleScandinavianface，asifsomefairygodmotherhadcaressedherthereandleftacrypticpromise。Herbrowswereusuallydrawntogetherdefiantly，butneverwhenshewaswithDr。Archie。Heraffectionforhimwasprettierthanmostofthethingsthatwenttomakeupthedoctor’slifeinMoonstone。
　　Thewindowsgrewgray。Heheardatrampingontheatticfloor，onthebackstairs，thencries："Givememyshirt！""Where’smyotherstocking？"
　　"I’llhavetostaytilltheygetofftoschool，"hereflected，"orthey’llbeinheretormentingher，thewholelotofthem。"
　　II
　　ForthenextfourdaysitseemedtoDr。Archiethathispatientmightslipthroughhishands，dowhathemight。Butshedidnot。Onthecontrary，afterthatsherecoveredveryrapidly。Asherfatherremarked，shemusthaveinheritedthe"constitution"whichhewasnevertiredofadmiringinhermother。
　　Oneafternoon，whenhernewbrotherwasaweekold，thedoctorfoundTheaverycomfortableandhappyinherbedintheparlor。Thesunlightwaspouringinoverhershoulders，thebabywasasleeponapillowinabigrocking—chairbesideher。Wheneverhestirred，sheputoutherhandandrockedhim。Nothingofhimwasvisiblebutaflushed，puffyfore—
　　headandanuncompromisinglybig，baldcranium。Thedoorintohermother’sroomstoodopen，andMrs。Kronborgwassittingupinbeddarningstockings。Shewasashort，stalwartwoman，withashortneckandadetermined—lookinghead。Herskinwasveryfair，herfacecalmandunwrinkled，andheryellowhair，braideddownherbackasshelayinbed，stilllookedlikeagirl’s。ShewasawomanwhomDr。Archierespected；active，practical，unruffled；good—
　　humored，butdetermined。Exactlythesortofwomantotakecareofaflightypreacher。Shehadbroughtherhus—
　　bandsomeproperty，too，——onefourthofherfather’sbroadacresinNebraska，——butthisshekeptinherownname。
　　Shehadprofoundrespectforherhusband’seruditionandeloquence。Shesatunderhispreachingwithdeephumility，andwasasmuchtakeninbyhisstiffshirtandwhiteneck—
　　tiesasifshehadnotironedthemherselfbylamplightthenightbeforetheyappearedcorrectandspotlessinthepul—
　　pit。Butforallthis，shehadnoconfidenceinhisadminis—
　　trationofworldlyaffairs。Shelookedtohimformorning
　　prayersandgraceattable；sheexpectedhimtonamethebabiesandtosupplywhateverparentalsentimenttherewasinthehouse，torememberbirthdaysandanniver—
　　saries，topointthechildrentomoralandpatrioticideals。
　　Itwasherworktokeeptheirbodies，theirclothes，andtheirconductinsomesortoforder，andthissheaccom—
　　plishedwithasuccessthatwasasourceofwondertoherneighbors。Assheusedtoremark，andherhusbandad—
　　miringlytoecho，she"hadneverlostone。"Withallhisflightiness，PeterKronborgappreciatedthematter—of—fact，punctualwayinwhichhiswifegotherchildrenintotheworldandalonginit。Hebelieved，andhewasrightinbelieving，thatthesovereignStateofColoradowasmuchindebtedtoMrs。Kronborgandwomenlikeher。
　　Mrs。Kronborgbelievedthatthesizeofeveryfamilywasdecidedinheaven。Moremodernviewswouldnothavestartledher；theywouldsimplyhaveseemedfoolish——
　　thinchatter，liketheboastsofthemenwhobuiltthetowerofBabel，orlikeAxel’splantobreedostrichesinthechickenyard。FromwhatevidenceMrs。Kronborgformedheropinionsonthisandothermatters，itwouldhavebeendifficulttosay，butonceformed，theywereunchangeable。
　　Shewouldnomorehavequestionedherconvictionsthanshewouldhavequestionedrevelation。Calmandeven—
　　tempered，naturallykind，shewascapableofstrongpre—
　　judices，andsheneverforgave。
　　WhenthedoctorcameintoseeThea，Mrs。Kronborgwasreflectingthatthewashingwasaweekbehind，andde—
　　cidingwhatshehadbetterdoaboutit。Thearrivalofanewbabymeantarevisionofherentiredomesticschedule，andasshedroveherneedlealongshehadbeenworkingoutnewsleepingarrangementsandcleaningdays。Thedoctorhadenteredthehousewithoutknocking，aftermakingnoiseenoughinthehalltopreparehispatients。Theawasreading，herbookproppedupbeforeherinthesun—
　　light。
　　"Mustn’tdothat；badforyoureyes，"hesaid，asTheashutthebookquicklyandslippeditunderthecovers。
　　Mrs。Kronborgcalledfromherbed："Bringthebabyhere，doctor，andhavethatchair。Shewantedhiminthereforcompany。"
　　Beforethedoctorpickedupthebaby，heputayellowpaperbagdownonThea’scoverlidandwinkedather。
　　Theyhadacodeofwinksandgrimaces。Whenhewentintochatwithhermother，Theaopenedthebagcautiously，tryingtokeepitfromcrackling。Shedrewoutalongbunchofwhitegrapes，withalittleofthesawdustinwhichtheyhadbeenpackedstillclingingtothem。TheywerecalledMalagagrapesinMoonstone，andonceortwiceduringthewintertheleadinggrocergotakegofthem。Theywereusedmainlyfortabledecoration，aboutChristmas—time。
　　Theahadneverhadmorethanonegrapeatatimebefore。
　　Whenthedoctorcamebackshewasholdingthealmosttransparentfruitupinthesunlight，feelingthepale—greenskinssoftlywiththetipsofherfingers。Shedidnotthankhim；sheonlysnappedhereyesathiminaspecialwaywhichheunderstood，and，whenhegaveherhishand，putitquicklyandshylyunderhercheek，asifsheweretryingtodosowithoutknowingit——andwithouthisknowingit。
　　Dr。Archiesatdownintherocking—chair。"Andhow’sTheafeelingto—day？"
　　Hewasquiteasshyashispatient，especiallywhenathirdpersonoverheardhisconversation。Bigandhand—
　　someandsuperiortohisfellowtownsmenasDr。Archiewas，hewasseldomathisease，andlikePeterKronborgheoftendodgedbehindaprofessionalmanner。Therewassometimesacontractionofembarrassmentandself—
　　consciousnessalloverhisbigbody，whichmadehimawk—
　　ward——likelytostumble，tokickuprugs，ortoknockoverchairs。Ifanyonewasverysick，heforgothimself，buthehadaclumsytouchinconvalescentgossip。
　　Theacurleduponhersideandlookedathimwithpleasure。"Allright。Iliketobesick。Ihavemorefunthenthanothertimes。"
　　"How’sthat？"
　　"Idon’thavetogotoschool，andIdon’thavetoprac—
　　tice。IcanreadallIwantto，andhavegoodthings，"——
　　shepattedthegrapes。"IhadlotsoffunthattimeI
　　mashedmyfingerandyouwouldn’tletProfessorWunschmakemepractice。OnlyIhadtodolefthand，eventhen。
　　Ithinkthatwasmean。"
　　Thedoctortookherhandandexaminedtheforefinger，wherethenailhadgrownbackalittlecrooked。"Youmustn’ttrimitdowncloseatthecornerthere，andthenitwillgrowstraight。Youwon’twantitcrookedwhenyou’reabiggirlandwearringsandhavesweethearts。"
　　Shemadeamockinglittlefaceathimandlookedathisnewscarf—pin。"That’stheprettiestoneyouev—ERhad。
　　Iwishyou’dstayalongwhileandletmelookatit。Whatisit？"
　　Dr。Archielaughed。"It’sanopal。SpanishJohnnybroughtitupformefromChihuahuainhisshoe。IhaditsetinDenver，andIworeitto—dayforyourbenefit。"
　　Theahadacuriouspassionforjewelry。Shewantedeveryshiningstoneshesaw，andinsummershewasalwaysgoingoffintothesandhillstohuntforcrystalsandagatesandbitsofpinkchalcedony。Shehadtwocigarboxesfullofstonesthatshehadfoundortradedfor，andsheimaginedthattheywereofenormousvalue。Shewasalwaysplan—
　　ninghowshewouldhavethemset。
　　"Whatareyoureading？"ThedoctorreachedunderthecoversandpulledoutabookofByron’spoems。"Doyoulikethis？"
　　Shelookedconfused，turnedoverafewpagesrapidly，andpointedto"Mynativeland，good—night。""That，"
　　shesaidsheepishly。
　　"Howabout`MaidofAthens’？"
　　Sheblushedandlookedathimsuspiciously。"Ilike’Therewasasoundofrevelry，’"shemuttered。
　　Thedoctorlaughedandclosedthebook。ItwasclumsilyboundinpaddedleatherandhadbeenpresentedtotheReverendPeterKronborgbyhisSunday—Schoolclassasanornamentforhisparlortable。
　　"Comeintotheofficesomeday，andI’lllendyouanicebook。Youcanskipthepartsyoudon’tunderstand。Youcanreaditinvacation。Perhapsyou’llbeabletounder—
　　standallofitbythen。"
　　Theafrownedandlookedfretfullytowardthepiano。
　　"InvacationIhavetopracticefourhourseveryday，andthenthere’llbeThortotakecareof。"Shepronouncedit"Tor。"
　　"Thor？Oh，you’venamedthebabyThor？"exclaimedthedoctor。
　　Theafrownedagain，stillmorefiercely，andsaidquickly，"That’sanicename，onlymaybeit’salittle——old—
　　fashioned。"Shewasverysensitiveaboutbeingthoughtaforeigner，andwasproudofthefactthat，intown，herfatheralwayspreachedinEnglish；verybookishEnglish，atthat，onemightadd。
　　BorninanoldScandinaviancolonyinMinnesota，PeterKronborghadbeensenttoasmalldivinityschoolinIndianabythewomenofaSwedishevangelicalmission，whowereconvincedofhisgiftsandwhoskimpedandbeggedandgavechurchsupperstogetthelong，lazyyouththroughtheseminary。HecouldstillspeakenoughSwed—
　　ishtoexhortandtoburythemembersofhiscountrychurchoutatCopperHole，andhewieldedinhisMoon—
　　stonepulpitasomewhatpompousEnglishvocabularyhehadlearnedoutofbooksatcollege。Healwaysspokeof"theinfantSaviour，""ourHeavenlyFather，"etc。Thepoormanhadnonatural，spontaneoushumanspeech。Ifhehadhissinceremoments，theywereperforceinarticu—
　　late。Probablyagooddealofhispretentiousnesswasdue
　　tothefactthathehabituallyexpressedhimselfinabook—
　　learnedlanguage，whollyremotefromanythingpersonal，native，orhomely。Mrs。KronborgspokeSwedishtoherownsistersandtohersister—in—lawTillie，andcolloquialEnglishtoherneighbors。Thea，whohadarathersensitiveear，untilshewenttoschoolneverspokeatall，exceptinmonosyllables，andhermotherwasconvincedthatshewastongue—tied。Shewasstillineptinspeechforachildsointelligent。Herideaswereusuallyclear，butsheseldomattemptedtoexplainthem，evenatschool，wheresheexcelledin"writtenwork"andneverdidmorethanmutterareply。
　　"Yourmusicprofessorstoppedmeonthestreetto—dayandaskedmehowyouwere，"saidthedoctor，rising。
　　"He’llbesickhimself，trottingaroundinthisslushwithnoovercoatorovershoes。"
　　"He’spoor，"saidTheasimply。
　　Thedoctorsighed。"I’mafraidhe’sworsethanthat。
　　Ishealwaysallrightwhenyoutakeyourlessons？Neveractsasifhe’dbeendrinking？"
　　Thealookedangryandspokeexcitedly。"Heknowsalot。Morethananybody。Idon’tcareifhedoesdrink；
　　he’soldandpoor。"Hervoiceshookalittle。
　　Mrs。Kronborgspokeupfromthenextroom。"He’sagoodteacher，doctor。It’sgoodforushedoesdrink。He’dneverbeinalittleplacelikethisifhedidn’thavesomeweakness。Thesewomenthatteachmusicaroundheredon’tknownothing。Iwouldn’thavemychildwastingtimewiththem。IfProfessorWunschgoesaway，Thea’llhavenobodytotakefrom。He’scarefulwithhisscholars；
　　hedon’tusebadlanguage。Mrs。KohlerisalwayspresentwhenTheatakesherlesson。It’sallright。"Mrs。Kronborgspokecalmlyandjudicially。Onecouldseethatshehadthoughtthematteroutbefore。
　　"I’mgladtohearthat，Mrs。Kronborg。Iwishwecouldgettheoldmanoffhisbottleandkeephimtidy。Doyou
　　supposeifIgaveyouanoldovercoatyoucouldgethimtowearit？"ThedoctorwenttothebedroomdoorandMrs。
　　Kronborglookedupfromherdarning。
　　"Why，yes，Iguesshe’dbegladofit。He’lltakemostanythingfromme。Hewon’tbuyclothes，butIguesshe’dwear’emifhehad’em。I’veneverhadanyclothestogivehim，havingsomanytomakeoverfor。"
　　"I’llhaveLarrybringthecoataroundto—night。Youaren’tcrosswithme，Thea？"takingherhand。
　　Theagrinnedwarmly。"NotifyougiveProfessorWunschacoat——andthings，"shetappedthegrapessig—
　　nificantly。Thedoctorbentoverandkissedher。
　　III
　　Beingsickwasallverywell，butTheaknewfromexperiencethatstartingbacktoschoolagainwasattendedbydepressingdifficulties。OneMondaymorningshegotupearlywithAxelandGunner，whosharedherwingroom，andhurriedintothebackliving—room，betweenthedining—roomandthekitchen。There，besideasoft—coalstove，theyoungerchildrenofthefamilyundressedatnightanddressedinthemorning。Theolderdaughter，Anna，andthetwobigboyssleptupstairs，wheretheroomsweretheoreticallywarmedbystovepipesfrombelow。Thefirst（andtheworst！）thingthatconfrontedTheawasasuitofclean，pricklyredflannel，freshfromthewash。UsuallythetormentofbreakinginacleansuitofflannelcameonSunday，butyesterday，asshewasstayinginthehouse，shehadbeggedoff。Theirwinterunderwearwasatrialtoallthechildren，butitwasbitteresttoTheabecauseshehappenedtohavethemostsensitiveskin。Whileshewastuggingiton，herAuntTilliebroughtinwarmwaterfromtheboilerandfilledthetinpitcher。Theawashedherface，brushedandbraidedherhair，andgotintoherbluecash—
　　meredress。Overthisshebuttonedalongapron，withsleeves，whichwouldnotberemoveduntilsheputonhercloaktogotoschool。GunnerandAxel，onthesoapboxbehindthestove，hadtheirusualquarrelaboutwhichshouldwearthetighteststockings，buttheyexchangedreproachesinlowtones，fortheywerewholesomelyafraidofMrs。Kronborg’srawhidewhip。Shedidnotchastiseherchildrenoften，butshediditthoroughly。Onlyasome—
　　whatsternsystemofdisciplinecouldhavekeptanydegreeoforderandquietinthatovercrowdedhouse。
　　Mrs。Kronborg’schildrenwerealltrainedtodressthem—
　　selvesattheearliestpossibleage，tomaketheirownbeds，——theboysaswellasthegirls，——totakecareoftheirclothes，toeatwhatwasgiventhem，andtokeepoutoftheway。Mrs。Kronborgwouldhavemadeagoodchess—
　　player；shehadaheadformovesandpositions。
　　Anna，theelderdaughter，washermother’slieutenant。
　　AllthechildrenknewthattheymustobeyAnna，whowasanobstinatecontenderforproprietiesandnotalwaysfair—
　　minded。ToseetheyoungKronborgsheadedforSunday—
　　Schoolwaslikewatchingamilitarydrill。Mrs。Kronborgletherchildren’smindsalone。Shedidnotpryintotheirthoughtsornagthem。Sherespectedthemasindividuals，andoutsideofthehousetheyhadagreatdealofliberty。
　　Buttheircommunallifewasdefinitelyordered。
　　Inthewinterthechildrenbreakfastedinthekitchen；
　　GusandCharleyandAnnafirst，whiletheyoungerchil—
　　drenweredressing。Guswasnineteenandwasaclerkinadry—goodsstore。Charley，eighteenmonthsyounger，workedinafeedstore。Theyleftthehousebythekitchendooratseveno’clock，andthenAnnahelpedherAuntTilliegetthebreakfastfortheyoungerones。Withoutthehelpofthissister—in—law，TillieKronborg，Mrs。Kronborg’slifewouldhavebeenahardone。Mrs。KronborgoftenremindedAnnathat"nohiredhelpwouldeverhavetakenthesameinterest。"
　　Mr。Kronborgcameofapoorerstockthanhiswife；fromalowly，ignorantfamilythathadlivedinapoorpartofSweden。Hisgreat—grandfatherhadgonetoNorwaytoworkasafarmlaborerandhadmarriedaNorwegiangirl。
　　ThisstrainofNorwegianbloodcameoutsomewhereineachgenerationoftheKronborgs。TheintemperanceofoneofPeterKronborg’suncles，andthereligiousmaniaofanother，hadbeenalikechargedtotheNorwegiangrandmother。BothPeterKronborgandhissisterTillieweremoreliketheNorwegianrootofthefamilythanliketheSwedish，andthissameNorwegianstrainwas
　　stronginThea，thoughinherittookaverydifferentcharacter。
　　Tilliewasaqueer，addle—patedthing，asflightyasagirlatthirty—five，andoverweeninglyfondofgayclothes——
　　whichtaste，asMrs。Kronborgphilosophicallysaid，didnobodyanyharm。Tilliewasalwayscheerful，andhertonguewasstillforscarcelyaminuteduringtheday。Shehadbeencruellyoverworkedonherfather’sMinnesotafarmwhenshewasayounggirl，andshehadneverbeensohappyasshewasnow；hadneverbefore，asshesaid，hadsuchsocialadvantages。ShethoughtherbrotherthemostimportantmaninMoonstone。Shenevermissedachurchservice，and，muchtotheembarrassmentofthechildren，shealways"spokeapiece"attheSunday—Schoolconcerts。Shehadacompletesetof"StandardRecita—
　　tions，"whichsheconnedonSundays。Thismorning，whenTheaandhertwoyoungerbrotherssatdowntobreakfast，TilliewasremonstratingwithGunnerbecausehehadnotlearnedarecitationassignedtohimforGeorgeWashingtonDayatschool。TheunmemorizedtextlayheavilyonGunner’sconscienceasheattackedhisbuckwheatcakesandsausage。HeknewthatTilliewasintheright，andthat"whenthedaycamehewouldbeashamedofhimself。"
　　"Idon’tcare，"hemuttered，stirringhiscoffee；"theyoughtn’ttomakeboysspeak。It’sallrightforgirls。Theyliketoshowoff。"
　　"Noshowingoffaboutit。Boysoughttoliketospeakupfortheircountry。Andwhatwastheuseofyourfatherbuyingyouanewsuit，ifyou’renotgoingtotakepartinanything？"
　　"ThatwasforSunday—School。I’dratherwearmyoldone，anyhow。Whydidn’ttheygivethepiecetoThea？"
　　Gunnergrumbled。
　　Tilliewasturningbuckwheatcakesatthegriddle。
　　"Theacanplayandsing，shedon’tneedtospeak。Butyou’vegottoknowhowtodosomething，Gunner，that
　　youhave。Whatareyougoingtodowhenyougitbigandwanttogitintosociety，ifyoucan’tdonothing？Every—
　　body’llsay，`Canyousing？Canyouplay？Canyouspeak？Thengitrightoutofsociety。’An’that’swhatthey’llsaytoyou，Mr。Gunner。"
　　GunnerandAlexgrinnedatAnna，whowaspreparinghermother’sbreakfast。TheynevermadefunofTillie，buttheyunderstoodwellenoughthatthereweresubjectsuponwhichherideaswereratherfoolish。WhenTilliestrucktheshallows，Theawasusuallypromptinturningtheconversation。
　　"WillyouandAxelletmehaveyoursledatrecess？"
　　sheasked。
　　"Allthetime？"askedGunnerdubiously。
　　"I’llworkyourexamplesforyouto—night，ifyoudo。"
　　"Oh，allright。There’llbealotof’em。"
　　"Idon’tmind，Icanwork’emfast。Howaboutyours，Axel？"
　　Axelwasafatlittleboyofseven，withpretty，lazyblueeyes。"Idon’tcare，"hemurmured，butteringhislastbuckwheatcakewithoutambition；"toomuchtroubletocopy’emdown。JennySmiley’llletmehavehers。"
　　TheboysweretopullTheatoschoolontheirsled，asthesnowwasdeep。Thethreesetofftogether。Annawasnowinthehighschool，andshenolongerwentwiththefamilyparty，butwalkedtoschoolwithsomeoftheoldergirlswhowereherfriends，andworeahat，notahoodlikeThea。