"Youhavenothingtodotoyourhair，"Mrs。Harsanyisaidkindly，asTheaturnedtothemirror。"Howeverithappenstolie，it’salwayspretty。IadmireitasmuchasTanyadoes。"
Theaglancedawkwardlyawayfromherandlookedstern，butMrs。Harsanyiknewthatshewaspleased。Theywentintotheliving—room，behindthestudio，wherethetwochildrenwereplayingonthebigrugbeforethecoalgrate。Andor，theboy，wassix，asturdy，handsomechild，andthelittlegirlwasfour。ShecametrippingtomeetThea，lookinglikealittledollinherwhitenetdress——hermothermadeallherclothes。Theapickedherupandhuggedher。Mrs。Harsanyiexcusedherselfandwenttothedining—room。Shekeptonlyonemaidanddidagooddealofthehouseworkherself，besidescookingherhusband’sfavoritedishesforhim。Shewasstillunderthirty，aslender，gracefulwoman，gracious，intelligent，andcapable。Sheadaptedherselftocircumstanceswithawell—bredeasewhichsolvedmanyofherhusband’sdifficulties，andkepthim，ashesaid，fromfeelingcheapanddownattheheel。
Nomusicianeverhadabetterwife。Unfortunatelyherbeautywasofaveryfrailandimpressionablekind，andshewasbeginningtoloseit。Herfacewastoothinnow，andtherewereoftendarkcirclesunderhereyes。
Leftalonewiththechildren，TheasatdownonTanya’slittlechair——shewouldratherhavesatonthefloor，butwasafraidofrumplingherdress——andhelpedthemplay"cars"withAndor’sironrailwayset。Sheshowedhim
newwaystolayhistracksandhowtomakeswitches，setuphisNoah’sarkvillageforstationsandpackedtheani—
malsintheopencoalcarstosendthemtothestockyards。
TheyworkedouttheirshipmentsorealisticallythatwhenAndorputthetwolittlereindeerintothestockcar，Tanyasnatchedthemoutandbegantocry，sayingshewasn’tgoingtohavealltheiranimalskilled。
Harsanyicamein，jadedandtired，andaskedTheatogoonwithhergame，ashewasnotequaltotalkingmuchbeforedinner。Hesatdownandmadepretenseofglancingattheeveningpaper，buthesoondroppedit。Aftertherailroadbegantogrowtiresome，Theawentwiththechild—
rentotheloungeinthecorner，andplayedforthemthegamewithwhichsheusedtoamuseThorforhoursto—
getherbehindtheparlorstoveathome，makingshadowpicturesagainstthewallwithherhands。Herfingerswereverysupple，andshecouldmakeaduckandacowandasheepandafoxandarabbitandevenanelephant。Har—
sanyi，fromhislowchair，watchedthem，smiling。Theboywasonhisknees，jumpingupanddownwiththeexcite—
mentofguessingthebeasts，andTanyasatwithherfeettuckedunderherandclappedherfraillittlehands。Thea’sprofile，inthelamplight，teasedhisfancy。Wherehadheseenaheadlikeitbefore？
Whendinnerwasannounced，littleAndortookThea’shandandwalkedtothedining—roomwithher。Thechil—
drenalwayshaddinnerwiththeirparentsandbehavedverynicelyattable。"Mamma，"saidAndorseriouslyasheclimbedintohischairandtuckedhisnapkinintothecollarofhisblouse，"MissKronborg’shandsareeverykindofanimalthereis。"
Hisfatherlaughed。"Iwishsomebodywouldsaythataboutmyhands，Andor。"
WhenTheadinedattheHarsanyisbefore，shenoticedthattherewasanintensesuspensefromthemomenttheytooktheirplacesatthetableuntilthemasterofthehouse
hadtastedthesoup。Hehadatheorythatifthesoupwentwell，thedinnerwouldgowell；butifthesoupwaspoor，allwaslost。To—nighthetastedhissoupandsmiled，andMrs。HarsanyisatmoreeasilyinherchairandturnedherattentiontoThea。Thealovedtheirdinnertable，be—
causeitwaslightedbycandlesinsilvercandle—sticks，andshehadneverseenatablesolightedanywhereelse。
Therewerealwaysflowers，too。To—nighttherewasalittleorangetree，withorangesonit，thatoneofHarsanyi’spupilshadsenthimatThanksgivingtime。AfterHarsanyihadfinishedhissoupandaglassofredHungarianwine，helosthisfaggedlookandbecamecordialandwitty。HepersuadedTheatodrinkalittlewineto—night。Thefirsttimeshedinedwiththem，whenheurgedhertotastetheglassofsherrybesideherplate，sheastonishedthembytellingthemthatshe"neverdrank。"
Harsanyiwasthenamanofthirty—two。Hewastohaveaverybrilliantcareer，buthedidnotknowitthen。
TheodoreThomaswasperhapstheonlymaninChicagowhofeltthatHarsanyimighthaveagreatfuture。Har—
sanyibelongedtothesofterSlavictype，andwasmorelikeaPolethanaHungarian。Hewastall，slender，active，withsloping，gracefulshouldersandlongarms。Hisheadwasveryfine，stronglyanddelicatelymodelled，and，asTheaputit，"soindependent。"Alockofhisthickbrownhairusuallyhungoverhisforehead。Hiseyewaswonderful；
fulloflightandfirewhenhewasinterested，softandthoughtfulwhenhewastiredormelancholy。Themean—
ingandpoweroftwoveryfineeyesmustallhavegoneintothisone——therightone，fortunately，theonenexthisaudiencewhenheplayed。Hebelievedthattheglasseyewhichgaveonesideofhisfacesuchadull，blindlook，hadruinedhiscareer，orratherhadmadeacareerimpos—
sibleforhim。Harsanyilosthiseyewhenhewastwelveyearsold，inaPennsylvaniaminingtownwhereexplo—
siveshappenedtobekepttooneartheframeshanties
inwhichthecompanypackednewlyarrivedHungarianfamilies。
Hisfatherwasamusicianandagoodone，buthehadcruellyover—workedtheboy；keepinghimatthepianoforsixhoursadayandmakinghimplayincafesanddancehallsforhalfthenight。Andorranawayandcrossedtheoceanwithanuncle，whosmuggledhimthroughtheportasoneofhisownmanychildren。TheexplosioninwhichAndorwashurtkilledascoreofpeople，andhewasthoughtluckytogetoffwithaneye。Hestillhadaclip—
pingfromaPittsburgpaper，givingalistofthedeadandinjured。Heappearedas"Harsanyi，Andor，lefteyeandslightinjuriesaboutthehead。"ThatwashisfirstAmerican"notice"；andhekeptit。Heheldnogrudgeagainstthecoalcompany；heunderstoodthattheacci—
dentwasmerelyoneofthethingsthatareboundtohap—
peninthegeneralscrambleofAmericanlife，whereeveryonecomestograbandtakeshischance。
Whiletheywereeatingdessert，TheaaskedHarsanyiifshecouldchangeherTuesdaylessonfromafternoontomorning。"Ihavetobeatachoirrehearsalintheafter—
noon，togetreadyfortheChristmasmusic，andIexpectitwilllastuntillate。"
Harsanyiputdownhisforkandlookedup。"Achoirrehearsal？Yousinginachurch？"
"Yes。AlittleSwedishchurch，overontheNorthside。"
"Whydidyounottellus？"
"Oh，I’monlyatemporary。Theregularsopranoisnotwell。"
"Howlonghaveyoubeensingingthere？"
"EversinceIcame。Ihadtogetapositionofsomekind，"Theaexplained，flushing，"andthepreachertookmeon。Herunsthechoirhimself。Heknewmyfather，andIguesshetookmetooblige。"
Harsanyitappedthetableclothwiththeendsofhis
fingers。"Butwhydidyounevertellus？Whyareyousoreticentwithus？"
Thealookedshylyathimfromunderherbrows。"Well，it’scertainlynotveryinteresting。It’sonlyalittlechurch。
Ionlydoitforbusinessreasons。"
"Whatdoyoumean？Don’tyouliketosing？Don’tyousingwell？"
"Ilikeitwellenough，but，ofcourse，Idon’tknowany—
thingaboutsinging。Iguessthat’swhyIneversaidany—
thingaboutit。Anybodythat’sgotavoicecansinginalittlechurchlikethat。"
Harsanyilaughedsoftly——alittlescornfully，Theathought。"Soyouhaveavoice，haveyou？"
Theahesitated，lookedintentlyatthecandlesandthenatHarsanyi。"Yes，"shesaidfirmly；"Ihavegotsome，anyway。"
"Goodgirl，"saidMrs。Harsanyi，noddingandsmilingatThea。"Youmustletushearyousingafterdinner。"
Thisremarkseeminglyclosedthesubject，andwhenthecoffeewasbroughttheybegantotalkofotherthings。
HarsanyiaskedTheahowshehappenedtoknowsomuchaboutthewayinwhichfreighttrainsareoperated，andshetriedtogivehimsomeideaofhowthepeopleinlittledeserttownslivebytherailwayandordertheirlivesbythecomingandgoingofthetrains。Whentheyleftthedining—
roomthechildrenweresenttobedandMrs。HarsanyitookTheaintothestudio。Sheandherhusbandusuallysatthereintheevening。
AlthoughtheirapartmentseemedsoeleganttoThea，itwassmallandcramped。Thestudiowastheonlyspaciousroom。TheHarsanyiswerepoor，anditwasduetoMrs。
Harsanyi’sgoodmanagementthattheirlives，eveninhardtimes，movedalongwithdignityandorder。Shehadlongagofoundoutthatbillsordebtsofanykindfrightenedherhusbandandcrippledhisworkingpower。
Hesaidtheywerelikebarsonthewindows，andshutout
thefuture；theymeantthatjustsomanyhundreddollars’
worthofhislifewasdebilitatedandexhaustedbeforehegottoit。SoMrs。Harsanyisawtoitthattheyneverowedanything。Harsanyiwasnotextravagant，thoughhewassometimescarelessaboutmoney。Quietandorderandhiswife’sgoodtastewerethethingsthatmeantmosttohim。Afterthese，goodfood，goodcigars，alittlegoodwine。Heworehisclothesuntiltheywereshabby，untilhiswifehadtoaskthetailortocometothehouseandmea—
surehimfornewones。Hisnecktiessheusuallymadeher—
self，andwhenshewasinshopsshealwayskepthereyeopenforsilksinverydullorpaleshades，graysandolives，warmblacksandbrowns。
WhentheywentintothestudioMrs。HarsanyitookupherembroideryandTheasatdownbesideheronalowstool，herhandsclaspedaboutherknees。Whilehiswifeandhispupiltalked，HarsanyisankintoaCHAISELONGUEinwhichhesometimessnatchedafewmoments’restbetweenhislessons，andsmoked。Hesatwelloutofthecircleofthelamplight，hisfeettothefire。Hisfeetwereslenderandwellshaped，alwayselegantlyshod。Muchofthegraceofhismovementswasduetothefactthathisfeetwerealmostassureandflexibleashishands。Helistenedtothecon—
versationwithamusement。Headmiredhiswife’stactandkindnesswithcrudeyoungpeople；shetaughtthemsomuchwithoutseemingtobeinstructing。Whentheclockstrucknine，Theasaidshemustbegoinghome。
Harsanyiroseandflungawayhiscigarette。"Notyet。
Wehavejustbeguntheevening。Nowyouaregoingtosingforus。Ihavebeenwaitingforyoutorecoverfromdinner。Come，whatshallitbe？"hecrossedtothepiano。
Thealaughedandshookherhead，lockingherelbowsstilltighteraboutherknees。"Thankyou，Mr。Harsanyi，butifyoureallymakemesing，I’llaccompanymyself。
Youcouldn’tstandittoplaythesortofthingsIhavetosing。"
AsHarsanyistillpointedtothechairatthepiano，sheleftherstoolandwenttoit，whilehereturnedtohisCHAISE
LONGUE。Thealookedatthekeyboarduneasilyforamo—
ment，thenshebegan"Come，yeDisconsolate，"thehymnWunschhadalwayslikedtohearhersing。Mrs。Harsanyiglancedquestioninglyatherhusband，buthewaslookingintentlyatthetoesofhisboots，shadinghisforeheadwithhislongwhitehand。WhenTheafinishedthehymnshedidnotturnaround，butimmediatelybegan"TheNinetyandNine。"Mrs。Harsanyikepttryingtocatchherhus—
band’seye；buthischinonlysankloweronhiscollar。
"TherewereninetyandninethatsafelylayIntheshelterofthefold，Butonewasoutonthehillsaway，Farofffromthegatesofgold。"
Harsanyilookedather，thenbackatthefire。
"Rejoice，fortheShepherdhasfoundhissheep。"
Theaturnedonthechairandgrinned。"That’saboutenough，isn’tit？Thatsonggotmemyjob。Thepreachersaiditwassympathetic，"shemincedtheword，remember—
ingMr。Larsen’smanner。
Harsanyidrewhimselfupinhischair，restinghiselbowsonthelowarms。"Yes？Thatisbettersuitedtoyourvoice。Youruppertonesaregood，aboveG。Imustteachyousomesongs。Don’tyouknowanything——pleasant？"
Theashookherheadruefully。"I’mafraidIdon’t。Letmesee——Perhaps，"sheturnedtothepianoandputherhandsonthekeys。"IusedtosingthisforMr。Wunschalongwhileago。It’sforcontralto，butI’lltryit。"Shefrownedatthekeyboardamoment，playedthefewin—
troductorymeasures，andbegan"ACH，ICHHABESIEVERLOREN，"
Shehadnotsungitforalongtime，anditcamebacklikeanoldfriendship。Whenshefinished，Harsanyisprangfromhischairanddroppedlightlyuponhistoes，akindof
ENTRE—CHATthathesometimesexecutedwhenheformedasuddenresolution，orwhenhewasabouttofollowapureintuition，againstreason。Hiswifesaidthatwhenhegavethatspringhewasshotfromthebowofhisancestors，andnowwhenhelefthischairinthatmannersheknewhewasintenselyinterested。Hewentquicklytothepiano。
"Singthatagain。Thereisnothingthematterwithyourlowvoice，mygirl。Iwillplayforyou。Letyourvoiceout。"Withoutlookingatherhebegantheaccom—
paniment。Theadrewbackhershoulders，relaxedtheminstinctively，andsang。
Whenshefinishedthearia，Harsanyibeckonedhernearer。"SingAH——AHforme，asIindicate。"Hekepthisrighthandonthekeyboardandputhislefttoherthroat，placingthetipsofhisdelicatefingersoverherlarynx。"Again，——untilyourbreathisgone。——Trillbetweenthetwotones，always；good！Again；excellent！——
Nowup，——staythere。EandF。Notsogood，isit？Fisalwaysahardone。——Now，trythehalf—tone。——That’sright，nothingdifficultaboutit。——Now，pianissimo，AH——
AH。Now，swellit，AH——AH。——Again，followmyhand。——
Now，carryitdown。——Anybodyevertellyouanythingaboutyourbreathing？"
"Mr。LarsensaysIhaveanunusuallylongbreath，"
Thearepliedwithspirit。
Harsanyismiled。"Soyouhave，soyouhave。ThatwaswhatImeant。Now，oncemore；carryitupandthendown，AH——AH。"Heputhishandbacktoherthroatandsatwithhisheadbent，hisoneeyeclosed。Helovedtohearabigvoicethrobinarelaxed，naturalthroat，andhewasthinkingthatnoonehadeverfeltthisvoicevibratebefore。ItwaslikeawildbirdthathadflownintohisstudioonMiddletonStreetfromgoodnessknewhowfar！
Nooneknewthatithadcome，oreventhatitexisted；
leastofallthestrange，crudegirlinwhosethroatitbeatitspassionatewings。Whatasimplethingitwas，here—
flected；whyhadheneverguesseditbefore？Everythingaboutherindicatedit，——thebigmouth，thewidejawandchin，thestrongwhiteteeth，thedeeplaugh。Themachinewassosimpleandstrong，seemedtobesoeasilyoperated。
Shesangfromthebottomofherself。Herbreathcamefromdownwhereherlaughcamefrom，thedeeplaughwhichMrs。Harsanyihadoncecalled"thelaughofthepeople。"
Arelaxedthroat，avoicethatlayonthebreath，thathadneverbeenforcedoffthebreath；itroseandfellintheair—columnlikethelittleballswhichareputtoshineinthejetofafountain。Thevoicedidnotthinasitwentup；
theuppertoneswereasfullandrichasthelower，pro—
ducedinthesamewayandasunconsciously，onlywithdeeperbreath。
AtlastHarsanyithrewbackhisheadandrose。"Youmustbetired，MissKronborg。"
Whenshereplied，shestartledhim；hehadforgottenhowhardandfullofbursherspeakingvoicewas。"No，"shesaid，"singingnevertiresme。"
Harsanyipushedbackhishairwithanervoushand。
"Idon’tknowmuchaboutthevoice，butIshalltakelibertiesandteachyousomegoodsongs。Ithinkyouhaveaveryinterestingvoice。"
"I’mgladifyoulikeit。Good—night，Mr。Harsanyi。"
TheawentwithMrs。Harsanyitogetherwraps。
WhenMrs。Harsanyicamebacktoherhusband，shefoundhimwalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom。
"Don’tyouthinkhervoicewonderful，dear？"sheasked。
"Iscarcelyknowwhattothink。AllIreallyknowaboutthatgirlisthatshetiresmetodeath。Wemustnothaveheroften。IfIdidnothavemylivingtomake，then——"
hedroppedintoachairandclosedhiseyes。"HowtiredIam。Whatavoice！"
IV
AFTERthateveningThea’sworkwithHarsanyichangedsomewhat。Heinsistedthatsheshouldstudysomesongswithhim，andafteralmosteverylessonhegaveuphalfanhourofhisowntimetopracticingthemwithher。Hedidnotpretendtoknowmuchaboutvoiceproduction，butsofar，hethought，shehadacquirednoreallyinjurioushabits。Ahealthyandpowerfulorganhadfounditsownmethod，whichwasnotabadone。Hewishedtofindoutagooddealbeforeherecommendedavocalteacher。HenevertoldTheawhathethoughtabouthervoice，andmadehergeneralignoranceofanythingworthsinginghispretextforthetroublehetook。Thatwasinthebeginning。Afterthefirstfewlessonshisownpleasureandherswerepretextenough。Thesingingcameattheendofthelessonhour，andtheybothtreateditasaformofrelaxation。
Harsanyididnotsaymucheventohiswifeabouthisdiscovery。Hebroodeduponitinacuriousway。Hefoundthattheseunscientificsinginglessonsstimulatedhiminhisownstudy。AfterMissKronborglefthimheoftenlaydowninhisstudioforanhourbeforedinner，withhisheadfullofmusicalideas，withaneffervescenceinhisbrainwhichhehadsometimeslostforweekstogetherun—
derthegrindofteaching。HehadnevergotsomuchbackforhimselffromanypupilashedidfromMissKronborg。
Fromthefirstshehadstimulatedhim；somethinginherpersonalityinvariablyaffectedhim。Nowthathewasfeelinghiswaytowardhervoice，hefoundhermorein—
terestingthaneverbefore。Sheliftedthetediumofthewinterforhim，gavehimcuriousfanciesandreveries。
Musically，shewassympathetictohim。Whyallthiswas
true，heneveraskedhimself。Hehadlearnedthatonemusttakewhereandwhenonecanthemysteriousmentalir—
ritantthatrousesone’simagination；thatitisnottobehadbyorder。Sheoftenweariedhim，butsheneverboredhim。Underhercrudenessandbrusquehardness，hefelttherewasanaturequitedifferent，ofwhichhenevergotsomuchasahintexceptwhenshewasatthepiano，orwhenshesang。Itwastowardthishiddencreaturethathewastrying，forhisownpleasure，tofindhisway。Inshort，HarsanyilookedforwardtohishourwithTheaforthesamereasonthatpoorWunschhadsometimesdreadedhis；becauseshestirredhimmorethananythingshedidcouldadequatelyexplain。
OneafternoonHarsanyi，afterthelesson，wasstandingbythewindowputtingsomecollodiononacrackedfinger，andTheawasatthepianotryingover"DieLorelei"
whichhehadgivenherlastweektopractice。Itwasscarcelyasongwhichasingingmasterwouldhavegivenher，buthehadhisownreasons。Howshesangitmatteredonlytohimandtoher。Hewasplayinghisowngamenow，withoutinterference；hesuspectedthathecouldnotdosoalways。
Whenshefinishedthesong，shelookedbackoverhershoulderathimandspokethoughtfully。"Thatwasn’tright，attheend，wasit？"
"No，thatshouldbeanopen，flowingtone，somethinglikethis，"——hewavedhisfingersrapidlyintheair。"Yougettheidea？"
"No，Idon’t。Seemsaqueerending，aftertherest。"
Harsanyicorkedhislittlebottleanddroppeditintothepocketofhisvelvetcoat。"Whyso？Shipwreckscomeandgo，MARCHENcomeandgo，buttheriverkeepsrighton。
Thereyouhaveyouropen，flowingtone。"
Thealookedintentlyatthemusic。"Isee，"shesaiddully。"Oh，Isee！"sherepeatedquicklyandturnedtohimaglowingcountenance。"Itistheriver。——Oh，yes，Igetitnow！"Shelookedathimbutlongenoughtocatch
hisglance，thenturnedtothepianoagain。Harsanyiwasneverquitesurewherethelightcamefromwhenherfacesuddenlyflashedoutathiminthatway。Hereyesweretoosmalltoaccountforit，thoughtheyglitteredlikegreeniceinthesun。Atsuchmomentsherhairwasyellower，herskinwhiter，hercheekspinker，asifalamphadsuddenlybeenturnedupinsideofher。Shewentatthesongagain：
"ICHWEISSNICHT，WASSOLLESBEDEUTEN，DASICHSOTRAURIGBIN。"
Akindofhappinessvibratedinhervoice。Harsanyino—
ticedhowmuchandhowunhesitatinglyshechangedherdeliveryofthewholesong，thefirstpartaswellasthelast。
Hehadoftennoticedthatshecouldnotthinkathingoutinpassages。Untilshesawitasawhole，shewanderedlikeablindmansurroundedbytorments。Aftersheoncehadher"revelation，"aftershegottheideathattoher——notalwaystohim——explainedeverything，thenshewentfor—
wardrapidly。Butshewasnotalwayseasytohelp。Shewassometimesimpervioustosuggestion；shewouldstareathimasifsheweredeafandignoreeverythinghetoldhertodo。Then，allatonce，somethingwouldhappeninherbrainandshewouldbegintodoallthathehadbeenforweekstellinghertodo，withoutrealizingthathehadevertoldher。
To—nightTheaforgotHarsanyiandhisfinger。Shefinishedthesongonlytobeginitwithfreshenthusiasm。
"UNDDASHATMITIHREMSINGEN
DIELORELEIGETHAN。"
ShesattheresingingituntilthedarkeningroomwassofloodedwithitthatHarsanyithrewopenawindow。
"Youreallymuststopit，MissKronborg。Ishan’tbeabletogetitoutofmyheadto—night。"
Thealaughedtolerantlyasshebegantogatheruphermusic。"Why，Ithoughtyouhadgone，Mr。Harsanyi。I
likethatsong。"
ThateveningatdinnerHarsanyisatlookingintentlyintoaglassofheavyyellowwine；boringintoit，indeed，withhisoneeye，whenhisfacesuddenlybrokeintoasmile。
"Whatisit，Andor？"hiswifeasked。
Hesmiledagain，thistimeather，andtookupthenut—
crackersandaBrazilnut。"Doyouknow，"hesaidinatonesointimateandconfidentialthathemighthavebeenspeakingtohimself，——"doyouknow，IliketoseeMissKronborggetholdofanidea。Inspiteofbeingsotalented，she’snotquick。Butwhenshedoesgetanidea，itfillsheruptotheeyes。ShehadmyroomsoreekingofasongthisafternoonthatIcouldn’tstaythere。"
Mrs。Harsanyilookedupquickly，"`DieLorelei，’youmean？Onecouldn’tthinkofanythingelseanywhereinthehouse。Ithoughtshewaspossessed。Butdon’tyouthinkhervoiceiswonderfulsometimes？"
Harsanyitastedhiswineslowly。"Mydear，I’vetoldyoubeforethatIdon’tknowwhatIthinkaboutMissKronborg，exceptthatI’mgladtherearenottwoofher。