actuallyputtingherfingeronthetone："Thereitis，friends！"
　　Thismorning，inGounod’s"AveMaria，"asMissDar—
　　ceyapproachedherBnatural，——
　　DANS———NOSA——LAR——————MES！
　　outwentthehand，withthesureairygesture，thoughitwaslittleaboveAshegotwithhervoice，whatevershetouchedwithherfinger。OftenBowersletsuchthingspass——withtherightpeople——butthismorninghesnappedhisjawstogetherandmuttered，"God！"MissDarceytriedagain，withthesamegestureasofputtingthecrowningtouch，tiltingherheadandsmilingradiantlyatBowers，asiftosay，"ItisforyouIdoallthis！"
　　DANS——NOSA——LAR——————MES！
　　ThistimeshemadeBflat，andwentoninthehappybeliefthatshehaddonewellenough，whenshesuddenlyfoundthatheraccompanistwasnotgoingonwithher，andthisputheroutcompletely。
　　SheturnedtoThea，whosehandshadfalleninherlap。
　　"Ohwhydidyoustopjustthere！ItIStootrying！Nowwe’dbettergobacktothatotherCRESCENDOandtryitfromthere。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"Theamuttered。"IthoughtyouwantedtogetthatBnatural。"Shebeganagain，asMissDarceyindicated。
　　Afterthesingerwasgone，BowerswalkeduptoTheaandaskedlanguidly，"WhydoyouhateJessieso？Herlittlevariationsfrompitcharebetweenherandherpublic；
　　theydon’thurtyou。Hassheeverdoneanythingtoyouexceptbeveryagreeable？"
　　"Yes，shehasdonethingstome，"Thearetortedhotly。
　　Bowerslookedinterested。"What，forexample？"
　　"Ican’texplain，butI’vegotitinforher。"
　　Bowerslaughed。"Nodoubtaboutthat。I’llhaveto
　　suggestthatyouconcealitalittlemoreeffectually。Thatis——necessary，MissKronborg，"headded，lookingbackovertheshoulderoftheovercoathewasputtingon。
　　HewentouttolunchandTheathoughtthesubjectclosed。Butlateintheafternoon，whenhewastakinghisdyspepsiatabletandaglassofwaterbetweenlessons，helookedupandsaidinavoiceironicallycoaxing：——
　　"MissKronborg，IwishyouwouldtellmewhyyouhateJessie。"
　　TakenbysurpriseTheaputdownthescoreshewasreadingandansweredbeforesheknewwhatshewassay—
　　ing，"IhateherforthesakeofwhatIusedtothinkasingermightbe。"
　　Bowersbalancedthetabletontheendofhislongfore—
　　fingerandwhistledsoftly。"Andhowdidyouformyourconceptionofwhatasingeroughttobe？"heasked。
　　"Idon’tknow。"Theaflushedandspokeunderherbreath；"butIsupposeIgotmostofitfromHarsanyi。"
　　Bowersmadenocommentuponthisreply，butopenedthedoorforthenextpupil，whowaswaitingintherecep—
　　tion—room。
　　ItwasdarkwhenThealeftthestudiothatnight。
　　SheknewshehadoffendedBowers。Somehowshehadhurtherself，too。Shefeltunequaltotheboarding—housetable，thesneakingdivinitystudentwhosatnextherandhadtriedtokissheronthestairslastnight。ShewentovertothewatersideofMichiganAvenueandwalkedalongbesidethelake。Itwasaclear，frostywinternight。
　　Thegreatemptyspaceoverthewaterwasrestfulandspokeoffreedom。Ifshehadanymoneyatall，shewouldgoaway。Thestarsglitteredoverthewideblackwater。
　　Shelookedupatthemwearilyandshookherhead。Shebelievedthatwhatshefeltwasdespair，butitwasonlyoneoftheformsofhope。Shefelt，indeed，asifshewerebid—
　　dingthestarsgood—bye；butshewasrenewingapromise。
　　Thoughtheirchallengeisuniversalandeternal，thestars
　　getnoanswerbutthat，——thebrieflightflashedbacktothemfromtheeyesoftheyoungwhounaccountablyaspire。
　　Therich，noisy，city，fatwithfoodanddrink，isaspentthing；itschiefconcernisitsdigestionanditslittlegameofhide—and—seekwiththeundertaker。Moneyandofficeandsuccessaretheconsolationsofimpotence。For—
　　tuneturnskindtosuchsolidpeopleandletsthemsucktheirboneinpeace。Sheflecksherwhipuponfleshthatismorealive，uponthatstreamofhungryboysandgirlswhotrampthestreetsofeverycity，recognizablebytheirprideanddiscontent，whoaretheFuture，andwhopossessthetreasureofcreativepower。
　　III
　　WHILEherlivingarrangementsweresocasualandfortuitous，Bowers’sstudiowastheonefixedthinginThea’slife。Shewentoutfromittouncertainties，andhastenedtoitfromnebulousconfusion。ShewasmoreinfluencedbyBowersthansheknew。Unconsciouslyshebegantotakeonsomethingofhisdrycontempt，andtosharehisgrudgewithoutunderstandingexactlywhatitwasabout。Hiscynicismseemedtoherhonest，andtheamiabilityofhispupilsartificial。Sheadmiredhisdrastictreatmentofhisdullpupils。Thestupiddeservedalltheygot，andmore。Bowersknewthatshethoughthimaverycleverman。
　　OneafternoonwhenBowerscameinfromlunchTheahandedhimacardonwhichhereadthename，"Mr。
　　PhilipFrederickOttenburg。"
　　"Hesaidhewouldbeinagainto—morrowandthathewantedsometime。Whoishe？Ilikehimbetterthantheothers。"
　　Bowersnodded。"SodoI。He’snotasinger。He’sabeerprince：sonofthebigbrewerinSt。Louis。He’sbeeninGermanywithhismother。Ididn’tknowhewasback。"
　　"Doeshetakelessons？"
　　"Nowandagain。Hesingsratherwell。He’sattheheadoftheChicagobranchoftheOttenburgbusiness，buthecan’tsticktoworkandisalwaysrunningaway。Hehasgreatideasinbeer，peopletellme。He’swhattheycallanimaginativebusinessman；goesovertoBayreuthandseemstodonothingbutgivepartiesandspendmoney，andbringsbackmoregoodnotionsforthebrewerythanthefellowswhosittightdigoutinfiveyears。Iwasborntoo
　　longagotobemuchtakeninbythesechestyboyswithfloweredvests，butIlikeFred，allthesame。"
　　"SodoI，"saidTheapositively。
　　Bowersmadeasoundbetweenacoughandalaugh。
　　"Oh，he’salady—killer，allright！Thegirlsinhereareal—
　　waysmakingeyesathim。Youwon’tbethefirst。"Hethrewsomesheetsofmusiconthepiano。"Betterlookthatover；accompaniment’salittletricky。It’sforthatnewwomanfromDetroit。AndMrs。Priestwillbeinthisafternoon。"
　　Theasighed。"`IKnowthatmyRedeemerLiveth’？"
　　"Thesame。Shestartsonherconcerttournextweek，andwe’llhavearest。Untilthen，Isupposewe’llhavetobegoingoverherprogramme。"
　　ThenextdayTheahurriedthroughherluncheonataGermanbakeryandgotbacktothestudioattenminutespastone。Shefeltsurethattheyoungbrewerwouldcomeearly，beforeitwastimeforBowerstoarrive。Hehadnotsaidhewould，butyesterday，whenheopenedthedoortogo，hehadglancedabouttheroomandather，andsome—
　　thinginhiseyehadconveyedthatsuggestion。
　　Sureenough，attwentyminutespastonethedoorofthereception—roomopened，andatall，robustyoungmanwithacaneandanEnglishhatandulsterlookedinexpect—
　　antly。"Ah——ha！"heexclaimed，"IthoughtifIcameearlyImighthavegoodluck。Andhowareyouto—day，MissKronborg？"
　　Theawassittinginthewindowchair。Atherleftelbowtherewasatable，anduponthistabletheyoungmansatdown，holdinghishatandcaneinhishand，looseninghislongcoatsothatitfellbackfromhisshoulders。Hewasagleaming，floridyoungfellow。Hishair，thickandyellow，wascutveryshort，andheworeacloselytrimmedbeard，longenoughonthechintocurlalittle。Evenhiseye—
　　browswerethickandyellow，likefleece。Hehadlivelyblueeyes——Thealookedupatthemwithgreatinterest
　　ashesatchattingandswinginghisfootrhythmically。
　　Hewaseasilyfamiliar，andfranklyso。WhereverpeoplemetyoungOttenburg，inhisoffice，onshipboard，inaforeignhotelorrailwaycompartment，theyalwaysfelt（andusuallyliked）thatartlesspresumptionwhichseemedtosay，"Inthiscasewemaywaiveformalities。Wereallyhaven’ttime。Thisisto—day，butitwillsoonbeto—morrow，andthenwemaybeverydifferentpeople，andinsomeothercountry。"Hehadawayoffloatingpeopleoutofdullorawkwardsituations，outoftheirowntorpororconstraintordiscouragement。Itwasamarkedpersonaltalent，ofalmostincalculablevalueintherepresentativeofagreatbusinessfoundedonsocialamenities。TheahadlikedhimyesterdayforthewayinwhichhehadpickedherupoutofherselfandherGermangrammarforafewexcitingmoments。
　　"Bytheway，willyoutellmeyourfirstname，please？
　　Thea？Oh，thenyouAREaSwede，sureenough！Ithoughtso。LetmecallyouMissThea，aftertheGermanfashion。
　　Youwon’tmind？Ofcoursenot！"Heusuallymadehisassumptionofaspecialunderstandingseematributetotheotherpersonandnottohimself。
　　"HowlonghaveyoubeenwithBowershere？Doyouliketheoldgrouch？SodoI。I’vecometotellhimaboutanewsopranoIheardatBayreuth。He’llpretendnottocare，buthedoes。Doyouwarblewithhim？Haveyouanythingofavoice？Honest？Youlookit，youknow。
　　Whatareyougoinginfor，somethingbig？Opera？"
　　Theablushedcrimson。"Oh，I’mnotgoinginforany—
　　thing。I’mtryingtolearntosingatfunerals。"
　　Ottenburgleanedforward。Hiseyestwinkled。"I’llengageyoutosingatmine。Youcan’tfoolme，MissThea。
　　MayIhearyoutakeyourlessonthisafternoon？"
　　"No，youmaynot。Itookitthismorning。"
　　Hepickeduparollofmusicthatlaybehindhimonthetable。"Isthisyours？Letmeseewhatyouaredoing。"
　　Hesnappedbacktheclaspandbeganturningoverthesongs。"Allveryfine，buttame。What’shegotyouatthisMozartstufffor？Ishouldn’tthinkitwouldsuityourvoice。Oh，Icanmakeaprettygoodguessatwhatwillsuityou！Thisfrom`Gioconda’ismoreinyourline。
　　What’sthisGrieg？Itlooksinteresting。TAKFORDITTROD。
　　Whatdoesthatmean？"
　　"`ThanksforyourAdvice。’Don’tyouknowit？"
　　"No；notatall。Let’stryit。"Herose，pushedopenthedoorintothemusic—room，andmotionedTheatoenterbe—
　　forehim。Shehungback。
　　"Icouldn’tgiveyoumuchofanideaofit。It’sabigsong。"
　　Ottenburgtookhergentlybytheelbowandpushedherintotheotherroom。Hesatdowncarelesslyatthepianoandlookedoverthemusicforamoment。"IthinkIcangetyouthroughit。ButhowstupidnottohavetheGer—
　　manwords。CanyoureallysingtheNorwegian？Whataninfernallanguagetosing。Translatethetextforme。"
　　Hehandedherthemusic。
　　Thealookedatit，thenathim，andshookherhead。"I
　　can’t。ThetruthisIdon’tknoweitherEnglishorSwedishverywell，andNorwegian’sstillworse，"shesaidconfi—
　　dentially。Shenotinfrequentlyrefusedtodowhatshewasaskedtodo，butitwasnotlikehertoexplainherrefusal，evenwhenshehadagoodreason。
　　"Iunderstand。Weimmigrantsneverspeakanylan—
　　guagewell。Butyouknowwhatitmeans，don’tyou？"
　　"OfcourseIdo！"
　　"Thendon’tfrownatmelikethat，buttellme。"
　　Theacontinuedtofrown，butshealsosmiled。Shewasconfused，butnotembarrassed。ShewasnotafraidofOttenburg。Hewasnotoneofthosepeoplewhomadeherspinelikeasteelrail。Onthecontrary，hemadeoneven—
　　turesome。
　　"Well，itgoessomethinglikethis：Thanksforyourad—
　　vice！ButIprefertosteermyboatintothedinofroaringbreakers。Evenifthejourneyismylast，ImayfindwhatI
　　haveneverfoundbefore。OnwardmustIgo，forIyearnforthewildsea。Ilongtofightmywaythroughtheangrywaves，andtoseehowfar，andhowlongIcanmakethemcarryme。"*
　　Ottenburgtookthemusicandbegan："Waitamoment。
　　Isthattoofast？Howdoyoutakeit？Thatright？"Hepulleduphiscuffsandbegantheaccompanimentagain。
　　Hehadbecomeentirelyserious，andheplayedwithfineenthusiasmandwithunderstanding。
　　Fred’stalentwasworthalmostasmuchtooldOttoOttenburgasthesteadyindustryofhisoldersons。WhenFredsangthePrizeSongataninterstatemeetoftheTURNVEREIN，tenthousandTURNERSwentforthpledgedtoOttenburgbeer。
　　AsTheafinishedthesongFredturnedbacktothefirstpage，withoutlookingupfromthemusic。"Now，oncemore，"hecalled。Theybeganagain，anddidnothearBowerswhenhecameinandstoodinthedoorway。Hestoodstill，blinkinglikeanowlattheirtwoheadsshininginthesun。Hecouldnotseetheirfaces，buttherewassomethingabouthisgirl’sbackthathehadnotnoticedbe—
　　fore：averyslightandyetveryfreemotion，fromthetoesup。Herwholebackseemedplastic，seemedtobemould—
　　ingitselftothegallopingrhythmofthesong。Bowersperceivedsuchthingssometimes——unwillingly。Hehadknownto—daythattherewassomethingafoot。Theriverofsoundwhichhaditssourceinhispupilhadcaughthimtwoflightsdown。Hehadstoppedandlistenedwithakindofsneeringadmiration。Fromthedoorhewatchedherwithahalf—incredulous，half—malicioussmile。
　　Whenhehadstruckthekeysforthelasttime，Otten—
　　burgdroppedhishandsonhiskneesandlookedupwithaquickbreath。"Igotyouthrough。Whatastunningsong！
　　DidIplayitright？"
　　Theastudiedhisexcitedface。Therewasagooddealof
　　meaninginit，andtherewasagooddealinherownassheansweredhim。"Yousuitedme，"shesaidungrudgingly。
　　AfterOttenburgwasgone，TheanoticedthatBowerswasmoreagreeablethanusual。ShehadheardtheyoungbreweraskBowerstodinewithhimathisclubthateven—
　　ing，andshesawthathelookedforwardtothedinnerwithpleasure。HedroppedaremarktotheeffectthatFredknewasmuchaboutfoodandwinesasanymaninChicago。Hesaidthisboastfully。
　　"Ifhe’ssuchagrandbusinessman，howdoeshehavetimetorunaroundlisteningtosinging—lessons？"Theaaskedsuspiciously。
　　Asshewenthometoherboarding—housethroughtheFebruaryslush，shewishedsheweregoingtodinewiththem。Atnineo’clockshelookedupfromhergrammartowonderwhatBowersandOttenburgwerehavingtoeat。
　　Atthatmomenttheyweretalkingofher。
　　IV
　　THEAnoticedthatBowerstookrathermorepainswithhernowthatFredOttenburgoftendroppedinateleven—thirtytohearherlesson。AfterthelessontheyoungmantookBowersofftolunchwithhim，andBowerslikedgoodfoodwhenanothermanpaidforit。HeencouragedFred’svisits，andTheasoonsawthatFredknewexactlywhy。
　　Onemorning，afterherlesson，OttenburgturnedtoBowers。"Ifyou’lllendmeMissThea，IthinkIhaveanengagementforher。Mrs。HenryNathanmeyerisgoingtogivethreemusicaleveningsinApril，firstthreeSaturdays，andshehasconsultedmeaboutsoloists。Forthefirsteveningshehasayoungviolinist，andshewouldbecharmedtohaveMissKronborg。Shewillpayfiftydollars。
　　Notmuch，butMissTheawouldmeetsomepeopletherewhomightbeuseful。Whatdoyousay？"
　　BowerspassedthequestionontoThea。"Iguessyoucouldusethefifty，couldn’tyou，MissKronborg？Youcaneasilyworkupsomesongs。"
　　Theawasperplexed。"Ineedthemoneyawfully，"shesaidfrankly；"butIhaven’tgottherightclothesforthatsortofthing。IsupposeI’dbettertrytogetsome。"
　　Ottenburgspokeupquickly，"Oh，you’dmakenothingoutofitifyouwenttobuyingeveningclothes。I’vethoughtofthat。Mrs。Nathanmeyerhasatroopofdaugh—
　　ters，aperfectseraglio，allagesandsizes。She’llbegladtofityouout，ifyouaren’tsensitiveaboutwearingkosherclothes。Letmetakeyoutoseeher，andyou’llfindthatshe’llarrangethateasilyenough。Itoldhershemustproducesomethingnice，blueoryellow，andproperlycut。
　　IbroughthalfadozenWorthgownsthroughthecustoms
　　forhertwoweeksago，andshe’snotungrateful。Whencanwegotoseeher？"
　　"Ihaven’tanytimefree，exceptatnight，"Theare—
　　pliedinsomeconfusion。
　　"To—morrowevening，then？Ishallcallforyouateight。
　　Bringallyoursongsalong；shewillwantustogiveheralittlerehearsal，perhaps。I’llplayyouraccompaniments，ifyou’venoobjection。ThatwillsavemoneyforyouandforMrs。Nathanmeyer。Sheneedsit。"OttenburgchuckledashetookdownthenumberofThea’sboarding—house。
　　TheNathanmeyersweresorichandgreatthatevenTheahadheardofthem，andthisseemedaveryremarkableopportunity。Ottenburghadbroughtitaboutbymerelyliftingafinger，apparently。Hewasabeerprincesureenough，asBowershadsaid。
　　ThenexteveningataquartertoeightTheawasdressedandwaitingintheboarding—houseparlor。Shewasner—
　　vousandfidgetyandfounditdifficulttositstillonthehard，convexupholsteryofthechairs。Shetriedthemoneafteranother，movingaboutthedimlylighted，mustyroom，wherethegasalwaysleakedgentlyandsangintheburners。Therewasnooneintheparlorbutthemedicalstudent，whowasplayingoneofSousa’smarchessovigor—
　　ouslythatthechinaornamentsonthetopofthepianorattled。Inafewmomentssomeofthepension—officegirlswouldcomeinandbegintotwo—step。TheawishedthatOttenburgwouldcomeandletherescape。Sheglancedatherselfinthelong，sombermirror。Shewaswearingherpale—bluebroadclothchurchdress，whichwasnotun—
　　becomingbutwascertainlytooheavytoweartoany—
　　body’shouseintheevening。Herslipperswererunoverattheheelandshehadnothadtimetohavethemmended，andherwhitegloveswerenotsocleanastheyshouldbe。
　　However，sheknewthatshewouldforgettheseannoyingthingsassoonasOttenburgcame。
　　Mary，theHungarianchambermaid，cametothedoor，
　　stoodbetweentheplushportieres，beckonedtoThea，andmadeaninarticulatesoundinherthroat。Theajumpedupandranintothehall，whereOttenburgstoodsmiling，hiscapedcloakopen，hissilkhatinhiswhite—kidhand。
　　TheHungariangirlstoodlikeamonumentonherflatheels，staringatthepinkcarnationinOttenburg’scoat。Herbroad，pockmarkedfaceworetheonlyexpressionofwhichitwascapable，akindofanimalwonder。AstheyoungmanfollowedTheaout，heglancedbackoverhisshoulderthroughthecrackofthedoor；theHunclappedherhandsoverherstomach，openedhermouth，andmadeanotherraucoussoundinherthroat。
　　"Isn’tsheawful？"Theaexclaimed。"Ithinkshe’shalf—witted。Canyouunderstandher？"
　　Ottenburglaughedashehelpedherintothecarriage。
　　"Oh，yes；Icanunderstandher！"HesettledhimselfonthefrontseatoppositeThea。"Now，Iwanttotellyouaboutthepeoplewearegoingtosee。Wemayhaveamusicalpublicinthiscountrysomeday，butasyetthereareonlytheGermansandtheJews。AlltheotherpeoplegotohearJessieDarceysing，`O，PromiseMe！’TheNathanmeyersarethefinestkindofJews。Ifyoudoany—
　　thingforMrs。HenryNathanmeyer，youmustputyour—
　　selfintoherhands。Whatevershesaysaboutmusic，aboutclothes，aboutlife，willbecorrect。Andyoumayfeelateasewithher。Sheexpectsnothingofpeople；shehaslivedinChicagotwentyyears。IfyouweretobehaveliketheMagyarwhowassointerestedinmybuttonhole，shewouldnotbesurprised。IfyouweretosinglikeJessieDarcey，shewouldnotbesurprised；butshewouldmanagenottohearyouagain。"
　　"Wouldshe？Well，that’sthekindofpeopleIwanttofind。"Theafeltherselfgrowingbolder。
　　"Youwillbeallrightwithhersolongasyoudonottrytobeanythingthatyouarenot。Herstandardshavenoth—
　　ingtodowithChicago。Herperceptions——orhergrand—
　　mother’s，whichisthesamething——werekeenwhenallthiswasanIndianvillage。Somerelybeyourself，andyouwilllikeher。ShewilllikeyoubecausetheJewsalwayssensetalent，and，"headdedironically，"theyadmirecer—
　　tainqualitiesoffeelingthatarefoundonlyinthewhite—
　　skinnedraces。"
　　Thealookedintotheyoungman’sfaceasthelightofastreetlampflashedintothecarriage。Hissomewhataca—
　　demicmanneramusedher。
　　"Whatmakesyoutakesuchaninterestinsingers？"
　　sheaskedcuriously。"Youseemtohaveaperfectpassionforhearingmusic—lessons。IwishIcouldtradejobswithyou！"
　　"I’mnotinterestedinsingers。"Histonewasoffended。
　　"Iaminterestedintalent。Thereareonlytwointerestingthingsintheworld，anyhow；andtalentisoneofthem。"
　　"What’stheother？"Thequestioncamemeeklyfromthefigureoppositehim。Anotherarc—lightflashedinatthewindow。
　　Fredsawherfaceandbrokeintoalaugh。"Why，you’reguyingme，youlittlewretch！Youwon’tletmebehaveproperly。"Hedroppedhisglovedhandlightlyonherknee，tookitawayandletithangbetweenhisown。"Doyouknow，"hesaidconfidentially，"IbelieveI’mmoreinearnestaboutallthisthanyouare。"
　　"Aboutallwhat？"
　　"Allyou’vegotinyourthroatthere。"
　　"Oh！I’minearnestallright；onlyIneverwasmuchgoodattalking。JessieDarceyisthesmoothtalker。`YounoticetheeffectIgetthere——’Ifsheonlygot’em，she’dbeawonder，youknow！"
　　Mr。andMrs。Nathanmeyerwerealoneintheirgreatlibrary。Theirthreeunmarrieddaughtershaddepartedinsuccessivecarriages，onetoadinner，onetoaNietszcheclub，onetoaballgivenforthegirlsemployedinthebigdepartmentstores。WhenOttenburgandTheaentered，
　　HenryNathanmeyerandhiswifeweresittingatatableatthefartherendofthelongroom，withareading—lampandatrayofcigarettesandcordial—glassesbetweenthem。
　　Theoverheadlightsweretoosofttobringoutthecolorsofthebigrugs，andnoneofthepicturelightswereon。
　　Onecouldmerelyseethattherewerepicturesthere。FredwhisperedthattheywereRousseausandCorots，veryfineoneswhichtheoldbankerhadboughtlongagofornexttonothing。InthehallOttenburghadstoppedTheabeforeapaintingofawomaneatinggrapesoutofapaperbag，andhadtoldhergravelythattherewasthemostbeautifulManetintheworld。Hemadehertakeoffherhatandglovesinthehall，andlookedheroveralittlebeforehetookherin。Butoncetheywereinthelibraryheseemedperfectlysatisfiedwithherandledherdownthelongroomtotheirhostess。
　　Mrs。Nathanmeyerwasaheavy，powerfuloldJewess，withagreatpompadourofwhitehair，aswarthycomplex—
　　ion，aneaglenose，andsharp，glitteringeyes。Sheworeablackvelvetdresswithalongtrain，andadiamondnecklaceandearrings。ShetookTheatotheothersideofthetableandpresentedhertoMr。Nathanmeyer，whoapologizedfornotrising，pointingtoaslipperedfootonacushion；
　　hesaidthathesufferedfromgout。Hehadaverysoftvoiceandspokewithanaccentwhichwouldhavebeenheavyifithadnotbeensocaressing。HekeptTheastand—
　　ingbesidehimforsometime。Henoticedthatshestoodeasily，lookedstraightdownintohisface，andwasnotembarrassed。EvenwhenMrs。NathanmeyertoldOtten—
　　burgtobringachairforThea，theoldmandidnotreleaseherhand，andshedidnotsitdown。Headmiredherjustasshewas，asshehappenedtobestanding，andshefeltit。
　　Hewasmuchhandsomerthanhiswife，Theathought。Hisforeheadwashigh，hishairsoftandwhite，hisskinpink，alittlepuffyunderhisclearblueeyes。Shenoticedhowwarmanddelicatehishandswere，pleasanttotouchandbeauti—
　　fultolookat。OttenburghadtoldherthatMr。Nathan—
　　meyerhadaveryfinecollectionofmedalsandcameos，andhisfingerslookedasiftheyhadnevertouchedany—
　　thingbutdelicatelycutsurfaces。
　　HeaskedTheawhereMoonstonewas；howmanyin—
　　habitantsithad；whatherfather’sbusinesswas；fromwhatpartofSwedenhergrandfathercame；andwhethershespokeSwedishasachild。Hewasinterestedtohearthathermother’smotherwasstillliving，andthathergrand—
　　fatherhadplayedtheoboe。Theafeltathomestandingtherebesidehim；shefeltthathewasverywise，andthathesomewaytookone’slifeupandlookeditoverkindly，asifitwereastory。Shewassorrywhentheylefthimtogointothemusic—room。
　　Astheyreachedthedoorofthemusic—room，Mrs。
　　Nathanmeyerturnedaswitchthatthrewonmanylights。
　　Theroomwasevenlargerthanthelibrary，allglitteringsurfaces，withtwoSteinwaypianos。