IV
　　ATnineo’clockthateveningourthreefriendswereseatedinthebalconyofaFrenchrestaurant，muchgayerandmoreintimatethananythatexistsinNewYorkto—day。Thisoldrestaurantwasbuiltbyaloverofplea—
　　sure，whoknewthattodinegaylyhumanbeingsmusthavethereassuranceofcertainlimitationsofspaceandofacertaindefinitestyle；thatthewallsmustbenearenoughtosuggestshelter，theceilinghighenoughtogivethechandeliersasetting。Theplacewascrowdedwiththekindofpeoplewhodinelateandwell，andDr。Archie，ashewatchedtheanimatedgroupsinthelongroombelowthebalcony，foundthismuchthemostfestivescenehehadeverlookedoutupon。Hesaidtohimself，inajovialmoodsomewhatsustainedbythecheeroftheboard，thatthiseveningalonewasworthhislongjourney。Hefollowedattentivelytheorchestra，ensconcedatthefartherendofthebalcony，andtoldTheaitmadehimfeel"quitemusi—
　　cal"torecognize"TheInvitationtotheDance"or"TheBlueDanube，"andthathecouldrememberjustwhatkindofdayitwaswhenheheardherpracticingthemathome，andlingeredatthegatetolisten。
　　Forthefirstfewmoments，whenhewasintroducedtoyoungOttenburgintheparloroftheEverettHouse，thedoctorhadbeenawkwardandunbending。ButFred，ashisfatherhadoftenobserved，"wasnotagoodmixerfornothing。"HehadbroughtDr。Archiearoundduringtheshortcabride，andinanhourtheyhadbecomeoldfriends。
　　Fromthemomentwhenthedoctorliftedhisglassand，lookingconsciouslyatThea，said，"Toyoursuccess，"Fredlikedhim。Hefelthisquality；understoodhiscourageinsomedirectionsandwhatTheacalledhistimidityinothers，
　　hisunspentandmiraculouslypreservedyouthfulness。
　　Mencouldneverimposeuponthedoctor，heguessed，butwomenalwayscould。Fredliked，too，thedoctor’smannerwithThea，hisbashfuladmirationandthelittlehesitancybywhichhebetrayedhisconsciousnessofthechangeinher。Itwasjustthischangethat，atpresent，interestedFredmorethananythingelse。That，hefelt，washis"createdvalue，"anditwashisbestchanceforanypeaceofmind。Ifthatwerenotreal，obvioustoanoldfriendlikeArchie，thenhecutaverypoorfigure，indeed。
　　Fredgotagooddeal，too，outoftheirtalkaboutMoon—
　　stone。Fromherquestionsandthedoctor’sanswershewasabletoformsomeconceptionofthelittleworldthatwasalmostthemeasureofThea’sexperience，theonebitofthehumandramathatshehadfollowedwithsympathyandunderstanding。Asthetworanoverthelistoftheirfriends，themeresoundofanameseemedtorecallvolumestoeachofthem，toindicateminesofknowledgeandobservationtheyhadincommon。Atsomenamestheylaugheddelightedly，atsomeindulgentlyandeventen—
　　derly。
　　"YoutwoyoungpeoplemustcomeouttoMoonstonewhenTheagetsback，"thedoctorsaidhospitably。
　　"Oh，weshall！"Fredcaughtitup。"I’mkeentoknowallthesepeople。Itisverytantalizingtohearonlytheirnames。"
　　"Wouldtheyinterestanoutsiderverymuch，doyouthink，Dr。Archie？"Thealeanedtowardhim。"Isn’titonlybecausewe’veknownthemsinceIwaslittle？"
　　Thedoctorglancedatherdeferentially。Fredhadnoticedthatheseemedalittleafraidtolookathersquarely——per—
　　hapsatrifleembarrassedbyamodeofdresstowhichhewasunaccustomed。"Well，youarepracticallyanoutsideryourself，Thea，now，"heobservedsmiling。"Oh，Iknow，"
　　hewentonquicklyinresponsetohergestureofprotest，——
　　"Iknowyoudon’tchangetowardyouroldfriends，but
　　youcanseeusallfromadistancenow。It’salltoyouradvantagethatyoucanstilltakeyouroldinterest，isn’tit，Mr。Ottenburg？"
　　"That’sexactlyoneofheradvantages，Dr。Archie。
　　Nobodycanevertakethatawayfromher，andnoneofuswhocamelatercaneverhopetorivalMoonstoneintheimpressionwemake。HerscaleofvalueswillalwaysbetheMoonstonescale。And，withanartist，thatISanadvantage。"Frednodded。
　　Dr。Archielookedathimseriously。"Youmeanitkeepsthemfromgettingaffected？"
　　"Yes；keepsthemfromgettingoffthetrackgenerally。"
　　Whilethewaiterfilledtheglasses，FredpointedouttoTheaabigblackFrenchbarytonewhowaseatingancho—
　　viesbytheirtailsatoneofthetablesbelow，andthedoctorlookedaboutandstudiedhisfellowdiners。
　　"Doyouknow，Mr。Ottenburg，"hesaiddeeply，"thesepeoplealllookhappiertomethanourWesternpeopledo。
　　Isitsimplygoodmannersontheirpart，ordotheygetmoreoutoflife？"
　　FredlaughedtoTheaabovetheglasshehadjustlifted。
　　"Someofthemaregettingagooddealoutofitnow，doctor。Thisisthehourwhenbench—joybrightens。"
　　Theachuckledanddartedhimaquickglance。"Bench—
　　joy！Wheredidyougetthatslang？"
　　"Thathappenstobeveryoldslang，mydear。OlderthanMoonstoneorthesovereignStateofColorado。OuroldfriendMr。Nathanmeyercouldtelluswhyithappenstohityou。"HeleanedforwardandtouchedThea’swrist，"Seethatfurcoatjustcomingin，Thea。It’sD’Albert。
　　He’sjustbackfromhisWesterntour。Finehead，hasn’the？"
　　"Togoback，"saidDr。Archie；"Iinsistthatpeopledolookhappierhere。I’venoticeditevenonthestreet，andespeciallyinthehotels。"
　　Fredturnedtohimcheerfully。"NewYorkpeoplelive
　　agooddealinthefourthdimension，Dr。Archie。It’sthatyounoticeintheirfaces。"
　　Thedoctorwasinterested。"Thefourthdimension，"herepeatedslowly；"andisthatslang，too？"
　　"No，"——Fredshookhishead，——"that’smerelyafigure。Imeanthatlifeisnotquitesopersonalhereasitisinyourpartoftheworld。Peoplearemoretakenupbyhobbies，intereststhatarelesssubjecttoreversesthantheirpersonalaffairs。Ifyou’reinterestedinThea’svoice，forinstance，orinvoicesingeneral，thatinterestisjustthesame，evenifyourminingstocksgodown。"
　　Thedoctorlookedathimnarrowly。"Youthinkthat’sabouttheprincipaldifferencebetweencountrypeopleandcitypeople，don’tyou？"
　　Fredwasalittledisconcertedatbeingfollowedupsoresolutely，andheattemptedtodismissitwithapleasantry。
　　"I’veneverthoughtmuchaboutit，doctor。ButIshouldsay，onthespurofthemoment，thatthatisoneoftheprincipaldifferencesbetweenpeopleanywhere。It’stheconsolationoffellowslikemewhodon’taccomplishmuch。
　　Thefourthdimensionisnotgoodforbusiness，butwethinkwehaveabettertime。"
　　Dr。Archieleanedbackinhischair。Hisheavyshoulderswerecontemplative。"Andshe，"hesaidslowly；"shouldyousaythatsheisoneofthekindyoureferto？"Hein—
　　clinedhisheadtowardtheshimmerofthepale—greendressbesidehim。Theawasleaning，justthen，overthebalconyrail，herheadinthelightfromthechandeliersbelow。
　　"Never，never！"Fredprotested。"She’sashard—headedastheworstofyou——withadifference。"
　　Thedoctorsighed。"Yes，withadifference；somethingthatmakesagoodmanyrevolutionstothesecond。WhenshewaslittleIusedtofeelherheadtotrytolocateit。"
　　Fredlaughed。"Didyou，though？Soyouwereonthetrackofit？Oh，it’sthere！Wecan’tgetroundit，miss，"
　　asThealookedbackinquiringly。"Dr。Archie，there’sa
　　fellowtownsmanofyoursIfeelarealkinshipfor。"HepressedacigaruponDr。Archieandstruckamatchforhim。
　　"TellmeaboutSpanishJohnny。"
　　Thedoctorsmiledbenignantlythroughthefirstwavesofsmoke。"Well，Johnny’sanoldpatientofmine，andhe’sanoldadmirerofThea’s。Shewasbornacosmopolitan，andIexpectshelearnedagooddealfromJohnnywhensheusedtorunawayandgotoMexicanTown。Wethoughtitaqueerfreakthen。"
　　Thedoctorlaunchedintoalongstory，inwhichhewasofteneagerlyinterruptedorjoyouslyconfirmedbyThea，whowasdrinkinghercoffeeandforcingopenthepetalsoftheroseswithanardentandratherrudehand。Fredset—
　　tleddownintoenjoyinghiscomprehensionofhisguests。
　　Thea，watchingDr。Archieandinterestedinhispresenta—
　　tion，wasunconsciouslyimpersonatinghersuave，gold—
　　tintedfriend。Itwasdelightfultoseehersoradiantandresponsiveagain。Shehadkeptherpromiseaboutlookingherbest；whenonecouldsoeasilygettogetherthecolorsofanapplebranchinearlyspring，thatwasnothardtodo。
　　EvenDr。Archiefelt，eachtimehelookedather，afreshconsciousness。Herecognizedthefinetextureofhermother’sskin，withthedifferencethat，whenshereachedacrossthetabletogivehimabunchofgrapes，herarmwasnotonlywhite，butsomehowalittledazzling。Sheseemedtohimtaller，andfreerinallhermovements。Shehadnowawayoftakingadeepbreathwhenshewasinterested，thatmadeherseemverystrong，somehow，andbroughtheratonequiteoverpoweringly。Ifheseemedshy，itwasnotthathewasintimidatedbyherworldlyclothes，butthathergreaterpositiveness，herwholeaugmentedself，madehimfeelthathisaccustomedmannertowardherwasinadequate。
　　Fred，onhispart，wasreflectingthattheawkwardposi—
　　tioninwhichhehadplacedherwouldnotconfineorchafeherlong。Shelookedaboutatotherpeople，atotherwomen，
　　curiously。Shewasnotquitesureofherself，butshewasnotintheleastafraidorapologetic。Sheseemedtositthereontheedge，emergingfromoneworldintoanother，takingherbearings，gettinganideaoftheconcertedmovementabouther，butwithabsoluteself—confidence。Sofarfromshrink—
　　ing，sheexpanded。ThemerekindlyefforttopleaseDr。
　　Archiewasenoughtobringherout。
　　Therewasmuchtalkofauraeatthattime，andFredmusedthateverybeautiful，everycompellinglybeautifulwoman，hadanaura，whetherotherpeopledidorno。Therewas，certainly，aboutthewomanhehadbroughtupfromMexico，suchanemanation。Sheexistedinmorespacethansheoccupiedbymeasurement。Theenvelopingairaboutherheadandshoulderswassubsidized——wasmoremovingthansheherself，forinitlivedtheawakenings，allthefirstsweetnessthatlifekillsinpeople。OnefeltinhersuchawealthofJUGENDZEIT，allthoseflowersofthemindandthebloodthatbloomandperishbythemyriadinthefewexhaustlessyearswhentheimaginationfirstkindles。Itwasinwatchingherassheemergedlikethis，inbeingnearandnottoonear，thatonegot，foramoment，somuchthatonehadlost；amongotherlegendarythingsthelegendarythemeoftheabsolutelymagicalpowerofabeautifulwoman。
　　AftertheyhadleftTheaatherhotel，Dr。Archieadmit—
　　tedtoFred，astheywalkedupBroadwaythroughtherap—
　　idlychillingair，thatoncebeforehehadseentheiryoungfriendflashupintoamorepotentself，butinadarkermood。
　　Itwasinhisofficeonenight，whenshewasathomethesummerbeforelast。"AndthenIgottheidea，"headdedsimply，"thatshewouldnotlivelikeotherpeople：that，forbetterorworse，shehaduncommongifts。"
　　"Oh，we’llseethatit’sforbetter，youandI，"Fredreassuredhim。"Won’tyoucomeuptomyhotelwithme？
　　Ithinkweoughttohavealongtalk。"
　　"Yes，indeed，"saidDr。Archiegratefully；"Ithinkweought。"
　　V
　　THEAwastosailonTuesday，atnoon，andonSaturdayFredOttenburgarrangedforherpassage，whilesheandDr。Archiewentshopping。Withrugsandsea—clothesshewasalreadyprovided；FredhadgoteverythingofthatsortsheneededforthevoyageupfromVeraCruz。OnSundayafternoonTheawenttoseetheHarsanyis。Whenshereturnedtoherhotel，shefoundanotefromOttenburg，sayingthathehadcalledandwouldcomeagainto—morrow。
　　OnMondaymorning，whileshewasatbreakfast，Fredcamein。Sheknewbyhishurried，distractedairasheenteredthedining—roomthatsomethinghadgonewrong。
　　Hehadjustgotatelegramfromhome。Hismotherhadbeenthrownfromhercarriageandhurt；aconcussionofsomesort，andshewasunconscious。HewasleavingforSt。Louisthatnightontheeleveno’clocktrain。Hehadagreatdealtoattendtoduringtheday。Hewouldcomethatevening，ifhemight，andstaywithheruntiltraintime，whileshewasdoingherpacking。Scarcelywaitingforherconsent，hehurriedaway。
　　AlldayTheawassomewhatcastdown。ShewassorryforFred，andshemissedthefeelingthatshewastheonepersoninhismind。Hehadscarcelylookedatherwhentheyexchangedwordsatthebreakfast—table。Shefeltasifsheweresetaside，andshedidnotseemsoimportanteventoherselfasshehadyesterday。Certainly，shereflected，itwashightimethatshebegantotakecareofherselfagain。Dr。Archiecamefordinner，butshesenthimawayearly，tellinghimthatshewouldbereadytogototheboatwithhimathalf—pasttenthenextmorning。Whenshewentupstairs，shelookedgloomilyattheopentrunkinhersitting—room，andatthetrayspiledonthesofa。She
　　stoodatthewindowandwatchedaquietsnowstormspendingitselfoverthecity。Morethananythingelse，fallingsnowalwaysmadeherthinkofMoonstone；oftheKohlers’garden，ofThor’ssled，ofdressingbylamplightandstartingofftoschoolbeforethepathswerebroken。
　　WhenFredcame，helookedtired，andhetookherhandalmostwithoutseeingher。
　　"I’msosorry，Fred。Haveyouhadanymoreword？"
　　"Shewasstillunconsciousatfourthisafternoon。Itdoesn’tlookveryencouraging。"Heapproachedthefireandwarmedhishands。Heseemedtohavecontracted，andhehadnotatallhishabitualeaseofmanner。"Poormother！"heexclaimed；"nothinglikethisshouldhavehappenedtoher。Shehassomuchprideofperson。She’snotatallanoldwoman，youknow。She’snevergotbeyondvigorousandratherdashingmiddleage。"HeturnedabruptlytoTheaandforthefirsttimereallylookedather。
　　"Howbadlythingscomeout！She’dhavelikedyouforadaughter—in—law。Oh，you’dhavefoughtlikethedevil，butyou’dhaverespectedeachother。"Hesankintoachairandthrusthisfeetouttothefire。"Still，"hewentonthoughtfully，seemingtoaddresstheceiling，"itmighthavebeenbadforyou。OurbigGermanhouses，ourgoodGermancooking——youmighthavegotlostintheuphol—
　　stery。Thatsubstantialcomfortmighttakethetemperoutofyou，dullyouredge。Yes，"hesighed，"Iguessyouweremeantforthejoltofthebreakers。"
　　"IguessI’llgetplentyofjolt，"Theamurmured，turn—
　　ingtohertrunk。
　　"I’mrathergladI’mnotstayingoveruntilto—morrow，"
　　Fredreflected。"Ithinkit’seasierformetoglideoutlikethis。Ifeelnowasifeverythingwererathercasual，any—
　　how。Athinglikethatdullsone’sfeelings。"
　　Thea，standingbyhertrunk，madenoreply。Presentlyheshookhimselfandrose。"Wantmetoputthosetraysinforyou？"
　　"No，thankyou。I’mnotreadyforthemyet。"
　　Fredstrolledovertothesofa，liftedascarffromoneofthetraysandstoodabstractedlydrawingitthroughhisfingers。"You’vebeensokindtheselastfewdays，Thea，thatIbegantohopeyoumightsoftenalittle；thatyoumightaskmetocomeoverandseeyouthissummer。"
　　"Ifyouthoughtthat，youweremistaken，"shesaidslowly。"I’vehardened，ifanything。ButIshan’tcarryanygrudgeawaywithme，ifyoumeanthat。"
　　Hedroppedthescarf。"Andthere’snothing——nothingatallyou’llletmedo？"
　　"Yes，thereisonething，andit’sagooddealtoask。IfI
　　getknockedout，ornevergeton，I’dlikeyoutoseethatDr。Archiegetshismoneyback。I’mtakingthreethousanddollarsofhis。"
　　"Why，ofcourseIshall。Youmaydismissthatfromyourmind。Howfussyyouareaboutmoney，Thea。Youmakesuchapointofit。"Heturnedsharplyandwalkedtothewindows。
　　Theasatdowninthechairhehadquitted。"It’sonlypoorpeoplewhofeelthatwayaboutmoney，andwhoarereallyhonest，"shesaidgravely。"SometimesIthinkthattobereallyhonest，youmusthavebeensopoorthatyou’vebeentemptedtosteal。"
　　"Towhat？"
　　"Tosteal。Iusedtobe，whenIfirstwenttoChicagoandsawallthethingsinthebigstoresthere。Neverany—
　　thingbig，butlittlethings，thekindI’dneverseenbeforeandcouldneverafford。Ididtakesomethingonce，beforeIknewit。"
　　Fredcametowardher。Forthefirsttimeshehadhiswholeattention，inthedegreetowhichshewasaccustomedtohavingit。"Didyou？Whatwasit？"heaskedwithinterest。
　　"Asachet。Alittlebluesilkbagoforris—rootpowder。
　　Therewasawholecounterfulofthem，markeddownto
　　fiftycents。I’dneverseenanybefore，andtheyseemedirresistible。Itookoneupandwanderedaboutthestorewithit。Nobodyseemedtonotice，soIcarrieditoff。"
　　Fredlaughed。"Crazychild！Why，yourthingsalwayssmelloforris；isitapenance？"
　　"No，Iloveit。ButIsawthatthefirmdidn’tloseany—
　　thingbyme。IwentbackandboughtittherewheneverI
　　hadaquartertospend。IgotalottotaketoArizona。I
　　madeituptothem。"
　　"I’llbetyoudid！"Fredtookherhand。"Whydidn’tIfindyouthatfirstwinter？I’dhavelovedyoujustasyoucame！"
　　Theashookherhead。"No，youwouldn’t，butyoumighthavefoundmeamusing。TheHarsanyissaidyester—
　　dayafternoonthatIworesuchafunnycapeandthatmyshoesalwayssqueaked。TheythinkI’veimproved。ItoldthemitwasyourdoingifIhad，andthentheylookedscared。"
　　"DidyousingforHarsanyi？"
　　"Yes。HethinksI’veimprovedthere，too。Hesaidnicethingstome。Oh，hewasverynice！HeagreeswithyouaboutmygoingtoLehmann，ifshe’lltakeme。Hecameouttotheelevatorwithme，afterwehadsaidgood—bye。
　　Hesaidsomethingniceoutthere，too，butheseemedsad。"
　　"Whatwasitthathesaid？"
　　"Hesaid，`Whenpeople，seriouspeople，believeinyou，theygiveyousomeoftheirbest，so——takecareofit，MissKronborg。’Thenhewavedhishandsandwentback。"
　　"Ifyousang，Iwishyouhadtakenmealong。Didyousingwell？"Fredturnedfromherandwentbacktothewindow。"IwonderwhenIshallhearyousingagain。"
　　Hepickedupabunchofvioletsandsmelledthem。"Youknow，yourleavingmelikethis——well，it’salmostinhu—
　　mantobeabletodoitsokindlyandunconditionally。"
　　"Isupposeitis。Itwasalmostinhumantobeabletoleavehome，too，——thelasttime，whenIknewitwasfor
　　good。Butallthesame，Icaredagreatdealmorethananybodyelsedid。Ilivedthroughit。Ihavenochoicenow。
　　Nomatterhowmuchitbreaksmeup，Ihavetogo。DoI
　　seemtoenjoyit？"
　　Fredbentoverhertrunkandpickedupsomethingwhichprovedtobeascore，clumsilybound。"What’sthis？Didyouevertrytosingthis？"Heopeneditandontheengravedtitle—pagereadWunsch’sinscription，"EINST，O
　　WUNDER！"HelookedupsharplyatThea。
　　"Wunschgavemethatwhenhewentaway。I’vetoldyouabouthim，myoldteacherinMoonstone。Helovedthatopera。"
　　Fredwenttowardthefireplace，thebookunderhisarm，singingsoftly：——
　　"EINST，OWUNDER，ENTBLUHTAUFMEINEMGRABE，EINEBLUMEDERASCHEMEINESHERZENS；"
　　"Youhavenoideaatallwhereheis，Thea？"Heleanedagainstthemantelandlookeddownather。
　　"No，IwishIhad。Hemaybedeadbythistime。Thatwasfiveyearsago，andheusedhimselfhard。Mrs。Kohlerwasalwaysafraidhewoulddieoffalonesomewhereandbestuckundertheprairie。Whenwelastheardofhim，hewasinKansas。"
　　"Ifheweretobefound，I’dliketodosomethingforhim。
　　Iseemtogetagooddealofhimfromthis。"Heopenedthebookagain，wherehekepttheplacewithhisfinger，andscrutinizedthepurpleink。"HowlikeaGerman！Hadheeversungthesongforyou？"
　　"No。Ididn’tknowwherethewordswerefromuntilonce，whenHarsanyisangitforme，Irecognizedthem。"
　　Fredclosedthebook。"Letmesee，whatwasyournoblebrakeman’sname？"
　　Thealookedupwithsurprise。"Ray，RayKennedy。"
　　"RayKennedy！"helaughed。"Itcouldn’twellhavebeenbetter！WunschandDr。Archie，andRay，andI，"——
　　hetoldthemoffonhisfingers，——"yourwhistling—posts！
　　Youhaven’tdonesobadly。We’vebackedyouaswecould，someinourweaknessandsomeinourmight。Inyourdarkhours——andyou’llhavethem——youmayliketorememberus。"Hesmiledwhimsicallyanddroppedthescoreintothetrunk。"Youaretakingthatwithyou？"
　　"SurelyIam。Ihaven’tsomanykeepsakesthatIcanaffordtoleavethat。Ihaven’tgotmanythatIvaluesohighly。"
　　"Thatyouvaluesohighly？"Fredechoedhergravityplayfully。"Youaredeliciouswhenyoufallintoyourvernacular。"Helaughedhalftohimself。
　　"What’sthematterwiththat？Isn’titperfectlygoodEnglish？"
　　"PerfectlygoodMoonstone，mydear。Liketheready—
　　madeclothesthathanginthewindows，madetofitevery—
　　bodyandfitnobody，aphrasethatcanbeusedonallocca—
　　sions。Oh，"——hestartedacrosstheroomagain，——"that’soneofthefinethingsaboutyourgoing！You’llbewiththerightsortofpeopleandyou’lllearnagood，live，warmGerman，thatwillbelikeyourself。You’llgetanewspeechfullofshadesandcolorlikeyourvoice；alive，likeyourmind。
　　Itwillbealmostlikebeingbornagain，Thea。"
　　Shewasnotoffended。Fredhadsaidsuchthingstoherbefore，andshewantedtolearn。Inthenaturalcourseofthingsshewouldneverhavelovedamanfromwhomshecouldnotlearnagreatdeal。
　　"Harsanyisaidonce，"sheremarkedthoughtfully，"thatifonebecameanartistonehadtobebornagain，andthatoneowednothingtoanybody。"
　　"Exactly。AndwhenIseeyouagainIshallnotseeyou，butyourdaughter。MayI？"Hehelduphiscigarettecasequestioninglyandthenbegantosmoke，takingupagainthesongwhichraninhishead：——
　　"DEUTLICHSCHIMMERTAUFJEDEM，PURPURBLATTCHEN，ADELAIDE！"
　　"Ihavehalfanhourwithyouyet，andthen，exitFred。"
　　Hewalkedabouttheroom，smokingandsingingthewordsunderhisbreath。"You’lllikethevoyage，"hesaidab—
　　ruptly。"Thatfirstapproachtoaforeignshore，stealinguponitandfindingit——there’snothinglikeit。Itwakesupeverythingthat’sasleepinyou。Youwon’tmindmywritingtosomepeopleinBerlin？They’llbenicetoyou。"
　　"Iwishyouwould。"Theagaveadeepsigh。"Iwishonecouldlookaheadandseewhatiscomingtoone。"
　　"Oh，no！"Fredwassmokingnervously；"thatwouldneverdo。It’stheuncertaintythatmakesonetry。You’veneverhadanysortofchance，andnowIfancyyou’llmakeituptoyourself。You’llfindthewaytoletyourselfoutinonelongflight。"
　　Theaputherhandonherheart。"Andthendropliketherocksweusedtothrow——anywhere。"Sheleftthechairandwentovertothesofa，huntingforsomethinginthetrunktrays。WhenshecamebackshefoundFredsit—
　　tinginherplace。"Herearesomehandkerchiefsofyours。
　　I’vekeptoneortwo。They’relargerthanmineandusefulifonehasaheadache。"
　　"Thankyou。Hownicelytheysmellofyourthings！"
　　Helookedatthewhitesquaresforamomentandthenputtheminhispocket。Hekeptthelowchair，andasshestoodbesidehimhetookherhandsandsatlookingintentlyatthem，asifhewereexaminingthemforsomespecialpur—
　　pose，tracingthelongroundfingerswiththetipsofhisown。"Ordinarily，youknow，therearereefsthatamancatchestoandkeepshisnoseabovewater。Butthisisacasebyitself。ThereseemstobenolimitastohowmuchIcanbeinlovewithyou。Ikeepgoing。"Hedidnotlifthiseyesfromherfingers，whichhecontinuedtostudywiththesamefervor。"Everykindofstringedinstrumentthereisplaysinyourhands，Thea，"hewhispered，pressingthemtohisface。
　　Shedroppedbesidehimandslippedintohisarms，shut—