WhenhewenttoDenverortoChicago，hedriftedaboutincarelesscompanywheregayetyandgood—humorcanbebought，notbecausehehadanytasteforsuchsociety，butbecausehehonestlybelievedthatanythingwasbetterthandivorce。Heoftentoldhimselfthat\"hangingandwivinggobydestiny。\"Ifwivingwentbadlywithaman，——anditdidoftenerthannot，——thenhemustdothebesthecouldtokeepupappearancesandhelpthetraditionofdomestichappinessalong。TheMoonstonegossips，as—
sembledinMrs。Smiley’smillineryandnotionstore，oftendiscussedDr。Archie’spolitenesstohiswife，andhispleas—
antmannerofspeakingabouther。\"Nobodyhasevergotathingoutofhimyet，\"theyagreed。Anditwascertainlynotbecausenoonehadevertried。
WhenhewasdowninDenver，feelingalittlejolly，Archiecouldforgethowunhappyhewasathome，andcouldevenmakehimselfbelievethathemissedhiswife。Healwaysboughtherpresents，andwouldhavelikedtosendherflowersifshehadnotrepeatedlytoldhimnevertosendheranythingbutbulbs，——whichdidnotappealtohiminhisexpansivemoments。AttheDenverAthleticClubban—
quets，oratdinnerwithhiscolleaguesattheBrownPalaceHotel，hesometimesspokesentimentallyabout\"littleMrs。Archie，\"andhealwaysdrankthetoast\"toourwives，Godblessthem！\"withgusto。
ThedeterminingfactoraboutDr。Archiewasthathewasromantic。HehadmarriedBelleWhitebecausehewasromantic——tooromantictoknowanythingaboutwomen，exceptwhathewishedthemtobe，ortorepulseaprettygirlwhohadsethercapforhim。Atmedicalschool，thoughhewasaratherwildboyinbehavior，hehadalwaysdis—
likedcoarsejokesandvulgarstories。InhisoldFlint’sPhysiologytherewasstillapoemhehadpastedtherewhen
hewasastudent；someversesbyDr。OliverWendellHolmesabouttheidealsofthemedicalprofession。Aftersomuchandsuchdisillusioningexperiencewithit，hestillhadaromanticfeelingaboutthehumanbody；asensethatfinerthingsdweltinitthancouldbeexplainedbyanatomy。
Heneverjestedaboutbirthordeathormarriage，anddidnotliketohearotherdoctorsdoit。Hewasagoodnurse，andhadareverenceforthebodiesofwomenandchildren。
Whenhewastendingthem，onesawhimathisbest。Thenhisconstraintandself—consciousnessfellawayfromhim。
Hewaseasy，gentle，competent，masterofhimselfandofotherpeople。Thentheidealistinhimwasnotafraidofbeingdiscoveredandridiculed。
Inhistastes，too，thedoctorwasromantic。ThoughhereadBalzacalltheyearthrough，hestillenjoyedtheWaverleyNovelsasmuchaswhenhehadfirstcomeuponthem，inthickleather—boundvolumes，inhisgrandfather’slibrary。HenearlyalwaysreadScottonChristmasandholidays，becauseitbroughtbackthepleasuresofhisboy—
hoodsovividly。HelikedScott’swomen。ConstancedeBeverleyandtheminstrelgirlin\"TheFairMaidofPerth，\"nottheDuchessedeLangeais，werehisheroines。
Butbetterthananythingthatevergotfromtheheartofamanintoprinter’sink，helovedthepoetryofRobertBurns。\"DeathandDr。Hornbook\"and\"TheJollyBeg—
gars，\"Burns’s\"ReplytohisTailor，\"heoftenreadaloudtohimselfinhisoffice，lateatnight，afteraglassofhottoddy。
Heusedtoread\"Tamo’Shanter\"toTheaKronborg，andhegothersomeofthesongs，settotheoldairsforwhichtheywerewritten。Helovedtohearhersingthem。Some—
timeswhenshesang，\"Oh，wertthouinthecauldblast，\"
thedoctorandevenMr。Kronborgjoinedin。Theanevermindedifpeoplecouldnotsing；shedirectedthemwithherheadandsomehowcarriedthemalong。Whenherfathergotoffthepitchsheletherownvoiceoutandcoveredhim。
XIII
AtthebeginningofJune，whenschoolclosed，TheahadtoldWunschthatshedidn’tknowhowmuchprac—
ticingshecouldgetinthissummerbecauseThorhadhisworstteethstilltocut。
\"MyGod！alllastsummerhewasdoingthat！\"Wunschexclaimedfuriously。
\"Iknow，butittakesthemtwoyears，andThorisslow，\"
Theaansweredreprovingly。
Thesummerwentwellbeyondherhopes，however。Shetoldherselfthatitwasthebestsummerofherlife，sofar。
Nobodywassickathome，andherlessonswereuninter—
rupted。Nowthatshehadfourpupilsofherownandmadeadollaraweek，herpracticingwasregardedmoreseriouslybythehousehold。Hermotherhadalwaysarrangedthingssothatshecouldhavetheparlorfourhoursadayinsum—
mer。Thorprovedafriendlyally。Hebehavedhandsomelyabouthismolars，andneverobjectedtobeingpulledoffintoremoteplacesinhiscart。WhenTheadraggedhimoverthehillandmadeacampundertheshadeofabushorabank，hewouldwaddleaboutandplaywithhisblocks，orburyhismonkeyinthesandanddighimupagain。
Sometimeshegotintothecactusandsetupahowl，butusuallyhelethissisterreadpeacefully，whilehecoatedhishandsandface，firstwithanall—daysuckerandthenwithgravel。
LifewaspleasantanduneventfuluntilthefirstofSep—
tember，whenWunschbegantodrinksohardthathewasunabletoappearwhenTheawenttotakehermid—weeklesson，andMrs。Kohlerhadtosendherhomeafteratear—
fulapology。OnSaturdaymorningshesetoutfortheKohlers’again，butonherway，whenshewascrossingthe
ravine，shenoticedawomansittingatthebottomofthegulch，undertherailroadtrestle。SheturnedfromherpathandsawthatitwasMrs。Tellamantez，andsheseemedtobedoingdrawn—work。ThenTheanoticedthattherewassomethingbesideher，coveredupwithapurpleandyellowMexicanblanket。SheranupthegulchandcalledtoMrs。
Tellamantez。TheMexicanwomanheldupawarningfinger。
Theaglancedattheblanketandrecognizedasquareredhandwhichprotruded。Themiddlefingertwitchedslightly。
\"Ishehurt？\"shegasped。
Mrs。Tellamantezshookherhead。\"No；verysick。Heknowsnothing，\"shesaidquietly，foldingherhandsoverherdrawn—work。
ThealearnedthatWunschhadbeenoutallnight，thatthismorningMrs。Kohlerhadgonetolookforhimandfoundhimunderthetrestlecoveredwithdirtandcinders。
Probablyhehadbeentryingtogethomeandhadlosthisway。Mrs。Tellamantezwaswatchingbesidetheuncon—
sciousmanwhileMrs。KohlerandJohnnywenttogethelp。
\"Youbettergohomenow，Ithink，\"saidMrs。Tella—
mantez，inclosinghernarration。
Theahungherheadandlookedwistfullytowardtheblanket。
\"Couldn’tIjuststaytilltheycome？\"sheasked。\"I’dliketoknowifhe’sverybad。\"
\"Badenough，\"sighedMrs。Tellamantez，takingupherworkagain。
TheasatdownunderthenarrowshadeofoneofthetrestlepostsandlistenedtothelocustsraspinginthehotsandwhileshewatchedMrs。Tellamantezevenlydrawherthreads。Theblanketlookedasifitwereoveraheapofbricks。
\"Idon’tseehimbreathingany，\"shesaidanxiously。
\"Yes，hebreathes，\"saidMrs。Tellamantez，notliftinghereyes。
ItseemedtoTheathattheywaitedforhours。Atlast
theyheardvoices，andapartyofmencamedownthehillandupthegulch。Dr。ArchieandFritzKohlercamefirst；behindwereJohnnyandRay，andseveralmenfromtheroundhouse。Rayhadthecanvaslitterthatwaskeptatthedepotforaccidentsontheroad。Behindthemtrailedhalfadozenboyswhohadbeenhangingroundthedepot。
WhenRaysawThea，hedroppedhiscanvasrollandhurriedforward。\"Betterrunalonghome，Thee。Thisisuglybusiness。\"RaywasindignantthatanybodywhogaveTheamusiclessonsshouldbehaveinsuchamanner。
Thearesentedbothhisproprietarytoneandhissuperiorvirtue。\"Iwon’t。Iwanttoknowhowbadheis。I’mnotababy！\"sheexclaimedindignantly，stampingherfootintothesand。
Dr。Archie，whohadbeenkneelingbytheblanket，gotupandcametowardThea，dustinghisknees。Hesmiledandnoddedconfidentially。\"He’llbeallrightwhenwegethimhome。Buthewouldn’twantyoutoseehimlikethis，pooroldchap！Understand？Now，skip！\"
Thearandownthegulchandlookedbackonlyonce，toseethemliftingthecanvaslitterwithWunschuponit，stillcoveredwiththeblanket。
ThemencarriedWunschupthehillanddowntheroadtotheKohlers’。Mrs。Kohlerhadgonehomeandmadeupabedinthesitting—room，assheknewthelittercouldnotbegotroundtheturninthenarrowstairway。Wunschwaslikeadeadman。Helayunconsciousallday。RayKen—
nedystayedwithhimtilltwoo’clockintheafternoon，whenhehadtogooutonhisrun。ItwasthefirsttimehehadeverbeeninsidetheKohlers’house，andhewassomuchimpressedbyNapoleonthatthepiece—pictureformedanewbondbetweenhimandThea。
Dr。Archiewentbackatsixo’clock，andfoundMrs。
KohlerandSpanishJohnnywithWunsch，whowasinahighfever，mutteringandgroaning。
\"Thereoughttobesomeoneheretolookafterhim
to—night，Mrs。Kohler，\"hesaid。\"I’monaconfinementcase，andIcan’tbehere，butthereoughttobesomebody。
Hemaygetviolent。\"
Mrs。KohlerinsistedthatshecouldalwaysdoanythingwithWunsch，butthedoctorshookhisheadandSpanishJohnnygrinned。Hesaidhewouldstay。Thedoctorlaughedathim。\"Tenfellowslikeyoucouldn’tholdhim，Spanish，ifhegotobstreperous；anIrishmanwouldhavehishandsfull。GuessI’dbetterputthesoftpedalonhim。\"
Hepulledouthishypodermic。
SpanishJohnnystayed，however，andtheKohlerswenttobed。Atabouttwoo’clockinthemorningWunschrosefromhisignominiouscot。Johnny，whowasdozingonthelounge，awoketofindtheGermanstandinginthemiddleoftheroominhisundershirtanddrawers，hisarmsbare，hisheavybodyseemingtwiceitsnaturalgirth。Hisfacewassnarlingandsavage，andhiseyeswerecrazy。Hehadrisentoavengehimself，towipeouthisshame，todestroyhisenemy。OnelookwasenoughforJohnny。Wunschraisedachairthreateningly，andJohnny，withthelightnessofaPICADOR，dartedunderthemissileandoutoftheopenwin—
dow。Heshotacrossthegullytogethelp，meanwhileleav—
ingtheKohlerstotheirfate。
Fritz，upstairs，heardthechaircrashuponthestove。
Thenhehearddoorsopeningandshutting，andsomeonestumblingaboutintheshrubberyofthegarden。HeandPaulinasatupinbedandheldaconsultation。Fritzslippedfromunderthecovers，andgoingcautiouslyovertothewindow，pokedouthishead。Thenherushedtothedoorandboltedit。
\"MEINGOTT，Paulina，\"hegasped，\"hehastheaxe，hewillkillus！\"
\"Thedresser，\"criedMrs。Kohler；\"pushthedresserbeforethedoor。ACH，ifyouhadyourrabbitgun，now！\"
\"Itisinthebarn，\"saidFritzsadly。\"Itwoulddonogood；hewouldnotbeafraidofanythingnow。Stayyouin
thebed，Paulina。\"Thedresserhadlostitscastersyearsago，buthemanagedtodragitinfrontofthedoor。\"Heisinthegarden。Hemakesnothing。Hewillgetsickagain，may—be。\"
Fritzwentbacktobedandhiswifepulledthequiltoverhimandmadehimliedown。Theyheardstumblinginthegardenagain，thenasmashofglass。
\"ACH，DASMISTBEET！\"gaspedPaulina，hearingherhot—
bedshivered。\"Thepoorsoul，Fritz，hewillcuthimself。
ACH！whatisthat？\"Theybothsatupinbed。\"WIEDER！
ACH，Whatishedoing？\"
Thenoisecamesteadily，asoundofchopping。Paulinatoreoffhernight—cap。DIEBAUME，DIEBAUME！Heiscut—
tingourtrees，Fritz！\"Beforeherhusbandcouldpreventher，shehadsprungfromthebedandrushedtothewin—
dow。\"DERTAUBENSCHLAG！GERECHTERHIMMEL，heischoppingthedove—housedown！\"
Fritzreachedhersidebeforeshehadgotherbreathagain，andpokedhisheadoutbesidehers。There，inthefaintstarlight，theysawabulkyman，barefoot，halfdressed，choppingawayatthewhitepostthatformedthepedestalofthedove—house。Thestartledpigeonswerecroakingandflyingabouthishead，evenbeatingtheirwingsinhisface，sothathestruckatthemfuriouslywiththeaxe。Inafewsecondstherewasacrash，andWunschhadactuallyfelledthedove—house。
\"Oh，ifonlyitisnotthetreesnext！\"prayedPaulina。
\"Thedove—houseyoucanmakenewagain，butnotDIE
BAUME。\"
Theywatchedbreathlessly。InthegardenbelowWunschstoodintheattitudeofawoodman，contemplatingthefallencote。Suddenlyhethrewtheaxeoverhisshoulderandwentoutofthefrontgatetowardthetown。
\"Thepoorsoul，hewillmeethisdeath！\"Mrs。Kohlerwailed。Sheranbacktoherfeatherbedandhidherfaceinthepillow。
Fritzkeptwatchatthewindow。\"No，no，Paulina，\"hecalledpresently；\"Iseelanternscoming。Johnnymusthavegoneforsomebody。Yes，fourlanterns，comingalongthegulch。Theystop；theymusthaveseenhimalready。
NowtheyareunderthehillandIcannotseethem，butI
thinktheyhavehim。Theywillbringhimback。Imustdressandgodown。\"Hecaughthistrousersandbeganpullingthemonbythewindow。\"Yes，heretheycome，halfadozenmen。Andtheyhavetiedhimwitharope，Paulina！\"
\"ACH，thepoorman！Tobeledlikeacow，\"groanedMrs。Kohler。\"Oh，itisgoodthathehasnowife！\"ShewasreproachingherselffornaggingFritzwhenhedrankhimselfintofoolishpleasantryormildsulks，andfeltthatshehadneverbeforeappreciatedherblessings。
Wunschwasinbedfortendays，duringwhichtimehewasgossipedaboutandevenpreachedaboutinMoonstone。
TheBaptistpreachertookashotatthefallenmanfromhispulpit，Mrs。LiveryJohnsonnoddingapprovinglyfromherpew。ThemothersofWunsch’spupilssenthimnotesinforminghimthattheirdaughterswoulddiscontinuetheirmusic—lessons。Theoldmaidwhohadrentedhimherpianosentthetowndrayforhercontaminatedinstrument，andeverafterwarddeclaredthatWunschhadruineditstoneandscarreditsglossyfinish。TheKohlerswereunre—
mittingintheirkindnesstotheirfriend。Mrs。Kohlermadehimsoupsandbrothswithoutstint，andFritzrepairedthedove—houseandmounteditonanewpost，lestitmightbeasadreminder。
AssoonasWunschwasstrongenoughtositaboutinhisslippersandwaddedjacket，hetoldFritztobringhimsomestoutthreadfromtheshop。WhenFritzaskedwhathewasgoingtosew，heproducedthetatteredscoreof\"Orpheus\"andsaidhewouldliketofixitupforalittlepresent。Fritzcarrieditovertotheshopandstitchedit
intopasteboards，coveredwithdarksuiting—cloth。Overthestitcheshegluedastripofthinredleatherwhichhegotfromhisfriend，theharness—maker。AfterPaulinahadcleanedthepageswithfreshbread，Wunschwasamazedtoseewhatafinebookhehad。Itopenedstiffly，butthatwasnomatter。
Sittinginthearboronemorning，undertheripegrapesandthebrown，curlingleaves，withapenandinkonthebenchbesidehimandtheGluckscoreonhisknee，Wunschponderedforalongwhile。Severaltimeshedippedthepenintheink，andthenputitbackagaininthecigarboxinwhichMrs。Kohlerkeptherwritingutensils。Histhoughtswanderedoverawideterritory；overmanycountriesandmanyyears。Therewasnoorderorlogicalsequenceinhisideas。Picturescameandwentwithoutreason。Faces，mountains，rivers，autumndaysinothervineyardsfaraway。HethoughtofaFUSZREISEhehadmadethroughtheHartzMountainsinhisstudentdays；oftheinnkeeper’sprettydaughterwhohadlightedhispipeforhiminthegardenonesummerevening，ofthewoodsaboveWiesba—
den，haymakersonanislandintheriver。Theround—
housewhistlewokehimfromhisreveries。Ah，yes，hewasinMoonstone，Colorado。Hefrownedforamomentandlookedatthebookonhisknee。Hehadthoughtofagreatmanyappropriatethingstowriteinit，butsuddenlyherejectedallofthem，openedthebook，andatthetopofthemuch—engravedtitle—pagehewroterapidlyinpurpleink：——
EINST，OWUNDER！——
A。WUNSCH。
MOONSTONE，COLO。
SEPTEMBER30，18——
NobodyinMoonstoneeverfoundwhatWunsch’sfirstnamewas。That\"A\"mayhavestoodforAdam，orAugust，orevenAmadeus；hegotveryangryifanyoneaskedhim。
HeremainedA。Wunschtotheendofhischapterthere。
WhenhepresentedthisscoretoThea，hetoldherthatintenyearsshewouldeitherknowwhattheinscriptionmeant，orshewouldnothavetheleastidea，inwhichcaseitwouldnotmatter。
WhenWunschbegantopackhistrunk，boththeKohlerswereveryunhappy。Hesaidhewascomingbacksomeday，butthatforthepresent，sincehehadlostallhispupils，itwouldbebetterforhimtotrysome\"newtown。\"
Mrs。Kohlerdarnedandmendedallhisclothes，andgavehimtwonewshirtsshehadmadeforFritz。Fritzmadehimanewpairoftrousersandwouldhavemadehimanovercoatbutforthefactthatovercoatsweresoeasytopawn。
WunschwouldnotgoacrosstheravinetothetownuntilhewenttotakethemorningtrainforDenver。HesaidthatafterhegottoDenverhewould\"lookaround。\"HeleftMoonstoneonebrightOctobermorning，withouttellinganyonegood—bye。Heboughthisticketandwentdirectlyintothesmoking—car。Whenthetrainwasbeginningtopullout，heheardhisnamecalledfrantically，andlookingoutofthewindowhesawTheaKronborgstandingonthesiding，bareheadedandpanting。SomeboyshadbroughtwordtoschoolthattheysawWunsch’strunkgoingovertothestation，andTheahadrunawayfromschool。Shewasattheendofthestationplatform，herhairintwobraids，herblueginghamdresswettothekneesbecauseshehadrunacrosslotsthroughtheweeds。Ithadraineddur—
ingthenight，andthetallsunflowersbehindherwerefreshandshining。
\"Good—bye，HerrWunsch，good—bye！\"shecalledwavingtohim。
Hethrusthisheadoutatthecarwindowandcalledback，\"LEBENSIEWOHL，LEBENSIEWOHL，MEINKIND！\"Hewatchedheruntilthetrainsweptaroundthecurvebe—
yondtheroundhouse，andthensankbackintohisseat，
muttering，\"Shehadbeenrunning。Ah，shewillrunalongway；theycannotstopher！\"
Whatwasitaboutthechildthatonebelievedin？Wasitherdoggedindustry，sounusualinthisfree—and—easycountry？Wasitherimagination？Morelikelyitwasbe—
causeshehadbothimaginationandastubbornwill，curi—
ouslybalancingandinterpenetratingeachother。Therewassomethingunconsciousandunawakenedabouther，thattemptedcuriosity。Shehadakindofseriousnessthathehadnotmetwithinapupilbefore。Shehateddifficultthings，andyetshecouldneverpassoneby。
Theyseemedtochallengeher；shehadnopeaceuntilshemasteredthem。Shehadthepowertomakeagreateffort，toliftaweightheavierthanherself。Wunschhopedhewouldalwaysrememberherasshestoodbythetrack，lookingupathim；herbroadeagerface，sofairincolor，withitshighcheek—bones，yelloweyebrowsandgreenish—
hazeleyes。Itwasafacefulloflightandenergy，oftheunquestioninghopefulnessoffirstyouth。Yes，shewaslikeaflowerfullofsun，butnotthesoftGermanflowersofhischildhood。Hehaditnow，thecomparisonhehadab—
sentlyreachedforbefore：shewasliketheyellowprickly—
pearblossomsthatopenthereinthedesert；thornierandsturdierthanthemaidenflowersheremembered；notsosweet，butwonderful。
ThatnightMrs。Kohlerbrushedawaymanyatearasshegotsupperandsetthetablefortwo。Whentheysatdown，Fritzwasmoresilentthanusual。Peoplewhohavelivedlongtogetherneedathirdattable：theyknoweachother’sthoughtssowellthattheyhavenothinglefttosay。
Mrs。Kohlerstirredandstirredhercoffeeandclatteredthespoon，butshehadnoheartforhersupper。Shefelt，forthefirsttimeinyears，thatshewastiredofherowncook—
ing。Shelookedacrosstheglasslampatherhusbandandaskedhimifthebutcherlikedhisnewovercoat，and
whetherhehadgottheshouldersrightinaready—madesuithewaspatchingoverforRayKennedy。Aftersup—
perFritzofferedtowipethedishesforher，butshetoldhimtogoabouthisbusiness，andnottoactasifsheweresickorgettinghelpless。
Whenherworkinthekitchenwasalldone，shewentouttocovertheoleandersagainstfrost，andtotakealastlookatherchickens。Asshecamebackfromthehen—houseshestoppedbyoneofthelindentreesandstoodrestingherhandonthetrunk。Hewouldnevercomeback，thepoorman；sheknewthat。Hewoulddriftonfromnewtowntonewtown，fromcatastrophetocatastrophe。Hewouldhardlyfindagoodhomeforhimselfagain。Hewoulddieatlastinsomeroughplace，andbeburiedinthedesertoronthewildprairie，farenoughfromanylindentree！
Fritz，smokinghispipeonthekitchendoorstep，watchedhisPaulinaandguessedherthoughts。He，too，wassorrytolosehisfriend。ButFritzwasgettingold；hehadlivedalongwhileandhadlearnedtolosewithoutstruggle。
XIV
\"Mother，\"saidPeterKronborgtohiswifeonemorn—
ingabouttwoweeksafterWunsch’sdeparture，\"howwouldyouliketodriveouttoCopperHolewithmeto—day？\"
Mrs。Kronborgsaidshethoughtshewouldenjoythedrive。Sheputonhergraycashmeredressandgoldwatchandchain，asbefittedaminister’swife，andwhileherhusbandwasdressingshepackedablackoilclothsatchelwithsuchclothingassheandThorwouldneedovernight。
CopperHolewasasettlementfifteenmilesnorthwestofMoonstonewhereMr。KronborgpreachedeveryFridayevening。Therewasabigspringthereandacreekandafewirrigatingditches。Itwasacommunityofdiscour—
agedagriculturistswhohaddisastrouslyexperimentedwithdryfarming。Mr。Kronborgalwaysdroveoutonedayandbackthenext，spendingthenightwithoneofhisparishioners。Often，whentheweatherwasfine，hiswifeaccompaniedhim。To—daytheysetoutfromhomeafterthemiddaymeal，leavingTillieinchargeofthehouse。Mrs。Kronborg’smaternalfeelingwasalwaysgar—
neredupinthebaby，whoeverthebabyhappenedtobe。
Ifshehadthebabywithher，theotherscouldlookoutforthemselves。Thor，ofcourse，wasnot，accuratelyspeaking，ababyanylonger。Inthematterofnourishmenthewasquiteindependentofhismother，thoughthisindependencehadnotbeenwonwithoutastruggle。Thorwasconserva—
tiveinallthings，andthewholefamilyhadanguishedwithhimwhenhewasbeingweaned。Beingtheyoungest，hewasstillthebabyforMrs。Kronborg，thoughhewasnearlyfouryearsoldandsatupboldlyonherlapthisafternoon，
holdingontotheendsofthelinesandshouting\"`mup，’mup，horsey。\"HisfatherwatchedhimaffectionatelyandhummedhymntunesinthejovialwaythatwassometimessuchatrialtoThea。
Mrs。Kronborgwasenjoyingthesunshineandthebril—
liantskyandallthefaintlymarkedfeaturesofthedazzling，monotonouslandscape。Shehadaratherunusualcapacityforgettingtheflavorofplacesandofpeople。Althoughshewassoenmeshedinfamilycaresmostofthetime，shecouldemergeserenewhenshewasawayfromthem。Foramotherofseven，shehadasingularlyunprejudicedpointofview。Shewas，moreover，afatalist，andasshedidnotattempttodirectthingsbeyondhercontrol，shefoundagooddealoftimetoenjoythewaysofmanandnature。
Whentheywerewellupontheirroad，outwherethefirstleanpasturelandsbeganandthesandgrassmadeafaintshowingbetweenthesagebushes，Mr。Kronborgdroppedhistuneandturnedtohiswife。\"Mother，I’vebeenthink—
ingaboutsomething。\"