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。"