第6章
Itwaspastmidnightwhenthepriestwasawakenedfromhissleepbyaknockonthedoor。Hewrappedhisgreatbuffalo-coatabouthim，andansweredthesummons。
WithoutinthedampdarknessstoodPierre。
"Father，"hecried，"Ninonhassentforyou。Sincesheleftyou，shehasbeenveryill。IhavedonewhatIcould；butnowshehardlyspeaks，butImakeoutthatshewantsyou。”Tenminuteslater，theywereinNinon"scabin。WhenFatherdeSmetlookedatherheknewshewasdying。HehadseentheIndianslikethatmanytimesduringthewinter。Itwastheplague，butdrivenintopreyuponthesystembytheexposure。TheParisienne"steethwereset，butshemanagedtosmileuponhervisitorashethrewoffhiscoatandbentoverher。
Hepouredsomewhiskeyforher；butshecouldnotgettheliquidoverherthroat。
"Donot，"shesaidfiercelybetweenthosesetwhiteteeth，"donotforgetthelilies。”Shesankbackandfixedherglazingeyesontheantlers，andkeptthemtherewatchingthosedanglingsilkenscarves，whilethepriest，inhaste，spokethewordsforthedepartingsoul。
Thenextmorningshelaydeadamongthosehalfbarbaricrelicsofhercoquetry，andtwowhitelilieswithheartsofgoldshedperfumefromanaltarinawilderness。
UptheGulch"GOWest？"sighedKate。"Why，yes!I"dliketogoWest。”
Shelookedatthebabies，whowereplay-
ingonthefloorwiththeirfather，andsighedagain。
"You"vegottogosomewhere，youknow，Kate。Itmightaswellbewestasinanyotherdirection。Andthisissuchachance!
Wecan"thavemammalyingaroundonsofaswithoutanyrosesinhercheeks，canwe？"Heputthislasttothechildren，who，beingyetattheagewhentheytalkedin"EarlyEnglish，"astheirfathercalledit，madeaclamorousbutinarticulatereply。
MajorShelly，thegrandfatheroftheseveryyoungpersons，strokedhismustacheandlookedindulgent。
"Showalmosthumanintelligence，don"tthey？"saidtheirfather，ashelayflatonhisbackandpermittedthebabiestoclimboverhim。
"Ya-as，"drawledthemajor。"Theydo。
Don"tseehowyouaccountforit，Jack。”
Jackroared，andthelipsofthebabiestrembledwithfear。
Theirmothersaidnothing。Shewasonthesofa，herhandslyinginert，hereyesfixedonherrosybabieswithanexpressionwhichherfather-in-lawandherhusbandtriedhardnottonotice。
ItwasnoteasytotellwhyKatewasailing。Ofcourse，thebabieswereyoung，buttherewereotherreasons。
"Ibelieveyou"retoohappy，"Jacksome-
timessaidtoher。"Trynottobequitesohappy，Kate。Atleast，trynottotakeyourhappinesssoseriously。Pleasedon"tadoremeso；I"monlyacommonplacefellow。Andthebabies——they"renotgoingtoblowaway。”
ButKatecontinuedtolookwithintenseeyesatherlittleworld，andtodrawintoitwithlovingandgeneroushandsallwhowerewillingtocome。
"Kateisjustlikeakite，"Jackexplainedtohisfather，themajor；"shecan"tkeepafloatwithoutjustsomanybobs。”
Kate"s"bobs"weretheunfortunatesshecollectedaroundher。Theseabsorbedherstrength。Shefelttheirmiserywithsym-
pathiesthatwereabnormal。Theverylaborerinthestreetsfelthistoillesskeenlythanshe，asshewatchedthedropsgatheronhisbrow。
"Islifeworthkeepingatthecostofalotlikethat？"shewouldask。Shefeltashamedofherownease。Sheapologizedforherownsereneandperfecthappiness。
Sheevenfeltsorryforthosemotherswhohadnotchildrenasradiantlybeautifulasherown。
"Katemusthaveachange，"themajorhadgivenout。HewasgoingWestonbusinessandinsistedontakingherwithhim。Jacklookeddoubtful。Hewasn"tsurehowhewouldgetalongwithoutKatetolookaftereverything。Secretly，hehadanideathatservantswereakindofwildanimalthathadtobefedbyanexperiencedkeeper。Butwhenthetimecame，hekissedhergood-byinasjocularamannerashecouldsummon，andrefusedtoseethetearsthatgatheredinhereyes。
UntilChicagowasreached，therewasnothingverydifferentfromthatwhichKatehadbeeninthehabitofseeing。
Afterthat，shesetherselftowatchforWesterncharacteristics。Shefeltthatshewouldknowthemassoonasshesawthem。
"Iexpectedtobestirredupandshocked，"
sheexplainedtothemajor。Butsomehow，theWesterntypedidnotappear。Common-
placewomenwithwornfaces——brownedandseamed，thoughnotaged——wereatthestations，waitingforsomethingorsomeone。Menwithahurried，nervousairwereeverywhere。KatelookedinvainforthegayetyandheartinesswhichshehadalwaysassociatedwiththeWest。
Aftertheygotbeyondthetimbercountryandrodehourafterhouronatractsmoothasabecalmedocean，shegaveherselfuptothefeelingofimmeasurablevastnesswhichtookpossessionofher。Thesunrolledoutoftheskyintooblivionwithafrantic，head-
longhaste。Nothingsoftenedtheaspectofitswrath。Near，red，familiar，itseemedtovisiblybowlalongtheheavens。Inthemorningitroseasbaldlyasithadset。
Andbackandforthovertheawfulplainblewthewinds，——blewfromeasttowestandbackagain，strongasiffreshfromthechambersoftheirbirth，fullofelementalscentsandofmightymurmurings。
"ThisistheWest!"Katecried，againandagain。
Themajorlistenedtoherunsmilingly。
Italwaysseemedtohimawasteofmuscu-
larenergytosmile。Hedidnottalkmuch。
Conversationhadneverappealedtohiminthelightofanart。Hespokewhentherewasadirectionoracommandtobegiven，oraninquirytobemade。Themajor，ifthetruthmustbeknown，wasmaterial。
Thingsthathecouldtaste，touch，see，appealedtohim。Hehadbeenavolunteerinthecivilwar，——avolunteerwithagoodrecord，——whichhenevermentioned；and，havingacquittedhimselfdecently，letthemattergowithoutaskingreprisalorpay-
mentforwhathehadfreelygiven。Hewentintobusinessandsoldcerealfoods。
"Ibelieveinusefulthings，"themajorexpressedhimself。"Oatmeal，wheat，——
menhavetohavethem。Godintendedtheyshould。There"sJack——myson——
JackShelly——lawyer。What"stheuseoflitigation？Goddidn"tdesignlitigation。
Itdoesn"tdoanybodyanygood。Itisn"tjusticeyouget。It"ssomethingentirelydifferent，——averdictaccordingtolaw。
TheysayJack"sclever。ButI"mmightygladIsellwheat。”
Hedidn"tsellitasaspeculator，how-
ever。Thatwasn"thisway。
"IearnwhatImake，"heoftensaid；andhehadgrownrichinthesellingofhiswholesomefoods……
Helenaliesamonground，brownhills。
Aboveitisaskyofdeepandillimitableblue。Inthestreetsarecrumbsofgold，butitnolongerpaystomineforthese；
because，asrealestate，thepropertyismorevaluable。Itisaplaceoffictitiousvalues。
Thereisexcitementintheair。Menhavethefacesofspeculators。Everylaborerispatientathistaskbecausehecherishesahopethatsomedayhewillbeamillion-
naire。Thereishospitality，andcordialityandgoodfellowship，andanundeniabledemocracy。Thereiswealthandluxuriousliving。Thereisevenculture，——butitisobtrudedasasortofnovelty；itisnotacceptedasamatterofcourse。
Kateandthemajorweredrivenovertwoorthreemilesofdusty，hardroadtoadis-
tanthotel，whichstandsinthemidstofgreenness，——inanoasis。Immediatelyabovethegreenswardthatsurroundsitthebrownhillsrise，thegrassscorchedbythesun。
Kateyieldedherselftothealmostabsurdluxuryoftheplacewitheaseandcompla-
cency。Shetookkindlytothegreatveran-
das。Sheadaptedherselftotheelaborateandill-assortedmeals。Shebathedinthemarvellouspool，warmwiththeheatofeternalfiresinmid-earth。ThispoolwascoveredwithapicturesqueMoorishstruct-
ure，andatoneendacascadetumbled，overwhichthesun，comingthroughcoloredwin-
dows，madeamimicprisminthewhitespray。Thelifewasnotunendurable。Themajorwasseldomwithher，beingobligedtogoabouthisbusiness；andKateamusedherselfbydrivingoverthehills，bywatch-
ingtheinhabitants，bywonderingaboutthelivesinthegreat，pretentious，unhomelikehouseswiththeirtreelessyardsandtheirclosedshutters。Thesunlight，whiteastheglareonArabiansands，penetratedeverywhere。Itseemedtofairlyscorchtheeye-balls。
"Oh，we"reWest，now，"Katesaid，exult-
antly。"I"veseenathousandtypes。Butyet——notquiteTHEtype——nottheimper-
sonationofsimplicityanddaringthatIwaslookingfor。”
Themajordidn"tknowquitewhatshewastalkingabout。Butheacquiesced。
Allhecaredaboutwastoseehergrowstronger；andthatshewasdoingeveryday。
Shewasgrowingamazinglylovely，too，——
atleastthemajorthoughtso。Everyonelookedather；butthatwas，perhaps，be-
causeshewassuchasylphofawoman。
Besidethestalwartmajor，shelookedlikeafairyprincess。
Onedayshesuddenlyrealizedthefactthatshehadhadacompanionontheverandaforseveralmornings。Ofcourse，therewereagreatmanypersons——invalids，largely——sittingabout，butoneofthemhadbeenobtrudinghimselfpersistentlyintoherconsciousness。Itwasnotthathewasrude；itwasonlythathewasthinkingabouther。ApersonwithatemperamentlikeKate"scouldnotlongbeoblivioustoathinglikethat；andshefurtivelyobservedtheoffenderwiththatgeniusforpsycho-
logicalperceptionwhichwasatoncehergreatestdangerandhercharm。
Themanwasdressedwithachildishattemptatdisplay。Hisshirt-frontwasdecoratedwithadiamond，andhiscuff-
buttonswereofonyxwithdiamondsettings。
Hisclotheswereexpensiveandperceptiblynew，andheoftenchangedhiscostumes，butwithanoticeabledisregardforpro-
priety。Hewasveryconsciousofhissilkhat，andfrequentlywipeditwithahandker-
chiefonwhichhismonogramwasworkedinblue。
Whenthe"bussesbroughtuptheirloads，hewasalwaysonhandtowatchthenew-
comers。Hetookalongtimeathisdin-
ners，andappearedtoorderagreatdealandeatverylittle。Therewerecard-roomsandabilliard-hall，nottomentionabowling-
alleyandatennis-court，wheretheotherguestsofthehotelspentmuchtime。Butthismannevervisitedthem。Hesatoftenwithoneofthelatereviewsinhishand，lookingasifheintendedgivinghisatten-
tiontoitatanymoment。Butafterhehadscrupulouslycuttheleaveswithalittlecarvedivorypaper-cutter，hesatstaringstraightbeforehimwiththebookopen，butunread，inhishand。
Katetookmoreinterestinthismelan-
choly，middle-agedmanthanshewouldhavedoneifshehadnotbeenontheout-
lookforherWesterntype，——themanwhowastocombineallthequalitiesofchivalry，daring，bombast，andgenerosity，seasonedwithpiquantgrammar，whichshefirmlybelievedtobetherealthing。Butnotwith-
standingthiskindlyandsomewhatcuriousinterest，shemightneverhavemadehisacquaintanceifithadnotbeenforaratherunpleasantadventure。
Themajorwas"closingupadeal"andhadhurriedawayafterbreakfast，andKate，intheluxuryofconvalescence，half-reclinedinagreatchairontheverandaandwatchedtheduskybluemisttwiningitselfaroundthebrownhills。Shewasnotthinkingofthebabies；shewasnotworryingabouthome；shewasnotlongingforanything，orevenindulginginadream。Thatvacuouscontentwhichengrossesthebodyafterlongindisposition，heldherimperatively。Sud-
denlyshewasarousedfromthishappycon-
ditionofnothingnessbythespectacleofanenormousbull-dogapproachingherwiththreateningteeth。Shehadnoticedthemonsterofteninhiskennelnearthesta-
bles，anditwaswellunderstoodthathewasnevertobepermittedhisfreedom。Nowhewalkedtowardherwithasolidstepandanalarmingdeliberateness。Katesatstillandtriedtoassureherselfthathemeantnomis-
chief，butbythetimethegreatbodyhadmadeitselffeltontheskirtofhergownshecouldrestrainherfearnolonger，andgaveanervouscryofalarm。Thebruteansweredwithagrowl。Ifhehadlackedprovocationbefore，heconsideredthathehaditnow。
Heshowedhisteethandflunghisdetestablebodyuponher；andKatefeltherselfgrow-
ingdizzywithfear。Butjustthenanarmwasinterposedandthedogwasflungback。
Therewasamomentarystruggle。Somegentlemencamehurryingoutoftheoffice；
andastheybeatthedogbacktoitsretreat，Katesummonedwordsfromherparchedthroattothankherbenefactor。
Itwasthemelancholymanwiththenewclothes。Thismorninghewasdressedinasuitofthelightestgray，withawhitemarseilleswaistcoat，overwhichhisglitter-
ingchainshoneostentatiously。Whitetennis-shoes，awhiteroseinhisbutton-
hole，andawhitestrawhatinhishandcom-
pletedatoiletoverwhichmuchtimehadevidentlybeenspent。Katenotedthesedetailsassheheldoutherhand。
"Imayhavebeenalarmedwithoutcause，"
shesaid；"butIwashorriblyfrightened。
Thankyousomuchforcomingtomyres-
cue。AndIthink，ifyouwouldaddtoyourkindnessbygettingmeaglassofwater——"
Whenhecameback，hishandwastrem-
blingalittle；andasKatelookeduptolearnthecause，shesawthathisfacewasflushed。Hewasembarrassed。Shedecidedthathewasnotaccustomedtothesocietyofladies。"Bruteslikethatdogain"tnoplaceinth"world——that"smyopinion。
Therearesomebadthingswecan"thelphavin"aroun"；butabull-dogain"toneof"em。”
"Iquiteagreewithyou，"Kateacqui-
esced，asshedrankthewater。"ButasthisisthefirstunpleasantexperienceofanykindthatIhavehadsinceIcamehere，Idon"tfeelthatIhaveanyrighttocomplain。”
"You"reherefuryurhealth？"
"Yes。AndIamgettingit。You"renotaninvalid，Iimagine？"
"No——no-op。I"mherebe——well，I"vethoughtfuralongtimeI"dliket"stayatthisherehotel。”
"Indeed!"
"Yes。I"vebeenupth"gulchthesefif-
teenyears。Binlivin"onashelfofblackrock。
Th"sungot"round"boutten。Couldn"tmakeathinggrow。”Themanwaslook-
ingofftowardthehills，withanexpressionofdeepsadnessinhiseyes。"Didn"tneverliveinaplacewherenothin""dgrow，didyou？Itookgeraniumsupthartimean"timeagin。Redones。Mademethinkofmother；she"sinGermany。Watered"emmornin"an"night。Th"damnedthingsdied。”
Theoathslippedoutwithanartlessun-
consciousness，andtherewasalittlemoist-
ureinhiseyes。Katefeltsheoughttobringtheconversationtoaclose。ShewonderedwhatJackwouldsayifhesawhertalkingwithaperfectstrangerwhousedoaths!Shewouldhavegoneintothehousebutforsomethingthatcaughthereye。Itwasthehandoftheman；thathandwasabludgeon。Allgraceandflexibilityhadgoneoutofit，andithadbecomeamereinstrumentoftoil。Itwasseamedandmisshapen；yetithadbeencarefullymani-
cured，andthepointednailslookedfantasticandanimal-like。Agreatseal-ringboreanelaboratemonogram，whilethelittlefingerdisplayedacollectionofdiamondsandemeraldstrulydazzlingtobehold。Animpulseofhumanityandasortofartisticcuriosity，muchstrongerthanherdiscretion，urgedKatetocontinueherconversation。
"Whatwereyoudoingupthegulch？"
shesaid。
Themanleanedbackinhischairandregardedheramomentbeforeanswering。
Herealizedthesignificanceofherquestion。
Hetookitasasignthatshewaswillingtobefriendly。Alookofgratitude，almosttender，sprangintohiseyes，——dullgrayeyes，theywere，withakindlinessfortheironlyrecommendation。
"Makin"mypile，"hereplied。"I"vebeeninthesepartstwentyyears。WhenI
comehere，IthoughtIwasgoin"tomakeafortunerightoff。Ihadallth"moneythatmothercouldgiveme，andIlosteverythingI
hadinthreemonths。Iwentupth"gulch。”
Hepaused，andwipedhisforeheadwithhishandkerchief。
TherewassomethinginhisremarkandtheintonationwhichmadeKatesaysoftly:
"Isupposeyou"vehadahardtimeofit。”
"Tharyouwere!"hecried。"Tharwasth"rock——risin"，risin"，black!Atth"
bottomwusth"creek，howlin"dayan"
night!Lonesome!Gee!Noonet"talkto。Ofcourse，th"men。Hadsomewithmealways。Theydidn"ttalk。It"stoo——
tooquiett"talkmuch。Theyplayedcards。
Curious，butIneverplayedcards。Don"tthinkI"dfinditamusin"。No，Iworked。
Camedownhereonceinsixmonthsorthreemonths。Hadt"come——grub-stakedth"men，youknow。Didyouevereatsaltpork？"HeturnedtoKatesuddenlywiththisquestion。
"Why，yes；afewtimes。Didyouhaveit？"
"Nothin"else，much。Iusedt"thinkofth"thingsmothercooked。Motherunder-
stoodcookin"，ifeverawomandid。I"llneverforgetth"dinnershegavemeth"dayIcameaway。Awomanoughtt"cook。I
hearAmericanwomendon"tgoinmuchforcookin"。”
"Oh，Ithinkthat"samistake，"Katehastenedtointerrupt。"AllthatIknowun-
derstandhowtoserveexcellentdinners。Ofcourse，theymaynotcookthemthemselves，butIthinktheycouldifitwerenecessary。”
"Hum!"HepickedupalongglovethathadfallenfromKate"slapandfingereditbeforereturningit。
"Is"poseyoucook？"
"Imakeaspecialtyofsaladsandsor-
bets，"smiledKate。"IguessIcouldroastmeatandmakebread；butcircumstanceshavenotyetcompelledmetodoit。ButI"veatheorythatanAmericanwomancandoanythingsheputshermindto。”
Themanlaughedoutloud，——alaughquiteoutofproportiontothemildgoodhumoroftheremark；butitwasevidentthathecouldnolongerconcealhisdelightatthiscompanionship。
"Howaboutraisin"flowers？"heasked。
"Areyoustrongonthat？"
"I"veonlytolookataplanttomakeitgrow，"Katecried，withenthusiasm。
"Whenmyfriendsareindespairoveraplant，theybringittome，andIjustpetitalittle，anditbrightensup。I"vethemostwonderfulferneryyoueversaw。It"sgreen，summerandwinter。Hundredsofpeoplestopandlookupatit，itissogreenandenticing，thereabovethecitystreets。”
"Whatcity？"
"Philadelphia。”
"Mother"sjestthatway。Shehasagar-
denofroses。Andthemignonette——"
Buthebrokeoffsuddenly，andsatoncemorestaringbeforehim。
"Butnotadamnedthing，"headded，withpoeticpensiveness，"wouldgrowinthatgulch。”
"Whydidyoustaytheresolong？"askedKate，afteralittlepauseinwhichsheman-
agedtoregainherwaningcourage。
"Badluck。Youneverseeaplacewithsomanyfalseleads。To-dayyou"dgetastreakthatlookedbig。To-morrowyou"dfinditapocket。OnenightI"dgot"bedwithmyheartgoin"likearace-horse。
Nextnightitwouldbeploddin"alonglikeawindedburro。Don"tknowwhatmademestickt"it。Itwashotthere，too!Andcold!Alwaysroastin"urfreezin"。It"dbeendifferentifI"dhadanyonet"helpmestandit。Butth"menwerealwaysfindin"
fault。Theyblamedmefureverythin"。I
usedt"lieawakeatnightan"hear"emtalkin"meover。Itmademelonesome，I
tellyou!Tharwasn"tnoone!Motherusedt"write。ButInevertoldherth"
truth。Sheain"tasuspicionofwhatI"vebeena-goin"through。”
Katesatandlookedathiminsilence。
Hisfacewasseamed，thoughfarfromold。
Hisbodywasawkward，butimpressedherwithasenseofmagnificentstrength。
"Icouldn"tasknowomant"sharemyhardtimes，"heresumedafteratime。"I
alwayssaidwhenIgotawoman，itwasgoin"t"bet"makeherhappy。Itwer"n"tt"bet"askhert"drudge。”
Therewasanothersilence。Thismanoutofthesolitudeseemedtobeelatedpastexpressionathisnewcompanionship。HelookedwithappreciationatthelittlepointedtoesofKate"sslippers，astheyglancedfrombelowtheskirtofherdaintyorgandie。Henotedthebandofpearlsonherfinger。Hiseyesrestedlongonthedaisiesatherwaist。
Thewindtosseduplittlecurlsofherwarmbrownhair。Hereyessuffusedwithinter-
est，hertendermouthseemedreadytolenditselftoanyemotion，andwithalshewassosmall，socompact，soexquisite。Themanwipedhisforeheadagain，inmereexuberance。
"Here"smycard，"hesaid，verysolemnly，ashedrewanengravedbitofpasteboardfromitsleathercase。Katebowedandtookit。
"Mr。PeterRoeder，"sheread。
"I"venocard，"shesaid。"MynameisShelly。I"mhereformyhealth，asItoldyou。”Sheroseatthispoint，andheldoutherhand。"Imustthankyouoncemoreforyourkindness，"shesaid。
Hiseyesfastenedonherswithanappealforalessformalword。Therewassomethingalmostterribleintheirsilenteloquence。
"Ihopewemaymeetagain，"shesaid。
Mr。PeterRoedermadeaverylowandawkwardbow，andopenedthedoorintothecorridorforher。
ThateveningthemajorannouncedthathewasobligedtogotoSeattle。Thejourneywasnotaninvitingone；Katewaswellplacedwhereshewas，andhedecidedtoleaveher。
Shewaswellenoughnowtotakelongerdrives；andshefoundstrange，lonelycan-
yons，wildandbeautiful，whereyellowwatersburstthroughrockybarrierswithroarandfury，——tortuous，terribleplaces，suchasshehadneverdreamedof。Comingbackfromoneofthesedrives，twodaysafterherconversationonthepiazzawithPeterRoeder，shemethimridingamassiveroan。
HesattheanimalwiththatairofperfectunconsciousnesswhichistheattributeoftheWesternman，andhisattire，eventohisEnglishstock，wasfaultless，——faultilyfaultless。
"Ihopeyouwon"tobjecttohavin"meridebesideyou，"hesaid，wheelinghishorse。Totellthetruth，Katedidnotobject。Shewasalittledull，andhadbeenconsciousallthemorningofthatpeculiarphysicaldepressionwhichmarksthebegin-
ningofafitofhomesickness。
"Thewindgitsafinesweep，"saidRoeder，afterhavingobtainedthepermis-
sionhedesired。"Nowinthegulchweeitherhadadeadstagnation，orelsethewindwastearin"upanddownlikeawildbeast。”
Katedidnotreply，andtheywentontogether，facingtheriotouswind。
"Youcan"tguesshowqueeritseemst"
behere，"hesaid，confidentially。"Itseemst"measifIhadcomefromsomeotherplanet。Thardon"trightlyseemt"benoplacefurme。Itellyouwhatit"slike。
It"sasifI"dcomedownt"enlistinth"
ranks，an"found"emfull，——everymanmarchin"alonginhisplace，an"noplaceleftfurme。”
Katecouldnotfindareply。
"Iain"tafriend，——notafriend!Iain"tcomplainin"。Itain"tth"faultofanyone——butmyself。Youdon"knowwhatadurnedfoolI"vebin。Someway，uptharinth"gulchIgott"seemin"sosortofimpor-
tantt"myself，andmymakin"mystakeseemedsuchabigthing，thatIthoughtI
hadonlyt"comedownheret"Helenat"
havefolkswantt"knowme。Ididn"tparticularwantth"moneybecauseitwusmoney。Butouthereyouworkfurit，jestasyouworkfurotherthingsinotherplaces，——jestbecauseeveryoneisworkin"furit，andit"sthemanwhogetsth"mostthatbeats。Itain"tthattheyareanymoregreedythanmenanywhereelse。Mypile"saprettygood-sizedone。An"it"slikelytobebigger；butnooneelseseemst"care。
Th"paperprintedsomepiecesaboutit。
Someofth"mencameroundt"seeme；
butIsawtheirgame。IsaidIguessedI"dlookfurtherfurmyacquaintances。I
ain"tspokentoalady，——notareallady，youknow，——t"talkwith，friendlylike，butyou，fur——years。”
Hisfaceflushedinthatsuddenwayagain。
Theywerepassingsomeofthosepreten-
tioushouseswhichriseinthemidstofHelena"sraggedstreetswithsuchanextra-
neousair，andKateleanedforwardtolookatthem。Thedriver，seeingherinterest，drewupthehorsesforamoment。
"Fine，fine!"ejaculatedRoeder。"Buttheyain"tgotnogarden。Ahousedon"tseemanythin"t"mewithoutagarden。
DoyouknowwhatIthinkwouldbeth"
mostbeautifulthinginth"world？A
babyinarose-garden!Doyouknow，I
ain"thadababyinmyhands，excep"NedRamsey"slittlekid，once，fortenyear!"
Kate"sfaceshonewithsympathy。
"Howdreadful!"shecried。"Icouldn"tlivewithoutababyabout。”
"Likebabies，doyou？Well，well。
Boys？Likeboys？"
"Notabitbetterthangirls，"saidKate，stoutly。
"Ilikeboys，"respondedRoeder，withconviction。"Mymotherlikedboys。Shehadthreegirls，butshelikedmeadamnedsightthebest。”
Katelaughedoutright。
"Whydoyouswear？"shesaid。"I
neverheardamanswearbefore，——atleast，notonewithwhomIwastalking。That"soneofyourgulchhabits。Youmustgetoverit。”
Roeder"sblondfaceturnedscarlet。
"Youmustexcuseme，"hepleaded。
"I"llcuremyselfofit!Jestgivemeachance。”
ThiswasalittlemorepersonalthanKateapprovedof，andsheraisedherparasoltoconcealherannoyance。Itwasabrilliantlittlefluffofathingwhichlookedasifitweremadeofbutterflies"wings。Roedertoucheditwithawe。
"Youhavesechbeautifulthings，"hesaid。"Ididn"tknowwomenworesechnicethings。Nowthatdress——it"slike——Idon"tknowwhatit"slike。”Itwasasimplelittletaffeta，withwarpandwoofofazureandofcream，andgayknotsofribbonaboutit。
"Wehavetheadvantageofmen，"shesaid。"Ioftenthinkoneofthegreatestdrawbackstobeingamanwouldbethesombreclothes。Iliketoweartheprettiestthingsthatcanbefound。”
"Lace？"queriedRoeder。"Doyoulikelace？"
"Ishouldsayso!Didyoueverseeawomanwhodidn"t？"
"Hu——um!ThesewomenI"veknowndon"tknowlace，——thesewivesofth"menouthere。They"reth"onlykindI"veseenthislongtime。”
"Oh，ofcourse，butImean——"
"Iknowwhatyoumean。Mymotherhasachestfulloflinenan"lace。Sheshoweditt"meth"dayIleft。"Peter，"shesaid，"somedayyoubringawifehomewithyou，an"I"llgiveyouthatlacean"thatlinen。"
An"I"mgoin"t"doit，too，"hesaidquietly。
"Ihopeso，"saidKate，withhereyesmoist。"Ihopeyouwill，andthatyourmotherwillbeveryhappy。”……
Therewasahopatthehotelthatnight，anditwasalmostamatterofcourtesyforKatetogo。Ladieswereindemand，fortherewerenotverymanyofthematthehotel。Everyonewasexpectedtodohisbesttomakeitasuccess；andKate，notatallaversetoawaltzortwo，dressedherselffortheoccasionwithherhabitualstrivingafterartisticeffect。Shewasoneofthosewomenwhomakeapictureofthemselvesasnaturallyasabirdsings。ShehadanopalnecklacewhichJackhadgivenherbecause，hesaid，shehadasmanymoodsasanopalhadcolors；andsheworethiswithacré；pegown，thetintofthegreenlightsinhernecklace。Aboxofflowerscameforherasshewasdressing；theywerePuritanroses，andPeterRoeder"scardwasinthemidstofthem。Shewasusedtohavingflowersgivenher。Itwouldhaveseemedremark-
ableifsomeonehadnotsentherabouquetwhenshewasgoingtoaball。
"Ishalldancebuttwice，"shesaidtothosewhosoughtherforapartner。
"Neithermorenorless。”
"Ain"tyougoin"t"dancewithmeatall？"Roedermanagedtosaytoherinthemidstofherlaughingaltercationwiththegentlemen。
"Dancewithyou!"criedKate。"Howdomenlearntodancewhentheyareupagulch？"
"Ikendance，"hesaidstubbornly。Hewasmortifiedatherchaffing。
"Thenyoumayhavethesecondwaltz，"
shesaid，inquickcontrition。"Nowyouothergentlemenhavebeendancinganynumberoftimestheselastfifteenyears。
ButMr。Roederisjustbackfromahardcampaign，——acampaignagainstfate。Mysecondwaltzishis。AndIshalldancemybest。”
Ithappenedtobejusttherightsortofspeech。Thewomentriedgood-naturedlytomakeRoeder"seveningapleasantone。
Theywerefilledwithcompassionforamanwhohadnotenjoyedthesocietyoftheirsexforfifteenyears。Theyfoundmuchamuse-
mentinleadinghimthroughthesquaredances，theformsofwhichwereutterlyunknowntohim。Buthewaltzedwithasortofseriousalertnessthatwasnotsobadasitmighthavebeen。
Katedancedwell。Herslightbodyseemedasfullofthespiritofthewaltzasathrush"sbodyisofsong。PeterRoedermovedalongwithherinamaze，onlyhalf-
answeringherquestions，hisgrayeyesfullofmystery。
Oncetheystoppedforamoment，andhelookeddownather，aswithflushedfaceshestoodsmilingandwavinghergossamerfan，eachmotionstirringthefrailleavesoftheroseshehadsenther。
"It"scur"ous，"hesaidsoftly，"butIkeepthinkin"aboutthatblackgulch。”
"Forgetit，"shesaid。"Whydoyouthinkofagulchwhen——"Shestoppedwithasuddenrecollectionthathewasnotusedtopersiflage。Butheanticipatedwhatshewasabouttosay。
"Whythinkofthegulchwhenyouarehere？"hesaid。"Why，becauseitisonlyth"gulchthatseemsreal。Allthis，——thesepleasant，politepeople，thisbeautifulroom，th"flowerseverywhere，andyou，andmeasIam，seemasifIwasdreamin"。Tharain"tanythinginitallthatislikewhatI
thoughtitwouldbe。”
"Notasyouthoughtitwouldbe？"
"No。Different。Ithoughtitwouldbe——well，Ithoughtth"peoplewouldnotbequitesohigh-toned。Ihopeyoudon"tmindthatword。”
"Notintheleast，"shesaid。"It"samu-
sicalterm。Itappliesverywelltopeople。”
Theytookupthedanceagainandwaltzedbreathlesslytilltheclose。Katewastired；
theexertionhadbeenalittlemorethanshehadbargainedfor。Shesatverystillontheverandaunderthewhiteglareofanelectricball，andletRoederdothetalking。Herthoughts，inspiteoftheentertainmentshewasderivingfromherpresentexperiences，wouldgobacktothebabies。Shesawthemtuckedwellinbed，eachinalittleironcrib，withthemuslincurtainsshieldingtheirrosyfacesfromthelight。ShewonderedifJackwerereadingaloneinthelibraryorwasattheclub，orperhapsatthesummercon-
cert，withtheswelloftheviolinsinhisears。Jackdidsolovemusic。Asshethoughthowdelicatehisperceptionswere，howherespondedtoeverythingmostsubtleinnatureandinart，ofhowlifeitselfwasafineartwithhim，andjoyathingtobecultivated，sheturnedwithasenseofdeepcompassiontothesimplemanbyherside。
Hisroughfacelookedalittlemoreunat-
tractivethanusual。Hiseveningclotheswerealmostgrotesque。Hisfaceworealookofsolitude，ofhunger。
"Whatwereyousaying？"shesaid，dreamily。"Ibegyourpardon。”
"Iwassayin"howIusedt"dreamofsittin"onthestepsofahotellikethis，andnothavin"athingt"do。WhenIusedt"
comedownhereoutofthegulch，andseemenwhohadhadgooddinners，an"goodbaths，sittin"aroundsmokin"，withmoneyt"goovertheret"th"bookstan"an"getany-
thin"they"dwant，itusedt"seemt"meaboutallasinglemancouldwishfur。”
"Well，you"vegotitallnow。”
"ButIdidn"tanyofth"timesupposethatwouldsatisfyamanlong。OnlyIwassodarnedtiredIcouldn"thelpwantin"t"
rest。ButI"mnotsoselfishurs"narrowastobesatisfiedwithTHAT。No，I"mnotgoin"t"spendm"pilethatway——quite!"
Helaughedoutloud，andthensatinsilencewatchingKateasshelaybackwearilyinherchair。
"I"vegott"havethattheregarden，"hesaid，laughingly。"Gott"getthemroses。
An"I"llhaveabigbath-house，——plentyofspringsinthiscountry。Youkenhaveabathherethatwon"tfreezesummerNOR
winter。An"ababy!I"vegott"haveababy。He"llgowithth"rosesan"th"
bath。”Helaughedagainheartily。
"It"saqueerjoke，isn"tit？"Roederasked。"Talkin"aboutmybaby，an"I
haven"tevenawife。”Hisfaceflushedandheturnedhiseyesaway。
"HaveIshownyouthepicturesofmybabies？"Kateinquired。"You"dlikemyboy，Iknow。Andmygirlisjustlikeme，——inminiature。”
Therewasasilence。Shelookedupafteramoment。Roederappearedtobeexaminingthemonogramonhisringasifhehadneverseenitbefore。
"Ididn"tunderstandthatyouweremar-
ried，"hesaidgently。
"Didn"tyou？Idon"tthinkyouevercalledmebyanynameatall，orIshouldhavenoticedyourmistakeandsetyouright。
Yes，I"mmarried。Icameoutheretogetstrongforthebabies。”
"Gotaboyan"agirl，eh？"
"Yes。”
"Howold"sth"boy？"
"Five。”
"An"th"girl？"
"She"llsoonbefour。”
"An"yerhusband——he"slivin"？"
"Ishouldsayso!I"maveryhappywoman，Mr。Roeder。IfonlyIwerestronger!"
"Yerlookin"muchbetter，"hesaid，gravely，"thanwhenyoucome。You"llbeallright。”
Themoonbegantocomeupscarletbeyondtheeasternhills。Thetwowatcheditinsilence。Katehadafeelingofguilt，asifshehadbeenhurtingsomehelplessthing。
"Iwasinhopes，"hesaid，suddenly，inavoicethatseemedabruptandshrill，"thetyou"dseefitt"stayhere。”
"HereinHelena？Oh，no!"
"Iwasthinkin"I"dofferyouthattwohundredthousanddollars，ifyou"dstay。”
"Mr。Roeder!Youdon"tmean——
surely——"
"Why，yes。Whynot？"Hespokeratherdoggedly。"I"llneverseenootherwomanlikeyou。You"redifferentfromothers。Howgoodyou"vebeent"me!"
"Good!I"mafraidI"vebeenverybad——atleast，verystupid。”
"Isay，now——yourhusband"sgoodt"
you，ain"the？"
"Heisthekindestmanthateverlived。”
"Oh，well，Ididn"tknow。”
AratherawkwardpausefollowedwhichwasbrokenbyRoeder。
"Idon"tseejestwhatI"mgoin"t"dowiththatthartwohundredthousanddol-
lars，"hesaid，mournfully。
"Dowithit？Why，livewithit!Sendsometoyourmother。”
"Oh，I"vedonethat。Fivethousanddollars。Itdon"tseemmuchhere；butit"llseemalott"her。I"dsendhermore，onlyitwould"vebotheredher。”
"Thenthereisyourhouse，——thehousewiththebath-room。ButIsupposeyou"llhaveotherrooms？"
Peterlaughedalittleinspiteofhimself。
"IguessIwon"thaveahouse，"hesaid。
"An"Icouldn"tmakeagardenalone。”
"Hireamantohelpyou。”Katewastrembling，butshekepttalkinggayly。Shewasprayingthatnothingveryseriouswouldhappen。Therewasanundercurrentofsom-
brenessintheman"smannerthatfrightenedher。
"IguessI"lljesthavet"keepondreamin"ofthatboyplayin"withth"roses。”
"No，no，"criedKate；"hewillcometruesomeday!Iknowhe"llcometrue。”
Petergotupandstoodbyherchair。
"Youdon"tknownothin"aboutit，"hesaid。"Youdon"tknow，an"youcan"tknowwhatit"sbint"met"talkwithyou。HereIcomeoutofaplacewherethereain"tnosoundbutthewaterandthepines。Yearscomean"go。Stillnosound。Onlythinkin"，thinkin"，thinkin"!Missin"allth"thingsmencarefur!Dreamin"ofatimewhenIsh"dstriketh"pile。ThenI
seedhome，wife，aboy，flowers，everythin"。
You"resobeautiful，an"you"resogood。
You"veawayofpickin"aman"sheartrightoutofhim。FirsttimeIsetmyeyesonyouIthoughtyouwereth"nicestthingI
eversee!Andhowlittleyouare!Thathandofyours，——lookatit，——it"slikealeaf!An"howeasyyousmile。Upth"
gulchwedidn"tsmile；welaughed，butgen"lybecausesomeonegotinafix。Thenyourvoice!Ah，I"vethoughtfuryearsthatsomedayImighthearavoicelikethat!Don"tyougo!Sitstill!I"mnotblamin"youfuranythin"；butImaynever，"slong"sIlive，findanyonewhowillunderstandthingsth"wayyouunder-
stand"em。Here!Itellyouaboutthatgulchan"youseethatgulch。Youknowhowth"rainsoundedthar，an"howth"
shacklooked，an"th"lifeIled，an"allth"
thoughtsIhad，an"th"longnights，an"
th"timeswhen——butnevermind。Iknowyouknowitall。Isawitinyereyes。I
tellyouofmother，an"yousee"er。Youknow"eroldGermanface，an""erproudways，an"herprideinme，an"howshewouldthinkIwuzawfullyrich。An"youseehowshewouldgiveoutthemlinens，allmarkedfurmywife，an"howIwouldsitan"watchherdoin"it，an"——youseeevery-
thing。Iknowyoudo。Icouldfeelyoudoin"it。ThenIsaytomyself:"Hereisth"onewomaninth"worldmadefurme。
WhateverIhave，sheshallhave。I"llspendmylifewaitin"onher。She"lltellmeallth"thingsIoughtt"know，an"hevmissedknowin"；she"llreadt"me；she"llbepatientwhenshefindshowdullI"vegrown。Andthar"llbeth"boy——""
Heseizedherhandandwrungit，andwasgone。Katesawhimnomorethatnight。
Thenextmorningthemajorreturned。
Katethrewherarmsaroundhisneckandwept。
"Iwantthebabies，"sheexplainedwhenthemajorshowedhisconsternation。"Don"tmindmycrying。Yououghttobeusedtoseeingmecrybythistime。Imustgethome，that"sall。ImustseeJack。”
Sothatnighttheystarted。
AtthedoorofthecarriagestoodPeterRoeder，waiting。
"I"mgoingt"ridedownwithyou，"hesaid。Themajorlookednonplussed。
Kategotinandthemajorfollowed。
"Come，"shesaidtoRoeder。Hesatoppositeandlookedatherasifhewouldfastenherimageonhismind。
"Youremember，"hesaidafteratime，"thatItoldyouIusedt"dreamofsittin"ontheverandaofth"hotelandhavin"nothin"
t"do？"
"Yes。”
"Well，Idon"tthinkIcarefurit。I"vehadamonthofit。I"mgoin"backupth"gulch。”
"No!"criedKate，instinctivelyreachingoutherhandstowardhim。
"Whynot？Iguessyoudon"tknowme。
IknewthatsomewhereI"dfindafriend。I
foundthatfriend；an"nowI"maloneagain。It"sprettyquietuptharinthegulch；butI"lltryit。”
"No，no。GotoEurope；gotoseeyourmother。”
"Ithoughtaboutthatagooddeal，awhileago。ButIdon"tseemt"havenoheartfuritnow。IfeelasifI"dbesaferinth"gulch。”
"Safer？"