第2章
Hehadgrowntaller；butwithhisincreasedheightheseemedleanerthanever。Also，hewasmorenervous。Withthenervousnessincreasedhispeevishnessandirritability。Thechildrenhadlearnedbymanybitterlessonstofightshyofhim。Hismotherrespectedhimforhisearningpower，butsomehowherrespectwastincturedwithfear。
Therewasnojoyousnessinlifeforhim。Theprocessionofthedaysheneversaw。Thenightshesleptawayintwitchingunconsciousness。Therestofthetimeheworked，andhisconsciousnesswasmachineconsciousness。Outsidethishismindwasablank。Hehadnoideals，andbutoneillusion；namely，thathedrankexcellentcoffee。Hewasawork-
beast。Hehadnomentallifewhatever；yetdeepdowninthecryptsofhismind，unknowntohim，werebeingweighedandsiftedeveryhourofhistoil，everymovementofhishands，everytwitchofhismuscles，andpreparationsweremakingforafuturecourseofactionthatwouldamazehimandallhislittleworld。
Itwasinthelatespringthathecamehomefromworkonenightawareofunusualtiredness。Therewasakeenexpectancyintheairashesatdowntothetable，buthedidnotnotice。Hewentthroughthemealinmoodysilence，mechanicallyeatingwhatwasbeforehim。Thechildrenum"dandah"dandmadesmackingnoiseswiththeirmouths。Buthewasdeaftothem。
"D"yeknowwhatyou"reeatin"？"hismotherdemandedatlast，desperately。
Helookedvacantlyatthedishbeforehim，andvacantlyather。
"Floatin"island，"sheannouncedtriumphantly。
"Oh，"hesaid。
"Floatingisland!"thechildrenchorussedloudly。
"Oh，"hesaid。Andaftertwoorthreemouthfuls，headded，"IguessI
ain"thungryto-night。"
Hedroppedthespoon，shovedbackhischair，andarosewearilyfromthetable。
"An"IguessI"llgotobed。"
Hisfeetdraggedmoreheavilythanusualashecrossedthekitchenfloor。
UndressingwasaTitan"stask，amonstrousfutility，andheweptweaklyashecrawledintobed，oneshoestillon。Hewasawareofarising，swellingsomethinginsidehisheadthatmadehisbrainthickandfuzzy。Hisleanfingersfeltasbigashiswrist，whileintheendsofthemwasaremotenessofsensationvagueandfuzzylikehisbrain。Thesmallofhisbackachedintolerably。Allhisbonesached。Heachedeverywhere。Andinhisheadbegantheshrieking，pounding，crashing，roaringofamillionlooms。Allspacewasfilledwithflyingshuttles。Theydartedinandout，intricately，amongstthestars。Heworkedathousandloomshimself，andevertheyspeededup，fasterandfaster，andhisbrainunwound，fasterandfaster，andbecamethethreadthatfedthethousandflyingshuttles。
Hedidnotgotoworknextmorning。Hewastoobusyweavingcolossallyonthethousandloomsthatraninsidehishead。Hismotherwenttowork，butfirstshesentforthedoctor。Itwasasevereattackoflagrippe，hesaid。Jennieservedasnurseandcarriedouthisinstructions。
Itwasaverysevereattack，anditwasaweekbeforeJohnnydressedandtotteredfeeblyacrossthefloor。Anotherweek，thedoctorsaid，andhewouldbefittoreturntowork。TheforemanoftheloomroomvisitedhimonSundayafternoon，thefirstdayofhisconvalescence。Thebestweaverintheroom，theforemantoldhismother。Hisjobwouldbeheldforhim。
HecouldcomebacktoworkaweekfromMonday。
"Whydon"tyouthank"im，Johnny？"hismotheraskedanxiously。
"He"sbenthatsickheain"thimselfyet，"sheexplainedapologeticallytothevisitor。
Johnnysathunchedupandgazingsteadfastlyatthefloor。Hesatinthesamepositionlongaftertheforemanhadgone。Itwaswarmoutdoors，andhesatonthestoopintheafternoon。Sometimeshislipsmoved。Heseemedlostinendlesscalculations。
Nextmorning，afterthedaygrewwarm，hetookhisseatonthestoop。Hehadpencilandpaperthistimewithwhichtocontinuehiscalculations，andhecalculatedpainfullyandamazingly。
"Whatcomesaftermillions？"heaskedatnoon，whenWillcamehomefromschool。"An"howd"yework"em？"
Thatafternoonfinishedhistask。Eachday，butwithoutpaperandpencil，hereturnedtothestoop。Hewasgreatlyabsorbedintheonetreethatgrewacrossthestreet。Hestudieditforhoursatatime，andwasunusuallyinterestedwhenthewindswayeditsbranchesandfluttereditsleaves。Throughouttheweekheseemedlostinagreatcommunionwithhimself。OnSunday，sittingonthestoop，helaughedaloud，severaltimes，totheperturbationofhismother，whohadnotheardhimlaughforyears。
Nextmorning，intheearlydarkness，shecametohisbedtorousehim。Hehadhadhisfillofsleepalltheweek，andawokeeasily。Hemadenostruggle，nordidheattempttoholdontothebeddingwhenshestrippeditfromhim。Helayquietly，andspokequietly。
"Itain"tnouse，ma。"
"You"llbelate，"shesaid，undertheimpressionthathewasstillstupidwithsleep。
"I"mawake，ma，an"Itellyouitain"tnouse。Youmightaswelllemmealone。Iain"tgoin"togitup。"
"Butyou"llloseyourjob!"shecried。
"Iain"tgoin"togitup，"herepeatedinastrange，passionlessvoice。
Shedidnotgotoworkherselfthatmorning。Thiswassicknessbeyondanysicknessshehadeverknown。Feveranddeliriumshecouldunderstand；butthiswasinsanity。ShepulledthebeddingupoverhimandsentJennieforthedoctor。
Whenthatpersonarrived，Johnnywassleepinggently，andgentlyheawokeandallowedhispulsetobetaken。
"Nothingthematterwithhim，"thedoctorreported。"Badlydebilitated，that"sall。Notmuchmeatonhisbones。"
"He"salwaysbeenthatway，"hismothervolunteered。
"Nowgo"way，ma，an"letmefinishmysnooze。"
Johnnyspokesweetlyandplacidly，andsweetlyandplacidlyherolledoveronhissideandwenttosleep。
Atteno"clockheawokeanddressedhimself。Hewalkedoutintothekitchen，wherehefoundhismotherwithafrightenedexpressiononherface。
"I"mgoin"away，ma，"heannounced，"an"Ijes"wanttosaygood-bye。"
Shethrewherapronoverherheadandsatdownsuddenlyandwept。Hewaitedpatiently。
"Imighta-knownit，"shewassobbing。
"Where？"shefinallyasked，removingtheapronfromherheadandgazingupathimwithastrickenfaceinwhichtherewaslittlecuriosity。
"Idon"tknow——anywhere。"
Ashespoke，thetreeacrossthestreetappearedwithdazzlingbrightnessonhisinnervision。Itseemedtolurkjustunderhiseyelids，andhecouldseeitwheneverhewished。
"An"yourjob？"shequavered。
"Iain"tnevergoin"toworkagain。"
"MyGod，Johnny!"shewailed，"don"tsaythat!"
Whathehadsaidwasblasphemytoher。AsamotherwhohearsherchilddenyGod，wasJohnny"smothershockedbyhiswords。
"What"sgotintoyou，anyway？"shedemanded，withalameattemptatimperativeness。
"Figures，"heanswered。"Jes"figures。I"vebendoin"alotoffigurin"
thisweek，an"it"smostsurprisin"。"
"Idon"tseewhatthat"sgottodowithit，"shesniffled。
Johnnysmiledpatiently，andhismotherwasawareofadistinctshockatthepersistentabsenceofhispeevishnessandirritability。
"I"llshowyou，"hesaid。"I"mplum"tiredout。Whatmakesmetired？
Moves。I"vebenmovin"eversinceIwasborn。I"mtiredofmovin"，an"I
ain"tgoin"tomoveanymore。RememberwhenIworkedintheglass-house？
Iusedtodothreehundreddozenaday。NowIreckonImadeabouttendifferentmovestoeachbottle。That"sthirty-sixthousan"movesaday。
Tendays，threehundredan"sixtythousan"moves。Onemonth，onemillionan"eightythousan"moves。Chuckouttheeightythousan""——hespokewiththecomplacentbeneficenceofaphilanthropist——"chuckouttheeightythousan"，thatleavesamillionmovesamonth——twelvemillionmovesayear。
"AttheloomsI"mmovin"twic"stasmuch。Thatmakestwenty-fivemillionmovesayear，an"itseemstomeI"vebenamovin"thatway"mostamillionyears。
"NowthisweekIain"tmovedatall。Iain"tmadeonemoveinhoursan"
hours。Itellyouitwasswell，jes"settin"there，hoursan"hours，an"
doin"nothin"。Iain"tneverbenhappybefore。Ineverhadanytime。
I"vebenmovin"allthetime。Thatain"tnowaytobehappy。An"Iain"tgoingtodoitanymore。I"mjes"goin"toset，an"set，an"rest，an"
rest，andthenrestsomemore。"
"Butwhat"sgoin"tocomeofWillan"thechildren？"sheaskeddespairingly。
"That"sit，"Willan"thechildren，""herepeated。
Buttherewasnobitternessinhisvoice。Hehadlongknownhismother"sambitionfortheyoungerboy，butthethoughtofitnolongerrankled。
Nothingmatteredanymore。Noteventhat。
"Iknow，ma，whatyou"vebenplannin"forWill——keepin"himinschooltomakeabook-keeperoutofhim。Butitain"tnouse，I"vequit。He"sgottogotowork。"
"An"afterIhavebrungyouupthewayIhave，"shewept，startingtocoverherheadwiththeapronandchanginghermind。
"Youneverbrungmeup，"heansweredwithsadkindliness。"Ibrungmyselfup，ma，an"IbrungupWill。He"sbigger"nme，an"heavier，an"taller。
WhenIwasakid，IreckonIdidn"tgitenoughtoeat。Whenhecomealongan"wasakid，Iwasworkin"an"earnin"grubforhimtoo。Butthat"sdonewith。Willcangotowork，sameasme，orhecangotohell，Idon"tcarewhich。I"mtired。I"mgoin"now。Ain"tyougoin"tosaygoodbye？"
Shemadenoreply。Theapronhadgoneoverherheadagain，andshewascrying。Hepausedamomentinthedoorway。
"I"msureIdonethebestIknewhow，"shewassobbing。
Hepassedoutofthehouseanddownthestreet。Awandelightcameintohisfaceatthesightofthelonetree。"Jes"ain"tgoin"todonothin"，"
hesaidtohimself，halfaloud，inacrooningtone。Heglancedwistfullyupatthesky，butthebrightsundazzledandblindedhim。
Itwasalongwalkhetook，andhedidnotwalkfast。Ittookhimpastthejute-mill。Themuffledroaroftheloomroomcametohisears，andhesmiled。Itwasagentle，placidsmile。Hehatednoone，noteventhepounding，shriekingmachines。Therewasnobitternessinhim，nothingbutaninordinatehungerforrest。
Thehousesandfactoriesthinnedoutandtheopenspacesincreasedasheapproachedthecountry。Atlastthecitywasbehindhim，andhewaswalkingdownaleafylanebesidetherailroadtrack。Hedidnotwalklikeaman。Hedidnotlooklikeaman。Hewasatravestyofthehuman。Itwasatwistedandstuntedandnamelesspieceoflifethatshambledlikeasicklyape，armsloose-hanging，stoop-shouldered，narrow-chested，grotesqueandterrible。
Hepassedbyasmallrailroadstationandlaydowninthegrassunderatree。Allafternoonhelaythere。Sometimeshedozed，withmusclesthattwitchedinhissleep。Whenawake，helaywithoutmovement，watchingthebirdsorlookingupattheskythroughthebranchesofthetreeabovehim。
Onceortwicehelaughedaloud，butwithoutrelevancetoanythinghehadseenorfelt。
Aftertwilighthadgone，inthefirstdarknessofthenight，afreighttrainrumbledintothestation。Whentheenginewasswitchingcarsontotheside-track，Johnnycreptalongthesideofthetrain。Hepulledopentheside-doorofanemptybox-carandawkwardlyandlaboriouslyclimbedin。
Heclosedthedoor。Theenginewhistled。Johnnywaslyingdown，andinthedarknesshesmiled。
AWICKEDWOMAN
ItwasbecauseshehadbrokenwithBillythatLorettahadcomevisitingtoSantaClara。Billycouldnotunderstand。Hissisterhadreportedthathehadwalkedthefloorandcriedallnight。Lorettahadnotsleptallnighteither，whileshehadweptmostofthenight。Daisyknewthis，becauseitwasinherarmsthattheweepinghadbeendone。AndDaisy"shusband，CaptainKitt，knew，too。ThetearsofLoretta，andthecomfortingbyDaisy，hadlosthimsomesleep。
NowCaptainKittdidnotliketolosesleep。NeitherdidhewantLorettatomarryBilly——noranybodyelse。ItwasCaptainKitt"sbeliefthatDaisyneededthehelpofheryoungersisterinthehousehold。Buthedidnotsaythisaloud。Instead，healwaysinsistedthatLorettawastooyoungtothinkofmarriage。SoitwasCaptainKitt"sideathatLorettashouldbepackedoffonavisittoMrs。Hemingway。Therewouldn"tbeanyBillythere。
BeforeLorettahadbeenatSantaClaraaweek，shewasconvincedthatCaptainKitt"sideawasagoodone。Inthefirstplace，thoughBillywouldn"tbelieveit，shedidnotwanttomarryBilly。Andinthesecondplace，thoughCaptainKittwouldn"tbelieveit，shedidnotwanttoleaveDaisy。BythetimeLorettahadbeenatSantaClaratwoweeks，shewasabsolutelycertainthatshedidnotwanttomarryBilly。ButshewasnotsosureaboutnotwantingtoleaveDaisy。NotthatshelovedDaisyless，butthatshe——haddoubts。
ThedayofLoretta"sarrival，anebulousplanbeganshapingitselfinMrs。
Hemingway"sbrain。TheseconddaysheremarkedtoJackHemingway，herhusband，thatLorettawassoinnocentayoungthingthatwereitnotforhersweetguilelessnessshewouldbepositivelystupid。Inproofofwhich，Mrs。Hemingwaytoldherhusbandseveralthingsthatmadehimchuckle。BythethirddayMrs。Hemingway"splanhadtakenrecognizableform。Thenitwasthatshecomposedaletter。Ontheenvelopeshewrote:"Mr。EdwardBashford，AthenianClub，SanFrancisco。"
"DearNed，"theletterbegan。Shehadoncebeenviolentlylovedbyhimforthreeweeksinherpre-maritaldays。ButshehadcovenantedherselftoJackHemingway，whohadpriorclaims，andherheartaswell；andNedBashfordhadphilosophicallynotbrokenhisheartoverit。Hemerelyaddedtheexperiencetoalargefundofsimilarlycollecteddataoutofwhichhemanufacturedphilosophy。ArtisticallyandtemperamentallyhewasaGreek——
atiredGreek。HewasfondofquotingfromNietzsche，intokenthathe，too，hadpassedthroughthelongsicknessthatfollowsupontheardentsearchfortruth；thathetoohademerged，tooexperienced，tooshrewd，tooprofound，everagaintobeafflictedbythemadnessofyouthsintheirloveoftruth。""Toworshipappearance，""heoftenquoted；""tobelieveinforms，intones，inwords，inthewholeOlympusofappearance!""Thisparticularexcerpthealwaysconcludedwith，""ThoseGreeksweresuperficial——OUTOFPROFUNDITY!""
HewasafairlyyoungGreek，jadedandworn。Womenwerefaithlessandunveracious，heheld——atsuchtimesthathehadrelapsesanddescendedtopessimismfromhiswontedhighphilosophicalcalm。Hedidnotbelieveinthetruthofwomen；but，faithfultohisGermanmaster，hedidnotstripfromthemtheairygauzesthatveiledtheiruntruth。Hewascontenttoacceptthemasappearancesandtomakethebestofit。Hewassuperficial——
OUTOFPROFUNDITY。
"Jacksaystobesuretosaytoyou，"goodswimming，""Mrs。Hemingwaywroteinherletter；"andalso"tobringyourfishingdudsalong。""Mrs。
Hemingwaywroteotherthingsintheletter。Shetoldhimthatatlastshewaspreparedtoexhibittohimanabsolutelytrue，unsullied，andinnocentwoman。"Amoreguileless，immaculatebudofwomanhoodneverblushedontheplanet，"wasoneoftheseveralwaysinwhichshephrasedtheinducement。
Andtoherhusbandshesaidtriumphantly，"IfIdon"tmarryNedoffthistime——"leavingunstatedtheterriblealternativethatshelackedeithervocabularytoexpressorimaginationtoconceive。
Contrarytoallherforebodings，LorettafoundthatshewasnotunhappyatSantaClara。Truly，Billywrotetohereveryday，buthisletterswerelessdistressingthanhispresence。Also，theordealofbeingawayfromDaisywasnotsosevereasshehadexpected。ForthefirsttimeinherlifeshewasnotlostineclipseintheblazeofDaisy"sbrilliantandmaturepersonality。UndersuchfavourablecircumstancesLorettacamerapidlytothefront，whileMrs。Hemingwaymodestlyandshamelesslyretreatedintothebackground。
Lorettabegantodiscoverthatshewasnotapaleorbshiningbyreflection。Quiteunconsciouslyshebecameasmallcentreofthings。Whenshewasatthepiano，therewassomeonetoturnthepagesforherandtoexpresspreferencesforcertainsongs。Whenshedroppedherhandkerchief，therewassomeonetopickitup。Andtherewassomeonetoaccompanyherinramblingsandflowergatherings。Also，shelearnedtocastfliesinstillpoolsandbelowsavageriffles，andhownottoentanglesilklinesandgut-leaderswiththeshrubbery。
JackHemingwaydidnotcaretoteachbeginners，andfishedmuchbyhimself，ornotatall，thusgivingNedBashfordampletimeinwhichtoconsiderLorettaasanappearance。Assuch，shewasallthathisphilosophydemanded。Herblueeyeshadthedirectgazeofaboy，andoutofhisprofundityhedelightedinthemandforboretoshudderattheduplicityhisphilosophybadehimtobelievelurkedintheirdepths。Shehadthegraceofaslenderflower，thefragilityofcolourandlineoffinechina，inallofwhichhepleasuredgreatly，withoutthoughtoftheLifeForcepalpitatingbeneathandinspiteofBernardShaw——inwhomhebelieved。
Lorettaburgeoned。Sheswiftlydevelopedpersonality。ShediscoveredawillofherownandwishesofherownthatwerenoteverlastinglyentwinedwiththewillandthewishesofDaisy。ShewaspettedbyJackHemingway，spoiledbyAliceHemingway，anddevotedlyattendedbyNedBashford。Theyencouragedherwhimsandlaughedatherfollies，whileshedevelopedtheprettylittletyranniesthatarelatentinallprettyanddelicatewomen。
HerenvironmentactedasasoporificuponherancientdesirealwaystolivewithDaisy。ThisdesirenolongerproddedherasinthedaysofhercompanionshipwithBilly。ThemoreshesawofBilly，themorecertainshehadbeenthatshecouldnotliveawayfromDaisy。ThemoreshesawofNedBashford，themoresheforgotherpressingneedofDaisy。
NedBashfordlikewisedidsomeforgetting。Heconfusedsuperficialitywithprofundity，andentangledappearancewithrealityuntilheaccountedthemone。Lorettawasdifferentfromotherwomen。Therewasnomasqueradeabouther。Shewasreal。HesaidasmuchtoMrs。Hemingway，andmore，whoagreedwithhimandatthesametimecaughtherhusband"seyeliddroopingdownforthemomentinanunmistakablewink。
ItwasatthistimethatLorettareceivedaletterfromBillythatwassomewhatdifferentfromhisothers。Inthemain，likeallhisletters，itwaspathological。Itwasalongrecitalofsymptomsandsufferings，hisnervousness，hissleeplessness，andthestateofhisheart。Thenfollowedreproaches，suchashehadnevermadebefore。Theyweresharpenoughtomakeherweep，andtrueenoughtoputtragedyintoherface。Thistragedyshecarrieddowntothebreakfasttable。ItmadeJackandMrs。Hemingwayspeculative，anditworriedNed。Theyglancedtohimforexplanation，butheshookhishead。
"I"llfindoutto-night，"Mrs。Hemingwaysaidtoherhusband。
ButNedcaughtLorettaintheafternooninthebigliving-room。Shetriedtoturnaway。Hecaughtherhands，andshefacedhimwithwetlashesandtremblinglips。Helookedather，silentlyandkindly。Thelashesgrewwetter。
"There，there，don"tcry，littleone，"hesaidsoothingly。
Heputhisarmprotectinglyaroundhershoulder。Andtohisshoulder，likeatiredchild，sheturnedherface。HethrilledinwaysunusualforaGreekwhohasrecoveredfromthelongsickness。
"Oh，Ned，"shesobbedonhisshoulder，"ifyouonlyknewhowwickedIam!"
Hesmiledindulgently，andbreathedinagreatbreathfreightedwiththefragranceofherhair。Hethoughtofhisworld-experienceofwomen，anddrewanotherlongbreath。Thereseemedtoemanatefromhertheperfectsweetnessofachild——"theauraofawhitesoul，"wasthewayhephrasedittohimself。
Thenhenoticedthathersobswereincreasing。
"What"sthematter，littleone？"heaskedpettinglyandalmostpaternally。
"HasJackbeenbullyingyou？Orhasyourdearlybelovedsisterfailedtowrite？"
Shedidnotanswer，andhefeltthathereallymustkissherhair，thathecouldnotberesponsibleifthesituationcontinuedmuchlonger。
"Tellme，"hesaidgently，"andwe"llseewhatIcando。"
"Ican"t。Youwilldespiseme——Oh，Ned，Iamsoashamed!"
Helaughedincredulously，andlightlytouchedherhairwithhislips——solightlythatshedidnotknow。
"Dearlittleone，letusforgetallaboutit，whateveritis。IwanttotellyouhowIlove——"
Sheutteredasharpcrythatwasalldelight，andthenmoaned——
"Toolate!"
"Toolate？"heechoedinsurprise。
"Oh，whydidI？WhydidI？"shewasmoaning。
Hewasawareofaswiftchillathisheart。
"What？"heasked。
"Oh，I……he……Billy。
"Iamsuchawickedwoman，Ned。Iknowyouwillneverspeaktomeagain。"
"This——er——thisBilly，"hebeganhaltingly。"Heisyourbrother？"
"No……he……Ididn"tknow。Iwassoyoung。Icouldnothelpit。
Oh，Ishallgomad!Ishallgomad!"
ItwasthenthatLorettafelthisshoulderandtheencirclingarmbecomelimp。Hedrewawayfromhergently，andgentlyhedepositedherinabigchair，wheresheburiedherfaceandsobbedafresh。Hetwistedhismoustachefiercely，thendrewupanotherchairandsatdown。
"I——Idonotunderstand，"hesaid。
"Iamsounhappy，"shewailed。
"Whyunhappy？"
"Because……he……hewantsmetomarryhim。"
Hisfaceclearedontheinstant，andheplacedahandsoothinglyonhers。
"Thatshouldnotmakeanygirlunhappy，"heremarkedsagely。"Becauseyoudon"tlovehimisnoreason——ofcourse，youdon"tlovehim？"
Lorettashookherheadandshouldersinavigorousnegative。
"What？"
Bashfordwantedtomakesure。
"No，"sheassertedexplosively。"Idon"tloveBilly!Idon"twanttoloveBilly!"
"Becauseyoudon"tlovehim，"Bashfordresumedwithconfidence，"isnoreasonthatyoushouldbeunhappyjustbecausehehasproposedtoyou。"
Shesobbedagain，andfromthemidstofhersobsshecried——
"That"sthetrouble。IwishIdidlovehim。Oh，IwishIweredead!"
"Now，mydearchild，youareworryingyourselfovertrifles。"Hisotherhandcrossedoverafteritsmateandrestedonhers。"Womendoiteveryday。Becauseyouhavechangedyourmindordidnotknowyourmind，becauseyouhave——touseanunnecessarilyharshword——jiltedaman——"
"Jilted!"Shehadraisedherheadandwaslookingathimwithtear-dimmedeyes。"Oh，Ned，ifthatwereall!"
"All？"heaskedinahollowvoice，whilehishandsslowlyretreatedfromhers。Hewasabouttospeakfurther，thenremainedsilent。
"ButIdon"twanttomarryhim，"Lorettabrokeforthprotestingly。
"ThenIshouldn"t，"hecounselled。
"ButIoughttomarryhim。"
"OUGHTtomarryhim？"
Shenodded。
"Thatisastrongword。"
"Iknowitis，"sheacquiesced，whileshestrovetocontrolhertremblinglips。Thenshespokemorecalmly。"Iamawickedwoman，aterriblywickedwoman。NooneknowshowwickedIam——exceptBilly。"
Therewasapause。NedBashford"sfacewasgrave，andhelookedqueerlyatLoretta。
"He——Billyknows？"heaskedfinally。
Areluctantnodandflamingcheekswasthereply。
Hedebatedwithhimselfforawhile，seeming，likeadiver，tobepreparinghimselffortheplunge。
"Tellmeaboutit。"Hespokeveryfirmly。"Youmusttellmeallofit。"
"Andwillyou——ever——forgiveme？"sheaskedinafaint，smallvoice。
Hehesitated，drewalongbreath，andmadetheplunge。
"Yes，"hesaiddesperately。"I"llforgiveyou。Goahead。"
"Therewasnoonetotellme，"shebegan。"Wewerewitheachothersomuch。Ididnotknowanythingoftheworld——then。"
Shepausedtomeditate。Bashfordwasbitinghislipimpatiently。
"IfIhadonlyknown——"
Shepausedagain。
"Yes，goon，"heurged。
"Weweretogetheralmosteveryevening。"
"Billy？"hedemanded，withasavagenessthatstartledher。
"Yes，ofcourse，Billy。Wewerewitheachothersomuch……IfIhadonlyknown……Therewasnoonetotellme……Iwassoyoung——"
Herlipspartedasthoughtospeakfurther，andsheregardedhimanxiously。
"Thescoundrel!"
WiththeexplosionNedBashfordwasonhisfeet，nolongeratiredGreek，butaviolentlyangryyoungman。
"Billyisnotascoundrel；heisagoodman，"Lorettadefended，withafirmnessthatsurprisedBashford。
"Isupposeyou"llbetellingmenextthatitwasallyourfault，"hesaidsarcastically。
Shenodded。
"What？"heshouted。
"Itwasallmyfault，"shesaidsteadily。"Ishouldneverhavelethim。I
wastoblame。"
Bashfordceasedfromhispacingupanddown，andwhenhespoke，hisvoicewasresigned。
"Allright，"hesaid。"Idon"tblameyouintheleast，Loretta。Andyouhavebeenveryhonest。ButBillyisright，andyouarewrong。Youmustgetmarried。"
"ToBilly？"sheasked，inadim，far-awayvoice。
"Yes，toBilly。I"llseetoit。Wheredoeshelive？I"llmakehim。"
"ButIdon"twanttomarryBilly!"shecriedoutinalarm。"Oh，Ned，youwon"tdothat？"
"Ishall，"heansweredsternly。"Youmust。AndBillymust。Doyouunderstand？"
Lorettaburiedherfaceinthecushionedchairback，andbrokeintoapassionatestormofsobs。
AllthatBashfordcouldmakeoutatfirst，ashelistened，was:"ButI
don"twanttoleaveDaisy!Idon"twanttoleaveDaisy!"
Hepacedgrimlybackandforth，thenstoppedcuriouslytolisten。
"HowwasItoknow？——Boo——hoo，"Lorettawascrying。"Hedidn"ttellme。
Nobodyelseeverkissedme。Ineverdreamedakisscouldbesoterrible……until，boo-hoo……untilhewrotetome。Ionlygottheletterthismorning。"
Hisfacebrightened。Itseemedasthoughlightwasdawningonhim。
"Isthatwhatyou"recryingabout？"
"N——no。"
Hisheartsank。
"Thenwhatareyoucryingabout？"heaskedinahopelessvoice。
"BecauseyousaidIhadtomarryBilly。AndIdon"twanttomarryBilly。
Idon"twanttoleaveDaisy。Idon"tknowwhatIwant。IwishIweredead。"
Henervedhimselfforanothereffort。
"Nowlookhere，Loretta，besensible。Whatisthisaboutkisses。Youhaven"ttoldmeeverything？"
"I——Idon"twanttotellyoueverything。"
Shelookedathimbeseechinglyinthesilencethatfell。
"MustI？"shequaveredfinally。
"Youmust，"hesaidimperatively。"Youmusttellmeeverything。"
"Well，then……mustI？"
"Youmust。"
"He……I……we……"shebeganflounderingly。Thenblurtedout，"I
lethim，andhekissedme。"
"Goon，"Bashfordcommandeddesperately。
"That"sall，"sheanswered。
"All？"Therewasavastincredulityinhisvoice。
"All？"Inhervoicewasaninterrogationnolessvast。
"Imean——er——nothingworse？"Hewasoverwhelminglyawareofhisownawkwardness。
"Worse？"Shewasfranklypuzzled。"Asthoughtherecouldbe!Billysaid——
"
"Whendidhesayit？"Bashforddemandedabruptly。
"InhisletterIgotthismorning。Billysaidthatmy……our……ourkisseswereterribleifwedidn"tgetmarried。"
Bashford"sheadwasswimming。
"WhatelsedidBillysay？"heasked。
"Hesaidthatwhenawomanallowedamantokissher，shealwaysmarriedhim——thatitwasterribleifshedidn"t。Itwasthecustom，hesaid；andI
sayitisabad，wickedcustom，andIdon"tlikeit。IknowI"mterrible，"
sheaddeddefiantly，"butIcan"thelpit。"
Bashfordabsent-mindedlybroughtoutacigarette。
"DoyoumindifIsmoke？"heasked，ashestruckamatch。
Thenhecametohimself。
"Ibegyourpardon，"hecried，flingingawaymatchandcigarette。"Idon"twanttosmoke。Ididn"tmeanthatatall。WhatImeanis——"
HebentoverLoretta，caughtherhandsinhis，thensatonthearmofthechairandsoftlyputonearmaroundher。
"Loretta，Iamafool。Imeanit。AndImeansomethingmore。Iwantyoutobemywife。"
Hewaitedanxiouslyinthepausethatfollowed。
"Youmightanswerme，"heurged。
"Iwill……if——"
"Yes，goon。Ifwhat？"
"IfIdon"thavetomarryBilly。"
"Youcan"tmarrybothofus，"healmostshouted。
"Anditisn"tthecustom……what……whatBillysaid？"
"No，itisn"tthecustom。Now，Loretta，willyoumarryme？"
"Don"tbeangrywithme，"shepouteddemurely。
Hegatheredherintohisarmsandkissedher。
"Iwishitwerethecustom，"shesaidinafaintvoice，fromthemidstoftheembrace，"becausethenI"dhavetomarryyou，Neddear……wouldn"tI？"
JUSTMEAT
Hestrolledtothecornerandglancedupanddowntheintersectingstreet，butsawnothingsavetheoasesoflightshedbythestreetlampsatthesuccessivecrossings。Thenhestrolledbackthewayhehadcome。Hewasashadowofaman，slidingnoiselesslyandwithoutunduemovementthroughthesemi-darkness。Alsohewasveryalert，likeawildanimalinthejungle，keenlyperceptiveandreceptive。Themovementofanotherinthedarknessabouthimwouldneedtohavebeenmoreshadowythanhetohaveescapedhim。
Inadditiontotherunningadvertisementofthestateofaffairscarriedtohimbyhissenses，hehadasubtlerperception，aFEEL，oftheatmospherearoundhim。Heknewthatthehouseinfrontofwhichhepausedforamoment，containedchildren。Yetbynowilledeffortofperceptiondidhehavethisknowledge。Forthatmatter，hewasnotevenawarethatheknew，sooccultwastheimpression。Yet，didamomentariseinwhichaction，inrelationtothathouse，wereimperative，hewouldhaveactedontheassumptionthatitcontainedchildren。Hewasnotawareofallthatheknewabouttheneighbourhood。
Inthesameway，heknewnothow，heknewthatnodangerthreatenedinthefootfallsthatcameupthecrossstreet。Beforehesawthewalker，heknewhimforabelatedpedestrianhurryinghome。Thewalkercameintoviewatthecrossinganddisappearedonupthestreet。Themanthatwatched，notedalightthatflaredupinthewindowofahouseonthecorner，andasitdieddownheknewitforanexpiringmatch。Thiswasconsciousidentificationoffamiliarphenomena，andthroughhismindflittedthethought，"Wantedtoknowwhattime。"Inanotherhouseoneroomwaslighted。Thelightburneddimlyandsteadily，andhehadthefeelthatitwasasick-room。
Hewasespeciallyinterestedinahouseacrossthestreetinthemiddleoftheblock。Tothishousehepaidmostattention。Nomatterwhatwayhelooked，norwhatwayhewalked，hislooksandhisstepsalwaysreturnedtoit。Exceptforanopenwindowabovetheporch，therewasnothingunusualaboutthehouse。Nothingcameinnorout。Nothinghappened。Therewerenolightedwindows，norhadlightsappearedanddisappearedinanyofthewindows。Yetitwasthecentralpointofhisconsideration。Heralliedtoiteachtimeafteradivinationofthestateoftheneighbourhood。
Despitehisfeelofthings，hewasnotconfident。Hewassupremelyconsciousoftheprecariousnessofhissituation。Thoughunperturbedbythefootfallsofthechancepedestrian，hewasaskeyedupandsensitiveandreadytobestartledasanytimorousdeer。Hewasawareofthepossibilityofotherintelligencesprowlingaboutinthedarkness——
intelligencessimilartohisowninmovement，perception，anddivination。
Fardownthestreethecaughtaglimpseofsomethingthatmoved。Andheknewitwasnolatehome-goer，butmenaceanddanger。Hewhistledtwicetothehouseacrossthestreet，thenfadedawayshadow-liketothecornerandaroundthecorner。Herehepausedandlookedabouthimcarefully。
Reassured，hepeeredbackaroundthecornerandstudiedtheobjectthatmovedandthatwascomingnearer。Hehaddivinedaright。Itwasapoliceman。
Themanwentdownthecrossstreettothenextcorner，fromtheshelterofwhichhewatchedthecornerhehadjustleft。Hesawthepolicemanpassby，goingstraightonupthestreet。Heparalleledthepoliceman"scourse，andfromthenextcorneragainwatchedhimgoby；thenhereturnedthewayhehadcome。Hewhistledoncetothehouseacrossthestreet，andafteratimewhistledonceagain。Therewasreassuranceinthewhistle，justastherehadbeenwarninginthepreviousdoublewhistle。
Hesawadarkbulkoutlineitselfontheroofoftheporchandslowlydescendapillar。Thenitcamedownthesteps，passedthroughthesmallirongate，andwentdownthesidewalk，takingontheformofaman。Hethatwatchedkeptonhisownsideofthestreetandmovedonabreasttothecorner，wherehecrossedoverandjoinedtheother。Hewasquitesmallalongsidethemanheaccosted。
"How"dyoumakeout，Matt？"heasked。
Theothergruntedindistinctly，andwalkedoninsilenceafewsteps。
"IreckonIlandedthegoods，"hesaid。
Jimchuckledinthedarkness，andwaitedforfurtherinformation。Theblockspassedbyundertheirfeet，andhegrewimpatient。
"Well，howaboutthemgoods？"heasked。"Whatkindofahauldidyoumake，anyway？"
"Iwastoobusytofiggeritout，butit"sfat。Icantellyouthatmuch，Jim，it"sfat。Idon"tdasttothinkhowfatitis。Waittillwegettotheroom。"
Jimlookedathimkeenlyunderthestreetlampofthenextcrossing，andsawthathisfacewasatriflegrimandthathecarriedhisleftarmpeculiarly。
"What"sthematterwithyourarm？"hedemanded。
"Thelittlecussbitme。HopeIdon"tgethydrophoby。Folksgetshydrophobyfrommanbitesometimes，don"tthey？"
"Gaveyoufight，eh？"Jimaskedencouragingly。
Theothergrunted。
"You"reharder"nhelltogetinformationfrom，"Jimburstoutirritably。
"Tellusaboutit。Youain"tgoin"tolosemoneyjusta-tellin"aguy。"
"IguessIchokedhimsome，"cametheanswer。Then，bywayofexplanation，"Hewokeuponme。"
"Youdiditneat。Ineverheardasound。"
"Jim，"theothersaidwithseriousness，"it"sahangin"matter。Ifixed"m。Ihadto。Hewokeuponme。Youan"me"sgottodosomelayin"lowforaspell。"
Jimgavealowwhistleofcomprehension。
"Didyouhearmewhistle？"heaskedsuddenly。
"Sure。Iwasalldone。Iwasjustcomin"out。"
"Itwasabull。Buthewasn"tonalittlebit。Wentrightbyan"kepta-
paddin"thehoofoutasight。ThenIcomebackan"gaveyouthewhistle。
Whatmadeyoutakesolongafterthat？"
"Iwaswaitin"tomakesure，"Mattexplained。"IwasmightygladwhenI
heardyouwhistleagain。It"shardworkwaitin"。Ijustsattherean"
thoughtan"thought……oh，allkinds"ofthings。It"sremarkablewhatafellow"llthinkabout。Andthentherewasadarncatthatkeptmovin"
aroundthehouseall"botherin"mewithitsnoises。"
"An"it"sfat!"Jimexclaimedirrelevantlyandwithjoy。
"I"msuretellin"you，Jim，it"sfat。I"mplum"anxiousforanotherlookat"em。"
Unconsciouslythetwomenquickenedtheirpace。Yettheydidnotrelaxfromtheircaution。Twicetheychangedtheircourseinordertoavoidpolicemen，andtheymadeverysurethattheywerenotobservedwhentheydivedintothedarkhallwayofacheaproominghousedowntown。
Notuntiltheyhadgainedtheirownroomonthetopfloor，didtheyscratchamatch。WhileJimlightedalamp，Mattlockedthedoorandthrewtheboltsintoplace。Asheturned，henoticedthathispartnerwaswaitingexpectantly。Mattsmiledtohimselfattheother"seagerness。
"Themsearch-lightsisallright，"hesaid，drawingforthasmallpocketelectriclampandexaminingit。"Butwegottogetanewbattery。It"srunnin"prettyweak。Ithoughtonceortwiceit"dleavemeinthedark。
Funnyarrangementsinthathouse。Ineargotlost。Hisroomwasontheleft，an"thatfooledmesome。"
"Itoldyouitwasontheleft，"Jiminterrupted。
"Youtoldmeitwasontheright，"Mattwenton。"IguessIknowwhatyoutoldme，an"there"sthemapyoudrew。"
Fumblinginhisvestpocket，hedrewoutafoldedslipofpaper。Asheunfoldedit，Jimbentoverandlooked。
"Ididmakeamistake，"heconfessed。
"Yousuredid。Itgotmeguessin"someforawhile。"
"Butitdon"tmatternow，"Jimcried。"Let"sseewhatyougot。"
"Itdoesmatter，"Mattretorted。"Itmattersalot……tome。I"vegottorunalltherisk。Iputmyheadinthetrapwhileyoustayonthestreet。Yougottogetontoyourselfan"bemorecareful。Allright，I"llshowyou。"
Hedippedlooselyintohistrouserspocketandbroughtoutahandfulofsmalldiamonds。Hespilledthemoutinablazingstreamonthegreasytable。Jimletoutagreatoath。
"That"snothing，"Mattsaidwithtriumphantcomplacence。"Iain"tbegunyet。"
Fromonepocketafteranotherhecontinuedbringingforththespoil。Thereweremanydiamondswrappedinchamoisskinthatwerelargerthanthoseinthefirsthandful。Fromonepockethebroughtoutahandfulofverysmallcutgems。
"Sundust，"heremarked，ashespilledthemonthetableinaspacebythemselves。
Jimexaminedthem。
"Justthesame，theyretailforacoupleofdollarseach，"hesaid。"Isthatall？"
"Ain"titenough？"theotherdemandedinanaggrievedtone。
"Sureitis，"Jimansweredwithunqualifiedapproval。"Better"nI
expected。Iwouldn"ttakeacentlessthantenthousan"forthebunch。"
"Tenthousan"，"Mattsneered。"They"reworthtwic"tthat，an"Idon"tknowanythingaboutjoolery，either。Lookatthatbigboy!"
Hepickeditoutfromthesparklingheapandhelditneartothelampwiththeairofanexpert，weighingandjudging。
"Worthathousan"allbyitslonely，"wasJim"squickerjudgment。
"Athousan"yourgrandmother，"wasMatt"sscornfulrejoinder。"Youcouldn"tbuyitforthree。"
"Wakemeup!I"mdreamin"!"ThesparkleofthegemswasinJim"seyes，andhebegansortingoutthelargerdiamondsandexaminingthem。"We"rerichmen，Matt——we"llberegularswells。"
"It"lltakeyearstogetridof"em，"wasMatt"smorepracticalthought。
"Butthinkhowwe"lllive!Nothin"todobutspendthemoneyan"goongettin"ridofem。"
Matt"seyeswerebeginningtosparkle，thoughsombrely，ashisphlegmaticnaturewokeup。
"ItoldyouIdidn"tdastthinkhowfatitwas，"hemurmuredinalowvoice。
"Whatakillin"!Whatakillin"!"wastheother"smoreecstaticutterance。
"Ialmostforgot，"Mattsaid，thrustinghishandintohisinsidecoatpocket。
Astringoflargepearlsemergedfromwrappingsoftissuepaperandchamoisskin。Jimscarcelyglancedatthem。
"They"reworthmoney，"hesaid，andreturnedtothediamonds。
Asilencefellonthetwomen。Jimplayedwiththegems，runningthemthroughhisfingers，sortingthemintopiles，andspreadingthemoutflatandwide。Hewasaslender，weazenedman，nervous，irritable，high-strung，andanaemic——atypicalchildofthegutter，withunbeautifultwistedfeatures，small-eyed，withfaceandmouthperpetuallyandfeverishlyhungry，brutishinacat-likeway，stampedtothecorewithdegeneracy。
Mattdidnotfingerthediamonds。Hesatwithchinonhandsandelbowsontable，blinkingheavilyattheblazingarray。Hewasineverywayacontrasttotheother。Nocityhadbredhim。Hewasheavy-muscledandhairy，gorilla-likeinstrengthandaspect。Forhimtherewasnounseenworld。Hiseyeswerefullandwideapart，andthereseemedinthemacertainboldbrotherliness。Theyinspiredconfidence。Butacloserinspectionwouldhaveshownthathiseyeswerejustatrifletoofull，justashadetoowideapart。Heexceeded，spilledoverthelimitsofnormality，andhisfeaturestoldliesaboutthemanbeneath。
"Thebunchisworthfiftythousan"，"Jimremarkedsuddenly。
"Ahundredthousan"，"Mattsaid。
Thesilencereturnedandenduredalongtime，tobebrokenagainbyJim。
"Whatinhellwashedoin"with"emallatthehouse？——that"swhatIwanttoknow。I"da-thoughthe"dkept"eminthesafedownatthestore。"
Matthadjustbeenconsideringthevisionofthethrottledmanashehadlastlookeduponhiminthedimlightoftheelectriclantern；buthedidnotstartatthementionofhim。
"There"snotellin"，"heanswered。"Hemighta-bengettin"readytochuckhispardner。Hemighta-pulledoutinthemornin"forpartsunknown，ifwehadn"thappenedalong。Iguessthere"sjustasmanythievesamonghonestmenasthereisamongthieves。Youreadaboutsuchthingsinthepapers，Jim。Pardnersisalwaysknifin"eachother。"
Aqueer，nervouslookcameintotheother"seyes。Mattdidnotbetraythathenotedit，thoughhesaid