第5章

ingandthepartyactuallysetoff。GunnerandAxelwentwithThea，andRayhadaskedSpanishJohnnytocomeandtobringMrs。Tellamantezandhismandolin。Raywasartlesslyfondofmusic，especiallyofMexicanmusic。HeandMrs。Tellamantezhadgotupthelunchbetweenthem，andtheyweretomakecoffeeinthedesert。

WhentheyleftMexicanTown，TheawasonthefrontseatwithRayandJohnny，andGunnerandAxelsatbe—

hindwithMrs。Tellamantez。Theyobjectedtothis，ofcourse，butthereweresomethingsaboutwhichTheawouldhaveherownway。"AsstubbornasaFinn，"Mrs。Kron—

borgsometimessaidofher，quotinganoldSwedishsaying。

WhentheypassedtheKohlers’，oldFritzandWunschwerecuttinggrapesatthearbor。Theagavethemabusi—

nesslikenod。Wunschcametothegateandlookedafterthem。HedivinedRayKennedy’shopes，andhedis—

trustedeveryexpeditionthatledawayfromthepiano。

UnconsciouslyhemadeTheapayforfrivolousnessofthissort。

AsRayKennedy’spartyfollowedthefaintroadacrossthesagebrush，theyheardbehindthemthesoundofchurchbells，whichgavethemasenseofescapeandboundlessfreedom。Everyrabbitthatshotacrossthepath，everysagehenthatflewupbythetrail，waslikearunawaythought，amessagethatonesentintothedesert。Astheywentfarther，theillusionofthemiragebecamemorein—

steadoflessconvincing；ashallowsilverlakethatspreadformanymiles，alittlemistyinthesunlight。Hereandthereonesawreflectedtheimageofaheifer，turnedloosetoliveuponthesparsesand—grass。Theyweremagnifiedtoapreposterousheightandlookedlikemammoths，pre—

historicbeastsstandingsolitaryinthewatersthatformanythousandsofyearsactuallywashedoverthatdesert；

——themirageitselfmaybetheghostofthatlong—vanished

sea。Beyondthephantomlakelaythelineofmany—coloredhills；rich，sun—bakedyellow，glowingturquoise，lavender，purple；alltheopen，pastelcolorsofthedesert。

Afterthefirstfivemilestheroadgrewheavier。Thehorseshadtoslowdowntoawalkandthewheelssankdeepintothesand，whichnowlayinlongridges，likewaves，wherethelasthighwindhaddriftedit。TwohoursbroughtthepartytoPedro’sCup，namedforaMexicandesperadowhohadonceheldthesheriffatbaythere。TheCupwasagreatamphitheater，cutoutinthehills，itsfloorsmoothandpackedhard，dottedwithsagebrushandgreasewood。

OneithersideoftheCuptheyellowhillsrannorthandsouth，withwindingravinesbetweenthem，fullofsoftsandwhichdraineddownfromthecrumblingbanks。Onthesurfaceofthisfluidsand，onecouldfindbitsofbrilliantstone，crystalsandagatesandonyx，andpetrifiedwoodasredasblood。Driedtoadsandlizardsweretobefoundthere，too。Birds，decomposingmorerapidly，leftonlyfeatheredskeletons。

Afteralittlereconnoitering，Mrs。Tellamantezdeclaredthatitwastimeforlunch，andRaytookhishatchetandbegantocutgreasewood，whichburnsfiercelyinitsgreenstate。ThelittleboysdraggedthebushestothespotthatMrs。Tellamantezhadchosenforherfire。Mexicanwomenliketocookoutofdoors。

AfterlunchTheasentGunnerandAxeltohuntforagates。"Ifyouseearattlesnake，run。Don’ttrytokillit，"sheenjoined。

Gunnerhesitated。"IfRaywouldletmetakethehatchet，Icouldkilloneallright。"

Mrs。TellamantezsmiledandsaidsomethingtoJohnnyinSpanish。

"Yes，"herhusbandreplied，translating，"theysayinMexico，killasnakebutneverhurthisfeelings。Downinthehotcountry，MUCHACHA，"turningtoThea，"peoplekeepapetsnakeinthehousetokillratsandmice。They

callhimthehousesnake。Theykeepalittlematforhimbythefire，andatnighthecurlupthereandsitwiththefamily，justasfriendly！"

Gunnersniffedwithdisgust。"Well，Ithinkthat’sadirtyMexicanwaytokeephouse；sothere！"

Johnnyshruggedhisshoulders。"Perhaps，"hemuttered。

AMexicanlearnstodivebelowinsultsorsoarabovethem，afterhecrossestheborder。

Bythistimethesouthwalloftheamphitheatercastanarrowshelfofshadow，andthepartywithdrewtothisrefuge。RayandJohnnybegantotalkabouttheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，twoplacesmuchshroudedinmysteryinthosedays，andThealistenedintently。Mrs。

Tellamanteztookoutherdrawn—workandpinnedittoherknee。Raycouldtalkwellaboutthelargepartoftheconti—

nentoverwhichhehadbeenknockedabout，andJohnnywasappreciative。

"Youbeenallover，prettynear。LikeaSpanishboy，"

hecommentedrespectfully。

Ray，whohadtakenoffhiscoat，whettedhispocket—

knifethoughtfullyonthesoleofhisshoe。"Ibegantobrowsearoundearly。Ihadamindtoseesomethingofthisworld，andIranawayfromhomebeforeIwastwelve。

Rustledformyselfeversince。"

"Ranaway？"Johnnylookedhopeful。"Whatfor？"

"Couldn’tmakeitgowithmyoldman，anddidn’ttaketofarming。Therewereplentyofboysathome。Iwasn’tmissed。"

Theawriggleddowninthehotsandandrestedherchinonherarm。"TellJohnnyaboutthemelons，Ray，pleasedo！"

Ray’ssolid，sunburnedcheeksgrewashaderedder，andhelookedreproachfullyatThea。"You’restuckonthatstory，kid。Youliketogetthelaughonme，don’tyou？

ThatwasthefinishingsplitIhadwithmyoldman，John。

Hehadaclaimalongthecreek，notfarfromDenver，and

raisedalittlegardenstuffformarket。Onedayhehadaloadofmelonsandhedecidedtotake’emtotownandsell’emalongthestreet，andhemademegoalonganddriveforhim。Denverwasn’tthequeencityitisnow，byanymeans，butitseemedaterriblebigplacetome；andwhenwegotthere，ifhedidn’tmakemedriverightupCapitolHill！Papgotoutandstoppedatfolkseshousestoaskiftheydidn’twanttobuyanymelons，andIwastodrivealongslow。ThefartherIwentthemadderIgot，butIwastryingtolookunconscious，whentheend—gatecamelooseandoneofthemelonsfelloutandsquashed。Justthenaswellgirl，alldressedup，comesoutofoneofthebighousesandcallsout，`Hello，boy，you’relosingyourmelons！’

Somedudesontheothersideofthestreettooktheirhatsofftoherandbegantolaugh。Icouldn’tstanditanylonger。Igrabbedthewhipandlitintothatteam，andtheytoreupthehilllikejack—rabbits，themdamnedmelonsbouncingoutthebackeveryjump，theoldmancussin’an’

yellin’behindandeverybodylaughin’。Ineverlookedbe—

hind，butthewholeofCapitolHillmusthavebeenamesswiththemsquashedmelons。Ididn’tstoptheteamtillI

gotoutofsightoftown。ThenIpulledupan’left’emwitharancherIwasacquaintedwith，andIneverwenthometogetthelickin’thatwaswaitin’forme。Iexpectit’swaitin’

formeyet。"

Thearolledoverinthesand。"Oh，IwishIcouldhaveseenthosemelonsfly，Ray！I’llneverseeanythingasfunnyasthat。Now，tellJohnnyaboutyourfirstjob。"

Rayhadacollectionofgoodstories。Hewasobservant，truthful，andkindly——perhapsthechiefrequisitesinagoodstory—teller。Occasionallyheusednewspaperphrases，conscientiouslylearnedinhiseffortsatself—instruction，butwhenhetalkednaturallyhewasalwaysworthlisteningto。

Neverhavinghadanyschoolingtospeakof，hehad，almostfromthetimehefirstranaway，triedtomakegoodhisloss。

Asasheep—herderhehadworriedanoldgrammartotatters，

andreadinstructivebookswiththehelpofapocketdic—

tionary。Bythelightofmanycamp—fireshehadpondereduponPrescott’shistories，andtheworksofWashingtonIrving，whichheboughtatahighpricefromabook—agent。

Mathematicsandphysicswereeasyforhim，butgeneralculturecamehard，andhewasdeterminedtogetit。Raywasafreethinker，andinconsistentlybelievedhimselfdamnedforbeingone。Whenhewasbraking，downontheSantaFe，attheendofhisrunheusedtoclimbintotheupperbunkofthecaboose，whileanoisygangplayedpokeraboutthestovebelowhim，andbytheroof—lampreadRobertIngersoll’sspeechesand"TheAgeofReason。"

Raywasaloyal—heartedfellow，andithadcosthimagreatdealtogiveuphisGod。Hewasoneofthestep—

childrenofFortune，andhehadverylittletoshowforallhishardwork；theotherfellowalwaysgotthebestofit。

Hehadcomeintoolate，ortooearly，onseveralschemesthathadmademoney。Hebroughtwithhimfromallhiswanderingsagooddealofinformation（moreorlesscorrectinitself，butunrelated，andthereforemisleading），ahighstandardofpersonalhonor，asentimentalvenerationforallwomen，badaswellasgood，andabitterhatredofEnglishmen。TheaoftenthoughtthatthenicestthingaboutRaywashisloveforMexicoandtheMexicans，whohadbeenkindtohimwhenhedrifted，ahomelessboy，overtheborder。InMexico，RaywasSenorKen—ay—dy，andwhenheansweredtothatnamehewassomehowadifferentfellow。HespokeSpanishfluently，andthesunnywarmthofthattonguekepthimfrombeingquiteashardashischin，orasnarrowashispopularscience。

WhileRaywassmokinghiscigar，heandJohnnyfelltotalkingaboutthegreatfortunesthathadbeenmadeintheSouthwest，andaboutfellowstheyknewwhohad"struckitrich。"

"Iguessyoubeeninonsomebigdealsdownthere？"

Johnnyaskedtrustfully。

Raysmiledandshookhishead。"I’vebeenoutonsome，John。I’veneverbeenexactlyinonany。Sofar，I’veeitherheldontoolongorletgotoosoon。Butmine’scomingtome，allright。"Raylookedreflective。Heleanedbackintheshadowanddugoutarestforhiselbowinthesand。

"ThenarrowestescapeIeverhad，wasintheBridalCham—

ber。IfIhadn’tletgothere，itwouldhavemademerich。

Thatwasaclosecall。"

Johnnylookeddelighted。"Youdon’say！Shewassilvermine，Iguess？"

"Iguessshewas！DownatLakeValley。Iputupafewhundredfortheprospector，andhegavemeabunchofstock。Beforewe’dgotanythingoutofit，mybrother—in—

lawdiedofthefeverinCuba。MysisterwasbesideherselftogethisbodybacktoColoradotoburyhim。Seemedfoolishtome，butshe’stheonlysisterIgot。It’sexpensivefordeadfolkstotravel，andIhadtosellmystockintheminetoraisethemoneytogetElmeronthemove。Twomonthsafterward，theboysstruckthatbigpocketintherock，fullofvirginsilver。TheynamedhertheBridalChamber。Itwasn’tore，youremember。Itwaspure，softmetalyoucouldhavemeltedrightdownintodollars。Theboyscutitoutwithchisels。IfoldElmerhadn’tplayedthattrickonme，I’dhavebeeninforaboutfiftythousand。

Thatwasaclosecall，Spanish。"

"Irecollec’。Whenthepocketgone，thetowngobust。"

"Youbet。Higher’nakite。Therewasnovein，justapocketintherockthathadsometimeoranothergotfilledupwithmoltensilver。You’dthinktherewouldbemoresomewhereabout，butNADA。There’sfoolsdiggingholesinthatmountainyet。"

WhenRayhadfinishedhiscigar，Johnnytookhisman—

dolinandbeganKennedy’sfavorite，"UltimoAmor。"Itwasnowthreeo’clockintheafternoon，thehottesthourintheday。Thenarrowshelfofshadowhadwideneduntiltheflooroftheamphitheaterwasmarkedoffintwohalves，

oneglitteringyellow，andonepurple。Thelittleboyshadcomebackandweremakingarobbers’cavetoenactthebolddeedsofPedrothebandit。Johnny，stretchedgrace—

fullyonthesand，passedfrom"UltimoAmor"to"FluviadeOro，"andthento"NochesdeAlgeria，"playinglan—

guidly。

Everyonewasbusywithhisownthoughts。Mrs。

Tellamantezwasthinkingofthesquareinthelittletowninwhichshewasborn；ofthewhitechurchsteps，withpeoplegenuflectingastheypassed，andtheround—toppedacaciatrees，andthebandplayingintheplaza。RayKen—

nedywasthinkingofthefuture，dreamingthelargeWesterndreamofeasymoney，ofafortunekickedupsomewhereinthehills，——anoilwell，agoldmine，aledgeofcopper。Healwaystoldhimself，whenheacceptedacigarfromanewlymarriedrailroadman，thatheknewenoughnottomarryuntilhehadfoundhisideal，andcouldkeepherlikeaqueen。

Hebelievedthatintheyellowheadoverthereinthesandhehadfoundhisideal，andthatbythetimeshewasoldenoughtomarry，hewouldbeabletokeepherlikeaqueen。

Hewouldkickitupfromsomewhere，whenhegotloosefromtherailroad。

Thea，stirredbytalesofadventure，oftheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，wasrecallingagreatadventureofherown。Earlyinthesummerherfatherhadbeeninvitedtoconductareunionofoldfrontiersmen，upinWyoming，nearLaramie，andhetookTheaalongwithhimtoplaytheorganandsingpatrioticsongs。TheretheystayedatthehouseofanoldranchmanwhotoldthemaboutaridgeupinthehillscalledLaramiePlain，wherethewagon—trailsoftheForty—ninersandtheMormonswerestillvisible。TheoldmanevenvolunteeredtotakeMr。

Kronborgupintothehillstoseethisplace，thoughitwasaverylongdrivetomakeinoneday。Theahadbeggedfranticallytogoalong，andtheoldrancher，flatteredbyherraptattentiontohisstories，hadintercededforher。

TheysetoutfromLaramiebeforedaylight，behindastrongteamofmules。AllthewaytherewasmuchtalkoftheForty—niners。TheoldrancherhadbeenateamsterinafreighttrainthatusedtocrawlbackandforthacrosstheplainsbetweenOmahaandCherryCreek，asDenverwasthencalled，andhehadmetmanyawagontrainboundforCalifornia。HetoldofIndiansandbuffalo，thirstandslaughter，wanderingsinsnowstorms，andlonelygravesinthedesert。

Theroadtheyfollowedwasawildandbeautifulone。Itledupandup，bygraniterocksandstuntedpines，arounddeepravinesandechoinggorges。Thetopoftheridge，whentheyreachedit，wasagreatflatplain，strewnwithwhiteboulders，withthewindhowlingoverit。Therewasnotonetrail，asTheahadexpected；therewereascore；deepfur—

rows，cutintheearthbyheavywagonwheels，andnowgrownoverwithdry，whitishgrass。Thefurrowsransidebyside；whenonetrailhadbeenworntoodeep，thenextpartyhadabandoneditandmadeanewtrailtotherightorleft。Theywere，indeed，onlyoldwagonruts，runningeastandwest，andgrownoverwithgrass。ButasThearanaboutamongthewhitestones，herskirtsblowingthiswayandthat，thewindbroughttohereyestearsthatmighthavecomeanyway。Theoldrancherpickedupanironox—shoefromoneofthefurrowsandgaveittoherforakeepsake。Tothewestonecouldseerangeafterrangeofbluemountains，andatlastthesnowyrange，withitswhite，windypeaks，thecloudscaughthereandthereontheirspurs。AgainandagainTheahadtohideherfacefromthecoldforamoment。Thewindneversleptonthisplain，theoldmansaid。Everylittlewhileeaglesflewover。

ComingupfromLaramie，theoldmanhadtoldthemthathewasinBrownsville，Nebraska，whenthefirsttele—

graphwireswereputacrosstheMissouriRiver，andthatthefirstmessagethatevercrossedtheriverwas"West—

wardthecourseofEmpiretakesitsway。"Hehadbeen

intheroomwhentheinstrumentbegantoclick，andallthementherehad，withoutthinkingwhattheyweredoing，takenofftheirhats，waitingbareheadedtohearthemes—

sagetranslated。Thearememberedthatmessagewhenshesighteddownthewagontrackstowardthebluemoun—

tains。Shetoldherselfshewouldnever，neverforgetit。

Thespiritofhumancourageseemedtoliveuptherewiththeeagles。Forlongafter，whenshewasmovedbyaFourth—of—Julyoration，oraband，oracircusparade，shewasapttorememberthatwindyridge。

To—dayshewenttosleepwhileshewasthinkingaboutit。WhenRaywakenedher，thehorseswerehitchedtothewagonandGunnerandAxelwerebeggingforaplaceonthefrontseat。Theairhadcooled，thesunwassetting，andthedesertwasonfire。TheacontentedlytookthebackseatwithMrs。Tellamantez。Astheydrovehomewardthestarsbegantocomeout，paleyellowinayellowsky，andRayandJohnnybegantosingoneofthoserailroaddittiesthatareusuallybornontheSouthernPacificandrunthelengthoftheSantaFeandthe"Q"systembeforetheydietogiveplacetoanewone。ThiswasasongaboutaGreaserdance，therefrainbeingsomethinglikethis：——

"Pedro，Pedro，swinghigh，swinglow，Andit’sallamandleftagain；

Forthere’sboysthat’sboldandthere’ssomethat’scold，ButthegoldboyscomefromSpain，Oh，thegoldboyscomefromSpain！"

VIII

Winterwaslongincomingthatyear。ThroughoutOctoberthedayswerebathedinsunlightandtheairwasclearascrystal。Thetownkeptitscheerfulsum—

meraspect，thedesertglistenedwithlight，thesandhillseverydaywentthroughmagicalchangesofcolor。Thescarletsagebloomedlateinthefrontyards，thecottonwoodleaveswerebrightgoldlongbeforetheyfell，anditwasnotuntilNovemberthatthegreenonthetamarisksbegantocloudandfade。TherewasaflurryofsnowaboutThanks—

giving，andthenDecembercameonwarmandclear。

Theahadthreemusicpupilsnow，littlegirlswhosemothersdeclaredthatProfessorWunschwas"muchtoosevere。"TheytooktheirlessonsonSaturday，andthis，ofcourse，cutdownhertimeforplay。Shedidnotreallymindthisbecauseshewasallowedtousethemoney——herpupilspaidhertwenty—fivecentsalesson——tofitupalittleroomforherselfupstairsinthehalf—story。Itwastheendroomofthewing，andwasnotplastered，butwassnuglylinedwithsoftpine。Theceilingwassolowthatagrownpersoncouldreachitwiththepalmofthehand，anditslopeddownoneitherside。Therewasonlyonewindow，butitwasadoubleoneandwenttothefloor。InOctober，whilethedayswerestillwarm，TheaandTilliepaperedtheroom，wallsandceilinginthesamepaper，smallredandbrownrosesonayellowishground。Theaboughtabrowncottoncarpet，andherbigbrother，Gus，putitdownforheroneSunday。Shemadewhitecheeseclothcurtainsandhungthemonatape。Hermothergaveheranoldwalnutdresserwithabrokenmirror，andshehadherowndumpywalnutsinglebed，andabluewashbowlandpitcherwhichshehaddrawnatachurchfairlottery。Attheheadofherbedshe

hadatallroundwoodenhat—crate，fromtheclothingstore。

This，standingonendanddrapedwithcretonne，madeafairlysteadytableforherlantern。Shewasnotallowedtotakealampupstairs，soRayKennedygaveherarailroadlanternbywhichshecouldreadatnight。

InwinterthisloftroomofThea’swasbitterlycold，butagainsthermother’sadvice——andTillie’s——shealwaysleftherwindowopenalittleway。Mrs。Kronborgdeclaredthatshe"hadnopatiencewithAmericanphysiology，"

thoughthelessonsabouttheinjuriouseffectsofalcoholandtobaccowerewellenoughfortheboys。TheaaskedDr。Archieaboutthewindow，andhetoldherthatagirlwhosangmustalwayshaveplentyoffreshair，orhervoicewouldgethusky，andthatthecoldwouldhardenherthroat。Theimportantthing，hesaid，wastokeepyourfeetwarm。OnverycoldnightsTheaalwaysputabrickintheovenaftersupper，andwhenshewentupstairsshewrappeditinanoldflannelpetticoatandputitinherbed。Theboys，whowouldneverheatbricksforthem—

selves，sometimescarriedoffThea’s，andthoughtitagoodjoketogetaheadofher。

WhenTheafirstplungedinbetweenherredblankets，thecoldsometimeskeptherawakeforagoodwhile，andshecomfortedherselfbyrememberingallshecouldof"PolarExplorations，"afat，calf—boundvolumeherfatherhadboughtfromabook—agent，andbythinkingaboutthemembersofGreely’sparty：howtheylayintheirfrozensleeping—bags，eachmanhoardingthewarmthofhisownbodyandtryingtomakeitlastaslongaspossibleagainsttheon—comingcoldthatwouldbeeverlasting。Afterhalfanhourorso，awarmwavecreptoverherbodyandround，sturdylegs；sheglowedlikealittlestovewiththewarmthofherownblood，andtheheavyquiltsandredblanketsgrewwarmwherevertheytouchedher，thoughherbreathsometimesfrozeonthecoverlid。Beforedaylight，herinter—

nalfireswentdownalittle，andsheoftenwakenedtofind

herselfdrawnupintoatightball，somewhatstiffinthelegs。

Butthatmadeitalltheeasiertogetup。

TheacquisitionofthisroomwasthebeginningofanewerainThea’slife。Itwasoneofthemostimportantthingsthateverhappenedtoher。Hitherto，exceptinsummer，whenshecouldbeoutofdoors，shehadlivedinconstantturmoil；thefamily，thedayschool，theSunday—School。

Theclamoraboutherdrownedthevoicewithinherself。Intheendofthewing，separatedfromtheotherupstairssleeping—roomsbyalong，cold，unfinishedlumberroom，hermindworkedbetter。Shethoughtthingsoutmoreclearly。Pleasantplansandideasoccurredtoherwhichhadnevercomebefore。Shehadcertainthoughtswhichwerelikecompanions，ideaswhichwerelikeolderandwiserfriends。Sheleftthemthereinthemorning，whenshefin—

isheddressinginthecold，andatnight，whenshecameupwithherlanternandshutthedoorafterabusyday，shefoundthemawaitingher。Therewasnopossiblewayofheatingtheroom，butthatwasfortunate，forotherwiseitwouldhavebeenoccupiedbyoneofherolderbrothers。

Fromthetimewhenshemovedupintothewing，Theabegantoliveadoublelife。Duringtheday，whenthehourswerefulloftasks，shewasoneoftheKronborgchildren，butatnightshewasadifferentperson。OnFridayandSatur—

daynightsshealwaysreadforalongwhileaftershewasinbed。Shehadnoclock，andtherewasnoonetonagher。

RayKennedy，onhiswayfromthedepottohisboarding—

house，oftenlookedupandsawThea’slightburningwhentherestofthehousewasdark，andfeltcheeredasbyafriendlygreeting。Hewasafaithfulsoul，andmanydis—

appointmentshadnotchangedhisnature。Hewasstill，atheart，thesameboywho，whenhewassixteen，hadset—

tleddowntofreezewithhissheepinaWyomingblizzard，andhadbeenrescuedonlytoplaythelosinggameoffidel—

itytoothercharges。

Rayhadnoveryclearideaofwhatmightbegoingon

inThea’shead，butheknewthatsomethingwas。HeusedtoremarktoSpanishJohnny，"Thatgirlisdevelopingsomethingfine。"TheawaspatientwithRay，eveninregardtothelibertieshetookwithhername。Outsidethefamily，everyoneinMoonstone，exceptWunschandDr。

Archie，calledher"Thee—a，"butthisseemedcoldanddis—

tanttoRay，sohecalledher"Thee。"Once，inamomentofexasperation，Theaaskedhimwhyhedidthis，andheexplainedthatheoncehadachum，Theodore，whosenamewasalwaysabbreviatedthus，andthatsincehewaskilleddownontheSantaFe，itseemednaturaltocallsomebody"Thee。"Theasighedandsubmitted。Shewasalwayshelplessbeforehomelysentimentandusuallychangedthesubject。

ItwasthecustomforeachofthedifferentSunday—

SchoolsinMoonstonetogiveaconcertonChristmasEve。

Butthisyearallthechurchesweretouniteandgive，aswasannouncedfromthepulpits，"asemi—sacredconcertofpickedtalent"attheoperahouse。TheMoonstoneOrchestra，underthedirectionofProfessorWunsch，wastoplay，andthemosttalentedmembersofeachSunday—

Schoolweretotakepartintheprogramme。Theawasputdownbythecommittee"forinstrumental。"Thismadeherindignant，forthevocalnumberswerealwaysmorepopular。Theawenttothepresidentofthecommitteeanddemandedhotlyifherrival，LilyFisher，weregoingtosing。

Thepresidentwasabig，florid，powderedwoman，afierceW。C。T。U。worker，oneofThea’snaturalenemies。HernamewasJohnson；herhusbandkepttheliverystable，andshewascalledMrs。LiveryJohnson，todistinguishherfromotherfamiliesofthesamesurname。Mrs。JohnsonwasaprominentBaptist，andLilyFisherwastheBaptistprodigy。TherewasanotveryChristianrivalrybetweentheBaptistChurchandMr。Kronborg’schurch。

WhenTheaaskedMrs。Johnsonwhetherherrivalwastobeallowedtosing，Mrs。Johnson，withaneagerness