第18章

IX

THEAreachedMoonstoneinthelateafternoon，andalltheKronborgsweretheretomeetherexcepthertwoolderbrothers。GusandCharleywereyoungmennow，andtheyhaddeclaredatnoonthatitwould"looksillyifthewholebunchwentdowntothetrain。""There’snousemakingafussoverTheajustbecauseshe’sbeentoChi—

cago，"Charleywarnedhismother。"She’sinclinedtothinkprettywellofherself，anyhow，andifyougotreatingherlikecompany，there’llbenolivinginthehousewithher。"Mrs。KronborgsimplyleveledhereyesatCharley，andhefadedaway，muttering。Shehad，asMr。Kronborgalwayssaidwithaninclinationofhishead，goodcontroloverherchildren。Anna，too，wishedtoabsentherselffromtheparty，butintheendhercuriositygotthebetterofher。SowhenTheasteppeddownfromtheporter’sstool，averycreditableKronborgrepresentationwasgroupedontheplatformtogreether。Aftertheyhadallkissedher（GunnerandAxelshyly），Mr。Kronborghurriedhisflockintothehotelomnibus，inwhichtheyweretobedrivenceremoniouslyhome，withtheneighborslookingoutoftheirwindowstoseethemgoby。

Allthefamilytalkedtoheratonce，exceptThor，——

impressiveinnewtrousers，——whowasgravelysilentandwhorefusedtositonThea’slap。OneofthefirstthingsAnnatoldherwasthatMaggieEvans，thegirlwhousedtocoughinprayermeeting，diedyesterday，andhadmadearequestthatTheasingatherfuneral。

Thea’ssmilefroze。"I’mnotgoingtosingatallthissummer，exceptmyexercises。BowerssaysItaxedmyvoicelastwinter，singingatfuneralssomuch。IfIbeginthefirstdayafterIgethome，there’llbenoendtoit。

YoucantellthemIcaughtcoldonthetrain，orsome—

thing。"

TheasawAnnaglanceattheirmother。Thearemem—

beredhavingseenthatlookonAnna’sfaceoftenbefore，butshehadneverthoughtanythingaboutitbecauseshewasusedtoit。Nowsherealizedthatthelookwasdis—

tinctlyspiteful，evenvindictive。ShesuddenlyrealizedthatAnnahadalwaysdislikedher。

Mrs。Kronborgseemedtonoticenothing，andchangedthetrendoftheconversation，tellingTheathatDr。ArchieandMr。Upping，thejeweler，werebothcomingintoseeherthatevening，andthatshehadaskedSpanishJohnnytocome，becausehehadbehavedwellallwinterandoughttobeencouraged。

ThenextmorningTheawakenedearlyinherownroomupundertheeavesandlaywatchingthesunlightshineontherosesofherwall—paper。Shewonderedwhethershewouldeverlikeaplasteredroomaswellasthisonelinedwithscantlings。Itwassnugandtight，likethecabinofalittleboat。Herbedfacedthewindowandstoodagainstthewall，undertheslantoftheceiling。Whenshewentawayshecouldjusttouchtheceilingwiththetipsofherfingers；

nowshecouldtouchitwiththepalmofherhand。Itwassolittlethatitwaslikeasunnycave，withrosesrunningallovertheroof。Throughthelowwindow，asshelaythere，shecouldwatchpeoplegoingbyonthefarthersideofthestreet；men，goingdowntowntoopentheirstores。

Thorwasoverthere，rattlinghisexpresswagonalongthesidewalk。TilliehadputabunchofFrenchpinksinatumblerofwateronherdresser，andtheygaveoutapleas—

antperfume。Thebluejayswerefightingandscreechinginthecottonwoodtreeoutsideherwindow，astheyalwaysdid，andshecouldheartheoldBaptistdeaconacrossthestreetcallinghischickens，asshehadheardhimdoeverysummermorningsinceshecouldremember。Itwaspleasanttowakenupinthatbed，inthatroom，andtofeel

thebrightnessofthemorning，whilelightquiveredaboutthelow，paperedceilingingoldenspots，refractedbythebrokenmirrorandtheglassofwaterthatheldthepinks。

"IMLEUCHTENDENSOMMERMORGEN"；thoselines，andthefaceofheroldteacher，camebacktoThea，floatedtoheroutofsleep，perhaps。Shehadbeendreamingsomethingpleas—

ant，butshecouldnotrememberwhat。ShewouldgotocalluponMrs。Kohlerto—day，andseethepigeonswashingtheirpinkfeetinthedripunderthewatertank，andflyingabouttheirhousethatwassuretohaveafreshcoatofwhitepaintonitforsummer。OnthewayhomeshewouldstoptoseeMrs。Tellamantez。OnSundayshewouldcoaxGunnertotakeherouttothesandhills。ShehadmissedtheminChicago；hadbeenhomesickfortheirbrilliantmorninggoldandfortheirsoftcolorsatevening。TheLake，somehow，hadnevertakentheirplace。

Whileshelayplanning，relaxedinwarmdrowsiness，sheheardaknockatherdoor。ShesupposeditwasTillie，whosometimesflutteredinonherbeforeshewasoutofbedtooffersomeservicewhichthefamilywouldhaveridiculed。

Butinstead，Mrs。Kronborgherselfcamein，carryingatraywithThea’sbreakfastsetoutononeofthebestwhitenapkins。Theasatupwithsomeembarrassmentandpulledhernightgowntogetheracrossherchest。Mrs。Kronborgwasalwaysbusydownstairsinthemorning，andTheacouldnotrememberwhenhermotherhadcometoherroombefore。

"Ithoughtyou’dbetired，aftertraveling，andmightliketotakeiteasyforonce。"Mrs。Kronborgputthetrayontheedgeofthebed。"Itooksomethickcreamforyoubeforetheboysgotatit。Theyraisedahowl。"Shechuckledandsatdowninthebigwoodenrockingchair。

HervisitmadeTheafeelgrown—up，and，somehow，im—

portant。

Mrs。KronborgaskedheraboutBowersandtheHar—

sanyis。ShefeltagreatchangeinThea，inherfaceandin

hermanner。Mr。Kronborghadnoticedit，too，andhadspokenofittohiswifewithgreatsatisfactionwhiletheywereundressinglastnight。Mrs。Kronborgsatlookingatherdaughter，wholayonherside，supportingherselfonherelbowandlazilydrinkinghercoffeefromthetraybe—

foreher。Hershort—sleevednightgownhadcomeopenatthethroatagain，andMrs。Kronborgnoticedhowwhiteherarmsandshoulderswere，asiftheyhadbeendippedinnewmilk。Herchestwasfullerthanwhenshewentaway，herbreastsrounderandfirmer，andthoughshewassowhitewhereshewasuncovered，theylookedrosythroughthethinmuslin。Herbodyhadtheelasticitythatcomesofbeinghighlychargedwiththedesiretolive。Herhair，hangingintwoloosebraids，onebyeithercheek，wasjustenoughdisorderedtocatchthelightinallitscurlyends。

Theaalwayswokewithapinkflushonhercheeks，andthismorninghermotherthoughtshehadneverseenhereyessowide—openandbright；likecleargreenspringsinthewood，whentheearlysunlightsparklesinthem。Shewouldmakeaveryhandsomewoman，Mrs。Kronborgsaidtoherself，ifshewouldonlygetridofthatfiercelookshehadsometimes。Mrs。Kronborgtookgreatpleasureingoodlooks，wherevershefoundthem。Shestillrememberedthat，asababy，Theahadbeenthe"best—formed"ofanyofherchildren。

"I’llhavetogetyoualongerbed，"sheremarked，assheputthetrayonthetable。"You’regettingtoolongforthatone。"

Thealookedupathermotherandlaughed，droppingbackonherpillowwithamagnificentstretchofherwholebody。Mrs。Kronborgsatdownagain。

"Idon’tliketopressyou，Thea，butIthinkyou’dbettersingatthatfuneralto—morrow。I’mafraidyou’llalwaysbesorryifyoudon’t。Sometimesalittlethinglikethat，thatseemsnothingatthetime，comesbackononeafterwardandtroublesoneagooddeal。Idon’tmeanthe

churchshallrunyoutodeaththissummer，liketheyusedto。I’vespokenmymindtoyourfatheraboutthat，andhe’sveryreasonable。ButMaggietalkedagooddealaboutyoutopeoplethiswinter；alwaysaskedwhatwordwe’dhad，andsaidhowshemissedyoursingingandall。Iguessyououghttodothatmuchforher。"

"Allright，mother，ifyouthinkso。"Thealaylookingathermotherwithintenselybrighteyes。

"That’sright，daughter。"Mrs。Kronborgroseandwentovertogetthetray，stoppingtoputherhandonThea’schest。"You’refillingoutnice，"shesaid，feelingabout。"No，Iwouldn’tbotheraboutthebuttons。Leave’emstayoff。Thisisagoodtimetohardenyourchest。"

Thealaystillandheardhermother’sfirmsteprecedingalongthebarefloorofthetrunkloft。Therewasnoshamabouthermother，shereflected。Hermotherknewagreatmanythingsofwhichshenevertalked，andallthechurchpeoplewereforeverchatteringaboutthingsofwhichtheyknewnothing。Shelikedhermother。

NowforMexicanTownandtheKohlers！Shemeanttoruninontheoldwomanwithoutwarning，andhugher。

X

SPANISHJOHNNYhadnoshopofhisown，buthekeptatableandanorder—bookinonecornerofthedrugstorewherepaintsandwall—paperweresold，andhewassometimestobefoundthereforanhourorsoaboutnoon。Theahadgoneintothedrugstoretohaveafriendlychatwiththeproprietor，whousedtolendherbooksfromhisshelves。ShefoundJohnnythere，trimmingrollsofwall—paperfortheparlorofBankerSmith’snewhouse。

Shesatdownonthetopofhistableandwatchedhim。

"Johnny，"shesaidsuddenly，"IwantyoutowritedownthewordsofthatMexicanserenadeyouusedtosing；

youknow，`ROSADENOCHE。’It’sanunusualsong。I’mgoingtostudyit。IknowenoughSpanishforthat。"

Johnnylookedupfromhisrollerwithhisbright，affablesmile。"SI，butitislowforyou，Ithink；VOZCONTRALTO。

Itislowforme。"

"Nonsense。IcandomorewithmylowvoicethanI

usedto。I’llshowyou。Sitdownandwriteitoutforme，please。"Theabeckonedhimwiththeshortyellowpenciltiedtohisorder—book。

Johnnyranhisfingersthroughhiscurlyblackhair。

"Ifyouwish。IdonotknowifthatSERENATAallrightforyoungladies。Downthereitismoreformarriedladies。

Theysingitforhusbands——orsomebodyelse，may—bee。"

Johnny’seyestwinkledandheapologizedgracefullywithhisshoulders。Hesatdownatthetable，andwhileThealookedoverhisarm，begantowritethesongdowninalong，slantingscript，withhighlyornamentalcapitals。

Presentlyhelookedup。"This—asongnotexactlyMexi—

can，"hesaidthoughtfully。"Itcomefromfartherdown；

Brazil，Venezuela，may—bee。Ilearnitfromsomefellow

downthere，andhelearnitfromanotherfellow。Itis—amostlikeMexican，butnotquite。"Theadidnotreleasehim，butpointedtothepaper。Therewerethreeversesofthesonginall，andwhenJohnnyhadwrittenthemdown，hesatlookingatthemmeditatively，hisheadononeside。"Idon’thinkforahighvoice，SENORITA，"heobjectedwithpolitepersistence。"Howyouaccompanywithpiano？"

"Oh，thatwillbeeasyenough。"

"Foryou，may—bee！"Johnnysmiledanddrummedonthetablewiththetipsofhisagilebrownfingers。"Youknowsomething？Listen，Itellyou。"Heroseandsatdownonthetablebesideher，puttinghisfootonthechair。

Helovedtotalkatthehourofnoon。"Whenyouwasalittlegirl，nobiggerthanthat，youcometomyhouseoneday’boutnoon，likethis，andIwasinthedoor，playingguitar。Youwasbarehead，barefoot；yourunawayfromhome。Youstandthereandmakeafrownatmean’listen。

By’nbyyousayformetosing。Isingsomelil’ting，andthenIsayforyoutosingwithme。Youdon’knownowords，ofcourse，butyoutaketheairandyousingitjust—

abeauti—ful！Ineverseeachilddothat，outsideMexico。

Youwas，oh，Ido’know——sevenyear，may—bee。By’nbythepreachercomelookforyouandbeginforscold。I

say，`Don’scold，MeesterKronborg。Shecomeforhearguitar。Shegottasomemusicinher，thatchild。Wheresheget？’Thenhetellme’boutyourgran’papaplayoboeintheoldcountry。Ineverforgettathattime。"

Johnnychuckledsoftly。

Theanodded。"Irememberthatday，too。Ilikedyourmusicbetterthanthechurchmusic。Whenareyougoingtohaveadanceoverthere，Johnny？"

Johnnytiltedhishead。"Well，SaturdaynighttheSpanishboyshavealil’party，someDANZA。YouknowMiguelRamas？Hehavesomeyoungcousins，twoboys，verynice—a，comefromTorreon。TheygoingtoSaltLake

forsomejob—a，andstayoffwithhimtwo—threedays，andhemus’haveaparty。Youliketocome？"

ThatwashowTheacametogototheMexicanball。

MexicanTownhadbeenincreasedbyhalfadozennewfamiliesduringthelastfewyears，andtheMexicanshadputupanadobedance—hall，thatlookedexactlylikeoneoftheirowndwellings，exceptthatitwasalittlelonger，andwassounpretentiousthatnobodyinMoonstoneknewofitsexistence。The"Spanishboys"arereticentabouttheirownaffairs。RayKennedyusedtoknowaboutalltheirlittledoings，butsincehisdeaththerewasnoonewhomtheMexicansconsideredSIMPATICO。

OnSaturdayeveningaftersupperTheatoldhermotherthatshewasgoingovertoMrs。Tellamantez’stowatchtheMexicansdanceforawhile，andthatJohnnywouldbringherhome。

Mrs。Kronborgsmiled。ShenoticedthatTheahadputonawhitedressandhaddoneherhairupwithunusualcare，andthatshecarriedherbestbluescarf。"Maybeyou’lltakeaturnyourself，eh？Iwouldn’tmindwatchingthemMexicans。They’relovelydancers。"

Theamadeafeeblesuggestionthathermothermightgowithher，butMrs。Kronborgwastoowiseforthat。SheknewthatTheawouldhaveabettertimeifshewentalone，andshewatchedherdaughtergooutofthegateanddownthesidewalkthatledtothedepot。

Theawalkedslowly。Itwasasoft，rosyevening。Thesandhillswerelavender。Thesunhadgonedownaglow—

ingcopperdisk，andthefleecycloudsintheeastwereaburningrose—color，fleckedwithgold。Theapassedthecottonwoodgroveandthenthedepot，wheresheleftthesidewalkandtookthesandypathtowardMexicanTown。

Shecouldhearthescrapingofviolinsbeingtuned，thetinkleofmandolins，andthegrowlofadoublebass。Wherehadtheygotadoublebass？ShedidnotknowtherewasoneinMoonstone。Shefoundlaterthatitwasthepro—

pertyofoneofRamas’syoungcousins，whowastakingittoUtahwithhimtocheerhimathis"job—a。"

TheMexicansneverwaituntilitisdarktobegintodance，andTheahadnodifficultyinfindingthenewhall，becauseeveryotherhouseinthetownwasdeserted。Eventhebabieshadgonetotheball；aneighborwasalwayswillingtoholdthebabywhilethemotherdanced。Mrs。

TellamantezcameouttomeetTheaandledherin。Johnnybowedtoherfromtheplatformattheendoftheroom，wherehewasplayingthemandolinalongwithtwofiddlesandthebass。Thehallwasalonglowroom，withwhite—

washedwalls，afairlytightplankfloor，woodenbenchesalongthesides，andafewbracketlampsscrewedtotheframetimbers。Theremusthavebeenfiftypeoplethere，countingthechildren。TheMexicandanceswereverymuchfamilyaffairs。Thefathersalwaysdancedagainandagainwiththeirlittledaughters，aswellaswiththeirwives。OneofthegirlscameuptogreetThea，herdarkcheeksglowingwithpleasureandcordiality，andintro—

ducedherbrother，withwhomshehadjustbeendancing。

"Youbettertakehimeverytimeheasksyou，"shewhis—

pered。"He’sthebestdancerhere，exceptJohnny。"

Theasoondecidedthatthepoorestdancerwasherself。

EvenMrs。Tellamantez，whoalwaysheldhershoulderssostiffly，dancedbetterthanshedid。Themusiciansdidnotremainlongattheirpost。Whenoneofthemfeltlikedancing，hecalledsomeotherboytotakehisinstrument，putonhiscoat，andwentdownonthefloor。Johnny，whoworeablousywhitesilkshirt，didnotevenputonhiscoat。

ThedancestherailroadmengaveinFiremen’sHallweretheonlydancesTheahadeverbeenallowedtogoto，andtheywereverydifferentfromthis。Theboysplayedroughjokesandthoughtitsmarttobeclumsyandtorunintoeachotheronthefloor。Forthesquaredancestherewasalwaysthebawlingvoiceofthecaller，whowasalsothecountyauctioneer。

ThisMexicandancewassoftandquiet。Therewasnocalling，theconversationwasverylow，therhythmofthemusicwassmoothandengaging，themenweregracefulandcourteous。SomeofthemTheahadneverbeforeseenoutoftheirworkingclothes，smearedwithgreasefromtheround—houseorclayfromthebrickyard。Sometimes，whenthemusichappenedtobeapopularMexicanwaltzsong，thedancerssangitsoftlyastheymoved。Therewerethreelittlegirlsundertwelve，intheirfirstcommuniondresses，andoneofthemhadanorangemarigoldinherblackhair，justoverherear。Theydancedwiththemenandwitheachother。Therewasanatmosphereofeaseandfriendlypleasureinthelow，dimlylitroom，andTheacouldnothelpwonderingwhethertheMexicanshadnojealousiesorneighborlygrudgesasthepeopleinMoonstonehad。

Therewasnoconstraintofanykindthereto—night，butakindofnaturalharmonyabouttheirmovements，theirgreetings，theirlowconversation，theirsmiles。

Ramasbroughtuphistwoyoungcousins，SilvoandFelipe，andpresentedthem。Theywerehandsome，smil—

ingyouths，ofeighteenandtwenty，withpale—goldskins，smoothcheeks，aquilinefeatures，andwavyblackhair，likeJohnny’s。Theyweredressedalike，inblackvelvetjacketsandsoftsilkshirts，withopalshirt—buttonsandflowingblacktiesloopedthroughgoldrings。Theyhadcharmingmanners，andlow，guitar—likevoices。TheyknewalmostnoEnglish，butaMexicanboycanpayagreatmanycomplimentswithaverylimitedvocabulary。

TheRamasboysthoughtTheadazzlinglybeautiful。TheyhadneverseenaScandinaviangirlbefore，andherhairandfairskinbewitchedthem。"BLANCOYORO，SEMEJANTELA

PASCUA！"（Whiteandgold，likeEaster！）theyexclaimedtoeachother。Silvo，theyounger，declaredthathecouldnevergoontoUtah；thatheandhisdoublebasshadreachedtheirultimatedestination。Theelderwasmorecrafty；heaskedMiguelRamaswhetherthere

wouldbe"plentymoregirlslikethat_A_SaltLake，may—

bee？"

Silvo，overhearing，gavehisbrotheracontemptuousglance。"PlentymoreAPARAISOmay—bee！"heretorted。

Whentheywerenotdancingwithher，theireyesfollowedher，overthecoiffuresoftheirotherpartners。Thatwasnotdifficult；oneblondeheadmovingamongsomanydarkones。

Theahadnotmeanttodancemuch，buttheRamasboysdancedsowellandweresohandsomeandadoringthatsheyieldedtotheirentreaties。Whenshesatoutadancewiththem，theytalkedtoherabouttheirfamilyathome，andtoldherhowtheirmotherhadoncepunnedupontheirname。RAMA，inSpanish，meantabranch，theyexplained。Oncewhentheywerelittleladstheirmothertookthemalongwhenshewenttohelpthewomendeco—

ratethechurchforEaster。Someoneaskedherwhethershehadbroughtanyflowers，andsherepliedthatshehadbroughther"ramas。"Thiswasevidentlyacherishedfamilystory。

Whenitwasnearlymidnight，Johnnyannouncedthateveryonewasgoingtohishousetohave"somelil’ice—

creamandsomelil’MUSICA。"HebegantoputoutthelightsandMrs。TellamantezledthewayacrossthesquaretoherCASA。TheRamasbrothersescortedThea，andastheysteppedoutofthedoor，Silvoexclaimed，"HACE

FRIO！"andthrewhisvelvetcoatabouthershoulders。

MostofthecompanyfollowedMrs。Tellamantez，andtheysataboutonthegravelinherlittleyardwhilesheandJohnnyandMrs。MiguelRamasservedtheice—cream。

TheasatonFelipe’scoat，sinceSilvo’swasalreadyabouthershoulders。Theyouthslaydownontheshininggravelbesideher，oneonherrightandoneonherleft。Johnnyalreadycalledthem"LOSACOLITOS，"thealtar—boys。Thetalkallaboutthemwaslow，andindolent。OneofthegirlswasplayingonJohnny’sguitar，anotherwaspicking

lightlyatamandolin。Themoonlightwassobrightthatonecouldseeeveryglanceandsmile，andtheflashoftheirteeth。ThemoonflowersoverMrs。Tellamantez’sdoorwerewideopenandofanunearthlywhite。Themoonitselflookedlikeagreatpaleflowerinthesky。

Afteralltheice—creamwasgone，JohnnyapproachedThea，hisguitarunderhisarm，andtheelderRamasboypolitelygaveuphisplace。Johnnysatdown，tookalongbreath，struckafiercechord，andthenhusheditwithhisotherhand。"Nowwehavesomelil’SERENATA，eh？Youwan’atry？"

WhenTheabegantosing，instantsilencefelluponthecompany。Shefeltallthosedarkeyesfixthemselvesuponherintently。Shecouldseethemshine。Thefacescameoutoftheshadowlikethewhiteflowersoverthedoor。

Felipeleanedhisheaduponhishand。Silvodroppedonhisbackandlaylookingatthemoon，undertheimpressionthathewasstilllookingatThea。Whenshefinishedthefirstverse，TheawhisperedtoJohnny，"Again，Icandoitbetterthanthat。"

Shehadsungforchurchesandfuneralsandteachers，butshehadneverbeforesungforareallymusicalpeople，andthiswasthefirsttimeshehadeverfelttheresponsethatsuchapeoplecangive。Theyturnedthemselvesandalltheyhadovertoher。Forthemomenttheycaredaboutnothingintheworldbutwhatshewasdoing。Theirfacesconfrontedher，open，eager，unprotected。Shefeltasifallthesewarm—bloodedpeopledebouchedintoher。Mrs。

Tellamantez’sfatefulresignation，Johnny’smadness，theadorationoftheboywholaystillinthesand；inaninstantthesethingsseemedtobewithinherinsteadofwithout，asiftheyhadcomefromherinthefirstplace。

Whenshefinished，herlistenersbrokeintoexcitedmur—

mur。Themenbeganhuntingfeverishlyforcigarettes。

FamosSerranosthebarytonebricklayer，touchedJohnny’sarm，gavehimaquestioninglook，thenheavedadeep

sigh。Johnnydroppedonhiselbow，wipinghisfaceandneckandhandswithhishandkerchief。"SENORITA，"hepanted，"ifyousinglikethatonceintheCityofMexico，theyjust—agocrazy。IntheCityofMexicotheyain’t—asitlikestumpswhentheyhearthat，not—amuch！Whentheylike，theyjust—agiveyouthetown。"

Thealaughed。She，too，wasexcited。"Thinkso，Johnny？Come，singsomethingwithme。ELPARRENO；I

haven’tsungthatforalongtime。"

Johnnylaughedandhuggedhisguitar。"Younot—aforgethim？"Hebeganteasinghisstrings。"Come！"Hethrewbackhishead，"ANOCHE—E—E——"

"ANOCHEMECONFESSE

CONUNPADRECARMELITE，YMEDIOPENITENCIA

QUEBESARASTUBOQUITA。"

（LastnightImadeconfessionWithaCarmelitefather，AndhegavemeabsolutionForthekissesyouimprinted。）

Johnnyhadalmosteveryfaultthatatenorcanhave。

Hisvoicewasthin，unsteady，huskyinthemiddletones。

Butitwasdistinctlyavoice，andsometimeshemanagedtogetsomethingverysweetoutofit。Certainlyitmadehimhappytosing。Theakeptglancingdownathimashelaythereonhiselbow。Hiseyesseemedtwiceaslargeasusualandhadlightsinthemlikethosethemoonlightmakesonblack，runningwater。Thearememberedtheoldstoriesabouthis"spells。"Shehadneverseenhimwhenhismadnesswasonhim，butshefeltsomethingto—

nightatherelbowthatgaveheranideaofwhatitmightbelike。ForthefirsttimeshefullyunderstoodthecrypticexplanationthatMrs。TellamantezhadmadetoDr。

Archie，longago。Therewerethesameshellsalongthewalk；shebelievedshecouldpickouttheveryone。There

wasthesamemoonupyonder，andpantingatherelbowwasthesameJohnny——fooledbythesameoldthings！

Whentheyhadfinished，Famos，thebarytone，mur—

muredsomethingtoJohnny；whoreplied，"Surewecansing`Trovatore。’Wehavenoalto，butallthegirlscansingaltoandmakesomenoise。"

Thewomenlaughed。Mexicanwomenofthepoorerclassdonotsinglikethemen。Perhapstheyaretooin—

dolent。Intheevening，whenthemenaresingingtheirthroatsdryonthedoorstep，oraroundthecamp—firebe—

sidethework—train，thewomenusuallysitandcombtheirhair。

WhileJohnnywasgesticulatingandtellingeverybodywhattosingandhowtosingit，TheaputoutherfootandtouchedthecorpseofSilvowiththetoeofherslipper。