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me one day and told me he thought his wife would settle
for a hundred thousand marks and consent to a divorce。
I got very angry and sent him away。 Next day he came
back and said he thought she'd take fifty thousand。〃
Dr。 Archie drew away from her； to the end of the sofa。
〃Good God； Thea；〃 He ran his handkerchief over his
forehead。 〃What sort of people〃 He stopped and shook
his head。
Thea rose and stood beside him； her hand on his shoul…
der。 〃That's exactly how it struck me；〃 she said quietly。
〃Oh； we have things in common； things that go away back；
under everything。 You understand； of course。 Nordquist
didn't。 He thought I wasn't willing to part with the
money。 I couldn't let myself buy him from Fru Nord…
quist； and he couldn't see why。 He had always thought I
was close about money； so he attributed it to that。 I am
careful；〃she ran her arm through Archie's and when
he rose began to walk about the room with him。 〃I
can't be careless with money。 I began the world on six
hundred dollars； and it was the price of a man's life。 Ray
Kennedy had worked hard and been sober and denied him…
self； and when he died he had six hundred dollars to show
for it。 I always measure things by that six hundred dol…
lars； just as I measure high buildings by the Moonstone
standpipe。 There are standards we can't get away from。〃
Dr。 Archie took her hand。 〃I don't believe we should
be any happier if we did get away from them。 I think it
gives you some of your poise； having that anchor。 You
look；〃 glancing down at her head and shoulders； 〃some…
times so like your mother。〃
〃Thank you。 You couldn't say anything nicer to me
than that。 On Friday afternoon； didn't you think？〃
〃Yes； but at other times； too。 I love to see it。 Do you
know what I thought about that first night when I heard
you sing？ I kept remembering the night I took care of you
when you had pneumonia； when you were ten years old。
You were a terribly sick child； and I was a country doctor
without much experience。 There were no oxygen tanks
about then。 You pretty nearly slipped away from me。
If you had〃
Thea dropped her head on his shoulder。 〃I'd have
saved myself and you a lot of trouble； wouldn't I？ Dear
Dr。 Archie！〃 she murmured。
〃As for me； life would have been a pretty bleak stretch；
with you left out。〃 The doctor took one of the crystal
pendants that hung from her shoulder and looked into it
thoughtfully。 〃I guess I'm a romantic old fellow； under…
neath。 And you've always been my romance。 Those
years when you were growing up were my happiest。 When
I dream about you； I always see you as a little girl。〃
They paused by the open window。 〃Do you？ Nearly
all my dreams； except those about breaking down on the
stage or missing trains； are about Moonstone。 You tell
me the old house has been pulled down； but it stands in
my mind； every stick and timber。 In my sleep I go all
about it； and look in the right drawers and cupboards for
everything。 I often dream that I'm hunting for my rub…
bers in that pile of overshoes that was always under the
hatrack in the hall。 I pick up every overshoe and know
whose it is； but I can't find my own。 Then the school bell
begins to ring and I begin to cry。 That's the house I rest
in when I'm tired。 All the old furniture and the worn
spots in the carpetit rests my mind to go over them。〃
They were looking out of the window。 Thea kept his
arm。 Down on the river four battleships were anchored in
line； brilliantly lighted； and launches were coming and
going； bringing the men ashore。 A searchlight from one
of the ironclads was playing on the great headland up the
river； where it makes its first resolute turn。 Overhead the
night…blue sky was intense and clear。
〃There's so much that I want to tell you；〃 she said at
last； 〃and it's hard to explain。 My life is full of jealousies
and disappointments； you know。 You get to hating people
who do contemptible work and who get on just as well as you
do。 There are many disappointments in my profession； and
bitter； bitter contempts！〃 Her face hardened； and looked
much older。 〃If you love the good thing vitally； enough to
give up for it all that one must give up for it； then you
must hate the cheap thing just as hard。 I tell you； there
is such a thing as creative hate！ A contempt that drives
you through fire； makes you risk everything and lose
everything； makes you a long sight better than you ever
knew you could be。〃 As she glanced at Dr。 Archie's face；
Thea stopped short and turned her own face away。 Her
eyes followed the path of the searchlight up the river and
rested upon the illumined headland。
〃You see；〃 she went on more calmly； 〃voices are acci…
dental things。 You find plenty of good voices in common
women； with common minds and common hearts。 Look
at that woman who sang ORTRUDE with me last week。 She's
new here and the people are wild about her。 ‘Such a beau…
tiful volume of tone！' they say。 I give you my word she's
as stupid as an owl and as coarse as a pig； and any one
who knows anything about singing would see that in an
instant。 Yet she's quite as popular as Necker； who's a
great artist。 How can I get much satisfaction out of the
enthusiasm of a house that likes her atrociously bad per…
formance at the same time that it pretends to like mine？
If they like her； then they ought to hiss me off the stage。
We stand for things that are irreconcilable； absolutely。
You can't try to do things right and not despise the peo…
ple who do them wrong。 How can I be indifferent？ If
that doesn't matter； then nothing matters。 Well； some…
times I've come home as I did the other night when you
first saw me； so full of bitterness that it was as if my mind
were full of daggers。 And I've gone to sleep and wakened
up in the Kohlers' garden； with the pigeons and the white
rabbits； so happy！ And that saves me。〃 She sat down
on the piano bench。 Archie thought she had forgotten all
about him； until she called his name。 Her voice was soft
now； and wonderfully sweet。 It seemed to come from some…
where deep within her； there were such strong vibrations
in it。 〃You see； Dr。 Archie； what one really strives for in
art is not the sort of t