按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were living in Iowa then；and I was sorry； but the baby
made it up to me。 I was father's favorite； too。 That's the
way it goes； you see。〃
The doctor took out Thea's letter to him； and read it over
to Mrs。 Kronborg。 She seemed to listen； and not to listen。
When he finished； she said thoughtfully： 〃I'd counted
on hearing her sing again。 But I always took my pleasures
as they come。 I always enjoyed her singing when she was
here about the house。 While she was practicing I often
used to leave my work and sit down in a rocker and give
myself up to it； the same as if I'd been at an entertainment。
I was never one of these housekeepers that let their work
drive them to death。 And when she had the Mexicans over
here； I always took it in。 First and last；〃she glanced
judicially at the photograph；〃I guess I got about as
much out of Thea's voice as anybody will ever get。〃
〃I guess you did！〃 the doctor assented heartily； 〃and I
got a good deal myself。 You remember how she used to sing
those Scotch songs for me； and lead us with her head； her
hair bobbing？〃
〃‘Flow Gently； Sweet Afton；'I can hear it now；〃
said Mrs。 Kronborg； 〃and poor father never knew when
he sang sharp！ He used to say； ‘Mother； how do you always
know when they make mistakes practicing？'〃 Mrs。 Kron…
borg chuckled。
Dr。 Archie took her hand； still firm like the hand of a
young woman。 〃It was lucky for her that you did know。
I always thought she got more from you than from any
of her teachers。〃
〃Except Wunsch； he was a real musician；〃 said Mrs。
Kronborg respectfully。 〃I gave her what chance I could；
in a crowded house。 I kept the other children out of the
parlor for her。 That was about all I could do。 If she wasn't
disturbed； she needed no watching。 She went after it like a
terrier after rats from the first； poor child。 She was down…
right afraid of it。 That's why I always encouraged her
taking Thor off to outlandish places。 When she was out of
the house； then she was rid of it。〃
After they had recalled many pleasant memories to…
gether； Mrs。 Kronborg said suddenly： 〃I always under…
stood about her going off without coming to see us that
time。 Oh； I know！ You had to keep your own counsel。
You were a good friend to her。 I've never forgot that。〃
She patted the doctor's sleeve and went on absently。
〃There was something she didn't want to tell me； and
that's why she didn't come。 Something happened when
she was with those people in Mexico。 I worried for a good
while； but I guess she's come out of it all right。 She'd
had a pretty hard time； scratching along alone like that
when she was so young； and my farms in Nebraska were
down so low that I couldn't help her none。 That's no way
to send a girl out。 But I guess； whatever there was； she
wouldn't be afraid to tell me now。〃 Mrs。 Kronborg
looked up at the photograph with a smile。 〃She doesn't
look like she was beholding to anybody； does she？〃
〃She isn't； Mrs。 Kronborg。 She never has been。 That
was why she borrowed the money from me。〃
〃Oh； I knew she'd never have sent for you if she'd done
anything to shame us。 She was always proud。〃 Mrs。
Kronborg paused and turned a little on her side。 〃It's
been quite a satisfaction to you and me； doctor； having
her voice turn out so fine。 The things you hope for don't
always turn out like that； by a long sight。 As long as old
Mrs。 Kohler lived； she used always to translate what it
said about Thea in the German papers she sent。 I could
make some of it out myself；it's not very different from
Swedish；but it pleased the old lady。 She left Thea her
piece…picture of the burning of Moscow。 I've got it put
away in moth…balls for her； along with the oboe her grand…
father brought from Sweden。 I want her to take father's
oboe back there some day。〃 Mrs。 Kronborg paused a
moment and compressed her lips。 〃But I guess she'll take
a finer instrument than that with her； back to Sweden！〃
she added。
Her tone fairly startled the doctor； it was so vibrating
with a fierce； defiant kind of pride he had heard often in
Thea's voice。 He looked down wonderingly at his old friend
and patient。 After all； one never knew people to the core。
Did she； within her； hide some of that still passion of
which her daughter was all…compact？
〃That last summer at home wasn't very nice for her；〃
Mrs。 Kronborg began as placidly as if the fire had never
leaped up in her。 〃The other children were acting…up
because they thought I might make a fuss over her and
give her the big…head。 We gave her the dare； somehow；
the lot of us； because we couldn't understand her changing
teachers and all that。 That's the trouble about giving the
dare to them quiet； unboastful children； you never know
how far it'll take 'em。 Well； we ought not to complain；
doctor； she's given us a good deal to think about。〃
The next time Dr。 Archie came to Moonstone； he came
to be a pall…bearer at Mrs。 Kronborg's funeral。 When he
last looked at her； she was so serene and queenly that he
went back to Denver feeling almost as if he had helped
to bury Thea Kronborg herself。 The handsome head in
the coffin seemed to him much more really Thea than did
the radiant young woman in the picture； looking about
at the Gothic vaultings and greeting the Hall of Song。
IV
ONE bright morning late in February Dr。 Archie was
breakfasting comfortably at the Waldorf。 He had got
into Jersey City on an early train； and a red； windy sunrise
over the North River had given him a good appetite。 He
consulted the morning paper while he drank his coffee and
saw that 〃Lohengrin〃 was to be sung at the opera that
evening。 In the list of the artists who would appear was
the name 〃Kronborg。〃 Such abruptness rather startled
him。 〃Kronborg〃： it was impressive and yet； somehow；
disrespectful； somewhat rude and brazen； on the back page
of the morning paper。 After breakfast he went to the hotel
ticket office and asked the girl if she could give him some…
thing for 〃Lohengrin；〃 〃near the front。〃 His manner was
a trifle awkward and he wondered whether the girl noticed
it。 Even if she did； of course； she could scarcely suspect。