English
I
Undertherollingcloudsoftheprairieamovingmassofsteel.
Anirritableclankandrattlebeneathaprolongedroar.
Thesharpscentoforangescuttingthesoggysmellofunbathedpeopleandancientbaggage.
Townsasplanlessasascatteringofpasteboardboxesonanatticfloor.Thestretchoffadedgoldstubblebrokenonlybyclumpsofwillowsencirclingwhitehousesandredbarns.
No.7,thewaytrain,grumblingthroughMinnesota,imperceptiblyclimbingthegianttablelandthatslopesinathousand–milerisefromhotMississippibottomstotheRockies.
ItisSeptember,hot,verydusty.
ThereisnosmugPullmanattachedtothetrain,andthedaycoachesoftheEastarereplacedbyfreechaircars,witheachseatcutintotwoadjustableplushchairs,thehead–restscoveredwithdoubtfullinentowels.
Halfwaydownthecarisasemi–partitionofcarvedoakcolumns,buttheaisleisofbare,splintery,grease–blackenedwood.
Thereisnoporter,nopillows,noprovisionforbeds,butalltodayandalltonighttheywillrideinthislongsteelbox–farmerswithperpetuallytiredwivesandchildrenwhoseemalltobeofthesameage;workmengoingtonewjobs;travelingsalesmenwithderbiesandfreshlyshinedshoes.
Theyareparchedandcramped,thelinesoftheirhandsfilledwithgrime;theygotosleepcurledindistortedattitudes,headsagainstthewindow–panesorproppedonrolledcoatsonseat–arms,andlegsthrustintotheaisle.
Theydonotread;apparentlytheydonotthink.Theywait.
Anearly–wrinkled,young–oldmother,movingasthoughherjointsweredry,opensasuit–caseinwhichareseencreasedblouses,apairofslipperswornthroughatthetoes,abottleofpatentmedicine,atincup,apaper–coveredbookaboutdreamswhichthenews–butcherhascoaxedherintobuying.
Shebringsoutagrahamcrackerwhichshefeedstoababylyingflatonaseatandwailinghopelessly.
Mostofthecrumbsdropontheredplushoftheseat,andthewomansighsandtriestobrushthemaway,buttheyleapupimpishlyandfallbackontheplush.
Asoiledmanandwomanmunchsandwichesandthrowthecrustsonthefloor.
Alargebrick–coloredNorwegiantakesoffhisshoes,gruntsinrelief,andpropshisfeetintheirthickgraysocksagainsttheseatinfrontofhim.
Anoldwomanwhosetoothlessmouthshutslikeamud–turtle's,andwhosehairisnotsomuchwhiteasyellowlikemoldylinen,withbandsofpinkskullapparentbetweenthetresses,anxiouslyliftsherbag,opensit,peersin,closesit,putsitundertheseat,andhastilypicksitupandopensitandhidesitalloveragain.
Thebagisfulloftreasuresandofmemories:aleatherbuckle,anancientband–concertprogram,scrapsofribbon,lace,satin.
Intheaislebesideherisanextremelyindignantparrakeetinacage.
Twofacingseats,overflowingwithaSloveneiron–miner'sfamily,arelitteredwithshoes,dolls,whiskybottles,bundleswrappedinnewspapers,asewingbag.
Theoldestboytakesamouth–organoutofhiscoatpocket,wipesthetobaccocrumbsoff,andplays"MarchingthroughGeorgia"tilleveryheadinthecarbeginstoache.
Thenews–butchercomesthroughsellingchocolatebarsandlemondrops.
Agirl–childceaselesslytrotsdowntothewater–coolerandbacktoherseat.
Thestiffpaperenvelopewhichsheusesforcupdripsintheaisleasshegoes,andoneachtripshestumblesoverthefeetofacarpenter,whogrunts,"Ouch!Lookout!"
Thedust–cakeddoorsareopen,andfromthesmoking–cardriftsbackavisiblebluelineofstingingtobaccosmoke,andwithitacrackleoflaughteroverthestorywhichtheyoungmaninthebrightbluesuitandlavendertieandlightyellowshoeshasjusttoldtothesquatmaningarageoveralls.
Thesmellgrowsconstantlythicker,morestale.
II
Toeachofthepassengershisseatwashistemporaryhome,andmostofthepassengerswereslatternlyhousekeepers.
Butoneseatlookedcleananddeceptivelycool.
Initwereanobviouslyprosperousmanandablack–haired,fine–skinnedgirlwhosepumpsrestedonanimmaculatehorsehidebag.
TheywereDr.WillKennicottandhisbride,Carol.
Theyhadbeenmarriedattheendofayearofconversationalcourtship,andtheywereontheirwaytoGopherPrairieafteraweddingjourneyintheColoradomountains.
Thehordesoftheway–trainwerenotaltogethernewtoCarol.
ShehadseenthemontripsfromSt.PaultoChicago.
Butnowthattheyhadbecomeherownpeople,tobatheandencourageandadorn,shehadanacuteanduncomfortableinterestinthem.Theydistressedher.Theyweresostolid.
ShehadalwaysmaintainedthatthereisnoAmericanpeasantry,andshesoughtnowtodefendherfaithbyseeingimaginationandenterpriseintheyoungSwedishfarmers,andinatravelingmanworkingoverhisorder–blanks.
Buttheolderpeople,YankeesaswellasNorwegians,Germans,Finns,Canucks,hadsettledintosubmissiontopoverty.Theywerepeasants,shegroaned.
"Isn'tthereanywayofwakingthemup?Whatwouldhappeniftheyunderstoodscientificagriculture?"shebeggedofKennicott,herhandgropingforhis.
Ithadbeenatransforminghoneymoon.Shehadbeenfrightenedtodiscoverhowtumultuousafeelingcouldberousedinher.
Willhadbeenlordly—stalwart,jolly,impressivelycompetentinmakingcamp,tenderandunderstandingthroughthehourswhentheyhadlainsidebysideinatentpitchedamongpineshighuponalonelymountainspur.
Hishandswallowedhersashestartedfromthoughtsofthepractisetowhichhewasreturning."Thesepeople?Wake'emup?Whatfor?They'rehappy."
"Butthey'resoprovincial.No,thatisn'twhatImean.They're—oh,sosunkinthemud."
"Lookhere,Carrie.Youwanttogetoveryourcityideathatbecauseaman'spantsaren'tpressed,he'safool.Thesefarmersaremightykeenandup–and–coming."
"Iknow!That'swhathurts.Lifeseemssohardforthem—theselonelyfarmsandthisgrittytrain."
"Oh,theydon'tmindit.Besides,thingsarechanging.
Theauto,thetelephone,ruralfreedelivery;they'rebringingthefarmersinclosertouchwiththetown.
Takestime,youknow,tochangeawildernesslikethiswasfiftyyearsago.
Butalready,why,theycanhopintotheFordortheOverlandandgetintothemoviesonSaturdayeveningquickerthanyoucouldgetdownto'embytrolleyinSt.Paul."
"Butifit'sthesetownswe'vebeenpassingthatthefarmersruntoforrelieffromtheirbleakness—Can'tyouunderstand?JustLOOKatthem!"
Kennicottwasamazed.Eversincechildhoodhehadseenthesetownsfromtrainsonthissameline.
Hegrumbled,"Why,what'sthematterwith'em?Goodhustlingburgs.
Itwouldastonishyoutoknowhowmuchwheatandryeandcornandpotatoestheyshipinayear."
"Butthey'resougly."
"I'lladmittheyaren'tcomfylikeGopherPrairie.Butgive'emtime."
"What'stheuseofgivingthemtimeunlesssomeonehasdesireandtrainingenoughtoplanthem?
Hundredsoffactoriestryingtomakeattractivemotorcars,butthesetowns—lefttochance.No!Thatcan'tbetrue.
Itmusthavetakengeniustomakethemsoscrawny!"
"Oh,they'renotsobad,"wasallheanswered.
Hepretendedthathishandwasthecatandhersthemouse.
Forthefirsttimeshetoleratedhimratherthanencouragedhim.
ShewasstaringoutatSchoenstrom,ahamletofperhapsahundredandfiftyinhabitants,atwhichthetrainwasstopping.
AbeardedGermanandhispucker–mouthedwifetuggedtheirenormousimitation–leathersatchelfromunderaseatandwaddledout.
Thestationagenthoistedadeadcalfaboardthebaggage–car.
TherewerenoothervisibleactivitiesinSchoenstrom.
Inthequietofthehalt,Carolcouldhearahorsekickinghisstall,acarpentershinglingaroof.
Thebusiness–centerofSchoenstromtookuponesideofoneblock,facingtherailroad.
Itwasarowofone–storyshopscoveredwithgalvanizediron,orwithclapboardspaintedredandbiliousyellow.
Thebuildingswereasill–assorted,astemporary–looking,asamining–campstreetinthemotion–pictures.
Therailroadstationwasaone–roomframebox,amireycattle–penononesideandacrimsonwheat–elevatorontheother.
Theelevator,withitscupolaontheridgeofashingledroof,resembledabroad–shoulderedmanwithasmall,vicious,pointedhead.
Theonlyhabitablestructurestobeseenwerethefloridred–brickCatholicchurchandrectoryattheendofMainStreet.
CarolpickedatKennicott'ssleeve."Youwouldn'tcallthisanot–so–badtown,wouldyou?"
"TheseDutchburgsAREkindofslow.Still,atthat—Seethatfellowcomingoutofthegeneralstorethere,gettingintothebigcar?Imethimonce.
Heownsabouthalfthetown,besidesthestore.Rauskukle,hisnameis.
Heownsalotofmortgages,andhegamblesinfarm–lands.Goodnutonhim,thatfellow.
Why,theysayhe'sworththreeorfourhundredthousanddollars!
Gotadandygreatbigyellowbrickhousewithtiledwalksandagardenandeverything,otherendoftown—can'tseeitfromhere—I'vegonepastitwhenI'vedriventhroughhere.Yessir!"
"Then,ifhehasallthat,there'snoexcusewhateverforthisplace!
Ifhisthreehundredthousandwentbackintothetown,whereitbelongs,theycouldburnuptheseshacks,andbuildadream–village,ajewel!
Whydothefarmersandthetown–peoplelettheBaronkeepit?"
"ImustsayIdon'tquitegetyousometimes,Carrie.Lethim?Theycan'thelpthemselves!
He'sadummoldDutchman,andprobablythepriestcantwisthimaroundhisfinger,butwhenitcomestopickinggoodfarmingland,he'saregularwiz!"
"Isee.He'stheirsymbolofbeauty.Thetownerectshim,insteadoferectingbuildings."
"Honestly,don'tknowwhatyou'redrivingat.
You'rekindofplayedout,afterthislongtrip.
You'llfeelbetterwhenyougethomeandhaveagoodbath,andputonthebluenegligee.
That'ssomevampirecostume,youwitch!"
Hesqueezedherarm,lookedatherknowingly.
TheymovedonfromthedesertstillnessoftheSchoenstromstation.Thetraincreaked,banged,swayed.Theairwasnauseatinglythick.
Kennicottturnedherfacefromthewindow,restedherheadonhisshoulder.Shewascoaxedfromherunhappymood.
Butshecameoutofitunwillingly,andwhenKennicottwassatisfiedthathehadcorrectedallherworriesandhadopenedamagazineofsaffrondetectivestories,shesatupright.
Here—shemeditated—isthenewestempireoftheworld;theNorthernMiddlewest;alandofdairyherdsandexquisitelakes,ofnewautomobilesandtar–papershantiesandsiloslikeredtowers,ofclumsyspeechandahopethatisboundless.
Anempirewhichfeedsaquarteroftheworld—yetitsworkismerelybegun.
Theyarepioneers,thesesweatywayfarers,foralltheirtelephonesandbank–accountsandautomaticpianosandco–operativeleagues.
Andforallitsfatrichness,theirsisapioneerland.Whatisitsfuture?shewondered.
Afutureofcitiesandfactorysmutwherenowarelopingemptyfields?Homesuniversalandsecure?
Orplacidchateauxringedwithsullenhuts?
Youthfreetofindknowledgeandlaughter?
Willingnesstosiftthesanctifiedlies?
Orcreamy–skinnedfatwomen,smearedwithgreaseandchalk,gorgeousintheskinsofbeastsandthebloodyfeathersofslainbirds,playingbridgewithpuffypink–nailedjeweledfingers,womenwhoaftermuchexpenditureoflaborandbadtemperstillgrotesquelyresembletheirownflatulentlap–dogs?
Theancientstaleinequalities,orsomethingdifferentinhistory,unlikethetediousmaturityofotherempires?Whatfutureandwhathope?
Carol'sheadachedwiththeriddle.
Shesawtheprairie,flatingiantpatchesorrollinginlonghummocks.
Thewidthandbignessofit,whichhadexpandedherspiritanhourago,begantofrightenher.
Itspreadoutso;itwentonsouncontrollably;shecouldneverknowit.
Kennicottwasclosetedinhisdetectivestory.
Withthelonelinesswhichcomesmostdepressinglyinthemidstofmanypeopleshetriedtoforgetproblems,tolookattheprairieobjectively.
Thegrassbesidetherailroadhadbeenburntover;itwasasmudgepricklywithcharredstalksofweeds.
Beyondtheundeviatingbarbed–wirefenceswereclumpsofgoldenrod.
Onlythisthinhedgeshutthemofffromtheplains–shornwheat–landsofautumn,ahundredacrestoafield,pricklyandgraynear–bybutintheblurreddistanceliketawnyvelvetstretchedoverdippinghillocks.
Thelongrowsofwheat–shocksmarchedlikesoldiersinwornyellowtabards.
Thenewlyplowedfieldswereblackbannersfallenonthedistantslope.
Itwasamartialimmensity,vigorous,alittleharsh,unsoftenedbykindlygardens.
Theexpansewasrelievedbyclumpsofoakswithpatchesofshortwildgrass;andeverymileortwowasachainofcobaltslews,withtheflickerofblackbirds'wingsacrossthem.
Allthisworkinglandwasturnedintoexuberancebythelight.
Thesunshinewasdizzyonopenstubble;shadowsfromimmensecumuluscloudswereforeverslidingacrosslowmounds;andtheskywaswiderandloftierandmoreresolutelybluethantheskyofcities...shedeclared.
"It'sagloriouscountry;alandtobebigin,"shecrooned.
ThenKennicottstartledherbychuckling,"D'yourealizethetownafterthenextisGopherPrairie?Home!"
III
Thatoneword—home—itterrifiedher.Hadshereallyboundherselftolive,inescapably,inthistowncalledGopherPrairie?
Andthisthickmanbesideher,whodaredtodefineherfuture,hewasastranger!Sheturnedinherseat,staredathim.Whowashe?Whywashesittingwithher?Hewasn'tofherkind!
Hisneckwasheavy;hisspeechwasheavy;hewastwelveorthirteenyearsolderthanshe;andabouthimwasnoneofthemagicofsharedadventuresandeagerness.
Shecouldnotbelievethatshehadeversleptinhisarms.
Thatwasoneofthedreamswhichyouhadbutdidnotofficiallyadmit.
Shetoldherselfhowgoodhewas,howdependableandunderstanding.
Shetouchedhisear,smoothedtheplaneofhissolidjaw,and,turningawayagain,concentrateduponlikinghistown.
Itwouldn'tbelikethesebarrensettlements.Itcouldn'tbe!Why,ithadthreethousandpopulation.Thatwasagreatmanypeople.
Therewouldbesixhundredhousesormore.
And—Thelakesnearitwouldbesolovely.She'dseentheminthephotographs.
Theyhadlookedcharming...hadn'tthey?
AsthetrainleftWahkeenyanshebegannervouslytowatchforthelakes—theentrancetoallherfuturelife.
Butwhenshediscoveredthem,totheleftofthetrack,heronlyimpressionofthemwasthattheyresembledthephotographs.
AmilefromGopherPrairiethetrackmountsacurvinglowridge,andshecouldseethetownasawhole.
Withapassionatejerkshepushedupthewindow,lookedout,thearchedfingersofherlefthandtremblingonthesill,herrighthandatherbreast.
AndshesawthatGopherPrairiewasmerelyanenlargementofallthehamletswhichtheyhadbeenpassing.
OnlytotheeyesofaKennicottwasitexceptional.
Thehuddledlowwoodenhousesbroketheplainsscarcelymorethanwouldahazelthicket.Thefieldssweptuptoit,pastit.
Itwasunprotectedandunprotecting;therewasnodignityinitnoranyhopeofgreatness.
Onlythetallredgrain–elevatorandafewtinnychurch–steeplesrosefromthemass.Itwasafrontiercamp.
Itwasnotaplacetolivein,notpossibly,notconceivably.
Thepeople—they'dbeasdrabastheirhouses,asflatastheirfields.Shecouldn'tstayhere.Shewouldhavetowrenchloosefromthisman,andflee.
Shepeepedathim.Shewasatoncehelplessbeforehismaturefixity,andtouchedbyhisexcitementashesenthismagazineskitteringalongtheaisle,stoopedfortheirbags,cameupwithflushedface,andgloated,"Hereweare!"
Shesmiledloyally,andlookedaway.Thetrainwasenteringtown.
Thehousesontheoutskirtswereduskyoldredmansionswithwoodenfrills,orgauntframeshelterslikegroceryboxes,ornewbungalowswithconcretefoundationsimitatingstone.
Nowthetrainwaspassingtheelevator,thegrimstorage–tanksforoil,acreamery,alumber–yard,astock–yardmuddyandtrampledandstinking.
Nowtheywerestoppingatasquatredframestation,theplatformcrowdedwithunshavenfarmersandwithloafers—unadventurouspeoplewithdeadeyes.Shewashere.Shecouldnotgoon.Itwastheend—theendoftheworld.
Shesatwithclosedeyes,longingtopushpastKennicott,hidesomewhereinthetrain,fleeontowardthePacific.
Somethinglargearoseinhersoulandcommanded,"Stopit!Stopbeingawhiningbaby!"Shestoodupquickly;shesaid,"Isn'titwonderfultobehereatlast!"
Hetrustedherso.Shewouldmakeherselfliketheplace.Andshewasgoingtodotremendousthings—
ShefollowedKennicottandthebobbingendsofthetwobagswhichhecarried.
Theywereheldbackbytheslowlineofdisembarkingpassengers.
Sheremindedherselfthatshewasactuallyatthedramaticmomentofthebride'shome–coming.Sheoughttofeelexalted.
Shefeltnothingatallexceptirritationattheirslowprogresstowardthedoor.
Kennicottstoopedtopeerthroughthewindows.Heshylyexulted:
"Look!Look!
There'sabunchcomedowntowelcomeus!
SamClarkandthemissusandDaveDyerandJackElder,and,yessir,HarryHaydockandJuanita,andawholecrowd!Iguesstheyseeusnow.Yuh,yuhsure,theyseeus!See'emwaving!"
Sheobedientlybentherheadtolookoutatthem.Shehadholdofherself.Shewasreadytolovethem.
Butshewasembarrassedbytheheartinessofthecheeringgroup.
Fromthevestibuleshewavedtothem,butsheclungasecondtothesleeveofthebrakemanwhohelpedherdownbeforeshehadthecouragetodiveintothecataractofhand–shakingpeople,peoplewhomshecouldnottellapart.
Shehadtheimpressionthatallthemenhadcoarsevoices,largedamphands,tooth–brushmustaches,baldspots,andMasonicwatch–charms.
Sheknewthattheywerewelcomingher.Theirhands,theirsmiles,theirshouts,theiraffectionateeyesovercameher.Shestammered,"Thankyou,oh,thankyou!"
OneofthemenwasclamoringatKennicott,"Ibroughtmymachinedowntotakeyouhome,doc."
"Finebusiness,Sam!"criedKennicott;and,toCarol,"Let'sjumpin.ThatbigPaigeoverthere.Someboat,too,believeme!SamcanshowspeedtoanyoftheseMarmonsfromMinneapolis!"
Onlywhenshewasinthemotorcardidshedistinguishthethreepeoplewhoweretoaccompanythem.
Theowner,nowatthewheel,wastheessenceofdecentself–satisfaction;abaldish,largish,level–eyedman,ruggedofneckbutsleekandroundofface—facelikethebackofaspoonbowl.
Hewaschucklingather,"Haveyougotusallstraightyet?"
"Courseshehas!TrustCarrietogetthingsstraightandget'emdarnquick!Ibetshecouldtellyoueverydateinhistory!"boastedherhusband.
Butthemanlookedatherreassuringlyandwithacertaintythathewasapersonwhomshecouldtrustsheconfessed,"AsamatteroffactIhaven'tgotanybodystraight."
"Courseyouhaven't,child.Well,I'mSamClark,dealerinhardware,sportinggoods,creamseparators,andalmostanykindofheavyjunkyoucanthinkof.
YoucancallmeSam—anyway,I'mgoingtocallyouCarrie,seein''syou'vebeenandgoneandmarriedthispoorfishofabummedicthatwekeeproundhere."
Carolsmiledlavishly,andwishedthatshecalledpeoplebytheirgivennamesmoreeasily.
"Thefatcrankyladybacktherebesideyou,whoispretendingthatshecan'thearmegivingheraway,isMrs.Sam'lClark;andthishungry–lookingsquirtupherebesidemeisDaveDyer,whokeepshisdrugstorerunningbynotfillingyourhubby'sprescriptionsright—factyoumightsayhe'stheguythatputthe'shun'in'prescription.'So!
Well,leaveustakethebonnybridehome.
Say,doc,I'llsellyoutheCandersenplaceforthreethousandplunks.
BetterbethinkingaboutbuildinganewhomeforCarrie.
PrettiestFrauinG.P.,ifyouasksme!"
ContentedlySamClarkdroveoff,intheheavytrafficofthreeFordsandtheMinniemashieHouseFree'Bus.
"IshalllikeMr.Clark...ICAN'Tcallhim'Sam'!They'reallsofriendly."
Sheglancedatthehouses;triednottoseewhatshesaw;gavewayin:"Whydothesestorieslieso?
Theyalwaysmakethebride'shome–comingabowerofroses.Completetrustinnoblespouse.Liesaboutmarriage.I'mNOTchanged.Andthistown—OmyGod!Ican'tgothroughwithit.Thisjunk–heap!"
Herhusbandbentoverher."Youlooklikeyouwereinabrownstudy.Scared?
Idon'texpectyoutothinkGopherPrairieisaparadise,afterSt.Paul.
Idon'texpectyoutobecrazyaboutit,atfirst.
Butyou'llcometolikeitsomuch—life'ssofreehereandbestpeopleonearth."
Shewhisperedtohim(whileMrs.Clarkconsideratelyturnedaway),"Iloveyouforunderstanding.I'mjust—I'mbeastlyover–sensitive.Toomanybooks.
It'smylackofshoulder–musclesandsense.Givemetime,dear."
"Youbet!Allthetimeyouwant!"
Shelaidthebackofhishandagainsthercheek,snugglednearhim.Shewasreadyforhernewhome.
Kennicotthadtoldherthat,withhiswidowedmotherashousekeeper,hehadoccupiedanoldhouse,"butniceandroomy,andwell–heated,bestfurnaceIcouldfindonthemarket."
HismotherhadleftCarolherlove,andgonebacktoLac–qui–Meurt.
Itwouldbewonderful,sheexulted,nottohavetoliveinOtherPeople'sHouses,buttomakeherownshrine.
Sheheldhishandtightlyandstaredaheadasthecarswungroundacornerandstoppedinthestreetbeforeaprosaicframehouseinasmallparchedlawn.
IV
Aconcretesidewalkwitha"parking"ofgrassandmud.Asquaresmugbrownhouse,ratherdamp.Anarrowconcretewalkuptoit.
Sicklyyellowleavesinawindrowwithdriedwingsofbox–elderseedsandsnagsofwoolfromthecotton–woods.
Ascreenedporchwithpillarsofthinpaintedpinesurmountedbyscrollsandbracketsandbumpsofjigsawedwood.
Noshrubberytoshutoffthepublicgaze.
Alugubriousbay–windowtotherightoftheporch.
WindowcurtainsofstarchedcheaplacerevealingapinkmarbletablewithaconchshellandaFamilyBible.
"You'llfinditold–fashioned—whatdoyoucallit?—Mid–Victorian.
Ileftitasis,soyoucouldmakeanychangesyoufeltwerenecessary."
Kennicottsoundeddoubtfulforthefirsttimesincehehadcomebacktohisown.
"It'sarealhome!"Shewasmovedbyhishumility.
Shegailymotionedgood–bytotheClarks.
Heunlockedthedoor—hewasleavingthechoiceofamaidtoher,andtherewasnooneinthehouse.
Shejiggledwhileheturnedthekey,andscamperedin....Itwasnextdaybeforeeitherofthemrememberedthatintheirhoneymooncamptheyhadplannedthatheshouldcarryheroverthesill.
Inhallwayandfrontparlorshewasconsciousofdinginessandlugubriousnessandairlessness,butsheinsisted,"I'llmakeitalljolly."
AsshefollowedKennicottandthebagsuptotheirbedroomshequaveredtoherselfthesongofthefatlittle–godsofthehearth:
Ihavemyownhome,
TodowhatIpleasewith,
TodowhatIpleasewith,
Mydenformeandmymateandmycubs,
Myown!
Shewascloseinherhusband'sarms;sheclungtohim;whateverofstrangenessandslownessandinsularityshemightfindinhim,noneofthatmatteredsolongasshecouldslipherhandsbeneathhiscoat,runherfingersoverthewarmsmoothnessofthesatinbackofhiswaistcoat,seemalmosttocreepintohisbody,findinhimstrength,findinthecourageandkindnessofhermanashelterfromtheperplexingworld.
"Sweet,sosweet,"shewhispered.
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