Thebabywascoming.Eachmorningshewasnauseated,chilly,bedraggled,andcertainthatshewouldneveragainbeattractive;eachtwilightshewasafraid.
Itbecamedifficultforhertomoveabout,andsheragedthatshe,whohadbeenslimandlight–footed,shouldhavetoleanonastick,andbeheartilycommenteduponbystreetgossips.Shewasencircledbygreasyeyes.
Everymatronhinted,"Nowthatyou'regoingtobeamother,dearie,you'llgetoveralltheseideasofyoursandsettledown."
Shefeltthatwilly–nillyshewasbeinginitiatedintotheassemblyofhousekeepers;withthebabyforhostage,shewouldneverescape;presentlyshewouldbedrinkingcoffeeandrockingandtalkingaboutdiapers.
"Icouldstandfightingthem.I'musedtothat.Butthisbeingtakenin,beingtakenasamatterofcourse,Ican'tstandit—andImuststandit!"
Shealternatelydetestedherselffornotappreciatingthekindlywomen,anddetestedthemfortheiradvice:lugubrioushintsastohowmuchshewouldsufferinlabor,detailsofbaby–hygienebasedonlongexperienceandtotalmisunderstanding,superstitiouscautionsaboutthethingsshemusteatandreadandlookatinprenatalcareforthebaby'ssoul,andalwaysapestofsimperingbaby–talk.
"Idonotlooklovely,Mrs.Bogart.Mycomplexionisrotten,andmyhairiscomingout,andIlooklikeapotato–bag,andIthinkmyarchesarefalling,andheisn'tapledgeoflove,andI'mafraidheWILLlooklikeus,andIdon'tbelieveinmother–devotion,andthewholebusinessisaconfoundednuisanceofabiologicalprocess,"remarkedCarol.
ShemarveledattheperfectionoftheminiaturehandsasnoisilyasdidKennicott,shewasoverwhelmedbythetrustwithwhichthebabyturnedtoher;passionforhimgrewwitheachunpoeticirritatingthingshehadtodoforhim.
Hughdevelopedintoathinhealthychildwithalargeheadandstraightdelicatehairofafaintbrown.Hewasthoughtfulandcasual—aKennicott.
Fortwoyearsnothingelseexisted.Shedidnot,asthecynicalmatronshadprophesied,"giveupworryingabouttheworldandotherfolks'babiessoonasshegotoneofherowntofightfor."
Thebarbarityofthatwillingnesstosacrificeotherchildrensothatonechildmighthavetoomuchwasimpossibletoher.Butshewouldsacrificeherself.
Sheunderstoodconsecration—shewhoansweredKennicott'shintsabouthavingHughchristened:"Irefusetoinsultmybabyandmyselfbyaskinganignorantyoungmaninafrockcoattosanctionhim,topermitmetohavehim!
IfIdidn'tgivemybaby—MYBABY—enoughsanctificationinthoseninehoursofhell,thenhecan'tgetanymoreoutoftheReverendMr.Zitterel!"
Whileshewonderedatthepearltextureofhisearsheexulted,"Ifeellikeanoldwoman,withaskinlikesandpaper,besidehim,andI'mgladofit!Heisperfect.Heshallhaveeverything.
ThepeoplewhohemmedherinhadbeenbrilliantlyreinforcedbyMr.andMrs.WhittierN.Smail—Kennicott'sUncleWhittierandAuntBessie.
IfyouhearthatLymCassonhisjourneyEasthasspentallhistime"visiting"inOysterCenter,itdoesnotmeanthatheprefersthatvillagetotherestofNewEngland,butthathehasrelativesthere.
Itdoesnotmeanthathehaswrittentotherelativesthesemanyyears,northattheyhaveevergivensignsofadesiretolookuponhim.
But"youwouldn'texpectamantogoandspendgoodmoneyatahotelinBoston,whenhisownthirdcousinsliverightinthesamestate,wouldyou?"
WhentheSmailssoldtheircreameryinNorthDakotatheyvisitedMr.Smail'ssister,Kennicott'smother,atLac–qui–Meurt,thenploddedontoGopherPrairietostaywiththeirnephew.
Theyappearedunannounced,beforethebabywasborn,tooktheirwelcomeforgranted,andimmediatelybegantocomplainofthefactthattheirroomfacednorth.
UncleWhittierandAuntBessieassumedthatitwastheirprivilegeasrelativestolaughatCarol,andtheirdutyasChristianstoletherknowhowabsurdher"notions"were.
Theyobjectedtothefood,toOscarina'slackoffriendliness,tothewind,therain,andtheimmodestyofCarol'smaternitygowns.
Theywerestrongandenduring;foranhouratatimetheycouldgoonheavingquestionsaboutherfather'sincome,abouthertheology,andaboutthereasonwhyshehadnotputonherrubberswhenshehadgoneacrossthestreet.
Forfussydiscussiontheyhadarich,fullgenius,andtheirexampledevelopedinKennicottatendencytothesameformofaffectionateflaying.
Everyfiveminutes,everytimeshesatdownorroseorspoketoOscarina,theytwanged,"Isyourheadbetternow?Wheredoesithurt?Don'tyoukeephartshorninthehouse?Didn'tyouwalktoofartoday?Haveyoutriedhartshorn?
Don'tyoukeepsomeinthehousesoitwillbehandy?Doesitfeelbetternow?Howdoesitfeel?Doyoureyeshurt,too?Whattimedoyouusuallygettobed?AslateasTHAT?Well!Howdoesitfeelnow?"
Bebetterforherifshedidn'tgogaddingaroundtoallthesebridge–whistparties,andtooksomecareofherselfonceinawhile!"
Theykeptitup,commenting,questioning,commenting,questioning,tillherdeterminationbrokeandshebleated,"Forheaven'sSAKE,don'tdis–CUSSit!Myhead'sallRIGHT!"
ShelistenedtotheSmailsandKennicotttryingtodeterminebydialecticswhetherthecopyoftheDauntless,whichAuntBessiewantedtosendtohersisterinAlberta,oughttohavetwoorfourcentspostageonit.
Carolwouldhavetakenittothedrugstoreandweighedit,butthenshewasadreamer,whiletheywerepracticalpeople(astheyfrequentlyadmitted).
Sotheysoughttoevolvethepostalratefromtheirinnerconsciousnesses,which,combinedwithentirefranknessinthinkingaloud,wastheirmethodofsettlingallproblems.
WhenCarolleftaletterfromhersisteronthetable,shewasastoundedtohearfromUncleWhittier,"Iseeyoursistersaysherhusbandisdoingfine.Yououghttogoseeheroftener.
IfCarolwaswritingalettertoaclassmate,orplanningtheweek'smenus,shecouldbecertainthatAuntBessiewouldpopinandtitter,"Nowdon'tletmedisturbyou,Ijustwantedtoseewhereyouwere,don'tstop,I'mnotgoingtostayonlyasecond.
IjustwonderedifyoucouldpossiblyhavethoughtthatIdidn'teattheonionsthisnoonbecauseIdidn'tthinktheywereproperlycooked,butthatwasn'tthereasonatall,itwasn'tbecauseIdidn'tthinktheywerewellcooked,I'msurethateverythinginyourhouseisalwaysverydaintyandnice,thoughIdothinkthatOscarinaiscarelessaboutsomethings,shedoesn'tappreciatethebigwagesyoupayher,andsheissocranky,alltheseSwedesaresocranky,Idon'treallyseewhyyouhaveaSwede,but—Butthatwasn'tit,Ididn'teatthemnotbecauseIdidn'tthinktheyweren'tcookedproper,itwasjust—Ifindthatonionsdon'tagreewithme,it'sverystrange,eversinceIhadanattackofbiliousnessonetime,Ihavefoundthatonions,eitherfriedonionsorrawones,andWhittierdoesloverawonionswithvinegarandsugaronthem—"
ShesupposedthatshewasbeinggracefullydullandstandardizedintheSmails'presence,buttheyscentedtheheretic,andwithforward–stoopingdelighttheysatandtriedtodragoutherludicrousconceptsfortheiramusement.
TheywereliketheSunday–afternoonmobstartingatmonkeysintheZoo,pokingfingersandmakingfacesandgigglingattheresentmentofthemoredignifiedrace.
Withaloose–lipped,superior,villagesmileUncleWhittierhinted,"What'sthisIhearaboutyourthinkingGopherPrairieoughttobealltoredownandrebuilt,Carrie?
"Carrie,tellyouroldauntienow:don'tyouevergotochurchonSunday?Youdogosometimes?ButyououghttogoeverySunday!
Whenyou'reasoldasIam,you'lllearnthatnomatterhowsmartfolksthinktheyare,Godknowsawholelotmorethantheydo,andthenyou'llrealizeandbegladtogoandlistentoyourpastor!"
Theywerestaggeredtolearnthatarealtangibleperson,livinginMinnesota,andmarriedtotheirownflesh–and–bloodrelation,couldapparentlybelievethatdivorcemaynotalwaysbeimmoral;thatillegitimatechildrendonotbearanyspecialandguaranteedformofcurse;thatthereareethicalauthoritiesoutsideoftheHebrewBible;thatmenhavedrunkwineyetnotdiedinthegutter;thatthecapitalisticsystemofdistributionandtheBaptistwedding–ceremonywerenotknownintheGardenofEden;thatmushroomsareasedibleascorn–beefhash;thattheword"dude"isnolongerfrequentlyused;thatthereareMinistersoftheGospelwhoacceptevolution;thatsomepersonsofapparentintelligenceandbusinessabilitydonotalwaysvotetheRepublicanticketstraight;thatitisnotauniversalcustomtowearscratchyflannelsnexttheskininwinter;thataviolinisnotinherentlymoreimmoralthanachapelorgan;thatsomepoetsdonothavelonghair;andthatJewsarenotalwayspedlersorpants–makers.
"Wheredoesshegetallthemthe'ries?"marveledUncleWhittierSmail;whileAuntBessieinquired,"Doyousupposethere'smanyfolksgotnotionslikehers?My!
Theyfoundahouse,butCarolwasneversafefromtheirappearancewithahearty,"Thoughtwe'ddropinthiseveningandkeepyoufrombeinglonely.
Invariably,whenevershewastouchedbytherealizationthatitwastheywhowerelonely,theywreckedherpityingaffectionbycomments—questions—comments—advice.
Theyimmediatelybecamefriendlywithalloftheirownrace,withtheLukeDawsons,theDeaconPiersons,andMrs.Bogart;andbroughtthemalongintheevening.
AuntBessiewasabridgeoverwhomtheolderwomen,bearinggiftsofcounselandtheignoranceofexperience,pouredintoCarol'sislandofreserve.
CarolwasthinkingupprotectiveinsultswhenKennicott'smothercamedowntostaywithBrotherWhittierfortwomonths.CarolwasfondofMrs.Kennicott.Shecouldnotcarryoutherinsults.
Shewasexpected,shealmostexpectedherself,tositforevertalkingofbabies,cooks,embroiderystitches,thepriceofpotatoes,andthetastesofhusbandsinthematterofspinach.
ShesuddenlyunderstoodthattheycouldbedependedupontolaughwithheratMrs.Bogart,andshenowsawJuanitaHaydock'sgossipnotasvulgaritybutasgaietyandremarkableanalysis.
ShelookedforwardtothenextbridgeoftheJollySeventeen,andthesecurityofwhisperingwithherdearfriendsMaudDyerandJuanitaandMrs.McGanum.
Shewasnolongerirritatedbythecooingofthematrons,norbytheiropinionthatdietdidn'tmattersolongastheLittleOneshadplentyoflaceandmoistkisses,butsheconcludedthatinthecareofbabiesasinpolitics,intelligencewassuperiortoquotationsaboutpansies.
ShewasdelightedwhenMiles,speakingasonemantoanother,admonishedHugh,"Iwouldn'tstandthemskirtsifIwasyou.Comeon.Jointheunionandstrike.Make'emgiveyoupants."
Carolhelpedhimweighbabiesandexaminetheirthroats,andshewroteoutthedietsformuteGermanandScandinavianmothers.
ThearistocracyofGopherPrairie,eventhewivesoftherivaldoctors,tookpart,andforseveraldaystherewascommunityspiritandmuchuplift.
ButthisreignoflovewasoverthrownwhentheprizeforBestBabywasawardednottodecentparentsbuttoBeaandMilesBjornstam!
ThegoodmatronsglaredatOlafBjornstam,withhisblueeyes,hishoney–coloredhair,andmagnificentback,andtheyremarked,"Well,Mrs.Kennicott,maybethatSwedebratisashealthyasyourhusbandsaysheis,butletmetellyouIhatetothinkofthefuturethatawaitsanyboywithahiredgirlforamotherandanawfulirreligioussocialistforapa!"
Sheraged,butsoviolentwasthecurrentoftheirrespectability,sopersistentwasAuntBessieinrunningtoherwiththeirblabber,thatshewasembarrassedwhenshetookHughtoplaywithOlaf.
Shehatedherselfandthetown'sindifferentcrueltywhenshesawBea'sradiantdevotiontobothbabiesalike;whenshesawMilesstaringatthemwistfully.
Hehadsavedmoney,hadquitElder'splaning–millandstartedadairyonavacantlotnearhisshack.Hewasproudofhisthreecowsandsixtychickens,andgotupnightstonursethem.
ThoughthetownseemedtoCaroltochangenomorethanthesurroundingfields,therewasaconstantshifting,thesethreeyears.
Itmaybebecauseheistheheirofancientmigrations—anditmaybebecausehefindswithinhisownspiritsolittleadventurethatheisdriventoseekitbychanginghishorizon.
TheGopherPrairiejewelersellsout,fornodiscerniblereason,andmovesontoAlbertaorthestateofWashington,toopenashoppreciselylikehisformerone,inatownpreciselyliketheonehehasleft.
Amanbecomesfarmer,grocer,townpoliceman,garageman,restaurant–owner,postmaster,insurance–agent,andfarmeralloveragain,andthecommunitymoreorlesspatientlysuffersfromhislackofknowledgeineachofhisexperiments.
LukeandMrs.Dawsonpickeduptenthousandacresofprairiesoil,inthemagicportableformofasmallcheckbook,andwenttoPasadena,toabungalowandsunshineandcafeterias.
ChetDashawaysoldhisfurnitureandundertakingbusinessandwanderedtoLosAngeles,where,theDauntlessreported,"OurgoodfriendChesterhasacceptedafinepositionwithareal–estatefirm,andhiswifehasinthecharmingsocialcirclesoftheQueenCityoftheSouthwestlandthatsamepopularitywhichsheenjoyedinourownsocietysets."
RitaSimonswasmarriedtoTerryGould,andrivaledJuanitaHaydockasthegayestoftheYoungMarriedSet.ButJuanitaalsoacquiredmerit.
Harry'sfatherdied,HarrybecameseniorpartnerintheBonTonStore,andJuanitawasmoreacidulousandshrewdandcacklingthanever.
Sheboughtaneveningfrock,andexposedhercollar–bonetothewonderoftheJollySeventeen,andtalkedofmovingtoMinneapolis.
TodefendherpositionagainstthenewMrs.TerryGouldshesoughttoattachCaroltoherfactionbygigglingthat"SOMEfolksmightcallRitainnocent,butI'vegotahunchthatsheisn'thalfasignorantofthingsasbridesaresupposedtobe—andofcourseTerryisn'tone–two–threeasadoctoralongsideofyourhusband."
CarolherselfwouldgladlyhavefollowedMr.OleJenson,andmigratedeventoanotherMainStreet;flightfromfamiliartediumtonewtediumwouldhaveforatimetheouterlookandpromiseofadventure.
SheknewthathewassatisfiedwithGopherPrairie,butitgavehervicarioushopetothinkofgoing,toaskforrailroadfoldersatthestation,totracethemapswitharestlessforefinger.
Yettothecasualeyeshewasnotdiscontented,shewasnotanabnormalanddistressingtraitortothefaithofMainStreet.
Thesettledcitizenbelievesthattherebelisconstantlyinastewofcomplainingand,hearingofaCarolKennicott,hegasps,"Whatanawfulperson!ShemustbeaHolyTerrortolivewith!
ItisprobablethattheagitatedcitizenhaswithinhiscircleatleastoneinarticulaterebelwithaspirationsaswaywardasCarol's.
ThepresenceofthebabyhadmadehertakeGopherPrairieandthebrownhouseseriously,asnaturalplacesofresidence.
ShepleasedKennicottbybeingfriendlywiththecomplacentmaturityofMrs.ClarkandMrs.Elder,andwhenshehadoftenenoughbeeninconferenceupontheElders'newCadillaccar,orthejobwhichtheoldestClarkboyhadtakenintheofficeoftheflour–mill,thesetopicsbecameimportant,thingstofollowupdaybyday.
Withnine–tenthsofheremotionconcentrateduponHugh,shedidnotcriticizeshops,streets,acquaintances...thisyearortwo.
ShehurriedtoUncleWhittier'sstoreforapackageofcorn–flakes,sheabstractedlylistenedtoUncleWhittier'sdenunciationofMartinMahoneyforassertingthatthewindlastTuesdayhadbeensouthandnotsouthwest,shecamebackalongstreetsthatheldnosurprisesnorthestartlingfacesofstrangers.
ThinkingofHugh'steethingalltheway,shedidnotreflectthatthisstore,thesedrabblocks,madeupallherbackground.
ThemostconsiderableeventofthetwoyearsafterthebirthofHughoccurredwhenVidaSherwinresignedfromthehighschoolandwasmarried.
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