Sherecalledahundredgrotesqueries:hercomicdismayathishavingchewedtobacco,theeveningwhenshehadtriedtoreadpoetrytohim;matterswhichhadseemedtovanishwithnotraceorsequence.
Shelikedthehomelinessofhistinkeringaboutthehouse;hisstrengthandhandinessashetightenedthehingesofashutter;hisboyishnesswhenherantohertobecomfortedbecausehehadfoundrustinthebarrelofhispump–gun.
BecauseoftheworkimposedbytheabsenceoftheotherdoctorstheKennicottshadnotmovedtothelakecottagebutremainedintown,dustyandirritable.
Intheafternoon,whenshewenttoOleson&McGuire's(formerlyDahl&Oleson's),Carolwasvexedbytheassumptionoftheyouthfulclerk,recentlycomefromthefarm,thathehadtobeneighborlyandrude.
"Punk!Guessthedoccanaffordsomethingbetterthanthat.Trysomeofthenewwienieswegotin.Swell.TheHaydocksuse'em."
Sheexploded."Mydearyoungman,itisnotyourdutytoinstructmeinhousekeeping,anditdoesn'tparticularlyconcernmewhattheHaydockscondescendtoapprove!"
HerrepentancewasnotproofagainstUncleWhittierwhenshestoppedinathisgroceryforsaltandapackageofsafetymatches.
UncleWhittier,inashirtcollarlessandsoakedwithsweatinabrownstreakdownhisback,waswhiningataclerk,"Comeonnow,getahustleonandlugthatpoundcakeuptoMis'Cass's.
Maybedecentandmodest—IsupposeI'mold–fashioned—butIneverthoughtmuchofshowingthewholetownawoman'sbust!Hee,hee,hee!...Afternoon,Mrs.Hicks.Sage?Justoutofit.Lemmesellyousomeotherspices.Heh?"
Shesmiled,butitoccurredtoherthatfornearlyfiveyearsDavehadkeptupthisgameofpretendingthatshethreatenedhislife.
Asshewentdraggingthroughtheprickly–hotstreetshereflectedthatacitizenofGopherPrairiedoesnothavejests—hehasajest.
EverycoldmorningforfivewintersLymanCasshadremarked,"Fairtomiddlin'chilly—getworsebeforeitgetsbetter."
FiftytimeshadthementionofBarneyCahoon,thetowndrayman,likeanickelinaslotproducedfromKennicotttheapocryphalstoryofBarney'sdirectingaminister,"Comedowntothedepotandgetyourcaseofreligiousbooks—they'releaking!"
Shecamehomebytheunvaryingroute.Shekneweveryhouse–front,everystreet–crossing,everybillboard,everytree,everydog.
WhenJimHowlandstoppedandgapedathertherewasnopossibilitythathewasabouttoconfideanythingbuthisgrudging,"Well,haryuht'day?"
Allherfuturelife,thissamered–labeledbread–crateinfrontofthebakery,thissamethimble–shapedcrackinthesidewalkaquarterofablockbeyondStowbody'sgranitehitching–post—
ShesilentlyhandedherpurchasestothesilentOscarina.Shesatontheporch,rocking,fanning,twitchywithHugh'swhining.
Heviolentlychasedfragmentsoffishabouthisplatewithaknifeandlickedtheknifeaftergobblingthem.Shewasslightlysick.Sheasserted,"I'mridiculous.Whatdothesethingsmatter!Don'tbesosimple!"
Sherealizedthattheyfoundlittletosay;that,incredibly,theywerelikethetalked–outcoupleswhomshehadpitiedatrestaurants.
Herefusedtowearsofthats;cleavedtoahardderby,asasymbolofvirilityandprosperity;andsometimesheforgottotakeitoffinthehouse.Shepeepedathiscuffs.
Shehadturnedthemonce;sheclippedthemeveryweek;butwhenshehadbeggedhimtothrowtheshirtaway,lastSundaymorningatthecrisisoftheweeklybath,hehaduneasilyprotested,"Oh,it'llwearquiteawhileyet."
Hewasshaved(byhimselformoresociallybyDelSnafflin)onlythreetimesaweek.Thismorninghadnotbeenoneofthethreetimes.
Yethewasvainofhisnewturn–downcollarsandsleekties;heoftenspokeofthe"sloppydressing"ofDr.McGanum;andhelaughedatoldmenwhoworedetachablecuffsorGladstonecollars.
Shenotedthathisnailswerejaggedandill–shapedfromhishabitofcuttingthemwithapocket–knifeanddespisinganail–fileaseffeminateandurban.
Thattheywereinvariablyclean,thathiswerethescouredfingersofthesurgeon,madehisstubbornuntidinessthemorejarring.
Hehadreadbooks,toimpressher;hadsaid(sherecalleditironically)thatshewastopointouthiseveryfault;hadinsistedonce,astheysatinthesecretplacebeneaththewallsofFortSnelling—
Aftersupper,whentheyhadbeendriveninfromtheporchbymosquitos,whenKennicotthadforthetwo–hundredthtimeinfiveyearscommented,"Wemusthaveanewscreenontheporch—letsallthebugsin,"theysatreading,andshenoted,anddetestedherselffornoting,andnotedagainhishabitualawkwardness.
Heslumpeddowninonechair,hislegsuponanother,andheexploredtherecessesofhisleftearwiththeendofhislittlefinger—shecouldhearthefaintsmack—hekeptitup—hekeptitup—
Heblurted,"Oh.Forgottellyou.Someofthefellowscomingintoplaypokerthisevening.Supposewecouldhavesomecrackersandcheeseandbeer?"
Tohertheymechanicallysaid,"'Devenin',"buttoKennicott,inaheroicmalemanner,"Well,well,shallwestartplaying?
Shetoldherselfthatitwasherownfault,becauseshewasnotmorefriendly;butsherememberedthattheyneveraskedMrs.SamClarktoplay.
Theywereinshirtsleeves;smoking,chewing,spittingincessantly;loweringtheirvoicesforamomentsothatshedidnothearwhattheysaidandafterwardgigglinghoarsely;usingoverandoverthecanonicalphrases:"Threetodole,""Iraiseyouafinif,""Comeonnow,anteup;whatdoyouthinkthisis,apinktea?"
Thefirmnesswithwhichthemenmouthedtheircigarsmadethelowerpartoftheirfacesexpressionless,heavy,unappealing.
Didthatfaintanddelicateworldexist?Wassheafool?Shedoubtedherworld,doubtedherself,andwassickintheacid,smoke–stainedair.
Atfirsthehadamorouslydeceivedhimselfintolikingherexperimentswithfood—theonemediuminwhichshecouldexpressimagination—butnowhewantedonlyhisroundoffavoritedishes:steak,roastbeef,boiledpig's–feet,oatmeal,bakedapples.
Duringtheirfirstautumnshehadsmiledoverhisaffectionforhishunting–coat,butnowthattheleatherhadcomeunstitchedindribblesofpaleyellowthread,andtattersofcanvas,smearedwithdirtofthefieldsandgreasefromgun–cleaning,hunginaborderofrags,shehatedthething.
ShekneweverynickandbrownspotoneachpieceofthesetofchinapurchasedbyKennicott'smotherin1895—discreetchinawithapatternofwashed–outforget–me–nots,rimmedwithblurredgold:thegravy–boat,inasaucerwhichdidnotmatch,thesolemnandevangelicalcoveredvegetable–dishes,thetwoplatters.
Dampblackironsink,dampwhitey–yellowdrain–boardwithshredsofdiscoloredwoodwhichfromlongscrubbingwereassoftascottonthread,warpedtable,alarmclock,stovebravelyblackenedbyOscarinabutanabominationinitsloosedoorsandbrokendraftsandoventhatneverwouldkeepanevenheat.
Carolhaddoneherbestbythekitchen:painteditwhite,putupcurtains,replacedasix–year–oldcalendarbyacolorprint.
Thecan–opener,whosesoftgraymetalhandlewastwistedfromsomeancientefforttopryopenawindow,wasmorepertinenttoherthanallthecathedralsinEurope;andmoresignificantthanthefutureofAsiawasthenever–settledweeklyquestionastowhetherthesmallkitchenknifewiththeunpaintedhandleorthesecond–bestbuckhorncarving–knifewasbetterforcuttingupcoldchickenforSundaysupper.
They'renotsomuchinterestedinmeastheywouldbeinawaiter,becausetheydon'thavetotipme.Unfortunately!Well,goodnight."
Sorarelydidshenaginthispetty,hot–weatherfashionthathewasastonishedratherthanangry."Hey!Wait!What'stheidea?ImustsayIdon'tgetyou.Theboys—Barroom?
Why,PerceBresnahanwassayingthereisn'tafinerbunchofroyalgoodfellowsanywherethanjustthecrowdthatwereheretonight!"
Theystoodinthelowerhall.Hewastooshockedtogoonwithhisdutiesoflockingthefrontdoorandwindinghiswatchandtheclock.
"Iwonderifitdoes?HowdoweknowbutthatinBoston,amongwell–bredpeople,hemayberegardedasanabsolutelout?Thewayhecallswomen'Sister,'andtheway—"
Hehadrecoveredenoughtolockthedoor;heclumpedup–stairsaheadofher,growling,"Youdon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout.
I'mperfectlywillingtopaymyfulltax—fact,I'minfavoroftheincometax—eventhoughIdothinkit'sapenaltyonfrugalityandenterprise—fact,it'sanunjust,darn–fooltax.Butjustthesame,I'llpayit.
Only,I'mnotidiotenoughtopaymorethanthegovernmentmakesmepay,andSamandIwerejustfiguringoutwhetherallautomobileexpensesoughn'ttobeexemptions.
AndatthebeginningofthewholefracasIsaid—I'vesaidrightalong—thatweoughttohaveenteredthewartheminuteGermanyinvadedBelgium.Youdon'tgetmeatall.Youcan'tappreciateaman'swork.You'reabnormal.
We'llneverunderstandeachother,never;andit'smadnessforustodebate—tolietogetherinahotbedinacreepyroom—enemies,yoked."
Shestoredthebedintheattic;replaceditbyacotwhich,withadenimcover,madeacouchbyday;putinadressing–table,arockertransformedbyacretonnecover;hadMilesBjornstambuildbook–shelves.
Shewasforthefirsttimeinvitedup–stairs,andfoundthesuaveoldwomansewinginawhiteandmahoganyroomwithasmallbed.
"IndeedIdo!Thedoctorsaysit'sbadenoughtohavetostandmytemperatmeals.Do—"Mrs.Westlakelookedathersharply."Why,don'tyoudothesamething?"
"I'vebeenthinkingaboutit."Carollaughedinanembarrassedway."Thenyouwouldn'tregardmeasacompletehussyifIwantedtobebymyselfnowandthen?"
"Why,child,everywomanoughttogetoffbyherselfandturnoverherthoughts—aboutchildren,andGod,andhowbadhercomplexionis,andthewaymendon'treallyunderstandher,andhowmuchworkshefindstodointhehouse,andhowmuchpatienceittakestoenduresomethingsinaman'slove."
ShewantedtoconfessnotonlyherhatredfortheAuntBessiesbuthercovertirritationtowardthoseshebestloved:heralienationfromKennicott,herdisappointmentinGuyPollock,heruneasinessinthepresenceofVida.
Hechucklesandsays,'Yes,mybeloved,folksdosaythatmarriedpeoplegrowtoresembleeachother!'Drathim!"Mrs.Westlakelaughedcomfortably.
AftersuchadisclosurewhatcouldCaroldobutreturnthecourtesybyremarkingthatasforKennicott,hewasn'tromanticenough—thedarling.
BeforesheleftshehadbabbledtoMrs.WestlakeherdislikeforAuntBessie,thefactthatKennicott'sincomewasnowmorethanfivethousandayear,herviewofthereasonwhyVidahadmarriedRaymie(whichincludedsomethoroughlyinsincerepraiseofRaymie's"kindheart"),heropinionofthelibrary–board,justwhatKennicotthadsaidaboutMrs.Carthal'sdiabetes,andwhatKennicottthoughtoftheseveralsurgeonsintheCities.
Increasinglythefarmers'daughtersrebelledagainstvillagedullness,andagainsttheunchangedattitudeoftheJuanitastoward"hiredgirls."
TheJollySeventeenweredelightedatCarol'sdesertionbytheloyalOscarina.Theyremindedherthatshehadsaid,"Idon'thaveanytroublewithmaids;seehowOscarinastayson."
BetweenincumbenciesofFinnmaidsfromtheNorthWoods,Germansfromtheprairies,occasionalSwedesandNorwegiansandIcelanders,Caroldidherownwork—andenduredAuntBessie'sskitteringintotellherhowtodampenabroomforfluffydust,howtosugardoughnuts,howtostuffagoose.
Carolwasdeft,andwonshypraisefromKennicott,butashershoulderbladesbegantosting,shewonderedhowmanymillionsofwomenhadliedtothemselvesduringthedeath–rimmedyearsthroughwhichtheyhadpretendedtoenjoythepuerilemethodspersistinginhousework.
Shedoubtedtheconvenienceand,asanaturalsequent,thesanctityofthemonogamousandseparatehomewhichshehadregardedasthebasisofalldecentlife.
Sheconsideredherdoubtsvicious.SherefusedtorememberhowmanyofthewomenoftheJollySeventeennaggedtheirhusbandsandwerenaggedbythem.
Buthereyesached;shewasnotthegirlinbreechesandaflannelshirtwhohadcookedoveracamp–fireintheColoradomountainsfiveyearsago.
Herambitionwastogettobedatnine;herstrongestemotionwasresentmentoverrisingathalf–pastsixtocareforHugh.
Atmid–morning,whenshewasmomentarilyfreefromtheacheinherneckandback,shewasgladoftherealityofwork.Thehourswerelivingandnimble.
Butshehadnodesiretoreadtheeloquentlittlenewspaperessaysinpraiseoflaborwhicharedailywrittenbythewhite–browedjournalisticprophets.
Shesawthatwhileshehadbeenconsideringherselfanunusuallygoodmistress,shehadbeenpermittingherfriendsBeaandOscarinatoliveinasty.ShecomplainedtoKennicott."What'sthematterwithit?"
Shecommentedupontheslopingroofofunplasteredboardsstainedinbrownringsbytherain,theunevenfloor,thecotanditstumbleddiscouraged–lookingquilts,thebrokenrocker,thedistortingmirror.
"Maybeitain'tanyHotelRadissonparlor,butstill,it'ssomuchbetterthananythingthesehiredgirlsareaccustomedtoathomethattheythinkit'sfine.
Butthatnighthedrawled,withthecasualnessofamanwhowishestobesurprisinganddelightful,"Carrie,don'tknowbutwhatwemightbegintothinkaboutbuildinganewhouse,oneofthesedays.How'dyoulikethat?"
"I'mgettingtothepointnowwhereIfeelwecanaffordone—andacorker!I'llshowthisburgsomethinglikearealhouse!We'llputoneoveronSamandHarry!Makefolkssitupan'takenotice!"
Shebabbledofalowstonehousewithlatticewindowsandtulip–beds,ofcolonialbrick,ofawhiteframecottagewithgreenshuttersanddormerwindows.
ItprovedthatwhathewantedwasahouseexactlylikeSamClark's,whichwasexactlylikeeverythirdnewhouseineverytowninthecountry:asquare,yellowstoliditywithimmaculateclapboards,abroadscreenedporch,tidygrass–plots,andconcretewalks;ahouseresemblingthemindofamerchantwhovotesthepartyticketstraightandgoestochurchonceamonthandownsagoodcar.
Headmitted,"Well,yes,maybeitisn'tsodarnartisticbut—Matteroffact,though,Idon'twantaplacejustlikeSam's.
Thenthere'sanotherkindofhousethat'smightyniceandsubstantial–looking,withshingles,inanicebrownstain,insteadofclapboards—seensomeinMinneapolis.
"You'vehadalotofexperiencewithhousekeeping,aunty,anddon'tyouthink,"Kennicottappealed,"thatitwouldbesensibletohaveanicesquarehouse,andpaymoreattentiontogettingacrackajackfurnacethantoallthisarchitectureanddoodads?"
Iknowhowitiswithyoungfolkslikeyou,Carrie;youwanttowersandbay–windowsandpianosandheavenknowswhatall,butthethingtogetisclosetsandagoodfurnaceandahandyplacetohangoutthewashing,andtherestdon'tmatter."
Below,dreadfullynear,shecouldhearthebroom–swishofAuntBessie'svoice,andthemop–poundingofUncleWhittier'sgrumble.
Shehadareasonlessdreadthattheywouldintrudeonher,thenafearthatshewouldyieldtoGopherPrairie'sconceptionofdutytowardanAuntBessieandgodown–stairstobe"nice."
Shefeltthedemandforstandardizedbehaviorcominginwavesfromallthecitizenswhosatintheirsitting–roomswatchingherwithrespectableeyes,waiting,demanding,unyielding.Shesnarled,"Oh,allright,I'llgo!"
IwenttoseehimonTuesdaymorningbeforeten,no,itwascoupleminutesafterten,butanyway,itwaslongbeforenoon—IknowbecauseIwentrightfromthebanktothemeatmarkettogetsomesteak—my!
Ithinkit'soutrageous,thepricesOleson&McGuirechargefortheirmeat,anditisn'tasiftheygaveyouagoodcuteitherbutjustanyoldthing,andIhadtimetogetit,andIstoppedinatMrs.Bogart'stoaskaboutherrheumatism—"
CarolwaswatchingUncleWhittier.SheknewfromhistautexpressionthathewasnotlisteningtoAuntBessiebutherdinghisownthoughts,andthathewouldinterruptherbluntly.Hedid:
"Well,guessNatHickscouldmakeyouupapair.ButifIwereyou,I'ddropintoIkeRifkin's—hispricesarelowerthantheBonTon's."
Carolsmileduponthemingratiatingly."DoyoudearsmindifIslipuptobed?I'mrathertired—cleanedtheupstairstoday."
"AsWhitsays,afterallthefirstthingistohavetheinsideofahouseright,anddarnthepeopleontheoutsidelookingin!"
Butwhenhedrewonaleaffromanoldaccount–book(hewasapaper–saverandastring–picker)theplansforthegarage,hegavemuchmoreattentiontoacementfloorandawork–benchandagasoline–tankthanhehadtosewing–rooms.
Inthepresentrookerytherewereoddthings—astepupfromthehalltothedining–room,apicturesquenessintheshedandbedraggledlilacbush.
Itwasprobable,nowthatKennicottwaspastforty,andsettled,thatthiswouldbethelastventurehewouldevermakeinbuilding.
Solongasshestayedinthisark,shewouldalwayshaveapossibilityofchange,butonceshewasinthenewhouse,thereshewouldsitforalltherestofherlife—thereshewoulddie.
Shenevervoluntarilyreturnedtotheproject.Aggrieved,Kennicottstoppeddrawingplans,andintendaysthenewhousewasforgotten.
EveryyearKennicotthadtalkedofattendingtheAmericanMedicalAssociationconvention,"andthenafterwardswecoulddotheEastupbrown.
IknowNewYorkcleanthrough—spentprettynearaweekthere—butIwouldliketoseeNewEnglandandallthesehistoricplacesandhavesomesea–food."
HetalkedofitfromFebruarytoMay,andinMayheinvariablydecidedthatcomingconfinement–casesorland–dealswouldpreventhis"gettingawayfromhome–baseforverylongTHISyear—andnosensegoingtillwecandoitright."
ShepicturedherselflookingatEmerson'smanse,bathinginasurfofjadeandivory,wearingatrottoirandasummerfur,meetinganaristocraticStranger.
InthespringKennicotthadpatheticallyvolunteered,"S'poseyou'dliketogetinagoodlongtourthissummer,butwithGouldandMacawayandsomanypatientsdependingonme,don'tseehowIcanmakeit.
ThroughallthisrestlessJulyaftershehadtastedBresnahan'sdisturbingflavoroftravelandgaiety,shewantedtogo,butshesaidnothing.
Whenshesuggested,asthoughitwereatremendousjoke,"IthinkbabyandImightupandleaveyou,andrunofftoCapeCodbyourselves!"
TowardtheendofJulyheproposed,"Say,theBeaversareholdingaconventioninJoralemon,streetfairandeverything.Wemightgodowntomorrow.
Itwasarovingshanty,thecabinofalandschooner,withblackoilclothseatsalongtheside,andfordesk,apineboardtobeletdownonhinges.
Carollikedthebluesilkkerchiefsaboutthebrakemen'sthroats;shelikedtheirwelcometoher,andtheirairoffriendlyindependence.
Shelikedthesmellofhotearthandcleangrease;andtheleisurelychug–a–chug,chug–a–chugofthetruckswasasongofcontentmentinthesun.
HereagernessbegantolessenthemomenttheystoppedataredframestationexactlyliketheonetheyhadjustleftatGopherPrairie,andKennicottyawned,"Rightontime.
Calibreeisagoodman,andyou'llfindhiswifeisamightybrainylittlewoman,brightasadollar.Bygolly,thereheis."
Calibreebowedquietlyandshookherhand,butbeforehehadfinishedshakingithewasconcentratinguponKennicottwith,"Nicetoseeyou,doctor.
Say,don'tletmeforgettoaskyouaboutwhatyoudidinthatexopthalmicgoitercase—thatBohemianwomanatWahkeenyan."
Shewastryingtofeedherillusionofadventurebystaringatunfamiliarhouses...drabcottages,artificialstonebungalows,squarepaintystoliditieswithimmaculateclapboardsandbroadscreenedporchesandtidygrass–plots.
Calibreehandedherovertohiswife,athickwomanwhocalledher"dearie,"andaskedifshewashotand,visiblysearchingforconversation,produced,"Let'ssee,youandthedoctorhaveaLittleOne,haven'tyou?"
AtdinnerMrs.Calibreeservedthecornedbeefandcabbageandlookedsteamy,lookedlikethesteamyleavesofcabbage.
ThemenwereobliviousoftheirwivesastheygavethesocialpasswordsofMainStreet,theorthodoxopinionsonweather,crops,andmotorcars,thenflungawayrestraintandgyratedinthedebauchofshop–talk.
Strokinghischin,drawlingintheecstasyofbeingerudite,Kennicottinquired,"Say,doctor,whatsuccesshaveyouhadwiththyroidfortreatmentofpainsinthelegsbeforechild–birth?"
Caroldidnotresenttheirassumptionthatshewastooignoranttobeadmittedtomasculinemysteries.Shewasusedtoit.
ButthecabbageandMrs.Calibree'smonotonous"Idon'tknowwhatwe'recomingtowithallthisdifficultygettinghiredgirls"weregumminghereyeswithdrowsiness.
ShesoughttoclearthembyappealingtoCalibree,inamannerofexaggeratedliveliness,"Doctor,havethemedicalsocietiesinMinnesotaeveradvocatedlegislationforhelptonursingmothers?"
Heturnedsquarelyfromherand,peeringearnestlyatKennicott,resumed,"Doctor,what'sbeenyourexperiencewithunilateralpyelonephritis?
Nottillaftertwodidtheyrise.IntheleeofthestonilymaturetrioCarolproceededtothestreetfairwhichaddedmundanegaietytotheannualritesoftheUnitedandFraternalOrderofBeavers.
Beavers,humanBeavers,wereeverywhere:thirty–seconddegreeBeaversingraysacksuitsanddecentderbies,moreflippantBeaversincrashsummercoatsandstrawhats,rusticBeaversinshirtsleevesandfrayedsuspenders;butwhateverhiscaste–symbols,everyBeaverwasdistinguishedbyanenormousshrimp–coloredribbonletteredinsilver,"SirKnightandBrother,U.F.O.B.,AnnualStateConvention."
TheDuluthdelegationhadbroughttheirfamousBeaveramateurband,inZouavecostumesofgreenvelvetjacket,bluetrousers,andscarletfez.
ThestrangethingwasthatbeneaththeirscarletpridetheZouaves'facesremainedthoseofAmericanbusiness–men,pink,smooth,eye–glassed;andastheystoodplayinginacircle,atthecornerofMainStreetandSecond,astheytootledonfifesorwithswellingcheeksblewintocornets,theireyesremainedasowlishasthoughtheyweresittingatdesksunderthesign"ThisIsMyBusyDay."
CarolhadsupposedthattheBeaverswereaveragecitizensorganizedforthepurposesofgettingcheaplife–insuranceandplayingpokeratthelodge–roomseverysecondWednesday,butshesawalargeposterwhichproclaimed:
KennicottreadtheposterandtoCalibreeadmired,"Stronglodge,theBeavers.Neverjoined.Don'tknowbutwhatIwill."
LiningoneblockofMainStreetwerethe"attractions"—twohot–dogstands,alemonadeandpop–cornstand,amerry–go–round,andboothsinwhichballsmightbethrownatragdolls,ifonewishedtothrowballsatragdolls.
Thedignifieddelegateswereshyofthebooths,butcountryboyswithbrickrednecksandpale–bluetiesandbright–yellowshoes,whohadbroughtsweetheartsintotowninsomewhatdustyandlistedFords,werewolfingsandwiches,drinkingstrawberrypopoutofbottles,andridingtherevolvingcrimsonandgoldhorses.
Theyshriekedandgiggled;peanut–roasterswhistled;themerry–go–roundpoundedoutmonotonousmusic;thebarkersbawled,"Here'syourchance—here'syourchance—comeonhere,boy—comeonhere—givethatgirlagoodtime—giveheraswelltime—here'syourchancetowinagenuwinegoldwatchforfivecents,halfadime,thetwentiethpartofadollah!"
Theprairiesunjabbedtheunshadedstreetwithshaftsthatwerelikepoisonousthornsthetinnycornicesabovethebrickstoreswereglaring;thedullbreezescattereddustonsweatyBeaverswhocrawledalongintightscorchingnewshoes,uptwoblocksandback,uptwoblocksandback,wonderingwhattodonext,workingathavingagoodtime.
Carol'sheadachedasshetrailedbehindtheunsmilingCalibreesalongtheblockofbooths.ShechirrupedatKennicott,"Let'sbewild!Let'srideonthemerry–go–roundandgrabagoldring!"
Kennicottconsideredit,andmumbledtoCalibree,"Thinkyoufolkswouldliketostopandtryarideonthemerry–go–round?"
Mrs.Calibreesmiledinawashed–outmanner,andsighed,"Ohno,Idon'tbelieveIcaretomuch,butyoufolksgoaheadandtryit."
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