Shewonderedallthewayhomewhathersensationswouldbe. Shewonderedaboutitsomuchthatshehadeverysensationshehadimagined. Shewasexcitedbyeachfamiliarporch,eachhearty"Well,well!" andflatteredtobe,foraday,themostimportantnewsofthecommunity.Shebustledabout,makingcalls. JuanitaHaydockbubbledovertheirWashingtonencounter,andtookCaroltohersocialbosom. Thisancientopponentseemedlikelytobehermostintimatefriend,forVidaSherwin,thoughshewascordial,stoodbackandwatchedforimportedheresies. IntheeveningCarolwenttothemill.ThemysticalOm–Om–Omofthedynamosintheelectric–lightplantbehindthemillwaslouderinthedarkness. Outsidesatthenightwatchman,ChampPerry. Hehelduphisstringyhandsandsqueaked,"We'veallmissedyouterrible." WhoinWashingtonwouldmissher? WhoinWashingtoncouldbedependeduponlikeGuyPollock?Whenshesawhimonthestreet,smilingasalways,heseemedaneternalthing,apartofherownself. Afteraweekshedecidedthatshewasneithergladnorsorrytobeback. Sheenteredeachdaywiththematter–of–factattitudewithwhichshehadgonetoherofficeinWashington. Itwashertask;therewouldbemechanicaldetailsandmeaninglesstalk;whatofit? Theonlyproblemwhichshehadapproachedwithemotionprovedinsignificant. Shehad,onthetrain,workedherselfuptosuchdevotionthatshewaswillingtogiveupherownroom,totrytoshareallofherlifewithKennicott. Hemumbled,tenminutesaftershehadenteredthehouse,"Say,I'vekeptyourroomforyoulikeitwas. I'vekindofcomeroundtoyourwayofthinking. Don'tseewhyfolksneedtogetoneachother'snervesjustbecausethey'refriendly. DarnedifIhaven'tgotsoIlikealittleprivacyandmullingthingsoverbymyself." Shehadleftacitywhichsatupnightstotalkofuniversaltransition;ofEuropeanrevolution,guildsocialism,freeverse.Shehadfanciedthatalltheworldwaschanging. InGopherPrairietheonlyardentnewtopicswereprohibition,theplaceinMinneapoliswhereyoucouldgetwhiskyatthirteendollarsaquart,recipesforhome–madebeer,the"highcostofliving,"thepresidentialelection,Clark'snewcar,andnotverynovelfoiblesofCyBogart. Theirproblemswereexactlywhattheyhadbeentwoyearsago,whattheyhadbeentwentyyearsago,andwhattheywouldbefortwentyyearstocome. Withtheworldapossiblevolcano,thehusbandmenwereplowingatthebaseofthemountain. Avolcanodoesoccasionallydropariveroflavaoneventhebestofagriculturists,totheirastonishmentandconsiderableinjury,buttheircousinsinheritthefarmsandayearortwolatergobacktotheplowing. ShewasunabletorhapsodizemuchoverthesevennewbungalowsandthetwogarageswhichKennicotthadmadetoseemsoimportant. Herintensestthoughtaboutthemwas,"Ohyes,they'reallrightIsuppose." Thechangewhichshedidheedwastheerectionoftheschoolbuilding,withitscheerfulbrickwalls,broadwindows,gymnasium,classroomsforagricultureandcooking. ItindicatedVida'striumph,anditstirredhertoactivity—anyactivity. ShewenttoVidawithajaunty,"IthinkIshallworkforyou.AndI'llbeginatthebottom." Shedid.Sherelievedtheattendantattherest–roomforanhouraday. HeronlyinnovationwaspaintingthepinetableablackandorangerathershockingtotheThanatopsis. Shetalkedtothefarmwivesandsoothedtheirbabiesandwashappy. ThinkingofthemshedidnotthinkoftheuglinessofMainStreetasshehurriedalongittothechatteroftheJollySeventeen. Sheworehereye–glassesonthestreetnow. ShewasbeginningtoaskKennicottandJuanitaifshedidn'tlookyoung,muchyoungerthanthirty–three.Theeye–glassespinchedhernose.Sheconsideredspectacles. Theywouldmakeherseemolder,andhopelesslysettled.No!Shewouldnotwearspectaclesyet. ButshetriedonapairatKennicott'soffice.Theyreallyweremuchmorecomfortable. Dr.Westlake,SamClark,NatHicks,andDelSnafflinweretalkinginDel'sbarbershop. "Well,IseeKennicott'swifeistakingawhirlattherest–room,now,"saidDr.Westlake.Heemphasizedthe"now." DelinterruptedtheshavingofSamand,withhisbrushdrippinglather,heobservedjocularly: "What'llshebeuptonext?Theysaysheusedtoclaimthisburgwasn'tswellenoughforacitygirllikeher,andwouldwepleasetaxourselvesaboutthirty–sevenpointnineandfixitalluppretty,withtidiesonthehydrantsandstatoosonthelawns—" Samirritablyblewthelatherfromhislips,withmilkysmallbubbles,andsnorted,"Beagoodthingformostofusroughnecksifwedidhaveasmartwomantotellushowtofixupthetown. JustasmuchtoherkickingastherewastoJimBlausser'sgassingaboutfactories. AndyoucanbetMrs.Kennicottissmart,evenifsheisskittish.Gladtoseeherback." Dr.Westlakehastenedtoplaysafe."SowasI!SowasI! She'sgotanicewayabouther,andsheknowsagooddealaboutbooks,orfictionanyway. Ofcourseshe'slikealltherestofthesewomen—notsolidlyfounded—notscholarly—doesn'tknowanythingaboutpoliticaleconomy—fallsforeverynewideathatsomewindjammingcrankputsout.Butshe'sanicewoman. She'llprobablyfixuptherest–room,andtherest–roomisafinething,bringsalotofbusinesstotown. AndnowthatMrs.Kennicott'sbeenaway,maybeshe'sgotoversomeofherfoolideas. Maybesherealizesthatfolkssimplylaughatherwhenshetriestotellushowtoruneverything." "Sure.She'lltakeatumbletoherself,"saidNatHicks,suckinginhislipsjudicially. "AsfarasI'mconcerned,I'llsayshe'sasnicealookingskirtasthereisintown.Butyow!"Histoneelectrifiedthem. "Guessshe'llmissthatSwedeValborgthatusedtoworkforme!Theywasapair!Talkingpoetryandmoonshine! Iftheycouldofgotawaywithit,they'dofbeensodarnlovey–dovey—" SamClarkinterrupted,"Rats,theynevereventhoughtaboutmakinglove,Justtalkingbooksandallthatjunk. Itellyou,CarrieKennicott'sasmartwoman,andthesesmarteducatedwomenallgetfunnyideas,buttheygetover'emafterthey'vehadthreeorfourkids. You'llseehersettleddownoneofthesedays,andteachingSundaySchoolandhelpingatsociablesandbehavingherself,andnottryingtobuttintobusinessandpolitics.Sure!" Afteronlyfifteenminutesofconferenceonherstockings,herson,herseparatebedroom,hermusic,herancientinterestinGuyPollock,herprobablesalaryinWashington,andeveryremarkwhichshewasknowntohavemadesinceherreturn,thesupremecouncildecidedthattheywouldpermitCarolKennicotttolive,andtheypassedontoaconsiderationofNatHicks'sNewOneaboutthetravelingsalesmanandtheoldmaid. ForsomereasonwhichwastotallymysterioustoCarol,MaudDyerseemedtoresentherreturn. AttheJollySeventeenMaudgigglednervously,"Well,Isupposeyoufoundwar–workagoodexcusetostayawayandhaveaswelltime.Juanita! Don'tyouthinkweoughttomakeCarrietellusabouttheofficersshemetinWashington?" Theyrustledandstared.Carollookedatthem.Theircuriosityseemednaturalandunimportant. "Ohyes,yesindeed,havetodothatsomeday,"sheyawned. ShenolongertookAuntBessieSmailseriouslyenoughtostruggleforindependence. ShesawthatAuntBessiedidnotmeantointrude;thatshewantedtodothingsforalltheKennicotts. ThusCarolhituponthetragedyofoldage,whichisnotthatitislessvigorousthanyouth,butthatitisnotneededbyyouth;thatitsloveandprosysageness,soimportantafewyearsago,sogladlyofferednow,arerejectedwithlaughter. ShedivinedthatwhenAuntBessiecameinwithajarofwild–grapejellyshewaswaitinginhopeofbeingaskedfortherecipe. AfterthatshecouldbeirritatedbutshecouldnotbedepressedbyAuntBessie'ssimoomofquestioning. Shewasn'tdepressedevenwhensheheardMrs.Bogartobserve,"Nowwe'vegotprohibitionitseemstomethatthenextproblemofthecountryain'tsomuchabolishingcigarettesasitistomakefolksobservetheSabbathandarresttheselaw–breakersthatplaybaseballandgotothemoviesandallontheLord'sDay." OnlyonethingbruisedCarol'svanity.FewpeopleaskedheraboutWashington. TheywhohadmostadmiringlybeggedPercyBresnahanforhisopinionswereleastinterestedinherfacts. Shelaughedatherselfwhenshesawthatshehadexpectedtobeatonceahereticandareturnedhero;shewasveryreasonableandmerryaboutit;andithurtjustasmuchasever. Herbaby,borninAugust,wasagirl.Carolcouldnotdecidewhethershewastobecomeafeministleaderormarryascientistorboth,butdidsettleonVassarandatricolettesuitwithasmallblackhatforherFreshmanyear. Hughwasloquaciousatbreakfast.HedesiredtogivehisimpressionsofowlsandFStreet. "Don'tmakesomuchnoise.Youtalktoomuch,"growledKennicott. Carolflared."Don'tspeaktohimthatway!Whydon'tyoulistentohim?Hehassomeveryinterestingthingstotell." "What'stheidea?Meantosayyouexpectmetospendallmytimelisteningtohischatter?" "Foronething,he'sgottolearnalittlediscipline.Timeforhimtostartgettingeducated." "I'velearnedmuchmorediscipline,I'vehadmuchmoreeducation,fromhimthanhehasfromme." "What'sthis?Somenew–fangledideaofraisingkidsyougotinWashington?" "Perhaps.Didyoueverrealizethatchildrenarepeople?" "That'sallright.I'mnotgoingtohavehimmonopolizingtheconversation." "No,ofcourse.Wehaveourrights,too. ButI'mgoingtobringhimupasahumanbeing. Hehasjustasmanythoughtsaswehave,andIwanthimtodevelopthem,nottakeGopherPrairie'sversionofthem. That'smybiggestworknow—keepingmyself,keepingyou,from'educating'him." "Well,let'snotscrapaboutit.ButI'mnotgoingtohavehimspoiled." Kennicotthadforgottenitintenminutes;andsheforgotit—thistime. TheKennicottsandtheSamClarkshaddrivennorthtoaduck–passbetweentwolakes,onanautumndayofblueandcopper. Kennicotthadgivenheralighttwenty–gaugeshotgun. Shehadafirstlessoninshooting,inkeepinghereyesopen,notwincing,understandingthatthebeadattheendofthebarrelreallyhadsomethingtodowithpointingthegun. Shewasradiant;shealmostbelievedSamwhenheinsistedthatitwasshewhohadshotthemallardatwhichtheyhadfiredtogether. ShesatonthebankofthereedylakeandfoundrestinMrs.Clark'sdrawlingcommentsonnothing.Thebrownduskwasstill.Behindthemweredarkmarshes.Theplowedacressmelledfresh.Thelakewasgarnetandsilver. Thevoicesofthemen,waitingforthelastflight,wereclearinthecoolair. "Markleft!"sangKennicott,inalong–drawncall. Threeduckswereswoopingdowninaswiftline.Thegunsbanged,andaduckfluttered. Themenpushedtheirlightboatoutontheburnishedlake,disappearedbeyondthereeds. TheircheerfulvoicesandtheslowsplashandclankofoarscamebacktoCarolfromthedimness. Intheskyafieryplainslopeddowntoasereneharbor. Itdissolved;thelakewaswhitemarble;andKennicottwascrying,"Well,oldlady,howabouthikingoutforhome?Suppertasteprettygood,eh?" "I'llsitbackwithEthel,"shesaid,atthecar. ItwasthefirsttimeshehadcalledMrs.Clarkbyhergivenname;thefirsttimeshehadwillinglysatback,awomanofMainStreet. "I'mhungry.It'sgoodtobehungry,"shereflected,astheydroveaway. Shelookedacrossthesilentfieldstothewest. ShewasconsciousofanunbrokensweepoflandtotheRockies,toAlaska,adominionwhichwillrisetounexampledgreatnesswhenotherempireshavegrownsenile. Beforethattime,sheknew,ahundredgenerationsofCarolswillaspireandgodownintragedydevoidofpallsandsolemnchanting,thehumdruminevitabletragedyofstruggleagainstinertia. "Let'sallgotothemoviestomorrownight.Awfullyexcitingfilm,"saidEthelClark. "Well,Iwasgoingtoreadanewbookbut—Allright,let'sgo,"saidCarol. "They'retoomuchforme,"CarolsighedtoKennicott. "I'vebeenthinkingaboutgettingupanannualCommunityDay,whenthewholetownwouldforgetfeudsandgooutandhavesportsandapicnicandadance. ButBertTybee(whydidyoueverelecthimmayor?)—he'skidnappedmyidea. HewantstheCommunityDay,buthewantstohavesomepolitician'giveanaddress.' That'sjustthestiltedsortofthingI'vetriedtoavoid. HeaskedVida,andofcoursesheagreedwithhim." Kennicottconsideredthematterwhilehewoundtheclockandtheytrampedup–stairs. "Yes,itwouldjaryoutohaveBertbuttingin,"hesaidamiably."AreyougoingtodomuchfussingoverthisCommunitystunt?Don'tyouevergettiredoffrettingandstewingandexperimenting?" "Ihaven'tevenstarted.Look!" Sheledhimtothenurserydoor,pointedatthefuzzybrownheadofherdaughter."Doyouseethatobjectonthepillow?Doyouknowwhatitis?It'sabombtoblowupsmugness. IfyouTorieswerewise,youwouldn'tarrestanarchists;you'darrestallthesechildrenwhilethey'reasleepintheircribs. Thinkwhatthatbabywillseeandmeddlewithbeforeshediesintheyear2000! Shemayseeanindustrialunionofthewholeworld,shemayseeaeroplanesgoingtoMars." "Yump,probablybechangesallright,"yawnedKennicott. Shesatontheedgeofhisbedwhilehehuntedthroughhisbureauforacollarwhichoughttobethereandpersistentlywasn't. "I'llgoon,always.AndIamhappy.ButthisCommunityDaymakesmeseehowthoroughlyI'mbeaten." "Thatdarncollarcertainlyisgoneforkeeps,"mutteredKennicottand,louder,"Yes,Iguessyou—Ididn'tquitecatchwhatyousaid,dear." Shepattedhispillows,turneddownhissheets,asshereflected: "ButIhavewoninthis:I'veneverexcusedmyfailuresbysneeringatmyaspirations,bypretendingtohavegonebeyondthem. IdonotadmitthatMainStreetisasbeautifulasitshouldbe! IdonotadmitthatGopherPrairieisgreaterormoregenerousthanEurope! Idonotadmitthatdish–washingisenoughtosatisfyallwomen! Imaynothavefoughtthegoodfight,butIhavekeptthefaith." "Sure.Youbetyouhave,"saidKennicott."Well,goodnight. Sortoffeelstomelikeitmightsnowtomorrow. Havetobethinkingaboutputtingupthestorm–windowsprettysoon. Say,didyounoticewhetherthegirlputthatscrewdriverback?"thegirlputthatscrewdriverback?" 
