第27章

Thenherglancetookonacertainintentness，andshepeeredcuriouslyintohisface，sayingalmostinawhisper：

“I’mafraidofYOU。“

Butthedentistdidnotheedher。Animmensejoyseizeduponhim——thejoyofpossession。Trinawashisveryownnow。Shelaythereinthehollowofhisarm，helplessandverypretty。

Thoseinstinctsthatinhimweresoclosetothesurfacesuddenlyleapedtolife，shoutingandclamoring，nottoberesisted。Helovedher。Ah，didhenotloveher？Thesmellofherhair，ofherneck，rosetohim。

Suddenlyhecaughtherinbothhishugearms，crushingdownherstrugglewithhisimmensestrength，kissingherfulluponthemouth。ThenhergreatloveforMcTeaguesuddenlyflashedupinTrina’sbreast；shegaveuptohimasshehaddonebefore，yieldingallatoncetothatstrangedesireofbeingconqueredandsubdued。Sheclungtohim，herhandsclaspedbehindhisneck，whisperinginhisear：

“Oh，youmustbegoodtome——very，verygoodtome，dear——

foryou’reallthatIhaveintheworldnow。“

CHAPTER10

Thatsummerpassed，thenthewinter。ThewetseasonbeganinthelastdaysofSeptemberandcontinuedallthroughOctober，November，andDecember。Atlongintervalswouldcomeaweekofperfectdays，theskywithoutacloud，theairmotionless，buttouchedwithacertainnimbleness，afainteffervescencethatwasexhilarating。Then，withoutwarning，duringanightwhenasouthwindblew，agrayscrollofcloudwouldunrollandhanghighoverthecity，andtherainwouldcomepatteringdownagain，atfirstinscatteredshowers，theninanuninterrupteddrizzle。

AlldaylongTrinasatinthebaywindowofthesitting-roomthatcommandedaviewofasmallsectionofPolkStreet。Asoftenassheraisedherheadshecouldseethebigmarket，aconfectionerystore，abell-hanger’sshop，and，fartheron，abovetheroofs，theglassskylightsandwatertanksofthebigpublicbaths。Inthenearerforegroundranthestreetitself；thecablecarstrundledupanddown，thumpingheavilyoverthejointsoftherails；marketcartsbythescorecameandwent，drivenatagreatratebypreoccupiedyoungmenintheirshirtsleeves，withpencilsbehindtheirears，orbyrecklessboysinblood-stainedbutcher’saprons。

UponthesidewalksthelittleworldofPolkStreetswarmedandjostledthroughitsdailyroundoflife。Onfinedaysthegreatladiesfromtheavenue，oneblockabove，invadedthestreet，appearingbeforethebutcherstalls，intentupontheirday’smarketing。Onrainydaystheirservants——theChinesecooksorthesecondgirls——tooktheirplaces。Theseservantsgavethemselvesgreatairs，carryingtheirbigcottonumbrellasastheyhadseentheirmistressescarrytheirparasols，andhagglinginsuperciliousfashionwiththemarketmen，theirchinsintheair。

Therainpersisted。EverythingintherangeofTrina’svision，fromthetarpaulinsonthemarket-carthorsestothepanesofglassintheroofofthepublicbaths，lookedglazedandvarnished。Theasphaltofthesidewalksshonelikethesurfaceofapatentleatherboot；everyhollowinthestreethelditslittlepuddle，thatwinkedlikeaneyeeachtimeadropofrainstruckintoit。

TrinastillcontinuedtoworkforUncleOelbermann。Inthemorningsshebusiedherselfaboutthekitchen，thebedroom，andthesitting-room；butintheafternoon，fortwoorthreehoursafterlunch，shewasoccupiedwiththeNoah’sarkanimals。Shetookherworktothebaywindow，spreadingoutagreatsquareofcanvasunderneathherchair，tocatchthechipsandshavings，whichsheusedafterwardsforlightingfires。Oneafteranothershecaughtupthelittleblocksofstraight-grainedpine，theknifeflashedbetweenherfingers，thelittlefiguregrewrapidlyunderhertouch，wasfinishedandreadyforpaintinginawonderfullyshorttime，andwastossedintothebasketthatstoodatherelbow。

ButveryoftenduringthatrainywinterafterhermarriageTrinawouldpauseinherwork，herhandsfallingidlyintoherlap，hereyes——hernarrow，paleblueeyes——growingwideandthoughtfulasshegazed，unseeing，outintotherain-

washedstreet。

ShelovedMcTeaguenowwithablind，unreasoninglovethatadmittedofnodoubtorhesitancy。Indeed，itse