place to cold rains, and the unpaved street in front of
Aniele's house was turned into a canal. Jurgis would
have to wade through it to get home, and if it was late
he might easily get stuck to his waist in the mire. But he
did not mind this much -- it was a promise that summer
was coming. Marija had now gotten a place as beef-
trimmer in one of the smaller packing-plants; and he told
himself that he had learned his lesson now, and would meet
with no more accidents -- so that at last there was pros~
pect of an end to their long agony. They could save
money again, and when another winter came they would
have a comfortable place; and the children would be off
the streets and in school again, and they might set to work
to nurse back into life their habits of decency and kind~
ness. So once more Jurgis began to make plans and
dream dreams.

And then one Saturday night he jumped off the car
and started home, with the sun shining low under the
edge of a bank of clouds that had been pouring floods of
water into the mud-soaked street. There was a rainbow
in the sky, and another in his breast -- for he had thirty-
six hours' rest before him, and a chance to see his family.
Then suddenly he came in sight of the house, and noticed
that there was a crowd before the door. He ran up the
steps and pushed his way in, and saw Aniele's kitchen
crowded with excited women. It reminded him so vividly
of the time when he had come home from jail and found
Ona dying, that his heart almost stood still. "What's
the matter?" he cried.

A dead silence had fallen in the room, and he saw that
everyone was staring at him. "What's the matter?" he
exclaimed again.

And then, up in the garret, he heard sounds of wailing,
in Marija's voice. He started for the ladder -- and Aniele
seized him by the arm. "No, no!" she exclaimed.
"Don't go up there!"

"What is it?" he shouted.

And the old woman answered him weakly: "It's An~
tanas. He's dead. He was drowned out in the street!"

[[251]]

p250 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p251w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p252

v?