tsavant.Gustavwashisname,poorchild.CouldplaylikeChopin,Josefclaimed,butwasotherwisequietaremelyintroverted.Maybehewasautistic,iftheyhadsuchathingbackthen."

    Thebloodrushedtomyheadaofeelfaint.

    "Ormaybehighlystrung.Butaftertheiwiththeso-calledgelings,heevenstoppedplayingthepianoandpletelywithdrew,neversaidanotherwordfortherestofhislife,andhelivedtobeanoldnuntoo.TheysaythefatherwentmadwhenGustavstoppedplayingthemusidstartedtolettheworldjustdriftrightby.Iwentouttoseehimowiceattheinstitution,poordear.Youcouldtellhewasthinkingsomething,butLordonlyknows.Asifhewentofftoliveinhisownlittleworld.HediedwhenIwasstillayoungnewlywed.Thatwasabout1934,Ithink,buthelookedolderthanMoses."

    Shebehephotoalbumandflippedthroughtothefrontofthebook.Shepoioamiddle-agedmaninagrayfedora."Theresmyhusband,Harry—thatscrazyJoesson.HewassooldwhenwemarriedandIwasjustagirl."Thenshepoioawizenedfigurewholookedasifhewastheoldestmanintheworld."Gustav."Forabriefmoment,Ithoughtthatwouldbeme,butthenIrealizedtheoldmaniographwasionatall.Behhimtherewasascratchedimageofanelderlywomaninahighcollar."Labelledamesansmerci.Gonewellbeforemytime,butwereitnotforhismotherholdingthingstogether,thatwouldhavebeentheendoftheUngerlands.Andthenwewouldioday,wouldwe?"

    "But,"Istammered,"buthowdidtheymaogoonaftersomuchmisfortune?"

    "Thesamewaythatallofusdo.ThesamewaythatIwentonafterlosingtwohusbandsandLordknowsallthatshappesomepoint,youhave