第1章

ThefollowingstorywasthefirstfruitofmyNewYorklifewhenIbegantoliveitaftermyquarterofacenturyinCambridgeandBoston，endingin1889；andIusedmyowntransitiontothecommercialmetropolisinframingtheexperiencewhichwaswhollythatofmysupposititiousliteraryadventurer。Hewasacharacterwhom，withhiswife，Ihaveemployedinsomesixoreightotherstories，andwhomImadeasmuchtheheroandheroineof"

TheirWeddingJourney"astheslightfablewouldbear。InventuringoutofmyadoptiveNewEngland，whereIhadfoundmyselfathomewithmanyimaginaryfriends，Ifounditnaturaltoaskthecompanyofthesefamiliaracquaintances，buttheircompanywasnottobehadatoncefortheasking。WhenIbeganspeakingofthemasBasilandIsabel，inthefashionof"TheirWeddingJourney，"theywouldnotrespondwiththeeffectofearlymiddleagewhichIdesiredinthem。Theyremainedwilfully，nottosaywoodenly，theyoungbridalpairofthatromance，withoutthepromiseofnovelfunctioning。ItwasnottillI

triedaddressingthemasMarchandMrs。Marchthattheystirredundermyhandwithfreshimpulse，andsetabouttheworkassignedthemaspeopleinsomethingmorethantheirsecondyouth。

ThesceneintowhichIhadinvitedthemtofigurefilledthelargestcanvasIhadyetallowedmyself；and，though"AHazardofNewFortuneswasnotthefirststoryIhadwrittenwiththeprinteratmyheels，itwasthefirstwhichtookitsowntimetoprescribeitsowndimensions。

IhadthegeneraldesignwellinmindwhenIbegantowriteit，butasitadvanceditcompelledintoitscourseincidents，interests，individualities，whichIhadnotknownlaynear，anditspecializedandamplifiedatpointswhichIhadnotalwaysmeanttotouch，thoughI

shouldnotliketointimateanythingmysticalinthefact。Itbecame，tomythinking，themostvitalofmyfictions，throughmyquickenedinterestinthelifeaboutme，atamomentofgreatpsychologicalimport。

Wehadpassedthroughaperiodofstrongemotioninginthedirectionofthehumanereconomics，ifImayphraseitso；therichseemednotsomuchtodespisethepoor，thepoordidnotsohopelesslyrepine。ThesolutionoftheriddleofthepainfulearththroughthedreamsofHenryGeorge，throughthedreamsofEdwardBellamy，throughthedreamsofallthegenerousvisionariesofthepast，seemednotimpossiblyfaroff。ThatsheddingofbloodwhichisfortheremissionofsinshadbeensymbolizedbythebombsandscaffoldsofChicago，andtheheartsofthosewhofeltthewrongsboundupwithourrights，theslaveryimplicatedinourliberty，werethrillingwithgriefsandhopeshithertostrangetotheaverageAmericanbreast。Opportunelyformetherewasagreatstreet-carstrikeinNewYork，andthestorybegantofinditswaytoissuesnoblerandlargerthanthoseofthelove-affairscommontofiction。Iwasinmyfifty-secondyearwhenItookitup，andintheprime，suchasitwas，ofmypowers。ThescenewhichIhadchosenappealedprodigiouslytome，andtheactionpassedasnearlywithoutmyconsciousagencyasIeverallowmyselftothinksuchthingshappen。

Theopeningchapterswerewritteninafine，oldfashionedapartmenthousewhichhadoncebeenafamilyhouse，andinanuppermostroomofwhichIcouldlookfrommyworkacrossthetreesofthelittleparkinStuyvesantSquaretothetowersofSt。George"sChurch。Thenlaterinthespringof1889theunfinishednovelwascarriedtoacountryhouseontheBelmontborderofCambridge。ThereImusthavewrittenveryrapidlytohavepressedittoconclusionbeforethesummerended。Itcame，indeed，soeasilyfromthepenthatIhadthemisgivingwhichIalwayshaveofthingswhichdonotcostmegreattrouble。

ThereisnothinginthebookwithwhichIamusedmyselfmorethanthehouse-huntingoftheMarcheswhentheywereplacingthemselvesinNewYork；andifthecontemporaryreadershouldturnforinstructiontothepagesinwhichtheirexperienceisdetailedIassurehimthathemaytrusttheirfidelityandaccuracyinthearticleofNewYorkhousingasitwasearlyinthelastdecadeofthelastcentury:Imean，thehousingofpeopleofsuchmoderatemeansastheMarches。InmyzealfortruthI

didnotdistinguishbetweenrealityandactualityinthisorothermatters——thatis，onewasasprecioustomeastheother。Butthetypeshereportrayedareastrueasevertheywere，thoughtheworldinwhichtheywerefindingtheirhabitatiswonderfully，almostincrediblydifferent。Yetitisnotwhollydifferent，forayoungliterarypairnowadventuringinNewYorkmighteasilyparalleltheexperienceoftheMarcheswiththeirown，ifnotforsolittlemoney；manyphasesofNewYorkhousingarebetter，butallaredearer。Otheraspectsofthematerialcityhaveundergoneatransformationmuchmorewonderful。

Ifindthatinmybookitspopulationisoncemodestlyspokenofastwomillions，butnowintwentyyearsitistwiceasgreat，andthegrandeuraswellasgrandiosityofitsformsisdoublyapparent。

Thetransitionalpublicthatthenmopedaboutinmildlytinklinghorse-carsisnowhurriedbackandforthinclangingtrolleys，inhonkingandwhirringmotors；theElevatedroadwhichwasthelastwordofspeedisunderminedbytheSubway，shootingitsswiftshuttlesthroughthesubterraneanwoofofthecity"shaste。FromthesefeetletthewitnessinferourwholemassiveHercules，abulkthatsprawlsandstretchesbeyondtheriversthroughthetunnelspiercingtheirbedsandthattowersintotheskieswithinnumerabletops——aHerculesblentofBriareusandCerberus，butnotsobadamonsterasitseemedthentothreatenbecoming。

Certainhopesoftruerandbetterconditionsonwhichmyheartwasfixedtwentyyearsagoarenotlessdear，andtheyarebynomeanstouchedwithdespair，thoughtheyhavenotyetfoundthefulfilmentwhichIwouldthenhaveprophesiedforthem。Eventshavenotwhollyplayedthemfalse；

eventshavenothalted，thoughtheyhavemarchedwithaslownessthatmightaffectayoungerobserverasmarkingtime。Theywhowerethenmindfulofthepoorhavenotforgottenthem，andwhatisbetterthepoorhavenotoftenforgottenthemselvesinviolencessuchasofferedmethematerialoftragedyandpathosinmystory。InmyqualityofartistI

couldnotregretthese，andIgratefullyrealizethattheyofferedmetheopportunityofamorestrenuousaction，amoreimpressivecatastrophethanIcouldhaveachievedwithoutthem。Theytendedtogivethewholefabledignityanddoubtlessmadeforitssuccessasabook。Asaserialithadcreptasluggishcoursebeforeapublicapparentlysounmindfulofitthatnorumorofitsacceptanceorrejectionreachedthewriterduringthehalfyearofitspublication；butitroseinbookformfromthatfailureandstooduponitsfeetandwentitswaytogreaterfavorthananybookofhishadyetenjoyed。Ihopethatmyrecognitionofthefactwillnotseemlikeboasting，butthatthereaderwillregarditasaspecialconfidencefromtheauthorandwillletitgonofarther。

KITTERYPOINT，MAINE，July，1909。

PARTFIRST

AHAZARDOFNEWFORTUNES

I。

"Now，youthinkthisthingover，March，andletmeknowthelastofnextweek，"saidFulkerson。Hegotupfromthechairwhichhehadbeensittingastride，withhisfacetoitsback，andtiltingtowardMarchonitshind-legs，andcameandrappeduponhistablewithhisthinbamboostick。"Whatyouwanttodoistogetoutoftheinsurancebusiness，anyway。Youacknowledgethatyourself。Youneverlikedit，andnowitmakesyousick；inotherwords，it"skillingyou。Youain"taninsurancemanbynature。You"reanatural-bornliteraryman，andyou"vebeengoingagainstthegrain。Now，Iofferyouachancetogowiththegrain。

Idon"tsayyou"regoingtomakeyoureverlastingfortune，butI"llgiveyoualivingsalary，andifthethingsucceedsyou"llshareinitssuccess。We"llallshareinitssuccess。That"sthebeautyofit。

Itellyou，March，thisisthegreatestideathathasbeenstrucksince"——Fulkersonstoppedandsearchedhismindforafitimage——"sincethecreationofman。"

HeputhislegupoverthecornerofMarch"stableandgavehimselfasharpcutonthethigh，andleanedforwardtogetthefulleffectofhiswordsuponhislistener。

Marchhadhishandsclaspedtogetherbehindhishead，andhetookoneofthemdownlongenoughtoputhisinkstandandmucilage-bottleoutofFulkerson"sway。Aftermanyyears"experimentofamustacheandwhiskers，henowworehisgrizzledbeardfull，butcroppedclose；itgavehimacertaingrimness，correctedbythegentlenessofhiseyes。

"Somepeopledon"tthinkmuchofthecreationofmannowadays。Whystopatthat?Whynotsaysincethemorningstarssangtogether?"

"No，sir；no，sir!Idon"twanttoclaimtoomuch，andIdrawthelineatthecreationofman。I"msatisfiedwiththat。Butifyouwanttoringthemorningstarsintotheprospectusallright；Iwon"tgobackonyou。"

"ButIdon"tunderstandwhyyou"vesetyourmindonme，"Marchsaid。

"Ihaven"thad，anymagazineexperience，youknowthat；andIhaven"tseriouslyattemptedtodoanythinginliteraturesinceIwasmarried。

IgaveupsmokingandtheMusetogether。IsupposeIcouldstillmanageacigar，butIdon"tbelieveIcould——"

"Museworthacent。"Fulkersontookthethoughtoutofhismouthandputitintohisownwords。"Iknow。Well，Idon"twantyouto。Idon"tcareifyouneverwritealineforthething，thoughyouneedn"trejectanythingofyours，ifithappenstobegood，onthataccount。AndI

don"twantmuchexperienceinmyeditor；rathernothaveit。Youtoldme，didn"tyou，thatyouusedtodosomenewspaperworkbeforeyousettleddown?"

"Yes；Ithoughtmylineswerepermanentlycastinthoseplacesonce。ItwasmoreanaccidentthananythingelsethatIgotintotheinsurancebusiness。IsupposeIsecretlyhopedthatifImademylivingbysomethingutterlydifferent，Icouldcomemorefreshlytoliteratureproperinmyleisure。"

"Isee；andyoufoundtheinsurancebusinesstoomany，foryou。Well，anyway，you"vealwayshadahankeringfortheinkpots；andthefactthatyoufirstgavemetheideaofthisthingshowsthatyou"vedonemoreorlessthinkingaboutmagazines。"

"Yes——less。"

"Well，allright。Nowdon"tyoubetroubled。IknowwhatIwant，generally，speaking，andinthisparticularinstanceIwantyou。Imightgetamanofmoreexperience，butIshouldprobablygetamanofmoreprejudiceandself-conceitalongwithhim，andamanwithafollowingoftheliteraryhangers-onthataresuretogetroundaneditorsoonerorlater。Iwanttostartfair，andI"vefoundoutinthesyndicatebusinessallthementhatareworthhaving。Buttheyknowme，andtheydon"tknowyou，andthat"swhereweshallhavethepullonthem。Theywon"tbeabletoworkthething。Don"tyoubeanxiousabouttheexperience。I"vegotexperienceenoughofmyowntorunadozeneditors。

WhatIwantisaneditorwhohastaste，andyou"vegotit；andconscience，andyou"vegotit；andhorsesense，andyou"vegotthat。

AndIlikeyoubecauseyou"reaWesternman，andI"manother。IdocottontoaWesternmanwhenIfindhimoffEasthere，holdinghisownwiththebestof"em，andshowing"emthathe"sjustasmuchcivilizedastheyare。Webothknowwhatitistohaveourbrighthomeinthesettingsun；heigh?"

"IthinkweWesternmenwho"vecomeEastareapttotakeourselvesalittletooobjectivelyandtofeelourselvesrathermorerepresentativethanweneed，"Marchremarked。

Fulkersonwasdelighted。"You"vehitit!Wedo!Weare!"

"Andasforholdingmyown，I"mnotveryproudofwhatI"vedoneinthatway；it"sbeenverylittletohold。ButIknowwhatyoumean，Fulkerson，andI"vefeltthesamethingmyself；itwarmedmetowardyouwhenwefirstmet。Ican"thelpsuffusingalittletoanymanwhenIhearthathewasbornontheothersideoftheAlleghanies。It"sperfectlystupid。

IdespisethesamethingwhenIseeitinBostonpeople。"

Fulkersonpulledfirstoneofhisblondwhiskersandthentheother，andtwistedtheendofeachintoapoint，whichhelefttountwineitself。

HefixedMarchwithhislittleeyes，whichhadacuriousinnocenceintheircunning，andtappedthedeskimmediatelyinfrontofhim。"WhatI

likeaboutyouisthatyou"rebroadinyoursympathies。ThefirsttimeI

sawyou，thatnightontheQuebecboat，Isaidtomyself:"There"samanIwanttoknow。There"sahumanbeing。"IwasalittleafraidofMrs。

Marchandthechildren，butIfeltathomewithyou——thoroughlydomesticated——beforeIpassedawordwithyou；andwhenyouspokefirst，andopenedupwithajokeoverthatfellow"stablefuloflightliteratureandIndianmoccasinsandbirch-barktoycanoesandstereoscopicviews，Iknewthatwewerebrothers-spiritualtwins。IrecognizedtheWesternstyleoffun，andIthought，whenyousaidyouwerefromBoston，thatitwassomeofthesame。ButIseenowthatitsbeingacoldfact，asfarasthelastfifteenortwentyyearscount，isjustsomuchgain。Youknowbothsections，andyoucanmakethisthinggo，fromoceantoocean。"

"Wemightringthatintotheprospectus，too，"Marchsuggested，withasmile。"Youmightcallthething"FromSeatoSea。"By-the-way，whatareyougoingtocallit?"

"Ihaven"tdecidedyet；that"soneofthethingsIwantedtotalkwithyouabout。Ihadthoughtof"TheSyndicate"；butitsoundskindofdry，anddoesn"tseemtocoverthegroundexactly。Ishouldlikesomethingthatwouldexpresstheco-operativecharacterofthething，butIdon"tknowasIcangetit。"

"Mightcallit"TheMutual"。"

"They"dthinkitwasaninsurancepaper。No，thatwon"tdo。ButMutualcomesprettyneartheidea。Ifwecouldgetsomethinglikethat，itwouldpiquecuriosity；andthenifwecouldgetparagraphsafloatexplainingthatthecontributorsweretobepaidaccordingtothesales，itwouldbeafirst-ratead。"

Hebentawide，anxious，inquiringsmileuponMarch，whosuggested，lazily:"Youmightcallit"TheRound-Robin"。Thatwouldexpressthecentralideaofirresponsibility。AsIunderstand，everybodyistosharetheprofitsandbeexemptfromthelosses。Or，ifI"mwrong，andthereverseistrue，youmightcallit"TheArmyofMartyrs"。Come，thatsoundsattractive，Fulkerson!Orwhatdoyouthinkof"TheFifthWheel"?

Thatwouldforestallthecriticismthattherearetoomanyliteraryperiodicalsalready。Or，ifyouwanttoputforwardtheideaofcompleteindependence，youcouldcallit"TheFreeLance"；or——"

"Or"TheHogonIce"——eitherstanduporfalldown，youknow，"Fulkersonbrokeincoarsely。"Butwe"llleavethenameofthemagazinetillwegettheeditor。Iseethepoison"sbeginningtoworkinyou，March；andifI

hadtimeI"dleavetheresulttotime。ButIhaven"t。I"vegottoknowinsideofthenextweek。Tocomedowntobusinesswithyou，March，I

sha"n"tstartthisthingunlessIcangetyoutotakeholdofit。"

Heseemedtoexpectsomeacknowledgment，andMarchsaid，"Well，that"sveryniceofyou，Fulkerson。"

"No，sir；no，sir!I"vealwayslikedyouandwantedyoueversincewemetthatfirstnight。Ihadthisthinginchoatelyinmymindthen，whenI

wastellingyouaboutthenewspapersyndicatebusiness——beautifulvisionofalotofliteraryfellowsbreakingloosefromthebondageofpublishersandplayingitalone——"

"Youmightcallit"TheLoneHand"；thatwouldbeattractive，"Marchinterrupted。"ThewholeWestwouldknowwhatyoumeant。"

Fulkersonwastalkingseriously，andMarchwaslisteningseriously；buttheybothbrokeoffandlaughed。Fulkersongotdownoffthetableandmadesometurnsabouttheroom。Itwasgrowinglate；theOctobersunhadleftthetopofthetallwindows；itwasstillclearday，butitwouldsoonbetwilight；theyhadbeentalkingalongtime。Fulkersoncameandstoodwithhislittlefeetwideapart，andbenthislittlelean，squarefaceonMarch。"Seehere!Howmuchdoyougetoutofthisthinghere，anyway?"

"Theinsurancebusiness?"Marchhesitatedamomentandthensaid，withacertaineffortofreserve，"Atpresentaboutthreethousand。"HelookedupatFulkersonwithaglance，asifhehadamindtoenlargeuponthefact，andthendroppedhiseyeswithoutsayingmore。

WhetherFulkersonhadnotthoughtitsomuchornot，hesaid:"Well，I"llgiveyouthirty-fivehundred。Come!Andyourchancesinthesuccess。"

"Wewon"tcountthechancesinthesuccess。AndIdon"tbelievethirty-fivehundredwouldgoanyfurtherinNewYorkthanthreethousandinBoston。"

"Butyoudon"tliveonthreethousandhere?"

"No；mywifehasalittleproperty。"

"Well，shewon"tlosetheincomeifyougotoNewYork。Isupposeyoupaytenortwelvehundredayearforyourhousehere。YoucangetplentyofflatsinNewYorkforthesamemoney；andIunderstandyoucangetallsortsofprovisionsforlessthanyoupaynow——threeorfourcentsonthepound。Come!"

Thiswasbynomeansthefirsttalktheyhadhadaboutthematter；everythreeorfourmonthsduringthepasttwoyearsthesyndicatemanhaddroppedinuponMarchtoairtheschemeandtogethisimpressionsofit。

Thishadhappenedsooftenthatithadcometobeasortofjokebetweenthem。ButnowFulkersonclearlymeantbusiness，andMarchhadastruggletomaintainhimselfinafirmpoiseofrefusal。

"Idaresayitwouldn"t——oritneedn"t-costsoverymuchmore，butI

don"twanttogotoNewYork；ormywifedoesn"t。It"sthesamething。"

"Agooddealsamer，"Fulkersonadmitted。

Marchdidnotquitelikehiscandor，andhewentonwithdignity。

"It"sverynaturalsheshouldn"t。ShehasalwayslivedinBoston；she"sattachedtotheplace。Now，ifyouweregoingtostart"TheFifthWheel"

inBoston——"

Fulkersonslowlyandsadlyshookhishead，butdecidedly。"Wouldn"tdo。

YoumightaswellsaySt。LouisorCincinnati。There"sonlyonecitythatbelongstothewholecountry，andthat"sNewYork。"

"Yes，Iknow，"sighedMarch；"andBostonbelongstotheBostonians，buttheylikeyoutomakeyourselfathomewhileyou"revisiting。"

"Ifyou"llagreetomakephraseslikethat，rightalong，andgettheminto"TheRound-Robin"somehow，I"llsayfourthousand，"saidFulkerson。

"Youthinkitovernow，March。YoutalkitoverwithMrs。March；Iknowyouwill，anyway；andImightaswellmakeavirtueofadvisingyoutodoit。TellherIadvisedyoutodoit，andyouletmeknowbeforenextSaturdaywhatyou"vedecided。"

Marchshutdowntherollingtopofhisdeskinthecorneroftheroom，andwalkedFulkersonoutbeforehim。Itwassolatethatthelastofthechore-womenwhowasheddownthemarblehallsandstairsofthegreatbuildinghadwrungoutherfloor-clothanddeparted，leavingspotlessstoneandaclean，dampsmellinthedarkeningcorridorsbehindher。

"Couldn"tofferyousuchswellquartersinNewYork，March，"Fulkersonsaid，ashewenttack-tackingdownthestepswithhissmallboot-heels。

"ButI"vegotmyeyeonalittlehouseroundinWestEleventhStreetthatI"mgoingtofitupformybachelor"shallinthethirdstory，andadaptfor"TheLoneHand"inthefirstandsecond，ifthisthinggoesthrough；

andIguesswe"llbeprettycomfortable。It"srightontheSandStrip——nomalariaofanykind。"

"Idon"tknowthatI"mgoingtoshareitssalubritywithyouyet，"Marchsighed，inanobvioustravailwhichgaveFulkersonhopes。

"Ohyes，youare，"hecoaxed。"Now，youtalkitoverwithyourwife。

Yougiveherafair，unprejudicedchanceatthethingonitsmerits，andI"mverymuchmistakeninMrs。Marchifshedoesn"ttellyoutogoinandwin。We"reboundtowin!"

Theystoodontheoutsidestepsofthevastedificebeetlinglikeagranitecragabovethem，withthestonegroupsofanallegoryoflife-insuranceforeshortenedinthebas-reliefoverhead。Marchabsentlyliftedhiseyestoit。Itwassuddenlystrangeaftersomanyyears"

familiarity，andsowasthewell-knownstreetinitsSaturday-eveningsolitude。Heaskedhimself，withprophetichomesickness，ifitwereanomenofwhatwastobe。Butheonlysaid，musingly:"Afortnightly。Youknowthatdidn"tworkinEngland。Thefortnightlyispublishedonceamonthnow。"

"ItworksinFrance，"Fulkersonretorted。"The"RevuedesDeuxMondes"

isstillpublishedtwiceamonth。IguesswecanmakeitworkinAmerica——withillustrations。"

"Goingtohaveillustrations?"

"Mydearboy!Whatareyougivingme?DoIlooklikethesortoflunaticwhowouldstartathinginthetwilightofthenineteenthcenturywithoutillustrations?Comeoff!"

"Ah，thatcomplicatesit!Idon"tknowanythingaboutart。"March"slookofdiscouragementconfessedtheholdtheschemehadtakenuponhim。

"Idon"twantyouto!"Fulkersonretorted。"Don"tyousupposeIshallhaveanartman?"

"Andwillthey——theartists——workatareducedrate，too，likethewriters，withthehopesofashareinthesuccess?"

"Ofcoursetheywill!AndifIwantanyparticularman，foracard，I"llpayhimbigmoneybesides。ButIcangetplentyoffirst-ratesketchesonmyownterms。You"llsee!They"llpourin!"

"Lookhere，Fulkerson，"saidMarch，"you"dbettercallthisfortnightlyofyours"TheMadnessoftheHalf-Moon"；or"BedlamBrokeLoose"

wouldn"tbebad!Whydoyouthrowawayallyourhardearningsonsuchacrazyventure?Don"tdoit!"ThekindnesswhichMarchhadalwaysfelt，inspiteofhiswife"sfirstmisgivingsandreservations，forthemerry，hopeful，slangy，energeticlittlecreaturetrembledinhisvoice。TheyhadbothformedafriendshipforFulkersonduringtheweektheyweretogetherinQuebec。Whenhewasnotworkingthenewspapersthere，hewentaboutwiththemoverthefamiliargroundtheywereshowingtheirchildren，andwassimplygratefulforthechance，aswellasveryentertainingaboutitall。Thechildrenlikedhim，too；whentheygottheclewtohisintention，andfoundthathewasnotquiteseriousinmanyofthethingshesaid，theythoughthewasgreatfun。TheywerealwaysgladwhentheirfatherbroughthimhomeontheoccasionofFulkerson"svisitstoBoston；andMrs。March，thoughofacharierhospitality，welcomedFulkersonwithagratefulsenseofhisadmirationforherhusband。HehadawayoftreatingMarchwithdeference，asanolderandablerman，andofqualifyingthefreedomheusedtowardeveryonewithanimplicationthatMarchtolerateditvoluntarily，whichshethoughtverysweetandevenrefined。

"Ah，nowyou"retalkinglikeamanandabrother，"saidFulkerson。"Why，March，oldman，doyousupposeI"dcomeonhereandtrytotalkyouintothisthingifIwasn"tmorally，ifIwasn"tperfectly，sureofsuccess?

Thereisn"tanyiforandaboutit。Iknowmyground，everyinch；andI

don"tstandaloneonit，"headded，withasignificancewhichdidnotescapeMarch。"Whenyou"vemadeupyourmindIcangiveyoutheproof；

butI"mnotatlibertynowtosayanythingmore。Itellyouit"sgoingtobeatriumphalmarchfromthewordgo，withcoffeeandlemonadefortheprocessionalongthewholeline。Allyou"vegottodoistofallin。"HestretchedouthishandtoMarch。"Youletmeknowassoonasyoucan。"

Marchdeferredtakinghishandtillhecouldask，"Whereareyougoing?"

"ParkerHouse。TaketheelevenforNewYorkto-night。"

"IthoughtImightwalkyourway。"Marchlookedathiswatch。"ButI

shouldn"thavetime。Goodbye!"

HenowletFulkersonhavehishand，andtheyexchangedacordialpressure。Fulkersonstartedawayataquick，lightpace。Halfablockoffhestopped，turnedround，and，seeingMarchstillstandingwherehehadlefthim，hecalledback，joyously，"I"vegotthename!"

"What?"

"EveryOtherWeek。"

"Itisn"tbad。"

"Ta-ta!"

II。

AllthewayuptotheSouthEndMarchmentallyprolongedhistalkwithFulkerson，andathisdoorinNankeenSquareheclosedtheparleywithaplumprefusaltogotoNewYorkonanyterms。HisdaughterBellawaslyinginwaitforhiminthehall，andshethrewherarmsroundhisneckwiththeexuberanceofherfourteenyearsandwithsomethingofthehistrionicintentionofhersex。Hepressedon，withherclingingabouthim，tothelibrary，and，intheglowofhisdecisionagainstFulkerson，kissedhiswife，whereshesatbythestudylampreadingtheTranscriptthroughherfirstpairofeye-glasses:itwasagreedinthefamilythatshelookeddistinguishedinthem，or，atanyrate，cultivated。Shetookthemofftogivehimaglanceofquestion，andtheirsonTomlookedupfromhisbookforamoment；hewasinhislastyearatthehighschool，andwaspreparingforHarvard。

"Ididn"tgetawayfromtheofficetillhalf-pastfive，"Marchexplainedtohiswife"sglance，"andthenIwalked。Isupposedinner"swaiting。

I"msorry，butIwon"tdoitanymore。"

AttablehetriedtobegaywithBella，whobabbledathimwithavolublepertnesswhichherbrotherhadoftenadvisedherparentstocheckinher，unlesstheywantedhertobeuniversallydespised。

"Papa!"sheshoutedatlast，"you"renotlistening!"Assoonaspossiblehiswifetoldthechildrentheymightbeexcused。Thensheasked，"Whatisit，Basil?"

"Whatiswhat?"heretorted，withaspeciousbrightnessthatdidnotavail。

"Whatisonyourmind?"

"Howdoyouknowthere"sanything?"

"Yourkissingmesowhenyoucamein，foronething。"

"Don"tIalwayskissyouwhenIcomein?"

"Notnow。Isupposeitisn"tnecessaryanymore。"Celavasansbaiser。""

"Yes，Iguessit"sso；wegetalongwithoutthesymbolismnow。"

Hestopped，butsheknewthathehadnotfinished。

"Isitaboutyourbusiness?Havetheydoneanythingmore?"

"No；I"mstillinthedark。Idon"tknowwhethertheymeantosupplantme，orwhethertheyeverdid。ButIwasn"tthinkingaboutthat。

Fulkersonhasbeentoseemeagain。"

"Fulkerson?"Shebrightenedatthename，andMarchsmiled，too。

"Whydidn"tyoubringhimtodinner?"

"Iwantedtotalkwithyou。Thenyoudolikehim?"

"Whathasthatgottodowithit，Basil?"

"Nothing!nothing!Thatis，hewasboringawayaboutthatschemeofhisagain。He"sgotitintodefiniteshapeatlast。"

"Whatshape?"

Marchoutlineditforher，andhiswifeseizeditsmainfeatureswiththeintuitivesenseofaffairswhichmakeswomensuchgoodbusiness-menwhentheywillletit。

"Itsoundsperfectlycrazy，"shesaid，finally。"Butitmayn"tbe。TheonlythingIdidn"tlikeaboutMr。Fulkersonwashisalwayswantingtochancethings。Butwhathaveyougottodowithit?"

"WhathaveIgottodowithit?"Marchtoyedwiththedelaythequestiongavehim；thenhesaid，withasortofdeprecatorylaugh:"ItseemsthatFulkersonhashadhiseyeonmeeversincewemetthatnightontheQuebecboat。Iopenedupprettyfreelytohim，asyoudotoamanyouneverexpecttoseeagain，andwhenIfoundhewasinthatnewspapersyndicatebusinessItoldhimaboutmyearlyliteraryambitions——"

"Youcan"tsaythatIeverdiscouragedthem，Basil，"hiswifeputin。

"Ishouldhavebeenwilling，anytime，togiveupeverythingforthem。"

"Well，hesaysthatIfirstsuggestedthisbrilliantideatohim。

PerhapsIdid；Idon"tremember。Whenhetoldmeabouthissupplyingliteraturetonewspapersforsimultaneouspublication，hesaysIasked:

"Whynotapplytheprincipleofco-operationtoamagazine，andrunitintheinterestofthecontributors?"andthatsethimtothinking，andhethoughtouthisplanofaperiodicalwhichshouldpayauthorsandartistsalowpriceoutrightfortheirworkandgivethemachanceoftheprofitsinthewayofapercentage。Afterall，itisn"tsoverydifferentfromthechancesanauthortakeswhenhepublishesabook。AndFulkersonthinksthatthenoveltyofthethingwouldpiquepubliccuriosity，ifitdidn"tarousepublicsympathy。Andthelongandshortofitis，Isabel，thathewantsmetohelpeditit。"

"Toeditit?"Hiswifecaughtherbreath，andshetookalittletimetorealizethefact，whileshestaredhardatherhusbandtomakesurehewasnotjoking。

"Yes。Hesaysheowesitalltome；thatIinventedtheidea——thegerm——themicrobe。"

Hiswifehadnowrealizedthefact，atleastinadegreethatexcludedtriflingwithit。"ThatisveryhonorableofMr。Fulkerson；andifheowesittoyou，itwastheleasthecoulddo。"Havingrecognizedherhusband"sclaimtothehonordonehim，shebegantokindlewithasenseofthehonoritselfandthevalueoftheopportunity。"It"saveryhighcomplimenttoyou，Basil——averyhighcompliment。Andyoucouldgiveupthiswretchedinsurancebusinessthatyou"vealwayshatedso，andthat"smakingyousounhappynowthatyouthinkthey"regoingtotakeitfromyou。GiveitupandtakeMr。Fulkerson"soffer!It"saperfectinterposition，comingjustatthistime!Why，doit!Mercy!"shesuddenlyarrestedherself，"hewouldn"texpectyoutogetalongonthepossibleprofits?"Herfaceexpressedtheawfulnessofthenotion。

Marchsmiledreassuringly，andwaitedtogivehimselfthepleasureofthesensationhemeanttogiveher。"IfI"llmakestrikingphrasesforitandeditit，too，he"llgivemefourthousanddollars。"

Heleanedbackinhischair，andstuckhishandsdeepintohispockets，andwatchedhiswife"sface，luminouswiththeemotionsthatflashedthroughhermind-doubt，joy，anxiety。

"Basil!Youdon"tmeanit!Why，takeit!Takeitinstantly!Oh，whatathingtohappen!Oh，whatluck!Butyoudeserveit，ifyoufirstsuggestedit。Whatanescape，whatatriumphoverallthosehatefulinsurancepeople!Oh，Basil，I"mafraidhe"llchangehismind!Yououghttohaveacceptedonthespot。YoumighthaveknownIwouldapprove，andyoucouldsoeasilyhavetakenitbackifIdidn"t。Telegraphhimnow!

Runrightoutwiththedespatch——OrwecansendTom!"

IntheseimperativesofMrs。March"stherewasalwaysmuchoftheconditional。Shemeantthatheshoulddowhatshesaid，ifitwereentirelyright；andshenevermeanttobeconsideredashavingurgedhim。

"Andsupposehisenterprisewentwrong?"herhusbandsuggested。

"Itwon"tgowrong。Hasn"themadeasuccessofhissyndicate?"

"Hesaysso——yes。"

"Verywell，then，itstandstoreasonthathe"llsucceedinthis，too。

Hewouldn"tundertakeitifhedidn"tknowitwouldsucceed；hemusthavecapital。"

"Itwilltakeagreatdealtogetsuchathinggoing；andevenifhe"sgotanAngelbehindhim——"

Shecaughtattheword——"AnAngel?"

"It"swhatthetheatricalpeoplecallafinancialbacker。Hedroppedahintofsomethingofthatkind。"

"Ofcourse，he"sgotanAngel，"saidhiswife，promptlyadoptingtheword。"Andevenifhehadn"t，still，Basil，Ishouldbewillingtohaveyouriskit。Theriskisn"tsogreat，isit?Weshouldn"tberuinedifitfailedaltogether。Withourstockswehavetwothousandayear，anyway，andwecouldpinchthroughonthattillyougotintosomeotherbusinessafterward，especiallyifwe"dsavedsomethingoutofyoursalarywhileitlasted。Basil，Iwantyoutotryit!Iknowitwillgiveyouanewleaseoflifetohaveacongenialoccupation。"Marchlaughed，buthiswifepersisted。"I"mallforyourtryingit，Basil；indeedIam。

Ifit"sanexperiment，youcangiveitup。"