第2章

"Itcangivemeup，too。"

"Oh，nonsense!Iguessthere"snotmuchfearofthat。Now，IwantyoutotelegraphMr。Fulkerson，sothathe"llfindthedespatchwaitingforhimwhenhegetstoNewYork。I"lltakethewholeresponsibility，Basil，andI"llriskalltheconsequences。"

III。

March"sfacehadsoberedmoreandmoreasshefollowedonehopefulburstwithanother，andnowitexpressedapositivepain。Butheforcedasmileandsaid:"There"salittleconditionattached。Wheredidyousupposeitwastobepublished?"

"Why，inBoston，ofcourse。Whereelseshoulditbepublished?"

Shelookedathimfortheintentionofhisquestionsosearchinglythathequitegaveuptheattempttobegayaboutit。"No，"hesaid，gravely，"it"stobepublishedinNewYork。"

Shefellbackinherchair。"InNewYork?"Sheleanedforwardoverthetabletowardhim，asiftomakesurethatsheheardaright，andsaid，withallthekeenreproachthathecouldhaveexpected:"InNewYork，Basil!Oh，howcouldyouhaveletmegoon?"

Hehadasufficientlyruefulfaceinowning:"Ioughtn"ttohavedoneit，butIgotstartedwrong。Icouldn"thelpputtingthebestfoot，forwardatfirst——oraslongasthewholethingwasintheair。Ididn"tknowthatyouwouldtakesomuchtothegeneralenterprise，orelseIshouldhavementionedtheNewYorkconditionatonce；but，ofcourse，thatputsanendtoit。"

"Oh，ofcourse，"sheassented，sadly。"WeCOULDN"TgotoNewYork。"

"No，Iknowthat，"hesaid；andwiththisaperversedesiretotempthertotheimpossibilityawokeinhim，thoughhewasreallyquitecoldabouttheaffairhimselfnow。"FulkersonthoughtwecouldgetaniceflatinNewYorkforaboutwhattheinterestandtaxescametohere，andprovisionsarecheaper。ButIshouldrathernotexperimentatmytimeoflife。IfIcouldhavebeencaughtyounger，ImighthavebeeninuredtoNewYork，butIdon"tbelieveIcouldstanditnow。"

"HowIhatetohaveyoutalkthatway，Basil!Youareyoungenoughtotryanything——anywhere；butyouknowIdon"tlikeNewYork。Idon"tapproveofit。It"ssobig，andsohideous!OfcourseIshouldn"tmindthat；butI"vealwayslivedinBoston，andthechildrenwerebornandhavealltheirfriendshipsandassociationshere。"Sheadded，withthehelplessnessthatdiscreditedhergoodsenseanddidherinjustice，"IhavejustgotthembothintotheFridayafternoonclassatPapanti"s，andyouknowhowdifficultthatis。"

Marchcouldnotfailtotakeadvantageofanoccasionlikethis。

"Well，thataloneoughttosettleit。Underthecircumstances，itwouldbeflyinginthefaceofProvidencetoleaveBoston。Themerefactofabrilliantopeninglikethatofferedmeon"TheMicrobe，"andthehalcyonfuturewhichFulkersonpromisesifwe"llcometoNewYork，isasdustinthebalanceagainsttheadvantagesoftheFridayafternoonclass。"

"Basil，"sheappealed，solemnly，"haveIeverinterferedwithyourcareer?"

"Ineverhadanyforyoutointerferewith，mydear。"

"Basil!Haven"tIalwayshadfaithinyou?Anddon"tyousupposethatifIthoughtitwouldreallybeforyouradvancementIwouldgotoNewYorkoranywherewithyou?"

"No，mydear，Idon"t，"heteased。"Ifitwouldbeformysalvation，yes，perhaps；butnotshortofthat；andIshouldhavetoprovebyacloudofwitnessesthatitwould。Idon"tblameyou。Iwasn"tborninBoston，butIunderstandhowyoufeel。Andreally，mydear，"headded，withoutirony，"IneverseriouslythoughtofaskingyoutogotoNewYork。IwasdazzledbyFulkerson"soffer，I"llownthat；buthischoiceofmeaseditorsappedmyconfidenceinhim。"

"Idon"tliketohearyousaythat，Basil，"sheentreated。

"Well，ofcoursethereweremitigatingcircumstances。IcouldseethatFulkersonmeanttokeepthewhip-handhimself，andthatwasreassuring。

And，besides，iftheReciprocityLifeshouldhappennottowantmyservicesanylonger，itwouldn"tbequitelikegivingupacertainty；

though，asamatterofbusiness，IletFulkersongetthatimpression；I

feltrathersneakingtodoit。Butiftheworstcomestotheworst，I

canlookaboutforsomethingtodoinBoston；and，anyhow，peopledon"tstarveontwothousandayear，thoughit"sconvenienttohavefive。Thefactis，I"mtoooldtochangesoradically。Ifyoudon"tlikemysayingthat，thenyouare，Isabel，andsoarethechildren。I"venorighttotakethemfromthehomewe"vemade，andtochangethewholecourseoftheirlives，unlessIcanassurethemofsomething，andIcan"tassurethemofanything。Bostonisbigenoughforus，andit"scertainlyprettierthanNewYork。IalwaysfeelalittleproudofhailingfromBoston；mypleasureintheplacemountsthefartherIgetawayfromit。

ButIdoappreciateit，mydear；I"venomoredesiretoleaveitthanyouhave。Youmaybesurethatifyoudon"twanttotakethechildrenoutoftheFridayafternoonclass，Idon"twanttoleavemylibraryhere，andallthewaysI"vegotsetin。We"llkeepon。Verylikelythecompanywon"tsupplantme，andifitdoes，andWatkinsgetstheplace，he"llgivemeasubordinatepositionofsomesort。Cheerup，Isabel!IhaveputSatanandhisangel，Fulkerson，behindme，andit"sallright。Let"sgointothechildren。"

HecameroundthetabletoIsabel，whereshesatinagrowingdistraction，andliftedherbythewaistfromherchair。

Shesigheddeeply。"Shallwetellthechildrenaboutit?"

"No。What"stheuse，now?"

"Therewouldn"tbeany，"sheassented。Whentheyenteredthefamilyroom，wheretheboyandgirlsatoneithersideofthelampworkingoutthelessonsforMondaywhichtheyhadleftoverfromthedaybefore，sheasked，"Children，howwouldyouliketoliveinNewYork?"

Bellamadehastetogetinherwordfirst。"AndgiveuptheFridayafternoonclass?"shewailed。

Tomgrowledfromhisbook，withoutliftinghiseyes:"Ishouldn"twanttogotoColumbia。Theyhaven"tgotanydormitories，andyouhavetoboardroundanywhere。AreyougoingtoNewYork?"Henowdeignedtolookupathisfather。

"No，Tom。YouandBellahavedecidedmeagainstit。Yourperspectiveshowstheaffairinitstrueproportions。IhadanoffertogotoNewYork，butI"verefusedit。"

IV

March"sironyfellharmlessfromthechildren"spreoccupationwiththeirownaffairs，butheknewthathiswifefeltit，andthisaddedtothebitternesswhichpromptedit。HeblamedherforlettingherprovincialnarrownesspreventhisacceptingFulkerson"sofferquiteasmuchasifhehadotherwiseentirelywishedtoacceptit。Hisworld，likemostworlds，hadbeensuperficiallyadisappointment。Hewasnoricherthanatthebeginning，thoughinmarryinghehadgivenupsometastes，somepreferences，someaspirations，inthehopeofindulgingthemlater，withlargermeansandlargerleisure。Hiswifehadnoturgedhimtodoit；infact，herpride，asshesaid，wasinhisfitnessforthelifehehadrenounced；butshehadacquiesced，andtheyhadbeenveryhappytogether。

Thatistosay，theymadeuptheirquarrelsorignoredthem。

Theyoftenaccusedeachotherofbeingselfishandindifferent，butsheknewthathewouldalwayssacrificehimselfforherandthechildren；

andhe，onhispart，withmanygibesandmockeries，whollytrustedinher。Theyhadgrownpracticallytolerantofeachother"sdisagreeabletraits；andthedangerthatreallythreatenedthemwasthattheyshouldgrowtoowellsatisfiedwiththemselves，ifnotwitheachother。Theywerenotsentimental，theywererathermatter-of-factintheirmotives；

buttheyhadbothasortofhumorousfondnessforsentimentality。Theylikedtoplaywiththeromantic，fromthesafevantage-groundoftheirrealpracticality，andtodivinethepoetryofthecommonplace。Theirpeculiarpointofviewseparatedthemfrommostotherpeople，withwhomtheirmeansofself-comparisonwerenotsogoodsincetheirmarriageasbefore。Thentheyhadtravelledandseenmuchoftheworld，andtheyhadformedtasteswhichtheyhadnotalwaysbeenabletoindulge，butofwhichtheyfeltthatthepossessionreflecteddistinctiononthem。Itenabledthemtolookdownuponthosewhowerewithoutsuchtastes；buttheywerenotill-natured，andsotheydidnotlookdownsomuchwithcontemptaswithamusement。Intheirunfashionableneighborhoodtheyhadthefameofbeingnotexclusiveprecisely，butverymuchwrappedupinthemselvesandtheirchildren。

Mrs。Marchwasreputedtobeverycultivated，andMr。Marchevenmoreso，amongthesimplerfolkaroundthem。Theirhousehadsomegoodpictures，whichheraunthadbroughthomefromEuropeinmoreaffluentdays，anditaboundedinbooksonwhichhespentmorethanheought。Theyhadbeautifieditineveryway，andhadunconsciouslytakencredittothemselvesforit。Theyfelt，withaglowalmostofvirtue，howperfectlyitfittedtheirlivesandtheirchildren"s，andtheybelievedthatsomehowitexpressedtheircharacters——thatitwaslikethem。Theywentoutverylittle；sheremainedshutupinitsrefinement，workingthegoodofherown；andhewenttohisbusiness，andhurriedbacktoforgetit，anddreamhisdreamofintellectualachievementintheflatteringatmosphereofhersympathy。HecouldnotconcealfromhimselfthathisdividedlifewassomewhatlikeCharlesLamb"s，andthereweretimeswhen，ashehadexpressedtoFulkerson，hebelievedthatitsdivisionwasfavorabletothefreshnessofhisinterestinliterature。Itcertainlykeptitahighprivilege，asacredrefuge。Nowandthenhewrotesomething，andgotitprintedafterlongdelays，andwhentheymetontheSt。LawrenceFulkersonhadsomeofMarch"sversesinhispocket-book，whichhehadcutoutofastraynewspaperandcarriedaboutforyears，becausetheypleasedhisfancysomuch；theyformedanimmediatebondofunionbetweenthemenwhentheirauthorshipwastracedandowned，andthisgaveaprettycolorofromancetotheiracquaintance。But，forthemostpart，Marchwassatisfiedtoread。Hewasproudofreadingcritically，andhekeptinthecurrentofliteraryinterestsandcontroversies。Itallseemedtohim，andtohiswifeatsecond-hand，verymeritorious；hecouldnothelpcontrastinghislifeanditsinnerelegancewiththatofothermenwhohadnosuchresources。Hethoughtthathewasnotarrogantaboutit，becausehedidfulljusticetothegoodqualitiesofthoseotherpeople；

hecongratulatedhimselfuponthedemocraticinstinctswhichenabledhimtodothis；andneitherhenorhiswifesupposedthattheywereselfishpersons。Onthecontrary，theywereverysympathetic；therewasnogoodcausethattheydidnotwishwell；theyhadagenerousscornofallkindsofnarrow-heartedness；ifithadevercomeintotheirwaytosacrificethemselvesforothers，theythoughttheywouldhavedoneso，buttheyneveraskedwhyithadnotcomeintheirway。Theywereverygentleandkind，evenwhenmostelusive；andtheytaughttheirchildrentoloatheallmannerofsocialcruelty。Marchwasofsowatchfulaconscienceinsomerespectsthathedeniedhimselfthepensivepleasureoflapsingintothemelancholyofunfulfilledaspirations；buthedidnotseethat，ifhehadabandonedthem，ithadbeenforwhathehelddearer；generallyhefeltasifhehadturnedfromthemwithahigh，altruisticaim。Thepracticalexpressionofhislifewasthatitwasenoughtoprovidewellforhisfamily；tohavecultivatedtastes，andtogratifythemtotheextentofhismeans；toberatherdistinguished，eveninthesimplificationofhisdesires。Hebelieved，andhiswifebelieved，thatifthetimeevercamewhenhereallywishedtomakeasacrificetothefulfilmentoftheaspirationssolongpostponed，shewouldbereadytojoinwithheartandhand。

Whenhewenttoherroomfromhislibrary，whereshelefthimthewholeeveningwiththechildren，hefoundherbeforetheglassthoughtfullyremovingthefirstdismantlingpinfromherbackhair。

"Ican"thelpfeeling，"shegrievedintothemirror，"thatit"sIwhokeepyoufromacceptingthatoffer。Iknowitis!IcouldgoWestwithyou，orintoanewcountry——anywhere；butNewYorkterrifiesme。Idon"tlikeNewYork，Ineverdid；itdisheartensanddistractsme；Ican"tfindmyselfinit；Ishouldn"tknowhowtoshop。IknowI"mfoolishandnarrowandprovincial，"shewenton，"butIcouldneverhaveanyinnerquietinNewYork；Icouldn"tliveinthespiritthere。Isupposepeopledo。Itcan"t，bethatallthesemillions——"

"Oh，notsobadasthat!"Marchinterposed，laughing。"Therearen"tquitetwo。"

"Ithoughttherewerefourorfive。Well，nomatter。YouseewhatIam，Basil。I"mterriblylimited。Icouldn"tmakemysympathiesgoroundtwomillionpeople；Ishouldbewretched。IsupposeI"mstandinginthewayofyourhighestinterest，butIcan"thelpit。Wetookeachotherforbetterorworse，andyoumusttrytobearwithme——"Shebrokeoffandbegantocry。

"Stopit!"shoutedMarch。"ItellyouInevercaredanythingforFulkerson"sschemeorentertaineditseriously，andIshouldn"tifhe"dproposedtocarryitoutinBoston。"Thiswasnotquitetrue，butintheretrospectitseemedsufficientlysoforthepurposesofargument。

"Don"tsayanotherwordaboutit。Thething"sovernow，andIdon"twanttothinkofitanymore。Wecouldn"tchangeitsnatureifwetalkedallnight。ButIwantyoutounderstandthatitisn"tyourlimitationsthatareintheway。It"smine。Ishouldn"thavethecouragetotakesuchaplace；Idon"tthinkI"mfitforit，andthat"sthelongandshortofit。"

"Oh，youdon"tknowhowithurtsmetohaveyousaythat，Basil。"

Thenextmorning，astheysattogetheratbreakfast，withoutthechildren，whomtheyletlielateonSunday，Mrs。Marchsaidtoherhusband，silentoverhisfish-ballsandbakedbeans:"WewillgotoNewYork。I"vedecidedit。"

"Well，ittakestwotodecidethat，"Marchretorted。"WearenotgoingtoNewYork。"

"Yes，weare。I"vethoughtitout。Now，listen。"

"Oh，I"mwillingtolisten，"heconsented，airily。

"You"vealwayswantedtogetoutoftheinsurancebusiness，andnowwiththatfearofbeingturnedoutwhichyouhaveyoumustn"tneglectthisoffer。Isupposeithasitsrisks，butit"sariskkeepingonasweare；

andperhapsyouwillmakeagreatsuccessofit。Idowantyoutotry，Basil。IfIcouldoncefeelthatyouhadfairlyseenwhatyoucoulddoinliterature，Ishoulddiehappy。"

"Notimmediatelyafter，Ihope，"hesuggested，takingthesecondcupofcoffeeshehadbeenpouringoutforhim。"AndBoston?"

"Weneedn"tmakeacompletebreak。Wecankeepthisplaceforthepresent，anyway；wecouldletitforthewinter，andcomebackinthesummernextyear。ItwouldbechangeenoughfromNewYork。"

"FulkersonandIhadn"tgotasfarastotalkofavacation。"

"Nomatter。ThechildrenandIcouldcome。Andifyoudidn"tlikeNewYork，ortheenterprisefailed，youcouldgetintosomethinginBostonagain；andwehaveenoughtoliveontillyoudid。Yes，Basil，I"mgoing。"

"Icanseebythewayyourchintremblesthatnothingcouldstopyou。

YoumaygotoNewYorkifyouwish，Isabel，butIshallstayhere。"

"Beserious，Basil。I"minearnest。"

"Serious?IfIwereanymoreseriousIshouldshedtears。Come，mydear，Iknowwhatyoumean，andifIhadmyheartsetonthisthing——

Fulkersonalwayscallsit"thisthing"Iwouldcheerfullyacceptanysacrificeyoucouldmaketoit。ButI"drathernotofferyouuponashrineIdon"tfeelanyparticularfaithin。I"mverycomfortablewhereIam；thatis，Iknowjustwherethepinchcomes，andifitcomesharder，why，I"vegotusedtobearingthatkindofpinch。I"mtoooldtochangepinches。"

"Now，thatdoesdecideme。"

"Itdecidesme，too。"

"Iwilltakealltheresponsibility，Basil，"shepleaded。

"Ohyes；butyou"llhanditbacktomeassoonasyou"vecarriedyourpointwithit。There"snothingmeanaboutyou，Isabel，whereresponsibilityisconcerned。No；ifIdothisthing——Fulkersonagain?

Ican"tgetawayfrom"thisthing"；it"sominous——ImustdoitbecauseI

wanttodoit，andnotbecauseyouwishthatyouwantedmetodoit。

Iunderstandyourposition，Isabel，andthatyou"rereallyactingfromagenerousimpulse，butthere"snothingsoprecariousatourtimeoflifeasagenerousimpulse。Whenwewereyoungerwecouldstandit；wecouldgivewaytoitandtaketheconsequences。Butnowwecan"tbearit。Wemustactfromcoldreasonevenintheardorofself-sacrifice。"

"Oh，asifyoudidthat!"hiswiferetorted。

"Isthatanycausewhyyoushouldn"t?"Shecouldnotsaythatitwas，andhewentontriumphantly:

"No，Iwon"ttakeyouawayfromtheonlysafeplaceontheplanetandplungeyouintothemostperilous，andthenhaveyousayinyourrevulsionoffeelingthatyouwereallagainstitfromthefirst，andyougavewaybecauseyousawIhadmyheartsetonit。"Hesupposedhewastreatingthematterhumorously，butinthissortofbanterbetweenhusbandandwifethereisalwaysmuchmorethanthejoking。Marchhadseensomeprettyfeminineinconsistenciesandtrepidationswhichoncecharmedhiminhiswifehardeningintotraitsofmiddle-agewhichwereverylikethoseoflessinterestingolderwomen。Thesightmovedhimwithakindofpathos，buthefelttheresulthinderingandvexatious。

Shenowretortedthatifhedidnotchoosetotakeheratherwordbeneednot，butthatwhateverhedidsheshouldhavenothingtoreproachherselfwith；and，atleast，hecouldnotsaythatshehadtrappedhimintoanything。

"Whatdoyoumeanbytrapping?"hedemanded。

"Idon"tknowwhatyoucallit，"sheanswered；"butwhenyougetmetocommitmyselftoathingbyleavingoutthemostessentialpoint，Icallittrapping。"

"Iwonderyoustopattrapping，ifyouthinkIgotyoutofavorFulkerson"sschemeandthensprungNewYorkonyou。Idon"tsupposeyoudo，though。ButIguesswewon"ttalkaboutitanymore。"

Hewentoutforalongwalk，andshewenttoherroom。Theylunchedsilentlytogetherinthepresenceoftheirchildren，whoknewthattheyhadbeenquarrelling，butwereeasilyindifferenttothefact，aschildrengettobeinsuchcases；naturedefendstheiryouth，andtheunhappinesswhichtheybeholddoesnotinfectthem。Intheevening，aftertheboyandgirlhadgonetobed，thefatherandmotherresumedtheirtalk。Hewouldhavelikedtotakeitupatthepointfromwhichitwanderedintohostilities，forhefeltitlamentablethatamatterwhichsoseriouslyconcernedthemshouldbeconfusedinthefumesofsenselessanger；andhewaswillingtomakeatacitacknowledgmentofhisownerrorbyrecurringtothequestion，butshewouldnotbecontentwiththis，andhehadtoconcedeexplicitlytoherweaknessthatshereallymeantitwhenshehadaskedhimtoacceptFulkerson"soffer。Hesaidheknewthat；andhebegansoberlytotalkovertheirprospectsintheeventoftheirgoingtoNewYork。

"Oh，Iseeyouaregoing!"shetwitted。

"I"mgoingtostay，"heanswered，"andletthemturnmeoutofmyagencyhere，"andinthisbitternesstheirtalkended。

V。

HiswifemadenoattempttorenewtheirtalkbeforeMarchwenttohisbusinessinthemorning，andtheypartedindryoffence。Theirexperiencewasthatthesethingsalwayscamerightofthemselvesatlast，andtheyusuallyletthem。Heknewthatshehadreallytriedtoconsenttoathingthatwasrepugnanttoher，andinhishearthegavehermorecreditfortheeffortthanhehadallowedheropenly。Sheknewthatshehadmadeitwiththereservationheaccusedherof，andthathehadarighttofeelsoreatwhatshecouldnothelp。Buthelefthertobroodoverhisingratitude，andshesufferedhimtogoheavyandunfriendedtomeetthechancesoftheday。HesaidtohimselfthatifshehadassentedcordiallytotheconditionsofFulkerson"soffer，hewouldhavehadthecouragetotakealltheotherriskshimself，andwouldhavehadthesatisfactionofresigninghisplace。Asitwas，hemustwaittillhewasremoved；andhefiguredwithbitterpleasurethepainshewouldfeelwhenhecamehomesomedayandtoldherhehadbeensupplanted，afteritwastoolatetoclosewithFulkerson。

Hefoundaletteronhisdeskfromthesecretary，"Dictated，"intypewriting，whichbrieflyinformedhimthatMr。Hubbell，theInspectorofAgencies，wouldbeinBostononWednesday，andwouldcallathisofficeduringtheforenoon。Theletterwasnotdifferentintonefrommanythathehadformerlyreceived；butthevisitannouncedwasoutoftheusualorder，andMarchbelievedhereadhisfateinit。Duringtheeighteenyearsofhisconnectionwithit——firstasasubordinateintheBostonoffice，andfinallyasitsgeneralagentthere——hehadseenagoodmanychangesintheReciprocity；presidents，vice-presidents，actuaries，andgeneralagentshadcomeandgone，buttherehadalwaysseemedtobearecognitionofhisefficiency，oratleastsufficiency，andtherehadneverbeenanymanneroftrouble，noquestionofaccounts，noapparentdissatisfactionwithhismanagement，untillatterly，whentherehadbeguntocomefromheadquarterssomesuggestionsofenterpriseincertainways，whichgavehimhisfirstsuspicionsofhisclerkWatkins"swillingnesstosucceedhim；theyembodiedsomeofWatkins"sideas。ThethingsproposedseemedtoMarchundignified，andevenvulgar；hehadneverthoughthimselfwantinginenergy，thoughprobablyhehadleftthebusinesstotakeitsowncourseintheoldlinesmorethanherealized。Thingshadalwaysgonesosmoothlythathehadsometimesfanciedapeculiarregardforhiminthemanagement，whichhehadtheweaknesstoattributetoanappreciationofwhatheoccasionallydidinliterature，thoughinsanermomentshefelthowimpossiblethiswas。BeyondareferencefromMr。

HubbelltosomepieceofMarch"swhichhadhappenedtomeethiseye，nooneinthemanagementevergaveasignofconsciousnessthattheirservicewasadornedbyanobscureliteraryman；andMr。HubbellhimselfhadtheeffectofregardingtheexcursionsofMarch"spenasasortofjoke，andofwinkingatthem；ashemighthavewinkedifonceinawayhehadfoundhimalittlethegayerfordining。

Marchworethroughthedaygloomily，buthehaditonhisconsciencenottoshowanyresentmenttowardWatkins，whomhesuspectedofwishingtosupplanthim，andevenofworkingtodoso。Throughthisself-denialhereachedabettermindconcerninghiswife。Hedeterminednottomakehersufferneedlessly，iftheworstcametotheworst；shewouldsufferenough，atthebest，andtilltheworstcamehewouldspareher，andnotsayanythingabouttheletterhehadgot。

Butwhentheymet，herfirstglancedivinedthatsomethinghadhappened，andherfirstquestionfrustratedhisgenerousintention。Hehadtotellherabouttheletter。Shewouldnotallowthatithadanysignificance，butshewishedhimtomakeanendofhisanxietiesandforestallwhateveritmightportendbyresigninghisplaceatonce。ShesaidshewasquitereadytogotoNewYork；shehadbeenthinkingitallover，andnowshereallywantedtogo。Heanswered，soberly，thathehadthoughtitover，too；andhedidnotwishtoleaveBoston，wherehehadlivedsolong，ortryanewwayoflifeifhecouldhelpit。Heinsistedthathewasquiteselfishinthis；intheirconcessionstheirquarrelvanished；theyagreedthatwhateverhappenedwouldbeforthebest；andthenextdaybewenttohisofficefortifiedforanyevent。

Hisdestiny，iftragical，presenteditselfwithanaspectwhichhemighthavefoundcomicifithadbeenanother"sdestiny。Mr。HubbellbroughtMarch"sremoval，softenedintheguiseofapromotion。ThemanagementatNewYork，itappeared，hadacteduponasuggestionofMr。Hubbell"s，andnowauthorizedhimtoofferMarchtheeditorshipofthemonthlypaperpublishedintheinterestofthecompany；hisofficewouldincludetheauthorshipofcircularsandleafletsinbehalfoflife-insurance，andwouldgiveplaytotheliterarytalentwhichMr。Hubbellhadbroughttotheattentionofthemanagement；hissalarywouldbenearlyasmuchasatpresent，buttheworkwouldnottakehiswholetime，andinaplacelikeNewYorkhecouldgetagreatdealofoutsidewriting，whichtheywouldnotobjecttohisdoing。

Mr。HubbellseemedsosureofhisacceptanceofaplaceineverywaycongenialtoamanofliterarytastesthatMarchwasafterwardsorryhedismissedthepropositionwithobviousirony，andhadneedlesslyhurtHubbell"sfeelings；butMrs。Marchhadnosuchregrets。Shewasonlyafraidthathehadnotmadehisrejectioncontemptuousenough。

"Andnow，"shesaid，"telegraphMr。Fulkerson，andwewillgoatonce。"

"IsupposeIcouldstillgetWatkins"sformerplace，"Marchsuggested。

"Never!"sheretorted。"Telegraphinstantly!"

TheywereonlyafraidnowthatFulkersonmighthavechangedhismind，andtheyhadawretcheddayinwhichtheyheardnothingfromhim。ItendedwithhisansweringMarch"stelegraminperson。Theyweresogladofhiscoming，andsotouchedbyhissatisfactionwithhisbargain，thattheylaidallthefactsofthecasebeforehim。HeenteredfullyintoMarch"ssenseofthejokelatentinMr。Hubbell"sproposition，andhetriedtomakeMrs。Marchbelievethathesharedherresentmentoftheindignityofferedherhusband。

Marchmadeashowofwillingnesstoreleasehiminviewofthechangedsituation，sayingthatheheldhimtonothing。Fulkersonlaughed，andaskedhimhowsoonhethoughthecouldcomeontoNewYork。HerefusedtoreopenthequestionofMarch"sfitnesswithhim；hesaidthey，hadgoneintothatthoroughly，butherecurredtoitwithMrs。March，andconfirmedherbeliefinhisgoodsenseonallpoints。Shehadbeenfromthefirstmomentdefiantlyconfidentofherhusband"sability，buttillshehadtalkedthematteroverwithFulkersonshewassecretlynotsureofit；or，atleast，shewasnotsurethatMarchwasnotrightindistrustinghimself。Whensheclearlyunderstood，now，whatFulkersonintended，shehadnolongeradoubt。Heexplainedhowtheenterprisedifferedfromothers，andhowheneededforitsdirectionamanwhocombinedgeneralbusinessexperienceandbusinessideaswithaloveforthethingandanaturalaptnessforit。Hedidnotwantayoungman，andyethewantedyouth——itsfreshness，itszest——suchasMarchwouldfeelinathinghecouldputhiswholeheartinto。Hewouldnotruninruts，likeanoldfellowwhohadgothackneyed；hewouldnothaveanyhobbies；

hewouldnothaveanyfriendsoranyenemies。Besides，hewouldhavetomeetpeople，andMarchwasamanthatpeopletookto；sheknewthatherself；hehadakindofcharm。Theeditorialmanagementwasgoingtobekeptinthebackground，asfarasthepublicwasconcerned；thepublicwastosupposethatthethingranitself。Fulkersondidnotcareforagreatliteraryreputationinhiseditor——heimpliedthatMarchhadaveryprettylittleone。Atthesametimetherelationsbetweenthecontributorsandthemanagementweretobemuchmore，intimatethanusual。Fulkersonfelthispersonaldisqualificationforworkingthethingsocially，andhecounteduponMr。Marchforthat；thatwastosay，hecounteduponMrs。March。

Sheprotestedhemustnotcountuponher；butitbynomeansdisabledFulkerson"sjudgmentinherviewthatMarchreallyseemedmorethananythingelseafancyofhis。Hehadbeenafancyofhers；andthesortofaffectionaterespectwithwhichFulkersonspokeofhimlaidforeversomedoubtshehadofthefinenessofFulkerson"smannersandreconciledhertothegraphicslanginessofhisspeech。

Theaffairwasnowirretrievable，butshegaveherapprovaltoitassuperblyasifitweresubmittedinitsinception。Only，Mr。FulkersonmustnotsupposesheshouldeverlikeNewYork。Shewouldnotdeceivehimonthatpoint。Shenevershouldlikeit。Shedidnotconceal，either，thatshedidnotliketakingthechildrenoutoftheFridayafternoonclass；andshedidnotbelievethatTomwouldeverbereconciledtogoingtoColumbia。ShetookcouragefromFulkerson"ssuggestionthatitwaspossibleforTomtocometoHarvardevenfromNewYork；andsheheapedhimwithquestionsconcerningthedomiciliationofthefamilyinthatcity。Hetriedtoknowsomethingaboutthematter，andhesucceededinseeminginterestedinpointsnecessarilyindifferenttohim。

VI。

Intheuprootingandtransplantingoftheirhomethatfollowed，Mrs。

Marchoftentrembledbeforedistantproblemsandpossiblecontingencies，butshewasnevertroubledbypresentdifficulties。Shekeptupwithtirelessenergy；andinthemomentsofdejectionandmisgivingwhichharassedherhusbandsheremaineddauntless，andputheartintohimwhenhehadlostitaltogether。

Shearrangedtoleavethechildreninthehousewiththeservants，whileshewentonwithMarchtolookupadwellingofsomesortinNewYork。

Itmadehimsicktothinkofit；and，whenitcametothepoint，hewouldratherhavegivenupthewholeenterprise。Shehadtonervehimtoit，torepresentmorethanoncethatnowtheyhadnochoicebuttomakethisexperiment。Everydetailofpartingwasanguishtohim。Hegotconsolationoutofthenotionoflettingthehousefurnishedforthewinter；thatimpliedtheirreturntoit，butitcosthimpangsofthekeenestmiserytoadvertiseit；and，whenatenantwasactuallyfound，itwasallhecoulddotogivehimthelease。Hetriedhiswife"sloveandpatienceasamanmusttowhomthefutureiseasyinthemassbutterribleasittranslatesitselfpiecemealintothepresent。Heexperiencedremorseinthepresenceofinanimatethingshewasgoingtoleaveasiftheyhadsensiblyreproachedhim，andananticipativehomesicknessthatseemedtostophisheart。Againandagainhiswifehadtomakehimreflectthathisdepressionwasnotprophetic。

Sheconvincedhimofwhathealreadyknew，andpersuadedhimagainsthisknowledgethathecouldbekeepinganeyeoutforsomethingtotakeholdofinBostoniftheycouldnotstandNewYork。Sheendedbytellinghimthatitwastoobadtomakehercomforthiminatrialthatwasreallysomuchmoreatrialtoher。ShehadtosupporthiminalastaccessofdespairontheirwaytotheAlbanydepotthemorningtheystartedtoNewYork；butwhenthefinaldetailshadbeendealtwith，theticketsbought，thetrunkschecked，andthehandbagshungupintheircar，andthefuturehadmasseditselfagainatasafedistanceandwassevenhoursandtwohundredmilesaway，hisspiritsbegantoriseandherstosink。Hewouldhavebeenwillingtocelebratethetaste，thedomesticrefinement，oftheladies"waiting-roominthedepot，wheretheyhadspentaquarterofanhourbeforethetrainstarted。Hesaidhedidnotbelievetherewasanotherstationintheworldwheremahoganyrocking-chairswereprovided；

thatthedull-redwarmthofthewallswasascozyasaneveninglamp，andthathealwayshopedtoseeafirekindledonthatvasthearthandunderthataestheticmantel，buthesupposednowhenevershould。Hesaiditwasallverydifferentfromthattunnel，theoldAlbanydepot，wheretheyhadwaitedthemorningtheywenttoNewYorkwhentheywerestartingontheirweddingjourney。

"Themorning，Basil!"criedhiswife。"Wewentatnight；andweweregoingtotaketheboat，butitstormedso!"Shegavehimaglanceofsuchreproachthathecouldnotansweranything，andnowsheaskedhimwhetherhesupposedtheircookandsecondgirlwouldbecontentedwithoneofthosedarkholeswheretheyputgirlstosleepinNewYorkflats，andwhatsheshoulddoifMargaret，especially，lefther。HeventuredtosuggestthatMargaretwouldprobablylikethecity；but，ifsheleft，therewereplentyofothergirlstobehadinNewYork。Sherepliedthattherewerenoneshecouldtrust，andthatsheknewMargaretwouldnotstay。Heaskedherwhyshetookher，then——whyshedidnotgiveherupatonce；andsheansweredthatitwouldbeinhumantogiveherupjustintheedgeofthewinter。Shehadpromisedtokeepher；andMargaretwaspleasedwiththenotionofgoingtoNewYork，whereshehadacousin。

"Thenperhapsshe"llbepleasedwiththenotionofstaying，"hesaid。

"Oh，muchyouknowaboutit!"sheretorted；and，inviewofthehypotheticaldifficultyandhiswantofsympathy，shefellintoagloom，fromwhichsherousedherselfatlastbydeclaringthat，iftherewasnothingelseintheflattheytook，thereshouldbealightkitchenandabright，sunnybedroomforMargaret。Heexpressedthebeliefthattheycouldeasilyfindsuchaflatasthat，andshedenouncedhisfataloptimism，whichbuoyedhimupintheabsenceofanundertakingandlethimdropintothedepthsofdespairinitspresence。

Heownedthisdefectoftemperament，buthesaidthatitcompensatedtheoppositeinhercharacter。"Isupposethat"soneofthechiefusesofmarriage；peoplesupplementoneanother，andformaprettyfairsortofhumanbeingtogether。Theonlydrawbacktothetheoryisthatunmarriedpeopleseemeachascompleteandwholeasamarriedpair。"

Sherefusedtobeamused；sheturnedherfacetothewindowandputherhandkerchiefupunderherveil。

Itwasnottillthedining-carwasattachedtotheirtrainthattheywerebothabletoescapeforanhourintothecare-freemoodoftheirearliertravels，whentheyweresoeasilytakenoutofthemselves。Thetimehadbeenwhentheycouldhavefoundenoughintheconjecturalfortunesandcharactersoftheirfellow-passengerstooccupythem。Thisphaseoftheiryouthhadlastedlong，andtheworldwasstillfullofnoveltyandinterestforthem；butitrequiredallthecharmofthedining-carnowtolaytheanxietiesthatbesetthem。Itwassopotentforthemoment，however，thattheycouldtakeanobjectiveviewattheirsittingcozilydowntheretogether，asiftheyhadonlythemselvesintheworld。Theywonderedwhatthechildrenweredoing，thechildrenwhopossessedthemsointenselywhenpresent，andnow，byafantasticoperationofabsence，seemedalmostnon-existents。Theytriedtobehomesickforthem，butfailed；theyrecognizedwithcomfortableself-abhorrencethatthiswasterrible，butownedafascinationinbeingalone；atthesametime，theycouldnotimaginehowpeoplefeltwhoneverhadanychildren。Theycontrastedtheluxuryofdiningthatway，witheveryadvantageexceptabandofmusic，andtheoldwayofrushingouttosnatchafearfuljoyatthelunch-countersoftheWorcesierandSpringfieldandNewHavenstations。TheyhadnotgoneoftentoNewYorksincetheirweddingjourney，buttheyhadgoneoftenenoughtohavenotedthechangefromthelunch-countertothelunch-basketbroughtinthetrain，fromwhichyoucouldsubsistwithmoreeaseanddignity，butseemeddestinedtoasuperabundanceofpickles，whateveryouordered。

Theythoughtwellofthemselvesnowthattheycouldbebothcriticalandtolerantofflavorsnotverysharplydistinguishedfromoneanotherintheirdinner，andtheylingeredovertheircoffeeandwatchedtheautumnlandscapethroughthewindows。

"Notquitesoloudapatternofcalicothisyear，"hesaid，withpatronizingforbearancetowardthepaintedwoodlandswhirlingby。

"Doyouseehowtheforegroundnextthetrainrushesfromusandthebackgroundkeepsaheadofus，whilethemiddledistanceseemsstationary?

Idon"tthinkIevernoticedthateffectbefore。Thereoughttobesomethingliteraryinit:retreatingpastandadvancingfutureanddeceitfullypermanentpresent——somethinglikethat?"

Hiswifebrushedsomecrumbsfromherlapbeforerising。"Yes。Youmustn"twasteanyoftheseideasnow。"

"Ohno；itwouldbemoneyoutofFulkerson"spocket。"

VII。

Theywenttoaquiethotelfardown-town，andtookasmallapartmentwhichtheythoughttheycouldeasilyaffordforthedayortwotheyneedspendinlookingupafurnishedflat。TheywereusedtostayingatthishotelwhentheycameonforalittleoutinginNewYork，aftersomerigidwinterinBoston，atthetimeofthespringexhibitions。Theywererememberedtherefromyeartoyear；thecoloredcall-boys，whoneverseemedtogetanyolder，smileduponthem，andtheclerkcalledMarchbynameevenbeforeheregistered。HeaskedifMrs。Marchwerewithhim，andsaidthenhesupposedtheywouldwanttheirusualquarters；andinamomenttheyweredomesticatedinafarinteriorthatseemedtohavebeenwaitingfortheminaclean，quiet，patientdisoccupationeversincetheyleftittwoyearsbefore。Thelittleparlor，withitsgiltpaperandebonizedfurniture，wasthelightestoftherooms，butitwasnotverylightatnoondaywithoutthegas，whichthebell-boynowflaredupforthem。Theuproarofthecitycametoitinasoothingmurmur，andtheytookpossessionofitspeaceandcomfortwithopencelebration。Afterall，theyagreed，therewasnoplaceintheworldsodelightfulasahotelapartmentlikethat；theboastedcharmsofhomewerenothingtoit；

andthenthemagicofitsbeingalwaysthere，readyforanyone，everyone，justasifitwereforsomeonealone:itwasliketheexperienceofanArabianNightsherocometrueforalltherace。

"Oh，whycan"twealwaysstayhere，justwetwo!"Mrs。Marchsighedtoherhusband，ashecameoutofhisroomrubbinghisfaceredwiththetowel，whileshestudiedanewarrangementofherbonnetandhandbagonthemantel。

"Andignorethepast?I"mwilling。I"venodoubtthatthechildrencouldgetonperfectlywellwithoutus，andcouldfindsomelotintheschemeofProvidencethatwouldreallybejustaswellforthem。"

"Yes；orcouldcontrivesomehownevertohaveexisted。Ishouldinsistuponthat。Iftheyare，don"tyouseethatwecouldn"twishthemnottobe?"

"Ohyes；Iseeyourpoint；it"ssimplyincontrovertible。"

Shelaughedandsaid:"Well，atanyrate，ifwecan"tfindaflattosuituswecanallcrowdintothesethreeroomssomehow，forthewinter，andthenbrowseaboutformeals。Bytheweekwecouldgetthemmuchcheaper；

andwecouldsaveontheeating，astheydoinEurope。Oronsomethingelse。"

"Somethingelse，probably，"saidMarch。"Butwewon"ttakethisapartmenttilltheidealfurnishedflatwinksoutaltogether。Weshallnothaveanytrouble。WecaneasilyfindsomeonewhoisgoingSouthforthewinterandwillbegladtogiveuptheirflat"totherightparty"atanominalrent。That"smynotion。That"swhattheEvansesdidonewinterwhentheycameonhereinFebruary。Allbutthenominalityoftherent。"

"Yes，andwecouldpayaverygoodrentandstillsavesomethingonlettingourhouse。YoucansettleyourselvesinahundreddifferentwaysinNewYork，thatisonemeritoftheplace。Butifeverythingelsefails，wecancomebacktothis。Iwantyoutotaketherefusalofit，Basil。Andwe"llcommencelookingthisveryeveningassoonaswe"vehaddinner。IcutalotofthingsoutoftheHeraldaswecameon。

Seehere!"

Shetookalongstripofpaperoutofherhand-bagwithminuteadvertisementspinnedtransverselyuponit，andformingtheeffectofsomeglitteringnondescriptvertebrate。

"Lookssomethinglikethesea-serpent，"saidMarch，dryinghishandsonthetowel，whileheglancedupanddownthelist。"Butwesha"n"thaveanytrouble。I"venodoubttherearehalfadozenthingstherethatwilldo。Youhaven"tgoneup-town?Becausewemustbenearthe"EveryOtherWeek"office。"

"No；butIwishMr。Fulkersonhadn"tcalleditthat!Italwaysmakesonethinkof"jamyesterdayandjamtomorrow，butneverjamto-day，"in"ThroughtheLooking-Glass。"They"reallinthisregion。"

Theywerestillattheirtable，besidealowwindow，wheresomesortofnever-bloomingshrubsymmetricallybalanceditselfinalargepot，withaleaftotherightandaleaftotheleftandaspearupthemiddle，whenFulkersoncamesteppingsquare-footedlyoverthethickdining-roomcarpet。Hewaggedintheairagayhandofsalutationatsightofthem，andofrepressionwhentheyofferedtorisetomeethim；then，withanapparentsimultaneityofactionhegaveahandtoeach，pulledupachairfromthenexttable，puthishatandstickonthefloorbesideit，andseatedhimself。

"Well，you"veburnedyourshipsbehindyou，sureenough，"hesaid，beaminghissatisfactionuponthemfromeyesandteeth。

"Theshipsareburned，"saidMarch，"thoughI"mnotsurewealonedidit。Buthereweare，lookingforshelter，andalittleanxiousaboutthedispositionofthenatives。"

"Oh，they"reanawfulpeaceablelot，"saidFulkerson。"I"vebeenroundamongthecaciquesalittle，andIthinkI"vegottwoorthreeplacesthatwilljustsuityou，Mrs。March。Howdidyouleavethechildren?"

"Oh，howkindofyou!Verywell，andveryproudtobeleftinchargeofthesmokingwrecks。"

Fulkersonnaturallypaidnoattentiontowhatshesaid，beingbutsecondarilyinterestedinthechildrenatthebest。"Herearesomethingsrightinthisneighborhood，withingunshotoftheoffice，andifyouwantyoucangoandlookatthemto-night；theagentsgavemehouseswherethepeoplewouldbein。"

"Wewillgoandlookattheminstantly，"saidMrs。March。"Or，assoonasyou"vehadcoffeewithus。"

"Neverdo，"Fulkersonreplied。Hegathereduphishatandstick。"JustrushedintosayHello，andgottorunrightawayagain。Itellyou，March，thingsarehumming。I"mafterthosefellowswithasharpstickallthewhiletokeepthemfromloafingonmyhouse，andatthesametimeI"mjustbubblingoverwithideasabout"TheLoneHand——wishwecouldcallitthat!——thatIwanttotalkupwithyou。"

"Well，cometobreakfast，"saidMrs。March，cordially。

"No；theideaswillkeeptillyou"vesecuredyourlodgeinthisvastwilderness。Good-bye。"

"You"reasniceasyoucanbe，Mr。Fulkerson，"shesaid，"tokeepusinmindwhenyouhavesomuchtooccupyyou。"

"Iwouldn"thaveanythingtooccupymeifIhadn"tkeptyouinmind，Mrs。

March，"saidFulkerson，goingoffuponasgoodaspeechashecouldapparentlyhopetomake。

"Why，Basil，"saidMrs。March，whenhewasgone，"he"scharming!。

Butnowwemustn"tloseaninstant。Let"sseewheretheplacesare。"

Sheranoverthehalf-dozenagents"permits。"Capital-first-rate-theverything-everyone。Well，Iconsiderourselvessettled!Wecangobacktothechildrento-morrowifwelike，thoughIratherthinkIshouldliketostayoveranotherdayandgetalittlerestedforthefinalpullingupthat"sgottocome。Butthissimplifieseverythingenormously，andMr。Fulkersonisasthoughtfulandassweetashecanbe。