第6章

"Don"tspeakofit，madam，"saidthegentleman，"ifyoucanoverlookthetroubleweawegivingyouatsuchanunseasonablehouah。"

"Ah"mahoasekeepahmahself，"MissWoodburnjoinedin，"andAhknowho"

toaccyoantfo"everything。"

Mrs。Leightonledthewayup-stairs，andtheyoungladydecideduponthelargefrontroomandsmallsideroomonthethirdstory。Shesaidshecouldtakethesmallone，andtheotherwassolargethatherfathercouldbothsleepandworkinit。SheseemednotashamedtoaskifMrs。

Leighton"spricewasinflexible，butgavewaylaughingwhenherfatherrefusedtohaveanybargaining，withahaughtyself-respectwhichhesoftenedtodeferenceforMrs。Leighton。Hisimpulsivenessopenedthewayforsomeconfidencefromher，andbeforetheaffairwasarrangedshewasenjoyinginherqualityofclericalwidowthebalmoftheVirginians"

reverentsympathy。Theysaidtheywerechurchpeoplethemselves。

"Ahdon"tknowwhatyo"mothahmeansbyyo"hoasenotbeinginoddah，"

theyoungladysaidtoAlmaastheywentdown-stairstogether。"Ah"magreathoasekeepahmahself，andAhmeanwhatAhsay。"

TheyhadallturnedmechanicallyintotheroomwheretheLeightonsweresittingwhentheWoodburnsrang:Mr。Woodburnconsentedtositdown，andheremainedlisteningtoMrs。LeightonwhilehisdaughterbustleduptothesketchespinnedroundtheroomandquestionedAlmaaboutthem。

"Ahsupposeyouawegoingtobeagreatawtust?"shesaid，infriendlybanter，whenAlmaownedtohavingdonethethings。"Ah"veagreatnotiontotakeafewlessonsmahself。Who"syo"teachah?"

AlmasaidshewasdrawinginMr。Wetmore"sclass，andMissWoodburnsaid:

"Well，it"sjustbeautiful，MissLeighton；it"sgrand。Ahsupposeit"sraghtexpensive，now?Mahgoodness!wehavetocyoantthecoastsomuchnowadays；itseemstomewedonothingbutcyoantit。Ah"dliketohahsomethingoncewithoutaskin"theprice。"

"Well，ifyoudidn"taskit，"saidAlma，"Idon"tbelieveMr。Wetmorewouldeverknowwhatthepriceofhislessonswas。Hehastothink，whenyouaskhim。"

"Why，hemostbechomming，"saidMissWoodburn。"PerhapsAhmaghtgetthelessonsfornothingfromhim。Well，AhbelieveinmysoulAh"lltrah。Nowho"didyoubegin?andho"doyouexpecttogetanythingoatofit?"SheturnedonAlmaeyesbrimmingwithashrewdmixtureoffunandearnest，andAlmamadenoteofthefactthatshehadanearlynineteenth-centuryface，round，arch，alittlecoquettish，butextremelysensibleandunspoiled-looking，suchasusedtobepaintedagooddealinminiatureatthatperiod；atendencyofherbrownhairtotwineandtwistatthetempleshelpedtheeffect；ahighcombwouldhavecompletedit，Almafelt，ifshehadherbonnetoff。ItwasalmostaYankeecountry-

girltype；butperhapsitappearedsotoAlmabecauseitwas，likethat，pureAnglo-Saxon。Almaherself，withherdull，darkskin，slenderinfigure，slowinspeech，witharistocraticformsinherlonghands，andtheovalofherfinefacepointedtoalongchin，feltherselfmuchmoreSoutherninstylethanthisblooming，bubbling，bustlingVirginian。

"Idon"tknow，"sheanswered，slowly。

"Goingtotakepo"traits，"suggestedMissWoodburn，"orjustpainttheahdeal?"Ademureburlesquelurkedinhertone。

"IsupposeIdon"texpecttopaintatall，"saidAlma。"I"mgoingtoillustratebooks——ifanybodywillletme。"

"Ahshouldthinkthey"djustjoampatyou，"saidMissWoodburn。"Ah"lltellyouwhatlet"sdo，MissLeighton:youmakesomepictures，andAh"llwrahteabookfo"them。Ah"vegottodosomething。Alimaghtaswellwrahteabook。YouknowweSouthernershaveallhadtogotowoak。ButAhdon"tmandit。ItellpapaIshouldn"tca"fo"thedisgraceofbein"

poo"ifitwasn"tfo"theinconvenience。"

"Yes，it"sinconvenient，"saidAlma；"butyouforgetitwhenyou"reatwork，don"tyouthink?"

"Mah，yes!Perhapsthat"sonereasonwhypoo"peoplehavetowoaksohawd-tokeeptheirwandsofftheirpoverty。"

Thegirlsbothtittered，andturnedfromtalkinginalowtonewiththeirbackstowardtheirelders，andfacedthem。

"Well，Madison，"saidMr。Woodburn，"itistimeweshouldgo。Ibidyougood-night，madam，"hebowedtoMrs。Leighton。"Good-night，"hebowedagaintoAlma。

Hisdaughtertookleaveoftheminformalphrase，butwithajollycordialityofmannerthatdeformalizedit。"Weshallberoandraghtsooninthemawning，then，"shethreatenedatthedoor。

"Weshallbeallreadyforyou，"Almacalledafterherdownthesteps。

"Well，Alma?"hermotherasked，whenthedoorcloseduponthem。

"Shedoesn"tknowanymoreaboutart，"saidAlma，"than——nothingatall。

Butshe"sjollyandgood-hearted。Shepraisedeverythingthatwasbadinmysketches，andsaidshewasgoingtotakelessonsherself。Whenapersontalksabouttakinglessons，asiftheycouldlearnit，youknowwheretheybelongartistically。"

Mrs。Leightonshookherheadwithasigh。"IwishIknewwheretheybelongedfinancially。Weshallhavetogetintwogirlsatonce。I

shallhavetogooutthefirstthinginthemorning，andthenourtroubleswillbegin。"

"Well，didn"tyouwantthemtobegin?Iwillstayhomeandhelpyougetready。Ourprosperitycouldn"tbeginwithoutthetroubles，ifyoumeanboarders，andboardersmeanservants。Ishallbeverygladtobeafflictedwithacookforawhilemyself。"

"Yes；butwedon"tknowanythingaboutthesepeople，orwhethertheywillbeabletopayus。Didshetalkasiftheywerewelloff?"

"Shetalkedasiftheywerepoor；poo"shecalledit。"

"Yes，howqueerlyshepronounced，"saidMrs。Leighton。"Well，IoughttohavetoldthemthatIrequiredthefirstweekinadvance。"

"Mamma!Ifthat"sthewayyou"regoingtoact!"

"Oh，ofcourse，Icouldn"t，afterhewouldn"tletherbargainfortherooms。Ididn"tlikethat。"

"Idid。Andyoucanseethattheywereperfectladies；oratleastoneofthem。"Almalaughedatherself，buthermotherdidnotnotice。

"Theirbeingladieswon"thelpifthey"vegotnomoney。It"llmakeitalltheworse。"

"Verywell，then；wehavenomoney，either。We"reamatchforthemanydaythere。Wecanshowthemthattwocanplayatthatgame。"

III。

ArnusBeaton"sstudiolookedatfirstglancelikemanyotherpainters"

studios。Agraywallquadrangularlyvaultedtoalargenorthlight；

castsoffeet，hands，faceshungtonailsabout；prints，sketchesinoilandwater-colorstuckhereandtherelowerdown；aricketytable，withpaintandpalettesandbottlesofvarnishandsiccativetossedcomfortlesslyonit；aneasel，withastripofsomefadedmediaevalsilktrailingfromit；alayfiguresimperinginincompletenakedness，withitsheadononeside，andastockingononeleg，andaJapanesedressdroppedbeforeit；dustyrugsandskinskickingoverthevarnishedfloor；

canvasesfacedtothemop-board；anopentrunkoverflowingwithcostumes:

thesefeaturesonemightnoticeanywhere。But，besides，therewasabookcasewithanunusualnumberofbooksinit，andtherewasanopencolonialwriting-desk，claw-footed，brass-handled，andscutcheoned，withforeignperiodicals——FrenchandEnglish——litteringitsleaf，andsomepagesofmanuscriptscatteredamongthem。Aboveall，therewasasculptor"srevolvingstand，supportingabustwhichBeatonwasmodelling，withaneyefixedassimultaneouslyaspossibleontheclayandontheheadoftheoldmanwhosatontheplatformbesideit。

Fewmenhavebeenabletogetthroughtheworldwithseveralgiftstoadvantageinall；andmostmenseemhandicappedfortheraceiftheyhavemorethanone。Buttheyareapparentlyimmenselyinterestedaswellasdistractedbythem。WhenBeatonwaswriting，hewouldhaveagreed，uptoacertainpoint，withanyonewhosaidliteraturewashisproperexpression；but，then，whenhewaspainting，uptoacertainpoint，hewouldhavemaintainedagainsttheworldthathewasacolorist，andsupremelyacolorist。Atthecertainpointineitherarthewasapttobreakawayinafrenzyofdisgustandwreakhimselfuponsomeother。

Inthesemoodshesometimesdesignedelevationsofbuildings，verystriking，veryoriginal，verychic，veryeverythingbuthabitable。

Itwasinthiswaythathehadtriedhishandonsculpture，whichhehadatfirstapproachedratherslightinglyasameredecorativeaccessoryofarchitecture。Butithadgrowninhisrespecttillhemaintainedthattheaccessorybusinessoughttobealltheotherway:thattemplesshouldberaisedtoenshrinestatues，notstatuesmadetoornamenttemples；thatwasputtingthecartbeforethehorsewithavengeance。ThiswaswhenhehadcarriedaplasticstudysofarthatthesculptorswhosawitsaidthatBeatonmighthavebeenanarchitect，butwouldcertainlyneverbeasculptor。Atthesametimehedidsomehurried，nervousthingsthathadapopularcharm，andthatsoldinplasterreproductions，totheprofitofanother。Beatonjustlydespisedthepopularcharminthese，aswellasinthepaintingshesoldfromtimetotime；hesaiditwasflatburglarytohavetakenmoneyforthem，andhewouldhavebeenlivingalmostwhollyuponthebountyoftheoldtombstone-cutterinSyracuseifithadnotbeenforthesyndicateletterswhichhesuppliedtoFulkersonfortendollarsaweek。

Theywereverywelldone，buthehateddoingthemafterthefirsttwoorthree，andhadtobepunchedupforthembyFulkerson，whodidnotceasetoprizethem，andwhoneverfailedtopunchhimup。Beatonbeingwhathewas，Fulkersonwashiscreditoraswellaspatron；andFulkersonbeingwhathewas，hadanenthusiasticpatiencewiththeelusive，facile，adaptable，unpracticalnatureofBeaton。Hewasveryproudofhisart-

letters，ashecalledthem；butthenFulkersonwasproudofeverythinghesecuredforhissyndicate。Thefactthathehadsecureditgaveitvalue；hefeltasifhehadwrittenithimself。

Onearttroduponanother"sheelswithBeaton。Thedaybeforehehadrusheduponcanvastheconceptionofapicturewhichhesaidtohimselfwasglorious，andtoothers(atthetabled"hoteofMaroni)wasnotbad。

Hehadworkedatitinafurytillthelightfailedhim，andheexecratedthedyingday。ButhelithislampandtransferredtheprocessofhisthinkingfromthecanvastotheopeningofthesyndicateletterwhichbeknewFulkersonwouldbecomingforinthemorning。Heremainedtalkingsolongafterdinnerinthesamestrainashehadpaintedandwritteninthathecouldnotfinishhisletterthatnight。Thenextmorning，whilehewasmakinghisteaforbreakfast，thepostmanbroughthimaletterfromhisfatherenclosingalittlecheck，andbegginghimwithtender，almostdeferential，urgencetocomeaslightlyuponhimaspossible，forjustnowhisexpenseswereveryheavy。ItbroughttearsofshameintoBeaton"seyes——thefine，smouldering，floatingeyesthatmanyladiesadmired，underthethickbang——andhesaidtohimselfthatifhewerehalfamanhewouldgohomeandgotoworkcuttinggravestonesinhisfather"sshop。Buthewouldwait，atleast，tofinishhispicture；andasasoptohisconscience，tostayitsimmediateravening，heresolvedtofinishthatsyndicateletterfirst，andborrowenoughmoneyfromFulkersontobeabletosendhisfather"scheckback；or，ifnotthat，thentoreturnthesumofitpartlyinFulkerson"scheck。WhilehestillteemedwithbothofthesegoodintentionstheoldmanfromwhomhewasmodellinghisheadofJudascame，andBeatonsawthathemustgetthroughwithhimbeforehefinishedeitherthepictureortheletter；hewouldhavetopayhimforthetime，anyway。HeutilizedtheremorsewithwhichhewastinglingtogivehisJudasanexpressionwhichhefoundnovelinthetreatmentofthatcharacter——alookofsuchtouching，appealingself-

abhorrencethatBeaton"sartisticjoyinitamountedtorapture；betweenthebreathlessmomentswhenheworkedindeadsilenceforaneffectthatwastryingtoescapehim，hesangandwhistledfragmentsofcomicopera。

InoneofthehushestherecameablowontheoutsideofthedoorthatmadeBeatonjump，andswearwithamodifiedprofanitythatmergeditselfinapostrophicprayer。HeknewitmustbeFulkerson，andafterroaring"Comein!"hesaidtothemodel，"That"lldothismorning，Lindau。"

FulkersonsquaredhisfeetinfrontofthebustandcompareditbyfleetingglanceswiththeoldmanashegotstifflyupandsufferedBeatontohelphimonwithhisthin，shabbyovercoat。

"Canyoucometo-morrow，Lindau?"

"No，notto-morrow，Mr。Peaton。Ihaftozitfortheyoungladties。"

"Oh!"saidBeaton。"Wet-more"sclass?IsMissLeightondoingyou?"

"Idon"tknowtheirnamess，"Lindaubegan，whenFulkersonsaid:

"Hopeyouhaven"tforgottenmine，Mr。Lindau?ImetyouwithMr。MarchatMaroni"sonenight。"Fulkersonofferedhimauniversallyshakablehand。

"Ohyes!Iamgladttozeeyouagain，Mr。Vulkerson。AndMr。Marge——hedon"tzeemtogomeanymore?"

"Uptohiseyesinwork。BeenmovingonfromBostonandgettingsettled，andstartinginonourenterprise。Beatonherehasn"tgotaveryflatteringlikenessofyou，hey?Well，good-morning，"hesaid，forLindauappearednottohaveheardhimandwasescapingwithabowthroughthedoor。

Beatonlitacigarettewhichhepinchednervouslybetweenhislipsbeforehespoke。"You"vecomeforthatletter，Isuppose，Fulkerson?Itisn"tdone。"

Fulkersonturnedfromstaringatthebusttowhichhehadmounted。"Whatyoufrettingaboutthatletterfor?Idon"twantyourletter。"

Beatonstoppedbitinghiscigaretteandlookedathim。"Don"twantmyletter?Oh，verygood!"hebristledup。Hetookhiscigarettefromhislips，andblewthesmokethroughhisnostrils，andthenlookedatFulkerson。

"No；Idon"twantyourletter；Iwantyou。"

Beacondisdainedtoaskanexplanation，butheinternallyloweredhiscrest，whilehecontinuedtolookatFulkersonwithoutchanginghisdefiantcountenance。ThissuitedFulkersonwellenough，andhewentonwithrelish，"I"mgoingoutofthesyndicatebusiness，oldman，andI"monanewthing。"Heputhislegoverthebackofachairandrestedhisfootonitsseat，and，withonehandinhispocket，helaidtheschemeof"EveryOtherWeek"beforeBeatonwiththehelpoftheother。Theartistwentabouttheroom，meanwhile，withaneffectofindifferencewhichbynomeansoffendedFulkerson。Hetooksomewaterintohismouthfromatumbler，whichheblewinafinemistovertheheadofJudasbeforeswathingitinadirtycottoncloth；hewashedhisbrushesandsethispalette；heputuponhiseaselthepicturehehadblockedonthedaybefore，andstaredatitwithagloomyface；thenhegatheredthesheetsofhisunfinishedlettertogetherandslidthemintoadrawerofhiswriting-desk。BythetimehehadfinishedandturnedagaintoFulkerson，Fulkersonwassaying:"IdidthinkwecouldhavethefirstnumberoutbyNew-Year"s；butitwilltakelongerthanthat——amonthlonger；butI"mnotsorry，fortheholidayskilleverything；andbyFebruary，orthemiddleofFebruary，peoplewillgettheirbreathagainandbegintolookroundandaskwhat"snew。Thenwe"llreplyinthelanguageofShakespeareandMilton，"EveryOtherWeek；anddon"tyouforgetit。""

Hetookdownhislegandasked，"Gotapipeof"baccyanywhere?"

BeatonnoddedataclaystemstickingoutofaJapanesevaseofbronzeonhismantel。"There"syours，"hesaid；andFulkersonsaid，"Thanks，"andfilledthepipeandsatdownandbegantosmoketranquilly。

Beatonsawthathewouldhavetospeaknow。"Andwhatdoyouwantwithme?"

"You?Ohyes，"Fulkersonhumorouslydramatizedareturntohimselffromapensiveabsence。"Wantyoufortheartdepartment。"

Beatonshookhishead。"I"mnotyourman，Fulkerson，"hesaid，compassionately。"Youwantamorepracticalhand，onethat"sintouchwithwhat"sgoing。I"mgettingfurtherandfurtherawayfromthiscenturyanditsclaptrap。Idon"tbelieveinyourenterprise；Idon"trespectit，andIwon"thaveanythingtodowithit。Itwould-chokeme，thatkindofthing。"

"That"sallright，"saidFulkerson。Heesteemedamanwhowasnotgoingtolethimselfgocheap。"Orifitisn"t，wecanmakeit。YouandMarchwillpulltogetherfirst-rate。Idon"tcarehowmuchidealyouputintothething；themorethebetter。Icanlookaftertheotherendoftheschoonermyself。"

"Youdon"tunderstandme，"saidBeaton。"I"mnottryingtogetariseoutofyou。I"minearnest。Whatyouwantissomemanwhocanhavepatiencewithmediocrityputtingonthestyleofgenius，andwithgeniusturningmediocrityonhishands。Ihaven"tanyluckwithmen；Idon"tgetonwiththem；I"mnotpopular。"Beatonrecognizedthefactwiththesatisfactionwhichitsomehowalwaysbringstohumanpride。

"Somuchthebetter!"Fulkersonwasreadyforhimatthispoint。

"Idon"twantyoutoworktheold-establishedracketthereputations。

WhenIwantthemI"llgotothemwithapocketfulofrocks——knock-downargument。Butmyideaistodealwiththevolunteermaterial。Lookatthewaytheperiodicalsarecarriedonnow!Names!names!names!Inacountrythat"sjustboilingoverwithliteraryandartisticabilityofeverykindthenewfellowshavenochance。Theeditorsallengagetheirmaterial。Idon"tbelievetherearefiftyvolunteercontributionsprintedinayearinalltheNewYorkmagazines。It"sallwrong；it"ssuicidal。"EveryOtherWeek"isgoingbacktothegoodoldanonymoussystem，theonlyfairsystem。It"sworkedwellinliterature，anditwillworkwellinart。"

"Itwon"tworkwellinart，"saidBeaton。"Thereyouhaveatotallydifferentsetofconditions。Whatyou"llgetbyinvitingvolunteerillustrationswillbealotofamateurtrash。Andhowareyougoingtosubmityourliteratureforillustration?Itcan"tbedone。Atanyrate，Iwon"tundertaketodoit。"

"We"llgetupaSchoolofIllustration，"saidFulkerson，withcynicalsecurity。"Youcanreadthethingsandexplain"em，andyourpupilscanmaketheirsketchesunderyoureye。Theywouldn"tbemuchfurtheroutthanmostillustrationsareiftheyneverknewwhattheywereillustrating。Youmightselectfromwhatcomesinandmakeupasortofpictorialvariationstotheliteraturewithoutanyparticularreferencetoit。Well，Iunderstandyoutoaccept?"

"No，youdon"t。"

"Thatis，toconsenttohelpuswithyouradviceandcriticism。That"sallIwant。Itwon"tcommityoutoanything；andyoucanbeasanonymousasanybody。"AtthedoorFulkersonadded:"By-the-way，thenewman——thefellowthat"stakenmyoldsyndicatebusiness——willwantyoutokeepon；

butIguesshe"sgoingtotrytobeatyoudownonthepriceoftheletters。He"sgoinginforretrenchment。Ibroughtalongacheckforthisone；I"mtopayforthat。"HeofferedBeatonanenvelope。

"Ican"ttakeit，Fulkerson。Theletter"spaidforalready。"Fulkersonsteppedforwardandlaidtheenvelopeonthetableamongthetubesofpaint。

"Itisn"tthelettermerely。Ithoughtyouwouldn"tobjecttoalittleadvanceonyour"EveryOtherWeek"worktillyoukindofgotstarted。"

Beatonremainedinflexible。"Itcan"tbedone，Fulkerson。Don"tItellyouIcan"tsellmyselfouttoathingIdon"tbelievein?Can"tyouunderstandthat?"

"Ohyes；Icanunderstandthatfirst-rate。Idon"twanttobuyyou；I

wanttoborrowyou。It"sallright。See?Comeroundwhenyoucan；I"dliketointroduceyoutooldMarch。That"sgoingtobeouraddress。"Heputacardonthetablebesidetheenvelope，andBeatonallowedhimtogowithoutmakinghimtakethecheckback。Hehadrememberedhisfather"splea；thatunnervedhim，andhepromisedhimselfagaintoreturnhisfather"spoorlittlecheckandtoworkonthatpictureandgiveittoFulkersonforthecheckhehadleftandforhisbackdebts。Heresolvedtogotoworkonthepictureatonce；hehadsethispaletteforit；butfirsthelookedatFulkerson"scheck。Itwasforonlyfiftydollars，andthecannyScotchbloodinBeatonrebelled；hecouldnotletthispicturegoforanysuchmoney；hefeltalittlelikeamanwhosegenerosityhasbeentrifledwith。Theconflictofemotionsbrokehimup，andhecouldnotwork。

IV

ThedaywastedawayinBeaton"shands；athalf-pastfouro"clockhewentouttoteaatthehouseofaladywhowasAtHomethatafternoonfromfourtillseven。BythistimeBeatonwasinpossessionofoneofthoseotherselvesofwhichweeachhaveseveralaboutus，andwasagainthelaconic，staccato，ratherworldlifiedyoungartistwhosemomentsofacontrolledutteranceandacertaindistinctionofmannerhadcommendedhimtoMrs。Horn"sfancyinthesummeratSt。Barnaby。

Mrs。Horn"sroomswerelarge，andtheyneverseemedveryfull，thoughthisperhapswasbecausepeoplewerealwayssoquiet。Theladies，whooutnumberedthemententoone，astheyalwaysdoataNewYorktea，weredressedinsympathywiththelowtoneeveryonespokein，andwiththesubduedlightwhichgaveacrepuscularuncertaintytothefewobjects，thedimpictures，theunexcitedupholstery，oftherooms。Onebreathedfreeofbric-a-bracthere，andthenew-comerbreathedsoftlyasonedoesongoingintochurchafterservicehasbegun。Thismightbeasuggestionfromthevoicelessbehavioroftheman-servantwholetyouin，butitwasalsobecauseMrs。Horn"sAtHomewasaceremony，adecorum，andnotfestival。Atfargreaterhousestherewasmoregayety，atricherhousestherewasmorefreedom；thesuppressionatMrs。Horn"swasapersonal，notasocial，effect；itwasaneffluxofhercharacter，demure，silentious，vague，butverycorrect。

Beatoneasilyfoundhiswaytoheraroundthegroupedskirtsandamongthedetachedfigures，andreceivedapressureofwelcomefromthehandwhichshemomentarilyrelaxedfromthetea-pot。Shesatbehindatableputcrosswiseofaremotecorner，andofferedteatopeoplewhomanieceofhersreceivedprovisionallyorspedfinallyintheouterroom。Theydidnotusuallytaketea，andwhentheydidtheydidnotusuallydrinkit；butBeatonwas，feverishlygladofhiscup；hetookrumandlemoninit，andstoodtalkingatMrs。Horn"ssidetillthenextarrivalshoulddisplacehim:hetalkedinhisFrenchmanner。

"Ihavebeenhopingtoseeyou，"shesaid。"IwantedtoaskyouabouttheLeightons。Didtheyreallycome?"

"Ibelieveso。Theyareintown——yes。Ihaven"tseenthem。"

"Thenyoudon"tknowhowthey"regettingon——thatprettycreature，withhercleverness，andpoorMrs。Leighton?Iwasafraidtheywereventuringonarashexperiment。Doyouknowwheretheyare?"

"InWestEleventhStreetsomewhere。MissLeightonisinMr。Wetmore"sclass。"

"Imustlookthemup。Doyouknowtheirnumber?"

"Notatthemoment。Icanfindout。"

"Do，"saidMrs。Horn。"Whatcouragetheymusthave，toplungeintoNewYorkasthey"vedone!Ireallydidn"tthinktheywould。Iwonderifthey"vesucceededingettinganybodyintotheirhouseyet?"

"Idon"tknow，"saidBeaton。

"IdiscouragedtheircomingallIcould，"shesighed，"andIsupposeyoudid，too。Butit"squiteuselesstryingtomakepeopleinaplacelikeSt。Barnabyunderstandhowitisintown。"

"Yes，"saidBeaton。Hestirredhistea，whileinwardlyhetriedtobelievethathehadreallydiscouragedtheLeightonsfromcomingtoNewYork。PerhapsthevexationofhisfailuremadehimcallMrs。Horninhisheartafraud。

"Yes，"shewenton，"itisvery，veryhard。Andwhentheywon"tunderstand，andrushontheirdoom，youfeelthattheyaregoingtoholdyourespons——"

Mrs。Horn"seyeswanderedfromBeaton；hervoicefalteredinthefadedinterestofherremark，andthenrosewithrenewedvigoringreetingaladywhocameupandstretchedhergloveacrossthetea-cups。

Beatongothimselfawayandoutofthehousewithamuchbrieferadieutotheniecethanhehadmeanttomake。ThepatronizingcompassionofMrs。

HornfortheLeightonsfilledhimwithindignationtowardher，towardhimself。Therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnothaveignoredthemashehaddone；buttherewasafeeling。Itwashisnaturetobecareless，andhehadbeenspoiledintorecklessness；heneglectedeverybody，andonlyrememberedthemwhenitsuitedhiswhimorhisconvenience；buthefiercelyresentedtheinattentionsofotherstowardhimself。Hehadnoscrupleaboutbreakinganengagementorfailingtokeepanappointment；

hemadepromiseswithoutthinkingoftheirfulfilment，andnotbecausehewasafaithlessperson，butbecausehewasimaginative，andexpectedatthetimetodowhathesaid，butwasfickle，andsodidnot。Asmostofhisshortcomingswereofasocietysort，nogreatharmwasdonetoanybodyelse。Hehadcontractedsomewhatthecircleofhisacquaintancebywhatsomepeoplecalledhisrudeness，butmostpeopletreateditashisoddity，andwerepatientwithit。Oneladysaidshevaluedhiscomingwhenhesaidhewouldcomebecauseithadthecharmoftheunexpected。"Onlyitshowsthatitisn"talwaystheunexpectedthathappens，"sheexplained。

Itdidnotoccurtohimthathisbehaviorwasimmoral；hedidnotrealizethatitwascreatingareputationifnotacharacterforhim。Whilewearestillyoungwedonotrealizethatouractionshavethiseffect。Itseemstousthatpeoplewilljudgeusfromwhatwethinkandfeel。Laterwefindoutthatthisisimpossible；perhapswefinditouttoolate；

someofusneverfinditoutatall。

InspiteofhisshameabouttheLeightons，BeatonhadnopresentintentionoflookingthemuporsendingMrs。Horntheiraddress。Asamatteroffact，heneverdidsendit；buthehappenedtomeetMr。Wetmoreandhiswifeattherestaurantwherehedined，andhegotitofthepainterforhimself。HedidnotaskhimhowMissLeightonwasgettingon；butWetmorelaunchedout，withAlmaforatacittext，onthefutilityofwomengenerallygoinginforart。"Evenwhentheyhavetalentthey"vegottoomuchagainstthem。Whereagirldoesn"tseemverystrong，likeMissLeighton，noamountofchicisgoingtohelp。"

Hiswifedisputedhimonbehalfofhersex，aswomenalwaysdo。

"No，Dolly，"hepersisted；"she"dbetterbehomemilkingthecowsandleadingthehorsetowater。"

Doyouthinkshe"dbetterbeuptilltwointhemorningatballsandgoingalldaytoreceptionsandluncheons?"

"Oh，guessitisn"taquestionofthat，evenifsheweren"tdrawing。

Youknewthemathome，"hesaidtoBeaton。

"Yes。"

"Iremember。Hermothersaidyousuggestedme。Well，thegirlhassomenotionofit；there"snodoubtaboutthat。But——she"sawoman。Thetroublewiththesetalentedgirlsisthatthey"reallwoman。Iftheyweren"t，therewouldn"tbemuchchanceforthemen，Beaton。Butwe"vegotProvidenceonourownsidefromthestart。I"mabletowatchalltheirinspirationswithperfectcomposure。Iknowjusthowsoonit"sgoingtoendinnervousbreakdown。Somebodyoughttomarrythemallandputthemoutoftheirmisery。"

"Andwhatwillyoudowithyourstudentswhoaremarriedalready?"hiswifesaid。Shefeltthatshehadlethimgoonlongenough。

"Oh，theyoughttogetdivorced。"

"Yououghttobeashamedtotaketheirmoneyifthat"swhatyouthinkofthem。"

"Mydear，Ihaveawifetosupport。"

Beatonintervenedwithaquestion。"DoyoumeanthatMissLeightonisn"tstandingitverywell?"

"HowdoIknow?Sheisn"tthekindthatbends；she"sthekindthatbreaks。"

AfteralittlesilenceMrs。Wetmoreasked，"Won"tyoucomehomewithus，Mr。Beaton?"

"Thankyou；no。Ihaveanengagement。"

"Idon"tseewhythatshouldpreventyou，"saidWetmore。"Butyoualwayswereapunctiliouscuss。Well!"

Beatonlingeredoverhiscigar；butnooneelsewhomheknewcamein，andheyieldedtothethreefoldimpulseofconscience，ofcuriosity，ofinclination，ingoingtocallattheLeightons"。Heaskedfortheladies，andthemaidshowedhimintotheparlor，wherehefoundMrs。

LeightonandMissWoodburn。

Thewidowmethimwithawelcomeneatlymarkedbyresentment；shemeanthimtofeelthathisnotcomingsoonerhadbeennoticed。MissWoodburnbubbledandgurgledon，anddidwhatshecouldtomitigatehispunishment，butshedidnotfeelauthorizedtostayit，tillMrs。

Leighton，bystudiedavoidanceofherdaughter"sname，obligedBeatontoaskforher。ThenMissWoodburncaughtupherwork，andsaid，"Ah"llgoandtellher，Mrs。Leighton。"AtthetopofthestairsshefoundAlma，andAlmatriedtomakeitseemasifshehadnotbeenstandingthere。

"Mahgoodness，chald!there"sthehandsomestyoungmanaskingforyoudownthereyouevahsaw。Alhtoldyou"mothahAhwouldcomeupfo"you。"

"What——whoisit?"

"Don"tyouknow?Butbo"couldyou?He"sgotthemostbeautifuleyes，andhewea"shishai"inabang，andhetalksEnglishlikeitwassomethingelse，andhisname"sMr。Beaton。"

"Didhe-askforme?"saidAlma，withadreamytone。Sheputherhandonthestairsrail，andalittleshiverranoverher。

"Didn"tItellyou?Ofcoasehedid!Andyououghttogoraghtdownifyouwanttosavethepoo"fellah"slahfe；you"mothah"sjustfreezin"himtodeath。"

V。

"Sheis?"criedAlma。"Tchk!"Sheflewdownstairs，andflittedswiftlyintotheroom，andfluttereduptoBeaton，andgavehimacrushinghand-

shake。

"Howverykind，ofyoutocomeandseeus，Mr。Beaton!WhendidyoucometoNewYork?Don"tyoufinditwarmhere?We"veonlyjustlightedthefurnace，butwiththismildweatheritseemstooearly。Mammadoeskeepitsohot!"Sherushedaboutopeningdoorsandshuttingregisters，andthencamebackandsatfacinghimfromthesofawithamaskofradiantcordiality。"Howhaveyoubeensincewesawyou?"

"Verywell，"saidBeaton。"Ihopeyou"rewell，MissLeighton?"

"Oh，perfectly!IthinkNewYorkagreeswithusbothwonderfully。I

neverknewsuchair。Andtothinkofournothavingsnowyet!Ishouldthinkeverybodywouldwanttocomehere!Whydon"tyoucome，Mr。Beaton?"

Beatonliftedhiseyesandlookedather。"I——IliveinNewYork，"hefaltered。

"InNewYorkCity!"sheexclaimed。

"Surely，Alma，"saidhermother，"yourememberMr。Beaton"stellingushelivedinNewYork。"

"ButIthoughtyoucamefromRochester；orwasitSyracuse?。Ialwaysgetthoseplacesmixedup。"

"ProbablyItoldyoumyfatherlivedatSyracuse。I"vebeeninNewYorkeversinceIcamehomefromParis，"saidBeaton，withtheconfusionofamanwhofeelshimselfplayeduponbyawoman。

"FromParis!"Almaechoed，leaningforward，withhersmilingmasktighton。"Wasn"titMunichwhereyoustudied?"

"IwasatMunich，too。ImetWetmorethere。"

"Oh，doyouknowMr。Wetmore?"

"Why，Alma，"hermotherinterposedagain，"itwasMr。BeatonwhotoldyouofMr。Wetmore。"

"Wasit?Why，yes，tobesure。ItwasMrs。HornwhosuggestedMr。

Ilcomb。Iremembernow。Ican"tthankyouenoughforhavingsentmetoMr。Wetmore，Mr。Beaton。Isn"thedelightful?Ohyes，I"maperfectWetmorian，Icanassureyou。Thewholeclassisthesameway。"

"IjustmethimandMrs。Wetmoreatdinner，"saidBeaton，attemptingtherecoveryofsomethingthathehadlostthroughthegirl"sshiningeaseandsteelysprightliness。Sheseemedtohimsosmoothandhard，witharepellentelasticityfromwhichhewasflungoff。"Ihopeyou"renotworkingtoohard，MissLeighton?"

"Ohno!Ienjoyeveryminuteofit，andgrowstrongeronit。DoIlookverymuchwastedaway?"Shelookedhimfullintheface，brilliantlysmiling，andintentionallybeautiful。

"No，"hesaid，withaslowsadness；"Ineversawyoulookingbetter。"

"PoorMr。Beaton!"shesaid，inrecognitionofhisdolefultune。"Itseemstobequiteablow。"

"Ohno——"

"Irememberallthegoodadviceyouusedtogivemeaboutnotworkingtoohard，andprobablyit"sthatthat"ssavedmylife——thatandthehouse-

hunting。Hasmammatoldyouofouradventuresingettingsettled?

Sometimewemust。Itwassuchfun!Anddidn"tyouthinkwewerefortunatetogetsuchaprettyhouse?Youmustseebothourparlors。"

Shejumpedup，andhermotherfollowedherwithabewilderedlookassheranintothebackparlorandflashedupthegas。

"Comeinhere，Mr。Beaton。Iwanttoshowyouthegreatfeatureofthehouse。"Sheopenedthelowwindowsthatgaveuponaglazedverandastretchingacrosstheendoftheroom。"JustthinkofthisinNewYork!

Youcan"tseeitverywellatnight，butwhenthesouthernsunpoursinherealltheafternoon——"

"Yes，Icanimagineit，"hesaid。Heglancedupatthebird-cagehangingfromtheroof。"IsupposeGypsyenjoysit。"

"YourememberGypsy?"shesaid；andshemadeacooing，kissinglittlenoiseupatthebird，whorespondeddrowsily。"PooroldGypsum!Well，hesha"n"tbedisturbed。Yes，it"sGyp"sdelight，andColonelWoodburnlikestowritehereinthemorning。Thinkofushavingarealliveauthorinthehouse!AndMissWoodburn:I"msogladyou"veseenher!

They"reSouthernpeople。"

"Yes，thatwasobviousinhercase。"

"Fromheraccent?Isn"titfascinating?Ididn"tbelieveIcouldeverendureSoutherners，butwe"relikeonefamilywiththeWoodburns。I

shouldthinkyou"dwanttopaintMissWoodburn。Don"tyouthinkhercoloringisdelicious?Andsuchaquaintkindofeighteenth-centurytypeofbeauty!Butshe"sperfectlylovelyeveryway，andeverythingshesaysissofunny。TheSouthernersseemtobesuchgreattalkers；betterthanweare，don"tyouthink?"

"Idon"tknow，"saidBeaton，inpensivediscouragement。Hewassensibleofbeingmanipulated，operated，buthewashelplesstoescapefromtheperformerortofathomhermotives。Hispensivenesspassedintogloom，andwasdegeneratingintosulkyresentmentwhenhewentaway，afterseveralfailurestogetbacktotheoldgroundhehadheldinrelationtoAlma。HeretrievedsomethingofitwithMrs。Leighton；butAlmaglittereduponhimtothelastwithakeenimpenetrablecandor，achild-

likesinglenessofglance，coveringunfathomablereserve。

"Well，Alma，"saidhermother，whenthedoorhadcloseduponhim。

"Well，mother。"Then，afteramoment，shesaid，witharush:"DidyouthinkIwasgoingtolethimsupposewewerepiquedathisnotcoming?

DidyousupposeIwasgoingtolethimpatronizeus，orthinkthatwewereintheleastdependentonhisfavororfriendship?"

Hermotherdidnotattempttoanswerher。Shemerelysaid，"Ishouldn"tthinkhewouldcomeanymore。"

"Well，wehavegotonsofarwithouthim；perhapswecanlivethroughtherestofthewinter。"

"Icouldn"thelpfeelingsorryforhim。Hewasquitestupefied。Icouldseethathedidn"tknowwhattomakeofyou。"

"He"snotrequiredtomakeanythingofme，"saidAlma。

"Doyouthinkhereallybelievedyouhadforgottenallthosethings?"

"Impossibletosay，mamma。"

"Well，Idon"tthinkitwasquiteright，Alma。"

"I"llleavehimtoyouthenexttime。MissWoodburnsaidyouwerefreezinghimtodeathwhenIcamedown。"

"Thatwasquitedifferent。But，therewon"tbeanynexttime，I"mafraid，"sighedMrs。Leighton。

Beatonwenthomefeelingsuretherewouldnot。Hetriedtoreadwhenhegottohisroom；butAlma"slooks，tones，gestures，whirredthroughandthroughthewoofofthestorylikeshuttles；hecouldnotkeepthemout，andhefellasleepatlast，notbecauseheforgotthem，butbecauseheforgavethem。Hewasabletosaytohimselfthathehadbeenjustlycutofffromkindnesswhichheknewhowtovalueinlosingit。HedidnotexpectevertorighthimselfinAlma"sesteem，buthehopedsomedaytoletherknowthathehadunderstood。Itseemedtohimthatitwouldbeagoodthingifsheshouldfinditoutafterhisdeath。Heimaginedherbeingtouchedbyitunderthosecircumstances。

VI。

InthemorningitseemedtoBeatonthathehaddonehimselfinjustice。

WhenheuncoveredhisJudasandlookedatit，hecouldnotbelievethatthemanwhowascapableofsuchworkdeservedthepunishmentMissLeightonhadinflicteduponhim。Hestillforgaveher，butinthepresenceofathinglikethathecouldnothelprespectinghimself；hebelievedthatifshecouldseeitshewouldbesorrythatshehadcutherselfofffromhisacquaintance。Hecarriedthisstrainofconvictionallthroughhissyndicateletter，whichhenowtookoutofhisdeskandfinished，withanincreasingsecurityofhisopinionsandamountingseverityinhisjudgments。Heretaliateduponthegeneralconditionofartamongusthepangsofwoundedvanity，whichAlmahadmadehimfeel，andhefoldeduphismanuscriptandputitinhispocket，almosthealedofhishumiliation。Hehadbeenabletoescapefromitsstingsoentirelywhilehewaswritingthatthenotionofmakinghislifemoreandmoreliterarycommendeditselftohim。Asitwasnowevidentthatthefuturewastobeoneofrenunciation，ofself-forgetting，anobliviontingedwithbitterness，heformlesslyreasonedinfavorofreconsideringhisresolutionagainstFulkerson"soffer。Onemustcallitreasoning，butitwasratherthatswiftinternaldramatizationwhichconstantlygoesoninpersonsofexcitablesensibilities，andwhichnowseemedtosweepBeatonphysicallyalongtowardthe"EveryOtherWeek"office，andcarriedhismindwithlightningcelerityontoatimewhenheshouldhavegiventhatjournalsuchqualityandauthorityinmattersofartashadneverbeenenjoyedbyanyinAmericabefore。Withtheprosperitywhichhemadeattendhisworkhechangedthecharacteroftheenterprise，andwithFulkerson"senthusiasticsupporthegavethepublicanartjournalofashighgradeas"LesLettresetlesArts"，andverymuchthatsortofthing。AllthisinvolvednowtheunavailingregretofAlmaLeighton，andnowhisreconciliationwithhertheyweremarriedinGraceChurch，becauseBeatonhadonceseenamarriagethere，andhadintendedtopaintapictureofitsometime。