第1章

ThedayhadbeenveryhotunderthetalltreeswhicheverywhereembowerandstifleSaratoga，fortheyshutouttheairaswellasthesun；andaftertea(theystillhaveanearlydinneratallthehotelsinSaratoga，andteaisthelastmealoftheday)IstrolledovertotheprettyCongressPark，inthehopeofgettingabreathofcoolnessthere。Mrs。Marchpreferredtotakethechancesontheverandahofourpleasantlittlehotel，whereIleftherwiththeotherladies，fortyfanninglikeone，astheyrockedtoandfroundertheroofliftedtothethirdstorybythoseloftyshaftspeculiartotheSaratogaarchitecture。Asfarascoolnesswasconcerned，IthoughtshewaswiseafterIreachedthepark，forI

foundnoneofitthere。Itriedfirstachairinthearabesquepavilion(Icallitarabesqueindespair；itmightverywellbeSwiss；itischarming，atallevents)，andstudiedtodeceivemyselfwiththefresh-lookingebullitionofthespringinthevastglassbowlsyourgobletsareservedfrom(peoplesayitispumped，andartificiallyaerated)；butafterafewmomentsthiswouldnotdo，andIwentouttoabench，oftherowsbesidethegravelledwalks。

Itwasnobetterthere；butIfancieditwouldbebetteronthelittleisleinthelittlelake，wherethefountainwasflingingasheafofsprayintothedullair。Thislookedevencoolerthanthebubblingspringintheglassvases，anditsoundedvastlycooler。

Therewouldbemosquitoesthere，ofcourse，IadmittedinthedebateIhadwithmyselfbeforeIdecidedtomakeexperimentoftheplace，andtheeventprovedmeright。TherewerecertainlysomemosquitoesintheGreciantemple(ifitisnotaTurkishkiosk；perhapswehadbettercompromise，andcallitaGreciankiosk)，whichyoureachbyafoot-bridgefromthemainland，andtherewasadampintheairwhichmightpassforcoolness。Therewerethreeorfourpeoplestandingvaguelyaboutinthekiosk；butmyidlemindfixeditselfuponayoungFrench-Canadianmotheroflowdegree，whosat，withhersmallboy，onthevergeofthepavementnearthewater。Shescoldedhimintheirparlanceforhavinggothimselfsodirty，andthenshesmackedhispoor，filthylittlehands，withafrownofsuperiorvirtue，thoughIdidnotfindhersoverymuchcleanerherself。I

cannotseechildrenbeatenwithoutaheartache，andIcontinuedtosufferforthissmallwretchevenafterhehadavengedhimselfbyeatingahandfulofpeanutshells，whichwouldbesuretodisagreewithhimandmakehismothermoretrouble。Infact，Iexperiencednorelieftillhismother，havingspentherinsensatepassion，gatheredhimupwithsufficienttenderness，andcarriedhimaway。

Then，forthefirsttime，Inoticedagirlsittinginachairjustoutsidethekiosk，andshowingagracefulyoungfigureasshepartlyturnedtolookafterthedepartingmotherandherchild。Whensheturnedagainandglancedinmydirection，atthenoiseImadeinplacingmychair，Icouldseetwothings——thatshehadasmuchbeautyasgrace，andthatshewasdisappointedinme。Thelatterfactdidnotwoundme，forIfeltitsprofoundimpersonality。Iwasnotwronginmyself；Iwassimplywronginbeinganelderlymanwithagreybeardinsteadofthehandsomeshapeandphaseofyouthwhichherownyoungbeautyhadarighttoinmyplace。Iwasnotonlynotwounded，butIwasnotsorrynottobethatshapeandphaseofyouth，exceptasIhatetodisappointanyone。

Herfacewasverybeautiful；itwasquiteperfectlybeautiful，andofsuchclassicmouldthatshemightwellhavebeenthetutelarygoddessofthattemple(ifitwasatemple，andnotakiosk)，inthewhiteduckcostumewhichthegoddesseswerewearingthatsummer。

HerfeatureswereGreek，butherlookswereAmerican；andshewasnonethelessagoddess，Idecided，becauseofthatairofsomethingexacting，ofnotquitesatisfied，whichmadememoreandmorewillingtobeelderlyandgrey-bearded。Iatleastshouldnotbeexpectedtosupplytheworshipnecessarytokeepsuchagoddessingoodhumour。

IdonotknowjusthowIcanaccountforastrainofcompassionwhichmingledwiththissenseofirresponsibilityinme；perhapsitwasmyfeelingofsecuritythatattunedmetopity；butcertainlyI

didnotlookatthisyounggirllongwithoutbeginningtogrieveforher，andtoweaveaboutherawebofpossibilities，whichgrewcloserandfirmerintexturewhenshewasjoinedbyacouplewhohadapparentlynotleftheragreatwhilebefore，andwhospoke，withoutotherwisesalutingher，astheysatdownoneithersideofher。I

instantlyinterpretedherfriendstobetheyoungwifeandmiddle-

agedhusbandofasecondmarriage；fortheywereevidentlymanandwife，andhemusthavebeennearlytwiceasoldasshe。Inpersonhetendedtotheweightwhichexpressessettledprosperity，andacertainsolidificationoftemperamentandcharacter；astohisface，itwaskind，anditwasratherhumorous，inspiteofbeingalittleslowinthecastofminditsuggested。Heworeaniron-greybeardonhischeeksandchin，buthehadhisstrongupperlipcleanshaven；somedropsofperspirationstooduponit，anduponhisforehead，whichshoweditselfwelluptowardhiscrownunderthedampstringsofhisscantyhair。Helookedattheyounggoddessinwhiteduckwithasortoftroubleinhisfriendlycountenance，andhiswife(ifitwashiswife)seemedtosharehisconcern，thoughshesmiled，whileheletthecornersofhisstraightmouthdroop。

Shewassmallerthantheyounggirl，andIthoughtalmostasyoung；

andshehadtheairofbeingsomehowresponsibleforher，andcowedbyher，thoughthewordsaysrathermorethanImean。Shewasnotsowelldressed；thatis，notsostylishly，thoughdoubtlesshercostumewasmoreexpensive。Itseemedtheinspirationofavillagedressmaker；andherhusband"slow-cutwaistcoat，andhisexpanseofplaitedshirt-front，betrayedaprovincialidealwhichshewouldneverdecry——whichshewouldperhapsneverfinddifferentfromthemostworldly。Hehadprobably，Iswiftlyimagined，beenwearingjustthatkindofclothesfortwentyyears，andtellinghistailortomakeeachnewsuitlikethelast；hehadbeenbuyingforthesameperiodthesameshapeofPanamahat，regardlessofthecontinuallychangingtypeofstrawhatsonotherheads。Icannotsayjustwhy，ashetiltedhischairbackonitshind-legs，Ifeltthathewaseitherthecashierofthevillagebankathome，oroneoftheprincipalbusinessmenoftheplace。VillagepeopleIwasquiteresolutetohavethemall；butIleftthemfreetohavecomefromsomesmallmanufacturingcentreinwesternMassachusettsorsouthernVermontorcentralNewYork。Itwaseasytoseethattheywerenotinthehabitofcomingawayfromtheirplace，whereveritwas；andI

wonderedwhethertheywerefindingtheiraccountinthepresentexcursion。

ImyselfthinkSaratogaoneofthemostdelightfulspectaclesintheworld，andMrs。Marchisofthesamemindaboutit。Welikeallthewaters，anddrinkthemwithoutregardtotheirdifferentproperties；

butweratherprefertheCongressspring，becauseitissuchapleasantplacetolistentotheTroymilitarybandintheafternoon，andthemoreorlessvocalconcertintheevening。AlltheSaratogaworldcomesandgoesbeforeus，aswesittherebydayandbynight，andwefindaperpetualinterestinit。Wegoandlookatthedeer(aherdoftwo，Ithink)behindtheirwirenettinginthesouthwardvalleyofthepark，andwewouldfeedthetroutintheirbluetankifwedidnotseethemsufferingwithsurfeit，andhanginginmotionlessmiseryamidtheclearwaterunderacloudofbreadcrumbs。Wearesuchdevoteesofthespecialattractionsofferedfromtimetotimethatwedonotmissasingleballoonascensionorpyrotechnicdisplay。Infact，ithappenedtomeonesummerthatI

studiedsoearnestlyandsocloselythecountenanceoftheladywhowentup(intrunk-hose)，inordertomakeoutjustwhatweretheemotionsofaladywhowentupeveryafternooninaballoon，thatwhenwemetneartheendoftheseasoninBroadwayIthoughtImusthaveseenhersomewhereinsociety，andtookoffmyhattoher(shewasnotatthemomentintrunk-hose)。Welikegoingabouttothegreathotels，andspongingonthemforthemusicintheforenoon；welikethegaudyshopsofmodeskeptbyartistswhoseaddressesareFrenchandwhosesurnamesareIrish；andthebazaarsoftheArmeniansandJapanese，whoserugsandbric-a-bracarenotsuchbargainsasyouwouldthink。Weevengototheracessometimes；wearenotsureitisquiteright，butaswedonotbet，andareneverdecidedastowhichhorsehaswon，itisperhapsnotsowrongasitmightbe。

SomehowIcouldnotpredicatethesesimplejoysofthepeopleIhavebeentalkingof，fortheveryreason，thattheywerethemselvessosimple。Itwasoursophisticationwhichenabledustotastepleasureswhichwouldhavebeeninsipiditiestothem。Theirpalateswouldhavedemandedotherflavours——socialexcitements，balls，flirtations，almostescapades。Ispeakofthetwowomen；theman，doubtless，likemostotherAmericansofhisage，wantednothingbuttogetbacktobusinessinthesmalltownwherehewasimportant；

andstillmoreIspeakoftheyounggirl；fortheyoungwifeI

fanciedverywillingtogobacktoherhouse-keeping，andtobestayingoninSaratogaonlyonherfriend"saccount。

CHAPTERII

Ihadalreadymadeupmymindthattheyhadbeentheclosestfriendsbeforeoneofthemmarried，andthattheyoungwifestillthoughttheyounggirlworthyofthemostsplendidfatethatmarriagecouldhaveinstoreforanyofhersex。Womenoftenmakeeachothertheidolsofsuchworship；butIcouldnothavejustifiedthislady"sadorationsofarasitconcernedthementalandmoralqualitiesofherfriend，thoughIfullyshareditinregardtoherbeauty。Tomeshelookedalittledullandalittleselfish，andI

chosetothinkthehusbandmodestlyfoundherselfish，ifheweretoomodesttofindherdull。

Yet，afterall，Itacitlyarguedwithhim，whyshouldwecallherselfish？Itwasperfectlyrightandfitthat，asayounggirlwithsuchgreatpersonaladvantages，sheshouldwishtoseetheworld——

eventoshowherselftotheworld，——andfindinitsomeagreeableyouthwhoshouldadmireher，anddesiretomakeherhisownforever。Comparethissimpleandnaturallongingwiththeinsatiategreedandambitionofoneofourownsex，Iurgedhim，andthentalktome，ifyoucan，ofthispoorgirl"sselfishness!Ayoungmanhasmoreegoisminanhourthanayounggirlhasinherwholelife。Shethinksshewishessomeonetobedevotedtoher，butshereallywishessomeonetoletherbedevotedtohim；andhowpassively，hownegatively，shemustmanagetoaccomplishherself-sacrifice!He，onthecontrary，meanstogoconqueringandenslavingforward；tobeinandoutofloverightandleft，andtoend，aftermanyyearsoftriumph，inthepossessionofthebestandwisestandfairestofhersex。Iknowthebreed，mydearsir；Ihavebeenayoungmanmyself。

Wemenhaveliberty，wehaveinitiative；wearenotchaperoned；wecangotothisoneandthatonefreelyandfearlessly。Butwomenmustsitstill，andbecometoorshiedofffrom。Theycannotcasttheboldeyeofinterest；theycanatmostbridleunderit，andfurtivelyrespondfromthecorneroftheeyeofweakhopeandgentledeprecation。Bepatient，then，withthispoorchildifshedarklesalittleunderthedisappointmentofnotfindingSaratogasopersonallygayasshesupposeditwouldbe，andtakesitoutofyouandyourwife，asifyouweretoblameforit，insomethinglikesulks。

Heremainedsilentunderthesetacitappeals，butattheendheheavedadeepsigh，ashemightifhewereacknowledgingtheirjustice，andwerepromisingtodohisverybestinthecircumstances。Hiswifelookedroundathim，butdidnotspeak。Infact，theynoneofthemspokeafterthefirstwordsofgreetingtothegirl，asIcanverywelltestify；forIsateavesdroppingwithallmymight，resolvednottoloseasyllable，andIamsureIlostnone。

Theyounggirldidnotlookroundatthatdeep-drawnsighoftheman"s；shedidnotliftherheadevenwhenheclearedhisthroat:

butIwasintentuponhim，forIthoughtthatthesesoundspreludedanoverture(Iamnotsureofthefigure)tomyacquaintance，andinfactheactuallyasked，"Doyouknowjustwhentheconcertbegins？"

Iwasoverjoyedathisquestion，forIwaspoignantlyinterestedinthelittlesituationIhadcreated，andImadehastetoanswer:

"Well，nominallyateighto"clock；butthefirsthalf-hourisusuallytakenupintuningtheinstruments。Ifyougetintothepavilionataquartertonineyouwon"tlosemuch。Itisn"tsobadwhenitreallybegins。"

ThemanpermittedhimselfasmileofthepleasureweAmericansallfeelathavingathingunderstatedinthatway。Hiswifeaskedtimidly，"Dowehavetoengageourseatsinthe——pavilion？"

"Oh，no，"Ilaughed；"there"snosuchrushasthat。Haven"tyoubeenattheconcertsbefore？"

Themanansweredforher:"Wehaven"tbeenherebutafewdays。I

shouldthink，"headdedtoher，"itwouldbeaboutascomfortableoutsideofthehouse。"Iperceivedthathemaintainedhisindependenceofmysuperiorknowledgebyrefusingtosay"pavilion"；

andinfactIdonotknowwhetherthatistherightnameforthebuildingmyself。

"Itwillbehotenoughanywhere，"Iassented，asiftheremarkhadbeenmadetome；buthereIdrewthelineoutofself-respect，andresolvedthatheshouldmakethenextadvances。

Theyounggirllookedupatthefirstsoundofmyvoice，andverifiedmeastheelderlymanwhomshehadseenbefore；andthenshelookeddownatthewateragain。Iunderstood，andIfreelyforgaveher。IfmybeardhadbeenbrowninsteadofgreyIshouldhavebeenanadventure；buttotheeyeofgirlhoodadventurecanneverwearagreybeard。Iwastrulysorryforher；IcouldreadinthepensivedroopofheravertedfacethatIwasagainadisappointment。

Theyallthreesat，withoutspeakingagain，inthemannerlesssilenceofAmericans。ThemanwasnotgoingtofeelboundinfurthercivilitytomebecauseIhadcivillyansweredaquestionofhis。Idivinedthathewouldbegladtowithdrawfromtheoverturehehadmade；hemayhavethoughtfrommyreadinesstomeethimhalfwaythatImightbeoneofthosesharpersinwhomSaratogaprobablyabounded。Thisdidnotoffendme；itamusedme；IfanciedhisconfusionifhecouldsuddenlyknowhowhelplesslyandirreparablyhonestIwas。

"Idon"tknowbutit"salittletoodamphere，Rufus，"saidthewife。

"Idon"tknowbutitis，"heanswered；butnoneofthemmoved，andnoneofthemspokeagainforsomeminutes。Thenthewifesaidagain，butthistimetothefriend，"Idon"tknowbutit"salittletoodamphere，Julia，"andthefriendanswered，asthehusbandhad-

"Idon"tknowbutitis。"

Ihadtwosurprisesinthisslightevent。IcouldneverhaveimaginedthatthegirlhadsobrunetteanameasJulia，oranythinglessblondinsoundthan，say，Evadne，attheverydarkest；andI

hadmadeupmymind——Heavenknowswhy——thathervoicewouldbeharsh。PerhapsIthoughtitunfairthatsheshouldhaveasweetvoiceaddedtoallthatbeautyandgraceofhers；butshehadasweetvoice，verytenderandmelodious，withaplangentnoteinitthattouchedmeandcharmedme。Beautifulandgracefulasshewas，shehadlackedatmospherebefore，andnowsuddenlyshehadatmosphere。IresolvedtokeepasneartothesepeopleasIcould，andnottoleavetheplaceaslongastheystayed；butIdidnotthinkitwelltoletthemfeelthatIwasaestheticallyshadowingthem，andIgotupandstrolledawaytowardthepavilion，keepinganeyeinthebackofmyheaduponthem。

Isatdowninacommandingposition，andwatchedthepeoplegatheringfortheconcert；andinthedramaofagroupofCubans，orofSouthAmericans，Ialmostforgotforamomentthepaleidylofmycompatriotsatthekiosk。Therewasashort，stoutlittleSpanishwomanspeakingintheshapelysentenceswhichtheLatinraceeverywheredelightsin，andaroundherwasanincreasingnumberofseriousSpanishmen，listeningasiftoimportantthings，andpayingherthatrespectfulattentionwhichalwaysamusesandpuzzlesme。

Inviewofwhatwethinktheirlowestimateofwomen，Icannotmakeoutwhetheritisapersonaltributetosomespecificwomanwhomtheyregarddifferentlyfromalltherestofhersex，orwhethertheychoosetoknowinherforthenoucetheabstractwomanwhoisbetterthanwomanintheconcrete。IamsureIhaveneverseenmenofanyotherraceabandonthemselvestosuchaluxuryofrespectastheseblackandgreybeardedSpaniardsofleadencomplexionshowedthisdumpypersonificationofwomanhood，withtheirprominenteyesbentinhomageuponher，andtheirhandstremblingwithreadinesstoseizetheirhatsoffinreverence。Itappearedpresentlythatthemattertheywereallcanvassingsodevoutlywasthequestionofwheresheshouldsit。Itseemedtobedecidedthatshecouldnotdobetterthansitjustatthatpoint。Whensheactuallytookachairthestatelyconvocationended，anditsmembers，withlowobeisances，dispersedthemselvesindifferentdirections。TheyhadprobablyallbeensittingwithherthewholeafternoonontheverandahoftheEverettHouse，wheretheirracechieflyresortsinSaratoga，andtheywereavailingthemselvesofthisoccasiontoappeartobemeetingher，afteralonginterval，insociety。

IsaidtomyselfthatofcoursetheybelievedSaratogawasstillthatcentreofAmericanfashionwhichitoncewas，andthattheycameandwenteverysummer，probablyinthebeliefthattheysawagreatdealofsocialgaietythere。Thismademethink，byanaturalseriesoftransitions，ofthepersonsofmyAmericanidyl，andI

lookedaboutthepavilioneverywhereforthemwithoutdiscovering，tillthelast，thattheywerejustbehindme。

Ifoundthefacttouching。Theyhadnotwishedtobeinanywisebeholdentome，andhadeventriedtorejectmyfriendlyreadinesstoknowthembetter；buttheyhadprobablysoughtmyvicinityinasenseoftheirlonelinessandhelplessness，whichtheyhopedIwouldnotdivine，butwhichIdivinedinstantly。Still，Ithoughtitbestnottoshowanyconsciousnessofthem，andwesatthroughthefirstpartoftheconcertwithouttakingnoticeofoneanother。Thenthemanleanedforwardandtouchedmeontheshoulder。

"Willyouletmetakeyourprogrammeaminute？"

"Why，certainly，"saidI。

Hetookit，andafteravagueglanceatithepassedittohiswife，whogaveitinturntotheyounggirl。Shestudieditverybriefly，andthen，afteraquestioninglook，offereditbacktome。

"Won"tyoukeepit？"Ientreated。"I"vequitedonewithit。"

"Oh，thankyou，"sheansweredinhertendervoice，andsheandthewifelookedhardattheman，whomtheyseemedtouniteinpushingforwardbythatmeans。

Hehemmed，andasked，"HaveyoubeeninSaratogamuch？"

"Why，yes，"Isaid；"ratheragooddeal。MywifeandIhavebeenherethreeorfoursummers。"

Attheconfessionofmymarriedstate，whichthisstatementimplicated，thewomenexchangedaglance，Ifancied，oftriumph，asiftheyhadbeentalkingaboutme，andIhadnowconfirmedthegroundtheyhadtakenconcerningme。Thentheyjoinedingoadingthemanonagainwiththeireyes。

"Whichhotel，"heasked，"shouldyousayhadthemostgoingon？"

Theyounggirlandthewifetransferredtheirgazetome，withanintensifiedappealinit。Themanlookedawaywithacertainshame——

theshameofamanwhofeelsthathiswifehasmadehimmakeanassofhimself。Itriedtotreathisquestion，bythequantityandqualityofmyanswer，asoneofthemostnaturalthingsintheworld；andIprobablydeceivedthemallbythiseffort，thoughIamsurethatIwasmosttruthfulandjustconcerningtheclaimsofthedifferenthotelstobethecentreofexcitement。IthoughtIhadearnedtherighttoaskattheend，"AreyoustoppingattheGrandUnion？"

"No，"hesaid；andhementionedoneofthesmallerhotels，whichdependuponthegreathousesfortheentertainmentoftheirguests。

"Areyouthere？"heasked，meaningtheGrandUnion。

"Ohno，"Isaid；"wecouldn"tdothatsortofthing，evenifwewanted。"AndinmyturnInamedthemodesthotelwherewewere，andsaidthatIthoughtitbyalloddsthepleasantestplaceinSaratoga。"ButIcan"tsay，"Iadded，"thatthereisagreatdealgoingonthere，either。Ifyouwantthatsortofthingyouwillhavetogotosomeofthegreathotels。Wehaveourlittleamusements，butthey"reallrathermild。"Ikepttalkingtotheman，butreallyaddressingmyselftothewomen。"There"ssomethingnearlyeveryevening:prestidigitating，orelocutioning，oralittleconcert，orcharades，orimpromptutheatricals，orsomethingofthatsort。Ican"tsaythere"sdancing，thoughreally，I

suppose，ifanyonewantedtodancetherewouldbedancing。"

Iwasawarethatthewomenlistenedintelligently，evenifthemandidnot。Thewifedrewalongbreath，andsaid，"Itmustbeverypleasant。"

Thegirlsaid——rathermorehungrily，Ifancied——"Yes，indeed。"

Idon"tknowwhytheirinterestshouldhavepromptedmetogoonandpaintthelilyalittle，butIcertainlydidso。Ididnotstoptillthemusicbeganagain，andIhadtostop。BythetimethepiecewasfinishedIhadbeguntohavemymisgivings，andIprofitedbythebriefintervalofsilencetosaytotheyounggirl，"I

wouldn"thaveyouthinkweareawhirlofgaietyexactly。"

"Ohno，"sheansweredpathetically，asifshewerequitepastexpectingthatoranythinglikeit。

Weweresilentagain。Attheendofthenextpiecetheyallrose，andthewifesaidtimidlytome，"Well，good-evening，"asifshemightbeventuringtoofar；andherhusbandcametoherrescuewith"Well，good-evening，sir。"Theyounggirlmerelybowed。

Ididnotstaymuchlonger，forIwaseagertogethomeandtellmywifeaboutmyadventure，whichseemedtomeofaveryrareandthrillingkind。IbelievedthatifIcouldpresentittoherduly，itwouldinterestherasmuchasithadinterestedme。Butsomehow，asIwentonwithitinthelamplightofherroom，itseemedtolosecolourandspecificcharacter。

"YouarealwaysmakinguptheseromancesaboutyounggirlsbeingoffanddisappointedofagoodtimeeversincewesawthatpoorlittleKittyEllisonwithhercousinsatNiagara，"saidMrs。March。"Youseemtohaveitonthebrain。"

"Becauseit"sthemosttragicalthingintheworld，andthecommonestinourtransitionstate，"Iretorted。Iwassomewhatexasperatedtohavemyromancetreatedassostaleasituation，thoughIwasconsciousnowthatitdidwantperfectnovelty。"It"spreciselyforthatreasonthatIliketobreakmyheartoverit。I

seeiteverysummer，anditkeepsmeinapassionofpity。

Somethingoughttobedoneaboutit。"

"Well，don"tYOUtrytodoanything，Basil，unlessyouwritetothenewspapers。"

"Isuppose，"Isaid，"thatifthenewspaperscouldbegottotakeholdofit，perhapssomethingmightbedone。"Thenotionamusedme；

Iwentontoplaywithit，andimaginedSaratoga，byajointeffortoftheleadingjournals，recolonisedwiththesociallifethatoncemadeittheparadiseofyoungpeople。

"Ihavebeenwritingtothechildren，"saidmywife，"andtellingthemtostayonatYorkHarbouriftheHerrickswantthemsomuch。

Theywouldhateithere。Yousaythegirllookedcross。Ican"texactlyimagineacrossgoddess。"

"Therewerelotsofcrossgoddesses，"Isaidrathercrosslymyself；

forIsawthat，afterhavingtroddenmyromanceinthedust，shewaswillingIshouldpickitupagainandshakeitoff，andIwishedtoshowherthatIwasnottobesolightlyappeased。

"PerhapsIwasthinkingofangels，"shemurmured。

"Idistinctlydidn"tsayshewasanangel，"Ireturned。

"Now，come，Basil；Iseeyou"rekeepingsomethingback。Whatdidyoutrytodoforthosepeople？Didyoutellthemwhereyouwerestopping？"

"Yes，Idid。Theyaskedme，andItoldthem。"

"Didyoubragtheplaceup？"

"Onthecontrary，Iunderstateditsmerits。"

"Oh，verywell，then，"shesaid，quiteasifIhadconfessedmyguilt；"theywillcomehere，andyouwillhaveyourromanceonyourhandsfortherestofthemonth。I"mthankfulwe"regoingawaythefirstofAugust。"

CHAPTERIII

Thenextafternoon，whileweweresittingintheparkwaitingfortheTroybandtobeginplaying，andIwaswonderingjustwhentheywouldreachthe"WashingtonPostMarch，"whichIlikebecauseIcanalwaysbesureofit，myunknownfriendscamestrollingourway。

Themanlookedbewilderedandbored，withsomethingofdesperationinhistroubledeye，andhiswifelookedtiredanddisheartened。

Theyounggirl，stillinwhiteduck，worethesameairofpassiveinjuryIhadnotedinherthenightbefore。Theirfacesallthreelightedupatsightofme；buttheyfadedagainatthecoldandmeagreresponseImadetotheirsmilesundercorrectionofmywife"sfearsofthem。Iownitwasbaseofme；butIhadbeguntofeelmyselfthatitmightbetoolargeacontracttoattempttheirconsolation，and，infact，afteroneisfiftyscarcelyanyromancewillkeepovernight。

Mywifeglancedfromthemtome，andreadmycowardlymind；butshewaitedtilltheypassed，astheydidafteraninvoluntaryfalteringinfrontofus，andwerekeepingondownthepath，lookingatthebenches，whichwerefilledoneitherhand。Shesaid，"Weren"tthoseyourfriends？"

"Theywerethepersonsofmyromance。"

"Nomatter。Goaftertheminstantlyandbringthembackhere，poorthings。Wecanmakeroomforthem。"

Irose。"Isn"tthisalittletooidyllic？Aren"tyouratheroverdoingit？"

"Don"tspeaktome，Basil!Ineverheardofanythingsoatrocious。

Goonyourkneestothemiftheyrefuse!Theycansitherewithme，andyouandhecanstand。Fly!"

Iknewshewaspunishingmeforherownreluctance；butIflew，inthatsenseoftheterm，andeasilyoverhauledtheminthetangleofpeoplecomingandgoinginthepath，andthenursemaidspushingtheirperambulatorsineitherdirection。HatinhandIdeliveredmymessage。Icouldseethatitgavethewomengreatpleasureandthemansomedoubt。Hismouthfellopenalittle；theircheeksflushedandtheireyesshone。

"Idon"tknowaswebetter，"thewifehesitated；"I"mafraidwe"llcrowdyou。"Andshelookedwistfullytowardmywife。Theyounggirllookedather。

"Notatall!"Icried。"There"sanabundanceofroom。Mywife"skeepingtheplacesforyou，"——infact，Isawherputtingherarmoutalongthebench，andexplainingtoacouplewhohadhaltedinfrontofherthattheseatsweretaken——"andshe"llbedisappointed。"

"Well，"thewomanconsented，withalittlesighoftriumphthattouchedme，andreanimatedallmyinterestinherandinherfriend。

Shesaid，withasortofshy，instinctivepoliteness，"Idon"tknowasyouandMr。Deeringgotacquaintedlastnight。"

"MynameisMarch，"Isaid，andIshookthehandofMr。Deering。Itwasratherthick。

"Andthis——isourfriend，"Mrs。Peeringwenton，inpresentationofmetotheyounglady，"MissGage，that"scomewithus。"

IwasdelightedthatIhadguessedtheirrelativequalitiessoperfectly，andwhenwearrivedatMrs。MarchIgliblypresentedthem。MywifewasallthatIcouldhavewishedhertobeofsympatheticandintelligent。Shedidnotoverdoitbyshakinghands，butshemadeplacesfortheladies，smilingcordially；andMrs。DeeringmadeMissGagetaketheseatbetweenthem。HerhusbandandIstoodawhileinfrontofthem，andthenIsaidwewouldgooffandfindchairssomewhere。

Wedidnotfindanytillwehadclimbedtotheuplandatthesouth-

eastofthepark，andthenonlytwoironones，whichitwasuselesstothinkoftransporting。Buttherewasnoreasonwhyweshouldnotsitinthemwheretheywere:wecouldkeeptheladiesinplainsight，andIcouldnotmistake"WashingtonPost"whenthebandcametoit。Mr。Deeringsankintooneofthechairswithasighofsatisfactionwhichseemedtocompleteitselfwhenhediscoveredinthethickgrassathisfeetatwigfromoneofthetall，slimpinesaboveus。Hebentoverforit，andthen，ashetookouthispenknifeandclickedopenabladetobeginwhittling，hecastupacriticalglanceatthetrees。

"Prettynicepines，"hesaid；andheputhishandontheonenexttouswithasortofappreciationthatinterestedme。

"Yes；thetreesofSaratogaarethegloryoftheplace，"Ireturned。

"Ineversawthemgrowanywhereelsesotallandslim。Itdoesn"tseemtheeffectofcrowdingeither。It"sasiftherewassomechemicalforceinthesoilthatshotthemup。They"relikerocketsthathaven"tleftthegroundyet。"

"It"sthecrowding，"hesaidseriously，asifthesubjectwerenottobetrifledwith。"It"sthehabitofallthesetrees——pinesandoaksandmaples，Idon"tcarewhattheyare——tospread，andthat"swhatwetellourcustomers。Givethetreesplentyofroom；don"tplant"emtoothickifyouwanttogetallthegoodoutof"em。"Asifhesawaquestioninmyeye，hewenton:"Wedoaforest-treebusinessexclusively；theseshade-trees，andwalnuts，hickories，chestnuts，andallkinds。It"sabigtrade，gettingtobe，andgrowingallthetime。Folkshavebeguntofindoutwhatfoolstheyweretodestroytheforests，andthechildrenwanttobuybackwhatthefathersthrewaway。"

Iscarcelyneededtoprompthim；hewasonlytoogladtotalkonabouthisbusiness，andhespokewithasortofhomesickfondness。

HetoldmethathehadhisnurseriesatDeWittPoint，upontheSt。

Lawrence，wherehecouldraisestockhardyenoughforanyclimate，andshipbylandorwater。

"I"vegottobegettinghomerightawaynow，"hesaidfinally，clickinghisknife-bladehalfshutandopenwithhisthumb。

"It"sabouttimeforourevergreentrade，andIdon"twantthetreestostayaminuteinthegroundafterthemiddleofthemonth。"

"Won"ttheladiesfindithardtotearthemselvesawayfromthegaietiesofSaratoga？"Iaskedwithapparentvagueness。

"Well，that"sit，"saidMr。Deering；andheshuthisknifeandslippeditintohispocket，inordertotakehiskneebetweenhisclaspedhandsandlifthislegfromtheground。Ihavenoticedthatthisisaphilosophicalattitudewithsomepeople，andIwaspreparedbyitforsomethoughtfulgeneralisingfrommycompanion。

"Womenwouldbewillingtostayoninaplaceforayeartoseeifsomethingwouldn"thappen；andifyoutake"emawaybeforeanythinghappens，they"llalwaysthinkthatifthey"dstayedsomethingwouldhavehappenedthenextday，ormaybethedaytheyleft。"

Hestaredupwardintothepineboughs，andIsaid:"Yes，that"sso。

Isupposeweshouldbelikethemifwehadthesameconditions。

Theirwholelifeisanexpectationofsomethingtohappen。Menhavetheprivilegeofmakingthingshappen——ortryingto。"

"Oh，Idon"tknowasIwanttocriticise"em。Asyousay，IguessWEshouldbejustso。"Hedroppedhisleg，andbentoverasiftoexaminethegrass；heendedbytakingabladeofitbetweenhisteethbeforehespokeagain，withhisheadstilldown。"Idon"twanttohurry"em；Iwanttogive"emafairshownowwe"rehere，andI"llletthestockgoaslongasIcan。ButIdon"tseeverymuchgaietyaround。"