第2章

Ilaughed。"Why，it"sallgaiety，inoneway。SaratogaisaperpetualFourthofJuly，wethink。"

"Ohyes；there"senoughgoingon，andmywifeandmewecouldenjoyitfirstrate。"

"Iftheyoungladycould？"Iventured，withasmileofsympatheticintelligence。

"Well，yes。Yousee，wedon"tknowanybody，andIsupposewedidn"ttakethatintoaccount。Well，Isupposeit"slikethis:theythoughtitwouldbeeasytogetacquaintedinthehotel，andcommencehavingagoodtimerightaway。Idon"tknow；mywifehadtheideawhentheycookeditupamongst"emthatshewastocomewithus。ButISWEAR_I_don"tknowhowtogoaboutit。Ican"tseemtomakeupmymouthtospeaktofolksfirst；andthenyoucan"ttellwhetheramanain"tagambler，oronforthehorse-racesanyway。Sowe"vebeenhereaweeknow，andyou"rethefirstoneswe"vespokentobesidesthewaiterssincewecame。"

Icouldn"thelplaughing，theirexperiencewassoexactlyasIhadimagineditwhenIfirstsawthisdisconsolateparty。Inmytriumphatmyownpenetration，Iwouldnothavehadtheirsufferinginthepastonepangtheless；butthesimplefranknessofhisconfessionfixedmeinthewishthatthefuturemightbebrighterforthem。I

thoughtmyselfwarrantedbymywife"simprudenceintakingasteptowardtheirfurtherintimacyonmyownaccount，andIsaid:

"Well，perhapsIoughttotellyouthatIhaven"tbeeninsidetheSaratogaCluborbetontheracessinceI"vebeenhere。That"smynameinfull，"——andIgavehimmycard，——"andI"mintheliteraryline；thatis，I"mtheeditorofamagazineinNewYork——theEveryOtherWeek。"

"Ohyes；Iknowwhoyouare，"saidmycompanion，withmycardinhishand。"Factis，Iwasroundatyourplacethismorningtryingtogetrooms，andtheclerktoldmeallaboutyoufrommydescription。

Ifeltasmeanaspu"sleygoin"；seemedtobetakin"kindofanadvantageofyou。"

"Notatall；it"sapublichouse，"Iinterrupted；butIthoughtI

shouldbestrongerwithMrs。MarchifIdidnotgivethefactawaytoher，andIresolvedtokeepit。

"Buttheycouldn"tresteasytillItried，andIwasmorethanhalfgladtherewasn"tanyrooms。"

"Oh，I"mverysorry，"Isaid；andIindulgedarealregretfromthevantageIhad。"Itwouldhavebeenverypleasanttohaveyouthere。

Perhapslater——weshallbegivingupourroomsattheendofthemonth。"

"No，"hesaid，withalongbreath。"IfI"vegottoleave"em，I

guessit"llbejustaswelltoleave"emwherethey"reacquaintedwiththehouseanyway。"Hisremarkbetrayedapointinhisthinkingwhichhadnotperhapsbeenreachedinhistalkwiththeladies。

"It"saquietplace，andthey"reusedtoit；andIguesstheywouldn"twanttostaythroughtherestofthemonth，quite。Idon"tbelievemywifewould，anyway。"

Hedidnotsaythisveryconfidently，buthopefullyrather，andI

thoughtitaffordedmeanopeningtofindoutsomethingyetmoredefiniteabouttheladies。

"MissGageisremarkablyfine-looking，"Ibegan。

"Thinkso？"heanswered。"Well，sodoesmywife。Idon"tknowasI

likeherstyleexactly，"hesaid，withakindoflatentgrudge。

"Herstyleismagnificent，"Iinsisted。

"Well，maybeso。Iguessshe"sgoodenoughlooking，ifthat"swhatyoumean。ButIthinkit"salwaysakindofamistakeforthreepersonstocomeofftogether，Idon"tcarewhotheyare。Thenthere"sthreeopinions。She"sanicegirl，andagoodgirl，andshedon"tputherselfforward。Butwhenyou"vegotayoungladyonyourhands，you"veGOTher，andyoufeelboundtokeepdoin"somethingforherallthetime；andifyoudon"tknowwhattodoyourself，andyourwifecan"ttell——"

Iaddedintelligently，"Yes。"

"Well，that"sjustwhereitis。SometimesIwishthewholedumbtownwouldburnup。"Ilaughedandlaughed；andmyfriend，havingbeguntounpackhisheart，wentontoeaseitoftherestofitsload。Ihadnotwaitedforthisbeforemakingsomereflectionsconcerninghim，butInowformulatedthemtomyself。HereallyhadnoneofthatreserveIhadattributedtohimthenightbefore；itwasmerelycautionandthisisthecasewithmostcountrypeople。

Theyarecautious，butnotreserved；iftheythinktheycantrustyou，theykeepbacknoneoftheiraffairs；andthisistheAmericancharacter，forwearenearlyallcountrypeople。Iunderstoodhimperfectlywhenhesaid，"IrutherbreakstonethangothroughwhatI

havebeenthroughthelastweek!Youunderstandhowitis。"Tain"tasifshesaidanything；Iwishshewould；butyoufeelallthewhilethatitain"twhatsheexpectedittobe，andyoufeelasifitwasyouthatwastoblameforthefailure。ByGeorge!ifanymanwastocomealongandmakeanofferformycontractIwouldselloutcheap。It"sworsebecausemywifeaskedhertocome，andthoughtshewasdoin"herallkindsofafavourtolether。They"vealwaysbeentogether，andwhenwetalkedofcomingtoSaratogathissummer，nothingwoulddomywifebutJuliamustcomewithus。Herandherfatherusuallytakeatripoffsomewhereinthehotweather，butthistimehecouldn"tleave；presidentofourNationalBank，andpresidentofthevillage，too。"Hethrewinthefactofthesedignitiesexplanatorily，butwithawillingness，Icouldsee，thatitshouldaffectme。Hewenton:"They"rekindofconnectionsofmyfirstwife"s。Well，she"sanicegirl；toonice，Iguess，togetalongveryfast。Iseegirlsallthewayalongdowngettin"

acquaintedonthecarsandboats——wecomeeastontheOgdensburgroadtoRouse"sPoint，andthentooktheboatdownLakeChamplainandLakeGeorge——butshealwaysseemedtoholdback。Idon"tknow"sshe"sproudeither；Ican"tmakeitout。Itballsmywifeallup，too。Itellhershe"sfrettedoffallthegoodhertrip"sgoin"todoherbeforeshegotit。"

Helaughedruefully，andjustthenthebandbegantoplaythe"WashingtonPost。"

"Whattune"sthat？"hedemanded。

""WashingtonPost，""Isaid，proudofknowingit。

"ByGeorge!thattunegoesrighttoafellow"slegs，don"tit？"

"It"sthenewmarch，"Isaid。

Helistenedwithasimplejoyinit，andhispleasurestrengthenedthemysticbondwhichhadformeditselfbetweenusthroughtheconfidenceshehadmademe，soflatteringlycorroborativeofallmyguessesconcerninghimandhisparty。

CHAPTERIV

Ilongedtohavethechanceofbraggingtomywife；butthischancedidnotcometilltheconcertwasquiteover，afterIrejoinedherwithmycompanion，andshecouldtakeleaveofthemallwithoutseemingtoabandonthem。ThenIjudgeditbesttoletherhavetheword；forIknewbythewaysheranherhandthroughmyarm，andbeganpushingmealongoutofearshot，thatshewasfullofit。

"Well，Basil，Ithinkthatisthesweetestandsimplestandkindestcreatureintheworld，andI"mperfectlyinlovewithher。"

Ididnotbelievesomehowthatshemeantthegirl，butIthoughtitbestmerelytosuggest，"Therearetwo。"

"YouknowverywellwhichImean，andIwoulddoanythingIcouldforher。She"sgotadifficultproblembeforeher，andIpityher。

Thegirl"sverywell，andsheISabeauty；andIsupposesheHAS

beenhavingadulltime，andofcourseyoucouldn"tpleaseMrs。

Deeringhalfsowellasbydoingsomethingforherfriend。I

supposeyou"refeelingveryproudthatthey"rejustwhatyoudivined。"

"Notatall；I"msousedtodiviningpeople。HowdidyouknowI

knewit？"

"Isawyoutalkingtohim，andIknewyouwerepumpinghim。"

"Pumping？Heaskednothingbetterthantoflow。HewouldputtoshametheprovokedspontaneityofanyspringinSaratoga。"

"Well，didhesaythathewasgoingtoleavethemhere？"

"Hewouldliketodoit——yes。Hewasverysweetandsimpleandkind，too，Isabel。Hecomplainedbitterlyofthegoddess，andallbutsaidshesulked。"

"Why，Idon"tknow，"saidmywife。"Ithink，considering，thatsheisratheramiable。Shebrightenedupmoreandmore。"

"Thatwasprosperity，orthehopeofit，mydear。Nothingilluminesusliketheprospectofpleasantthings。Shetookyouforsocietysmilinguponher，andofcourseshesmiledback。Butit"sonlythefirstsmileofprosperitythatcheers。Ifitkeepsonsmilingitendsbymakingusdissatisfiedagain。Whenpeoplearegettingintosocietytheyareveryglad；whentheyhavegotintheyseemtoberathergloomy。Wemustn"tletthesethingsgotoofar。Nowthatyou"vegotyourfriendsingoodhumour，therightwayistodropthem——tocutthemdeadwhenyoumeetthem，tolooktheotherway。

Thatwillsendthemhomeperfectlyradiant。"

"Nonsense!IamgoingtodoallIcanforthem。Whatdoyouthinkwecando？Theyhaven"tthefirstideahowtoamusethemselveshere。It"samiracletheyevergotthatdressthegirliswearing。

Theyjustmadeabolddashbecausetheysawitinadressmaker"swindowthefirstday，andshehadtohavesomething。It"skillinglybecomingtoher；butIdon"tbelievetheyknowit，andtheydon"tbegintoknowhowcheapitwas:itwassimplyTHROWNaway。I"mgoingshoppingwiththeminthemorning。"

"Oh!"

"Butnowthequestionis，whatwecandotogivethemsomelittleglimpseofsocialgaiety。That"swhatthey"vecomefor。"

WewerepassingthecornerofalargeenclosurewhichseemsdevotedinSaratogatothemostdistractingofitspleasures，andIsaid:

"Well，wemightgivethematurnonthecircularrailwayortheswitchback；orwecouldtakethemtothePunchandJudydrama，orgettheirfortunestoldintheseeress"stent，orletthemfireintheshooting-gallery，orbuysomesweet-grassbasketsoftheIndians；andthereisthepop-cornandthelemonade。"

"Iwilltellyouwhat，"saidMrsMarch，whohadnotbeenlisteningtoawordIsaid；forifshehadheardmeshewouldnothavehadpatiencewithmyironicalsuggestions。

"Well，what？"

"Or，no；thatwouldn"tdo，either。"

"I"mgladyoudon"tapproveofthenotion，onsecondthoughts。I

didn"tlikeitfromthebeginning，andIdidn"tevenknowwhatitwas。"

"Wecouldhavethemuptothehousethisevening，andintroducethemtosomeofourfriends，——onlythereisn"tayoungmaninthewholeplace，——andhavethemstaytothecharades。"

"Whatdoyouthink，"Isaid，"oftheirhavingcomeupthismorningandtriedtogetroomsatourhouse？"

"Yes；theytoldme。"

"Anddon"tyoucallthatratherforth-putting？Itseemstomethatitwastakingameanadvantageofmybrags。"

"Itwasperfectlyinnocentinthem。Butnow，dearest，don"tbetiresome。IknowthatyoulikethemaswellasIdo，andIwilltakeallyourlittleteasingaffectationsforgranted。Thequestionis，whatcanwedoforthem？"

"Andtheansweris，Idon"tintheleastknow。Thereisn"tanysocietylifeatSaratogathatIcansee；andifthereis，wearenotinit。Howcouldwegetanyoneelsein？Iseethat"swhatyou"reaimingat。Thosepublicsocialitiesatthebighotelstheycouldgetintoaswellaswecould；buttheywouldn"tbeanywherewhentheygotthere，andtheywouldn"tknowwhattodo。Youknowwhathollowmockeriesthosethingsare。Don"tyourememberthathopwewenttowiththeyoungBraceysthefirstsummer？Ifthosegirlshadn"twaltzedwitheachothertheywouldn"thavedancedastepthewholeevening。"

"Iknow，Iknow，"sighedmywife；"itwasterrible。Butthesepeoplearesoveryunworldlythatdon"tyouthinktheycouldbedeludedintothebeliefthattheywereseeingsocietyifwetookalittletrouble？Youusedtobesoinventive!Youcouldthinkupsomethingnowifyoutried。"

"Mydear，agirlknowsbeyondalltheartsofhoodwinkingwhethershe"shavingagoodtime，andyourlittleschemeofpassingoffoneofthosehotelhopsforafestivitywouldneverworkintheworld。"

"Well，Ithinkitistoobad!Whathasbecomeofalltheeasygaietythereusedtobeintheworld？"

"Ithasbeenstarchedandironedoutofit，apparently。SaratogaisstilltryingtodothegoodoldAmericanact，withitsbighotelsanditsheterogeneoushops，andIdon"tsupposethere"seversuchathingasasocietypersonatanyofthem。Thatwouldn"tbesobad。

Buttheunsocietypeopleseemtobeafraidofoneanother。Theyfeelthatthereissomethingintheair——somethingtheydon"tandcan"tunderstand；somethingalien，thatjudgestheirold-fashionedAmericanimpulsetobesociable，andcontemnsit。No；wecan"tdoanythingforourhaplessfriends——Icanhardlycallthemouracquaintances。Wemustavoidthem，andkeepthemmerelyasapensivecolourinourownvividmemoriesofSaratoga。Ifwemadethemhaveagoodtime，andsentthemontheirwayrejoicing，I

confessthatIshouldfeelmyselfdistinctlyaloser。Asitis，they"reastrainofmelancholypoetryinmylife，ofmusicintheminorkey。Ishallalwaysassociatetheirpathoswiththishotsummerweather，andIshallthinkofthemwheneverthethermometerregisterseighty-nine。Don"tyouseetheadvantageofthat？I

believeIcanultimatelygetsomeliteratureoutofthem。IfIcanthinkofafittingfableforthemFulkersonwillfeatureitinEveryOtherWeek。He"llgetoutaSaratoganumber，andcomeuphereandstrikethehotelsandspringsforad"s。"

"Well，"saidMrs。March，"IwishIhadneverseenthem；andit"sallyourfault，Basil。Ofcourse，whenyouplayeduponmysympathiessoaboutthem，Icouldn"thelpfeelinginterestedinthem。Weareacoupleofromanticoldgeese，mydear。"

"Notatall，oratleastI"mnot。Isimplyusedthesepeopleconjecturallytogivemyselfanagreeablepang。Ididn"twanttoknowanythingmoreaboutthemthanIimagined，andIcertainlydidn"tdreamofdoinganythingforthem。You"llspoileverythingifyouturnthemfromfictionintofact，andtrytomanipulatetheirdestiny。Letthemalone；theywillworkitoutforthemselves。"

"YouknowIcan"tletthemalonenow，"shelamented。"Iamnotoneofthosewhocangivethemselvesanagreeablepangwiththeunhappinessoftheirfellow-creatures。I"mnotsatisfiedtostudythem；Iwanttorelievethem。"

Shewentontopraiseherselftomydisadvantage，asInoticewiveswillwiththeirhusbands，andIdidnotattempttodenyherthissourceofconsolation。Butwhensheendedbysaying，"IbelieveI

shallsendyoualone，"andexplainedthatshehadpromisedMrs。

Deeringwewouldcometotheirhotelforthemaftertea，andgowiththemtohearthemusicattheUnitedStatesandtheGrandUnion，I

protested。IsaidthatIalwaysfelttoosneakingwhenIwasprowlingroundthosehotelslisteningtotheirproprietaryconcerts，andIwasawareoflookingsosneakingthatIexpectedeverymomenttobeorderedofftheirpiazzas。Asforconvoyingapartyofthreestrangersaboutalone，Ishouldcertainlynotdoit。

"NotifI"veaheadache？"

"Notifyou"veaheadache。"

"Oh，verywell，then。"

"Whatareyoutwoquarrellingabout？"criedagayvoicebehindus，andwelookedroundintothelaughingeyesofMissDale。ShewastheonecottagerweknewinSaratoga，butwhenwewerewithherwefeltthatwekneweverybody，sohospitablewasthesenseofworldwhichherkindnessexhaled。

"ItwasMrs。Marchwhowasquarrelling，"Isaid。"Iwasonlytryingtoconvinceherthatshewaswrong，andofcourseonehastoliftone"svoice。IhopeIhadn"ttheeffectofhalloaing。"

"Well，Imerelyheardyouabovethesteamharmoniconattheswitchback，"saidMissDale。"Idon"tknowwhetheryoucallTHAT

holloaing。"

"Oh，MissDale，"saidmywife，"weareinsuchafatal——"

"Pickle，"Isuggested，andsheinstantlyadoptedthewordinherextremity。

"——picklewithsomepeoplethatProvidencehasthrowninourway，andthatwewanttodosomethingfor"；andinalabyrinthofparenthesesthatnomancouldhavefoundhiswayintooroutof，shepossessedMissDaleofthewholeromanticfact。"ItwasMr。March，ofcourse，whofirstdiscoveredthem，"sheconcluded，inplaintiveaccusation。

"PoorMr。March!"criedMissDale。"Well，itisapatheticcase，butitisn"ttheonlyone，ifthat"sanycomfort。Saratogaisreekingwithjustsuchforlornitiesthewholesummerlong；butIcanquiteunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit，Mrs。March。"Wecametoacorner，andshesaidabruptly:"Excusemyinterruptingyourquarrel!NotquitesoLOUD，Mr。March!"andsheflashedbackamockinglookatmeassheskurriedoffdownthestreetwithastonishingrapidity。

"Howperfectlyheartless!"criedmywife。"Icertainlythoughtshewouldsuggestsomething——offertodosomething。"

"Irelieduponher，too，"Isaid；"butnowIhavemydoubtswhethershewasreallygoingdownthatstreettillshesawthatitwasthebestwaytoescape。We"recertainlyintrouble，mydear，ifpeopleavoidusinthismanner。"

CHAPTERV

"IamdoingitentirelyonMrs。Deering"sIaccount，"saidmywifethateveningaftertea，aswewalkeddowntheside-streetthatdescendedfromourplacetoBroadway。"Shehasthatgirlonherhands，andIknowshemustbeatherwits"end。"

"AndIdoitentirelyonDeering"saccount，"Iretorted。"HehasbothofthosewomenonHIShands。"

Weemergedintotheglisteningthoroughfareinfrontofthevasthotels，andIwasstruck，asIneverfailtobe，withitsfutileandunmeaningsplendour。Ithinkthereisnothinginourdun-colouredcivilisationprettierthanthathabittheladieshaveinSaratogaofgoingoutonthestreetafterdarkintheirbareheads。WhenI

firstsawthemwanderingaboutsointheglitteroftheshop-windowsandthefitfulglareoftheelectricseverywhere，IthoughttheymustbesomeofthoseSpanish-Americansmistakingthewarm，dryairoftheNorthernnightforthatoftheirownlatitudes；butwhenI

cameupwiththemIcouldhear，ifIcouldnotsee，thattheywereofourownrace。Thoseflatandshapelesstonescouldcomethroughthenosesofnoother。Thebeautyandtheelegancewerealsoours，andthefearlesstrustofcircumstance。Theysaunteredupanddownbeforethegaunt，highporticoesofthehotels，asmuchathomeastheycouldhavebeenintheirownhouses，andinmuchthesamedressasiftheyhadbeenreceivingthere。Theeffectisoneofincomparablecheer，andisapromiseofsocialbrilliancywhichSaratoganomorekeepsthanshedoesthatofherothercharacteristicaspects；saytheforenooneffectofthesamethoroughfare，withthepiazzasbankedwiththehotelguests，andthestreetfullofthelightequipageswhichseempeculiartotheplacepassingandrepassing，inthejoyoussunlightandoutofit，ontheleaf-fleckedstreet。EventhepubliccarriagesofSaratogahaveafresh，unjadedair；andtoissuefromtherailwaystationinthemidstofthosebuoyanttop-phaetonsandsurreys，withtheirlight-

limbedhorses，istobethrilledbysomesuchinsensateexpectationofpleasureasfillstheheartofaboyathisfirstsallyintotheworld。IalwaysexpecttofindmylostyouthwaitingformearoundthecorneroftheUnitedStatesHotel，andIaccusemyselfofsomefaultifitdisappointsme，asitalwaysdoes。Icanimaginewhatgaudyhopesbydayandbynightthebrightstagingofthepotentialdramamustawakeninthebreastofayounggirlwhenshefirstseesit，andhowblankshemustfeelwhenthecurtaingoesdownandtherehasbeennoplay。ItwasarealanguishtomewhenthatyounggirlwiththeDeeringswelcomedmywifeandmewithahopefulsmile，asifwewerethedramatispersonae，andnowtheperformancemustbegoingtobegin。Icouldseehowmuchourchanceacquaintancehadbrightenedtheperspectiveforher，andhoweagerlyshehadrepairedallherillusions；andIthoughthowmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenifshehadbeenlefttothedullandspiritlessresignationinwhichIhadfirstseenher。Fromthattherecouldnofall，atleast，andnowshehadrisenfromitonlytosinkagain。

But，infact，thewholepartyseemedfalselycheeredbytheeventoftheafternoon；andinthefewmomentsthatwesatwiththemontheirverandah，beforegoingtothemusicattheGrandUnion，Icouldheartheladieslaughingtogether，whileDeeringjoyouslyunfoldedtomehisplanofgoinghomethenextmorningandleavinghiswifeandMissGagebehindhim。"Theywillstayinthishotel——theymightaswell——andIguesstheycangetalong。MywifefeelsmoreacquaintedsinceshemetMrs。March，andIshan"tfeelsomuchlikeleavin"heramongstrangershereIdon"tknowwhenshe"stakensuchafancytoanyoneasshehastoyourwife，orMissGageeither。Iguessshe"llwanttoaskheraboutthestores。"

IsaidthatIbelievedthefancywasmutual，andthattherewasnothingmywifelikedbetterthantellingpeopleaboutstores。I

added，ingeneralisation，thatwhenawomanhadspentallherownmoneyondress，itdidherquiteasmuchgoodtoseeotherwomenspendingtheirs；andDeeringsaidheguessedthatwasaboutso。Hegavemeapushontheshouldertomakemeunderstandhowkeenlyheappreciatedthejoke，andIperceivedthatwehadwonhishearttoo。

Wejoinedtheladies，andIthoughtthatmysufferingsforherauthorisedmetoattachmyselfmoreespeciallytoMissGage，andtofindoutallIcouldabouther。Wewalkedaheadoftheothers，andIwasawareofhermakingbelievethatitwasquitethesameasifsheweregoingtothemusicwithayoungman。Notthatsheseemeddisposedtotriflewithmygreyhairs；Iquicklysawthatthiswouldnotbeincharacterwithher；butsomesortofillusionwasessentialtoheryouth，andshecouldnothelprejuvenatingme。

Thiswasquitelikethegoddessshelooked，Ireflected，butotherwiseshewasnotformidablydivine；and，infact，Isupposethegoddesseswere，afterall，onlynicegirlsatheart。Thisone，atanyrate，Idecided，wasaverynicegirlwhenshewasnotsulking；

andshewassobrightenedbyherlittleadventure，whichwasreallynoadventure，thatIcouldnotbelieveIhadeverseenhersulking。

Thehotelpeopledidnotkeepusfromgoingintothecourtofthehotel，asIwasafraidtheymight，andwealleasilyfoundplaces。

InthepausesofthemusicIpointedoutsuchnotablesandcharactersasIsawaboutus，andtriedtopossessherofasmuchoftheSaratogaworldasIknew。Itwaslargelythereinthatboldevidenceitloves，andinthatsocialsolitudetowhichtheSaratogaofthehotelscondemnsthedenizensofherworld。IdonotmeanthattheSaratogacrowdisatallafast-lookingcrowd。Therearesportingpeopleandgamblers；butthegreatmassofthefrequentersareplain，honestAmericans，outuponaholidayfromallpartsofthecountry，andofaninnocencetooinveteratetohavegraspedthefactthatthereisnofashioninSaratoganowbutthefashionoftheladies"dresses。These，Imustsay，areofthenewestandprettiest；thedressingofthewomenalwaysstrikesmethere。Mycompanionwaseagertorecognisethesplendourswhichshehadheardof，andIpointedoutanoldladybythedoor，whosattheredisplayinguponhervastpersonanassortmentofgemsandjewelswhichsheseemedaspersonallyindifferenttoasifshewereashow-

window，andIwasgladtohavethegirlshrinkfromthespectacleinakindofmutealarm。ItriedtomakehersharemypleasureinagroupofCubans——fatfather，fatmother，fatdaughter——whocamedownthewalktowardusinthehalooftropicaltradition；butshehadnotthetasteforolives，andIsawthatIfailedtopersuadeheroftheaestheticvalueofthisalienelementamongus。Sheapparentlycoulddoalmostaslittlewithsomeoldfiguresofbygonebeausspectrallyrevisitingthehotelhauntsoftheiryouth；butshewascharmedwiththesylvanlovelinessofthatincomparablecourt。Itis，infact，aparkofthetall，slimSaratogatreesenclosedbythequadrangleofthehotel，exquisitelykept，andwithitsacresofgreenswardnowshowingtheircolourvividlyinthelightoftheelectrics，whichshonefromallsidesonthefountainflashingandplashinginthemidst。Isaidthatherewasthatunionofthesylvanandtheurbanwhichwasalwaysthedreamofart，andwhichformedthedelicatecharmofpastoralpoetry；andalthoughIdonotthinkshequitegraspedthenotion，Isawthatshehadapleasureinthevisiblefact，andthatwasmuchbetter。Besides，shelistenedveryrespectfully，andwithnosignsofbeingbored。

InthewaitbetweenthetwopartsoftheconcertIinvitedhertowalkaroundthecourtwithme，andundertheapprovingeyeofMrs。

Marchwemadethisexpedition。ItseemedtomethatIcouldnotdoawiserthing，bothforthesatisfactionofmyowncuriosityandforthegratificationoftheautobiographicalpassionweallfeel，thantoleadherontospeakofherself。Butshehadlittleornothingtosayofherself，andwhatshesaidofotherthingswasmarkedbyastraightforwardgoodsense，ifnotawideintelligence。Ithinkwemakeamistakewhenwesupposethatabeautifulwomanmustalwaysbevainorconscious。

Ifancythatabeautyisquiteasoftenasolidandsensibleperson，withnoinordinatewishtobeworshipped，andthisyoungladystruckmeaswhollyunspoiledbyflattery。IdecidedthatshewasnotthetypethatwouldtakethefancyofDeWittPoint，andthatshehadgrownupwithoutlocalattentionforthatreason，orpossiblybecauseacertaincoldnessinheroverawedthefreespiritofrusticlove-making。Nodoubtsheknewthatshewasbeautiful，andIbegantothinkthatitwasnotsomuchdisappointmentatfindingSaratogaasindifferentasDeWittPointwhichgavehertheeffectofdisgustIhadfirstnotedinherthenightbefore。Thatmightratherhavecomefromthesenseoffeelingherselfahelplessburdenonherfriends，andfromthatyounglongingforcompanionshipwhichisasfarasmaybefromthedesireofconquest，oftriumph。Findinghernowsogratefullycontentwiththepooreffortstoamuseherwhichanoldfellowlikemecouldmake，IperceivedthatthesocietyofothergirlswouldsufficetomakeSaratogaquiteanotherthingforher，andIcastaboutinmymindtocontrivethissomehow。

IconfessthatIlikedherbetterandbetter，andbeforetheeveningwasoutIhadquitetransferredmycompassionfromtheDeeringstoher。ItWASforlornanddrearyforhertobeattachedtothisgoodcouple，whoseinterestswereprimarilyineachother，andwhohadnotthefirstofthoseartswhichcouldprovideherwithothercompany。ShewillinglytoldabouttheirjourneytoSaratoga，andherstorydidnotdiffermateriallyfromtheaccountDeeringhadalreadygivenme；buteventheoutwardformofadventurehadfallenfromtheirexperiencesincetheyhadcometoSaratoga。TheyhadformedthehabitofCongressParkbyaccident；buttheyhadnotbeentothelake，ortheraces，ortheHouseofPansa，orMountM"Gregor，orHiltonPark，oreventheoutlyingsprings。ItwasthefirsttimetheyhadbeeninsideoftheGrandUnion。"Thenyouhaveneverseentheparlour？"Iasked；andaftertheconcertIboldlyledthewayintotheparlour，andlavisheditsmagnificenceuponthemasifI

hadbeenthehost，oroneofthehotelguestsattheveryleast。I

enjoyedthebreathlessnessoftheDeeringssomuch，aswewalkedupanddownthevastdrawing-roomsaccompaniedbyourimagesinthemirrors，thatIinsisteduponsittingdownwiththemalluponsomeoftherichestpiecesoffurniture；andIwassoflownwithmysuccessasciceronethatImadethemcomewithmetotheUnitedStates。Ishowedthemthroughtheparloursthere，andthenledthemthroughtotheinnerverandah，whichcommandedanotherwoodedcourtlikethatoftheGrandUnion。Itriedtomakethemfeelthestateliersentimentoftheolderhotel，andtostirtheirimaginationswithapictureoftheoldtimes，whentheSouthernplantersusedtothrongtheplace，andallthatwasgayandbrilliantinfashionablesocietywastobeseentheresometimeduringthesummer。IthinkthatIfailedinthis，butapparentlyI

succeededingivingthemaneveningofdazzlingsplendour。

"Well，sir，thishasbeenagreattreat，"saidMr。Deering，whenhebadeusgoodbyeaswellasgood-night；hewasgoingearlyinthemorning。

Theladiesmurmuredtheirgratitude，Mrs。Deeringwithanemotionthatsuitedherthanks，andMissGagewithatouchofsomethingdaughterlytowardmethatIthoughtpretty。

CHAPTERVI

"Well，whatDIDyoumakeofher，mydear？"Mrs。Marchdemandedtheinstantshewasbeyondtheirhearing。"Imustsay，youdidn"tspareyourselfinthecause；youdidbravely。Whatisshelike？"

"Really，Idon"tknow，"Ianswered，afteramoment"sreflection。"I

shouldsayshewasalmostpurelypotential。She"snotsomuchthisorthatkindofgirl；she"smerelyaradiantimageofgirlhood。"

"Now，yourchicquingit，you"refakingit，"saidMrs。March，borrowingtheverbsseverallyfromthearteditorandthepublisherofEveryOtherWeek。"YouhavegottotellmejusthowmuchandhowlittletherereallyisofherbeforeIgoanyfurtherwiththem。Isshestupid？"

"No——no；Ishouldn"tsaystupidexactly。Sheis——whatshallIsay？——

extremelyplain-minded。Isupposethegoddesseswereplain-minded。

I"malittlepuzzledbyherattitudetowardherownbeauty。Shedoesn"tliveherbeautyanymorethanapoetliveshispoetryorapainterhispainting；thoughI"venodoubtsheknowshergiftishersjustastheydo。"

"IthinkIunderstand。Youmeansheisn"tconscious。"

"No。Consciousisn"tquitetheword，"Isaidfastidiously。"Isn"ttheresomewordthatsaysless，ormore，inthesamedirection？"

"No，thereisn"t；andIshallthinkyoudon"tmeananythingatallifyoukeepon。Now，tellmehowshereallyimpressedyou。Doessheknowanything？Hasshereadanything？Hassheanyideas？"

"Really，Ican"tsaywhethertheywereideasornot。SheknewwhatEveryOtherWeekwas；shehadreadthestoriesinit；butI"mnotsureshevalueditatitstrueworth。Sheisveryplain-minded。"

"Don"tkeeprepeatingthat!Whatdoyoumeanbyplain-minded？"

"Well，honest，single，common-sense，coherent，arithmetical。"

"Horrors!DoyoumeanthatsheisMANNISH？"

"No，notmannish。Andyetshegavemethenotionthat，whenitcametocompanionship，shewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithalotofgirlsasyoungmen。"

Mrs。Marchpulledherhandoutofmyarm，andstoppedshortunderoneofthosetallSaratogashade-treestodramatiseherinference。

"Thensheistheslyestofallpossiblepusses!Didshegiveyouthenotionthatshewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithyouaswithayoungman!"

"Shecouldn"tdeceivemesofarasTHAT，mydear。"

"Verywell；Ishalltakeherinhandmyselfto-morrow，andfindoutwhatshereallyis。"

Mrs。MarchwentshoppingthenextforenoonwithwhatwasleftoftheDeeringparty；Deeringhadtakentheearlytrainnorth，andsheseemedtohavefoundtheladieslivelierwithouthim。Sheformedtheimpressionfromtheirmorejoyousbehaviourthathekepthiswifefromspendingasmuchmoneyasshewouldnaturallyhavedone，andthat，whilehewasnotperhapsexactlyselfish，hewasforgetfulofheryouth，ofthedifferenceinyearsbetweenthem，andofhercapacityforpleasureswhichhecouldnotcarefor。ShesaidthatMrs。DeeringandMissGagenowactedliketwogirlstogether，and，ifanything，MissGageseemedtheelderofthetwo。

"Andwhatdidyoudecideabouther？"Iinquired。

"Well，Ihelpedherbuyahatandajacketatoneofthoseniceshopsjustbelowthehotelwherethey"restopping，andwe"vestartedaneveningdressforher。Shecan"twearthatwhiteduckmorning，noon，andnight。"

"Buthercharacter——hernature？"