第6章

Andnow，"sheadded，"Iwantyoutotellmeeverythingthathappenedthisevening。Don"tomitaword，oralook，oramotion。Iwishtoproceedintelligently。"

IhopeIwasaccurateinthehistoryofthehopwhichIgaveMrs。

March；IamsureIwasfull。Ithinkmyaccountmaybejustlydescribedashavingacreativetruthfulness，ifnoothermerit。I

hadreallynowishtoconcealanythingexceptthefactthatIhadnot，inmyutterhelplessness，eventriedtogetMissGageanyotherpartners。Butinthelargerinterestofthepresentsituation，Mrs。

Marchseemedtohavelostthesenseofmyderelictioninthisrespect。Shemerelyasked，"Anditwasafteryouwentbacktotheparlour，justbeforeyoucamehome，thatyouwrotethosenamesonhercard？"

"Kendrickswrotehalfofthem，"Isaid。

"Idaresay。Well，itwasveryamusing，andifthecircumstancesweredifferent，Icouldhaveenteredintothespiritofittoo。Butyouseeyourself，Basil，thatwecan"tletthisaffairgoanyfurtherwithoutdealingfranklywithher。YOUcan"tspeaktoher，and_I_MUST。Don"tyousee？"

IsaidthatIsaw，butIhadsuddenlyawildwishthatitwerepracticableformetospeaktoMissGage。Ishouldhavelikedtohaveapeepintoagirl"sheartatjustsuchamoment，whenitmustbequiveringwiththeunconfessedsenseoflove，andtheconfidenthopeofbeingloved，butwhileasyetnothingwasassured，nothingwasascertained。Ifitwouldnothavebeenshocking，ifitwouldnothavebeensacrilegious，itwouldhavebeeninfinitelyinteresting，andfromanaestheticpointofviewinfinitelyimportant。IthoughtthatIshouldhavebeenwillingtoundergoalltheembarrassmentofsuchaninquiryforthesakeofitspreciousresults，ifithadbeenatallpossible；butIacquiescedthatitwouldnotbepossible。IfeltthatIwasgettingoffprettylightlynottohaveitbroughthometomeagainthatIwasthecauseofallthistrouble，andthatifithadnotbeenformetherewouldhavebeen，asfarasMrs。Marchwasconcerned，noMissGage，andnolove-

affairofherstodealwith。IdebatedinmymindamomentwhetherIhadbetterurgehertoletmespeaktoKendricksafterall；butI

forbore，andinthemorningIwaitedaboutinmuchperturbation，afterIhadsentMissGagetoher，untilIcouldknowtheresultoftheirinterview。WhenIsawthegirlcomeawayfromherroom，whichshedidrathertrippingly，Iwenttoher，andfoundherbynomeansthewreckIhadexpectedtheordealtoleaveher。

"DidyoumeetMissGage？"sheasked。

"Yes，"Ireturned，withtremulousexpectation。

"Well，don"tyouthinkshelooksperfectlydivineinthatgown？

It"soneofMme。Cody"s，andwegotitforthirtydollars。ItwouldhavebeenfiftyinNewYork，anditwas，here，earlierintheseason。Ishallalwayscomehereforsomeofmythings；assoonastheseason"salittlepasttheysimplyFLINGthemaway。Well，mydear!"

"Well，what？"

"Ididn"tspeaktoherafterall。"

"Youdidn"t!Don"tyouthinkshe"sinlovewithhim，then？"

"Dead。"

"Well？"

"Well，Icouldn"tsomehowseemtoapproachthesubjectasIhadexpectedto。Shewassohappy，andsogood，andsoperfectlyobedient，thatIcouldn"tgetanythingtotakeholdof。Yousee，I

didn"tknowbutshemightbealittlerebellious，orresentfulofmyinterference；butinthelittlegingerlyattemptsIdidmakeshewassosubmissive，don"tyouunderstand？AndshewasverymodestaboutMr。Kendricks"attentions，andsoself-depreciatorythat，well——"

"Lookhere，Isabel，"Ibrokein，"thisisprettyshamelessofyou。

Youpretendtobeinthegreatestkindoffidgeaboutthisgirl；andyoumakemelieawakeallnightthinkingwhatyou"regoingtosaytoher；andnowyouasmuchastellmeyouweresofascinatedwiththemodestwayshewasinlovethatyoucouldn"tsayanythingtoheragainstbeinginloveonourhandsinanysortofway。Doyoucallthisbusiness？"

"Well，Idon"tcareifIDIDencourageher——"

"Oh，youevenencouragedher!"

"IDIDN"Tencourageher。ImerelypraisedMr。Kendricks，andsaidhowmuchyouthoughtofhimasawriter。"

"Oh!thenyougavethesubjectaliterarycast。Isee!DoyouthinkMissGagewasabletofollowyou？"

"Thatdoesn"tmatter。"

"Andwhatdoyouproposetodonow？"

"Iproposetodonothing。IthinkthatIhavedoneallmydutyrequires，andthatnowIcanleavethewholeaffairtoyou。Itwasyouraffairinthebeginning。Idon"tseewhyIshouldworrymyselfaboutit。"

"Itseemstomethatthisisaverystrangepositionforaladytotakewhowasnotgoingtocloseaneyelastnightinviewofasituationwhichhasnotchangedintheleast，exceptfortheworse。

Don"tyouthinkyouareratherculpablylight-heartedallofasudden？"

"Iamlight-hearted，butifthereisanyculpabilityitisyours，Basil。"

Ireflected，butIfailedtofindanynoveltyinthefact。"Verywell，then；whatdoyouproposethatIshoulddo？"

"Ileavethatentirelytoyourownconscience。"

"Andifmyconsciencehasnosuggestiontomake？"

"That"syouraffair。"

Ireflectedagain，andthenIsaid，morethananythingtomakeheruncomfortable，I"mafraid:"Ifeelperfectlyeasyinmyconscience，personally，butIhaveasocialdutyinthematter，andIhopeI

shallperformitwithmorefidelityandcouragethanyouhaveshown。

IshallspeaktoKendricks。"

Shesaid:"Thatisjustwhatyououghttodo。I"mquitesurprised。"Afterthistouchofironysheaddedearnestly，"AndI

dohope，mydear，youwillusejudgmentinspeakingtohim，andtact。Youmustn"tgoatitbluntly。RememberthatMr。Kendricksisnotatalltoblame。Hebegantoshowherattentiontoobligeus，andifshehasfalleninlovewithhimitisourfault。"

"Ishallhandlehimwithoutgloves，"Isaid。"Ishalltellhimhehadbettergoaway。"

Iwasjoking，butshesaidseriously，"Yes；hemustgoaway。AndI

don"tenvyyouhavingtotellhim。Isupposeyouwillbungleit，ofcourse。"

"Well，then，youmustadviseme，"Isaid；andwereallybegantoconsiderthequestion。Wecouldhardlyexaggeratethedifficultyanddelicacyofthedutybeforeme。WerecognisedthatbeforeI

madeanyexplicitdemandofhimImustfirstascertainthenatureofthewholegroundandthenbegovernedbythefacts。ItwouldbesimpleenoughifIhadmerelytosaythatwethoughtthegirl"saffectionswerebecomingengaged，andthenappealtohiseagergenerosity，hisdelicatemagnanimity；buttherewerepossiblecomplicationsonhissidewhichmustberegarded。Iwastoascertain，weconcluded，theexactnatureofthesituationbeforeI

venturedtosayanythingopenly。IwastomakemyapproachesbyaseriesofambushesbeforeIunmaskedmypurpose，andperhapsImustnotunmaskitatall。AsIsetoffonmymission，whichmustbeginwithfindingKendricksathishotel，Mrs。Marchsaidshepitiedme。

ShecalledmebacktoaskwhetherIthoughtIhadreallybetterdoanything。Then，asIshowedsignsofweakening，shedrovemefromherwith，"Yes，yes!Youmust!Youmust!"

CHAPTERXVII

ItwasstillsoearlythatIhadmydoubtswhetherIshouldfindKendricksupafterthelastnight"srevelry，buthemetmehalf-waybetweenourhotelandhis。HesaidhewascomingtoseehowMrs。

MarchwasbearingMissGage"simmensesuccessattheball；butperhapsthiswasnothissolemotive。Heaskedfranklyhowtheyoungladywas，andwhetherIthoughtMrs。Marchwouldconsideralunchatarestaurantbythelakeagoodnotion。WhenIsaidIhadverylittledoubtshewould，andproposedtakingaturnintheparkbeforeIwentbackwithhim，helookedathiswatchandlaughed，andsaidhesupposeditWASratherearlyyet，andcameverywillinglywithme。

Wehadtheprettyplacealmosttoourselvesatthathour。Therewereahalf-dozenorsonursemaids，pushingtheirperambulatorsabout，orstandingthevehiclesacrossthewalkinfrontofthebencheswheretheysat，inthesimplebeliefofallpeoplewhohavetodowithbabiesthattherestoftheworldmaybefitlydiscommodedintheirbehalf。Buttheydidnotactivelymolestus，andtheyscarcelycircumscribedourchoiceofseats。Wewerebynomeansdriventothelittlekioskinthelakeforthem，andIshouldrathersaythatwewerefatefullyledthere，soaptweretheassociationsoftheplacetomypurpose。NothingcouldhavebeenmorenaturalthanthatIshouldsay，aswesatdownthere，"ThiswaswhereIfirstsawMissGagewithherfriends"；anditwasbyaperfectlynaturaltransitionthatIshouldgoontospeak，inasemi-humorousstrain，oftheresponsibilitywhichMrs。Marchandmyselfhadincurredbylettingoursympathyforherrunawaywithus。IsaidIsupposedthatifwehadnotbeenwillingfromthefirsttotrytorealiseforhersomeoftheexpectationsweimaginedshehadincomingtoSaratoga，sheneverwouldhavefallentoourcharge；thatpeoplereallybroughtagreatmanymorethingsuponthemselvesthantheywerewillingtoown；andthatfatewasperhapsmorethefulfilmentofourtacitambitionsthanourovertacts。

Thisbitofphilosophy，whichIconfessIthoughtfine，didnotseemtoimpressKendricks。Hemerelysaidthatitmustbegreatfuntohavethechanceofbafflingthemaliceofcircumstanceinacaselikethat，andIperceivedthathefeltnothingcomplexinthesituation。Infact，Idoubtwhetheryouthperceivesanythingcomplexinlife。Totheyoung，lifeisaveryplaincase。Tobesure，theyaremuchmorealarmedthantheireldersatgettingtangledupinitswebattimes，butthatisbecausetheyhavenothadourexperienceingettinguntangled，andthinktheyarenevergoingtogetoutalive。Whentheydo，theythinkthatitistheonlytangletheyareevergoingtobein，anddonotknowthattheyaresimplygoingonfromonetoanotheraslongasthereisenoughofthemlefttobecaughtinamesh。ToKendricksweMarchesweresimplytwoamiablepeople，whohadfancieddoingapleasantthingforabeautifulgirlthataccidenthadthrownitinourpowertobefriend，andwerebynomeansthetremblingarbitersofherdestinywefeltourselvestobe。Thedifferencebetweenhisobjectivesenseandmysubjectivesensewasthedifferencebetweenhistwenty-sevenyearsandmyfifty-two，andwhilethisremainedIsawthatitwouldbeuselesstotrytogetoncommongroundwithhim，ortogivehimourpointofview。IfIweretospeaktohimatall，itmustbewithauthority，withtherightofonewhostoodintheplaceofthegirl"sparents，andhadherhappinessatheart。Thatis，itwassomethinglikethat；butmywordssayittoobluntly。Ifoundmyselfbeginning，"Ihaveratherhadanotionthatherfathermightcomeon，andtaketheenterpriseoffourhands，"though，totellthetruth，Ihadneverimaginedsuchathing，whichcameintomyheadatthatmomentthroughanassociationwiththethoughtofparents。

"Haveyouanyideawhatsortofmanheis？"askedKendricks。

"Oh，somelittlelocalmagnate，presidentofthevillageandpresidentofthevillagebank；Ifancythechieffigureintheplace，butprobablyasignorantofourworldasaCherokee。"

"Well，Idon"tknow，"saidtheyoungfellow。"Doyouthinkthatfollowsbecausehedoesn"tliveinit？"IcouldseethathedidnotquitelikewhatIhadsaid。"Isupposeoursisratherasmallworld。"

"Thesmallestofallworlds，"Ianswered。"AndintheeyesofPapaGage，iftheycouldoncebefocuseduponit，ourworldwouldshriveltoanatom。"

"Doyouthink，"heasked，withamanifestanxiety，"thatitwouldinhers？"

"No；sheisnottheAmericanpeople，andherfatheris，asIfancyhim。ImakeoutfromthevaguehintsthatBrotherDeering(asFulkersonwouldcallhim)droppedwhenhetalkedabouthimthatPapaGageisashrewd，practical，home-keepingbusinessman，withaneyesingletothemainchance，lavish，butnotgenerous，Philistinetothebackbone，blindlydevotedtohisdaughter，andcontemptuousofallthemyriadmysteriesofcivilisationthathedoesn"tunderstand。

Idon"tknowwhyIshouldbeauthorisedtoimaginehimpersonallylongandlank，withpossiblyatobaccohabitofsomesort。Hisnaturalhistory，uponnobetterauthority，isthatofahard-headedfarmer，whofoundoutthatfarmingcouldneverbemorethanalivelihood，andcameintothevillage，andbegantolendmoney，andgetgain，tillhewasinapositiontohelpfoundtheDeWittPointNationalBank，andthen，byweightofhismoneyedsolidity，imposedhimselfuponthefreeandindependentvotersofthevillage——amajorityofthemundermortgagetohim——andbecameitspresident。

Itisn"tapleasanttype，butit"sideallyAmerican。"

"Yes，"saidKendricksruefully。

"Buthisdaughter，"Icontinued，"isprobablyaltogetherdifferent。

Thereissomethingfineabouther——reallyfine。Ourworldwouldn"tshrivelinhereye；itwouldprobablyswellupandfilltheuniverse，"Iaddedbyanimpulsethatcamefromnowhereirresistiblyuponme:"thatis，ifshecouldseeYOUinit。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"heaskedwithastart。

"Oh，nowImusttellyouwhatImean，"Isaiddesperately。"It"syouthathavecomplicatedthiscasesodreadfullyforus。Can"tyouthinkwhy？"

"No，Ican"t，"hesaid；buthehadtosaythat。

Hisfine，sensitivefaceflamedatoncesofire-redthatitcouldonlyturnpaleforachangewhenIplungedon:"I"mafraidwe"vetrifledwithherhappiness"；andthisformulationofthecasedisgustedmesomuchthatIlaughedwildly，andadded，"unlesswe"vetrifledwithyours，too。"

"Idon"tknowwhyyoucallittriflingwithhappiness，"hereturnedwithdignity，butwithoutoffence。"Ifyouwillleaveheroutofthequestion，IwillsaythatyouhavegivenmethegreatesthappinessofmylifeinintroducingmetoMissGage。"

"Now，"Idemanded，"mayIaskwhatYOUmean？YouknowIwouldn"tifIdidn"tfeelboundforhersake，andifyouhadn"tsaidjustwhatyouhavesaid。Youneedn"tanswermeunlessyoulike!It"spleasanttoknowthatyou"venotbeenbored，andMrs。MarchandI

areinfinitelyobligedtoyouforhelpingusout。"

Kendricksmadeasifheweregoingtosaysomething，andthenhedidnot。HehunghisheadlowerandlowerinthesilencewhichIhadtobreakforhim——"IhopeIhaven"tbeenintrusive，mydearfellow。

ThisissomethingIfeltboundtospeakof。Youknowwecouldn"tletitgoon。Mrs。MarchandIhaveblamedourselvesagooddeal，andwecouldn"tletitgoon。ButI"mafraidIhaven"tbeenasdelicatewithyou——"

"Oh!delicate!"Heliftedhisheadandflashedafaceofgenerousself-reproachuponme。"It"s_I_thathaven"tbeendelicatewithYOU。I"vebeenmonstrouslyindelicate。ButInevermeanttobe，and——and——Iwascomingtoseeyoujustnowwhenwemet——toseeyou——

MissGage——andaskher——tellherthatwe——I——musttellyouandMrs。

March——Mr。March!AtthehoplastnightIaskedhertobemywife，andassoonasshecanhearfromherfather——ButthefirstthingwhenIwokethismorning，IsawthatImusttellMrs。Marchandyou。

Andyou——youmustforgiveus——orme，rather；foritwasmyfault——

fornottellingyoulastnight——atonce——oh，thankyou!thankyou!"

Ihadseizedhishand，andwaswringingitvehementlyinexpressionofmypleasureinwhathehadtoldme。InthatfirstmomentIfeltnothingbutpurejoyandanimmeasurablerelief。Idrewmybreath，averydeepandfullone，inasudden，absolutefreedomfromanxietieswhichhadbeennonethelessrealandconstantbecausesooftenburlesqued。Afterwardconsiderationspresentedthemselvestoalloymyrapture，butforthatmoment，asIsay，itwasnothingbutrapture。Therewasnoquestioninitofthelovers"fitnessforeachother，oftheiracceptabilitytotheirrespectivefamilies，oftheirgeneralconduct，oroftheirespecialbehaviourtowardus。

AllthatIcouldrealisewasthatitwasagreatescapeforbothofus，andagreattriumphforme。IhadbeenafraidthatIshouldnothavethecouragetospeaktoKendricksofthematteratall，muchlessaskhimtogoaway；andhereIhadactuallyspokentohim，withthesplendidresultthatIneedonlycongratulatehimonhisengagementtotheladywhoseunrequitedaffectionsIhadbeenwishinghimtospare。Idon"trememberjustthetermsIusedindoingthis，buttheyseemedsatisfactorytoKendricks；probablyarepetitionofthelettersofthealphabetwouldhavebeenequallyacceptable。AtlastIsaid，"Well，nowImustgoandtellthegreatnewstoMrs。March，"andIshookhandswithhimagain；wehadbeenshakinghandsathalf-minutelyintervalseversincethefirsttime。

CHAPTERXVIII

IsawMrs。Marchwaitingformeonthehotelverandah。Sheworeherbonnet，andshewarnedmenottoapproach，andthenrandowntomeetme。

"Well，mydear，"shesaid，asshepushedherhandthroughmyarmandbegantopropelmeawayfromthesightandhearingofpeopleonthepiazza，"Ihopeyoudidn"tmakeafoolofyourselfwithKendricks。

They"reengaged!"

Sheapparentlyexpectedmetobeprostratedbythisstroke。"Yes，"

Isaidverycoolly；"Iwasjustcomingtotellyou。"

"Howdidyouknowit？Whotoldyou？DidKendricks？Idon"tbelieveit!"shecriedinanexcitementnotunmixedwithresentment。

"Noonetoldme，"Isaid。"Isimplydivinedit。"

Shedidn"tmindthatforamoment。"Well，I"mgladhehadthegracetodoso，andIhopehediditbeforeyouaskedhimanyleadingquestions。"Withoutwaitingtohearwhetherthiswassoornot，shewenton，withanemphasisonthenextwordthatalmostblotteditoutofthelanguage，"SHEcamebacktomealmosttheinstantyouweregone，andtoldmeeverything。Shesaidshewantedtotellmelastnight，butshehadn"tthecourage，andthismorning，whenshesawthatIwasbeginningtohintuptoMr。Kendricksalittle，shehadn"tthecourageatall。Isentherstraightofftotelegraphforherfather。Sheisbehavingsplendidly。Andnow，whatarewegoingtodo？"

"Whattherestoftheworldis——nothing。Itseemstomethatweareoutofthestory，mydear。Atanyrate，Ishan"tattempttocompetewithMissGageinsplendidbehaviour，andIhopeyouwon"t。Itwouldbesoeasyforus。IwonderwhatPapaGageisgoingtobelike。"

Ifeltmythrillofapprehensionimpartitselftoher。"Yes!"shegasped；"whatifheshouldn"tlikeit？"

"Well，then，that"shisaffair。"ButIdidnotfeelsolightlyaboutitasIspoke，andfromtimetotimeduringthedayIwasovertakenwithacolddismayatthethoughtoftheunknownquantityintheproblem。

Whenwereturnedtothehotelafteratouroftheblock，wesawKendricksinourcorneroftheverandahwithMissGage。Theywerebothlaughingconvulsively，andtheyrandowntomeetusinyetwilderthroesofmerriment。

"We"vejustbeencomparingnotes，"hesaid，"andattheverymomentwhenIwastellingyou，Mr。March，JuliawastellingMrs。March。"

"Wonderfulcaseoftelepathy，"Imocked。

"GiveittothePsychicalResearch。"

Theybothseemedalittledaunted，andMissGagesaid，"IknowMr。

Marchdoesn"tlikethewaywe"vedone。"

"Likeit!"criedMrs。March，contrivingtoshakemealittlewiththehandshestillhadinmyarm。"Ofcoursehelikesit。Hewasjustsayingyouhadbehavedsplendidly。HesaidHEwouldn"tattempttocompetewithyou。Butyoumustn"tregardhimintheleast。"

IadmiredtheskillwithwhichIsabelsavedherconscienceinthisstatementtoomuchtodisputeit；andIsupposethatwhatevershehadsaid，MissGagewouldhavebeenreassured。Icannotparticularlypraisethewisdomofherbehaviourduringthatday，or，forthematterofthat，thebehaviourofKendrickseither。Theidealthingwouldhavebeenforhimtokeepawaynowtillherfathercame，butitseemedtomethathewasaboutunderourfeetallthewhile，andthatshe，sofarfrommakinghimremainathisownhotel，encouragedhimtopassthetimeatours。Withoutconsultingme，Mrs。Marchaskedhimtostaytodinnerafterhehadstayedalltheforenoon，andhemadethisapretextforspendingtheafternooninourcorneroftheverandah。ShemademegiveituptohimandMissGage，sothattheycouldbealonetogether，thoughImustsaytheydidnotseemtomindusagreatdealwhenwewerepresent；hewasalwaysleaningonthebackofherchair，orsittingnextherwithhishanddanglingoveritinamannerthatmademesick。IwonderedifIwaseversuchanassasthat，andIquitelosttherespectforKendricks"sgoodsenseandgoodtastewhichhadbeenthegroundofmylikingforhim。

Ifeltmyselfwithdrawnfromtheaffairfartherandfartherinsympathy，sinceithadnowpassedbeyondmycontrol；andIresentedthestrainoftheresponsibilitywhichIhadthrownoff，Ifound，onlyforamoment，andmustcontinuetosufferuntilthegirl"sfatherappearedandfinallyrelievedme。TheworstwasthatIhadtobearitalone。ItwasimpossibletodetachMrs。March"sinterestfromMissGage，asagirlwhohadbeenmadeloveto，longenoughtoenablehertorealiseherasadaughterwithfilialtiesandduties。

Shedidtryinaperfunctorywaytodoit，butIcouldseethatshenevergavehermindtoit。Icouldnotevenmakehersharemysenseofmyownculpability，athingshewasonlytoowillingtodoinmostmatters。SheadmittedthatitwasabsurdformetohaveletmyfancyplayaboutthegirlwhenIfirstsawheruntilwefeltthatI

mustdosomethingforher；butIcouldnotgethertoownthatwehadbothactedpreposterouslyinlettingMrs。DeeringleaveMissGageinourcharge。Inthefirstplace，shedeniedthatshehadbeenleftinourcharge。Shehadsimplybeenleftinthehotelwherewewerestaying，andweshouldhavebeenperfectlyfreetodonothingforher。ButwhenKendricksturnedupsounexpectedly，itwasquitenaturalweshouldaskhimtobepolitetoher。Mrs。Marchsawnothingstrangeinallthat。WhatwasIworryingabout？Whatshehadbeenafraidofwasthathehadnotbeeninlovewiththegirlwhenshewassoclearlyinlovewithhim。Butnow!

"Andsupposeherfatherdoesn"tlikeit!"

"NotlikeMr。Kendricks!"Shestaredatme，andIcouldseehowinfatuatedshewas。

Iwasmyselfalwayscharmedwiththeyoungfellow。Hewasnotonlygoodandgenerousandhandsome，andclever——Ineverthoughthimafirst-classtalent——buthewasbeautifullywellbred，andhewasverywellborn，asthosethingsgowithus。Thatis，hecameofpeoplewhohadnotdonemuchofanythingforageneration，andhadacquiredmeritwiththemselvesforit。Theywerenotveryrich，buttheyhadarighttothinkthathemighthavedonenothing，ordonesomethingbetterthanliterature；andIwishIcouldsetforthexactlytheterms，tacitandexplicit，inwhichhismotherandsisterscondonedhisderelictiontomeatareceptionwherehepresentedmetothem。Invirtueofhiswishtodosomething，hehadbecomeahumanbeing，andtheycouldnotquitefollowhim；buttheywereverypoliteintoleratingme，andtryingtomakemefeelthatI

wasnotatallodd，thoughhewassoqueerinbeingproudofwritingformypaper，astheycalledit。HewassounlikethemallthatI

likedhimmorethaneveraftermeetingthem。Still，Icouldimagineafondfather，asIimaginedMissGage"sfathertobe，objectingtohim，onsomegroundsatleast，tillheknewhim，andMrs。Marchapparentlycouldnotimagineeventhis。

IdonotknowwhyIshouldhaveprefiguredMissGage"sfatherastallandlank。Shewasnotherselfsoverytall，thoughshewasrathertallthanshort，andthoughshewasratheroftheDianaorgirlishtypeofgoddess，shewasbynomeanslank。YetitwasinthisshapethatIhadalwaysthoughtofhim，perhapsthroughanobscureassociationwithhisfellow-villager，Deering。Ihadfanciedhimsaturnineofspirit，slovenlyofdress，andloungingofhabit，uponnoauthoritythatIcouldallege，andIwaswhollyunpreparedfortheneat，smallfigureofaman，verypreciseofmannerandscrupulousofaspect，whosaid，"Howdoyoudo，sir？I

hopeIseeyouwell，sir，"whenhisdaughterpresentedustoeachother，themorningaftertheeventfuldaydescribed，andheshookmyhandwithhisverysmall，dryhand。

Icouldnotmakeoutfromtheirmannerwitheachotherwhethertheyhadbeenspeakingofthegreatmatterinhandornot。IamratheratalossaboutpeopleofthatPhilistinemakeastowhattheirprocedurewillbeincircumstanceswhereIknowjustwhatpeopleofmyownsortofsophisticationwoulddo。Thesewouldcomestraightatthetrouble，butIfancythatwiththeothersorttheconventionisapreliminaryreserve。IfoundMr。Gagedisposedtoprolong，withmeatleast，adiscussionoftheweather，andtheaspectsofSaratoga，theeventsofhisjourneyfromDeWittPoint，andthehardshipofhavingtorideallthewaytoMooer"sJunctioninastage-coach。Ifeltmoreandmore，whilewebandiedthesefutilities，asifMr。Gagehadanoverduenoteofmine，andwaswaitingforme，sinceIcouldnotpayit，tomakesomepropositiontowarditsrenewal；andhedidreallytiremeoutatlast，sothatI

said，"Well，Mr。Gage，IsupposeMissGagehastoldyousomethingofthetremendoussituationthathasdevelopeditselfhere？"

IthoughtIhadbettergivetheaffairsuchsmilingcharacterasajocosetreatmentmightimpart，andthedrylittlemantwinkledupresponsivelysofarasmannerwasconcerned。"Well，yes，yes。

Therehasbeensometalkofitbetweenus，"andagainheleftthewordtome。

"Mrs。Marchurgedyourdaughtertosendforyouatoncebecausethatwastherightandfitthingtodo，andbecausewefeltthattheaffairhadnowquitetranscendedourpowers，suchastheywere，andnobodycouldreallycopewithitbutyourself。Ihopeyouwerenotundulyalarmedbythesummons？"

"Notatall。Shesaidinthedespatchthatshewasnotsick。IhadbeenanticipatingashortvisittoSaratogaforsomedays，andmybusinesswasinashapesothatIcouldleave。"

"Oh!"Isaidvaguely，"Iamveryglad。Mrs。Marchfelt，asIdid，thatcircumstanceshadgivenusacertainobligationinregardtoMissGage，andwewereanxioustodischargeitfaithfullyandtotheutmost。Weshouldhavewrittentoyou，summonedyou，before，ifwecouldhavesupposed——orbeensure；butyouknowthesethingsgoonsoobscurely，andweactedattheveryfirstpossiblemoment。I

wishyoutounderstandthat。Wetalkeditoveragreatdeal，andI

hopeyouwillbelievethatwestudiedthroughout——thatweweremostsolicitousfrombeginningtoendforMissGage"shappiness，andthatifwecouldhaveforeseenorimagined——ifwecouldhavetakenanysteps——Itrustyouwillbelieve——"Iwasfuriousatmyselfforbeingsoconfoundedlyapologetic，forIwasthinkingallthetimeofthebotherandafflictionwehadhadwiththegirl；andtheresatthatlittlewoodenimageacceptingmyself-inculpations，andapparentlydemandingmoreofme；butIcouldnothelpgoingoninthesamestrain:"Wefeltespeciallyboundinthematter，fromthefactthatMr。Kendrickswasapersonalfriendofours，whomweareveryfondof，andwebothareveryanxiousthatyoushouldnotsupposethatwepromoted，orthatwewerenotmostvigilant——thatwewereforamomentforgetfulofyourrightsinsuchanaffair——"

Istopped，andMr。Gagepassedhishandacrosshislittlemeagre，smilingmouth。

"Thenheisnotaconnectionofyours，Mr。March？"

"Blessme，no!"Isaidingreatrelief；"wearenotsoswellasthat。"AndItriedtogivehimsomenotionofKendricks"slocalquality，repeatingalistofagglutinatedNewYorksurnamestowhichhiswasmoreorlessaffiliated。Theyalwaysamuseme，thosenames，whichmorethananyintheworldgivethenotionofsocialstraining；butIdoubtiftheyaffectedtheimaginationofMr。Gage，eitherinthiswayorinthewayImeanlymeantthemtoaffecthim。

"Andwhatdidyousayhisbusinesswas？"heasked，withthatimplicationofapreviousstatementonyourpartwhichsomepeoplethinkitsoclevertomakewhentheyquestionyou。

Ialwayshateit，andIavengedmyselfbyansweringsimply，"Blessmysoul，hehasnobusiness!"andlettinghimtakeupthewordnowornot，asheliked。

"Thenheisamanofindependentmeans？"

Icouldnotresistanswering，"Independentmeans？Kendrickshasnomeanswhatever。"Buthavingdealtthisblow，Icouldadd，"I

believehismotherhassomemoney。Theyarepeoplewholivecomfortably"

"Thenhehasnoprofession？"askedMr。Gage，withalittlemorestringencyinhissmile。

"Idon"tknowwhetheryouwillcallitaprofession。Heisawriter。"

"Ah!"Mr。Gagesoftlybreathed。"Doeshewriteforyour——paper？"

InotedthatastotheliterarytechnicalitiesheseemednottobemuchmoreignorantthanKendricks"sownfamily，andIsaid，tolerantly，"Yes；hewritesforourmagazine。"

"Magazine——yes；Ibegyourpardon，"heinterrupted。

"Andforanyotherswherehecanplacehismaterial。"

ThisapparentlydidnotconveyanyveryluminousideatoMr。Gage"smind，andheaskedafteramoment，"Whatkindofthingsdoeshewrite？"

"Oh，stories，sketches，poems，reviews，essays——almostanything，infact。"

Thelightlefthisface，andIperceivedthatIhadcarriedmyrevengetoofar，atleastforKendricks"sadvantage，andI

determinedtotakeanewdepartureatthefirstchance。Thechancedidnotcomeimmediately。

"Andcanamansupportawifebythatkindofwriting？"askedMr。

Gage。

Ilaugheduneasily。"Somepeopledo。Itdependsuponhowmuchofithecansell。Itdependsuponhowhandsomelyawifewishestobesupported。Theresultisn"tusuallybeyondthedreamsofavarice，"

Isaid，withadesperatelevity。

"Excuseme，"returnedthelittleman。"Doyouliveinthatway？Byyourwritings？"

"No，"Isaidwithsomestate，whichItriedtosubdue；"IamtheeditorofEveryOtherWeek，andpartowner。Mr。Kendricksismerelyacontributor。"

"Ah，"hebreathedagain。"Andifheweresuccessfulinsellinghiswritings，howmuchwouldheprobablymakeinayear？"

"Inayear？"Irepeated，togaintime。"Mr。Kendricksiscomparativelyabeginner。Sayfifteenhundred——twothousand——

twenty-fivehundred。"

"AndthatwouldnotgoveryfarinNewYork。"

"No；thatwouldnotgofarinNewYork。"Iwasbeginningtofindacertainpleasureindealingsofranklywiththishardlittleman。I

likedtoseehimsuffer，andIcouldseethathedidsuffer；hesufferedasafathermustwholearnsthatfromapecuniarypointofviewhisdaughterisimprudentlyinlove。Whyshouldwealwaysregardsuchasuffererasacomicfigure？Heis，ifwethinkofitrightly，amostserious，eventragicalfigure，andatalleventsamostrespectablefigure。Helovesher，andhisheartistornbetweenthewishtoindulgeherandthewishtodowhatwillbefinallybestforher。Whyshouldoursympathies，insuchacase，beallforthefoolishyounglovers？Theyoughtingreatmeasuretobeforthefather，too。Somethinglikeasenseofthissmoteme，andI

wasashamedinmypleasure。

"ThenIshouldsay，Mr。March，thatthisseemsamostundesirableengagementformydaughter。Whatshouldyousay？Iaskyoutomakethecaseyourown。"

"Excuseme，"Ianswered；"Iwouldmuchrathernotmakethecasemyown，Mr。Gage，andImustdeclinetohaveyouconsultme。IthinkthatinthismatterIhavedoneallthatIwascalledupontodo。I

havetoldyouwhatIknowofMr。Kendricks"scircumstancesandconnections。Astohischaracter，IcantrulysaythatheisoneofthebestmenIeverknew。Ibelieveinhisabsolutepurityofheart，andheisthemostunselfish，themostgenerous——"

Mr。Gagewavedthefactsasidewithhishand。"Idon"tundervaluethosethings。IfIcouldbemaster，nooneshouldhavemygirlwithoutthem。Buttheydonotconstitutealivelihood。FromwhatyoutellmeofMr。Kendricks"sprospects，IamnotpreparedtosaythatIthinktheoutlookisbrilliant。Ifhehascounteduponmysupplyingadeficiency——"

"Oh，excuseme，Mr。Gage!Yourinsinuation——"

"ExcuseME!"heretorted。"Iammakingnoinsinuation。Imerelywishtosaythat，whilemymeansaresuchastoenablemetoliveincomfortatDeWittPoint，IamwellawarethatmuchmorewouldbeneededinNewYorktoenablemydaughtertoliveinthesamecomfort。I"mnotwillingsheshouldliveinless。IthinkitismydutytosaythatIamnotatallarichman，andiftherehasbeenanysuppositionthatIamso，itisamistakethatcannotbecorrectedtoosoon。"

ThistimeIcouldnotresenthisinsinuation，forsincehehadbeguntospeakIhadbecomeguiltilyawareofhavingfeltasortofeaseinregardtoKendricks"smodestyofcompetencefromabelief，givenme，Isuspect，bythetalkofDeering，thatMr。Gagehadplentyofmoney，andcouldcometotherescueinanyamountneeded。Icouldonlysay，"Mr。Gage，allthisissofarbeyondmycontrolthatI

oughtnottoallowyoutosayittome。ItissomethingthatyoumustsaytoMr。Kendricks。"

AsIspokeIsawtheyoungfellowcomeroundthecornerofthestreet，andmountthehotelsteps。Hedidnotseeme，forhedidnotlooktowardthelittlecorneroflawnwhereMr。GageandIhadputourchairsforthesakeofthemorningshade，andfortheseclusionthatthespotaffordedus。Itwasattheangleofthehousefarthestfromourpeculiarcornerofthepiazza，whitherIhadthebeliefthatthegirlhadwithdrawnwhensheleftmetoherfather。IwassurethatKendrickswouldseekherthere，farenoughbeyondeyeshotorearshotofus，andIhadnodoubtthatshewasexpectinghim。

"YouareMr。Kendricks"sfriend——"

"IhavetriedmuchmoretobeMissGage"sfriend；andMrs。March——"

Itcameintomymindthatshewasmostselfishlyandshamelesslykeepingoutoftheway，andIcouldnotgoonandcelebratehermagnanimousimpartiality，hereagerandsleeplessvigilance。

"Ihavenodoubtofthat，"saidthelittleman，"andIamverymuchobligedtoyouforallthetroubleyouhavetakenonmydaughter"saccount。Butyouarehisfriend，andIcanspeaktoyoumuchmorefullyandfranklythanIcouldtohim。"

Ididnotknowjustwhattosaytothis，andhewenton:"Inpointoffact，Idon"tthinkthatIshallspeaktohimatall。"

"Thatisquiteyouraffair，mydearsir，"Isaiddryly。"Itisn"ttobesupposedthatyouwouldseekaninterviewwithhim。"

"Andifheseeksaninterviewwithme，Ishalldeclineit。"Helookedatmedefiantlyandyetinterrogatively。Icouldseethathewasveryangry，andyetuncertain。

"Imustsay，then，Mr。Gage，thatIdon"tthinkyouwouldberight。"

"How，notright？"

"Ishouldsaythatinequityhehadafullandperfectrighttomeetyou，andtotalkthismatteroverwithyou。Hehasdoneyounowrongwhateverinadmiringyourdaughter，andwishingtomarryher。

It"sforyouandhertodecidewhetheryouwilllethim。Butasfarashiswishgoes，andhisexpressionofittoher，heisquitewithinhisrights。Youmustseethatyourself。"

"Iconsider，"heanswered，"thathehasdonemeawronginthatverything。Amanwithoutmeans，oranystatedoccupation，hehadnobusinesstospeaktomydaughterwithoutspeakingtome。Hetookadvantageofthecircumstances。Whatdoeshethink？DoeshesupposeIamMADEofmoney？DoeshesupposeIwanttosupportason-in-law？IcantellyouthatifIwerepossessedofunlimitedmeans，Ishouldnotdoit。"IbegantosuspectthatDeeringwasnearerright，afterall，inhisrepresentationsoftheman"sfinancialability；Ifanciedsomethingoftheanxiety，thetremorofavarice，inhisresentmentofpoorKendricks"spossible，orratherimpossible，designsuponhispocket。"Ifhehadanyprofession，oranykindofbusiness，Ishouldfeeldifferently，andIshouldbewillingtoassisthimtoareasonabledegree；orifhehadabusinesstraining，Imighttakehiminwithme；butasitis，I

shouldhaveahelplessburdenonmyhands，andIcantellyouIamnotgoinginforthatsortofthing。Ishallmakeshortworkofit。

IshalldeclinetomeetMr。Hendricks，orKendricks，andIshallaskyoutosayasmuchtohimfromme。"

"AndIshalldeclinetobethebearerofanysuchmessagefromyou，Mr。Gage，"Ianswered，andIsaw，notwithoutpleasure，thebewildermentthatbegantomixwithhisarrogance。

"Verywell，then，sir，"heanswered，afteramoment；"Ishallsimplytakemydaughterawaywithme，andthatwillendit。"

Theprimlittle，grimlittlemanlookedatmewithhishardeyes，andsethislipssoclosethatthebeardontheloweronestuckoutatmewithasortofadditionalmenaceIfeltthathewastoocapableofdoingwhathesaid，andIlostmyselfinasenseofhissordidness，asensewhichwasalmostwithoutatraceofcompassion。

ItseemedasifIwerealongtimeunderthespellofthis，andthesightofhisrepugnantface；butitcouldreallyhavebeenmerelyamoment，whenIheardastirofdraperyonthegrassnearus，andthesoft，richvoiceofMissGagesaying，"Papa!"

Webothstartedtoourfeet。Idonotknowwhethershehadheardwhathesaidornot。Wehadspokenlow，andintheutmostvehemenceofhisspeechhedidnotlifthisvoice。Inanycase，shedidnotheedwhathesaid。

"Papa，"sherepeated，"IwantyoutocomeupandseeMrs。Marchonthepiazza。And——Mr。Kendricksisthere。"

Ihadawilddesiretolaughatwhatfollowed，andyetitwasnotwithoutitspathos。"I——I——hm!hm!I——cannotseeMr。Kendricksjustatpresent。I——thefactis，Idonotwanttoseehim。Itisbetter——not。Ithinkyouhadbettergetreadytogohomewithmeatonce，daughter。I——hm!——cannotapproveofanyengagementtoMr。

Kendricks，andI——prefernottomeethim。"Hestopped。

MissGagesaidnothing，andIcannotsaythatshelookedanything。

ShesimplyCLOUDEDUP，ifImaysoexpresstheeffectthatcameandremaineduponhercountenance，whichwasnowthecountenanceshehadshownmethefirsteveningIsawher，whenIsawtheDeeringscoweringinitsshadow。Ihadnoneedtolookattheadamantinelittlemanbeforehertoknowthathewassofteningintowax，and，infact，Ifeltasortofindecencyinbeholdinghisinteneration，forIknewthatitcamefromhisheart，andhaditsconsecrationthroughhisloveforher。

ThatiswhyIturnedaway，anddonotknowtothismomentjusthowthechangeshedesiredinhimwasbroughtabout。IwillnotsaythatIdidnotlookbackfromadiscreetdistance，andcontinuelookinguntilIsawthemstartawaytogetherandmoveinthedirectionofthatcornerofthepiazzawhereKendrickswaswaitingwithMrs。March。

Itappeared，fromheraccount，thatMr。Gage，withnouncommonshowofill-will，butwithmerelyanaturaldryness，sufferedKendrickstobepresentedtohim，andentereduponsomepreliminarybanalitieswithhim，suchashehadusedinopeningaconversationwithme。

BeforethesecametoacloseMrs。Marchhadthoughtitwelltoleavethethreetogether。

Afterward，whenweknewtheonlyresultthattheaffaircouldhave，shesaid，"Thegirlhasapowerfulwill。Iwonderwhatthemotherwaslike。"

"Yes；evidentlyshedidn"tgetthatwillfromherfather。Ihavestillasenseofexhaustionfromitinourowncase。WhatdoyouthinkitportendsforpoorKendricks!"

"PoorKendricks!"sherepeatedthoughtfully。"Yes；inthatsenseI

supposeyoumightcallhimpoor。Itisn"tanequalthingasfarasnature，ascharacter，goes。Butisn"titalwaysdreadfultoseetwopeoplewhohavemadeuptheirmindstogetmarried？"

"It"sverycommon，"Isuggested。

"Thatdoesn"tchangethefact，orlessentherisk。Sheisverybeautiful，andnowheisinlovewithherbeautifulgirlhood。Butafterawhilethegirlhoodwillgo。"

"Andthegirlwillremain，"Isaid。