ThefollowingstorywasthefirstfruitofmyNewYorklifewhenIbegantoliveitaftermyquarterofacenturyinCambridgeandBoston，endingin1889；andIusedmyowntransitiontothecommercialmetropolisinframingtheexperiencewhichwaswhollythatofmysupposititiousliteraryadventurer。Hewasacharacterwhom，withhiswife，Ihaveemployedinsomesixoreightotherstories，andwhomImadeasmuchtheheroandheroineof'
TheirWeddingJourney'astheslightfablewouldbear。InventuringoutofmyadoptiveNewEngland，whereIhadfoundmyselfathomewithmanyimaginaryfriends，Ifounditnaturaltoaskthecompanyofthesefamiliaracquaintances，buttheircompanywasnottobehadatoncefortheasking。WhenIbeganspeakingofthemasBasilandIsabel，inthefashionof'TheirWeddingJourney，'theywouldnotrespondwiththeeffectofearlymiddleagewhichIdesiredinthem。Theyremainedwilfully，nottosaywoodenly，theyoungbridalpairofthatromance，withoutthepromiseofnovelfunctioning。ItwasnottillI
triedaddressingthemasMarchandMrs。Marchthattheystirredundermyhandwithfreshimpulse，andsetabouttheworkassignedthemaspeopleinsomethingmorethantheirsecondyouth。
ThesceneintowhichIhadinvitedthemtofigurefilledthelargestcanvasIhadyetallowedmyself；and，though'AHazardofNewFortuneswasnotthefirststoryIhadwrittenwiththeprinteratmyheels，itwasthefirstwhichtookitsowntimetoprescribeitsowndimensions。
IhadthegeneraldesignwellinmindwhenIbegantowriteit，butasitadvanceditcompelledintoitscourseincidents，interests，individualities，whichIhadnotknownlaynear，anditspecializedandamplifiedatpointswhichIhadnotalwaysmeanttotouch，thoughI
shouldnotliketointimateanythingmysticalinthefact。Itbecame，tomythinking，themostvitalofmyfictions，throughmyquickenedinterestinthelifeaboutme，atamomentofgreatpsychologicalimport。
Wehadpassedthroughaperiodofstrongemotioninginthedirectionofthehumanereconomics，ifImayphraseitso；therichseemednotsomuchtodespisethepoor，thepoordidnotsohopelesslyrepine。ThesolutionoftheriddleofthepainfulearththroughthedreamsofHenryGeorge，throughthedreamsofEdwardBellamy，throughthedreamsofallthegenerousvisionariesofthepast，seemednotimpossiblyfaroff。ThatsheddingofbloodwhichisfortheremissionofsinshadbeensymbolizedbythebombsandscaffoldsofChicago，andtheheartsofthosewhofeltthewrongsboundupwithourrights，theslaveryimplicatedinourliberty，werethrillingwithgriefsandhopeshithertostrangetotheaverageAmericanbreast。Opportunelyformetherewasagreatstreet-carstrikeinNewYork，andthestorybegantofinditswaytoissuesnoblerandlargerthanthoseofthelove-affairscommontofiction。Iwasinmyfifty-secondyearwhenItookitup，andintheprime，suchasitwas，ofmypowers。ThescenewhichIhadchosenappealedprodigiouslytome，andtheactionpassedasnearlywithoutmyconsciousagencyasIeverallowmyselftothinksuchthingshappen。
Theopeningchapterswerewritteninafine，oldfashionedapartmenthousewhichhadoncebeenafamilyhouse，andinanuppermostroomofwhichIcouldlookfrommyworkacrossthetreesofthelittleparkinStuyvesantSquaretothetowersofSt。George'sChurch。Thenlaterinthespringof1889theunfinishednovelwascarriedtoacountryhouseontheBelmontborderofCambridge。ThereImusthavewrittenveryrapidlytohavepressedittoconclusionbeforethesummerended。Itcame，indeed，soeasilyfromthepenthatIhadthemisgivingwhichIalwayshaveofthingswhichdonotcostmegreattrouble。
ThereisnothinginthebookwithwhichIamusedmyselfmorethanthehouse-huntingoftheMarcheswhentheywereplacingthemselvesinNewYork；andifthecontemporaryreadershouldturnforinstructiontothepagesinwhichtheirexperienceisdetailedIassurehimthathemaytrusttheirfidelityandaccuracyinthearticleofNewYorkhousingasitwasearlyinthelastdecadeofthelastcentury:Imean，thehousingofpeopleofsuchmoderatemeansastheMarches。InmyzealfortruthI
didnotdistinguishbetweenrealityandactualityinthisorothermatters——thatis，onewasasprecioustomeastheother。Butthetypeshereportrayedareastrueasevertheywere，thoughtheworldinwhichtheywerefindingtheirhabitatiswonderfully，almostincrediblydifferent。Yetitisnotwhollydifferent，forayoungliterarypairnowadventuringinNewYorkmighteasilyparalleltheexperienceoftheMarcheswiththeirown，ifnotforsolittlemoney；manyphasesofNewYorkhousingarebetter，butallaredearer。Otheraspectsofthematerialcityhaveundergoneatransformationmuchmorewonderful。
Ifindthatinmybookitspopulationisoncemodestlyspokenofastwomillions，butnowintwentyyearsitistwiceasgreat，andthegrandeuraswellasgrandiosityofitsformsisdoublyapparent。
Thetransitionalpublicthatthenmopedaboutinmildlytinklinghorse-carsisnowhurriedbackandforthinclangingtrolleys，inhonkingandwhirringmotors；theElevatedroadwhichwasthelastwordofspeedisunderminedbytheSubway，shootingitsswiftshuttlesthroughthesubterraneanwoofofthecity'shaste。FromthesefeetletthewitnessinferourwholemassiveHercules，abulkthatsprawlsandstretchesbeyondtheriversthroughthetunnelspiercingtheirbedsandthattowersintotheskieswithinnumerabletops——aHerculesblentofBriareusandCerberus，butnotsobadamonsterasitseemedthentothreatenbecoming。
Certainhopesoftruerandbetterconditionsonwhichmyheartwasfixedtwentyyearsagoarenotlessdear，andtheyarebynomeanstouchedwithdespair，thoughtheyhavenotyetfoundthefulfilmentwhichIwouldthenhaveprophesiedforthem。Eventshavenotwhollyplayedthemfalse；
eventshavenothalted，thoughtheyhavemarchedwithaslownessthatmightaffectayoungerobserverasmarkingtime。Theywhowerethenmindfulofthepoorhavenotforgottenthem，andwhatisbetterthepoorhavenotoftenforgottenthemselvesinviolencessuchasofferedmethematerialoftragedyandpathosinmystory。InmyqualityofartistI
couldnotregretthese，andIgratefullyrealizethattheyofferedmetheopportunityofamorestrenuousaction，amoreimpressivecatastrophethanIcouldhaveachievedwithoutthem。Theytendedtogivethewholefabledignityanddoubtlessmadeforitssuccessasabook。Asaserialithadcreptasluggishcoursebeforeapublicapparentlysounmindfulofitthatnorumorofitsacceptanceorrejectionreachedthewriterduringthehalfyearofitspublication；butitroseinbookformfromthatfailureandstooduponitsfeetandwentitswaytogreaterfavorthananybookofhishadyetenjoyed。Ihopethatmyrecognitionofthefactwillnotseemlikeboasting，butthatthereaderwillregarditasaspecialconfidencefromtheauthorandwillletitgonofarther。
KITTERYPOINT，MAINE，July，1909。
PARTFIRST
AHAZARDOFNEWFORTUNES
I。
"Now，youthinkthisthingover，March，andletmeknowthelastofnextweek，"saidFulkerson。Hegotupfromthechairwhichhehadbeensittingastride，withhisfacetoitsback，andtiltingtowardMarchonitshind-legs，andcameandrappeduponhistablewithhisthinbamboostick。"Whatyouwanttodoistogetoutoftheinsurancebusiness，anyway。Youacknowledgethatyourself。Youneverlikedit，andnowitmakesyousick；inotherwords，it'skillingyou。Youain'taninsurancemanbynature。You'reanatural-bornliteraryman，andyou'vebeengoingagainstthegrain。Now，Iofferyouachancetogowiththegrain。
Idon'tsayyou'regoingtomakeyoureverlastingfortune，butI'llgiveyoualivingsalary，andifthethingsucceedsyou'llshareinitssuccess。We'llallshareinitssuccess。That'sthebeautyofit。
Itellyou，March，thisisthegreatestideathathasbeenstrucksince"——Fulkersonstoppedandsearchedhismindforafitimage——"sincethecreationofman。"
HeputhislegupoverthecornerofMarch'stableandgavehimselfasharpcutonthethigh，andleanedforwardtogetthefulleffectofhiswordsuponhislistener。
Marchhadhishandsclaspedtogetherbehindhishead，andhetookoneofthemdownlongenoughtoputhisinkstandandmucilage-bottleoutofFulkerson'sway。Aftermanyyears'experimentofamustacheandwhiskers，henowworehisgrizzledbeardfull，butcroppedclose；itgavehimacertaingrimness，correctedbythegentlenessofhiseyes。
"Somepeopledon'tthinkmuchofthecreationofmannowadays。Whystopatthat?Whynotsaysincethemorningstarssangtogether?"
"No，sir；no，sir!Idon'twanttoclaimtoomuch，andIdrawthelineatthecreationofman。I'msatisfiedwiththat。Butifyouwanttoringthemorningstarsintotheprospectusallright；Iwon'tgobackonyou。"
"ButIdon'tunderstandwhyyou'vesetyourmindonme，"Marchsaid。
"Ihaven'thad，anymagazineexperience，youknowthat；andIhaven'tseriouslyattemptedtodoanythinginliteraturesinceIwasmarried。
IgaveupsmokingandtheMusetogether。IsupposeIcouldstillmanageacigar，butIdon'tbelieveIcould——"
"Museworthacent。"Fulkersontookthethoughtoutofhismouthandputitintohisownwords。"Iknow。Well，Idon'twantyouto。Idon'tcareifyouneverwritealineforthething，thoughyouneedn'trejectanythingofyours，ifithappenstobegood，onthataccount。AndI
don'twantmuchexperienceinmyeditor；rathernothaveit。Youtoldme，didn'tyou，thatyouusedtodosomenewspaperworkbeforeyousettleddown?"
"Yes；Ithoughtmylineswerepermanentlycastinthoseplacesonce。ItwasmoreanaccidentthananythingelsethatIgotintotheinsurancebusiness。IsupposeIsecretlyhopedthatifImademylivingbysomethingutterlydifferent，Icouldcomemorefreshlytoliteratureproperinmyleisure。"
"Isee；andyoufoundtheinsurancebusinesstoomany，foryou。Well，anyway，you'vealwayshadahankeringfortheinkpots；andthefactthatyoufirstgavemetheideaofthisthingshowsthatyou'vedonemoreorlessthinkingaboutmagazines。"
"Yes——less。"
"Well，allright。Nowdon'tyoubetroubled。IknowwhatIwant，generally，speaking，andinthisparticularinstanceIwantyou。Imightgetamanofmoreexperience，butIshouldprobablygetamanofmoreprejudiceandself-conceitalongwithhim，andamanwithafollowingoftheliteraryhangers-onthataresuretogetroundaneditorsoonerorlater。Iwanttostartfair，andI'vefoundoutinthesyndicatebusinessallthementhatareworthhaving。Buttheyknowme，andtheydon'tknowyou，andthat'swhereweshallhavethepullonthem。Theywon'tbeabletoworkthething。Don'tyoubeanxiousabouttheexperience。I'vegotexperienceenoughofmyowntorunadozeneditors。
WhatIwantisaneditorwhohastaste，andyou'vegotit；andconscience，andyou'vegotit；andhorsesense，andyou'vegotthat。
AndIlikeyoubecauseyou'reaWesternman，andI'manother。IdocottontoaWesternmanwhenIfindhimoffEasthere，holdinghisownwiththebestof'em，andshowing'emthathe'sjustasmuchcivilizedastheyare。Webothknowwhatitistohaveourbrighthomeinthesettingsun；heigh?"
"IthinkweWesternmenwho'vecomeEastareapttotakeourselvesalittletooobjectivelyandtofeelourselvesrathermorerepresentativethanweneed，"Marchremarked。
Fulkersonwasdelighted。"You'vehitit!Wedo!Weare!"
"Andasforholdingmyown，I'mnotveryproudofwhatI'vedoneinthatway；it'sbeenverylittletohold。ButIknowwhatyoumean，Fulkerson，andI'vefeltthesamethingmyself；itwarmedmetowardyouwhenwefirstmet。Ican'thelpsuffusingalittletoanymanwhenIhearthathewasbornontheothersideoftheAlleghanies。It'sperfectlystupid。
IdespisethesamethingwhenIseeitinBostonpeople。"
Fulkersonpulledfirstoneofhisblondwhiskersandthentheother，andtwistedtheendofeachintoapoint，whichhelefttountwineitself。
HefixedMarchwithhislittleeyes，whichhadacuriousinnocenceintheircunning，andtappedthedeskimmediatelyinfrontofhim。"WhatI
likeaboutyouisthatyou'rebroadinyoursympathies。ThefirsttimeI
sawyou，thatnightontheQuebecboat，Isaidtomyself:'There'samanIwanttoknow。There'sahumanbeing。'IwasalittleafraidofMrs。
Marchandthechildren，butIfeltathomewithyou——thoroughlydomesticated——beforeIpassedawordwithyou；andwhenyouspokefirst，andopenedupwithajokeoverthatfellow'stablefuloflightliteratureandIndianmoccasinsandbirch-barktoycanoesandstereoscopicviews，Iknewthatwewerebrothers-spiritualtwins。IrecognizedtheWesternstyleoffun，andIthought，whenyousaidyouwerefromBoston，thatitwassomeofthesame。ButIseenowthatitsbeingacoldfact，asfarasthelastfifteenortwentyyearscount，isjustsomuchgain。Youknowbothsections，andyoucanmakethisthinggo，fromoceantoocean。"
"Wemightringthatintotheprospectus，too，"Marchsuggested，withasmile。"Youmightcallthething'FromSeatoSea。'By-the-way，whatareyougoingtocallit?"
"Ihaven'tdecidedyet；that'soneofthethingsIwantedtotalkwithyouabout。Ihadthoughtof'TheSyndicate'；butitsoundskindofdry，anddoesn'tseemtocoverthegroundexactly。Ishouldlikesomethingthatwouldexpresstheco-operativecharacterofthething，butIdon'tknowasIcangetit。"
"Mightcallit'TheMutual'。"
"They'dthinkitwasaninsurancepaper。No，thatwon'tdo。ButMutualcomesprettyneartheidea。Ifwecouldgetsomethinglikethat，itwouldpiquecuriosity；andthenifwecouldgetparagraphsafloatexplainingthatthecontributorsweretobepaidaccordingtothesales，itwouldbeafirst-ratead。"
Hebentawide，anxious，inquiringsmileuponMarch，whosuggested，lazily:"Youmightcallit'TheRound-Robin'。Thatwouldexpressthecentralideaofirresponsibility。AsIunderstand，everybodyistosharetheprofitsandbeexemptfromthelosses。Or，ifI'mwrong，andthereverseistrue，youmightcallit'TheArmyofMartyrs'。Come，thatsoundsattractive，Fulkerson!Orwhatdoyouthinkof'TheFifthWheel'?
Thatwouldforestallthecriticismthattherearetoomanyliteraryperiodicalsalready。Or，ifyouwanttoputforwardtheideaofcompleteindependence，youcouldcallit'TheFreeLance'；or——"
"Or'TheHogonIce'——eitherstanduporfalldown，youknow，"Fulkersonbrokeincoarsely。"Butwe'llleavethenameofthemagazinetillwegettheeditor。Iseethepoison'sbeginningtoworkinyou，March；andifI
hadtimeI'dleavetheresulttotime。ButIhaven't。I'vegottoknowinsideofthenextweek。Tocomedowntobusinesswithyou，March，I
sha'n'tstartthisthingunlessIcangetyoutotakeholdofit。"
Heseemedtoexpectsomeacknowledgment，andMarchsaid，"Well，that'sveryniceofyou，Fulkerson。"
"No，sir；no，sir!I'vealwayslikedyouandwantedyoueversincewemetthatfirstnight。Ihadthisthinginchoatelyinmymindthen，whenI
wastellingyouaboutthenewspapersyndicatebusiness——beautifulvisionofalotofliteraryfellowsbreakingloosefromthebondageofpublishersandplayingitalone——"
"Youmightcallit'TheLoneHand'；thatwouldbeattractive，"Marchinterrupted。"ThewholeWestwouldknowwhatyoumeant。"
Fulkersonwastalkingseriously，andMarchwaslisteningseriously；buttheybothbrokeoffandlaughed。Fulkersongotdownoffthetableandmadesometurnsabouttheroom。Itwasgrowinglate；theOctobersunhadleftthetopofthetallwindows；itwasstillclearday，butitwouldsoonbetwilight；theyhadbeentalkingalongtime。Fulkersoncameandstoodwithhislittlefeetwideapart，andbenthislittlelean，squarefaceonMarch。"Seehere!Howmuchdoyougetoutofthisthinghere，anyway?"
"Theinsurancebusiness?"Marchhesitatedamomentandthensaid，withacertaineffortofreserve，"Atpresentaboutthreethousand。"HelookedupatFulkersonwithaglance，asifhehadamindtoenlargeuponthefact，andthendroppedhiseyeswithoutsayingmore。
WhetherFulkersonhadnotthoughtitsomuchornot，hesaid:"Well，I'llgiveyouthirty-fivehundred。Come!Andyourchancesinthesuccess。"
"Wewon'tcountthechancesinthesuccess。AndIdon'tbelievethirty-fivehundredwouldgoanyfurtherinNewYorkthanthreethousandinBoston。"
"Butyoudon'tliveonthreethousandhere?"
"No；mywifehasalittleproperty。"
"Well，shewon'tlosetheincomeifyougotoNewYork。Isupposeyoupaytenortwelvehundredayearforyourhousehere。YoucangetplentyofflatsinNewYorkforthesamemoney；andIunderstandyoucangetallsortsofprovisionsforlessthanyoupaynow——threeorfourcentsonthepound。Come!"
Thiswasbynomeansthefirsttalktheyhadhadaboutthematter；everythreeorfourmonthsduringthepasttwoyearsthesyndicatemanhaddroppedinuponMarchtoairtheschemeandtogethisimpressionsofit。
Thishadhappenedsooftenthatithadcometobeasortofjokebetweenthem。ButnowFulkersonclearlymeantbusiness，andMarchhadastruggletomaintainhimselfinafirmpoiseofrefusal。
"Idaresayitwouldn't——oritneedn't-costsoverymuchmore，butI
don'twanttogotoNewYork；ormywifedoesn't。It'sthesamething。"
"Agooddealsamer，"Fulkersonadmitted。
Marchdidnotquitelikehiscandor，andhewentonwithdignity。
"It'sverynaturalsheshouldn't。ShehasalwayslivedinBoston；she'sattachedtotheplace。Now，ifyouweregoingtostart'TheFifthWheel'
inBoston——"
Fulkersonslowlyandsadlyshookhishead，butdecidedly。"Wouldn'tdo。
YoumightaswellsaySt。LouisorCincinnati。There'sonlyonecitythatbelongstothewholecountry，andthat'sNewYork。"
"Yes，Iknow，"sighedMarch；"andBostonbelongstotheBostonians，buttheylikeyoutomakeyourselfathomewhileyou'revisiting。"
"Ifyou'llagreetomakephraseslikethat，rightalong，andgettheminto'TheRound-Robin'somehow，I'llsayfourthousand，"saidFulkerson。
"Youthinkitovernow，March。YoutalkitoverwithMrs。March；Iknowyouwill，anyway；andImightaswellmakeavirtueofadvisingyoutodoit。TellherIadvisedyoutodoit，andyouletmeknowbeforenextSaturdaywhatyou'vedecided。"
Marchshutdowntherollingtopofhisdeskinthecorneroftheroom，andwalkedFulkersonoutbeforehim。Itwassolatethatthelastofthechore-womenwhowasheddownthemarblehallsandstairsofthegreatbuildinghadwrungoutherfloor-clothanddeparted，leavingspotlessstoneandaclean，dampsmellinthedarkeningcorridorsbehindher。
"Couldn'tofferyousuchswellquartersinNewYork，March，"Fulkersonsaid，ashewenttack-tackingdownthestepswithhissmallboot-heels。
"ButI'vegotmyeyeonalittlehouseroundinWestEleventhStreetthatI'mgoingtofitupformybachelor'shallinthethirdstory，andadaptfor'TheLoneHand'inthefirstandsecond，ifthisthinggoesthrough；
andIguesswe'llbeprettycomfortable。It'srightontheSandStrip——nomalariaofanykind。"
"Idon'tknowthatI'mgoingtoshareitssalubritywithyouyet，"Marchsighed，inanobvioustravailwhichgaveFulkersonhopes。
"Ohyes，youare，"hecoaxed。"Now，youtalkitoverwithyourwife。
Yougiveherafair，unprejudicedchanceatthethingonitsmerits，andI'mverymuchmistakeninMrs。Marchifshedoesn'ttellyoutogoinandwin。We'reboundtowin!"
Theystoodontheoutsidestepsofthevastedificebeetlinglikeagranitecragabovethem，withthestonegroupsofanallegoryoflife-insuranceforeshortenedinthebas-reliefoverhead。Marchabsentlyliftedhiseyestoit。Itwassuddenlystrangeaftersomanyyears'
familiarity，andsowasthewell-knownstreetinitsSaturday-eveningsolitude。Heaskedhimself，withprophetichomesickness，ifitwereanomenofwhatwastobe。Butheonlysaid，musingly:"Afortnightly。Youknowthatdidn'tworkinEngland。Thefortnightlyispublishedonceamonthnow。"
"ItworksinFrance，"Fulkersonretorted。"The'RevuedesDeuxMondes'
isstillpublishedtwiceamonth。IguesswecanmakeitworkinAmerica——withillustrations。"
"Goingtohaveillustrations?"
"Mydearboy!Whatareyougivingme?DoIlooklikethesortoflunaticwhowouldstartathinginthetwilightofthenineteenthcenturywithoutillustrations?Comeoff!"
"Ah，thatcomplicatesit!Idon'tknowanythingaboutart。"March'slookofdiscouragementconfessedtheholdtheschemehadtakenuponhim。
"Idon'twantyouto!"Fulkersonretorted。"Don'tyousupposeIshallhaveanartman?"
"Andwillthey——theartists——workatareducedrate，too，likethewriters，withthehopesofashareinthesuccess?"
"Ofcoursetheywill!AndifIwantanyparticularman，foracard，I'llpayhimbigmoneybesides。ButIcangetplentyoffirst-ratesketchesonmyownterms。You'llsee!They'llpourin!"
"Lookhere，Fulkerson，"saidMarch，"you'dbettercallthisfortnightlyofyours'TheMadnessoftheHalf-Moon'；or'BedlamBrokeLoose'
wouldn'tbebad!Whydoyouthrowawayallyourhardearningsonsuchacrazyventure?Don'tdoit!"ThekindnesswhichMarchhadalwaysfelt，inspiteofhiswife'sfirstmisgivingsandreservations，forthemerry，hopeful，slangy，energeticlittlecreaturetrembledinhisvoice。TheyhadbothformedafriendshipforFulkersonduringtheweektheyweretogetherinQuebec。Whenhewasnotworkingthenewspapersthere，hewentaboutwiththemoverthefamiliargroundtheywereshowingtheirchildren，andwassimplygratefulforthechance，aswellasveryentertainingaboutitall。Thechildrenlikedhim，too；whentheygottheclewtohisintention，andfoundthathewasnotquiteseriousinmanyofthethingshesaid，theythoughthewasgreatfun。TheywerealwaysgladwhentheirfatherbroughthimhomeontheoccasionofFulkerson'svisitstoBoston；andMrs。March，thoughofacharierhospitality，welcomedFulkersonwithagratefulsenseofhisadmirationforherhusband。HehadawayoftreatingMarchwithdeference，asanolderandablerman，andofqualifyingthefreedomheusedtowardeveryonewithanimplicationthatMarchtolerateditvoluntarily，whichshethoughtverysweetandevenrefined。
"Ah，nowyou'retalkinglikeamanandabrother，"saidFulkerson。"Why，March，oldman，doyousupposeI'dcomeonhereandtrytotalkyouintothisthingifIwasn'tmorally，ifIwasn'tperfectly，sureofsuccess?
Thereisn'tanyiforandaboutit。Iknowmyground，everyinch；andI
don'tstandaloneonit，"headded，withasignificancewhichdidnotescapeMarch。"Whenyou'vemadeupyourmindIcangiveyoutheproof；
butI'mnotatlibertynowtosayanythingmore。Itellyouit'sgoingtobeatriumphalmarchfromthewordgo，withcoffeeandlemonadefortheprocessionalongthewholeline。Allyou'vegottodoistofallin。"HestretchedouthishandtoMarch。"Youletmeknowassoonasyoucan。"
Marchdeferredtakinghishandtillhecouldask，"Whereareyougoing?"
"ParkerHouse。TaketheelevenforNewYorkto-night。"
"IthoughtImightwalkyourway。"Marchlookedathiswatch。"ButI
shouldn'thavetime。Goodbye!"
HenowletFulkersonhavehishand，andtheyexchangedacordialpressure。Fulkersonstartedawayataquick，lightpace。Halfablockoffhestopped，turnedround，and，seeingMarchstillstandingwherehehadlefthim，hecalledback，joyously，"I'vegotthename!"
"What?"
"EveryOtherWeek。"
"Itisn'tbad。"
"Ta-ta!"
II。
AllthewayuptotheSouthEndMarchmentallyprolongedhistalkwithFulkerson，andathisdoorinNankeenSquareheclosedtheparleywithaplumprefusaltogotoNewYorkonanyterms。HisdaughterBellawaslyinginwaitforhiminthehall，andshethrewherarmsroundhisneckwiththeexuberanceofherfourteenyearsandwithsomethingofthehistrionicintentionofhersex。Hepressedon，withherclingingabouthim，tothelibrary，and，intheglowofhisdecisionagainstFulkerson，kissedhiswife，whereshesatbythestudylampreadingtheTranscriptthroughherfirstpairofeye-glasses:itwasagreedinthefamilythatshelookeddistinguishedinthem，or，atanyrate，cultivated。Shetookthemofftogivehimaglanceofquestion，andtheirsonTomlookedupfromhisbookforamoment；hewasinhislastyearatthehighschool，andwaspreparingforHarvard。
"Ididn'tgetawayfromtheofficetillhalf-pastfive，"Marchexplainedtohiswife'sglance，"andthenIwalked。Isupposedinner'swaiting。
I'msorry，butIwon'tdoitanymore。"
AttablehetriedtobegaywithBella，whobabbledathimwithavolublepertnesswhichherbrotherhadoftenadvisedherparentstocheckinher，unlesstheywantedhertobeuniversallydespised。
"Papa!"sheshoutedatlast，"you'renotlistening!"Assoonaspossiblehiswifetoldthechildrentheymightbeexcused。Thensheasked，"Whatisit，Basil?"
"Whatiswhat?"heretorted，withaspeciousbrightnessthatdidnotavail。
"Whatisonyourmind?"
"Howdoyouknowthere'sanything?"
"Yourkissingmesowhenyoucamein，foronething。"
"Don'tIalwayskissyouwhenIcomein?"
"Notnow。Isupposeitisn'tnecessaryanymore。'Celavasansbaiser。'"
"Yes，Iguessit'sso；wegetalongwithoutthesymbolismnow。"
Hestopped，butsheknewthathehadnotfinished。
"Isitaboutyourbusiness?Havetheydoneanythingmore?"
"No；I'mstillinthedark。Idon'tknowwhethertheymeantosupplantme，orwhethertheyeverdid。ButIwasn'tthinkingaboutthat。
Fulkersonhasbeentoseemeagain。"
"Fulkerson?"Shebrightenedatthename，andMarchsmiled，too。
"Whydidn'tyoubringhimtodinner?"
"Iwantedtotalkwithyou。Thenyoudolikehim?"
"Whathasthatgottodowithit，Basil?"
"Nothing!nothing!Thatis，hewasboringawayaboutthatschemeofhisagain。He'sgotitintodefiniteshapeatlast。"
"Whatshape?"
Marchoutlineditforher，andhiswifeseizeditsmainfeatureswiththeintuitivesenseofaffairswhichmakeswomensuchgoodbusiness-menwhentheywillletit。
"Itsoundsperfectlycrazy，"shesaid，finally。"Butitmayn'tbe。TheonlythingIdidn'tlikeaboutMr。Fulkersonwashisalwayswantingtochancethings。Butwhathaveyougottodowithit?"
"WhathaveIgottodowithit?"Marchtoyedwiththedelaythequestiongavehim；thenhesaid，withasortofdeprecatorylaugh:"ItseemsthatFulkersonhashadhiseyeonmeeversincewemetthatnightontheQuebecboat。Iopenedupprettyfreelytohim，asyoudotoamanyouneverexpecttoseeagain，andwhenIfoundhewasinthatnewspapersyndicatebusinessItoldhimaboutmyearlyliteraryambitions——"
"Youcan'tsaythatIeverdiscouragedthem，Basil，"hiswifeputin。
"Ishouldhavebeenwilling，anytime，togiveupeverythingforthem。"
"Well，hesaysthatIfirstsuggestedthisbrilliantideatohim。
PerhapsIdid；Idon'tremember。Whenhetoldmeabouthissupplyingliteraturetonewspapersforsimultaneouspublication，hesaysIasked:
'Whynotapplytheprincipleofco-operationtoamagazine，andrunitintheinterestofthecontributors?'andthatsethimtothinking，andhethoughtouthisplanofaperiodicalwhichshouldpayauthorsandartistsalowpriceoutrightfortheirworkandgivethemachanceoftheprofitsinthewayofapercentage。Afterall，itisn'tsoverydifferentfromthechancesanauthortakeswhenhepublishesabook。AndFulkersonthinksthatthenoveltyofthethingwouldpiquepubliccuriosity，ifitdidn'tarousepublicsympathy。Andthelongandshortofitis，Isabel，thathewantsmetohelpeditit。"
"Toeditit?"Hiswifecaughtherbreath，andshetookalittletimetorealizethefact，whileshestaredhardatherhusbandtomakesurehewasnotjoking。
"Yes。Hesaysheowesitalltome；thatIinventedtheidea——thegerm——themicrobe。"
Hiswifehadnowrealizedthefact，atleastinadegreethatexcludedtriflingwithit。"ThatisveryhonorableofMr。Fulkerson；andifheowesittoyou，itwastheleasthecoulddo。"Havingrecognizedherhusband'sclaimtothehonordonehim，shebegantokindlewithasenseofthehonoritselfandthevalueoftheopportunity。"It'saveryhighcomplimenttoyou，Basil——averyhighcompliment。Andyoucouldgiveupthiswretchedinsurancebusinessthatyou'vealwayshatedso，andthat'smakingyousounhappynowthatyouthinkthey'regoingtotakeitfromyou。GiveitupandtakeMr。Fulkerson'soffer!It'saperfectinterposition，comingjustatthistime!Why，doit!Mercy!"shesuddenlyarrestedherself，"hewouldn'texpectyoutogetalongonthepossibleprofits?"Herfaceexpressedtheawfulnessofthenotion。
Marchsmiledreassuringly，andwaitedtogivehimselfthepleasureofthesensationhemeanttogiveher。"IfI'llmakestrikingphrasesforitandeditit，too，he'llgivemefourthousanddollars。"
Heleanedbackinhischair，andstuckhishandsdeepintohispockets，andwatchedhiswife'sface，luminouswiththeemotionsthatflashedthroughhermind-doubt，joy，anxiety。
"Basil!Youdon'tmeanit!Why，takeit!Takeitinstantly!Oh，whatathingtohappen!Oh，whatluck!Butyoudeserveit，ifyoufirstsuggestedit。Whatanescape，whatatriumphoverallthosehatefulinsurancepeople!Oh，Basil，I'mafraidhe'llchangehismind!Yououghttohaveacceptedonthespot。YoumighthaveknownIwouldapprove，andyoucouldsoeasilyhavetakenitbackifIdidn't。Telegraphhimnow!
Runrightoutwiththedespatch——OrwecansendTom!"
IntheseimperativesofMrs。March'stherewasalwaysmuchoftheconditional。Shemeantthatheshoulddowhatshesaid，ifitwereentirelyright；andshenevermeanttobeconsideredashavingurgedhim。
"Andsupposehisenterprisewentwrong?"herhusbandsuggested。
"Itwon'tgowrong。Hasn'themadeasuccessofhissyndicate?"
"Hesaysso——yes。"
"Verywell，then，itstandstoreasonthathe'llsucceedinthis，too。
Hewouldn'tundertakeitifhedidn'tknowitwouldsucceed；hemusthavecapital。"
"Itwilltakeagreatdealtogetsuchathinggoing；andevenifhe'sgotanAngelbehindhim——"
Shecaughtattheword——"AnAngel?"
"It'swhatthetheatricalpeoplecallafinancialbacker。Hedroppedahintofsomethingofthatkind。"
"Ofcourse，he'sgotanAngel，"saidhiswife，promptlyadoptingtheword。"Andevenifhehadn't，still，Basil，Ishouldbewillingtohaveyouriskit。Theriskisn'tsogreat，isit?Weshouldn'tberuinedifitfailedaltogether。Withourstockswehavetwothousandayear，anyway，andwecouldpinchthroughonthattillyougotintosomeotherbusinessafterward，especiallyifwe'dsavedsomethingoutofyoursalarywhileitlasted。Basil，Iwantyoutotryit!Iknowitwillgiveyouanewleaseoflifetohaveacongenialoccupation。"Marchlaughed，buthiswifepersisted。"I'mallforyourtryingit，Basil；indeedIam。
Ifit'sanexperiment，youcangiveitup。"
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