"Itcangivemeup，too。"
"Oh，nonsense!Iguessthere'snotmuchfearofthat。Now，IwantyoutotelegraphMr。Fulkerson，sothathe'llfindthedespatchwaitingforhimwhenhegetstoNewYork。I'lltakethewholeresponsibility，Basil，andI'llriskalltheconsequences。"
III。
March'sfacehadsoberedmoreandmoreasshefollowedonehopefulburstwithanother，andnowitexpressedapositivepain。Butheforcedasmileandsaid:"There'salittleconditionattached。Wheredidyousupposeitwastobepublished?"
"Why，inBoston，ofcourse。Whereelseshoulditbepublished?"
Shelookedathimfortheintentionofhisquestionsosearchinglythathequitegaveuptheattempttobegayaboutit。"No，"hesaid，gravely，"it'stobepublishedinNewYork。"
Shefellbackinherchair。"InNewYork?"Sheleanedforwardoverthetabletowardhim，asiftomakesurethatsheheardaright，andsaid，withallthekeenreproachthathecouldhaveexpected:"InNewYork，Basil!Oh，howcouldyouhaveletmegoon?"
Hehadasufficientlyruefulfaceinowning:"Ioughtn'ttohavedoneit，butIgotstartedwrong。Icouldn'thelpputtingthebestfoot，forwardatfirst——oraslongasthewholethingwasintheair。Ididn'tknowthatyouwouldtakesomuchtothegeneralenterprise，orelseIshouldhavementionedtheNewYorkconditionatonce；but，ofcourse，thatputsanendtoit。"
"Oh，ofcourse，"sheassented，sadly。"WeCOULDN'TgotoNewYork。"
"No，Iknowthat，"hesaid；andwiththisaperversedesiretotempthertotheimpossibilityawokeinhim，thoughhewasreallyquitecoldabouttheaffairhimselfnow。"FulkersonthoughtwecouldgetaniceflatinNewYorkforaboutwhattheinterestandtaxescametohere，andprovisionsarecheaper。ButIshouldrathernotexperimentatmytimeoflife。IfIcouldhavebeencaughtyounger，ImighthavebeeninuredtoNewYork，butIdon'tbelieveIcouldstanditnow。"
"HowIhatetohaveyoutalkthatway，Basil!Youareyoungenoughtotryanything——anywhere；butyouknowIdon'tlikeNewYork。Idon'tapproveofit。It'ssobig，andsohideous!OfcourseIshouldn'tmindthat；butI'vealwayslivedinBoston，andthechildrenwerebornandhavealltheirfriendshipsandassociationshere。"Sheadded，withthehelplessnessthatdiscreditedhergoodsenseanddidherinjustice，"IhavejustgotthembothintotheFridayafternoonclassatPapanti's，andyouknowhowdifficultthatis。"
Marchcouldnotfailtotakeadvantageofanoccasionlikethis。
"Well，thataloneoughttosettleit。Underthecircumstances，itwouldbeflyinginthefaceofProvidencetoleaveBoston。Themerefactofabrilliantopeninglikethatofferedmeon'TheMicrobe，'andthehalcyonfuturewhichFulkersonpromisesifwe'llcometoNewYork，isasdustinthebalanceagainsttheadvantagesoftheFridayafternoonclass。"
"Basil，"sheappealed，solemnly，"haveIeverinterferedwithyourcareer?"
"Ineverhadanyforyoutointerferewith，mydear。"
"Basil!Haven'tIalwayshadfaithinyou?Anddon'tyousupposethatifIthoughtitwouldreallybeforyouradvancementIwouldgotoNewYorkoranywherewithyou?"
"No，mydear，Idon't，"heteased。"Ifitwouldbeformysalvation，yes，perhaps；butnotshortofthat；andIshouldhavetoprovebyacloudofwitnessesthatitwould。Idon'tblameyou。Iwasn'tborninBoston，butIunderstandhowyoufeel。Andreally，mydear，"headded，withoutirony，"IneverseriouslythoughtofaskingyoutogotoNewYork。IwasdazzledbyFulkerson'soffer，I'llownthat；buthischoiceofmeaseditorsappedmyconfidenceinhim。"
"Idon'tliketohearyousaythat，Basil，"sheentreated。
"Well，ofcoursethereweremitigatingcircumstances。IcouldseethatFulkersonmeanttokeepthewhip-handhimself，andthatwasreassuring。
And，besides，iftheReciprocityLifeshouldhappennottowantmyservicesanylonger，itwouldn'tbequitelikegivingupacertainty；
though，asamatterofbusiness，IletFulkersongetthatimpression；I
feltrathersneakingtodoit。Butiftheworstcomestotheworst，I
canlookaboutforsomethingtodoinBoston；and，anyhow，peopledon'tstarveontwothousandayear，thoughit'sconvenienttohavefive。Thefactis，I'mtoooldtochangesoradically。Ifyoudon'tlikemysayingthat，thenyouare，Isabel，andsoarethechildren。I'venorighttotakethemfromthehomewe'vemade，andtochangethewholecourseoftheirlives，unlessIcanassurethemofsomething，andIcan'tassurethemofanything。Bostonisbigenoughforus，andit'scertainlyprettierthanNewYork。IalwaysfeelalittleproudofhailingfromBoston；mypleasureintheplacemountsthefartherIgetawayfromit。
ButIdoappreciateit，mydear；I'venomoredesiretoleaveitthanyouhave。Youmaybesurethatifyoudon'twanttotakethechildrenoutoftheFridayafternoonclass，Idon'twanttoleavemylibraryhere，andallthewaysI'vegotsetin。We'llkeepon。Verylikelythecompanywon'tsupplantme，andifitdoes，andWatkinsgetstheplace，he'llgivemeasubordinatepositionofsomesort。Cheerup，Isabel!IhaveputSatanandhisangel，Fulkerson，behindme，andit'sallright。Let'sgointothechildren。"
HecameroundthetabletoIsabel，whereshesatinagrowingdistraction，andliftedherbythewaistfromherchair。
Shesigheddeeply。"Shallwetellthechildrenaboutit?"
"No。What'stheuse，now?"
"Therewouldn'tbeany，"sheassented。Whentheyenteredthefamilyroom，wheretheboyandgirlsatoneithersideofthelampworkingoutthelessonsforMondaywhichtheyhadleftoverfromthedaybefore，sheasked，"Children，howwouldyouliketoliveinNewYork?"
Bellamadehastetogetinherwordfirst。"AndgiveuptheFridayafternoonclass?"shewailed。
Tomgrowledfromhisbook，withoutliftinghiseyes:"Ishouldn'twanttogotoColumbia。Theyhaven'tgotanydormitories，andyouhavetoboardroundanywhere。AreyougoingtoNewYork?"Henowdeignedtolookupathisfather。
"No，Tom。YouandBellahavedecidedmeagainstit。Yourperspectiveshowstheaffairinitstrueproportions。IhadanoffertogotoNewYork，butI'verefusedit。"
IV
March'sironyfellharmlessfromthechildren'spreoccupationwiththeirownaffairs，butheknewthathiswifefeltit，andthisaddedtothebitternesswhichpromptedit。HeblamedherforlettingherprovincialnarrownesspreventhisacceptingFulkerson'sofferquiteasmuchasifhehadotherwiseentirelywishedtoacceptit。Hisworld，likemostworlds，hadbeensuperficiallyadisappointment。Hewasnoricherthanatthebeginning，thoughinmarryinghehadgivenupsometastes，somepreferences，someaspirations，inthehopeofindulgingthemlater，withlargermeansandlargerleisure。Hiswifehadnoturgedhimtodoit；infact，herpride，asshesaid，wasinhisfitnessforthelifehehadrenounced；butshehadacquiesced，andtheyhadbeenveryhappytogether。
Thatistosay，theymadeuptheirquarrelsorignoredthem。
Theyoftenaccusedeachotherofbeingselfishandindifferent，butsheknewthathewouldalwayssacrificehimselfforherandthechildren；
andhe，onhispart，withmanygibesandmockeries，whollytrustedinher。Theyhadgrownpracticallytolerantofeachother'sdisagreeabletraits；andthedangerthatreallythreatenedthemwasthattheyshouldgrowtoowellsatisfiedwiththemselves，ifnotwitheachother。Theywerenotsentimental，theywererathermatter-of-factintheirmotives；
buttheyhadbothasortofhumorousfondnessforsentimentality。Theylikedtoplaywiththeromantic，fromthesafevantage-groundoftheirrealpracticality，andtodivinethepoetryofthecommonplace。Theirpeculiarpointofviewseparatedthemfrommostotherpeople，withwhomtheirmeansofself-comparisonwerenotsogoodsincetheirmarriageasbefore。Thentheyhadtravelledandseenmuchoftheworld，andtheyhadformedtasteswhichtheyhadnotalwaysbeenabletoindulge，butofwhichtheyfeltthatthepossessionreflecteddistinctiononthem。Itenabledthemtolookdownuponthosewhowerewithoutsuchtastes；buttheywerenotill-natured，andsotheydidnotlookdownsomuchwithcontemptaswithamusement。Intheirunfashionableneighborhoodtheyhadthefameofbeingnotexclusiveprecisely，butverymuchwrappedupinthemselvesandtheirchildren。
Mrs。Marchwasreputedtobeverycultivated，andMr。Marchevenmoreso，amongthesimplerfolkaroundthem。Theirhousehadsomegoodpictures，whichheraunthadbroughthomefromEuropeinmoreaffluentdays，anditaboundedinbooksonwhichhespentmorethanheought。Theyhadbeautifieditineveryway，andhadunconsciouslytakencredittothemselvesforit。Theyfelt，withaglowalmostofvirtue，howperfectlyitfittedtheirlivesandtheirchildren's，andtheybelievedthatsomehowitexpressedtheircharacters——thatitwaslikethem。Theywentoutverylittle；sheremainedshutupinitsrefinement，workingthegoodofherown；andhewenttohisbusiness，andhurriedbacktoforgetit，anddreamhisdreamofintellectualachievementintheflatteringatmosphereofhersympathy。HecouldnotconcealfromhimselfthathisdividedlifewassomewhatlikeCharlesLamb's，andthereweretimeswhen，ashehadexpressedtoFulkerson，hebelievedthatitsdivisionwasfavorabletothefreshnessofhisinterestinliterature。Itcertainlykeptitahighprivilege，asacredrefuge。Nowandthenhewrotesomething，andgotitprintedafterlongdelays，andwhentheymetontheSt。LawrenceFulkersonhadsomeofMarch'sversesinhispocket-book，whichhehadcutoutofastraynewspaperandcarriedaboutforyears，becausetheypleasedhisfancysomuch；theyformedanimmediatebondofunionbetweenthemenwhentheirauthorshipwastracedandowned，andthisgaveaprettycolorofromancetotheiracquaintance。But，forthemostpart，Marchwassatisfiedtoread。Hewasproudofreadingcritically，andhekeptinthecurrentofliteraryinterestsandcontroversies。Itallseemedtohim，andtohiswifeatsecond-hand，verymeritorious；hecouldnothelpcontrastinghislifeanditsinnerelegancewiththatofothermenwhohadnosuchresources。Hethoughtthathewasnotarrogantaboutit，becausehedidfulljusticetothegoodqualitiesofthoseotherpeople；
hecongratulatedhimselfuponthedemocraticinstinctswhichenabledhimtodothis；andneitherhenorhiswifesupposedthattheywereselfishpersons。Onthecontrary，theywereverysympathetic；therewasnogoodcausethattheydidnotwishwell；theyhadagenerousscornofallkindsofnarrow-heartedness；ifithadevercomeintotheirwaytosacrificethemselvesforothers，theythoughttheywouldhavedoneso，buttheyneveraskedwhyithadnotcomeintheirway。Theywereverygentleandkind，evenwhenmostelusive；andtheytaughttheirchildrentoloatheallmannerofsocialcruelty。Marchwasofsowatchfulaconscienceinsomerespectsthathedeniedhimselfthepensivepleasureoflapsingintothemelancholyofunfulfilledaspirations；buthedidnotseethat，ifhehadabandonedthem，ithadbeenforwhathehelddearer；generallyhefeltasifhehadturnedfromthemwithahigh，altruisticaim。Thepracticalexpressionofhislifewasthatitwasenoughtoprovidewellforhisfamily；tohavecultivatedtastes，andtogratifythemtotheextentofhismeans；toberatherdistinguished，eveninthesimplificationofhisdesires。Hebelieved，andhiswifebelieved，thatifthetimeevercamewhenhereallywishedtomakeasacrificetothefulfilmentoftheaspirationssolongpostponed，shewouldbereadytojoinwithheartandhand。
Whenhewenttoherroomfromhislibrary，whereshelefthimthewholeeveningwiththechildren，hefoundherbeforetheglassthoughtfullyremovingthefirstdismantlingpinfromherbackhair。
"Ican'thelpfeeling，"shegrievedintothemirror，"thatit'sIwhokeepyoufromacceptingthatoffer。Iknowitis!IcouldgoWestwithyou，orintoanewcountry——anywhere；butNewYorkterrifiesme。Idon'tlikeNewYork，Ineverdid；itdisheartensanddistractsme；Ican'tfindmyselfinit；Ishouldn'tknowhowtoshop。IknowI'mfoolishandnarrowandprovincial，"shewenton，"butIcouldneverhaveanyinnerquietinNewYork；Icouldn'tliveinthespiritthere。Isupposepeopledo。Itcan't，bethatallthesemillions——'
"Oh，notsobadasthat!"Marchinterposed，laughing。"Therearen'tquitetwo。"
"Ithoughttherewerefourorfive。Well，nomatter。YouseewhatIam，Basil。I'mterriblylimited。Icouldn'tmakemysympathiesgoroundtwomillionpeople；Ishouldbewretched。IsupposeI'mstandinginthewayofyourhighestinterest，butIcan'thelpit。Wetookeachotherforbetterorworse，andyoumusttrytobearwithme——"Shebrokeoffandbegantocry。
"Stopit!"shoutedMarch。"ItellyouInevercaredanythingforFulkerson'sschemeorentertaineditseriously，andIshouldn'tifhe'dproposedtocarryitoutinBoston。"Thiswasnotquitetrue，butintheretrospectitseemedsufficientlysoforthepurposesofargument。
"Don'tsayanotherwordaboutit。Thething'sovernow，andIdon'twanttothinkofitanymore。Wecouldn'tchangeitsnatureifwetalkedallnight。ButIwantyoutounderstandthatitisn'tyourlimitationsthatareintheway。It'smine。Ishouldn'thavethecouragetotakesuchaplace；Idon'tthinkI'mfitforit，andthat'sthelongandshortofit。"
"Oh，youdon'tknowhowithurtsmetohaveyousaythat，Basil。"
Thenextmorning，astheysattogetheratbreakfast，withoutthechildren，whomtheyletlielateonSunday，Mrs。Marchsaidtoherhusband，silentoverhisfish-ballsandbakedbeans:"WewillgotoNewYork。I'vedecidedit。"
"Well，ittakestwotodecidethat，"Marchretorted。"WearenotgoingtoNewYork。"
"Yes，weare。I'vethoughtitout。Now，listen。"
"Oh，I'mwillingtolisten，"heconsented，airily。
"You'vealwayswantedtogetoutoftheinsurancebusiness，andnowwiththatfearofbeingturnedoutwhichyouhaveyoumustn'tneglectthisoffer。Isupposeithasitsrisks，butit'sariskkeepingonasweare；
andperhapsyouwillmakeagreatsuccessofit。Idowantyoutotry，Basil。IfIcouldoncefeelthatyouhadfairlyseenwhatyoucoulddoinliterature，Ishoulddiehappy。"
"Notimmediatelyafter，Ihope，"hesuggested，takingthesecondcupofcoffeeshehadbeenpouringoutforhim。"AndBoston?"
"Weneedn'tmakeacompletebreak。Wecankeepthisplaceforthepresent，anyway；wecouldletitforthewinter，andcomebackinthesummernextyear。ItwouldbechangeenoughfromNewYork。"
"FulkersonandIhadn'tgotasfarastotalkofavacation。"
"Nomatter。ThechildrenandIcouldcome。Andifyoudidn'tlikeNewYork，ortheenterprisefailed，youcouldgetintosomethinginBostonagain；andwehaveenoughtoliveontillyoudid。Yes，Basil，I'mgoing。"
"Icanseebythewayyourchintremblesthatnothingcouldstopyou。
YoumaygotoNewYorkifyouwish，Isabel，butIshallstayhere。"
"Beserious，Basil。I'minearnest。"
"Serious?IfIwereanymoreseriousIshouldshedtears。Come，mydear，Iknowwhatyoumean，andifIhadmyheartsetonthisthing——
Fulkersonalwayscallsit'thisthing'Iwouldcheerfullyacceptanysacrificeyoucouldmaketoit。ButI'drathernotofferyouuponashrineIdon'tfeelanyparticularfaithin。I'mverycomfortablewhereIam；thatis，Iknowjustwherethepinchcomes，andifitcomesharder，why，I'vegotusedtobearingthatkindofpinch。I'mtoooldtochangepinches。"
"Now，thatdoesdecideme。"
"Itdecidesme，too。"
"Iwilltakealltheresponsibility，Basil，"shepleaded。
"Ohyes；butyou'llhanditbacktomeassoonasyou'vecarriedyourpointwithit。There'snothingmeanaboutyou，Isabel，whereresponsibilityisconcerned。No；ifIdothisthing——Fulkersonagain?
Ican'tgetawayfrom'thisthing'；it'sominous——ImustdoitbecauseI
wanttodoit，andnotbecauseyouwishthatyouwantedmetodoit。
Iunderstandyourposition，Isabel，andthatyou'rereallyactingfromagenerousimpulse，butthere'snothingsoprecariousatourtimeoflifeasagenerousimpulse。Whenwewereyoungerwecouldstandit；wecouldgivewaytoitandtaketheconsequences。Butnowwecan'tbearit。Wemustactfromcoldreasonevenintheardorofself-sacrifice。"
"Oh，asifyoudidthat!"hiswiferetorted。
"Isthatanycausewhyyoushouldn't?"Shecouldnotsaythatitwas，andhewentontriumphantly:
"No，Iwon'ttakeyouawayfromtheonlysafeplaceontheplanetandplungeyouintothemostperilous，andthenhaveyousayinyourrevulsionoffeelingthatyouwereallagainstitfromthefirst，andyougavewaybecauseyousawIhadmyheartsetonit。"Hesupposedhewastreatingthematterhumorously，butinthissortofbanterbetweenhusbandandwifethereisalwaysmuchmorethanthejoking。Marchhadseensomeprettyfeminineinconsistenciesandtrepidationswhichoncecharmedhiminhiswifehardeningintotraitsofmiddle-agewhichwereverylikethoseoflessinterestingolderwomen。Thesightmovedhimwithakindofpathos，buthefelttheresulthinderingandvexatious。
Shenowretortedthatifhedidnotchoosetotakeheratherwordbeneednot，butthatwhateverhedidsheshouldhavenothingtoreproachherselfwith；and，atleast，hecouldnotsaythatshehadtrappedhimintoanything。
"Whatdoyoumeanbytrapping?"hedemanded。
"Idon'tknowwhatyoucallit，"sheanswered；"butwhenyougetmetocommitmyselftoathingbyleavingoutthemostessentialpoint，Icallittrapping。"
"Iwonderyoustopattrapping，ifyouthinkIgotyoutofavorFulkerson'sschemeandthensprungNewYorkonyou。Idon'tsupposeyoudo，though。ButIguesswewon'ttalkaboutitanymore。"
Hewentoutforalongwalk，andshewenttoherroom。Theylunchedsilentlytogetherinthepresenceoftheirchildren，whoknewthattheyhadbeenquarrelling，butwereeasilyindifferenttothefact，aschildrengettobeinsuchcases；naturedefendstheiryouth，andtheunhappinesswhichtheybeholddoesnotinfectthem。Intheevening，aftertheboyandgirlhadgonetobed，thefatherandmotherresumedtheirtalk。Hewouldhavelikedtotakeitupatthepointfromwhichitwanderedintohostilities，forhefeltitlamentablethatamatterwhichsoseriouslyconcernedthemshouldbeconfusedinthefumesofsenselessanger；andhewaswillingtomakeatacitacknowledgmentofhisownerrorbyrecurringtothequestion，butshewouldnotbecontentwiththis，andhehadtoconcedeexplicitlytoherweaknessthatshereallymeantitwhenshehadaskedhimtoacceptFulkerson'soffer。Hesaidheknewthat；andhebegansoberlytotalkovertheirprospectsintheeventoftheirgoingtoNewYork。
"Oh，Iseeyouaregoing!"shetwitted。
"I'mgoingtostay，"heanswered，"andletthemturnmeoutofmyagencyhere，"andinthisbitternesstheirtalkended。
V。
HiswifemadenoattempttorenewtheirtalkbeforeMarchwenttohisbusinessinthemorning，andtheypartedindryoffence。Theirexperiencewasthatthesethingsalwayscamerightofthemselvesatlast，andtheyusuallyletthem。Heknewthatshehadreallytriedtoconsenttoathingthatwasrepugnanttoher，andinhishearthegavehermorecreditfortheeffortthanhehadallowedheropenly。Sheknewthatshehadmadeitwiththereservationheaccusedherof，andthathehadarighttofeelsoreatwhatshecouldnothelp。Buthelefthertobroodoverhisingratitude，andshesufferedhimtogoheavyandunfriendedtomeetthechancesoftheday。HesaidtohimselfthatifshehadassentedcordiallytotheconditionsofFulkerson'soffer，hewouldhavehadthecouragetotakealltheotherriskshimself，andwouldhavehadthesatisfactionofresigninghisplace。Asitwas，hemustwaittillhewasremoved；andhefiguredwithbitterpleasurethepainshewouldfeelwhenhecamehomesomedayandtoldherhehadbeensupplanted，afteritwastoolatetoclosewithFulkerson。
Hefoundaletteronhisdeskfromthesecretary，"Dictated，"intypewriting，whichbrieflyinformedhimthatMr。Hubbell，theInspectorofAgencies，wouldbeinBostononWednesday，andwouldcallathisofficeduringtheforenoon。Theletterwasnotdifferentintonefrommanythathehadformerlyreceived；butthevisitannouncedwasoutoftheusualorder，andMarchbelievedhereadhisfateinit。Duringtheeighteenyearsofhisconnectionwithit——firstasasubordinateintheBostonoffice，andfinallyasitsgeneralagentthere——hehadseenagoodmanychangesintheReciprocity；presidents，vice-presidents，actuaries，andgeneralagentshadcomeandgone，buttherehadalwaysseemedtobearecognitionofhisefficiency，oratleastsufficiency，andtherehadneverbeenanymanneroftrouble，noquestionofaccounts，noapparentdissatisfactionwithhismanagement，untillatterly，whentherehadbeguntocomefromheadquarterssomesuggestionsofenterpriseincertainways，whichgavehimhisfirstsuspicionsofhisclerkWatkins'swillingnesstosucceedhim；theyembodiedsomeofWatkins'sideas。ThethingsproposedseemedtoMarchundignified，andevenvulgar；hehadneverthoughthimselfwantinginenergy，thoughprobablyhehadleftthebusinesstotakeitsowncourseintheoldlinesmorethanherealized。Thingshadalwaysgonesosmoothlythathehadsometimesfanciedapeculiarregardforhiminthemanagement，whichhehadtheweaknesstoattributetoanappreciationofwhatheoccasionallydidinliterature，thoughinsanermomentshefelthowimpossiblethiswas。BeyondareferencefromMr。
HubbelltosomepieceofMarch'swhichhadhappenedtomeethiseye，nooneinthemanagementevergaveasignofconsciousnessthattheirservicewasadornedbyanobscureliteraryman；andMr。HubbellhimselfhadtheeffectofregardingtheexcursionsofMarch'spenasasortofjoke，andofwinkingatthem；ashemighthavewinkedifonceinawayhehadfoundhimalittlethegayerfordining。
Marchworethroughthedaygloomily，buthehaditonhisconsciencenottoshowanyresentmenttowardWatkins，whomhesuspectedofwishingtosupplanthim，andevenofworkingtodoso。Throughthisself-denialhereachedabettermindconcerninghiswife。Hedeterminednottomakehersufferneedlessly，iftheworstcametotheworst；shewouldsufferenough，atthebest，andtilltheworstcamehewouldspareher，andnotsayanythingabouttheletterhehadgot。
Butwhentheymet，herfirstglancedivinedthatsomethinghadhappened，andherfirstquestionfrustratedhisgenerousintention。Hehadtotellherabouttheletter。Shewouldnotallowthatithadanysignificance，butshewishedhimtomakeanendofhisanxietiesandforestallwhateveritmightportendbyresigninghisplaceatonce。ShesaidshewasquitereadytogotoNewYork；shehadbeenthinkingitallover，andnowshereallywantedtogo。Heanswered，soberly，thathehadthoughtitover，too；andhedidnotwishtoleaveBoston，wherehehadlivedsolong，ortryanewwayoflifeifhecouldhelpit。Heinsistedthathewasquiteselfishinthis；intheirconcessionstheirquarrelvanished；theyagreedthatwhateverhappenedwouldbeforthebest；andthenextdaybewenttohisofficefortifiedforanyevent。
Hisdestiny，iftragical，presenteditselfwithanaspectwhichhemighthavefoundcomicifithadbeenanother'sdestiny。Mr。HubbellbroughtMarch'sremoval，softenedintheguiseofapromotion。ThemanagementatNewYork，itappeared，hadacteduponasuggestionofMr。Hubbell's，andnowauthorizedhimtoofferMarchtheeditorshipofthemonthlypaperpublishedintheinterestofthecompany；hisofficewouldincludetheauthorshipofcircularsandleafletsinbehalfoflife-insurance，andwouldgiveplaytotheliterarytalentwhichMr。Hubbellhadbroughttotheattentionofthemanagement；hissalarywouldbenearlyasmuchasatpresent，buttheworkwouldnottakehiswholetime，andinaplacelikeNewYorkhecouldgetagreatdealofoutsidewriting，whichtheywouldnotobjecttohisdoing。
Mr。HubbellseemedsosureofhisacceptanceofaplaceineverywaycongenialtoamanofliterarytastesthatMarchwasafterwardsorryhedismissedthepropositionwithobviousirony，andhadneedlesslyhurtHubbell'sfeelings；butMrs。Marchhadnosuchregrets。Shewasonlyafraidthathehadnotmadehisrejectioncontemptuousenough。
"Andnow，"shesaid，"telegraphMr。Fulkerson，andwewillgoatonce。"
"IsupposeIcouldstillgetWatkins'sformerplace，"Marchsuggested。
"Never!"sheretorted。"Telegraphinstantly!"
TheywereonlyafraidnowthatFulkersonmighthavechangedhismind，andtheyhadawretcheddayinwhichtheyheardnothingfromhim。ItendedwithhisansweringMarch'stelegraminperson。Theyweresogladofhiscoming，andsotouchedbyhissatisfactionwithhisbargain，thattheylaidallthefactsofthecasebeforehim。HeenteredfullyintoMarch'ssenseofthejokelatentinMr。Hubbell'sproposition，andhetriedtomakeMrs。Marchbelievethathesharedherresentmentoftheindignityofferedherhusband。
Marchmadeashowofwillingnesstoreleasehiminviewofthechangedsituation，sayingthatheheldhimtonothing。Fulkersonlaughed，andaskedhimhowsoonhethoughthecouldcomeontoNewYork。HerefusedtoreopenthequestionofMarch'sfitnesswithhim；hesaidthey，hadgoneintothatthoroughly，butherecurredtoitwithMrs。March，andconfirmedherbeliefinhisgoodsenseonallpoints。Shehadbeenfromthefirstmomentdefiantlyconfidentofherhusband'sability，buttillshehadtalkedthematteroverwithFulkersonshewassecretlynotsureofit；or，atleast，shewasnotsurethatMarchwasnotrightindistrustinghimself。Whensheclearlyunderstood，now，whatFulkersonintended，shehadnolongeradoubt。Heexplainedhowtheenterprisedifferedfromothers，andhowheneededforitsdirectionamanwhocombinedgeneralbusinessexperienceandbusinessideaswithaloveforthethingandanaturalaptnessforit。Hedidnotwantayoungman，andyethewantedyouth——itsfreshness，itszest——suchasMarchwouldfeelinathinghecouldputhiswholeheartinto。Hewouldnotruninruts，likeanoldfellowwhohadgothackneyed；hewouldnothaveanyhobbies；
hewouldnothaveanyfriendsoranyenemies。Besides，hewouldhavetomeetpeople，andMarchwasamanthatpeopletookto；sheknewthatherself；hehadakindofcharm。Theeditorialmanagementwasgoingtobekeptinthebackground，asfarasthepublicwasconcerned；thepublicwastosupposethatthethingranitself。Fulkersondidnotcareforagreatliteraryreputationinhiseditor——heimpliedthatMarchhadaveryprettylittleone。Atthesametimetherelationsbetweenthecontributorsandthemanagementweretobemuchmore，intimatethanusual。Fulkersonfelthispersonaldisqualificationforworkingthethingsocially，andhecounteduponMr。Marchforthat；thatwastosay，hecounteduponMrs。March。
Sheprotestedhemustnotcountuponher；butitbynomeansdisabledFulkerson'sjudgmentinherviewthatMarchreallyseemedmorethananythingelseafancyofhis。Hehadbeenafancyofhers；andthesortofaffectionaterespectwithwhichFulkersonspokeofhimlaidforeversomedoubtshehadofthefinenessofFulkerson'smannersandreconciledhertothegraphicslanginessofhisspeech。
Theaffairwasnowirretrievable，butshegaveherapprovaltoitassuperblyasifitweresubmittedinitsinception。Only，Mr。FulkersonmustnotsupposesheshouldeverlikeNewYork。Shewouldnotdeceivehimonthatpoint。Shenevershouldlikeit。Shedidnotconceal，either，thatshedidnotliketakingthechildrenoutoftheFridayafternoonclass；andshedidnotbelievethatTomwouldeverbereconciledtogoingtoColumbia。ShetookcouragefromFulkerson'ssuggestionthatitwaspossibleforTomtocometoHarvardevenfromNewYork；andsheheapedhimwithquestionsconcerningthedomiciliationofthefamilyinthatcity。Hetriedtoknowsomethingaboutthematter，andhesucceededinseeminginterestedinpointsnecessarilyindifferenttohim。
VI。
Intheuprootingandtransplantingoftheirhomethatfollowed，Mrs。
Marchoftentrembledbeforedistantproblemsandpossiblecontingencies，butshewasnevertroubledbypresentdifficulties。Shekeptupwithtirelessenergy；andinthemomentsofdejectionandmisgivingwhichharassedherhusbandsheremaineddauntless，andputheartintohimwhenhehadlostitaltogether。
Shearrangedtoleavethechildreninthehousewiththeservants，whileshewentonwithMarchtolookupadwellingofsomesortinNewYork。
Itmadehimsicktothinkofit；and，whenitcametothepoint，hewouldratherhavegivenupthewholeenterprise。Shehadtonervehimtoit，torepresentmorethanoncethatnowtheyhadnochoicebuttomakethisexperiment。Everydetailofpartingwasanguishtohim。Hegotconsolationoutofthenotionoflettingthehousefurnishedforthewinter；thatimpliedtheirreturntoit，butitcosthimpangsofthekeenestmiserytoadvertiseit；and，whenatenantwasactuallyfound，itwasallhecoulddotogivehimthelease。Hetriedhiswife'sloveandpatienceasamanmusttowhomthefutureiseasyinthemassbutterribleasittranslatesitselfpiecemealintothepresent。Heexperiencedremorseinthepresenceofinanimatethingshewasgoingtoleaveasiftheyhadsensiblyreproachedhim，andananticipativehomesicknessthatseemedtostophisheart。Againandagainhiswifehadtomakehimreflectthathisdepressionwasnotprophetic。
Sheconvincedhimofwhathealreadyknew，andpersuadedhimagainsthisknowledgethathecouldbekeepinganeyeoutforsomethingtotakeholdofinBostoniftheycouldnotstandNewYork。Sheendedbytellinghimthatitwastoobadtomakehercomforthiminatrialthatwasreallysomuchmoreatrialtoher。ShehadtosupporthiminalastaccessofdespairontheirwaytotheAlbanydepotthemorningtheystartedtoNewYork；butwhenthefinaldetailshadbeendealtwith，theticketsbought，thetrunkschecked，andthehandbagshungupintheircar，andthefuturehadmasseditselfagainatasafedistanceandwassevenhoursandtwohundredmilesaway，hisspiritsbegantoriseandherstosink。Hewouldhavebeenwillingtocelebratethetaste，thedomesticrefinement，oftheladies'waiting-roominthedepot，wheretheyhadspentaquarterofanhourbeforethetrainstarted。Hesaidhedidnotbelievetherewasanotherstationintheworldwheremahoganyrocking-chairswereprovided；
thatthedull-redwarmthofthewallswasascozyasaneveninglamp，andthathealwayshopedtoseeafirekindledonthatvasthearthandunderthataestheticmantel，buthesupposednowhenevershould。Hesaiditwasallverydifferentfromthattunnel，theoldAlbanydepot，wheretheyhadwaitedthemorningtheywenttoNewYorkwhentheywerestartingontheirweddingjourney。
"Themorning，Basil!"criedhiswife。"Wewentatnight；andweweregoingtotaketheboat，butitstormedso!"Shegavehimaglanceofsuchreproachthathecouldnotansweranything，andnowsheaskedhimwhetherhesupposedtheircookandsecondgirlwouldbecontentedwithoneofthosedarkholeswheretheyputgirlstosleepinNewYorkflats，andwhatsheshoulddoifMargaret，especially，lefther。HeventuredtosuggestthatMargaretwouldprobablylikethecity；but，ifsheleft，therewereplentyofothergirlstobehadinNewYork。Sherepliedthattherewerenoneshecouldtrust，andthatsheknewMargaretwouldnotstay。Heaskedherwhyshetookher，then——whyshedidnotgiveherupatonce；andsheansweredthatitwouldbeinhumantogiveherupjustintheedgeofthewinter。Shehadpromisedtokeepher；andMargaretwaspleasedwiththenotionofgoingtoNewYork，whereshehadacousin。
"Thenperhapsshe'llbepleasedwiththenotionofstaying，"hesaid。
"Oh，muchyouknowaboutit!"sheretorted；and，inviewofthehypotheticaldifficultyandhiswantofsympathy，shefellintoagloom，fromwhichsherousedherselfatlastbydeclaringthat，iftherewasnothingelseintheflattheytook，thereshouldbealightkitchenandabright，sunnybedroomforMargaret。Heexpressedthebeliefthattheycouldeasilyfindsuchaflatasthat，andshedenouncedhisfataloptimism，whichbuoyedhimupintheabsenceofanundertakingandlethimdropintothedepthsofdespairinitspresence。
Heownedthisdefectoftemperament，buthesaidthatitcompensatedtheoppositeinhercharacter。"Isupposethat'soneofthechiefusesofmarriage；peoplesupplementoneanother，andformaprettyfairsortofhumanbeingtogether。Theonlydrawbacktothetheoryisthatunmarriedpeopleseemeachascompleteandwholeasamarriedpair。"
Sherefusedtobeamused；sheturnedherfacetothewindowandputherhandkerchiefupunderherveil。
Itwasnottillthedining-carwasattachedtotheirtrainthattheywerebothabletoescapeforanhourintothecare-freemoodoftheirearliertravels，whentheyweresoeasilytakenoutofthemselves。Thetimehadbeenwhentheycouldhavefoundenoughintheconjecturalfortunesandcharactersoftheirfellow-passengerstooccupythem。Thisphaseoftheiryouthhadlastedlong，andtheworldwasstillfullofnoveltyandinterestforthem；butitrequiredallthecharmofthedining-carnowtolaytheanxietiesthatbesetthem。Itwassopotentforthemoment，however，thattheycouldtakeanobjectiveviewattheirsittingcozilydowntheretogether，asiftheyhadonlythemselvesintheworld。Theywonderedwhatthechildrenweredoing，thechildrenwhopossessedthemsointenselywhenpresent，andnow，byafantasticoperationofabsence，seemedalmostnon-existents。Theytriedtobehomesickforthem，butfailed；theyrecognizedwithcomfortableself-abhorrencethatthiswasterrible，butownedafascinationinbeingalone；atthesametime，theycouldnotimaginehowpeoplefeltwhoneverhadanychildren。Theycontrastedtheluxuryofdiningthatway，witheveryadvantageexceptabandofmusic，andtheoldwayofrushingouttosnatchafearfuljoyatthelunch-countersoftheWorcesierandSpringfieldandNewHavenstations。TheyhadnotgoneoftentoNewYorksincetheirweddingjourney，buttheyhadgoneoftenenoughtohavenotedthechangefromthelunch-countertothelunch-basketbroughtinthetrain，fromwhichyoucouldsubsistwithmoreeaseanddignity，butseemeddestinedtoasuperabundanceofpickles，whateveryouordered。
Theythoughtwellofthemselvesnowthattheycouldbebothcriticalandtolerantofflavorsnotverysharplydistinguishedfromoneanotherintheirdinner，andtheylingeredovertheircoffeeandwatchedtheautumnlandscapethroughthewindows。
"Notquitesoloudapatternofcalicothisyear，"hesaid，withpatronizingforbearancetowardthepaintedwoodlandswhirlingby。
"Doyouseehowtheforegroundnextthetrainrushesfromusandthebackgroundkeepsaheadofus，whilethemiddledistanceseemsstationary?
Idon'tthinkIevernoticedthateffectbefore。Thereoughttobesomethingliteraryinit:retreatingpastandadvancingfutureanddeceitfullypermanentpresent——somethinglikethat?"
Hiswifebrushedsomecrumbsfromherlapbeforerising。"Yes。Youmustn'twasteanyoftheseideasnow。"
"Ohno；itwouldbemoneyoutofFulkerson'spocket。"
VII。
Theywenttoaquiethotelfardown-town，andtookasmallapartmentwhichtheythoughttheycouldeasilyaffordforthedayortwotheyneedspendinlookingupafurnishedflat。TheywereusedtostayingatthishotelwhentheycameonforalittleoutinginNewYork，aftersomerigidwinterinBoston，atthetimeofthespringexhibitions。Theywererememberedtherefromyeartoyear；thecoloredcall-boys，whoneverseemedtogetanyolder，smileduponthem，andtheclerkcalledMarchbynameevenbeforeheregistered。HeaskedifMrs。Marchwerewithhim，andsaidthenhesupposedtheywouldwanttheirusualquarters；andinamomenttheyweredomesticatedinafarinteriorthatseemedtohavebeenwaitingfortheminaclean，quiet，patientdisoccupationeversincetheyleftittwoyearsbefore。Thelittleparlor，withitsgiltpaperandebonizedfurniture，wasthelightestoftherooms，butitwasnotverylightatnoondaywithoutthegas，whichthebell-boynowflaredupforthem。Theuproarofthecitycametoitinasoothingmurmur，andtheytookpossessionofitspeaceandcomfortwithopencelebration。Afterall，theyagreed，therewasnoplaceintheworldsodelightfulasahotelapartmentlikethat；theboastedcharmsofhomewerenothingtoit；
andthenthemagicofitsbeingalwaysthere，readyforanyone，everyone，justasifitwereforsomeonealone:itwasliketheexperienceofanArabianNightsherocometrueforalltherace。
"Oh，whycan'twealwaysstayhere，justwetwo!"Mrs。Marchsighedtoherhusband，ashecameoutofhisroomrubbinghisfaceredwiththetowel，whileshestudiedanewarrangementofherbonnetandhandbagonthemantel。
"Andignorethepast?I'mwilling。I'venodoubtthatthechildrencouldgetonperfectlywellwithoutus，andcouldfindsomelotintheschemeofProvidencethatwouldreallybejustaswellforthem。"
"Yes；orcouldcontrivesomehownevertohaveexisted。Ishouldinsistuponthat。Iftheyare，don'tyouseethatwecouldn'twishthemnottobe?"
"Ohyes；Iseeyourpoint；it'ssimplyincontrovertible。"
Shelaughedandsaid:"Well，atanyrate，ifwecan'tfindaflattosuituswecanallcrowdintothesethreeroomssomehow，forthewinter，andthenbrowseaboutformeals。Bytheweekwecouldgetthemmuchcheaper；
andwecouldsaveontheeating，astheydoinEurope。Oronsomethingelse。"
"Somethingelse，probably，"saidMarch。"Butwewon'ttakethisapartmenttilltheidealfurnishedflatwinksoutaltogether。Weshallnothaveanytrouble。WecaneasilyfindsomeonewhoisgoingSouthforthewinterandwillbegladtogiveuptheirflat'totherightparty'atanominalrent。That'smynotion。That'swhattheEvansesdidonewinterwhentheycameonhereinFebruary。Allbutthenominalityoftherent。"
"Yes，andwecouldpayaverygoodrentandstillsavesomethingonlettingourhouse。YoucansettleyourselvesinahundreddifferentwaysinNewYork，thatisonemeritoftheplace。Butifeverythingelsefails，wecancomebacktothis。Iwantyoutotaketherefusalofit，Basil。Andwe'llcommencelookingthisveryeveningassoonaswe'vehaddinner。IcutalotofthingsoutoftheHeraldaswecameon。
Seehere!"
Shetookalongstripofpaperoutofherhand-bagwithminuteadvertisementspinnedtransverselyuponit，andformingtheeffectofsomeglitteringnondescriptvertebrate。
"Lookssomethinglikethesea-serpent，"saidMarch，dryinghishandsonthetowel，whileheglancedupanddownthelist。"Butwesha'n'thaveanytrouble。I'venodoubttherearehalfadozenthingstherethatwilldo。Youhaven'tgoneup-town?Becausewemustbenearthe'EveryOtherWeek'office。"
"No；butIwishMr。Fulkersonhadn'tcalleditthat!Italwaysmakesonethinkof'jamyesterdayandjamtomorrow，butneverjamto-day，'in'ThroughtheLooking-Glass。'They'reallinthisregion。"
Theywerestillattheirtable，besidealowwindow，wheresomesortofnever-bloomingshrubsymmetricallybalanceditselfinalargepot，withaleaftotherightandaleaftotheleftandaspearupthemiddle，whenFulkersoncamesteppingsquare-footedlyoverthethickdining-roomcarpet。Hewaggedintheairagayhandofsalutationatsightofthem，andofrepressionwhentheyofferedtorisetomeethim；then，withanapparentsimultaneityofactionhegaveahandtoeach，pulledupachairfromthenexttable，puthishatandstickonthefloorbesideit，andseatedhimself。
"Well，you'veburnedyourshipsbehindyou，sureenough，"hesaid，beaminghissatisfactionuponthemfromeyesandteeth。
"Theshipsareburned，"saidMarch，"thoughI'mnotsurewealonedidit。Buthereweare，lookingforshelter，andalittleanxiousaboutthedispositionofthenatives。"
"Oh，they'reanawfulpeaceablelot，"saidFulkerson。"I'vebeenroundamongthecaciquesalittle，andIthinkI'vegottwoorthreeplacesthatwilljustsuityou，Mrs。March。Howdidyouleavethechildren?"
"Oh，howkindofyou!Verywell，andveryproudtobeleftinchargeofthesmokingwrecks。"
Fulkersonnaturallypaidnoattentiontowhatshesaid，beingbutsecondarilyinterestedinthechildrenatthebest。"Herearesomethingsrightinthisneighborhood，withingunshotoftheoffice，andifyouwantyoucangoandlookatthemto-night；theagentsgavemehouseswherethepeoplewouldbein。"
"Wewillgoandlookattheminstantly，"saidMrs。March。"Or，assoonasyou'vehadcoffeewithus。"
"Neverdo，"Fulkersonreplied。Hegathereduphishatandstick。"JustrushedintosayHello，andgottorunrightawayagain。Itellyou，March，thingsarehumming。I'mafterthosefellowswithasharpstickallthewhiletokeepthemfromloafingonmyhouse，andatthesametimeI'mjustbubblingoverwithideasabout'TheLoneHand——wishwecouldcallitthat!——thatIwanttotalkupwithyou。"
"Well，cometobreakfast，"saidMrs。March，cordially。
"No；theideaswillkeeptillyou'vesecuredyourlodgeinthisvastwilderness。Good-bye。"
"You'reasniceasyoucanbe，Mr。Fulkerson，"shesaid，"tokeepusinmindwhenyouhavesomuchtooccupyyou。"
"Iwouldn'thaveanythingtooccupymeifIhadn'tkeptyouinmind，Mrs。
March，"saidFulkerson，goingoffuponasgoodaspeechashecouldapparentlyhopetomake。
"Why，Basil，"saidMrs。March，whenhewasgone，"he'scharming!。
Butnowwemustn'tloseaninstant。Let'sseewheretheplacesare。"
Sheranoverthehalf-dozenagents'permits。"Capital-first-rate-theverything-everyone。Well，Iconsiderourselvessettled!Wecangobacktothechildrento-morrowifwelike，thoughIratherthinkIshouldliketostayoveranotherdayandgetalittlerestedforthefinalpullingupthat'sgottocome。Butthissimplifieseverythingenormously，andMr。Fulkersonisasthoughtfulandassweetashecanbe。
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