首页
A Hazard of New Fortunes
书架
书页 | 目录
加书签

第3章
17050字

Iknowyouwillgetonwellwithhim。Hehassuchagoodheart。Andhisattitudetowardyou,Basil,isbeautifulalways——sorespectful;ornotthatsomuchasappreciative。Yes,appreciative——that'stheword;Imustalwayskeepthatinmind。"

"It'squiteimportanttodoso,"saidMarch。

"Yes,"sheassented,seriously,"andwemustnotforgetjustwhatkindofflatwearegoingtolookfor。The'sinequanons'areanelevatorandsteamheat,notabovethethirdfloor,tobeginwith。Thenwemusteachhavearoom,andyoumusthaveyourstudyandImusthavemyparlor;andthetwogirlsmusteachhavearoom。Withthekitchenanddiningroom,howmanydoesthatmake?"

"Ten。"

"Ithoughteight。Well,nomatter。Youcanworkintheparlor,andrunintoyourbedroomwhenanybodycomes;andIcansitinmine,andthegirlsmustputupwithone,ifit'slargeandsunny,thoughI'vealwaysgiventhemtwoathome。Andthekitchenmustbesunny,sotheycansitinit。Andtheroomsmustallhaveoutsidelight。Audtherentmustnotbeovereighthundredforthewinter。Weonlygetathousandforourwholehouse,andwemustsavesomethingoutofthat,soastocovertheexpensesofmoving。Now,doyouthinkyoucanrememberallthat?"

"Notthehalfofit,"saidMarch。"Butyoucan;orifyouforgetathirdofit,Icancomeinwithmypartialhalfandmorethanmakeitup。"

Shehadbroughtherbonnetandsacquedown-stairswithher,andwastransferringthemfromthehatracktoherpersonwhileshetalked。Thefriendlydoor-boyletthemintothestreet,andtheclearOctobereveningairbrightenedhersothatasshetuckedherhandunderherhusband'sarmandbegantopullhimalongshesaid,"Ifwefindsomethingrightaway——

andwe'rejustaslikelytogettherightflatsoonaslate;it'sallalottery——wellgotothetheatresomewhere。"

Shehadamoment'spanicabouthavinglefttheagents'permitsonthetable,andafterrememberingthatshehadputthemintoherlittleshopping-bag,whereshekepthermoney(eachnotecrushedintoaroundwad),andhadheftitonthehat-rack,whereitwouldcertainlybestolen,shefounditonherwrist。Shedidnotthinkthatveryfunny;

butafterafirstimpulsetoinculpateherhusband,shelethimlaugh,whiletheystoppedunderalampandsheheldthepermitshalfayardawaytoreadthenumbersonthem。

"Whereareyourglasses,Isabel?"

"Onthemantelinourroom,ofcourse。"

"Thenyououghttohavebroughtapairoftongs。"

"Iwouldn'tgetoffsecond-handjokes,Basil,"shesaid;and"Why,here!"

shecried,whirlingroundtothedoorbeforewhichtheyhadhalted,"thisistheverynumber。Well,Idobelieveit'sasign!"

Oneofthosecoloredmenwhosoftenthetradeofjanitorinmanyofthesmallerapartment-housesinNewYorkbythesweetnessoftheirracelettheMarchesin,or,rather,welcomedthemtothepossessionofthepremisesbythebowwithwhichheacknowledgedtheirpermit。Itwasalarge,oldmansioncutupintofiveorsixdwellings,butithadkeptsometraitsofitsformerdignity,whichpleasedpeopleoftheirsympathetictastes。Thedark-mahoganytrim,ofsufficientlyuglydesign,gavearichgloomtothehallway,whichwaswideandpavedwithmarble;

thecarpetedstairscurvedaloftthroughagenerousspace。

"Thereisnoelevator?"Mrs。Marchaskedofthejanitor。

Heanswered,"No,ma'am;onlytwoflightsup,"sowinninglythatshesaid,"Oh!"incourteousapology,andwhisperedtoherhusband,asshefollowedlightlyup,"We'lltakeit,Basil,ifit'sliketherest。"

"Ifit'slikehim,youmean。"

"Idon'twondertheywantedtoownthem,"shehurriedlyphilosophized。

"IfIhadsuchacreature,nothingbutdeathshouldpartus,andIshouldnomorethinkofgivinghimhisfreedom!"

"No;wecouldn'taffordit,"returnedherhusband。

Theapartmentwhichthejanitorunlockedforthem,andlitupfromthosechandeliersandbracketsofgiltbrassintheformofvinebunches,leaves,andtendrilsinwhichtheearlygas-fitterrealizedmostofhisconceptionsofbeauty,hadrathermoreoftheuglinessthanthedignityofthehall。Buttheroomswerelarge,andtheygroupedthemselvesinareminiscenceofthetimewhentheywerepartofadwellingthathaditscharm,itspathos,itsimpressiveness。Wheretheywerecutupintosmallerspaces,ithadbeendonewiththefranknesswithwhichaproudoldfamilyoffallenfortunespractisesitseconomies。Theroughpine~

floorsshowedablackborderoftack-headswherecarpetshadbeenliftedandputdownforgenerations;thewhitepaintwasyellowwithage;theapartmenthadlightatthefrontandattheback,andtwoorthreeroomshadglimpsesofthedaythroughsmallwindowsletintotheircorners;

anotheroneseemedliftinganappealingeyetoheaventhroughaglasscircleinitsceiling;therestmustdarkleinperpetualtwilight。Yetsomethingpleasedinitall,andMrs。Marchhadgonefartoadaptthedifferentroomstothemembersofherfamily,whenshesuddenlythought(andforhertothinkwastosay),"Why,butthere'snosteamheat!"

"No,ma'am,"thejanitoradmitted;"butdere'sgratesinmosto'derooms,anddere'sfurnaceheatindehalls。"

"That'strue,"sheadmitted,and,havingplacedherfamilyintheapartments,itwashardtogetthemoutagain。"Couldwemanage?"shereferredtoherhusband。

"Why,Ishouldn'tcareforthesteamheatif——Whatistherent?"hebrokeofftoaskthejanitor。

"Ninehundred,sir。"

Marchconcludedtohiswife,"Ifitwerefurnished。"

"Why,ofcourse!WhatcouldIhavebeenthinkingof?We'relookingforafurnishedflat,"sheexplainedtothejanitor,"andthiswassopleasantandhomelikethatIneverthoughtwhetheritwasfurnishedornot。"

Shesmileduponthejanitor,andheenteredintothejokeandchuckledsoamiablyatherflatteringoversightonthewaydown-stairsthatshesaid,asshepinchedherhusband'sarm,"Now,ifyoudon'tgivehimaquarterI'llneverspeaktoyouagain,Basil!"

"Iwouldhavegivenhalfadollarwillinglytogetyoubeyondhisglamour,"saidMarch,whentheyweresafelyonthepavementoutside。"

Ifithadn'tbeenformystrengthofcharacter,you'dhavetakenanunfurnishedflatwithoutheatandwithnoelevator,atninehundredayear,whenyouhadjustswornmetosteamheat,anelevator,furniture,andeighthundred。"

"Yes!HowcouldIhavelostmyheadsocompletely?"shesaid,withalenientamusementinheraberrationwhichshewasnotalwaysabletofeelinherhusband's。

"Thenexttimeacoloredjanitoropensthedoortous,I'lltellhimtheapartmentdoesn'tsuitatthethreshold。It'stheonlywaytomanageyou,Isabel。"

"It'strue。Iaminlovewiththewholerace。Ineversawoneofthemthatdidn'thaveperfectlyangelicmanners。Ithinkweshallallbeblackinheaven——thatis,black-souled。"

"Thatisn'ttheusualtheory,"saidMarch。

"Well,perhapsnot,"sheassented。"Wherearewegoingnow?Ohyes,totheXenophon!"

Shepulledhimgaylyalongagain,andaftertheyhadwalkedablockdownandhalfablockovertheystoodbeforetheapartment-houseofthatname,whichwascutonthegas-lampsoneithersideoftheheavilyspiked,aesthetic-hingedblackdoor。Thetitterofanelectric-bellbroughtalarge,fatButtons,withastageeffectofbeingdressedtolooksmall,whosaidhewouldcallthejanitor,andtheywaitedinthedimlysplendid,copper-coloredinterior,admiringthewhorlsandwavesintowhichthewallpaintwascombed,tillthejanitorcameinhisgold-bandedcap,likeaContinentalporker。WhentheysaidtheywouldliketoseeMrs。GrosvenorGreen'sapartment,heownedhisinabilitytocopewiththeaffair,andsaidhemustsendforthesuperintendent;hewaseitherintheHerodotusortheThucydides,andwouldbethereinaminute。TheButtonsbroughthim——aYankeeofbrowbeatingpresenceinplainclothes——

almostbeforetheyhadtimetoexchangeafrightenedwhisperinrecognitionofthefactthattherecouldbenodoubtofthesteamheatandelevatorinthiscase。Halfstifledintheone,theymountedintheothereightstories,whiletheytriedtokeeptheirself-respectunderthegazeofthesuperintendent,whichtheyfeltwasclassingandassessingthemwithunfriendlyaccuracy。Theycouldnot,andtheyfalteredabashedatthethresholdofMrs。GrosvenorGreen'sapartment,whilethesuperintendentlitthegasinthegangwaythathecalledaprivatehall,andinthedrawing-roomandthesuccessionofchambersstretchingrearwardtothekitchen。Everythinghad,beendonebythearchitecttosavespace,andeverything,towasteitbyMrs。GrosvenorGreen。Shehadconformedtoalawforthenecessityofturningroundineachroom,andhadfolding-bedsinthechambers,buttherehersubordinationhadended,andwhereveryoumighthaveturnedroundshehadputagimcracksothatyouwouldknockitoverifyoudidturn。Theplacewasratherprettyandevenimposingatfirstglance,andittookseveraljointballotsforMarchandhiswifetomakesurethatwiththekitchentherewereonlysixrooms。Ateverydoorhungaportierefromlargeringsonabrassrod;everyshelfanddressing-caseandmantelwaslitteredwithgimcracks,andthecornersofthetinyroomswerecurtainedoff,andbehindtheseportieresswarmedmoregimcracks。ThefrontoftheuprightpianohadwhatMarchcalledashort-skirtedportiereonit,andthetopwascoveredwithvases,withdragoncandlesticksandwithJapfans,whichalsoexpandedthemselvesbatwiseonthewallsbetweentheetchingsandthewatercolors。Thefloorswerecoveredwithfilling,andthenrugsandthenskins;theeasy-chairsallhadtidies,ArmenianandTurkishandPersian;theloungesandsofashadembroideredcushionshiddenundertidies。

TheradiatorwasconcealedbyaJapscreen,andoverthetopofthissomeArabscarfswereflung。Therewasasuperabundanceofclocks。Chinapugsguardedthehearth;abrasssunflowersmiledfromthetopofeitherandiron,andabrasspeacockspreaditstailbeforetheminsideahighfiligreefender;ononesidewasacoalhodin'repousse'brass,andontheotherawroughtironwood-basket。SomeredJapanesebird-kiteswerestuckaboutinthenecksofspeltervases,acrimsonJapumbrellahungopenedbeneaththechandelier,andeachglobehadashadeofyellowsilk。

March,whenhehadrecoveredhisself-commandalittleinthepresenceoftheagglomeration,comfortedhimselfbycallingthebric-a-bracJamescracks,asifthiswastheirfullname。

Thedisrespecthewasabletoshowthewholeapartmentbymeansofthisjokestrengthenedhimtosayboldlytothesuperintendentthatitwasaltogethertoosmall;thenheaskedcarelesslywhattherentwas。

"Twohundredandfifty。"

TheMarchesgaveastart,andlookedateachother。

"Don'tyouthinkwecouldmakeitdo?"sheaskedhim,andhecouldseethatshehadmentallysavedfivehundreddollarsasthedifferencebetweentherentoftheirhouseandthatofthisflat。"Ithassomeveryprettyfeatures,andwecouldmanagetosqueezein,couldn'twe?"

"Youwon'tfindanotherfurnishedflatlikeitfornotwo-fiftyamonthinthewholecity,"thesuperintendentputin。

Theyexchangedglancesagain,andMarchsaid,carelessly,"It'stoosmall。"

"There'savacantflatintheHerodotusforeighteenhundredayear,andoneintheThucydidesforfifteen,"thesuperintendentsuggested,clickinghiskeystogetherastheysankdownintheelevator;"sevenroomsandbath。"

"Thankyou,"saidMarch;"we'relookingforafurnishedflat。"

Theyfeltthatthesuperintendentpartedfromthemwithrepressedsarcasm。

"Oh,Basil,doyouthinkwereallymadehimthinkitwasthesmallnessandnotthedearness?"

"No,butwesavedourself-respectintheattempt;andthat'sagreatdeal。"

"Ofcourse,Iwouldn'thavetakenit,anyway,withonlysixrooms,andsohighup。Butwhatprices!Now,wemustbeverycircumspectaboutthenextplace。"

Itwasajanitress,large,fat,withherarmswoundupinherapron,whoreceivedthemthere。Mrs。Marchgaveherasuccinctbutperfectstatementoftheirneeds。Shefailedtograspthenatureofthem,orfeignedtodoso。Sheshookherhead,andsaidthathersonwouldshowthemtheflat。Therewasaradiatorvisibleinthenarrowhall,andIsabeltacitlycompromisedonsteamheatwithoutanelevator,astheflatwasonlyoneflightup。Whenthesonappearedfrombelowwithasmallkerosenehand-lamp,itappearedthattheflatwasunfurnished,buttherewasnostoppinghimtillhehadshownitinallitsimpossibility。WhentheygotsafelyawayfromitandintothestreetMarchsaid:"Well,haveyouhadenoughforto-night,Isabel?Shallwegotothetheatrenow?"

"Notonanyaccount。IwanttoseethewholelistofflatsthatMr。

Fulkersonthoughtwouldbetheverythingforus。"Shelaughed,butwithacertainbitterness。

"You'llbecallinghimmyMr。Fulkersonnext,Isabel。"

"Ohno!"

Thefourthaddresswasafurnishedflatwithoutakitchen,inahousewithageneralrestaurant。Thefifthwasafurnishedhouse。Atthesixthapatheticwidowandherprettydaughterwantedtotakeafamilytoboard,andwouldgivethemaprivatetableataratewhichtheMarcheswouldhavethoughtlowinBoston。

Mrs。Marchcameawaytinglingwithcompassionfortheirevidentanxiety,andthispitynaturallysouredintoasenseofinjury。"Well,ImustsayIhavecompletelylostconfidenceinMr。Fulkerson'sjudgment。AnythingmoreutterlydifferentfromwhatItoldhimwewantedIcouldn'timagine。

Ifhedoesn'tmanageanybetterabouthisbusinessthanhehasdoneaboutthis,itwillbeaperfectfailure。"

"Well,well,let'shopehe'llbemorecircumspectaboutthat,"herhusbandreturned,withironicalpropitiation。"ButIdon'tthinkit'sFulkerson'sfaultaltogether。Perhapsit'sthehouse-agents'。They'reaveryillusorygeneration。Thereseemstobesomethinginthehumanhabitationthatcorruptsthenaturesofthosewhodealinit,tobuyorsellit,tohireorletit。Yougotoanagentandtellhimwhatkindofahouseyouwant。Hehasnosuchhouse,andhesendsyoutolookatsomethingaltogetherdifferent,uponthewell-ascertainedprinciplethatifyoucan'tgetwhatyouwantyouwilltakewhatyoucanget。Youdon'tsupposethe'party'thattookourhouseinBostonwaslookingforanysuchhouse?Hewaslookingforatotallydifferentkindofhouseinanotherpartofthetown。"

"Idon'tbelievethat!"hiswifebrokein。

"Well,nomatter。Butseewhatascandalousrentyouaskedforit。"

"Wedidn'tgetmuchmorethanhalf;and,besides,theagenttoldmetoaskfourteenhundred。"

"Oh,I'mnotblamingyou,Isabel。I'monlyanalyzingthehouse-agentandexoneratingFulkerson。"

"Well,Idon'tbelievehetoldthemjustwhatwewanted;and,atanyrate,I'mdonewithagents。TomorrowI'mgoingentirelybyadvertisements。"

VIII。

Mrs。MarchtookthevertebratewithhertotheViennaCoffee-House,wheretheywenttobreakfastnextmorning。ShemadeMarchbuyhertheHeraldandtheWorld,andsheaddedtoitsspinyconvolutionsfromthem。Shereadthenewadvertisementsaloudwithardorandwithfaithtobelievethattheapartmentsdescribedinthemwereeveryonetruthfullyrepresented,andthatanyoneofthemwasrichlyresponsivetotheirneeds。"Elegant,light,large,singleandoutsideflats"wereofferedwith"allimprovements——bath,ice-box,etc。"——fortwenty-fivetothirtydollarsamonth。Thecheapnesswasamazing。TheWagram,theEsmeralda,theJacinth,advertisedthemforfortydollarsandsixtydollars,"withsteamheatandelevator,"rentfreetillNovember。Others,attractivefromtheirairofconscientiousscruple,announced"first-classflats;

goodorder;reasonablerents。"TheHelenaaskedthereaderifshehadseenthe"cabinetfinish,hard-woodfloors,andfrescoedceilings"ofitsfifty-dollarflats;theAsteroidaffirmedthatsuchapartments,with"sixlightroomsandbath,porcelainwash-tubs,electricbells,andhall-boy,"

asitofferedforseventy-fivedollarswereunapproachedbycompetition。

Therewasasamenessinthejargonwhichtendedtoconfusion。Mrs。Marchgotseveralflatsonherlistwhichpromisedneithersteamheatnorelevators;sheforgotherselfsofarastoincludetwoorthreeasremotefromthedown-townregionofherchoiceasHarlem。Butaftershehadrejectedthesethenondescriptvertebratewasstillvoluminousenoughtosustainherbuoyanthopes。

Thewaiter,whorememberedthemfromyeartoyear,hadputthematawindowgivingaprettygoodsectionofBroadway,andbeforetheysetoutontheirsearchtheyhadamomentofreminiscence。TheyrecalledtheBroadwayoffive,often,oftwentyyearsago,swellingandroaringwithatideofgaylypaintedomnibusesandofpicturesquetrafficthatthehorsecarshavenowbanishedfromit。Thegrindoftheirwheelsandtheclashoftheirharshbellsimperfectlyfillthesilencethattheomnibuseshaveleft,andtheeyemissesthetumultuousperspectiveofformertimes。

TheywentoutandstoodforamomentbeforeGraceChurch,andlookeddownthestatelythoroughfare,andfounditnolongerimpressive,nolongercharacteristic。ItisstillBroadwayinname,butnowitislikeanyotherstreet。Youdonotnowtakeyourlifeinyourhandwhenyouattempttocrossit;theBroadwaypolicemanwhosupportedtheelbowoftimorousbeautyinthehollowofhiscotton-glovedpalmandguideditslittlefearfulbootsoverthecrossing,whilehearrestedthebillowyomnibusesoneithersidewithanimperiousglance,isgone,andallthatcertainprocessional,barbaricgayetyoftheplaceisgone。

"Palmyra,Baalbec,TimouroftheDesert,"saidMarch,voicingtheircommonfeelingofthechange。

Theyturnedandwentintothebeautifulchurch,andfoundthemselvesintimeforthematinservice。RaptfarfromNewYork,ifnotfromearth,inthedimrichnessofthepaintedlight,thehallowedmusictookthemwithsolemnecstasy;theaerial,aspiringGothicformsseemedtoliftthemheavenward。Theycameout,reluctant,intothedazzleandbustleofthestreet,withafeelingthattheyweretoogoodforit,whichtheyconfessedtoeachotherwithwhimsicalconsciousness。

"Butnomatterhowconsecratedwefeelnow,"hesaid,"wemustn'tforgetthatwewentintothechurchforpreciselythesamereasonthatwewenttotheViennaCaf?forbreakfast——togratifyanaestheticsense,torenewthefadedpleasureoftravelforamoment,togetbackintotheEuropeofouryouth。ItwasapurelyPaganimpulse,Isabel,andwe'dbetterownit。"

"Idon'tknow,"shereturned。"Ithinkwereduceourselvestothebarebonestoomuch。Iwishwedidn'talwaysrecognizethefactsaswedo。

SometimesIshouldliketoblinkthem。IshouldliketothinkIwasdevouterthanIam,andyoungerandprettier。"

"Betternot;youcouldn'tkeepitup。Honestyisthebestpolicyeveninsuchthings。"

"No;Idon'tlikeit,Basil。Ishouldratherwaittillthelastdayforsomeofmymotivestocometothetop。Iknowthey'realwaysmixed,butdoletmegivethemthebenefitofadoubtsometimes。"

"Well,well,haveityourownway,mydear。ButIprefernottolayupsomanydisagreeablesurprisesformyselfatthattime。"

Shewouldnotconsent。"IknowIamagooddealyoungerthanIwas。

IfeelquiteinthemoodofthatmorningwhenwewalkeddownBroadwayonourweddingjourney。Don'tyou?"

"Ohyes。ButIknowI'mnotyounger;I'monlyprettier。"

Shelaughedforpleasureinhisjoke,andalsoforunconsciousjoyinthegayNewYorkweather,inwhichtherewasno'arrierepensee'oftheeastwind。TheyhadcrossedBroadway,andwerewalkingovertoWashingtonSquare,intheregionofwhichtheynowhopedtoplacethemselves。The'primotenore'statueofGaribaldihadalreadytakenpossessionoftheplaceinthenameofLatinprogress,andtheymetItalianfaces,Frenchfaces,Spanishfaces,astheystrolledovertheasphaltwalks,underthethinningshadowsoftheautumn-strickensycamores。TheymetthefamiliarpicturesqueraggednessofSouthernEuropewiththeoldkindlyillusionthatsomehowitexistedfortheirappreciation,andthatitfoundadequatecompensationforpovertyinthis。MarchthoughthesufficientlyexpressedhistacitsympathyinsittingdownononeoftheironbencheswithhiswifeandlettingalittleNeapolitanputasuperfluousshineonhisboots,whiletheirdesultorycommentwanderedwithequalesteemtotheold-fashionedAmericanrespectabilitywhichkeepsthenorthsideofthesquareinvastmansionsofredbrick,andtheinternationalshabbinesswhichhasinvadedthesouthernborder,andbrokenitupintolodging-houses,shops,beer-gardens,andstudios。

Theynoticedthesignofanapartmenttoletonthenorthside,andassoonasthelittlebootblackcouldbeboughtofftheywentovertolookatit。Thejanitormetthematthedoorandexaminedthem。Thenhesaid,asifstillindoubt,"Ithastenrooms,andtherentistwenty-

eighthundreddollars。"

"Itwouldn'tdo,then,"Marchreplied,andlefthimtodividetheresponsibilitybetweenthepaucityoftheroomsandtheenormityoftherentashebestmight。Buttheirself-lovehadreceivedawound,andtheyquestionedeachotherwhatitwasintheirappearancemadehimdoubttheirabilitytopaysomuch。

"Ofcourse,wedon'tlooklikeNew-Yorkers,"sighedMrs。March,"andwe'vewalkedthroughtheSquare。ThatmightbeasifwehadwalkedalongtheParkStreetmallintheCommonbeforewecameoutonBeacon。Doyousupposehecouldhaveseenyougettingyourbootsblackedinthatway?"

"It'suselesstoask,"saidMarch。"ButInevercanrecoverfromthisblow。"

"Oh,pshaw!YouknowyouhatesuchthingsasbadlyasIdo。Itwasveryimpertinentofhim。"

"Letusgobackand'ecraserl'infame'bypayinghimayear'srentinadvanceandtakingimmediatepossession。Nothingelsecansoothemywoundedfeelings。Youwerenothavingyourbootsblacked:whyshouldn'thehavesupposedyouwereaNew-Yorker,andIacountrycousin?"

"Theyalwaysknow。Don'tyourememberMrs。Williams'sgoingtoaFifthAvenuemillinerinaWorthdress,andthewoman'saskingherinstantlywhathotelsheshouldsendherhatto?"

"Yes;thesethingsdriveonetodespair。Idon'twonderthebodiesofsomanygenteelstrangersarefoundinthewatersaroundNewYork。Shallwetrythesouthside,mydear?orhadwebettergobacktoourroomsandrestawhile?"

Mrs。Marchhadoutthevertebrate,andwasconsultingoneofitsglitteringribsandglancingupfromitatahousebeforewhichtheystood。"Yes,it'sthenumber;butdotheycallthisbeingreadyOctoberfirst?"Thelittleareainfrontofthebasementwasheapedwithamixtureofmortar,bricks,laths,andshavingsfromtheinterior;thebrownstonestepstothefrontdoorweresimilarlybestrewn;thedoorwayshowedthehalf-open,roughpinecarpenter'ssketchofanunfinishedhouse;thesashlesswindowsofeverystoryshowedtheactivityofworkmenwithin;theclatterofhammersandthehissofsawscameouttothemfromeveryopening。

"TheymaycallitOctoberfirst,"saidMarch,"becauseit'stoolatetocontradictthem。Butthey'dbetternotcallitDecemberfirstinmypresence;I'llletthemsayJanuaryfirst,atapinch。"

"Wewillgoinandlookatit,anyway,"saidhiswife;andheadmiredhow,whenshewasoncewithin,shebeganprovisionallytosettlethefamilyineachoftheseveralfloorswiththefemaleinstinctfordomiciliationwhichneverfailedher。Shehadthehelpofthelandlord,whowaspresenttourgeforwardtheworkmenapparently;helentahopefulfancytothesolutionofallherquestions。TogetherfromunderhisinfluenceMarchhadtorepresentthattheplacewasdampfromundriedplastering,andthatifshestayedshewouldprobablybedownwiththatNewYorkpneumoniawhichvisitingBostoniansarealwaysdyingof。Oncesafelyonthepavementoutside,sherealizedthattheapartmentwasnotonlyunfinished,butunfurnished,andhadneithersteamheatnorelevator。"ButIthoughtwehadbetterlookateverything,"sheexplained。

"Yes,butnottakeeverything。IfIhadn'tpulledyouawayfromtherebymainforceyou'dhavenotonlydiedofNewYorkpneumoniaonthespot,butyou'dhavehadusallsettledtherebeforeweknewwhatwewereabout。"

"Well,that'swhatIcan'thelp,Basil。It'stheonlywayIcanrealizewhetheritwilldoforus。Ihavetodramatizethewholething。"

Shegotadealofpleasureaswellasexcitementoutofthis,andhehadtoownthattheprocessofsettinguphousekeepinginsomanydifferentplaceswasnotonlyentertaining,buttended,throughassociationwiththeirfirstbeginningsinhousekeeping,torestoretheimageoftheirearlymarrieddaysandtomakethemyoungagain。

Itwentonallday,andcontinuedfarintothenight,untilitwastoolatetogotothetheatre,toolatetodoanythingbuttumbleintobedandsimultaneouslyfallasleep。Theygroanedovertheirreiterateddisappointments,buttheycouldnotdenythattheinterestwasunfailing,andthattheygotagreatdealoffunoutofitall。NothingcouldabateMrs。March'sfaithinheradvertisements。Oneofthemsenthertoaflatoftenroomswhichpromisedtobethesolutionofalltheirdifficulties;

itprovedtobeoveralivery-stable,aliquorstore,andamilliner'sshop,noneofthefirstfashion。AnotherledthemfarintooldGreenwichVillagetoanapartment-house,whichsherefusedtoenterbehindasmallgirlwithaloafofbreadunderonearmandaquartcanofmilkundertheother。

Intheirsearchtheywereobliged,asMarchcomplained,totheacquisitionofuselessinformationinadegreeunequalledintheirexperience。Theycametoexcelinthesadknowledgeofthelineatwhichrespectabilitydistinguishesitselffromshabbiness。Flatteringadvertisementstookthemtonumbersofhugeapartment-houseschieflydistinguishablefromtenement-housesbytheabsenceoffire-escapesontheirfacades,tillMrs。Marchrefusedtostopatanydoorwherethereweremorethansixbell-ratchetsandspeaking-tubesoneitherhand。

Beforethemiddleoftheafternoonshedecidedagainstratchetsaltogether,andconfinedherselftoknobs,neatlysetinthedoor-trim。

HerhusbandwasstillsunkinthesuperstitionthatyoucanliveanywhereyoulikeinNewYork,andhewouldhavepausedatsomeplaceswhereherquickereyecaughtthefatalsignof"Modes"intheground-floorwindows。

Shefoundthattherewasaneastandwestlinebeyondwhichtheycouldnotgoiftheywishedtokeeptheirself-respect,andthatwithintheregiontowhichtheyhadrestrictedthemselvestherewasachoiceofstreets。AtfirstalltheNewYorkstreetslookedtothemill-paved,dirty,andrepulsive;thegeneralinfamyimparteditselfintheircasualimpressiontostreetsinnowiseguilty。Buttheybegantonoticethatsomestreetswerequietandclean,and,thoughneversoquietandcleanasBostonstreets,thattheyworeanairofencouragingreform,andsuggestedafutureofgreaterandgreaterdomesticity。Wholeblocksofthesedowntowncross-streetsseemedtohavebeenredeemedfromdecay,andeveninthemidstofsqualoradwellinghereandtherehadbeenseized,paintedadullredastoitsbrick-work,andaglossyblackastoitswood-work,andwithabrightbrassbell-pullanddoor-knobandalargebrassplateforitskey-holeescutcheon,hadbeenendowedwithaneffectofpurityandpridewhichremoveditsshabbyneighborhoodfarfromit。

Someofthesehouseswerequitesmall,andimaginablywithintheirmeans;

but,asMarchsaid,somebodyseemedalwaystobelivingtherehimself,andthefactthatnoneofthemwastorentkeptMrs。Marchtruetoheridealofafiat。NothingpreventeditsrealizationsomuchasitsdifferencefromtheNewYorkidealofaflat,whichwasinflexiblysevenroomsandabath。Oneortworoomsmightbeatthefront,therestcrookedandcorneredbackwardthroughincreasingandthendecreasingdarknesstilltheyreachedalightbedroomorkitchenattherear。

Itmightbetheoneortheother,butitwasalwaystheseventhroomwiththebath;orif,assometimeshappened,itwastheeighth,itwassoafterhavingcountedthebathasone;inthiscasethejanitorsaidyoualwayscountedthebathasone。Iftheflatswereadvertisedashaving"alllightrooms,"heexplainedthatanyroomwithawindowgivingintotheopenairofacourtorshaftwascountedalightroom。

TheMarchestriedtomakeoutwhyitwasthattheseflatsweregomuchmorerepulsivethantheapartmentswhicheveryonelivedinabroad;buttheycouldonlydosouponthesuppositionthatintheirEuropeandaystheyweretooyoung,toohappy,toofullofthefuture,tonoticewhetherroomswereinsideoroutside,lightordark,bigorlittle,highorlow。

"Nowwe'reimprisonedinthepresent,"hesaid,"andwehavetomaketheworstofit。"

Intheirdespairhehadaninspiration,whichshedeclaredworthyofhim:

itwastotaketwosmallflats,offourorfiveroomsandabath,andliveinboth。Theytriedthisinagreatmanyplaces,buttheynevercouldgettwoflatsofthekindonthesamefloorwheretherewassteamheatandanelevator。Atoneplacetheyalmostdidit。Theyhadresignedthemselvestothehumilityoftheneighborhood,totheprevalenceofmodistesandlivery-stablemen(theyseemtoconsortmuchinNewYork),tothegarbageintheguttersandthelitterofpaperinthestreets,tothefalteringslatsinthesurroundingwindow-shuttersandthecrumbledbrownstonestepsandsills,whenitturnedoutthatoneoftheapartmentshadbeentakenbetweentwovisitstheymade。Thentheonlycombinationleftopentothemwasofaground-floorflattotherightandathird-floorflattotheleft。

Stilltheykeptthisinspirationinreserveforuseatthefirstopportunity。Inthemeantimetherewereseveralflatswhichtheythoughttheycouldalmostmakedo:notablyonewheretheycouldgetanextraservant'sroominthebasementfourflightsdown,andanotherwheretheycouldgetitintherooffiveflightsup。Atthefirstthejanitorwasrespectfulandenthusiastic;atthesecondhehadaneffectofironicalpessimism。Whentheytrembledonthevergeoftakinghisapartment,hepointedoutaspotinthekalsominingoftheparlorceiling,andgratuitouslysaid,Nowsuchathingasthatheshouldnotagreetoputinshapeunlesstheytooktheapartmentforatermofyears。

Theapartmentwasunfurnished,andtheyrecurredtothefactthattheywantedafurnishedapartment,andmadetheirescape。Thissavedtheminseveralotherextremities;butshortofextremitytheycouldnotkeeptheirdifferentrequirementsinmind,andwerealwaysabouttodecidewithoutregardtosomeoneofthem。

Theywenttoseveralplacestwicewithoutintending:oncetothatold-

fashionedhousewiththepleasantcoloredjanitor,andwanderedallovertheapartmentagainwithahauntingsenseoffamiliarity,andthenrecognizedthejanitorandlaughed;andtothathousewiththepatheticwidowandtheprettydaughterwhowishedtotakethemtoboard。Theystayedtoexcusetheirblunder,andeasilycamebythefactthatthemotherhadtakenthehousethatthegirlmighthaveahomewhileshewasinNewYorkstudyingart,andtheyhopedtopaytheirwaybytakingboarders。Herdaughterwasatherclassnow,themotherconcluded;andtheyencouragedhertobelievethatitcouldonlybeafewdaystilltherestofherschemewasrealized。

"Idaresaywecouldbeperfectlycomfortablethere,"Marchsuggestedwhentheyhadgotaway。"Nowifweweretrulyhumanewewouldmodifyourdesirestomeettheirneedsandendthissickeningsearch,wouldn'twe?"

"Yes,butwe'renottrulyhumane,"hiswifeanswered,"oratleastnotinthatsense。Youknowyouhateboarding;andifwewentthereIshouldhavethemonmysympathiesthewholetime。"

"Isee。Andthenyouwouldtakeitoutofme。"

"ThenIshouldtakeitoutofyou。Andifyouaregoingtobesoweak,Basil,andleteverylittlethingworkuponyouinthatway,you'dbetternotcometoNewYork。You'llseeenoughmiseryhere。"

"Well,don'ttakethatsuperiortonewithme,asifIwereachildthathaditsmindsetonanundesirabletoy,Isabel。"

"Ah,don'tyousupposeit'sbecauseyouaresuchachildinsomerespectsthatIlikeyou,dear?"shedemanded,withoutrelenting。

"ButIdon'tfindsomuchmiseryinNewYork。Idon'tsupposethere'sanymoresufferingheretothepopulationthanthereisinthecountry。

Andthey'resogayaboutitall。Ithinktheoutwardaspectoftheplaceandthehilarityoftheskyandairmustgetintothepeople'sblood。

Theweatherissimplyunapproachable;andIdon'tcareifitistheugliestplaceintheworld,asyousay。Isupposeitis。Itshrieksandyellswithuglinesshereandtherebutitneverlosesitsspirits。Thatwidowisfromthecountry。Whenshe'sbeenayearinNewYorkshe'llbeasgay——asgayasanLroad。"HecelebratedasatisfactiontheybothhadintheLroads。"Theykillthestreetsandavenues,butatleasttheypartiallyhidethem,andthatissomecomfort;andtheydotriumphovertheirprostrateformswithasavageexultationthatisintoxicating。

ThosebendsintheLthatyougetinthecornerofWashingtonSquare,orjustbelowtheCooperInstitute——they'rethegayestthingsintheworld。

Perfectlyatrocious,ofcourse,butincomparablypicturesque!Andthewholecityisso,"saidMarch,"orelsetheLwouldneverhavegotbuilthere。NewYorkmaybesplendidlygayorsqualidlygay;but,princeorpauper,it'sgayalways。"

"Yes,gayistheword,"sheadmitted,withasigh。"Butfrantic。

Ican'tgetusedtoit。Theyforgetdeath,Basil;theyforgetdeathinNewYork。"

"Well,Idon'tknowthatI'veeverfoundmuchadvantageinrememberingit。"

"Don'tsaysuchathing,dearest。"

Hecouldseethatshehadgottotheendofhernervousstrengthforthepresent,andheproposedthattheyshouldtaketheElevatedroadasfarasitwouldcarrythemintothecountry,andshakeofftheirnightmareofflat-huntingforanhourortwo;butherconsciencewouldnotlether。

SheconvictedhimoflevityequaltothatoftheNew-Yorkersinproposingsuchathing;andtheydraggedthroughtheday。Shewastootiredtocarefordinner,andinthenightshehadadreamfromwhichshewokeherselfwithacrythatrousedhim,too。Itwassomethingaboutthechildrenatfirst,whomtheyhadtalkedofwistfullybeforefallingasleep,andthenitwasofahideousthingwithtwosquareeyesandaseriesofsectionsgrowingdarkerandthenlighter,tillthetailofthemonstrousarticulatewasquiteluminousagain。Sheshudderedatthevaguedescriptionshewasabletogive;butheasked,"Diditoffertobiteyou?"

"No。Thatwasthemostfrightfulthingaboutit;ithadnomouth。"

Marchlaughed。"Why,mydear,itwasnothingbutaharmlessNewYorkflat——sevenroomsandabath。"

"Ireallybelieveitwas,"sheconsented,recognizinganarchitecturalresemblance,andshefellasleepagain,andwokerenewedfortheworkbeforethem。

IX。

Theirhouse-huntingnolongerhadnovelty,butitstillhadinterest;andtheyvariedtheirdaybytakingacoupe,byrenouncingadvertisements,andbyrevertingtoagents。Someoftheseinducedthemtoconsidertheideaoffurnishedhouses;andMrs。MarchlearnedtoleranceforFulkersonbyacceptingpermitstovisitflatsandhouseswhichhadnoneofthequalificationsshedesiredineither,andwereasfarbeyondhermeansastheywereoutoftheregiontowhichshehadgeographicallyrestrictedherself。Theylookedatthree-thousandandfour-thousanddollarapartments,andrejectedthemforonereasonoranotherwhichhadnothingtodowiththerent;thehighertherentwas,themorecriticaltheywereoftheslipperyinlaidfloorsandthearrangementoftherichlydecoratedrooms。Theyneverknewwhethertheyhaddeceivedthejanitorornot;astheycameinacoupe,theyhopedtheyhad。

TheydroveaccidentallythroughonestreetthatseemedgayerintheperspectivethananLroad。Thefire-escapes,withtheirlightironbalconiesandladdersofiron,decoratedtheloftyhousefronts;theroadwayandsidewalksanddoor-stepsswarmedwithchildren;women'sheadsseemedtoshowateverywindow。Inthebasements,overwhichflightsofhighstonestepsledtothetenements,weregreen-grocers'shopsaboundingincabbages,andprovisionstoresrunningchieflytobaconandsausages,andcobblers'andtinners'shops,andthelike,inproportiontothesmallneedsofapoorneighborhood。Ashbarrelslinedthesidewalks,andgarbageheapsfilledthegutters;teamsofalltradesstoodidlyabout;apeddlerofcheapfruiturgedhiscartthroughthestreet,andmixedhiscrywiththejoyousscreamsandshoutsofthechildrenandthescoldingandgossipingvoicesofthewomen;theburlybluebulkofapolicemandefineditselfatthecorner;adrunkardzigzaggeddownthesidewalktowardhim。Itwasnottheabodeoftheextremestpoverty,butofapovertyashopelessasanyintheworld,transmittingitselffromgenerationtogeneration,andestablishingconditionsofpermanencytowhichhumanlifeadjustsitselfasitdoestothoseofsomeincurabledisease,likeleprosy。

ThetimehadbeenwhentheMarcheswouldhavetakenapurelyaestheticviewofthefactsastheyglimpsedtheminthisstreetoftenement-

houses;whentheywouldhavecontentedthemselveswithsayingthatitwasaspicturesqueasastreetinNaplesorFlorence,andwithwonderingwhynobodycametopaintit;theywouldhavethoughttheyweresufficientlyseriousaboutitinblamingtheartistsfortheirfailuretoappreciateit,andgoingabroadforthepicturesquewhentheyhadithereundertheirnoses。Itwastothenosethatthestreetmadeoneofitsstrongestappeals,andMrs。Marchpulledupherwindowofthecoupe。

"Whydoeshetakeusthroughsuchadisgustingstreet?"shedemanded,withanexasperationofwhichherhusbanddivinedtheorigin。

"Thisdrivermaybeaphilanthropistindisguise,"heanswered,withdreamyirony,"andmaywantustothinkaboutthepeoplewhoarenotmerelycarriedthroughthisstreetinacoupe,buthavetospendtheirwholelivesinit,winterandsummer,withnohopesofdrivingoutofit,exceptinahearse。Imustsaytheydon'tseemtomindit。Ihaven'tseenajolliercrowdanywhereinNewYork。Theyseemtohaveforgottendeathalittlemorecompletelythananyoftheirfellow-citizens,Isabel。

AndIwonderwhattheythinkofus,makingthisgorgeousprogressthroughtheirmidst。Isupposetheythinkwe'rerich,andhateus——iftheyhaterichpeople;theydon'tlookasiftheyhatedanybody。Shouldwebeaspatientastheyarewiththeirdiscomfort?Idon'tbelievethere'ssteamheatoranelevatorinthewholeblock。Sevenroomsandabathwouldbemorethanthelargestandgenteelestfamilywouldknowwhattodowith。

Theywouldn'tknowwhattodowiththebath,anyway。"

Hismonologueseemedtointeresthiswifeapartfromthesatiricalpointithadforthemselves。"YououghttogetMr。FulkersontoletyouworksomeoftheseNewYorksightsupforEveryOtherWeek,Basil;youcoulddothemverynicely。"

"Yes;I'vethoughtofthat。Butdon'tlet'sleavethepersonalground。

Doesn'titmakeyoufeelrathersmallandotherwiseunworthywhenyouseethekindofstreetthesefellow-beingsofyourslivein,andthenthinkhowparticularyouareaboutlocalityandthenumberofbellpulls?

Idon'tseeevenratchetsandspeaking-tubesatthesedoors。"Hecranedhisneckoutofthewindowforabetterlook,andthechildrenofdiscomfortcheeredhim,outofsheergoodfeelingandhighspirits。

"Ididn'tknowIwassopopular。Perhapsit'sarecognitionofmyhumanesentiments。"

"Oh,it'sveryeasytohavehumanesentiments,andtosatirizeourselvesforwantingeightroomsandabathinagoodneighborhood,whenweseehowthesewretchedcreatureslive,"saidhiswife。"Butifwesharedallwehavewiththem,andthensettleddownamongthem,whatgoodwoulditdo?"

"Nottheleastintheworld。Itmighthelpusforthemoment,butitwouldn'tkeepthewolffromtheirdoorsforaweek;andthentheywouldgoonjustasbefore,onlytheywouldn'tbeonsuchgoodtermswiththewolf。Theonlywayforthemistokeepupanunbrokenintimacywiththewolf;thentheycanmanagehimsomehow。Idon'tknowhow,andI'mafraidIdon'twantto。Wouldn'tyouliketohavethisfellowdriveusroundamongthehallsofpridesomewhereforalittlewhile?FifthAvenueorMadison,up-town?"

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

精品推荐