Wewerequitenearourhotel，butIthoughtitbesttowalkroundthesquareandletthemarrivefirst。OnthewayIamusedmyselfthinkinghowdifferentthegirlhadshownherselftohimfromwhatshehadevershownherselftomywifeorme。Shehadreally，thisplain-mindedgoddess，aveinofpoeticfeeling，someinnerbeautyofsoulansweringtotheouterbeautyofbody。Shehadaromanticattachmenttoherfather，andthisshedasortoflightonbothofthem，thoughIknewthatitwasnotalwaysarevelationofcharacter。
CHAPTERXIII
WhenIreachedthehotelIfoundMissGageatthedoor，andKendrickscomingoutoftheofficetowardher。
\"Oh，hereheis!\"shecalledtohimatsightofme。
\"Whereintheworldhaveyoubeen？\"hedemanded。\"Ihadjustfoundoutfromtheclerkthatyouhadn\'tcomeinyet，andIwasgoingbackforyouwithasearchlight。\"
\"Oh，Iwasn\'tsobadlylostasallthat，\"Ireturned。\"Imissedyouinthecrowdatthedoor，butIknewyou\'dgethomesomehow，andsoIcameonwithoutyou。Butmyagedstepsarenotsoquickasyours。\"
Thewords，mechanicallyuttered，suggestedsomething，andIthoughtthatiftheywereinforweirdnessIwouldgivethemasmuchweirdnessastheycouldaskfor。\"Whenyougetalongtowardfiftyyou\'llfindthatthefootyou\'vestillgotoutofthegravedoesn\'tworksolivelyasitused。Besides，Iwasinterestedinthenighteffect。It\'ssogloriouslydark；andIhadafinesenseofisolationasIcamealong，asifIwerealtogetheroutofmyepochandmyenvironment。IfeltasiftheearthwasasortofFlyingDutchman，andIwastheonlypassenger。ItwasabouttheweirdestsensationIeverhad。Itremindedme，Idon\'tknowhow，exactlyofthefeelingIhadwhenIwasyoung，andIsawthesunsetoneeveningthroughthewoodsafterasleet-storm。\"
TheystaredateachotherasIwenton，andIcouldseeKendricks\'sfineeyeskindlewithanimaginativeappreciationoftheliteraryqualityofthecoincidence。ButwhenIadded，\"DidyoueverreadapoemabouttheendoftheworldbythatCityofDreadfulNightman？\"
MissGageimpulsivelycaughtmebythecoatlapelandshookme。
\"Ah，itwasyouallthetime!Iknewtherewassomebodyfollowingus，andImighthaveKNOWNwhoitwas!\"
Weallgavewayinagaleoflaughter，andsatdownontheverandahandhadourjokeoutinfullrecognitionofthefact。WhenKendricksrosetogoatlast，Isaid，\"Wewon\'tsayanythingaboutthislittleincidenttoMrs。March，hey？\"Andthentheylaughedagainasifitwerethefinestwitintheworld，andMissGagebademeajoyfulgood-nightattheheadofthestairsasshewentofftoherroomandItomine。
IfoundMrs。Marchwaitingupwithabook；andassoonasIshutmyselfinwithhershesaid，awfully，\"WhatWEREyoulaughingsoabout？\"
\"Laughing？Didyouhearmelaughing？\"
\"Thewholehouseheardyou，I\'mafraid。Youcertainlyoughttohaveknownbetter，Basil。Itwasveryinconsiderateofyou。\"AndasI
sawshewasgoingonwithmoreofthatsortofthing，todivertherthoughtsfrommycrimeItoldherthewholestory。IthadquitetheeffectIintendeduptoacertainpoint。Sheevensmiledalittle，asmuchasawomancouldbeexpectedtosmilewhowasnotoriginallyinthejoke。
\"Andtheyhadgottocomparingweirdexperiences？\"sheasked。
\"Yes；thestalenessofthethingalmostmademesick。Doyourememberwhenwefirstcomparedourweirdexperiences？ButI
supposetheywillgoondoingittotheendoftime，anditwillhaveasgreatacharmforthelastmanandwomanasithadforAdamandEvewhentheycomparedTHEIRweirdexperiences。\"
\"Andwasthatwhatyouwerelaughingat？\"
\"WewerelaughingatthewonderfulcaseoftelepathyIputuponthem。\"
Mrs。Marchfacedheropenbookdownonthetablebeforeher，andlookedatmewithprofoundsolemnity。\"Well，then，Icantellyou，mydear，itisnolaughingmatter。Iftheyhavegottotheweirditisveryserious；andhertalkingtohimaboutherfamily，andhiswantingtoknowaboutherfather，that\'sserioustoo——farmoreseriousthaneitherofthemcanunderstand。Idon\'tlikeit，Basil；
wehavegotaterribleaffaironourhands。\"
\"Terrible？\"
\"Yes，terrible。Aslongashewasinterestedinhersimplyfromaliterarypointofview，thoughIdidn\'tlikethateither，Icouldputupwithit；butnowthathe\'sgottotellingherabouthimself，andexchangingweirdexperienceswithher，it\'sanotherthingaltogether。Oh，IneverwantedKendricksbroughtintotheaffairatall。\"
\"Comenow，Isabel!Sticktothefacts，please。\"
\"Nomatter!Itwasyouthatdiscoveredthegirl，andthensomethinghadtobedone。IwasperfectlyshockedwhenyoutoldmethatMr。
Kendrickswasintown，becauseIsawatoncethathewouldhavetobegotinforit；andnowwehavetothinkwhatweshalldo。\"
\"Couldn\'twethinkbetterinthemorning？\"
\"No；wemustthinkatonce。Ishallnotsleepto-nightanyhow。Mypeaceisgone。Ishallhavetowatchthemeveryinstant。\"
\"Beginningatthisinstant。Whynotwaittillyoucanseethem？\"
\"Oh，youcan\'tjokeitaway，mydear。IfIfindtheyarereallyinterestedineachotherIshallhavetospeak。Iamresponsible。\"
\"Theyounglady，\"Isaid，moretogaintimethananythingelse，\"seemsquitecapableoftakingcareofherself。\"
\"Thatmakesitalltheworse。DoyouthinkIcareforheronly？
It\'sKendrickstoothatIcarefor。Idon\'tknowthatIcareforheratall。\"
\"Oh，thenIthinkwemayfairlyleaveKendrickstohisowndevices；
andI\'mnotalarmedforMissGageeither，thoughIdocareforheragreatdeal。\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandhowyoucanbesoheartlessaboutit，Basil，\"
saidMrs。March，plaintively。\"Sheisayounggirl，andshehasneverseenanythingoftheworld，andofcourseifhekeepsonpayingherattentioninthiswayshecan\'thelpthinkingthatheisinterestedinher。Mennevercanseesuchthingsaswomendo。Theythinkthat，untilamanhasactuallyaskedagirltomarryhim，hehasn\'tdoneanythingtowarrantherinsupposingthatheisinlovewithher，orthatshehasanyrighttobeinlovewithhim。\"
\"Thatistrue；wecan\'timaginethatshewouldbesoindelicate。\"
\"Iseethatyou\'redeterminedtotease，mydear，\"saidMrs。March，andshetookupherbookwithanairofoffenceanddismissal。\"Ifyouwon\'ttalkseriously，Ihopeyouwillthinkseriously，andtrytorealisewhatwe\'vegotinfor。Suchagirlcouldn\'timaginethatwehadsimplygotMrKendrickstogoaboutwithherfromaromanticwishtomakeherhaveagoodtime，andthathewasdoingittoobligeus，andwasn\'tatallinterestedinher。\"
\"Itdoeslookalittlepreposterous，eventotheoutsider，\"I
admitted。
\"Iamgladyouarebeginningtoseeitinthatlight，mydear，andifyoucanthinkofanythingtodobymorningIshallbehumblythankful。_I_don\'texpectto。\"
\"PerhapsIshalldreamofsomething，\"IsaidmorelightlythanI
felt。\"Howwoulditdoforyoutohavealittletalkwithher——alittlemotherlytalk——andhintround，andwarnhernottoletherfeelingsrunawaywithherinKendricks\'sdirection？\"Mrs。Marchfacedherbookdowninherlap，andlistenedasiftheremightbesomereasoninthenonsenseIwastalking。\"Youmightsaythathewasasocietyman，andwasingreatrequest，andthenintimatethattherewasapriorattachment，orthathewasthekindofmanwhowouldnevermarry，butwasreallycold-heartedwithallhissweetness，andmerelyhadapassionforstudyingcharacter。\"
\"Doyouthinkthatwoulddo，Basil？\"sheasked。
\"Well，Ithoughtperhapsyoumightthinkso。\"
\"I\'mafraiditwouldn\'t，\"shesighed。
\"Allthatwecandonowistowatchthem，andactpromptly，ifweseethattheyarereallyinlove，eitherofthem。\"
\"Idon\'tbelieve，\"Isaid，\"thatIshouldknowthattheywereinloveevenifIsawit。Ihaveforgottentheoutwardsigns，ifI
everknewthem。Shouldhegiveherflowers？He\'sdoneitfromthestart；he\'sbroughtherboxesofHuylercandy，andlentherbooks；
butIdaresayhe\'sbeenmerelycomplyingwithourwishesindoingit。Idoubtifloverssighnowadays。Ididn\'tsighmyself，eveninmytime；andIdon\'tbelieveanypassioncouldmakeKendricksneglecthisdress。Hekeepshiseyesonherallthetime，butthatmaybemerelyanefforttodivinehercharacter。Idon\'tbelieveI
shouldknow，indeedIdon\'t。\"
\"Ishall，\"saidMrs。March。
CHAPTERXIV
Weweretogothenextdaytotheraces，andIwokewithmoreanxietyabouttheweatherthanaboutthelovers，orpotentiallovers。Butafterrealisingthatthedaywasbeautiful，onthatlargescaleoflovelinesswhichseemscharacteristicofthesummerdaysatSaratoga，wheretheyhavethemalmostthesizeofthesummerdaysIknewwhenIwasaboy，Iwassensibleofasecondaryworryinmymind，whichpresentlyrelateditselftoKendricksandMissGage。
Itwasahazeoftroublemerely，however，suchasburnsoff，likeamorningfog，whenthesungetshigher，anditwaschieflyonmywife\'saccount。
IsupposethatthegreatdifferencebetweenherconscienceandoneoriginatingoutsideofNewEngland(ifanyconsciencecanoriginateoutsideofNewEngland)isthatitcannotleavethemoralgovernmentoftheuniverseinthehandsofdivineProvidence。IwaswillingtoleavesomanythingswhichIcouldnotcontroltotheDeity，whoprobablycouldthatsheaccusedmeoffatalism，andIwasheldtobelittlebetterthanoneofthewickedbecauseIwouldnotforecasttheeffectsofwhatIdidinthelivesofothers。Iinsistedthatotherswerealsoprobablyinthehandsofthesommasapienzaeilprimoamore，andthatIwassolittleawareoftheinfluenceofotherlivesuponmyown，evenwheretherehadbeenadirectandstrenuousefforttoaffectme，thatIcouldnotreadilybelieveothershadswervedfromthelineoftheirdestinybecauseofme。
EspeciallyIprotestedthatIcouldnotholdmyselfguiltyofmisfortunesIhadnotintended，eventhoughmyfaultyconducthadcausedthem。AstothisbusinessofKendricksandMissGage，I
deniedinthedisputeInowbegantacitlytoholdwithMrs。March\'sconsciencethatmyconducthadbeenfaulty。Isaidthattherewasnoearthlyharminmyhavingbeeninterestedbythegirl\'sforlornnesswhenIfirstsawher；thatIdidnotdowrongtointerestMrs。Marchinher；thatshedidnotsiningoingshoppingwithMissGageandMrs。Deering；thatwehadnotsinned，eitherofus，inrejoicingthatKendrickshadcometoSaratoga，orinlettingMrs。DeeringgohometohersickhusbandandleaveMissGageonourhands；thatwewerenotwickedinpermittingtheyoungfellowtohelpusmakeherhaveagoodtime。InthiscolloquyIdidallthereasoning，andMrs。March\'sconsciencewascompletelysilenced；butitrosetriumphantinmymiserablesoulwhenImetMissGageatbreakfast，lookingradiantlyhappy，anddisposedtofellowshipmeinanunusualconfidencebecause，asIclearlyperceived，ofourlastnight\'sadventure。Isaidtomyselfbitterlythathappinessdidnotbecomeherstyle，andIhopedthatshewouldgetawaywithherconfoundedrapturebeforeMrs。Marchcamedown。IresolvednottotellMrs。Marchifitfelloutso，butatthesametime，asasortofatonement，IdecidedtobeginkeepingthesharpestkindofwatchuponMissGagefortheoutwardsignsandtokensoflove。
Shesaid，\"Whenyoubegantotalkthatwaylastnight，Mr。March，italmosttookmybreath，andifyouhadn\'tgonesofar，andmentionedaboutthesunsetthroughthesleetytrees，Inevershouldhavesuspectedyou。\"
\"Ah，that\'sthetroublewithmen，MissGage。\"AndwhenIsaid\"men\"
Ifanciedsheflushedalittle。\"Weneverknowwhentostop；wealwaysoverdoit；ifitwerenotforthatweshouldbeasperfectaswomen。Perhapsyou\'llgivemeanotherchance，though。\"
\"No；weshallbeonourguardafterthis。\"Shecorrectedherselfandsaid，\"Ishallalwaysbelookingoutforyounow，\"andshecertainlyshowedherselfconsciousinthebridlingglancethatmetmykeengaze。
\"Goodheavens!\"Ithought。\"Hasitreallygonesofar？\"andmorethaneverIresolvednottotellMrs。March。
Iwentouttoengageacarriagetotakeustotheraces，andtoagreewiththedriverthatheshouldwaitforusatacertaincornersomeblocksdistantfromourhotel，whereweweretowalkandfindhim。Wealwaysdidthis，becausetherewereanumberofclergymeninourhouse，andMrs。Marchcouldnotmakeitseemrighttostartfortheracesdirectfromthedoor，thoughsheheldthatitwasperfectlyrightforustogo。Forthesamereasonshemadethedriverstopshortofourdestinationonourreturn，andwalkedhometherestoftheway。AlmostthefirsttimewepractisedthisdeceptionIwasmetatthedoorbythesweetestanddearestoftheseolddivines，whosaid，\"Haveyoueverseentheraceshere？I\'mtoldthespectacleissomethingveryfine，\"andIwasobligedtoownthatIhadoncehadaglimpseofthem。ButitwasinvainthatIpleadedthisfactwithMrs。March；sheinsistedthattheappearanceofnotgoingtotheraceswassomethingthatweowedthecloth，andnoconnivanceontheirpartcoulddispenseusfromit。
AsInowwentlookingupanddownthestreetforthedriverwhowasusuallyonthewatchformeabouteleveno\'clockonafairdayoftheraces，Iturnedoverinmymindtheseveralaccidentswhichareemployedinnovelstobringyoungpeopletoarealisingsenseoftheirfeelingstowardeachother，andwonderedwhichofthemImightmostsafelyinvoke。IwasnotanxioustohaveKendricksandMissGagelovers；itwouldbealtogethersimplerforusiftheywerenot；
butiftheywere，thesoonertheyknewitandweknewitthebetter。
Ithoughtofacarriageaccident，inwhichheshouldseizeherandleapwithherfromtheflyingvehicle，whilethehorsesplungedmadlyon，butIdidnotknowwhatinthiscasewouldbecomeofMrs。
Marchandme。Besides，Icouldthinkofnothingthatwouldfrightenourdriver\'shorses，andIdismissedthefleetingnotionofgettinganyothersbecauseMrs。Marchlikedtheirbeingsosafe，andshehad，besides，interestedherselfparticularlyinthedriver，whohadafamilyandcounteduponourcustom。Thepoorfellowcameinsightpresently，andsmilinglymadetheusualarrangementwithme，andanhourlaterhedeliveredusallsoundinwindandlimbattheracecourse。
Iwatchedinvainforsignsofuncommontendernessinthetwoyoungpeople。Ifanythingtheywereratherstiffanddistantwitheachother，andIaskedmyselfwhetherthismightnotbefromanaccessofconsciousness。KendrickswasparticularlydevotedtoMrs。March，who，intheairydetachmentwithwhichsherespondedtohisattentions，gavemetheimpressionthatshehadabsolutelydismissedhersuspicionsofthenightbefore，orelsehadheartlesslyabandonedtheaffairtomealtogether。Ifshehadreallydonethis，thenIsawnowayoutofitformebutbyanaccidentwhichshouldrevealthemtoeachother。PerhapssomeonemightinsultMissGage——
someruffian——andKendricksmightstrikethefellow；butthisseemedtoosqualid。Theremightbeaterriblejam，andheinterposehispersonbetweenherandthedangerofherbeingcrushedtodeath；
orthefloorofthegrandstandmightgiveway，andeverybodybeprecipitatedintothespacebeneath，andhefighthisway，withhersenselessformonhisarm，overthebodiesofthemangledanddying。
Anyofthesethingswouldhaveavailedinanovel，andsomethingofthekindwouldhavehappened，too。But，totellthetruth，nothingwhateverhappened，andifithadnotbeenforthatanxietyonmymindIshouldhavethoughtitmuchpleasanterso。
EvenasitwasIfeltameasureofthehilaritywhichcommonlyfillsmeatarunningrace，andIbegantoloseinthecharmofthegayscenethesenseofmyresponsibility，andlittlebylittletoabatethevigilanceapparentlyleftalltome。Thedaywasbeautiful；thelongheathadburneditselfout，andtherewasaclearsparkleinthesunshine，whichseemedblownacrossthewidespacewithintheloopofthetrackbythedelicatebreeze。Avague，remotesmellofhorseshauntedtheair，withnowandthenabreathofthepinesfromthegroveshuttingtherace-groundfromthehighway。Wegotexcellentplaces，asonealwaysmay，thegrandstandissovast，andtheyoungpeopledisposedthemselvesonthebenchinfrontofus，butsonearthatwewerenottemptedtotalkthemover。Thenewsboyscameroundwithpapers，andtheboyswhosoldprogrammesoftheraces；fromthebarbelowthereappearedfromtimetotimeshiningnegroesinwhitelinenjackets，withtraysbearingtallglassesoflemonade，andstrawstiltedintheglasses。Bookmakersfromthepool-roomstookthebetsoftheladies，whoformedbyfarthegreaterpartofthespectatorsonthegrandstand，andcontributed，withtheirsummerhatsandgowns，tothegaietyoftheensemble。Theywereofalltypes，cityandcountryboth，andoftheSoutherndarkaswellastheNorthernfaircomplexion，withsothickasprinklingofSouthAmericansthattheSpanishgutturalsmadethemselvesalmostasmuchheardastheYankeenasals。Amongthemmovedtwonunsofsomemendicantorder，receivingcharityfromthefairgamblers，whogaveforluckwithoutdistinctionofraceorreligion。
IleanedforwardandcalledKendricks\'sattentiontothenuns，andtotheadmirableliteraryqualityofthewholesituation。HewastalkingtoMissGage，andhesaidasimpatientlyasheeversufferedhimselftospeak，\"Yes，yes；tremendouslypicturesque。\"
\"Yououghttogetsomethingoutofit，mydearfellow。Don\'tyoufeelcopyinit？\"
\"Oh，splendid，ofcourse；butit\'syourground，Mr。March。I
shouldn\'tfeelitrighttodoanythingwithSaratogaafteryouhaddiscoveredit，\"andheturnedeagerlyagaintoMissGage。
Mywifeputherhandonmysleeveandfrowned，andIhadsofarlostmyselfinmyappreciationofthescenethatIwasgoingtoaskherwhatthematterwas，whenageneralsensationaboutmemademelookatthetrack，wherethehorsesforthefirstracehadalreadyappeared，withtheirjockeysinvividsilkjacketsofvariousdyes。
Theybegantoformforthestartwiththeusualtricksandfeints，tillIbecameveryindignantwiththem，thoughIhadnobetspending，anddidnotcareintheleastwhichhorsewon。WhatI
wantedwastoseetherace，theflight，andallthismiserablemanoeuvringwasretardingit。Nowandthenajockeyrodehishorsefaroffonthetrackandcamebackbetweenthefalsestarts；nowandthenonekeptstubbornlybehindtherestandwouldnotstartwiththem。HowtheirseveralschemesandambitionswerefinallyreconciledInevercouldtell，butatlastthestarter\'sflagsweptdownandtheywerereallyoff。Everybodycouldhaveseenperfectlywellastheysat，buteverybodyroseandwatchedtheswiftswoopofthehorses，bunchedtogetherinthedistance，andscarcelydistinguishablebythecoloursoftheirriders。Thesuprememomentcameformewhentheywereexactlyoppositethegrandstand，fullhalfamileaway——themomentthatIrememberedfromyeartoyearasoneofexquisiteillusion——forthenthehorsesseemedtoliftfromtheearthaswithwings，andtoskimoverthetracklikeacoveyoflow-flyingbirds。Thefinishwastametothis。Mrs。MarchandI
hadourwonteddifferenceofopinionastowhichhorsehadwon，andwewereratheruncommonlycontroversialbecausewehadbothdecideduponthesamehorse，aswefound，onlyshewastalkingofthejockey\'scolours，andIwastalkingofthehorse\'s。WeappealedtoKendricks，whosaidthatanotherhorsealtogetherhadwontherace，andthiscompromisepacifiedus。
Wewereallonfoot，andhesuggested，\"Wecouldseebetter，couldn\'twe，ifwewentfartherdowninfront？\"AndMrs。Marchanswered-
\"No，weprefertostayhere；butyoutwocango。\"Andwhentheyhadpromptlyavailedthemselvesofherleave，shesaidtome，\"Thisiskillingmedead，Basil，andifitkeepsupmuchlongerIdon\'tbelieveIcanlivethroughit。Idon\'tcarenow，andIbelieveI
shallthrowthemtogetherallIcanfromthisout。Thequickertheydecidewhetherthey\'reinloveornotthebetter。_I_havesomerightstoo。\"
Herwhirlingwordsexpressedthefeelinginmyownmind。Ihadthesamesenseofbeingtrifledwithbytheseyoungpeople，whowouldnotbehavesoconclusivelytowardeachotherastojustifyourinterferenceonthegroundthattheywereinlove，noryettreateachothersoindifferentlyastorelieveusofthestrainofapprehension。Ihadlostallfaithinaccidentbythistime，andI
wasquitewillingtoleavethemtotheirowndevices；IwassodesperatethatIsaidIhopedtheywouldgetlostfromus，astheyhadfrommethenightbefore，andnevercomeback，butjustkeeponwanderingroundforever。AllsortsofvengefulthoughtswentthroughmymindasIsawthemleaningtowardeachothertosaysomething，andthendrawingaparttolaughinwhatseemedanindefinitecomraderyinsteadofanirrepressiblepassion。Didtheythinkweweregoingtoletthissortofthinggoon？Whatdidtheysupposeournervesweremadeof？Hadtheynomercy，noconsideration？Itwasquiteliketheselfishnessofyouthtowishtocontinueinthatfool\'sparadise，buttheywouldfindoutthatmiddleagehaditsrightstoo。Ifeltcapableofaskingthembluntlywhattheymeantbyit。Butwhentheydocilelyrejoinedusattheendoftheraces，hurryingupwithsomejokeaboutnotlettingmegetlostthistime，andMissGageputherselfatmywife\'ssideandKendricksdroppedintostepwithme，allIhadbeenthinkingseemedabsurd。Theywerejusttwoyoungpeoplewhowereenjoyingaholiday-timetogether，andwewereinnowiseculpableconcerningthem。
IsuggestedthistoMrs。Marchwhenwegothome，and，intheneedofsomerelieffromthetensionshehadbeenin，shewasfaintoacceptthetheoryprovisionally，thoughIknewthatherlaterrejectionofitwouldbeallthemoreviolentforthisrespite。
CHAPTERXV
TherewastobeahopattheGrandUnionthatnight，andIhadgotticketsforitinvirtueofmyrelationtoEveryOtherWeek。Imustsaytheclerkwhogavethemmewasverycivilaboutit；hesaidtheywerereallyonlyforthehotelguests，buthewasgladtogivethemtooutsiderswhoappliedwithpropercredentials；andheevenofferedmemoreticketsthanIaskedfor。
MissGagewasgettingadressforthehop，anditwastobefinishedthatday。Ithinkwomenreallylikethescareofthinkingtheirdresseswillnotbedoneforagivenoccasion，andsoarrangetohavethematthelastmoment。Mrs。Marchwentwiththegirlearlyintheafternoontohaveittriedonforthelasttime，andtheycamehomereportingthatitwasapoem。Mywifeconfidedtomethatitwasnothalfdone——merelybegun，infact——andwouldneverbefinishedintimeintheworld。ShealsoassuredMissGagethatsheneednotbetheleastuneasy；thattherewasnotanhour\'sworkonthedress；andthatthedress-maker\'sreputationwasatstake，andshewouldnotdaretofailher。Iknewshewasperfectlysincereinboththesedeclarations，whichwere，indeed，merelytheexpressionoftwomentalattitudes，andhadnorelationtothefacts。
Sheaddedtomethatshewascompletelywornoutwithanxietyandworry，andImustnotthinkofhergoingtothehop。Iwouldhavetodothechaperoningforher，andshedidhopethatIwouldnotforgetwhatIwassentfor，orgettalkingwithsomebody，andleaveMissGagealtogethertoKendricks。Shesaidthatquitelikelytheremightbefriendsoracquaintancesofhisatthehop——suchalargeaffair——whomhewouldwanttoshowsomeattention，andImusttakechargeofMissGagemyself，andtrytofindherotherpartners。ShedrilledmeinthedutiesofmypositionuntilIbelievedthatIwasletter-perfect，andthenshesaidthatshesupposedIwouldcommitsometerribleblunderthatwouldruineverything。
Ithoughtthatthiswasverylikely，too，butIwouldnotadmitit。
Thedresscamehomeatnineo\'clock，andoperatedahappydiversionfrommyimaginableshortcomings；foritappearedfromMrs。March\'sasidestomethatitwasaperfecthorrorintheset，andthateverybodycouldseethatithadbeensimplySLUNGtogetheratthelastmoment，andshewouldnever，aslongastheworldstood，gotothatwomanforanythingagain。
ImustsayIcouldnotmyselfseeanythingwrongaboutthedress。I
thoughtitexquisiteintintandtexture；adelicate，pale-greenishfilmthatclungandfloated，andsetoffthegirl\'sbeautyastheleafageofaflowerheightensthelovelinessofaflower。IdidnotdaretosaythisinthefaceofMrs。March\'sprivatedespair，andI
wassilentwhilethegirlsubmittedtobetwirledaboutformyinspectionlikeastatueonarevolvingpedestal。Kendricks，however，hadnosuchrestrictionsuponhim，andIcouldseehimstartwithdelightinthesplendidvisionbeforehespoke。
\"ISN\'Titapoem？\"demandedMrs。March。\"Isn\'titaperfectLYRIC？\"
\"Whyshouldyouhaveallowedhertobetransportedaltogetherintotheideal？Wasn\'tshefarenoughfromusbefore？\"heasked；andI
foundmyselfwishingthathewouldbeeitherlessormorearticulate。Heoughttohavebeenmutewithpassion，orelseheoughttohavebeenfranklyvolubleaboutthegirl\'sgown，andgoneonaboutitlonger。Buthesimplyleftthematterthere，andthoughIkepthimcarefullyundermyeye，Icouldnotseethathewasconcealinganyfurtheremotion。She，onherpart，neitherblushednorfrownedathiscompliment；shedidnothingbylookorgesturetoprovokemorepraise；shetookitverymuchasthebeautifuleveningmight，soundeniablyfine，soperfectinitsway。
Sheandtheeveningwereequallyfittedfortheeventtowhichtheyseemedequallydedicated。Thedancingwastobeoutofdoorsonavastplanking，orplatform，setupintheheartofthatboskycourtwhichthehotelincloses。Aroundthisplatformdroopedtheslim，tallSaratogantrees，andoverithungtheSaratogansky，ofanocturnalblueveryrareinourlatitude，withthestarsfaintinitsdepths，andbyandbyawhitemoonthatpermitteditselfamodestcompetitionwiththeelectriclightseffulgenteverywhere。
Therewasagreatcrowdofpeopleintheportico，thevestibule，andtheinnerpiazzas，andonthelawnaroundtheplatform，where\"thetroddenweed\"sentupthesweetscentofbruisedgrassinthecoolnightair。Myfoolisholdheartboundedwithapulseofyouthatthethoughtofallthegayandtenderpossibilitiesofsuchascene。
Buttheyoungpeopleundermycareseemedinnohastetomingleinit。Weoldstersarealwaysfancyingyouthimpatient，butthereisnotimeoflifewhichhassomuchpatience。Itbehavesasifithadeternitybeforeit——aneternityofyouth——insteadofafewdaysandyears，andthenthefrostypoll。Wewhoareyoungnolongerthinkwewoulddosoandsoifwewereyoung，aswomenthinktheywoulddosoandsoiftheyweremen；butifwewerereallyyoungagain，weshouldnotdoatallwhatwethink。Weshouldnothurrytoexperienceouremotions；weshouldnotpressforwardtodischargeourdutiesorrepairourmistakes；weshouldnotseizetheoccasiontomakeafriendorreconcileanenemy；weshouldletweeksandmonthsgobyintherealisationofapassion，andtrustallsortsofcontingenciesandaccidentstohelpusoutwithitsconfession。Thethoughtsofyouthareverylong，anditsconclusionsaredeliberateanddelayed，andoftenwithheldaltogether。Itisagewhichistremulouslyeagerinthesematters，andcannotwaitwiththefinepatienceofnatureinhergrowingmoods。
Assoon，even，asIwasinthehotelIwasimpatienttopressthroughtotheplacewherethedancingwas，andwhereIalreadyheardthebandplaying。IknewverywellthatwhenwegotthereI
shouldhavetositdownsomewhereontheedgeoftheplatformwiththeotherfrumpsandfogies，andbegintakingcoldinmydress-coat，andwanttodozeoffwithoutbeingableto，whilemyyoungpeoplewerewaltzingtogether，orelsepromenadingupanddownignoringme，orrecognisingmebytheofferofafan，andthequestionwhetherI
wasnotsimplymelting；Ihaveseenhowthepoorchaperonfaresatsuchtimes。Butthey，secureoftheirfun，werebynomeansdesiroustohaveitover，oreventohaveitbegin。Theydawdledthroughthethrongedhoteloffice，whereotherirresponsiblepairswerecomingandgoingundertheadmiringeyesofthehotelloungers，andtheywanderedupanddownthewasteparlours，andsatontete-a-
tetesjusttotrythem，apparently；andMissGageverifiedinthemirrorsthebeautywhichwasreflectedinalleyes。Theyamusedthemselveswiththeextentoftherichly-carpetedandupholstereddesolationaroundthem，whereonlyafewlonelyandagingwomenlurkedaboutonsofasandottomans；andtheyfelltoplayingwiththeircompassionfortheplebeianspectatorsatthelongverandahwindowstryingtopenetratewiththeirforbiddeneyestothehopgoingoninthecourtfarbeyondtheintermediarydesertoftheparlours。
Whentheysignifiedatlastthattheywerereadyformetoleadthemontothedance，Iwouldsomuchratherhavegonetobedthattherearenowordsforthecomparison。Then，whenwegottotheplace，whichIshouldneverhavebeenabletoreachintheworldifithadnotbeenfortheyoungenergyandinspirationofKendricks，andtheyhadputmeinacertainseatwithMissGage\'swrapsbesidemewheretheycouldfindme，theywentoffanddancedforhoursandhours。
Forhoursandhours？Foragesandages!whileIwitheredawayamidmoulderingmothers，andsawmychargesthroughthedreadfulhalf-
dreamsofsuchastatewhirlinginthewaltz，hoppinginthepolka，slidinginthegalop，andthenendlesslywalkingupanddownbetweenthedances，andeatinganddrinkingthechillrefreshmentsthatitmademyteethchattertothinkof。Isupposetheydecentlycametomefromtimetotime，thoughtheyseemedtobealwaysdancing，forI
couldafterwardrememberMissGagetakingawrapfrommenowandthen，andquicklycomingbacktoshedituponmylapagain。Igotsochilledthatiftheyhadnotbeenunmistakablywomen\'swrapsI
shouldhavebundledthemallaboutmyshoulders，whichIcouldalmosthearcreakwithrheumatism。Imusthavefallenintoasortofdrowseatlast；forIwashavingadisputewithsomesortofauthority，whichturnedouttobeMrs。March，andupbraidingherwiththefactthattherewerenowomen\'swrapswhichwouldalsodoforaman，whentheyoungpeoplestoodarminarmbeforeme，andMissGagesaidthatshewastiredtodeathnow，andtheyweregoing。
Butitappearedthattheywereonlygoingasfarastheparloursforthepresent；forwhentheyre-enteredthehotel，theyturnedintothem，andsatdowntherequiteasifthathadbeentheunderstanding。WhenIarrivedwiththewraps，Iwasremindedofsomething，andIsaid，\"Haveyoutwobeendancingtogetherthewholeevening？\"
Theylookedateachotherasifforthefirsttimetheynowrealisedthefact，andKendrickssaid，\"Why，ofcoursewehave!Wedidn\'tknowanybody。\"
\"Verywell，then，\"Isaid；\"youhavegotmeintoascrape。\"
\"Oh，poorMr。March!\"criedthegirl。\"Howhavewedoneit？\"
\"Why，Mrs。MarchsaidthatMr。Kendrickswouldbesuretoknownumbersofpeople，andImustgetyouotherpartners，foritwouldn\'tdoforyoutodancethewholeeveningtogether。\"
Shethrewherselfbackinthechairshehadtaken，andlaughedasifthiswerethebestjokeintheworld。
Hesaidhardily，\"YouseeitHASdone。\"
\"Andifitwouldn\'tdo，\"shegasped，\"whydidn\'tyoubringmetheotherpartners？\"
\"BecauseIdidn\'tknowany，\"Isaid；andthisseemedtoamusethembothsomuchthatIwasafraidtheywouldnevergettheirbreath。
Shelookedbyandbyatherdancing-card，andassoonasshecouldwipethetearsfromhereyesshesaid，\"No；thereisnoothernamethere\"；andthisseemedevenabetterjokethantheotherfromthewaytheyjoinedinlaughingatit。
\"Well，now，\"Isaid，whentheywerequietagain，\"thiswon\'tdo，myyoungfriends。It\'sallverywellforyou，andyouseemtolikeit；
butIamresponsibleforyourhavingpassedapropereveningundermychaperonage，andsomethinghasgottobedonetoproveit。\"Theysawthereasonablenessofthis，andtheyimmediatelybecamesober。
\"Kendricks，\"Iasked，\"can\'tyouthinkofsomething？\"
No，hesaid，hecouldn\'t；andthenhebegantolaughagain。
Iappliedtoherinthesameterms；butsheonlyanswered，\"Oh，don\'taskME，\"andshewentofflaughingtoo。
\"Verywell，then，\"Isaid；\"Ishallhavetodosomethingdesperate，andIshallexpectyoubothtobearmeoutinit，andIdon\'twantanymiserablesubterfugeswhenitcomestothepointwithMrs。
March。Willyouletmehaveyourdancing-cardMissGage？\"Shedetachedit，andhandedittome。\"It\'sveryfortunatethatMr。
Kendrickswrotehisnameforthefirstdanceonly，anddidn\'tgoonandfillitup。\"
\"Why，wedidn\'tthinkitwasworthwhile!\"sheinnocentlyexplained。
\"Andthat\'swhatmakesitsoperfectlyprovidential，asMrs。Marchsays。Nowthen，\"Iwenton，asIwroteinthenameofarisingyoungpolitician，whohappenedjustthentohavebeenannouncedasarrivinginSaratogatojoinsomeotherleadersinarrangingtheslateofhispartyfortheconventiontomeetamonthlater，\"wewillbeginwithagoodAmerican。\"
IhandedthecardtoKendricks。\"DoyouhappentorememberthenameoftheyoungFrenchnoblemanwhodancedthethirddancewithMissGage？\"
\"No，\"hesaid；\"butIthinkIcouldinventit。\"Andhedasheddownanextremelyprobablemarquis，whileMissGageclappedherhandsforjoy。
\"Oh，howglorious!howsplendid!\"
Iasked，\"Willyouevergivemeawaythelongestdayyoulive？\"
\"Never，\"shepromised；andIaddedthenameofaSouthAmericandoctor，oneofthosedoctorswhoseemtobealwaysbecomingthepresidentsoftheirrepublics，andorderingalltheirpatientsofoppositepoliticstobeshotintheplaza。
KendricksenteredayoungersonofanEnglishduke，andI
contributedthehyphenatedsurnameofaNewYorkswell，andbetweenuswesoonhadallthedancesonMissGage\'scardtakenbythemostdistinguishedpeople。Wereallystudiedprobabilityintheforgery，andwewereproudoftheairofrealityitworeinthecarefullydifferencedhandwritings，withnationaltraitsnicelyaccentedineach。
CHAPTERXVI
ThefunofitallwasthatMrs。Marchwasnotdeceivedforaninstant。\"Oh，nonsense!\"shesaid，whensheglancedatourprettydeception，whichwepresentedwithperhapstooperfectseriousness。
\"Thenyoudancedonlythefirstdance？\"
\"No，no!\"MissGageprotested。\"IdancedeverydanceaslongasI
stayed。\"Shelaughedwithherhandkerchieftohermouthandhereyesshiningabove。
\"Yes；Icantestifytothat，Mrs。March，\"saidKendricks，andhelaughedwildly，too。Imustsaytheirlaughterthroughoutwasfarbeyondthemirthfulnessofthefacts。Theybothprotestedthattheyhadhadthebesttimeintheworld，andthegayesttime；thatIhadbeenamirrorofchaperons，andfollowedthemroundwithmyeyeswherevertheywentlikeafamilyportrait；andthattheywerethemostexemplaryyoungcoupleatthehopintheirbehaviour。Mrs。
Marchaskedthemallaboutit，andshejoinedintheirfunwithahilaritywhichIknewfromlongexperiencebodedmenogood。
WhenKendrickshadgoneaway，andMissGagehadleftusforthenightwithanembrace，whosefondnessIwonderedat，fromMrs。
March，anawfulsilencefelluponusinthedesertedparlourwhereshehadwaitedup。
Iknewthatwhenshebrokethesilenceshewouldbeginwith，\"Well，mydear!\"andthiswaswhatshedid。Sheadded，\"Ihopeyou\'reconvincedNOW!\"
Ididnotevenpretendnottounderstand。\"Youmeanthattheyareinlove？Isupposethattheirwe-ingandus-ingsomuchwouldindicatesomethingofthekind。\"
\"Itisn\'tthatalone；everythingindicatesit。Shewouldhardlyletgoofhimwithhereyes。Iwish，\"sighedMrs。March，andsheletherheaddroopuponherhandamoment，\"IcouldbeassureofhimasIamofher。\"
\'\'Wouldn\'tthatdoublethedifficulty？\"Iventuredtosuggest，thoughtillshespokeIhadnotdoubtedthatitwasthecase。
\"IshouldmakeyouspeaktohimifIweresureofhim；butasitisIshallspeaktoher，andthesoonerthebetter。\"
\"To-night？\"Iquaked。
\"No；Ishallletthepoorthinghavehersleepto-night。ButthefirstthinginthemorningIshallspeak，andIwantyoutosendheruptomeassoonasshe\'shadherbreakfast。TellherI\'mnotwell，andshallnotbedown；Ishallnotclosemyeyesthewholenight。