Andnow，\"sheadded，\"Iwantyoutotellmeeverythingthathappenedthisevening。Don\'tomitaword，oralook，oramotion。Iwishtoproceedintelligently。\"
IhopeIwasaccurateinthehistoryofthehopwhichIgaveMrs。
March；IamsureIwasfull。Ithinkmyaccountmaybejustlydescribedashavingacreativetruthfulness，ifnoothermerit。I
hadreallynowishtoconcealanythingexceptthefactthatIhadnot，inmyutterhelplessness，eventriedtogetMissGageanyotherpartners。Butinthelargerinterestofthepresentsituation，Mrs。
Marchseemedtohavelostthesenseofmyderelictioninthisrespect。Shemerelyasked，\"Anditwasafteryouwentbacktotheparlour，justbeforeyoucamehome，thatyouwrotethosenamesonhercard？\"
\"Kendrickswrotehalfofthem，\"Isaid。
\"Idaresay。Well，itwasveryamusing，andifthecircumstancesweredifferent，Icouldhaveenteredintothespiritofittoo。Butyouseeyourself，Basil，thatwecan\'tletthisaffairgoanyfurtherwithoutdealingfranklywithher。YOUcan\'tspeaktoher，and_I_MUST。Don\'tyousee？\"
IsaidthatIsaw，butIhadsuddenlyawildwishthatitwerepracticableformetospeaktoMissGage。Ishouldhavelikedtohaveapeepintoagirl\'sheartatjustsuchamoment，whenitmustbequiveringwiththeunconfessedsenseoflove，andtheconfidenthopeofbeingloved，butwhileasyetnothingwasassured，nothingwasascertained。Ifitwouldnothavebeenshocking，ifitwouldnothavebeensacrilegious，itwouldhavebeeninfinitelyinteresting，andfromanaestheticpointofviewinfinitelyimportant。IthoughtthatIshouldhavebeenwillingtoundergoalltheembarrassmentofsuchaninquiryforthesakeofitspreciousresults，ifithadbeenatallpossible；butIacquiescedthatitwouldnotbepossible。IfeltthatIwasgettingoffprettylightlynottohaveitbroughthometomeagainthatIwasthecauseofallthistrouble，andthatifithadnotbeenformetherewouldhavebeen，asfarasMrs。Marchwasconcerned，noMissGage，andnolove-
affairofherstodealwith。IdebatedinmymindamomentwhetherIhadbetterurgehertoletmespeaktoKendricksafterall；butI
forbore，andinthemorningIwaitedaboutinmuchperturbation，afterIhadsentMissGagetoher，untilIcouldknowtheresultoftheirinterview。WhenIsawthegirlcomeawayfromherroom，whichshedidrathertrippingly，Iwenttoher，andfoundherbynomeansthewreckIhadexpectedtheordealtoleaveher。
\"DidyoumeetMissGage？\"sheasked。
\"Yes，\"Ireturned，withtremulousexpectation。
\"Well，don\'tyouthinkshelooksperfectlydivineinthatgown？
It\'soneofMme。Cody\'s，andwegotitforthirtydollars。ItwouldhavebeenfiftyinNewYork，anditwas，here，earlierintheseason。Ishallalwayscomehereforsomeofmythings；assoonastheseason\'salittlepasttheysimplyFLINGthemaway。Well，mydear!\"
\"Well，what？\"
\"Ididn\'tspeaktoherafterall。\"
\"Youdidn\'t!Don\'tyouthinkshe\'sinlovewithhim，then？\"
\"Dead。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Well，Icouldn\'tsomehowseemtoapproachthesubjectasIhadexpectedto。Shewassohappy，andsogood，andsoperfectlyobedient，thatIcouldn\'tgetanythingtotakeholdof。Yousee，I
didn\'tknowbutshemightbealittlerebellious，orresentfulofmyinterference；butinthelittlegingerlyattemptsIdidmakeshewassosubmissive，don\'tyouunderstand？AndshewasverymodestaboutMr。Kendricks\'attentions，andsoself-depreciatorythat，well——\"
\"Lookhere，Isabel，\"Ibrokein，\"thisisprettyshamelessofyou。
Youpretendtobeinthegreatestkindoffidgeaboutthisgirl；andyoumakemelieawakeallnightthinkingwhatyou\'regoingtosaytoher；andnowyouasmuchastellmeyouweresofascinatedwiththemodestwayshewasinlovethatyoucouldn\'tsayanythingtoheragainstbeinginloveonourhandsinanysortofway。Doyoucallthisbusiness？\"
\"Well，Idon\'tcareifIDIDencourageher——\"
\"Oh，youevenencouragedher!\"
\"IDIDN\'Tencourageher。ImerelypraisedMr。Kendricks，andsaidhowmuchyouthoughtofhimasawriter。\"
\"Oh!thenyougavethesubjectaliterarycast。Isee!DoyouthinkMissGagewasabletofollowyou？\"
\"Thatdoesn\'tmatter。\"
\"Andwhatdoyouproposetodonow？\"
\"Iproposetodonothing。IthinkthatIhavedoneallmydutyrequires，andthatnowIcanleavethewholeaffairtoyou。Itwasyouraffairinthebeginning。Idon\'tseewhyIshouldworrymyselfaboutit。\"
\"Itseemstomethatthisisaverystrangepositionforaladytotakewhowasnotgoingtocloseaneyelastnightinviewofasituationwhichhasnotchangedintheleast，exceptfortheworse。
Don\'tyouthinkyouareratherculpablylight-heartedallofasudden？\"
\"Iamlight-hearted，butifthereisanyculpabilityitisyours，Basil。\"
Ireflected，butIfailedtofindanynoveltyinthefact。\"Verywell，then；whatdoyouproposethatIshoulddo？\"
\"Ileavethatentirelytoyourownconscience。\"
\"Andifmyconsciencehasnosuggestiontomake？\"
\"That\'syouraffair。\"
Ireflectedagain，andthenIsaid，morethananythingtomakeheruncomfortable，I\'mafraid:\"Ifeelperfectlyeasyinmyconscience，personally，butIhaveasocialdutyinthematter，andIhopeI
shallperformitwithmorefidelityandcouragethanyouhaveshown。
IshallspeaktoKendricks。\"
Shesaid:\"Thatisjustwhatyououghttodo。I\'mquitesurprised。\"Afterthistouchofironysheaddedearnestly，\"AndI
dohope，mydear，youwillusejudgmentinspeakingtohim，andtact。Youmustn\'tgoatitbluntly。RememberthatMr。Kendricksisnotatalltoblame。Hebegantoshowherattentiontoobligeus，andifshehasfalleninlovewithhimitisourfault。\"
\"Ishallhandlehimwithoutgloves，\"Isaid。\"Ishalltellhimhehadbettergoaway。\"
Iwasjoking，butshesaidseriously，\"Yes；hemustgoaway。AndI
don\'tenvyyouhavingtotellhim。Isupposeyouwillbungleit，ofcourse。\"
\"Well，then，youmustadviseme，\"Isaid；andwereallybegantoconsiderthequestion。Wecouldhardlyexaggeratethedifficultyanddelicacyofthedutybeforeme。WerecognisedthatbeforeI
madeanyexplicitdemandofhimImustfirstascertainthenatureofthewholegroundandthenbegovernedbythefacts。ItwouldbesimpleenoughifIhadmerelytosaythatwethoughtthegirl\'saffectionswerebecomingengaged，andthenappealtohiseagergenerosity，hisdelicatemagnanimity；buttherewerepossiblecomplicationsonhissidewhichmustberegarded。Iwastoascertain，weconcluded，theexactnatureofthesituationbeforeI
venturedtosayanythingopenly。IwastomakemyapproachesbyaseriesofambushesbeforeIunmaskedmypurpose，andperhapsImustnotunmaskitatall。AsIsetoffonmymission，whichmustbeginwithfindingKendricksathishotel，Mrs。Marchsaidshepitiedme。
ShecalledmebacktoaskwhetherIthoughtIhadreallybetterdoanything。Then，asIshowedsignsofweakening，shedrovemefromherwith，\"Yes，yes!Youmust!Youmust!\"
CHAPTERXVII
ItwasstillsoearlythatIhadmydoubtswhetherIshouldfindKendricksupafterthelastnight\'srevelry，buthemetmehalf-waybetweenourhotelandhis。HesaidhewascomingtoseehowMrs。
MarchwasbearingMissGage\'simmensesuccessattheball；butperhapsthiswasnothissolemotive。Heaskedfranklyhowtheyoungladywas，andwhetherIthoughtMrs。Marchwouldconsideralunchatarestaurantbythelakeagoodnotion。WhenIsaidIhadverylittledoubtshewould，andproposedtakingaturnintheparkbeforeIwentbackwithhim，helookedathiswatchandlaughed，andsaidhesupposeditWASratherearlyyet，andcameverywillinglywithme。
Wehadtheprettyplacealmosttoourselvesatthathour。Therewereahalf-dozenorsonursemaids，pushingtheirperambulatorsabout，orstandingthevehiclesacrossthewalkinfrontofthebencheswheretheysat，inthesimplebeliefofallpeoplewhohavetodowithbabiesthattherestoftheworldmaybefitlydiscommodedintheirbehalf。Buttheydidnotactivelymolestus，andtheyscarcelycircumscribedourchoiceofseats。Wewerebynomeansdriventothelittlekioskinthelakeforthem，andIshouldrathersaythatwewerefatefullyledthere，soaptweretheassociationsoftheplacetomypurpose。NothingcouldhavebeenmorenaturalthanthatIshouldsay，aswesatdownthere，\"ThiswaswhereIfirstsawMissGagewithherfriends\"；anditwasbyaperfectlynaturaltransitionthatIshouldgoontospeak，inasemi-humorousstrain，oftheresponsibilitywhichMrs。Marchandmyselfhadincurredbylettingoursympathyforherrunawaywithus。IsaidIsupposedthatifwehadnotbeenwillingfromthefirsttotrytorealiseforhersomeoftheexpectationsweimaginedshehadincomingtoSaratoga，sheneverwouldhavefallentoourcharge；thatpeoplereallybroughtagreatmanymorethingsuponthemselvesthantheywerewillingtoown；andthatfatewasperhapsmorethefulfilmentofourtacitambitionsthanourovertacts。
Thisbitofphilosophy，whichIconfessIthoughtfine，didnotseemtoimpressKendricks。Hemerelysaidthatitmustbegreatfuntohavethechanceofbafflingthemaliceofcircumstanceinacaselikethat，andIperceivedthathefeltnothingcomplexinthesituation。Infact，Idoubtwhetheryouthperceivesanythingcomplexinlife。Totheyoung，lifeisaveryplaincase。Tobesure，theyaremuchmorealarmedthantheireldersatgettingtangledupinitswebattimes，butthatisbecausetheyhavenothadourexperienceingettinguntangled，andthinktheyarenevergoingtogetoutalive。Whentheydo，theythinkthatitistheonlytangletheyareevergoingtobein，anddonotknowthattheyaresimplygoingonfromonetoanotheraslongasthereisenoughofthemlefttobecaughtinamesh。ToKendricksweMarchesweresimplytwoamiablepeople，whohadfancieddoingapleasantthingforabeautifulgirlthataccidenthadthrownitinourpowertobefriend，andwerebynomeansthetremblingarbitersofherdestinywefeltourselvestobe。Thedifferencebetweenhisobjectivesenseandmysubjectivesensewasthedifferencebetweenhistwenty-sevenyearsandmyfifty-two，andwhilethisremainedIsawthatitwouldbeuselesstotrytogetoncommongroundwithhim，ortogivehimourpointofview。IfIweretospeaktohimatall，itmustbewithauthority，withtherightofonewhostoodintheplaceofthegirl\'sparents，andhadherhappinessatheart。Thatis，itwassomethinglikethat；butmywordssayittoobluntly。Ifoundmyselfbeginning，\"Ihaveratherhadanotionthatherfathermightcomeon，andtaketheenterpriseoffourhands，\"though，totellthetruth，Ihadneverimaginedsuchathing，whichcameintomyheadatthatmomentthroughanassociationwiththethoughtofparents。
\"Haveyouanyideawhatsortofmanheis？\"askedKendricks。
\"Oh，somelittlelocalmagnate，presidentofthevillageandpresidentofthevillagebank；Ifancythechieffigureintheplace，butprobablyasignorantofourworldasaCherokee。\"
\"Well，Idon\'tknow，\"saidtheyoungfellow。\"Doyouthinkthatfollowsbecausehedoesn\'tliveinit？\"IcouldseethathedidnotquitelikewhatIhadsaid。\"Isupposeoursisratherasmallworld。\"
\"Thesmallestofallworlds，\"Ianswered。\"AndintheeyesofPapaGage，iftheycouldoncebefocuseduponit，ourworldwouldshriveltoanatom。\"
\"Doyouthink，\"heasked，withamanifestanxiety，\"thatitwouldinhers？\"
\"No；sheisnottheAmericanpeople，andherfatheris，asIfancyhim。ImakeoutfromthevaguehintsthatBrotherDeering(asFulkersonwouldcallhim)droppedwhenhetalkedabouthimthatPapaGageisashrewd，practical，home-keepingbusinessman，withaneyesingletothemainchance，lavish，butnotgenerous，Philistinetothebackbone，blindlydevotedtohisdaughter，andcontemptuousofallthemyriadmysteriesofcivilisationthathedoesn\'tunderstand。
Idon\'tknowwhyIshouldbeauthorisedtoimaginehimpersonallylongandlank，withpossiblyatobaccohabitofsomesort。Hisnaturalhistory，uponnobetterauthority，isthatofahard-headedfarmer，whofoundoutthatfarmingcouldneverbemorethanalivelihood，andcameintothevillage，andbegantolendmoney，andgetgain，tillhewasinapositiontohelpfoundtheDeWittPointNationalBank，andthen，byweightofhismoneyedsolidity，imposedhimselfuponthefreeandindependentvotersofthevillage——amajorityofthemundermortgagetohim——andbecameitspresident。
Itisn\'tapleasanttype，butit\'sideallyAmerican。\"
\"Yes，\"saidKendricksruefully。
\"Buthisdaughter，\"Icontinued，\"isprobablyaltogetherdifferent。
Thereissomethingfineabouther——reallyfine。Ourworldwouldn\'tshrivelinhereye；itwouldprobablyswellupandfilltheuniverse，\"Iaddedbyanimpulsethatcamefromnowhereirresistiblyuponme:\"thatis，ifshecouldseeYOUinit。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"heaskedwithastart。
\"Oh，nowImusttellyouwhatImean，\"Isaiddesperately。\"It\'syouthathavecomplicatedthiscasesodreadfullyforus。Can\'tyouthinkwhy？\"
\"No，Ican\'t，\"hesaid；buthehadtosaythat。
Hisfine，sensitivefaceflamedatoncesofire-redthatitcouldonlyturnpaleforachangewhenIplungedon:\"I\'mafraidwe\'vetrifledwithherhappiness\"；andthisformulationofthecasedisgustedmesomuchthatIlaughedwildly，andadded，\"unlesswe\'vetrifledwithyours，too。\"
\"Idon\'tknowwhyyoucallittriflingwithhappiness，\"hereturnedwithdignity，butwithoutoffence。\"Ifyouwillleaveheroutofthequestion，IwillsaythatyouhavegivenmethegreatesthappinessofmylifeinintroducingmetoMissGage。\"
\"Now，\"Idemanded，\"mayIaskwhatYOUmean？YouknowIwouldn\'tifIdidn\'tfeelboundforhersake，andifyouhadn\'tsaidjustwhatyouhavesaid。Youneedn\'tanswermeunlessyoulike!It\'spleasanttoknowthatyou\'venotbeenbored，andMrs。MarchandI
areinfinitelyobligedtoyouforhelpingusout。\"
Kendricksmadeasifheweregoingtosaysomething，andthenhedidnot。HehunghisheadlowerandlowerinthesilencewhichIhadtobreakforhim——\"IhopeIhaven\'tbeenintrusive，mydearfellow。
ThisissomethingIfeltboundtospeakof。Youknowwecouldn\'tletitgoon。Mrs。MarchandIhaveblamedourselvesagooddeal，andwecouldn\'tletitgoon。ButI\'mafraidIhaven\'tbeenasdelicatewithyou——\"
\"Oh!delicate!\"Heliftedhisheadandflashedafaceofgenerousself-reproachuponme。\"It\'s_I_thathaven\'tbeendelicatewithYOU。I\'vebeenmonstrouslyindelicate。ButInevermeanttobe，and——and——Iwascomingtoseeyoujustnowwhenwemet——toseeyou——
MissGage——andaskher——tellherthatwe——I——musttellyouandMrs。
March——Mr。March!AtthehoplastnightIaskedhertobemywife，andassoonasshecanhearfromherfather——ButthefirstthingwhenIwokethismorning，IsawthatImusttellMrs。Marchandyou。
Andyou——youmustforgiveus——orme，rather；foritwasmyfault——
fornottellingyoulastnight——atonce——oh，thankyou!thankyou!\"
Ihadseizedhishand，andwaswringingitvehementlyinexpressionofmypleasureinwhathehadtoldme。InthatfirstmomentIfeltnothingbutpurejoyandanimmeasurablerelief。Idrewmybreath，averydeepandfullone，inasudden，absolutefreedomfromanxietieswhichhadbeennonethelessrealandconstantbecausesooftenburlesqued。Afterwardconsiderationspresentedthemselvestoalloymyrapture，butforthatmoment，asIsay，itwasnothingbutrapture。Therewasnoquestioninitofthelovers\'fitnessforeachother，oftheiracceptabilitytotheirrespectivefamilies，oftheirgeneralconduct，oroftheirespecialbehaviourtowardus。
AllthatIcouldrealisewasthatitwasagreatescapeforbothofus，andagreattriumphforme。IhadbeenafraidthatIshouldnothavethecouragetospeaktoKendricksofthematteratall，muchlessaskhimtogoaway；andhereIhadactuallyspokentohim，withthesplendidresultthatIneedonlycongratulatehimonhisengagementtotheladywhoseunrequitedaffectionsIhadbeenwishinghimtospare。Idon\'trememberjustthetermsIusedindoingthis，buttheyseemedsatisfactorytoKendricks；probablyarepetitionofthelettersofthealphabetwouldhavebeenequallyacceptable。AtlastIsaid，\"Well，nowImustgoandtellthegreatnewstoMrs。March，\"andIshookhandswithhimagain；wehadbeenshakinghandsathalf-minutelyintervalseversincethefirsttime。
CHAPTERXVIII
IsawMrs。Marchwaitingformeonthehotelverandah。Sheworeherbonnet，andshewarnedmenottoapproach，andthenrandowntomeetme。
\"Well，mydear，\"shesaid，asshepushedherhandthroughmyarmandbegantopropelmeawayfromthesightandhearingofpeopleonthepiazza，\"Ihopeyoudidn\'tmakeafoolofyourselfwithKendricks。
They\'reengaged!\"
Sheapparentlyexpectedmetobeprostratedbythisstroke。\"Yes，\"
Isaidverycoolly；\"Iwasjustcomingtotellyou。\"
\"Howdidyouknowit？Whotoldyou？DidKendricks？Idon\'tbelieveit!\"shecriedinanexcitementnotunmixedwithresentment。
\"Noonetoldme，\"Isaid。\"Isimplydivinedit。\"
Shedidn\'tmindthatforamoment。\"Well，I\'mgladhehadthegracetodoso，andIhopehediditbeforeyouaskedhimanyleadingquestions。\"Withoutwaitingtohearwhetherthiswassoornot，shewenton，withanemphasisonthenextwordthatalmostblotteditoutofthelanguage，\"SHEcamebacktomealmosttheinstantyouweregone，andtoldmeeverything。Shesaidshewantedtotellmelastnight，butshehadn\'tthecourage，andthismorning，whenshesawthatIwasbeginningtohintuptoMr。Kendricksalittle，shehadn\'tthecourageatall。Isentherstraightofftotelegraphforherfather。Sheisbehavingsplendidly。Andnow，whatarewegoingtodo？\"
\"Whattherestoftheworldis——nothing。Itseemstomethatweareoutofthestory，mydear。Atanyrate，Ishan\'tattempttocompetewithMissGageinsplendidbehaviour，andIhopeyouwon\'t。Itwouldbesoeasyforus。IwonderwhatPapaGageisgoingtobelike。\"
Ifeltmythrillofapprehensionimpartitselftoher。\"Yes!\"shegasped；\"whatifheshouldn\'tlikeit？\"
\"Well，then，that\'shisaffair。\"ButIdidnotfeelsolightlyaboutitasIspoke，andfromtimetotimeduringthedayIwasovertakenwithacolddismayatthethoughtoftheunknownquantityintheproblem。
Whenwereturnedtothehotelafteratouroftheblock，wesawKendricksinourcorneroftheverandahwithMissGage。Theywerebothlaughingconvulsively，andtheyrandowntomeetusinyetwilderthroesofmerriment。
\"We\'vejustbeencomparingnotes，\"hesaid，\"andattheverymomentwhenIwastellingyou，Mr。March，JuliawastellingMrs。March。\"
\"Wonderfulcaseoftelepathy，\"Imocked。
\"GiveittothePsychicalResearch。\"
Theybothseemedalittledaunted，andMissGagesaid，\"IknowMr。
Marchdoesn\'tlikethewaywe\'vedone。\"
\"Likeit!\"criedMrs。March，contrivingtoshakemealittlewiththehandshestillhadinmyarm。\"Ofcoursehelikesit。Hewasjustsayingyouhadbehavedsplendidly。HesaidHEwouldn\'tattempttocompetewithyou。Butyoumustn\'tregardhimintheleast。\"
IadmiredtheskillwithwhichIsabelsavedherconscienceinthisstatementtoomuchtodisputeit；andIsupposethatwhatevershehadsaid，MissGagewouldhavebeenreassured。Icannotparticularlypraisethewisdomofherbehaviourduringthatday，or，forthematterofthat，thebehaviourofKendrickseither。Theidealthingwouldhavebeenforhimtokeepawaynowtillherfathercame，butitseemedtomethathewasaboutunderourfeetallthewhile，andthatshe，sofarfrommakinghimremainathisownhotel，encouragedhimtopassthetimeatours。Withoutconsultingme，Mrs。Marchaskedhimtostaytodinnerafterhehadstayedalltheforenoon，andhemadethisapretextforspendingtheafternooninourcorneroftheverandah。ShemademegiveituptohimandMissGage，sothattheycouldbealonetogether，thoughImustsaytheydidnotseemtomindusagreatdealwhenwewerepresent；hewasalwaysleaningonthebackofherchair，orsittingnextherwithhishanddanglingoveritinamannerthatmademesick。IwonderedifIwaseversuchanassasthat，andIquitelosttherespectforKendricks\'sgoodsenseandgoodtastewhichhadbeenthegroundofmylikingforhim。
Ifeltmyselfwithdrawnfromtheaffairfartherandfartherinsympathy，sinceithadnowpassedbeyondmycontrol；andIresentedthestrainoftheresponsibilitywhichIhadthrownoff，Ifound，onlyforamoment，andmustcontinuetosufferuntilthegirl\'sfatherappearedandfinallyrelievedme。TheworstwasthatIhadtobearitalone。ItwasimpossibletodetachMrs。March\'sinterestfromMissGage，asagirlwhohadbeenmadeloveto，longenoughtoenablehertorealiseherasadaughterwithfilialtiesandduties。
Shedidtryinaperfunctorywaytodoit，butIcouldseethatshenevergavehermindtoit。Icouldnotevenmakehersharemysenseofmyownculpability，athingshewasonlytoowillingtodoinmostmatters。SheadmittedthatitwasabsurdformetohaveletmyfancyplayaboutthegirlwhenIfirstsawheruntilwefeltthatI
mustdosomethingforher；butIcouldnotgethertoownthatwehadbothactedpreposterouslyinlettingMrs。DeeringleaveMissGageinourcharge。Inthefirstplace，shedeniedthatshehadbeenleftinourcharge。Shehadsimplybeenleftinthehotelwherewewerestaying，andweshouldhavebeenperfectlyfreetodonothingforher。ButwhenKendricksturnedupsounexpectedly，itwasquitenaturalweshouldaskhimtobepolitetoher。Mrs。Marchsawnothingstrangeinallthat。WhatwasIworryingabout？Whatshehadbeenafraidofwasthathehadnotbeeninlovewiththegirlwhenshewassoclearlyinlovewithhim。Butnow!
\"Andsupposeherfatherdoesn\'tlikeit!\"
\"NotlikeMr。Kendricks!\"Shestaredatme，andIcouldseehowinfatuatedshewas。
Iwasmyselfalwayscharmedwiththeyoungfellow。Hewasnotonlygoodandgenerousandhandsome，andclever——Ineverthoughthimafirst-classtalent——buthewasbeautifullywellbred，andhewasverywellborn，asthosethingsgowithus。Thatis，hecameofpeoplewhohadnotdonemuchofanythingforageneration，andhadacquiredmeritwiththemselvesforit。Theywerenotveryrich，buttheyhadarighttothinkthathemighthavedonenothing，ordonesomethingbetterthanliterature；andIwishIcouldsetforthexactlytheterms，tacitandexplicit，inwhichhismotherandsisterscondonedhisderelictiontomeatareceptionwherehepresentedmetothem。Invirtueofhiswishtodosomething，hehadbecomeahumanbeing，andtheycouldnotquitefollowhim；buttheywereverypoliteintoleratingme，andtryingtomakemefeelthatI
wasnotatallodd，thoughhewassoqueerinbeingproudofwritingformypaper，astheycalledit。HewassounlikethemallthatI
likedhimmorethaneveraftermeetingthem。Still，Icouldimagineafondfather，asIimaginedMissGage\'sfathertobe，objectingtohim，onsomegroundsatleast，tillheknewhim，andMrs。Marchapparentlycouldnotimagineeventhis。
IdonotknowwhyIshouldhaveprefiguredMissGage\'sfatherastallandlank。Shewasnotherselfsoverytall，thoughshewasrathertallthanshort，andthoughshewasratheroftheDianaorgirlishtypeofgoddess，shewasbynomeanslank。YetitwasinthisshapethatIhadalwaysthoughtofhim，perhapsthroughanobscureassociationwithhisfellow-villager，Deering。Ihadfanciedhimsaturnineofspirit，slovenlyofdress，andloungingofhabit，uponnoauthoritythatIcouldallege，andIwaswhollyunpreparedfortheneat，smallfigureofaman，verypreciseofmannerandscrupulousofaspect，whosaid，\"Howdoyoudo，sir？I
hopeIseeyouwell，sir，\"whenhisdaughterpresentedustoeachother，themorningaftertheeventfuldaydescribed，andheshookmyhandwithhisverysmall，dryhand。
Icouldnotmakeoutfromtheirmannerwitheachotherwhethertheyhadbeenspeakingofthegreatmatterinhandornot。IamratheratalossaboutpeopleofthatPhilistinemakeastowhattheirprocedurewillbeincircumstanceswhereIknowjustwhatpeopleofmyownsortofsophisticationwoulddo。Thesewouldcomestraightatthetrouble，butIfancythatwiththeothersorttheconventionisapreliminaryreserve。IfoundMr。Gagedisposedtoprolong，withmeatleast，adiscussionoftheweather，andtheaspectsofSaratoga，theeventsofhisjourneyfromDeWittPoint，andthehardshipofhavingtorideallthewaytoMooer\'sJunctioninastage-coach。Ifeltmoreandmore，whilewebandiedthesefutilities，asifMr。Gagehadanoverduenoteofmine，andwaswaitingforme，sinceIcouldnotpayit，tomakesomepropositiontowarditsrenewal；andhedidreallytiremeoutatlast，sothatI
said，\"Well，Mr。Gage，IsupposeMissGagehastoldyousomethingofthetremendoussituationthathasdevelopeditselfhere？\"
IthoughtIhadbettergivetheaffairsuchsmilingcharacterasajocosetreatmentmightimpart，andthedrylittlemantwinkledupresponsivelysofarasmannerwasconcerned。\"Well，yes，yes。
Therehasbeensometalkofitbetweenus，\"andagainheleftthewordtome。
\"Mrs。Marchurgedyourdaughtertosendforyouatoncebecausethatwastherightandfitthingtodo，andbecausewefeltthattheaffairhadnowquitetranscendedourpowers，suchastheywere，andnobodycouldreallycopewithitbutyourself。Ihopeyouwerenotundulyalarmedbythesummons？\"
\"Notatall。Shesaidinthedespatchthatshewasnotsick。IhadbeenanticipatingashortvisittoSaratogaforsomedays，andmybusinesswasinashapesothatIcouldleave。\"
\"Oh!\"Isaidvaguely，\"Iamveryglad。Mrs。Marchfelt，asIdid，thatcircumstanceshadgivenusacertainobligationinregardtoMissGage，andwewereanxioustodischargeitfaithfullyandtotheutmost。Weshouldhavewrittentoyou，summonedyou，before，ifwecouldhavesupposed——orbeensure；butyouknowthesethingsgoonsoobscurely，andweactedattheveryfirstpossiblemoment。I
wishyoutounderstandthat。Wetalkeditoveragreatdeal，andI
hopeyouwillbelievethatwestudiedthroughout——thatweweremostsolicitousfrombeginningtoendforMissGage\'shappiness，andthatifwecouldhaveforeseenorimagined——ifwecouldhavetakenanysteps——Itrustyouwillbelieve——\"Iwasfuriousatmyselfforbeingsoconfoundedlyapologetic，forIwasthinkingallthetimeofthebotherandafflictionwehadhadwiththegirl；andtheresatthatlittlewoodenimageacceptingmyself-inculpations，andapparentlydemandingmoreofme；butIcouldnothelpgoingoninthesamestrain:\"Wefeltespeciallyboundinthematter，fromthefactthatMr。Kendrickswasapersonalfriendofours，whomweareveryfondof，andwebothareveryanxiousthatyoushouldnotsupposethatwepromoted，orthatwewerenotmostvigilant——thatwewereforamomentforgetfulofyourrightsinsuchanaffair——\"
Istopped，andMr。Gagepassedhishandacrosshislittlemeagre，smilingmouth。
\"Thenheisnotaconnectionofyours，Mr。March？\"
\"Blessme，no!\"Isaidingreatrelief；\"wearenotsoswellasthat。\"AndItriedtogivehimsomenotionofKendricks\'slocalquality，repeatingalistofagglutinatedNewYorksurnamestowhichhiswasmoreorlessaffiliated。Theyalwaysamuseme，thosenames，whichmorethananyintheworldgivethenotionofsocialstraining；butIdoubtiftheyaffectedtheimaginationofMr。Gage，eitherinthiswayorinthewayImeanlymeantthemtoaffecthim。
\"Andwhatdidyousayhisbusinesswas？\"heasked，withthatimplicationofapreviousstatementonyourpartwhichsomepeoplethinkitsoclevertomakewhentheyquestionyou。
Ialwayshateit，andIavengedmyselfbyansweringsimply，\"Blessmysoul，hehasnobusiness!\"andlettinghimtakeupthewordnowornot，asheliked。
\"Thenheisamanofindependentmeans？\"
Icouldnotresistanswering，\"Independentmeans？Kendrickshasnomeanswhatever。\"Buthavingdealtthisblow，Icouldadd，\"I
believehismotherhassomemoney。Theyarepeoplewholivecomfortably\"
\"Thenhehasnoprofession？\"askedMr。Gage，withalittlemorestringencyinhissmile。
\"Idon\'tknowwhetheryouwillcallitaprofession。Heisawriter。\"
\"Ah!\"Mr。Gagesoftlybreathed。\"Doeshewriteforyour——paper？\"
InotedthatastotheliterarytechnicalitiesheseemednottobemuchmoreignorantthanKendricks\'sownfamily，andIsaid，tolerantly，\"Yes；hewritesforourmagazine。\"
\"Magazine——yes；Ibegyourpardon，\"heinterrupted。
\"Andforanyotherswherehecanplacehismaterial。\"
ThisapparentlydidnotconveyanyveryluminousideatoMr。Gage\'smind，andheaskedafteramoment，\"Whatkindofthingsdoeshewrite？\"
\"Oh，stories，sketches，poems，reviews，essays——almostanything，infact。\"
Thelightlefthisface，andIperceivedthatIhadcarriedmyrevengetoofar，atleastforKendricks\'sadvantage，andI
determinedtotakeanewdepartureatthefirstchance。Thechancedidnotcomeimmediately。
\"Andcanamansupportawifebythatkindofwriting？\"askedMr。
Gage。
Ilaugheduneasily。\"Somepeopledo。Itdependsuponhowmuchofithecansell。Itdependsuponhowhandsomelyawifewishestobesupported。Theresultisn\'tusuallybeyondthedreamsofavarice，\"
Isaid，withadesperatelevity。
\"Excuseme，\"returnedthelittleman。\"Doyouliveinthatway？Byyourwritings？\"
\"No，\"Isaidwithsomestate，whichItriedtosubdue；\"IamtheeditorofEveryOtherWeek，andpartowner。Mr。Kendricksismerelyacontributor。\"
\"Ah，\"hebreathedagain。\"Andifheweresuccessfulinsellinghiswritings，howmuchwouldheprobablymakeinayear？\"
\"Inayear？\"Irepeated，togaintime。\"Mr。Kendricksiscomparativelyabeginner。Sayfifteenhundred——twothousand——
twenty-fivehundred。\"
\"AndthatwouldnotgoveryfarinNewYork。\"
\"No；thatwouldnotgofarinNewYork。\"Iwasbeginningtofindacertainpleasureindealingsofranklywiththishardlittleman。I
likedtoseehimsuffer，andIcouldseethathedidsuffer；hesufferedasafathermustwholearnsthatfromapecuniarypointofviewhisdaughterisimprudentlyinlove。Whyshouldwealwaysregardsuchasuffererasacomicfigure？Heis，ifwethinkofitrightly，amostserious，eventragicalfigure，andatalleventsamostrespectablefigure。Helovesher，andhisheartistornbetweenthewishtoindulgeherandthewishtodowhatwillbefinallybestforher。Whyshouldoursympathies，insuchacase，beallforthefoolishyounglovers？Theyoughtingreatmeasuretobeforthefather，too。Somethinglikeasenseofthissmoteme，andI
wasashamedinmypleasure。
\"ThenIshouldsay，Mr。March，thatthisseemsamostundesirableengagementformydaughter。Whatshouldyousay？Iaskyoutomakethecaseyourown。\"
\"Excuseme，\"Ianswered；\"Iwouldmuchrathernotmakethecasemyown，Mr。Gage，andImustdeclinetohaveyouconsultme。IthinkthatinthismatterIhavedoneallthatIwascalledupontodo。I
havetoldyouwhatIknowofMr。Kendricks\'scircumstancesandconnections。Astohischaracter，IcantrulysaythatheisoneofthebestmenIeverknew。Ibelieveinhisabsolutepurityofheart，andheisthemostunselfish，themostgenerous——\"
Mr。Gagewavedthefactsasidewithhishand。\"Idon\'tundervaluethosethings。IfIcouldbemaster，nooneshouldhavemygirlwithoutthem。Buttheydonotconstitutealivelihood。FromwhatyoutellmeofMr。Kendricks\'sprospects，IamnotpreparedtosaythatIthinktheoutlookisbrilliant。Ifhehascounteduponmysupplyingadeficiency——\"
\"Oh，excuseme，Mr。Gage!Yourinsinuation——\"
\"ExcuseME!\"heretorted。\"Iammakingnoinsinuation。Imerelywishtosaythat，whilemymeansaresuchastoenablemetoliveincomfortatDeWittPoint，IamwellawarethatmuchmorewouldbeneededinNewYorktoenablemydaughtertoliveinthesamecomfort。I\'mnotwillingsheshouldliveinless。IthinkitismydutytosaythatIamnotatallarichman，andiftherehasbeenanysuppositionthatIamso，itisamistakethatcannotbecorrectedtoosoon。\"
ThistimeIcouldnotresenthisinsinuation，forsincehehadbeguntospeakIhadbecomeguiltilyawareofhavingfeltasortofeaseinregardtoKendricks\'smodestyofcompetencefromabelief，givenme，Isuspect，bythetalkofDeering，thatMr。Gagehadplentyofmoney，andcouldcometotherescueinanyamountneeded。Icouldonlysay，\"Mr。Gage，allthisissofarbeyondmycontrolthatI
oughtnottoallowyoutosayittome。ItissomethingthatyoumustsaytoMr。Kendricks。\"
AsIspokeIsawtheyoungfellowcomeroundthecornerofthestreet，andmountthehotelsteps。Hedidnotseeme，forhedidnotlooktowardthelittlecorneroflawnwhereMr。GageandIhadputourchairsforthesakeofthemorningshade，andfortheseclusionthatthespotaffordedus。Itwasattheangleofthehousefarthestfromourpeculiarcornerofthepiazza，whitherIhadthebeliefthatthegirlhadwithdrawnwhensheleftmetoherfather。IwassurethatKendrickswouldseekherthere，farenoughbeyondeyeshotorearshotofus，andIhadnodoubtthatshewasexpectinghim。
\"YouareMr。Kendricks\'sfriend——\"
\"IhavetriedmuchmoretobeMissGage\'sfriend；andMrs。March——\"
Itcameintomymindthatshewasmostselfishlyandshamelesslykeepingoutoftheway，andIcouldnotgoonandcelebratehermagnanimousimpartiality，hereagerandsleeplessvigilance。
\"Ihavenodoubtofthat，\"saidthelittleman，\"andIamverymuchobligedtoyouforallthetroubleyouhavetakenonmydaughter\'saccount。Butyouarehisfriend，andIcanspeaktoyoumuchmorefullyandfranklythanIcouldtohim。\"
Ididnotknowjustwhattosaytothis，andhewenton:\"Inpointoffact，Idon\'tthinkthatIshallspeaktohimatall。\"
\"Thatisquiteyouraffair，mydearsir，\"Isaiddryly。\"Itisn\'ttobesupposedthatyouwouldseekaninterviewwithhim。\"
\"Andifheseeksaninterviewwithme，Ishalldeclineit。\"Helookedatmedefiantlyandyetinterrogatively。Icouldseethathewasveryangry，andyetuncertain。
\"Imustsay，then，Mr。Gage，thatIdon\'tthinkyouwouldberight。\"
\"How，notright？\"
\"Ishouldsaythatinequityhehadafullandperfectrighttomeetyou，andtotalkthismatteroverwithyou。Hehasdoneyounowrongwhateverinadmiringyourdaughter，andwishingtomarryher。
It\'sforyouandhertodecidewhetheryouwilllethim。Butasfarashiswishgoes，andhisexpressionofittoher，heisquitewithinhisrights。Youmustseethatyourself。\"
\"Iconsider，\"heanswered，\"thathehasdonemeawronginthatverything。Amanwithoutmeans，oranystatedoccupation，hehadnobusinesstospeaktomydaughterwithoutspeakingtome。Hetookadvantageofthecircumstances。Whatdoeshethink？DoeshesupposeIamMADEofmoney？DoeshesupposeIwanttosupportason-in-law？IcantellyouthatifIwerepossessedofunlimitedmeans，Ishouldnotdoit。\"IbegantosuspectthatDeeringwasnearerright，afterall，inhisrepresentationsoftheman\'sfinancialability；Ifanciedsomethingoftheanxiety，thetremorofavarice，inhisresentmentofpoorKendricks\'spossible，orratherimpossible，designsuponhispocket。\"Ifhehadanyprofession，oranykindofbusiness，Ishouldfeeldifferently，andIshouldbewillingtoassisthimtoareasonabledegree；orifhehadabusinesstraining，Imighttakehiminwithme；butasitis，I
shouldhaveahelplessburdenonmyhands，andIcantellyouIamnotgoinginforthatsortofthing。Ishallmakeshortworkofit。
IshalldeclinetomeetMr。Hendricks，orKendricks，andIshallaskyoutosayasmuchtohimfromme。\"
\"AndIshalldeclinetobethebearerofanysuchmessagefromyou，Mr。Gage，\"Ianswered，andIsaw，notwithoutpleasure，thebewildermentthatbegantomixwithhisarrogance。
\"Verywell，then，sir，\"heanswered，afteramoment；\"Ishallsimplytakemydaughterawaywithme，andthatwillendit。\"
Theprimlittle，grimlittlemanlookedatmewithhishardeyes，andsethislipssoclosethatthebeardontheloweronestuckoutatmewithasortofadditionalmenaceIfeltthathewastoocapableofdoingwhathesaid，andIlostmyselfinasenseofhissordidness，asensewhichwasalmostwithoutatraceofcompassion。
ItseemedasifIwerealongtimeunderthespellofthis，andthesightofhisrepugnantface；butitcouldreallyhavebeenmerelyamoment，whenIheardastirofdraperyonthegrassnearus，andthesoft，richvoiceofMissGagesaying，\"Papa!\"
Webothstartedtoourfeet。Idonotknowwhethershehadheardwhathesaidornot。Wehadspokenlow，andintheutmostvehemenceofhisspeechhedidnotlifthisvoice。Inanycase，shedidnotheedwhathesaid。
\"Papa，\"sherepeated，\"IwantyoutocomeupandseeMrs。Marchonthepiazza。And——Mr。Kendricksisthere。\"
Ihadawilddesiretolaughatwhatfollowed，andyetitwasnotwithoutitspathos。\"I——I——hm!hm!I——cannotseeMr。Kendricksjustatpresent。I——thefactis，Idonotwanttoseehim。Itisbetter——not。Ithinkyouhadbettergetreadytogohomewithmeatonce，daughter。I——hm!——cannotapproveofanyengagementtoMr。
Kendricks，andI——prefernottomeethim。\"Hestopped。
MissGagesaidnothing，andIcannotsaythatshelookedanything。
ShesimplyCLOUDEDUP，ifImaysoexpresstheeffectthatcameandremaineduponhercountenance，whichwasnowthecountenanceshehadshownmethefirsteveningIsawher，whenIsawtheDeeringscoweringinitsshadow。Ihadnoneedtolookattheadamantinelittlemanbeforehertoknowthathewassofteningintowax，and，infact，Ifeltasortofindecencyinbeholdinghisinteneration，forIknewthatitcamefromhisheart，andhaditsconsecrationthroughhisloveforher。
ThatiswhyIturnedaway，anddonotknowtothismomentjusthowthechangeshedesiredinhimwasbroughtabout。IwillnotsaythatIdidnotlookbackfromadiscreetdistance，andcontinuelookinguntilIsawthemstartawaytogetherandmoveinthedirectionofthatcornerofthepiazzawhereKendrickswaswaitingwithMrs。March。
Itappeared，fromheraccount，thatMr。Gage，withnouncommonshowofill-will，butwithmerelyanaturaldryness，sufferedKendrickstobepresentedtohim，andentereduponsomepreliminarybanalitieswithhim，suchashehadusedinopeningaconversationwithme。
BeforethesecametoacloseMrs。Marchhadthoughtitwelltoleavethethreetogether。
Afterward，whenweknewtheonlyresultthattheaffaircouldhave，shesaid，\"Thegirlhasapowerfulwill。Iwonderwhatthemotherwaslike。\"
\"Yes；evidentlyshedidn\'tgetthatwillfromherfather。Ihavestillasenseofexhaustionfromitinourowncase。WhatdoyouthinkitportendsforpoorKendricks!\"
\"PoorKendricks!\"sherepeatedthoughtfully。\"Yes；inthatsenseI
supposeyoumightcallhimpoor。Itisn\'tanequalthingasfarasnature，ascharacter，goes。Butisn\'titalwaysdreadfultoseetwopeoplewhohavemadeuptheirmindstogetmarried？\"
\"It\'sverycommon，\"Isuggested。
\"Thatdoesn\'tchangethefact，orlessentherisk。Sheisverybeautiful，andnowheisinlovewithherbeautifulgirlhood。Butafterawhilethegirlhoodwillgo。\"
\"Andthegirlwillremain，\"Isaid。