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