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，whereshekepthermoneyeachnotecrushedintoaroundwad，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，whenshesuddenlythoughtandforhertothinkwastosay，\"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-stablementheyseemtoconsortmuchinNewYork，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?\"