TheFrenchwordimpliedalongeveningofgeneraltalkamongtheguests，crownedwithalittlechickenatsupper，endingatcock-crow。Herewastea，withmilkorwithlemon-bathsofitandclaret-cupforthehardierspiritsthroughouttheevening。Itwasverynice，verypleasant，butitwasnotthelittlechicken——notthesalon。Infact，heaffirmed，thesalondescendedfromabove，outofthegreatworld，andincludedtheaestheticworldinit。Butourgreatworld——therichpeople，werestupid，withnowishtobeotherwise；theywerenotevencuriousaboutauthorsandartists。Beatonfanciedhimselfspeakingimpartially，andsoheallowedhimselftospeakbitterly；hesaidthatinnoothercityintheworld，exceptVienna，perhaps，weresuchpeoplesolittleapartofsociety。
\"Itisn\'taltogethertherichpeople\'sfault，\"saidMargaret；andshespokeimpartially，too。\"Idon\'tbelievethattheliterarymenandtheartistswouldlikeasalonthatdescendedtothem。MadameGeoffrin，youknow，wasveryplebeian；herhusbandwasabusinessmanofsomesort。\"
\"HewouldhavebeenahowlingswellinNewYork，\"saidBeaton，stillimpartially。
Wetmorecameuptotheircorner，withascrollofbreadandbutterinonehandandacupofteaintheother。Largeandfat，andclean-shaven，helookedlikeamonkineveningdress。
\"Weweretalkingaboutsalons，\"saidMargaret。
\"Whydon\'tyouopenasalonyourself?\"askedWetmore，breathingthicklyfromtheanxietyofgettingthroughthecrowdwithoutspillinghistea。
\"LikepoorLadyBarberinaLemon?\"saidthegirl，withalaugh。\"Whatagoodstory!Thatideaofawomanwhocouldn\'tbeinterestedinanyoftheartsbecauseshewassociallyandtraditionallythematerialofthem!
Wecan，neverreachthatheightofnonchalanceinthiscountry。\"
\"Notifwetriedseriously?\"suggestedthepainter。\"I\'veanideathatiftheAmericansevergavetheirmindstothatsortofthing，theycouldtakethepalm——orthecake，asBeatonherewouldsay——justastheydoineverythingelse。Whenwedohaveanaristocracy，itwillbeanaristocracythatwillgoaheadofanythingtheworldhaseverseen。
Whydon\'tsomebodymakeabeginning，andgoinopenlyforanancestry，andalowermiddleclass，andanhereditarylegislature，andalltherest?We\'vegotliveries，andcrests，andpalaces，andcastefeeling。
We\'reallrightasfaraswe\'vegone，andwe\'vegotthemoneytogoanylength。\"
\"Likeyournatural-gasman，Mr。Beaton，\"saidthegirl，withasmilingglanceroundathim。
\"Ah!\"saidWetmore，stirringhistea，\"hasBeatongotanatural-gasman?\"
\"Mynatural-gasman，\"saidBeaton，ignoringWetmore\'squestion，\"doesn\'tknowhowtoliveinhispalaceyet，andIdoubtifhehasanycastefeeling。Ifancyhisfamilybelievethemselvesvictimsofit。Theysay——oneoftheyoungladiesdoes——thatsheneversawsuchanunsociableplaceasNewYork；nobodycalls。\"
\"That\'sgood!\"saidWetmore。\"Isupposethey\'reallreadyforcompany，too:goodcook，furniture，servants，carriages?\"
\"Galore，\"saidBeaton。
\"Well，that\'stoobad。There\'sachanceforyou，MissVance。Doesn\'tyourphilanthropyembracethesociallydestituteaswellasthefinancially?Justthinkofafamilylikethat，withoutafriend，inagreatcity!Ishouldthinkcommoncharityhadadutythere——nottomentiontheuncommon。\"
HedistinguishedthatkindasMargaret\'sbyaglanceofironicaldeference。Shehadareputeforgoodworkswhichwasoutofproportiontotheworks，asitalwaysis，butshewasreallyactiveinthatway，underthevagueobligation，whichwenowallfeel，tobehelpful。ShewasofthechurchwhichseemstohavefoundareversiontotheimposingritualofthepastthewaybacktotheearlyidealsofChristianbrotherhood。
\"Oh，theyseemtohaveMr。Beaton，\"Margaretanswered，andBeatonfeltobscurelyflatteredbyherreferencetohispatronageoftheDryfooses。
HeexplainedtoWetmore:\"Theyhavemebecausetheypartlyownme。
DryfoosisFulkerson\'sfinancialbackerin\'EveryOtherWeek\'。\"
\"Isthatso?Well，that\'sinteresting，too。Aren\'tyouratherastonished，MissVance，toseewhatapettythingBeatonismakingofthatmagazineofhis?\"
\"Oh，\"saidMargaret，\"it\'ssoverynice，everyway；itmakesyoufeelasifyoudidhaveacountry，afterall。It\'saschic——thatdetestablelittleword!——asthosenewFrenchbooks。\"
\"Beatonmodelleditonthem。Butyoumustn\'tsupposehedoeseverythingabout\'EveryOtherWeek\'；he\'dlikeyouto。Beaton，youhaven\'tcomeuptothatcoverofyourfirstnumber，since。Thatwasthedesignofoneofmypupils，MissVance——alittlegirlthatBeatondiscovereddowninNewHampshirelastsummer。\"
\"Ohyes。Andhaveyougreathopesofher，Mr。Wetmore?\"
\"SheseemstohavemoreloveofitandknackforitthananyoneofhersexI\'veseenyet。Itreallylookslikeacaseofartforart\'ssake，attimes。Butyoucan\'ttell。They\'reliabletogetmarriedatanymoment，youknow。Lookhere，Beaton，whenyournatural-gasmangetstothepicture-buyingstageinhisdevelopment，justrememberyouroldfriends，willyou?Youknow，MissVance，thosenewfellowshavetheirregularstages。Theyneverknowwhattodowiththeirmoney，buttheyfindoutthatpeoplebuypictures，atonepoint。Theyshutyourthingsupintheirhouseswherenobodycomes，andafterawhiletheyovereatthemselves——theydon\'tknowwhat，elsetodo——anddieofapoplexy，andleaveyourpicturestoagallery，andthentheyseethelight。It\'sslow，butit\'sprettysure。Well，IseeBeatonisn\'tgoingtomoveon，asheoughttodo；andsoImust。Healwayswasanunconventionalcreature。\"
Wetmorewentaway，butBeatonremained，andheoutstayedseveralotherpeoplewhocameuptospeaktoMissVance。Shewasinterestedineverybody，andshelikedthetalkofthesecleverliterary，artistic，clerical，eventheatricalpeople，andshelikedthesortofcourtwithwhichtheyrecognizedherfashionaswellashercleverness；itwasverypleasanttobetreatedintellectuallyasifshewereoneofthemselves，andsociallyasifshewasnothabituallythesame，butasortofguestinBohemia，adistinguishedstranger。IfitwasArcadiaratherthanBohemia，stillshefeltherqualityofdistinguishedstranger。Theflatteryofittouchedherfancy，andnothervanity；shehadverylittlevanity。Beaton\'sdevotionmadethesamesortofappeal；itwasnotsomuchthatshelikedhimasshelikedbeingtheobjectofhisadmiration。
Shewasagirlofgenuinesympathies，intellectualratherthansentimental。Infact，shewasanintellectualperson，whomqualitiesoftheheartsavedfrombeingdisagreeable，astheysavedherontheotherhandfrombeingworldlyorcruelinherfashionableness。Shehadreadagreatmanybooks，andhadideasaboutthem，quitecourageousandoriginalideas；sheknewaboutpictures——shehadbeeninWetmore\'sclass；shewasfondofmusic；shewaswillingtounderstandevenpolitics；inBostonshemighthavebeenagnostic，butinNewYorkshewassincerelyreligious；
shewasveryaccomplished；andperhapsitwashergoodnessthatpreventedherfeelingwhatwasnotbestinBeaton。
\"Doyouthink，\"shesaid，aftertheretreatofoneofthecomersandgoersleftheralonewithhimagain，\"thatthoseyoungladieswouldlikemetocallonthem?\"
\"Thoseyoungladies?\"Beatonechoed。\"MissLeightonand——\"
\"No；Ihavebeentherewithmyaunt\'scardsalready。\"
\"Ohyes，\"saidBeaton，asifhehadknownofit；headmiredthepluckandpridewithwhichAlmahadrefrainedfromevermentioningthefacttohim，andhadkepthermotherfrommentioningit，whichmusthavebeendifficult。
\"ImeantheMissDryfooses。Itseemsreallybarbarous，ifnobodygoesnearthem。Wedoallkindsofthings，andhelpallkindsofpeopleinsomeways，butweletstrangersremainstrangersunlesstheyknowhowtomaketheirwayamongus。\"
\"TheDryfoosescertainlywouldn\'tknowhowtomaketheirwayamongyou，\"
saidBeaton，withasortofdreamyabsenceinhistone。
MissVancewenton，speakingouttheprocessofreasoninginhermind，ratherthananyconclusionsshehadreached。\"Wedefendourselvesbytryingtobelievethattheymusthavefriendsoftheirown，orthattheywouldthinkuspatronizing，andwouldn\'tlikebeingmadetheobjectsofsocialcharity；buttheyneedn\'treallysupposeanythingofthekind。\"
\"Idon\'timaginetheywould，\"saidBeaton。\"Ithinkthey\'dbeonlytoohappytohaveyoucome。Butyouwouldn\'tknowwhattodowitheachother，indeed，MissVance。\"
\"Perhapsweshalllikeeachother，\"saidthegirl，bravely，\"andthenweshallknow。WhatChurcharetheyof?\"
\"Idon\'tbelievethey\'reofany，\"saidBeaton。\"ThemotherwasbroughtupaDunkard。\"
\"ADunkard?\"
Beatontoldwhatheknewoftheprimitivesect，withitsearlyChristianpolity，itsliteralinterpretationofChrist\'sethics，anditsquaintceremonialoffoot-washing；hemadesomethingpicturesqueofthat。
\"ThefatherisaMammon-worshipper，pureandsimple。Isupposetheyoungladiesgotochurch，butIdon\'tknowwhere。Theyhaven\'ttriedtoconvertme。\"
\"I\'lltellthemnottodespair——afterI\'veconvertedthem，\"saidMissVance。\"Willyouletmeuseyouasa\'pointd\'appui\'，Mr。Beaton?\"
\"Anywayyoulike。Ifyou\'rereallygoingtoseethem，perhapsI\'dbettermakeaconfession。Ileftyourbanjowiththem，afterIgotitputinorder。\"
\"Howverynice!Thenwehaveacommoninterestalready。\"
\"Doyoumeanthebanjo，or——\"
\"Thebanjo，decidedly。Whichofthemplays?\"
\"Neither。Buttheeldestheardthatthebanjowas\'alltherage，\'astheyoungestsays。Perhapsyoucanpersuadethemthatgoodworksaretherage，too。\"
BeatonhadnoverylivelybeliefthatMargaretwouldgotoseetheDryfooses；hedidsofewofthethingsheproposedthathewentuponthetheorythatothersmustbeasfaithless。Still，hehadacruelamusementinfiguringthepossibleencounterbetweenMargaretVance，withherintellectualelegance，hereagersympathiesandgenerousideals，andthosegirlswiththeirrudepast，theirfalseanddistortedperspective，theirsordidandhungryselfishness，andtheirfaithintheomnipotenceoftheirfather\'swealthwoundedbytheirexperienceofitspresentsocialimpotence。Atthebottomofhishearthesympathizedwiththemratherthanwithher；hewasmorelikethem。
Peoplehadceasedcoming，andsomeofthemweregoing。MissVancesaidshemustgo，too，andshewasabouttorise，whenthehostcameupwithMarch；Beatonturnedaway。
\"MissVance，IwanttointroduceMr。March，theeditorof\'EveryOtherWeek。\'Yououghtn\'ttoberestrictedtotheartdepartment。Weliteraryfellowsthinkthatarmoftheservicegetstoomuchoftheglorynowadays。\"HisbanterwasforBeaton，buthewasalreadybeyondear-
shot，andthehostwenton:
Mr。MarchcantalkwithyouaboutyourfavoriteBoston。He\'sjustturnedhisbackonit。\"
\"Oh，Ihopenot!\"saidMissVance。\"Ican\'timagineanybodyvoluntarilyleavingBoston。\"
\"Idon\'tsayhe\'ssobadasthat，\"saidthehost，committingMarchtoher。\"HecametoNewYorkbecausehecouldn\'thelpit——liketherestofus。Ineverknowwhetherthat\'sacomplimenttoNewYorkornot。\"
TheytalkedBostonalittlewhile，withoutfindingthattheyhadcommonacquaintancethere；MissVancemusthaveconcludedthatsocietywasmuchlargerinBostonthanshehadsupposedfromhervisitsthere，orelsethatMarchdidnotknowmanypeopleinit。Butshewasnotagirltocaremuchfortheinferencesthatmightbedrawnfromsuchconclusions；
sheratherpridedherselfupondespisingthem；andshegaveherselftothepleasureofbeingtalkedtoasifshewereofMarch\'sownage。
Intheglowofhersympatheticbeautyandelegancehetalkedhisbest，andtriedtoamuseherwithhisjokes，whichhehadtheartoftingeingwithalittleseriousnessononeside。Hemadeherlaugh；andheflatteredherbymakingherthink；inherturnshecharmedhimsomuchbyenjoyingwhathesaidthathebegantobragofhiswife，asagoodhusbandalwaysdoeswhenanotherwomancharmshim；andsheasked，OhwasMrs。Marchthere；andwouldheintroduceher?
SheaskedMrs。Marchforheraddress，andwhethershehadaday；andshesaidshewouldcometoseeher，ifshewouldlether。Mrs。MarchcouldnotbesoenthusiasticaboutherasMarchwas，butastheywalkedhometogethertheytalkedthegirlover，andagreedaboutherbeautyandheramiability。Mrs。Marchsaidsheseemedveryunspoiledforapersonwhomusthavebeensomuchspoiled。Theytriedtoanalyzehercharm，andtheysucceededinformulatingitasacombinationofintellectualfashionablenessandworldlyinnocence。\"Ithink，\"saidMrs。March，\"thatcitygirls，broughtupasshemusthavebeen，areoftenthemostinnocentofall。Theyneverimaginethewickednessoftheworld，andiftheymarryhappilytheygothroughlifeasinnocentaschildren。
Everythingcombinestokeepthemso；theveryhollownessofsocietyshieldsthem。Theyaretheloveliestofthehumanrace。Butperhapstheresthavetopaytoomuchforthem。\"
\"ForsuchanexquisitecreatureasMissVance，\"saidMarch，\"wecouldn\'tpaytoomuch。\"
Awildlaughingcrysuddenlybrokeupontheairatthestreet-crossinginfrontofthem。Agirl\'svoicecalledout:\"Run，run，Jen!Thecopperisafteryou。\"Awoman\'sfigurerushedstumblingacrossthewayandintotheshadowofthehouses，pursuedbyaburlypoliceman。
\"Ah，butifthat\'spartoftheprice?\"
Theywentalongfallenfromthegayspiritoftheirtalkintoasilencewhichhebrokewithasigh。\"Canthatpoorwretchandtheradiantgirlweleftyonderreallybelongtothesamesystemofthings?Howimpossibleeachmakestheotherseem!\"
VI。
Mrs。Hornbelievedintheworldandinsocietyanditsunwrittenconstitutiondevoutly，andshetoleratedherniece\'sbenevolentactivitiesasshetoleratedheraestheticsympathiesbecausethesethings，howeveroddly，weretolerated——evenencouraged——bysociety；
andtheygaveMargaretacharm。Theymadeheroriginalityinteresting。
Mrs。Horndidnotintendthattheyshouldevergosofarastomakehertroublesome；anditwaswithasenseofthisabeyantauthorityofheraunt\'sthatthegirlaskedherapprovalofherproposedcallupontheDryfooses。Sheexplainedaswellasshecouldthesocialdestitutionoftheseopulentpeople，andshehadofcoursetonameBeatonasthesourceofherknowledgeconcerningthem。
\"DidMr。Beatonsuggestyourcallingonthem?\"
\"No；heratherdiscouragedit。\"
\"Andwhydoyouthinkyououghttogointhisparticularinstance?NewYorkisfullofpeoplewhodon\'tknowanybody。\"
Margaretlaughed。\"Isupposeit\'slikeanyothercharity:youreachthecasesyouknowof。Theothersyousayyoucan\'thelp，andyoutrytoignorethem。\"
\"It\'sveryromantic，\"saidMrs。Horn。\"Ihopeyou\'vecountedthecost；
allthepossibleconsequences。\"
MargaretknewthatheraunthadinmindtheircommonexperiencewiththeLeightons，whom，togivetheircommonconsciencepeace，shehadcalleduponwithheraunt\'scardsandexcuses，andaninvitationforherThursdays，somewhattoolatetomakethevisitseemawelcometoNewYork。Shewassocoldlyreceived，notsomuchforherselfasinherqualityofenvoy，thatherauntexperiencedallthecomfortwhichvicariouspenancebrings。Shedidnotperhapsconsidersufficientlyherniece\'sguiltlessnessintheexpiation。MargaretwasnotwithheratSt。Barnabyinthefatalfortnightshepassedthere，andneversawtheLeightonstillshewenttocalluponthem。Shenevercomplained:thestrainofasceticism，whichmysteriouslyexistsinusall，andmakesusputpeas，boiledorunboiled，inourshoes，gaveherpatiencewiththesnubwhichtheLeightonspresentedherforheraunt。Butnowshesaid，withthisinmind:\"Nothingseemssimplerthantogetridofpeopleifyoudon\'twantthem。Youmerelyhavetoletthemalone。\"
\"Itisn\'tsopleasant，lettingthemalone，\"saidMrs。Horn。
\"Orhavingthemletyoualone，\"saidMargaret；forneitherMrs。LeightonnorAlmahadevercometoenjoythebelatedhospitalityofMrs。Horn\'sThursdays。
\"Yes，orhavingthemletyoualone，\"Mrs。Horncourageouslyconsented。
\"AndallthatIaskyou，Margaret，istobesurethatyoureallywanttoknowthesepeople。\"
\"Idon\'t，\"saidthegirl，seriously，\"intheusualway。\"
\"Thenthequestioniswhetheryoudointheunusualway。Theywillbuildagreatdealuponyou，\"saidMrs。Horn，realizinghowmuchtheLeightonsmusthavebuiltuponher，andhowmuchoutofproportiontoherdeserttheymustnowdislikeher；forsheseemedtohavehadthemonhermindfromthetimetheycame，andhadalwaysmeanttorecognizeanyreasonableclaimtheyhaduponher。
\"Itseemsveryodd，verysad，\"Margaretreturned，\"thatyounevercouldactunselfishlyinsocietyaffairs。IfIwishedtogoandseethosegirlsjusttodothemapleasure，andperhapsbecauseifthey\'restrangeandlonely，Imightdothemgood，even——itwouldbeimpossible。\"
\"Quite，\"saidheraunt。\"Suchathingwouldbequixotic。Societydoesn\'trestuponanysuchbasis。Itcan\'t；itwouldgotopieces，ifpeopleactedfromunselfishmotives。\"
\"Thenit\'sapaintedsavage!\"saidthegirl。\"Allitsfavorsarereallybargains。It\'sgiftsareforgiftsbackagain。\"
\"Yes，thatistrue，\"saidMrs。Horn，withnomoresenseofwronginthefactthanthepoliticaleconomisthasinthefactthatwagesarethemeasureofnecessityandnotofmerit。\"Yougetwhatyoupayfor。It\'samatterofbusiness。\"Shesatisfiedherselfwiththisformula，whichshedidnotinvent，asfullyasifitwereareason；butshedidnotdislikeherniece\'srevoltagainstit。ThatwaspartofMargaret\'soriginality，whichpleasedherauntinproportiontoherownconventionality；shewasreallyatimidperson，andshelikedtheshowofcouragewhichMargaret\'smagnanimityoftenreflecteduponher。Shehadthroughherarepute，withpeoplewhodidnotknowherwell，forintellectualandmoralqualities；shewassupposedtobeliteraryandcharitable；shealmosthadopinionsandideals，butreallyfellshortoftheirpossession。Shethoughtthatshesetboundstothegirl\'soriginalitybecausesherecognizedthem。Margaretunderstoodthisbetterthanheraunt，andknewthatshehadconsultedheraboutgoingtoseetheDryfoosesoutofdeference，andwithnoexpectationofluminousinstruction。Shewasusedtobeingalawtoherself，butsheknewwhatshemightandmightnotdo，sothatshewasratheraby-law。Shewasthekindofgirlthatmighthavefanciesforartistsandpoets，butmightendbymarryingaprosperousbroker，andleaveningavastlumpofmoneyedandfashionablelifewithherculture，generosity，andgood-will。Theintellectualinterestswerefirstwithher，butshemightbeequaltosacrificingthem；shehadthebestheart，butshemightknowhowtohardenit；ifshewaseccentric，hersocialorbitwasdefined；cometsthemselvestraversespaceonfixedlines。Shewaslikeeveryoneelse，acongeriesofcontradictionsandinconsistencies，butobedienttothegeneralexpectationofwhatagirlofherpositionmustandmustnotfinallybe。Provisionally，shewasverymuchwhatshelikedtobe。
VII
MargaretVancetriedtogiveherselfsomereasonforgoingtocallupontheDryfooses，butshecouldfindnonebetterthanthewishtodoakindthing。Thisseemedqueererandlessandlesssufficientassheexaminedit，andsheevenadmittedalittlecuriosityasaharmlesselementinhermotive，withoutbeingverywellsatisfiedwithit。Shetriedtoaddaslightsenseofsocialduty，andthenshedecidedtohavenomotiveatall，butsimplytopayhervisitasshewouldtoanyothereligiblestrangersshesawfittocallupon。Sheperceivedthatshemustbeverycarefulnottoletthemseethatanyotherimpulsehadgovernedher；shedetermined，ifpossible，toletthempatronizeher；tobeverymodestandsincereanddiffident，and，aboveall，nottoplayapart。Thiswaseasy，comparedwiththechoiceofamannerthatshouldconveytothemthefactthatshewasnotplayingapart。WhenthehesitatingIrishserving-
manhadacknowledgedthattheladieswereathome，andhadtakenhercardtothem，shesatwaitingfortheminthedrawing-room。Herstudyofitsappointments，withtheirimpersonalcostliness，gavehernosuggestionhowtoproceed；thetwosisterswereuponherbeforeshehadreallydecided，andsherosetomeetthemwiththeconvictionthatshewasgoingtoplayapartforwantofsomechosenmeansofnotdoingso。Shefoundherself，beforesheknewit，makingherbanjoapropertyinthelittlecomedy，andprofessingsomuchpleasureinthefactthatMissDryfooswastakingitup；shehadherselfbeensomuchinterestedbyit。Anything，shesaid，wasarelieffromthepiano；andthen，betweentheguitarandthebanjo，onemustreallychoosethebanjo，unlessonewantedtodevoteone\'swholenaturallifetotheviolin。Ofcourse，therewasthemandolin；butMargaretaskediftheydidnotfeelthatthebitofshellyoustruckitwithinterposedadistancebetweenyouandtherealsouloftheinstrument；andthenitdidhavesuchafaint，mosquitoylittletone!
Shemademuchofthequestion，whichtheylefthertodebatealonewhiletheygazedsolemnlyathertillshecharacterizedthetoneofthemandolin，whenMelabrokeintoalarge，coarselaugh。
\"Well，that\'sjustwhatitdoessoundlike，\"sheexplaineddefiantlytohersister。\"Ialwaysfeellikeitwasgoingtosettlesomewhere，andI
wanttohitmyselfaslapbeforeitbeginstobite。Idon\'tseewhateverbroughtsuchathingintofashion。\"
Margarethadnotexpectedtobesopowerfullyseconded，andsheasked，aftergatheringherselftogether，\"Andyouarebothlearningthebanjo?\"
\"My，no!\"saidMela，\"I\'vegonethroughenoughwiththepiano。Christineislearnun\'it。\"
\"I\'msogladyouaremakingmybanjousefulattheoutset，MissDryfoos。\"
Bothgirlsstaredather，butfoundithardtocopewiththefactthatthiswastheladyfriendwhosebanjoBeatonhadlentthem。\"Mr。Beatonmentionedthathehadleftithere。Ihopeyou\'llkeepitaslongasyoufindituseful。\"
AtthisamiablespeechevenChristinecouldnothelpthankingher。
\"Ofcourse，\"shesaid，\"Iexpecttogetanother，rightoff。Mr。Beatonisgoingtochooseitforme。\"
\"Youareveryfortunate。Ifyouhaven\'tateacheryetIshouldsoliketorecommendmine。\"
Melabrokeoutinherlaughagain。\"Oh，IguessChristine\'sprettywellsuitedwiththeoneshe\'sgot，\"shesaid，withinsinuation。Hersistergaveherafrowningglance，andMargaretdidnottempthertoexplain。
\"Thenthat\'smuchbetter，\"shesaid。\"Ihaveakindofsuperstitioninsuchmatters；Idon\'tliketomakeasecondchoice。InashopIliketotakethefirstthingofthekindI\'mlookingfor，andevenifIchoosefurtherIcomebacktotheoriginal。\"
\"Howfunny!\"saidMela。\"Well，now，I\'mjusttheotherway。Ialwaystakethelastthing，afterI\'vepickedoveralltherest。Myluckalwaysseemstobeatthebottomoftheheap。Now，Christine，she\'smorelikeyou。Ibelieveshecouldwalkrightupblindfoldedandputherhandonthethingshewantseverytime。\"
\"I\'mlikefather，\"saidChristine，softenedalittlebythecelebrationofherpeculiarity。\"Hesaysthereasonsomanypeopledon\'tgetwhattheywantisthattheydon\'twantitbadenough。Now，whenIwantathing，itseemstomethatIwantitallthrough。\"
\"Well，that\'sjustlikefather，too，\"saidMela。\"That\'sthewayhedonewhenhegotthateighty-acrepiecenexttoMoffittthathekeptwhenhesoldthefarm，andthat\'sgotsomeofthebestgas-wellsonitnowthatthereisanywhere。\"Sheaddressedtheexplanationtohersister，totheexclusionofMargaret，who，nevertheless，listenedwithasmilingfaceandaresolutelypoliteairofbeingapartytotheconversation。Melarewardedheramiabilitybysayingtoher，finally，\"You\'veneverbeeninthenatural-gascountry，haveyou?\"
\"Ohno!AndIshouldsomuchliketoseeit!\"saidMargaret，withafervorthatwaspartly，voluntary。
\"Wouldyou?Well，we\'rekindofsickofit，butIsupposeitwouldstrikeastranger。\"
\"Inevergottiredoflookingatthebigwellswhentheylitthemup，\"
saidChristine。\"Itseemsasiftheworldwasonfire。\"
\"Yes，andwhenyouseethesurface-gasburnun\'downinthewoods，likeitusedtobyourspring-house-sostill，andneverspreadun\'any，justlikeabedofsomekindofwildflowerswhenyouketchsightofitapieceoff。\"
Theybegantotellofthewondersoftheirstrangelandinanantiphonyofreminiscencesanddescriptions；theyunconsciouslyimputedamerittothemselvesfromthenumberandviolenceofthewellsontheirfather\'sproperty；theybraggedofthehighcivilizationofMoffitt，whichtheycomparedtoitsadvantagewiththatofNewYork。TheybecameexcitedbyMargaret\'sinterestinnaturalgas，andforgottobesuspiciousandenvious。
Shesaid，assherose，\"Oh，howmuchIshouldliketoseeitall!\"Thenshemadealittlepause，andadded:
\"I\'msosorrymyaunt\'sThursdaysareover；sheneverhasthemafterLent，butwe\'retohavesomepeopleTuesdayeveningatalittleconcertwhichamusicalfriendisgoingtogivewithsomeotherartists。Therewon\'tbeanybanjos，I\'mafraid，butthere\'llbesomeverygoodsinging，andmyauntwouldbesogladifyoucouldcomewithyourmother。\"
Sheputdownheraunt\'scardonthetablenearher，whileMelagurgled，asifitwerethebestjoke:\"Oh，my!Mothernevergoesanywhere；youcouldn\'tgetheroutforloveormoney。\"ButshewasherselfoverwhelmedwithasimplejoyatMargaret\'spoliteness，andshoweditinasensuousway，likeachild，asifshehadbeentickled。ShecameclosertoMargaretandseemedabouttofawnphysicallyuponher。
\"Ain\'tshejustaslovelyasshecanlive?\"shedemandedofhersisterwhenMargaretwasgone。
\"Idon\'tknow，\"saidChristine。\"IguessshewantedtoknowwhoMr。Beatonhadbeenlendingherbanjoto。\"
\"Pshaw!Doyousupposeshe\'sinlovewithhim?\"askedMela，andthenshebrokeintoherhoarselaughatthelookhersistergaveher。\"Well，don\'teatme，Christine!Iwonderwhosheis，anyway?I\'mgoun\'togititoutofMr。Beatonthenexttimehecalls。Iguessshe\'ssomebody。
Mrs。Mandelcantell。Iwishthatoldfriendofherswouldhurryupandgitwell——orsomething。ButIguessweappearedaboutaswellasshedid。Icouldseeshewasafraidofyou，Christine。Ireckonit\'sgittun\'aroundalittleaboutfather；andwhenitdoesIdon\'tbelieveweshallwantforcallers。Say，areyougoun\'?Tothatconcertoftheirs?\"
\"Idon\'tknow。NottillIknowwhotheyarefirst。\"
\"Well，we\'vegottohumpourselvesifwe\'regoun\'tofindoutbeforeTuesday。\"
AsshewenthomeMargaretfeltwroughtinherthatmostincredibleofthemiracles，which，nevertheless，anyonemaymakehisexperience。Shefeltkindlytothesegirlsbecauseshehadtriedtomakethemhappy，andshehopedthatintheinterestshehadshowntherehadbeennoneofthepoisonofflattery。Shewasawarethatthiswasarisksheraninsuchanattempttodogood。IfshehadescapedthiseffectshewaswillingtoleavetherestwithProvidence。
VIII。
ThenotionthatagirlofMargaretVance\'straditionswouldnaturallyformofgirlslikeChristineandMelaDryfooswouldbethattheywereabashedinthepresenceofthenewconditionsoftheirlives，andthattheymustreceivetheadvanceshehadmadethemwithacertaingratefulhumility。Howevertheyreceivedit，shehadmadeituponprinciple，fromaromanticconceptionofduty；butthiswasthewaysheimaginedtheywouldreceiveit，becauseshethoughtthatshewouldhavedonesoifshehadbeenasignorantandunbredasthey。Hererrorwasinarguingtheirattitudefromherowntemperament，andendowingthem，forthepurposesofargument，withherperspective。Theyhadnotthemeans，intellectualormoral，offeelingasshefancied。Iftheyhadremainedathomeonthefarmwheretheywereborn，Christinewouldhavegrownupthatembodimentofimpassionedsuspicionwhichwefindoftenestinthenarrowestspheres，andMelawouldalwayshavebeenagood-naturedsimpleton；buttheywouldneverhavedoubtedtheirequalitywiththewisestandthefinest。Asitwas，theyhadnotlearnedenoughatschooltodoubtit，andthesplendoroftheirfather\'ssuccessinmakingmoneyhadblindedthemforevertoanypossibledifferenceagainstthem。TheyhadnoquestionofthemselvesinthesocialabeyancetowhichtheyhadbeenleftinNewYork。Theyhadbeensurprised，mystified；itwasnotwhattheyhadexpected；theremustbesomemistake。
Theywerethevictimsofanaccident，whichwouldberepairedassoonasthefactoftheirfather\'swealthhadgotaround。Theyhadbeensteadfastintheirfaith，throughalltheirdisappointment，thattheywerenotonlybetterthanmostpeoplebyvirtueofhismoney，butasgoodasany；andtheytookMargaret\'svisit，sofarasthey，investigateditsmotive，forasignthatatlastitwasbeginningtogetaround；ofcourse，athingcouldnotgetaroundinNewYorksoquickasitcouldinasmallplace。TheywereconfirmedintheirbeliefbythesensationofMrs。Mandelwhenshereturnedtodutythatafternoon，andtheyconsultedheraboutgoingtoMrs。Horn\'smusicale。IfshehadfeltanydoubtatthenamefortherewereHornsandHorns——theaddressonthecardputthematterbeyondquestion；andshetriedtomakeherchargesunderstandwhatapreciouschancehadbefallenthem。Shedidnotsucceed；theyhadnotthepremises，theexperience，forasufficientimpression；andsheundidherworkinpartbytheefforttoexplainthatMrs。Horn\'sstandingwasindependentofmoney；thatthoughshewaspositivelyrich，shewascomparativelypoor。ChristineinferredthatMissVancehadcalledbecauseshewishedtobethefirsttogetinwiththemsinceithadbeguntogetaround。ThisviewcommendeditselftoMela，too，butwithoutwarpingherfromheropinionthatMissVancewasallthesametoosweetforanything。Shehadnotsovividaconsciousnessofherfather\'smoneyasChristinehad；butshereposedperhapsallthemoreconfidentlyuponitspower。Shewasfarfromthinkingmeanlyofanyonewhothoughthighlyofherforit；thatseemedsonaturalaresultastobeamiable，evenadmirable；shewaswillingthatanysuchpersonshouldgetallthegoodtherewasinsuchanattitudetowardher。
Theydiscussedthematterthatnightatdinnerbeforetheirfatherandmother，whomostlysatsilentattheirmeals；thefatherfrowningabsentlyoverhisplate，withhisheadclosetoit，andmakingplayintohismouthwiththebackofhisknifehehadgotsofartowardtheuseofhisforkastodespisethosewhostillatefromtheedgeoftheirknives，andthemotherpartlymissinghersattimesinthenervoustremorthatshookherfacefromsidetoside。
AfterawhilethesubjectofMela\'shoarsebabbleandofChristine\'shigh-pitched，thin，sharpforaysofassertionanddenialinthefieldwhichhersister\'svoiceseemedtocover，madeitswayintotheoldman\'sconsciousness，andheperceivedthattheyweretalkingwithMrs。Mandelaboutit，andthathiswifewasfromtimetotimeofferinganirrelevantandmistakencomment。HeagreedwithChristine，andsilentlytookherviewoftheaffairsometimebeforehemadeanysignofhavinglistened。
Therehadbeenatimeinhislifewhenotherthingsbesideshismoneyseemedadmirabletohim。Hehadoncerespectedhimselfforthehard-
headed，practicalcommonsensewhichfirstgavehimstandingamonghiscountryneighbors；whichmadehimsupervisor，schooltrustee，justiceofthepeace，countycommissioner，secretaryoftheMoffittCountyAgriculturalSociety。Inthosedayshehadservedthepublicwithdisinterestedzealandproudability；heusedtowritetotheLakeShoreFarmeronagriculturaltopics；hetookpartinopposing，throughtheMoffittpapers，thelegislativewasteofthepeople\'smoney；onthequestionofsellingalocalcanaltotherailroadcompany，whichkilledthatfineoldStatework，andletthedryditchgrowuptograss，hemighthavegonetotheLegislature，buthecontentedhimselfwithdefeatingtheMoffittmemberwhohadvotedforthejob。Ifheopposedsomemeasuresforthegeneralgood，likehighschoolsandschoollibraries，itwasbecausehelackedperspective，inhisintenseindividualism，andsuspectedallexpenseofbeingspendthrift。Hebelievedingooddistrictschools，andhehadafondness，crudebutgenuine，forsomekindsofreading——history，andforensicsofanelementarysort。
Withhisgoodheadforfigureshedoubteddoctorsanddespisedpreachers；
hethoughtlawyerswereallrascals，butherespectedthemfortheirability；hewasnothimselflitigious，butheenjoyedtheintellectualencountersofadifficultlawsuit，andheoftenattendedasittingofthefalltermofcourt，whenhewenttotown，forthepleasureofhearingthespeeches。Hewasagoodcitizen，andagoodhusband。Asagoodfather，hewasratherseverewithhischildren，andusedtowhipthem，especiallythegentleConrad，whosomehowcrossedhimmost，tillthetwinsdied。
Afterthatheneverstruckanyofthem；andfromthesightofablowdealtahorseheturnedasifsick。Itwasalongtimebeforeheliftedhimselfupfromhissorrow，andthenthewillofthemanseemedtohavebeenbreachedthroughhisaffections。Heletthegirlsdoastheypleased——thetwinshadbeengirls；heletthemgoawaytoschool，andgotthemapiano。Itwastheywhomadehimsellthefarm。IfConradhadonlyhadtheirspirithecouldhavemadehimkeepit，hefelt；andheresentedthewantofsupporthemighthavefoundinalessyieldingspiritthanhisson\'s。
Hismoraldecaybeganwithhisperceptionoftheopportunityofmakingmoneyquicklyandabundantly，whichoffereditselftohimafterhesoldhisfarm。Heawoketoitslowly，fromadesolationinwhichhetastedthelastbitterofhomesickness，theuttermiseryofidlenessandlistlessness。Whenhebrokedownandcriedforthehard-working，wholesomelifehehadlost，hewasneartheendofthisseasonofdespair，buthewasalsoneartheendofwhatwasbestinhimself。
Hedevolveduponameaneridealthanthatofconservativegoodcitizenship，whichhadbeenhischiefmoralexperience:themoneyhehadalreadymadewithouteffortandwithoutmeritbreditsunholyself-loveinhim；hebegantohonormoney，especiallymoneythathadbeenwonsuddenlyandinlargesums；formoneythathadbeenearnedpainfully，slowly，andinlittleamounts，hehadonlypityandcontempt。Thepoisonofthatambitiontogosomewhereandbesomebodywhichthelocalspeculatorshadinstilledintohimbegantoworkinthevanitywhichhadsucceededhissomewhatscornfulself-respect；herejectedEuropeastheproperfieldforhisexpansion；herejectedWashington；hepreferredNewYork，whitherthemenwhohavemademoneyanddonotyetknowthatmoneyhasmadethem，allinstinctivelyturn。Hecamewherehecouldwatchhismoneybreedmoremoney，andbringgreaterincreaseofitskindinanhourofluckthanthetoilofhundredsofmencouldearninayear。Hecalleditspeculation，stocks，theStreet；andhispride，hisfaithinhimself，mountedwithhisluck。Heexpected，whenhehadsatedhisgreed，tobegintospend，andhehadformulatedanintentiontobuildagreathouse，toaddanothertothepalacesofthecountry-bredmillionaireswhohavecometoadornthegreatcity。Inthemeantimehemadelittleaccountofthethingsthatoccupiedhischildren，excepttofretattheungratefulindifferenceofhissontotheintereststhatcouldalonemakeamanofhim。Hedidnotknowwhetherhisdaughterswereinsocietyornot；withpeoplecomingandgoinginthehousehewouldhavesupposedtheymustbeso，nomatterwhothepeoplewere；insomevaguewayhefeltthathehadhiredsocietyinMrs。Mandel，atsomuchayear。Henevermetasuperiorhimselfexceptnowandthenamanoftwentyorthirtymillionstohisoneortwo，andthenhefelthissoulcreepwithinhim，withoutasenseofsocialinferiority；itwasaquestionoffinancialinferiority；andthoughDryfoos\'ssoulboweditselfandcrawled，itwaswithagambler\'sadmirationofwonderfulluck。Othermensaidthesemany-millionedmillionairesweresmart，andgottheirmoneybysharppracticestowhichlessermencouldnotattain；butDryfoosbelievedthathecouldcompassthesameends，bythesamemeans，withthesamechances；
herespectedtheirmoney，notthem。
WhenhenowheardMrs。Mandelandhisdaughterstalkingofthatperson，whoevershewas，thatMrs。Mandelseemedtothinkhadhonoredhisgirlsbycomingtoseethem，hiscuriositywasprickedasmuchashispridewasgalled。
\"Well，anyway，\"saidMela，\"Idon\'tcarewhetherChristine\'sgoon\'ornot；Iam。Andyougottogowithme，Mrs。Mandel。\"
\"Well，there\'salittledifficulty，\"saidMrs。Mandel，withherunfailingdignityandpoliteness。\"Ihaven\'tbeenasked，youknow。\"
\"Thenwhatarewegoun\'todo?\"demandedMela，almostcrossly。Shewasphysicallytooamiable，shefelttoowellcorporeally，evertobequitecross。\"Shemight\'a\'knowed——wellknown——wecouldn\'t\'a\'comealone，inNewYork。Idon\'tseewhy，wecouldn\'t。Idon\'tcallitmuchofaninvitation。\"
\"Isupposeshethoughtyoucouldcomewithyourmother，\"Mrs。Mandelsuggested。
\"Shedidn\'tsayanythingaboutmother:Didshe，Christine?Or，yes，shedid，too。AndItoldhershecouldn\'tgitmotherout。Don\'tyouremember?\"
\"Ididn\'tpaymuchattention，\"saidChristine。\"Iwasn\'tcertainwewantedtogo。\"
\"Ireckonyouwasn\'tgoun\'toletherseethatwecaredmuch，\"saidMela，halfreproachful，halfproudofthisattitudeofChristine。\"Well，Idon\'tseebutwhatwegottostayathome。\"Shelaughedatthislameconclusionofthematter。
\"PerhapsMr。Conrad——youcouldveryproperlytakehimwithoutanexpressinvitation——\"Mrs。Mandelbegan。
Conradlookedupinalarmandprotest。\"I——Idon\'tthinkIcouldgothatevening——\"
\"What\'sthereason?\"hisfatherbrokein，harshly。\"You\'renotsuchasheepthatyou\'reafraidtogointocompanywithyoursisters?Orareyoutoogoodtogowiththem?\"
\"Ifit\'stobeanythinglikethatnightwhenthemhussiescomeoutanddancedthatway，\"saidMrs。Dryfoos，\"Idon\'tblameCoonrodfornotwantun\'togo。Ineversawthebeatofit。\"
Melasentayellinglaughacrossthetabletohermother。\"Well，IwishMissVancecould\'a\'heardthat!Why，mother，didyouthinkitliketheballet?\"
\"Well，Ididn\'tknow，Mely，child，\"saidtheoldwoman。\"Ididn\'tknowwhatitwaslike。Ihain\'tneverbeentoone，andyoucan\'tbetookeerfulwhereyougo，inaplacelikeNewYork。\"
\"What\'sthereasonyoucan\'tgo?\"Dryfoosignoredthepassagebetweenhiswifeanddaughterinmakingthisdemandofhisson，withasourface。
\"Ihaveanengagementthatnight——it\'soneofourmeetings。\"
\"Ireckonyoucanletyourmeetinggoforonenight，\"saidDryfoos。
\"Itcan\'tbesoimportantasallthat，thatyoumustdisappointyoursisters。\"
\"Idon\'tliketodisappointthosepoorcreatures。Theydependsomuchuponthemeetings——\"
\"Ireckontheycanstanditforonenight，\"saidtheoldman。Headded，\"Thepooryehavewithyoualways。\"
\"That\'sso，Coonrod，\"saidhismother。\"It\'stheSaviour\'sownwords。\"
\"Yes，mother。Butthey\'renotmeantjustasfatherusedthem。\"
\"Howdoyouknowhowtheyweremeant?OrhowIusedthem?\"criedthefather。\"Nowyoujustmakeyourplanstogowiththegirls，Tuesdaynight。Theycan\'tgoalone，andMrs。Mandelcan\'tgowiththem。\"
\"Pshaw!\"saidMela。\"Wedon\'twanttotakeConradawayfromhismeetun\'，dowe，Chris?\"
\"Idon\'tknow，\"saidChristine，inherhigh，finevoice。\"Theycouldgetalongwithouthimforonenight，asfathersays。\"
\"Well，I\'mnota-goun\'totakehim，\"saidMela。\"Now，Mrs。Mandel，justthinkoutsomeotherway。Say!What\'sthereasonwecouldn\'tgetsomebodyelsetotakeusjustaswell?Ain\'tthatrulable?\"
\"Itwouldbeallowable——\"
\"Allowable，Imean，\"Melacorrectedherself。
\"Butitmightlookalittlesignificant，unlessitwassomeoldfamilyfriend。\"
\"Well，let\'sgetMr。Fulkersontotakeus。He\'stheoldestfamilyfriendwegot。\"
\"Iwon\'tgowithMr。Fulkerson，\"saidChristine，serenely。
\"Why，I\'msure，Christine，\"hermotherpleaded，\"Mr。Fulkersonisaverygoodyoungman，andveryniceappearun\'。\"
Melashouted，\"He\'stentimesaspleasantasthatoldMr。BeatonofChristine\'s!\"
Christinemadenoefforttobreaktheconstraintthatfelluponthetableatthissally，butherfathersaid:\"Christineisright，Mela。Itwouldn\'tdoforyoutogowithanyotheryoungman。Conradwillgowithyou。\"
\"I\'mnotcertainIwanttogo，yet，\"saidChristine。
\"Well，settlethatamongyourselves。Butifyouwanttogo，yourbrotherwillgowithyou。\"
\"Ofcourse，Coonrod\'llgo，ifhissisterswantshimto，\"theoldwomanpleaded。\"Ireckonitain\'tagoun\'tobeanythingverybad；andifitis，Coonrod，whyyoucanjustgitrightupandcomeout。\"
\"Itwillbeallright，mother。AndIwillgo，ofcourse。\"