It\'ssickening。\"
\"Why，certainly，Alma。It\'sonlybecauseIknowyoudidcareforhimonce——\"
\"AndnowIdon\'t。Andhedidn\'tcareformeonce，andnowhedoes。Andsowe\'requits。\"
\"IfIcouldbelieve——\"
\"Youhadbetterbraceupandtry，mamma；forasMr。Fulkersonsays，it\'sassureasguns。Fromthecrownofhisheadtothesoleofhisfoot，he\'sloathsometome；andhekeepsgettingloathsomer。Ugh!Goodnight!\"
XVI。
\"Well，Iguessshe\'sgivenhimthegrandbounceatlast，\"saidFulkersontoMarchinoneoftheirmomentsofconfidenceattheoffice。\"That\'sMad\'sinferencefromappearances——anddisappearances；andsomelittlehintsfromAlmaLeighton。\"
\"Well，Idon\'tknowthatIhaveanycriticismstooffer，\"saidMarch。
\"ItmaybebadforBeaton，butit\'saverygoodthingforMissLeighton。
Uponthewhole，IbelieveIcongratulateher。\"
\"Well，Idon\'tknow。Ialwayskindofhopeditwouldturnouttheotherway。YouknowIalwayshadasneakingfondnessforthefellow。\"
\"MissLeightonseemsnottohavehad。\"
\"It\'sapityshehadn\'t。Itellyou，March，itain\'tsoeasyforagirltogetmarried，hereintheEast，thatshecanaffordtodespiseanychance。\"
\"Isn\'tthatratheralowviewofit?\"
\"It\'sacommon-senseview。Beatonhasthemakingofafirst-ratefellowinhim。He\'stherawmaterialofagreatartistandagoodcitizen。Allhewantsissomebodytotakehiminhandandkeephimfrommakin\'anassofhimselfandkickin\'overthetracesgenerally，andridin\'twoorthreehorsesbarebackatonce。\"
\"Itseemsasimpleproblem，thoughthemetaphorisrathercomplicated，\"
saidMarch。\"ButtalktoMissLeightonaboutit。Ihaven\'tgivenBeatonthegrandbounce。\"
Hebegantoturnoverthemanuscriptsonhistable，andFulkersonwentaway。ButMarchfoundhimselfthinkingofthematterfromtimetotimeduringtheday，andhespoketohiswifeaboutitwhenhewenthome。ShesurprisedhimbytakingFulkerson\'sviewofit。
\"Yes，it\'sapityshecouldn\'thavemadeuphermindtohavehim。It\'sbetterforawomantobemarried。\"
\"IthoughtPaulonlywentsofarastosayitwaswell。ButwhatwouldbecomeofMissLeighton\'sartisticcareerifshemarried?\"
\"Oh，herartisticcareer!\"saidMrs。March，withmatronlycontemptofit。
\"Butlookhere!\"criedherhusband。\"Supposeshedoesn\'tlikehim?\"
\"Howcanagirlofthatagetellwhethershelikesanyoneornot?\"
\"Itseemstomeyouwereabletotellat。thatage，Isabel。Butlet\'sexaminethisthing。Thisthing!IbelieveFulkersonischaracterizingmywholeparlance，aswellasyourmorals。Whyshouldn\'twerejoiceasmuchatanon-marriageasamarriage?Whenweconsidertheenormousriskspeopletakeinlinkingtheirlivestogether，afternothalfsomuchthoughtasgoestoanordinaryhorsetrade，Ithinkweoughttobegladwhenevertheydon\'tdoit。Ibelievethatthispopulardemandforthematrimonyofotherscomesfromournovel-reading。Wegettothinkingthatthereisnootherhappinessorgood-fortuneinlifeexceptmarriage；
andit\'sofferedinfictionasthehighestpremiumforvirtue，courage，beauty，learning，andsavinghumanlife。Weallknowitisn\'t。Weknowthatinrealitymarriageisdogcheap，andanybodycanhaveitfortheasking——ifhekeepsaskingenoughpeople。By-and-bysomefellowwillwakeupandseethatafirst-classstorycanbewrittenfromtheanti-
marriagepointofview；andhe\'llbeginwithanengagedcouple，anddevotehisnoveltodisengagingthemandrenderingthemseparatelyhappyeverafterinthedenouement。Itwillmakehiseverlastingfortune。\"
\"Whydon\'tyouwriteit，Basil?\"sheasked。\"It\'sadelightfulidea。
Youcoulddoitsplendidly。\"
Hebecamefascinatedwiththenotion。Hedevelopeditindetail；butattheendhesighedandsaid:\"Withthis\'EveryOtherWeek\'workonmyhands，ofcourseIcan\'tattemptanovel。ButperhapsIsha\'n\'thaveitlong。\"
Shewasinstantlyanxioustoknowwhathemeant，andthenovelandMissLeighton\'saffairwerebothdroppedoutoftheirthoughts。\"Whatdoyoumean?HasMr。Fulkersonsaidanythingyet?\"
\"Notaword。HeknowsnomoreaboutitthanIdo。Dryfooshasn\'tspoken，andwe\'rebothafraidtoaskhim。Ofcourse，Icouldn\'taskhim。\"
\"No。\"
\"Butit\'sprettyuncomfortable，tobekepthangingbythegillsso，asFulkersonsays。\"
\"Yes，wedon\'tknowwhattodo。\"
MarchandFulkersonsaidthesametoeachother；andFulkersonsaidthatiftheoldmanpulledout，hedidnotknowwhatwouldhappen。Hehadnocapitaltocarrythethingon，andtheveryfactthattheoldmanhadpulledoutwoulddamageitsothatitwouldbehardtogetanybodyelsetoputit。InthemeantimeFulkersonwasrunningConrad\'soffice-work，whenheoughttobelookingaftertheoutsideinterestsofthething；andhecouldnotseethedaywhenhecouldgetmarried。
\"Idon\'tknowwhichit\'sworsefor，March:youorme。Idon\'tknow，underthecircumstances，whetherit\'sworsetohaveafamilyortowanttohaveone。Ofcourse——ofcourse!Wecan\'thurrytheoldmanup。Itwouldn\'tbedecent，anditwouldbedangerous。Wegottowait。\"
HealmostdecidedtodrawuponDryfoosforsomemoney；hedidnotneedany，but，hesaidmaybethedemandwouldactasahintuponhim。Oneday，aboutaweekafterAlma\'sfinalrejectionofBeaton，DryfooscameintoMarch\'soffice。Fulkersonwasout，buttheoldmanseemednottohavetriedtoseehim。
Heputhishatonthefloorbyhischair，afterhesatdown，andlookedatMarchawhilewithhisoldeyes，whichhadthevitreousglitterofold。
eyesstimulatedtosleeplessness。Thenhesaid，abruptly，\"Mr。March，howwouldyouliketotakethisthingoffmyhands?\"
\"Idon\'tunderstand，exactly，\"Marchbegan；butofcourseheunderstoodthatDryfooswasofferingtolethimhave\'EveryOtherWeek\'onsometermsorother，andhisheartleapedwithhope。
Theoldmanknewheunderstood，andsohedidnotexplain。Hesaid:
\"IamgoingtoEurope，totakemyfamilythere。Thedoctorthinksitmightdomywifesomegood；andIain\'tverywellmyself，andmygirlsbothwanttogo；andsowe\'regoin\'。Ifyouwanttotakethisthingoffmyhands，IreckonIcanletyouhaveitin\'mostanyshapeyousay。
You\'reallsettledhereinNewYork，andIdon\'tsupposeyouwanttobreakup，much，atyourtimeoflife，andI\'vebeenthinkin\'whetheryouwouldn\'tliketotakethething。\"
Theword，whichDryfooshadnowusedthreetimes，madeMarchatlastthinkofFulkerson；hehadbeenfilledtoofullofhimselftothinkofanyoneelsetillhehadmasteredthenotionofsuchwonderfulgoodfortuneasseemedaboutfallingtohim。ButnowhedidthinkofFulkerson，andwithsomeshameandconfusion；forherememberedhow，whenDryfooshadlastapproachedhimthereonthebusinessofhisconnectionwith\'EveryOtherWeek，\'hehadbeenveryhaughtywithhim，andtoldhimthathedidnotknowhiminthisconnection。Heblushedtofindhowfarhisthoughtshadnowrunwithoutencounteringthisobstacleofetiquette。
\"HaveyouspokentoMr。Fulkerson?\"heasked。
\"No，Ihain\'t。Itain\'taquestionofmanagement。It\'saquestionofbuyingandselling。Iofferthethingtoyoufirst。IreckonFulkersoncouldn\'tgetonverywellwithoutyou。\"
Marchsawtherealdifferenceinthetwocases，andhewasgladtoseeit，becausehecouldactmoredecisivelyifnothamperedbyanobligationtoconsistency。\"Iamgratified，ofcourse，Mr。Dryfoos；extremelygratified；andit\'snousepretendingthatIshouldn\'tbehappybeyondboundstogetpossessionof\'EveryOtherWeek。\'ButIdon\'tfeelquitefreetotalkaboutitapartfromMr。Fulkerson。\"
\"Oh，allright!\"saidtheoldman，withquickoffence。
Marchhastenedtosay:\"IfeelboundtoMr。Fulkersonineveryway。Hegotmetocomehere，andIcouldn\'tevenseemtoactwithouthim。\"
Heputitquestioningly，andtheoldmananswered:
\"Yes，Icanseethat。When\'llhebein?Icanwait。\"Buthelookedimpatient。
\"Verysoon，now，\"saidMarch，lookingathiswatch。\"Hewasonlytobegoneamoment，\"andwhilehewentontotalkwithDryfoos，hewonderedwhytheoldmanshouldhavecomefirsttospeakwithhim，andwhetheritwasfromsomeobscurewishtomakehimreparationfordispleasuresinthepast，orfromadistrustordislikeofFulkerson。Whicheverlighthelookedatitin，itwasflattering。
\"Doyouthinkofgoingabroadsoon?\"heasked。
\"What?Yes——Idon\'tknow——Ireckon。Wegotourpassageengaged。It\'sononeofthemFrenchboats。We\'regoin\'toParis。\"
\"Oh!Thatwillbeinterestingtotheyoungladies。\"
\"Yes。Ireckonwe\'regoin\'forthem。\'Tain\'tlikelymywifeandmewouldwanttopullupstakesatourage，\"saidtheoldman，sorrowfully。
\"Butyoumayfinditdoyougood，Mr。Dryfoos，\"saidMarch，withakindnessthatwasreal，mixedasitwaswiththeselfishinteresthenowhadintheintendedvoyage。
\"Well，maybe，maybe，\"sighedtheoldman；andhedroppedhisheadforward。\"Itdon\'tmakeagreatdealofdifferencewhatwedoorwedon\'tdo，forthefewyearsleft。\"
\"IhopeMrs。Dryfoosisaswellasusual，\"saidMarch，findingthegrounddelicateanddifficult。
\"Middlin\'，middlin\'，\"saidtheoldman。\"MydaughterChristine，sheain\'tverywell。\"
\"Oh，\"saidMarch。Itwasquiteimpossibleforhimtoaffectamoreexplicitinterestinthefact。HeandDryfoossatsilentforafewmoments，andhewasvainlycastingaboutinhisthoughtforsomethingelsewhichwouldtidethemovertheintervaltillFulkersoncame，whenheheardhissteponthestairs。
\"Hello，hello!\"hesaid。\"Meetingoftheclans!\"Itwasalwaysameetingoftheclans，withFulkerson，orafieldday，oranextrasession，oraregularconclave，wheneverhesawpeopleofanycommoninteresttogether。\"Hain\'tseenyouhereforagoodwhile，Mr。Dryfoos。
Didthinksomeofrunningawaywith\'EveryOtherWeek\'onewhile，butcouldn\'tseemtoworkMarchuptothepoint。\"
HegaveDryfooshishand，andpushedasidethepapersonthecornerofMarch\'sdesk，andsatdownthere，andwentonbrisklywiththenonsensehecouldalwaystalkwhilehewaswaitingforanothertodevelopanymatterofbusiness；hetoldMarchafterwardthathescentedbusinessintheairassoonashecameintotheroomwhereheandDryfoosweresitting。
DryfoosseemeddeterminedtoleavethewordtoMarch，whosaid，afteraninquiringlookathim，\"Mr。Dryfooshasbeenproposingtoletushave\'EveryOtherWeek，\'Fulkerson。\"
\"Well，that\'sgood；thatsuitsyourstruly；March&Fulkerson，publishersandproprietors，won\'tpretenditdon\'t，ifthetermsareallright。\"
\"Theterms，\"saidtheoldman，\"arewhateveryouwant\'em。Ihaven\'tgotanymoreusefortheconcern——\"Hegulped，andstopped；theyknewwhathewasthinkingof，andtheylookeddowninpity。Hewenton:\"Iwon\'tputanymoremoneyinit；butwhatI\'veputina\'readycanstay；andyoucanpaymefourpercent。\"
Hegotuponhisfeet；andMarchandFulkersonstood，too。
\"Well，Icallthatprettywhite，\"saidFulkerson。\"It\'sabargainasfarasI\'mconcerned。Isupposeyou\'llwanttotalkitoverwithyourwife，March?\"
\"Yes；Ishall，\"saidMarch。\"Icanseethatit\'sagreatchance；butI
wanttotalkitoverwithmywife。\"
\"Well，that\'sright，\"saidtheoldman。\"Letmehearfromyoutomorrow。\"
Hewentout，andFulkersonbegantodanceroundtheroom。HecaughtMarchabouthisstalwartgirthandtriedtomakehimwaltz；theoffice-
boycametothedoorandlookedonwithapproval。
\"Come，come，youidiot!\"saidMarch，rootinghimselftothecarpet。
\"It\'sjustthrowingthethingintoourmouths，\"saidFulkerson。\"Theweddingwillbethisdayweek。Nocards!Teedle-lumpty-diddle!Teedle-
lumpty-dee!Whatdoyousupposehemeansbyit，March?\"heasked，bringinghimselfsoberlyup，ofasudden。\"Whatishislittlegame?Orishecrazy?Itdon\'tseemliketheDryfoosofmypreviousacquaintance。\"
\"Isuppose，\"Marchsuggested，\"thathe\'sgotmoneyenough，sothathedon\'tcareforthis——\"
\"Pshaw!You\'reapoet!Don\'tyouknowthatthemoremoneythatkindofmanhasgot，themorehecaresformoney?It\'ssomefancyofhis——likehavingLindau\'sfuneralathishouse——ByJings，March，Ibelieveyou\'rehisfancy!\"
\"Oh，now!Don\'tyoubeapoet，Fulkerson!\"
\"Ido!Heseemedtotakeakindofshinetoyoufromthedayyouwouldn\'tturnoffoldLindau；hedid，indeed。Itkindofshookhimup。
Itmadehimthinkyouhadsomethinginyou。Hewasdeceivedbyappearances。Lookhere!I\'mgoingroundtoseeMrs。Marchwithyou，andexplainthethingtoher。IknowMrs。March!Shewouldn\'tbelieveyouknewwhatyouweregoinginfor。Shehasagreatrespectforyourmind，butshedon\'tthinkyou\'vegotanysense。Heigh?\"
\"Allright，\"saidMarch，gladofthenotion；anditwasreallyacomforttohaveFulkersonwithhimtodevelopallthepoints；anditwasdelightfultoseehowclearlyandquicklysheseizedthem；itmadeMarchproudofher。Shewasonlyangrythattheyhadlostanytimeincomingtosubmitsoplainacasetoher。
Mr。Dryfoosmightchangehismindinthenight，andtheneverythingwouldbelost。Theymustgotohiminstantly，andtellhimthattheyaccepted；
theymusttelegraphhim。
\"Mightaswellsendadistrictmessenger；he\'dgettherenextweek，\"saidFulkerson。\"No，no!It\'llallkeeptillto-morrow，andbethebetterforit。Ifhe\'sgotthisfancyforMarch，asIsay，heain\'tagoingtochangeitinasinglenight。Peopledon\'tchangetheirfanciesforMarchinalifetime。Heigh?\"
WhenFulkersonturnedupveryearlyattheofficenextmorning，asMarchdid，hewaslessstrenuousaboutDryfoos\'sfancyforMarch。ItwasasifMissWoodburnmighthaveblowncolduponthattheory，assomethingunjusttohisownmerit，forwhichshewouldnaturallybemorejealousthanhe。
Marchtoldhimwhathehadforgottentotellhimthedaybefore，thoughhehadbeentrying，allthroughtheirexcitedtalk，togetitin，thattheDryfoosesweregoingabroad。
\"Oh，ho!\"criedFulkerson。\"That\'sthemilkinthecocoanut，isit?
Well，Ithoughttheremustbesomething。\"
ButthisfacthadnotchangedMrs。MarchatallinherconvictionthatitwasMr。Dryfoos\'sfancyforherhusbandwhichhadmovedhimtomakehimthisextraordinaryoffer，andsheremindedhimthatithadfirstbeenmadetohim，withoutregardtoFulkerson。\"Andperhaps，\"shewenton，\"Mr。Dryfooshasbeenchanged——softened；anddoesn\'tfindmoneyallinallanymore。He\'shadenoughtochangehim，pooroldman!\"
\"Doesanythingfromwithoutchangeus?\"herhusbandmusedaloud。\"We\'rebroughtuptothinksobythenovelists，whoreallyhavethechargeofpeople\'sthinking，nowadays。ButIdoubtit，especiallyifthethingoutsideissomegreatevent，somethingcataclysmal，likethistremendoussorrowofDryfoos\'s。\"
\"Thenwhatisitthatchangesus?\"demandedhiswife，almostangrywithhimforhisheresy。
\"Well，itwon\'tdotosay，theHolySpiritindwelling。Thatwouldsoundlikecantatthisday。Buttheoldfellowsthatusedtosaythathadsomeglimpsesofthetruth。Theyknewthatitisthestill，smallvoicethatthesoulheeds，notthedeafeningblastsofdoom。IsupposeI
shouldhavetosaythatwedidn\'tchangeatall。Wedevelop。There\'sthemakingofseveralcharactersineachofus；weareeachseveralcharacters，andsometimesthischaracterhastheleadinus，andsometimesthat。FromwhatFulkersonhastoldmeofDryfoos，Ishouldsayhehadalwayshadthepotentialityofbetterthingsinhimthanhehaseverbeenyet；andperhapsthetimehascomeforthegoodtohaveitschance。Thegrowthinonedirectionhasstopped；it\'sbeguninanother；
that\'sall。Themanhasn\'tbeenchangedbyhisson\'sdeath；itstunned，itbenumbedhim；butitcouldn\'tchangehim。Itwasanevent，likeanyother，andithadtohappenasmuchashisbeingborn。Itwasforecastfromthebeginningoftime，andwasasentirelyaneffectofhiscomingintotheworld——\"
\"Basil!Basil!\"criedhiswife。\"Thisisfatalism!\"
\"Thenyouthink，\"hesaid，\"thatasparrowfallstothegroundwithoutthewillofGod?\"andhelaughedprovokingly。Buthewentonmoresoberly:\"Idon\'tknowwhatitallmeansIsabelthoughIbelieveitmeansgood。WhatdidChristhimselfsay?Thatifonerosefromthedeaditwouldnotavail。Andyetwearealwayslookingforthemiraculous!
Ibelievethatunhappyoldmantrulygrievesforhisson，whomhetreatedcruellywithoutthefinalintentionofcruelty，forhelovedhimandwishedtobeproudofhim；butIdon\'tthinkhisdeathhaschangedhim，anymorethanthesmallesteventinthechainofeventsremotelyworkingthroughhisnaturefromthebeginning。Butwhydoyouthinkhe\'schangedatall?BecauseheofferstosellmeEveryOtherWeekoneasyterms?
Hesayshimselfthathehasnofurtheruseforthething；andheknowsperfectlywellthathecouldn\'tgethismoneyoutofitnow，withoutanenormousshrinkage。Hecouldn\'tappearatthislatedayastheowner，andsellittoanybodybutFulkersonandmeforafifthofwhatit\'scosthim。Hecansellittousforallit\'scosthim；andfourpercent。isnobadinterestonhismoneytillwecanpayitback。It\'sagoodthingforus；butwehavetoaskwhetherDryfooshasdoneusthegood，orwhetherit\'stheblessingofHeaven。Ifit\'smerelytheblessingofHeaven，Idon\'tproposebeinggratefulforit。\"
Marchlaughedagain，andhiswifesaid，\"It\'sdisgusting。\"
\"It\'sbusiness，\"heassented。\"Businessisbusiness；butIdon\'tsayitisn\'tdisgusting。Lindauhadalowopinionofit。\"
\"IthinkthatwithallhisfaultsMr。DryfoosisabettermanthanLindau，\"sheproclaimed。
\"Well，he\'scertainlyabletoofferusabetterthingin\'EveryOtherWeek，\'\"saidMarch。
Sheknewhewasenamouredoftheliteraryfinishofhiscynicism，andthatathearthewasashumblyandtrulygratefulasshewasforthegood-fortuneopeningtothem。
XVII。
BeatonwasathisbestwhenhepartedforthelasttimewithAlmaLeighton，forhesawthenthatwhathadhappenedtohimwasthenecessaryconsequenceofwhathehadbeen，ifnotwhathehaddone。Afterwardhelostthisclearvision；hebegantodenythefact；hedrewuponhisknowledgeoflife，andinarguinghimselfintoadifferentframeofmindheallegedthecaseofdifferentpeoplewhohaddoneandbeenmuchworsethingsthanhe，andyetnosuchdisagreeableconsequencehadbefallenthem。Thenhesawthatitwasalltheworkofblindchance，andhesaidtohimselfthatitwasthisthatmadehimdesperate，andwillingtocallevilhisgood，andtotakehisownwhereverhecouldfindit。TherewasagreatdealthatwasliteraryandfactitiousandtawdryinthemoodinwhichhewenttoseeChristineDryfoos，thenightwhentheMarchessattalkingtheirprospectsover；andnothingthatwasdecidedinhispurpose。Heknewwhatthedriftofhismindwas，buthehadalwayspreferredtoletchancedeterminehisevents，andnowsincechancehadplayedhimsuchanillturnwithAlma，heleftitthewholeresponsibility。Notinterms，butineffect，thiswashisthoughtashewalkedonup-towntopaythefirstofthevisitswhichDryfooshadpracticallyinvitedhimtoresume。Hehadaninsolentsatisfactioninhavingdelayeditsolong；ifhewasgoingbackhewasgoingbackonhisownconditions，andtheseweretobeashardandhumiliatingashecouldmakethem。Butthisintentionagainwasinchoate，floating，thestuffofanintention，ratherthanintention；anexpressionoftemperamentchiefly。
Hehadbeenexpectedbeforethat。ChristinehadgotoutofMelathatherfatherhadbeenatBeaton\'sstudio；andthenshehadgoneattheoldmanandgotfromhimeverysmallestfactoftheinterviewthere。Shehadflungbackinhisteeththegood-willtowardherselfwithwhichhehadgonetoBeaton。Shewasfuriouswithshameandresentment；
shetoldhimhehadmadebadworse，thathehadmadeafoolofhimselftonoend；shesparedneitherhisagenorhisgrief-brokenspirit，inwhichhiswillcouldnotriseagainsthers。Shefilledthehousewithherrage，screamingitoutuponhim；butwhenherfurywasoncespent，shebegantohavesomehopesfromwhatherfatherhaddone。Shenolongerkeptherbed；everyeveningshedressedherselfinthedressBeatonadmiredthemost，andsatuptillacertainhourtoreceivehim。Shehadfixedadayinherownmindbeforewhich，ifhecame，shewouldforgivehimallhehadmadehersuffer:themortification，thesuspense，thedespair。
Beyondthis，shehadthepurposeofmakingherfathergotoEurope；shefeltthatshecouldnolongerliveinAmerica，withthedoubledisgracethathadbeenputuponher。
Beatonrang，andwhiletheservantwascomingtheinsolentcapriceseizedhimtoaskfortheyoungladiesinsteadoftheoldman，ashehadsupposedofcourseheshoulddo。Themaidwhoansweredthebell，intheplaceofthereluctantIrishmanofotherdays，hadallhishesitationinadmittingthattheyoungladieswereathome。
HefoundMelainthedrawing-room。Atsightofhimshelookedscared；
butsheseemedtobereassuredbyhiscalm。HeaskedifhewasnottohavethepleasureofseeingMissDryfoos，too；andMelasaidshereckonedthegirlhadgoneup-stairstotellher。Melawasinblack，andBeatonnotedhowwellthesolidsablebecameherrichred-blondebeauty；hewonderedwhattheeffectwouldbewithChristine。
Butshe，whensheappeared，wasnotinmourning。Hefanciedthatsheworethelustrousblacksilk，withthebreadthsofwhiteVenetianlaceabouttheneckwhichhehadpraised，becausehepraisedit。HercheeksburnedwithaJacqueminotcrimson；whatshouldbewhiteinherfacewaschalkywhite。Shecarriedaplumedostrichfan，blackandsoft，andaftergivinghimherhand，satdownandwavedittoandfroslowly，asherememberedherdoingthenighttheyfirstmet。Shehadnoideas，exceptsuchasrelatedintimatelytoherself，andshehadnogabble，likeMela；
andshelethimtalk。Itwaspastthedaywhenshepromisedherselfshewouldforgivehim；butashetalkedonshefeltallherpassionforhimrevive，andtheconflictofdesires，thedesiretohate，thedesiretolove，madeadizzyingwhirlinherbrain。Shelookedathim，halfdoubtingwhetherhewasreallythereornot。Hehadneverlookedsohandsome，withhisdreamyeyesfloatingunderhisheavyoverhanginghair，andhispointedbrownbearddefinedagainsthislustrousshirtfront。Hismellowlymodulated，mysteriousvoicelulledher；whenMelamadeanerrandoutoftheroom，andBeatoncrossedtoherandsatdownbyher，sheshivered。
\"Areyoucold?\"heasked，andshefeltthecruelmockeryandexultantconsciousnessofpowerinhistone，asperhapsawildthingfeelscaptivityinthevoiceofitskeeper。Butnow，shesaidshewouldstillforgivehimifheaskedher。
Melacameback，andthetalkfellagaintotheformerlevel；butBeatonhadnotsaidanythingthatreallymeantwhatshewished，andshesawthatheintendedtosaynothing。Herheartbegantoburnlikeafireinherbreast。
\"Youbeentellun\'himaboutourgoun\'toEurope?\"Melaasked。
\"No，\"saidChristine，briefly，andlookingatthefanspreadoutonherlap。
Beatonaskedwhen；andthenherose，andsaidifitwassosoon，hesupposedheshouldnotseethemagain，unlesshesawtheminParis；hemightverylikelyrunoverduringthesummer。HesaidtohimselfthathehadgivenitafairtrialwithChristine，andhecouldnotmakeitgo。
Christinerose，withakindofgasp；andmechanicallyfollowedhimtothedoorofthedrawing-room；Melacame，too；andwhilehewasputtingonhisovercoat，shegurgledandbubbledingood-humorwithalltheworld。
Christinestoodlookingathim，andthinkinghowstillhandsomerhewasinhisovercoat；andthatfireburnedfiercerinher。Shefelthimmorethanlifetoherandknewhimlost，andthefrenzy，thatmakesawomankillthemansheloves，orflingvitrioltodestroythebeautyshecannothaveforallhers，possessedherlawlesssoul。HegavehishandtoMela，andsaid，inhiswind-harpstop，\"Good-bye。\"
AsheputouthishandtoChristine，shepusheditasidewithascreamofrage；sheflashedathim，andwithbothhandsmadeafelinepassatthefacehebenttowardher。Hesprangback，andafteraninstantofstupefactionhepulledopenthedoorbehindhimandranoutintothestreet。
\"Well，ChristineDryfoos!\"saidMela，\"Sprangathimlikeawild-cat!\"
\"I，don\'tcare，\"Christineshrieked。\"I\'lltearhiseyesout!\"Sheflewup-stairstoherownroom，andlefttheburdenoftheexplanationtoMela，whodiditjustice。
Beatonfoundhimself，hedidnotknowhow，inhisstudio，reekingwithperspirationandbreathless。Hemustalmosthaverun。Hestruckamatchwithashakinghand，andlookedathisfaceintheglass。Heexpectedtoseethebleedingmarksofhernailsonhischeeks，buthecouldseenothing。Hegrovelledinwardly；itwasallsolowandcoarseandvulgar；
itwasallsojustandapttohisdeserts。
Therewasapistolamongthedustybric-a-braconthemantelwhichhehadkeptloadedtofireatacatinthearea。Hetookitandsatlookingintothemuzzle，wishingitmightgooffbyaccidentandkillhim。
Itslippedthroughhishandandstruckthefloor，andtherewasareport；
hesprangintotheair，feelingthathehadbeenshot。Buthefoundhimselfstillalive，withonlyaburninglinealonghischeek，suchasoneofChristine\'sfinger-nailsmighthaveleft。
Helaughedwithcynicalrecognitionofthefactthathehadgothispunishmentintherightway，andthathiscasewasnottobedignifiedintotragedy。
XVIII。
TheMarches，withFulkerson，wenttoseetheDryfoosesoffontheFrenchsteamer。Therewasnolongeranybusinessobligationonthemtobecivil，andtherewasgreaterkindnessforthatreasonintheattentiontheyoffered。\'EveryOtherWeek\'hadbeenmadeovertothejointownershipofMarchandFulkerson，andthedetailsarrangedwithahardnessonDryfoos\'ssidewhichcertainlyleftMrs。Marchwithasenseofhisincompleteregeneration。Yetwhenshesawhimthereonthesteamer，shepitiedhim；helookedweariedandbewildered；evenhiswife，withhertwitchinghead，andherpropheciesofevil，croakedhoarselyout，whilesheclungtoMrs。
March\'shandwheretheysattogethertilltheleave-takerswereorderedashore，waslesspathetic。Melawaslookingafterbothofthem，andtryingtocheertheminajoyfulexcitement。\"Itell\'emit\'sgoun\'toaddtenyearstoboththeirlives，\"shesaid。\"Thevoyage\'lldotheirhealthsgood；andthen，we\'regittun\'awayfromthatmiser\'blepacko\'servantsthatwaseatun\'usup，thereinNewYork。Ihatetheplace!\"shesaid，asiftheyhadalreadyleftit。\"Yes，Mrs。Mandel\'sgoun\'，too，\"sheadded，followingthedirectionofMrs。March\'seyeswheretheynotedMrs。Mandel，speakingtoChristineontheothersideofthecabin。\"HerandChristinehadakindofaspat，andshewasgoun\'toleave，buthereonlytheotherday，Christineofferedtomakeitupwithher，andnowthey\'reasthickasthieves。Well，Ireckonwecouldn\'tverywell\'a\'gotalongwithouther。
She\'sabouttheonlyonethatspeaksFrenchinthisfamily。\"
Mrs。March\'seyesstilldweltuponChristine\'sface；itwasfullofafurtivewildness。Sheseemedtobekeepingawatchtopreventherselffromlookingasifshewerelookingforsomeone。\"Doyouknow，\"Mrs。
MarchsaidtoherhusbandastheyjingledalonghomewardintheChristopherStreetbob-tailcar，\"IthoughtshewasinlovewiththatdetestableMr。Beatonofyoursatonetime；andthathewasamusinghimselfwithher。\"
\"Icanbearagooddeal，Isabel，\"saidMarch，\"butIwishyouwouldn\'tattributeBeatontome。He\'stheinventionofthatMr。Fulkersonofyours。\"
\"Well，atanyrate，Ihope，now，you\'llbothgetridofhim，inthereformsyou\'regoingtocarryout。\"
Thesereformswereforagreatereconomyinthemanagementof\'EveryOtherWeek；\'butintheirverynaturetheycouldnotincludethesuppressionofBeaton。Hehadalwaysshownhimselfcapableandloyaltotheinterestsofthemagazine，andboththenewownersweregladtokeephim。Hewasgladtostay，thoughhemadeagruffpretenceofindifference，whentheycametolookoverthenewarrangementwithhim。
Inhisheartheknewthathewasafraud；butatleasthecouldsaytohimselfwithtruththathehadnotnowtheshameoftakingDryfoos\'smoney。
MarchandFulkersonretrenchedatseveralpointswhereithadseemedindispensabletospend，aslongastheywerenotspendingtheirown:
thatwasonlyhuman。FulkersonabsorbedConrad\'sdepartmentintohis，andMarchfoundthathecoulddispensewithKendricksintheplaceofassistantwhichhehadlatelyfilledsinceFulkersonhaddecidedthatMarchwasoverworked。Theyreducedthenumberofillustratedarticles，andtheysystematizedthepaymentofcontributorsstrictlyaccordingtothesalesofeachnumber，ontheiroriginalplanofco-operation:theyhadgottopayingratherlavishlyformaterialwithoutreferencetothesales。
Fulkersontookalittletimetogetmarried，andwentonhisweddingjourneyouttoNiagara，anddowntheSt。LawrencetoQuebecoverthelineoftravelthattheMarcheshadtakenontheirweddingjourney。HehadthepleasureofgoingfromMontrealtoQuebeconthesameboatonwhichhefirstmetMarch。
Theyhavecontinuedverygoodfriends，andtheirwivesarealmostwithouttherivalrythatusuallyembittersthewivesofpartners。AtfirstMrs。
MarchdidnotlikeMrs。Fulkerson\'sspeakingofherhusbandastheOwnah，andMarchastheEdito\'；butitappearedthatthiswasonlyaconvenientmethodofrecognizingthepredominantqualityineach，andwasmeantneithertoaffirmnortodenyanything。ColonelWoodburnofferedashiscontributiontothecelebrationofthecopartnership，whichFulkersoncouldnotbepreventedfromdedicatingwithalittledinner，thestoryofFulkerson\'smagnanimousbehaviorinregardtoDryfoosatthatcrucialmomentwhenitwasaquestionwhetherheshouldgiveupDryfoosorgiveupMarch。Fulkersonwincedatit；butMrs。Marchtoldherhusbandthatnow，whateverhappened，sheshouldneverhaveanymisgivingsofFulkersonagain；andsheaskedhimifhedidnotthinkheoughttoapologizetohimforthedoubtswithwhichhehadonceinspiredher。Marchsaidthathedidnotthinkso。
TheFulkersonsspentthesummerataseasidehotelineasyreachofthecity；buttheyreturnedearlytoMrs。Leighton\'s，withwhomtheyaretoboardtillspring，whentheyaregoingtofitupFulkerson\'sbachelorapartmentforhousekeeping。Mrs。March，withherBostonscruple，thinksitwillbeodd，livingoverthe\'EveryOtherWeek\'offices；buttherewillbeaseparatestreetentrancetotheapartment；andbesides，inNewYorkyoumaydoanything。
ThefutureoftheLeightonspromisesnoimmediatechange。KendricksgoesthereagooddealtoseetheFulkersons，andMrs。FulkersonsayshecomestoseeAlma。HehasseemedtakenwithhereversincehefirstmetheratDryfoos\'s，thedayofLindau\'sfuneral，andthoughFulkersonobjectstodatingafancyofthatkindfromanoccasionofthatkind，hejustlyargueswithMarchthattherecanbenoharminit，andthatweareliabletobestruckbylightninganytime。InthemeanwhilethereisnoproofthatAlmareturnsKendricks\'sinterest，ifhefeelsany。Shehasgotalittlebitofcolorintothefallexhibition；butthefallexhibitionisneversogoodasthespringexhibition。Wetmoreisrathersorryshehassucceededinthis，thoughhepromotedhersuccess。Hesaysherrealhopeisinblackandwhite，anditisapityforhertolosesightofheroriginalaimofdrawingforillustration。
NewshascomefromParisoftheengagementofChristineDryfoos。TheretheDryfoosesmetwiththesuccessdeniedtheminNewYork；manyAmericanplutocratsmustawaittheirapotheosisinEurope，wheresocietyhasthem，asitwere，inatranslation。ShortlyaftertheirarrivaltheywerecelebratedinthenewspapersasthefirstmillionaireAmericanfamilyofnatural-gasextractionwhohadarrivedinthecapitalofcivilization；
andataFrenchwatering-placeChristineencounteredherfate——anoblemanfullofpresentdebtsandofduelsinthepast。Fulkersonsaystheoldmancanmanagethedebtor，andChristinecanlookoutfortheduellist。
\"Theysaythosefellowsgenerallywhiptheirwives。He\'dbetternottryitwithChristine，Ireckon，unlesshe\'spractisedwithapanther。\"
Oneday，shortlyaftertheirreturntotownintheautumnfromthebriefsummeroutingtheypermittedthemselves，theMarchesmetMargaretVance。
Atfirsttheydidnotknowherinthedressofthesisterhoodwhichshewore；butshesmiledjoyfully，almostgayly，onseeingthem，andthoughshehurriedbywiththesisterwhoaccompaniedher，anddidnotstaytospeak，theyfeltthatthepeacethatpassethunderstandinghadlookedatthemfromhereyes。
\"Well，sheisatrest，therecan\'tbeanydoubtofthat，\"hesaid，asheglancedroundatthedriftingblackrobewhichfollowedherfree，nun-
likewalk。
\"Yes，nowshecandoallthegoodshelikes，\"sighedhiswife。
\"Iwonder——IwonderifsheevertoldhisfatherabouthertalkwithpoorConradthatdayhewasshot?\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Idon\'tcare。Inanyevent，itwouldberight。Shedidnothingwrong。Ifsheunwittinglysenthimtohisdeath，shesenthimtodieforGod\'ssake，forman\'ssake。\"
\"Yes——yes。Butstill——\"
\"Well，wemusttrustthatlookofhers。\"