Ilaughed。\"Why，it\'sallgaiety，inoneway。SaratogaisaperpetualFourthofJuly，wethink。\"
\"Ohyes；there\'senoughgoingon，andmywifeandmewecouldenjoyitfirstrate。\"
\"Iftheyoungladycould？\"Iventured，withasmileofsympatheticintelligence。
\"Well，yes。Yousee，wedon\'tknowanybody，andIsupposewedidn\'ttakethatintoaccount。Well，Isupposeit\'slikethis:theythoughtitwouldbeeasytogetacquaintedinthehotel，andcommencehavingagoodtimerightaway。Idon\'tknow；mywifehadtheideawhentheycookeditupamongst\'emthatshewastocomewithus。ButISWEAR_I_don\'tknowhowtogoaboutit。Ican\'tseemtomakeupmymouthtospeaktofolksfirst；andthenyoucan\'ttellwhetheramanain\'tagambler，oronforthehorse-racesanyway。Sowe\'vebeenhereaweeknow，andyou\'rethefirstoneswe\'vespokentobesidesthewaiterssincewecame。\"
Icouldn\'thelplaughing，theirexperiencewassoexactlyasIhadimagineditwhenIfirstsawthisdisconsolateparty。Inmytriumphatmyownpenetration，Iwouldnothavehadtheirsufferinginthepastonepangtheless；butthesimplefranknessofhisconfessionfixedmeinthewishthatthefuturemightbebrighterforthem。I
thoughtmyselfwarrantedbymywife\'simprudenceintakingasteptowardtheirfurtherintimacyonmyownaccount，andIsaid:
\"Well，perhapsIoughttotellyouthatIhaven\'tbeeninsidetheSaratogaCluborbetontheracessinceI\'vebeenhere。That\'smynameinfull，\"——andIgavehimmycard，——\"andI\'mintheliteraryline；thatis，I\'mtheeditorofamagazineinNewYork——theEveryOtherWeek。\"
\"Ohyes；Iknowwhoyouare，\"saidmycompanion，withmycardinhishand。\"Factis，Iwasroundatyourplacethismorningtryingtogetrooms，andtheclerktoldmeallaboutyoufrommydescription。
Ifeltasmeanaspu\'sleygoin\'；seemedtobetakin\'kindofanadvantageofyou。\"
\"Notatall；it\'sapublichouse，\"Iinterrupted；butIthoughtI
shouldbestrongerwithMrs。MarchifIdidnotgivethefactawaytoher，andIresolvedtokeepit。
\"Buttheycouldn\'tresteasytillItried，andIwasmorethanhalfgladtherewasn\'tanyrooms。\"
\"Oh，I\'mverysorry，\"Isaid；andIindulgedarealregretfromthevantageIhad。\"Itwouldhavebeenverypleasanttohaveyouthere。
Perhapslater——weshallbegivingupourroomsattheendofthemonth。\"
\"No，\"hesaid，withalongbreath。\"IfI\'vegottoleave\'em，I
guessit\'llbejustaswelltoleave\'emwherethey\'reacquaintedwiththehouseanyway。\"Hisremarkbetrayedapointinhisthinkingwhichhadnotperhapsbeenreachedinhistalkwiththeladies。
\"It\'saquietplace，andthey\'reusedtoit；andIguesstheywouldn\'twanttostaythroughtherestofthemonth，quite。Idon\'tbelievemywifewould，anyway。\"
Hedidnotsaythisveryconfidently，buthopefullyrather，andI
thoughtitaffordedmeanopeningtofindoutsomethingyetmoredefiniteabouttheladies。
\"MissGageisremarkablyfine-looking，\"Ibegan。
\"Thinkso？\"heanswered。\"Well，sodoesmywife。Idon\'tknowasI
likeherstyleexactly，\"hesaid，withakindoflatentgrudge。
\"Herstyleismagnificent，\"Iinsisted。
\"Well，maybeso。Iguessshe\'sgoodenoughlooking，ifthat\'swhatyoumean。ButIthinkit\'salwaysakindofamistakeforthreepersonstocomeofftogether，Idon\'tcarewhotheyare。Thenthere\'sthreeopinions。She\'sanicegirl，andagoodgirl，andshedon\'tputherselfforward。Butwhenyou\'vegotayoungladyonyourhands，you\'veGOTher，andyoufeelboundtokeepdoin\'somethingforherallthetime；andifyoudon\'tknowwhattodoyourself，andyourwifecan\'ttell——\"
Iaddedintelligently，\"Yes。\"
\"Well，that\'sjustwhereitis。SometimesIwishthewholedumbtownwouldburnup。\"Ilaughedandlaughed；andmyfriend，havingbeguntounpackhisheart，wentontoeaseitoftherestofitsload。Ihadnotwaitedforthisbeforemakingsomereflectionsconcerninghim，butInowformulatedthemtomyself。HereallyhadnoneofthatreserveIhadattributedtohimthenightbefore；itwasmerelycautionandthisisthecasewithmostcountrypeople。
Theyarecautious，butnotreserved；iftheythinktheycantrustyou，theykeepbacknoneoftheiraffairs；andthisistheAmericancharacter，forwearenearlyallcountrypeople。Iunderstoodhimperfectlywhenhesaid，\"IrutherbreakstonethangothroughwhatI
havebeenthroughthelastweek!Youunderstandhowitis。\'Tain\'tasifshesaidanything；Iwishshewould；butyoufeelallthewhilethatitain\'twhatsheexpectedittobe，andyoufeelasifitwasyouthatwastoblameforthefailure。ByGeorge!ifanymanwastocomealongandmakeanofferformycontractIwouldselloutcheap。It\'sworsebecausemywifeaskedhertocome，andthoughtshewasdoin\'herallkindsofafavourtolether。They\'vealwaysbeentogether，andwhenwetalkedofcomingtoSaratogathissummer，nothingwoulddomywifebutJuliamustcomewithus。Herandherfatherusuallytakeatripoffsomewhereinthehotweather，butthistimehecouldn\'tleave；presidentofourNationalBank，andpresidentofthevillage，too。\"Hethrewinthefactofthesedignitiesexplanatorily，butwithawillingness，Icouldsee，thatitshouldaffectme。Hewenton:\"They\'rekindofconnectionsofmyfirstwife\'s。Well，she\'sanicegirl；toonice，Iguess，togetalongveryfast。Iseegirlsallthewayalongdowngettin\'
acquaintedonthecarsandboats——wecomeeastontheOgdensburgroadtoRouse\'sPoint，andthentooktheboatdownLakeChamplainandLakeGeorge——butshealwaysseemedtoholdback。Idon\'tknow\'sshe\'sproudeither；Ican\'tmakeitout。Itballsmywifeallup，too。Itellhershe\'sfrettedoffallthegoodhertrip\'sgoin\'todoherbeforeshegotit。\"
Helaughedruefully，andjustthenthebandbegantoplaythe\"WashingtonPost。\"
\"Whattune\'sthat？\"hedemanded。
\"\'WashingtonPost，\'\"Isaid，proudofknowingit。
\"ByGeorge!thattunegoesrighttoafellow\'slegs，don\'tit？\"
\"It\'sthenewmarch，\"Isaid。
Helistenedwithasimplejoyinit，andhispleasurestrengthenedthemysticbondwhichhadformeditselfbetweenusthroughtheconfidenceshehadmademe，soflatteringlycorroborativeofallmyguessesconcerninghimandhisparty。
CHAPTERIV
Ilongedtohavethechanceofbraggingtomywife；butthischancedidnotcometilltheconcertwasquiteover，afterIrejoinedherwithmycompanion，andshecouldtakeleaveofthemallwithoutseemingtoabandonthem。ThenIjudgeditbesttoletherhavetheword；forIknewbythewaysheranherhandthroughmyarm，andbeganpushingmealongoutofearshot，thatshewasfullofit。
\"Well，Basil，Ithinkthatisthesweetestandsimplestandkindestcreatureintheworld，andI\'mperfectlyinlovewithher。\"
Ididnotbelievesomehowthatshemeantthegirl，butIthoughtitbestmerelytosuggest，\"Therearetwo。\"
\"YouknowverywellwhichImean，andIwoulddoanythingIcouldforher。She\'sgotadifficultproblembeforeher，andIpityher。
Thegirl\'sverywell，andsheISabeauty；andIsupposesheHAS
beenhavingadulltime，andofcourseyoucouldn\'tpleaseMrs。
Deeringhalfsowellasbydoingsomethingforherfriend。I
supposeyou\'refeelingveryproudthatthey\'rejustwhatyoudivined。\"
\"Notatall；I\'msousedtodiviningpeople。HowdidyouknowI
knewit？\"
\"Isawyoutalkingtohim，andIknewyouwerepumpinghim。\"
\"Pumping？Heaskednothingbetterthantoflow。HewouldputtoshametheprovokedspontaneityofanyspringinSaratoga。\"
\"Well，didhesaythathewasgoingtoleavethemhere？\"
\"Hewouldliketodoit——yes。Hewasverysweetandsimpleandkind，too，Isabel。Hecomplainedbitterlyofthegoddess，andallbutsaidshesulked。\"
\"Why，Idon\'tknow，\"saidmywife。\"Ithink，considering，thatsheisratheramiable。Shebrightenedupmoreandmore。\"
\"Thatwasprosperity，orthehopeofit，mydear。Nothingilluminesusliketheprospectofpleasantthings。Shetookyouforsocietysmilinguponher，andofcourseshesmiledback。Butit\'sonlythefirstsmileofprosperitythatcheers。Ifitkeepsonsmilingitendsbymakingusdissatisfiedagain。Whenpeoplearegettingintosocietytheyareveryglad；whentheyhavegotintheyseemtoberathergloomy。Wemustn\'tletthesethingsgotoofar。Nowthatyou\'vegotyourfriendsingoodhumour，therightwayistodropthem——tocutthemdeadwhenyoumeetthem，tolooktheotherway。
Thatwillsendthemhomeperfectlyradiant。\"
\"Nonsense!IamgoingtodoallIcanforthem。Whatdoyouthinkwecando？Theyhaven\'tthefirstideahowtoamusethemselveshere。It\'samiracletheyevergotthatdressthegirliswearing。
Theyjustmadeabolddashbecausetheysawitinadressmaker\'swindowthefirstday，andshehadtohavesomething。It\'skillinglybecomingtoher；butIdon\'tbelievetheyknowit，andtheydon\'tbegintoknowhowcheapitwas:itwassimplyTHROWNaway。I\'mgoingshoppingwiththeminthemorning。\"
\"Oh!\"
\"Butnowthequestionis，whatwecandotogivethemsomelittleglimpseofsocialgaiety。That\'swhatthey\'vecomefor。\"
WewerepassingthecornerofalargeenclosurewhichseemsdevotedinSaratogatothemostdistractingofitspleasures，andIsaid:
\"Well，wemightgivethematurnonthecircularrailwayortheswitchback；orwecouldtakethemtothePunchandJudydrama，orgettheirfortunestoldintheseeress\'stent，orletthemfireintheshooting-gallery，orbuysomesweet-grassbasketsoftheIndians；andthereisthepop-cornandthelemonade。\"
\"Iwilltellyouwhat，\"saidMrsMarch，whohadnotbeenlisteningtoawordIsaid；forifshehadheardmeshewouldnothavehadpatiencewithmyironicalsuggestions。
\"Well，what？\"
\"Or，no；thatwouldn\'tdo，either。\"
\"I\'mgladyoudon\'tapproveofthenotion，onsecondthoughts。I
didn\'tlikeitfromthebeginning，andIdidn\'tevenknowwhatitwas。\"
\"Wecouldhavethemuptothehousethisevening，andintroducethemtosomeofourfriends，——onlythereisn\'tayoungmaninthewholeplace，——andhavethemstaytothecharades。\"
\"Whatdoyouthink，\"Isaid，\"oftheirhavingcomeupthismorningandtriedtogetroomsatourhouse？\"
\"Yes；theytoldme。\"
\"Anddon\'tyoucallthatratherforth-putting？Itseemstomethatitwastakingameanadvantageofmybrags。\"
\"Itwasperfectlyinnocentinthem。Butnow，dearest，don\'tbetiresome。IknowthatyoulikethemaswellasIdo，andIwilltakeallyourlittleteasingaffectationsforgranted。Thequestionis，whatcanwedoforthem？\"
\"Andtheansweris，Idon\'tintheleastknow。Thereisn\'tanysocietylifeatSaratogathatIcansee；andifthereis，wearenotinit。Howcouldwegetanyoneelsein？Iseethat\'swhatyou\'reaimingat。Thosepublicsocialitiesatthebighotelstheycouldgetintoaswellaswecould；buttheywouldn\'tbeanywherewhentheygotthere，andtheywouldn\'tknowwhattodo。Youknowwhathollowmockeriesthosethingsare。Don\'tyourememberthathopwewenttowiththeyoungBraceysthefirstsummer？Ifthosegirlshadn\'twaltzedwitheachothertheywouldn\'thavedancedastepthewholeevening。\"
\"Iknow，Iknow，\"sighedmywife；\"itwasterrible。Butthesepeoplearesoveryunworldlythatdon\'tyouthinktheycouldbedeludedintothebeliefthattheywereseeingsocietyifwetookalittletrouble？Youusedtobesoinventive!Youcouldthinkupsomethingnowifyoutried。\"
\"Mydear，agirlknowsbeyondalltheartsofhoodwinkingwhethershe\'shavingagoodtime，andyourlittleschemeofpassingoffoneofthosehotelhopsforafestivitywouldneverworkintheworld。\"
\"Well，Ithinkitistoobad!Whathasbecomeofalltheeasygaietythereusedtobeintheworld？\"
\"Ithasbeenstarchedandironedoutofit，apparently。SaratogaisstilltryingtodothegoodoldAmericanact，withitsbighotelsanditsheterogeneoushops，andIdon\'tsupposethere\'seversuchathingasasocietypersonatanyofthem。Thatwouldn\'tbesobad。
Buttheunsocietypeopleseemtobeafraidofoneanother。Theyfeelthatthereissomethingintheair——somethingtheydon\'tandcan\'tunderstand；somethingalien，thatjudgestheirold-fashionedAmericanimpulsetobesociable，andcontemnsit。No；wecan\'tdoanythingforourhaplessfriends——Icanhardlycallthemouracquaintances。Wemustavoidthem，andkeepthemmerelyasapensivecolourinourownvividmemoriesofSaratoga。Ifwemadethemhaveagoodtime，andsentthemontheirwayrejoicing，I
confessthatIshouldfeelmyselfdistinctlyaloser。Asitis，they\'reastrainofmelancholypoetryinmylife，ofmusicintheminorkey。Ishallalwaysassociatetheirpathoswiththishotsummerweather，andIshallthinkofthemwheneverthethermometerregisterseighty-nine。Don\'tyouseetheadvantageofthat？I
believeIcanultimatelygetsomeliteratureoutofthem。IfIcanthinkofafittingfableforthemFulkersonwillfeatureitinEveryOtherWeek。He\'llgetoutaSaratoganumber，andcomeuphereandstrikethehotelsandspringsforad\'s。\"
\"Well，\"saidMrs。March，\"IwishIhadneverseenthem；andit\'sallyourfault，Basil。Ofcourse，whenyouplayeduponmysympathiessoaboutthem，Icouldn\'thelpfeelinginterestedinthem。Weareacoupleofromanticoldgeese，mydear。\"
\"Notatall，oratleastI\'mnot。Isimplyusedthesepeopleconjecturallytogivemyselfanagreeablepang。Ididn\'twanttoknowanythingmoreaboutthemthanIimagined，andIcertainlydidn\'tdreamofdoinganythingforthem。You\'llspoileverythingifyouturnthemfromfictionintofact，andtrytomanipulatetheirdestiny。Letthemalone；theywillworkitoutforthemselves。\"
\"YouknowIcan\'tletthemalonenow，\"shelamented。\"Iamnotoneofthosewhocangivethemselvesanagreeablepangwiththeunhappinessoftheirfellow-creatures。I\'mnotsatisfiedtostudythem；Iwanttorelievethem。\"
Shewentontopraiseherselftomydisadvantage，asInoticewiveswillwiththeirhusbands，andIdidnotattempttodenyherthissourceofconsolation。Butwhensheendedbysaying，\"IbelieveI
shallsendyoualone，\"andexplainedthatshehadpromisedMrs。
Deeringwewouldcometotheirhotelforthemaftertea，andgowiththemtohearthemusicattheUnitedStatesandtheGrandUnion，I
protested。IsaidthatIalwaysfelttoosneakingwhenIwasprowlingroundthosehotelslisteningtotheirproprietaryconcerts，andIwasawareoflookingsosneakingthatIexpectedeverymomenttobeorderedofftheirpiazzas。Asforconvoyingapartyofthreestrangersaboutalone，Ishouldcertainlynotdoit。
\"NotifI\'veaheadache？\"
\"Notifyou\'veaheadache。\"
\"Oh，verywell，then。\"
\"Whatareyoutwoquarrellingabout？\"criedagayvoicebehindus，andwelookedroundintothelaughingeyesofMissDale。ShewastheonecottagerweknewinSaratoga，butwhenwewerewithherwefeltthatwekneweverybody，sohospitablewasthesenseofworldwhichherkindnessexhaled。
\"ItwasMrs。Marchwhowasquarrelling，\"Isaid。\"Iwasonlytryingtoconvinceherthatshewaswrong，andofcourseonehastoliftone\'svoice。IhopeIhadn\'ttheeffectofhalloaing。\"
\"Well，Imerelyheardyouabovethesteamharmoniconattheswitchback，\"saidMissDale。\"Idon\'tknowwhetheryoucallTHAT
holloaing。\"
\"Oh，MissDale，\"saidmywife，\"weareinsuchafatal——\"
\"Pickle，\"Isuggested，andsheinstantlyadoptedthewordinherextremity。
\"——picklewithsomepeoplethatProvidencehasthrowninourway，andthatwewanttodosomethingfor\"；andinalabyrinthofparenthesesthatnomancouldhavefoundhiswayintooroutof，shepossessedMissDaleofthewholeromanticfact。\"ItwasMr。March，ofcourse，whofirstdiscoveredthem，\"sheconcluded，inplaintiveaccusation。
\"PoorMr。March!\"criedMissDale。\"Well，itisapatheticcase，butitisn\'ttheonlyone，ifthat\'sanycomfort。Saratogaisreekingwithjustsuchforlornitiesthewholesummerlong；butIcanquiteunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit，Mrs。March。\"Wecametoacorner，andshesaidabruptly:\"Excusemyinterruptingyourquarrel!NotquitesoLOUD，Mr。March!\"andsheflashedbackamockinglookatmeassheskurriedoffdownthestreetwithastonishingrapidity。
\"Howperfectlyheartless!\"criedmywife。\"Icertainlythoughtshewouldsuggestsomething——offertodosomething。\"
\"Irelieduponher，too，\"Isaid；\"butnowIhavemydoubtswhethershewasreallygoingdownthatstreettillshesawthatitwasthebestwaytoescape。We\'recertainlyintrouble，mydear，ifpeopleavoidusinthismanner。\"
CHAPTERV
\"IamdoingitentirelyonMrs。Deering\'sIaccount，\"saidmywifethateveningaftertea，aswewalkeddowntheside-streetthatdescendedfromourplacetoBroadway。\"Shehasthatgirlonherhands，andIknowshemustbeatherwits\'end。\"
\"AndIdoitentirelyonDeering\'saccount，\"Iretorted。\"HehasbothofthosewomenonHIShands。\"
Weemergedintotheglisteningthoroughfareinfrontofthevasthotels，andIwasstruck，asIneverfailtobe，withitsfutileandunmeaningsplendour。Ithinkthereisnothinginourdun-colouredcivilisationprettierthanthathabittheladieshaveinSaratogaofgoingoutonthestreetafterdarkintheirbareheads。WhenI
firstsawthemwanderingaboutsointheglitteroftheshop-windowsandthefitfulglareoftheelectricseverywhere，IthoughttheymustbesomeofthoseSpanish-Americansmistakingthewarm，dryairoftheNorthernnightforthatoftheirownlatitudes；butwhenI
cameupwiththemIcouldhear，ifIcouldnotsee，thattheywereofourownrace。Thoseflatandshapelesstonescouldcomethroughthenosesofnoother。Thebeautyandtheelegancewerealsoours，andthefearlesstrustofcircumstance。Theysaunteredupanddownbeforethegaunt，highporticoesofthehotels，asmuchathomeastheycouldhavebeenintheirownhouses，andinmuchthesamedressasiftheyhadbeenreceivingthere。Theeffectisoneofincomparablecheer，andisapromiseofsocialbrilliancywhichSaratoganomorekeepsthanshedoesthatofherothercharacteristicaspects；saytheforenooneffectofthesamethoroughfare，withthepiazzasbankedwiththehotelguests，andthestreetfullofthelightequipageswhichseempeculiartotheplacepassingandrepassing，inthejoyoussunlightandoutofit，ontheleaf-fleckedstreet。EventhepubliccarriagesofSaratogahaveafresh，unjadedair；andtoissuefromtherailwaystationinthemidstofthosebuoyanttop-phaetonsandsurreys，withtheirlight-
limbedhorses，istobethrilledbysomesuchinsensateexpectationofpleasureasfillstheheartofaboyathisfirstsallyintotheworld。IalwaysexpecttofindmylostyouthwaitingformearoundthecorneroftheUnitedStatesHotel，andIaccusemyselfofsomefaultifitdisappointsme，asitalwaysdoes。Icanimaginewhatgaudyhopesbydayandbynightthebrightstagingofthepotentialdramamustawakeninthebreastofayounggirlwhenshefirstseesit，andhowblankshemustfeelwhenthecurtaingoesdownandtherehasbeennoplay。ItwasarealanguishtomewhenthatyounggirlwiththeDeeringswelcomedmywifeandmewithahopefulsmile，asifwewerethedramatispersonae，andnowtheperformancemustbegoingtobegin。Icouldseehowmuchourchanceacquaintancehadbrightenedtheperspectiveforher，andhoweagerlyshehadrepairedallherillusions；andIthoughthowmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenifshehadbeenlefttothedullandspiritlessresignationinwhichIhadfirstseenher。Fromthattherecouldnofall，atleast，andnowshehadrisenfromitonlytosinkagain。
But，infact，thewholepartyseemedfalselycheeredbytheeventoftheafternoon；andinthefewmomentsthatwesatwiththemontheirverandah，beforegoingtothemusicattheGrandUnion，Icouldheartheladieslaughingtogether，whileDeeringjoyouslyunfoldedtomehisplanofgoinghomethenextmorningandleavinghiswifeandMissGagebehindhim。\"Theywillstayinthishotel——theymightaswell——andIguesstheycangetalong。MywifefeelsmoreacquaintedsinceshemetMrs。March，andIshan\'tfeelsomuchlikeleavin\'heramongstrangershereIdon\'tknowwhenshe\'stakensuchafancytoanyoneasshehastoyourwife，orMissGageeither。Iguessshe\'llwanttoaskheraboutthestores。\"
IsaidthatIbelievedthefancywasmutual，andthattherewasnothingmywifelikedbetterthantellingpeopleaboutstores。I
added，ingeneralisation，thatwhenawomanhadspentallherownmoneyondress，itdidherquiteasmuchgoodtoseeotherwomenspendingtheirs；andDeeringsaidheguessedthatwasaboutso。Hegavemeapushontheshouldertomakemeunderstandhowkeenlyheappreciatedthejoke，andIperceivedthatwehadwonhishearttoo。
Wejoinedtheladies，andIthoughtthatmysufferingsforherauthorisedmetoattachmyselfmoreespeciallytoMissGage，andtofindoutallIcouldabouther。Wewalkedaheadoftheothers，andIwasawareofhermakingbelievethatitwasquitethesameasifsheweregoingtothemusicwithayoungman。Notthatsheseemeddisposedtotriflewithmygreyhairs；Iquicklysawthatthiswouldnotbeincharacterwithher；butsomesortofillusionwasessentialtoheryouth，andshecouldnothelprejuvenatingme。
Thiswasquitelikethegoddessshelooked，Ireflected，butotherwiseshewasnotformidablydivine；and，infact，Isupposethegoddesseswere，afterall，onlynicegirlsatheart。Thisone，atanyrate，Idecided，wasaverynicegirlwhenshewasnotsulking；
andshewassobrightenedbyherlittleadventure，whichwasreallynoadventure，thatIcouldnotbelieveIhadeverseenhersulking。
Thehotelpeopledidnotkeepusfromgoingintothecourtofthehotel，asIwasafraidtheymight，andwealleasilyfoundplaces。
InthepausesofthemusicIpointedoutsuchnotablesandcharactersasIsawaboutus，andtriedtopossessherofasmuchoftheSaratogaworldasIknew。Itwaslargelythereinthatboldevidenceitloves，andinthatsocialsolitudetowhichtheSaratogaofthehotelscondemnsthedenizensofherworld。IdonotmeanthattheSaratogacrowdisatallafast-lookingcrowd。Therearesportingpeopleandgamblers；butthegreatmassofthefrequentersareplain，honestAmericans，outuponaholidayfromallpartsofthecountry，andofaninnocencetooinveteratetohavegraspedthefactthatthereisnofashioninSaratoganowbutthefashionoftheladies\'dresses。These，Imustsay，areofthenewestandprettiest；thedressingofthewomenalwaysstrikesmethere。Mycompanionwaseagertorecognisethesplendourswhichshehadheardof，andIpointedoutanoldladybythedoor，whosattheredisplayinguponhervastpersonanassortmentofgemsandjewelswhichsheseemedaspersonallyindifferenttoasifshewereashow-
window，andIwasgladtohavethegirlshrinkfromthespectacleinakindofmutealarm。ItriedtomakehersharemypleasureinagroupofCubans——fatfather，fatmother，fatdaughter——whocamedownthewalktowardusinthehalooftropicaltradition；butshehadnotthetasteforolives，andIsawthatIfailedtopersuadeheroftheaestheticvalueofthisalienelementamongus。Sheapparentlycoulddoalmostaslittlewithsomeoldfiguresofbygonebeausspectrallyrevisitingthehotelhauntsoftheiryouth；butshewascharmedwiththesylvanlovelinessofthatincomparablecourt。Itis，infact，aparkofthetall，slimSaratogatreesenclosedbythequadrangleofthehotel，exquisitelykept，andwithitsacresofgreenswardnowshowingtheircolourvividlyinthelightoftheelectrics，whichshonefromallsidesonthefountainflashingandplashinginthemidst。Isaidthatherewasthatunionofthesylvanandtheurbanwhichwasalwaysthedreamofart，andwhichformedthedelicatecharmofpastoralpoetry；andalthoughIdonotthinkshequitegraspedthenotion，Isawthatshehadapleasureinthevisiblefact，andthatwasmuchbetter。Besides，shelistenedveryrespectfully，andwithnosignsofbeingbored。
InthewaitbetweenthetwopartsoftheconcertIinvitedhertowalkaroundthecourtwithme，andundertheapprovingeyeofMrs。
Marchwemadethisexpedition。ItseemedtomethatIcouldnotdoawiserthing，bothforthesatisfactionofmyowncuriosityandforthegratificationoftheautobiographicalpassionweallfeel，thantoleadherontospeakofherself。Butshehadlittleornothingtosayofherself，andwhatshesaidofotherthingswasmarkedbyastraightforwardgoodsense，ifnotawideintelligence。Ithinkwemakeamistakewhenwesupposethatabeautifulwomanmustalwaysbevainorconscious。
Ifancythatabeautyisquiteasoftenasolidandsensibleperson，withnoinordinatewishtobeworshipped，andthisyoungladystruckmeaswhollyunspoiledbyflattery。IdecidedthatshewasnotthetypethatwouldtakethefancyofDeWittPoint，andthatshehadgrownupwithoutlocalattentionforthatreason，orpossiblybecauseacertaincoldnessinheroverawedthefreespiritofrusticlove-making。Nodoubtsheknewthatshewasbeautiful，andIbegantothinkthatitwasnotsomuchdisappointmentatfindingSaratogaasindifferentasDeWittPointwhichgavehertheeffectofdisgustIhadfirstnotedinherthenightbefore。Thatmightratherhavecomefromthesenseoffeelingherselfahelplessburdenonherfriends，andfromthatyounglongingforcompanionshipwhichisasfarasmaybefromthedesireofconquest，oftriumph。Findinghernowsogratefullycontentwiththepooreffortstoamuseherwhichanoldfellowlikemecouldmake，IperceivedthatthesocietyofothergirlswouldsufficetomakeSaratogaquiteanotherthingforher，andIcastaboutinmymindtocontrivethissomehow。
IconfessthatIlikedherbetterandbetter，andbeforetheeveningwasoutIhadquitetransferredmycompassionfromtheDeeringstoher。ItWASforlornanddrearyforhertobeattachedtothisgoodcouple，whoseinterestswereprimarilyineachother，andwhohadnotthefirstofthoseartswhichcouldprovideherwithothercompany。ShewillinglytoldabouttheirjourneytoSaratoga，andherstorydidnotdiffermateriallyfromtheaccountDeeringhadalreadygivenme；buteventheoutwardformofadventurehadfallenfromtheirexperiencesincetheyhadcometoSaratoga。TheyhadformedthehabitofCongressParkbyaccident；buttheyhadnotbeentothelake，ortheraces，ortheHouseofPansa，orMountM\'Gregor，orHiltonPark，oreventheoutlyingsprings。ItwasthefirsttimetheyhadbeeninsideoftheGrandUnion。\"Thenyouhaveneverseentheparlour？\"Iasked；andaftertheconcertIboldlyledthewayintotheparlour，andlavisheditsmagnificenceuponthemasifI
hadbeenthehost，oroneofthehotelguestsattheveryleast。I
enjoyedthebreathlessnessoftheDeeringssomuch，aswewalkedupanddownthevastdrawing-roomsaccompaniedbyourimagesinthemirrors，thatIinsisteduponsittingdownwiththemalluponsomeoftherichestpiecesoffurniture；andIwassoflownwithmysuccessasciceronethatImadethemcomewithmetotheUnitedStates。Ishowedthemthroughtheparloursthere，andthenledthemthroughtotheinnerverandah，whichcommandedanotherwoodedcourtlikethatoftheGrandUnion。Itriedtomakethemfeelthestateliersentimentoftheolderhotel，andtostirtheirimaginationswithapictureoftheoldtimes，whentheSouthernplantersusedtothrongtheplace，andallthatwasgayandbrilliantinfashionablesocietywastobeseentheresometimeduringthesummer。IthinkthatIfailedinthis，butapparentlyI
succeededingivingthemaneveningofdazzlingsplendour。
\"Well，sir，thishasbeenagreattreat，\"saidMr。Deering，whenhebadeusgoodbyeaswellasgood-night；hewasgoingearlyinthemorning。
Theladiesmurmuredtheirgratitude，Mrs。Deeringwithanemotionthatsuitedherthanks，andMissGagewithatouchofsomethingdaughterlytowardmethatIthoughtpretty。
CHAPTERVI
\"Well，whatDIDyoumakeofher，mydear？\"Mrs。Marchdemandedtheinstantshewasbeyondtheirhearing。\"Imustsay，youdidn\'tspareyourselfinthecause；youdidbravely。Whatisshelike？\"
\"Really，Idon\'tknow，\"Ianswered，afteramoment\'sreflection。\"I
shouldsayshewasalmostpurelypotential。She\'snotsomuchthisorthatkindofgirl；she\'smerelyaradiantimageofgirlhood。\"
\"Now，yourchicquingit，you\'refakingit，\"saidMrs。March，borrowingtheverbsseverallyfromthearteditorandthepublisherofEveryOtherWeek。\"YouhavegottotellmejusthowmuchandhowlittletherereallyisofherbeforeIgoanyfurtherwiththem。Isshestupid？\"
\"No——no；Ishouldn\'tsaystupidexactly。Sheis——whatshallIsay？——
extremelyplain-minded。Isupposethegoddesseswereplain-minded。
I\'malittlepuzzledbyherattitudetowardherownbeauty。Shedoesn\'tliveherbeautyanymorethanapoetliveshispoetryorapainterhispainting；thoughI\'venodoubtsheknowshergiftishersjustastheydo。\"
\"IthinkIunderstand。Youmeansheisn\'tconscious。\"
\"No。Consciousisn\'tquitetheword，\"Isaidfastidiously。\"Isn\'ttheresomewordthatsaysless，ormore，inthesamedirection？\"
\"No，thereisn\'t；andIshallthinkyoudon\'tmeananythingatallifyoukeepon。Now，tellmehowshereallyimpressedyou。Doessheknowanything？Hasshereadanything？Hassheanyideas？\"
\"Really，Ican\'tsaywhethertheywereideasornot。SheknewwhatEveryOtherWeekwas；shehadreadthestoriesinit；butI\'mnotsureshevalueditatitstrueworth。Sheisveryplain-minded。\"
\"Don\'tkeeprepeatingthat!Whatdoyoumeanbyplain-minded？\"
\"Well，honest，single，common-sense，coherent，arithmetical。\"
\"Horrors!DoyoumeanthatsheisMANNISH？\"
\"No，notmannish。Andyetshegavemethenotionthat，whenitcametocompanionship，shewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithalotofgirlsasyoungmen。\"
Mrs。Marchpulledherhandoutofmyarm，andstoppedshortunderoneofthosetallSaratogashade-treestodramatiseherinference。
\"Thensheistheslyestofallpossiblepusses!Didshegiveyouthenotionthatshewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithyouaswithayoungman!\"
\"Shecouldn\'tdeceivemesofarasTHAT，mydear。\"
\"Verywell；Ishalltakeherinhandmyselfto-morrow，andfindoutwhatshereallyis。\"
Mrs。MarchwentshoppingthenextforenoonwithwhatwasleftoftheDeeringparty；Deeringhadtakentheearlytrainnorth，andsheseemedtohavefoundtheladieslivelierwithouthim。Sheformedtheimpressionfromtheirmorejoyousbehaviourthathekepthiswifefromspendingasmuchmoneyasshewouldnaturallyhavedone，andthat，whilehewasnotperhapsexactlyselfish，hewasforgetfulofheryouth，ofthedifferenceinyearsbetweenthem，andofhercapacityforpleasureswhichhecouldnotcarefor。ShesaidthatMrs。DeeringandMissGagenowactedliketwogirlstogether，and，ifanything，MissGageseemedtheelderofthetwo。
\"Andwhatdidyoudecideabouther？\"Iinquired。
\"Well，Ihelpedherbuyahatandajacketatoneofthoseniceshopsjustbelowthehotelwherethey\'restopping，andwe\'vestartedaneveningdressforher。Shecan\'twearthatwhiteduckmorning，noon，andnight。\"
\"Buthercharacter——hernature？\"