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