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？"