"Now，Conrad，here，"saidtheoldman，withasortofpatheticrancor，"wouldratherhavethegloryalone。Ibelievehedon'tevencaremuchforyourkindofglory，either，Mr。Fulkerson。"
　　FulkersonranhislittleeyescuriouslyoverConrad'sfaceandthenMarch's，asifsearchingforatracethereofsomethinggonebeforewhichwouldenablehimtoreachDryfoos'swholemeaning。Heapparentlyresolvedtolaunchhimselfuponconjecture。"Oh，well，weknowhowConradfeelsaboutthethingsofthisworld，anyway。Ishouldliketotake'emontheplaneofanothersphere，too，sometimes；butInoticedagoodwhileagothatthiswastheworldIwasborninto，andsoImadeupmymindthatIwoulddoprettymuchwhatIsawtherestofthefolksdoingherebelow。AndIcan'tseebutwhatConradrunsthethingonbusinessprinciplesinhisdepartment，andIguessyou'llfinditsoifyoulookintoit。Iconsiderthatwe'reawholeteamandbigdogunderthewagonwithyoutodrawonforsupplies，andMarch，here，attheheadoftheliterarybusiness，andConradinthecounting-room，andmetodotheheavylyingintheadvertisingpart。Oh，andBeaton，ofcourse，intheart。I'mostforgotBeaton——HamletwithHamletleftout。"
　　Dryfooslookedacrossathisson。"Wasn'tthatthefellow'snamethatwastherelastnight?"
　　"Yes，"saidConrad。
　　Theoldmanrose。"Well，IreckonIgottobegoing。Youreadytogoup-town，Conrad?"
　　"Well，notquiteyet，father。"
　　TheoldmanshookhandswithMarch，andwentdownstairs，followedbyhisson。
　　Fulkersonremained。
　　"Hedidn'tjumpatthechanceyougavehimtocomplimentusallround，Fulkerson，"saidMarch，withasmilenotwhollyofpleasure。
　　Fulkersonasked，withaslittlejoyinthegrinhehadon，"Didn'thesayanythingtoyoubeforeIcamein?"
　　"Notaword。"
　　"DoggedifIknowwhattomakeofit，"sighedFulkerson，"butIguesshe'sbeenhavingatalkwithConradthat'ssouredonhim。Ireckonmaybehecamebackexpectingtofindthatboyreconciledtothegloryofthisworld，andConrad'sshowedhimselfjustassetagainstitasever。"
　　"Itmighthavebeenthat，"Marchadmitted，pensively。"Ifanciedsomethingofthekindmyselffromwordstheoldmanletdrop。"
　　Fulkersonmadehimexplain，andthenhesaid:
　　"That'sit，then；andit'sallright。Conrad'llcomeroundintime；andallwe'vegottodoistohavepatiencewiththeoldmantillhedoes。
　　Iknowhelikesyou。"Fulkersonaffirmedthisonlyinterrogatively，andlookedsoanxiouslytoMarchforcorroborationthatMarchlaughed。
　　"Hedissembledhislove，"hesaid；butafterward，indescribingtohiswifehisinterviewwithMr。Dryfoos，hewaslessamusedwiththisfact。
　　Whenshesawthathewasalittlecastdownbyit，shebegantoencouragehim。"He'sjustacommon，ignorantman，andprobablydidn'tknowhowtoexpresshimself。Youmaybeperfectlysurethathe'sdelightedwiththesuccessofthemagazine，andthatheunderstandsaswellasyoudothatheowesitalltoyou。"
　　"Ah，I'mnotsosure。Idon'tbelieveaman'sanybetterforhavingmademoneysoeasilyandrapidlyasDryfooshasdone，andIdoubtifhe'sanywiser。Idon'tknowjustthepointhe'sreachedinhisevolutionfromgrubtobeetle，butIdoknowthatsofarasit'sgonetheprocessmusthaveinvolvedabewilderingchangeofidealsandcriterions。Iguesshe'scometodespiseagreatmanythingsthatheoncerespected，andthatintellectualabilityisamongthem——whatwecallintellectualability。
　　Hemusthaveundergoneamoraldeterioration，anatrophyofthegenerousinstincts，andIdon'tseewhyitshouldn'thavereachedhismentalmake-
　　up。Hehassharpened，buthehasnarrowed；hissagacityhasturnedintosuspicion，hiscautiontomeanness，hiscouragetoferocity。That'sthewayIphilosophizeamanofDryfoos'sexperience，andIamnotveryproudwhenIrealizethatsuchamanandhisexperiencearetheidealandambitionofmostAmericans。Iratherthinktheycameprettynearbeingmine，once。"
　　"No，dear，theyneverdid，"hiswifeprotested。
　　"Well，they'renotlikelytobeinthefuture。TheDryfoosfeatureof'EveryOtherWeek'isthoroughlydistastefultome。"
　　"Why，buthehasn'treallygotanythingtodowithit，hashe，beyondfurnishingthemoney?"
　　"That'stheimpressionthatFulkersonhasallowedustoget。Butthemanthatholdsthepurseholdsthereins。Hemayletusguidethehorse，butwhenhelikeshecandrive。Ifwedon'tlikehisdriving，thenwecangetdown。"
　　Mrs。Marchwaslessinterestedinthisfigureofspeechthaninthepersonalaspectsinvolved。"ThenyouthinkMr。Fulkersonhasdeceivedyou?"
　　"Ohno!"saidherhusband，laughing。"ButIthinkhehasdeceivedhimself，perhaps。"
　　"How?"shepursued。
　　"HemayhavethoughthewasusingDryfoos，whenDryfooswasusinghim，andhemayhavesupposedhewasnotafraidofhimwhenhewasverymuchso。Hiscouragehadn'tbeenputtothetest，andcourageisamatterofproof，likeproficiencyonthefiddle，youknow:youcan'ttellwhetheryou'vegotittillyoutry。"
　　"Nonsense!DoyoumeanthathewouldeversacrificeyoutoMr。Dryfoos?"
　　"Ihopehemaynotbetempted。ButI'dratherbetakingthechanceswithFulkersonalonethanwithFulkersonandDryfoostobackhim。Dryfoosseems，somehow，totakethepoetryandthepleasureoutofthething。"
　　Mrs。Marchwasalongtimesilent。Thenshebegan，"Well，mydear，I
　　neverwantedtocometoNewYork——"
　　"NeitherdidI，"Marchpromptlyputin。
　　"Butnowthatwe'rehere，"shewenton，"I'mnotgoingtohaveyoulettingeverylittlethingdiscourageyou。Idon'tseewhattherewasinMr。Dryfoos'smannertogiveyouanyanxiety。He'sjustacommon，stupid，inarticulatecountryperson，andhedidn'tknowhowtoexpresshimself，asIsaidinthebeginning，andthat'sthereasonhedidn'tsayanything。"
　　"Well，Idon'tdenyyou'rerightaboutit。"
　　"It'sdreadful，"hiswifecontinued，"tobemixedupwithsuchamanandhisfamily，butIdon'tbelievehe'llevermeddlewithyourmanagement，and，tillhedoes，allyouneeddoistohaveaslittletodowithhimaspossible，andgoquietlyonyourownway。"
　　"Oh，Ishallgoonquietlyenough，"saidMarch。"IhopeIsha'n'tbegingoingstealthily。"
　　"Well，mydear，"saidMrs。March，"justletmeknowwhenyou'retemptedtodothat。Ifeveryousacrificethesmallestgrainofyourhonestyoryourself-respecttoMr。Dryfoos，oranybodyelse，Iwillsimplyrenounceyou。"
　　"InviewofthatI'mrathergladthemanagementof'EveryOtherWeek'
　　involvestastesandnotconvictions，"saidMarch。
　　III。
　　ThatnightDryfooswaswakenedfromhisafter-dinnernapbythesoundofgaytalkandnervousgigglinginthedrawing-room。Thetalk，whichwasChristine's，andthegiggling，whichwasMela's，wereintershotwiththeheaviertonesofaman'svoice；andDryfooslayawhileontheleathernloungeinhislibrary，tryingtomakeoutwhetherheknewthevoice。Hiswifesatinadeepchairbeforethefire，withhereyesonhisface，waitingforhimtowake。
　　"Whoisthatoutthere?"heasked，withoutopeninghiseyes。
　　"Indeed，indeed，Idon'tknow，Jacob，"hiswifeanswered。"Ireckonit'sjustsomevisitorofthegirls'。"
　　"WasIsnoring?"
　　"Notabit。Youwassleepingasquiet!Ididhatetohave'emwakeyou，andIwasjustgoin'outtoshoothem。They'vebeenplayin'something，andthatmadethemlaugh。"
　　"Ididn'tknowbutIhadsnored，"saidtheoldman，sittingup。
　　"No，"saidhiswife。Thensheasked，wistfully，"Wasyououtattheoldplace，Jacob?"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Diditlooknatural?"
　　"Yes；mostly。They'resinkingthewellsdowninthewoodspasture。"
　　"And——thechildren'sgraves?"
　　"Theyhaven'ttouchedthatpart。ButIreckonwegottohave'emmovedtothecemetery。Iboughtalot。"
　　Theoldwomanbegansoftlytoweep。"Itdoesseemtoohardthattheycan'tbelettorestinpeace，porelittlethings。Iwantedyouandmetolaythere，too，whenourtimecome，Jacob。Justthere，backo'thebeehivesandunderthemshoomakes——my，Icanseetheveryplace!AndI
　　don'tbelieveI'lleverfeelathomeanywhereselse。Iwoon'tknowwhereIamwhenthetrumpetsounds。IhavetothinkbeforeIcantellwheretheeastisinNewYork；andwhatifIshouldgitfacedthewrongwaywhenIraise?Jacob，Iwonderyoucouldsellit!"Herheadshook，andthefirelightshoneonhertearsasshesearchedthefoldsofherdressforherpocket。
　　Apealoflaughtercamefromthedrawing-room，andthenthesoundofchordsstruckonthepiano。
　　"Hush!Don'tyoucry，'Liz'beth!"saidDryfoos。"Here；takemyhandkerchief。I'vegotanicelotinthecemetery，andI'mgoin'tohaveamonument，withtwolambsonit——liketheoneyoualwayslikedsomuch。
　　Itain'tthefashion，anymore，tohavefamilyburyin'grounds；they'recollectin''emintothecemeteries，allround。"
　　"IreckonIgottobearit，"saidhiswife，mufflingherfaceinhishandkerchief。"AndIsupposetheLordkinfindme，whereverIam。ButI
　　alwaysdidwanttolayjustthere。Youmindhowweusedtogooutandsetthere，aftermilkin'，andwatchthesungodown，andtalkaboutwheretheirangelswas，andtrytofiggeritout?"
　　"Iremember，'Liz'beth。"
　　Theman'svoiceinthedrawing-roomsangasnatchofFrenchsong，insolent，mocking，salient；andthenChristine'sattemptedthesamestrain，andanothercryoflaughterfromMelafollowed。
　　"Well，Ialwaysdidexpecttolaythere。ButIreckonit'sallright。
　　Itwon'tbeagreatwhile，now，anyway。Jacob，Idon'tbelieveI'ma-
　　goin'toliveverylong。Iknowitdon'tagreewithmehere。"
　　"Oh，Iguessitdoes，'Liz'beth。You'rejustalittlepulleddownwiththeweather。It'scomingspring，andyoufeelit；butthedoctorsaysyou'reallright。Istoppedin，onthewayup，andhesaysso。"
　　"Ireckonhedon'tknoweverything，"theoldwomanpersisted:"I'vebeenrunnin'downeversinceweleftMoffitt，andIdidn'tfeelanytoowellthere，even。It'saverystrangething，Jacob，thatthericheryougit，thelessyouain'tabletostaywhereyouwantto，deadoralive。"
　　"It'sforthechildrenwedoit，"saidDryfoos。"Wegottogivethemtheirchanceintheworld。"
　　"Oh，theworld!Theyoughttobeartheyokeintheiryouth，likewedone。Iknowit'swhatCoonrodwouldliketodo。"
　　Dryfoosgotuponhisfeet。"IfCoonrod'llmindhisownbusiness，anddowhatIwanthimto，he'llhaveyokeenoughtobear。"Hemovedfromhiswife，withoutfurtherefforttocomforther，andpotteredheavilyoutintothedining-room。Beyonditsobscuritystretchedtheglitterofthedeepdrawing-room。Hisfeet，intheirbroad；flatslippers，madenosoundonthedensecarpet，andhecameunseenuponthelittlegrouptherenearthepiano。Melapercheduponthestoolwithherbacktothekeys，andBeatonbentoverChristine，whosatwithabanjoinherlap，lettinghimtakeherhandsandputthemintherightplaceontheinstrument。
　　Herfacewasradiantwithhappiness，andMelawaswatchingherwithfoolish，unselfishpleasureinherbliss。
　　TherewasnothingwrongintheaffairtoamanofDryfoos'straditionsandperceptions，andifithadbeenathomeinthefarmsitting-room，oreveninhisparloratMoffitt，hewouldnothavemindedayoungman'splacinghisdaughter'shandsonabanjo，orevenholdingthemthere；
　　itwouldhaveseemedaproper，attentionfromhimifhewascourtingher。
　　Buthere，insuchahouseasthis，withthedaughterofamanwhohadmadeasmuchmoneyashehad，hedidnotknowbutitwasaliberty。
　　Hefelttheangrydoubtofitwhichbesethiminregardtosomanyexperiencesofhischangedlife；hewantedtoshowhissenseofit，ifitwasaliberty，buthedidnotknowhow，andhedidnotknowthatitwasso。Besides，hecouldnothelpatouchofthepleasureinChristine'shappinesswhichMelashowed；andhewouldhavegonebacktothelibrary，ifhecould，withoutbeingdiscovered。
　　ButBeatonhadseenhim，andDryfoos，withanonchalantnodtotheyoungman，cameforward。"Whatyougotthere，Christine?"
　　"Abanjo，"saidthegirl，blushinginherfather'spresence。
　　Melagurgled。"Mr。Beatonislearnun'herthefirstposition。"
　　Beatonwasnotembarrassed。Hewasineveningdress，andhisface，pointedwithitsbrownbeard，showedextremelyhandsomeabovetheexpanseofhisbroad，whiteshirt-front。Hegavebackasnonchalantanodashehadgot，and，withoutfurthergreetingtoDryfoos，hesaidtoChristine:
　　"No，no。Youmustkeepyourhandandarmso。"Heheldtheminposition。
　　"There!Nowstrikewithyourrighthand。See?"
　　"Idon'tbelieveIcaneverlearn，"saidthegirl，withafondupwardlookathim。
　　"Ohyes，youcan，"saidBeaton。
　　TheybothignoredDryfoosinthelittleplayofprotestswhichfollowed，andhesaid，halfjocosely，halfsuspiciously，"Andisthebanjothefashion，now?"Heremembereditastheemblemoflow-downshowbusiness，andassociateditwithend-menandblackenedfacesandgrotesqueshirt-
　　collars。
　　"It'salltherage，"Melashouted，inanswerforall。"Everybodyplaysit。Mr。Beatonborrowedthisfromaladyfriendofhis。"
　　"Humph!PityIgotyouapiano，then，"saidDryfoos。"Abanjowouldhavebeencheaper。"
　　Beatonsofaradmittedhimtotheconversationastoseemremindedofthepianobyhismentioningit。HesaidtoMela，"Oh，won'tyoujuststrikethosechords?"andasMelawheeledaboutandbeatthekeyshetookthebanjofromChristineandsatdownwithit。"Thisway!"Hestrummedit，andmurmuredthetuneDryfooshadheardhimsingingfromthelibrary，whilehekepthisbeautifuleyesfloatingonChristine's。"Youtrythat，now；it'sverysimple。"
　　"WhereisMrs。Mandel?"Dryfoosdemanded，tryingtoasserthimself。
　　NeitherofthegirlsseemedtohaveheardhimatfirstinthechattertheybrokeintooverwhatBeatonproposed。ThenMelasaid，absently，"Oh，shehadtogoouttoseeoneofherfriendsthat'ssick，"andshestruckthepianokeys。"Come；tryit，Chris!"
　　Dryfoosturnedaboutunheededandwentbacktothelibrary。HewouldhavelikedtoputBeatonoutofhishouse，andinhisheartheburnedagainsthimasacontumacioushand；hewouldhavelikedtodischargehimfromtheartdepartmentof'EveryOtherWeek'atonce。ButhewasawareofnothavingtreatedBeatonwithmuchceremony，andiftheyoungmanhadreturnedhisbehaviorinkind，withanelectricalresponsetohisownfeeling，hadheanyrighttocomplain?Afterall，therewasnoharminhisteachingChristinethebanjo。
　　Hiswifestillsatlookingintothefire。"Ican'tsee，"shesaid，"aswe'vegotabitmorecomfortofourlives，Jacob，becausewe'vegotsuchpilesandpilesofmoney。Iwishttograciouswewasbackonthefarmthisminute。Iwishtyouhadheldoutag'instthechildernaboutsellin'it；'twould'a'binthebestthingfur'em，Isay。Ibelieveinmysoulthey'llgitspoiledhereinNewYork。Ikinseeachangein'ema'ready——inthegirls。"
　　Dryfoosstretchedhimselfontheloungeagain。"Ican'tseeasCoonrodismuchcomfort，either。Whyain'theherewithhissisters?WhatdoesallthatworkofhisontheEastSideamountto?Itseemsasifhedoneittocrossme，asmuchasanything。"Dryfooscomplainedtohiswifeonthebasisofmereaffectionalhabit，whichinmarriedlifeoftensurvivesthesenseofintellectualequality。Hedidnotexpecthertoreasonwithhim，buttherewashelpinherlistening，andthoughshecouldonlysoothehisfretfulnesswithsoftanswerswhichwereoftenwideofthepurpose，hestillwenttoherforsolace。"Here，I'vegoneintothisnewspaperbusiness，orwhateveritis，onhisaccount，andhedon'tseemanymoresatisfiedthanever。Icanseehehain'tgothisheartinit。"
　　"Theporeboytries；Iknowhedoes，Jacob；andhewantstopleaseyou。
　　Buthegiveupagooddealwhenhegiveupbein'apreacher；Is'poseweoughttorememberthat。"
　　"Apreacher!"sneeredDryfoos。"Ireckonbein'apreacherwouldn'tsatisfyhimnow。Hehadtheimpudencetotellmethisafternoonthathewouldliketobeapriest；andhethrewituptomethathenevercouldbebecauseI'dkepthimfromstudyin'。"
　　"Hedon'tmeanaCatholicpriest——notaRomanone，Jacob，"theoldwomanexplained，wistfully。"He'stoldmeallaboutit。Theyain'tthekindo'Catholicswebeenusedto；somesortof'Piscopalians；andtheydoaheapo'goodamongstthepoorfolksoverthere。Hesaysweain'tgotanyideahowfolkslivesinthemtenementhouses，hundredsof'eminonehouse，andwholefamiliesinaroom；anditburnsinhishearttohelp'emlikethemFathers，asbecalls'em，thatgivestheirlivestoit。
　　Hecan'tbeaFather，hesays，becausehecan'tgittheeddicationnow；
　　buthecanbeaBrother；andIcan'tfindawordtosayag'instit，whenitgitstotalkin'，Jacob。"
　　"Iain'tsayinganythingagainsthispriests，'Liz'beth，"saidDryfoos。
　　"They'reallwellenoughintheirway；they'vegivenuptheirlivestoit，andit'samatterofbusinesswiththem，likeanyother。ButwhatI'mtalkingaboutnowisCoonrod。Idon'tobjecttohisdoin'allthecharityhewantsto，andtheLordknowsI'veneverbeenstingywithhimaboutit。Hemighthaveallthemoneyhewants，togiveroundanywayhepleases。"
　　"That'swhatItoldhimonce，buthesaysmoneyain'tthething——ornottheonlythingyougottogivetothempoorfolks。Yougottogiveyourtimeandyourknowledgeandyourlove——Idon'tknowwhatallyougottogiveyourself，ifyouexpecttohelp'em。That'swhatCoonrodsays。"
　　"Well，Icantellhimthatcharitybeginsathome，"saidDryfoos，sittingupinhisimpatience。"Andhe'dbettergivehimselftousalittle——tohisoldfatherandmother。Andhissisters。What'shedoin'goin'offtheretohismeetings，andIdon'tknowwhatall，an'leavin'themherealone?"
　　"Why，ain'tMr。Beatonwith'em?"askedtheoldwoman。"IthoughtI
　　hearedhisvoice。"
　　"Mr。Beaton!Ofcourseheis!Andwho'sMr。Beaton，anyway?"
　　"Why，ain'theoneofthemeninCoonrod'soffice?IthoughtIheared——"
　　"Yes，heis!Butwhoishe?What'shedoingroundhere?Ishemakin'
　　uptoChristine?"
　　"Ireckonheis。FromMely'stalk，she'saboutcrazyoverthefellow。
　　Don'tyoulikehim，Jacob?"
　　"Idon'tknowhim，orwhatheis。Hehasn'tgotanymanners。Whobroughthimhere?How'dhecometocome，inthefirstplace?"
　　"Mr。Fulkersonbrunghim，Ibelieve，"saidtheoldwoman，patiently。
　　"Fulkerson!"Dryfoossnorted。"Where'sMrs。Mandel，Ishouldliketoknow?Hebroughther，too。Doesshegotraipsin'offthiswayeveryevening?"
　　"No，sheseemstobehereprettyregularmosto'thetime。Idon'tknowhowwecouldevergitalongwithouther，Jacob；sheseemstoknowjustwhattodo，andthegirlswouldbetentimesasoutbreakin'withouther。
　　Ihopeyouain'tthinkin'o'turnin'heroff，Jacob?"
　　Dryfoosdidnotthinkitnecessarytoanswersuchaquestion。"It'sallFulkerson，Fulkerson，Fulkerson。ItseemstomethatFulkersonaboutrunsthisfamily。HebroughtMrs。Mandel，andhebroughtthatBeaton，andhebroughtthatBostonfellow!IguessIgivehimadose，though；
　　andI'lllearnFulkersonthathecan'thaveeverythinghisownway。I
　　don'twantanybodytohelpmespendmymoney。Imadeit，andIcanmanageit。IguessMr。Fulkersoncanbearalittlewatchingnow。He'sbeentravellingprettyfree，andhe'sgotthenotionhe'sdriving，maybe。
　　I'ma-goingtolookafterthatbookalittlemyself。"
　　"You'llkillyourself，Jacob，"saidhiswife，"tryin'todosomanythings。Andwhatisitallfur?Idon'tseeaswe'rebetteroff，any，forallthemoney。It'sjustasmuchcareasitusedtobewhenwewasallthereonthefarmtogether。Iwishtwecouldgoback，Ja——"
　　"Wecan'tgoback!"shoutedtheoldman，fiercely。"There'snofarmanymoretogobackto。Thefieldsisfullofgas-wellsandoil-wellsandhell-holesgenerally；thehouseistoredown，andthebarn'sgoin'——"
　　"Thebarn!"gaspedtheoldwoman。"Oh，my!"
　　"IfIwastogiveallI'mworththisminute，wecouldn'tgobacktothefarm，anymorethanthemgirlsintherecouldgobackandbelittlechildren。Idon'tsaywe'reanybetteroff，forthemoney。I'vegotmoreofitnowthanIeverhad；andthere'snoendtotheluck；itpoursin。ButIfeellikeIwastiedhandandfoot。Idon'tknowwhichwaytomove；Idon'tknowwhat'sbesttodoaboutanything。Themoneydon'tseemtobuyanythingbutmoreandmorecareandtrouble。Wegotabighousethatweain'tathomein；andwegotalotofhiredgirlsroundunderourfeetthathinderanddon'thelp。Ourchildrendon'tmindus，andwegotnofriendsorneighbors。Butithadtobe。Icouldn'thelpbutsellthefarm，andwecan'tgobacktoit，foritain'tthere。Sodon'tyousayanythingmoreaboutit，'Liz'beth。"
　　"PoreJacob!"saidhiswife。"Well，Iwoon't，dear。"
　　IV
　　ItwascleartoBeatonthatDryfoosdistrustedhim；andthefactheightenedhispleasureinChristine'slikingforhim。Hewasassureofthisashewasoftheother，thoughhewasnotsosureofanyreasonforhispleasureinit。Shehadhercharm；thecharmofwildnesstowhichacertainwildnessinhimselfresponded；andthereweretimeswhenhisfancycontrivedacommonfutureforthem，whichwouldhaveaprosperityforcedfromtheoldfellow'sloveofthegirl。Beatonlikedtheideaofthiscompulsionbetterthanhelikedtheideaofthemoney；therewassomethingalittlerepulsiveinthat；heimaginedhimselfrejectingit；
　　healmostwishedhewasenoughinlovewiththegirltomarryherwithoutit；thatwouldbefine。Hewastakenwithherinacertain'measure，inacertainway；thequestionwasinwhatmeasure，inwhatway。
　　Itwaspartlytoescapefromthisquestionthathehurrieddown-town，anddecidedtospendwiththeLeightonsthehourremainingonhishandsbeforeitwastimetogotothereceptionforwhichhewasdressed。
　　ItseemedtohimimportantthatheshouldseeAlmaLeighton。Afterall，itwashercharmthatwasmostabidingwithhim；perhapsitwastobefinal。Hefoundhimselfveryhappyinhispresentrelationswithher。
　　Shehaddroppedthatbarrierofpretencesandironicalsurprise。Itseemedtohimthattheyhadgonebacktotheoldgroundofcommonartisticinterestwhichhehadfoundsopleasantthesummerbefore。
　　ApparentlysheandhermotherhadbothforgivenhisneglectoftheminthefirstmonthsoftheirstayinNewYork；hewassurethatMrs。
　　Leightonlikedhimaswellasever，and，iftherewasstillsomethingalittleprovisionalinAlma'smannerattimes，itwassomethingthatpiquedmorethanitdiscouraged；itmadehimcurious，notanxious。
　　HefoundtheyoungladieswithFulkersonwhenherang。Heseemedtobeamusingthemboth，andtheywerebothamusedbeyondthemeritofsosmallapleasantry，Beatonthought，whenFulkersonsaid:"Introducemyself，Mr。Beaton:Mr。Fulkersonof'EveryOtherWeek。'ThinkI'vemetyouatourplace。"Thegirlslaughed，andAlmaexplainedthathermotherwasnotverywell，andwouldbesorrynottoseehim。Thensheturned，ashefelt，perversely，andwentontalkingwithFulkersonandlefthimtoMissWoodburn。
　　Shefinallyrecognizedhisdisappointment:"Ahdon'toftengetachanceatyou，Mr。Beaton，andAh'mjustgoin'totoakyo'todeath。Yo'havebeenSoathyo'self，andyo'knowho'wedotoak。"
　　"I'vesurvivedtosayyes，"Beatonadmitted。
　　"Oh，now，doyouthinkwetoaksomuchmo'thanyoudointheNo'th?"
　　theyoungladydeprecated。
　　"Idon'tknow。Ionlyknowyoucan'ttalktoomuchforme。IshouldliketohearyousaySoathandhouseandaboutfortherestofmylife。"
　　"That'swhatAhcallraghtpersonal，Mr。Beaton。NowAh'mgoin'tobepersonal，too。"MissWoodburnflungoutoverherlapthesquareofclothshewasembroidering，andaskedhim:"Don'tyouthinkthat'sbeautiful?
　　Now，asanawtust——agreatawtust?"
　　"Asagreatawtust，yes，"saidBeaton，mimickingheraccent。"IfIwerelessthangreatImighthavesomethingtosayaboutthearrangementofcolors。You'reasboldandoriginalasNature。"
　　"Really?Oh，now，dotellmeyo'favo'itecolo'，Mr。Beaton。"
　　"Myfavoritecolor?Blessmysoul，whyshouldIpreferany?Isbluegood，orredwicked?Dopeoplehavefavoritecolors?"Beatonfoundhimselfsuddenlyinterested。
　　"Ofco'setheydo，"answeredthegirl。"Don'tawtusts?"
　　"Ineverheardofonethathad——consciously。"
　　"Isitpossible?Isupposedtheyallhad。Nowmahfavo'itecolo'isgawnet。Don'tyouthinkit'saprettycolo'?"
　　"Itdependsuponhowit'sused。Doyoumeaninneckties?"BeatonstoleaglanceattheoneFulkersonwaswearing。
　　MissWoodburnlaughedwithherfaceboweduponherwrist。"AhdothinkyougentlemenintheNo'thawetentahmsaslahvelyastheladies。"
　　"Strange，"saidBeaton。"IntheSouth——Soath，excuseme!Imadetheobservationthattheladiesweretentimesaslivelyasthegentlemen。
　　Whatisthatyou'reworking?"
　　"This?"MissWoodburngaveitanotherflirt，andlookedatitwithaglanceofdawningrecognition。"Oh，thisisatable-covah。Wouldn'tyoulahketoseewhereit'stogo?"
　　"Why，certainly。"
　　"Well，ifyou'llberaghtgoodI'llletyo'givemesomeprofessionaladvassaboutputtingsomethingintheco'nersornot，whenyouhaveseenitonthetable。"
　　Sheroseandledthewayintotheotherroom。Beatonknewshewantedtotalkwithhimaboutsomethingelse；buthewaitedpatientlytoletherplayhercomedyout。Shespreadthecoveronthetable，andheadvisedher，ashesawshewished，againstputtinganythinginthecorners；justrunalineofherstitcharoundtheedge，hesaid。
　　"Mr。FulkersonandAh，why，we'vebeenhavingaregularfaghtaboatit，"
　　shecommented。"Butwebothagreed，fahnally，toleaveittoyou；Mr。
　　Fulkersonsaidyou'dbesuretoberaght。Ah'msogladyoutookmahsahde。Buthe'sagreatadmahrerofyours，Mr。Beaton，"sheconcluded，demurely，suggestively。
　　"Ishe?Well，I'magreatadmirerofFulkerson，"saidBeaton，withacapriciouswillingnesstohumorherwishtotalkaboutFulkerson。
　　"He'sacapitalfellow；generous，magnanimous，withquiteanidealoffriendshipandaneyesingletothemainchanceallthetime。Hewouldadvertise'EveryOtherWeek'onhisfamilyvault。"
　　MissWoodburnlaughed，andsaidsheshouldtellhimwhatBeatonhadsaid。
　　"Do。Buthe'susedtodefamationfromme，andhe'llthinkyou'rejoking。"
　　"Ahsuppose，"saidMissWoodburn，"thathe'squahtethetahpeofaNewYorkbusinessman。"Sheadded，asifitfollowedlogically，"He'ssodifferentfromwhatIthoughtaNewYorkbusinessmanwouldbe。"
　　"It'syourVirginiatraditiontodespisebusiness，"saidBeaton，rudely。
　　MissWoodburnlaughedagain。"Despahseit?Mahgoodness!wewanttogetintoitandwoakitfo'allit'swo'th，'asMr。Fulkersonsays。Thattraditionisallpast。Youdon'tknowwhattheSoathisnow。Ahsupposemahfathawdespahsesbusiness，buthe'satraditionhimself，asAhtellhim。"Beatonwouldhaveenjoyedjoiningtheyoungladyinanythingshemightbegoingtosayinderogationofherfather，butherestrainedhimself，andshewentonmoreandmoreasifshewishedtoaccountforherfather'shabitualhauteurwithBeaton，ifnottoexcuseit。"Ahtellhimhedon'tunderstandtherisinggeneration。Hewasbroughtupintheoldschool，andhethinkswe'realljustlahkehewaswhenhewasyoung，withallthoseahdealsofchivalryandfamily；but，mahgoodness!it'smoneythatcyoantsno'adaysintheSoath，justlahkeitdoeseverywhereelse。Ahsuppose，ifwecouldhaveslaverybackinthefawmmahfathawthinksitcouldhavebeenbroughtupto，whenthecommercialspiritwouldn'tletitalone，itwouldbethebestthing；butwecan'thaveitback，andAhtellhimwehadbetterhavethecommercialspiritasthenextbestthing。"
　　MissWoodburnwenton，withsufficientloyaltyandpiety，toexposethedifferenceofherownandherfather'sideals，butwithwhatBeatonthoughtlessreferencetohisownunsympatheticattentionthantoaknowledgefinallyofthepersonnelandmaterielof'EveryOtherWeek。'
　　andMr。Fulkerson'srelationtotheenterprise。"Youmostexcusemyaskingsomanyquestions，Mr。Beaton。Youknowit'sallmahdoingthatweaweheahinNewYork。Ahjusttoldmahfathawthatifhewasevahgoin'todoanythingwithhiswrahtings，hehadgottocomeNo'th，andAhmadehimcome。Ahbelievehe'dhavestayedintheSoathallhislahfe。
　　AndnowMr。Fulkersonwantshimtolethiseditorseesomeofhiswrahtings，andAhwantedtoknowsomethingaboatthemagazine。Weaweagreatdealexcitedaboatitinthishoase，youknow，Mr。Beaton，"sheconcluded，withalookthatnowtransferredtheinterestfromFulkersontoAlma。Sheledthewaybacktotheroomwheretheyweresitting，andwentuptotriumphoverFulkersonwithBeaton'sdecisionaboutthetable-
　　cover。
　　AlmawasleftwithBeatonnearthepiano，andhebegantotalkabouttheDryfoosesashesatdownonthepiano-stool。HesaidhehadbeengivingMissDryfoosalessononthebanjo；hehadborrowedthebanjoofMissVance。ThenhestruckthechordhehadbeentryingtoteachChristine，andplayedovertheairhehadsung。
　　"Howdoyoulikethat?"heasked，whirlinground。
　　"Itseemsratheradisrespectfullittletune，somehow，"saidAlma，placidly。
　　Beatonrestedhiselbowonthecornerofthepianoandgazeddreamilyather。"Yourperceptionsarewonderful。Itisdisrespectful。Iplayedit，upthere，becauseIfeltdisrespectfultothem。"
　　"Doyouclaimthatasamerit?"
　　"No，Istateitasafact。Howcanyourespectsuchpeople?"
　　"Youmightrespectyourself，then，"saidthegirl。"Orperhapsthatwouldn'tbesoeasy，either。"
　　"No，itwouldn't。Iliketohaveyousaythesethingstome，"saidBeaton，impartially。
　　"Well，Iliketosaythem，"Almareturned。
　　"Theydomegood。"
　　"Oh，Idon'tknowthatthatwasmymotive。"
　　"Thereisnoonelikeyou——noone，"saidBeaton，asifapostrophizingherinherabsence。"Tocomefromthathouse，withitsassertionsofmoney——
　　youcanhearitchink；youcansmellthefouloldbanknotes；itstiflesyou——intoanatmospherelikethis，islikecomingintoanotherworld。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidAlma。"I'mgladthereisn'tthatunpleasantodorhere；
　　butIwishtherewasalittlemoreofthechinking。"
　　"No，no!Don'tsaythat!"heimplored。"Iliketothinkthatthereisonesouluncontaminatedbythesenseofmoneyinthisbig，brutal，sordidcity。"
　　"Youmeantwo，"saidAlma，withmodesty。"ButifyoustifleattheDryfooses'，whydoyougothere?"
　　"WhydoIgo?"hemused。"Don'tyoubelieveinknowingallthenatures，thetypes，youcan?Thosegirlsareastrangestudy:theyoungoneisasimple，earthlycreature，ascommonasanoat-fieldandtheotherasortofsylvanlife:fierce，flashing，feline——"
　　Almaburstoutintoalaugh。"Whataptalliteration!Anddotheylikebeingstudied?Ishouldthinkthesylvanlifemight——scratch。"
　　"No，"saidBeaton，withmelancholyabsence，"itonly-purrs。"
　　Thegirlfeltarisingindignation。"Well，then，Mr。Beaton，Ishouldhopeitwouldscratch，andbite，too。Ithinkyou'venobusinesstogoaboutstudyingpeople，asyoudo。It'sabominable。"
　　"Goon，"saidtheyoungman。"ThatPuritanconscienceofyours!
　　ItappealstotheoldCovenanterstraininme——likeavoiceofpre-
　　existence。Goon——"
　　"Oh，ifIwentonIshouldmerelysayitwasnotonlyabominable，butcontemptible。"
　　"Youcouldbemyguardianangel，Alma，"saidtheyoungman，makinghiseyesmoreandmoreslumbrousanddreamy。
　　"Stuff!IhopeIhaveasoulabovebuttons!"
　　Hesmiled，assherose，andfollowedheracrosstheroom。"Good-night；
　　Mr。Beaton，"shesaid。
　　MissWoodburnandFulkersoncameinfromtheotherroom。"What!You'renotgoing，Beaton?"
　　"Yes；I'mgoingtoareception。Istoppedinonmyway。"
　　"Tokilltime，"Almaexplained。
　　"Well，"saidFulkerson，gallantly，"thisisthelastplaceIshouldliketodoit。ButIguessI'dbetterbegoing，too。Ithassometimesoccurredtomethatthereissuchathingasstayingtoolate。ButwithBrotherBeaton，here，juststartinginforanevening'samusement，itdoesseemalittleearlyyet。Can'tyouurgemetostay，somebody?"
　　Thetwogirlslaughed，andMissWoodburnsaid:
　　"Mr。Beatonissuchabutterflyoffashion!AhwishAhwasonmahwaytoapawty。Ahfeelquahteenvious。"
　　"Buthedidn'tsayittomakeyou，"Almaexplained，withmeeksoftness。
　　"Well，wecan'tallbeswells。Whereisyourparty，anyway，Beaton?"
　　askedFulkerson。"Howdoyoumanagetogetyourinvitationstothosethings?Isupposeafellowhastokeephintingroundprettylively，Neigh?"
　　Beatontookthesemockeriesserenely，andshookhandswithMissWoodburn，withtheeffectofhavingalreadyshakenhandswithAlma。Shestoodwithhersclaspedbehindher。
　　V。
　　BeatonwentawaywiththesmileonhisfacewhichhehadkeptinlisteningtoFulkerson，andcarrieditwithhimtothereception。
　　HebelievedthatAlmawasvexedwithhimformorepersonalreasonsthanshehadimplied；itflatteredhimthatsheshouldhaveresentedwhathetoldheroftheDryfooses。Shehadscoldedhimintheirbehalfapparently；butreallybecausehehadmadeherjealousbyhisinterest，ofwhateverkind，insomeoneelse。Whatfollowed，hadfollowednaturally。Unlessshehadbeenquiteasimpletonshecouldnothavemethisprovisionallove-makingonanyotherterms；andthereasonwhyBeatonchieflylikedAlmaLeightonwasthatshewasnotasimpleton。Evenupinthecountry，whenshewasoverawedbyhisacquaintance，atfirst，shewasnotverydeeplyoverawed，andattimesshewasnotoverawedatall。
　　Atsuchtimessheastonishedhimbytakinghismostsolemnhistrionicswithflippantincredulity，andevenburlesquingthem。Buthecouldsee，allthesame，thathehadcaughtherfancy，andheadmiredtheskillwithwhichshepunishedhisneglectwhentheymetinNewYork。HehadreallycomeverynearforgettingtheLeightons；theintangibleobligationsofmutualkindnesswhichholdsomemensofast，hunglooselyuponhim；
　　itwouldnothavehurthimtobreakfromthemaltogether；butwhenherecognizedthematlast，hefoundthatitstrengthenedthemindefinitelytohaveAlmaignorethemsocompletely。Ifshehadbeensentimental，orsoftlyreproachful，thatwouldhavebeentheend；hecouldnothavestoodit；hewouldhavehadtodropher。Butwhenshemethimonhisownground，andobligedhimtobesentimental，thegamewasinherhands。
　　Beatonlaughed，now，whenhethoughtofthat，andhesaidtohimselfthatthegirlhadgrownimmenselysinceshehadcometoNewYork；nothingseemedtohavebeenlostuponher；shemusthavekepthereyesuncommonlywideopen。Henoticedthatespeciallyintheirtalksoverherwork；shehadprofitedbyeverythingshehadseenandheard；shehadallofWetmore'sideaspat；itamusedBeatontoseehowsheseizedeveryusefulwordthathedropped，too，andturnedhimtotechnicalaccountwhenevershecould。Helikedthat；shehadagreatdealoftalent；therewasnoquestionofthat；ifshewereamantherecouldbenoquestionofherfuture。Hebegantoconstructafutureforher；itincludedprovisionforhimself，too；itwasacommonfuture，inwhichtheirlivesandworkwereunited。
　　HewasfulloftheglowofitsprosperitywhenhemetMargaretVanceatthereception。
　　Thehousewasonewherepeoplemightchatalongtimetogetherwithoutpubliclycommittingthemselvestoaninterestineachotherexceptsuchagrewoutofeachother'sideas。MissVancewastherebecausesheunitedinhercatholicsympathiesorambitionstheobjectsofthefashionablepeopleandoftheaestheticpeoplewhometthereoncommonground。ItwasalmosttheonlyhouseinNewYorkwherethishappenedoften，anditdidnothappenveryoftenthere。Itwasaliteraryhouse，primarily，withartisticqualifications，andthefrequentersofitweremostlyauthorsandartists；Wetmore，whowasalwaystryingtofiteverythingwithaphrase，saiditwastheunfrequenterswhowerefashionable。Therewasgreateasethere，andsimplicity；andiftherewasnotdistinction，itwasnotforwantofdistinguishedpeople，butbecausethereseemstobesomesolventinNewYorklifethatreducesallmentoacommonlevel，thattoucheseverybodywithitspotentmagicandbringstothesurfacethedeeplyunderlyingnobody。Theeffectforsometemperaments，forconsciousness，foregotism，isadmirable；forcuriosity，forheroworship，itisratherbaffling。Itisthespiritofthestreettransferredtothedrawing-room；indiscriminating，levelling，butdoubtlessfinallywholesome，andwitnessingtheimmensityoftheplace，ifnotconsentingtothegrandeurofreputationsorpresences。
　　Beatonnowdeniedthatthishouserepresentedasalonatall，intheoldsense；andheheldthatthesalonwasimpossible，evenundesirable，withus，whenMissVancesighedforit。Atanyrate，hesaidthatthisturmoilofcomingandgoing，thisbubbleandbabble，thiscacklingandhissingofconversationwasnottheexpressionofanysuchcivilizationashadcreatedthesalon。Here，heowned，weretheelementsofintellectualdelightfulness，buthesaidtheirassemblageinsuchquantityalonedeniedthesalon；therewastoomuchofagoodthing。