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