NothinginthesefervidfantasiespreventedhisrespondingwithduedrynesstoFulkerson'scheery"Hello，oldman!"whenhefoundhimselfinthebuildingfittedupforthe'EveryOtherWeek'office。Fulkerson'sroomwasbackofthesmalleroneoccupiedbythebookkeeper；theyhadbeenrespectivelythereception-roomanddining-roomofthelittleplaceinitsdwelling-housedays，andtheyhadbeensimplyandtastefullytreatedintheirtransformationintobusinesspurposes。Thenarrowoldtrimofthedoorsandwindowshadbeenkept，andthequaintlyuglymarblemantels。Thearchitecthadsaid，Betterletthemstaytheyexpressedepoch，ifnotcharacter。
　　"Well，haveyoucomeroundtogotowork?Justhangupyourcoatontheflooranywhere，"Fulkersonwenton。
　　"I'vecometobringyouthatletter，"saidBeaton，allthemorehaughtilybecausehefoundthatFulkersonwasnotalonewhenhewelcomedhiminthesefreeandeasyterms。Therewasaquiet-lookingman，ratherstout，andalittleabovethemiddleheight，withafull，close-croppediron-
　　graybeard，seatedbeyondthetablewhereFulkersontiltedhimselfback，withhiskneessetagainstit；andleaningagainstthemanteltherewasayoungmanwithasingularlygentleface，inwhichthelookofgoodnessqualifiedandtransfiguredacertainsimplicity。Hislargeblueeyesweresomewhatprominent；andhisrathernarrowfacewasdrawnforwardinanosealittletoolongperhaps，ifithadnotbeenforthefullchindeeplycutbelowthelip，andjuttingfirmlyforward。
　　"IntroduceyoutoMr。March，oureditor，Mr。Beaton，"Fulkersonsaid，rollinghisheadinthedirectionoftheelderman；andthennoddingittowardtheyounger，hesaid，"Mr。Dryfoos，Mr。Beaton。"BeatonshookhandswithMarch，andthenwithMr。Dryfoos，andFulkersonwenton，gayly:"Wewerejusttalkingofyou，Beaton——well，youknowtheoldsaying。Mr。March，asItoldyou，isoureditor，andMr。Dryfooshaschargeofthepublishingdepartment——he'sthecounting-roomincarnate，thesourceofpower，thefountainofcorruption，theelementthatpreventsjournalismbeingthehighandholythingthatitwouldbeiftherewerenomoneyinit。"Mr。Dryfoosturnedhislarge，mildeyesuponBeaton，andlaughedwiththeuneasyconcessionwhichpeoplemaketoacharacterwhentheydonotquiteapproveofthecharacter'slanguage。
　　"WhatMr。MarchandIaretryingtodoistocarryonthisthingsothattherewon'tbeanymoneyinit——orverylittle；andwe'replanningtogivethepublicabetterarticleforthepricethanit'severhadbefore。
　　Nowhere'sadummywe'vehadmadeupfor'EveryOtherWeek'，andaswe'vedecidedtoadoptit，wewouldnaturallylikeyouropinionofit，so'stoknowwhatopiniontohaveofyou。"HereachedforwardandpushedtowardBeatonavolumealittleabovethesizeoftheordinaryduodecimobook；
　　itsivory-whitepebbledpapercoverwasprettilyillustratedwithawater-coloreddesignirregularlywashedoverthegreaterpartofitssurface:
　　quiteacrossthepageattop，andnarrowingfromrighttoleftasitdescended。Inthetriangularspaceleftblankthetitleoftheperiodicalandthepublisher'simprintweretastefullyletteredsoastobepartlycoveredbythebackgroundofcolor。
　　"It'slikesomeofthoseTartarinbooksofDaudet's，"saidBeacon，lookingatitwithmoreinterestthanhesufferedtobeseen。"Butit'sabook，notamagazine。"Heopeneditspagesofthick，mellowwhitepaper，withuncutleaves，thefirstfewpagesexperimentallyprintedinthetypeintendedtobeused，andillustratedwithsomesketchesdrawnintoandoverthetext，forthesakeoftheeffect。
　　"ADaniel——aDanielcometojudgment!Sitdown，Dan'el，andtakeiteasy。"FulkersonpushedachairtowardBeaton，whodroppedintoit。
　　"You'reright，Dan'el；it'sabook，toallpracticalintentsandpurposes。AndwhatweproposetodowiththeAmericanpublicistogiveittwenty-fourbookslikethisayear——acompletelibrary——fortheabsurdsumofsixdollars。Wedon'tintendtosell'em——it'snonameforthetransaction——buttogive'em。Andwhatwewanttogetoutofyou——beg，borrow，buy，orstealfromyouisanopinionwhetherweshallmaketheAmericanpublicthisprincelypresentinpapercoverslikethis，orinsomesortofflexibleboards，sotheycansetthemontheshelfandsaynomoreaboutit。Now，Dan'el，cometojudgment，asourrespectedfriendShylockremarked。"
　　Beaconhadgotdonelookingatthedummy，andhedroppeditonthetablebeforeFulkerson，whopusheditaway，apparentlytofreehimselffrompartiality。"Idon'tknowanythingaboutthebusinessside，andIcan'ttellabouttheeffectofeitherstyleonthesales；butyou'llspoilthewholecharacterofthecoverifyouuseanythingthickerthanthatthickishpaper。"
　　"Allright；verygood；first-rate。Theayeshaveit。Paperitis。I
　　don'tmindtellingyouthatwehaddecidedforthatpaperbeforeyoucamein。Mr。Marchwantedit，becausehefeltinhisbonesjustthewayyoudoaboutit，andMr。Dryfooswantedit，becausehe'sthecounting-roomincarnate，andit'scheaper；andI'wantedit，becauseIalwaysliketogowiththemajority。Nowwhatdoyouthinkofthatlittledesignitself?"
　　"Thesketch?"Beatonpulledthebooktowardhimagainandlookedatitagain。"Ratherdecorative。Drawing'snotremarkable。Graceful；rathernice。"Hepushedthebookawayagain，andFulkersonpulledittohisaideofthetable。
　　"Well，that'sapieceofthatamateurtrashyoudespisesomuch。IwenttoapainterIknow-by-the-way，hewasguiltyofsuggestingyouforthisthing，butItoldhimIwasaheadofhim——andIgothimtosubmitmyideatooneofhisclass，andthat'stheresult。Well，now，thereain'tanythinginthisworldthatsellsabooklikeaprettycover，andwe'regoingtohaveaprettycoverfor'EveryOtherWeek'everytime。We'vecutloosefromtheoldtraditionalquartoliterarynewspapersize，andwe'vecutloosefromtheoldtwo-columnbigpagemagazinesize；we'regoingtohaveaduodecimopage，clearblackprint，andpaperthat'llmakeyourmouthwater；andwe'regoingtohaveafreshillustrationforthecoverofeachnumber，andweain'tagoingtogivethepublicanyrestatall。Sometimeswe'regoingtohaveadelicatelittlelandscapelikethis，andsometimeswe'regoingtohaveanindelicatelittlefigure，orasmuchsoasthelawwillallow。"
　　Theyoungmanleaningagainstthemantelpieceblushedasortofprotest。
　　Marchsmiledandsaid，dryly，"ThosearethenumbersthatMr。Fulkersonisgoingtoedithimself。"
　　"Exactly。AndMr。Beaton，here，isgoingtosupplythefloatingfemales，gracefullyairingthemselvesagainstasunsetorsomethingofthatkind。"
　　Beatonfrownedinembarrassment，whileFulkersonwentonphilosophically；
　　"It'sastonishinghowyoufellowscankeepitupatthisstageoftheproceedings；youcanpaintthingsthatyourharshestcriticwouldbeashamedtodescribeaccurately；you'reasfreeasthetheatre。Butthat'sneitherherenorthere。WhatI'mafteristhefactthatwe'regoingtohavevarietyinourtitle-pages，andwearegoingtohavenoveltyintheillustrationsofthebodyofthebook。March，here，ifhehadhisownway，wouldn'thaveanyillustrationsatall。"
　　"NotbecauseIdon'tlikethem，Mr。Beacon，"Marchinterposed，"butbecauseIlikethemtoomuch。IfindthatIlookatthepicturesinanillustratedarticle，butIdon'treadthearticleverymuch，andIfancythat'sthecasewithmostotherpeople。You'vegottodoingthemsoprettilythatyoutakeoureyesofftheliterature，ifyoudon'ttakeourmindsoff。"
　　"Likethesocietybeautiesonthestage:peoplegoinforthebeautysomuchthattheydon'tknowwhattheplayis。Butthebox-officegetsthereallthesame，andthat'swhatMr。Dryfooswants。"FulkersonlookedupgaylyatMr。Dryfoos，whosmileddeprecatingly。
　　"Itwasdifferent，"Marchwenton，"whentheillustrationsusedtobebad。Thenthetexthadsomechance。"
　　"Oldlegitimatedramadays，whenuglinessandgeniuscombinedtostormthegalleries，"saidFulkerson。
　　"Wecanstillmakethembadenough，"saidBeaton，ignoringFulkersoninhisremarktoMarch。
　　Fulkersontookthereplyuponhimself。"Well，youneedn'tmake'emsobadastheold-stylecuts；butyoucanmakethemunobtrusive，modestlyretiring。We'vegotholdofaprocesssomethinglikethatthoseFrenchfellowsgaveDaudetthirty-fivethousanddollarstowriteanoveltousewith；kindofthingthatbeginsatoneside；oronecorner，andspreadsinasortofdimreligiousstyleovertheprinttillyoucan'ttellwhichiswhich。Thenwe'vegotanotionthatwherethepicturesdon'tbehavequitesosociably，theycanbedroppedintothetext，likealittlecasualremark，don'tyouknow，oracommentthathassomeconnection，ormaybenoneatall，withwhat'sgoingoninthestory。Somethinglikethis。"Fulkersontookawayonekneefromthetablelongenoughtoopenthedrawer，andpullfromitabookthatheshovedtowardBeacon。
　　"That'saSpanishbookIhappenedtoseeatBrentano's，andIfrozetoitonaccountofthepictures。Iguessthey'reprettygood。"
　　"Doyouexpecttogetsuchdrawingsinthiscountry?"askedBeaton，afteraglanceatthebook。"uchcharacter——suchdrama?Youwon't。"
　　"Well，I'mnotsosure，"saidFulkerson，"cometogetouramateurswarmeduptothework。ButwhatIwantistogetthephysicaleffect，sotospeak-getthatsizedpictureintoourpage，andsetthefashionofit。
　　Ishouldn'tcareiftheillustrationwassometimesconfinedtoaninitialletterandatail-piece。"
　　"Couldn'tbedonehere。Wehaven'tthetouch。We'regoodinsomethings，butthisisn'tinourway，"saidBeaton，stubbornly。"Ican'tthinkofamanwhocoulddoit；thatis，amongthosethatwould。"
　　"Well，thinkofsomewoman，then，"saidFulkerson，easily。"I'vegotanotionthatthewomencouldhelpusoutonthisthing，cometoget'eminterested。Thereain'tanythingsopopularasfemalefiction；whynottryfemaleart?"
　　"Thefemalesthemselveshavebeensupposedtohavebeentryingitforagoodwhile，"Marchsuggested；andMr。Dryfooslaughednervously；Beatonremainedsolemnlysilent。
　　"Yes，Iknow，"Fulkersonassented。"ButIdon'tmeanthatkindexactly。
　　Whatwewanttodoistoworkthe'ewigWeibliche'inthisconcern。Wewanttomakeamagazinethatwillgoforthewomen'sfancyeverytime。
　　Idon'tmeanwithrecipesforcookingandfashionsandpersonalgossipaboutauthorsandsociety，butrealhigh-toneliteraturethatwillshowwomentriumphinginallthestories，orelsesufferingtremendously。
　　We'vegottorecognizethatwomenformthree-fourthsofthereadingpublicinthiscountry，andgofortheirtastesandtheirsensibilitiesandtheirsex-pietyalongthewholeline。Theydoliketothinkthatwomencandothingsbetterthanmen；andifwecanletitleakoutandgetaroundinthepapersthatthemanagersof'EveryOtherWeek'couldn'tstirapeginthelineoftheillustrationstheywantedtilltheygotalotofGod-giftedgirlstohelpthem，it'llmakethefortuneofthething。See?"
　　Helookedsunnilyroundattheothermen，andMarchsaid:"YououghttobeinchargeofaSiamesewhiteelephant，Fulkerson。It'sadisgracetobeconnectedwithyou。"
　　"Itseemstome，"saidBecton，"thatyou'dbettergetaGod-giftedgirlforyourarteditor。"
　　Fulkersonleanedalertlyforward，andtouchedhimontheshoulder，withacompassionatesmile。"Mydearboy，theyhaven'tgotthegeniusoforganization。Ittakesaverymasculinemanforthat——amanwhocombinesthemostsubtleandrefinedsympathieswiththemostforcefulpurposesandthemostferruginouswill-power。WhichhisnameisAngusBeaton，andherehesets!"
　　TheotherslaughedwithFulkersonathisgrossburlesqueofflattery，andBectonfrownedsheepishly。"Isupposeyouunderstandthisman'sstyle，"
　　hegrowledtowardMarch。
　　"Hedoes，myson，"saidFulkerson。"HeknowsthatIcannottellalie。"
　　Hepulledouthiswatch，andthengotsuddenlyuponhisfeet。
　　"It'squarteroftwelve，andI'vegotanappointment。"Beatonrosetoo，andFulkersonputthetwobooksinhislaxhands。"Takethesealong，MichelangeloDaVinci，myfriend，andputyourmultitudinousmindonthemforaboutanhour，andletushearfromyouto-morrow。Wehanguponyourdecision。"
　　"There'snodecidingtobedone，"saidBeaton。"Youcan'tcombinethetwostyles。They'dkilleachother。"
　　"ADan'el，aDan'elcometojudgment!Iknewyoucouldhelpusout!
　　Take'emalong，andtelluswhichwillgothefurthestwiththe'ewigWeibliche。'Dryfoos，Iwantawordwithyou。"Heledthewayintothefrontroom，flirtinganairyfarewelltoBeatonwithhishandashewent。
　　VII。
　　MarchandBeatonremainedalonetogetherforamoment，andMarchsaid:
　　"Ihopeyouwillthinkitworthwhiletotakeholdwithus，Mr。Beaton。
　　Mr。Fulkersonputsitinhisownway，ofcourse；butwereallywanttomakeanicethingofthemagazine。"Hehadthattimidityoftheelderinthepresenceoftheyoungermanwhichtheyounger，preoccupiedwithhisowntimidityinthepresenceoftheelder，cannotimagine。Besides，MarchwasawareofthegulfthatdividedhimasaliterarymanfromBeatonasanartist，andheonlyventuredtofeelhiswaytowardsympathywithhim。"Wewanttomakeitgood；wewanttomakeithigh。Fulkersonisrightaboutaimingtopleasethewomen，butofcoursehecaricaturesthewayofgoingaboutit。"
　　Foranswer，Beatonflungout，"Ican'tgoinforathingIdon'tunderstandtheplanof。"
　　Marchtookitforgrantedthathehadwoundedsomeexposedsensibility，ofBeaton's。Hecontinuedstillmoredeferentially:"Mr。Fulkerson'snotion——Imustsaythenotionishis，evolvedfromhissyndicateexperience——isthatweshalldobestinfictiontoconfineourselvestoshortstories，andmakeeachnumbercompleteinitself。Hefoundthatthemostsuccessfulthingshecouldfurnishhisnewspaperswereshortstories；weAmericansaresupposedtoexcelinwritingthem；andmostpeoplebeginwiththeminfiction；andit'sMr。Fulkerson'sideatoworkunknowntalent，ashesays，andsohethinkshecannotonlygetthemeasily，butcangraduallyformaschoolofshort-storywriters。Ican'tsayIfollowhimaltogether，butIrespecthisexperience。Weshallnotdespisetranslationsofshortstories，butotherwisethematterwillallbeoriginal，and，ofcourse，itwon'tallbeshortstories。Weshallusesketchesoftravel，andessays，andlittledramaticstudies，andbitsofbiographyandhistory；butallverylight，andalwaysshortenoughtobecompletedinasinglenumber。Mr。Fulkersonbelievesinpictures，andmostofthethingswouldbecapableofillustration。"
　　"Isee，"saidBeaton。
　　"Idon'tknowbutthisisthewholeaffair，"saidMarch，beginningtostiffenalittleattheyoungman'sreticence。
　　"Iunderstand。Thankyoufortakingthetroubletoexplain。Good-
　　morning。"Beatonbowedhimselfoff，withoutofferingtoshakehands。
　　Fulkersoncameinafterawhilefromtheouteroffice，andMr。Dryfoosfollowedhim。"Well，whatdoyouthinkofourarteditor?"
　　"Isheourarteditor?"askedMarch。"Iwasn'tquitecertainwhenheleft。"
　　"Didhetakethebooks?"
　　"Yes，hetookthebooks。"
　　"Iguesshe'sallright，then。"Fulkersonadded，inconcessiontotheumbragehedetectedinMarch。
　　"Beatonhashistimesofbeingthegreatestassinthesolarsystem，butheusuallytakesitoutinpersonalconduct。Whenitcomestowork，he'saregularhorse。"
　　"Heappearstohavecompromisedforthepresentbybeingaperfectmule，"
　　saidMarch。
　　"Well，he'sinatransitionstate，"Fulkersonallowed。"He'sthemanforus。Hereallyunderstandswhatwewant。You'llsee；he'llcatchon。
　　Thatluridglareofhiswillwearoffinthecourseoftime。He'sreallyagoodfellowwhenyoutakehimoffhisguard；andhe'sfullofideas。
　　He'sspreadoutoveragooddealofgroundatpresent，andsohe'sprettythin；butcometogatherhimupintoalump，there'sagooddealofsubstancetohim。Yes，thereis。He'safirst-ratecritic，andhe'sanicefellowwiththeotherartists。Theylaughathisuniversality，buttheyalllikehim。He'sthebestkindofateacherwhenhecondescendstoit；andhe'sjustthemantodealwithourvolunteerwork。Yes，sir，he'saprize。Well，Imustgonow。"
　　Fulkersonwentoutofthestreetdoor，andthencamequicklyback。"By-
　　the-bye，March，IsawthatolddynamiterofyoursroundatBeaton'sroomyesterday。"
　　"Whatolddynamiterofmine?"
　　"Thatoldone-handedDutchman——friendofyouryouth——theonewesawatMaroni's——"
　　"Oh-Lindau!"saidMarch，withavaguepangofselfreproachforhavingthoughtofLindausolittleafterthefirstfloodofhistenderfeelingtowardhimwaspast。
　　"Yes，ourversatilefriendwasmodellinghimasJudasIscariot。Lindaumakesafirst-rateJudas，andBeatonhasgotabigthinginthatheadifheworksthereligiouspeopleright。ButwhatIwasthinkingofwasthis——itstruckmejustasIwasgoingoutofthedoor:Didn'tyoutellmeLindauknewfortyorfifty，differentlanguages?"
　　"Fourorfive，yes。"
　　"Well，wewon'tquarrelaboutthenumber。Thequestionis，Whynotworkhiminthefieldofforeignliterature?Youcan'tgooveralltheirreviewsandmagazines，andhecoulddothesmellingforyou，ifyoucouldtrusthisnose。Wouldheknowagoodthing?"
　　"Ithinkhewould，"saidMarch，onwhomthescopeofFulkerson'ssuggestiongraduallyopened。"Heusedtohavegoodtaste，andhemustknowtheground。Why，it'sacapitalidea，Fulkerson!LindauwroteveryfairEnglish，andhecouldtranslate，withalittlerevision。"
　　"Andhewouldprobablyworkcheap。Well，hadn'tyoubetterseehimaboutit?Iguessit'llbequiteawindfallforhim。"
　　"Yes，itwill。I'lllookhimup。Thankyouforthesuggestion，Fulkerson。"
　　"Oh，don'tmentionit!Idon'tminddoing'EveryOtherWeek'agoodturnnowandthenwhenitcomesinmyway。"Fulkersonwentoutagain，andthistimeMarchwasfinallyleftwithMr。Dryfoos。
　　"Mrs。Marchwasverysorrynottobeathomewhenyoursisterscalledtheotherday。Shewishedmetoaskiftheyhadanyafternooninparticular。
　　Therewasnoneonyourmother'scard。"
　　"No，sir，"saidtheyoungman，withaflushofembarrassmentthatseemedhabitualwithhim。"Shehasnoday。She'sathomealmosteveryday。
　　Shehardlyevergoesout。"
　　"Mightwecomesomeevening?"Marchasked。"Weshouldbeverygladtodothat，ifshewouldexcusetheinformality。ThenIcouldcomewithMrs。March。"
　　"Motherisn'tveryformal，"saidtheyoungman。"Shewouldbeverygladtoseeyou。"
　　"Thenwe'llcomesomenightthisweek，ifyouwillletus。Whendoyouexpectyourfatherback?"
　　"NotmuchbeforeChristmas。He'stryingtosettleupsomethingsatMoffitt。"
　　"Andwhatdoyouthinkofourarteditor?"askedMarch，withasmile，forthechangeofsubject。
　　"Oh，Idon'tknowmuchaboutsuchthings，"saidtheyoungman，withanotherofhisembarrassedflushes。"Mr。Fulkersonseemstofeelsurethatheistheoneforus。"
　　"Mr。FulkersonseemedtothinkthatIwastheoneforyou，too，"saidMarch；andhelaughed。"That'swhatmakesmedoubthisinfallibility。
　　Buthecouldn'tdoworsewithMr。Beaton。"
　　Mr。Dryfoosreddenedandlookeddown，asifunableorunwillingtocopewiththedifficultyofmakingapoliteprotestagainstMarch'sself-
　　depreciation。Hesaid，afteramoment:"It'snewbusinesstoallofusexceptMr。Fulkerson。ButIthinkitwillsucceed。Ithinkwecandosomegoodinit。"
　　Marchaskedratherabsently，"Somegood?"Thenheadded:"Ohyes；
　　Ithinkwecan。Whatdoyoumeanbygood?Improvethepublictaste?
　　Elevatethestandardofliterature?Giveyoungauthorsandartistsachance?"
　　ThiswastheonlygoodthathadeverbeeninMarch'smind，exceptthegoodthatwastocomeinamaterialwayfromhissuccess，tohimselfandtohisfamily。
　　"Idon'tknow，"saidtheyoungman；andhelookeddowninashamefacedfashion。HeliftedhisheadandlookedintoMarch'sface。"IsupposeI
　　wasthinkingthatsometimewemighthelpalong。IfweweretohavethosesketchesofyoursaboutlifeineverypartofNewYork——"
　　March'sauthorialvanitywastickled。"Fulkersonhasbeentalkingtoyouaboutthem?Heseemedtothinktheywouldbeacard。Hebelievesthatthere'snosubjectsofascinatingtothegeneralaverageofpeoplethroughoutthecountryaslifeinNewYorkCity；andhelikedmynotionofdoingthesethings。"MarchhopedthatDryfooswouldanswerthatFulkersonwasperfectlyenthusiasticabouthisnotion；buthedidnotneedthisstimulus，and，atanyrate，hewentonwithoutit。"Thefactis，it'ssomethingthatstruckmyfancythemomentIcamehere；Ifoundmyselfintenselyinterestedintheplace，andIbegantomakenotes，consciouslyandunconsciously，atonce。Yes，IbelieveIcangetsomethingquiteattractiveoutofit。Idon'tintheleastknowwhatitwillbeyet，exceptthatitwillbeverydesultory；andIcouldn'tatallsaywhenIcangetatit。IfwepostponethefirstnumbertillFebruaryImightgetalittlepaperintothat。Yes，Ithinkitmightbeagoodthingforus，"Marchsaid，withmodestself-appreciation。
　　"Ifyoucanmakethecomfortablepeopleunderstandhowtheuncomfortablepeoplelive，itwillbeaverygoodthing，Mr。March。Sometimesitseemstomethattheonlytroubleisthatwedon'tknowoneanotherwellenough；andthatthefirstthingistodothis。"Theyoungfellowspokewiththeseriousnessinwhichthebeautyofhisfaceresided。Wheneverhelaughedhisfacelookedweak，evensilly。Itseemedtobeasenseofthisthatmadehimhanghisheadorturnitawayatsuchtimes。
　　"That'strue，"saidMarch，fromthesurfaceonly。"Andthen，thosephasesoflowlifeareimmenselypicturesque。Ofcourse，wemusttrytogetthecontrastsofluxuryforthesakeofthefulleffect。Thatwon'tbesoeasy。Youcan'tpenetratetothedinner-partyofamillionaireunderthewingofadetectiveasyoucouldtoacarouseinMulberryStreet，ortohischildren'snurserywithaphilanthropistasyoucantoastreet-boy'slodging-house。"Marchlaughed，andagaintheyoungmanturnedhisheadaway。"Still，somethingcanbedoneinthatwaybytactandpatience。"
　　VII。
　　ThateveningMarchwentwithhiswifetoreturnthecalloftheDryfoosladies。Ontheirwayup-townintheElevatedhetoldherofhistalkwithyoungDryfoos。"IconfessIwasalittleashamedbeforehimafterwardforhavinglookedatthemattersoentirelyfromtheaestheticpointofview。Butofcourse，youknow，ifIwenttoworkatthosethingswithanethicalintentionexplicitlyinmind，Ishouldspoilthem。"
　　"Ofcourse，"saidhiswife。Shehadalwaysheardhimsaysomethingofthiskindaboutsuchthings。
　　Hewenton:"ButIsupposethat'sjustthepointthatsuchanatureasyoungDryfoos'scan'tgetholdof，orkeepholdof。We'reaqueerlot，downthere，Isabel——perfectmenagerie。Ifithadn'tbeenthatFulkersongotustogether，andreallyseemstoknowwhathediditfor，Ishouldsayhewastheoddeststickamongus。ButwhenIthinkofmyselfandmyowncrankinessfortheliterarydepartment；andyoungDryfoos，whooughtreallytobeinthepulpit，oramonastery，orsomething，forpublisher；
　　andthatyoungBeaton，whoprobablyhasn'tamoralfibreinhiscomposition，fortheartman，Idon'tknowbutwecouldgiveFulkersonoddsandstillbeathiminoddity。"
　　Hiswifeheavedadeepsighofapprehension，ofrenunciation，ofmonition。"Well，I'mgladyoucanfeelsolightaboutit，Basil。"
　　"Light?Ifeelgay!WithFulkersonatthehelm，Itellyoutherocksandtheleeshorehadbetterkeepoutoftheway。"Helaughedwithpleasureinhismetaphor。"JustwhenyouthinkFulkersonhastakenleaveofhissenseshesaysordoessomethingthatshowsheisonthemostintimateandinalienabletermswiththemallthetime。YouknowhowI'vebeenworryingoverthoseforeignperiodicals，andtryingtogetsometranslationsfromthemforthefirstnumber?Well，Fulkersonhasbroughthiscentipedalmindtobearonthesubject，andhe'ssuggestedthatoldGermanfriendofmineIwastellingyouof——theoneImetintherestaurant——thefriendofmyyouth。"
　　"Doyouthinkhecoulddoit?"askedMrs。March，sceptically。
　　"He'saperfectBabelofstrangetongues；andhe'stheverymanforthework，andIwasashamedIhadn'tthoughtofhimmyself，forIsuspectheneedsthework。"
　　"Well，becarefulhowyougetmixedupwithhim，then，Basil，"saidhiswife，whohadthenaturalmisgivingconcerningthefriendsofherhusband'syouththatallwiveshave。"YouknowtheGermansaresounscrupulouslydependent。Youdon'tknowanythingabouthimnow。"
　　"I'mnotafraidofLindau，"saidMarch。"HewasthebestandkindestmanIeversaw，themosthigh-minded，themostgenerous。Helostahandinthewarthathelpedtosaveusandkeepuspossible，andthatstumpofhisischaracterenoughforme。"
　　"Oh，youdon'tthinkIcouldhavemeantanythingagainsthim!"saidMrs。
　　March，withthetenderfervorthateverywomanwholivedinthetimeofthewarmustfeelforthosewhosufferedinit。"AllthatImeantwasthatIhopedyouwouldnotgetmixedupwithhimtoomuch。You'resoapttobecarriedawaybyyourimpulses。"
　　"Theydidn'tcarrymeveryfarawayinthedirectionofpooroldLindau，I'mashamedtothink，"saidMarch。"ImeantallsortsoffinethingsbyhimafterImethim；andthenIforgothim，andIhadtoberemindedofhimbyFulkerson。"
　　Shedidnotanswerhim，andhefellintoaremorsefulreverie，inwhichherehabilitatedLindauanew，andprovidedhandsomelyforhisoldage。
　　Hegothimburiedwithmilitaryhonors，andhadashaftraisedoverhim，withamedallionlikenessbyBeatonandanepitaphbyhimself，bythetimetheyreachedForty-secondStreet；therewasnotimetowriteLindau'slife，howeverbriefly，beforethetrainstopped。
　　TheyhadtowalkupfourblocksandthenhalfablockacrossbeforetheycametotheindistinctivebrownstonehousewheretheDryfooseslived。
　　Itwaslargerthansomeinthesameblock，butthenextneighborhoodofahugeapartment-housedwarfeditagain。Marchthoughtherecognizedtheveryflatinwhichhehaddisciplinedthesurlyjanitor，buthedidnottellhiswife；hemadehernoticethetransitioncharacterofthestreet，whichhadbeenmostlybuiltupinapartment-houses，withhereandthereasingledwellingdroppedfardownbeneathandbesidethem，tothatjag-
　　toothedeffectonthesky-linesooftenobservableinsuchNewYorkstreets。"Idon'tknowexactlywhattheoldgentlemanboughtherefor，"
　　hesaid，astheywaitedonthestepsafterringing，"unlessheexpectstoturnitintoflatsby-and-by。Otherwise，Idon'tbelievehe'llgethismoneyback。"
　　AnIrishserving-man，withacertainsurprisethatdelayedhim，saidtheladieswereathome，andlettheMarchesin，andthencarriedtheircardsup-stairs。Thedrawing-room，wherehesaidtheycouldsitdownwhilehewentonthiserrand，wasdelicately，decoratedinwhiteandgold，andfurnishedwithasortofextravagantgoodtaste；therewasnothingtoobjecttointhesatinfurniture，thepale，soft，richcarpet，thepictures，andthebronzeandchinabric-a-brac，exceptthattheircostlinesswastooevident；everythingintheroommeantmoneytooplainly，andtoomuchofit。TheMarchesrecognizedthisinthehoarsewhisperswhichpeoplecannotgettheirvoicesabovewhentheytrytotalkawaytheintervalofwaitinginsuchcircumstances；theyconjecturedfromwhattheyhadheardoftheDryfoosesthatthistastefulluxuryinnowiseexpressedtheircivilization。"Thoughwhenyoucometothat，"saidMarch，"Idon'tknowthatMrs。Green'sgimcrackeryexpressesours。"
　　"Well，Basil，Ididn'ttakethegimcrackery。Thatwasyour——"
　　TherustleofskirtsonthestairswithoutarrestedMrs。Marchinthewell-meritedpunishmentwhichsheneverfailedtoinflictuponherhusbandwhenthequestionofthegimcrackery——theyalwayscalleditthat——
　　cameup。Sheroseattheentranceofabright-looking，pretty-looking，mature，youngishlady，inblacksilkofaneutralimplication，whoputoutherhandtoher，andsaid，withaverycheery，veryladylikeaccent，"Mrs。March?"andthenaddedtobothofthem，whilesheshookhandswithMarch，andbeforetheycouldgetthenameoutoftheirmonths:"No，notMissDryfoos!Neitherofthem；norMrs。Dryfoos。Mrs。Mandel。Theladieswillbedowninamoment。Won'tyouthrowoffyoursacque，Mrs。
　　March?I'mafraidit'sratherwarmhere，comingfromtheoutside。"
　　"Iwillthrowitback，ifyou'llallowme，"saidMrs。March，withasortofprovisionality，asif，pendingsomeuncertaintyastoMrs。Mandel'squalityandauthority，shedidnotfeelherselfjustifiedingoingfurther。
　　ButifshedidnotknowaboutMrs。Mandel，Mrs。Mandelseemedtoknowabouther。"Oh，well，do!"shesaid，withasortofrecognitionoftheproprietyofhercaution。"IhopeyouarefeelingalittleathomeinNewYork。Weheardsomuchofyourtroubleingettingaflat，fromMr。
　　Fulkerson。"
　　"Well，atrueBostoniandoesn'tgiveupquitesosoon，"saidMrs。March。
　　"ButIwillsayNewYorkdoesn'tseemsofaraway，nowwe'rehere。"
　　"I'msureyou'lllikeit。Everyonedoes。"Mrs。MandeladdedtoMarch，"It'sverysharpout，isn'tit?"
　　"Rathersharp。ButafterourBostonwintersIdon'tknowbutIoughttorepudiatetheword。"
　　"Ah，waittillyouhavebeenherethroughMarch!"saidMrs。Mandel。Shebeganwithhim，butskillfullytransferredthecloseofherremark，andthelittlesmileofmenacethatwentwithit，tohiswife。
　　"Yes，"saidMrs。March，"orApril，either:Talkaboutoureastwinds!"
　　"Oh，I'msuretheycan'tbeworsethanourwinds，"Mrs。Mandelreturned，caressingly。
　　"IfweescapeNewYorkpneumonia，"Marchlaughed，"itwillonlybetofallapreytoNewYorkmalariaassoonasthefrostisoutoftheground。"
　　"Oh，butyouknow，"saidMrs。Mandel，"Ithinkourmalariahasreallybeenslanderedalittle。It'smoreamatterofdrainage——ofplumbing。
　　Idon'tbelieveitwouldbepossibleformalariatogetintothishouse，we'vehaditgoneoversothoroughly。"
　　Mrs。Marchsaid，whileshetriedtodivineMrs。Mandel'spositionfromthisstatement，"It'scertainlythefirstduty。"
　　"IfMrs。Marchcouldhavehadherway，weshouldhavehadthedrainageofourwholewardputinorder，"saidherhusband，"beforeweventuredtotakeafurnishedapartmentforthewinter。"
　　Mrs。MandellookeddiscreetlyatMrs。Marchforpermissiontolaughatthis，butatthesamemomentbothladiesbecamepreoccupiedwithasecondrustlingonthestairs。
　　Twotall，well-dressedyounggirlscamein，andMrs。Mandelintroduced，"MissDryfoos，Mrs。March；andMissMelaDryfoos，Mr。March，"sheadded，andthegirlsshookhandsintheirseveralwayswiththeMarches。
　　MissDryfooshadkeenblackeyes，andherhairwasintenselyblack。Herface，butfortheslightinwardcurveofthenose，wasregular，andthesmallnessofhernoseandofhermouthdidnotweakenherface，butgaveitacuriouseffectoffierceness，ofchallenge。Shehadalargeblackfaninherhand，whichshewavedintalking，withaslow，watchfulnervousness。Hersisterwasblonde，andhadaprofilelikeherbrother's；butherchinwasnotsosalient，andtheweaklookofthemouthwasnotcorrectedbythespiritualityorthefervorofhiseyes，thoughherswereofthesamemottledblue。ShedroppedintothelowseatbesideMrs。Mandel，andintertwinedherfingerswiththoseofthehandwhichMrs。Mandelletherhave。ShesmiledupontheMarches，whileMissDryfooswatchedthemintensely，withhereyesfirstononeandthenontheother，asifshedidnotmeantoletanyexpressionoftheirsescapeher。
　　"Mymotherwillbedowninaminute，"shesaidtoMrs。March。
　　"Ihopewe'renotdisturbingher。Itissogoodofyoutoletuscomeintheevening，"Mrs。Marchreplied。
　　"Oh，notatall，"saidthegirl。"Wereceiveintheevening。"
　　"Whenwedoreceive，"MissMelaputin。"Wedon'talwaysgetthechanceto。"Shebeganalaugh，whichshecheckedatasmilefromMrs。Mandel，whichnoonecouldhaveseentobereproving。
　　MissDryfooslookeddownatherfan，andlookedupdefiantlyatMrs。
　　March。"Isupposeyouhavehardlygotsettled。Wewereafraidwewoulddisturbyouwhenwecalled。"
　　"Ohno!Wewereverysorrytomissyourvisit。Wearequitesettledinournewquarters。Ofcourse，it'sallverydifferentfromBoston。"
　　"Ihopeit'smoreofasociableplacethere，"MissMelabrokeinagain。
　　"IneversawsuchanunsociableplaceasNewYork。We'vebeeninthishousethreemonths，andIdon'tbelievethatifwestayedthreeyearsanyoftheneighborswouldcall。"
　　"Ifancyproximitydoesn'tcountformuchinNewYork，"Marchsuggested。
　　Mrs。Mandelsaid:"That'swhatItellMissMela。Butsheisaverysocialnature，andcan'treconcileherselftothefact。"
　　"No，Ican't，"thegirlpouted。"IthinkitwastwiceasmuchfuninMoffitt。IwishIwastherenow。"
　　"Yes，"saidMarch，"Ithinkthere'sagreatdealmoreenjoymentinthosesmallerplaces。There'snotsomuchgoingoninthewayofpublicamusements，andsopeoplemakemoreofoneanother。Therearenotsomanyconcerts，theatres，operas——"
　　"Oh，they'vegotasplendidopera-houseinMoffitt。It'sjustgrand，"
　　saidMissMela。
　　"Haveyoubeentotheoperahere，thiswinter?"Mrs。Marchaskedoftheeldergirl。
　　Shewasglaringwithafrownathersister，anddetachedhereyesfromherwithaneffort。"Whatdidyousay?"shedemanded，withanabsentbluntness。"Ohyes。Yes!Wewentonce。FathertookaboxattheMetropolitan。"
　　"ThenyougotagooddoseofWagner，Isuppose?"saidMarch。
　　"What?"askedthegirl。
　　"Idon'tthinkMissDryfoosisveryfondofWagner'smusic，"Mrs。Mandelsaid。"IbelieveyouareallgreatWagneritesinBoston?"
　　"I'maverybadBostonian，Mrs。Mandel。IsuspectmyselfofpreferringVerdi，"Marchanswered。
　　MissDryfooslookeddownatherfanagain，andsaid，"Ilike'Trovatore'
　　thebest。"
　　"It'sanoperaInevergettiredof，"saidMarch，andMrs。MarchandMrs:
　　Mandelexchangedasmileofcompassionforhissimplicity。Hedetectedit，andadded:"ButIdaresayIshallcomedownwiththeWagnerfeverintime。I'vebeenexposedtosomemalignantcasesofit。"
　　"Thatnightwewerethere，"saidMissMela，"theyhadtoturnthegasdownallthroughonepartofit，andthepaperssaidtheladieswereawfulmadbecausetheycouldn'tshowtheirdiamonds。Idon'twonder，iftheyallhadtopayasmuchfortheirboxesaswedid。Wehadtopaysixtydollars。"ShelookedattheMarchesfortheirsensationatthisexpense。
　　Marchsaid:"Well，IthinkIshalltakemyboxbythemonth，then。Itmustcomecheaper，wholesale。"
　　"Ohno，itdon't，"saidthegirl，gladtoinformhim。"Thepeoplethatowntheirboxes，andthathadtogivefifteenortwentythousanddollarsapieceforthem，havetopaysixtydollarsanightwheneverthere'saperformance，whethertheygoornot。"
　　"ThenIshouldgoeverynight，"Marchsaid。
　　"Mostoftheladieswerelowneck——"
　　Marchinterposed，"Well，Ishouldn'tgolow-neck。"
　　Thegirlbrokeintoafondlyapprovinglaughathisdrolling。"Oh，I
　　guessyoulovetotrain!Usgirlswantedtogolowneck，too；butfathersaidweshouldn't，andmothersaidifwedidshewouldn'tcometothefrontoftheboxonce。Well，shedidn't，anyway。Wemightjustaswell'a'gonelowneck。Shestayedbackthewholetime，andwhentheyhadthatdance——theballet，youknow——shejustshuthereyes。Well，Conraddidn'tlikethatpartmuch，either；butusgirlsandMrs。Mandel，webrazeneditoutrightinthefrontofthebox。Wewereabouttheonlyonestherethatwenthighneck。Conradhadtowearaswallow-tail；
　　butfatherhadn'tany，andhehadtopatchoutwithawhitecravat。
　　Youcouldn'tseewhathehadoninthebacko'thebox，anyway。"
　　Mrs。MarchlookedatMissDryfoos，whowaswavingherfanmoreandmoreslowlyupanddown，andwho，whenshefeltherselflookedat，returnedMrs。March'ssmile，whichshemeanttobeingratiatingandperhapssympathetic，withaflashthatmadeherstart，andthenranherfierceeyesoverMarch'sface。"Herecomesmother，"shesaid，withasortofbreathlessness，asifspeakingherthoughtaloud，andthroughtheopendoortheMarchescouldseetheoldladyonthestairs。
　　Shepausedhalf-waydown，andturning，calledup:"Coonrod!Coonrod!
　　Youbringmyshawldownwithyou。"
　　HerdaughterMelacalledouttoher，"Now，mother，Christine'llgiveittoyoufornotsendingMike。"
　　"Well，Idon'tknowwhereheis，Mely，child，"themotheransweredback。
　　"Heain'tneveraroundwhenhe'swanted，andwhenheain't，itseemslikeabodycouldn'tgitshetofhim，nohow。"
　　"Well，yououghttoringforhim!"criedMissMela，enjoyingthejoke。
　　Hermothercameinwithaslowstep；herheadshookslightlyasshelookedabouttheroom，perhapsfromnervousness，perhapsfromatouchofpalsy。IneithercasethefacthadapathoswhichMrs。Marchconfessedintheaffectionwithwhichshetookherhard，dry，large，oldhandwhenshewasintroducedtoher，andinthesinceritywhichsheputintothehopethatshewaswell。
　　"I'mjustmiddlin'，"Mrs。Dryfoosreplied。"Iain'tneversowell，nowadays。ItellfawtherIdon'tbelieveitagreeswithmeverywellhere，buthesaysI'llgitusedtoit。He'sawaynow，outatMoffitt，"
　　shesaidtoMarch，andwaveredonfootamomentbeforeshesankintoachair。Shewasatallwoman，whohadbeenabeautifulgirl，andhergrayhairhadamemoryofblondenessinitlikeLindau's，Marchnoticed。Sheworeasimplesilkgown，ofaQuakerlygray，andsheheldahandkerchieffoldedsquare，asithadcomefromthelaundress。SomethingliketheSabbathquietofalittlewoodenmeeting-houseinthickWesternwoodsexpresseditselftohimfromherpresence。
　　"Laws，mother!"saidMissMela；"whatyougotthatoldthingonfor?IfI'd'a'knownyou'd'a'comedowninthat!"
　　"Coonrodsaiditwasallright，Mely，"saidhermother。
　　MissMelaexplainedtotheMarches:"MotherwasraisedamongtheDunkards，andshethinksit'swickedtowearanythingbutagraysilkevenfordress-up。"
　　"Youhain'tneverhearedo'theDunkards，Ireckon，"theoldwomansaidtoMrs。March。"Somefolkscalls'emtheBeardyMen，becausetheydon'tnevershave；andtheywashfeetliketheydointheTestament。Myunclewasone。Heraisedme。"
　　"Iguessprettymucheverybody'saBeardyMannowadays，ifheain'taDunkard!"
　　MissMelalookedroundforapplauseofhersally，butMarchwassayingtohiswife:"It'saPennsylvaniaGermansect，Ibelieve——somethingliketheQuakers。IusedtoseethemwhenIwasaboy。"
　　"Aren'ttheysomethingliketheMennists?"askedMrs。Mandel。
　　"They'regoodpeople，"saidtheoldwoman，"andtheworld'dbeaheapbetteroffiftherewasmorelike'em。"
　　Hersoncameinandlaidasoftshawloverhershouldersbeforeheshookhandswiththevisitors。"Iamgladyoufoundyourwayhere，"hesaidtothem。
　　Christine，whohadbeenbendingforwardoverherfan，nowliftedherselfupwithasighandleanedbackinherchair。
　　"I'msorrymyfatherisn'there，"saidtheyoungmantoMrs。March。
　　"He'snevermetyouyet?"
　　"No；andIshouldliketoseehim。Wehearagreatdealaboutyourfather，youknow，fromMr。Fulkerson。"
　　"Oh，Ihopeyoudon'tbelieveeverythingMr。Fulkersonsaysaboutpeople，"Melacried。"He'sthegreatestpersonforcarryingonwhenhegetsgoingIeversaw。ItmakesChristinejustasmadwhenhimandmothergetstotalkingaboutreligion；shesayssheknowshedon'tcareanythingmoreaboutitthanthemaninthemoon。Ireckonhedon'ttryitonmuchwithfather。"
　　"Yourfawtherain'teverbeenaperfessor，"hermotherinterposed；"buthe'salwaysbeenagoodchurch-goin'man。"
　　"NotsincewecometoNewYork，"retortedthegirl。
　　"He'sbeenallbrokeupsincehecometoNewYork，"saidtheoldwoman，withanaggrievedlook。