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