第2章

Ilaughed。\"Why，it\'sallgaiety，inoneway。SaratogaisaperpetualFourthofJuly，wethink。\" \"Ohyes；there\'senoughgoingon，andmywifeandmewecouldenjoyitfirstrate。\" \"Iftheyoungladycould？\"Iventured，withasmileofsympatheticintelligence。 \"Well，yes。Yousee，wedon\'tknowanybody，andIsupposewedidn\'ttakethatintoaccount。Well，Isupposeit\'slikethis:theythoughtitwouldbeeasytogetacquaintedinthehotel，andcommencehavingagoodtimerightaway。Idon\'tknow；mywifehadtheideawhentheycookeditupamongst\'emthatshewastocomewithus。ButISWEAR_I_don\'tknowhowtogoaboutit。Ican\'tseemtomakeupmymouthtospeaktofolksfirst；andthenyoucan\'ttellwhetheramanain\'tagambler，oronforthehorse-racesanyway。Sowe\'vebeenhereaweeknow，andyou\'rethefirstoneswe\'vespokentobesidesthewaiterssincewecame。\" Icouldn\'thelplaughing，theirexperiencewassoexactlyasIhadimagineditwhenIfirstsawthisdisconsolateparty。Inmytriumphatmyownpenetration，Iwouldnothavehadtheirsufferinginthepastonepangtheless；butthesimplefranknessofhisconfessionfixedmeinthewishthatthefuturemightbebrighterforthem。I thoughtmyselfwarrantedbymywife\'simprudenceintakingasteptowardtheirfurtherintimacyonmyownaccount，andIsaid: \"Well，perhapsIoughttotellyouthatIhaven\'tbeeninsidetheSaratogaCluborbetontheracessinceI\'vebeenhere。That\'smynameinfull，\"——andIgavehimmycard，——\"andI\'mintheliteraryline；thatis，I\'mtheeditorofamagazineinNewYork——theEveryOtherWeek。\" \"Ohyes；Iknowwhoyouare，\"saidmycompanion，withmycardinhishand。\"Factis，Iwasroundatyourplacethismorningtryingtogetrooms，andtheclerktoldmeallaboutyoufrommydescription。 Ifeltasmeanaspu\'sleygoin\'；seemedtobetakin\'kindofanadvantageofyou。\" \"Notatall；it\'sapublichouse，\"Iinterrupted；butIthoughtI shouldbestrongerwithMrs。MarchifIdidnotgivethefactawaytoher，andIresolvedtokeepit。 \"Buttheycouldn\'tresteasytillItried，andIwasmorethanhalfgladtherewasn\'tanyrooms。\" \"Oh，I\'mverysorry，\"Isaid；andIindulgedarealregretfromthevantageIhad。\"Itwouldhavebeenverypleasanttohaveyouthere。 Perhapslater——weshallbegivingupourroomsattheendofthemonth。\" \"No，\"hesaid，withalongbreath。\"IfI\'vegottoleave\'em，I guessit\'llbejustaswelltoleave\'emwherethey\'reacquaintedwiththehouseanyway。\"Hisremarkbetrayedapointinhisthinkingwhichhadnotperhapsbeenreachedinhistalkwiththeladies。 \"It\'saquietplace，andthey\'reusedtoit；andIguesstheywouldn\'twanttostaythroughtherestofthemonth，quite。Idon\'tbelievemywifewould，anyway。\" Hedidnotsaythisveryconfidently，buthopefullyrather，andI thoughtitaffordedmeanopeningtofindoutsomethingyetmoredefiniteabouttheladies。 \"MissGageisremarkablyfine-looking，\"Ibegan。 \"Thinkso？\"heanswered。\"Well，sodoesmywife。Idon\'tknowasI likeherstyleexactly，\"hesaid，withakindoflatentgrudge。 \"Herstyleismagnificent，\"Iinsisted。 \"Well，maybeso。Iguessshe\'sgoodenoughlooking，ifthat\'swhatyoumean。ButIthinkit\'salwaysakindofamistakeforthreepersonstocomeofftogether，Idon\'tcarewhotheyare。Thenthere\'sthreeopinions。She\'sanicegirl，andagoodgirl，andshedon\'tputherselfforward。Butwhenyou\'vegotayoungladyonyourhands，you\'veGOTher，andyoufeelboundtokeepdoin\'somethingforherallthetime；andifyoudon\'tknowwhattodoyourself，andyourwifecan\'ttell——\" Iaddedintelligently，\"Yes。\" \"Well，that\'sjustwhereitis。SometimesIwishthewholedumbtownwouldburnup。\"Ilaughedandlaughed；andmyfriend，havingbeguntounpackhisheart，wentontoeaseitoftherestofitsload。Ihadnotwaitedforthisbeforemakingsomereflectionsconcerninghim，butInowformulatedthemtomyself。HereallyhadnoneofthatreserveIhadattributedtohimthenightbefore；itwasmerelycautionandthisisthecasewithmostcountrypeople。 Theyarecautious，butnotreserved；iftheythinktheycantrustyou，theykeepbacknoneoftheiraffairs；andthisistheAmericancharacter，forwearenearlyallcountrypeople。Iunderstoodhimperfectlywhenhesaid，\"IrutherbreakstonethangothroughwhatI havebeenthroughthelastweek!Youunderstandhowitis。\'Tain\'tasifshesaidanything；Iwishshewould；butyoufeelallthewhilethatitain\'twhatsheexpectedittobe，andyoufeelasifitwasyouthatwastoblameforthefailure。ByGeorge!ifanymanwastocomealongandmakeanofferformycontractIwouldselloutcheap。It\'sworsebecausemywifeaskedhertocome，andthoughtshewasdoin\'herallkindsofafavourtolether。They\'vealwaysbeentogether，andwhenwetalkedofcomingtoSaratogathissummer，nothingwoulddomywifebutJuliamustcomewithus。Herandherfatherusuallytakeatripoffsomewhereinthehotweather，butthistimehecouldn\'tleave；presidentofourNationalBank，andpresidentofthevillage，too。\"Hethrewinthefactofthesedignitiesexplanatorily，butwithawillingness，Icouldsee，thatitshouldaffectme。Hewenton:\"They\'rekindofconnectionsofmyfirstwife\'s。Well，she\'sanicegirl；toonice，Iguess，togetalongveryfast。Iseegirlsallthewayalongdowngettin\' acquaintedonthecarsandboats——wecomeeastontheOgdensburgroadtoRouse\'sPoint，andthentooktheboatdownLakeChamplainandLakeGeorge——butshealwaysseemedtoholdback。Idon\'tknow\'sshe\'sproudeither；Ican\'tmakeitout。Itballsmywifeallup，too。Itellhershe\'sfrettedoffallthegoodhertrip\'sgoin\'todoherbeforeshegotit。\" Helaughedruefully，andjustthenthebandbegantoplaythe\"WashingtonPost。\" \"Whattune\'sthat？\"hedemanded。 \"\'WashingtonPost，\'\"Isaid，proudofknowingit。 \"ByGeorge!thattunegoesrighttoafellow\'slegs，don\'tit？\" \"It\'sthenewmarch，\"Isaid。 Helistenedwithasimplejoyinit，andhispleasurestrengthenedthemysticbondwhichhadformeditselfbetweenusthroughtheconfidenceshehadmademe，soflatteringlycorroborativeofallmyguessesconcerninghimandhisparty。 CHAPTERIV Ilongedtohavethechanceofbraggingtomywife；butthischancedidnotcometilltheconcertwasquiteover，afterIrejoinedherwithmycompanion，andshecouldtakeleaveofthemallwithoutseemingtoabandonthem。ThenIjudgeditbesttoletherhavetheword；forIknewbythewaysheranherhandthroughmyarm，andbeganpushingmealongoutofearshot，thatshewasfullofit。 \"Well，Basil，Ithinkthatisthesweetestandsimplestandkindestcreatureintheworld，andI\'mperfectlyinlovewithher。\" Ididnotbelievesomehowthatshemeantthegirl，butIthoughtitbestmerelytosuggest，\"Therearetwo。\" \"YouknowverywellwhichImean，andIwoulddoanythingIcouldforher。She\'sgotadifficultproblembeforeher，andIpityher。 Thegirl\'sverywell，andsheISabeauty；andIsupposesheHAS beenhavingadulltime，andofcourseyoucouldn\'tpleaseMrs。 Deeringhalfsowellasbydoingsomethingforherfriend。I supposeyou\'refeelingveryproudthatthey\'rejustwhatyoudivined。\" \"Notatall；I\'msousedtodiviningpeople。HowdidyouknowI knewit？\" \"Isawyoutalkingtohim，andIknewyouwerepumpinghim。\" \"Pumping？Heaskednothingbetterthantoflow。HewouldputtoshametheprovokedspontaneityofanyspringinSaratoga。\" \"Well，didhesaythathewasgoingtoleavethemhere？\" \"Hewouldliketodoit——yes。Hewasverysweetandsimpleandkind，too，Isabel。Hecomplainedbitterlyofthegoddess，andallbutsaidshesulked。\" \"Why，Idon\'tknow，\"saidmywife。\"Ithink，considering，thatsheisratheramiable。Shebrightenedupmoreandmore。\" \"Thatwasprosperity，orthehopeofit，mydear。Nothingilluminesusliketheprospectofpleasantthings。Shetookyouforsocietysmilinguponher，andofcourseshesmiledback。Butit\'sonlythefirstsmileofprosperitythatcheers。Ifitkeepsonsmilingitendsbymakingusdissatisfiedagain。Whenpeoplearegettingintosocietytheyareveryglad；whentheyhavegotintheyseemtoberathergloomy。Wemustn\'tletthesethingsgotoofar。Nowthatyou\'vegotyourfriendsingoodhumour，therightwayistodropthem——tocutthemdeadwhenyoumeetthem，tolooktheotherway。 Thatwillsendthemhomeperfectlyradiant。\" \"Nonsense!IamgoingtodoallIcanforthem。Whatdoyouthinkwecando？Theyhaven\'tthefirstideahowtoamusethemselveshere。It\'samiracletheyevergotthatdressthegirliswearing。 Theyjustmadeabolddashbecausetheysawitinadressmaker\'swindowthefirstday，andshehadtohavesomething。It\'skillinglybecomingtoher；butIdon\'tbelievetheyknowit，andtheydon\'tbegintoknowhowcheapitwas:itwassimplyTHROWNaway。I\'mgoingshoppingwiththeminthemorning。\" \"Oh!\" \"Butnowthequestionis，whatwecandotogivethemsomelittleglimpseofsocialgaiety。That\'swhatthey\'vecomefor。\" WewerepassingthecornerofalargeenclosurewhichseemsdevotedinSaratogatothemostdistractingofitspleasures，andIsaid: \"Well，wemightgivethematurnonthecircularrailwayortheswitchback；orwecouldtakethemtothePunchandJudydrama，orgettheirfortunestoldintheseeress\'stent，orletthemfireintheshooting-gallery，orbuysomesweet-grassbasketsoftheIndians；andthereisthepop-cornandthelemonade。\" \"Iwilltellyouwhat，\"saidMrsMarch，whohadnotbeenlisteningtoawordIsaid；forifshehadheardmeshewouldnothavehadpatiencewithmyironicalsuggestions。 \"Well，what？\" \"Or，no；thatwouldn\'tdo，either。\" \"I\'mgladyoudon\'tapproveofthenotion，onsecondthoughts。I didn\'tlikeitfromthebeginning，andIdidn\'tevenknowwhatitwas。\" \"Wecouldhavethemuptothehousethisevening，andintroducethemtosomeofourfriends，——onlythereisn\'tayoungmaninthewholeplace，——andhavethemstaytothecharades。\" \"Whatdoyouthink，\"Isaid，\"oftheirhavingcomeupthismorningandtriedtogetroomsatourhouse？\" \"Yes；theytoldme。\" \"Anddon\'tyoucallthatratherforth-putting？Itseemstomethatitwastakingameanadvantageofmybrags。\" \"Itwasperfectlyinnocentinthem。Butnow，dearest，don\'tbetiresome。IknowthatyoulikethemaswellasIdo，andIwilltakeallyourlittleteasingaffectationsforgranted。Thequestionis，whatcanwedoforthem？\" \"Andtheansweris，Idon\'tintheleastknow。Thereisn\'tanysocietylifeatSaratogathatIcansee；andifthereis，wearenotinit。Howcouldwegetanyoneelsein？Iseethat\'swhatyou\'reaimingat。Thosepublicsocialitiesatthebighotelstheycouldgetintoaswellaswecould；buttheywouldn\'tbeanywherewhentheygotthere，andtheywouldn\'tknowwhattodo。Youknowwhathollowmockeriesthosethingsare。Don\'tyourememberthathopwewenttowiththeyoungBraceysthefirstsummer？Ifthosegirlshadn\'twaltzedwitheachothertheywouldn\'thavedancedastepthewholeevening。\" \"Iknow，Iknow，\"sighedmywife；\"itwasterrible。Butthesepeoplearesoveryunworldlythatdon\'tyouthinktheycouldbedeludedintothebeliefthattheywereseeingsocietyifwetookalittletrouble？Youusedtobesoinventive!Youcouldthinkupsomethingnowifyoutried。\" \"Mydear，agirlknowsbeyondalltheartsofhoodwinkingwhethershe\'shavingagoodtime，andyourlittleschemeofpassingoffoneofthosehotelhopsforafestivitywouldneverworkintheworld。\" \"Well，Ithinkitistoobad!Whathasbecomeofalltheeasygaietythereusedtobeintheworld？\" \"Ithasbeenstarchedandironedoutofit，apparently。SaratogaisstilltryingtodothegoodoldAmericanact，withitsbighotelsanditsheterogeneoushops，andIdon\'tsupposethere\'seversuchathingasasocietypersonatanyofthem。Thatwouldn\'tbesobad。 Buttheunsocietypeopleseemtobeafraidofoneanother。Theyfeelthatthereissomethingintheair——somethingtheydon\'tandcan\'tunderstand；somethingalien，thatjudgestheirold-fashionedAmericanimpulsetobesociable，andcontemnsit。No；wecan\'tdoanythingforourhaplessfriends——Icanhardlycallthemouracquaintances。Wemustavoidthem，andkeepthemmerelyasapensivecolourinourownvividmemoriesofSaratoga。Ifwemadethemhaveagoodtime，andsentthemontheirwayrejoicing，I confessthatIshouldfeelmyselfdistinctlyaloser。Asitis，they\'reastrainofmelancholypoetryinmylife，ofmusicintheminorkey。Ishallalwaysassociatetheirpathoswiththishotsummerweather，andIshallthinkofthemwheneverthethermometerregisterseighty-nine。Don\'tyouseetheadvantageofthat？I believeIcanultimatelygetsomeliteratureoutofthem。IfIcanthinkofafittingfableforthemFulkersonwillfeatureitinEveryOtherWeek。He\'llgetoutaSaratoganumber，andcomeuphereandstrikethehotelsandspringsforad\'s。\" \"Well，\"saidMrs。March，\"IwishIhadneverseenthem；andit\'sallyourfault，Basil。Ofcourse，whenyouplayeduponmysympathiessoaboutthem，Icouldn\'thelpfeelinginterestedinthem。Weareacoupleofromanticoldgeese，mydear。\" \"Notatall，oratleastI\'mnot。Isimplyusedthesepeopleconjecturallytogivemyselfanagreeablepang。Ididn\'twanttoknowanythingmoreaboutthemthanIimagined，andIcertainlydidn\'tdreamofdoinganythingforthem。You\'llspoileverythingifyouturnthemfromfictionintofact，andtrytomanipulatetheirdestiny。Letthemalone；theywillworkitoutforthemselves。\" \"YouknowIcan\'tletthemalonenow，\"shelamented。\"Iamnotoneofthosewhocangivethemselvesanagreeablepangwiththeunhappinessoftheirfellow-creatures。I\'mnotsatisfiedtostudythem；Iwanttorelievethem。\" Shewentontopraiseherselftomydisadvantage，asInoticewiveswillwiththeirhusbands，andIdidnotattempttodenyherthissourceofconsolation。Butwhensheendedbysaying，\"IbelieveI shallsendyoualone，\"andexplainedthatshehadpromisedMrs。 Deeringwewouldcometotheirhotelforthemaftertea，andgowiththemtohearthemusicattheUnitedStatesandtheGrandUnion，I protested。IsaidthatIalwaysfelttoosneakingwhenIwasprowlingroundthosehotelslisteningtotheirproprietaryconcerts，andIwasawareoflookingsosneakingthatIexpectedeverymomenttobeorderedofftheirpiazzas。Asforconvoyingapartyofthreestrangersaboutalone，Ishouldcertainlynotdoit。 \"NotifI\'veaheadache？\" \"Notifyou\'veaheadache。\" \"Oh，verywell，then。\" \"Whatareyoutwoquarrellingabout？\"criedagayvoicebehindus，andwelookedroundintothelaughingeyesofMissDale。ShewastheonecottagerweknewinSaratoga，butwhenwewerewithherwefeltthatwekneweverybody，sohospitablewasthesenseofworldwhichherkindnessexhaled。 \"ItwasMrs。Marchwhowasquarrelling，\"Isaid。\"Iwasonlytryingtoconvinceherthatshewaswrong，andofcourseonehastoliftone\'svoice。IhopeIhadn\'ttheeffectofhalloaing。\" \"Well，Imerelyheardyouabovethesteamharmoniconattheswitchback，\"saidMissDale。\"Idon\'tknowwhetheryoucallTHAT holloaing。\" \"Oh，MissDale，\"saidmywife，\"weareinsuchafatal——\" \"Pickle，\"Isuggested，andsheinstantlyadoptedthewordinherextremity。 \"——picklewithsomepeoplethatProvidencehasthrowninourway，andthatwewanttodosomethingfor\"；andinalabyrinthofparenthesesthatnomancouldhavefoundhiswayintooroutof，shepossessedMissDaleofthewholeromanticfact。\"ItwasMr。March，ofcourse，whofirstdiscoveredthem，\"sheconcluded，inplaintiveaccusation。 \"PoorMr。March!\"criedMissDale。\"Well，itisapatheticcase，butitisn\'ttheonlyone，ifthat\'sanycomfort。Saratogaisreekingwithjustsuchforlornitiesthewholesummerlong；butIcanquiteunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit，Mrs。March。\"Wecametoacorner，andshesaidabruptly:\"Excusemyinterruptingyourquarrel!NotquitesoLOUD，Mr。March!\"andsheflashedbackamockinglookatmeassheskurriedoffdownthestreetwithastonishingrapidity。 \"Howperfectlyheartless!\"criedmywife。\"Icertainlythoughtshewouldsuggestsomething——offertodosomething。\" \"Irelieduponher，too，\"Isaid；\"butnowIhavemydoubtswhethershewasreallygoingdownthatstreettillshesawthatitwasthebestwaytoescape。We\'recertainlyintrouble，mydear，ifpeopleavoidusinthismanner。\" CHAPTERV \"IamdoingitentirelyonMrs。Deering\'sIaccount，\"saidmywifethateveningaftertea，aswewalkeddowntheside-streetthatdescendedfromourplacetoBroadway。\"Shehasthatgirlonherhands，andIknowshemustbeatherwits\'end。\" \"AndIdoitentirelyonDeering\'saccount，\"Iretorted。\"HehasbothofthosewomenonHIShands。\" Weemergedintotheglisteningthoroughfareinfrontofthevasthotels，andIwasstruck，asIneverfailtobe，withitsfutileandunmeaningsplendour。Ithinkthereisnothinginourdun-colouredcivilisationprettierthanthathabittheladieshaveinSaratogaofgoingoutonthestreetafterdarkintheirbareheads。WhenI firstsawthemwanderingaboutsointheglitteroftheshop-windowsandthefitfulglareoftheelectricseverywhere，IthoughttheymustbesomeofthoseSpanish-Americansmistakingthewarm，dryairoftheNorthernnightforthatoftheirownlatitudes；butwhenI cameupwiththemIcouldhear，ifIcouldnotsee，thattheywereofourownrace。Thoseflatandshapelesstonescouldcomethroughthenosesofnoother。Thebeautyandtheelegancewerealsoours，andthefearlesstrustofcircumstance。Theysaunteredupanddownbeforethegaunt，highporticoesofthehotels，asmuchathomeastheycouldhavebeenintheirownhouses，andinmuchthesamedressasiftheyhadbeenreceivingthere。Theeffectisoneofincomparablecheer，andisapromiseofsocialbrilliancywhichSaratoganomorekeepsthanshedoesthatofherothercharacteristicaspects；saytheforenooneffectofthesamethoroughfare，withthepiazzasbankedwiththehotelguests，andthestreetfullofthelightequipageswhichseempeculiartotheplacepassingandrepassing，inthejoyoussunlightandoutofit，ontheleaf-fleckedstreet。EventhepubliccarriagesofSaratogahaveafresh，unjadedair；andtoissuefromtherailwaystationinthemidstofthosebuoyanttop-phaetonsandsurreys，withtheirlight- limbedhorses，istobethrilledbysomesuchinsensateexpectationofpleasureasfillstheheartofaboyathisfirstsallyintotheworld。IalwaysexpecttofindmylostyouthwaitingformearoundthecorneroftheUnitedStatesHotel，andIaccusemyselfofsomefaultifitdisappointsme，asitalwaysdoes。Icanimaginewhatgaudyhopesbydayandbynightthebrightstagingofthepotentialdramamustawakeninthebreastofayounggirlwhenshefirstseesit，andhowblankshemustfeelwhenthecurtaingoesdownandtherehasbeennoplay。ItwasarealanguishtomewhenthatyounggirlwiththeDeeringswelcomedmywifeandmewithahopefulsmile，asifwewerethedramatispersonae，andnowtheperformancemustbegoingtobegin。Icouldseehowmuchourchanceacquaintancehadbrightenedtheperspectiveforher，andhoweagerlyshehadrepairedallherillusions；andIthoughthowmuchbetteritwouldhavebeenifshehadbeenlefttothedullandspiritlessresignationinwhichIhadfirstseenher。Fromthattherecouldnofall，atleast，andnowshehadrisenfromitonlytosinkagain。 But，infact，thewholepartyseemedfalselycheeredbytheeventoftheafternoon；andinthefewmomentsthatwesatwiththemontheirverandah，beforegoingtothemusicattheGrandUnion，Icouldheartheladieslaughingtogether，whileDeeringjoyouslyunfoldedtomehisplanofgoinghomethenextmorningandleavinghiswifeandMissGagebehindhim。\"Theywillstayinthishotel——theymightaswell——andIguesstheycangetalong。MywifefeelsmoreacquaintedsinceshemetMrs。March，andIshan\'tfeelsomuchlikeleavin\'heramongstrangershereIdon\'tknowwhenshe\'stakensuchafancytoanyoneasshehastoyourwife，orMissGageeither。Iguessshe\'llwanttoaskheraboutthestores。\" IsaidthatIbelievedthefancywasmutual，andthattherewasnothingmywifelikedbetterthantellingpeopleaboutstores。I added，ingeneralisation，thatwhenawomanhadspentallherownmoneyondress，itdidherquiteasmuchgoodtoseeotherwomenspendingtheirs；andDeeringsaidheguessedthatwasaboutso。Hegavemeapushontheshouldertomakemeunderstandhowkeenlyheappreciatedthejoke，andIperceivedthatwehadwonhishearttoo。 Wejoinedtheladies，andIthoughtthatmysufferingsforherauthorisedmetoattachmyselfmoreespeciallytoMissGage，andtofindoutallIcouldabouther。Wewalkedaheadoftheothers，andIwasawareofhermakingbelievethatitwasquitethesameasifsheweregoingtothemusicwithayoungman。Notthatsheseemeddisposedtotriflewithmygreyhairs；Iquicklysawthatthiswouldnotbeincharacterwithher；butsomesortofillusionwasessentialtoheryouth，andshecouldnothelprejuvenatingme。 Thiswasquitelikethegoddessshelooked，Ireflected，butotherwiseshewasnotformidablydivine；and，infact，Isupposethegoddesseswere，afterall，onlynicegirlsatheart。Thisone，atanyrate，Idecided，wasaverynicegirlwhenshewasnotsulking； andshewassobrightenedbyherlittleadventure，whichwasreallynoadventure，thatIcouldnotbelieveIhadeverseenhersulking。 Thehotelpeopledidnotkeepusfromgoingintothecourtofthehotel，asIwasafraidtheymight，andwealleasilyfoundplaces。 InthepausesofthemusicIpointedoutsuchnotablesandcharactersasIsawaboutus，andtriedtopossessherofasmuchoftheSaratogaworldasIknew。Itwaslargelythereinthatboldevidenceitloves，andinthatsocialsolitudetowhichtheSaratogaofthehotelscondemnsthedenizensofherworld。IdonotmeanthattheSaratogacrowdisatallafast-lookingcrowd。Therearesportingpeopleandgamblers；butthegreatmassofthefrequentersareplain，honestAmericans，outuponaholidayfromallpartsofthecountry，andofaninnocencetooinveteratetohavegraspedthefactthatthereisnofashioninSaratoganowbutthefashionoftheladies\'dresses。These，Imustsay，areofthenewestandprettiest；thedressingofthewomenalwaysstrikesmethere。Mycompanionwaseagertorecognisethesplendourswhichshehadheardof，andIpointedoutanoldladybythedoor，whosattheredisplayinguponhervastpersonanassortmentofgemsandjewelswhichsheseemedaspersonallyindifferenttoasifshewereashow- window，andIwasgladtohavethegirlshrinkfromthespectacleinakindofmutealarm。ItriedtomakehersharemypleasureinagroupofCubans——fatfather，fatmother，fatdaughter——whocamedownthewalktowardusinthehalooftropicaltradition；butshehadnotthetasteforolives，andIsawthatIfailedtopersuadeheroftheaestheticvalueofthisalienelementamongus。Sheapparentlycoulddoalmostaslittlewithsomeoldfiguresofbygonebeausspectrallyrevisitingthehotelhauntsoftheiryouth；butshewascharmedwiththesylvanlovelinessofthatincomparablecourt。Itis，infact，aparkofthetall，slimSaratogatreesenclosedbythequadrangleofthehotel，exquisitelykept，andwithitsacresofgreenswardnowshowingtheircolourvividlyinthelightoftheelectrics，whichshonefromallsidesonthefountainflashingandplashinginthemidst。Isaidthatherewasthatunionofthesylvanandtheurbanwhichwasalwaysthedreamofart，andwhichformedthedelicatecharmofpastoralpoetry；andalthoughIdonotthinkshequitegraspedthenotion，Isawthatshehadapleasureinthevisiblefact，andthatwasmuchbetter。Besides，shelistenedveryrespectfully，andwithnosignsofbeingbored。 InthewaitbetweenthetwopartsoftheconcertIinvitedhertowalkaroundthecourtwithme，andundertheapprovingeyeofMrs。 Marchwemadethisexpedition。ItseemedtomethatIcouldnotdoawiserthing，bothforthesatisfactionofmyowncuriosityandforthegratificationoftheautobiographicalpassionweallfeel，thantoleadherontospeakofherself。Butshehadlittleornothingtosayofherself，andwhatshesaidofotherthingswasmarkedbyastraightforwardgoodsense，ifnotawideintelligence。Ithinkwemakeamistakewhenwesupposethatabeautifulwomanmustalwaysbevainorconscious。 Ifancythatabeautyisquiteasoftenasolidandsensibleperson，withnoinordinatewishtobeworshipped，andthisyoungladystruckmeaswhollyunspoiledbyflattery。IdecidedthatshewasnotthetypethatwouldtakethefancyofDeWittPoint，andthatshehadgrownupwithoutlocalattentionforthatreason，orpossiblybecauseacertaincoldnessinheroverawedthefreespiritofrusticlove-making。Nodoubtsheknewthatshewasbeautiful，andIbegantothinkthatitwasnotsomuchdisappointmentatfindingSaratogaasindifferentasDeWittPointwhichgavehertheeffectofdisgustIhadfirstnotedinherthenightbefore。Thatmightratherhavecomefromthesenseoffeelingherselfahelplessburdenonherfriends，andfromthatyounglongingforcompanionshipwhichisasfarasmaybefromthedesireofconquest，oftriumph。Findinghernowsogratefullycontentwiththepooreffortstoamuseherwhichanoldfellowlikemecouldmake，IperceivedthatthesocietyofothergirlswouldsufficetomakeSaratogaquiteanotherthingforher，andIcastaboutinmymindtocontrivethissomehow。 IconfessthatIlikedherbetterandbetter，andbeforetheeveningwasoutIhadquitetransferredmycompassionfromtheDeeringstoher。ItWASforlornanddrearyforhertobeattachedtothisgoodcouple，whoseinterestswereprimarilyineachother，andwhohadnotthefirstofthoseartswhichcouldprovideherwithothercompany。ShewillinglytoldabouttheirjourneytoSaratoga，andherstorydidnotdiffermateriallyfromtheaccountDeeringhadalreadygivenme；buteventheoutwardformofadventurehadfallenfromtheirexperiencesincetheyhadcometoSaratoga。TheyhadformedthehabitofCongressParkbyaccident；buttheyhadnotbeentothelake，ortheraces，ortheHouseofPansa，orMountM\'Gregor，orHiltonPark，oreventheoutlyingsprings。ItwasthefirsttimetheyhadbeeninsideoftheGrandUnion。\"Thenyouhaveneverseentheparlour？\"Iasked；andaftertheconcertIboldlyledthewayintotheparlour，andlavisheditsmagnificenceuponthemasifI hadbeenthehost，oroneofthehotelguestsattheveryleast。I enjoyedthebreathlessnessoftheDeeringssomuch，aswewalkedupanddownthevastdrawing-roomsaccompaniedbyourimagesinthemirrors，thatIinsisteduponsittingdownwiththemalluponsomeoftherichestpiecesoffurniture；andIwassoflownwithmysuccessasciceronethatImadethemcomewithmetotheUnitedStates。Ishowedthemthroughtheparloursthere，andthenledthemthroughtotheinnerverandah，whichcommandedanotherwoodedcourtlikethatoftheGrandUnion。Itriedtomakethemfeelthestateliersentimentoftheolderhotel，andtostirtheirimaginationswithapictureoftheoldtimes，whentheSouthernplantersusedtothrongtheplace，andallthatwasgayandbrilliantinfashionablesocietywastobeseentheresometimeduringthesummer。IthinkthatIfailedinthis，butapparentlyI succeededingivingthemaneveningofdazzlingsplendour。 \"Well，sir，thishasbeenagreattreat，\"saidMr。Deering，whenhebadeusgoodbyeaswellasgood-night；hewasgoingearlyinthemorning。 Theladiesmurmuredtheirgratitude，Mrs。Deeringwithanemotionthatsuitedherthanks，andMissGagewithatouchofsomethingdaughterlytowardmethatIthoughtpretty。 CHAPTERVI \"Well，whatDIDyoumakeofher，mydear？\"Mrs。Marchdemandedtheinstantshewasbeyondtheirhearing。\"Imustsay，youdidn\'tspareyourselfinthecause；youdidbravely。Whatisshelike？\" \"Really，Idon\'tknow，\"Ianswered，afteramoment\'sreflection。\"I shouldsayshewasalmostpurelypotential。She\'snotsomuchthisorthatkindofgirl；she\'smerelyaradiantimageofgirlhood。\" \"Now，yourchicquingit，you\'refakingit，\"saidMrs。March，borrowingtheverbsseverallyfromthearteditorandthepublisherofEveryOtherWeek。\"YouhavegottotellmejusthowmuchandhowlittletherereallyisofherbeforeIgoanyfurtherwiththem。Isshestupid？\" \"No——no；Ishouldn\'tsaystupidexactly。Sheis——whatshallIsay？—— extremelyplain-minded。Isupposethegoddesseswereplain-minded。 I\'malittlepuzzledbyherattitudetowardherownbeauty。Shedoesn\'tliveherbeautyanymorethanapoetliveshispoetryorapainterhispainting；thoughI\'venodoubtsheknowshergiftishersjustastheydo。\" \"IthinkIunderstand。Youmeansheisn\'tconscious。\" \"No。Consciousisn\'tquitetheword，\"Isaidfastidiously。\"Isn\'ttheresomewordthatsaysless，ormore，inthesamedirection？\" \"No，thereisn\'t；andIshallthinkyoudon\'tmeananythingatallifyoukeepon。Now，tellmehowshereallyimpressedyou。Doessheknowanything？Hasshereadanything？Hassheanyideas？\" \"Really，Ican\'tsaywhethertheywereideasornot。SheknewwhatEveryOtherWeekwas；shehadreadthestoriesinit；butI\'mnotsureshevalueditatitstrueworth。Sheisveryplain-minded。\" \"Don\'tkeeprepeatingthat!Whatdoyoumeanbyplain-minded？\" \"Well，honest，single，common-sense，coherent，arithmetical。\" \"Horrors!DoyoumeanthatsheisMANNISH？\" \"No，notmannish。Andyetshegavemethenotionthat，whenitcametocompanionship，shewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithalotofgirlsasyoungmen。\" Mrs。Marchpulledherhandoutofmyarm，andstoppedshortunderoneofthosetallSaratogashade-treestodramatiseherinference。 \"Thensheistheslyestofallpossiblepusses!Didshegiveyouthenotionthatshewouldbejustaswellsatisfiedwithyouaswithayoungman!\" \"Shecouldn\'tdeceivemesofarasTHAT，mydear。\" \"Verywell；Ishalltakeherinhandmyselfto-morrow，andfindoutwhatshereallyis。\" Mrs。MarchwentshoppingthenextforenoonwithwhatwasleftoftheDeeringparty；Deeringhadtakentheearlytrainnorth，andsheseemedtohavefoundtheladieslivelierwithouthim。Sheformedtheimpressionfromtheirmorejoyousbehaviourthathekepthiswifefromspendingasmuchmoneyasshewouldnaturallyhavedone，andthat，whilehewasnotperhapsexactlyselfish，hewasforgetfulofheryouth，ofthedifferenceinyearsbetweenthem，andofhercapacityforpleasureswhichhecouldnotcarefor。ShesaidthatMrs。DeeringandMissGagenowactedliketwogirlstogether，and，ifanything，MissGageseemedtheelderofthetwo。 \"Andwhatdidyoudecideabouther？\"Iinquired。 \"Well，Ihelpedherbuyahatandajacketatoneofthoseniceshopsjustbelowthehotelwherethey\'restopping，andwe\'vestartedaneveningdressforher。Shecan\'twearthatwhiteduckmorning，noon，andnight。\" \"Buthercharacter——hernature？\"