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another station in the world where mahogany rocking…chairs were provided；
that the dull…red warmth of the walls was as cozy as an evening lamp； and
that he always hoped to see a fire kindled on that vast hearth and under
that aesthetic mantel； but he supposed now he never should。 He said it
was all very different from that tunnel； the old Albany depot； where they
had waited the morning they went to New York when they were starting on
their wedding journey。
〃The morning； Basil！〃 cried his wife。 〃We went at night； and we were
going to take the boat； but it stormed so！〃 She gave him a glance of
such reproach that he could not answer anything； and now she asked him
whether he supposed their cook and second girl would be contented with
one of those dark holes where they put girls to sleep in New York flats；
and what she should do if Margaret； especially； left her。 He ventured to
suggest that Margaret would probably like the city； but； if she left；
there were plenty of other girls to be had in New York。 She replied that
there were none she could trust； and that she knew Margaret would not
stay。 He asked her why she took her； thenwhy she did not give her up
at once； and she answered that it would be inhuman to give her up just in
the edge of the winter。 She had promised to keep her； and Margaret was
pleased with the notion of going to New York； where she had a cousin。
〃Then perhaps she'll be pleased with the notion of staying；〃 he said。
〃Oh； much you know about it！〃 she retorted； and； in view of the
hypothetical difficulty and his want of sympathy； she fell into a gloom；
from which she roused herself at last by declaring that； if there was
nothing else in the flat they took； there should be a light kitchen and a
bright； sunny bedroom for Margaret。 He expressed the belief that they
could easily find such a flat as that； and she denounced his fatal
optimism； which buoyed him up in the absence of an undertaking and let
him drop into the depths of despair in its presence。
He owned this defect of temperament； but he said that it compensated the
opposite in her character。 〃I suppose that's one of the chief uses of
marriage； people supplement one another； and form a pretty fair sort of
human being together。 The only drawback to the theory is that unmarried
people seem each as complete and whole as a married pair。〃
She refused to be amused； she turned her face to the window and put her
handkerchief up under her veil。
It was not till the dining…car was attached to their train that they were
both able to escape for an hour into the care…free mood of their earlier
travels； when they were so easily taken out of themselves。 The time had
been when they could have found enough in the conjectural fortunes and
characters of their fellow…passengers to occupy them。 This phase of
their youth had lasted long； and the world was still full of novelty and
interest for them； but it required all the charm of the dining…car now to
lay the anxieties that beset them。 It was so potent for the moment；
however； that they could take an objective view at their sitting cozily
down there together； as if they had only themselves in the world。 They
wondered what the children were doing； the children who possessed them so
intensely when present； and now； by a fantastic operation of absence；
seemed almost non…existents。 They tried to be homesick for them； but
failed； they recognized with comfortable self…abhorrence that this was
terrible； but owned a fascination in being alone； at the same time； they
could not imagine how people felt who never had any children。 They
contrasted the luxury of dining that way； with every advantage except a
band of music； and the old way of rushing out to snatch a fearful joy at
the lunch…counters of the Worcesier and Springfield and New Haven
stations。 They had not gone often to New York since their wedding
journey； but they had gone often enough to have noted the change from the
lunch…counter to the lunch…basket brought in the train； from which you
could subsist with more ease and dignity； but seemed destined to a
superabundance of pickles； whatever you ordered。
They thought well of themselves now that they could be both critical and
tolerant of flavors not very sharply distinguished from one another in
their dinner； and they lingered over their coffee and watched the autumn
landscape through the windows。
〃Not quite so loud a pattern of calico this year；〃 he said； with
patronizing forbearance toward the painted woodlands whirling by。
〃Do you see how the foreground next the train rushes from us and the
background keeps ahead of us； while the middle distance seems stationary？
I don't think I ever noticed that effect before。 There ought to be
something literary in it： retreating past and advancing future and
deceitfully permanent presentsomething like that？〃
His wife brushed some crumbs from her lap before rising。 〃Yes。 You
mustn't waste any of these ideas now。〃
〃Oh no； it would be money out of Fulkerson's pocket。〃
VII。
They went to a quiet hotel far down…town； and took a small apartment
which they thought they could easily afford for the day or two they need
spend in looking up a furnished flat。 They were used to staying at this
hotel when they came on for a little outing in New York； after some rigid
winter in Boston； at the time of the spring exhibitions。 They were
remembered there from year to year； the colored call…boys； who never
seemed to get any older； smiled upon them； and the clerk called March by
name even before he registered。 He asked if Mrs。 March were with him；
and said then he supposed they would want their usual quarters； and in a
moment they were domesticated in a far interior that seemed to have been
waiting for them in a clean； quiet； patient disoccupation ever since they
left it two years before。 The little parlor； with its gilt paper and
ebonized furniture； was the lightest of the rooms； but it was not very
light at noonday without the gas； which the bell…boy now flared up for
them。 The uproar of the city came to it in a soothing murmur； and they
took possession of its peace and comfort with open celebration。 After
all； they agreed； there was no place in the world so delightful as a
hotel apartment like that； the boasted charms of home were nothing to it；
and then the magic of its being always there； ready for any one； every
one； just as if it were for some one alone： it was like the experience of
an Arabian Nights hero come true for all the race。
〃Oh； why can't we always stay here； just we two！〃 Mrs。 March sighed to
her husband； as he came out of his room rubbing his face red with the
towel； while she studied a new arrangement of her bonnet and handbag on
the mantel。
〃And ignore the past？ I'm willing。 I've no doubt that the children
could get on perfectly well without us； and could find some lot in the
scheme of Providence that would really be just as well for them。〃
〃Yes； or could contrive somehow never to have existed。 I should insist
upon that。 If they are； don't you see that we couldn't wish them not to
be？〃
〃Oh yes； I see your point； it's simply inco