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could make the terms to suit。 She had taken her passage for Europe； and
was very anxious to let the flat before she sailed。 She would call that
evening at seven。
〃Mrs。 Grosvenor Green！〃 said Mrs。 March。 〃Which of the ten thousand
flats is it； Basil？〃
〃The gimcrackery；〃 he answered。 〃In the Xenophon； you know。〃
〃Well； she may save herself the trouble。 I shall not see her。 Or yes
I must。 I couldn't go away without seeing what sort of creature could
have planned that fly…away flat。 She must be a perfect〃
〃Parachute；〃 March suggested。
〃No！ anybody so light as that couldn't come down。〃
〃Well； toy balloon。〃
〃Toy balloon will do for the present；〃 Mrs。 March admitted。 〃But I feel
that naught but herself can be her parallel for volatility。〃
When Mrs。 Grosvenor…Green's card came up they both descended to the hotel
parlor； which March said looked like the saloon of a Moorish day…boat；
not that he knew of any such craft； but the decorations were so Saracenic
and the architecture so Hudson Riverish。 They found there on the grand
central divan a large lady whose vast smoothness； placidity； and
plumpness set at defiance all their preconceptions of Mrs。 Grosvenor
Green； so that Mrs。 March distinctly paused with her card in her hand
before venturing even tentatively to address her。 Then she was
astonished at the low； calm voice in which Mrs。 Green acknowledged
herself； and slowly proceeded to apologize for calling。 It was not quite
true that she had taken her passage for Europe； but she hoped soon to do
so； and she confessed that in the mean time she was anxious to let her
flat。 She was a little worn out with the care of housekeeping
Mrs。 March breathed； 〃Oh yes！〃 in the sigh with which ladies recognize
one another's martyrdomand Mrs。 Green had business abroad； and she was
going to pursue her art studies in Paris； she drew in Mr。 Ilcomb's class
now； but the instruction was so much better in Paris； and as the
superintendent seemed to think the price was the only objection； she had
ventured to call。
〃Then we didn't deceive him in the least；〃 thought Mrs。 March； while she
answered； sweetly： 〃No； we were only afraid that it would be too small
for our family。 We require a good many rooms。〃 She could not forego the
opportunity of saying； 〃My husband is coming to New York to take charge
of a literary periodical； and he will have to have a room to write in；〃
which made Mrs。 Green bow to March； and made March look sheepish。 〃But
we did think the apartment very charming〃； （It was architecturally
charming； she protested to her conscience）；〃 and we should have been so
glad if we could have got into it。〃 She followed this with some account
of their house…hunting； amid soft murmurs of sympathy from Mrs。 Green；
who said that she had been through all that； and that if she could have
shown her apartment to them she felt sure that she could have explained
it so that they would have seen its capabilities better； Mrs。 March
assented to this； and Mrs。 Green added that if they found nothing exactly
suitable she would be glad to have them look at it again； and then Mrs。
March said that she was going back to Boston herself； but she was leaving
Mr。 March to continue the search； and she had no doubt he would be only
too glad to see the apartment by daylight。 〃But if you take it； Basil；〃
she warned him； when they were alone； 〃I shall simply renounce you。 I
wouldn't live in that junk…shop if you gave it to me。 But who would have
thought she was that kind of looking person？ Though of course I might
have known if I had stopped to think once。 It's because the place
doesn't express her at all that it's so unlike her。 It couldn't be like
anybody； or anything that flies in the air； or creeps upon the earth； or
swims in the waters under the earth。 I wonder where in the world she's
from； she's no New…Yorker； even we can see that； and she's not quite a
country person； either； she seems like a person from some large town；
where she's been an aesthetic authority。 And she can't find good enough
art instruction in New York； and has to go to Paris for it！ Well； it's
pathetic； after all； Basil。 I can't help feeling sorry for a person who
mistakes herself to that extent。〃
〃I can't help feeling sorry for the husband of a person who mistakes
herself to that extent。 What is Mr。 Grosvenor Green going to do in Paris
while she's working her way into the Salon？〃
〃Well； you keep away from her apartment； Basil； that's all I've got to
say to you。 And yet I do like some things about her。〃
〃I like everything about her but her apartment；〃 said March。
〃I like her going to be out of the country；〃 said his wife。 〃We
shouldn't be overlooked。 And the place was prettily shaped； you can't
deny it。 And there was an elevator and steam heat。 And the location is
very convenient。 And there was a hall…boy to bring up cards。 The halls
and stairs were kept very clean and nice。 But it wouldn't do。 I could
put you a folding bed in the room where you wrote； and we could even have
one in the parlor〃
〃Behind a portiere？ I couldn't stand any more portieres！〃
〃And we could squeeze the two girls into one room； or perhaps only bring
Margaret； and put out the whole of the wash。 Basil！〃 she almost
shrieked； 〃it isn't to be thought of！〃
He retorted； 〃 I'm not thinking of it； my dear。〃
Fulkerson came in just before they started for Mrs。 March's train； to
find out what had become of them； he said； and to see whether they had
got anything to live in yet。
〃Not a thing；〃 she said。 〃And I'm just going back to Boston； and leaving
Mr。 March here to do anything he pleases about it。 He has 'carte
blanche。'〃
〃But freedom brings responsibility； you know； Fulkerson； and it's the
same as if I'd no choice。 I'm staying behind because I'm left； not
because I expect to do anything。〃
〃Is that so？〃 asked Fulkerson。 〃Well； we must see what can be done。 I
supposed you would be all settled by this time； or I should have humped
myself to find you something。 None of those places I gave you amounts to
anything？〃
〃As much as forty thousand others we've looked at；〃 said Mrs。 March。
〃Yes； one of them does amount to something。 It comes so near being what
we want that I've given Mr。 March particular instructions not to go near
it。〃
She told him about Mrs。 Grosvenor Green and her flats； and at the end he
said：
〃Well； well； we must look out for that。 I'll keep an eye on him； Mrs。
March； and see that he doesn't do anything rash； and I won't leave him
till he's found just the right thing。 It exists； of course； it must in a
city of eighteen hundred thousand people； and the only question is where
to find it。 You leave him to me； Mrs。 March； I'll watch out for him。〃
Fulkerson showed some signs of going to the station when he found they
were not driving； but she bade him a peremptory good…bye at the hotel
door。
〃He's very nice； Basil； and his way with you is perfectly charming。
It's very sweet to see how really fond of you he is。 But I didn't want
him stringing along with us up to Forty…second Street and spoiling our
last moments together。〃
At Third Avenu