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a low price outright for their work and give them a chance of the profits
in the way of a percentage。 After all； it isn't so very different from
the chances an author takes when he publishes a book。 And Fulkerson
thinks that the novelty of the thing would pique public curiosity； if it
didn't arouse public sympathy。 And the long and short of it is； Isabel；
that he wants me to help edit it。〃
〃To edit it？〃 His wife caught her breath； and she took a little time to
realize the fact； while she stared hard at her husband to make sure he
was not joking。
〃Yes。 He says he owes it all to me； that I invented the ideathe germ
the microbe。〃
His wife had now realized the fact； at least in a degree that excluded
trifling with it。 〃That is very honorable of Mr。 Fulkerson ； and if he
owes it to you； it was the least he could do。〃 Having recognized her
husband's claim to the honor done him； she began to kindle with a sense
of the honor itself and the value of the opportunity。 〃It's a very high
compliment to you； Basila very high compliment。 And you could give up
this wretched insurance business that you've always hated so； and that's
making you so unhappy now that you think they're going to take it from
you。 Give it up and take Mr。 Fulkerson's offer！ It's a perfect
interposition； coming just at this time！ Why； do it！ Mercy！〃 she
suddenly arrested herself； 〃he wouldn't expect you to get along on the
possible profits？〃 Her face expressed the awfulness of the notion。
March smiled reassuringly； and waited to give himself the pleasure of the
sensation he meant to give her。 〃If I'll make striking phrases for it
and edit it； too； he'll give me four thousand dollars。〃
He leaned back in his chair； and stuck his hands deep into his pockets；
and watched his wife's face； luminous with the emotions that flashed
through her mind…doubt； joy； anxiety。
〃Basil！ You don't mean it！ Why； take it！ Take it instantly！ Oh； what
a thing to happen！ Oh； what luck！ But you deserve it； if you first
suggested it。 What an escape； what a triumph over all those hateful
insurance people！ Oh； Basil； I'm afraid he'll change his mind！ You ought
to have accepted on the spot。 You might have known I would approve； and
you could so easily have taken it back if I didn't。 Telegraph him now！
Run right out with the despatchOr we can send Tom！〃
In these imperatives of Mrs。 March's there was always much of the
conditional。 She meant that he should do what she said； if it were
entirely right； and she never meant to be considered as having urged him。
〃And suppose his enterprise went wrong？〃 her husband suggested。
〃It won't go wrong。 Hasn't he made a success of his syndicate？〃
〃He says soyes。〃
〃Very well； then； it stands to reason that he'll succeed in this； too。
He wouldn't undertake it if he didn't know it would succeed； he must have
capital。〃
〃It will take a great deal to get such a thing going； and even if he's
got an Angel behind him〃
She caught at the word〃An Angel？〃
〃It's what the theatrical people call a financial backer。 He dropped a
hint of something of that kind。〃
〃Of course； he's got an Angel；〃 said his wife； promptly adopting the
word。 〃And even if he hadn't； still； Basil； I should be willing to have
you risk it。 The risk isn't so great； is it？ We shouldn't be ruined if
it failed altogether。 With our stocks we have two thousand a year；
anyway； and we could pinch through on that till you got into some other
business afterward； especially if we'd saved something out of your salary
while it lasted。 Basil； I want you to try it！ I know it will give you a
new lease of life to have a congenial occupation。〃 March laughed； but
his wife persisted。 〃I'm all for your trying it； Basil； indeed I am。
If it's an experiment； you can give it up。〃
〃It can give me up； too。〃
〃Oh； nonsense！ I guess there's not much fear of that。 Now； I want you to
telegraph Mr。 Fulkerson； so that he'll find the despatch waiting for him
when he gets to New York。 I'll take the whole responsibility； Basil； and
I'll risk all the consequences。〃
III。
March's face had sobered more and more as she followed one hopeful burst
with another； and now it expressed a positive pain。 But he forced a
smile and said： 〃There's a little condition attached。 Where did you
suppose it was to be published？〃
〃Why； in Boston； of course。 Where else should it be published？〃
She looked at him for the intention of his question so searchingly that
he quite gave up the attempt to be gay about it。 〃No；〃 he said； gravely；
〃it's to be published in New York。〃
She fell back in her chair。 〃In New York？〃 She leaned forward over the
table toward him； as if to make sure that she heard aright； and said；
with all the keen reproach that he could have expected： 〃In New York；
Basil！ Oh； how could you have let me go on？〃
He had a sufficiently rueful face in owning： 〃I oughtn't to have done it；
but I got started wrong。 I couldn't help putting the best foot； forward
at firstor as long as the whole thing was in the air。 I didn't know
that you would take so much to the general enterprise； or else I should
have mentioned the New York condition at once； but； of course； that puts
an end to it。〃
〃Oh； of course；〃 she assented； sadly。 〃We COULDN'T go to New York。〃
〃No； I know that；〃 he said； and with this a perverse desire to tempt her
to the impossibility awoke in him； though he was really quite cold about
the affair himself now。 〃Fulkerson thought we could get a nice flat in
New York for about what the interest and taxes came to here； and
provisions are cheaper。 But I should rather not experiment at my time of
life。 If I could have been caught younger； I might have been inured to
New York； but I don't believe I could stand it now。〃
〃How I hate to have you talk that way； Basil！ You are young enough to
try anythinganywhere； but you know I don't like New York。 I don't
approve of it。 It's so big； and so hideous！ Of course I shouldn't mind
that； but I've always lived in Boston； and the children were born and
have all their friendships and associations here。〃 She added； with the
helplessness that discredited her good sense and did her injustice；
〃I have just got them both into the Friday afternoon class at Papanti's；
and you know how difficult that is。〃
March could not fail to take advantage of an occasion like this。
〃Well； that alone ought to settle it。 Under the circumstances； it would
be flying in the face of Providence to leave Boston。 The mere fact of a
brilliant opening like that offered me on 'The Microbe；' and the halcyon
future which Fulkerson promises if we'll come to New York； is as dust in
the balance against the advantages of the Friday afternoon class。〃
〃Basil；〃 she appealed； solemnly； 〃have I ever interfered with your
career？〃
〃I never had any for you to interfere with； my dear。〃
〃Basil！ Haven't I always had faith in you？ And don't you suppose that
if I thought it would really be for your advancement I would go to New
York or anywhere with you？〃
〃No； my dear； I don't；〃 he teased。 〃If it would be for my salvation；
yes； perhaps； but n