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him； and to his wife at second…hand； very meritorious； he could not help
contrasting his life and its inner elegance with that of other men who
had no such resources。 He thought that he was not arrogant about it；
because he did full justice to the good qualities of those other people；
he congratulated himself upon the democratic instincts which enabled him
to do this； and neither he nor his wife supposed that they were selfish
persons。 On the contrary； they were very sympathetic； there was no good
cause that they did not wish well； they had a generous scorn of all kinds
of narrow…heartedness； if it had ever come into their way to sacrifice
themselves for others； they thought they would have done so； but they
never asked why it had not come in their way。 They were very gentle and
kind； even when most elusive； and they taught their children to loathe
all manner of social cruelty。 March was of so watchful a conscience in
some respects that he denied himself the pensive pleasure of lapsing into
the melancholy of unfulfilled aspirations； but he did not see that； if he
had abandoned them； it had been for what he held dearer； generally he
felt as if he had turned from them with a high； altruistic aim。 The
practical expression of his life was that it was enough to provide well
for his family； to have cultivated tastes； and to gratify them to the
extent of his means； to be rather distinguished； even in the
simplification of his desires。 He believed； and his wife believed； that
if the time ever came when he really wished to make a sacrifice to the
fulfilment of the aspirations so long postponed； she would be ready to
join with heart and hand。
When he went to her room from his library； where she left him the whole
evening with the children； he found her before the glass thoughtfully
removing the first dismantling pin from her back hair。
〃I can't help feeling；〃 she grieved into the mirror； 〃that it's I who
keep you from accepting that offer。 I know it is！ I could go West with
you； or into a new countryanywhere； but New York terrifies me。 I don't
like New York； I never did； it disheartens and distracts me； I can't find
myself in it； I shouldn't know how to shop。 I know I'm foolish and
narrow and provincial；〃 she went on； 〃but I could never have any inner
quiet in New York； I couldn't live in the spirit there。 I suppose people
do。 It can't； be that all these millions'
〃Oh； not so bad as that！〃 March interposed； laughing。 〃There aren't
quite two。〃
〃I thought there were four or five。 Well； no matter。 You see what I am；
Basil。 I'm terribly limited。 I couldn't make my sympathies go round two
million people； I should be wretched。 I suppose I'm standing in the way
of your highest interest； but I can't help it。 We took each other for
better or worse； and you must try to bear with me〃 She broke off and
began to cry。
〃Stop it！〃 shouted March。 〃I tell you I never cared anything for
Fulkerson's scheme or entertained it seriously； and I shouldn't if he'd
proposed to carry it out in Boston。〃 This was not quite true； but in the
retrospect it seemed sufficiently so for the purposes of argument。
〃Don't say another word about it。 The thing's over now； and I don't want
to think of it any more。 We couldn't change its nature if we talked all
night。 But I want you to understand that it isn't your limitations that
are in the way。 It's mine。 I shouldn't have the courage to take such a
place； I don't think I'm fit for it； and that's the long and short of
it。〃
〃Oh； you don't know how it hurts me to have you say that； Basil。〃
The next morning； as they sat together at breakfast； without the
children； whom they let lie late on Sunday； Mrs。 March said to her
husband； silent over his fish…balls and baked beans： 〃We will go to New
York。 I've decided it。〃
〃Well； it takes two to decide that；〃 March retorted。 〃We are not going
to New York。〃
〃Yes； we are。 I've thought it out。 Now； listen。〃
〃Oh； I'm willing to listen；〃 he consented； airily。
〃You've always wanted to get out of the insurance business； and now with
that fear of being turned out which you have you mustn't neglect this
offer。 I suppose it has its risks； but it's a risk keeping on as we are；
and perhaps you will make a great success of it。 I do want you to try；
Basil。 If I could once feel that you had fairly seen what you could do
in literature； I should die happy。〃
〃Not immediately after； I hope；〃 he suggested； taking the second cup of
coffee she had been pouring out for him。 〃And Boston？〃
〃We needn't make a complete break。 We can keep this place for the
present； anyway； we could let it for the winter； and come back in the
summer next year。 It would be change enough from New York。〃
〃Fulkerson and I hadn't got as far as to talk of a vacation。〃
〃No matter。 The children and I could come。 And if you didn't like New
York； or the enterprise failed； you could get into something in Boston
again； and we have enough to live on till you did。 Yes； Basil； I'm
going。〃
〃I can see by the way your chin trembles that nothing could stop you。
You may go to New York if you wish； Isabel； but I shall stay here。〃
〃Be serious； Basil。 I'm in earnest。〃
〃Serious？ If I were any more serious I should shed tears。 Come； my
dear； I know what you mean； and if I had my heart set on this thing
Fulkerson always calls it 'this thing' I would cheerfully accept any
sacrifice you could make to it。 But I'd rather not offer you up on a
shrine I don't feel any particular faith in。 I'm very comfortable where
I am； that is； I know just where the pinch comes； and if it comes harder；
why； I've got used to bearing that kind of pinch。 I'm too old to change
pinches。〃
〃Now； that does decide me。〃
〃It decides me； too。〃
〃I will take all the responsibility； Basil；〃 she pleaded。
〃Oh yes； but you'll hand it back to me as soon as you've carried your
point with it。 There's nothing mean about you； Isabel； where
responsibility is concerned。 No； if I do this thingFulkerson again？
I can't get away from 'this thing'； it's ominousI must do it because I
want to do it； and not because you wish that you wanted me to do it。
I understand your position； Isabel； and that you're really acting from a
generous impulse； but there's nothing so precarious at our time of life
as a generous impulse。 When we were younger we could stand it； we could
give way to it and take the consequences。 But now we can't bear it。 We
must act from cold reason even in the ardor of self…sacrifice。〃
〃Oh； as if you did that！〃 his wife retorted。
〃Is that any cause why you shouldn't？〃 She could not say that it was；
and he went on triumphantly：
〃No； I won't take you away from the only safe place on the planet and
plunge you into the most perilous； and then have you say in your
revulsion of feeling that you were all against it from the first； and you
gave way because you saw I had my heart set on it。〃 He supposed he was
treating the matter humorously； but in this sort of banter between
husband and wife there is always much more than the joking。 March had
seen some pretty feminine inconsistencies and trepidations