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understood her nature as a man ought to understand the girl he has been
thinking about for several years； I should have known she cared nothing
about my income。〃
〃I didn't care！ I'd have〃but Mr。 Field checked her outburst。
〃She was going to say；〃 said Mr。 Field； 〃that had I asked her to marry
me when I became sure that I wished to marry her； she would have been
willing to leave New York and go to the waste land in Michigan that was
her inheritance from a grandfather； and there build a cabin and live in it
with me； and that while I shot prairie chickens for dinner she would have
milked the cow which some member of the family would have been
willing to give us as a wedding present instead of a statue of the Winged
Victory； or silver spoons and forks； had we so desired。〃
Richard made a pause here； and looked at his wife as if he expected
her to correct him。 But Ethel was plainly satisfied with his statement； and
he therefore continued。
〃I think it is ideal when a girl is ready to do so much as that for a man。
But I should not think it ideal in a man to allow the girl he loved to do it
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for him。 Nor did I then know anything about the lands in Michigan
though this would have made no difference。 Ethel had been accustomed to
a house several stories high； with hot and cold water in most of them； and
somebody to answer the door…bell。〃
〃The door…bell！〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃I could have gone without hearing
that。〃
〃Yes； Ethel； only to hear the welkin ring would have been enough for
you。 I know that you are sincere in thinking so。 And the ringing welkin is
all we should have heard in Michigan。 But the more truly a man loves a
girl； the less can he bear taking her from an easy to a hard life。 I am sure
that all the men here agree with me。〃
There was a murmur and a nod from the men； and also from Mrs。
Davenport。 But the other ladies gave no sign of assenting to Richard's
proposition。
〃In those days；〃 said he； 〃I was what in the curt parlance of the street is
termed a six…hundred…dollar clerk。 And though my ears had grown
accustomed to this appellation； I never came to feel that it completely
described me。 In passing Tiffany's window twice each day （for my habit
was to walk to and from Nassau Street） I remember that seeing a
thousand…dollar clock exposed for sale caused me annoyance。 Of course
my salary as a clerk brought me into no unfavourable comparison with the
clock； and I doubt if I could make you understand my sometimes feeling
when I passed Tiffany's window that I should like to smash the clock。〃
〃I met Ethel frequently in society； dancing with her； and sitting next
her at dinners。 And by the time I had dined at her own house； and walked
several afternoons with her； my lot as a six…hundred…dollar clerk began to
seem very sad to me。 I wrote verses about it； and about other subjects also。
From an evening passed with Ethel； I would go next morning to the office
and look at the other clerks。 One of them was fifty…five； and he still
received six hundred dollarshis wages for the last thirty years。 I was then
twenty…one； and though I never despaired to the extent of believing that
years would fail to increase my value to the firm by a single cent； still； for
what could I hope？ If my salary were there and then to be doubled； what
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kind of support was twelve hundred dollars to offer Ethel； with her dresses；
and her dinners； and her father's carriage？ For two years I was wretchedly
unhappy beneath the many hours of gaiety that came to me； as to every
young man。〃
〃Those two years we could have been in Michigan；〃 said Ethel； 〃had
you understood。〃
〃I know。 But understanding； I believe that I should do the same again。
At the office； when not busy； I wrote more poetry； and began also to write
prose； which I found at the outset less easy。 When my first writings were
accepted （they were four sets of verses upon the Summer Resort） I felt that
I could soon address Ethel； for I had made ten dollars outside my salary。
Had she not been in Europe that July； I believe that I should have spoken
to her at once。 But I sent her the paper； and I have the letter that she wrote
in reply。〃
〃I〃began Ethel。 But she stopped。
〃Yes； I know now that you kept the verses；〃 said Richard。 〃My next
manuscript； however； was rejected。 Indeed； I went on offering my literary
productions nearly every week until the following January before a second
acceptance came。 It was twenty five dollars this time； and almost made me
feel again that I could handsomely support Ethel。 But not quite。 After the
first charming elation at earning money with my pen； those weeks of
refusal had caused me to think more soberly。 And though I was now bent
upon becoming an author and leaving Nassau Street； I burned no bridges
behind me； but merely filled my spare hours with writing and with
showing it to Ethel。〃
〃It was now that the second area of perturbation of my life came to me。
I say the second； because the first had been the recent dawning belief that
Ethel thought about me when I was not there to remind her of myself。 This
idea had stirred but you will understand。 And now； what was my proper；
my honourable course？ It was a positive relief that at this crisis she went
to Florida。 I could think more quietly。 My writing had come to be quite
often accepted； sometimes even solicited。 Should I speak to her； and ask
her to wait until I could put a decent roof over her head； or should I keep
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away from her until I could offer such a roof？ Her father； I supposed；
could do something for us。 But I was not willing to be a pensioner。 His
businesswere he generouswould be to provide cake and butter； but the
bread was to be mine and bread was still a long way off； according to New
York standards。 These things I thought over while she was in Florida； yet
when once I should I find myself with her again； I began to fear that I
could not hold myself frombut these are circumstances which universal
knowledge renders it needless to mention； and I will pass to the second
perturbation。〃
〃A sum of money was suddenly left me。 Then for the