第3章

Iknowyouwillgetonwellwithhim。Hehassuchagoodheart。Andhisattitudetowardyou，Basil，isbeautifulalways——sorespectful；ornotthatsomuchasappreciative。Yes，appreciative——that\'stheword；Imustalwayskeepthatinmind。\" \"It\'squiteimportanttodoso，\"saidMarch。 \"Yes，\"sheassented，seriously，\"andwemustnotforgetjustwhatkindofflatwearegoingtolookfor。The\'sinequanons\'areanelevatorandsteamheat，notabovethethirdfloor，tobeginwith。Thenwemusteachhavearoom，andyoumusthaveyourstudyandImusthavemyparlor；andthetwogirlsmusteachhavearoom。Withthekitchenanddiningroom，howmanydoesthatmake?\" \"Ten。\" \"Ithoughteight。Well，nomatter。Youcanworkintheparlor，andrunintoyourbedroomwhenanybodycomes；andIcansitinmine，andthegirlsmustputupwithone，ifit\'slargeandsunny，thoughI\'vealwaysgiventhemtwoathome。Andthekitchenmustbesunny，sotheycansitinit。Andtheroomsmustallhaveoutsidelight。Audtherentmustnotbeovereighthundredforthewinter。Weonlygetathousandforourwholehouse，andwemustsavesomethingoutofthat，soastocovertheexpensesofmoving。Now，doyouthinkyoucanrememberallthat?\" \"Notthehalfofit，\"saidMarch。\"Butyoucan；orifyouforgetathirdofit，Icancomeinwithmypartialhalfandmorethanmakeitup。\" Shehadbroughtherbonnetandsacquedown-stairswithher，andwastransferringthemfromthehatracktoherpersonwhileshetalked。Thefriendlydoor-boyletthemintothestreet，andtheclearOctobereveningairbrightenedhersothatasshetuckedherhandunderherhusband\'sarmandbegantopullhimalongshesaid，\"Ifwefindsomethingrightaway—— andwe\'rejustaslikelytogettherightflatsoonaslate；it\'sallalottery——wellgotothetheatresomewhere。\" Shehadamoment\'spanicabouthavinglefttheagents\'permitsonthetable，andafterrememberingthatshehadputthemintoherlittleshopping-bag，whereshekepthermoney(eachnotecrushedintoaroundwad)，andhadheftitonthehat-rack，whereitwouldcertainlybestolen，shefounditonherwrist。Shedidnotthinkthatveryfunny； butafterafirstimpulsetoinculpateherhusband，shelethimlaugh，whiletheystoppedunderalampandsheheldthepermitshalfayardawaytoreadthenumbersonthem。 \"Whereareyourglasses，Isabel?\" \"Onthemantelinourroom，ofcourse。\" \"Thenyououghttohavebroughtapairoftongs。\" \"Iwouldn\'tgetoffsecond-handjokes，Basil，\"shesaid；and\"Why，here!\" shecried，whirlingroundtothedoorbeforewhichtheyhadhalted，\"thisistheverynumber。Well，Idobelieveit\'sasign!\" Oneofthosecoloredmenwhosoftenthetradeofjanitorinmanyofthesmallerapartment-housesinNewYorkbythesweetnessoftheirracelettheMarchesin，or，rather，welcomedthemtothepossessionofthepremisesbythebowwithwhichheacknowledgedtheirpermit。Itwasalarge，oldmansioncutupintofiveorsixdwellings，butithadkeptsometraitsofitsformerdignity，whichpleasedpeopleoftheirsympathetictastes。Thedark-mahoganytrim，ofsufficientlyuglydesign，gavearichgloomtothehallway，whichwaswideandpavedwithmarble； thecarpetedstairscurvedaloftthroughagenerousspace。 \"Thereisnoelevator?\"Mrs。Marchaskedofthejanitor。 Heanswered，\"No，ma\'am；onlytwoflightsup，\"sowinninglythatshesaid，\"Oh!\"incourteousapology，andwhisperedtoherhusband，asshefollowedlightlyup，\"We\'lltakeit，Basil，ifit\'sliketherest。\" \"Ifit\'slikehim，youmean。\" \"Idon\'twondertheywantedtoownthem，\"shehurriedlyphilosophized。 \"IfIhadsuchacreature，nothingbutdeathshouldpartus，andIshouldnomorethinkofgivinghimhisfreedom!\" \"No；wecouldn\'taffordit，\"returnedherhusband。 Theapartmentwhichthejanitorunlockedforthem，andlitupfromthosechandeliersandbracketsofgiltbrassintheformofvinebunches，leaves，andtendrilsinwhichtheearlygas-fitterrealizedmostofhisconceptionsofbeauty，hadrathermoreoftheuglinessthanthedignityofthehall。Buttheroomswerelarge，andtheygroupedthemselvesinareminiscenceofthetimewhentheywerepartofadwellingthathaditscharm，itspathos，itsimpressiveness。Wheretheywerecutupintosmallerspaces，ithadbeendonewiththefranknesswithwhichaproudoldfamilyoffallenfortunespractisesitseconomies。Theroughpine~ floorsshowedablackborderoftack-headswherecarpetshadbeenliftedandputdownforgenerations；thewhitepaintwasyellowwithage；theapartmenthadlightatthefrontandattheback，andtwoorthreeroomshadglimpsesofthedaythroughsmallwindowsletintotheircorners； anotheroneseemedliftinganappealingeyetoheaventhroughaglasscircleinitsceiling；therestmustdarkleinperpetualtwilight。Yetsomethingpleasedinitall，andMrs。Marchhadgonefartoadaptthedifferentroomstothemembersofherfamily，whenshesuddenlythought(andforhertothinkwastosay)，\"Why，butthere\'snosteamheat!\" \"No，ma\'am，\"thejanitoradmitted；\"butdere\'sgratesinmosto\'derooms，anddere\'sfurnaceheatindehalls。\" \"That\'strue，\"sheadmitted，and，havingplacedherfamilyintheapartments，itwashardtogetthemoutagain。\"Couldwemanage?\"shereferredtoherhusband。 \"Why，Ishouldn\'tcareforthesteamheatif——Whatistherent?\"hebrokeofftoaskthejanitor。 \"Ninehundred，sir。\" Marchconcludedtohiswife，\"Ifitwerefurnished。\" \"Why，ofcourse!WhatcouldIhavebeenthinkingof?We\'relookingforafurnishedflat，\"sheexplainedtothejanitor，\"andthiswassopleasantandhomelikethatIneverthoughtwhetheritwasfurnishedornot。\" Shesmileduponthejanitor，andheenteredintothejokeandchuckledsoamiablyatherflatteringoversightonthewaydown-stairsthatshesaid，asshepinchedherhusband\'sarm，\"Now，ifyoudon\'tgivehimaquarterI\'llneverspeaktoyouagain，Basil!\" \"Iwouldhavegivenhalfadollarwillinglytogetyoubeyondhisglamour，\"saidMarch，whentheyweresafelyonthepavementoutside。\" Ifithadn\'tbeenformystrengthofcharacter，you\'dhavetakenanunfurnishedflatwithoutheatandwithnoelevator，atninehundredayear，whenyouhadjustswornmetosteamheat，anelevator，furniture，andeighthundred。\" \"Yes!HowcouldIhavelostmyheadsocompletely?\"shesaid，withalenientamusementinheraberrationwhichshewasnotalwaysabletofeelinherhusband\'s。 \"Thenexttimeacoloredjanitoropensthedoortous，I\'lltellhimtheapartmentdoesn\'tsuitatthethreshold。It\'stheonlywaytomanageyou，Isabel。\" \"It\'strue。Iaminlovewiththewholerace。Ineversawoneofthemthatdidn\'thaveperfectlyangelicmanners。Ithinkweshallallbeblackinheaven——thatis，black-souled。\" \"Thatisn\'ttheusualtheory，\"saidMarch。 \"Well，perhapsnot，\"sheassented。\"Wherearewegoingnow?Ohyes，totheXenophon!\" Shepulledhimgaylyalongagain，andaftertheyhadwalkedablockdownandhalfablockovertheystoodbeforetheapartment-houseofthatname，whichwascutonthegas-lampsoneithersideoftheheavilyspiked，aesthetic-hingedblackdoor。Thetitterofanelectric-bellbroughtalarge，fatButtons，withastageeffectofbeingdressedtolooksmall，whosaidhewouldcallthejanitor，andtheywaitedinthedimlysplendid，copper-coloredinterior，admiringthewhorlsandwavesintowhichthewallpaintwascombed，tillthejanitorcameinhisgold-bandedcap，likeaContinentalporker。WhentheysaidtheywouldliketoseeMrs。GrosvenorGreen\'sapartment，heownedhisinabilitytocopewiththeaffair，andsaidhemustsendforthesuperintendent；hewaseitherintheHerodotusortheThucydides，andwouldbethereinaminute。TheButtonsbroughthim——aYankeeofbrowbeatingpresenceinplainclothes—— almostbeforetheyhadtimetoexchangeafrightenedwhisperinrecognitionofthefactthattherecouldbenodoubtofthesteamheatandelevatorinthiscase。Halfstifledintheone，theymountedintheothereightstories，whiletheytriedtokeeptheirself-respectunderthegazeofthesuperintendent，whichtheyfeltwasclassingandassessingthemwithunfriendlyaccuracy。Theycouldnot，andtheyfalteredabashedatthethresholdofMrs。GrosvenorGreen\'sapartment，whilethesuperintendentlitthegasinthegangwaythathecalledaprivatehall，andinthedrawing-roomandthesuccessionofchambersstretchingrearwardtothekitchen。Everythinghad，beendonebythearchitecttosavespace，andeverything，towasteitbyMrs。GrosvenorGreen。Shehadconformedtoalawforthenecessityofturningroundineachroom，andhadfolding-bedsinthechambers，buttherehersubordinationhadended，andwhereveryoumighthaveturnedroundshehadputagimcracksothatyouwouldknockitoverifyoudidturn。Theplacewasratherprettyandevenimposingatfirstglance，andittookseveraljointballotsforMarchandhiswifetomakesurethatwiththekitchentherewereonlysixrooms。Ateverydoorhungaportierefromlargeringsonabrassrod；everyshelfanddressing-caseandmantelwaslitteredwithgimcracks，andthecornersofthetinyroomswerecurtainedoff，andbehindtheseportieresswarmedmoregimcracks。ThefrontoftheuprightpianohadwhatMarchcalledashort-skirtedportiereonit，andthetopwascoveredwithvases，withdragoncandlesticksandwithJapfans，whichalsoexpandedthemselvesbatwiseonthewallsbetweentheetchingsandthewatercolors。Thefloorswerecoveredwithfilling，andthenrugsandthenskins；theeasy-chairsallhadtidies，ArmenianandTurkishandPersian；theloungesandsofashadembroideredcushionshiddenundertidies。 TheradiatorwasconcealedbyaJapscreen，andoverthetopofthissomeArabscarfswereflung。Therewasasuperabundanceofclocks。Chinapugsguardedthehearth；abrasssunflowersmiledfromthetopofeitherandiron，andabrasspeacockspreaditstailbeforetheminsideahighfiligreefender；ononesidewasacoalhodin\'repousse\'brass，andontheotherawroughtironwood-basket。SomeredJapanesebird-kiteswerestuckaboutinthenecksofspeltervases，acrimsonJapumbrellahungopenedbeneaththechandelier，andeachglobehadashadeofyellowsilk。 March，whenhehadrecoveredhisself-commandalittleinthepresenceoftheagglomeration，comfortedhimselfbycallingthebric-a-bracJamescracks，asifthiswastheirfullname。 Thedisrespecthewasabletoshowthewholeapartmentbymeansofthisjokestrengthenedhimtosayboldlytothesuperintendentthatitwasaltogethertoosmall；thenheaskedcarelesslywhattherentwas。 \"Twohundredandfifty。\" TheMarchesgaveastart，andlookedateachother。 \"Don\'tyouthinkwecouldmakeitdo?\"sheaskedhim，andhecouldseethatshehadmentallysavedfivehundreddollarsasthedifferencebetweentherentoftheirhouseandthatofthisflat。\"Ithassomeveryprettyfeatures，andwecouldmanagetosqueezein，couldn\'twe?\" \"Youwon\'tfindanotherfurnishedflatlikeitfornotwo-fiftyamonthinthewholecity，\"thesuperintendentputin。 Theyexchangedglancesagain，andMarchsaid，carelessly，\"It\'stoosmall。\" \"There\'savacantflatintheHerodotusforeighteenhundredayear，andoneintheThucydidesforfifteen，\"thesuperintendentsuggested，clickinghiskeystogetherastheysankdownintheelevator；\"sevenroomsandbath。\" \"Thankyou，\"saidMarch；\"we\'relookingforafurnishedflat。\" Theyfeltthatthesuperintendentpartedfromthemwithrepressedsarcasm。 \"Oh，Basil，doyouthinkwereallymadehimthinkitwasthesmallnessandnotthedearness?\" \"No，butwesavedourself-respectintheattempt；andthat\'sagreatdeal。\" \"Ofcourse，Iwouldn\'thavetakenit，anyway，withonlysixrooms，andsohighup。Butwhatprices!Now，wemustbeverycircumspectaboutthenextplace。\" Itwasajanitress，large，fat，withherarmswoundupinherapron，whoreceivedthemthere。Mrs。Marchgaveherasuccinctbutperfectstatementoftheirneeds。Shefailedtograspthenatureofthem，orfeignedtodoso。Sheshookherhead，andsaidthathersonwouldshowthemtheflat。Therewasaradiatorvisibleinthenarrowhall，andIsabeltacitlycompromisedonsteamheatwithoutanelevator，astheflatwasonlyoneflightup。Whenthesonappearedfrombelowwithasmallkerosenehand-lamp，itappearedthattheflatwasunfurnished，buttherewasnostoppinghimtillhehadshownitinallitsimpossibility。WhentheygotsafelyawayfromitandintothestreetMarchsaid:\"Well，haveyouhadenoughforto-night，Isabel?Shallwegotothetheatrenow?\" \"Notonanyaccount。IwanttoseethewholelistofflatsthatMr。 Fulkersonthoughtwouldbetheverythingforus。\"Shelaughed，butwithacertainbitterness。 \"You\'llbecallinghimmyMr。Fulkersonnext，Isabel。\" \"Ohno!\" Thefourthaddresswasafurnishedflatwithoutakitchen，inahousewithageneralrestaurant。Thefifthwasafurnishedhouse。Atthesixthapatheticwidowandherprettydaughterwantedtotakeafamilytoboard，andwouldgivethemaprivatetableataratewhichtheMarcheswouldhavethoughtlowinBoston。 Mrs。Marchcameawaytinglingwithcompassionfortheirevidentanxiety，andthispitynaturallysouredintoasenseofinjury。\"Well，ImustsayIhavecompletelylostconfidenceinMr。Fulkerson\'sjudgment。AnythingmoreutterlydifferentfromwhatItoldhimwewantedIcouldn\'timagine。 Ifhedoesn\'tmanageanybetterabouthisbusinessthanhehasdoneaboutthis，itwillbeaperfectfailure。\" \"Well，well，let\'shopehe\'llbemorecircumspectaboutthat，\"herhusbandreturned，withironicalpropitiation。\"ButIdon\'tthinkit\'sFulkerson\'sfaultaltogether。Perhapsit\'sthehouse-agents\'。They\'reaveryillusorygeneration。Thereseemstobesomethinginthehumanhabitationthatcorruptsthenaturesofthosewhodealinit，tobuyorsellit，tohireorletit。Yougotoanagentandtellhimwhatkindofahouseyouwant。Hehasnosuchhouse，andhesendsyoutolookatsomethingaltogetherdifferent，uponthewell-ascertainedprinciplethatifyoucan\'tgetwhatyouwantyouwilltakewhatyoucanget。Youdon\'tsupposethe\'party\'thattookourhouseinBostonwaslookingforanysuchhouse?Hewaslookingforatotallydifferentkindofhouseinanotherpartofthetown。\" \"Idon\'tbelievethat!\"hiswifebrokein。 \"Well，nomatter。Butseewhatascandalousrentyouaskedforit。\" \"Wedidn\'tgetmuchmorethanhalf；and，besides，theagenttoldmetoaskfourteenhundred。\" \"Oh，I\'mnotblamingyou，Isabel。I\'monlyanalyzingthehouse-agentandexoneratingFulkerson。\" \"Well，Idon\'tbelievehetoldthemjustwhatwewanted；and，atanyrate，I\'mdonewithagents。TomorrowI\'mgoingentirelybyadvertisements。\" VIII。 Mrs。MarchtookthevertebratewithhertotheViennaCoffee-House，wheretheywenttobreakfastnextmorning。ShemadeMarchbuyhertheHeraldandtheWorld，andsheaddedtoitsspinyconvolutionsfromthem。Shereadthenewadvertisementsaloudwithardorandwithfaithtobelievethattheapartmentsdescribedinthemwereeveryonetruthfullyrepresented，andthatanyoneofthemwasrichlyresponsivetotheirneeds。\"Elegant，light，large，singleandoutsideflats\"wereofferedwith\"allimprovements——bath，ice-box，etc。\"——fortwenty-fivetothirtydollarsamonth。Thecheapnesswasamazing。TheWagram，theEsmeralda，theJacinth，advertisedthemforfortydollarsandsixtydollars，\"withsteamheatandelevator，\"rentfreetillNovember。Others，attractivefromtheirairofconscientiousscruple，announced\"first-classflats； goodorder；reasonablerents。\"TheHelenaaskedthereaderifshehadseenthe\"cabinetfinish，hard-woodfloors，andfrescoedceilings\"ofitsfifty-dollarflats；theAsteroidaffirmedthatsuchapartments，with\"sixlightroomsandbath，porcelainwash-tubs，electricbells，andhall-boy，\" asitofferedforseventy-fivedollarswereunapproachedbycompetition。 Therewasasamenessinthejargonwhichtendedtoconfusion。Mrs。Marchgotseveralflatsonherlistwhichpromisedneithersteamheatnorelevators；sheforgotherselfsofarastoincludetwoorthreeasremotefromthedown-townregionofherchoiceasHarlem。Butaftershehadrejectedthesethenondescriptvertebratewasstillvoluminousenoughtosustainherbuoyanthopes。 Thewaiter，whorememberedthemfromyeartoyear，hadputthematawindowgivingaprettygoodsectionofBroadway，andbeforetheysetoutontheirsearchtheyhadamomentofreminiscence。TheyrecalledtheBroadwayoffive，often，oftwentyyearsago，swellingandroaringwithatideofgaylypaintedomnibusesandofpicturesquetrafficthatthehorsecarshavenowbanishedfromit。Thegrindoftheirwheelsandtheclashoftheirharshbellsimperfectlyfillthesilencethattheomnibuseshaveleft，andtheeyemissesthetumultuousperspectiveofformertimes。 TheywentoutandstoodforamomentbeforeGraceChurch，andlookeddownthestatelythoroughfare，andfounditnolongerimpressive，nolongercharacteristic。ItisstillBroadwayinname，butnowitislikeanyotherstreet。Youdonotnowtakeyourlifeinyourhandwhenyouattempttocrossit；theBroadwaypolicemanwhosupportedtheelbowoftimorousbeautyinthehollowofhiscotton-glovedpalmandguideditslittlefearfulbootsoverthecrossing，whilehearrestedthebillowyomnibusesoneithersidewithanimperiousglance，isgone，andallthatcertainprocessional，barbaricgayetyoftheplaceisgone。 \"Palmyra，Baalbec，TimouroftheDesert，\"saidMarch，voicingtheircommonfeelingofthechange。 Theyturnedandwentintothebeautifulchurch，andfoundthemselvesintimeforthematinservice。RaptfarfromNewYork，ifnotfromearth，inthedimrichnessofthepaintedlight，thehallowedmusictookthemwithsolemnecstasy；theaerial，aspiringGothicformsseemedtoliftthemheavenward。Theycameout，reluctant，intothedazzleandbustleofthestreet，withafeelingthattheyweretoogoodforit，whichtheyconfessedtoeachotherwithwhimsicalconsciousness。 \"Butnomatterhowconsecratedwefeelnow，\"hesaid，\"wemustn\'tforgetthatwewentintothechurchforpreciselythesamereasonthatwewenttotheViennaCaf?forbreakfast——togratifyanaestheticsense，torenewthefadedpleasureoftravelforamoment，togetbackintotheEuropeofouryouth。ItwasapurelyPaganimpulse，Isabel，andwe\'dbetterownit。\" \"Idon\'tknow，\"shereturned。\"Ithinkwereduceourselvestothebarebonestoomuch。Iwishwedidn\'talwaysrecognizethefactsaswedo。 SometimesIshouldliketoblinkthem。IshouldliketothinkIwasdevouterthanIam，andyoungerandprettier。\" \"Betternot；youcouldn\'tkeepitup。Honestyisthebestpolicyeveninsuchthings。\" \"No；Idon\'tlikeit，Basil。Ishouldratherwaittillthelastdayforsomeofmymotivestocometothetop。Iknowthey\'realwaysmixed，butdoletmegivethemthebenefitofadoubtsometimes。\" \"Well，well，haveityourownway，mydear。ButIprefernottolayupsomanydisagreeablesurprisesformyselfatthattime。\" Shewouldnotconsent。\"IknowIamagooddealyoungerthanIwas。 IfeelquiteinthemoodofthatmorningwhenwewalkeddownBroadwayonourweddingjourney。Don\'tyou?\" \"Ohyes。ButIknowI\'mnotyounger；I\'monlyprettier。\" Shelaughedforpleasureinhisjoke，andalsoforunconsciousjoyinthegayNewYorkweather，inwhichtherewasno\'arrierepensee\'oftheeastwind。TheyhadcrossedBroadway，andwerewalkingovertoWashingtonSquare，intheregionofwhichtheynowhopedtoplacethemselves。The\'primotenore\'statueofGaribaldihadalreadytakenpossessionoftheplaceinthenameofLatinprogress，andtheymetItalianfaces，Frenchfaces，Spanishfaces，astheystrolledovertheasphaltwalks，underthethinningshadowsoftheautumn-strickensycamores。TheymetthefamiliarpicturesqueraggednessofSouthernEuropewiththeoldkindlyillusionthatsomehowitexistedfortheirappreciation，andthatitfoundadequatecompensationforpovertyinthis。MarchthoughthesufficientlyexpressedhistacitsympathyinsittingdownononeoftheironbencheswithhiswifeandlettingalittleNeapolitanputasuperfluousshineonhisboots，whiletheirdesultorycommentwanderedwithequalesteemtotheold-fashionedAmericanrespectabilitywhichkeepsthenorthsideofthesquareinvastmansionsofredbrick，andtheinternationalshabbinesswhichhasinvadedthesouthernborder，andbrokenitupintolodging-houses，shops，beer-gardens，andstudios。 Theynoticedthesignofanapartmenttoletonthenorthside，andassoonasthelittlebootblackcouldbeboughtofftheywentovertolookatit。Thejanitormetthematthedoorandexaminedthem。Thenhesaid，asifstillindoubt，\"Ithastenrooms，andtherentistwenty- eighthundreddollars。\" \"Itwouldn\'tdo，then，\"Marchreplied，andlefthimtodividetheresponsibilitybetweenthepaucityoftheroomsandtheenormityoftherentashebestmight。Buttheirself-lovehadreceivedawound，andtheyquestionedeachotherwhatitwasintheirappearancemadehimdoubttheirabilitytopaysomuch。 \"Ofcourse，wedon\'tlooklikeNew-Yorkers，\"sighedMrs。March，\"andwe\'vewalkedthroughtheSquare。ThatmightbeasifwehadwalkedalongtheParkStreetmallintheCommonbeforewecameoutonBeacon。Doyousupposehecouldhaveseenyougettingyourbootsblackedinthatway?\" \"It\'suselesstoask，\"saidMarch。\"ButInevercanrecoverfromthisblow。\" \"Oh，pshaw!YouknowyouhatesuchthingsasbadlyasIdo。Itwasveryimpertinentofhim。\" \"Letusgobackand\'ecraserl\'infame\'bypayinghimayear\'srentinadvanceandtakingimmediatepossession。Nothingelsecansoothemywoundedfeelings。Youwerenothavingyourbootsblacked:whyshouldn\'thehavesupposedyouwereaNew-Yorker，andIacountrycousin?\" \"Theyalwaysknow。Don\'tyourememberMrs。Williams\'sgoingtoaFifthAvenuemillinerinaWorthdress，andthewoman\'saskingherinstantlywhathotelsheshouldsendherhatto?\" \"Yes；thesethingsdriveonetodespair。Idon\'twonderthebodiesofsomanygenteelstrangersarefoundinthewatersaroundNewYork。Shallwetrythesouthside，mydear?orhadwebettergobacktoourroomsandrestawhile?\" Mrs。Marchhadoutthevertebrate，andwasconsultingoneofitsglitteringribsandglancingupfromitatahousebeforewhichtheystood。\"Yes，it\'sthenumber；butdotheycallthisbeingreadyOctoberfirst?\"Thelittleareainfrontofthebasementwasheapedwithamixtureofmortar，bricks，laths，andshavingsfromtheinterior；thebrownstonestepstothefrontdoorweresimilarlybestrewn；thedoorwayshowedthehalf-open，roughpinecarpenter\'ssketchofanunfinishedhouse；thesashlesswindowsofeverystoryshowedtheactivityofworkmenwithin；theclatterofhammersandthehissofsawscameouttothemfromeveryopening。 \"TheymaycallitOctoberfirst，\"saidMarch，\"becauseit\'stoolatetocontradictthem。Butthey\'dbetternotcallitDecemberfirstinmypresence；I\'llletthemsayJanuaryfirst，atapinch。\" \"Wewillgoinandlookatit，anyway，\"saidhiswife；andheadmiredhow，whenshewasoncewithin，shebeganprovisionallytosettlethefamilyineachoftheseveralfloorswiththefemaleinstinctfordomiciliationwhichneverfailedher。Shehadthehelpofthelandlord，whowaspresenttourgeforwardtheworkmenapparently；helentahopefulfancytothesolutionofallherquestions。TogetherfromunderhisinfluenceMarchhadtorepresentthattheplacewasdampfromundriedplastering，andthatifshestayedshewouldprobablybedownwiththatNewYorkpneumoniawhichvisitingBostoniansarealwaysdyingof。Oncesafelyonthepavementoutside，sherealizedthattheapartmentwasnotonlyunfinished，butunfurnished，andhadneithersteamheatnorelevator。\"ButIthoughtwehadbetterlookateverything，\"sheexplained。 \"Yes，butnottakeeverything。IfIhadn\'tpulledyouawayfromtherebymainforceyou\'dhavenotonlydiedofNewYorkpneumoniaonthespot，butyou\'dhavehadusallsettledtherebeforeweknewwhatwewereabout。\" \"Well，that\'swhatIcan\'thelp，Basil。It\'stheonlywayIcanrealizewhetheritwilldoforus。Ihavetodramatizethewholething。\" Shegotadealofpleasureaswellasexcitementoutofthis，andhehadtoownthattheprocessofsettinguphousekeepinginsomanydifferentplaceswasnotonlyentertaining，buttended，throughassociationwiththeirfirstbeginningsinhousekeeping，torestoretheimageoftheirearlymarrieddaysandtomakethemyoungagain。 Itwentonallday，andcontinuedfarintothenight，untilitwastoolatetogotothetheatre，toolatetodoanythingbuttumbleintobedandsimultaneouslyfallasleep。Theygroanedovertheirreiterateddisappointments，buttheycouldnotdenythattheinterestwasunfailing，andthattheygotagreatdealoffunoutofitall。NothingcouldabateMrs。March\'sfaithinheradvertisements。Oneofthemsenthertoaflatoftenroomswhichpromisedtobethesolutionofalltheirdifficulties； itprovedtobeoveralivery-stable，aliquorstore，andamilliner\'sshop，noneofthefirstfashion。AnotherledthemfarintooldGreenwichVillagetoanapartment-house，whichsherefusedtoenterbehindasmallgirlwithaloafofbreadunderonearmandaquartcanofmilkundertheother。 Intheirsearchtheywereobliged，asMarchcomplained，totheacquisitionofuselessinformationinadegreeunequalledintheirexperience。Theycametoexcelinthesadknowledgeofthelineatwhichrespectabilitydistinguishesitselffromshabbiness。Flatteringadvertisementstookthemtonumbersofhugeapartment-houseschieflydistinguishablefromtenement-housesbytheabsenceoffire-escapesontheirfacades，tillMrs。Marchrefusedtostopatanydoorwherethereweremorethansixbell-ratchetsandspeaking-tubesoneitherhand。 Beforethemiddleoftheafternoonshedecidedagainstratchetsaltogether，andconfinedherselftoknobs，neatlysetinthedoor-trim。 HerhusbandwasstillsunkinthesuperstitionthatyoucanliveanywhereyoulikeinNewYork，andhewouldhavepausedatsomeplaceswhereherquickereyecaughtthefatalsignof\"Modes\"intheground-floorwindows。 Shefoundthattherewasaneastandwestlinebeyondwhichtheycouldnotgoiftheywishedtokeeptheirself-respect，andthatwithintheregiontowhichtheyhadrestrictedthemselvestherewasachoiceofstreets。AtfirstalltheNewYorkstreetslookedtothemill-paved，dirty，andrepulsive；thegeneralinfamyimparteditselfintheircasualimpressiontostreetsinnowiseguilty。Buttheybegantonoticethatsomestreetswerequietandclean，and，thoughneversoquietandcleanasBostonstreets，thattheyworeanairofencouragingreform，andsuggestedafutureofgreaterandgreaterdomesticity。Wholeblocksofthesedowntowncross-streetsseemedtohavebeenredeemedfromdecay，andeveninthemidstofsqualoradwellinghereandtherehadbeenseized，paintedadullredastoitsbrick-work，andaglossyblackastoitswood-work，andwithabrightbrassbell-pullanddoor-knobandalargebrassplateforitskey-holeescutcheon，hadbeenendowedwithaneffectofpurityandpridewhichremoveditsshabbyneighborhoodfarfromit。 Someofthesehouseswerequitesmall，andimaginablywithintheirmeans； but，asMarchsaid，somebodyseemedalwaystobelivingtherehimself，andthefactthatnoneofthemwastorentkeptMrs。Marchtruetoheridealofafiat。NothingpreventeditsrealizationsomuchasitsdifferencefromtheNewYorkidealofaflat，whichwasinflexiblysevenroomsandabath。Oneortworoomsmightbeatthefront，therestcrookedandcorneredbackwardthroughincreasingandthendecreasingdarknesstilltheyreachedalightbedroomorkitchenattherear。 Itmightbetheoneortheother，butitwasalwaystheseventhroomwiththebath；orif，assometimeshappened，itwastheeighth，itwassoafterhavingcountedthebathasone；inthiscasethejanitorsaidyoualwayscountedthebathasone。Iftheflatswereadvertisedashaving\"alllightrooms，\"heexplainedthatanyroomwithawindowgivingintotheopenairofacourtorshaftwascountedalightroom。 TheMarchestriedtomakeoutwhyitwasthattheseflatsweregomuchmorerepulsivethantheapartmentswhicheveryonelivedinabroad；buttheycouldonlydosouponthesuppositionthatintheirEuropeandaystheyweretooyoung，toohappy，toofullofthefuture，tonoticewhetherroomswereinsideoroutside，lightordark，bigorlittle，highorlow。 \"Nowwe\'reimprisonedinthepresent，\"hesaid，\"andwehavetomaketheworstofit。\" Intheirdespairhehadaninspiration，whichshedeclaredworthyofhim: itwastotaketwosmallflats，offourorfiveroomsandabath，andliveinboth。Theytriedthisinagreatmanyplaces，buttheynevercouldgettwoflatsofthekindonthesamefloorwheretherewassteamheatandanelevator。Atoneplacetheyalmostdidit。Theyhadresignedthemselvestothehumilityoftheneighborhood，totheprevalenceofmodistesandlivery-stablemen(theyseemtoconsortmuchinNewYork)，tothegarbageintheguttersandthelitterofpaperinthestreets，tothefalteringslatsinthesurroundingwindow-shuttersandthecrumbledbrownstonestepsandsills，whenitturnedoutthatoneoftheapartmentshadbeentakenbetweentwovisitstheymade。Thentheonlycombinationleftopentothemwasofaground-floorflattotherightandathird-floorflattotheleft。 Stilltheykeptthisinspirationinreserveforuseatthefirstopportunity。Inthemeantimetherewereseveralflatswhichtheythoughttheycouldalmostmakedo:notablyonewheretheycouldgetanextraservant\'sroominthebasementfourflightsdown，andanotherwheretheycouldgetitintherooffiveflightsup。Atthefirstthejanitorwasrespectfulandenthusiastic；atthesecondhehadaneffectofironicalpessimism。Whentheytrembledonthevergeoftakinghisapartment，hepointedoutaspotinthekalsominingoftheparlorceiling，andgratuitouslysaid，Nowsuchathingasthatheshouldnotagreetoputinshapeunlesstheytooktheapartmentforatermofyears。 Theapartmentwasunfurnished，andtheyrecurredtothefactthattheywantedafurnishedapartment，andmadetheirescape。Thissavedtheminseveralotherextremities；butshortofextremitytheycouldnotkeeptheirdifferentrequirementsinmind，andwerealwaysabouttodecidewithoutregardtosomeoneofthem。 Theywenttoseveralplacestwicewithoutintending:oncetothatold- fashionedhousewiththepleasantcoloredjanitor，andwanderedallovertheapartmentagainwithahauntingsenseoffamiliarity，andthenrecognizedthejanitorandlaughed；andtothathousewiththepatheticwidowandtheprettydaughterwhowishedtotakethemtoboard。Theystayedtoexcusetheirblunder，andeasilycamebythefactthatthemotherhadtakenthehousethatthegirlmighthaveahomewhileshewasinNewYorkstudyingart，andtheyhopedtopaytheirwaybytakingboarders。Herdaughterwasatherclassnow，themotherconcluded；andtheyencouragedhertobelievethatitcouldonlybeafewdaystilltherestofherschemewasrealized。 \"Idaresaywecouldbeperfectlycomfortablethere，\"Marchsuggestedwhentheyhadgotaway。\"Nowifweweretrulyhumanewewouldmodifyourdesirestomeettheirneedsandendthissickeningsearch，wouldn\'twe?\" \"Yes，butwe\'renottrulyhumane，\"hiswifeanswered，\"oratleastnotinthatsense。Youknowyouhateboarding；andifwewentthereIshouldhavethemonmysympathiesthewholetime。\" \"Isee。Andthenyouwouldtakeitoutofme。\" \"ThenIshouldtakeitoutofyou。Andifyouaregoingtobesoweak，Basil，andleteverylittlethingworkuponyouinthatway，you\'dbetternotcometoNewYork。You\'llseeenoughmiseryhere。\" \"Well，don\'ttakethatsuperiortonewithme，asifIwereachildthathaditsmindsetonanundesirabletoy，Isabel。\" \"Ah，don\'tyousupposeit\'sbecauseyouaresuchachildinsomerespectsthatIlikeyou，dear?\"shedemanded，withoutrelenting。 \"ButIdon\'tfindsomuchmiseryinNewYork。Idon\'tsupposethere\'sanymoresufferingheretothepopulationthanthereisinthecountry。 Andthey\'resogayaboutitall。Ithinktheoutwardaspectoftheplaceandthehilarityoftheskyandairmustgetintothepeople\'sblood。 Theweatherissimplyunapproachable；andIdon\'tcareifitistheugliestplaceintheworld，asyousay。Isupposeitis。Itshrieksandyellswithuglinesshereandtherebutitneverlosesitsspirits。Thatwidowisfromthecountry。Whenshe\'sbeenayearinNewYorkshe\'llbeasgay——asgayasanLroad。\"HecelebratedasatisfactiontheybothhadintheLroads。\"Theykillthestreetsandavenues，butatleasttheypartiallyhidethem，andthatissomecomfort；andtheydotriumphovertheirprostrateformswithasavageexultationthatisintoxicating。 ThosebendsintheLthatyougetinthecornerofWashingtonSquare，orjustbelowtheCooperInstitute——they\'rethegayestthingsintheworld。 Perfectlyatrocious，ofcourse，butincomparablypicturesque!Andthewholecityisso，\"saidMarch，\"orelsetheLwouldneverhavegotbuilthere。NewYorkmaybesplendidlygayorsqualidlygay；but，princeorpauper，it\'sgayalways。\" \"Yes，gayistheword，\"sheadmitted，withasigh。\"Butfrantic。 Ican\'tgetusedtoit。Theyforgetdeath，Basil；theyforgetdeathinNewYork。\" \"Well，Idon\'tknowthatI\'veeverfoundmuchadvantageinrememberingit。\" \"Don\'tsaysuchathing，dearest。\" Hecouldseethatshehadgottotheendofhernervousstrengthforthepresent，andheproposedthattheyshouldtaketheElevatedroadasfarasitwouldcarrythemintothecountry，andshakeofftheirnightmareofflat-huntingforanhourortwo；butherconsciencewouldnotlether。 SheconvictedhimoflevityequaltothatoftheNew-Yorkersinproposingsuchathing；andtheydraggedthroughtheday。Shewastootiredtocarefordinner，andinthenightshehadadreamfromwhichshewokeherselfwithacrythatrousedhim，too。Itwassomethingaboutthechildrenatfirst，whomtheyhadtalkedofwistfullybeforefallingasleep，andthenitwasofahideousthingwithtwosquareeyesandaseriesofsectionsgrowingdarkerandthenlighter，tillthetailofthemonstrousarticulatewasquiteluminousagain。Sheshudderedatthevaguedescriptionshewasabletogive；butheasked，\"Diditoffertobiteyou?\" \"No。Thatwasthemostfrightfulthingaboutit；ithadnomouth。\" Marchlaughed。\"Why，mydear，itwasnothingbutaharmlessNewYorkflat——sevenroomsandabath。\" \"Ireallybelieveitwas，\"sheconsented，recognizinganarchitecturalresemblance，andshefellasleepagain，andwokerenewedfortheworkbeforethem。 IX。 Theirhouse-huntingnolongerhadnovelty，butitstillhadinterest；andtheyvariedtheirdaybytakingacoupe，byrenouncingadvertisements，andbyrevertingtoagents。Someoftheseinducedthemtoconsidertheideaoffurnishedhouses；andMrs。MarchlearnedtoleranceforFulkersonbyacceptingpermitstovisitflatsandhouseswhichhadnoneofthequalificationsshedesiredineither，andwereasfarbeyondhermeansastheywereoutoftheregiontowhichshehadgeographicallyrestrictedherself。Theylookedatthree-thousandandfour-thousanddollarapartments，andrejectedthemforonereasonoranotherwhichhadnothingtodowiththerent；thehighertherentwas，themorecriticaltheywereoftheslipperyinlaidfloorsandthearrangementoftherichlydecoratedrooms。Theyneverknewwhethertheyhaddeceivedthejanitorornot；astheycameinacoupe，theyhopedtheyhad。 TheydroveaccidentallythroughonestreetthatseemedgayerintheperspectivethananLroad。Thefire-escapes，withtheirlightironbalconiesandladdersofiron，decoratedtheloftyhousefronts；theroadwayandsidewalksanddoor-stepsswarmedwithchildren；women\'sheadsseemedtoshowateverywindow。Inthebasements，overwhichflightsofhighstonestepsledtothetenements，weregreen-grocers\'shopsaboundingincabbages，andprovisionstoresrunningchieflytobaconandsausages，andcobblers\'andtinners\'shops，andthelike，inproportiontothesmallneedsofapoorneighborhood。Ashbarrelslinedthesidewalks，andgarbageheapsfilledthegutters；teamsofalltradesstoodidlyabout；apeddlerofcheapfruiturgedhiscartthroughthestreet，andmixedhiscrywiththejoyousscreamsandshoutsofthechildrenandthescoldingandgossipingvoicesofthewomen；theburlybluebulkofapolicemandefineditselfatthecorner；adrunkardzigzaggeddownthesidewalktowardhim。Itwasnottheabodeoftheextremestpoverty，butofapovertyashopelessasanyintheworld，transmittingitselffromgenerationtogeneration，andestablishingconditionsofpermanencytowhichhumanlifeadjustsitselfasitdoestothoseofsomeincurabledisease，likeleprosy。 ThetimehadbeenwhentheMarcheswouldhavetakenapurelyaestheticviewofthefactsastheyglimpsedtheminthisstreetoftenement- houses；whentheywouldhavecontentedthemselveswithsayingthatitwasaspicturesqueasastreetinNaplesorFlorence，andwithwonderingwhynobodycametopaintit；theywouldhavethoughttheyweresufficientlyseriousaboutitinblamingtheartistsfortheirfailuretoappreciateit，andgoingabroadforthepicturesquewhentheyhadithereundertheirnoses。Itwastothenosethatthestreetmadeoneofitsstrongestappeals，andMrs。Marchpulledupherwindowofthecoupe。 \"Whydoeshetakeusthroughsuchadisgustingstreet?\"shedemanded，withanexasperationofwhichherhusbanddivinedtheorigin。 \"Thisdrivermaybeaphilanthropistindisguise，\"heanswered，withdreamyirony，\"andmaywantustothinkaboutthepeoplewhoarenotmerelycarriedthroughthisstreetinacoupe，buthavetospendtheirwholelivesinit，winterandsummer，withnohopesofdrivingoutofit，exceptinahearse。Imustsaytheydon\'tseemtomindit。Ihaven\'tseenajolliercrowdanywhereinNewYork。Theyseemtohaveforgottendeathalittlemorecompletelythananyoftheirfellow-citizens，Isabel。 AndIwonderwhattheythinkofus，makingthisgorgeousprogressthroughtheirmidst。Isupposetheythinkwe\'rerich，andhateus——iftheyhaterichpeople；theydon\'tlookasiftheyhatedanybody。Shouldwebeaspatientastheyarewiththeirdiscomfort?Idon\'tbelievethere\'ssteamheatoranelevatorinthewholeblock。Sevenroomsandabathwouldbemorethanthelargestandgenteelestfamilywouldknowwhattodowith。 Theywouldn\'tknowwhattodowiththebath，anyway。\" Hismonologueseemedtointeresthiswifeapartfromthesatiricalpointithadforthemselves。\"YououghttogetMr。FulkersontoletyouworksomeoftheseNewYorksightsupforEveryOtherWeek，Basil；youcoulddothemverynicely。\" \"Yes；I\'vethoughtofthat。Butdon\'tlet\'sleavethepersonalground。 Doesn\'titmakeyoufeelrathersmallandotherwiseunworthywhenyouseethekindofstreetthesefellow-beingsofyourslivein，andthenthinkhowparticularyouareaboutlocalityandthenumberofbellpulls? Idon\'tseeevenratchetsandspeaking-tubesatthesedoors。\"Hecranedhisneckoutofthewindowforabetterlook，andthechildrenofdiscomfortcheeredhim，outofsheergoodfeelingandhighspirits。 \"Ididn\'tknowIwassopopular。Perhapsit\'sarecognitionofmyhumanesentiments。\" \"Oh，it\'sveryeasytohavehumanesentiments，andtosatirizeourselvesforwantingeightroomsandabathinagoodneighborhood，whenweseehowthesewretchedcreatureslive，\"saidhiswife。\"Butifwesharedallwehavewiththem，andthensettleddownamongthem，whatgoodwoulditdo?\" \"Nottheleastintheworld。Itmighthelpusforthemoment，butitwouldn\'tkeepthewolffromtheirdoorsforaweek；andthentheywouldgoonjustasbefore，onlytheywouldn\'tbeonsuchgoodtermswiththewolf。Theonlywayforthemistokeepupanunbrokenintimacywiththewolf；thentheycanmanagehimsomehow。Idon\'tknowhow，andI\'mafraidIdon\'twantto。Wouldn\'tyouliketohavethisfellowdriveusroundamongthehallsofpridesomewhereforalittlewhile?FifthAvenueorMadison，up-town?\"