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couldn't。〃
〃I believe the good Deering didn't even think her handsome。〃
〃That's it。 And he thought anything that was good enough for his
wife was good enough for Miss Gage； and he'd be stubborn about doing
things on her account； even to please his wife。〃
〃Such conduct is imaginable of the good Deering。 I don't think he
liked her。〃
〃Nor she him。 Mrs。 Deering helplessly hinted as much。 She said he
didn't like to have her worrying so much about Miss Gage's not
having a good time； and she couldn't make him feel as she did about
it； and she was half glad for his own sake that he had to go home。〃
〃Did she say that？〃
〃Not exactly； but you could see that she meant it。 Do you think it
would do for them to change from their hotel； and go to the Grand
Union or the States or Congress Hall？〃
〃Have you been putting them up to that； Isabel？〃
〃I knew you would suspect me； and I wouldn't have asked for your
opinion if I had cared anything for it； really。 What would be the
harm of their doing it？〃
〃None whatever； if you really want my worthless opinion。 But what
could they do there？〃
〃They could see something if they couldn't do anything； and as soon
as Miss Gage has got her new gowns I'm going to tell them you
thought they could do it。 It was their own idea； at any rate。〃
''Miss Gage's？〃
〃Mrs。 Deering's。 She has the courage of aI don't know what。 She
sees that it's a desperate case； and she wouldn't stop at anything。〃
〃Now that her husband has gone home。〃
〃Well； which hotel shall they go to？〃
〃Oh； that requires reflection。〃
〃Very well； then； when you've reflected I want you to go to the
hotel you've chosen； and introduce yourself to the clerk； and tell
him your wife has two friends coming； and you want something very
pleasant for them。 Tell him all about yourself and Every Other
Week。〃
〃He'll think I want them deadheaded。〃
〃No matter； if your conscience is clear； and don't be so shamefully
modest as you always are； but speak up boldly。 Now； will you？
Promise me you will！〃
〃I will try； as the good little boy says。 But； Isabel； we don't
know these people except from their own account。〃
〃And that is quite enough。〃
〃It will be quite enough for the hotel…keeper if they run their
board。 I shall have to pay it。〃
〃Now； Basil dear； don't be disgusting； and go and do as you're bid。〃
It was amusing； but it was perfectly safe； and there was no reason
why I should not engage rooms for the ladies at another hotel。 I
had not the least question of them； and I had failed to worry my
wife with a pretended doubt。 So I decided that I would go up at
once and inquire at the Grand Union。 I chose this hotel because；
though it lacked the fine flower of the more ancient respectability
and the legendary charm of the States； it was so spectacular that it
would be in itself a perpetual excitement for those ladies； and
would form an effect of society which； with some help from us； might
very well deceive them。 This was what I said to myself； though in
my heart I knew better。 Whatever Mrs。 Deering might think； that
girl was not going to be taken in with any such simple device； and I
must count upon the daily chances in the place to afford her the
good time she had come for。
As I mounted the steps to the portico of the Grand Union with my
head down； and lost in a calculation of these chances； I heard my
name gaily called； and I looked up to see young Kendricks； formerly
of our staff on Every Other Week； and still a frequent contributor；
and a great favourite of my wife's and my own。 My heart gave a
great joyful bound at sight of him。
〃My dear boy； when in the world did you come？〃
〃This morning by the steamboat train； and I am never； never going
away！〃
〃You like it； then？〃
〃Like it！ It's the most delightful thing in the universe。 Why； I'm
simply wild about it； Mr。 March。 I go round saying to myself； Why
have I thrown away my life？ Why have I never come to Saratoga
before？ It's simply supreme； and it's American down to the ground。
Yes； that's what makes it so delightful。 No other people could have
invented it； and it doesn't try to be anything but what we made it。〃
〃I'm so glad you look at it in that way。 WE like it。 We discovered
it three or four years ago； and we never let a summer slip； if we
can help it； without coming here for a week or a month。 The place；〃
I enlarged； 〃has the charm of ruin； though it's in such obvious
repair； it has a past； it's so completely gone by in a society
sense。 The cottage life here hasn't killed the hotel life； as it
has at Newport and Bar Harbour； but the ideal of cottage life
everywhere else has made hotel life at Saratoga ungenteel。 The
hotels are full； but at the same time they are society solitudes。〃
〃How gay it is！〃 said the young fellow； as he gazed with a pensive
smile into the street； where all those festive vehicles were coming
and going； dappled by the leaf…shadows from the tall trees overhead。
〃What air！ what a sky！〃 The one was indeed sparkling； and the other
without a cloud； for it had rained in the night； and it seemed as if
the weather could never be hot and close again。
I forgot how I had been sweltering about； and said： 〃Yes； it is a
Saratoga day。 It's supposed that the sparkle of the air comes from
the healthful gases thrown off by the springs。 Some people say the
springs are doctored； that's what makes their gases so healthful。〃
〃Why； anything might happen here；〃 Kendricks mused； unheedful of me。
〃What a scene！ what a stage！ Why has nobody done a story about
Saratoga？〃 he asked； with a literary turn I knew his thoughts would
be taking。 All Gerald Kendricks's thoughts were of literature； but
sometimes they were not of immediate literary effect； though that
was never for long。
〃Because；〃 I suggested； 〃one probably couldn't get his young lady
characters to come here if they were at all in society。 But of
course there must be charming presences here accidentally。 Some
young girl； say； might come here from a country place； expecting to
see social gaiety〃
〃Ah； but that would be too heart…breaking！〃
〃Not at all。 Not if she met some young fellow accidentallydon't
you see？〃
〃It would be difficult to manage； and hasn't it been done？〃
〃Everything has been done； my dear fellow。 Or； you might suppose a
young lady who comes on here with her father； a veteran politician；
delegate to the Republican or Democratic conventionall the
conventions meet in Saratoga；and some ardent young delegate falls
in love with her。 That would be new ground。 There you would have
the political novel； which they wonder every now and then some of us
don't write。〃 The smile faded from Kendricks's lips； and I laughed。
〃Well； then； there's nothing for it but the Social Science Congress。
Have a brilliant professor win the heart of a lovely sister…in…law
of another member by a paper he reads before the Congress。 No？
You're difficult。 Are you stopping here？〃
〃Yes； are you？〃
〃I try to give myself the air of it when I am feeling very proud。
But really； we live at a most charming little hotel on a back
street； out of the whirl and ru