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But really； we live at a most charming little hotel on a back
street； out of the whirl and rush that we should prefer to be in if
we could afford it。〃 He said it must be delightful； and he made the
proper inquiries about Mrs。 March。 Kendricks never forgot the
gentleman in the artist； and he was as true to the convenances as if
they had been principles。 That was what made Mrs。 March like his
stories so much more than the stories of some people who wrote
better。 He said he would drop in during the afternoon； and I went
indoors on the pretext of buying a newspaper。 Then； without
engaging rooms for Mrs。 Deering and Miss Gage； I hurried home。
CHAPTER VIII
〃Well； did you get the rooms？〃 asked my wife as soon as she saw me。
She did not quite call it across the street to me as I came up from
where she sat on the piazza。
〃No； I didn't；〃 I said boldly； if somewhat breathlessly。
〃Why didn't you？ You ought to have gone to the States if they were
full at the Grand Union。〃
〃They were not full； unless Kendricks got their last room。〃
〃Do you mean that HE was there？ Mr。 Kendricks？ If you are hoaxing
me； Basil！〃
〃I am not； my dear； indeed I'm not；〃 said I； beginning to laugh； and
this made her doubt me the more。
〃Because if you are I shall simply never forgive you。 And I'm in
earnest this time；〃 she replied。
〃Why should I want to hoax you about such a vital thing as that。
Couldn't Kendricks come to Saratoga as well as we？ He's here
looking up the ground of a story I should think from what he said。〃
〃No matter what he's here for； he's here； and that's enough。 I
never knew of anything so perfectly providential。 Did you TELL him；
Basil？ Did you dare？〃
〃Tell him what？〃
〃You know； about Miss Gage。〃
〃Well； I came very near it。 I dangled the fact before his eyes
once； but I caught it away again in time。 He never saw it。 I
thought I'd better let you tell him。〃
〃Is he coming here to see us？〃
〃He asked if he might。〃
〃He's always nice。 I don't know that I shall ask him to do anything
for them； after all； I'm not sure that she's worth it。 I wish some
commoner person had happened along。 Kendricks is too precious。 I
shall have to think about it； and don't you tease me； Basil； will
you？〃
〃I don't know。 If I'm not allowed to have any voice in the matter；
I'm afraid I shall take it out in teasing。 I don't see why Miss
Gage isn't quite as good as Kendricks。 I believe she's taller； and
though he's pretty good…looking； I prefer her style of beauty。 I
dare say his family is better； but I fancy she's richer； and his
family isn't good beyond New York city； and her money will go
anywhere。 It's a pretty even thing。〃
〃Good gracious； Basil！ you talk as if it were a question of
marriage。〃
〃And you THINK it is。〃
〃Now I see that you're bent upon teasing； and we won't talk any
more； please。 What time did he say he would call？〃
〃If I mayn't talk； I can't tell。〃
〃You may talk that much。〃
〃Well； then； he didn't say。〃
〃Basil；〃 said my wife； after a moment； 〃if you could be serious； I
should like very much to talk with you。 I know that you're excited
by meeting Mr。 Kendricks； and I know what you thought the instant
you saw him。 But； indeed； it won't do； my dear。 It's more than
we've any right to ask； and I shall not ask it； and I shall not let
you。 She is a stiff； awkward village person； and I don't believe
she's amiable or intelligent； and to let a graceful； refined；
superior man like Mr。 Kendricks throw away his time upon her would
be wicked； simply wicked。 Let those people manage for themselves
from this out。 Of course you mustn't get them rooms at the Grand
Union now； for he'd be seeing us there with them； and feel bound to
pay her attention。 You must try for them at the States； since the
matter's been spoken of； or at Congress Hall。 But there's no hurry。
We must have time to think whether we shall use Mr。 Kendricks with
them。 I suppose it will do no harm to introduce him。 If he stays
we can't very well avoid it； and I confess I should like to see how
she impresses him！ Of course we shall introduce him！ But I insist
I shall just do it merely as one human being to another； and don't
you come in with any of your romantic nonsense； Basil； about her
social disappointment。 Just how much did you give the situation
away？〃
I told as well as I could remember。 〃Well； that's nothing。 He'll
never think of it； and you mustn't hint anything of the kind again。〃
I promised devoutly； and she went on …
〃It wouldn't be niceit wouldn't be delicate to let him into the
conspiracy。 That must be entirely our affair； don't you see？ And I
don't want you to take a single step without me。 I don't want you
even to discuss her with him。 Will you？ Because that will tempt
you further。〃
That afternoon Kendricks came promptly to call； like the little
gentleman he was； and he was more satisfactory about Saratoga than
he had been in the morning even。 Mrs。 March catechised him； and she
didn't leave an emotion of his unsearched by her vivid sympathy。
She ended by saying …
〃You must write a story about Saratoga。 And I have got just the
heroine for you。〃
I started； but she ignored my start。
Kendricks laughed； delighted； and asked； 〃Is she pretty？〃
〃Must a heroine be pretty？〃
〃She had better be。 Otherwise she will have to be tremendously
clever and say all sorts of brilliant things； and that puts a great
burden on the author。 If you proclaim boldly at the start that
she's a beauty； the illustrator has got to look after her； and the
author has a comparative sinecure。〃
Mrs。 March thought a moment； and then she said： 〃Well； she is a
beauty。 I don't want to make it too hard for you。〃
〃When shall I see her？〃 Kendricks demanded； and he feigned an
amusing anxiety。
〃Well； that depends upon how you behave； Mr。 Kendricks。 If you are
very； very good； perhaps I may let you see her this evening。 We
will take you to call upon her。〃
〃Is it possible？ Do you mean business？ Then she isin society？〃
〃MR。 Kendricks！〃 cried Mrs。 March； with burlesque severity。 〃Do you
think that I would offer you a heroine who was NOT in society？ You
forget that I am from Boston！〃
〃Of course； of course！ I understand that any heroine of your
acquaintance must be in society。 But I thoughtI didn't knowbut
for the momentSaratoga seems to be so tremendously mixed； and Mr。
March says there is no society here： But if she is from Boston〃
〃I didn't say she was from Boston； Mr。 Kendricks。〃
〃Oh； I beg your pardon！〃
〃She is from De Witt Point；〃 said Mrs。 March； and she apparently
enjoyed his confusion； no less than my bewilderment at the course
she was taking。
I was not going to be left behind； though； and I said： 〃I
discovered this heroine myself； Kendricks； and if there is to be any
giving away〃
〃Now； Basil！〃
〃I am going to do it。 Mrs。 March would never have cared anything
about her if it hadn't been for me。 I can't let her impose on you。
This heroine is no more in society than she is from Boston。 That is
the trouble with her。 She has come here for society； and she can't
find an