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〃No； we shall be on our guard after this。〃 She corrected herself
and said； 〃I shall always be looking out for you now；〃 and she
certainly showed herself conscious in the bridling glance that met
my keen gaze。
〃Good heavens！〃 I thought。 〃Has it really gone so far？〃 and more
than ever I resolved not to tell Mrs。 March。
I went out to engage a carriage to take us to the races； and to
agree with the driver that he should wait for us at a certain corner
some blocks distant from our hotel； where we were to walk and find
him。 We always did this； because there were a number of clergymen
in our house； and Mrs。 March could not make it seem right to start
for the races direct from the door； though she held that it was
perfectly right for us to go。 For the same reason she made the
driver stop short of our destination on our return； and walked home
the rest of the way。 Almost the first time we practised this
deception I was met at the door by the sweetest and dearest of these
old divines； who said； 〃Have you ever seen the races here？ I'm told
the spectacle is something very fine；〃 and I was obliged to own that
I had once had a glimpse of them。 But it was in vain that I pleaded
this fact with Mrs。 March； she insisted that the appearance of not
going to the races was something that we owed the cloth； and no
connivance on their part could dispense us from it。
As I now went looking up and down the street for the driver who was
usually on the watch for me about eleven o'clock on a fair day of
the races； I turned over in my mind the several accidents which are
employed in novels to bring young people to a realising sense of
their feelings toward each other； and wondered which of them I might
most safely invoke。 I was not anxious to have Kendricks and Miss
Gage lovers； it would be altogether simpler for us if they were not；
but if they were； the sooner they knew it and we knew it the better。
I thought of a carriage accident； in which he should seize her and
leap with her from the flying vehicle； while the horses plunged
madly on； but I did not know what in this case would become of Mrs。
March and me。 Besides； I could think of nothing that would frighten
our driver's horses； and I dismissed the fleeting notion of getting
any others because Mrs。 March liked their being so safe； and she
had； besides； interested herself particularly in the driver； who had
a family and counted upon our custom。 The poor fellow came in sight
presently； and smilingly made the usual arrangement with me； and an
hour later he delivered us all sound in wind and limb at the
racecourse。
I watched in vain for signs of uncommon tenderness in the two young
people。 If anything they were rather stiff and distant with each
other； and I asked myself whether this might not be from an access
of consciousness。 Kendricks was particularly devoted to Mrs。 March；
who； in the airy detachment with which she responded to his
attentions； gave me the impression that she had absolutely dismissed
her suspicions of the night before； or else had heartlessly
abandoned the affair to me altogether。 If she had really done this；
then I saw no way out of it for me but by an accident which should
reveal them to each other。 Perhaps some one might insult Miss Gage…
…some ruffianand Kendricks might strike the fellow； but this
seemed too squalid。 There might be a terrible jam； and he interpose
his person between her and the danger of her being crushed to death；
or the floor of the grand stand might give way； and everybody be
precipitated into the space beneath； and he fight his way； with her
senseless form on his arm； over the bodies of the mangled and dying。
Any of these things would have availed in a novel； and something of
the kind would have happened； too。 But； to tell the truth； nothing
whatever happened； and if it had not been for that anxiety on my
mind I should have thought it much pleasanter so。
Even as it was I felt a measure of the hilarity which commonly fills
me at a running race； and I began to lose in the charm of the gay
scene the sense of my responsibility； and little by little to abate
the vigilance apparently left all to me。 The day was beautiful； the
long heat had burned itself out； and there was a clear sparkle in
the sunshine； which seemed blown across the wide space within the
loop of the track by the delicate breeze。 A vague； remote smell of
horses haunted the air； with now and then a breath of the pines from
the grove shutting the race…ground from the highway。 We got
excellent places； as one always may； the grand stand is so vast； and
the young people disposed themselves on the bench in front of us；
but so near that we were not tempted to talk them over。 The
newsboys came round with papers； and the boys who sold programmes of
the races； from the bar below there appeared from time to time
shining negroes in white linen jackets； with trays bearing tall
glasses of lemonade； and straws tilted in the glasses。 Bookmakers
from the pool…rooms took the bets of the ladies； who formed by far
the greater part of the spectators on the grand stand； and
contributed； with their summer hats and gowns； to the gaiety of the
ensemble。 They were of all types； city and country both； and of the
Southern dark as well as the Northern fair complexion； with so thick
a sprinkling of South Americans that the Spanish gutturals made
themselves almost as much heard as the Yankee nasals。 Among them
moved two nuns of some mendicant order； receiving charity from the
fair gamblers； who gave for luck without distinction of race or
religion。
I leaned forward and called Kendricks's attention to the nuns； and
to the admirable literary quality of the whole situation。 He was
talking to Miss Gage； and he said as impatiently as he ever suffered
himself to speak； 〃Yes； yes； tremendously picturesque。〃
〃You ought to get something out of it； my dear fellow。 Don't you
feel copy in it？〃
〃Oh； splendid； of course； but it's your ground； Mr。 March。 I
shouldn't feel it right to do anything with Saratoga after you had
discovered it；〃 and he turned eagerly again to Miss Gage。
My wife put her hand on my sleeve and frowned； and I had so far lost
myself in my appreciation of the scene that I was going to ask her
what the matter was； when a general sensation about me made me look
at the track； where the horses for the first race had already
appeared； with their jockeys in vivid silk jackets of various dyes。
They began to form for the start with the usual tricks and feints；
till I became very indignant with them； though I had no bets
pending； and did not care in the least which horse won。 What I
wanted was to see the race； the flight； and all this miserable
manoeuvring was retarding it。 Now and then a jockey rode his horse
far off on the track and came back between the false starts； now and
then one kept stubbornly behind the rest and would not start with
them。 How their several schemes and ambitions were finally
reconciled I never could tell； but at last the starter's flag swept
down and they were really off。 Everybody could have seen perfectly
well as they sat； but everybody rose and watched