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only tangle they are ever going to be in； and do not know that they
are simply going on from one to another as long as there is enough
of them left to be caught in a mesh。 To Kendricks we Marches were
simply two amiable people； who had fancied doing a pleasant thing
for a beautiful girl that accident had thrown it in our power to
befriend； and were by no means the trembling arbiters of her destiny
we felt ourselves to be。 The difference between his objective sense
and my subjective sense was the difference between his twenty…seven
years and my fifty…two； and while this remained I saw that it would
be useless to try to get on common ground with him； or to give him
our point of view。 If I were to speak to him at all； it must be
with authority； with the right of one who stood in the place of the
girl's parents； and had her happiness at heart。 That is； it was
something like that； but my words say it too bluntly。 I found
myself beginning； 〃I have rather had a notion that her father might
come on； and take the enterprise off our hands；〃 though； to tell the
truth； I had never imagined such a thing； which came into my head at
that moment through an association with the thought of parents。
〃Have you any idea what sort of man he is？〃 asked Kendricks。
〃Oh； some little local magnate； president of the village and
president of the village bank； I fancy the chief figure in the
place； but probably as ignorant of our world as a Cherokee。〃
〃Well； I don't know；〃 said the young fellow。 〃Do you think that
follows because he doesn't live in it？〃 I could see that he did not
quite like what I had said。 〃I suppose ours is rather a small
world。〃
〃The smallest of all worlds；〃 I answered。 〃And in the eyes of Papa
Gage； if they could once be focused upon it； our world would shrivel
to an atom。〃
〃Do you think；〃 he asked； with a manifest anxiety； 〃that it would in
hers？〃
〃No； she is not the American people； and her father is； as I fancy
him。 I make out from the vague hints that Brother Deering （as
Fulkerson would call him） dropped when he talked about him that Papa
Gage is a shrewd； practical； home…keeping business man； with an eye
single to the main chance； lavish； but not generous； Philistine to
the backbone； blindly devoted to his daughter； and contemptuous of
all the myriad mysteries of civilisation that he doesn't understand。
I don't know why I should be authorised to imagine him personally
long and lank； with possibly a tobacco habit of some sort。 His
natural history； upon no better authority； is that of a hard…headed
farmer； who found out that farming could never be more than a
livelihood； and came into the village； and began to lend money； and
get gain； till he was in a position to help found the De Witt Point
National Bank； and then； by weight of his moneyed solidity； imposed
himself upon the free and independent voters of the villagea
majority of them under mortgage to himand became its president。
It isn't a pleasant type； but it's ideally American。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Kendricks ruefully。
〃But his daughter；〃 I continued； 〃is probably altogether different。
There is something fine about herreally fine。 Our world wouldn't
shrivel in her eye； it would probably swell up and fill the
universe；〃 I added by an impulse that came from nowhere irresistibly
upon me： 〃that is； if she could see YOU in it。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 he asked with a start。
〃Oh； now I must tell you what I mean；〃 I said desperately。 〃It's
you that have complicated this case so dreadfully for us。 Can't you
think why？〃
〃No； I can't；〃 he said； but he had to say that。
His fine； sensitive face flamed at once so fire…red that it could
only turn pale for a change when I plunged on： 〃I'm afraid we've
trifled with her happiness〃； and this formulation of the case
disgusted me so much that I laughed wildly； and added； 〃unless we've
trifled with yours； too。〃
〃I don't know why you call it trifling with happiness；〃 he returned
with dignity； but without offence。 〃If you will leave her out of
the question； I will say that you have given me the greatest
happiness of my life in introducing me to Miss Gage。〃
〃Now；〃 I demanded； 〃may I ask what YOU mean？ You know I wouldn't if
I didn't feel bound for her sake； and if you hadn't said just what
you have said。 You needn't answer me unless you like！ It's
pleasant to know that you've not been bored； and Mrs。 March and I
are infinitely obliged to you for helping us out。〃
Kendricks made as if he were going to say something； and then he did
not。 He hung his head lower and lower in the silence which I had to
break for him〃I hope I haven't been intrusive； my dear fellow。
This is something I felt bound to speak of。 You know we couldn't
let it go on。 Mrs。 March and I have blamed ourselves a good deal；
and we couldn't let it go on。 But I'm afraid I haven't been as
delicate with you〃
〃Oh！ delicate！〃 He lifted his head and flashed a face of generous
self…reproach upon me。 〃It's _I_ that haven't been delicate with
YOU。 I've been monstrously indelicate。 But I never meant to be；
andandI was coming to see you just now when we metto see you
Miss Gageand ask hertell her that weImust tell you and Mrs。
MarchMr。 March！ At the hop last night I asked her to be my wife；
and as soon as she can hear from her fatherBut the first thing
when I woke this morning； I saw that I must tell Mrs。 March and you。
And youyou must forgive usor me； rather； for it was my fault
for not telling you last nightat onceoh； thank you！ thank you！〃
I had seized his hand； and was wringing it vehemently in expression
of my pleasure in what he had told me。 In that first moment I felt
nothing but pure joy and an immeasurable relief。 I drew my breath；
a very deep and full one； in a sudden； absolute freedom from
anxieties which had been none the less real and constant because so
often burlesqued。 Afterward considerations presented themselves to
alloy my rapture； but for that moment； as I say； it was nothing but
rapture。 There was no question in it of the lovers' fitness for
each other； of their acceptability to their respective families； of
their general conduct； or of their especial behaviour toward us。
All that I could realise was that it was a great escape for both of
us； and a great triumph for me。 I had been afraid that I should not
have the courage to speak to Kendricks of the matter at all； much
less ask him to go away； and here I had actually spoken to him； with
the splendid result that I need only congratulate him on his
engagement to the lady whose unrequited affections I had been
wishing him to spare。 I don't remember just the terms I used in
doing this； but they seemed satisfactory to Kendricks； probably a
repetition of the letters of the alphabet would have been equally
acceptable。 At last I said； 〃Well； now I must go and tell the great
news to Mrs。 March；〃 and I shook hands with him again； we had been
shaking hands at half…minutely intervals ever since the first time。
CHAPTER XVIII
I saw Mrs。 March waiting for me on the hotel verandah。 She wore her
bonnet； and she warned me not to approach； and then ran down to meet
me。