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is in the lovely park which lies in the heart of the city； and they felt
in its presence the only emotion of sympathy which the many patriotic
monuments of Germany awakened in them。 It had dignity and repose； which
these never had elsewhere； but it was perhaps not so much for the dying
warrior and the pitying lion of the sculpture that their hearts were
moved as for the gentle and mournful humanity of the inscription； which
dropped into equivalent English verse in March's note…book：
Fame was enough for the Victors； and glory and verdurous laurel；
Tears by their mothers wept founded this image of stone。
To this they could forgive the vaunting record； on the reverse； of the
German soldiers who died heroes in the war with France； the war with
Austria； and even the war with poor little Denmark！
The morning had been bright and warm； and it was just that the afternoon
should be dim and cold； with a pale sun looking through a September mist；
which seemed to deepen the seclusion and silence of the forest reaches；
for the park was really a forest of the German sort； as parks are apt to
be in Germany。 But it was beautiful； and they strayed through it； and
sometimes sat down on the benches in its damp shadows； and said how much
seemed to be done in Germany for the people's comfort and pleasure。 In
what was their own explicitly； as well as what was tacitly theirs； they
were not so restricted as we were at home； and especially the children
seemed made fondly and lovingly free of all public things。 The Marches
met troops of them in the forest； as they strolled slowly back by the
winding Dussel to the gardened avenue leading to the park； and they found
them everywhere gay and joyful。 But their elders seemed subdued； and
were silent。 The strangers heard no sound of laughter in the streets of
Dusseldorf； and they saw no smiling except on the part of a very old
couple； whose meeting they witnessed and who grinned and cackled at each
other like two children as they shook hands。 Perhaps they were indeed
children of that sad second childhood which one would rather not blossom
back into。
In America； life is yet a joke with us； even when it is grotesque and
shameful； as it so often is； for we think we can make it right when we
choose。 But there is no joking in Germany； between the first and second
childhoods； unless behind closed doors。 Even there； people do not joke
above their breath about kings and emperors。 If they joke about them in
print； they take out their laugh in jail； for the press laws are severely
enforced； and the prisons are full of able editors； serious as well as
comic。 Lese…majesty is a crime that searches sinners out in every walk
of life； and it is said that in family jars a husband sometimes has the
last word of his wife by accusing her of blaspheming the sovereign； and
so having her silenced for three months at least behind penitential bars。
〃Think；〃 said March； 〃how simply I could adjust any differences of
opinion between us in Dusseldorf。〃
〃Don't！〃 his wife implored with a burst of feeling which surprised him。
〃I want to go home！〃
They had been talking over their day； and planning their journey to
Holland for the morrow； when it came to this outburst from her in the
last half…hour before bed which they sat prolonging beside their stove。
〃What！ And not go to Holland？ What is to become of my after…cure？〃
〃Oh； it's too late for that； now。 We've used up the month running about；
and tiring ourselves to death。 I should like to rest a weekto get into
my berth on the Norumbia and rest！〃
〃I guess the September gales would have something to say about that。〃
〃I would risk the September gales。〃
LXXII。
In the morning March came home from his bankers gay with the day's
provisional sunshine in his heart； and joyously expectant of his wife's
pleasure in the letters he was bringing。 There was one from each of
their children； and there was one from Fulkerson； which March opened and
read on the street； so as to intercept any unpleasant news there might be
in them； there were two letters for Mrs。 March which he knew without
opening were from Miss Triscoe and Mrs。 Adding respectively； Mrs。
Adding's； from the postmarks； seemed to have been following them about
for some time。
〃They're all right at home；〃 he said。 〃Do see what those people have
been doing。〃
〃I believe；〃 she said； taking a knife from the breakfast tray beside her
bed to cut the envelopes； 〃that you've really cared more about them all
along than I have。〃
〃No； I've only been anxious to be done with them。〃
She got the letters open； and holding one of them up in each hand she
read them impartially and simultaneously； then she flung them both down；
and turned her face into her pillow with an impulse of her inalienable
girlishness。 〃Well； it is too silly。〃
March felt authorized to take them up and read them consecutively； when
he had done； so he did not differ from his wife。 In one case； Agatha had
written to her dear Mrs。 March that she and Burnamy had just that evening
become engaged； Mrs。 Adding； on her part owned a farther step； and
announced her marriage to Mr。 Kenby。 Following immemorial usage in such
matters Kenby had added a postscript affirming his happiness in unsparing
terms； and in Agatha's letter there was an avowal of like effect from
Burnamy。 Agatha hinted her belief that her father would soon come to
regard Burnamy as she did； and Mrs。 Adding professed a certain
humiliation in having realized that； after all her misgiving about him；
Rose seemed rather relieved than otherwise； as if he were glad to have
her off his hands。
〃Well；〃 said March； 〃with these troublesome affairs settled； I don't see
what there is to keep us in Europe any longer； unless it's the consensus
of opinion in Tom； Bella； and Fulkerson； that we ought to stay the
winter。〃
〃Stay the winter！〃 Mrs。 March rose from her pillow； and clutched the
home letters to her from the abeyance in which they had fallen on the
coverlet while she was dealing with the others。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃It seems to have been prompted by a hint you let drop； which Tom has
passed to Bella and Fulkerson。〃
〃Oh； but that was before we left Carlsbad！〃 she protested； while she
devoured the letters with her eyes； and continued to denounce the
absurdity of the writers。 Her son and daughter both urged that now their
father and mother were over there； they had better stay as long as they
enjoyed it； and that they certainly ought not to come home without going
to Italy； where they had first met； and revisiting the places which they
had seen together when they were young engaged people： without that their
silver wedding journey would not be complete。 Her son said that
everything was going well with 'Every Other Week'； and both himself and
Mr。 Fulkerson thought his father ought to spend the winter in Italy； and
get a thorough rest。 〃Make a job of it； March；〃 Fulkerson wrote； 〃and
have a Sabbatical year while you're at it。 You may not get another。〃
〃Well； I can tell them；〃 said Mrs。 March indignantly； 〃we shall not do
anything of the kind。〃
〃Then you didn'