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o'clock； and said it was disgraceful。
Before they rose； there was a ring at the door； and a card was brought in
to Tom。 He glanced at it； and said to his father； 〃Oh； yes！ This man
has been haunting the office for the last three days。 He's got to leave
to…day； and as it seemed to be rather a case of life and death with him；
I said he'd probably find you here this morning。 But if you don't want
to see him； I can put him off till afternoon； I suppose。〃
He tossed the card to his father； who looked at it quietly； and then gave
it to his wife。 〃Perhaps I'd as well see him？〃
〃See him！〃 she returned in accents in which all the intensity of her soul
was centred。 By an effort of self…control which no words can convey a
just sense of she remained with her children； while her husband with a
laugh more teasing than can be imagined went into the drawing…room to
meet Burnamy。
The poor fellow was in an effect of belated summer as to clothes； and he
looked not merely haggard but shabby。 He made an effort for dignity as
well as gayety； however； in stating himself to March； with many apologies
for his persistency。 But； he said； he was on his way West； and he was
anxious to know whether there was any chance of his 'Kasper Hauler' paper
being taken if he finished it up。 March would have been a far harder…
hearted editor than he was； if he could have discouraged the suppliant
before him。 He said he would take the Kasper Hauler paper and add a band
of music to the usual rate of ten dollars a thousand words。 Then
Burnamy's dignity gave way； if not his gayety； he began to laugh； and
suddenly he broke down and confessed that he had come home in the
steerage； and was at his last cent； beyond his fare to Chicago。 His
straw hat looked like a withered leaf in the light of his sad facts； his
thin overcoat affected March's imagination as something like the
diaphanous cast shell of a locust； hopelessly resumed for comfort at the
approach of autumn。 He made Burnamy sit down； after he had once risen；
and he told him of Major Eltwin's wish to see him； and he promised to go
round with him to the major's hotel before the Eltwins left town that
afternoon。
While he prolonged the interview in this way； Mrs。 March was kept from
breaking in upon them only by the psychical experiment which she was
making with the help and sympathy of her daughter at the window of the
dining…room which looked up Sixteenth Street。 At the first hint she gave
of the emotional situation which Burnamy was a main part of； her son；
with the brutal contempt of young men for other young men's love affairs；
said he must go to the office； he bade his mother tell his father there
was no need of his coming down that day； and he left the two women
together。 This gave the mother a chance to develop the whole fact to the
daughter with telegrammic rapidity and brevity； and then to enrich the
first…outline with innumerable details； while they both remained at the
window； and Mrs。 March said at two…minutely intervals； with no sense of
iteration for either of them； 〃I told her to come in the morning； if she
felt like it； and I know she will。 But if she doesn't； I shall say there
is nothing in fate； or Providence either。 At any rate I'm going to stay
here and keep longing for her； and we'll see whether there's anything in
that silly theory of your father's。 I don't believe there is；〃 she said；
to be on the safe side。
Even when she saw Agatha Triscoe enter the park gate on Rutherford Place；
she saved herself from disappointment by declaring that she was not
coming across to their house。 As the girl persisted in coming and
coming； and at last came so near that she caught sight of Mrs。 March at
the window and nodded； the mother turned ungratefully upon her daughter；
and drove her away to her own room； so that no society detail should
hinder the divine chance。 She went to the door herself when Agatha rang；
and then she was going to open the way into the parlor where March was
still closeted with Burnamy； and pretend that she had not known they were
there。 But a soberer second thought than this prevailed； and she told
the girl who it was that was within and explained the accident of his
presence。 〃I think；〃 she said nobly； 〃that you ought to have the chance
of going away if you don't wish to meet him。〃
The girl； with that heroic precipitation which Mrs。 March had noted in
her from the first with regard to what she wanted to do； when Burnamy was
in question； answered； 〃But I do wish to meet him； Mrs。 March。〃
While they stood looking at each other； March came out to ask his wife if
she would see Burnamy； and she permitted herself so much stratagem as to
substitute Agatha； after catching her husband aside and subduing his
proposed greeting of the girl to a hasty handshake。
Half an hour later she thought it time to join the young people； urged
largely by the frantic interest of her daughter。 But she returned from
the half…open door without entering。 〃I couldn't bring myself to break
in on the poor things。 They are standing at the window together looking
over at St。 George's。〃
Bella silently clasped her hands。 March gave cynical laugh； and said；
〃Well we are in for it； my dear。〃 Then he added； 〃I hope they'll take us
with them on their Silver Wedding Journey。〃
THE END