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felt。 〃How would it do for you to have a little talk with hera
little motherly talkand hint round； and warn her not to let her
feelings run away with her in Kendricks's direction？〃 Mrs。 March
faced her book down in her lap； and listened as if there might be
some reason in the nonsense I was talking。 〃You might say that he
was a society man； and was in great request； and then intimate that
there was a prior attachment； or that he was the kind of man who
would never marry； but was really cold…hearted with all his
sweetness； and merely had a passion for studying character。〃
〃Do you think that would do； Basil？〃 she asked。
〃Well； I thought perhaps you might think so。〃
〃I'm afraid it wouldn't；〃 she sighed。
〃All that we can do now is to watch them； and act promptly； if we
see that they are really in love； either of them。〃
〃I don't believe；〃 I said； 〃that I should know that they were in
love even if I saw it。 I have forgotten the outward signs； if I
ever knew them。 Should he give her flowers？ He's done it from the
start； he's brought her boxes of Huyler candy； and lent her books；
but I dare say he's been merely complying with our wishes in doing
it。 I doubt if lovers sigh nowadays。 I didn't sigh myself； even in
my time； and I don't believe any passion could make Kendricks
neglect his dress。 He keeps his eyes on her all the time； but that
may be merely an effort to divine her character。 I don't believe I
should know； indeed I don't。〃
〃I shall；〃 said Mrs。 March。
CHAPTER XIV
We were to go the next day to the races； and I woke with more
anxiety about the weather than about the lovers； or potential
lovers。 But after realising that the day was beautiful； on that
large scale of loveliness which seems characteristic of the summer
days at Saratoga； where they have them almost the size of the summer
days I knew when I was a boy； I was sensible of a secondary worry in
my mind； which presently related itself to Kendricks and Miss Gage。
It was a haze of trouble merely； however； such as burns off； like a
morning fog； when the sun gets higher； and it was chiefly on my
wife's account。
I suppose that the great difference between her conscience and one
originating outside of New England （if any conscience can originate
outside of New England） is that it cannot leave the moral government
of the universe in the hands of divine Providence。 I was willing to
leave so many things which I could not control to the Deity； who
probably could that she accused me of fatalism； and I was held to be
little better than one of the wicked because I would not forecast
the effects of what I did in the lives of others。 I insisted that
others were also probably in the hands of the somma sapienza e il
primo amore； and that I was so little aware of the influence of
other lives upon my own； even where there had been a direct and
strenuous effort to affect me； that I could not readily believe
others had swerved from the line of their destiny because of me。
Especially I protested that I could not hold myself guilty of
misfortunes I had not intended； even though my faulty conduct had
caused them。 As to this business of Kendricks and Miss Gage； I
denied in the dispute I now began tacitly to hold with Mrs。 March's
conscience that my conduct had been faulty。 I said that there was
no earthly harm in my having been interested by the girl's
forlornness when I first saw her； that I did not do wrong to
interest Mrs。 March in her； that she did not sin in going shopping
with Miss Gage and Mrs。 Deering； that we had not sinned； either of
us； in rejoicing that Kendricks had come to Saratoga； or in letting
Mrs。 Deering go home to her sick husband and leave Miss Gage on our
hands； that we were not wicked in permitting the young fellow to
help us make her have a good time。 In this colloquy I did all the
reasoning； and Mrs。 March's conscience was completely silenced； but
it rose triumphant in my miserable soul when I met Miss Gage at
breakfast； looking radiantly happy； and disposed to fellowship me in
an unusual confidence because； as I clearly perceived； of our last
night's adventure。 I said to myself bitterly that happiness did not
become her style； and I hoped that she would get away with her
confounded rapture before Mrs。 March came down。 I resolved not to
tell Mrs。 March if it fell out so； but at the same time； as a sort
of atonement； I decided to begin keeping the sharpest kind of watch
upon Miss Gage for the outward signs and tokens of love。
She said； 〃When you began to talk that way last night； Mr。 March； it
almost took my breath； and if you hadn't gone so far； and mentioned
about the sunset through the sleety trees； I never should have
suspected you。〃
〃Ah； that's the trouble with men； Miss Gage。〃 And when I said 〃men〃
I fancied she flushed a little。 〃We never know when to stop； we
always overdo it； if it were not for that we should be as perfect as
women。 Perhaps you'll give me another chance； though。〃
〃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；