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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 the swift swoop of
the horses； bunched together in the distance； and scarcely
distinguishable by the colours of their riders。 The supreme moment
came for me when they were exactly opposite the grand stand； full
half a mile awaythe moment that I remembered from year to year as
one of exquisite illusionfor then the horses seemed to lift from
the earth as with wings； and to skim over the track like a covey of
low…flying birds。 The finish was tame to this。 Mrs。 March and I
had our wonted difference of opinion as to which horse had won； and
we were rather uncommonly controversial because we had both decided
upon the same horse； as we found； only she was talking of the
jockey's colours； and I was talking of the horse's。 We appealed to
Kendricks； who said that another horse altogether had won the race；
and this compromise pacified us。
We were all on foot； and he suggested； 〃We could see better；
couldn't we； if we went farther down in front？〃 And Mrs。 March
answered …
〃No； we prefer to stay here； but you two can go。〃 And when they had
promptly availed themselves of her leave； she said to me； 〃This is
killing me dead； Basil； and if it keeps up much longer I don't
believe I can live through it。 I don't care now； and I believe I
shall throw them together all I can from this out。 The quicker they
decide whether they're in love or not the better。 _I_ have some
rights too。〃
Her whirling words expressed the feeling in my own mind。 I had the
same sense of being trifled with by these young people； who would
not behave so conclusively toward each other as to justify our
interference on the ground that they were in love； nor yet treat
each other so indifferently as to relieve us of the strain of
apprehension。 I had lost all faith in accident by this time； and I
was quite willing to leave them to their own devices； I was so
desperate that I said I hoped they would get lost from us； as they
had from me the night before； and never come back； but just keep on
wandering round for ever。 All sorts of vengeful thoughts went
through my mind as I saw them leaning toward each other to say
something； and then drawing apart to laugh in what seemed an
indefinite comradery instead of an irrepressible passion。 Did they
think we were going to let this sort of thing go on？ What did they
suppose our nerves were made of？ Had they no mercy； no
consideration？ It was quite like the selfishness of youth to wish
to continue in that fool's paradise； but they would find out that
middle age had its rights too。 I felt capable of asking them
bluntly what they meant by it。 But when they docilely rejoined us
at the end of the races； hurrying up with some joke about not
letting me get lost this time； and Miss Gage put herself at my
wife's side and Kendricks dropped into step with me； all I had been
thinking seemed absurd。 They were just two young people who were
enjoying a holiday…time together； and we were in no wise culpable
concerning them。
I suggested this to Mrs。 March when we got home； and； in the need of
some relief from the tension she had been in； she was fain to accept
the theory provisionally； though I knew that her later rejection of
it would be all the more violent for this respite。
CHAPTER XV
There was to be a hop at the Grand Union that night； and I had got
tickets for it in virtue of my relation to Every Other Week。 I must
say the clerk who gave them me was very civil about it； he said they
were really only for the hotel guests； but he was glad to give them
to outsiders who applied with proper credentials； and he even
offered me more tickets than I asked for。
Miss Gage was getting a dress for the hop； and it was to be finished
that day。 I think women really like the scare of thinking their
dresses will not be done for a given occasion； and so arrange to
have them at the last moment。 Mrs。 March went with the girl early
in the afternoon to have it tried on for the last time； and they
came home reporting that it was a poem。 My wife confided to me that
it was not half donemerely begun； in factand would never be
finished in time in the world。 She also assured Miss Gage that she
need not be the least uneasy； that there was not an hour's work on
the dress； and that the dress…maker's reputation was at stake； and
she would not dare to fail her。 I knew she was perfectly sincere in
both these declarations； which were； indeed； merely the expression
of two mental attitudes； and had no relation to the facts。
She added to me that she was completely worn out with anxiety and
worry； and I must not think of her going to the hop。 I would have
to do the chaperoning for her； and she did hope that I would not
forget what I was sent for； or get talking with somebody； and leave
Miss Gage altogether to Kendricks。 She said that quite likely there
might be friends or acquaintances of his at the hopsuch a large
affairwhom he would want to show some attention； and I must take
charge of Miss Gage myself； and try to find her other partners。 She
drilled me in the duties of my position until I believed that I was
letter…perfect； and then she said that she supposed I would commit
some terrible blunder that would ruin everything。
I thought that this was very likely； too； but I would not admit it。
The dress came home at nine o'clock； and operated a happy diversion
from my imaginable shortcomings； for it appeared from Mrs。 March's
asides to me that it was a perfect horror in the set； and that
everybody could see that it had been simply SLUNG together at the
last moment； and she would never； as long as the world stood； go to
that woman for anything again。
I must say I could not myself see anything wrong about the dress。 I
thought it exquisite in tint and texture； a delicate； pale…greenish
film that clung and floated； and set off the girl's beauty as the
leafage of a flower heightens the loveliness of a flower。 I did not
dare to say this in the face of Mrs。 March's private despair； and I
was silent while the girl submitted to be twirled about for my
inspection like a s