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Promise me you will！〃
〃I will try； as the good little boy says。 But； Isabel； we don't
know these people except from their own account。〃
〃And that is quite enough。〃
〃It will be quite enough for the hotel…keeper if they run their
board。 I shall have to pay it。〃
〃Now； Basil dear； don't be disgusting； and go and do as you're bid。〃
It was amusing； but it was perfectly safe； and there was no reason
why I should not engage rooms for the ladies at another hotel。 I
had not the least question of them； and I had failed to worry my
wife with a pretended doubt。 So I decided that I would go up at
once and inquire at the Grand Union。 I chose this hotel because；
though it lacked the fine flower of the more ancient respectability
and the legendary charm of the States； it was so spectacular that it
would be in itself a perpetual excitement for those ladies； and
would form an effect of society which； with some help from us； might
very well deceive them。 This was what I said to myself； though in
my heart I knew better。 Whatever Mrs。 Deering might think； that
girl was not going to be taken in with any such simple device； and I
must count upon the daily chances in the place to afford her the
good time she had come for。
As I mounted the steps to the portico of the Grand Union with my
head down； and lost in a calculation of these chances； I heard my
name gaily called； and I looked up to see young Kendricks； formerly
of our staff on Every Other Week； and still a frequent contributor；
and a great favourite of my wife's and my own。 My heart gave a
great joyful bound at sight of him。
〃My dear boy； when in the world did you come？〃
〃This morning by the steamboat train； and I am never； never going
away！〃
〃You like it； then？〃
〃Like it！ It's the most delightful thing in the universe。 Why； I'm
simply wild about it； Mr。 March。 I go round saying to myself； Why
have I thrown away my life？ Why have I never come to Saratoga
before？ It's simply supreme； and it's American down to the ground。
Yes； that's what makes it so delightful。 No other people could have
invented it； and it doesn't try to be anything but what we made it。〃
〃I'm so glad you look at it in that way。 WE like it。 We discovered
it three or four years ago； and we never let a summer slip； if we
can help it； without coming here for a week or a month。 The place；〃
I enlarged； 〃has the charm of ruin； though it's in such obvious
repair； it has a past； it's so completely gone by in a society
sense。 The cottage life here hasn't killed the hotel life； as it
has at Newport and Bar Harbour； but the ideal of cottage life
everywhere else has made hotel life at Saratoga ungenteel。 The
hotels are full； but at the same time they are society solitudes。〃
〃How gay it is！〃 said the young fellow； as he gazed with a pensive
smile into the street； where all those festive vehicles were coming
and going； dappled by the leaf…shadows from the tall trees overhead。
〃What air！ what a sky！〃 The one was indeed sparkling； and the other
without a cloud； for it had rained in the night； and it seemed as if
the weather could never be hot and close again。
I forgot how I had been sweltering about； and said： 〃Yes； it is a
Saratoga day。 It's supposed that the sparkle of the air comes from
the healthful gases thrown off by the springs。 Some people say the
springs are doctored； that's what makes their gases so healthful。〃
〃Why； anything might happen here；〃 Kendricks mused； unheedful of me。
〃What a scene！ what a stage！ Why has nobody done a story about
Saratoga？〃 he asked； with a literary turn I knew his thoughts would
be taking。 All Gerald Kendricks's thoughts were of literature； but
sometimes they were not of immediate literary effect； though that
was never for long。
〃Because；〃 I suggested； 〃one probably couldn't get his young lady
characters to come here if they were at all in society。 But of
course there must be charming presences here accidentally。 Some
young girl； say； might come here from a country place； expecting to
see social gaiety〃
〃Ah； but that would be too heart…breaking！〃
〃Not at all。 Not if she met some young fellow accidentallydon't
you see？〃
〃It would be difficult to manage； and hasn't it been done？〃
〃Everything has been done； my dear fellow。 Or； you might suppose a
young lady who comes on here with her father； a veteran politician；
delegate to the Republican or Democratic conventionall the
conventions meet in Saratoga；and some ardent young delegate falls
in love with her。 That would be new ground。 There you would have
the political novel； which they wonder every now and then some of us
don't write。〃 The smile faded from Kendricks's lips； and I laughed。
〃Well； then； there's nothing for it but the Social Science Congress。
Have a brilliant professor win the heart of a lovely sister…in…law
of another member by a paper he reads before the Congress。 No？
You're difficult。 Are you stopping here？〃
〃Yes； are you？〃
〃I try to give myself the air of it when I am feeling very proud。
But really； we live at a most charming little hotel on a back
street； out of the whirl and rush that we should prefer to be in if
we could afford it。〃 He said it must be delightful； and he made the
proper inquiries about Mrs。 March。 Kendricks never forgot the
gentleman in the artist； and he was as true to the convenances as if
they had been principles。 That was what made Mrs。 March like his
stories so much more than the stories of some people who wrote
better。 He said he would drop in during the afternoon； and I went
indoors on the pretext of buying a newspaper。 Then； without
engaging rooms for Mrs。 Deering and Miss Gage； I hurried home。
CHAPTER VIII
〃Well； did you get the rooms？〃 asked my wife as soon as she saw me。
She did not quite call it across the street to me as I came up from
where she sat on the piazza。
〃No； I didn't；〃 I said boldly； if somewhat breathlessly。
〃Why didn't you？ You ought to have gone to the States if they were
full at the Grand Union。〃
〃They were not full； unless Kendricks got their last room。〃
〃Do you mean that HE was there？ Mr。 Kendricks？ If you are hoaxing
me； Basil！〃
〃I am not； my dear； indeed I'm not；〃 said I； beginning to laugh； and
this made her doubt me the more。
〃Because if you are I shall simply never forgive you。 And I'm in
earnest this time；〃 she replied。
〃Why should I want to hoax you about such a vital thing as that。
Couldn't Kendricks come to Saratoga as well as we？ He's here
looking up the ground of a story I should think from what he said。〃
〃No matter what he's here for； he's here； and that's enough。 I
never knew of anything so perfectly providential。 Did you TELL him；
Basil？ Did you dare？〃
〃Tell him what？〃
〃You know； about Miss Gage。〃
〃Well； I came very near it。 I dangled the fact before his eyes
once； but I caught it away again in time。 He never saw it。 I
thought I'd better let you tell him。〃
〃Is he coming here to see us？〃
〃He asked if he might。〃
〃He's always nice。 I don't know that I shall ask him to do anything
for them； after all； I'm not sure that she's worth it。 I wish some
commoner person had happened along。 Kendricks is too precious。 I
shall have to think about it； and don't you tease me； Basil； will
you？〃
〃I don't know。 If I'm not allowed to have any voice in the matter；
I'm afraid I shall take it out in teasing。 I don't see why Miss
Gage isn't quite as good as Kendricks。 I believe she's taller； and
though he's pretty good…looking； I prefer her style of beauty。 I
dare say his family is better； but I fancy she's richer； and his
family isn't good beyond New York city； and her money will go
anywhere。 It's a pretty even thing。〃
〃Good gracious； Basil！ you talk as if it were a question of
marriage。〃
〃And you THINK it is。〃
〃Now I see that you're bent upon teasing； and we won't talk any
more； please。 What time did he say he would call？〃
〃If I mayn't talk； I can't tell。〃
〃You may talk that much。〃
〃Well； then； he didn't say。〃
〃Basil；〃 said my wife； after a moment； 〃if you could be serious； I
should like very much to talk with you。 I know that you're excited
by meeting Mr。 Kendricks； and I know what you thought the instant
you saw him。 But； indeed； it won't do； my dear。 It's more than
we've any right to ask； and I shall not ask it； and I shall not let
you。 She is a stiff； awkward village person； and I don't believe
she's amiable or intelligent； and to let a graceful； refined；
superior man like Mr。 Kendricks throw away his time upon her would
be wicked； simply wicked。 Let those people manage for themselves
from this out。 Of course you mustn't get them rooms at the Grand
Union now； for he'd be seeing us there with them； and feel bound to
pay her attention。 You must try for them at the States； since the
matter's been spoken of； or at Congress Hall。 But there's no hurry。
We must have time to think whether we shall use Mr。 Kendricks with
them。 I suppose it will do no harm to introduce him。 If he stays
we can't very well avoid it； and I confess I should like to see how
she impresses him！ Of course we shall introduce him！