A Little Journey in the World

penalty that we pay for the freedom of republican opportunity that some must be very rich. This is the logical outcome of the open chance for everybody to be rich--and it is the surest way

e richest ostentation. It is difficult to attain this, and theory says that it takes three generations for a man to separate himself thus from his display. It was the tattle of the town that the first owner of the pictures in the gallery of the Stott mansion used to tell the prices to his visitors; the third owner is quite beyond remembering them. He might mention, laughingly, tha

was gauged by the retinue of servitors and men and women in waiting. And this is, after all, a better test of wealth than a mere accumulation of things and cost of decoration; for though men and women do not cost so much originally as

ostentation anywhere, it was in the dazzling fineness of the expanse of table-linen, not in the few rare flowers, or the crystal, or the plate, which was of solid gold, simply modest. The eye is pleased by this chastity--pure whiteness, the glow of yellow, the slight touch of sensuous warmth in the rose. The di

as usual, on the opera, Wagner, a Christmas party at Lenox, at Tuxedo, somebody's engagement, some lucky hit in the Exchange, the irritating personalities of the newspapers, the last English season, the marriage of the Duchess of Bolinbroke, a confidential disclosure of who would be in the C

Laflamme raising her voice--"the other n

iss Esc

ce, various places; they were in Europe some time; I believ

ady was her mother. And the man with us--that might interest you mo

suppose sh

ut I don't think Mr. Lyon is fortune-hunting. H

n she said (after Mrs. Laflamme had dropped the subject with the remark th

no doubt,

e says, entertaining. She

me? Fo

book, as a fam

eet expression, to have my stock quotable. Perhaps you couldn'

offer me any," said Margaret, in a tone of carr

or. A good many women here amuse

seem to me v

ks and chances. In countries where lotteri

y have. I think women are more pr

risks, they leave us quite behind." Mr. Henderson did not care to extend the conversation i

nderstand why it is, Mr. Henderson, that one can enjoy th

hen the excit

e myself here. I have a fee

he world i

the world seems much sma

ppears narrow a

. I get a wider view when I stand off--at home. I suppose it is more concentrated here. And, oh dear, I'm so stupid! Everybody is so alert in little things, so qui

ou try to say what

, what's the

pass t

s a smile of amusement on his face, but not at all offensive

more," she said, as there was

on me of being serious," he re

cellences only used for sensuous effects--that he did not call attention to as he might have done with another. Curiously enough, he found himself seeking sentiment, purity. If the drawing was bad, Margaret knew it; if a false note was struck, she saw it. But she was not educated up to a good many of the suggestions of the gallery. Henderson perceived this, and his manner to her became more deferential and protective. It was a manner to which

they had lingeringly made the circuit of the room and passed out

ay from

rs, I am glad to know

or departure, at the foot of the stairway, she gave him

t when the right day came she confessed that the moment

nowing a little, and cold, but so exhilarating. He remembered just how she turned her head as she got into the carriage. She had touched his arm lightly once in the ga

o the Eschelle drawing-room. It was dimly lighted, but familiarity with the place enabled him without difficulty to find his way down the long s

ticles, costly and coquettish, which assert femininity, even in a literary atmosphere. Over the fireplace hung a picture of spring--a budding girl, smiling and winning, in a semi-transparent raiment, advancing with swift steps to bring in the season of flowers and o

ve in so many different ways, moods are so changing, beauty is so un

me to take in the warmth of this

Mamma is excused with a headache, but she has left me po

ill not put me through

Henderson. I'm not very cross yet. Now, sit there s

t on my business or m

st, if you m

stocks are

Everything goes up with you. D

g bad,

o gold. That you will be one of th

startlin

To be in the Cabinet. To be minister--go to England. But one needs a great deal of money for t

't care fo

that if you have money enough. Do you kn

reckoned you'd

me if I knew who that man was across the room; such an air of distinction; might

el

ed and is clever, and knows how to please if he likes, he cannot

ot unfamiliar to his mind, and he understood quite well the relation to it that Carmen had in her mind; but he did not t

ty enough to be a woman. I did not expect such a banality

l wh

at I thought they might fall when y

hall not

. I might forget you if i

ep the stocks, e

ion. Not much. Going to smash with you would be something like

Henderson asked, leaning forward with an e

ing with that Miss Debree from Brandon. Chiefly from what she didn't say. She is such a lovely girl, and j

t I approved of all the

ious myself. I want everybody to know the worst of me. I wish I could practice some concealment. But she rather discourages me. She would take the color out of a career. She somehow doesn't allow for color, I could see. Dut

our plan for her? I dined with

ering if he would tell her

enough not to interfere with conve

Bolinbroke, and the opera, and Prince Talleyrand, and the corner in wh

onor of taki

so that he was obliged to turn his head backward to see her--"Mr. Henderson, do you know you are getting to be a desperat

d to the overture, except to snap the hand with her index-fi

tle foot was on the fender again, and the

he remark was made in a tone of good-humored raille

ose to her feet in indignation--"you to advise an American girl to

ised nothing of the sort. I hadn't the leas

nk I'll tell Mr. Lyon that he will have occupation enough to keep him in this cou

anything you like. I'm no more responsible for

elings run away with me." This said reflectively, and looking away from him. And then, turning towards him with wistful, plead

sing, "we mustn't quarrel about

should lose your esteem I should go into a convent." She dropped his hand, and snatching a bunch of violets fro

" said Henderson, heartily, patting the

in her sweet face. "What an insensible stick!" Then she ran up-stairs to her mother, who sat in her

el

absorbed in that girl from Brando

razy, child. New York is

amma, don't you think it would be only civil to

hat I said the other

But I want to please you. An

e same thing over again. And always the expectation that it will be different to

ursuits that never pall--ma

emes he found the thought of Margaret entering. Why should it not have been Carmen? he sometimes thought. She thoroughly understood him. She would never stand in the way of his most daring ambitions with

ite capable of making a match for his advancement, but he felt strong enough to make one for his own pleasure. And if there are men so worldly as not to be attracte

reflect whether she would approve all the methods he resorted to, but all the women he knew liked s

e of Margaret alone. It did not matter. A chance look is a volume; a word is a library. They saw each other; they heard each other. And then passion gro

of hope. Brandon was such a little way off. Henderson often had business there. The Misses Arbuser said, "Of course." And Margaret sai

dside to be seen, but the buds were swelling. And Margaret, neglecting the bo