A Hazard of New Fortunes · Chapter
XVIII explained
The Marches and Fulkerson see the Dryfoos family off on a steamer to Europe.
What happens
The Marches and Fulkerson see the Dryfoos family off on a steamer to Europe. Every Other Week is transferred to March and Fulkerson, who implement cost-cutting reforms. Beaton remains with the magazine. Fulkerson marries and takes a wedding journey. The Leightons' future is uncertain, with Kendricks showing interest in Alma. Christine Dryfoos becomes engaged to a French nobleman. The Marches encounter Margaret Vance, now a nun, and reflect on her role in Conrad's death.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Mobility
The Dryfooses' departure for Europe and Christine's engagement to a French nobleman illustrate the pursuit of social status through wealth and transatlantic alliances.
Capitalism and Moral Compromise
March and Fulkerson's reforms, including cutting staff and reducing payments, highlight the compromises inherent in running a business for profit.
Love and Marriage
Fulkerson's marriage and Kendricks's interest in Alma, alongside Christine's engagement, explore various forms of romantic and marital relationships.
Characters to notice
- Basil March
Sees the Dryfooses off; becomes co-owner of Every Other Week; implements reforms with Fulkerson.
- Mrs. March
Pities Dryfoos but notes his incomplete regeneration; observes Christine's behavior; reflects on Margaret Vance.
- Fulkerson
Accompanies Marches to see Dryfooses off; becomes co-owner; marries and takes a wedding journey; praised for magnanimity.
- Mr. Dryfoos
Departs for Europe with family; looks wearied and bewildered; has transferred the magazine to March and Fulkerson.
- Christine Dryfoos
Shows furtive wildness at departure; later becomes engaged to a French nobleman in Paris.
- Margaret Vance
Encountered by the Marches in nun's dress; appears joyful and at peace; her past talk with Conrad is recalled.
Key passages
“The Marches, with Fulkerson, went to see the Dryfooses off on the French steamer. There was no longer any business obligation on them to be civil, and there was greater kindness for that reason in the attention they offered.”
The Marches and Fulkerson saw the Dryfoos family off at the steamer, now acting out of kindness rather than business necessity.
Highlights the shift from transactional to genuine goodwill after the magazine transfer.
“Every Other Week had been made over to the joint ownership of March and Fulkerson, and the details arranged with a hardness on Dryfoos’s side which certainly left Mrs. March with a sense of his incomplete regeneration.”
The magazine was transferred to March and Fulkerson, but Dryfoos's harshness in the deal made Mrs. March doubt his moral change.
Reflects the theme of moral compromise and Dryfoos's incomplete transformation.
“News has come from Paris of the engagement of Christine Dryfoos. There the Dryfooses met with the success denied them in New York; many American plutocrats must await their apotheosis in Europe, where society has them, as it were, in a translation.”
Christine Dryfoos is engaged in Paris, where the family found the social acceptance they lacked in New York, as many wealthy Americans find their status elevated in Europe.
Illustrates the theme of social class and mobility through transatlantic marriage.
“Well, she is at rest, there can’t be any doubt of that,” he said, as he glanced round at the drifting black robe which followed her free, nun-like walk. “Yes, now she can do all the good she likes,” sighed his wife.”
March observes that Margaret Vance has found peace as a nun, and Mrs. March agrees she can now freely do good works.
Reflects on Margaret Vance's spiritual resolution and her past involvement with Conrad's death.
