Mrs。Laphamaskedhereldestdaughter，wholoungedintotheparlouramomentwithherwrapstringingfromherarm，whiletheyoungerwentstraighttobed。
　　"HewantstoinviteMr。Corey’sfathertoafishdinneratTaft’s！"
　　Penelopewasyawningwithherhandonhermouth；
　　shestopped，and，withalaughofamusedexpectance，sankintoachair，hershouldersshruggedforward。
　　"Why！whatintheworldhasputtheColoneluptothat？"
　　"Puthimuptoit！There’sthatfellow，whooughthavecometoseehimlongago，dropsintohisofficethismorning，andtalksfiveminuteswithhim，andyourfatherisflatteredoutofhisfivesenses。He’scrazytogetinwiththosepeople，andIshallhaveaperfectbattletokeephimwithinbounds。"
　　"Well，Persis，ma’am，youcan’tsaybutwhatyoubeganit，"
　　saidPenelope。
　　"Ohyes，Ibeganit，"confessedMrs。Lapham。"Pen，"shebrokeout，"whatdoyousupposehemeansbyit？"
　　"Who？Mr。Corey’sfather？WhatdoestheColonelthink？"
　　"Oh，theColonel！"criedMrs。Lapham。Sheaddedtremulously：
　　"PerhapsheISright。HeDIDseemtotakeafancytoherlastsummer，andnowifhe’scalledinthatway"Sheleftherdaughtertodistributethepronounsaright，andresumed：
　　"Ofcourse，Ishouldhavesaidoncethattherewasn’tanyquestionaboutit。Ishouldhavesaidsolastyear；
　　andIdon’tknowwhatitiskeepsmefromsayingsonow。
　　IsupposeIknowalittlemoreaboutthingsthanIdid；
　　andyourfather’sbeingsobentonitsetsmeallinatwitter。Hethinkshismoneycandoeverything。
　　Well，Idon’tsaybutwhatitcan，agoodmany。And’Reneisasgoodachildasevertherewas；andIdon’tseebutwhatshe’spretty—appearingenoughtosuitanyone。
　　She’spretty—behaved，too；andsheISthemostcapablegirl。
　　Ipresumeyoungmendon’tcareverymuchforsuchthingsnowadays；butthereain’tagreatmanygirlscangorightintothekitchen，andmakesuchacustardasshedidyesterday。Andlookatthewayshedoes，throughthewholehouse！Shecan’tseemtogointoaroomwithoutthethingsflyrightintotheirplaces。Andifshehadtodoitto—morrow，shecouldmakeallherowndressesagreatdealbetterthanthemwepaytodoit。Idon’tsaybutwhathe’saboutasniceafellowaseverstepped。
　　Butthere！I’mashamedofgoingonso。"
　　"Well，mother，"saidthegirlafterapause，inwhichshelookedasifalittlewearyofthesubject，"whydoyouworryaboutit？Ifit’stobeit’llbe，andifitisn’t————"
　　"Yes，that’swhatItellyourfather。Butwhenitcomestomyself，Iseehowharditisforhimtorestquiet。
　　I’mafraidweshallalldosomethingwe’llrepentofafterwards。"
　　"Well，ma’am，"saidPenelope，"Idon’tintendtodoanythingwrong；
　　butifIdo，Ipromisenottobesorryforit。I’llgothatfar。AndIthinkIwouldn’tbesorryforitbeforehand，ifIwereinyourplace，mother。LettheColonelgoon！Helikestomanoeuvre，andheisn’tgoingtohurtanyone。
　　TheCoreyfamilycantakecareofthemselves，Iguess。"
　　Shelaughedinherthroat，drawingdownthecornersofhermouth，andenjoyingtheresolutionwithwhichhermothertriedtoflingofftheburdenofheranxieties。
　　"Pen！Ibelieveyou’reright。Youalwaysdoseethingsinsuchalight！There！Idon’tcareifhebringshimdowneveryday。"
　　"Well，ma’am，"saidPen，"Idon’tbelieve’Renewould，either。She’sjustsoindifferent！"
　　TheColonelsleptbadlythatnight，andinthemorningMrs。Laphamcametobreakfastwithouthim。
　　"Yourfatherain’twell，"shereported。"He’shadoneofhisturns。"
　　"Ishouldhavethoughthehadtwoorthreeofthem，"
　　saidPenelope，"bythestampingroundIheard。Isn’thecomingtobreakfast？"
　　"Notjustyet，"saidhermother。"He’sasleep，andhe’llbeallrightifhegetshisnapout。
　　Idon’twantyougirlsshouldmakeanygreatnoise。"
　　"Oh，we’llbequietenough，"returnedPenelope。
　　"Well，I’mgladtheColonelisn’tsojering。AtfirstI
　　thoughthemightbesojering。"Shebrokeintoalaugh，and，strugglingindolentlywithit，lookedathersister。
　　"Youdon’tthinkit’llbenecessaryforanybodytocomedownfromtheofficeandtakeordersfromhimwhilehe’slaidup，doyou，mother？"sheinquired"Pen！"criedIrene。
　　"He’llbewellenoughtogoupontheteno’clockboat，"
　　saidthemothersharply。
　　"Ithinkpapaworkstoohardallthroughthesummer。
　　Whydon’tyoumakehimtakearest，mamma？"askedIrene。
　　"Oh，takearest！Themanslaveshardereveryyear。
　　Itusedtobesothathe’dtakealittletimeoffnowandthen；
　　butIdeclare，hehardlyeverseemstobreathenowawayfromhisoffice。Andthisyearhesayshedoesn’tintendtogodowntoLapham，excepttoseeaftertheworksforafewdays。
　　Idon’tknowwhattodowiththemananymore！Seemsasifthemoremoneyhegot，themorehewantedtoget。
　　Itscaresmetothinkwhatwouldhappentohimifhelostit。Iknowonething，"concludedMrs。Lapham。
　　"Heshallnotgobacktotheofficeto—day。"
　　"Thenhewon’tgoupontheteno’clockboat，"
　　Penremindedher。
　　"No，hewon’t。Youcanjustdriveovertothehotelassoonasyou’rethrough，girls，andtelegraphthathe’snotwell，andwon’tbeattheofficetillto—morrow。I’mnotgoingtohavethemsendanybodydownheretobotherhim。"
　　"That’sablow，"saidPen。"Ididn’tknowbuttheymightsend————"shelookeddemurelyathersister——"Dennis！"
　　"Mamma！"criedIrene。
　　"Well，Ideclare，there’snolivingwiththisfamilyanymore，"saidPenelope。
　　"There，Pen，bedone！"commandedhermother。Butperhapsshedidnotintendtoforbidherteasing。Itgaveapleasantsortofrealitytotheaffairthatwasinhermind，andmadewhatshewishedappearnotonlypossiblebutprobable。
　　Laphamgotupandloungedabout，frettingandrebellingaseachboatdepartedwithouthim，throughtheday；
　　beforenighthebecameverycross，inspiteoftheeffortsofthefamilytosoothehim，andgrumbledthathehadbeenkeptfromgoinguptotown。"Imightaswellhavegoneasnot，"herepeated，tillhiswifelostherpatience。
　　"Well，youshallgoto—morrow，Silas，ifyouhavetobecarriedtotheboat。"
　　"Ideclare，"saidPenelope，"theColoneldon’tpetworthacent。"
　　Thesixo’clockboatbroughtCorey。Thegirlsweresittingonthepiazza，andIrenesawhimfirst。
　　"OPen！"shewhispered，withherheartinherface；
　　andPenelopehadnotimeformockerybeforehewasatthesteps。
　　"IhopeColonelLaphamisn’till，"hesaid，andtheycouldheartheirmotherengagedinamoralcontestwiththeirfatherindoors。
　　"Goandputonyourcoat！Isayyoushall！Itdon’tmatterHOWheseesyouattheoffice，shirt—sleevesornot。
　　You’reinagentleman’shousenow——oryououghttobe——andyoushan’tseecompanyinyourdressing—gown。"
　　Penelopehurriedintosubduehermother’sanger。
　　"Oh，he’sverymuchbetter，thankyou！"saidIrene，speakinguploudlytodrownthenoiseofthecontroversy。
　　"I’mgladofthat，"saidCorey，andwhensheledhimindoorsthevanquishedColonelmethisvisitorinadouble—breastedfrock—coat，whichhewasstillbuttoningup。HecouldnotpersuadehimselfatoncethatCoreyhadnotcomeuponsomeurgentbusinessmatter，andwhenhewasclearthathehadcomeoutofcivility，surprisemingledwithhisgratificationthatheshouldbetheobjectofsolicitudetotheyoungman。
　　InLapham’scircleofacquaintancetheycomplainedwhentheyweresick，buttheymadenowomanishinquiriesafteroneanother’shealth，andcertainlypaidnovisitsofsympathytillmatterswereserious。Hewouldhaveenlargedupontheparticularsofhisindispositionifhehadbeenallowedtodoso；andaftertea，whichCoreytookwiththem，hewouldhaveremainedtoentertainhimifhiswifehadnotsenthimtobed。Shefollowedhimtoseethathetooksomemedicineshehadprescribedforhim，butshewentfirsttoPenelope’sroom，whereshefoundthegirlwithabookinherhand，whichshewasnotreading。
　　"Youbettergodown，"saidthemother。"I’vegottogotoyourfather，andIreneisallalonewithMr。Corey；
　　andIknowshe’llbeonpinsandneedleswithoutyou’retheretohelpmakeitgooff。"
　　"She’dbettertrytogetalongwithoutme，mother，"
　　saidPenelopesoberly。"Ican’talwaysbewiththem。"
　　"Well，"repliedMrs。Lapham，"thenImust。There’llbeaperfectQuakermeetingdownthere。"
　　"Oh，Iguess’Renewillfindsomethingtosayifyouleavehertoherself。Orifshedon’t，HEmust。
　　It’llbeallrightforyoutogodownwhenyougetready；
　　butIshan’tgotilltowardthelast。Ifhe’scomingheretoseeIrene——andIdon’tbelievehe’scomeonfather’saccount——hewantstoseeherandnotme。
　　Ifshecan’tinteresthimalone，perhapshe’daswellfinditoutnowasanytime。Atanyrate，Iguessyou’dbettermaketheexperiment。You’llknowwhetherit’sasuccessifhecomesagain。"
　　"Well，"saidthemother，"maybeyou’reright。I’llgodowndirectly。Itdoesseemasifhedidmeansomething，afterall。"
　　Mrs。Laphamdidnothastentoreturntoherguest。
　　Inherowngirlhooditwassupposedthatifayoungmanseemedtobecomingtoseeagirl，itwasonlycommon—
　　sensetosupposethathewishedtoseeheralone；andherlifeintownhadleftMrs。Lapham’ssimpletraditionsinthisrespectunchanged。Shedidwithherdaughterashermotherwouldhavedonewithher。
　　WherePenelopesatwithherbook，sheheardthecontinuousmurmurofvoicesbelow，andafteralongintervalsheheardhermotherdescend。Shedidnotreadtheopenbookthatlayinherlap，thoughshekepthereyesfastontheprint。Oncesheroseandalmostshutthedoor，sothatshecouldscarcelyhear；thensheopeneditwideagainwithaself—disdainfulair，andresolutelywentbacktoherbook，whichagainshedidnotread。
　　ButsheremainedinherroomtillitwasnearlytimeforCoreytoreturntohisboat。
　　Whentheywerealoneagain，IrenemadeafeintofscoldingherforleavinghertoentertainMr。Corey。
　　"Why！didn’tyouhaveapleasantcall？"askedPenelope。
　　Irenethrewherarmsroundher。"Oh，itwasaSPLENDID
　　call！Ididn’tsupposeIcouldmakeitgooffsowell。
　　Wetalkednearlythewholetimeaboutyou！"
　　"Idon’tthinkTHATwasaveryinterestingsubject。"
　　"Hekeptaskingaboutyou。Heaskedeverything。
　　Youdon’tknowhowmuchhethinksofyou，Pen。OPen！
　　whatdoyouthinkmadehimcome？Doyouthinkhereallydidcometoseehowpapawas？"Ireneburiedherfaceinhersister’sneck。
　　Penelopestoodwithherarmsatherside，submitting。
　　"Well，"shesaid，"Idon’tthinkhedid，altogether。"
　　Irene，allglowing，releasedher。"Don’tyou——don’tyouREALLY？OPen！don’tyouthinkheISnice？Don’tyouthinkhe’shandsome？Don’tyouthinkIbehavedhorridlywhenwefirstmethimthisevening，notthankinghimforcoming？IknowhethinksI’venomanners。Butitseemedasifitwouldbethankinghimforcomingtoseeme。
　　OughtItohaveaskedhimtocomeagain，whenhesaidgood—night？Ididn’t；Icouldn’t。Doyoubelievehe’llthinkIdon’twanthimto？Youdon’tbelievehewouldkeepcomingifhedidn’t——wantto————"
　　"Hehasn’tkeptcomingagreatdeal，yet，"suggestedPenelope。
　　"No；Iknowhehasn’t。Butifhe——ifheshould？"
　　"ThenIshouldthinkhewantedto。"
　　"Oh，wouldyou——WOULDyou？Oh，howgoodyoualwaysare，Pen！Andyoualwayssaywhatyouthink。Iwishtherewassomeonecomingtoseeyoutoo。That’sallthatI
　　don’tlikeaboutit。Perhaps————HewastellingabouthisfriendthereinTexas————"
　　"Well，"saidPenelope，"hisfriendcouldn’tcalloftenfromTexas。Youneedn’taskMr。Coreytotroubleaboutme，’Rene。IthinkIcanmanagetoworryalong，ifyou’resatisfied。"
　　"Oh，IAM，Pen。Whendoyousupposehe’llcomeagain？"
　　IrenepushedsomeofPenelope’sthingsasideonthedressing—case，torestherelbowandtalkatease。
　　Penelopecameupandputthemback。
　　"Well，notto—night，"shesaid；"andifthat’swhatyou’resittingupfor————"
　　Irenecaughtherroundtheneckagain，andranoutoftheroom。
　　TheColonelwaspackedoffontheeighto’clockboatthenextmorning；buthisrecoverydidnotpreventCoreyfromrepeatinghisvisitinaweek。ThistimeIrenecameradiantlyuptoPenelope’sroom，whereshehadagainwithdrawnherself。"Youmustcomedown，Pen，"shesaid。
　　"He’saskedifyou’renotwell，andmammasaysyou’vegottocome。"
　　AfterthatPenelopehelpedIrenethroughwithhercalls，andtalkedthemoverwithherfarintothenightafterCoreywasgone。Butwhentheimpatientcuriosityofhermotherpressedherforsomeopinionoftheaffair，shesaid，"YouknowasmuchasIdo，mother。"
　　"Don’theeversayanythingtoyouabouther——praiseherup，any？"
　　"He’snevermentionedIrenetome。"
　　"Hehasn’ttome，either，"saidMrs。Lapham，withasighoftrouble。"Thenwhatmakeshimkeepcoming？"
　　"Ican’ttellyou。Onething，hesaysthereisn’tahouseopeninBostonwherehe’sacquainted。Waittillsomeofhisfriendsgetback，andthenifhekeepscoming，it’llbetimetoinquire。"
　　"Well！"saidthemother；butastheweekspassedshewaslessandlessabletoattributeCorey’svisitstohislonelinessintown，andturnedtoherhusbandforcomfort。
　　"Silas，Idon’tknowasweoughttoletyoungCoreykeepcomingso。Idon’tquitelikeit，withallhisfamilyaway。"
　　"He’sofage，"saidtheColonel。"Hecangowherehepleases。
　　Itdon’tmatterwhetherhisfamily’shereornot。"
　　"Yes，butiftheydon’twantheshouldcome？Shouldyoufeeljustrightaboutlettinghim？"
　　"How’reyougoingtostophim？Iswear，Persis，Idon’tknowwhat’sgotoveryou！Whatisit？Youdidn’tusetobeso。
　　Buttohearyoutalk，you’dthinkthoseCoreysweretoogoodforthisworld，andwewa’n’tfitfor’emtowalkon。"
　　"I’mnotgoingtohave’emsaywetookanadvantageoftheirbeingawayandtolledhimon。"
　　"IshouldliketoHEAR’emsayit！"criedLapham。
　　"Oranybody！"
　　"Well，"saidhiswife，relinquishingthispointofanxiety，"Ican’tmakeoutwhetherhecaresanythingforherornot。
　　AndPencan’ttelleither；orelseshewon’t。"
　　"Oh，Iguesshecaresforher，fastenough，"saidtheColonel。
　　"Ican’tmakeoutthathe’ssaidordonethefirstthingtoshowit。"
　　"Well，Iwasbetterthanayeargettingmycourageup。"
　　"Oh，thatwasdifferent，"saidMrs。Lapham，incontemptuousdismissalofthecomparison，andyetwithacertainfondness。
　　"Iguess，ifhecaredforher，afellowinhispositionwouldn’tbelonggettinguphiscouragetospeaktoIrene。"
　　Laphambroughthisfistdownonthetablebetweenthem。
　　"Lookhere，Persis！Onceforall，now，don’tyoueverletmehearyousayanythinglikethatagain！I’mworthnighontoamillion，andI’vemadeiteverycentmyself；
　　andmygirlsaretheequalsofanybody，Idon’tcarewhoitis。Heain’tthefellowtotakeonanyairs；
　　butifheevertriesitwithme，I’llsendhimtotherightaboutmightyquick。I’llhaveatalkwithhim，if————"
　　"No，no；don’tdothat！"imploredhiswife。"Ididn’tmeananything。Idon’tknowasImeantANYthing。
　　He’sjustasunassumingashecanbe，andIthinkIrene’samatchforanybody。Youjustletthingsgoon。It’llbeallright。Younevercantellhowitiswithyoungpeople。
　　PerhapsSHE’Soffish。Nowyouain’t——youain’tgoingtosayanything？"
　　Laphamsufferedhimselftobepersuaded，themoreeasily，nodoubt，becauseafterhisexplosionhemusthaveperceivedthathisprideitselfstoodinthewayofwhathispridehadthreatened。Hecontentedhimselfwithhiswife’spromisethatshewouldneveragainpresentthatoffensiveviewofthecase，andshedidnotremainwithoutacertainsupportinhissturdyself—assertion。
　　XII。
　　MRS。COREYreturnedwithherdaughtersintheearlydaysofOctober，havingpassedthreeorfourweeksatIntervaleafterleavingBarHarbour。TheyweresomewhatbrownerthantheywerewhentheylefttowninJune，buttheywerenototherwisechanged。Lily，theelderofthegirls，hadbroughtbackanumberofstudiesofkelpandtoadstools，withaccessoryrocksandrottenlogs，whichshewouldneverfinishupandnevershowanyone，knowingtheslightnessoftheirmerit。Nanny，theyounger，hadreadagreatmanynovelswithakeensenseoftheirinaccuracyasrepresentationsoflife，andhadseenagreatdealoflifewithasadregretforitsdifferencefromfiction。Theywerebothnicegirls，accomplished，well—dressedofcourse，andwellenoughlooking；
　　buttheyhadmetnooneattheseasideorthemountainswhomtheirtastewouldallowtoinfluencetheirfate，andtheyhadcomehometotheoccupationstheyhadleft，withnohopesandnofearstodistractthem。
　　Intheabsenceofthesetheywerefittedtotakethemorevividinterestintheirbrother’saffairs，whichtheycouldseeweighedupontheirmother’smindafterthefirsthoursofgreeting。
　　"Oh，itseemstohavebeengoingon，andyourfatherhasneverwrittenawordaboutit，"shesaid，shakingherhead。
　　"Whatgoodwouldithavedone？"askedNanny，whowaslittleandfair，withringsoflighthairthatfilledabonnet—frontveryprettily；shelookedbestinabonnet。
　　"Itwouldonlyhaveworriedyou。HecouldnothavestoppedTom；youcouldn’t，whenyoucamehometodoit。"
　　"Idaresaypapadidn’tknowmuchaboutit，"suggestedLily。
　　Shewasatall，lean，darkgirl，wholookedasifshewerenotquitewarmenough，andwhomyoualwaysassociatedwithwrapsofdifferentaestheticeffectafteryouhadonceseenher。
　　Itisaseriousmatteralwaystothewomenofhisfamilywhenayoungmangivesthemcausetosuspectthatheisinterestedinsomeotherwoman。Ason—in—laworbrother—in—lawdoesnotenterthefamily；heneednotbecaressedormadeanythingof；buttheson’sorbrother’swifehasaclaimuponhismotherandsisterswhichtheycannotdeny。Someconventionoftheirsexobligesthemtoshowheraffection，tolikeortoseemtolikeher，totakehertotheirintimacy，howeverodiousshemaybetothem。WiththeCoreysitwassomethingmorethananaffairofsentiment。Theywerebynomeanspoor，andtheywerenotdependentmoney—wiseuponTomCorey；
　　butthemotherhadcome，withoutknowingit，torelyuponhissense，hisadviceineverything，andthesisters，seeinghimhithertosoindifferenttogirls，hadinsensiblygrowntoregardhimasaltogethertheirowntillheshouldbereleased，notbyhismarriage，butbytheirs，aneventwhichhadnotapproachedwiththelapseoftime。
　　Somekindsofgirls——theybelievedthattheycouldreadilyhavechosenakind——mighthavetakenhimwithouttakinghimfromthem；butthisgenerositycouldnotbehopedforinsuchagirlasMissLapham。
　　"Perhaps，"urgedtheirmother，"itwouldnotbesobad。
　　Sheseemedanaffectionatelittlethingwithhermother，withoutagreatdealofcharacterthoughshewassocapableaboutsomethings。"
　　"Oh，she’llbeanaffectionatelittlethingwithTomtoo，youmaybesure，"saidNanny。"Andthatcharacterlesscapabilitybecomesthemostintensenarrow—mindedness。
　　She’llthinkwewereagainstherfromthebeginning。"
　　"Shehasnocauseforthat，"Lilyinterposed，"andweshallnotgiveherany。"
　　"Yes，weshall，"retortedNanny。"Wecan’thelpit；
　　andifwecan’t，herownignorancewouldbecauseenough。"
　　"Ican’tfeelthatshe’saltogetherignorant，"
　　saidMrs。Coreyjustly。
　　"Ofcourseshecanreadandwrite，"admittedNanny。
　　"Ican’timaginewhathefindstotalkaboutwithher，"
　　saidLily。
　　"Oh，THAT’Sverysimple，"returnedhersister。
　　"Theytalkaboutthemselves，withoccasionalreferencestoeachother。Ihaveheardpeople’goingon’onthehotelpiazzas。She’sembroidering，orknitting，ortatting，orsomethingofthatkind；andhesayssheseemsquitedevotedtoneedlework，andshesays，yes，shehasaperfectpassionforit，andeverybodylaughsatherforit；
　　butshecan’thelpit，shealwayswassofromachild，andsupposesshealwaysshallbe，——withremoteandminuteparticulars。Andsheendsbysayingthatperhapshedoesnotlikepeopletotat，orknit，orembroider，orwhatever。Andhesays，oh，yes，hedoes；whatcouldmakeherthinksuchathing？butforhisparthelikesboatingratherbetter，orifyou’reinthewoodscamping。
　　Thensheletshimtakeuponecornerofherwork，andperhapstouchherfingers；andthatencourageshimtosaythathesupposesnothingcouldinducehertodropherworklongenoughtogodownontherocks，oroutamongthehuckleberrybushes；andsheputsherheadononeside，andsaysshedoesn’tknowreally。
　　Andthentheygo，andheliesatherfeetontherocks，orpickshuckleberriesanddropstheminherlap，andtheygoontalkingaboutthemselves，andcomparingnotestoseehowtheydifferfromeachother。And————"
　　"Thatwilldo，Nanny，"saidhermother。
　　Lilysmiledautumnally。"Oh，disgusting！"
　　"Disgusting？Notatall！"protestedhersister。
　　"It’sveryamusingwhenyouseeit，andwhenyoudoit————"
　　"It’salwaysamysterywhatpeopleseeineachother，"
　　observedMrs。Coreyseverely。
　　"Yes，"Nannyadmitted，"butIdon’tknowthatthereismuchcomfortforusintheapplication。""No，thereisn’t，"
　　saidhermother。
　　"Themostthatwecandoistohopeforthebesttillweknowtheworst。Ofcourseweshallmakethebestoftheworstwhenitcomes。"
　　"Yes，andperhapsitwouldnotbesoverybad。
　　IwassayingtoyourfatherwhenIwashereinJulythatthosethingscanalwaysbemanaged。Youmustfacethemasiftheywerenothingoutoftheway，andtrynottogiveanycauseforbitternessamongourselves。"
　　"That’strue。ButIdon’tbelieveintoomuchresignationbeforehand。Itamountstoconcession，"saidNanny。
　　"Ofcourseweshouldopposeitinallproperways，"
　　returnedhermother。
　　Lilyhadceasedtodiscussthematter。Invirtueofherartistictemperament，shewasexpectednottobeverypractical。
　　Itwashermotherandhersisterwhomanaged，submittingtotheadviceandconsentofCoreywhattheyintendedtodo。
　　"YourfatherwrotemethathehadcalledonColonelLaphamathisplaceofbusiness，"saidMrs。Corey，seizingherfirstchanceofapproachingthesubjectwithherson。
　　"Yes，"saidCorey。"Adinnerwasfather’sidea，buthecamedowntoacall，atmysuggestion。"