Herhusbandbegantolaugh。"Ah，youoverdidtheaccusing—spiritbusiness，andthisisreparation。"
　　ButMrs。Coreyhurriedon，withcombineddignityandanxiety——
　　"Wecan’tignoreTom’sintimacywiththem——itamountstothat；itwillprobablycontinueevenifit’smerelyafancy，andwemustseemtoknowit；whatevercomesofit，wecan’tdisownit。Theyareverysimple，unfashionablepeople，andunworldly；butIcan’tsaythattheyareoffensive，unless——unless，"sheadded，inpropitiationofherhusband’ssmile，"unlessthefather——howdidyoufindthefather？"sheimplored。
　　"Hewillbeveryentertaining，"saidCorey，"ifyoustarthimonhispaint。Whatwasthedisagreeabledaughterlike？Shallyouhaveher？"
　　"She’slittleanddark。Wemusthavethemall，"
　　Mrs。Coreysighed。"Thenyoudon’tthinkadinnerwoulddo？"
　　"Ohyes，Ido。Asyousay，wecan’tdisownTom’srelationtothem，whateveritis。Wehadmuchbetterrecogniseit，andmakethebestoftheinevitable。
　　IthinkaLaphamdinnerwouldbedelightful。"Helookedatherwithdelicateironyinhisvoiceandsmile，andshefetchedanothersigh，sodeepandsorenowthathelaughedoutright。"Perhaps，"hesuggested，"itwouldbethebestwayofcuringTomofhisfancy，ifhehasone。
　　Hehasbeenseeingherwiththedangerousadvantageswhichamotherknowshowtogiveherdaughterinthefamilycircle，andwithnomeansofcomparingherwithothergirls。
　　Youmustinviteseveralotherveryprettygirls。"
　　"Doyoureallythinkso，Bromfield？"askedMrs。Corey，takingcouragealittle。"Thatmightdo，"Butherspiritsvisiblysankagain。"Idon’tknowanyothergirlhalfsopretty。"
　　"Well，then，betterbred。"
　　"Sheisverylady—like，verymodest，andpleasing。"
　　"Well，morecultivated。"
　　"Tomdoesn’tgetonwithsuchpeople。"
　　"Oh，youwishhimtomarryher，Isee。"
　　"No，no"
　　"Thenyou’dbettergivethedinnertobringthemtogether，topromotetheaffair。"
　　"YouknowIdon’twanttodothat，Bromfield。ButI
　　feelthatwemustdosomething。Ifwedon’t，ithasaclandestineappearance。Itisn’tjusttothem。
　　Adinnerwon’tleaveusinanyworseposition，andmayleaveusinabetter。Yes，"saidMrs。Corey，afteranotherthoughtfulinterval，"wemusthavethem——havethemall。
　　Itcouldbeverysimple。"
　　"Ah，youcan’tgiveadinnerunderabushel，ifItakeyourmeaning，mydear。Ifwedothisatall，wemustn’tdoitasifwewereashamedofit。Wemustaskpeopletomeetthem。"
　　"Yes，"sighedMrs。Corey。"Therearenotmanypeopleintownyet，"sheadded，withreliefthatcausedherhusbandanothersmile。"Therereallyseemsasortoffatalityaboutit，"sheconcludedreligiously。
　　"Thenyouhadbetternotstruggleagainstit。
　　GoandreconcileLilyandNannytoitassoonaspossible。"
　　Mrs。Coreyblanchedalittle。"Butdon’tyouthinkitwillbethebestthing，Bromfield？"
　　"Idoindeed，mydear。TheonlythingthatshakesmyfaithintheschemeisthefactthatIfirstsuggestedit。
　　Butifyouhaveadoptedit，itmustbeallright，Anna。
　　Ican’tsaythatIexpectedit。"
　　"No，"saidhiswife，"itwouldn’tdo。"
　　XIII。
　　HAVINGdistinctlygivenuptheprojectofaskingtheLaphamstodinner，Mrs。Coreywasabletocarryitoutwiththecourageofsinnerswhohavesacrificedtovirtuebyfranklyacknowledgingitssuperioritytotheirintendedtransgression。
　　ShedidnotquestionbuttheLaphamswouldcome；andsheonlydoubtedastothepeoplewhomsheshouldinvitetomeetthem。Sheopenedthematterwithsometrepidationtoherdaughters，butneitherofthemopposedher；
　　theyratherlookedattheschemefromherownpointofview，andagreedwithherthatnothinghadreallyyetbeendonetowipeouttheobligationtotheLaphamshelplesslycontractedthesummerbefore，andstrengthenedbythatill—advisedapplicationtoMrs。Laphamforcharity。
　　Notonlytheprincipaloftheirdebtofgratituderemained，buttheaccruinginterest。Theysaid，Whatharmcouldgivingthedinnerpossiblydothem？Theymightaskanyoralloftheiracquaintancewithoutdisadvantagetothemselves；butitwouldbeperfectlyeasytogivethedinnerjustthecharactertheychose，andstillflattertheignoranceoftheLaphams。ThetroublewouldbewithTom，ifhewerereallyinterestedinthegirl；
　　buthecouldnotsayanythingiftheymadeitafamilydinner；
　　hecouldnotfeelanything。Theyhadeachturnedinherownmind，asitappearedfromacomparisonofideas，tooneofthemostcomprehensiveofthosecousinshipswhichformtheadmirationandterroroftheadventurerinBostonsociety。Hefindshimselfhemmedinandleftoutateveryturnbyramificationsthatforbidhimallhopeofsafepersonalityinhiscommentsonpeople；heisneverlesssecurethanwhenhehearssomegivenBostoniandenouncingorridiculinganother。Ifhewillbeadvised，hewillguardhimselffromconcurringinthesecriticisms，howeverjusttheyappear，fortheprobabilityisthattheirobjectisacousinofnotmorethanoneremovefromthecensor。
　　WhenthealienhearsagroupofBostonladiescallingoneanother，andspeakingofalltheirgentlemenfriends，bythefamiliarabbreviationsoftheirChristiannames，hemustfeelkeenlytheexiletowhichhewasborn；
　　butheisthen，atleast，incomparativelylittledanger；
　　whiletheselatentandtacitcousinshipsopenpitfallsateverysteparoundhim，inasocietywhereMiddlesexeshavemarriedEssexesandproducedSuffolksfortwohundredandfiftyyears。
　　Theseconditions，however，soperiloustotheforeigner，areasourceofstrengthandsecuritytothosenativetothem。Anuncertainacquaintancemaybesoeffectuallyinvolvedinthemeshesofsuchacousinship，asnevertobeheardofoutsideofitandtremendousstoriesaretoldofpeoplewhohavespentawholewinterinBoston，inawhirlofgaiety，andwho，theoriginalguestsoftheSuffolks，discoveruponreflectionthattheyhavemetnoonebutEssexesandMiddlesexes。
　　Mrs。Corey’sbrotherJamescamefirstintohermind，andshethoughtwithuncommontolerationoftheeasy—going，uncritical，good—natureofhiswife。
　　JamesBellinghamhadbeentheadviserofhersonthroughout，andmightbesaidtohaveactivelypromotedhisconnectionwithLapham。Shethoughtnextofthewidowofhercousin，HenryBellingham，whohadletherdaughtermarrythatWesternsteamboatman，andwasfondofherson—in—law；
　　shemightbeexpectedatleasttoendurethepaint—kingandhisfamily。ThedaughtersinsistedsostronglyuponMrs。Bellingham’ssonCharles，thatMrs。Coreyputhimdown——ifhewereintown；hemightbeinCentralAmerica；
　　hegotonwithallsortsofpeople。Itseemedtoherthatshemightstopatthis：fourLaphams，fiveCoreys，andfourBellinghamswereenough。
　　"Thatmakesthirteen，"saidNanny。"YoucanhaveMr。andMrs。Sewell。"
　　"Yes，thatisagoodidea，"assentedMrs。Corey。
　　"Heisourminister，anditisveryproper。"
　　"Idon’tseewhyyoudon’thaveRobertChase。
　　Itisapityheshouldn’tseeher——forthecolour。"
　　"Idon’tquiteliketheideaofthat，"saidMrs。Corey；
　　"butwecanhavehimtoo，ifitwon’tmaketoomany。"
　　ThepainterhadmarriedintoapoorerbranchoftheCoreys，andhiswifewasdead。"Isthereanyoneelse？"
　　"ThereisMissKingsbury。"
　　"Wehavehadhersomuch。Shewillbegintothinkweareusingher。"
　　"Shewon’tmind；she’ssogood—natured。"
　　"Well，then，"themothersummedup，"therearefourLaphams，fiveCoreys，fourBellinghams，oneChase，andoneKingsbury——fifteen。Oh！andtwoSewells。Seventeen。Tenladiesandsevengentlemen。Itdoesn’tbalanceverywell，andit’stoolarge。"
　　"Perhapssomeoftheladieswon’tcome，"suggestedLily。
　　"Oh，theladiesalwayscome，"saidNanny。
　　Theirmotherreflected。"Well，Iwillaskthem。
　　Theladieswillrefuseintimetoletuspickupsomegentlemensomewhere；somemoreartists。Why！wemusthaveMr。Seymour，thearchitect；he’sabachelor，andhe’sbuildingtheirhouse，Tomsays。"
　　Hervoicefellalittlewhenshementionedherson’sname，andshetoldhimofherplan，whenhecamehomeintheevening，withevidentmisgiving。
　　"Whatareyoudoingitfor，mother？"heasked，lookingatherwithhishonesteyes。
　　Shedroppedherowninalittleconfusion。"Iwon’tdoitatall，mydear，"shesaid，"ifyoudon’tapprove。
　　ButIthought——YouknowwehavenevermadeanyproperacknowledgmentoftheirkindnesstousatBaieSt。Paul。
　　Theninthewinter，I’mashamedtosay，IgotmoneyfromherforacharityIwasinterestedin；andIhatetheideaofmerelyUSINGpeopleinthatway。Andnowyourhavingbeenattheirhousethissummer——wecan’tseemtodisapproveofthat；andyourbusinessrelationstohim————"
　　"Yes，Isee，"saidCorey。"Doyouthinkitamountstoadinner？"
　　"Why，Idon’tknow，"returnedhismother。"Weshallhavehardlyanyoneoutofourfamilyconnection。"
　　"Well，"Coreyassented，"itmightdo。Isupposewhatyouwishistogivethemapleasure。"
　　"Why，certainly。Don’tyouthinkthey’dliketocome？"
　　"Oh，they’dliketocome；butwhetheritwouldbeapleasureaftertheywerehereisanotherthing。Ishouldhavesaidthatifyouwantedtohavethem，theywouldenjoybetterbeingsimplyaskedtomeetourownimmediatefamily。"
　　"That’swhatIthoughtofinthefirstplace，butyourfatherseemedtothinkitimpliedasocialdistrustofthem；andwecouldn’taffordtohavethatappearance，eventoourselves。"
　　"Perhapshewasright。"
　　"Andbesides，itmightseemalittlesignificant。"
　　Coreyseemedinattentivetothisconsideration。"Whomdidyouthinkofasking？"Hismotherrepeatedthenames。
　　"Yes，thatwoulddo，"hesaid，withavaguedissatisfaction。
　　"Iwon’thaveitatall，ifyoudon’twish，Tom。"
　　"Ohyes，haveit；perhapsyouought。Yes，Idaresayit’sright。Whatdidyoumeanbyafamilydinnerseemingsignificant？"
　　Hismotherhesitated。Whenitcametothat，shedidnotliketorecogniseinhispresencetheanxietiesthathadtroubledher。But"Idon’tknow，"shesaid，sinceshemust。
　　"Ishouldn’twanttogivethatyounggirl，orhermother，theideathatwewishedtomakemoreoftheacquaintancethan——thanyoudid，Tom。"
　　Helookedatherabsent—mindedly，asifhedidnottakehermeaning。Buthesaid，"Ohyes，ofcourse，"
　　andMrs。Corey，intheuncertaintyinwhichsheseemeddestinedtoremainconcerningthisaffair，wentoffandwroteherinvitationtoMrs。Lapham。Laterintheevening，whentheyagainfoundthemselvesalone，hersonsaid，"Idon’tthinkIunderstoodyou，mother，inregardtotheLaphams。IthinkIdonow。Icertainlydon’twishyoutomakemoreoftheacquaintancethanIhavedone。
　　Itwouldn’tberight；itmightbeveryunfortunate。
　　Don’tgivethedinner！"
　　"It’stoolatenow，myson，"saidMrs。Corey。"IsentmynotetoMrs。Laphamanhourago。"HercourageroseatthetroublewhichshowedinCorey’sface。"Butdon’tbeannoyedbyit，Tom。Itisn’tafamilydinner，youknow，andeverythingcanbemanagedwithoutembarrassment。
　　Ifwetakeuptheaffairatthispoint，youwillseemtohavebeenmerelyactingforus；andtheycan’tpossiblyunderstandanythingmore。"
　　"Well，well！Letitgo！Idaresayit’sallrightAtanyrate，itcan’tbehelpednow。"
　　"Idon’twishtohelpit，Tom，"saidMrs。Corey，withacheerfullnesswhichthethoughtoftheLaphamshadneverbroughtherbefore。"Iamsureitisquitefitandproper，andwecanmakethemhaveaverypleasanttime。Theyaregood，inoffensivepeople，andweoweittoourselvesnottobeafraidtoshowthatwehavefelttheirkindnesstous，andhisappreciationofyou。"
　　"Well，"consentedCorey。Thetroublethathismotherhadsuddenlycastoffwasinhistone；butshewasnotsorry。
　　Itwasquitetimethatheshouldthinkseriouslyofhisattitudetowardthesepeopleifhehadnotthoughtofitbefore，but，accordingtohisfather’stheory，hadbeenmerelydangling。
　　Itwasaviewofherson’scharacterthatcouldhardlyhavepleasedherindifferentcircumstances，yetitwasnowunquestionablyaconsolationifnotwhollyapleasure。
　　IfsheconsideredtheLaphamsatall，itwaswiththeresignationwhichwefeelattheevilsofothers，evenwhentheyhavenotbroughtthemonthemselves。
　　Mrs。Lapham，forherpart，hadspentthehoursbetweenMrs。Corey’svisitandherhusband’scominghomefrombusinessinreachingthesameconclusionwithregardtoCorey；andherspiritswereatthelowestwhentheysatdowntosupper。Irenewasdowncastwithher；
　　Penelopewaspurposelygay；andtheColonelwasbeginning，afterhisfirstplateoftheboiledham，——which，bristlingwithcloves，roundeditsbulkonawideplatterbeforehim，——totakenoteofthesurroundingmood，whenthedoor—belljingledperemptorily，andthegirlleftwaitingonthetabletogoandanswerit。ShereturnedatoncewithanoteforMrs。Lapham，whichsheread，andthen，afterahelplesssurveyofherfamily，readagain。
　　"Why，whatISit，mamma？"askedIrene，whiletheColonel，whohadtakenuphiscarving—knifeforanotherattackontheham，helditdrawnhalfacrossit。
　　"Why，Idon’tknowwhatitdoesmean，"answeredMrs。Laphamtremulously，andsheletthegirltakethenotefromher。
　　Ireneranitover，andthenturnedtothenameattheendwithajoyfulcryandaflushthatburnedtothetopofherforehead。Thenshebegantoreaditoncemore。
　　TheColoneldroppedhisknifeandfrownedimpatiently，andMrs。Laphamsaid，"Youreaditoutloud，ifyouknowwhattomakeofit，Irene。"ButIrene，withanervousscreamofprotest，handedittoherfather，whoperformedtheoffice。
　　"DEARMRS。LAPHAM：
　　"WillyouandGeneralLapham————"
　　"Ididn’tknowIwasageneral，"grumbledLapham。
　　"IguessIshallhavetobelookingupmybackpay。
　　Whoisitwritesthis，anyway？"heasked，turningtheletteroverforthesignature。
　　"Oh，nevermind。Readitthrough！"criedhiswife，withakindlingglanceoftriumphatPenelope，andheresumed——
　　"——andyourdaughtersgiveusthepleasureofyourcompanyatdinneronThursday，the28th，athalf—pastsix。
　　"Yourssincerely，"ANNAB。COREY。"
　　Thebriefinvitationhadbeenspreadovertwopages，andtheColonelhaddifficultieswiththesignaturewhichhedidnotinstantlysurmount。Whenhehadmadeoutthenameandpronouncedit，helookedacrossathiswifeforanexplanation。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatitallmeans，"shesaid，shakingherheadandspeakingwithapleasedflutter。
　　"Shewasherethisafternoon，andIshouldhavesaidshehadcometoseehowbadshecouldmakeusfeel。
　　IdeclareIneverfeltsoputdowninmylifebyanybody。"
　　"Why，whatdidshedo？Whatdidshesay？"Laphamwasready，inhisdensepride，toresentanyaffronttohisblood，butdoubtful，withtheevidenceofthisinvitationtothecontrary，ifanyaffronthadbeenoffered。Mrs。Laphamtriedtotellhim，buttherewasreallynothingtangible；
　　andwhenshecametoputitintowords，shecouldnotmakeoutacase。Herhusbandlistenedtoherexcitedattempt，andthenhesaid，withjudicialsuperiority，"Iguessnobody’sbeentryingtomakeyoufeelbad，Persis。
　　Whatwouldshegorighthomeandinviteyoutodinnerfor，ifshe’dactedthewayyousay？"
　　Inthisviewitdidseemimprobable，andMrs。Laphamwasshaken。Shecouldonlysay，"PenelopefeltjustthewayIdidaboutit。"
　　Laphamlookedatthegirl，whosaid，"Oh，Ican’tproveit！Ibegintothinkitneverhappened。Iguessitdidn’t。"
　　"Humph！"saidherfather，andhesatfrowningthoughtfullyawhile——ignoringhermockingirony，orchoosingtotakeherseriously。"Youcan’treallyputyourfingeronanything，"hesaidtohiswife，"anditain’tlikelythereisanything。Anyway，she’sdonetheproperthingbyyounow。"
　　Mrs。Laphamfalteredbetweenherlingeringresentmentandtheappealsofherflatteredvanity。ShelookedfromPenelope’simpassivefacetotheeagereyesofIrene。
　　"Well——justasyousay，Silas。Idon’tknowassheWAS
　　soverybad。Iguessmaybeshewasembarrassedsome————"
　　"That’swhatItoldyou，mamma，fromthestart，"
　　interruptedIrene。"Didn’tItellyoushedidn’tmeananythingbyit？It’sjustthewaysheactedatBaieSt。Paul，whenshegotwellenoughtorealisewhatyou’ddoneforher！"
　　Penelopebrokeintoalaugh。"Isthatherwayofshowinghergratitude？I’msorryIdidn’tunderstandthatbefore。"
　　Irenemadenoefforttoreply。Shemerelylookedfromhermothertoherfatherwithagrievedfacefortheirprotection，andLaphamsaid，"Whenwe’vedonesupper，youanswerher，Persis。Saywe’llcome。"
　　"Withoneexception，"saidPenelope。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"demandedherfather，withamouthfullofham。"Oh，nothingofimportance。MerelythatI’mnotgoing。"
　　Laphamgavehimselftimetoswallowhismorsel，andhisrisingwrathwentdownwithit。"Iguessyou’llchangeyourmindwhenthetimecomes，"hesaid。"Anyway，Persis，yousaywe’llallcome，andthen，ifPenelopedon’twanttogo，youcanexcuseherafterwegetthere。
　　That’sthebestway。"
　　Noneofthem，apparently，sawanyreasonwhytheaffairshouldnotbeleftinthisway，orhadasenseoftheawfulandbindingnatureofadinnerengagement。
　　IfshebelievedthatPenelopewouldnotfinallychangehermindandgo，nodoubtMrs。LaphamthoughtthatMrs。Coreywouldeasilyexcuseherabsence。Shedidnotfinditsosimpleamattertoaccepttheinvitation。
　　Mrs。Coreyhadsaid"DearMrs。Lapham，"butMrs。Laphamhadherdoubtswhetheritwouldnotbeaservileimitationtosay"DearMrs。Corey"inreturn；andshewastormentedastotheproperphrasingthroughoutandtheprecisetemperaturewhichsheshouldimparttoherpoliteness。
　　Shewroteanunpractised，uncharacteristicroundhand，thesameinwhichsheusedtosetthechildren’scopiesatschool，andshesubscribedherself，aftersomehesitationbetweenherhusband’sgivennameandherown，"Yourstruly，Mrs。S。Lapham。"
　　Penelopehadgonetoherroom，withoutwaitingtobeaskedtoadviseorcriticise；butIrenehaddecideduponthepaper，andonthewhole，Mrs。Lapham’snotemadeaverydecentappearanceonthepage。
　　"Whenthefurnace—mancame，theColonelsenthimouttopostitintheboxatthecornerofthesquare。
　　Hehaddeterminednottosayanythingmoreaboutthematterbeforethegirls，notchoosingtoletthemseethathewaselated；hetriedtogivetheeffectofitsbeinganeverydaysortofthing，abruptlyclosingthediscussionwithhisordertoMrs。Laphamtoaccept；
　　buthehadremainedswellingbehindhisnewspaperduringherprolongedstrugglewithhernote，andhecouldnolongerhidehiselationwhenIrenefollowedhersisterupstairs。
　　"Well，Pers，"hedemanded，"whatdoyousaynow？"
　　Mrs。Laphamhadbeensoberedintosomethingofherformermisgivingbyherdifficultieswithhernote。
　　"Well，Idon’tknowwhatTOsay。Ideclare，I’mallmixedupaboutit，andIdon’tknowaswe’vebegunaswecancarryoutinpromisingtogo。Ipresume，"shesighed，"thatwecanallsendsomeexcuseatthelastmoment，ifwedon’twanttogo。"
　　"Iguesswecancarryout，andIguessweshan’twanttosendanyexcuse，"braggedtheColonel。"Ifwe’reevergoingtobeanybodyatall，we’vegottogoandseehowit’sdone。Ipresumewe’vegottogivesomesortofpartywhenwegetintothenewhouse，andthisgivesthechancetoask’embackagain。Youcan’tcomplainnowbutwhatthey’vemadetheadvances，Persis？"
　　"No，"saidMrs。Laphamlifelessly；"Iwonderwhytheywantedtodoit。Oh，Isupposeit’sallright，"sheaddedindeprecationoftheangerwithherhumilitywhichshesawrisinginherhusband’sface；"butifit’sallgoingtobeasmuchtroubleasthatletter，I’dratherbewhipped。
　　Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtowear；orthegirlseither。
　　Idowonder——I’veheardthatpeoplegotodinnerinlow—necks。Doyousupposeit’sthecustom？"
　　"HowshouldIknow？"demandedtheColonel。"Iguessyou’vegotclothesenough。Anyrate，youneedn’tfretaboutit。
　　YoujustgoroundtoWhite’sorJordan&Marsh’s，andaskforadinnerdress。Iguessthat’llsettleit；
　　they’llknow。Getsomeofthemimporteddresses。Isee’eminthewindoweverytimeIpass；lotsof’em"
　　"Oh，itain’tthedress！"saidMrs。Lapham。"Idon’tsupposebutwhatwecouldgetalongwiththat；andIwanttodothebestwecanforthechildren；butIdon’tknowwhatwe’regoingtotalkabouttothosepeoplewhenwegetthere。Wehaven’tgotanythingincommonwiththem。
　　Oh，Idon’tsaythey’reanybetter，"sheagainmadehastetosayinarrestofherhusband’sresentment。"Idon’tbelievetheyare；andIdon’tseewhytheyshouldbe。
　　Andthereain’tanybodyhasgotabetterrighttoholduptheirheadthanyouhave，Silas。You’vegotplentyofmoney，andyou’vemadeeverycentofit。"
　　"IguessIshouldn’tamountedtomuchwithoutyou，Persis，"
　　interposedLapham，movedtothisjusticebyherpraise。
　　"Oh，don’ttalkaboutME！"protestedthewife。
　　"Nowthatyou’vemadeitallrightaboutRogers，thereain’tathinginthisworldagainstyou。Butstill，forallthat，Icansee——andIcanfeelitwhenI
　　can’tseeit——thatwe’redifferentfromthosepeople。
　　They’rewell—meaningenough，andthey’dexcuseit，Ipresume，butwe’retoooldtolearntobelikethem。"
　　"Thechildrenain’t，"saidLaphamshrewdly。
　　"No，thechildrenain’t，"admittedhiswife，"andthat’stheonlythingthatreconcilesmetoit。"
　　"YouseehowpleasedIrenelookedwhenIreadit？"
　　"Yes，shewaspleased。"
　　"AndIguessPenelope’llthinkbetterofitbeforethetimecomes。"
　　"Ohyes，wedoitforthem。Butwhetherwe’redoingthebestthingfor’em，goodnessknows。I’mnotsayinganythingagainstHIM。Irene’llbealuckygirltogethim，ifshewantshim。Butthere！I’dtentimesrathershewasgoingtomarrysuchafellowasyouwere，Si，thathadtomakeeveryinchofhisownway，andshehadtohelphim。
　　It’sinher！"
　　Laphamlaughedaloudforpleasureinhiswife’sfondness；
　　butneitherofthemwishedthatheshouldresponddirectlytoit。"Iguess，ifitwa’n’tforme，hewouldn’thaveamucheasiertime。Butdon’tyoufret！It’sallcomingoutright。
　　Thatdinnerain’tathingforyoutobeuneasyabout。
　　It’llpassoffperfectlyeasyandnatural。"
　　Laphamdidnotkeephiscourageousmindquitetotheendoftheweekthatfollowed。ItwashistheorynottoletCoreyseethathewassetupabouttheinvitation，andwhentheyoungmansaidpolitelythathismotherwasgladtheywereabletocome，Laphamwasveryshortwithhim。Hesaidyes，hebelievedthatMrs。Laphamandthegirlsweregoing。
　　AfterwardhewasafraidCoreymightnotunderstandthathewascomingtoo；buthedidnotknowhowtoapproachthesubjectagain，andCoreydidnot，soheletitpass。
　　ItworriedhimtoseeallthepreparationthathiswifeandIreneweremaking，andhetriedtolaughatthemforit；
　　anditworriedhimtofindthatPenelopewasmakingnopreparationatallforherself，butonlyhelpingtheothers。
　　Heaskedherwhatshouldshedoifshechangedhermindatthelastmomentandconcludedtogo，andshesaidsheguessedsheshouldnotchangehermind，butifshedid，shewouldgotoWhite’swithhimandgethimtochooseheranimporteddress，heseemedtolikethemsomuch。
　　Hewastooproudtomentionthesubjectagaintoher。
　　Finally，allthatdress—makinginthehousebegantoscarehimwithvagueapprehensionsinregardtohisowndress。
　　Assoonashehaddeterminedtogo，anidealofthefigureinwhichheshouldgopresenteditselftohismind。
　　Heshouldnotwearanydress—coat，because，foronething，heconsideredthatamanlookedlikeafoolinadress—coat，and，foranotherthing，hehadnone——hadnoneonprinciple。
　　Hewouldgoinafrock—coatandblackpantaloons，andperhapsawhitewaistcoat，butablackcravatanyway。
　　Butassoonashedevelopedthisidealtohisfamily，whichhedidinpompousdisdainoftheiranxietiesabouttheirowndress，theysaidheshouldnotgoso。
　　Ireneremindedhimthathewastheonlypersonwithoutadress—coatatacorpsreuniondinnerwhichhehadtakenhertosomeyearsbefore，andsherememberedfeelingawfullyaboutitatthetime。Mrs。Lapham，whowouldperhapshaveagreedofherself，shookherheadwithmisgiving。
　　"Idon’tseebutwhatyou’llhavetogetyouone，Si，"
　　shesaid。"Idon’tbelievetheyevergowithout’emtoaprivatehouse。"
　　Heheldoutopenly，butonhiswayhomethenextday，inasuddenpanic，hecastanchorbeforehistailor’sdoorandgotmeasuredforadress—coat。Afterthathebegantoheafflictedabouthiswaist—coat，concerningwhichhehadhithertobeenairilyindifferent。
　　Hetriedtogetopinionoutofhisfamily，buttheywerenotsoclearaboutitastheywereaboutthefrock。