"Yes；aboy。Theyhavenamedhimafterhisuncle。"
　　"Yes，"saidCharlesBellingham，joiningin。"Heissaidtobeanobleboy，andtoresembleme。"
　　"Allboysofthattenderagearenoble，"saidCorey，"andlooklikeanybodyyouwishthemtoresemble。
　　IsLesliestillhome—sickforthebean—potsofhernativeBoston？"
　　"Sheisgettingoverit，Ifancy，"repliedMrs。Bellingham。
　　"She’sverymuchtakenupwithMr。Blake’senterprises，andleadsaveryexcitinglife。Shesaysshe’slikepeoplewhohavebeenhomefromEuropethreeyears；she’spastthemostpoignantstageofregret，andhasn’treachedthesecond，whentheyfeelthattheymustgoagain。"
　　LaphamleanedalittletowardMrs。Corey，andsaidofapicturewhichhesawonthewallopposite，"Pictureofyourdaughter，Ipresume？"
　　"No；mydaughter’sgrandmother。It’saStewartNewton；
　　hepaintedagreatmanySalembeauties。ShewasaMissPollyBurroughs。MydaughterISlikeher，don’tyouthink？"
　　TheybothlookedatNannyCoreyandthenattheportrait。
　　"Thoseprettyold—fashioneddressesarecominginagain。
　　I’mnotsurprisedyoutookitforher。Theothers"——shereferredtotheotherportraitsmoreorlessdarklingonthewalls——"aremypeople；mostlyCopleys。"
　　Thesenames，unknowntoLapham，wenttohisheadlikethewinehewasdrinking；theyseemedtocarrylightforthemoment，butafilmofdeeperdarknessfollowed。HeheardCharlesBellinghamtellingfunnystoriestoIreneandtryingtoamusethegirl；shewaslaughing，andseemedveryhappy。
　　FromtimetotimeBellinghamtookpartinthegeneraltalkbetweenthehostandJamesBellinghamandMissKingsburyandthatminister，Mr。Sewell。Theytalkedofpeoplemostly；
　　itastonishedLaphamtohearwithwhatfreedomtheytalked。
　　Theydiscussedthesepersonsunsparingly；JamesBellinghamspokeofamanknowntoLaphamforhisbusinesssuccessandgreatwealthasnotagentleman；hiscousinCharlessaidhewassurprisedthatthefellowhadkeptfrombeinggovernorsolong。
　　WhenthelatterturnedfromIrenetomakeoneoftheseexcursionsintothegeneraltalk，youngCoreytalkedtoher；
　　andLaphamcaughtsomewordsfromwhichitseemedthattheywerespeakingofPenelope。Itvexedhimtothinkshehadnotcome；shecouldhavetalkedaswellasanyofthem；
　　shewasjustasbright；andLaphamwasawarethatIrenewasnotasbright，thoughwhenhelookedatherface，triumphantinitsyoungbeautyandfondness，hesaidtohimselfthatitdidnotmakeanydifference。Hefeltthathewasnotholdinguphisendoftheline，however。Whensomeonespoketohimhecouldonlysummonafewwordsofreply，thatseemedtoleadtonothing；thingsoftencameintohismindappropriatetowhattheyweresaying，butbeforehecouldgetthemouttheywereoffonsomethingelse；
　　theyjumpedaboutso，hecouldnotkeepup；buthefelt，allthesame，thathewasnotdoinghimselfjustice。
　　AtonetimethetalkranoffuponasubjectthatLaphamhadneverheardtalkedofbefore；butagainhewasvexedthatPenelopewasnotthere，tohavehersay；hebelievedthathersaywouldhavebeenworthhearing。
　　MissKingsburyleanedforwardandaskedCharlesBellinghamifhehadreadTears，IdleTears，thenovelthatwasmakingsuchasensation；andwhenhesaidno，shesaidshewonderedathim。"It’sperfectlyheart—breaking，asyou’llimaginefromthename；butthere’ssuchadearold—fashionedheroandheroineinit，whokeepdyingforeachotherallthewaythrough，andmakingthemostwildlysatisfactoryandunnecessarysacrificesforeachother。
　　Youfeelasifyou’ddonethemyourself。"
　　"Ah，that’sthesecretofitssuccess，"saidBromfieldCorey。
　　"Itflattersthereaderbypaintingthecharacterscolossal，butwithhislimpandstoop，sothathefeelshimselfoftheirsupernaturalproportions。You’vereadit，Nanny？"
　　"Yes，"saidhisdaughter。"ItoughttohavebeencalledSlop，SillySlop。"
　　"Oh，notquiteSLOP，Nanny，"pleadedMissKingsbury。
　　"It’sastonishing，"saidCharlesBellingham，"howwedolikethebooksthatgoforourheart—strings。AndI
　　reallysupposethatyoucan’tputamorepopularthingthanself—sacrificeintoanovel。Wedoliketoseepeoplesufferingsublimely。"
　　"Therewastalksomeyearsago，"saidJamesBellingham，"aboutnovelsgoingout。""They’rejustcomingin！"
　　criedMissKingsbury。
　　"Yes，"saidMr。Sewell，theminister。"AndIdon’tthinkthereeverwasatimewhentheyformedthewholeintellectualexperienceofmorepeople。Theydogreatermischiefthanever。"
　　"Don’tbeenvious，parson，"saidthehost。
　　"No，"answeredSewell。"Ishouldbegladoftheirhelp。
　　Butthosenovelswithold—fashionedheroesandheroinesinthem——excuseme，MissKingsbury——areruinous！"
　　"Don’tyoufeellikeamoralwreck，MissKingsbury？"
　　askedthehost。
　　ButSewellwenton："Thenovelistsmightbethegreatestpossiblehelptousiftheypaintedlifeasitis，andhumanfeelingsintheirtrueproportionandrelation，butforthemostparttheyhavebeenandarealtogethernoxious。"
　　ThisseemedsensetoLapham；butBromfieldCoreyasked：
　　"Butwhatiflifeasitisisn’tamusing？Aren’twetobeamused？"
　　"Nottoourhurt，"sturdilyansweredtheminister。
　　"Andtheself—sacrificepaintedinmostnovelslikethis————"
　　"Slop，SillySlop？"suggestedtheproudfatheroftheinventorofthephrase。
　　"Yes——isnothingbutpsychicalsuicide，andisaswhollyimmoralasthespectacleofamanfallinguponhissword。"
　　"Well，Idon’tknowbutyou’reright，parson，"saidthehost；
　　andtheminister，whohadapparentlygotuponabattle—horseofhis，careeredonwardinspiteofsometacitattemptsofhiswifetoseizethebridle。
　　"Right？TobesureIamright。Thewholebusinessoflove，andlove—makingandmarrying，ispaintedbythenovelistsinamonstrousdisproportiontotheotherrelationsoflife。
　　Loveisverysweet，verypretty————"
　　"Oh，THANKyou，Mr。Sewell，"saidNannyCorey，inawaythatsetthemalllaughing。
　　"Butit’stheaffair，commonly，ofveryyoungpeople，whohavenotyetcharacterandexperienceenoughtomaketheminteresting。Innovelsit’streated，notonlyasifitwerethechiefinterestoflife，butthesoleinterestofthelivesoftworidiculousyoungpersons；
　　anditistaughtthatloveisperpetual，thattheglowofatruepassionlastsforever；andthatitissacrilegetothinkoractotherwise。""Well，butisn’tthattrue，Mr。Sewell？"pleadedMissKingsbury。
　　"Ihaveknownsomemostestimablepeoplewhohadmarriedasecondtime，"saidtheminister，andthenhehadtheapplausewithhim。Laphamwantedtomakesomeopenrecognitionofhisgoodsense，butcouldnot。
　　"Isupposethepassionitselfhasbeenagooddealchanged，"
　　saidBromfieldCorey，"sincethepoetsbegantoidealiseitinthedaysofchivalry。"
　　"Yes；anditoughttobechangedagain，"saidMr。Sewell。
　　"What！Back？"
　　"Idon’tsaythat。Butitoughttoberecognisedassomethingnaturalandmortal，anddivinehonours，whichbelongtorighteousnessalone，oughtnottobepaidit。"
　　"Oh，youasktoomuch，parson，"laughedhishost，andthetalkwanderedawaytosomethingelse。
　　Itwasnotanelaboratedinner；butLaphamwasusedtohavingeverythingonthetableatonce，andthissuccessionofdishesbewilderedhim；hewasafraidperhapshewaseatingtoomuch。Henownolongermadeanypretenceofnotdrinkinghiswine，forhewasthirsty，andtherewasnomorewater，andhehatedtoaskforany。Theice—creamcame，andthenthefruit。
　　SuddenlyMrs。Coreyrose，andsaidacrossthetabletoherhusband，"Isupposeyouwillwantyourcoffeehere。"
　　Andhereplied，"Yes；we’lljoinyouattea。"
　　Theladiesallrose，andthegentlemengotupwiththem。
　　LaphamstartedtofollowMrs。Corey，buttheothermenmerelystoodintheirplaces，exceptyoungCorey，whoranandopenedthedoorforhismother。Laphamthoughtwithshamethatitwashewhooughttohavedonethat；
　　butnooneseemedtonotice，andhesatdownagaingladly，afterkickingoutoneofhislegswhichhadgonetosleep。
　　Theybroughtincigarswithcoffee，andBromfieldCoreyadvisedLaphamtotakeonethathechoseforhim。
　　Laphamconfessedthathelikedagoodcigaraboutaswellasanybody，andCoreysaid："Thesearenew。
　　IhadanEnglishmanheretheotherdaywhowassmokingoldcigarsinthesuperstitionthattobaccoimprovedwithage，likewine。"
　　"Ah，"saidLapham，"anybodywhohadeverlivedoffatobaccocountrycouldtellhimbetterthanthat。"
　　Withthefumingcigarbetweenhislipshefeltmoreathomethanhehadbefore。Heturnedsidewiseinhischairand，restingonearmontheback，intertwinedthefingersofbothhands，andsmokedatlargeease。JamesBellinghamcameandsatdownbyhim。"ColonelLapham，weren’tyouwiththe96thVermontwhentheychargedacrosstheriverinfrontofPickensburg，andtherebelbatteryopenedfireontheminthewater？"
　　Laphamslowlyshuthiseyesandslowlydroppedhisheadforassent，lettingoutawhitevolumeofsmokefromthecornerofhismouth。
　　"Ithoughtso，"saidBellingham。"Iwaswiththe85thMassachusetts，andIsha’n’tforgetthatslaughter。
　　Wewereallnewtoitstill。Perhapsthat’swhyitmadesuchanimpression。"
　　"Idon’tknow，"suggestedCharlesBellingham。"Wasthereanythingmuchmoreimpressiveafterward？IreadofitoutinMissouri，whereIwasstationedatthetime，andIrecollectthetalkofsomeoldarmymenaboutit。
　　Theysaidthatdeath—ratecouldn’tbebeaten。Idon’tknowthatiteverwas。"
　　"Aboutoneinfiveofusgotoutsafe，"saidLapham，breakinghiscigar—ashoffontheedgeofaplate。
　　JamesBellinghamreachedhimabottleofApollinaris。
　　Hedrankaglass，andthenwentonsmoking。
　　Theyallwaited，asifexpectinghimtospeak，andthenCoreysaid："Howincrediblethosethingsseemalready！
　　YougentlemenKNOWthattheyhappened；butareyoustillabletobelieveit？"
　　"Ah，nobodyFEELSthatanythinghappened，"saidCharlesBellingham。"Thepastofone’sexperiencedoesn’tdifferagreatdealfromthepastofone’sknowledge。
　　Itisn’tmuchmoreprobable；it’sreallyagreatdeallessvividthansomescenesinanovelthatonereadwhenaboy。"
　　"I’mnotsureofthat，"saidJamesBellingham。
　　"Well，James，neitheramI，"consentedhiscousin，helpinghimselffromLapham’sApollinarisbottle。
　　"Therewouldbeverylittletalkingatdinnerifoneonlysaidthethingsthatonewassureof。"
　　Theotherslaughed，andBromfieldCoreyremarkedthoughtfully，"Whatastonishesthecravencivilianinallthesethingsistheabundance——thesuperabundance——ofheroism。
　　Thecowardsweretheexception；thementhatwerereadytodie，therule。"
　　"Thewoodswerefullofthem，"saidLapham，withouttakinghiscigarfromhismouth。
　　"That’sanicelittletouchinSchool，"interposedCharlesBellingham，"wherethegirlsaystothefellowwhowasatInkerman，’Ishouldthinkyouwouldbesoproudofit，’
　　andhereflectsawhile，andsays，’Well，thefactis，youknow，thereweresomanyofus。’"
　　"Yes，Irememberthat，"saidJamesBellingham，smilingforpleasureinit。"ButIdon’tseewhyyouclaimthecreditofbeingacravencivilian，Bromfield，"
　　headded，withafriendlyglanceathisbrother—in—law，andwiththewillingnessBostonmenoftenshowtoturnoneanother’sgoodpointstothelightincompany；
　　bredsointimatelytogetheratschoolandcollegeandinsociety，theyallknowthesepoints。"AmanwhowasoutwithGaribaldiin’48，"continuedJamesBellingham。
　　"Oh，alittleamateurred—shirting，"Coreyinterruptedindeprecation。"Butevenifyouchoosetodisputemyclaim，whathasbecomeofalltheheroism？Tom，howmanyclubmendoyouknowwhowouldthinkitsweetandfittingtodiefortheircountry？"
　　"Ican’tthinkofagreatmanyatthemoment，sir，"
　　repliedtheson，withthemodestyofhisgeneration。
　　"AndIcouldn’tin’61，"saidhisuncle。"Neverthelesstheywerethere。"
　　"Thenyourtheoryisthatit’stheoccasionthatiswanting，"
　　saidBromfieldCorey。"Butwhyshouldn’tcivilservicereform，andtheresumptionofspeciepayment，andatariffforrevenueonly，inspireheroes？Theyareallgoodcauses。"
　　"It’stheoccasionthat’swanting，"saidJamesBellingham，ignoringthepersiflage。"AndI’mverygladofit。"
　　"SoamI，"saidLapham，withadepthoffeelingthatexpresseditselfinspiteofthehazeinwhichhisbrainseemedtofloat。Therewasagreatdealofthetalkthathecouldnotfollow；itwastooquickforhim；
　　butherewassomethinghewasclearof。"Idon’twanttoseeanymoremenkilledinmytime。"Somethingserious，somethingsombremustlurkbehindthesewords，andtheywaitedforLaphamtosaymore；butthehazeclosedroundhimagain，andheremainedsilent，drinkingApollinaris。
　　"Wenon—combatantswerenotoriouslyreluctanttogiveupfighting，"saidMr。Sewell，theminister；"butIinclinetothinkColonelLaphamandMr。Bellinghammayberight。
　　Idaresayweshallhavetheheroismagainifwehavetheoccasion。Tillitcomes，wemustcontentourselveswiththeevery—daygenerositiesandsacrifices。Theymakeupinquantitywhattheylackinquality，perhaps。"
　　"They’renotsopicturesque，"saidBromfieldCorey。
　　"Youcanpaintamandyingforhiscountry，butyoucan’texpressoncanvasamanfulfillingthedutiesofagoodcitizen。"
　　"Perhapsthenovelistswillgetathimbyandby，"
　　suggestedCharlesBellingham。"IfIwereoneofthesefellows，Ishouldn’tproposetomyselfanythingshortofthat。"
　　"What？thecommonplace？"askedhiscousin。
　　"Commonplace？Thecommonplaceisjustthatlight，impalpable，aerialessencewhichthey’venevergotintotheirconfoundedbooksyet。Thenovelistwhocouldinterpretthecommonfeelingsofcommonplacepeoplewouldhavetheanswerto’theriddleofthepainfulearth’onhistongue。"
　　"Oh，notsobadasthat，Ihope，"saidthehost；
　　andLaphamlookedfromonetotheother，tryingtomakeoutwhattheywereat。Hehadneverbeensoupatreebefore。
　　"Isupposeitisn’twellforustoseehumannatureatwhiteheathabitually，"continuedBromfieldCorey，afterawhile。"Itwouldmakeusvainofourspecies。
　　Manyapoorfellowinthatwarandinmanyanotherhasgoneintobattlesimplyandpurelyforhiscountry’ssake，notknowingwhether，ifhelaiddownhislife，heshouldeverfinditagain，orwhether，ifhetookituphereafter，heshouldtakeitupinheavenorhell。Come，parson！"
　　hesaid，turningtotheminister，"whathaseverbeenconceivedofomnipotence，ofomniscience，sosublime，sodivineasthat？"
　　"Nothing，"answeredtheministerquietly。"Godhasneverbeenimaginedatall。ButifyousupposesuchamanasthatwasAuthorised，IthinkitwillhelpyoutoimaginewhatGodmustbe。"
　　"There’ssenseinthat，"saidLapham。Hetookhiscigaroutofhismouth，andpulledhischairalittletowardthetable，onwhichheplacedhisponderousfore—arms。
　　"IwanttotellyouaboutafellowIhadinmyowncompanywhenwefirstwentout。Wewereallprivatestobeginwith；afterawhiletheyelectedmecaptain——I’dhadthetavernstand，andmostof’emknewme。ButJimMillonnevergottobeanythingmorethancorporal；
　　corporalwhenhewaskilled。"Theothersarrestedthemselvesinvariousattitudesofattention，andremainedlisteningtoLaphamwithaninterestthatprofoundlyflatteredhim。
　　Now，atlast，hefeltthathewasholdinguphisendoftherope。"Ican’tsayhewentintothethingfromthehighestmotives，altogether；ourmotivesarealwaysprettybadlymixed，andwhenthere’ssuchahurrah—boysastherewasthen，youcan’ttellwhichiswhich。
　　IsupposeJimMillon’swifewasenoughtoaccountforhisgoing，herself。Shewasaprettybadassortment，"
　　saidLapham，loweringhisvoiceandglancingroundatthedoortomakesurethatitwasshut，"andsheusedtoleadJimONEkindoflife。Well，sir，"continuedLapham，synthetisinghisauditorsinthatformofaddress，"thatfellowusedtosaveeverycentofhispayandsendittothatwoman。Usedtogetmetodoitforhim。
　　Itriedtostophim。’Why，Jim，’saidI，’youknowwhatshe’lldowithit。’’That’sso，Cap，’sayshe，’butIdon’tknowwhatshe’lldowithoutit。’Anditdidkeepherstraight——straightasastring——aslongasJimlasted。Seemedasittherewassomethingmysteriousaboutit。Theyhadalittlegirl，——aboutasoldasmyoldestgirl，——andJimusedtotalktomeabouther。
　　Guesshedoneitasmuchforherasforthemother；
　　andhesaidtomebeforethelastactionwewentinto，’Ishouldliketoturntailandrun，Cap。Iain’tcomin’
　　outo’thisone。ButIdon’tsupposeitwoulddo。’
　　’Well，notforyou，Jim，’saidI。’Iwanttolive，’
　　hesays；andhebustoutcryingrightthereinmytent。
　　’IwanttoliveforpoorMollyandZerrilla’——that’swhattheycalledthelittleone；Idunnowheretheygotthename。
　　’Iain’teverhadhalfachance；andnowshe’sdoingbetter，andIbelieveweshouldgetalongafterthis。’Hesettherecryin’likeababy。Buthewa’n’tnobabywhenhewentintoaction。Ihatedtolookathimafteritwasover，notsomuchbecausehe’dgotaballthatwasmeantformebyasharpshooter——hesawthedeviltakin’aim，andhejumpedtowarnme——asbecausehedidn’tlooklikeJim；
　　helookedlike——fun；alldesperateandsavage。Iguesshediedhard。"
　　Thestorymadeitsimpression，andLaphamsawit。
　　"NowIsay，"heresumed，asifhefeltthathewasgoingtodohimselfjustice，andsaysomethingtoheightentheeffecthisstoryhadproduced。Atthesametimehewasawareofacertainwantofclearness。Hehadtheidea，butitfloatedvague，elusive，inhisbrain。
　　Helookedaboutasifforsomethingtoprecipitateitintangibleshape。
　　"Apollinaris？"askedCharlesBellingham，handingthebottlefromtheotherside。HehaddrawnhischaircloserthantheresttoLapham’s，andwaslisteningwithgreatinterest。
　　WhenMrs。CoreyaskedhimtomeetLapham，heacceptedgladly。
　　"YouknowIgoinforthatsortofthing，Anna。
　　SinceLeslie’saffairwe’reratherboundtodoit。
　　AndIthinkwemeetthesepracticalfellowstoolittle。
　　There’salwayssomethingoriginalaboutthem。"Hemightnaturallyhavebelievedthattherewardofhisfaithwascoming。
　　"Thanks，Iwilltakesomeofthiswine，"saidLapham，pouringhimselfaglassofMadeirafromablackanddustybottlecaressedbyalabelbearingthedateofthevintage。
　　Hetossedoffthewine，unconsciousofitspreciousness，andwaitedfortheresult。Thatcloudinessinhisbraindisappearedbeforeit，butamereblankremained。
　　Henotonlycouldnotrememberwhathewasgoingtosay，buthecouldnotrecallwhattheyhadbeentalkingabout。
　　Theywaited，lookingathim，andhestaredattheminreturn。
　　Afterawhileheheardthehostsaying，"Shallwejointheladies？"
　　Laphamwent，tryingtothinkwhathadhappened。
　　Itseemedtohimalongtimesincehehaddrunkthatwine。
　　MissCoreygavehimacupoftea，wherehestoodalooffromhiswife，whowastalkingwithMissKingsburyandMrs。Sewell；
　　IrenewaswithMissNannyCorey。Hecouldnothearwhattheyweretalkingabout；butifPenelopehadcome，heknewthatshewouldhavedonethemallcredit。Hemeanttoletherknowhowhefeltaboutherbehaviourwhenhegothome。Itwasashameforhertomisssuchachance。
　　Irenewaslookingbeautiful，asprettyasalltherestofthemputtogether，butshewasnottalking，andLaphamperceivedthatatadinner—partyyououghttotalk。
　　Hewashimselfconsciousofhaving，talkedverywell。
　　Henowworeanairofgreatdignity，and，inconversingwiththeothergentlemen，heusedagraveandweightydeliberation。Someofthemwantedhimtogointothelibrary。Therehegavehisideasofbooks。
　　Hesaidhehadnotmuchtimeforanythingbutthepapers；
　　buthewasgoingtohaveacompletelibraryinhisnewplace。
　　HemadeanelaborateacknowledgmenttoBromfieldCoreyofhisson’skindnessinsuggestingbooksforhislibrary；
　　hesaidthathehadorderedthemall，andthathemeanttohavepictures。HeaskedMr。CoreywhowasaboutthebestAmericanpaintergoingnow。"Idon’tsetuptobeajudgeofpictures，butIknowwhatIlike，"hesaid。
　　Helostthereservewhichhehadmaintainedearlier，andbegantoboast。Hehimselfintroducedthesubjectofhispaint，inanaturaltransitionfrompictures；
　　hesaidMr。CoreymusttakearunuptoLaphamwithhimsomeday，andseetheWorks；theywouldinteresthim，andhewoulddrivehimroundthecountry；hekeptmostofhishorsesupthere，andhecouldshowMr。CoreysomeofthefinestJerseygradesinthecountry。
　　HetoldabouthisbrotherWilliam，thejudgeatDubuque；
　　andafarmhehadouttherethatpaidforitselfeveryyearinwheat。Ashecastoffallfear，hisvoicerose，andhehammeredhisarm—chairwiththethickofhishandforemphasis。Mr。Coreyseemedimpressed；hesatperfectlyquiet，listening，andLaphamsawtheothergentlemenstopintheirtalkeverynowandthentolisten。
　　Afterthisproofofhisabilitytointerestthem，hewouldhavelikedtohaveMrs。Laphamsuggestagainthathewasunequaltotheirsociety，ortothesocietyofanybodyelse。Hesurprisedhimselfbyhiseaseamongmenwhosenameshadhithertooverawedhim。
　　HegottocallingBromfieldCoreybyhissurnamealone。
　　HedidnotunderstandwhyyoungCoreyseemedsopreoccupied，andhetookoccasiontotellthecompanyhowhehadsaidtohiswifethefirsttimehesawthatfellowthathecouldmakeamanofhimifhehadhiminthebusiness；
　　andheguessedhewasnotmistaken。Hebegantotellstoriesofthedifferentyoungmenhehadhadinhisemploy。Atlasthehadthetalkaltogethertohimself；nooneelsetalked，andhetalkedunceasingly。Itwasagreattime；itwasatriumph。
　　HewasinthissuccessfulmoodwhenwordcametohimthatMrs。Laphamwasgoing；TomCoreyseemedtohavebroughtit，buthewasnotsure。Anyway，hewasnotgoingtohurry。
　　Hemadecordialinvitationstoeachofthegentlementodropinandseehimathisoffice，andwouldnotbesatisfiedtillhehadexactedapromisefromeach。
　　HetoldCharlesBellinghamthathelikedhim，andassuredJamesBellinghamthatithadalwaysbeenhisambitiontoknowhim，andthatifanyonehadsaidwhenhefirstcametoBostonthatinlessthantenyearsheshouldbehobnobbingwithJimBellingham，heshouldhavetoldthatpersonhelied。HewouldhavetoldanybodyheliedthathadtoldhimtenyearsagothatasonofBromfieldCoreywouldhavecomeandaskedhimtotakehimintothebusiness。Tenyearsagohe，SilasLapham，hadcometoBostonalittleworseoffthannothingatall，forhewasindebtforhalfthemoneythathehadboughtouthispartnerwith，andherehewasnowworthamillion，andmeetingyougentlemenlikeoneofyou。Andeverycentofthatwashonestmoney，——nospeculation，——everycopperofitforvaluereceived。Andhere，onlytheotherday，hisoldpartner，whohadbeengoingtothedogseversincehewentoutofthebusiness，cameandborrowedtwentythousanddollarsofhim！Laphamlentitbecausehiswifewantedhimto：shehadalwaysfeltbadaboutthefellow’shavingtogooutofthebusiness。
　　HetookleaveofMr。Sewellwithpatronisingaffection，andbadehimcometohimifheevergotintoatightplacewithhisparishwork；hewouldlethimhaveallthemoneyhewanted；hehadmoremoneythanheknewwhattodowith。
　　"Why，whenyourwifesenttominelastfall，"hesaid，turningtoMr。Corey，"Idrewmychequeforfivehundreddollars，butmywifewouldn’ttakemorethanonehundred；
　　saidshewasn’tgoingtoshowoffbeforeMrs。Corey。
　　IcallthataprettygoodjokeonMrs。Corey。ImusttellherhowMrs。Laphamdoneheroutofacoolfourhundreddollars。"
　　Hestartedtowardthedoorofthedrawing—roomtotakeleaveoftheladies；butTomCoreywasathiselbow，saying，"IthinkMrs。Laphamiswaitingforyoubelow，sir，"andinobeyingthedirectionCoreygavehimtowardanotherdoorheforgotallabouthispurpose，andcameawaywithoutsayinggood—nighttohishostess。
　　Mrs。Laphamhadnotknownhowsoonsheoughttogo，andhadnoideathatinherqualityofchiefguestshewaskeepingtheothers。Shestayedtilleleveno’clock，andwasalittlefrightenedwhenshefoundwhattimeitwas；
　　butMrs。Corey，withoutpressinghertostaylonger，hadsaiditwasnotatalllate。SheandIrenehadhadaperfecttime。Everybodyhadbeenverypolite，onthewayhometheycelebratedtheamiabilityofboththeMissCoreysandofMissKingsbury。Mrs。LaphamthoughtthatMrs。Bellinghamwasaboutthepleasantestpersonsheeversaw；shehadtoldherallabouthermarrieddaughterwhohadmarriedaninventorandgonetoliveinOmaha——aMrs。Blake。
　　"Ifit’sthatcar—wheelBlake，"saidLaphamproudly，"Iknowallabouthim。I’vesoldhimtonsofthepaint。"
　　"Pooh，papa！Howyoudosmellofsmoking！"criedIrene。
　　"Prettystrong，eh？"laughedLapham，lettingdownawindowofthecarriage。Hisheartwasthrobbingwildlyinthecloseair，andhewasgladoftherushofcoldthatcamein，thoughitstoppedhistongue，andhelistenedmoreandmoredrowsilytotherejoicingsthathiswifeanddaughterexchanged。HemeanttohavethemwakePenelopeupandtellherwhatshehadlost；
　　butwhenhereachedhomehewastoosleepytosuggestit。
　　Hefellasleepassoonashisheadtouchedthepillow，fullofsupremetriumph。
　　Butinthemorninghisskullwassorewiththeunconscious，night—longache；andherosecrossandtaciturn。
　　Theyhadasilentbreakfast。Inthecoldgreylightofthemorningthegloriesofthenightbeforeshowedpoorer。
　　Hereandthereapainfuldoubtobtrudeditselfandmarredthemwithitsawkwardshadow。Penelopesentdownwordthatshewasnotwell，andwasnotcomingtobreakfast，andLaphamwasgladtogotohisofficewithoutseeingher。
　　Hewassevereandsilentalldaywithhisclerks，andperemptorywithcustomers。OfCoreyhewasslylyobservant，andasthedayworeawayhegrewmorerestivelyconscious。