"ThenIwillstayheretillyourmothercomes，andaskherwhatitis。"
　　"AskHER？"
　　"Yes！DoyouthinkIwillgiveyouuptillIknowwhyImust？"
　　"Youforcemetoit！WillyougoifItellyou，andneverletanyhumancreatureknowwhatyouhavesaidtome？"
　　"Notunlessyougivemeleave。"
　　"Thatwillbenever。Well，then————"Shestopped，andmadetwoorthreeineffectualeffortstobeginagain。
　　"No，no！Ican’t。Youmustgo！"
　　"Iwillnotgo！"
　　"Yousaidyou——lovedme。Ifyoudo，youwillgo。"
　　Hedroppedthehandshehadstretchedtowardsher，andshehidherfaceinherown。
　　"There！"shesaid，turningitsuddenlyuponhim。
　　"Sitdownthere。Andwillyoupromiseme——onyourhonour——
　　nottospeak——nottotrytopersuademe——notto——touchme？Youwon’ttouchme？"
　　"Iwillobeyyou，Penelope。"
　　"Asifyouwerenevertoseemeagain？AsifIweredying？"
　　"Iwilldowhatyousay。ButIshallseeyouagain；
　　anddon’ttalkofdying。Thisisthebeginningoflife————"
　　"No。It’stheend，"saidthegirl，resumingatlastsomethingofthehoarsedrawlwhichthetumultofherfeelinghadbrokenintothosehalf—articulateappeals。Shesatdowntoo，andliftedherfacetowardshim。"It’stheendoflifeforme，becauseIknownowthatImusthavebeenplayingfalsefromthebeginning。Youdon’tknowwhatImean，andIcannevertellyou。Itisn’tmysecret——it’ssomeoneelse’s。You——youmustnevercomehereagain。
　　Ican’ttellyouwhy，andyoumustnevertrytoknow。
　　Doyoupromise？"
　　"Youcanforbidme。Imustdowhatyousay。"
　　"Idoforbidyou，then。AndyoushallnotthinkIamcruel————
　　"HowcouldIthinkthat？"
　　"Oh，howhardyoumakeit！"
　　Coreylaughedforverydespair。"CanImakeiteasierbydisobeyingyou？"
　　"IknowIamtalkingcrazily。ButI’mnotcrazy。"
　　"No，no，"hesaid，withsomewildnotionofcomfortingher；
　　"buttrytotellmethistrouble！Thereisnothingunderheaven——nocalamity，nosorrow——thatIwouldn’tgladlysharewithyou，ortakealluponmyselfifIcould！"
　　"Iknow！Butthisyoucan’t。Oh，my————"
　　"Dearest！Wait！Think！Letmeaskyourmother——yourfather————"
　　Shegaveacry。
　　"No！Ifyoudothat，youwillmakemehateyou！Willyou————"
　　Therattlingofalatch—keywasheardintheouterdoor。
　　"Promise！"criedPenelope。
　　"Oh，Ipromise！"
　　"Good—bye！"Shesuddenlyflungherarmsroundhisneck，and，pressinghercheektightagainsthis，flashedoutoftheroombyonedoorasherfatherentereditbyanother。
　　Coreyturnedtohiminadaze。"I——Icalledtospeakwithyou——aboutamatter————Butit’ssolatenow。
　　I’ll——I’llseeyouto—morrow。"
　　"Notimelikethepresent，"saidLapham，withafiercenessthatdidnotseemreferabletoCorey。Hehadhishatstillon，andheglaredattheyoungmanoutofhisblueeyeswithafirethatsomethingelsemusthavekindledthere。
　　"Ireallycan’tnow，"saidCoreyweakly。"Itwilldoquiteaswellto—morrow。Goodnight，sir。"
　　"Goodnight，"answeredLaphamabruptly，followinghimtothedoor，andshuttingitafterhim。"Ithinkthedevilmusthavegotintoprettymucheverybodyto—night，"hemuttered，comingbacktotheroom，whereheputdownhishat。
　　Thenhewenttothekitchen—stairsandcalleddown，"Hello，Alice！Iwantsomethingtoeat！
　　XVII。
　　"WHAT’sthereasonthegirlsnevergetdowntobreakfastanymore？"askedLapham，whenhemethiswifeatthetableinthemorning。Hehadbeenupanhourandahalf，andhespokewiththeseverityofahungryman。
　　"Itseemstometheydon’tamounttoANYthing。HereIam，atmytimeoflife，upthefirstoneinthehouse。Iringthebellforthecookatquarter—pastsixeverymorning，andthebreakfastisonthetableathalf—pastsevenrightalong，likeclockwork，butIneverseeanybodybutyoutillIgototheoffice。"
　　"Ohyes，youdo，Si，"saidhiswifesoothingly。
　　"Thegirlsarenearlyalwaysdown。Butthey’reyoung，andittiresthemmorethanitdoesustogetupearly。"
　　"Theycanrestafterwards。Theydon’tdoanythingaftertheyAREup，"grumbledLapham。
　　"Well，that’syourfault，ain’tit？"Yououghtn’ttohavemadesomuchmoney，andthenthey’dhavehadtowork。"
　　ShelaughedatLapham’sSpartanmood，andwentontoexcusetheyoungpeople。"Irene’sbeenuptwonightshandrunning，andPenelopesayssheain’twell。Whatmakesyousocrossaboutthegirls？Beendoingsomethingyou’reashamedof？"
　　"I’lltellyouwhenI’vebeendoinganythingtobeashamedof，"growledLapham。
　　"Ohno，youwon’t！"saidhiswifejollily。"You’llonlybehardontherestofus。Comenow，Si；whatisit？"
　　Laphamfrownedintohiscoffeewithsulkydignity，andsaid，withoutlookingup，"Iwonderwhatthatfellowwantedherelastnight？""Whatfellow？"
　　"Corey。IfoundhimherewhenIcamehome，andhesaidhewantedtoseeme；buthewouldn’tstop。"
　　"Wherewashe？"
　　"Inthesitting—room。"
　　"WasPenthere？"
　　"Ididn’tseeher。"
　　Mrs。Laphampaused，withherhandonthecream—jug。"Why，whatinthelanddidhewant？Didhesayhewantedyou？"
　　"That’swhathesaid。"
　　"Andthenhewouldn’tstay？"
　　"Well，then，I’lltellyoujustwhatitis，SilasLapham。
　　Hecamehere"——shelookedabouttheroomandloweredhervoice——"toseeyouaboutIrene，andthenhehadn’tthecourage。"
　　"Iguesshe’sgotcourageenoughtodoprettymuchwhathewantsto，"saidLaphamglumly。"AllIknowis，hewashere。YoubetteraskPenaboutit，ifsheevergetsdown。"
　　"IguessIshan’twaitforher，"saidMrs。Lapham；
　　and，asherhusbandclosedthefrontdoorafterhim，sheopenedthatofherdaughter’sroomandenteredabruptly。
　　Thegirlsatatthewindow，fullydressed，andasifshehadbeensittingtherealongtime。Withoutrising，sheturnedherfacetowardshermother。Itmerelyshowedblackagainstthelight，andrevealednothingtillhermothercameclosetoherwithsuccessivequestions。
　　"Why，howlonghaveyoubeenup，Pen？Whydon’tyoucometoyourbreakfast？DidyouseeMr。Coreywhenhecalledlastnight？Why，what’sthematterwithyou？Whathaveyoubeencryingabout？
　　"HaveIbeencrying？"
　　"Yes！Yourcheeksareallwet！"
　　"Ithoughttheywereonfire。Well，I’lltellyouwhat’shappened。"Sherose，andthenfellbackinherchair。
　　"Lockthedoor！"sheordered，andhermothermechanicallyobeyed。"Idon’twantIreneinhere。There’snothingthematter。Only，Mr。Coreyofferedhimselftomelastnight。"
　　Hermotherremainedlookingather，helpless，notsomuchwithamaze，perhaps，asdismay。"Oh，I’mnotaghost！I
　　wishIwas！Youhadbettersitdown，mother。Youhavegottoknowallaboutit。"
　　Mrs。Laphamdroppednervelesslyintothechairattheotherwindow，andwhilethegirlwentslowlybutbrieflyon，touchingonlythevitalpointsofthestory，andbreakingattimesintoabitterdrollery，shesatasifwithoutthepowertospeakorstir。
　　"Well，that’sall，mother。IshouldsayIhaddreamt，it，ifIhadsleptanylastnight；butIguessitreallyhappened。"
　　Themotherglancedroundatthebed，andsaid，gladtooccupyherselfdelayinglywiththeminorcare："Why，youhavebeensittingupallnight！Youwillkillyourself。"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutkillingmyself，butI’vebeensittingupallnight，"answeredthegirl。Then，seeingthathermotherremainedblanklysilentagain，shedemanded，"Whydon’tyoublameme，mother？"Whydon’tyousaythatIledhimon，andtriedtogethimawayfromher？
　　Don’tyoubelieveIdid？"
　　Hermothermadehernoanswer，asiftheseravingsofself—accusalneedednone。"Doyouthink，"sheaskedsimply，"thathegottheideayoucaredforhim？"
　　"Heknewit！HowcouldIkeepitfromhim？IsaidI
　　didn’t——atfirst！"
　　"Itwasnouse，"sighedthemother。"Youmightaswellsaidyoudid。Itcouldn’thelpIreneany，ifyoudidn’t。"
　　"Ialwaystriedtohelpherwithhim，evenwhenI————"
　　"Yes，Iknow。Butsheneverwasequaltohim。Isawthatfromthestart；butItriedtoblindmyselftoit。
　　Andwhenhekeptcoming————"
　　"Youneverthoughtofme！"criedthegirl，withabitternessthatreachedhermother’sheart。"Iwasnobody！Icouldn’tfeel！Noonecouldcareforme！"Theturmoilofdespair，oftriumph，ofremorseandresentment，whichfilledhersoul，triedtoexpressitselfinthewords。
　　"No，"saidthemotherhumbly。"Ididn’tthinkofyou。
　　OrIdidn’tthinkofyouenough。Itdidcomeacrossmesometimesthatmaybe————Butitdidn’tseemasif————AndyourgoingonsoforIrene————"
　　"Youletmegoon。Youmademealwaysgoandtalkwithhimforher，andyoudidn’tthinkIwouldtalktohimformyself。Well，Ididn’t！"
　　"I’mpunishedforit。Whendidyou——begintocareforhim！"
　　"HowdoIknow？Whatdifferencedoesitmake？It’sallovernow，nomatterwhenitbegan。Hewon’tcomehereanymore，unlessIlethim。"Shecouldnothelpbetrayingherprideinthisauthorityofhers，butshewentonanxiouslyenough，"WhatwillyousaytoIrene？She’ssafeasfarasI’mconcerned；butifhedon’tcareforher，whatwillyoudo？"
　　"Idon’tknowwhattodo，"saidMrs。Lapham。Shesatinanapathyfromwhichsheapparentlycouldnotrouseherself。
　　"Idon’tseeasanythingcanbedone。"
　　Penelopelaughedinapityingderision。
　　"Well，letthingsgoonthen。Buttheywon’tgoon。"
　　"No，theywon’tgoon，"echoedhermother。"She’sprettyenough，andshe’scapable；andyourfather’sgotthemoney——I
　　don’tknowwhatI’msaying！Sheain’tequaltohim，andsheneverwas。Ikeptfeelingitallthetime，andyetIkeptblindingmyself。"
　　"Ifhehadevercaredforher，"saidPenelope，"itwouldn’thavematteredwhethershewasequaltohimornot。
　　I’Mnotequaltohimeither。"
　　Hermotherwenton："Imighthavethoughtitwasyou；
　　butIhadgotset————Well！Icanseeitallclearenough，nowit’stoolate。Idon’tknowwhattodo。"
　　"Andwhatdoyouexpectmetodo？"demandedthegirl。
　　"DoyouwantMEtogotoIreneandtellherthatI’vegothimawayfromher？"
　　"OgoodLord！"criedMrs。Lapham。"WhatshallIdo？WhatdoyouwantIshoulddo，Pen？"
　　"Nothingforme，"saidPenelope。"I’vehaditoutwithmyself。NowdothebestyoucanforIrene。"
　　"Icouldn’tsayyouhaddonewrong，ifyouwastomarryhimto—day。"
　　"Mother！"
　　"No，Icouldn’t。Icouldn’tsaybutwhatyouhadbeengoodandfaithfullallthrough，andyouhadaperfectrighttodoit。Thereain’tanyonetoblame。He’sbehavedlikeagentleman，andIcanseenowthatheneverthoughtofher，andthatitwasyouallthewhile。Well，marryhim，then！He’sgottheright，andsohaveyou。"
　　"WhataboutIrene？Idon’twantyoutotalkaboutme。
　　Icantakecareofmyself"
　　"She’snothingbutachild。It’sonlyafancywithher。
　　She’llgetoverit。Shehain’treallygotherheartsetonhim。"
　　"She’sgotherheartsetonhim，mother。She’sgotherwholelifesetonhim。Youknowthat。"
　　"Yes，that’sso，"saidthemother，aspromptlyasifshehadbeenarguingtothatratherthanthecontraryeffect。
　　"IfIcouldgivehimtoher，Iwould。Butheisn’tminetogive。"Sheaddedinaburstofdespair，"Heisn’tminetokeep！"
　　"Well，"saidMrs。Lapham，"shehasgottobearit。
　　Idon’tknowwhat’stocomeofitall。Butshe’sgottobearhershareofit。"Sheroseandwenttowardthedoor。
　　Peneloperanafterherinasortofterror。"You’renotgoingtotellIrene？"shegasped，seizinghermotherbyeithershoulder。
　　"Yes，Iam，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Ifshe’sawomangrown，shecanbearawoman’sburden。"
　　"Ican’tletyoutellIrene，"saidthegirl，lettingfallherfaceonhermother’sneck。"NotIrene，"shemoaned。
　　"I’mafraidtoletyou。HowcanIeverlookatheragain？"
　　"Why，youhaven’tdoneanything，Pen，"saidhermothersoothingly。
　　"Iwantedto！Yes，Imusthavedonesomething。
　　HowcouldIhelpit？Ididcareforhimfromthefirst，andImusthavetriedtomakehimlikeme。DoyouthinkIdid？No，no！Youmustn’ttellIrene！Not——
　　not——yet！Mother！Yes！Ididtrytogethimfromher！"
　　shecried，liftingherhead，andsuddenlylookinghermotherinthefacewiththoselargedimeyesofhers。
　　"Whatdoyouthink？Evenlastnight！ItwasthefirsttimeIeverhadhimalltomyself，formyself，andIknownowthatItriedtomakehimthinkthatIwasprettyand——funny。AndIdidn’ttrytomakehimthinkofher。
　　IknewthatIpleasedhim，andItriedtopleasehimmore。
　　PerhapsIcouldhavekepthimfromsayingthathecaredforme；
　　butwhenIsawhedid——Imusthaveseenit——Icouldn’t。
　　Ihadneverhadhimtomyself，andformyselfbefore。
　　Ineedn’thaveseenhimatall，butIwantedtoseehim；
　　andwhenIwassittingtherealonewithhim，howdoIknowwhatIdidtolethimfeelthatIcaredforhim？Now，willyoutellIrene？Ineverthoughthedidcareforme，andneverexpectedhimto。ButIlikedhim。Yes——Ididlikehim！Tellherthat！OrelseIwill。"
　　"Ifitwastotellherhewasdead，"beganMrs。Laphamabsently。
　　"Howeasyitwouldbe！"criedthegirlinself—mockery。
　　"Buthe’sworsethandeadtoher；andsoamI。I’veturneditoveramillionways，mother；I’velookedatitineverylightyoucanputitin，andIcan’tmakeanythingbutmiseryoutofit。Youcanseethemiseryatthefirstglance，andyoucan’tseemoreorlessifyouspendyourlifelookingatit。"Shelaughedagain，asifthehopelessnessofthethingamusedher。Thensheflewtotheextremeofself—assertion。"Well，IHAVEarighttohim，andhehasarighttome。Ifhe’sneverdoneanythingtomakeherthinkhecaredforher，——andIknowhehasn’t；
　　it’sallbeenourdoing，thenhe’sfreeandI’mfree。
　　Wecan’tmakeherhappywhateverwedo；andwhyshouldn’tI————No，thatwon’tdo！Ireachedthatpointbefore！"
　　Shebrokeagainintoherdesperatelaugh。"Youmaytrynow，mother！"
　　"I’dbestspeaktoyourfatherfirst————"
　　Penelopesmiledalittlemoreforlornlythanshehadlaughed。
　　"Well，yes；theColonelwillhavetoknow。Itisn’tatroublethatIcankeeptomyselfexactly。Itseemstobelongtotoomanyotherpeople。"
　　Hermothertookacrazyencouragementfromherreturntoheroldwayofsayingthings。"Perhapshecanthinkofsomething。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tdoubtbuttheColonelwillknowjustwhattodo！"
　　"Youmustn’tbetoodown—heartedaboutit。It——it’llallcomeright————"
　　"YoutellIrenethat，mother。"
　　Mrs。Laphamhadputherhandonthedoor—key；shedroppedit，andlookedatthegirlwithasortofbeseechingappealforthecomfortshecouldnotimagineherself。
　　"Don’tlookatme，mother，"saidPenelope，shakingherhead。
　　"YouknowthatifIreneweretodiewithoutknowingit，itwouldn’tcomerightforme。"
　　"Pen！"
　　"I’vereadofcaseswhereagirlgivesupthemanthatloveshersoastomakesomeothergirlhappythatthemandoesn’tlove。Thatmightbedone。"
　　"Yourfatherwouldthinkyouwereafool，"saidMrs。Lapham，findingasortofrefugeinherstrongdisgustforthepseudoheroism。"No！Ifthere’stobeanygivingup，letitbebytheonethatshan’tmakeanybodybutherselfsuffer。There’stroubleandsorrowenoughintheworld，withoutMAKINGitonpurpose！"
　　Sheunlockedthedoor，butPenelopeslippedroundandsetherselfagainstit。"Ireneshallnotgiveup！"
　　"Iwillseeyourfatheraboutit，"saidthemother。
　　"Letmeoutnow————"
　　"Don’tletIrenecomehere！"
　　"No。Iwilltellherthatyouhaven’tslept。Gotobednow，andtrytogetsomerest。Sheisn’tupherselfyet。
　　Youmusthavesomebreakfast。"
　　"No；letmesleepifIcan。IcangetsomethingwhenI
　　wakeup。I’llcomedownifIcan’tsleep。Lifehasgottogoon。Itdoeswhenthere’sadeathinthehouse，andthisisonlyalittleworse。"
　　"Don’tyoutalknonsense！"criedMrs。Lapham，withangryauthority。
　　"Well，alittlebetter，then，"saidPenelope，withmeekconcession。
　　Mrs。Laphamattemptedtosaysomething，andcouldnot。
　　ShewentoutandopenedIrene’sdoor。Thegirlliftedherheaddrowsilyfromherpillow"Don’tdisturbyoursisterwhenyougetup，Irene。Shehasn’tsleptwell———
　　—"
　　"PLEASEdon’ttalk！I’malmostDEADwithsleep！"
　　returnedIrene。"Dogo，mamma！Ishan’tdisturbher。"
　　Sheturnedherfacedowninthepillow，andpulledthecoveringupoverherears。
　　Themotherslowlyclosedthedoorandwentdownstairs，feelingbewilderedandbaffledalmostbeyondthepowertomove。Thetimehadbeenwhenshewouldhavetriedtofindoutwhythisjudgmenthadbeensentuponher。
　　Butnowshecouldnotfeelthattheinnocentsufferingofotherswasinflictedforherfault；
　　sheshrankinstinctivelyfromthatcruelandegotisticmisinterpretationofthemysteryofpainandloss。
　　Shesawhertwochildren，equallyifdifferentlydeartoher，destinedtotroublethatnothingcouldavert，andshecouldnotblameeitherofthem；shecouldnotblamethemeansofthismiserytothem；hewasasinnocentasthey，andthoughherheartwassoreagainsthiminthisfirstmoment，shecouldstillbejusttohiminit。
　　Shewasawomanwhohadbeenusedtoseekthelightbystriving；shehadhithertoliterallyworkedtoit。
　　Butitisthecurseofprosperitythatittakesworkawayfromus，andshutsthatdoortohopeandhealthofspirit。
　　Inthishouse，whereeverythinghadcometobedoneforher，shehadnotaskstointerposebetweenherandherdespair。Shesatdowninherownroomandletherhandsfallinherlap，——thehandsthathadoncebeensohelpfulandbusy，——andtriedtothinkitallout。
　　Shehadneverheardofthefatethatwasoncesupposedtoappointthesorrowsofmenirrespectiveoftheirblamelessnessorblame，beforethetimewhenitcametobebelievedthatsorrowswerepenalties；butinhersimplewaysherecognisedsomethinglikethatmythicpowerwhensherosefromherstrugglewiththeproblem，andsaidaloudtoherself，"Well，thewitchisinit。"
　　Turnwhichwayshewould，shesawnoescapefromthemiserytocome——themiserywhichhadcomealreadytoPenelopeandherself，andthatmustcometoIreneandherfather。
　　Shestartedwhenshedefinitelythoughtofherhusband，andthoughtwithwhatviolenceitwouldworkineveryfibreofhisrudestrength。Shefearedthat，andshefearedsomethingworse——theeffectwhichhisprideandambitionmightseektogiveit；anditwaswithterrorofthis，aswellasthenaturaltrustwithwhichawomanmustturntoherhusbandinanyanxietyatlast，thatshefeltshecouldnotwaitforeveningtotakecounselwithhim。
　　Whensheconsideredhowwronglyhemighttakeitall，itseemedasifitwerealreadyknowntohim，andshewasimpatienttopreventhiserror。
　　Shesentoutforamessenger，whomshedespatchedwithanotetohisplaceofbusiness："Silas，Ishouldliketoridewithyouthisafternoon。Can’tyoucomehomeearly？Persis。"
　　AndshewasatdinnerwithIrene，evadingherquestionsaboutPenelope，whenanswercamethathewouldbeatthehousewiththebuggyathalf—pasttwo。Itiseasytoputoffagirlwhohasbutonethinginherhead；butthoughMrs。LaphamcouldescapewithouttellinganythingofPenelope，shecouldnotescapeseeinghowwhollyIrenewasengrossedwithhopesnowturnedsovainandimpossible。Shewasstilltalkingofthatdinner，ofnothingbutthatdinner，andbeggingforflatteryofherselfandpraiseofhim，whichhermotherhadtillnowbeensoreadytogive。
　　"Seemstomeyoudon’ttakeverymuchinterest，mamma！"
　　shesaid，laughingandblushingatonepoint。
　　"Yes，——yes，Ido，"protestedMrs。Lapham，andthenthegirlprattledon。
　　"IguessIshallgetoneofthosepinsthatNannyCoreyhadinherhair。Ithinkitwouldbecomeme，don’tyou？"
　　"Yes；butIrene——Idon’tliketohaveyougoonso，till——unlesshe’ssaidsomethingtoshow——Yououghtn’ttogiveyourselfuptothinking————"Butatthisthegirlturnedsowhite，andlookedsuchreproachather，thatsheaddedfrantically："Yes，getthepin。Itisjustthethingforyou！Butdon’tdisturbPenelope。
　　LetheralonetillIgetback。I’mgoingouttoridewithyourfather。He’llbehereinhalfanhour。
　　Areyouthrough？Ring，then。Getyourselfthatfanyousawtheotherday。Yourfatherwon’tsayanything；helikestohaveyoulookwell。Icouldseehiseyesonyouhalfthetimetheothernight。"
　　"IshouldhavelikedtohavePengowithme，"saidIrene，restoredtohernormalstateofinnocentselfishnessbytheseflatteries。"Don’tyousupposeshe’llbeupintime？What’sthematterwithherthatshedidn’tsleep？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Betterletheralone。"
　　"Well，"submittedIrene。
　　XVIII。
　　MRS。LAPHAMwentawaytoputonherbonnetandcloak，andshewaswaitingatthewindowwhenherhusbanddroveup。
　　Sheopenedthedoorandrandownthesteps。"Don’tgetout；
　　Icanhelpmyselfin，"andsheclamberedtohisside，whilehekeptthefidgetingmarestillwithvoiceandtouch。
　　"WheredoyouwantIshouldgo？"heasked，turningthebuggy。
　　"Oh，Idon’tcare。OutBrooklineway，Iguess。
　　Iwishyouhadn’tbroughtthisfoolofahorse，"shegavewaypetulantly。"Iwantedtohaveatalk。"
　　"WhenIcan’tdrivethismareandtalktoo，I’llselloutaltogether，"saidLapham。"She’llbequietenoughwhenshe’shadherspin。"
　　"Well，"saidhiswife；andwhiletheyweremakingtheirwayacrossthecitytotheMilldamsheansweredcertainquestionsheaskedaboutsomepointsinthenewhouse。
　　"Ishouldhavelikedtohaveyoustopthere，"hebegan；
　　butsheansweredsoquickly，"Notto—day，"thathegaveitupandturnedhishorse’sheadwestwardwhentheystruckBeaconStreet。
　　Heletthemareout，andhedidnotpullherintillhelefttheBrightonroadandstruckoffunderthelowboughsthatmetaboveoneofthequietstreetsofBrookline，wherethestonecottages，withhereandthereapatchofdeterminedivyontheirnorthernwalls，didwhattheycouldtolookEnglishamidtheglareoftheautumnalfoliage。
　　Thesmoothearthentrackunderthemare’shoofswasscatteredwithflakesoftheredandyellowgoldthatmadetheairluminousaroundthem，andtheperspectivewasgaywithinnumerabletintsandtones。
　　"Prettysightly，"saidLapham，withalongsign，lettingthereinslielooseinhisvigilanthand，towhichheseemedtorelegatethewholechargeofthemare。"IwanttotalkwithyouaboutRogers，Persis。He’sbeengettingindeeperanddeeperwithme；andlastnighthepesteredmehalftodeathtogoinwithhiminoneofhisschemes。