Iain’tgoingtoblameanybody，butIhain’tgotverymuchconfidenceinRogers。AndItoldhimsolastnight。"
　　"Oh，don’ttalktomeaboutRogers！"hiswifebrokein。
　　"There’ssomethingagooddealmoreimportantthanRogersintheworld，andmoreimportantthanyourbusiness。
　　Itseemsasifyoucouldn’tthinkofanythingelse——thatandthenewhouse。DidyousupposeIwantedtoridesoastotalkRogerswithyou？"shedemanded，yieldingtothenecessityawifefeelsofmakingherhusbandpayforhersuffering，evenifhehasnotinflictedit。
　　"Ideclare————"
　　"Well，holdon，now！"saidLapham。"WhatDOyouwanttotalkabout？I’mlistening。"
　　Hiswifebegan，"Why，it’sjustthis，SilasLapham！"
　　andthenshebrokeofftosay，"Well，youmaywait，now——startingmewrong，whenit’shardenoughanyway。"
　　Laphamsilentlyturnedhiswhipoverandoverinhishandandwaited。
　　"Didyousuppose，"sheaskedatlast，"thatthatyoungCoreyhadbeencomingtoseeIrene？"
　　"Idon’tknowwhatIsupposed，"repliedLaphamsullenly。
　　"Youalwayssaidso。"Helookedsharplyatherunderhisloweringbrows。
　　"Well，hehasn’t，"saidMrs。Lapham；andsherepliedtothefrownthatblackenedonherhusband’sface。
　　"AndIcantellyouwhat，ifyoutakeitinthatwayI
　　shan’tspeakanotherword。"
　　"Who’stakin’itwhatway？"retortedLaphamsavagely。
　　"Whatareyoudrivin’at？"
　　"Iwantyoushouldpromisethatyou’llhearmeoutquietly。"
　　"I’llhearyououtifyou’llgivemeachance。Ihaven’tsaidawordyet。"
　　"Well，I’mnotgoingtohaveyouflyingintofortyfuries，andlookinglikeaperfectthunder—cloudattheverystart。
　　I’vehadtobearit，andyou’vegottobearittoo。"
　　"Well，letmehaveachanceatit，then。"
　　"It’snothingtoblameanybodyabout，asIcansee，andtheonlyquestionis，what’sthebestthingtodoaboutit。There’sonlyonethingwecando；forifhedon’tcareforthechild，nobodywantstomakehim。
　　Ifhehasn’tbeencomingtoseeher，hehasn’t，andthat’sallthereistoit。"
　　"No，itain’t！"exclaimedLapham。
　　"There！"protestedhiswife。
　　"Ifhehasn’tbeencomingtoseeher，whatHAShebeencomingfor？"
　　"He’sbeencomingtoseePen！"criedthewife。"NOW
　　areyousatisfied？"Hertoneimpliedthathehadbroughtitalluponthem；butatthesightoftheswiftpassionsworkinginhisfacetoaperfectcomprehensionofthewholetrouble，shefelltotrembling，andherbrokenvoicelostallthespuriousindignationshehadputintoit。
　　"OSilas！whatarewegoingtodoaboutit？I’mafraidit’llkillIrene。"
　　Laphampulledofftheloosedriving—glovefromhisrighthandwiththefingersofhisleft，inwhichthereinslay。
　　Hepasseditoverhisforehead，andthenflickedfromitthemoistureithadgatheredthere。Hecaughthisbreathonceortwice，likeamanwhomeditatesastrugglewithsuperiorforceandthenremainspassiveinitsgrasp。
　　Hiswifefelttheneedofcomfortinghim，asshehadfelttheneedofafflictinghim。"Idon’tsaybutwhatitcanbemadetocomeoutallrightintheend。AllIsayis，Idon’tseemywayclearyet。"
　　"WhatmakesyouthinkhelikesPen？"heaskedquietly。
　　"Hetoldhersolastnight，andshetoldmethismorning。
　　Washeattheofficeto—day？"
　　"Yes，hewasthere。Ihaven’tbeentheremuchmyself。
　　Hedidn’tsayanythingtome。DoesIreneknow？"
　　"No；Ilefthergettingreadytogooutshopping。
　　ShewantstogetapinliketheoneNannyCoreyhadon。"
　　"OmyLord！"groanedLapham。
　　"It’sbeenPenfromthestart，Iguess，oralmostfromthestart。Idon’tsaybutwhathewasattractedsomebyIreneattheveryfirst；butIguessit’sbeenPeneversincehesawher；andwe’vetakenupwithanotion，andblindedourselveswithit。TimeandagainI’vehadmydoubtswhetherhecaredforIreneany；butIdeclaretogoodness，whenhekeptcoming，IneverhardlythoughtofPen，andIcouldn’thelpbelievingatlastheDIDcareforIrene。DiditeverstrikeyouhemightbeafterPen？"
　　"No。Itookwhatyousaid。Isupposedyouknew。"
　　"Doyoublameme，Silas？"sheaskedtimidly。
　　"No。What’stheuseofblaming？Wedon’teitherofuswantanythingbutthechildren’sgood。What’sitallofitfor，ifitain’tforthat？That’swhatwe’vebothslavedforallourlives。"
　　"Yes，Iknow。PlentyofpeopleLOSEtheirchildren，"
　　shesuggested。
　　"Yes，butthatdon’tcomfortmeany。Ineverwasonetofeelgoodbecauseanothermanfeltbad。Howwouldyouhavelikeditifsomeonehadtakencomfortbecausehisboylivedwhenoursdied？No，Ican’tdoit。Andthisisworsethandeath，someways。Thatcomesanditgoes；butthislooksasifitwasoneofthosethingsthathadcometostay。
　　ThewayIlookatit，thereain’tanyhopeforanybody。
　　Supposewedon’twantPentohavehim；willthathelpIreneany，ifhedon’twanther？Supposewedon’twanttolethimhaveeither；doesthathelpeither！"
　　"Youtalk，"exclaimedMrs。Lapham，"asifoursaywasgoingtosettleit。DoyousupposethatPenelopeLaphamisagirltotakeupwithafellowthathersisterisinlovewith，andthatshealwaysthoughtwasinlovewithhersister，andgooffandbehappywithhim？
　　Don’tyoubelievebutwhatitwouldcomebacktoher，aslongasshebreathedthebreathoflife，howshe’dteasedherabouthim，asI’veheardPenteaseIrene，andhelpedtomakeherthinkhewasinlovewithher，byshowingthatshethoughtsoherself？It’sridiculous！"
　　Laphamseemedquitebeatendownbythisargument。
　　Hishugeheadhungforwardoverhisbreast；thereinslaylooseinhismovelesshand；themaretookherownway。
　　Atlastheliftedhisfaceandshuthisheavyjaws。
　　"Well？"quaveredhiswife。
　　"Well，"heanswered，"ifhewantsher，andshewantshim，Idon’tseewhatthat’sgottodowithit。"Helookedstraightforward，andnotathiswife。
　　Shelaidherhandsonthereins。"Now，youstoprighthere，SilasLapham！IfIthoughtthat——ifIreallybelievedyoucouldbewillingtobreakthatpoorchild’sheart，andletPendisgraceherselfbymarryingamanthathadasgoodaskilledhersister，justbecauseyouwantedBromfieldCorey’ssonforason—in—law————"
　　Laphamturnedhisfacenow，andgaveheralook。
　　"YouhadbetterNOTbelievethat，Persis！Getup！"
　　hecalledtothemare，withoutglancingather，andshesprangforward。"Iseeyou’vegotpastbeinganyusetoyourselfonthissubject。"
　　"Hello！"shoutedavoiceinfrontofhim。"Wherethedevilyougoin’to？"
　　"DoyouwanttoKILLsomebody！"shriekedhiswife。
　　Therewasalightcrash，andthemarerecoiledherlength，andseparatedtheirwheelsfromthoseoftheopenbuggyinfrontwhichLaphamhaddriveninto。Hemadehisexcusestotheoccupant；andtheaccidentrelievedthetensionoftheirfeelings，andleftthemfarfromthepointofmutualinjurywhichtheyhadreachedintheircommontroubleandtheirunselfishwillfortheirchildren’sgood。
　　ItwasLaphamwhoresumedthetalk。"I’mafraidwecan’teitherofusseethisthingintherightlight。
　　We’retooneartoit。IwishtotheLordtherewassomebodytotalktoaboutit。"
　　"Yes，"saidhiswife；"butthereain’tanybody。"
　　"Well，Idunno，"suggestedLapham，afteramoment；
　　"whynottalktotheministerofyourchurch？Maybehecouldseesomewayoutofit。"
　　Mrs。Laphamshookherheadhopelessly。"Itwouldn’tdo。
　　I’venevertakenupmyconnectionwiththechurch，andI
　　don’tfeelasifI’dgotanyclaimonhim。"
　　"Ifhe’sanythingofaman，oranythingofapreacher，youHAVEgotaclaimonhim，"urgedLapham；andhespoiledhisargumentbyadding，"I’vecontributedenoughMONEY
　　tohischurch。"
　　"Oh，that’snothing，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Iain’twellenoughacquaintedwithDr。Langworthy，orelseI’mTOOwell。No；ifIwastoaskanyone，Ishouldwanttoaskatotalstranger。Butwhat’stheuse，Si？Nobodycouldmakeusseeitanydifferentfromwhatitis，andIdon’tknowasIshouldwanttheyshould。"
　　Itblottedoutthetenderbeautyoftheday，andweigheddowntheirheartsevermoreheavilywithinthem。
　　Theyceasedtotalkofitahundredtimes，andstillcamebacktoit。Theydroveonandon。Itbegantobelate。
　　"Iguesswebettergoback，Si，"saidhiswife；
　　andasheturnedwithoutspeaking，shepulledherveildownandbegantocrysoftlybehindit，withlowlittlebrokensobs。
　　Laphamstartedthemareupanddroveswiftlyhomeward。
　　Atlasthiswifestoppedcryingandbegantryingtofindherpocket。"Here，takemine，Persis，"hesaidkindly，offeringherhishandkerchief，andshetookitanddriedhereyeswithit。"Therewasoneofthosefellowstheretheothernight，"hespokeagain，whenhiswifeleanedbackagainstthecushionsinpeacefuldespair，"thatI
　　likedthelooksofaboutaswellasanymanIeversaw。
　　Iguesshewasaprettygoodman。ItwasthatMr。Sewell。"
　　Helookedathiswife，butshedidnotsayanything。
　　"Persis，"heresumed，"Ican’tbeartogobackwithnothingsettledinourminds。Ican’tbeartoletyou。"
　　"Wemust，Si，"returnedhiswife，withgentlegratitude。
　　Laphamgroaned。"Wheredoeshelive？"sheasked。
　　"OnBolingbrokeStreet。Hegavemehisnumber。"
　　"Well，itwouldn’tdoanygood。Whatcouldhesaytous？"
　　"Oh，Idon’tknowashecouldsayanything，"saidLaphamhopelessly；
　　andneitherofthemsaidanythingmoretilltheycrossedtheMilldamandfoundthemselvesbetweentherowsofcityhouses。"
　　"Don’tdrivepastthenewhouse，Si，"pleadedhiswife。
　　"Icouldn’tbeartoseeit。Drive——driveupBolingbrokeStreet。
　　WemightaswellseewhereheDOESlive。"
　　"Well，"saidLapham。Hedrovealongslowly。
　　"That’stheplace，"hesaidfinally，stoppingthemareandpointingwithhiswhip。
　　"Itwouldn’tdoanygood，"saidhiswife，inatonewhichheunderstoodaswellasheunderstoodherwords。
　　Heturnedthemareuptothecurbstone。
　　"Youtakethereinsaminute，"hesaid，handingthemtohiswife。
　　Hegotdownandrangthebell，andwaitedtillthedooropened；
　　thenhecamebackandliftedhiswifeout。"He’sin，"
　　hesaid。
　　Hegotthehitching—weightfromunderthebuggy—seatandmadeitfasttothemare’sbit。
　　"Doyouthinkshe’llstandwiththat？"askedMrs。Lapham。
　　"Iguessso。Ifshedon’t，nomatter。"
　　"Ain’tyouafraidshe’lltakecold，"shepersisted，tryingtomakedelay。
　　"Lether！"saidLapham。Hetookhiswife’stremblinghandunderhisarm，anddrewhertothedoor。
　　"He’llthinkwe’recrazy，"shemurmuredinherbrokenpride。
　　"Well，weARE，"saidLapham。"Tellhimwe’dliketoseehimaloneawhile，"hesaidtothegirlwhowasholdingthedoorajarforhim，andsheshowedhimintothereception—room，whichhadbeentheProtestantconfessionalformanyburdenedsoulsbeforetheirtime，coming，astheydid，withthebeliefthattheywereboweddownwiththeonlymiseryliketheirsintheuniverse；foreachoneofusmustsufferlongtohimselfbeforehecanlearnthatheisbutoneinagreatcommunityofwretchednesswhichhasbeenpitilesslyrepeatingitselffromthefoundationoftheworld。
　　Theywereasloathtotouchtheirtroublewhentheministercameinasifitweretheirdisgrace；butLaphamdidsoatlast，and，withasimpledignitywhichhehadwantedinhisbunglingandapologeticapproaches，helaidtheaffairclearlybeforetheminister’scompassionateandreverenteye。
　　HesparedCorey’sname，buthedidnotpretendthatitwasnothimselfandhiswifeandtheirdaughterswhowereconcerned。
　　"Idon’tknowasI’vegotanyrighttotroubleyouwiththisthing，"hesaid，inthemomentwhileSewellsatponderingthecase，"andIdon’tknowasI’vegotanywarrantfordoingit。But，asItoldmywifehere，therewassomethingaboutyou——Idon’tknowwhetheritwasanythingyouSAIDexactly——thatmademefeelasifyoucouldhelpus。IguessIdidn’tsaysomuchasthattoher；
　　butthat’sthewayIfelt。Andhereweare。Andifitain’tallright"
　　"Surely，"saidSewell，"it’sallright。Ithankyouforcoming——fortrustingyourtroubletome。Atimecomestoeveryoneofuswhenwecan’thelpourselves，andthenwemustgetotherstohelpus。Ifpeopleturntomeatsuchatime，IfeelsurethatIwasputintotheworldforsomething——ifnothingmorethantogivemypity，mysympathy。"
　　Thebrotherlywords，soplain，sosincere，hadawelcomeinthemthatthesepooroutcastsofsorrowcouldnotdoubt。
　　"Yes，"saidLaphamhuskily，andhiswifebegantowipethetearsagainunderherveil。
　　Sewellremainedsilent，andtheywaitedtillheshouldspeak。
　　"Wecanbeofusetooneanotherhere，becausewecanalwaysbewiserforsomeoneelsethanwecanforourselves。
　　Wecanseeanother’ssinsanderrorsinamoremercifullight——andthatisalwaysafairerlight——thanwecanourown；
　　andwecanlookmoresanelyatothers’afflictions。"
　　HehadaddressedthesewordstoLapham；nowheturnedtohiswife。"Ifsomeonehadcometoyou，Mrs。Lapham，injustthisperplexity，whatwouldyouhavethought？"
　　"Idon’tknowasIunderstandyou，"falteredMrs。Lapham。
　　Sewellrepeatedhiswords，andadded，"Imean，whatdoyouthinksomeoneelseoughttodoinyourplace？"
　　"Wasthereeveranypoorcreaturesinsuchastraitbefore？"
　　sheasked，withpatheticincredulity。
　　"There’snonewtroubleunderthesun，"saidtheminister。
　　"Oh，ifitwasanyoneelse，Ishouldsay——Ishouldsay——Why，ofcourse！Ishouldsaythattheirdutywastolet————"
　　Shepaused。
　　"Onesufferinsteadofthree，ifnoneistoblame？"
　　suggestedSewell。"That’ssense，andthat’sjustice。
　　It’stheeconomyofpainwhichnaturallysuggestsitself，andwhichwouldinsistuponitself，ifwewerenotallpervertedbytraditionswhicharethefigmentoftheshallowestsentimentality。Tellme，Mrs。Lapham，didn’tthiscomeintoyourmindwhenyoufirstlearnedhowmattersstood？"
　　"Why，yes，itflashedacrossme。ButIdidn’tthinkitcouldberight。"
　　"Andhowwasitwithyou，Mr。Lapham？"
　　"Why，that’swhatIthought，ofcourse。ButIdidn’tseemyway————"
　　"No，"criedtheminister，"weareallblinded，weareallweakenedbyafalseidealofself—sacrifice。Itwrapsusroundwithitsmeshes，andwecan’tfightourwayoutofit。
　　Mrs。Lapham，whatmadeyoufeelthatitmightbebetterforthreetosufferthanone？"
　　"Why，shedidherself。Iknowshewoulddiesoonerthantakehimawayfromher。"
　　"Isupposedso！"criedtheministerbitterly。"Andyetsheisasensiblegirl，yourdaughter？"
　　"Shehasmorecommon—sense————"
　　"Ofcourse！Butinsuchacasewesomehowthinkitmustbewrongtouseourcommon—sense。Idon’tknowwherethisfalseidealcomesfrom，unlessitcomesfromthenovelsthatbefoolanddebauchalmosteveryintelligenceinsomedegree。Itcertainlydoesn’tcomefromChristianity，whichinstantlyrepudiatesitwhenconfrontedwithit。
　　Yourdaughterbelieves，inspiteofhercommon—sense，thatsheoughttomakeherselfandthemanwholovesherunhappy，inordertoassurethelife—longwretchednessofhersister，whomhedoesn’tlove，simplybecausehersistersawhimandfanciedhimfirst！AndI’msorrytosaythatninety—nineyoungpeopleoutofahundred——oh，ninehundredandninety—nineoutofathousand！——wouldconsiderthatnobleandbeautifulandheroic；whereasyouknowatthebottomofyourheartsthatitwouldbefoolishandcruelandrevolting。Youknowwhatmarriageis！Andwhatitmustbewithoutloveonbothsides。"
　　Theministerhadgrownquiteheatedandredintheface。
　　"Iloseallpatience！"hewentonvehemently。"Thispoorchildofyourshassomehowbeenbroughttobelievethatitwillkillhersisterifhersisterdoesnothavewhatdoesnotbelongtoher，andwhatitisnotinthepowerofalltheworld，oranysoulintheworld，togiveher。
　　Hersisterwillsuffer——yes，keenly！——inheartandinpride；butshewillnotdie。Youwillsuffertoo，inyourtendernessforher；butyoumustdoyourduty。
　　Youmusthelphertogiveup。Youwouldbeguiltyifyoudidless。Keepclearlyinmindthatyouaredoingright，andtheonlypossiblegood。AndGodbewithyou！"
　　XIX。
　　HEtalkedsense，Persis，"saidLaphamgently，ashemountedtohiswife’ssideinthebuggyanddroveslowlyhomewardthroughthedusk。
　　"Yes，hetalkedsense，"sheadmitted。Butsheaddedbitterly，"Iguess，ifhehadittoDO！Oh，he’sright，andit’sgottobedone。Thereain’tanyotherwayforit。
　　It’ssense；and，yes，it’sjustice。"Theywalkedtotheirdooraftertheyleftthehorseattheliverystablearoundthecorner，whereLaphamkeptit。"IwantyoushouldsendIreneuptoourroomassoonaswegetin，Silas。"
　　"Why，ain’tyougoingtohaveanysupperfirst？"
　　falteredLaphamwithhislatch—keyinthelock。
　　"No。Ican’tloseaminute。IfIdo，Ishan’tdoitatall。"
　　"Lookhere，Persis，"saidherhusbandtenderly，"letmedothisthing。"
　　"Oh，YOU！"saidhiswife，withawoman’scompassionatescornforaman’shelplessnessinsuchacase。"Sendherrightup。AndIshallfeel————"Shestoppedtosparehim。
　　Thensheopenedthedoor，andranuptoherroomwithoutwaitingtospeaktoIrene，whohadcomeintothehallatthesoundofherfather’skeyinthedoor。
　　"Iguessyourmotherwantstoseeyouupstairs，"
　　saidLapham，lookingaway。
　　Hermotherturnedroundandfacedthegirl’swonderinglookasIreneenteredthechamber，socloseuponherthatshehadnotyethadtimetolayoffherbonnet；
　　shestoodwithherwrapsstillonherarm。
　　"Irene！"shesaidharshly，"thereissomethingyouhavegottobear。It’samistakewe’veallmade。
　　Hedon’tcareanythingforyou。Heneverdid。HetoldPensolastnight。Hecaresforher。"
　　Thesentenceshadfallenlikeblows。Butthegirlhadtakenthemwithoutflinching。Shestoodupimmovable，butthedelicaterose—lightofhercomplexionwentoutandlefthercolourless。Shedidnotoffertospeak。
　　"Whydon’tyousaysomething？"criedhermother。
　　"Doyouwanttokillme，Irene？"
　　"WhyshouldIwanttohurtyou，mamma？"thegirlrepliedsteadily，butinanalienvoice。"There’snothingtosay。
　　IwanttoseePenaminute。"
　　Sheturnedandlefttheroom。Asshemountedthestairsthatledtoherownandhersister’sroomsonthefloorabove，hermotherhelplesslyfollowed。Irenewentfirsttoherownroomatthefrontofthehouse，andthencameoutleavingthedooropenandthegasflaringbehindher。
　　Themothercouldseethatshehadtumbledmanythingsoutofthedrawersofherbureauuponthemarbletop。
　　Shepassedhermother，whereshestoodintheentry。
　　"Youcancometoo，ifyouwantto，mamma，"shesaid。
　　SheopenedPenelope’sdoorwithoutknocking，andwentin。
　　Penelopesatatthewindow，asinthemorning。
　　Irenedidnotgotoher；butshewentandlaidagoldhair—pinonherbureau，andsaid，withoutlookingather，"There’sapinthatIgotto—day，becauseitwaslikehissister’s。Itwon’tbecomeadarkpersonsowell，butyoucanhaveit。"
　　ShestuckascrapofpaperinthesideofPenelope’smirror。
　　"There’sthataccountofMr。Stanton’sranch。You’llwanttoreadit，Ipresume。"
　　Shelaidawitheredboutonniereonthebureaubesidethepin。
　　"There’shisbutton—holebouquet。Heleftitbyhisplate，andIstoleit。"
　　Shehadapine—shavingfantasticallytiedupwithaknotofribbon，inherhand。Shehelditamoment；then，lookingdeliberatelyatPenelope，shewentuptoher，anddroppeditinherlapwithoutaword。Sheturned，and，advancingafewsteps，totteredandseemedabouttofall。
　　Hermothersprangforwardwithanimploringcry，"O’Rene，’Rene，’Rene！"
　　Irenerecoveredherselfbeforehermothercouldreachher。
　　"Don’ttouchme，"shesaidicily。"Mamma，I’mgoingtoputonmythings。Iwantpapatowalkwithme。
　　I’mchokinghere。"
　　"I——Ican’tletyougoout，Irene，child，"beganhermother。
　　"You’vegotto，"repliedthegirl。"Tellpapatahurryhissupper。"
　　"Opoorsoul！Hedoesn’twantanysupper。HEknowsittoo。"
　　"Idon’twanttotalkaboutthat。Tellhimtogetready。"
　　Sheleftthemoncemore。
　　Mrs。LaphamturnedahaplessglanceuponPenelope。
　　"Goandtellhim，mother，"saidthegirl。"Iwould，ifIcould。Ifshecanwalk，lether。It’stheonlythingforher。"Shesatstill；shedidnotevenbrushtothefloorthefantasticthingthatlayinherlap，andthatsentupfaintlytheodourofthesachetpowderwithwhichIrenelikedtoperfumeherboxes。
　　Laphamwentoutwiththeunhappychild，andbegantotalkwithher，crazily，incoherently，enough。
　　Shemercifullystoppedhim。"Don’ttalk，papa。Idon’twantanyoneshouldtalkwithme。"
　　Heobeyed，andtheywalkedsilentlyonandon。IntheiraimlesscoursetheyreachedthenewhouseonthewatersideofBeacon，andshemadehimstop，andstoodlookingupatit。Thescaffoldingwhichhadsolongdefacedthefrontwasgone，andinthelightofthegas—lampbeforeitallthearchitecturalbeautyofthefacadewassuggested，andmuchofthefinelyfeltdetailwasrevealed。Seymourhadprettynearlysatisfiedhimselfinthatrichfacade；
　　certainlyLaphamhadnotstintedhimofthemeans。
　　"Well，"saidthegirl，"Ishallneverliveinit，"
　　andshebegantowalkon。
　　Lapham’ssoreheartwentdown，ashelumberedheavilyafterher。"Ohyes，youwill，Irene。You’llhavelotsofgoodtimesthereyet。"
　　"No，"sheanswered，andsaidnothingmoreaboutit。
　　Theyhadnottalkedoftheirtroubleatall，andtheydidnotspeakofitnow。Laphamunderstoodthatshewastryingtowalkherselfweary，andhewasgladtoholdhispeaceandletherhaveherway。Shehaltedhimoncemorebeforetheredandyellowlightsofanapothecary’swindow。
　　"Isn’ttheresomethingtheygiveyoutomakeyousleep？"
　　sheaskedvaguely。"I’vegottosleepto—night！"
　　Laphamtrembled。"Iguessyoudon’twantanything，Irene。"
　　"Yes，Ido！Getmesomething！"sheretortedwilfully。
　　"Ifyoudon’t，Ishalldie。IMUSTsleep。"
　　Theywentin，andLaphamaskedforsomethingtomakeanervouspersonsleep。Irenestoodporingovertheshow—casefullofbrushesandtrinkets，whiletheapothecaryputupthebromide，whichheguessedwouldbeaboutthebestthing。
　　Shedidnotshowanyemotion；herfacewaslikeastone，whileherfather’sexpressedtheanguishofhissympathy。
　　Helookedasifhehadnotsleptforaweek；hisfateyelidsdroopedoverhisglassyeyes，andhischeeksandthroathungflaccid。Hestartedastheapothecary’scatstolesmoothlyupandrubbeditselfagainsthisleg；
　　anditwastohimthatthemansaid，"Youwanttotakeatable—spoonfulofthat，aslongasyou’reawake。