AFTERaweekMrs。Laphamreturned，leavingIrenealoneattheoldhomesteadinVermont。"She’scomfortablethere——ascomfortableasshecanbeanywheres，Iguess，"shesaidtoherhusbandastheydrovetogetherfromthestation，wherehehadmetherinobediencetohertelegraphicsummons。
　　"Shekeepsherselfbusyhelpingaboutthehouse；
　　andshegoesroundamongstthehandsintheirhouses。
　　There’ssickness，andyouknowhowhelpfulsheiswherethere’ssickness。Shedon’tcomplainany。Idon’tknowasI’veheardawordoutofhermouthsincewelefthome；
　　butI’mafraidit’llwearonher，Silas。"
　　"Youdon’tlookoverandabovewellyourself，Persis，"
　　saidherhusbandkindly。
　　"Oh，don’ttalkaboutme。WhatIwanttoknowiswhetheryoucan’tgetthetimetorunoffwithhersomewhere。
　　IwrotetoyouaboutDubuque。She’llworkherselfdown，I’mafraid；andTHENIdon’tknowasshe’llbeoverit。
　　Butifshecouldgooff，andbeamused——seenewpeople————"
　　"IcouldMAKEthetime，"saidLapham，"ifIhadto。
　　But，asithappens，I’vegottogooutWestonbusiness，——I’lltellyouaboutit，——andI’lltakeIrenealong。"
　　"Good！"saidhiswife。"That’saboutthebestthingI’veheardyet。Whereyougoing？"
　　"OutDubuqueway。"
　　"AnythingthematterwithBill’sfolks？"
　　"No。It’sbusiness。"
　　"How’sPen？"
　　"Iguesssheain’tmuchbetterthanIrene。"
　　"Hebeenaboutany？"
　　"Yes。ButIcan’tseeasithelpsmattersmuch。"
　　"Tchk！"Mrs。Laphamfellbackagainstthecarriagecushions。
　　"Ideclare，toseeherwillingtotakethemanthatweallthoughtwantedhersister！Ican’tmakeitseemright。"
　　"It’sright，"saidLaphamstoutly；"butIguesssheain’twilling；Iwishshewas。Buttheredon’tseemtobeanywayoutofthething，anywhere。It’saperfectsnarl。
　　ButIdon’twantyoushouldbeanywaysha’shwithPen。"
　　Mrs。Laphamanswerednothing；butwhenshemetPenelopeshegavethegirl’swanfaceasharplook，andbegantowhimperonherneck。
　　Penelope’stearswereallspent。"Well，mother，"shesaid，"youcomebackalmostascheerfulasyouwentaway。
　　Ineedn’taskif’Rene’singoodspirits。Weallseemtobeoverflowingwiththem。Isupposethisisonewayofcongratulatingme。Mrs。Coreyhasn’tbeenroundtodoityet。"
　　"Areyou——areyouengagedtohim，Pen？"gaspedhermother。
　　"Judgingbymyfeelings，Ishouldsaynot。Ifeelasifitwasalastwillandtestament。Butyou’dbetteraskhimwhenhecomes。"
　　"Ican’tbeartolookathim。"
　　"Iguesshe’susedtothat。Hedon’tseemtoexpecttobelookedat。Well！we’realljustwherewestarted。
　　Iwonderhowlongitwillkeepup。"
　　Mrs。Laphamreportedtoherhusbandwhenhecamehomeatnight——hehadlefthisbusinesstogoandmeether，andthen，afteradesolatedinneratthehouse，hadreturnedtotheofficeagain——thatPenelopewasfullyasbadasIrene。"Andshedon’tknowhowtoworkitoff。
　　Irenekeepsdoing；butPenjustsitsinherroomandmopes。
　　Shedon’tevenread。Iwentupthisafternoontoscoldheraboutthestatethehousewasin——youcanseethatIrene’sawaybytheperfectmess；butwhenIsawherthroughthecrackofthedoorIhadn’ttheheart。
　　Shesattherewithherhandsinherlap，juststaring。
　　And，mygoodness！sheJUMPEDsowhenshesawme；
　　andthenshefellback，andbegantolaugh，andsaidshe，’Ithoughtitwasmyghost，mother！’IfeltasifIshouldgiveway。"
　　Laphamlistenedjadedly，andansweredfarfromthepoint。
　　"IguessI’vegottostartoutthereprettysoon，Persis。"
　　"Howsoon？"
　　"Well，to—morrowmorning。"
　　Mrs。Laphamsatsilent。Then，"Allright，"shesaid。
　　"I’llgetyouready。"
　　"IshallrunuptoLaphamforIrene，andthenI’llpushonthroughCanada。Icangetthereaboutasquick。"
　　"Isitanythingyoucantellmeabout，Silas？"
　　"Yes，"saidLapham。"Butit’salongstory，andI
　　guessyou’vegotyourhandsprettyfullasitis。
　　I’vebeenthrowinggoodmoneyafterbad，——theusualway，——
　　andnowI’vegottoseeifIcansavethepieces。"
　　AfteramomentMrs。Laphamasked，"Isit——Rogers？"
　　"It’sRogers。"
　　"Ididn’twantyoushouldgetinanydeeperwithhim。"
　　"No。Youdidn’twantIshouldpresshimeither；andI
　　hadtodooneortheother。AndsoIgotindeeper。"
　　"Silas，"saidhiswife，"I’mafraidImadeyou！"
　　"It’sallright，Persis，asfarforthasthatgoes。
　　Iwasgladtomakeitupwithhim——Ijumpedatthechance。
　　IguessRogerssawthathehadasoftthinginme，andhe’sworkeditforallitwasworth。Butit’llallcomeoutrightintheend。"
　　Laphamsaidthisasifhedidnotcaretotalkanymoreaboutit。Headdedcasually，"PrettyneareverybodybutthefellowsthatoweMEseemtoexpectmetodoacashbusiness，allofasudden。"
　　"Doyoumeanthatyou’vegotpaymentstomake，andthatpeoplearenotpayingYOU？"
　　Laphamwincedalittle。"Somethinglikethat，"hesaid，andhelightedacigar。"ButwhenItellyouit’sallright，Imeanit，Persis。Iain’tgoingtoletthegrassgrowundermyfeet，though，——especiallywhileRogersdigsthegroundawayfromtheroots。"
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"
　　"Ifithastocometothat，I’mgoingtosqueezehim。"
　　Lapham’scountenancelightedupwithgreaterjoythanhadyetvisiteditsincethedaytheyhaddrivenouttoBrookline。
　　"MiltonK。Rogersisarascal，ifyouwanttoknow；
　　orelseallthesignsfail。ButIguesshe’llfindhe’sgothiscome—uppance。"Laphamshuthislipssothattheshort，reddish—greybeardstuckstraightoutonthem。
　　"What’shedone？"
　　"What’shedone？Well，now，I’lltellyouwhathe’sdone，Persis，sinceyouthinkRogersissuchasaint，andthatI
　　usedhimsobadlyingettinghimoutofthebusiness。
　　He’sbeendabblingineverysortoffoolthingyoucanlayyourtongueto，——wild—catstocks，patent—rights，landspeculations，oilclaims，——tillhe’srunthroughabouteverything。
　　ButhedidhaveabigmillingpropertyoutonthelineoftheP。Y。&X。，——saw—millsandgrist—millsandlands，——andforthelasteightyearshe’sbeendoingaland—officebusinesswith’em——businessthatwouldhavemadeanybodyelserich。Butyoucan’tmakeMiltonK。Rogersrich，anymorethanyoucanfatahide—boundcolt。Itain’tinhim。He’drunthroughVanderbilt，JayGould，andTomScottrolledintooneinlessthansixmonths，givehimachance，andcomeoutandwanttoborrowmoneyofyou。Well，hewon’tborrowanymoremoneyofME；
　　andifhethinksIdon’tknowasmuchaboutthatmillingpropertyashedoeshe’smistaken。I’vetakenhismills，butIguessI’vegottheinsidetrack；Bill’skeptmeposted；
　　andnowI’mgoingouttheretoseehowIcanunload；
　　andIshan’tmindagreatdealifRogersisundertheloadwhenit’soffonce。"
　　"Idon’tunderstandyou，Silas。"
　　"Why，it’sjustthis。TheGreatLacustrine&PolarRailroadhasleasedtheP。Y。&X。forninety—nineyears，——boughtit，practically，——andit’sgoingtobuildcar—worksrightbythosemills，anditmaywantthem。
　　AndMiltonK。Rogersknewitwhenheturned’eminonme。"
　　"Well，iftheroadwantsthem，don’tthatmakethemillsvaluable？Youcangetwhatyouaskforthem！"
　　"CanI？"TheP。Y。&X。istheonlyroadthatrunswithinfiftymilesofthemills，andyoucan’tgetafootoflumbernorapoundofflourtomarketanyotherway。
　　AslongashehadalittlelocalroadliketheP。Y。&
　　X。todealwith，Rogerscouldmanage；butwhenitcometoabigthroughlineliketheG。L。&P。，hecouldn’tstandanychanceatall。Ifsucharoadasthattookafancytohismills，doyouthinkitwouldpaywhatheasked？No，sir！Hewouldtakewhattheroadoffered，orelsetheroadwouldtellhimtocarryhisflourandlumbertomarkethimself。"
　　"AnddoyousupposeheknewtheG。L。&P。wantedthemillswhenheturnedtheminonyou？"askedMrs。Laphamaghast，andfallinghelplesslyintohisalphabeticalparlance。
　　TheColonellaughedscoffingly。"Well，whenMiltonK。Rogersdon’tknowwhichsidehisbread’sbutteredon！I
　　don’tunderstand，"headdedthoughtfully，"howhe’salwayslettingitfallonthebutteredside。Butsuchamanasthatissuretohaveascrewlooseinhimsomewhere。"
　　Mrs。Laphamsatdiscomfited。Allthatshecouldsaywas，"Well，IwantyoushouldaskyourselfwhetherRogerswouldeverhavegonewrong，orgotintothesewaysofhis，ifithadn’tbeenforyourforcinghimoutofthebusinesswhenyoudid。Iwantyoushouldthinkwhetheryou’renotresponsibleforeverythinghe’sdonesince。"
　　"Yougoandgetthatbagofmineready，"saidLaphamsullenly。
　　"IguessIcantakecareofmyself。AndMiltonK。Rogerstoo，"
　　headded。
　　ThateveningCoreyspentthetimeafterdinnerinhisownroom，withrestlessexcursionstothelibrary，wherehismothersatwithhisfatherandsisters，andshowednosignsofleavingthem。Atlast，incomingdown，heencounteredheronthestairs，goingup。Theybothstoppedconsciously。
　　"Iwouldliketospeakwithyou，mother。Ihavebeenwaitingtoseeyoualone。"
　　"Cometomyroom，"shesaid。
　　"IhaveafeelingthatyouknowwhatIwanttosay，"
　　hebeganthere。
　　Shelookedupathimwherehestoodbythechimney—piece，andtriedtoputacheerfulnoteintoherquestioning"Yes？"
　　"Yes；andIhaveafeelingthatyouwon’tlikeit——thatyouwon’tapproveofit。Iwishyoudid——Iwishyoucould！"
　　"I’musedtolikingandapprovingeverythingyoudo，Tom。
　　IfIdon’tlikethisatonce，Ishalltrytolikeit——youknowthat——foryoursake，whateveritis。"
　　"I’dbetterbeshort，"hesaid，withaquicksigh。
　　"It’saboutMissLapham。"Hehastenedtoadd，"Ihopeitisn’tsurprisingtoyou。I’dhavetoldyoubefore，ifIcould。"
　　"No，itisn’tsurprising。Iwasafraid——Isuspectedsomethingofthekind。"
　　Theywerebothsilentinapainfulsilence。
　　"Well，mother？"heaskedatlast。
　　"Ifit’ssomethingyou’vequitemadeupmindto————"
　　"Itis！"
　　"Andifyou’vealreadyspokentoher————"
　　"Ihadtodothatfirst，ofcourse。"
　　"Therewouldbenouseofmysayinganything，evenifI
　　dislikedit。"
　　"Youdodislikeit！"
　　"No——no！Ican’tsaythat。OfcourseIshouldhavepreferreditifyouhadchosensomenicegirlamongthosethatyouhadbeenbroughtupwith——somefriendorassociateofyoursisters，whosepeoplewehadknown————"
　　"Yes，Iunderstandthat，andIcanassureyouthatI
　　haven’tbeenindifferenttoyourfeelings。Ihavetriedtoconsiderthemfromthefirst，anditkeptmehesitatinginawaythatI’mashamedtothinkof；foritwasn’tquiterighttowards——others。Butyourfeelingsandmysisters’
　　havebeeninmymind，andifIcouldn’tyieldtowhatI
　　supposedtheymustbe，entirely————"
　　Evensogoodasonandbrotherasthis，whenitcametohisloveaffair，appearedtothinkthathehadyieldedmuchinconsideringthefeelingsofhisfamilyatall。
　　Hismotherhastenedtocomforthim。"Iknow——Iknow。
　　I’veseenforsometimethatthismighthappen，Tom，andI
　　havepreparedmyselfforit。Ihavetalkeditoverwithyourfather，andwebothagreedfromthebeginningthatyouwerenottobehamperedbyourfeeling。
　　Still——itisasurprise。Itmustbe。"
　　"Iknowit。Icanunderstandyourfeeling。ButI’msurethatit’sonethatwilllastonlywhileyoudon’tknowherwell。"
　　"Oh，I’msureofthat，Tom。I’msurethatweshallallbefondofher，——foryoursakeatfirst，even——andI
　　hopeshe’lllikeus。"
　　"Iamquitecertainofthat，"saidCorey，withthatconfidencewhichexperiencedoesnotalwaysconfirminsuchcases。
　　"Andyourtakingitasyoudoliftsatremendousloadoffme。"
　　Buthesighedsoheavily，andlookedsotroubled，thathismothersaid，"Well，now，youmustn’tthinkofthatanymore。Wewishwhatisforyourhappiness，myson，andwewillgladlyreconcileourselvestoanythingthatmighthavebeendisagreeable。Isupposeweneedn’tspeakofthefamily。Wemustboththinkalikeaboutthem。
　　Theyhavetheir——drawbacks，buttheyarethoroughlygoodpeople，andIsatisfiedmyselftheothernightthattheywerenottobedreaded。"Sherose，andputherarmroundhisneck。
　　"AndIwishyoujoy，Tom！Ifshe’shalfasgoodasyouare，youwillbothbeveryhappy。"Shewasgoingtokisshim，butsomethinginhislooksstoppedher——anabsence，atrouble，whichbrokeoutinhiswords。
　　"Imusttellyou，mother！There’sbeenacomplication——
　　amistake——that’sablightonmeyet，andthatitsometimesseemsasifwecouldn’tescapefrom。Iwonderifyoucanhelpus！TheyallthoughtImeant——theothersister。"
　　"OTom！ButhowCOULDthey？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Itseemedsoglaringlyplain——Iwasashamedofmakingitsooutrightfromthebeginning。
　　Buttheydid。Evenshedid，herself！"
　　"Butwherecouldtheyhavethoughtyoureyeswere——yourtaste？Itwouldn’tbesurprisingifanyoneweretakenwiththatwonderfulbeauty；andI’msureshe’sgoodtoo。
　　ButI’mastonishedatthem！Tothinkyoucouldpreferthatlittle，black，oddcreature，withherjokingand————"
　　"MOTHER！"criedtheyoungman，turningaghastlyfaceofwarninguponher。
　　"Whatdoyoumean，Tom？"
　　"Didyou——did——didyouthinksotoo——thatitwasIRENE
　　Imeant？"
　　"Why，ofcourse！"
　　Hestaredatherhopelessly。
　　"Omyson！"shesaid，forallcommentonthesituation。
　　"Don’treproachme，mother！Icouldn’tstandit。"
　　"No。Ididn’tmeantodothat。Buthow——HOWcouldithappen？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Whenshefirsttoldmethattheyhadunderstooditso，Ilaughed——almost——itwassofarfromme。
　　Butnowwhenyouseemtohavehadthesameidea——Didyouallthinkso？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Theyremainedlookingateachother。ThenMrs。Coreybegan："Itdidpassthroughmymindonce——thatdayIwenttocalluponthem——thatitmightnotbeaswethought；
　　butIknewsolittleof——of————"
　　"Penelope，"Coreymechanicallysupplied。
　　"Isthathername？——Iforgot——thatIonlythoughtofyouinrelationtoherlongenoughtorejecttheidea；anditwasnaturalafterourseeingsomethingoftheotheronelastyear，thatImightsupposeyouhadformedsome——attachment————"
　　"Yes；that’swhattheythoughttoo。ButIneverthoughtofherasanythingbutaprettychild。Iwasciviltoherbecauseyouwishedit；andwhenImetherhereagain，IonlytriedtoseehersothatIcouldtalkwithherabouthersister。"
　　"Youneedn’tdefendyourselftoME，Tom，"saidhismother，proudtosayittohiminhistrouble。"It’saterriblebusinessforthem，poorthings，"sheadded。"Idon’tknowhowtheycouldgetoverit。But，ofcourse，sensiblepeoplemustsee————"
　　"Theyhaven’tgotoverit。Atleastshehasn’t。Sinceit’shappened，there’sbeennothingthathasn’tmademeprouderandfonderofher！AtfirstIWAScharmedwithher——myfancywastaken；shedelightedme——Idon’tknowhow；butshewassimplythemostfascinatingpersonIeversaw。NowIneverthinkofthat。
　　Ionlythinkhowgoodsheis——howpatientsheiswithme，andhowunsparingsheisofherself。Ifshewereconcernedalone——ifIwerenotconcernedtoo——itwouldsoonend。
　　She’sneverhadathoughtforanythingbuthersister’sfeelingandminefromthebeginning。Igothere，——IknowthatIoughtn’t，butIcan’thelpit，——andshesuffersit，andtriesnottoletmeseethatsheissufferingit。
　　Thereneverwasanyonelikeher——sobrave，sotrue，sonoble。Iwon’tgiveherup——Ican’t。ButitbreaksmyheartwhensheaccusesherselfofwhatwasallMYdoing。
　　Wespendourtimetryingtoreasonoutofit，butwealwayscomebacktoitatlast，andIhavetohearhermorbidlyblamingherself。Oh！"
　　DoubtlessMrs。Coreyimaginedsomereliefstothissuffering，somequalificationsofthissublimityinagirlshehaddislikedsodistinctly；butshesawnoneinherson’sbehaviour，andshegavehimherfurthersympathy。
　　ShetriedtopraisePenelope，andsaidthatitwasnottobeexpectedthatshecouldreconcileherselfatoncetoeverything。"Ishouldn’thavelikeditinherifshehad。Buttimewillbringitallright。
　　Andifshereallycaresforyou————"
　　"Iextortedthatfromher。"
　　"Well，then，youmustlookatitinthebestlightyoucan。
　　Thereisnoblameanywhere，andthemortificationandpainissomethingthatmustbeliveddown。That’sall。
　　Anddon’tletwhatIsaidgrieveyou，Tom。YouknowI
　　scarcelyknewher，andI——Ishallbesuretolikeanyoneyoulike，afterall。"
　　"Yes，Iknow，"saidtheyoungmandrearily。"Willyoutellfather？"
　　"Ifyouwish。"
　　"Hemustknow。AndIcouldn’tstandanymoreofthis，justyet——anymoremistake。"
　　"Iwilltellhim，"saidMrs。Corey；anditwasnaturallythenextthingforawomanwhodweltsomuchondecenciestopropose："Wemustgotocallonher——
　　yoursistersandI。Theyhaveneverseenhereven；
　　andshemustn’tbeallowedtothinkwe’reindifferenttoher，especiallyunderthecircumstances。"
　　"Ohno！Don’tgo——notyet，"criedCorey，withaninstinctiveperceptionthatnothingcouldbeworseforhim。
　　"Wemustwait——wemustbepatient。I’mafraiditwouldbepainfultohernow。"
　　Heturnedawaywithoutspeakingfurther；andhismother’seyesfollowedhimwistfullytothedoor。Thereweresomequestionsthatshewouldhavelikedtoaskhim；
　　butshehadtocontentherselfwithtryingtoanswerthemwhenherhusbandputthemtoher。
　　TherewasthiscomfortforheralwaysinBromfieldCorey，thatheneverwasmuchsurprisedatanything，howevershockingorpainful。Hisstandpointinregardtomostmatterswasthatofthesympathetichumoristwhowouldbegladtohavethevictimofcircumstancelaughwithhim，butwasnottoomuchvexedwhenthevictimcouldnot。
　　Helaughednowwhenhiswife，withcarefulpreparation，gotthefactsofhisson’spredicamentfullyunderhiseye。
　　"Really，Bromfield，"shesaid，"Idon’tseehowyoucanlaugh。Doyouseeanywayoutofit？"
　　"Itseemstomethatthewayhasbeenfoundalready。
　　Tomhastoldhislovetotherightone，andthewrongoneknowsit。Timewilldotherest。"
　　"IfIhadsolowanopinionofthemallasthat，itwouldmakemeveryunhappy。It’sshockingtothinkofit。"
　　"Itisuponthetheoryofladiesandallyoungpeople，"
　　saidherhusband，withashrug，feelinghiswaytothematchesonthemantel，andthendroppingthemwithasign，asifrecollectingthathemustnotsmokethere。
　　"I’venodoubtTomfeelshimselfanawfulsinner。
　　Butapparentlyhe’sresignedtohissin；heisn’tgoingtogiveherup。"
　　"I’mgladtosay，forthesakeofhumannature，thatSHE
　　isn’tresigned——littleasIlikeher，"criedMrs。Corey。
　　Herhusbandshruggedagain。"Oh，theremustn’tbeanyindecenthaste。Shewillinstinctivelyobservetheproprieties。
　　Butcome，now，Anna！youmustn’tpretendtomehere，inthesanctuaryofhome，thatpracticallythehumanaffectionsdon’treconcilethemselvestoanysituationthatthehumansentimentscondemn。Supposethewrongsisterhaddied：wouldtherightonehavehadanyscrupleinmarryingTom，aftertheyhadboth’waitedapropertime，’
　　asthephraseis？"
　　"Bromfield，you’reshocking！"
　　"Notmoreshockingthanreality。Youmayregardthisasasecondmarriage。"Helookedatherwithtwinklingeyes，fullofthetriumphthespectatorofhisspeciesfeelsinsignalexhibitionsofhumannature。"Dependuponit，therightsisterwillbereconciled；thewrongonewillbeconsoled；andallwillgomerryasamarriagebell——asecondmarriagebell。Why，it’squitelikearomance！"
　　Herehelaughedoutrightagain。
　　"Well，"sighedthewife，"Icouldalmostwishtherightone，asyoucallher，wouldrejectTom，Idislikehersomuch。"
　　"Ah，nowyou’retalkingbusiness，Anna，"saidherhusband，withhishandsspreadbehindthebackheturnedcomfortablytothefire。"ThewholeLaphamtribeisdistastefultome。
　　AsIdon’thappentohaveseenourdaughter—in—lawelect，Ihavestillthehope——whichyou’redisposedtoforbidme——thatshemaynotbequitesounacceptableastheothers。"
　　"Doyoureallyfeelso，Bromfield？"anxiouslyinquiredhiswife。
　　"Yes——IthinkIdo；"andhesatdown，andstretchedouthislonglegstowardthefire。
　　"Butit’sveryinconsistentofyoutoopposethematternow，whenyou’veshownsomuchindifferenceuptothistime。
　　You’vetoldme，allalong，thatitwasofnousetoopposeit。"
　　"SoIhave。Iwasconvincedofthatatthebeginning，ormyreasonwas。YouknowverywellthatIamequaltoanytrial，anysacrifice，dayafterto—morrow；
　　butwhenitcomesto—dayit’sanotherthing。Aslongasthiscrisisdecentlykeptitsdistance，Icouldlookatitwithanimpartialeye；butnowthatitseemsathand，Ifindthat，whilemyreasonisstillacquiescent，mynervesaredisposedto——excusethephrase——kick。Iaskmyself，whathaveIdonenothingfor，allmylife，andlivedasagentlemanshould，upontheearningsofsomebodyelse，inthepossessionofeverypolitetasteandfeelingthatadornsleisure，ifI’mtocometothisatlast？AndIfindnosatisfactoryanswer。IsaytomyselfthatI
　　mightaswellhaveyieldedtothepressureallroundme，andgonetowork，asTomhas。
　　Mrs。Coreylookedathimforlornly，diviningthecoreofrealrepugnancethatexistedinhisself—satire。
　　"Iassureyou，mydear，"hecontinued，"thattherecollectionofwhatIsufferedfromtheLaphamsatthatdinnerofyoursisananguishstill。Itwasn’ttheirbehaviour，——theybehavedwellenough——orillenough；buttheirconversationwasterrible。Mrs。Lapham’srangewasstrictlydomestic；
　　andwhentheColonelgotmeinthelibrary，hepouredmineralpaintalloverme，tillIcouldhavebeensafelywarrantednottocrackorscaleinanyclimate。
　　Isupposeweshallhavetoseeagooddealofthem。
　　TheywillprobablycomehereeverySundaynighttotea。
　　It’saperspectivewithoutavanishing—point。"
　　"Itmaynotbesobad，afterall，"saidhiswife；andshesuggestedforhisconsolationthatheknewverylittleabouttheLaphamsyet。
　　Heassentedtothefact。"Iknowverylittleaboutthem，andaboutmyotherfellow—beings。IdaresaythatI
　　shouldliketheLaphamsbetterifIknewthembetter。
　　Butinanycase，Iresignmyself。AndwemustkeepinviewthefactthatthisismainlyTom’saffair，andifhisaffectionshaveregulatedittohissatisfaction，wemustbecontent。"
　　"Ohyes，"sighedMrs。Corey。"Andperhapsitwon’tturnoutsobadly。It’sagreatcomforttoknowthatyoufeeljustasIdoaboutit。"
　　"Ido，"saidherhusband，"andmoretoo。"
　　ItwassheandherdaughterswhowouldbechieflyannoyedbytheLaphamconnection；sheknewthat。
　　Butshehadtobegintobeartheburdenbyhelpingherhusbandtobearhislightshareofit。Toseehimsodepresseddismayedher，andshemightwellhavereproachedhimmoresharplythanshedidforshowingsomuchindifference，whenshewassoanxious，atfirst。
　　Butthatwouldnothaveservedanygoodendnow。
　　Sheevenansweredhimpatientlywhenheaskedher，"WhatdidyousaytoTomwhenhetoldyouitwastheotherone？"
　　"WhatcouldIsay？Icoulddonothing，buttrytotakebackwhatIhadsaidagainsther。"
　　"Yes，youhadquiteenoughtodo，Isuppose。
　　It’sanawkwardbusiness。Ifithadbeentheprettyone，herbeautywouldhavebeenourexcuse。Buttheplainone——whatdoyousupposeattractedhiminher？"
　　Mrs。Coreysighedatthefutilityofthequestion。
　　"PerhapsIdidherinjustice。Ionlysawherafewmoments。
　　PerhapsIgotafalseimpression。Idon’tthinkshe’slackinginsense，andthat’sagreatthing。