She’llbequicktoseethatwedon’tmeanunkindness，andcan’t，byanythingwesayordo，whenshe’sTom’swife。"
　　Shepronouncedthedistastefulwordwithcourage，andwenton："Theprettyonemightnothavebeenabletoseethat。
　　Shemighthavegotitintoherheadthatwewerelookingdownonher；andthoseinsipidpeopleareterriblystubborn。
　　Wecancometosomeunderstandingwiththisone；I’msureofthat。"SheendedbydeclaringthatitwasnowtheirdutytohelpTomoutofhisterriblepredicament。
　　"Oh，eventheLaphamcloudhasasilverlining，"saidCorey。
　　"Infact，itseemsreallytohaveallturnedoutforthebest，Anna；thoughit’srathercurioustofindyouthechampionoftheLaphamside，atlast。Confess，now，thattherightgirlhassecretlybeenyourchoiceallalong，andthatwhileyousympathisewiththewrongone，yourejoiceinthetenacitywithwhichtherightoneisclingingtoherown！"Headdedwithfinalseriousness，"It’sjustthatsheshould，and，sofarasIunderstandthecase，Irespectherforit。"
　　"Ohyes，"sighedMrs。Corey。"It’snatural，andit’sright。"
　　Butsheadded，"Isupposethey’regladofhimonanyterms。"
　　"ThatiswhatIhavebeentaughttobelieve，"saidherhusband。
　　"Whenshallweseeourdaughter—in—lawelect？Ifindmyselfratherimpatienttohavethatpartofitover。"
　　Mrs。Coreyhesitated。"Tomthinkswehadbetternotcall，justyet。"
　　"Shehastoldhimofyourterriblebehaviourwhenyoucalledbefore？"
　　"No，Bromfield！Shecouldn’tbesovulgarasthat？"
　　"Butanythingshortofit？"
　　XXI。
　　LAPHAMwasgoneafortnight。Hewasinasullenhumourwhenhecameback，andkepthimselfshutclosewithinhisowndenattheofficethefirstday。Heentereditinthemorningwithoutawordtohisclerksashepassedthroughtheouterroom，andhemadenosignthroughouttheforenoon，excepttostrikesavagelyonhisdesk—bellfromtimetotime，andsendouttoWalkerforsomebookofaccountsoraletter—file。HisboyconfidentiallyreportedtoWalkerthattheoldmanseemedtohavegotalotofpapersround；andatlunchthebook—keepersaidtoCorey，atthelittletablewhichtheyhadtakeninacornertogether，indefaultofseatsatthecounter，"Well，sir，Iguessthere’sacoldwavecoming。"
　　Coreylookedupinnocently，andsaid，"Ihaven’treadtheweatherreport。"
　　"Yes，sir，"Walkercontinued，"it’scoming。Areasofrainalongthewholecoast，andincreasedpressureintheregionoftheprivateoffice。Storm—signalsupattheoldman’sdoornow。"
　　Coreyperceivedthathewasspeakingfiguratively，andthathismeteorologywasentirelypersonaltoLapham。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"heasked，withoutvividinterestintheallegory，hismindbeingfullofhisowntragi—comedy。
　　"Why，justthis：Iguesstheoldman’stakin’insail。
　　AndIguesshe’sgotto。AsItoldyouthefirsttimewetalkedabouthim，theredon’tanyoneknowone—
　　quarterasmuchabouttheoldman’sbusinessastheoldmandoeshimself；andIain’tbetrayinganyconfidencewhenIsaythatIguessthatoldpartnerofhishasgotprettydeepintohisbooks。Iguesshe’soverheadandearsin’em，andtheoldman’sgoneinafterhim，andhe’sgotadrownin’man’sgriproundhisneck。
　　Thereseemstobeakindofalull——kindofadeadcalm，Icallit——inthepaintmarketjustnow；andthenagainaten—hundred—thousand—dollarmandon’tbuildahundred—thousand—dollarhousewithoutfeelingthedrain，unlessthere’saregularboom。Andjustnowthereain’tanyboomatall。Oh，Idon’tsaybutwhattheoldman’sgotanchorstowindward；guessheHAS；butifhe’sGOIN’
　　toleavemehismoney，Iwishhe’dleftitsixweeksago。
　　Yes，sir，Iguessthere’sacoldwavecomin’；butyoucan’tgenerally’mostalwaystell，asausualthing，wheretheoldman’sconcerned，andit’sONLYaguess。"
　　Walkerbegantofeedinhisbreadedchopwiththesamenervousexcitementwithwhichheabandonedhimselftotheslangyandfigurativeexcessesofhistalks。
　　Coreyhadlistenedwithamiserablecuriosityandcompassionuptoacertainmoment，whenabroadlightofhopeflasheduponhim。ItcamefromLapham’spotentialruin；
　　andthewayoutofthelabyrinththathadhithertoseemedsohopelesswasclearenough，ifanother’sdisasterwouldbefriendhim，andgivehimtheopportunitytoprovetheunselfishnessofhisconstancy。Hethoughtofthesumofmoneythatwashisown，andthathemightoffertolend，orpracticallygive，ifthetimecame；andwithhiscrudehopesandpurposesformlesslyexultinginhisheart，hekeptonlisteningwithanunchangedcountenance。
　　Walkercouldnotresttillhehaddevelopedthewholesituation，sofarasheknewit。"Lookatthestockwe’vegotonhand。
　　There’sgoingtobeanawfulshrinkageonthat，now！Andwheneverybodyisshuttingdown，orrunninghalf—time，theworksupatLaphamaregoingfullchip，justthesameasever。Well，it’shispride。Idon’tsaybutwhatit’sagoodsortofpride，buthelikestomakehisbragsthatthefire’sneverbeenoutintheworkssincetheystarted，andthatnoman’sworkorwageshaseverbeencutdownyetatLapham，itdon’tmatterWHATthetimesare。Ofcourse，"
　　explainedWalker，"Ishouldn’ttalksotoeverybody；
　　don’tknowasIshouldtalksotoanybodybutyou，Mr。Corey。"
　　"Ofcourse，"assentedCorey。
　　"Littleoffyourfeedto—day，"saidWalker，glancingatCorey’splate。
　　"Igotupwithaheadache。"
　　"Well，sir，ifyou’relikemeyou’llcarryitroundallday，then。Idon’tknowamuchmeanerthingthanaheadache——unlessit’searache，ortoothache，orsomeotherkindofacheI’mprettyhardtosuit，whenitcomestodiseases。Noticehowyellowtheoldmanlookedwhenhecameinthismorning？Idon’tliketoseeamanofhisbuildlookyellow——much。"Aboutthemiddleoftheafternoonthedust—colouredfaceofRogers，nowfamiliartoLapham’sclerks，showeditselfamongthem。
　　"HasColonelLaphamreturnedyet？"heasked，inhisdry，woodentones，ofLapham’sboy。
　　"Yes，he’sinhisoffice，"saidtheboy；andasRogersadvanced，heroseandadded，"Idon’tknowasyoucanseehimto—day。Hisordersarenottoletanybodyin。"
　　"Oh，indeed！"saidRogers；"IthinkhewillseeME！"
　　andhepressedforward。
　　"Well，I’llhavetoask，"returnedtheboy；andhastilyprecedingRogers，heputhisheadinatLapham’sdoor，andthenwithdrewit。"Pleasetositdown，"hesaid；
　　"he’llseeyouprettysoon；"and，withanairofsomesurprise，Rogersobeyed。Hissere，dull—brownwhiskersandthemoustacheclosingoverbothlipswereincongruouslyandillogicallyclericalineffect，andtheeffectwasheightenedfornoreasonbytheparchmenttextureofhisskin；thebaldnessextendingtothecrownofhisheadwaslikeabaldnessmadeupforthestage。
　　Whathisfaceexpressedchieflywasablandandbeneficentcaution。Here，youmusthavesaidtoyourself，isamanofjust，sober，andprudentviews，fixedpurposes，andthegoodcitizenshipthatavoidsdebtandhazardofeverykind。
　　"Whatdoyouwant？"askedLapham，wheelingroundinhisswivel—chairasRogersenteredhisroom，andpushingthedoorshutwithhisfoot，withoutrising。
　　Rogerstookthechairthatwasnotofferedhim，andsatwithhishat—brimonhisknees，anditscrownpointedtowardsLapham。"Iwanttoknowwhatyouaregoingtodo，"
　　heansweredwithsufficientself—possession。
　　"I’lltellyou，first，whatI’vedone，"saidLapham。
　　"I’vebeentoDubuque，andI’vefoundoutallaboutthatmillingpropertyyouturnedinonme。DidyouknowthattheG。L。&P。hadleasedtheP。Y。&X。？"
　　"Isomesuspectedthatitmight。"
　　"Didyouknowitwhenyouturnedthepropertyinonme？
　　DidyouknowthattheG。L。&P。wantedtobuythemills？"
　　"Ipresumedtheroadwouldgiveafairpriceforthem，"
　　saidRogers，winkinghiseyesinoutwardexpressionofinwardlyblinkingthepoint。
　　"Youlie，"saidLapham，asquietlyasifcorrectinghiminaslighterror；andRogerstookthewordwithequalsangfroid。"Youknewtheroadwouldn’tgiveafairpriceforthemills。Youknewitwouldgivewhatitchose，andthatIcouldn’thelpmyself，whenyouletmetakethem。
　　You’reathief，MiltonK。Rogers，andyoustolemoneyIlentyou。"Rogerssatlistening，asifrespectfullyconsideringthestatements。"YouknewhowIfeltaboutthatoldmatter——ormywifedid；andthatIwantedtomakeituptoyou，ifyoufeltanywaybadlyused。
　　Andyoutookadvantageofit。You’vegotmoneyoutofme，inthefirstplace，onsecuritiesthatwa’n’tworththirty—fivecentsonthedollar，andyou’veletmeinforthisthing，andthatthing，andyou’vebledmeeverytime。
　　AndallI’vegottoshowforitisamillingpropertyonalineofroadthatcansqueezeme，wheneveritwantsto，asdryasitpleases。AndyouwanttoknowwhatI’mgoingtodo？I’mgoingtosqueezeYOU。I’mgoingtosellthesecollateralsofyours，"——hetouchedabundleofpapersamongothersthatlitteredhisdesk，——"andI’mgoingtoletthemillsgoforwhatthey’llfetch。
　　Iain’tgoingtofighttheG。L。&P。"
　　Laphamwheeledaboutinhischairandturnedhisburlybackonhisvisitor，whosatwhollyunmoved。
　　"Therearesomeparties，"hebegan，withadrytranquillityignoringLapham’swords，asiftheyhadbeenanoutburstagainstsomethirdperson，whoprobablymeritedthem，butinwhomhewassolittleinterestedthathehadbeenobligedtousepatienceinlisteningtohiscondemnation，——"therearesomeEnglishpartieswhohavebeenmakinginquiriesinregardtothosemills。"
　　"Iguessyou’relying，Rogers，"saidLapham，withoutlookinground。
　　"Well，allthatIhavetoaskisthatyouwillnotacthastily。"
　　"Iseeyoudon’tthinkI’minearnest！"criedLapham，facingfiercelyabout。"YouthinkI’mfooling，doyou？"
　　Hestruckhisbell，and"William，"heorderedtheboywhoansweredit，andwhostoodwaitingwhilehedashedoffanotetothebrokersandencloseditwiththebundleofsecuritiesinalargeenvelope，"takethesedowntoGallop&Paddock’s，inStateStreet，rightaway。Nowgo！"
　　hesaidtoRogers，whentheboyhadclosedthedoorafterhim；
　　andheturnedoncemoretohisdesk。
　　Rogersrosefromhischair，andstoodwithhishatinhishand。Hewasnotmerelydispassionateinhisattitudeandexpression，hewasimpartial。Heworetheairofamanwhowasreadytoreturntobusinesswheneverthewaywardmoodofhisinterlocutorpermitted。
　　"ThenIunderstand，"hesaid，"thatyouwilltakenoactioninregardtothemillstillIhaveseenthepartiesIspeakof。"
　　Laphamfacedaboutoncemore，andsatlookingupintothevisageofRogersinsilence。"Iwonderwhatyou’reupto，"
　　hesaidatlast；"Ishouldliketoknow。"ButasRogersmadenosignofgratifyinghiscuriosity，andtreatedthislastremarkofLapham’sasoftheirrelevanceofalltherest，hesaid，frowning，"Youbringmeapartythatwillgivemeenoughforthosemillstoclearmeofyou，andI’lltalktoyou。Butdon’tyoucomeherewithanymanofstraw。
　　AndI’llgiveyoujusttwenty—fourhourstoproveyourselfaswindleragain。"
　　OncemoreLaphamturnedhisback，andRogers，afterlookingthoughtfullyintohishatamoment，clearedhisthroat，andquietlywithdrew，maintainingtothelasthisunprejudiceddemeanour。
　　Laphamwasnotagainheardfrom，asWalkerphrasedit，duringtheafternoon，exceptwhenthelastmailwastakenintohim；thenthesoundofrendingenvelopes，mixedwiththatofwhatseemedsuppressedswearing，penetratedtotheouteroffice。Somewhatearlierthantheusualhourforclosing，heappearedtherewithhishatonandhisovercoatbuttonedabouthim。Hesaidbrieflytohisboy，"William，Ishan’tbebackagainthisafternoon，"
　　andthenwenttoMissDeweyandleftanumberoflettersonhertabletobecopied，andwentout。Nothinghadbeensaid，butasenseoftroublesubtlydiffuseditselfthroughthosewhosawhimgoout。
　　Thateveningashesatdownwithhiswifealoneattea，heasked，"Ain’tPencomingtosupper？"
　　"No，sheain’t，"saidhiswife。"Idon’tknowasI
　　likethewayshe’sgoingon，anytoowell。I’mafraid，ifshekeepson，she’llbedownsick。She’sgotdeeperfeelingsthanIrene。"
　　Laphamsaidnothing，buthavinghelpedhimselftotheabundanceofhistableinhisusualfashion，hesatandlookedathisplatewithanindifferencethatdidnotescapethenoticeofhiswife。"What’sthematterwithYOU？"sheasked。
　　"Nothing。Ihaven’tgotanyappetite。"
　　"What’sthematter？"shepersisted。
　　"Trouble’sthematter；badluckandlotsofit’sthematter，"
　　saidLapham。"Ihaven’teverhidanythingfromyou，Persis，wellyouaskedme，andit’stoolatetobeginnow。
　　I’minafix。I’lltellyouwhatkindofafix，ifyouthinkit’lldoyouanygood；butIguessyou’llbesatisfiedtoknowthatit’safix。"
　　"Howmuchofaone？"sheaskedwithalookofgrave，steadycourageinhereyes。
　　"Well，Idon’tknowasIcantell，justyet，"saidLapham，avoidingthislook。"Thingshavebeendullallthefall，butIthoughtthey’dbriskupcomewinter。Theyhaven’t。
　　Therehavebeenalotoffailures，andsomeof’emowedme，andsomeof’emhadmeontheirpaper；and————"Laphamstopped。
　　"Andwhat？"promptedhiswife。
　　Hehesitatedbeforeheadded，"Andthen——Rogers。"
　　"I’mtoblameforthat，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Iforcedyoutoit。"
　　"No；Iwasaswillingtogointoitaswhatyouwere，"
　　answeredLapham。"Idon’twanttoblameanybody。"
　　Mrs。Laphamhadawoman’spassionforfixingresponsibility；
　　shecouldnothelpsaying，assoonasacquitted，"Iwarnedyouagainsthim，Silas。Itoldyounottolethimgetinanydeeperwithyou。"
　　"Ohyes。Ihadtohelphimtotrytogetmymoneyback。
　　Imightaswellpouredwaterintoasieve。Andnow——"
　　Laphamstopped。
　　"Don’tbeafraidtospeakouttome，SilasLapham。
　　Ifitcomestotheworst，Iwanttoknowit——I’vegottoknowit。WhatdidIevercareforthemoney？I’ve。
　　hadahappyhomewithyoueversinceweweremarried，andIguessIshallhaveaslongasyoulive，whetherwegoontotheBackBay，orgobacktotheoldhouseatLapham。Iknowwho’stoblame，andIblamemyself。
　　ItwasmyforcingRogersontoyou。"Shecamebacktothiswithherhelplesslonging，inbredinallPuritansouls，tohavesomeonespecificallysufferfortheevilintheworld，evenifitmustbeherself。
　　"Ithasn’tcometotheworstyet，Persis，"saidherhusband。
　　"ButIshallhavetoholduponthenewhousealittlewhile，tillIcanseewhereIam。"
　　"Ishouldn’tcareifwehadtosellit，"criedhiswife，inpassionateself—condemnation。"IshouldbeGLADifwehadto，asfarasI’mconcerned。"
　　"Ishouldn’t，"saidLapham。
　　"Iknow！"saidhiswife；andsherememberedruefullyhowhisheartwassetonit。
　　Hesatmusing。"Well，Iguessit’sgoingtocomeoutallrightintheend。Or，ifitain’t，"hesighed，"wecan’thelpit。MaybePenneedn’tworrysomuchaboutCorey，afterall，"hecontinued，withabitterironynewtohim。
　　"It’sanillwindthatblowsnobodygood。Andthere’sachance，"heended，withastillbittererlaugh，"thatRogerswillcometotime，afterall。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveit！"exclaimedMrs。Lapham，withagleamofhopeinhereyes。"Whatchance？"
　　"Oneintenmillion，"saidLapham；andherfacefellagain。
　　"HesaystherearesomeEnglishpartiesafterhimtobuythesemills。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Well，Igavehimtwenty—fourhourstoprovehimselfaliar。"
　　"Youdon’tbelievethereareanysuchparties？"
　　"NotinTHISworld。"
　　"Butiftherewere？"
　　"Well，iftherewere，Persis————Butpshaw！"
　　"No，no！"shepleadedeagerly。"Itdon’tseemasifheCOULDbesuchavillain。Whatwouldbetheuseofhispretending？Ifhebroughtthepartiestoyou"
　　"Well，"saidLaphamscornfully，"I’dletthemhavethemillsatthepriceRogersturned’eminonmeat。
　　Idon’twanttomakeanythingon’em。ButguessIshallhearfromtheG。L。&P。first。Andwhentheymaketheiroffer，IguessI’llhavetoacceptit，whateveritis。
　　Idon’tthinkthey’llhaveagreatmanycompetitors。"
　　Mrs。Laphamcouldnotgiveupherhope。"IfyoucouldgetyourpricefromthoseEnglishpartiesbeforetheyknewthattheG。L。&P。wantedtobuythemills，woulditletyououtwithRogers？"
　　"Justabout，"saidLapham。
　　"ThenIknowhe’llmoveheavenandearthtobringitabout。
　　IKNOWyouwon’tbeallowedtosufferfordoinghimakindness，Silas。HeCAN’Tbesoungrateful！Why，whySHOULDhepretendtohaveanysuchpartiesinviewwhenhehasn’t？Don’tyoubedown—hearted，Si。You’llseethathe’llberoundwiththemto—morrow。"
　　Laphamlaughed，butsheurgedsomanyreasonsforherbeliefinRogersthatLaphambegantorekindlehisownfaithalittle。
　　Heendedbyaskingforahotcupoftea；andMrs。Laphamsentthepotoutandhadafreshonesteepedforhim。
　　Afterthathemadeaheartysupperintherevulsionfromhisentiredespair；andtheyfellasleepthatnighttalkinghopefullyofhisaffairs，whichhelaidbeforeherfully，asheusedtodowhenhefirststartedinbusiness。
　　Thatbroughttheoldtimesback，andhesaid："Ifthishadhappenedthen，Ishouldn’thavecaredmuch。
　　Iwasyoungthen，andIwasn’tafraidofanything。
　　ButInoticedthatafterIpassedfiftyIbegantogetscaredeasier。Idon’tbelieveIcouldpickup，now，fromaregularknock—down。"
　　"Pshaw！YOUscared，SilasLapham？"criedhiswifeproudly。
　　"Ishouldliketoseethethingthateverscaredyou；
　　ortheknockdownthatYOUcouldn’tpickupfrom！"
　　"Isthatso，Persis？"heasked，withthejoyhercouragegavehim。
　　Inthemiddleofthenightshecalledtohim，inavoicewhichthedarknessrenderedstillmoredeeplytroubled：
　　"Areyouawake，Silas？"
　　"Yes；I’mawake。"
　　"I’vebeenthinkingaboutthoseEnglishparties，Si————"
　　"So’veI。"
　　"AndIcan’tmakeitoutbutwhatyou’dbejustasbadasRogers，everybitandgrain，ifyouweretoletthemhavethemills————"
　　"Andnottell’emwhatthechanceswerewiththeG。L。&
　　P。？Ithoughtofthat，andyouneedn’tbeafraid。"
　　Shebegantobewailherself，andtosobconvulsively："O
　　Silas！OSilas！"Heavenknowsinwhatmeasurethepassionofhersoulwasmiredwithprideinherhusband’shonesty，relieffromanapprehendedstruggle，andpityforhim。
　　"Hush，hush，Persis！"hebesoughther。"You’llwakePenifyoukeeponthatway。Don’tcryanymore！Youmustn’t。"
　　"Oh，letmecry，Silas！It’llhelpme。Ishallbeallrightinaminute。Don’tyoumind。"Shesobbedherselfquiet。
　　"Itdoesseemtoohard，"shesaid，whenshecouldspeakagain，"thatyouhavetogiveupthischancewhenProvidencehadfairlyraiseditupforyou。"
　　"Iguessitwa’n’tProvidenceraiseditup，"saidLapham。
　　"Anyrate，it’sgottogo。MostlikelyRogerswaslyin’，andthereain’tanysuchparties；butiftherewere，theycouldn’thavethemillsfrommewithoutthewholestory。
　　Don’tyoubetroubled，Persis。I’mgoingtopullthroughallright。""Oh，Iain’tafraid。Idon’tsupposebutwhatthere’splentywouldhelpyou，iftheyknewyouneededit，Si。"
　　"TheywouldiftheyknewIDIDN’Tneedit，"
　　saidLaphamsardonically。
　　"DidyoutellBillhowyoustood？"
　　"No，Icouldn’tbearto。I’vebeentherichonesolong，thatIcouldn’tbringmyselftoownupthatIwasindanger。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Besides，itdidn’tlooksouglytillto—day。ButIguessweshan’tletuglylooksscareus。"
　　"No。"
　　XXII。
　　THEmorningpostmanbroughtMrs。LaphamaletterfromIrene，whichwaschieflysignificantbecauseitmadenoreferencewhatevertothewriterorherstateofmind。
　　Itgavethenewsofheruncle’sfamily；ittoldoftheirkindnesstoher；hercousinWillwasgoingtotakeherandhissistersice—boatingontheriver，whenitfroze。
　　Bythetimethislettercame，Laphamhadgonetohisbusiness，andthemothercarriedittoPenelopetotalkover。
　　"Whatdoyoumakeoutofit？"sheasked；andwithoutwaitingtobeansweredshesaid，"Idon’tknowasI
　　believeincousinsmarrying，agreatdeal；butifIreneandWillweretofixitupbetween’em————"ShelookedvaguelyatPenelope。
　　"Itwouldn’tmakeanydifferenceasfarasIwasconcerned，"
　　repliedthegirllistlessly。
　　Mrs。Laphamlostherpatience。
　　"Well，then，I’lltellyouwhat，Penelope！"sheexclaimed。
　　"Perhapsit’llmakeadifferencetoyouifyouknowthatyourfather’sinREALtrouble。He’sharassedtodeath，andhewasawakehalfthenight，talkingaboutit。
　　ThatabominableRogershasgotalotofmoneyawayfromhim；
　　andhe’slostbyothersthathe’shelped，"——Mrs。Laphamputitinthiswaybecauseshehadnotimetobeexplicit，——"andIwantyoushouldcomeoutofyourroomnow，andtrytobeofsomehelpandcomforttohimwhenhecomeshometo—night。
　　IguessIrenewouldn’tmoperoundmuch，ifshewashere，"
　　shecouldnothelpadding。
　　Thegirlliftedherselfonherelbow。"What’sthatyousayaboutfather？"shedemandedeagerly。"Isheintrouble？Ishegoingtolosehismoney？Shallwehavetostayinthishouse？"
　　"WemaybeveryGLADtostayinthishouse，"saidMrs。Lapham，halfangrywithherselfforhavinggivencauseforthegirl’sconjectures，andhalfwiththehabitofprosperityinherchild，whichcouldconceivenobetterofwhatadversitywas。"AndIwantyoushouldgetupandshowthatyou’vegotsomefeelingforsomebodyintheworldbesidesyourself。"
　　"Oh，I’llgetUP！"saidthegirlpromptly，almost。cheerfully。
　　"Idon’tsayit’sasbadnowasitlookedalittlewhileago，"
　　saidhermother，conscientiouslyhedgingalittlefromthestatementwhichshehadbasedratheruponherfeelingsthanherfacts。"Yourfatherthinkshe’llpullthroughallright，andIdon’tknowbutwhathewill。
　　ButIwantyoushouldseeifyoucan’tdosomethingtocheerhimupandkeephimfromgettingsoperfectlydown—heartedasheseemstoget，undertheloadhe’sgottocarry。
　　Andstopthinkingaboutyourselfawhile，andbehaveyourselflikeasensiblegirl。"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidthegirl；"Iwill。Youneedn’tbetroubledaboutmeanymore。"
　　Beforesheleftherroomshewroteanote，andwhenshecamedownshewasdressedtogoout—of—doorsandpostitherself。ThenotewastoCorey：——
　　"Donotcometoseemeanymoretillyouhearfromme。
　　IhaveareasonwhichIcannotgiveyounow；andyoumustnotaskwhatitis。"
　　Alldayshewentaboutinabuoyantdesperation，andshecamedowntomeetherfatheratsupper。
　　"Well，Persis，"hesaidscornfully，ashesatdown，"wemightaswellsavedourgoodresolutionstilltheywerewanted。IguessthoseEnglishpartieshavegonebackonRogers。"
　　"Doyoumeanhedidn’tcome？"
　　"Hehadn’tcomeuptohalf—pastfive，"saidLapham。
　　"Tchk！"utteredhiswife。"ButIguessIshallpullthroughwithoutMr。Rogers，"continuedLapham。"AfirmthatIdidn’tthinkCOULDweatheritisstillafloat，andsofarforthasthedangergoesofbeingdraggedunderwithit，I’mallright。"Penelopecamein。"Hello，Pen！"
　　criedherfather。"Itain’toftenImeetYOUnowadays。"
　　Heputuphishandasshepassedhischair，andpulledherdownandkissedher。
　　"No，"shesaid；"butIthoughtI’dcomedownto—nightandcheeryouupalittle。Ishallnottalk；thesightofmewillbeenough。"
　　Herfatherlaughedout。"Motherbeentellingyou？Well，IWASprettybluelastnight；butIguessIwasmorescaredthanhurt。How’dyouliketogotothetheatreto—night？
　　SellersatthePark。Heigh？"