"Well，Idon’tknow。Don’tyouthinktheycouldgetalongwithoutmethere？"
　　"No；couldn’tworkitatall，"criedtheColonel。
　　"Let’sallgo。Unless，"headdedinquiringly，"there’ssomebodycominghere？"
　　"There’snobodycoming，"saidPenelope。
　　"Good！Thenwe’llgo。Mother，don’tyoubelatenow。"
　　"Oh，Ishan’tkeepyouwaiting，"saidMrs。Lapham。
　　ShehadthoughtoftellingwhatacheerfullettershehadgotfromIrene；butuponthewholeitseemedbetternottospeakofIreneatalljustthen。Aftertheyreturnedfromthetheatre，wheretheColonelroaredthroughthecomedy，withcontinualreferenceofhispleasuretoPenelope，tomakesurethatshewasenjoyingittoo，hiswifesaid，asifthewholeaffairhadbeenforthegirl’sdistractionratherthanhis，"Idon’tbelievebutwhatit’sgoingtocomeoutallrightaboutthechildren；"andthenshetoldhimoftheletter，andthehopesshehadfoundeduponit。
　　"Well，perhapsyou’reright，Persis，"heconsented。
　　"Ihaven’tseenPensomuchlikeherselfsinceithappened。
　　Ideclare，whenIseethewayshecameoutto—night，justtopleaseyou，Idon’tknowasIwantyoushouldgetoverallyourtroublesrightaway。"
　　"Iguessthere’llbeenoughtokeepPengoingforawhileyet，"saidtheColonel，windinguphiswatch。
　　Butforatimetherewasarelief，whichWalkernoted，intheatmosphereattheoffice，andthencameanothercoldwave，slighterthanthefirst，butdistinctlyfeltthere，andsucceededbyanotherrelief。Itwaslikethewinterwhichwaswearingontotheendoftheyear，withalternationsoffreezingweather，andmilddaysstretchingtoweeks，inwhichthesnowandicewhollydisappeared。
　　Itwasnonethelesswinter，andnonethelessharassingforthesefluctuations，andLaphamshowedinhisfaceandtempertheeffectoflikefluctuationsinhisaffairs。
　　Hegrewthinandold，andbothathomeandathisofficehewasirascibletothepointofoffence。
　　InthesedaysPenelopesharedwithhermothertheburdenoftheirtroubledhome，andunitedwithherinsupportingthesilenceorthepetulanceofthegloomy，secretmanwhoreplacedthepresenceofjollyprosperitythere。
　　Laphamhadnowceasedtotalkofhistroubles，andsavagelyresentedhiswife’sinterference。"Youmindyourownbusiness，Persis，"hesaidoneday，"ifyou’vegotany；"andafterthatshelefthimmainlytoPenelope，whodidnotthinkofaskinghimquestions。
　　"It’sprettyhardonyou，Pen，"shesaid。
　　"Thatmakesiteasierforme，"returnedthegirl，whodidnototherwiserefertoherowntrouble。
　　InherheartshehadwonderedalittleattheabsoluteobedienceofCorey，whohadmadenosignsincereceivinghernote。ShewouldhavelikedtoaskherfatherifCoreywassick；shewouldhavelikedhimtoaskherwhyCoreydidnotcomeanymore。Hermotherwenton——
　　"Idon’tbelieveyourfatherknowsWHEREhestands。
　　Heworksawayatthosepapershebringshomehereatnight，asifhedidn’thalfknowwhathewasabout。
　　Healwaysdidhavethatclosestreakinhim，andIdon’tsupposebutwhathe’sbeengoingintothingshedon’twantanybodyelsetoknowabout，andhe’skepttheseaccountsofhisown。"
　　SometimeshegavePenelopefigurestoworkat，whichhewouldnotsubmittohiswife’snimblerarithmetic。
　　Thenshewenttobedandleftthemsittinguptillmidnight，strugglingwithproblemsinwhichtheywerebothweak。
　　Butshecouldseethatthegirlwasacomforttoherfather，andthathistroubleswereadefenceandsheltertoher。
　　Somenightsshecouldhearthemgoingouttogether，andthenshelayawakefortheirreturnfromtheirlongwalk。
　　Whenthehourordayofrespitecameagain，thehomefeltitfirst。LaphamwantedtoknowwhatthenewsfromIrenewas；
　　hejoinedhiswifeinallhercheerfulspeculations，andtriedtomakeheramendsforhissullenreticenceandirritability。IrenewasstayingonatDubuque。
　　Therecamealetterfromher，sayingthatheruncle’speoplewantedhertospendthewinterthere。
　　"Well，lether，"saidLapham。"It’llbethebestthingforher。"
　　Laphamhimselfhadlettersfromhisbrotheratfrequentintervals。
　　HisbrotherwaswatchingtheG。L。&P。，whichasyethadmadenoofferforthemills。Once，whenoneoftheseletterscame，hesubmittedtohiswifewhether，intheabsenceofanypositiveinformationthattheroadwantedtheproperty，hemightnot，withagoodconscience，disposeofittothebestadvantagetoanybodywhocamealong。
　　Shelookedwistfullyathim；itwasontherisefromaseasonofdeepdepressionwithhim。"No，Si，"shesaid；
　　"Idon’tseehowyoucoulddothat。"
　　Hedidnotassentandsubmit，ashehaddoneatfirst，butbegantorailattheunpracticalityofwomen；andthenheshutsomepapershehadbeenlookingoverintohisdesk，andflungoutoftheroom。
　　Oneofthepapershadslippedthroughthecreviceofthelid，andlayuponthefloor。Mrs。Laphamkeptonathersewing，butafterawhileshepickedthepaperuptolayitonthedesk。Thensheglancedatit，andsawthatitwasalongcolumnofdatesandfigures，recordingsuccessivesums，neverlargeones，paidregularlyto"Wm。M。"Thedatescoveredayear，andthesumamountedatleasttoseveralhundreds。
　　Mrs。Laphamlaidthepaperdownonthedesk，andthenshetookitupagainandputitintoherwork—basket，meaningtogiveittohim。Whenhecameinshesawhimlookingabsent—mindedlyaboutforsomething，andthengoingtoworkuponhispapers，apparentlywithoutit。
　　Shethoughtshewouldwaittillhemisseditdefinitely，andthengivehimthescrapshehadpickedup。Itlayinherbasket，andaftersomedaysitfounditswayundertheworkinit，andsheforgotit。
　　XXIII。
　　SINCENewYear’stherehadscarcelybeenamildday，andthestreetswerefullofsnow，growingfoulunderthecityfeetandhoofs，andrenewingitspurityfromtheskieswithrepeatedfalls，whichinturnlosttheirwhiteness，beatendown，andbeatenblackandhardintoasolidbedlikeiron。Thesleighingwasincomparable，andtheairwasfullofthedinofbells；butLapham’sturnoutwasnotofthosethatthrongedtheBrightonroadeveryafternoon；
　　themanatthelivery—stablesenthimwordthatthemare’slegswereswelling。
　　HeandCoreyhadlittletodowitheachother。
　　HedidnotknowhowPenelopehadarrangeditwithCorey；
　　hiswifesaidsheknewnomorethanhedid，andhedidnotliketoaskthegirlherself，especiallyasCoreynolongercametothehouse。Hesawthatshewascheerfullerthanshehadbeen，andhelpfullerwithhimandhermother。
　　NowandthenLaphamopenedhistroubledsoultoheralittle，lettinghisthoughtbreakintospeechwithoutpreambleorconclusion。Oncehesaid——
　　"Pen，IpresumeyouknowI’mintrouble。"
　　"Weallseemtobethere，"saidthegirl。
　　"Yes，butthere’sadifferencebetweenbeingtherebyyourownfaultandbeingtherebysomebodyelse’s。"
　　"Idon’tcallithisfault，"shesaid。
　　"Icallitmine，"saidtheColonel。
　　Thegirllaughed。Herthoughtwasofherowncare，andherfather’swhollyofhis。Shemustcometohisground。
　　"Whathaveyoubeendoingwrong？"
　　"Idon’tknowasyou’dcallitwrong。It’swhatpeopledoallthetime。ButIwishI’dletstocksalone。
　　It’swhatIalwayspromisedyourmotherIwoulddo。
　　Butthere’snousecryin’overspiltmilk；orwateredstock，either。"
　　"Idon’tthinkthere’smuchusecryingaboutanything。Ifitcouldhavebeencriedstraight，itwouldhavebeenallrightfromthestart，"saidthegirl，goingbacktoherownaffair；
　　andifLaphamhadnotbeensodeeplyengrossedinhis，hemighthaveseenhowlittleshecaredforallthatmoneycoulddoorundo。Hedidnotobserveherenoughtoseehowvariablehermoodswereinthosedays，andhowoftenshesankfromsomewildgaietyintoabjectmelancholy；
　　howattimesshewasfiercelydefiantofnothingatall，andatothersinexplicablyhumbleandpatient。
　　Butnodoubtnoneofthesesignshadpassedunnoticedbyhiswife，towhomLaphamsaidoneday，whenhecamehome，"Persis，what’sthereasonPendon’tmarryCorey？"
　　"YouknowaswellasIdo，Silas，"saidMrs。Lapham，withaninquiringlookathimforwhatlaybehindhiswords。
　　"Well，Ithinkit’salltomfoolery，thewayshe’sgoingon。
　　Thereain’tanyrhymenorreasontoit。"Hestopped，andhiswifewaited。"Ifshesaidtheword，Icouldhavesomehelpfromthem。"Hehunghishead，andwouldnotmeethiswife’seye。
　　"Iguessyou’reinaprettybadway，Si，"shesaidpityingly，"oryouwouldn’thavecometothat。"
　　"I’minahole，"saidLapham，"andIdon’tknowwheretoturn。
　　Youwon’tletmedoanythingaboutthosemills————"
　　"Yes，I’llletyou，"saidhiswifesadly。
　　Hegaveamiserablecry。"YouknowIcan’tdoanything，ifyoudo。OmyLord！"
　　Shehadnotseenhimsolowasthatbefore。Shedidnotknowwhattosay。Shewasfrightened，andcouldonlyask，"Hasitcometotheworst？"
　　"Thenewhousehasgottogo，"heansweredevasively。
　　Shedidnotsayanything。Sheknewthattheworkonthehousehadbeenstoppedsincethebeginningoftheyear。
　　Laphamhadtoldthearchitectthathepreferredtoleaveitunfinishedtillthespring，astherewasnoprospectoftheirbeingabletogetintoitthatwinter；andthearchitecthadagreedwithhimthatitwouldnothurtittostand。Herheartwasheavyforhim，thoughshecouldnotsayso。Theysattogetheratthetable，whereshehadcometobewithhimathisbelatedmeal。
　　Shesawthathedidnoteat，andshewaitedforhimtospeakagain，withouturginghimtotakeanything。
　　Theywerepastthat。
　　"AndI’vesentorderstoshutdownattheWorks，"
　　headded。
　　"ShutdownattheWorks！"sheechoedwithdismay。
　　Shecouldnottakeitin。ThefireattheWorkshadneverbeenoutbeforesinceitwasfirstkindled。
　　Sheknewhowhehadpridedhimselfuponthat；howhehadbraggedofittoeverylistener，andhadalwaysluggedthefactinasthelastexpressionofhissenseofsuccess。
　　"OSilas！"
　　"What’stheuse？"heretorted。"Isawitwascomingamonthago。TherearesomefellowsoutinWestVirginiathathavebeenrunningthepaintashardastheycould。
　　Theycouldn’tdomuch；theyusedtoputitonthemarketraw。
　　Butlatelytheygottobakingit，andnowthey’vestruckaveinofnaturalgasrightbytheirworks，andtheypaytencentsforfuel，whereIpayadollar，andtheymakeasgoodapaint。Anybodycanseewhereit’sgoingtoend。
　　Besides，themarket’sover—stocked。It’sglutted。
　　Therewa’n’tanythingtodobuttoshutDOWN，andI’veSHUTdown。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofthehandsinthemiddleofthewinter，thisway，"saidMrs。Lapham，layingholdofonedefinitethoughtwhichshecouldgraspintheturmoilofruinthatwhirledbeforehereyes。
　　"Idon’tcarewhatbecomesofthehands，"criedLapham。
　　"They’vesharedmyluck；nowlet’emsharetheotherthing。
　　Andifyou’resoverysorryforthehands，Iwishyou’dkeepalittleofyourpityforME。Don’tyouknowwhatshuttingdowntheWorksmeans？"
　　"Yes，indeedIdo，Silas，"saidhiswifetenderly。
　　"Well，then！"Herose，leavinghissupperuntasted，andwentintothesitting—room，whereshepresentlyfoundhim，withthateverlastingconfusionofpapersbeforehimonthedesk。Thatmadeherthinkofthepaperinherwork—basket，andshedecidednottomakethecareworn，distractedmanaskherforit，afterall。Shebroughtittohim。
　　Heglancedblanklyatitandthencaughtitfromher，turningredandlookingfoolish。"Where’dyougetthat？"
　　"Youdroppeditonthefloortheothernight，andI
　　pickeditup。Whois’Wm。M。’？"
　　"’Wm。M。’！"herepeated，lookingconfusedlyather，andthenatthepaper。"Oh，——it’snothing。"Hetorethepaperintosmallpieces，andwentanddroppedthemintothefire。WhenMrs。Laphamcameintotheroominthemorning，beforehewasdown，shefoundascrapofthepaper，whichmusthaveflutteredtothehearth；
　　andglancingatitshesawthatthewordswere"Mrs。M。"
　　Shewonderedwhatdealingswithawomanherhusbandcouldhave，andsherememberedtheconfusionhehadshownaboutthepaper，andwhichshehadthoughtwasbecauseshehadsurprisedoneofhisbusinesssecrets。
　　Shewasstillthinkingofitwhenhecamedowntobreakfast，heavy—eyed，tremulous，withdeepseamsandwrinklesinhisface。
　　Afterasilencewhichhedidnotseeminclinedtobreak，"Silas，"sheasked，"whois’Mrs。M。’？"
　　Hestaredather。"Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout。"
　　"Don’tyou？"shereturnedmockingly。"Whenyoudo，youtellme。Doyouwantanymorecoffee？"
　　"No。"
　　"Well，then，youcanringforAlicewhenyou’vefinished。
　　I’vegotsomethingstoattendto。"Sheroseabruptly，andlefttheroom。Laphamlookedafterherinadullway，andthenwentonwithhisbreakfast。Whilehestillsatathiscoffee，sheflungintotheroomagain，anddashedsomepapersdownbesidehisplate。"Herearesomemorethingsofyours，andI’llthankyoutolockthemupinyourdeskandnotlittermyroomwiththem，ifyouplease。"Nowhesawthatshewasangry，anditmustbewithhim。Itenragedhimthatinsuchatimeoftroublesheshouldflyoutathiminthatway。
　　Heleftthehousewithouttryingtospeaktoher。
　　ThatdayCoreycamejustbeforeclosing，and，knockingatLapham’sdoor，askedifhecouldspeakwithhimafewmoments。
　　"Yes，"saidLapham，wheelingroundinhisswivel—chairandkickinganothertowardsCorey。"Sitdown。Iwanttotalktoyou。I’doughttotellyouyou’rewastingyourtimehere。
　　Ispoketheotherdayaboutyourplacin’yourselfbetter，andIcanhelpyoutodoit，yet。Thereain’tgoingtobetheout—comeforthepaintintheforeignmarketsthatweexpected，andIguessyoubettergiveitup。"
　　"Idon’twishtogiveitup，"saidtheyoungfellow，settinghislips。"I’veasmuchfaithinitasever；andI
　　wanttoproposenowwhatIhintedatinthefirstplace。
　　Iwanttoputsomemoneyintothebusiness。"
　　"Somemoney！"Laphamleanedtowardshim，andfrownedasifhehadnotquiteunderstood，whileheclutchedthearmsofhischair。
　　"I’vegotaboutthirtythousanddollarsthatIcouldputin，andifyoudon’twanttoconsidermeapartner——Irememberthatyouobjectedtoapartner——youcanletmeregarditasaninvestment。ButIthinkIseethewaytodoingsomethingatonceinMexico，andIshouldliketofeelthatIhadsomethingmorethanadrummer’sinterestintheventure。"
　　Themensatlookingintoeachother’seyes。ThenLaphamleanedbackinhischair，andrubbedhishandhardandslowlyoverhisface。Hisfeatureswerestilltwistedwithsomestrongemotionwhenhetookitaway。
　　"Yourfamilyknowaboutthis？"
　　"MyUncleJamesknows。"
　　"Hethinksitwouldbeagoodplanforyou？"
　　"HethoughtthatbythistimeIoughttobeabletotrustmyownjudgment。"
　　"DoyousupposeIcouldseeyouruncleathisoffice？"
　　"Iimaginehe’sthere。"
　　"Well，Iwanttohaveatalkwithhim，oneofthesedays。"
　　Hesatponderingawhile，andthenrose，andwentwithCoreytohisdoor。"IguessIshan’tchangemymindabouttakingyouintothebusinessinthatway，"hesaidcoldly。
　　"IftherewasanyreasonwhyIshouldn’tatfirst，there’smorenow。"
　　"Verywell，sir，"answeredtheyoungman，andwenttoclosehisdesk。Theouterofficewasempty；butwhileCoreywasputtinghispapersinorderitwassuddenlyinvadedbytwowomen，whopushedbytheprotestingporteronthestairsandmadetheirwaytowardsLapham’sroom。
　　OneofthemwasMissDewey，thetype—writergirl，andtheotherwasawomanwhomshewouldresembleinfaceandfiguretwentyyearshence，ifsheledalifeofhardworkvariedbyparoxysmsofharddrinking。
　　"Thathisroom，Z’rilla？"askedthiswoman，pointingtowardsLapham’sdoorwithahandthathadnotfreeditselffromthefringeofdirtyshawlunderwhichithadhung。
　　Shewentforwardwithoutwaitingfortheanswer，butbeforeshecouldreachitthedooropened，andLaphamstoodfillingitsspace。
　　"Lookhere，ColonelLapham！"beganthewoman，inahighkeyofchallenge。"Iwanttoknowifthisisthewayyou’regoin’backonmeandZ’rilla？"
　　"Whatdoyouwant？"askedLapham。
　　"WhatdoIwant？Whatdoyous’poseIwant？Iwantthemoneytopaymymonth’srent；thereain’tabitetoeatinthehouse；andIwantsomemoneytomarket。"
　　Laphambentafrownonthewoman，underwhichsheshrankbackastep。"You’vetakenthewrongwaytogetit。
　　Clearout！"
　　"IWON’Tclearout！"saidthewoman，beginningtowhimper。
　　"Corey！"saidLapham，intheperemptoryvoiceofamaster，——hehadseemedsoindifferenttoCorey’spresencethattheyoungmanthoughthemusthaveforgottenhewasthere，——"IsDennisanywhereround？"
　　"Yissor，"saidDennis，answeringforhimselffromtheheadofthestairs，andappearingintheware—room。
　　Laphamspoketothewomanagain。"DoyouwantIshouldcallahack，ordoyouwantIshouldcallanofficer？"
　　Thewomanbegantocryintoanendofhershawl。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatwe’regoin’todo。"
　　"You’regoingtoclearout，"saidLapham。"Callahack，Dennis。
　　Ifyouevercomehereagain，I’llhaveyouarrested。
　　Mindthat！Zerrilla，Ishallwantyouearlyto—morrowmorning。"
　　"Yes，sir，"saidthegirlmeekly；sheandhermothershrankoutaftertheporter。
　　Laphamshuthisdoorwithoutaword。
　　AtlunchthenextdayWalkermadehimselfamendsforCorey’sreticencebytalkingagreatdeal。
　　HetalkedaboutLapham，whoseemedtohave，morethaneversincehisapparentdifficultiesbegan，thefascinationofanenigmaforhisbook—keeper，andheendedbyasking，"Didyouseethatlittlecircuslastnight？"
　　"Whatlittlecircus？"askedCoreyinhisturn。
　　"Thosetwowomenandtheoldman。Dennistoldmeaboutit。
　　Itoldhimifhelikedhisplacehe’dbetterkeephismouthshut。"
　　"Thatwasverygoodadvice，"saidCorey。
　　"Oh，allright，ifyoudon’twanttotalk。Don’tknowasIshouldinyourplace，"returnedWalker，intheeasysecurityhehadlongfeltthatCoreyhadnointentionofputtingonairswithhim。"ButI’lltellyouwhat：
　　theoldmancan’texpectitofeverybody。Ifhekeepsthisthingupmuchlonger，it’sgoingtobetalkedabout。
　　Youcan’thaveawomanwalkingintoyourplaceofbusiness，andtryingtobulldozeyoubeforeyourporter，withoutsettingyourportertothinking。Andthelastthingyouwantaportertodoistothink；forwhenaporterthinks，hethinkswrong。"
　　"Idon’tseewhyevenaportercouldn’tthinkrightaboutthataffair，"repliedCorey。"Idon’tknowwhothewomanwas，thoughIbelieveshewasMissDewey’smother；
　　butIcouldn’tseethatColonelLaphamshowedanythingbutanaturalresentmentofhercomingtohiminthatway。
　　Ishouldhavesaidshewassomeratherworthlesspersonwhomhe’dbeenbefriending，andthatshehadpresumeduponhiskindness。"
　　"Isthatso？WhatdoyouthinkofhisneverlettingMissDewey’snamegoonthebooks？"
　　"Thatit’sanotherproofit’sasortofcharityofhis。
　　That’stheonlywaytolookatit。"
　　"Oh，I’Mallright。"Walkerlightedacigarandbegantosmoke，withhiseyesclosedtoafinestraightline。
　　"Itwon’tdoforabook—keepertothinkwrong，anymorethanaporter，Isuppose。ButIguessyouandIdon’tthinkverydifferentaboutthisthing。"
　　"NotifyouthinkasIdo，"repliedCoreysteadily；"andI
　　knowyouwoulddothatifyouhadseenthe’circus’yourself。
　　Amandoesn’ttreatpeoplewhohaveadisgracefulholduponhimashetreatedthem。"
　　"Itdependsuponwhoheis，"saidWalker，takinghiscigarfromhismouth。"Ineversaidtheoldmanwasafraidofanything。"
　　"Andcharacter，"continuedCorey，disdainingtotouchthematterfurther，exceptingeneralities，"mustgoforsomething。Ifit’stobethepreyofmereaccidentandappearance，thenitgoesfornothing。"
　　"Accidentswillhappeninthebestregulatedfamilies，"
　　saidWalker，withvulgar，good—humouredobtusenessthatfilledCoreywithindignation。Nothing，perhaps，removedhismatter—of—factnaturefurtherfromthecommonplacethanacertaingenerosityofinstinct，whichIshouldnotbereadytosaywasalwaysinfallible。
　　ThateveningitwasMissDewey’sturntowaitforspeechwithLaphamaftertheothersweregone。Heopenedhisdooratherknock，andstoodlookingatherwithaworriedair。
　　"Well，whatdoyouwant，Zerrilla？"heasked，withasortofroughkindness。
　　"IwanttoknowwhatI’mgoingtodoaboutHen。
　　He’sbackagain；andheandmotherhavemadeitup，andtheybothgottodrinkinglastnightafterIwenthome，andcarriedonsothattheneighbourscamein。"
　　Laphampassedhishandoverhisredandheatedface。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtodo。You’retwicethetroublethatmyownfamilyis，now。ButIknowwhatI’ddo，mightyquick，ifitwasn’tforyou，Zerrilla，"hewentonrelentingly。"I’dshutyourmotherupsomewheres，andifIcouldgetthatfellowoffforathreeyears’
　　voyage————"
　　"Ideclare，"saidMissDewey，beginningtowhimper，"itseemsasifhecamebackjustsooftentospiteme。
　　He’snevergonemorethanayearatthefurthest，andyoucan’tmakeitouthabitualdrunkenness，either，whenit’sjustsprees。I’matmywit’send。"
　　"Oh，well，youmustn’tcryaroundhere，"saidLaphamsoothingly。
　　"Iknowit，"saidMissDewey。"IfIcouldgetridofHen，Icouldmanagewellenoughwithmother。
　　Mr。WemmelwouldmarrymeifIcouldgetthedivorce。
　　He’ssaidsooverandoveragain。"
　　"Idon’tknowasIlikethatverywell，"saidLapham，frowning。
　　"Idon’tknowasIwantyoushouldgetmarriedinanyhurryagain。
　　Idon’tknowasIlikeyourgoingwithanybodyelsejustyet。"
　　"Oh，youneedn’tbeafraidbutwhatit’llbeallright。
　　It’llbethebestthingallround，ifIcanmarryhim。"
　　"Well！"saidLaphamimpatiently；"Ican’tthinkaboutitnow。
　　Isupposethey’vecleanedeverythingoutagain？"
　　"Yes，theyhave，"saidZerrilla；"thereisn’tacentleft。"
　　"You’reaprettyexpensivelot，"saidLapham。"Well，here！"
　　Hetookouthispocket—bookandgaveheranote。
　　"I’llberoundto—nightandseewhatcanbedone。"
　　Heshuthimselfintohisroomagain，andZerrilladriedhertears，putthenoteintoherbosom，andwentherway。
　　Laphamkepttheporternearlyanhourlater。Itwasthensixo’clock，thehouratwhichtheLaphamsusuallyhadtea；butallcustomhadbeenbrokenupwithhimduringthepastmonths，andhedidnotgohomenow。
　　Hedetermined，perhapsintheextremityinwhichamanfindsreliefincombatingonecarewithanother，tokeephispromisetoMissDewey，andatthemomentwhenhemightotherwisehavebeensittingdownathisowntablehewasclimbingthestairstoherlodgingintheold—fashioneddwellingwhichhadbeenportionedoffintoflats。
　　Itwasinaregionofdepots，andofthecheaphotels，and"ladies’andgents’"dining—rooms，andrestaurantswithbars，whichaboundneardepots；andLaphamfollowedtoMissDeweysdoorawaiterfromoneofthese，whoboreonasalverbeforehimasuppercoveredwithanapkin。
　　Zerrillahadadmittedthem，andathergreetingayoungfellowintheshabbyshore—suitofasailor，buttoningimperfectlyoverthenauticalblueflannelofhisshirt，gotupfromwherehehadbeensitting，ononesideofthestove，andstoodinfirmlyonhisfeet，intokenofreceivingthevisitor。Thewomanwhosatontheothersidedidnotrise，butbeganashrill，defiantapology。
　　"Well，Idon’tsupposebutwhatyou’llthinkwe’relivin’
　　onthefato’theland，rightstraightalong，allthewhile。
　　Butit’sjustlikethis。Whenthatchildcameinfromherwork，shedidn’tseemtohavethespirittogotocookin’anything，andIhadsuchabadnightlastnightIwasfeelin’allbrokeup，ands’dI，what’stheuse，anyway？Bythetimethebutcher’sheavedinaloto’
　　bone，andmadeyoupayforthesuethecutsaway，itcomestothesamething，andwhynotGITitfromtherest’rantfirstoff，andsavethecosto’yourfire？s’dI。"
　　"Whathaveyougotthereunderyourapron？Abottle？"
　　demandedLapham，whostoodwithhishatonandhishandsinhispockets，indifferentaliketotheineffectivereceptionofthesailorandthechairZerrillahadsethim。
　　"Well，yes，it’sabottle，"saidthewoman，withanassumptionofvirtuousfrankness。"It’swhisky；
　　Igottohavesomethingtorubmyrheumatismwith。"
　　"Humph！"grumbledLapham。"You’vebeenrubbingHIS
　　rheumatismtoo，Isee。"
　　Hetwistedhisheadinthedirectionofthesailor，nowsoftlyandrhythmicallywavingtoandfroonhisfeet。
　　"Hehain’thadadropto—dayinTHIShouse！"criedthewoman。
　　"Whatareyoudoingaroundhere？"saidLapham，turningfiercelyuponhim。"You’vegotnobusinessashore。