Where’syourship？DoyouthinkI’mgoingtoletyoucomehereandeatyourwifeoutofhouseandhome，andthengivemoneytokeeptheconcerngoing？"
　　"JusttheverywordsIsaidwhenhefirstshowedhisfacehere，yist’day。Didn’tI，Z’rilla？"saidthewoman，eagerlyjoiningintherebukeofherlatebooncompanion。
　　"Yougotnobusinesshere，Hen，s’dI。Youcan’tcomeheretoliveonmeandZ’rilla，s’dI。Youwanttogobacktoyourship，s’dI。That’swhatIsaid。"
　　Thesailormumbled，withasmileoftipsyamiabilityforLapham，somethingaboutthecrewbeingdischarged。
　　"Yes，"thewomanbrokein，"that’salwaysthewaywiththesecoasters。Whydon’tyougooffonsomethemlongv’y’ges？s’dI。It’sprettyhardwhenMr。WemmelstandsreadytomarryZ’rillaandprovideacomfortablehomeforusboth——Ihain’tgotagreatmanyyearsmoretolive，andISHOULDliketogetsomesatisfactionoutof’em，andnotbebeholdenanddependentallmydays，——tohaveHen，here，blockin’theway。Itellhimthere’dbemoremoneyforhimintheend；buthecan’tseemtomakeuphismindtoit。"
　　"Well，now，lookhere，"saidLapham。"Idon’tcareanythingaboutallthat。It’syourownbusiness，andI’mnotgoingtomeddlewithit。Butit’smybusinesswholivesoffme；
　　andsoItellyouallthree，I’mwillingtotakecareofZerrilla，andI’mwillingtotakecareofhermother————"
　　"Iguessifithadn’tbeenforthatchild’sfather，"
　　themotherinterpolated，"youwouldn’tbeenheretotellthetale，ColonelLapham。"
　　"Iknowallaboutthat，"saidLapham。"ButI’lltellyouwhat，Mr。Dewey，I’mnotgoingtosupportYOU。"
　　"Idon’tseewhatHen’sdone，"saidtheoldwomanimpartially。
　　"Hehasn’tdoneanything，andI’mgoingtostopit。
　　He’sgottogetaship，andhe’sgottogetoutofthis。
　　AndZerrillaneedn’tcomebacktoworktillhedoes。
　　I’mdonewithyouall。"
　　"Well，Ivow，"saidthemother，"ifIeverheardanythinglikeit！Didn’tthatchild’sfatherlaydownhislifeforyou？Hain’tyousaidityourselfahundredtimes？
　　Anddon’tsheworkforhermoney，andslaveforitmornin’，noon，andnight？Youtalkasifwewasbeholdentoyoufortheverybreadinourmouths。Iguessifithadn’tbeenforJim，youwouldn’tbeenherecrowin’
　　overus。"
　　"YoumindwhatIsay。Imeanbusinessthistime，"
　　saidLapham，turningtothedoor。
　　Thewomanroseandfollowedhim，withherbottleinherhand。
　　"Say，Colonel！whatshouldyouadviseZ’rillatodoaboutMr。Wemmel？Itellherthereain’tanyusegoin’tothetroubletogitadivorcewithoutshe’ssureabouthim。
　　Don’tyouthinkwe’doughttogithimtosignapaper，orsomething，thathe’llmarryherifshegitsit？Idon’tliketohavethingsgoingatlooseendsthewaytheyare。
　　Itain’tsense。Itain’tright。"
　　Laphammadenoanswertothemotheranxiousforherchild’sfuture，andconcernedforthemoralquestionsinvolved。
　　Hewentoutanddownthestairs，andonthepavementatthelowerdoorhealmoststruckagainstRogers，whohadabaginhishand，andseemedtobehurryingtowardsoneofthedepots。Hehaltedalittle，asiftospeaktoLapham；butLaphamturnedhisbackabruptlyuponhim，andtooktheotherdirection。
　　Thedaysweregoingbyinamonotonyofadversitytohim，fromwhichhecouldnolongerescape，evenathome。
　　Heattemptedonceortwicetotalkofhistroublestohiswife，butsherepulsedhimsharply；sheseemedtodespiseandhatehim；buthesethimselfdoggedlytomakeaconfessiontoher，andhestoppedheronenight，asshecameintotheroomwherehesat——hastilyuponsomeerrandthatwastotakeherdirectlyawayagain。
　　"Persis，there’ssomethingI’vegottotellyou。"
　　Shestoodstill，asiffixedagainstherwill，tolisten。
　　"Iguessyouknowsomethingaboutitalready，andIguessitsetyouagainstme。"
　　"Oh，Iguessnot，ColonelLapham。Yougoyourway，andIgomine。That’sall。"
　　Shewaitedforhimtospeak，listeningwithacold，hardsmileonherface。
　　"Idon’tsayittomakefavourwithyou，becauseIdon’twantyoutospareme，andIdon’taskyou；butIgotintoitthroughMiltonK。Rogers。"
　　"Oh！"saidMrs。Laphamcontemptuously。
　　"IalwaysfeltthewayIsaidaboutit——thatitwa’n’tanybetterthangambling，andIsaysonow。It’slikebettingontheturnofacard；andIgiveyoumywordofhonour，Persis，thatIneverwasinitatalltillthatscoundrelbegantoloadmeupwiththosewild—catsecuritiesofhis。
　　ThenitseemedtomeasifIoughttotrytodosomethingtogetsomewhereeven。Iknowit’snoexcuse；butwatchingthemarkettoseewhattheinfernalthingswereworthfromdaytoday，andseeingitgoup，andseeingitgodown，wastoomuchforme；and，tomakealongstoryshort，Ibegantobuyandsellonamargin——justwhatItoldyouIneverwoulddo。Iseemedtomakesomething——I
　　didmakesomething；andI’dhavestopped，Idobelieve，ifIcouldhavereachedthefigureI’dsetinmyownmindtostartwith；butIcouldn’tfetchit。Ibegantolose，andthenIbegantothrowgoodmoneyafterbad，justasIalwaysdidwitheverythingthatRogersevercamewithinamileof。Well，what’stheuse？Ilostthemoneythatwouldhavecarriedmeoutofthis，andIshouldn’thavehadtoshutdowntheWorks，orsellthehouse，or————"
　　Laphamstopped。Hiswife，whoatfirsthadlistenedwithmystification，andthendawningincredulity，changingintoalookofreliefthatwasalmosttriumph，lapsedagainintoseverity。"SilasLapham，ifyouwastodiethenextminute，isthiswhatyoustartedtotellme？"
　　"Why，ofcourseitis。WhatdidyousupposeIstartedtotellyou？"
　　"And——lookmeintheeyes！——youhaven’tgotanythingelseonyourmindnow？"
　　"No！There’stroubleenough，theLordknows；
　　butthere’snothingelsetotellyou。IsupposePengaveyouahintaboutit。Idroppedsomethingtoher。
　　I’vebeenfeelingbadaboutit，Persis，agoodwhile，butIhain’thadthehearttospeakofit。Ican’texpectyoutosayyoulikeit。I’vebeenafool，I’llallow，andI’vebeensomethingworse，ifyouchoosetosayso；
　　butthat’sall。Ihaven’thurtanybodybutmyself——andyouandthechildren。"
　　Mrs。Laphamroseandsaid，withherfacefromhim，assheturnedtowardsthedoor，"It’sallright，Silas。
　　Ishan’teverbringitupagainstyou。"
　　Shefledoutoftheroom，butallthateveningshewasverysweetwithhim，andseemedtowishinalltacitwaystoatoneforherpastunkindness。
　　Shemadehimtalkofhisbusiness，andhetoldherofCorey’soffer，andwhathehaddoneaboutit。
　　Shedidnotseemtocareforhispartinit，however；
　　atwhichLaphamwassilentlydisappointedalittle，forhewouldhavelikedhertopraisehim。
　　"HediditonaccountofPen！"
　　"Well，hedidn’tinsistuponit，anyway，"saidLapham，whomusthaveobscurelyexpectedthatCoreywouldrecognisehisownmagnanimitybyrepeatinghisoffer。
　　Ifthedoubtthatfollowsaself—devotedaction——thequestionwhetheritwasnotafterallaneedlessfolly——ismixed，asitwasinLapham’scase，withthevaguebeliefthatwemighthavedoneourselvesagoodturnwithoutgreatriskofhurtinganyoneelsebybeingalittlelessunselfish，itbecomesaregretthatishardtobear。SinceCoreyspoketohim，somethingshadhappenedthatgaveLaphamhopeagain。
　　"I’mgoingtotellheraboutit，"saidhiswife，andsheshowedherselfimpatienttomakeupforthetimeshehadlost。"Whydidn’tyoutellmebefore，Silas？"
　　"Ididn’tknowwewereonspeakingtermsbefore，"
　　saidLaphamsadly。
　　"Yes，that’strue，"sheadmitted，withaconsciousflush。
　　"Ihopehewon’tthinkPen’sknownaboutitallthiswhile。"
　　XXIV。
　　THATeveningJamesBellinghamcametoseeCoreyafterdinner，andwenttofindhiminhisownroom。
　　"I’vecomeattheinstanceofColonelLapham，"saidtheuncle。
　　"Hewasatmyofficeto—day，andIhadalongtalkwithhim。
　　Didyouknowthathewasindifficulties？"
　　"Ifanciedthathewasinsomesortoftrouble。
　　AndIhadthebook—keeper’sconjectures——hedoesn’treallyknowmuchaboutit。"
　　"Well，hethinksittime——onallaccounts——thatyoushouldknowhowhestands，andwhyhedeclinedthatpropositionofyours。Imustsayhehasbehavedverywell——likeagentleman。"
　　"I’mnotsurprised。"
　　"Iam。It’shardtobehavelikeagentlemanwhereyourinterestisvitallyconcerned。AndLaphamdoesn’tstrikemeasamanwho’sinthehabitofactingfromthebestinhimalways。"
　　"Doanyofus？"askedCorey。
　　"Notallofus，atanyrate，"saidBellingham。"Itmusthavecosthimsomethingtosaynotoyou，forhe’sjustinthatstatewhenhebelievesthatthisorthatchance，howeversmall，wouldsavehim。"
　　Coreywassilent。"Ishereallyinsuchabadway？"
　　"It’shardtotelljustwherehestands。Isuspectthatahopefultemperamentandfondnessforroundnumbershavealwayscausedhimtosethisfiguresbeyondhisactualworth。Idon’tsaythathe’sbeendishonestaboutit，buthe’shadaloosewayofestimatinghisassets；he’sreckonedhiswealthonthebasisofhiscapital，andsomeofhiscapitalisborrowed。
　　He’slostheavilybysomeoftherecentfailures，andthere’sbeenaterribleshrinkageinhisvalues。
　　Idon’tmeanmerelyinthestockofpaintonhand，butinakindofcompetitionwhichhasbecomeverythreatening。
　　YouknowaboutthatWestVirginianpaint？"
　　Coreynodded。
　　"Well，hetellsmethatthey’vestruckaveinofnaturalgasouttherewhichwillenablethemtomakeasgoodapaintashisownatacostofmanufacturingsolowthattheycanundersellhimeverywhere。Ifthisprovestobethecase，itwillnotonlydrivehispaintoutofthemarket，butwillreducethevalueofhisWorks——thewholeplant——atLaphamtoamerelynominalfigure。"
　　"Isee，"saidCoreydejectedly。"I’veunderstoodthathehadputagreatdealofmoneyintohisWorks。"
　　"Yes，andheestimatedhisminethereatahighfigure。
　　OfcourseitwillbeworthlittleornothingiftheWestVirginiapaintdriveshisout。Then，besides，Laphamhasbeenintoseveralthingsoutsideofhisownbusiness，and，likeagoodmanyothermenwhotryoutsidethings，he’skeptaccountofthemhimself；andhe’sallmixedupaboutthem。He’saskedmetolookintohisaffairswithhim，andI’vepromisedtodoso。Whetherhecanbetidedoverhisdifficultiesremainstobeseen。
　　I’mafraiditwilltakeagooddealofmoneytodoit——agreatdealmorethanhethinks，atleast。Hebelievescomparativelylittlewoulddoit。Ithinkdifferently。
　　Ithinkthatanythinglessthanagreatdealwouldbethrownawayonhim。Ifitweremerelyaquestionofacertainsum——evenalargesum——tokeephimgoing，itmightbemanaged；butit’smuchmorecomplicated。
　　And，asIsay，itmusthavebeenatrialtohimtorefuseyouroffer。"
　　ThisdidnotseemtobethewayinwhichBellinghamhadmeanttoconclude。Buthesaidnomore；andCoreymadehimnoresponse。
　　Heremainedponderingthecase，nowhopefully，nowdoubtfully，andwondering，whateverhismoodwas，whetherPenelopeknewanythingofthefactwithwhichhermotherwentnearlyatthesamemomenttoacquainther。
　　"Ofcourse，he’sdoneitonyouraccount，"Mrs。Laphamcouldnothelpsaying。
　　"Thenhewasverysilly。DoeshethinkIwouldlethimgivefathermoney？Andiffatherlostitforhim，doeshesupposeitwouldmakeitanyeasierforme？I
　　thinkfatheractedtwiceaswell。Itwasverysilly。"
　　Inrepeatingthecensure，herlookwasnotsosevereashertone；sheevensmiledalittle，andhermotherreportedtoherfatherthatsheactedmorelikeherselfthanshehadyetsinceCorey’soffer。
　　"Ithink，ifhewastorepeathisoffer，shewouldhavehimnow，"saidMrs。Lapham。
　　"Well，I’llletherknowifhedoes，"saidtheColonel。
　　"Iguesshewon’tdoittoyou！"shecried。
　　"Whoelsewillhedoitto？"hedemanded。
　　Theyperceivedthattheyhadeachbeentalkingofadifferentoffer。
　　AfterLaphamwenttohisbusinessinthemorningthepostmanbroughtanotherletterfromIrene，whichwasfullofpleasantthingsthatwerehappeningtoher；therewasagreatdealabouthercousinWill，asshecalledhim。
　　Attheendshehadwritten，"TellPenIdon’twantsheshouldbefoolish。""There！"saidMrs。Lapham。"Iguessit’sgoingtocomeoutright，allround；"anditseemedasifeventheColonel’sdifficultieswerepast。"Whenyourfathergetsthroughthis，Pen，"sheaskedimpulsively，"whatshallyoudo？"
　　"WhathaveyoubeentellingIreneaboutme？"
　　"Nothingmuch。Whatshouldyoudo？"
　　"ItwouldbeagooddealeasiertosaywhatIshoulddoiffatherdidn’t，"saidthegirl。
　　"Iknowyouthinkitwasniceinhimtomakeyourfatherthatoffer，"urgedthemother。
　　"Itwasnice，yes；butitwassilly，"saidthegirl。
　　"Mostnicethingsaresilly，Isuppose，"sheadded。
　　Shewenttoherroomandwrotealetter。Itwasverylong，andverycarefullywritten；andwhenshereaditover，shetoreitintosmallpieces。Shewroteanotherone，shortandhurried，andtorethatuptoo。Thenshewentbacktohermother，inthefamilyroom，andaskedtoseeIrene’sletter，andreaditovertoherself。
　　"Yes，sheseemstobehavingagoodtime，"shesighed。
　　"Mother，doyouthinkIoughttoletMr。CoreyknowthatIknowaboutit？"
　　"Well，Ishouldthinkitwouldbeapleasuretohim，"
　　saidMrs。Laphamjudicially。
　　"I’mnotsosureofthatthewayIshouldhavetotellhim。
　　Ishouldbeginbygivinghimascolding。Ofcourse，hemeantwellbyit，butcan’tyouseethatitwasn’tveryflattering！Howdidheexpectitwouldchangeme？"
　　"Idon’tbelieveheeverthoughtofthat。"
　　"Don’tyou？Why？"
　　"Becauseyoucanseethatheisn’toneofthatkind。
　　Hemightwanttopleaseyouwithoutwantingtochangeyoubywhathedid。"
　　"Yes。Hemusthaveknownthatnothingwouldchangeme，——atleast，nothingthathecoulddo。Ithoughtofthat。
　　Ishouldn’tlikehimtofeelthatIcouldn’tappreciateit，evenifIdidthinkitwassilly。Shouldyouwritetohim？"
　　"Idon’tseewhynot。"
　　"Itwouldbetoopointed。No，Ishalljustletitgo。
　　Iwishhehadn’tdoneit。"
　　"Well，hehasdoneit。""AndI’vetriedtowritetohimaboutit——twoletters：onesohumbleandgratefulthatitcouldn’tstanduponitsedge，andtheothersopertandflippant。Mother，Iwishyoucouldhaveseenthosetwoletters！IwishIhadkeptthemtolookatifIevergottothinkingIhadanysenseagain。
　　Theywouldtaketheconceitoutofme。"
　　"What’sthereasonhedon’tcomehereanymore？"
　　"Doesn’thecome？"askedPenelopeinturn，asifitweresomethingshehadnotnoticedparticularly。
　　"You’doughttoknow。"
　　"Yes。"Shesatsilentawhile。"Ifhedoesn’tcome，Isupposeit’sbecausehe’soffendedatsomethingIdid。"
　　"Whatdidyoudo？"
　　"Nothing。I——wrotetohim——alittlewhileago。Isupposeitwasveryblunt，butIdidn’tbelievehewouldbeangryatit。Butthis——thisthathe’sdoneshowshewasangry，andthathewasn’tjustseizingthefirstchancetogetoutofit。"
　　"Whathaveyoudone，Pen？"demandedhermothersharply。
　　"Oh，Idon’tknow。Allthemischiefintheworld，Isuppose。
　　I’lltellyou。Whenyoufirsttoldmethatfatherwasintroublewithhisbusiness，IwrotetohimnottocomeanymoretillIlethim。IsaidIcouldn’ttellhimwhy，andhehasn’tbeenheresince。I’msureIdon’tknowwhatitmeans。"
　　Hermotherlookedatherwithangryseverity。
　　"Well，PenelopeLapham！Forasensiblechild，youARE
　　thegreatestgooseIeversaw。DidyouthinkhewouldcomehereandSEEifyouwouldn’tlethimcome？"
　　"Hemighthavewritten，"urgedthegirl。
　　Hermothermadethatdespairing"Tchk！"withhertongue，andfellbackinherchair。"IshouldhaveDESPISED
　　himifhehadwritten。He’sactedjustexactlyright，andyou——you’veacted——Idon’tknowHOWyou’veacted。
　　I’mashamedofyou。Agirlthatcouldbesosensibleforhersister，andalwayssayanddojusttherightthing，andthenwhenitcomestoherselftobesuchaDISGUSTING
　　simpleton！"
　　"IthoughtIoughttobreakwithhimatonce，andnotlethimsupposethattherewasanyhopeforhimormeiffatherwaspoor。Itwasmyonechance，inthiswholebusiness，todoanythingheroic，andIjumpedatit。
　　Youmustn’tthink，becauseIcanlaughatitnow，thatI
　　wasn’tinearnest，mother！IWAS——dead！ButtheColonelhasgonetoruinsogradually，thathe’sspoilteverything。
　　Iexpectedthathewouldbebankruptthenextday，andthatthenHEwouldunderstandwhatImeant。
　　Buttohaveitdragalongforafortnightseemstotakealltheheroismoutofit，andleaveitasflat！"Shelookedathermotherwithasmilethatshonethroughhertears，andapathosthatquiveredroundherjestinglips。
　　"It’seasyenoughtobesensibleforotherpeople。
　　Butwhenitcomestomyself，thereIam！Especially，whenIwanttodowhatIoughtn’tsomuchthatitseemsasifdoingwhatIdidn’twanttodoMUSTbedoingwhatI
　　ought！Butit’sbeenagreatsuccessoneway，mother。
　　It’shelpedmetokeepupbeforetheColonel。Ifithadn’tbeenforMr。Corey’sstayingaway，andmyfeelingsoindignantwithhimforhavingbeenbadlytreatedbyme，Ishouldn’thavebeenworthanythingatall。"
　　Thetearsstarteddownhercheeks，buthermothersaid，"Well，now，goalong，andwritetohim。Itdon’tmatterwhatyousay，much；anddon’tbesoveryparticular。"
　　Herthirdattemptataletterpleasedherscarcelybetterthantherest，butshesentit，thoughitseemedsobluntandawkward。Shewrote：——
　　DEARFRIEND，——IexpectedwhenIsentyouthatnote，thatyouwouldunderstand，almostthenextday，whyI
　　couldnotseeyouanymore。Youmustknownow，andyoumustnotthinkthatifanythinghappenedtomyfather，Ishouldwishyoutohelphim。ButthatisnoreasonwhyIshouldnotthankyou，andIdothankyou，foroffering。
　　Itwaslikeyou，Iwillsaythat。
　　Yourssincerely，PENELOPELAPHAM。
　　Shepostedherletter，andhesenthisreplyintheevening，byhand：——
　　DEAREST，——WhatIdidwasnothing，tillyoupraisedit。
　　EverythingIhaveandamisyours。Won’tyousendalinebythebearer，tosaythatImaycometoseeyou？Iknowhowyoufeel；butlamsurethatIcanmakeyouthinkdifferently。YoumustconsiderthatIlovedyouwithoutathoughtofyourfather’scircumstances，andalwaysshall。
　　T。C。
　　Thegenerouswordswereblurredtohereyesbythetearsthatsprangintothem。Butshecouldonlywriteinanswer：——
　　"Pleasedonotcome；Ihavemadeupmymind。Aslongasthistroubleishangingoverus，Icannotseeyou。
　　Andiffatherisunfortunate，allisoverbetweenus。"
　　Shebroughthislettertohermother，andtoldherwhatshehadwritteninreply。Hermotherwasthoughtfulawhilebeforeshesaid，withasigh，"Well，Ihopeyou’vebegunasyoucancarryout，Pen。"
　　"Oh，Ishallnothavetocarryoutatall。Ishallnothavetodoanything。That’sonecomfort——theonlycomfort。"Shewentawaytoherownroom，andwhenMrs。Laphamtoldherhusbandoftheaffair，hewassilentatfirst，asshehadbeen。Thenhesaid，"Idon’tknowasIshouldhavewantedhertodonedifferently；
　　Idon’tknowasshecould。IfIevercomerightagain，shewon’thaveanythingtofeelmeechingabout；andifI
　　don’t，Idon’twantsheshouldbebeholdentoanybody。
　　AndIguessthat’sthewayshefeels。"
　　TheCoreysintheirturnsatinjudgmentonthefactwhichtheirsonfeltboundtobringtotheirknowledge。
　　"Shehasbehavedverywell，"saidMrs。Corey，towhomhersonhadspoken。
　　"Mydear，"saidherhusband，withhislaugh，"shehasbehavedTOOwell。Ifshehadstudiedthewholesituationwiththemostartfuleyetoitsmastery，shecouldnotpossiblyhavebehavedbetter。"
　　TheprocessofLapham’sfinancialdisintegrationwaslikethecourseofsomechronicdisorder，whichhasfasteneditselfupontheconstitution，butadvanceswithcontinualreliefs，withapparentamelioration，andattimesseemsnottoadvanceatall，whenitgiveshopeoffinalrecoverynotonlytothesufferer，buttotheeyeofscienceitself。ThereweremomentswhenJamesBellingham，seeingLaphampassthiscrisisandthat，begantofancythathemightpullthroughaltogether；
　　andatthesemoments，whenhisadvisercouldnotopposeanythingbutexperienceandprobabilitytotheevidenceofthefact，Laphamwasbuoyantwithcourage，andimpartedhishopefulnesstohishousehold。Ourtheoryofdisaster，ofsorrow，ofaffliction，borrowedfromthepoetsandnovelists，isthatitisincessant；buteverypassageinourownlivesandinthelivesofothers，sofaraswehavewitnessedthem，teachesusthatthisisfalse。
　　Thehouseofmourningisdecorouslydarkenedtotheworld，butwithinitselfitisalsothehouseoflaughing。
　　Burstsofgaiety，asheartfeltasitsgrief，relievethegloom，andthestrickensurvivorshavetheirjeststogether，inwhichthethoughtofthedeadistenderlyinvolved，andafondsense，notcrazierthanmanyothers，ofsympathyandenjoymentbeyondthesilence，justifiesthesunniermoodbeforesorrowrushesback，deploringanddespairing，andmakingitallupagainwiththeconventionalfitnessofthings。Lapham’sadversityhadthisqualityincommonwithbereavement。Itwasnotalwaysliketheadversitywefigureinallegory；ithaditsmomentsofbeinglikeprosperity，andifuponthewholeitwascontinual，itwasnotincessant。Sometimestherewasaweekofrepeatedreverses，whenhehadtokeephisteethsetandtoholdonhardtoallhishopefulness；andthendayscameofnegativeresultorslightsuccess，whenhewasfullofhisjokesatthetea—table，andwantedtogotothetheatre，ortodosomethingtocheerPenelopeup。
　　Insomemiraculousway，bysomeenormousstrokeofsuccesswhichshouldeclipsethebrightestofhispastprosperity，heexpectedtodowhatwouldreconcilealldifficulties，notonlyinhisownaffairs，butinherstoo。"You’llsee，"
　　hesaidtohiswife；"it’sgoingtocomeoutallright。
　　Irene’llfixitupwithBill’sboy，andthenshe’llbeoffPen’smind；andifthingsgoonasthey’vebeengoingforthelasttwodays，I’mgoingtobeinapositiontodothefavoursmyself，andPencanfeelthatSHE’Smakin’
　　asacrifice，andthenIguessmaybeshe’lldoit。
　　IfthingsturnoutasIexpectnow，andtimesevergogetanybettergenerally，IcanshowCoreythatIappreciatehisoffer。Icanofferhimthepartnershipmyselfthen。"
　　Evenintheothermoods，whichcamewheneverythinghadbeengoingwrong，andthereseemednowayoutofthenet，therewerepointsofconsolationtoLaphamandhiswife。
　　TheyrejoicedthatIrenewassafebeyondtherangeoftheiranxieties，andtheyhadaproudsatisfactionthattherehadbeennoengagementbetweenCoreyandPenelope，andthatitwasshewhohadforbiddenit。Intheclosenessofinterestandsympathyinwhichtheirtroubleshadreunitedthem，theyconfessedtoeachotherthatnothingwouldhavebeenmoregallingtotheirpridethantheideathatLaphamshouldnothavebeenabletodoeverythingforhisdaughterthattheCoreysmighthaveexpected。
　　Whateverhappenednow，theCoreyscouldnothaveittosaythattheLaphamshadtriedtobringanysuchthingabout。
　　BellinghamhadlatelysuggestedanassignmenttoLapham，asthebestwayoutofhisdifficulties。Itwasevidentthathehadnotthemoneytomeethisliabilitiesatpresent，andthathecouldnotraiseitwithoutruinoussacrifices，thatmightstillendinruinafterall。Ifhemadetheassignment，Bellinghamargued，hecouldgaintimeandmaketerms；thestateofthingsgenerallywouldprobablyimprove，sinceitcouldnotbeworse，andthemarket，whichhehadgluttedwithhispaint，mightrecoverandhecouldstartagain。Laphamhadnotagreedwithhim。
　　Whenhisreversesfirstbeganithadseemedeasyforhimtogiveupeverything，toletthepeopleheowedtakeall，soonlytheywouldlethimgooutwithcleanhands；andhehaddramatisedthisfeelinginhistalkwithhiswife，whentheyspoketogetherofthemillsontheG。L。&
　　P。Buteversincethenithadbeengrowingharder，andhecouldnotconsenteventoseemtodoitnowintheproposedassignment。Hehadnotfoundothermensoveryliberalorfaithfulwithhim；agoodmanyofthemappearedtohavecombinedtohunthimdown；asenseofenmitytowardsallhiscreditorsasserteditselfinhim；
　　heaskedhimselfwhytheyshouldnotsufferalittletoo。
　　Aboveall，heshrankfromthepublicityoftheassignment。
　　Itwasopenconfessionthathehadbeenafoolinsomeway；
　　hecouldnotbeartohavehisfamily——hisbrotherthejudge，especially，towhomhehadalwaysappearedthesoulofbusinesswisdom——thinkhimimprudentorstupid。