Itplacesmeinaridiculousposition。"Rogersurgedhisgrievancecalmly，almostimpersonally，makinghisappealtoLapham’ssenseofjustice。"ICAN’Tgobacktothosepartiesandtellthemyouwon’tseethem。
It’snoanswertomake。They’vegotarighttoknowwhyyouwon’tseethem。"
"Verywell，then！"criedLapham；"I’llcomeandTELL
themwhy。WhoshallIaskfor？WhenshallIbethere？"
"Ateighto’clock，please，"saidRogers，rising，withoutapparentalarmathisthreat，ifitwasathreat。
"Andaskforme；I’vetakenaroomatthehotelforthepresent。"
"Iwon’tkeepyoufiveminuteswhenIgetthere，"
saidLapham；buthedidnotcomeawaytillteno’clock。
Itappearedtohimasiftheverydevilwasinit。
TheEnglishmentreatedhisdownrightrefusaltosellasapieceofbluff，andtalkedonasthoughitweremerelytheopeningofthenegotiation。Whenhebecameplainwiththeminhisanger，andtoldthemwhyhewouldnotsell，theyseemedtohavebeenpreparedforthisasastrokeofbusiness，andwerereadytomeetit。
"Hasthisfellow，"hedemanded，twistinghisheadinthedirectionofRogers，butdisdainingtonoticehimotherwise，"beentellingyouthatit’spartofmygametosaythis？Well，sir，Icantellyou，onmyside，thatthereisn’taslipperierrascalunhunginAmericathanMiltonK。Rogers！"
TheEnglishmentreatedthisasapieceofgenuineAmericanhumour，andreturnedtothechargewithunabatedcourage。
Theyownednow，thatapersoninterestedwiththemhadbeenouttolookattheproperty，andthattheyweresatisfiedwiththeappearanceofthings。Theydevelopedfurtherthefactthattheywerenotactingsolely，orevenprincipally，intheirownbehalf，butweretheagentsofpeopleinEnglandwhohadprojectedthecolonisationofasortofcommunityonthespot，somewhataftertheplanofotherEnglishdreamers，andthattheyweresatisfied，fromacarefulinspection，thattheresourcesandfacilitieswerethosebestcalculatedtodeveloptheenergyandenterpriseoftheproposedcommunity。TheywerepreparedtomeetMr。Lapham——Colonel，theybeggedhispardon，attheinstanceofRogers——atanyreasonablefigure，andwerequitewillingtoassumetheriskshehadpointedout。Somethingintheeyesofthesemen，somethingthatlurkedataninfinitedepthbelowtheirspeech，andwasnotreallyintheireyeswhenLaphamlookedagain，hadflashedthroughhimasenseoftreacheryinthem。
HehadthoughtthemthedupesofRogers；butinthatbriefinstanthehadseenthem——orthoughthehadseenthem——hisaccomplices，readytobetraytheinterestsofwhichtheywentontospeakwithacertaincomfortablejocosity，andacertainincredulousslightofhisshowofintegrity。
ItwasadeepergamethanLaphamwasusedto，andhesatlookingwithasortofadmirationfromoneEnglishmantotheother，andthentoRogers，whomaintainedanexteriorofmodestneutrality，andwhoseairsaid，"Ihavebroughtyougentlementogetherasthefriendofallparties，andI
nowleaveyoutosettleitamongyourselves。Iasknothing，andexpectnothing，exceptthesmallsumwhichshallaccruetomeafterthedischargeofmyobligationstoColonelLapham。"
WhileRogers’spresenceexpressedthis，oneoftheEnglishmenwassaying，"Andifyouhaveanyscrupleinallowin’
ustoassumethisrisk，ColonelLapham，perhapsyoucanconsoleyourselfwiththefactthattheloss，ifthereistobeany，willfalluponpeoplewhoareabletobearit——uponanassociationofrichandcharitablepeople。
Butwe’requitesatisfiedtherewillbenoloss，"
headdedsavingly。"Allyouhavetodoistonameyourprice，andwewilldoourbesttomeetit。"
TherewasnothingintheEnglishman’ssophistryveryshockingtoLapham。Itaddresseditselfinhimtothateasy—going，notevillyintentioned，potentialimmoralitywhichregardscommonpropertyascommonprey，andgivesusthemostcorruptmunicipalgovernmentsunderthesun——whichmakesthepoorestvoter，whenhehastrickedintoplace，asunscrupulousinregardtoothers’moneyasanhereditaryprince。LaphammettheEnglishman’seye，andwithdifficultykepthimselffromwinking。
Thenhelookedaway，andtriedtofindoutwherehestood，orwhathewantedtodo。Hecouldhardlytell。
HehadexpectedtocomeintothatroomandunmaskRogers，andhaveitover。ButhehadunmaskedRogerswithoutanyeffectwhatever，andtheplayhadonlybegun。
Hehadawhimsicalandsarcasticsenseofitsbeingverydifferentfromtheplaysatthetheatre。Hecouldnotgetupandgoawayinsilentcontempt；hecouldnottelltheEnglishmenthathebelievedthemapairofscoundrelsandshouldhavenothingtodowiththem；
hecouldnolongertreatthemasinnocentdupes。
Heremainedbaffledandperplexed，andtheonewhohadnotspokenhithertoremarked——
"Ofcourseweshan’t’aggleaboutafewpound，moreorless。
IfColonelLapham’sfigureshouldbealittlelargerthanours，I’venodoubt’e’llnotbetoo’arduponusintheend。"
Laphamappreciatedalltheintentofthissubtlesuggestion，andunderstoodasplainlyasifithadbeensaidinsomanywords，thatiftheypaidhimalargerprice，itwastobeexpectedthatacertainportionofthepurchase—moneywastoreturntotheirownhands。Stillhecouldnotmove；
anditseemedtohimthathecouldnotspeak。
"Ringthatbell，Mr。Rogers，"saidtheEnglishmanwhohadlastspoken，glancingattheannunciatorbuttoninthewallnearRogers’shead，"and’aveupsomething’of，can’tyou？IshouldlikeTOwetmew’istle，asyousay’ere，andColonelLaphamseemstofinditratherdrywork。"
Laphamjumpedtohisfeet，andbuttonedhisovercoatabouthim。HerememberedwithterrorthedinneratCorey’swherehehaddisgracedandbetrayedhimself，andifhewentintothisthingatall，hewasgoingintoitsober。
"Ican’tstop，"hesaid，"Imustbegoing。"
"Butyouhaven’tgivenusanansweryet，Mr。Lapham，"
saidthefirstEnglishmanwithasuccessfulshowofdignifiedsurprise。
"TheonlyanswerIcangiveyounowis，NO，"saidLapham。
"Ifyouwantanother，youmustletmehavetimetothinkitover。"
"But’owmuchtime？"saidtheotherEnglishman。
"We’repressedfortimeourselves，andwehopedforananswer——’opedforahanswer，"hecorrectedhimself，"atonce。Thatwasourunderstandin’withMr。Rogers。"
"Ican’tletyouknowtillmorning，anyway，"saidLapham，andhewentout，ashiscustomoftenwas，withoutanypartingsalutation。HethoughtRogersmighttrytodetainhim；butRogershadremainedseatedwhentheothersgottotheirfeet，andpaidnoattentiontohisdeparture。
Hewalkedoutintothenightair，everypulsethrobbingwiththestrongtemptation。Heknewverywellthosemenwouldwait，andgladlywait，tillthemorning，andthatthewholeaffairwasinhishands。Itmadehimgroaninspirittothinkthatitwas。Ifhehadhopedthatsomechancemighttakethedecisionfromhim，therewasnosuchchance，inthepresentorfuture，thathecouldsee。Itwasforhimalonetocommitthisrascality——ifitwasarascality——ornot。
Hewalkedallthewayhome，lettingonecarafteranotherpasshimonthestreet，nowsoemptyofotherpassing，anditwasalmosteleveno’clockwhenhereachedhome。
Acarriagestoodbeforehishouse，andwhenhelethimselfinwithhiskey，heheardtalkinginthefamily—room。ItcameintohisheadthatIrenehadgotbackunexpectedly，andthatthesightofherwassomehowgoingtomakeitharderforhim；thenhethoughtitmightbeCorey，comeuponsomedesperatepretexttoseePenelope；
butwhenheopenedthedoorhesaw，withacertainabsenceofsurprise，thatitwasRogers。Hewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplace，talkingtoMrs。Lapham，andhehadbeensheddingtears；drytearstheyseemed，andtheyhadleftasortofsandy，glisteningtraceonhischeeks。Apparentlyhewasnotashamedofthem，fortheexpressionwithwhichhemetLaphamwasthatofamanmakingadesperateappealinhisowncause，whichwasidenticalwiththatofhumanity，ifnotthatofjustice。
"Isomeexpected，"beganRogers，"tofindyouhere————"
"No，youdidn’t，"interruptedLapham；"youwantedtocomehereandmakeapoormouthtoMrs。LaphambeforeIgothome。"
"IknewthatMrs。Laphamwouldknowwhatwasgoingon，"
saidRogersmorecandidly，butnotmorevirtuously，forthathecouldnot，"andIwishedhertounderstandapointthatIhadn’tputtoyouatthehotel，andthatIwantyoushouldconsider。AndIwantyoushouldconsidermealittleinthisbusinesstoo；
you’renottheonlyonethat’sconcerned，Itellyou，andI’vebeentellingMrs。Laphamthatit’smyonechance；
thatifyoudon’tmeetmeonit，mywifeandchildrenwillbereducedtobeggary。"
"Sowillmine，"saidLapham，"orthenextthingtoit。"
"Well，then，Iwantyoutogivemethischancetogetonmyfeetagain。You’venorighttodeprivemeofit；
it’sunchristian。InourdealingswitheachotherweshouldbeguidedbytheGoldenRule，asIwassayingtoMrs。Laphambeforeyoucamein。ItoldherthatifIknewmyself，Ishouldinyourplaceconsiderthecircumstancesofamaninmine，whohadhonourablyendeavouredtodischargehisobligationstome，andhadpatientlybornemyundeservedsuspicions。
Ishouldconsiderthatman’sfamily，ItoldMrs。Lapham。"
"DidyoutellherthatifIwentinwithyouandthosefellows，Ishouldberobbingthepeoplewhotrustedthem？"
"Idon’tseewhatyou’vegottodowiththepeoplethatsentthemhere。Theyarerichpeople，andcouldbearitifitcametotheworst。Butthere’snolikelihood，now，thatitwillcometotheworst；
youcanseeyourselfthattheRoadhaschangeditsmindaboutbuying。AndhereamIwithoutacentintheworld；
andmywifeisaninvalid。Sheneedscomforts，sheneedslittleluxuries，andshehasn’teventhenecessaries；
andyouwanttosacrificehertoamereidea！Youdon’tknowinthefirstplacethattheRoadwilleverwanttobuy；
andifitdoes，theprobabilityisthatwithacolonylikethatplantedonitsline，itwouldmakeverydifferenttermsfromwhatitwouldwithyouorme。Theseagentsarenotafraid，andtheirprincipalsarerichpeople；
andiftherewasanyloss，itwouldbedividedupamongstthemsothattheywouldn’tanyofthemfeelit。"
Laphamstoleatroubledglanceathiswife，andsawthattherewasnohelpinher。Whethershewasdauntedandconfusedinherownconsciencebytheoutcome，soevilanddisastrous，ofthereparationtoRogerswhichshehadforcedherhusbandtomake，orwhetherherperceptionshadbeenbluntedanddarkenedbytheappealswhichRogershadnowused，itwouldbedifficulttosay。
Probablytherewasamixtureofbothcausesintheeffectwhichherhusbandfeltinher，andfromwhichheturned，girdinghimselfanew，toRogers。
"Ihavenowishtorecurtothepast，"continuedRogers，withgrowingsuperiority。"Youhaveshownaproperspiritinregardtothat，andyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtowipeitout。"
"IshouldthinkIhad，"saidLapham。"I’veusedupaboutahundredandfiftythousanddollarstrying。"
"Someofmyenterprises，"Rogersadmitted，"havebeenunfortunate，seemingly；butIhavehopesthattheywillyetturnoutwell——intime。Ican’tunderstandwhyyoushouldbesomindfulofothersnow，whenyoushowedsolittleregardformethen。Ihadcometoyouraidatatimewhenyouneededhelp，andwhenyougotonyourfeetyoukickedmeoutofthebusiness。Idon’tcomplain，butthatisthefact；andIhadtobeginagain，afterI
hadsupposedmyselfsettledinlife，andestablishmyselfelsewhere。"
Laphamglancedagainathiswife；herheadhadfallen；
hecouldseethatshewassorootedinheroldremorseforthatquestionableactofhis，amplyandmorethanfullyatonedforsince，thatshewashelpless，nowinthecrucialmoment，whenhehadtheutmostneedofherinsight。
Hehadcounteduponher；heperceivednowthatwhenhehadthoughtitwasforhimalonetodecide，hehadcounteduponherjustspirittostayhisowninitsstruggletobejust。
Hehadnotforgottenhowsheheldoutagainsthimonlyalittlewhileago，whenheaskedherwhetherhemightnotrightfullysellinsomesuchcontingencyasthis；
anditwasnotnowthatshesaidorevenlookedanythinginfavourofRogers，butthatshewassilentagainsthim，whichdismayedLapham。Heswallowedthelumpthatroseinhisthroat，theself—pity，thepityforher，thedespair，andsaidgently，"Iguessyoubettergotobed，Persis。
It’sprettylate。"
Sheturnedtowardsthedoor，whenRogerssaid，withtheobviousintentionofdetainingherthroughhercuriosity——
"ButIletthatpass。AndIdon’tasknowthatyoushouldselltothesemen。"
Mrs。Laphampaused，irresolute。
"Whatareyoumakingthisbotherfor，then？"demandedLapham。
"WhatDOyouwant？"
"WhatI’vebeentellingyourwifehere。Iwantyoushouldselltome。Idon’tsaywhatI’mgoingtodowiththeproperty，andyouwillnothaveaniotaofresponsibility，whateverhappens。"
Laphamwasstaggered，andhesawhiswife’sfacelightupwitheagerquestion。
"Iwantthatproperty，"continuedRogers，"andI’vegotthemoneytobuyit。Whatwillyoutakeforit？Ifit’sthepriceyou’restandingoutfor————"
"Persis，"saidLapham，"gotobed，"andhegaveheralookthatmeantobedienceforher。Shewentoutofthedoor，andlefthimwithhistempter。
"IfyouthinkI’mgoingtohelpyouwhipthedevilroundthestump，you’remistakeninyourman，MiltonRogers，"
saidLapham，lightingacigar。"AssoonasIsoldtoyou，youwouldselltothatotherpairofrascals。Ismelt’emoutinhalfaminute。"
"TheyareChristiangentlemen，"saidRogers。"ButI
don’tpurposedefendingthem；andIdon’tpurposetellingyouwhatIshallorshallnotdowiththepropertywhenitisinmyhandsagain。Thequestionis，Willyousell，and，ifso，whatisyourfigure？Youhavegotnothingwhatevertodowithitafteryou’vesold。"
Itwasperfectlytrue。Anylawyerwouldhavetoldhimthesame。
HecouldnothelpadmiringRogersforhisingenuity，andeveryselfishinterestofhisnaturejoinedwithmanyobviousdutiestourgehimtoconsent。Hedidnotseewhyheshouldrefuse。Therewasnolongerareason。
Hewasstandingoutalonefornothing，anyoneelsewouldsay。HesmokedonasifRogerswerenotthere，andRogersremainedbeforethefireaspatientastheclocktickingbehindhisheadonthemantel，andshowingthegleamofitspendulumbeyondhisfaceoneitherside。
Butatlasthesaid，"Well？"
"Well，"answeredLapham，"youcan’texpectmetogiveyouananswerto—night，anymorethanbefore。Youknowthatwhatyou’vesaidnowhasn’tchangedthethingabit。
Iwishithad。TheLordknows，Iwanttoberidofthepropertyfastenough。""Thenwhydon’tyouselltome？
Can’tyouseethatyouwillnotberesponsibleforwhathappensafteryouhavesold？"
"No，Ican’tseethat；butifIcanbymorning，I’llsell。"
"Whydoyouexpecttoknowanybetterbymorning？
You’rewastingtimefornothing！"criedRogers，inhisdisappointment。"Whyareyousoparticular？Whenyoudrovemeoutofthebusinessyouwerenotsoveryparticular。"
Laphamwinced。Itwascertainlyridiculousformanwhohadoncesoselfishlyconsultedhisownintereststobesticklingnowabouttherightsofothers。
"Iguessnothing’sgoingtohappenovernight，"heansweredsullenly。"Anyway，Ishan’tsaywhatIshalldotillmorning。"
"WhattimecanIseeyouinthemorning？"
"Half—pastnine。"
Rogersbuttonedhiscoat，andwentoutoftheroomwithoutanotherword。Laphamfollowedhimtoclosethestreet—doorafterhim。
Hiswifecalleddowntohimfromaboveasheapproachedtheroomagain，"Well？"
"I’vetoldhimI’dlethimknowinthemorning。"
"WantIshouldcomedownandtalkwithyou？"
"No，"answeredLapham，intheproudbitternesswhichhisisolationbrought，"youcouldn’tdoanygood。"Hewentinandshutthedoor，andbyandbyhiswifeheardhimbeginwalkingupanddown；andthentherestofthenightshelayawakeandlistenedtohimwalkingupanddown。
Butwhenthefirstlightwhitenedthewindow，thewordsoftheScripturecameintohermind："Andtherewrestledamanwithhimuntilthebreakingoftheday……Andhesaid，Letmego，forthedaybreaketh。Andhesaid，Iwillnotlettheego，exceptthoublessme。"
Shecouldnotaskhimanythingwhentheymet，butheraisedhisdulleyesafterthefirstsilence，andsaid，"Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtosaytoRogers。"
Shecouldnotspeak；shedidnotknowwhattosay，andshesawherhusbandwhenshefollowedhimwithhereyesfromthewindow，dragheavilydowntowardthecorner，wherehewastotake，thehorse—car。
Hearrivedratherlaterthanusualathisoffice，andhefoundhislettersalreadyonhistable。Therewasone，longandofficial—looking，withaprintedletter—headingontheoutside，andLaphamhadnoneedtoopenitinordertoknowthatitwastheofferoftheGreatLacustrine&
PolarRailroadforhismills。Buthewentmechanicallythroughtheverificationofhispropheticfear，whichwasalsohissolehope，andthensatlookingblanklyatit。
Rogerscamepromptlyattheappointedtime，andLaphamhandedhimtheletter。Hemusthavetakenitallinataglance，andseentheimpossibilityofnegotiatinganyfurthernow，evenwithvictimssopliantandwillingasthoseEnglishmen。
"You’veruinedme！"Rogersbrokeout。"Ihaven’tacentleftintheworld！Godhelpmypoorwife！"
Hewentout，andLaphamremainedstaringatthedoorwhichcloseduponhim。Thiswashisrewardforstandingfirmforrightandjusticetohisowndestruction：
tofeellikeathiefandamurderer。
XXVI。
LATERintheforenooncamethedespatchfromtheWestVirginiansinNewYork，sayingtheirbrotherassentedtotheiragreement；
anditnowremainedforLaphamtofulfilhispartofit。
Hewasludicrouslyfarfromabletodothis；andunlesshecouldgetsomeextensionoftimefromthem，hemustlosethischance，hisonlychance，toretrievehimself。
Hespentthetimeinadesperateendeavourtoraisethemoney，buthehadnotraisedthehalfofitwhenthebanksclosed。
WithshameinhishearthewenttoBellingham，fromwhomhehadpartedsohaughtily，andlaidhisplanbeforehim。
HecouldnotbringhimselftoaskBellingham’shelp，buthetoldhimwhatheproposedtodo。Bellinghampointedoutthatthewholethingwasanexperiment，andthatthepriceaskedwasenormous，unlessagreatsuccessweremorallycertain。Headviseddelay，headvisedprudence；
heinsistedthatLaphamoughtatleasttogoouttoKanawhaFalls，andseetheminesandworksbeforeheputanysuchsumintothedevelopmentoftheenterprise。
"That’sallwellenough，"criedLapham；"butifIdon’tclinchthisofferwithintwenty—fourhours，they’llwithdrawit，andgointothemarket；andthenwhereamI？"
"Goonandseethemagain，"saidBellingham。"Theycan’tbesoperemptoryasthatwithyou。Theymustgiveyoutimetolookatwhattheywanttosell。Ifitturnsoutwhatyouhope，then——I’llseewhatcanbedone。
Butlookintoitthoroughly。"
"Well！"criedLapham，helplesslysubmitting。Hetookouthiswatch，andsawthathehadfortyminutestocatchthefouro’clocktrain。Hehurriedbacktohisoffice，andputtogethersomepaperspreparatorytogoing，anddespatchedanotebyhisboytoMrs。LaphamsayingthathewasstartingforNewYork，anddidnotknowjustwhenheshouldgetback。
Theearlyspringdaywasrawandcold。Ashewentoutthroughtheofficehesawtheclerksatworkwiththeirstreet—coatsandhatson；MissDeweyhadherjacketdraggeduponhershoulders，andlookedparticularlycomfortlessassheoperatedhermachinewithherredfingers。
"What’sup？"askedLapham，stoppingamoment。
"Seemstobesomethingthematterwiththesteam，"
sheanswered，withtheairofunmeritedwronghabitualwithsomanyprettywomenwhohavetoworkforaliving。
"Well，takeyourwriterintomyroom。There’safireinthestovethere，"saidLapham，passingout。
Halfanhourlaterhiswifecameintotheouteroffice。
Shehadpassedthedayinapassionofself—reproach，graduallymountingfromthementalnumbnessinwhichhehadlefther，andnowshecouldwaitnolongertotellhimthatshesawhowshehadforsakenhiminhishouroftrialandlefthimtobearitalone。Shewonderedatherselfinshameanddismay；shewonderedthatshecouldhavebeensoconfusedastotherealpointbythatoldwretchofaRogers，thatshecouldhavelethimhoodwinkherso，evenforamoment。Itastoundedherthatsuchathingshouldhavehappened，foriftherewasanyvirtueuponwhichthisgoodwomanpridedherself，inwhichshethoughtherselfsuperiortoherhusband，itwasherinstantandsteadfastperceptionofrightandwrong，andtheabilitytochoosetherighttoherownhurt。
Butshehadnowtoconfess，aseachofushashadlikewisetoconfessinhisowncase，thattheveryvirtueonwhichshehadpridedherselfwasthethingthathadplayedherfalse；
thatshehadkepthermindsolonguponthatoldwrongwhichshebelievedherhusbandhaddonethismanthatshecouldnotdetachit，butclungtothethoughtofreparationforitwhensheoughttohaveseenthathewasproposingapieceofrogueryasthemeans。ThesufferingwhichLaphammustinflictonhimifhedecidedagainsthimhadbeenmoretoherapprehensionthantheharmhemightdoifhedecidedforhim。Butnowsheownedherlimitationstoherself，andaboveeverythingintheworldshewishedthemanwhomherconsciencehadrousedanddrivenonwhitherherintelligencehadnotfollowed，todoright，todowhathefelttoberight，andnothingelse。
Sheadmiredandreveredhimforgoingbeyondher，andshewishedtotellhimthatshedidnotknowwhathehaddeterminedtodoaboutRogers，butthatsheknewitwasright，andwouldgladlyabidetheconsequenceswithhim，whatevertheywere。
Shehadnotbeennearhisplaceofbusinessfornearlyayear，andherheartsmotehertenderlyasshelookedaboutherthere，andthoughtoftheearlydayswhensheknewasmuchaboutthepaintashedid；shewishedthatthosedayswerebackagain。ShesawCoreyathisdesk，andshecouldnotbeartospeaktohim；shedroppedherveilthatsheneednotrecognisehim，andpushedontoLapham’sroom，andopeningthedoorwithoutknocking，shutitbehindher。
Thenshebecameawarewithintolerabledisappointmentthatherhusbandwasnotthere。Instead，averyprettygirlsatathisdesk，operatingatypewriter。
Sheseemedquiteathome，andshepaidMrs。Laphamthescantattentionwhichsuchyoungwomenoftenbestowuponpeoplenotpersonallyinterestingtothem。
Itvexedthewifethatanyoneelseshouldseemtobehelpingherhusbandaboutbusinessthatshehadoncebeensointimatewith；andshedidnotatalllikethegirl’sindifferencetoherpresence。Herhatandsackhungonanailinonecorner，andLapham’sofficecoat，lookingintenselylikehimtohiswife’sfamiliareye，hungonanailintheothercorner；andMrs。Laphamlikedevenlessthanthegirl’sgoodlooksthisdomesticationofhergarmentsinherhusband’soffice。Shebegantoaskherselfexcitedlywhyheshouldbeawayfromhisofficewhenshehappenedtocome；andshehadnotthestrengthatthemomenttoreasonherselfoutofherunreasonableness。
"WhenwillColonelLaphambein，doyousuppose？"
shesharplyaskedofthegirl。
"Icouldn’tsayexactly，"repliedthegirl，withoutlookinground。
"Hashebeenoutlong？"
"Idon’tknowasInoticed，"saidthegirl，lookingupattheclock，withoutlookingatMrs。Lapham。Shewentonworkinghermachine。
"Well，Ican’twaitanylonger，"saidthewifeabruptly。
"WhenColonelLaphamcomesin，youpleasetellhimMrs。Laphamwantstoseehim。"
ThegirlstartedtoherfeetandturnedtowardMrs。Laphamwitharedandstartledface，whichshedidnotlifttoconfronther。"Yes——yes——Iwill，"shefaltered。
Thewifewenthomewithasenseofdefeatmixedwithanirritationaboutthisgirlwhichshecouldnotquelloraccountfor。Shefoundherhusband’smessage，anditseemedintolerablethatheshouldhavegonetoNewYorkwithoutseeingher；sheaskedherselfinvainwhatthemysteriousbusinesscouldbethattookhimawaysosuddenly。Shesaidtoherselfthathewasneglectingher；hewasleavingheroutalittletoomuch；
andindemandingofherselfwhyhehadnevermentionedthatgirlthereinhisoffice，sheforgothowmuchshehadleftherselfoutofhisbusinesslife。Thatwasanothercurseoftheirprosperity。Well，shewasgladtheprosperitywasgoing；ithadneverbeenhappiness。
Afterthisshewasgoingtoknoweverythingassheused。
ShetriedtodismissthewholemattertillLaphamreturned；
andiftherehadbeenanythingforhertodointhatmiserablehouse，asshecalleditinherthought，shemighthavesucceeded。Butagainthecursewasonher；
therewasnothingtodo；andthelooksofthatgirlkeptcomingbacktohervacancy，herdisoccupation。
Shetriedtomakeherselfsomethingtodo，butthatbeauty，whichshehadnotliked，followedheramidtheworkofoverhaulingthesummerclothing，whichIrenehadseentoputtingawayinthefall。Whowasthething，anyway？Itwasverystrange，herbeingthere；whydidshejumpupinthatfrightenedwaywhenMrs。Laphamhadnamedherself？
Afterdark，thatevening，whenthequestionhadwornawayitspoignancyfrommereiteration，anoteforMrs。Laphamwasleftatthedoorbyamessengerwhosaidtherewasnoanswer。