"Anoteforme？"shesaid，staringattheunknown，andsomehowartificial—looking，handwritingofthesuperscription。
Thensheopeneditandread："Askyourhusbandabouthisladycopying—clerk。AFriendandWell—wisher，"
whosignedthenote，gavenoothername。
Mrs。Laphamsathelplesswithitinherhand。
Herbrainreeled；shetriedtofightthemadnessoff；
butbeforeLaphamcamebackthesecondmorning，ithadbecome，withlesseningintervalsofsanityandrelease，ademoniacalpossession。Shepassedthenightwithoutsleep，withoutrest，inthefrenzyofthecruellestofthepassions，whichcoverswithshametheunhappysoulitpossesses，andmurderouslylustsforthemiseryofitsobject。
IfshehadknownwheretofindherhusbandinNewYork，shewouldhavefollowedhim；shewaitedhisreturninanecstasyofimpatience。Inthemorninghecameback，lookingspentandhaggard。Shesawhimdriveuptothedoor，andsherantolethiminherself"Whoisthatgirlyou’vegotinyouroffice，SilasLapham？"
shedemanded，whenherhusbandentered。
"Girlinmyoffice？"
"Yes！Whoisshe？Whatisshedoingthere？""Why，whathaveyouheardabouther？"
"NeveryoumindwhatI’veheard。Whoisshe？ISITMRS。
M。THATYOUGAVETHATMONEYTO？Iwanttoknowwhosheis！Iwanttoknowwhatarespectableman，withgrown—upgirlsofhisown，isdoingwithsuchalookingthingasthatinhisoffice？Iwanttoknowhowlongshe’sbeenthere？Iwanttoknowwhatshe’sthereatallfor？"
Hehadmechanicallypushedherbeforehimintothelong，darkenedparlour，andheshuthimselfintherewithhernow，tokeepthehouseholdfromhearingherliftedvoice。
Forawhilehestoodbewildered，andcouldnothaveansweredifhewould，andthenhewouldnot。Hemerelyasked，"HaveIeveraccusedyouofanythingwrong，Persis？"
"Younoneedto！"sheansweredfuriously，placingherselfagainstthecloseddoor。
"Didyoueverknowmetodoanythingoutoftheway？"
"Thatisn’twhatIaskedyou。"
"Well，Iguessyoumayfindoutaboutthatgirlyourself。
Getawayfromthedoor。"
"Iwon’tgetawayfromthedoor。"
Shefeltherselfsetlightlyaside，andherhusbandopenedthedoorandwentout。"IWILLfindoutabouther，"
shescreamedafterhim。"I’llfindout，andI’lldisgraceyou。I’llteachyouhowtotreatme————"
Theairblackenedroundher：shereeledtothesofaandthenshefoundherselfwakingfromafaint。
Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadlainthere，shedidnotcare。Inamomenthermadnesscamewhirlingbackuponher。Sherusheduptohisroom；itwasempty；
thecloset—doorsstoodajarandthedrawerswereopen；
hemusthavepackedabaghastilyandfled。Shewentoutandwanderedcrazilyupanddowntillshefoundahack。
Shegavethedriverherhusband’sbusinessaddress，andtoldhimtodrivethereasfastashecould；
andthreetimessheloweredthewindowtoputherheadoutandaskhimifhecouldnothurry。Athousandthingsthrongedintohermindtosupportherinherevilwill。
Sherememberedhowgladandproudthatmanhadbeentomarryher，andhoweverybodysaidshewasmarryingbeneathherwhenshetookhim。Sherememberedhowgoodshehadalwaysbeentohim，howperfectlydevoted，slavingearlyandlatetoadvancehim，andlookingoutforhisinterestsinallthings，andsparingherselfinnothing。
Ifithadnotbeenforher，hemighthavebeendrivingstageyet；andsincetheirtroubleshadbegun，thetroubleswhichhisownfollyandimprudencehadbroughtonthem，herconducthadbeenthatofatrueandfaithfulwife。
WasHEthesortofmantobeallowedtoplayherfalsewithimpunity？Shesetherteethanddrewherbreathsharplythroughthemwhenshethoughthowwillinglyshehadlethimbefoolher，anddeludeheraboutthatmemorandumofpaymentstoMrs。M。，becauseshelovedhimsomuch，andpitiedhimforhiscaresandanxieties。Sherecalledhisconfusion，hisguiltylooks。
Sheplungedoutofthecarriagesohastilywhenshereachedtheofficethatshedidnotthinkofpayingthedriver；
audhehadtocallafterherwhenshehadgothalf—wayupthestairs。ThenshewentstraighttoLapham’sroom，withoutrageinherheart。Therewasagainnoonetherebutthattype—writergirl；shejumpedtoherfeetinafright，asMrs。Laphamdashedthedoortobehindherandflungupherveil。
Thetwowomenconfrontedeachother。
"Why，thegoodland！"criedMrs。Lapham，"ain’tyouZerrillaMillon？"
"I——I’mmarried，"falteredthegirl"Myname’sDewey，now。"
"You’reJimMillon’sdaughter，anyway。Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？"
"Ihaven’tbeenhereregularly；I’vebeenhereoffandoneversincelastMay。"
"Where’syourmother？"
"She’shere——inBoston。"
Mrs。Laphamkepthereyesonthegirl，butshedropped，trembling，intoherhusband’schair，andasortofamazeandcuriositywereinhervoiceinsteadofthefuryshehadmeanttoputthere。
"TheColonel，"continuedZerrilla，"he’sbeenhelpingus，andhe’sgotmeatype—writer，sothatIcanhelpmyselfalittle。Mother’sdoingprettywellnow；andwhenHenisn’taroundwecangetalong。"
"Thatyourhusband？"
"Ineverwantedtomarryhim；buthepromisedtotrytogetsomethingtodoonshore；andmotherwasallforit，becausehehadalittlepropertythen，andIthoughtmaybeI’dbetter。Butit’sturnedoutjustasIsaidandifhedon’tstayawaylongenoughthistimetoletmegetthedivorce，——he’sagreedtoit，timeandagain，——I
don’tknowwhatwe’regoingtodo。"Zerrilla’svoicefell，andthetroublewhichshecouldkeepoutofherfaceusually，whenshewascomfortablywarmedandfedandprettilydressed，cloudeditinthepresenceofasympatheticlistener。
"Isawitwasyou，whenyoucameintheotherday，"
shewenton；"butyoudidn’tseemtoknowme。IsupposetheColonel’stoldyouthatthere’sagentlemangoingtomarryme——Mr。Wemmel’shisname——assoonasIgetthedivorce；butsometimesI’mcompletelydiscouraged；
itdon’tseemasifIevercouldgetit。"
Mrs。Laphamwouldnotletherknowthatshewasignorantofthefactattributedtoherknowledge。
SheremainedlisteningtoZerrilla，andpiecingoutthewholehistoryofherpresencetherefromthefactsofthepast，andthetraitsofherhusband’scharacter。
OneofthethingsshehadalwayshadtofighthimaboutwasthatideaofhisthathewasboundtotakecareofJimMillon’sworthlesswifeandherchildbecauseMillonhadgotthebulletthatwasmeantforhim。Itwasaperfectsuperstitionofhis；shecouldnotbeatitoutofhim；
butshehadmadehimpromisethelasttimehehaddoneanythingforthatwomanthatitshouldBEthelasttime。
Hehadthengotheralittlehouseinoneofthefishingports，whereshecouldtakethesailorstoboardandwashfor，andearnanhonestlivingifshewouldkeepstraight。
Thatwasfiveorsixyearsago，andMrs。LaphamhadheardnothingofMrs。Millonsince；shehadheardquiteenoughofherbefore；andhadknownheridleandbaddisheversinceshewastheworstlittlegirlatschoolinLumberville，andallthroughhershamefulgirlhood，andthemarrieddayswhichshehadmadesomiserabletothepoorfellowwhohadgivenherhisdecentnameandachancetobehaveherself。
Mrs。LaphamhadnomercyonMollMillon，andshehadquarrelledoftenenoughwithherhusbandforbefriendingher。
Asforthechild，ifthemotherwouldputZerrillaoutwithsomerespectablefamily，thatwouldbeONEthing；
butaslongasshekeptZerrillawithher，shewasagainstlettingherhusbanddoanythingforeitherofthem。
Hehaddonetentimesasmuchforthemnowashehadanyneedto，andshehadmadehimgiveherhissolemnwordthathewoulddonomore。Shesawnowthatshewaswrongtomakehimgiveit，andthathemusthavebrokenitagainandagainforthereasonthathehadgivenwhensheoncescoldedhimforthrowingawayhismoneyonthathussy——
"WhenIthinkofJimMillon，I’vegotto；that’sall。"
SherecallednowthatwhenevershehadbroughtupthesubjectofMrs。Millonandherdaughter，hehadseemedshyofit，andhaddroppeditwithsomeguessthattheyweregettingalongnow。ShewonderedthatshehadnotthoughtatonceofMrs。MillonwhenshesawthatmemorandumaboutMrs。M。；
butthewomanhadpassedsoentirelyoutofherlife，thatshehadneverdreamtofherinconnectionwithit。
Herhusbandhaddeceivedher，yetherheartwasnolongerhotagainsthim，butrathertenderlygratefulthathisdeceitwasinthissort，andnotinthatother。
Allcruelandshamefuldoubtofhimwentoutofit。
Shelookedatthisbeautifulgirl，whohadblossomedoutofherknowledgesinceshesawherlast，andsheknewthatshewasonlyablossomedweed，ofthesameworthlessrootashermother，andsaved，ifsaved，fromthesameevildestiny，bythegoodofherfatherinher；
butsofarasthegirlandhermotherwereconcerned，Mrs。Laphamknewthatherhusbandwastoblamefornothingbuthiswilful，wrong—headed，kind—heartedness，whichherownexactionshadturnedintodeceit。Sheremainedawhile，questioningthegirlquietlyaboutherselfandhermother，andthen，withabettermindtowardsZerrilla，atleast，thanshehadeverhadbefore，sheroseupandwentout。
Theremusthavebeensomeouterhintoftheexhaustioninwhichthesubsidenceofherexcitementhadleftherwithin，forbeforeshehadreachedtheheadofthestairs，Coreycametowardsher。
"CanIbeofanyusetoyou，Mrs。Lapham？TheColonelwasherejustbeforeyoucamein，onhiswaytothetrain。"
"Yes，——yes。Ididn’tknow——IthoughtperhapsIcouldcatchhimhere。Butitdon’tmatter。Iwishyouwouldletsomeonegowithmetogetacarriage，"shebeggedfeebly。
"I’llgowithyoumyself，"saidtheyoungfellow，ignoringthestrangenessinhermanner。Heofferedherhisarminthetwilightofthestaircase，andshewasgladtoputhertremblinghandthroughit，andkeepittheretillhehelpedherintoahackwhichhefoundforher。
Hegavethedriverherdirection，andstoodlookingalittleanxiouslyather。
"Ithankyou；Iamallrightnow，"shesaid，andhebadethemandriveon。
Whenshereachedhomeshewenttobed，spentwiththetumultofheremotionsandsickwithshameandself—reproach。
Sheunderstoodnow，asclearlyasifhehadtoldherinasmanywords，thatifhehadbefriendedthoseworthlessjades——theMillonscharacterisedthemselvesso，eventoMrs。Lapham’sremorse——secretlyandindefianceofher，itwasbecausehedreadedherblame，whichwassosharpandbitter，forwhathecouldnothelpdoing。
Itconsoledherthathehaddefiedher，deceivedher；
whenhecamebacksheshouldtellhimthat；andthenitflasheduponherthatshedidnotknowwherehewasgone，orwhetherhewouldevercomeagain。Ifhenevercame，itwouldbenomorethanshedeserved；butshesentforPenelope，andtriedtogiveherselfhopesofescapefromthisjustpenalty。
Laphamhadnottoldhisdaughterwherehewasgoing；
shehadheardhimpackinghisbag，andhadofferedtohelphim；
buthehadsaidhecoulddoitbest，andhadgoneoff，asheusuallydid，withouttakingleaveofanyone。
"Whatwereyoutalkingaboutsoloud，downintheparlour，"
sheaskedhermother，"justbeforehecameup~Isthereanynewtrouble？"
"No；itwasnothing。"
"Icouldn’ttell。OnceIthoughtyouwerelaughing。"
Shewentabout，closingthecurtainsonaccountofhermother’sheadache，anddoingawkwardlyandimperfectlythethingsthatIrenewouldhavedonesoskilfullyforhercomfort。
Thedayworeawaytonightfall，andthenMrs。LaphamsaidsheMUSTknow。Penelopesaidtherewasnoonetoask；
theclerkswouldallbegonehome，andhermothersaidyes，therewasMr。Corey；theycouldsendandaskhim；
hewouldknow。
Thegirlhesitated。"Verywell，"shesaid，then，scarcelyaboveawhisper，andshepresentlylaughedhuskily。
"Mr。Coreyseemsfatedtocomein，somewhere。Iguessit’saProvidence，mother。"
Shesentoffanote，inquiringwhetherhecouldtellherjustwhereherfatherhadexpectedtobethatnight；
andtheanswercamequicklybackthatCoreydidnotknow，butwouldlookupthebook—keeperandinquire。
Thisofficebroughthiminperson，anhourlater，totellPenelopethattheColonelwastobeatLaphamthatnightandnextday。
"HecameinfromNewYork，inagreathurry，andrushedoffassoonashecouldpackhisbag，"Penelopeexplained，"andwehadn’tachancetoaskhimwherehewastobeto—night。Andmotherwasn’tverywell，and————"
"Ithoughtshewasn’tlookingwellwhenshewasattheofficeto—day。AndsoIthoughtIwouldcomeratherthansend，"
Coreyexplainedinhisturn。
"Oh，thankyou！"
"IfthereisanythingIcando——telegraphColonelLapham，oranything？"
"Ohno，thankyou；mother’sbetternow。Shemerelywantedtobesurewherehewas。"
Hedidnotoffertogo，uponthisconclusionofhisbusiness，buthopedhewasnotkeepingherfromhermother。
Shethankedhimonceagain，andsaidno，thathermotherwasmuchbettersinceshehadhadacupoftea；andthentheylookedateachother，andwithoutanyapparentexchangeofintelligenceheremained，andateleveno’clockhewasstillthere。Hewashonestinsayinghedidnotknowitwassolate；buthemadenopretenceofbeingsorry，andshetooktheblametoherself。
"Ioughtn’ttohaveletyoustay，"shesaid。"Butwithfathergone，andallthattroublehangingoverus————"
Shewasallowinghimtoholdherhandamomentatthedoor，towhichshehadfollowedhim。
"I’msogladyoucouldletme！"hesaid，"andIwanttoaskyounowwhenImaycomeagain。Butifyouneedme，you’ll————"
Asharppullatthedoor—belloutsidemadethemstartasunder，andatasignfromPenelope，whoknewthatthemaidswereabedbythistime，heopenedit。
"Why，Irene！"shriekedthegirl。
Ireneenteredwiththehackman，whohaddrivenherunheardtothedoor，followingwithhersmallbags，andkissedhersisterwithresolutecomposure。"That’sall，"shesaidtothehackman。"Igavemycheckstotheexpressman，"
sheexplainedtoPenelope。
Coreystoodhelpless。Ireneturneduponhim，andgavehimherhand。"Howdoyoudo，Mr。Corey？"shesaid，withacouragethatsentathrillofadmiringgratitudethroughhim。"Where’smamma，Pen？Papagonetobed？"
Penelopefalteredoutsomereplyembodyingthefacts，andIreneranupthestairstohermother’sroom。
Mrs。Laphamstartedupinbedatherapparition。
"IreneLapham"
"UncleWilliamthoughtheoughttotellmethetroublepapawasin；anddidyouthinkIwasgoingtostayofftherejunketing，whileyouweregoingthroughallthisathome，andPenactingsosilly，too？Yououghttohavebeenashamedtoletmestaysolong！IstartedjustassoonasIcouldpack。Didyougetmydespatch？ItelegraphedfromSpringfield。Butitdon’tmatter，now。HereIam。
AndIdon’tthinkIneedhavehurriedonPen’saccount，"
sheadded，withanaccentpropheticofthesortofoldmaidshewouldbecome，ifshehappenednottomarry。
"Didyouseehim？"askedhermother。"It’sthefirsttimehe’sbeenheresinceshetoldhimhemustn’tcome。"
"Iguessitisn’tthelasttime，bythelooks，"saidIrene，andbeforeshetookoffherbonnetshebegantoundosomeofPenelope’smistakenarrangementsoftheroom。
Atbreakfast，whereCoreyandhismothermetthenextmorningbeforehisfatherandsisterscamedown，hetoldher，withembarrassmentwhichtoldmuchmore，thathewishednowthatshewouldgoandcallupontheLaphams。
Mrs。Coreyturnedalittlepale，butshutherlipstightandmournedinsilencewhateverhopesshehadlatelypermittedherself。SheansweredwithRomanfortitude：
"Ofcourse，ifthere’sanythingbetweenyouandMissLapham，yourfamilyoughttorecogniseit。"
"Yes，"saidCorey。
"Youwerereluctanttohavemecallatfirst，butnowiftheaffairisgoingon————"
"Itis！Ihope——yes，itis！"
"ThenIoughttogoandseeher，withyoursisters；
andsheoughttocomehereand——weoughtalltoseeherandmakethematterpublic。Wecan’tdosotoosoon。
Itwillseemasifwewereashamedifwedon’t。"
"Yes，youarequiteright，mother，"saidtheyoungmangratefully，"andIfeelhowkindandgoodyouare。
Ihavetriedtoconsideryouinthismatter，thoughI
don’tseemtohavedoneso；Iknowwhatyourrightsare，andIwishwithallmyheartthatIweremeetingevenyourtastesperfectly。ButIknowyouwilllikeherwhenyoucometoknowher。It’sbeenveryhardforhereveryway——abouthersister，——andshe’smadeagreatsacrificeforme。
She’sactednobly。"
Mrs。Corey，whosethoughtscannotalwaysbereported，saidshewassureofit，andthatallshedesiredwasherson’shappiness。
"She’sbeenveryunwillingtoconsideritanengagementonthataccount，andonaccountofColonelLapham’sdifficulties。
Ishouldliketohaveyougo，now，forthatveryreason。
Idon’tknowjusthowseriousthetroubleis；butitisn’tatimewhenwecanseemindifferent。"
Thelogicofthiswasnotperhapssoapparenttotheglassesoffiftyastotheeyesoftwenty—six；
butMrs。Corey，howeversheviewedit，couldnotallowherselftoblenchbeforethesonwhomshehadtaughtthattowantmagnanimitywastobelessthangentlemanly。
Sheanswered，withwhatcomposureshecould，"Iwilltakeyoursisters，"andthenshemadesomenaturalinquiriesaboutLapham’saffairs。"Oh，Ihopeitwillcomeoutallright，"
Coreysaid，withalover’svaguesmile，andlefther。
Whenhisfathercamedown，rubbinghislonghandstogether，andlookingalooffromallthecaresofthepracticalworld，inanartisticwithdrawal，fromwhichhiseyerangedoverthebreakfast—tablebeforehesatdown，Mrs。Coreytoldhimwhatsheandtheirsonhadbeensaying。
Helaughed，withadelicateimpersonalappreciationofthepredicament。"Well，Anna，youcan’tsaybutifyoueverwereguiltyofsupposingyourselfporcelain，thisisajustpunishmentofyourarrogance。Hereyouareboundbytheveryqualityonwhichyou’vepridedyourselftobehavewelltoabitofearthenwarewhoisapparentlyindangeroflosingthegildingthatrenderedhertolerable。"
"Wenevercaredforthemoney，"saidMrs。Corey。
"Youknowthat。"
"No；andnowwecan’tseemtocareforthelossofit。
Thatwouldbestillworse。Eitherhornofthedilemmagoresus。Well，westillhavethecomfortwehadinthebeginning；wecan’thelpourselves；andweshouldonlymakebadworsebytrying。UnlesswecanlooktoTom’sinamorataherselfforhelp。"
Mrs。Coreyshookherheadsogloomilythatherhusbandbrokeoffwithanotherlaugh。Butatthecontinuedtroubleofherface，hesaid，sympathetically："Mydear，Iknowit’saverydisagreeableaffair；andIdon’tthinkeitherofushasfailedtoseethatitwassofromthebeginning。
Ihavehadmywayofexpressingmysenseofit，andyouyours，butwehavealwaysbeenofthesamemindaboutit。
WewouldbothhavepreferredtohaveTommarryinhisownset；theLaphamsareaboutthelastsetwecouldhavewishedhimtomarryinto。TheyAREuncultivatedpeople，andsofarasIhaveseenthem，I’mnotabletobelievethatpovertywillimprovethem。Still，itmay。
Letushopeforthebest，andletusbehaveaswellasweknowhow。I’msureYOUwillbehavewell，andIshalltry。
I’mgoingwithyoutocallonMissLapham。Thisisathingthatcan’tbedonebyhalves！"
HecuthisorangeintheNeapolitanmanner，andateitinquarters。
XXVII。
IRENEdidnotleavehermotherinanyillusionconcerninghercousinWillandherself。Shesaidtheyhadallbeenasnicetoherastheycouldbe，andwhenMrs。Laphamhintedatwhathadbeeninherthoughts，——orherhopes，rather，——Ireneseverelysnubbedthenotion。Shesaidthathewasasgoodasengagedtoagirloutthere，andthathehadneverdreamtofher。Hermotherwonderedatherseverity；
inthesefewmonthsthegirlhadtoughenedandhardened；
shehadlostallherbabyishdependenceandpliability；
shewaslikeiron；andhereandthereshewassharpenedtoacuttingedge。Ithadbeenalifeanddeathstrugglewithher；shehadconquered，butshehadalsonecessarilylostmuch。Perhapswhatshehadlostwasnotworthkeeping；
butatanyrateshehadlostit。
Sherequiredfromhermotherastrictandaccurateaccountofherfather’saffairs，sofarasMrsLaphamknewthem；
andsheshowedabusiness—likequicknessincomprehendingthemthatPenelopehadneverpretendedto。Withhersistersheignoredthepastascompletelyasitwaspossibletodo；
andshetreatedbothCoreyandPenelopewiththejusticewhichtheirinnocenceofvoluntaryoffencedeserved。
Itwasadifficultpart，andshekeptawayfromthemasmuchasshecould。Shehadbeeneasilyexcused，onapleaoffatiguefromherjourney，whenMr。andMrs。Coreyhadcalledthedayafterherarrival，andMrs。Laphambeingstillunwell，Penelopereceivedthemalone。
Thegirlhadinstinctivelyjudgedbestthattheyshouldknowtheworstatonce，andsheletthemhavethefullbruntofthedrawing—room，whileshewasscrewinghercourageuptocomedownandseethem。Shewasafterwards——monthsafterwards——abletoreporttoCoreythatwhensheenteredtheroomhisfatherwassittingwithhishatonhisknees，alittletiltedawayfromtheEmancipationgroup，asifheexpectedtheLincolntohithim，withthatliftedhandofbenediction；andthatMrs。CoreylookedasifshewerenotsurebuttheEaglepecked。ButforthetimebeingPenelopewasasnearlycrazedasmightbebythecomplicationsofherposition，andreceivedhervisitorswithapiteousdistractionwhichcouldnotfailoftouchingBromfieldCorey’sItalianisedsympatheticism。
Hewasverypoliteandtenderwithheratfirst，andendedbymakingajokewithher，towhichPeneloperesponded，inhersort。Hesaidhehopedtheypartedfriends，ifnotquiteacquaintances；andshesaidshehopedtheywouldbeabletorecogniseeachotheriftheyevermetagain。
"ThatiswhatImeantbyherpertness，"saidMrsCorey，whentheyweredrivingaway。
"Wasitverypert？"hequeried。"Thechildhadtoanswersomething。"
"Iwouldmuchrathershehadanswerednothing，underthecircumstances，"saidMrs。Corey。"However！"sheaddedhopelessly。"Oh，she’samerrylittlegrig，youcanseethat，andthere’snoharminher。IcanunderstandalittlewhyaformalfellowlikeTomshouldbetakenwithher。Shehasn’ttheleastreverence，Isuppose，andjokedwiththeyoungmanfromthebeginning。
Youmustremember，Anna，thattherewasatimewhenyoulikedmyjoking。"
"Itwasaverydifferentthing！"
"Butthatdrawing—room，"pursuedCorey；"really，Idon’tseehowTomstandsthat。Anna，aterriblethoughtoccurstome！FancyTombeingmarriedinfrontofthatgroup，withafloralhorse—shoeintuberosescomingdownoneithersideofit！"
"Bromfield！"criedhiswife，"youareunmerciful。"
"No，no，mydear，"heargued；"merelyimaginative。
AndIcanevenimaginethatlittlethingfindingTomjusttheleastbitslow，attimes，ifitwerenotforhisgoodness。TomissokindthatI’mconvincedhesometimesfeelsyourjokeinhisheartwhenhisheadisn’tquiteclearaboutit。Well，wewillnotdespond，mydear。"
"Yourfatherseemedactuallytolikeher，"Mrs。Coreyreportedtoherdaughters，verymuchshakeninherownprejudicesbythefact。Ifthegirlwerenotsooffensivetohisfastidiousness，theremightbesomehopethatshewasnotsooffensiveasMrs。Coreyhadthought。
"IwonderhowshewillstrikeYOU，"sheconcluded，lookingfromonedaughtertoanother，asiftryingtodecidewhichofthemwouldlikePenelopeleast。
Irene’sreturnandthevisitoftheCoreysformedadistractionfortheLaphamsinwhichtheirimpendingtroublesseemedtohangfurtheraloof；butitwasonlyoneofthosereliefswhichmarkthecourseofadversity，anditwasnotoneofthecheerfulreliefs。Atanyothertime，eitherincidentwouldhavebeenananxietyandcareforMrs。Laphamwhichshewouldhavefoundhardtobear；butnowshealmostwelcomedthem。AttheendofthreedaysLaphamreturned，andhiswifemethimasifnothingunusualhadmarkedtheirparting；shereservedheratonementforafittertime；hewouldknownowfromthewaysheactedthatshefeltallrighttowardshim。
Hetookverylittlenoteofhermanner，butmethisfamilywithanausterequietthatpuzzledher，andasortofpensivedignitythatrefinedhisrudenesstoaneffectthatsometimescomestosuchnaturesafterlongsickness，whentheanimalstrengthhasbeentaxedandlowered。
Hesatsilentwithheratthetableaftertheirgirlshadleftthemalone，andseeingthathedidnotmeantospeak，shebegantoexplainwhyIrenehadcomehome，andtopraiseher。