"Yes，shedoneright，"saidLapham。"Itwastimeforhertocome，"headdedgently。
Thenhewassilentagain，andhiswifetoldhimofCorey’shavingbeenthere，andofhisfather’sandmother’scalling。
"IguessPen’sconcludedtomakeitup，"shesaid。
"Well，we’llseeaboutthat，"saidLapham；andnowshecouldnolongerforbeartoaskhimabouthisaffairs。
"Idon’tknowasI’vegotanyrighttoknowanythingaboutit，"shesaidhumbly，withremoteallusiontohertreatmentofhim。"ButIcan’thelpwantingtoknow。
HowAREthingsgoing，Si？"
"Bad，"hesaid，pushinghisplatefromhim，andtiltinghimselfbackinhischair。"Ortheyain’tgoingatall。
They’vestopped。"
"Whatdoyoumean，Si？"shepersisted，tenderly。
"I’vegottotheendofmystring。To—morrowIshallcallameetingofmycreditors，andputmyselfintheirhands。
Ifthere’senoughlefttosatisfythem，I’msatisfied。"
Hisvoicedroppedinhisthroat；heswallowedonceortwice，andthendidnotspeak。
"Doyoumeanthatit’salloverwithyou？"sheaskedfearfully。
Hebowedhisbighead，wrinkledandgrizzled；andafterawhilehesaid，"It’shardtorealiseit；butIguessthereain’tanydoubtaboutit。"Hedrewalongbreath，andthenheexplainedtoherabouttheWestVirginiapeople，andhowhehadgotanextensionofthefirsttimetheyhadgivenhim，andhadgotamantogouptoLaphamwithhimandlookattheworks，——amanthathadturnedupinNewYork，andwantedtoputmoneyinthebusiness。HismoneywouldhaveenabledLaphamtoclosewiththeWestVirginians。
"Thedevilwasinit，rightstraightalong，"saidLapham。
"AllIhadtodowastokeepquietaboutthatothercompany。
ItwasRogersandhispropertyrightoveragain。Helikedthelookofthings，andhewantedtogointothebusiness，andhehadthemoney——plenty；itwouldhavesavedmewiththoseWestVirginiafolks。ButIhadtotellhimhowIstood。
Ihadtotellhimallaboutit，andwhatIwantedtodo。
Hebegantobackwaterinaminute，andthenextmorningI
sawthatitwasupwithhim。He’sgonebacktoNewYork。
I’velostmylastchance。NowallI’vegottodoistosavethepieces。"
"Will——will——everythinggo？"sheasked。
"Ican’ttell，yet。Buttheyshallhaveachanceateverything——everydollar，everycent。I’msorryforyou，Persis——andthegirls。"
"Oh，don’ttalkofUS！"Shewastryingtorealisethatthesimple，rudesoultowhichherheartcloveinheryouth，butwhichshehadputtosuchcruelproof，withherunsparingconscienceandherunsparingtongue，hadbeenequaltoitsordeals，andhadcomeoutunscathedandunstained。
Hewasableinhistalktomakesolittleofthem；hehardlyseemedtoseewhattheywere；hewasapparentlynotproudofthem，andcertainlynotglad；iftheywerevictoriesofanysort，heborethemwiththepatienceofdefeat。
Hiswifewishedtopraisehim，butshedidnotknowhow；
sosheofferedhimalittlereproach，inwhichaloneshetouchedthecauseofherbehaviouratparting。
"Silas，"sheasked，afteralonggazeathim，"whydidn’tyoutellmeyouhadJimMillon’sgirlthere？"
"Ididn’tsupposeyou’dlikeit，Persis，"heanswered。
"Ididintendtotellyouatfirst，butthenIput——Iputitoff。Ithoughtyou’dcomeroundsomeday，andfinditoutforyourself。"
"I’mpunished，"saidhiswife，"fornottakingenoughinterestinyourbusinesstoevencomenearit。
Ifwe’rebroughtbacktothedayofsmallthings，Iguessit’salessonforme，Silas。"
"Oh，Idon’tknowaboutthelesson，"hesaidwearily。
Thatnightsheshowedhimtheanonymousscrawlwhichhadkindledherfuryagainsthim。Heturneditlistlesslyoverinhishand。"IguessIknowwhoit’sfrom，"hesaid，givingitbacktoher，"andIguessyoudotoo，Persis。"
"Buthow——howcouldhe————"
"Mebbehebelievedit，"saidLapham，withpatiencethatcuthermorekeenlythananyreproach。"YOUdid。"
Perhapsbecausetheprocessofhisruinhadbeensogradual，perhapsbecausetheexcitementofprecedingeventshadexhaustedtheircapacityforemotion，theactualconsummationofhisbankruptcybroughtarelief，areposetoLaphamandhisfamily，ratherthanafreshsensationofcalamity。
Intheshadowofhisdisastertheyreturnedtosomethingliketheirold，unitedlife；theywereatleastalltogetheragain；anditwillbeintelligibletothosewhomlifehasblessedwithvicissitude，thatLaphamshouldcomehometheeveningafterhehadgivenupeverything，tohiscreditors，andshouldsitdowntohissuppersocheerfulthatPenelopecouldjokehimintheoldway，andtellhimthatshethoughtfromhislookstheyhadconcludedtopayhimahundredcentsoneverydollarheowedthem。
AsJamesBellinghamhadtakensomuchinterestinhistroublesfromthefirst，Laphamthoughtheoughttotellhim，beforetakingthefinalstep，justhowthingsstoodwithhim，andwhathomeanttodo。BellinghammadesomefutileinquiriesabouthisnegotiationswiththeWestVirginians，andLaphamtoldhimtheyhadcometonothing。HespokeoftheNewYorkman，andthechancethathemighthavesoldouthalfhisbusinesstohim。"But，ofcourse，Ihadtolethimknowhowitwasaboutthosefellows。"
"Ofcourse，"saidBellingham，notseeingtillafterwardsthefullsignificanceofLapham’saction。
LaphamsaidnothingaboutRogersandtheEnglishmen。
Hebelievedthathehadactedrightinthatmatter，andhewassatisfied；buthedidnotcaretohaveBellingham，oranybody，perhaps，thinkhehadbeenafool。
Allthosewhowereconcernedinhisaffairssaidhebehavedwell，andevenmorethanwell，whenitcametotheworst。
Theprudence，thegoodsense，whichhehadshowninthefirstyearsofhissuccess，andofwhichhisgreatprosperityseemedtohaveberefthim，cameback，andthesequalities，usedinhisownbehalf，commendedhimasmuchtohiscreditorsastheanxietyheshowedthatnooneshouldsufferbyhim；
thisevenmadesomeofthemdoubtfulofhissincerity。
Theygavehimtime，andtherewouldhavebeennotroubleinhisresumingontheoldbasis，ifthegroundhadnotbeencutfromunderhimbythecompetitionoftheWestVirginiacompany。Hesawhimselfthatitwasuselesstotrytogoonintheoldway，andhepreferredtogobackandbegintheworldanewwherehehadfirstbegunit，inthehillsatLapham。HeputthehouseatNankeenSquare，witheverythingelsehehad，intothepaymentofhisdebts，andMrs。LaphamfounditeasiertoleaveitfortheoldfarmsteadinVermontthanitwouldhavebeentogofromthathomeofmanyyearstothenewhouseonthewatersideofBeacon。Thisthingandthatisembitteredtous，sothatwemaybewillingtorelinquishit；theworld，lifeitself，isembitteredtomostofus，sothatwearegladtohavedonewiththematlast；andthishomewashauntedwithsuchmemoriestoeachofthosewhoabandoneditthattogowaslessexilethanescape。
Mrs。LaphamcouldnotlookintoIrene’sroomwithoutseeingthegirltherebeforeherglass，tearingthepoorlittlekeep—sakesofherhaplessfancyfromtheirhiding—placestotakethemandflingtheminpassionaterenunciationuponhersister；shecouldnotcomeintothesitting—room，whereherlittleoneshadgrownup，withoutstartingatthethoughtofherhusbandsittingsomanywearynightsathisdeskthere，tryingtofighthiswaybacktohopeoutoftheruinintowhichbewasslipping。WhensherememberedthatnightwhenRogerscame，shehatedtheplace。
Ireneacceptedherreleasefromthehouseeagerly，andwasgladtogobeforeandprepareforthefamilyatLapham。
Penelopewasalwaysashamedofherengagementthere；itmustseembettersomewhereelseandshewasgladtogotoo。
NoonebutLaphaminfact，feltthepangofpartinginallitskeenness。WhateverregrettheothershadwassoftenedtothembythelikenessoftheirflittingtomanyofthoseremovalsforthesummerwhichtheymadeinthelatespringwhentheyleftNankeenSquare；
theyweregoingdirectlyintothecountryinsteadoftotheseasidefirst；butLapham，whousuallyremainedintownlongaftertheyhadgone，knewallthedifference。
Forhisnervestherewasnomechanicalsenseofcomingback；
thiswasasmuchtheendofhisproud，prosperouslifeasdeathitselfcouldhavebeen。Hewasreturningtobeginlifeanew，butheknewaswellasheknewthatheshouldnotfindhisvanishedyouthinhisnativehills，thatitcouldneveragainbethetriumphthatithadbeen。
Thatwasimpossible，notonlyinhisstiffenedandweakenedforces，butintheverynatureofthings。
Hewasgoingback，bygraceofthemanwhomheowedmoney，tomakewhathecouldoutoftheonechancewhichhissuccessfulrivalshadlefthim。
Inonephasehispainthadhelditsownagainstbadtimesandruinouscompetition，anditwaswiththehopeofdoingstillmorewiththePersisBrandthathenowsethimselftowork。TheWestVirginiapeopleconfessedthattheycouldnotproducethosefinegrades，andtheywillinglyleftthefieldtohim。Astrange，notignoblefriendlinessexistedbetweenLaphamandthethreebrothers；
theyhadusedhimfairly；itwastheirfacilitiesthathadconqueredhim，nottheirill—will；andherecognisedinthemwithoutenmitythenecessitytowhichhehadyielded。
Ifhesucceededinhiseffortstodevelophispaintinthisdirection，itmustbeforalongtimeonasmallscalecomparedwithhisformerbusiness，whichitcouldneverequal，andhebroughttothemtheflaggingenergiesofanelderlyman。Hewasmorebrokenthanheknewbyhisfailure；itdidnotkill，asitoftendoes，butitweakenedthespringoncesostrongandelastic。Helapsedmoreandmoreintoacquiescencewithhischangedcondition，andthatbraggingnoteofhiswasrarelysounded。
Heworkedfaithfullyenoughinhisenterprise，butsometimeshefailedtoseizeoccasionsthatinhisyoungerdayshewouldhaveturnedtogoldenaccount。Hiswifesawinhimadauntedlookthatmadeherheartacheforhim。
OneresultofhisfriendlyrelationswiththeWestVirginiapeoplewasthatCoreywentinwiththem，andthefactthathedidsosolelyuponLapham’sadvice，andbymeansofhisrecommendation，wasperhapstheColonel’sproudestconsolation。Coreyknewthebusinessthoroughly，andafterhalfayearatKanawhaFallsandintheofficeatNewYork，hewentouttoMexicoandCentralAmerica，toseewhatcouldbedoneforthemuponthegroundwhichhehadtheoreticallystudiedwithLapham。
BeforehewenthecameuptoVermont，andurgedPenelopetogowithhim。HewastobefirstinthecityofMexico，andifhismissionwassuccessfulhewastobekeptthereandinSouthAmericaseveralyears，watchingthenewrailroadenterprisesandthedevelopmentofmechanicalagricultureandwhateverotherundertakingsofferedanopeningfortheintroductionofthepaint。
Theywereallyoungmentogether，andCorey，whohadputhismoneyintothecompany，hadaproprietaryinterestinthesuccesswhichtheywereeagertoachieve。
"There’snomorereasonnowandnolessthanevertherewas，"
musedPenelope，incounselwithhermother，"whyIshouldsayYes，orwhyIshouldsayNo。Everythingelsechanges，butthisisjustwhereitwasayearago。Itdon’tgobackward，anditdon’tgoforward。Mother，IbelieveIshalltakethebitinmyteeth——ifanybodywillputitthere！"
"Itisn’tthesameasitwas，"suggestedhermother。
"YoucanseethatIrene’salloverit。"
"That’snocredittome，"saidPenelope。"Ioughttobejustasmuchashamedasever。"
"Younoneedevertobeashamed。"
"That’strue，too，"saidthegirl。"AndIcansneakofftoMexicowithagoodconscienceifIcouldmakeupmymindtoit。"Shelaughed。"Well，ifIcouldbeSENTENCEDtobemarried，orsomebodywouldupandforbidthebanns！Idon’tknowwhattodoaboutit。"
HermotherlefthertocarryherhesitationbacktoCorey，andshesaidnow，theyhadbettergoalloveritandtrytoreasonitout。"AndIhopethatwhateverIdo，itwon’tbeformyownsake，butfor——others！"
Coreysaidhewassureofthat，andlookedatherwitheyesofpatienttenderness。
"Idon’tsayitiswrong，"sheproceeded，ratheraimlessly，"butIcan’tmakeitseemright。Idon’tknowwhetherIcanmakeyouunderstand，buttheideaofbeinghappy，wheneverybodyelseissomiserable，ismorethanI
canendure。Itmakesmewretched。"
"Thenperhapsthat’syourshareofthecommonsuffering，"
suggestedCorey，smiling。
"Oh，youknowitisn’t！Youknowit’snothing。
Oh！OneofthereasonsiswhatItoldyouoncebefore，thataslongasfatherisintroubleIcan’tletyouthinkofme。Nowthathe’slosteverything——？"Shebenthereyesinquiringlyuponhim，asiffortheeffectofthisargument。
"Idon’tthinkthat’saverygoodreason，"heansweredseriously，butsmilingstill。"DoyoubelievemewhenItellyouthatIloveyou？"
"Why，IsupposeImust，"shesaid，droppinghereyes。
"Thenwhyshouldn’tIthinkallthemoreofyouonaccountofyourfather’sloss？Youdidn’tsupposeIcaredforyoubecausehewasprosperous？"
Therewasashadeofreproach，eversodelicateandgentle，inhissmilingquestion，whichshefelt。
"No，Icouldn’tthinksuchathingofyou。I——Idon’tknowwhatImeant。Imeantthat————"Shecouldnotgoonandsaythatshehadfeltherselfmoreworthyofhimbecauseofherfather’smoney；itwouldnothavebeentrue；
yettherewasnootherexplanation。Shestopped，andcastahelplessglanceathim。
Hecametoheraid。"Iunderstandwhyyoushouldn’twishmetosufferbyyourfather’smisfortunes。"
"Yes，thatwasit；andthereistoogreatadifferenceeveryway。Weoughttolookatthatagain。Youmustn’tpretendthatyoudon’tknowit，forthatwouldn’tbetrue。
Yourmotherwillneverlikeme，andperhaps——perhapsI
shallnotlikeher。"
"Well，"saidCorey，alittledaunted，"youwon’thavetomarrymyfamily。"
"Ah，thatisn’tthepoint！"
"Iknowit，"headmitted。"Iwon’tpretendthatIdon’tseewhatyoumean；butI’msurethatallthedifferenceswoulddisappearwhenyoucametoknowmyfamilybetter。
I’mnotafraidbutyouandmymotherwilllikeeachother——shecan’thelpit！"heexclaimed，lessjudiciallythanhehadhithertospoken，andhewentontourgesomepointsofdoubtfultenability。"Wehaveourways，andyouhaveyours；andwhileIdon’tsaybutwhatyouandmymotherandsisterswouldbealittlestrangetogetheratfirst，itwouldsoonwearoff，onbothsides。
Therecan’tbeanythinghopelesslydifferentinyouall，andiftherewereitwouldn’tbeanydifferencetome。"
"Doyouthinkitwouldbepleasanttohaveyouonmysideagainstyourmother？"
"Therewon’tbeanysides。Tellmejustwhatitisyou’reafraidof。"
"Afraid？"
"Thinkingof，then。"
"Idon’tknow。Itisn’tanythingtheysayordo，"
sheexplained，withhereyesintentonhis。"It’swhattheyare。Icouldn’tbenaturalwiththem，andifI
can’tbenaturalwithpeople，I’mdisagreeable。"
"Canyoubenaturalwithme？"
"Oh，I’mnotafraidofyou。Ineverwas。Thatwasthetrouble，fromthebeginning。"
"Well，then，that’sallthat’snecessary。Anditneverwastheleasttroubletome！"
"ItmademeuntruetoIrene。"
"Youmustn’tsaythat！Youwerealwaystruetoher。"
"Shecaredforyoufirst。"
"Well，butInevercaredforheratall！"hebesoughther。
"Shethoughtyoudid。"
"Thatwasnobody’sfault，andIcan’tletyoumakeityours。
Mydear————"
"Wait。Wemustunderstandeachother，"saidPenelope，risingfromherseattopreventanadvancehewasmakingfromhis；"Iwantyoutorealisethewholeaffair。
Shouldyouwantagirlwhohadn’tacentintheworld，andfeltdifferentinyourmother’scompany，andhadcheatedandbetrayedherownsister？"
"Iwantyou！"
"Verywell，then，youcan’thaveme。Ishouldalwaysdespisemyself。Ioughttogiveyouupforallthesereasons。Yes，Imust。"Shelookedathimintently，andtherewasatentativequalityinheraffirmations。
"Isthisyouranswer？"hesaid。"Imustsubmit。
IfIaskedtoomuchofyou，Iwaswrong。And——good—bye。"
Heheldouthishand，andsheputhersinit。
"YouthinkI’mcapriciousandfickle！"shesaid。
"Ican’thelpit——Idon’tknowmyself。Ican’tkeeptoonethingforhalfadayatatime。Butit’srightforustopart——yes，itmustbe。Itmustbe，"sherepeated；
"andIshalltrytorememberthat。Good—bye！Iwilltrytokeepthatinmymind，andyouwilltoo——youwon’tcare，verysoon！Ididn’tmeanTHAT——no；Iknowhowtrueyouare；
butyouwillsoonlookatmedifferently；andseethatevenIFtherehadn’tbeenthisaboutIrene，Iwasnottheoneforyou。Youdothinkso，don’tyou？"shepleaded，clingingtohishand。"Iamnotatallwhattheywouldlike——yourfamily；Ifeltthat。Iamlittle，andblack，andhomely，andtheydon’tunderstandmywayoftalking，andnowthatwe’velosteverything——No，I’mnotfit。
Good—bye。You’requiteright，nottohavepatiencewithmeanylonger。I’vetriedyouenough。Ioughttobewillingtomarryyouagainsttheirwishesifyouwantmeto，butIcan’tmakethesacrifice——I’mtooselfishforthat————"Allatoncesheflungherselfonhisbreast。
"Ican’tevengiveyouup！Ishallneverdarelookanyoneinthefaceagain。Go，go！Buttakemewithyou！I
triedtodowithoutyou！Igaveitafairtrial，anditwasadeadfailure。OpoorIrene！Howcouldshegiveyouup？"
CoreywentbacktoBostonimmediately，andleftPenelope，ashemust，totellhersisterthattheyweretobemarried。
Shewassparedfromthefirstadvancetowardthisbyanaccidentoramisunderstanding。IrenecamestraighttoherafterCoreywasgone，anddemanded，"PenelopeLapham，haveyoubeensuchaninnyastosendthatmanawayonmyaccount？"
Peneloperecoiledfromthisterriblecourage；shedidnotanswerdirectly，andIrenewenton，"Becauseifyoudid，I’llthankyoutobringhimbackagain。
I’mnotgoingtohavehimthinkingthatI’mdyingforamanthatnevercaredforme。It’sinsulting，andI’mnotgoingtostandit。Now，youjustsendforhim！"
"Oh，Iwill，’Rene，"gaspedPenelope。Andthensheadded，shamedoutofherprevaricationbyIrene’shaughtymagnanimity，"Ihave。Thatis——he’scomingback————"
Irenelookedatheramoment，andthen，whateverthoughtwasinhermind，saidfiercely，"Well！"andlefthertoherdismay——herdismayandherrelief，fortheybothknewthatthiswasthelasttimetheyshouldeverspeakofthatagain。
Themarriagecameaftersomuchsorrowandtrouble，andthefactwasreceivedwithsomuchmisgivingforthepastandfuture，thatitbroughtLaphamnoneofthetriumphinwhichhehadonceexultedatthethoughtofanalliancewiththeCoreys。Adversityhadsofarbeenhisfriendthatithadtakenfromhimallhopeofthesocialsuccessforwhichpeoplecrawlandtruckle，andrestoredhim，throughfailureanddoubtandheartache，themanhoodwhichhisprosperityhadsonearlystolenfromhim。
NeitherhenorhiswifethoughtnowthattheirdaughterwasmarryingaCorey；theythoughtonlythatshewasgivingherselftothemanwholovedher，andtheiracquiescencewassoberedstillfurtherbythepresenceofIrene。
Theirheartswerefarmorewithher。
AgainandagainMrs。Laphamsaidshedidnotseehowshecouldgothroughit。"Ican’tmakeitseemright，"
shesaid。
"ItISright，"steadilyansweredtheColonel。
"Yes，Iknow。Butitdon’tSEEMso。"
ItwouldbeeasytopointouttraitsinPenelope’scharacterwhichfinallyreconciledallherhusband’sfamilyandendearedhertothem。Thesethingscontinuallyhappeninnovels；
andtheCoreys，astheyhadalwayspromisedthemselvestodo，madethebest，andnottheworstofTom’smarriage。
TheywerepeoplewhocouldvalueLapham’sbehaviourasTomreportedittothem。Theywereproudofhim，andBromfieldCorey，whofoundadelicate，aestheticpleasureintheheroismwithwhichLaphamhadwithstoodRogersandhistemptations——somethingfinelydramaticandunconsciouslyeffective，——wrotehimaletterwhichwouldoncehaveflatteredtheroughsoulalmosttoecstasy，thoughnowheaffectedtoslightitinshowingit。
"It’sallrightifitmakesitmorecomfortableforPen，"
hesaidtohiswife。
Butthedifferencesremaineduneffaced，ifnotuneffaceable，betweentheCoreysandTomCorey’swife。"IfhehadonlymarriedtheColonel！"subtlysuggestedNannyCorey。
Therewasabriefseasonofcivilityandforbearanceonbothsides，whenhebroughtherhomebeforestartingforMexico，andherfather—in—lawmadeasympatheticfeintoflikingPenelope’swayoftalking，butitisquestionableifevenhefounditsodelightfulasherhusbanddid。
LilyCoreymadealittle，ineffectualsketchofher，whichsheputbywithotherstudiestofinishup，sometime，andfoundherratherpicturesqueinsomeways。
Nannygotonwithherbetterthantherest，andsawpossibilitiesforherinthecountrytowhichshewasgoing。
"Asshe’squiteunformed，socially，"sheexplainedtohermother，"thereisachancethatshewillformherselfontheSpanishmanner，ifshestaystherelongenough，andthatwhenshecomesbackshewillhavethecharmof，notolives，perhaps，buttortillas，whatevertheyare：
somethingstrangeandforeign，evenifit’sborrowed。
I’mgladshe’sgoingtoMexico。Atthatdistancewecan——correspond。"
Hermothersighed，andsaidbravelythatshewassuretheyallgotonverypleasantlyasitwas，andthatshewasperfectlysatisfiedifTomwas。
Therewas，infact，muchtruthinwhatshesaidoftheirharmonywithPenelope。Havingresolved，fromthebeginning，tomakethebestoftheworst，itmightalmostbesaidthattheyweresupportedandconsoledintheirgoodintentionsbyahigherpower。Thismarriagehadnot，thankstoanover—rulingProvidence，broughtthesuccessionofLaphamteasuponBromfieldCoreywhichhehaddreaded；
theLaphamswerefaroffintheirnativefastnesses，andneitherLilynorNannyCoreywasobligedtosacrificeherselftotheconversationofIrene；theywerenotevencalledupontomakeasocialdemonstrationforPenelopeatatimewhen，mostpeoplebeingstilloutoftown，itwouldhavebeensoeasy；sheandTomhadbothbeggedthattheremightbenothingofthatkind；andthoughnoneoftheCoreyslearnedtoknowherverywellintheweekshespentwiththem，theydidnotfindithardtogetonwithher。TherewereevenmomentswhenNannyCorey，likeherfather，hadglimpsesofwhatTomhadcalledherhumour，butitwasperhapstoounliketheirowntobeeasilyrecognisable。
WhetherPenelope，onherside，founditmoredifficulttoharmonise，Icannotsay。Shehadmuchmoreoftheharmonisingtodo，sincetheywerefourtoone；butthenshehadgonethroughsomuchgreatertrialsbefore。
Whenthedooroftheircarriageclosedanditdroveoffwithherandherhusbandtothestation，shefetchedalongsigh。
"Whatisit？"askedCorey，whooughttohaveknownbetter。
"Oh，nothing。Idon’tthinkIshallfeelstrangeamongsttheMexicansnow。"
Helookedatherwithapuzzledsmile，whichgrewalittlegraver，andthenheputhisarmroundheranddrewherclosertohim。Thismadehercryonhisshoulder。
"IonlymeantthatIshouldhaveyoualltomyself。"
Thereisnoproofthatshemeantmore，butitiscertainthatourmannersandcustomsgoformoreinlifethanourqualities。Thepricethatwepayforcivilisationisthefineyetimpassabledifferentiationofthese。
Perhapswepaytoomuch；butitwillnotbepossibletopersuadethosewhohavethedifferenceintheirfavourthatthisisso。Theymayberight；andatanyrate，theblankmisgiving，therecurringsenseofdisappointmenttowhichtheyoungpeople’sdeparturelefttheCoreysistobeconsidered。Thatwastheendoftheirsonandbrotherforthem；theyfeltthat；andtheywerenotmeanorunamiablepeople。
Heremainedthreeyearsaway。Somechangestookplaceinthattime。OneofthesewasthepurchasebytheKanawhaFallsCompanyoftheminesandworksatLapham。