"Itwoulddepend，"saidtheson，"uponwhetheragirl’speoplehadbeenrichlongenoughtohavegivenherpositionbeforeshemarried。Iftheyhadn’t，Idon’tseehowshewouldbeanybetterthanapoorgirlinthatrespect。"
"Yes，there’ssenseinthat。Butthesuddenlyrichareonalevelwithanyofusnowadays。Moneybuyspositionatonce。Idon’tsaythatitisn’tallright。
Theworldgenerallyknowswhatit’sabout，andknowshowtodriveabargain。Idaresayitmakesthenewrichpaytoomuch。Butthere’snodoubtbutmoneyistotheforenow。Itistheromance，thepoetryofourage。
It’sthethingthatchieflystrikestheimagination。
TheEnglishmenwhocomeherearemorecuriousaboutthegreatnewmillionairesthanaboutanyoneelse，andtheyrespectthemmore。It’sallverywell。Idon’tcomplainofit。"
"Andyouwouldlikearichdaughter—in—law，quiteregardless，then？"
"Oh，notquitesobadasthat，Tom，"saidhisfather。
"Alittleyouth，alittlebeauty，alittlegoodsenseandprettybehaviour——onemustn’tobjecttothosethings；
andtheygojustasoftenwithmoneyaswithoutit。AndI
supposeIshouldlikeherpeopletoberathergrammatical。"
"Itseemstomethatyou’reexacting，sir，"saidtheson。
"Howcanyouexpectpeoplewhohavebeenstrictlydevotedtobusinesstobegrammatical？Isn’tthatrathertoomuch？"
"Perhapsitis。Perhapsyou’reright。ButIunderstoodyourmothertosaythatthosebenefactorsofhers，whomyoumetlastsummer，wereverypassablygrammatical。"
"Thefatherisn’t。"
Theelder，whohadbeensmokingwithhisprofiletowardhisson，nowturnedhisfacefulluponhim。"Ididn’tknowyouhadseenhim？"
"Ihadn’tuntilto—day，"saidyoungCorey，withalittleheighteningofhiscolour。"ButIwaswalkingdownstreetthisafternoon，andhappenedtolookroundatanewhousesomeonewasputtingup，andIsawthewholefamilyinthewindow。ItappearsthatMr。Laphamisbuildingthehouse。"
TheelderCoreyknockedtheashofhiscigaretteintotheholderathiselbow。"Iammoreandmoreconvinced，thelongerIknowyou，Tom，thatwearedescendedfromGilesCorey。Thegiftofholdingone’stongueseemstohaveskippedme，butyouhaveitinfullforce。
Ican’tsayjusthowyouwouldbehaveunderpeineforteetdure，butunderordinarypressureyouarecertainlyabletokeepyourowncounsel。Whydidn’tyoumentionthisencounteratdinner？Youweren’taskedtopleadtoanaccusationofwitchcraft。"
"No，notexactly，"saidtheyoungman。"ButIdidn’tquiteseemywaytospeakingofit。Wehadagoodmanyotherthingsbeforeus。"
"Yes，that’strue。Isupposeyouwouldn’thavementioneditnowifIhadn’tleduptoit，wouldyou？"
"Idon’tknow，sir。Itwasratheronmymindtodoso。
PerhapsitwasIwholeduptoit。"
Hisfatherlaughed。"Perhapsyoudid，Tom；perhapsyoudid。
Yourmotherwouldhaveknownyouwereleadinguptosomething，butI’llconfessthatIdidn’t。Whatisit？"
"Nothingverydefinite。ButdoyouknowthatinspiteofhissyntaxIratherlikedhim？"
Thefatherlookedkeenlyattheson；butunlesstheboy’sfullconfidencewasoffered，Coreywasnotthemantoaskit。
"Well？"wasallthathesaid。
"Isupposethatinanewcountryonegetstolookingatpeoplealittleoutofourtradition；andIdaresaythatifIhadn’tpassedawinterinTexasImighthavefoundColonelLaphamrathertoomuch。"
"YoumeanthatthereareworsethingsinTexas？"
"Notthatexactly。ImeanthatIsawitwouldn’tbequitefairtotesthimbyourstandards。"
"ThiscomesoftheerrorwhichIhaveoftendeprecated，"
saidtheelderCorey。"InfactIamalwayssayingthattheBostonianoughtnevertoleaveBoston。
Thenheknows——andthenonly——thattherecanBEnostandardbutours。Butweareconstantlygoingaway，andcomingbackwithourconvictionsshakentotheirfoundations。
OnemangoestoEngland，andreturnswiththeconceptionofagrandersociallife；anothercomeshomefromGermanywiththenotionofamoresearchingintellectualactivity；
afellowjustbackfromParishastheabsurdestideasofartandliterature；andyoureverttousfromthecowboysofTexas，andtellustoourfacesthatweoughttotryPapaLaphambyajuryofhispeers。Itoughttobestopped——itought，really。TheBostonianwholeavesBostonoughttobecondemnedtoperpetualexile。"
Thesonsufferedthefathertoreachhisclimaxwithsmilingpatience。Whenheaskedfinally，"WhatarethecharacteristicsofPapaLaphamthatplacehimbeyondourjurisdiction？"theyoungerCoreycrossedhislonglegs，andleanedforwardtotakeoneofhiskneesbetweenhishands。
"Well，sir，hebragged，rather。"
"Oh，Idon’tknowthatbraggingshouldexempthimfromtheordinaryprocesses。I’veheardotherpeoplebraginBoston。"
"Ah，notjustinthatpersonalway——notaboutmoney。"
"No，thatwascertainlydifferent。"
"Idon’tmean，"saidtheyoungfellow，withthescrupulositywhichpeoplecouldnothelpobservingandlikinginhim，"thatitwasmorethananindirectexpressionofsatisfactionintheabilitytospend。"
"No。Ishouldbegladtoexpresssomethingofthekindmyself，ifthefactswouldjustifyme。"
Thesonsmiledtolerantlyagain。"Butifhewasenjoyinghismoneyinthatway，Ididn’tseewhyheshouldn’tshowhispleasureinit。Itmighthavebeenvulgar，butitwasn’tsordid。AndIdon’tknowthatitwasvulgar。
Perhapshissuccessfulstrokesofbusinessweretheromanceofhislife————"
Thefatherinterruptedwithalaugh。"Thegirlmustbeuncommonlypretty。Whatdidsheseemtothinkofherfather’sbrag？"
"Thereweretwoofthem，"answeredthesonevasively。
"Oh，two！Andisthesisterprettytoo？"
"Notpretty，butratherinteresting。Sheislikehermother。"
"Thentheprettyoneisn’tthefather’spet？"
"Ican’tsay，sir。Idon’tbelieve，"addedtheyoungfellow，"thatIcanmakeyouseeColonelLaphamjustasIdid。
Hestruckmeasverysimple—heartedandratherwholesome。
Ofcoursehecouldbetiresome；weallcan；andIsupposehisrangeofideasislimited。Butheisaforce，andnotabadone。Ifhehasn’tgotoverbeingsurprisedattheeffectofrubbinghislamp"
"Oh，onecouldmakeoutacase。Isupposeyouknowwhatyouareabout，Tom。ButrememberthatweareEssexCountypeople，andthatinsavourwearejustalittlebeyondthesaltoftheearth。IwilltellyouplainlythatIdon’tlikethenotionofamanwhohasrivalledthehuesofnatureinherwildesthauntswiththetintsofhismineralpaint；butIdon’tsaytherearenotworsemen。
Heisn’ttomytaste，thoughhemightbeeversomuchtomyconscience。"
"Isuppose，"saidtheson，"thatthereisnothingreallytobeashamedofinmineralpaint。Peoplegointoallsortsofthings。"
Hisfathertookhiscigarettefromhismouthandoncemorelookedhissonfullintheface。"Oh，isTHATit？"
"Ithascrossedmymind，"admittedtheson。"Imustdosomething。I’vewastedtimeandmoneyenough。
I’veseenmuchyoungermenallthroughtheWestandSouth—westtakingcareofthemselves。Idon’tthinkIwasparticularlyfitforanythingoutthere，butIamashamedtocomebackandliveuponyou，sir。"
Hisfathershookhisheadwithanironicalsigh。
"Ah，weshallneverhavearealaristocracywhilethisplebeianreluctancetoliveuponaparentorawifecontinuestheanimatingspiritofouryouth。
Itstrikesattherootofthewholefeudalsystem。
Ireallythinkyouowemeanapology，Tom。Isupposedyouwishedtomarrythegirl’smoney，andhereyouare，baselyseekingtogointobusinesswithherfather。"
YoungCoreylaughedagainlikeasonwhoperceivesthathisfatherisalittleantiquated，butkeepsafilialfaithinhiswit。"Idon’tknowthatit’squitesobadasthat；butthethinghadcertainlycrossedmymind。
Idon’tknowhowit’stobeapproached，andIdon’tknowthatit’satallpossible。ButIconfessthatI’tookto’
ColonelLaphamfromthemomentIsawhim。Helookedasifhe’meantbusiness，’andImeanbusinesstoo。"
Thefathersmokedthoughtfully。"Ofcoursepeopledogointoallsortsofthings，asyousay，andIdon’tknowthatonethingismoreignoblethananother，ifit’sdecentandlargeenough。InmytimeyouwouldhavegoneintotheChinatradeortheIndiatrade——thoughIdidn’t；andalittlelatercottonwouldhavebeenyourmanifestdestiny——thoughitwasn’tmine；butnowamanmaydoalmostanything。Thereal—estatebusinessisprettyfull。Yes，ifyouhaveadeepinwardvocationforit，Idon’tseewhymineralpaintshouldn’tdo。
Ifancyit’seasyenoughapproachingthematter。WewillinvitePapaLaphamtodinner，andtalkitoverwithhim。"
"Oh，Idon’tthinkthatwouldbeexactlytheway，sir，"
saidtheson，smilingathisfather’spatricianunworldliness。
"No？Whynot？"
"I’mafraiditwouldbeabadstart。Idon’tthinkitwouldstrikehimasbusiness—like。"
"Idon’tseewhyheshouldbepunctilious，ifwe’renot。"
"Ah，wemightsaythatifheweremakingtheadvances。"
"Well，perhapsyouareright，Tom。Whatisyouridea？"
"Ihaven’taveryclearone。ItseemstomeIoughttogetsomebusinessfriendofours，whosejudgmenthewouldrespect，tospeakagoodwordforme。"
"Giveyouacharacter？"
"Yes。AndofcourseImustgotoColonelLapham。
Mynotionwouldbetoinquireprettythoroughlyabouthim，andthen，ifIlikedthelookofthings，togorightdowntoRepublicStreetandlethimseewhathecoulddowithme，ifanything。"
"Thatsoundstremendouslypracticaltome，Tom，thoughitmaybejustthewrongway。WhenareyougoingdowntoMountDesert？"
"To—morrow，Ithink，sir，"saidtheyoungman。"IshallturnitoverinmymindwhileI’moff。"
Thefatherrose，showingsomethingmorethanhisson’sheight，withaveryslightstoop，whichtheson’sfigurehadnot。
"Well，"hesaid，whimsically，"Iadmireyourspirit，andIdon’tdenythatitisjustifiedbynecessity。
It’saconsolationtothinkthatwhileI’vebeenspendingandenjoying，Ihavebeenpreparingthenoblestfutureforyou——afutureofindustryandself—reliance。Younevercoulddraw，butthisschemeofgoingintothemineral—paintbusinessshowsthatyouhaveinheritedsomethingofmyfeelingforcolour。"
Thesonlaughedoncemore，andwaitingtillhisfatherwaswellonhiswayupstairs，turnedoutthegasandthenhurriedafterhimandprecededhimintohischamber。
Heglancedoverittoseethateverythingwasthere，tohisfather’shand。Thenhesaid，"Goodnight，sir，"
andtheelderresponded，"Goodnight，myson，"andthesonwenttohisownroom。
OverthemantelintheelderCorey’sroomhungaportraitwhichhehadpaintedofhisownfather，andnowhestoodamomentandlookedatthisasifstruckbysomethingnovelinit。TheresemblancebetweenhissonandtheoldIndiamerchant，whohadfollowedthetradefromSalemtoBostonwhenthelargercitydrewitawayfromthesmaller，musthavebeenwhatstruckhim。GrandfatherandgrandsonhadboththeRomannosewhichappearstohaveflourishedchieflyattheformativeperiodoftherepublic，andwhichoccursmorerarelyinthedescendantsoftheconscriptfathers，thoughitstillcharacterisestheprofilesofagoodmanyBostonladies。BromfieldCoreyhadnotinheritedit，andhehadmadehisstraightnosehisdefencewhentheoldmerchantaccusedhimofawantofenergy。Hesaid，"Whatcouldamandowhoseunnaturalfatherhadlefthisownnoseawayfromhim？"Thisamusedbutdidnotsatisfythemerchant。"Youmustdosomething，"hesaid；"andit’sforyoutochoose。Ifyoudon’tliketheIndiatrade，gointosomethingelse。Or，takeuplawormedicine。
NoCoreyyeteverproposedtodonothing。""Ah，then，it’squitetimeoneofusmadeabeginning，"urgedthemanwhowasthenyoung，andwhowasnowold，lookingintothesomewhatfierceeyesofhisfather’sportrait。
Hehadinheritedaslittleofthefiercenessasofthenose，andtherewasnothingpredatoryinhissoneither，thoughtheaquilinebeakhadcomedowntohiminsuchforce。
BromfieldCoreylikedhissonTomforthegentlenesswhichtemperedhisenergy。
"Wellletuscompromise，"heseemedtobesayingtohisfather’sportrait。"Iwilltravel。""Travel？Howlong？"
thekeeneyesdemanded。"Oh，indefinitely。Iwon’tbehardwithyou，father。"Hecouldseetheeyessoften，andthesmileofyieldingcomeoverhisfather’sface；
themerchantcouldnotresistasonwhowassomuchlikehisdeadmother。TherewassomevagueunderstandingbetweenthemthatBromfieldCoreywastocomebackandgointobusinessafteratime，butheneverdidso。
HetravelledaboutoverEurope，andtravelledhandsomely，frequentinggoodsocietyeverywhere，andgettinghimselfpresentedatseveralcourts，ataperiodwhenitwasadistinctiontodoso。Hehadalwayssketched，andwithhisfather’sleavehefixedhimselfatRome，whereheremainedstudyingartandroundingthebeinginheritedfromhisYankeeprogenitors，tilltherewasverylittleleftoftheancestralangularities。
Aftertenyearshecamehomeandpaintedthatportraitofhisfather。Itwasverygood，ifalittleamateurish，andhemighthavemadehimselfanameasapainterofportraitsifhehadnothadsomuchmoney。Buthehadplentyofmoney，thoughbythistimehewasmarriedandbeginningtohaveafamily。Itwasabsurdforhimtopaintportraitsforpay，andridiculoustopaintthemfornothing；sohedidnotpaintthematall。
Hecontinuedadilettante，neverquiteabandoninghisart，butworkingatitfitfully，andtalkingmoreaboutitthanworkingatit。HehadhistheoryofTitian’smethod；
andnowandthenaBostonianinsisteduponbuyingapictureofhim。Afterawhilehehungitmoreandmoreinconspicuously，andsaidapologetically，"Ohyes！that’soneofBromfieldCorey’sthings。Ithasnicequalities，butit’samateurish。"
Inprocessoftimethemoneyseemedlessabundant。
Therewereshrinkagesofonekindandanother，andlivinghadgrownmuchmoreexpensiveandluxurious。
FormanyyearshetalkedaboutgoingbacktoRome，butheneverwent，andhischildrengrewupintheusualway。
Beforeheknewithissonhadhimouttohisclass—dayspreadatHarvard，andthenhehadhissononhishands。
Thesonmadevariousunsuccessfulprovisionsforhimself，andstillcontinueduponhisfather’shands，totheircommondissatisfaction，thoughitwaschieflytheyoungerwhorepined。HehadtheRomannoseandtheenergywithouttheopportunity，andatoneofthereversionshisfathersaidtohim，"Yououghtnottohavethatnose，Tom；
thenyouwoulddoverywell。Youwouldgoandtravel，asIdid。"
LAPHAMandhiswifecontinuedtalkingafterhehadquelledthedisturbanceinhisdaughters’roomoverhead；
andtheirtalkwasnotaltogetherofthenewhouse。
"Itellyou，"hesaid，"ifIhadthatfellowinthebusinesswithmeIwouldmakeamanofhim。"
"Well，SilasLapham，"returnedhiswife，"Idobelieveyou’vegotmineralpaintonthebrain。DoyousupposeafellowlikeyoungCorey，broughtupthewayhe’sbeen，wouldtouchmineralpaintwithaten—footpole？"
"Whynot？"haughtilyaskedtheColonel。
"Well，ifyoudon’tknowalready，there’snousetryingtotellyou。"
VI。
THECoreyshadalwayshadahouseatNahant，butafterlettingitforaseasonortwotheyfoundtheycouldgetonwithoutit，andsolditattheson’sinstance，whoforesawthatifthingswentonastheyweregoing，thefamilywouldbestraitenedtothepointofchangingtheirmodeoflifealtogether。Theybegantobeofthepeopleofwhomitwassaidthattheystayedintownverylate；andwhentheladiesdidgoaway，itwasforabriefsummeringinthisplaceandthat。
Thefatherremainedathomealtogether；andthesonjoinedthemintheintervalsofhisenterprises，whichoccurredonlytoooften。
AtBarHarbour，wherehenowwenttofindthem，afterhiswinterinTexas，heconfessedtohismotherthatthereseemednoverygoodopeningthereforhim。
HemightdoaswellasLoringStanton，buthedoubtedifStantonwasdoingverywell。Thenhementionedthenewprojectwhichhehadbeenthinkingover。
Shedidnotdenythattherewassomethinginit，butshecouldnotthinkofanyyoungmanwhohadgoneintosuchabusinessasthat，anditappearedtoherthathemightaswellgointoapatentmedicineorastove—polish。
"Therewasoneofhishideousadvertisements，"shesaid，"paintedonareefthatwesawaswecamedown。"
Coreysmiled。"Well，Isuppose，ifitwasinagoodstateofpreservation，thatisproofpositiveoftheefficacyofthepaintonthehullsofvessels。"
"It’sverydistastefultome，Tom，"saidhismother；
andiftherewassomethingelseinhermind，shedidnotspeakmoreplainlyofitthantoadd："It’snotonlythekindofbusiness，butthekindofpeopleyouwouldbemixedupwith。"
"Ithoughtyoudidn’tfindthemsoverybad，"suggestedCorey。
"Ihadn’tseentheminNankeenSquarethen。"
"YoucanseethemonthewatersideofBeaconStreetwhenyougoback。"
ThenhetoldofhisencounterwiththeLaphamfamilyintheirnewhouse。Attheendhismothermerelysaid，"Itisgettingverycommondownthere，"andshedidnottrytoopposeanythingfurthertohisscheme。
TheyoungmanwenttoseeColonelLaphamshortlyafterhisreturntoBoston。HepaidhisvisitatLapham’soffice，andifhehadstudiedsimplicityinhissummerdresshecouldnothavepresentedhimselfinafiguremoretothemindofapracticalman。HishandsandneckstillkeptthebrownoftheTexansunsandwinds，andhelookedasbusiness—likeasLaphamhimself。
Hespokeuppromptlyandbrisklyintheouteroffice，andcausedtheprettygirltolookawayfromhercopyingathim。"IsMr。Laphamin？"heasked；andafterthatmomentforreflectionwhichanarrayofbook—keeperssoaddressedlikestogivetheinquirer，aheadwasliftedfromaledgerandnoddedtowardtheinneroffice。
Laphamhadrecognisedthevoice，andhewasstanding，inconsiderableperplexity，toreceiveCorey，whentheyoungmanopenedhispaintedglassdoor。Itwasahotafternoon，andLaphamwasinhisshirtsleeves。ScarcelyatraceoftheboastfulhospitalitywithwhichhehadwelcomedCoreytohishouseafewdaysbeforelingeredinhispresentaddress。Helookedattheyoungman’sface，asifheexpectedhimtodespatchwhateverunimaginableaffairhehadcomeupon。
"Won’tyousitdown？Howareyou？You’llexcuseme，"
headded，inbriefallusiontotheshirt—sleeves。"I’maboutroasted。"
Coreylaughed。"Iwishyou’dletmetakeoffMYcoat。"
"Why，TAKEitoff！"criedtheColonel，withinstantpleasure。
Thereissomethinginhumannaturewhichcausesthemaninhisshirt—sleevestowishallothermentoappearinthesamedeshabille。
"Iwill，ifyouaskmeafterI’vetalkedwithyoutwominutes，"
saidtheyoungfellow，companionablypullingupthechairofferedhimtowardthedeskwhereLaphamhadagainseatedhimself。
"Butperhapsyouhaven’tgottwominutestogiveme？"
"Ohyes，Ihave，"saidtheColonel。"Iwasjustgoingtoknockoff。Icangiveyoutwenty，andthenIshallhavefifteenminutestocatchtheboat。"
"Allright，"saidCorey。"Iwantyoutotakemeintothemineralpaintbusiness。"
TheColonelsatdumb。Hetwistedhisthickneck，andlookedroundatthedoortoseeifitwasshut。
Hewouldnothavelikedtohaveanyofthosefellowsoutsidehearhim，butthereisnosayingwhatsumofmoneyhewouldnothavegivenifhiswifehadbeentheretohearwhatCoreyhadjustsaid。
"Isuppose，"continuedtheyoungman，"Icouldhavegotseveralpeoplewhosenamesyouknowtobackmyindustryandsobriety，andsayawordformybusinesscapacity。
ButIthoughtIwouldn’ttroubleanybodyforcertificatestillIfoundwhethertherewasachance，ortheghostofone，ofyourwantingme。SoIcamestraighttoyou。"
Laphamgatheredhimselftogetheraswellashecould。
HehadnotyetforgivenCoreyforMrs。Lapham’sinsinuationthathewouldfeelhimselftoogoodforthemineralpaintbusiness；andthoughhewasdispersedbythatastoundingshotatfirst，hewasnotgoingtoletanyoneevenhypotheticallydespisehispaintwithimpunity。
"HowdoyouthinkIamgoingtotakeyouon？"Theytookonhandsattheworks；andLaphamputitasifCoreywereahandcomingtohimforemployment。Whetherhesatisfiedhimselfbythisornot，hereddenedalittleafterhehadsaidit。
Coreyanswered，ignorantoftheoffence："Ihaven’taveryclearidea，I’mafraid；butI’vebeenlookingalittleintothematterfromtheoutside"
"Ihopeyouhain’tbeenpayinganyattentiontothatfellow’sstuffintheEvents？"Laphaminterrupted。
SinceBartley’sinterviewhadappeared，Laphamhadregardeditwithverymixedfeelings。Atfirstitgavehimaglowofsecretpleasure，blendedwithdoubtastohowhiswifewouldliketheuseBartleyhadmadeofherinit。Butshehadnotseemedtonoticeitmuch，andLaphamhadexperiencedthegratitudeofthemanwhoescapes。Thenhisgirlshadbeguntomakefunofit；
andthoughhedidnotmindPenelope’sjokesmuch，hedidnotliketoseethatIrene’sgentilitywaswounded。
Businessfriendsmethimwiththekindofknowingsmileaboutitthatimpliedtheirsenseofthefraudulentcharacterofitspraise——thesmileofmenwhohadbeenthereandwhoknewhowitwasthemselves。Laphamhadhismisgivingsastohowhisclerksandunderlingslookedatit；
hetreatedthemwithstatelyseverityforawhileafteritcameout，andheendedbyfeelingrathersoreaboutit。