"Diditseemtoconvincehim？"inquiredPenelope。
　　Hermotherdidnotreply。"Iknowonething，"shesaid。
　　"He’sgottotellmeeveryword，orthere’llbenosleepforhimTHISnight。"
　　"Well，ma’am，"saidPenelope，breakingdowninoneofherqueerlaughs，"Ishouldn’tbeabitsurprisedifyouwereright。"
　　"Goonanddress，Irene，"orderedhermother，"andthenyouandPencomeoutintotheparlour。Theycanhavejusttwohoursforbusiness，andthenwemustallbetheretoreceivehim。Youhaven’tgotheadacheenoughtohurtyou。"
　　"Oh，it’sallgonenow，"saidthegirl。
　　AttheendofthelimitshehadgiventheColonel，Mrs。Laphamlookedintothedining—room，whichshefoundbluewithhissmoke。
　　"Ithinkyougentlemenwillfindtheparlourpleasanternow，andwecangiveituptoyou。"
　　"Ohno，youneedn’t，"saidherhusband。"We’vegotaboutthrough。"Coreywasalreadystanding，andLaphamrosetoo。"Iguesswecanjointheladiesnow。
　　Wecanleavethatlittlepointtillto—morrow。"
　　BothoftheyoungladieswereintheparlourwhenCoreyenteredwiththeirfather，andbothwerefranklyindifferenttothefewbooksandthemanynewspapersscatteredaboutonthetablewherethelargelampwasplaced。
　　ButafterCoreyhadgreetedIreneheglancedatthenovelunderhiseye，andsaid，inthedearththatsometimesbefallspeopleatsuchtimes："Iseeyou’rereadingMiddlemarch。
　　DoyoulikeGeorgeEliot？"
　　"Who？"askedthegirl。
　　Penelopeinterposed。"Idon’tbelieveIrene’sreadityet。I’vejustgotitoutofthelibrary；Iheardsomuchtalkaboutit。Iwishshewouldletyoufindoutalittleaboutthepeopleforyourself，"sheadded。
　　Buthereherfatherstruckin——
　　"Ican’tgetthetimeforbooks。It’sasmuchasIcandotokeepupwiththenewspapers；andwhennightcomes，I’mtired，andI’drathergoouttothetheatre，oralecture，ifthey’vegotagoodstereopticontogiveyouviewsoftheplaces。ButIguesswealllikeaplaybetterthan’mostanythingelse。Iwantsomethingthat’llmakemelaugh。
　　Idon’tbelieveintragedy。Ithinkthere’senoughofthatinreallifewithoutputtingitonthestage。
　　Seen’JoshuaWhitcomb’？"
　　Thewholefamilyjoinedinthediscussion，anditappearedthattheyallhadtheiropinionsoftheplaysandactors。
　　Mrs。Laphambroughtthetalkbacktoliterature。"IguessPenelopedoesmostofourreading。"
　　"Now，mother，you’renotgoingtoputitallonme！"
　　saidthegirl，incomicprotest。
　　Hermotherlaughed，andthenadded，withasigh："IusedtoliketogetholdofagoodbookwhenIwasagirl；
　　butweweren’tallowedtoreadmanynovelsinthosedays。
　　MymothercalledthemallLIES。AndIguessshewasn’tsoveryfarwrongaboutsomeofthem。"
　　"They’recertainlyfictions，"saidCorey，smiling。
　　"Well，wedobuyagoodmanybooks，firstandlast，"
　　saidtheColonel，whoprobablyhadinmindthecostlyvolumeswhichtheypresentedtooneanotheronbirthdaysandholidays。"ButIgetaboutallthereadingIwantinthenewspapers。Andwhenthegirlswantanovel，Itell’emtogetitoutofthelibrary。That’swhatthelibrary’sfor。Phew！"hepanted，blowingawaythewholeunprofitablesubject。"Howcloseyouwomen—folksliketokeeparoom！Yougodowntothesea—sideoruptothemountainsforachangeofair，andthenyoucorkyourselvesintoaroomsotightyoudon’thaveanyairatall。
　　Here！Yougirlsgetonyourbonnets，andgoandshowMr。Coreytheviewofthehotelsfromtherocks。"
　　Coreysaidthatheshouldbedelighted。Thegirlsexchangedlookswitheachother，andthenwiththeirmother。
　　Irenecurvedherprettychinincommentuponherfather’sincorrigibility，andPenelopemadeadrollmouth，buttheColonelremainedserenelycontentwithhisfinesse。
　　"Igot’emoutoftheway，"hesaid，assoonastheyweregone，andbeforehiswifehadtimetofalluponhim，"becauseI’vegotthroughmytalkwithhim，andnowIwanttotalkwithYOU。It’sjustasIsaid，Persis；hewantstogointothebusinesswithme。"
　　"It’sluckyforyou，"saidhiswife，meaningthatnowhewouldnotbemadetosufferforattemptingtohoaxher。
　　Butshewastoointenselyinterestedtopursuethatmatterfurther。"Whatintheworlddoyousupposehemeansbyit？"
　　"Well，Ishouldjudgebyhistalkthathehadbeentryingagoodmanydifferentthingssinceheleftcollege，andhehain’tfoundjustthethinghelikes——orthethingthatlikeshim。Itain’tsoeasy。Andnowhe’sgotanideathathecantakeholdofthepaintandpushitinothercountries——pushitinMexicoandpushitinSouthAmerica。
　　He’sasplendidSpanishscholar，"——thiswasLapham’sversionofCorey’smodestclaimtoasmatteringofthelanguage，——"andhe’sbeenamongthenativesenoughtoknowtheirways。
　　Andhebelievesinthepaint，"addedtheColonel。
　　"Iguesshebelievesinsomethingelsebesidesthepaint，"
　　saidMrs。Lapham。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Well，SilasLapham，ifyoucan’tseeNOWthathe’safterIrene，Idon’tknowwhateverCANopenyoureyes。
　　That’sall。"
　　TheColonelpretendedtogivetheideasilentconsideration，asifithadnotoccurredtohimbefore。"Well，then，allI’vegottosayis，thathe’sgoingagoodwayround。
　　Idon’tsayyou’rewrong，butifit’sIrene，Idon’tseewhyheshouldwanttogoofftoSouthAmericatogether。
　　Andthat’swhatheproposestodo。Iguessthere’ssomepaintaboutittoo，Persis。Hesayshebelievesinit，"——theColoneldevoutlyloweredhisvoice，——"andhe’swillingtotaketheagencyonhisownaccountdownthere，andrunitforacommissiononwhathecansell。"
　　"Ofcourse！Heisn’tgoingtotakeholdofitanywaysoastofeelbeholdentoyou。He’sgottoomuchprideforthat。"
　　"Heain’tgoingtotakeholdofitatall，ifhedon’tmeanpaintinthefirstplaceandIreneafterward。
　　Idon’tobjecttohim，asIknow，eitherway，butthetwothingswon’tmix；andIdon’tproposeheshallpullthewoolovermyeyes——oranybodyelse。But，asfarasheardfrom，uptodate，hemeanspaintfirst，last，andallthetime。
　　Atanyrate，I’mgoingtotakehimonthatbasis。
　　He’sgotsomeprettygoodideasaboutit，andhe’sbeenstirredupbythistalk，justnow，aboutgettingourmanufacturesintotheforeignmarkets。There’sanoverstockineverything，andwe’vegottogetridofit，orwe’vegottoshutdowntillthehomedemandbeginsagain。
　　We’vehadtwoorthreesuchflurriesbeforenow，andtheydidn’tamounttomuch。Theysaywecan’textendourcommerceunderthehightariffsystemwe’vegotnow，becausethereain’tanysortofreciprocityonourside，——wewanttohavetheotherfellowsshowallthereciprocity，——andtheEnglishhavegottheadvantageofuseverytime。
　　Idon’tknowwhetherit’ssoornot；butIdon’tseewhyitshouldapplytomypaint。Anyway，hewantstotryit，andI’veaboutmadeupmymindtolethim。
　　OfcourseIain’tgoingtolethimtakealltherisk。
　　IbelieveinthepaintTOO，andIshallpayhisexpensesanyway。"
　　"Soyouwantanotherpartnerafterall？"Mrs。Laphamcouldnotforbearsaying。
　　"Yes，ifthat’syourideaofapartner。Itisn’tmine，"
　　returnedherhusbanddryly。
　　"Well，ifyou’vemadeupyourmind，Si，Isupposeyou’rereadyforadvice，"saidMrs。Lapham。
　　TheColonelenjoyedthis。"Yes，Iam。Whathaveyougottosayagainstit？"
　　"Idon’tknowasI’vegotanything。I’msatisfiedifyouare。"
　　"Well？"
　　"WhenishegoingtostartforSouthAmerica？"
　　"Ishalltakehimintotheofficeawhile。He’llgetoffsometimeinthewinter。Buthe’sgottoknowthebusinessfirst。"
　　"Oh，indeed！Areyougoingtotakehimtoboardinthefamily？"
　　"Whatareyouafter，Persis？"
　　"Oh，nothing！Ipresumehewillfeelfreetovisitinthefamily，evenifhedon’tboardwithus。"
　　"Ipresumehewill。"
　　"Andifhedon’tusehisprivileges，doyouthinkhe’llbeafitpersontomanageyourpaintinSouthAmerica？"
　　TheColonelreddenedconsciously。"I’mnottakinghimonthatbasis。"
　　"Ohyes，youare！Youmaypretendyouain’ttoyourself，butyoumustn’tpretendsotome。BecauseIknowyou。"
　　TheColonellaughed。"Pshaw！"hesaid。
　　Mrs。Laphamcontinued："Idon’tseeanyharminhopingthathe’lltakeafancytoher。Butifyoureallythinkitwon’tdotomixthetwothings，IadviseyounottotakeMr。Coreyintothebusiness。
　　ItwilldoallverywellifheDOEStakeafancytoher；
　　butifhedon’t，youknowhowyou’llfeelaboutit。
　　AndIknowyouwellenough，Silas，toknowthatyoucan’tdohimjusticeifthathappens。AndIdon’tthinkit’srightyoushouldtakethisstepunlessyou’reprettysure。
　　Icanseethatyou’vesetyourheartonthisthing"
　　"Ihaven’tsetmyheartonitatall，"protestedLapham。
　　"Andifyoucan’tbringitabout，you’regoingtofeelunhappyoverit，"pursuedhiswife，regardlessofhisprotest。
　　"Oh，verywell，"hesaid。"Ifyouknowmoreaboutwhat’sinmymindthanIdo，there’snousearguing，asIcansee。"
　　Hegotup，tocarryoffhisconsciousness，andsaunteredoutofthedoorontohispiazza。Hecouldseetheyoungpeopledownontherocks，andhisheartswelledinhisbreast。Hehadalwayssaidthathedidnotcarewhataman’sfamilywas，butthepresenceofyoungCoreyasanapplicanttohimforemployment，ashisguest，asthepossiblesuitorofhisdaughter，wasoneofthesweetestflavoursthathehadyettastedinhissuccess。
　　HeknewwhotheCoreyswereverywell，and，inhissimple，brutalway，hehadlonghatedtheirnameasasymbolofsplendourwhich，unlessheshouldlivetoseeatleastthreegenerationsofhisdescendantsgildedwithmineralpaint，hecouldnothopetorealiseinhisown。
　　HewasacquaintedinabusinesswaywiththetraditionofoldPhillipsCorey，andhehadheardagreatmanythingsabouttheCoreywhohadspenthisyouthabroadandhisfather’smoneyeverywhere，anddonenothingbutsaysmartthings。Laphamcouldnotseethesmartnessofsomeofthemwhichhadbeenrepeatedtohim。Oncehehadencounteredthefellow，anditseemedtoLaphamthatthetall，slim，white—moustachedman，withtheslightstoop，waseverythingthatwasoffensivelyaristocratic。
　　Hehadbristledupaggressivelyatthenamewhenhiswifetoldhowshehadmadetheacquaintanceofthefellow’sfamilythesummerbefore，andhehadtreatedthenotionofyoungCorey’scaringforIrenewiththecontemptwhichsucharidiculoussuperstitiondeserved。
　　HehadmadeuphismindaboutyoungCoreybeforehand；
　　yetwhenhemethimhefeltaninstantlikingforhim，whichhefranklyacknowledged，andhehadbeguntoassumetheburdenofhiswife’ssuperstition，ofwhichsheseemednowreadytoaccusehimofbeingtheinventor。
　　Nothinghadmovedhisthickimaginationlikethisday’seventssincethegirlwhotaughthimspellingandgrammarintheschoolatLumbervillehadsaidshewouldhavehimforherhusband。
　　Thedarkfigures，stationaryontherocks，begantomove，andhecouldseethattheywerecomingtowardthehouse。
　　Hewentindoors，soasnottoappeartohavebeenwatchingthem。
　　VIII。
　　AWEEKaftershehadpartedwithhersonatBarHarbour，Mrs。CoreysuddenlywalkedinuponherhusbandintheirhouseinBoston。Hewasatbreakfast，andhegaveherthepatronisingwelcomewithwhichthehusbandwhohasbeenstayingintownallsummerreceiveshiswifewhenshedropsdownuponhimfromthemountainsorthesea—side。Foralittlemomentshefeelsherselfstrangeinthehouse，andsuffersherselftobetreatedlikeaguest，beforeenvyofhiscomfortvexesherbackintopossessionandauthority。
　　Mrs。Coreywasalady，andshedidnotletherenvytaketheformofopenreproach。
　　"Well，Anna，youfindmehereintheluxuryyouleftmeto。
　　Howdidyouleavethegirls？"
　　"Thegirlswerewell，"saidMrs。Corey，lookingabsentlyatherhusband’sbrownvelvetcoat，inwhichhewassohandsome。
　　Nomanhadevergrowngreymorebeautifully。Hishair，whilenotremainingdarkenoughtoformatheatricalcontrastwithhismoustache，wasyetsomeshadesdarker，and，inbecomingalittlethinner，ithadbecomealittlemoregracefullywavy。Hisskinhadthepearlytintwhichthatofelderlymensometimesassumes，andthelineswhichtimehadtraceduponitweretoodelicateforthenameofwrinkles。Hehadneverhadanypersonalvanity，andtherewasnoconsciousnessinhisgoodlooksnow。
　　"Iamgladofthat。TheboyIhavewithme，"hereturned；
　　"thatis，whenheISwithme。"
　　"Why，whereishe？"demandedthemother。
　　"ProbablycarousingwiththeboonLaphamsomewhere。
　　HeleftmeyesterdayafternoontogoandofferhisallegiancetotheMineralPaintKing，andIhaven’tseenhimsince。"
　　"Bromfield！"criedMrs。Corey。"Whydidn’tyoustophim？"
　　"Well，mydear，I’mnotsurethatitisn’taverygoodthing。"
　　"Agoodthing？It’shorrid！"
　　"No，Idon’tthinkso。It’sdecent。Tomhadfoundout——withoutconsultingthelandscape，whichIbelieveproclaimsiteverywhere————"
　　"Hideous！"
　　"Thatit’sreallyagoodthing；andhethinksthathehassomeideasinregardtoitsdisseminationinthepartsbeyondseas。"
　　"Whyshouldn’thegointosomethingelse？"lamentedthemother。
　　"Ibelievehehasgoneintonearlyeverythingelseandcomeoutofit。Sothereisachanceofhiscomingoutofthis。ButasIhadnothingtosuggestinplaceofit，Ithoughtitbestnottointerfere。Infact，whatgoodwouldmytellinghimthatmineralpaintwasnastyhavedone？IdaresayYOUtoldhimitwasnasty。"
　　"Yes！Idid。"
　　"Andyouseewithwhateffect，thoughhevaluesyouropinionthreetimesasmuchashevaluesmine。
　　Perhapsyoucameuptotellhimagainthatitwasnasty？"
　　"Ifeelveryunhappyaboutit。Heisthrowinghimselfaway。
　　Yes，IshouldliketopreventitifIcould！"
　　Thefathershookhishead。
　　"IfLaphamhasn’tpreventedit，Ifancyit’stoolate。
　　ButtheremaybesomehopesofLapham。AsforTom’sthrowinghimselfaway，Idon’tknow。There’snoquestionbutheisoneofthebestfellowsunderthesun。
　　He’stremendouslyenergetic，andhehasplentyofthekindofsensewhichwecallhorse；butheisn’tbrilliant。
　　No，Tomisnotbrilliant。Idon’tthinkhewouldgetoninaprofession，andhe’sinstinctivelykeptoutofeverythingofthekind。Buthehasgottodosomething。
　　Whatshallhedo？Hesaysmineralpaint，andreallyIdon’tseewhyheshouldn’t。Ifmoneyisfairlyandhonestlyearned，whyshouldwepretendtocarewhatitcomesoutof，whenwedon’treallycare？Thatsuperstitionisexplodedeverywhere。"
　　"Oh，itisn’tthepaintalone，"saidMrs。Corey；andthensheperceptiblyarrestedherself，andmadeadiversionincontinuing："Iwishhehadmarriedsomeone。"
　　"Withmoney？"suggestedherhusband。"FromtimetotimeIhaveattemptedTom’scorruptionfromthatside，butI
　　suspectTomhasaconscienceagainstit，andIratherlikehimforit。Imarriedforlovemyself，"saidCorey，lookingacrossthetableathiswife。
　　Shereturnedhislooktolerantly，thoughshefeltitrighttosay，"Whatnonsense！"
　　"Besides，"continuedherhusband，"ifyoucometomoney，thereisthepaintprincess。Shewillhaveplenty。"
　　"Ah，that’stheworstofit，"sighedthemother。
　　"IsupposeIcouldgetonwiththepaint————"
　　"Butnotwiththeprincess？Ithoughtyousaidshewasaverypretty，well—behavedgirl？"
　　"Sheisverypretty，andsheiswell—behaved；butthereisnothingofher。Sheisinsipid；sheisveryinsipid。"
　　"ButTomseemedtolikeherflavour，suchasitwas？"
　　"HowcanItell？Wewereunderaterribleobligationtothem，andInaturallywishedhimtobepolitetothem。
　　Infact，Iaskedhimtobeso。"
　　"Andhewastoopolite"
　　"Ican’tsaythathewas。Butthereisnodoubtthatthechildisextremelypretty。"
　　"Tomsaystherearetwoofthem。Perhapstheywillneutraliseeachother。"
　　"Yes，thereisanotherdaughter，"assentedMrs。Corey。
　　"Idon’tseehowyoucanjokeaboutsuchthings，Bromfield，"
　　sheadded。
　　"Well，Idon’teither，mydear，totellyouthetruth。
　　Myhardihoodsurprisesme。HereisasonofminewhomI
　　seereducedtomakinghislivingbyashrinkageinvalues。
　　It’sveryodd，"interjectedCorey，"thatsomevaluesshouldhavethispeculiarityofshrinking。Youneverhearofvaluesinapictureshrinking；butrents，stocks，realestate——allthosevaluesshrinkabominably。Perhapsitmightbearguedthatoneshouldputallhisvaluesintopictures；
　　I’vegotagoodmanyofminethere。"
　　"Tomneedn’tearnhisliving，"saidMrs。Corey，refusingherhusband’sjest。"There’sstillenoughforallofus。"
　　"ThatiswhatIhavesometimesurgeduponTom。Ihaveprovedtohimthatwitheconomy，andstrictattentiontobusiness，heneeddonothingaslongashelives。Ofcoursehewouldbesomewhatrestricted，anditwouldcramptherestofus；butitisaworldofsacrificesandcompromises。
　　Hecouldn’tagreewithme，andhewasnotintheleastmovedbytheexampleofpersonsofqualityinEurope，whichIallegedinsupportofthelifeofidleness。
　　Itappearsthathewishestodosomething——todosomethingforhimself。IamafraidthatTomisselfish。"
　　Mrs。Coreysmiledwanly。Thirtyyearsbefore，shehadmarriedtherichyoungpainterinRome，whosaidsomuchbetterthingsthanhepainted——charmingthings，justthethingstopleasethefancyofagirlwhowasdisposedtotakelifealittletooseriouslyandpractically。
　　ShesawhiminadifferentlightwhenshegothimhometoBoston；buthehadkeptonsayingthecharmingthings，andhehadnotdonemuchelse。Infact，hehadfulfilledthepromiseofhisyouth。Itwasagoodtraitinhimthathewasnotactivelybutonlypassivelyextravagant。
　　Hewasnotadventurouswithhismoney；histasteswereassimpleasanItalian’s；hehadnoexpensivehabits。
　　Intheprocessoftimehehadgrowntoleadamoreandmoresecludedlife。Itwashardtogethimoutanywhere，eventodinner。Hispatiencewiththeirnarrowingcircumstanceshadapathoswhichshefeltthemorethemoreshecameintochargeoftheirjointlife。
　　Attimesitseemedtoobadthatthechildrenandtheireducationandpleasuresshouldcostsomuch。
　　Sheknew，besides，thatifithadnotbeenforthemshewouldhavegonebacktoRomewithhim，andlivedprincelythereforlessthanittooktoliverespectablyinBoston。
　　"Tomhasn’tconsultedme，"continuedhisfather，"buthehasconsultedotherpeople。Andhehasarrivedattheconclusionthatmineralpaintisagoodthingtogointo。
　　Hehasfoundoutallaboutit，andaboutitsfounderorinventor。It’squiteimpressivetohearhimtalk。
　　Andifhemustdosomethingforhimself，Idon’tseewhyhisegotismshouldn’taswelltakethatformasanother。
　　Combinedwiththepaintprincess，itisn’tsoagreeable；
　　butthat’sonlyaremotepossibility，forwhichyourprincipalgroundisyourmotherlysolicitude。
　　Butevenifitwereprobableandimminent，whatcouldyoudo？ThechiefconsolationthatweAmericanparentshaveinthesemattersisthatwecandonothing。
　　IfwewereEuropeans，evenEnglish，weshouldtakesomecognisanceofourchildren’sloveaffairs，andinsomemeasureteachtheiryoungaffectionshowtoshoot。
　　Butitisourcustomtoignorethemuntiltheyhaveshot，andthentheyignoreus。Wearealtogethertoodelicatetoarrangethemarriagesofourchildren；andwhentheyhavearrangedthemwedon’tliketosayanything，forfearweshouldonlymakebadworse。Therightwayisforustoschoolourselvestoindifference。
　　Thatiswhattheyoungpeoplehavetodoelsewhere，andthatistheonlylogicalresultofourpositionhere。
　　Itisabsurdforustohaveanyfeelingaboutwhatwedon’tinterferewith。"
　　"Oh，peopledointerferewiththeirchildren’smarriagesveryoften，"saidMrs。Corey。
　　"Yes，butonlyinahalf—heartedway，soasnottomakeitdisagreeableforthemselvesifthemarriagesgooninspiteofthem，asthey’reprettyapttodo。Now，myideaisthatIoughttocutTomoffwithashilling。
　　Thatwouldbeverysimple，anditwouldbeeconomical。
　　Butyouwouldneverconsent，andTomwouldn’tmindit。"
　　"Ithinkourwholeconductinregardtosuchthingsiswrong，"saidMrs。Corey。
　　"Oh，verylikely。Butourwholecivilisationisbaseduponit。
　　Andwhoisgoingtomakeabeginning？TowhichfatherinouracquaintanceshallIgoandproposeanallianceforTomwithhisdaughter？Ishouldfeellikeanass。
　　Andwillyougotosomemother，andaskhersonsinmarriageforourdaughters？Youwouldfeellikeagoose。
　　No；theonlymottoforusis，Handsoffaltogether。"
　　"IshallcertainlyspeaktoTomwhenthetimecomes，"
　　saidMrs。Corey。