"AndIshallaskleavetobeabsentfromyourdiscomfiture，mydear，"answeredherhusband。
　　Thesonreturnedthatafternoon，andconfessedhissurpriseatfindinghismotherinBoston。Hewassofrankthatshehadnotquitethecouragetoconfessinturnwhyshehadcome，buttrumpedupanexcuse。
　　"Well，mother，"hesaidpromptly，"IhavemadeanengagementwithMr。Lapham。"
　　"Haveyou，Tom？"sheaskedfaintly。
　　"Yes。ForthepresentIamgoingtohavechargeofhisforeigncorrespondence，andifIseemywaytotheadvantageIexpecttofindinit，IamgoingouttomanagethatsideofhisbusinessinSouthAmericaandMexico。
　　He’sbehavedveryhandsomelyaboutit。Hesaysthatifitappearsforourcommoninterest，heshallpaymeasalaryaswellasacommission。I’vetalkedwithUncleJim，andhethinksit’sagoodopening。"
　　"YourUncleJimdoes？"queriedMrs。Coreyinamaze。
　　"Yes；Iconsultedhimthewholewaythrough，andI’veactedonhisadvice。"
　　Thisseemedanincomprehensibletreacheryonherbrother’spart。
　　"Yes；Ithoughtyouwouldliketohaveme。Andbesides，Icouldn’tpossiblyhavegonetoanyonesowellfittedtoadviseme。"
　　Hismothersaidnothing。Infact，themineralpaintbusiness，howeverpainfulitsinterest，was，forthemoment，supersededbyamorepoignantanxiety。Shebegantofeelherwaycautiouslytowardthis。
　　"HaveyoubeentalkingaboutyourbusinesswithMr。Laphamallnight？"
　　"Well，prettymuch，"saidherson，withaguiltlesslaugh。
　　"Iwenttoseehimyesterdayafternoon，afterIhadgoneoverthewholegroundwithUncleJim，andMr。Laphamaskedmetogodownwithhimandfinishup。"
　　"Down？"repeatedMrs。Corey。"Yes，toNantasket。
　　Hehasacottagedownthere。"
　　"AtNantasket？"Mrs。Coreyknittedherbrowsalittle。
　　"WhatintheworldcanacottageatNantasketbelike？"
　　"Oh，verymuchlikea’cottage’anywhere。Ithastheusualallowanceofredroofandveranda。Therearetheregulationrocksbythesea；andthebighotelsonthebeachaboutamileoff，flaringawaywithelectriclightsandroman—candlesatnight。Wedidn’thavethematNahant。"
　　"No，"saidhismother。"IsMrs。Laphamwell？Andherdaughter？"
　　"Yes，Ithinkso，"saidtheyoungman。"Theyoungladieswalkedmedowntotherocksintheusualwayafterdinner，andthenIcamebackandtalkedpaintwithMr。Laphamtillmidnight。Wedidn’tsettleanythingtillthismorningcomingupontheboat。"
　　"Whatsortofpeopledotheyseemtobeathome？"
　　"Whatsort？Well，Idon’tknowthatInoticed。"Mrs。Coreypermittedherselfthefirstpartofasighofrelief；
　　andhersonlaughed，butapparentlynotather。
　　"They’rejustreadingMiddlemarch。Theysaythere’ssomuchtalkaboutit。Oh，Isupposethey’reverygoodpeople。
　　Theyseemedtobeonverygoodtermswitheachother。"
　　"Isupposeit’stheplainsisterwho’sreadingMiddlemarch。"
　　"Plain？Issheplain？"askedtheyoungman，asifsearchinghisconsciousness。"Yes，it’stheolderonewhodoesthereading，apparently。ButIdon’tbelievethatevensheoverdoesit。Theyliketotalkbetter。
　　TheyremindedmeofSouthernpeopleinthat。"Theyoungmansmiled，asifamusedbysomeofhisimpressionsoftheLaphamfamily。"Theliving，asthecountrypeoplecallit，istremendouslygood。TheColonel——he’sacolonel——talkedofthecoffeeashiswife’scoffee，asifshehadpersonallymadeitinthekitchen，thoughIbelieveitwasmerelyinspiredbyher。
　　Andtherewaseverythinginthehousethatmoneycouldbuy。
　　Butmoneyhasitslimitations。"
　　ThiswasafactwhichMrs。Coreywasbeginningtorealisemoreandmoreunpleasantlyinherownlife；butitseemedtobringheracertaincomfortinitsapplicationtotheLaphams。
　　"Yes，thereisapointwheretastehastobegin，"shesaid。
　　"Theyseemedtowanttoapologisetomefornothavingmorebooks，"saidCorey。"Idon’tknowwhytheyshould。
　　TheColonelsaidtheyboughtagoodmanybooks，firstandlast；
　　butapparentlytheydon’ttakethemtothesea—side。"
　　"IdaresaytheyNEVERbuyaNEWbook。I’vemetsomeofthesemoneyedpeoplelately，andtheylavishoneveryconceivableluxury，andthenborrowbooks，andgettheminthecheappapereditions。"
　　"Ifancythat’sthewaywiththeLaphamfamily，"saidtheyoungman，smilingly。"Buttheyareverygoodpeople。
　　Theotherdaughterishumorous。"
　　"Humorous？"Mrs。Coreyknittedherbrowsinsomeperplexity。
　　"DoyoumeanlikeMrs。Sayre？"sheasked，namingtheladywhosenamemustcomeintoeveryBostonmindwhenhumourismentioned。
　　"Ohno；nothinglikethat。Sheneversaysanythingthatyoucanremember；nothinginflashesorripples；
　　nothingtheleastliterary。Butit’sasortofdrollwayoflookingatthings；oradrollmediumthroughwhichthingspresentthemselves。Idon’tknow。
　　Shetellswhatshe’sseen，andmimicsalittle。"
　　"Oh，"saidMrs。Coreycoldly。Afteramomentsheasked：
　　"AndisMissIreneasprettyasever？"
　　"She’sawonderfulcomplexion，"saidthesonunsatisfactorily。
　　"IshallwanttobebywhenfatherandColonelLaphammeet，"
　　headded，withasmile。
　　"Ah，yes，yourfather！"saidthemother，inthatwayinwhichawifeatoncecompassionatesandcensuresherhusbandtotheirchildren。
　　"Doyouthinkit’sreallygoingtobeatrialtohim？"
　　askedtheyoungmanquickly。
　　"No，no，Ican’tsayitis。ButIconfessIwishitwassomeotherbusiness，Tom。"
　　"Well，mother，Idon’tseewhy。Theprincipalthinglookedatnowistheamountofmoney；andwhileI
　　wouldratherstarvethantouchadollarthatwasdirtywithanysortofdishonesty————"
　　"Ofcourseyouwould，myson！"interposedhismotherproudly。
　　"Ishouldn’tatallminditshavingalittlemineralpaintonit。I’llusemyinfluencewithColonelLapham——ifI
　　everhaveany——tohavehispaintscrapedoffthelandscape。"
　　"Isupposeyouwon’tbegintilltheautumn。"
　　"Ohyes，Ishall，"saidtheson，laughingathismother’ssimpleignoranceofbusiness。"Ishallbeginto—morrowmorning。"
　　"To—morrowmorning！"
　　"Yes。I’vehadmydeskappointedalready，andIshallbedownthereatnineinthemorningtotakepossession。"
　　"Tom"criedhismother，"whydoyouthinkMr。Laphamhastakenyouintobusinesssoreadily？I’vealwaysheardthatitwassohardforyoungmentogetin。"
　　"AnddoyouthinkIfounditeasywithhim？Wehadabouttwelvehours’solidtalk。"
　　"Andyoudon’tsupposeitwasanysortof——personalconsideration？"
　　"Why，Idon’tknowexactlywhatyoumean，mother。
　　Isupposehelikesme。"
　　Mrs。Coreycouldnotsayjustwhatshemeant。Sheanswered，ineffectuallyenough——
　　"Yes。Youwouldn’tlikeittobeafavour，wouldyou？"
　　"Ithinkhe’samanwhomaybetrustedtolookafterhisowninterest。ButIdon’tmindhisbeginningbylikingme。
　　It’llbemyownfaultifIdon’tmakemyselfessentialtohim。"
　　"Yes，"saidMrs。Corey。
　　"Well，demandedherhusband，attheirfirstmeetingafterherinterviewwiththeirson，"whatdidyousaytoTom？"
　　"Verylittle，ifanything。Ifoundhimwithhismindmadeup，anditwouldonlyhavedistressedhimifI
　　hadtriedtochangeit。"
　　"ThatispreciselywhatIsaid，mydear。"
　　"Besides，hehadtalkedthematteroverfullywithJames，andseemstohavebeenadvisedbyhim。Ican’tunderstandJames。"
　　"Oh！it’sinregardtothepaint，andnottheprincess，thathe’smadeuphismind。Well，Ithinkyouwerewisetolethimalone，Anna。Werepresentafadedtradition。
　　Wedon’treallycarewhatbusinessamanisin，soitislargeenough，andhedoesn’tadvertiseoffensively；butwethinkitfinetoaffectreluctance。"
　　"Doyoureallyfeelso，Bromfield？"askedhiswifeseriously。
　　"CertainlyIdo。TherewasalongtimeinmymisguidedyouthwhenIsupposedmyselfsomesortofporcelain；
　　butit’sarelieftobeofthecommonclay，afterall，andtoknowit。IfIgetbroken，Icanbeeasilyreplaced。"
　　"IfTommustgointosuchabusiness，"saidMrs。Corey，"I’mgladJamesapprovesofit。"
　　"I’mafraiditwouldn’tmattertoTomifhedidn’t；
　　andIdon’tknowthatIshouldcare，"saidCorey，betrayingthefactthathehadperhapshadagooddealofhisbrother—in—law’sjudgmentinthecourseofhislife。
　　"YouhadbetterconsulthiminregardtoTom’smarryingtheprincess。"
　　"Thereisnonecessityatpresentforthat，"saidMrs。Corey，withdignity。Afteramoment，sheasked，"Shouldyoufeelquitesoeasyifitwereaquestionofthat，Bromfield？"
　　"Itwouldbealittlemorepersonal。"
　　"YoufeelaboutitasIdo。Ofcourse，wehavebothlivedtoolong，andseentoomuchoftheworld，tosupposewecancontrolsuchthings。Thechildisgood，Ihaven’ttheleastdoubt，andallthosethingscanbemanagedsothattheywouldn’tdisgraceus。Butshehashadacertainsortofbringingup。IshouldpreferTomtomarryagirlwithanothersort，andthisbusinessventureofhisincreasesthechancesthathewon’t。That’sall。"
　　"’’Tisnotsodeepasawell，norsowideasachurchdoor，but’twillserve。’"
　　"Ishouldn’tlikeit。"
　　"Well，ithasn’thappenedyet。"
　　"Ah，younevercanrealiseanythingbeforehand。"
　　"Perhapsthathassavedmesomesuffering。Butyouhaveatleasttheconsolationoftwoanxietiesatonce。
　　Ialwaysfindthatagreatadvantage。Youcanplayoneoffagainsttheother。"
　　Mrs。Coreydrewalongbreathasifshedidnotexperiencethesuggestedconsolation；andshearrangedtoquit，thefollowingafternoon，thesceneofherdefeat，whichshehadnothadthecouragetomakeabattlefield。
　　Hersonwentdowntoseeheroffontheboat，afterspendinghisfirstdayathisdeskinLapham’soffice。
　　Hewasinagayhumour，andshedepartedinareflectedgleamofhisgoodspirits。Hetoldherallaboutit，ashesattalkingwithheratthesternoftheboat，lingeringtillthelastmoment，andthensteppingashore，withaslittlewasteoftimeasLaphamhimself，onthegang—plankwhichthedeck—handshadlaidholdof。
　　Hetouchedhishattoherfromthewharftoreassureherofhisescapefrombeingcarriedawaywithher，andthenextmomenthissmilingfacehiditselfinthecrowd。
　　Hewalkedonsmilingupthelongwharf，encumberedwithtrucksandhacksandpilesoffreight，and，takinghiswaythroughthedesertedbusinessstreetsbeyondthisbustle，madeapointofpassingthedoorofLapham’swarehouse，onthejambsofwhichhisnameandpaintwereletteredinblackonasquaregroundofwhite。Thedoorwasstillopen，andCoreyloiteredamomentbeforeit，temptedtogoupstairsandfetchawaysomeforeignletterswhichhehadleftonhisdesk，andwhichhethoughthemightfinishupathome。Hewasinlovewithhiswork，andhefelttheenthusiasmforitwhichnothingbuttheworkwecandowellinspiresinus。Hebelievedthathehadfoundhisplaceintheworld，afteragooddealoflooking，andhehadtherelief，therepose，offittingintoit。
　　Everylittleincidentofthemomentous，uneventfuldaywasapleasureinhismind，fromhissittingdownathisdesk，towhichLapham’sboybroughthimtheforeignletters，tillhisrisingfromitanhourago。
　　Laphamhadbeeninviewwithinhisownoffice，buthehadgivenCoreynoformalreception，andhad，infact，notspokentohimtilltowardtheendoftheforenoon，whenhesuddenlycameoutofhisdenwithsomemorelettersinhishand，andafterabrief"Howd’yedo？"
　　hadspokenafewwordsaboutthem，andleftthemwithhim。
　　Hewasinhisshirt—sleevesagain，andhissanguinepersonseemedtoradiatetheheatwithwhichhesuffered。
　　Hedidnotgoouttolunch，buthaditbroughttohiminhisoffice，whereCoreysawhimeatingitbeforehelefthisowndesktogooutandperchonaswingingseatbeforethelongcounterofadown—townrestaurant。
　　Heobservedthatalltheotherslunchedattwelve，andheresolvedtoanticipatehisusualhour。Whenhereturned，theprettygirlwhohadbeenclickingawayatatype—writerallthemorningwasneatlyputtingoutofsighttheevidencesofpiefromthetablewherehermachinestood，andwaspreparingtogoonwithhercopying。InhisofficeLaphamlayasleepinhisarm—chair，withanewspaperoverhisface。
　　Now，whileCoreylingeredattheentrancetothestairway，thesetwocamedownthestairstogether，andheheardLaphamsaying，"Well，then，youbettergetadivorce。"
　　Helookedredandexcited，andthegirl’sface，whichsheveiledatsightofCorey，showedtracesoftears。
　　Sheslippedroundhimintothestreet。
　　ButLaphamstopped，andsaid，withtheshowofnofeelingbutsurprise："Hello，Corey！Didyouwanttogoup？"
　　"Yes；thereweresomelettersIhadn’tquitegotthroughwith。"
　　"You’llfindDennisupthere。ButIguessyoubetterletthemgotillto—morrow。IalwaysmakeitaruletostopworkwhenI’mdone。"
　　"Perhapsyou’reright，"saidCorey，yielding。
　　"Comealongdownasfarastheboatwithme。There’salittlematterIwanttotalkoverwithyou。"
　　Itwasabusinessmatter，andrelatedtoCorey’sproposedconnectionwiththehouse。
　　Thenextdaytheheadbook—keeper，wholunchedatthelongcounterofthesamerestaurantwithCorey，begantotalkwithhimaboutLapham。Walkerhadnotapparentlygothisplacebyseniority；thoughwithhisforehead，baldfaruptowardthecrown，andhisroundsmoothface，onemighthavetakenhimforaplumpelder，ifhehadnotlookedequallylikearobustinfant。Thethickdrabbishyellowmoustachewaswhatarresteddecisionineitherdirection，andthepromptvigourofallhismovementswasthatofayoungmanofthirty，whichwasreallyWalker’sage。
　　Heknew，ofcourse，whoCoreywas，andhehadwaitedforamanwhomightlookdownonhimsociallytomaketheoverturestowardsomethingmorethanbusinessacquaintance；but，thesemade，hewasreadilyresponsive，anddrewfreelyonhisphilosophyofLaphamandhisaffairs。
　　"Ithinkabouttheonlydifferencebetweenpeopleinthisworldisthatsomeknowwhattheywant，andsomedon’t。Well，now，"saidWalker，beatingthebottomofhissalt—boxtomakethesaltcomeout，"theoldmanknowswhathewantseverytime。Andgenerallyhegetsit。
　　Yes，sir，hegenerallygetsit。Heknowswhathe’sabout，butI’llbeblessediftherestofusdohalfthetime。
　　Anyway，wedon’ttillhe’sreadytoletus。Youtakemypositioninmostbusinesshouses。It’sconfidential。
　　Theheadbook—keeperknowsrightalongprettymucheverythingthehousehasgotinhand。I’llgiveyoumywordIdon’t。Hemayopenuptoyoualittlemoreinyourdepartment，but，asfarastherestofusgo，hedon’topenupanymorethananoysteronahotbrick。
　　Theysayhehadapartneronce；Iguesshe’sdead。
　　Iwouldn’tliketobetheoldman’spartner。Well，yousee，thispaintofhisislikehisheart’sblood。
　　Betternottrytojokehimaboutit。I’veseenpeoplecomeinoccasionallyandtryit。Theydidn’tgetmuchfunoutofit。"
　　Whilehetalked，Walkerwaspluckingupmorselsfromhisplate，tearingoffpiecesofFrenchbreadfromthelongloaf，andfeedingthemintohismouthinanimpersonalway，asifhewerefiringupanengine。
　　"Isupposehethinks，"suggestedCorey，"thatifhedoesn’ttell，nobodyelsewill。"
　　Walkertookadraughtofbeerfromhisglass，andwipedthefoamfromhismoustache。
　　"Oh，buthecarriesittoofar！It’saweaknesswithhim。
　　He’sjustsoabouteverything。Lookatthewayhekeepsitupaboutthattype—writergirlofhis。You’dthinkshewassomeprincesstravellingincognito。Thereisn’toneofusknowswhosheis，orwhereshecamefrom，orwhoshebelongsto。Hebroughtherandhermachineintotheofficeonemorning，andset’emdownatatable，andthat’sallthereisaboutit，asfaraswe’reconcerned。
　　It’sprettyhardonthegirl，forIguessshe’dliketotalk；andtoanyonethatdidn’tknowtheoldman————"
　　Walkerbrokeoffanddrainedhisglassofwhatwasleftinit。
　　CoreythoughtofthewordshehadoverheardfromLaphamtothegirl。Buthesaid，"Sheseemstobekeptprettybusy。"
　　"Ohyes，"saidWalker；"thereain’tmuchloafingroundtheplace，inanyofthedepartments，fromtheoldman’sdown。
　　That’sjustwhatIsay。He’sgottoworkjusttwiceashard，ifhewantstokeepeverythinginhisownmind。Butheain’tafraidofwork。That’sonegoodthingabouthim。
　　AndMissDeweyhastokeepstepwiththerestofus。
　　Butshedon’tlooklikeonethatwouldtaketoitnaturally。
　　Suchaprettygirlasthatgenerallythinksshedoesenoughwhenshelooksherprettiest。"
　　"She’saprettygirl，"saidCorey，non—committally。"ButI
　　supposeagreatmanyprettygirlshavetoearntheirliving。"
　　"Don’tanyof’emliketodoit，"returnedthebook—keeper。
　　"Theythinkit’sahardship，andIdon’tblame’em。Theyhavegotarighttogetmarried，andtheyoughttohavethechance。
　　AndMissDewey’ssmart，too。She’sasbrightasabiscuit。
　　Iguessshe’shadtrouble。Ishouldn’tbemuchmorethanhalfsurprisedifMissDeweywasn’tMissDewey，orhadn’talwaysbeen。Yes，sir，"continuedthebook—keeper，whoprolongedthetalkastheywalkedbacktoLapham’swarehousetogether，"Idon’tknowexactlywhatitis，——itisn’tanyonethinginparticular，——butIshouldsaythatgirlhadbeenmarried。Iwouldn’tspeaksofreelytoanyoftherest，Mr。Corey，——Iwantyoutounderstandthat，——anditisn’tanyofmybusiness，anyway；butthat’smyopinion。"
　　Coreymadenoreply，ashewalkedbesidethebook—keeper，whocontinued——
　　"It’scuriouswhatadifferencemarriagemakesinpeople。
　　Now，IknowthatIdon’tlookanymorelikeabachelorofmyagethanIdolikethemaninthemoon，andyetI
　　couldn’tsaywherethedifferencecamein，tosaveme。
　　Andit’sjustsowithawoman。Theminuteyoucatchsightofherface，there’ssomethinginitthattellsyouwhethershe’smarriedornot。Whatdoyousupposeitis？"
　　"I’msureIdon’tknow，"saidCorey，willingtolaughawaythetopic。"AndfromwhatIreadoccasionallyofsomepeoplewhogoaboutrepeatingtheirhappiness，Ishouldn’tsaythattheintangibleevidenceswerealwaysunmistakable。"
　　"Oh，ofcourse，"admittedWalker，easilysurrenderinghisposition。"Allsignsfailindryweather。
　　Hello！What’sthat？"HecaughtCoreybythearm，andtheybothstopped。
　　Atacorner，halfablockaheadofthem，thesummernoonsolitudeoftheplacewasbrokenbyabitofdrama。
　　Amanandwomanissuedfromtheintersectingstreet，andatthemomentofcomingintosighttheman，wholookedlikeasailor，caughtthewomanbythearm，asiftodetainher。Abriefstruggleensued，thewomantryingtofreeherself，andthemanhalfcoaxing，halfscolding。
　　Thespectatorscouldnowseethathewasdrunk；
　　butbeforetheycoulddecidewhetheritwasacasefortheirinterferenceornot，thewomansuddenlysetbothhandsagainsttheman’sbreastandgavehimaquickpush。
　　Helosthisfootingandtumbledintoaheapinthegutter。
　　Thewomanfalteredaninstant，asiftoseewhetherhewasseriouslyhurt，andthenturnedandran。
　　WhenCoreyandthebook—keeperre—enteredtheoffice，MissDeweyhadfinishedherlunch，andwasputtingasheetofpaperintohertype—writer。Shelookedupatthemwithhereyesofturquoiseblue，underherlowwhiteforehead，withthehairneatlyrippledoverit，andthenbegantobeatthekeysofhermachine。
　　IX。
　　LAPHAMhadthepridewhichcomesofself—making，andhewouldnotopenlylowerhiscresttotheyoungfellowhehadtakenintohisbusiness。Hewasgoingtobeobviouslymasterinhisownplacetoeveryone；andduringthehoursofbusinesshedidnothingtodistinguishCoreyfromthehalf—dozenotherclerksandbook—keepersintheouteroffice，buthewasnotsilentaboutthefactthatBromfieldCorey’ssonhadtakenafancytocometohim。"Didyounoticethatfellowatthedeskfacingmytype—writergirl？Well，sir，that’sthesonofBromfieldCorey——oldPhillipsCorey’sgrandson。AndI’llsaythisforhim，thatthereisn’tamanintheofficethatlooksafterhisworkbetter。Thereisn’tanythinghe’stoogoodfor。
　　He’srighthereatnineeverymorning，beforetheclockgetsintheword。Iguessit’shisgrandfathercomingoutinhim。He’sgotchargeoftheforeigncorrespondence。
　　We’repushingthepainteverywhere。"Heflatteredhimselfthathedidnotlugthematterin。Hehadbeenwarnedagainstthatbyhiswife，buthehadtherighttodoCoreyjustice，andhisbragtooktheformofillustration。
　　"Talkabouttrainingforbusiness——Itellyouit’sallinthemanhimself！IusedtobelieveinwhatoldHoraceGreeleysaidaboutcollegegraduatesbeingthepoorestkindofhornedcattle；butI’vechangedmymindalittle。
　　YoutakethatfellowCorey。He’sbeenthroughHarvard，andhe’shadabouteveryadvantagethatafellowcouldhave。
　　Beeneverywhere，andtalkshalfadozenlanguageslikeEnglish。Isupposehe’sgotmoneyenoughtolivewithoutliftingahand，anymorethanhisfatherdoes；
　　sonofBromfieldCorey，youknow。Butthethingwasinhim。
　　He’sanatural—bornbusinessman；andI’vehadmanyafellowwithmethathadcomeupoutofthestreet，andworkedhardallhislife，withouteverlosinghisoriginaloppositiontothething。ButCoreylikesit。
　　Ibelievethefellowwouldliketostickatthatdeskofhisnightandday。Idon’tknowwherehegotit。
　　Iguessitmustbehisgrandfather，oldPhillipsCorey；
　　itoftenskipsageneration，youknow。ButwhatIsayis，athinghasgottobeborninaman；andifitain’tborninhim，alltheprivationsintheworldwon’tputitthere，andifitis，allthecollegetrainingwon’ttakeitout。"
　　SometimesLaphamadvancedtheseideasathisowntable，toaguestwhomhehadbroughttoNantasketforthenight。
　　Thenhesufferedexposureandridiculeatthehandsofhiswife，whenopportunityoffered。ShewouldnotlethimbringCoreydowntoNantasketatall。
　　"No，indeed！"shesaid。"Iamnotgoingtohavethemthinkwe’rerunningafterhim。IfhewantstoseeIrene，hecanfindoutwaysofdoingitforhimself。"
　　"WhowantshimtoseeIrene？"retortedtheColonelangrily。
　　"Ido，"saidMrs。Lapham。"AndIwanthimtoseeherwithoutanyofyourconnivance，Silas。I’mnotgoingtohaveitsaidthatIputmygirlsatanybody。
　　Whydon’tyouinvitesomeofyourotherclerks？"
　　"Heain’tjustliketheotherclerks。He’sgoingtotakechargeofapartofthebusiness。It’squiteanotherthing。"
　　"Oh，indeed！"saidMrs。Laphamvexatiously。"ThenyouAREgoingtotakeapartner。"
　　"IshallaskhimdownifIchoose！"returnedtheColonel，disdainingherinsinuation。
　　Hiswifelaughedwiththefearlessnessofawomanwhoknowsherhusband。
　　"Butyouwon’tchoosewhenyou’vethoughtitover，Si。"
　　Thensheappliedanemollienttohischafedsurface。
　　"Don’tyousupposeIfeelasyoudoaboutit？Iknowjusthowproudyouare，andI’mnotgoingtohaveyoudoanythingthatwillmakeyoufeelmeechingafterward。
　　Youjustletthingstaketheircourse。IfhewantsIrene，he’sgoingtofindoutsomewayofseeingher；andifhedon’t，alltheplottingandplanningintheworldisn’tgoingtomakehim。"
　　"Who’splotting？"againretortedtheColonel，shudderingattheutteranceofhopesandambitionswhichamanhideswithshame，butawomantalksoverasfreelyandcoollyasiftheywereitemsofamilliner’sbill。
　　"Oh，notyou！"exultedhiswife。"Iunderstandwhatyouwant。Youwanttogetthisfellow，whoisneitherpartnernorclerk，downheretotalkbusinesswithhim。