Well，now，youjusttalkbusinesswithhimattheoffice。"
　　TheonlysocialattentionwhichLaphamsucceededinofferingCoreywastotakehiminhisbuggy，nowandthen，foraspinoutovertheMill—dam。Hekeptthemareintown，andonapleasantafternoonhelikedtoknockoffearly，ashephrasedit，andletthemareoutalittle。
　　Coreyunderstoodsomethingabouthorses，thoughinapassionlessway，andhewouldhavepreferredtotalkbusinesswhenobligedtotalkhorse。ButhedeferredtohisbusinesssuperiorwiththesenseofdisciplinewhichisinnateintheapparentlyinsubordinateAmericannature。
　　IfCoreycouldhardlyhavehelpedfeelingthesocialdifferencebetweenLaphamandhimself，inhispresencehesilencedhistraditions，andshowedhimalltherespectthathecouldhaveexactedfromanyofhisclerks。
　　Hetalkedhorsewithhim，andwhentheColonelwishedhetalkedhouse。BesideshimselfandhispaintLaphamhadnotmanyothertopics；andifhehadachoicebetweenthemareandtheedificeonthewatersideofBeaconStreet，itwasjustnowthelatter。Sometimes，indrivinginorout，hestoppedatthehouse，andmadeCoreyhisguestthere，ifhemightnotatNantasket；andonedayithappenedthattheyoungmanmetIrenethereagain。Shehadcomeupwithhermotheralone，andtheywereinthehouse，interviewingthecarpenterasbefore，whentheColoneljumpedoutofhisbuggyandcastanchoratthepavement。
　　Moreexactly，Mrs。Laphamwasinterviewingthecarpenter，andIrenewassittinginthebow—windowonatrestle，andlookingoutatthedriving。Shesawhimcomeupwithherfather，andbowedandblushed。Herfatherwentonup—stairstofindhermother，andCoreypulledupanothertrestlewhichhefoundinthebackpartoftheroom。
　　Thefirstflooringshadbeenlaidthroughoutthehouse，andthepartitionshadbeenlathedsothatonecouldrealisetheshapeoftheinterior。
　　"Isupposeyouwillsitatthiswindowagooddeal，"
　　saidtheyoungman。
　　"Yes，Ithinkitwillbeverynice。There’ssomuchmoregoingonthanthereisintheSquare。"
　　"Itmustbeveryinterestingtoyoutoseethehousegrow。"
　　"Itis。Onlyitdoesn’tseemtogrowsofastasIexpected。"
　　"Why，I’mamazedattheprogressyourcarpenterhasmadeeverytimeIcome。"
　　Thegirllookeddown，andthenliftinghereyesshesaid，withasortoftimorousappeal——
　　"I’vebeenreadingthatbooksinceyouweredownatNantasket。"
　　"Book？"repeatedCorey，whileshereddenedwithdisappointment。
　　"Ohyes。Middlemarch。Didyoulikeit？"
　　"Ihaven’tgotthroughwithityet。Penhasfinishedit。"
　　"Whatdoesshethinkofit？"
　　"Oh，Ithinkshelikesitverywell。Ihaven’theardhertalkaboutitmuch。Doyoulikeit？"
　　"Yes；Ilikeditimmensely。Butit’sseveralyearssinceIreadit。"
　　"Ididn’tknowitwassoold。It’sjustgotintotheSeasideLibrary，"sheurged，withalittlesenseofinjuryinhertone。
　　"Oh，ithasn’tbeenoutsuchaverygreatwhile，"
　　saidCoreypolitely。"ItcamealittlebeforeDANIELDERONDA。"
　　Thegirlwasagainsilent。Shefollowedthecurlofashavingonthefloorwiththepointofherparasol。
　　"DoyoulikethatRosamondVincy？"sheasked，withoutlookingup。
　　Coreysmiledinhiskindway。
　　"Ididn’tsupposeshewasexpectedtohaveanyfriends。
　　Ican’tsayIlikedher。ButIdon’tthinkIdislikedhersomuchastheauthordoes。She’sprettyhardonhergood—looking"——hewasgoingtosaygirls，butasifthatmighthavebeenratherpersonal，hesaid——"people。"
　　"Yes，that’swhatPensays。Shesaysshedoesn’tgiveheranychancetobegood。ShesayssheshouldhavebeenjustasbadasRosamondifshehadbeeninherplace。"
　　Theyoungmanlaughed。"Yoursisterisverysatirical，isn’tshe？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidIrene，stillintentupontheconvolutionsoftheshaving。"Shekeepsuslaughing。
　　Papathinksthere’snobodythatcantalklikeher。"
　　Shegavetheshavingalittletossfromher，andtooktheparasolupacrossherlap。TheunworldlinessoftheLaphamgirlsdidnotextendtotheirdress；
　　Irene’scostumewasverystylish，andshegovernedherheadandshouldersstylishly。"Wearegoingtohavethebackroomupstairsforamusic—roomandlibrary，"
　　shesaidabruptly。
　　"Yes？"returnedCorey。"Ishouldthinkthatwouldbecharming。"
　　"Weexpectedtohavebook—cases，butthearchitectwantstobuildtheshelvesin。"
　　ThefactseemedtobereferredtoCoreyforhiscomment。
　　"Itseemstomethatwouldbethebestway。They’lllooklikepartoftheroomthen。Youcanmakethemlow，andhangyourpicturesabovethem。"
　　"Yes，that’swhathesaid。"Thegirllookedoutofthewindowinadding，"Ipresumewithnicebindingsitwilllookverywell。"
　　"Oh，nothingfurnishesaroomlikebooks。"
　　"No。Therewillhavetobeagoodmanyofthem。"
　　"Thatdependsuponthesizeofyourroomandthenumberofyourshelves。"
　　"Oh，ofcourse！Ipresume，"saidIrene，thoughtfully，"weshallhavetohaveGibbon。"
　　"Ifyouwanttoreadhim，"saidCorey，withalaughofsympathyforanimaginablejoke。
　　"Wehadagreatdealabouthimatschool。Ibelievewehadoneofhisbooks。Mine’slost，butPenwillremember。"
　　Theyoungmanlookedather，andthensaid，seriously，"You’llwantGreene，ofcourse，andMotley，andParkman。"
　　"Yes。Whatkindofwritersarethey？"
　　"They’rehistorianstoo。"
　　"Ohyes；Iremembernow。That’swhatGibbonwas。
　　IsitGibbonorGibbons？"
　　Theyoungmandecidedthepointwithapparentlysuperfluousdelicacy。"Gibbon，Ithink。"
　　"Thereusedtobesomanyofthem，"saidIrenegaily。
　　"Iusedtogetthemmixedupwitheachother，andI
　　couldn’ttellthemfromthepoets。Shouldyouwanttohavepoetry？"
　　"Yes；IsupposesomeeditionoftheEnglishpoets。"
　　"Wedon’tanyofuslikepoetry。Doyoulikeit？"
　　"I’mafraidIdon’tverymuch，"Coreyowned。
　　"But，ofcourse，therewasatimewhenTennysonwasagreatdealmoretomethanheisnow。"
　　"Wehadsomethingabouthimatschooltoo。IthinkIrememberthename。IthinkweoughttohaveALLtheAmericanpoets。"
　　"Well，notall。Fiveorsixofthebest：youwantLongfellowandBryantandWhittierandHolmesandEmersonandLowell。"
　　Thegirllistenedattentively，asifmakingmentalnoteofthenames。
　　"AndShakespeare，"sheadded。"Don’tyoulikeShakespeare’splays？"
　　"Ohyes，verymuch。"
　　"Iusedtobeperfectlycrazyabouthisplays。
　　Don’tyouthink’Hamlet’issplendid？WehadeversomuchaboutShakespeare。Weren’tyouperfectlyastonishedwhenyoufoundouthowmanyotherplaysofhistherewere？Ialwaysthoughttherewasnothingbut’Hamlet’
　　and’RomeoandJuliet’and’Macbeth’and’RichardIII。’
　　and’KingLear，’andthatonethatRobesonandCranehave——ohyes！’ComedyofErrors。’"
　　"Thosearetheonestheyusuallyplay，"saidCorey。
　　"IpresumeweshallhavetohaveScott’sworks，"saidIrene，returningtothequestionofbooks。
　　"Ohyes。"
　　"OneofthegirlsusedtothinkhewasGREAT。ShewasalwaystalkingaboutScott。"Irenemadeaprettylittleamiablycontemptuousmouth。"Heisn’tAmerican，though？"
　　shesuggested。
　　"No，"saidCorey；"he’sScotch，Ibelieve。"
　　Irenepassedhergloveoverherforehead。"IalwaysgethimmixedupwithCooper。Well，papahasgottogetthem。
　　Ifwehavealibrary，wehavegottohavebooksinit。
　　Pensaysit’sperfectlyridiculoushavingone。Butpapathinkswhateverthearchitectsaysisright。Hefoughthimhardenoughatfirst。Idon’tseehowanyonecankeepthepoetsandthehistoriansandnovelistsseparateintheirmind。Ofcoursepapawillbuythemifwesayso。
　　ButIdon’tseehowI’mevergoingtotellhimwhichones。"
　　Thejoyouslightfadedoutofherfaceandleftitpensive。
　　"Why，ifyoulike，"saidtheyoungman，takingouthispencil，"I’llputdownthenameswe’vebeentalkingabout。"
　　Heclappedhimselfonhisbreastpocketstodetectsomelurkingscrapofpaper。
　　"Willyou？"shecrieddelightedly。"Here！takeoneofmycards，"
　　andshepulledouthercard—case。"Thecarpenterwritesonathree—corneredblockandputsitintohispocket，andit’ssouncomfortablehecan’thelprememberingit。
　　Pensaysshe’sgoingtoadoptthethree—cornered—blockplanwithpapa。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidCorey。"IbelieveI’lluseyourcard。"
　　Hecrossedovertoher，andafteramomentsatdownonthetrestlebesideher。Shelookedoverthecardashewrote。
　　"Thosearetheoneswementioned，butperhapsI’dbetteraddafewothers。"
　　"Oh，thankyou，"shesaid，whenhehadwrittenthecardfullonbothsides。"Hehasgottogettheminthenicestbinding，too。Ishalltellhimabouttheirhelpingtofurnishtheroom，andthenhecan’tobject。"
　　Sheremainedwiththecard，lookingatitratherwistfully。
　　PerhapsCoreydivinedhertroubleofmind。"Ifhewilltakethattoanybookseller，andtellhimwhatbindingshewants，hewillfilltheorderforhim。"jdh—
　　spell—checkedtothispoint"Oh，thankyouverymuch，"
　　shesaid，andputthecardbackintohercard—casewithgreatapparentrelief。Thensheturnedherlovelyfacetowardtheyoungman，beamingwiththetriumphawomanfeelsinanybitofsuccessfulmanoeuvring，andbegantotalkwithrecoveredgaietyofotherthings，asif，havinggotridofamatterannoyingoutofallproportiontoitsimportance，shewasnowgoingtoindemnifyherself。
　　Coreydidnotreturntohisowntrestle。Shefoundanothershavingwithinreachofherparasol，andbeganpokingthatwithit，andtryingtofollowitthroughitsfolds。
　　Coreywatchedherawhile。
　　"Youseemtohaveagreatpassionforplayingwithshavings，"
　　hesaid。"Isitanewone？"
　　"Newwhat？"
　　"Passion。"
　　"Idon’tknow，"shesaid，droppinghereyelids，andkeepingonwithhereffort。Shelookedshylyaslantathim。
　　"Perhapsyoudon’tapproveofplayingwithshavings？"
　　"Ohyes，Ido。Iadmireitverymuch。Butitseemsratherdifficult。I’veagreatambitiontoputmyfootontheshaving’stailandholditforyou。"
　　"Well，"saidthegirl。
　　"Thankyou，"saidtheyoungman。Hedidso，andnowsheranherparasolpointeasilythroughit。Theylookedateachotherandlaughed。"Thatwaswonderful。
　　Wouldyouliketotryanother？"heasked。
　　"No，Ithankyou，"shereplied。"Ithinkonewilldo。"
　　Theybothlaughedagain，forwhateverreasonornoreason，andthentheyounggirlbecamesober。Toagirleverythingayoungmandoesisofsignificance；andifheholdsashavingdownwithhisfootwhileshepokesthroughitwithherparasol，shemustaskherselfwhathemeansbyit。
　　"Theyseemtobehavingratheralonginterviewwiththecarpenterto—day，"saidIrene，lookingvaguelytowardtheceiling。SheturnedwithpoliteceremonytoCorey。
　　"I’mafraidyou’relettingthemkeepyou。Youmustn’t。"
　　"Ohno。You’relettingmestay，"hereturned。
　　Shebridledandbitherlipforpleasure。"Ipresumetheywillbedownbeforeagreatwhile。Don’tyoulikethesmellofthewoodandthemortar？It’ssofresh。"
　　"Yes，it’sdelicious。"Hebentforwardandpickedupfromthefloortheshavingwithwhichtheyhadbeenplaying，andputittohisnose。"It’slikeaflower。MayIofferittoyou？"heasked，asifithadbeenone。
　　"Oh，thankyou，thankyou！"Shetookitfromhimandputitintoherbelt，andthentheybothlaughedoncemore。
　　Stepswerehearddescending。Whentheelderpeoplereachedthefloorwheretheyweresitting，Coreyroseandpresentlytookhisleave。
　　"Whatmakesyousosolemn，’Rene？"askedMrs。Lapham。
　　"Solemn？"echoedthegirl。"I’mnotaBITsolemn。
　　WhatCANyoumean？"
　　Coreydinedathomethatevening，andashesatlookingacrossthetableathisfather，hesaid，"Iwonderwhattheaverageliteratureofnon—cultivatedpeopleis。"
　　"Ah，"saidtheelder，"Isuspecttheaverageisprettylowevenwithcultivatedpeople。Youdon’treadagreatmanybooksyourself，Tom。"
　　"No，Idon’t，"theyoungmanconfessed。"IreadmorebookswhenIwaswithStanton，lastwinter，thanIhadsinceIwasaboy。ButIreadthembecauseImust——therewasnothingelsetodo。Itwasn’tbecauseIwasfondofreading。
　　StillIthinkIreadwithsomesenseofliteratureandthedifferencebetweenauthors。Idon’tsupposethatpeoplegenerallydothat；Ihavemetpeoplewhohadreadbookswithouttroublingthemselvestofindouteventheauthor’sname，muchlesstryingtodecideuponhisquality。
　　Isupposethat’sthewaythevastmajorityofpeopleread。"
　　"Yes。Ifauthorswerenotalmostnecessarilyrecluses，andignorantoftheignoranceaboutthem，Idon’tseehowtheycouldendureit。Ofcoursetheyarefatedtobeoverwhelmedbyoblivionatlast，poorfellows；buttoseeitwelteringallroundthemwhiletheyareintheveryactofachievingimmortalitymustbetremendouslydiscouraging。
　　Idon’tsupposethatwewhohavethehabitofreading，andatleastanoddingacquaintancewithliterature，canimaginethebestialdarknessofthegreatmassofpeople——evenpeoplewhosehousesarerichandwhoselinenispurpleandfine。Butoccasionallywegetglimpsesofit。
　　IsupposeyoufoundthelatestpublicationslyingallaboutinLaphamcottagewhenyouweredownthere？"
　　YoungCoreylaughed。"Itwasn’texactlycumberedwiththem。"
　　"No？"
　　"Totellthetruth，Idon’tsupposetheyeverbuybooks。
　　Theyoungladiesgetnovelsthattheyheartalkedofoutofthecirculatinglibrary。"
　　"Hadtheyknowledgeenoughtobeashamedoftheirignorance？"
　　"Yes，incertainways——toacertaindegree。"
　　"It’sacuriousthing，thisthingwecallcivilisation，"
　　saidtheeldermusingly。"Wethinkitisanaffairofepochsandofnations。It’sreallyanaffairofindividuals。
　　Onebrotherwillbecivilisedandtheotherabarbarian。
　　I’veoccasionallymetyounggirlswhoweresobrutally，insolently，wilfullyindifferenttotheartswhichmakecivilisationthattheyoughttohavebeenclothedintheskinsofwildbeastsandgoneaboutbarefootwithclubsovertheirshoulders。Yettheywereofpoliteorigin，andtheirparentswereatleastrespectfulofthethingsthattheseyounganimalsdespised。"
　　"Idon’tthinkthatisexactlythecasewiththeLaphamfamily，"saidtheson，smiling。"Thefatherandmotherratherapologisedaboutnotgettingtimetoread，andtheyoungladiesbynomeansscornedit。"
　　"Theyarequiteadvanced！"
　　"TheyaregoingtohavealibraryintheirBeaconStreethouse。"
　　"Oh，poorthings！Howaretheyevergoingtogetthebookstogether？"
　　"Well，sir，"saidtheson，colouringalittle，"Ihavebeenindirectlyappliedtoforhelp。"
　　"You，Tom！"Hisfatherdroppedbackinhischairandlaughed。
　　"Irecommendedthestandardauthors，"saidtheson。
　　"Oh，IneversupposedyourPRUDENCEwouldbeatfault，Tom！"
　　"Butseriously，"saidtheyoungman，generouslysmilinginsympathywithhisfather’senjoyment，"they’renotunintelligentpeople。Theyareveryquick，andtheyareshrewdandsensible。"
　　"IhavenodoubtthatsomeoftheSiouxareso。Butthatisnotsayingthattheyarecivilised。Allcivilisationcomesthroughliteraturenow，especiallyinourcountry。
　　AGreekgothiscivilisationbytalkingandlooking，andinsomemeasureaParisianmaystilldoit。Butwe，wholiveremotefromhistoryandmonuments，wemustreadorwemustbarbarise。Onceweweresoftened，ifnotpolished，byreligion；butIsuspectthatthepulpitcountsformuchlessnowincivilising。"
　　"They’reenormousdevourersofnewspapers，andtheatre—goers；
　　andtheygoagreatdealtolectures。TheColonelprefersthemwiththestereopticon。"
　　"Theymightgetasomethinginthatway，"saidtheelderthoughtfully。"Yes，Isupposeonemusttakethosethingsintoaccount——especiallythenewspapersandthelectures。
　　Idoubtifthetheatreisafactorincivilisationamongus。
　　Idaresayitdoesn’tdepraveagreatdeal，butfromwhatI’veseenofitIshouldsaythatitwasintellectuallydegrading。
　　Perhapstheymightgetsomesortofliftfromit；
　　Idon’tknow。Tom！"headded，afteramoment’sreflection。
　　"IreallythinkIoughttoseethispatronofyours。
　　Don’tyouthinkitwouldberatherdecentinmetomakehisacquaintance？"
　　"Well，ifyouhavethefancy，sir，"saidtheyoungman。
　　"Butthere’snosortofobligation。ColonelLaphamwouldbethelastmanintheworldtowanttogiveourrelationanysortofsocialcharacter。Themeetingwillcomeaboutinthenaturalcourseofthings。"
　　"Ah，Ididn’tintendtoproposeanythingimmediate，"
　　saidthefather。"Onecan’tdoanythinginthesummer，andIshouldpreferyourmother’ssuperintendence。
　　Still，Ican’tridmyselfoftheideaofadinner。
　　Itappearstomethatthereoughttobeadinner。"
　　"Oh，praydon’tfeelthatthere’sanynecessity。"
　　"Well，"saidtheelder，witheasyresignation，"there’satleastnohurry。"
　　"ThereisonethingIdon’tlike，"saidLapham，inthecourseofoneofthosetalkswhichcameupbetweenhiswifeandhimselfconcerningCorey，"oratleastIdon’tunderstandit；andthat’sthewayhisfatherbehaves。Idon’twanttoforcemyselfonanyman；
　　butitseemstomeprettyqueerthewayheholdsoff。
　　Ishouldthinkhewouldtakeenoughinterestinhissontowanttoknowsomethingabouthisbusiness。
　　Whatisheafraidof？"demandedLaphamangrily。"DoeshethinkI’mgoingtojumpatachancetogetinwithhim，ifhegivesmeone？He’smightilymistakenifhedoes。
　　Idon’twanttoknowhim。"
　　"Silas，"saidhiswife，makingawife’sfreeversionofherhusband’swords，andreplyingtotheirspiritratherthantheirletter，"IhopeyouneversaidawordtoMr。Coreytolethimknowthewayyoufeel。"
　　"Inevermentionedhisfathertohim！"roaredtheColonel。
　　"That’sthewayIfeelaboutit！"
　　"Becauseitwouldspoileverything。Iwouldn’thavethemthinkwecaredtheleastthingintheworldfortheiracquaintance。Weshouldn’tbeabitbetteroff。
　　Wedon’tknowthesamepeopletheydo，andwedon’tcareforthesamekindofthings。"
　　Laphamwasbreathlesswithresentmentofhiswife’simplication。
　　"Don’tItellyou，"hegasped，"thatIdon’twanttoknowthem？Whobeganit？They’refriendsofyoursifthey’reanybody’s。"
　　"They’redistantacquaintancesofmine，"returnedMrs。Laphamquietly；"andthisyoungCoreyisaclerkofyours。AndI
　　wantweshouldholdourselvessothatwhentheygetreadytomaketheadvanceswecanmeetthemhalf—wayornot，justaswechoose。"
　　"That’swhatgrindsme，"criedherhusband。
　　"Whyshouldwewaitforthemtomaketheadvances？Whyshouldn’twemake’em？Aretheyanybetterthanweare？
　　MynoteofhandwouldbeworthtentimeswhatBromfieldCorey’sisonthestreetto—day。AndImadeMYmoney。
　　Ihaven’tloafedmylifeaway。"
　　"Oh，itisn’twhatyou’vegot，anditisn’twhatyou’vedoneexactly。It’swhatyouare。"
　　"Well，then，what’sthedifference？"
　　"Nonethatreallyamountstoanything，orthatneedgiveyouanytrouble，ifyoudon’tthinkofit。Buthe’sbeenallhislifeinsociety，andheknowsjustwhattosayandwhattodo，andhecantalkaboutthethingsthatsocietypeopleliketotalkabout，andyou——can’t。"
　　Laphamgaveafurioussnort。"Anddoesthatmakehimanybetter？"
　　"No。Butitputshimwherehecanmaketheadvanceswithoutdemeaninghimself，anditputsyouwhereyoucan’t。Now，lookhere，SilasLapham！YouunderstandthisthingaswellasIdo。YouknowthatIappreciateyou，andthatI’dsoonerdiethanhaveyouhumbleyourselftoalivingsoul。ButI’mnotgoingtohaveyoucomingtome，andpretendingthatyoucanmeetBromfieldCoreyasanequalonhisownground。Youcan’t。He’sgotabettereducationthanyou，andifhehasn’tgotmorebrainsthanyou，he’sgotdifferent。Andheandhiswife，andtheirfathersandgrandfathersbefore’em，havealwayshadahighposition，andyoucan’thelpit。Ifyouwanttoknowthem，you’vegottoletthemmaketheadvances。
　　Ifyoudon’t，allwellandgood。"
　　"Iguess，"saidthechafedandvanquishedColonel，afteramomentforswallowingthepill，"thatthey’dhavebeeninaprettyfixifyou’dwaitedtoletthemmaketheadvanceslastsummer。"
　　"Thatwasadifferentthingaltogether。Ididn’tknowwhotheywere，ormaybeIshouldhavewaited。
　　ButallIsaynowisthatifyou’vegotyoungCoreyintobusinesswithyou，inhopesofourgettingintosocietywithhisfather，youbettershiphimatonce。
　　ForIain’tgoingtohaveitonthatbasis。"
　　"Whowantstohaveitonthatbasis？"retortedherhusband。
　　"Nobody，ifyoudon’t，"saidMrs。Laphamtranquilly。
　　Irenehadcomehomewiththeshavinginherbelt，unnoticedbyherfather，andunquestionedbyhermother。
　　Buthersistersawitatonce，andaskedherwhatshewasdoingwithit。
　　"Oh，nothing，"saidIrene，withajoyfulsmileofself—betrayal，takingtheshavingcarefullyout，andlayingitamongthelacesandribbonsinherdrawer。
　　"Hadn’tyoubetterputitinwater，’Rene？It’llbeallwiltedbymorning，"saidPen。
　　"Youmeanthing！"criedthehappygirl。"Itisn’taflower！"
　　"Oh，Ithoughtitwasawholebouquet。Whogaveittoyou？"
　　"Ishan’ttellyou，"saidIrenesaucily。
　　"Oh，well，nevermind。DidyouknowMr。Coreyhadbeendownherethisafternoon，walkingonthebeachwithme？"
　　"Hewasn’t——hewasn’tatall！HewasatthehousewithME。
　　There！I’vecaughtyoufairly。"
　　"Isthatso？"drawledPenelope。"ThenInevercouldguesswhogaveyouthatpreciousshaving。"
　　"No，youcouldn’t！"saidIrene，flushingbeautifully。
　　"Andyoumayguess，andyoumayguess，andyoumayguess！"
　　Withherlovelyeyesshecoaxedhersistertokeeponteasingher，andPenelopecontinuedthecomedywiththepatiencethatwomenhaveforsuchthings。
　　"Well，I’mnotgoingtotry，ifit’snouse。ButI
　　didn’tknowithadgottobethefashiontogiveshavingsinsteadofflowers。Butthere’ssomesenseinit。
　　Theycanbeusedforkindlingswhentheygetold，andyoucan’tdoanythingwitholdflowers。Perhapshe’llgettosending’embythebarrel。"
　　Irenelaughedforpleasureinthistormenting。"OPen，Iwanttotellyouhowitallhappened。"
　　"Oh，heDIDgiveittoyou，then？Well，IguessIdon’tcaretohear。"
　　"Youshall，andyou’vegotto！"Ireneranandcaughthersister，whofeignedtobegoingoutoftheroom，andpushedherintoachair。"There，now！"Shepulledupanotherchair，andhemmedherinwithit。"Hecameover，andsatdownonthetrestlealongsideofme————"
　　"What？Ascloseasyouaretomenow？"
　　"Youwretch！IwillGIVEittoyou！No，ataproperdistance。
　　Andherewasthisshavingonthefloor，thatI’dbeenpokingwithmyparasol————"
　　"Tohideyourembarrassment。"
　　"Pshaw！Iwasn’tabitembarrassed。Iwasjustasmuchatmyease！Andthenheaskedmetolethimholdtheshavingdownwithhisfoot，whileIwentonwithmypoking。
　　AndIsaidyeshemight————"
　　"Whataboldgirl！Yousaidhemightholdashavingdownforyou？"
　　"Andthen——andthen————"continuedIrene，liftinghereyesabsently，andlosingherselfinthebeatificrecollection，"andthen————Ohyes！ThenIaskedhimifhedidn’tlikethesmellofpineshavings。Andthenhepickeditup，andsaiditsmeltlikeaflower。Andthenheaskedifhemightofferittome——justforajoke，youknow。
　　AndItookit，andstuckitinmybelt。Andwehadsuchalaugh！Wegotintoaregulargale。AndOPen，whatdoyousupposehemeantbyit？"Shesuddenlycaughtherselftohersister’sbreast，andhidherburningfaceonhershoulder。
　　"Well，thereusedtobeabookaboutthelanguageofflowers。
　　ButIneverknewmuchaboutthelanguageofshavings，andIcan’tsayexactly————"
　　"Oh，don’t——DON’T，Pen！"andhereIrenegaveoverlaughing，andbegantosobinhersister’sarms。
　　"Why，’Rene！"criedtheeldergirl。
　　"YouKNOWhedidn’tmeananything。Hedoesn’tcareabitaboutme。Hehatesme！Hedespisesme！Oh，whatshallIdo？"
　　Atroublepassedoverthefaceofthesisterasshesilentlycomfortedthechildinherarms；thenthedrollinglightcamebackintohereyes。"Well，’Rene，YOUhaven’tgottodoANYthing。That’soneadvantagegirlshavegot——ifitISanadvantage。I’mnotalwayssure。"
　　Irene’stearsturnedtolaughingagain。Whensheliftedherheaditwastolookintothemirrorconfrontingthem，whereherbeautyshowedallthemorebrilliantfortheshowerthathadpassedoverit。Sheseemedtogathercouragefromthesight。