第4章

Penelopetooktheword。"Igoinforit。Idon’tseeanyuseinnotenjoyingmoney，ifyou’vegotittoenjoy。

That’swhatit’sfor，Isuppose；thoughyoumightn’talwaysthinkso。"Shehadaslow，quaintwayoftalking，thatseemedapleasantpersonalmodificationofsomeancestralYankeedrawl，andhervoicewaslowandcozy，andsofarfrombeingnasalthatitwasalittlehoarse。

"Iguesstheayeshasit，Pen，"saidherfather。

"HowwoulditdotoletIreneandyourmotherstickintheoldplacehere，andusgointothenewhouse？"

AttimestheColonel’sgrammarfailedhim。

Thematterdropped，andtheLaphamslivedonasbefore，withjokingrecurrencestothehouseonthewatersideofBeacon。TheColonelseemedlessinearnestthananyofthemaboutit；butthatwashisway，hisgirlssaid；

younevercouldtellwhenhereallymeantathing。

III。

TOWARDtheendofthewintertherecameanewspaper，addressedtoMissIreneLapham；itprovedtobeaTexasnewspaper，withacomplimentaryaccountoftheranchoftheHon。LoringG。Stanton，whichtherepresentativeofthejournalhadvisited。

"Itmustbehisfriend，"saidMrs。Lapham，towhomherdaughterbroughtthepaper；"theonehe’sstayingwith。"

Thegirldidnotsayanything，butshecarriedthepapertoherroom，whereshescannedeverylineofitforanothername。Shedidnotfindit，butshecutthenoticeoutandstuckitintothesideofhermirror，whereshecouldreaditeverymorningwhenshebrushedherhair，andthelastthingatnightwhenshelookedatherselfintheglassjustbeforeturningoffthegas。

Hersisteroftenreaditaloud，standingbehindherandrenderingitwithelocutionaryeffects。

"ThefirsttimeIeverheardofalove—letterintheformofapufftoacattle—ranch。Butperhapsthat’sthestyleontheHill。"

Mrs。Laphamtoldherhusbandofthearrivalofthepaper，treatingthefactwithanimportancethatherefusedtoseeinit。

"Howdoyouknowthefellowsentit，anyway？"hedemanded。

"Oh，Iknowhedid。"

"Idon’tseewhyhecouldn’twriteto’Rene，ifhereallymeantanything。"

"Well，Iguessthatwouldn’tbetheirway，"saidMrs。Lapham；

shedidnotatallknowwhattheirwaywouldbe。

WhenthespringopenedColonelLaphamshowedthathehadbeeninearnestaboutbuildingontheNewLand。Hisideaofahousewasabrown—stonefront，fourstorieshigh，andaFrenchroofwithanair—chamberabove。Inside，therewastobeareception—roomonthestreetandadining—roomback。Theparloursweretobeonthesecondfloor，andfinishedinblackwalnutorparty—colouredpaint。

Thechambersweretobeonthethreefloorsabove，frontandrear，withside—roomsoverthefrontdoor。

Blackwalnutwastobeusedeverywhereexceptintheattic，whichwastobepaintedandgrainedtolooklikeblackwalnut。Thewholewastobeveryhigh—studded，andthereweretobehandsomecornicesandelaboratecentre—piecesthroughout，except，again，intheattic。

Theseideashehadformedfromtheinspectionofmanynewbuildingswhichhehadseengoingup，andwhichhehadapassionforlookinginto。HewasconfirmedinhisideasbyamasterbuilderwhohadputupagreatmanyhousesontheBackBayasaspeculation，andwhotoldhimthatifhewantedtohaveahouseinthestyle，thatwasthewaytohaveit。

ThebeginningsoftheprocessbywhichLaphamescapedfromthemasterbuilderandendedinthehandsofanarchitectaresoobscurethatitwouldbealmostimpossibletotracethem。Butitallhappened，andLaphampromptlydevelopedhisideasofblackwalnutfinish，highstudding，andcornices。Thearchitectwasabletoconcealtheshudderwhichtheymusthavesentthroughhim。Hewasskilful，asnearlyallarchitectsare，inplayinguponthatsimpleinstrumentMan。HebegantotouchColonelLapham’sstops。

"Oh，certainly，havetheparlourshigh—studded。Butyou’veseensomeofthoseprettyold—fashionedcountry—houses，haven’tyou，wheretheentrance—storyisverylow—studded？"

"Yes，"Laphamassented。

"Well，don’tyouthinksomethingofthatkindwouldhaveaveryniceeffect？Havetheentrance—storylow—studded，andyourparloursonthenextfloorashighasyouplease。

Putyourlittlereception—roomherebesidethedoor，andgetthewholewidthofyourhousefrontageforasquarehall，andaneasylow—treadstaircaserunningupthreesidesofit。

I’msureMrs。Laphamwouldfinditmuchpleasanter。"

Thearchitectcaughttowardhimascrapofpaperlyingonthetableatwhichtheyweresittingandsketchedhisidea。

"Thenhaveyourdining—roombehindthehall，lookingonthewater。"

HeglancedatMrs。Lapham，whosaid，"Ofcourse，"

andthearchitectwenton——

"Thatgetsyouridofoneofthoselong，straight，uglystaircases，"——untilthatmomentLaphamhadthoughtalong，straightstaircasethechiefornamentofahouse，——"andgivesyouaneffectofamplitudeandspace。"

"That’sso！"saidMrs。Lapham。Herhusbandmerelymadeanoiseinhisthroat。

"Then，wereyouthinkingofhavingyourparlourstogether，connectedbyfoldingdoors？"askedthearchitectdeferentially。

"Yes，ofcourse，"saidLapham。"They’realwaysso，ain’tthey？"

"Well，nearly，"saidthearchitect。"Iwaswonderinghowwoulditdotomakeonelargesquareroomatthefront，takingthewholebreadthofthehouse，and，withthishall—spacebetween，haveamusic—roombackfortheyoungladies？"

Laphamlookedhelplesslyathiswife，whosequickerapprehensionhadfollowedthearchitect’spencilwithinstantsympathy。"First—rate！"shecried。

TheColonelgaveway。"Iguessthatwoulddo。

It’llbekindofodd，won’tit？"

"Well，Idon’tknow，"saidthearchitect。"Notsoodd，Ihope，astheotherthingwillbeafewyearsfromnow。"

Hewentontoplantherestofthehouse，andheshowedhimselfsuchamasterinregardtoallthepracticaldetailsthatMrs。Laphambegantofeelamotherlyaffectionfortheyoungman，andherhusbandcouldnotdenyinhisheartthatthefellowseemedtounderstandhisbusiness。

Hestoppedwalkingabouttheroom，ashehadbeguntodowhenthearchitectandMrs。Laphamenteredintotheparticularsofclosets，drainage，kitchenarrangements，andallthat，andcamebacktothetable。"Ipresume，"

hesaid，"you’llhavethedrawing—roomfinishedinblackwalnut？"

"Well，yes，"repliedthearchitect，"ifyoulike。

Butsomelessexpensivewoodcanbemadejustaseffectivewithpaint。Ofcourseyoucanpaintblackwalnuttoo。"

"Paintit？"gaspedtheColonel。

"Yes，"saidthearchitectquietly。"White，oralittleoffwhite。"

Laphamdroppedtheplanhehadpickedupfromthetable。

Hiswifemadealittlemovetowardhimofconsolationorsupport。

"Ofcourse，"resumedthearchitect，Iknowtherehasbeenagreatcrazeforblackwalnut。Butit’sanuglywood；

andforadrawing—roomthereisreallynothinglikewhitepaint。Weshouldwanttointroducealittlegoldhereandthere。Perhapswemightrunapaintedfriezeroundunderthecornice——garlandsofrosesonagoldground；

itwouldtellwonderfullyinawhiteroom。"

TheColonelreturnedlesscourageouslytothecharge。

"Ipresumeyou’llwantEastlakemantel—shelvesandtiles？"

Hemeantthisforasarcasticthrustataprevailingfoibleoftheprofession。

"Well，no，"gentlyansweredthearchitect。"Iwasthinkingperhapsawhitemarblechimney—piece，treatedintherefinedEmpirestyle，wouldbethethingforthatroom。"

"Whitemarble！"exclaimedtheColonel。"Ithoughtthathadgoneoutlongago。"

"Reallybeautifulthingscan’tgoout。Theymaydisappearforalittlewhile，buttheymustcomeback。

It’sonlytheuglythingsthatstayoutafterthey’vehadtheirday。"

Laphamcouldonlyventureverymodestly，"Hard—woodfloors？"

"Inthemusic—room，ofcourse，"consentedthearchitect。

"Andinthedrawing—room？"

"Carpet。Somesortofmoquette，Ishouldsay。ButI

shouldprefertoconsultMrs。Lapham’stasteinthatmatter。"

"Andintheotherrooms？"

"Oh，carpets，ofcourse。"

"Andwhataboutthestairs？"

"Carpet。AndIshouldhavetherailandbanisterswhite——banistersturnedortwisted。"

TheColonelsaidunderhisbreath，"Well，I’mdumned！"

buthegavenoutterancetohisastonishmentinthearchitect’spresence。Whenhewentatlast，——thesessiondidnotendtilleleveno’clock，——Laphamsaid，"Well，Pert，Iguessthatfellow’sfiftyyearsbehind，ortenyearsahead。

IwonderwhattheOngpeerstyleis？"

"Idon’tknow。Ihatedtoask。Butheseemedtounderstandwhathewastalkingabout。Ideclare，heknowswhatawomanwantsinahousebetterthanshedoesherself。"

"Andaman’ssimplynowhereincomparison，"saidLapham。

Butherespectedafellowwhocouldbeathimateverypoint，andhaveareasonready，asthisarchitecthad；

andwhenherecoveredfromthedazeintowhichthecompleteupheavalofallhispreconceivednotionshadlefthim，hewasinafitstatetoswearbythearchitect。

Itseemedtohimthathehaddiscoveredthefellow（ashealwayscalledhim）andownedhimnow，andthefellowdidnothingtodisturbthisimpression。HeenteredintothatbriefbutintenseintimacywiththeLaphamswhichthesympatheticarchitectholdswithhisclients。

Hewasprivytoalltheirdifferencesofopinionandalltheirdisputesaboutthehouse。Heknewjustwheretoinsistuponhisownideas，andwheretoyield。

Hewasreallybuildingseveralotherhouses，buthegavetheLaphamstheimpressionthathewasdoingnonebuttheirs。

Theworkwasnotbeguntillthefrostwasthoroughlyoutoftheground，whichthatyearwasnotbeforetheendofApril。Eventhenitdidnotproceedveryrapidly。

Laphamsaidtheymightaswelltaketheirtimetoit；

iftheygotthewallsupandthethingclosedinbeforethesnowflew，theycouldbeworkingatitallwinter。

Itwasfoundnecessarytodigforthekitchen；atthatpointtheoriginalsalt—marshlaynearthesurface，andbeforetheybegantoputinthepilesforthefoundationtheyhadtopump。Theneighbourhoodsmeltliketheholdofashipafterathreeyears’voyage。PeoplewhohadcasttheirfortuneswiththeNewLandwentbyprofessingnottonoticeit；peoplewhostill"hungontotheHill"

puttheirhandkerchiefstotheirnoses，andtoldeachothertheoldterriblestoriesofthematerialusedinfillinguptheBackBay。

NothinggaveLaphamsomuchsatisfactioninthewholeconstructionofhishouseasthepile—driving。Whenthisbegan，earlyinthesummer，hetookMrs。Laphameverydayinhisbuggyanddroveroundtolookatit；

stoppingthemareinfrontofthelot，andwatchingtheoperationwithevenkeenerinterestthanthelittleloafingIrishboyswhosuperintendeditinforce。

Itpleasedhimtoheartheportableenginechuckleoutahundredthinwhiffsofsteamincarryingthebigironweighttothetopoftheframeworkabovethepile，thenseemtohesitate，andcoughonceortwiceinpressingtheweightagainstthedetachingapparatus。

Therewasamomentinwhichtheweighthadtheeffectofpoisingbeforeitfell；thenitdroppedwithamightywhackontheiron—boundheadofthepile，anddroveitafootintotheearth。

"Bygracious！"hewouldsay，"thereain’tanythinglikethatinTHISworldforBUSINESS，Persis！"

Mrs。Laphamsufferedhimtoenjoythesighttwentyorthirtytimesbeforeshesaid，"Well，nowdriveon，Si。"

Bythetimethefoundationwasinandthebrickwallshadbeguntogoup，thereweresofewpeopleleftintheneighbourhoodthatshemightindulgewithimpunityherhusband’spassionforhavingherclamberoverthefloor—timbersandtheskeletonstair—caseswithhim。ManyofthehouseholdershadboardeduptheirfrontdoorsbeforethebudshadbeguntoswellandtheassessortoappearinearlyMay；

othershadfollowedsoon；andMrs。Laphamwasassafefromremarkasifshehadbeeninthedepthofthecountry。

OrdinarilysheandhergirlslefttownearlyinJuly，goingtooneofthehotelsatNantasket，whereitwasconvenientfortheColoneltogettoandfromhisbusinessbytheboat。Butthissummertheywerealllingeringafewweekslater，underthenovelfascinationofthenewhouse，astheycalledit，asiftherewerenootherintheworld。

LaphamdrovetherewithhiswifeafterhehadsetBartleyHubbarddownattheEventsoffice，butonthisdaysomethinghappenedthatinterferedwiththesolidpleasuretheyusuallytookingoingoverthehouse。

AstheColonelturnedfromcastinganchoratthemare’sheadwiththehitching—weight，afterhelpinghiswifetoalight，heencounteredamantowhomhecouldnothelpspeaking，thoughthemanseemedtosharehishesitationifnothisreluctanceatthenecessity。Hewasatallish，thinman，withadust—colouredface，andadead，clericalair，whichsomehowsuggestedatoncefeeblenessandtenacity。

Mrs。Laphamheldoutherhandtohim。

"Why，Mr。Rogers！"sheexclaimed；andthen，turningtowardherhusband，seemedtoreferthetwomentoeachother。

Theyshookhands，butLaphamdidnotspeak。"Ididn’tknowyouwereinBoston，"pursuedMrs。Lapham。"IsMrs。Rogerswithyou？"

"No，"saidMr。Rogers，withavoicewhichhadtheflat，succinctsoundoftwopiecesofwoodclappedtogether。

"Mrs。RogersisstillinChicago"

Alittlesilencefollowed，andthenMrsLaphamsaid——

"Ipresumeyouarequitesettledoutthere。"

"No；wehaveleftChicago。Mrs。Rogershasmerelyremainedtofinishupalittlepacking。"

"Oh，indeed！AreyoucomingbacktoBoston？"

"Icannotsayasyet。Wesomethinkofsodoing。

Laphamturnedawayandlookedupatthebuilding。

Hiswifepulledalittleatherglove，asifembarrassed，orevenpained。Shetriedtomakeadiversion。

"Wearebuildingahouse，"shesaid，withameaninglesslaugh。

"Oh，indeed，"saidMr。Rogers，lookingupatit。

Thennoonespokeagain，andshesaidhelplessly——

"IfyoucometoBoston，IhopeIshallseeMrs。Rogers。"

"Shewillbehappytohaveyoucall，"saidMrRogers。

Hetouchedhishat—brim，andmadeabowforwardratherthaninMrs。Lapham’sdirection。

Shemountedtheplankingthatledintotheshelterofthebarebrickwalls，andherhusbandslowlyfollowed。

Whensheturnedherfacetowardhimhercheekswereburning，andtearsthatlookedhotstoodinhereyes。

"Youleftitalltome！"shecried。"Whycouldn’tyouspeakaword？"

"Ihadn’tanythingtosaytohim，"repliedLaphamsullenly。

Theystoodawhile，withoutlookingattheworkwhichtheyhadcometoenjoy，andwithoutspeakingtoeachother。

"Isupposewemightaswellgoon，"saidMrs。Laphamatlast，astheyreturnedtothebuggy。TheColoneldroverecklesslytowardtheMilldam。Hiswifekeptherveildownandherfaceturnedfromhim。Afteratimesheputherhandkerchiefupunderherveilandwipedhereyes，andhesethisteethandsquaredhisjaw。

"Idon’tseehowhealwaysmanagestoappearjustatthemomentwhenheseemstohavegonefairlyoutofourlives，andblighteverything，"shewhimpered。

"Isupposedhewasdead，"saidLapham。

"Oh，don’tSAYsuchathing！Itsoundsasifyouwishedit。"

"Whydoyoumindit？Whatdoyoulethimblighteverythingfor？"

"Ican’thelpit，andIdon’tbelieveIevershall。

Idon’tknowashisbeingdeadwouldhelpitany。

Ican’teverseehimwithoutfeelingjustasIdidatfirst。"

"Itellyou，"saidLapham，"itwasaperfectlysquarething。

AndIwish，onceforall，youwouldquitbotheringaboutit。

Myconscienceiseasyasfarasheisconcerned，anditalwayswas。"

"AndIcan’tlookathimwithoutfeelingasifyou’druinedhim，Silas。"

"Don’tlookathim，then，"saidherhusband，withascowl。

"Iwantyoushouldrecollectinthefirstplace，Persis，thatIneverwantedapartner。"

"Ifhehadn’tputhismoneyinwhenhedid，you’d’a’

brokendown。"

"Well，hegothismoneyoutagain，andmore，too，"

saidtheColonel，withasulkyweariness。

"Hedidn’twanttotakeitout。"

"Igavehimhischoice：buyoutorgoout。"

"Youknowhecouldn’tbuyoutthen。Itwasnochoiceatall。"

"Itwasabusinesschance。"

"No；youhadbetterfacethetruth，Silas。Itwasnochanceatall。Youcrowdedhimout。Amanthathadsavedyou！No，youhadgotgreedy，Silas。Youhadmadeyourpaintyourgod，andyoucouldn’tbeartoletanybodyelseshareinitsblessings。"

"Itellyouhewasadragandabrakeonmefromthewordgo。

Yousayhesavedme。Well，ifIhadn’tgothimouthe’d’a’ruinedmesoonerorlater。Soit’saneventhing，asfarforthasthatgoes。"

"No，itain’taneventhing，andyouknowit，Silas。Oh，ifI

couldonlygetyouoncetoacknowledgethatyoudidwrongaboutit，thenIshouldhavesomehope。Idon’tsayyoumeantwrongexactly，butyoutookanadvantage。

Yes，youtookanadvantage！Youhadhimwherehecouldn’thelphimself，andthenyouwouldn’tshowhimanymercy。"

"I’msickofthis，"saidLapham。"Ifyou’ll’tendtothehouse，I’llmanagemybusinesswithoutyourhelp。"

"Youwereverygladofmyhelponce。"

"Well，I’mtiredofitnow。Don’tmeddle。"

"IWILLmeddle。WhenIseeyouhardeningyourselfinawrongthing，it’stimeformetomeddle，asyoucallit，andIwill。Ican’tevergetyoutoownuptheleastbitaboutRogers，andIfeelasifitwashurtingyouallthewhile。"

"WhatdoyouwantIshouldownupaboutathingforwhenI

don’tfeelwrong？ItellyouRogershain’tgotanythingtocomplainof，andthat’swhatItoldyoufromthestart。

It’sathingthat’sdoneeveryday。Iwasloadedupwithapartnerthatdidn’tknowanything，andcouldn’tdoanything，andIunloaded；that’sall。"

"Youunloadedjustatthetimewhenyouknewthatyourpaintwasgoingtobeworthabouttwicewhatiteverhadbeen；

andyouwantedalltheadvantageforyourself。"

"Ihadarighttoit。Imadethesuccess。"

"Yes，youmadeitwithRogers’smoney；andwhenyou’dmadeityoutookhisshareofit。Iguessyouthoughtofthatwhenyousawhim，andthat’swhyyoucouldn’tlookhimintheface。"

AtthesewordsLaphamlosthistemper。

"Iguessyoudon’twanttoridewithmeanymoreto—day，"

hesaid，turningthemareabruptlyround。

"I’masreadytogobackaswhatyouare，"repliedhiswife。

"Anddon’tyouaskmetogotothathousewithyouanymore。

Youcansellit，forallme。Isha’n’tliveinit。

There’sbloodonit。"

IV。

THEsilkentextureofthemarriagetiebearsadailystrainofwrongandinsulttowhichnootherhumanrelationcanbesubjectedwithoutlesion；andsometimesthestrengththatknitssocietytogethermightappeartotheeyeoffalteringfaiththecurseofthoseimmediatelyboundbyit。

Twopeoplebynomeansrecklessofeachother’srightsandfeelings，buteventenderofthemforthemostpart，maytearateachother’sheart—stringsinthissacredbondwithperfectimpunity；thoughiftheywereanyothertwotheywouldnotspeakorlookateachotheragainaftertheoutragestheyexchange。Itiscertainlyacuriousspectacle，anddoubtlessitoughttoconvinceanobserverofthedivinityoftheinstitution。

Ifthehusbandandwifeareblunt，outspokenpeopleliketheLaphams，theydonotweightheirwords；

iftheyaremorerefined，theyweighthemverycarefully，andknowaccuratelyjusthowfartheywillcarry，andinwhatmostsensitivespottheymaybeplantedwithmosteffect。

Laphamwasproudofhiswife，andwhenhemarriedherithadbeenariseinlifeforhim。Forawhilehestoodinaweofhisgoodfortune，butthiscouldnotlast，andhesimplyremainedsupremelysatisfiedwithit。

Thegirlwhohadtaughtschoolwithaclearheadandastronghandwasnotafraidofwork；sheencouragedandhelpedhimfromthefirst，andboreherfullshareofthecommonburden。

Shehadhealth，andshedidnotworryhislifeoutwithpeevishcomplaintsandvagaries；shehadsenseandprinciple，andintheirsimplelotshedidwhatwaswiseandright。

Theirmarriagewashallowedbyanearlysorrow：theylosttheirboy，anditwasyearsbeforetheycouldlookeachotherinthefaceandspeakofhim。NoonegaveupmorethantheywhentheygaveupeachotherandLaphamwenttothewar。Whenhecamebackandbegantowork，herzealandcourageformedthespringofhisenterprise。

Inthataffairofthepartnershipshehadtriedtobehisconscience，butperhapsshewouldhavedefendedhimifhehadaccusedhimself；itwasoneofthosethingsinthislifewhichseemdestinedtoawaitjustice，oratleastjudgment，inthenext。Ashesaid，Laphamhaddealtfairlybyhispartnerinmoney；hehadletRogerstakemoremoneyoutofthebusinessthanheputintoit；

hehad，ashesaid，simplyforcedoutofitatimidandinefficientparticipantinadvantageswhichhehadcreated。ButLaphamhadnotcreatedthemall。

Hehadbeendependentatonetimeonhispartner’scapital。

Itwasamomentofterribletrial。Happyisthemanforeverafterwhocanchoosetheideal，theunselfishpartinsuchanexigency！Laphamcouldnotrisetoit。

Hedidwhathecouldmaintaintobeperfectlyfair。

Thewrong，ifany，seemedtobecondonedtohim，exceptwhenfromtimetotimehiswifebroughtitup。

Thenallthequestionstungandburnedanew，andhadtobereasonedoutandputawayoncemore。Itseemedtohaveaninextinguishablevitality。Itslept，butitdidnotdie。

HiscoursedidnotshakeMrs。Lapham’sfaithinhim。

Itastonishedheratfirst，anditalwaysgrievedherthathecouldnotseethathewasactingsolelyinhisowninterest。Butshefoundexcusesforhim，whichattimesshemadereproaches。Shevaguelyperceivedthathispaintwassomethingmorethanbusinesstohim；

itwasasentiment，almostapassion。Hecouldnotshareitsmanagementanditsprofitwithanotherwithoutameasureofself—sacrificefarbeyondthatwhichhemustmakewithsomethinglesspersonaltohim。Itwasthepoetryofthatnature，otherwisesointenselyprosaic；

andsheunderstoodthis，andforthemostpartforbore。

Sheknewhimgoodandtrueandblamelessinallhislife，exceptforthiswrong，ifitwereawrong；anditwasonlywhenhernervestingledintolerablywithsomechancerenewalofthepainshehadsuffered，thatshesharedheranguishwithhimintruewifelyfashion。

Withthosetwotherewasneveranythinglikeanexplicitreconciliation。Theysimplyignoredaquarrel；

andMrs。Laphamhadonlytosayafewdaysafteratbreakfast，"Iguessthegirlswouldliketogoroundwithyouthisafternoon，andlookatthenewhouse，"

inordertomakeherhusbandgrumbleoutashelookeddownintohiscoffee—cup。"Iguesswebetterallgo，hadn’twe？"

"Well，I’llsee，"shesaid。

TherewasnotreallyagreatdealtolookatwhenLaphamarrivedonthegroundinhisfour—seatedbeach—wagon。