第5章

Butthewallswereup，andthestuddinghadalreadygivenskeletonshapetotheinterior。Thefloorswereroughlyboardedover，andthestairwayswereinplace，withprovisionaltreadsrudelylaid。Theyhadnotbeguntolathandplasteryet，buttheclean，freshsmellofthemortarinthewallsminglingwiththepungentfragranceofthepineshavingsneutralisedtheVenetianodourthatdrewinoverthewater。Itwaspleasantlyshadythere，thoughforthematterofthattheheatofthemorninghadallbeenwashedoutoftheatmospherebyatideofeastwindsettinginatnoon，andthethrilling，deliciouscoolofaBostonsummerafternoonbathedeverynerve。

TheforemanwentaboutwithMrs。Lapham，showingherwherethedoorsweretobe；butLaphamsoontiredofthis，andhavingfoundapinestickofperfectgrain，heabandonedhimselftothepleasureofwhittlingitinwhatwastobethereception—room，wherehesatlookingoutonthestreetfromwhatwastobethebay—window。Herehewaspresentlyjoinedbyhisgirls，who，afterlocatingtheirownroomonthewatersideabovethemusic—room，hadnomorewishtoenterintodetailsthantheirfather。

"Comeandtakeaseatinthebay—window，ladies，"

becalledouttothem，astheylookedinathimthroughtheribsofthewall。Hejocoselymaderoomforthemonthetrestleonwhichhesat。

Theycamegingerlyandvaguelyforward，asyoungladiesdowhentheywishnottoseemtobegoingtodoathingtheyhavemadeuptheirmindstodo。Whentheyhadtakentheirplacesontheirtrestle，theycouldnothelplaughingwithscorn，openandacceptabletotheirfather；

andIrenecurledherchinup，inalittlewayshehad，andsaid，"Howridiculous！"tohersister。

"Well，Icantellyouwhat，"saidtheColonel，infondenjoymentoftheiryoungladyishness，"yourmotherwa’n’tashamedtositwithmeonatrestlewhenIcalledherouttolookatthefirstcoatofmypaintthatIevertriedonahouse。"

"Yes；we’veheardthatstory，"saidPenelope，witheasysecurityofherfather’slikingwhatshesaid。

"Wewerebroughtuponthatstory。"

"Well，it’sagoodstory，"saidherfather。

Atthatmomentayoungmancamesuddenlyinrange，whobegantolookupatthesignsofbuildingasheapproached。

Hedroppedhiseyesincomingabreastofthebay—window，whereLaphamsatwithhisgirls，andthenhisfacelightened，andhetookoffhishatandbowedtoIrene。Sherosemechanicallyfromthetrestle，andherfacelightenedtoo。

Shewasaveryprettyfigureofagirl，afterourfashionofgirls，roundandslimandflexible，andherfacewasadmirablyregular。Buthergreatbeauty——anditwasverygreat——wasinhercolouring。

Thiswasofaneffectforwhichthereisnowordbutdelicious，asweuseitoffruitorflowers。

Shehadredhair，likeherfatherinhisearlierdays，andthetintsofhercheeksandtemplesweresuchassuggestedMay—flowersandapple—blossomsandpeaches。

Insteadofthegreythatoftendullsthiscomplexion，hereyeswereofablueatonceintenseandtender，andtheyseemedtoburnonwhattheylookedatwithasoft，lambentflame。ItwaswellunderstoodbyhersisterandmotherthathereyesalwaysexpressedagreatdealmorethanIreneeverthoughtorfelt；butthisisnotsayingthatshewasnotaverysensiblegirlandveryhonest。

Theyoungmanfalteredperceptibly，andIrenecamealittleforward，andthentheregushedfromthembothasmilingexchangeofgreeting，ofwhichthesumwasthathesupposedshewasoutoftown，andthatshehadnotknownthathehadgotback。Apauseensued，andflushingagaininheruncertaintyastowhethersheoughtoroughtnottodoit，shesaid，"Myfather，Mr。Corey；andmysister。"

Theyoungmantookoffhishatagain，showinghisshapelyhead，withalineofwholesomesunburnceasingwheretherecentlyandcloselyclippedhairbegan。

Hewasdressedinafinesummercheck，withabluewhite—

dottedneckerchief，andhehadawhitehat，inwhichhelookedverywellwhenheputitbackonhishead。

Hiswholedressseemedveryfreshandnew，andinfacthehadcastasidehisTexanhabilimentsonlythedaybefore。

"Howdoyoudo，sir？"saidtheColonel，steppingtothewindow，andreachingoutofitthehandwhichtheyoungmanadvancedtotake。"Won’tyoucomein？We’reathomehere。

HouseI’mbuilding。"

"Oh，indeed？"returnedtheyoungman；andhecamepromptlyupthesteps，andthroughitsribsintothereception—room。

"Haveatrestle？"askedtheColonel，whilethegirlsexchangedlittleshocksofterrorandamusementattheeyes。

"Thankyou，"saidtheyoungmansimply，andsatdown。

"Mrs。Laphamisupstairsinterviewingthecarpenter，butshe’llbedowninaminute。"

"Ihopeshe’squitewell，"saidCorey。"Isupposed——I

wasafraidshemightbeoutoftown。"

"Well，weareofftoNantasketnextweek。Thehousekeptusintownprettylate。"

"Itmustbeveryexciting，buildingahouse，"saidCoreytotheeldersister。

"Yes，itis，"sheassented，loyallyrefusinginIrene’sinteresttheopportunityofsayinganythingmore。

Coreyturnedtothelatter。"Isupposeyou’veallhelpedtoplanit？"

"Ohno；thearchitectandmammadidthat。"

"Buttheyallowedtherestofustoagree，whenweweregood，"

saidPenelope。

Coreylookedather，andsawthatshewasshorterthanhersister，andhadadarkcomplexion。

"It’sveryexciting，"saidIrene。

"Comeup，"saidtheColonel，rising，"andlookroundifyou’dliketo。"

"Ishouldliketo，verymuch，"saidtheyoungman。

Hehelpedtheyoungladiesovercrevassesofcarpentryandalongnarrowpathsofplanking，onwhichtheyhadmadetheirwayunassistedbefore。Theeldersisterlefttheyoungertoprofitsolelybytheseofficesasmuchaspossible。Shewalkedbetweenthemandherfather，whowentbefore，lecturingoneachapartment，andtakingthecreditofthewholeaffairmoreandmoreashetalkedon。

"There！"hesaid，"we’regoingtothrowoutabay—

windowhere，soasgetthewaterallthewayupanddown。

Thisismygirls’room，"headded，lookingproudlyatthemboth。

Itseemedterriblyintimate。Ireneblusheddeeplyandturnedherheadaway。

Buttheyoungmantookitall，apparently，assimplyastheirfather。"Whatalovelylookout！"hesaid。

TheBackBayspreaditsglassysheetbeforethem，emptybutforafewsmallboatsandalargeschooner，withhersailsclose—furledanddrippinglikesnowfromherspars，whichatugwasrapidlytowingtowardCambridge。

Thecarpentryofthatcity，embankedandemboweredinfoliage，sharedthepicturesquenessofCharlestowninthedistance。

"Yes，"saidLapham，"Igoinforusingthebestroomsinyourhouseyourself。Ifpeoplecometostaywithyou，theycanputupwiththesecondbest。Thoughwedon’tintendtohaveanysecondbest。Thereain’tgoingtobeanunpleasantroominthewholehouse，fromtoptobottom。"

"Oh，Iwishpapawouldn’tbragso！"breathedIrenetohersister，wheretheystood，alittleapart，lookingawaytogether。

TheColonelwenton。"No，sir，"heswelledout，"Ihavegoneinformakingaregularjobofit。I’vegotthebestarchitectinBoston，andI’mbuildingahousetosuitmyself。

Andifmoneycandoit，guessI’mgoingtobesuited。"

"Itseemsverydelightful，"saidCorey，"andveryoriginal。"

"Yes，sir。Thatfellowhadn’ttalkedfiveminutesbeforeIsawthatheknewwhathewasabouteverytime。"

"Iwishmammawouldcome！"breathedIreneagain。

"Ishallcertainlygothroughthefloorifpapasaysanythingmore。"

"Theyaremakingagreatmanyveryprettyhousesnowadays，"

saidtheyoungman。"It’sverydifferentfromtheold—fashionedbuilding。"

"Well，"saidtheColonel，withalargetolerationoftoneandadeepbreaththatexpandedhisamplechest，"wespendmoreonourhousesnowadays。Istartedouttobuildaforty—thousand—dollarhouse。Well，sir！thatfellowhasgotmeinformorethansixtythousandalready，andIdoubtifIgetoutofitmuchunderahundred。

Youcan’thaveanicehousefornothing。It’sjustlikeorderingapictureofapainter。Youpayhimenough，andhecanaffordtopaintyouafirst—classpicture；

andifyoudon’t，hecan’t。That’sallthereisofit。

Why，theytellmethatA。T。StewartgaveoneofthoseFrenchfellowssixtythousanddollarsforalittleseven—by—ninepicturetheotherday。Yes，sir，giveanarchitectmoneyenough，andhe’llgiveyouanicehouseeverytime。"

"I’veheardthatthey’resharpatgettingmoneytorealisetheirideas，"assentedtheyoungman，withalaugh。

"Well，Ishouldsayso！"exclaimedtheColonel。

"Theycometoyouwithanimprovementthatyoucan’tresist。

Ithasgoodlooksandcommon—senseandeverythinginitsfavour，andit’slikethrowingmoneyawaytorefuse。

Andtheyalwaysmanagetogetyouwhenyourwifeisaround，andthenyou’rehelpless。"

TheColonelhimselfsettheexampleoflaughingatthisjoke，andtheyoungmanjoinedhimlessobstreperously。

Thegirlsturned，andhesaid，"Idon’tthinkIeversawthisviewtobetteradvantage。ItssurprisinghowwelltheMemorialHallandtheCambridgespiresworkup，overthere。Andthesunsetsmustbemagnificent。"

Laphamdidnotwaitforthemtoreply。

"Yes，sir，it’saboutthesightliestviewIknowof。

IalwaysdidlikethewatersideofBeacon。LongbeforeI

ownedpropertyhere，oreverexpectedto，m’wifeandIusedtoridedownthisway，andstopthebuggytogetthisviewoverthewater。WhenpeopletalktomeabouttheHill，Icanunderstand’em。It’ssnug，andit’sold—fashioned，andit’swherethey’vealwayslived。ButwhentheytalkaboutCommonwealthAvenue，Idon’tknowwhattheymean。

Itdon’tholdacandletothewatersideofBeacon。

You’vegotjustasmuchwindoverthere，andyou’vegotjustasmuchdust，andalltheviewyou’vegotistheviewacrossthestreet。No，sir！whenyoucometotheBackBayatall，givemethewatersideofBeacon。"

"Oh，Ithinkyou’requiteright，"saidtheyoungman。

"Theviewhereiseverything。"

Irenelooked"Iwonderwhatpapaisgoingtosaynext！"

athersister，whentheirmother’svoicewasheardoverhead，approachingtheopeninginthefloorwherethestairsweretobe；andshepresentlyappeared，withonesubstantialfootalongwayahead。Shewasfollowedbythecarpenter，withhisrulestickingoutofhisoverallspocket，andshewasstilltalkingtohimaboutsomemeasurementstheyhadbeentaking，whentheyreachedthebottom，sothatIrenehadtosay，"Mamma，Mr。Corey，"beforeMrs。Laphamwasawareofhim。

Hecameforwardwithasmuchgraceandspeedastheuncertainfootingwouldallow，andMrs。Laphamgavehimastoutsqueezeofhercomfortablehand。

"Why，Mr。Corey！Whendidyougetback？"

"Yesterday。IthardlyseemsasifIHADgotback。

Ididn’texpecttofindyouinanewhouse。"

"Well，youareourfirstcaller。Ipresumeyouwon’texpectIshouldmakeexcusesforthestateyoufinditin。

HastheColonelbeendoingthehonours？"

"Ohyes。AndI’veseenmoreofyourhousethanIevershallagain，Isuppose。"

"Well，Ihopenot，"saidLapham。"There’llbeseveralchancestoseeusintheoldoneyet，beforeweleave。"

Heprobablythoughtthisaneat，off—handwayofmakingtheinvitation，forhelookedathiswoman—kindasifhemightexpecttheiradmiration。

"Ohyes，indeed！"saidhiswife。"WeshallbeverygladtoseeMr。Corey，anytime。"

"Thankyou；Ishallbegladtocome。"

HeandtheColonelwentbefore，andhelpedtheladiesdownthedifficultdescent。Ireneseemedlesssure—

footedthantheothers；sheclungtotheyoungman’shandanimperceptiblemomentlongerthanneedbe，orelsehedetainedher。Hefoundopportunityofsaying，"It’ssopleasantseeingyouagain，"adding，"allofyou。"

"Thankyou，"saidthegirl。"Theymustallbegladtohaveyouathomeagain。"

Coreylaughed。

"Well，Isupposetheywouldbe，iftheywereathometohaveme。Butthefactis，there’snobodyinthehousebutmyfatherandmyself，andI’monlyonmywaytoBarHarbour。"

"Oh！Aretheythere？"

"Yes；itseemstobetheonlyplacewheremymothercangetjustthecombinationofseaandmountainairthatshewants。"

"WegotoNantasket——it’sconvenientforpapa；andI

don’tbelieveweshallgoanywhereelsethissummer，mamma’ssotakenupwithbuilding。Wedonothingbuttalkhouse；andPensaysweeatandsleephouse。

Shesaysitwouldbeasortofrelieftogoandliveintentsforawhile。"

"Sheseemstohaveagooddealofhumour，"theyoungmanventured，upontheslenderevidence。

Theothershadgonetothebackofthehouseamoment，tolookatsomesuggestedchange。IreneandCoreywereleftstandinginthedoorway。Alovelylightofhappinessplayedoverherfaceandetherealiseditsdeliciousbeauty。

Shehadsomeadotokeepherselffromsmilingoutright，andtheeffortdeepenedthedimplesinhercheeks；

shetrembledalittle，andthependantsshookinthetipsofherprettyears。

Theotherscamebackdirectly，andtheyalldescendedthefrontstepstogether。TheColonelwasabouttorenewhisinvitation，buthecaughthiswife’seye，and，withoutbeingabletointerpretitswarningexactly，wasabletoarresthimself，andwentaboutgatheringupthehitching—weight，whiletheyoungmanhandedtheladiesintothephaeton。Thenheliftedhishat，andtheladiesallbowed，andtheLaphamsdroveoff，Irene’sblueribbonsflutteringbackwardfromherhat，asiftheywereherclingingthoughts。

"Sothat’syoungCorey，isit？"saidtheColonel，lettingthestatelystepping，tallcoupehorsemakehiswayhomewardatwillwiththebeach—wagon。"Well，heain’tabad—lookingfellow，andhe’sgotagood，fairandsquare，honesteye。ButIdon’tseehowafellowlikethat，that’shadeveryadvantageinthisworld，canhangroundhomeandlethisfathersupporthim。

Seemstome，ifIhadhishealthandhiseducation，Ishouldwanttostrikeoutanddosomethingformyself。"

Thegirlsonthebackseathadholdofeachother’shands，andtheyexchangedelectricalpressuresatthedifferentpointstheirfathermade。

"Ipresume，"saidMrs。Lapham，"thathewasdowninTexaslookingaftersomething"

"He’scomebackwithoutfindingit，Iguess。"

"Well，ifhisfatherhasthemoneytosupporthim，anddon’tcomplainoftheburden，Idon’tseewhyWEshould。"

"Oh，Iknowit’snoneofmybusiness，butIdon’tliketheprinciple。IliketoseeamanACTlikeaman。

Idon’tliketoseehimtakencareoflikeayounglady。

Now，Isupposethatfellowbelongstotwoorthreeclubs，andhangsaround’emallday，lookin’outthewindow，——I’veseen’em，——insteadoftryin’tohuntupsomethingtodoforanhonestlivin’。"

"IfIwasayoungman，"Penelopestruckin，"Iwouldbelongtotwentyclubs，ifIcouldfindthemandIwouldhangaroundthemall，andlookoutthewindowtillIdropped。"

"Oh，youwould，wouldyou？"demandedherfather，delightedwithherdefiance，andtwistinghisfatheadaroundoverhisshouldertolookather。"Well，youwouldn’tdoitonmymoney，ifyouwereasonofMINE，younglady。"

"Oh，youwaitandsee，"retortedthegirl。

Thismadethemalllaugh。ButtheColonelrecurredseriouslytothesubjectthatnight，ashewaswindinguphiswatchpreparatorytoputtingitunderhispillow。

"Icouldmakeamanofthatfellow，ifIhadhiminthebusinesswithme。There’sstuffinhim。ButIspokeupthewayIdidbecauseIdidn’tchooseIreneshouldthinkIwouldstandanykindofaloafer’round——Idon’tcarewhoheis，orhowwelleducatedorbroughtup。

AndIguess，fromthewayPenspokeup，that’RenesawwhatIwasdrivingat。"

Thegirl，apparently，waslessanxiousaboutherfather’sideasandprinciplesthanabouttheimpressionwhichhehadmadeupontheyoungman。Shehadtalkeditoverandoverwithhersisterbeforetheywenttobed，andsheaskedindespair，asshestoodlookingatPenelopebrushingoutherhairbeforetheglass——

"Doyousupposehe’llthinkpapaalwaystalksinthatbraggingway？"

"He’llberightifhedoes，"answeredhersister。

"It’sthewayfatheralwaysdoestalk。Younevernoticeditsomuch，that’sall。AndIguessifhecan’tmakeallowanceforfather’sbragging，he’llbealittletoogood。

IenjoyedhearingtheColonelgoon。"

"Iknowyoudid，"returnedIreneindistress。

Thenshesighed。"Didn’tyouthinkhelookedverynice？"

"Who？TheColonel？"Penelopehadcaughtupthehabitofcallingherfathersofromhermother，andsheusedhistitleinallherjocoseandperversemoods。

"YouknowverywellIdon’tmeanpapa，"poutedIrene。

"Oh！Mr。Corey！Whydidn’tyousayMr。CoreyifyoumeantMr。Corey？IfImeantMr。Corey，IshouldsayMr。Corey。

Itisn’tswearing！Corey，Corey，Co————"

Hersisterclappedherhandoverhermouth"WillyouHUSH，youwretchedthing？"shewhimpered。"Thewholehousecanhearyou。"

"Ohyes，theycanhearmealloverthesquare。

Well，Ithinkhelookedwellenoughforaplainyouth，whohadn’ttakenhishairoutofcurl—papersforsometime。"

"ItWASclippedprettyclose，"Ireneadmitted；andtheybothlaughedatthedrabeffectofMr。Corey’sskull，astheyrememberedit。"Didyoulikehisnose？"

askedIrenetimorously。

"Ah，nowyou’reCOMINGtosomething，"saidPenelope。

"Idon’tknowwhether，ifIhadsomuchofanose，IshouldwantitallRoman。"

"Idon’tseehowyoucanexpecttohaveanosepartonekindandpartanother，"arguedIrene。

"Oh，Ido。Lookatmine！"Sheturnedasideherface，soastogetathree—quartersviewofhernoseintheglass，andcrossingherhands，withthebrushinoneofthem，beforeher，regardeditjudicially。"Now，mynosestartedGrecian，butchangeditsmindbeforeitgotoverthebridge，andconcludedtobesnubtherestoftheway。"

"You’vegotaveryprettynose，Pen，"saidIrene，joininginthecontemplationofitsreflexintheglass。

"Don’tsaythatinhopesofgettingmetocomplimentHIS，Mrs。"——shestopped，andthenaddeddeliberately——"C。！"

Irenealsohadherhair—brushinherhand，andnowshesprangathersisterandbeatherverysoftlyontheshoulderwiththeflatofit。"Youmeanthing！"

shecried，betweenhershutteeth，blushinghotly。

"Well，D。，then，"saidPenelope。"You’venothingtosayagainstD。？ThoughIthinkC。isjustasniceaninitial。"

"Oh！"criedtheyounger，forallexpressionofunspeakablethings。

"Ithinkhehasverygoodeyes，"admittedPenelope。

"Oh，heHAS！Anddidn’tyoulikethewayhissackcoatset？Soclosetohim，andyetfree——kindofpeelingawayatthelapels？"

"Yes，Ishouldsayhewasayoungmanofgreatjudgment。

Heknowshowtochoosehistailor。"

Irenesatdownontheedgeofachair。"Itwassoniceofyou，Pen，tocomein，thatway，aboutclubs。"

"Oh，Ididn’tmeananythingbyitexceptopposition，"

saidPenelope。"Icouldn’thavefatherswellingonso，withoutsayingsomething。"

"Howhedidswell！"sighedIrene。"Wasn’titarelieftohavemammacomedown，evenifshedidseemtobeallstockingatfirst？"

Thegirlsbrokeintoawildgiggle，andhidtheirfacesineachother’snecks。"IthoughtISHOULDdie，"

saidIrene。

"’It’sjustlikeorderingapainting，’"saidPenelope，recallingherfather’stalk，withaneffectofdreamyabsent—mindedness。"’Yougivethepaintermoneyenough，andhecanaffordtopaintyouafirst—classpicture。

Giveanarchitectmoneyenough，andhe’llgiveyouafirst—classhouse，everytime。’"

"Oh，wasn’titawful！"moanedhersister。"Noonewouldeverhavesupposedthathehadfoughttheveryideaofanarchitectforweeks，beforehegavein。"

Penelopewenton。"’IalwaysdidlikethewatersideofBeacon，——longbeforeIownedpropertythere。

WhenyoucometotheBackBayatall，givemethewatersideofBeacon。’"

"Ow—w—w—w！"shriekedIrene。"DOstop！"

Thedooroftheirmother’schamberopenedbelow，andthevoiceoftherealColonelcalled，"Whatareyoudoingupthere，girls？Whydon’tyougotobed？"

Thisextortednervousshrieksfrombothofthem。

TheColonelheardasoundofscurryingfeet，whiskingdrapery，andslammingdoors。Thenheheardoneofthedoorsopenedagain，andPenelopesaid，"IwasonlyrepeatingsomethingyousaidwhenyoutalkedtoMr。Corey。"

"Verywell，now，"answeredtheColonel。"Youpostponetherestofittillto—morrowatbreakfast，andseethatyou’reupintimetoletMEhearit。"

V。

ATthesamemomentyoungCoreylethimselfinathisowndoorwithhislatch—key，andwenttothelibrary，wherehefoundhisfatherturningthelastleavesofastoryintheRevuedesDeuxMondes。Hewasawhite—moustachedoldgentleman，whohadneverbeenabletoabandonhispince—nezforthesuperiorcomfortofspectacles，evenintheprivacyofhisownlibrary。Heknockedtheglassesoffashissoncameinandlookedupathimwithlazyfondness，rubbingthetworedmarksthattheyalwaysleaveonthesideofthenose。

"Tom，"hesaid，"wheredidyougetsuchgoodclothes？"

"IstoppedoveradayinNewYork，"repliedtheson，findinghimselfachair。"I’mgladyoulikethem。"

"Yes，Ialwaysdolikeyourclothes，Tom，"returnedthefatherthoughtfully，swinginghisglasses，"ButIdon’tseehowyoucanafford’em，Ican’t。"

"Well，sir，"saidtheson，whodroppedthe"sir"intohisspeechwithhisfather，nowandthen，inanold—

fashionedwaythatwasrathercharming，"yousee，Ihaveanindulgentparent。"

"Smoke？"suggestedthefather，pushingtowardhissonaboxofcigarettes，fromwhichhehadtakenone。

"No，thankyou，"saidtheson。"I’vedroppedthat。"

"Ah，isthatso？"Thefatherbegantofeelaboutonthetableformatches，inthepurblindfashionofelderlymen。

Hissonrose，lightedone，andhandedittohim。

"Well，——oh，thankyou，Tom！——Ibelievesomestatisticiansprovethatifyouwillgiveupsmokingyoucandressverywellonthemoneyyourtobaccocosts，evenifyouhaven’tgotanindulgentparent。ButI’mtoooldtotry。

Though，Iconfess，Ishouldratherliketheclothes。

Whomdidyoufindattheclub？"

"Therewerealotoffellowsthere，"saidyoungCorey，watchingtheaccomplishedfumigationofhisfatherinanabsentway。

"It’sastonishingwhatahardybreedtheyoungclub—menare，"

observedhisfather。"Allsummerthrough，inweatherthatsendsthesturdiestfemaleflyingtothesea—shore，youfindtheclubsfilledwithyoungmen，whodon’tseemtomindtheheatintheleast。"

"Bostonisn’tabadplace，attheworst，insummer，"

saidtheson，decliningtotakeupthematterinitsironicalshape。

"Idaresayitisn’t，comparedwithTexas，"returnedthefather，smokingtranquillyon。"ButIdon’tsupposeyoufindmanyofyourfriendsintownoutsideoftheclub。"

"No；you’rerequestedtoringatthereardoor，allthewaydownBeaconStreetandupCommonwealthAvenue。

It’sratherablankreceptionforthereturningprodigal。"

"Ah，theprodigalmusttakehischanceifhecomesbackoutofseason。ButI’mgladtohaveyouback，Tom，evenasitis，andIhopeyou’renotgoingtohurryaway。

Youmustgiveyourenergiesarest。"

"I’msureyouneverhadtoreproachmewithabnormalactivity，"

suggestedtheson，takinghisfather’sjokesingoodpart。

"No，Idon’tknowthatIhave，"admittedtheelder。

"You’vealwaysshownafairdegreeofmoderation，afterall。

Whatdoyouthinkoftakingupnext？ImeanafteryouhaveembracedyourmotherandsistersatMountDesert。

Realestate？Itseemstomethatitisabouttimeforyoutoopenoutasareal—estatebroker。Ordidyoueverthinkofmatrimony？"

"Well，notjustinthatway，sir，"saidtheyoungman。

"Ishouldn’tquiteliketoregarditasacareer，youknow。"

"No，no。Iunderstandthat。AndIquiteagreewithyou。

ButyouknowI’vealwayscontendedthattheaffectionscouldbemadetocombinepleasureandprofit。Iwouldn’thaveamanmarryformoney，——thatwouldberatherbad，——butIdon’tseewhy，whenitcomestofallinginlove，amanshouldn’tfallinlovewitharichgirlaseasilyasapoorone。Someoftherichgirlsareverynice，andIshouldsaythatthechancesofaquietlifewiththemwererathergreater。They’vealwayshadeverything，andtheywouldn’tbesoambitiousanduneasy。Don’tyouthinkso？"