第6章

"Itwoulddepend，"saidtheson，"uponwhetheragirl’speoplehadbeenrichlongenoughtohavegivenherpositionbeforeshemarried。Iftheyhadn’t，Idon’tseehowshewouldbeanybetterthanapoorgirlinthatrespect。"

"Yes，there’ssenseinthat。Butthesuddenlyrichareonalevelwithanyofusnowadays。Moneybuyspositionatonce。Idon’tsaythatitisn’tallright。

Theworldgenerallyknowswhatit’sabout，andknowshowtodriveabargain。Idaresayitmakesthenewrichpaytoomuch。Butthere’snodoubtbutmoneyistotheforenow。Itistheromance，thepoetryofourage。

It’sthethingthatchieflystrikestheimagination。

TheEnglishmenwhocomeherearemorecuriousaboutthegreatnewmillionairesthanaboutanyoneelse，andtheyrespectthemmore。It’sallverywell。Idon’tcomplainofit。"

"Andyouwouldlikearichdaughter—in—law，quiteregardless，then？"

"Oh，notquitesobadasthat，Tom，"saidhisfather。

"Alittleyouth，alittlebeauty，alittlegoodsenseandprettybehaviour——onemustn’tobjecttothosethings；

andtheygojustasoftenwithmoneyaswithoutit。AndI

supposeIshouldlikeherpeopletoberathergrammatical。"

"Itseemstomethatyou’reexacting，sir，"saidtheson。

"Howcanyouexpectpeoplewhohavebeenstrictlydevotedtobusinesstobegrammatical？Isn’tthatrathertoomuch？"

"Perhapsitis。Perhapsyou’reright。ButIunderstoodyourmothertosaythatthosebenefactorsofhers，whomyoumetlastsummer，wereverypassablygrammatical。"

"Thefatherisn’t。"

Theelder，whohadbeensmokingwithhisprofiletowardhisson，nowturnedhisfacefulluponhim。"Ididn’tknowyouhadseenhim？"

"Ihadn’tuntilto—day，"saidyoungCorey，withalittleheighteningofhiscolour。"ButIwaswalkingdownstreetthisafternoon，andhappenedtolookroundatanewhousesomeonewasputtingup，andIsawthewholefamilyinthewindow。ItappearsthatMr。Laphamisbuildingthehouse。"

TheelderCoreyknockedtheashofhiscigaretteintotheholderathiselbow。"Iammoreandmoreconvinced，thelongerIknowyou，Tom，thatwearedescendedfromGilesCorey。Thegiftofholdingone’stongueseemstohaveskippedme，butyouhaveitinfullforce。

Ican’tsayjusthowyouwouldbehaveunderpeineforteetdure，butunderordinarypressureyouarecertainlyabletokeepyourowncounsel。Whydidn’tyoumentionthisencounteratdinner？Youweren’taskedtopleadtoanaccusationofwitchcraft。"

"No，notexactly，"saidtheyoungman。"ButIdidn’tquiteseemywaytospeakingofit。Wehadagoodmanyotherthingsbeforeus。"

"Yes，that’strue。Isupposeyouwouldn’thavementioneditnowifIhadn’tleduptoit，wouldyou？"

"Idon’tknow，sir。Itwasratheronmymindtodoso。

PerhapsitwasIwholeduptoit。"

Hisfatherlaughed。"Perhapsyoudid，Tom；perhapsyoudid。

Yourmotherwouldhaveknownyouwereleadinguptosomething，butI’llconfessthatIdidn’t。Whatisit？"

"Nothingverydefinite。ButdoyouknowthatinspiteofhissyntaxIratherlikedhim？"

Thefatherlookedkeenlyattheson；butunlesstheboy’sfullconfidencewasoffered，Coreywasnotthemantoaskit。

"Well？"wasallthathesaid。

"Isupposethatinanewcountryonegetstolookingatpeoplealittleoutofourtradition；andIdaresaythatifIhadn’tpassedawinterinTexasImighthavefoundColonelLaphamrathertoomuch。"

"YoumeanthatthereareworsethingsinTexas？"

"Notthatexactly。ImeanthatIsawitwouldn’tbequitefairtotesthimbyourstandards。"

"ThiscomesoftheerrorwhichIhaveoftendeprecated，"

saidtheelderCorey。"InfactIamalwayssayingthattheBostonianoughtnevertoleaveBoston。

Thenheknows——andthenonly——thattherecanBEnostandardbutours。Butweareconstantlygoingaway，andcomingbackwithourconvictionsshakentotheirfoundations。

OnemangoestoEngland，andreturnswiththeconceptionofagrandersociallife；anothercomeshomefromGermanywiththenotionofamoresearchingintellectualactivity；

afellowjustbackfromParishastheabsurdestideasofartandliterature；andyoureverttousfromthecowboysofTexas，andtellustoourfacesthatweoughttotryPapaLaphambyajuryofhispeers。Itoughttobestopped——itought，really。TheBostonianwholeavesBostonoughttobecondemnedtoperpetualexile。"

Thesonsufferedthefathertoreachhisclimaxwithsmilingpatience。Whenheaskedfinally，"WhatarethecharacteristicsofPapaLaphamthatplacehimbeyondourjurisdiction？"theyoungerCoreycrossedhislonglegs，andleanedforwardtotakeoneofhiskneesbetweenhishands。

"Well，sir，hebragged，rather。"

"Oh，Idon’tknowthatbraggingshouldexempthimfromtheordinaryprocesses。I’veheardotherpeoplebraginBoston。"

"Ah，notjustinthatpersonalway——notaboutmoney。"

"No，thatwascertainlydifferent。"

"Idon’tmean，"saidtheyoungfellow，withthescrupulositywhichpeoplecouldnothelpobservingandlikinginhim，"thatitwasmorethananindirectexpressionofsatisfactionintheabilitytospend。"

"No。Ishouldbegladtoexpresssomethingofthekindmyself，ifthefactswouldjustifyme。"

Thesonsmiledtolerantlyagain。"Butifhewasenjoyinghismoneyinthatway，Ididn’tseewhyheshouldn’tshowhispleasureinit。Itmighthavebeenvulgar，butitwasn’tsordid。AndIdon’tknowthatitwasvulgar。

Perhapshissuccessfulstrokesofbusinessweretheromanceofhislife————"

Thefatherinterruptedwithalaugh。"Thegirlmustbeuncommonlypretty。Whatdidsheseemtothinkofherfather’sbrag？"

"Thereweretwoofthem，"answeredthesonevasively。

"Oh，two！Andisthesisterprettytoo？"

"Notpretty，butratherinteresting。Sheislikehermother。"

"Thentheprettyoneisn’tthefather’spet？"

"Ican’tsay，sir。Idon’tbelieve，"addedtheyoungfellow，"thatIcanmakeyouseeColonelLaphamjustasIdid。

Hestruckmeasverysimple—heartedandratherwholesome。

Ofcoursehecouldbetiresome；weallcan；andIsupposehisrangeofideasislimited。Butheisaforce，andnotabadone。Ifhehasn’tgotoverbeingsurprisedattheeffectofrubbinghislamp"

"Oh，onecouldmakeoutacase。Isupposeyouknowwhatyouareabout，Tom。ButrememberthatweareEssexCountypeople，andthatinsavourwearejustalittlebeyondthesaltoftheearth。IwilltellyouplainlythatIdon’tlikethenotionofamanwhohasrivalledthehuesofnatureinherwildesthauntswiththetintsofhismineralpaint；butIdon’tsaytherearenotworsemen。

Heisn’ttomytaste，thoughhemightbeeversomuchtomyconscience。"

"Isuppose，"saidtheson，"thatthereisnothingreallytobeashamedofinmineralpaint。Peoplegointoallsortsofthings。"

Hisfathertookhiscigarettefromhismouthandoncemorelookedhissonfullintheface。"Oh，isTHATit？"

"Ithascrossedmymind，"admittedtheson。"Imustdosomething。I’vewastedtimeandmoneyenough。

I’veseenmuchyoungermenallthroughtheWestandSouth—westtakingcareofthemselves。Idon’tthinkIwasparticularlyfitforanythingoutthere，butIamashamedtocomebackandliveuponyou，sir。"

Hisfathershookhisheadwithanironicalsigh。

"Ah，weshallneverhavearealaristocracywhilethisplebeianreluctancetoliveuponaparentorawifecontinuestheanimatingspiritofouryouth。

Itstrikesattherootofthewholefeudalsystem。

Ireallythinkyouowemeanapology，Tom。Isupposedyouwishedtomarrythegirl’smoney，andhereyouare，baselyseekingtogointobusinesswithherfather。"

YoungCoreylaughedagainlikeasonwhoperceivesthathisfatherisalittleantiquated，butkeepsafilialfaithinhiswit。"Idon’tknowthatit’squitesobadasthat；butthethinghadcertainlycrossedmymind。

Idon’tknowhowit’stobeapproached，andIdon’tknowthatit’satallpossible。ButIconfessthatI’tookto’

ColonelLaphamfromthemomentIsawhim。Helookedasifhe’meantbusiness，’andImeanbusinesstoo。"

Thefathersmokedthoughtfully。"Ofcoursepeopledogointoallsortsofthings，asyousay，andIdon’tknowthatonethingismoreignoblethananother，ifit’sdecentandlargeenough。InmytimeyouwouldhavegoneintotheChinatradeortheIndiatrade——thoughIdidn’t；andalittlelatercottonwouldhavebeenyourmanifestdestiny——thoughitwasn’tmine；butnowamanmaydoalmostanything。Thereal—estatebusinessisprettyfull。Yes，ifyouhaveadeepinwardvocationforit，Idon’tseewhymineralpaintshouldn’tdo。

Ifancyit’seasyenoughapproachingthematter。WewillinvitePapaLaphamtodinner，andtalkitoverwithhim。"

"Oh，Idon’tthinkthatwouldbeexactlytheway，sir，"

saidtheson，smilingathisfather’spatricianunworldliness。

"No？Whynot？"

"I’mafraiditwouldbeabadstart。Idon’tthinkitwouldstrikehimasbusiness—like。"

"Idon’tseewhyheshouldbepunctilious，ifwe’renot。"

"Ah，wemightsaythatifheweremakingtheadvances。"

"Well，perhapsyouareright，Tom。Whatisyouridea？"

"Ihaven’taveryclearone。ItseemstomeIoughttogetsomebusinessfriendofours，whosejudgmenthewouldrespect，tospeakagoodwordforme。"

"Giveyouacharacter？"

"Yes。AndofcourseImustgotoColonelLapham。

Mynotionwouldbetoinquireprettythoroughlyabouthim，andthen，ifIlikedthelookofthings，togorightdowntoRepublicStreetandlethimseewhathecoulddowithme，ifanything。"

"Thatsoundstremendouslypracticaltome，Tom，thoughitmaybejustthewrongway。WhenareyougoingdowntoMountDesert？"

"To—morrow，Ithink，sir，"saidtheyoungman。"IshallturnitoverinmymindwhileI’moff。"

Thefatherrose，showingsomethingmorethanhisson’sheight，withaveryslightstoop，whichtheson’sfigurehadnot。

"Well，"hesaid，whimsically，"Iadmireyourspirit，andIdon’tdenythatitisjustifiedbynecessity。

It’saconsolationtothinkthatwhileI’vebeenspendingandenjoying，Ihavebeenpreparingthenoblestfutureforyou——afutureofindustryandself—reliance。Younevercoulddraw，butthisschemeofgoingintothemineral—paintbusinessshowsthatyouhaveinheritedsomethingofmyfeelingforcolour。"

Thesonlaughedoncemore，andwaitingtillhisfatherwaswellonhiswayupstairs，turnedoutthegasandthenhurriedafterhimandprecededhimintohischamber。

Heglancedoverittoseethateverythingwasthere，tohisfather’shand。Thenhesaid，"Goodnight，sir，"

andtheelderresponded，"Goodnight，myson，"andthesonwenttohisownroom。

OverthemantelintheelderCorey’sroomhungaportraitwhichhehadpaintedofhisownfather，andnowhestoodamomentandlookedatthisasifstruckbysomethingnovelinit。TheresemblancebetweenhissonandtheoldIndiamerchant，whohadfollowedthetradefromSalemtoBostonwhenthelargercitydrewitawayfromthesmaller，musthavebeenwhatstruckhim。GrandfatherandgrandsonhadboththeRomannosewhichappearstohaveflourishedchieflyattheformativeperiodoftherepublic，andwhichoccursmorerarelyinthedescendantsoftheconscriptfathers，thoughitstillcharacterisestheprofilesofagoodmanyBostonladies。BromfieldCoreyhadnotinheritedit，andhehadmadehisstraightnosehisdefencewhentheoldmerchantaccusedhimofawantofenergy。Hesaid，"Whatcouldamandowhoseunnaturalfatherhadlefthisownnoseawayfromhim？"Thisamusedbutdidnotsatisfythemerchant。"Youmustdosomething，"hesaid；"andit’sforyoutochoose。Ifyoudon’tliketheIndiatrade，gointosomethingelse。Or，takeuplawormedicine。

NoCoreyyeteverproposedtodonothing。""Ah，then，it’squitetimeoneofusmadeabeginning，"urgedthemanwhowasthenyoung，andwhowasnowold，lookingintothesomewhatfierceeyesofhisfather’sportrait。

Hehadinheritedaslittleofthefiercenessasofthenose，andtherewasnothingpredatoryinhissoneither，thoughtheaquilinebeakhadcomedowntohiminsuchforce。

BromfieldCoreylikedhissonTomforthegentlenesswhichtemperedhisenergy。

"Wellletuscompromise，"heseemedtobesayingtohisfather’sportrait。"Iwilltravel。""Travel？Howlong？"

thekeeneyesdemanded。"Oh，indefinitely。Iwon’tbehardwithyou，father。"Hecouldseetheeyessoften，andthesmileofyieldingcomeoverhisfather’sface；

themerchantcouldnotresistasonwhowassomuchlikehisdeadmother。TherewassomevagueunderstandingbetweenthemthatBromfieldCoreywastocomebackandgointobusinessafteratime，butheneverdidso。

HetravelledaboutoverEurope，andtravelledhandsomely，frequentinggoodsocietyeverywhere，andgettinghimselfpresentedatseveralcourts，ataperiodwhenitwasadistinctiontodoso。Hehadalwayssketched，andwithhisfather’sleavehefixedhimselfatRome，whereheremainedstudyingartandroundingthebeinginheritedfromhisYankeeprogenitors，tilltherewasverylittleleftoftheancestralangularities。

Aftertenyearshecamehomeandpaintedthatportraitofhisfather。Itwasverygood，ifalittleamateurish，andhemighthavemadehimselfanameasapainterofportraitsifhehadnothadsomuchmoney。Buthehadplentyofmoney，thoughbythistimehewasmarriedandbeginningtohaveafamily。Itwasabsurdforhimtopaintportraitsforpay，andridiculoustopaintthemfornothing；sohedidnotpaintthematall。

Hecontinuedadilettante，neverquiteabandoninghisart，butworkingatitfitfully，andtalkingmoreaboutitthanworkingatit。HehadhistheoryofTitian’smethod；

andnowandthenaBostonianinsisteduponbuyingapictureofhim。Afterawhilehehungitmoreandmoreinconspicuously，andsaidapologetically，"Ohyes！that’soneofBromfieldCorey’sthings。Ithasnicequalities，butit’samateurish。"

Inprocessoftimethemoneyseemedlessabundant。

Therewereshrinkagesofonekindandanother，andlivinghadgrownmuchmoreexpensiveandluxurious。

FormanyyearshetalkedaboutgoingbacktoRome，butheneverwent，andhischildrengrewupintheusualway。

Beforeheknewithissonhadhimouttohisclass—dayspreadatHarvard，andthenhehadhissononhishands。

Thesonmadevariousunsuccessfulprovisionsforhimself，andstillcontinueduponhisfather’shands，totheircommondissatisfaction，thoughitwaschieflytheyoungerwhorepined。HehadtheRomannoseandtheenergywithouttheopportunity，andatoneofthereversionshisfathersaidtohim，"Yououghtnottohavethatnose，Tom；

thenyouwoulddoverywell。Youwouldgoandtravel，asIdid。"

LAPHAMandhiswifecontinuedtalkingafterhehadquelledthedisturbanceinhisdaughters’roomoverhead；

andtheirtalkwasnotaltogetherofthenewhouse。

"Itellyou，"hesaid，"ifIhadthatfellowinthebusinesswithmeIwouldmakeamanofhim。"

"Well，SilasLapham，"returnedhiswife，"Idobelieveyou’vegotmineralpaintonthebrain。DoyousupposeafellowlikeyoungCorey，broughtupthewayhe’sbeen，wouldtouchmineralpaintwithaten—footpole？"

"Whynot？"haughtilyaskedtheColonel。

"Well，ifyoudon’tknowalready，there’snousetryingtotellyou。"

VI。

THECoreyshadalwayshadahouseatNahant，butafterlettingitforaseasonortwotheyfoundtheycouldgetonwithoutit，andsolditattheson’sinstance，whoforesawthatifthingswentonastheyweregoing，thefamilywouldbestraitenedtothepointofchangingtheirmodeoflifealtogether。Theybegantobeofthepeopleofwhomitwassaidthattheystayedintownverylate；andwhentheladiesdidgoaway，itwasforabriefsummeringinthisplaceandthat。

Thefatherremainedathomealtogether；andthesonjoinedthemintheintervalsofhisenterprises，whichoccurredonlytoooften。

AtBarHarbour，wherehenowwenttofindthem，afterhiswinterinTexas，heconfessedtohismotherthatthereseemednoverygoodopeningthereforhim。

HemightdoaswellasLoringStanton，buthedoubtedifStantonwasdoingverywell。Thenhementionedthenewprojectwhichhehadbeenthinkingover。

Shedidnotdenythattherewassomethinginit，butshecouldnotthinkofanyyoungmanwhohadgoneintosuchabusinessasthat，anditappearedtoherthathemightaswellgointoapatentmedicineorastove—polish。

"Therewasoneofhishideousadvertisements，"shesaid，"paintedonareefthatwesawaswecamedown。"

Coreysmiled。"Well，Isuppose，ifitwasinagoodstateofpreservation，thatisproofpositiveoftheefficacyofthepaintonthehullsofvessels。"

"It’sverydistastefultome，Tom，"saidhismother；

andiftherewassomethingelseinhermind，shedidnotspeakmoreplainlyofitthantoadd："It’snotonlythekindofbusiness，butthekindofpeopleyouwouldbemixedupwith。"

"Ithoughtyoudidn’tfindthemsoverybad，"suggestedCorey。

"Ihadn’tseentheminNankeenSquarethen。"

"YoucanseethemonthewatersideofBeaconStreetwhenyougoback。"

ThenhetoldofhisencounterwiththeLaphamfamilyintheirnewhouse。Attheendhismothermerelysaid，"Itisgettingverycommondownthere，"andshedidnottrytoopposeanythingfurthertohisscheme。

TheyoungmanwenttoseeColonelLaphamshortlyafterhisreturntoBoston。HepaidhisvisitatLapham’soffice，andifhehadstudiedsimplicityinhissummerdresshecouldnothavepresentedhimselfinafiguremoretothemindofapracticalman。HishandsandneckstillkeptthebrownoftheTexansunsandwinds，andhelookedasbusiness—likeasLaphamhimself。

Hespokeuppromptlyandbrisklyintheouteroffice，andcausedtheprettygirltolookawayfromhercopyingathim。"IsMr。Laphamin？"heasked；andafterthatmomentforreflectionwhichanarrayofbook—keeperssoaddressedlikestogivetheinquirer，aheadwasliftedfromaledgerandnoddedtowardtheinneroffice。

Laphamhadrecognisedthevoice，andhewasstanding，inconsiderableperplexity，toreceiveCorey，whentheyoungmanopenedhispaintedglassdoor。Itwasahotafternoon，andLaphamwasinhisshirtsleeves。ScarcelyatraceoftheboastfulhospitalitywithwhichhehadwelcomedCoreytohishouseafewdaysbeforelingeredinhispresentaddress。Helookedattheyoungman’sface，asifheexpectedhimtodespatchwhateverunimaginableaffairhehadcomeupon。

"Won’tyousitdown？Howareyou？You’llexcuseme，"

headded，inbriefallusiontotheshirt—sleeves。"I’maboutroasted。"

Coreylaughed。"Iwishyou’dletmetakeoffMYcoat。"

"Why，TAKEitoff！"criedtheColonel，withinstantpleasure。

Thereissomethinginhumannaturewhichcausesthemaninhisshirt—sleevestowishallothermentoappearinthesamedeshabille。

"Iwill，ifyouaskmeafterI’vetalkedwithyoutwominutes，"

saidtheyoungfellow，companionablypullingupthechairofferedhimtowardthedeskwhereLaphamhadagainseatedhimself。

"Butperhapsyouhaven’tgottwominutestogiveme？"

"Ohyes，Ihave，"saidtheColonel。"Iwasjustgoingtoknockoff。Icangiveyoutwenty，andthenIshallhavefifteenminutestocatchtheboat。"

"Allright，"saidCorey。"Iwantyoutotakemeintothemineralpaintbusiness。"

TheColonelsatdumb。Hetwistedhisthickneck，andlookedroundatthedoortoseeifitwasshut。

Hewouldnothavelikedtohaveanyofthosefellowsoutsidehearhim，butthereisnosayingwhatsumofmoneyhewouldnothavegivenifhiswifehadbeentheretohearwhatCoreyhadjustsaid。

"Isuppose，"continuedtheyoungman，"Icouldhavegotseveralpeoplewhosenamesyouknowtobackmyindustryandsobriety，andsayawordformybusinesscapacity。

ButIthoughtIwouldn’ttroubleanybodyforcertificatestillIfoundwhethertherewasachance，ortheghostofone，ofyourwantingme。SoIcamestraighttoyou。"

Laphamgatheredhimselftogetheraswellashecould。

HehadnotyetforgivenCoreyforMrs。Lapham’sinsinuationthathewouldfeelhimselftoogoodforthemineralpaintbusiness；andthoughhewasdispersedbythatastoundingshotatfirst，hewasnotgoingtoletanyoneevenhypotheticallydespisehispaintwithimpunity。

"HowdoyouthinkIamgoingtotakeyouon？"Theytookonhandsattheworks；andLaphamputitasifCoreywereahandcomingtohimforemployment。Whetherhesatisfiedhimselfbythisornot，hereddenedalittleafterhehadsaidit。

Coreyanswered，ignorantoftheoffence："Ihaven’taveryclearidea，I’mafraid；butI’vebeenlookingalittleintothematterfromtheoutside"

"Ihopeyouhain’tbeenpayinganyattentiontothatfellow’sstuffintheEvents？"Laphaminterrupted。

SinceBartley’sinterviewhadappeared，Laphamhadregardeditwithverymixedfeelings。Atfirstitgavehimaglowofsecretpleasure，blendedwithdoubtastohowhiswifewouldliketheuseBartleyhadmadeofherinit。Butshehadnotseemedtonoticeitmuch，andLaphamhadexperiencedthegratitudeofthemanwhoescapes。Thenhisgirlshadbeguntomakefunofit；

andthoughhedidnotmindPenelope’sjokesmuch，hedidnotliketoseethatIrene’sgentilitywaswounded。

Businessfriendsmethimwiththekindofknowingsmileaboutitthatimpliedtheirsenseofthefraudulentcharacterofitspraise——thesmileofmenwhohadbeenthereandwhoknewhowitwasthemselves。Laphamhadhismisgivingsastohowhisclerksandunderlingslookedatit；

hetreatedthemwithstatelyseverityforawhileafteritcameout，andheendedbyfeelingrathersoreaboutit。