第9章

"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。