第11章

"ItmustbeawfultohavetoDO，"shesaid，smilingintoherownface。"Idon’tseehowtheyevercan。"

"Someof’emcan’t——especiallywhenthere’ssuchatearingbeautyaround。"

"Oh，pshaw，Pen！youknowthatisn’tso。You’vegotarealprettymouth，Pen，"sheaddedthoughtfully，surveyingthefeatureintheglass，andthenpoutingherownlipsforthesakeofthateffectonthem。

"It’sausefulmouth，"Penelopeadmitted；"Idon’tbelieveIcouldgetalongwithoutitnow，I’vehaditsolong。"

"It’sgotsuchafunnyexpression——justthemateofthelookinyoureyes；asifyouwerejustgoingtosaysomethingridiculous。Hesaid，theveryfirsttimehesawyou，thatheknewyouwerehumorous。"

"Isitpossible？"mustbeso，iftheGrandMogulsaidit。

Whydidn’tyoutellmesobefore，andnotletmekeepongoingroundjustlikeacommonperson？"

Irenelaughedasifshelikedtohavehersistertakehispraisesinthatwayratherthananother。

"I’vegotsuchastiff，primkindofmouth，"shesaid，drawingitdown，andthenlookinganxiouslyatit。

"Ihopeyoudidn’tputonthatexpressionwhenheofferedyoutheshaving。Ifyoudid，Idon’tbelievehe’llevergiveyouanothersplinter。"

Theseveremouthbrokeintoalovelylaugh，andthenpresseditselfinakissagainstPenelope’scheek。

"There！Bedone，yousillything！I’mnotgoingtohaveyouacceptingMEbeforeI’veofferedmyself，ANYWAY。"

Shefreedherselffromhersister’sembrace，andranfromherroundtheroom。

Irenepursuedher，intheneedofhidingherfaceagainsthershoulderagain。"OPen！OPen！"shecried。

Thenextday，atthefirstmomentoffindingherselfalonewithhereldestdaughter，Mrs。Laphamasked，asifknowingthatPenelopemusthavealreadymadeitsubjectofinquiry：

"WhatwasIrenedoingwiththatshavinginherbeltyesterday？"

"Oh，justsomenonsenseofherswithMr。Corey。

Hegaveittoheratthenewhouse。"Penelopedidnotchoosetolookupandmeethermother’sgraveglance。

"Whatdoyouthinkhemeantbyit？"

PeneloperepeatedIrene’saccountoftheaffair，andhermotherlistenedwithoutseemingtoderivemuchencouragementfromit。

"Hedoesn’tseemlikeonetoflirtwithher，"shesaidatlast。Then，afterathoughtfulpause："Ireneisasgoodagirlaseverbreathed，andshe’saperfectbeauty。

ButIshouldhatethedaywhenadaughterofminewasmarriedforherbeauty。"

"You’resafeasfarasI’mconcerned，mother。"

Mrs。Laphamsmiledruefully。"Sheisn’treallyequaltohim，Pen。Imisdoubtedthatfromthefirst，andit’sbeenborneinuponmemoreandmoreeversince。

Shehasn’tmindenough。""Ididn’tknowthatamanfellinlovewithagirl’sintellect，"saidPenelopequietly。

"Ohno。Hehasn’tfalleninlovewithIreneatall。

Ifhehad，itwouldn’tmatterabouttheintellect。"

Penelopelettheself—contradictionpass。

"Perhapshehas，afterall。"

"No，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Shepleaseshimwhenheseesher。

Buthedoesn’ttrytoseeher。"

"Hehasnochance。Youwon’tletfatherbringhimhere。"

"Hewouldfindexcusestocomewithoutbeingbrought，ifhewishedtocome，"saidthemother。"Butsheisn’tinhismindenoughtomakehim。Hegoesawayanddoesn’tthinkanythingmoreabouther。She’sachild。

She’sagoodchild，andIshallalwayssayit；butshe’snothingbutachild。No，she’sgottoforgethim。"

"Perhapsthatwon’tbesoeasy。"

"No，Ipresumenot。Andnowyourfatherhasgotthenotioninhishead，andhewillmoveheavenandearthtobringittopass。Icanseethathe’salwaysthinkingaboutit。"

"TheColonelhasawillofhisown，"observedthegirl，rockingtoandfrowhereshesatlookingathermother。

"Iwishwehadnevermetthem！"criedMrs。Lapham。

"Iwishwehadneverthoughtofbuilding！Iwishhehadkeptawayfromyourfather’sbusiness！"

"Well，it’stoolatenow，mother，"saidthegirl。

"Perhapsitisn’tsobadasyouthink。"

"Well，wemuststandit，anyway，"saidMrs。Lapham，withthegrimantiqueYankeesubmission。

"Ohyes，we’vegottostandit，"saidPenelope，withthequaintmodernAmericanfatalism。

X。

ITwaslateJune，almostJuly，whenCoreytookuphislifeinBostonagain，wherethesummerslipsawaysoeasily。

Ifyougooutoftownearly，itseemsaverylongsummerwhenyoucomebackinOctober；butifyoustay，itpassesswiftly，and，seenforeshortenedinitsflight，seemsscarcelyamonth’slength。Ithasitsdaysofheat，whenitisveryhot，butforthemostpartitiscool，withbathsoftheeastwindthatseemtosaturatethesoulwithdeliciousfreshness。Thentherearestretchesofgreywesterlyweather，whentheairisfullofthesentimentofearlyautumn，andthefrying，ofthegrasshopperintheblossomedweedofthevacantlotsontheBackBayisintershotwiththecarolofcrickets；andtheyellowingleafonthelongslopeofMt。VernonStreetsmitesthesaunteringobserverwithtendermelancholy。

Thecaterpillar，gorgedwiththespoilofthelindensonChestnut，andweavinghisownshroudabouthiminhislodgmentonthebrick—work，recordsthepassingofsummerbymid—July；andifafterthatcomesAugust，itsbreathisthickandshort，andSeptemberisuponthesojournerbeforehehasfairlyhadtimetophilosophisethecharacterofthetownoutofseason。

Butitmusthaveappearedthatitsmostcharacteristicfeaturewastheabsenceofeverybodyheknew。ThiswasoneofthethingsthatcommendedBostontoBromfieldCoreyduringthesummer；andifhissonhadanyqualmsaboutthelifehehadentereduponwithsuchvigour，itmusthavebeenarelieftohimthattherewasscarcelyasoullefttowonderorpity。Bythetimepeoplegotbacktotownthefactofhisconnectionwiththemineralpaintmanwouldbeanoldstory，heardafaroffwithdifferentdegreesofsurprise，andconsideredwithdifferentdegreesofindifference。Amanhasnotreachedtheageoftwenty—sixinanycommunitywherehewasbornandrearedwithouthavinghadhiscapacityprettywellascertained；

andinBostontheanalysisisconductedwithanunsparingthoroughnesswhichmayfitlyimpresstheun—Bostonianmind，darkenedbythepopularsuperstitionthattheBostoniansblindlyadmireoneanother。Aman’squalitiesaresiftedascloselyinBostonastheydoubtlesswereinFlorenceorAthens；and，iffinalmercywasshowninthosecitiesbecauseamanwas，withallhislimitations，anAthenianorFlorentine，someabatementmightasjustlybemadeinBostonforlikereason。Corey’spowershadbeengaugedincollege，andhehadnotgivenhisworldreasontothinkverydifferentlyofhimsincehecameoutofcollege。

Hewasratedasanenergeticfellow，alittleindefiniteinaim，withthesmallestamountofinspirationthatcansaveamanfrombeingcommonplace。Ifhewasnotcommonplace，itwasthroughnothingremarkableinhismind，whichwassimplyclearandpractical，butthroughsomecombinationofqualitiesoftheheartthatmadementrusthim，andwomencallhimsweet——awordoftheirswhichconveysotherwiseindefinableexcellences。SomeofthemorenervousandexcitablesaidthatTomCoreywasassweetashecouldlive；

butthisperhapsmeantnomorethanthewordalone。

NomaneverhadasonlesslikehimthanBromfieldCorey。

IfTomCoreyhadeversaidawittything，noonecouldrememberit；andyetthefatherhadneversaidawittythingtoamoresympatheticlistenerthanhisownson。

Theclearmindwhichproducednothingbutpracticalresultsreflectedeverythingwithcharminglucidity；

anditmusthavebeenthiswhichendearedTomCoreytoeveryonewhospoketenwordswithhim。Inacitywherepeoplehavegoodreasonforlikingtoshine，amanwhodidnotcaretoshinemustbelittleshortofuniversallyacceptablewithoutanyothereffortforpopularity；

andthosewhoadmiredandenjoyedBromfieldCoreylovedhisson。Yet，whenitcametoaccountingforTomCorey，asitoftendidinacommunitywhereeveryone’sgenerationisknowntotheremotestdegreesofcousinship，theycouldnottracehissweetnesstohismother，forneitherAnnaBellinghamnoranyofherfamily，thoughtheyweresomanyblocksofWenhamiceforpurityandrectangularity，hadeverhadanysuchsavour；and，infact，itwastohisfather，whosehabitoftalkwrongeditinhimself，thattheyhadtoturnforthisqualityoftheson’s。Theytracedtothemotherthetraitsofpracticalityandcommon—senseinwhichhebordereduponthecommonplace，andwhich，whentheyhaddweltuponthem，madehimseemhardlyworththecloseinquirytheyhadgivenhim。

Whilethesummerworeawayhecameandwentmethodicallyabouthisbusiness，asifithadbeenthebusinessofhislife，sharinghisfather’sbachelorlibertyandsolitude，andexpectingwithequalpatiencethereturnofhismotherandsistersintheautumn。OnceortwicehefoundtimetorundowntoMt。Desertandseethem；

andthenheheardhowthePhiladelphiaandNewYorkpeopleweregettingineverywhere，andwasgivenreasontoregretthehouseatNahantwhichhehadurgedtobesold。

Hecamebackandappliedhimselftohisdeskwithadevotionthatwasexemplaryratherthannecessary；

forLaphammadenodifficultyaboutthebriefabsenceswhichheasked，andsetnotermtotheapprenticeshipthatCoreywasservingintheofficebeforesettingoffuponthatmissiontoSouthAmericaintheearlywinter，forwhichnodatehadyetbeenfixed。

Thesummerwasadullseasonforthepaintaswellasforeverythingelse。Tillthingsshouldbriskup，asLaphamsaid，inthefall，hewaslettingthenewhousetakeagreatdealofhistime。AEstheticideashadneverbeenintelligiblypresentedtohimbefore，andhefoundadelightinapprehendingthemthatwasverygratefultohisimaginativearchitect。Atthebeginning，thearchitecthadforebodedaseriesofmortifyingdefeatsanddisastrousvictoriesinhisencounterswithhisclient；buthehadneverhadaclientwhocouldbemorereasonablyledonfromoneoutlaytoanother。

ItappearedthatLaphamrequiredbuttounderstandorfeelthebeautifuleffectintended，andhewasreadytopayforit。Hisbull—headedpridewasconcernedinathingwhichthearchitectmadehimsee，andthenhebelievedthathehadseenithimself，perhapsconceivedit。

Insomemeasurethearchitectseemedtosharehisdelusion，andfreelysaidthatLaphamwasverysuggestive。

Togethertheyblockedoutwindowshere，andbrickedthemupthere；theychangeddoorsandpassages；pulleddowncornicesandreplacedthemwithothersofdifferentdesign；

experimentedwithcostlydevicesofdecoration，andwenttoextravagantlengthsinnoveltiesoffinish。

Mrs。Lapham，beginningwithawoman’sadventurousnessintheunknownregion，tookfrightattherecklessoutlayatlast，andrefusedtoletherhusbandpassacertainlimit。

Hetriedtomakeherbelievethatafar—seeingeconomydictatedtheexpense；andthatifheputthemoneyintothehouse，hecouldgetitoutanytimebysellingit。

Shewouldnotbepersuaded。

"Idon’twantyoushouldsellit。Andyou’veputmoremoneyintoitnowthanyou’llevergetoutagain，unlessyoucanfindasbigagoosetobuyit，andthatisn’tlikely。

No，sir！Youjuststopatahundredthousand，anddon’tyoulethimgetyouacentbeyond。Why，you’reperfectlybewitchedwiththatfellow！You’velostyourhead，SilasLapham，andifyoudon’tlookoutyou’llloseyourmoneytoo。"

TheColonellaughed；helikedhertotalkthatway，andpromisedhewouldholdupawhile。

"Butthere’snocalltofeelanxious，Pert。It’sonlyaquestionwhattodowiththemoney。Icanreinvestit；

butIneverhadsomuchofittospendbefore。"

"Spendit，then，"saidhiswife；"don’tthrowitaway！

Andhowcameyoutohavesomuchmoremoneythanyouknowwhattodowith，SilasLapham？"sheadded。

"Oh，I’vemadeaverygoodthinginstockslately。"

"Instocks？Whendidyoutakeupgamblingforaliving？"

"Gambling？Stuff！Whatgambling？Whosaiditwasgambling？"

"Youhave；manyatime。"

"Ohyes，buyingandsellingonamargin。Butthiswasabonafidetransaction。Iboughtatforty—threeforaninvestment，andIsoldatahundredandseven；

andthemoneypassedbothtimes。"

"Well，youbetterletstocksalone，"saidhiswife，withtheconservatismofhersex。"Nexttimeyou’llbuyatahundredandsevenandsellatfortythree。

Thenwhere’llyoube？"

"Left，"admittedtheColonel。

"Youbettersticktopaintawhileyet。"TheColonelenjoyedthistoo，andlaughedagainwiththeeaseofamanwhoknowswhatheisabout。AfewdaysafterthathecamedowntoNantasketwiththeradiantairwhichheworewhenhehaddoneagoodthinginbusinessandwantedhiswife’ssympathy。Hedidnotsayanythingofwhathadhappenedtillhewasalonewithherintheirownroom；

buthewasverygaythewholeevening，andmadeseveraljokeswhichPenelopesaidnothingbutverygreatprosperitycouldexcuse：theyallunderstoodthesemoodsofhis。

"Well，whatisit，Silas？"askedhiswifewhenthetimecame。

"Anymorebig—bugswantingtogointothemineralpaintbusinesswithyou？"

"Somethingbetterthanthat。"

"Icouldthinkofagoodmanybetterthings，"saidhiswife，withasighoflatentbitterness。"What’sthisone？"

"I’vehadavisitor。"

"Who？"

"Can’tyouguess？"

"Idon’twanttotry。Whowasit？"

"Rogers。"

Mrs。Laphamsatdownwithherhandsinherlap，andstaredatthesmileonherhusband’sface，wherehesatfacingher。

"Iguessyouwouldn’twanttojokeonthatsubject，Si，"

shesaid，alittlehoarsely，"andyouwouldn’tgrinaboutitunlessyouhadsomegoodnews。Idon’tknowwhatthemiracleis，butifyoucouldtellquick————"

Shestoppedlikeonewhocansaynomore。

"Iwill，Persis，"saidherhusband，andwiththatawedtoneinwhichherarelyspokeofanythingbutthevirtuesofhispaint。"Hecametoborrowmoneyofme，andI

lenthimit。That’stheshortofit。Thelong————"

"Goon，"saidhiswife，withgentlepatience。

"Well，Pert，IwasneversomuchastonishedinmylifeasIwastoseethatmancomeintomyoffice。

Youmighthaveknockedmedownwith——Idon’tknowwhat。"

"Idon’twonder。Goon！"

"AndhewasasmuchembarrassedasIwas。Therewestood，gapingateachother，andIhadn’thardlysenseenoughtoaskhimtotakeachair。Idon’tknowjusthowwegotatit。AndIdon’trememberjusthowitwasthathesaidhecametocometome。Buthehadgotholdofapatentrightthathewantedtogointoonalargescale，andtherehewaswantingmetosupplyhimthefunds。"

"Goon！"saidMrs。Lapham，withhervoicefurtherinherthroat。

"IneverfeltthewayyoudidaboutRogers，butIknowhowyoualwaysdidfeel，andIguessIsurprisedhimwithmyanswer。

Hehadbroughtalongalotofstockassecurity————"

"Youdidn’ttakeit，Silas！"hiswifeflashedout。

"Yes，Idid，though，"saidLapham。"Youwait。Wesettledourbusiness，andthenwewentintotheoldthing，fromtheverystart。Andwetalkeditallover。

Andwhenwegotthroughweshookhands。Well，Idon’tknowwhenit’sdonemesomuchgoodtoshakehandswithanybody。"

"Andyoutoldhim——youowneduptohimthatyouwereinthewrong，Silas？"

"No，Ididn’t，"returnedtheColonelpromptly；"forI

wasn’t。Andbeforewegotthrough，IguesshesawitthesameasIdid。"

"Oh，nomatter！soyouhadthechancetoshowhowyoufelt。"

"ButIneverfeltthatway，"persistedtheColonel。

"I’velenthimthemoney，andI’vekepthisstocks。

Andhegotwhathewantedoutofme。"

"Givehimbackhisstocks！"

"No，Ishan’t。Rogerscametoborrow。Hedidn’tcometobeg。Youneedn’tbetroubledabouthisstocks。

They’regoingtocomeupintime；butjustnowthey’resolowdownthatnobankwouldtakethemassecurity，andI’vegottoholdthemtilltheydorise。Ihopeyou’resatisfiednow，Persis，"saidherhusband；andhelookedatherwiththewillingnesstoreceivetherewardofagoodactionwhichweallfeelwhenwehaveperformedone。

"Ilenthimthemoneyyoukeptmefromspendingonthehouse。"

"Truly，Si？Well，I’msatisfied，"saidMrs。Lapham，withadeeptremulousbreath。"TheLordhasbeengoodtoyou，Silas，"shecontinuedsolemnly。"Youmaylaughifyouchoose，andIdon’tknowasIbelieveinhisinterferingagreatdeal；butIbelievehe’sinterferedthistime；andItellyou，Silas，itain’talwayshegivespeopleachancetomakeituptoothersinthislife。

I’vebeenafraidyou’ddie，Silas，beforeyougotthechance；

buthe’sletyoulivetomakeituptoRogers。"

"I’mgladtobeletlive，"saidLaphamstubbornly，"butIhadn’tanythingtomakeuptoMiltonK。Rogers。

AndifGodhasletmeliveforthat————"

"Oh，saywhatyouplease，Si！Saywhatyouplease，nowyou’vedoneit！Ishan’tstopyou。You’vetakentheonespot——theoneSPECK——offyouthatwaseverthere，andI’msatisfied。"

"Therewa’n’teveranyspeckthere，"Laphamheldout，lapsingmoreandmoreintohisvernacular；"andwhatI

doneIdoneforyou，Persis。"

"AndIthankyouforyourownsoul’ssake，Silas。"

"Iguessmysoul’sallright，"saidLapham。

"AndIwantyoushouldpromisemeonethingmore。"

"Thoughtyousaidyouweresatisfied？"

"Iam。ButIwantyoushouldpromisemethis：thatyouwon’tletanythingtemptyou——anything！——toevertroubleRogersforthatmoneyyoulenthim。Nomatterwhathappens——nomatterifyouloseitall。Doyoupromise？"

"Why，Idon’teverEXPECTtopresshimforit。

That’swhatIsaidtomyselfwhenIlentit。AndofcourseI’mgladtohavethatoldtroublehealedup。Idon’tTHINK

IeverdidRogersanywrong，andIneverdidthinkso；

butifIDIDdoit——IFIdid——I’mwillingtocallitsquare，ifIneverseeacentofmymoneybackagain。"

"Well，that’sall，"saidhiswife。

Theydidnotcelebratehisreconciliationwithhisoldenemy——forsuchtheyhadalwaysfelthimtobesinceheceasedtobeanally——byanyshowofjoyoraffection。

Itwasnotintheirtradition，asstoicalforthewomanasfortheman，thattheyshouldkissorembraceeachotheratsuchamoment。Shewascontenttohavetoldhimthathehaddonehisduty，andhewascontentwithhersayingthat。ButbeforeshesleptshefoundwordstoaddthatshealwaysfearedtheselfishparthehadactedtowardRogershadweakenedhim，andlefthimlessabletoovercomeanytemptationthatmightbesethim；

andthatwasonereasonwhyshecouldneverbeeasyaboutit。

Nowsheshouldneverfearforhimagain。

Thistimehedidnotexplicitlydenyherforgivingimpeachment。

"Well，it’sallpastandgonenow，anyway；andIdon’twantyoushouldthinkanythingmoreaboutit。"

Hewasmanenoughtotakeadvantageofthehighfavourinwhichhestoodwhenhewentuptotown，andtoabuseitbybringingCoreydowntosupper。Hiswifecouldnothelpcondoningthesinofdisobedienceinhimatsuchatime。

PenelopesaidthatbetweentheadmirationshefeltfortheColonel’sboldnessandhermother’sforbearance，shewashardlyinastatetoentertaincompanythatevening；

butshedidwhatshecould。

Irenelikedbeingtalkedtobetterthantalking，andwhenhersisterwasbyshewasalways，tacitlyorexplicitly，referringtoherforconfirmationofwhatshesaid。

Shewascontenttositandlookprettyasshelookedattheyoungmanandlistenedtohersister’sdrolling。

ShelaughedandkeptglancingatCoreytomakesurethathewasunderstandingher。Whentheywentoutontheverandatoseethemoononthewater，PenelopeledthewayandIrenefollowed。

Theydidnotlookatthemoonlightlong。Theyoungmanperchedontherailoftheveranda，andIrenetookoneofthered—paintedrocking—chairswhereshecouldconvenientlylookathimandathersister，whosatleaningforwardlazilyandrunningon，asthephraseis。

Thatlow，crooningnoteofherswasdelicious；herface，glimpsednowandtheninthemoonlightassheturneditorlifteditalittle，hadafascinationwhichkepthiseye。

Hertalkwasveryunliterary，anditseffectseemedhardlyconscious。Shewasfarfromepigraminherfunning。

Shetoldofthistrifleandthat；shesketchedthecharactersandlooksofpeoplewhohadinterestedher，andnothingseemedtohaveescapedhernotice；shemimickedalittle，butnotmuch；shesuggested，andthentheaffairrepresenteditselfasifwithoutheragency。

Shedidnotlaugh；whenCoreystoppedshemadeasoftcluckinherthroat，asifshelikedhisbeingamused，andwentonagain。

TheColonel，leftalonewithhiswifeforthefirsttimesincehehadcomefromtown，madehastetotaketheword。

"Well，Pert，I’vearrangedthewholethingwithRogers，andIhopeyou’llbesatisfiedtoknowthatheowesmetwentythousanddollars，andthatI’vegotsecurityfromhimtotheamountofafourthofthat，ifIwastoforcehisstockstoasale。"

"Howcamehetocomedownwithyou？"askedMrs。Lapham。

"Who？Rogers？"

"Mr。Corey。"

"Corey？Oh！"saidLapham，affectingnottohavethoughtshecouldmeanCorey。"Heproposedit。"

"Likely！"jeeredhiswife，butwithperfectamiability。

"It’sso，"protestedtheColonel。"WegottalkingaboutamatterjustbeforeIleft，andhewalkeddowntotheboatwithme；andthenhesaidifIdidn’tmindheguessedhe’dcomealongdownandgobackonthereturnboat。

OfcourseIcouldn’tlethimdothat。"

"It’swellforyouyoucouldn’t。"

"AndIcouldn’tdolessthanbringhimheretotea。"

"Oh，certainlynot。"

"Butheain’tgoingtostaythenight——unless，"

falteredLapham，"youwanthimto。"

"Oh，ofcourse，Iwanthimto！Iguesshe’llstay，probably。"

"Well，youknowhowcrowdedthatlastboatalwaysis，andhecan’tgetanyothernow。"

Mrs。Laphamlaughedatthesimplewile。"Ihopeyou’llbejustaswellsatisfied，Si，ifitturnsouthedoesn’twantIreneafterall。"

"Pshaw，Persis！Whatareyoualwaysbringingthatupfor？"

pleadedtheColonel。Thenhefellsilent，andpresentlyhisrude，strongfacewascloudedwithanunconsciousfrown。

"There！"criedhiswife，startlinghimfromhisabstraction。

"Iseehowyou’dfeel；andIhopethatyou’llrememberwhoyou’vegottoblame。"

"I’llriskit，"saidLapham，withtheconfidenceofamanusedtosuccess。

FromtheverandathesoundofPenelope’slazytonecamethroughtheclosedwindows，withjoyouslaughterfromIreneandpealsfromCorey。

"Listentothat！"saidherfatherwithin，swellingupwithinexpressiblesatisfaction。"Thatgirlcantalkfortwenty，rightstraightalong。She’sbetterthanacircusanyday。

Iwonderwhatshe’suptonow。"