第16章

Itendedintheirbuyingabookofetiquette，whichsettledthequestionadverselytoawhitewaistcoat。

Theauthor，however，afterbeingveryexplicitintellingthemnottoeatwiththeirknives，andaboveallnottopicktheirteethwiththeirforks，——athingwhichhesaidnoladyorgentlemaneverdid，——wasstillfarfromdecidedastothekindofcravatColonelLaphamoughttowear：shakenonotherpoints，Laphamhadbeguntowaveralsoconcerningtheblackcravat。AstothequestionofglovesfortheColonel，whichsuddenlyflasheduponhimoneevening，itappearednevertohaveenteredthethoughtsoftheetiquetteman，asLaphamcalledhim。

Otherauthorsonthesamesubjectwereequallysilent，andIrenecouldonlyrememberhavingheard，insomevaguesortofway，thatgentlemendidnotwearglovessomuchanymore。

DropsofperspirationgatheredonLapham’sforeheadintheanxietyofthedebate；hegroaned，andhesworealittleinthecompromiseprofanitywhichheused。

"Ideclare，"saidPenelope，whereshesatpurblindlysewingonabitofdressforIrene，"theColonel’sclothesareasmuchtroubleasanybody’s。Whydon’tyougotoJordan&Marsh’sandorderoneoftheimporteddressesforyourself，father？"Thatgavethemallthereliefofalaughoverit，theColoneljoininginpiteously。

HehadanawfullongingtofindoutfromCoreyhowheoughttogo。Heformulatedandrepeatedovertohimselfanapparentlycarelessquestion，suchas，"Oh，bytheway，Corey，wheredoyougetyourgloves？"Thiswouldnaturallyleadtosometalkonthesubject，whichwould，ifproperlymanaged，clearupthewholetrouble。ButLaphamfoundthathewouldratherdiethanaskthisquestion，oranyquestionthatwouldbringupthedinneragain。

Coreydidnotrecurtoit，andLaphamavoidedthematterwithpositivefierceness。HeshunnedtalkingwithCoreyatall，andsufferedingrimsilence。

Onenight，beforetheyfellasleep，hiswifesaidtohim，"Iwasreadinginoneofthosebooksto—day，andIdon’tbelievebutwhatwe’vemadeamistakeifPenholdsoutthatshewon’tgo。"

"Why？"demandedLapham，inthedismaywhichbesethimateveryfreshrecurrencetothesubject。

"Thebooksaysthatit’sveryimpolitenottoansweradinnerinvitationpromptly。Well，we’vedonethatallright，——atfirstIdidn’tknowbutwhatwehadbeenalittletooquick，maybe，——butthenitsaysifyou’renotgoing，thatit’stheheightofrudenessnottoletthemknowatonce，sothattheycanfillyourplaceatthetable。"

TheColonelwassilentforawhile。"Well，I’mdumned，"

hesaidfinally，"ifthereseemstobeanyendtothisthing。

Ifitwastodooveragain，I’dsaynoforallofus。"

"I’vewishedahundredtimestheyhadn’taskedus；

butit’stoolatetothinkaboutthatnow。Thequestionis，whatarewegoingtodoaboutPenelope？"

"Oh，Iguessshe’llgo，atthelastmoment。"

"Shesaysshewon’t。ShetookaprejudiceagainstMrs。Coreythatday，andshecan’tseemtogetoverit。"

"Well，then，hadn’tyoubetterwriteinthemorning，assoonasyou’reup，thatsheain’tcoming？"

Mrs。Laphamsighedhelplessly。"Ishouldn’tknowhowtogetitin。It’ssolatenow；Idon’tseehowIcouldhavetheface。"

"Well，then，she’sgottogo，that’sall。"

"She’ssetshewon’t。"

"AndI’msetsheshall，"saidLaphamwiththeloudobstinacyofamanwhosewomenalwayshavetheirway。

Mrs。Laphamwasnotsupportedbythesturdinessofhisproclamation。

ButshedidnotknowhowtodowhatsheknewsheoughttodoaboutPenelope，andsheletmattersdrift。

Afterall，thechildhadarighttostayathomeifshedidnotwishtogo。ThatwaswhatMrs。Laphamfelt，andwhatshesaidtoherhusbandnextmorning，biddinghimletPenelopealone，unlessshechoseherselftogo。

Shesaiditwastoolatenowtodoanything，andshemustmakethebestexcuseshecouldwhenshesawMrs。Corey。

ShebegantowishthatIreneandherfatherwouldgoandexcusehertoo。Shecouldnothelpsayingthis，andthensheandLaphamhadsomeunpleasantwords。

"Lookhere！"hecried。"Whowantedtogoinforthesepeopleinthefirstplace？Didn’tyoucomehomefullof’emlastyear，andwantmetosellouthereandmovesomewhereselsebecauseitdidn’tseemtosuit’em？Andnowyouwanttoputitallonme！Iain’tgoingtostandit。"

"Hush！"saidhiswife。"Doyouwanttoraisethehouse？I

didn’tputitonyou，asyousay。Youtookitonyourself。

Eversincethatfellowhappenedtocomeintothenewhousethatday，you’vebeenperfectlycrazytogetinwiththem。

Andnowyou’resoafraidyoushalldosomethingwrongbefore’em，youdon’thardlydaretosayyourlife’syourown。

Ideclare，ifyoupestermeanymoreaboutthosegloves，SilasLapham，Iwon’tgo。"

"DoyousupposeIwanttogoonmyownaccount？"

hedemandedfuriously。

"No，"sheadmitted。"OfcourseIdon’t。Iknowverywellthatyou’redoingitforIrene；but，forgoodnessgracious’sake，don’tworryourlivesout，andmakeyourselfaperfectlaughing—stockbeforethechildren。"

Withthismodifiedconcessionfromher，thequarrelclosedinsullensilenceonLapham’spart。Thenightbeforethedinnercame，andthequestionofhisgloveswasstillunsettled，andinafairwaytoremainso。

Hehadboughtapair，soastobeonthesafeside，perspiringincompanywiththeyoungladywhosoldthem，andwhohelpedhimtrythemonattheshop；hisnailswerestillfullofthepowderwhichshehadplentifullypepperedintotheminordertoovercometheresistanceofhisbluntfingers。Buthewasuncertainwhetherheshouldwearthem。Theyhadfoundabookatlastthatsaidtheladiesremovedtheirglovesonsittingdownattable，butitsaidnothingaboutgentlemen’sgloves。Helefthiswifewhereshestoodhalfhook—and—eyedatherglassinhernewdress，andwentdowntohisowndenbeyondtheparlour。

BeforeheshuthisdoorhocaughtaglimpseofIrenetrailingupanddownbeforethelongmirrorinHERnewdress，followedbytheseamstressonherknees；thewomanhadhermouthfullofpins，andfromtimetotimeshemadeIrenestoptillshecouldputoneofthepinsintohertrain；

Penelopesatinacornercriticisingandcounselling。

ItmadeLaphamsick，andhedespisedhimselfandallhisbroodforthetroubletheyweretaking。Butanotherglancegavehimasightoftheyounggirl’sfaceinthemirror，beautifulandradiantwithhappiness，andhisheartmeltedagainwithpaternaltendernessandpride。

ItwasgoingtobeagreatpleasuretoIrene，andLaphamfeltthatshewasboundtocutoutanythingthere。

HewasvexedwithPenelopethatshewasnotgoingtoo；

hewouldhavelikedtohavethosepeoplehearhertalk。

Heheldhisdooralittleopen，andlistenedtothethingsshewas"gettingoff"theretoIrene。HeshowedthathefeltreallyhurtanddisappointedaboutPenelope，andthegirl’smothermadeherconsolehimthenexteveningbeforetheyalldroveawaywithouther。"Youtrytolookonthebrightsideofit，father。Iguessyou’llseethatit’sbestIdidn’tgowhenyougetthere。Ireneneedn’topenherlips，andtheycanallseehowprettysheis；

buttheywouldn’tknowhowsmartIwasunlessItalked，andmaybethentheywouldn’t。"

Thisthrustatherfather’ssimplevanityinhermadehimlaugh；andthentheydroveaway，andPenelopeshutthedoor，andwentupstairswithherlipsfirmlyshuttinginasob。

XIV。

THECoreyswereoneofthefewoldfamilieswholingeredinBellinghamPlace，thehandsome，quietoldstreetwhichthesympatheticobservermustgrievetoseeabandonedtoboarding—houses。Thedwellingsarestatelyandtall，andthewholeplacewearsanairofaristocraticseclusion，whichMrs。Corey’sfathermightwellhavethoughtassuredwhenheleftherhishousethereathisdeath。ItisoneoftwoevidentlydesignedbythesamearchitectwhobuiltsomehousesinacharacteristictasteonBeaconStreetoppositetheCommon。Ithasawoodenportico，withslenderflutedcolumns，whichhavealwaysbeenpaintedwhite，andwhich，withthedelicatemouldingsofthecornice，formthesoleandsufficientdecorationofthestreetfront；

nothingcouldbesimpler，andnothingcouldbebetter。

Within，thearchitecthasagainindulgedhispreferencefortheclassic；theroofofthevestibule，wideandlow，restsonmarblecolumns，slimandflutedlikethewoodencolumnswithout，andanamplestaircaseclimbsinagraceful，easycurvefromthetesselatedpavement。

SomecarvedVenetianscrignistretchedalongthewall；

aruglayatthefootofthestairs；butotherwisethesimpleadequacyofthearchitecturalintentionhadbeenrespected，andtheplacelookedbaretotheeyesoftheLaphamswhentheyentered。TheCoreyshadoncekeptaman，butwhenyoungCoreybeganhisretrenchmentsthemanhadyieldedtotheneatmaidwhoshowedtheColonelintothereception—roomandaskedtheladiestowalkuptwoflights。

HehadhischargesfromIrenenottoenterthedrawing—

roomwithouthermother，andhespentfiveminutesingettingonhisgloves，forhehaddesperatelyresolvedtowearthematlast。Whenhehadthemon，andlethislargefistshangdownoneitherside，theylooked，inthesaffrontintwhichtheshop—girlsaidhisglovesshouldbeof，likecanvasedhams。Heperspiredwithdoubtasheclimbedthestairs，andwhilehewaitedonthelandingforMrs。LaphamandIrenetocomedownfromabovebeforegoingintothedrawing—room，hestoodstaringathishands，nowopenandnowshut，andbreathinghard。

Heheardquiettalkingbeyondtheportierewithin，andpresentlyTomCoreycameout。

"Ah，ColonelLapham！Verygladtoseeyou。"

Laphamshookhandswithhimandgasped，"WaitingforMis’Lapham，"toaccountforhispresence。

Hehadnotbeenabletobuttonhisrightglove，andhenowbegan，withasmuchindifferenceashecouldassume，topullthembothoff，forhesawthatCoreyworenone。

Bythetimehehadstuffedthemintothepocketofhiscoat—skirthiswifeanddaughterdescended。

Coreywelcomedthemverycordiallytoo，butlookedalittlemystified。Mrs。LaphamknewthathewassilentlyinquiringforPenelope，andshedidnotknowwhethersheoughttoexcusehertohimfirstornot。Shesaidnothing，andafteraglancetowardtheregionswherePenelopemightconjecturablybelingering，heheldasidetheportierefortheLaphamstopass，andenteredtheroomwiththem。

Mrs。Laphamhaddecidedagainstlow—necksonherownresponsibility，andhadentrenchedherselfinthesafetyofablacksilk，inwhichshelookedveryhandsome。Ireneworeadressofoneofthoseshadeswhichonlyawomanoranartistcandecidetobegreenorblue，andwhichtoothereyeslooksbothorneither，accordingtotheirdegreesofignorance。

Ifitwasmorelikeaballdressthanadinnerdress，thatmightbeexcusedtotheexquisiteeffect。Shetrailed，adelicatesplendour，acrossthecarpetinhermother’ssombrewake，andtheconsciousnessofsuccessbroughtavividsmiletoherface。Lapham，pallidwithanxietylestheshouldsomehowdisgracehimself，givingthankstoGodthatheshouldhavebeensparedtheshameofwearinggloveswherenooneelsedid，butatthesametimedespairingthatCoreyshouldhaveseenhiminthem，hadanunwontedaspectofalmostpatheticrefinement。

Mrs。Coreyexchangedaquickglanceofsurpriseandreliefwithherhusbandasshestartedacrosstheroomtomeetherguests，andinhergratitudetothemforbeingsoirreproachable，shethrewintohermannerawarmththatpeopledidnotalwaysfindthere。"GeneralLapham？"

shesaid，shakinghandsinquicksuccessionwithMrs。LaphamandIrene，andnowaddressingherselftohim。

"No，ma’am，onlyColonel，"saidthehonestman，buttheladydidnothearhim。ShewasintroducingherhusbandtoLapham’swifeanddaughter，andBromfieldCoreywasalreadyshakinghishandandsayinghewasverygladtoseehimagain，whilehekepthisartisticeyeonIrene，andapparentlycouldnottakeitoff。LilyCoreygavetheLaphamladiesagreetingwhichwasphysicallyratherthansociallycold，andNannystoodholdingIrene’shandinbothofhersamoment，andtakinginherbeautyandherstylewithagenerousadmirationwhichshecouldafford，forshewasherselffaultlesslydressedinthequiettasteofhercity，andlookingverypretty。

TheintervalwaslongenoughtoleteverymanpresentconfidehissenseofIrene’sbeautytoeveryother；

andthen，asthepartywassmall，Mrs。Coreymadeeverybodyacquainted。WhenLaphamhadnotquiteunderstood，heheldtheperson’shand，and，leaningurbanelyforward，inquired，"Whatname？"Hedidthatbecauseagreatmantowhomhehadbeenpresentedontheplatformatapublicmeetinghaddonesotohim，andheknewitmustberight。

Alittlelullensuedupontheintroductions，andMrs。CoreysaidquietlytoMrs。Lapham，"CanIsendanyonetobeofusetoMissLapham？"asifPenelopemustbeinthedressing—room。

Mrs。Laphamturnedfire—red，andthegracefulformsinwhichshehadbeenintendingtoexcuseherdaughter’sabsencewentoutofherhead。"Sheisn’tupstairs，"shesaid，atherbluntest，ascountrypeoplearewhenembarrassed。

"Shedidn’tfeeljustlikecomingto—night。Idon’tknowasshe’sfeelingverywell。"

Mrs。Coreyemittedaverysmall"O！"——verysmall，verycold，——whichbegantogrowlargerandhotterandtoburnintoMrs。Lapham’ssoulbeforeMrs。Coreycouldadd，"I’mverysorry。It’snothingserious，Ihope？"

RobertChase，thepainter，hadnotcome，andMrs。JamesBellinghamwasnotthere，sothatthetablereallybalancedbetterwithoutPenelope；butMrs。Laphamcouldnotknowthis，anddidnotdeservetoknowit。Mrs。Coreyglancedroundtheroom，asiftotakeaccountofherguests，andsaidtoherhusband，"Ithinkweareallhere，then，"

andhecameforwardandgavehisarmtoMrs。Lapham。

Sheperceivedthenthatintheirdeterminationnottobethefirsttocometheyhadbeenthelast，andmusthavekepttheotherswaitingforthem。

Laphamhadneverseenpeoplegodowntodinnerarm—in—

armbefore，butheknewthathiswifewasdistinguishedinbeingtakenoutbythehost，andhewaitedinjealousimpatiencetoseeifTomCoreywouldofferhisarmtoIrene。

HegaveittothatbiggirltheycalledMissKingsbury，andthehandsomeoldfellowwhomMrs。CoreyhadintroducedashercousintookIreneout。LaphamwasstartledfromthemisgivinginwhichthislefthimbyMrs。Corey’spassingherhandthroughhisarm，andhemadeasuddenmovementforward，butfelthimselfgentlyrestrained。

Theywentoutthelastofall；hedidnotknowwhy，buthesubmitted，andwhentheysatdownhesawthatIrene，althoughshehadcomeinwiththatMr。Bellingham，wasseatedbesideyoungCorey，afterall。

Hefetchedalongsighofreliefwhenhesankintohischairandfelthimselfsafefromerrorifhekeptasharplookoutanddidonlywhattheothersdid。

Bellinghamhadcertainhabitswhichhepermittedhimself，andoneofthesewastuckingthecornerofhisnapkinintohiscollar；heconfessedhimselfanuncertainshotwithaspoon，anddefendedhispracticeonthegroundofneatnessandcommon—sense。Laphamputhisnapkinintohiscollartoo，andthen，seeingthatnoonebutBellinghamdidit，becamealarmedandtookitoutagainslyly。

Heneverhadwineonhistableathome，andonprinciplehewasaprohibitionist；butnowhedidnotknowjustwhattodoabouttheglassesattherightofhisplate。

Hehadanotiontoturnthemalldown，ashehadreadofawell—knownpolitician’sdoingatapublicdinner，toshowthathedidnottakewine；but，aftertwiddlingwithoneofthemamoment，heletthembe，foritseemedtohimthatwouldbealittletooconspicuous，andhefeltthateveryonewaslooking。Helettheservantfillthemall，andhedrankoutofeach，nottoappearodd。

Later，heobservedthattheyoungladieswerenottakingwine，andhewasgladtoseethatIrenehadrefusedit，andthatMrs。Laphamwaslettingitstanduntasted。

Hedidnotknowbutheoughttodeclinesomeofthedishes，oratleastleavemostofsomeonhisplate，buthewasnotabletodecide；hetookeverythingandateeverything。

HenoticedthatMrs。Coreyseemedtotakenomoretroubleaboutthedinnerthananybody，andMr。Coreyratherless；

hewastalkingbusilytoMrs。Lapham，andLaphamcaughtawordhereandtherethatconvincedhimshewasholdingherown。HewasgettingonfamouslyhimselfwithMrs。Corey，whohadbegunwithhimabouthisnewhouse；

hewastellingherallaboutit，andgivingherhisideas。

Theirconversationnaturallyincludedhisarchitectacrossthetable；Laphamhadbeendelightedandsecretlysurprisedtofindthefellowthere；andatsomethingSeymoursaidthetalkspreadsuddenly，andtheprettyhousehewasbuildingforColonelLaphambecamethegeneraltheme。

YoungCoreytestifiedtoitsloveliness，andthearchitectsaidlaughinglythatifhehadbeenabletomakeanicethingofit，heowedittothepracticalsympathyofhisclient。

"Practicalsympathyisgood，"saidBromfieldCorey；

and，slantinghisheadconfidentiallytoMrs。Lapham，headded，"Doeshebleedyourhusband，Mrs。Lapham？He’saterriblefellowforappropriations！"

Mrs。Laphamlaughed，reddeningconsciously，andsaidsheguessedtheColonelknewhowtotakecareofhimself。

ThisstruckLapham，thendraininghisglassofsauterne，aswonderfullydiscreetinhiswife。BromfieldCoreyleanedbackinhischairamoment。"Well，afterall，youcan’tsay，withallyourmodernfussaboutit，thatyoudomuchbetternowthantheoldfellowswhobuiltsuchhousesasthis。"

"Ah，"saidthearchitect，"nobodycandobetterthanwell。

Yourhouseisinperfecttaste；youknowI’vealwaysadmiredit；andIdon’tthinkit’satalltheworseforbeingold—fashioned。Whatwe’vedoneislargelytogobackofthehideousstylethatragedaftertheyforgothowtomakethissortofhouse。ButIthinkwemayclaimabetterfeelingforstructure。Weusebettermaterial，andmorewisely；andbyandbyweshallworkoutsomethingmorecharacteristicandoriginal。"

"Withyourchocolatesandolives，andyourclutterofbric—a—brac？"

"Allthat’sbad，ofcourse，butIdon’tmeanthat。Idon’twishtomakeyouenviousofColonelLapham，andmodestypreventsmysaying，thathishouseisprettier，——thoughImayhavemyconvictions，——butit’sbetterbuilt。

Allthenewhousesarebetterbuilt。Now，yourhouse————"

"Mrs。Corey’shouse，"interruptedthehost，withaburlesquehasteindisclaimingresponsibilityforitthatmadethemalllaugh。"MyancestralhallsareinSalem，andI’mtoldyoucouldn’tdriveanailintotheirtimbers；

infact，Idon’tknowthatyouwouldwanttodoit。"

"Ishouldconsideritaspeciesofsacrilege，"

answeredSeymour，"andIshallbefarfrompressingthepointIwasgoingtomakeagainstahouseofMrs。Corey’s。"

ThiswonSeymourtheeasylaugh，andLaphamsilentlywonderedthatthefellownevergotoffanyofthosethingstohim。

"Well，"saidCorey，"youarchitectsandthemusiciansarethetrueandonlyartisticcreators。Alltherestofus，sculptors，painters，novelists，andtailors，dealwithformsthatwehavebeforeus；wetrytoimitate，wetrytorepresent。Butyoutwosortsofartistscreateform。Ifyourepresent，youfail。Somehoworotheryoudoevolvethecameloutofyourinnerconsciousness"

"Iwillnotdenythesoftimpeachment，"saidthearchitect，withamodestair。

"Idaresay。Andyou’llownthatit’sveryhandsomeofmetosaythis，afteryourunjustifiableattackonMrs。Corey’sproperty。"

BromfieldCoreyaddressedhimselfagaintoMrs。Lapham，andthetalksubdivideditselfasbefore。Itlapsedsoentirelyawayfromthesubjectjustinhand，thatLaphamwasleftwithratheragoodidea，ashethoughtit，toperishinhismind，forwantofachancetoexpressit。

TheonlythinglikearecurrencetowhattheyhadbeensayingwasBromfieldCorey’swarningMrs。Lapham，insomeconnectionthatLaphamlost，againstMissKingsbury。

"She’sworse，"hewassaying，"whenitcomestoappropriationsthanSeymourhimself。Dependuponit，Mrs。Lapham，shewillgiveyounopeaceofyourmind，nowshe’smetyou，fromthisout。Hertendermerciesarecruel；

andIleaveyoutosupplythecontentfromyourownscripturalknowledge。Bewareofher，andallherworks。

Shecallsthemworksofcharity；butheavenknowswhethertheyare。Itdon’tstandtoreasonthatshegivesthepoorALLthemoneyshegetsoutofpeople。

Ihavemyownbelief"——hegaveitinawhisperforthewholetabletohear——"thatshespendsitforchampagneandcigars。"

Laphamdidnotknowaboutthatkindoftalking；butMissKingsburyseemedtoenjoythefunasmuchasanybody，andhelaughedwiththerest。

"Youshallbeaskedtotheverynextdebauchofthecommittee，Mr。Corey；thenyouwon’tdareexposeus，"

saidMissKingsbury。

"Iwonderyouhaven’tbeendownuponCoreytogototheChardonStreethomeandtalkwithyourindigentItaliansintheirnativetongue，"saidCharlesBellingham。

"IsawintheTranscripttheothernightthatyouwantedsomeoneforthework。"

"WedidthinkofMr。Corey，"repliedMissKingsbury；

"butwereflectedthatheprobablywouldn’ttalkwiththematall；hewouldmakethemkeepstilltobesketched，andforgetallabouttheirwants。"

UponthetheorythatthiswasafairreturnforCorey’spleasantry，theotherslaughedagain。

"Thereisonecharity，"saidCorey，pretendingsuperioritytoMissKingsbury’spoint，"thatissodifficult，Iwonderithasn’toccurredtoaladyofyourcourageousinvention。"

"Yes？"saidMissKingsbury。"Whatisthat？"

"Theoccupation，bydeservingpoorofneathabits，ofallthebeautiful，airy，wholesomehousesthatstandemptythewholesummerlong，whiletheirownersareawayintheirlowlycotsbesidethesea。"

"Yes，thatisterrible，"repliedMissKingsbury，withquickearnestness，whilehereyesgrewmoist。

"Ihaveoftenthoughtofourgreat，coolhousesstandinguselesshere，andthethousandsofpoorcreaturesstiflingintheirholesanddens，andthelittlechildrendyingforwholesomeshelter。Howcruellyselfishweare！"

"Thatisaverycomfortablesentiment，MissKingsbury，"

saidCorey，"andmustmakeyoufeelalmostasifyouhadthrownopenNo。31tothewholeNorthEnd。

ButIamseriousaboutthismatter。Ispendmysummersintown，andIoccupymyownhouse，sothatIcanspeakimpartiallyandintelligently；andItellyouthatinsomeofmywalksontheHillanddownontheBackBay，nothingbutthesurveillanceofthelocalpolicemanpreventsmyofferingpersonalviolencetothoselongrowsofclose—shuttered，handsome，brutallyinsensiblehouses。

IfIwereapoorman，withasickchildpininginsomegarretorcellarattheNorthEnd，Ishouldbreakintooneofthem，andcampoutonthegrandpiano。"

"Surely，Bromfield，"saidhiswife，"youdon’tconsiderwhathavocsuchpeoplewouldmakewiththefurnitureofanicehouse！"

"Thatistrue，"answeredCorey，withmeekconviction。

"Ineverthoughtofthat。"

"Andifyouwereapoormanwithasickchild，Idoubtifyou’dhavesomuchheartforburglaryasyouhavenow，"

saidJamesBellingham。

"It’swonderfulhowpatienttheyare，"saidtheminister。

"Thespectacleofthehopelesscomfortthehard—workingpoormanseesmustbehardtobear。"

Laphamwantedtospeakupandsaythathehadbeentherehimself，andknewhowsuchamanfelt。Hewantedtotellthemthatgenerallyapoormanwassatisfiedifhecouldmakebothendsmeet；thathedidn’tenvyanyonehisgoodluck，ifhehadearnedit，solongashewasn’trunningunderhimself。Butbeforehecouldgetthecouragetoaddressthewholetable，Sewelladded，"Isupposehedon’talwaysthinkofit。"

"ButsomedayheWILLthinkaboutit，"saidCorey。

"Infact，weratherinvitehimtothinkaboutit，inthiscountry。"

"Mybrother—in—law，"saidCharlesBellingham，withtheprideamanfeelsinamentionablyremarkablebrother—in—law，"hasnoendoffellowsatworkunderhimoutthereatOmaha，andhesaysit’sthefellowsfromcountrieswherethey’vebeenkeptfromthinkingaboutitthatarediscontented。

TheAmericansnevermakeanytrouble。Theyseemtounderstandthatsolongaswegiveunlimitedopportunity，nobodyhasarighttocomplain。"

"WhatdoyouhearfromLeslie？"askedMrs。Corey，turningfromtheseprofitlessabstractionstoMrs。Bellingham。

"Youknow，"saidthatladyinalowertone，"thatthereisanotherbaby？"

"No！Ihadn’theardofit！"