第17章

"Yes；aboy。Theyhavenamedhimafterhisuncle。"

"Yes，"saidCharlesBellingham，joiningin。"Heissaidtobeanobleboy，andtoresembleme。"

"Allboysofthattenderagearenoble，"saidCorey，"andlooklikeanybodyyouwishthemtoresemble。

IsLesliestillhome—sickforthebean—potsofhernativeBoston？"

"Sheisgettingoverit，Ifancy，"repliedMrs。Bellingham。

"She’sverymuchtakenupwithMr。Blake’senterprises，andleadsaveryexcitinglife。Shesaysshe’slikepeoplewhohavebeenhomefromEuropethreeyears；she’spastthemostpoignantstageofregret，andhasn’treachedthesecond，whentheyfeelthattheymustgoagain。"

LaphamleanedalittletowardMrs。Corey，andsaidofapicturewhichhesawonthewallopposite，"Pictureofyourdaughter，Ipresume？"

"No；mydaughter’sgrandmother。It’saStewartNewton；

hepaintedagreatmanySalembeauties。ShewasaMissPollyBurroughs。MydaughterISlikeher，don’tyouthink？"

TheybothlookedatNannyCoreyandthenattheportrait。

"Thoseprettyold—fashioneddressesarecominginagain。

I’mnotsurprisedyoutookitforher。Theothers"——shereferredtotheotherportraitsmoreorlessdarklingonthewalls——"aremypeople；mostlyCopleys。"

Thesenames，unknowntoLapham，wenttohisheadlikethewinehewasdrinking；theyseemedtocarrylightforthemoment，butafilmofdeeperdarknessfollowed。HeheardCharlesBellinghamtellingfunnystoriestoIreneandtryingtoamusethegirl；shewaslaughing，andseemedveryhappy。

FromtimetotimeBellinghamtookpartinthegeneraltalkbetweenthehostandJamesBellinghamandMissKingsburyandthatminister，Mr。Sewell。Theytalkedofpeoplemostly；

itastonishedLaphamtohearwithwhatfreedomtheytalked。

Theydiscussedthesepersonsunsparingly；JamesBellinghamspokeofamanknowntoLaphamforhisbusinesssuccessandgreatwealthasnotagentleman；hiscousinCharlessaidhewassurprisedthatthefellowhadkeptfrombeinggovernorsolong。

WhenthelatterturnedfromIrenetomakeoneoftheseexcursionsintothegeneraltalk，youngCoreytalkedtoher；

andLaphamcaughtsomewordsfromwhichitseemedthattheywerespeakingofPenelope。Itvexedhimtothinkshehadnotcome；shecouldhavetalkedaswellasanyofthem；

shewasjustasbright；andLaphamwasawarethatIrenewasnotasbright，thoughwhenhelookedatherface，triumphantinitsyoungbeautyandfondness，hesaidtohimselfthatitdidnotmakeanydifference。Hefeltthathewasnotholdinguphisendoftheline，however。Whensomeonespoketohimhecouldonlysummonafewwordsofreply，thatseemedtoleadtonothing；thingsoftencameintohismindappropriatetowhattheyweresaying，butbeforehecouldgetthemouttheywereoffonsomethingelse；

theyjumpedaboutso，hecouldnotkeepup；buthefelt，allthesame，thathewasnotdoinghimselfjustice。

AtonetimethetalkranoffuponasubjectthatLaphamhadneverheardtalkedofbefore；butagainhewasvexedthatPenelopewasnotthere，tohavehersay；hebelievedthathersaywouldhavebeenworthhearing。

MissKingsburyleanedforwardandaskedCharlesBellinghamifhehadreadTears，IdleTears，thenovelthatwasmakingsuchasensation；andwhenhesaidno，shesaidshewonderedathim。"It’sperfectlyheart—breaking，asyou’llimaginefromthename；butthere’ssuchadearold—fashionedheroandheroineinit，whokeepdyingforeachotherallthewaythrough，andmakingthemostwildlysatisfactoryandunnecessarysacrificesforeachother。

Youfeelasifyou’ddonethemyourself。"

"Ah，that’sthesecretofitssuccess，"saidBromfieldCorey。

"Itflattersthereaderbypaintingthecharacterscolossal，butwithhislimpandstoop，sothathefeelshimselfoftheirsupernaturalproportions。You’vereadit，Nanny？"

"Yes，"saidhisdaughter。"ItoughttohavebeencalledSlop，SillySlop。"

"Oh，notquiteSLOP，Nanny，"pleadedMissKingsbury。

"It’sastonishing，"saidCharlesBellingham，"howwedolikethebooksthatgoforourheart—strings。AndI

reallysupposethatyoucan’tputamorepopularthingthanself—sacrificeintoanovel。Wedoliketoseepeoplesufferingsublimely。"

"Therewastalksomeyearsago，"saidJamesBellingham，"aboutnovelsgoingout。""They’rejustcomingin！"

criedMissKingsbury。

"Yes，"saidMr。Sewell，theminister。"AndIdon’tthinkthereeverwasatimewhentheyformedthewholeintellectualexperienceofmorepeople。Theydogreatermischiefthanever。"

"Don’tbeenvious，parson，"saidthehost。

"No，"answeredSewell。"Ishouldbegladoftheirhelp。

Butthosenovelswithold—fashionedheroesandheroinesinthem——excuseme，MissKingsbury——areruinous！"

"Don’tyoufeellikeamoralwreck，MissKingsbury？"

askedthehost。

ButSewellwenton："Thenovelistsmightbethegreatestpossiblehelptousiftheypaintedlifeasitis，andhumanfeelingsintheirtrueproportionandrelation，butforthemostparttheyhavebeenandarealtogethernoxious。"

ThisseemedsensetoLapham；butBromfieldCoreyasked：

"Butwhatiflifeasitisisn’tamusing？Aren’twetobeamused？"

"Nottoourhurt，"sturdilyansweredtheminister。

"Andtheself—sacrificepaintedinmostnovelslikethis————"

"Slop，SillySlop？"suggestedtheproudfatheroftheinventorofthephrase。

"Yes——isnothingbutpsychicalsuicide，andisaswhollyimmoralasthespectacleofamanfallinguponhissword。"

"Well，Idon’tknowbutyou’reright，parson，"saidthehost；

andtheminister，whohadapparentlygotuponabattle—horseofhis，careeredonwardinspiteofsometacitattemptsofhiswifetoseizethebridle。

"Right？TobesureIamright。Thewholebusinessoflove，andlove—makingandmarrying，ispaintedbythenovelistsinamonstrousdisproportiontotheotherrelationsoflife。

Loveisverysweet，verypretty————"

"Oh，THANKyou，Mr。Sewell，"saidNannyCorey，inawaythatsetthemalllaughing。

"Butit’stheaffair，commonly，ofveryyoungpeople，whohavenotyetcharacterandexperienceenoughtomaketheminteresting。Innovelsit’streated，notonlyasifitwerethechiefinterestoflife，butthesoleinterestofthelivesoftworidiculousyoungpersons；

anditistaughtthatloveisperpetual，thattheglowofatruepassionlastsforever；andthatitissacrilegetothinkoractotherwise。""Well，butisn’tthattrue，Mr。Sewell？"pleadedMissKingsbury。

"Ihaveknownsomemostestimablepeoplewhohadmarriedasecondtime，"saidtheminister，andthenhehadtheapplausewithhim。Laphamwantedtomakesomeopenrecognitionofhisgoodsense，butcouldnot。

"Isupposethepassionitselfhasbeenagooddealchanged，"

saidBromfieldCorey，"sincethepoetsbegantoidealiseitinthedaysofchivalry。"

"Yes；anditoughttobechangedagain，"saidMr。Sewell。

"What！Back？"

"Idon’tsaythat。Butitoughttoberecognisedassomethingnaturalandmortal，anddivinehonours，whichbelongtorighteousnessalone，oughtnottobepaidit。"

"Oh，youasktoomuch，parson，"laughedhishost，andthetalkwanderedawaytosomethingelse。

Itwasnotanelaboratedinner；butLaphamwasusedtohavingeverythingonthetableatonce，andthissuccessionofdishesbewilderedhim；hewasafraidperhapshewaseatingtoomuch。Henownolongermadeanypretenceofnotdrinkinghiswine，forhewasthirsty，andtherewasnomorewater，andhehatedtoaskforany。Theice—creamcame，andthenthefruit。

SuddenlyMrs。Coreyrose，andsaidacrossthetabletoherhusband，"Isupposeyouwillwantyourcoffeehere。"

Andhereplied，"Yes；we’lljoinyouattea。"

Theladiesallrose，andthegentlemengotupwiththem。

LaphamstartedtofollowMrs。Corey，buttheothermenmerelystoodintheirplaces，exceptyoungCorey，whoranandopenedthedoorforhismother。Laphamthoughtwithshamethatitwashewhooughttohavedonethat；

butnooneseemedtonotice，andhesatdownagaingladly，afterkickingoutoneofhislegswhichhadgonetosleep。

Theybroughtincigarswithcoffee，andBromfieldCoreyadvisedLaphamtotakeonethathechoseforhim。

Laphamconfessedthathelikedagoodcigaraboutaswellasanybody，andCoreysaid："Thesearenew。

IhadanEnglishmanheretheotherdaywhowassmokingoldcigarsinthesuperstitionthattobaccoimprovedwithage，likewine。"

"Ah，"saidLapham，"anybodywhohadeverlivedoffatobaccocountrycouldtellhimbetterthanthat。"

Withthefumingcigarbetweenhislipshefeltmoreathomethanhehadbefore。Heturnedsidewiseinhischairand，restingonearmontheback，intertwinedthefingersofbothhands，andsmokedatlargeease。JamesBellinghamcameandsatdownbyhim。"ColonelLapham，weren’tyouwiththe96thVermontwhentheychargedacrosstheriverinfrontofPickensburg，andtherebelbatteryopenedfireontheminthewater？"

Laphamslowlyshuthiseyesandslowlydroppedhisheadforassent，lettingoutawhitevolumeofsmokefromthecornerofhismouth。

"Ithoughtso，"saidBellingham。"Iwaswiththe85thMassachusetts，andIsha’n’tforgetthatslaughter。

Wewereallnewtoitstill。Perhapsthat’swhyitmadesuchanimpression。"

"Idon’tknow，"suggestedCharlesBellingham。"Wasthereanythingmuchmoreimpressiveafterward？IreadofitoutinMissouri，whereIwasstationedatthetime，andIrecollectthetalkofsomeoldarmymenaboutit。

Theysaidthatdeath—ratecouldn’tbebeaten。Idon’tknowthatiteverwas。"

"Aboutoneinfiveofusgotoutsafe，"saidLapham，breakinghiscigar—ashoffontheedgeofaplate。

JamesBellinghamreachedhimabottleofApollinaris。

Hedrankaglass，andthenwentonsmoking。

Theyallwaited，asifexpectinghimtospeak，andthenCoreysaid："Howincrediblethosethingsseemalready！

YougentlemenKNOWthattheyhappened；butareyoustillabletobelieveit？"

"Ah，nobodyFEELSthatanythinghappened，"saidCharlesBellingham。"Thepastofone’sexperiencedoesn’tdifferagreatdealfromthepastofone’sknowledge。

Itisn’tmuchmoreprobable；it’sreallyagreatdeallessvividthansomescenesinanovelthatonereadwhenaboy。"

"I’mnotsureofthat，"saidJamesBellingham。

"Well，James，neitheramI，"consentedhiscousin，helpinghimselffromLapham’sApollinarisbottle。

"Therewouldbeverylittletalkingatdinnerifoneonlysaidthethingsthatonewassureof。"

Theotherslaughed，andBromfieldCoreyremarkedthoughtfully，"Whatastonishesthecravencivilianinallthesethingsistheabundance——thesuperabundance——ofheroism。

Thecowardsweretheexception；thementhatwerereadytodie，therule。"

"Thewoodswerefullofthem，"saidLapham，withouttakinghiscigarfromhismouth。

"That’sanicelittletouchinSchool，"interposedCharlesBellingham，"wherethegirlsaystothefellowwhowasatInkerman，’Ishouldthinkyouwouldbesoproudofit，’

andhereflectsawhile，andsays，’Well，thefactis，youknow，thereweresomanyofus。’"

"Yes，Irememberthat，"saidJamesBellingham，smilingforpleasureinit。"ButIdon’tseewhyyouclaimthecreditofbeingacravencivilian，Bromfield，"

headded，withafriendlyglanceathisbrother—in—law，andwiththewillingnessBostonmenoftenshowtoturnoneanother’sgoodpointstothelightincompany；

bredsointimatelytogetheratschoolandcollegeandinsociety，theyallknowthesepoints。"AmanwhowasoutwithGaribaldiin’48，"continuedJamesBellingham。

"Oh，alittleamateurred—shirting，"Coreyinterruptedindeprecation。"Butevenifyouchoosetodisputemyclaim，whathasbecomeofalltheheroism？Tom，howmanyclubmendoyouknowwhowouldthinkitsweetandfittingtodiefortheircountry？"

"Ican’tthinkofagreatmanyatthemoment，sir，"

repliedtheson，withthemodestyofhisgeneration。

"AndIcouldn’tin’61，"saidhisuncle。"Neverthelesstheywerethere。"

"Thenyourtheoryisthatit’stheoccasionthatiswanting，"

saidBromfieldCorey。"Butwhyshouldn’tcivilservicereform，andtheresumptionofspeciepayment，andatariffforrevenueonly，inspireheroes？Theyareallgoodcauses。"

"It’stheoccasionthat’swanting，"saidJamesBellingham，ignoringthepersiflage。"AndI’mverygladofit。"

"SoamI，"saidLapham，withadepthoffeelingthatexpresseditselfinspiteofthehazeinwhichhisbrainseemedtofloat。Therewasagreatdealofthetalkthathecouldnotfollow；itwastooquickforhim；

butherewassomethinghewasclearof。"Idon’twanttoseeanymoremenkilledinmytime。"Somethingserious，somethingsombremustlurkbehindthesewords，andtheywaitedforLaphamtosaymore；butthehazeclosedroundhimagain，andheremainedsilent，drinkingApollinaris。

"Wenon—combatantswerenotoriouslyreluctanttogiveupfighting，"saidMr。Sewell，theminister；"butIinclinetothinkColonelLaphamandMr。Bellinghammayberight。

Idaresayweshallhavetheheroismagainifwehavetheoccasion。Tillitcomes，wemustcontentourselveswiththeevery—daygenerositiesandsacrifices。Theymakeupinquantitywhattheylackinquality，perhaps。"

"They’renotsopicturesque，"saidBromfieldCorey。

"Youcanpaintamandyingforhiscountry，butyoucan’texpressoncanvasamanfulfillingthedutiesofagoodcitizen。"

"Perhapsthenovelistswillgetathimbyandby，"

suggestedCharlesBellingham。"IfIwereoneofthesefellows，Ishouldn’tproposetomyselfanythingshortofthat。"

"What？thecommonplace？"askedhiscousin。

"Commonplace？Thecommonplaceisjustthatlight，impalpable，aerialessencewhichthey’venevergotintotheirconfoundedbooksyet。Thenovelistwhocouldinterpretthecommonfeelingsofcommonplacepeoplewouldhavetheanswerto’theriddleofthepainfulearth’onhistongue。"

"Oh，notsobadasthat，Ihope，"saidthehost；

andLaphamlookedfromonetotheother，tryingtomakeoutwhattheywereat。Hehadneverbeensoupatreebefore。

"Isupposeitisn’twellforustoseehumannatureatwhiteheathabitually，"continuedBromfieldCorey，afterawhile。"Itwouldmakeusvainofourspecies。

Manyapoorfellowinthatwarandinmanyanotherhasgoneintobattlesimplyandpurelyforhiscountry’ssake，notknowingwhether，ifhelaiddownhislife，heshouldeverfinditagain，orwhether，ifhetookituphereafter，heshouldtakeitupinheavenorhell。Come，parson！"

hesaid，turningtotheminister，"whathaseverbeenconceivedofomnipotence，ofomniscience，sosublime，sodivineasthat？"

"Nothing，"answeredtheministerquietly。"Godhasneverbeenimaginedatall。ButifyousupposesuchamanasthatwasAuthorised，IthinkitwillhelpyoutoimaginewhatGodmustbe。"

"There’ssenseinthat，"saidLapham。Hetookhiscigaroutofhismouth，andpulledhischairalittletowardthetable，onwhichheplacedhisponderousfore—arms。

"IwanttotellyouaboutafellowIhadinmyowncompanywhenwefirstwentout。Wewereallprivatestobeginwith；afterawhiletheyelectedmecaptain——I’dhadthetavernstand，andmostof’emknewme。ButJimMillonnevergottobeanythingmorethancorporal；

corporalwhenhewaskilled。"Theothersarrestedthemselvesinvariousattitudesofattention，andremainedlisteningtoLaphamwithaninterestthatprofoundlyflatteredhim。

Now，atlast，hefeltthathewasholdinguphisendoftherope。"Ican’tsayhewentintothethingfromthehighestmotives，altogether；ourmotivesarealwaysprettybadlymixed，andwhenthere’ssuchahurrah—boysastherewasthen，youcan’ttellwhichiswhich。

IsupposeJimMillon’swifewasenoughtoaccountforhisgoing，herself。Shewasaprettybadassortment，"

saidLapham，loweringhisvoiceandglancingroundatthedoortomakesurethatitwasshut，"andsheusedtoleadJimONEkindoflife。Well，sir，"continuedLapham，synthetisinghisauditorsinthatformofaddress，"thatfellowusedtosaveeverycentofhispayandsendittothatwoman。Usedtogetmetodoitforhim。

Itriedtostophim。’Why，Jim，’saidI，’youknowwhatshe’lldowithit。’’That’sso，Cap，’sayshe，’butIdon’tknowwhatshe’lldowithoutit。’Anditdidkeepherstraight——straightasastring——aslongasJimlasted。Seemedasittherewassomethingmysteriousaboutit。Theyhadalittlegirl，——aboutasoldasmyoldestgirl，——andJimusedtotalktomeabouther。

Guesshedoneitasmuchforherasforthemother；

andhesaidtomebeforethelastactionwewentinto，’Ishouldliketoturntailandrun，Cap。Iain’tcomin’

outo’thisone。ButIdon’tsupposeitwoulddo。’

’Well，notforyou，Jim，’saidI。’Iwanttolive，’

hesays；andhebustoutcryingrightthereinmytent。

’IwanttoliveforpoorMollyandZerrilla’——that’swhattheycalledthelittleone；Idunnowheretheygotthename。

’Iain’teverhadhalfachance；andnowshe’sdoingbetter，andIbelieveweshouldgetalongafterthis。’Hesettherecryin’likeababy。Buthewa’n’tnobabywhenhewentintoaction。Ihatedtolookathimafteritwasover，notsomuchbecausehe’dgotaballthatwasmeantformebyasharpshooter——hesawthedeviltakin’aim，andhejumpedtowarnme——asbecausehedidn’tlooklikeJim；

helookedlike——fun；alldesperateandsavage。Iguesshediedhard。"

Thestorymadeitsimpression，andLaphamsawit。

"NowIsay，"heresumed，asifhefeltthathewasgoingtodohimselfjustice，andsaysomethingtoheightentheeffecthisstoryhadproduced。Atthesametimehewasawareofacertainwantofclearness。Hehadtheidea，butitfloatedvague，elusive，inhisbrain。

Helookedaboutasifforsomethingtoprecipitateitintangibleshape。

"Apollinaris？"askedCharlesBellingham，handingthebottlefromtheotherside。HehaddrawnhischaircloserthantheresttoLapham’s，andwaslisteningwithgreatinterest。

WhenMrs。CoreyaskedhimtomeetLapham，heacceptedgladly。

"YouknowIgoinforthatsortofthing，Anna。

SinceLeslie’saffairwe’reratherboundtodoit。

AndIthinkwemeetthesepracticalfellowstoolittle。

There’salwayssomethingoriginalaboutthem。"Hemightnaturallyhavebelievedthattherewardofhisfaithwascoming。

"Thanks，Iwilltakesomeofthiswine，"saidLapham，pouringhimselfaglassofMadeirafromablackanddustybottlecaressedbyalabelbearingthedateofthevintage。

Hetossedoffthewine，unconsciousofitspreciousness，andwaitedfortheresult。Thatcloudinessinhisbraindisappearedbeforeit，butamereblankremained。

Henotonlycouldnotrememberwhathewasgoingtosay，buthecouldnotrecallwhattheyhadbeentalkingabout。

Theywaited，lookingathim，andhestaredattheminreturn。

Afterawhileheheardthehostsaying，"Shallwejointheladies？"

Laphamwent，tryingtothinkwhathadhappened。

Itseemedtohimalongtimesincehehaddrunkthatwine。

MissCoreygavehimacupoftea，wherehestoodalooffromhiswife，whowastalkingwithMissKingsburyandMrs。Sewell；

IrenewaswithMissNannyCorey。Hecouldnothearwhattheyweretalkingabout；butifPenelopehadcome，heknewthatshewouldhavedonethemallcredit。Hemeanttoletherknowhowhefeltaboutherbehaviourwhenhegothome。Itwasashameforhertomisssuchachance。

Irenewaslookingbeautiful，asprettyasalltherestofthemputtogether，butshewasnottalking，andLaphamperceivedthatatadinner—partyyououghttotalk。

Hewashimselfconsciousofhaving，talkedverywell。

Henowworeanairofgreatdignity，and，inconversingwiththeothergentlemen，heusedagraveandweightydeliberation。Someofthemwantedhimtogointothelibrary。Therehegavehisideasofbooks。

Hesaidhehadnotmuchtimeforanythingbutthepapers；

buthewasgoingtohaveacompletelibraryinhisnewplace。

HemadeanelaborateacknowledgmenttoBromfieldCoreyofhisson’skindnessinsuggestingbooksforhislibrary；

hesaidthathehadorderedthemall，andthathemeanttohavepictures。HeaskedMr。CoreywhowasaboutthebestAmericanpaintergoingnow。"Idon’tsetuptobeajudgeofpictures，butIknowwhatIlike，"hesaid。

Helostthereservewhichhehadmaintainedearlier，andbegantoboast。Hehimselfintroducedthesubjectofhispaint，inanaturaltransitionfrompictures；

hesaidMr。CoreymusttakearunuptoLaphamwithhimsomeday，andseetheWorks；theywouldinteresthim，andhewoulddrivehimroundthecountry；hekeptmostofhishorsesupthere，andhecouldshowMr。CoreysomeofthefinestJerseygradesinthecountry。

HetoldabouthisbrotherWilliam，thejudgeatDubuque；

andafarmhehadouttherethatpaidforitselfeveryyearinwheat。Ashecastoffallfear，hisvoicerose，andhehammeredhisarm—chairwiththethickofhishandforemphasis。Mr。Coreyseemedimpressed；hesatperfectlyquiet，listening，andLaphamsawtheothergentlemenstopintheirtalkeverynowandthentolisten。

Afterthisproofofhisabilitytointerestthem，hewouldhavelikedtohaveMrs。Laphamsuggestagainthathewasunequaltotheirsociety，ortothesocietyofanybodyelse。Hesurprisedhimselfbyhiseaseamongmenwhosenameshadhithertooverawedhim。

HegottocallingBromfieldCoreybyhissurnamealone。

HedidnotunderstandwhyyoungCoreyseemedsopreoccupied，andhetookoccasiontotellthecompanyhowhehadsaidtohiswifethefirsttimehesawthatfellowthathecouldmakeamanofhimifhehadhiminthebusiness；

andheguessedhewasnotmistaken。Hebegantotellstoriesofthedifferentyoungmenhehadhadinhisemploy。Atlasthehadthetalkaltogethertohimself；nooneelsetalked，andhetalkedunceasingly。Itwasagreattime；itwasatriumph。

HewasinthissuccessfulmoodwhenwordcametohimthatMrs。Laphamwasgoing；TomCoreyseemedtohavebroughtit，buthewasnotsure。Anyway，hewasnotgoingtohurry。

Hemadecordialinvitationstoeachofthegentlementodropinandseehimathisoffice，andwouldnotbesatisfiedtillhehadexactedapromisefromeach。

HetoldCharlesBellinghamthathelikedhim，andassuredJamesBellinghamthatithadalwaysbeenhisambitiontoknowhim，andthatifanyonehadsaidwhenhefirstcametoBostonthatinlessthantenyearsheshouldbehobnobbingwithJimBellingham，heshouldhavetoldthatpersonhelied。HewouldhavetoldanybodyheliedthathadtoldhimtenyearsagothatasonofBromfieldCoreywouldhavecomeandaskedhimtotakehimintothebusiness。Tenyearsagohe，SilasLapham，hadcometoBostonalittleworseoffthannothingatall，forhewasindebtforhalfthemoneythathehadboughtouthispartnerwith，andherehewasnowworthamillion，andmeetingyougentlemenlikeoneofyou。Andeverycentofthatwashonestmoney，——nospeculation，——everycopperofitforvaluereceived。Andhere，onlytheotherday，hisoldpartner，whohadbeengoingtothedogseversincehewentoutofthebusiness，cameandborrowedtwentythousanddollarsofhim！Laphamlentitbecausehiswifewantedhimto：shehadalwaysfeltbadaboutthefellow’shavingtogooutofthebusiness。

HetookleaveofMr。Sewellwithpatronisingaffection，andbadehimcometohimifheevergotintoatightplacewithhisparishwork；hewouldlethimhaveallthemoneyhewanted；hehadmoremoneythanheknewwhattodowith。

"Why，whenyourwifesenttominelastfall，"hesaid，turningtoMr。Corey，"Idrewmychequeforfivehundreddollars，butmywifewouldn’ttakemorethanonehundred；

saidshewasn’tgoingtoshowoffbeforeMrs。Corey。

IcallthataprettygoodjokeonMrs。Corey。ImusttellherhowMrs。Laphamdoneheroutofacoolfourhundreddollars。"

Hestartedtowardthedoorofthedrawing—roomtotakeleaveoftheladies；butTomCoreywasathiselbow，saying，"IthinkMrs。Laphamiswaitingforyoubelow，sir，"andinobeyingthedirectionCoreygavehimtowardanotherdoorheforgotallabouthispurpose，andcameawaywithoutsayinggood—nighttohishostess。

Mrs。Laphamhadnotknownhowsoonsheoughttogo，andhadnoideathatinherqualityofchiefguestshewaskeepingtheothers。Shestayedtilleleveno’clock，andwasalittlefrightenedwhenshefoundwhattimeitwas；

butMrs。Corey，withoutpressinghertostaylonger，hadsaiditwasnotatalllate。SheandIrenehadhadaperfecttime。Everybodyhadbeenverypolite，onthewayhometheycelebratedtheamiabilityofboththeMissCoreysandofMissKingsbury。Mrs。LaphamthoughtthatMrs。Bellinghamwasaboutthepleasantestpersonsheeversaw；shehadtoldherallabouthermarrieddaughterwhohadmarriedaninventorandgonetoliveinOmaha——aMrs。Blake。

"Ifit’sthatcar—wheelBlake，"saidLaphamproudly，"Iknowallabouthim。I’vesoldhimtonsofthepaint。"

"Pooh，papa！Howyoudosmellofsmoking！"criedIrene。

"Prettystrong，eh？"laughedLapham，lettingdownawindowofthecarriage。Hisheartwasthrobbingwildlyinthecloseair，andhewasgladoftherushofcoldthatcamein，thoughitstoppedhistongue，andhelistenedmoreandmoredrowsilytotherejoicingsthathiswifeanddaughterexchanged。HemeanttohavethemwakePenelopeupandtellherwhatshehadlost；

butwhenhereachedhomehewastoosleepytosuggestit。

Hefellasleepassoonashisheadtouchedthepillow，fullofsupremetriumph。

Butinthemorninghisskullwassorewiththeunconscious，night—longache；andherosecrossandtaciturn。

Theyhadasilentbreakfast。Inthecoldgreylightofthemorningthegloriesofthenightbeforeshowedpoorer。

Hereandthereapainfuldoubtobtrudeditselfandmarredthemwithitsawkwardshadow。Penelopesentdownwordthatshewasnotwell，andwasnotcomingtobreakfast，andLaphamwasgladtogotohisofficewithoutseeingher。

Hewassevereandsilentalldaywithhisclerks，andperemptorywithcustomers。OfCoreyhewasslylyobservant，andasthedayworeawayhegrewmorerestivelyconscious。