It’sourlatestthing，andwefindittakeswithcustomersfirst—rate。Lookhere！"hesaid，takingdownoneofthejars，andpointingtothefirstlineofthelabel。
　　Bartleyread，"THEPERSISBRAND，"andthenhelookedatLaphamandsmiled。
　　"AfterHER，ofcourse，"saidLapham。"Gotitupandputthefirstofitonthemarketherlastbirthday。
　　Shewaspleased。"
　　"Ishouldthinkshemighthavebeen，"saidBartley，whilehemadeanoteoftheappearanceofthejars。
　　"Idon’tknowaboutyourmentioningitinyourinterview，"
　　saidLaphamdubiously。
　　"That’sgoingintotheinterview，Mr。Lapham，ifnothingelsedoes。Gotawifemyself，andIknowjusthowyoufeel。"
　　ItwasinthedawnofBartley’sprosperityontheBostonEvents，beforehistroubleswithMarciahadseriouslybegun。
　　"Isthatso？"saidLapham，recognisingwithasmileanotherofthevastmajorityofmarriedAmericans；
　　afewunderratetheirwives，buttherestthinkthemsupernalinintelligenceandcapability。"Well，"headded，"wemustseeaboutthat。Where’dyousayyoulived？"
　　"Wedon’tlive；weboard。Mrs。Nash，13CanaryPlace。"
　　"Well，we’veallgottocommencethatway，"
　　suggestedLaphamconsolingly。
　　"Yes；butwe’veaboutgottotheendofourstring。
　　IexpecttobeunderaroofofmyownonCloverStreetbeforelong。Isuppose，"saidBartley，returningtobusiness，"thatyoudidn’tletthegrassgrowunderyourfeetmuchafteryoufoundoutwhatwasinyourpaint—mine？"
　　"No，sir，"answeredLapham，withdrawinghiseyesfromalongstareatBartley，inwhichhehadbeenseeinghimselfayoungmanagain，inthefirstdaysofhismarriedlife。
　　"IwentrightbacktoLumbervilleandsoldouteverything，andputallIcouldrakeandscrapetogetherintopaint。
　　AndMis’Laphamwaswithmeeverytime。NohangbackaboutHER。ItellyoushewasaWOMAN！"
　　Bartleylaughed。"That’sthesortmostofusmarry。"
　　"No，wedon’t，"saidLapham。"MostofusmarrysillylittlegirlsgrownuptoLOOKlikewomen。"
　　"Well，Iguessthat’saboutso，"assentedBartley，asifuponsecondthought。
　　"Ifithadn’tbeenforher，"resumedLapham，"thepaintwouldn’thavecometoanything。Iusedtotellheritwa’n’ttheseventy—fivepercent。ofpurr—ox—eyedofironintheOREthatmadethatpaintgo；itwastheseventy—fivepercent。ofpurr—ox—eyedofironinHER。"
　　"Good！"criedBartley。"I’lltellMarciathat。"
　　"Inless’nsixmonthstherewa’n’taboard—fence，norabridge—girder，noradeadwall，norabarn，norafaceofrockinthatwholeregionthatdidn’thave’Lapham’sMineralPaint——Specimen’onitinthethreecolourswebegunbymaking。"Bartleyhadtakenhisseatonthewindow—sill，andLapham，standingbeforehim，nowputuphishugefootclosetoBartley’sthigh；neitherofthemmindedthat。
　　"I’veheardagooddealoftalkaboutthatS。T。——1860——
　　X。man，andthestove—blackingman，andthekidney—cureman，becausetheyadvertisedinthatway；andI’vereadarticlesaboutitinthepapers；butIdon’tseewherethejokecomesin，exactly。Solongasthepeoplethatownthebarnsandfencesdon’tobject，Idon’tseewhatthepublichasgottodowithit。AndIneversawanythingsoverysacredaboutabigrock，alongariverorinapasture，thatitwouldn’tdotoputmineralpaintonitinthreecolours。
　　Iwishsomeofthepeoplethattalkaboutthelandscape，andWRITEaboutit，hadtobu’stoneofthemrocksOUT
　　ofthelandscapewithpowder，ordigaholetoburyitin，asweusedtohavetodouponthefarm；Iguessthey’dsingalittledifferenttuneabouttheprofanationofscenery。Thereain’tanymanenjoysasightlybitofnature——asmoothpieceofintervalwithhalfadozengood—sizedwine—glasselmsinit——morethanIdo。
　　ButIain’ta—goingtostandupforeverybiguglyrockIcomeacross，asifwewereallasetofdumnDruids。
　　Isaythelandscapewasmadeforman，andnotmanforthelandscape。"
　　"Yes，"saidBartleycarelessly；"itwasmadeforthestove—polishmanandthekidney—cureman。"
　　"Itwasmadeforanymanthatknowshowtouseit，"
　　Laphamreturned，insensibletoBartley’sirony。
　　"Let’emgoandlivewithnatureintheWINTER，uptherealongtheCanadaline，andIguessthey’llgetenoughofherforonewhile。Well——wherewasI？"
　　"Decoratingthelandscape，"saidBartley。
　　"Yes，sir；IstartedrightthereatLumberville，anditgivetheplaceastarttoo。Youwon’tfinditonthemapnow；andyouwon’tfinditinthegazetteer。
　　Igiveaprettygoodlumpofmoneytobuildatown—hall，aboutfiveyearsback，andthefirstmeetingtheyheldinittheyvotedtochangethename，——LumbervilleWA’N’T
　　aname，——andit’sLaphamnow。"
　　"Isn’titsomewhereupinthatregionthattheygettheoldBrandonred？"askedBartley。
　　"We’reaboutninetymilesfromBrandon。TheBrandon’sagoodpaint，"saidLaphamconscientiously。"Liketoshowyouroundupatourplacesomeoddtime，ifyougetoff。"
　　"Thanks。Ishouldlikeitfirst—rate。WORKSthere？"
　　"Yes；worksthere。Well，sir，justaboutthetimeI
　　gotstarted，thewarbrokeout；anditknockedmypainthigherthanakite。Thethingdroppedperfectlydead。
　　IpresumethatifI’dhadanysortofinfluence，ImighthavegotitintoGovernmenthands，forgun—carriagesandarmywagons，andmaybeonboardGovernmentvessels。
　　ButIhadn’t，andwehadtofacethemusic。Iwasaboutbroken—hearted，butm’wifeshelookedatitanotherway。
　　’Iguessit’saprovidence，’saysshe。’Silas，Iguessyou’vegotacountrythat’sworthfightingfor。Anyrate，youbettergooutandgiveitachance。’Well，sir，Iwent。
　　Iknewshemeantbusiness。Itmightkillhertohavemego，butitwouldkillhersureifIstayed。
　　Shewasoneofthatkind。Iwent。Herlastwordswas，’I’lllookafterthepaint，Si。’Wehadn’tbutjustonelittlegirlthen，——boy’ddied，——andMis’Lapham’smotherwaslivin’withus；andIknewiftimesDIDanywayscomeupagain，m’wife’dknowjustwhattodo。SoIwent。
　　Igotthrough；andyoucancallmeColonel，ifyouwantto。
　　Feelthere！"LaphamtookBartley’sthumbandforefingerandputthemonabunchinhisleg，justabovetheknee。
　　"Anythinghard？"
　　"Ball？"
　　Laphamnodded。"Gettysburg。That’smythermometer。
　　Ifitwa’n’tforthat，Ishouldn’tknowenoughtocomeinwhenitrains。"
　　Bartleylaughedatajokewhichbetrayedsomeevidencesofwear。"Andwhenyoucameback，youtookholdofthepaintandrushedit。"
　　"1tookholdofthepaintandrushedit——allIcould，"
　　saidLapham，withlesssatisfactionthanhehadhithertoshowninhisautobiography。"ButIfoundthatIhadgotbacktoanotherworld。Thedayofsmallthingswaspast，andIdon’tsupposeitwillevercomeagaininthiscountry。
　　Mywifewasatmeallthetimetotakeapartner——somebodywithcapital；butIcouldn’tseemtobeartheidea。
　　Thatpaintwaslikemyownbloodtome。Tohaveanybodyelseconcernedinitwaslike——well，Idon’tknowwhat。
　　Isawitwasthethingtodo；butItriedtofightitoff，andItriedtojokeitoff。Iusedtosay，’Whydidn’tyoutakeapartneryourself，Persis，whileIwasaway？’
　　Andshe’dsay，’Well，ifyouhadn’tcomeback，Ishould，Si。’AlwaysDIDlikeajokeaboutaswellasanywomanI
　　eversaw。Well，Ihadtocometoit。Itookapartner。"
　　LaphamdroppedtheboldblueeyeswithwhichhehadbeentillnowstaringintoBartley’sface，andthereporterknewthatherewasaplaceforasterisksinhisinterview，ifinterviewswerefaithful。"Hehadmoneyenough，"
　　continuedLapham，withasuppressedsigh；"buthedidn’tknowanythingaboutpaint。Wehungontogetherforayearortwo。
　　Andthenwequit。"
　　"Andhehadtheexperience，"suggestedBartley，withcompanionableease。
　　"Ihadsomeoftheexperiencetoo，"saidLapham，withascowl；andBartleydivined，throughthefreemasonryofallwhohavesoreplacesintheirmemories，thatthiswasapointwhichhemustnottouchagain。
　　"Andsincethat，Isuppose，you’veplayeditalone。"
　　"I’veplayeditalone。"
　　"Youmustshipsomeofthispaintofyourstoforeigncountries，Colonel？"suggestedBartley，puttingonaprofessionalair。
　　"Weshipittoallpartsoftheworld。ItgoestoSouthAmerica，lotsofit。ItgoestoAustralia，anditgoestoIndia，anditgoestoChina，anditgoestotheCapeofGoodHope。
　　It’llstandanyclimate。Ofcourse，wedon’texportthesefancybrandsmuch。They’reforhomeuse。Butwe’reintroducingthemelsewhere。Here。"Laphampulledopenadrawer，andshowedBartleyalotoflabelsindifferentlanguages——Spanish，French，German，andItalian。
　　"Weexpecttodoagoodbusinessinallthosecountries。
　　We’vegotouragenciesinCadiznow，andinParis，andinHamburg，andinLeghorn。It’sathingthat’sboundtomakeitsway。Yes，sir。Whereveramanhasgotaship，orabridge，oralock，orahouse，oracar，orafence，orapig—penanywhereinGod’suniversetopaint，that’sthepaintforhim，andhe’sboundtofinditoutsoonerorlater。
　　Youpassatonofthatpaintdrythroughablast—furnace，andyou’llgetaquarterofatonofpig—iron。Ibelieveinmypaint。Ibelieveit’sablessingtotheworld。
　　Whenfolkscomein，andkindofsmellround，andaskmewhatImixitwith，Ialwayssay，’Well，inthefirstplace，ImixitwithFAITH，andafterthatIgrinditupwiththebestqualityofboiledlinseedoilthatmoneywillbuy。’"
　　Laphamtookouthiswatchandlookedatit，andBartleyperceivedthathisaudiencewasdrawingtoaclose。
　　"’Fyoueverwanttorundownandtakealookatourworks，passyouovertheroad，"——hecalleditRUD"anditsha’n’tcostyouacent。""Well，maybeIshall，sometime，"saidBartley。
　　"Goodafternoon，Colonel。"
　　"Goodafternoon。Or——holdon！Myhorsedownthereyet，William？"hecalledtotheyoungmaninthecounting—roomwhohadtakenhisletteratthebeginningoftheinterview。
　　"Oh！Allright！"headded，inresponsetosomethingtheyoungmansaid。
　　"Can’tIsetyoudownsomewhere，Mr。Hubbard？I’vegotmyhorseatthedoor，andIcandropyouonmywayhome。
　　I’mgoingtotakeMis’LaphamtolookatahouseI’mdrivingpilesfor，downontheNewLand。"
　　"Don’tcareifIdo，"saidBartley。
　　Laphamputonastrawhat，gatheredupsomepaperslyingonhisdesk，pulleddownitsrollingcover，turnedthekeyinit，andgavethepaperstoanextremelyhandsomeyoungwomanatoneofthedesksintheouteroffice。
　　Shewasstylishlydressed，asBartleysaw，andhersmooth，yellowhairwassculpturesquelywavedoveralow，whiteforehead。"Here，"saidLapham，withthesamepromptgruffkindnessthathehadusedinaddressingtheyoungman，"Iwantyoushouldputtheseinshape，andgivemeatype—writercopyto—morrow。"
　　"Whatanuncommonlyprettygirl！"saidBartley，astheydescendedtheroughstairwayandfoundtheirwayouttothestreet，pastthedanglingropeofablockandtacklewanderingupintothecavernousdarknessoverhead。
　　"Shedoesherwork，"saidLaphamshortly。
　　Bartleymountedtotheleftsideoftheopenbuggystandingatthecurb—stone，andLapham，gatheringupthehitching—weight，sliditunderthebuggy—seatandmountedbesidehim。
　　"Nochancetospeedahorsehere，ofcourse，"saidLapham，whilethehorsewithaspiritedgentlenesspickedherway，withahigh，longaction，overthepavementofthestreet。
　　Thestreetswereallnarrow，andmostofthemcrooked，inthatquarterofthetown；butattheendofonethesparsofavesselpencilledthemselvesdelicatelyagainstthecoolblueoftheafternoonsky。Theairwasfullofasmellpleasantlycompoundedofoakum，ofleather，andofoil。Itwasnotthebusyseason，andtheymetonlytwoorthreetrucksheavilystragglingtowardthewharfwiththeirlongstringteams；butthecobble—stonesofthepavementwerewornwiththedintofponderouswheels，anddiscolouredwithiron—rustfromthem；
　　hereandthere，inwanderingstreaksoveritssurface，wasthegreystainofthesaltwaterwithwhichthestreethadbeensprinkled。
　　Afteranintervalofsomeminutes，whichbothmenspentinlookingroundthedash—boardfromoppositesidestowatchthestrideofthehorse，Bartleysaid，withalightsigh，"IhadacoltoncedowninMainethatsteppedjustlikethatmare。"
　　"Well！"saidLapham，sympatheticallyrecognisingthebondthatthisfactcreatedbetweenthem。"Well，now，Itellyouwhatyoudo。Youletmecomeforyou’mostanyafternoon，now，andtakeyououtovertheMilldam，andspeedthismarealittle。I’dliketoshowyouwhatthismarecando。Yes，Iwould。"
　　"Allright，"answeredBartley；"I’llletyouknowmyfirstdayoff。"
　　"Good，"criedLapham。
　　"Kentucky？"queriedBartley。
　　"No，sir。Idon’tridebehindanythingbutVermont；neverdid。
　　TouchofMorgan，ofcourse；butyoucan’thavemuchMorganinahorseifyouwantspeed。Hambletonianmostly。
　　Where’dyousayyouwantedtogetout？"
　　"IguessyoumayputmedownattheEventsOffice，justroundthecornerhere。I’vegottowriteupthisinterviewwhileit’sfresh。"
　　"Allright，"saidLapham，impersonallyassentingtoBartley’suseofhimasmaterial。
　　HehadnotmuchtocomplainofinBartley’streatment，unlessitwasthestrainofextravagantcomplimentwhichitinvolved。Buttheflatterywasmainlyforthepaint，whosevirtuesLaphamdidnotbelievecouldbeoverstated，andhimselfandhishistoryhadbeentreatedwithasmuchrespectasBartleywascapableofshowinganyone。
　　Hemadeaverypicturesquethingofthediscoveryofthepaint—mine。"DeepintheheartofthevirginforestsofVermont，faruptowardthelineoftheCanadiansnows，onadesolatemountain—side，whereanautumnalstormhaddoneitswildwork，andthegreattrees，strewnhitherandthither，borewitnesstoitsviolence，NehemiahLaphamdiscovered，justfortyyearsago，themineralwhichthealchemyofhisson’senterpriseandenergyhastransmutedintosolidingotsofthemostpreciousofmetals。
　　ThecolossalfortuneofColonelSilasLaphamlayatthebottomofaholewhichanuprootedtreehaddugforhim，andwhichformanyyearsremainedapaint—mineofnomoreappreciablevaluethanasoap—mine。"
　　HereBartleyhadnotbeenabletoforegoanothergrin；
　　buthecompensatedforitbythehighreverencewithwhichhespokeofColonelLapham’srecordduringthewaroftherebellion，andofthemotiveswhichimpelledhimtoturnasidefromanenterpriseinwhichhiswholeheartwasengaged，andtakepartinthestruggle。"TheColonelbearsembeddedinthemuscleofhisrightlegalittlemementooftheperiodintheshapeofaminie—ball，whichhejocularlyreferredtoashisthermometer，andwhichrelieveshimfromthenecessityofreading’TheProbabilities’inhismorningpaper。
　　Thissaveshimjustsomuchtime；andforamanwho，ashesaid，hasnotamomentofwastetimeonhimanywhere，fiveminutesadayaresomethinginthecourseofayear。
　　Simple，clear，bold，andstraightforwardinmindandaction，ColonelSilasLapham，withapromptcomprehensivenessandanever—failingbusinesssagacity，is，inthebestsenseofthatmuch—abusedterm，oneofnature’snoblemen，tothelastinchofhisfiveelevenandahalf。Hislifeaffordsanexampleofsingle—mindedapplicationandunwaveringperseverancewhichouryoungbusinessmenwoulddowelltoemulate。
　　Thereisnothingshowyormeretriciousabouttheman。
　　Hebelievesinmineralpaint，andheputshisheartandsoulintoit。Hemakesitareligion；thoughwewouldnotimplythatitIShisreligion。ColonelLaphamisaregularattendantattheRev。Dr。Langworthy’schurch。
　　HesubscribesliberallytotheAssociatedCharities，andnogoodobjectorworthypublicenterprisefailstoreceivehissupport。Heisnotnowactivelyinpolitics，andhispaintisnotpartisan；butitisanopensecretthatheis，andalwayshasbeen，astaunchRepublican。
　　Withoutviolatingthesanctitiesofprivatelife，wecannotspeakfullyofvariousdetailswhichcameoutinthefreeandunembarrassedinterviewwhichColonelLaphamaccordedourrepresentative。Butwemaysaythatthesuccessofwhichheisjustlyproudheisalsoproudtoattributeingreatmeasuretothesympathyandenergyofhiswife——oneofthosewomenwho，inwhateverwalkoflife，seemborntohonourthenameofAmericanWoman，andtoredeemitfromthenationalreproachofDaisyMillerism。
　　OfColonelLapham’sfamily，wewillsimplyaddthatitconsistsoftwoyoungladydaughters。
　　"ThesubjectofthisveryinadequatesketchisbuildingahouseonthewatersideofBeaconStreet，afterdesignsbyoneofourleadingarchitecturalfirms，which，whencomplete，willbeoneofthefinestornamentsofthatexclusiveavenue。Itwill，webelieve，bereadyfortheoccupancyofthefamilysometimeinthespring。"
　　WhenBartleyhadfinishedhisarticle，whichhedidwithagooddealofinwardderision，hewenthometoMarcia，stillsmilingoverthethoughtofLapham，whoseburlysimplicityhadpeculiarlyamusedhim。
　　"Heregularlyturnedhimselfinsideouttome，"hesaid，ashesatdescribinghisinterviewtoMarcia。
　　"ThenIknowyoucouldmakesomethingniceoutofit，"
　　saidhiswife；"andthatwillpleaseMr。Witherby。"
　　"Ohyes，I’vedoneprettywell；butIcouldn’tletmyselflooseonhimthewayIwantedto。Confoundthelimitationsofdecency，anyway！IshouldliketohavetoldjustwhatColonelLaphamthoughtoflandscapeadvertisinginColonelLapham’sownwords。I’lltellyouonething，Marsh：hehadagirlthereatoneofthedesksthatyouwouldn’tletMEhavewithingunshotofMYoffice。
　　Pretty？Itain’tanynameforit！"Marcia’seyesbegantoblaze，andBartleybrokeoutintoalaugh，inwhichhearrestedhimselfatsightofaformidableparcelinthecorneroftheroom。
　　"Hello！What’sthat？"
　　"Why，Idon’tknowwhatitis，"repliedMarciatremulously。
　　"Amanbroughtitjustbeforeyoucamein，andIdidn’tliketoopenit。"
　　"Thinkitwassomekindofinfernalmachine？"askedBartley，gettingdownonhiskneestoexaminethepackage。
　　"MRS。B。Hubbard，heigh？"Hecuttheheavyhempstringwithhispenknife。"Wemustlookintothisthing。
　　Ishouldliketoknowwho’ssendingpackagestoMrs。Hubbardinmyabsence。"Heunfoldedthe；wrappingsofpaper，growingsofterandfinerinward，andpresentlypulledoutahandsomesquareglassjar，throughwhichacrimsonmassshowedrichly。"ThePersisBrand！"heyelled。
　　"Iknewit！"
　　"Oh，whatisit，Bartley？"quaveredMarcia。Then，courageouslydrawingalittlenearer："Isitsomekindofjam？"sheimplored。"Jam？No！"roaredBartley。
　　"It’sPAINT！It’smineralpaint——Lapham’spaint！"
　　"Paint？"echoedMarcia，asshestoodoverhimwhilehestrippedtheirwrappingsfromthejarswhichshowedthedarkblue，darkgreen，lightbrown，darkbrown，andblack，withthedarkcrimson，formingthegamutofcolouroftheLaphampaint。"Don’tTELLmeit’spaintthatIcanuse，Bartley！"
　　"Well，Ishouldn’tadviseyoutousemuchofit——allatonce，"repliedherhusband。"Butit’spaintthatyoucanuseinmoderation。"
　　Marciacastherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
　　"OBartley，IthinkI’mthehappiestgirlintheworld！
　　IwasjustwonderingwhatIshoulddo。ThereareplacesinthatCloverStreethousethatneedtouchingupsodreadfully。Ishallbeverycareful。Youneedn’tbeafraidIshalloverdo。But，thisjustsavesmylife。
　　DidyouBUYit，Bartley？Youknowwecouldn’taffordit，andyououghtn’ttohavedoneit！AndwhatdoesthePersisBrandmean？"
　　"Buyit？"criedBartley。"No！Theoldfool’ssentittoyouasapresent。You’dbetterwaitforthefactsbeforeyoupitchintomeforextravagance，Marcia。Persisisthenameofhiswife；andhenameditafterherbecauseit’shisfinestbrand。You’llseeitinmyinterview。
　　Putitonthemarketherlastbirthdayforasurprisetoher。"
　　"Whatoldfool？"falteredMarcia。
　　"Why，Lapham——themineralpaintman。"
　　"Oh，whatagoodman！"sighedMarciafromthebottomofhersoul。"Bartley！youWON’Tmakefunofhimasyoudoofsomeofthosepeople？WILLyou？"
　　"NothingthatHE’LLeverfindout，"saidBartley，gettingupandbrushingoffthecarpet—lintfromhisknees。
　　II。
　　AFTERdroppingBartleyHubbardattheEventsbuilding，LaphamdroveondownWashingtonStreettoNankeenSquareattheSouthEnd，wherehehadlivedeversincethemistakenmovementofsocietyinthatdirectionceased。
　　Hehadnotbuilt，buthadboughtverycheapofaterrifiedgentlemanofgoodextractionwhodiscoveredtoolatethattheSouthEndwasnotthething，andwhointheeagernessofhisflighttotheBackBaythrewinhiscarpetsandshadesforalmostnothing。Mrs。LaphamwasevenbettersatisfiedwiththeirbargainthantheColonelhimself，andtheyhadlivedinNankeenSquarefortwelveyears。
　　Theyhadseenthesaplingsplantedintheprettyovalroundwhichthehouseswerebuiltflourishupintosturdyyoungtrees，andtheirtwolittlegirlsinthesameperiodhadgrownintoyoungladies；theColonel’stoughframehadexpandedintothebulkwhichBartley’sinterviewindicated；
　　andMrs。Lapham，whilekeepingamoreyouthfuloutline，showedthesharpprintofthecrow’s—footatthecornersofhermotherlyeyes，andcertainslightcreasesinherwholesomecheeks。Thefactthattheylivedinanunfashionableneighbourhoodwassomethingthattheyhadneverbeenmadetofeeltotheirpersonaldisadvantage，andtheyhadhardlyknownittillthesummerbeforethisstoryopens，whenMrs。LaphamandherdaughterIrenehadmetsomeotherBostoniansfarfromBoston，whomadeitmemorable。TheywerepeoplewhomchancehadbroughtforthetimeunderasingularobligationtotheLaphamladies，andtheyweregratefullyrecognisantofit。
　　Theyhadventured——amotherandtwodaughters——asfarasaratherwildlittleCanadianwatering—placeontheSt。Lawrence，belowQuebec，andhadarrivedsomedaysbeforetheirsonandbrotherwasexpectedtojointhem。
　　Twooftheirtrunkshadgoneastray，andonthenightoftheirarrivalthemotherwastakenviolentlyill。
　　Mrs。Laphamcametotheirhelp，withherskillasnurse，andwiththeabundanceofherownandherdaughter’swardrobe，andaprofuse，single—heartedkindness。Whenadoctorcouldbegotat，hesaidthatbutforMrs。Lapham’stimelycare，theladywouldhardlyhavelived。HewasaveryeffusivelittleFrenchman，andfanciedhewassayingsomethingverypleasanttoeverybody。
　　Acertainintimacyinevitablyfollowed，andwhenthesoncamehewasevenmoregratefulthantheothers。
　　Mrs。LaphamcouldnotquiteunderstandwhyheshouldbeasattentivetoherastoIrene；butshecomparedhimwithotheryoungmenabouttheplace，andthoughthimnicerthananyofthem。Shehadnotthemeansofawidercomparison；forinBoston，withallherhusband’sprosperity，theyhadnothadasociallife。
　　TheirfirstyearsthereweregiventocarefulgettingonLapham’spart，andcarefulsavingonhiswife’s。
　　Suddenlythemoneybegantocomesoabundantlythatsheneednotsave；andthentheydidnotknowwhattodowithit。Acertainamountcouldbespentonhorses，andLaphamspentit；hiswifespentonrichandratheruglyclothesandaluxuryofhouseholdappointments。