"Oh，"saidMrs。Corey，inatoneofrelief，asifthestatementthrewanewlightonthefactthatCoreyhadsuggestedthevisit。"HesaidsolittleaboutitinhisletterthatIdidn’tknowjusthowitcameabout。"
　　"Ithoughtitwasrighttheyshouldmeet，"explainedtheson，"andsodidfather。IwasgladthatIsuggestedit，afterward；itwasextremelygratifyingtoColonelLapham。"
　　"Oh，itwasquiterightineveryway。Isupposeyouhaveseensomethingofthefamilyduringthesummer。"
　　"Yes，agooddeal。I’vebeendownatNantasketratheroften。"
　　Mrs。Coreylethereyesdroop。Thensheasked："Aretheywell？"
　　"Yes，exceptLaphamhimself，nowandthen。Iwentdownonceortwicetoseehim。Hehasn’tgivenhimselfanyvacationthissummer；hehassuchapassionforhisbusinessthatI
　　fancyhefindsithardbeingawayfromitatanytime，andhe’smadehisnewhouseanexcuseforstaying"
　　"Ohyes，hishouse！Isittobesomethingfine？"
　　"Yes；it’sabeautifulhouse。Seymourisdoingit。"
　　"Then，ofcourse，itwillbeveryhandsome。Isupposetheyoungladiesareverymuchtakenupwithit；
　　andMrs。Lapham。"
　　"Mrs。Lapham，yes。Idon’tthinktheyoungladiescaresomuchaboutit。"
　　"Itmustbeforthem。Aren’ttheyambitious？"
　　askedMrs。Corey，delicatelyfeelingherway。
　　Hersonthoughtawhile。Thenheansweredwithasmile——
　　"No，Idon’treallythinktheyare。Theyareunambitious，Ishouldsay。"Mrs。Coreypermittedherselfalongbreath。
　　Buthersonadded，"It’stheparentswhoareambitiousforthem，"andherrespirationbecameshorteragain。
　　"Yes，"shesaid。
　　"They’reverysimple，nicegirls，"pursuedCorey。
　　"Ithinkyou’llliketheelder，whenyoucometoknowher。"
　　Whenyoucometoknowher。Thewordsimpliedanexpectationthatthetwofamiliesweretobebetteracquainted。
　　"Thensheismoreintellectualthanhersister？"
　　Mrs。Coreyventured。
　　"Intellectual？"repeatedherson。"No；thatisn’ttheword，quite。Thoughshecertainlyhasmoremind。"
　　"Theyoungerseemedverysensible。"
　　"Oh，sensible，yes。Andaspracticalasshe’spretty。
　　Shecandoallsortsofthings，andlikestobedoingthem。
　　Don’tyouthinkshe’sanextraordinarybeauty？"
　　"Yes——yes，sheis，"saidMrs。Corey，atsomecost。
　　"She’sgood，too，"saidCorey，"andperfectlyinnocentandtransparent。Ithinkyouwilllikeherthebetterthemoreyouknowher。"
　　"Ithoughtherverynicefromthebeginning，"saidthemotherheroically；andthennatureasserteditselfinher。
　　"ButIshouldbeafraidthatshemightperhapsbealittlebittiresomeatlast；herrangeofideasseemedsoextremelylimited。"
　　"Yes，that’swhatIwasafraidof。But，asamatteroffact，sheisn’t。Sheinterestsyoubyherverylimitations。
　　Youcanseetheworkingofhermind，likethatofachild。
　　Sheisn’tatallconsciousevenofherbeauty。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveyoungmencantellwhethergirlsareconsciousornot，"saidMrs。Corey。"ButIamnotsayingtheMissLaphamsarenot————"Hersonsatmusing，withaninattentivesmileonhisface。"Whatisit？"
　　"Oh！nothing。IwasthinkingofMissLaphamandsomethingshewassaying。She’sverydroll，youknow。"
　　"Theeldersister？Yes，youtoldmethat。Canyouseetheworkingsofhermindtoo？"
　　"No；she’severythingthat’sunexpected。"Coreyfellintoanotherreverie，andsmiledagain；buthedidnotoffertoexplainwhatamusedhim，andhismotherwouldnotask。
　　"Idon’tknowwhattomakeofhisadmiringthegirlsofrankly，"shesaidafterwardtoherhusband。
　　"Thatcouldn’tcomenaturallytillafterhehadspokentoher，andIfeelsurethathehasn’tyet。"
　　"Youwomenhaven’trisenyet——it’sanevidenceofthebackwardnessofyoursex——toaconceptionoftheBismarckideaindiplomacy。Ifamanpraisesonewoman，youstillthinkhe’sinlovewithanother。DoyoumeanthatbecauseTomdidn’tpraisetheeldersistersomuch，heHASspokentoHER？"
　　Mrs。Coreyrefusedtheconsequence，sayingthatitdidnotfollow。"Besides，hedidpraiseher。"
　　"Yououghttobegladthatmattersareinsuchgoodshape，then。Atanyrate，youcandoabsolutelynothing。"
　　"Oh！Iknowit，"sighedMrs。Corey。"IwishTomwouldbealittleopenerwithme。"
　　"He’sasopenasit’sinthenatureofanAmerican—bornsontobewithhisparents。Idaresayifyou’daskedhimplumplywhathemeantinregardtotheyounglady，hewouldhavetoldyou——ifheknew。"
　　"Why，don’tyouthinkhedoesknow，Bromfield？"
　　"I’mnotatallsurehedoes。Youwomenthinkthatbecauseayoungmandanglesafteragirl，orgirls，he’sattachedtothem。Itdoesn’tatallfollow。
　　Hedanglesbecausehemust，anddoesn’tknowwhattodowithhistime，andbecausetheyseemtolikeit。
　　IdaresaythatTomhasdangledagooddealinthisinstancebecausetherewasnobodyelseintown。"
　　"Doyoureallythinkso？"
　　"Ithrowoutthesuggestion。Anditstrikesmethatayoungladycouldn’tdobetterthanstayinornearBostonduringthesummer。Mostoftheyoungmenarehere，keptbybusinessthroughtheweek，witheveningsavailableonlyonthespot，orafewmilesoff。Whatwastheproportionofthesexesattheseashoreandthemountains？"
　　"Oh，twentygirlsatleastforevenanexcuseofaman。
　　It’sshameful。"
　　"Yousee，Iamrightinonepartofmytheory。
　　Whyshouldn’tIberightintherest？"
　　"Iwishyouwere。AndyetIcan’tsaythatIdo。
　　Thosethingsareveryseriouswithgirls。Ishouldn’tlikeTomtohavebeengoingtoseethosepeopleifhemeantnothingbyit。"
　　"Andyouwouldn’tlikeitifhedid。Youaredifficult，mydear。"Herhusbandpulledanopennewspapertowardhimfromthetable。
　　"Ifeelthatitwouldn’tbeatalllikehimtodoso，"
　　saidMrs。Corey，goingontoentangleherselfinherwords，aswomenoftendowhentheirideasareperfectlyclear。
　　"Don’tgotoreading，please，Bromfield！IamreallyworriedaboutthismatterImustknowhowmuchitmeans。
　　Ican’tletitgoonso。Idon’tseehowyoucanresteasywithoutknowing。"
　　"Idon’tintheleastknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofmewhenIdie；andyetIsleepwell，"repliedBromfieldCorey，puttinghisnewspaperaside。
　　"Ah！butthisisaverydifferentthing。"
　　"Somuchmoreserious？Well，whatcanyoudo？Wehadthisoutwhenyouwerehereinthesummer，andyouagreedwithmethenthatwecoulddonothing。Thesituationhasn’tchangedatall。"
　　"Yes，ithas；ithascontinuedthesame，"saidMrs。Corey，againexpressingthefactbyacontradictioninterms。
　　"IthinkImustaskTomoutright。"
　　"Youknowyoucan’tdothat，mydear。"
　　"Thenwhydoesn’thetellus？"
　　"Ah，that’swhatHEcan’tdo，ifhe’smakinglovetoMissIrene——that’shername，Ibelieve——ontheAmericanplan。
　　HewilltellusafterhehastoldHER。ThatwasthewayIdid。
　　Don’tignoreourownyouth，Anna。Itwasalongwhileago，I’lladmit。"
　　"Itwasverydifferent，"saidMrs。Corey，alittleshaken。
　　"Idon’tseehow。IdaresayMammaLaphamknowswhetherTomisinlovewithherdaughterornot；andnodoubtPapaLaphamknowsitatsecondhand。Butweshallnotknowituntilthegirlherselfdoes。Dependuponthat。
　　Yourmotherknew，andshetoldyourfather；butmypoorfatherknewnothingaboutittillwewereengaged；andI
　　hadbeenhangingabout——dangling，asyoucallit————"
　　"No，no；YOUcalleditthat。"
　　"WasitI？——forayearormore。"
　　Thewifecouldnotrefusetobealittleconsoledbytheimageofheryounglovewhichthewordsconjuredup，howeverlittleshelikeditsrelationtoherson’sinterestinIreneLapham。Shesmiledpensively。"Thenyouthinkithasn’tcometoanunderstandingwiththemyet？"
　　"Anunderstanding？Oh，probably。"
　　"Anexplanation，then？"
　　"Theonlylogicalinferencefromwhatwe’vebeensayingisthatithasn’t。ButIdon’taskyoutoacceptitonthataccount。MayIreadnow，mydear？"
　　"Yes，youmayreadnow，"saidMrs。Corey，withoneofthosesighswhichperhapsexpressafemininesenseoftheunsatisfactorinessofhusbandsingeneral，ratherthanapersonaldiscontentwithherown。
　　"Thankyou，mydear；thenIthinkI’llsmoketoo，"
　　saidBromfieldCorey，lightingacigar。
　　Shelefthiminpeace，andshemadenofurtherattemptuponherson’sconfidence。Butshewasnotinactiveforthatreason。Shedidnot，ofcourse，admittoherself，andfarlesstoothers，themotivewithwhichshewenttopayanearlyvisittotheLaphams，whohadnowcomeupfromNantaskettoNankeenSquare。Shesaidtoherdaughtersthatshehadalwaysbeenalittleashamedofusingheracquaintancewiththemtogetmoneyforhercharity，andthenseemingtodropit。Besides，itseemedtoherthatsheoughtsomehowtorecognisethebusinessrelationthatTomhadformedwiththefather；theymustnotthinkthathisfamilydisapprovedofwhathehaddone。
　　"Yes，businessisbusiness，"saidNanny，withalaugh。
　　"Doyouwishustogowithyouagain？"
　　"No；Iwillgoalonethistime，"repliedthemotherwithdignity。
　　HercoupenowfounditswaytoNankeenSquarewithoutdifficulty，andshesentupacard，whichMrs。LaphamreceivedinthepresenceofherdaughterPenelope。
　　"IpresumeI’vegottoseeher，"shegasped。
　　"Well，don’tlooksoguilty，mother，"jokedthegirl；
　　"youhaven’tbeendoinganythingsoVERYwrong。"
　　"ItseemsasifIHAD。Idon’tknowwhat’scomeoverme。
　　Iwasn’tafraidofthewomanbefore，butnowIdon’tseemtofeelasifIcouldlookherintheface。He’sbeencominghereofhisownaccord，andIfoughtagainsthiscominglongenough，goodnessknows。Ididn’twanthimtocome。
　　Andasfarforthasthatgoes，we’reasrespectableastheyare；andyourfather’sgottwicetheirmoney，anyday。We’venoneedtogobeggingfortheirfavour。
　　Iguesstheyweregladenoughtogethiminwithyourfather。"
　　"Yes，thoseareallgoodpoints，mother，"saidthegirl；
　　"andifyoukeepsayingthemover，andcountahundredeverytimebeforeyouspeak，Iguessyou’llworrythrough。"
　　Mrs。Laphamhadbeenfussingdistractedlywithherhairandribbons，inpreparationforherencounterwithMrs。Corey。
　　Shenowdrewinalongquiveringbreath，staredatherdaughterwithoutseeingher，andhurrieddownstairs。
　　ItwastruethatwhenshemetMrs。Coreybeforeshehadnotbeenawedbyher；butsincethenshehadlearnedatleastherownignoranceoftheworld，andshehadtalkedoverthethingsshehadmisconceivedandthethingsshehadshrewdlyguessedsomuchthatshecouldnotmeetherontheformerfootingofequality。Inspiteofasbraveaspiritandasgoodaconscienceaswomanneedhave，Mrs。Laphamcringedinwardly，andtremulouslywonderedwhathervisitorhadcomefor。Sheturnedfrompaletored，andwashardlycoherentinhergreetings；
　　shedidnotknowhowtheygottowhereMrs。Coreywassayingexactlytherightthingsaboutherson’sinterestandsatisfactioninhisnewbusiness，andkeepinghereyesfixedonMrs。Lapham’s，readingheruneasinessthere，andmakingherfeel，inspiteofherindignantinnocence，thatshehadtakenabaseadvantageofherinherabsencetogethersonawayfromherandmarryhimtoIrene。
　　Then，presently，whilethiswaspainfullyrevolvingitselfinMrs。Lapham’smind，shewasawareofMrs。Corey’saskingifshewasnottohavethepleasureofseeingMissIrene。
　　"No；she’sout，justnow，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Idon’tknowjustwhenshe’llbein。Shewenttogetabook。"
　　Andheresheturnedredagain，knowingthatIrenehadgonetogetthebookbecauseitwasonethatCoreyhadspokenof。
　　"Oh！I’msorry，"saidMrs。Corey。"Ihadhopedtoseeher。
　　Andyourotherdaughter，whomInevermet？"
　　"Penelope？"askedMrs。Lapham，easedalittle。"Sheisathome。Iwillgoandcallher。"TheLaphamshadnotyetthoughtofspendingtheirsuperfluityonservantswhocouldberungfor；theykepttwogirlsandamantolookafterthefurnace，astheyhadforthelasttenyears。
　　IfMrs。Laphamhadrungintheparlour，hersecondgirlwouldhavegonetothestreetdoortoseewhowasthere。
　　ShewentupstairsforPenelopeherself，andthegirl，aftersomerebelliousderision，returnedwithher。
　　Mrs。Coreytookaccountofher，asPenelopewithdrewtotheothersideoftheroomaftertheirintroduction，andsatdown，indolentlysubmissiveonthesurfacetotheteststobeapplied，andfollowingMrs。Corey’sleadoftheconversationinherodddrawl。
　　"Youyoungladieswillbegladtobegettingintoyournewhouse，"shesaidpolitely。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidPenelope。"We’resousedtothisone。"
　　Mrs。Coreylookedalittlebaffled，butshesaidsympathetically，"Ofcourse，youwillbesorrytoleaveyouroldhome。"
　　Mrs。Laphamcouldnothelpputtinginonbehalfofherdaughters："Iguessifitwaslefttothegirlstosay，weshouldn’tleaveitatall。"
　　"Oh，indeed！"saidMrs。Corey；"aretheysomuchattached？
　　ButIcanquiteunderstandit。Mychildrenwouldbeheart—brokentooifweweretoleavetheoldplace。"
　　SheturnedtoPenelope。"Butyoumustthinkofthelovelynewhouse，andthebeautifulposition。"
　　"Yes，Isupposeweshallgetusedtothemtoo，"
　　saidPenelope，inresponsetothisdidacticconsolation。
　　"Oh，Icouldevenimagineyourgettingveryfondofthem，"
　　pursuedMrs。Coreypatronisingly。"Mysonhastoldmeofthelovelyoutlookyou’retohaveoverthewater。
　　Hethinksyouhavesuchabeautifulhouse。Ibelievehehadthepleasureofmeetingyoualltherewhenhefirstcamehome。"
　　"Yes，Ithinkhewasourfirstvisitor。"
　　"Heisagreatadmirerofyourhouse，"saidMrs。Corey，keepinghereyesverysharply，howeverpolitely，onPenelope’sface，asiftosurprisetherethesecretofanyothergreatadmirationofherson’sthatmighthelplesslyshowitself。
　　"Yes，"saidthegirl，"he’sbeenthereseveraltimeswithfather；andhewouldn’tbeallowedtooverlookanyofitsgoodpoints。"
　　Hermothertookalittlemorecouragefromherdaughter’stranquillity。
　　"Thegirlsmakesuchfunoftheirfather’sexcitementabouthisbuilding，andthewayhetalksitintoeverybody。"
　　"Oh，indeed！"saidMrs。Corey，withcivilmisunderstandingandinquiry。
　　Penelopeflushed，andhermotherwenton："Itellhimhe’smoreofachildaboutitthananyofthem。"
　　"Youngpeopleareveryphilosophicalnowadays，"
　　remarkedMrs。Corey。
　　"Yes，indeed，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Itellthemthey’vealwayshadeverything，sothatnothing’sasurprisetothem。
　　Itwasdifferentwithusinouryoungdays。"
　　"Yes，"saidMrs。Corey，withoutassenting。
　　"ImeantheColonelandmyself，"explainedMrs。Lapham。
　　"Ohyes——yes！"saidMrs。Corey。
　　"I’msure，"theformerwenton，ratherhelplessly，"wehadtoworkhardenoughforeverythingwegot。
　　Andsoweappreciatedit。"
　　"Somanythingswerenotdoneforyoungpeoplethen，"
　　saidMrs。Corey，notrecognisingtheearly—hardshipsstandpointofMrs。Lapham。"ButIdon’tknowthattheyarealwaysthebetterforitnow，"sheaddedvaguely，butwiththesatisfactionweallfeelinutteringajustcommonplace。
　　"It’sratherhardlivinguptoblessingsthatyou’vealwayshad，"saidPenelope。
　　"Yes，"repliedMrs。Coreydistractedly，andcomingbacktoherslowlyfromthevirtuousdistancetowhichshehadabsentedherself。Shelookedatthegirlsearchinglyagain，asiftodeterminewhetherthiswereatouchofthedrollinghersonhadspokenof。Butsheonlyadded：
　　"YouwillenjoythesunsetsontheBackBaysomuch。"
　　"Well，notunlessthey’renewones，"saidPenelope。
　　"Idon’tbelieveIcouldpromisetoenjoyanysunsetsthatIwasusedto，agreatdeal。"
　　Mrs。Coreylookedatherwithmisgiving，hardeningintodislike。"No，"shebreathedvaguely。"MysonspokeofthefineeffectofthelightsaboutthehotelfromyourcottageatNantasket，"shesaidtoMrs。Lapham。
　　"Yes，they’resplendid！"exclaimedthatlady。"Iguessthegirlswentdowneverynightwithhimtoseethemfromtherocks。"
　　"Yes，"saidMrs。Corey，alittledryly；andshepermittedherselftoadd："Hespokeofthoserocks。Isupposebothyouyoungladiesspendagreatdealofyourtimeonthemwhenyou’rethere。AtNahantmychildrenwereconstantlyonthem。"
　　"Irenelikestherocks，"saidPenelope。"Idon’tcaremuchaboutthem，——especiallyatnight。"
　　"Oh，indeed！Isupposeyoufinditquiteaswelllookingatthelightscomfortablyfromtheveranda。"
　　"No；youcan’tseethemfromthehouse。"
　　"Oh，"saidMrs。Corey。Afteraperceptiblepause，sheturnedtoMrs。Lapham。"Idon’tknowwhatmysonwouldhavedoneforabreathofseaairthissummer，ifyouhadnotallowedhimtocometoNantasket。
　　Hewasn’twillingtoleavehisbusinesslongenoughtogoanywhereelse。"
　　"Yes，he’sabornbusinessman，"respondedMrs。Laphamenthusiastically。"Ifit’sborninyou，it’sboundtocomeout。
　　That’swhattheColonelisalwayssayingaboutMr。Corey。
　　Hesaysit’sborninhimtobeabusinessman，andhecan’thelpit。"SherecurredtoCoreygladlybecauseshefeltthatshehadnotsaidenoughofhimwhenhismotherfirstspokeofhisconnectionwiththebusiness。
　　"Idon’tbelieve，"shewentonexcitedly，"thatColonelLaphamhaseverhadanybodywithhimthathethoughtmoreof。"
　　"Youhaveallbeenverykindtomyson，"saidMrs。Coreyinacknowledgment，andstifflybowingalittle，"andwefeelgreatlyindebtedtoyou。Verymuchso。"AtthesegratefulexpressionsMrs。Laphamreddenedoncemore，andmurmuredthatithadbeenverypleasanttothem，shewassure。Sheglancedatherdaughterforsupport，butPenelopewaslookingatMrs。Corey，whodoubtlesssawherfromthecornerofhereyes，thoughshewentonspeakingtohermother。
　　"IwassorrytohearfromhimthatMr。——Colonel？——Laphamhadnotbeenquitewellthissummer。Ihopehe’sbetternow？"
　　"Ohyes，indeed，"repliedMrs。Lapham；"he’sallrightnow。
　　He’shardlyeverbeensick，andhedon’tknowhowtotakecareofhimself。That’sall。Wedon’tanyofus；
　　we’reallsowell。"
　　"Healthisagreatblessing，"sighedMrs。Corey。
　　"Yes，soitis。Howisyouroldestdaughter？"
　　inquiredMrs。Lapham。"Issheasdelicateasever？"
　　"Sheseemstoberatherbettersincewereturned。"AndnowMrs。Corey，asifforcedtothepoint，saidbunglinglythattheyoungladieshadwishedtocomewithher，buthadbeendetained。ShebasedherstatementuponNanny’ssarcasticdemand；and，perhapsseeingittopplealittle，sherosehastily，togetawayfromitsfall。
　　"Butweshallhopeforsome——someotheroccasion，"
　　shesaidvaguely，andsheputonapartingsmile，andshookhandswithMrs。LaphamandPenelope，andthen，aftersomelingeringcommonplaces，gotherselfoutofthehouse。
　　Penelopeandhermotherwerestilllookingateachother，andtryingtograpplewiththeeffectorpurportofthevisit，whenIreneburstinuponthemfromtheoutside。
　　"Omamma！wasn’tthatMrs。Corey’scarriagejustdroveaway？"
　　Penelopeansweredwithherlaugh。"Yes！You’vejustmissedthemostdelightfulcall，’Rene。Soeasyandpleasanteveryway。Notabitstiff！Mrs。Coreywassofriendly！
　　Shedidn’tmakeonefeelatallasifshe’dboughtme，andthoughtshe’dgiventoomuch；andmotherheldupherheadasifshewereallwoolandayardwide，andshewouldjustliketohaveanybodydenyit。"
　　Inafewtouchesofmimicryshedashedoffasketchofthescene：hermother’strepidation，andMrs。Corey’swell—bredreposeandpolitescrutinyofthemboth。
　　Sheendedbyshowinghowsheherselfhadsathuddledupinadarkcorner，mutewithfear。
　　"Ifshecametomakeussayanddothewrongthing，shemusthavegoneawayhappy；andit’sapityyouweren’theretohelp，Irene。Idon’tknowthatIaimedtomakeabadimpression，butIguessIsucceeded——evenbeyondmydeserts。"Shelaughed；thensuddenlysheflashedoutinfierceearnest。"IfImisseddoinganythingthatcouldmakemeashatefultoherasshemadeherselftome————"
　　Shecheckedherself，andbegantolaugh。Herlaughbroke，andthetearsstartedintohereyes；sheranoutoftheroom，andupthestairs。
　　"What——whatdoesitmean？"askedIreneinadaze。
　　Mrs。LaphamwasstillinthechillytorportowhichMrs。Corey’scallhadreducedher。Penelope’svehemencedidnotrouseher。Sheonlyshookherheadabsently，andsaid，"Idon’tknow。"
　　"WhyshouldPencarewhatimpressionshemade？Ididn’tsupposeitwouldmakeanydifferencetoherwhetherMrs。Coreylikedherornot。"
　　"Ididn’t，either。ButIcouldseethatshewasjustasnervousasshecouldbe，everyminuteofthetime。
　　Iguessshedidn’tlikeMrs。Coreyanytoowellfromthestart，andshecouldn’tseemtoactlikeherself。"
　　"Tellmeaboutit，mamma，"saidIrene，droppingintoachair。
　　Mrs。Coreydescribedtheinterviewtoherhusbandonherreturnhome。"Well，andwhatareyourinferences？"
　　heasked。
　　"Theywereextremelyembarrassedandexcited——thatis，themother。Idon’twishtodoherinjustice，butshecertainlybehavedconsciously。"
　　"Youmadeherfeelso，Idaresay，Anna。Icanimaginehowterribleyoumusthavebeeninthecharacterofanaccusingspirit，toolady—liketosayanything。
　　Whatdidyouhint？"
　　"Ihintednothing，"saidMrs。Corey，descendingtotheweaknessofdefendingherself。"ButIsawquiteenoughtoconvincemethatthegirlisinlovewithTom，andthemotherknowsit。"
　　"Thatwasveryunsatisfactory。IsupposedyouwenttofindoutwhetherTomwasinlovewiththegirl。
　　Wassheasprettyasever？"
　　"Ididn’tseeher；shewasnotathome；Isawhersister。"
　　"Idon’tknowthatIfollowyouquite，Anna。Butnomatter。
　　Whatwasthesisterlike？"
　　"Athoroughlydisagreeableyoungwoman。"
　　"Whatdidshedo？"
　　"Nothing。She’sfartooslyforthat。Butthatwastheimpression。"
　　"Thenyoudidn’tfindhersoamusingasTomdoes？"
　　"Ifoundherpert。There’snootherwordforit。
　　Shesaysthingstopuzzleyouandputyouout。"
　　"Ah，thatwasworsethanpert，Anna；thatwascriminal。
　　Well，letusthankheaventheyoungeroneissopretty。"
　　Mrs。Coreydidnotreplydirectly。"Bromfield，"shesaid，afteramomentoftroubledsilence，"Ihavebeenthinkingoveryourplan，andIdon’tseewhyitisn’ttherightthing。"
　　"Whatismyplan？"inquiredBromfieldCorey。
　　"Adinner。"