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！"