Iguessitwon’ttakeagreatmanytofetchyou。"
　　"Allright，"saidLapham，andpaidandwentout。
　　"Idon’tknowbutISHALLwantsomeofit，"hesaid，withajoylesslaugh。
　　Irenecamecloseruptohimandtookhisarm。Helaidhisheavypawonherglovedfingers。Afterawhileshesaid，"IwantyoushouldletmegouptoLaphamto—morrow。"
　　"ToLapham？Why，to—morrow’sSunday，Irene！Youcan’tgoto—morrow。"
　　"Well，Monday，then。Icanlivethroughonedayhere。"
　　"Well，"saidthefatherpassively。Hemadenopretenceofaskingherwhyshewishedtogo，noranyattempttodissuadeher。
　　"Givemethatbottle，"shesaid，whenheopenedthedoorathomeforher，andsheranuptoherownroom。
　　ThenextmorningIrenecametobreakfastwithhermother；
　　theColonelandPenelopedidnotappear，andMrs。Laphamlookedsleep—brokenandcareworn。
　　Thegirlglancedather。"Don’tyoufretaboutme，mamma，"shesaid。"Ishallgetalong。"Sheseemedherselfassteadyandstrongasrock。
　　"Idon’tliketoseeyoukeepingupso，Irene，"
　　repliedhermother。"It’llbealltheworseforyouwhenyoudobreak。Bettergivewayalittleatthestart"
　　"Ishan’tbreak，andI’vegivenwayallI’mgoingto。
　　I’mgoingtoLaphamto—morrow，——Iwantyoushouldgowithme，mamma，——andIguessIcankeepuponedayhere。
　　Allaboutitis，Idon’twantyoushouldsayanything，orLOOKanything。And，whateverIdo，Idon’twantyoushouldtrytostopme。And，thefirstthing，I’mgoingtotakeherbreakfastuptoher。Don’t！"shecried，interceptingtheprotestonhermother’slips。"IshallnotletithurtPen，ifIcanhelpit。She’sneverdoneathingnorthoughtathingtowrongme。Ihadtoflyoutatherlastnight；butthat’sallovernow，andIknowjustwhatI’vegottobear。"
　　Shehadherwayunmolested。ShecarriedPenelope’sbreakfasttoher，andomittednocareorattentionthatcouldmakethesacrificecomplete，withanheroicpretencethatshewasperformingnounusualservice。
　　Theydidnotspeak，beyondhersaying，inacleardrynote，"Here’syourbreakfast，Pen，"andhersister’sanswering，hoarselyandtremulously，"Oh，thankyou，Irene。"And，thoughtwoorthreetimestheyturnedtheirfacestowardeachotherwhileIreneremainedintheroom，mechanicallyputtingitsconfusiontorights，theireyesdidnotmeet。
　　ThenIrenedescendedupontheotherrooms，whichshesetinorder，andsomeofwhichshefiercelysweptanddusted。
　　Shemadethebeds；andshesentthetwoservantsawaytochurchassoonastheyhadeatentheirbreakfast，tellingthemthatshewouldwashtheirdishes。
　　Throughoutthemorningherfatherandmotherheardherabouttheworkofgettingdinner，withcertainsilenceswhichrepresentedthemomentswhenshestoppedandstoodstock—still，andthen，readjustingherburden，forcedherselfforwardunderitagain。
　　Theysataloneinthefamilyroom，outofwhichtheirtwogirlsseemedtohavedied。LaphamcouldnotreadhisSundaypapers，andshehadnohearttogotochurch，asshewouldhavedoneearlierinlifewhenintrouble。
　　JustthenshewasobscurelyfeelingthatthechurchwassomehowtoblameforthatcounselofMr。Sewell’sonwhichtheyhadacted。
　　"Ishouldliketoknow，"shesaid，havingbroughtthematterup，"whetherhewouldhavethoughtitwassuchalightmatterifithadbeenhisownchildren。
　　Doyousupposehe’dhavebeensoreadytoactonhisownadviceifitHADbeen？"
　　"Hetoldustherightthingtodo，Persis，——theonlything。
　　Wecouldn’tletitgoon，"urgedherhusbandgently。
　　"Well，itmakesmedespisePen！Irene’sshowingtwicethecharacterthatsheis，thisveryminute。"
　　Themothersaidthissothatthefathermightdefendherdaughtertoher。Hedidnotfail。"Irene’sgottheeasiestpart，thewayIlookatit。Andyou’llseethatPen’llknowhowtobehavewhenthetimecomes。"
　　"Whatdoyouwantsheshoulddo？"
　　"Ihaven’tgotsofarasthatyet。WhatarewegoingtodoaboutIrene？"
　　"WhatdoyouwantPenshoulddo，"repeatedMrs。Lapham，"whenitcomestoit？"
　　"Well，Idon’twantsheshouldtakehim，forONEthing，"
　　saidLapham。
　　ThisseemedtosatisfyMrs。Laphamastoherhusband，andshesaidindefenceofCorey，"Why，Idon’tseewhatHE’Sdone。It’sallbeenourdoing。"
　　"Nevermindthatnow。WhataboutIrene？"
　　"Shesaysshe’sgoingtoLaphamto—morrow。Shefeelsthatshe’sgottogetawaysomewhere。It’snaturalsheshould。"
　　"Yes，andIpresumeitwillbeaboutthebestthingFORher。
　　Shallyougowithher？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well。"Hecomfortlesslytookupanewspaperagain，andsherosewithasigh，andwenttoherroomtopacksomethingsforthemorrow’sjourney。
　　Afterdinner，whenIrenehadclearedawaythelasttraceofitinkitchenanddining—roomwithunsparingpunctilio，shecamedownstairs，dressedtogoout，andbadeherfathercometowalkwithheragain。Itwasarepetitionoftheaimlessnessofthelastnight’swanderings。
　　Theycameback，andshegotteaforthem，andafterthattheyheardherstirringaboutinherownroom，asifshewerebusyaboutmanythings；buttheydidnotdaretolookinuponher，evenafterallthenoiseshadceased，andtheyknewshehadgonetobed。
　　"Yes；it’sathingshe’sgottofightoutbyherself，"
　　saidMrsLapham。
　　"Iguessshe’llgetalong，"saidLapham。"ButIdon’twantyoushouldmisjudgePeneither。She’sallrighttoo。
　　Sheain’ttoblame。"
　　"Yes，Iknow。ButIcan’tworkroundtoitallatonce。
　　Ishan’tmisjudgeher，butyoucan’texpectmetogetoveritrightaway。"
　　"Mamma，"saidIrene，whenshewashurryingtheirdeparturethenextmorning，"whatdidshetellhimwhenheaskedher？"
　　"Tellhim？"echoedthemother；andafterawhilesheadded，"Shedidn’ttellhimanything。"
　　"Didshesayanything，aboutme？"
　　"Shesaidhemustn’tcomehereanymore。"
　　Ireneturnedandwentintohersister’sroom。
　　"Good—bye，Pen，"shesaid，kissingherwithaneffectofnotseeingortouchingher。"Iwantyoushouldtellhimallaboutit。Ifhe’shalfaman，hewon’tgiveuptillheknowswhyyouwon’thavehim；andhehasarighttoknow。"
　　"Itwouldn’tmakeanydifference。Icouldn’thavehimafter————"
　　"That’sforyoutosay。Butifyoudon’ttellhimaboutme，Iwill。"
　　"’Rene！""Yes！Youneedn’tsayIcaredforhim。
　　Butyoucansaythatyouallthoughthe——caredfor——me。"
　　"OIrene————"
　　"Don’t！"Ireneescapedfromthearmsthattriedtocastthemselvesabouther。"Youareallright，Pen。Youhaven’tdoneanything。You’vehelpedmeallyoucould。
　　ButIcan’t——yet。"
　　ShewentoutoftheroomandsummonedMrs。Laphamwithasharp"Now，mamma！"andwentonputtingthelastthingsintohertrunks。
　　TheColonelwenttothestationwiththem，andputthemonthetrain。HegotthemalittlecompartmenttothemselvesinthePullmancar；andashestoodleaningwithhisliftedhandsagainstthesidesofthedoorway，hetriedtosaysomethingconsolingandhopeful："Iguessyou’llhaveaneasyride，Irene。Idon’tbelieveit’llbedusty，any，aftertherainlastnight。"
　　"Don’tyoustaytillthetrainstarts，papa，"returnedthegirl，inrigidrejectionofhisfutilities。"Getoff，now。"
　　"Well，ifyouwantIshould，"hesaid，gladtobeabletopleaseherinanything。Heremainedontheplatformtillthecarsstarted。HesawIrenebustlingaboutinthecompartment，makinghermothercomfortableforthejourney；butMrs。Laphamdidnotliftherhead。
　　Thetrainmovedoff，andhewentheavilybacktohisbusiness。
　　Fromtimetotimeduringtheday，whenhecaughtaglimpseofhim，CoreytriedtomakeoutfromhisfacewhetherheknewwhathadtakenplacebetweenhimandPenelope。
　　WhenRogerscameinabouttimeofclosing，andshuthimselfupwithLaphaminhisroom，theyoungmanremainedtillthetwocameouttogetherandpartedintheirsalutationlessfashion。
　　LaphamshowednosurpriseatseeingCoreystillthere，andmerelyanswered，"Well！"whentheyoungmansaidthathewishedtospeakwithhim，andledthewaybacktohisroom。
　　Coreyshutthedoorbehindthem。"Ionlywishtospeaktoyouincaseyouknowofthematteralready；
　　forotherwiseI’mboundbyapromise。"
　　"IguessIknowwhatyoumean。It’saboutPenelope。"
　　"Yes，it’saboutMissLapham。Iamgreatlyattachedtoher——you’llexcusemysayingit；Icouldn’texcusemyselfifIwerenot。"
　　"Perfectlyexcusable，"saidLapham。"It’sallright。"
　　"Oh，I’mgladtohearyousaythat！"criedtheyoungfellowjoyfully。"Iwantyoutobelievethatthisisn’tanewthingoranunconsideredthingwithme——thoughitseemedsounexpectedtoher。"
　　Laphamfetchedadeepsigh。"It’sallrightasfarasI’mconcerned——orhermother。We’vebothlikedyoufirst—rate。"
　　"Yes？"
　　"ButthereseemstobesomethinginPenelope’smind——I
　　don’tknow"TheColonelconsciouslydroppedhiseyes。
　　"Shereferredtosomething——Icouldn’tmakeoutwhat——butI
　　hoped——Ihoped——thatwithyourleaveImightovercomeit——thebarrier——whateveritwas。MissLapham——Penelope——gavemethehope——thatIwas——wasn’t——indifferenttoher————"
　　"Yes，Iguessthat’sso，"saidLapham。Hesuddenlyliftedhishead，andconfrontedtheyoungfellow’shonestfacewithhisownface，sodifferentinitshonesty。
　　"Sureyounevermadeuptoanyoneelseatthesametime？"
　　"NEVER！Whocouldimaginesuchathing？Ifthat’sall，Icaneasily"
　　"Idon’tsaythat’sall，northatthat’sit。Idon’twantyoushouldgouponthatidea。Ijustthought，maybe——youhadn’tthoughtofit。"
　　"No，Icertainlyhadn’tthoughtofit！SuchathingwouldhavebeensoimpossibletomethatIcouldn’thavethoughtofit；andit’ssoshockingtomenowthatIdon’tknowwhattosaytoit。"
　　"Well，don’ttakeittoomuchtoheart，"saidLapham，alarmedatthefeelinghehadexcited；"Idon’tsayshethoughtso。Iwastryingtoguess——tryingto————"
　　"IfthereisanythingIcansayordotoconvinceyou———
　　—
　　"Oh，itain’tnecessarytosayanything。I’mallright。"
　　"ButMissLapham！Imayseeheragain？Imaytrytoconvinceherthat————"
　　Hestoppedindistress，andLaphamafterwardstoldhiswifethathekeptseeingthefaceofIreneasitlookedwhenhepartedwithherinthecar；andwheneverhewasgoingtosayyes，hecouldnotopenhislips。
　　AtthesametimehecouldnothelpfeelingthatPenelopehadarighttowhatwasherown，andSewell’swordscamebacktohim。Besides，theyhadalreadyputIrenetotheworstsuffering。Laphamcompromised，asheimagined。
　　"Youcancomeroundto—nightandseeME，ifyouwantto，"
　　hesaid；andheboregrimlythegratitudethattheyoungmanpouredoutuponhim。
　　Penelopecamedowntosupperandtookhermother’splaceattheheadofthetable。
　　Laphamsatsilentinherpresenceaslongashecouldbearit。Thenheasked，"Howdoyoufeelto—night，Pen？"
　　"Oh，likeathief，"saidthegirl。"Athiefthathasn’tbeenarrestedyet。"
　　Laphamwaitedawhilebeforehesaid，"Well，now，yourmotherandIwantyoushouldholduponthatawhile。"
　　"Itisn’tforyoutosay。It’ssomethingIcan’tholdupon。"
　　"Yes，Iguessyoucan。IfIknowwhat’shappened，thenwhat’shappenedisathingthatnobodyistoblamefor。
　　Andwewantyoushouldmakethebestofitandnottheworst。
　　Heigh？ItaintgoingtohelpIreneanyforyoutohurtyourself——oranybodyelse；andIdon’twantyoushouldtakeupwithanysuchcrazynotion。Asfarasheardfrom，youhaven’tstolenanything，andwhateveryou’vegotbelongstoyou。"
　　"Hashebeenspeakingtoyou，father？"
　　"Yourmother’sbeenspeakingtome。"
　　"HasHEbeenspeakingtoyou？"
　　"That’sneitherherenorthere。"
　　"Thenhe’sbrokenhisword，andIwillneverspeaktohimagain！"
　　"Ifhewasanysuchfoolastopromisethathewouldn’ttalktomeonasubject"——Laphamdrewadeepbreath，andthenmadetheplunge——"thatIbroughtup————"
　　"Didyoubringitup？"
　　"Thesameasbroughtup——thequickerhebrokehiswordthebetter；andIwantyoushouldactuponthatidea。
　　Recollectthatit’smybusiness，andyourmother’sbusiness，aswellasyours，andwe’regoingtohaveoursay。
　　Hehain’tdoneanythingwrong，Pen，noranythingthathe’sgoingtobepunishedfor。Understandthat。
　　He’sgottohaveareason，ifyou’renotgoingtohavehim。
　　Idon’tsayyou’vegottohavehim；Iwantyoushouldfeelperfectlyfreeaboutthat；butIDOsayyou’vegottogivehimareason。"
　　"Ishecominghere？"
　　"Idon’tknowasyou’dcallitCOMING————"
　　"Yes，youdo，father！"saidthegirl，inforlornamusementathisshuffling。
　　"He’scomingheretoseeME————"
　　"When’shecoming？"
　　"Idon’tknowbuthe’scomingto—night。"
　　"AndyouwantIshouldseehimI"
　　"Idon’tknowbutyou’dbetter。"
　　"Allright。I’llseehim。"
　　Laphamdrewalongdeepbreathofsuspicioninspiredbythisacquiescence。"Whatyougoingtodo？"
　　heaskedpresently。
　　"Idon’tknowyet，"answeredthegirlsadly。"Itdependsagooddealuponwhathedoes。"
　　"Well，"saidLapham，withthehungrinessofunsatisfiedanxietyinhistone。WhenCorey’scardwasbroughtintothefamily—roomwhereheandPenelopeweresitting，hewentintotheparlourtofindhim。"IguessPenelopewantstoseeyou，"hesaid；and，indicatingthefamily—room，headded，"She’sinthere，"anddidnotgobackhimself。
　　Coreymadehiswaytothegirl’spresencewithopentrepidation，whichwasnotallayedbyhersilenceandlanguor。
　　Shesatinthechairwhereshehadsattheothernight，butshewasnotplayingwithafannow。
　　Hecametowardher，andthenstoodfaltering。
　　Afaintsmilequiveredoverherfaceatthespectacleofhissubjection。"Sitdown，Mr。Corey，"shesaid。
　　"There’snoreasonwhyweshouldn’ttalkitoverquietly；
　　forIknowyouwillthinkI’mright。"
　　"I’msureofthat，"heansweredhopefully。"WhenIsawthatyourfatherknewofitto—day，Iaskedhimtoletmeseeyouagain。I’mafraidthatIbrokemypromisetoyou——technically————"
　　"Ithadtobebroken。"Hetookmorecourageatherwords。
　　"ButI’veonlycometodowhateveryousay，andnottobean——annoyancetoyou————"
　　"Yes，youhavetoknow；butIcouldn’ttellyoubefore。
　　NowtheyallthinkIshould。"
　　Atremorofanxietypassedovertheyoungman’sface，onwhichshekepthereyessteadilyfixed。
　　"Wesupposedit——itwas——Irene————"
　　Heremainedblankamoment，andthenhesaidwithasmileofrelief，ofdeprecation，ofprotest，ofamazement，ofcompassion——
　　"OH！Never！Neverforaninstant！Howcouldyouthinksuchathing？Itwasimpossible！Ineverthoughtofher。
　　ButIsee——Isee！Icanexplain——no，there’snothingtoexplain！Ihaveneverknowinglydoneorsaidathingfromfirsttolasttomakeyouthinkthat。
　　Iseehowterribleitis！"hesaid；buthestillsmiled，asifhecouldnottakeitseriously。"Iadmiredherbeauty——whocouldhelpdoingthat？——andIthoughtherverygoodandsensible。Why，lastwinterinTexas，ItoldStantonaboutourmeetinginCanada，andweagreed——I
　　onlytellyoutoshowyouhowfarIalwayswasfromwhatyouthought——thathemustcomeNorthandtrytoseeher，and——and——ofcourse，itallsoundsverysilly！——andhesentheranewspaperwithanaccountofhisranchinit————"
　　"Shethoughtitcamefromyou。"
　　"Oh，goodheavens！Hedidn’ttellmetillafterhe’ddoneit。
　　Buthediditforapartofourfoolishjoke。AndwhenI
　　metyoursisteragain，Ionlyadmiredherasbefore。
　　Icansee，now，howImusthaveseemedtobeseekingherout；
　　butitwastotalkofyouwithher——InevertalkedofanythingelseifIcouldhelpit，exceptwhenIchangedthesubjectbecauseIwasashamedtobealwaystalkingofyou。Iseehowdistressingitisforallofyou。
　　Buttellmethatyoubelieveme！"
　　"Yes，Imust。It’sallbeenourmistake————"
　　"Ithasindeed！Butthere’snomistakeaboutmylovingyou，Penelope，"hesaid；andtheold—fashionedname，atwhichshehadoftenmocked，wassweettoherfromhislips。
　　"Thatonlymakesitworse！"sheanswered。
　　"Ohno！"hegentlyprotested。"Itmakesitbetter。
　　Itmakesitright。Howisitworse？Howisitwrong？"
　　"Can’tyousee？Youmustunderstandallnow！Don’tyouseethatifshebelievedsotoo，andifshe————"
　　Shecouldnotgoon。
　　"Didshe——didyoursister——thinkthattoo？"gaspedCorey。
　　"Sheusedtotalkwithmeaboutyou；andwhenyousayyoucareformenow，itmakesmefeellikethevilesthypocriteintheworld。Thatdayyougaveherthelistofbooks，andshecamedowntoNantasket，andwentonaboutyou，Ihelpedhertoflatterherself——oh！I
　　don’tseehowshecanforgiveme。ButsheknowsIcanneverforgivemyself！That’sthereasonshecandoit。
　　Icanseenow，"shewenton，"howImusthavebeentryingtogetyoufromher。Ican’tendureit！Theonlywayisformenevertoseeyouorspeaktoyouagain！"
　　Shelaughedforlornly。"Thatwouldbeprettyhardonyou，ifyoucared。"
　　"Idocare——alltheworld！"
　　"Well，then，itwouldifyouweregoingtokeeponcaring。
　　Youwon’tlong，ifyoustopcomingnow。"
　　"Isthisall，then？Isittheend？"
　　"It’s——whateveritis。Ican’tgetoverthethoughtofher。
　　OnceIthoughtIcould，butnowIseethatIcan’t。Itseemstogrowworse。SometimesIfeelasifitwoulddrivemecrazy。"
　　Hesatlookingatherwithlacklustreeyes。Thelightsuddenlycamebackintothem。"DoyouthinkIcouldloveyouifyouhadbeenfalsetoher？Iknowyouhavebeentruetoher，andtruerstilltoyourself。Inevertriedtoseeher，exceptwiththehopeofseeingyoutoo。
　　IsupposedshemustknowthatIwasinlovewithyou。
　　FromthefirsttimeIsawyoutherethatafternoon，youfilledmyfancy。DoyouthinkIwasflirtingwiththechild，or——no，youdon’tthinkthat！Wehavenotdonewrong。
　　Wehavenotharmedanyoneknowingly。Wehavearighttoeachother————"
　　"No！no！youmustneverspeaktomeofthisagain。
　　Ifyoudo，Ishallknowthatyoudespiseme。"
　　"Buthowwillthathelpher？Idon’tloveHER。"
　　"Don’tsaythattome！Ihavesaidthattomyselftoomuch。"
　　"Ifyouforbidmetoloveyou，itwon’tmakemeloveher，"
　　hepersisted。
　　Shewasabouttospeak，butshecaughtherbreathwithoutdoingso，andmerelystaredathim。"Imustdowhatyousay，"
　　hecontinued。"Butwhatgoodwillitdoher？Youcan’tmakeherhappybymakingyourselfunhappy。"
　　"Doyouaskmetoprofitbyawrong？"
　　"Notfortheworld。Butthereisnowrong！"
　　"Thereissomething——Idon’tknowwhat。There’sawallbetweenus。IshalldashmyselfagainstitaslongasIlive；butthatwon’tbreakit。"
　　"Oh！"hegroaned。"Wehavedonenowrong。Whyshouldwesufferfromanother’smistakeasifitwereoursin？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Butwemustsuffer。"
　　"Well，then，IWILLnot，formypart，andIwillnotletyou。
　　Ifyoucareforme————"
　　"Youhadnorighttoknowit。"
　　"Youmakeitmyprivilegetokeepyoufromdoingwrongfortheright’ssake。I’msorry，withallmyheartandsoul，forthiserror；butIcan’tblamemyself，andIwon’tdenymyselfthehappinessIhaven’tdoneanythingtoforfeit。
　　Iwillnevergiveyouup。Iwillwaitaslongasyoupleaseforthetimewhenyoushallfeelfreefromthismistake；
　　butyoushallbemineatlast。Rememberthat。Imightgoawayformonths——ayear，even；butthatseemsacowardlyandguiltything，andI’mnotafraid，andI’mnotguilty，andI’mgoingtostayhereandtrytoseeyou。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Itwon’tchangeanything？Don’tyouseethatthere’snohopeforus？"
　　"Whenisshecomingback？"heasked。
　　"Idon’tknow。MotherwantsfathertocomeandtakeheroutWestforawhile。"
　　"She’supthereinthecountrywithyourmotheryet？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Hewassilent；thenhesaiddesperately——
　　"Penelope，sheisveryyoung；andperhaps——perhapsshemightmeet————"
　　"Itwouldmakenodifference。Itwouldn’tchangeitforme。"
　　"Youarecruel——crueltoyourself，ifyouloveme，andcrueltome。Don’tyourememberthatnight——beforeIspoke——youweretalkingofthatbook；andyousaiditwasfoolishandwickedtodoasthatgirldid。Whyisitdifferentwithyou，exceptthatyougivemenothing，andcannevergivemeanythingwhenyoutakeyourselfaway？
　　Ifitwereanybodyelse，Iamsureyouwouldsay————"
　　"Butitisn’tanybodyelse，andthatmakesitimpossible。
　　SometimesIthinkitmightbeifIwouldonlysaysotomyself，andthenallthatIsaidtoheraboutyoucomesup————"
　　"Iwillwait。Itcan’talwayscomeup。Iwon’turgeyouanylongernow。Butyouwillseeitdifferently——
　　moreclearly。Good—bye——no！Goodnight！Ishallcomeagainto—morrow。Itwillsurelycomeright，and，whateverhappens，youhavedonenowrong。Trytokeepthatinmind。
　　Iamsohappy，inspiteofall！"
　　Hetriedtotakeherhand，butsheputitbehindher。
　　"No，no！Ican’tletyou——yet！"
　　XX。