Itplacesmeinaridiculousposition。"Rogersurgedhisgrievancecalmly，almostimpersonally，makinghisappealtoLapham’ssenseofjustice。"ICAN’Tgobacktothosepartiesandtellthemyouwon’tseethem。
　　It’snoanswertomake。They’vegotarighttoknowwhyyouwon’tseethem。"
　　"Verywell，then！"criedLapham；"I’llcomeandTELL
　　themwhy。WhoshallIaskfor？WhenshallIbethere？"
　　"Ateighto’clock，please，"saidRogers，rising，withoutapparentalarmathisthreat，ifitwasathreat。
　　"Andaskforme；I’vetakenaroomatthehotelforthepresent。"
　　"Iwon’tkeepyoufiveminuteswhenIgetthere，"
　　saidLapham；buthedidnotcomeawaytillteno’clock。
　　Itappearedtohimasiftheverydevilwasinit。
　　TheEnglishmentreatedhisdownrightrefusaltosellasapieceofbluff，andtalkedonasthoughitweremerelytheopeningofthenegotiation。Whenhebecameplainwiththeminhisanger，andtoldthemwhyhewouldnotsell，theyseemedtohavebeenpreparedforthisasastrokeofbusiness，andwerereadytomeetit。
　　"Hasthisfellow，"hedemanded，twistinghisheadinthedirectionofRogers，butdisdainingtonoticehimotherwise，"beentellingyouthatit’spartofmygametosaythis？Well，sir，Icantellyou，onmyside，thatthereisn’taslipperierrascalunhunginAmericathanMiltonK。Rogers！"
　　TheEnglishmentreatedthisasapieceofgenuineAmericanhumour，andreturnedtothechargewithunabatedcourage。
　　Theyownednow，thatapersoninterestedwiththemhadbeenouttolookattheproperty，andthattheyweresatisfiedwiththeappearanceofthings。Theydevelopedfurtherthefactthattheywerenotactingsolely，orevenprincipally，intheirownbehalf，butweretheagentsofpeopleinEnglandwhohadprojectedthecolonisationofasortofcommunityonthespot，somewhataftertheplanofotherEnglishdreamers，andthattheyweresatisfied，fromacarefulinspection，thattheresourcesandfacilitieswerethosebestcalculatedtodeveloptheenergyandenterpriseoftheproposedcommunity。TheywerepreparedtomeetMr。Lapham——Colonel，theybeggedhispardon，attheinstanceofRogers——atanyreasonablefigure，andwerequitewillingtoassumetheriskshehadpointedout。Somethingintheeyesofthesemen，somethingthatlurkedataninfinitedepthbelowtheirspeech，andwasnotreallyintheireyeswhenLaphamlookedagain，hadflashedthroughhimasenseoftreacheryinthem。
　　HehadthoughtthemthedupesofRogers；butinthatbriefinstanthehadseenthem——orthoughthehadseenthem——hisaccomplices，readytobetraytheinterestsofwhichtheywentontospeakwithacertaincomfortablejocosity，andacertainincredulousslightofhisshowofintegrity。
　　ItwasadeepergamethanLaphamwasusedto，andhesatlookingwithasortofadmirationfromoneEnglishmantotheother，andthentoRogers，whomaintainedanexteriorofmodestneutrality，andwhoseairsaid，"Ihavebroughtyougentlementogetherasthefriendofallparties，andI
　　nowleaveyoutosettleitamongyourselves。Iasknothing，andexpectnothing，exceptthesmallsumwhichshallaccruetomeafterthedischargeofmyobligationstoColonelLapham。"
　　WhileRogers’spresenceexpressedthis，oneoftheEnglishmenwassaying，"Andifyouhaveanyscrupleinallowin’
　　ustoassumethisrisk，ColonelLapham，perhapsyoucanconsoleyourselfwiththefactthattheloss，ifthereistobeany，willfalluponpeoplewhoareabletobearit——uponanassociationofrichandcharitablepeople。
　　Butwe’requitesatisfiedtherewillbenoloss，"
　　headdedsavingly。"Allyouhavetodoistonameyourprice，andwewilldoourbesttomeetit。"
　　TherewasnothingintheEnglishman’ssophistryveryshockingtoLapham。Itaddresseditselfinhimtothateasy—going，notevillyintentioned，potentialimmoralitywhichregardscommonpropertyascommonprey，andgivesusthemostcorruptmunicipalgovernmentsunderthesun——whichmakesthepoorestvoter，whenhehastrickedintoplace，asunscrupulousinregardtoothers’moneyasanhereditaryprince。LaphammettheEnglishman’seye，andwithdifficultykepthimselffromwinking。
　　Thenhelookedaway，andtriedtofindoutwherehestood，orwhathewantedtodo。Hecouldhardlytell。
　　HehadexpectedtocomeintothatroomandunmaskRogers，andhaveitover。ButhehadunmaskedRogerswithoutanyeffectwhatever，andtheplayhadonlybegun。
　　Hehadawhimsicalandsarcasticsenseofitsbeingverydifferentfromtheplaysatthetheatre。Hecouldnotgetupandgoawayinsilentcontempt；hecouldnottelltheEnglishmenthathebelievedthemapairofscoundrelsandshouldhavenothingtodowiththem；
　　hecouldnolongertreatthemasinnocentdupes。
　　Heremainedbaffledandperplexed，andtheonewhohadnotspokenhithertoremarked——
　　"Ofcourseweshan’t’aggleaboutafewpound，moreorless。
　　IfColonelLapham’sfigureshouldbealittlelargerthanours，I’venodoubt’e’llnotbetoo’arduponusintheend。"
　　Laphamappreciatedalltheintentofthissubtlesuggestion，andunderstoodasplainlyasifithadbeensaidinsomanywords，thatiftheypaidhimalargerprice，itwastobeexpectedthatacertainportionofthepurchase—moneywastoreturntotheirownhands。Stillhecouldnotmove；
　　anditseemedtohimthathecouldnotspeak。
　　"Ringthatbell，Mr。Rogers，"saidtheEnglishmanwhohadlastspoken，glancingattheannunciatorbuttoninthewallnearRogers’shead，"and’aveupsomething’of，can’tyou？IshouldlikeTOwetmew’istle，asyousay’ere，andColonelLaphamseemstofinditratherdrywork。"
　　Laphamjumpedtohisfeet，andbuttonedhisovercoatabouthim。HerememberedwithterrorthedinneratCorey’swherehehaddisgracedandbetrayedhimself，andifhewentintothisthingatall，hewasgoingintoitsober。
　　"Ican’tstop，"hesaid，"Imustbegoing。"
　　"Butyouhaven’tgivenusanansweryet，Mr。Lapham，"
　　saidthefirstEnglishmanwithasuccessfulshowofdignifiedsurprise。
　　"TheonlyanswerIcangiveyounowis，NO，"saidLapham。
　　"Ifyouwantanother，youmustletmehavetimetothinkitover。"
　　"But’owmuchtime？"saidtheotherEnglishman。
　　"We’repressedfortimeourselves，andwehopedforananswer——’opedforahanswer，"hecorrectedhimself，"atonce。Thatwasourunderstandin’withMr。Rogers。"
　　"Ican’tletyouknowtillmorning，anyway，"saidLapham，andhewentout，ashiscustomoftenwas，withoutanypartingsalutation。HethoughtRogersmighttrytodetainhim；butRogershadremainedseatedwhentheothersgottotheirfeet，andpaidnoattentiontohisdeparture。
　　Hewalkedoutintothenightair，everypulsethrobbingwiththestrongtemptation。Heknewverywellthosemenwouldwait，andgladlywait，tillthemorning，andthatthewholeaffairwasinhishands。Itmadehimgroaninspirittothinkthatitwas。Ifhehadhopedthatsomechancemighttakethedecisionfromhim，therewasnosuchchance，inthepresentorfuture，thathecouldsee。Itwasforhimalonetocommitthisrascality——ifitwasarascality——ornot。
　　Hewalkedallthewayhome，lettingonecarafteranotherpasshimonthestreet，nowsoemptyofotherpassing，anditwasalmosteleveno’clockwhenhereachedhome。
　　Acarriagestoodbeforehishouse，andwhenhelethimselfinwithhiskey，heheardtalkinginthefamily—room。ItcameintohisheadthatIrenehadgotbackunexpectedly，andthatthesightofherwassomehowgoingtomakeitharderforhim；thenhethoughtitmightbeCorey，comeuponsomedesperatepretexttoseePenelope；
　　butwhenheopenedthedoorhesaw，withacertainabsenceofsurprise，thatitwasRogers。Hewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplace，talkingtoMrs。Lapham，andhehadbeensheddingtears；drytearstheyseemed，andtheyhadleftasortofsandy，glisteningtraceonhischeeks。Apparentlyhewasnotashamedofthem，fortheexpressionwithwhichhemetLaphamwasthatofamanmakingadesperateappealinhisowncause，whichwasidenticalwiththatofhumanity，ifnotthatofjustice。
　　"Isomeexpected，"beganRogers，"tofindyouhere————"
　　"No，youdidn’t，"interruptedLapham；"youwantedtocomehereandmakeapoormouthtoMrs。LaphambeforeIgothome。"
　　"IknewthatMrs。Laphamwouldknowwhatwasgoingon，"
　　saidRogersmorecandidly，butnotmorevirtuously，forthathecouldnot，"andIwishedhertounderstandapointthatIhadn’tputtoyouatthehotel，andthatIwantyoushouldconsider。AndIwantyoushouldconsidermealittleinthisbusinesstoo；
　　you’renottheonlyonethat’sconcerned，Itellyou，andI’vebeentellingMrs。Laphamthatit’smyonechance；
　　thatifyoudon’tmeetmeonit，mywifeandchildrenwillbereducedtobeggary。"
　　"Sowillmine，"saidLapham，"orthenextthingtoit。"
　　"Well，then，Iwantyoutogivemethischancetogetonmyfeetagain。You’venorighttodeprivemeofit；
　　it’sunchristian。InourdealingswitheachotherweshouldbeguidedbytheGoldenRule，asIwassayingtoMrs。Laphambeforeyoucamein。ItoldherthatifIknewmyself，Ishouldinyourplaceconsiderthecircumstancesofamaninmine，whohadhonourablyendeavouredtodischargehisobligationstome，andhadpatientlybornemyundeservedsuspicions。
　　Ishouldconsiderthatman’sfamily，ItoldMrs。Lapham。"
　　"DidyoutellherthatifIwentinwithyouandthosefellows，Ishouldberobbingthepeoplewhotrustedthem？"
　　"Idon’tseewhatyou’vegottodowiththepeoplethatsentthemhere。Theyarerichpeople，andcouldbearitifitcametotheworst。Butthere’snolikelihood，now，thatitwillcometotheworst；
　　youcanseeyourselfthattheRoadhaschangeditsmindaboutbuying。AndhereamIwithoutacentintheworld；
　　andmywifeisaninvalid。Sheneedscomforts，sheneedslittleluxuries，andshehasn’teventhenecessaries；
　　andyouwanttosacrificehertoamereidea！Youdon’tknowinthefirstplacethattheRoadwilleverwanttobuy；
　　andifitdoes，theprobabilityisthatwithacolonylikethatplantedonitsline，itwouldmakeverydifferenttermsfromwhatitwouldwithyouorme。Theseagentsarenotafraid，andtheirprincipalsarerichpeople；
　　andiftherewasanyloss，itwouldbedividedupamongstthemsothattheywouldn’tanyofthemfeelit。"
　　Laphamstoleatroubledglanceathiswife，andsawthattherewasnohelpinher。Whethershewasdauntedandconfusedinherownconsciencebytheoutcome，soevilanddisastrous，ofthereparationtoRogerswhichshehadforcedherhusbandtomake，orwhetherherperceptionshadbeenbluntedanddarkenedbytheappealswhichRogershadnowused，itwouldbedifficulttosay。
　　Probablytherewasamixtureofbothcausesintheeffectwhichherhusbandfeltinher，andfromwhichheturned，girdinghimselfanew，toRogers。
　　"Ihavenowishtorecurtothepast，"continuedRogers，withgrowingsuperiority。"Youhaveshownaproperspiritinregardtothat，andyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtowipeitout。"
　　"IshouldthinkIhad，"saidLapham。"I’veusedupaboutahundredandfiftythousanddollarstrying。"
　　"Someofmyenterprises，"Rogersadmitted，"havebeenunfortunate，seemingly；butIhavehopesthattheywillyetturnoutwell——intime。Ican’tunderstandwhyyoushouldbesomindfulofothersnow，whenyoushowedsolittleregardformethen。Ihadcometoyouraidatatimewhenyouneededhelp，andwhenyougotonyourfeetyoukickedmeoutofthebusiness。Idon’tcomplain，butthatisthefact；andIhadtobeginagain，afterI
　　hadsupposedmyselfsettledinlife，andestablishmyselfelsewhere。"
　　Laphamglancedagainathiswife；herheadhadfallen；
　　hecouldseethatshewassorootedinheroldremorseforthatquestionableactofhis，amplyandmorethanfullyatonedforsince，thatshewashelpless，nowinthecrucialmoment，whenhehadtheutmostneedofherinsight。
　　Hehadcounteduponher；heperceivednowthatwhenhehadthoughtitwasforhimalonetodecide，hehadcounteduponherjustspirittostayhisowninitsstruggletobejust。
　　Hehadnotforgottenhowsheheldoutagainsthimonlyalittlewhileago，whenheaskedherwhetherhemightnotrightfullysellinsomesuchcontingencyasthis；
　　anditwasnotnowthatshesaidorevenlookedanythinginfavourofRogers，butthatshewassilentagainsthim，whichdismayedLapham。Heswallowedthelumpthatroseinhisthroat，theself—pity，thepityforher，thedespair，andsaidgently，"Iguessyoubettergotobed，Persis。
　　It’sprettylate。"
　　Sheturnedtowardsthedoor，whenRogerssaid，withtheobviousintentionofdetainingherthroughhercuriosity——
　　"ButIletthatpass。AndIdon’tasknowthatyoushouldselltothesemen。"
　　Mrs。Laphampaused，irresolute。
　　"Whatareyoumakingthisbotherfor，then？"demandedLapham。
　　"WhatDOyouwant？"
　　"WhatI’vebeentellingyourwifehere。Iwantyoushouldselltome。Idon’tsaywhatI’mgoingtodowiththeproperty，andyouwillnothaveaniotaofresponsibility，whateverhappens。"
　　Laphamwasstaggered，andhesawhiswife’sfacelightupwitheagerquestion。
　　"Iwantthatproperty，"continuedRogers，"andI’vegotthemoneytobuyit。Whatwillyoutakeforit？Ifit’sthepriceyou’restandingoutfor————"
　　"Persis，"saidLapham，"gotobed，"andhegaveheralookthatmeantobedienceforher。Shewentoutofthedoor，andlefthimwithhistempter。
　　"IfyouthinkI’mgoingtohelpyouwhipthedevilroundthestump，you’remistakeninyourman，MiltonRogers，"
　　saidLapham，lightingacigar。"AssoonasIsoldtoyou，youwouldselltothatotherpairofrascals。Ismelt’emoutinhalfaminute。"
　　"TheyareChristiangentlemen，"saidRogers。"ButI
　　don’tpurposedefendingthem；andIdon’tpurposetellingyouwhatIshallorshallnotdowiththepropertywhenitisinmyhandsagain。Thequestionis，Willyousell，and，ifso，whatisyourfigure？Youhavegotnothingwhatevertodowithitafteryou’vesold。"
　　Itwasperfectlytrue。Anylawyerwouldhavetoldhimthesame。
　　HecouldnothelpadmiringRogersforhisingenuity，andeveryselfishinterestofhisnaturejoinedwithmanyobviousdutiestourgehimtoconsent。Hedidnotseewhyheshouldrefuse。Therewasnolongerareason。
　　Hewasstandingoutalonefornothing，anyoneelsewouldsay。HesmokedonasifRogerswerenotthere，andRogersremainedbeforethefireaspatientastheclocktickingbehindhisheadonthemantel，andshowingthegleamofitspendulumbeyondhisfaceoneitherside。
　　Butatlasthesaid，"Well？"
　　"Well，"answeredLapham，"youcan’texpectmetogiveyouananswerto—night，anymorethanbefore。Youknowthatwhatyou’vesaidnowhasn’tchangedthethingabit。
　　Iwishithad。TheLordknows，Iwanttoberidofthepropertyfastenough。""Thenwhydon’tyouselltome？
　　Can’tyouseethatyouwillnotberesponsibleforwhathappensafteryouhavesold？"
　　"No，Ican’tseethat；butifIcanbymorning，I’llsell。"
　　"Whydoyouexpecttoknowanybetterbymorning？
　　You’rewastingtimefornothing！"criedRogers，inhisdisappointment。"Whyareyousoparticular？Whenyoudrovemeoutofthebusinessyouwerenotsoveryparticular。"
　　Laphamwinced。Itwascertainlyridiculousformanwhohadoncesoselfishlyconsultedhisownintereststobesticklingnowabouttherightsofothers。
　　"Iguessnothing’sgoingtohappenovernight，"heansweredsullenly。"Anyway，Ishan’tsaywhatIshalldotillmorning。"
　　"WhattimecanIseeyouinthemorning？"
　　"Half—pastnine。"
　　Rogersbuttonedhiscoat，andwentoutoftheroomwithoutanotherword。Laphamfollowedhimtoclosethestreet—doorafterhim。
　　Hiswifecalleddowntohimfromaboveasheapproachedtheroomagain，"Well？"
　　"I’vetoldhimI’dlethimknowinthemorning。"
　　"WantIshouldcomedownandtalkwithyou？"
　　"No，"answeredLapham，intheproudbitternesswhichhisisolationbrought，"youcouldn’tdoanygood。"Hewentinandshutthedoor，andbyandbyhiswifeheardhimbeginwalkingupanddown；andthentherestofthenightshelayawakeandlistenedtohimwalkingupanddown。
　　Butwhenthefirstlightwhitenedthewindow，thewordsoftheScripturecameintohermind："Andtherewrestledamanwithhimuntilthebreakingoftheday……Andhesaid，Letmego，forthedaybreaketh。Andhesaid，Iwillnotlettheego，exceptthoublessme。"
　　Shecouldnotaskhimanythingwhentheymet，butheraisedhisdulleyesafterthefirstsilence，andsaid，"Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtosaytoRogers。"
　　Shecouldnotspeak；shedidnotknowwhattosay，andshesawherhusbandwhenshefollowedhimwithhereyesfromthewindow，dragheavilydowntowardthecorner，wherehewastotake，thehorse—car。
　　Hearrivedratherlaterthanusualathisoffice，andhefoundhislettersalreadyonhistable。Therewasone，longandofficial—looking，withaprintedletter—headingontheoutside，andLaphamhadnoneedtoopenitinordertoknowthatitwastheofferoftheGreatLacustrine&
　　PolarRailroadforhismills。Buthewentmechanicallythroughtheverificationofhispropheticfear，whichwasalsohissolehope，andthensatlookingblanklyatit。
　　Rogerscamepromptlyattheappointedtime，andLaphamhandedhimtheletter。Hemusthavetakenitallinataglance，andseentheimpossibilityofnegotiatinganyfurthernow，evenwithvictimssopliantandwillingasthoseEnglishmen。
　　"You’veruinedme！"Rogersbrokeout。"Ihaven’tacentleftintheworld！Godhelpmypoorwife！"
　　Hewentout，andLaphamremainedstaringatthedoorwhichcloseduponhim。Thiswashisrewardforstandingfirmforrightandjusticetohisowndestruction：
　　tofeellikeathiefandamurderer。
　　XXVI。
　　LATERintheforenooncamethedespatchfromtheWestVirginiansinNewYork，sayingtheirbrotherassentedtotheiragreement；
　　anditnowremainedforLaphamtofulfilhispartofit。
　　Hewasludicrouslyfarfromabletodothis；andunlesshecouldgetsomeextensionoftimefromthem，hemustlosethischance，hisonlychance，toretrievehimself。
　　Hespentthetimeinadesperateendeavourtoraisethemoney，buthehadnotraisedthehalfofitwhenthebanksclosed。
　　WithshameinhishearthewenttoBellingham，fromwhomhehadpartedsohaughtily，andlaidhisplanbeforehim。
　　HecouldnotbringhimselftoaskBellingham’shelp，buthetoldhimwhatheproposedtodo。Bellinghampointedoutthatthewholethingwasanexperiment，andthatthepriceaskedwasenormous，unlessagreatsuccessweremorallycertain。Headviseddelay，headvisedprudence；
　　heinsistedthatLaphamoughtatleasttogoouttoKanawhaFalls，andseetheminesandworksbeforeheputanysuchsumintothedevelopmentoftheenterprise。
　　"That’sallwellenough，"criedLapham；"butifIdon’tclinchthisofferwithintwenty—fourhours，they’llwithdrawit，andgointothemarket；andthenwhereamI？"
　　"Goonandseethemagain，"saidBellingham。"Theycan’tbesoperemptoryasthatwithyou。Theymustgiveyoutimetolookatwhattheywanttosell。Ifitturnsoutwhatyouhope，then——I’llseewhatcanbedone。
　　Butlookintoitthoroughly。"
　　"Well！"criedLapham，helplesslysubmitting。Hetookouthiswatch，andsawthathehadfortyminutestocatchthefouro’clocktrain。Hehurriedbacktohisoffice，andputtogethersomepaperspreparatorytogoing，anddespatchedanotebyhisboytoMrs。LaphamsayingthathewasstartingforNewYork，anddidnotknowjustwhenheshouldgetback。
　　Theearlyspringdaywasrawandcold。Ashewentoutthroughtheofficehesawtheclerksatworkwiththeirstreet—coatsandhatson；MissDeweyhadherjacketdraggeduponhershoulders，andlookedparticularlycomfortlessassheoperatedhermachinewithherredfingers。
　　"What’sup？"askedLapham，stoppingamoment。
　　"Seemstobesomethingthematterwiththesteam，"
　　sheanswered，withtheairofunmeritedwronghabitualwithsomanyprettywomenwhohavetoworkforaliving。
　　"Well，takeyourwriterintomyroom。There’safireinthestovethere，"saidLapham，passingout。
　　Halfanhourlaterhiswifecameintotheouteroffice。
　　Shehadpassedthedayinapassionofself—reproach，graduallymountingfromthementalnumbnessinwhichhehadlefther，andnowshecouldwaitnolongertotellhimthatshesawhowshehadforsakenhiminhishouroftrialandlefthimtobearitalone。Shewonderedatherselfinshameanddismay；shewonderedthatshecouldhavebeensoconfusedastotherealpointbythatoldwretchofaRogers，thatshecouldhavelethimhoodwinkherso，evenforamoment。Itastoundedherthatsuchathingshouldhavehappened，foriftherewasanyvirtueuponwhichthisgoodwomanpridedherself，inwhichshethoughtherselfsuperiortoherhusband，itwasherinstantandsteadfastperceptionofrightandwrong，andtheabilitytochoosetherighttoherownhurt。
　　Butshehadnowtoconfess，aseachofushashadlikewisetoconfessinhisowncase，thattheveryvirtueonwhichshehadpridedherselfwasthethingthathadplayedherfalse；
　　thatshehadkepthermindsolonguponthatoldwrongwhichshebelievedherhusbandhaddonethismanthatshecouldnotdetachit，butclungtothethoughtofreparationforitwhensheoughttohaveseenthathewasproposingapieceofrogueryasthemeans。ThesufferingwhichLaphammustinflictonhimifhedecidedagainsthimhadbeenmoretoherapprehensionthantheharmhemightdoifhedecidedforhim。Butnowsheownedherlimitationstoherself，andaboveeverythingintheworldshewishedthemanwhomherconsciencehadrousedanddrivenonwhitherherintelligencehadnotfollowed，todoright，todowhathefelttoberight，andnothingelse。
　　Sheadmiredandreveredhimforgoingbeyondher，andshewishedtotellhimthatshedidnotknowwhathehaddeterminedtodoaboutRogers，butthatsheknewitwasright，andwouldgladlyabidetheconsequenceswithhim，whatevertheywere。
　　Shehadnotbeennearhisplaceofbusinessfornearlyayear，andherheartsmotehertenderlyasshelookedaboutherthere，andthoughtoftheearlydayswhensheknewasmuchaboutthepaintashedid；shewishedthatthosedayswerebackagain。ShesawCoreyathisdesk，andshecouldnotbeartospeaktohim；shedroppedherveilthatsheneednotrecognisehim，andpushedontoLapham’sroom，andopeningthedoorwithoutknocking，shutitbehindher。
　　Thenshebecameawarewithintolerabledisappointmentthatherhusbandwasnotthere。Instead，averyprettygirlsatathisdesk，operatingatypewriter。
　　Sheseemedquiteathome，andshepaidMrs。Laphamthescantattentionwhichsuchyoungwomenoftenbestowuponpeoplenotpersonallyinterestingtothem。
　　Itvexedthewifethatanyoneelseshouldseemtobehelpingherhusbandaboutbusinessthatshehadoncebeensointimatewith；andshedidnotatalllikethegirl’sindifferencetoherpresence。Herhatandsackhungonanailinonecorner，andLapham’sofficecoat，lookingintenselylikehimtohiswife’sfamiliareye，hungonanailintheothercorner；andMrs。Laphamlikedevenlessthanthegirl’sgoodlooksthisdomesticationofhergarmentsinherhusband’soffice。Shebegantoaskherselfexcitedlywhyheshouldbeawayfromhisofficewhenshehappenedtocome；andshehadnotthestrengthatthemomenttoreasonherselfoutofherunreasonableness。
　　"WhenwillColonelLaphambein，doyousuppose？"
　　shesharplyaskedofthegirl。
　　"Icouldn’tsayexactly，"repliedthegirl，withoutlookinground。
　　"Hashebeenoutlong？"
　　"Idon’tknowasInoticed，"saidthegirl，lookingupattheclock，withoutlookingatMrs。Lapham。Shewentonworkinghermachine。
　　"Well，Ican’twaitanylonger，"saidthewifeabruptly。
　　"WhenColonelLaphamcomesin，youpleasetellhimMrs。Laphamwantstoseehim。"
　　ThegirlstartedtoherfeetandturnedtowardMrs。Laphamwitharedandstartledface，whichshedidnotlifttoconfronther。"Yes——yes——Iwill，"shefaltered。
　　Thewifewenthomewithasenseofdefeatmixedwithanirritationaboutthisgirlwhichshecouldnotquelloraccountfor。Shefoundherhusband’smessage，anditseemedintolerablethatheshouldhavegonetoNewYorkwithoutseeingher；sheaskedherselfinvainwhatthemysteriousbusinesscouldbethattookhimawaysosuddenly。Shesaidtoherselfthathewasneglectingher；hewasleavingheroutalittletoomuch；
　　andindemandingofherselfwhyhehadnevermentionedthatgirlthereinhisoffice，sheforgothowmuchshehadleftherselfoutofhisbusinesslife。Thatwasanothercurseoftheirprosperity。Well，shewasgladtheprosperitywasgoing；ithadneverbeenhappiness。
　　Afterthisshewasgoingtoknoweverythingassheused。
　　ShetriedtodismissthewholemattertillLaphamreturned；
　　andiftherehadbeenanythingforhertodointhatmiserablehouse，asshecalleditinherthought，shemighthavesucceeded。Butagainthecursewasonher；
　　therewasnothingtodo；andthelooksofthatgirlkeptcomingbacktohervacancy，herdisoccupation。
　　Shetriedtomakeherselfsomethingtodo，butthatbeauty，whichshehadnotliked，followedheramidtheworkofoverhaulingthesummerclothing，whichIrenehadseentoputtingawayinthefall。Whowasthething，anyway？Itwasverystrange，herbeingthere；whydidshejumpupinthatfrightenedwaywhenMrs。Laphamhadnamedherself？
　　Afterdark，thatevening，whenthequestionhadwornawayitspoignancyfrommereiteration，anoteforMrs。Laphamwasleftatthedoorbyamessengerwhosaidtherewasnoanswer。