"Anoteforme？"shesaid，staringattheunknown，andsomehowartificial—looking，handwritingofthesuperscription。
　　Thensheopeneditandread："Askyourhusbandabouthisladycopying—clerk。AFriendandWell—wisher，"
　　whosignedthenote，gavenoothername。
　　Mrs。Laphamsathelplesswithitinherhand。
　　Herbrainreeled；shetriedtofightthemadnessoff；
　　butbeforeLaphamcamebackthesecondmorning，ithadbecome，withlesseningintervalsofsanityandrelease，ademoniacalpossession。Shepassedthenightwithoutsleep，withoutrest，inthefrenzyofthecruellestofthepassions，whichcoverswithshametheunhappysoulitpossesses，andmurderouslylustsforthemiseryofitsobject。
　　IfshehadknownwheretofindherhusbandinNewYork，shewouldhavefollowedhim；shewaitedhisreturninanecstasyofimpatience。Inthemorninghecameback，lookingspentandhaggard。Shesawhimdriveuptothedoor，andsherantolethiminherself"Whoisthatgirlyou’vegotinyouroffice，SilasLapham？"
　　shedemanded，whenherhusbandentered。
　　"Girlinmyoffice？"
　　"Yes！Whoisshe？Whatisshedoingthere？""Why，whathaveyouheardabouther？"
　　"NeveryoumindwhatI’veheard。Whoisshe？ISITMRS。
　　M。THATYOUGAVETHATMONEYTO？Iwanttoknowwhosheis！Iwanttoknowwhatarespectableman，withgrown—upgirlsofhisown，isdoingwithsuchalookingthingasthatinhisoffice？Iwanttoknowhowlongshe’sbeenthere？Iwanttoknowwhatshe’sthereatallfor？"
　　Hehadmechanicallypushedherbeforehimintothelong，darkenedparlour，andheshuthimselfintherewithhernow，tokeepthehouseholdfromhearingherliftedvoice。
　　Forawhilehestoodbewildered，andcouldnothaveansweredifhewould，andthenhewouldnot。Hemerelyasked，"HaveIeveraccusedyouofanythingwrong，Persis？"
　　"Younoneedto！"sheansweredfuriously，placingherselfagainstthecloseddoor。
　　"Didyoueverknowmetodoanythingoutoftheway？"
　　"Thatisn’twhatIaskedyou。"
　　"Well，Iguessyoumayfindoutaboutthatgirlyourself。
　　Getawayfromthedoor。"
　　"Iwon’tgetawayfromthedoor。"
　　Shefeltherselfsetlightlyaside，andherhusbandopenedthedoorandwentout。"IWILLfindoutabouther，"
　　shescreamedafterhim。"I’llfindout，andI’lldisgraceyou。I’llteachyouhowtotreatme————"
　　Theairblackenedroundher：shereeledtothesofaandthenshefoundherselfwakingfromafaint。
　　Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadlainthere，shedidnotcare。Inamomenthermadnesscamewhirlingbackuponher。Sherusheduptohisroom；itwasempty；
　　thecloset—doorsstoodajarandthedrawerswereopen；
　　hemusthavepackedabaghastilyandfled。Shewentoutandwanderedcrazilyupanddowntillshefoundahack。
　　Shegavethedriverherhusband’sbusinessaddress，andtoldhimtodrivethereasfastashecould；
　　andthreetimessheloweredthewindowtoputherheadoutandaskhimifhecouldnothurry。Athousandthingsthrongedintohermindtosupportherinherevilwill。
　　Sherememberedhowgladandproudthatmanhadbeentomarryher，andhoweverybodysaidshewasmarryingbeneathherwhenshetookhim。Sherememberedhowgoodshehadalwaysbeentohim，howperfectlydevoted，slavingearlyandlatetoadvancehim，andlookingoutforhisinterestsinallthings，andsparingherselfinnothing。
　　Ifithadnotbeenforher，hemighthavebeendrivingstageyet；andsincetheirtroubleshadbegun，thetroubleswhichhisownfollyandimprudencehadbroughtonthem，herconducthadbeenthatofatrueandfaithfulwife。
　　WasHEthesortofmantobeallowedtoplayherfalsewithimpunity？Shesetherteethanddrewherbreathsharplythroughthemwhenshethoughthowwillinglyshehadlethimbefoolher，anddeludeheraboutthatmemorandumofpaymentstoMrs。M。，becauseshelovedhimsomuch，andpitiedhimforhiscaresandanxieties。Sherecalledhisconfusion，hisguiltylooks。
　　Sheplungedoutofthecarriagesohastilywhenshereachedtheofficethatshedidnotthinkofpayingthedriver；
　　audhehadtocallafterherwhenshehadgothalf—wayupthestairs。ThenshewentstraighttoLapham’sroom，withoutrageinherheart。Therewasagainnoonetherebutthattype—writergirl；shejumpedtoherfeetinafright，asMrs。Laphamdashedthedoortobehindherandflungupherveil。
　　Thetwowomenconfrontedeachother。
　　"Why，thegoodland！"criedMrs。Lapham，"ain’tyouZerrillaMillon？"
　　"I——I’mmarried，"falteredthegirl"Myname’sDewey，now。"
　　"You’reJimMillon’sdaughter，anyway。Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？"
　　"Ihaven’tbeenhereregularly；I’vebeenhereoffandoneversincelastMay。"
　　"Where’syourmother？"
　　"She’shere——inBoston。"
　　Mrs。Laphamkepthereyesonthegirl，butshedropped，trembling，intoherhusband’schair，andasortofamazeandcuriositywereinhervoiceinsteadofthefuryshehadmeanttoputthere。
　　"TheColonel，"continuedZerrilla，"he’sbeenhelpingus，andhe’sgotmeatype—writer，sothatIcanhelpmyselfalittle。Mother’sdoingprettywellnow；andwhenHenisn’taroundwecangetalong。"
　　"Thatyourhusband？"
　　"Ineverwantedtomarryhim；buthepromisedtotrytogetsomethingtodoonshore；andmotherwasallforit，becausehehadalittlepropertythen，andIthoughtmaybeI’dbetter。Butit’sturnedoutjustasIsaidandifhedon’tstayawaylongenoughthistimetoletmegetthedivorce，——he’sagreedtoit，timeandagain，——I
　　don’tknowwhatwe’regoingtodo。"Zerrilla’svoicefell，andthetroublewhichshecouldkeepoutofherfaceusually，whenshewascomfortablywarmedandfedandprettilydressed，cloudeditinthepresenceofasympatheticlistener。
　　"Isawitwasyou，whenyoucameintheotherday，"
　　shewenton；"butyoudidn’tseemtoknowme。IsupposetheColonel’stoldyouthatthere’sagentlemangoingtomarryme——Mr。Wemmel’shisname——assoonasIgetthedivorce；butsometimesI’mcompletelydiscouraged；
　　itdon’tseemasifIevercouldgetit。"
　　Mrs。Laphamwouldnotletherknowthatshewasignorantofthefactattributedtoherknowledge。
　　SheremainedlisteningtoZerrilla，andpiecingoutthewholehistoryofherpresencetherefromthefactsofthepast，andthetraitsofherhusband’scharacter。
　　OneofthethingsshehadalwayshadtofighthimaboutwasthatideaofhisthathewasboundtotakecareofJimMillon’sworthlesswifeandherchildbecauseMillonhadgotthebulletthatwasmeantforhim。Itwasaperfectsuperstitionofhis；shecouldnotbeatitoutofhim；
　　butshehadmadehimpromisethelasttimehehaddoneanythingforthatwomanthatitshouldBEthelasttime。
　　Hehadthengotheralittlehouseinoneofthefishingports，whereshecouldtakethesailorstoboardandwashfor，andearnanhonestlivingifshewouldkeepstraight。
　　Thatwasfiveorsixyearsago，andMrs。LaphamhadheardnothingofMrs。Millonsince；shehadheardquiteenoughofherbefore；andhadknownheridleandbaddisheversinceshewastheworstlittlegirlatschoolinLumberville，andallthroughhershamefulgirlhood，andthemarrieddayswhichshehadmadesomiserabletothepoorfellowwhohadgivenherhisdecentnameandachancetobehaveherself。
　　Mrs。LaphamhadnomercyonMollMillon，andshehadquarrelledoftenenoughwithherhusbandforbefriendingher。
　　Asforthechild，ifthemotherwouldputZerrillaoutwithsomerespectablefamily，thatwouldbeONEthing；
　　butaslongasshekeptZerrillawithher，shewasagainstlettingherhusbanddoanythingforeitherofthem。
　　Hehaddonetentimesasmuchforthemnowashehadanyneedto，andshehadmadehimgiveherhissolemnwordthathewoulddonomore。Shesawnowthatshewaswrongtomakehimgiveit，andthathemusthavebrokenitagainandagainforthereasonthathehadgivenwhensheoncescoldedhimforthrowingawayhismoneyonthathussy——
　　"WhenIthinkofJimMillon，I’vegotto；that’sall。"
　　SherecallednowthatwhenevershehadbroughtupthesubjectofMrs。Millonandherdaughter，hehadseemedshyofit，andhaddroppeditwithsomeguessthattheyweregettingalongnow。ShewonderedthatshehadnotthoughtatonceofMrs。MillonwhenshesawthatmemorandumaboutMrs。M。；
　　butthewomanhadpassedsoentirelyoutofherlife，thatshehadneverdreamtofherinconnectionwithit。
　　Herhusbandhaddeceivedher，yetherheartwasnolongerhotagainsthim，butrathertenderlygratefulthathisdeceitwasinthissort，andnotinthatother。
　　Allcruelandshamefuldoubtofhimwentoutofit。
　　Shelookedatthisbeautifulgirl，whohadblossomedoutofherknowledgesinceshesawherlast，andsheknewthatshewasonlyablossomedweed，ofthesameworthlessrootashermother，andsaved，ifsaved，fromthesameevildestiny，bythegoodofherfatherinher；
　　butsofarasthegirlandhermotherwereconcerned，Mrs。Laphamknewthatherhusbandwastoblamefornothingbuthiswilful，wrong—headed，kind—heartedness，whichherownexactionshadturnedintodeceit。Sheremainedawhile，questioningthegirlquietlyaboutherselfandhermother，andthen，withabettermindtowardsZerrilla，atleast，thanshehadeverhadbefore，sheroseupandwentout。
　　Theremusthavebeensomeouterhintoftheexhaustioninwhichthesubsidenceofherexcitementhadleftherwithin，forbeforeshehadreachedtheheadofthestairs，Coreycametowardsher。
　　"CanIbeofanyusetoyou，Mrs。Lapham？TheColonelwasherejustbeforeyoucamein，onhiswaytothetrain。"
　　"Yes，——yes。Ididn’tknow——IthoughtperhapsIcouldcatchhimhere。Butitdon’tmatter。Iwishyouwouldletsomeonegowithmetogetacarriage，"shebeggedfeebly。
　　"I’llgowithyoumyself，"saidtheyoungfellow，ignoringthestrangenessinhermanner。Heofferedherhisarminthetwilightofthestaircase，andshewasgladtoputhertremblinghandthroughit，andkeepittheretillhehelpedherintoahackwhichhefoundforher。
　　Hegavethedriverherdirection，andstoodlookingalittleanxiouslyather。
　　"Ithankyou；Iamallrightnow，"shesaid，andhebadethemandriveon。
　　Whenshereachedhomeshewenttobed，spentwiththetumultofheremotionsandsickwithshameandself—reproach。
　　Sheunderstoodnow，asclearlyasifhehadtoldherinasmanywords，thatifhehadbefriendedthoseworthlessjades——theMillonscharacterisedthemselvesso，eventoMrs。Lapham’sremorse——secretlyandindefianceofher，itwasbecausehedreadedherblame，whichwassosharpandbitter，forwhathecouldnothelpdoing。
　　Itconsoledherthathehaddefiedher，deceivedher；
　　whenhecamebacksheshouldtellhimthat；andthenitflasheduponherthatshedidnotknowwherehewasgone，orwhetherhewouldevercomeagain。Ifhenevercame，itwouldbenomorethanshedeserved；butshesentforPenelope，andtriedtogiveherselfhopesofescapefromthisjustpenalty。
　　Laphamhadnottoldhisdaughterwherehewasgoing；
　　shehadheardhimpackinghisbag，andhadofferedtohelphim；
　　buthehadsaidhecoulddoitbest，andhadgoneoff，asheusuallydid，withouttakingleaveofanyone。
　　"Whatwereyoutalkingaboutsoloud，downintheparlour，"
　　sheaskedhermother，"justbeforehecameup~Isthereanynewtrouble？"
　　"No；itwasnothing。"
　　"Icouldn’ttell。OnceIthoughtyouwerelaughing。"
　　Shewentabout，closingthecurtainsonaccountofhermother’sheadache，anddoingawkwardlyandimperfectlythethingsthatIrenewouldhavedonesoskilfullyforhercomfort。
　　Thedayworeawaytonightfall，andthenMrs。LaphamsaidsheMUSTknow。Penelopesaidtherewasnoonetoask；
　　theclerkswouldallbegonehome，andhermothersaidyes，therewasMr。Corey；theycouldsendandaskhim；
　　hewouldknow。
　　Thegirlhesitated。"Verywell，"shesaid，then，scarcelyaboveawhisper，andshepresentlylaughedhuskily。
　　"Mr。Coreyseemsfatedtocomein，somewhere。Iguessit’saProvidence，mother。"
　　Shesentoffanote，inquiringwhetherhecouldtellherjustwhereherfatherhadexpectedtobethatnight；
　　andtheanswercamequicklybackthatCoreydidnotknow，butwouldlookupthebook—keeperandinquire。
　　Thisofficebroughthiminperson，anhourlater，totellPenelopethattheColonelwastobeatLaphamthatnightandnextday。
　　"HecameinfromNewYork，inagreathurry，andrushedoffassoonashecouldpackhisbag，"Penelopeexplained，"andwehadn’tachancetoaskhimwherehewastobeto—night。Andmotherwasn’tverywell，and————"
　　"Ithoughtshewasn’tlookingwellwhenshewasattheofficeto—day。AndsoIthoughtIwouldcomeratherthansend，"
　　Coreyexplainedinhisturn。
　　"Oh，thankyou！"
　　"IfthereisanythingIcando——telegraphColonelLapham，oranything？"
　　"Ohno，thankyou；mother’sbetternow。Shemerelywantedtobesurewherehewas。"
　　Hedidnotoffertogo，uponthisconclusionofhisbusiness，buthopedhewasnotkeepingherfromhermother。
　　Shethankedhimonceagain，andsaidno，thathermotherwasmuchbettersinceshehadhadacupoftea；andthentheylookedateachother，andwithoutanyapparentexchangeofintelligenceheremained，andateleveno’clockhewasstillthere。Hewashonestinsayinghedidnotknowitwassolate；buthemadenopretenceofbeingsorry，andshetooktheblametoherself。
　　"Ioughtn’ttohaveletyoustay，"shesaid。"Butwithfathergone，andallthattroublehangingoverus————"
　　Shewasallowinghimtoholdherhandamomentatthedoor，towhichshehadfollowedhim。
　　"I’msogladyoucouldletme！"hesaid，"andIwanttoaskyounowwhenImaycomeagain。Butifyouneedme，you’ll————"
　　Asharppullatthedoor—belloutsidemadethemstartasunder，andatasignfromPenelope，whoknewthatthemaidswereabedbythistime，heopenedit。
　　"Why，Irene！"shriekedthegirl。
　　Ireneenteredwiththehackman，whohaddrivenherunheardtothedoor，followingwithhersmallbags，andkissedhersisterwithresolutecomposure。"That’sall，"shesaidtothehackman。"Igavemycheckstotheexpressman，"
　　sheexplainedtoPenelope。
　　Coreystoodhelpless。Ireneturneduponhim，andgavehimherhand。"Howdoyoudo，Mr。Corey？"shesaid，withacouragethatsentathrillofadmiringgratitudethroughhim。"Where’smamma，Pen？Papagonetobed？"
　　Penelopefalteredoutsomereplyembodyingthefacts，andIreneranupthestairstohermother’sroom。
　　Mrs。Laphamstartedupinbedatherapparition。
　　"IreneLapham"
　　"UncleWilliamthoughtheoughttotellmethetroublepapawasin；anddidyouthinkIwasgoingtostayofftherejunketing，whileyouweregoingthroughallthisathome，andPenactingsosilly，too？Yououghttohavebeenashamedtoletmestaysolong！IstartedjustassoonasIcouldpack。Didyougetmydespatch？ItelegraphedfromSpringfield。Butitdon’tmatter，now。HereIam。
　　AndIdon’tthinkIneedhavehurriedonPen’saccount，"
　　sheadded，withanaccentpropheticofthesortofoldmaidshewouldbecome，ifshehappenednottomarry。
　　"Didyouseehim？"askedhermother。"It’sthefirsttimehe’sbeenheresinceshetoldhimhemustn’tcome。"
　　"Iguessitisn’tthelasttime，bythelooks，"saidIrene，andbeforeshetookoffherbonnetshebegantoundosomeofPenelope’smistakenarrangementsoftheroom。
　　Atbreakfast，whereCoreyandhismothermetthenextmorningbeforehisfatherandsisterscamedown，hetoldher，withembarrassmentwhichtoldmuchmore，thathewishednowthatshewouldgoandcallupontheLaphams。
　　Mrs。Coreyturnedalittlepale，butshutherlipstightandmournedinsilencewhateverhopesshehadlatelypermittedherself。SheansweredwithRomanfortitude：
　　"Ofcourse，ifthere’sanythingbetweenyouandMissLapham，yourfamilyoughttorecogniseit。"
　　"Yes，"saidCorey。
　　"Youwerereluctanttohavemecallatfirst，butnowiftheaffairisgoingon————"
　　"Itis！Ihope——yes，itis！"
　　"ThenIoughttogoandseeher，withyoursisters；
　　andsheoughttocomehereand——weoughtalltoseeherandmakethematterpublic。Wecan’tdosotoosoon。
　　Itwillseemasifwewereashamedifwedon’t。"
　　"Yes，youarequiteright，mother，"saidtheyoungmangratefully，"andIfeelhowkindandgoodyouare。
　　Ihavetriedtoconsideryouinthismatter，thoughI
　　don’tseemtohavedoneso；Iknowwhatyourrightsare，andIwishwithallmyheartthatIweremeetingevenyourtastesperfectly。ButIknowyouwilllikeherwhenyoucometoknowher。It’sbeenveryhardforhereveryway——abouthersister，——andshe’smadeagreatsacrificeforme。
　　She’sactednobly。"
　　Mrs。Corey，whosethoughtscannotalwaysbereported，saidshewassureofit，andthatallshedesiredwasherson’shappiness。
　　"She’sbeenveryunwillingtoconsideritanengagementonthataccount，andonaccountofColonelLapham’sdifficulties。
　　Ishouldliketohaveyougo，now，forthatveryreason。
　　Idon’tknowjusthowseriousthetroubleis；butitisn’tatimewhenwecanseemindifferent。"
　　Thelogicofthiswasnotperhapssoapparenttotheglassesoffiftyastotheeyesoftwenty—six；
　　butMrs。Corey，howeversheviewedit，couldnotallowherselftoblenchbeforethesonwhomshehadtaughtthattowantmagnanimitywastobelessthangentlemanly。
　　Sheanswered，withwhatcomposureshecould，"Iwilltakeyoursisters，"andthenshemadesomenaturalinquiriesaboutLapham’saffairs。"Oh，Ihopeitwillcomeoutallright，"
　　Coreysaid，withalover’svaguesmile，andlefther。
　　Whenhisfathercamedown，rubbinghislonghandstogether，andlookingalooffromallthecaresofthepracticalworld，inanartisticwithdrawal，fromwhichhiseyerangedoverthebreakfast—tablebeforehesatdown，Mrs。Coreytoldhimwhatsheandtheirsonhadbeensaying。
　　Helaughed，withadelicateimpersonalappreciationofthepredicament。"Well，Anna，youcan’tsaybutifyoueverwereguiltyofsupposingyourselfporcelain，thisisajustpunishmentofyourarrogance。Hereyouareboundbytheveryqualityonwhichyou’vepridedyourselftobehavewelltoabitofearthenwarewhoisapparentlyindangeroflosingthegildingthatrenderedhertolerable。"
　　"Wenevercaredforthemoney，"saidMrs。Corey。
　　"Youknowthat。"
　　"No；andnowwecan’tseemtocareforthelossofit。
　　Thatwouldbestillworse。Eitherhornofthedilemmagoresus。Well，westillhavethecomfortwehadinthebeginning；wecan’thelpourselves；andweshouldonlymakebadworsebytrying。UnlesswecanlooktoTom’sinamorataherselfforhelp。"
　　Mrs。Coreyshookherheadsogloomilythatherhusbandbrokeoffwithanotherlaugh。Butatthecontinuedtroubleofherface，hesaid，sympathetically："Mydear，Iknowit’saverydisagreeableaffair；andIdon’tthinkeitherofushasfailedtoseethatitwassofromthebeginning。
　　Ihavehadmywayofexpressingmysenseofit，andyouyours，butwehavealwaysbeenofthesamemindaboutit。
　　WewouldbothhavepreferredtohaveTommarryinhisownset；theLaphamsareaboutthelastsetwecouldhavewishedhimtomarryinto。TheyAREuncultivatedpeople，andsofarasIhaveseenthem，I’mnotabletobelievethatpovertywillimprovethem。Still，itmay。
　　Letushopeforthebest，andletusbehaveaswellasweknowhow。I’msureYOUwillbehavewell，andIshalltry。
　　I’mgoingwithyoutocallonMissLapham。Thisisathingthatcan’tbedonebyhalves！"
　　HecuthisorangeintheNeapolitanmanner，andateitinquarters。
　　XXVII。
　　IRENEdidnotleavehermotherinanyillusionconcerninghercousinWillandherself。Shesaidtheyhadallbeenasnicetoherastheycouldbe，andwhenMrs。Laphamhintedatwhathadbeeninherthoughts，——orherhopes，rather，——Ireneseverelysnubbedthenotion。Shesaidthathewasasgoodasengagedtoagirloutthere，andthathehadneverdreamtofher。Hermotherwonderedatherseverity；
　　inthesefewmonthsthegirlhadtoughenedandhardened；
　　shehadlostallherbabyishdependenceandpliability；
　　shewaslikeiron；andhereandthereshewassharpenedtoacuttingedge。Ithadbeenalifeanddeathstrugglewithher；shehadconquered，butshehadalsonecessarilylostmuch。Perhapswhatshehadlostwasnotworthkeeping；
　　butatanyrateshehadlostit。
　　Sherequiredfromhermotherastrictandaccurateaccountofherfather’saffairs，sofarasMrsLaphamknewthem；
　　andsheshowedabusiness—likequicknessincomprehendingthemthatPenelopehadneverpretendedto。Withhersistersheignoredthepastascompletelyasitwaspossibletodo；
　　andshetreatedbothCoreyandPenelopewiththejusticewhichtheirinnocenceofvoluntaryoffencedeserved。
　　Itwasadifficultpart，andshekeptawayfromthemasmuchasshecould。Shehadbeeneasilyexcused，onapleaoffatiguefromherjourney，whenMr。andMrs。Coreyhadcalledthedayafterherarrival，andMrs。Laphambeingstillunwell，Penelopereceivedthemalone。
　　Thegirlhadinstinctivelyjudgedbestthattheyshouldknowtheworstatonce，andsheletthemhavethefullbruntofthedrawing—room，whileshewasscrewinghercourageuptocomedownandseethem。Shewasafterwards——monthsafterwards——abletoreporttoCoreythatwhensheenteredtheroomhisfatherwassittingwithhishatonhisknees，alittletiltedawayfromtheEmancipationgroup，asifheexpectedtheLincolntohithim，withthatliftedhandofbenediction；andthatMrs。CoreylookedasifshewerenotsurebuttheEaglepecked。ButforthetimebeingPenelopewasasnearlycrazedasmightbebythecomplicationsofherposition，andreceivedhervisitorswithapiteousdistractionwhichcouldnotfailoftouchingBromfieldCorey’sItalianisedsympatheticism。
　　Hewasverypoliteandtenderwithheratfirst，andendedbymakingajokewithher，towhichPeneloperesponded，inhersort。Hesaidhehopedtheypartedfriends，ifnotquiteacquaintances；andshesaidshehopedtheywouldbeabletorecogniseeachotheriftheyevermetagain。
　　"ThatiswhatImeantbyherpertness，"saidMrsCorey，whentheyweredrivingaway。
　　"Wasitverypert？"hequeried。"Thechildhadtoanswersomething。"
　　"Iwouldmuchrathershehadanswerednothing，underthecircumstances，"saidMrs。Corey。"However！"sheaddedhopelessly。"Oh，she’samerrylittlegrig，youcanseethat，andthere’snoharminher。IcanunderstandalittlewhyaformalfellowlikeTomshouldbetakenwithher。Shehasn’ttheleastreverence，Isuppose，andjokedwiththeyoungmanfromthebeginning。
　　Youmustremember，Anna，thattherewasatimewhenyoulikedmyjoking。"
　　"Itwasaverydifferentthing！"
　　"Butthatdrawing—room，"pursuedCorey；"really，Idon’tseehowTomstandsthat。Anna，aterriblethoughtoccurstome！FancyTombeingmarriedinfrontofthatgroup，withafloralhorse—shoeintuberosescomingdownoneithersideofit！"
　　"Bromfield！"criedhiswife，"youareunmerciful。"
　　"No，no，mydear，"heargued；"merelyimaginative。
　　AndIcanevenimaginethatlittlethingfindingTomjusttheleastbitslow，attimes，ifitwerenotforhisgoodness。TomissokindthatI’mconvincedhesometimesfeelsyourjokeinhisheartwhenhisheadisn’tquiteclearaboutit。Well，wewillnotdespond，mydear。"
　　"Yourfatherseemedactuallytolikeher，"Mrs。Coreyreportedtoherdaughters，verymuchshakeninherownprejudicesbythefact。Ifthegirlwerenotsooffensivetohisfastidiousness，theremightbesomehopethatshewasnotsooffensiveasMrs。Coreyhadthought。
　　"IwonderhowshewillstrikeYOU，"sheconcluded，lookingfromonedaughtertoanother，asiftryingtodecidewhichofthemwouldlikePenelopeleast。
　　Irene’sreturnandthevisitoftheCoreysformedadistractionfortheLaphamsinwhichtheirimpendingtroublesseemedtohangfurtheraloof；butitwasonlyoneofthosereliefswhichmarkthecourseofadversity，anditwasnotoneofthecheerfulreliefs。Atanyothertime，eitherincidentwouldhavebeenananxietyandcareforMrs。Laphamwhichshewouldhavefoundhardtobear；butnowshealmostwelcomedthem。AttheendofthreedaysLaphamreturned，andhiswifemethimasifnothingunusualhadmarkedtheirparting；shereservedheratonementforafittertime；hewouldknownowfromthewaysheactedthatshefeltallrighttowardshim。
　　Hetookverylittlenoteofhermanner，butmethisfamilywithanausterequietthatpuzzledher，andasortofpensivedignitythatrefinedhisrudenesstoaneffectthatsometimescomestosuchnaturesafterlongsickness，whentheanimalstrengthhasbeentaxedandlowered。
　　Hesatsilentwithheratthetableaftertheirgirlshadleftthemalone，andseeingthathedidnotmeantospeak，shebegantoexplainwhyIrenehadcomehome，andtopraiseher。