Penelopetooktheword。"Igoinforit。Idon’tseeanyuseinnotenjoyingmoney，ifyou’vegotittoenjoy。
　　That’swhatit’sfor，Isuppose；thoughyoumightn’talwaysthinkso。"Shehadaslow，quaintwayoftalking，thatseemedapleasantpersonalmodificationofsomeancestralYankeedrawl，andhervoicewaslowandcozy，andsofarfrombeingnasalthatitwasalittlehoarse。
　　"Iguesstheayeshasit，Pen，"saidherfather。
　　"HowwoulditdotoletIreneandyourmotherstickintheoldplacehere，andusgointothenewhouse？"
　　AttimestheColonel’sgrammarfailedhim。
　　Thematterdropped，andtheLaphamslivedonasbefore，withjokingrecurrencestothehouseonthewatersideofBeacon。TheColonelseemedlessinearnestthananyofthemaboutit；butthatwashisway，hisgirlssaid；
　　younevercouldtellwhenhereallymeantathing。
　　III。
　　TOWARDtheendofthewintertherecameanewspaper，addressedtoMissIreneLapham；itprovedtobeaTexasnewspaper，withacomplimentaryaccountoftheranchoftheHon。LoringG。Stanton，whichtherepresentativeofthejournalhadvisited。
　　"Itmustbehisfriend，"saidMrs。Lapham，towhomherdaughterbroughtthepaper；"theonehe’sstayingwith。"
　　Thegirldidnotsayanything，butshecarriedthepapertoherroom，whereshescannedeverylineofitforanothername。Shedidnotfindit，butshecutthenoticeoutandstuckitintothesideofhermirror，whereshecouldreaditeverymorningwhenshebrushedherhair，andthelastthingatnightwhenshelookedatherselfintheglassjustbeforeturningoffthegas。
　　Hersisteroftenreaditaloud，standingbehindherandrenderingitwithelocutionaryeffects。
　　"ThefirsttimeIeverheardofalove—letterintheformofapufftoacattle—ranch。Butperhapsthat’sthestyleontheHill。"
　　Mrs。Laphamtoldherhusbandofthearrivalofthepaper，treatingthefactwithanimportancethatherefusedtoseeinit。
　　"Howdoyouknowthefellowsentit，anyway？"hedemanded。
　　"Oh，Iknowhedid。"
　　"Idon’tseewhyhecouldn’twriteto’Rene，ifhereallymeantanything。"
　　"Well，Iguessthatwouldn’tbetheirway，"saidMrs。Lapham；
　　shedidnotatallknowwhattheirwaywouldbe。
　　WhenthespringopenedColonelLaphamshowedthathehadbeeninearnestaboutbuildingontheNewLand。Hisideaofahousewasabrown—stonefront，fourstorieshigh，andaFrenchroofwithanair—chamberabove。Inside，therewastobeareception—roomonthestreetandadining—roomback。Theparloursweretobeonthesecondfloor，andfinishedinblackwalnutorparty—colouredpaint。
　　Thechambersweretobeonthethreefloorsabove，frontandrear，withside—roomsoverthefrontdoor。
　　Blackwalnutwastobeusedeverywhereexceptintheattic，whichwastobepaintedandgrainedtolooklikeblackwalnut。Thewholewastobeveryhigh—studded，andthereweretobehandsomecornicesandelaboratecentre—piecesthroughout，except，again，intheattic。
　　Theseideashehadformedfromtheinspectionofmanynewbuildingswhichhehadseengoingup，andwhichhehadapassionforlookinginto。HewasconfirmedinhisideasbyamasterbuilderwhohadputupagreatmanyhousesontheBackBayasaspeculation，andwhotoldhimthatifhewantedtohaveahouseinthestyle，thatwasthewaytohaveit。
　　ThebeginningsoftheprocessbywhichLaphamescapedfromthemasterbuilderandendedinthehandsofanarchitectaresoobscurethatitwouldbealmostimpossibletotracethem。Butitallhappened，andLaphampromptlydevelopedhisideasofblackwalnutfinish，highstudding，andcornices。Thearchitectwasabletoconcealtheshudderwhichtheymusthavesentthroughhim。Hewasskilful，asnearlyallarchitectsare，inplayinguponthatsimpleinstrumentMan。HebegantotouchColonelLapham’sstops。
　　"Oh，certainly，havetheparlourshigh—studded。Butyou’veseensomeofthoseprettyold—fashionedcountry—houses，haven’tyou，wheretheentrance—storyisverylow—studded？"
　　"Yes，"Laphamassented。
　　"Well，don’tyouthinksomethingofthatkindwouldhaveaveryniceeffect？Havetheentrance—storylow—studded，andyourparloursonthenextfloorashighasyouplease。
　　Putyourlittlereception—roomherebesidethedoor，andgetthewholewidthofyourhousefrontageforasquarehall，andaneasylow—treadstaircaserunningupthreesidesofit。
　　I’msureMrs。Laphamwouldfinditmuchpleasanter。"
　　Thearchitectcaughttowardhimascrapofpaperlyingonthetableatwhichtheyweresittingandsketchedhisidea。
　　"Thenhaveyourdining—roombehindthehall，lookingonthewater。"
　　HeglancedatMrs。Lapham，whosaid，"Ofcourse，"
　　andthearchitectwenton——
　　"Thatgetsyouridofoneofthoselong，straight，uglystaircases，"——untilthatmomentLaphamhadthoughtalong，straightstaircasethechiefornamentofahouse，——"andgivesyouaneffectofamplitudeandspace。"
　　"That’sso！"saidMrs。Lapham。Herhusbandmerelymadeanoiseinhisthroat。
　　"Then，wereyouthinkingofhavingyourparlourstogether，connectedbyfoldingdoors？"askedthearchitectdeferentially。
　　"Yes，ofcourse，"saidLapham。"They’realwaysso，ain’tthey？"
　　"Well，nearly，"saidthearchitect。"Iwaswonderinghowwoulditdotomakeonelargesquareroomatthefront，takingthewholebreadthofthehouse，and，withthishall—spacebetween，haveamusic—roombackfortheyoungladies？"
　　Laphamlookedhelplesslyathiswife，whosequickerapprehensionhadfollowedthearchitect’spencilwithinstantsympathy。"First—rate！"shecried。
　　TheColonelgaveway。"Iguessthatwoulddo。
　　It’llbekindofodd，won’tit？"
　　"Well，Idon’tknow，"saidthearchitect。"Notsoodd，Ihope，astheotherthingwillbeafewyearsfromnow。"
　　Hewentontoplantherestofthehouse，andheshowedhimselfsuchamasterinregardtoallthepracticaldetailsthatMrs。Laphambegantofeelamotherlyaffectionfortheyoungman，andherhusbandcouldnotdenyinhisheartthatthefellowseemedtounderstandhisbusiness。
　　Hestoppedwalkingabouttheroom，ashehadbeguntodowhenthearchitectandMrs。Laphamenteredintotheparticularsofclosets，drainage，kitchenarrangements，andallthat，andcamebacktothetable。"Ipresume，"
　　hesaid，"you’llhavethedrawing—roomfinishedinblackwalnut？"
　　"Well，yes，"repliedthearchitect，"ifyoulike。
　　Butsomelessexpensivewoodcanbemadejustaseffectivewithpaint。Ofcourseyoucanpaintblackwalnuttoo。"
　　"Paintit？"gaspedtheColonel。
　　"Yes，"saidthearchitectquietly。"White，oralittleoffwhite。"
　　Laphamdroppedtheplanhehadpickedupfromthetable。
　　Hiswifemadealittlemovetowardhimofconsolationorsupport。
　　"Ofcourse，"resumedthearchitect，Iknowtherehasbeenagreatcrazeforblackwalnut。Butit’sanuglywood；
　　andforadrawing—roomthereisreallynothinglikewhitepaint。Weshouldwanttointroducealittlegoldhereandthere。Perhapswemightrunapaintedfriezeroundunderthecornice——garlandsofrosesonagoldground；
　　itwouldtellwonderfullyinawhiteroom。"
　　TheColonelreturnedlesscourageouslytothecharge。
　　"Ipresumeyou’llwantEastlakemantel—shelvesandtiles？"
　　Hemeantthisforasarcasticthrustataprevailingfoibleoftheprofession。
　　"Well，no，"gentlyansweredthearchitect。"Iwasthinkingperhapsawhitemarblechimney—piece，treatedintherefinedEmpirestyle，wouldbethethingforthatroom。"
　　"Whitemarble！"exclaimedtheColonel。"Ithoughtthathadgoneoutlongago。"
　　"Reallybeautifulthingscan’tgoout。Theymaydisappearforalittlewhile，buttheymustcomeback。
　　It’sonlytheuglythingsthatstayoutafterthey’vehadtheirday。"
　　Laphamcouldonlyventureverymodestly，"Hard—woodfloors？"
　　"Inthemusic—room，ofcourse，"consentedthearchitect。
　　"Andinthedrawing—room？"
　　"Carpet。Somesortofmoquette，Ishouldsay。ButI
　　shouldprefertoconsultMrs。Lapham’stasteinthatmatter。"
　　"Andintheotherrooms？"
　　"Oh，carpets，ofcourse。"
　　"Andwhataboutthestairs？"
　　"Carpet。AndIshouldhavetherailandbanisterswhite——banistersturnedortwisted。"
　　TheColonelsaidunderhisbreath，"Well，I’mdumned！"
　　buthegavenoutterancetohisastonishmentinthearchitect’spresence。Whenhewentatlast，——thesessiondidnotendtilleleveno’clock，——Laphamsaid，"Well，Pert，Iguessthatfellow’sfiftyyearsbehind，ortenyearsahead。
　　IwonderwhattheOngpeerstyleis？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Ihatedtoask。Butheseemedtounderstandwhathewastalkingabout。Ideclare，heknowswhatawomanwantsinahousebetterthanshedoesherself。"
　　"Andaman’ssimplynowhereincomparison，"saidLapham。
　　Butherespectedafellowwhocouldbeathimateverypoint，andhaveareasonready，asthisarchitecthad；
　　andwhenherecoveredfromthedazeintowhichthecompleteupheavalofallhispreconceivednotionshadlefthim，hewasinafitstatetoswearbythearchitect。
　　Itseemedtohimthathehaddiscoveredthefellow（ashealwayscalledhim）andownedhimnow，andthefellowdidnothingtodisturbthisimpression。HeenteredintothatbriefbutintenseintimacywiththeLaphamswhichthesympatheticarchitectholdswithhisclients。
　　Hewasprivytoalltheirdifferencesofopinionandalltheirdisputesaboutthehouse。Heknewjustwheretoinsistuponhisownideas，andwheretoyield。
　　Hewasreallybuildingseveralotherhouses，buthegavetheLaphamstheimpressionthathewasdoingnonebuttheirs。
　　Theworkwasnotbeguntillthefrostwasthoroughlyoutoftheground，whichthatyearwasnotbeforetheendofApril。Eventhenitdidnotproceedveryrapidly。
　　Laphamsaidtheymightaswelltaketheirtimetoit；
　　iftheygotthewallsupandthethingclosedinbeforethesnowflew，theycouldbeworkingatitallwinter。
　　Itwasfoundnecessarytodigforthekitchen；atthatpointtheoriginalsalt—marshlaynearthesurface，andbeforetheybegantoputinthepilesforthefoundationtheyhadtopump。Theneighbourhoodsmeltliketheholdofashipafterathreeyears’voyage。PeoplewhohadcasttheirfortuneswiththeNewLandwentbyprofessingnottonoticeit；peoplewhostill"hungontotheHill"
　　puttheirhandkerchiefstotheirnoses，andtoldeachothertheoldterriblestoriesofthematerialusedinfillinguptheBackBay。
　　NothinggaveLaphamsomuchsatisfactioninthewholeconstructionofhishouseasthepile—driving。Whenthisbegan，earlyinthesummer，hetookMrs。Laphameverydayinhisbuggyanddroveroundtolookatit；
　　stoppingthemareinfrontofthelot，andwatchingtheoperationwithevenkeenerinterestthanthelittleloafingIrishboyswhosuperintendeditinforce。
　　Itpleasedhimtoheartheportableenginechuckleoutahundredthinwhiffsofsteamincarryingthebigironweighttothetopoftheframeworkabovethepile，thenseemtohesitate，andcoughonceortwiceinpressingtheweightagainstthedetachingapparatus。
　　Therewasamomentinwhichtheweighthadtheeffectofpoisingbeforeitfell；thenitdroppedwithamightywhackontheiron—boundheadofthepile，anddroveitafootintotheearth。
　　"Bygracious！"hewouldsay，"thereain’tanythinglikethatinTHISworldforBUSINESS，Persis！"
　　Mrs。Laphamsufferedhimtoenjoythesighttwentyorthirtytimesbeforeshesaid，"Well，nowdriveon，Si。"
　　Bythetimethefoundationwasinandthebrickwallshadbeguntogoup，thereweresofewpeopleleftintheneighbourhoodthatshemightindulgewithimpunityherhusband’spassionforhavingherclamberoverthefloor—timbersandtheskeletonstair—caseswithhim。ManyofthehouseholdershadboardeduptheirfrontdoorsbeforethebudshadbeguntoswellandtheassessortoappearinearlyMay；
　　othershadfollowedsoon；andMrs。Laphamwasassafefromremarkasifshehadbeeninthedepthofthecountry。
　　OrdinarilysheandhergirlslefttownearlyinJuly，goingtooneofthehotelsatNantasket，whereitwasconvenientfortheColoneltogettoandfromhisbusinessbytheboat。Butthissummertheywerealllingeringafewweekslater，underthenovelfascinationofthenewhouse，astheycalledit，asiftherewerenootherintheworld。
　　LaphamdrovetherewithhiswifeafterhehadsetBartleyHubbarddownattheEventsoffice，butonthisdaysomethinghappenedthatinterferedwiththesolidpleasuretheyusuallytookingoingoverthehouse。
　　AstheColonelturnedfromcastinganchoratthemare’sheadwiththehitching—weight，afterhelpinghiswifetoalight，heencounteredamantowhomhecouldnothelpspeaking，thoughthemanseemedtosharehishesitationifnothisreluctanceatthenecessity。Hewasatallish，thinman，withadust—colouredface，andadead，clericalair，whichsomehowsuggestedatoncefeeblenessandtenacity。
　　Mrs。Laphamheldoutherhandtohim。
　　"Why，Mr。Rogers！"sheexclaimed；andthen，turningtowardherhusband，seemedtoreferthetwomentoeachother。
　　Theyshookhands，butLaphamdidnotspeak。"Ididn’tknowyouwereinBoston，"pursuedMrs。Lapham。"IsMrs。Rogerswithyou？"
　　"No，"saidMr。Rogers，withavoicewhichhadtheflat，succinctsoundoftwopiecesofwoodclappedtogether。
　　"Mrs。RogersisstillinChicago"
　　Alittlesilencefollowed，andthenMrsLaphamsaid——
　　"Ipresumeyouarequitesettledoutthere。"
　　"No；wehaveleftChicago。Mrs。Rogershasmerelyremainedtofinishupalittlepacking。"
　　"Oh，indeed！AreyoucomingbacktoBoston？"
　　"Icannotsayasyet。Wesomethinkofsodoing。
　　Laphamturnedawayandlookedupatthebuilding。
　　Hiswifepulledalittleatherglove，asifembarrassed，orevenpained。Shetriedtomakeadiversion。
　　"Wearebuildingahouse，"shesaid，withameaninglesslaugh。
　　"Oh，indeed，"saidMr。Rogers，lookingupatit。
　　Thennoonespokeagain，andshesaidhelplessly——
　　"IfyoucometoBoston，IhopeIshallseeMrs。Rogers。"
　　"Shewillbehappytohaveyoucall，"saidMrRogers。
　　Hetouchedhishat—brim，andmadeabowforwardratherthaninMrs。Lapham’sdirection。
　　Shemountedtheplankingthatledintotheshelterofthebarebrickwalls，andherhusbandslowlyfollowed。
　　Whensheturnedherfacetowardhimhercheekswereburning，andtearsthatlookedhotstoodinhereyes。
　　"Youleftitalltome！"shecried。"Whycouldn’tyouspeakaword？"
　　"Ihadn’tanythingtosaytohim，"repliedLaphamsullenly。
　　Theystoodawhile，withoutlookingattheworkwhichtheyhadcometoenjoy，andwithoutspeakingtoeachother。
　　"Isupposewemightaswellgoon，"saidMrs。Laphamatlast，astheyreturnedtothebuggy。TheColoneldroverecklesslytowardtheMilldam。Hiswifekeptherveildownandherfaceturnedfromhim。Afteratimesheputherhandkerchiefupunderherveilandwipedhereyes，andhesethisteethandsquaredhisjaw。
　　"Idon’tseehowhealwaysmanagestoappearjustatthemomentwhenheseemstohavegonefairlyoutofourlives，andblighteverything，"shewhimpered。
　　"Isupposedhewasdead，"saidLapham。
　　"Oh，don’tSAYsuchathing！Itsoundsasifyouwishedit。"
　　"Whydoyoumindit？Whatdoyoulethimblighteverythingfor？"
　　"Ican’thelpit，andIdon’tbelieveIevershall。
　　Idon’tknowashisbeingdeadwouldhelpitany。
　　Ican’teverseehimwithoutfeelingjustasIdidatfirst。"
　　"Itellyou，"saidLapham，"itwasaperfectlysquarething。
　　AndIwish，onceforall，youwouldquitbotheringaboutit。
　　Myconscienceiseasyasfarasheisconcerned，anditalwayswas。"
　　"AndIcan’tlookathimwithoutfeelingasifyou’druinedhim，Silas。"
　　"Don’tlookathim，then，"saidherhusband，withascowl。
　　"Iwantyoushouldrecollectinthefirstplace，Persis，thatIneverwantedapartner。"
　　"Ifhehadn’tputhismoneyinwhenhedid，you’d’a’
　　brokendown。"
　　"Well，hegothismoneyoutagain，andmore，too，"
　　saidtheColonel，withasulkyweariness。
　　"Hedidn’twanttotakeitout。"
　　"Igavehimhischoice：buyoutorgoout。"
　　"Youknowhecouldn’tbuyoutthen。Itwasnochoiceatall。"
　　"Itwasabusinesschance。"
　　"No；youhadbetterfacethetruth，Silas。Itwasnochanceatall。Youcrowdedhimout。Amanthathadsavedyou！No，youhadgotgreedy，Silas。Youhadmadeyourpaintyourgod，andyoucouldn’tbeartoletanybodyelseshareinitsblessings。"
　　"Itellyouhewasadragandabrakeonmefromthewordgo。
　　Yousayhesavedme。Well，ifIhadn’tgothimouthe’d’a’ruinedmesoonerorlater。Soit’saneventhing，asfarforthasthatgoes。"
　　"No，itain’taneventhing，andyouknowit，Silas。Oh，ifI
　　couldonlygetyouoncetoacknowledgethatyoudidwrongaboutit，thenIshouldhavesomehope。Idon’tsayyoumeantwrongexactly，butyoutookanadvantage。
　　Yes，youtookanadvantage！Youhadhimwherehecouldn’thelphimself，andthenyouwouldn’tshowhimanymercy。"
　　"I’msickofthis，"saidLapham。"Ifyou’ll’tendtothehouse，I’llmanagemybusinesswithoutyourhelp。"
　　"Youwereverygladofmyhelponce。"
　　"Well，I’mtiredofitnow。Don’tmeddle。"
　　"IWILLmeddle。WhenIseeyouhardeningyourselfinawrongthing，it’stimeformetomeddle，asyoucallit，andIwill。Ican’tevergetyoutoownuptheleastbitaboutRogers，andIfeelasifitwashurtingyouallthewhile。"
　　"WhatdoyouwantIshouldownupaboutathingforwhenI
　　don’tfeelwrong？ItellyouRogershain’tgotanythingtocomplainof，andthat’swhatItoldyoufromthestart。
　　It’sathingthat’sdoneeveryday。Iwasloadedupwithapartnerthatdidn’tknowanything，andcouldn’tdoanything，andIunloaded；that’sall。"
　　"Youunloadedjustatthetimewhenyouknewthatyourpaintwasgoingtobeworthabouttwicewhatiteverhadbeen；
　　andyouwantedalltheadvantageforyourself。"
　　"Ihadarighttoit。Imadethesuccess。"
　　"Yes，youmadeitwithRogers’smoney；andwhenyou’dmadeityoutookhisshareofit。Iguessyouthoughtofthatwhenyousawhim，andthat’swhyyoucouldn’tlookhimintheface。"
　　AtthesewordsLaphamlosthistemper。
　　"Iguessyoudon’twanttoridewithmeanymoreto—day，"
　　hesaid，turningthemareabruptlyround。
　　"I’masreadytogobackaswhatyouare，"repliedhiswife。
　　"Anddon’tyouaskmetogotothathousewithyouanymore。
　　Youcansellit，forallme。Isha’n’tliveinit。
　　There’sbloodonit。"
　　IV。
　　THEsilkentextureofthemarriagetiebearsadailystrainofwrongandinsulttowhichnootherhumanrelationcanbesubjectedwithoutlesion；andsometimesthestrengththatknitssocietytogethermightappeartotheeyeoffalteringfaiththecurseofthoseimmediatelyboundbyit。
　　Twopeoplebynomeansrecklessofeachother’srightsandfeelings，buteventenderofthemforthemostpart，maytearateachother’sheart—stringsinthissacredbondwithperfectimpunity；thoughiftheywereanyothertwotheywouldnotspeakorlookateachotheragainaftertheoutragestheyexchange。Itiscertainlyacuriousspectacle，anddoubtlessitoughttoconvinceanobserverofthedivinityoftheinstitution。
　　Ifthehusbandandwifeareblunt，outspokenpeopleliketheLaphams，theydonotweightheirwords；
　　iftheyaremorerefined，theyweighthemverycarefully，andknowaccuratelyjusthowfartheywillcarry，andinwhatmostsensitivespottheymaybeplantedwithmosteffect。
　　Laphamwasproudofhiswife，andwhenhemarriedherithadbeenariseinlifeforhim。Forawhilehestoodinaweofhisgoodfortune，butthiscouldnotlast，andhesimplyremainedsupremelysatisfiedwithit。
　　Thegirlwhohadtaughtschoolwithaclearheadandastronghandwasnotafraidofwork；sheencouragedandhelpedhimfromthefirst，andboreherfullshareofthecommonburden。
　　Shehadhealth，andshedidnotworryhislifeoutwithpeevishcomplaintsandvagaries；shehadsenseandprinciple，andintheirsimplelotshedidwhatwaswiseandright。
　　Theirmarriagewashallowedbyanearlysorrow：theylosttheirboy，anditwasyearsbeforetheycouldlookeachotherinthefaceandspeakofhim。NoonegaveupmorethantheywhentheygaveupeachotherandLaphamwenttothewar。Whenhecamebackandbegantowork，herzealandcourageformedthespringofhisenterprise。
　　Inthataffairofthepartnershipshehadtriedtobehisconscience，butperhapsshewouldhavedefendedhimifhehadaccusedhimself；itwasoneofthosethingsinthislifewhichseemdestinedtoawaitjustice，oratleastjudgment，inthenext。Ashesaid，Laphamhaddealtfairlybyhispartnerinmoney；hehadletRogerstakemoremoneyoutofthebusinessthanheputintoit；
　　hehad，ashesaid，simplyforcedoutofitatimidandinefficientparticipantinadvantageswhichhehadcreated。ButLaphamhadnotcreatedthemall。
　　Hehadbeendependentatonetimeonhispartner’scapital。
　　Itwasamomentofterribletrial。Happyisthemanforeverafterwhocanchoosetheideal，theunselfishpartinsuchanexigency！Laphamcouldnotrisetoit。
　　Hedidwhathecouldmaintaintobeperfectlyfair。
　　Thewrong，ifany，seemedtobecondonedtohim，exceptwhenfromtimetotimehiswifebroughtitup。
　　Thenallthequestionstungandburnedanew，andhadtobereasonedoutandputawayoncemore。Itseemedtohaveaninextinguishablevitality。Itslept，butitdidnotdie。
　　HiscoursedidnotshakeMrs。Lapham’sfaithinhim。
　　Itastonishedheratfirst，anditalwaysgrievedherthathecouldnotseethathewasactingsolelyinhisowninterest。Butshefoundexcusesforhim，whichattimesshemadereproaches。Shevaguelyperceivedthathispaintwassomethingmorethanbusinesstohim；
　　itwasasentiment，almostapassion。Hecouldnotshareitsmanagementanditsprofitwithanotherwithoutameasureofself—sacrificefarbeyondthatwhichhemustmakewithsomethinglesspersonaltohim。Itwasthepoetryofthatnature，otherwisesointenselyprosaic；
　　andsheunderstoodthis，andforthemostpartforbore。
　　Sheknewhimgoodandtrueandblamelessinallhislife，exceptforthiswrong，ifitwereawrong；anditwasonlywhenhernervestingledintolerablywithsomechancerenewalofthepainshehadsuffered，thatshesharedheranguishwithhimintruewifelyfashion。
　　Withthosetwotherewasneveranythinglikeanexplicitreconciliation。Theysimplyignoredaquarrel；
　　andMrs。Laphamhadonlytosayafewdaysafteratbreakfast，"Iguessthegirlswouldliketogoroundwithyouthisafternoon，andlookatthenewhouse，"
　　inordertomakeherhusbandgrumbleoutashelookeddownintohiscoffee—cup。"Iguesswebetterallgo，hadn’twe？"
　　"Well，I’llsee，"shesaid。
　　TherewasnotreallyagreatdealtolookatwhenLaphamarrivedonthegroundinhisfour—seatedbeach—wagon。