"Itwoulddepend，"saidtheson，"uponwhetheragirl’speoplehadbeenrichlongenoughtohavegivenherpositionbeforeshemarried。Iftheyhadn’t，Idon’tseehowshewouldbeanybetterthanapoorgirlinthatrespect。"
　　"Yes，there’ssenseinthat。Butthesuddenlyrichareonalevelwithanyofusnowadays。Moneybuyspositionatonce。Idon’tsaythatitisn’tallright。
　　Theworldgenerallyknowswhatit’sabout，andknowshowtodriveabargain。Idaresayitmakesthenewrichpaytoomuch。Butthere’snodoubtbutmoneyistotheforenow。Itistheromance，thepoetryofourage。
　　It’sthethingthatchieflystrikestheimagination。
　　TheEnglishmenwhocomeherearemorecuriousaboutthegreatnewmillionairesthanaboutanyoneelse，andtheyrespectthemmore。It’sallverywell。Idon’tcomplainofit。"
　　"Andyouwouldlikearichdaughter—in—law，quiteregardless，then？"
　　"Oh，notquitesobadasthat，Tom，"saidhisfather。
　　"Alittleyouth，alittlebeauty，alittlegoodsenseandprettybehaviour——onemustn’tobjecttothosethings；
　　andtheygojustasoftenwithmoneyaswithoutit。AndI
　　supposeIshouldlikeherpeopletoberathergrammatical。"
　　"Itseemstomethatyou’reexacting，sir，"saidtheson。
　　"Howcanyouexpectpeoplewhohavebeenstrictlydevotedtobusinesstobegrammatical？Isn’tthatrathertoomuch？"
　　"Perhapsitis。Perhapsyou’reright。ButIunderstoodyourmothertosaythatthosebenefactorsofhers，whomyoumetlastsummer，wereverypassablygrammatical。"
　　"Thefatherisn’t。"
　　Theelder，whohadbeensmokingwithhisprofiletowardhisson，nowturnedhisfacefulluponhim。"Ididn’tknowyouhadseenhim？"
　　"Ihadn’tuntilto—day，"saidyoungCorey，withalittleheighteningofhiscolour。"ButIwaswalkingdownstreetthisafternoon，andhappenedtolookroundatanewhousesomeonewasputtingup，andIsawthewholefamilyinthewindow。ItappearsthatMr。Laphamisbuildingthehouse。"
　　TheelderCoreyknockedtheashofhiscigaretteintotheholderathiselbow。"Iammoreandmoreconvinced，thelongerIknowyou，Tom，thatwearedescendedfromGilesCorey。Thegiftofholdingone’stongueseemstohaveskippedme，butyouhaveitinfullforce。
　　Ican’tsayjusthowyouwouldbehaveunderpeineforteetdure，butunderordinarypressureyouarecertainlyabletokeepyourowncounsel。Whydidn’tyoumentionthisencounteratdinner？Youweren’taskedtopleadtoanaccusationofwitchcraft。"
　　"No，notexactly，"saidtheyoungman。"ButIdidn’tquiteseemywaytospeakingofit。Wehadagoodmanyotherthingsbeforeus。"
　　"Yes，that’strue。Isupposeyouwouldn’thavementioneditnowifIhadn’tleduptoit，wouldyou？"
　　"Idon’tknow，sir。Itwasratheronmymindtodoso。
　　PerhapsitwasIwholeduptoit。"
　　Hisfatherlaughed。"Perhapsyoudid，Tom；perhapsyoudid。
　　Yourmotherwouldhaveknownyouwereleadinguptosomething，butI’llconfessthatIdidn’t。Whatisit？"
　　"Nothingverydefinite。ButdoyouknowthatinspiteofhissyntaxIratherlikedhim？"
　　Thefatherlookedkeenlyattheson；butunlesstheboy’sfullconfidencewasoffered，Coreywasnotthemantoaskit。
　　"Well？"wasallthathesaid。
　　"Isupposethatinanewcountryonegetstolookingatpeoplealittleoutofourtradition；andIdaresaythatifIhadn’tpassedawinterinTexasImighthavefoundColonelLaphamrathertoomuch。"
　　"YoumeanthatthereareworsethingsinTexas？"
　　"Notthatexactly。ImeanthatIsawitwouldn’tbequitefairtotesthimbyourstandards。"
　　"ThiscomesoftheerrorwhichIhaveoftendeprecated，"
　　saidtheelderCorey。"InfactIamalwayssayingthattheBostonianoughtnevertoleaveBoston。
　　Thenheknows——andthenonly——thattherecanBEnostandardbutours。Butweareconstantlygoingaway，andcomingbackwithourconvictionsshakentotheirfoundations。
　　OnemangoestoEngland，andreturnswiththeconceptionofagrandersociallife；anothercomeshomefromGermanywiththenotionofamoresearchingintellectualactivity；
　　afellowjustbackfromParishastheabsurdestideasofartandliterature；andyoureverttousfromthecowboysofTexas，andtellustoourfacesthatweoughttotryPapaLaphambyajuryofhispeers。Itoughttobestopped——itought，really。TheBostonianwholeavesBostonoughttobecondemnedtoperpetualexile。"
　　Thesonsufferedthefathertoreachhisclimaxwithsmilingpatience。Whenheaskedfinally，"WhatarethecharacteristicsofPapaLaphamthatplacehimbeyondourjurisdiction？"theyoungerCoreycrossedhislonglegs，andleanedforwardtotakeoneofhiskneesbetweenhishands。
　　"Well，sir，hebragged，rather。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tknowthatbraggingshouldexempthimfromtheordinaryprocesses。I’veheardotherpeoplebraginBoston。"
　　"Ah，notjustinthatpersonalway——notaboutmoney。"
　　"No，thatwascertainlydifferent。"
　　"Idon’tmean，"saidtheyoungfellow，withthescrupulositywhichpeoplecouldnothelpobservingandlikinginhim，"thatitwasmorethananindirectexpressionofsatisfactionintheabilitytospend。"
　　"No。Ishouldbegladtoexpresssomethingofthekindmyself，ifthefactswouldjustifyme。"
　　Thesonsmiledtolerantlyagain。"Butifhewasenjoyinghismoneyinthatway，Ididn’tseewhyheshouldn’tshowhispleasureinit。Itmighthavebeenvulgar，butitwasn’tsordid。AndIdon’tknowthatitwasvulgar。
　　Perhapshissuccessfulstrokesofbusinessweretheromanceofhislife————"
　　Thefatherinterruptedwithalaugh。"Thegirlmustbeuncommonlypretty。Whatdidsheseemtothinkofherfather’sbrag？"
　　"Thereweretwoofthem，"answeredthesonevasively。
　　"Oh，two！Andisthesisterprettytoo？"
　　"Notpretty，butratherinteresting。Sheislikehermother。"
　　"Thentheprettyoneisn’tthefather’spet？"
　　"Ican’tsay，sir。Idon’tbelieve，"addedtheyoungfellow，"thatIcanmakeyouseeColonelLaphamjustasIdid。
　　Hestruckmeasverysimple—heartedandratherwholesome。
　　Ofcoursehecouldbetiresome；weallcan；andIsupposehisrangeofideasislimited。Butheisaforce，andnotabadone。Ifhehasn’tgotoverbeingsurprisedattheeffectofrubbinghislamp"
　　"Oh，onecouldmakeoutacase。Isupposeyouknowwhatyouareabout，Tom。ButrememberthatweareEssexCountypeople，andthatinsavourwearejustalittlebeyondthesaltoftheearth。IwilltellyouplainlythatIdon’tlikethenotionofamanwhohasrivalledthehuesofnatureinherwildesthauntswiththetintsofhismineralpaint；butIdon’tsaytherearenotworsemen。
　　Heisn’ttomytaste，thoughhemightbeeversomuchtomyconscience。"
　　"Isuppose，"saidtheson，"thatthereisnothingreallytobeashamedofinmineralpaint。Peoplegointoallsortsofthings。"
　　Hisfathertookhiscigarettefromhismouthandoncemorelookedhissonfullintheface。"Oh，isTHATit？"
　　"Ithascrossedmymind，"admittedtheson。"Imustdosomething。I’vewastedtimeandmoneyenough。
　　I’veseenmuchyoungermenallthroughtheWestandSouth—westtakingcareofthemselves。Idon’tthinkIwasparticularlyfitforanythingoutthere，butIamashamedtocomebackandliveuponyou，sir。"
　　Hisfathershookhisheadwithanironicalsigh。
　　"Ah，weshallneverhavearealaristocracywhilethisplebeianreluctancetoliveuponaparentorawifecontinuestheanimatingspiritofouryouth。
　　Itstrikesattherootofthewholefeudalsystem。
　　Ireallythinkyouowemeanapology，Tom。Isupposedyouwishedtomarrythegirl’smoney，andhereyouare，baselyseekingtogointobusinesswithherfather。"
　　YoungCoreylaughedagainlikeasonwhoperceivesthathisfatherisalittleantiquated，butkeepsafilialfaithinhiswit。"Idon’tknowthatit’squitesobadasthat；butthethinghadcertainlycrossedmymind。
　　Idon’tknowhowit’stobeapproached，andIdon’tknowthatit’satallpossible。ButIconfessthatI’tookto’
　　ColonelLaphamfromthemomentIsawhim。Helookedasifhe’meantbusiness，’andImeanbusinesstoo。"
　　Thefathersmokedthoughtfully。"Ofcoursepeopledogointoallsortsofthings，asyousay，andIdon’tknowthatonethingismoreignoblethananother，ifit’sdecentandlargeenough。InmytimeyouwouldhavegoneintotheChinatradeortheIndiatrade——thoughIdidn’t；andalittlelatercottonwouldhavebeenyourmanifestdestiny——thoughitwasn’tmine；butnowamanmaydoalmostanything。Thereal—estatebusinessisprettyfull。Yes，ifyouhaveadeepinwardvocationforit，Idon’tseewhymineralpaintshouldn’tdo。
　　Ifancyit’seasyenoughapproachingthematter。WewillinvitePapaLaphamtodinner，andtalkitoverwithhim。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tthinkthatwouldbeexactlytheway，sir，"
　　saidtheson，smilingathisfather’spatricianunworldliness。
　　"No？Whynot？"
　　"I’mafraiditwouldbeabadstart。Idon’tthinkitwouldstrikehimasbusiness—like。"
　　"Idon’tseewhyheshouldbepunctilious，ifwe’renot。"
　　"Ah，wemightsaythatifheweremakingtheadvances。"
　　"Well，perhapsyouareright，Tom。Whatisyouridea？"
　　"Ihaven’taveryclearone。ItseemstomeIoughttogetsomebusinessfriendofours，whosejudgmenthewouldrespect，tospeakagoodwordforme。"
　　"Giveyouacharacter？"
　　"Yes。AndofcourseImustgotoColonelLapham。
　　Mynotionwouldbetoinquireprettythoroughlyabouthim，andthen，ifIlikedthelookofthings，togorightdowntoRepublicStreetandlethimseewhathecoulddowithme，ifanything。"
　　"Thatsoundstremendouslypracticaltome，Tom，thoughitmaybejustthewrongway。WhenareyougoingdowntoMountDesert？"
　　"To—morrow，Ithink，sir，"saidtheyoungman。"IshallturnitoverinmymindwhileI’moff。"
　　Thefatherrose，showingsomethingmorethanhisson’sheight，withaveryslightstoop，whichtheson’sfigurehadnot。
　　"Well，"hesaid，whimsically，"Iadmireyourspirit，andIdon’tdenythatitisjustifiedbynecessity。
　　It’saconsolationtothinkthatwhileI’vebeenspendingandenjoying，Ihavebeenpreparingthenoblestfutureforyou——afutureofindustryandself—reliance。Younevercoulddraw，butthisschemeofgoingintothemineral—paintbusinessshowsthatyouhaveinheritedsomethingofmyfeelingforcolour。"
　　Thesonlaughedoncemore，andwaitingtillhisfatherwaswellonhiswayupstairs，turnedoutthegasandthenhurriedafterhimandprecededhimintohischamber。
　　Heglancedoverittoseethateverythingwasthere，tohisfather’shand。Thenhesaid，"Goodnight，sir，"
　　andtheelderresponded，"Goodnight，myson，"andthesonwenttohisownroom。
　　OverthemantelintheelderCorey’sroomhungaportraitwhichhehadpaintedofhisownfather，andnowhestoodamomentandlookedatthisasifstruckbysomethingnovelinit。TheresemblancebetweenhissonandtheoldIndiamerchant，whohadfollowedthetradefromSalemtoBostonwhenthelargercitydrewitawayfromthesmaller，musthavebeenwhatstruckhim。GrandfatherandgrandsonhadboththeRomannosewhichappearstohaveflourishedchieflyattheformativeperiodoftherepublic，andwhichoccursmorerarelyinthedescendantsoftheconscriptfathers，thoughitstillcharacterisestheprofilesofagoodmanyBostonladies。BromfieldCoreyhadnotinheritedit，andhehadmadehisstraightnosehisdefencewhentheoldmerchantaccusedhimofawantofenergy。Hesaid，"Whatcouldamandowhoseunnaturalfatherhadlefthisownnoseawayfromhim？"Thisamusedbutdidnotsatisfythemerchant。"Youmustdosomething，"hesaid；"andit’sforyoutochoose。Ifyoudon’tliketheIndiatrade，gointosomethingelse。Or，takeuplawormedicine。
　　NoCoreyyeteverproposedtodonothing。""Ah，then，it’squitetimeoneofusmadeabeginning，"urgedthemanwhowasthenyoung，andwhowasnowold，lookingintothesomewhatfierceeyesofhisfather’sportrait。
　　Hehadinheritedaslittleofthefiercenessasofthenose，andtherewasnothingpredatoryinhissoneither，thoughtheaquilinebeakhadcomedowntohiminsuchforce。
　　BromfieldCoreylikedhissonTomforthegentlenesswhichtemperedhisenergy。
　　"Wellletuscompromise，"heseemedtobesayingtohisfather’sportrait。"Iwilltravel。""Travel？Howlong？"
　　thekeeneyesdemanded。"Oh，indefinitely。Iwon’tbehardwithyou，father。"Hecouldseetheeyessoften，andthesmileofyieldingcomeoverhisfather’sface；
　　themerchantcouldnotresistasonwhowassomuchlikehisdeadmother。TherewassomevagueunderstandingbetweenthemthatBromfieldCoreywastocomebackandgointobusinessafteratime，butheneverdidso。
　　HetravelledaboutoverEurope，andtravelledhandsomely，frequentinggoodsocietyeverywhere，andgettinghimselfpresentedatseveralcourts，ataperiodwhenitwasadistinctiontodoso。Hehadalwayssketched，andwithhisfather’sleavehefixedhimselfatRome，whereheremainedstudyingartandroundingthebeinginheritedfromhisYankeeprogenitors，tilltherewasverylittleleftoftheancestralangularities。
　　Aftertenyearshecamehomeandpaintedthatportraitofhisfather。Itwasverygood，ifalittleamateurish，andhemighthavemadehimselfanameasapainterofportraitsifhehadnothadsomuchmoney。Buthehadplentyofmoney，thoughbythistimehewasmarriedandbeginningtohaveafamily。Itwasabsurdforhimtopaintportraitsforpay，andridiculoustopaintthemfornothing；sohedidnotpaintthematall。
　　Hecontinuedadilettante，neverquiteabandoninghisart，butworkingatitfitfully，andtalkingmoreaboutitthanworkingatit。HehadhistheoryofTitian’smethod；
　　andnowandthenaBostonianinsisteduponbuyingapictureofhim。Afterawhilehehungitmoreandmoreinconspicuously，andsaidapologetically，"Ohyes！that’soneofBromfieldCorey’sthings。Ithasnicequalities，butit’samateurish。"
　　Inprocessoftimethemoneyseemedlessabundant。
　　Therewereshrinkagesofonekindandanother，andlivinghadgrownmuchmoreexpensiveandluxurious。
　　FormanyyearshetalkedaboutgoingbacktoRome，butheneverwent，andhischildrengrewupintheusualway。
　　Beforeheknewithissonhadhimouttohisclass—dayspreadatHarvard，andthenhehadhissononhishands。
　　Thesonmadevariousunsuccessfulprovisionsforhimself，andstillcontinueduponhisfather’shands，totheircommondissatisfaction，thoughitwaschieflytheyoungerwhorepined。HehadtheRomannoseandtheenergywithouttheopportunity，andatoneofthereversionshisfathersaidtohim，"Yououghtnottohavethatnose，Tom；
　　thenyouwoulddoverywell。Youwouldgoandtravel，asIdid。"
　　LAPHAMandhiswifecontinuedtalkingafterhehadquelledthedisturbanceinhisdaughters’roomoverhead；
　　andtheirtalkwasnotaltogetherofthenewhouse。
　　"Itellyou，"hesaid，"ifIhadthatfellowinthebusinesswithmeIwouldmakeamanofhim。"
　　"Well，SilasLapham，"returnedhiswife，"Idobelieveyou’vegotmineralpaintonthebrain。DoyousupposeafellowlikeyoungCorey，broughtupthewayhe’sbeen，wouldtouchmineralpaintwithaten—footpole？"
　　"Whynot？"haughtilyaskedtheColonel。
　　"Well，ifyoudon’tknowalready，there’snousetryingtotellyou。"
　　VI。
　　THECoreyshadalwayshadahouseatNahant，butafterlettingitforaseasonortwotheyfoundtheycouldgetonwithoutit，andsolditattheson’sinstance，whoforesawthatifthingswentonastheyweregoing，thefamilywouldbestraitenedtothepointofchangingtheirmodeoflifealtogether。Theybegantobeofthepeopleofwhomitwassaidthattheystayedintownverylate；andwhentheladiesdidgoaway，itwasforabriefsummeringinthisplaceandthat。
　　Thefatherremainedathomealtogether；andthesonjoinedthemintheintervalsofhisenterprises，whichoccurredonlytoooften。
　　AtBarHarbour，wherehenowwenttofindthem，afterhiswinterinTexas，heconfessedtohismotherthatthereseemednoverygoodopeningthereforhim。
　　HemightdoaswellasLoringStanton，buthedoubtedifStantonwasdoingverywell。Thenhementionedthenewprojectwhichhehadbeenthinkingover。
　　Shedidnotdenythattherewassomethinginit，butshecouldnotthinkofanyyoungmanwhohadgoneintosuchabusinessasthat，anditappearedtoherthathemightaswellgointoapatentmedicineorastove—polish。
　　"Therewasoneofhishideousadvertisements，"shesaid，"paintedonareefthatwesawaswecamedown。"
　　Coreysmiled。"Well，Isuppose，ifitwasinagoodstateofpreservation，thatisproofpositiveoftheefficacyofthepaintonthehullsofvessels。"
　　"It’sverydistastefultome，Tom，"saidhismother；
　　andiftherewassomethingelseinhermind，shedidnotspeakmoreplainlyofitthantoadd："It’snotonlythekindofbusiness，butthekindofpeopleyouwouldbemixedupwith。"
　　"Ithoughtyoudidn’tfindthemsoverybad，"suggestedCorey。
　　"Ihadn’tseentheminNankeenSquarethen。"
　　"YoucanseethemonthewatersideofBeaconStreetwhenyougoback。"
　　ThenhetoldofhisencounterwiththeLaphamfamilyintheirnewhouse。Attheendhismothermerelysaid，"Itisgettingverycommondownthere，"andshedidnottrytoopposeanythingfurthertohisscheme。
　　TheyoungmanwenttoseeColonelLaphamshortlyafterhisreturntoBoston。HepaidhisvisitatLapham’soffice，andifhehadstudiedsimplicityinhissummerdresshecouldnothavepresentedhimselfinafiguremoretothemindofapracticalman。HishandsandneckstillkeptthebrownoftheTexansunsandwinds，andhelookedasbusiness—likeasLaphamhimself。
　　Hespokeuppromptlyandbrisklyintheouteroffice，andcausedtheprettygirltolookawayfromhercopyingathim。"IsMr。Laphamin？"heasked；andafterthatmomentforreflectionwhichanarrayofbook—keeperssoaddressedlikestogivetheinquirer，aheadwasliftedfromaledgerandnoddedtowardtheinneroffice。
　　Laphamhadrecognisedthevoice，andhewasstanding，inconsiderableperplexity，toreceiveCorey，whentheyoungmanopenedhispaintedglassdoor。Itwasahotafternoon，andLaphamwasinhisshirtsleeves。ScarcelyatraceoftheboastfulhospitalitywithwhichhehadwelcomedCoreytohishouseafewdaysbeforelingeredinhispresentaddress。Helookedattheyoungman’sface，asifheexpectedhimtodespatchwhateverunimaginableaffairhehadcomeupon。
　　"Won’tyousitdown？Howareyou？You’llexcuseme，"
　　headded，inbriefallusiontotheshirt—sleeves。"I’maboutroasted。"
　　Coreylaughed。"Iwishyou’dletmetakeoffMYcoat。"
　　"Why，TAKEitoff！"criedtheColonel，withinstantpleasure。
　　Thereissomethinginhumannaturewhichcausesthemaninhisshirt—sleevestowishallothermentoappearinthesamedeshabille。
　　"Iwill，ifyouaskmeafterI’vetalkedwithyoutwominutes，"
　　saidtheyoungfellow，companionablypullingupthechairofferedhimtowardthedeskwhereLaphamhadagainseatedhimself。
　　"Butperhapsyouhaven’tgottwominutestogiveme？"
　　"Ohyes，Ihave，"saidtheColonel。"Iwasjustgoingtoknockoff。Icangiveyoutwenty，andthenIshallhavefifteenminutestocatchtheboat。"
　　"Allright，"saidCorey。"Iwantyoutotakemeintothemineralpaintbusiness。"
　　TheColonelsatdumb。Hetwistedhisthickneck，andlookedroundatthedoortoseeifitwasshut。
　　Hewouldnothavelikedtohaveanyofthosefellowsoutsidehearhim，butthereisnosayingwhatsumofmoneyhewouldnothavegivenifhiswifehadbeentheretohearwhatCoreyhadjustsaid。
　　"Isuppose，"continuedtheyoungman，"Icouldhavegotseveralpeoplewhosenamesyouknowtobackmyindustryandsobriety，andsayawordformybusinesscapacity。
　　ButIthoughtIwouldn’ttroubleanybodyforcertificatestillIfoundwhethertherewasachance，ortheghostofone，ofyourwantingme。SoIcamestraighttoyou。"
　　Laphamgatheredhimselftogetheraswellashecould。
　　HehadnotyetforgivenCoreyforMrs。Lapham’sinsinuationthathewouldfeelhimselftoogoodforthemineralpaintbusiness；andthoughhewasdispersedbythatastoundingshotatfirst，hewasnotgoingtoletanyoneevenhypotheticallydespisehispaintwithimpunity。
　　"HowdoyouthinkIamgoingtotakeyouon？"Theytookonhandsattheworks；andLaphamputitasifCoreywereahandcomingtohimforemployment。Whetherhesatisfiedhimselfbythisornot，hereddenedalittleafterhehadsaidit。
　　Coreyanswered，ignorantoftheoffence："Ihaven’taveryclearidea，I’mafraid；butI’vebeenlookingalittleintothematterfromtheoutside"
　　"Ihopeyouhain’tbeenpayinganyattentiontothatfellow’sstuffintheEvents？"Laphaminterrupted。
　　SinceBartley’sinterviewhadappeared，Laphamhadregardeditwithverymixedfeelings。Atfirstitgavehimaglowofsecretpleasure，blendedwithdoubtastohowhiswifewouldliketheuseBartleyhadmadeofherinit。Butshehadnotseemedtonoticeitmuch，andLaphamhadexperiencedthegratitudeofthemanwhoescapes。Thenhisgirlshadbeguntomakefunofit；
　　andthoughhedidnotmindPenelope’sjokesmuch，hedidnotliketoseethatIrene’sgentilitywaswounded。
　　Businessfriendsmethimwiththekindofknowingsmileaboutitthatimpliedtheirsenseofthefraudulentcharacterofitspraise——thesmileofmenwhohadbeenthereandwhoknewhowitwasthemselves。Laphamhadhismisgivingsastohowhisclerksandunderlingslookedatit；
　　hetreatedthemwithstatelyseverityforawhileafteritcameout，andheendedbyfeelingrathersoreaboutit。