Hisfatherlefthimthenextafternoon，andDan，whohadspentthedaywithhimlookingintobusinessforthefirsttime，witharunningaccompanimentofAliceinallthedetails，remainedtouninterruptedmisery。Hespenttheeveninginhisroom，toowretchedevenforthetheatre。ItistruethathetriedtofindBoardman，butBoardmanwasagainoffonsomenewspaperduty;andaftertryingatseveralhousesinthehope，whichheknewwasvain，offindinganyoneintownyet，heshuthimselfupwithhisthoughts。Theydidnotdifferfromthethoughtsofthenightbefore，andthenightbeforethat，buttheywerecalmer，andtheyportendedmoredistinctlyalifeofself-abnegationandsolitudefromthattimeforth。Hetestedhisfeelings，andfoundthatitwasnothurtvanitythathewassufferingfrom:itwasreallywoundedaffection。
HedidnotresentAlice’scruelty;hewishedthatshemightbehappy;hecouldenduretoseeherhappy。
HewrotealettertothemarriedoneofthetwoladieshehadspentthedaywithinPortland，andthankedthemformakingpasspleasantlyadaywhichhewouldnototherwisehaveknownhowtogetthrough。Heletasoft，mysteriousmelancholypervadehisletter;hehinteddarklyattroubleandsorrowofwhichhecouldnotdefinitelyspeak。Hehadthegoodsensetotearhisletterupwhenhehadfinishedit，andtosendashort，sprightlynoteinstead，sayingthatifMrs。FrobisherandhersistercametoBostonattheendofthemonth，astheyhadspokenofdoing，theymustbesuretolethimknow。Upontheimpulsegivenhimbythisletterhewentmorecheerfullytobed，andfellinstantlyasleep。
Duringthenextthreeweekshebenthimselffaithfullytotheschemesofworkhisfatherhadoutlinedforhim。HevisitedNewYorkandPhiladelphia，andlookedintothebusinessandtheprocessesthere;andhereturnedtoPonkwassetFallstoreportandcomparehisfactsintelligentlywiththosewhichhenowexaminedinhisfather’smanufactoryforthefirsttime。Hebegantounderstandhowhisfather，whowasamanofintellectualandartisticinterests，shouldbefondofthework。
Hespentagooddealoftimewithhismother，andreadtoher，andgotuponbettertermswithherthantheyusuallywere。Theywereverymuchalike，andsheobjectedtohimthathewastoolightandfrivolous。Hesatwithhissisters，andtookaninterestintheirpursuits。Hedrovethemaboutwithhisfather’ssorrels，andresumedsomethingoftheoldrelationswiththemwhichtheselfishyearsofhiscollegelifehadbrokenoff。AsyethecouldnotspeakofCampobelloorofwhathadhappenedthere;andhismotherandsisters，whatevertheythought，madenomoreallusiontoitthanhisfatherhaddone。