It’sourlatestthing，andwefindittakeswithcustomersfirst—rate。Lookhere！\"hesaid，takingdownoneofthejars，andpointingtothefirstlineofthelabel。
Bartleyread，\"THEPERSISBRAND，\"andthenhelookedatLaphamandsmiled。
\"AfterHER，ofcourse，\"saidLapham。\"Gotitupandputthefirstofitonthemarketherlastbirthday。
Shewaspleased。\"
\"Ishouldthinkshemighthavebeen，\"saidBartley，whilehemadeanoteoftheappearanceofthejars。
\"Idon’tknowaboutyourmentioningitinyourinterview，\"
saidLaphamdubiously。
\"That’sgoingintotheinterview，Mr。Lapham，ifnothingelsedoes。Gotawifemyself，andIknowjusthowyoufeel。\"
ItwasinthedawnofBartley’sprosperityontheBostonEvents，beforehistroubleswithMarciahadseriouslybegun。
\"Isthatso？\"saidLapham，recognisingwithasmileanotherofthevastmajorityofmarriedAmericans；
afewunderratetheirwives，buttherestthinkthemsupernalinintelligenceandcapability。\"Well，\"headded，\"wemustseeaboutthat。Where’dyousayyoulived？\"
\"Wedon’tlive；weboard。Mrs。Nash，13CanaryPlace。\"
\"Well，we’veallgottocommencethatway，\"
suggestedLaphamconsolingly。
\"Yes；butwe’veaboutgottotheendofourstring。
IexpecttobeunderaroofofmyownonCloverStreetbeforelong。Isuppose，\"saidBartley，returningtobusiness，\"thatyoudidn’tletthegrassgrowunderyourfeetmuchafteryoufoundoutwhatwasinyourpaint—mine？\"
\"No，sir，\"answeredLapham，withdrawinghiseyesfromalongstareatBartley，inwhichhehadbeenseeinghimselfayoungmanagain，inthefirstdaysofhismarriedlife。
\"IwentrightbacktoLumbervilleandsoldouteverything，andputallIcouldrakeandscrapetogetherintopaint。
AndMis’Laphamwaswithmeeverytime。NohangbackaboutHER。ItellyoushewasaWOMAN！\"
Bartleylaughed。\"That’sthesortmostofusmarry。\"
\"No，wedon’t，\"saidLapham。\"MostofusmarrysillylittlegirlsgrownuptoLOOKlikewomen。\"
\"Well，Iguessthat’saboutso，\"assentedBartley，asifuponsecondthought。
\"Ifithadn’tbeenforher，\"resumedLapham，\"thepaintwouldn’thavecometoanything。Iusedtotellheritwa’n’ttheseventy—fivepercent。ofpurr—ox—eyedofironintheOREthatmadethatpaintgo；itwastheseventy—fivepercent。ofpurr—ox—eyedofironinHER。\"
\"Good！\"criedBartley。\"I’lltellMarciathat。\"
\"Inless’nsixmonthstherewa’n’taboard—fence，norabridge—girder，noradeadwall，norabarn，norafaceofrockinthatwholeregionthatdidn’thave’Lapham’sMineralPaint——Specimen’onitinthethreecolourswebegunbymaking。\"Bartleyhadtakenhisseatonthewindow—sill，andLapham，standingbeforehim，nowputuphishugefootclosetoBartley’sthigh；neitherofthemmindedthat。
\"I’veheardagooddealoftalkaboutthatS。T。——1860——
X。man，andthestove—blackingman，andthekidney—cureman，becausetheyadvertisedinthatway；andI’vereadarticlesaboutitinthepapers；butIdon’tseewherethejokecomesin，exactly。Solongasthepeoplethatownthebarnsandfencesdon’tobject，Idon’tseewhatthepublichasgottodowithit。AndIneversawanythingsoverysacredaboutabigrock，alongariverorinapasture，thatitwouldn’tdotoputmineralpaintonitinthreecolours。
Iwishsomeofthepeoplethattalkaboutthelandscape，andWRITEaboutit，hadtobu’stoneofthemrocksOUT
ofthelandscapewithpowder，ordigaholetoburyitin，asweusedtohavetodouponthefarm；Iguessthey’dsingalittledifferenttuneabouttheprofanationofscenery。Thereain’tanymanenjoysasightlybitofnature——asmoothpieceofintervalwithhalfadozengood—sizedwine—glasselmsinit——morethanIdo。
ButIain’ta—goingtostandupforeverybiguglyrockIcomeacross，asifwewereallasetofdumnDruids。
Isaythelandscapewasmadeforman，andnotmanforthelandscape。\"
\"Yes，\"saidBartleycarelessly；\"itwasmadeforthestove—polishmanandthekidney—cureman。\"
\"Itwasmadeforanymanthatknowshowtouseit，\"
Laphamreturned，insensibletoBartley’sirony。
\"Let’emgoandlivewithnatureintheWINTER，uptherealongtheCanadaline，andIguessthey’llgetenoughofherforonewhile。Well——wherewasI？\"
\"Decoratingthelandscape，\"saidBartley。
\"Yes，sir；IstartedrightthereatLumberville，anditgivetheplaceastarttoo。Youwon’tfinditonthemapnow；andyouwon’tfinditinthegazetteer。
Igiveaprettygoodlumpofmoneytobuildatown—hall，aboutfiveyearsback，andthefirstmeetingtheyheldinittheyvotedtochangethename，——LumbervilleWA’N’T
aname，——andit’sLaphamnow。\"
\"Isn’titsomewhereupinthatregionthattheygettheoldBrandonred？\"askedBartley。
\"We’reaboutninetymilesfromBrandon。TheBrandon’sagoodpaint，\"saidLaphamconscientiously。\"Liketoshowyouroundupatourplacesomeoddtime，ifyougetoff。\"
\"Thanks。Ishouldlikeitfirst—rate。WORKSthere？\"
\"Yes；worksthere。Well，sir，justaboutthetimeI
gotstarted，thewarbrokeout；anditknockedmypainthigherthanakite。Thethingdroppedperfectlydead。
IpresumethatifI’dhadanysortofinfluence，ImighthavegotitintoGovernmenthands，forgun—carriagesandarmywagons，andmaybeonboardGovernmentvessels。
ButIhadn’t，andwehadtofacethemusic。Iwasaboutbroken—hearted，butm’wifeshelookedatitanotherway。
’Iguessit’saprovidence，’saysshe。’Silas，Iguessyou’vegotacountrythat’sworthfightingfor。Anyrate，youbettergooutandgiveitachance。’Well，sir，Iwent。
Iknewshemeantbusiness。Itmightkillhertohavemego，butitwouldkillhersureifIstayed。
Shewasoneofthatkind。Iwent。Herlastwordswas，’I’lllookafterthepaint，Si。’Wehadn’tbutjustonelittlegirlthen，——boy’ddied，——andMis’Lapham’smotherwaslivin’withus；andIknewiftimesDIDanywayscomeupagain，m’wife’dknowjustwhattodo。SoIwent。
Igotthrough；andyoucancallmeColonel，ifyouwantto。
Feelthere！\"LaphamtookBartley’sthumbandforefingerandputthemonabunchinhisleg，justabovetheknee。
\"Anythinghard？\"
\"Ball？\"
Laphamnodded。\"Gettysburg。That’smythermometer。
Ifitwa’n’tforthat，Ishouldn’tknowenoughtocomeinwhenitrains。\"
Bartleylaughedatajokewhichbetrayedsomeevidencesofwear。\"Andwhenyoucameback，youtookholdofthepaintandrushedit。\"
\"1tookholdofthepaintandrushedit——allIcould，\"
saidLapham，withlesssatisfactionthanhehadhithertoshowninhisautobiography。\"ButIfoundthatIhadgotbacktoanotherworld。Thedayofsmallthingswaspast，andIdon’tsupposeitwillevercomeagaininthiscountry。
Mywifewasatmeallthetimetotakeapartner——somebodywithcapital；butIcouldn’tseemtobeartheidea。
Thatpaintwaslikemyownbloodtome。Tohaveanybodyelseconcernedinitwaslike——well，Idon’tknowwhat。
Isawitwasthethingtodo；butItriedtofightitoff，andItriedtojokeitoff。Iusedtosay，’Whydidn’tyoutakeapartneryourself，Persis，whileIwasaway？’
Andshe’dsay，’Well，ifyouhadn’tcomeback，Ishould，Si。’AlwaysDIDlikeajokeaboutaswellasanywomanI
eversaw。Well，Ihadtocometoit。Itookapartner。\"
LaphamdroppedtheboldblueeyeswithwhichhehadbeentillnowstaringintoBartley’sface，andthereporterknewthatherewasaplaceforasterisksinhisinterview，ifinterviewswerefaithful。\"Hehadmoneyenough，\"
continuedLapham，withasuppressedsigh；\"buthedidn’tknowanythingaboutpaint。Wehungontogetherforayearortwo。
Andthenwequit。\"
\"Andhehadtheexperience，\"suggestedBartley，withcompanionableease。
\"Ihadsomeoftheexperiencetoo，\"saidLapham，withascowl；andBartleydivined，throughthefreemasonryofallwhohavesoreplacesintheirmemories，thatthiswasapointwhichhemustnottouchagain。
\"Andsincethat，Isuppose，you’veplayeditalone。\"
\"I’veplayeditalone。\"
\"Youmustshipsomeofthispaintofyourstoforeigncountries，Colonel？\"suggestedBartley，puttingonaprofessionalair。
\"Weshipittoallpartsoftheworld。ItgoestoSouthAmerica，lotsofit。ItgoestoAustralia，anditgoestoIndia，anditgoestoChina，anditgoestotheCapeofGoodHope。
It’llstandanyclimate。Ofcourse，wedon’texportthesefancybrandsmuch。They’reforhomeuse。Butwe’reintroducingthemelsewhere。Here。\"Laphampulledopenadrawer，andshowedBartleyalotoflabelsindifferentlanguages——Spanish，French，German，andItalian。
\"Weexpecttodoagoodbusinessinallthosecountries。
We’vegotouragenciesinCadiznow，andinParis，andinHamburg，andinLeghorn。It’sathingthat’sboundtomakeitsway。Yes，sir。Whereveramanhasgotaship，orabridge，oralock，orahouse，oracar，orafence，orapig—penanywhereinGod’suniversetopaint，that’sthepaintforhim，andhe’sboundtofinditoutsoonerorlater。
Youpassatonofthatpaintdrythroughablast—furnace，andyou’llgetaquarterofatonofpig—iron。Ibelieveinmypaint。Ibelieveit’sablessingtotheworld。
Whenfolkscomein，andkindofsmellround，andaskmewhatImixitwith，Ialwayssay，’Well，inthefirstplace，ImixitwithFAITH，andafterthatIgrinditupwiththebestqualityofboiledlinseedoilthatmoneywillbuy。’\"
Laphamtookouthiswatchandlookedatit，andBartleyperceivedthathisaudiencewasdrawingtoaclose。
\"’Fyoueverwanttorundownandtakealookatourworks，passyouovertheroad，\"——hecalleditRUD\"anditsha’n’tcostyouacent。\"\"Well，maybeIshall，sometime，\"saidBartley。
\"Goodafternoon，Colonel。\"
\"Goodafternoon。Or——holdon！Myhorsedownthereyet，William？\"hecalledtotheyoungmaninthecounting—roomwhohadtakenhisletteratthebeginningoftheinterview。
\"Oh！Allright！\"headded，inresponsetosomethingtheyoungmansaid。
\"Can’tIsetyoudownsomewhere，Mr。Hubbard？I’vegotmyhorseatthedoor，andIcandropyouonmywayhome。
I’mgoingtotakeMis’LaphamtolookatahouseI’mdrivingpilesfor，downontheNewLand。\"
\"Don’tcareifIdo，\"saidBartley。
Laphamputonastrawhat，gatheredupsomepaperslyingonhisdesk，pulleddownitsrollingcover，turnedthekeyinit，andgavethepaperstoanextremelyhandsomeyoungwomanatoneofthedesksintheouteroffice。
Shewasstylishlydressed，asBartleysaw，andhersmooth，yellowhairwassculpturesquelywavedoveralow，whiteforehead。\"Here，\"saidLapham，withthesamepromptgruffkindnessthathehadusedinaddressingtheyoungman，\"Iwantyoushouldputtheseinshape，andgivemeatype—writercopyto—morrow。\"
\"Whatanuncommonlyprettygirl！\"saidBartley，astheydescendedtheroughstairwayandfoundtheirwayouttothestreet，pastthedanglingropeofablockandtacklewanderingupintothecavernousdarknessoverhead。
\"Shedoesherwork，\"saidLaphamshortly。
Bartleymountedtotheleftsideoftheopenbuggystandingatthecurb—stone，andLapham，gatheringupthehitching—weight，sliditunderthebuggy—seatandmountedbesidehim。
\"Nochancetospeedahorsehere，ofcourse，\"saidLapham，whilethehorsewithaspiritedgentlenesspickedherway，withahigh，longaction，overthepavementofthestreet。
Thestreetswereallnarrow，andmostofthemcrooked，inthatquarterofthetown；butattheendofonethesparsofavesselpencilledthemselvesdelicatelyagainstthecoolblueoftheafternoonsky。Theairwasfullofasmellpleasantlycompoundedofoakum，ofleather，andofoil。Itwasnotthebusyseason，andtheymetonlytwoorthreetrucksheavilystragglingtowardthewharfwiththeirlongstringteams；butthecobble—stonesofthepavementwerewornwiththedintofponderouswheels，anddiscolouredwithiron—rustfromthem；
hereandthere，inwanderingstreaksoveritssurface，wasthegreystainofthesaltwaterwithwhichthestreethadbeensprinkled。
Afteranintervalofsomeminutes，whichbothmenspentinlookingroundthedash—boardfromoppositesidestowatchthestrideofthehorse，Bartleysaid，withalightsigh，\"IhadacoltoncedowninMainethatsteppedjustlikethatmare。\"
\"Well！\"saidLapham，sympatheticallyrecognisingthebondthatthisfactcreatedbetweenthem。\"Well，now，Itellyouwhatyoudo。Youletmecomeforyou’mostanyafternoon，now，andtakeyououtovertheMilldam，andspeedthismarealittle。I’dliketoshowyouwhatthismarecando。Yes，Iwould。\"
\"Allright，\"answeredBartley；\"I’llletyouknowmyfirstdayoff。\"
\"Good，\"criedLapham。
\"Kentucky？\"queriedBartley。
\"No，sir。Idon’tridebehindanythingbutVermont；neverdid。
TouchofMorgan，ofcourse；butyoucan’thavemuchMorganinahorseifyouwantspeed。Hambletonianmostly。
Where’dyousayyouwantedtogetout？\"
\"IguessyoumayputmedownattheEventsOffice，justroundthecornerhere。I’vegottowriteupthisinterviewwhileit’sfresh。\"
\"Allright，\"saidLapham，impersonallyassentingtoBartley’suseofhimasmaterial。
HehadnotmuchtocomplainofinBartley’streatment，unlessitwasthestrainofextravagantcomplimentwhichitinvolved。Buttheflatterywasmainlyforthepaint，whosevirtuesLaphamdidnotbelievecouldbeoverstated，andhimselfandhishistoryhadbeentreatedwithasmuchrespectasBartleywascapableofshowinganyone。
Hemadeaverypicturesquethingofthediscoveryofthepaint—mine。\"DeepintheheartofthevirginforestsofVermont，faruptowardthelineoftheCanadiansnows，onadesolatemountain—side，whereanautumnalstormhaddoneitswildwork，andthegreattrees，strewnhitherandthither，borewitnesstoitsviolence，NehemiahLaphamdiscovered，justfortyyearsago，themineralwhichthealchemyofhisson’senterpriseandenergyhastransmutedintosolidingotsofthemostpreciousofmetals。
ThecolossalfortuneofColonelSilasLaphamlayatthebottomofaholewhichanuprootedtreehaddugforhim，andwhichformanyyearsremainedapaint—mineofnomoreappreciablevaluethanasoap—mine。\"
HereBartleyhadnotbeenabletoforegoanothergrin；
buthecompensatedforitbythehighreverencewithwhichhespokeofColonelLapham’srecordduringthewaroftherebellion，andofthemotiveswhichimpelledhimtoturnasidefromanenterpriseinwhichhiswholeheartwasengaged，andtakepartinthestruggle。\"TheColonelbearsembeddedinthemuscleofhisrightlegalittlemementooftheperiodintheshapeofaminie—ball，whichhejocularlyreferredtoashisthermometer，andwhichrelieveshimfromthenecessityofreading’TheProbabilities’inhismorningpaper。
Thissaveshimjustsomuchtime；andforamanwho，ashesaid，hasnotamomentofwastetimeonhimanywhere，fiveminutesadayaresomethinginthecourseofayear。
Simple，clear，bold，andstraightforwardinmindandaction，ColonelSilasLapham，withapromptcomprehensivenessandanever—failingbusinesssagacity，is，inthebestsenseofthatmuch—abusedterm，oneofnature’snoblemen，tothelastinchofhisfiveelevenandahalf。Hislifeaffordsanexampleofsingle—mindedapplicationandunwaveringperseverancewhichouryoungbusinessmenwoulddowelltoemulate。
Thereisnothingshowyormeretriciousabouttheman。
Hebelievesinmineralpaint，andheputshisheartandsoulintoit。Hemakesitareligion；thoughwewouldnotimplythatitIShisreligion。ColonelLaphamisaregularattendantattheRev。Dr。Langworthy’schurch。
HesubscribesliberallytotheAssociatedCharities，andnogoodobjectorworthypublicenterprisefailstoreceivehissupport。Heisnotnowactivelyinpolitics，andhispaintisnotpartisan；butitisanopensecretthatheis，andalwayshasbeen，astaunchRepublican。
Withoutviolatingthesanctitiesofprivatelife，wecannotspeakfullyofvariousdetailswhichcameoutinthefreeandunembarrassedinterviewwhichColonelLaphamaccordedourrepresentative。Butwemaysaythatthesuccessofwhichheisjustlyproudheisalsoproudtoattributeingreatmeasuretothesympathyandenergyofhiswife——oneofthosewomenwho，inwhateverwalkoflife，seemborntohonourthenameofAmericanWoman，andtoredeemitfromthenationalreproachofDaisyMillerism。
OfColonelLapham’sfamily，wewillsimplyaddthatitconsistsoftwoyoungladydaughters。
\"ThesubjectofthisveryinadequatesketchisbuildingahouseonthewatersideofBeaconStreet，afterdesignsbyoneofourleadingarchitecturalfirms，which，whencomplete，willbeoneofthefinestornamentsofthatexclusiveavenue。Itwill，webelieve，bereadyfortheoccupancyofthefamilysometimeinthespring。\"
WhenBartleyhadfinishedhisarticle，whichhedidwithagooddealofinwardderision，hewenthometoMarcia，stillsmilingoverthethoughtofLapham，whoseburlysimplicityhadpeculiarlyamusedhim。
\"Heregularlyturnedhimselfinsideouttome，\"hesaid，ashesatdescribinghisinterviewtoMarcia。
\"ThenIknowyoucouldmakesomethingniceoutofit，\"
saidhiswife；\"andthatwillpleaseMr。Witherby。\"
\"Ohyes，I’vedoneprettywell；butIcouldn’tletmyselflooseonhimthewayIwantedto。Confoundthelimitationsofdecency，anyway！IshouldliketohavetoldjustwhatColonelLaphamthoughtoflandscapeadvertisinginColonelLapham’sownwords。I’lltellyouonething，Marsh：hehadagirlthereatoneofthedesksthatyouwouldn’tletMEhavewithingunshotofMYoffice。
Pretty？Itain’tanynameforit！\"Marcia’seyesbegantoblaze，andBartleybrokeoutintoalaugh，inwhichhearrestedhimselfatsightofaformidableparcelinthecorneroftheroom。
\"Hello！What’sthat？\"
\"Why，Idon’tknowwhatitis，\"repliedMarciatremulously。
\"Amanbroughtitjustbeforeyoucamein，andIdidn’tliketoopenit。\"
\"Thinkitwassomekindofinfernalmachine？\"askedBartley，gettingdownonhiskneestoexaminethepackage。
\"MRS。B。Hubbard，heigh？\"Hecuttheheavyhempstringwithhispenknife。\"Wemustlookintothisthing。
Ishouldliketoknowwho’ssendingpackagestoMrs。Hubbardinmyabsence。\"Heunfoldedthe；wrappingsofpaper，growingsofterandfinerinward，andpresentlypulledoutahandsomesquareglassjar，throughwhichacrimsonmassshowedrichly。\"ThePersisBrand！\"heyelled。
\"Iknewit！\"
\"Oh，whatisit，Bartley？\"quaveredMarcia。Then，courageouslydrawingalittlenearer：\"Isitsomekindofjam？\"sheimplored。\"Jam？No！\"roaredBartley。
\"It’sPAINT！It’smineralpaint——Lapham’spaint！\"
\"Paint？\"echoedMarcia，asshestoodoverhimwhilehestrippedtheirwrappingsfromthejarswhichshowedthedarkblue，darkgreen，lightbrown，darkbrown，andblack，withthedarkcrimson，formingthegamutofcolouroftheLaphampaint。\"Don’tTELLmeit’spaintthatIcanuse，Bartley！\"
\"Well，Ishouldn’tadviseyoutousemuchofit——allatonce，\"repliedherhusband。\"Butit’spaintthatyoucanuseinmoderation。\"
Marciacastherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
\"OBartley，IthinkI’mthehappiestgirlintheworld！
IwasjustwonderingwhatIshoulddo。ThereareplacesinthatCloverStreethousethatneedtouchingupsodreadfully。Ishallbeverycareful。Youneedn’tbeafraidIshalloverdo。But，thisjustsavesmylife。
DidyouBUYit，Bartley？Youknowwecouldn’taffordit，andyououghtn’ttohavedoneit！AndwhatdoesthePersisBrandmean？\"
\"Buyit？\"criedBartley。\"No！Theoldfool’ssentittoyouasapresent。You’dbetterwaitforthefactsbeforeyoupitchintomeforextravagance，Marcia。Persisisthenameofhiswife；andhenameditafterherbecauseit’shisfinestbrand。You’llseeitinmyinterview。
Putitonthemarketherlastbirthdayforasurprisetoher。\"
\"Whatoldfool？\"falteredMarcia。
\"Why，Lapham——themineralpaintman。\"
\"Oh，whatagoodman！\"sighedMarciafromthebottomofhersoul。\"Bartley！youWON’Tmakefunofhimasyoudoofsomeofthosepeople？WILLyou？\"
\"NothingthatHE’LLeverfindout，\"saidBartley，gettingupandbrushingoffthecarpet—lintfromhisknees。
II。
AFTERdroppingBartleyHubbardattheEventsbuilding，LaphamdroveondownWashingtonStreettoNankeenSquareattheSouthEnd，wherehehadlivedeversincethemistakenmovementofsocietyinthatdirectionceased。
Hehadnotbuilt，buthadboughtverycheapofaterrifiedgentlemanofgoodextractionwhodiscoveredtoolatethattheSouthEndwasnotthething，andwhointheeagernessofhisflighttotheBackBaythrewinhiscarpetsandshadesforalmostnothing。Mrs。LaphamwasevenbettersatisfiedwiththeirbargainthantheColonelhimself，andtheyhadlivedinNankeenSquarefortwelveyears。
Theyhadseenthesaplingsplantedintheprettyovalroundwhichthehouseswerebuiltflourishupintosturdyyoungtrees，andtheirtwolittlegirlsinthesameperiodhadgrownintoyoungladies；theColonel’stoughframehadexpandedintothebulkwhichBartley’sinterviewindicated；
andMrs。Lapham，whilekeepingamoreyouthfuloutline，showedthesharpprintofthecrow’s—footatthecornersofhermotherlyeyes，andcertainslightcreasesinherwholesomecheeks。Thefactthattheylivedinanunfashionableneighbourhoodwassomethingthattheyhadneverbeenmadetofeeltotheirpersonaldisadvantage，andtheyhadhardlyknownittillthesummerbeforethisstoryopens，whenMrs。LaphamandherdaughterIrenehadmetsomeotherBostoniansfarfromBoston，whomadeitmemorable。TheywerepeoplewhomchancehadbroughtforthetimeunderasingularobligationtotheLaphamladies，andtheyweregratefullyrecognisantofit。
Theyhadventured——amotherandtwodaughters——asfarasaratherwildlittleCanadianwatering—placeontheSt。Lawrence，belowQuebec，andhadarrivedsomedaysbeforetheirsonandbrotherwasexpectedtojointhem。
Twooftheirtrunkshadgoneastray，andonthenightoftheirarrivalthemotherwastakenviolentlyill。
Mrs。Laphamcametotheirhelp，withherskillasnurse，andwiththeabundanceofherownandherdaughter’swardrobe，andaprofuse，single—heartedkindness。Whenadoctorcouldbegotat，hesaidthatbutforMrs。Lapham’stimelycare，theladywouldhardlyhavelived。HewasaveryeffusivelittleFrenchman，andfanciedhewassayingsomethingverypleasanttoeverybody。
Acertainintimacyinevitablyfollowed，andwhenthesoncamehewasevenmoregratefulthantheothers。
Mrs。LaphamcouldnotquiteunderstandwhyheshouldbeasattentivetoherastoIrene；butshecomparedhimwithotheryoungmenabouttheplace，andthoughthimnicerthananyofthem。Shehadnotthemeansofawidercomparison；forinBoston，withallherhusband’sprosperity，theyhadnothadasociallife。
TheirfirstyearsthereweregiventocarefulgettingonLapham’spart，andcarefulsavingonhiswife’s。
Suddenlythemoneybegantocomesoabundantlythatsheneednotsave；andthentheydidnotknowwhattodowithit。Acertainamountcouldbespentonhorses，andLaphamspentit；hiswifespentonrichandratheruglyclothesandaluxuryofhouseholdappointments。