\"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。