\"AndIshallaskleavetobeabsentfromyourdiscomfiture，mydear，\"answeredherhusband。
Thesonreturnedthatafternoon，andconfessedhissurpriseatfindinghismotherinBoston。Hewassofrankthatshehadnotquitethecouragetoconfessinturnwhyshehadcome，buttrumpedupanexcuse。
\"Well，mother，\"hesaidpromptly，\"IhavemadeanengagementwithMr。Lapham。\"
\"Haveyou，Tom？\"sheaskedfaintly。
\"Yes。ForthepresentIamgoingtohavechargeofhisforeigncorrespondence，andifIseemywaytotheadvantageIexpecttofindinit，IamgoingouttomanagethatsideofhisbusinessinSouthAmericaandMexico。
He’sbehavedveryhandsomelyaboutit。Hesaysthatifitappearsforourcommoninterest，heshallpaymeasalaryaswellasacommission。I’vetalkedwithUncleJim，andhethinksit’sagoodopening。\"
\"YourUncleJimdoes？\"queriedMrs。Coreyinamaze。
\"Yes；Iconsultedhimthewholewaythrough，andI’veactedonhisadvice。\"
Thisseemedanincomprehensibletreacheryonherbrother’spart。
\"Yes；Ithoughtyouwouldliketohaveme。Andbesides，Icouldn’tpossiblyhavegonetoanyonesowellfittedtoadviseme。\"
Hismothersaidnothing。Infact，themineralpaintbusiness，howeverpainfulitsinterest，was，forthemoment，supersededbyamorepoignantanxiety。Shebegantofeelherwaycautiouslytowardthis。
\"HaveyoubeentalkingaboutyourbusinesswithMr。Laphamallnight？\"
\"Well，prettymuch，\"saidherson，withaguiltlesslaugh。
\"Iwenttoseehimyesterdayafternoon，afterIhadgoneoverthewholegroundwithUncleJim，andMr。Laphamaskedmetogodownwithhimandfinishup。\"
\"Down？\"repeatedMrs。Corey。\"Yes，toNantasket。
Hehasacottagedownthere。\"
\"AtNantasket？\"Mrs。Coreyknittedherbrowsalittle。
\"WhatintheworldcanacottageatNantasketbelike？\"
\"Oh，verymuchlikea’cottage’anywhere。Ithastheusualallowanceofredroofandveranda。Therearetheregulationrocksbythesea；andthebighotelsonthebeachaboutamileoff，flaringawaywithelectriclightsandroman—candlesatnight。Wedidn’thavethematNahant。\"
\"No，\"saidhismother。\"IsMrs。Laphamwell？Andherdaughter？\"
\"Yes，Ithinkso，\"saidtheyoungman。\"Theyoungladieswalkedmedowntotherocksintheusualwayafterdinner，andthenIcamebackandtalkedpaintwithMr。Laphamtillmidnight。Wedidn’tsettleanythingtillthismorningcomingupontheboat。\"
\"Whatsortofpeopledotheyseemtobeathome？\"
\"Whatsort？Well，Idon’tknowthatInoticed。\"Mrs。Coreypermittedherselfthefirstpartofasighofrelief；
andhersonlaughed，butapparentlynotather。
\"They’rejustreadingMiddlemarch。Theysaythere’ssomuchtalkaboutit。Oh，Isupposethey’reverygoodpeople。
Theyseemedtobeonverygoodtermswitheachother。\"
\"Isupposeit’stheplainsisterwho’sreadingMiddlemarch。\"
\"Plain？Issheplain？\"askedtheyoungman，asifsearchinghisconsciousness。\"Yes，it’stheolderonewhodoesthereading，apparently。ButIdon’tbelievethatevensheoverdoesit。Theyliketotalkbetter。
TheyremindedmeofSouthernpeopleinthat。\"Theyoungmansmiled，asifamusedbysomeofhisimpressionsoftheLaphamfamily。\"Theliving，asthecountrypeoplecallit，istremendouslygood。TheColonel——he’sacolonel——talkedofthecoffeeashiswife’scoffee，asifshehadpersonallymadeitinthekitchen，thoughIbelieveitwasmerelyinspiredbyher。
Andtherewaseverythinginthehousethatmoneycouldbuy。
Butmoneyhasitslimitations。\"
ThiswasafactwhichMrs。Coreywasbeginningtorealisemoreandmoreunpleasantlyinherownlife；butitseemedtobringheracertaincomfortinitsapplicationtotheLaphams。
\"Yes，thereisapointwheretastehastobegin，\"shesaid。
\"Theyseemedtowanttoapologisetomefornothavingmorebooks，\"saidCorey。\"Idon’tknowwhytheyshould。
TheColonelsaidtheyboughtagoodmanybooks，firstandlast；
butapparentlytheydon’ttakethemtothesea—side。\"
\"IdaresaytheyNEVERbuyaNEWbook。I’vemetsomeofthesemoneyedpeoplelately，andtheylavishoneveryconceivableluxury，andthenborrowbooks，andgettheminthecheappapereditions。\"
\"Ifancythat’sthewaywiththeLaphamfamily，\"saidtheyoungman，smilingly。\"Buttheyareverygoodpeople。
Theotherdaughterishumorous。\"
\"Humorous？\"Mrs。Coreyknittedherbrowsinsomeperplexity。
\"DoyoumeanlikeMrs。Sayre？\"sheasked，namingtheladywhosenamemustcomeintoeveryBostonmindwhenhumourismentioned。
\"Ohno；nothinglikethat。Sheneversaysanythingthatyoucanremember；nothinginflashesorripples；
nothingtheleastliterary。Butit’sasortofdrollwayoflookingatthings；oradrollmediumthroughwhichthingspresentthemselves。Idon’tknow。
Shetellswhatshe’sseen，andmimicsalittle。\"
\"Oh，\"saidMrs。Coreycoldly。Afteramomentsheasked：
\"AndisMissIreneasprettyasever？\"
\"She’sawonderfulcomplexion，\"saidthesonunsatisfactorily。
\"IshallwanttobebywhenfatherandColonelLaphammeet，\"
headded，withasmile。
\"Ah，yes，yourfather！\"saidthemother，inthatwayinwhichawifeatoncecompassionatesandcensuresherhusbandtotheirchildren。
\"Doyouthinkit’sreallygoingtobeatrialtohim？\"
askedtheyoungmanquickly。
\"No，no，Ican’tsayitis。ButIconfessIwishitwassomeotherbusiness，Tom。\"
\"Well，mother，Idon’tseewhy。Theprincipalthinglookedatnowistheamountofmoney；andwhileI
wouldratherstarvethantouchadollarthatwasdirtywithanysortofdishonesty————\"
\"Ofcourseyouwould，myson！\"interposedhismotherproudly。
\"Ishouldn’tatallminditshavingalittlemineralpaintonit。I’llusemyinfluencewithColonelLapham——ifI
everhaveany——tohavehispaintscrapedoffthelandscape。\"
\"Isupposeyouwon’tbegintilltheautumn。\"
\"Ohyes，Ishall，\"saidtheson，laughingathismother’ssimpleignoranceofbusiness。\"Ishallbeginto—morrowmorning。\"
\"To—morrowmorning！\"
\"Yes。I’vehadmydeskappointedalready，andIshallbedownthereatnineinthemorningtotakepossession。\"
\"Tom\"criedhismother，\"whydoyouthinkMr。Laphamhastakenyouintobusinesssoreadily？I’vealwaysheardthatitwassohardforyoungmentogetin。\"
\"AnddoyouthinkIfounditeasywithhim？Wehadabouttwelvehours’solidtalk。\"
\"Andyoudon’tsupposeitwasanysortof——personalconsideration？\"
\"Why，Idon’tknowexactlywhatyoumean，mother。
Isupposehelikesme。\"
Mrs。Coreycouldnotsayjustwhatshemeant。Sheanswered，ineffectuallyenough——
\"Yes。Youwouldn’tlikeittobeafavour，wouldyou？\"
\"Ithinkhe’samanwhomaybetrustedtolookafterhisowninterest。ButIdon’tmindhisbeginningbylikingme。
It’llbemyownfaultifIdon’tmakemyselfessentialtohim。\"
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Corey。
\"Well，demandedherhusband，attheirfirstmeetingafterherinterviewwiththeirson，\"whatdidyousaytoTom？\"
\"Verylittle，ifanything。Ifoundhimwithhismindmadeup，anditwouldonlyhavedistressedhimifI
hadtriedtochangeit。\"
\"ThatispreciselywhatIsaid，mydear。\"
\"Besides，hehadtalkedthematteroverfullywithJames，andseemstohavebeenadvisedbyhim。Ican’tunderstandJames。\"
\"Oh！it’sinregardtothepaint，andnottheprincess，thathe’smadeuphismind。Well，Ithinkyouwerewisetolethimalone，Anna。Werepresentafadedtradition。
Wedon’treallycarewhatbusinessamanisin，soitislargeenough，andhedoesn’tadvertiseoffensively；butwethinkitfinetoaffectreluctance。\"
\"Doyoureallyfeelso，Bromfield？\"askedhiswifeseriously。
\"CertainlyIdo。TherewasalongtimeinmymisguidedyouthwhenIsupposedmyselfsomesortofporcelain；
butit’sarelieftobeofthecommonclay，afterall，andtoknowit。IfIgetbroken，Icanbeeasilyreplaced。\"
\"IfTommustgointosuchabusiness，\"saidMrs。Corey，\"I’mgladJamesapprovesofit。\"
\"I’mafraiditwouldn’tmattertoTomifhedidn’t；
andIdon’tknowthatIshouldcare，\"saidCorey，betrayingthefactthathehadperhapshadagooddealofhisbrother—in—law’sjudgmentinthecourseofhislife。
\"YouhadbetterconsulthiminregardtoTom’smarryingtheprincess。\"
\"Thereisnonecessityatpresentforthat，\"saidMrs。Corey，withdignity。Afteramoment，sheasked，\"Shouldyoufeelquitesoeasyifitwereaquestionofthat，Bromfield？\"
\"Itwouldbealittlemorepersonal。\"
\"YoufeelaboutitasIdo。Ofcourse，wehavebothlivedtoolong，andseentoomuchoftheworld，tosupposewecancontrolsuchthings。Thechildisgood，Ihaven’ttheleastdoubt，andallthosethingscanbemanagedsothattheywouldn’tdisgraceus。Butshehashadacertainsortofbringingup。IshouldpreferTomtomarryagirlwithanothersort，andthisbusinessventureofhisincreasesthechancesthathewon’t。That’sall。\"
\"’’Tisnotsodeepasawell，norsowideasachurchdoor，but’twillserve。’\"
\"Ishouldn’tlikeit。\"
\"Well，ithasn’thappenedyet。\"
\"Ah，younevercanrealiseanythingbeforehand。\"
\"Perhapsthathassavedmesomesuffering。Butyouhaveatleasttheconsolationoftwoanxietiesatonce。
Ialwaysfindthatagreatadvantage。Youcanplayoneoffagainsttheother。\"
Mrs。Coreydrewalongbreathasifshedidnotexperiencethesuggestedconsolation；andshearrangedtoquit，thefollowingafternoon，thesceneofherdefeat，whichshehadnothadthecouragetomakeabattlefield。
Hersonwentdowntoseeheroffontheboat，afterspendinghisfirstdayathisdeskinLapham’soffice。
Hewasinagayhumour，andshedepartedinareflectedgleamofhisgoodspirits。Hetoldherallaboutit，ashesattalkingwithheratthesternoftheboat，lingeringtillthelastmoment，andthensteppingashore，withaslittlewasteoftimeasLaphamhimself，onthegang—plankwhichthedeck—handshadlaidholdof。
Hetouchedhishattoherfromthewharftoreassureherofhisescapefrombeingcarriedawaywithher，andthenextmomenthissmilingfacehiditselfinthecrowd。
Hewalkedonsmilingupthelongwharf，encumberedwithtrucksandhacksandpilesoffreight，and，takinghiswaythroughthedesertedbusinessstreetsbeyondthisbustle，madeapointofpassingthedoorofLapham’swarehouse，onthejambsofwhichhisnameandpaintwereletteredinblackonasquaregroundofwhite。Thedoorwasstillopen，andCoreyloiteredamomentbeforeit，temptedtogoupstairsandfetchawaysomeforeignletterswhichhehadleftonhisdesk，andwhichhethoughthemightfinishupathome。Hewasinlovewithhiswork，andhefelttheenthusiasmforitwhichnothingbuttheworkwecandowellinspiresinus。Hebelievedthathehadfoundhisplaceintheworld，afteragooddealoflooking，andhehadtherelief，therepose，offittingintoit。
Everylittleincidentofthemomentous，uneventfuldaywasapleasureinhismind，fromhissittingdownathisdesk，towhichLapham’sboybroughthimtheforeignletters，tillhisrisingfromitanhourago。
Laphamhadbeeninviewwithinhisownoffice，buthehadgivenCoreynoformalreception，andhad，infact，notspokentohimtilltowardtheendoftheforenoon，whenhesuddenlycameoutofhisdenwithsomemorelettersinhishand，andafterabrief\"Howd’yedo？\"
hadspokenafewwordsaboutthem，andleftthemwithhim。
Hewasinhisshirt—sleevesagain，andhissanguinepersonseemedtoradiatetheheatwithwhichhesuffered。
Hedidnotgoouttolunch，buthaditbroughttohiminhisoffice，whereCoreysawhimeatingitbeforehelefthisowndesktogooutandperchonaswingingseatbeforethelongcounterofadown—townrestaurant。
Heobservedthatalltheotherslunchedattwelve，andheresolvedtoanticipatehisusualhour。Whenhereturned，theprettygirlwhohadbeenclickingawayatatype—writerallthemorningwasneatlyputtingoutofsighttheevidencesofpiefromthetablewherehermachinestood，andwaspreparingtogoonwithhercopying。InhisofficeLaphamlayasleepinhisarm—chair，withanewspaperoverhisface。
Now，whileCoreylingeredattheentrancetothestairway，thesetwocamedownthestairstogether，andheheardLaphamsaying，\"Well，then，youbettergetadivorce。\"
Helookedredandexcited，andthegirl’sface，whichsheveiledatsightofCorey，showedtracesoftears。
Sheslippedroundhimintothestreet。
ButLaphamstopped，andsaid，withtheshowofnofeelingbutsurprise：\"Hello，Corey！Didyouwanttogoup？\"
\"Yes；thereweresomelettersIhadn’tquitegotthroughwith。\"
\"You’llfindDennisupthere。ButIguessyoubetterletthemgotillto—morrow。IalwaysmakeitaruletostopworkwhenI’mdone。\"
\"Perhapsyou’reright，\"saidCorey，yielding。
\"Comealongdownasfarastheboatwithme。There’salittlematterIwanttotalkoverwithyou。\"
Itwasabusinessmatter，andrelatedtoCorey’sproposedconnectionwiththehouse。
Thenextdaytheheadbook—keeper，wholunchedatthelongcounterofthesamerestaurantwithCorey，begantotalkwithhimaboutLapham。Walkerhadnotapparentlygothisplacebyseniority；thoughwithhisforehead，baldfaruptowardthecrown，andhisroundsmoothface，onemighthavetakenhimforaplumpelder，ifhehadnotlookedequallylikearobustinfant。Thethickdrabbishyellowmoustachewaswhatarresteddecisionineitherdirection，andthepromptvigourofallhismovementswasthatofayoungmanofthirty，whichwasreallyWalker’sage。
Heknew，ofcourse，whoCoreywas，andhehadwaitedforamanwhomightlookdownonhimsociallytomaketheoverturestowardsomethingmorethanbusinessacquaintance；but，thesemade，hewasreadilyresponsive，anddrewfreelyonhisphilosophyofLaphamandhisaffairs。
\"Ithinkabouttheonlydifferencebetweenpeopleinthisworldisthatsomeknowwhattheywant，andsomedon’t。Well，now，\"saidWalker，beatingthebottomofhissalt—boxtomakethesaltcomeout，\"theoldmanknowswhathewantseverytime。Andgenerallyhegetsit。
Yes，sir，hegenerallygetsit。Heknowswhathe’sabout，butI’llbeblessediftherestofusdohalfthetime。
Anyway，wedon’ttillhe’sreadytoletus。Youtakemypositioninmostbusinesshouses。It’sconfidential。
Theheadbook—keeperknowsrightalongprettymucheverythingthehousehasgotinhand。I’llgiveyoumywordIdon’t。Hemayopenuptoyoualittlemoreinyourdepartment，but，asfarastherestofusgo，hedon’topenupanymorethananoysteronahotbrick。
Theysayhehadapartneronce；Iguesshe’sdead。
Iwouldn’tliketobetheoldman’spartner。Well，yousee，thispaintofhisislikehisheart’sblood。
Betternottrytojokehimaboutit。I’veseenpeoplecomeinoccasionallyandtryit。Theydidn’tgetmuchfunoutofit。\"
Whilehetalked，Walkerwaspluckingupmorselsfromhisplate，tearingoffpiecesofFrenchbreadfromthelongloaf，andfeedingthemintohismouthinanimpersonalway，asifhewerefiringupanengine。
\"Isupposehethinks，\"suggestedCorey，\"thatifhedoesn’ttell，nobodyelsewill。\"
Walkertookadraughtofbeerfromhisglass，andwipedthefoamfromhismoustache。
\"Oh，buthecarriesittoofar！It’saweaknesswithhim。
He’sjustsoabouteverything。Lookatthewayhekeepsitupaboutthattype—writergirlofhis。You’dthinkshewassomeprincesstravellingincognito。Thereisn’toneofusknowswhosheis，orwhereshecamefrom，orwhoshebelongsto。Hebroughtherandhermachineintotheofficeonemorning，andset’emdownatatable，andthat’sallthereisaboutit，asfaraswe’reconcerned。
It’sprettyhardonthegirl，forIguessshe’dliketotalk；andtoanyonethatdidn’tknowtheoldman————\"
Walkerbrokeoffanddrainedhisglassofwhatwasleftinit。
CoreythoughtofthewordshehadoverheardfromLaphamtothegirl。Buthesaid，\"Sheseemstobekeptprettybusy。\"
\"Ohyes，\"saidWalker；\"thereain’tmuchloafingroundtheplace，inanyofthedepartments，fromtheoldman’sdown。
That’sjustwhatIsay。He’sgottoworkjusttwiceashard，ifhewantstokeepeverythinginhisownmind。Butheain’tafraidofwork。That’sonegoodthingabouthim。
AndMissDeweyhastokeepstepwiththerestofus。
Butshedon’tlooklikeonethatwouldtaketoitnaturally。
Suchaprettygirlasthatgenerallythinksshedoesenoughwhenshelooksherprettiest。\"
\"She’saprettygirl，\"saidCorey，non—committally。\"ButI
supposeagreatmanyprettygirlshavetoearntheirliving。\"
\"Don’tanyof’emliketodoit，\"returnedthebook—keeper。
\"Theythinkit’sahardship，andIdon’tblame’em。Theyhavegotarighttogetmarried，andtheyoughttohavethechance。
AndMissDewey’ssmart，too。She’sasbrightasabiscuit。
Iguessshe’shadtrouble。Ishouldn’tbemuchmorethanhalfsurprisedifMissDeweywasn’tMissDewey，orhadn’talwaysbeen。Yes，sir，\"continuedthebook—keeper，whoprolongedthetalkastheywalkedbacktoLapham’swarehousetogether，\"Idon’tknowexactlywhatitis，——itisn’tanyonethinginparticular，——butIshouldsaythatgirlhadbeenmarried。Iwouldn’tspeaksofreelytoanyoftherest，Mr。Corey，——Iwantyoutounderstandthat，——anditisn’tanyofmybusiness，anyway；butthat’smyopinion。\"
Coreymadenoreply，ashewalkedbesidethebook—keeper，whocontinued——
\"It’scuriouswhatadifferencemarriagemakesinpeople。
Now，IknowthatIdon’tlookanymorelikeabachelorofmyagethanIdolikethemaninthemoon，andyetI
couldn’tsaywherethedifferencecamein，tosaveme。
Andit’sjustsowithawoman。Theminuteyoucatchsightofherface，there’ssomethinginitthattellsyouwhethershe’smarriedornot。Whatdoyousupposeitis？\"
\"I’msureIdon’tknow，\"saidCorey，willingtolaughawaythetopic。\"AndfromwhatIreadoccasionallyofsomepeoplewhogoaboutrepeatingtheirhappiness，Ishouldn’tsaythattheintangibleevidenceswerealwaysunmistakable。\"
\"Oh，ofcourse，\"admittedWalker，easilysurrenderinghisposition。\"Allsignsfailindryweather。
Hello！What’sthat？\"HecaughtCoreybythearm，andtheybothstopped。
Atacorner，halfablockaheadofthem，thesummernoonsolitudeoftheplacewasbrokenbyabitofdrama。
Amanandwomanissuedfromtheintersectingstreet，andatthemomentofcomingintosighttheman，wholookedlikeasailor，caughtthewomanbythearm，asiftodetainher。Abriefstruggleensued，thewomantryingtofreeherself，andthemanhalfcoaxing，halfscolding。
Thespectatorscouldnowseethathewasdrunk；
butbeforetheycoulddecidewhetheritwasacasefortheirinterferenceornot，thewomansuddenlysetbothhandsagainsttheman’sbreastandgavehimaquickpush。
Helosthisfootingandtumbledintoaheapinthegutter。
Thewomanfalteredaninstant，asiftoseewhetherhewasseriouslyhurt，andthenturnedandran。
WhenCoreyandthebook—keeperre—enteredtheoffice，MissDeweyhadfinishedherlunch，andwasputtingasheetofpaperintohertype—writer。Shelookedupatthemwithhereyesofturquoiseblue，underherlowwhiteforehead，withthehairneatlyrippledoverit，andthenbegantobeatthekeysofhermachine。
IX。
LAPHAMhadthepridewhichcomesofself—making，andhewouldnotopenlylowerhiscresttotheyoungfellowhehadtakenintohisbusiness。Hewasgoingtobeobviouslymasterinhisownplacetoeveryone；andduringthehoursofbusinesshedidnothingtodistinguishCoreyfromthehalf—dozenotherclerksandbook—keepersintheouteroffice，buthewasnotsilentaboutthefactthatBromfieldCorey’ssonhadtakenafancytocometohim。\"Didyounoticethatfellowatthedeskfacingmytype—writergirl？Well，sir，that’sthesonofBromfieldCorey——oldPhillipsCorey’sgrandson。AndI’llsaythisforhim，thatthereisn’tamanintheofficethatlooksafterhisworkbetter。Thereisn’tanythinghe’stoogoodfor。
He’srighthereatnineeverymorning，beforetheclockgetsintheword。Iguessit’shisgrandfathercomingoutinhim。He’sgotchargeoftheforeigncorrespondence。
We’repushingthepainteverywhere。\"Heflatteredhimselfthathedidnotlugthematterin。Hehadbeenwarnedagainstthatbyhiswife，buthehadtherighttodoCoreyjustice，andhisbragtooktheformofillustration。
\"Talkabouttrainingforbusiness——Itellyouit’sallinthemanhimself！IusedtobelieveinwhatoldHoraceGreeleysaidaboutcollegegraduatesbeingthepoorestkindofhornedcattle；butI’vechangedmymindalittle。
YoutakethatfellowCorey。He’sbeenthroughHarvard，andhe’shadabouteveryadvantagethatafellowcouldhave。
Beeneverywhere，andtalkshalfadozenlanguageslikeEnglish。Isupposehe’sgotmoneyenoughtolivewithoutliftingahand，anymorethanhisfatherdoes；
sonofBromfieldCorey，youknow。Butthethingwasinhim。
He’sanatural—bornbusinessman；andI’vehadmanyafellowwithmethathadcomeupoutofthestreet，andworkedhardallhislife，withouteverlosinghisoriginaloppositiontothething。ButCoreylikesit。
Ibelievethefellowwouldliketostickatthatdeskofhisnightandday。Idon’tknowwherehegotit。
Iguessitmustbehisgrandfather，oldPhillipsCorey；
itoftenskipsageneration，youknow。ButwhatIsayis，athinghasgottobeborninaman；andifitain’tborninhim，alltheprivationsintheworldwon’tputitthere，andifitis，allthecollegetrainingwon’ttakeitout。\"
SometimesLaphamadvancedtheseideasathisowntable，toaguestwhomhehadbroughttoNantasketforthenight。
Thenhesufferedexposureandridiculeatthehandsofhiswife，whenopportunityoffered。ShewouldnotlethimbringCoreydowntoNantasketatall。
\"No，indeed！\"shesaid。\"Iamnotgoingtohavethemthinkwe’rerunningafterhim。IfhewantstoseeIrene，hecanfindoutwaysofdoingitforhimself。\"
\"WhowantshimtoseeIrene？\"retortedtheColonelangrily。
\"Ido，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"AndIwanthimtoseeherwithoutanyofyourconnivance，Silas。I’mnotgoingtohaveitsaidthatIputmygirlsatanybody。
Whydon’tyouinvitesomeofyourotherclerks？\"
\"Heain’tjustliketheotherclerks。He’sgoingtotakechargeofapartofthebusiness。It’squiteanotherthing。\"
\"Oh，indeed！\"saidMrs。Laphamvexatiously。\"ThenyouAREgoingtotakeapartner。\"
\"IshallaskhimdownifIchoose！\"returnedtheColonel，disdainingherinsinuation。
Hiswifelaughedwiththefearlessnessofawomanwhoknowsherhusband。
\"Butyouwon’tchoosewhenyou’vethoughtitover，Si。\"
Thensheappliedanemollienttohischafedsurface。
\"Don’tyousupposeIfeelasyoudoaboutit？Iknowjusthowproudyouare，andI’mnotgoingtohaveyoudoanythingthatwillmakeyoufeelmeechingafterward。
Youjustletthingstaketheircourse。IfhewantsIrene，he’sgoingtofindoutsomewayofseeingher；andifhedon’t，alltheplottingandplanningintheworldisn’tgoingtomakehim。\"
\"Who’splotting？\"againretortedtheColonel，shudderingattheutteranceofhopesandambitionswhichamanhideswithshame，butawomantalksoverasfreelyandcoollyasiftheywereitemsofamilliner’sbill。
\"Oh，notyou！\"exultedhiswife。\"Iunderstandwhatyouwant。Youwanttogetthisfellow，whoisneitherpartnernorclerk，downheretotalkbusinesswithhim。