Mrs。Laphamaskedhereldestdaughter，wholoungedintotheparlouramomentwithherwrapstringingfromherarm，whiletheyoungerwentstraighttobed。
\"HewantstoinviteMr。Corey’sfathertoafishdinneratTaft’s！\"
Penelopewasyawningwithherhandonhermouth；
shestopped，and，withalaughofamusedexpectance，sankintoachair，hershouldersshruggedforward。
\"Why！whatintheworldhasputtheColoneluptothat？\"
\"Puthimuptoit！There’sthatfellow，whooughthavecometoseehimlongago，dropsintohisofficethismorning，andtalksfiveminuteswithhim，andyourfatherisflatteredoutofhisfivesenses。He’scrazytogetinwiththosepeople，andIshallhaveaperfectbattletokeephimwithinbounds。\"
\"Well，Persis，ma’am，youcan’tsaybutwhatyoubeganit，\"
saidPenelope。
\"Ohyes，Ibeganit，\"confessedMrs。Lapham。\"Pen，\"shebrokeout，\"whatdoyousupposehemeansbyit？\"
\"Who？Mr。Corey’sfather？WhatdoestheColonelthink？\"
\"Oh，theColonel！\"criedMrs。Lapham。Sheaddedtremulously：
\"PerhapsheISright。HeDIDseemtotakeafancytoherlastsummer，andnowifhe’scalledinthatway\"Sheleftherdaughtertodistributethepronounsaright，andresumed：
\"Ofcourse，Ishouldhavesaidoncethattherewasn’tanyquestionaboutit。Ishouldhavesaidsolastyear；
andIdon’tknowwhatitiskeepsmefromsayingsonow。
IsupposeIknowalittlemoreaboutthingsthanIdid；
andyourfather’sbeingsobentonitsetsmeallinatwitter。Hethinkshismoneycandoeverything。
Well，Idon’tsaybutwhatitcan，agoodmany。And’Reneisasgoodachildasevertherewas；andIdon’tseebutwhatshe’spretty—appearingenoughtosuitanyone。
She’spretty—behaved，too；andsheISthemostcapablegirl。
Ipresumeyoungmendon’tcareverymuchforsuchthingsnowadays；butthereain’tagreatmanygirlscangorightintothekitchen，andmakesuchacustardasshedidyesterday。Andlookatthewayshedoes，throughthewholehouse！Shecan’tseemtogointoaroomwithoutthethingsflyrightintotheirplaces。Andifshehadtodoitto—morrow，shecouldmakeallherowndressesagreatdealbetterthanthemwepaytodoit。Idon’tsaybutwhathe’saboutasniceafellowaseverstepped。
Butthere！I’mashamedofgoingonso。\"
\"Well，mother，\"saidthegirlafterapause，inwhichshelookedasifalittlewearyofthesubject，\"whydoyouworryaboutit？Ifit’stobeit’llbe，andifitisn’t————\"
\"Yes，that’swhatItellyourfather。Butwhenitcomestomyself，Iseehowharditisforhimtorestquiet。
I’mafraidweshallalldosomethingwe’llrepentofafterwards。\"
\"Well，ma’am，\"saidPenelope，\"Idon’tintendtodoanythingwrong；
butifIdo，Ipromisenottobesorryforit。I’llgothatfar。AndIthinkIwouldn’tbesorryforitbeforehand，ifIwereinyourplace，mother。LettheColonelgoon！Helikestomanoeuvre，andheisn’tgoingtohurtanyone。
TheCoreyfamilycantakecareofthemselves，Iguess。\"
Shelaughedinherthroat，drawingdownthecornersofhermouth，andenjoyingtheresolutionwithwhichhermothertriedtoflingofftheburdenofheranxieties。
\"Pen！Ibelieveyou’reright。Youalwaysdoseethingsinsuchalight！There！Idon’tcareifhebringshimdowneveryday。\"
\"Well，ma’am，\"saidPen，\"Idon’tbelieve’Renewould，either。She’sjustsoindifferent！\"
TheColonelsleptbadlythatnight，andinthemorningMrs。Laphamcametobreakfastwithouthim。
\"Yourfatherain’twell，\"shereported。\"He’shadoneofhisturns。\"
\"Ishouldhavethoughthehadtwoorthreeofthem，\"
saidPenelope，\"bythestampingroundIheard。Isn’thecomingtobreakfast？\"
\"Notjustyet，\"saidhermother。\"He’sasleep，andhe’llbeallrightifhegetshisnapout。
Idon’twantyougirlsshouldmakeanygreatnoise。\"
\"Oh，we’llbequietenough，\"returnedPenelope。
\"Well，I’mgladtheColonelisn’tsojering。AtfirstI
thoughthemightbesojering。\"Shebrokeintoalaugh，and，strugglingindolentlywithit，lookedathersister。
\"Youdon’tthinkit’llbenecessaryforanybodytocomedownfromtheofficeandtakeordersfromhimwhilehe’slaidup，doyou，mother？\"sheinquired\"Pen！\"criedIrene。
\"He’llbewellenoughtogoupontheteno’clockboat，\"
saidthemothersharply。
\"Ithinkpapaworkstoohardallthroughthesummer。
Whydon’tyoumakehimtakearest，mamma？\"askedIrene。
\"Oh，takearest！Themanslaveshardereveryyear。
Itusedtobesothathe’dtakealittletimeoffnowandthen；
butIdeclare，hehardlyeverseemstobreathenowawayfromhisoffice。Andthisyearhesayshedoesn’tintendtogodowntoLapham，excepttoseeaftertheworksforafewdays。
Idon’tknowwhattodowiththemananymore！Seemsasifthemoremoneyhegot，themorehewantedtoget。
Itscaresmetothinkwhatwouldhappentohimifhelostit。Iknowonething，\"concludedMrs。Lapham。
\"Heshallnotgobacktotheofficeto—day。\"
\"Thenhewon’tgoupontheteno’clockboat，\"
Penremindedher。
\"No，hewon’t。Youcanjustdriveovertothehotelassoonasyou’rethrough，girls，andtelegraphthathe’snotwell，andwon’tbeattheofficetillto—morrow。I’mnotgoingtohavethemsendanybodydownheretobotherhim。\"
\"That’sablow，\"saidPen。\"Ididn’tknowbuttheymightsend————\"shelookeddemurelyathersister——\"Dennis！\"
\"Mamma！\"criedIrene。
\"Well，Ideclare，there’snolivingwiththisfamilyanymore，\"saidPenelope。
\"There，Pen，bedone！\"commandedhermother。Butperhapsshedidnotintendtoforbidherteasing。Itgaveapleasantsortofrealitytotheaffairthatwasinhermind，andmadewhatshewishedappearnotonlypossiblebutprobable。
Laphamgotupandloungedabout，frettingandrebellingaseachboatdepartedwithouthim，throughtheday；
beforenighthebecameverycross，inspiteoftheeffortsofthefamilytosoothehim，andgrumbledthathehadbeenkeptfromgoinguptotown。\"Imightaswellhavegoneasnot，\"herepeated，tillhiswifelostherpatience。
\"Well，youshallgoto—morrow，Silas，ifyouhavetobecarriedtotheboat。\"
\"Ideclare，\"saidPenelope，\"theColoneldon’tpetworthacent。\"
Thesixo’clockboatbroughtCorey。Thegirlsweresittingonthepiazza，andIrenesawhimfirst。
\"OPen！\"shewhispered，withherheartinherface；
andPenelopehadnotimeformockerybeforehewasatthesteps。
\"IhopeColonelLaphamisn’till，\"hesaid，andtheycouldheartheirmotherengagedinamoralcontestwiththeirfatherindoors。
\"Goandputonyourcoat！Isayyoushall！Itdon’tmatterHOWheseesyouattheoffice，shirt—sleevesornot。
You’reinagentleman’shousenow——oryououghttobe——andyoushan’tseecompanyinyourdressing—gown。\"
Penelopehurriedintosubduehermother’sanger。
\"Oh，he’sverymuchbetter，thankyou！\"saidIrene，speakinguploudlytodrownthenoiseofthecontroversy。
\"I’mgladofthat，\"saidCorey，andwhensheledhimindoorsthevanquishedColonelmethisvisitorinadouble—breastedfrock—coat，whichhewasstillbuttoningup。HecouldnotpersuadehimselfatoncethatCoreyhadnotcomeuponsomeurgentbusinessmatter，andwhenhewasclearthathehadcomeoutofcivility，surprisemingledwithhisgratificationthatheshouldbetheobjectofsolicitudetotheyoungman。
InLapham’scircleofacquaintancetheycomplainedwhentheyweresick，buttheymadenowomanishinquiriesafteroneanother’shealth，andcertainlypaidnovisitsofsympathytillmatterswereserious。Hewouldhaveenlargedupontheparticularsofhisindispositionifhehadbeenallowedtodoso；andaftertea，whichCoreytookwiththem，hewouldhaveremainedtoentertainhimifhiswifehadnotsenthimtobed。Shefollowedhimtoseethathetooksomemedicineshehadprescribedforhim，butshewentfirsttoPenelope’sroom，whereshefoundthegirlwithabookinherhand，whichshewasnotreading。
\"Youbettergodown，\"saidthemother。\"I’vegottogotoyourfather，andIreneisallalonewithMr。Corey；
andIknowshe’llbeonpinsandneedleswithoutyou’retheretohelpmakeitgooff。\"
\"She’dbettertrytogetalongwithoutme，mother，\"
saidPenelopesoberly。\"Ican’talwaysbewiththem。\"
\"Well，\"repliedMrs。Lapham，\"thenImust。There’llbeaperfectQuakermeetingdownthere。\"
\"Oh，Iguess’Renewillfindsomethingtosayifyouleavehertoherself。Orifshedon’t，HEmust。
It’llbeallrightforyoutogodownwhenyougetready；
butIshan’tgotilltowardthelast。Ifhe’scomingheretoseeIrene——andIdon’tbelievehe’scomeonfather’saccount——hewantstoseeherandnotme。
Ifshecan’tinteresthimalone，perhapshe’daswellfinditoutnowasanytime。Atanyrate，Iguessyou’dbettermaketheexperiment。You’llknowwhetherit’sasuccessifhecomesagain。\"
\"Well，\"saidthemother，\"maybeyou’reright。I’llgodowndirectly。Itdoesseemasifhedidmeansomething，afterall。\"
Mrs。Laphamdidnothastentoreturntoherguest。
Inherowngirlhooditwassupposedthatifayoungmanseemedtobecomingtoseeagirl，itwasonlycommon—
sensetosupposethathewishedtoseeheralone；andherlifeintownhadleftMrs。Lapham’ssimpletraditionsinthisrespectunchanged。Shedidwithherdaughterashermotherwouldhavedonewithher。
WherePenelopesatwithherbook，sheheardthecontinuousmurmurofvoicesbelow，andafteralongintervalsheheardhermotherdescend。Shedidnotreadtheopenbookthatlayinherlap，thoughshekepthereyesfastontheprint。Oncesheroseandalmostshutthedoor，sothatshecouldscarcelyhear；thensheopeneditwideagainwithaself—disdainfulair，andresolutelywentbacktoherbook，whichagainshedidnotread。
ButsheremainedinherroomtillitwasnearlytimeforCoreytoreturntohisboat。
Whentheywerealoneagain，IrenemadeafeintofscoldingherforleavinghertoentertainMr。Corey。
\"Why！didn’tyouhaveapleasantcall？\"askedPenelope。
Irenethrewherarmsroundher。\"Oh，itwasaSPLENDID
call！Ididn’tsupposeIcouldmakeitgooffsowell。
Wetalkednearlythewholetimeaboutyou！\"
\"Idon’tthinkTHATwasaveryinterestingsubject。\"
\"Hekeptaskingaboutyou。Heaskedeverything。
Youdon’tknowhowmuchhethinksofyou，Pen。OPen！
whatdoyouthinkmadehimcome？Doyouthinkhereallydidcometoseehowpapawas？\"Ireneburiedherfaceinhersister’sneck。
Penelopestoodwithherarmsatherside，submitting。
\"Well，\"shesaid，\"Idon’tthinkhedid，altogether。\"
Irene，allglowing，releasedher。\"Don’tyou——don’tyouREALLY？OPen！don’tyouthinkheISnice？Don’tyouthinkhe’shandsome？Don’tyouthinkIbehavedhorridlywhenwefirstmethimthisevening，notthankinghimforcoming？IknowhethinksI’venomanners。Butitseemedasifitwouldbethankinghimforcomingtoseeme。
OughtItohaveaskedhimtocomeagain，whenhesaidgood—night？Ididn’t；Icouldn’t。Doyoubelievehe’llthinkIdon’twanthimto？Youdon’tbelievehewouldkeepcomingifhedidn’t——wantto————\"
\"Hehasn’tkeptcomingagreatdeal，yet，\"suggestedPenelope。
\"No；Iknowhehasn’t。Butifhe——ifheshould？\"
\"ThenIshouldthinkhewantedto。\"
\"Oh，wouldyou——WOULDyou？Oh，howgoodyoualwaysare，Pen！Andyoualwayssaywhatyouthink。Iwishtherewassomeonecomingtoseeyoutoo。That’sallthatI
don’tlikeaboutit。Perhaps————HewastellingabouthisfriendthereinTexas————\"
\"Well，\"saidPenelope，\"hisfriendcouldn’tcalloftenfromTexas。Youneedn’taskMr。Coreytotroubleaboutme，’Rene。IthinkIcanmanagetoworryalong，ifyou’resatisfied。\"
\"Oh，IAM，Pen。Whendoyousupposehe’llcomeagain？\"
IrenepushedsomeofPenelope’sthingsasideonthedressing—case，torestherelbowandtalkatease。
Penelopecameupandputthemback。
\"Well，notto—night，\"shesaid；\"andifthat’swhatyou’resittingupfor————\"
Irenecaughtherroundtheneckagain，andranoutoftheroom。
TheColonelwaspackedoffontheeighto’clockboatthenextmorning；buthisrecoverydidnotpreventCoreyfromrepeatinghisvisitinaweek。ThistimeIrenecameradiantlyuptoPenelope’sroom，whereshehadagainwithdrawnherself。\"Youmustcomedown，Pen，\"shesaid。
\"He’saskedifyou’renotwell，andmammasaysyou’vegottocome。\"
AfterthatPenelopehelpedIrenethroughwithhercalls，andtalkedthemoverwithherfarintothenightafterCoreywasgone。Butwhentheimpatientcuriosityofhermotherpressedherforsomeopinionoftheaffair，shesaid，\"YouknowasmuchasIdo，mother。\"
\"Don’theeversayanythingtoyouabouther——praiseherup，any？\"
\"He’snevermentionedIrenetome。\"
\"Hehasn’ttome，either，\"saidMrs。Lapham，withasighoftrouble。\"Thenwhatmakeshimkeepcoming？\"
\"Ican’ttellyou。Onething，hesaysthereisn’tahouseopeninBostonwherehe’sacquainted。Waittillsomeofhisfriendsgetback，andthenifhekeepscoming，it’llbetimetoinquire。\"
\"Well！\"saidthemother；butastheweekspassedshewaslessandlessabletoattributeCorey’svisitstohislonelinessintown，andturnedtoherhusbandforcomfort。
\"Silas，Idon’tknowasweoughttoletyoungCoreykeepcomingso。Idon’tquitelikeit，withallhisfamilyaway。\"
\"He’sofage，\"saidtheColonel。\"Hecangowherehepleases。
Itdon’tmatterwhetherhisfamily’shereornot。\"
\"Yes，butiftheydon’twantheshouldcome？Shouldyoufeeljustrightaboutlettinghim？\"
\"How’reyougoingtostophim？Iswear，Persis，Idon’tknowwhat’sgotoveryou！Whatisit？Youdidn’tusetobeso。
Buttohearyoutalk，you’dthinkthoseCoreysweretoogoodforthisworld，andwewa’n’tfitfor’emtowalkon。\"
\"I’mnotgoingtohave’emsaywetookanadvantageoftheirbeingawayandtolledhimon。\"
\"IshouldliketoHEAR’emsayit！\"criedLapham。
\"Oranybody！\"
\"Well，\"saidhiswife，relinquishingthispointofanxiety，\"Ican’tmakeoutwhetherhecaresanythingforherornot。
AndPencan’ttelleither；orelseshewon’t。\"
\"Oh，Iguesshecaresforher，fastenough，\"saidtheColonel。
\"Ican’tmakeoutthathe’ssaidordonethefirstthingtoshowit。\"
\"Well，Iwasbetterthanayeargettingmycourageup。\"
\"Oh，thatwasdifferent，\"saidMrs。Lapham，incontemptuousdismissalofthecomparison，andyetwithacertainfondness。
\"Iguess，ifhecaredforher，afellowinhispositionwouldn’tbelonggettinguphiscouragetospeaktoIrene。\"
Laphambroughthisfistdownonthetablebetweenthem。
\"Lookhere，Persis！Onceforall，now，don’tyoueverletmehearyousayanythinglikethatagain！I’mworthnighontoamillion，andI’vemadeiteverycentmyself；
andmygirlsaretheequalsofanybody，Idon’tcarewhoitis。Heain’tthefellowtotakeonanyairs；
butifheevertriesitwithme，I’llsendhimtotherightaboutmightyquick。I’llhaveatalkwithhim，if————\"
\"No，no；don’tdothat！\"imploredhiswife。\"Ididn’tmeananything。Idon’tknowasImeantANYthing。
He’sjustasunassumingashecanbe，andIthinkIrene’samatchforanybody。Youjustletthingsgoon。It’llbeallright。Younevercantellhowitiswithyoungpeople。
PerhapsSHE’Soffish。Nowyouain’t——youain’tgoingtosayanything？\"
Laphamsufferedhimselftobepersuaded，themoreeasily，nodoubt，becauseafterhisexplosionhemusthaveperceivedthathisprideitselfstoodinthewayofwhathispridehadthreatened。Hecontentedhimselfwithhiswife’spromisethatshewouldneveragainpresentthatoffensiveviewofthecase，andshedidnotremainwithoutacertainsupportinhissturdyself—assertion。
XII。
MRS。COREYreturnedwithherdaughtersintheearlydaysofOctober，havingpassedthreeorfourweeksatIntervaleafterleavingBarHarbour。TheyweresomewhatbrownerthantheywerewhentheylefttowninJune，buttheywerenototherwisechanged。Lily，theelderofthegirls，hadbroughtbackanumberofstudiesofkelpandtoadstools，withaccessoryrocksandrottenlogs，whichshewouldneverfinishupandnevershowanyone，knowingtheslightnessoftheirmerit。Nanny，theyounger，hadreadagreatmanynovelswithakeensenseoftheirinaccuracyasrepresentationsoflife，andhadseenagreatdealoflifewithasadregretforitsdifferencefromfiction。Theywerebothnicegirls，accomplished，well—dressedofcourse，andwellenoughlooking；
buttheyhadmetnooneattheseasideorthemountainswhomtheirtastewouldallowtoinfluencetheirfate，andtheyhadcomehometotheoccupationstheyhadleft，withnohopesandnofearstodistractthem。
Intheabsenceofthesetheywerefittedtotakethemorevividinterestintheirbrother’saffairs，whichtheycouldseeweighedupontheirmother’smindafterthefirsthoursofgreeting。
\"Oh，itseemstohavebeengoingon，andyourfatherhasneverwrittenawordaboutit，\"shesaid，shakingherhead。
\"Whatgoodwouldithavedone？\"askedNanny，whowaslittleandfair，withringsoflighthairthatfilledabonnet—frontveryprettily；shelookedbestinabonnet。
\"Itwouldonlyhaveworriedyou。HecouldnothavestoppedTom；youcouldn’t，whenyoucamehometodoit。\"
\"Idaresaypapadidn’tknowmuchaboutit，\"suggestedLily。
Shewasatall，lean，darkgirl，wholookedasifshewerenotquitewarmenough，andwhomyoualwaysassociatedwithwrapsofdifferentaestheticeffectafteryouhadonceseenher。
Itisaseriousmatteralwaystothewomenofhisfamilywhenayoungmangivesthemcausetosuspectthatheisinterestedinsomeotherwoman。Ason—in—laworbrother—in—lawdoesnotenterthefamily；heneednotbecaressedormadeanythingof；buttheson’sorbrother’swifehasaclaimuponhismotherandsisterswhichtheycannotdeny。Someconventionoftheirsexobligesthemtoshowheraffection，tolikeortoseemtolikeher，totakehertotheirintimacy，howeverodiousshemaybetothem。WiththeCoreysitwassomethingmorethananaffairofsentiment。Theywerebynomeanspoor，andtheywerenotdependentmoney—wiseuponTomCorey；
butthemotherhadcome，withoutknowingit，torelyuponhissense，hisadviceineverything，andthesisters，seeinghimhithertosoindifferenttogirls，hadinsensiblygrowntoregardhimasaltogethertheirowntillheshouldbereleased，notbyhismarriage，butbytheirs，aneventwhichhadnotapproachedwiththelapseoftime。
Somekindsofgirls——theybelievedthattheycouldreadilyhavechosenakind——mighthavetakenhimwithouttakinghimfromthem；butthisgenerositycouldnotbehopedforinsuchagirlasMissLapham。
\"Perhaps，\"urgedtheirmother，\"itwouldnotbesobad。
Sheseemedanaffectionatelittlethingwithhermother，withoutagreatdealofcharacterthoughshewassocapableaboutsomethings。\"
\"Oh，she’llbeanaffectionatelittlethingwithTomtoo，youmaybesure，\"saidNanny。\"Andthatcharacterlesscapabilitybecomesthemostintensenarrow—mindedness。
She’llthinkwewereagainstherfromthebeginning。\"
\"Shehasnocauseforthat，\"Lilyinterposed，\"andweshallnotgiveherany。\"
\"Yes，weshall，\"retortedNanny。\"Wecan’thelpit；
andifwecan’t，herownignorancewouldbecauseenough。\"
\"Ican’tfeelthatshe’saltogetherignorant，\"
saidMrs。Coreyjustly。
\"Ofcourseshecanreadandwrite，\"admittedNanny。
\"Ican’timaginewhathefindstotalkaboutwithher，\"
saidLily。
\"Oh，THAT’Sverysimple，\"returnedhersister。
\"Theytalkaboutthemselves，withoccasionalreferencestoeachother。Ihaveheardpeople’goingon’onthehotelpiazzas。She’sembroidering，orknitting，ortatting，orsomethingofthatkind；andhesayssheseemsquitedevotedtoneedlework，andshesays，yes，shehasaperfectpassionforit，andeverybodylaughsatherforit；
butshecan’thelpit，shealwayswassofromachild，andsupposesshealwaysshallbe，——withremoteandminuteparticulars。Andsheendsbysayingthatperhapshedoesnotlikepeopletotat，orknit，orembroider，orwhatever。Andhesays，oh，yes，hedoes；whatcouldmakeherthinksuchathing？butforhisparthelikesboatingratherbetter，orifyou’reinthewoodscamping。
Thensheletshimtakeuponecornerofherwork，andperhapstouchherfingers；andthatencourageshimtosaythathesupposesnothingcouldinducehertodropherworklongenoughtogodownontherocks，oroutamongthehuckleberrybushes；andsheputsherheadononeside，andsaysshedoesn’tknowreally。
Andthentheygo，andheliesatherfeetontherocks，orpickshuckleberriesanddropstheminherlap，andtheygoontalkingaboutthemselves，andcomparingnotestoseehowtheydifferfromeachother。And————\"
\"Thatwilldo，Nanny，\"saidhermother。
Lilysmiledautumnally。\"Oh，disgusting！\"
\"Disgusting？Notatall！\"protestedhersister。
\"It’sveryamusingwhenyouseeit，andwhenyoudoit————\"
\"It’salwaysamysterywhatpeopleseeineachother，\"
observedMrs。Coreyseverely。
\"Yes，\"Nannyadmitted，\"butIdon’tknowthatthereismuchcomfortforusintheapplication。\"\"No，thereisn’t，\"
saidhermother。
\"Themostthatwecandoistohopeforthebesttillweknowtheworst。Ofcourseweshallmakethebestoftheworstwhenitcomes。\"
\"Yes，andperhapsitwouldnotbesoverybad。
IwassayingtoyourfatherwhenIwashereinJulythatthosethingscanalwaysbemanaged。Youmustfacethemasiftheywerenothingoutoftheway，andtrynottogiveanycauseforbitternessamongourselves。\"
\"That’strue。ButIdon’tbelieveintoomuchresignationbeforehand。Itamountstoconcession，\"saidNanny。
\"Ofcourseweshouldopposeitinallproperways，\"
returnedhermother。
Lilyhadceasedtodiscussthematter。Invirtueofherartistictemperament，shewasexpectednottobeverypractical。
Itwashermotherandhersisterwhomanaged，submittingtotheadviceandconsentofCoreywhattheyintendedtodo。
\"YourfatherwrotemethathehadcalledonColonelLaphamathisplaceofbusiness，\"saidMrs。Corey，seizingherfirstchanceofapproachingthesubjectwithherson。
\"Yes，\"saidCorey。\"Adinnerwasfather’sidea，buthecamedowntoacall，atmysuggestion。\"