\"Oh，\"saidMrs。Corey，inatoneofrelief，asifthestatementthrewanewlightonthefactthatCoreyhadsuggestedthevisit。\"HesaidsolittleaboutitinhisletterthatIdidn’tknowjusthowitcameabout。\"
\"Ithoughtitwasrighttheyshouldmeet，\"explainedtheson，\"andsodidfather。IwasgladthatIsuggestedit，afterward；itwasextremelygratifyingtoColonelLapham。\"
\"Oh，itwasquiterightineveryway。Isupposeyouhaveseensomethingofthefamilyduringthesummer。\"
\"Yes，agooddeal。I’vebeendownatNantasketratheroften。\"
Mrs。Coreylethereyesdroop。Thensheasked：\"Aretheywell？\"
\"Yes，exceptLaphamhimself，nowandthen。Iwentdownonceortwicetoseehim。Hehasn’tgivenhimselfanyvacationthissummer；hehassuchapassionforhisbusinessthatI
fancyhefindsithardbeingawayfromitatanytime，andhe’smadehisnewhouseanexcuseforstaying\"
\"Ohyes，hishouse！Isittobesomethingfine？\"
\"Yes；it’sabeautifulhouse。Seymourisdoingit。\"
\"Then，ofcourse，itwillbeveryhandsome。Isupposetheyoungladiesareverymuchtakenupwithit；
andMrs。Lapham。\"
\"Mrs。Lapham，yes。Idon’tthinktheyoungladiescaresomuchaboutit。\"
\"Itmustbeforthem。Aren’ttheyambitious？\"
askedMrs。Corey，delicatelyfeelingherway。
Hersonthoughtawhile。Thenheansweredwithasmile——
\"No，Idon’treallythinktheyare。Theyareunambitious，Ishouldsay。\"Mrs。Coreypermittedherselfalongbreath。
Buthersonadded，\"It’stheparentswhoareambitiousforthem，\"andherrespirationbecameshorteragain。
\"Yes，\"shesaid。
\"They’reverysimple，nicegirls，\"pursuedCorey。
\"Ithinkyou’llliketheelder，whenyoucometoknowher。\"
Whenyoucometoknowher。Thewordsimpliedanexpectationthatthetwofamiliesweretobebetteracquainted。
\"Thensheismoreintellectualthanhersister？\"
Mrs。Coreyventured。
\"Intellectual？\"repeatedherson。\"No；thatisn’ttheword，quite。Thoughshecertainlyhasmoremind。\"
\"Theyoungerseemedverysensible。\"
\"Oh，sensible，yes。Andaspracticalasshe’spretty。
Shecandoallsortsofthings，andlikestobedoingthem。
Don’tyouthinkshe’sanextraordinarybeauty？\"
\"Yes——yes，sheis，\"saidMrs。Corey，atsomecost。
\"She’sgood，too，\"saidCorey，\"andperfectlyinnocentandtransparent。Ithinkyouwilllikeherthebetterthemoreyouknowher。\"
\"Ithoughtherverynicefromthebeginning，\"saidthemotherheroically；andthennatureasserteditselfinher。
\"ButIshouldbeafraidthatshemightperhapsbealittlebittiresomeatlast；herrangeofideasseemedsoextremelylimited。\"
\"Yes，that’swhatIwasafraidof。But，asamatteroffact，sheisn’t。Sheinterestsyoubyherverylimitations。
Youcanseetheworkingofhermind，likethatofachild。
Sheisn’tatallconsciousevenofherbeauty。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveyoungmencantellwhethergirlsareconsciousornot，\"saidMrs。Corey。\"ButIamnotsayingtheMissLaphamsarenot————\"Hersonsatmusing，withaninattentivesmileonhisface。\"Whatisit？\"
\"Oh！nothing。IwasthinkingofMissLaphamandsomethingshewassaying。She’sverydroll，youknow。\"
\"Theeldersister？Yes，youtoldmethat。Canyouseetheworkingsofhermindtoo？\"
\"No；she’severythingthat’sunexpected。\"Coreyfellintoanotherreverie，andsmiledagain；buthedidnotoffertoexplainwhatamusedhim，andhismotherwouldnotask。
\"Idon’tknowwhattomakeofhisadmiringthegirlsofrankly，\"shesaidafterwardtoherhusband。
\"Thatcouldn’tcomenaturallytillafterhehadspokentoher，andIfeelsurethathehasn’tyet。\"
\"Youwomenhaven’trisenyet——it’sanevidenceofthebackwardnessofyoursex——toaconceptionoftheBismarckideaindiplomacy。Ifamanpraisesonewoman，youstillthinkhe’sinlovewithanother。DoyoumeanthatbecauseTomdidn’tpraisetheeldersistersomuch，heHASspokentoHER？\"
Mrs。Coreyrefusedtheconsequence，sayingthatitdidnotfollow。\"Besides，hedidpraiseher。\"
\"Yououghttobegladthatmattersareinsuchgoodshape，then。Atanyrate，youcandoabsolutelynothing。\"
\"Oh！Iknowit，\"sighedMrs。Corey。\"IwishTomwouldbealittleopenerwithme。\"
\"He’sasopenasit’sinthenatureofanAmerican—bornsontobewithhisparents。Idaresayifyou’daskedhimplumplywhathemeantinregardtotheyounglady，hewouldhavetoldyou——ifheknew。\"
\"Why，don’tyouthinkhedoesknow，Bromfield？\"
\"I’mnotatallsurehedoes。Youwomenthinkthatbecauseayoungmandanglesafteragirl，orgirls，he’sattachedtothem。Itdoesn’tatallfollow。
Hedanglesbecausehemust，anddoesn’tknowwhattodowithhistime，andbecausetheyseemtolikeit。
IdaresaythatTomhasdangledagooddealinthisinstancebecausetherewasnobodyelseintown。\"
\"Doyoureallythinkso？\"
\"Ithrowoutthesuggestion。Anditstrikesmethatayoungladycouldn’tdobetterthanstayinornearBostonduringthesummer。Mostoftheyoungmenarehere，keptbybusinessthroughtheweek，witheveningsavailableonlyonthespot，orafewmilesoff。Whatwastheproportionofthesexesattheseashoreandthemountains？\"
\"Oh，twentygirlsatleastforevenanexcuseofaman。
It’sshameful。\"
\"Yousee，Iamrightinonepartofmytheory。
Whyshouldn’tIberightintherest？\"
\"Iwishyouwere。AndyetIcan’tsaythatIdo。
Thosethingsareveryseriouswithgirls。Ishouldn’tlikeTomtohavebeengoingtoseethosepeopleifhemeantnothingbyit。\"
\"Andyouwouldn’tlikeitifhedid。Youaredifficult，mydear。\"Herhusbandpulledanopennewspapertowardhimfromthetable。
\"Ifeelthatitwouldn’tbeatalllikehimtodoso，\"
saidMrs。Corey，goingontoentangleherselfinherwords，aswomenoftendowhentheirideasareperfectlyclear。
\"Don’tgotoreading，please，Bromfield！IamreallyworriedaboutthismatterImustknowhowmuchitmeans。
Ican’tletitgoonso。Idon’tseehowyoucanresteasywithoutknowing。\"
\"Idon’tintheleastknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofmewhenIdie；andyetIsleepwell，\"repliedBromfieldCorey，puttinghisnewspaperaside。
\"Ah！butthisisaverydifferentthing。\"
\"Somuchmoreserious？Well，whatcanyoudo？Wehadthisoutwhenyouwerehereinthesummer，andyouagreedwithmethenthatwecoulddonothing。Thesituationhasn’tchangedatall。\"
\"Yes，ithas；ithascontinuedthesame，\"saidMrs。Corey，againexpressingthefactbyacontradictioninterms。
\"IthinkImustaskTomoutright。\"
\"Youknowyoucan’tdothat，mydear。\"
\"Thenwhydoesn’thetellus？\"
\"Ah，that’swhatHEcan’tdo，ifhe’smakinglovetoMissIrene——that’shername，Ibelieve——ontheAmericanplan。
HewilltellusafterhehastoldHER。ThatwasthewayIdid。
Don’tignoreourownyouth，Anna。Itwasalongwhileago，I’lladmit。\"
\"Itwasverydifferent，\"saidMrs。Corey，alittleshaken。
\"Idon’tseehow。IdaresayMammaLaphamknowswhetherTomisinlovewithherdaughterornot；andnodoubtPapaLaphamknowsitatsecondhand。Butweshallnotknowituntilthegirlherselfdoes。Dependuponthat。
Yourmotherknew，andshetoldyourfather；butmypoorfatherknewnothingaboutittillwewereengaged；andI
hadbeenhangingabout——dangling，asyoucallit————\"
\"No，no；YOUcalleditthat。\"
\"WasitI？——forayearormore。\"
Thewifecouldnotrefusetobealittleconsoledbytheimageofheryounglovewhichthewordsconjuredup，howeverlittleshelikeditsrelationtoherson’sinterestinIreneLapham。Shesmiledpensively。\"Thenyouthinkithasn’tcometoanunderstandingwiththemyet？\"
\"Anunderstanding？Oh，probably。\"
\"Anexplanation，then？\"
\"Theonlylogicalinferencefromwhatwe’vebeensayingisthatithasn’t。ButIdon’taskyoutoacceptitonthataccount。MayIreadnow，mydear？\"
\"Yes，youmayreadnow，\"saidMrs。Corey，withoneofthosesighswhichperhapsexpressafemininesenseoftheunsatisfactorinessofhusbandsingeneral，ratherthanapersonaldiscontentwithherown。
\"Thankyou，mydear；thenIthinkI’llsmoketoo，\"
saidBromfieldCorey，lightingacigar。
Shelefthiminpeace，andshemadenofurtherattemptuponherson’sconfidence。Butshewasnotinactiveforthatreason。Shedidnot，ofcourse，admittoherself，andfarlesstoothers，themotivewithwhichshewenttopayanearlyvisittotheLaphams，whohadnowcomeupfromNantaskettoNankeenSquare。Shesaidtoherdaughtersthatshehadalwaysbeenalittleashamedofusingheracquaintancewiththemtogetmoneyforhercharity，andthenseemingtodropit。Besides，itseemedtoherthatsheoughtsomehowtorecognisethebusinessrelationthatTomhadformedwiththefather；theymustnotthinkthathisfamilydisapprovedofwhathehaddone。
\"Yes，businessisbusiness，\"saidNanny，withalaugh。
\"Doyouwishustogowithyouagain？\"
\"No；Iwillgoalonethistime，\"repliedthemotherwithdignity。
HercoupenowfounditswaytoNankeenSquarewithoutdifficulty，andshesentupacard，whichMrs。LaphamreceivedinthepresenceofherdaughterPenelope。
\"IpresumeI’vegottoseeher，\"shegasped。
\"Well，don’tlooksoguilty，mother，\"jokedthegirl；
\"youhaven’tbeendoinganythingsoVERYwrong。\"
\"ItseemsasifIHAD。Idon’tknowwhat’scomeoverme。
Iwasn’tafraidofthewomanbefore，butnowIdon’tseemtofeelasifIcouldlookherintheface。He’sbeencominghereofhisownaccord，andIfoughtagainsthiscominglongenough，goodnessknows。Ididn’twanthimtocome。
Andasfarforthasthatgoes，we’reasrespectableastheyare；andyourfather’sgottwicetheirmoney，anyday。We’venoneedtogobeggingfortheirfavour。
Iguesstheyweregladenoughtogethiminwithyourfather。\"
\"Yes，thoseareallgoodpoints，mother，\"saidthegirl；
\"andifyoukeepsayingthemover，andcountahundredeverytimebeforeyouspeak，Iguessyou’llworrythrough。\"
Mrs。Laphamhadbeenfussingdistractedlywithherhairandribbons，inpreparationforherencounterwithMrs。Corey。
Shenowdrewinalongquiveringbreath，staredatherdaughterwithoutseeingher，andhurrieddownstairs。
ItwastruethatwhenshemetMrs。Coreybeforeshehadnotbeenawedbyher；butsincethenshehadlearnedatleastherownignoranceoftheworld，andshehadtalkedoverthethingsshehadmisconceivedandthethingsshehadshrewdlyguessedsomuchthatshecouldnotmeetherontheformerfootingofequality。Inspiteofasbraveaspiritandasgoodaconscienceaswomanneedhave，Mrs。Laphamcringedinwardly，andtremulouslywonderedwhathervisitorhadcomefor。Sheturnedfrompaletored，andwashardlycoherentinhergreetings；
shedidnotknowhowtheygottowhereMrs。Coreywassayingexactlytherightthingsaboutherson’sinterestandsatisfactioninhisnewbusiness，andkeepinghereyesfixedonMrs。Lapham’s，readingheruneasinessthere，andmakingherfeel，inspiteofherindignantinnocence，thatshehadtakenabaseadvantageofherinherabsencetogethersonawayfromherandmarryhimtoIrene。
Then，presently，whilethiswaspainfullyrevolvingitselfinMrs。Lapham’smind，shewasawareofMrs。Corey’saskingifshewasnottohavethepleasureofseeingMissIrene。
\"No；she’sout，justnow，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Idon’tknowjustwhenshe’llbein。Shewenttogetabook。\"
Andheresheturnedredagain，knowingthatIrenehadgonetogetthebookbecauseitwasonethatCoreyhadspokenof。
\"Oh！I’msorry，\"saidMrs。Corey。\"Ihadhopedtoseeher。
Andyourotherdaughter，whomInevermet？\"
\"Penelope？\"askedMrs。Lapham，easedalittle。\"Sheisathome。Iwillgoandcallher。\"TheLaphamshadnotyetthoughtofspendingtheirsuperfluityonservantswhocouldberungfor；theykepttwogirlsandamantolookafterthefurnace，astheyhadforthelasttenyears。
IfMrs。Laphamhadrungintheparlour，hersecondgirlwouldhavegonetothestreetdoortoseewhowasthere。
ShewentupstairsforPenelopeherself，andthegirl，aftersomerebelliousderision，returnedwithher。
Mrs。Coreytookaccountofher，asPenelopewithdrewtotheothersideoftheroomaftertheirintroduction，andsatdown，indolentlysubmissiveonthesurfacetotheteststobeapplied，andfollowingMrs。Corey’sleadoftheconversationinherodddrawl。
\"Youyoungladieswillbegladtobegettingintoyournewhouse，\"shesaidpolitely。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidPenelope。\"We’resousedtothisone。\"
Mrs。Coreylookedalittlebaffled，butshesaidsympathetically，\"Ofcourse，youwillbesorrytoleaveyouroldhome。\"
Mrs。Laphamcouldnothelpputtinginonbehalfofherdaughters：\"Iguessifitwaslefttothegirlstosay，weshouldn’tleaveitatall。\"
\"Oh，indeed！\"saidMrs。Corey；\"aretheysomuchattached？
ButIcanquiteunderstandit。Mychildrenwouldbeheart—brokentooifweweretoleavetheoldplace。\"
SheturnedtoPenelope。\"Butyoumustthinkofthelovelynewhouse，andthebeautifulposition。\"
\"Yes，Isupposeweshallgetusedtothemtoo，\"
saidPenelope，inresponsetothisdidacticconsolation。
\"Oh，Icouldevenimagineyourgettingveryfondofthem，\"
pursuedMrs。Coreypatronisingly。\"Mysonhastoldmeofthelovelyoutlookyou’retohaveoverthewater。
Hethinksyouhavesuchabeautifulhouse。Ibelievehehadthepleasureofmeetingyoualltherewhenhefirstcamehome。\"
\"Yes，Ithinkhewasourfirstvisitor。\"
\"Heisagreatadmirerofyourhouse，\"saidMrs。Corey，keepinghereyesverysharply，howeverpolitely，onPenelope’sface，asiftosurprisetherethesecretofanyothergreatadmirationofherson’sthatmighthelplesslyshowitself。
\"Yes，\"saidthegirl，\"he’sbeenthereseveraltimeswithfather；andhewouldn’tbeallowedtooverlookanyofitsgoodpoints。\"
Hermothertookalittlemorecouragefromherdaughter’stranquillity。
\"Thegirlsmakesuchfunoftheirfather’sexcitementabouthisbuilding，andthewayhetalksitintoeverybody。\"
\"Oh，indeed！\"saidMrs。Corey，withcivilmisunderstandingandinquiry。
Penelopeflushed，andhermotherwenton：\"Itellhimhe’smoreofachildaboutitthananyofthem。\"
\"Youngpeopleareveryphilosophicalnowadays，\"
remarkedMrs。Corey。
\"Yes，indeed，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Itellthemthey’vealwayshadeverything，sothatnothing’sasurprisetothem。
Itwasdifferentwithusinouryoungdays。\"
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Corey，withoutassenting。
\"ImeantheColonelandmyself，\"explainedMrs。Lapham。
\"Ohyes——yes！\"saidMrs。Corey。
\"I’msure，\"theformerwenton，ratherhelplessly，\"wehadtoworkhardenoughforeverythingwegot。
Andsoweappreciatedit。\"
\"Somanythingswerenotdoneforyoungpeoplethen，\"
saidMrs。Corey，notrecognisingtheearly—hardshipsstandpointofMrs。Lapham。\"ButIdon’tknowthattheyarealwaysthebetterforitnow，\"sheaddedvaguely，butwiththesatisfactionweallfeelinutteringajustcommonplace。
\"It’sratherhardlivinguptoblessingsthatyou’vealwayshad，\"saidPenelope。
\"Yes，\"repliedMrs。Coreydistractedly，andcomingbacktoherslowlyfromthevirtuousdistancetowhichshehadabsentedherself。Shelookedatthegirlsearchinglyagain，asiftodeterminewhetherthiswereatouchofthedrollinghersonhadspokenof。Butsheonlyadded：
\"YouwillenjoythesunsetsontheBackBaysomuch。\"
\"Well，notunlessthey’renewones，\"saidPenelope。
\"Idon’tbelieveIcouldpromisetoenjoyanysunsetsthatIwasusedto，agreatdeal。\"
Mrs。Coreylookedatherwithmisgiving，hardeningintodislike。\"No，\"shebreathedvaguely。\"MysonspokeofthefineeffectofthelightsaboutthehotelfromyourcottageatNantasket，\"shesaidtoMrs。Lapham。
\"Yes，they’resplendid！\"exclaimedthatlady。\"Iguessthegirlswentdowneverynightwithhimtoseethemfromtherocks。\"
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Corey，alittledryly；andshepermittedherselftoadd：\"Hespokeofthoserocks。Isupposebothyouyoungladiesspendagreatdealofyourtimeonthemwhenyou’rethere。AtNahantmychildrenwereconstantlyonthem。\"
\"Irenelikestherocks，\"saidPenelope。\"Idon’tcaremuchaboutthem，——especiallyatnight。\"
\"Oh，indeed！Isupposeyoufinditquiteaswelllookingatthelightscomfortablyfromtheveranda。\"
\"No；youcan’tseethemfromthehouse。\"
\"Oh，\"saidMrs。Corey。Afteraperceptiblepause，sheturnedtoMrs。Lapham。\"Idon’tknowwhatmysonwouldhavedoneforabreathofseaairthissummer，ifyouhadnotallowedhimtocometoNantasket。
Hewasn’twillingtoleavehisbusinesslongenoughtogoanywhereelse。\"
\"Yes，he’sabornbusinessman，\"respondedMrs。Laphamenthusiastically。\"Ifit’sborninyou，it’sboundtocomeout。
That’swhattheColonelisalwayssayingaboutMr。Corey。
Hesaysit’sborninhimtobeabusinessman，andhecan’thelpit。\"SherecurredtoCoreygladlybecauseshefeltthatshehadnotsaidenoughofhimwhenhismotherfirstspokeofhisconnectionwiththebusiness。
\"Idon’tbelieve，\"shewentonexcitedly，\"thatColonelLaphamhaseverhadanybodywithhimthathethoughtmoreof。\"
\"Youhaveallbeenverykindtomyson，\"saidMrs。Coreyinacknowledgment，andstifflybowingalittle，\"andwefeelgreatlyindebtedtoyou。Verymuchso。\"AtthesegratefulexpressionsMrs。Laphamreddenedoncemore，andmurmuredthatithadbeenverypleasanttothem，shewassure。Sheglancedatherdaughterforsupport，butPenelopewaslookingatMrs。Corey，whodoubtlesssawherfromthecornerofhereyes，thoughshewentonspeakingtohermother。
\"IwassorrytohearfromhimthatMr。——Colonel？——Laphamhadnotbeenquitewellthissummer。Ihopehe’sbetternow？\"
\"Ohyes，indeed，\"repliedMrs。Lapham；\"he’sallrightnow。
He’shardlyeverbeensick，andhedon’tknowhowtotakecareofhimself。That’sall。Wedon’tanyofus；
we’reallsowell。\"
\"Healthisagreatblessing，\"sighedMrs。Corey。
\"Yes，soitis。Howisyouroldestdaughter？\"
inquiredMrs。Lapham。\"Issheasdelicateasever？\"
\"Sheseemstoberatherbettersincewereturned。\"AndnowMrs。Corey，asifforcedtothepoint，saidbunglinglythattheyoungladieshadwishedtocomewithher，buthadbeendetained。ShebasedherstatementuponNanny’ssarcasticdemand；and，perhapsseeingittopplealittle，sherosehastily，togetawayfromitsfall。
\"Butweshallhopeforsome——someotheroccasion，\"
shesaidvaguely，andsheputonapartingsmile，andshookhandswithMrs。LaphamandPenelope，andthen，aftersomelingeringcommonplaces，gotherselfoutofthehouse。
Penelopeandhermotherwerestilllookingateachother，andtryingtograpplewiththeeffectorpurportofthevisit，whenIreneburstinuponthemfromtheoutside。
\"Omamma！wasn’tthatMrs。Corey’scarriagejustdroveaway？\"
Penelopeansweredwithherlaugh。\"Yes！You’vejustmissedthemostdelightfulcall，’Rene。Soeasyandpleasanteveryway。Notabitstiff！Mrs。Coreywassofriendly！
Shedidn’tmakeonefeelatallasifshe’dboughtme，andthoughtshe’dgiventoomuch；andmotherheldupherheadasifshewereallwoolandayardwide，andshewouldjustliketohaveanybodydenyit。\"
Inafewtouchesofmimicryshedashedoffasketchofthescene：hermother’strepidation，andMrs。Corey’swell—bredreposeandpolitescrutinyofthemboth。
Sheendedbyshowinghowsheherselfhadsathuddledupinadarkcorner，mutewithfear。
\"Ifshecametomakeussayanddothewrongthing，shemusthavegoneawayhappy；andit’sapityyouweren’theretohelp，Irene。Idon’tknowthatIaimedtomakeabadimpression，butIguessIsucceeded——evenbeyondmydeserts。\"Shelaughed；thensuddenlysheflashedoutinfierceearnest。\"IfImisseddoinganythingthatcouldmakemeashatefultoherasshemadeherselftome————\"
Shecheckedherself，andbegantolaugh。Herlaughbroke，andthetearsstartedintohereyes；sheranoutoftheroom，andupthestairs。
\"What——whatdoesitmean？\"askedIreneinadaze。
Mrs。LaphamwasstillinthechillytorportowhichMrs。Corey’scallhadreducedher。Penelope’svehemencedidnotrouseher。Sheonlyshookherheadabsently，andsaid，\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"WhyshouldPencarewhatimpressionshemade？Ididn’tsupposeitwouldmakeanydifferencetoherwhetherMrs。Coreylikedherornot。\"
\"Ididn’t，either。ButIcouldseethatshewasjustasnervousasshecouldbe，everyminuteofthetime。
Iguessshedidn’tlikeMrs。Coreyanytoowellfromthestart，andshecouldn’tseemtoactlikeherself。\"
\"Tellmeaboutit，mamma，\"saidIrene，droppingintoachair。
Mrs。Coreydescribedtheinterviewtoherhusbandonherreturnhome。\"Well，andwhatareyourinferences？\"
heasked。
\"Theywereextremelyembarrassedandexcited——thatis，themother。Idon’twishtodoherinjustice，butshecertainlybehavedconsciously。\"
\"Youmadeherfeelso，Idaresay，Anna。Icanimaginehowterribleyoumusthavebeeninthecharacterofanaccusingspirit，toolady—liketosayanything。
Whatdidyouhint？\"
\"Ihintednothing，\"saidMrs。Corey，descendingtotheweaknessofdefendingherself。\"ButIsawquiteenoughtoconvincemethatthegirlisinlovewithTom，andthemotherknowsit。\"
\"Thatwasveryunsatisfactory。IsupposedyouwenttofindoutwhetherTomwasinlovewiththegirl。
Wassheasprettyasever？\"
\"Ididn’tseeher；shewasnotathome；Isawhersister。\"
\"Idon’tknowthatIfollowyouquite，Anna。Butnomatter。
Whatwasthesisterlike？\"
\"Athoroughlydisagreeableyoungwoman。\"
\"Whatdidshedo？\"
\"Nothing。She’sfartooslyforthat。Butthatwastheimpression。\"
\"Thenyoudidn’tfindhersoamusingasTomdoes？\"
\"Ifoundherpert。There’snootherwordforit。
Shesaysthingstopuzzleyouandputyouout。\"
\"Ah，thatwasworsethanpert，Anna；thatwascriminal。
Well，letusthankheaventheyoungeroneissopretty。\"
Mrs。Coreydidnotreplydirectly。\"Bromfield，\"shesaid，afteramomentoftroubledsilence，\"Ihavebeenthinkingoveryourplan，andIdon’tseewhyitisn’ttherightthing。\"
\"Whatismyplan？\"inquiredBromfieldCorey。
\"Adinner。\"