Herhusbandbegantolaugh。\"Ah，youoverdidtheaccusing—spiritbusiness，andthisisreparation。\"
ButMrs。Coreyhurriedon，withcombineddignityandanxiety——
\"Wecan’tignoreTom’sintimacywiththem——itamountstothat；itwillprobablycontinueevenifit’smerelyafancy，andwemustseemtoknowit；whatevercomesofit，wecan’tdisownit。Theyareverysimple，unfashionablepeople，andunworldly；butIcan’tsaythattheyareoffensive，unless——unless，\"sheadded，inpropitiationofherhusband’ssmile，\"unlessthefather——howdidyoufindthefather？\"sheimplored。
\"Hewillbeveryentertaining，\"saidCorey，\"ifyoustarthimonhispaint。Whatwasthedisagreeabledaughterlike？Shallyouhaveher？\"
\"She’slittleanddark。Wemusthavethemall，\"
Mrs。Coreysighed。\"Thenyoudon’tthinkadinnerwoulddo？\"
\"Ohyes，Ido。Asyousay，wecan’tdisownTom’srelationtothem，whateveritis。Wehadmuchbetterrecogniseit，andmakethebestoftheinevitable。
IthinkaLaphamdinnerwouldbedelightful。\"Helookedatherwithdelicateironyinhisvoiceandsmile，andshefetchedanothersigh，sodeepandsorenowthathelaughedoutright。\"Perhaps，\"hesuggested，\"itwouldbethebestwayofcuringTomofhisfancy，ifhehasone。
Hehasbeenseeingherwiththedangerousadvantageswhichamotherknowshowtogiveherdaughterinthefamilycircle，andwithnomeansofcomparingherwithothergirls。
Youmustinviteseveralotherveryprettygirls。\"
\"Doyoureallythinkso，Bromfield？\"askedMrs。Corey，takingcouragealittle。\"Thatmightdo，\"Butherspiritsvisiblysankagain。\"Idon’tknowanyothergirlhalfsopretty。\"
\"Well，then，betterbred。\"
\"Sheisverylady—like，verymodest，andpleasing。\"
\"Well，morecultivated。\"
\"Tomdoesn’tgetonwithsuchpeople。\"
\"Oh，youwishhimtomarryher，Isee。\"
\"No，no\"
\"Thenyou’dbettergivethedinnertobringthemtogether，topromotetheaffair。\"
\"YouknowIdon’twanttodothat，Bromfield。ButI
feelthatwemustdosomething。Ifwedon’t，ithasaclandestineappearance。Itisn’tjusttothem。
Adinnerwon’tleaveusinanyworseposition，andmayleaveusinabetter。Yes，\"saidMrs。Corey，afteranotherthoughtfulinterval，\"wemusthavethem——havethemall。
Itcouldbeverysimple。\"
\"Ah，youcan’tgiveadinnerunderabushel，ifItakeyourmeaning，mydear。Ifwedothisatall，wemustn’tdoitasifwewereashamedofit。Wemustaskpeopletomeetthem。\"
\"Yes，\"sighedMrs。Corey。\"Therearenotmanypeopleintownyet，\"sheadded，withreliefthatcausedherhusbandanothersmile。\"Therereallyseemsasortoffatalityaboutit，\"sheconcludedreligiously。
\"Thenyouhadbetternotstruggleagainstit。
GoandreconcileLilyandNannytoitassoonaspossible。\"
Mrs。Coreyblanchedalittle。\"Butdon’tyouthinkitwillbethebestthing，Bromfield？\"
\"Idoindeed，mydear。TheonlythingthatshakesmyfaithintheschemeisthefactthatIfirstsuggestedit。
Butifyouhaveadoptedit，itmustbeallright，Anna。
Ican’tsaythatIexpectedit。\"
\"No，\"saidhiswife，\"itwouldn’tdo。\"
XIII。
HAVINGdistinctlygivenuptheprojectofaskingtheLaphamstodinner，Mrs。Coreywasabletocarryitoutwiththecourageofsinnerswhohavesacrificedtovirtuebyfranklyacknowledgingitssuperioritytotheirintendedtransgression。
ShedidnotquestionbuttheLaphamswouldcome；andsheonlydoubtedastothepeoplewhomsheshouldinvitetomeetthem。Sheopenedthematterwithsometrepidationtoherdaughters，butneitherofthemopposedher；
theyratherlookedattheschemefromherownpointofview，andagreedwithherthatnothinghadreallyyetbeendonetowipeouttheobligationtotheLaphamshelplesslycontractedthesummerbefore，andstrengthenedbythatill—advisedapplicationtoMrs。Laphamforcharity。
Notonlytheprincipaloftheirdebtofgratituderemained，buttheaccruinginterest。Theysaid，Whatharmcouldgivingthedinnerpossiblydothem？Theymightaskanyoralloftheiracquaintancewithoutdisadvantagetothemselves；butitwouldbeperfectlyeasytogivethedinnerjustthecharactertheychose，andstillflattertheignoranceoftheLaphams。ThetroublewouldbewithTom，ifhewerereallyinterestedinthegirl；
buthecouldnotsayanythingiftheymadeitafamilydinner；
hecouldnotfeelanything。Theyhadeachturnedinherownmind，asitappearedfromacomparisonofideas，tooneofthemostcomprehensiveofthosecousinshipswhichformtheadmirationandterroroftheadventurerinBostonsociety。Hefindshimselfhemmedinandleftoutateveryturnbyramificationsthatforbidhimallhopeofsafepersonalityinhiscommentsonpeople；heisneverlesssecurethanwhenhehearssomegivenBostoniandenouncingorridiculinganother。Ifhewillbeadvised，hewillguardhimselffromconcurringinthesecriticisms，howeverjusttheyappear，fortheprobabilityisthattheirobjectisacousinofnotmorethanoneremovefromthecensor。
WhenthealienhearsagroupofBostonladiescallingoneanother，andspeakingofalltheirgentlemenfriends，bythefamiliarabbreviationsoftheirChristiannames，hemustfeelkeenlytheexiletowhichhewasborn；
butheisthen，atleast，incomparativelylittledanger；
whiletheselatentandtacitcousinshipsopenpitfallsateverysteparoundhim，inasocietywhereMiddlesexeshavemarriedEssexesandproducedSuffolksfortwohundredandfiftyyears。
Theseconditions，however，soperiloustotheforeigner，areasourceofstrengthandsecuritytothosenativetothem。Anuncertainacquaintancemaybesoeffectuallyinvolvedinthemeshesofsuchacousinship，asnevertobeheardofoutsideofitandtremendousstoriesaretoldofpeoplewhohavespentawholewinterinBoston，inawhirlofgaiety，andwho，theoriginalguestsoftheSuffolks，discoveruponreflectionthattheyhavemetnoonebutEssexesandMiddlesexes。
Mrs。Corey’sbrotherJamescamefirstintohermind，andshethoughtwithuncommontolerationoftheeasy—going，uncritical，good—natureofhiswife。
JamesBellinghamhadbeentheadviserofhersonthroughout，andmightbesaidtohaveactivelypromotedhisconnectionwithLapham。Shethoughtnextofthewidowofhercousin，HenryBellingham，whohadletherdaughtermarrythatWesternsteamboatman，andwasfondofherson—in—law；
shemightbeexpectedatleasttoendurethepaint—kingandhisfamily。ThedaughtersinsistedsostronglyuponMrs。Bellingham’ssonCharles，thatMrs。Coreyputhimdown——ifhewereintown；hemightbeinCentralAmerica；
hegotonwithallsortsofpeople。Itseemedtoherthatshemightstopatthis：fourLaphams，fiveCoreys，andfourBellinghamswereenough。
\"Thatmakesthirteen，\"saidNanny。\"YoucanhaveMr。andMrs。Sewell。\"
\"Yes，thatisagoodidea，\"assentedMrs。Corey。
\"Heisourminister，anditisveryproper。\"
\"Idon’tseewhyyoudon’thaveRobertChase。
Itisapityheshouldn’tseeher——forthecolour。\"
\"Idon’tquiteliketheideaofthat，\"saidMrs。Corey；
\"butwecanhavehimtoo，ifitwon’tmaketoomany。\"
ThepainterhadmarriedintoapoorerbranchoftheCoreys，andhiswifewasdead。\"Isthereanyoneelse？\"
\"ThereisMissKingsbury。\"
\"Wehavehadhersomuch。Shewillbegintothinkweareusingher。\"
\"Shewon’tmind；she’ssogood—natured。\"
\"Well，then，\"themothersummedup，\"therearefourLaphams，fiveCoreys，fourBellinghams，oneChase，andoneKingsbury——fifteen。Oh！andtwoSewells。Seventeen。Tenladiesandsevengentlemen。Itdoesn’tbalanceverywell，andit’stoolarge。\"
\"Perhapssomeoftheladieswon’tcome，\"suggestedLily。
\"Oh，theladiesalwayscome，\"saidNanny。
Theirmotherreflected。\"Well，Iwillaskthem。
Theladieswillrefuseintimetoletuspickupsomegentlemensomewhere；somemoreartists。Why！wemusthaveMr。Seymour，thearchitect；he’sabachelor，andhe’sbuildingtheirhouse，Tomsays。\"
Hervoicefellalittlewhenshementionedherson’sname，andshetoldhimofherplan，whenhecamehomeintheevening，withevidentmisgiving。
\"Whatareyoudoingitfor，mother？\"heasked，lookingatherwithhishonesteyes。
Shedroppedherowninalittleconfusion。\"Iwon’tdoitatall，mydear，\"shesaid，\"ifyoudon’tapprove。
ButIthought——YouknowwehavenevermadeanyproperacknowledgmentoftheirkindnesstousatBaieSt。Paul。
Theninthewinter，I’mashamedtosay，IgotmoneyfromherforacharityIwasinterestedin；andIhatetheideaofmerelyUSINGpeopleinthatway。Andnowyourhavingbeenattheirhousethissummer——wecan’tseemtodisapproveofthat；andyourbusinessrelationstohim————\"
\"Yes，Isee，\"saidCorey。\"Doyouthinkitamountstoadinner？\"
\"Why，Idon’tknow，\"returnedhismother。\"Weshallhavehardlyanyoneoutofourfamilyconnection。\"
\"Well，\"Coreyassented，\"itmightdo。Isupposewhatyouwishistogivethemapleasure。\"
\"Why，certainly。Don’tyouthinkthey’dliketocome？\"
\"Oh，they’dliketocome；butwhetheritwouldbeapleasureaftertheywerehereisanotherthing。Ishouldhavesaidthatifyouwantedtohavethem，theywouldenjoybetterbeingsimplyaskedtomeetourownimmediatefamily。\"
\"That’swhatIthoughtofinthefirstplace，butyourfatherseemedtothinkitimpliedasocialdistrustofthem；andwecouldn’taffordtohavethatappearance，eventoourselves。\"
\"Perhapshewasright。\"
\"Andbesides，itmightseemalittlesignificant。\"
Coreyseemedinattentivetothisconsideration。\"Whomdidyouthinkofasking？\"Hismotherrepeatedthenames。
\"Yes，thatwoulddo，\"hesaid，withavaguedissatisfaction。
\"Iwon’thaveitatall，ifyoudon’twish，Tom。\"
\"Ohyes，haveit；perhapsyouought。Yes，Idaresayit’sright。Whatdidyoumeanbyafamilydinnerseemingsignificant？\"
Hismotherhesitated。Whenitcametothat，shedidnotliketorecogniseinhispresencetheanxietiesthathadtroubledher。But\"Idon’tknow，\"shesaid，sinceshemust。
\"Ishouldn’twanttogivethatyounggirl，orhermother，theideathatwewishedtomakemoreoftheacquaintancethan——thanyoudid，Tom。\"
Helookedatherabsent—mindedly，asifhedidnottakehermeaning。Buthesaid，\"Ohyes，ofcourse，\"
andMrs。Corey，intheuncertaintyinwhichsheseemeddestinedtoremainconcerningthisaffair，wentoffandwroteherinvitationtoMrs。Lapham。Laterintheevening，whentheyagainfoundthemselvesalone，hersonsaid，\"Idon’tthinkIunderstoodyou，mother，inregardtotheLaphams。IthinkIdonow。Icertainlydon’twishyoutomakemoreoftheacquaintancethanIhavedone。
Itwouldn’tberight；itmightbeveryunfortunate。
Don’tgivethedinner！\"
\"It’stoolatenow，myson，\"saidMrs。Corey。\"IsentmynotetoMrs。Laphamanhourago。\"HercourageroseatthetroublewhichshowedinCorey’sface。\"Butdon’tbeannoyedbyit，Tom。Itisn’tafamilydinner，youknow，andeverythingcanbemanagedwithoutembarrassment。
Ifwetakeuptheaffairatthispoint，youwillseemtohavebeenmerelyactingforus；andtheycan’tpossiblyunderstandanythingmore。\"
\"Well，well！Letitgo！Idaresayit’sallrightAtanyrate，itcan’tbehelpednow。\"
\"Idon’twishtohelpit，Tom，\"saidMrs。Corey，withacheerfullnesswhichthethoughtoftheLaphamshadneverbroughtherbefore。\"Iamsureitisquitefitandproper，andwecanmakethemhaveaverypleasanttime。Theyaregood，inoffensivepeople，andweoweittoourselvesnottobeafraidtoshowthatwehavefelttheirkindnesstous，andhisappreciationofyou。\"
\"Well，\"consentedCorey。Thetroublethathismotherhadsuddenlycastoffwasinhistone；butshewasnotsorry。
Itwasquitetimethatheshouldthinkseriouslyofhisattitudetowardthesepeopleifhehadnotthoughtofitbefore，but，accordingtohisfather’stheory，hadbeenmerelydangling。
Itwasaviewofherson’scharacterthatcouldhardlyhavepleasedherindifferentcircumstances，yetitwasnowunquestionablyaconsolationifnotwhollyapleasure。
IfsheconsideredtheLaphamsatall，itwaswiththeresignationwhichwefeelattheevilsofothers，evenwhentheyhavenotbroughtthemonthemselves。
Mrs。Lapham，forherpart，hadspentthehoursbetweenMrs。Corey’svisitandherhusband’scominghomefrombusinessinreachingthesameconclusionwithregardtoCorey；andherspiritswereatthelowestwhentheysatdowntosupper。Irenewasdowncastwithher；
Penelopewaspurposelygay；andtheColonelwasbeginning，afterhisfirstplateoftheboiledham，——which，bristlingwithcloves，roundeditsbulkonawideplatterbeforehim，——totakenoteofthesurroundingmood，whenthedoor—belljingledperemptorily，andthegirlleftwaitingonthetabletogoandanswerit。ShereturnedatoncewithanoteforMrs。Lapham，whichsheread，andthen，afterahelplesssurveyofherfamily，readagain。
\"Why，whatISit，mamma？\"askedIrene，whiletheColonel，whohadtakenuphiscarving—knifeforanotherattackontheham，helditdrawnhalfacrossit。
\"Why，Idon’tknowwhatitdoesmean，\"answeredMrs。Laphamtremulously，andsheletthegirltakethenotefromher。
Ireneranitover，andthenturnedtothenameattheendwithajoyfulcryandaflushthatburnedtothetopofherforehead。Thenshebegantoreaditoncemore。
TheColoneldroppedhisknifeandfrownedimpatiently，andMrs。Laphamsaid，\"Youreaditoutloud，ifyouknowwhattomakeofit，Irene。\"ButIrene，withanervousscreamofprotest，handedittoherfather，whoperformedtheoffice。
\"DEARMRS。LAPHAM：
\"WillyouandGeneralLapham————\"
\"Ididn’tknowIwasageneral，\"grumbledLapham。
\"IguessIshallhavetobelookingupmybackpay。
Whoisitwritesthis，anyway？\"heasked，turningtheletteroverforthesignature。
\"Oh，nevermind。Readitthrough！\"criedhiswife，withakindlingglanceoftriumphatPenelope，andheresumed——
\"——andyourdaughtersgiveusthepleasureofyourcompanyatdinneronThursday，the28th，athalf—pastsix。
\"Yourssincerely，\"ANNAB。COREY。\"
Thebriefinvitationhadbeenspreadovertwopages，andtheColonelhaddifficultieswiththesignaturewhichhedidnotinstantlysurmount。Whenhehadmadeoutthenameandpronouncedit，helookedacrossathiswifeforanexplanation。
\"Idon’tknowwhatitallmeans，\"shesaid，shakingherheadandspeakingwithapleasedflutter。
\"Shewasherethisafternoon，andIshouldhavesaidshehadcometoseehowbadshecouldmakeusfeel。
IdeclareIneverfeltsoputdowninmylifebyanybody。\"
\"Why，whatdidshedo？Whatdidshesay？\"Laphamwasready，inhisdensepride，toresentanyaffronttohisblood，butdoubtful，withtheevidenceofthisinvitationtothecontrary，ifanyaffronthadbeenoffered。Mrs。Laphamtriedtotellhim，buttherewasreallynothingtangible；
andwhenshecametoputitintowords，shecouldnotmakeoutacase。Herhusbandlistenedtoherexcitedattempt，andthenhesaid，withjudicialsuperiority，\"Iguessnobody’sbeentryingtomakeyoufeelbad，Persis。
Whatwouldshegorighthomeandinviteyoutodinnerfor，ifshe’dactedthewayyousay？\"
Inthisviewitdidseemimprobable，andMrs。Laphamwasshaken。Shecouldonlysay，\"PenelopefeltjustthewayIdidaboutit。\"
Laphamlookedatthegirl，whosaid，\"Oh，Ican’tproveit！Ibegintothinkitneverhappened。Iguessitdidn’t。\"
\"Humph！\"saidherfather，andhesatfrowningthoughtfullyawhile——ignoringhermockingirony，orchoosingtotakeherseriously。\"Youcan’treallyputyourfingeronanything，\"hesaidtohiswife，\"anditain’tlikelythereisanything。Anyway，she’sdonetheproperthingbyyounow。\"
Mrs。Laphamfalteredbetweenherlingeringresentmentandtheappealsofherflatteredvanity。ShelookedfromPenelope’simpassivefacetotheeagereyesofIrene。
\"Well——justasyousay，Silas。Idon’tknowassheWAS
soverybad。Iguessmaybeshewasembarrassedsome————\"
\"That’swhatItoldyou，mamma，fromthestart，\"
interruptedIrene。\"Didn’tItellyoushedidn’tmeananythingbyit？It’sjustthewaysheactedatBaieSt。Paul，whenshegotwellenoughtorealisewhatyou’ddoneforher！\"
Penelopebrokeintoalaugh。\"Isthatherwayofshowinghergratitude？I’msorryIdidn’tunderstandthatbefore。\"
Irenemadenoefforttoreply。Shemerelylookedfromhermothertoherfatherwithagrievedfacefortheirprotection，andLaphamsaid，\"Whenwe’vedonesupper，youanswerher，Persis。Saywe’llcome。\"
\"Withoneexception，\"saidPenelope。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"demandedherfather，withamouthfullofham。\"Oh，nothingofimportance。MerelythatI’mnotgoing。\"
Laphamgavehimselftimetoswallowhismorsel，andhisrisingwrathwentdownwithit。\"Iguessyou’llchangeyourmindwhenthetimecomes，\"hesaid。\"Anyway，Persis，yousaywe’llallcome，andthen，ifPenelopedon’twanttogo，youcanexcuseherafterwegetthere。
That’sthebestway。\"
Noneofthem，apparently，sawanyreasonwhytheaffairshouldnotbeleftinthisway，orhadasenseoftheawfulandbindingnatureofadinnerengagement。
IfshebelievedthatPenelopewouldnotfinallychangehermindandgo，nodoubtMrs。LaphamthoughtthatMrs。Coreywouldeasilyexcuseherabsence。Shedidnotfinditsosimpleamattertoaccepttheinvitation。
Mrs。Coreyhadsaid\"DearMrs。Lapham，\"butMrs。Laphamhadherdoubtswhetheritwouldnotbeaservileimitationtosay\"DearMrs。Corey\"inreturn；andshewastormentedastotheproperphrasingthroughoutandtheprecisetemperaturewhichsheshouldimparttoherpoliteness。
Shewroteanunpractised，uncharacteristicroundhand，thesameinwhichsheusedtosetthechildren’scopiesatschool，andshesubscribedherself，aftersomehesitationbetweenherhusband’sgivennameandherown，\"Yourstruly，Mrs。S。Lapham。\"
Penelopehadgonetoherroom，withoutwaitingtobeaskedtoadviseorcriticise；butIrenehaddecideduponthepaper，andonthewhole，Mrs。Lapham’snotemadeaverydecentappearanceonthepage。
\"Whenthefurnace—mancame，theColonelsenthimouttopostitintheboxatthecornerofthesquare。
Hehaddeterminednottosayanythingmoreaboutthematterbeforethegirls，notchoosingtoletthemseethathewaselated；hetriedtogivetheeffectofitsbeinganeverydaysortofthing，abruptlyclosingthediscussionwithhisordertoMrs。Laphamtoaccept；
buthehadremainedswellingbehindhisnewspaperduringherprolongedstrugglewithhernote，andhecouldnolongerhidehiselationwhenIrenefollowedhersisterupstairs。
\"Well，Pers，\"hedemanded，\"whatdoyousaynow？\"
Mrs。Laphamhadbeensoberedintosomethingofherformermisgivingbyherdifficultieswithhernote。
\"Well，Idon’tknowwhatTOsay。Ideclare，I’mallmixedupaboutit，andIdon’tknowaswe’vebegunaswecancarryoutinpromisingtogo。Ipresume，\"shesighed，\"thatwecanallsendsomeexcuseatthelastmoment，ifwedon’twanttogo。\"
\"Iguesswecancarryout，andIguessweshan’twanttosendanyexcuse，\"braggedtheColonel。\"Ifwe’reevergoingtobeanybodyatall，we’vegottogoandseehowit’sdone。Ipresumewe’vegottogivesomesortofpartywhenwegetintothenewhouse，andthisgivesthechancetoask’embackagain。Youcan’tcomplainnowbutwhatthey’vemadetheadvances，Persis？\"
\"No，\"saidMrs。Laphamlifelessly；\"Iwonderwhytheywantedtodoit。Oh，Isupposeit’sallright，\"sheaddedindeprecationoftheangerwithherhumilitywhichshesawrisinginherhusband’sface；\"butifit’sallgoingtobeasmuchtroubleasthatletter，I’dratherbewhipped。
Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtowear；orthegirlseither。
Idowonder——I’veheardthatpeoplegotodinnerinlow—necks。Doyousupposeit’sthecustom？\"
\"HowshouldIknow？\"demandedtheColonel。\"Iguessyou’vegotclothesenough。Anyrate，youneedn’tfretaboutit。
YoujustgoroundtoWhite’sorJordan&Marsh’s，andaskforadinnerdress。Iguessthat’llsettleit；
they’llknow。Getsomeofthemimporteddresses。Isee’eminthewindoweverytimeIpass；lotsof’em\"
\"Oh，itain’tthedress！\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Idon’tsupposebutwhatwecouldgetalongwiththat；andIwanttodothebestwecanforthechildren；butIdon’tknowwhatwe’regoingtotalkabouttothosepeoplewhenwegetthere。Wehaven’tgotanythingincommonwiththem。
Oh，Idon’tsaythey’reanybetter，\"sheagainmadehastetosayinarrestofherhusband’sresentment。\"Idon’tbelievetheyare；andIdon’tseewhytheyshouldbe。
Andthereain’tanybodyhasgotabetterrighttoholduptheirheadthanyouhave，Silas。You’vegotplentyofmoney，andyou’vemadeeverycentofit。\"
\"IguessIshouldn’tamountedtomuchwithoutyou，Persis，\"
interposedLapham，movedtothisjusticebyherpraise。
\"Oh，don’ttalkaboutME！\"protestedthewife。
\"Nowthatyou’vemadeitallrightaboutRogers，thereain’tathinginthisworldagainstyou。Butstill，forallthat，Icansee——andIcanfeelitwhenI
can’tseeit——thatwe’redifferentfromthosepeople。
They’rewell—meaningenough，andthey’dexcuseit，Ipresume，butwe’retoooldtolearntobelikethem。\"
\"Thechildrenain’t，\"saidLaphamshrewdly。
\"No，thechildrenain’t，\"admittedhiswife，\"andthat’stheonlythingthatreconcilesmetoit。\"
\"YouseehowpleasedIrenelookedwhenIreadit？\"
\"Yes，shewaspleased。\"
\"AndIguessPenelope’llthinkbetterofitbeforethetimecomes。\"
\"Ohyes，wedoitforthem。Butwhetherwe’redoingthebestthingfor’em，goodnessknows。I’mnotsayinganythingagainstHIM。Irene’llbealuckygirltogethim，ifshewantshim。Butthere！I’dtentimesrathershewasgoingtomarrysuchafellowasyouwere，Si，thathadtomakeeveryinchofhisownway，andshehadtohelphim。
It’sinher！\"
Laphamlaughedaloudforpleasureinhiswife’sfondness；
butneitherofthemwishedthatheshouldresponddirectlytoit。\"Iguess，ifitwa’n’tforme，hewouldn’thaveamucheasiertime。Butdon’tyoufret！It’sallcomingoutright。
Thatdinnerain’tathingforyoutobeuneasyabout。
It’llpassoffperfectlyeasyandnatural。\"
Laphamdidnotkeephiscourageousmindquitetotheendoftheweekthatfollowed。ItwashistheorynottoletCoreyseethathewassetupabouttheinvitation，andwhentheyoungmansaidpolitelythathismotherwasgladtheywereabletocome，Laphamwasveryshortwithhim。Hesaidyes，hebelievedthatMrs。Laphamandthegirlsweregoing。
AfterwardhewasafraidCoreymightnotunderstandthathewascomingtoo；buthedidnotknowhowtoapproachthesubjectagain，andCoreydidnot，soheletitpass。
ItworriedhimtoseeallthepreparationthathiswifeandIreneweremaking，andhetriedtolaughatthemforit；
anditworriedhimtofindthatPenelopewasmakingnopreparationatallforherself，butonlyhelpingtheothers。
Heaskedherwhatshouldshedoifshechangedhermindatthelastmomentandconcludedtogo，andshesaidsheguessedsheshouldnotchangehermind，butifshedid，shewouldgotoWhite’swithhimandgethimtochooseheranimporteddress，heseemedtolikethemsomuch。
Hewastooproudtomentionthesubjectagaintoher。
Finally，allthatdress—makinginthehousebegantoscarehimwithvagueapprehensionsinregardtohisowndress。
Assoonashehaddeterminedtogo，anidealofthefigureinwhichheshouldgopresenteditselftohismind。
Heshouldnotwearanydress—coat，because，foronething，heconsideredthatamanlookedlikeafoolinadress—coat，and，foranotherthing，hehadnone——hadnoneonprinciple。
Hewouldgoinafrock—coatandblackpantaloons，andperhapsawhitewaistcoat，butablackcravatanyway。
Butassoonashedevelopedthisidealtohisfamily，whichhedidinpompousdisdainoftheiranxietiesabouttheirowndress，theysaidheshouldnotgoso。
Ireneremindedhimthathewastheonlypersonwithoutadress—coatatacorpsreuniondinnerwhichhehadtakenhertosomeyearsbefore，andsherememberedfeelingawfullyaboutitatthetime。Mrs。Lapham，whowouldperhapshaveagreedofherself，shookherheadwithmisgiving。
\"Idon’tseebutwhatyou’llhavetogetyouone，Si，\"
shesaid。\"Idon’tbelievetheyevergowithout’emtoaprivatehouse。\"
Heheldoutopenly，butonhiswayhomethenextday，inasuddenpanic，hecastanchorbeforehistailor’sdoorandgotmeasuredforadress—coat。Afterthathebegantoheafflictedabouthiswaist—coat，concerningwhichhehadhithertobeenairilyindifferent。
Hetriedtogetopinionoutofhisfamily，buttheywerenotsoclearaboutitastheywereaboutthefrock。