Itendedintheirbuyingabookofetiquette,whichsettledthequestionadverselytoawhitewaistcoat。
Theauthor,however,afterbeingveryexplicitintellingthemnottoeatwiththeirknives,andaboveallnottopicktheirteethwiththeirforks,——athingwhichhesaidnoladyorgentlemaneverdid,——wasstillfarfromdecidedastothekindofcravatColonelLaphamoughttowear:shakenonotherpoints,Laphamhadbeguntowaveralsoconcerningtheblackcravat。AstothequestionofglovesfortheColonel,whichsuddenlyflasheduponhimoneevening,itappearednevertohaveenteredthethoughtsoftheetiquetteman,asLaphamcalledhim。
Otherauthorsonthesamesubjectwereequallysilent,andIrenecouldonlyrememberhavingheard,insomevaguesortofway,thatgentlemendidnotwearglovessomuchanymore。
DropsofperspirationgatheredonLapham’sforeheadintheanxietyofthedebate;hegroaned,andhesworealittleinthecompromiseprofanitywhichheused。
\"Ideclare,\"saidPenelope,whereshesatpurblindlysewingonabitofdressforIrene,\"theColonel’sclothesareasmuchtroubleasanybody’s。Whydon’tyougotoJordan&Marsh’sandorderoneoftheimporteddressesforyourself,father?\"Thatgavethemallthereliefofalaughoverit,theColoneljoininginpiteously。
HehadanawfullongingtofindoutfromCoreyhowheoughttogo。Heformulatedandrepeatedovertohimselfanapparentlycarelessquestion,suchas,\"Oh,bytheway,Corey,wheredoyougetyourgloves?\"Thiswouldnaturallyleadtosometalkonthesubject,whichwould,ifproperlymanaged,clearupthewholetrouble。ButLaphamfoundthathewouldratherdiethanaskthisquestion,oranyquestionthatwouldbringupthedinneragain。
Coreydidnotrecurtoit,andLaphamavoidedthematterwithpositivefierceness。HeshunnedtalkingwithCoreyatall,andsufferedingrimsilence。
Onenight,beforetheyfellasleep,hiswifesaidtohim,\"Iwasreadinginoneofthosebooksto—day,andIdon’tbelievebutwhatwe’vemadeamistakeifPenholdsoutthatshewon’tgo。\"
\"Why?\"demandedLapham,inthedismaywhichbesethimateveryfreshrecurrencetothesubject。
\"Thebooksaysthatit’sveryimpolitenottoansweradinnerinvitationpromptly。Well,we’vedonethatallright,——atfirstIdidn’tknowbutwhatwehadbeenalittletooquick,maybe,——butthenitsaysifyou’renotgoing,thatit’stheheightofrudenessnottoletthemknowatonce,sothattheycanfillyourplaceatthetable。\"
TheColonelwassilentforawhile。\"Well,I’mdumned,\"
hesaidfinally,\"ifthereseemstobeanyendtothisthing。
Ifitwastodooveragain,I’dsaynoforallofus。\"
\"I’vewishedahundredtimestheyhadn’taskedus;
butit’stoolatetothinkaboutthatnow。Thequestionis,whatarewegoingtodoaboutPenelope?\"
\"Oh,Iguessshe’llgo,atthelastmoment。\"
\"Shesaysshewon’t。ShetookaprejudiceagainstMrs。Coreythatday,andshecan’tseemtogetoverit。\"
\"Well,then,hadn’tyoubetterwriteinthemorning,assoonasyou’reup,thatsheain’tcoming?\"
Mrs。Laphamsighedhelplessly。\"Ishouldn’tknowhowtogetitin。It’ssolatenow;Idon’tseehowIcouldhavetheface。\"
\"Well,then,she’sgottogo,that’sall。\"
\"She’ssetshewon’t。\"
\"AndI’msetsheshall,\"saidLaphamwiththeloudobstinacyofamanwhosewomenalwayshavetheirway。
Mrs。Laphamwasnotsupportedbythesturdinessofhisproclamation。
ButshedidnotknowhowtodowhatsheknewsheoughttodoaboutPenelope,andsheletmattersdrift。
Afterall,thechildhadarighttostayathomeifshedidnotwishtogo。ThatwaswhatMrs。Laphamfelt,andwhatshesaidtoherhusbandnextmorning,biddinghimletPenelopealone,unlessshechoseherselftogo。
Shesaiditwastoolatenowtodoanything,andshemustmakethebestexcuseshecouldwhenshesawMrs。Corey。
ShebegantowishthatIreneandherfatherwouldgoandexcusehertoo。Shecouldnothelpsayingthis,andthensheandLaphamhadsomeunpleasantwords。
\"Lookhere!\"hecried。\"Whowantedtogoinforthesepeopleinthefirstplace?Didn’tyoucomehomefullof’emlastyear,andwantmetosellouthereandmovesomewhereselsebecauseitdidn’tseemtosuit’em?Andnowyouwanttoputitallonme!Iain’tgoingtostandit。\"
\"Hush!\"saidhiswife。\"Doyouwanttoraisethehouse?I
didn’tputitonyou,asyousay。Youtookitonyourself。
Eversincethatfellowhappenedtocomeintothenewhousethatday,you’vebeenperfectlycrazytogetinwiththem。
Andnowyou’resoafraidyoushalldosomethingwrongbefore’em,youdon’thardlydaretosayyourlife’syourown。
Ideclare,ifyoupestermeanymoreaboutthosegloves,SilasLapham,Iwon’tgo。\"
\"DoyousupposeIwanttogoonmyownaccount?\"
hedemandedfuriously。
\"No,\"sheadmitted。\"OfcourseIdon’t。Iknowverywellthatyou’redoingitforIrene;but,forgoodnessgracious’sake,don’tworryourlivesout,andmakeyourselfaperfectlaughing—stockbeforethechildren。\"
Withthismodifiedconcessionfromher,thequarrelclosedinsullensilenceonLapham’spart。Thenightbeforethedinnercame,andthequestionofhisgloveswasstillunsettled,andinafairwaytoremainso。
Hehadboughtapair,soastobeonthesafeside,perspiringincompanywiththeyoungladywhosoldthem,andwhohelpedhimtrythemonattheshop;hisnailswerestillfullofthepowderwhichshehadplentifullypepperedintotheminordertoovercometheresistanceofhisbluntfingers。Buthewasuncertainwhetherheshouldwearthem。Theyhadfoundabookatlastthatsaidtheladiesremovedtheirglovesonsittingdownattable,butitsaidnothingaboutgentlemen’sgloves。Helefthiswifewhereshestoodhalfhook—and—eyedatherglassinhernewdress,andwentdowntohisowndenbeyondtheparlour。
BeforeheshuthisdoorhocaughtaglimpseofIrenetrailingupanddownbeforethelongmirrorinHERnewdress,followedbytheseamstressonherknees;thewomanhadhermouthfullofpins,andfromtimetotimeshemadeIrenestoptillshecouldputoneofthepinsintohertrain;
Penelopesatinacornercriticisingandcounselling。
ItmadeLaphamsick,andhedespisedhimselfandallhisbroodforthetroubletheyweretaking。Butanotherglancegavehimasightoftheyounggirl’sfaceinthemirror,beautifulandradiantwithhappiness,andhisheartmeltedagainwithpaternaltendernessandpride。
ItwasgoingtobeagreatpleasuretoIrene,andLaphamfeltthatshewasboundtocutoutanythingthere。
HewasvexedwithPenelopethatshewasnotgoingtoo;
hewouldhavelikedtohavethosepeoplehearhertalk。
Heheldhisdooralittleopen,andlistenedtothethingsshewas\"gettingoff\"theretoIrene。HeshowedthathefeltreallyhurtanddisappointedaboutPenelope,andthegirl’smothermadeherconsolehimthenexteveningbeforetheyalldroveawaywithouther。\"Youtrytolookonthebrightsideofit,father。Iguessyou’llseethatit’sbestIdidn’tgowhenyougetthere。Ireneneedn’topenherlips,andtheycanallseehowprettysheis;
buttheywouldn’tknowhowsmartIwasunlessItalked,andmaybethentheywouldn’t。\"
Thisthrustatherfather’ssimplevanityinhermadehimlaugh;andthentheydroveaway,andPenelopeshutthedoor,andwentupstairswithherlipsfirmlyshuttinginasob。
XIV。
THECoreyswereoneofthefewoldfamilieswholingeredinBellinghamPlace,thehandsome,quietoldstreetwhichthesympatheticobservermustgrievetoseeabandonedtoboarding—houses。Thedwellingsarestatelyandtall,andthewholeplacewearsanairofaristocraticseclusion,whichMrs。Corey’sfathermightwellhavethoughtassuredwhenheleftherhishousethereathisdeath。ItisoneoftwoevidentlydesignedbythesamearchitectwhobuiltsomehousesinacharacteristictasteonBeaconStreetoppositetheCommon。Ithasawoodenportico,withslenderflutedcolumns,whichhavealwaysbeenpaintedwhite,andwhich,withthedelicatemouldingsofthecornice,formthesoleandsufficientdecorationofthestreetfront;
nothingcouldbesimpler,andnothingcouldbebetter。
Within,thearchitecthasagainindulgedhispreferencefortheclassic;theroofofthevestibule,wideandlow,restsonmarblecolumns,slimandflutedlikethewoodencolumnswithout,andanamplestaircaseclimbsinagraceful,easycurvefromthetesselatedpavement。
SomecarvedVenetianscrignistretchedalongthewall;
aruglayatthefootofthestairs;butotherwisethesimpleadequacyofthearchitecturalintentionhadbeenrespected,andtheplacelookedbaretotheeyesoftheLaphamswhentheyentered。TheCoreyshadoncekeptaman,butwhenyoungCoreybeganhisretrenchmentsthemanhadyieldedtotheneatmaidwhoshowedtheColonelintothereception—roomandaskedtheladiestowalkuptwoflights。
HehadhischargesfromIrenenottoenterthedrawing—
roomwithouthermother,andhespentfiveminutesingettingonhisgloves,forhehaddesperatelyresolvedtowearthematlast。Whenhehadthemon,andlethislargefistshangdownoneitherside,theylooked,inthesaffrontintwhichtheshop—girlsaidhisglovesshouldbeof,likecanvasedhams。Heperspiredwithdoubtasheclimbedthestairs,andwhilehewaitedonthelandingforMrs。LaphamandIrenetocomedownfromabovebeforegoingintothedrawing—room,hestoodstaringathishands,nowopenandnowshut,andbreathinghard。
Heheardquiettalkingbeyondtheportierewithin,andpresentlyTomCoreycameout。
\"Ah,ColonelLapham!Verygladtoseeyou。\"
Laphamshookhandswithhimandgasped,\"WaitingforMis’Lapham,\"toaccountforhispresence。
Hehadnotbeenabletobuttonhisrightglove,andhenowbegan,withasmuchindifferenceashecouldassume,topullthembothoff,forhesawthatCoreyworenone。
Bythetimehehadstuffedthemintothepocketofhiscoat—skirthiswifeanddaughterdescended。
Coreywelcomedthemverycordiallytoo,butlookedalittlemystified。Mrs。LaphamknewthathewassilentlyinquiringforPenelope,andshedidnotknowwhethersheoughttoexcusehertohimfirstornot。Shesaidnothing,andafteraglancetowardtheregionswherePenelopemightconjecturablybelingering,heheldasidetheportierefortheLaphamstopass,andenteredtheroomwiththem。
Mrs。Laphamhaddecidedagainstlow—necksonherownresponsibility,andhadentrenchedherselfinthesafetyofablacksilk,inwhichshelookedveryhandsome。Ireneworeadressofoneofthoseshadeswhichonlyawomanoranartistcandecidetobegreenorblue,andwhichtoothereyeslooksbothorneither,accordingtotheirdegreesofignorance。
Ifitwasmorelikeaballdressthanadinnerdress,thatmightbeexcusedtotheexquisiteeffect。Shetrailed,adelicatesplendour,acrossthecarpetinhermother’ssombrewake,andtheconsciousnessofsuccessbroughtavividsmiletoherface。Lapham,pallidwithanxietylestheshouldsomehowdisgracehimself,givingthankstoGodthatheshouldhavebeensparedtheshameofwearinggloveswherenooneelsedid,butatthesametimedespairingthatCoreyshouldhaveseenhiminthem,hadanunwontedaspectofalmostpatheticrefinement。
Mrs。Coreyexchangedaquickglanceofsurpriseandreliefwithherhusbandasshestartedacrosstheroomtomeetherguests,andinhergratitudetothemforbeingsoirreproachable,shethrewintohermannerawarmththatpeopledidnotalwaysfindthere。\"GeneralLapham?\"
shesaid,shakinghandsinquicksuccessionwithMrs。LaphamandIrene,andnowaddressingherselftohim。
\"No,ma’am,onlyColonel,\"saidthehonestman,buttheladydidnothearhim。ShewasintroducingherhusbandtoLapham’swifeanddaughter,andBromfieldCoreywasalreadyshakinghishandandsayinghewasverygladtoseehimagain,whilehekepthisartisticeyeonIrene,andapparentlycouldnottakeitoff。LilyCoreygavetheLaphamladiesagreetingwhichwasphysicallyratherthansociallycold,andNannystoodholdingIrene’shandinbothofhersamoment,andtakinginherbeautyandherstylewithagenerousadmirationwhichshecouldafford,forshewasherselffaultlesslydressedinthequiettasteofhercity,andlookingverypretty。
TheintervalwaslongenoughtoleteverymanpresentconfidehissenseofIrene’sbeautytoeveryother;
andthen,asthepartywassmall,Mrs。Coreymadeeverybodyacquainted。WhenLaphamhadnotquiteunderstood,heheldtheperson’shand,and,leaningurbanelyforward,inquired,\"Whatname?\"Hedidthatbecauseagreatmantowhomhehadbeenpresentedontheplatformatapublicmeetinghaddonesotohim,andheknewitmustberight。
Alittlelullensuedupontheintroductions,andMrs。CoreysaidquietlytoMrs。Lapham,\"CanIsendanyonetobeofusetoMissLapham?\"asifPenelopemustbeinthedressing—room。
Mrs。Laphamturnedfire—red,andthegracefulformsinwhichshehadbeenintendingtoexcuseherdaughter’sabsencewentoutofherhead。\"Sheisn’tupstairs,\"shesaid,atherbluntest,ascountrypeoplearewhenembarrassed。
\"Shedidn’tfeeljustlikecomingto—night。Idon’tknowasshe’sfeelingverywell。\"
Mrs。Coreyemittedaverysmall\"O!\"——verysmall,verycold,——whichbegantogrowlargerandhotterandtoburnintoMrs。Lapham’ssoulbeforeMrs。Coreycouldadd,\"I’mverysorry。It’snothingserious,Ihope?\"
RobertChase,thepainter,hadnotcome,andMrs。JamesBellinghamwasnotthere,sothatthetablereallybalancedbetterwithoutPenelope;butMrs。Laphamcouldnotknowthis,anddidnotdeservetoknowit。Mrs。Coreyglancedroundtheroom,asiftotakeaccountofherguests,andsaidtoherhusband,\"Ithinkweareallhere,then,\"
andhecameforwardandgavehisarmtoMrs。Lapham。
Sheperceivedthenthatintheirdeterminationnottobethefirsttocometheyhadbeenthelast,andmusthavekepttheotherswaitingforthem。
Laphamhadneverseenpeoplegodowntodinnerarm—in—
armbefore,butheknewthathiswifewasdistinguishedinbeingtakenoutbythehost,andhewaitedinjealousimpatiencetoseeifTomCoreywouldofferhisarmtoIrene。
HegaveittothatbiggirltheycalledMissKingsbury,andthehandsomeoldfellowwhomMrs。CoreyhadintroducedashercousintookIreneout。LaphamwasstartledfromthemisgivinginwhichthislefthimbyMrs。Corey’spassingherhandthroughhisarm,andhemadeasuddenmovementforward,butfelthimselfgentlyrestrained。
Theywentoutthelastofall;hedidnotknowwhy,buthesubmitted,andwhentheysatdownhesawthatIrene,althoughshehadcomeinwiththatMr。Bellingham,wasseatedbesideyoungCorey,afterall。
Hefetchedalongsighofreliefwhenhesankintohischairandfelthimselfsafefromerrorifhekeptasharplookoutanddidonlywhattheothersdid。
Bellinghamhadcertainhabitswhichhepermittedhimself,andoneofthesewastuckingthecornerofhisnapkinintohiscollar;heconfessedhimselfanuncertainshotwithaspoon,anddefendedhispracticeonthegroundofneatnessandcommon—sense。Laphamputhisnapkinintohiscollartoo,andthen,seeingthatnoonebutBellinghamdidit,becamealarmedandtookitoutagainslyly。
Heneverhadwineonhistableathome,andonprinciplehewasaprohibitionist;butnowhedidnotknowjustwhattodoabouttheglassesattherightofhisplate。
Hehadanotiontoturnthemalldown,ashehadreadofawell—knownpolitician’sdoingatapublicdinner,toshowthathedidnottakewine;but,aftertwiddlingwithoneofthemamoment,heletthembe,foritseemedtohimthatwouldbealittletooconspicuous,andhefeltthateveryonewaslooking。Helettheservantfillthemall,andhedrankoutofeach,nottoappearodd。
Later,heobservedthattheyoungladieswerenottakingwine,andhewasgladtoseethatIrenehadrefusedit,andthatMrs。Laphamwaslettingitstanduntasted。
Hedidnotknowbutheoughttodeclinesomeofthedishes,oratleastleavemostofsomeonhisplate,buthewasnotabletodecide;hetookeverythingandateeverything。
HenoticedthatMrs。Coreyseemedtotakenomoretroubleaboutthedinnerthananybody,andMr。Coreyratherless;
hewastalkingbusilytoMrs。Lapham,andLaphamcaughtawordhereandtherethatconvincedhimshewasholdingherown。HewasgettingonfamouslyhimselfwithMrs。Corey,whohadbegunwithhimabouthisnewhouse;
hewastellingherallaboutit,andgivingherhisideas。
Theirconversationnaturallyincludedhisarchitectacrossthetable;Laphamhadbeendelightedandsecretlysurprisedtofindthefellowthere;andatsomethingSeymoursaidthetalkspreadsuddenly,andtheprettyhousehewasbuildingforColonelLaphambecamethegeneraltheme。
YoungCoreytestifiedtoitsloveliness,andthearchitectsaidlaughinglythatifhehadbeenabletomakeanicethingofit,heowedittothepracticalsympathyofhisclient。
\"Practicalsympathyisgood,\"saidBromfieldCorey;
and,slantinghisheadconfidentiallytoMrs。Lapham,headded,\"Doeshebleedyourhusband,Mrs。Lapham?He’saterriblefellowforappropriations!\"
Mrs。Laphamlaughed,reddeningconsciously,andsaidsheguessedtheColonelknewhowtotakecareofhimself。
ThisstruckLapham,thendraininghisglassofsauterne,aswonderfullydiscreetinhiswife。BromfieldCoreyleanedbackinhischairamoment。\"Well,afterall,youcan’tsay,withallyourmodernfussaboutit,thatyoudomuchbetternowthantheoldfellowswhobuiltsuchhousesasthis。\"
\"Ah,\"saidthearchitect,\"nobodycandobetterthanwell。
Yourhouseisinperfecttaste;youknowI’vealwaysadmiredit;andIdon’tthinkit’satalltheworseforbeingold—fashioned。Whatwe’vedoneislargelytogobackofthehideousstylethatragedaftertheyforgothowtomakethissortofhouse。ButIthinkwemayclaimabetterfeelingforstructure。Weusebettermaterial,andmorewisely;andbyandbyweshallworkoutsomethingmorecharacteristicandoriginal。\"
\"Withyourchocolatesandolives,andyourclutterofbric—a—brac?\"
\"Allthat’sbad,ofcourse,butIdon’tmeanthat。Idon’twishtomakeyouenviousofColonelLapham,andmodestypreventsmysaying,thathishouseisprettier,——thoughImayhavemyconvictions,——butit’sbetterbuilt。
Allthenewhousesarebetterbuilt。Now,yourhouse————\"
\"Mrs。Corey’shouse,\"interruptedthehost,withaburlesquehasteindisclaimingresponsibilityforitthatmadethemalllaugh。\"MyancestralhallsareinSalem,andI’mtoldyoucouldn’tdriveanailintotheirtimbers;
infact,Idon’tknowthatyouwouldwanttodoit。\"
\"Ishouldconsideritaspeciesofsacrilege,\"
answeredSeymour,\"andIshallbefarfrompressingthepointIwasgoingtomakeagainstahouseofMrs。Corey’s。\"
ThiswonSeymourtheeasylaugh,andLaphamsilentlywonderedthatthefellownevergotoffanyofthosethingstohim。
\"Well,\"saidCorey,\"youarchitectsandthemusiciansarethetrueandonlyartisticcreators。Alltherestofus,sculptors,painters,novelists,andtailors,dealwithformsthatwehavebeforeus;wetrytoimitate,wetrytorepresent。Butyoutwosortsofartistscreateform。Ifyourepresent,youfail。Somehoworotheryoudoevolvethecameloutofyourinnerconsciousness\"
\"Iwillnotdenythesoftimpeachment,\"saidthearchitect,withamodestair。
\"Idaresay。Andyou’llownthatit’sveryhandsomeofmetosaythis,afteryourunjustifiableattackonMrs。Corey’sproperty。\"
BromfieldCoreyaddressedhimselfagaintoMrs。Lapham,andthetalksubdivideditselfasbefore。Itlapsedsoentirelyawayfromthesubjectjustinhand,thatLaphamwasleftwithratheragoodidea,ashethoughtit,toperishinhismind,forwantofachancetoexpressit。
TheonlythinglikearecurrencetowhattheyhadbeensayingwasBromfieldCorey’swarningMrs。Lapham,insomeconnectionthatLaphamlost,againstMissKingsbury。
\"She’sworse,\"hewassaying,\"whenitcomestoappropriationsthanSeymourhimself。Dependuponit,Mrs。Lapham,shewillgiveyounopeaceofyourmind,nowshe’smetyou,fromthisout。Hertendermerciesarecruel;
andIleaveyoutosupplythecontentfromyourownscripturalknowledge。Bewareofher,andallherworks。
Shecallsthemworksofcharity;butheavenknowswhethertheyare。Itdon’tstandtoreasonthatshegivesthepoorALLthemoneyshegetsoutofpeople。
Ihavemyownbelief\"——hegaveitinawhisperforthewholetabletohear——\"thatshespendsitforchampagneandcigars。\"
Laphamdidnotknowaboutthatkindoftalking;butMissKingsburyseemedtoenjoythefunasmuchasanybody,andhelaughedwiththerest。
\"Youshallbeaskedtotheverynextdebauchofthecommittee,Mr。Corey;thenyouwon’tdareexposeus,\"
saidMissKingsbury。
\"Iwonderyouhaven’tbeendownuponCoreytogototheChardonStreethomeandtalkwithyourindigentItaliansintheirnativetongue,\"saidCharlesBellingham。
\"IsawintheTranscripttheothernightthatyouwantedsomeoneforthework。\"
\"WedidthinkofMr。Corey,\"repliedMissKingsbury;
\"butwereflectedthatheprobablywouldn’ttalkwiththematall;hewouldmakethemkeepstilltobesketched,andforgetallabouttheirwants。\"
UponthetheorythatthiswasafairreturnforCorey’spleasantry,theotherslaughedagain。
\"Thereisonecharity,\"saidCorey,pretendingsuperioritytoMissKingsbury’spoint,\"thatissodifficult,Iwonderithasn’toccurredtoaladyofyourcourageousinvention。\"
\"Yes?\"saidMissKingsbury。\"Whatisthat?\"
\"Theoccupation,bydeservingpoorofneathabits,ofallthebeautiful,airy,wholesomehousesthatstandemptythewholesummerlong,whiletheirownersareawayintheirlowlycotsbesidethesea。\"
\"Yes,thatisterrible,\"repliedMissKingsbury,withquickearnestness,whilehereyesgrewmoist。
\"Ihaveoftenthoughtofourgreat,coolhousesstandinguselesshere,andthethousandsofpoorcreaturesstiflingintheirholesanddens,andthelittlechildrendyingforwholesomeshelter。Howcruellyselfishweare!\"
\"Thatisaverycomfortablesentiment,MissKingsbury,\"
saidCorey,\"andmustmakeyoufeelalmostasifyouhadthrownopenNo。31tothewholeNorthEnd。
ButIamseriousaboutthismatter。Ispendmysummersintown,andIoccupymyownhouse,sothatIcanspeakimpartiallyandintelligently;andItellyouthatinsomeofmywalksontheHillanddownontheBackBay,nothingbutthesurveillanceofthelocalpolicemanpreventsmyofferingpersonalviolencetothoselongrowsofclose—shuttered,handsome,brutallyinsensiblehouses。
IfIwereapoorman,withasickchildpininginsomegarretorcellarattheNorthEnd,Ishouldbreakintooneofthem,andcampoutonthegrandpiano。\"
\"Surely,Bromfield,\"saidhiswife,\"youdon’tconsiderwhathavocsuchpeoplewouldmakewiththefurnitureofanicehouse!\"
\"Thatistrue,\"answeredCorey,withmeekconviction。
\"Ineverthoughtofthat。\"
\"Andifyouwereapoormanwithasickchild,Idoubtifyou’dhavesomuchheartforburglaryasyouhavenow,\"
saidJamesBellingham。
\"It’swonderfulhowpatienttheyare,\"saidtheminister。
\"Thespectacleofthehopelesscomfortthehard—workingpoormanseesmustbehardtobear。\"
Laphamwantedtospeakupandsaythathehadbeentherehimself,andknewhowsuchamanfelt。Hewantedtotellthemthatgenerallyapoormanwassatisfiedifhecouldmakebothendsmeet;thathedidn’tenvyanyonehisgoodluck,ifhehadearnedit,solongashewasn’trunningunderhimself。Butbeforehecouldgetthecouragetoaddressthewholetable,Sewelladded,\"Isupposehedon’talwaysthinkofit。\"
\"ButsomedayheWILLthinkaboutit,\"saidCorey。
\"Infact,weratherinvitehimtothinkaboutit,inthiscountry。\"
\"Mybrother—in—law,\"saidCharlesBellingham,withtheprideamanfeelsinamentionablyremarkablebrother—in—law,\"hasnoendoffellowsatworkunderhimoutthereatOmaha,andhesaysit’sthefellowsfromcountrieswherethey’vebeenkeptfromthinkingaboutitthatarediscontented。
TheAmericansnevermakeanytrouble。Theyseemtounderstandthatsolongaswegiveunlimitedopportunity,nobodyhasarighttocomplain。\"
\"WhatdoyouhearfromLeslie?\"askedMrs。Corey,turningfromtheseprofitlessabstractionstoMrs。Bellingham。
\"Youknow,\"saidthatladyinalowertone,\"thatthereisanotherbaby?\"
\"No!Ihadn’theardofit!\"