\"Yes；aboy。Theyhavenamedhimafterhisuncle。\"
\"Yes，\"saidCharlesBellingham，joiningin。\"Heissaidtobeanobleboy，andtoresembleme。\"
\"Allboysofthattenderagearenoble，\"saidCorey，\"andlooklikeanybodyyouwishthemtoresemble。
IsLesliestillhome—sickforthebean—potsofhernativeBoston？\"
\"Sheisgettingoverit，Ifancy，\"repliedMrs。Bellingham。
\"She’sverymuchtakenupwithMr。Blake’senterprises，andleadsaveryexcitinglife。Shesaysshe’slikepeoplewhohavebeenhomefromEuropethreeyears；she’spastthemostpoignantstageofregret，andhasn’treachedthesecond，whentheyfeelthattheymustgoagain。\"
LaphamleanedalittletowardMrs。Corey，andsaidofapicturewhichhesawonthewallopposite，\"Pictureofyourdaughter，Ipresume？\"
\"No；mydaughter’sgrandmother。It’saStewartNewton；
hepaintedagreatmanySalembeauties。ShewasaMissPollyBurroughs。MydaughterISlikeher，don’tyouthink？\"
TheybothlookedatNannyCoreyandthenattheportrait。
\"Thoseprettyold—fashioneddressesarecominginagain。
I’mnotsurprisedyoutookitforher。Theothers\"——shereferredtotheotherportraitsmoreorlessdarklingonthewalls——\"aremypeople；mostlyCopleys。\"
Thesenames，unknowntoLapham，wenttohisheadlikethewinehewasdrinking；theyseemedtocarrylightforthemoment，butafilmofdeeperdarknessfollowed。HeheardCharlesBellinghamtellingfunnystoriestoIreneandtryingtoamusethegirl；shewaslaughing，andseemedveryhappy。
FromtimetotimeBellinghamtookpartinthegeneraltalkbetweenthehostandJamesBellinghamandMissKingsburyandthatminister，Mr。Sewell。Theytalkedofpeoplemostly；
itastonishedLaphamtohearwithwhatfreedomtheytalked。
Theydiscussedthesepersonsunsparingly；JamesBellinghamspokeofamanknowntoLaphamforhisbusinesssuccessandgreatwealthasnotagentleman；hiscousinCharlessaidhewassurprisedthatthefellowhadkeptfrombeinggovernorsolong。
WhenthelatterturnedfromIrenetomakeoneoftheseexcursionsintothegeneraltalk，youngCoreytalkedtoher；
andLaphamcaughtsomewordsfromwhichitseemedthattheywerespeakingofPenelope。Itvexedhimtothinkshehadnotcome；shecouldhavetalkedaswellasanyofthem；
shewasjustasbright；andLaphamwasawarethatIrenewasnotasbright，thoughwhenhelookedatherface，triumphantinitsyoungbeautyandfondness，hesaidtohimselfthatitdidnotmakeanydifference。Hefeltthathewasnotholdinguphisendoftheline，however。Whensomeonespoketohimhecouldonlysummonafewwordsofreply，thatseemedtoleadtonothing；thingsoftencameintohismindappropriatetowhattheyweresaying，butbeforehecouldgetthemouttheywereoffonsomethingelse；
theyjumpedaboutso，hecouldnotkeepup；buthefelt，allthesame，thathewasnotdoinghimselfjustice。
AtonetimethetalkranoffuponasubjectthatLaphamhadneverheardtalkedofbefore；butagainhewasvexedthatPenelopewasnotthere，tohavehersay；hebelievedthathersaywouldhavebeenworthhearing。
MissKingsburyleanedforwardandaskedCharlesBellinghamifhehadreadTears，IdleTears，thenovelthatwasmakingsuchasensation；andwhenhesaidno，shesaidshewonderedathim。\"It’sperfectlyheart—breaking，asyou’llimaginefromthename；butthere’ssuchadearold—fashionedheroandheroineinit，whokeepdyingforeachotherallthewaythrough，andmakingthemostwildlysatisfactoryandunnecessarysacrificesforeachother。
Youfeelasifyou’ddonethemyourself。\"
\"Ah，that’sthesecretofitssuccess，\"saidBromfieldCorey。
\"Itflattersthereaderbypaintingthecharacterscolossal，butwithhislimpandstoop，sothathefeelshimselfoftheirsupernaturalproportions。You’vereadit，Nanny？\"
\"Yes，\"saidhisdaughter。\"ItoughttohavebeencalledSlop，SillySlop。\"
\"Oh，notquiteSLOP，Nanny，\"pleadedMissKingsbury。
\"It’sastonishing，\"saidCharlesBellingham，\"howwedolikethebooksthatgoforourheart—strings。AndI
reallysupposethatyoucan’tputamorepopularthingthanself—sacrificeintoanovel。Wedoliketoseepeoplesufferingsublimely。\"
\"Therewastalksomeyearsago，\"saidJamesBellingham，\"aboutnovelsgoingout。\"\"They’rejustcomingin！\"
criedMissKingsbury。
\"Yes，\"saidMr。Sewell，theminister。\"AndIdon’tthinkthereeverwasatimewhentheyformedthewholeintellectualexperienceofmorepeople。Theydogreatermischiefthanever。\"
\"Don’tbeenvious，parson，\"saidthehost。
\"No，\"answeredSewell。\"Ishouldbegladoftheirhelp。
Butthosenovelswithold—fashionedheroesandheroinesinthem——excuseme，MissKingsbury——areruinous！\"
\"Don’tyoufeellikeamoralwreck，MissKingsbury？\"
askedthehost。
ButSewellwenton：\"Thenovelistsmightbethegreatestpossiblehelptousiftheypaintedlifeasitis，andhumanfeelingsintheirtrueproportionandrelation，butforthemostparttheyhavebeenandarealtogethernoxious。\"
ThisseemedsensetoLapham；butBromfieldCoreyasked：
\"Butwhatiflifeasitisisn’tamusing？Aren’twetobeamused？\"
\"Nottoourhurt，\"sturdilyansweredtheminister。
\"Andtheself—sacrificepaintedinmostnovelslikethis————\"
\"Slop，SillySlop？\"suggestedtheproudfatheroftheinventorofthephrase。
\"Yes——isnothingbutpsychicalsuicide，andisaswhollyimmoralasthespectacleofamanfallinguponhissword。\"
\"Well，Idon’tknowbutyou’reright，parson，\"saidthehost；
andtheminister，whohadapparentlygotuponabattle—horseofhis，careeredonwardinspiteofsometacitattemptsofhiswifetoseizethebridle。
\"Right？TobesureIamright。Thewholebusinessoflove，andlove—makingandmarrying，ispaintedbythenovelistsinamonstrousdisproportiontotheotherrelationsoflife。
Loveisverysweet，verypretty————\"
\"Oh，THANKyou，Mr。Sewell，\"saidNannyCorey，inawaythatsetthemalllaughing。
\"Butit’stheaffair，commonly，ofveryyoungpeople，whohavenotyetcharacterandexperienceenoughtomaketheminteresting。Innovelsit’streated，notonlyasifitwerethechiefinterestoflife，butthesoleinterestofthelivesoftworidiculousyoungpersons；
anditistaughtthatloveisperpetual，thattheglowofatruepassionlastsforever；andthatitissacrilegetothinkoractotherwise。\"\"Well，butisn’tthattrue，Mr。Sewell？\"pleadedMissKingsbury。
\"Ihaveknownsomemostestimablepeoplewhohadmarriedasecondtime，\"saidtheminister，andthenhehadtheapplausewithhim。Laphamwantedtomakesomeopenrecognitionofhisgoodsense，butcouldnot。
\"Isupposethepassionitselfhasbeenagooddealchanged，\"
saidBromfieldCorey，\"sincethepoetsbegantoidealiseitinthedaysofchivalry。\"
\"Yes；anditoughttobechangedagain，\"saidMr。Sewell。
\"What！Back？\"
\"Idon’tsaythat。Butitoughttoberecognisedassomethingnaturalandmortal，anddivinehonours，whichbelongtorighteousnessalone，oughtnottobepaidit。\"
\"Oh，youasktoomuch，parson，\"laughedhishost，andthetalkwanderedawaytosomethingelse。
Itwasnotanelaboratedinner；butLaphamwasusedtohavingeverythingonthetableatonce，andthissuccessionofdishesbewilderedhim；hewasafraidperhapshewaseatingtoomuch。Henownolongermadeanypretenceofnotdrinkinghiswine，forhewasthirsty，andtherewasnomorewater，andhehatedtoaskforany。Theice—creamcame，andthenthefruit。
SuddenlyMrs。Coreyrose，andsaidacrossthetabletoherhusband，\"Isupposeyouwillwantyourcoffeehere。\"
Andhereplied，\"Yes；we’lljoinyouattea。\"
Theladiesallrose，andthegentlemengotupwiththem。
LaphamstartedtofollowMrs。Corey，buttheothermenmerelystoodintheirplaces，exceptyoungCorey，whoranandopenedthedoorforhismother。Laphamthoughtwithshamethatitwashewhooughttohavedonethat；
butnooneseemedtonotice，andhesatdownagaingladly，afterkickingoutoneofhislegswhichhadgonetosleep。
Theybroughtincigarswithcoffee，andBromfieldCoreyadvisedLaphamtotakeonethathechoseforhim。
Laphamconfessedthathelikedagoodcigaraboutaswellasanybody，andCoreysaid：\"Thesearenew。
IhadanEnglishmanheretheotherdaywhowassmokingoldcigarsinthesuperstitionthattobaccoimprovedwithage，likewine。\"
\"Ah，\"saidLapham，\"anybodywhohadeverlivedoffatobaccocountrycouldtellhimbetterthanthat。\"
Withthefumingcigarbetweenhislipshefeltmoreathomethanhehadbefore。Heturnedsidewiseinhischairand，restingonearmontheback，intertwinedthefingersofbothhands，andsmokedatlargeease。JamesBellinghamcameandsatdownbyhim。\"ColonelLapham，weren’tyouwiththe96thVermontwhentheychargedacrosstheriverinfrontofPickensburg，andtherebelbatteryopenedfireontheminthewater？\"
Laphamslowlyshuthiseyesandslowlydroppedhisheadforassent，lettingoutawhitevolumeofsmokefromthecornerofhismouth。
\"Ithoughtso，\"saidBellingham。\"Iwaswiththe85thMassachusetts，andIsha’n’tforgetthatslaughter。
Wewereallnewtoitstill。Perhapsthat’swhyitmadesuchanimpression。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"suggestedCharlesBellingham。\"Wasthereanythingmuchmoreimpressiveafterward？IreadofitoutinMissouri，whereIwasstationedatthetime，andIrecollectthetalkofsomeoldarmymenaboutit。
Theysaidthatdeath—ratecouldn’tbebeaten。Idon’tknowthatiteverwas。\"
\"Aboutoneinfiveofusgotoutsafe，\"saidLapham，breakinghiscigar—ashoffontheedgeofaplate。
JamesBellinghamreachedhimabottleofApollinaris。
Hedrankaglass，andthenwentonsmoking。
Theyallwaited，asifexpectinghimtospeak，andthenCoreysaid：\"Howincrediblethosethingsseemalready！
YougentlemenKNOWthattheyhappened；butareyoustillabletobelieveit？\"
\"Ah，nobodyFEELSthatanythinghappened，\"saidCharlesBellingham。\"Thepastofone’sexperiencedoesn’tdifferagreatdealfromthepastofone’sknowledge。
Itisn’tmuchmoreprobable；it’sreallyagreatdeallessvividthansomescenesinanovelthatonereadwhenaboy。\"
\"I’mnotsureofthat，\"saidJamesBellingham。
\"Well，James，neitheramI，\"consentedhiscousin，helpinghimselffromLapham’sApollinarisbottle。
\"Therewouldbeverylittletalkingatdinnerifoneonlysaidthethingsthatonewassureof。\"
Theotherslaughed，andBromfieldCoreyremarkedthoughtfully，\"Whatastonishesthecravencivilianinallthesethingsistheabundance——thesuperabundance——ofheroism。
Thecowardsweretheexception；thementhatwerereadytodie，therule。\"
\"Thewoodswerefullofthem，\"saidLapham，withouttakinghiscigarfromhismouth。
\"That’sanicelittletouchinSchool，\"interposedCharlesBellingham，\"wherethegirlsaystothefellowwhowasatInkerman，’Ishouldthinkyouwouldbesoproudofit，’
andhereflectsawhile，andsays，’Well，thefactis，youknow，thereweresomanyofus。’\"
\"Yes，Irememberthat，\"saidJamesBellingham，smilingforpleasureinit。\"ButIdon’tseewhyyouclaimthecreditofbeingacravencivilian，Bromfield，\"
headded，withafriendlyglanceathisbrother—in—law，andwiththewillingnessBostonmenoftenshowtoturnoneanother’sgoodpointstothelightincompany；
bredsointimatelytogetheratschoolandcollegeandinsociety，theyallknowthesepoints。\"AmanwhowasoutwithGaribaldiin’48，\"continuedJamesBellingham。
\"Oh，alittleamateurred—shirting，\"Coreyinterruptedindeprecation。\"Butevenifyouchoosetodisputemyclaim，whathasbecomeofalltheheroism？Tom，howmanyclubmendoyouknowwhowouldthinkitsweetandfittingtodiefortheircountry？\"
\"Ican’tthinkofagreatmanyatthemoment，sir，\"
repliedtheson，withthemodestyofhisgeneration。
\"AndIcouldn’tin’61，\"saidhisuncle。\"Neverthelesstheywerethere。\"
\"Thenyourtheoryisthatit’stheoccasionthatiswanting，\"
saidBromfieldCorey。\"Butwhyshouldn’tcivilservicereform，andtheresumptionofspeciepayment，andatariffforrevenueonly，inspireheroes？Theyareallgoodcauses。\"
\"It’stheoccasionthat’swanting，\"saidJamesBellingham，ignoringthepersiflage。\"AndI’mverygladofit。\"
\"SoamI，\"saidLapham，withadepthoffeelingthatexpresseditselfinspiteofthehazeinwhichhisbrainseemedtofloat。Therewasagreatdealofthetalkthathecouldnotfollow；itwastooquickforhim；
butherewassomethinghewasclearof。\"Idon’twanttoseeanymoremenkilledinmytime。\"Somethingserious，somethingsombremustlurkbehindthesewords，andtheywaitedforLaphamtosaymore；butthehazeclosedroundhimagain，andheremainedsilent，drinkingApollinaris。
\"Wenon—combatantswerenotoriouslyreluctanttogiveupfighting，\"saidMr。Sewell，theminister；\"butIinclinetothinkColonelLaphamandMr。Bellinghammayberight。
Idaresayweshallhavetheheroismagainifwehavetheoccasion。Tillitcomes，wemustcontentourselveswiththeevery—daygenerositiesandsacrifices。Theymakeupinquantitywhattheylackinquality，perhaps。\"
\"They’renotsopicturesque，\"saidBromfieldCorey。
\"Youcanpaintamandyingforhiscountry，butyoucan’texpressoncanvasamanfulfillingthedutiesofagoodcitizen。\"
\"Perhapsthenovelistswillgetathimbyandby，\"
suggestedCharlesBellingham。\"IfIwereoneofthesefellows，Ishouldn’tproposetomyselfanythingshortofthat。\"
\"What？thecommonplace？\"askedhiscousin。
\"Commonplace？Thecommonplaceisjustthatlight，impalpable，aerialessencewhichthey’venevergotintotheirconfoundedbooksyet。Thenovelistwhocouldinterpretthecommonfeelingsofcommonplacepeoplewouldhavetheanswerto’theriddleofthepainfulearth’onhistongue。\"
\"Oh，notsobadasthat，Ihope，\"saidthehost；
andLaphamlookedfromonetotheother，tryingtomakeoutwhattheywereat。Hehadneverbeensoupatreebefore。
\"Isupposeitisn’twellforustoseehumannatureatwhiteheathabitually，\"continuedBromfieldCorey，afterawhile。\"Itwouldmakeusvainofourspecies。
Manyapoorfellowinthatwarandinmanyanotherhasgoneintobattlesimplyandpurelyforhiscountry’ssake，notknowingwhether，ifhelaiddownhislife，heshouldeverfinditagain，orwhether，ifhetookituphereafter，heshouldtakeitupinheavenorhell。Come，parson！\"
hesaid，turningtotheminister，\"whathaseverbeenconceivedofomnipotence，ofomniscience，sosublime，sodivineasthat？\"
\"Nothing，\"answeredtheministerquietly。\"Godhasneverbeenimaginedatall。ButifyousupposesuchamanasthatwasAuthorised，IthinkitwillhelpyoutoimaginewhatGodmustbe。\"
\"There’ssenseinthat，\"saidLapham。Hetookhiscigaroutofhismouth，andpulledhischairalittletowardthetable，onwhichheplacedhisponderousfore—arms。
\"IwanttotellyouaboutafellowIhadinmyowncompanywhenwefirstwentout。Wewereallprivatestobeginwith；afterawhiletheyelectedmecaptain——I’dhadthetavernstand，andmostof’emknewme。ButJimMillonnevergottobeanythingmorethancorporal；
corporalwhenhewaskilled。\"Theothersarrestedthemselvesinvariousattitudesofattention，andremainedlisteningtoLaphamwithaninterestthatprofoundlyflatteredhim。
Now，atlast，hefeltthathewasholdinguphisendoftherope。\"Ican’tsayhewentintothethingfromthehighestmotives，altogether；ourmotivesarealwaysprettybadlymixed，andwhenthere’ssuchahurrah—boysastherewasthen，youcan’ttellwhichiswhich。
IsupposeJimMillon’swifewasenoughtoaccountforhisgoing，herself。Shewasaprettybadassortment，\"
saidLapham，loweringhisvoiceandglancingroundatthedoortomakesurethatitwasshut，\"andsheusedtoleadJimONEkindoflife。Well，sir，\"continuedLapham，synthetisinghisauditorsinthatformofaddress，\"thatfellowusedtosaveeverycentofhispayandsendittothatwoman。Usedtogetmetodoitforhim。
Itriedtostophim。’Why，Jim，’saidI，’youknowwhatshe’lldowithit。’’That’sso，Cap，’sayshe，’butIdon’tknowwhatshe’lldowithoutit。’Anditdidkeepherstraight——straightasastring——aslongasJimlasted。Seemedasittherewassomethingmysteriousaboutit。Theyhadalittlegirl，——aboutasoldasmyoldestgirl，——andJimusedtotalktomeabouther。
Guesshedoneitasmuchforherasforthemother；
andhesaidtomebeforethelastactionwewentinto，’Ishouldliketoturntailandrun，Cap。Iain’tcomin’
outo’thisone。ButIdon’tsupposeitwoulddo。’
’Well，notforyou，Jim，’saidI。’Iwanttolive，’
hesays；andhebustoutcryingrightthereinmytent。
’IwanttoliveforpoorMollyandZerrilla’——that’swhattheycalledthelittleone；Idunnowheretheygotthename。
’Iain’teverhadhalfachance；andnowshe’sdoingbetter，andIbelieveweshouldgetalongafterthis。’Hesettherecryin’likeababy。Buthewa’n’tnobabywhenhewentintoaction。Ihatedtolookathimafteritwasover，notsomuchbecausehe’dgotaballthatwasmeantformebyasharpshooter——hesawthedeviltakin’aim，andhejumpedtowarnme——asbecausehedidn’tlooklikeJim；
helookedlike——fun；alldesperateandsavage。Iguesshediedhard。\"
Thestorymadeitsimpression，andLaphamsawit。
\"NowIsay，\"heresumed，asifhefeltthathewasgoingtodohimselfjustice，andsaysomethingtoheightentheeffecthisstoryhadproduced。Atthesametimehewasawareofacertainwantofclearness。Hehadtheidea，butitfloatedvague，elusive，inhisbrain。
Helookedaboutasifforsomethingtoprecipitateitintangibleshape。
\"Apollinaris？\"askedCharlesBellingham，handingthebottlefromtheotherside。HehaddrawnhischaircloserthantheresttoLapham’s，andwaslisteningwithgreatinterest。
WhenMrs。CoreyaskedhimtomeetLapham，heacceptedgladly。
\"YouknowIgoinforthatsortofthing，Anna。
SinceLeslie’saffairwe’reratherboundtodoit。
AndIthinkwemeetthesepracticalfellowstoolittle。
There’salwayssomethingoriginalaboutthem。\"Hemightnaturallyhavebelievedthattherewardofhisfaithwascoming。
\"Thanks，Iwilltakesomeofthiswine，\"saidLapham，pouringhimselfaglassofMadeirafromablackanddustybottlecaressedbyalabelbearingthedateofthevintage。
Hetossedoffthewine，unconsciousofitspreciousness，andwaitedfortheresult。Thatcloudinessinhisbraindisappearedbeforeit，butamereblankremained。
Henotonlycouldnotrememberwhathewasgoingtosay，buthecouldnotrecallwhattheyhadbeentalkingabout。
Theywaited，lookingathim，andhestaredattheminreturn。
Afterawhileheheardthehostsaying，\"Shallwejointheladies？\"
Laphamwent，tryingtothinkwhathadhappened。
Itseemedtohimalongtimesincehehaddrunkthatwine。
MissCoreygavehimacupoftea，wherehestoodalooffromhiswife，whowastalkingwithMissKingsburyandMrs。Sewell；
IrenewaswithMissNannyCorey。Hecouldnothearwhattheyweretalkingabout；butifPenelopehadcome，heknewthatshewouldhavedonethemallcredit。Hemeanttoletherknowhowhefeltaboutherbehaviourwhenhegothome。Itwasashameforhertomisssuchachance。
Irenewaslookingbeautiful，asprettyasalltherestofthemputtogether，butshewasnottalking，andLaphamperceivedthatatadinner—partyyououghttotalk。
Hewashimselfconsciousofhaving，talkedverywell。
Henowworeanairofgreatdignity，and，inconversingwiththeothergentlemen，heusedagraveandweightydeliberation。Someofthemwantedhimtogointothelibrary。Therehegavehisideasofbooks。
Hesaidhehadnotmuchtimeforanythingbutthepapers；
buthewasgoingtohaveacompletelibraryinhisnewplace。
HemadeanelaborateacknowledgmenttoBromfieldCoreyofhisson’skindnessinsuggestingbooksforhislibrary；
hesaidthathehadorderedthemall，andthathemeanttohavepictures。HeaskedMr。CoreywhowasaboutthebestAmericanpaintergoingnow。\"Idon’tsetuptobeajudgeofpictures，butIknowwhatIlike，\"hesaid。
Helostthereservewhichhehadmaintainedearlier，andbegantoboast。Hehimselfintroducedthesubjectofhispaint，inanaturaltransitionfrompictures；
hesaidMr。CoreymusttakearunuptoLaphamwithhimsomeday，andseetheWorks；theywouldinteresthim，andhewoulddrivehimroundthecountry；hekeptmostofhishorsesupthere，andhecouldshowMr。CoreysomeofthefinestJerseygradesinthecountry。
HetoldabouthisbrotherWilliam，thejudgeatDubuque；
andafarmhehadouttherethatpaidforitselfeveryyearinwheat。Ashecastoffallfear，hisvoicerose，andhehammeredhisarm—chairwiththethickofhishandforemphasis。Mr。Coreyseemedimpressed；hesatperfectlyquiet，listening，andLaphamsawtheothergentlemenstopintheirtalkeverynowandthentolisten。
Afterthisproofofhisabilitytointerestthem，hewouldhavelikedtohaveMrs。Laphamsuggestagainthathewasunequaltotheirsociety，ortothesocietyofanybodyelse。Hesurprisedhimselfbyhiseaseamongmenwhosenameshadhithertooverawedhim。
HegottocallingBromfieldCoreybyhissurnamealone。
HedidnotunderstandwhyyoungCoreyseemedsopreoccupied，andhetookoccasiontotellthecompanyhowhehadsaidtohiswifethefirsttimehesawthatfellowthathecouldmakeamanofhimifhehadhiminthebusiness；
andheguessedhewasnotmistaken。Hebegantotellstoriesofthedifferentyoungmenhehadhadinhisemploy。Atlasthehadthetalkaltogethertohimself；nooneelsetalked，andhetalkedunceasingly。Itwasagreattime；itwasatriumph。
HewasinthissuccessfulmoodwhenwordcametohimthatMrs。Laphamwasgoing；TomCoreyseemedtohavebroughtit，buthewasnotsure。Anyway，hewasnotgoingtohurry。
Hemadecordialinvitationstoeachofthegentlementodropinandseehimathisoffice，andwouldnotbesatisfiedtillhehadexactedapromisefromeach。
HetoldCharlesBellinghamthathelikedhim，andassuredJamesBellinghamthatithadalwaysbeenhisambitiontoknowhim，andthatifanyonehadsaidwhenhefirstcametoBostonthatinlessthantenyearsheshouldbehobnobbingwithJimBellingham，heshouldhavetoldthatpersonhelied。HewouldhavetoldanybodyheliedthathadtoldhimtenyearsagothatasonofBromfieldCoreywouldhavecomeandaskedhimtotakehimintothebusiness。Tenyearsagohe，SilasLapham，hadcometoBostonalittleworseoffthannothingatall，forhewasindebtforhalfthemoneythathehadboughtouthispartnerwith，andherehewasnowworthamillion，andmeetingyougentlemenlikeoneofyou。Andeverycentofthatwashonestmoney，——nospeculation，——everycopperofitforvaluereceived。Andhere，onlytheotherday，hisoldpartner，whohadbeengoingtothedogseversincehewentoutofthebusiness，cameandborrowedtwentythousanddollarsofhim！Laphamlentitbecausehiswifewantedhimto：shehadalwaysfeltbadaboutthefellow’shavingtogooutofthebusiness。
HetookleaveofMr。Sewellwithpatronisingaffection，andbadehimcometohimifheevergotintoatightplacewithhisparishwork；hewouldlethimhaveallthemoneyhewanted；hehadmoremoneythanheknewwhattodowith。
\"Why，whenyourwifesenttominelastfall，\"hesaid，turningtoMr。Corey，\"Idrewmychequeforfivehundreddollars，butmywifewouldn’ttakemorethanonehundred；
saidshewasn’tgoingtoshowoffbeforeMrs。Corey。
IcallthataprettygoodjokeonMrs。Corey。ImusttellherhowMrs。Laphamdoneheroutofacoolfourhundreddollars。\"
Hestartedtowardthedoorofthedrawing—roomtotakeleaveoftheladies；butTomCoreywasathiselbow，saying，\"IthinkMrs。Laphamiswaitingforyoubelow，sir，\"andinobeyingthedirectionCoreygavehimtowardanotherdoorheforgotallabouthispurpose，andcameawaywithoutsayinggood—nighttohishostess。
Mrs。Laphamhadnotknownhowsoonsheoughttogo，andhadnoideathatinherqualityofchiefguestshewaskeepingtheothers。Shestayedtilleleveno’clock，andwasalittlefrightenedwhenshefoundwhattimeitwas；
butMrs。Corey，withoutpressinghertostaylonger，hadsaiditwasnotatalllate。SheandIrenehadhadaperfecttime。Everybodyhadbeenverypolite，onthewayhometheycelebratedtheamiabilityofboththeMissCoreysandofMissKingsbury。Mrs。LaphamthoughtthatMrs。Bellinghamwasaboutthepleasantestpersonsheeversaw；shehadtoldherallabouthermarrieddaughterwhohadmarriedaninventorandgonetoliveinOmaha——aMrs。Blake。
\"Ifit’sthatcar—wheelBlake，\"saidLaphamproudly，\"Iknowallabouthim。I’vesoldhimtonsofthepaint。\"
\"Pooh，papa！Howyoudosmellofsmoking！\"criedIrene。
\"Prettystrong，eh？\"laughedLapham，lettingdownawindowofthecarriage。Hisheartwasthrobbingwildlyinthecloseair，andhewasgladoftherushofcoldthatcamein，thoughitstoppedhistongue，andhelistenedmoreandmoredrowsilytotherejoicingsthathiswifeanddaughterexchanged。HemeanttohavethemwakePenelopeupandtellherwhatshehadlost；
butwhenhereachedhomehewastoosleepytosuggestit。
Hefellasleepassoonashisheadtouchedthepillow，fullofsupremetriumph。
Butinthemorninghisskullwassorewiththeunconscious，night—longache；andherosecrossandtaciturn。
Theyhadasilentbreakfast。Inthecoldgreylightofthemorningthegloriesofthenightbeforeshowedpoorer。
Hereandthereapainfuldoubtobtrudeditselfandmarredthemwithitsawkwardshadow。Penelopesentdownwordthatshewasnotwell，andwasnotcomingtobreakfast，andLaphamwasgladtogotohisofficewithoutseeingher。
Hewassevereandsilentalldaywithhisclerks，andperemptorywithcustomers。OfCoreyhewasslylyobservant，andasthedayworeawayhegrewmorerestivelyconscious。