\"ThenIwillstayheretillyourmothercomes，andaskherwhatitis。\"
\"AskHER？\"
\"Yes！DoyouthinkIwillgiveyouuptillIknowwhyImust？\"
\"Youforcemetoit！WillyougoifItellyou，andneverletanyhumancreatureknowwhatyouhavesaidtome？\"
\"Notunlessyougivemeleave。\"
\"Thatwillbenever。Well，then————\"Shestopped，andmadetwoorthreeineffectualeffortstobeginagain。
\"No，no！Ican’t。Youmustgo！\"
\"Iwillnotgo！\"
\"Yousaidyou——lovedme。Ifyoudo，youwillgo。\"
Hedroppedthehandshehadstretchedtowardsher，andshehidherfaceinherown。
\"There！\"shesaid，turningitsuddenlyuponhim。
\"Sitdownthere。Andwillyoupromiseme——onyourhonour——
nottospeak——nottotrytopersuademe——notto——touchme？Youwon’ttouchme？\"
\"Iwillobeyyou，Penelope。\"
\"Asifyouwerenevertoseemeagain？AsifIweredying？\"
\"Iwilldowhatyousay。ButIshallseeyouagain；
anddon’ttalkofdying。Thisisthebeginningoflife————\"
\"No。It’stheend，\"saidthegirl，resumingatlastsomethingofthehoarsedrawlwhichthetumultofherfeelinghadbrokenintothosehalf—articulateappeals。Shesatdowntoo，andliftedherfacetowardshim。\"It’stheendoflifeforme，becauseIknownowthatImusthavebeenplayingfalsefromthebeginning。Youdon’tknowwhatImean，andIcannevertellyou。Itisn’tmysecret——it’ssomeoneelse’s。You——youmustnevercomehereagain。
Ican’ttellyouwhy，andyoumustnevertrytoknow。
Doyoupromise？\"
\"Youcanforbidme。Imustdowhatyousay。\"
\"Idoforbidyou，then。AndyoushallnotthinkIamcruel————
\"HowcouldIthinkthat？\"
\"Oh，howhardyoumakeit！\"
Coreylaughedforverydespair。\"CanImakeiteasierbydisobeyingyou？\"
\"IknowIamtalkingcrazily。ButI’mnotcrazy。\"
\"No，no，\"hesaid，withsomewildnotionofcomfortingher；
\"buttrytotellmethistrouble！Thereisnothingunderheaven——nocalamity，nosorrow——thatIwouldn’tgladlysharewithyou，ortakealluponmyselfifIcould！\"
\"Iknow！Butthisyoucan’t。Oh，my————\"
\"Dearest！Wait！Think！Letmeaskyourmother——yourfather————\"
Shegaveacry。
\"No！Ifyoudothat，youwillmakemehateyou！Willyou————\"
Therattlingofalatch—keywasheardintheouterdoor。
\"Promise！\"criedPenelope。
\"Oh，Ipromise！\"
\"Good—bye！\"Shesuddenlyflungherarmsroundhisneck，and，pressinghercheektightagainsthis，flashedoutoftheroombyonedoorasherfatherentereditbyanother。
Coreyturnedtohiminadaze。\"I——Icalledtospeakwithyou——aboutamatter————Butit’ssolatenow。
I’ll——I’llseeyouto—morrow。\"
\"Notimelikethepresent，\"saidLapham，withafiercenessthatdidnotseemreferabletoCorey。Hehadhishatstillon，andheglaredattheyoungmanoutofhisblueeyeswithafirethatsomethingelsemusthavekindledthere。
\"Ireallycan’tnow，\"saidCoreyweakly。\"Itwilldoquiteaswellto—morrow。Goodnight，sir。\"
\"Goodnight，\"answeredLaphamabruptly，followinghimtothedoor，andshuttingitafterhim。\"Ithinkthedevilmusthavegotintoprettymucheverybodyto—night，\"hemuttered，comingbacktotheroom，whereheputdownhishat。
Thenhewenttothekitchen—stairsandcalleddown，\"Hello，Alice！Iwantsomethingtoeat！
XVII。
\"WHAT’sthereasonthegirlsnevergetdowntobreakfastanymore？\"askedLapham，whenhemethiswifeatthetableinthemorning。Hehadbeenupanhourandahalf，andhespokewiththeseverityofahungryman。
\"Itseemstometheydon’tamounttoANYthing。HereIam，atmytimeoflife，upthefirstoneinthehouse。Iringthebellforthecookatquarter—pastsixeverymorning，andthebreakfastisonthetableathalf—pastsevenrightalong，likeclockwork，butIneverseeanybodybutyoutillIgototheoffice。\"
\"Ohyes，youdo，Si，\"saidhiswifesoothingly。
\"Thegirlsarenearlyalwaysdown。Butthey’reyoung，andittiresthemmorethanitdoesustogetupearly。\"
\"Theycanrestafterwards。Theydon’tdoanythingaftertheyAREup，\"grumbledLapham。
\"Well，that’syourfault，ain’tit？\"Yououghtn’ttohavemadesomuchmoney，andthenthey’dhavehadtowork。\"
ShelaughedatLapham’sSpartanmood，andwentontoexcusetheyoungpeople。\"Irene’sbeenuptwonightshandrunning，andPenelopesayssheain’twell。Whatmakesyousocrossaboutthegirls？Beendoingsomethingyou’reashamedof？\"
\"I’lltellyouwhenI’vebeendoinganythingtobeashamedof，\"growledLapham。
\"Ohno，youwon’t！\"saidhiswifejollily。\"You’llonlybehardontherestofus。Comenow，Si；whatisit？\"
Laphamfrownedintohiscoffeewithsulkydignity，andsaid，withoutlookingup，\"Iwonderwhatthatfellowwantedherelastnight？\"\"Whatfellow？\"
\"Corey。IfoundhimherewhenIcamehome，andhesaidhewantedtoseeme；buthewouldn’tstop。\"
\"Wherewashe？\"
\"Inthesitting—room。\"
\"WasPenthere？\"
\"Ididn’tseeher。\"
Mrs。Laphampaused，withherhandonthecream—jug。\"Why，whatinthelanddidhewant？Didhesayhewantedyou？\"
\"That’swhathesaid。\"
\"Andthenhewouldn’tstay？\"
\"Well，then，I’lltellyoujustwhatitis，SilasLapham。
Hecamehere\"——shelookedabouttheroomandloweredhervoice——\"toseeyouaboutIrene，andthenhehadn’tthecourage。\"
\"Iguesshe’sgotcourageenoughtodoprettymuchwhathewantsto，\"saidLaphamglumly。\"AllIknowis，hewashere。YoubetteraskPenaboutit，ifsheevergetsdown。\"
\"IguessIshan’twaitforher，\"saidMrs。Lapham；
and，asherhusbandclosedthefrontdoorafterhim，sheopenedthatofherdaughter’sroomandenteredabruptly。
Thegirlsatatthewindow，fullydressed，andasifshehadbeensittingtherealongtime。Withoutrising，sheturnedherfacetowardshermother。Itmerelyshowedblackagainstthelight，andrevealednothingtillhermothercameclosetoherwithsuccessivequestions。
\"Why，howlonghaveyoubeenup，Pen？Whydon’tyoucometoyourbreakfast？DidyouseeMr。Coreywhenhecalledlastnight？Why，what’sthematterwithyou？Whathaveyoubeencryingabout？
\"HaveIbeencrying？\"
\"Yes！Yourcheeksareallwet！\"
\"Ithoughttheywereonfire。Well，I’lltellyouwhat’shappened。\"Sherose，andthenfellbackinherchair。
\"Lockthedoor！\"sheordered，andhermothermechanicallyobeyed。\"Idon’twantIreneinhere。There’snothingthematter。Only，Mr。Coreyofferedhimselftomelastnight。\"
Hermotherremainedlookingather，helpless，notsomuchwithamaze，perhaps，asdismay。\"Oh，I’mnotaghost！I
wishIwas！Youhadbettersitdown，mother。Youhavegottoknowallaboutit。\"
Mrs。Laphamdroppednervelesslyintothechairattheotherwindow，andwhilethegirlwentslowlybutbrieflyon，touchingonlythevitalpointsofthestory，andbreakingattimesintoabitterdrollery，shesatasifwithoutthepowertospeakorstir。
\"Well，that’sall，mother。IshouldsayIhaddreamt，it，ifIhadsleptanylastnight；butIguessitreallyhappened。\"
Themotherglancedroundatthebed，andsaid，gladtooccupyherselfdelayinglywiththeminorcare：\"Why，youhavebeensittingupallnight！Youwillkillyourself。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutkillingmyself，butI’vebeensittingupallnight，\"answeredthegirl。Then，seeingthathermotherremainedblanklysilentagain，shedemanded，\"Whydon’tyoublameme，mother？\"Whydon’tyousaythatIledhimon，andtriedtogethimawayfromher？
Don’tyoubelieveIdid？\"
Hermothermadehernoanswer，asiftheseravingsofself—accusalneedednone。\"Doyouthink，\"sheaskedsimply，\"thathegottheideayoucaredforhim？\"
\"Heknewit！HowcouldIkeepitfromhim？IsaidI
didn’t——atfirst！\"
\"Itwasnouse，\"sighedthemother。\"Youmightaswellsaidyoudid。Itcouldn’thelpIreneany，ifyoudidn’t。\"
\"Ialwaystriedtohelpherwithhim，evenwhenI————\"
\"Yes，Iknow。Butsheneverwasequaltohim。Isawthatfromthestart；butItriedtoblindmyselftoit。
Andwhenhekeptcoming————\"
\"Youneverthoughtofme！\"criedthegirl，withabitternessthatreachedhermother’sheart。\"Iwasnobody！Icouldn’tfeel！Noonecouldcareforme！\"Theturmoilofdespair，oftriumph，ofremorseandresentment，whichfilledhersoul，triedtoexpressitselfinthewords。
\"No，\"saidthemotherhumbly。\"Ididn’tthinkofyou。
OrIdidn’tthinkofyouenough。Itdidcomeacrossmesometimesthatmaybe————Butitdidn’tseemasif————AndyourgoingonsoforIrene————\"
\"Youletmegoon。Youmademealwaysgoandtalkwithhimforher，andyoudidn’tthinkIwouldtalktohimformyself。Well，Ididn’t！\"
\"I’mpunishedforit。Whendidyou——begintocareforhim！\"
\"HowdoIknow？Whatdifferencedoesitmake？It’sallovernow，nomatterwhenitbegan。Hewon’tcomehereanymore，unlessIlethim。\"Shecouldnothelpbetrayingherprideinthisauthorityofhers，butshewentonanxiouslyenough，\"WhatwillyousaytoIrene？She’ssafeasfarasI’mconcerned；butifhedon’tcareforher，whatwillyoudo？\"
\"Idon’tknowwhattodo，\"saidMrs。Lapham。Shesatinanapathyfromwhichsheapparentlycouldnotrouseherself。
\"Idon’tseeasanythingcanbedone。\"
Penelopelaughedinapityingderision。
\"Well，letthingsgoonthen。Buttheywon’tgoon。\"
\"No，theywon’tgoon，\"echoedhermother。\"She’sprettyenough，andshe’scapable；andyourfather’sgotthemoney——I
don’tknowwhatI’msaying！Sheain’tequaltohim，andsheneverwas。Ikeptfeelingitallthetime，andyetIkeptblindingmyself。\"
\"Ifhehadevercaredforher，\"saidPenelope，\"itwouldn’thavematteredwhethershewasequaltohimornot。
I’Mnotequaltohimeither。\"
Hermotherwenton：\"Imighthavethoughtitwasyou；
butIhadgotset————Well！Icanseeitallclearenough，nowit’stoolate。Idon’tknowwhattodo。\"
\"Andwhatdoyouexpectmetodo？\"demandedthegirl。
\"DoyouwantMEtogotoIreneandtellherthatI’vegothimawayfromher？\"
\"OgoodLord！\"criedMrs。Lapham。\"WhatshallIdo？WhatdoyouwantIshoulddo，Pen？\"
\"Nothingforme，\"saidPenelope。\"I’vehaditoutwithmyself。NowdothebestyoucanforIrene。\"
\"Icouldn’tsayyouhaddonewrong，ifyouwastomarryhimto—day。\"
\"Mother！\"
\"No，Icouldn’t。Icouldn’tsaybutwhatyouhadbeengoodandfaithfullallthrough，andyouhadaperfectrighttodoit。Thereain’tanyonetoblame。He’sbehavedlikeagentleman，andIcanseenowthatheneverthoughtofher，andthatitwasyouallthewhile。Well，marryhim，then！He’sgottheright，andsohaveyou。\"
\"WhataboutIrene？Idon’twantyoutotalkaboutme。
Icantakecareofmyself\"
\"She’snothingbutachild。It’sonlyafancywithher。
She’llgetoverit。Shehain’treallygotherheartsetonhim。\"
\"She’sgotherheartsetonhim，mother。She’sgotherwholelifesetonhim。Youknowthat。\"
\"Yes，that’sso，\"saidthemother，aspromptlyasifshehadbeenarguingtothatratherthanthecontraryeffect。
\"IfIcouldgivehimtoher，Iwould。Butheisn’tminetogive。\"Sheaddedinaburstofdespair，\"Heisn’tminetokeep！\"
\"Well，\"saidMrs。Lapham，\"shehasgottobearit。
Idon’tknowwhat’stocomeofitall。Butshe’sgottobearhershareofit。\"Sheroseandwenttowardthedoor。
Peneloperanafterherinasortofterror。\"You’renotgoingtotellIrene？\"shegasped，seizinghermotherbyeithershoulder。
\"Yes，Iam，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Ifshe’sawomangrown，shecanbearawoman’sburden。\"
\"Ican’tletyoutellIrene，\"saidthegirl，lettingfallherfaceonhermother’sneck。\"NotIrene，\"shemoaned。
\"I’mafraidtoletyou。HowcanIeverlookatheragain？\"
\"Why，youhaven’tdoneanything，Pen，\"saidhermothersoothingly。
\"Iwantedto！Yes，Imusthavedonesomething。
HowcouldIhelpit？Ididcareforhimfromthefirst，andImusthavetriedtomakehimlikeme。DoyouthinkIdid？No，no！Youmustn’ttellIrene！Not——
not——yet！Mother！Yes！Ididtrytogethimfromher！\"
shecried，liftingherhead，andsuddenlylookinghermotherinthefacewiththoselargedimeyesofhers。
\"Whatdoyouthink？Evenlastnight！ItwasthefirsttimeIeverhadhimalltomyself，formyself，andIknownowthatItriedtomakehimthinkthatIwasprettyand——funny。AndIdidn’ttrytomakehimthinkofher。
IknewthatIpleasedhim，andItriedtopleasehimmore。
PerhapsIcouldhavekepthimfromsayingthathecaredforme；
butwhenIsawhedid——Imusthaveseenit——Icouldn’t。
Ihadneverhadhimtomyself，andformyselfbefore。
Ineedn’thaveseenhimatall，butIwantedtoseehim；
andwhenIwassittingtherealonewithhim，howdoIknowwhatIdidtolethimfeelthatIcaredforhim？Now，willyoutellIrene？Ineverthoughthedidcareforme，andneverexpectedhimto。ButIlikedhim。Yes——Ididlikehim！Tellherthat！OrelseIwill。\"
\"Ifitwastotellherhewasdead，\"beganMrs。Laphamabsently。
\"Howeasyitwouldbe！\"criedthegirlinself—mockery。
\"Buthe’sworsethandeadtoher；andsoamI。I’veturneditoveramillionways，mother；I’velookedatitineverylightyoucanputitin，andIcan’tmakeanythingbutmiseryoutofit。Youcanseethemiseryatthefirstglance，andyoucan’tseemoreorlessifyouspendyourlifelookingatit。\"Shelaughedagain，asifthehopelessnessofthethingamusedher。Thensheflewtotheextremeofself—assertion。\"Well，IHAVEarighttohim，andhehasarighttome。Ifhe’sneverdoneanythingtomakeherthinkhecaredforher，——andIknowhehasn’t；
it’sallbeenourdoing，thenhe’sfreeandI’mfree。
Wecan’tmakeherhappywhateverwedo；andwhyshouldn’tI————No，thatwon’tdo！Ireachedthatpointbefore！\"
Shebrokeagainintoherdesperatelaugh。\"Youmaytrynow，mother！\"
\"I’dbestspeaktoyourfatherfirst————\"
Penelopesmiledalittlemoreforlornlythanshehadlaughed。
\"Well，yes；theColonelwillhavetoknow。Itisn’tatroublethatIcankeeptomyselfexactly。Itseemstobelongtotoomanyotherpeople。\"
Hermothertookacrazyencouragementfromherreturntoheroldwayofsayingthings。\"Perhapshecanthinkofsomething。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tdoubtbuttheColonelwillknowjustwhattodo！\"
\"Youmustn’tbetoodown—heartedaboutit。It——it’llallcomeright————\"
\"YoutellIrenethat，mother。\"
Mrs。Laphamhadputherhandonthedoor—key；shedroppedit，andlookedatthegirlwithasortofbeseechingappealforthecomfortshecouldnotimagineherself。
\"Don’tlookatme，mother，\"saidPenelope，shakingherhead。
\"YouknowthatifIreneweretodiewithoutknowingit，itwouldn’tcomerightforme。\"
\"Pen！\"
\"I’vereadofcaseswhereagirlgivesupthemanthatloveshersoastomakesomeothergirlhappythatthemandoesn’tlove。Thatmightbedone。\"
\"Yourfatherwouldthinkyouwereafool，\"saidMrs。Lapham，findingasortofrefugeinherstrongdisgustforthepseudoheroism。\"No！Ifthere’stobeanygivingup，letitbebytheonethatshan’tmakeanybodybutherselfsuffer。There’stroubleandsorrowenoughintheworld，withoutMAKINGitonpurpose！\"
Sheunlockedthedoor，butPenelopeslippedroundandsetherselfagainstit。\"Ireneshallnotgiveup！\"
\"Iwillseeyourfatheraboutit，\"saidthemother。
\"Letmeoutnow————\"
\"Don’tletIrenecomehere！\"
\"No。Iwilltellherthatyouhaven’tslept。Gotobednow，andtrytogetsomerest。Sheisn’tupherselfyet。
Youmusthavesomebreakfast。\"
\"No；letmesleepifIcan。IcangetsomethingwhenI
wakeup。I’llcomedownifIcan’tsleep。Lifehasgottogoon。Itdoeswhenthere’sadeathinthehouse，andthisisonlyalittleworse。\"
\"Don’tyoutalknonsense！\"criedMrs。Lapham，withangryauthority。
\"Well，alittlebetter，then，\"saidPenelope，withmeekconcession。
Mrs。Laphamattemptedtosaysomething，andcouldnot。
ShewentoutandopenedIrene’sdoor。Thegirlliftedherheaddrowsilyfromherpillow\"Don’tdisturbyoursisterwhenyougetup，Irene。Shehasn’tsleptwell———
—\"
\"PLEASEdon’ttalk！I’malmostDEADwithsleep！\"
returnedIrene。\"Dogo，mamma！Ishan’tdisturbher。\"
Sheturnedherfacedowninthepillow，andpulledthecoveringupoverherears。
Themotherslowlyclosedthedoorandwentdownstairs，feelingbewilderedandbaffledalmostbeyondthepowertomove。Thetimehadbeenwhenshewouldhavetriedtofindoutwhythisjudgmenthadbeensentuponher。
Butnowshecouldnotfeelthattheinnocentsufferingofotherswasinflictedforherfault；
sheshrankinstinctivelyfromthatcruelandegotisticmisinterpretationofthemysteryofpainandloss。
Shesawhertwochildren，equallyifdifferentlydeartoher，destinedtotroublethatnothingcouldavert，andshecouldnotblameeitherofthem；shecouldnotblamethemeansofthismiserytothem；hewasasinnocentasthey，andthoughherheartwassoreagainsthiminthisfirstmoment，shecouldstillbejusttohiminit。
Shewasawomanwhohadbeenusedtoseekthelightbystriving；shehadhithertoliterallyworkedtoit。
Butitisthecurseofprosperitythatittakesworkawayfromus，andshutsthatdoortohopeandhealthofspirit。
Inthishouse，whereeverythinghadcometobedoneforher，shehadnotaskstointerposebetweenherandherdespair。Shesatdowninherownroomandletherhandsfallinherlap，——thehandsthathadoncebeensohelpfulandbusy，——andtriedtothinkitallout。
Shehadneverheardofthefatethatwasoncesupposedtoappointthesorrowsofmenirrespectiveoftheirblamelessnessorblame，beforethetimewhenitcametobebelievedthatsorrowswerepenalties；butinhersimplewaysherecognisedsomethinglikethatmythicpowerwhensherosefromherstrugglewiththeproblem，andsaidaloudtoherself，\"Well，thewitchisinit。\"
Turnwhichwayshewould，shesawnoescapefromthemiserytocome——themiserywhichhadcomealreadytoPenelopeandherself，andthatmustcometoIreneandherfather。
Shestartedwhenshedefinitelythoughtofherhusband，andthoughtwithwhatviolenceitwouldworkineveryfibreofhisrudestrength。Shefearedthat，andshefearedsomethingworse——theeffectwhichhisprideandambitionmightseektogiveit；anditwaswithterrorofthis，aswellasthenaturaltrustwithwhichawomanmustturntoherhusbandinanyanxietyatlast，thatshefeltshecouldnotwaitforeveningtotakecounselwithhim。
Whensheconsideredhowwronglyhemighttakeitall，itseemedasifitwerealreadyknowntohim，andshewasimpatienttopreventhiserror。
Shesentoutforamessenger，whomshedespatchedwithanotetohisplaceofbusiness：\"Silas，Ishouldliketoridewithyouthisafternoon。Can’tyoucomehomeearly？Persis。\"
AndshewasatdinnerwithIrene，evadingherquestionsaboutPenelope，whenanswercamethathewouldbeatthehousewiththebuggyathalf—pasttwo。Itiseasytoputoffagirlwhohasbutonethinginherhead；butthoughMrs。LaphamcouldescapewithouttellinganythingofPenelope，shecouldnotescapeseeinghowwhollyIrenewasengrossedwithhopesnowturnedsovainandimpossible。Shewasstilltalkingofthatdinner，ofnothingbutthatdinner，andbeggingforflatteryofherselfandpraiseofhim，whichhermotherhadtillnowbeensoreadytogive。
\"Seemstomeyoudon’ttakeverymuchinterest，mamma！\"
shesaid，laughingandblushingatonepoint。
\"Yes，——yes，Ido，\"protestedMrs。Lapham，andthenthegirlprattledon。
\"IguessIshallgetoneofthosepinsthatNannyCoreyhadinherhair。Ithinkitwouldbecomeme，don’tyou？\"
\"Yes；butIrene——Idon’tliketohaveyougoonso，till——unlesshe’ssaidsomethingtoshow——Yououghtn’ttogiveyourselfuptothinking————\"Butatthisthegirlturnedsowhite，andlookedsuchreproachather，thatsheaddedfrantically：\"Yes，getthepin。Itisjustthethingforyou！Butdon’tdisturbPenelope。
LetheralonetillIgetback。I’mgoingouttoridewithyourfather。He’llbehereinhalfanhour。
Areyouthrough？Ring，then。Getyourselfthatfanyousawtheotherday。Yourfatherwon’tsayanything；helikestohaveyoulookwell。Icouldseehiseyesonyouhalfthetimetheothernight。\"
\"IshouldhavelikedtohavePengowithme，\"saidIrene，restoredtohernormalstateofinnocentselfishnessbytheseflatteries。\"Don’tyousupposeshe’llbeupintime？What’sthematterwithherthatshedidn’tsleep？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Betterletheralone。\"
\"Well，\"submittedIrene。
XVIII。
MRS。LAPHAMwentawaytoputonherbonnetandcloak，andshewaswaitingatthewindowwhenherhusbanddroveup。
Sheopenedthedoorandrandownthesteps。\"Don’tgetout；
Icanhelpmyselfin，\"andsheclamberedtohisside，whilehekeptthefidgetingmarestillwithvoiceandtouch。
\"WheredoyouwantIshouldgo？\"heasked，turningthebuggy。
\"Oh，Idon’tcare。OutBrooklineway，Iguess。
Iwishyouhadn’tbroughtthisfoolofahorse，\"shegavewaypetulantly。\"Iwantedtohaveatalk。\"
\"WhenIcan’tdrivethismareandtalktoo，I’llselloutaltogether，\"saidLapham。\"She’llbequietenoughwhenshe’shadherspin。\"
\"Well，\"saidhiswife；andwhiletheyweremakingtheirwayacrossthecitytotheMilldamsheansweredcertainquestionsheaskedaboutsomepointsinthenewhouse。
\"Ishouldhavelikedtohaveyoustopthere，\"hebegan；
butsheansweredsoquickly，\"Notto—day，\"thathegaveitupandturnedhishorse’sheadwestwardwhentheystruckBeaconStreet。
Heletthemareout，andhedidnotpullherintillhelefttheBrightonroadandstruckoffunderthelowboughsthatmetaboveoneofthequietstreetsofBrookline，wherethestonecottages，withhereandthereapatchofdeterminedivyontheirnorthernwalls，didwhattheycouldtolookEnglishamidtheglareoftheautumnalfoliage。
Thesmoothearthentrackunderthemare’shoofswasscatteredwithflakesoftheredandyellowgoldthatmadetheairluminousaroundthem，andtheperspectivewasgaywithinnumerabletintsandtones。
\"Prettysightly，\"saidLapham，withalongsign，lettingthereinslielooseinhisvigilanthand，towhichheseemedtorelegatethewholechargeofthemare。\"IwanttotalkwithyouaboutRogers，Persis。He’sbeengettingindeeperanddeeperwithme；andlastnighthepesteredmehalftodeathtogoinwithhiminoneofhisschemes。