Iguessitwon’ttakeagreatmanytofetchyou。\"
\"Allright，\"saidLapham，andpaidandwentout。
\"Idon’tknowbutISHALLwantsomeofit，\"hesaid，withajoylesslaugh。
Irenecamecloseruptohimandtookhisarm。Helaidhisheavypawonherglovedfingers。Afterawhileshesaid，\"IwantyoushouldletmegouptoLaphamto—morrow。\"
\"ToLapham？Why，to—morrow’sSunday，Irene！Youcan’tgoto—morrow。\"
\"Well，Monday，then。Icanlivethroughonedayhere。\"
\"Well，\"saidthefatherpassively。Hemadenopretenceofaskingherwhyshewishedtogo，noranyattempttodissuadeher。
\"Givemethatbottle，\"shesaid，whenheopenedthedoorathomeforher，andsheranuptoherownroom。
ThenextmorningIrenecametobreakfastwithhermother；
theColonelandPenelopedidnotappear，andMrs。Laphamlookedsleep—brokenandcareworn。
Thegirlglancedather。\"Don’tyoufretaboutme，mamma，\"shesaid。\"Ishallgetalong。\"Sheseemedherselfassteadyandstrongasrock。
\"Idon’tliketoseeyoukeepingupso，Irene，\"
repliedhermother。\"It’llbealltheworseforyouwhenyoudobreak。Bettergivewayalittleatthestart\"
\"Ishan’tbreak，andI’vegivenwayallI’mgoingto。
I’mgoingtoLaphamto—morrow，——Iwantyoushouldgowithme，mamma，——andIguessIcankeepuponedayhere。
Allaboutitis，Idon’twantyoushouldsayanything，orLOOKanything。And，whateverIdo，Idon’twantyoushouldtrytostopme。And，thefirstthing，I’mgoingtotakeherbreakfastuptoher。Don’t！\"shecried，interceptingtheprotestonhermother’slips。\"IshallnotletithurtPen，ifIcanhelpit。She’sneverdoneathingnorthoughtathingtowrongme。Ihadtoflyoutatherlastnight；butthat’sallovernow，andIknowjustwhatI’vegottobear。\"
Shehadherwayunmolested。ShecarriedPenelope’sbreakfasttoher，andomittednocareorattentionthatcouldmakethesacrificecomplete，withanheroicpretencethatshewasperformingnounusualservice。
Theydidnotspeak，beyondhersaying，inacleardrynote，\"Here’syourbreakfast，Pen，\"andhersister’sanswering，hoarselyandtremulously，\"Oh，thankyou，Irene。\"And，thoughtwoorthreetimestheyturnedtheirfacestowardeachotherwhileIreneremainedintheroom，mechanicallyputtingitsconfusiontorights，theireyesdidnotmeet。
ThenIrenedescendedupontheotherrooms，whichshesetinorder，andsomeofwhichshefiercelysweptanddusted。
Shemadethebeds；andshesentthetwoservantsawaytochurchassoonastheyhadeatentheirbreakfast，tellingthemthatshewouldwashtheirdishes。
Throughoutthemorningherfatherandmotherheardherabouttheworkofgettingdinner，withcertainsilenceswhichrepresentedthemomentswhenshestoppedandstoodstock—still，andthen，readjustingherburden，forcedherselfforwardunderitagain。
Theysataloneinthefamilyroom，outofwhichtheirtwogirlsseemedtohavedied。LaphamcouldnotreadhisSundaypapers，andshehadnohearttogotochurch，asshewouldhavedoneearlierinlifewhenintrouble。
JustthenshewasobscurelyfeelingthatthechurchwassomehowtoblameforthatcounselofMr。Sewell’sonwhichtheyhadacted。
\"Ishouldliketoknow，\"shesaid，havingbroughtthematterup，\"whetherhewouldhavethoughtitwassuchalightmatterifithadbeenhisownchildren。
Doyousupposehe’dhavebeensoreadytoactonhisownadviceifitHADbeen？\"
\"Hetoldustherightthingtodo，Persis，——theonlything。
Wecouldn’tletitgoon，\"urgedherhusbandgently。
\"Well，itmakesmedespisePen！Irene’sshowingtwicethecharacterthatsheis，thisveryminute。\"
Themothersaidthissothatthefathermightdefendherdaughtertoher。Hedidnotfail。\"Irene’sgottheeasiestpart，thewayIlookatit。Andyou’llseethatPen’llknowhowtobehavewhenthetimecomes。\"
\"Whatdoyouwantsheshoulddo？\"
\"Ihaven’tgotsofarasthatyet。WhatarewegoingtodoaboutIrene？\"
\"WhatdoyouwantPenshoulddo，\"repeatedMrs。Lapham，\"whenitcomestoit？\"
\"Well，Idon’twantsheshouldtakehim，forONEthing，\"
saidLapham。
ThisseemedtosatisfyMrs。Laphamastoherhusband，andshesaidindefenceofCorey，\"Why，Idon’tseewhatHE’Sdone。It’sallbeenourdoing。\"
\"Nevermindthatnow。WhataboutIrene？\"
\"Shesaysshe’sgoingtoLaphamto—morrow。Shefeelsthatshe’sgottogetawaysomewhere。It’snaturalsheshould。\"
\"Yes，andIpresumeitwillbeaboutthebestthingFORher。
Shallyougowithher？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well。\"Hecomfortlesslytookupanewspaperagain，andsherosewithasigh，andwenttoherroomtopacksomethingsforthemorrow’sjourney。
Afterdinner，whenIrenehadclearedawaythelasttraceofitinkitchenanddining—roomwithunsparingpunctilio，shecamedownstairs，dressedtogoout，andbadeherfathercometowalkwithheragain。Itwasarepetitionoftheaimlessnessofthelastnight’swanderings。
Theycameback，andshegotteaforthem，andafterthattheyheardherstirringaboutinherownroom，asifshewerebusyaboutmanythings；buttheydidnotdaretolookinuponher，evenafterallthenoiseshadceased，andtheyknewshehadgonetobed。
\"Yes；it’sathingshe’sgottofightoutbyherself，\"
saidMrsLapham。
\"Iguessshe’llgetalong，\"saidLapham。\"ButIdon’twantyoushouldmisjudgePeneither。She’sallrighttoo。
Sheain’ttoblame。\"
\"Yes，Iknow。ButIcan’tworkroundtoitallatonce。
Ishan’tmisjudgeher，butyoucan’texpectmetogetoveritrightaway。\"
\"Mamma，\"saidIrene，whenshewashurryingtheirdeparturethenextmorning，\"whatdidshetellhimwhenheaskedher？\"
\"Tellhim？\"echoedthemother；andafterawhilesheadded，\"Shedidn’ttellhimanything。\"
\"Didshesayanything，aboutme？\"
\"Shesaidhemustn’tcomehereanymore。\"
Ireneturnedandwentintohersister’sroom。
\"Good—bye，Pen，\"shesaid，kissingherwithaneffectofnotseeingortouchingher。\"Iwantyoushouldtellhimallaboutit。Ifhe’shalfaman，hewon’tgiveuptillheknowswhyyouwon’thavehim；andhehasarighttoknow。\"
\"Itwouldn’tmakeanydifference。Icouldn’thavehimafter————\"
\"That’sforyoutosay。Butifyoudon’ttellhimaboutme，Iwill。\"
\"’Rene！\"\"Yes！Youneedn’tsayIcaredforhim。
Butyoucansaythatyouallthoughthe——caredfor——me。\"
\"OIrene————\"
\"Don’t！\"Ireneescapedfromthearmsthattriedtocastthemselvesabouther。\"Youareallright，Pen。Youhaven’tdoneanything。You’vehelpedmeallyoucould。
ButIcan’t——yet。\"
ShewentoutoftheroomandsummonedMrs。Laphamwithasharp\"Now，mamma！\"andwentonputtingthelastthingsintohertrunks。
TheColonelwenttothestationwiththem，andputthemonthetrain。HegotthemalittlecompartmenttothemselvesinthePullmancar；andashestoodleaningwithhisliftedhandsagainstthesidesofthedoorway，hetriedtosaysomethingconsolingandhopeful：\"Iguessyou’llhaveaneasyride，Irene。Idon’tbelieveit’llbedusty，any，aftertherainlastnight。\"
\"Don’tyoustaytillthetrainstarts，papa，\"returnedthegirl，inrigidrejectionofhisfutilities。\"Getoff，now。\"
\"Well，ifyouwantIshould，\"hesaid，gladtobeabletopleaseherinanything。Heremainedontheplatformtillthecarsstarted。HesawIrenebustlingaboutinthecompartment，makinghermothercomfortableforthejourney；butMrs。Laphamdidnotliftherhead。
Thetrainmovedoff，andhewentheavilybacktohisbusiness。
Fromtimetotimeduringtheday，whenhecaughtaglimpseofhim，CoreytriedtomakeoutfromhisfacewhetherheknewwhathadtakenplacebetweenhimandPenelope。
WhenRogerscameinabouttimeofclosing，andshuthimselfupwithLaphaminhisroom，theyoungmanremainedtillthetwocameouttogetherandpartedintheirsalutationlessfashion。
LaphamshowednosurpriseatseeingCoreystillthere，andmerelyanswered，\"Well！\"whentheyoungmansaidthathewishedtospeakwithhim，andledthewaybacktohisroom。
Coreyshutthedoorbehindthem。\"Ionlywishtospeaktoyouincaseyouknowofthematteralready；
forotherwiseI’mboundbyapromise。\"
\"IguessIknowwhatyoumean。It’saboutPenelope。\"
\"Yes，it’saboutMissLapham。Iamgreatlyattachedtoher——you’llexcusemysayingit；Icouldn’texcusemyselfifIwerenot。\"
\"Perfectlyexcusable，\"saidLapham。\"It’sallright。\"
\"Oh，I’mgladtohearyousaythat！\"criedtheyoungfellowjoyfully。\"Iwantyoutobelievethatthisisn’tanewthingoranunconsideredthingwithme——thoughitseemedsounexpectedtoher。\"
Laphamfetchedadeepsigh。\"It’sallrightasfarasI’mconcerned——orhermother。We’vebothlikedyoufirst—rate。\"
\"Yes？\"
\"ButthereseemstobesomethinginPenelope’smind——I
don’tknow\"TheColonelconsciouslydroppedhiseyes。
\"Shereferredtosomething——Icouldn’tmakeoutwhat——butI
hoped——Ihoped——thatwithyourleaveImightovercomeit——thebarrier——whateveritwas。MissLapham——Penelope——gavemethehope——thatIwas——wasn’t——indifferenttoher————\"
\"Yes，Iguessthat’sso，\"saidLapham。Hesuddenlyliftedhishead，andconfrontedtheyoungfellow’shonestfacewithhisownface，sodifferentinitshonesty。
\"Sureyounevermadeuptoanyoneelseatthesametime？\"
\"NEVER！Whocouldimaginesuchathing？Ifthat’sall，Icaneasily\"
\"Idon’tsaythat’sall，northatthat’sit。Idon’twantyoushouldgouponthatidea。Ijustthought，maybe——youhadn’tthoughtofit。\"
\"No，Icertainlyhadn’tthoughtofit！SuchathingwouldhavebeensoimpossibletomethatIcouldn’thavethoughtofit；andit’ssoshockingtomenowthatIdon’tknowwhattosaytoit。\"
\"Well，don’ttakeittoomuchtoheart，\"saidLapham，alarmedatthefeelinghehadexcited；\"Idon’tsayshethoughtso。Iwastryingtoguess——tryingto————\"
\"IfthereisanythingIcansayordotoconvinceyou———
—
\"Oh，itain’tnecessarytosayanything。I’mallright。\"
\"ButMissLapham！Imayseeheragain？Imaytrytoconvinceherthat————\"
Hestoppedindistress，andLaphamafterwardstoldhiswifethathekeptseeingthefaceofIreneasitlookedwhenhepartedwithherinthecar；andwheneverhewasgoingtosayyes，hecouldnotopenhislips。
AtthesametimehecouldnothelpfeelingthatPenelopehadarighttowhatwasherown，andSewell’swordscamebacktohim。Besides，theyhadalreadyputIrenetotheworstsuffering。Laphamcompromised，asheimagined。
\"Youcancomeroundto—nightandseeME，ifyouwantto，\"
hesaid；andheboregrimlythegratitudethattheyoungmanpouredoutuponhim。
Penelopecamedowntosupperandtookhermother’splaceattheheadofthetable。
Laphamsatsilentinherpresenceaslongashecouldbearit。Thenheasked，\"Howdoyoufeelto—night，Pen？\"
\"Oh，likeathief，\"saidthegirl。\"Athiefthathasn’tbeenarrestedyet。\"
Laphamwaitedawhilebeforehesaid，\"Well，now，yourmotherandIwantyoushouldholduponthatawhile。\"
\"Itisn’tforyoutosay。It’ssomethingIcan’tholdupon。\"
\"Yes，Iguessyoucan。IfIknowwhat’shappened，thenwhat’shappenedisathingthatnobodyistoblamefor。
Andwewantyoushouldmakethebestofitandnottheworst。
Heigh？ItaintgoingtohelpIreneanyforyoutohurtyourself——oranybodyelse；andIdon’twantyoushouldtakeupwithanysuchcrazynotion。Asfarasheardfrom，youhaven’tstolenanything，andwhateveryou’vegotbelongstoyou。\"
\"Hashebeenspeakingtoyou，father？\"
\"Yourmother’sbeenspeakingtome。\"
\"HasHEbeenspeakingtoyou？\"
\"That’sneitherherenorthere。\"
\"Thenhe’sbrokenhisword，andIwillneverspeaktohimagain！\"
\"Ifhewasanysuchfoolastopromisethathewouldn’ttalktomeonasubject\"——Laphamdrewadeepbreath，andthenmadetheplunge——\"thatIbroughtup————\"
\"Didyoubringitup？\"
\"Thesameasbroughtup——thequickerhebrokehiswordthebetter；andIwantyoushouldactuponthatidea。
Recollectthatit’smybusiness，andyourmother’sbusiness，aswellasyours，andwe’regoingtohaveoursay。
Hehain’tdoneanythingwrong，Pen，noranythingthathe’sgoingtobepunishedfor。Understandthat。
He’sgottohaveareason，ifyou’renotgoingtohavehim。
Idon’tsayyou’vegottohavehim；Iwantyoushouldfeelperfectlyfreeaboutthat；butIDOsayyou’vegottogivehimareason。\"
\"Ishecominghere？\"
\"Idon’tknowasyou’dcallitCOMING————\"
\"Yes，youdo，father！\"saidthegirl，inforlornamusementathisshuffling。
\"He’scomingheretoseeME————\"
\"When’shecoming？\"
\"Idon’tknowbuthe’scomingto—night。\"
\"AndyouwantIshouldseehimI\"
\"Idon’tknowbutyou’dbetter。\"
\"Allright。I’llseehim。\"
Laphamdrewalongdeepbreathofsuspicioninspiredbythisacquiescence。\"Whatyougoingtodo？\"
heaskedpresently。
\"Idon’tknowyet，\"answeredthegirlsadly。\"Itdependsagooddealuponwhathedoes。\"
\"Well，\"saidLapham，withthehungrinessofunsatisfiedanxietyinhistone。WhenCorey’scardwasbroughtintothefamily—roomwhereheandPenelopeweresitting，hewentintotheparlourtofindhim。\"IguessPenelopewantstoseeyou，\"hesaid；and，indicatingthefamily—room，headded，\"She’sinthere，\"anddidnotgobackhimself。
Coreymadehiswaytothegirl’spresencewithopentrepidation，whichwasnotallayedbyhersilenceandlanguor。
Shesatinthechairwhereshehadsattheothernight，butshewasnotplayingwithafannow。
Hecametowardher，andthenstoodfaltering。
Afaintsmilequiveredoverherfaceatthespectacleofhissubjection。\"Sitdown，Mr。Corey，\"shesaid。
\"There’snoreasonwhyweshouldn’ttalkitoverquietly；
forIknowyouwillthinkI’mright。\"
\"I’msureofthat，\"heansweredhopefully。\"WhenIsawthatyourfatherknewofitto—day，Iaskedhimtoletmeseeyouagain。I’mafraidthatIbrokemypromisetoyou——technically————\"
\"Ithadtobebroken。\"Hetookmorecourageatherwords。
\"ButI’veonlycometodowhateveryousay，andnottobean——annoyancetoyou————\"
\"Yes，youhavetoknow；butIcouldn’ttellyoubefore。
NowtheyallthinkIshould。\"
Atremorofanxietypassedovertheyoungman’sface，onwhichshekepthereyessteadilyfixed。
\"Wesupposedit——itwas——Irene————\"
Heremainedblankamoment，andthenhesaidwithasmileofrelief，ofdeprecation，ofprotest，ofamazement，ofcompassion——
\"OH！Never！Neverforaninstant！Howcouldyouthinksuchathing？Itwasimpossible！Ineverthoughtofher。
ButIsee——Isee！Icanexplain——no，there’snothingtoexplain！Ihaveneverknowinglydoneorsaidathingfromfirsttolasttomakeyouthinkthat。
Iseehowterribleitis！\"hesaid；buthestillsmiled，asifhecouldnottakeitseriously。\"Iadmiredherbeauty——whocouldhelpdoingthat？——andIthoughtherverygoodandsensible。Why，lastwinterinTexas，ItoldStantonaboutourmeetinginCanada，andweagreed——I
onlytellyoutoshowyouhowfarIalwayswasfromwhatyouthought——thathemustcomeNorthandtrytoseeher，and——and——ofcourse，itallsoundsverysilly！——andhesentheranewspaperwithanaccountofhisranchinit————\"
\"Shethoughtitcamefromyou。\"
\"Oh，goodheavens！Hedidn’ttellmetillafterhe’ddoneit。
Buthediditforapartofourfoolishjoke。AndwhenI
metyoursisteragain，Ionlyadmiredherasbefore。
Icansee，now，howImusthaveseemedtobeseekingherout；
butitwastotalkofyouwithher——InevertalkedofanythingelseifIcouldhelpit，exceptwhenIchangedthesubjectbecauseIwasashamedtobealwaystalkingofyou。Iseehowdistressingitisforallofyou。
Buttellmethatyoubelieveme！\"
\"Yes，Imust。It’sallbeenourmistake————\"
\"Ithasindeed！Butthere’snomistakeaboutmylovingyou，Penelope，\"hesaid；andtheold—fashionedname，atwhichshehadoftenmocked，wassweettoherfromhislips。
\"Thatonlymakesitworse！\"sheanswered。
\"Ohno！\"hegentlyprotested。\"Itmakesitbetter。
Itmakesitright。Howisitworse？Howisitwrong？\"
\"Can’tyousee？Youmustunderstandallnow！Don’tyouseethatifshebelievedsotoo，andifshe————\"
Shecouldnotgoon。
\"Didshe——didyoursister——thinkthattoo？\"gaspedCorey。
\"Sheusedtotalkwithmeaboutyou；andwhenyousayyoucareformenow，itmakesmefeellikethevilesthypocriteintheworld。Thatdayyougaveherthelistofbooks，andshecamedowntoNantasket，andwentonaboutyou，Ihelpedhertoflatterherself——oh！I
don’tseehowshecanforgiveme。ButsheknowsIcanneverforgivemyself！That’sthereasonshecandoit。
Icanseenow，\"shewenton，\"howImusthavebeentryingtogetyoufromher。Ican’tendureit！Theonlywayisformenevertoseeyouorspeaktoyouagain！\"
Shelaughedforlornly。\"Thatwouldbeprettyhardonyou，ifyoucared。\"
\"Idocare——alltheworld！\"
\"Well，then，itwouldifyouweregoingtokeeponcaring。
Youwon’tlong，ifyoustopcomingnow。\"
\"Isthisall，then？Isittheend？\"
\"It’s——whateveritis。Ican’tgetoverthethoughtofher。
OnceIthoughtIcould，butnowIseethatIcan’t。Itseemstogrowworse。SometimesIfeelasifitwoulddrivemecrazy。\"
Hesatlookingatherwithlacklustreeyes。Thelightsuddenlycamebackintothem。\"DoyouthinkIcouldloveyouifyouhadbeenfalsetoher？Iknowyouhavebeentruetoher，andtruerstilltoyourself。Inevertriedtoseeher，exceptwiththehopeofseeingyoutoo。
IsupposedshemustknowthatIwasinlovewithyou。
FromthefirsttimeIsawyoutherethatafternoon，youfilledmyfancy。DoyouthinkIwasflirtingwiththechild，or——no，youdon’tthinkthat！Wehavenotdonewrong。
Wehavenotharmedanyoneknowingly。Wehavearighttoeachother————\"
\"No！no！youmustneverspeaktomeofthisagain。
Ifyoudo，Ishallknowthatyoudespiseme。\"
\"Buthowwillthathelpher？Idon’tloveHER。\"
\"Don’tsaythattome！Ihavesaidthattomyselftoomuch。\"
\"Ifyouforbidmetoloveyou，itwon’tmakemeloveher，\"
hepersisted。
Shewasabouttospeak，butshecaughtherbreathwithoutdoingso，andmerelystaredathim。\"Imustdowhatyousay，\"
hecontinued。\"Butwhatgoodwillitdoher？Youcan’tmakeherhappybymakingyourselfunhappy。\"
\"Doyouaskmetoprofitbyawrong？\"
\"Notfortheworld。Butthereisnowrong！\"
\"Thereissomething——Idon’tknowwhat。There’sawallbetweenus。IshalldashmyselfagainstitaslongasIlive；butthatwon’tbreakit。\"
\"Oh！\"hegroaned。\"Wehavedonenowrong。Whyshouldwesufferfromanother’smistakeasifitwereoursin？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Butwemustsuffer。\"
\"Well，then，IWILLnot，formypart，andIwillnotletyou。
Ifyoucareforme————\"
\"Youhadnorighttoknowit。\"
\"Youmakeitmyprivilegetokeepyoufromdoingwrongfortheright’ssake。I’msorry，withallmyheartandsoul，forthiserror；butIcan’tblamemyself，andIwon’tdenymyselfthehappinessIhaven’tdoneanythingtoforfeit。
Iwillnevergiveyouup。Iwillwaitaslongasyoupleaseforthetimewhenyoushallfeelfreefromthismistake；
butyoushallbemineatlast。Rememberthat。Imightgoawayformonths——ayear，even；butthatseemsacowardlyandguiltything，andI’mnotafraid，andI’mnotguilty，andI’mgoingtostayhereandtrytoseeyou。\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Itwon’tchangeanything？Don’tyouseethatthere’snohopeforus？\"
\"Whenisshecomingback？\"heasked。
\"Idon’tknow。MotherwantsfathertocomeandtakeheroutWestforawhile。\"
\"She’supthereinthecountrywithyourmotheryet？\"
\"Yes。\"
Hewassilent；thenhesaiddesperately——
\"Penelope，sheisveryyoung；andperhaps——perhapsshemightmeet————\"
\"Itwouldmakenodifference。Itwouldn’tchangeitforme。\"
\"Youarecruel——crueltoyourself，ifyouloveme，andcrueltome。Don’tyourememberthatnight——beforeIspoke——youweretalkingofthatbook；andyousaiditwasfoolishandwickedtodoasthatgirldid。Whyisitdifferentwithyou，exceptthatyougivemenothing，andcannevergivemeanythingwhenyoutakeyourselfaway？
Ifitwereanybodyelse，Iamsureyouwouldsay————\"
\"Butitisn’tanybodyelse，andthatmakesitimpossible。
SometimesIthinkitmightbeifIwouldonlysaysotomyself，andthenallthatIsaidtoheraboutyoucomesup————\"
\"Iwillwait。Itcan’talwayscomeup。Iwon’turgeyouanylongernow。Butyouwillseeitdifferently——
moreclearly。Good—bye——no！Goodnight！Ishallcomeagainto—morrow。Itwillsurelycomeright，and，whateverhappens，youhavedonenowrong。Trytokeepthatinmind。
Iamsohappy，inspiteofall！\"
Hetriedtotakeherhand，butsheputitbehindher。
\"No，no！Ican’tletyou——yet！\"
XX。