\"Well，Idon’tknow。Don’tyouthinktheycouldgetalongwithoutmethere？\"
\"No；couldn’tworkitatall，\"criedtheColonel。
\"Let’sallgo。Unless，\"headdedinquiringly，\"there’ssomebodycominghere？\"
\"There’snobodycoming，\"saidPenelope。
\"Good！Thenwe’llgo。Mother，don’tyoubelatenow。\"
\"Oh，Ishan’tkeepyouwaiting，\"saidMrs。Lapham。
ShehadthoughtoftellingwhatacheerfullettershehadgotfromIrene；butuponthewholeitseemedbetternottospeakofIreneatalljustthen。Aftertheyreturnedfromthetheatre，wheretheColonelroaredthroughthecomedy，withcontinualreferenceofhispleasuretoPenelope，tomakesurethatshewasenjoyingittoo，hiswifesaid，asifthewholeaffairhadbeenforthegirl’sdistractionratherthanhis，\"Idon’tbelievebutwhatit’sgoingtocomeoutallrightaboutthechildren；\"andthenshetoldhimoftheletter，andthehopesshehadfoundeduponit。
\"Well，perhapsyou’reright，Persis，\"heconsented。
\"Ihaven’tseenPensomuchlikeherselfsinceithappened。
Ideclare，whenIseethewayshecameoutto—night，justtopleaseyou，Idon’tknowasIwantyoushouldgetoverallyourtroublesrightaway。\"
\"Iguessthere’llbeenoughtokeepPengoingforawhileyet，\"saidtheColonel，windinguphiswatch。
Butforatimetherewasarelief，whichWalkernoted，intheatmosphereattheoffice，andthencameanothercoldwave，slighterthanthefirst，butdistinctlyfeltthere，andsucceededbyanotherrelief。Itwaslikethewinterwhichwaswearingontotheendoftheyear，withalternationsoffreezingweather，andmilddaysstretchingtoweeks，inwhichthesnowandicewhollydisappeared。
Itwasnonethelesswinter，andnonethelessharassingforthesefluctuations，andLaphamshowedinhisfaceandtempertheeffectoflikefluctuationsinhisaffairs。
Hegrewthinandold，andbothathomeandathisofficehewasirascibletothepointofoffence。
InthesedaysPenelopesharedwithhermothertheburdenoftheirtroubledhome，andunitedwithherinsupportingthesilenceorthepetulanceofthegloomy，secretmanwhoreplacedthepresenceofjollyprosperitythere。
Laphamhadnowceasedtotalkofhistroubles，andsavagelyresentedhiswife’sinterference。\"Youmindyourownbusiness，Persis，\"hesaidoneday，\"ifyou’vegotany；\"andafterthatshelefthimmainlytoPenelope，whodidnotthinkofaskinghimquestions。
\"It’sprettyhardonyou，Pen，\"shesaid。
\"Thatmakesiteasierforme，\"returnedthegirl，whodidnototherwiserefertoherowntrouble。
InherheartshehadwonderedalittleattheabsoluteobedienceofCorey，whohadmadenosignsincereceivinghernote。ShewouldhavelikedtoaskherfatherifCoreywassick；shewouldhavelikedhimtoaskherwhyCoreydidnotcomeanymore。Hermotherwenton——
\"Idon’tbelieveyourfatherknowsWHEREhestands。
Heworksawayatthosepapershebringshomehereatnight，asifhedidn’thalfknowwhathewasabout。
Healwaysdidhavethatclosestreakinhim，andIdon’tsupposebutwhathe’sbeengoingintothingshedon’twantanybodyelsetoknowabout，andhe’skepttheseaccountsofhisown。\"
SometimeshegavePenelopefigurestoworkat，whichhewouldnotsubmittohiswife’snimblerarithmetic。
Thenshewenttobedandleftthemsittinguptillmidnight，strugglingwithproblemsinwhichtheywerebothweak。
Butshecouldseethatthegirlwasacomforttoherfather，andthathistroubleswereadefenceandsheltertoher。
Somenightsshecouldhearthemgoingouttogether，andthenshelayawakefortheirreturnfromtheirlongwalk。
Whenthehourordayofrespitecameagain，thehomefeltitfirst。LaphamwantedtoknowwhatthenewsfromIrenewas；
hejoinedhiswifeinallhercheerfulspeculations，andtriedtomakeheramendsforhissullenreticenceandirritability。IrenewasstayingonatDubuque。
Therecamealetterfromher，sayingthatheruncle’speoplewantedhertospendthewinterthere。
\"Well，lether，\"saidLapham。\"It’llbethebestthingforher。\"
Laphamhimselfhadlettersfromhisbrotheratfrequentintervals。
HisbrotherwaswatchingtheG。L。&P。，whichasyethadmadenoofferforthemills。Once，whenoneoftheseletterscame，hesubmittedtohiswifewhether，intheabsenceofanypositiveinformationthattheroadwantedtheproperty，hemightnot，withagoodconscience，disposeofittothebestadvantagetoanybodywhocamealong。
Shelookedwistfullyathim；itwasontherisefromaseasonofdeepdepressionwithhim。\"No，Si，\"shesaid；
\"Idon’tseehowyoucoulddothat。\"
Hedidnotassentandsubmit，ashehaddoneatfirst，butbegantorailattheunpracticalityofwomen；andthenheshutsomepapershehadbeenlookingoverintohisdesk，andflungoutoftheroom。
Oneofthepapershadslippedthroughthecreviceofthelid，andlayuponthefloor。Mrs。Laphamkeptonathersewing，butafterawhileshepickedthepaperuptolayitonthedesk。Thensheglancedatit，andsawthatitwasalongcolumnofdatesandfigures，recordingsuccessivesums，neverlargeones，paidregularlyto\"Wm。M。\"Thedatescoveredayear，andthesumamountedatleasttoseveralhundreds。
Mrs。Laphamlaidthepaperdownonthedesk，andthenshetookitupagainandputitintoherwork—basket，meaningtogiveittohim。Whenhecameinshesawhimlookingabsent—mindedlyaboutforsomething，andthengoingtoworkuponhispapers，apparentlywithoutit。
Shethoughtshewouldwaittillhemisseditdefinitely，andthengivehimthescrapshehadpickedup。Itlayinherbasket，andaftersomedaysitfounditswayundertheworkinit，andsheforgotit。
XXIII。
SINCENewYear’stherehadscarcelybeenamildday，andthestreetswerefullofsnow，growingfoulunderthecityfeetandhoofs，andrenewingitspurityfromtheskieswithrepeatedfalls，whichinturnlosttheirwhiteness，beatendown，andbeatenblackandhardintoasolidbedlikeiron。Thesleighingwasincomparable，andtheairwasfullofthedinofbells；butLapham’sturnoutwasnotofthosethatthrongedtheBrightonroadeveryafternoon；
themanatthelivery—stablesenthimwordthatthemare’slegswereswelling。
HeandCoreyhadlittletodowitheachother。
HedidnotknowhowPenelopehadarrangeditwithCorey；
hiswifesaidsheknewnomorethanhedid，andhedidnotliketoaskthegirlherself，especiallyasCoreynolongercametothehouse。Hesawthatshewascheerfullerthanshehadbeen，andhelpfullerwithhimandhermother。
NowandthenLaphamopenedhistroubledsoultoheralittle，lettinghisthoughtbreakintospeechwithoutpreambleorconclusion。Oncehesaid——
\"Pen，IpresumeyouknowI’mintrouble。\"
\"Weallseemtobethere，\"saidthegirl。
\"Yes，butthere’sadifferencebetweenbeingtherebyyourownfaultandbeingtherebysomebodyelse’s。\"
\"Idon’tcallithisfault，\"shesaid。
\"Icallitmine，\"saidtheColonel。
Thegirllaughed。Herthoughtwasofherowncare，andherfather’swhollyofhis。Shemustcometohisground。
\"Whathaveyoubeendoingwrong？\"
\"Idon’tknowasyou’dcallitwrong。It’swhatpeopledoallthetime。ButIwishI’dletstocksalone。
It’swhatIalwayspromisedyourmotherIwoulddo。
Butthere’snousecryin’overspiltmilk；orwateredstock，either。\"
\"Idon’tthinkthere’smuchusecryingaboutanything。Ifitcouldhavebeencriedstraight，itwouldhavebeenallrightfromthestart，\"saidthegirl，goingbacktoherownaffair；
andifLaphamhadnotbeensodeeplyengrossedinhis，hemighthaveseenhowlittleshecaredforallthatmoneycoulddoorundo。Hedidnotobserveherenoughtoseehowvariablehermoodswereinthosedays，andhowoftenshesankfromsomewildgaietyintoabjectmelancholy；
howattimesshewasfiercelydefiantofnothingatall，andatothersinexplicablyhumbleandpatient。
Butnodoubtnoneofthesesignshadpassedunnoticedbyhiswife，towhomLaphamsaidoneday，whenhecamehome，\"Persis，what’sthereasonPendon’tmarryCorey？\"
\"YouknowaswellasIdo，Silas，\"saidMrs。Lapham，withaninquiringlookathimforwhatlaybehindhiswords。
\"Well，Ithinkit’salltomfoolery，thewayshe’sgoingon。
Thereain’tanyrhymenorreasontoit。\"Hestopped，andhiswifewaited。\"Ifshesaidtheword，Icouldhavesomehelpfromthem。\"Hehunghishead，andwouldnotmeethiswife’seye。
\"Iguessyou’reinaprettybadway，Si，\"shesaidpityingly，\"oryouwouldn’thavecometothat。\"
\"I’minahole，\"saidLapham，\"andIdon’tknowwheretoturn。
Youwon’tletmedoanythingaboutthosemills————\"
\"Yes，I’llletyou，\"saidhiswifesadly。
Hegaveamiserablecry。\"YouknowIcan’tdoanything，ifyoudo。OmyLord！\"
Shehadnotseenhimsolowasthatbefore。Shedidnotknowwhattosay。Shewasfrightened，andcouldonlyask，\"Hasitcometotheworst？\"
\"Thenewhousehasgottogo，\"heansweredevasively。
Shedidnotsayanything。Sheknewthattheworkonthehousehadbeenstoppedsincethebeginningoftheyear。
Laphamhadtoldthearchitectthathepreferredtoleaveitunfinishedtillthespring，astherewasnoprospectoftheirbeingabletogetintoitthatwinter；andthearchitecthadagreedwithhimthatitwouldnothurtittostand。Herheartwasheavyforhim，thoughshecouldnotsayso。Theysattogetheratthetable，whereshehadcometobewithhimathisbelatedmeal。
Shesawthathedidnoteat，andshewaitedforhimtospeakagain，withouturginghimtotakeanything。
Theywerepastthat。
\"AndI’vesentorderstoshutdownattheWorks，\"
headded。
\"ShutdownattheWorks！\"sheechoedwithdismay。
Shecouldnottakeitin。ThefireattheWorkshadneverbeenoutbeforesinceitwasfirstkindled。
Sheknewhowhehadpridedhimselfuponthat；howhehadbraggedofittoeverylistener，andhadalwaysluggedthefactinasthelastexpressionofhissenseofsuccess。
\"OSilas！\"
\"What’stheuse？\"heretorted。\"Isawitwascomingamonthago。TherearesomefellowsoutinWestVirginiathathavebeenrunningthepaintashardastheycould。
Theycouldn’tdomuch；theyusedtoputitonthemarketraw。
Butlatelytheygottobakingit，andnowthey’vestruckaveinofnaturalgasrightbytheirworks，andtheypaytencentsforfuel，whereIpayadollar，andtheymakeasgoodapaint。Anybodycanseewhereit’sgoingtoend。
Besides，themarket’sover—stocked。It’sglutted。
Therewa’n’tanythingtodobuttoshutDOWN，andI’veSHUTdown。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofthehandsinthemiddleofthewinter，thisway，\"saidMrs。Lapham，layingholdofonedefinitethoughtwhichshecouldgraspintheturmoilofruinthatwhirledbeforehereyes。
\"Idon’tcarewhatbecomesofthehands，\"criedLapham。
\"They’vesharedmyluck；nowlet’emsharetheotherthing。
Andifyou’resoverysorryforthehands，Iwishyou’dkeepalittleofyourpityforME。Don’tyouknowwhatshuttingdowntheWorksmeans？\"
\"Yes，indeedIdo，Silas，\"saidhiswifetenderly。
\"Well，then！\"Herose，leavinghissupperuntasted，andwentintothesitting—room，whereshepresentlyfoundhim，withthateverlastingconfusionofpapersbeforehimonthedesk。Thatmadeherthinkofthepaperinherwork—basket，andshedecidednottomakethecareworn，distractedmanaskherforit，afterall。Shebroughtittohim。
Heglancedblanklyatitandthencaughtitfromher，turningredandlookingfoolish。\"Where’dyougetthat？\"
\"Youdroppeditonthefloortheothernight，andI
pickeditup。Whois’Wm。M。’？\"
\"’Wm。M。’！\"herepeated，lookingconfusedlyather，andthenatthepaper。\"Oh，——it’snothing。\"Hetorethepaperintosmallpieces，andwentanddroppedthemintothefire。WhenMrs。Laphamcameintotheroominthemorning，beforehewasdown，shefoundascrapofthepaper，whichmusthaveflutteredtothehearth；
andglancingatitshesawthatthewordswere\"Mrs。M。\"
Shewonderedwhatdealingswithawomanherhusbandcouldhave，andsherememberedtheconfusionhehadshownaboutthepaper，andwhichshehadthoughtwasbecauseshehadsurprisedoneofhisbusinesssecrets。
Shewasstillthinkingofitwhenhecamedowntobreakfast，heavy—eyed，tremulous，withdeepseamsandwrinklesinhisface。
Afterasilencewhichhedidnotseeminclinedtobreak，\"Silas，\"sheasked，\"whois’Mrs。M。’？\"
Hestaredather。\"Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout。\"
\"Don’tyou？\"shereturnedmockingly。\"Whenyoudo，youtellme。Doyouwantanymorecoffee？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，then，youcanringforAlicewhenyou’vefinished。
I’vegotsomethingstoattendto。\"Sheroseabruptly，andlefttheroom。Laphamlookedafterherinadullway，andthenwentonwithhisbreakfast。Whilehestillsatathiscoffee，sheflungintotheroomagain，anddashedsomepapersdownbesidehisplate。\"Herearesomemorethingsofyours，andI’llthankyoutolockthemupinyourdeskandnotlittermyroomwiththem，ifyouplease。\"Nowhesawthatshewasangry，anditmustbewithhim。Itenragedhimthatinsuchatimeoftroublesheshouldflyoutathiminthatway。
Heleftthehousewithouttryingtospeaktoher。
ThatdayCoreycamejustbeforeclosing，and，knockingatLapham’sdoor，askedifhecouldspeakwithhimafewmoments。
\"Yes，\"saidLapham，wheelingroundinhisswivel—chairandkickinganothertowardsCorey。\"Sitdown。Iwanttotalktoyou。I’doughttotellyouyou’rewastingyourtimehere。
Ispoketheotherdayaboutyourplacin’yourselfbetter，andIcanhelpyoutodoit，yet。Thereain’tgoingtobetheout—comeforthepaintintheforeignmarketsthatweexpected，andIguessyoubettergiveitup。\"
\"Idon’twishtogiveitup，\"saidtheyoungfellow，settinghislips。\"I’veasmuchfaithinitasever；andI
wanttoproposenowwhatIhintedatinthefirstplace。
Iwanttoputsomemoneyintothebusiness。\"
\"Somemoney！\"Laphamleanedtowardshim，andfrownedasifhehadnotquiteunderstood，whileheclutchedthearmsofhischair。
\"I’vegotaboutthirtythousanddollarsthatIcouldputin，andifyoudon’twanttoconsidermeapartner——Irememberthatyouobjectedtoapartner——youcanletmeregarditasaninvestment。ButIthinkIseethewaytodoingsomethingatonceinMexico，andIshouldliketofeelthatIhadsomethingmorethanadrummer’sinterestintheventure。\"
Themensatlookingintoeachother’seyes。ThenLaphamleanedbackinhischair，andrubbedhishandhardandslowlyoverhisface。Hisfeatureswerestilltwistedwithsomestrongemotionwhenhetookitaway。
\"Yourfamilyknowaboutthis？\"
\"MyUncleJamesknows。\"
\"Hethinksitwouldbeagoodplanforyou？\"
\"HethoughtthatbythistimeIoughttobeabletotrustmyownjudgment。\"
\"DoyousupposeIcouldseeyouruncleathisoffice？\"
\"Iimaginehe’sthere。\"
\"Well，Iwanttohaveatalkwithhim，oneofthesedays。\"
Hesatponderingawhile，andthenrose，andwentwithCoreytohisdoor。\"IguessIshan’tchangemymindabouttakingyouintothebusinessinthatway，\"hesaidcoldly。
\"IftherewasanyreasonwhyIshouldn’tatfirst，there’smorenow。\"
\"Verywell，sir，\"answeredtheyoungman，andwenttoclosehisdesk。Theouterofficewasempty；butwhileCoreywasputtinghispapersinorderitwassuddenlyinvadedbytwowomen，whopushedbytheprotestingporteronthestairsandmadetheirwaytowardsLapham’sroom。
OneofthemwasMissDewey，thetype—writergirl，andtheotherwasawomanwhomshewouldresembleinfaceandfiguretwentyyearshence，ifsheledalifeofhardworkvariedbyparoxysmsofharddrinking。
\"Thathisroom，Z’rilla？\"askedthiswoman，pointingtowardsLapham’sdoorwithahandthathadnotfreeditselffromthefringeofdirtyshawlunderwhichithadhung。
Shewentforwardwithoutwaitingfortheanswer，butbeforeshecouldreachitthedooropened，andLaphamstoodfillingitsspace。
\"Lookhere，ColonelLapham！\"beganthewoman，inahighkeyofchallenge。\"Iwanttoknowifthisisthewayyou’regoin’backonmeandZ’rilla？\"
\"Whatdoyouwant？\"askedLapham。
\"WhatdoIwant？Whatdoyous’poseIwant？Iwantthemoneytopaymymonth’srent；thereain’tabitetoeatinthehouse；andIwantsomemoneytomarket。\"
Laphambentafrownonthewoman，underwhichsheshrankbackastep。\"You’vetakenthewrongwaytogetit。
Clearout！\"
\"IWON’Tclearout！\"saidthewoman，beginningtowhimper。
\"Corey！\"saidLapham，intheperemptoryvoiceofamaster，——hehadseemedsoindifferenttoCorey’spresencethattheyoungmanthoughthemusthaveforgottenhewasthere，——\"IsDennisanywhereround？\"
\"Yissor，\"saidDennis，answeringforhimselffromtheheadofthestairs，andappearingintheware—room。
Laphamspoketothewomanagain。\"DoyouwantIshouldcallahack，ordoyouwantIshouldcallanofficer？\"
Thewomanbegantocryintoanendofhershawl。
\"Idon’tknowwhatwe’regoin’todo。\"
\"You’regoingtoclearout，\"saidLapham。\"Callahack，Dennis。
Ifyouevercomehereagain，I’llhaveyouarrested。
Mindthat！Zerrilla，Ishallwantyouearlyto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidthegirlmeekly；sheandhermothershrankoutaftertheporter。
Laphamshuthisdoorwithoutaword。
AtlunchthenextdayWalkermadehimselfamendsforCorey’sreticencebytalkingagreatdeal。
HetalkedaboutLapham，whoseemedtohave，morethaneversincehisapparentdifficultiesbegan，thefascinationofanenigmaforhisbook—keeper，andheendedbyasking，\"Didyouseethatlittlecircuslastnight？\"
\"Whatlittlecircus？\"askedCoreyinhisturn。
\"Thosetwowomenandtheoldman。Dennistoldmeaboutit。
Itoldhimifhelikedhisplacehe’dbetterkeephismouthshut。\"
\"Thatwasverygoodadvice，\"saidCorey。
\"Oh，allright，ifyoudon’twanttotalk。Don’tknowasIshouldinyourplace，\"returnedWalker，intheeasysecurityhehadlongfeltthatCoreyhadnointentionofputtingonairswithhim。\"ButI’lltellyouwhat：
theoldmancan’texpectitofeverybody。Ifhekeepsthisthingupmuchlonger，it’sgoingtobetalkedabout。
Youcan’thaveawomanwalkingintoyourplaceofbusiness，andtryingtobulldozeyoubeforeyourporter，withoutsettingyourportertothinking。Andthelastthingyouwantaportertodoistothink；forwhenaporterthinks，hethinkswrong。\"
\"Idon’tseewhyevenaportercouldn’tthinkrightaboutthataffair，\"repliedCorey。\"Idon’tknowwhothewomanwas，thoughIbelieveshewasMissDewey’smother；
butIcouldn’tseethatColonelLaphamshowedanythingbutanaturalresentmentofhercomingtohiminthatway。
Ishouldhavesaidshewassomeratherworthlesspersonwhomhe’dbeenbefriending，andthatshehadpresumeduponhiskindness。\"
\"Isthatso？WhatdoyouthinkofhisneverlettingMissDewey’snamegoonthebooks？\"
\"Thatit’sanotherproofit’sasortofcharityofhis。
That’stheonlywaytolookatit。\"
\"Oh，I’Mallright。\"Walkerlightedacigarandbegantosmoke，withhiseyesclosedtoafinestraightline。
\"Itwon’tdoforabook—keepertothinkwrong，anymorethanaporter，Isuppose。ButIguessyouandIdon’tthinkverydifferentaboutthisthing。\"
\"NotifyouthinkasIdo，\"repliedCoreysteadily；\"andI
knowyouwoulddothatifyouhadseenthe’circus’yourself。
Amandoesn’ttreatpeoplewhohaveadisgracefulholduponhimashetreatedthem。\"
\"Itdependsuponwhoheis，\"saidWalker，takinghiscigarfromhismouth。\"Ineversaidtheoldmanwasafraidofanything。\"
\"Andcharacter，\"continuedCorey，disdainingtotouchthematterfurther，exceptingeneralities，\"mustgoforsomething。Ifit’stobethepreyofmereaccidentandappearance，thenitgoesfornothing。\"
\"Accidentswillhappeninthebestregulatedfamilies，\"
saidWalker，withvulgar，good—humouredobtusenessthatfilledCoreywithindignation。Nothing，perhaps，removedhismatter—of—factnaturefurtherfromthecommonplacethanacertaingenerosityofinstinct，whichIshouldnotbereadytosaywasalwaysinfallible。
ThateveningitwasMissDewey’sturntowaitforspeechwithLaphamaftertheothersweregone。Heopenedhisdooratherknock，andstoodlookingatherwithaworriedair。
\"Well，whatdoyouwant，Zerrilla？\"heasked，withasortofroughkindness。
\"IwanttoknowwhatI’mgoingtodoaboutHen。
He’sbackagain；andheandmotherhavemadeitup，andtheybothgottodrinkinglastnightafterIwenthome，andcarriedonsothattheneighbourscamein。\"
Laphampassedhishandoverhisredandheatedface。
\"Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtodo。You’retwicethetroublethatmyownfamilyis，now。ButIknowwhatI’ddo，mightyquick，ifitwasn’tforyou，Zerrilla，\"hewentonrelentingly。\"I’dshutyourmotherupsomewheres，andifIcouldgetthatfellowoffforathreeyears’
voyage————\"
\"Ideclare，\"saidMissDewey，beginningtowhimper，\"itseemsasifhecamebackjustsooftentospiteme。
He’snevergonemorethanayearatthefurthest，andyoucan’tmakeitouthabitualdrunkenness，either，whenit’sjustsprees。I’matmywit’send。\"
\"Oh，well，youmustn’tcryaroundhere，\"saidLaphamsoothingly。
\"Iknowit，\"saidMissDewey。\"IfIcouldgetridofHen，Icouldmanagewellenoughwithmother。
Mr。WemmelwouldmarrymeifIcouldgetthedivorce。
He’ssaidsooverandoveragain。\"
\"Idon’tknowasIlikethatverywell，\"saidLapham，frowning。
\"Idon’tknowasIwantyoushouldgetmarriedinanyhurryagain。
Idon’tknowasIlikeyourgoingwithanybodyelsejustyet。\"
\"Oh，youneedn’tbeafraidbutwhatit’llbeallright。
It’llbethebestthingallround，ifIcanmarryhim。\"
\"Well！\"saidLaphamimpatiently；\"Ican’tthinkaboutitnow。
Isupposethey’vecleanedeverythingoutagain？\"
\"Yes，theyhave，\"saidZerrilla；\"thereisn’tacentleft。\"
\"You’reaprettyexpensivelot，\"saidLapham。\"Well，here！\"
Hetookouthispocket—bookandgaveheranote。
\"I’llberoundto—nightandseewhatcanbedone。\"
Heshuthimselfintohisroomagain，andZerrilladriedhertears，putthenoteintoherbosom，andwentherway。
Laphamkepttheporternearlyanhourlater。Itwasthensixo’clock，thehouratwhichtheLaphamsusuallyhadtea；butallcustomhadbeenbrokenupwithhimduringthepastmonths，andhedidnotgohomenow。
Hedetermined，perhapsintheextremityinwhichamanfindsreliefincombatingonecarewithanother，tokeephispromisetoMissDewey，andatthemomentwhenhemightotherwisehavebeensittingdownathisowntablehewasclimbingthestairstoherlodgingintheold—fashioneddwellingwhichhadbeenportionedoffintoflats。
Itwasinaregionofdepots，andofthecheaphotels，and\"ladies’andgents’\"dining—rooms，andrestaurantswithbars，whichaboundneardepots；andLaphamfollowedtoMissDeweysdoorawaiterfromoneofthese，whoboreonasalverbeforehimasuppercoveredwithanapkin。
Zerrillahadadmittedthem，andathergreetingayoungfellowintheshabbyshore—suitofasailor，buttoningimperfectlyoverthenauticalblueflannelofhisshirt，gotupfromwherehehadbeensitting，ononesideofthestove，andstoodinfirmlyonhisfeet，intokenofreceivingthevisitor。Thewomanwhosatontheothersidedidnotrise，butbeganashrill，defiantapology。
\"Well，Idon’tsupposebutwhatyou’llthinkwe’relivin’
onthefato’theland，rightstraightalong，allthewhile。
Butit’sjustlikethis。Whenthatchildcameinfromherwork，shedidn’tseemtohavethespirittogotocookin’anything，andIhadsuchabadnightlastnightIwasfeelin’allbrokeup，ands’dI，what’stheuse，anyway？Bythetimethebutcher’sheavedinaloto’
bone，andmadeyoupayforthesuethecutsaway，itcomestothesamething，andwhynotGITitfromtherest’rantfirstoff，andsavethecosto’yourfire？s’dI。\"
\"Whathaveyougotthereunderyourapron？Abottle？\"
demandedLapham，whostoodwithhishatonandhishandsinhispockets，indifferentaliketotheineffectivereceptionofthesailorandthechairZerrillahadsethim。
\"Well，yes，it’sabottle，\"saidthewoman，withanassumptionofvirtuousfrankness。\"It’swhisky；
Igottohavesomethingtorubmyrheumatismwith。\"
\"Humph！\"grumbledLapham。\"You’vebeenrubbingHIS
rheumatismtoo，Isee。\"
Hetwistedhisheadinthedirectionofthesailor，nowsoftlyandrhythmicallywavingtoandfroonhisfeet。
\"Hehain’thadadropto—dayinTHIShouse！\"criedthewoman。
\"Whatareyoudoingaroundhere？\"saidLapham，turningfiercelyuponhim。\"You’vegotnobusinessashore。