\"Anoteforme？\"shesaid，staringattheunknown，andsomehowartificial—looking，handwritingofthesuperscription。
Thensheopeneditandread：\"Askyourhusbandabouthisladycopying—clerk。AFriendandWell—wisher，\"
whosignedthenote，gavenoothername。
Mrs。Laphamsathelplesswithitinherhand。
Herbrainreeled；shetriedtofightthemadnessoff；
butbeforeLaphamcamebackthesecondmorning，ithadbecome，withlesseningintervalsofsanityandrelease，ademoniacalpossession。Shepassedthenightwithoutsleep，withoutrest，inthefrenzyofthecruellestofthepassions，whichcoverswithshametheunhappysoulitpossesses，andmurderouslylustsforthemiseryofitsobject。
IfshehadknownwheretofindherhusbandinNewYork，shewouldhavefollowedhim；shewaitedhisreturninanecstasyofimpatience。Inthemorninghecameback，lookingspentandhaggard。Shesawhimdriveuptothedoor，andsherantolethiminherself\"Whoisthatgirlyou’vegotinyouroffice，SilasLapham？\"
shedemanded，whenherhusbandentered。
\"Girlinmyoffice？\"
\"Yes！Whoisshe？Whatisshedoingthere？\"\"Why，whathaveyouheardabouther？\"
\"NeveryoumindwhatI’veheard。Whoisshe？ISITMRS。
M。THATYOUGAVETHATMONEYTO？Iwanttoknowwhosheis！Iwanttoknowwhatarespectableman，withgrown—upgirlsofhisown，isdoingwithsuchalookingthingasthatinhisoffice？Iwanttoknowhowlongshe’sbeenthere？Iwanttoknowwhatshe’sthereatallfor？\"
Hehadmechanicallypushedherbeforehimintothelong，darkenedparlour，andheshuthimselfintherewithhernow，tokeepthehouseholdfromhearingherliftedvoice。
Forawhilehestoodbewildered，andcouldnothaveansweredifhewould，andthenhewouldnot。Hemerelyasked，\"HaveIeveraccusedyouofanythingwrong，Persis？\"
\"Younoneedto！\"sheansweredfuriously，placingherselfagainstthecloseddoor。
\"Didyoueverknowmetodoanythingoutoftheway？\"
\"Thatisn’twhatIaskedyou。\"
\"Well，Iguessyoumayfindoutaboutthatgirlyourself。
Getawayfromthedoor。\"
\"Iwon’tgetawayfromthedoor。\"
Shefeltherselfsetlightlyaside，andherhusbandopenedthedoorandwentout。\"IWILLfindoutabouther，\"
shescreamedafterhim。\"I’llfindout，andI’lldisgraceyou。I’llteachyouhowtotreatme————\"
Theairblackenedroundher：shereeledtothesofaandthenshefoundherselfwakingfromafaint。
Shedidnotknowhowlongshehadlainthere，shedidnotcare。Inamomenthermadnesscamewhirlingbackuponher。Sherusheduptohisroom；itwasempty；
thecloset—doorsstoodajarandthedrawerswereopen；
hemusthavepackedabaghastilyandfled。Shewentoutandwanderedcrazilyupanddowntillshefoundahack。
Shegavethedriverherhusband’sbusinessaddress，andtoldhimtodrivethereasfastashecould；
andthreetimessheloweredthewindowtoputherheadoutandaskhimifhecouldnothurry。Athousandthingsthrongedintohermindtosupportherinherevilwill。
Sherememberedhowgladandproudthatmanhadbeentomarryher，andhoweverybodysaidshewasmarryingbeneathherwhenshetookhim。Sherememberedhowgoodshehadalwaysbeentohim，howperfectlydevoted，slavingearlyandlatetoadvancehim，andlookingoutforhisinterestsinallthings，andsparingherselfinnothing。
Ifithadnotbeenforher，hemighthavebeendrivingstageyet；andsincetheirtroubleshadbegun，thetroubleswhichhisownfollyandimprudencehadbroughtonthem，herconducthadbeenthatofatrueandfaithfulwife。
WasHEthesortofmantobeallowedtoplayherfalsewithimpunity？Shesetherteethanddrewherbreathsharplythroughthemwhenshethoughthowwillinglyshehadlethimbefoolher，anddeludeheraboutthatmemorandumofpaymentstoMrs。M。，becauseshelovedhimsomuch，andpitiedhimforhiscaresandanxieties。Sherecalledhisconfusion，hisguiltylooks。
Sheplungedoutofthecarriagesohastilywhenshereachedtheofficethatshedidnotthinkofpayingthedriver；
audhehadtocallafterherwhenshehadgothalf—wayupthestairs。ThenshewentstraighttoLapham’sroom，withoutrageinherheart。Therewasagainnoonetherebutthattype—writergirl；shejumpedtoherfeetinafright，asMrs。Laphamdashedthedoortobehindherandflungupherveil。
Thetwowomenconfrontedeachother。
\"Why，thegoodland！\"criedMrs。Lapham，\"ain’tyouZerrillaMillon？\"
\"I——I’mmarried，\"falteredthegirl\"Myname’sDewey，now。\"
\"You’reJimMillon’sdaughter，anyway。Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？\"
\"Ihaven’tbeenhereregularly；I’vebeenhereoffandoneversincelastMay。\"
\"Where’syourmother？\"
\"She’shere——inBoston。\"
Mrs。Laphamkepthereyesonthegirl，butshedropped，trembling，intoherhusband’schair，andasortofamazeandcuriositywereinhervoiceinsteadofthefuryshehadmeanttoputthere。
\"TheColonel，\"continuedZerrilla，\"he’sbeenhelpingus，andhe’sgotmeatype—writer，sothatIcanhelpmyselfalittle。Mother’sdoingprettywellnow；andwhenHenisn’taroundwecangetalong。\"
\"Thatyourhusband？\"
\"Ineverwantedtomarryhim；buthepromisedtotrytogetsomethingtodoonshore；andmotherwasallforit，becausehehadalittlepropertythen，andIthoughtmaybeI’dbetter。Butit’sturnedoutjustasIsaidandifhedon’tstayawaylongenoughthistimetoletmegetthedivorce，——he’sagreedtoit，timeandagain，——I
don’tknowwhatwe’regoingtodo。\"Zerrilla’svoicefell，andthetroublewhichshecouldkeepoutofherfaceusually，whenshewascomfortablywarmedandfedandprettilydressed，cloudeditinthepresenceofasympatheticlistener。
\"Isawitwasyou，whenyoucameintheotherday，\"
shewenton；\"butyoudidn’tseemtoknowme。IsupposetheColonel’stoldyouthatthere’sagentlemangoingtomarryme——Mr。Wemmel’shisname——assoonasIgetthedivorce；butsometimesI’mcompletelydiscouraged；
itdon’tseemasifIevercouldgetit。\"
Mrs。Laphamwouldnotletherknowthatshewasignorantofthefactattributedtoherknowledge。
SheremainedlisteningtoZerrilla，andpiecingoutthewholehistoryofherpresencetherefromthefactsofthepast，andthetraitsofherhusband’scharacter。
OneofthethingsshehadalwayshadtofighthimaboutwasthatideaofhisthathewasboundtotakecareofJimMillon’sworthlesswifeandherchildbecauseMillonhadgotthebulletthatwasmeantforhim。Itwasaperfectsuperstitionofhis；shecouldnotbeatitoutofhim；
butshehadmadehimpromisethelasttimehehaddoneanythingforthatwomanthatitshouldBEthelasttime。
Hehadthengotheralittlehouseinoneofthefishingports，whereshecouldtakethesailorstoboardandwashfor，andearnanhonestlivingifshewouldkeepstraight。
Thatwasfiveorsixyearsago，andMrs。LaphamhadheardnothingofMrs。Millonsince；shehadheardquiteenoughofherbefore；andhadknownheridleandbaddisheversinceshewastheworstlittlegirlatschoolinLumberville，andallthroughhershamefulgirlhood，andthemarrieddayswhichshehadmadesomiserabletothepoorfellowwhohadgivenherhisdecentnameandachancetobehaveherself。
Mrs。LaphamhadnomercyonMollMillon，andshehadquarrelledoftenenoughwithherhusbandforbefriendingher。
Asforthechild，ifthemotherwouldputZerrillaoutwithsomerespectablefamily，thatwouldbeONEthing；
butaslongasshekeptZerrillawithher，shewasagainstlettingherhusbanddoanythingforeitherofthem。
Hehaddonetentimesasmuchforthemnowashehadanyneedto，andshehadmadehimgiveherhissolemnwordthathewoulddonomore。Shesawnowthatshewaswrongtomakehimgiveit，andthathemusthavebrokenitagainandagainforthereasonthathehadgivenwhensheoncescoldedhimforthrowingawayhismoneyonthathussy——
\"WhenIthinkofJimMillon，I’vegotto；that’sall。\"
SherecallednowthatwhenevershehadbroughtupthesubjectofMrs。Millonandherdaughter，hehadseemedshyofit，andhaddroppeditwithsomeguessthattheyweregettingalongnow。ShewonderedthatshehadnotthoughtatonceofMrs。MillonwhenshesawthatmemorandumaboutMrs。M。；
butthewomanhadpassedsoentirelyoutofherlife，thatshehadneverdreamtofherinconnectionwithit。
Herhusbandhaddeceivedher，yetherheartwasnolongerhotagainsthim，butrathertenderlygratefulthathisdeceitwasinthissort，andnotinthatother。
Allcruelandshamefuldoubtofhimwentoutofit。
Shelookedatthisbeautifulgirl，whohadblossomedoutofherknowledgesinceshesawherlast，andsheknewthatshewasonlyablossomedweed，ofthesameworthlessrootashermother，andsaved，ifsaved，fromthesameevildestiny，bythegoodofherfatherinher；
butsofarasthegirlandhermotherwereconcerned，Mrs。Laphamknewthatherhusbandwastoblamefornothingbuthiswilful，wrong—headed，kind—heartedness，whichherownexactionshadturnedintodeceit。Sheremainedawhile，questioningthegirlquietlyaboutherselfandhermother，andthen，withabettermindtowardsZerrilla，atleast，thanshehadeverhadbefore，sheroseupandwentout。
Theremusthavebeensomeouterhintoftheexhaustioninwhichthesubsidenceofherexcitementhadleftherwithin，forbeforeshehadreachedtheheadofthestairs，Coreycametowardsher。
\"CanIbeofanyusetoyou，Mrs。Lapham？TheColonelwasherejustbeforeyoucamein，onhiswaytothetrain。\"
\"Yes，——yes。Ididn’tknow——IthoughtperhapsIcouldcatchhimhere。Butitdon’tmatter。Iwishyouwouldletsomeonegowithmetogetacarriage，\"shebeggedfeebly。
\"I’llgowithyoumyself，\"saidtheyoungfellow，ignoringthestrangenessinhermanner。Heofferedherhisarminthetwilightofthestaircase，andshewasgladtoputhertremblinghandthroughit，andkeepittheretillhehelpedherintoahackwhichhefoundforher。
Hegavethedriverherdirection，andstoodlookingalittleanxiouslyather。
\"Ithankyou；Iamallrightnow，\"shesaid，andhebadethemandriveon。
Whenshereachedhomeshewenttobed，spentwiththetumultofheremotionsandsickwithshameandself—reproach。
Sheunderstoodnow，asclearlyasifhehadtoldherinasmanywords，thatifhehadbefriendedthoseworthlessjades——theMillonscharacterisedthemselvesso，eventoMrs。Lapham’sremorse——secretlyandindefianceofher，itwasbecausehedreadedherblame，whichwassosharpandbitter，forwhathecouldnothelpdoing。
Itconsoledherthathehaddefiedher，deceivedher；
whenhecamebacksheshouldtellhimthat；andthenitflasheduponherthatshedidnotknowwherehewasgone，orwhetherhewouldevercomeagain。Ifhenevercame，itwouldbenomorethanshedeserved；butshesentforPenelope，andtriedtogiveherselfhopesofescapefromthisjustpenalty。
Laphamhadnottoldhisdaughterwherehewasgoing；
shehadheardhimpackinghisbag，andhadofferedtohelphim；
buthehadsaidhecoulddoitbest，andhadgoneoff，asheusuallydid，withouttakingleaveofanyone。
\"Whatwereyoutalkingaboutsoloud，downintheparlour，\"
sheaskedhermother，\"justbeforehecameup~Isthereanynewtrouble？\"
\"No；itwasnothing。\"
\"Icouldn’ttell。OnceIthoughtyouwerelaughing。\"
Shewentabout，closingthecurtainsonaccountofhermother’sheadache，anddoingawkwardlyandimperfectlythethingsthatIrenewouldhavedonesoskilfullyforhercomfort。
Thedayworeawaytonightfall，andthenMrs。LaphamsaidsheMUSTknow。Penelopesaidtherewasnoonetoask；
theclerkswouldallbegonehome，andhermothersaidyes，therewasMr。Corey；theycouldsendandaskhim；
hewouldknow。
Thegirlhesitated。\"Verywell，\"shesaid，then，scarcelyaboveawhisper，andshepresentlylaughedhuskily。
\"Mr。Coreyseemsfatedtocomein，somewhere。Iguessit’saProvidence，mother。\"
Shesentoffanote，inquiringwhetherhecouldtellherjustwhereherfatherhadexpectedtobethatnight；
andtheanswercamequicklybackthatCoreydidnotknow，butwouldlookupthebook—keeperandinquire。
Thisofficebroughthiminperson，anhourlater，totellPenelopethattheColonelwastobeatLaphamthatnightandnextday。
\"HecameinfromNewYork，inagreathurry，andrushedoffassoonashecouldpackhisbag，\"Penelopeexplained，\"andwehadn’tachancetoaskhimwherehewastobeto—night。Andmotherwasn’tverywell，and————\"
\"Ithoughtshewasn’tlookingwellwhenshewasattheofficeto—day。AndsoIthoughtIwouldcomeratherthansend，\"
Coreyexplainedinhisturn。
\"Oh，thankyou！\"
\"IfthereisanythingIcando——telegraphColonelLapham，oranything？\"
\"Ohno，thankyou；mother’sbetternow。Shemerelywantedtobesurewherehewas。\"
Hedidnotoffertogo，uponthisconclusionofhisbusiness，buthopedhewasnotkeepingherfromhermother。
Shethankedhimonceagain，andsaidno，thathermotherwasmuchbettersinceshehadhadacupoftea；andthentheylookedateachother，andwithoutanyapparentexchangeofintelligenceheremained，andateleveno’clockhewasstillthere。Hewashonestinsayinghedidnotknowitwassolate；buthemadenopretenceofbeingsorry，andshetooktheblametoherself。
\"Ioughtn’ttohaveletyoustay，\"shesaid。\"Butwithfathergone，andallthattroublehangingoverus————\"
Shewasallowinghimtoholdherhandamomentatthedoor，towhichshehadfollowedhim。
\"I’msogladyoucouldletme！\"hesaid，\"andIwanttoaskyounowwhenImaycomeagain。Butifyouneedme，you’ll————\"
Asharppullatthedoor—belloutsidemadethemstartasunder，andatasignfromPenelope，whoknewthatthemaidswereabedbythistime，heopenedit。
\"Why，Irene！\"shriekedthegirl。
Ireneenteredwiththehackman，whohaddrivenherunheardtothedoor，followingwithhersmallbags，andkissedhersisterwithresolutecomposure。\"That’sall，\"shesaidtothehackman。\"Igavemycheckstotheexpressman，\"
sheexplainedtoPenelope。
Coreystoodhelpless。Ireneturneduponhim，andgavehimherhand。\"Howdoyoudo，Mr。Corey？\"shesaid，withacouragethatsentathrillofadmiringgratitudethroughhim。\"Where’smamma，Pen？Papagonetobed？\"
Penelopefalteredoutsomereplyembodyingthefacts，andIreneranupthestairstohermother’sroom。
Mrs。Laphamstartedupinbedatherapparition。
\"IreneLapham\"
\"UncleWilliamthoughtheoughttotellmethetroublepapawasin；anddidyouthinkIwasgoingtostayofftherejunketing，whileyouweregoingthroughallthisathome，andPenactingsosilly，too？Yououghttohavebeenashamedtoletmestaysolong！IstartedjustassoonasIcouldpack。Didyougetmydespatch？ItelegraphedfromSpringfield。Butitdon’tmatter，now。HereIam。
AndIdon’tthinkIneedhavehurriedonPen’saccount，\"
sheadded，withanaccentpropheticofthesortofoldmaidshewouldbecome，ifshehappenednottomarry。
\"Didyouseehim？\"askedhermother。\"It’sthefirsttimehe’sbeenheresinceshetoldhimhemustn’tcome。\"
\"Iguessitisn’tthelasttime，bythelooks，\"saidIrene，andbeforeshetookoffherbonnetshebegantoundosomeofPenelope’smistakenarrangementsoftheroom。
Atbreakfast，whereCoreyandhismothermetthenextmorningbeforehisfatherandsisterscamedown，hetoldher，withembarrassmentwhichtoldmuchmore，thathewishednowthatshewouldgoandcallupontheLaphams。
Mrs。Coreyturnedalittlepale，butshutherlipstightandmournedinsilencewhateverhopesshehadlatelypermittedherself。SheansweredwithRomanfortitude：
\"Ofcourse，ifthere’sanythingbetweenyouandMissLapham，yourfamilyoughttorecogniseit。\"
\"Yes，\"saidCorey。
\"Youwerereluctanttohavemecallatfirst，butnowiftheaffairisgoingon————\"
\"Itis！Ihope——yes，itis！\"
\"ThenIoughttogoandseeher，withyoursisters；
andsheoughttocomehereand——weoughtalltoseeherandmakethematterpublic。Wecan’tdosotoosoon。
Itwillseemasifwewereashamedifwedon’t。\"
\"Yes，youarequiteright，mother，\"saidtheyoungmangratefully，\"andIfeelhowkindandgoodyouare。
Ihavetriedtoconsideryouinthismatter，thoughI
don’tseemtohavedoneso；Iknowwhatyourrightsare，andIwishwithallmyheartthatIweremeetingevenyourtastesperfectly。ButIknowyouwilllikeherwhenyoucometoknowher。It’sbeenveryhardforhereveryway——abouthersister，——andshe’smadeagreatsacrificeforme。
She’sactednobly。\"
Mrs。Corey，whosethoughtscannotalwaysbereported，saidshewassureofit，andthatallshedesiredwasherson’shappiness。
\"She’sbeenveryunwillingtoconsideritanengagementonthataccount，andonaccountofColonelLapham’sdifficulties。
Ishouldliketohaveyougo，now，forthatveryreason。
Idon’tknowjusthowseriousthetroubleis；butitisn’tatimewhenwecanseemindifferent。\"
Thelogicofthiswasnotperhapssoapparenttotheglassesoffiftyastotheeyesoftwenty—six；
butMrs。Corey，howeversheviewedit，couldnotallowherselftoblenchbeforethesonwhomshehadtaughtthattowantmagnanimitywastobelessthangentlemanly。
Sheanswered，withwhatcomposureshecould，\"Iwilltakeyoursisters，\"andthenshemadesomenaturalinquiriesaboutLapham’saffairs。\"Oh，Ihopeitwillcomeoutallright，\"
Coreysaid，withalover’svaguesmile，andlefther。
Whenhisfathercamedown，rubbinghislonghandstogether，andlookingalooffromallthecaresofthepracticalworld，inanartisticwithdrawal，fromwhichhiseyerangedoverthebreakfast—tablebeforehesatdown，Mrs。Coreytoldhimwhatsheandtheirsonhadbeensaying。
Helaughed，withadelicateimpersonalappreciationofthepredicament。\"Well，Anna，youcan’tsaybutifyoueverwereguiltyofsupposingyourselfporcelain，thisisajustpunishmentofyourarrogance。Hereyouareboundbytheveryqualityonwhichyou’vepridedyourselftobehavewelltoabitofearthenwarewhoisapparentlyindangeroflosingthegildingthatrenderedhertolerable。\"
\"Wenevercaredforthemoney，\"saidMrs。Corey。
\"Youknowthat。\"
\"No；andnowwecan’tseemtocareforthelossofit。
Thatwouldbestillworse。Eitherhornofthedilemmagoresus。Well，westillhavethecomfortwehadinthebeginning；wecan’thelpourselves；andweshouldonlymakebadworsebytrying。UnlesswecanlooktoTom’sinamorataherselfforhelp。\"
Mrs。Coreyshookherheadsogloomilythatherhusbandbrokeoffwithanotherlaugh。Butatthecontinuedtroubleofherface，hesaid，sympathetically：\"Mydear，Iknowit’saverydisagreeableaffair；andIdon’tthinkeitherofushasfailedtoseethatitwassofromthebeginning。
Ihavehadmywayofexpressingmysenseofit，andyouyours，butwehavealwaysbeenofthesamemindaboutit。
WewouldbothhavepreferredtohaveTommarryinhisownset；theLaphamsareaboutthelastsetwecouldhavewishedhimtomarryinto。TheyAREuncultivatedpeople，andsofarasIhaveseenthem，I’mnotabletobelievethatpovertywillimprovethem。Still，itmay。
Letushopeforthebest，andletusbehaveaswellasweknowhow。I’msureYOUwillbehavewell，andIshalltry。
I’mgoingwithyoutocallonMissLapham。Thisisathingthatcan’tbedonebyhalves！\"
HecuthisorangeintheNeapolitanmanner，andateitinquarters。
XXVII。
IRENEdidnotleavehermotherinanyillusionconcerninghercousinWillandherself。Shesaidtheyhadallbeenasnicetoherastheycouldbe，andwhenMrs。Laphamhintedatwhathadbeeninherthoughts，——orherhopes，rather，——Ireneseverelysnubbedthenotion。Shesaidthathewasasgoodasengagedtoagirloutthere，andthathehadneverdreamtofher。Hermotherwonderedatherseverity；
inthesefewmonthsthegirlhadtoughenedandhardened；
shehadlostallherbabyishdependenceandpliability；
shewaslikeiron；andhereandthereshewassharpenedtoacuttingedge。Ithadbeenalifeanddeathstrugglewithher；shehadconquered，butshehadalsonecessarilylostmuch。Perhapswhatshehadlostwasnotworthkeeping；
butatanyrateshehadlostit。
Sherequiredfromhermotherastrictandaccurateaccountofherfather’saffairs，sofarasMrsLaphamknewthem；
andsheshowedabusiness—likequicknessincomprehendingthemthatPenelopehadneverpretendedto。Withhersistersheignoredthepastascompletelyasitwaspossibletodo；
andshetreatedbothCoreyandPenelopewiththejusticewhichtheirinnocenceofvoluntaryoffencedeserved。
Itwasadifficultpart，andshekeptawayfromthemasmuchasshecould。Shehadbeeneasilyexcused，onapleaoffatiguefromherjourney，whenMr。andMrs。Coreyhadcalledthedayafterherarrival，andMrs。Laphambeingstillunwell，Penelopereceivedthemalone。
Thegirlhadinstinctivelyjudgedbestthattheyshouldknowtheworstatonce，andsheletthemhavethefullbruntofthedrawing—room，whileshewasscrewinghercourageuptocomedownandseethem。Shewasafterwards——monthsafterwards——abletoreporttoCoreythatwhensheenteredtheroomhisfatherwassittingwithhishatonhisknees，alittletiltedawayfromtheEmancipationgroup，asifheexpectedtheLincolntohithim，withthatliftedhandofbenediction；andthatMrs。CoreylookedasifshewerenotsurebuttheEaglepecked。ButforthetimebeingPenelopewasasnearlycrazedasmightbebythecomplicationsofherposition，andreceivedhervisitorswithapiteousdistractionwhichcouldnotfailoftouchingBromfieldCorey’sItalianisedsympatheticism。
Hewasverypoliteandtenderwithheratfirst，andendedbymakingajokewithher，towhichPeneloperesponded，inhersort。Hesaidhehopedtheypartedfriends，ifnotquiteacquaintances；andshesaidshehopedtheywouldbeabletorecogniseeachotheriftheyevermetagain。
\"ThatiswhatImeantbyherpertness，\"saidMrsCorey，whentheyweredrivingaway。
\"Wasitverypert？\"hequeried。\"Thechildhadtoanswersomething。\"
\"Iwouldmuchrathershehadanswerednothing，underthecircumstances，\"saidMrs。Corey。\"However！\"sheaddedhopelessly。\"Oh，she’samerrylittlegrig，youcanseethat，andthere’snoharminher。IcanunderstandalittlewhyaformalfellowlikeTomshouldbetakenwithher。Shehasn’ttheleastreverence，Isuppose，andjokedwiththeyoungmanfromthebeginning。
Youmustremember，Anna，thattherewasatimewhenyoulikedmyjoking。\"
\"Itwasaverydifferentthing！\"
\"Butthatdrawing—room，\"pursuedCorey；\"really，Idon’tseehowTomstandsthat。Anna，aterriblethoughtoccurstome！FancyTombeingmarriedinfrontofthatgroup，withafloralhorse—shoeintuberosescomingdownoneithersideofit！\"
\"Bromfield！\"criedhiswife，\"youareunmerciful。\"
\"No，no，mydear，\"heargued；\"merelyimaginative。
AndIcanevenimaginethatlittlethingfindingTomjusttheleastbitslow，attimes，ifitwerenotforhisgoodness。TomissokindthatI’mconvincedhesometimesfeelsyourjokeinhisheartwhenhisheadisn’tquiteclearaboutit。Well，wewillnotdespond，mydear。\"
\"Yourfatherseemedactuallytolikeher，\"Mrs。Coreyreportedtoherdaughters，verymuchshakeninherownprejudicesbythefact。Ifthegirlwerenotsooffensivetohisfastidiousness，theremightbesomehopethatshewasnotsooffensiveasMrs。Coreyhadthought。
\"IwonderhowshewillstrikeYOU，\"sheconcluded，lookingfromonedaughtertoanother，asiftryingtodecidewhichofthemwouldlikePenelopeleast。
Irene’sreturnandthevisitoftheCoreysformedadistractionfortheLaphamsinwhichtheirimpendingtroublesseemedtohangfurtheraloof；butitwasonlyoneofthosereliefswhichmarkthecourseofadversity，anditwasnotoneofthecheerfulreliefs。Atanyothertime，eitherincidentwouldhavebeenananxietyandcareforMrs。Laphamwhichshewouldhavefoundhardtobear；butnowshealmostwelcomedthem。AttheendofthreedaysLaphamreturned，andhiswifemethimasifnothingunusualhadmarkedtheirparting；shereservedheratonementforafittertime；hewouldknownowfromthewaysheactedthatshefeltallrighttowardshim。
Hetookverylittlenoteofhermanner，butmethisfamilywithanausterequietthatpuzzledher，andasortofpensivedignitythatrefinedhisrudenesstoaneffectthatsometimescomestosuchnaturesafterlongsickness，whentheanimalstrengthhasbeentaxedandlowered。
Hesatsilentwithheratthetableaftertheirgirlshadleftthemalone，andseeingthathedidnotmeantospeak，shebegantoexplainwhyIrenehadcomehome，andtopraiseher。