Butthewallswereup，andthestuddinghadalreadygivenskeletonshapetotheinterior。Thefloorswereroughlyboardedover，andthestairwayswereinplace，withprovisionaltreadsrudelylaid。Theyhadnotbeguntolathandplasteryet，buttheclean，freshsmellofthemortarinthewallsminglingwiththepungentfragranceofthepineshavingsneutralisedtheVenetianodourthatdrewinoverthewater。Itwaspleasantlyshadythere，thoughforthematterofthattheheatofthemorninghadallbeenwashedoutoftheatmospherebyatideofeastwindsettinginatnoon，andthethrilling，deliciouscoolofaBostonsummerafternoonbathedeverynerve。
TheforemanwentaboutwithMrs。Lapham，showingherwherethedoorsweretobe；butLaphamsoontiredofthis，andhavingfoundapinestickofperfectgrain，heabandonedhimselftothepleasureofwhittlingitinwhatwastobethereception—room，wherehesatlookingoutonthestreetfromwhatwastobethebay—window。Herehewaspresentlyjoinedbyhisgirls，who，afterlocatingtheirownroomonthewatersideabovethemusic—room，hadnomorewishtoenterintodetailsthantheirfather。
\"Comeandtakeaseatinthebay—window，ladies，\"
becalledouttothem，astheylookedinathimthroughtheribsofthewall。Hejocoselymaderoomforthemonthetrestleonwhichhesat。
Theycamegingerlyandvaguelyforward，asyoungladiesdowhentheywishnottoseemtobegoingtodoathingtheyhavemadeuptheirmindstodo。Whentheyhadtakentheirplacesontheirtrestle，theycouldnothelplaughingwithscorn，openandacceptabletotheirfather；
andIrenecurledherchinup，inalittlewayshehad，andsaid，\"Howridiculous！\"tohersister。
\"Well，Icantellyouwhat，\"saidtheColonel，infondenjoymentoftheiryoungladyishness，\"yourmotherwa’n’tashamedtositwithmeonatrestlewhenIcalledherouttolookatthefirstcoatofmypaintthatIevertriedonahouse。\"
\"Yes；we’veheardthatstory，\"saidPenelope，witheasysecurityofherfather’slikingwhatshesaid。
\"Wewerebroughtuponthatstory。\"
\"Well，it’sagoodstory，\"saidherfather。
Atthatmomentayoungmancamesuddenlyinrange，whobegantolookupatthesignsofbuildingasheapproached。
Hedroppedhiseyesincomingabreastofthebay—window，whereLaphamsatwithhisgirls，andthenhisfacelightened，andhetookoffhishatandbowedtoIrene。Sherosemechanicallyfromthetrestle，andherfacelightenedtoo。
Shewasaveryprettyfigureofagirl，afterourfashionofgirls，roundandslimandflexible，andherfacewasadmirablyregular。Buthergreatbeauty——anditwasverygreat——wasinhercolouring。
Thiswasofaneffectforwhichthereisnowordbutdelicious，asweuseitoffruitorflowers。
Shehadredhair，likeherfatherinhisearlierdays，andthetintsofhercheeksandtemplesweresuchassuggestedMay—flowersandapple—blossomsandpeaches。
Insteadofthegreythatoftendullsthiscomplexion，hereyeswereofablueatonceintenseandtender，andtheyseemedtoburnonwhattheylookedatwithasoft，lambentflame。ItwaswellunderstoodbyhersisterandmotherthathereyesalwaysexpressedagreatdealmorethanIreneeverthoughtorfelt；butthisisnotsayingthatshewasnotaverysensiblegirlandveryhonest。
Theyoungmanfalteredperceptibly，andIrenecamealittleforward，andthentheregushedfromthembothasmilingexchangeofgreeting，ofwhichthesumwasthathesupposedshewasoutoftown，andthatshehadnotknownthathehadgotback。Apauseensued，andflushingagaininheruncertaintyastowhethersheoughtoroughtnottodoit，shesaid，\"Myfather，Mr。Corey；andmysister。\"
Theyoungmantookoffhishatagain，showinghisshapelyhead，withalineofwholesomesunburnceasingwheretherecentlyandcloselyclippedhairbegan。
Hewasdressedinafinesummercheck，withabluewhite—
dottedneckerchief，andhehadawhitehat，inwhichhelookedverywellwhenheputitbackonhishead。
Hiswholedressseemedveryfreshandnew，andinfacthehadcastasidehisTexanhabilimentsonlythedaybefore。
\"Howdoyoudo，sir？\"saidtheColonel，steppingtothewindow，andreachingoutofitthehandwhichtheyoungmanadvancedtotake。\"Won’tyoucomein？We’reathomehere。
HouseI’mbuilding。\"
\"Oh，indeed？\"returnedtheyoungman；andhecamepromptlyupthesteps，andthroughitsribsintothereception—room。
\"Haveatrestle？\"askedtheColonel，whilethegirlsexchangedlittleshocksofterrorandamusementattheeyes。
\"Thankyou，\"saidtheyoungmansimply，andsatdown。
\"Mrs。Laphamisupstairsinterviewingthecarpenter，butshe’llbedowninaminute。\"
\"Ihopeshe’squitewell，\"saidCorey。\"Isupposed——I
wasafraidshemightbeoutoftown。\"
\"Well，weareofftoNantasketnextweek。Thehousekeptusintownprettylate。\"
\"Itmustbeveryexciting，buildingahouse，\"saidCoreytotheeldersister。
\"Yes，itis，\"sheassented，loyallyrefusinginIrene’sinteresttheopportunityofsayinganythingmore。
Coreyturnedtothelatter。\"Isupposeyou’veallhelpedtoplanit？\"
\"Ohno；thearchitectandmammadidthat。\"
\"Buttheyallowedtherestofustoagree，whenweweregood，\"
saidPenelope。
Coreylookedather，andsawthatshewasshorterthanhersister，andhadadarkcomplexion。
\"It’sveryexciting，\"saidIrene。
\"Comeup，\"saidtheColonel，rising，\"andlookroundifyou’dliketo。\"
\"Ishouldliketo，verymuch，\"saidtheyoungman。
Hehelpedtheyoungladiesovercrevassesofcarpentryandalongnarrowpathsofplanking，onwhichtheyhadmadetheirwayunassistedbefore。Theeldersisterlefttheyoungertoprofitsolelybytheseofficesasmuchaspossible。Shewalkedbetweenthemandherfather，whowentbefore，lecturingoneachapartment，andtakingthecreditofthewholeaffairmoreandmoreashetalkedon。
\"There！\"hesaid，\"we’regoingtothrowoutabay—
windowhere，soasgetthewaterallthewayupanddown。
Thisismygirls’room，\"headded，lookingproudlyatthemboth。
Itseemedterriblyintimate。Ireneblusheddeeplyandturnedherheadaway。
Buttheyoungmantookitall，apparently，assimplyastheirfather。\"Whatalovelylookout！\"hesaid。
TheBackBayspreaditsglassysheetbeforethem，emptybutforafewsmallboatsandalargeschooner，withhersailsclose—furledanddrippinglikesnowfromherspars，whichatugwasrapidlytowingtowardCambridge。
Thecarpentryofthatcity，embankedandemboweredinfoliage，sharedthepicturesquenessofCharlestowninthedistance。
\"Yes，\"saidLapham，\"Igoinforusingthebestroomsinyourhouseyourself。Ifpeoplecometostaywithyou，theycanputupwiththesecondbest。Thoughwedon’tintendtohaveanysecondbest。Thereain’tgoingtobeanunpleasantroominthewholehouse，fromtoptobottom。\"
\"Oh，Iwishpapawouldn’tbragso！\"breathedIrenetohersister，wheretheystood，alittleapart，lookingawaytogether。
TheColonelwenton。\"No，sir，\"heswelledout，\"Ihavegoneinformakingaregularjobofit。I’vegotthebestarchitectinBoston，andI’mbuildingahousetosuitmyself。
Andifmoneycandoit，guessI’mgoingtobesuited。\"
\"Itseemsverydelightful，\"saidCorey，\"andveryoriginal。\"
\"Yes，sir。Thatfellowhadn’ttalkedfiveminutesbeforeIsawthatheknewwhathewasabouteverytime。\"
\"Iwishmammawouldcome！\"breathedIreneagain。
\"Ishallcertainlygothroughthefloorifpapasaysanythingmore。\"
\"Theyaremakingagreatmanyveryprettyhousesnowadays，\"
saidtheyoungman。\"It’sverydifferentfromtheold—fashionedbuilding。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheColonel，withalargetolerationoftoneandadeepbreaththatexpandedhisamplechest，\"wespendmoreonourhousesnowadays。Istartedouttobuildaforty—thousand—dollarhouse。Well，sir！thatfellowhasgotmeinformorethansixtythousandalready，andIdoubtifIgetoutofitmuchunderahundred。
Youcan’thaveanicehousefornothing。It’sjustlikeorderingapictureofapainter。Youpayhimenough，andhecanaffordtopaintyouafirst—classpicture；
andifyoudon’t，hecan’t。That’sallthereisofit。
Why，theytellmethatA。T。StewartgaveoneofthoseFrenchfellowssixtythousanddollarsforalittleseven—by—ninepicturetheotherday。Yes，sir，giveanarchitectmoneyenough，andhe’llgiveyouanicehouseeverytime。\"
\"I’veheardthatthey’resharpatgettingmoneytorealisetheirideas，\"assentedtheyoungman，withalaugh。
\"Well，Ishouldsayso！\"exclaimedtheColonel。
\"Theycometoyouwithanimprovementthatyoucan’tresist。
Ithasgoodlooksandcommon—senseandeverythinginitsfavour，andit’slikethrowingmoneyawaytorefuse。
Andtheyalwaysmanagetogetyouwhenyourwifeisaround，andthenyou’rehelpless。\"
TheColonelhimselfsettheexampleoflaughingatthisjoke，andtheyoungmanjoinedhimlessobstreperously。
Thegirlsturned，andhesaid，\"Idon’tthinkIeversawthisviewtobetteradvantage。ItssurprisinghowwelltheMemorialHallandtheCambridgespiresworkup，overthere。Andthesunsetsmustbemagnificent。\"
Laphamdidnotwaitforthemtoreply。
\"Yes，sir，it’saboutthesightliestviewIknowof。
IalwaysdidlikethewatersideofBeacon。LongbeforeI
ownedpropertyhere，oreverexpectedto，m’wifeandIusedtoridedownthisway，andstopthebuggytogetthisviewoverthewater。WhenpeopletalktomeabouttheHill，Icanunderstand’em。It’ssnug，andit’sold—fashioned，andit’swherethey’vealwayslived。ButwhentheytalkaboutCommonwealthAvenue，Idon’tknowwhattheymean。
Itdon’tholdacandletothewatersideofBeacon。
You’vegotjustasmuchwindoverthere，andyou’vegotjustasmuchdust，andalltheviewyou’vegotistheviewacrossthestreet。No，sir！whenyoucometotheBackBayatall，givemethewatersideofBeacon。\"
\"Oh，Ithinkyou’requiteright，\"saidtheyoungman。
\"Theviewhereiseverything。\"
Irenelooked\"Iwonderwhatpapaisgoingtosaynext！\"
athersister，whentheirmother’svoicewasheardoverhead，approachingtheopeninginthefloorwherethestairsweretobe；andshepresentlyappeared，withonesubstantialfootalongwayahead。Shewasfollowedbythecarpenter，withhisrulestickingoutofhisoverallspocket，andshewasstilltalkingtohimaboutsomemeasurementstheyhadbeentaking，whentheyreachedthebottom，sothatIrenehadtosay，\"Mamma，Mr。Corey，\"beforeMrs。Laphamwasawareofhim。
Hecameforwardwithasmuchgraceandspeedastheuncertainfootingwouldallow，andMrs。Laphamgavehimastoutsqueezeofhercomfortablehand。
\"Why，Mr。Corey！Whendidyougetback？\"
\"Yesterday。IthardlyseemsasifIHADgotback。
Ididn’texpecttofindyouinanewhouse。\"
\"Well，youareourfirstcaller。Ipresumeyouwon’texpectIshouldmakeexcusesforthestateyoufinditin。
HastheColonelbeendoingthehonours？\"
\"Ohyes。AndI’veseenmoreofyourhousethanIevershallagain，Isuppose。\"
\"Well，Ihopenot，\"saidLapham。\"There’llbeseveralchancestoseeusintheoldoneyet，beforeweleave。\"
Heprobablythoughtthisaneat，off—handwayofmakingtheinvitation，forhelookedathiswoman—kindasifhemightexpecttheiradmiration。
\"Ohyes，indeed！\"saidhiswife。\"WeshallbeverygladtoseeMr。Corey，anytime。\"
\"Thankyou；Ishallbegladtocome。\"
HeandtheColonelwentbefore，andhelpedtheladiesdownthedifficultdescent。Ireneseemedlesssure—
footedthantheothers；sheclungtotheyoungman’shandanimperceptiblemomentlongerthanneedbe，orelsehedetainedher。Hefoundopportunityofsaying，\"It’ssopleasantseeingyouagain，\"adding，\"allofyou。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidthegirl。\"Theymustallbegladtohaveyouathomeagain。\"
Coreylaughed。
\"Well，Isupposetheywouldbe，iftheywereathometohaveme。Butthefactis，there’snobodyinthehousebutmyfatherandmyself，andI’monlyonmywaytoBarHarbour。\"
\"Oh！Aretheythere？\"
\"Yes；itseemstobetheonlyplacewheremymothercangetjustthecombinationofseaandmountainairthatshewants。\"
\"WegotoNantasket——it’sconvenientforpapa；andI
don’tbelieveweshallgoanywhereelsethissummer，mamma’ssotakenupwithbuilding。Wedonothingbuttalkhouse；andPensaysweeatandsleephouse。
Shesaysitwouldbeasortofrelieftogoandliveintentsforawhile。\"
\"Sheseemstohaveagooddealofhumour，\"theyoungmanventured，upontheslenderevidence。
Theothershadgonetothebackofthehouseamoment，tolookatsomesuggestedchange。IreneandCoreywereleftstandinginthedoorway。Alovelylightofhappinessplayedoverherfaceandetherealiseditsdeliciousbeauty。
Shehadsomeadotokeepherselffromsmilingoutright，andtheeffortdeepenedthedimplesinhercheeks；
shetrembledalittle，andthependantsshookinthetipsofherprettyears。
Theotherscamebackdirectly，andtheyalldescendedthefrontstepstogether。TheColonelwasabouttorenewhisinvitation，buthecaughthiswife’seye，and，withoutbeingabletointerpretitswarningexactly，wasabletoarresthimself，andwentaboutgatheringupthehitching—weight，whiletheyoungmanhandedtheladiesintothephaeton。Thenheliftedhishat，andtheladiesallbowed，andtheLaphamsdroveoff，Irene’sblueribbonsflutteringbackwardfromherhat，asiftheywereherclingingthoughts。
\"Sothat’syoungCorey，isit？\"saidtheColonel，lettingthestatelystepping，tallcoupehorsemakehiswayhomewardatwillwiththebeach—wagon。\"Well，heain’tabad—lookingfellow，andhe’sgotagood，fairandsquare，honesteye。ButIdon’tseehowafellowlikethat，that’shadeveryadvantageinthisworld，canhangroundhomeandlethisfathersupporthim。
Seemstome，ifIhadhishealthandhiseducation，Ishouldwanttostrikeoutanddosomethingformyself。\"
Thegirlsonthebackseathadholdofeachother’shands，andtheyexchangedelectricalpressuresatthedifferentpointstheirfathermade。
\"Ipresume，\"saidMrs。Lapham，\"thathewasdowninTexaslookingaftersomething\"
\"He’scomebackwithoutfindingit，Iguess。\"
\"Well，ifhisfatherhasthemoneytosupporthim，anddon’tcomplainoftheburden，Idon’tseewhyWEshould。\"
\"Oh，Iknowit’snoneofmybusiness，butIdon’tliketheprinciple。IliketoseeamanACTlikeaman。
Idon’tliketoseehimtakencareoflikeayounglady。
Now，Isupposethatfellowbelongstotwoorthreeclubs，andhangsaround’emallday，lookin’outthewindow，——I’veseen’em，——insteadoftryin’tohuntupsomethingtodoforanhonestlivin’。\"
\"IfIwasayoungman，\"Penelopestruckin，\"Iwouldbelongtotwentyclubs，ifIcouldfindthemandIwouldhangaroundthemall，andlookoutthewindowtillIdropped。\"
\"Oh，youwould，wouldyou？\"demandedherfather，delightedwithherdefiance，andtwistinghisfatheadaroundoverhisshouldertolookather。\"Well，youwouldn’tdoitonmymoney，ifyouwereasonofMINE，younglady。\"
\"Oh，youwaitandsee，\"retortedthegirl。
Thismadethemalllaugh。ButtheColonelrecurredseriouslytothesubjectthatnight，ashewaswindinguphiswatchpreparatorytoputtingitunderhispillow。
\"Icouldmakeamanofthatfellow，ifIhadhiminthebusinesswithme。There’sstuffinhim。ButIspokeupthewayIdidbecauseIdidn’tchooseIreneshouldthinkIwouldstandanykindofaloafer’round——Idon’tcarewhoheis，orhowwelleducatedorbroughtup。
AndIguess，fromthewayPenspokeup，that’RenesawwhatIwasdrivingat。\"
Thegirl，apparently，waslessanxiousaboutherfather’sideasandprinciplesthanabouttheimpressionwhichhehadmadeupontheyoungman。Shehadtalkeditoverandoverwithhersisterbeforetheywenttobed，andsheaskedindespair，asshestoodlookingatPenelopebrushingoutherhairbeforetheglass——
\"Doyousupposehe’llthinkpapaalwaystalksinthatbraggingway？\"
\"He’llberightifhedoes，\"answeredhersister。
\"It’sthewayfatheralwaysdoestalk。Younevernoticeditsomuch，that’sall。AndIguessifhecan’tmakeallowanceforfather’sbragging，he’llbealittletoogood。
IenjoyedhearingtheColonelgoon。\"
\"Iknowyoudid，\"returnedIreneindistress。
Thenshesighed。\"Didn’tyouthinkhelookedverynice？\"
\"Who？TheColonel？\"Penelopehadcaughtupthehabitofcallingherfathersofromhermother，andsheusedhistitleinallherjocoseandperversemoods。
\"YouknowverywellIdon’tmeanpapa，\"poutedIrene。
\"Oh！Mr。Corey！Whydidn’tyousayMr。CoreyifyoumeantMr。Corey？IfImeantMr。Corey，IshouldsayMr。Corey。
Itisn’tswearing！Corey，Corey，Co————\"
Hersisterclappedherhandoverhermouth\"WillyouHUSH，youwretchedthing？\"shewhimpered。\"Thewholehousecanhearyou。\"
\"Ohyes，theycanhearmealloverthesquare。
Well，Ithinkhelookedwellenoughforaplainyouth，whohadn’ttakenhishairoutofcurl—papersforsometime。\"
\"ItWASclippedprettyclose，\"Ireneadmitted；andtheybothlaughedatthedrabeffectofMr。Corey’sskull，astheyrememberedit。\"Didyoulikehisnose？\"
askedIrenetimorously。
\"Ah，nowyou’reCOMINGtosomething，\"saidPenelope。
\"Idon’tknowwhether，ifIhadsomuchofanose，IshouldwantitallRoman。\"
\"Idon’tseehowyoucanexpecttohaveanosepartonekindandpartanother，\"arguedIrene。
\"Oh，Ido。Lookatmine！\"Sheturnedasideherface，soastogetathree—quartersviewofhernoseintheglass，andcrossingherhands，withthebrushinoneofthem，beforeher，regardeditjudicially。\"Now，mynosestartedGrecian，butchangeditsmindbeforeitgotoverthebridge，andconcludedtobesnubtherestoftheway。\"
\"You’vegotaveryprettynose，Pen，\"saidIrene，joininginthecontemplationofitsreflexintheglass。
\"Don’tsaythatinhopesofgettingmetocomplimentHIS，Mrs。\"——shestopped，andthenaddeddeliberately——\"C。！\"
Irenealsohadherhair—brushinherhand，andnowshesprangathersisterandbeatherverysoftlyontheshoulderwiththeflatofit。\"Youmeanthing！\"
shecried，betweenhershutteeth，blushinghotly。
\"Well，D。，then，\"saidPenelope。\"You’venothingtosayagainstD。？ThoughIthinkC。isjustasniceaninitial。\"
\"Oh！\"criedtheyounger，forallexpressionofunspeakablethings。
\"Ithinkhehasverygoodeyes，\"admittedPenelope。
\"Oh，heHAS！Anddidn’tyoulikethewayhissackcoatset？Soclosetohim，andyetfree——kindofpeelingawayatthelapels？\"
\"Yes，Ishouldsayhewasayoungmanofgreatjudgment。
Heknowshowtochoosehistailor。\"
Irenesatdownontheedgeofachair。\"Itwassoniceofyou，Pen，tocomein，thatway，aboutclubs。\"
\"Oh，Ididn’tmeananythingbyitexceptopposition，\"
saidPenelope。\"Icouldn’thavefatherswellingonso，withoutsayingsomething。\"
\"Howhedidswell！\"sighedIrene。\"Wasn’titarelieftohavemammacomedown，evenifshedidseemtobeallstockingatfirst？\"
Thegirlsbrokeintoawildgiggle，andhidtheirfacesineachother’snecks。\"IthoughtISHOULDdie，\"
saidIrene。
\"’It’sjustlikeorderingapainting，’\"saidPenelope，recallingherfather’stalk，withaneffectofdreamyabsent—mindedness。\"’Yougivethepaintermoneyenough，andhecanaffordtopaintyouafirst—classpicture。
Giveanarchitectmoneyenough，andhe’llgiveyouafirst—classhouse，everytime。’\"
\"Oh，wasn’titawful！\"moanedhersister。\"Noonewouldeverhavesupposedthathehadfoughttheveryideaofanarchitectforweeks，beforehegavein。\"
Penelopewenton。\"’IalwaysdidlikethewatersideofBeacon，——longbeforeIownedpropertythere。
WhenyoucometotheBackBayatall，givemethewatersideofBeacon。’\"
\"Ow—w—w—w！\"shriekedIrene。\"DOstop！\"
Thedooroftheirmother’schamberopenedbelow，andthevoiceoftherealColonelcalled，\"Whatareyoudoingupthere，girls？Whydon’tyougotobed？\"
Thisextortednervousshrieksfrombothofthem。
TheColonelheardasoundofscurryingfeet，whiskingdrapery，andslammingdoors。Thenheheardoneofthedoorsopenedagain，andPenelopesaid，\"IwasonlyrepeatingsomethingyousaidwhenyoutalkedtoMr。Corey。\"
\"Verywell，now，\"answeredtheColonel。\"Youpostponetherestofittillto—morrowatbreakfast，andseethatyou’reupintimetoletMEhearit。\"
V。
ATthesamemomentyoungCoreylethimselfinathisowndoorwithhislatch—key，andwenttothelibrary，wherehefoundhisfatherturningthelastleavesofastoryintheRevuedesDeuxMondes。Hewasawhite—moustachedoldgentleman，whohadneverbeenabletoabandonhispince—nezforthesuperiorcomfortofspectacles，evenintheprivacyofhisownlibrary。Heknockedtheglassesoffashissoncameinandlookedupathimwithlazyfondness，rubbingthetworedmarksthattheyalwaysleaveonthesideofthenose。
\"Tom，\"hesaid，\"wheredidyougetsuchgoodclothes？\"
\"IstoppedoveradayinNewYork，\"repliedtheson，findinghimselfachair。\"I’mgladyoulikethem。\"
\"Yes，Ialwaysdolikeyourclothes，Tom，\"returnedthefatherthoughtfully，swinginghisglasses，\"ButIdon’tseehowyoucanafford’em，Ican’t。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidtheson，whodroppedthe\"sir\"intohisspeechwithhisfather，nowandthen，inanold—
fashionedwaythatwasrathercharming，\"yousee，Ihaveanindulgentparent。\"
\"Smoke？\"suggestedthefather，pushingtowardhissonaboxofcigarettes，fromwhichhehadtakenone。
\"No，thankyou，\"saidtheson。\"I’vedroppedthat。\"
\"Ah，isthatso？\"Thefatherbegantofeelaboutonthetableformatches，inthepurblindfashionofelderlymen。
Hissonrose，lightedone，andhandedittohim。
\"Well，——oh，thankyou，Tom！——Ibelievesomestatisticiansprovethatifyouwillgiveupsmokingyoucandressverywellonthemoneyyourtobaccocosts，evenifyouhaven’tgotanindulgentparent。ButI’mtoooldtotry。
Though，Iconfess，Ishouldratherliketheclothes。
Whomdidyoufindattheclub？\"
\"Therewerealotoffellowsthere，\"saidyoungCorey，watchingtheaccomplishedfumigationofhisfatherinanabsentway。
\"It’sastonishingwhatahardybreedtheyoungclub—menare，\"
observedhisfather。\"Allsummerthrough，inweatherthatsendsthesturdiestfemaleflyingtothesea—shore，youfindtheclubsfilledwithyoungmen，whodon’tseemtomindtheheatintheleast。\"
\"Bostonisn’tabadplace，attheworst，insummer，\"
saidtheson，decliningtotakeupthematterinitsironicalshape。
\"Idaresayitisn’t，comparedwithTexas，\"returnedthefather，smokingtranquillyon。\"ButIdon’tsupposeyoufindmanyofyourfriendsintownoutsideoftheclub。\"
\"No；you’rerequestedtoringatthereardoor，allthewaydownBeaconStreetandupCommonwealthAvenue。
It’sratherablankreceptionforthereturningprodigal。\"
\"Ah，theprodigalmusttakehischanceifhecomesbackoutofseason。ButI’mgladtohaveyouback，Tom，evenasitis，andIhopeyou’renotgoingtohurryaway。
Youmustgiveyourenergiesarest。\"
\"I’msureyouneverhadtoreproachmewithabnormalactivity，\"
suggestedtheson，takinghisfather’sjokesingoodpart。
\"No，Idon’tknowthatIhave，\"admittedtheelder。
\"You’vealwaysshownafairdegreeofmoderation，afterall。
Whatdoyouthinkoftakingupnext？ImeanafteryouhaveembracedyourmotherandsistersatMountDesert。
Realestate？Itseemstomethatitisabouttimeforyoutoopenoutasareal—estatebroker。Ordidyoueverthinkofmatrimony？\"
\"Well，notjustinthatway，sir，\"saidtheyoungman。
\"Ishouldn’tquiteliketoregarditasacareer，youknow。\"
\"No，no。Iunderstandthat。AndIquiteagreewithyou。
ButyouknowI’vealwayscontendedthattheaffectionscouldbemadetocombinepleasureandprofit。Iwouldn’thaveamanmarryformoney，——thatwouldberatherbad，——butIdon’tseewhy，whenitcomestofallinginlove，amanshouldn’tfallinlovewitharichgirlaseasilyasapoorone。Someoftherichgirlsareverynice，andIshouldsaythatthechancesofaquietlifewiththemwererathergreater。They’vealwayshadeverything，andtheywouldn’tbesoambitiousanduneasy。Don’tyouthinkso？\"
