Hetookitforgrantedthateverybodyhadreadit。
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，\"repliedCorey，\"Idon’tseetheEventsregularly。\"
\"Oh，itwasnothing。Theysentafellowdownheretointerviewme，andhegoteverythingaboutastwistedashecould。\"
\"Ibelievetheyalwaysdo，\"saidCorey。\"Ihadn’tseenit。
PerhapsitcameoutbeforeIgothome。\"
\"Perhapsitdid。\"
\"MynotionofmakingmyselfusefultoyouwasbasedonahintIgotfromoneofyourowncirculars。\"
Laphamwasproudofthosecirculars；hethoughttheyreadverywell。\"Whatwasthat？\"
\"Icouldputalittlecapitalintothebusiness，\"saidCorey，withthetentativeaccentofamanwhochancesathing。
\"I’vegotalittlemoney，butIdidn’timagineyoucaredforanythingofthatkind。\"
\"No，sir，Idon’t，\"returnedtheColonelbluntly。
\"I’vehadonepartner，andone’senough。\"
\"Yes，\"assentedtheyoungman，whodoubtlesshadhisownideasastoeventualities——orperhapsratherhadthevaguehopesofyouth。\"Ididn’tcometoproposeapartnership。
ButIseethatyouareintroducingyourpaintintotheforeignmarkets，andthereIreallythoughtImightbeofusetoyou，andtomyselftoo。\"
\"How？\"askedtheColonelscantly。
\"Well，Iknowtwoorthreelanguagesprettywell。
IknowFrench，andIknowGerman，andI’vegotaprettyfairsprinklingofSpanish。\"
\"Youmeanthatyoucantalkthem？\"askedtheColonel，withthemingledaweandslightthatsuchamanfeelsforsuchaccomplishments。\"Yes；andIcanwriteanintelligibleletterineitherofthem。\"
Laphamrubbedhisnose。\"It’seasyenoughtogetalltheletterswewanttranslated。\"
\"Well，\"pursuedCorey，notshowinghisdiscouragementifhefeltany，\"Iknowthecountrieswhereyouwanttointroducethispaintofyours。I’vebeenthere。
I’vebeeninGermanyandFranceandI’vebeeninSouthAmericaandMexico；I’vebeeninItaly，ofcourse。
IbelieveIcouldgotoanyofthosecountriesandplaceittoadvantage。\"
Laphamhadlistenedwithatraceofpersuasioninhisface，butnowheshookhishead。
\"It’splacingitselfasfastasthere’sanycallforit。
Itwouldn’tpayustosendanybodyouttolookafterit。
Yoursalaryandexpenseswouldeatupaboutallweshouldmakeonit。\"
\"Yes，\"returnedtheyoungmanintrepidly，\"ifyouhadtopaymeanysalaryandexpenses。\"
\"Youdon’tproposetoworkfornothing？\"
\"Iproposetoworkforacommission。\"TheColonelwasbeginningtoshakehisheadagain，butCoreyhurriedon。
\"Ihaven’tcometoyouwithoutmakingsomeinquiriesaboutthepaint，andIknowhowitstandswiththosewhoknowbest。
Ibelieveinit。\"
Laphamliftedhisheadandlookedattheyoungman，deeplymoved。
\"It’sthebestpaintinGod’suniverse，\"hesaidwiththesolemnityofprayer。
\"It’sthebestinthemarket，\"saidCorey；andherepeated，\"Ibelieveinit。\"
\"Youbelieveinit，\"begantheColonel，andthenhestopped。
Iftherehadreallybeenanypurchasingpowerinmoney，ayear’sincomewouldhaveboughtMrs。Lapham’sinstantpresence。
Hewarmedandsoftenedtotheyoungmanineveryway，notonlybecausehemustdosotoanyonewhobelievedinhispaint，butbecausehehaddonethisinnocentpersonthewrongoflisteningtoadefamationofhisinstinctandgoodsense，andhadbeenwillingtoseehimsufferforapurelysupposititiousoffence。
Coreyrose。
\"Youmustn’tletmeoutstaymytwentyminutes，\"hesaid，takingouthiswatch。\"Idon’texpectyoutogiveadecidedansweronthespot。AllthatIaskisthatyou’llconsidermyproposition。\"
\"Don’thurry，\"saidLapham。\"Sitstill！Iwanttotellyouaboutthispaint，\"headded，inavoicehuskywiththefeelingthathishearercouldnotdivine。
\"IwanttotellyouALLaboutit。\"
\"Icouldwalkwithyoutotheboat，\"suggestedtheyoungman。
\"Nevermindtheboat！Icantakethenextone。Lookhere！\"
TheColonelpulledopenadrawer，asCoreysatdownagain，andtookoutaphotographofthelocalityofthemine。
\"Here’swherewegetit。Thisphotographdon’thalfdotheplacejustice，\"hesaid，asiftheimperfectarthadslightedthefeaturesofabelovedface。
\"It’soneofthesightliestplacesinthecountry，andhere’stheveryspot\"——hecovereditwithhishugeforefinger——\"wheremyfatherfoundthatpaint，morethanforty——years——ago。Yes，sir！\"
Hewenton，andtoldthestoryinunsparingdetail，whilehischancefortheboatpassedunheeded，andtheclerksintheouterofficehunguptheirlinenofficecoatsandputontheirseersuckerorflannelstreetcoats。
Theyoungladywenttoo，andnobodywasleftbuttheporter，whomadefromtimetotimeanoisydemonstrationoffasteningadistantblind，orputtingsomethinginplace。
AtlasttheColonelrousedhimselffromtheautobiographicaldelightofthehistoryofhispaint。\"Well，sir，that’sthestory。\"
\"It’saninterestingstory，\"saidCorey，withalongbreath，astheyrosetogether，andLaphamputonhiscoat。
\"That’swhatitis，\"saidtheColonel。\"Well！\"headded，\"Idon’tseebutwhatwe’vegottohaveanothertalkaboutthisthing。It’sasurprisetome，andIdon’tseeexactlyhowyou’regoingtomakeitpay。\"
\"I’mwillingtotakethechances，\"answeredCorey。\"AsIsaid，Ibelieveinit。IshouldtrySouthAmericafirst。
IshouldtryChili。\"
\"Lookhere！\"saidLapham，withhiswatchinhishand。
\"Iliketogetthingsover。We’vejustgottimeforthesixo’clockboat。Whydon’tyoucomedownwithmetoNantasket？Icangiveyouabedaswellasnot。
Andthenwecanfinishup。\"
TheimpatienceofyouthinCoreyrespondedtotheimpatienceoftemperamentinhiselder。\"Why，Idon’tseewhyIshouldn’t，\"heallowedhimselftosay。
\"IconfessIshouldliketohaveitfinishedupmyself，ifitcouldbefinishedupintherightway。\"
\"Well，we’llsee。Dennis！\"Laphamcalledtotheremoteporter，andthemancame。\"Wanttosendanywordhome？\"
heaskedCorey。
\"No；myfatherandIgoandcomeaswelike，withoutkeepingaccountofeachother。IfIdon’tcomehome，heknowsthatI’mnotthere。That’sall。\"
\"Well，that’sconvenient。You’llfindyoucan’tdothatwhenyou’remarried。Nevermind，Dennis，\"saidtheColonel。
Hehadtimetobuytwonewspapersonthewharfbeforehejumpedonboardthesteam—boatwithCorey。
\"Justmadeit，\"hesaid；\"andthat’swhatIliketodo。
Ican’tstandittobeaboardmuchmorethanaminutebeforesheshovesout。\"HegaveoneofthenewspaperstoCoreyashespoke，andsethimtheexampleofcatchingupacamp—stoolontheirwaytothatpointontheboatwhichhisexperiencehadtaughthimwasthebest。
Heopenedhispaperatonceandbegantorunoveritsnews，whiletheyoungmanwatchedthespectacularrecessionofthecity，andwasvaguelyconsciousofthepeopleabouthim，andofthegaylifeofthewaterroundtheboat。
Theairfreshened；thecraftthinnedinnumber；theymetlargersail，laggingslowlyinwardintheafternoonlight；
theislandsofthebaywaxedandwanedasthesteamerapproachedandleftthembehind。
\"IhatetoseethemstirringupthoseSouthernfellowsagain，\"
saidtheColonel，speakingintothepaperonhislap。
\"Seemstomeit’stimetoletthoseoldissuesgo。\"
\"Yes，\"saidtheyoungman。\"Whataretheydoingnow？\"
\"Oh，stirringuptheConfederatebrigadiersinCongress。
Idon’tlikeit。Seemstome，ifourpartyhain’tgotanyotherstock—in—trade，webettershutupshopaltogether。\"
Laphamwenton，ashescannedhisnewspaper，togivehisideasofpublicquestions，inafragmentaryway，whileCoreylistenedpatiently，andwaitedforhimtocomebacktobusiness。Hefoldeduphispaperatlast，andstuffeditintohiscoatpocket。\"There’sonethingI
alwaysmakeitaruletodo，\"hesaid，\"andthatistogivemymindacompleterestfrombusinesswhileI’mgoingdownontheboat。Iliketogetthefreshairallthroughme，soulandbody。Ibelieveamancangivehismindarest，justthesameashecangivehislegsarest，orhisback。
Allhe’sgottodoistousehiswill—power。Why，Isuppose，ifIhadn’tadoptedsomesuchrule，withthestrainI’vehadonmeforthelasttenyears，Ishould’a’beenadeadmanlongago。That’sthereasonIlikeahorse。
You’vegottogiveyourmindtothehorse；youcan’thelpit，unlessyouwanttobreakyourneck；butaboat’sdifferent，andthereyougottouseyourwill—power。Yougottotakeyourmindrightupandputitwhereyouwantit。
Imakeitaruletoreadthepaperontheboat————Holdon！\"
heinterruptedhimselftopreventCoreyfrompayinghisfaretothemanwhohadcomeroundforit。
\"I’vegottickets。AndwhenIgetthroughthepaper，Itrytogetsomebodytotalkto，orIwatchthepeople。
It’sanastonishingthingtomewheretheyallcomefrom。
I’vebeenridingupanddownontheseboatsforsixorsevenyears，andIdon’tknowbutveryfewofthefacesIseeonboard。Seemstobeaperfectlyfreshloteverytime。Well，ofcourse！Town’sfullofstrangersinthesummerseason，anyway，andfolkskeepcomingdownfromthecountry。Theythinkit’sagreatthingtogetdowntothebeach，andthey’veallheardoftheelectriclightonthewater，andtheywanttoseeit。
Butyoutakefacesnow！Theastonishingthingtomeisnotwhatafacetells，butwhatitdon’ttell。
Whenyouthinkofwhatamanis，orawomanis，andwhatmostof’emhavebeenthroughbeforetheygettobethirty，itseemsasiftheirexperiencewouldburnrightthrough。
Butitdon’t。Iliketowatchthecouples，andtrytomakeoutwhichareengaged，orgoingtobe，andwhicharemarried，orbetterbe。ButhalfthetimeIcan’tmakeanysortofguess。Ofcourse，wherethey’reyoungandkittenish，youcantell；butwherethey’reanywayson，youcan’t。
Heigh？\"
\"Yes，Ithinkyou’reright，\"saidCorey，notperfectlyreconciledtophilosophyintheplaceofbusiness，butacceptingitashemust。
\"Well，\"saidtheColonel，\"Idon’tsupposeitwasmeantweshouldknowwhatwasineachother’sminds。Itwouldtakeamanoutofhisownhands。Aslongashe’sinhisownhands，there’ssomehopesofhisdoingsomethingwithhimself；
butifafellowhasbeenfoundout——evenifhehasn’tbeenfoundouttobesoverybad——it’sprettymuchallupwithhim。
No，sir。Idon’twanttoknowpeoplethroughandthrough。\"
Thegreaterpartofthecrowdonboard——and，ofcourse，theboatwascrowded——lookedasiftheymightnotonlybeeasilybutsafelyknown。Therewaslittlestyleandnodistinctionamongthem；theywerepeoplewhoweregoingdowntothebeachforthefunorthereliefofit，andwereabletoaffordit。Infacetheywerecommonplace，withnothingbuttheAmericanpoetryofvividpurposetolightthemup，wheretheydidnotwhollylackfire。
Buttheywerenearlyallshrewdandfriendly—looking，withanapparentreadinessforthehumorousintimacynativetousall。Thewomenweredandifiedindress，accordingtotheirmeansandtaste，andthemendifferedfromeachotherindegreesofindifferencetoit。
Toastraw—hattedpopulation，suchasoursisinsummer，nosortofpersonaldignityispossible。WehavenoteventhepoweroverobserverswhichcomesfromthefantasticalityofanEnglishmanwhenhediscardstheconventionaldress。
Inourstrawhatsandoursergeorflannelsackswearenomoreimposingthanacrowdofboys。
\"Someday，\"saidLapham，risingastheboatdrewnearthewharfofthefinallanding，\"theresgoingtobeanawfulaccidentontheseboats。Justlookatthatjam。\"
Hemeantthepeoplethicklypackedonthepier，andunderstrongrestraintoflocksandgates，topreventthemfromrushingonboardtheboatandpossessingherforthereturntripbeforeshehadlandedherNantasketpassengers。
\"Overload’emeverytime，\"hecontinued，withasortofdry，impersonalconcernattheimpendingcalamity，asifitcouldnotpossiblyincludehim。\"Theytakeabouttwiceasmanyastheyoughttocarry，andabouttentimesasmanyastheycouldsaveifanythinghappened。
Yes，sir，it’sboundtocome。Hello！There’smygirl！\"
Hetookouthisfoldednewspaperandwavedittowardagroupofphaetonsandbarouchesdrawnuponthepieralittleapartfromthepackofpeople，andaladyinoneofthemansweredwithaflourishofherparasol。
Whenhehadmadehiswaywithhisguestthroughthecrowd，shebegantospeaktoherfatherbeforeshenoticedCorey。
\"Well，Colonel，you’veimprovedyourlastchance。
We’vebeencomingtoeveryboatsincefouro’clock，——orJerryhas，——andItoldmotherthatIwouldcomemyselfonce，andseeifIcouldn’tfetchyou；andifIfailed，youcouldwalknexttime。You’regettingperfectlyspoiled。\"
TheColonelenjoyedlettingherscoldhimtotheendbeforehesaid，withatwinkleofprideinhisguestandsatisfactioninherprobablybeingabletoholdherownagainstanydiscomfiture，\"I’vebroughtMr。Coreydownforthenightwithme，andIwasshowinghimthingsalltheway，andittooktime。\"
Theyoungfellowwasatthesideoftheopenbeach—wagon，makingaquickbow，andPenelopeLaphamwascozilydrawling，\"Oh，howdoyoudo，Mr。Corey？\"beforetheColonelhadfinishedhisexplanation。
\"Getrightinthere，alongsideofMissLapham，Mr。Corey，\"
hesaid，pullinghimselfupintotheplacebesidethedriver。
\"No，no，\"hehadaddedquickly，atsomesignsofpoliteprotestintheyoungman，\"Idon’tgiveupthebestplacetoanybody。Jerry，supposeyouletmehaveholdoftheleathersaminute。\"
Thiswashiswayoftakingthereinsfromthedriver；
andinhalfthetimehespecified，hehadskilfullyturnedthevehicleonthepier，amongthecrookedlinesandgroupsoffoot—passengers，andwasspinninguptheroadtowardthestretchofverandaedhotelsandrestaurantsinthesandalongtheshore。\"Prettygaydownhere，\"
hesaid，indicatingallthiswithaturnofhiswhip，asheleftitbehindhim。\"ButI’vegotaboutsickofhotels；
andthissummerImadeupmymindthatI’dtakeacottage。
Well，Pen，howarethefolks？\"Helookedhalf—wayroundforheranswer，andwiththeeyethusbroughttobearuponherhewasabletogiveherawinkofsupremecontent。
TheColonel，withnosortofulteriordesign，andnothingbuthistriumphoverMrs。Laphamdefinitelyinhismind，wasfeeling，ashewouldhavesaid，aboutright。
Thegirlsmiledadaughter’samusementatherfather’sboyishness。\"Idon’tthinkthere’smuchchangesincemorning。DidIrenehaveaheadachewhenyouleft？\"
\"No，\"saidtheColonel。
\"Well，then，there’sthattoreport。\"
\"Pshaw！\"saidtheColonelwithvexationinhistone。
\"I’msorryMissIreneisn’twell，\"saidCoreypolitely。
\"Ithinkshemusthavegotitfromwalkingtoolongonthebeach。Theairissocoolherethatyouforgethowhotthesunis。\"
\"Yes，that’strue，\"assentedCorey。
\"Agoodnight’srestwillmakeitallright，\"suggestedtheColonel，withoutlookinground。\"Butyougirlshavegottolookout。\"
\"Ifyou’refondofwalking，\"saidCorey，\"Isupposeyoufindthebeachatemptation。\"
\"Oh，itisn’tsomuchthat，\"returnedthegirl。
\"Youkeepwalkingonandonbecauseit’ssosmoothandstraightbeforeyou。We’vebeenheresooftenthatweknowitallbyheart——justhowitlooksathightide，andhowitlooksatlowtide，andhowitlooksafterastorm。We’reaswellacquaintedwiththecrabsandstrandedjelly—fishaswearewiththechildrendigginginthesandandthepeoplesittingunderumbrellas。
Ithinkthey’realwaysthesame，allofthem。\"
TheColonelleftthetalktotheyoungpeople。
Whenhespokenextitwastosay，\"Well，hereweare！\"
andheturnedfromthehighwayanddroveupinfrontofabrowncottagewithavermilionroof，andagroupofgeraniumsclutchingtherockthatcroppedupintheloopformedbytheroad。Itwastreelessandbareallround，andtheocean，unnecessarilyvast，welteredawayalittlemorethanastone’s—castfromthecottage。Ahospitablesmellofsupperfilledtheair，andMrs。Laphamwasontheveranda，withthatdemandinhereyesforherbelatedhusband’sexcuses，whichshewasobligedtocheckonhertongueatsightofCorey。
VII。
THEexultantColonelswunghimselflightlydownfromhisseat。
\"I’vebroughtMr。Coreywithme，\"henonchalantlyexplained。
Mrs。Laphammadetheirguestwelcome，andtheColonelshowedhimtohisroom，brieflyassuringhimselfthattherewasnothingwantingthere。Thenhewenttowashhisownhands，carelesslyignoringtheeagernesswithwhichhiswifepursuedhimtotheirchamber。
\"WhatgaveIreneaheadache？\"heasked，makinghimselfafinelatherforhishairypaws。
\"NeveryoumindIrene，\"promptlyretortedhiswife。
\"Howcamehetocome？Didyoupresshim？IfyouDID，I’llneverforgiveyou，Silas！\"
TheColonellaughed，andhiswifeshookhimbytheshouldertomakehimlaughlower。\"’Sh！\"shewhispered。
\"DoyouwanthimtohearEVERYthing？DIDyouurgehim？\"
TheColonellaughedthemore。Hewasgoingtogetallthegoodoutofthis。\"No，Ididn’turgehim。
Seemedtowanttocome。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveit。Wheredidyoumeethim？\"
\"Attheoffice。\"
\"Whatoffice？\"
\"Mine。\"
\"Nonsense！Whatwashedoingthere？\"
\"Oh，nothingmuch。\"
\"Whatdidhecomefor？\"\"Comefor？Oh！heSAIDhewantedtogointothemineralpaintbusiness。\"
Mrs。Laphamdroppedintoachair，andwatchedhisbulkshakenwithsmotheredlaughter。\"SilasLapham，\"shegasped，\"ifyoutrytogetoffanymoreofthosethingsonme————\"
TheColonelappliedhimselftothetowel。\"HadanotionhecouldworkitinSouthAmerica。Idon’tknowwhathe’supto。\"
\"Nevermind！\"criedhiswife。\"I’llgetevenwithyouYET。\"
\"SoItoldhimhehadbettercomedownandtalkitover，\"
continuedtheColonel，inwell—affectedsimplicity。
\"Iknewhewouldn’ttouchitwithaten—footpole。\"
\"Goon！\"threatenedMrs。Lapham。
\"Rightthingtodo，wa’n’tit？\"
Atapwasheardatthedoor，andMrs。Laphamansweredit。
Amaidannouncedsupper。\"Verywell，\"shesaid，\"cometoteanow。ButI’llmakeyoupayforthis，Silas。\"
Penelopehadgonetohersister’sroomassoonassheenteredthehouse。
\"Isyourheadanybetter，’Rene？\"sheasked。
\"Yes，alittle，\"cameavoicefromthepillows。
\"ButIshallnotcometotea。Idon’twantanything。
IfIkeepstill，Ishallbeallrightbymorning。\"
\"Well，I’msorry，\"saidtheeldersister。\"He’scomedownwithfather。\"
\"Hehasn’t！Who？\"criedIrene，startingupinsimultaneousdenialanddemand。
\"Oh，well，ifyousayhehasn’t，what’stheuseofmytellingyouwho？\"
\"Oh，howcanyoutreatmeso！\"moanedthesufferer。
\"Whatdoyoumean，Pen？\"
\"IguessI’dbetternottellyou，\"saidPenelope，watchingherlikeacatplayingwithamouse。\"Ifyou’renotcomingtotea，itwouldjustexciteyoufornothing。\"
Themousemoanedandwritheduponthebed。
\"Oh，Iwouldn’ttreatYOUso！\"
Thecatseatedherselfacrosstheroom，andaskedquietly——
\"Well，whatcouldyoudoifitWASMr。Corey？Youcouldn’tcometotea，yousay。ButHE’LLexcuseyou。
I’vetoldhimyouhadaheadache。Why，ofcourseyoucan’tcome！ItwouldbetoobarefacedButyouneedn’tbetroubled，Irene；I’lldomybesttomakethetimepasspleasantlyforhim。\"Herethecatgavealowtitter，andthemousegirdeditselfupwithamomentarycourageandself—respect。
\"Ishouldthinkyouwouldbeashamedtocomehereandteasemeso。\"
\"Idon’tseewhyyoushouldn’tbelieveme，\"arguedPenelope。
\"Whyshouldn’thecomedownwithfather，iffatheraskedhim？andhe’dbesuretoifhethoughtofit。
Idon’tseeanyp’intsaboutthatfrogthat’sanybetterthananyotherfrog。\"
Thesenseofhersister’shelplessnesswastoomuchforthetease；shebrokedowninafitofsmotheredlaughter，whichconvincedhervictimthatitwasnothingbutanill—timedjoke。
\"Well，Pen，Iwouldn’tuseyouso，\"shewhimpered。
Penelopethrewherselfonthebedbesideher。
\"Oh，poorIrene！HeIShere。It’sasolemnfact。\"
Andshecaressedandsoothedhersister，whileshechokedwithlaughter。\"Youmustgetupandcomeout。
Idon’tknowwhatbroughthimhere，buthereheis。\"
\"It’stoolatenow，\"saidIrenedesolately。Thensheadded，withawilderdespair：\"WhatafoolIwastotakethatwalk！\"
\"Well，\"coaxedhersister，\"comeoutandgetsometea。
Theteawilldoyougood。\"
\"No，no；Ican’tcome。Butsendmeacuphere。\"
\"Yes，andthenperhapsyoucanseehimlaterintheevening。\"
\"Ishallnotseehimatall。\"
AnhourafterPenelopecamebacktohersister’sroomandfoundherbeforeherglass。\"Youmightaswellhavekeptstill，andbeenwellbymorning，’Rene，\"shesaid。
\"Assoonasweweredonefathersaid，’Well，Mr。CoreyandIhavegottotalkoveralittlematterofbusiness，andwe’llexcuseyou，ladies。’HolookedatmotherinawaythatIguesswasprettyhardtobear。’Rene，yououghttohaveheardtheColonelswellingatsupper。
Itwouldhavemadeyoufeelthatallhesaidtheotherdaywasnothing。\"
Mrs。Laphamsuddenlyopenedthedoor。
\"Now，seehere，Pen，\"shesaid，asshecloseditbehindher，\"I’vehadjustasmuchasIcanstandfromyourfather，andifyoudon’ttellmethisinstantwhatitallmeans————\"
Shelefttheconsequencestoimagination，andPeneloperepliedwithhermocksoberness——
\"Well，theColoneldoesseemtobeonhishighhorse，ma’am。Butyoumustn’taskmewhathisbusinesswithMr。Coreyis，forIdon’tknow。AllthatIknowisthatImetthematthelanding，andthattheyconversedallthewaydown——onliterarytopics。\"
\"Nonsense！Whatdoyouthinkitis？\"
\"Well，ifyouwantmycandidopinion，Ithinkthistalkaboutbusinessisnothingbutablind。ItseemsapityIreneshouldn’thavebeenuptoreceivehim，\"
sheadded。
Irenecastamutelookofimploringathermother，whowastoomuchpreoccupiedtoaffordhertheprotectionitasked。
\"Yourfathersaidhewantedtogointothebusinesswithhim。\"
Irene’slookchangedtoastareofastonishmentandmystification，butPenelopepreservedherimperturbability。
\"Well，it’salucrativebusiness，Ibelieve。\"
\"Well，Idon’tbelieveawordofit！\"criedMrs。Lapham。
\"AndsoItoldyourfather。\"
