\"Diditseemtoconvincehim？\"inquiredPenelope。
Hermotherdidnotreply。\"Iknowonething，\"shesaid。
\"He’sgottotellmeeveryword，orthere’llbenosleepforhimTHISnight。\"
\"Well，ma’am，\"saidPenelope，breakingdowninoneofherqueerlaughs，\"Ishouldn’tbeabitsurprisedifyouwereright。\"
\"Goonanddress，Irene，\"orderedhermother，\"andthenyouandPencomeoutintotheparlour。Theycanhavejusttwohoursforbusiness，andthenwemustallbetheretoreceivehim。Youhaven’tgotheadacheenoughtohurtyou。\"
\"Oh，it’sallgonenow，\"saidthegirl。
AttheendofthelimitshehadgiventheColonel，Mrs。Laphamlookedintothedining—room，whichshefoundbluewithhissmoke。
\"Ithinkyougentlemenwillfindtheparlourpleasanternow，andwecangiveituptoyou。\"
\"Ohno，youneedn’t，\"saidherhusband。\"We’vegotaboutthrough。\"Coreywasalreadystanding，andLaphamrosetoo。\"Iguesswecanjointheladiesnow。
Wecanleavethatlittlepointtillto—morrow。\"
BothoftheyoungladieswereintheparlourwhenCoreyenteredwiththeirfather，andbothwerefranklyindifferenttothefewbooksandthemanynewspapersscatteredaboutonthetablewherethelargelampwasplaced。
ButafterCoreyhadgreetedIreneheglancedatthenovelunderhiseye，andsaid，inthedearththatsometimesbefallspeopleatsuchtimes：\"Iseeyou’rereadingMiddlemarch。
DoyoulikeGeorgeEliot？\"
\"Who？\"askedthegirl。
Penelopeinterposed。\"Idon’tbelieveIrene’sreadityet。I’vejustgotitoutofthelibrary；Iheardsomuchtalkaboutit。Iwishshewouldletyoufindoutalittleaboutthepeopleforyourself，\"sheadded。
Buthereherfatherstruckin——
\"Ican’tgetthetimeforbooks。It’sasmuchasIcandotokeepupwiththenewspapers；andwhennightcomes，I’mtired，andI’drathergoouttothetheatre，oralecture，ifthey’vegotagoodstereopticontogiveyouviewsoftheplaces。ButIguesswealllikeaplaybetterthan’mostanythingelse。Iwantsomethingthat’llmakemelaugh。
Idon’tbelieveintragedy。Ithinkthere’senoughofthatinreallifewithoutputtingitonthestage。
Seen’JoshuaWhitcomb’？\"
Thewholefamilyjoinedinthediscussion，anditappearedthattheyallhadtheiropinionsoftheplaysandactors。
Mrs。Laphambroughtthetalkbacktoliterature。\"IguessPenelopedoesmostofourreading。\"
\"Now，mother，you’renotgoingtoputitallonme！\"
saidthegirl，incomicprotest。
Hermotherlaughed，andthenadded，withasigh：\"IusedtoliketogetholdofagoodbookwhenIwasagirl；
butweweren’tallowedtoreadmanynovelsinthosedays。
MymothercalledthemallLIES。AndIguessshewasn’tsoveryfarwrongaboutsomeofthem。\"
\"They’recertainlyfictions，\"saidCorey，smiling。
\"Well，wedobuyagoodmanybooks，firstandlast，\"
saidtheColonel，whoprobablyhadinmindthecostlyvolumeswhichtheypresentedtooneanotheronbirthdaysandholidays。\"ButIgetaboutallthereadingIwantinthenewspapers。Andwhenthegirlswantanovel，Itell’emtogetitoutofthelibrary。That’swhatthelibrary’sfor。Phew！\"hepanted，blowingawaythewholeunprofitablesubject。\"Howcloseyouwomen—folksliketokeeparoom！Yougodowntothesea—sideoruptothemountainsforachangeofair，andthenyoucorkyourselvesintoaroomsotightyoudon’thaveanyairatall。
Here！Yougirlsgetonyourbonnets，andgoandshowMr。Coreytheviewofthehotelsfromtherocks。\"
Coreysaidthatheshouldbedelighted。Thegirlsexchangedlookswitheachother，andthenwiththeirmother。
Irenecurvedherprettychinincommentuponherfather’sincorrigibility，andPenelopemadeadrollmouth，buttheColonelremainedserenelycontentwithhisfinesse。
\"Igot’emoutoftheway，\"hesaid，assoonastheyweregone，andbeforehiswifehadtimetofalluponhim，\"becauseI’vegotthroughmytalkwithhim，andnowIwanttotalkwithYOU。It’sjustasIsaid，Persis；hewantstogointothebusinesswithme。\"
\"It’sluckyforyou，\"saidhiswife，meaningthatnowhewouldnotbemadetosufferforattemptingtohoaxher。
Butshewastoointenselyinterestedtopursuethatmatterfurther。\"Whatintheworlddoyousupposehemeansbyit？\"
\"Well，Ishouldjudgebyhistalkthathehadbeentryingagoodmanydifferentthingssinceheleftcollege，andhehain’tfoundjustthethinghelikes——orthethingthatlikeshim。Itain’tsoeasy。Andnowhe’sgotanideathathecantakeholdofthepaintandpushitinothercountries——pushitinMexicoandpushitinSouthAmerica。
He’sasplendidSpanishscholar，\"——thiswasLapham’sversionofCorey’smodestclaimtoasmatteringofthelanguage，——\"andhe’sbeenamongthenativesenoughtoknowtheirways。
Andhebelievesinthepaint，\"addedtheColonel。
\"Iguesshebelievesinsomethingelsebesidesthepaint，\"
saidMrs。Lapham。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Well，SilasLapham，ifyoucan’tseeNOWthathe’safterIrene，Idon’tknowwhateverCANopenyoureyes。
That’sall。\"
TheColonelpretendedtogivetheideasilentconsideration，asifithadnotoccurredtohimbefore。\"Well，then，allI’vegottosayis，thathe’sgoingagoodwayround。
Idon’tsayyou’rewrong，butifit’sIrene，Idon’tseewhyheshouldwanttogoofftoSouthAmericatogether。
Andthat’swhatheproposestodo。Iguessthere’ssomepaintaboutittoo，Persis。Hesayshebelievesinit，\"——theColoneldevoutlyloweredhisvoice，——\"andhe’swillingtotaketheagencyonhisownaccountdownthere，andrunitforacommissiononwhathecansell。\"
\"Ofcourse！Heisn’tgoingtotakeholdofitanywaysoastofeelbeholdentoyou。He’sgottoomuchprideforthat。\"
\"Heain’tgoingtotakeholdofitatall，ifhedon’tmeanpaintinthefirstplaceandIreneafterward。
Idon’tobjecttohim，asIknow，eitherway，butthetwothingswon’tmix；andIdon’tproposeheshallpullthewoolovermyeyes——oranybodyelse。But，asfarasheardfrom，uptodate，hemeanspaintfirst，last，andallthetime。
Atanyrate，I’mgoingtotakehimonthatbasis。
He’sgotsomeprettygoodideasaboutit，andhe’sbeenstirredupbythistalk，justnow，aboutgettingourmanufacturesintotheforeignmarkets。There’sanoverstockineverything，andwe’vegottogetridofit，orwe’vegottoshutdowntillthehomedemandbeginsagain。
We’vehadtwoorthreesuchflurriesbeforenow，andtheydidn’tamounttomuch。Theysaywecan’textendourcommerceunderthehightariffsystemwe’vegotnow，becausethereain’tanysortofreciprocityonourside，——wewanttohavetheotherfellowsshowallthereciprocity，——andtheEnglishhavegottheadvantageofuseverytime。
Idon’tknowwhetherit’ssoornot；butIdon’tseewhyitshouldapplytomypaint。Anyway，hewantstotryit，andI’veaboutmadeupmymindtolethim。
OfcourseIain’tgoingtolethimtakealltherisk。
IbelieveinthepaintTOO，andIshallpayhisexpensesanyway。\"
\"Soyouwantanotherpartnerafterall？\"Mrs。Laphamcouldnotforbearsaying。
\"Yes，ifthat’syourideaofapartner。Itisn’tmine，\"
returnedherhusbanddryly。
\"Well，ifyou’vemadeupyourmind，Si，Isupposeyou’rereadyforadvice，\"saidMrs。Lapham。
TheColonelenjoyedthis。\"Yes，Iam。Whathaveyougottosayagainstit？\"
\"Idon’tknowasI’vegotanything。I’msatisfiedifyouare。\"
\"Well？\"
\"WhenishegoingtostartforSouthAmerica？\"
\"Ishalltakehimintotheofficeawhile。He’llgetoffsometimeinthewinter。Buthe’sgottoknowthebusinessfirst。\"
\"Oh，indeed！Areyougoingtotakehimtoboardinthefamily？\"
\"Whatareyouafter，Persis？\"
\"Oh，nothing！Ipresumehewillfeelfreetovisitinthefamily，evenifhedon’tboardwithus。\"
\"Ipresumehewill。\"
\"Andifhedon’tusehisprivileges，doyouthinkhe’llbeafitpersontomanageyourpaintinSouthAmerica？\"
TheColonelreddenedconsciously。\"I’mnottakinghimonthatbasis。\"
\"Ohyes，youare！Youmaypretendyouain’ttoyourself，butyoumustn’tpretendsotome。BecauseIknowyou。\"
TheColonellaughed。\"Pshaw！\"hesaid。
Mrs。Laphamcontinued：\"Idon’tseeanyharminhopingthathe’lltakeafancytoher。Butifyoureallythinkitwon’tdotomixthetwothings，IadviseyounottotakeMr。Coreyintothebusiness。
ItwilldoallverywellifheDOEStakeafancytoher；
butifhedon’t，youknowhowyou’llfeelaboutit。
AndIknowyouwellenough，Silas，toknowthatyoucan’tdohimjusticeifthathappens。AndIdon’tthinkit’srightyoushouldtakethisstepunlessyou’reprettysure。
Icanseethatyou’vesetyourheartonthisthing\"
\"Ihaven’tsetmyheartonitatall，\"protestedLapham。
\"Andifyoucan’tbringitabout，you’regoingtofeelunhappyoverit，\"pursuedhiswife，regardlessofhisprotest。
\"Oh，verywell，\"hesaid。\"Ifyouknowmoreaboutwhat’sinmymindthanIdo，there’snousearguing，asIcansee。\"
Hegotup，tocarryoffhisconsciousness，andsaunteredoutofthedoorontohispiazza。Hecouldseetheyoungpeopledownontherocks，andhisheartswelledinhisbreast。Hehadalwayssaidthathedidnotcarewhataman’sfamilywas，butthepresenceofyoungCoreyasanapplicanttohimforemployment，ashisguest，asthepossiblesuitorofhisdaughter，wasoneofthesweetestflavoursthathehadyettastedinhissuccess。
HeknewwhotheCoreyswereverywell，and，inhissimple，brutalway，hehadlonghatedtheirnameasasymbolofsplendourwhich，unlessheshouldlivetoseeatleastthreegenerationsofhisdescendantsgildedwithmineralpaint，hecouldnothopetorealiseinhisown。
HewasacquaintedinabusinesswaywiththetraditionofoldPhillipsCorey，andhehadheardagreatmanythingsabouttheCoreywhohadspenthisyouthabroadandhisfather’smoneyeverywhere，anddonenothingbutsaysmartthings。Laphamcouldnotseethesmartnessofsomeofthemwhichhadbeenrepeatedtohim。Oncehehadencounteredthefellow，anditseemedtoLaphamthatthetall，slim，white—moustachedman，withtheslightstoop，waseverythingthatwasoffensivelyaristocratic。
Hehadbristledupaggressivelyatthenamewhenhiswifetoldhowshehadmadetheacquaintanceofthefellow’sfamilythesummerbefore，andhehadtreatedthenotionofyoungCorey’scaringforIrenewiththecontemptwhichsucharidiculoussuperstitiondeserved。
HehadmadeuphismindaboutyoungCoreybeforehand；
yetwhenhemethimhefeltaninstantlikingforhim，whichhefranklyacknowledged，andhehadbeguntoassumetheburdenofhiswife’ssuperstition，ofwhichsheseemednowreadytoaccusehimofbeingtheinventor。
Nothinghadmovedhisthickimaginationlikethisday’seventssincethegirlwhotaughthimspellingandgrammarintheschoolatLumbervillehadsaidshewouldhavehimforherhusband。
Thedarkfigures，stationaryontherocks，begantomove，andhecouldseethattheywerecomingtowardthehouse。
Hewentindoors，soasnottoappeartohavebeenwatchingthem。
VIII。
AWEEKaftershehadpartedwithhersonatBarHarbour，Mrs。CoreysuddenlywalkedinuponherhusbandintheirhouseinBoston。Hewasatbreakfast，andhegaveherthepatronisingwelcomewithwhichthehusbandwhohasbeenstayingintownallsummerreceiveshiswifewhenshedropsdownuponhimfromthemountainsorthesea—side。Foralittlemomentshefeelsherselfstrangeinthehouse，andsuffersherselftobetreatedlikeaguest，beforeenvyofhiscomfortvexesherbackintopossessionandauthority。
Mrs。Coreywasalady，andshedidnotletherenvytaketheformofopenreproach。
\"Well，Anna，youfindmehereintheluxuryyouleftmeto。
Howdidyouleavethegirls？\"
\"Thegirlswerewell，\"saidMrs。Corey，lookingabsentlyatherhusband’sbrownvelvetcoat，inwhichhewassohandsome。
Nomanhadevergrowngreymorebeautifully。Hishair，whilenotremainingdarkenoughtoformatheatricalcontrastwithhismoustache，wasyetsomeshadesdarker，and，inbecomingalittlethinner，ithadbecomealittlemoregracefullywavy。Hisskinhadthepearlytintwhichthatofelderlymensometimesassumes，andthelineswhichtimehadtraceduponitweretoodelicateforthenameofwrinkles。Hehadneverhadanypersonalvanity，andtherewasnoconsciousnessinhisgoodlooksnow。
\"Iamgladofthat。TheboyIhavewithme，\"hereturned；
\"thatis，whenheISwithme。\"
\"Why，whereishe？\"demandedthemother。
\"ProbablycarousingwiththeboonLaphamsomewhere。
HeleftmeyesterdayafternoontogoandofferhisallegiancetotheMineralPaintKing，andIhaven’tseenhimsince。\"
\"Bromfield！\"criedMrs。Corey。\"Whydidn’tyoustophim？\"
\"Well，mydear，I’mnotsurethatitisn’taverygoodthing。\"
\"Agoodthing？It’shorrid！\"
\"No，Idon’tthinkso。It’sdecent。Tomhadfoundout——withoutconsultingthelandscape，whichIbelieveproclaimsiteverywhere————\"
\"Hideous！\"
\"Thatit’sreallyagoodthing；andhethinksthathehassomeideasinregardtoitsdisseminationinthepartsbeyondseas。\"
\"Whyshouldn’thegointosomethingelse？\"lamentedthemother。
\"Ibelievehehasgoneintonearlyeverythingelseandcomeoutofit。Sothereisachanceofhiscomingoutofthis。ButasIhadnothingtosuggestinplaceofit，Ithoughtitbestnottointerfere。Infact，whatgoodwouldmytellinghimthatmineralpaintwasnastyhavedone？IdaresayYOUtoldhimitwasnasty。\"
\"Yes！Idid。\"
\"Andyouseewithwhateffect，thoughhevaluesyouropinionthreetimesasmuchashevaluesmine。
Perhapsyoucameuptotellhimagainthatitwasnasty？\"
\"Ifeelveryunhappyaboutit。Heisthrowinghimselfaway。
Yes，IshouldliketopreventitifIcould！\"
Thefathershookhishead。
\"IfLaphamhasn’tpreventedit，Ifancyit’stoolate。
ButtheremaybesomehopesofLapham。AsforTom’sthrowinghimselfaway，Idon’tknow。There’snoquestionbutheisoneofthebestfellowsunderthesun。
He’stremendouslyenergetic，andhehasplentyofthekindofsensewhichwecallhorse；butheisn’tbrilliant。
No，Tomisnotbrilliant。Idon’tthinkhewouldgetoninaprofession，andhe’sinstinctivelykeptoutofeverythingofthekind。Buthehasgottodosomething。
Whatshallhedo？Hesaysmineralpaint，andreallyIdon’tseewhyheshouldn’t。Ifmoneyisfairlyandhonestlyearned，whyshouldwepretendtocarewhatitcomesoutof，whenwedon’treallycare？Thatsuperstitionisexplodedeverywhere。\"
\"Oh，itisn’tthepaintalone，\"saidMrs。Corey；andthensheperceptiblyarrestedherself，andmadeadiversionincontinuing：\"Iwishhehadmarriedsomeone。\"
\"Withmoney？\"suggestedherhusband。\"FromtimetotimeIhaveattemptedTom’scorruptionfromthatside，butI
suspectTomhasaconscienceagainstit，andIratherlikehimforit。Imarriedforlovemyself，\"saidCorey，lookingacrossthetableathiswife。
Shereturnedhislooktolerantly，thoughshefeltitrighttosay，\"Whatnonsense！\"
\"Besides，\"continuedherhusband，\"ifyoucometomoney，thereisthepaintprincess。Shewillhaveplenty。\"
\"Ah，that’stheworstofit，\"sighedthemother。
\"IsupposeIcouldgetonwiththepaint————\"
\"Butnotwiththeprincess？Ithoughtyousaidshewasaverypretty，well—behavedgirl？\"
\"Sheisverypretty，andsheiswell—behaved；butthereisnothingofher。Sheisinsipid；sheisveryinsipid。\"
\"ButTomseemedtolikeherflavour，suchasitwas？\"
\"HowcanItell？Wewereunderaterribleobligationtothem，andInaturallywishedhimtobepolitetothem。
Infact，Iaskedhimtobeso。\"
\"Andhewastoopolite\"
\"Ican’tsaythathewas。Butthereisnodoubtthatthechildisextremelypretty。\"
\"Tomsaystherearetwoofthem。Perhapstheywillneutraliseeachother。\"
\"Yes，thereisanotherdaughter，\"assentedMrs。Corey。
\"Idon’tseehowyoucanjokeaboutsuchthings，Bromfield，\"
sheadded。
\"Well，Idon’teither，mydear，totellyouthetruth。
Myhardihoodsurprisesme。HereisasonofminewhomI
seereducedtomakinghislivingbyashrinkageinvalues。
It’sveryodd，\"interjectedCorey，\"thatsomevaluesshouldhavethispeculiarityofshrinking。Youneverhearofvaluesinapictureshrinking；butrents，stocks，realestate——allthosevaluesshrinkabominably。Perhapsitmightbearguedthatoneshouldputallhisvaluesintopictures；
I’vegotagoodmanyofminethere。\"
\"Tomneedn’tearnhisliving，\"saidMrs。Corey，refusingherhusband’sjest。\"There’sstillenoughforallofus。\"
\"ThatiswhatIhavesometimesurgeduponTom。Ihaveprovedtohimthatwitheconomy，andstrictattentiontobusiness，heneeddonothingaslongashelives。Ofcoursehewouldbesomewhatrestricted，anditwouldcramptherestofus；butitisaworldofsacrificesandcompromises。
Hecouldn’tagreewithme，andhewasnotintheleastmovedbytheexampleofpersonsofqualityinEurope，whichIallegedinsupportofthelifeofidleness。
Itappearsthathewishestodosomething——todosomethingforhimself。IamafraidthatTomisselfish。\"
Mrs。Coreysmiledwanly。Thirtyyearsbefore，shehadmarriedtherichyoungpainterinRome，whosaidsomuchbetterthingsthanhepainted——charmingthings，justthethingstopleasethefancyofagirlwhowasdisposedtotakelifealittletooseriouslyandpractically。
ShesawhiminadifferentlightwhenshegothimhometoBoston；buthehadkeptonsayingthecharmingthings，andhehadnotdonemuchelse。Infact，hehadfulfilledthepromiseofhisyouth。Itwasagoodtraitinhimthathewasnotactivelybutonlypassivelyextravagant。
Hewasnotadventurouswithhismoney；histasteswereassimpleasanItalian’s；hehadnoexpensivehabits。
Intheprocessoftimehehadgrowntoleadamoreandmoresecludedlife。Itwashardtogethimoutanywhere，eventodinner。Hispatiencewiththeirnarrowingcircumstanceshadapathoswhichshefeltthemorethemoreshecameintochargeoftheirjointlife。
Attimesitseemedtoobadthatthechildrenandtheireducationandpleasuresshouldcostsomuch。
Sheknew，besides，thatifithadnotbeenforthemshewouldhavegonebacktoRomewithhim，andlivedprincelythereforlessthanittooktoliverespectablyinBoston。
\"Tomhasn’tconsultedme，\"continuedhisfather，\"buthehasconsultedotherpeople。Andhehasarrivedattheconclusionthatmineralpaintisagoodthingtogointo。
Hehasfoundoutallaboutit，andaboutitsfounderorinventor。It’squiteimpressivetohearhimtalk。
Andifhemustdosomethingforhimself，Idon’tseewhyhisegotismshouldn’taswelltakethatformasanother。
Combinedwiththepaintprincess，itisn’tsoagreeable；
butthat’sonlyaremotepossibility，forwhichyourprincipalgroundisyourmotherlysolicitude。
Butevenifitwereprobableandimminent，whatcouldyoudo？ThechiefconsolationthatweAmericanparentshaveinthesemattersisthatwecandonothing。
IfwewereEuropeans，evenEnglish，weshouldtakesomecognisanceofourchildren’sloveaffairs，andinsomemeasureteachtheiryoungaffectionshowtoshoot。
Butitisourcustomtoignorethemuntiltheyhaveshot，andthentheyignoreus。Wearealtogethertoodelicatetoarrangethemarriagesofourchildren；andwhentheyhavearrangedthemwedon’tliketosayanything，forfearweshouldonlymakebadworse。Therightwayisforustoschoolourselvestoindifference。
Thatiswhattheyoungpeoplehavetodoelsewhere，andthatistheonlylogicalresultofourpositionhere。
Itisabsurdforustohaveanyfeelingaboutwhatwedon’tinterferewith。\"
\"Oh，peopledointerferewiththeirchildren’smarriagesveryoften，\"saidMrs。Corey。
\"Yes，butonlyinahalf—heartedway，soasnottomakeitdisagreeableforthemselvesifthemarriagesgooninspiteofthem，asthey’reprettyapttodo。Now，myideaisthatIoughttocutTomoffwithashilling。
Thatwouldbeverysimple，anditwouldbeeconomical。
Butyouwouldneverconsent，andTomwouldn’tmindit。\"
\"Ithinkourwholeconductinregardtosuchthingsiswrong，\"saidMrs。Corey。
\"Oh，verylikely。Butourwholecivilisationisbaseduponit。
Andwhoisgoingtomakeabeginning？TowhichfatherinouracquaintanceshallIgoandproposeanallianceforTomwithhisdaughter？Ishouldfeellikeanass。
Andwillyougotosomemother，andaskhersonsinmarriageforourdaughters？Youwouldfeellikeagoose。
No；theonlymottoforusis，Handsoffaltogether。\"
\"IshallcertainlyspeaktoTomwhenthetimecomes，\"
saidMrs。Corey。
