Well，now，youjusttalkbusinesswithhimattheoffice。\"
TheonlysocialattentionwhichLaphamsucceededinofferingCoreywastotakehiminhisbuggy，nowandthen，foraspinoutovertheMill—dam。Hekeptthemareintown，andonapleasantafternoonhelikedtoknockoffearly，ashephrasedit，andletthemareoutalittle。
Coreyunderstoodsomethingabouthorses，thoughinapassionlessway，andhewouldhavepreferredtotalkbusinesswhenobligedtotalkhorse。ButhedeferredtohisbusinesssuperiorwiththesenseofdisciplinewhichisinnateintheapparentlyinsubordinateAmericannature。
IfCoreycouldhardlyhavehelpedfeelingthesocialdifferencebetweenLaphamandhimself，inhispresencehesilencedhistraditions，andshowedhimalltherespectthathecouldhaveexactedfromanyofhisclerks。
Hetalkedhorsewithhim，andwhentheColonelwishedhetalkedhouse。BesideshimselfandhispaintLaphamhadnotmanyothertopics；andifhehadachoicebetweenthemareandtheedificeonthewatersideofBeaconStreet，itwasjustnowthelatter。Sometimes，indrivinginorout，hestoppedatthehouse，andmadeCoreyhisguestthere，ifhemightnotatNantasket；andonedayithappenedthattheyoungmanmetIrenethereagain。Shehadcomeupwithhermotheralone，andtheywereinthehouse，interviewingthecarpenterasbefore，whentheColoneljumpedoutofhisbuggyandcastanchoratthepavement。
Moreexactly，Mrs。Laphamwasinterviewingthecarpenter，andIrenewassittinginthebow—windowonatrestle，andlookingoutatthedriving。Shesawhimcomeupwithherfather，andbowedandblushed。Herfatherwentonup—stairstofindhermother，andCoreypulledupanothertrestlewhichhefoundinthebackpartoftheroom。
Thefirstflooringshadbeenlaidthroughoutthehouse，andthepartitionshadbeenlathedsothatonecouldrealisetheshapeoftheinterior。
\"Isupposeyouwillsitatthiswindowagooddeal，\"
saidtheyoungman。
\"Yes，Ithinkitwillbeverynice。There’ssomuchmoregoingonthanthereisintheSquare。\"
\"Itmustbeveryinterestingtoyoutoseethehousegrow。\"
\"Itis。Onlyitdoesn’tseemtogrowsofastasIexpected。\"
\"Why，I’mamazedattheprogressyourcarpenterhasmadeeverytimeIcome。\"
Thegirllookeddown，andthenliftinghereyesshesaid，withasortoftimorousappeal——
\"I’vebeenreadingthatbooksinceyouweredownatNantasket。\"
\"Book？\"repeatedCorey，whileshereddenedwithdisappointment。
\"Ohyes。Middlemarch。Didyoulikeit？\"
\"Ihaven’tgotthroughwithityet。Penhasfinishedit。\"
\"Whatdoesshethinkofit？\"
\"Oh，Ithinkshelikesitverywell。Ihaven’theardhertalkaboutitmuch。Doyoulikeit？\"
\"Yes；Ilikeditimmensely。Butit’sseveralyearssinceIreadit。\"
\"Ididn’tknowitwassoold。It’sjustgotintotheSeasideLibrary，\"sheurged，withalittlesenseofinjuryinhertone。
\"Oh，ithasn’tbeenoutsuchaverygreatwhile，\"
saidCoreypolitely。\"ItcamealittlebeforeDANIELDERONDA。\"
Thegirlwasagainsilent。Shefollowedthecurlofashavingonthefloorwiththepointofherparasol。
\"DoyoulikethatRosamondVincy？\"sheasked，withoutlookingup。
Coreysmiledinhiskindway。
\"Ididn’tsupposeshewasexpectedtohaveanyfriends。
Ican’tsayIlikedher。ButIdon’tthinkIdislikedhersomuchastheauthordoes。She’sprettyhardonhergood—looking\"——hewasgoingtosaygirls，butasifthatmighthavebeenratherpersonal，hesaid——\"people。\"
\"Yes，that’swhatPensays。Shesaysshedoesn’tgiveheranychancetobegood。ShesayssheshouldhavebeenjustasbadasRosamondifshehadbeeninherplace。\"
Theyoungmanlaughed。\"Yoursisterisverysatirical，isn’tshe？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidIrene，stillintentupontheconvolutionsoftheshaving。\"Shekeepsuslaughing。
Papathinksthere’snobodythatcantalklikeher。\"
Shegavetheshavingalittletossfromher，andtooktheparasolupacrossherlap。TheunworldlinessoftheLaphamgirlsdidnotextendtotheirdress；
Irene’scostumewasverystylish，andshegovernedherheadandshouldersstylishly。\"Wearegoingtohavethebackroomupstairsforamusic—roomandlibrary，\"
shesaidabruptly。
\"Yes？\"returnedCorey。\"Ishouldthinkthatwouldbecharming。\"
\"Weexpectedtohavebook—cases，butthearchitectwantstobuildtheshelvesin。\"
ThefactseemedtobereferredtoCoreyforhiscomment。
\"Itseemstomethatwouldbethebestway。They’lllooklikepartoftheroomthen。Youcanmakethemlow，andhangyourpicturesabovethem。\"
\"Yes，that’swhathesaid。\"Thegirllookedoutofthewindowinadding，\"Ipresumewithnicebindingsitwilllookverywell。\"
\"Oh，nothingfurnishesaroomlikebooks。\"
\"No。Therewillhavetobeagoodmanyofthem。\"
\"Thatdependsuponthesizeofyourroomandthenumberofyourshelves。\"
\"Oh，ofcourse！Ipresume，\"saidIrene，thoughtfully，\"weshallhavetohaveGibbon。\"
\"Ifyouwanttoreadhim，\"saidCorey，withalaughofsympathyforanimaginablejoke。
\"Wehadagreatdealabouthimatschool。Ibelievewehadoneofhisbooks。Mine’slost，butPenwillremember。\"
Theyoungmanlookedather，andthensaid，seriously，\"You’llwantGreene，ofcourse，andMotley，andParkman。\"
\"Yes。Whatkindofwritersarethey？\"
\"They’rehistorianstoo。\"
\"Ohyes；Iremembernow。That’swhatGibbonwas。
IsitGibbonorGibbons？\"
Theyoungmandecidedthepointwithapparentlysuperfluousdelicacy。\"Gibbon，Ithink。\"
\"Thereusedtobesomanyofthem，\"saidIrenegaily。
\"Iusedtogetthemmixedupwitheachother，andI
couldn’ttellthemfromthepoets。Shouldyouwanttohavepoetry？\"
\"Yes；IsupposesomeeditionoftheEnglishpoets。\"
\"Wedon’tanyofuslikepoetry。Doyoulikeit？\"
\"I’mafraidIdon’tverymuch，\"Coreyowned。
\"But，ofcourse，therewasatimewhenTennysonwasagreatdealmoretomethanheisnow。\"
\"Wehadsomethingabouthimatschooltoo。IthinkIrememberthename。IthinkweoughttohaveALLtheAmericanpoets。\"
\"Well，notall。Fiveorsixofthebest：youwantLongfellowandBryantandWhittierandHolmesandEmersonandLowell。\"
Thegirllistenedattentively，asifmakingmentalnoteofthenames。
\"AndShakespeare，\"sheadded。\"Don’tyoulikeShakespeare’splays？\"
\"Ohyes，verymuch。\"
\"Iusedtobeperfectlycrazyabouthisplays。
Don’tyouthink’Hamlet’issplendid？WehadeversomuchaboutShakespeare。Weren’tyouperfectlyastonishedwhenyoufoundouthowmanyotherplaysofhistherewere？Ialwaysthoughttherewasnothingbut’Hamlet’
and’RomeoandJuliet’and’Macbeth’and’RichardIII。’
and’KingLear，’andthatonethatRobesonandCranehave——ohyes！’ComedyofErrors。’\"
\"Thosearetheonestheyusuallyplay，\"saidCorey。
\"IpresumeweshallhavetohaveScott’sworks，\"saidIrene，returningtothequestionofbooks。
\"Ohyes。\"
\"OneofthegirlsusedtothinkhewasGREAT。ShewasalwaystalkingaboutScott。\"Irenemadeaprettylittleamiablycontemptuousmouth。\"Heisn’tAmerican，though？\"
shesuggested。
\"No，\"saidCorey；\"he’sScotch，Ibelieve。\"
Irenepassedhergloveoverherforehead。\"IalwaysgethimmixedupwithCooper。Well，papahasgottogetthem。
Ifwehavealibrary，wehavegottohavebooksinit。
Pensaysit’sperfectlyridiculoushavingone。Butpapathinkswhateverthearchitectsaysisright。Hefoughthimhardenoughatfirst。Idon’tseehowanyonecankeepthepoetsandthehistoriansandnovelistsseparateintheirmind。Ofcoursepapawillbuythemifwesayso。
ButIdon’tseehowI’mevergoingtotellhimwhichones。\"
Thejoyouslightfadedoutofherfaceandleftitpensive。
\"Why，ifyoulike，\"saidtheyoungman，takingouthispencil，\"I’llputdownthenameswe’vebeentalkingabout。\"
Heclappedhimselfonhisbreastpocketstodetectsomelurkingscrapofpaper。
\"Willyou？\"shecrieddelightedly。\"Here！takeoneofmycards，\"
andshepulledouthercard—case。\"Thecarpenterwritesonathree—corneredblockandputsitintohispocket，andit’ssouncomfortablehecan’thelprememberingit。
Pensaysshe’sgoingtoadoptthethree—cornered—blockplanwithpapa。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidCorey。\"IbelieveI’lluseyourcard。\"
Hecrossedovertoher，andafteramomentsatdownonthetrestlebesideher。Shelookedoverthecardashewrote。
\"Thosearetheoneswementioned，butperhapsI’dbetteraddafewothers。\"
\"Oh，thankyou，\"shesaid，whenhehadwrittenthecardfullonbothsides。\"Hehasgottogettheminthenicestbinding，too。Ishalltellhimabouttheirhelpingtofurnishtheroom，andthenhecan’tobject。\"
Sheremainedwiththecard，lookingatitratherwistfully。
PerhapsCoreydivinedhertroubleofmind。\"Ifhewilltakethattoanybookseller，andtellhimwhatbindingshewants，hewillfilltheorderforhim。\"jdh—
spell—checkedtothispoint\"Oh，thankyouverymuch，\"
shesaid，andputthecardbackintohercard—casewithgreatapparentrelief。Thensheturnedherlovelyfacetowardtheyoungman，beamingwiththetriumphawomanfeelsinanybitofsuccessfulmanoeuvring，andbegantotalkwithrecoveredgaietyofotherthings，asif，havinggotridofamatterannoyingoutofallproportiontoitsimportance，shewasnowgoingtoindemnifyherself。
Coreydidnotreturntohisowntrestle。Shefoundanothershavingwithinreachofherparasol，andbeganpokingthatwithit，andtryingtofollowitthroughitsfolds。
Coreywatchedherawhile。
\"Youseemtohaveagreatpassionforplayingwithshavings，\"
hesaid。\"Isitanewone？\"
\"Newwhat？\"
\"Passion。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"shesaid，droppinghereyelids，andkeepingonwithhereffort。Shelookedshylyaslantathim。
\"Perhapsyoudon’tapproveofplayingwithshavings？\"
\"Ohyes，Ido。Iadmireitverymuch。Butitseemsratherdifficult。I’veagreatambitiontoputmyfootontheshaving’stailandholditforyou。\"
\"Well，\"saidthegirl。
\"Thankyou，\"saidtheyoungman。Hedidso，andnowsheranherparasolpointeasilythroughit。Theylookedateachotherandlaughed。\"Thatwaswonderful。
Wouldyouliketotryanother？\"heasked。
\"No，Ithankyou，\"shereplied。\"Ithinkonewilldo。\"
Theybothlaughedagain，forwhateverreasonornoreason，andthentheyounggirlbecamesober。Toagirleverythingayoungmandoesisofsignificance；andifheholdsashavingdownwithhisfootwhileshepokesthroughitwithherparasol，shemustaskherselfwhathemeansbyit。
\"Theyseemtobehavingratheralonginterviewwiththecarpenterto—day，\"saidIrene，lookingvaguelytowardtheceiling。SheturnedwithpoliteceremonytoCorey。
\"I’mafraidyou’relettingthemkeepyou。Youmustn’t。\"
\"Ohno。You’relettingmestay，\"hereturned。
Shebridledandbitherlipforpleasure。\"Ipresumetheywillbedownbeforeagreatwhile。Don’tyoulikethesmellofthewoodandthemortar？It’ssofresh。\"
\"Yes，it’sdelicious。\"Hebentforwardandpickedupfromthefloortheshavingwithwhichtheyhadbeenplaying，andputittohisnose。\"It’slikeaflower。MayIofferittoyou？\"heasked，asifithadbeenone。
\"Oh，thankyou，thankyou！\"Shetookitfromhimandputitintoherbelt，andthentheybothlaughedoncemore。
Stepswerehearddescending。Whentheelderpeoplereachedthefloorwheretheyweresitting，Coreyroseandpresentlytookhisleave。
\"Whatmakesyousosolemn，’Rene？\"askedMrs。Lapham。
\"Solemn？\"echoedthegirl。\"I’mnotaBITsolemn。
WhatCANyoumean？\"
Coreydinedathomethatevening，andashesatlookingacrossthetableathisfather，hesaid，\"Iwonderwhattheaverageliteratureofnon—cultivatedpeopleis。\"
\"Ah，\"saidtheelder，\"Isuspecttheaverageisprettylowevenwithcultivatedpeople。Youdon’treadagreatmanybooksyourself，Tom。\"
\"No，Idon’t，\"theyoungmanconfessed。\"IreadmorebookswhenIwaswithStanton，lastwinter，thanIhadsinceIwasaboy。ButIreadthembecauseImust——therewasnothingelsetodo。Itwasn’tbecauseIwasfondofreading。
StillIthinkIreadwithsomesenseofliteratureandthedifferencebetweenauthors。Idon’tsupposethatpeoplegenerallydothat；Ihavemetpeoplewhohadreadbookswithouttroublingthemselvestofindouteventheauthor’sname，muchlesstryingtodecideuponhisquality。
Isupposethat’sthewaythevastmajorityofpeopleread。\"
\"Yes。Ifauthorswerenotalmostnecessarilyrecluses，andignorantoftheignoranceaboutthem，Idon’tseehowtheycouldendureit。Ofcoursetheyarefatedtobeoverwhelmedbyoblivionatlast，poorfellows；buttoseeitwelteringallroundthemwhiletheyareintheveryactofachievingimmortalitymustbetremendouslydiscouraging。
Idon’tsupposethatwewhohavethehabitofreading，andatleastanoddingacquaintancewithliterature，canimaginethebestialdarknessofthegreatmassofpeople——evenpeoplewhosehousesarerichandwhoselinenispurpleandfine。Butoccasionallywegetglimpsesofit。
IsupposeyoufoundthelatestpublicationslyingallaboutinLaphamcottagewhenyouweredownthere？\"
YoungCoreylaughed。\"Itwasn’texactlycumberedwiththem。\"
\"No？\"
\"Totellthetruth，Idon’tsupposetheyeverbuybooks。
Theyoungladiesgetnovelsthattheyheartalkedofoutofthecirculatinglibrary。\"
\"Hadtheyknowledgeenoughtobeashamedoftheirignorance？\"
\"Yes，incertainways——toacertaindegree。\"
\"It’sacuriousthing，thisthingwecallcivilisation，\"
saidtheeldermusingly。\"Wethinkitisanaffairofepochsandofnations。It’sreallyanaffairofindividuals。
Onebrotherwillbecivilisedandtheotherabarbarian。
I’veoccasionallymetyounggirlswhoweresobrutally，insolently，wilfullyindifferenttotheartswhichmakecivilisationthattheyoughttohavebeenclothedintheskinsofwildbeastsandgoneaboutbarefootwithclubsovertheirshoulders。Yettheywereofpoliteorigin，andtheirparentswereatleastrespectfulofthethingsthattheseyounganimalsdespised。\"
\"Idon’tthinkthatisexactlythecasewiththeLaphamfamily，\"saidtheson，smiling。\"Thefatherandmotherratherapologisedaboutnotgettingtimetoread，andtheyoungladiesbynomeansscornedit。\"
\"Theyarequiteadvanced！\"
\"TheyaregoingtohavealibraryintheirBeaconStreethouse。\"
\"Oh，poorthings！Howaretheyevergoingtogetthebookstogether？\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidtheson，colouringalittle，\"Ihavebeenindirectlyappliedtoforhelp。\"
\"You，Tom！\"Hisfatherdroppedbackinhischairandlaughed。
\"Irecommendedthestandardauthors，\"saidtheson。
\"Oh，IneversupposedyourPRUDENCEwouldbeatfault，Tom！\"
\"Butseriously，\"saidtheyoungman，generouslysmilinginsympathywithhisfather’senjoyment，\"they’renotunintelligentpeople。Theyareveryquick，andtheyareshrewdandsensible。\"
\"IhavenodoubtthatsomeoftheSiouxareso。Butthatisnotsayingthattheyarecivilised。Allcivilisationcomesthroughliteraturenow，especiallyinourcountry。
AGreekgothiscivilisationbytalkingandlooking，andinsomemeasureaParisianmaystilldoit。Butwe，wholiveremotefromhistoryandmonuments，wemustreadorwemustbarbarise。Onceweweresoftened，ifnotpolished，byreligion；butIsuspectthatthepulpitcountsformuchlessnowincivilising。\"
\"They’reenormousdevourersofnewspapers，andtheatre—goers；
andtheygoagreatdealtolectures。TheColonelprefersthemwiththestereopticon。\"
\"Theymightgetasomethinginthatway，\"saidtheelderthoughtfully。\"Yes，Isupposeonemusttakethosethingsintoaccount——especiallythenewspapersandthelectures。
Idoubtifthetheatreisafactorincivilisationamongus。
Idaresayitdoesn’tdepraveagreatdeal，butfromwhatI’veseenofitIshouldsaythatitwasintellectuallydegrading。
Perhapstheymightgetsomesortofliftfromit；
Idon’tknow。Tom！\"headded，afteramoment’sreflection。
\"IreallythinkIoughttoseethispatronofyours。
Don’tyouthinkitwouldberatherdecentinmetomakehisacquaintance？\"
\"Well，ifyouhavethefancy，sir，\"saidtheyoungman。
\"Butthere’snosortofobligation。ColonelLaphamwouldbethelastmanintheworldtowanttogiveourrelationanysortofsocialcharacter。Themeetingwillcomeaboutinthenaturalcourseofthings。\"
\"Ah，Ididn’tintendtoproposeanythingimmediate，\"
saidthefather。\"Onecan’tdoanythinginthesummer，andIshouldpreferyourmother’ssuperintendence。
Still，Ican’tridmyselfoftheideaofadinner。
Itappearstomethatthereoughttobeadinner。\"
\"Oh，praydon’tfeelthatthere’sanynecessity。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheelder，witheasyresignation，\"there’satleastnohurry。\"
\"ThereisonethingIdon’tlike，\"saidLapham，inthecourseofoneofthosetalkswhichcameupbetweenhiswifeandhimselfconcerningCorey，\"oratleastIdon’tunderstandit；andthat’sthewayhisfatherbehaves。Idon’twanttoforcemyselfonanyman；
butitseemstomeprettyqueerthewayheholdsoff。
Ishouldthinkhewouldtakeenoughinterestinhissontowanttoknowsomethingabouthisbusiness。
Whatisheafraidof？\"demandedLaphamangrily。\"DoeshethinkI’mgoingtojumpatachancetogetinwithhim，ifhegivesmeone？He’smightilymistakenifhedoes。
Idon’twanttoknowhim。\"
\"Silas，\"saidhiswife，makingawife’sfreeversionofherhusband’swords，andreplyingtotheirspiritratherthantheirletter，\"IhopeyouneversaidawordtoMr。Coreytolethimknowthewayyoufeel。\"
\"Inevermentionedhisfathertohim！\"roaredtheColonel。
\"That’sthewayIfeelaboutit！\"
\"Becauseitwouldspoileverything。Iwouldn’thavethemthinkwecaredtheleastthingintheworldfortheiracquaintance。Weshouldn’tbeabitbetteroff。
Wedon’tknowthesamepeopletheydo，andwedon’tcareforthesamekindofthings。\"
Laphamwasbreathlesswithresentmentofhiswife’simplication。
\"Don’tItellyou，\"hegasped，\"thatIdon’twanttoknowthem？Whobeganit？They’refriendsofyoursifthey’reanybody’s。\"
\"They’redistantacquaintancesofmine，\"returnedMrs。Laphamquietly；\"andthisyoungCoreyisaclerkofyours。AndI
wantweshouldholdourselvessothatwhentheygetreadytomaketheadvanceswecanmeetthemhalf—wayornot，justaswechoose。\"
\"That’swhatgrindsme，\"criedherhusband。
\"Whyshouldwewaitforthemtomaketheadvances？Whyshouldn’twemake’em？Aretheyanybetterthanweare？
MynoteofhandwouldbeworthtentimeswhatBromfieldCorey’sisonthestreetto—day。AndImadeMYmoney。
Ihaven’tloafedmylifeaway。\"
\"Oh，itisn’twhatyou’vegot，anditisn’twhatyou’vedoneexactly。It’swhatyouare。\"
\"Well，then，what’sthedifference？\"
\"Nonethatreallyamountstoanything，orthatneedgiveyouanytrouble，ifyoudon’tthinkofit。Buthe’sbeenallhislifeinsociety，andheknowsjustwhattosayandwhattodo，andhecantalkaboutthethingsthatsocietypeopleliketotalkabout，andyou——can’t。\"
Laphamgaveafurioussnort。\"Anddoesthatmakehimanybetter？\"
\"No。Butitputshimwherehecanmaketheadvanceswithoutdemeaninghimself，anditputsyouwhereyoucan’t。Now，lookhere，SilasLapham！YouunderstandthisthingaswellasIdo。YouknowthatIappreciateyou，andthatI’dsoonerdiethanhaveyouhumbleyourselftoalivingsoul。ButI’mnotgoingtohaveyoucomingtome，andpretendingthatyoucanmeetBromfieldCoreyasanequalonhisownground。Youcan’t。He’sgotabettereducationthanyou，andifhehasn’tgotmorebrainsthanyou，he’sgotdifferent。Andheandhiswife，andtheirfathersandgrandfathersbefore’em，havealwayshadahighposition，andyoucan’thelpit。Ifyouwanttoknowthem，you’vegottoletthemmaketheadvances。
Ifyoudon’t，allwellandgood。\"
\"Iguess，\"saidthechafedandvanquishedColonel，afteramomentforswallowingthepill，\"thatthey’dhavebeeninaprettyfixifyou’dwaitedtoletthemmaketheadvanceslastsummer。\"
\"Thatwasadifferentthingaltogether。Ididn’tknowwhotheywere，ormaybeIshouldhavewaited。
ButallIsaynowisthatifyou’vegotyoungCoreyintobusinesswithyou，inhopesofourgettingintosocietywithhisfather，youbettershiphimatonce。
ForIain’tgoingtohaveitonthatbasis。\"
\"Whowantstohaveitonthatbasis？\"retortedherhusband。
\"Nobody，ifyoudon’t，\"saidMrs。Laphamtranquilly。
Irenehadcomehomewiththeshavinginherbelt，unnoticedbyherfather，andunquestionedbyhermother。
Buthersistersawitatonce，andaskedherwhatshewasdoingwithit。
\"Oh，nothing，\"saidIrene，withajoyfulsmileofself—betrayal，takingtheshavingcarefullyout，andlayingitamongthelacesandribbonsinherdrawer。
\"Hadn’tyoubetterputitinwater，’Rene？It’llbeallwiltedbymorning，\"saidPen。
\"Youmeanthing！\"criedthehappygirl。\"Itisn’taflower！\"
\"Oh，Ithoughtitwasawholebouquet。Whogaveittoyou？\"
\"Ishan’ttellyou，\"saidIrenesaucily。
\"Oh，well，nevermind。DidyouknowMr。Coreyhadbeendownherethisafternoon，walkingonthebeachwithme？\"
\"Hewasn’t——hewasn’tatall！HewasatthehousewithME。
There！I’vecaughtyoufairly。\"
\"Isthatso？\"drawledPenelope。\"ThenInevercouldguesswhogaveyouthatpreciousshaving。\"
\"No，youcouldn’t！\"saidIrene，flushingbeautifully。
\"Andyoumayguess，andyoumayguess，andyoumayguess！\"
Withherlovelyeyesshecoaxedhersistertokeeponteasingher，andPenelopecontinuedthecomedywiththepatiencethatwomenhaveforsuchthings。
\"Well，I’mnotgoingtotry，ifit’snouse。ButI
didn’tknowithadgottobethefashiontogiveshavingsinsteadofflowers。Butthere’ssomesenseinit。
Theycanbeusedforkindlingswhentheygetold，andyoucan’tdoanythingwitholdflowers。Perhapshe’llgettosending’embythebarrel。\"
Irenelaughedforpleasureinthistormenting。\"OPen，Iwanttotellyouhowitallhappened。\"
\"Oh，heDIDgiveittoyou，then？Well，IguessIdon’tcaretohear。\"
\"Youshall，andyou’vegotto！\"Ireneranandcaughthersister，whofeignedtobegoingoutoftheroom，andpushedherintoachair。\"There，now！\"Shepulledupanotherchair，andhemmedherinwithit。\"Hecameover，andsatdownonthetrestlealongsideofme————\"
\"What？Ascloseasyouaretomenow？\"
\"Youwretch！IwillGIVEittoyou！No，ataproperdistance。
Andherewasthisshavingonthefloor，thatI’dbeenpokingwithmyparasol————\"
\"Tohideyourembarrassment。\"
\"Pshaw！Iwasn’tabitembarrassed。Iwasjustasmuchatmyease！Andthenheaskedmetolethimholdtheshavingdownwithhisfoot，whileIwentonwithmypoking。
AndIsaidyeshemight————\"
\"Whataboldgirl！Yousaidhemightholdashavingdownforyou？\"
\"Andthen——andthen————\"continuedIrene，liftinghereyesabsently，andlosingherselfinthebeatificrecollection，\"andthen————Ohyes！ThenIaskedhimifhedidn’tlikethesmellofpineshavings。Andthenhepickeditup，andsaiditsmeltlikeaflower。Andthenheaskedifhemightofferittome——justforajoke，youknow。
AndItookit，andstuckitinmybelt。Andwehadsuchalaugh！Wegotintoaregulargale。AndOPen，whatdoyousupposehemeantbyit？\"Shesuddenlycaughtherselftohersister’sbreast，andhidherburningfaceonhershoulder。
\"Well，thereusedtobeabookaboutthelanguageofflowers。
ButIneverknewmuchaboutthelanguageofshavings，andIcan’tsayexactly————\"
\"Oh，don’t——DON’T，Pen！\"andhereIrenegaveoverlaughing，andbegantosobinhersister’sarms。
\"Why，’Rene！\"criedtheeldergirl。
\"YouKNOWhedidn’tmeananything。Hedoesn’tcareabitaboutme。Hehatesme！Hedespisesme！Oh，whatshallIdo？\"
Atroublepassedoverthefaceofthesisterasshesilentlycomfortedthechildinherarms；thenthedrollinglightcamebackintohereyes。\"Well，’Rene，YOUhaven’tgottodoANYthing。That’soneadvantagegirlshavegot——ifitISanadvantage。I’mnotalwayssure。\"
Irene’stearsturnedtolaughingagain。Whensheliftedherheaditwastolookintothemirrorconfrontingthem，whereherbeautyshowedallthemorebrilliantfortheshowerthathadpassedoverit。Sheseemedtogathercouragefromthesight。
