\"ItmustbeawfultohavetoDO，\"shesaid，smilingintoherownface。\"Idon’tseehowtheyevercan。\"
\"Someof’emcan’t——especiallywhenthere’ssuchatearingbeautyaround。\"
\"Oh，pshaw，Pen！youknowthatisn’tso。You’vegotarealprettymouth，Pen，\"sheaddedthoughtfully，surveyingthefeatureintheglass，andthenpoutingherownlipsforthesakeofthateffectonthem。
\"It’sausefulmouth，\"Penelopeadmitted；\"Idon’tbelieveIcouldgetalongwithoutitnow，I’vehaditsolong。\"
\"It’sgotsuchafunnyexpression——justthemateofthelookinyoureyes；asifyouwerejustgoingtosaysomethingridiculous。Hesaid，theveryfirsttimehesawyou，thatheknewyouwerehumorous。\"
\"Isitpossible？\"mustbeso，iftheGrandMogulsaidit。
Whydidn’tyoutellmesobefore，andnotletmekeepongoingroundjustlikeacommonperson？\"
Irenelaughedasifshelikedtohavehersistertakehispraisesinthatwayratherthananother。
\"I’vegotsuchastiff，primkindofmouth，\"shesaid，drawingitdown，andthenlookinganxiouslyatit。
\"Ihopeyoudidn’tputonthatexpressionwhenheofferedyoutheshaving。Ifyoudid，Idon’tbelievehe’llevergiveyouanothersplinter。\"
Theseveremouthbrokeintoalovelylaugh，andthenpresseditselfinakissagainstPenelope’scheek。
\"There！Bedone，yousillything！I’mnotgoingtohaveyouacceptingMEbeforeI’veofferedmyself，ANYWAY。\"
Shefreedherselffromhersister’sembrace，andranfromherroundtheroom。
Irenepursuedher，intheneedofhidingherfaceagainsthershoulderagain。\"OPen！OPen！\"shecried。
Thenextday，atthefirstmomentoffindingherselfalonewithhereldestdaughter，Mrs。Laphamasked，asifknowingthatPenelopemusthavealreadymadeitsubjectofinquiry：
\"WhatwasIrenedoingwiththatshavinginherbeltyesterday？\"
\"Oh，justsomenonsenseofherswithMr。Corey。
Hegaveittoheratthenewhouse。\"Penelopedidnotchoosetolookupandmeethermother’sgraveglance。
\"Whatdoyouthinkhemeantbyit？\"
PeneloperepeatedIrene’saccountoftheaffair，andhermotherlistenedwithoutseemingtoderivemuchencouragementfromit。
\"Hedoesn’tseemlikeonetoflirtwithher，\"shesaidatlast。Then，afterathoughtfulpause：\"Ireneisasgoodagirlaseverbreathed，andshe’saperfectbeauty。
ButIshouldhatethedaywhenadaughterofminewasmarriedforherbeauty。\"
\"You’resafeasfarasI’mconcerned，mother。\"
Mrs。Laphamsmiledruefully。\"Sheisn’treallyequaltohim，Pen。Imisdoubtedthatfromthefirst，andit’sbeenborneinuponmemoreandmoreeversince。
Shehasn’tmindenough。\"\"Ididn’tknowthatamanfellinlovewithagirl’sintellect，\"saidPenelopequietly。
\"Ohno。Hehasn’tfalleninlovewithIreneatall。
Ifhehad，itwouldn’tmatterabouttheintellect。\"
Penelopelettheself—contradictionpass。
\"Perhapshehas，afterall。\"
\"No，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Shepleaseshimwhenheseesher。
Buthedoesn’ttrytoseeher。\"
\"Hehasnochance。Youwon’tletfatherbringhimhere。\"
\"Hewouldfindexcusestocomewithoutbeingbrought，ifhewishedtocome，\"saidthemother。\"Butsheisn’tinhismindenoughtomakehim。Hegoesawayanddoesn’tthinkanythingmoreabouther。She’sachild。
She’sagoodchild，andIshallalwayssayit；butshe’snothingbutachild。No，she’sgottoforgethim。\"
\"Perhapsthatwon’tbesoeasy。\"
\"No，Ipresumenot。Andnowyourfatherhasgotthenotioninhishead，andhewillmoveheavenandearthtobringittopass。Icanseethathe’salwaysthinkingaboutit。\"
\"TheColonelhasawillofhisown，\"observedthegirl，rockingtoandfrowhereshesatlookingathermother。
\"Iwishwehadnevermetthem！\"criedMrs。Lapham。
\"Iwishwehadneverthoughtofbuilding！Iwishhehadkeptawayfromyourfather’sbusiness！\"
\"Well，it’stoolatenow，mother，\"saidthegirl。
\"Perhapsitisn’tsobadasyouthink。\"
\"Well，wemuststandit，anyway，\"saidMrs。Lapham，withthegrimantiqueYankeesubmission。
\"Ohyes，we’vegottostandit，\"saidPenelope，withthequaintmodernAmericanfatalism。
X。
ITwaslateJune，almostJuly，whenCoreytookuphislifeinBostonagain，wherethesummerslipsawaysoeasily。
Ifyougooutoftownearly，itseemsaverylongsummerwhenyoucomebackinOctober；butifyoustay，itpassesswiftly，and，seenforeshortenedinitsflight，seemsscarcelyamonth’slength。Ithasitsdaysofheat，whenitisveryhot，butforthemostpartitiscool，withbathsoftheeastwindthatseemtosaturatethesoulwithdeliciousfreshness。Thentherearestretchesofgreywesterlyweather，whentheairisfullofthesentimentofearlyautumn，andthefrying，ofthegrasshopperintheblossomedweedofthevacantlotsontheBackBayisintershotwiththecarolofcrickets；andtheyellowingleafonthelongslopeofMt。VernonStreetsmitesthesaunteringobserverwithtendermelancholy。
Thecaterpillar，gorgedwiththespoilofthelindensonChestnut，andweavinghisownshroudabouthiminhislodgmentonthebrick—work，recordsthepassingofsummerbymid—July；andifafterthatcomesAugust，itsbreathisthickandshort，andSeptemberisuponthesojournerbeforehehasfairlyhadtimetophilosophisethecharacterofthetownoutofseason。
Butitmusthaveappearedthatitsmostcharacteristicfeaturewastheabsenceofeverybodyheknew。ThiswasoneofthethingsthatcommendedBostontoBromfieldCoreyduringthesummer；andifhissonhadanyqualmsaboutthelifehehadentereduponwithsuchvigour，itmusthavebeenarelieftohimthattherewasscarcelyasoullefttowonderorpity。Bythetimepeoplegotbacktotownthefactofhisconnectionwiththemineralpaintmanwouldbeanoldstory，heardafaroffwithdifferentdegreesofsurprise，andconsideredwithdifferentdegreesofindifference。Amanhasnotreachedtheageoftwenty—sixinanycommunitywherehewasbornandrearedwithouthavinghadhiscapacityprettywellascertained；
andinBostontheanalysisisconductedwithanunsparingthoroughnesswhichmayfitlyimpresstheun—Bostonianmind，darkenedbythepopularsuperstitionthattheBostoniansblindlyadmireoneanother。Aman’squalitiesaresiftedascloselyinBostonastheydoubtlesswereinFlorenceorAthens；and，iffinalmercywasshowninthosecitiesbecauseamanwas，withallhislimitations，anAthenianorFlorentine，someabatementmightasjustlybemadeinBostonforlikereason。Corey’spowershadbeengaugedincollege，andhehadnotgivenhisworldreasontothinkverydifferentlyofhimsincehecameoutofcollege。
Hewasratedasanenergeticfellow，alittleindefiniteinaim，withthesmallestamountofinspirationthatcansaveamanfrombeingcommonplace。Ifhewasnotcommonplace，itwasthroughnothingremarkableinhismind，whichwassimplyclearandpractical，butthroughsomecombinationofqualitiesoftheheartthatmadementrusthim，andwomencallhimsweet——awordoftheirswhichconveysotherwiseindefinableexcellences。SomeofthemorenervousandexcitablesaidthatTomCoreywasassweetashecouldlive；
butthisperhapsmeantnomorethanthewordalone。
NomaneverhadasonlesslikehimthanBromfieldCorey。
IfTomCoreyhadeversaidawittything，noonecouldrememberit；andyetthefatherhadneversaidawittythingtoamoresympatheticlistenerthanhisownson。
Theclearmindwhichproducednothingbutpracticalresultsreflectedeverythingwithcharminglucidity；
anditmusthavebeenthiswhichendearedTomCoreytoeveryonewhospoketenwordswithhim。Inacitywherepeoplehavegoodreasonforlikingtoshine，amanwhodidnotcaretoshinemustbelittleshortofuniversallyacceptablewithoutanyothereffortforpopularity；
andthosewhoadmiredandenjoyedBromfieldCoreylovedhisson。Yet，whenitcametoaccountingforTomCorey，asitoftendidinacommunitywhereeveryone’sgenerationisknowntotheremotestdegreesofcousinship，theycouldnottracehissweetnesstohismother，forneitherAnnaBellinghamnoranyofherfamily，thoughtheyweresomanyblocksofWenhamiceforpurityandrectangularity，hadeverhadanysuchsavour；and，infact，itwastohisfather，whosehabitoftalkwrongeditinhimself，thattheyhadtoturnforthisqualityoftheson’s。Theytracedtothemotherthetraitsofpracticalityandcommon—senseinwhichhebordereduponthecommonplace，andwhich，whentheyhaddweltuponthem，madehimseemhardlyworththecloseinquirytheyhadgivenhim。
Whilethesummerworeawayhecameandwentmethodicallyabouthisbusiness，asifithadbeenthebusinessofhislife，sharinghisfather’sbachelorlibertyandsolitude，andexpectingwithequalpatiencethereturnofhismotherandsistersintheautumn。OnceortwicehefoundtimetorundowntoMt。Desertandseethem；
andthenheheardhowthePhiladelphiaandNewYorkpeopleweregettingineverywhere，andwasgivenreasontoregretthehouseatNahantwhichhehadurgedtobesold。
Hecamebackandappliedhimselftohisdeskwithadevotionthatwasexemplaryratherthannecessary；
forLaphammadenodifficultyaboutthebriefabsenceswhichheasked，andsetnotermtotheapprenticeshipthatCoreywasservingintheofficebeforesettingoffuponthatmissiontoSouthAmericaintheearlywinter，forwhichnodatehadyetbeenfixed。
Thesummerwasadullseasonforthepaintaswellasforeverythingelse。Tillthingsshouldbriskup，asLaphamsaid，inthefall，hewaslettingthenewhousetakeagreatdealofhistime。AEstheticideashadneverbeenintelligiblypresentedtohimbefore，andhefoundadelightinapprehendingthemthatwasverygratefultohisimaginativearchitect。Atthebeginning，thearchitecthadforebodedaseriesofmortifyingdefeatsanddisastrousvictoriesinhisencounterswithhisclient；buthehadneverhadaclientwhocouldbemorereasonablyledonfromoneoutlaytoanother。
ItappearedthatLaphamrequiredbuttounderstandorfeelthebeautifuleffectintended，andhewasreadytopayforit。Hisbull—headedpridewasconcernedinathingwhichthearchitectmadehimsee，andthenhebelievedthathehadseenithimself，perhapsconceivedit。
Insomemeasurethearchitectseemedtosharehisdelusion，andfreelysaidthatLaphamwasverysuggestive。
Togethertheyblockedoutwindowshere，andbrickedthemupthere；theychangeddoorsandpassages；pulleddowncornicesandreplacedthemwithothersofdifferentdesign；
experimentedwithcostlydevicesofdecoration，andwenttoextravagantlengthsinnoveltiesoffinish。
Mrs。Lapham，beginningwithawoman’sadventurousnessintheunknownregion，tookfrightattherecklessoutlayatlast，andrefusedtoletherhusbandpassacertainlimit。
Hetriedtomakeherbelievethatafar—seeingeconomydictatedtheexpense；andthatifheputthemoneyintothehouse，hecouldgetitoutanytimebysellingit。
Shewouldnotbepersuaded。
\"Idon’twantyoushouldsellit。Andyou’veputmoremoneyintoitnowthanyou’llevergetoutagain，unlessyoucanfindasbigagoosetobuyit，andthatisn’tlikely。
No，sir！Youjuststopatahundredthousand，anddon’tyoulethimgetyouacentbeyond。Why，you’reperfectlybewitchedwiththatfellow！You’velostyourhead，SilasLapham，andifyoudon’tlookoutyou’llloseyourmoneytoo。\"
TheColonellaughed；helikedhertotalkthatway，andpromisedhewouldholdupawhile。
\"Butthere’snocalltofeelanxious，Pert。It’sonlyaquestionwhattodowiththemoney。Icanreinvestit；
butIneverhadsomuchofittospendbefore。\"
\"Spendit，then，\"saidhiswife；\"don’tthrowitaway！
Andhowcameyoutohavesomuchmoremoneythanyouknowwhattodowith，SilasLapham？\"sheadded。
\"Oh，I’vemadeaverygoodthinginstockslately。\"
\"Instocks？Whendidyoutakeupgamblingforaliving？\"
\"Gambling？Stuff！Whatgambling？Whosaiditwasgambling？\"
\"Youhave；manyatime。\"
\"Ohyes，buyingandsellingonamargin。Butthiswasabonafidetransaction。Iboughtatforty—threeforaninvestment，andIsoldatahundredandseven；
andthemoneypassedbothtimes。\"
\"Well，youbetterletstocksalone，\"saidhiswife，withtheconservatismofhersex。\"Nexttimeyou’llbuyatahundredandsevenandsellatfortythree。
Thenwhere’llyoube？\"
\"Left，\"admittedtheColonel。
\"Youbettersticktopaintawhileyet。\"TheColonelenjoyedthistoo，andlaughedagainwiththeeaseofamanwhoknowswhatheisabout。AfewdaysafterthathecamedowntoNantasketwiththeradiantairwhichheworewhenhehaddoneagoodthinginbusinessandwantedhiswife’ssympathy。Hedidnotsayanythingofwhathadhappenedtillhewasalonewithherintheirownroom；
buthewasverygaythewholeevening，andmadeseveraljokeswhichPenelopesaidnothingbutverygreatprosperitycouldexcuse：theyallunderstoodthesemoodsofhis。
\"Well，whatisit，Silas？\"askedhiswifewhenthetimecame。
\"Anymorebig—bugswantingtogointothemineralpaintbusinesswithyou？\"
\"Somethingbetterthanthat。\"
\"Icouldthinkofagoodmanybetterthings，\"saidhiswife，withasighoflatentbitterness。\"What’sthisone？\"
\"I’vehadavisitor。\"
\"Who？\"
\"Can’tyouguess？\"
\"Idon’twanttotry。Whowasit？\"
\"Rogers。\"
Mrs。Laphamsatdownwithherhandsinherlap，andstaredatthesmileonherhusband’sface，wherehesatfacingher。
\"Iguessyouwouldn’twanttojokeonthatsubject，Si，\"
shesaid，alittlehoarsely，\"andyouwouldn’tgrinaboutitunlessyouhadsomegoodnews。Idon’tknowwhatthemiracleis，butifyoucouldtellquick————\"
Shestoppedlikeonewhocansaynomore。
\"Iwill，Persis，\"saidherhusband，andwiththatawedtoneinwhichherarelyspokeofanythingbutthevirtuesofhispaint。\"Hecametoborrowmoneyofme，andI
lenthimit。That’stheshortofit。Thelong————\"
\"Goon，\"saidhiswife，withgentlepatience。
\"Well，Pert，IwasneversomuchastonishedinmylifeasIwastoseethatmancomeintomyoffice。
Youmighthaveknockedmedownwith——Idon’tknowwhat。\"
\"Idon’twonder。Goon！\"
\"AndhewasasmuchembarrassedasIwas。Therewestood，gapingateachother，andIhadn’thardlysenseenoughtoaskhimtotakeachair。Idon’tknowjusthowwegotatit。AndIdon’trememberjusthowitwasthathesaidhecametocometome。Buthehadgotholdofapatentrightthathewantedtogointoonalargescale，andtherehewaswantingmetosupplyhimthefunds。\"
\"Goon！\"saidMrs。Lapham，withhervoicefurtherinherthroat。
\"IneverfeltthewayyoudidaboutRogers，butIknowhowyoualwaysdidfeel，andIguessIsurprisedhimwithmyanswer。
Hehadbroughtalongalotofstockassecurity————\"
\"Youdidn’ttakeit，Silas！\"hiswifeflashedout。
\"Yes，Idid，though，\"saidLapham。\"Youwait。Wesettledourbusiness，andthenwewentintotheoldthing，fromtheverystart。Andwetalkeditallover。
Andwhenwegotthroughweshookhands。Well，Idon’tknowwhenit’sdonemesomuchgoodtoshakehandswithanybody。\"
\"Andyoutoldhim——youowneduptohimthatyouwereinthewrong，Silas？\"
\"No，Ididn’t，\"returnedtheColonelpromptly；\"forI
wasn’t。Andbeforewegotthrough，IguesshesawitthesameasIdid。\"
\"Oh，nomatter！soyouhadthechancetoshowhowyoufelt。\"
\"ButIneverfeltthatway，\"persistedtheColonel。
\"I’velenthimthemoney，andI’vekepthisstocks。
Andhegotwhathewantedoutofme。\"
\"Givehimbackhisstocks！\"
\"No，Ishan’t。Rogerscametoborrow。Hedidn’tcometobeg。Youneedn’tbetroubledabouthisstocks。
They’regoingtocomeupintime；butjustnowthey’resolowdownthatnobankwouldtakethemassecurity，andI’vegottoholdthemtilltheydorise。Ihopeyou’resatisfiednow，Persis，\"saidherhusband；andhelookedatherwiththewillingnesstoreceivetherewardofagoodactionwhichweallfeelwhenwehaveperformedone。
\"Ilenthimthemoneyyoukeptmefromspendingonthehouse。\"
\"Truly，Si？Well，I’msatisfied，\"saidMrs。Lapham，withadeeptremulousbreath。\"TheLordhasbeengoodtoyou，Silas，\"shecontinuedsolemnly。\"Youmaylaughifyouchoose，andIdon’tknowasIbelieveinhisinterferingagreatdeal；butIbelievehe’sinterferedthistime；andItellyou，Silas，itain’talwayshegivespeopleachancetomakeituptoothersinthislife。
I’vebeenafraidyou’ddie，Silas，beforeyougotthechance；
buthe’sletyoulivetomakeituptoRogers。\"
\"I’mgladtobeletlive，\"saidLaphamstubbornly，\"butIhadn’tanythingtomakeuptoMiltonK。Rogers。
AndifGodhasletmeliveforthat————\"
\"Oh，saywhatyouplease，Si！Saywhatyouplease，nowyou’vedoneit！Ishan’tstopyou。You’vetakentheonespot——theoneSPECK——offyouthatwaseverthere，andI’msatisfied。\"
\"Therewa’n’teveranyspeckthere，\"Laphamheldout，lapsingmoreandmoreintohisvernacular；\"andwhatI
doneIdoneforyou，Persis。\"
\"AndIthankyouforyourownsoul’ssake，Silas。\"
\"Iguessmysoul’sallright，\"saidLapham。
\"AndIwantyoushouldpromisemeonethingmore。\"
\"Thoughtyousaidyouweresatisfied？\"
\"Iam。ButIwantyoushouldpromisemethis：thatyouwon’tletanythingtemptyou——anything！——toevertroubleRogersforthatmoneyyoulenthim。Nomatterwhathappens——nomatterifyouloseitall。Doyoupromise？\"
\"Why，Idon’teverEXPECTtopresshimforit。
That’swhatIsaidtomyselfwhenIlentit。AndofcourseI’mgladtohavethatoldtroublehealedup。Idon’tTHINK
IeverdidRogersanywrong，andIneverdidthinkso；
butifIDIDdoit——IFIdid——I’mwillingtocallitsquare，ifIneverseeacentofmymoneybackagain。\"
\"Well，that’sall，\"saidhiswife。
Theydidnotcelebratehisreconciliationwithhisoldenemy——forsuchtheyhadalwaysfelthimtobesinceheceasedtobeanally——byanyshowofjoyoraffection。
Itwasnotintheirtradition，asstoicalforthewomanasfortheman，thattheyshouldkissorembraceeachotheratsuchamoment。Shewascontenttohavetoldhimthathehaddonehisduty，andhewascontentwithhersayingthat。ButbeforeshesleptshefoundwordstoaddthatshealwaysfearedtheselfishparthehadactedtowardRogershadweakenedhim，andlefthimlessabletoovercomeanytemptationthatmightbesethim；
andthatwasonereasonwhyshecouldneverbeeasyaboutit。
Nowsheshouldneverfearforhimagain。
Thistimehedidnotexplicitlydenyherforgivingimpeachment。
\"Well，it’sallpastandgonenow，anyway；andIdon’twantyoushouldthinkanythingmoreaboutit。\"
Hewasmanenoughtotakeadvantageofthehighfavourinwhichhestoodwhenhewentuptotown，andtoabuseitbybringingCoreydowntosupper。Hiswifecouldnothelpcondoningthesinofdisobedienceinhimatsuchatime。
PenelopesaidthatbetweentheadmirationshefeltfortheColonel’sboldnessandhermother’sforbearance，shewashardlyinastatetoentertaincompanythatevening；
butshedidwhatshecould。
Irenelikedbeingtalkedtobetterthantalking，andwhenhersisterwasbyshewasalways，tacitlyorexplicitly，referringtoherforconfirmationofwhatshesaid。
Shewascontenttositandlookprettyasshelookedattheyoungmanandlistenedtohersister’sdrolling。
ShelaughedandkeptglancingatCoreytomakesurethathewasunderstandingher。Whentheywentoutontheverandatoseethemoononthewater，PenelopeledthewayandIrenefollowed。
Theydidnotlookatthemoonlightlong。Theyoungmanperchedontherailoftheveranda，andIrenetookoneofthered—paintedrocking—chairswhereshecouldconvenientlylookathimandathersister，whosatleaningforwardlazilyandrunningon，asthephraseis。
Thatlow，crooningnoteofherswasdelicious；herface，glimpsednowandtheninthemoonlightassheturneditorlifteditalittle，hadafascinationwhichkepthiseye。
Hertalkwasveryunliterary，anditseffectseemedhardlyconscious。Shewasfarfromepigraminherfunning。
Shetoldofthistrifleandthat；shesketchedthecharactersandlooksofpeoplewhohadinterestedher，andnothingseemedtohaveescapedhernotice；shemimickedalittle，butnotmuch；shesuggested，andthentheaffairrepresenteditselfasifwithoutheragency。
Shedidnotlaugh；whenCoreystoppedshemadeasoftcluckinherthroat，asifshelikedhisbeingamused，andwentonagain。
TheColonel，leftalonewithhiswifeforthefirsttimesincehehadcomefromtown，madehastetotaketheword。
\"Well，Pert，I’vearrangedthewholethingwithRogers，andIhopeyou’llbesatisfiedtoknowthatheowesmetwentythousanddollars，andthatI’vegotsecurityfromhimtotheamountofafourthofthat，ifIwastoforcehisstockstoasale。\"
\"Howcamehetocomedownwithyou？\"askedMrs。Lapham。
\"Who？Rogers？\"
\"Mr。Corey。\"
\"Corey？Oh！\"saidLapham，affectingnottohavethoughtshecouldmeanCorey。\"Heproposedit。\"
\"Likely！\"jeeredhiswife，butwithperfectamiability。
\"It’sso，\"protestedtheColonel。\"WegottalkingaboutamatterjustbeforeIleft，andhewalkeddowntotheboatwithme；andthenhesaidifIdidn’tmindheguessedhe’dcomealongdownandgobackonthereturnboat。
OfcourseIcouldn’tlethimdothat。\"
\"It’swellforyouyoucouldn’t。\"
\"AndIcouldn’tdolessthanbringhimheretotea。\"
\"Oh，certainlynot。\"
\"Butheain’tgoingtostaythenight——unless，\"
falteredLapham，\"youwanthimto。\"
\"Oh，ofcourse，Iwanthimto！Iguesshe’llstay，probably。\"
\"Well，youknowhowcrowdedthatlastboatalwaysis，andhecan’tgetanyothernow。\"
Mrs。Laphamlaughedatthesimplewile。\"Ihopeyou’llbejustaswellsatisfied，Si，ifitturnsouthedoesn’twantIreneafterall。\"
\"Pshaw，Persis！Whatareyoualwaysbringingthatupfor？\"
pleadedtheColonel。Thenhefellsilent，andpresentlyhisrude，strongfacewascloudedwithanunconsciousfrown。
\"There！\"criedhiswife，startlinghimfromhisabstraction。
\"Iseehowyou’dfeel；andIhopethatyou’llrememberwhoyou’vegottoblame。\"
\"I’llriskit，\"saidLapham，withtheconfidenceofamanusedtosuccess。
FromtheverandathesoundofPenelope’slazytonecamethroughtheclosedwindows，withjoyouslaughterfromIreneandpealsfromCorey。
\"Listentothat！\"saidherfatherwithin，swellingupwithinexpressiblesatisfaction。\"Thatgirlcantalkfortwenty，rightstraightalong。She’sbetterthanacircusanyday。
Iwonderwhatshe’suptonow。\"
