Where’syourship？DoyouthinkI’mgoingtoletyoucomehereandeatyourwifeoutofhouseandhome，andthengivemoneytokeeptheconcerngoing？\"
\"JusttheverywordsIsaidwhenhefirstshowedhisfacehere，yist’day。Didn’tI，Z’rilla？\"saidthewoman，eagerlyjoiningintherebukeofherlatebooncompanion。
\"Yougotnobusinesshere，Hen，s’dI。Youcan’tcomeheretoliveonmeandZ’rilla，s’dI。Youwanttogobacktoyourship，s’dI。That’swhatIsaid。\"
Thesailormumbled，withasmileoftipsyamiabilityforLapham，somethingaboutthecrewbeingdischarged。
\"Yes，\"thewomanbrokein，\"that’salwaysthewaywiththesecoasters。Whydon’tyougooffonsomethemlongv’y’ges？s’dI。It’sprettyhardwhenMr。WemmelstandsreadytomarryZ’rillaandprovideacomfortablehomeforusboth——Ihain’tgotagreatmanyyearsmoretolive，andISHOULDliketogetsomesatisfactionoutof’em，andnotbebeholdenanddependentallmydays，——tohaveHen，here，blockin’theway。Itellhimthere’dbemoremoneyforhimintheend；buthecan’tseemtomakeuphismindtoit。\"
\"Well，now，lookhere，\"saidLapham。\"Idon’tcareanythingaboutallthat。It’syourownbusiness，andI’mnotgoingtomeddlewithit。Butit’smybusinesswholivesoffme；
andsoItellyouallthree，I’mwillingtotakecareofZerrilla，andI’mwillingtotakecareofhermother————\"
\"Iguessifithadn’tbeenforthatchild’sfather，\"
themotherinterpolated，\"youwouldn’tbeenheretotellthetale，ColonelLapham。\"
\"Iknowallaboutthat，\"saidLapham。\"ButI’lltellyouwhat，Mr。Dewey，I’mnotgoingtosupportYOU。\"
\"Idon’tseewhatHen’sdone，\"saidtheoldwomanimpartially。
\"Hehasn’tdoneanything，andI’mgoingtostopit。
He’sgottogetaship，andhe’sgottogetoutofthis。
AndZerrillaneedn’tcomebacktoworktillhedoes。
I’mdonewithyouall。\"
\"Well，Ivow，\"saidthemother，\"ifIeverheardanythinglikeit！Didn’tthatchild’sfatherlaydownhislifeforyou？Hain’tyousaidityourselfahundredtimes？
Anddon’tsheworkforhermoney，andslaveforitmornin’，noon，andnight？Youtalkasifwewasbeholdentoyoufortheverybreadinourmouths。Iguessifithadn’tbeenforJim，youwouldn’tbeenherecrowin’
overus。\"
\"YoumindwhatIsay。Imeanbusinessthistime，\"
saidLapham，turningtothedoor。
Thewomanroseandfollowedhim，withherbottleinherhand。
\"Say，Colonel！whatshouldyouadviseZ’rillatodoaboutMr。Wemmel？Itellherthereain’tanyusegoin’tothetroubletogitadivorcewithoutshe’ssureabouthim。
Don’tyouthinkwe’doughttogithimtosignapaper，orsomething，thathe’llmarryherifshegitsit？Idon’tliketohavethingsgoingatlooseendsthewaytheyare。
Itain’tsense。Itain’tright。\"
Laphammadenoanswertothemotheranxiousforherchild’sfuture，andconcernedforthemoralquestionsinvolved。
Hewentoutanddownthestairs，andonthepavementatthelowerdoorhealmoststruckagainstRogers，whohadabaginhishand，andseemedtobehurryingtowardsoneofthedepots。Hehaltedalittle，asiftospeaktoLapham；butLaphamturnedhisbackabruptlyuponhim，andtooktheotherdirection。
Thedaysweregoingbyinamonotonyofadversitytohim，fromwhichhecouldnolongerescape，evenathome。
Heattemptedonceortwicetotalkofhistroublestohiswife，butsherepulsedhimsharply；sheseemedtodespiseandhatehim；buthesethimselfdoggedlytomakeaconfessiontoher，andhestoppedheronenight，asshecameintotheroomwherehesat——hastilyuponsomeerrandthatwastotakeherdirectlyawayagain。
\"Persis，there’ssomethingI’vegottotellyou。\"
Shestoodstill，asiffixedagainstherwill，tolisten。
\"Iguessyouknowsomethingaboutitalready，andIguessitsetyouagainstme。\"
\"Oh，Iguessnot，ColonelLapham。Yougoyourway，andIgomine。That’sall。\"
Shewaitedforhimtospeak，listeningwithacold，hardsmileonherface。
\"Idon’tsayittomakefavourwithyou，becauseIdon’twantyoutospareme，andIdon’taskyou；butIgotintoitthroughMiltonK。Rogers。\"
\"Oh！\"saidMrs。Laphamcontemptuously。
\"IalwaysfeltthewayIsaidaboutit——thatitwa’n’tanybetterthangambling，andIsaysonow。It’slikebettingontheturnofacard；andIgiveyoumywordofhonour，Persis，thatIneverwasinitatalltillthatscoundrelbegantoloadmeupwiththosewild—catsecuritiesofhis。
ThenitseemedtomeasifIoughttotrytodosomethingtogetsomewhereeven。Iknowit’snoexcuse；butwatchingthemarkettoseewhattheinfernalthingswereworthfromdaytoday，andseeingitgoup，andseeingitgodown，wastoomuchforme；and，tomakealongstoryshort，Ibegantobuyandsellonamargin——justwhatItoldyouIneverwoulddo。Iseemedtomakesomething——I
didmakesomething；andI’dhavestopped，Idobelieve，ifIcouldhavereachedthefigureI’dsetinmyownmindtostartwith；butIcouldn’tfetchit。Ibegantolose，andthenIbegantothrowgoodmoneyafterbad，justasIalwaysdidwitheverythingthatRogersevercamewithinamileof。Well，what’stheuse？Ilostthemoneythatwouldhavecarriedmeoutofthis，andIshouldn’thavehadtoshutdowntheWorks，orsellthehouse，or————\"
Laphamstopped。Hiswife，whoatfirsthadlistenedwithmystification，andthendawningincredulity，changingintoalookofreliefthatwasalmosttriumph，lapsedagainintoseverity。\"SilasLapham，ifyouwastodiethenextminute，isthiswhatyoustartedtotellme？\"
\"Why，ofcourseitis。WhatdidyousupposeIstartedtotellyou？\"
\"And——lookmeintheeyes！——youhaven’tgotanythingelseonyourmindnow？\"
\"No！There’stroubleenough，theLordknows；
butthere’snothingelsetotellyou。IsupposePengaveyouahintaboutit。Idroppedsomethingtoher。
I’vebeenfeelingbadaboutit，Persis，agoodwhile，butIhain’thadthehearttospeakofit。Ican’texpectyoutosayyoulikeit。I’vebeenafool，I’llallow，andI’vebeensomethingworse，ifyouchoosetosayso；
butthat’sall。Ihaven’thurtanybodybutmyself——andyouandthechildren。\"
Mrs。Laphamroseandsaid，withherfacefromhim，assheturnedtowardsthedoor，\"It’sallright，Silas。
Ishan’teverbringitupagainstyou。\"
Shefledoutoftheroom，butallthateveningshewasverysweetwithhim，andseemedtowishinalltacitwaystoatoneforherpastunkindness。
Shemadehimtalkofhisbusiness，andhetoldherofCorey’soffer，andwhathehaddoneaboutit。
Shedidnotseemtocareforhispartinit，however；
atwhichLaphamwassilentlydisappointedalittle，forhewouldhavelikedhertopraisehim。
\"HediditonaccountofPen！\"
\"Well，hedidn’tinsistuponit，anyway，\"saidLapham，whomusthaveobscurelyexpectedthatCoreywouldrecognisehisownmagnanimitybyrepeatinghisoffer。
Ifthedoubtthatfollowsaself—devotedaction——thequestionwhetheritwasnotafterallaneedlessfolly——ismixed，asitwasinLapham’scase，withthevaguebeliefthatwemighthavedoneourselvesagoodturnwithoutgreatriskofhurtinganyoneelsebybeingalittlelessunselfish，itbecomesaregretthatishardtobear。SinceCoreyspoketohim，somethingshadhappenedthatgaveLaphamhopeagain。
\"I’mgoingtotellheraboutit，\"saidhiswife，andsheshowedherselfimpatienttomakeupforthetimeshehadlost。\"Whydidn’tyoutellmebefore，Silas？\"
\"Ididn’tknowwewereonspeakingtermsbefore，\"
saidLaphamsadly。
\"Yes，that’strue，\"sheadmitted，withaconsciousflush。
\"Ihopehewon’tthinkPen’sknownaboutitallthiswhile。\"
XXIV。
THATeveningJamesBellinghamcametoseeCoreyafterdinner，andwenttofindhiminhisownroom。
\"I’vecomeattheinstanceofColonelLapham，\"saidtheuncle。
\"Hewasatmyofficeto—day，andIhadalongtalkwithhim。
Didyouknowthathewasindifficulties？\"
\"Ifanciedthathewasinsomesortoftrouble。
AndIhadthebook—keeper’sconjectures——hedoesn’treallyknowmuchaboutit。\"
\"Well，hethinksittime——onallaccounts——thatyoushouldknowhowhestands，andwhyhedeclinedthatpropositionofyours。Imustsayhehasbehavedverywell——likeagentleman。\"
\"I’mnotsurprised。\"
\"Iam。It’shardtobehavelikeagentlemanwhereyourinterestisvitallyconcerned。AndLaphamdoesn’tstrikemeasamanwho’sinthehabitofactingfromthebestinhimalways。\"
\"Doanyofus？\"askedCorey。
\"Notallofus，atanyrate，\"saidBellingham。\"Itmusthavecosthimsomethingtosaynotoyou，forhe’sjustinthatstatewhenhebelievesthatthisorthatchance，howeversmall，wouldsavehim。\"
Coreywassilent。\"Ishereallyinsuchabadway？\"
\"It’shardtotelljustwherehestands。Isuspectthatahopefultemperamentandfondnessforroundnumbershavealwayscausedhimtosethisfiguresbeyondhisactualworth。Idon’tsaythathe’sbeendishonestaboutit，buthe’shadaloosewayofestimatinghisassets；he’sreckonedhiswealthonthebasisofhiscapital，andsomeofhiscapitalisborrowed。
He’slostheavilybysomeoftherecentfailures，andthere’sbeenaterribleshrinkageinhisvalues。
Idon’tmeanmerelyinthestockofpaintonhand，butinakindofcompetitionwhichhasbecomeverythreatening。
YouknowaboutthatWestVirginianpaint？\"
Coreynodded。
\"Well，hetellsmethatthey’vestruckaveinofnaturalgasouttherewhichwillenablethemtomakeasgoodapaintashisownatacostofmanufacturingsolowthattheycanundersellhimeverywhere。Ifthisprovestobethecase，itwillnotonlydrivehispaintoutofthemarket，butwillreducethevalueofhisWorks——thewholeplant——atLaphamtoamerelynominalfigure。\"
\"Isee，\"saidCoreydejectedly。\"I’veunderstoodthathehadputagreatdealofmoneyintohisWorks。\"
\"Yes，andheestimatedhisminethereatahighfigure。
OfcourseitwillbeworthlittleornothingiftheWestVirginiapaintdriveshisout。Then，besides，Laphamhasbeenintoseveralthingsoutsideofhisownbusiness，and，likeagoodmanyothermenwhotryoutsidethings，he’skeptaccountofthemhimself；andhe’sallmixedupaboutthem。He’saskedmetolookintohisaffairswithhim，andI’vepromisedtodoso。Whetherhecanbetidedoverhisdifficultiesremainstobeseen。
I’mafraiditwilltakeagooddealofmoneytodoit——agreatdealmorethanhethinks，atleast。Hebelievescomparativelylittlewoulddoit。Ithinkdifferently。
Ithinkthatanythinglessthanagreatdealwouldbethrownawayonhim。Ifitweremerelyaquestionofacertainsum——evenalargesum——tokeephimgoing，itmightbemanaged；butit’smuchmorecomplicated。
And，asIsay，itmusthavebeenatrialtohimtorefuseyouroffer。\"
ThisdidnotseemtobethewayinwhichBellinghamhadmeanttoconclude。Buthesaidnomore；andCoreymadehimnoresponse。
Heremainedponderingthecase，nowhopefully，nowdoubtfully，andwondering，whateverhismoodwas，whetherPenelopeknewanythingofthefactwithwhichhermotherwentnearlyatthesamemomenttoacquainther。
\"Ofcourse，he’sdoneitonyouraccount，\"Mrs。Laphamcouldnothelpsaying。
\"Thenhewasverysilly。DoeshethinkIwouldlethimgivefathermoney？Andiffatherlostitforhim，doeshesupposeitwouldmakeitanyeasierforme？I
thinkfatheractedtwiceaswell。Itwasverysilly。\"
Inrepeatingthecensure，herlookwasnotsosevereashertone；sheevensmiledalittle，andhermotherreportedtoherfatherthatsheactedmorelikeherselfthanshehadyetsinceCorey’soffer。
\"Ithink，ifhewastorepeathisoffer，shewouldhavehimnow，\"saidMrs。Lapham。
\"Well，I’llletherknowifhedoes，\"saidtheColonel。
\"Iguesshewon’tdoittoyou！\"shecried。
\"Whoelsewillhedoitto？\"hedemanded。
Theyperceivedthattheyhadeachbeentalkingofadifferentoffer。
AfterLaphamwenttohisbusinessinthemorningthepostmanbroughtanotherletterfromIrene，whichwasfullofpleasantthingsthatwerehappeningtoher；therewasagreatdealabouthercousinWill，asshecalledhim。
Attheendshehadwritten，\"TellPenIdon’twantsheshouldbefoolish。\"\"There！\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Iguessit’sgoingtocomeoutright，allround；\"anditseemedasifeventheColonel’sdifficultieswerepast。\"Whenyourfathergetsthroughthis，Pen，\"sheaskedimpulsively，\"whatshallyoudo？\"
\"WhathaveyoubeentellingIreneaboutme？\"
\"Nothingmuch。Whatshouldyoudo？\"
\"ItwouldbeagooddealeasiertosaywhatIshoulddoiffatherdidn’t，\"saidthegirl。
\"Iknowyouthinkitwasniceinhimtomakeyourfatherthatoffer，\"urgedthemother。
\"Itwasnice，yes；butitwassilly，\"saidthegirl。
\"Mostnicethingsaresilly，Isuppose，\"sheadded。
Shewenttoherroomandwrotealetter。Itwasverylong，andverycarefullywritten；andwhenshereaditover，shetoreitintosmallpieces。Shewroteanotherone，shortandhurried，andtorethatuptoo。Thenshewentbacktohermother，inthefamilyroom，andaskedtoseeIrene’sletter，andreaditovertoherself。
\"Yes，sheseemstobehavingagoodtime，\"shesighed。
\"Mother，doyouthinkIoughttoletMr。CoreyknowthatIknowaboutit？\"
\"Well，Ishouldthinkitwouldbeapleasuretohim，\"
saidMrs。Laphamjudicially。
\"I’mnotsosureofthatthewayIshouldhavetotellhim。
Ishouldbeginbygivinghimascolding。Ofcourse，hemeantwellbyit，butcan’tyouseethatitwasn’tveryflattering！Howdidheexpectitwouldchangeme？\"
\"Idon’tbelieveheeverthoughtofthat。\"
\"Don’tyou？Why？\"
\"Becauseyoucanseethatheisn’toneofthatkind。
Hemightwanttopleaseyouwithoutwantingtochangeyoubywhathedid。\"
\"Yes。Hemusthaveknownthatnothingwouldchangeme，——atleast，nothingthathecoulddo。Ithoughtofthat。
Ishouldn’tlikehimtofeelthatIcouldn’tappreciateit，evenifIdidthinkitwassilly。Shouldyouwritetohim？\"
\"Idon’tseewhynot。\"
\"Itwouldbetoopointed。No，Ishalljustletitgo。
Iwishhehadn’tdoneit。\"
\"Well，hehasdoneit。\"\"AndI’vetriedtowritetohimaboutit——twoletters：onesohumbleandgratefulthatitcouldn’tstanduponitsedge，andtheothersopertandflippant。Mother，Iwishyoucouldhaveseenthosetwoletters！IwishIhadkeptthemtolookatifIevergottothinkingIhadanysenseagain。
Theywouldtaketheconceitoutofme。\"
\"What’sthereasonhedon’tcomehereanymore？\"
\"Doesn’thecome？\"askedPenelopeinturn，asifitweresomethingshehadnotnoticedparticularly。
\"You’doughttoknow。\"
\"Yes。\"Shesatsilentawhile。\"Ifhedoesn’tcome，Isupposeit’sbecausehe’soffendedatsomethingIdid。\"
\"Whatdidyoudo？\"
\"Nothing。I——wrotetohim——alittlewhileago。Isupposeitwasveryblunt，butIdidn’tbelievehewouldbeangryatit。Butthis——thisthathe’sdoneshowshewasangry，andthathewasn’tjustseizingthefirstchancetogetoutofit。\"
\"Whathaveyoudone，Pen？\"demandedhermothersharply。
\"Oh，Idon’tknow。Allthemischiefintheworld，Isuppose。
I’lltellyou。Whenyoufirsttoldmethatfatherwasintroublewithhisbusiness，IwrotetohimnottocomeanymoretillIlethim。IsaidIcouldn’ttellhimwhy，andhehasn’tbeenheresince。I’msureIdon’tknowwhatitmeans。\"
Hermotherlookedatherwithangryseverity。
\"Well，PenelopeLapham！Forasensiblechild，youARE
thegreatestgooseIeversaw。DidyouthinkhewouldcomehereandSEEifyouwouldn’tlethimcome？\"
\"Hemighthavewritten，\"urgedthegirl。
Hermothermadethatdespairing\"Tchk！\"withhertongue，andfellbackinherchair。\"IshouldhaveDESPISED
himifhehadwritten。He’sactedjustexactlyright，andyou——you’veacted——Idon’tknowHOWyou’veacted。
I’mashamedofyou。Agirlthatcouldbesosensibleforhersister，andalwayssayanddojusttherightthing，andthenwhenitcomestoherselftobesuchaDISGUSTING
simpleton！\"
\"IthoughtIoughttobreakwithhimatonce，andnotlethimsupposethattherewasanyhopeforhimormeiffatherwaspoor。Itwasmyonechance，inthiswholebusiness，todoanythingheroic，andIjumpedatit。
Youmustn’tthink，becauseIcanlaughatitnow，thatI
wasn’tinearnest，mother！IWAS——dead！ButtheColonelhasgonetoruinsogradually，thathe’sspoilteverything。
Iexpectedthathewouldbebankruptthenextday，andthatthenHEwouldunderstandwhatImeant。
Buttohaveitdragalongforafortnightseemstotakealltheheroismoutofit，andleaveitasflat！\"Shelookedathermotherwithasmilethatshonethroughhertears，andapathosthatquiveredroundherjestinglips。
\"It’seasyenoughtobesensibleforotherpeople。
Butwhenitcomestomyself，thereIam！Especially，whenIwanttodowhatIoughtn’tsomuchthatitseemsasifdoingwhatIdidn’twanttodoMUSTbedoingwhatI
ought！Butit’sbeenagreatsuccessoneway，mother。
It’shelpedmetokeepupbeforetheColonel。Ifithadn’tbeenforMr。Corey’sstayingaway，andmyfeelingsoindignantwithhimforhavingbeenbadlytreatedbyme，Ishouldn’thavebeenworthanythingatall。\"
Thetearsstarteddownhercheeks，buthermothersaid，\"Well，now，goalong，andwritetohim。Itdon’tmatterwhatyousay，much；anddon’tbesoveryparticular。\"
Herthirdattemptataletterpleasedherscarcelybetterthantherest，butshesentit，thoughitseemedsobluntandawkward。Shewrote：——
DEARFRIEND，——IexpectedwhenIsentyouthatnote，thatyouwouldunderstand，almostthenextday，whyI
couldnotseeyouanymore。Youmustknownow，andyoumustnotthinkthatifanythinghappenedtomyfather，Ishouldwishyoutohelphim。ButthatisnoreasonwhyIshouldnotthankyou，andIdothankyou，foroffering。
Itwaslikeyou，Iwillsaythat。
Yourssincerely，PENELOPELAPHAM。
Shepostedherletter，andhesenthisreplyintheevening，byhand：——
DEAREST，——WhatIdidwasnothing，tillyoupraisedit。
EverythingIhaveandamisyours。Won’tyousendalinebythebearer，tosaythatImaycometoseeyou？Iknowhowyoufeel；butlamsurethatIcanmakeyouthinkdifferently。YoumustconsiderthatIlovedyouwithoutathoughtofyourfather’scircumstances，andalwaysshall。
T。C。
Thegenerouswordswereblurredtohereyesbythetearsthatsprangintothem。Butshecouldonlywriteinanswer：——
\"Pleasedonotcome；Ihavemadeupmymind。Aslongasthistroubleishangingoverus，Icannotseeyou。
Andiffatherisunfortunate，allisoverbetweenus。\"
Shebroughthislettertohermother，andtoldherwhatshehadwritteninreply。Hermotherwasthoughtfulawhilebeforeshesaid，withasigh，\"Well，Ihopeyou’vebegunasyoucancarryout，Pen。\"
\"Oh，Ishallnothavetocarryoutatall。Ishallnothavetodoanything。That’sonecomfort——theonlycomfort。\"Shewentawaytoherownroom，andwhenMrs。Laphamtoldherhusbandoftheaffair，hewassilentatfirst，asshehadbeen。Thenhesaid，\"Idon’tknowasIshouldhavewantedhertodonedifferently；
Idon’tknowasshecould。IfIevercomerightagain，shewon’thaveanythingtofeelmeechingabout；andifI
don’t，Idon’twantsheshouldbebeholdentoanybody。
AndIguessthat’sthewayshefeels。\"
TheCoreysintheirturnsatinjudgmentonthefactwhichtheirsonfeltboundtobringtotheirknowledge。
\"Shehasbehavedverywell，\"saidMrs。Corey，towhomhersonhadspoken。
\"Mydear，\"saidherhusband，withhislaugh，\"shehasbehavedTOOwell。Ifshehadstudiedthewholesituationwiththemostartfuleyetoitsmastery，shecouldnotpossiblyhavebehavedbetter。\"
TheprocessofLapham’sfinancialdisintegrationwaslikethecourseofsomechronicdisorder，whichhasfasteneditselfupontheconstitution，butadvanceswithcontinualreliefs，withapparentamelioration，andattimesseemsnottoadvanceatall，whenitgiveshopeoffinalrecoverynotonlytothesufferer，buttotheeyeofscienceitself。ThereweremomentswhenJamesBellingham，seeingLaphampassthiscrisisandthat，begantofancythathemightpullthroughaltogether；
andatthesemoments，whenhisadvisercouldnotopposeanythingbutexperienceandprobabilitytotheevidenceofthefact，Laphamwasbuoyantwithcourage，andimpartedhishopefulnesstohishousehold。Ourtheoryofdisaster，ofsorrow，ofaffliction，borrowedfromthepoetsandnovelists，isthatitisincessant；buteverypassageinourownlivesandinthelivesofothers，sofaraswehavewitnessedthem，teachesusthatthisisfalse。
Thehouseofmourningisdecorouslydarkenedtotheworld，butwithinitselfitisalsothehouseoflaughing。
Burstsofgaiety，asheartfeltasitsgrief，relievethegloom，andthestrickensurvivorshavetheirjeststogether，inwhichthethoughtofthedeadistenderlyinvolved，andafondsense，notcrazierthanmanyothers，ofsympathyandenjoymentbeyondthesilence，justifiesthesunniermoodbeforesorrowrushesback，deploringanddespairing，andmakingitallupagainwiththeconventionalfitnessofthings。Lapham’sadversityhadthisqualityincommonwithbereavement。Itwasnotalwaysliketheadversitywefigureinallegory；ithaditsmomentsofbeinglikeprosperity，andifuponthewholeitwascontinual，itwasnotincessant。Sometimestherewasaweekofrepeatedreverses，whenhehadtokeephisteethsetandtoholdonhardtoallhishopefulness；andthendayscameofnegativeresultorslightsuccess，whenhewasfullofhisjokesatthetea—table，andwantedtogotothetheatre，ortodosomethingtocheerPenelopeup。
Insomemiraculousway，bysomeenormousstrokeofsuccesswhichshouldeclipsethebrightestofhispastprosperity，heexpectedtodowhatwouldreconcilealldifficulties，notonlyinhisownaffairs，butinherstoo。\"You’llsee，\"
hesaidtohiswife；\"it’sgoingtocomeoutallright。
Irene’llfixitupwithBill’sboy，andthenshe’llbeoffPen’smind；andifthingsgoonasthey’vebeengoingforthelasttwodays，I’mgoingtobeinapositiontodothefavoursmyself，andPencanfeelthatSHE’Smakin’
asacrifice，andthenIguessmaybeshe’lldoit。
IfthingsturnoutasIexpectnow，andtimesevergogetanybettergenerally，IcanshowCoreythatIappreciatehisoffer。Icanofferhimthepartnershipmyselfthen。\"
Evenintheothermoods，whichcamewheneverythinghadbeengoingwrong，andthereseemednowayoutofthenet，therewerepointsofconsolationtoLaphamandhiswife。
TheyrejoicedthatIrenewassafebeyondtherangeoftheiranxieties，andtheyhadaproudsatisfactionthattherehadbeennoengagementbetweenCoreyandPenelope，andthatitwasshewhohadforbiddenit。Intheclosenessofinterestandsympathyinwhichtheirtroubleshadreunitedthem，theyconfessedtoeachotherthatnothingwouldhavebeenmoregallingtotheirpridethantheideathatLaphamshouldnothavebeenabletodoeverythingforhisdaughterthattheCoreysmighthaveexpected。
Whateverhappenednow，theCoreyscouldnothaveittosaythattheLaphamshadtriedtobringanysuchthingabout。
BellinghamhadlatelysuggestedanassignmenttoLapham，asthebestwayoutofhisdifficulties。Itwasevidentthathehadnotthemoneytomeethisliabilitiesatpresent，andthathecouldnotraiseitwithoutruinoussacrifices，thatmightstillendinruinafterall。Ifhemadetheassignment，Bellinghamargued，hecouldgaintimeandmaketerms；thestateofthingsgenerallywouldprobablyimprove，sinceitcouldnotbeworse，andthemarket，whichhehadgluttedwithhispaint，mightrecoverandhecouldstartagain。Laphamhadnotagreedwithhim。
Whenhisreversesfirstbeganithadseemedeasyforhimtogiveupeverything，toletthepeopleheowedtakeall，soonlytheywouldlethimgooutwithcleanhands；andhehaddramatisedthisfeelinginhistalkwithhiswife，whentheyspoketogetherofthemillsontheG。L。&
P。Buteversincethenithadbeengrowingharder，andhecouldnotconsenteventoseemtodoitnowintheproposedassignment。Hehadnotfoundothermensoveryliberalorfaithfulwithhim；agoodmanyofthemappearedtohavecombinedtohunthimdown；asenseofenmitytowardsallhiscreditorsasserteditselfinhim；
heaskedhimselfwhytheyshouldnotsufferalittletoo。
Aboveall，heshrankfromthepublicityoftheassignment。
Itwasopenconfessionthathehadbeenafoolinsomeway；
hecouldnotbeartohavehisfamily——hisbrotherthejudge，especially，towhomhehadalwaysappearedthesoulofbusinesswisdom——thinkhimimprudentorstupid。
