Itplacesmeinaridiculousposition。\"Rogersurgedhisgrievancecalmly，almostimpersonally，makinghisappealtoLapham’ssenseofjustice。\"ICAN’Tgobacktothosepartiesandtellthemyouwon’tseethem。
It’snoanswertomake。They’vegotarighttoknowwhyyouwon’tseethem。\"
\"Verywell，then！\"criedLapham；\"I’llcomeandTELL
themwhy。WhoshallIaskfor？WhenshallIbethere？\"
\"Ateighto’clock，please，\"saidRogers，rising，withoutapparentalarmathisthreat，ifitwasathreat。
\"Andaskforme；I’vetakenaroomatthehotelforthepresent。\"
\"Iwon’tkeepyoufiveminuteswhenIgetthere，\"
saidLapham；buthedidnotcomeawaytillteno’clock。
Itappearedtohimasiftheverydevilwasinit。
TheEnglishmentreatedhisdownrightrefusaltosellasapieceofbluff，andtalkedonasthoughitweremerelytheopeningofthenegotiation。Whenhebecameplainwiththeminhisanger，andtoldthemwhyhewouldnotsell，theyseemedtohavebeenpreparedforthisasastrokeofbusiness，andwerereadytomeetit。
\"Hasthisfellow，\"hedemanded，twistinghisheadinthedirectionofRogers，butdisdainingtonoticehimotherwise，\"beentellingyouthatit’spartofmygametosaythis？Well，sir，Icantellyou，onmyside，thatthereisn’taslipperierrascalunhunginAmericathanMiltonK。Rogers！\"
TheEnglishmentreatedthisasapieceofgenuineAmericanhumour，andreturnedtothechargewithunabatedcourage。
Theyownednow，thatapersoninterestedwiththemhadbeenouttolookattheproperty，andthattheyweresatisfiedwiththeappearanceofthings。Theydevelopedfurtherthefactthattheywerenotactingsolely，orevenprincipally，intheirownbehalf，butweretheagentsofpeopleinEnglandwhohadprojectedthecolonisationofasortofcommunityonthespot，somewhataftertheplanofotherEnglishdreamers，andthattheyweresatisfied，fromacarefulinspection，thattheresourcesandfacilitieswerethosebestcalculatedtodeveloptheenergyandenterpriseoftheproposedcommunity。TheywerepreparedtomeetMr。Lapham——Colonel，theybeggedhispardon，attheinstanceofRogers——atanyreasonablefigure，andwerequitewillingtoassumetheriskshehadpointedout。Somethingintheeyesofthesemen，somethingthatlurkedataninfinitedepthbelowtheirspeech，andwasnotreallyintheireyeswhenLaphamlookedagain，hadflashedthroughhimasenseoftreacheryinthem。
HehadthoughtthemthedupesofRogers；butinthatbriefinstanthehadseenthem——orthoughthehadseenthem——hisaccomplices，readytobetraytheinterestsofwhichtheywentontospeakwithacertaincomfortablejocosity，andacertainincredulousslightofhisshowofintegrity。
ItwasadeepergamethanLaphamwasusedto，andhesatlookingwithasortofadmirationfromoneEnglishmantotheother，andthentoRogers，whomaintainedanexteriorofmodestneutrality，andwhoseairsaid，\"Ihavebroughtyougentlementogetherasthefriendofallparties，andI
nowleaveyoutosettleitamongyourselves。Iasknothing，andexpectnothing，exceptthesmallsumwhichshallaccruetomeafterthedischargeofmyobligationstoColonelLapham。\"
WhileRogers’spresenceexpressedthis，oneoftheEnglishmenwassaying，\"Andifyouhaveanyscrupleinallowin’
ustoassumethisrisk，ColonelLapham，perhapsyoucanconsoleyourselfwiththefactthattheloss，ifthereistobeany，willfalluponpeoplewhoareabletobearit——uponanassociationofrichandcharitablepeople。
Butwe’requitesatisfiedtherewillbenoloss，\"
headdedsavingly。\"Allyouhavetodoistonameyourprice，andwewilldoourbesttomeetit。\"
TherewasnothingintheEnglishman’ssophistryveryshockingtoLapham。Itaddresseditselfinhimtothateasy—going，notevillyintentioned，potentialimmoralitywhichregardscommonpropertyascommonprey，andgivesusthemostcorruptmunicipalgovernmentsunderthesun——whichmakesthepoorestvoter，whenhehastrickedintoplace，asunscrupulousinregardtoothers’moneyasanhereditaryprince。LaphammettheEnglishman’seye，andwithdifficultykepthimselffromwinking。
Thenhelookedaway，andtriedtofindoutwherehestood，orwhathewantedtodo。Hecouldhardlytell。
HehadexpectedtocomeintothatroomandunmaskRogers，andhaveitover。ButhehadunmaskedRogerswithoutanyeffectwhatever，andtheplayhadonlybegun。
Hehadawhimsicalandsarcasticsenseofitsbeingverydifferentfromtheplaysatthetheatre。Hecouldnotgetupandgoawayinsilentcontempt；hecouldnottelltheEnglishmenthathebelievedthemapairofscoundrelsandshouldhavenothingtodowiththem；
hecouldnolongertreatthemasinnocentdupes。
Heremainedbaffledandperplexed，andtheonewhohadnotspokenhithertoremarked——
\"Ofcourseweshan’t’aggleaboutafewpound，moreorless。
IfColonelLapham’sfigureshouldbealittlelargerthanours，I’venodoubt’e’llnotbetoo’arduponusintheend。\"
Laphamappreciatedalltheintentofthissubtlesuggestion，andunderstoodasplainlyasifithadbeensaidinsomanywords，thatiftheypaidhimalargerprice，itwastobeexpectedthatacertainportionofthepurchase—moneywastoreturntotheirownhands。Stillhecouldnotmove；
anditseemedtohimthathecouldnotspeak。
\"Ringthatbell，Mr。Rogers，\"saidtheEnglishmanwhohadlastspoken，glancingattheannunciatorbuttoninthewallnearRogers’shead，\"and’aveupsomething’of，can’tyou？IshouldlikeTOwetmew’istle，asyousay’ere，andColonelLaphamseemstofinditratherdrywork。\"
Laphamjumpedtohisfeet，andbuttonedhisovercoatabouthim。HerememberedwithterrorthedinneratCorey’swherehehaddisgracedandbetrayedhimself，andifhewentintothisthingatall，hewasgoingintoitsober。
\"Ican’tstop，\"hesaid，\"Imustbegoing。\"
\"Butyouhaven’tgivenusanansweryet，Mr。Lapham，\"
saidthefirstEnglishmanwithasuccessfulshowofdignifiedsurprise。
\"TheonlyanswerIcangiveyounowis，NO，\"saidLapham。
\"Ifyouwantanother，youmustletmehavetimetothinkitover。\"
\"But’owmuchtime？\"saidtheotherEnglishman。
\"We’repressedfortimeourselves，andwehopedforananswer——’opedforahanswer，\"hecorrectedhimself，\"atonce。Thatwasourunderstandin’withMr。Rogers。\"
\"Ican’tletyouknowtillmorning，anyway，\"saidLapham，andhewentout，ashiscustomoftenwas，withoutanypartingsalutation。HethoughtRogersmighttrytodetainhim；butRogershadremainedseatedwhentheothersgottotheirfeet，andpaidnoattentiontohisdeparture。
Hewalkedoutintothenightair，everypulsethrobbingwiththestrongtemptation。Heknewverywellthosemenwouldwait，andgladlywait，tillthemorning，andthatthewholeaffairwasinhishands。Itmadehimgroaninspirittothinkthatitwas。Ifhehadhopedthatsomechancemighttakethedecisionfromhim，therewasnosuchchance，inthepresentorfuture，thathecouldsee。Itwasforhimalonetocommitthisrascality——ifitwasarascality——ornot。
Hewalkedallthewayhome，lettingonecarafteranotherpasshimonthestreet，nowsoemptyofotherpassing，anditwasalmosteleveno’clockwhenhereachedhome。
Acarriagestoodbeforehishouse，andwhenhelethimselfinwithhiskey，heheardtalkinginthefamily—room。ItcameintohisheadthatIrenehadgotbackunexpectedly，andthatthesightofherwassomehowgoingtomakeitharderforhim；thenhethoughtitmightbeCorey，comeuponsomedesperatepretexttoseePenelope；
butwhenheopenedthedoorhesaw，withacertainabsenceofsurprise，thatitwasRogers。Hewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplace，talkingtoMrs。Lapham，andhehadbeensheddingtears；drytearstheyseemed，andtheyhadleftasortofsandy，glisteningtraceonhischeeks。Apparentlyhewasnotashamedofthem，fortheexpressionwithwhichhemetLaphamwasthatofamanmakingadesperateappealinhisowncause，whichwasidenticalwiththatofhumanity，ifnotthatofjustice。
\"Isomeexpected，\"beganRogers，\"tofindyouhere————\"
\"No，youdidn’t，\"interruptedLapham；\"youwantedtocomehereandmakeapoormouthtoMrs。LaphambeforeIgothome。\"
\"IknewthatMrs。Laphamwouldknowwhatwasgoingon，\"
saidRogersmorecandidly，butnotmorevirtuously，forthathecouldnot，\"andIwishedhertounderstandapointthatIhadn’tputtoyouatthehotel，andthatIwantyoushouldconsider。AndIwantyoushouldconsidermealittleinthisbusinesstoo；
you’renottheonlyonethat’sconcerned，Itellyou，andI’vebeentellingMrs。Laphamthatit’smyonechance；
thatifyoudon’tmeetmeonit，mywifeandchildrenwillbereducedtobeggary。\"
\"Sowillmine，\"saidLapham，\"orthenextthingtoit。\"
\"Well，then，Iwantyoutogivemethischancetogetonmyfeetagain。You’venorighttodeprivemeofit；
it’sunchristian。InourdealingswitheachotherweshouldbeguidedbytheGoldenRule，asIwassayingtoMrs。Laphambeforeyoucamein。ItoldherthatifIknewmyself，Ishouldinyourplaceconsiderthecircumstancesofamaninmine，whohadhonourablyendeavouredtodischargehisobligationstome，andhadpatientlybornemyundeservedsuspicions。
Ishouldconsiderthatman’sfamily，ItoldMrs。Lapham。\"
\"DidyoutellherthatifIwentinwithyouandthosefellows，Ishouldberobbingthepeoplewhotrustedthem？\"
\"Idon’tseewhatyou’vegottodowiththepeoplethatsentthemhere。Theyarerichpeople，andcouldbearitifitcametotheworst。Butthere’snolikelihood，now，thatitwillcometotheworst；
youcanseeyourselfthattheRoadhaschangeditsmindaboutbuying。AndhereamIwithoutacentintheworld；
andmywifeisaninvalid。Sheneedscomforts，sheneedslittleluxuries，andshehasn’teventhenecessaries；
andyouwanttosacrificehertoamereidea！Youdon’tknowinthefirstplacethattheRoadwilleverwanttobuy；
andifitdoes，theprobabilityisthatwithacolonylikethatplantedonitsline，itwouldmakeverydifferenttermsfromwhatitwouldwithyouorme。Theseagentsarenotafraid，andtheirprincipalsarerichpeople；
andiftherewasanyloss，itwouldbedividedupamongstthemsothattheywouldn’tanyofthemfeelit。\"
Laphamstoleatroubledglanceathiswife，andsawthattherewasnohelpinher。Whethershewasdauntedandconfusedinherownconsciencebytheoutcome，soevilanddisastrous，ofthereparationtoRogerswhichshehadforcedherhusbandtomake，orwhetherherperceptionshadbeenbluntedanddarkenedbytheappealswhichRogershadnowused，itwouldbedifficulttosay。
Probablytherewasamixtureofbothcausesintheeffectwhichherhusbandfeltinher，andfromwhichheturned，girdinghimselfanew，toRogers。
\"Ihavenowishtorecurtothepast，\"continuedRogers，withgrowingsuperiority。\"Youhaveshownaproperspiritinregardtothat，andyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtowipeitout。\"
\"IshouldthinkIhad，\"saidLapham。\"I’veusedupaboutahundredandfiftythousanddollarstrying。\"
\"Someofmyenterprises，\"Rogersadmitted，\"havebeenunfortunate，seemingly；butIhavehopesthattheywillyetturnoutwell——intime。Ican’tunderstandwhyyoushouldbesomindfulofothersnow，whenyoushowedsolittleregardformethen。Ihadcometoyouraidatatimewhenyouneededhelp，andwhenyougotonyourfeetyoukickedmeoutofthebusiness。Idon’tcomplain，butthatisthefact；andIhadtobeginagain，afterI
hadsupposedmyselfsettledinlife，andestablishmyselfelsewhere。\"
Laphamglancedagainathiswife；herheadhadfallen；
hecouldseethatshewassorootedinheroldremorseforthatquestionableactofhis，amplyandmorethanfullyatonedforsince，thatshewashelpless，nowinthecrucialmoment，whenhehadtheutmostneedofherinsight。
Hehadcounteduponher；heperceivednowthatwhenhehadthoughtitwasforhimalonetodecide，hehadcounteduponherjustspirittostayhisowninitsstruggletobejust。
Hehadnotforgottenhowsheheldoutagainsthimonlyalittlewhileago，whenheaskedherwhetherhemightnotrightfullysellinsomesuchcontingencyasthis；
anditwasnotnowthatshesaidorevenlookedanythinginfavourofRogers，butthatshewassilentagainsthim，whichdismayedLapham。Heswallowedthelumpthatroseinhisthroat，theself—pity，thepityforher，thedespair，andsaidgently，\"Iguessyoubettergotobed，Persis。
It’sprettylate。\"
Sheturnedtowardsthedoor，whenRogerssaid，withtheobviousintentionofdetainingherthroughhercuriosity——
\"ButIletthatpass。AndIdon’tasknowthatyoushouldselltothesemen。\"
Mrs。Laphampaused，irresolute。
\"Whatareyoumakingthisbotherfor，then？\"demandedLapham。
\"WhatDOyouwant？\"
\"WhatI’vebeentellingyourwifehere。Iwantyoushouldselltome。Idon’tsaywhatI’mgoingtodowiththeproperty，andyouwillnothaveaniotaofresponsibility，whateverhappens。\"
Laphamwasstaggered，andhesawhiswife’sfacelightupwitheagerquestion。
\"Iwantthatproperty，\"continuedRogers，\"andI’vegotthemoneytobuyit。Whatwillyoutakeforit？Ifit’sthepriceyou’restandingoutfor————\"
\"Persis，\"saidLapham，\"gotobed，\"andhegaveheralookthatmeantobedienceforher。Shewentoutofthedoor，andlefthimwithhistempter。
\"IfyouthinkI’mgoingtohelpyouwhipthedevilroundthestump，you’remistakeninyourman，MiltonRogers，\"
saidLapham，lightingacigar。\"AssoonasIsoldtoyou，youwouldselltothatotherpairofrascals。Ismelt’emoutinhalfaminute。\"
\"TheyareChristiangentlemen，\"saidRogers。\"ButI
don’tpurposedefendingthem；andIdon’tpurposetellingyouwhatIshallorshallnotdowiththepropertywhenitisinmyhandsagain。Thequestionis，Willyousell，and，ifso，whatisyourfigure？Youhavegotnothingwhatevertodowithitafteryou’vesold。\"
Itwasperfectlytrue。Anylawyerwouldhavetoldhimthesame。
HecouldnothelpadmiringRogersforhisingenuity，andeveryselfishinterestofhisnaturejoinedwithmanyobviousdutiestourgehimtoconsent。Hedidnotseewhyheshouldrefuse。Therewasnolongerareason。
Hewasstandingoutalonefornothing，anyoneelsewouldsay。HesmokedonasifRogerswerenotthere，andRogersremainedbeforethefireaspatientastheclocktickingbehindhisheadonthemantel，andshowingthegleamofitspendulumbeyondhisfaceoneitherside。
Butatlasthesaid，\"Well？\"
\"Well，\"answeredLapham，\"youcan’texpectmetogiveyouananswerto—night，anymorethanbefore。Youknowthatwhatyou’vesaidnowhasn’tchangedthethingabit。
Iwishithad。TheLordknows，Iwanttoberidofthepropertyfastenough。\"\"Thenwhydon’tyouselltome？
Can’tyouseethatyouwillnotberesponsibleforwhathappensafteryouhavesold？\"
\"No，Ican’tseethat；butifIcanbymorning，I’llsell。\"
\"Whydoyouexpecttoknowanybetterbymorning？
You’rewastingtimefornothing！\"criedRogers，inhisdisappointment。\"Whyareyousoparticular？Whenyoudrovemeoutofthebusinessyouwerenotsoveryparticular。\"
Laphamwinced。Itwascertainlyridiculousformanwhohadoncesoselfishlyconsultedhisownintereststobesticklingnowabouttherightsofothers。
\"Iguessnothing’sgoingtohappenovernight，\"heansweredsullenly。\"Anyway，Ishan’tsaywhatIshalldotillmorning。\"
\"WhattimecanIseeyouinthemorning？\"
\"Half—pastnine。\"
Rogersbuttonedhiscoat，andwentoutoftheroomwithoutanotherword。Laphamfollowedhimtoclosethestreet—doorafterhim。
Hiswifecalleddowntohimfromaboveasheapproachedtheroomagain，\"Well？\"
\"I’vetoldhimI’dlethimknowinthemorning。\"
\"WantIshouldcomedownandtalkwithyou？\"
\"No，\"answeredLapham，intheproudbitternesswhichhisisolationbrought，\"youcouldn’tdoanygood。\"Hewentinandshutthedoor，andbyandbyhiswifeheardhimbeginwalkingupanddown；andthentherestofthenightshelayawakeandlistenedtohimwalkingupanddown。
Butwhenthefirstlightwhitenedthewindow，thewordsoftheScripturecameintohermind：\"Andtherewrestledamanwithhimuntilthebreakingoftheday……Andhesaid，Letmego，forthedaybreaketh。Andhesaid，Iwillnotlettheego，exceptthoublessme。\"
Shecouldnotaskhimanythingwhentheymet，butheraisedhisdulleyesafterthefirstsilence，andsaid，\"Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtosaytoRogers。\"
Shecouldnotspeak；shedidnotknowwhattosay，andshesawherhusbandwhenshefollowedhimwithhereyesfromthewindow，dragheavilydowntowardthecorner，wherehewastotake，thehorse—car。
Hearrivedratherlaterthanusualathisoffice，andhefoundhislettersalreadyonhistable。Therewasone，longandofficial—looking，withaprintedletter—headingontheoutside，andLaphamhadnoneedtoopenitinordertoknowthatitwastheofferoftheGreatLacustrine&
PolarRailroadforhismills。Buthewentmechanicallythroughtheverificationofhispropheticfear，whichwasalsohissolehope，andthensatlookingblanklyatit。
Rogerscamepromptlyattheappointedtime，andLaphamhandedhimtheletter。Hemusthavetakenitallinataglance，andseentheimpossibilityofnegotiatinganyfurthernow，evenwithvictimssopliantandwillingasthoseEnglishmen。
\"You’veruinedme！\"Rogersbrokeout。\"Ihaven’tacentleftintheworld！Godhelpmypoorwife！\"
Hewentout，andLaphamremainedstaringatthedoorwhichcloseduponhim。Thiswashisrewardforstandingfirmforrightandjusticetohisowndestruction：
tofeellikeathiefandamurderer。
XXVI。
LATERintheforenooncamethedespatchfromtheWestVirginiansinNewYork，sayingtheirbrotherassentedtotheiragreement；
anditnowremainedforLaphamtofulfilhispartofit。
Hewasludicrouslyfarfromabletodothis；andunlesshecouldgetsomeextensionoftimefromthem，hemustlosethischance，hisonlychance，toretrievehimself。
Hespentthetimeinadesperateendeavourtoraisethemoney，buthehadnotraisedthehalfofitwhenthebanksclosed。
WithshameinhishearthewenttoBellingham，fromwhomhehadpartedsohaughtily，andlaidhisplanbeforehim。
HecouldnotbringhimselftoaskBellingham’shelp，buthetoldhimwhatheproposedtodo。Bellinghampointedoutthatthewholethingwasanexperiment，andthatthepriceaskedwasenormous，unlessagreatsuccessweremorallycertain。Headviseddelay，headvisedprudence；
heinsistedthatLaphamoughtatleasttogoouttoKanawhaFalls，andseetheminesandworksbeforeheputanysuchsumintothedevelopmentoftheenterprise。
\"That’sallwellenough，\"criedLapham；\"butifIdon’tclinchthisofferwithintwenty—fourhours，they’llwithdrawit，andgointothemarket；andthenwhereamI？\"
\"Goonandseethemagain，\"saidBellingham。\"Theycan’tbesoperemptoryasthatwithyou。Theymustgiveyoutimetolookatwhattheywanttosell。Ifitturnsoutwhatyouhope，then——I’llseewhatcanbedone。
Butlookintoitthoroughly。\"
\"Well！\"criedLapham，helplesslysubmitting。Hetookouthiswatch，andsawthathehadfortyminutestocatchthefouro’clocktrain。Hehurriedbacktohisoffice，andputtogethersomepaperspreparatorytogoing，anddespatchedanotebyhisboytoMrs。LaphamsayingthathewasstartingforNewYork，anddidnotknowjustwhenheshouldgetback。
Theearlyspringdaywasrawandcold。Ashewentoutthroughtheofficehesawtheclerksatworkwiththeirstreet—coatsandhatson；MissDeweyhadherjacketdraggeduponhershoulders，andlookedparticularlycomfortlessassheoperatedhermachinewithherredfingers。
\"What’sup？\"askedLapham，stoppingamoment。
\"Seemstobesomethingthematterwiththesteam，\"
sheanswered，withtheairofunmeritedwronghabitualwithsomanyprettywomenwhohavetoworkforaliving。
\"Well，takeyourwriterintomyroom。There’safireinthestovethere，\"saidLapham，passingout。
Halfanhourlaterhiswifecameintotheouteroffice。
Shehadpassedthedayinapassionofself—reproach，graduallymountingfromthementalnumbnessinwhichhehadlefther，andnowshecouldwaitnolongertotellhimthatshesawhowshehadforsakenhiminhishouroftrialandlefthimtobearitalone。Shewonderedatherselfinshameanddismay；shewonderedthatshecouldhavebeensoconfusedastotherealpointbythatoldwretchofaRogers，thatshecouldhavelethimhoodwinkherso，evenforamoment。Itastoundedherthatsuchathingshouldhavehappened，foriftherewasanyvirtueuponwhichthisgoodwomanpridedherself，inwhichshethoughtherselfsuperiortoherhusband，itwasherinstantandsteadfastperceptionofrightandwrong，andtheabilitytochoosetherighttoherownhurt。
Butshehadnowtoconfess，aseachofushashadlikewisetoconfessinhisowncase，thattheveryvirtueonwhichshehadpridedherselfwasthethingthathadplayedherfalse；
thatshehadkepthermindsolonguponthatoldwrongwhichshebelievedherhusbandhaddonethismanthatshecouldnotdetachit，butclungtothethoughtofreparationforitwhensheoughttohaveseenthathewasproposingapieceofrogueryasthemeans。ThesufferingwhichLaphammustinflictonhimifhedecidedagainsthimhadbeenmoretoherapprehensionthantheharmhemightdoifhedecidedforhim。Butnowsheownedherlimitationstoherself，andaboveeverythingintheworldshewishedthemanwhomherconsciencehadrousedanddrivenonwhitherherintelligencehadnotfollowed，todoright，todowhathefelttoberight，andnothingelse。
Sheadmiredandreveredhimforgoingbeyondher，andshewishedtotellhimthatshedidnotknowwhathehaddeterminedtodoaboutRogers，butthatsheknewitwasright，andwouldgladlyabidetheconsequenceswithhim，whatevertheywere。
Shehadnotbeennearhisplaceofbusinessfornearlyayear，andherheartsmotehertenderlyasshelookedaboutherthere，andthoughtoftheearlydayswhensheknewasmuchaboutthepaintashedid；shewishedthatthosedayswerebackagain。ShesawCoreyathisdesk，andshecouldnotbeartospeaktohim；shedroppedherveilthatsheneednotrecognisehim，andpushedontoLapham’sroom，andopeningthedoorwithoutknocking，shutitbehindher。
Thenshebecameawarewithintolerabledisappointmentthatherhusbandwasnotthere。Instead，averyprettygirlsatathisdesk，operatingatypewriter。
Sheseemedquiteathome，andshepaidMrs。Laphamthescantattentionwhichsuchyoungwomenoftenbestowuponpeoplenotpersonallyinterestingtothem。
Itvexedthewifethatanyoneelseshouldseemtobehelpingherhusbandaboutbusinessthatshehadoncebeensointimatewith；andshedidnotatalllikethegirl’sindifferencetoherpresence。Herhatandsackhungonanailinonecorner，andLapham’sofficecoat，lookingintenselylikehimtohiswife’sfamiliareye，hungonanailintheothercorner；andMrs。Laphamlikedevenlessthanthegirl’sgoodlooksthisdomesticationofhergarmentsinherhusband’soffice。Shebegantoaskherselfexcitedlywhyheshouldbeawayfromhisofficewhenshehappenedtocome；andshehadnotthestrengthatthemomenttoreasonherselfoutofherunreasonableness。
\"WhenwillColonelLaphambein，doyousuppose？\"
shesharplyaskedofthegirl。
\"Icouldn’tsayexactly，\"repliedthegirl，withoutlookinground。
\"Hashebeenoutlong？\"
\"Idon’tknowasInoticed，\"saidthegirl，lookingupattheclock，withoutlookingatMrs。Lapham。Shewentonworkinghermachine。
\"Well，Ican’twaitanylonger，\"saidthewifeabruptly。
\"WhenColonelLaphamcomesin，youpleasetellhimMrs。Laphamwantstoseehim。\"
ThegirlstartedtoherfeetandturnedtowardMrs。Laphamwitharedandstartledface，whichshedidnotlifttoconfronther。\"Yes——yes——Iwill，\"shefaltered。
Thewifewenthomewithasenseofdefeatmixedwithanirritationaboutthisgirlwhichshecouldnotquelloraccountfor。Shefoundherhusband’smessage，anditseemedintolerablethatheshouldhavegonetoNewYorkwithoutseeingher；sheaskedherselfinvainwhatthemysteriousbusinesscouldbethattookhimawaysosuddenly。Shesaidtoherselfthathewasneglectingher；hewasleavingheroutalittletoomuch；
andindemandingofherselfwhyhehadnevermentionedthatgirlthereinhisoffice，sheforgothowmuchshehadleftherselfoutofhisbusinesslife。Thatwasanothercurseoftheirprosperity。Well，shewasgladtheprosperitywasgoing；ithadneverbeenhappiness。
Afterthisshewasgoingtoknoweverythingassheused。
ShetriedtodismissthewholemattertillLaphamreturned；
andiftherehadbeenanythingforhertodointhatmiserablehouse，asshecalleditinherthought，shemighthavesucceeded。Butagainthecursewasonher；
therewasnothingtodo；andthelooksofthatgirlkeptcomingbacktohervacancy，herdisoccupation。
Shetriedtomakeherselfsomethingtodo，butthatbeauty，whichshehadnotliked，followedheramidtheworkofoverhaulingthesummerclothing，whichIrenehadseentoputtingawayinthefall。Whowasthething，anyway？Itwasverystrange，herbeingthere；whydidshejumpupinthatfrightenedwaywhenMrs。Laphamhadnamedherself？
Afterdark，thatevening，whenthequestionhadwornawayitspoignancyfrommereiteration，anoteforMrs。Laphamwasleftatthedoorbyamessengerwhosaidtherewasnoanswer。
