Laphamhadnotyetreachedthepicture—buyingstageoftherichman’sdevelopment，buttheydecoratedtheirhousewiththecostliestandmostabominablefrescoes；
theywentuponjourneys，andlavisheduponcarsandhotels；
theygavewithbothhandstotheirchurchandtoallthecharitiesitbroughtthemacquaintedwith；buttheydidnotknowhowtospendonsociety。UptoacertainperiodMrs。Laphamhadtheladiesofherneighbourhoodintotea，ashermotherhaddoneinthecountryinheryoungerdays。
Lapham’sideaofhospitalitywasstilltobringaheavy—buyingcustomerhometopot—luck；neitherofthemimagineddinners。
Theirtwogirlshadgonetothepublicschools，wheretheyhadnotgotonasfastassomeoftheothergirls；