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。