Iain’tgoingtoblameanybody，butIhain’tgotverymuchconfidenceinRogers。AndItoldhimsolastnight。\"
\"Oh，don’ttalktomeaboutRogers！\"hiswifebrokein。
\"There’ssomethingagooddealmoreimportantthanRogersintheworld，andmoreimportantthanyourbusiness。
Itseemsasifyoucouldn’tthinkofanythingelse——thatandthenewhouse。DidyousupposeIwantedtoridesoastotalkRogerswithyou？\"shedemanded，yieldingtothenecessityawifefeelsofmakingherhusbandpayforhersuffering，evenifhehasnotinflictedit。
\"Ideclare————\"
\"Well，holdon，now！\"saidLapham。\"WhatDOyouwanttotalkabout？I’mlistening。\"
Hiswifebegan，\"Why，it’sjustthis，SilasLapham！\"
andthenshebrokeofftosay，\"Well，youmaywait，now——startingmewrong，whenit’shardenoughanyway。\"
Laphamsilentlyturnedhiswhipoverandoverinhishandandwaited。
\"Didyousuppose，\"sheaskedatlast，\"thatthatyoungCoreyhadbeencomingtoseeIrene？\"
\"Idon’tknowwhatIsupposed，\"repliedLaphamsullenly。
\"Youalwayssaidso。\"Helookedsharplyatherunderhisloweringbrows。
\"Well，hehasn’t，\"saidMrs。Lapham；andsherepliedtothefrownthatblackenedonherhusband’sface。
\"AndIcantellyouwhat，ifyoutakeitinthatwayI
shan’tspeakanotherword。\"
\"Who’stakin’itwhatway？\"retortedLaphamsavagely。
\"Whatareyoudrivin’at？\"
\"Iwantyoushouldpromisethatyou’llhearmeoutquietly。\"
\"I’llhearyououtifyou’llgivemeachance。Ihaven’tsaidawordyet。\"
\"Well，I’mnotgoingtohaveyouflyingintofortyfuries，andlookinglikeaperfectthunder—cloudattheverystart。
I’vehadtobearit，andyou’vegottobearittoo。\"
\"Well，letmehaveachanceatit，then。\"
\"It’snothingtoblameanybodyabout，asIcansee，andtheonlyquestionis，what’sthebestthingtodoaboutit。There’sonlyonethingwecando；forifhedon’tcareforthechild，nobodywantstomakehim。
Ifhehasn’tbeencomingtoseeher，hehasn’t，andthat’sallthereistoit。\"
\"No，itain’t！\"exclaimedLapham。
\"There！\"protestedhiswife。
\"Ifhehasn’tbeencomingtoseeher，whatHAShebeencomingfor？\"
\"He’sbeencomingtoseePen！\"criedthewife。\"NOW
areyousatisfied？\"Hertoneimpliedthathehadbroughtitalluponthem；butatthesightoftheswiftpassionsworkinginhisfacetoaperfectcomprehensionofthewholetrouble，shefelltotrembling，andherbrokenvoicelostallthespuriousindignationshehadputintoit。
\"OSilas！whatarewegoingtodoaboutit？I’mafraidit’llkillIrene。\"
Laphampulledofftheloosedriving—glovefromhisrighthandwiththefingersofhisleft，inwhichthereinslay。
Hepasseditoverhisforehead，andthenflickedfromitthemoistureithadgatheredthere。Hecaughthisbreathonceortwice，likeamanwhomeditatesastrugglewithsuperiorforceandthenremainspassiveinitsgrasp。
Hiswifefelttheneedofcomfortinghim，asshehadfelttheneedofafflictinghim。\"Idon’tsaybutwhatitcanbemadetocomeoutallrightintheend。AllIsayis，Idon’tseemywayclearyet。\"
\"WhatmakesyouthinkhelikesPen？\"heaskedquietly。
\"Hetoldhersolastnight，andshetoldmethismorning。
Washeattheofficeto—day？\"
\"Yes，hewasthere。Ihaven’tbeentheremuchmyself。
Hedidn’tsayanythingtome。DoesIreneknow？\"
\"No；Ilefthergettingreadytogooutshopping。
ShewantstogetapinliketheoneNannyCoreyhadon。\"
\"OmyLord！\"groanedLapham。
\"It’sbeenPenfromthestart，Iguess，oralmostfromthestart。Idon’tsaybutwhathewasattractedsomebyIreneattheveryfirst；butIguessit’sbeenPeneversincehesawher；andwe’vetakenupwithanotion，andblindedourselveswithit。TimeandagainI’vehadmydoubtswhetherhecaredforIreneany；butIdeclaretogoodness，whenhekeptcoming，IneverhardlythoughtofPen，andIcouldn’thelpbelievingatlastheDIDcareforIrene。DiditeverstrikeyouhemightbeafterPen？\"
\"No。Itookwhatyousaid。Isupposedyouknew。\"
\"Doyoublameme，Silas？\"sheaskedtimidly。
\"No。What’stheuseofblaming？Wedon’teitherofuswantanythingbutthechildren’sgood。What’sitallofitfor，ifitain’tforthat？That’swhatwe’vebothslavedforallourlives。\"
\"Yes，Iknow。PlentyofpeopleLOSEtheirchildren，\"
shesuggested。
\"Yes，butthatdon’tcomfortmeany。Ineverwasonetofeelgoodbecauseanothermanfeltbad。Howwouldyouhavelikeditifsomeonehadtakencomfortbecausehisboylivedwhenoursdied？No，Ican’tdoit。Andthisisworsethandeath，someways。Thatcomesanditgoes；butthislooksasifitwasoneofthosethingsthathadcometostay。
ThewayIlookatit，thereain’tanyhopeforanybody。
Supposewedon’twantPentohavehim；willthathelpIreneany，ifhedon’twanther？Supposewedon’twanttolethimhaveeither；doesthathelpeither！\"
\"Youtalk，\"exclaimedMrs。Lapham，\"asifoursaywasgoingtosettleit。DoyousupposethatPenelopeLaphamisagirltotakeupwithafellowthathersisterisinlovewith，andthatshealwaysthoughtwasinlovewithhersister，andgooffandbehappywithhim？
Don’tyoubelievebutwhatitwouldcomebacktoher，aslongasshebreathedthebreathoflife，howshe’dteasedherabouthim，asI’veheardPenteaseIrene，andhelpedtomakeherthinkhewasinlovewithher，byshowingthatshethoughtsoherself？It’sridiculous！\"
Laphamseemedquitebeatendownbythisargument。
Hishugeheadhungforwardoverhisbreast；thereinslaylooseinhismovelesshand；themaretookherownway。
Atlastheliftedhisfaceandshuthisheavyjaws。
\"Well？\"quaveredhiswife。
\"Well，\"heanswered，\"ifhewantsher，andshewantshim，Idon’tseewhatthat’sgottodowithit。\"Helookedstraightforward，andnotathiswife。
Shelaidherhandsonthereins。\"Now，youstoprighthere，SilasLapham！IfIthoughtthat——ifIreallybelievedyoucouldbewillingtobreakthatpoorchild’sheart，andletPendisgraceherselfbymarryingamanthathadasgoodaskilledhersister，justbecauseyouwantedBromfieldCorey’ssonforason—in—law————\"
Laphamturnedhisfacenow，andgaveheralook。
\"YouhadbetterNOTbelievethat，Persis！Getup！\"
hecalledtothemare，withoutglancingather，andshesprangforward。\"Iseeyou’vegotpastbeinganyusetoyourselfonthissubject。\"
\"Hello！\"shoutedavoiceinfrontofhim。\"Wherethedevilyougoin’to？\"
\"DoyouwanttoKILLsomebody！\"shriekedhiswife。
Therewasalightcrash，andthemarerecoiledherlength，andseparatedtheirwheelsfromthoseoftheopenbuggyinfrontwhichLaphamhaddriveninto。Hemadehisexcusestotheoccupant；andtheaccidentrelievedthetensionoftheirfeelings，andleftthemfarfromthepointofmutualinjurywhichtheyhadreachedintheircommontroubleandtheirunselfishwillfortheirchildren’sgood。
ItwasLaphamwhoresumedthetalk。\"I’mafraidwecan’teitherofusseethisthingintherightlight。
We’retooneartoit。IwishtotheLordtherewassomebodytotalktoaboutit。\"
\"Yes，\"saidhiswife；\"butthereain’tanybody。\"
\"Well，Idunno，\"suggestedLapham，afteramoment；
\"whynottalktotheministerofyourchurch？Maybehecouldseesomewayoutofit。\"
Mrs。Laphamshookherheadhopelessly。\"Itwouldn’tdo。
I’venevertakenupmyconnectionwiththechurch，andI
don’tfeelasifI’dgotanyclaimonhim。\"
\"Ifhe’sanythingofaman，oranythingofapreacher，youHAVEgotaclaimonhim，\"urgedLapham；andhespoiledhisargumentbyadding，\"I’vecontributedenoughMONEY
tohischurch。\"
\"Oh，that’snothing，\"saidMrs。Lapham。\"Iain’twellenoughacquaintedwithDr。Langworthy，orelseI’mTOOwell。No；ifIwastoaskanyone，Ishouldwanttoaskatotalstranger。Butwhat’stheuse，Si？Nobodycouldmakeusseeitanydifferentfromwhatitis，andIdon’tknowasIshouldwanttheyshould。\"
Itblottedoutthetenderbeautyoftheday，andweigheddowntheirheartsevermoreheavilywithinthem。
Theyceasedtotalkofitahundredtimes，andstillcamebacktoit。Theydroveonandon。Itbegantobelate。
\"Iguesswebettergoback，Si，\"saidhiswife；
andasheturnedwithoutspeaking，shepulledherveildownandbegantocrysoftlybehindit，withlowlittlebrokensobs。
Laphamstartedthemareupanddroveswiftlyhomeward。
Atlasthiswifestoppedcryingandbegantryingtofindherpocket。\"Here，takemine，Persis，\"hesaidkindly，offeringherhishandkerchief，andshetookitanddriedhereyeswithit。\"Therewasoneofthosefellowstheretheothernight，\"hespokeagain，whenhiswifeleanedbackagainstthecushionsinpeacefuldespair，\"thatI
likedthelooksofaboutaswellasanymanIeversaw。
Iguesshewasaprettygoodman。ItwasthatMr。Sewell。\"
Helookedathiswife，butshedidnotsayanything。
\"Persis，\"heresumed，\"Ican’tbeartogobackwithnothingsettledinourminds。Ican’tbeartoletyou。\"
\"Wemust，Si，\"returnedhiswife，withgentlegratitude。
Laphamgroaned。\"Wheredoeshelive？\"sheasked。
\"OnBolingbrokeStreet。Hegavemehisnumber。\"
\"Well，itwouldn’tdoanygood。Whatcouldhesaytous？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tknowashecouldsayanything，\"saidLaphamhopelessly；
andneitherofthemsaidanythingmoretilltheycrossedtheMilldamandfoundthemselvesbetweentherowsofcityhouses。\"
\"Don’tdrivepastthenewhouse，Si，\"pleadedhiswife。
\"Icouldn’tbeartoseeit。Drive——driveupBolingbrokeStreet。
WemightaswellseewhereheDOESlive。\"
\"Well，\"saidLapham。Hedrovealongslowly。
\"That’stheplace，\"hesaidfinally，stoppingthemareandpointingwithhiswhip。
\"Itwouldn’tdoanygood，\"saidhiswife，inatonewhichheunderstoodaswellasheunderstoodherwords。
Heturnedthemareuptothecurbstone。
\"Youtakethereinsaminute，\"hesaid，handingthemtohiswife。
Hegotdownandrangthebell，andwaitedtillthedooropened；
thenhecamebackandliftedhiswifeout。\"He’sin，\"
hesaid。
Hegotthehitching—weightfromunderthebuggy—seatandmadeitfasttothemare’sbit。
\"Doyouthinkshe’llstandwiththat？\"askedMrs。Lapham。
\"Iguessso。Ifshedon’t，nomatter。\"
\"Ain’tyouafraidshe’lltakecold，\"shepersisted，tryingtomakedelay。
\"Lether！\"saidLapham。Hetookhiswife’stremblinghandunderhisarm，anddrewhertothedoor。
\"He’llthinkwe’recrazy，\"shemurmuredinherbrokenpride。
\"Well，weARE，\"saidLapham。\"Tellhimwe’dliketoseehimaloneawhile，\"hesaidtothegirlwhowasholdingthedoorajarforhim，andsheshowedhimintothereception—room，whichhadbeentheProtestantconfessionalformanyburdenedsoulsbeforetheirtime，coming，astheydid，withthebeliefthattheywereboweddownwiththeonlymiseryliketheirsintheuniverse；foreachoneofusmustsufferlongtohimselfbeforehecanlearnthatheisbutoneinagreatcommunityofwretchednesswhichhasbeenpitilesslyrepeatingitselffromthefoundationoftheworld。
Theywereasloathtotouchtheirtroublewhentheministercameinasifitweretheirdisgrace；butLaphamdidsoatlast，and，withasimpledignitywhichhehadwantedinhisbunglingandapologeticapproaches，helaidtheaffairclearlybeforetheminister’scompassionateandreverenteye。
HesparedCorey’sname，buthedidnotpretendthatitwasnothimselfandhiswifeandtheirdaughterswhowereconcerned。
\"Idon’tknowasI’vegotanyrighttotroubleyouwiththisthing，\"hesaid，inthemomentwhileSewellsatponderingthecase，\"andIdon’tknowasI’vegotanywarrantfordoingit。But，asItoldmywifehere，therewassomethingaboutyou——Idon’tknowwhetheritwasanythingyouSAIDexactly——thatmademefeelasifyoucouldhelpus。IguessIdidn’tsaysomuchasthattoher；
butthat’sthewayIfelt。Andhereweare。Andifitain’tallright\"
\"Surely，\"saidSewell，\"it’sallright。Ithankyouforcoming——fortrustingyourtroubletome。Atimecomestoeveryoneofuswhenwecan’thelpourselves，andthenwemustgetotherstohelpus。Ifpeopleturntomeatsuchatime，IfeelsurethatIwasputintotheworldforsomething——ifnothingmorethantogivemypity，mysympathy。\"
Thebrotherlywords，soplain，sosincere，hadawelcomeinthemthatthesepooroutcastsofsorrowcouldnotdoubt。
\"Yes，\"saidLaphamhuskily，andhiswifebegantowipethetearsagainunderherveil。
Sewellremainedsilent，andtheywaitedtillheshouldspeak。
\"Wecanbeofusetooneanotherhere，becausewecanalwaysbewiserforsomeoneelsethanwecanforourselves。
Wecanseeanother’ssinsanderrorsinamoremercifullight——andthatisalwaysafairerlight——thanwecanourown；
andwecanlookmoresanelyatothers’afflictions。\"
HehadaddressedthesewordstoLapham；nowheturnedtohiswife。\"Ifsomeonehadcometoyou，Mrs。Lapham，injustthisperplexity，whatwouldyouhavethought？\"
\"Idon’tknowasIunderstandyou，\"falteredMrs。Lapham。
Sewellrepeatedhiswords，andadded，\"Imean，whatdoyouthinksomeoneelseoughttodoinyourplace？\"
\"Wasthereeveranypoorcreaturesinsuchastraitbefore？\"
sheasked，withpatheticincredulity。
\"There’snonewtroubleunderthesun，\"saidtheminister。
\"Oh，ifitwasanyoneelse，Ishouldsay——Ishouldsay——Why，ofcourse！Ishouldsaythattheirdutywastolet————\"
Shepaused。
\"Onesufferinsteadofthree，ifnoneistoblame？\"
suggestedSewell。\"That’ssense，andthat’sjustice。
It’stheeconomyofpainwhichnaturallysuggestsitself，andwhichwouldinsistuponitself，ifwewerenotallpervertedbytraditionswhicharethefigmentoftheshallowestsentimentality。Tellme，Mrs。Lapham，didn’tthiscomeintoyourmindwhenyoufirstlearnedhowmattersstood？\"
\"Why，yes，itflashedacrossme。ButIdidn’tthinkitcouldberight。\"
\"Andhowwasitwithyou，Mr。Lapham？\"
\"Why，that’swhatIthought，ofcourse。ButIdidn’tseemyway————\"
\"No，\"criedtheminister，\"weareallblinded，weareallweakenedbyafalseidealofself—sacrifice。Itwrapsusroundwithitsmeshes，andwecan’tfightourwayoutofit。
Mrs。Lapham，whatmadeyoufeelthatitmightbebetterforthreetosufferthanone？\"
\"Why，shedidherself。Iknowshewoulddiesoonerthantakehimawayfromher。\"
\"Isupposedso！\"criedtheministerbitterly。\"Andyetsheisasensiblegirl，yourdaughter？\"
\"Shehasmorecommon—sense————\"
\"Ofcourse！Butinsuchacasewesomehowthinkitmustbewrongtouseourcommon—sense。Idon’tknowwherethisfalseidealcomesfrom，unlessitcomesfromthenovelsthatbefoolanddebauchalmosteveryintelligenceinsomedegree。Itcertainlydoesn’tcomefromChristianity，whichinstantlyrepudiatesitwhenconfrontedwithit。
Yourdaughterbelieves，inspiteofhercommon—sense，thatsheoughttomakeherselfandthemanwholovesherunhappy，inordertoassurethelife—longwretchednessofhersister，whomhedoesn’tlove，simplybecausehersistersawhimandfanciedhimfirst！AndI’msorrytosaythatninety—nineyoungpeopleoutofahundred——oh，ninehundredandninety—nineoutofathousand！——wouldconsiderthatnobleandbeautifulandheroic；whereasyouknowatthebottomofyourheartsthatitwouldbefoolishandcruelandrevolting。Youknowwhatmarriageis！Andwhatitmustbewithoutloveonbothsides。\"
Theministerhadgrownquiteheatedandredintheface。
\"Iloseallpatience！\"hewentonvehemently。\"Thispoorchildofyourshassomehowbeenbroughttobelievethatitwillkillhersisterifhersisterdoesnothavewhatdoesnotbelongtoher，andwhatitisnotinthepowerofalltheworld，oranysoulintheworld，togiveher。
Hersisterwillsuffer——yes，keenly！——inheartandinpride；butshewillnotdie。Youwillsuffertoo，inyourtendernessforher；butyoumustdoyourduty。
Youmusthelphertogiveup。Youwouldbeguiltyifyoudidless。Keepclearlyinmindthatyouaredoingright，andtheonlypossiblegood。AndGodbewithyou！\"
XIX。
HEtalkedsense，Persis，\"saidLaphamgently，ashemountedtohiswife’ssideinthebuggyanddroveslowlyhomewardthroughthedusk。
\"Yes，hetalkedsense，\"sheadmitted。Butsheaddedbitterly，\"Iguess，ifhehadittoDO！Oh，he’sright，andit’sgottobedone。Thereain’tanyotherwayforit。
It’ssense；and，yes，it’sjustice。\"Theywalkedtotheirdooraftertheyleftthehorseattheliverystablearoundthecorner，whereLaphamkeptit。\"IwantyoushouldsendIreneuptoourroomassoonaswegetin，Silas。\"
\"Why，ain’tyougoingtohaveanysupperfirst？\"
falteredLaphamwithhislatch—keyinthelock。
\"No。Ican’tloseaminute。IfIdo，Ishan’tdoitatall。\"
\"Lookhere，Persis，\"saidherhusbandtenderly，\"letmedothisthing。\"
\"Oh，YOU！\"saidhiswife，withawoman’scompassionatescornforaman’shelplessnessinsuchacase。\"Sendherrightup。AndIshallfeel————\"Shestoppedtosparehim。
Thensheopenedthedoor，andranuptoherroomwithoutwaitingtospeaktoIrene，whohadcomeintothehallatthesoundofherfather’skeyinthedoor。
\"Iguessyourmotherwantstoseeyouupstairs，\"
saidLapham，lookingaway。
Hermotherturnedroundandfacedthegirl’swonderinglookasIreneenteredthechamber，socloseuponherthatshehadnotyethadtimetolayoffherbonnet；
shestoodwithherwrapsstillonherarm。
\"Irene！\"shesaidharshly，\"thereissomethingyouhavegottobear。It’samistakewe’veallmade。
Hedon’tcareanythingforyou。Heneverdid。HetoldPensolastnight。Hecaresforher。\"
Thesentenceshadfallenlikeblows。Butthegirlhadtakenthemwithoutflinching。Shestoodupimmovable，butthedelicaterose—lightofhercomplexionwentoutandlefthercolourless。Shedidnotoffertospeak。
\"Whydon’tyousaysomething？\"criedhermother。
\"Doyouwanttokillme，Irene？\"
\"WhyshouldIwanttohurtyou，mamma？\"thegirlrepliedsteadily，butinanalienvoice。\"There’snothingtosay。
IwanttoseePenaminute。\"
Sheturnedandlefttheroom。Asshemountedthestairsthatledtoherownandhersister’sroomsonthefloorabove，hermotherhelplesslyfollowed。Irenewentfirsttoherownroomatthefrontofthehouse，andthencameoutleavingthedooropenandthegasflaringbehindher。
Themothercouldseethatshehadtumbledmanythingsoutofthedrawersofherbureauuponthemarbletop。
Shepassedhermother，whereshestoodintheentry。
\"Youcancometoo，ifyouwantto，mamma，\"shesaid。
SheopenedPenelope’sdoorwithoutknocking，andwentin。
Penelopesatatthewindow，asinthemorning。
Irenedidnotgotoher；butshewentandlaidagoldhair—pinonherbureau，andsaid，withoutlookingather，\"There’sapinthatIgotto—day，becauseitwaslikehissister’s。Itwon’tbecomeadarkpersonsowell，butyoucanhaveit。\"
ShestuckascrapofpaperinthesideofPenelope’smirror。
\"There’sthataccountofMr。Stanton’sranch。You’llwanttoreadit，Ipresume。\"
Shelaidawitheredboutonniereonthebureaubesidethepin。
\"There’shisbutton—holebouquet。Heleftitbyhisplate，andIstoleit。\"
Shehadapine—shavingfantasticallytiedupwithaknotofribbon，inherhand。Shehelditamoment；then，lookingdeliberatelyatPenelope，shewentuptoher，anddroppeditinherlapwithoutaword。Sheturned，and，advancingafewsteps，totteredandseemedabouttofall。
Hermothersprangforwardwithanimploringcry，\"O’Rene，’Rene，’Rene！\"
Irenerecoveredherselfbeforehermothercouldreachher。
\"Don’ttouchme，\"shesaidicily。\"Mamma，I’mgoingtoputonmythings。Iwantpapatowalkwithme。
I’mchokinghere。\"
\"I——Ican’tletyougoout，Irene，child，\"beganhermother。
\"You’vegotto，\"repliedthegirl。\"Tellpapatahurryhissupper。\"
\"Opoorsoul！Hedoesn’twantanysupper。HEknowsittoo。\"
\"Idon’twanttotalkaboutthat。Tellhimtogetready。\"
Sheleftthemoncemore。
Mrs。LaphamturnedahaplessglanceuponPenelope。
\"Goandtellhim，mother，\"saidthegirl。\"Iwould，ifIcould。Ifshecanwalk，lether。It’stheonlythingforher。\"Shesatstill；shedidnotevenbrushtothefloorthefantasticthingthatlayinherlap，andthatsentupfaintlytheodourofthesachetpowderwithwhichIrenelikedtoperfumeherboxes。
Laphamwentoutwiththeunhappychild，andbegantotalkwithher，crazily，incoherently，enough。
Shemercifullystoppedhim。\"Don’ttalk，papa。Idon’twantanyoneshouldtalkwithme。\"
Heobeyed，andtheywalkedsilentlyonandon。IntheiraimlesscoursetheyreachedthenewhouseonthewatersideofBeacon，andshemadehimstop，andstoodlookingupatit。Thescaffoldingwhichhadsolongdefacedthefrontwasgone，andinthelightofthegas—lampbeforeitallthearchitecturalbeautyofthefacadewassuggested，andmuchofthefinelyfeltdetailwasrevealed。Seymourhadprettynearlysatisfiedhimselfinthatrichfacade；
certainlyLaphamhadnotstintedhimofthemeans。
\"Well，\"saidthegirl，\"Ishallneverliveinit，\"
andshebegantowalkon。
Lapham’ssoreheartwentdown，ashelumberedheavilyafterher。\"Ohyes，youwill，Irene。You’llhavelotsofgoodtimesthereyet。\"
\"No，\"sheanswered，andsaidnothingmoreaboutit。
Theyhadnottalkedoftheirtroubleatall，andtheydidnotspeakofitnow。Laphamunderstoodthatshewastryingtowalkherselfweary，andhewasgladtoholdhispeaceandletherhaveherway。Shehaltedhimoncemorebeforetheredandyellowlightsofanapothecary’swindow。
\"Isn’ttheresomethingtheygiveyoutomakeyousleep？\"
sheaskedvaguely。\"I’vegottosleepto—night！\"
Laphamtrembled。\"Iguessyoudon’twantanything，Irene。\"
\"Yes，Ido！Getmesomething！\"sheretortedwilfully。
\"Ifyoudon’t，Ishalldie。IMUSTsleep。\"
Theywentin，andLaphamaskedforsomethingtomakeanervouspersonsleep。Irenestoodporingovertheshow—casefullofbrushesandtrinkets，whiletheapothecaryputupthebromide，whichheguessedwouldbeaboutthebestthing。
Shedidnotshowanyemotion；herfacewaslikeastone，whileherfather’sexpressedtheanguishofhissympathy。
Helookedasifhehadnotsleptforaweek；hisfateyelidsdroopedoverhisglassyeyes，andhischeeksandthroathungflaccid。Hestartedastheapothecary’scatstolesmoothlyupandrubbeditselfagainsthisleg；
anditwastohimthatthemansaid，\"Youwanttotakeatable—spoonfulofthat，aslongasyou’reawake。