下载辰思小说免费APP
ThetransferrelievedLaphamoftheloadofdebtwhichhewasstilllabouringunder,andgavehimaninterestinthevasterenterpriseoftheyoungermen,whichhehadoncevainlyhopedtograspallinhisownhand。Hebegantotellofthiscoincidenceassomethingverystriking;
andpushingonmoreactivelythespecialbranchofthebusinesslefttohim,hebragged,quiteinhisoldway,ofitsenormousextension。Hisson—in—law,hesaid,waspushingitinMexicoandCentralAmerica:anideathattheyhadoriginallyhadincommon。Well,youngbloodwaswhatwaswantedinathingofthatkind。Now,thosefellowsoutinWestVirginia:allyoung,andaperfectteam!
Forhimself,heownedthathehadmademistakes;hecouldseejustwherethemistakeswere——puthisfingerrightonthem。
Butonethinghecouldsay:hehadbeennoman’senemybuthisown;everydollar,everycenthadgonetopayhisdebts;
hehadcomeoutwithcleanhands。Hesaidallthis,andmuchmore,toMr。Sewellthesummerafterhesoldout,whentheministerandhiswifestoppedatLaphamontheirwayacrossfromtheWhiteMountainstoLakeChamplain;
Laphamhadfoundthemonthecars,andpressedthemtostopoff。
ThereweretimeswhenMrs。Laphamhadasgreatprideintheclean—handednesswithwhichLaphamhadcomeoutashehadhimself,buthersatisfactionwasnotsoconstant。
Atthosetimes,knowingthetemptationshehadresisted,shethoughthimthenoblestandgrandestofmen;butnowomancouldenduretoliveinthesamehousewithaperfecthero,andtherewereothertimeswhensheremindedhimthatifhehadkepthiswordtoheraboutspeculatinginstocks,andhadlookedaftertheinsuranceofhispropertyhalfascarefullyashehadlookedafteracoupleofworthlesswomenwhohadnoearthlyclaimonhim,theywouldnotbewheretheywerenow。Hehumblyadmitteditall,andlefthertothinkofRogersherself。Shedidnotfailtodoso,andthethoughtdidnotfailtorestorehimtohertendernessagain。
Idonotknowhowitisthatclergymenandphysicianskeepfromtellingtheirwivesthesecretsconfidedtothem;
perhapstheycantrusttheirwivestofindthemoutforthemselveswhenevertheywish。SewellhadlaidbeforehiswifethecaseoftheLaphamsaftertheycametoconsultwithhimaboutCorey’sproposaltoPenelope,forhewishedtobeconfirmedinhisbeliefthathehadadvisedthemsoundly;buthehadnotgivenhertheirnames,a