But to hear you talk, you'd think those Coreys were too
good for this world, and we wa'n't fit for 'em to walk on."
"I'm not going to have 'em say we took an advantage
of their being away and tolled him on."
"I should like to HEAR 'em say it!" cried Lapham.
"Or anybody!"
"Well," said his wife, relinquishing this point of anxiety,
"I can't make out whether he cares anything for her or not.
And Pen can't tell either; or else she won't."
"Oh, I guess he cares for her, fast enough," said the Colonel.
"I can't make out that he's said or done the first thing
to show it."
"Well, I was better than a year getting my courage up."
"Oh, that was different," said Mrs. Lapham, in contemptuous
dismissal of the comparison, and yet with a certain fondness.
"I guess, if he cared for her, a fellow in his position
wouldn't be long getting up his courage to speak to Irene."
Lapham brought his fist down on the table between them.
"Look here, Persis! Once for all, now, don't you ever
let me hear you say anything like that again! I'm worth
nigh on to a million, and I've made it every cent myself;
and my girls are the equals of anybody, I don't care
who it is. He ain't the fellow to take on any airs;
but if he ever tries it with me, I'll send him to the right
about mighty quick. I'll have a talk with him, if----"
"No, no; don't do that!" implored his wife.
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