"I shouldn't know how to get
it in. It's so late now; I don't see how I could have the face."
"Well, then, she's got to go, that's all."
"She's set she won't."
"And I'm set she shall," said Lapham with the loud
obstinacy of a man whose women always have their way.
Mrs. Lapham was not supported by the sturdiness
of his proclamation.
But she did not know how to do what she knew she ought
to do about Penelope, and she let matters drift.
After all, the child had a right to stay at home if she
did not wish to go. That was what Mrs. Lapham felt,
and what she said to her husband next morning, bidding him
let Penelope alone, unless she chose herself to go.
She said it was too late now to do anything, and she must
make the best excuse she could when she saw Mrs. Corey.
She began to wish that Irene and her father would go and
excuse her too. She could not help saying this, and then
she and Lapham had some unpleasant words.
"Look here!" he cried. "Who wanted to go in for these
people in the first place? Didn't you come home full
of 'em last year, and want me to sell out here and move
somewheres else because it didn't seem to suit 'em? And
now you want to put it all on me! I ain't going to stand it."
"Hush!" said his wife. "Do you want to raise the house? I
didn't put it on you, as you say.
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