h less now in civilising."

"They're enormous devourers of newspapers, and theatre-goers; and they
go a great deal to lectures. The Colonel prefers them with the
stereopticon."

"They might get a something in that way," said the elder thoughtfully.
"Yes, I suppose one must take those things into account--especially the
newspapers and the lectures. I doubt if the theatre is a factor in
civilisation among us. I dare say it doesn't deprave a great deal, but
from what I've seen of it I should say that it was intellectually
degrading. Perhaps they might get some sort of lift from it; I don't
know. Tom!" he added, after a moment's reflection. "I really think I
ought to see this patron of yours. Don't you think it would be rather
decent in me to make his acquaintance?"

"Well, if you have the fancy, sir," said the young man. "But there's
no sort of obligation. Colonel Lapham would be the last man in the
world to want to give our relation any sort of social character. The
meeting will come about in the natural course of things."

"Ah, I didn't intend to propose anything immediate," said the father.
"One can't do anything in the summer, and I should prefer your mother's
superintendence. Still, I can't rid myself of the idea of a dinner.
It appears to me that there ought to be a dinner."

"Oh, pray don't feel that there's any necessity."

"Well," said the elder, with easy resignation, "there's at least no
hurry."

"There is one thing I don't like," said Lapham, in the course of one of
those talks which came up between his wife and himself concerning
Corey, "or at least I don't understand it; and that's the way his
father behaves. I don't want to force myself on any man; but it seems
to me pretty queer the way he holds off. I should think he would take
enough interest in his son to want to know something about his
business. What is he afraid of?" demanded Lapham angrily. "Does he
think I'm going to jump at a chance to get in with him, if he gives me
one? He's mightily mistaken if he does. I don't want to know him."

"Silas," said his wife, making a wife's free version of her husband's
words, and replying to their spirit rather than their letter, "I hope
you never said a word to Mr. Corey to let him know the way you feel."

"I never mentioned his father to him!" roared the Colonel. "That's the
way I feel about it!"

"Because it would spoil everything. I wouldn't have them think we
cared the least thi