Chapter VIII Summary

Anna Corey returns home to her husband after her vacation at Bar Harbor. Bromfield Corey tells her that their son has decided to join Lapham's business. Mrs. Corey insists he should have stopped the boy. His father offers the hope that Corey has become disinterested in all of the other careers he has tried and might become disinterested in this one also. Mrs. Corey divulges that she wishes her son would have married. Mr. Corey reminds her that Tom still might marry Lapham's daughter. Mrs. Corey believes this arrangement would be even worse that Tom's going into the paint business because the daughter is so dull. She adds that there is no need for Tom to earn a living either through work or marriage. Mr. Corey defends his son by saying that the boy wants to do something for himself.

Mr...