Chapters XXII and XXIII Summary

In Chapter XXII the Laphams receive a letter from Irene. Penelope is still so mopey that her mother loses patience with her and decides to try to shock the girl out of her mood by telling Penelope of her father's trouble. This information is enough to make the girl get up for her father's account. She first sends a note to Corey telling him not to come see her any more. At supper that night Lapham tells his wife that Rogers did not produce the buyers for the mill as he had expected would happen. Seeing Penelope at dinner he decides to take the whole family to the theater.

More trouble at work turns Lapham into a sullen and old man. He has even developed the habit of bringing work home with him, a habit he had...