第1章

ToLaurel。

Thereisamidlandcityintheheartoffair,opencountry,adirtyandwonderfulcitynestingdingilyinthefogofitsownsmoke。Thestrangermustfeelthedirtbeforehefeelsthewonder,forthedirtwillbeuponhiminstantly。Itwillbeuponhimandwithinhim,sincehemustbreatheit,andhemaycarefornofurtherproofthatwealthisherebetterlovedthancleanliness;butwhetherhecaresornot,thenegligentlytendedstreetsincessantlypresshomethepoint,andsodothefleckedandgrimycitizens。Atabreezehemustsmotherinthewhirlpoolsofdust,andifheshoulddeclineatanytimetoinhalethesmokehehasthemeageralternativeofsuicide。

Thesmokeislikethebadbreathofagiantpantingformoreandmoreriches。

Hegetsthemandpantsthefiercer,smellingandswellingprodigiously。Hehasavoice,ahoarsevoice,hotandrapacioustrainedtoonetune:"Wealth！

IwillgetWealthIwillmakeWealth！IwillsellWealthformoreWealth！Myhouseshallbedirty,mygarmentshallbedirty,andIwillfoulmyneighborsothathecannotbeclean——butIwillgetWealth！Thereshallbenocleanthingaboutme:mywifeshallbedirtyandmychildshallbedirty,butI

willgetWealth！"Andyetitisnotwealththatheissogreedyfor:whatthegiantreallywantsishastyriches。Togetthesehesquanderswealthuponthefourwinds,forwealthisinthesmoke。

Notsolongagoasageneration,therewasnopantinggianthere,noheaving,grimycity;therewasbutapleasantbigtownofneighborlypeoplewhohadunderstandingofoneanother,being,onthewhole,muchofthesametype。Itwasaleisurelyandkindlyplace——"homelike,"itwascalled——andwhenthevisitorhadbeentakenthroughtheStateAsylumfortheInsaneandmadetoappreciatetheviewofthecemeteryfromalittlehill,hishost"sdutyasBaedekerwasdone。ThegoodburghersweregiventojoggingcomfortablyaboutinphaetonsorinsurreysforafamilydriveonSunday。Noonewasveryrich;

fewwereverypoor;theairwasclean,andtherewastimetolive。

Buttherewasaspiritabroadintheland,anditwasstronghereaselsewhere——aspiritthathadmovedinthedepthsoftheAmericansoilandlaboredthere,sweating,tillitstirredthesurface,rovethemountains,andemerged,tangibleandmonstrous,thegodofallgoodAmericanhearts——

Bigness。Andthatgodwroughtthepantinggiant。

Inthesoulsoftheburgherstherehadalwaysbeentheprofoundlongingforsize。Yearbyyearthelongingincreaseduntilitbecameanaccumulatedforce:WemustGrow！WemustbeBig！WemustbeBigger！BignessmeansMoney！Andthethingbegantohappen;theirlongingbecameamightyWill。WemustbeBigger！Bigger！Bigger！Getpeoplehere！Coaxthemhere！Bribethem！Swindlethemintocoming,ifyoumust,butgetthem！Shoutthemintocoming！Deafenthemintocoming！Anykindofpeople;allkindsofpeople！

WemustbeBigger！Blow！Boost！Brag！Killthefault—finder！ScreamandbellowtotheMostHigh:Bignessispatriotismandhonor！Bignessisloveandlifeandhappiness！BignessisMoney！WewantBigness！

Theygotit。Fromallthestatesthepeoplecame;thinlyatfirst,andslowly,butfasterandfasterinthickerandthickerswarmsasthequickyearswentby。Whitepeoplecame,andblackpeopleandbrownpeopleandyellowpeople;thenegroescamefromtheSouthbythethousandsandthousands,multiplyingbyotherthousandsandthousandsfasterthantheycoulddie。Fromthefourquartersoftheearththepeoplecame,thebrokenandtheunbroken,thetameandthewild——Germans,Irish,Italians,Hungarians,Scotch,Welsh,English,French,Swiss,Swedes,Norwegians,Greeks,Poles,RussianJews,Dalmatians,Armenians,Rumanians,Servians,Persians,Syrians,Japanese,Chinese,Turks,andeveryhybridthatthesecouldpropagate。AndiftherewerenoEskimosnorPatagonians,whatotherhumanstrainthatearthmightfurnishfailedtoswimandbubbleinthiscrucible？

WithBignesscamethenewmachineryandtherush;thestreetsbegantoroarandrattle,thehousestotremble;thepavementswerewornunderthetreadofhurryingmultitudes。Theold,leisurely,quizzicallookofthefaceswaslostinsomethingharderandwarier;andacockneytypebegantoemergediscernibly——acynicalyoungmongrel,barbaricoffeature,muscularandcunning;dressedingoodfabricsfashionedapparentlyinimitationofthesketchesdrawnbynewspapercomedians。Thefemaleofhiskindcamewithhim——apalegirl,shoddyandalittlerouged;andtheycommunicatedinanasalargot,mainlyinsolencesandelisions。Nay,thecommonspeechofthepeopleshowedchange:inplaceoftheoldmidlandvernacular,irregularbutclean,andnotunwholesomelydrawling,ajerkydialectofcoinedmetaphorsbegantobeheard,heldtogetherbyGUNNASandGOTTASandmuchfosteredbythepublicjournals。

Thecitypileditselfhighinthecenter,towerontowerforanucleus,andspreaditselfoutovertheplain,mileaftermile;andinitsvitals,likebenevolentbacillicontendingwithmalevolentinthebodyofaman,missionsandrefugesofferedwhatresistancetheymighttothesaloonsandallthehellsthatcitieshouseandshelter。Temptationandruinwerereadycommoditiesonthemarketforpurchasebytheventuresome;highwaymenwalkedthestreetsatnightandsometimeskilled;snatchingthieveswerebusyeverywhereinthedusk;whilehouse—breakerswereacommonapprehensionandfrequentreality。LifeitselfwassomewhatsaferfromintentionaldestructionthanitwasinmedievalRomeduringafactionwar——thoughtheRomanmurdererwasmoreliketopayforhisdeed——butdeathormutilationbeneaththewheelslayinambushateverycrossing。

Thepoliticiansletthepeoplemakeallthelawstheyliked;itdidnotmattermuch,andthetaxeswentup,whichisgoodforpoliticians。Law—makingwasapastimeofthepeople;nothingpleasedthemmore。Singularfermentationoftheirhumor,theyevenhadlawsforbiddingdangerousspeed。Moremarvelousstill,theyhadalawforbiddingsmoke！Theyforbadechimneystosmokeandtheyforbadecigarettestosmoke。Theymadelawsforallthingsandforgotthemimmediately;thoughsometimestheywouldrememberafterawhile,andhurrytomakenewlawsthattheoldlawsshouldbeenforced——andthenforgetbothnewandold。WhereverenforcementthreatenedMoneyorVotes——orwhereveritwastoomuchtobother——itbecameajoke。Influencewasthelaw。

Sotheplacegrew。Anditgrewstrong。Straightwaywhenhecame,eachmanfelltothesameworship:

Givemeofthyself,OBigness:

Powertogetmorepower！

Richestogetmoreriches！

GivemeofthysweatthatImaysweatmore！

GivemeBignesstogetmoreBignesstomyself,OBigness,forThineisthePowerandtheGlory！

AndthereisnoendbutBigness,everandforever！

TheSheridanBuildingwasthebiggestskyscraper;theSheridanTrustCompanywasthebiggestofitskind,andSheridanhimselfhadbeenthebiggestbuilderandbreakerandtrusterandbusterunderthesmoke。Hehadcomefromacountrycross—roads,atthebeginningofthegrowth,andhehadgoneupanddownintheboomsandrelapsesofthatperiod;buteachtimehewentdownhereboundedalittlehigher,untilfinally,afterayearofoverworkandanxiety——thelatternotdecreasedbyachance,remotebutpossible,ofrecuperationfromtheformerinthepenitentiary——hefoundhimselfontop,withsolidsubstanceunderhisfeet;andthereafter"playeditsafe。"Buthishungertogetwasunabated,foritwasintheverybonesofhimandgrewfiercer。

Hewasthecityincarnate。Helovedit,callingitGod"scountry,ashecalledthesmokeProsperity,breathingthedingycloudwithrelish。Andwhensootfelluponhiscuffhechuckled;hecouldhavekissedit。"It"sgood！It"sgood！"hesaid,andsmackedhislipsingusto。"Good,cleansoot;it"sourlife—blood,Godblessit！"Thesmokewasoneofhisgreatenthusiasms;helaughedatacommitteeofplaintivehousewiveswhocalledtobeghisaidagainstit。"Smoke"swhatbringsyourhusbands"moneyhomeonSaturdaynight,"hetoldthem,jovially。"Smokemayhurtyourlittleshrubberiesinthefrontyardsome,butit"sthecatarrhalclimateandtheadenoidsthatstartsyourchulderncoughing。Smokemakestheclimatebetter。Smokemeansgoodhealth:

itmakesthepeoplewashmore。Theyhavetowashsomuchtheywashoffthemicrobes。Yougohomeandaskyourhusbandswhatsmokeputsintheirpocketsouto"thepay—roll——andyou"llcomearoundnexttimetogetmetoturnoutmoresmokeinsteado"chokin"itoff！"

ItwasNarcissisminhimtolovethecitysowell;hesawhisreflectioninit;and,likeit,hewasgrimy,big,careless,rich,strong,andunquenchablyoptimistic。Fromthedeepestofhisinsideallthewayouthebelieveditwasthefinestcityintheworld。"Finest"washisword。Hethoughtofitashiscityashethoughtofhisfamilyashisfamily;andjustasprofoundlybelievedhiscitytobethefinestcityintheworld,sodidhebelievehisfamilytobe——inspiteofhissonBibbs——thefinestfamilyintheworld。Asamatteroffact,heknewnothingworthknowingabouteither。

BibbsSheridanwasamusingsortofboy,poorinhealth,andconsideredthefailure——the"oddone"——ofthefamily。Bornduringthatmostdangerousandanxiousoftheearlyyears,whenthemotherfrettedandthefathertookhischance,hewasanill—nourishedbaby,andgrewmeagerly,onlylengthwise,throughafeeblechildhood。Athischristeninghewascommittedforlifeto"Bibbs"mainlythroughlackofimaginationonhismother"spart,forthoughitwashermaidenname,shehadnostrongaffectionforit;butitwas"herturn"

tonamethebaby,and,assheexplainedlater,she"couldn"tthinkofanythingelseshelikedATALL！"Sheofferedthisexplanationonedaywhenthesicklyboywasnineandafteralongfitofbroodinghaddemandedsomereasonforhisname"sbeingBibbs。Herequestedthenwithunwontedvehemencetobeallowedtoexchangenameswithhisolderbrother,RoscoeConklingSheridan,orwiththeoldest,JamesSheridan,Junior,anduponbeingrefusedwentdownintothecellarandremainedtheretherestofthatday。Andthecook,descendingtowarddusk,reportedthathehadvanished;butasearchrevealedthathewasinthecoal—pile,completelycoveredandstillburrowing。Removedbyforceandcarriedupstairs,hemaintainedacrypticdemeanor,refusingtoutterasyllableofexplanation,evenunderthelash。Thisobviousthingwaswhollyamysterytobothparents;themotherwasnonplussed,failedtotraceandconnect;andthefatherregardedhissonasastubbornandmysteriousfool,animpressionnoteffacedastheyearswentby。

Attwenty—two,Bibbswasphysicallynomorethantheouterscaffoldingofaman,waitingforthebuildingtobegininside——along—shanked,long—faced,ricketyyouth,sallowandhollowandhaggard,dark—hairedanddark—eyed,withapeculiarexpressionofcountenance;indeed,atfirstsightofBibbsSheridanastrangermightwellbesolicitous,forheseemeduponthepointoftears。

Buttoaslightlylongergaze,notgrief,butmirth,wasrevealedashisemotion;whileamoresearchingscrutinywasproportionatelymorepuzzling——heseemedabouttoburstoutcryingortoburstoutlaughing,oneortheother,inevitably,butitwasimpossibletodecidewhich。AndBibbsnever,onanyoccassionofhislife,eitherlaughedaloudorwept。

Hewasa"disappointment"tohisfather。Atleastthatwastheparent"sword——aconfirmedandestablishedwordafterhisfirstattempttomakea"businessman"oftheboy。HesentBibbsto"beginatthebottomandlearnfromthegroundup"inthemachine—shopoftheSheridanAutomaticPumpWorks,andattheendofsixmonthsthefamilyphysiciansentBibbstobeginatthebottomandlearnfromthegroundupinasanitarium。

"Youneedn"tworry,mamma,"Sheridantoldhiswife。"There"snothin"thematterwithBibbsexcepthehatesworksomuchitmakeshimsick。Iputhiminthemachine—shop,andIguessIknowwhatI"mdoin"aboutaswellasthenextman。OleDocGurneyalwayswasoneo"themnuttyalarmists。DoeshethinkI"ddoanything"dbebadformyownfleshandblood？Hemakesmetired！"

AnythingexceptperfectlydefinitehealthorperfectlydefinitediseasewasincomprehensibletoSheridan。Hehadagenuineconvictionthatlackofphysicalpersistenceinanytaskinvolvingmoneymustbeduetosomesubtleweaknessofcharacteritself,tosomeprofoundshiftlessnessorslyness。Heunderstoodtyphoidfever,pheumonia,andappendicitis——onehadthem,andeitherdiedorgotoverthemandwentbacktowork——butwhentheword"nervous"appearedinadiagnosishebecamehonestlysuspicious:hehadthefeelingthattherewassomethingcontemptibleaboutit,thattherewasaniggerinthewood—pilesomewhere。

"Lookatme,"hesaid。"LookatwhatIdidathisage！Why,whenIwastwentyyearsold,wasn"tIupeverymorningatfouro"clockchoppin"wood——

yes！andoutinthedarkandthesnow——tobuildafireinacountrygrocerystore？AndhereBibbshastogoandhaveaDOCTORbecausehecan"t——Pho！itmakesmetired！Ifhe"dgoneatitlikeamanhewouldn"tbesick。"

Hepacedthebedroom——theusualsettingforsuchparentaldiscussions——inhisnightgown,shakinghisbig,grizzledheadandgesticulatingtohisbeddedspouse。"MyLord！"hesaid。"Ifalittle,teenybito"worklikethisistoomuchforhim,why,heain"tfitforanything！It"snine—tenthsimagination,andtherestofit——well,Iwon"tsayit"sdeliberate,butIWOULDliketoknowjusthowmuchofit"sputon！"

"Bibbsdidn"twantthedoctor,"saidMrs。Sheridan。"Itwaswhenhewasheretodinnerthatnight,andnoticedhowhecouldn"teatanything。Honey,youbettercometobed。"

"Eat！"hesnorted。"Eat！It"sworkthatmakesmeneat！Andit"simaginationthatkeepspeoplefromeatin"。Busymendon"tgettimeforthatkindofimagination;andthere"sanotherthingyou"llnoticeaboutgoodhealth,ifyou"lltakethetroubletolookaroundyou,Mrs。Sheridan:busymenhaven"tgottimetobesickandtheydon"tGETsick。Youjustthinkitoverandyou"llfindthatninety—ninepercent。ofthesickpeopleyouknowareeitherwomenorloafers。Yes,ma"am！"

"Honey,"shesaidagain,drowsily,"youbettercometobed。"

"Lookattheotherboys,"herhusbandbadeher。"LookatJimandRoscoe。LookathowTHEYwork！Thereisn"tashiftlessboneintheirbodies。WorknevermadeJimorRoscoesick。Jimtakeshalftheloadoffmyshouldersalready。

Rightnowthereisn"taharder—workin",brighterbusinessmaninthiscitythanJim。I"vepushedhim,buthegivemesomethingtopushAGAINST。Youcan"tpush"nervousdyspepsia"！AndlookatRoscoe;justLOOKatwhatthatboy"sdoneforhimself,andbarelytwenty—sevenyearsold——married,gotafinewife,andreadytobuildforhimselfwithhisownmoney,whenIputuptheNewHouseforyouandEdie。"

"Papa,you"llcatchcoldinyourbarefeet,"shemurmured。"Youbettercometobed。"

"AndI"mjustasproudofEdie,foragirl,"hecontinued,emphatically,"asI

amofJimandRoscoeforboys。She"llmakesomemanamightygoodwifewhenthetimecomes。She"stheprettiestandtalentedestgirlintheUnitedStates！Lookatthatpoemshewrotewhenshewasinschoolandtooktheprizewith;it"sthebestpoemIeverreadinmylife,andshe"dnevereventriedtowriteonebefore。It"sthefinestthingIeverread,andR。T。Blosssaidso,too;andIguesshe"sagoodenoughliteraryjudgeforme——turnsoutmoreadvertisin"liter"cherthananymaninthecity。Itellyoushe"ssmart！

LookatthewaysheworkedmetogetmetopromisetheNewHouse——andIguessyouhadyourfingerinthat,too,mamma！Thisoldshack"sgoodenoughforme,butyouandlittleEdie"llhavetohaveyourway。I"llgetbehindherandpushherthesameasIwillJimandRoscoe。ItellyouI"mmightyproudo"

themthreechuldern！ButBibbs——"Hepaused,shakinghishead。"Honest,mamma,whenItalktomenthatgotALLtheirboysdoin"wellandworththeirsalt,why,IhavetokeepmymindonJimandRoscoeandforgetaboutBibbs。"

Mrs。Sheridantossedherheadfretfullyuponthepillow。"Youdidthebestyoucould,papa,"shesaid,impatiently,"socometobedandquitreproachin"

youselfforit。"

Heglaredatherindignantly。"Reproachin"myself！"hesnorted。"Iain"tdoin"anythingofthekind！Whatinthenameo"goodnesswouldIwanttoreproachmyselffor？Anditwasn"tthe"bestIcould,"either。ItwasthebestANYBODYcould！Iwasgivin"himachancetoshowwhatwasinhimandmakeamanofhimself——andherehegoesandgets"nervousdyspepsia"onme！"

Hewenttotheold—fashionedgas—fixture,turnedoutthelight,andmutteredhiswaymoroselyintobed。

"What？"saidhiswife,crossly,botheredbyasubsequentmumbling。

"Morelikehook—worm,Isaid,"heexplained,speakinglouder。"Idon"tknowwhattodowithhim！"

BeginningatthebeginningandlearningfromthegroundupwasalongcourseforBibbsatthesanitarium,withmilkand"zwieback"asthebasisofinstruction;andthemonthsweremanyandtiresomebeforehewasconsiderednearenoughgraduationtogoforawalkleaningonanurseandacane。Theseandsubsequentmonthssawtheplanning,thebuilding,andthecompletionoftheNewHouse;anditwastothatabodeofBignessthatBibbswasbroughtwhenthecane,withoutthenurse,wasfoundsufficienttohissupport。

Edithmethimatthestation。"Well,well,Bibbs！"shesaid,ashecameslowlythroughthegates,thelastofallthetravelersfromthattrain。Shegavehishandabrisklittleshake,avertinghereyesafteraquickglanceathim,andturningatoncetowardthepassagetothestreet。"Doyouthinktheyoughtto"veletyoucome？Youcertainlydon"tlookwell！"

"ButIcertainlydolookbetter,"hereturned,inavoiceasslowashisgait;

adrawlthatwasanecessity,forwhenBibbstriedtospeakquicklyhestammered。"Uptoaboutamonthagoittooktwopeopletoseeme。Theyhadtogetmeinalinebetween"em！"

Edithdidnotturnhereyesdirectlytowardhimagain,afterherfirstquickglance;andherexpression,inspiteofher,showedafaint,troubleddistaste,thelookofahealthypersonpressedbysomeobligationofbusinesstovisita"bad"wardinahospital。Shewasnineteen,fairandslim,withsmall,unequalfeatures,butaprettinessofcolorandabrilliancyofeyesthatcreatedatotalimpressioncloseuponbeauty。Hermovementswereeagerandrestless:therewassomethingabouther,askindoldladiessay,thatwasverysweet;andtherewassomethingthatwashurriedandbreathless。ThiswasnewtoBibbs;itwasaperceptiblechangesincehehadlastseenher,andhebentuponherasteady,whimsicalscrutinyastheystoodatthecurb,waitingforanautomobileacrossthestreettodisengageitselffromthetraffic。

"That"sthenewcar,"shesaid。"Everything"snew。We"vegotfournow,besidesJim"s。Roscoe"sgottwo。"

"Edith,youlook——"hebegan,andpaused。

"Oh,WE"reallwell,"shesaid,briskly;andthen,asifsomethinginhistonehadcaughtherassignificant,"Well,HOWdoIlook,Bibbs？"

"Youlook——"Hepausedagain,takinginthefulllengthofher——hertrimbrownshoes,herscant,tapering,roughskirt,andhercoatofbrownandgreen,herlonggreentippetandhermadlittleroughhatinthemadmode——

allsuitedtotheOctoberday。

"HowdoIlook？"sheinsisted。

"Youlook,"heanswered,ashisexaminationendeduponanincrustedwatchofplatinumandenamelatherwrist,"youlook——expensive！"Thatwasasubstituteforwhatheintendedtosay,forherconstraintandpreoccupation,manifestedparticularlyinherkeepingherdirectglanceawayfromhim,didnotseemtogranttheprivilegeofimpulsiveintimacies。

"IexpectIam！"shelaughed,andsidelongcaughtthedirectionofhisglance。

"OfcourseIoughtn"ttowearitinthedaytime——it"saneveningthing,forthetheater——bymydaywrist—watchisoutofgear。BobbyLamhornbrokeityesterday;he"saregularrowdysometimes。DoyouwantClaustohelpyouin？"

"Ohno,"saidBibbs。"I"malive。"Andafterafitofpantingsubsequenttohisclimbingintothecarunaided,headded,"Ofcourse,IhavetoTELL

people！"

"Weonlygotyourtelegramthismorning,"shesaid,astheybegantomoverapidlythroughthe"wholesaledistrict"neighboringthestation。"Mothersaidshe"dhardlyexpectedyouthismonth。"

"Theyseemedtobethroughwithmeupthereinthecountry,"heexplained,gently。"Atleasttheysaidtheywere,andtheywouldn"tkeepmeanylonger,becausesomanyreallysickpeoplewantedtogetin。Theytoldmetogohome——andIdidn"thaveanyplaceelsetogo。It"llbeallright,Edith;I"llsitinthewoodsheduntilafterdarkeveryday。"

"Pshaw！"Shelaughednervously。"Ofcoursewe"reallofusgladtohaveyouback。"

"Yes？"hesaid。"Father？"

"Ofcourse！Didn"thewriteandtellyoutocomehome？"Shedidnotturntohimwiththequestion。Allthewhilesherodewithherfacedirectlyforward。

"No,"hesaid;"fatherhasn"twritten。"

Sheflushedalittle。"IexpectIoughtto"vewrittensometime,oroneoftheboys——"

"Ohno;thatwasallright。"

"Youcan"tthinkhowbusywe"veallbeenthisyear,Bibbs。Ioftenplannedtowrite——andthen,justasIwasgoingto,somethingwouldturnup。AndI"msureit"sbeenjustthesamewaywithJimandRoscoe。Ofcourseweknewmammawaswritingoftenand——"

"Ofcourse！"hesaid,readily。"There"sachunkofcoalfallenonyourglove,Edith。Betterflickitoffbeforeitsmears。Myword！I"dalmostforgottenhowsootyitishere。"

"We"vebeenhavingverybrightweatherthismonth——forus。"Sheblewtheflakeofsootintotheair,seemingrelieved。

Helookedupatthedingysky,whereinhungthedisconsolatesunlikeacoldtinpannailedupinasmoke—housebysomelunatic,foradecoration。"Yes,"

saidBibbs。"It"sverygay。"Afewmomentslater,astheypassedacorner,"Aren"twegoinghome？"heasked。

"Why,yes！"Didyouwanttogosomewhereelsefirst？"

"No。Yournewdriver"stakingusoutoftheway,isn"the？"

"No。Thisisright。We"regoingstraighthome。"

"Butwe"vepassedthecorner。Wealwaysturned——"

"Goodgracious！"shecried。"Didn"tyouknowwe"dmoved？Didn"tyouknowwewereintheNewHouse？"

"Why,no！"saidBibbs。"Areyou？"

"We"vebeenthereamonth！Goodgracious！Didn"tyouknow——"Shebrokeoff,flushingagain,andthenwentonhastily:"Ofcourse,mamma"sneverbeensobusyinherlife;weALLhaven"thadtimetodoanythingbutkeeponthehop。

Mammacouldn"tevencometothestationto—day。Papa"sgotsomeofhisbusinessfriendsandpeoplefromaroundtheOLD—houseneighborhoodcomingto—nightforabigdinnerand"house—warming"——dreadfulkindofpeople——butmamma"sgotitallonherhands。She"sneversatdownaMINUTE;andifshedid,papawouldhaveherupagainbefore——"

"Ofcourse,"saidBibbs。"Doyoulikethenewplace,Edith？"

"Idon"tlikesomeofthethingsfatherWOULDhaveinit,butit"sthefinesthouseintown,andthatoughttobegoodenoughforme！PapaboughtonethingIlike——aviewoftheBayofNaplesinoilthat"sperfectlybeautiful;it"sthefirstthingyouseeasyoucomeinthefronthall,andit"selevenfeetlong。ButhewouldhavethatoldfruitpicturewehadintheMurphyStreethousehungupinthenewdining—room。Yourememberit——atableandawatermelonslicedopen,andalotofrouged—lookingapplesandsomeshinylemons,withtwodeadprairie—chickensonachair？Heboughtitatafurniture—storeyearsandyearsago,andheclaimsit"safinerpicturethananytheysawinthemuseums,thattimehetookmammatoEurope。Butit"shorriblyoutofdatetohavethosethingsindining—rooms,andIcaughtBobbyLamhorngigglingatit;andSibylmadefunofit,too,withBobby,andthentoldpapasheagreedwithhimaboutitsbeingsuchafinething,andsaidhedidjustrighttoinsistonhavingitwherehewantedit。Shemakesmetired！

Sibyl！"

Edith"sfirstconstraintwithherbrother,amountingalmosttoawkwardness,vanishedwiththistheme,thoughshestillkeptherfullgazealwaystothefront,evenintheextremeardorofherdenunciationofhersister—in—law。

"SIBYL！"sherepeated,withsuchheatandvigorthatthenameseemedtostrikefireonherlips。"I"dliketoknowwhyRoscoecouldn"thavemarriedsomebodyfromHEREthatwouldhavedoneussomegood！HecouldhavegotinwithBobbyLamhornyearsagojustaswellasnow,andBobby"dhaveintroducedhimtothenicestgirlsintown,butinsteadofthathehadtogoandpickupthisSibylRink！ImetsomeawfullynicepeoplefromhertownwhenmammaandIwereatAtlanticCity,lastspring,andnotonehadeverheardoftheRinks！NotevenHEARDof"em！"

"IthoughtyouweregreatfriendswithSibyl,"Bibbssaid。

"UptothetimeIfoundherout！"thesisterreturned,withcontinuingvehemence。"I"vefoundoutsomethingsaboutMrs。RoscoeSheridanlately——"

"It"sonlylately？"

"Well——"Edithhesitated,herlipssettingprimly。"Ofcourse,IalwaysdidseethatshenevercaredthesnapofherlittlefingeraboutROSCOE！"

"Itseems,"saidBibbs,inlaconicprotest,"thatshemarriedhim。"

Thesisteremittedashrillcry,tobeinterpretedascontemptuouslaughter,and,inheremotion,spoketooimpulsively:"Why,she"dhavemarriedYOU！"

"No,no,"hesaid;"shecouldn"tbethatbad！"

"Ididn"tmean——"shebegan,distressed。"Ionlymeant——Ididn"tmean——"

"Nevermind,Edith,"heconsoledher。"Yousee,shecouldn"thavemarriedme,becauseIdidn"tknowher;andbesides,ifshe"sasmercenaryasallthatshe"dhavebeentooclever。Theheaddoctorevenhadtolendmethemoneyformytickethome。"

"Ididn"tmeananythingunpleasantaboutYOU,"Edithbabbled。"IonlymeantI

thoughtshewasthekindofgirlwhowassosimplycrazytomarrysomebodyshe"dhavemarriedanybodythataskedher。"

"Yes,yes,"saidBibbs,"it"sallstraight。"And,perceivingthathissister"sexpressionwasthatofapersonwhoseadroitnesshassetmattersprefectlytorights,hechuckledsilently。

"Roscoe"sperfectlylovelytoher,"shecontinued,amomentlater。"Toolovely！Ifhe"dwakeupalittleandlaydownthelaw,someday,likeaMAN,Iguessshe"drespecthimmoreandlearntobehaveherself！"

""Behave"？"

"Oh,well,Imeanshe"ssoinsincere,"saidEdith,characteristicallyevasivewhenitcametostatingtheverypointtowhichshehadled,andinthisnotuniqueofhersex。

Bibbscontentedhimselfwithanon—committalgesture。"Businessiscrawlinguptheoldstreets,"hesaid,hislong,tremuloushandindicatingavastystructureincourseoferection。"Theboarding—housescomefirstandthenthe——"

"Thatisn"tforshops,"sheinformedhim。"That"sanewinvestmentofpapa"s——the"SheridanApartments。""

"Well,well,"hemurmured。"Isupposed"Sheridan"wasalmostwellenoughknownherealready。"

"Oh,we"rewellenoughknownABOUT！"shesaid,impatiently。"Iguessthereisn"taman,woman,child,orniggerbabyintownthatdoesn"tknowwhoweare。Butwearen"tinwiththerightpeople。"