第5章
"He"sgettin"bettereveryday,"Jimsaid。"Dr。Gurneysaysso。There"snothingmuchthematterwithhim,really——it"snine—tenthsimaginary。
"Nerves"！Peoplethatarewillingtobebusydon"thavenervousdiseases,becausetheydon"thavetimetoimagine"em。"
"Youmeanhistroubleisreallymental？"
"Oh,he"snotalunatic,"saidJim。"He"sjustqueer。Sometimeshe"llsaysomethingrightbright,buthalfthetimewhathesaysis"wayoffthesubject,orelsethereisn"tanysensetoitatall。Forinstance,theotherdayIheardhimtalkin"tooneofthedarkiesinthehall。Thedarkyaskedhimwhattimehewantedthecarforhisdrive,andanybodyelseintheworldwouldhavejustsaidwhattimetheyDIDwantit,andthatwouldhavebeenalltherewastoit;buthere"swhatBibbssays,andIheardhimwithmyownears。
"WhattimedoIwantthecar？"hesays。"Well,now,thatdepends——thatdepends,"hesays。Hetalksslowlikethat,youknow。"I"lltellyouwhattimeIwantthecar,George,"hesays,"ifyou"lltellMEwhatyouthinkofthisstatue！"That"sexactlyhiswords！AskedthedarkywhathethoughtofthatArabEdithandmotherboughtforthehall！"
Marypondereduponthis。"Hemighthavebeeninfun,perhaps,"shesuggested。
"Askin"adarkywhathethoughtofapieceofstatuary——ofaworkofart！
Whereonearthwouldbethefunofthat？No,you"rejustkind—hearted——andthat"sthewayyouOUGHTtobe,ofcourse——"
"Thankyou,Mr。Sheridan！"shelaughed。
"Seehere！"hecried。"Isn"tthereanywayforustogetoverthisMisterandMissthing？Amonth"sgotthirty—onedaysinit;I"vemanagedtobewithyouapartofprettynearallthethirty—one,andIthinkyouknowhowIfeelbythistime——"
Shelookedpanic—strickenimmediately。"Oh,no,"sheprotested,quickly。"No,Idon"t,and——"
"Yes,youdo,"hesaid,andhisvoiceshookalittle。"Youcouldn"thelpknowing。"
"ButIdo！"shedenied,hurriedly。"Idohelpknowing。Imean——Oh,wait！"
"Whatfor？YoudoknowhowIfeel,andyou——well,you"vecertainlyWANTEDmetofeelthatway——orelsepretended——"
"Now,now！"shelamented。"You"respoilingsuchacheerfulafternoon！"
""Spoilin"it！""Hesloweddownthecarandturnedhisfacetohersquarely。
"Seehere,MissVertrees,haven"tyou——"
"Stop！Stopthecaraminute。"Andwhenhehadcompliedshefacedhimassquarelyasheevidentlydesiredhertofacehim。"Listen。Idon"twantyoutogoon,to—day。"
"Whynot？"heasked,sharply。
"Idon"tknow。"
"Youmeanit"sjustawhim？"
"Idon"tknow,"sherepeated。Hervoicewaslowandtroubledandhonest,andshekepthercleareyesuponhis。
"Willyoutellmesomething？"
"Almostanything。"
"Haveyouevertoldanymanyoulovedhim？"
Andatthat,thoughshelaughed,shelookedalittlecontemptuous。"No,"shesaid。"AndIdon"tthinkIevershalltellanymanthat——oreverknowwhatitmeans。I"minearnest,Mr。Sheridan。"
"Thenyou——you"vejustbeenflirtingwithme！"PoorJimlookedbothfuriousandcrestfallen。
"Notonbit！"shecried。"Notoneword！Notonesyllable！I"vemeanteverysinglething！"
"Idon"t——"
"Ofcourseyoudon"t！"shesaid。"Now,Mr。Sheridan,Iwantyoutostartthecar。Now！Thankyou。Slowly,tillIfinishwhatIhavetosay。Ihavenotflirtedwithyou。Ihavedeliberatelycourtedyou。Onethingmore,andthenIwantyoutotakemestraighthome,talkingabouttheweatheralltheway。I
saidthatIdonotbelieveIshallever"care"foranyman,andthatistrue。
Idoubttheexistenceofthekindof"caring"wehearaboutinpoemsandplaysandnovels。IthinkitmustbejustakindofemotionalTALK——mostofit。
Atallevents,Idon"tfeelit。Now,wecangofaster,please。"
"Justwheredoesthatletmeout？"hedemanded。"Howdoesthatexcuseyoufor——"
"Itisn"tanexcuse,"shesaid,gently,andgavehimonefinallook,whollydesolate。"Ihaven"tsaidIshouldnevermarry。"
"What？"Jimgasped。
Sheinclinedherheadinabrokensortofacquiescence,veryhumble,unfathomablysorrowful。
"Ipromisenothing,"shesaid,faintly。
"Youneedn"t！"shoutedJim,radiantandexultant。"Youneedn"t！ByGeorge！
Iknowyou"resquare;that"senoughforme！Youwaitandpromisewheneveryou"reready！"
"Don"tforgetwhatIasked,"shebeggedhim。
"Talkabouttheweather？Iwill！Godblesstheoldweather！"criedthehappyJim。
ThroughtheopencountryBibbswasborneflyingbetweenbrownfieldsandsun—fleckedgrovesofgraytrees,tobreathetherushing,cleanairbeneathaglorioussky——thatskysodespisedinthecity,andsomaltreatedthere,thatfromearlyOctobertomid—Mayitwasimpossibleformentorememberthatblueistherightfulcoloroverhead。
UponeachofBibbs"scheekstherewasahintofsomethingalmostresemblingapinkishness;notactualcolor,butundeniablyitsphantom。Howlargelythisapparitionmayhavebeentheworkofthewinduponhisfaceitisdifficulttocalculate,forbeyondadoubtitwaspartlytheresultofalady"sbowingtohimuponnomoreformalintroductionthanthecircumstanceofhishavingcaughtherlookingintohiswindowamonthbefore。Shehadboweddefinitely;
shehadbowedcharmingly。AnditseemedtoBibbsthatshemusthavemeanttoconveyherforgiveness。
Therehadbeensomethinginherrecognitionofhimunfamiliartohisexperience,andherodethewarmerforit。Nordidhelacktheimpressionthathewouldlongrememberherashehadjustseenher:herveiltumultuouslyblowingback,herfaceglowinginthewind——andthatlookofgayfriendlinesstossedtohimlikeafreshroseincarnival。
Byandby,uponarisingground,thedriverhaltedthecar,thenbackedandtacked,andsentitforwardagainwithitsnosetothesouthandthesmoke。
FarbeforehimBibbssawthegreatsmudgeuponthehorizon,thatnestofcloudinwhichthecitystroveandpantedlikeanengineshroudedinitsownsteam。ButtoBibbs,whohadnowtogototheveryheartofit,foracommandedinterviewwithhisfather,thedistantcloudwaslikeanimplacablegeniusissuingthunderouslyinsmokefromhisenchantedbottle,andirresistiblydrawingBibbsnearerandnearer。
Theypassedfromthefarmlands,andcame,intheamberlightofNovemberlateafternoon,tothefarthermostoutskirtsofthecity;andheretheskyshimmereduponthevergeofchangefrombluetogray;thesmokedidnotvisiblypermeatetheair,butitwasthere,nevertheless——impalpable,thin,nomorethanthedustofsmoke。Andthen,asthecardroveon,thechimneysandstacksoffactoriescameswimmingupintoviewlikemilesofsteamersadvancingabreast,everyfunnelwithitsvastplume,savageandblack,sweepingtothehorizon,drippingwealthanddirtandsuffocationoverleagueonleaguealreadyrichandvilewithgrime。
Theskyhadbecomeonlyadingythickeningofthesoiledair;andaroarandclangorofmetalsbeatdeafeninglyonBibbs"sears。Andnowthecarpassedtwogreatblocksoflongbrickbuildings,hideousinallwayspossibletomakethemhideous;doorwaysshowingdarkonemomentandluridthenextwiththeleapofsomevirulentinteriorflame,revealingblackenedgiants,halfnaked,inpassionateaction,strugglingwithformlessthingsinthehotillumination。Andbigastheseshopswere,theyweregrowingbigger,spreadingoverathirdblock,wheretwonewstructuresweremushroomingtocompletioninsomehastycementprocessofastabilitynotover—reassuring。
Bibbspulledtherugcloserabouthim,andnoteventhephantomofcolorwasleftuponhischeeksashepassedthisplace,forheknewittoowell。
Acrossthefaceofoneofthebuildingstherewasanenormoussign:"SheridanAutomaticPumpCo。,Inc。"
Thencetheywentthroughstreetsofwoodenhouses,allgrimed,andaddingtheirowngrimefrommanyasootychimney;flimseywoodenhousesofathousandflimsywhimsiesinthefashioning,builtonnarrowlotsandnudgingoneanothercrossly,shuttingoutthestingysunlightfromoneanother;badneighborswhowoulddestroyoneanotherrootandbranchsomenightwhentherightwindblew。Theywereonlywaitingforthatwindandacigarette,andthentheywouldallbegonetogether——apinchofincenseburneduponthetripodofthegod。
Alongthesestreetstherewereskinnyshade—trees,andhereandthereaforestelmorwalnuthadbeenleft;buttheseweredying。Somepeoplesaiditwasthescale;somesaiditwasthesmoke;andsomeweresurethatasphaltand"improving"thestreetsdidit;butBignesswasintooBigahurrytobothermuchabouttrees。Hehadtelegraph—polesandtelephone—polesandelectric—light—polesandtrolley—pollsbythethousandtotaketheirplaces。
Soheletthetreesdieandputuphispoles。Theywerehideous,butnobodymindedthat;andsometimesthewiresfellandkilledpeople——butnotoftenenoughtomatteratall。
ThenceonwardthecarboreBibbsthroughtheolderpartsofthetownwherethefewsolidoldhousesnotalreadydemolishedwereintransition:some,withtheirfrontstornaway,werebeingmadeintosegmentsofapartment—buildings;othershadgoneuproariouslyintotrade,brazenlyputtingforth"show—windows"ontheirfirstfloors,seemingtomeanitforajoke;oneortwowithunalteredfacadespeepedhumorouslyoverthetopsoftemporaryofficebuildingsofonestoryerectedintheoldfrontyards。
Altogether,thetownherewaslikeaboarding—househashtheSundayafterThanksgiving;theoldingredientswerediscernible。
ThiswasthefringeofBigness"sownsanctuary,andnowBibbsreachedtheroaringholyofholiesitself。Thecarmuststopateverycrossingwhilethedark—garbedcrowds,envelopedinmaelstromsofdust,hurriedbeforeit。
Magnificentnewbuildings,alreadydingy,loomedhundredsoffeetabovehim;
newerones,moremagnificent,wererisingbesidethem,risinghigher;oldbuildingswerecomingdown;middle—agedbuildingswerecomingdown;thestreetswerelaidopentotheirentrailsandmenworkedundergroundbetweenpalisades,andoverheadinmetalcobwebslikespidersinthesky。
Trolley—carsandlonginterurbancars,builttosplitthewindliketorpedo—boats,clangedandshriekedtheirwayroundswarmingcorners;
motor—carsofeverykindandshapeknowntomanbabbledfrightfulwarningsandfranticdemands;hospitalambulancesclamoredwildlyforpassage;
steam—whistlessignaledtheswingingoftitanictentacleandclaw;rivetersrattledlikemachine—guns;thegroundshooktothethunderofgigantictrucks;andtheconglomeratesoundofitallwasthesoundofearthquakeplayingaccompanimentsforbattleandsuddendeath。Ononeofthenewsteelbuildingsnoworkwasbeingdonethatafternoon。Thebuildinghadkilledamaninthemorning——andthesteel—workersalwaysstopforthedaywhenthat"happens。"
Andinthehurryingcrowds,swirlingandsiftingthroughthebrobdingnagiancampofironandsteel,onesawthecamp—followersandthepaganwomen——therewouldbeworkto—dayanddancingto—night。ForthePuritan"sdryvoiceisbutthecracklingofaleafunderfootintherushandroarofthecomingofthenewEgypt。
Bibbswasontime。Heknewitmustbe"totheminute"orhisfatherwouldconsideritanoutrage;andthebigchronometerinSheridan"sofficemarkedfourpreciselywhenBibbswalkedin。Coincidentallywithhisentrancefivepeoplewhohadbeenatworkintheoffice,underSheridan"sdirection,walkedout。Theydeparteduponnovisibleoraudiblesuggestion,andwithapromptnessthatseemedominoustothenew—comer。Asthemassivedoorclickedsoftlybehindtheelderlystenographer,thelastoftheprocession,Bibbshadafeelingthattheyallunderstoodthathewasafailureasagreatman"sson,adisappointment,the"queerone"ofthefamily,andthathehadbeensummonedtojudgment——awell—foundedimpression,forthatwasexactlywhattheyunderstood。
"Sitdown,"saidSheridan。
Itisfrequentlyanadvantagefordeans,school—masters,andworriedfatherstoplacedelinquentsinthesitting—posture。Bibbssat。
Sheridan,standing,gazedenigmaticallyuponhissonforaperiodofsilence,thenwalkedslowlytoawindowandstoodlookingoutofit,hisbighands,looselyhookedtogetherbythethumbs,behindhisback。Theyweresoiled,aswereallotherhandsdown—town,exceptsuchasmightbestilldampfromabasin。
"Well,Bibbs,"hesaidatlast,notalteringhisattitude,"doyouknowwhatI"mgoin"todowithyou？"
Bibbs,leaningbackinhischair,fixedhiseyescontemplativelyupontheceiling。"IheardyoutellJim,"hebegan,inhisslowway。"Yousaidyou"dsendhimtothemachine—shopwithmeifhedidn"tproposetoMissVertrees。
SoIsupposethatmustbeyourplanforme。But——"
"Butwhat？"saidSheridan,irritably,asthesonpaused。
"Isn"ttheresomebodyyou"dletMEproposeto？"
Thatbroughthisfathersharplyroundtofacehim。"Youbeatthedevil！
Bibbs,whatISthematterwithyou？Whycan"tyoubelikeanybodyelse？"
"Liver,maybe,"saidBibbs,gently。
"Boh！EvenoleDocGurneysaysthere"snothin"wrongwithyouorganically。
No。You"readreamer,Bibbs;that"swhat"sthematter,andthat"sALLthematter。Oh,nooneo"theseBIGdreamersthatputthroughthebigdeals。！
No,sir！You"rethekindo"dreamerthatjustsetsoutonthebackfenceandthinksabouthowmuchtroubletheremustbeintheworld！Thatain"tthekindthatbuildsthebridges,Bibbs;it"sthekindthatborrowsfifteencentsfromhiswife"suncle"sbrother—in—lawtogettencent"swortho"plugtobaccoandanickel"swortho"quinine！"
Heputthefinishingtouchonthisetchingwithasnort,andturnedagaintothewindow。
"Lookoutthere！"hebadehisson。"Lookouto"thatwindow！Lookatthelifeandevergydownthere！IshouldthinkANYyoungman"sbloodwouldtingletogetintoitandbepartofit。Lookatthebigthingsyoungmenaredoin"inthistown！"Heswungabout,comingtothemahoganydeskinthemiddleoftheroom。"LookatwhatIwasdoin"atyourage！Lookatwhatyourownbrothersaredoin"！LookatRoscoe！Yes,andlookatJim！ImadeJimpresidento"theSheridanRealtyCompanylastNew—Year"s,withchargeofeveryincho"groundandeverybrickandeveryshingleandsticko"woodweown;andit"sanexampletoanyyoungman——oroleman,either——thewayhetookaholdofit。LastJulywefoundoutwewantedtwomorebigwarehousesatthePumpWorks——wanted"emquick。Contractorssaiditcouldn"tbedone;
saidnineortenmonthsatthesoonest;couldn"tseeitanyotherway。What"dJimdo？Tookthecontracthimself;foundafellowwithanewcementandconcreteprocess;keptmenonthejobnightandday,andstayedonitnightanddayhimself——and,byGeorge！webegintoUSEthemwarehousesnextweek！
Fourmonthsandahalf,andeveryinchfireproof！ItellyouJim"soneo"
thesefellersthatmakemiracleshappen！Now,Idon"tsayeveryyoungmancanbelikeJim,becausethere"smightyfewgothisability,buteveryyoungmancangoinanddohisshare。ThistownisGod"sowncountry,andthere"sopportunityforanybodywithapoundofenergyandanounceo"gumption。I
tellyoutheseyoungbusinessmenIwatchjustdomyheartgood！THEYdon"tsetaroundonthebackfence——no,sir！Theytakeenoughexercisetokeeptheirhealth;andtheygotoabaseballgameonceortwiceaweekinsummmer,maybe,andthey"reraisin"nicefamilies,withsonstotaketheirplacessometimeandcarryonthework——becausethework"sgottogoON！They"reputtin"theirlife—bloodintoit,Itellyou,andthat"swhywe"regettin"
biggereveryminute,andwhyTHEY"REgettin"bigger,andwhyit"sallgoin"
tokeepONgettin"bigger！"
Heslappedthedeskresoundinglywithhisopenpalm,andthen,observingthatBibbsremainedinthesameimpassiveattitude,withhiseyesstillfixedupontheceilinginacontemplationsomewhatplaintive,Sheridanwasimpelledtogroan。"Oh,Lord！"hesaid。"Thisisthewayyoualwayswere。Idon"tbelieveyouunderstoodadarnwordIbeensayin"！Youdon"tLOOKasifyoudid。ByGeorge！it"sdiscouraging！"
"Idon"tunderstandaboutgetting——aboutgettingbigger,"saidBibbs,bringinghisgazedowntolookathisfatherplacatively。"Idon"tseejustwhy——"
"WHAT？"Sheridanleanedforward,restinghishandsuponthedeskandstaringacrossitincredulouslyathisson。
"Idon"tunderstand——exactly——whatyouwantitallbiggerfor？"
"GreatGod！"shoutedSheridan,andstruckthedeskablowwithhisclenchedfist。"Asonofmineasksmethat！Yougooutandaskthepoorestday—laboreryoucanfind！Askhimthatquestion——"
"Ididonce,"Bibbsinterrupted;"whenIwasinthemachine—shop。I——"
"Wha"dhesay？"
"Hesaid,"Oh,hell！""answeredBibbs,mildly。
"Yes,Ireckonhewould！"Sheridanswungawayfromthedesk。"Ireckonhecertainlywould！AndIgotplentysympathywithhimrightnow,myself！"
"It"sthesameanswer,then？"Bibbs"svoicewasserious,almosttremulous。
"Damnation！"Sheridanroared。"DidyoueverhearthewordProsperity,youninny？DidyoueverhearthewordAmbition？DidyoueverhearthewordPROGRESS？"
Heflunghimselfintoachairaftertheoutburst,hisbigchestsurging,histhroattumultuouswithgutteralincoherences。"Nowthen,"hesaid,huskily,whentheanguishhadsomewhatabated,"whatdoyouwanttodo？"
"Sir？"
"WhatdoyouWANTtodo,Isaid。"
Takenbysurprise,Bibbsstammered。"What——whatdo——I——what——"
"IfI"dletyoudoexactlywhatyouhadthewhimfor,whatwouldyoudo？"
Bibbslookedstartled;thentimidityoverwhelmedhim——aprofoundshyness。Hebenthisheadandfixedhisloweredeyesuponthetoeofhisshoe,whichhemovedtoandfroupontherug,likeaculpritcalledtothedeskinschool。
"Whatwouldyoudo？Loaf？"
"No,sir。"Bibbs"svoicewasalmostinaudible,andwhatlittlesounditmadewasunquestionablyaguiltysound。"IsupposeI"d——I"d——"
"Well？"
"IsupposeI"dtryto——towrite。"
"Writewhat？"
"Nothingimportant——justpoemsandessays,perhaps。"
"Thatall？"
"Yes,sir。"
"Isee,"saidhisfather,breathingquicklywiththerestrainthewasputtinguponhimself。"Thatis,youwanttowrite,butyoudon"twanttowriteanythingofanyaccount。"
"Youthink——"
Sheridangotupagain。"Itakemyhatofftothemanthatcanwriteagoodad,"hesaid,emphatically。"Thebestwritin"talentinthiscountryisrightspangintheadbusinessto—day。Youbuyamagazineforgoodwritin"——lookonthebackofit！LetmetellyouIpaymoneyforthatkindo"writin"。Maybeyouthinkit"seasy。Justtryit！I"vetriedit,andI
can"tdoit。Itellyouanad"sgottobewrittensoitmakespeopledothehardestthinginthisworldtoGET"emtodo:it"sgottomake"emgiveuptheirMONEY！Youtalkabout"poemsandessays。"Itellyouwhenitcomestotheactualskillo"puttin"wordstogethersoastomakethingsHAPPEN,R。T。
Bloss,righthereinthiscity,knowsmoreinaminutethanGeorgeWaldoEmersoneverknewinhiswholelife！"
"You——youmaybe——"Bibbssaid,indistinctly,thelastwordsmotheredinacough。
"OfCOURSEI"mright！Andifitain"tjustlikeyoutowanttotakeupwiththemostout—o"—datekindo"writin"thereis！"Poemsandessays"！MyLord,Bibbs,that"sWOMEN"Swork！Youcan"tpickupanewspaperwithouthavin"toseewhereMrs。Rumskididlereadapaperon"JaneEyre,"or"EastLynne,"attheGod—Knows—WhatClub。And"poetry"！Why,lookatEdith！Iexpectthatpoemo"herswouldsetaprettyhigh—watermarkforyou,youngman,andit"stheonlyoneshe"severmanagedtowriteinherwholeLIFE！WhenIwantedhertogoonandwritesomemoreshesaidittooktoomuchtime。Saidittookmonthsandmonths。AndEdith"sasmartgirl;she"sgotmoreenergyinherlittlefingerthanyouevergivemeachancetoseeinyourwholebody,Bibbs。Nowlookatthefacts:sayshecouldturnoutfourorfivepoemsayearandyoucouldturnoutmaybetwo。Thatmedalshegotwasworthaboutfifteendollars,sothere"syourincome——thirtydollarsayear！That"safinesuccesstomakeofyourlife！I"mnotsayin"awordagainstpoetry。I
wouldn"ttaketenthousanddollarsrightnowforthatpoemofEdith"s;andpoetry"sallrightenoughinitsplace——butyouleaveittothegirls。A
man"sgottodoaman"sworkinthisworld！"
Heseatedhimselfinachairathisson"ssideand,leaningover,tappedBibbsconfidentiallyontheknee。"Thiscity"sgotthegreatestfutureinAmerica,andifmysonsbehaverightbymeandbythemselvesthey"regoin"tohaveamightyfairshareofit——amightyfairshare。Ilovethistown。It"sGod"sownfootstool,andit"smademoneyformeeverydayrightalong,I
don"tknowhowmanyyears。IloveitlikeIdomyownbusiness,andI"dfightforitasquickasI"dfightformyownfamily。It"sabeautifultown。
Lookatourwholesaledistrict;lookatanydistrictyouwantto;lookattheparksystemwe"reputtin"through,andtheboulevardsandthepublicstatuary。Andshegrows。God！howshegrows！"Hehadbecomeintenselygrave;hespokewithsolemnity。"Now,Bibbs,Ican"ttakeanyofit——noranygoldorsilvernorbuildingsnorbonds——awaywithmeinmyshroudwhenI
havetogo。ButIwanttoleavemyshareinittomyboys。I"veworkedforit;I"vebeenabuilderandamaker;andtwobladesofgrasshavegrownwhereonegrewbefore,wheneverIlaidmyhandonthegroundandwilled"emtogrow。I"vebuiltbig,andIwantthebuildin"togoon。AndwhenmylasthourcomesIwanttoknowthatmyboysarereadytotakecharge;thatthey"refittotakechargeandgoONwithit。Bibbs,whenthathourcomesIwanttoknowthatmyboysarebigmen,readyandfittoholdofbigthings。Bibbs,whenI"mupaboveIwanttoknowthatthebigshareI"vemademine,herebelow,isgrowin"biggerandbiggerinthechargeofmyboys。"
Heleanedback,deeplymoved。"There！"hesaid,huskily。"I"veneverspokenmorewhatwasinmyheartinmylife。IdoitbecauseIwantyoutounderstand——andnotthinkmeameanfather。IneverhadtotalkthatwaytoJimandRoscoe。Theyunderstoodwithoutanytalk,Bibbs。"
"Isee,"saidBibbs。"AtleastIthinkIdo。But——"
"Waitaminute！"Sheridanraisedhishand。"Ifyouseetheleastbitintheworld,thenyouunderstandhowitfeelstometohavemysonsethereandtalkabout"poemsandessays"andsuch—likefooleries。Andyoumustunderstand,too,whatitmeanttostartoneo"myboysandhavehimcomebackonmethewayyoudid,andhavetobesenttoasanitariumbecausehecouldn"tstandwork。Now,let"sgetrightdowntoit,Bibbs。I"vehadawholeloto"talkwitholeDocGurneyaboutyou,onetimeanother,andI
reckonIunderstandyourcasejustaboutaswellashedoes,anyway！Nowhere,I"llbefrankwithyou。IstartedyouinharderthanwhatIdidtheotherboys,andthatwasforyourowngood,becauseIsawyouneededtobeshookupmore"ntheydid。Youwerealwayskindofmoodyandmopish——andyouneededworkthat"dkeepyouonthejump。Now,whydiditmakeyousickinsteadofbraceyouupandmakeamanofyouthewayitoughtofdone？I
pinnedoleGurneydowntoit。Isays,"Lookhere,ain"titreallybecausehejustplainhatedit？""Yes,"hesays,"that"sit。Ifhe"denjoyedit,itwouldn"t"a"hurthim。Heloathesit,andthataffectshisnervoussystemThemorehetriesit,themorehehatesit;andthemorehehatesit,themoreinjuryitdoeshim。"Thatain"tquitehiswords,butit"swhathemeant。Andthat"saboutthewayitis。"
"Yes,"saidBibbs,"that"saboutthewayitis。"
"Well,then,Ireckonit"suptomenotonlytomakeyoudoit,buttomakeyoulikeit！"
Bibbsshivered。Andheturneduponhisfatheralookthatwasalmostghostly。"Ican"t,"hesaid,inalowvoice。"Ican"t。"
"Can"tgobacktotheshop？"
"No。Can"tlikeit。Ican"t。"
Sheridanjumpedup,hispatiencegone。Tohisownview,hehadreasonedexhaustively,hadexplainedfullyandhadpleadedmorethanafathershould,onlytobemetintheendwiththeunreasoningandmysteriousstubbornnesswhichhadbeenBibbs"sbafflingcharacteristicfromchildhood。"ByGeorge,youwill！"hecried。"You"llgobackthereandyou"lllikeit！Gurneysaysitwon"thurtyouifyoulikeit,andhesaysit"llkillyouifyougobackandhateit;soitlooksasifitwasaboutuptoyounottohateit。Well,Gurney"safool！Hatin"workdoesn"tkillanybody;andthisisn"tgoin"tokillyou,whetheryouhateitornot。I"venevermadeamistakeinaseriousmatterinmylife,anditwasn"tamistakemysendin"youthereinthefirstplace。AndI"mgoin"toproveit——I"mgoin"tosendyoubackthereandvindicatemyjudgment。Gurneysaysit"sall"mentalattitude。"Well,you"regoin"tolearntherightone！Hesaysinacouplemoremonthsthisfoolthingthat"sbeenthematterwithyou"llbedisappearedcompletelyandyou"llbebackinasgoodorbetterconditionthanyouwerebeforeyoueverwentintotheshop。Andrighttheniswhenyoubeginover——rightinthatsameshop！Nobodycancallmeahardmanorameanfather。IdothebestI
canformychuldern,andItakefullresponsibilityforbringin"mysonsuptobemen。Now,sofar,I"vefailedwithyou。ButI"mnotgoin"tokeepON
failin"。InevertackledajobYETIdidn"tputthrough,andI"mnotgoin"
tobeginwithmyownson。I"mgoin"tomakeaMANofyou。ByGod！Iam！"
Bibbsroseandwentslowlytothedoor,whereheturned。"Yousayyougivemeacoupleofmonths？"hesaid。
Sheridanpushedabell—buttononhisdesk。"Gurneysaidtwomonthsmorewouldputyoubackwhereyouwere。Yougohomeandbegintogetyourselfintheright"mentalattitude"beforethosetwomonthsareup！Good—by！"
"Good—by,sir,"saidBibbs,meekly。