第7章
TheyhadarrivedatthePumpWorks;andforanhourMr。Favrewaspersonallyconductedandpersonallyinstructedbythefounderandpresident,thebuzzingqueenbeeofthosebuzzinghives。
"NowI"lltakeyouforaspininthecountry,"saidSheridan,whenatlasttheycameouttothecaragain。"We"lltakeabreezer。"But,withhisfootonthestep,hepausedtohailaneatyoungmanwhocameoutoftheofficesmilingagreeting。"Hello,youngfellow！"Sheridansaid,heartily。"Onthejob,areyou,Jimmie？Ha！Theydon"tcatchyouOFFofitveryoften,I
guess,thoughIdohearyougoautomobile—ridin"inthecountrysometimeswithamightyfine—lookin"girlsettin"upbesideyou！"Heroaredwithlaughter,clappinghissonupontheshoulder。"That"sallrightwithme——ifitiswithHER！So,Jimmie？Well,whenwegoin"tomoveintoyournewwarehouses？Monday？"
"Sunday,ifyouwantto,"saidJim。
"No！"criedhisfather,delighted。"Don"ttellmeyou"regoin"tokeepyourwordaboutdates！That"snowaytodocontractin"！Neverheardofacontractoryetdidn"twantmoretime。"
"They"llbeallreadyforyouontheminute,"saidJim。"I"mgoingoverbothof"emnow,withLinksandSherman,fromfoundationtoroof。Iguessthey"llpassinspection,too！"
"Well,then,whenyougetthroughwiththat,"saidhisfather,"yougoandtakeyourgirloutridin"。ByGeorge！you"veearnedit！YoutellheryoustandhighwithME！"Hesteppedintothecar,wavingawaggishfarewell,andwhenthewheelswereinmotionagain,heturneduponhiscompanionabroadfaceliterallyshiningwithpride。"That"smyboyJimmie！"hesaid。
"Fineyoungman,yes,"saidHerrFavre。
"Igottwoo"thefinestboys,"saidSheridan,"Igottwoo"thefinestboysGodevermade,andthat"safact,Mr。Farver！Jim"stheoldest,andItellyoutheygottogetupthedaybeforeiftheyexpecttocatchHIMinbed！Myotherboy,Roscoe,he"salwaystothegood,too,butJim"sawizard。Yousawthemtwonew—processwarehouses,justaboutfinished？Well,JIMbuilt"em。
I"lltellyouaboutthat,Mr。Farver。"Andherecitedthishistory,describingthenewprocessatlength;infact,hehadsuchprideinJim"sachievementthathetoldHerrFavreallaboutitmorethanonce。
"Fineyoungman,yes,"repeatedthegoodMunchner,three—quartersofanhourlater。Theyweremanymilesoutintheopencountrybythistime。
"Heisthat！"saidSheridan,adding,asifconfidentially:"Igotafinefamily,Mr。Farver——finechuldern。Igotadaughternow;youtakeherandputheranywhereyouplease,andshe"llshineupwithANYof"em。There"scultureandrefinementandsocietyinthistownbythecar—load,andherelatelyshe"sbeengettin"rightinthethickofit——herandmydaughter—in—law,both。Igotamightyfinedaughter—in—law,Mr。Farver。I"mgoin"togetyouupforamealwithusbeforeyouleavetown,andyou"llsee——and,well,sir,fromallIhearthetwoof"embeenholdin"theirownwiththebest。Myself,Iandthewifeneverhadtimeformucho"thatkindo"doin"s,butit"sallrightandgoodforthechuldern;andmydaughtershe"salwayskindoftakentoit。I"llreadyouapoemshewrotewhenIgetyouupatthehouse。Shewroteitinschoolandtookthefirstprizeforpoetrywithit。Itellyoutheydon"tmake"emanysmarter"nthatgirl,Mr。
Farver。Yes,sir;takeusallround,we"reaprettyhappyfamily;yes,sir。
Roscoehasn"tgotanychuldernyet,andIhaven"teverspoketohimandhiswifeaboutit——it"skindofadelicatematter——butit"sabouttimethewifeandIsawsomegran"—chulderngrowin"uparoundus。Icertainlydohankerforaboutfourorfivelittlecurly—headedrascalstotakeonmyknee。Boys,Ihope,o"course;that"sonlynatural。Jim"sgothiseyeonamightysplendid—lookin"girl;livesrightnextdoortous。Iexpectyouheardmejoshin"himaboutitbackyonder。She"soneoftheoleblue—bloodshere,andIguessitwasamightygoodstock——toraiseHER！She"sonethesegirlsthatstandtightupandlookatyou！Andpretty？She"stheprettiestthingyoueversaw！Goodsize,too;goodhealthandgoodsense。Jim"llbejustrightifhegetsher。ImustsayitticklesMEtothinko"thewaythatboytookaholdo"thatjobbackyonder。Fourmonthsandahalf！Yes,sir——"
Heexpandedthisthemeoncemore;andthushecontinuedtoentertainthestrangerthroughoutthelongdrive。Darknesshadfallenbeforetheyreachedthecityontheirreturn,anditwasafterfivewhenSheridanallowedHerrFavretodescendatthedoorofhishotel,whereboyswereshriekingextraeditionsoftheeveningpaper。
"Now,goodnight,Mr。Farver,"saidSheridan,leaningfromthecartoshakehandswithhisguest。"Don"tforgetI"mgoin"tocomearoundandtakeyouupto——Goonaway,boy！"
Anewsboyhadthrusthimselfalmostbetweenthem,yelling,"Extry！Secon"
Extry。Extry,allaboutthehorrableacciDENT。Extry！"
"Getout！"laughedSheridan。"Whowantstoreadaboutaccidents？Getout！"
Theboymovedawayphilosophically。"Extry！Extry！"heshrilled。"Threemenkilled！Extry！Millionairekilled！Twoothermenkilled！Extry！
Extry！"
"Don"tforget,Mr。Farver。"Sheridancompletedhisinterruptedfarewells。
"I"llcomebytotakeyouuptoourhousefordinner。I"llbehereforyouabouthalf—pastfiveto—morrowafternoon。Hopeyou"njoyedthedrivemuchasIhave。Goodnight——goodnight！"Heleanedback,speakingtothechauffer。
"NowyoucantakemearoundtotheCentralCitybarber—shop,boy。Iwanttogetashave"foreIgouphome。"
"Extry！Extry！"screamedthenewsboys,zig—zaggingamongthecrowdslikebatsinthedusk。"Extry！AllaboutthehorrableacciDENT！Extry！"ItstruckSheridanthatthepaperssentouttoomany"Extras";theyprinted"Extras"forallsortsofpettycrimesandcasualties。Itwasamistake,hedecided,critically。Crying"Wolf！"toooftenwouldn"tsellthegoods;itwasbadbusiness。Thepaperswould"makemoreinthelongrun,"hewassure,iftheypublishedan"Extra"onlywhensomethingofrealimportancehappened。
"Extry！Allaboutthehor"bleAX"nt！Extry！"aboysquawkedunderhisnose,ashedescendedfromthecar。
"Goonaway！"saidSheridan,gruffly,thoughhesmiled。Helikedtoseetheyoungstersworkingsonoisilytogetonintheworld。
Butashecrossedthepavementtothebrilliantglassdoorsofthebarber—shop,asecondnewsboygraspedthearmoftheonewhohadthuscriedhiswares。
"Say,Yallern,"saidthissecond,hoarsewithawe,""n"tchewknowwhothatIS？"
"Who？"
"It"sSHERIDAN！"
"Jeest！"criedthefirst,staringinsanely。
Ataboutthesamehour,fourtimesaweek——Monday,Wednesday,Friday,andSaturday——Sheridanstoppedatthisshoptobeshavedbytheheadbarber。Thebarberswerenegroes,hewastheirgreatman,anditwastheirhabittogivehima"reception,"hisentrancebeingalwaysthesignalforaflurryofjocularhospitality,followedbygeneralexcessesofbrisknessandgaiety。
Butitwasnotsothisevening。
Theshopwascrowded。Copiesofthe"Extra"werebeingreadbymenwaiting,andbymeninthelatterstagesoftreatment。"Extras"layuponvacantseatsandshowedfromthepocketsofhangingcoats。
Therewasaloudchatterbetweenthepractitionersandtheirrecumbentpatients,avocalcharivariwhichstoppedabruptlyasSheridanopenedthedoor。Hisnameseemedtofizzintheairlikethelastsputteringofafirework;thebarbersstoppedshavingandclipping;latheredmenturnedtheirprostrateheadstostare,andtherewasamomentofamazingsilenceintheshop。
Theheadbarber,nearestthedoor,stoodlikeabarberinatableau。Hislefthandheldstretchedbetweenthumbandforefingeranelasticsectionofhishelplesscustomer"scheek,whilehisrighthandhungpoisedaboveit,therazormotionless。Andthen,rousedfromtrancebythedoor"sclosing,heacceptedthefactofSheridan"spresence。Thebarberrememberedthattherearenocircumstancesinlife——orjustafterit——underwhichamandoesnotneedtobeshaved。
Hesteppedforward,profoundlygraave。"Ibethroughwiththismaninthechaironeminute,Mist"Sheridan,"hesaid,inahushedtone。"Yessuh。"Andofasolemnnegroyouthwhostoodby,gazingstupidly,"Yougoin"RESIGN？"hedemandedinafierceundertone。"Yougoin"takeMist"Sheridan"scoat？"Hesentanangrylookroundtheshop,andthebarbers,takinghismeaning,avertedtheireyesandfelltowork,themurmurofsubduedconversationbuzzingfromchairtochair。
"YousitdownONEminute,Mist"Sheridan,"saidtheheadbarber,gently。"I
fixnicechairfo"youtowaitin。"
"Nevermind,"saidSheridan。"Goongetthroughwithyourman。"
"Yessuh。"Andhewentquicklybacktohischairontiptoe,followedbySheridan"spuzzledgaze。
Somethinghadgonewrongintheshop,evidently。Sheridandidnotknowwhattomakeofit。Ordinarilyhewouldhaveshoutedahilariousdemandforthemeaningofthemystery,butaninexplicablesilencehadbeenimposeduponhimbythehushthatfelluponhisentranceandbytheoddlookeverymanintheshophadbentuponhim。
Vaguelydisquieted,hewalkedtooneoftheseatsintherearoftheshop,andlookedupanddownthetwolinesofbarbers,catchingquicklyshifted,furtiveglanceshereandthere。Hemadethisbriefsurveyafterwonderingifoneofthebarbershaddiedsuddenly,thatday,orthenightbefore;buttherewasnovacancyineitherline。
Theseatnexttohiswasunoccupied,butsomeonehadleftacopyofthe"Extra"there,and,frowning,hepickeditupandglancedatit。Thefirstoftheswollendisplaylineshadlittlemeaningtohim:FatallyFaulty。
NewProcessRoofCollapsesHurlingCapitalisttoDeathwithInventor。SevenEscapeWhenCrashComes。DeathClaims——
Thusfarhadhereadwhenathinhandfelluponthepaper,coveringtheprintfromhiseyes;and,lookingup,hesawBibbsstandingbeforehim,paleandgentle,immeasurablycompassionate。
"I"vecomeforyou,father,"saidBibbs。"Here"stheboywithyourcoatandhat。Putthemonandcomehome。"
AndeventhenSheridandidnotunderstand。Sosecurewasheinthestrengthandbignessofeverythingthatwashis,hedidnotknowwhatcalamityhadbefallenhim。Buthewasfrightened。
Withoutaword,hefollowedBibbsheavilyoutthroughtthestillshop,butastheyreachedthepavementhestoppedshortand,graspinghisson"ssleevewithshakingfingers,swunghimroundsothattheystoodfacetoface。
"What——what——"Hismouthcouldnotdohimtheserviceheaskedofit,hewassofrightened。
"Extry！"screamedanewsboystraightinhisface。"YoungNorthSidemillionaireinsuntlykilled！Extry！"
"Not——JIM！"saidSheridan。
Bibbscaughthisfather"shandinhisown。
"AndYOUcometotellmethat？"
Sheridandidnotknowwhathesaid。Butinthosefirstwordsandinthefirstanguishofthebig,strickenfaceBibbsunderstoodtheunutteredcryofaccusation:
"Whywasn"tityou？"
Standingintheblackgroupundergaunttreesatthecemetery,threedayslater,Bibbsunwillinglyletanold,oldthoughtbecomedefiniteinhismind:
thesicklybrotherhadburiedthestrongbrother,andBibbswonderedhowmanymilliontimesthathadhappenedsincemenfirstmadeawordtonamethesonsofonemother。Almostliterallyhehadburiedhisstrongbrother,forSheridanhadgonetopieceswhenhesawhisdeadson。Hehadnothingtohelphimmeettheshock,neitherdefinitereligionnor"philosophy"definiteorindefinite。Hecouldonlybeathisforeheadandbeg,overandover,tobekilledwithanax,whilehiswifewashelplessexcepttoentreathimnotto"takeon,"herselfaddingacontinuouslamentation。Edith,weeping,madetrucewithSibylandsawtoitthatthemourninggarmentswerebeyondcriticism。Roscoewasdazed,andheshirked,justifyinghimselfcuriouslybesayinghe"neverhadanyexperienceinsuchmatters。"SoitwasBibbs,theshyoutsider,whobecame,duringthisdreadfullittletime,themasterofthehouse;forasstrangeathingasthat,sometimes,maybetheresultofadeath。Hemettherelativesfromoutoftownatthestation;hesetthetimeforthefuneralandthetimeformeals;heselectedtheflowersandheselectedJim"scoffin;hedidallthegrimthingsandalltheotherthings。
JimhadbelongedtoanorderofKnights,wholengthenedtheriteswithapicturesqueceremonyoftheirown,andatfirstBibbswishedtoavoidthis,butuponreflectionheofferednoobjection——hedivinedthattheKnightsandtheirservicewouldbenotpreciselyaconsolation,butasatisfactiontohisfather。SotheKnightsledtheprocession,withtheirbandplayingadirgepartofthelongwaytothecemetery;andthenturnedback,afterformingintwolines,plumedhatssympatheticallyinhand,toletthehearseandthecarriagespassbetween。
"Mightyfine—lookin"men,"saidSheridan,brokenly。"Theyall——alllikedhim。Hewas——"Hisbreathcaughtinasobandchokedhim。"Hewas——aGrandSupremeHerald。"
Bibbshaddivinedaright。
"Dusttodust,"saidtheminister,underthegaunttrees;andatthatSheridanshookconvulsivelyfromheadtofoot。Alloftheblackgroupshivered,execptBibbs,whenitcameto"Dusttodust。"Bibbsstoodpassive,forhewastheonlyoneofthemwhohadknownthatthoughtasafamiliarneighbor;hehadbeencloseupondusthimselfforalong,longtime,andevennowhecouldprophesynoprotractedseparationbetweenhimselfanddust。Themachine—shophadbroughthimveryclose,andifhehadtogobackitwouldprobablybringhimcloserstill;soclose——asDr。Gurneypredicted——thatnoonewouldbeabletotellthedifferencebetweendustandhimself。AndSheridan,ifBibbsreadhimtruly,wouldbeallthemoredeterminedto"makeaman"ofhim,nowthattherewasamanlessinthefamily。ToBibbs"sknowledge,nooneandnothinghadeverpreventedhisfatherfromcarryingthroughhisplans,oncehehaddetermineduponthem;andSheridanwasincapableofbelievingthatanyplanofhiswouldnotworkoutaccordingtohiscalculations。Hisnatureunfittedhimtoacceptfailure。Hehadthegiftofterriblepersistence,andwithunfleckedconfidencethathiswaywastheonlywayhewouldholdtothatwayof"makingaman"ofBibbs,whounderstoodverywell,inhispassiveandimpersonalfashion,thatitwasawaywhichmightmake,notaman,butdustofhim。Buthehadnoshudderforthethought。
Hehadnoshudderforthatthoughtorforanyotherthought。ThetruthaboutBibbswasinthepoemwhichEdithhadadopted:hehadsothoroughlyformedtheover—sensitivehabitofhidinghisfeelingsthatnodoubthehadforgotten——bythistime——wherehehadputsomeofthem,especiallythosewhichconcernedhimself。Buthehadnothiddenhisfeelingsabouthisfatherwheretheycouldnotbefound。Hewasstrangetohisfather,buthisfatherwasnotstrangetohim。HeknewthatSheridan"splanswereconceivedinthestubbornbeliefthattheywouldbringaboutagoodthingforBibbshimself;
andwhatevertheresultwastobe,thesonhadnobitterness。Farotherwise,forashelookedatthebig,woefulfigure,shakingandtortured,analmostunbearablepitylaidhandsuponBibbs"sthroat。Roscoestoodblinking,hislipquivering;Edithweptaudibly;Mrs。Sheridanleanedinhalfcollapseagainstherhusband;butBibbsknewthathisfatherwastheonewhocared。
Itwasover。Meninoverallssteppedforwardwiththeirshovels,andBibbsnoddedquicklytoRoscoe,makingaslightgesturetowardthelineofwaitingcarriages。Roscoeunderstood——Bibbswouldstayandseethegravefilled;therestweretogo。Thegroupsbegantomoveawayovertheturf;wheelscreakedonthegraveleddrive;andonebyonethecarriagesfilledanddeparted,thehorsessettingoffatawalk。Bibbsgazedsteadfastlyattheworkmen;heknewthathisfatherkeptlookingbackashewenttowardthecarriage,andthatwasathinghedidnotwanttosee。Butafteralittlewhiletherewerenosoundsofwheelsorhoofsonthegravel,andBibbs,glancingup,sawthateveryonehadgone。Acoupehadbeenleftforhim,thedriverdozingpatiently。
Theworkmenplacedtheflowersandwreathsuponthemoundandaboutit,andBibbsalteredthepositionofoneortwoofthese,thenstoodlookingthoughtfullyatthegrotesquebrilliancyofthatfestal—seeminghillockbeneaththedarkeningNovembersky。"It"stoobad！"hehalfwhispered,hislipsformingthewords——andhismeaningwasthatitwastoobadthatthestrongbrotherhadbeentheonetogo。ForthiswashislastthoughtbeforehewalkedtothecoupeandsawMaryVertreesstanding,allalone,ontheothersideofthedrive。
Shehadjustemergedfromagroveofleaflesstreesthatgrewonaslopewherethetombsweremany;andbehindherroseamultitudeofthebarbaricandclassicshapeswesostrangelystrewaboutourgraveyards:urn—crownedcolumnsandstone—drapedobelisks,shop—carvedangelsandshop—carvedchildrenpoisingonpillarsandshafts,alllifting——inunthoughtpathos——theirblindstoninesstowardthesky。Againstsuchabackground,Bibbswasnotincongruous,withhisfigure,inblack,solongandslender,andhisfacesolongandthinandwhite;norwastheundertaker"scoupeoutofkeeping,withtheshabbydriverdozingontheboxandtheshaggyhorsesstandingpatientlyinattitudeswithouthopeandwithoutregret。ButforMaryVertrees,herewasagrotesquesetting——shewasavivid,livingcreatureofabeautifulworld。Andagraveyardisnottheplaceforpeopletolookcharming。
Shealsolookedstartledandconfused,butnotmorestartledandconfusedthanBibbs。In"Edith"s"poemhehaddeclaredhisintentionofhidinghisheart"amongthestars";andinhisboyhoodonedayhehadsuccessfullyhiddenhisbodyinthecoal—pile。Hehadbeennocomradeofotherboysorofgirls,andhisacquaintancesofarecentperiodwereonlyafewfellow—invalidsandthenursesattheHoodSanitarium。AllhislifeBibbshadkepthimselftohimself——hewasbutashyonlookerintheworld。
Nevertheless,thestartledgazehebentupontheunexpectedladybeforehimhadcausesotherthanhisshynessandherunexpectedness。ForMaryVertreeshadbeenashiningfigureinthelittleworldoflategiventotheviewofthishumbleandelusiveoutsider,andspectatorssometimesfindtheirheartsbeatingfasterthanthoseoftheactorsinthespectacle。ThuswithBibbsnow。Hestartedandstared;heliftedhishatwithincredibleawkwardness,hisfingersfumblingathisforeheadbeforetheyfoundthebrim。
"Mr。Sheridan,"saidMary,"I"mafraidyou"llhavetotakemehomewithyou。
I——"Shestopped,notlackingamomentaryawkwardnessofherown。
"Why——why——yes,"Bibbsstammered。"I"ll——I"llbede——Won"tyougetin？"
Inthatmannerandinthatplacetheyexchangedtheirfirstwords。ThenMarywithourmoreadogotintothecoupe,andBibbsfollowed,closingthedoor。
"You"reverykind,"shesaid,somewhatbreathlessly。"Ishouldhavehadtowalk,andit"sbeginningtogetdark。It"sthreemiles,Ithink。"
"Yes,"saidBibbs。"It——itisbeginningtogetdark。I——Inoticedthat。"
"Ioughttotellyou——I——"Marybegan,confusedly。Shebitherlip,satsilentamoment,thenspokewithcomposure。"Itmustseemodd,my——"
"No,no！"Bibbsprotested,earnestly。"Notinthe——intheleast。"
"Itdoes,though,"saidMary。"Ihadnotintendedtocometothecemetery,Mr。Sheridan,butoneofthemeninchargeatthehousecameandwhisperedtomethat"thefamilywishedmeto"——Ithinkyoursistersenthim。SoIcame。
ButwhenwereachedhereI——oh,IfeltthatperhapsI——"
Bibbsnoddedgravely。"Yes,yes,"hemurmured。
"Igotoutontheoppositesideofthecarriage,"shecontinued。"Imeanoppositefrom——fromwhereallofyouwere。AndIwanderedoffoverintheotherdirection;andIdidn"trealizehowlittletime——ittakes。FromwhereIwasIcouldn"tseethecarriagesleaving——atleastIdidn"tnoticethem。
SowhenIgotback,justnow,youweretheonlyonehere。Ididn"tknowtheotherpeopleinthecarriageIcamein,andofcoursetheydidn"tthinktowaitforme。That"swhy——"
"Yes,"saidBibbs,"I——"Andthatseemedallhehadtosayjustthen。
Marylookedoutthroughthedustywindow。"Ithinkwe"dbetterbegoinghome,ifyouplease,"shesaid。
"Yes,"Bibbsagreed,notmoving。"Itwillbedarkbeforewegetthere。"
Shegavehimaquicklittleglance。"Ithinkyoumustbeverytired,Mr。
Sheridan;andIknowyouhavereasontobe,"shesaid,gently。"Ifyou"llletme,I"ll——"Andwithoutexplainingherpurposesheopenedthedooronhersideofthecoupeandleanedout。
Bibbsstartedinblankperplexity,notknowingwhatshemeanttodo。
"Driver！"shecalled,inherclearvoice,loudly。"Driver！We"dliketostart,please！Driver！StopatthehousejustnorthofMr。Sheridan"s,please。"Thewheelsbegantomove,andsheleanedbackbesideBibbsoncemore。"Inoticedthathewasasleepwhenwegotin,"shesaid。"Isupposetheyhaveagreatdealofnightwork。"
Bibbsdrewalongbreathandwaitedtillhecouldcommandhisvoice。"I"veneverbeenabletoapologizequickly,"hesaid,withhisaccustomedslowness,"becauseifItrytoIstammer。MybrotherRoscoewhippedmeonce,whenwewereboys,forsteppingonhisslate—pencil。Ittookmesolongtotellhimitwasanaccident,hefinishedbeforeIdid。"
MaryVertreeshadneverheardanythingquitelikethedrawling,gentlevoiceortheoddimplicationthathisnotnoticingthemotionlessstateoftheirvehiclewasan"accident。"Shehadformedacasualimpressionofhim,notwithoutsympathy,butatonceshediscoveredthathewasunlikeanyofhercursoryandvagueimaginingsofhim。Andsuddenlyshesawapicturehehadnotintendedtopaintforsympathy:asturdyboyhammeringasmaller,sicklyboy,andthesicklyboyunresentful。Notthatpicturealone;othersflashedbeforeher。InstantaneouslyshehadaglimpseofBibbs"slifeandintohislife。Shehadaqueerfeeling,newtoherexperience,ofknowinghiminstantly。Itstartledheralitttle;andthen,withsomesurprise,sherealizedthatshewasgladhehadsatsolong,aftergettingintothecoupe,beforehenoticedthatithadnotstarted。Whatshedidnotrealize,however,wasthatshehadmadenoresponsetohisapology,andtheypassedoutofthecemeterygates,neitherhavingspokenagain。
Bibbswassocontentwiththesilencehedidnotknowthatitwassilence。
Thedusk,gatheringintheirsmallinclosure,wasfilledwitharichpresenceforhim;andpresentlyitwassodarkthatneitherofthetwocouldseetheother,nordideventheirgarmentstouch。Butneitherhadanysenseofbeingalone。Thewheelscreakedsteadily,rumblingpresentlyonpavedstreeets;
therewerethesounds,asfromadistance,oftheplod—plodofthehorses;
andsometimesthedriverbecameaudible,coughingasthmatically,orsaying,"You,JOE！"withaspiritlessflapofthewhipuponanunresponsiveback。
Oblongsoflightfromthelampsatstreet—cornerscameswimmingintotheinteriorofthecoupeand,thinningrapidlytolances,passedutterly,leavinggreaterdarkness。AndyetneitherofthesetwolastattendantsatJimSheridan"sfuneralbrokethesilence。
ItwasMarywhopreceivedthestrangenessofit——toolate。Abruptlysherealizedthatforanindefiniteintervalshehadbeenthinkingofhercompanionandnottalkingtohim。"Mr。Sheridan,"shebegan,notknowingwhatshewasgoingtosay,butimpelledtosayanything,assherealizedthequeernessofthisdrive——"Mr。Sheridan,I——"
Thecoupestopped。"You,JOE！"saidthedriver,reproachfully,andclimbeddownandopenedthedoor。
"What"sthetrouble？"Bibbsinquired。
"LadysaidstopatthefirsthousenorthofMr。Sheridan"s,sir。"
Marywasincredulous;shefeltthatitcouldn"tbetrueandthatitmustn"tbetruethattheyhaddrivenallthewaywithoutspeaking。
"What？"Bibbsdemanded。
"We"rethere,sir,"saidthedriver,sympathetically。"NexthousenorthofMr。Sheridan"s。"
Bibbsdescendedtothecurb。"Why,yes,"hesaid。"Yes,youseemtoberight。"AndwhilehestoodstaringatthedimlyilluminatedfrontwindowsofMr。Vertrees"shouseMarygotout,unassisted。
"Letmehelpyou,"saidBibbs,steppingtowardhermechanically;andshewasseveralfeetfromthecoupewhenhespoke。
"Ohno,"shemurmured。"IthinkIcan——"Shemeantthatshecouldgetoutofthecoupewithouthelp,but,perceivingthatshehadalreadyaccomplishedthisfeat,shedecidednottocompletethesentence。
"You,JOE！"criedthedriver,angrily,climbingtohisbox。Andherumbledawayathisteam"sbestpace——asnail"s。
"Thankyouforbringingmehome,Mr。Sheridan,"saidMary,stiffly。Shedidnotofferherhand。"Goodnight。"
"Goodnight,"Bibbssaidinresponse,and,turningwithher,walkedbesidehertothedoor。Marymadethatashortwalk;shealmostran。Realizationofthequeernessoftheirdrivewasgrowinguponher,beginningtoshockher;
shesteppedasidefromthelightthatfellthroughtheglasspanelsofthedoorandwithheldherhandasittouchedtheold—fashionedbell—handle。
"I"mquitesafe,thankyou,"shesaid,withalittleemphasis。"Goodnight。"
"Goodnight,"saidBibbs,andwentobediently。Whenhereachedthestreethelookedback,butshehadvanishedwithinthehouse。
Movingslowlyaway,hecaromedagainsttwopeoplewhowereturningoutfromthepavementtocrossthestreet。TheywereRoscoeandhiswife。
"Whereareyoureyes,Bibbs？"demandedRoscoe。"Sleep—walking,asusual？"
ButSibyltookthewandererbythearm。"Comeovertoourhouseforalittlewhile,Bibbs,"sheurged。"Iwantto——"
"No,I"dbetter——"
"Yes。Iwantyouto。Yourfather"sgonetobed,andthey"reallquietoverthere——allwornout。Justcomeforaminute。"
Heyielded,andwhentheywereinthehousesherepeatedherselfwithrealfeeling:""Allwornout！"Well,ifanybodyis,YOUare,Bibbs！AndIdon"twonder;you"vedoneeverybitoftheworkofit。Youmustn"tgetdownsickagain。I"mgoingtomakeyoutakealittlebrandy。"
Heletherhaveherownway,followingherintothedining—room,andwasgratefulwhenshebroughthimatinyglassfilledfromoneofthedecantersonthesideboard。Roscoegloomilypouredforhimselfamuchheavierlibationinalargerglass;andthetwomensat,whileSibylleanedagainstthesideboard,reviewingtheepisodesofthedayandrecallingthenamesofthedonorsofflowersandwreaths。ShepressedBibbstoremainlongerwhenherosetogo,andthen,ashepersisted,shewentwithhimtothefrontdoor。
Heopenedit,andshesaid:
"Bibbs,youwerecomingoutoftheVertreeses"housewhenwemetyou。Howdidyouhappentobethere？"
"Ihadonlybeentothedoor,"hesaid。"Goodnight,Sibyl。"
"Wait,"sheinsisted。"Wesawyoucomingout。"
"Iwasn"t,"heexplained,movingtodepart。"I"djustbroughtMissVertreeshome。"
"What？"shecried。