第8章
"Yes,"hesaid,andsteppedoutupontheporch,"thatwasit。Goodnight,Sibyl。"
"Wait！"shesaid,followinghimacrossthethreshold。"Howdidthathappen？
Ithoughtyouweregoingtowaitwhilethosemenfilledthe——the——"Shepaused,butmovednearerhiminsistently。
"Ididwait。MissVertreeswasthere,"hesaid,reluctantly。"Shehadwalkedawayforawhileanddidn"tnoticethatthecarriageswereleaving。
Whenshecamebackthecoupewaitingformewastheonlyoneleft。"
Sheregardedhimwithdilatingeyes。Shespokewithaslowbreathlessness。
"AndshedrovehomefromJim"sfuneral——withyou！"
Withoutwarningsheburstintolaughter,clappedherhandineffectuallyoverhermouth,andranbackuproariouslyintothehouse,hurlingthedoorshutbehindher。
Bibbswenthomepondering。HedidnotunderstandwhySibylhadlaughed。Thelaughteritselfhadbeenspontaneousandbeyondsuspicion,butitseemedtohimthatshehadonlyaffectedtoefforttosuppressitandthatshewishedittobesignificant。Significantofwhat？Andwhyhadshewishedtoimpressuponhimthefactofheroverwhelmingamusement？Hefoundnoanswer,butshehadsucceededindisturbinghim,andhewishedthathehadnotencounteredher。
Athome,uncles,aunts,andcousinsfromoutoftownwerewanderingaboutthehouse,severalmournfullyadmiringthe"BayofNaples,"andothersoccupiedwiththeMoorandtheplumbing,whiletheywaitedfortrains。Edithandhermotherhadretiredtosomeupperfastness,butBibbsinterviewedJacksonandhadthevariousgroupsofrelativessummonedtothedining—roomforfood。
Onegreat—uncle,oldGideonSheridanfromBoonville,couldnotbefound,andBibbswentinsearchofhim。Heransackedthehouse,discoveringthemissingantiqueatlastbyaccident。Passinghisfather"scloseddoorontiptoe,Bibbsheardamurmuroussound,andpausedtolisten。Thesoundprovedtobeaquaveringandricketyvoice,monotonouslybleating:
"TheLo—ordgivuthandtheLo—ordtakuthaway！Wegottorememberthat;wegottorememberthat！I"ma—gittin"along,James;I"ma—gittin"along,andI"veseena—manyof"emgo——twodaughtersandasontheLordgiveme,andHehastakenallaway。FortheLo—ordgivuthandtheLo—ordtakuthaway！
RememberthewordsofBildadtheShuhite,James。BildadtheShuhitesays,"Heshallhaveneithersonnornephewamonghispeople,noranyremaininginhisdwellings。"BildadtheShuhite——"
Bibbsopenedthedoorsoftly。Hisfatherwaslyinguponthebed,inhisunderclothes,facedownward,andUncleGideonsatnearby,swingingbackwardandforwardinarocking—chair,strokinghislongwhitebeardandgazingattheceilingashetalked。Bibbsbeckonedhimurgently,butUncleGideonpaidnoattention。
"BibdadtheShuhitespakeandhissays,"IfthychildrenhavesinnedagainstHimandHehavecastthemaway——"
Therewasamuffledexplosionbeneaththefloor,andthewindowsrattled。
Thefigurelyingfacedownwardonthebeddidnotmove,butUncleGideonleapedfromhischair。"MyGod！"hecried。"What"sthat？"
Therecameasecondexplosion,andUncleGideonranoutintothehall。Bibbswenttotheheadofthegreatstaircase,and,lookingdown,discoveredthesourceofthedistubance。Gideon"sgrandson,aboyoffourteen,hadbroughthiscameratothefuneralandwastaking"flash—lights"oftheMoor。UncleGideon,reassuredbyBibbs"sexplanation,wouldhavereturnedtofinishhisquotationfromBildadtheShuhite,butBibbsdetainedhim,andafteralittleargumentpersuadedhimtodescendtothedining—roomwhitherBibbsfollowed,afterclosingthedoorofhisfather"sroom。
HekepthiseyeonGideonafterdinner,diplomaticallypreventingseveralattemptsonthepartofthatcomfortertoreascendthestairs;anditwasarelieftoBibbswhenGeorgeannouncedthatanautomobilewaswaitingtoconveytheancientmanandhisgrandsontotheirtrain。Theywerethelasttoleave,andwhentheyhadgoneBibbswentsighingtohisownroom。
Hestretchedhimselfwearilyuponthebed,butpresentlyrose,wenttothewindow,andlookedforalongtimeatthedarkenedhousewhereMaryVertreeslived。Thenheopenhistrunk,tooktherefromasmallnote—bookhalffilledwithfragmentaryscribblings,andbegantowrite:
Laughterafterafuneral。Inthisreactionpeoplewilllaughatanythingandatnothing。Thebandplaysadirgeonthewaytothecemetery,butwhenitturnsback,andthemourningcarriagesareoutofhearing,itstrikesup,"DarktownisOutTo—night。"Thatisnatural——buttherearewomenwhoselaughterislikethewhirringofwhips。Whyisitthatcertainkindsoflaughterseemtospoilsomethinghiddenawayfromthelaughers？Iftheydonotknowofit,andhaveneverseenit,howcantheirlaughterhurtit？
Yetitdoes。Beautyisnotoutofplaceamonggrave—stones。Itisnotoutofplaceanywhere。Butawomanwhohasbeenbetrothedtoamanwouldnotlookbeautifulathisfuneral。Awomanmightlookbeautiful,though,atthefuneralofamanwhomshehadknownandliked。Andinthatcase,too,shewouldprobablynotwanttotalkifshedrovehomefromthecemeterywithhisbrother:norwouldshewantthebrothertotalk。Silenceisusuallyeitherstupidortimid。Butforamanwhostammersifhetriestotalkfast,anddrawlssoslowly,whenhedoesn"tstammer,thatnobodyhastimetolistentohim,silenceisadvisable。Nevertheless,toomuchsilenceisopentosuspicion。Itmaybereticence,oritmaybeavacuum。Itmaybedignity,oritmaybefalseteeth。Sometimesanimperceptibleodorwillbecomeperceptibleinasmallinclosure,suchasaclosedcarriage。Theghostofgasolinerisingfromalady"sglovemightbesweetertothemanridingbesideherthanallthescentsofArcadyinspring。Itdependsonthelady——butthereARE！Threemilesmaybethreehundredmiles,oritmaybethreefeet。Whenitisthreefeetyouhavenottimetosayagreatdealbeforeyoureachtheendofit。Still,itmaybethatoneshouldbegintospeak。Noonecouldhelpwishingtostayinaworldthatholdssomeofthepeoplethatareinthisworld。TherearesomesowonderfulyoudonotunderstandhowthedeadCOULDdie。Howcouldtheyletthemselves？Afallingbuildingdoesnotcarewhofallswithit。Itdoesnotchoosewhoshallbeuponitsroofandwhoshallnot。SilenceCANbegolden？Yes。Butperhapsifawomanoftheworldshouldfindherselfbyaccidentsittingbesideamanforthelengthoftimeitmustnecessarilytaketwoslowoldhorsestojogthreemiles,shemightexpectthatmantosaysomethingofsomesort！Evenifshethoughthimafeeblehypochondriac,evenifshehadheardfromothersthathewasadisappointmenttohisownpeople,evenifshehadseenforherselfthathewasauselessandirritatingencumbranceeverywhere,shemightexpecthimatleasttospeak——shemightexpecthimtoopenhismouthandtrytomakesounds,ifheonlybarked。Ifhedidnoteventry,butsateverystepofthewayasdumbasafrozenfish,shemightTHINKhimafrozenfish。Andshemightberight。Shemightberightifshethoughthimaboutaspleasantacompanionas——asBildadtheShuhite！
Bibbsclosedhisnote—book,replacingitinhistrunk。Then,afteraperiodofmelancholycontemplation,heundressed,putonadressing—gownandslippers,andwentsoftlyoutintothehall——tohisfather"sdoor。UponthefloorwasatraywhichBibbshadsentGeorge,earlierintheevening,toplaceuponatableinSheridan"sroom——butthefoodwasuntouched。Bibbsstoodlisteningoutsidethedoorforseveralminutes。Therecamenosoundfromwithin,andhewentbacktohisownroomandtobed。
Inthemorninghewoketoastateofbeinghithertounknowninhisexperience。Sometimesintheprocessofwakingthereisalittlepause——sleephasgone,butcoherentthoughthasnotbegun。Itisacurioushalf—void,aglimpseofaphasia;andalthoughthepersonexperiencingitmaynotknowforthatinstanthisownnameorageorsex,hemaybeacutelyconsciousofdepressionorelation。Itisthemoment,aswesay,beforewe"remember";andforthefirsttimeinBibbs"slifeitcametohimbringingavaguehappiness。Hewoketoasenseofnewriches;hehadthefeelingofaboywakingtoabirthday。Butwhenthenextmomentbroughthimhismemory,hefoundnothingthatcouldexplainhisexhilaration。Onthecontrary,underthecircumstancesitseemedgrotesquelyunwarranted。However,itwasabriefvisitationandwasgonebeforehehadfinisheddressing。Itleftalittletrail,thepleasedrecollectionofitandthepuzzleofit,whichremainedunsolved。And,infact,wakinghappilyinthemorningisnotusuallytheresultofadrivehomefromafuneral。NowonderthesequenceevadedBibbsSheridan！
Hisfatherhadgonewhenhecamedown—stairs。"Wentondownto"soffice,jes"same,"Jacksoninformedhim。"Camesatbreakfas"—table,allby"mself;
eatnothin"。Georgebringnicebreakfas",buthedi"n"eatathing。Yessuh,wentondown—town,jes"sameheyoostado。Yessuh,Ireckonputtymuchev"y—thinggoin"goonsameasityoostado。"
ItstruckBibbsthatJacksonwasright。Thedaypassedasotherdayshadpassed。Mrs。SheridanandEdithwereinblack,andMrs。Sheridancriedalittle,nowandthen,butnootherexternaldifferencewastobeseen。Edithwasquiet,butnotnoticeablydepressed,andatlunchprovedherselfabletoarguewithhermotherupontheproprietyofreceivingcallsintheearlieststagesof"mourning。"Lunchwasasusual——forJimandhisfatherhadalwaysluncheddown—town——andtheafternoonwasasusual。Bibbswentforhisdrive,andhismotherwentwithhim,asshesometimesdidwhentheweatherwaspleasant。Altogether,theusualnessofthingswasratherstartlingtoBibbs。
DuringthedriveMrs。SheridantalkedfragmentarilyofJim"schildhood。"Butyouwouldn"trememberaboutthat,"shesaid,afternarratinganepisode。
"Youweretoolittle。Hewasalwaysagoodboy,justlikethat。Andhe"dsavewhateverpapagavehim,andputitinthebank。Ireckonit"lljustaboutkillyourfathertoputsomebodyinhisplaceaspresidentoftheRealtyCompany,Bibbs。Iknowhecan"tmoveRoscoeover;hetoldmelastweekhe"dalreadyputasmuchonRoscoeasanyonemancouldhandleandnotgocrazy。Oh,it"sapity——"Shestoppedtowipehereyes。"It"sapityyoudidn"trunmorewithJim,Bibbs,andkindo"pickuphisways。Thinkwhatit"dmeanttopapanow！YouneverdidrunwitheitherRoscoeorJimany,evenbeforeyougotsick。Ofcourse,youwereyounger;butitalwaysDID
seemqueer——andyouthreebein"brotherslikethat。Idon"tbelieveIeversawyouandJimsitdowntogetherforagoodtalkinmylife。"
"Mother,I"vebeenawaysolong,"Bibbsreturned,gently。"AndsinceIcamehomeI——"
"Oh,Iain"treproachin"you,Bibbs,"shesaid。"Jimain"tbeenhomemuchofaneveningsinceyougotback——whatwithhisworkandcallin"andgoin"tothetheaterandplaces,andoftennotevenatthehousefordinner。Righttheeveningbeforehegothurthehadhisdinneratsomemiser"blerest"rantdownbythePumpWorks,hewassosetonoverseein"thenightworkandgettin"everythingfinisheduprighttotheminutehetoldpapahewould。I
reckonyoumight"a"putinmoretimewithJimifthere"dbeenmoreopportunity,Bibbs。Iexpectyoufeelalmostasifyouscarcelyreallyknewhimrightwell。"
"IsupposeIreallydidn"t,mother。Hewasbusy,yousee,andIhadn"tmuchtosayaboutthethingsthatinterestedhim,becauseIdon"tknowmuchaboutthem。"
"It"sapity！Oh,it"sapity！"shemoaned。"Andyou"llhavetolearntoknowabout"emNOW,Bibbs！Ihaven"tsaidmuchtoyou,becauseIfeltitwasallbetweenyourfatherandyou,butIhonestlydobelieveitwilljustkillhimifhehastohaveanymoretroubleontopofallthis！Youmustn"tLET
him,Bibbs——youmustn"t！Youdon"tknowhowhe"sgrievedoveryou,andnowhecan"tstandanymore——hejustcan"t！Whateverhesaysforyoutodo,youDOit,Bibbs,youDOit！Iwantyoutopromisemeyouwill。"
"IwouldifIcould,"hesaid,sorrowfully。
"No,no！Whycan"tyou？"shecried,clutchinghisarm。"Hewantsyoutogobacktothemachine—shopand——"
"And——"likeit！"saidBibbs。
"Yes,that"sit——togoinacheerfulspirit。Dr。Gurneysaiditwouldn"thurtyouifyouwentinacheerfulspirit——thedoctorsaidthathimself,Bibbs。Sowhycan"tyoudoit？Can"tyoudothatmuchforyourfather？Yououghttothinkwhathe"sdoneforYOU。Yougotabeautifulhousetolivein;
yougotautomobilestoridein;yougotfurcoatsandwarmclothes;youbeentakencareofallyourlife。Andyoudon"tKNOWhowheworkedforthemoneytogiveallthesethingstoyou！Youdon"tDREAMwhathehadtogothroughandwhatheriskedwhenwewerestartin"outinlife;andyouneverWILL
know！Andnowthisblowhasfallenonhimoutofaclearsky,andyoumakeitouttobeahardshiptodolikehewantsyouto！Andallonearthheasksisforyoutogobacktotheworkinacheerfulspirit,soitwon"thurtyou！
That"sallheasks。Look,Bibbs,we"regettin"backnearhome,butbeforewegetthereIwantyoutopromisemethatyou"lldowhatheasksyouto。
Promiseme！"
Inherearnestnesssheclearedawayherblackveilthatshemightseehimbetter,anditblewoutonthesmokywind。Hereadjusteditforherbeforehespoke。
"I"llgobackinascheerfulaspiritasIcan,mother,"hesaid。
"There！"sheexclaimed,satisfied。"That"sagoodboy！That"sallIwantedyoutosay。"
"Don"tgivemeanycredit,"hesaid,ruefully。"Thereisn"tanythingelseformetodo。"
"Now,don"tbegintalkin"THATway！"
"No,no,"hesoothedher。"We"llhavetobegintomakethespiritacheerfulone。Wemay——"Theywereturningintotheirowndrivewayashespoke,andheglancedattheoldhousenextdoor。MaryVertreeswasvisibleinthetwilight,standinguponthefrontsteps,bareheaded,thedooropenbehindher。Shebowedgravely。
""Wemay"——what？"askedMrs。Sheridan,withaslightimpatience。
"Whatisit,mother？"
"Yousaid,"Wemay,"anddidn"tfinishwhatyouweresayin"。"
"DidI？"saidBibbs,blankly。"Well,whatWEREwesaying？"
"Ofallthequeerboys！"shecried。"Youalwayswere。Always！Youhaven"tforgotwhatyoujustpromisedme,haveyou？"
"No,"heanswered,asthecarstopped。"No,thespiritwillbeascheerfulasthefleshwillletit,mother。Itwon"tdotobehavelike——"
Hisvoicewaslow,andinhermovementtodescendfromthecarshefailedtoherehisfinalwords。
"Behavelikewho,Bibbs？"
"Nothing。"
Butshewasfretfulinhergrief。"Yousaiditwouldn"tdotobehavelikeSOMEBODY。BehavelikeWHO？"
"Itwasjustnonsense,"heexplained,turningtogoin。"AnobscurepersonI
don"tthinkmuchoflately。"
"BehavelikeWHO？"sherepeated,anduponhisyieldingtoherpetulantinsistence,shemadeuphermindthattheonlythingtodowastotellDr。
Gurneyaboutit。
"LikeBildadtheShuhite！"waswhatBibbssaid。
Theoutwardusualnessofthingscontinuedafterdinner。ItwasSheridan"scustomtoreadtheeveningpaperbesidethefireinthelibrary,whilehiswife,sittingnearby,eithersewed（fromoldhabit）orallowedherselftoberepeatedlybaffledbyoneofthesimplerformsofsolitaire。To—nightshedidneither,butsatinhercustomarychair,gazingatthefire,whileSheridanlettheunfoldedpaperrestuponhislap,thoughnowandthenheliftedit,asiftoread,andletitfallbackuponhiskneesagain。Bibbscameinnoiselesslyandsatinacorner,doingnothing;andfroma"reception—room"acrossthehallanindistinctvocalmurmurbecamejustaudibleatintervals。Once,whenthismurmurgrewlouder,understressofsomeirrepressiblemerriment,Edith"svoicecouldbeheard——"Bobby,aren"tyouawful！"andSheridanglancedacrossathiswifeappealingly。
Sheroseatonceandwentintothe"reception—room";therewasaflurryofwhispering,andthesoundoftiptoeinginthehall——Edithandhersuitorchangingquarterstoamoredistantroom。Mrs。Sheridanreturnedtoherchairinthelibrary。
"Theywon"tbotheryouanymore,papa,"shesaid,inacomfortingvoice。
"Shetoldmeatlunchhe"d"phonedhewantedtocomeupthisevening,andI
saidIthoughthe"dbetterwaitafewdays,butshesaidshe"dalreadytoldhimhecould。"Shepaused,thenadded,ratherguiltily:"IgotkindofanotionmaybeRoscoedon"tlikehimasmuchasheusedto。Maybe——maybeyoubetteraskRoscoe,papa。"AndasSheridannoddedsolemnly,sheconcluded,inhaste:"Don"tsayIsaidto。Imightbewrongaboutit,anyway。"
Henoddedagain,andtheysatforsometimeinasilencewhichMrs。Sheridanbrokewithalittlesniff,havingfallenintoareveriethatbroughttears。
"ThatMissVertreeswasagoodgirl,"shesaid。"SHEwasallright。"
Herhusbandevidentlyhadnodifficultyinfollowinghertrainofthought,forhenoddedoncemore,affirmatively。
"Didyou——Howdidyoufixitaboutthe——theRealtyCompany？"shefaltered。
"Didyou——
Heroseheavily,helpinghimselftohisfeetbythearmsofhischair。"I
fixedit,"hesaid,inahuskyvoice。"ImovedCantwellup,andputJohnstoninCantwell"splace,andsplitupJohnston"sworkamongthefourmenwithsalarieshighenoughtotakeit。"Hewenttoher,puthishanduponhershoulder,anddrewalong,audible,tremulousbreath。"It"smybedtime,mamma;I"mgoin"up。"Hedroppedthehandfromhershoulderandmovedslowlyaway,butwhenhereachedthedoorhestoppedandspokeagain,withoutturningtolookather。"TheRealtyCompany"llgorightonjustthesame,"
hesaid。"It"slike——it"slikesand,mamma。Itputsmeinmindofchuldernplayin"inasand—pile。Oneof"emstickshisfingerinthesandandmakesahole,andanotherof"em"llpattheplacewithhishand,andallthelittlegrainsofsandruninandfillitupandsettleagainstoneanother;andthen,rightawayit"sflatontopagain,andyoucan"ttellthereeverwasaholethere。TheRealtyCompany"llgoonallright,mamma。Thereain"tanythinganywhere,Ireckon,thatwouldn"tgorighton——justthesame。"
Andhepassedoutslowlyintothehall;thentheyheardhisheavytreaduponthestairs。
Mrs。Sheridan,risingtofollowhim,turnedapiteousfacetoherson。"It"ssoforlong,"shesaid,chokingly。"That"sthefirsttimehespokesincehecameinthehousethisevening。Iknowitmust"a"hurthimtohearEdithlaughin"withthatLamhorn。She"doughtn"ttolethimcome,righttheveryfirsteveningthisway;she"doughtn"ttodoneit！Shejustseemstoloseherheadoverhim,anditscaresme。YouheardwhatSibylsaidtheotherday,and——andyouheardwhat——what——"
"WhatEdithsaidtoSibyl？"Bibbsfinishedthesentenceforher。
"WeCAN"Thaveanytroubleo"THATkind！"shewailed。"Oh,itlooksasifmovin"uptothisNewHousehadbroughtusawfulbadluck！Itscaresme！"
Sheputbothherhandsoverherface。"Oh,Bibbs,Bibbs！ifyouonlywasn"tsoQUEER！Ifyoucouldonlybeenakindofdependableson！Idon"tknowwhatwe"reallcomin"to！"And,weeping,shefollowedherhusband。
Bibbsgazedforawhileatthefire;thenheroseabruptly,likeamanwhohascometoadecision,andbrisklysoughttheroom——itwascalled"thesmoking—room"——whereEdithsatwithMr。Lamhorn。Theylookedupinnowelcomingmanner,atBibbs"sentrance,andmovedtheirchairstoalessconspicuousadjacency。
"Goodevening,"saidBibbs,pleasantly;andheseatedhimselfinaleathereasy—chairnearthem。
"Whatisit？"askedEdith,plainlyastonished。
"Nothing,"hereturned,smiling。
Shefrowned。"Didyouwantsomething？"sheasked。
"Nothingintheworld。Fatherandmotherhavegoneup—stairs;Isha"n"tbegoingupforseveralhours,andtheredidn"tseemtobeanybodyleftformetochatwithexceptyouandMr。Lamhorn。"
""CHATwith"！"sheechoed,incredulously。
"Icantalkaboutalmostanything,"saidBibbswithanairofgenialpoliteness。"Itdoesn"tmattertoME。Idon"tknowmuchaboutbusiness——ifthat"swhatyouhappenedtobetalkingabout。Butyouaren"tinbusiness,areyou,Mr。Lamhorn。
"Notnow,"returnedLamhorn,shortly。
"I"mnot,either,"saidBibbs。"Itwasgettingcloudierthanusual,I
noticed,justbeforedark,andtherewaswindfromthesouthwest。Rainto—morrow,Ishouldn"tbesurprised。"
Heseemedtofeelthathehadbegunaconversationthesupportofwhichhadnowbecomethepleasurabledutyofotherparties;andhesatexpectantly,lookingfirstathissister,thenatLamhorn,asifimplyingthatitwastheirturntospeak。Edithreturnedhisgazewithamixtureofastonishmentandincreasinganger,whileMr。Lamhornwasobviouslydisturbed,thoughBibbshadbeenasconsiderateaspossibleinpresentingtheweatherasatopic。
BibbshadperceivedthatLamhornhadnothinginhismindatanytimeexcept"personalities"——hecouldtalkaboutpeopleandhecouldmakelove。Bibbs,wishingtobecourteous,offeredtheweather。
Lamhornrefusedit,andconcludedfromBibbs"sluxuriousattitudeintheleatherchairthatthishalf—crazybrotherwasapermanentfixturefortherestoftheevening。Therewasnotreasontohopethathewouldmove,andLamhornfoundhimselfindangeroflookingsilly。
"Iwasjustgoing,"hesaid,rising。
"OhNO！"Edithcried,sharply。
"Yes。Goodnight！IthinkI——"
"Toobad,"saidBibbs,genially,walkingtothedoorwiththevisitor,whileEdithstoodstaringasthetwodisappearedinthehall。SheheardBibbsofferingto"help"Lamhornwithhisovercoatandthelatterrathercurtlydecliningassistance,theseepisodesofdeparturebeingfollowedbytheclosingoftheouterdoor。Sheranintothehall。
"What"sthematterwithyou？"shecried,furiously。"WhatdoyouMEAN？Howdidyoudarecomeintherewhenyouknew——"
Hervoicebroke;shemadeagestureofrageanddespair,andranupthestairs,sobbing。Shefledtohermother"sroom,andwhenBibbscameup,afewminuteslater,Mrs。Sheridanmethimathisdoor。
"Oh,Bibbs,"shesaid,shakingherheadwoefully,"you"doughtn"ttodistressyoursister！Shesaysyoudrovethatyoungmanrightoutofthehouse。
You"doughttobeenmoreconsiderate。"
Bibbssmiledfaintly,notingthatEdith"sdoorwasopen,withEdith"snaiveshadowmotionlessacrossitsthreshold。"Yes,"hesaid。"Hedoesn"tappeartomuchofa"man"sman。"Heranatjustaglimpseofone。"
Edith"sshadowmoved;hervoicecamequavering:"Youcallyourselfone？"
"No,no,"heanswered。"Isaid,"justaglimpseofone。"Ididn"tclaim——"
Butherdoorslammedangrily;andheturnedtohismother。
"There,"hesaid,sighing。"That"salmostthefirsttimeinmylifeIevertriedtobeamanofaction,mother,andIsucceededperfectlyinwhatI
triedtodo。AsaconsequenceIfeellikeahorse—thief！"
"Youhurtherfeelin"s,"shegroaned。"Youmust"a"goneatittoorough,Bibbs。"
Helookeduponherwanly。"That"smytrouble,mother,"hemurmured。"I"maplain,bluntfellow。Ihaveroughways,andI"maroughman。"
Foroncesheperceivedsomemeaninginhisqueerness。"Hushyournonsense！"
shesaid,good—naturedly,theastralofatroubledsmileappearing。"Yougotobed。"
Hekissedherandobeyed。
Edithgavehimacoldgreetingthenextmorningatthebreakfast—table。
"Youmustn"tdothatunderamisapprehension,"hewarnedher,whentheywerealoneinthedining—room。
"Dowhatunderawhat？"sheasked。
"Speaktome。Icameintothesmoking—roomlastnight"onpurpose,""hetoldher,gravely。"Ihaveaprejudiceagainstthatyoungman。"
Shelaughed。"Iguessyouthinkitmeansagreatdealwhoyouhaveprejudicesagainst！"Inmockerysheadoptedthemannerofonewhoimplores。
"Bibbs,forpity"ssakePROMISEme,DON"TuseYOURinfluencewithpapaagainsthim！"Andshelaughedlouder。
"Listen,"hesaid,withpeculiarearnestness。"I"lltellyounow,because——becauseI"vedecidedI"moneofthefamily。"Andthen,asiftheearnestnessweretooheavyforhimtocarryitfurther,hecontinued,inhisusualtone,"I"mdrunkwithpower,Edith。"
"Whatdoyouwanttotellme？"shedamanded,brusquely。
"LamhornmadelovetoSibyl,"hesaid。
Edithhooted。"SHEdidtoHIM！AndbecauseyouoverheardthatspatbetweenustheotherdaywhenIthesameofaccusedherofit,andsaidsomethinglikethattoyouafterward——"
"No,"hesaid,gravely。"IKNOW。"
"How？"
"Iwasthere,onedayaweekago,withRoscoe,andIheardSibylandLamhorn——"
Edithscreamedwithlaughter。"YouwerewithROSCOE——andyouheardLamhornmakinglovetoSibyl！"
"No。Iheardthemquarreling。"
"You"refunnierthanever,Bibbs！"shecried。"Yousayhemadelovetoherbecauseyouheardthemquarreling！"
"That"sit。Ifyouwanttoknowwhat"s"between"people,youcan——bythewaytheyquarrel。"
"You"llkillme,Bibbs！Whatweretheyquarrelingabout？"
"Nothing。That"showIknew。Peoplewhoquarrelovernothing！——it"salwayscertain——"
Edithstoppedlaughingabruptly,butcontinuedhermockery。"Yououghttoknow。You"vehadsomuchexperience,yourself！"
"Ihaven"tany,Edith,"hesaid。"Mylifehasbeenaboutasexcitingasanincubatorchicken"s。ButIlookoutthroughtheglassatthings。"
"Well,then,"shesaid,"ifyoulookoutthroughtheglassyoumustknowwhateffectsuchstuffwouldhaveuponME！"Sherose,visiblyagitated。"WhatifitWAStrue？"shedmanded,bitterly。"Whatifitwastrueahundredtimesover？Yousittherewithyoursillyfacehalfreadytogiggleandhalfreadytosniffle,andtellmestorieslikethat,aboutSibylpickingonBobbyLamhornandworryinghimtodeath,andyouthinkitmatterstoME？WhatifI
alreadyKNEWallabouttheir"quarreling"？WhatifIunderstoodWHYshe——"
Shebrokeoffwithaviolentgesture,asweepofherarmextendedatfulllength,asifshehurledsomethingtotheground。"DoyouthinkagirlthatreallycaredforamanwouldpayanyattentiontoTHAT？OrtoYOU,BibbsSheridan！"
Helookedathersteadily,andhisgazewasaskeenasitwassteady。Shemetitwithunwaveringpride。Finallyhenoddedslowly,asifshehadspokenandhemeanttoagreewithwhatshesaid。
"Ah,yes,"hesaid。"Iwon"tcomeintothesmoking—roomagain。I"msorry,Edith。Nobodycanmakeyouseeanythingnow。You"llneverseeuntilyouseeforyourself。Therestofuswilldobettertokeepoutofit——especiallyme！"