第18章
"Well,andhedon"thaveasgoodcolorashewasgettin"before。Andhe"dbeguntofilloutsome,but——"
Sheridangaveforthanotherdrychuckle,and,goingroundthetabletoher,pattedherupontheshoulderwithhislefthand,hisrightbeingstillheavilybandaged,thoughhenolongerworeasling。"That"sthewayitiswithyou,mamma——gottotakeyourfrettin"outonewayifyoudon"tanother！"
"No。Hedon"tlookwell。Itain"texactlythewayhelookedwhenhebeguntogetsickthattime,buthekindo"seemstobelosin",someway。"
"Yes,hemay"a"lostsomething,"saidSheridan。"Iexpecthe"slostawholeloto"foolishnessbesideshisGod—forsakennotionsaboutwritin"poetryand——"
"No,"hiswifepersisted。"Imeanhelooksrightpeakid。Andyesterday,whenhewassettin"withus,hekeptlookin"outthewindow。Hewasn"treadin"。"
"Well,whyshouldn"thelookoutthewindow？"
"Hewaslookin"overthere。Heneverreadawordallafternoon,Idon"tbelieve。"
"Look,here！"saidSheridan。"Bibbsmight"a"keptgoin"onovertheretherestofhislife,moonin"onandon,butwhatheheardSibylsaydidonebigthing,anyway。Itwokehimupoutofhistrance。Well,hehadtogoandbustcleanoutwithabang;andthatstoppedhisgoin"overthere,anditstoppedhispoetry,butIreckonhe"sbeguntogetprettyfairpayforwhathelost。
Iguessagoodmanyyoungmenhavehadtogetoverworrieslikehis;theygottoloseSOMETHINGifthey"regoin"tokeepaheado"theprocessionnowadays——anditkindo"lookstome,mamma,likeBibbsmightkeepquiteaconsiderablelongwayahead。Why,ayearfromnowI"llbetyouhewon"tknowthereeverWASsuchathingaspoetry！Andain"thefunny？Hewantedtosticktotheshopso"shecould"think"！Whathemeantwas,thinkaboutsomethinguseless。Well,Iguesshe"skeepin"hismingprettyoccupiedtheotherwaythesedays。Yes,sir,ittookaprettyfair—sizedshocktogethimoutofhistrance,butitcertainlydidthebusiness。"Hepattedhiswife"sshoulderagain,andthen,withoutanyprefatorysymptoms,brokeintoaboisterouslaugh。
"Honest,mamma,heworkslikeagorilla！"
AndsoBibbssatintheporchofthetemplewiththemoney—changers。ButnoOnecametoscourgehimforth,forthiswasthetempleofBigness,andthechangingofmoneywasholyworshipandtruereligion。Thepriestsworethat"settish"lookBibbs"smotherhadseenbeginningtodevelopabouthismouthandeyes——awarylookwhichshecouldnotdefine,butitcomeswithserviceatthetemple;anditwasthemoremarkeduponBibbsforhissharpawakeningtothenecessitiesofthatservicce。
Hedidaslittle"useless"thinkingaspossible,givinghimselfnotimeforit。Heworkedcontinuously,keepinghisthoughtsstillonhisworkwhenhecamehomeatnight;andhetalkedofnothingwhateverexcepthiswork。Buthedidnotsingatit。Hewasofteninthestreets,andpeoplewerenotallowedtosinginthestreets。Theymightmakeanymannerofhideousuproar——theycouldshakebuildings;theycouldout—thunderthethunder,deafenthedeaf,andkillthesickwithnoise;ortheycouldwalkthestreetsordrivethroughthembawling,squawking,orscreeching,astheychose,ifthenoisewastraceablyconnectedwithbusiness;thoughstreetmusicianswerenottolerated,beingconsideredanuisanceandaninterference。Amanorwomanwhowentsingingforpleasurethroughthestreets——likeacrazyNeopolitan——wouldhavebeenstopped,andbelikelockedup;forFreedomdoesnotmeanthatacitizenisallowedtodoeveryoutrageousthingthatcomesintohishead。Thestreetsweredangerousenough,inallconscience,withoutanysinging！andtheMotorFederationissuedpublicwarningsdeclaringthatthepedestrian"slifewasinhisownhands,andgivingdirectionshowtoproceedwiththeleastperil。
However,BibbsSheridanhadnodesiretosinginthestreets,oranywhere。Hehadgonetohisworkwithanenergythat,forthestart,atleast,wasbitter,andtherewasnosongleftinhim。
Hebegantoknowhisactivefellow—citizens。Hereandthereamongthemhefoundaleisurely,kindsoul,arelicoftheoldperiodofneighborliness,"pioneerstock,"usually;andthereweremen——particularlyamongthemerchantsandmanufacturers——"sohonesttheyleanedbackward";reputationssometimesattestedbystoriesofheroicsacrificestohonor;norweretherelackingsomeinstancesofgenerosityevennobler。Hereandthere,too,werebook—men,intheirlittleleisure;and,amongtheGermans,music—men。Andthese,withtheothers,worshipedBignessandthegrowth,eachmanservingforhisownsakeandforwhathecouldgetoutofit,butallunitedintheirfaithinthebeneficenceandgloryoftheirgod。
Toalmostallalikethatservicestoodasthemostimportantthinginlife,exceptonoccasionofsomesuchvital,briefinterregnumasthedangerousillnessofawifeorchild。Inthewayof"relaxation"someoftheserverstookgolf;sometookfishing;sometook"shows"——amixtureofinfantileandnegroidhumor,stockings,andtinmusic;sometookanoccasionaldebauch;sometooktrips;sometookcards;andsometooknothing。Thehighpriestswerevigilanttowatchthatno"relaxation"shouldaffecttheservice。Whenamanattendedtoanythingoutsidehisbusiness,eyeswereuponhim;hiscreditwasindanger——thatis,hislifewasindanger。Andtheoldpriestswereasardentastheyoungones;themillionwasaseagertobebiggerasthethousand;seventywasasbusyasseventeen。Theystovemightilyagainstoneanother,andtheoldpriestswerethemostwary,themostplausible,andthemostdangerous。Bibbslearnedhemustwalkcharilyamongthese——hemustwearathousandeyesandbewareofspidersindeed！
Andoutsidethetempleitselfwerethepretenders,theswarmingthievesandsharpersandfleecers,theslyrascalsandtheopenrascals;butthesewerefeeblefolk,notdangerousonceheknewthem,andhehadagoodguidetopointthemouttohim。Theywereusefulsometimes,helearned,andmanyofthemservedasgo—betweensinmatterswherebusinessmusttouchpolitics。Helearnedalsohowbreweriesand"traction"companiesandbanksandotherinstitutionsfoughtoneanotherforthepoliticalcontrolofthecity。Thenewspapers,hediscovered,hadlosttheirancientpoliticalinfluence,especiallywiththeknowing,wholookeduponthemwithaskepticalhumor,believingthejournalseithertoberetainedpartisans,likelawyers,orelsestrivingtoforwardthepersonalambitionsoftheirowners。Thecontrolofthecitylaynotwiththem,butwasusuallyobtainedbygivingthehordesofnegroesgin—money,andbyotherlargesses。Therevenuesofthepeoplewerethendistributedasfairlyaspossibleamongagreatnumberofmenwhohadassistedthewinningside。Namesandtitlesofofficeswentwithmanyoftheprizes,andmostofthesetitle—holderswereexpectedtopresentabusyappearanceattimes;and,indeed,someamongthemdidworkhonestlyandfaithfully。
Bibbshadbeenveryignorant。Allthesesimplethings,sowellknownandcustomary,astonishedhimatfirst,andonce——inabriefmomentofforgettingthathewasdonewithwriting——hethoughtthatifhehadknownthemandwrittenofthem,howlikeasatiretheplainestrelationofthemmusthaveseemed！Strangestofalltohimwasthevehementandsincerepatriotism。Oneverysideheheardit——itwasapermeation;thenewestschool—childcaughtit,thoughjustfromHungaryandlearningtostammerafewwordsofthelocallanguage。Everywherethepeopleshoutedofthepower,thesize,theriches,andthegrowthoftheircity。Notonlythat,theysaidthatthepeopleoftheircitywerethegreatest,the"finest,"thestrongest,theBiggestpeopleonearth。Theycitednoauthorities,andfelttheneedofnone,beingthemselvesthepeoplethuscelebrated。Andifthethingwasquestioned,orifitwashintedthattheremightbeonesmallvirtueinwhichtheywerenotperfectandsupreme,theywastednotimeexaminingthemselvestoseeifwhatthecriticsaidwastrue,butfelluponhimandhootedhimandcursedhim,fortheyweresensitive。SoBibbs,learningtheirwaysandwalkingwiththem,harkenedtothevoiceofthepeopleandservedBignesswiththem。Forthevoiceofthepeopleisthevoiceoftheirgod。
SheridanhadmadetheroomnexttohisownintoanofficeforBibbs,andthedoorbetweenthetworoomsusuallystoodopen——thefatherhadestablishedthatintimacy。OnemorninginFebruary,whenBibbswasalone,Sheridancamein,somesheetsoftypewrittenmemorandainhishand。
"Bibbs,"hesaid,"Idon"tliketobuttinveryoftenthisway,andwhenIdoIusuallywishIhadn"t——butforHeaven"ssakewhathaveyoubeenbuyingthatolebustedinter—tractionstockfor？"
Bibbsleanedbackfromhisdesk。"Forelevenhundredandfifty—fivedollars。
That"sallitcost。"
"Well,itain"tworthelevenhundredandfifty—fivecents。Yououghttoknowthat。Idon"tgetyouridea。Thatstuff"sdeader"nAdam"scat！"
"Itmightbeworthsomething——someday。"
"How？"
"Itmightn"tbesodead——notifWewentintoit,"saidBibbs,coolly。
"Oh！"Sheridanconsideredthismusingly;thenhesaid,"Who"dyoubuyitfrom？"
"Abroker——Fansmith。"
"Well,hemust"a"gotitfromoneo"thecrowdo"poorninniesthatwassoakedwithit。Don"tyouknowwhoownedit？"
"Yes,Ido。"
"Ain"tsayin",though？Thatit？What"sthematter？"
"ItbelongedtoMr。Vertrees,"saidBibbs,shortly,applyinghimselftohisdesk。
"So！"Sheridangazeddownathisson"sthinface。"Excuseme,"hesaid。
"Yourbusiness。"Andhewentbacktohisownroom。Butpresentlyhelookedinagain。
"Ireckonyouwon"tmindlunchin"aloneto—day"——hewasshufflinghimselfintohisovercoat——"becauseIjustthoughtI"dgouptothehouseandgetTHISoverwithmamma。"Heglancedapologeticallytowardhisrighthandasitemergedfromthesleeveoftheovercoat。Thebandageshadbeenremoved,finally,thatmorning,revealingbutthreefingers——theforefingerandthefingernexttoithadbeenamputated。"She"sboundtomakeanawfulfuss,anditbetterspoilherlunchthanherdinner。I"llbebackabouttwo。"
ButhecalculatedthetimeofhisarrivalattheNewHousesoaccuratelythatMrs。Sheridan"slunchwasnotdisturbed,andshewasrisingfromthelonelytablewhenhecameintothedining—room。Hehadlefthisovercoatinthehall,buthekepthishandsinhistrouserspockets。
"What"sthematter,papa？"sheasked,quickly。"Hasanythinggonewrong？Youain"tsick？"
"Me！"Helaughedloudly。"MeSICK？"
"Youhadlunch？"
"Didn"twantanyto—day。Youcangivemeacupo"coffe,though。"
Sherang,andtoldGeorgetohavecoffeemade,andwhenhehadwithdrawnshesaidquerulously,"Ijustknowthere"ssomethingwrong。"
"Nothin"intheworld,"heresponed,heartily,takingaseatattheheadofthetable。"IthoughtI"dtalkoveranotiono"minewithyou,that"sall。
It"smorewomen—folks"businessthanwhatitisman"s,anyhow。"
"Whatabout？"
"Why,oleDocGurneywasupattheofficethismorningawhile——"
"Tolookatyourhand？How"shesayit"sdoin"？"
"Fine！Well,hewentinandsataroundwithBibbsawhile——"
Mrs。Sheridannoddedpessimistically。"Iguessit"stimeyouhadhim,too。I
KNEWBibbs——"
"Now,mamma,holdyourhorses！IwantedhimtolookBibbsoverBEFORE
anything"sthematter。Youdon"tsupposeI"mgoin"totakeanychanceswithBIBBS,doyou？Well,afterwards,Ishutthedoor,andIan"oleGurneyhadatalk。He"samightydisagreeableman;herubbeditinonmewhathesaidaboutBibbshavin"brainsifheeverwokeup。ThenIthoughthemustwanttogetsomethingouto"me,hegosoflattering——foraminute！"Bibbscouldn"thelphavin"businessbrains,"hesays,"bein"YOURson。Don"tbesurprised,"
hesays——"don"tbesurprisedathismakin"asuccess,"hesays。"Hecouldn"tgetoverhisheredity;hecouldn"tHELPbein"abusinesssuccess——onceyougothimintoit。It"sinhisblood。Yes,sir"hesays,"itdoesn"tneedMUCH
brains,"hesays,"anonlythird—ratebrains,atthat,"hesays,"butitdoesneedaspecialKINDo"brains,"hesays,"tobeamillionaire。Imean,"hesays,"whenaman"sgivenastart。Ifnobodygiveshimastart,why,coursehe"sgottohaveluckANDtherightkindo"brains。TheonlymiracleaboutBibbs,"hesays,"iswherehegottheOTHERkindo"brains——thebrainsyoumadehimquitusin"andthrowaway。""
"Butwhat"dhesayabouthishealth？"Mrs。Sheridandemanded,impatiently,asGeorgeplacedacupofcoffeebeforeherhusband。Sheridanhelpedhimselftocreamandsugar,andbegantosipthecoffee。
"I"mcomin"tothat,"hereturned,placidly。"SeehoweasyImanagethiscupwithmylefthand,mamma？"
"Youbeendoin"thatallwinter。Whatdid——"
"It"swonderful,"heinterrupted,admiringly,"whatafellowcandowithhislefthand。Icansignmynamewithminenow,well"sIevercouldwithmyright。Itcamealittlehardatfirst,butnow,honest,IbelieveIRATHER
signwithmyleft。That"sallIeverhavetowrite,anyway——justthesignature。Rest"salldictatin"。"Heblewacrossthetopofthecupunctuously。"Goodcoffee,mamma！Well,aboutBibbs。OleGurneysayshebelievesifBibbscouldsomehowgetbacktothestateo"mindhewasinaboutthemachine—shop——thatis,ifhecouldsomewaygettofeelin"aboutbusinessthewayhefeltabouttheshop——notthepoetryandwritin"part,but——"Hepaused,supplementinghisremarkswithamotionofhisheadtowardtheoldhousenextdoor。"HesaysBibbsisolderandharder"nwhathewaswhenhebrokedownthattime,andbesides,heain"tthekindo"dreamywayhewasthen——andIshouldsayheAIN"T！I"dlike"emtoshowMEanybodyhisagethat"sanywiderawake！ButhesaysBibbs"shealthneverneedbotherusagainif——"
Mrs。Sheridanshookherhead。"Idon"tseeanyhelpTHATway。Youknowyourselfshewouldn"thaveJim。"
"Who"stalkin"aboutherhavin"anybody？But,myLord！shemightlethimLOOK
ather！Sheneedn"t"a"gotsomad,justbecauseheaskedher,thatshewon"tlethimcomeinthehouseanymore。He"samightyfunnyboy,andsomewaysI
reckonhe"sprettynearashardtounderstandastheBible,butGurneykindo"
gotmeinthewayo"thinkin"thatifshe"dlethimcomebackandsetaroundwithheraneveningortwosometimes——notreg"lar,Idon"tmean——why——Well,I
justthoughtI"dseewhatYOU"Dthinkofit。Thereain"tanywaytotalkaboutittoBibbshimself——Idon"tsupposehe"dletyou,anyhow——butIthoughtmaybeyoucouldkindo"slipovertheresomeday,andsorto"fixuptohavealittletalkwithher,andkindo"hintaroundtillyouseehowthelandlays,andaskher——"
"ME！"Mrs。Sheridanlookedbothhelplessandfrightened。"No。"Sheshookherheaddecidedly。"Itwouldn"tdoanygood。"
"Youwon"ttryit？"
"Iwon"triskherturnin"meouto"thehouse。Someway,that"swhatI
believeshedidtoSibyl,fromwhatRoscoesaidonce。No,ICAN"T——and,what"smore,it"donlymakethingsworse。Ifpeoplefindoutyou"rerunnin"
after"emtheythinkyou"recheap,andthentheywon"tdoasmuchforyouasifyoulet"emalone。Idon"tbelieveit"sanyuse,andIcouldn"tdoitifitwas。"
Hesighedwithresignation。"Allright,mamma。That"sall。"Then,inaliveliertone,hesaid:"OleGurneytookthebandagesoffmyhandthismorning。Allhealedup。SaysIdon"tneed"emanymore。"
"Why,that"ssplendid,papa！"shecried,beaming。"Iwasafraid——Let"ssee。"
Shecametowardhim,butherose,stillkeepinghishandinhispocket。"Waitaminute,"hesaid,smiling。"Nowitmaygiveyoujustateenybitofashock,butthefactis——well,yourememberthatSundaywhenSibylcameoverhereandmadeallthatfussaboutnothin"——itwasthedayafterIgottiredo"
thatstatuewhenEdith"stelegramcame——"
"Letmeseeyourhand！"shecried。
"Nowwait！"hesaid,laughingandpushingherawaywithhislefthand。"Thetruthis,mamma,thatIkindo"slippedoutonyouthatmorning,whenyouwasn"tlookin",andwentdowntooleGurney"soffice——he"dtoldmeto,yousee——and,well,itdoesn"tAMOUNTtoanything。"Andheheldout,forherinspection,themutilatedhand。"Yousee,thesedayswhenit"salldictatin",anyhow,nobody"dmindjustacoupleo"——"
Hehadtojumpforher——shewentoverbackward。ForthesecondtimeinherlifeMrs。Sheridanfainted。
Itwasafullhourlaterwhenheleftherlyinguponacouchinherownroom,stilllamentingintermittently,thoughheassuredherwithheatthatthe"fuss"shewasmakingirkedhimfarmorethanhisphysicalloss。Hepermittedhertothinkthathemeanttoreturndirectlytohisoffice,butwhenhecameouttotheopenairhetoldthechauffeurinattendancetoawaithiminfrontofMr。Vertrees"shouse,whitherhehimselfproceededonfoot。
Mr。Vertreeshadtakenthesaleofhalfofhisworthlessstockasmannainthewilderness;itcamefromheaven——bywhatagencyhedidnotparticularlyquestion。Thebrokerinformedhimthat"partieswereinterestedingettingholdofthestock,"andthatlatertheremightbeapossibleincreaseinthevalueofthelargeamountretainedbyhisclient。Itmightgo"quiteawaysup"withinayearorso,hesaid,andheadvised"sittingtight"withit。Mr。
Vertreeswenthomeandprayed。
Herosefromhiskneesfeelingthathewassurelycomingintohisownagain。
Itwasmorethanameregaspoftemporaryreliefwithhim,andhiswifesharedhisoptimism;butMarywouldnotlethimbuybackherpiano,andasforfurs——springwasontheway,shesaid。Buttheypaidthebutcher,thebaker,andthecandlestick—maker,andhiredacookoncemore。ItwasthisservitresswhoopenedthedoorforSheridanandpresentlyassuredhimthatMissVertreeswould"bedown。"
Hewasnotthemantoconcealadmirationwhenhefeltit,andheflushedandbeamedasMarymadeherappearance,almostupontheheelsofthecook。Shehadalookofapprehensionforthefirstfractionofasecond,butitvanishedatthesightofhim,anditsplacewastakeninhereyesbyasoftbrilliance,whilecolorrushedinhercheeks。
"Don"tbesurprised,"hesaid。"Truthis,inawayit"ssortofonbusinessI
lookedinhere。It"llonlytakeaminute,Iexpect。"
"I"msorry,"saidMary。"Ihopedyou"dcomebecausewe"reneighbors。"
Hechuckled。"Neighbors！Sometimespeopledon"tseesomucho"theirneighborsastheyusedto。Thatis,Ihearso——lately。"
"You"llstaylongenoughtositdown,won"tyou？"
"IguessIcouldmanagethatmuch。"Andtheysatdown,facingeachotherandnotfarapart。
"Ofcourse,itcouldn"tbecalledbusiness,exactly,"hesaid,moregravely。
"Notatall,Iexpect。Butthere"ssomethingo"yoursitseemedtomeIoughttogiveyou,andIjustthoughtitwasbettertobringitmyselfandexplainhowIhappenedtohaveit。It"sthis——thisletteryouwrotemyboy。"Heextendedthelettertohersolomnly,inhislefthand,andshetookitgentlyfromhim。"Itwasinhismail,afterhewashurt。Youknewhenevergotit,Iexpect。"
"Yes,"shesaid,inalowvoice。
Hesighed。"I"mgladhedidn"t。Not,"headded,quickly——"notbutwhatyoudidjustrighttosendit。Youdid。Youcouldn"tactedanyotherwaywhenitcamerightdownTOit。Thereain"tanyblamecomin"toyou——youwereabove—boardallthrough。"
Marysaid,"Thankyou,"almostinawhisper,andwithherheadbowedlow。
"You"llhavetoexcusemeforreadin"it。Ihadtotakechargeofallhismailandeverything;Ididn"tknowthehandwritin",andIreaditall——onceI
gotstarted。"
"I"mgladyoudid。"
"Well"——heleanedforwardasiftorise——"Iguessthat"saboutall。Ijustthoughtyououghttohaveit。"
"Thankyouforbringingit。"
Helookedatherhopefully,asifhethoughtandwishedthatshemighthavesomethingmoretosay。Butsheseemednottobeawareofthisglance,andsatwithhereyesfixedsorrowfullyuponthefloor。
"Well,IexpectIbetterbegettin"backtotheoffice,"hesaid,risingdesperately。"Itold——ItoldmypartnerI"dbebackattwoo"clock,andI
guesshe"llthinkI"mapoorbusinessmanifhecatchesmebehindtime。Igottowalkthechalkamightystraightlinethesedays——withTHATfellowkeepin"
tabsonme！"
Maryrosewithhim。"I"vealwaysheardYOUweretheharddriver。"
Heguffawedderisively。"Me？I"mnothin"tothatpartnero"mine。Youcouldn"tguesstosaveyourlifehowhekeepsaftermetoholdupmyendo"
thejob。Ishouldn"tbesurprisedhe"dgivemethegrandbouncesomeday,andrunthewholecircusbyhimself。Youknowhowheis——oncehegoesATathing！"
"No,"shesmiled。"Ididn"tknowyouhadapartner。I"dalwaysheard——"
Helaughed,lookingawayfromher。"It"sjustmywayo"speakin"o"thatboyo"mine,Bibbs。"
Hestoodthen,expectant,staringoutintothehallwithanairofcarelessgeniality。Hefeltthatshecertainlymustatleastsay,"HowISBibbs？"
butshesaidnothingatall,thoughhewaiteduntilthesilencebecameembarrassing。
"Well,IguessIbetterbegettin"downthere,"hesaid,atlast。"Hemightworry。"
"Good—by——andthankyou,"saidMary。
"Forwhat？"
"Fortheletter。"
"Oh,"hesaid,blankly。"You"rewelcome。Good—by。"
Maryputoutherhand。"Good—by。"
"You"llhavetoexcusemylefthand,"hesaid。"Ihadalittleaccidenttotheotherone。"
Shegaveapityingcryasshesaw。"Oh,poorMr。Sheridan！"
"Nothin"atall！Dictateeverythingnowadays,anyhow。"Helaughedjovially。
"Didanybodytellyouhowithappened？"
"Iheardyouhurtyourhand,butno——notjusthow。"
"Itwasthisway,"hebegan,andboth,asifunconsciously,satdownagain。
"Youmaynotknowit,butIusedtoworryagooddealabouttheyoungesto"myboys——theonethatusedtocometoseeyousometimes,afterJim——thatis,I
meanBibbs。He"stheoneIspokeofasmypartner;andthetruthisthat"swhatit"sjustaboutgoin"toamountto,oneo"thesedays——ifhishealthholdsout。Well,youremember,Iexpect,Ihadhimonamachineoverataplanto"mine;andsometimesI"dkindo"sneakinthereandseehowhewasgettin"along。Takeadoctorwithmesometimes,becauseBibbsneverWASsorobust,youmightsay。OleDocGurney——Iguessmaybeyouknowhim？Tall,thinman;actssleepy——"
"Yes。"