the turmoil-第14章

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flinging　herself　violently　upon　Bibbs's　door；　jerked　it　open；　　swung　round　it

into　the　room；　slammed　the　door　behind　her；　and　threw　　herself；　face　down；

upon　the　bed　in　such　a　riot　of　emotion　that　she　had　　no　perception　of　Bibbs's

presence　in　the　room。　　Gasping　and　sobbing　in　a　　passion　of　tears；　she　beat

the　coverlet　and　pillows　with　her　clenched　　fists。　〃Sneak！〃　she　babbled　aloud。

〃Sneak！　Snake…in…the…grass！　　Cat！〃



Bibbs　saw　that　she　did　not　know　he　was　there；　and　he　went　softly　toward　　the

door；　hoping　to　get　away　before　she　became　aware　of　him；　but　some　　sound　of

his　movement　reached　her；　and　she　sat　up；　startled；　facing　him。



〃Bibbs！　　I　thought　I　saw　you　go　out　awhile　ago。〃



〃Yes。　　I　came　back；　though。　　I'm　sorry〃



〃Did　you　hear　me　quarreling　with　Sibyl？〃



〃Only　what　you　said　in　the　hall。　　You　lie　down　again；　Edith。　　I'm　going　　out。〃



〃No；　don't　go。〃　　She　applied　a　handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　emitted　a　sob；　　and

repeated　her　request。　　〃Don't　go。　　I　don't　mind　you；　you're　quiet；　　anyhow。

Mamma's　so　fussy；　and　never　gets　anywhere。　　I　don't　mind　you　at　　all；　but　I

wish　you'd　sit　down。〃



〃All　right。〃　　And　he　returned　to　his　chair　beside　the　trunk。　　〃Go　ahead　　and

cry　all　you　want；　Edith；〃　he　said。　　〃No　harm　in　that！〃



〃Sibyl　told　mammaOH！〃　she　began；　choking。　　〃Mary　Vertrees　had　mamma　　and

Sibyl　and　I　to　tea；　one　afternoon　two　weeks　or　so　ago；　and　she　had　　some　women

there　that　Sibyl's　been　crazy　to　get　in　with；　and　she　just　　laid　herself　out

to　make　a　hit　with　'em；　and　she's　been　running　after　'em　　ever　since；　and　now

she　comes　over　here　and　says　THEY　say　Bobby　Lamhorn　　is　so　bad　that；　even

though　they　like　his　family；　none　of　the　nice　people　　in　town　would　let　him　in

their　houses。　　In　the　first　place；　it's　a　　falsehood；　and　I　don't　believe　a

word　of　it；　and　in　the　second　place　I　　know　the　reason　she　did　it；　and；　what's

more；　she　KNOWS　I　know　it！　　I　　won't　SAY　what　it　isnot　yetbecause　papa　and

all　of　you　would　　think　I'm　as　crazy　as　she　is　snaky；　and　Roscoe's　such　a　fool

he'd　　probably　quit　speaking　to　me。　　But　it's　true！　　Just　you　watch　her；

that's　　all　I　ask。　　Just　you　watch　that　woman。　　You'll　see！〃



As　it　happened；　Bibbs　was　literally　watching　〃that　woman。〃　　Glancing　from　　the

window；　he　saw　Sibyl　pause　upon　the　pavement　in　front　of　the　old　　house　next

door。　　She　stood　a　moment；　in　deep　thought；　then　walked　　quickly　up　the　path

to　the　door；　undoubtedly　with　the　intention　of　　calling。　　But　he　did　not

mention　this　to　his　sister；　who；　after　　delivering　herself　of　a　rather　vague

jeremiad　upon　the　subject　of　her　　sister…in…law's　treacheries；　departed　to　her

own　chamber；　leaving　him　to　　his　speculations。　　The　chief　of　these　concerned

the　social　elasticities　　of　women。　　Sibyl　had　just　been　a　participant　in　a

violent　scene；　she　had　　suffered　hot　insult　of　a　kind　that　could　not　fail　to

set　her　quivering　　with　resentment；　and　yet　she　elected　to　betake　herself　to

the　presence　of　　people　whom　she　knew　no　more　than　〃formally。〃　　Bibbs

marveled。　　Surely；　　he　reflected；　some　traces　of　emotion　must　linger　upon

Sibyl's　face　or　in　　her　manner；　　she　could　not　have　ironed　it　all　quite　out　in

the　three　or　　four　minutes　it　took　her　to　reach　the　Vertreeses'　door。



And　in　this　he　was　not　mistaken；　for　Mary　Vertrees　was　at　that　moment

wondering　what　　internal　excitement　Mrs。　Roscoe　Sheridan　was　striving　to

master。　　But　　Sibyl　had　no　idea　that　she　was　allowing　herself　to　exhibit

anything　　except　the　gaiety　which　she　conceived　proper　to　the　manner　of　a

casual　　caller。　　She　was　wholly　intent　upon　fulfilling　the　sudden　purpose　that

brought　her；　and　she　was　no　more　self…conscious　than　she　was　finely

intelligent。　　For　Sibyl　Sheridan　belonged　to　a　type　Scriptural　in　its

antiquity。　　She　was　merely　the　idle　and　half…educated　intriguer　who　may　　and

does　delude　men；　of　course；　and　the　best　and　dullest　of　her　own　sex　　as　well；

finding　invariably　strong　supporters　among　these　latter。　　It　is　　a　type　that

has　wrought　some　damage　in　the　world　and　would　have　wrought　　greater；　save　for

the　check　put　upon　its　power　by　intelligent　women　and　　by　its　own　〃lack　of

perspective；〃　for　it　is　a　type　that　never　sees　　itself。　　Sibyl　followed　her

impulses　with　no　reflection　or　questionit　　was　like　a　hound　on　the　gallop

after　a　master　on　horseback。　　She　had　not　　even　the　instinct　to　stop　and

consider　her　effect。　　If　she　wished　to　make　　a　certain　impression　she　believed

that　she　made　it。　　She　believed　that　　she　was　believed。



〃My　mother　asked　me　to　say　that　she　was　sorry　she　couldn't　come　down；〃　　Mary

said；　when　they　were　seated。



Sibyl　ran　the　scale　of　a　cooing　simulance　of　laughter；　which　she　had　been

brought　up　to　consider　the　polite　thing　to　do　after　a　remark　addressed　to　　her

by　any　person　with　whom　she　was　not　on　familiar　terms。　　It　was　　intended

partly　as　a　courtesy　and　partly　as　the　foundation　for　an　　impression　of

sweetness。



〃Just　thought　I'd　fly　in　a　minute；〃　she　said；　continuing　the　cooing　to

relieve　the　last　doubt　of　her　gentiality。　　〃I　thought　I'd　just　behave　like

REAL　country　neighbors。　　We　are　almost　out　in　the　country；　so　far　from

down…town；　aren't　we？　　And　it　seemed　such　a　LOVELY　day！　　I　wanted　to　tell　　you

how　much　I　enjoyed　meeting　those　nice　people　at　tea　that　afternoon。　　　You　see；

coming　here　a　bride　and　never　having　lived　here　before；　I've　had　　to　depend　on

my　husband's　friends　almost　entirely；　and　I　really　've　known　　scarcely

anybody。　　Mr。　Sheridan　has　been　so　engrossed　in　business　ever　　since　he　was　a

mere　boy；　why；　of　course〃



She　paused；　with　the　air　of　having　completed　an　explanation。



〃Of　course；〃　said　Mary；　sympathetically　accepting　it。



〃Yes。　　I've　been　seeing　quite　a　lot　of　the　Kittersbys　since　that　　afternoon；〃

Sibyl　went　on。　　〃They're　really　delightful　people。　　Indeed　　they　are！　　Yes〃



She　stopped　with　unconscious　abruptness；　her　mind　plainly　wandering　to

another　matter；　and　Mary　perceived　that　she　had　come　upon　a　definite　　errand。

Moreover；　a　tensing　of　Sibyl's　eyelids；　in　that　moment　of　　abstraction　as　she

looked　aside　from　her　hostess；　indicated　that　the　　errand　was　a　serious　one

for　the　caller　and　easily　to　be　connected　with　　the　slight　but　perceptible

agitation　underlying　her　assumption　of　　cheerful　ease。　　　There　was　a

restlessnes　of　breathing；　a　restlessness　of　　hands。



〃Mrs。　Kittersby　and　her　daughter　were　chatting　about　some　to　the　people　　here

in　town　the　other　day；〃　said　Sibyl；　repeating　the　cooing　and　　protracting　it。

〃They　said　something　that　took　ME　by　surprise！　　We　were　　talking　about　our

mutual　friend；　Mr。　Robert　Lamhorn〃



Mary　interrupted　her　promptly。　　〃Do　you　mean　'mutual'　to　include　my　　mother

and　me？〃　she　asked。



〃Why；　yes；　the　Kittersbys　and　you　and　all　of　us　Sheridans；　I　mean。〃



〃No；〃　said　Mary。　　〃We　shouldn't　consider　Mr。　Robert　Lamhorn　a　friend　of

ours。〃



To　her　surprise；　Sibyl　nodded　eagerly；　as　if　greatly　pleased。　　〃That's　　just

the　way　Mrs。　Kittersby　talked！〃　she　cried；　with　a　vehemence　that　　made　Mary

stare。　　〃Yes；　and　I　hear　that's　the　way　ALL　you　old　families　　here　speak　of

him！〃



Mary　looked　aside；　but　otherwise　she　was　able　to　maintain　her　composure。　　　〃I

had　the　impression　he　was　a　friend　of　yours；〃　she　said；　adding；　　hastily；　〃and

your　husband's〃



〃Oh　yes；〃　said　the　caller；　absently。　　〃He　is；　certainly。　　A　man's　　reputation

for　a　little　gaiety　oughtn't　to　make　a　great　difference　to　　married　people；　of

course。　　It's　where　young　girls　are　in　question。　　THEN　　it　may　be　very；　very

dangerous。　　There　are　a　great　many　things　safe　and　　proper　for　married　people

that　might　be　awf'ly　imprudent　for　a　young　　girl。　　Don't　you　agree；　Miss

Vertrees？〃



〃I　don't　know；〃　returned　the　frank　Mary。　　〃Do　you　mean　that　you　intend　to

remain　a　friend　of　Mr。　Lamhorn's；　but　disapprove　of　Miss　Sheridan's　doing

so？〃



〃That's　it　exactly！〃　was　the　naive　and　ardent　response　of　Sibyl。　　〃What　I

feel　about　it　is　that　a　man　with　his　reputation　isn't　at　all　suitable　for

Edith；　and　the　family　ought　to　be　made　to　understand　it。　　I　tell　you；〃　　she

cried；　with　a　sudden　access　of　vehemence；　〃her　father　ought　to　put　　his　foot

down！〃



Her　eyes　flashed　with　a　green　spark；　something　seemed　to　leap　out　and　then

retreat；　but　not　before　Mary　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　it；　as　one　might　　catch　a

glimpse　of　a　thing　darting　forth　and　then　scuttling　back　into　　hiding　under　a

bush。



〃Of　course；〃　said　Sibyl；　much　more　composedly；　〃I　hardly　need　say　that　　it's

entirely　on　Edith's　account　that　I'm　worried　about　this。　　I'm　as　　fond　of

Edith　as　if　she　was　really　my　sister；　and　I　can't　help　fretting　　about　it。　　It

would　break　my　heart　to　have　Edith's　life　spoiled。〃



This　tune　was　off　the　key；　to　Mary's　ear。　　Sibyl　tried　to　sing　with　　pathos；

but　she　flatted。



And　when　a　lady　receives　a　call　from　another　who　suffers　under　the　stress　　of

some　feeling　which　she　wishes　to　conceal；　there　is　not　uncommonly　　developed　a

phenomenon　of　duality　comparable　to　the　effect　obtained　by　　placing　two

mirrors　opposite　each　other；　one　clear　and　the　other　flawed。　　　In　this　case；

particularly；　Sibyl　had　an　imperfect　consciousness　　　of　　Mary。　　The　Mary

Vertrees　that　she　saw　was　merely　something　to　be　cozened　　to　her　own　frantic

purposea　Mary　Vertrees　who　was　incapable　of　　penetrating　that　purpose。

Sibyl　sat　there　believing　that　she　was　　projecting　the　image　of　herself　that

she　desired　to　project；　never　　dreaming　that　with　every　word；　every　look；　and

every　gesture　she　was　more　　and　more　fully　disclosing　the　pitiable　truth　to

the　clear　eyes　of　Mary。　　　And　the　Sibyl　that　Mary　saw　was　an　overdressed

woman；　in　manner　half　　rustic；　and　in　mind　as　shallow　as　a　pan；　but　possessed

by　emotions　that　　appeared　to　be　strongperhaps　even　violent。　　What　those

emotions　were　　Mary　had　not　guessed；　but　she　began　to　suspect。



〃And　Edith's　life　WOULD　be　spoiled；〃　Sibyl　continued。　　〃It　would　be　a

dreadful　thing　for　the　whole　family。　　She's　the　very　apple　of　Father

Sheridan's　eye；　and　he's　as　proud　of　her　as　he　is　of　Jim　and　Roscoe。　　It

would　be　a　horrible　thing　for　him　to　have　her　marry　a　man　like　Robert

Lamhorn；　but　he　doesn't　KNOW　anything　about　him；　and　if　somebody　　doesn't　tell

him；　what　I'm　most　afraid　of　is　that　Edith　might　get　his　　consent　and　hurry　on

the　wedding　before　he　finds　out；　and　then　it　would　　be　too　late。　　You　see；

Miss　Vertrees；　it's　very　difficult　for　me　to　　decide　just　what　it's　my　duty　to

do。〃



〃I　see；〃　said　Mary；　looking　at　her　thoughtfully；　〃Does　Miss　Sheridan　seem

toto　care　very　much　about　him？〃



〃He's　deliberately　fascinated　her；〃　returned　the　visitor；　beginning　to

breathe　quickly　and　heavily。　　〃Oh；　she　wasn't　difficult！　　She　knew　she　　wasn't

in　right　in　this　town；　and　she　was　crazy　to　meet　the　people　that　　were；　and

she　thought　he　was　one　of　'em。　　But　that　was　only　the　start　　that　made　it　easy

for　himand　he　didn't　need　it。　　He　could　have　done　　it；　a