the turmoil-第15章

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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；　anyway！〃　Sibyl　was

launched　now；　her　eyes　were　furious　and　her　voice　　shook。　　〃He　went　after　her

deliberately；　the　way　he　does　everything；　he's　　as　cold…blooded　as　a　fish。

All　he　cares　about　is　his　own　pleasure；　and　　lately　he's　decided　it　would　be

pleasant　to　get　hold　of　a　piece　of　real　　moneyand　there　was　Edith！　　And

he'll　marry　her！　　Nothing　on　earth　can　　stop　him　unless　he　finds　out　she　won't

HAVE　any　money　if　she　marries　him；　　and　the　only　person　that　could　make　him

understand　that　is　Father　　Sheridan。　　Somehow；　that's　got　to　be　managed；

because　Lamhorn　is　going　to　　hurry　it　on　as　fast　as　he　can。　　He　told　me　so

last　night。　　He　said　he　was　　going　to　marry　her　the　first　minute　he　could

persuade　her　to　itand　　little　Edith's　all　ready　to　be　persuaded！〃　　Sibyl's

eyes　flashed　green　　again。　　〃And　he　swore　he'd　do　it；〃　she　panted。　　〃He　swore

he'd　marry　　Edith　Sheridan；　and　nothing　on　earth　could　stop　him！〃



And　then　Mary　understood。　　Her　lips　parted　and　she　stared　at　the　babbling

creature　incredulously；　a　sudden　vivid　　picture　in　her　mind；　a　canvas　of

unconscious　Sibyl's　painting。　　Mary　beheld　it　with　pity　and　horror：　she　　saw

Sibyl　clinging　to　Robert　Lamhorn；　raging；　in　a　whisper；　perhaps　for　Roscoe

might　have　been　in　the　house；　or　servants　might　have　head。　　　She　saw　Sibyl

entreating；　beseeching；　threatening　despairingly；　and　　Lamhorntired　of

herfirst　evasive；　then　brutally　letting　her　have　　the　truth；　and　at　last；

infuriated；　〃swearing〃　to　marry　her　rival。　　If　　Sibyl　had　not　babbled　out　the

word　〃swore〃　it　might　have　been　less　plain。



The　poor　woman　blundered　on；　wholly　unaware　of　what　he　had　confessed。　　　〃You

see；〃　she　said；　more　quietly；　〃whatever's　going　to　be　done　ought　to　　done

right　away。　　I　went　over　and　told　Mother　Sheridan　what　I'd　heard　　about

Lamhornoh；　I　was　open　and　aboveboard！　　I　told　her　right　before　　Edith。　　I

think　it　ought　all　to　be　done　with　perfect　frankness；　because　　nobody　can　say

it　isn't　for　the　girl's　own　good　and　what　her　best　friend　　would　do。　　But

Mother　Sheridan's　under　Edith's　thumb；　and　she's　afraid　to　　ever　come　right

out　with　anything。　　Father　Sheridan's　different。　　Edith　　can　get　anything　she

wants　out　of　him　in　the　way　of　money　or　ordinary　　indulgence；　but　when　it

comes　to　a　matter　like　this　he'd　be　a　steel　　rock。　　If　it's　a　question　of　his

will　against　anybody　else's　he'd　make　　his　will　rule　if　it　killed　'em　both！

Now；　he'd　never　in　the　world　let　　Lamhorn　come　near　the　house　again　if　he　knew

his　reputation。　　So；　you　　see；　somebody's　got　to　tell　him。　　It　isn't　a　very

easy　position　for　me；　　is　it；　Miss　Vertrees？〃



〃No；〃　said　Mary；　gravely。



〃Well；　to　be　frank；〃　said　Sibyl；　smiling；　〃that's　why　I've　come　to　you。〃



〃To　ME！〃　　Mary　frowned。



Sibyl　rippled　and　cooed　again。　　〃There　isn't　ANYBODY　even　made　such　a　hit

with　Father　Sheridan　in　his　life　as　you　have。　　And　of　course　we　ALL　hope

you're　not　going　to　be　exactly　an　outsider　in　the　affairs　of　the　　family！〃

（This　sally　with　another　and　louder　effect　of　laughter。）　　〃And　　if　it's　MY

duty；　why；　in　a　way；　I　think　it　might　be　thought　yours；　too。〃



〃No；　no！〃　exclaimed　Mary；　sharply。



〃Listen；〃　said　Sibyl。　　〃Now　suppose　I　go　to　Father　Sheridan　with　this　　story；

and　Edith　says　it's　not　true；　suppose　she　says　Lamhorn　has　a　good　　reputation

and　that　I'm　repeating　irresponsible　gossip；　or　suppose　　（what's　most　likely）

she　loses　her　temper　and　says　I　invented　it；　then　　what　am　I　going　to　do？

Father　Sheridan　doesn't　know　Mrs。　Kittersby　and　　her　daughter；　and　they're　out

of　the　question；　anyway。　　But　suppose　I　　could　say：　'All　right；　if　you　want

proof；　ask　Miss　Vertrees。　　She　came　　with　me；　and　she's　waiting　in　the　next

room　right　now；　to〃



〃No；　no；〃　said　Mary；　quickly。　　〃You　mustn't〃



〃Listen　just　a　minute　more；〃　Sibyl　urged；　confidingly。　　She　was　on　easy

ground　now；　to　her　own　mind；　and　had　no　doubt　of　her　success。　　〃You　　naturally

don't　want　to　begin　by　taking　part　in　a　family　quarrel；　but　if　　YOU　take　part

in　it；　it　won't　be　one。　　You　don't　know　yourself　what　　weight　you　carry　over

there；　and　no　one　would　have　the　right　to　say　you　　did　it　except　out　of　the

purest　kindness。　　Don't　you　see　that　Jim　and　his　　father　would　admire　you　all

the　more　for　it？　　Miss　Vertrees；　listen！　　　Don't　you　see　we　OUGHT　to　do　it；

you　and　I？　　Do　you　suppose　Robert　　Lamhorn　cares　a　snap　of　his　finger　for　her？

Do　you　suppose　a　man　like　　him　would　LOOK　at　Edith　Sheridan　if　it　wasn't　for

the　money？〃　　And　again　　Sibyl's　emotion　rose　to　the　surface。　　〃I　tell　you　he's

after　nothing　on　　earth　but　to　get　his　finger　in　that　old　man's　money…pile；

over　there；　　next　door！　　He'd　marry　ANYBODY　to　do　it。　　Marry　Edith？〃　she

cried。　　〃I　　tell　you　he'd　marry　their　nigger　cook　for　THAT！〃



She　stopped；　afraidat　the　wrong　timethat　she　had　been　too　　vehement；　but　a

glace　at　Mary　reassured　her；　and　Sibyl　decided　that　she　　had　produced　the

effect　she　wished。　　Mary　was　not　looking　at　her；　she　was　　staring　straight

before　her　at　the　wall；　her　eyes　wide　and　shining。　　She　　became　visibly　a

little　paler　as　Sibyl　looked　at　her。



〃After　nothing　on　earth　but　to　get　his　finger　in　that　old　man's　　money…pile；

over　there；　next　door！〃　　The　voice　was　vulgar；　the　words　were　　vulgarand　the

plain　truth　was　vulgar！　　How　it　rang　in　Mary　Vertrees's　　ears！　　The　clear

mirror　had　caught　its　own　image　clearly　in　the　flawed　　one　at　last。



Sibyl　put　forth　her　best　bid　to　clench　the　matter。　　She　offered　her　　bargain。

〃Now　don't　you　worry；〃　she　said；　sunnily；　〃about　this　setting　　Edith　against

you。　　She'll　get　over　it　after　a　while；　anyway；　but　if　she　　tried　to　be

spiteful　and　make　it　uncomfortable　for　you　when　you　drop　in　　over　there；　or

managed　so　as　to　sort　of　leave　you　out；　why；　I've　got　a　　house；　and　Jim　likes

to　come　there。　　I　don't　THINK　Edith　WOULD　be　that　　way；　she's　too　crazy　to

have　you　take　her　around　with　the　smart　crowd；　　but　if　she　DID；　you　needn't

worry。　　And　another　thingI　guess　you　　won't　mind　Jim's　own　sister…in…law

speaking　of　it。　　Of　course；　I　don't　　know　just　how　matters　stand　between　you

and　Jim；　but　Jim　and　Roscoe　are　　about　as　much　alike　as　two　brothers　can　be；

and　Roscoe　was　very　slow　　making　up　his　mind；　sometimes　I　used　to　think　he

actually　never　WOULD。　　　Now；　what　I　mean　is；　sisters…in…law　can　do　lots　of

things　to　help　matters　　on　like　that。　　There's　lots　of　little　things　can　be

said；　and　lots〃



She　stopped；　puzzled。　　Mary　Vertrees　had　gone　from　pale　to　scarlet；　and　　now；

still　scarlet　indeed；　she　rose；　without　a　word　of　explanation；　or　　any　other

kind　of　word；　and　walked　slowly　to　the　open　door　and　out　of　the　　room。



Sibyl　was　a　little　taken　aback。　　She　supposed　Mary　had　remembered　　something

neglected　and　necessary　for　the　instruction　of　a　servant；　and　　that　she　would

return　in　a　moment；　but　it　was　rather　a　rude　excess　of　　absent…mindedness　not

to　have　excused　herself；　especially　as　her　guest　　was　talking。　　And；　Mary's

return　being　delayed；　Sibyl　found　time　to　think　　this　unprefaced　exit　odder

and　ruder　than　she　had　first　considered　it。　　　There　might　have　been　more

excuse　for　it；　she　thought；　had　she　been　　speaking　of　matters　less

importantoffering　to　do　the　girl　all　the　　kindness　in　her　power；　too！



Sibyl　yawned　and　swung　her　muff　impatiently；　she　examined　the　sole　of　her

show；　she　decided　on　a　new　shape　of　heel；　she　made　an　inventory　of　the

furniture　of　the　room；　of　the　rugs；　of　the　wall…paper　and　engravings。　　　Then

she　looked　at　her　watch　and　frowned；　went　to　a　window　and　stood　　looking　out

upon　the　brown　lawn；　then　came　back　to　the　chair　she　had　　abandoned；　and　sat

again。　　There　was　no　sound　in　the　house。



A　strange　expression　began　imperceptibly　to　alter　the　planes　of　her　face；　　and

slowly　she　grew　as　scarlet　as　Maryscarlet　to　the　ears。　　She　looked　　at　her

watch　againand　twenty…five　minutes　had　elapsed　since　she　had　　looked　at　it

before。



She　went　into　the　hall；　glanced　over　her　shoulder　oddly；　then　she　let　　herself

softly　out　of　the　front　door；　and　went　across　the　street　to　her　　own　house。



Roscoe　met　her　upon　the　threshold；　gloomily。　　〃Saw　you　from　the　window；〃　　he

explained。　　〃You　must　find　a　lot　to　say　to　that　old　lady。〃



〃What　old　lady？〃



〃Mrs。　Vertrees。　　I　been　waiting　for　you　a　long　time；　and　I　saw　the　　daughter

come　out；　fifteen　minutes　ago；　and　post　a　letter；　and　then　walk　　on　up　the

street。　　Don't　stand　out　on　the　porch；〃　he　said；　crossly。　　　〃Come　in　here。

There's　something　it's　come　time　I'll　have　to　talk　to　you　　about。　　Come　in！〃



But　as　she　was　moving　to　obey　he　glanced　across　at　his　father's　house　and

started。　　He　lifted　his　hand　to　shield　his　eyes　from　the　setting　sun；　　staring

fixedly。　　〃Something's　the　matter　over　there；〃　he　muttered；　and　　then；　more

loudly；　as　alarm　came　into　his　voice；　he　said；　〃What's　the　　matter　over

there？〃



Bibbs　dashed　out　of　the　gate　in　an　automobile　set　at　its　hightest　speed；　　and

as　he　saw　Roscoe　he　made　a　genture　singularly　eloquent　of　calamity；　　and　was

lost　at　once　in　a　cloud　of　dust　down　the　street。　　Edith　had　　followed　part　of

the　way　down　the　drive；　and　it　could　be　seen　that　she　　was　crying　bitterly。

She　lifted　both　arms　to　Roscoe；　summoning　him。



〃By　George！〃　gasped　Roscoe。　　〃I　believe　somebody's　dead！〃



And　he　started　for　the　New　House　at　a　run。





Sheridan　had　decided　to　conclude　his　day's　work　early　that　afternoon；　and　　at

about　two　o'clock　he　left　his　office　with　a　man　of　affairs　from　　foreign

parts；　who　had　traveled　far　for　a　business　conference　with　　Sheridan　and　his

colleagues。　　Herr　Favre；　in　spite　of　his　French　name；　　was　a　gentleman　of

Bavaria。　　It　was　his　first　visit　to　our　country；　and　　Sheridan　took　pleasure

in　showing　him　the　sights　of　the　country's　finest　　city。　　They　got　into　an

open　car　at　the　main　entrance　of　the　Sheridan　　Building；　and　were　driven

first；　slowly　and　momentously；　through　the　　wholesale　district　and　the　retail

district；　then　more　rapidly　they　　inspected　the　packing…houses　and　the

stock…yards；　then　skirmished　over　　the　〃park　system〃　and　〃boulevards〃；　and

after　that　whizzed　through　the　　〃residence　section〃　on　their　way　to　the

factories　and　foundries。



〃All　cray；〃　observed　Herr　Favre；　smilingly。



〃'Cray'？〃　echoed　Sheridan。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。　'Cray'？〃



〃No　white；〃　said　Herr　Favre；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　toward　the　long　rows　　of

houses　on　both　sides　of　the　street。　　〃No　white　lace　window…curtains；　　all　cray

lace　window…curtains。〃



〃Oh。　I　see！〃　　Sheridan　laughed　indulgently。　　〃You　mean　'GRAY。'　　No；　they

ain't；　they're　white。　　I　never　saw　any　gray　ones。〃



Herr　Favre　shook　his　head；　much　amused。　　〃There　are　NO　white　ones；〃　he　　said。

〃There　is　no　white　ANYTHING　in　your　city；　no　white　　window…curtains；　no　white

house；　no　white　peeble！〃　　He　pointed　upward