the turmoil-第18章

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had　causes　other　than　his　shyness　and　her　　unexpectedness。　　For　Mary　Vertrees

had　been　a　shining　figure　in　the　　little　world　of　late　given　to　the　view　of

this　humble　and　elusive　　outsider；　and　spectators　sometimes　find　their　hearts

beating　faster　than　　those　of　the　actors　in　the　spectacle。　　Thus　with　Bibbs

now。　　He　started　　and　stared；　he　lifted　his　hat　with　incredible　awkwardness；

his　fingers　　fumbling　at　his　forehead　before　they　found　the　brim。



〃Mr。　Sheridan；〃　said　Mary；　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　take　me　home　with　　you。

I〃　　She　stopped；　not　lacking　a　momentary　awkwardness　of　her　own。



〃Whywhyyes；〃　Bibbs　stammered。　　〃I'llI'll　be　deWon't　you　　get　in？〃



In　that　manner　and　in　that　place　they　exchanged　their　first　words。　　Then　　Mary

withour　more　ado　got　into　the　coupe；　and　Bibbs　followed；　closing　the　　door。



〃You're　very　kind；〃　she　said；　somewhat　breathlessly。　　〃I　should　have　had　　to

walk；　and　it's　beginning　to　get　dark。　　It's　three　miles；　I　think。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Bibbs。　　〃Itit　is　beginning　to　get　dark。　　II　noticed　　that。〃



〃I　ought　to　tell　youI〃　Mary　began；　confusedly。　　She　bit　her　lip；　　sat

silent　a　moment；　then　spoke　with　composure。　　〃It　must　seem　odd；　my〃



〃No；　no！〃　Bibbs　protested；　earnestly。　　〃Not　in　thein　the　least。〃



〃It　does；　though；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I　had　not　intended　to　come　to　the　　cemetery；

Mr。　Sheridan；　but　one　of　the　men　in　charge　at　the　house　came　　and　whispered　to

me　that　'the　family　wished　me　to'I　think　your　sister　　sent　him。　　So　I　came。

But　when　we　reached　here　Ioh；　I　felt　that　　perhaps　I〃



Bibbs　nodded　gravely。　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　murmured。



〃I　got　out　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　carriage；〃　she　continued。　　〃I　mean

opposite　fromfrom　where　all　of　you　were。　　And　I　wandered　off　over　in　　the

other　direction；　and　I　didn't　realize　how　little　timeit　takes。　　　From　where

I　was　I　couldn't　see　the　carriages　leavingat　least　I　　didn't　notice　them。

So　when　I　got　back；　just　now；　you　were　the　only　one　　here。　　I　didn't　know　the

other　people　in　the　carriage　I　came　in；　and　of　　course　they　didn't　think　to

wait　for　me。　　That's　why〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Bibbs；　〃I〃　　And　that　seemed　all　he　had　to　say　just　then。



Mary　looked　out　through　the　dusty　window。　　〃I　think　we'd　better　be　going

home；　if　you　please；〃　she　said。



〃Yes；〃　Bibbs　agreed；　not　moving。　　〃It　will　be　dark　before　we　get　there。〃



She　gave　him　a　quick　little　glance。　　〃I　think　you　must　be　very　tired；　Mr。

Sheridan；　and　I　know　you　have　reason　to　be；〃　she　said；　gently。　　〃If　　you'll

let　me；　I'll〃　　And　without　explaining　her　purpose　she　opened　　the　door　on

her　side　of　the　coupe　and　leaned　out。



Bibbs　started　in　blank　perplexity；　not　knowing　what　she　meant　to　do。



〃Driver！〃　she　called；　in　her　clear　voice；　loudly。　　〃Driver！　We'd　like　to

start；　please！　　Driver！　　Stop　at　the　house　just　north　of　Mr。　Sheridan's；

please。〃　　The　wheels　began　to　move；　and　she　leaned　back　beside　Bibbs　once

more。　　〃I　noticed　that　he　was　asleep　when　we　got　in；〃　she　said。　　　〃I　　suppose

they　have　a　great　deal　of　night　work。〃



Bibbs　drew　a　long　breath　and　waited　till　he　could　command　his　voice。　　　〃I've

never　been　able　to　apologize　quickly；〃　he　said；　with　his　accustomed　　slowness；

〃because　if　I　try　to　I　stammer。　　My　brother　Roscoe　whipped　me　　once；　when　we

were　boys；　for　stepping　on　his　slate…pencil。　　It　took　me　so　　long　to　tell　him

it　was　an　accident；　he　finished　before　I　did。〃



Mary　Vertrees　had　never　heard　anything　quite　like　the　drawling；　gentle　　voice

or　the　odd　implication　that　his　not　noticing　the　motionless　state　　of　their

vehicle　was　an　〃accident。〃　　She　had　formed　a　casual　impression　　of　him；　not

without　sympathy；　but　at　once　she　discovered　that　he　was　　unlike　any　of　her

cursory　and　vague　imaginings　of　him。　　And　suddenly　she　　saw　a　picture　he　had

not　intended　to　paint　for　sympathy：　a　sturdy　boy　　hammering　a　smaller；　sickly

boy；　and　the　sickly　boy　unresentful。　　Not　　that　picture　alone；　others　flashed

before　her。　　Instantaneously　she　had　a　　glimpse　of　Bibbs's　life　and　into　his

life。　　　She　had　a　queer　feeling；　new　　to　her　experience；　of　knowing　him

instantly。　　It　startled　her　a　litttle；　　and　then；　with　some　surprise；　she

realized　that　she　was　glad　he　had　sat　so　　long；　after　getting　into　the　coupe；

before　he　noticed　that　it　had　not　　started。　　What　she　did　not　realize；

however；　was　that　she　had　made　no　　response　to　his　apology；　and　they　passed

out　of　the　cemetery　gates；　　neither　having　spoken　again。



Bibbs　was　so　content　with　the　silence　he　did　not　know　that　it　was　　silence。

The　dusk；　gathering　in　their　small　inclosure；　was　filled　with　a　　rich　presence

for　him；　and　presently　it　was　so　dark　that　neither　of　the　　two　could　see　the

other；　nor　did　even　their　garments　touch。　　But　neither　　had　any　sense　of　being

alone。　　The　wheels　creaked　steadily；　rumbling　　presently　on　paved　streeets；

there　were　the　sounds；　as　from　a　distance；　of　　the　plod…plod　of　the　horses；

and　sometimes　the　driver　became　audible；　　coughing　asthmatically；　or　saying；

〃You；　JOE！〃　with　a　spiritless　flap　of　　the　whip　upon　an　unresponsive　back。

Oblongs　of　light　from　the　lamps　at　　street…corners　came　swimming　into　the

interior　of　the　coupe　and；　thinning　　rapidly　to　lances；　passed　utterly；

leaving　greater　darkness。　　And　yet　　neither　of　these　two　last　attendants　at

Jim　Sheridan's　funeral　broke　the　　silence。



It　was　Mary　who　preceived　the　strangeness　of　ittoo　late。　　Abruptly　　she

realized　that　for　an　indefinite　interval　she　had　been　thinking　of　her

companion　and　not　talking　to　him。　　〃Mr。　Sheridan；〃　she　began；　not　knowing

what　she　was　going　to　say；　but　impelled　to　say　anything；　as　she　realized　　the

queerness　of　this　drive〃Mr。　Sheridan；　I〃



The　coupe　stopped。　　〃You；　JOE！〃　said　the　driver；　reproachfully；　and　　climbed

down　and　opened　the　door。



〃What's　the　trouble？〃　Bibbs　inquired。



〃Lady　said　stop　at　the　first　house　north　of　Mr。　Sheridan's；　sir。〃



Mary　was　incredulous；　she　felt　that　it　couldn't　be　true　and　that　it　　mustn't

be　true　that　they　had　driven　all　the　way　without　speaking。



〃What？〃　Bibbs　demanded。



〃We're　there；　sir；〃　said　the　driver；　sympathetically。　　〃Next　house　north　　of

Mr。　Sheridan's。〃



Bibbs　descended　to　the　curb。　　〃Why；　yes；〃　he　said。　　〃Yes；　you　seem　to　be

right。〃　　And　while　he　stood　staring　at　the　dimly　illuminated　front　　windows　of

Mr。　Vertrees's　house　Mary　got　out；　unassisted。



〃Let　me　help　you；〃　said　Bibbs；　stepping　toward　her　mechanically；　and　she　　was

several　feet　from　the　coupe　when　he　spoke。



〃Oh　no；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I　think　I　can〃　　She　meant　that　she　could　get　　out

of　the　coupe　without　help；　but；　perceiving　that　she　had　already　　accomplished

this　feat；　she　decided　not　to　complete　the　sentence。



〃You；　JOE！〃　cried　the　driver；　angrily；　climbing　to　his　box。　　And　he　　rumbled

away　at　his　team's　best　pacea　snail's。



〃Thank　you　for　bringing　me　home；　Mr。　Sheridan；〃　said　Mary；　stiffly。　　She　　did

not　offer　her　hand。　　〃Good　night。〃



〃Good　night；〃　Bibbs　said　in　response；　and；　turning　with　her；　walked　　beside

her　to　the　door。　　Mary　made　that　a　short　walk；　she　almost　ran。　　　Realization

of　the　queerness　of　their　drive　was　growing　upon　her；　　beginning　to　shock　her；

she　stepped　aside　from　the　light　that　fell　　through　the　glass　panels　of　the

door　and　withheld　her　hand　as　it　touched　　the　old…fashioned　bell…handle。



〃I'm　quite　safe；　thank　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　emphasis。　　〃Good　night。〃



〃Good　night；〃　said　Bibbs；　and　went　obediently。　　When　he　reached　the　　street　he

looked　back；　but　she　had　vanished　within　the　house。



Moving　slowly　away；　he　caromed　against　two　people　who　were　turning　out　　from

the　pavement　to　cross　the　street。　　They　were　Roscoe　and　his　wife。



〃Where　are　your　eyes；　Bibbs？〃　demanded　Roscoe。　　〃Sleep…walking；　as　usual？〃



But　Sibyl　took　the　wanderer　by　the　arm。　　〃Come　over　to　our　house　for　a　　little

while；　Bibbs；〃　she　urged。　　〃I　want　to〃



〃No；　I'd　better〃



〃Yes。　　I　want　you　to。　　Your　father's　gone　to　bed；　and　they're　all　quiet　　over

thereall　worn　out。　　Just　come　for　a　minute。〃



He　yielded；　and　when　they　were　in　the　house　she　repeated　herself　with　　real

feeling：　〃'All　worn　out！'　　Well；　if　anybody　is；　YOU　are；　Bibbs！　　And　　I　don't

wonder；　you've　done　every　bit　of　the　work　of　it。　　You　mustn't　get　　down　sick

again。　　I'm　going　to　make　you　take　a　little　brandy。〃



He　let　her　have　her　own　way；　following　her　into　the　dining…room；　and　was

grateful　when　she　brought　him　a　tiny　glass　filled　from　one　of　the　　decanters

on　the　sideboard。　　Roscoe　gloomily　poured　for　himself　a　much　　heavier　libation

in　a　larger　glass；　and　the　two　men　sat；　while　Sibyl　　leaned　against　the

sideboard；　reviewing　the　episodes　of　the　day　and　　recalling　the　names　of　the

donors　of　flowers　and　wreaths。　　She　pressed　　Bibbs　to　remain　longer　when　he

rose　to　go；　and　then；　as　he　persisted；　she　　went　with　him　to　the　front　door。

He　opened　it；　and　she　said：



〃Bibbs；　you　were　coming　out　of　the　Vertreeses'　house　when　we　met　you。　　　How

did　you　happen　to　be　there？〃



〃I　had　only　been　to　the　door；〃　he　said。　　〃Good　night；　Sibyl。〃



〃Wait；〃　she　insisted。　　〃We　saw　you　coming　out。〃



〃I　wasn't；〃　he　explained；　moving　to　depart。　　〃I'd　just　brought　Miss　　Vertrees

home。〃



〃What？〃　she　cried。



〃Yes；〃　he　said；　and　stepped　out　upon　the　porch；　〃that　was　it。　　Good　　night；

Sibyl。〃



〃Wait！〃　she　said；　following　him　across　the　threshold。　　〃How　did　that　　happen？

I　thought　you　were　going　to　wait　while　those　men　filled　the　the〃　　She

paused；　but　moved　nearer　him　insistently。



〃I　did　wait。　　Miss　Vertrees　was　there；〃　he　said；　reluctantly。　　〃She　had

walked　away　for　a　while　and　didn't　notice　that　the　carriages　were　　leaving。

When　she　came　back　the　coupe　waiting　for　me　was　the　only　one　left。〃



She　regarded　him　with　dilating　eyes。　　She　spoke　with　a　slow　　breathlessness。

〃And　she　drove　home　from　Jim's　funeralwith　you！〃



Without　warning　she　burst　into　laughter；　clapped　her　hand　ineffectually　　over

her　mouth；　and　ran　back　uproariously　into　the　house；　hurling　the　　door　shut

behind　her。





Bibbs　went　home　pondering。　　He　did　not　understand　why　Sibyl　had　laughed。　　　The

laughter　itself　had　been　spontaneous　and　beyond　suspicion；　but　it　　seemed　to

him　that　she　had　only　affected　to　effort　to　suppress　it　and　　that　she　wished

it　to　be　significant。　　Significant　of　what？　　And　why　had　　she　wished　to

impress　upon　him　the　fact　of　her　overwhelming　amusement？　　　He　found　no　answer；

but　she　had　succeeded　in　disturbing　him；　and　he　　wished　that　he　had　not

encountered　her。



At　home；　uncles；　aunts；　and　cousins　from　out　of　town　were　wandering　about　　the

house；　several　mournfully　admiring　the　〃Bay　of　Naples；〃　and　others　　occupied

with　the　Moor　and　the　plumbing；　while　they　waited　for　trains。　　　Edith　and　her

mother　had　retired　to　some　upper　fastness；　but　Bibbs　　interviewed　Jackson　and

had　the　various　groups　of　relatives　summoned　to　　the　dining…room　for　food。

On