the turmoil-第2章

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syllable　of　explanation；　even　under　the　lash。　　This　obvious　thing　was　wholly　a

mystery　to　both　parents；　the　mother　was　nonplussed；　failed　to　trace　and

connect；　and　the　father　regarded　his　son　as　a　stubborn　and　mysterious　fool；　an

impression　not　effaced　as　the　years　went　by。



At　twenty…two；　Bibbs　was　physically　no　more　than　the　outer　scaffolding　of　a

man；　waiting　for　the　building　to　begin　insidea　long…shanked；　long…faced；

rickety　youth；　sallow　and　hollow　and　haggard；　dark…haired　and　dark…eyed；　with

a　peculiar　expression　of　countenance；　indeed；　at　first　sight　of　Bibbs　Sheridan

a　stranger　might　well　be　solicitous；　for　he　seemed　upon　the　point　of　tears。

But　to　a　slightly　longer　gaze；　not　grief；　but　mirth；　was　revealed　as　his

emotion；　while　a　more　searching　scrutiny　was　proportionately　more　puzzlinghe

seemed　about　to　burst　out　crying　or　to　burst　out　laughing；　one　or　the　other；

inevitably；　but　it　was　impossible　to　decide　which。　　And　Bibbs　never；　on　any

occassion　of　his　life；　either　laughed　aloud　or　wept。



He　was　a　〃disappointment〃　to　his　father。　　At　least　that　was　the　parent's　word

a　confirmed　and　established　word　after　his　first　attempt　to　make　a　〃business

man〃　of　the　boy。　　He　sent　Bibbs　to　〃begin　at　the　bottom　and　learn　from　the

ground　up〃　in　the　machine…shop　of　the　Sheridan　Automatic　Pump　Works；　and　at

the　end　of　six　months　the　family　physician　sent　Bibbs　to　begin　at　the　bottom

and　learn　from　the　ground　up　in　a　sanitarium。



〃You　needn't　worry；　mamma；〃　Sheridan　told　his　wife。　〃There's　nothin'　the

matter　with　Bibbs　except　he　hates　work　so　much　it　makes　him　sick。　　I　put　him

in　the　machine…shop；　and　I　guess　I　know　what　I'm　doin'　about　as　well　as　the

next　man。　　Ole　Doc　Gurney　always　was　one　o'　them　nutty　alarmists。　　Does　he

think　I'd　do　anything　'd　be　bad　for　my　own　flesh　and　blood？　　He　makes　me

tired！〃



Anything　except　perfectly　definite　health　or　perfectly　definite　disease　was

incomprehensible　to　Sheridan。　　He　had　a　genuine　conviction　that　lack　of

physical　persistence　in　any　task　involving　money　must　be　due　to　some　subtle

weakness　of　character　itself；　to　some　profound　shiftlessness　or　slyness。　　He

understood　typhoid　fever；　pheumonia；　and　appendicitisone　had　them；　and

either　died　or　got　over　them　and　went　back　to　workbut　when　the　word

〃nervous〃　appeared　in　a　diagnosis　he　became　honestly　suspicious：　he　had　the

feeling　that　there　was　something　contemptible　about　it；　that　there　was　a

nigger　in　the　wood…pile　somewhere。



〃Look　at　me；〃　he　said。　　〃Look　at　what　I　did　at　his　age！　　Why；　when　I　was

twenty　years　old；　wasn't　I　up　every　morning　at　four　o'clock　choppin'　wood

yes！　and　out　in　the　dark　and　the　snowto　build　a　fire　in　a　country　grocery

store？　　And　here　Bibbs　has　to　go　and　have　a　DOCTOR　because　he　can'tPho！　it

makes　me　tired！　　If　he'd　gone　at　it　like　a　man　he　wouldn't　be　sick。〃



He　paced　the　bedroomthe　usual　setting　for　such　parental　discussionsin　his

nightgown；　shaking　his　big；　grizzled　head　and　gesticulating　to　his　bedded

spouse。　　〃My　Lord！〃　he　said。　　〃If　a　little；　teeny　bit　o'　work　like　this　is　too

much　for　him；　why；　he　ain't　fit　for　anything！　　It's　nine…tenths　imagination；

and　the　rest　of　itwell；　I　won't　say　it's　deliberate；　but　I　WOULD　like　to

know　just　how　much　of　it's　put　on！〃



〃Bibbs　didn't　want　the　doctor；〃　said　Mrs。　Sheridan。　　〃It　was　when　he　was　here

to　dinner　that　night；　and　noticed　how　he　couldn't　eat　anything。　　Honey；　you

better　come　to　bed。〃



〃Eat！〃　he　snorted。　　〃Eat！　It's　work　that　makes　men　eat！　　And　it's　imagination

that　keeps　people　from　eatin'。　　Busy　men　don't　get　time　for　that　kind　of

imagination；　and　there's　another　thing　you'll　notice　about　good　health；　if

you'll　take　the　trouble　to　look　around　you；　Mrs。　Sheridan：　busy　men　haven't

got　time　to　be　sick　and　they　don't　GET　sick。　　You　just　think　it　over　and

you'll　find　that　ninety…nine　per　cent。　of　the　sick　people　you　know　are　either

women　or　loafers。　　Yes；　ma'am！〃



〃Honey；〃　she　said　again；　drowsily；　〃you　better　come　to　bed。〃



〃Look　at　the　other　boys；〃　her　husband　bade　her。　　〃Look　at　Jim　and　Roscoe。　Look

at　how　THEY　work！　　There　isn't　a　shiftless　bone　in　their　bodies。　　Work　never

made　Jim　or　Roscoe　sick。　　Jim　takes　half　the　load　off　my　shoulders　already。

Right　now　there　isn't　a　harder…workin'；　brighter　business　man　in　this　city

than　Jim。　　I've　pushed　him；　but　he　give　me　something　to　push　AGAINST。　　You

can't　push　'nervous　dyspepsia'！　　And　look　at　Roscoe；　just　LOOK　at　what　that

boy's　done　for　himself；　and　barely　twenty…seven　years　old　married；　got　a

fine　wife；　and　ready　to　build　for　himself　with　his　own　money；　when　I　put　up

the　New　House　for　you　and　Edie。〃



〃Papa；　you'll　catch　cold　in　your　bare　feet；〃　she　murmured。　　〃You　better　come

to　bed。〃



〃And　I'm　just　as　proud　of　Edie；　for　a　girl；〃　he　continued；　emphatically；　〃as　I

am　of　Jim　and　Roscoe　for　boys。　　She'll　make　some　man　a　mighty　good　wife　when

the　time　comes。　　She's　the　prettiest　and　talentedest　girl　in　the　United

States！　　Look　at　that　poem　she　wrote　when　she　was　in　school　and　took　the　prize

with；　it's　the　best　poem　I　ever　read　in　my　life；　and　she'd　never　even　tried　to

write　one　before。　　It's　the　finest　thing　I　ever　read；　and　R。　T。　Bloss　said　so；

too；　and　I　guess　he's　a　good　enough　literary　judge　for　me　turns　out　more

advertisin'　liter'cher　than　any　man　in　the　city。　　I　tell　you　she's　smart！

Look　at　the　way　she　worked　me　to　get　me　to　promise　the　New　Houseand　I　guess

you　had　your　finger　in　that；　too；　mamma！　　This　old　shack's　good　enough　for　me；

but　you　and　little　Edie　'll　have　to　have　your　way。　I'll　get　behind　her　and

push　her　the　same　as　I　will　Jim　and　Roscoe。　　I　tell　you　I'm　mighty　proud　o'

them　three　chuldern！　　But　Bibbs〃　　He　paused；　shaking　his　head。　　〃Honest；

mamma；　when　I　talk　to　men　that　got　ALL　their　boys　doin'　well　and　worth　their

salt；　why；　I　have　to　keep　my　mind　on　Jim　and　Roscoe　and　forget　about　Bibbs。〃



Mrs。　Sheridan　tossed　her　head　fretfully　upon　the　pillow。　　〃You　did　the　best

you　could；　papa；〃　she　said；　impatiently；　〃so　come　to　bed　and　quit　reproachin'

youself　for　it。〃



He　glared　at　her　indignantly。　　〃Reproachin'　myself！〃　he　snorted。　　〃I　ain't

doin'　anything　of　the　kind！　　What　in　the　name　o'　goodness　would　I　want　to

reproach　myself　for？　　And　it　wasn't　the　'best　I　could；'　either。　　It　was　the

best　ANYBODY　could！　　I　was　givin'　him　a　chance　to　show　what　was　in　him　and

make　a　man　of　himselfand　here　he　goes　and　gets　'nervous　dyspepsia'　on　me！〃



He　went　to　the　old…fashioned　gas…fixture；　turned　out　the　light；　and　muttered

his　way　morosely　into　bed。



〃What？〃　said　his　wife；　crossly；　bothered　by　a　subsequent　mumbling。



〃More　like　hook…worm；　I　said；〃　he　explained；　speaking　louder。　　〃I　don't　know

what　to　do　with　him！〃





Beginning　at　the　beginning　and　learning　from　the　ground　up　was　a　long　course

for　Bibbs　at　the　sanitarium；　with　milk　and　〃zwieback〃　as　the　basis　of

instruction；　and　the　months　were　many　and　tiresome　before　he　was　considered

near　enough　graduation　to　go　for　a　walk　leaning　on　a　nurse　and　a　cane。　　These

and　subsequent　months　saw　the　planning；　the　building；　and　the　completion　of

the　New　House；　and　it　was　to　that　abode　of　Bigness　that　Bibbs　was　brought　when

the　cane；　without　the　nurse；　was　found　sufficient　to　his　support。



Edith　met　him　at　the　station。　　〃Well；　well；　Bibbs！〃　she　said；　as　he　came

slowly　through　the　gates；　the　last　of　all　the　travelers　from　that　train。　　She

gave　his　hand　a　brisk　little　shake；　averting　her　eyes　after　a　quick　glance　at

him；　and　turning　at　once　toward　the　passage　to　the　street。　　〃Do　you　think　they

ought　to　've　let　you　come？　　You　certainly　don't　look　well！〃



〃But　I　certainly　do　look　better；〃　he　returned；　in　a　voice　as　slow　as　his　gait；

a　drawl　that　was　a　necessity；　for　when　Bibbs　tried　to　speak　quickly　he

stammered。　　〃Up　to　about　a　month　ago　it　took　two　people　to　see　me。　　They　had

to　get　me　in　a　line　between　'em！〃



Edith　did　not　turn　her　eyes　directly　toward　him　again；　after　her　first　quick

glance；　and　her　expression；　in　spite　of　her；　showed　a　faint；　troubled

distaste；　the　look　of　a　healthy　person　pressed　by　some　obligation　of　business

to　visit　a　〃bad〃　ward　in　a　hospital。　　She　was　nineteen；　fair　and　slim；　with

small；　unequal　features；　but　a　prettiness　of　color　and　a　brilliancy　of　eyes

that　created　a　total　impression　close　upon　beauty。　　Her　movements　were　eager

and　restless：　there　was　something　about　her；　as　kind　old　ladies　say；　that　was

very　sweet；　and　there　was　something　that　was　hurried　and　breathless。　　This　was

new　to　Bibbs；　it　was　a　perceptible　change　since　he　had　last　seen　her；　and　he

bent　upon　her　a　steady；　whimsical　scrutiny　as　they　stood　at　the　curb；　waiting

for　an　automobile　across　the　street　to　disengage　itself　from　the　traffic。



〃That's　the　new　car；〃　she　said。　　〃Everything's　new。　　We've　got　four　now；

besides　Jim's。　　Roscoe's　got　two。〃



〃Edith；　you　look〃　he　began；　and　paused。



〃Oh；　WE're　all　well；〃　she　said；　briskly；　and　then；　as　if　something　in　his　tone

had　caught　her　as　significant；　〃Well；　HOW　do　I　look；　Bibbs？〃



〃You　look〃　　He　paused　again；　taking　in　the　full　length　of　herher　trim

brown　shoes；　her　scant；　tapering；　rough　skirt；　and　her　coat　of　brown　and

green；　her　long　green　tippet　and　her　mad　little　rough　hat　in　the　mad　mode

all　suited　to　the　October　day。



〃How　do　I　look？〃　she　insisted。



〃You　look；〃　he　answered；　as　his　examination　ended　upon　an　incrusted　watch　of

platinum　and　enamel　at　her　wrist；　〃you　lookexpensive！〃　　That　was　a

substitute　for　what　he　intended　to　say；　for　her　constraint　and　preoccupation；

manifested　particularly　in　her　keeping　her　direct　glance　away　from　him；　did

not　seem　to　grant　the　privilege　of　impulsive　intimacies。



〃I　expect　I　am！〃　she　laughed；　and　sidelong　caught　the　direction　of　his　glance。

〃Of　course　I　oughtn't　to　wear　it　in　the　daytimeit's　an　evening　thing；　for

the　theaterby　my　day　wrist…watch　is　out　of　gear。　　Bobby　Lamhorn　broke　it

yesterday；　he's　a　regular　rowdy　sometimes。　　Do　you　want　Claus　to　help　you　in？〃



〃Oh　no；〃　said　Bibbs。　　〃I'm　alive。〃　　And　after　a　fit　of　panting　subsequent　to

his　climbing　into　the　car　unaided；　he　added；　〃Of　course；　I　have　to　TELL

people！〃



〃We　only　got　your　telegram　this　morning；〃　she　said；　as　they　began　to　move

rapidly　through　the　〃wholesale　district〃　neighboring　the　station。　　〃Mother

said　she'd　hardly　expected　you　this　month。〃



〃They　seemed　to　be　through　with　me　up　there　in　the　country；〃　he　explained；

gently。　　〃At　least　they　said　they　were；　and　they　wouldn't　keep　me　any　longer；

because　so　many　really　sick　people　wanted　to　get　in。　　They　told　me　to　go　home

and　I　didn't　have　any　place　else　to　go。　　It　'll　be　all　right；　Edith；　I'll

sit　in　the　woodshed　until　after　dark　every　day。〃



〃Pshaw！〃　　She　laughed　nervously。　　〃Of　course　we're　all　of　us　glad　to　have　you

back。〃



〃Yes？〃　he　said。　　〃Father？〃



〃Of　course！　　Didn't　he　write　and　tell　you　to　come　home？〃　　She　did　not　turn　to

him