the turmoil-第20章

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he　can't　stand　any　morehe　just　can't！　　Whatever　he　　says　for　you　to　do；　you

DO　it；　Bibbs；　you　DO　it！　　I　want　you　to　promise　　me　you　will。〃



〃I　would　if　I　could；〃　he　said；　sorrowfully。



〃No；　no！　　Why　can't　you？〃　she　cried；　clutching　his　arm。　　〃He　wants　you　to　　go

back　to　the　machine…shop　and〃



〃And'like　it！〃　said　Bibbs。



〃Yes；　that's　itto　go　in　a　cheerful　spirit。　　Dr。　Gurney　said　it　　wouldn't

hurt　you　if　you　went　in　a　cheerful　spiritthe　doctor　said　　that　himself；

Bibbs。　　So　why　can't　you　do　it？　　Can't　you　do　that　much　for　　your　father？　　You

ought　to　think　what　he's　done　for　YOU。　　You　got　a　　beautiful　house　to　live　in；

you　got　automobiles　to　ride　in；　you　got　fur　　coats　and　warm　clothes；　you　been

taken　care　of　all　your　life。　　And　you　　don't　KNOW　how　he　worked　for　the　money

to　give　all　these　things　to　you！　　　You　don't　DREAM　what　he　had　to　go　through

and　what　he　risked　when　we　were　　startin'　out　in　life；　and　you　never　WILL

know！　　And　now　this　blow　has　　fallen　on　him　out　of　a　clear　sky；　and　you　make

it　out　to　be　a　hardship　to　　do　like　he　wants　you　to！　　And　all　on　earth　he　asks

is　for　you　to　go　back　　to　the　work　in　a　cheerful　spirit；　so　it　won't　hurt　you！

That's　all　he　　asks。　　Look；　Bibbs；　we're　gettin'　back　near　home；　but　before　we

get　there　　I　want　you　to　promise　me　that　you'll　do　what　he　asks　you　to。

Promise　　me！〃



In　her　earnestness　she　cleared　away　her　black　veil　that　she　might　see　　him

better；　and　it　blew　out　on　the　smoky　wind。　　He　readjusted　it　for　her　　before

he　spoke。



〃I'll　go　back　in　as　cheerful　a　spirit　as　I　can；　mother；〃　he　said。



〃There！〃　she　exclaimed；　satisfied。　　〃That's　a　good　boy！　　That's　all　I　　wanted

you　to　say。〃



〃Don't　give　me　any　credit；〃　he　said；　ruefully。　　〃There　isn't　anything　　else

for　me　to　do。〃



〃Now；　don't　begin　talkin'　THAT　way！〃



〃No；　no；〃　he　soothed　her。　　〃We'll　have　to　begin　to　make　the　spirit　a　　cheerful

one。　　We　may〃　　They　were　turning　into　their　own　driveway　as　　he　spoke；　and

he　glanced　at　the　old　house　next　door。　　Mary　Vertrees　was　　visible　in　the

twilight；　standing　upon　the　front　steps；　bareheaded；　the　　door　open　behind

her。　　She　bowed　gravely。



〃'We　may'what？〃　asked　Mrs。　Sheridan；　with　a　slight　impatience。



〃What　is　it；　mother？〃



〃You　said；　'We　may；'　and　didn't　finish　what　you　were　sayin'。〃



〃Did　I？〃　said　Bibbs；　blankly。　　〃Well；　what　WERE　we　saying？〃



〃Of　all　the　queer　boys！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　always　were。　　Always！　　You　　haven't

forgot　what　you　just　promised　me；　have　you？〃



〃No；〃　he　answered；　as　the　car　stopped。　　〃No；　the　spirit　will　be　as　　cheerful

as　the　flesh　will　let　it；　mother。　　It　won't　do　to　behave　like〃



His　voice　was　low；　and　in　her　movement　to　descend　from　the　car　she　failed　　to

here　his　final　words。



〃Behave　like　who；　Bibbs？〃



〃Nothing。〃



But　she　was　fretful　in　her　grief。　　〃You　said　it　wouldn't　do　to　behave　　like

SOMEBODY。　　Behave　like　WHO？〃



〃It　was　just　nonsense；〃　he　explained；　turning　to　go　in。　　〃An　obscure　　person　I

don't　think　much　of　lately。〃



〃Behave　like　WHO？〃　she　repeated；　and　upon　his　yielding　to　her　petulant

insistence；　she　made　up　her　mind　that　the　only　thing　to　do　was　to　tell　　Dr。

Gurney　about　it。



〃Like　Bildad　the　Shuhite！〃　was　what　Bibbs　said。





The　outward　usualness　of　things　continued　after　dinner。　　It　was　　Sheridan's

custom　to　read　the　evening　paper　beside　the　fire　in　the　　library；　while　his

wife；　sitting　near　by；　either　sewed　（from　old　habit）　　or　allowed　herself　to　be

repeatedly　baffled　by　one　of　the　simpler　forms　　of　solitaire。　　To…night　she

did　neither；　but　sat　in　her　customary　chair；　　gazing　at　the　fire；　while

Sheridan　let　the　unfolded　paper　rest　upon　his　　lap；　though　now　and　then　he

lifted　it；　as　if　to　read；　and　let　it　fall　　back　upon　his　knees　again。　　Bibbs

came　in　noiselessly　and　sat　in　a　　corner；　doing　nothing；　and　from　a

〃reception…room〃　across　the　hall　an　　indistinct　vocal　murmur　became　just

audible　at　intervals。　　Once；　when　　this　murmur　grew　louder；　under　stress　of

some　irrepressible　merriment；　　Edith's　voice　could　be　heard〃Bobby；　aren't

you　awful！〃　and　Sheridan　　glanced　across　at　his　wife　appealingly。



She　rose　at　once　and　went　into　the　〃reception…room〃；　there　was　a　flurry　　of

whispering；　and　the　sound　of　tiptoeing　in　the　hallEdith　and　her　　suitor

changing　quarters　to　a　more　distant　room。　　Mrs。　Sheridan　returned　　to　her

chair　in　the　library。



〃They　won't　bother　you　any　more；　papa；〃　she　said；　in　a　comforting　voice。

〃She　told　me　at　lunch　he'd　'phoned　he　wanted　to　come　up　this　evening；　and　　I

said　I　thought　he'd　better　wait　a　few　days；　but　she　said　she'd　already　　told

him　he　could。〃　　She　paused；　then　added；　rather　guiltily：　〃I　got　kind　　of　a

notion　maybe　Roscoe　don't　like　him　as　much　as　he　used　to。　　Maybe　maybe　you

better　ask　Roscoe；　papa。〃　　And　as　Sheridan　nodded　solemnly；　she　　concluded；　in

haste：　〃Don't　say　I　said　to。　　I　might　be　wrong　about　it；　　anyway。〃



He　nodded　again；　and　they　sat　for　some　time　in　a　silence　which　Mrs。　　Sheridan

broke　with　a　little　sniff；　having　fallen　into　a　reverie　that　　brought　tears。

〃That　Miss　Vertrees　was　a　good　girl；〃　she　said。　　〃SHE　was　　all　right。〃



Her　husband　evidently　had　no　difficulty　in　following　her　train　of　　thought；

for　he　nodded　once　more；　affirmatively。



〃Did　youHow　did　you　fix　it　about　thethe　Realty　Company？〃　she　　faltered。

〃Did　you



He　rose　heavily；　helping　himself　to　his　feet　by　the　arms　of　his　chair。　　　〃I

fixed　it；〃　he　said；　in　a　husky　voice。　　〃I　moved　Cantwell　up；　and　put　　Johnston

in　Cantwell's　place；　and　split　up　Johnston's　work　among　the　four　　men　with

salaries　high　enough　to　take　it。〃　　He　went　to　her；　put　his　hand　　upon　her

shoulder；　and　drew　a　long；　audible；　tremulous　breath。　　〃It's　my　　bedtime；

mamma；　I'm　goin'　up。〃　　He　dropped　the　hand　from　her　shoulder　and　　moved　slowly

away；　but　when　he　reached　the　door　he　stopped　and　spoke　　again；　without

turning　to　look　at　her。　　〃The　Realty　Company　'll　go　right　　on　just　the　same；〃

he　said。　　〃It's　likeit's　like　sand；　mamma。　　It　　puts　me　in　mind　of　chuldern

playin'　in　a　sand…pile。　　One　of　'em　sticks　　his　finger　in　the　sand　and　makes　a

hole；　and　another　of　'em　'll　pat　the　　place　with　his　hand；　and　all　the　little

grains　of　sand　run　in　and　fill　it　　up　and　settle　against　one　another；　and

then；　right　away　it's　flat　on　top　　again；　and　you　can't　tell　there　ever　was　a

hole　there。　　The　Realty　Company　　'll　go　on　all　right；　mamma。　　There　ain't

anything　anywhere；　I　reckon；　　that　wouldn't　go　right　onjust　the　same。〃



And　he　passed　out　slowly　into　the　hall；　then　they　heard　his　heavy　tread　　upon

the　stairs。



Mrs。　Sheridan；　rising　to　follow　him；　turned　a　piteous　face　to　her　son。　　　〃It's

so　forlong；〃　she　said；　chokingly。　　〃That's　the　first　time　he　spoke　　since　he

came　in　the　house　this　evening。　　I　know　it　must　'a'　hurt　him　to　　hear　Edith

laughin'　with　that　Lamhorn。　　She'd　oughtn't　to　let　him　come；　　right　the　very

first　evening　this　way；　she'd　oughtn't　to　done　it！　　She　　just　seems　to　lose

her　head　over　him；　and　it　scares　me。　　You　heard　what　　Sibyl　said　the　other

day；　andand　you　heard　whatwhat〃



〃What　Edith　said　to　Sibyl？〃　　Bibbs　finished　the　sentence　for　her。



〃We　CAN'T　have　any　trouble　o'　THAT　kind！〃　she　wailed。　　〃Oh；　it　looks　as　if

movin'　up　to　this　New　House　had　brought　us　awful　bad　luck！　　It　scares　　me！〃

She　put　both　her　hands　over　her　face。　　〃Oh；　Bibbs；　Bibbs！　if　you　　only　wasn't

so　QUEER！　　If　you　could　only　been　a　kind　of　dependable　son！　　　I　don't　know

what　we're　all　comin'　to！〃　　And；　weeping；　she　followed　her　　husband。



Bibbs　gazed　for　a　while　at　the　fire；　then　he　rose　abruptly；　like　a　man　　who

has　come　to　a　decision；　and　briskly　sought　the　roomit　was　called　　〃the

smoking…room〃where　Edith　sat　with　Mr。　Lamhorn。　　They　looked　up　　in　no

welcoming　manner；　at　Bibbs's　entrance；　and　moved　their　chairs　to　a　　less

conspicuous　adjacency。



〃Good　evening；〃　said　Bibbs；　pleasantly；　and　he　seated　himself　in　a　　leather

easy…chair　near　them。



〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Edith；　plainly　astonished。



〃Nothing；〃　he　returned；　smiling。



She　frowned。　　〃Did　you　want　something？〃　she　asked。



〃Nothing　in　the　world。　　Father　and　mother　have　gone　up…stairs；　I　sha'n't　　be

going　up　for　several　hours；　and　there　didn't　seem　to　be　anybody　left　　for　me

to　chat　with　except　you　and　Mr。　Lamhorn。〃



〃'CHAT　with'！〃　she　echoed；　incredulously。



〃I　can　talk　about　almost　anything；〃　said　Bibbs　with　an　air　of　genial

politeness。　　〃It　doesn't　matter　to　ME。　　I　don't　know　much　about　business　　if

that's　what　you　happened　to　be　talking　about。　　But　you　aren't　in　　business；

are　you；　Mr。　Lamhorn。



〃Not　now；〃　returned　Lamhorn；　shortly。



〃I'm　not；　either；〃　said　Bibbs。　　〃It　was　getting　cloudier　than　usual；　I

noticed；　just　before　dark；　and　there　was　wind　from　the　southwest。　　Rain

to…morrow；　I　shouldn't　be　surprised。〃



He　seemed　to　feel　that　he　had　begun　a　conversation　the　support　of　which　　had

now　become　the　pleasurable　duty　of　other　parties；　and　he　sat　　expectantly；

looking　first　at　his　sister；　then　at　Lamhorn；　as　if　implying　　that　it　was

their　turn　to　speak。　　Edith　returned　his　gaze　with　a　mixture　　of　astonishment

and　increasing　anger；　while　Mr。　Lamhorn　was　obviously　　disturbed；　though　Bibbs

had　been　as　considerate　as　possible　in　presenting　　the　weather　as　a　topic。

Bibbs　had　perceived　that　Lamhorn　had　nothing　in　　his　mind　at　any　time　except

〃personalities〃he　could　talk　about　people　　and　he　could　make　love。　　Bibbs；

wishing　to　be　courteous；　offered　the　weather。



Lamhorn　refused　it；　and　concluded　from　Bibbs's　luxurious　attitude　in　the

leather　chair　that　this　half…crazy　brother　was　a　permanent　fixture　for　　the

rest　of　the　evening。　　There　was　not　reason　to　hope　that　he　would　　move；　and

Lamhorn　found　himself　in　danger　of　looking　silly。



〃I　was　just　going；〃　he　said；　rising。



〃Oh　NO！〃　Edith　cried；　sharply。



〃Yes。　　Good　night！　　I　think　I〃



〃Too　bad；〃　said　Bibbs；　genially；　walking　to　the　door　with　the　visitor；　　while

Edith　stood　staring　as　the　two　disappeared　in　the　hall。　　She　heard　　Bibbs

offering　to　〃help〃　Lamhorn　with　his　overcoat　and　the　latter　rather　　curtly

declining　assistance；　these　episodes　of　departure　being　followed　　by　the

closing　of　the　outer　door。　　She　ran　into　the　hall。



〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　she　cried；　furiously。　　〃What　do　you　MEAN？　　　How

did　you　dare　come　in　there　when　you　knew〃



Her　voice　broke；　she　made　a　gesture　of　rage　and　despair；　and　ran　up　the

stairs；　sobbing。　　She　fled　to　her　mother's　room；　and　when　Bibbs　came　up；　　a

few　minutes　later；　Mrs。　Sheridan　met　him　at　his　door。



〃Oh；　Bibbs；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head　woefully；　〃you'd　oughtn't　to　　distress

your　sister！　　She　says　you　drove　that　young　man　right　out　of　the　　house。

You'd　ought　to　been　more　considerate。〃



Bibbs　smiled　faintly；　noting　that　Edith's　door　was　open；　with　Edith's　　naive

shadow　motionless　across　its　threshold。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　　〃