the turmoil-第24章

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thethe　coal　matter　andabout　Tilly。　　Of　course　the　piano　will　take　　care　of

some　things　like　those　for　a　while　and〃



〃I　don't　like　it。　　I　gave　her　the　piano　to　play　on；　not　to〃



〃You　mustn't　be　distressed　about　it　in　ONE　way；〃　she　said；　comfortingly。

〃She　arranged　with　thewith　the　purchaser　that　the　men　will　come　for　　it

about　half　after　five　in　the　afternoon。　　The　days　are　so　short　now　　it's

really　quite　winter。〃



〃Oh；　yes；〃　he　agreed；　moodily。　　〃So　far　as　that　goes　people　have　a　right　　to

move　a　piece　of　furniture　without　stirring　up　the　neighbors；　I　　suppose；　even

by　daylight。　　I　don't　suppose　OUR　neighbors　are　paying　much　　attention　just

now；　though　I　hear　Sheridan　was　back　in　his　office　early　　the　morning　after

the　funeral。〃



Mrs。　Vertrees　made　a　little　sound　of　commiseration。　　〃I　don't　believe　　that

was　because　he　wasn't　suffering；　though。　　I'm　sure　it　was　only　　because　he

felt　his　business　was　so　important。　　Mary　told　me　he　seemed　　wrapped　up　in　his

son's　succeeding；　and　that　was　what　he　bragged　about　　most。　　He　isn't　vulgar

in　his　boasting；　I　understand；　he　doesn't　talk　a　　great　deal　about　hishis

actual　moneythough　there　was　something　　about　blades　of　grass　that　I　didn't

comprehend。　　I　think　he　meant　　something　about　his　energybut　perhaps　not。

No；　his　bragging　usually　　seemed　to　be　not　so　much　a　personal　vainglory　as

about　his　family　and　the　　greatness　of　this　city。〃



〃'Greatness　of　this　city'！〃　Mr。　Vertrees　echoed；　with　dull　bitterness。　　　〃It's

nothing　but　a　coal…hole！　　I　suppose　it　looks　'great'　to　the　man　who　　has　the

luck　to　make　it　work　for　him。　　I　suppose　it　looks　'great'　to　any　　YOUNG　man；

too；　starting　out　to　make　his　fortune　out　of　it。　　The　fellows　　that　get　what

they　want　out　of　it　say　it's　'great；'　and　everybody　else　　gets　the　habit。　　But

you　have　a　different　point　of　view　if　it's　the　city　　that　got　what　it　wanted

out　of　you！　　Of　course　Sheridan　says　it's　'great'。〃



Mrs。　Vertrees　seemed　unaware　of　this　unusual　outburst。　　〃I　believe；〃　she

began；　timidly；　〃he　doesn't　boast　ofthat　is；　I　understand　he　has　　never

seemed　so　interested　in　thethe　other　one。〃



Her　husband's　face　was　dark；　but　at　that　a　heavier　shadow　fell　upon　it；　　he

looked　more　haggard　than　before。　　〃'The　other　one'；〃　he　repeated；　　averting

his　eyes。　　〃You　meanyou　mean　the　third　sonthe　one　that　　was　here　this

evening？〃



〃Yes；　thethe　youngest；〃　she　returned；　her　voice　so　feeble　it　was　　almost　a

whisper。



And　then　neither　of　them　spoke　for　several　long　minutes。　　Nor　did　either　　look

at　the　other　during　that　silence。



At　last　Mr。　Vertrees　contrived　to　cough；　but　not　convincingly。　　〃What

ahwhat　was　it　Mary　said　about　him　out　in　the　hall；　when　she　came　　in　this

afternoon？　　I　heard　you　asking　her　something　about　him；　but　she　　answered　in

such　a　low　voice　I　didn'tahhappen　to　catch　it。〃



〃Sheshe　didn't　say　much。　　All　she　said　was　this：　I　asked　her　if　she　　had

enjoyed　her　walk　with　him；　and　she　said；　'He's　the　most　wistful　　creature　I've

ever　known。'〃



〃Well？〃



〃That　was　all。　　He　IS　wistful…looking；　and　so　fragilethough　he　　doesn't　seem

quite　so　much　so　lately。　　I　was　watching　Mary　from　the　　window　when　she　went

out　to…day；　and　he　joined　her；　and　if　I　hadn't　known　　about　him　I'd　have

thought　he　had　quite　an　interesting　face。〃



〃If　you　'hadn't　known　about　him'？　　Known　what？〃



〃Oh；　nothing；　of　course；〃　she　said；　hurriedly。　　〃Nothing　definite；　that　　is。

Mary　said　decidely；　long　ago；　that　he's　not　at　all　insane；　as　we　　thought　at

first。　　It's　onlywell；　of　course　it　IS　odd；　their　attitude　　about　him。　　I

suppose　it's　some　nervous　trouble　that　makes　himperhaps　　a　little　queer　at

times；　so　that　he　can't　apply　himself　to　anythingor　　perhaps　does　odd

things。　　But；　after　all；　of　course；　we　only　have　an　　impression　about　it。　　We

don't　knowthat　is；　positively。　　I〃　　She　　paused；　then　went　on：　〃I　didn't

know　just　how　to　askthat　isI　　didn't　mention　it　to　Mary。　　I　didn'tI〃

The　poor　lady　floundered　　pitifully；　concluding　with　a　mumble。　　〃So　soon

afterafter　thethe　　shock。〃



〃I　don't　think　I've　caught　more　than　a　glimpse　of　him；〃　said　Mr。　　Vertrees。

〃I　wouldn't　know　him　if　I　saw　him；　but　your　impression　of　him　　is〃　　He　broke

off　suddenly；　springing　to　his　feet　in　agitation。　　〃I　　can't　image　heroh；

NO！〃　he　gasped。　　And　he　began　to　pace　the　floor。　　　〃A　half…witted　epileptic！〃



〃No；　no！〃　she　cried。　　〃He　may　be　all　right。　　We〃



〃Oh；　it's　horrible！　　I　can't〃　　He　threw　himself　back　into　his　chair　　again；

sweeping　his　hands　across　his　face；　then　letting　them　fall　limply　　at　his

sides。



Mrs。　Vertrees　was　tremulous。　　〃You　mustn't　give　way　so；〃　she　said；　　inspired

for　once　almost　to　direct　discourse。　　〃Whatever　Mary　might　think　　of　doing；　it

wouldn't　be　on　her　own　account；　it　would　be　on　ours。　　But　if　　WE

shouldshould　consider　it；　that　wouldn't　be　on　OUR　own　account。　　It　　isn't

because　we　think　of　ourselves。〃



〃Oh　God；　no！〃　he　groaned。　　〃Not　for　us！　　We　can　go　to　the　poorhouse；　but　　Mary

can't　be　a　stenographer！〃



Sighing；　Mrs。　Vertrees　resumed　her　obliqueness。　　〃Of　course；〃　she　　murmured；

〃it　all　seems　very　premature；　speculating　about　such　things；　　but　I　had　a

queer　sort　of　feeling　that　she　seemed　quite　interested　inthis　　〃　　She　had

almost　said　〃in　this　one；〃　but　checked　herself。　　〃In　this　　young　man。　　It's

natural；　of　course；　she　is　always　so　strong　and　well；　　and　he　ishe　seems　to

be；　that　israther　appealing　to　thethe　　sympathies。〃



〃Yes！〃　he　agreed；　bitterly。　　〃Precisely。　　The　sympathies！〃



〃Perhaps；〃　she　faltered〃perhaps　you　might　feel　easier　if　I　could　have　　a

little　talk　with　some　one？〃



〃With　whom？〃



〃I　had　thought　ofnot　going　about　it　too　brusquely；　of　course；　but　　perhaps

just　waiting　for　his　name　to　be　mentioned；　if　I　happened　to　be　　talking　with

somebody　that　knew　the　familyand　then　I　might　find　a　　chance　to　say　that　I

was　sorry　to　hear　he'd　been　ill　so　much；　and　Something　of　that　kind

perhaps？〃



〃You　don't　know　anybody　that　knows　the　family。〃



〃Yes。　　That　iswell；　in　a　way；　of　course；　one　OF　the　family。　　That　　Mrs。

Roscoe　Sheridan　is　not　athat　is；　she's　rather　a　pleasant…faced　　little

woman；　I　think；　and　of　course　rather　ordinary。　　I　think　she　is　　interested

aboutthat　is；　of　course；　she'd　be　anxious　to　be　more　　intimate　with　Mary；

naturally。　　She's　always　looking　over　here　from　her　　house；　she　was　looking

out　the　window　this　afternoon　when　Mary　went　out；　　I　noticedthough　I　don't

think　Mary　saw　her。　　I'm　sure　she　wouldn't　　think　it　out　of　place　toto　be

frank　about　matters。　　She　called　the　　other　day；　and　Mary　must　rather　like

hershe　said　that　evening　that　　the　call　had　done　her　good。　　Don't　you　think

it　might　be　wise？〃



〃Wise？　　I　don't　know。　　I　feel　the　whole　matter　is　impossible。〃



〃Yes；　so　do　I；〃　she　returned；　promptly。　　〃It　isn't　really　a　thing　we　　should

be　considering　seriously；　of　course。　　Still〃



〃I　should　say　not！　　But　possibly〃



Thus　they　skirmished　up　and　down　the　field；　but　before　they　turned　the　　lights

out　and　went　up…stairs　it　was　thoroughly　understood　between　them　　that　Mrs。

Vertrees　should　seek　the　earliest　opportunity　to　obtain　　definite　information

from　Sibyl　Sheridan　concerning　the　mental　and　　physical　status　of　Bibbs。　　And

if　he　were　subject　to　attacks　of　lunacy；　　the　unhappy　pair　decided　to　prevent

the　sacrifice　they　supposed　their　　daughter　intended　to　make　of　herself。

Altogether；　if　there　were　spiteful　　ghosts　in　the　old　house　that　night；

eavesdropping　upon　the　woeful　comedy；　　they　must　have　died　anew　of　laughter！



Mrs。　Vertrees's　opportunity　occurred　the　very　next　afternoon。　　Darkness　　had

fallen；　and　the　piano…movers　had　come。　　They　were　carrying　the　piano　　down　the

front　steps；　and　Mrs。　Vertrees　was　standing　in　the　open　doorway　　behind　them；

preparing　to　withdraw；　when　she　heard　a　sharp　exclamation；　　and　Mrs。　Roscoe

Sheridan；　bareheaded；　emerged　from　the　shadow　into　the　　light　of　the　doorway。



〃Good　gracious！〃　she　cried。　　〃It　did　give　me　a　fright！〃



〃It's　Mrs。　Sheridan；　isn't　it？〃　　Mrs。　Vertrees　was　perplexed　by　this　　informal

appearance；　but　she　reflected　that　it　might　be　providential。　　　〃Won't　you　come

in？〃



〃No。　　Oh　no；　thank　you！〃　Sibyl　panted；　pressing　her　hand　to　her　side。　　　〃You

don't　know　what　a　fright　you've　given　me！　　And　it　was　nothing　but　　your

piano！〃　　She　laughed　shrilly。　　〃You　know；　since　our　tragedy　coming　　so

suddenly　the　other　day；　you　have　no　idea　how　upset　I've　beenalmost

hysterical！　　And　I　just　glanced　out　of　the　window；　a　minute　or　so　ago；　　and

saw　your　door　wide　open　and　black　figures　of　men　against　the　light；　　carrying

something　heavy；　and　I　almost　fainted。　　You　see；　it　was　just　the　　way　it

looked　when　I　saw　them　bringing　my　poor　brother…in…law　in；　next　　door；　only

such　a　few　short　days　ago。　　And　I　thought　I'd　seen　your　　daughter　start　for　a

drive　with　Bibbs　Sheridan　in　a　car　about　three　　o'clockandThey　aren't　back

yet；　are　they？〃



〃No。　　Good　heavens！〃



〃And　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of　was　that　something　must　have　　happened　to

them；　and　I　just　dashed　overand　it　was　only　your　PIANO！〃　　　She　broke　into

laughter　again。　　〃I　suppose　you're　just　sending　it　　somewhere　to　be　repaired；

aren't　you？〃



〃It'sit's　being　taken　down…town；〃　said　Mrs。　Vertrees。　　〃Won't　you　　come　in

and　make　me　a　little　visit。　　I　was　SO　sorry；　the　other　day；　that　　I　wasah〃

She　stopped　inconsequently；　then　repeated　her　　invitation。　　〃Won't　you　come

in？　　I'd　really〃



〃Thank　you；　but　I　must　be　running　back。　　My　husband　usually　gets　home　　about

this　time；　and　I　make　a　little　point　of　it　always　to　be　there。〃



〃That's　very　sweet。〃　　Mrs。　Vertrees　descended　the　steps　and　walked　toward　　the

street　with　Sibyl。　　〃It's　quite　balmy　for　so　late　in　November；　isn't　　it？

Almost　like　a　May　evening。〃



〃I'm　afraid　Miss　Vertrees　will　miss　her　piano；〃　said　Sibyl；　watching　the

instrument　disappear　into　the　big　van　at　the　curb。　　〃She　plays　　wonderfully；

Mrs。　Kittersby　tells　me。〃



〃Yes；　she　plays　very　well。　　One　of　your　relatives　came　to　hear　her　　yesterday；

after　dinner；　and　I　think　she　played　all　evening　for　him。〃



〃You　mean　Bibbs？〃　asked　Sibyl。



〃Thethe　youngest　Mr。　Sheridan。　　Yes。　　　He's　very　musical；　isn't　he？〃



〃I　never　heard　of　it。　　But　I　shouldn't　think　it　would　matter　much　whether　he

was　or　not；　if　he　could　get　Miss　Vertrees　to　play　to　him。　　Does　your　　daughter

expect　the　piano　back　soon？〃



〃II　believe　not　immediately。　　Mr。　Sheridan　came　last　evening　to　hear　　her

play　because　she　had　arranged　with　thethat　is；　it　was　to　be　　removed　this

afternoon。　　He　seems　almost　well　again。〃



〃Yes。〃　　Sibyl　nodded。　　　〃His　father's　going　to　try　to　start　him　to　work。〃



〃He　seems　very　delicate；〃　said　Mrs。　Vertrees。　　〃I　shouldn't　think　he　　would　be

able　to　stand　a　great　deal；　either　physically　or〃　　She　paused　　and　then

added；　glowing　with　the　sense　of　her　own　adroitness〃or　　mentally。〃