the turmoil-第25章

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



〃Oh；　mentally　Bibbs　is　all　right；〃　said　Sibyl；　in　an　odd　voice。



〃Entirely？〃　　Mrs。　Vertrees　asked；　breathlessly。



〃Yes；　entirely。〃



〃But　has　he　ALWAYS　been？〃　　This　question　came　with　the　same　anxious

eagerness。



〃Certainly。　　He　had　a　long　siege　of　nervous　dyspepsia；　but　he's　over　it。〃



〃And　you　think〃



〃Bibbs　is　all　right。　　You　needn't　wor〃　Sibyl　choked；　and　pressed　her

handkerchief　to　her　mouth。　　〃Good　night；　Mrs。　Vertrees；〃　she　said；　　hurriedly；

as　the　head…lights　of　an　automobile　swung　round　the　corner　　above；　sending　a

brightening　glare　toward　the　edge　of　the　pavement　where　　the　two　ladies　were

standing。



〃Won't　you　come　in？〃　urged　Mrs。　Vertrees；　cordially；　hearing　the　sound　of　　a

cheerful　voice　out　of　the　darkness　beyond　the　approaching　glare。　　〃Do！

There's　Mary　now；　and　she〃



But　Sibyl　was　half…way　across　the　street。　　〃No；　thanks；〃　she　called。　　　〃I

hope　she　won't　miss　her　piano！〃　　And　she　ran　into　her　own　house　and　　plunged

headlong　upon　a　leather　divan　in　the　hall；　holding　her　　handkerchief　over　her

mouth。



The　noise　of　her　tumultuous　entrance　was　evidently　startling　in　the　　quiet

house；　for　upon　the　bang　of　the　door　there　followed　the　crash　of　a　　decanter；

dropped　upon　the　floor　of　the　dining…room　at　the　end　of　the　　hall；　and；　after

a　rumble　of　indistinct　profanity；　Roscoe　came　forth；　　holding　a　dripping

napkin　in　his　hand。



〃What's　your　excitement？〃　he　demanded。　　〃What　do　you　find　to　go　into

hysterics　over？　　Another　death　in　the　family？〃



〃Oh；　it's　funny！　she　gasped。　　〃Those　old　frost…bitten　people！　　I　guess

THEY'RE　getting　their　come…upance！〃　　Lying　prone；　she　elevated　her　feet　　in

the　air；　clapped　her　heels　together　repeatedly；　in　an　ecstasy。



〃Come　through；　come　through！〃　said　her　husband；　crossly。　　〃What　you　　been　up

to？〃



〃Me？〃　she　cried；　dropping　her　feet　and　swinging　around　to　face　him。

〃Nothing。　　It's　them！　　Those　Vertreeses！〃　　She　wiped　her　eyes。　　〃They've　　had

to　sell　their　piano！〃



〃Well；　what　of　it？〃



〃That　Mrs。　Kittersby　told　me　all　about　'em　a　week　ago；〃　said　Sibyl。　　　〃They've

been　hard　up　for　a　long　time；　and　she　says　as　long　ago　as　last　　winter　she

knew　that　girl　got　a　pair　of　walking…shoes　re…soled　and　　patched；　because　she

got　it　done　the　same　place　Mrs。　Kittersby's　cook　had　　HERS！　　And　the　night　of

the　house…warming　I　kind　of　got　suspicious；　　myself。　　She　didn't　have　one

single　piece　of　any　kind　of　real　jewelry；　　and　you　could　see　her　dress　was　an

old　one　done　over。　　Men　can't　tell　　those　things；　and　you　all　made　a　big　fuss

over　her；　but　I　thought　she　　looked　a　sight；　myself！　　Of　course；　EDITH　was

crazy　to　have　her；　and〃



〃Well；　well？〃　he　urged；　impatiently。



〃Well；　I'm　TELLING　you！　　Mrs。　Kittersby　says　they　haven't　got　a　THING！　　　Just

absolutely　NOTHINGand　they　don't　know　anywhere　to　turn！　　The　　family's　all

died　out　but　them；　and　all　the　relatives　they　got　are　very　　distant；　and　live

East　and　scarcely　know　'em。　　She　says　the　whole　town's　　been　wondering　what

WOULD　become　of　'em。　　The　girl　had　plenty　chances　to　　marry　up　to　a　year　or　so

ago；　but　she　was　so　indifferent　she　scared　the　　men　off；　and　the　ones　that　had

wanted　to　went　and　married　other　girls。　　　Gracious！　　they　were　lucky！　　Marry

HER？　　The　man　that　found　himself　tied　　up　to　THAT　girl〃



〃Terrible　funny；　terrible　funny！〃　said　Roscoe；　with　sarcasm。　　〃It's　so　　funny

I　broke　a　cut…glass　decanter　and　spilled　a　quart　of〃



〃Wait！〃　she　begged。　　〃You'll　see。　　I　was　sitting　by　the　window　a　little　　while

ago；　and　I　saw　a　big　wagon　drive　up　across　the　street　and　some　men　　go　into

the　house。　　It　was　too　dark　to　make　out　much；　and　for　a　minute　I　　got　the　idea

they　were　moving　outthe　house　has　been　foreclosed　on；　　Mrs。　Kittersby　says。

It　seemed　funny；　too；　because　I　knew　that　girl　was　　out　riding　with　Bibbs。

Well；　I　thought　I'd　see；　so　I　slipped　overand　　it　was　their　PIANO！　　They'd

sold　it　and　were　trying　to　sneak　it　out　after　　dark；　so　nobody'd　catch　on！〃

Again　she　gave　way　to　her　enjoyment；　but　　resumed；　as　her　husband　seemed　about

to　interrupt　the　narrative。　　〃Wait　a　　minute；　can't　you？　　The　old　lady　was

superintending；　and　she　gave　it　all　　away。　　I　sized　her　up　for　one　of　those

old　churchy　people　that　tell　all　　kinds　of　lies　except　when　it　comes　to　so

many　words；　and　then　they　　can't。　　She　might　just　as　well　told　me　outright！

Yes；　they'd　sold　it；　　and　I　hope　they'll　pay　some　of　their　debts。　　They　owe

everybody；　and　last　　week　a　coal…dealer　made　an　awful　fuss　at　the　door　with

Mr。　Vertrees。　　　　Their　cook　told　our　upstairs　girl；　and　she　said　she　didn't

know　WHEN　　she'd　seen　any　money；　herself！　　Did　you　ever　hear　of　such　a　case　as

that　　girl　in　you　LIFE？〃



〃What　girl？　Their　cook？〃



〃That　Vertrees　girl！　　Don't　you　see　they　looked　on　our　coming　up　into　　this

neighborhood　as　their　last　chance？　　They　were　just　going　down　and　　out；　and

here　bobs　up　the　green；　rich　Sheridan　family！　　So　they　doll　the　　girl　up　in

her　old　things；　made　over；　and　send　her　out　to　get　a　Sheridan　　she's　GOT　to

get　one！　　And　she　just　goes　in　blind；　and　she　tries　it　on　　first　with　YOU。

You　remember；　she　just　plain　TOLD　you　she　was　going　to　　mash　you；　and　then　she

found　out　you　were　the　married　one；　and　turned　　right　square　around　to　Jim　and

carried　him　off　his　feet。　　Oh；　Jim　was　　landedthere's　no　doubt　about　THAT！

But　Jim　was　lucky；　he　didn't　　live　to　STAY　landed；　and　it's　a　good　thing　for

him！〃　　Sibyl's　mirth　had　　vanished；　and　she　spoke　with　virulent　rapidity。

〃Well；　she　couldn't　get　　you；　because　you　were　married；　and　she　couldn't　get

Jim；　because　Jim　　died。　　And　there　they　were；　dead　broke！　　Do　you　know　what

she　did？　　Do　　you　know　what　she's　DOING？〃



〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　Roscoe；　gruffly。



Sibyl's　voice　rose　and　culminated　in　a　scream　of　renewed　hilarity。　　　〃BIBBS！

She　waited　in　the　grave…yard；　and　drove　home　with　him　from　JIM'S　　FUNERAL！

Never　spoke　to　him　before！　　Jim　wasn't　COLD！〃



She　rocked　herself　back　and　forth　upon　the　divan。　　〃Bibbs！〃　she　　shrieked。

〃Bibbs！　　Roscoe；　THINK　of　it！　　BIBBS！〃



He　stared　unsympathetically；　but　her　mirth　was　unabated　for　all　that。　　　〃And

yesterday；〃　she　continued；　between　paroxysms〃yesterday　she　came　　out　of　the

housejust　as　he　was　passing。　　She　must　have　been　looking　　outwaiting　for

the　chance；　I　saw　the　old　lady　watching　at　the　　window！　　And　she　got　him　there

last　nightto　'PLAY'　to　him；　the　old　　lady　gave　that　away！　　And　to…day　she

made　him　take　her　out　in　a　machine！　　And　the　cream　of　it　is　that　they　didn't

even　know　　whether　he　was　INSANE　or　notthey　thought　maybe　he　was；　but　she

went　　after　him　just　the　same！　　The　old　lady　set　herself　to　pump　me　about　it

to…day。　　BIBBS！　　Oh；　my　Lord！　　BIBBS！〃



But　Roscoe　looked　grim。　　〃So　it's　funny　to　you；　is　it？　　It　sounds　kind　of

pitiful　to　me。　　I　should　think　it　would　to　a　woman；　too。〃



〃Oh；　it　might；〃　she　returned；　sobering。　　〃It　might；　if　those　people　　weren't

such　frozen…faced　smart　Alecks。　　If　they'd　had　the　decency　to　　come　down　off

the　perch　a　little　I　probably　wouldn't　think　it　was　funny；　　but　to　see　'em　sit

up　on　their　pedestal　all　the　time　they're　eating　dirt　　well；　I　think　it's

funny！　　That　girl　sits　up　as　if　she　was　Queen　　Elizabeth；　and　expects　people

to　wallow　on　the　ground　before　her　until　　they　get　near　enough　for　her　to　give

'em　a　good　kick　with　her　old　patched　　shoesoh；　she'd　do　THAT；　all

right！and　then　she　powders　up　and　　goes　out　to　mashBIBBS　SHERIDAN！〃



〃Look　here；〃　said　Roscoe；　heavily；　〃I　don't　care　about　that　one　way　or

another。　　If　you're　through；　I　got　something　I　want　to　talk　to　you　　about。　　I

was　going　to；　that　day　just　before　we　heard　about　Jim。〃



At　this　Sibyl　stiffened　quickly；　her　eyes　became　intensely　bright。　　〃What　　is

it？〃



〃Well；〃　he　began；　frowning；　〃what　I　was　going　to　say　then〃　　He　broke　　off；

and；　becoming　conscious　that　he　was　still　holding　the　wet　napkin　in　　his　hand；

threw　it　pettishly　into　a　corner。　　〃I　never　expected　I'd　have　　to　say　anything

like　this　to　anybody　I　MARRIED；　but　I　was　going　to　ask　　you　what　was　the

matter　between　you　and　Lamhorn。〃



Sibyl　uttered　a　sharp　monosyllable。　〃Well？〃



〃I　felt　the　time　had　come　for　me　to　know　about　it；〃　he　went　on。　　〃You　　never

told　me　anything〃



〃You　never　asked；〃　she　interposed；　curtly。



〃Well；　we'd　got　in　a　way　of　not　talking　much；〃　said　Roscoe。　　〃It　looks　to　　me

now　as　if　we'd　pretty　much　lost　the　run　of　each　other　the　way　a　good　　many

people　do。　　I　don't　say　it　wasn't　my　fault。　　I　was　up　early　and　down　　to　work

all　day；　and　I'd　come　home　tired　at　night；　and　want　to　go　to　bed　　soon　as　I'd

got　the　paper　readunless　there　was　some　good　musical　show　　in　town。　　Well；

you　seemed　all　right　until　here　lately；　the　last　month　or　　so；　I　began　to　see

something　was　wrong。　　I　couldn't　help　seeing　it。〃



〃Wrong？〃　she　said。　　〃What　like？〃



〃You　changed；　you　didn't　look　the　same。　You　were　all　strung　up　and　　excited

and　fidgety；　you　got　to　looking　peakid　and　run　down。　　Now　then；　　Lamhorn　had

been　going　with　us　a　good　while；　but　I　noticed　that　not　long　　ago　you　got　to

picking　on　him　about　every　little　thing　he　did；　you　got　to　　quarreling　with

him　when　I　was　there　and　when　I　wasn't。　　I　could　see　　you'd　been　quarreling

whenever　I　came　in　and　he　was　here。〃



〃Do　you　object　to　that？〃　asked　Sibyl；　breathing　quickly。



〃Yeswhen　it　injures　my　wife's　health！〃　he　returned；　with　a　quick　lift　　of

his　eyes　to　hers。　　〃You　began　to　run　down　just　about　the　time　you　　began

falling　out　with　him。〃　He　stepped　close　to　her。　　〃See　here；　Sibyl；　　I'm　going

to　know　what　it　means。〃



〃Oh；　you　ARE？〃　she　snapped。



〃You're　trembling；〃　he　said；　gravely。



〃Yes。　　I'm　angry　enough　to　do　more　than　tremble；　you'll　find。　　Go　on！〃



〃That　was　all　I　was　going　to　say　the　other　day；〃　he　said。　　〃I　was　going　to

ask　you〃



〃Yes；　that　was　all　you　were　going　to　say　THE　OTHER　DAY。　　Yes。　　What　else　　have

you　to　say　to…night？〃



〃To…night；〃　he　replied；　with　grim　swiftness；　〃I　want　to　know　why　you　keep

telephoning　him　you　want　to　see　him　since　he　stopped　coming　here。〃



She　made　a　long；　low　sound　of　comprehension　before　she　said；　〃And　what　　else

did　Edith　want　you　to　ask　me？〃



〃I　want　to　know　what　you　say　over　the　telephone　to　Lamhorn；〃　he　said；

fiercely。



〃Is　that　all　Edith　told　you　to　ask　me？　　You　saw　her　when　you　stopped　in　　there

on　your　way　home　this　evening；　didn't　you？　　Didn't　she　tell　you　　then　what　I

said　over　the　telephone　to　Mr。　Lamhorn？〃



〃No；　she　didn't！〃　he　vociferated；　his　voice　growing　louder。　　〃She　said；　　'You

tell　your　wife　to　stop　telephoning　Robert　Lamhorn　to　come　and　see　　her；

because　he　isn't　going　to　do　it！'　　That's　what　she　said！　　And　I　want　　to　know

what　it　means。　　I　intend〃



A　maid　appeared　at　the　lower　end　of　the　hall。　　〃Dinner　is　ready；〃　she　　said；

and；　giving　the　troubled　pair　one　gla