the turmoil-第38章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



once　more　returned　it　to　the　sling。



〃My　son…in…law　likes　Florida　this　winter；〃　Sheridan　went　on。　　〃That's　good；

and　my　son…in…law　better　enjoy　it；　because　I　don't　think　he'll　be　there　next

winter。　　They　got　twelve…thousand　dollars　to　spend；　and　I　hear　it　can　be　done

in　Florida　by　rich　sons…in…law。　　When　Roscoe's　woman　got　me　to　spend　that　much

on　a　porch　for　their　new　house；　Edith　wouldn't　give　me　a　minute's　rest　till　I

turned　over　the　same　to　her。　　And　she's　got　it；　besides　what　I　gave　her　to　go

East　on。　　It　'll　be　gone　long　before　this　time　next　year；　and　when　she　comes

home　and　leaves　the　cigarette　behind　for　goodshe'll　get　some　more。　　MY

name　ain't　Tracy；　and　there　ain't　goin'　to　be　any　Tracy　business　in　the

Sheridan　family。　　And　there　ain't　goin'　to　be　any　college　foundin'　and

endowin'　and　trusteein'；　nor　God…knows…what　to　keep　my　property　alive　when　I'm

gone！　　Edith　'll　be　back；　and　she'll　get　a　girl's　share　when　she's　through

with　that　cigarette；　but〃



〃By　the　way；〃　interposed　Gurney；　〃didn't　Mrs。　Sheridan　tell　me　that　Bibbs

warned　you　Edith　would　marry　Lamhorn　in　New　York？〃



Sheridan　went　completely　to　pieces：　he　swore；　while　his　wife　screamed　and

stopped　her　ears。　　And　as　he　swore　he　pounded　the　table　with　his　wounded　hand；

and　when　the　doctor；　after　storming　at　him　ineffectively；　sprang　to　catch　and

protect　that　hand；　Sheridan　wrenched　it　away；　tearing　the　bandage。　　He

hammered　the　table　till　it　leaped。



〃Fool！〃　he　panted；　choking。　　〃If　he's　shown　gumption　enough　to　guess　right　the

first　time　in　his　life；　it's　enough　for　me　to　begin　learnin'　him　on！〃　　And；

struggling　with　the　doctor；　he　leaned　toward　Bibbs；　thrusting　forward　his

convulsed　face；　which　was　deathly　pale。　　〃My　name　ain't　Tracy；　I　tell　you！〃　he

screamed；　hoarsely。　　〃You　give　in；　you　stubborn　fool！　I've　had　my　way　with　you

before；　and　I'll　have　my　way　with　you　now！〃



Bibbs's　face　was　as　white　as　his　father's；　but　he　kept　remembering　that

〃splendid　look〃　of　Mary's　which　he　had　told　her　would　give　him　courage　in　a

struggle；　so　that　he　would　〃never　give　　up。〃



〃No。　　You　can't　have　your　way；〃　he　said。　　And　then；　obeying　a　significant

motion　of　Gurney's　head；　he　went　out　quickly；　leaving　them　struggling。





Mrs。　Sheridan；　in　a　wrapper；　noiselessly　opened　the　door　of　her　husband's　room

at　daybreak　the　next　morning；　and　peered　within　the　darkened　chamber。　At　the

〃old〃　house　they　had　shared　a　room；　but　the　architect　had　chosen　to　separate

them　at　the　New；　and　they　had　not　known　how　to　formulate　an　objection；

although　to　both　of　them　something　seemed　vaguely　reprehensible　in　the　new

arrangement。



Sheridan　did　not　stir；　and　she　was　withdrawing　her　head　from　the　aperture　when

he　spoke。



〃Oh；　I'm；　AWAKE！　　Come　in；　if　you　want　to；　and　shut　the　door。〃



She　came　and　sat　by　the　bed。　　〃I　woke　up　thinkin'　about　it；〃　she　explained。

〃And　the　more　I　thought　about　it　the　surer　I　got　I　must　be　right；　and　I　knew

you'd　be　tormentin'　yourself　if　you　was　awake；　so　well；　you　got　plenty　other

troubles；　but　I'm　just　sure　you　ain't　goin'　to　have　the　worry　with　Bibbs　it

looks　like。〃



〃You　BET　I　ain't！〃　he　grunted。



〃Look　how　biddable　he　was　about　goin'　back　to　the　Works；〃　she　continued。　〃He's

a　right　good…hearted　boy；　really；　and　sometimes　I　honestly　have　to　say　he

seems　right　smart；　too。　　Now　and　then　he'll　say　something　sounds　right　bright。

'Course；　most　always　it　doesn't；　and　a　good　deal　of　the　time；　when　he　says

things；　why；　I　have　to　feel　glad　we　haven't　got　company；　because　they'd　think

he　didn't　have　any　gumption　at　all。　　Yet；　look　at　the　way　he　did　when

Jimwhen　Jim　got　hurt。　　He　took　right　hold　o'　things。　　'Course　he'd　been　sick

himself　so　much　and　alland　the　rest　of　us　never　had；　much；　and　we　were　kind

o'　green　about　what　to　do　in　that　kind　o'　troublestill；　he　did　take　hold；

and　everything　went　off　all　right；　you'll　have　to　say　that　much；　papa。　And　Dr。

Gurney　says　he's　got　brains；　and　you　can't　deny　but　what　the　doctor's　right

considerable　of　a　man。　　He　acts　sleepy；　but　that's　only　because　he's　got　such

a　large　practicehe's　a　pretty　wide…awake　kind　of　a　man　some　ways。　　Well；

what　he　says　last　night　about　Bibbs　himself　bein'　asleep；　and　how　much　he'd

amount　to　if　he　ever　woke　upthat's　what　I　got　to　thinkin'　about。　　You　heard

him；　papa；　he　says；　'Bibbs　'll　be　a　bigger　business　man　than　what　Jim　and

Roscoe　was　put　togetherif　he　ever　wakes　up；'　he　says。　　Wasn't　that　exactly

what　he　says？〃



〃I　suppose　so；〃　said　Sheridan；　without　exhibiting　any　interest。　　〃Gurney's

crazier　'n　Bibbs；　but　if　he　wasn'tif　what　he　says　was　truewhat　of　it？〃



〃Listen；　papa。　　Just　suppose　Bibbs　took　it　into　his　mind　to　get　married。　You

know　where　he　goes　all　the　time〃



〃Oh；　Lord；　yes！〃　　Sheridan　turned　over　in　the　bed；　his　face　to　the　wall；

leaving　visible　of　himself　only　the　thick　grizzle　of　his　hair。　　〃You　better　go

back　to　sleep。　　He　runs　over　thereevery　minute　she'll　let　him；　I　suppose。

Go　back　to　bed。　　There's　nothin'　in　it。〃



〃WHY　ain't　there？〃　she　urged。　　〃I　know　betterthere　is；　too！　　You　wait　and

see。　　There's　just　one　thing　in　the　world　that　'll　wake　the　sleepiest　young

man　alive　upyes；　and　make　him　JUMP　upand　I　don't　care　who　he　is　or　how

sound　asleep　it　looks　like　he　is。　　That's　when　he　takes　it　into　his　head　to

pick　out　some　girl　and　settle　down　and　have　a　home　and　chuldern　of　his　own。

THEN；　I　guess；　he'll　go　out　after　the　money！　You'll　see。　　I've　known　dozens　o'

cases；　and　so　've　youmoony；　no…'count　young　men；　all　notions　and　talk；　goin'

to　be　ministers；　maybe　or　something；　and　there's　just　this　one　thing　takes　it

out　of　'em　and　brings　'em　right　down　to　business。　　Well；　I　never　could　make

out　just　what　it　is　Bibbs　wants　to　be；　really；　doesn't　seem　he　wants　to　be　a

minister　exactly　he's　so　far…away　you　can't　tell；　and　he　never　SAYSbut　I

know　this　is　goin'　to　get　him　right　down　to　common　sense。　　Now；　I　don't　say

that　Bibbs　has　got　the　idea　in　his　head　yet'r　else　he　wouldn't　be　talkin'

that　fool…talk　about　nine　dollars　a　week　bein'　good　enough　for　him　to　live　on。

But　it's　COMIN'；　papa；　and　he'll　JUMP　for　whatever　you　want　to　hand　him　out。

He　will！　　And　I　can　tell　you　this　much；　too：　he'll　want　all　the　salary　and

stock　he　can　get　hold　of；　and　he'll　hustle　to　keep　gettin'　more。　　That　girl's

the　kind　that　a　young　husband　just　goes　crazy　to　give　things　to！　　She's　pretty

and　fine…lookin'；　and　things　look　nice　on　her；　and　I　guess　she'd　like　to　have

'em　about　as　well　as　the　next。　　And　I　guess　she　isn't　gettin'　many　these　days；

either；　and　she'll　be　pretty　ready　for　the　change。　　I　saw　her　with　her　sleeves

rolled　up　at　the　kitchen　window　the　other　day；　and　Jackson　told　me　yesterday

their　cook　left　two　weeks　ago；　and　they　haven't　tried　to　hire　another　one。　　He

says　her　and　her　mother　been　doin'　the　housework　a　good　while；　and　now　they're

doin'　the　cookin；'　too。　　'Course　Bibbs　wouldn't　know　that　unless　she's　told

him；　and　I　reckon　she　wouldn't；　she's　kind　o'　stiffish…lookin'；　and　Bibbs　is

too　up　in　the　clouds　to　notice　anything　like　that　for　himself。　　They've　never

asked　him　to　a　meal　in　the　house；　but　he　wouldn't　notice　that；　either　he's

kind　of　innocent。　　Now　I　was　thinkin'you　know；　I　don't　suppose　we've　hardly

mentioned　the　girl's　name　at　table　since　Jim　went；　but　it　seems　to　me　maybe

if〃



Sheridan　flung　out　his　arms；　uttering　a　sound　half…groan；　half…yawn。　〃You're

barkin'　up　the　wrong　tree！　　Go　on　back　to　bed；　mamma！〃



〃Why　am　I？〃　she　demanded；　crossly。　　〃Why　am　I　barkin'　up　the　wrong　tree？〃



〃Because　you　are。　　There's　nothin'　in　it。〃



〃I'll　bet　you；〃　she　said；　rising〃I'll　bet　you　he　goes　to　church　with　her

this　morning。　　What　you　want　to　bet？〃



〃Go　back　to　bed；〃　he　commanded。　　〃I　KNOW　what　I'm　talkin'　about；　there's

nothin'　in　it；　I　tell　you。〃



She　shook　her　head　perplexedly。　　〃You　think　becausebecause　Jim　was　runnin'

so　much　with　her　it　wouldn't　look　right？〃



〃No。　　Nothin'　to　do　with　it。〃



〃Thendo　you　know　something　about　it　that　you　ain't　told　me？〃



〃Yes；　I　do；〃　he　grunted。　　〃Now　go　on。　　Maybe　I　can　get　a　little　sleep。　　I

ain't　had　any　yet！〃



〃Well〃　　She　went　to　the　door；　her　expression　downcast。　　〃I　thought

maybebut〃　　She　coughed　prefatorily。　　〃Oh；　papa；　something　else　I　wanted　to

tell　you。　　I　was　talkin'　to　Roscoe　over　the　'phone　last　night　when　the

telegram　came；　so　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　butwell；　Sibyl　wants　to　come　over

this　afternoon。　　Roscoe　says　she　has　something　she　wants　to　say　to　us。　　It　'll

be　the　first　time　she's　been　out　since　she　was　able　to　sit　upand　I　reckon

she　wants　to　tell　us　she's　sorry　for　what　happened。　They　expect　to　get　off　by

the　end　o'　the　week；　and　I　reckon　she　wants　to　feel　she's　done　what　she　could

to　kind　o'　make　up。　　Anyway；　that's　what　he　said。　　I　'phoned　him　again　about

Edith；　and　he　said　it　wouldn't　disturb　Sibyl；　because　she'd　been　expectin'　it；

she　was　sure　all　along　it　was　goin'　to　happen；　and；　besides；　I　guess　she's　got

all　that　foolishness　pretty　much　out　of　her；　bein'　so　sick。　　But　what　I

thought　was；　no　use　bein'　rough　with　her；　papaI　expect　she's　suffered　a　good

dealand　I　don't　think　we'd　ought　to　be；　on　Roscoe's　account。　　You'llyou'll

be　kind　o'　polite　to　her；　won't　you；　papa？〃



He　mumbled　something　which　was　smothered　under　the　coverlet　he　had　pulled　over

his　head。



〃What？〃　she　said；　timidly。　　〃I　was　just　sayin'　I　hoped　you'd　treat　Sibyl　all

right　when　she　comes；　this　afternoon。　　You　will；　won't　you；　papa？〃



He　threw　the　coverlet　off　furiously。　〃I　presume　so！〃　he　roared。



She　departed　guiltily。



But　if　he　had　accepted　her　proffered　wager　that　Bibbs　would　go　to　church　with

Mary　Vertrees　that　morning；　Mrs。　Sheridan　would　have　lost。　Nevertheless；　Bibbs

and　Mary　did　certainly　set　out　from　Mr。　Vertrees's　house　with　the　purpose　of

going　to　church。　　That　was　their　intention；　and　they　had　no　other。　　They　meant

to　go　to　church。



But　it　happened　that　they　were　attentively　preoccupied　in　a　conversation　as

they　came　to　the　church；　and　though　Mary　was　looking　to　the　right　and　Bibbs

was　looking　to　the　left；　Bibbs's　leftward　glance　converged　with　Mary's

rightward　glance；　and　neither　was　looking　far　beyond　the　other　at　this　time。

It　also　happened　that；　though　they　were　a　little　jostled　among　groups　of

people　in　the　vicinity　of　the　church；　they　passed　this　somewhat　prominent

edifice　without　being　aware　of　their　proximity　to　it；　and　they　had　gone　an

incredible　number　of　blocks　beyond　it　before　they　discovered　their　error。

However；　feeling　that　they　might　be　embarrassingly　late　if　they　returned；　they

decided　that　a　walk　would　make　them　as　good。　　It　was　a　windless　winter

morning；　with　an　inch　of　crisp　snow　over　the　ground。　　So　they　walked；　and　for

the　most　part　they　were　silent；　but　on　their　way　home；　after　they　had　turned

back　at　noon；　they　began　to　be　talkative　again。



〃Mary；〃　said　Bibbs；　after　a　time；　〃am　I　a　sleep…walker？〃



S