the turmoil-第40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！



ascend　the　stairs；　and　in　a　flash　she　instinctively　perceived　the　chance　for

precisely　the　effect　she　wanted。



〃No；　let　me　go；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　speak　to　her　a　minute　first；　anyway。〃



And　she　went　away　quickly；　gaining　the　top　of　the　stairs　in　time　to　see　Bibbs

enter　his　room　and　close　the　door。　　Sibyl　knew　that　Bibbs；　in　his　room；　had

overheard　her　quarrel　with　Edith　in　the　hall　outside；　for　bitter　Edith；

thinking　the　more　to　shame　her；　had　subsequently　informed　her　of　the

circumstance。　　Sibyl　had　just　remembered　this；　and　with　the　recollection　there

had　flashed　the　thoughtout　of　her　own　experience　that　people　are　often

much　more　deeply　impressed　by　words　they　overhear　than　by　words　directly

addressed　to　them。　　Sibyl　intended　to　make　it　impossible　for　Bibbs　not　to

overhear。　　She　did　not　hesitateher　heart　was　hot　with　the　old　sore；　and　she

believed　wholly　in　the　justice　of　her　cause　and　in　the　truth　of　what　she　was

going　to　say。　　Fate　was　virtuous　at　times；　it　had　delivered　into　her　hands　the

girl　who　had　affronted　her。



Mrs。　Sheridan　was　in　her　own　room。　　The　approach　of　Sibyl　and　Roscoe　had

driven　her　from　the　library；　for　she　had　miscalculated　her　husband's　mood；　and

she　felt　that　if　he　used　his　injured　hand　as　a　mark　of　emphasis　again；　in　her

presence；　she　would　（as　she　thought　of　it）　〃have　a　fit　right　there。〃　　She

heard　Sibyl's　step；　and　pretended　to　be　putting　a　touch　to　her　hair　before　a

mirror。



〃I　was　just　coming　down；〃　she　said；　as　the　door　opened。



〃Yes；　he　wants　you　to；〃　said　Sibyl。　　〃It's　all　right；　mother　Sheridan。　He's

forgiven　me。〃



Mrs。　Sheridan　sniffed　instantly；　tears　appeared。　　She　kissed　her

daughter…in…law's　cheek；　then；　in　silence；　regarded　the　mirror　afresh；　wiped

her　eyes；　and　applied　powder。



〃And　I　hope　Edith　will　be　happy；〃　Sibyl　added；　inciting　more　applications　of

Mrs。　Sheridan's　handkerchief　and　powder。



〃Yes；　yes；〃　murmured　the　good　woman。　　〃We　mustn't　make　the　worst　of　things。〃



〃Well；　there　was　something　else　I　had　to　say；　and　he　wants　you　to　hear　it；

too；〃　said　Sibyl。　　〃We　better　go　down；　mother　Sheridan。〃



She　led　the　way；　Mrs。　Sheridan　following　obediently；　but　when　they　came　to　a

spot　close　by　Bibbs's　door；　Sibyl　stopped。　　〃I　want　to　tell　you　about　it

first；〃　she　said；　abruptly。　　〃It　isn't　a　secret；　of　course；　in　any　way；　it's

something　the　whole　family　has　to　know；　and　the　sooner　the　whole　family　knows

it　the　better。　　It's　something　it　wouldn't　be　RIGHT　for　us　ALL　not　to

understand；　and　of　course　father　Sheridan　most　of　all。　　But　I　want　to　just

kind　of　go　over　it　first　with　you；　it　'll　kind　of　help　me　to　see　I　got　it　all

stratight。　　I　haven't　got　any　reason　for　saying　it　except　the　good　of　the

family；　and　it's　nothing　to　me；　one　way　or　the　other；　of　course；　except　for

that。　　I　oughtn't　to　've　behaved　the　way　I　did　that　night；　and　it　seems　to　me

if　there's　anything　I　can　do　to　help　the　family；　I　ought　to；　because　it　would

help　show　I　felt　the　right　way。　　Well；　what　I　want　to　do　is　to　tell　this　so's

to　keep　the　family　from　being　made　a　fool　of。　　I　don't　want　to　see　the　family

just　made　use　of　and　twisted　around　her　finger　by　somebody　that's　got　no　more

heart　than　so　much　ice；　and　just　as　sure　to　bring　troubles　in　the　long　run

asas　Edith's　mistake　is。　Well；　then；　this　is　the　way　it　is。　　I'll　just　tell

you　how　it　looks　to　me　and　see　if　it　don't　strike　you　the　same　way。〃



Within　the　room；　Bibbs；　much　annoyed；　tapped　his　ear　with　his　pencil。　　He

wished　they　wouldn't　stand　talking　near　his　door　when　he　was　trying　to　write。

He　had　just　taken　from　his　trunk　the　manuscript　of　a　poem　begun　the　preceding

Sunday　afternoon；　and　he　had　some　ideas　he　wanted　to　fix　upon　paper　before

they　maliciously　seized　the　first　opportunity　to　vanish；　for　they　were　but

gossamer。　　Bibbs　was　pleased　with　the　beginnings　of　his　poem；　and　if　he　could

carry　it　through　he　meant　to　dare　greatly　with　it　he　would　venture　it　upon

an　editor。　　For　he　had　his　plan　of　life　now：　his　day　would　be　of　manual　labor

and　thinkinghe　could　think　of　his　friend　and　he　could　think　in　cadences　for

poems；　to　the　crashing　of　the　strong　machineand　if　his　father　turned　him　out

of　home　and　out　of　the　Works；　he　would　work　elsewhere　and　live　elsewhere。　　His

father　had　the　right；　and　it　mattered　very　little　to　Bibbshe　faced　the

prospect　of　a　working…man's　lodging…house　without　trepidation。　　He　could　find

a　washstand　to　write　upon；　he　thought；　and　every　evening　when　he　left　Mary　he

would　write　a　little；　and　he　would　write　on　holidays　and　on　Sundayson

Sundays　in　the　afternoon。　　In　a　lodging…house；　at　least　he　wouldn't　be

interrupted　by　his　sister…in…law's　choosing　the　immediate　vicinity　of　his　door

for　conversations　evidently　important　to　herself；　but　merely　disturbing　to

him。　　He　frowned　plaintively；　wishing　he　could　think　of　some　polite　way　of

asking　her　to　go　away。　　But；　as　she　went　on；　he　started　violently；　dropping

manuscript　and　pencil　upon　the　floor。



〃I　don't　know　whether　you　heard　it；　mother　Sheridan；〃　she　said；　〃but　this　old

Vertrees　house；　next　door；　had　been　sold　on　foreclosure；　and　all　THEY　got　out

of　it　was　an　agreement　that　let's　'em　live　there　a　little　longer。　Roscoe　told

me；　and　he　says　he　heard　Mr。　Vertrees　has　been　up　and　down　the　streets　more　'n

two　years；　tryin'　to　get　a　job　he　could　call　a　'position；'　and　couldn't　land

it。　　You　heard　anything　about　it；　mother　Sheridan？〃



〃Well；　I　DID　know　they　been　doin'　their　own　house…work　a　good　while　back；〃

said　Mrs。　Sheridan。　　〃And　now　they're　doin'　the　cookin'；　too。〃



Sibyl　sent　forth　a　little　titter　with　a　sharp　edge。　　〃I　hope　they　find

something　to　cook！　　She　sold　her　piano　mighty　quick　after　Jim　died！〃



Bibbs　jumped　up。　　He　was　trembling　from　head　to　foot　and　he　was　dizzy　of　all

the　real　things　he　could　never　have　dreamed　in　his　dream　the　last　would　have

been　what　he　heard　now。　　He　felt　that　something　incredible　was　happening；　and

that　he　was　powerless　to　stop　it。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　heavy　blows　were

falling　on　his　head　and　upon　Mary's；　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　and　Mary　were

being　struck　and　beaten　physicallyand　　that　something　hideous　impended。　　He

wanted　to　shout　to　Sibyl　to　be　silent；　but　he　could　not；　he　could　only　stand；

swallowing　and　trembling。



〃What　I　think　the　whole　family　ought　to　understand　is　just　this；〃　said　Sibyl；

sharply。　　〃Those　people　were　so　hard　up　that　this　Miss　Vertrees　started　after

Bibbs　before　they　knew　whether　he　was　INSANE　or　not！　　They'd　got　a　notion　he

might　be；　from　his　being　in　a　sanitarium；　and　Mrs。　Vertrees　ASKED　me　if　he　was

insane；　the　very　first　day　Bibbs　took　the　daughter　out　auto…riding！〃　　She

paused　a　moment；　looking　at　Mrs。　Sheridan；　but　listening　intently。　　There　was

no　sound　from　within　the　room。



〃No！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Sheridan。



〃It's　the　truth；〃　Sibyl　declared；　loudly。　　〃Oh；　of　course　we　were　all　crazy

about　that　girl　at　first。　　We　were　pretty　green　when　we　moved　up　here；　and　we

thought　she'd　get　us　INbut　it　didn't　take　ME　long　to　read　her！　　Her　family

were　down　and　out　when　it　came　to　moneyand　they　had　to　go　after　it；　one　way

or　another；　SOMEHOW！　　So　she　started　for　Roscoe；　but　she　found　out　pretty

quick　he　was　married；　and　she　turned　right　around　to　Jimand　she　landed　him！

There's　no　doubt　about　it；　she　had　Jim；　and　if　he'd　lived　you'd　had　another

daughter…in…law　before　this；　as　sure　as　I　stand　here　telling　you　the　God's

truth　about　it！　　Wellwhen　Jim　was　left　in　the　cemetery　she　was　waiting　out

there　to　drive　home　with　Bibbs！　Jim　wasn't　COLDand　she　didn't　know　whether

Bibbs　was　insane　or　not；　but　he　was　the　only　one　of　the　rich　Sheridan　boys

left。　　She　had　to　get　him。〃



The　texture　of　what　was　the　truth　made　an　even　fabric　with　what　was　not；　in

Sibyl's　mind；　she　believed　every　word　that　she　uttered；　and　she　spoke　with　the

rapidity　and　vehemence　of　fierce　conviction。



〃What　I　feel　about　it　is；〃　she　said；　〃it　oughtn't　to　be　allowed　to　go　on。　It's

too　mean！　　I　like　poor　Bibbs；　and　I　don't　want　to　see　him　made　such　a　fool　of；

and　I　don't　want　to　see　the　family　made　such　a　fool　of！　　I　like　poor　Bibbs；

but　if　he'd　only　stop　to　think　a　minute　himself　he'd　have　to　realize　he　isn't

the　kind　of　man　ANY　girl　would　be　apt　to　fall　in　love　with。　　He's

better…looking　lately；　maybe；　but　you　know　how　he　WASjust　kind　of　a　long

white　rag　in　good　clothes。　　And　girls　like　men　with　some　SO　to　'emSOME　sort

of　dashingness；　anyhow！　　Nobody　ever　looked　at　poor　Bibbs　before；　and

neither'd　sheno；　SIR！　not　till　she'd　tried　both　Roscoe　and　Jim　first！　　It

was　only　when　her　and　her　family　got　desperate　that　she〃



Bibbswhiter　than　when　he　came　from　the　sanitariumopened　the　door。　He

stepped　across　its　threshold　and　stook　looking　at　her。　　Both　women　screamed。



〃Oh；　good　heavens！〃　cried　Sibyl。　　〃Were　you　in　THERE？　　Oh；　I　wouldn't〃　She

seized　Mrs。　Sheridan's　arm；　pulling　her　toward　the　stairway。　　〃Come　on；　mother

Sheridan！〃　she　urged；　and　as　the　befuddled　and　confused　lady　obeyed；　Sibyl

left　a　trail　of　noisy　exclamations：　〃Good　gracious！　　Oh；　I　wouldn'tToo　bad！

I　didn't　DREAM　he　was　there！　　I　wouldn't　hurt　his　feelings！　　Not　for　the

world！　　Of　course　he　had　to　know　SOME　time！　　But；　good　heavens〃



She　heard　his　door　close　as　she　and　Mrs。　Sheridan　reached　the　top　of　the

stairs；　and　she　glanced　over　her　shoulder　quickly；　but　Bibbs　was　not

following；　he　had　gone　back　into　his　room。



〃Hehe　lookedoh；　terrible　bad！〃　stammered　Mrs。　Sheridan。　　〃II　wish〃



〃Still；　it's　a　good　deal　better　he　knows　about　it；〃　said　Sibyl。　　〃I　shouldn't

wonder　it　might　turn　out　the　very　best　thing　could　happened。　Come　on！〃



And　completing　their　descent　to　the　library；　the　two　made　their　appearance　to

Roscoe　and　his　father。　　Sibyl　at　once　gave　a　full　and　truthful　account　of　what

had　taken　place；　repeating　her　own　remarks；　and　omitting　only　the　fact　that　it

was　through　her　design　that　Bibbs　had　overheard　them。



〃But　as　I　told　mother　Sheridan；〃　she　said；　in　conclusion；　〃it　might　turn　out

for　the　very　best　that　he　did　hearjust　that　way。　　Don't　you　think　so；　father

Sheridan？〃



He　merely　grunted　in　reply；　and　sat　rubbing　the　thick　hair　on　the　top　of　his

head　with　his　left　hand　and　looking　at　the　fire。　　He　had　given　no　sign　of

being　impressed　in　any　manner　by　her　exposure　of　Mary　Vertrees's　character；

but　his　impassivity　did　not　dismay　Sibylit　was　Bibbs　whom　she　desired　to

impress；　and　she　was　content　in　that　matter。



〃I'm　sure　it　was　all　for　the　best；〃　she　said。　　〃It's　over　now；　and　he　knows

what　she　is。　　In　one　way　I　think　it　was　lucky；　because；　just　hearing　a　thing

that　way；　a　person　can　tell　it's　SOand　he　knows　I　haven't　got　any　ax　to

grind　except　his　own　good　and　the　good　of　the　family。〃



Mrs。　Sheridan　went　nervously　to　the　door　and　stood　there；　looking　toward　the

stairway。　　〃I　wishI　wish　I　knew　what　he　was　doin'；〃　she　said。　　〃He　did　look

terrible　bad。　　It　was　like　something　had　been　done