the turmoil-第32章

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　　　　　　　This　theory　is　satisfactory　except　that　it　does　not　account　for

　　　　　　　the　absence　of　the　muff。　　Ah；　well；　there　must　always　be　a　mystery

　　　　　　　somewhere！　　Mystery　is　a　part　of　enchantment。



　　　　　　　Manual　labor　is　best。　　Your　heart　can　sing　and　your　mind　can　dream

　　　　　　　while　your　hands　are　working。　　You　could　not　have　a　singing　heart

　　　　　　　and　a　dreaming　mind　　all　day　if　you　had　to　scheme　out　dollars；　or

　　　　　　　if　you　had　to　add　columns　of　figures。　　Those　things　take　your

　　　　　　　attention。　　You　cannot　be　thinking　of　your　friend　while　you　write

　　　　　　　letters　beginning　〃Yours　of　the　17th　inst。　rec'd　and　contents　duly

　　　　　　　noted。〃　　But　to　work　with　your　hands　all　day；　thinking　and

　　　　　　　singing；　and　then；　after　nightfall；　to　hear　the　ineffable　kindness

　　　　　　　of　your　friend's　greetingalways　therefor　you！　　Who　would

　　　　　　　wake　from　such　a　dream　as　this？



　　　　　　　Dawn　and　the　seamusic　in　moonlit　gardensnightingales

　　　　　　　serenading　through　almond…groves　in　bloomwhat　could　bring　such

　　　　　　　things　into　the　city's　turmoil？　　Yet　they　are　here；　and　roses

　　　　　　　blossom　in　the　soot。　　That　is　what　it　means　not　to　be　alone！　　That

　　　　　　　is　what　a　friend　gives　you！



Having　thus　demonstrated　that　he　was　about　twenty…five　and　had　formed　a

somewhat　indefinite　definition　of　friendship；　but　one　entirely　his　own　（and

perhaps　Mary's）　Bibbs　went　to　bed；　and　was　the　only　Sheridan　to　sleep　soundly

through　the　night　and　to　wake　at　dawn　with　a　light　heart。



His　cheerfulness　was　vaguely　diminished　by　the　troublous　state　of　affairs　of

his　family。　　He　had　recognized　his　condition　when　he　wrote；　〃Who　would　wake

from　such　a　dream　as　this？〃　　Bibbs　was　a　sympathetic　person；　easily　touched；

but　he　was　indeed　living　in　a　dream；　and　all　things　outside　of　it　were　veiled

and　remotefor　that　is　the　way　of　youth　in　a　dream。　　And　Bibbs；　who　had　never

before　been　of　any　age；　either　old　or　young；　had　come　to　his　youth　at　last。



He　went　whistling　from　the　house　before　even　his　father　had　come　down…stairs。

There　was　a　fog　outdoors；　saturated　with　a　fine　powder　of　soot；　and　though

Bibbs　noticed　absently　the　dim　shape　of　an　automobile　at　the　curb　before

Roscoe's　house；　he　did　not　recognize　it　as　Dr。　Gurney's；　but　went　cheerily　on

his　way　through　the　dingy　mist。　　And　when　he　was　once　more　installed　beside

his　faithful　zinc…eater　he　whistled　and　sang　to　it；　as　other　workmen　did　to

their　own　machines　sometimes；　when　things　went　well。　　His　comrades　in　the　shop

glanced　at　him　amusedly　now　and　then。　They　liked　him；　and　he　ate　his　lunch　at

noon　with　a　group　of　Socialists　who　approved　of　his　ideas　and　talked　of

electing　him　to　their　association。



The　short　days　of　the　year　had　come；　and　it　was　dark　before　the　whistles　blew。

When　the　signal　came；　Bibbs　went　to　the　office；　where　he　divested　himself　of

his　overallshis　single　divergence　from　the　routine　of　his

fellow…workmenand　after　that　he　used　soap　and　water　copiously。　　This　was　his

transformation　scene：　he　passed　into　the　office　a　rather　frail　young

working…man　noticeably　begrimed；　and　passed　out　of　it　to　the　pavement　a

cheerfully　pre…occupied　sample　of　gentry；　fastidious　to　the　point　of　elegance。



The　sidewalk　was　crowded　with　the　bearers　of　dinner…pails；　men　and　boys　and

women　and　girls　from　the　work…rooms　that　closed　at　five。　　Many　hurried　and

some　loitered；　they　went　both　east　and　west；　jostling　one　another；　and　Bibbs；

turning　his　face　homeward；　was　forced　to　go　slowly。



Coming　toward　him；　as　slowly；　through　the　crowd；　a　tall　girl　caught　sight　of

his　long；　thin　figure　and　stood　still　until　he　had　almost　passed　her；　for　in

the　thick　crowd　and　the　thicker　gloom　he　did　not　recognize　her；　though　his

shoulder　actually　touched　hers。　　He　would　have　gone　by；　but　she　laughed

delightedly；　and　he　stopped　short；　startled。　　Two　boys；　one　chasing　the　other；

swept　between　them；　and　Bibbs　stood　still；　peering　about　him　in　deep

perplexity。　　She　leaned　toward　him。



〃I　knew　YOU！〃　she　said。



〃Good　heavens！'　cried　Bibbs。　　〃I　thouhgt　it　was　your　voice　coming　out　of　a

star！〃



〃There's　only　smoke　overhead；〃　said　Mary；　and　laughed　again。　〃There　aren't　any

stars。〃



〃Oh　yes；　there　werewhen　you　laughed！〃



She　took　his　arm；　and　they　went　on。　　〃I've　come　to　walk　home　with　you；　Bibbs。

I　wanted　to。〃



〃But　were　you　here　in　the〃



〃In　the　dark？　　Yes！　　Waiting？　　Yes！〃



Bibbs　was　radiant；　he　felt　suffocated　with　happiness。　　He　began　to　scold　her。



〃But　it's　not　safe；　and　I'm　not　worth　it。　　You　shouldn't　haveYou　ought　to

know　better。　　What　did〃



〃I　only　waited　about　twelve　seconds；〃　she　laughed。　　〃I'd　just　got　here。〃



〃But　to　come　all　this　way　and　to　this　part　of　town　in　the　dark；　you〃



〃I　was　in　this　part　of　town　already；〃　she　said。　　〃At　least；　I　was　only　seven

or　eight　blocks　away；　and　it　was　dark　when　I　came　out；　and　I'd　have　had　to　go

home　aloneand　I　preferred　going　home　with　you。〃



〃It's　pretty　beautiful　for　me；〃　said　Bibbs；　with　a　deep　breath。　　〃You'll　never

know　what　it　was　to　hear　your　laugh　in　the　darknessand　then　to　to　see　you

standing　there！　Oh；　it　was　kikeit　was　likeHow　can　I　TELL　you　what　it　was

like？〃　　They　had　passed　beyond　the　crowd　now；　and　a　crossing…lamp　shone　upon

them；　which　revealed　the　fact　that　again　she　was　without　her　furs。　　Here　was　a

puzzle。　　Why　did　that　adorable　little　vanity　of　hers　bring　her　out　without

them　in　the　DARK？　　But　of　course　she　had　gone　out　long　before　dark。　　For

undefinable　reasons　this　explanation　was　not　quite　satisfactory；　however；

allowing　it　to　stand；　his　solicitude　for　her　took　another　turn。　　〃I　think　you

ought　to　have　a　car；〃　he　said；　〃especially　when　you　want　to　be　out　after　dark。

You　need　one　in　winter；　anyhow。　　Have　you　ever　asked　your　father　for　one？〃



〃No；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I　don't　think　I'd　care　for　one　particularly。〃



〃I　wish　you　would。〃　　Bibbs's　tone　was　earnest　and　troubled。　　〃I　think　in

winter　you〃



〃No；　no；〃　she　interrupted；　lightly。　　〃I　don't　need〃



〃But　my　mother　tried　to　insist　on　sending　one　over　here　every　afternoon　for

me。　　I　wouldn't　let　her；　because　I　like　the　walk；　but　a　girl〃



〃A　girl　likes　to　walk；　too；〃　said　Mary。　　〃Let　me　tell　you　where　I've　been　this

afternoon　and　how　I　happened　to　be　near　enought　to　make　you　take　me　home。

I've　been　to　see　a　little　old　man　who　makes　pictures　of　the　smoke。　He　has　a

sort　of　warehouse　for　a　studio；　and　he　lives　there　with　his　mother　and　his

wife　and　their　seven　children；　and　he's　gloriously　happy。　I'd　seen　one　of　his

pictures　at　an　exhibition；　and　I　wanted　to　see　more　of　them；　so　he　showed　them

to　me。　　He　has　almost　everthing　he　ever　painted；　I　don't　suppose　he's　sold

more　than　four　or　five　pictures　in　his　life。　　He　gives　drawing…lessons　to　keep

alive。〃



〃How　do　you　mean　he　paints　the　smoke？〃　Bibbs　asked。



〃Literally。　　He　paints　from　his　studio　window　and　from　the　street　anywhere。

He　just　paints　what's　around　himand　it's　beautiful。〃



〃The　smoke？〃



〃Wonderful！　　He　sees　the　sky　through　it；　somehow。　　He　does　the　ugly　roofs　of

cheap　houses　through　a　haze　of　smoke；　and　he　does　smoky　sunsets　and　smoky

sunrises；　and　he　has　other　things　with　the　heavy；　solid；　slow　columns　of　smoke

going　far　out　and　growing　more　ethereal　and　mixing　with　the　hazy　light　in　the

distance；　and　he　has　others　with　the　broken　sky…line　of　down…town；　all　misted

with　the　smoke　and　puffs　and　jets　of　vapor　that　have　colors　like　an　orchard　in

mid…April。　　I'm　going　to　take　you　there　some　Sunday　afternoon；　Bibbs。〃



〃You're　showing　me　the　town；〃　he　said。　　〃I　didn't　know　what　was　in　it　at　all。〃



〃There　are　workers　in　beauty　here；〃　she　told　him；　gently。　　〃There　are　other

painters　more　prosperous　than　my　friend。　　There　are　all　sorts　of　things。〃



〃I　didn't　know。〃



〃No。　　Since　the　town　began　growing　so　great　that　it　called　itself　'greater；'

one　could　live　here　all　one's　life　and　know　only　the　side　of　it　that　shows。〃



〃The　beauty…workers　seem　buried　very　deep；〃　said　Bibbs。　　〃And　I　imagine　that

your　friend　who　makes　the　smoke　beautiful　must　be　buried　deepest　of　all。　　My

father　loves　the　smoke；　but　I　can't　imagine　his　buying　one　of　your　friend's

pictures。　　He'd　buy　the　'Bay　of　Naples；〃　but　he　wouldn't　get　one　of　those。

He'd　think　smoke　in　a　picture　was　horribleunless　he　could　use　it　for　an

advertisement。〃



〃Yes；〃　she　said；　thoughtfully。　　〃And　really　he's　the　town。　　They　ARE　buried

pretty　deep；　it　seems；　sometimes；　Bibbs。〃



〃And　yet　it's　all　wonderful；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　wonderful　to　me。〃



〃You　mean　the　town　is　wonderful　to　you？〃



〃Yes；　because　everything　is；　since　you　called　me　your　friend。　　The　city　is

only　a　rumble　on　the　horizon　for　me。　　It　can't　come　any　closer　than　the

horizon　so　long　as　you　let　me　see　you　standing　by　my　old　zinc…eater　all　day

long；　helping　me。　　Mary〃　　He　stopped　with　a　gasp。　　〃That's　the　first　time

I've　called　you　'Mary'！〃



〃Yes。〃　　She　laughed；　a　little　tremuously。　　〃Though　I　wanted　you　to！〃



〃I　said　it　without　thinking。　　It　must　be　because　you　came　there　to　walk　home

with　me。　　That　must　be　it。〃　　　　　〃Women　like　to　have　things　said；〃　Mary

informed　him；　her　tremulous　laughter　continuing。　　〃Were　you　glad　I　came　for

you？〃



〃Nonot　'glad。'　　I　felt　as　if　I　were　being　carried　straight　up　and　up　and

upover　the　clouds。　　I　feel　like　that　still。　　I　think　I'm　that　way　most　of

the　time。　　I　wonder　what　I　was　like　before　I　knew　you。　　The　person　I　was　then

seems　to　have　been　somebody　else；　not　Bibbs　Sheridan　at　all。　It　seems　long；

long　ago。　　I　was　gloomy　and　sicklysomebody　else　somebody　I　don't

understand　now；　a　coward　afraid　of　shadowsafraid　of　things　that　didn't

existafraid　of　my　old　zinc…eater！　　And　now　I'm　only　afraid　of　what　might

change　anything。〃



She　was　silent　a　moment；　and　then；　〃You're　happy；　Bibbs？〃　she　asked。



〃Ah；　don't　you　see？〃　he　cried。　　〃I　want　it　to　last　for　a　thousand；　thousand

years；　just　as　it　is！　　You've　made　me　so　rich；　I'm　a　miser。　　I　wouldn't　have

one　thing　differentnothing；　nothing！〃



〃Dear　Bibbs！〃　she　said；　and　laughed　happily。





Bibbs　continued　to　live　in　the　shelter　of　his　dream。　　He　had　told　Edith；　after

his　ineffective　effort　to　be　useful　in　her　affairs；　that　he　had　decided　that

he　was　〃a　member　of　the　family〃；　but　he　appeared　to　have　relapsed　to　the

retired　list　after　that　one　attempt　at　participancyhe　was　far　enough

detached　from　membership　now。　　These　were　turbulent　days　in　the　New　House；　but

Bibbs　had　no　part　whatever　in　the　turbulencehe　seemed　an　absent…minded

stranger；　present　by　accident　and　not　wholly　aware　that　he　was　present。　　He

would　sit；　faintly　smiling　over　pleasant　imaginings　and　dear　reminiscences　of

his　own；　while　battle　raged　between　Edith　and　her　father；　or　while　Sheridan

unloosed　jeremiads　upon　the　sullen　Roscoe；　who　drank　heavily　to　endure　them。

The　happy　dreamer　wandered　into　storm…areas　like　a　somnambulist；　and　wandered

out　again　unawakened