the turmoil-第33章

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

out　again　unawakened。　　He　was　sorry　for　his　father　and　for　Roscoe；　and　for

Edith　and　for　Sibyl；　but　their　sufferings　and　outcries　seemed　far　away。



Sibyl　was　under　Gurney's　care。　　Roscoe　had　sent　for　him　on　Sunday　night；　not

long　after　Bibbs　returned　the　abandoned　wraps；　and　during　the　first　days　of

Sibyl's　illness　the　doctor　found　it　necessary　to　be　with　her　frequently；　and

to　install　a　muscular　nurse。　　And　whether　he　would　or　no；　Gurney　received　from

his　hysterical　patient　a　variety　of　pungent　information　which　would　have

staggered　anybody　but　a　family　physician。　Among　other　things　he　was　given　to

comprehend　the　change　in　Bibbs；　and　why　the　zinc…eater　was　not　putting　a　lump

in　the　operator's　gizzard　as　of　yore。



Sibyl　was　not　deliriousshe　was　a　thin　little　ego　writhing　and　shrieking　in

pain。　　Life　had　hurt　her；　and　had　driven　her　into　hurting　herself；　her

condition　was　only　the　adult's　terrible　exaggeration　of　that　of　a　child　after

a　bad　bruisethere　must　be　screaming　and　telling　mother　all　about　the　hurt

and　how　it　happened。　　Sibyl　babbled　herself　hoarse　when　Gurney　withheld

morphine。　　She　went　from　the　beginning　to　the　end　in　a　breath。　　No　protest

stopped　her；　nothing　stopped　her。



〃You　ought　to　let　me　die！〃　she　wailed。　　〃It's　cruel　not　to　let　me　die！　What

harm　have　I　ever　done　to　anybody　that　you　want　to　keep　me　alive？　Just　look　at

my　life！　　I　only　married　Roscoe　to　get　away　from　home；　and　look　what　that　got

me　into！look　where　I　am　now！　　He　brought　me　to　this　town；　and　what　did　I

have　in　my　life　but　his　FAMILY？　　And　they　didn't　even　know　the　right　crowd！

If　they　had；　it　might　have　been　SOMETHING！　　I　had　nothingnothingnothing　in

the　world！　　I　wanted　to　have　a　good　time　and　how　could　I？　　Where's　any　good

time　among　these　Sheridans？　　They　never　even　had　wine　on　the　table！　　I　thought

I　was　marrying　into　a　rich　family　where　I'd　meet　attractive　people　I'd　read

about；　and　travel；　and　go　to　dancesand；　oh；　my　Lord！　all　I　got　was　these

Sheridans！　　I　did　the　best　I　could；　I　did；　indeed！　　Oh；　I　DID！　　I　just　tried

to　live。　　Every　woman's　got　a　right　to　live；　some　time　in　her　life；　I　guess！

Things　were　just　beginning　to　look　brighterwe'd　moved　up　here；　and　that

frozen　crowd　across　the　street　were　after　Jim　for　their　daughter；　and　they'd

have　started　us　with　the　right　peopleand　then　I　saw　how　Edith　was　getting

him　away　from　me。　　She　did　it；　too！　　She　got　him！　　A　girl　with　money　can　do

that　to　a　married　womanyes；　she　can；　every　time！　　And　what　could　I　do？　　What

can　any　woman　do　in　my　fix？　　I　couldn't　do　ANYTHING　but　try　to　stand　itand　I

couldn't　stand　it！　　I　went　to　that　iciclethat　Vertrees　girland　she　could

have　helped　me　a　little；　and　it　wouldn't　have　hurt　her。　　It　wouldn't　have　done

her　any　harm　to　help　me　THAT　little！　She　treated　me　as　if　I'd　been　dirt　that

she　wouldn't　even　take　the　trouble　to　sweep　out　of　her　house！　　Let　her　WAIT！〃

Sibyl's　voice；　hoarse　from　babbling；　became　no　more　than　a　husky　whisper；

though　she　strove　to　make　it　louder。　　She　struggled　half　upright；　and　the

nurse　restrained　her。　〃I'd　get　up　out　of　this　bed　to　show　her　she　can't　do

such　things　ot　me！　　I　was　absolutely　ladylike；　and　she　walked　out　and　left　me

there　alone！　She'll　SEE！　　She　started　after　Bibbs　before　Jim's　casket　was

fairly　underground；　and　she　thinks　she's　landed　that　poor　loonbut　she'll

see！　She'll　see！　　If　I'm　ever　able　to　walk　across　the　street　again　I'll　show

her　how　to　treat　a　woman　in　trouble　that　comes　to　her　for　help！　　It　wouldn't

have　hurt　her　anyit　wouldn'tit　wouldn't。　　And　Edith　needn't　have　told　what

she　told　Roscoeit　wouldn't　have　hurt　her　to　let　me　alone。　　And　HE　told　her　I

bored　himtelephoning　him　I　wanted　to　see　him。　　He　needn't　have　done　it！　　He

needn'tneedn't〃　　Her　voice　grew　fainter；　for　that　while；　with　exhaustion；

though　she　would　go　over　it　all　again　as　soon　as　her　strength　returned。　　She

lay　panting。　　Then；　seeing　her　husband　standing　disheveled　in　the　doorway；

〃Don't　come　in；　Roscoe；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I　don't　want　to　see　you。〃　　And　as　he

turned　away　she　added；　〃I'm　kind　of　sorry　for　you；　Roscoe。〃



Her　antagonist；　Edith；　was　not　more　coherent　in　her　own　wailings；　and　she　had

the　advantage　of　a　mother　for　listener。　　She　had　also　the　disadvantage　of　a

mother　for　duenna；　and　Mrs。　Sheridan；　under　her　husband's　sharp　tutelage；

proved　an　effective　one。　　Edith　was　reduced　to　telephoning　Lamhorn　from　shops

whenever　she　could　juggle　her　mother　into　a　momentary　distraction　over　a

counter。



Edith　was　incomparably　more　in　love　than　before　Lamhorn's　expulsion。　　Her

whole　being　was　nothing　but　the　determination　to　hurdle　everything　that

separated　her　from　him。　　She　was　in　a　state　that　could　be　altered　by　only　the

lightest　and　most　delicate　diplomacy　of　suggestion；　but　Sheridan；　like　legions

of　other　parents；　intensified　her　passion　and　fed　it　hourly　fuel　by　opposing

to　it　an　intolerable　force。　　He　swore　she　should　cool；　and　thus　set　her　on

fire。



Edith　planned　neatly。　　She　fought　hard；　every　other　evening；　with　her　father；

and　kept　her　bed　between　times　to　let　him　see　what　his　violence　had　done　to

her。　　Then；　when　the　mere　sight　of　her　set　him　to　breathing　fast；　she　said

pitiably　that　she　might　bear　her　trouble　better　if　she　went　away；　it　was

impossible　to　be　in　the　same　town　with　Lamhorn　and　not　think　always　of　him。

Perhaps　in　New　York　she　might　forget　a　little。　　She　had　written　to　a　school

friend；　established　quietly　with　an　aunt　in　apartmentsand　a　month　or　so　of

theaters　and　restaurants　might　bring　peace。　　Sheridan　shouted　with　relief；　he

gave　her　a　copious　cheque；　and　she　left　upon　a　Monday　morning；　wearing　violets

with　her　mourning　and　having　kissed　everybody　good…by　except　Sibyl　and　Bibbs。

She　might　have　kissed　Bibbs；　but　he　failed　to　realize　that　the　day　of　her

departure　had　arrived；　and　was　surprised；　on　returning　from　his　zinc…eater；

that　evening；　to　find　her　gone。　　〃I　suppose　they'll　be　maried　ther；〃　he　said；

casually。



Sheridan；　seated；　warming　his　stockinged　feet　at　the　fire；　jumped　up；　fuming。

〃Either　you　go　out　o'　here；　or　I　will；　Bibbs！〃　he　snorted。　　〃I　don't　want　to

be　in　the　same　room　with　the　particular　kind　of　idiot　you　are！　　She's　through

with　that　riff…raff；　　all　she　needed　was　to　be　kept　away　from　him　a　few　weeks；

and　I　KEPT　her　away；　and　it　did　the　business。　For　Heaven's　sake；　go　on　out　o'

here！〃



Bibbs　obeyed　the　gesture　of　a　hand　still　bandaged。　　And　the　black　silk　sling

was　still　round　Sheridan's　neck；　but　not　word　of　Gurney's　and　no　excruciating

twinge　of　pain　could　keep　Sheridan's　hand　in　the　sling。　　The　wounds；　slight

enough　originally；　had　become　infected　the　first　time　he　had　dislodged　the

bandages；　and　healing　was　long　delayed。　　Sheridan　had　the　habit　of　gesture；　he

could　not　〃take　time　to　remember；〃　he　said；　that　he　must　be　careful；　and　he

had　also　a　curious　indignation　with　his　hurt；　he　refused　to　pay　it　the

compliment　of　admitting　its　existence。



The　Saturday　following　Edith's　departure　Gurney　came　to　the　Sheridan　Building

to　dress　the　wounds　and　to　have　a　talk　with　Sheridan　which　the　doctor　felt　had

become　necessary。　　But　he　was　a　little　before　the　appointed　time　and　was

obliged　to　wait　a　few　minutes　in　an　anteroom　there　was　a　directors'　meeting

of　some　sort　in　Sheridan's　office。　　The　door　was　slightly　ajar；　leaking

cigar…smoke　and　oratory；　the　latter　all　Sheridan's；　and　Gurney　listened。



〃No；　sir；　no；　sir；　no；　sir！〃　he　heard　the　big　voice　rumbling；　and　then；

breaking　into　thunder；　〃I　tell　you　NO！　　Some　o'　you　men　make　me　sick！　You'd

lose　your　confidence　in　Almighty　God　if　a　doodle…bug　flipped　his　hind　leg　at

you！　　You　say　money's　tight　all　over　the　country。　　Well；　what　if　it　is？

There's　no　reason　for　it　to　be　tight；　and　it's　not　goin'　to　keep　OUR　money

tight！　　You're　always　runnin'　to　the　woodshed　to　hide　your　nickels　in　a　crack

because　some　fool　newspaper　says　the　market's　a　little　skeery！　　You　listen　to

every　street…corner　croaker　and　then　come　and　set　here　and　try　to　scare　ME　out

of　a　big　thing！　　We're　IN　on　this　understand？　　I　tell　you　there　never　WAS

better　times。　　These　are　good　times　and　big　times；　and　I　won't　stand　for　any

other　kind　o'　talk。　　This　country's　on　its　feet　as　it　never　was　before；　and

this　city's　on　its　feet　and　goin'　to　stay　there！〃　　And　Gurney　heard　a　series

of　whacks　and　thumps　upon　the　desk。　　〃'Bad　times'！〃　Sheridan　vociferated；　with

accompanying　thumps。　　〃Rabbit　talk！　　These　times　are　glorious；　I　tell　you！

We're　in　the　promised　land；　and　we're　goin'　to　STAY　there！　　That's　all；

gentlemen。　The　loan　goes！〃



The　directors　came　forth；　flushed　and　murmurous；　and　Gurney　hastened　in。　His

guess　was　correct：　　Sheridan　had　been　thumping　the　desk　with　his　right　hand。

The　physician　scolded　wearily；　making　good　the　fresh　damage　as　best　he　might；

and　then　he　said　what　he　had　to　say　on　the　subject　of　Roscoe　and　Sibyl；　his

opinion　meeting；　as　he　expected；　a　warmly　hostile　reception。　But　the　result　of

this　conversation　was　that　by　telephonic　command　Roscoe　awaited　his　father；　an

hour　later；　in　the　library　at　the　New　House。



〃Gurney　says　your　wife's　able　to　travel；〃　Sheridan　said　brusquely；　as　he　came

in。



〃Yes。〃　　Roscoe　occupied　a　deep　chair　and　sat　in　the　dejected　attitude　which

had　become　his　habit。　　〃Yes；　she　is。〃



〃Edith　had　to　leave　town；　and　so　Sibyl　thinks　she'll　have　to；　too！〃



〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　put　it　that　way；〃　Roscoe　protested；　drearily。



〃No；　I　hear　YOU　wouldn't！〃　　There　was　a　bitter　gibe　in　the　father's　voice；　and

he　added：　〃It's　a　good　thing　she's　goin'　abroadif　she'll　stay　there。　　I

shouldn't　think　any　of　us　want　her　here　any　moreyou　least　of　all！〃



〃It's　no　use　your　talking　that　way；〃　said　Roscoe。　　〃You　won't　do　any　good。〃



〃Well；　when　are　you　comin'　back　to　your　office？〃　　Sheridan　used　a　brisker；

kinder　tone。　　〃Three　weeks　since　you　showed　up　there　at　all。　　When　you　goin'

to　be　ready　to　cut　out　whiskey　and　all　the　rest　o'　the　foolishness　and　start

in　again？　　You　ought　to　be　able　to　make　up　for　a　lot　o'　lost　time　and　a　lot　o'

spilt　milk　when　that　woman　takes　herself　out　o'　the　way　and　lets　you　and　all

the　rest　of　us　alone。〃



〃It's　no　use；　father；　I　tell　you。　　I　know　what　Gurney　was　going　to　say　to　you。

I'm　not　going　back　to　the　office。　　I'm　DONE！〃



〃Wait　a　minute　before　you　talk　that　way！〃　　Sheridan　began　his　sentry…go　up　and

down　the　room。　　〃I　suppose　you　know　it's　taken　two　pretty　good　men　about

sixteen　hours　a　day　to　set　things　straight　and　get　'em　runnin'　right　again；

down　in　your　office？〃



〃They　must　be　good　men。〃　　Roscoe　nodded　indifferently。　　〃I　thought　I　was　doing

about　eight　men's　work。　　I'm　glad　you　found　two　that　could　handle　it。〃



〃Look　here！　　If　I　worked　you　it　was　for　your　own　good。　　There　are　plenty　men

drive　harder　'n　I　do；　and〃



〃Yes。　　There　are　some　that　break　down　all　the　other　men　that　work