第3章

Butasthemantelclockstruckwheezilysixtherewastherattleofanouterdoor,andarichandbeautifulpealoflaughterwentringingthroughthehouse。ThuscheerfullydidMaryVertreesheraldherreturnwithhermotherfromtheirexpeditionamongthebarbarians。

Shecamerushingintothelibraryandthrewherselfintoadeepchairbythehearth,laughingsouncontrollablythattearswereinhereyes。Mrs。Vertreesfolloweddecorously,nomirthabouther;onthecontrary,shelookedvaguelydisturbed,asifshehadeatensomethingnotquitecertaintoagreewithher,andregrettedit。

"Papa！Oh,oh！"AndMissVertreeswasfaintoapplyahandkerchiefuponhereyes。"I\'mSOgladyoumadeusgo！Iwouldn\'thavemissedit——"

Mrs。Vertreesshookherhead。"IsupposeI\'mverydull,"shesaid,gently。"I

didn\'tseeanythingamusing。They\'remostordinary,andthehouseisaltogetherinbadtaste,butweanticipatedthat,and——"

"Papa！"Marycried,breakingin。"TheyaskedustoDINNER！"

"What！"

"AndI\'mGOING！"sheshouted,andwasseizedwithfreshparoxysms。"Thinkofit！Neverintheirhousebefore;nevermetanyofthembutthedaughter——andjustBARELYmether——"

"Whataboutyou？"interrruptedMr。Vertrees,turningsharplyuponhiswife。

Shemadealittlefaceasifpositivenowthatwhatshehadeatenwouldnotagreewithher。"Icouldn\'t！"shesaid。"I——"

"Yes,that\'sjust——justthewayshe——shelookedwhentheyaskedher！"criedMary,choking。"Andthenshe——sherealizedit,andtriedtoturnitintoacough,andshedidn\'tknowhow,anditsoundedlike——likeasqueal！"

"Isuppose,"saidMrs。Vertrees,muchinjured,"thatMarywillhaveanuproarioustimeatmyfuneral。Shemakesfunof——"

Maryjumpedupinstantlyandkissedher;thenshewenttothemanteland,leaninganelbowuponit,gazedthoughtfullyatthebuckleofhershoe,twinklinginthefirelight。

"THEYdidn\'tnoticeanything,"shesaid。"Sofarastheywereconcerned,mamma,itwasoneofthefinestcoughsyouevercoughed。"

"Whowere\'they\'？"askedherfather。"Whomdidyousee？"

"Onlythemotheranddaughter,"Maryanswered。"Mrs。Sheridanisdumpyandrustly;andMissSheridanisprettyandpushing——dressesbythefashionmagazinesandtalksaboutNewYorkpeoplethathavetheirpicturesin\'em。Shetutorsthemother,butnotverysuccessfully——partlybecauseherownfoundationistooflimsyandpartlybecauseshebegantoolate。They\'vegotanenormousMoorofpaintedplasterorsomethinginthehall,andthegirlevidentlythoughtitwastohercreditthatsheselectedit！"

"Theyhaveoil—paintings,too,"addedMrs。Vertrees,withaglanceofgentlepriceattheLandseers。"I\'vealwaysthoughtoil—paintingsinaprivatehousetheworstoftaste。"

"Oh,ifoneownedaRaphaeloraTitian！"saidMr。Vertrees,finishingtheimplication,notinwords,butwithawaveofhishand。"Goon,Mary。Noneoftherestofthemcamein？Youdidn\'tmeetMr。Sheridanor——"Hepausedandadjustedalumpofcoalinthefiredelicatelywiththepoker。"Oroneofthesons？"

Mary\'sglancecrossedhis,atthat,withaflashofuttercomprehension。Heturnedinstantlyaway,butshehadbeguntolaughagain。

"No,"shesaid,"nooneexceptthewomen,butmammainquiredaboutthesonsthoroughly！"

"Mary！"Mrs。Vertreesprotested。

"Oh,mostadroitly,too！"laughedthegirl。"Onlyshecouldn\'thelpunconsciouslyturningtolookatme——whenshedidit！"

"MaryVertrees！"

"Nevermind,mamma！Mrs。SheridanandMissSheridanneitherofTHEMcouldhelpunconsiouslyturningtolookatme——speculatively——atthesametime！Theyallthreekeptlookingatmeandtalkingabouttheoldestson,Mr。JamesSheridan,Junior。Mrs。Sheridansaidhisfatherisveryanxious\'togetJimtomarryandsettledown,\'andsheassuredmethat\'Jimisrightcultivated。\'

Anotherofthesons,theyoungestone,caughtmelookinginthewindowthisafternoon;buttheydidn\'tseemtoconsiderhimquiteoneofthemselves,somehow,thoughMrs。Sheridanmentionedthatacoupleofyearsorsoagohehadbeen\'rightsick,\'andhadbeentosomecureorother。Theyseemedrelievedtobringthesubjectbackto\'Jim\'andhisvirtues——andtolookatme！Theotherbrotheristhemiddleone,Roscoe;he\'stheonethatownsthenewhouseacrossthestreet,wherethatyoungblack—sheepoftheLamhorns,Robert,goessooften。Isawashort,darkyoungmanstandingontheporchwithRobertLamhorntheretheotherday,soIsupposethatwasRoscoe。\'Jim\'

stilllurksinthemists,butIshallmeethimto—night。Papa——"Shesteppednearertohimsothathehadtofaceher,andhiseyesweretroubledashedid。Theremayhavebeenatroubledeepwithinherown,butshekepttheirsurfacemerrywithlaughter。"Papa,Bibbsistheyoungestone\'sname,andBibbs——tothebestofourinformation——isalunatic。Roscoeismarried。

Papa,doesithavetobeJim？"

"Mary！"Mrs。Vertreescried,sharply。"You\'reoutrageous！That\'saperfectlyhorriblewayoftalking！"

"Well,I\'mclosetotwenty—four,"saidMary,turningtoher。"Ihaven\'tbeenabletolikeanybodyyetthat\'saskedmetomarryhim,andmaybeInevershall。UntilayearorsoagoI\'vehadeverythingIeverwantedinmylife——youandpapagaveitalltome——andit\'sabouttimeIbegantopayback。

Unfortunately,Idon\'tkowhowtodoanything——butsomething\'sgottobedone。"

"Butyouneedn\'ttalkofitlikeTHAT！"insistedthemother,plaintively。

"It\'snot——it\'snot——"

"No,it\'snot,"saidMary。"Iknowthat！"

"Howdidtheyhappentoaskyoutodinner？"Mr。Vertreesinquired,uneasily。

"\'Stextrawdn\'rything！"

"Climbers\'hospitality,"Marydefinedit。"Weweresoverycordialandeasy！

IthinkMrs。Sheridanherselfmighthavedoneitjustasanykindoldwomanonafarmmightaskaneighbor,butitwasMissSheridanwhodidit。Sheplayedarounditawhile;youcouldseeshewantedto——she\'sinadreadfulhurrytogetintothings——andIfanciedshehadanideaitmightimpressthatLamhornboytofindusthereto—night。It\'sasortofhouse—warmingdinner,andtheytalkedaboutitandtalkedaboutit——andthenthegirlgothercourageupandblurtedouttheinvitation。Andmamma——"HereMarywasoncemoreavictimtoincorrigiblemerriment。"Mammatriedtosayyes,andCOULDN\'T！Sheswallowedandsquealed——Imeanyoucoughed,dear！Andthen,papa,shesaidthatyouandshehadpromisedtogotoalectureattheEmersonClubto—night,butthatherdaughterwouldbedelightedtocometotheBigShow！SothereIam,andthere\'sMr。JimSheridan——andthere\'stheclock。Dinner\'satseven—thirty！"

Andsheranoutoftheroom,scoopingupherfallenfurswithagestureofflyinggraceasshesped。

Whenshecamedown,attwentymunutesafterseven,herfatherstoodinthehall,atthefootofthestairs,waitingtobeherescortthroughthedark。Helookedupandwatchedherasshedescended,andhisgazewasfondandproud——andprofoundlydisturbed。Butshesmiledandnoddedgaily,and,whenshereachedthefloor,putahandonhisshoulder。

"Atleastnoonecouldsuspectmeto—night,"shesaid。"ILOOKrich,don\'tI,papa？"

Shedid。Shehadalookthatworshipfulgirlfriendsbravelycalled"regal。"

Aheadtallerthanherfather,shewasasstraightandjauntilypoisedasaboyathlete;andherbrownhairandherbrowneyeswerelikehermother\'s,butfortherestshewentbacktosomestrongerandlivelierancestorthaneitherofherparents。

"Don\'tIlooktoorichtobesuspected？"sheinsisted。

"Youlookeverythingbeautiful,Mary,"hesaid,huskily。

"Andmydress？"Shethrewopenherdarkvelvetcloak,showingasplendorofwhiteandsilver。"AnythingbetteratNicenextwinter,doyouthink？"Shelaughed,shroudingherglitteringfigureinthecloakagain。"Twoyearsold,andnoonewoulddreamit！Ididitover。"

"Youcandoanything,Mary。"

Therewasacurioushumilityinhistone,andsomethingmore——asignificancenotveiledandyetabysmallyapologetic。Itwasasifhesuggestedsomethingtoherandbeggedherforgivenessinthesamebreath。

Anduponthat,forthemoment,shebecameasseriousashe。Sheliftedherhandfromhisshoulderandthensetitbackmorefirmly,sothatheshouldfeelthereassuranceofitspressure。

"Don\'tworry,"shesaid,inalowvoiceandgravely。"Iknowexactlywhatyouwantmetodo。"

Itwasabraveandlustrousbanquet;andanoisyone,too,becausetherewasanorchestraamongsomeplantsatoneendofthelongdining—room,andafterapreliminarystiffnesstheguestswereimpelledtoconverse——necessarilyatthetopsoftheirvoices。Thewholecompanyoffiftysatatagreatoblongtable,improvisedfortheoccasionbycarpenters;but,notbetrayingitselfasanimprovisation,itseemedapermanentcontinentofdamaskandlace,withshoresofcrystalandsilverrunninguptospreadinggrovesoforchidsandliliesandwhiteroses——aninhabitedcontinent,evidently,fortherewerethreemarvelous,gleamingbuildings:oneinthecenterandoneateachend,whitemiracleswroughtbysomeinspiredcraftsmaninsculpturalicing。Theyweremodelsinminiature,andtheyrepresentedtheSheridanBuilding,theSheridanApartments,andthePumpWorks。Nearlyalltheguestsrecognizedthemwithouthavingtobetoldwhattheywere,andpronouncedthelikenessessuperb。

Thearrangementofthetablewasvisablybaronial。AttheheadsatthegreatThane,withtheflowerofhisfamilyandoftheguestsabouthim;thenoneachsidecametheneighborsofthe"old"house,gradingdowntovassalsandretainers——superintendents,cashiers,headsofdepartments,andthelike——atthefoot,wheretheThane\'sladytookherplaceasaconsolationforthelessimportant。Here,too,amongthethrallsandbondmen,satBibbsSheridan,ameekBanquo,wonderinghowanybodycouldlookathimandeat。

Nevertheless,therewasavast,continuouseating,forthesewerewholesomefolkwhounderstoodthatdinnermeantsomethingintendedforintroductionintothesystembymeansofanapertureintheface,devisedbynatureforthatexpresspurpose。Andbesides,nobodylookedatBibbs。

Hewasbettercontenttobelefttohimself;hisvoicewasnotstrongenoughtomakeitselfheardoverthehubbubwithoutanexhaustingeffort,andthetalkthatwentonabouthimwastoofastandtoofragmentaryforhisdrawltokeeppacewithit。Sohefeltrelievedwheneachofhisneighborsinturn,afterapoliteinquiryabouthishealth,turnedtoseeklivelierreponsesinotherdirections。Forthetalkwentonwiththeeating,incessantly。Itroseoverthethrobbingoftheorchestraandtheclatterandclinkingofsilverandchinaandglass,andtherewasamightybabble。

"Yes,sir！Startedwithoutadollar。"……"Yellowflouncesontheoverskirt——"……"Isays,\'Wilkie,yourdepartment\'sgottogobiggerthisyear,\'Isays。"……"Fifteenpercent。turnoverinthirty—oneweeks。"……

"Oneofthebigestmeninthebigest——"……"Thewifesaysshe\'llhavetoletoutmypantsifmyappetite——"……"Say,didyouseethatstatueofaTurkinthehall？OneofthefinestthingsIever——"……"Notadollar,notanickel,notoneredcentdoyougetouto\'me,\'Isays,andsoheupsand——"……"Yes,thebabymakesfour,they\'velostnow。"……"Well,theygottheirraise,andtheywentinbig。"……"Yes,sir！Notadollartohisname,andlookatwhat——"……"Youwait！Thepopulationofthistown\'sgoin\'tohitthemillionmarkbeforeshestops。"……"Well,ifyoucanshowmeabiggerdealthan——"

AndthroughtheintersticesofthisclamoringBibbscouldhearthecontinualboomingofhisfather\'sheavyvoice,andoncehecaughtthesentence,"Yes,younglady,that\'sjustwhatdiditforme,andthat\'sjustwhat\'lldoitformyboys——theygottomaketwobladeso\'grassgrowwhereonegrewbefore！"Itwashisfamiliarflourish,anoldstorytoBibbs,andnowjoviallydeclaimedfortheedificationofMaryVertrees。

ItwasagreatnightforSheridan——theverycrestofhiswave。HesatthereknowinghimselfThaneandmasterbyhisownendeavor;andhisbig,smooth,redfacegrewmoreandmoreradiantwithgoodwillandwiththesimplest,happiest,mostboy—likevanity。Hewasthepictureofhealth,ofgoodcheer,andofpoweronaholiday。Hehadthirtyteeth,nonebought,andshowedmostofthemwhenhelaughed;hisgrizzledhairwasthick,andasunrulyasafarmlaborer\'s;hischestwasdeepandbigbeneathitsvastfacadeofstarchedwhitelinen,wherelittlediamondstwinkled,circlingthreelargepearls;hishandswerestubbyandstrong,andheusedthemfreelyingesturesofmarkedpicturesqueness;and,thoughhehadgrownfatatchinandwaistandwrist,hehadnotlostthelookofreadinessandactivity。

Hedominatedthetable,shoutingjocularquestionsandrailleriesateveryone。Hisideawasthatwhenpeoplewerehavingagoodtimetheywerenoisy;

andhisownadditionstothehubbubincreasedhispleasure,and,ofcourse,metthewarmestencouragementfromhisguests。Edithhaddiscoveredthathehadveryfoggynotionsofthedifferencebetweenabandandanorchestra,andwhenitwasmadecleartohimhehadheldoutforabanduntilEdiththreatenedtears;butthesizeoftheorchestratheyhiredconsoledhim,andhehadnownoregretsinthematter。

Hekepttimetothemusiccontinually——withhisfeet,orpoundingonthetablewithhisfist,andsometimeswithspoonorknifeuponhisplateoraglass,withoutpermittingtheseside—productstointerferewiththerealbusinessofeatingandshouting。

"Tell\'emtoplay\'NancyLee\'！"hewouldbellowdownthelengthofthetabletohiswife,whilethemusicianswereinthemidstofthe"Toreador"song,perhaps。"Askthatfellowiftheydon\'tknow\'NancyLee\'！"AndwhentheleaderwouldshakehisheadapologeticallyinanswertoanobedientshriekfromMrs。Sheridan,the"Toreador"continuingvehemently,Sheridanwouldroarhalf—rememberedfragmentsof"NancyLee,"naturallyminglingsomeBizetwiththeairofthatuxorioustribute。

"Oh,thereshestandsandwavesherhandswhileI\'maway！"Asail—er\'swifeasail—er\'sstarshouldbe！Yoho,oh,oh！"Oh,Nancy,Nancy,NancyLee！Oh,Na—hancyLee！"

"HAY,there,oldlady！"hewouldbellow。"Tell\'emtoplay\'IntheGloaming。\'

Inthegloaming,oh,mydarling,la—la—lum—tee——Well,iftheydon\'tknowthat,what\'sthematterwith\'LarboardWatch,Ahoy\'？THAT\'Sgoodmusic！That\'sthekindo\'musicIlike！Comeon,now！Mrs。Callin,get\'emsingin\'downinyourparto\'thetable。What\'sthematteryoufolksdownthere,anyway？

Larboardwatch,ahoy！"

"Whatjoyhefeels,as——ta—tum—dum—tee—dee—dumsteals。La—a—r—boardwatch,ahoy！"

Noexternalbubblingcontributedtothiseffervescence;theSheridans\'tablehadneverbornewine,and,morebecauseoftimidityaboutitthanconviction,itborenonenow;though"mineralwaters"werecopiouslypouredfrombottleswrapped,forsomereason,innapkins,andprovedwhollysatisfactorytoalmostalloftheguests。Andcertainlynowinecouldhaveinspiredmoreturbulentgoodspiritsinthehost。NotevenBibbswasanalloyinthisnight\'shappiness,for,asMrs。Sheridanhadsaid,hehad"plansforBibbs"——planswhichweregoingtostraightenoutsomethingsthathadgonewrong。

Sohepoundedthetableandboomedhisechoesofoldsongs,andthen,forgettingthese,wouldrenewhisfriendlyrailleries,orperhaps,turningtoMaryVertrees,whosatnearhim,roundthecornerofthetableathisright,hewouldbecomeautobiographical。Gentlemenlessnaivethanhehadpaidherthattribute,forshewasagirlwhoinspiredtheautobiographicalimpulseineverymanwhomether——itneededbutthesightofher。

Thedinnerseemed,somehow,tocenteraboutMaryVertreesandthejocundhostasaplaycentersaboutitsheroandheroine;theyweretherubicundkingandthestarryprincessofthisspectacle——theypaidcourttoeachother,andeverybodypaidcourttothem。DownnearthesugarPumpWorks,whereBibbssat,therewasaudiblespeculationandadmiration。"Wonderwhothatladyis——makin\'suchahitwiththeoldman。""Mustbesomeheiress。""Heiress？

Golly,IguessIcouldstandittomarryrich,then！"

EdithandSibylwereradiant:atfirsttheyhadwatchedMissVertreeswithanalmosthaggardanxiety,wonderingwhatdisasterouseffectSheridan\'spastoralgaieties——andotherthings——wouldhaveuponher,butsheseemeddelightedwitheverything,andwithhimmostofall。Shetreatedhimasifheweresomedelicious,foolisholdjokethatsheunderstoodperfectly,laughingathimalmostviolentlywhenhebragged——probablyhisfirstexperienceofthatkindinhislife。Itenchantedhim。

Asheproclaimedtothetable,shehad"awaywithher。"Shehad,indeed,asRoscoeSheridan,uponherright,discoveredjustafterthefeastbegan。Sincehismarriagethreeyearsbefore,noladyhadbestoweduponhimsoprotractedafullviewofbrillianteyes;and,withthelook,hislovelyneighborsaid——anditwasherfirstspeechtohim——

"Ihopeyou\'reverysusceptible,Mr。Sheridan！"

HonestRoscoewastakenaback,and"Why？"wasallhemanagedtosay。

Sherepeatedthelookdeliberately,whichwasnoted,withamystificationequaltohisown,byhissisteracrossthetable。Noone,reflectedEdith,couldimageMaryVertreesthesortofgirlwhowould"reallyflirt"withmarriedmen——shewasobviouslythe"oppositeofallthat。"Edithdefinedherasa"thoroughbred,"a"nicegirl";andthelookgiventoRoscoewasastounding。Roscoe\'swifesawit,too,andshewasanotherwhomitpuzzled——thoughnotbecauseitsrecipientwasmarried。

"Because！"saidMaryVertrees,replyingtoRoscoe\'smonosyllable。"Andalsobecausewe\'renext—doorneighborsattable,andit\'sdulltimesaheadforbothofusifwedon\'tgetalong。"

Roscoewasaliteralyoungman,allstocksandbonds,andhehadbeenbroughtuptobelievethatwhenamanmarriedhe"marriedandsettleddown。"Itwas"allright,"hefelt,foramanasoldashisfathertopayfloridcomplimentstoasprettyagirlasthisMissVertrees,butforhimself——"ayoungmarriedman"——itwouldn\'tdo;anditwouldn\'tevenbequitemoral。Heknewthatyoungmarriedpeoplemighthavefriendships,likehiswife\'sforLamhorn;butSibylandLamhornnever"flirted"——theywerealwaysverymatter—of—factwitheachother。RoscoewouldhavebeentroubledifSibylhadevertoldLamhornshehopedhewassusceptible。

"Yes——we\'reneighbors,"hesaid,awkwardly。

"Next—doorneighborsinhouses,too,"sheadded。

"No,notexactly。Iliveacrossthestreet。"

"Why,no！"sheexclaimed,andseemedstartled。"Yourmothertoldmethisafternoonthatyoulivedathome。"

"Yes,ofcourseIliveathome。Ibuiltthatnewhouseacrossthestreet。"

"Butyou——"shepaused,confused,andthenslowlyadeepcolorcameintohercheek。"ButIunderstood——"

"No,"hesaid;"mywifeandIlivedwiththeoldfolksthefirstyear,butthat\'sall。EdithandJimlivewiththem,ofcourse。"

"I——Isee,"shesaid,thedeepcolorstilldeepeningassheturnedfromhimandsaw,writtenuponacardbeforethegentlemanatherleftthename,"Mr。

JamesSheridan,Jr。"AndfromthatmomentRoscoehadlittleenoughcauseforwonderingwhatheoughttoreplytoherdisturbingcoquetries。

Mr。JamesSheridanhadbeenanxiouslywaitingforthedazzlingvisitorto"getthroughwitholdRoscoe,"ashethoughtofit,andgiveabachelorachance。

"OldRoscoe"wastheyounger,buthehadalwaysbeenthesteadywheel—horseofthefamily。Jimwas"steady"enough,butwasconsideredlivelierthanRoscoe,whichintruthisnotsayingmuchforJim\'sliveliness。Astheirfatherhabituallyboasted,bothbrotherswere"capable,hard—workingyoungbusinessmen,"andtheprincipaldifferencebetweenthemwasmerelythatwhichresultedfromJim\'sbeingstillabachelor。Physicallytheywereofthesametype:

darkofeyesandofhair,fresh—coloredandthick—set,andthoughRoscoewasseveralinchestallerthanJim,neitherwasoftheheight,breadth,ordepthofthefather。Bothworeyoungbusinessmen\'smustaches,andeithercouldhavesatforthetailor—shoplithographsofyoungbusinessmenwearing"richsuitingsindarkmixtures。"

Jim,approvingwarmlyofhisneighbor\'sprofile,perceivedheraccessofcolor,whichincreasedhisapprobation。"What\'sthatoldRoscoesayingtoyou,MissVertrees？"heasked。"Theseyoungmarriedmenaremightyforwardnowadays,butyoumustn\'tlet\'emmakeyoublush。"

"AmIblushing？"shesaid。"Areyousure？"Andwiththatshegavehimampleopportunitytomakesure,repeatingwithinterestthelookwasteduponRoscoe。

"Ithinkyoumustbemistaken,"shecontinued。"Ithinkit\'syourbrotherwhoisblushing。I\'vethrownhimintoconfusion。"

"How？"

Shelaughed,andthen,leaningtohimalittle,saidinatoneasconfidentialasshecouldmakeit,undercoveroftheuproar。"BytryingtobeginwithhimacourtshipImeantforYOU！"

ThismightwellbeastylenewtoJim;anditwas。Hesupposeditanonsensicalformofbadinage,andyetittookhisbreath。Herealizedthathewishedwhatshesaidtobetheliteraltruth,andhewasinstantlysnaredbythatrealization。

"ByGeorge！"hesaid。"Iguessyou\'rethekindofgirlthatcansayanything——yes,andgetawaywithit,too！"

Shelaughedagain——inherway,sothathecouldnottellwhethershewaslaughingathimoratherselforatthenonsenseshewastalking;andshesaid:"ButyouseeIdon\'tcarewhetherIgetawaywithitornot。Iwishyou\'dtellmefranklyifyouthinkI\'vegotachangetogetawaywithYOU？"

"Morelikeifyou\'vegotachancetogetawayFROMme！"Jimwasinspiredtoreply。"Notoneintheworld,especiallyafterbeginningbymakingfunofmelikethat。"

"Imightn\'tbesomuchinfunasyouthink,"shesaid,regardinghimwithsuddengravity。

"Well,"saidJim,insimplehonesty,"you\'reafunnygirl！"

Hergravitycontinuedaninstantlonger。"ImaynotturnouttobefunnyforYOU。"

"Solongasyouturnouttobeanythingatallforme,IexpectIcanmanagetobesatisfied。"Andwiththat,tohisownsurprise,itwashisturntoblush,whereuponshelaughedagain。

"Yes,"hesaid,plaintively,notwhollylackingintuition,"Icanseeyou\'rethesortofgirlthatwouldlaughtheminuteyouseeamanreallymeansanything！"

"\'Laugh\'！"shecried,gaily。"Why,itmightbeamatteroflifeanddeath！

Butifyouwanttragedy,I\'dbetterputthequestionatonce,consideringthemistakeImadewithyourbrother。"

Jimwasdazed。Sheseemedtobeplayingalittlegameofmockeryandnonsensewithhim,buthehadglimpsesofaflashingdangerinit;hewasbuttoosensibleofbeingoutclassed,andhadsomewhereaconsciousnessthathecouldneverquiteknowthisgiddyandalluringlady,nomatterhowlongitpleasedhertoplaywithhim。Buthemightilywantedhertokeeponplayingwithhim。

"Putwhatquestion？"hesaid,breathlessly。

"Asyouareanewneighborofmineandofmyfamily,"shereturned,speakingslowlyandwithacross—examiner\'sseverity,"Ithinkitwouldbewellformetoknowatoncewhetheryouarealreadywalkingoutwithanyyoungladyornot。Mr。Sheridan,thinkwell！Areyouspokenfor？"

"Notyet,"hegasped。"Areyou？"

"NO！"shecried,andwiththattheybothlaughedagain;andthepastimeproceeded,increasingbothinitsgaietyandinitsgravity。

Observingitscontinuance,Mr。RobertLamhorn,opposite,turnedfromalivelyconversationwithEdithandremarkedcovertlytoSibylthatMissVertreeswas"startingratherpicturesquelywithJim。"Andheadded,languidly,"DoyousupposesheWOULD？"

ForthemomentSibylgavenosignofhavingheardhim,butseemedinterestedintheclaspofalong"rope"ofpearls,aloopofwhichshewasallowingtoswingfromherfingers,restingherelbowuponthetableandfollowingwithhereyesthetwinkleofdiamondsandplatinumintheclaspattheendoftheloop。Sheworemanyjewels。Shewaspretty,butherswasnotthekindofprettinesstobeloadedwithtoosumptuousaccessories,andjeweledhead—dressesaredangerous——theymayemphasizethewrongnessofthewearer。

"IsaidMissVertreesseemstobestartingprettystrongwithJim,"repeatedMr。Lamhorn。

"Iheardyou。"Therewasalatentdiscontentalwayssomewhereinhereyes,nomatterwhatshethrewuponthesurfaceofcoverit,andjustnowshedidnotcaretocoverit;shelookedsullen。"StartinganystrongerthanyoudidwithEdith？"sheinquired。

"Oh,keepthepeace！"hesaid,crossly。"That\'soff,ofcourse。"

"Youhaven\'tbeenmakingherseeitthisevening——precisely,"saidSibyl,lookingathimsteadily。"You\'vetalkedtoherfor——"

"ForHeaven\'ssake,"hebegged,"keepthepeace！"

"Well,whathaveyoujustbeendoing？！"

"SH！"hesaid。"Listentoyourfather—in—law。"

Sheridanwasboomingandbrayinglouderthanever,theorchestrahavingbeguntoplay"TheRosary,"tohisvastcontent。

"ICOUNTTHEMOVER,LA—LA—TUM—TEE—DUM,"heroared,beatingthemeasureswithhisfork。"EACHHOURAPEARL,EACHPEARLTEE—DUM—TUM—DUM——What\'sthematterwithallyoufolks？Why\'n\'tyouSING？MissVertrees,IbetathousanddollarsYOUsing！Why\'n\'t——"

"Mr。Sheridan,"shesaid,turningcheerfullyfromtheardentJim,"youdon\'tknowwhatyouinterrupted！Yoursonisn\'tusedtomyroughways,andmysoldier\'swooingfrightenshim,butIthinkhewasabouttosaysomethingimportant。"

"I\'llsaysomethingimportanttohimifhedoesn\'t！"thefatherthreatened,moredelightedwithherthanever。"Bygosh！ifIwashisage——orawidowerrightNOW——"

"Oh,wait！"criedMary。"Ifthey\'donlymakelessnoice！IwantMrs。

Sheridantohear。"

"She\'dsaythesame,"heshouted。"She\'dtellmeIwasmightyslowifI

couldn\'tgetaheado\'Jim。Why,whenIwashisage——"

"Youmustlistentoyourfather,"Maryinterrupted,turningtoJim,whohadgrownreadagain。"He\'sgoingtotellushow,whenhewasyourage,hemadethosetwobladesofgrassgrowoutofateacup——andyoucouldseeforyourselfhedidn\'tgetthemoutofhissleeve！"

AtthatSheridanpoundedthetabletillitjumped。"Lookhere,younglady！"

heroared。"Someo\'thesedaysI\'meithergoin\'toslapyou——orI\'mgoin\'tokissyou！"

Edithlookedaghast;shewasafraidthiswasindeed"tooawful,"butMaryVertreesburstintoringinglaughter。

"Both！"shecried。"Both！Theonetomakemeforgettheother！"

"Butwhich——"hebegan,andthensuddenlygaveforthsuchstentoriantrumpetingsofmirththatforoncethewholetablestoppedtolisten。"Jim,"

heroared,"ifyoudon\'tproposetothatgirlto—nightI\'llsendyoubacktothemachine—shopwithBibbs！"

AndBibbs——downamongtheretainersbythesugarPumpWorks,andwatchingMaryVertreesasaraggedboyinthestreetmightwatcharichlittlegirlinagarden——Bibbsheard。Heheard——andheknewwhathisfather\'splanswerenow。