the turmoil-第50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！



of　herself　and　of　her　ineffable　kindness。



And　she　kept　the　door　openeven　to…night；　though　the　sleet　and　fine　snow

swept　in　upon　her　bare　throat　and　arms；　and　her　brown　hair　was　strewn　with

tiny　white　stars。　　His　heart　leaped　as　he　turned　and　saw　that　she　was　there；

waving　her　hand　to　him；　as　if　she　did　not　know　that　the　storm　touched　her。

When　he　had　gone　on；　Mary　did　as　she　always　didshe　went　into　an　unlit　room

across　the　hall　from　that　in　which　they　had　spent　the　evening；　and；　looking

from　the　window；　watched　him　until　he　was　out　of　sight。　　The　storm　made　that

difficult　to…night；　but　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　him　under　the　street…lamp　that

stood　between　the　two　houses；　and　saw　that　he　turned　to　look　back　again。

Then；　and　not　before；　she　looked　at　the　upper　windows　of　Roscoe's　house　across

the　street。　　They　were　dark。　Mary　waited；　but　after　a　little　while　she　closed

the　front　door　and　returned　to　her　window。　　A　moment　later　two　of　the　upper

windows　of　Roscoe's　house　flashed　into　light　and　a　hand　lowered　the　shade　of

one　of　them。　　Mary　felt　the　cold　thenit　was　the　third　night　she　had　seen

those　windows　lighted　and　the　shade　lowered；　just　after　Bibbs　had　gone。



But　Bibbs　had　no　glance　to　spare　for　Roscoe's　windows。　　He　stopped　for　his

last　look　back　at　the　open　door；　and；　with　a　thin　mantle　of　white　already　upon

his　shoulders；　made　his　way；　gasping　in　the　wind；　to　the　lee　of　the　sheltering

wing　of　the　New　House。



A　stricken　George；　muttering　hoarsely；　admitted　him；　and　Bibbs　became　aware　of

a　paroxysm　within　the　house。　　Terrible　sounds　came　from　the　library：　Sheridan

cursing　as　never　before；　his　wife　sobbing；　her　voice　rising　to　an　agonized

squeal　of　protest　upon　each　of　a　series　of　muffled　detonations　the

outrageous　thumping　of　a　bandaged　hand　upon　wood；　　then　Gurney；　sharply

imperious；　〃Keep　your　hand　in　that　sling！　　Keep　your　hand　in　that　sling；　I

say！〃



〃LOOK！〃　George　gasped；　delighted　to　play　herald　for　so　important　a　tragedy；

and　he　renewed　upon　his　face　the　ghastly　expression　with　which　he　had　first

beheld　the　ruins　his　calamitous　gesture　laid　before　the　eyes　of　Bibbs。　　〃Look

at　'at　lamidal　statue！〃



Gazing　down　the　hall；　Bibbs　saw　heroic　wreckage；　seemingly　Byzantine　painted

colossal　fragments　of　the　shattered　torso；　appallingly　human；　and　gilded　and

silvered　heaps　of　magnificence　strewn　among　ruinous　palms　like　the　spoil　of　a

barbarians'　battle。　　There　had　been　a　massacre　in　the　oasis　the　Moor　had

been　hurled　headlong　from　his　pedestal。



〃He　hit　'at　ole　lamidal　statue；〃　said　George。　　〃POW！〃



〃My　father？〃



〃YESshu！　　POW！　he　hit　'er！　　An'　you'　ma　run　tell　me　git　doctuh　quick　's　I　kin

telefoamshe　sho'　you'　pa　goin'　bus'　a　blood…vessel。　　He　ain't　takin'　on

'tall　NOW。　　He　ain't　nothin'　'tall　to　what　he　was　'while　ago。　You　done　miss'

it；　Mist'　Bibbs。　　Doctuh　got　him　all　quiet'　down；　to　what　he　was。　　POW！　he　hit

'er！　　Yessuh！〃　　He　took　Bibbs's　coat　and　proffered　a　crumpled　telegraph　form。

〃Here　what　come；〃　he　said。　　〃I　pick　'er　up　when　he　done　stompin'　on　'er。　　You

read　'er；　Mist'　Bibbsyou'　ma　tell　me　tuhn　'er　ovuh　to　you　soon's　you　come

in。〃



Bibbs　read　the　telegram　quickly。　　It　was　from　New　York　and　addressed　to　Mrs。

Sheridan。



　　　　　　　Sure　you　will　all　approve　step　have　taken　as　was　so　wretched　my

　　　　　　　health　would　probably　suffered　severely　Robert　and　I　were　married

　　　　　　　this　afternoon　thought　best　have　quiet　wedding　absolutely　sure　you

　　　　　　　will　understand　wisdom　of　step　when　you　know　Robert　better　am

　　　　　　　happiest　woman　in　world　are　leaving　for　Florida　will　wire　address

　　　　　　　when　settled　will　remain　till　spring　love　to　all　father　will　like

　　　　　　　him　too　when　knows　him　like　I　do　he　is　just　ideal。

　　　　　　　Edith　Lamhorn。



George　departed；　and　Bibbs　was　left　gazing　upon　chaos　and　listening　to

thunder。　　He　could　not　reach　the　stairway　without　passing　the　open　doors　of

the　library；　and　he　was　convinced　that　the　mere　glimpse　of　him；　just　then；

would　prove　nothing　less　than　insufferable　for　his　father。　　For　that　reason　he

was　about　to　make　his　escape　into　the　gold…and…brocade　room；　intending　to　keep

out　of　sight；　when　he　heard　Sheridan　vociferously　demanding　his　presence。



〃Tell　him　to　come　in　here！　　He's　out　there。　　I　heard　George　just　let　him　in。

Now　you'll　SEE！〃　　And　tear…stained　Mrs。　Sheridan；　looking　out　into　the　hall；

beckoned　to　her　son。



Bibbs　went　as　far　as　the　doorway。　　Gurney　sat　winding　a　strip　of　white　cotton；

his　black　bag　open　upon　a　chair　near　by；　and　Sheridan　was　striding　up　and

down；　his　hand　so　heavily　wrapped　in　fresh　bandages　that　he　seemed　to　be

wearing　a　small　boxing…glove。　　His　eyes　were　bloodshot；　his　forehead　was

heavily　bedewed；　one　side　of　his　collar　had　broken　loose；　and　there　were

blood…stains　upon　his　right　cuff。



〃THERE'S　our　little　sunshine！〃　he　cried；　as　Bibbs　appeared。　　〃THERE'S　the　hope

o'　the　familymy　lifelong　pride　and　joy！　　I　want〃



〃Keep　you　hand　in　that　sling；〃　said　Gurney；　sharply。



Sheridan　turned　upon　him；　uttering　a　sound　like　a　howl。　　〃For　God's　sake；　sing

another　tune！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　said　you　'came　as　a　doctor　but　stay　as　a

friend；'　and　in　that　capacity　you　undertake　to　sit　up　and　criticize　ME　〃



〃Oh；　talk　sense；〃　said　the　doctor；　and　yawned　intentionally。　　〃What　do　you

want　Bibbs　to　say？〃



〃You　were　sittin'　up　there　tellin'　me　I　got　'hysterical''hysterical；'　oh

Lord！　　You　sat　up　there　and　told　me　I　got　'hysterical'　over　nothin'！　You　sat

up　there　tellin'　me　I　didn't　have　as　heavy　burdens　as　many　another　man　you

knew。　　I　just　want　you　to　hear　THIS。　　Now　listen！〃　　He　swung　toward　the　quiet

figure　waiting　in　the　doorway。　　〃Bibbs；　will　you　come　down…town　with　me　Monday

morning　and　let　me　start　you　with　two　vice…presidencies；　a　directorship；

stock；　and　salaries？　　I　ask　you。〃



〃No；　father；〃　said　Bibbs；　gently。



Sheridan　looked　at　Gurney　and　then　faced　his　son　once　more。



〃Bibbs；　you　want　to　stay　in　the　shop；　do　you；　at　nine　dollars　a　week；　instead

of　takin'　up　my　offer？〃



〃Yes；　sir。〃



〃And　I'd　like　the　doctor　to　hear：　What　'll　you　do　if　I　decide　you're　too

high…priced　a　workin'…man　either　to　live　in　my　house　or　work　in　my　shop？〃



〃Find　other　work；〃　said　Bibbs。



〃There！　　You　hear　him　for　yourself！〃　Sheridan　cried。　　〃You　hear　what〃



〃Keep　you　hand　in　that　sling！　　Yes；　I　hear　him。〃



Sheridan　leaned　over　Gurney　and　shouted；　in　a　voice　that　cracked　and　broke；

piping　into　falsetto：　〃He　thinks　of　bein'　a　PLUMBER！　　He　wants　to　be　a

PLUMBER！　　He　told　me　he　couldn't　THINK　if　he　went　into　businesshe　wants　to

be　a　plumber　so　he　can　THINK！〃



He　fell　back　a　step；　wiping　his　forhead　with　the　back　of　his　left　hand。

〃There！　　That's　my　son！　　That's　the　only　son　I　got　now！　　That's　my　chance　to

live；〃　he　cried；　with　a　bitterness　that　seemed　to　leave　ashes　in　his　throat。

〃That's　my　one　chance　to　livethat　thing　you　see　in　the　doorway　yonder！〃



Dr。　Gurney　thoughtfully　regarded　the　bandage　strip　he　had　been　winding；　and

tossed　it　into　the　open　bag。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　giving　Bibbs　a　chance　to

live？〃　he　said；　coolly。　　〃I　would　if　I　were　you。　　You've　had　TWO　that　went

into　business。〃



Sheridan's　mouth　moved　grotesquely　before　he　could　speak。　　〃Joe　Gurney；〃　he

said；　when　he　could　command　himself　so　far；　〃are　you　accusin'　me　of　the

responsibility　for　the　death　of　my　son　James？〃



〃I　accuse　you　of　nothing；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃But　just　once　I'd　like　to　have

it　out　with　you　on　the　question　of　Bibbsand　while　he's　here；　too。〃　　He　got

up；　walked　to　the　fire；　and　stood　warming　his　hands　behind　his　back　and

smiling。　　〃Look　here；　old　fellow；　let's　be　reasonable；〃　he　said。　　〃You　were

bound　Bibbs　should　go　to　the　shop　again；　and　I　gave　you　and　him；　both；　to

understand　pretty　plainly　that　if　he　went　it　was　at　the　risk　of　his　life。

Well；　what　did　he　do？　　He　said　he　wanted　to　go。　　And　he　did　go；　and　he's　made

good　there。　　Now；　see：　Isn't　that　enough？　　Can't　you　let　him　off　now？　　He