ToLaurel。
Thereisamidlandcityintheheartoffair,opencountry,adirtyandwonderfulcitynestingdingilyinthefogofitsownsmoke。Thestrangermustfeelthedirtbeforehefeelsthewonder,forthedirtwillbeuponhiminstantly。Itwillbeuponhimandwithinhim,sincehemustbreatheit,andhemaycarefornofurtherproofthatwealthisherebetterlovedthancleanliness;butwhetherhecaresornot,thenegligentlytendedstreetsincessantlypresshomethepoint,andsodothefleckedandgrimycitizens。Atabreezehemustsmotherinthewhirlpoolsofdust,andifheshoulddeclineatanytimetoinhalethesmokehehasthemeageralternativeofsuicide。
Thesmokeislikethebadbreathofagiantpantingformoreandmoreriches。
Hegetsthemandpantsthefiercer,smellingandswellingprodigiously。Hehasavoice,ahoarsevoice,hotandrapacioustrainedtoonetune:\"Wealth！
IwillgetWealthIwillmakeWealth！IwillsellWealthformoreWealth！Myhouseshallbedirty,mygarmentshallbedirty,andIwillfoulmyneighborsothathecannotbeclean——butIwillgetWealth！Thereshallbenocleanthingaboutme:mywifeshallbedirtyandmychildshallbedirty,butI
willgetWealth！\"Andyetitisnotwealththatheissogreedyfor:whatthegiantreallywantsishastyriches。Togetthesehesquanderswealthuponthefourwinds,forwealthisinthesmoke。
Notsolongagoasageneration,therewasnopantinggianthere,noheaving,grimycity;therewasbutapleasantbigtownofneighborlypeoplewhohadunderstandingofoneanother,being,onthewhole,muchofthesametype。Itwasaleisurelyandkindlyplace——\"homelike,\"itwascalled——andwhenthevisitorhadbeentakenthroughtheStateAsylumfortheInsaneandmadetoappreciatetheviewofthecemeteryfromalittlehill,hishost\'sdutyasBaedekerwasdone。ThegoodburghersweregiventojoggingcomfortablyaboutinphaetonsorinsurreysforafamilydriveonSunday。Noonewasveryrich;
fewwereverypoor;theairwasclean,andtherewastimetolive。
Buttherewasaspiritabroadintheland,anditwasstronghereaselsewhere——aspiritthathadmovedinthedepthsoftheAmericansoilandlaboredthere,sweating,tillitstirredthesurface,rovethemountains,andemerged,tangibleandmonstrous,thegodofallgoodAmericanhearts——
Bigness。Andthatgodwroughtthepantinggiant。
Inthesoulsoftheburgherstherehadalwaysbeentheprofoundlongingforsize。Yearbyyearthelongingincreaseduntilitbecameanaccumulatedforce:WemustGrow！WemustbeBig！WemustbeBigger！BignessmeansMoney！Andthethingbegantohappen;theirlongingbecameamightyWill。WemustbeBigger！Bigger！Bigger！Getpeoplehere！Coaxthemhere！Bribethem！Swindlethemintocoming,ifyoumust,butgetthem！Shoutthemintocoming！Deafenthemintocoming！Anykindofpeople;allkindsofpeople！
WemustbeBigger！Blow！Boost！Brag！Killthefault—finder！ScreamandbellowtotheMostHigh:Bignessispatriotismandhonor！Bignessisloveandlifeandhappiness！BignessisMoney！WewantBigness！
Theygotit。Fromallthestatesthepeoplecame;thinlyatfirst,andslowly,butfasterandfasterinthickerandthickerswarmsasthequickyearswentby。Whitepeoplecame,andblackpeopleandbrownpeopleandyellowpeople;thenegroescamefromtheSouthbythethousandsandthousands,multiplyingbyotherthousandsandthousandsfasterthantheycoulddie。Fromthefourquartersoftheearththepeoplecame,thebrokenandtheunbroken,thetameandthewild——Germans,Irish,Italians,Hungarians,Scotch,Welsh,English,French,Swiss,Swedes,Norwegians,Greeks,Poles,RussianJews,Dalmatians,Armenians,Rumanians,Servians,Persians,Syrians,Japanese,Chinese,Turks,andeveryhybridthatthesecouldpropagate。AndiftherewerenoEskimosnorPatagonians,whatotherhumanstrainthatearthmightfurnishfailedtoswimandbubbleinthiscrucible？
WithBignesscamethenewmachineryandtherush;thestreetsbegantoroarandrattle,thehousestotremble;thepavementswerewornunderthetreadofhurryingmultitudes。Theold,leisurely,quizzicallookofthefaceswaslostinsomethingharderandwarier;andacockneytypebegantoemergediscernibly——acynicalyoungmongrel,barbaricoffeature,muscularandcunning;dressedingoodfabricsfashionedapparentlyinimitationofthesketchesdrawnbynewspapercomedians。Thefemaleofhiskindcamewithhim——apalegirl,shoddyandalittlerouged;andtheycommunicatedinanasalargot,mainlyinsolencesandelisions。Nay,thecommonspeechofthepeopleshowedchange:inplaceoftheoldmidlandvernacular,irregularbutclean,andnotunwholesomelydrawling,ajerkydialectofcoinedmetaphorsbegantobeheard,heldtogetherbyGUNNASandGOTTASandmuchfosteredbythepublicjournals。
Thecitypileditselfhighinthecenter,towerontowerforanucleus,andspreaditselfoutovertheplain,mileaftermile;andinitsvitals,likebenevolentbacillicontendingwithmalevolentinthebodyofaman,missionsandrefugesofferedwhatresistancetheymighttothesaloonsandallthehellsthatcitieshouseandshelter。Temptationandruinwerereadycommoditiesonthemarketforpurchasebytheventuresome;highwaymenwalkedthestreetsatnightandsometimeskilled;snatchingthieveswerebusyeverywhereinthedusk;whilehouse—breakerswereacommonapprehensionandfrequentreality。LifeitselfwassomewhatsaferfromintentionaldestructionthanitwasinmedievalRomeduringafactionwar——thoughtheRomanmurdererwasmoreliketopayforhisdeed——butdeathormutilationbeneaththewheelslayinambushateverycrossing。
Thepoliticiansletthepeoplemakeallthelawstheyliked;itdidnotmattermuch,andthetaxeswentup,whichisgoodforpoliticians。Law—makingwasapastimeofthepeople;nothingpleasedthemmore。Singularfermentationoftheirhumor,theyevenhadlawsforbiddingdangerousspeed。Moremarvelousstill,theyhadalawforbiddingsmoke！Theyforbadechimneystosmokeandtheyforbadecigarettestosmoke。Theymadelawsforallthingsandforgotthemimmediately;thoughsometimestheywouldrememberafterawhile,andhurrytomakenewlawsthattheoldlawsshouldbeenforced——andthenforgetbothnewandold。WhereverenforcementthreatenedMoneyorVotes——orwhereveritwastoomuchtobother——itbecameajoke。Influencewasthelaw。
Sotheplacegrew。Anditgrewstrong。Straightwaywhenhecame,eachmanfelltothesameworship:
Givemeofthyself,OBigness:
Powertogetmorepower！
Richestogetmoreriches！
GivemeofthysweatthatImaysweatmore！
GivemeBignesstogetmoreBignesstomyself,OBigness,forThineisthePowerandtheGlory！
AndthereisnoendbutBigness,everandforever！
TheSheridanBuildingwasthebiggestskyscraper;theSheridanTrustCompanywasthebiggestofitskind,andSheridanhimselfhadbeenthebiggestbuilderandbreakerandtrusterandbusterunderthesmoke。Hehadcomefromacountrycross—roads,atthebeginningofthegrowth,andhehadgoneupanddownintheboomsandrelapsesofthatperiod;buteachtimehewentdownhereboundedalittlehigher,untilfinally,afterayearofoverworkandanxiety——thelatternotdecreasedbyachance,remotebutpossible,ofrecuperationfromtheformerinthepenitentiary——hefoundhimselfontop,withsolidsubstanceunderhisfeet;andthereafter\"playeditsafe。\"Buthishungertogetwasunabated,foritwasintheverybonesofhimandgrewfiercer。
Hewasthecityincarnate。Helovedit,callingitGod\'scountry,ashecalledthesmokeProsperity,breathingthedingycloudwithrelish。Andwhensootfelluponhiscuffhechuckled;hecouldhavekissedit。\"It\'sgood！It\'sgood！\"hesaid,andsmackedhislipsingusto。\"Good,cleansoot;it\'sourlife—blood,Godblessit！\"Thesmokewasoneofhisgreatenthusiasms;helaughedatacommitteeofplaintivehousewiveswhocalledtobeghisaidagainstit。\"Smoke\'swhatbringsyourhusbands\'moneyhomeonSaturdaynight,\"hetoldthem,jovially。\"Smokemayhurtyourlittleshrubberiesinthefrontyardsome,butit\'sthecatarrhalclimateandtheadenoidsthatstartsyourchulderncoughing。Smokemakestheclimatebetter。Smokemeansgoodhealth:
itmakesthepeoplewashmore。Theyhavetowashsomuchtheywashoffthemicrobes。Yougohomeandaskyourhusbandswhatsmokeputsintheirpocketsouto\'thepay—roll——andyou\'llcomearoundnexttimetogetmetoturnoutmoresmokeinsteado\'chokin\'itoff！\"
ItwasNarcissisminhimtolovethecitysowell;hesawhisreflectioninit;and,likeit,hewasgrimy,big,careless,rich,strong,andunquenchablyoptimistic。Fromthedeepestofhisinsideallthewayouthebelieveditwasthefinestcityintheworld。\"Finest\"washisword。Hethoughtofitashiscityashethoughtofhisfamilyashisfamily;andjustasprofoundlybelievedhiscitytobethefinestcityintheworld,sodidhebelievehisfamilytobe——inspiteofhissonBibbs——thefinestfamilyintheworld。Asamatteroffact,heknewnothingworthknowingabouteither。
BibbsSheridanwasamusingsortofboy,poorinhealth,andconsideredthefailure——the\"oddone\"——ofthefamily。Bornduringthatmostdangerousandanxiousoftheearlyyears,whenthemotherfrettedandthefathertookhischance,hewasanill—nourishedbaby,andgrewmeagerly,onlylengthwise,throughafeeblechildhood。Athischristeninghewascommittedforlifeto\"Bibbs\"mainlythroughlackofimaginationonhismother\'spart,forthoughitwashermaidenname,shehadnostrongaffectionforit;butitwas\"herturn\"
tonamethebaby,and,assheexplainedlater,she\"couldn\'tthinkofanythingelseshelikedATALL！\"Sheofferedthisexplanationonedaywhenthesicklyboywasnineandafteralongfitofbroodinghaddemandedsomereasonforhisname\'sbeingBibbs。Herequestedthenwithunwontedvehemencetobeallowedtoexchangenameswithhisolderbrother,RoscoeConklingSheridan,orwiththeoldest,JamesSheridan,Junior,anduponbeingrefusedwentdownintothecellarandremainedtheretherestofthatday。Andthecook,descendingtowarddusk,reportedthathehadvanished;butasearchrevealedthathewasinthecoal—pile,completelycoveredandstillburrowing。Removedbyforceandcarriedupstairs,hemaintainedacrypticdemeanor,refusingtoutterasyllableofexplanation,evenunderthelash。Thisobviousthingwaswhollyamysterytobothparents;themotherwasnonplussed,failedtotraceandconnect;andthefatherregardedhissonasastubbornandmysteriousfool,animpressionnoteffacedastheyearswentby。
Attwenty—two,Bibbswasphysicallynomorethantheouterscaffoldingofaman,waitingforthebuildingtobegininside——along—shanked,long—faced,ricketyyouth,sallowandhollowandhaggard,dark—hairedanddark—eyed,withapeculiarexpressionofcountenance;indeed,atfirstsightofBibbsSheridanastrangermightwellbesolicitous,forheseemeduponthepointoftears。
Buttoaslightlylongergaze,notgrief,butmirth,wasrevealedashisemotion;whileamoresearchingscrutinywasproportionatelymorepuzzling——heseemedabouttoburstoutcryingortoburstoutlaughing,oneortheother,inevitably,butitwasimpossibletodecidewhich。AndBibbsnever,onanyoccassionofhislife,eitherlaughedaloudorwept。
Hewasa\"disappointment\"tohisfather。Atleastthatwastheparent\'sword——aconfirmedandestablishedwordafterhisfirstattempttomakea\"businessman\"oftheboy。HesentBibbsto\"beginatthebottomandlearnfromthegroundup\"inthemachine—shopoftheSheridanAutomaticPumpWorks,andattheendofsixmonthsthefamilyphysiciansentBibbstobeginatthebottomandlearnfromthegroundupinasanitarium。
\"Youneedn\'tworry,mamma,\"Sheridantoldhiswife。\"There\'snothin\'thematterwithBibbsexcepthehatesworksomuchitmakeshimsick。Iputhiminthemachine—shop,andIguessIknowwhatI\'mdoin\'aboutaswellasthenextman。OleDocGurneyalwayswasoneo\'themnuttyalarmists。DoeshethinkI\'ddoanything\'dbebadformyownfleshandblood？Hemakesmetired！\"
AnythingexceptperfectlydefinitehealthorperfectlydefinitediseasewasincomprehensibletoSheridan。Hehadagenuineconvictionthatlackofphysicalpersistenceinanytaskinvolvingmoneymustbeduetosomesubtleweaknessofcharacteritself,tosomeprofoundshiftlessnessorslyness。Heunderstoodtyphoidfever,pheumonia,andappendicitis——onehadthem,andeitherdiedorgotoverthemandwentbacktowork——butwhentheword\"nervous\"appearedinadiagnosishebecamehonestlysuspicious:hehadthefeelingthattherewassomethingcontemptibleaboutit,thattherewasaniggerinthewood—pilesomewhere。
\"Lookatme,\"hesaid。\"LookatwhatIdidathisage！Why,whenIwastwentyyearsold,wasn\'tIupeverymorningatfouro\'clockchoppin\'wood——
yes！andoutinthedarkandthesnow——tobuildafireinacountrygrocerystore？AndhereBibbshastogoandhaveaDOCTORbecausehecan\'t——Pho！itmakesmetired！Ifhe\'dgoneatitlikeamanhewouldn\'tbesick。\"
Hepacedthebedroom——theusualsettingforsuchparentaldiscussions——inhisnightgown,shakinghisbig,grizzledheadandgesticulatingtohisbeddedspouse。\"MyLord！\"hesaid。\"Ifalittle,teenybito\'worklikethisistoomuchforhim,why,heain\'tfitforanything！It\'snine—tenthsimagination,andtherestofit——well,Iwon\'tsayit\'sdeliberate,butIWOULDliketoknowjusthowmuchofit\'sputon！\"
\"Bibbsdidn\'twantthedoctor,\"saidMrs。Sheridan。\"Itwaswhenhewasheretodinnerthatnight,andnoticedhowhecouldn\'teatanything。Honey,youbettercometobed。\"
\"Eat！\"hesnorted。\"Eat！It\'sworkthatmakesmeneat！Andit\'simaginationthatkeepspeoplefromeatin\'。Busymendon\'tgettimeforthatkindofimagination;andthere\'sanotherthingyou\'llnoticeaboutgoodhealth,ifyou\'lltakethetroubletolookaroundyou,Mrs。Sheridan:busymenhaven\'tgottimetobesickandtheydon\'tGETsick。Youjustthinkitoverandyou\'llfindthatninety—ninepercent。ofthesickpeopleyouknowareeitherwomenorloafers。Yes,ma\'am！\"
\"Honey,\"shesaidagain,drowsily,\"youbettercometobed。\"
\"Lookattheotherboys,\"herhusbandbadeher。\"LookatJimandRoscoe。LookathowTHEYwork！Thereisn\'tashiftlessboneintheirbodies。WorknevermadeJimorRoscoesick。Jimtakeshalftheloadoffmyshouldersalready。
Rightnowthereisn\'taharder—workin\',brighterbusinessmaninthiscitythanJim。I\'vepushedhim,buthegivemesomethingtopushAGAINST。Youcan\'tpush\'nervousdyspepsia\'！AndlookatRoscoe;justLOOKatwhatthatboy\'sdoneforhimself,andbarelytwenty—sevenyearsold——married,gotafinewife,andreadytobuildforhimselfwithhisownmoney,whenIputuptheNewHouseforyouandEdie。\"
\"Papa,you\'llcatchcoldinyourbarefeet,\"shemurmured。\"Youbettercometobed。\"
\"AndI\'mjustasproudofEdie,foragirl,\"hecontinued,emphatically,\"asI
amofJimandRoscoeforboys。She\'llmakesomemanamightygoodwifewhenthetimecomes。She\'stheprettiestandtalentedestgirlintheUnitedStates！Lookatthatpoemshewrotewhenshewasinschoolandtooktheprizewith;it\'sthebestpoemIeverreadinmylife,andshe\'dnevereventriedtowriteonebefore。It\'sthefinestthingIeverread,andR。T。Blosssaidso,too;andIguesshe\'sagoodenoughliteraryjudgeforme——turnsoutmoreadvertisin\'liter\'cherthananymaninthecity。Itellyoushe\'ssmart！
LookatthewaysheworkedmetogetmetopromisetheNewHouse——andIguessyouhadyourfingerinthat,too,mamma！Thisoldshack\'sgoodenoughforme,butyouandlittleEdie\'llhavetohaveyourway。I\'llgetbehindherandpushherthesameasIwillJimandRoscoe。ItellyouI\'mmightyproudo\'
themthreechuldern！ButBibbs——\"Hepaused,shakinghishead。\"Honest,mamma,whenItalktomenthatgotALLtheirboysdoin\'wellandworththeirsalt,why,IhavetokeepmymindonJimandRoscoeandforgetaboutBibbs。\"
Mrs。Sheridantossedherheadfretfullyuponthepillow。\"Youdidthebestyoucould,papa,\"shesaid,impatiently,\"socometobedandquitreproachin\'
youselfforit。\"
Heglaredatherindignantly。\"Reproachin\'myself！\"hesnorted。\"Iain\'tdoin\'anythingofthekind！Whatinthenameo\'goodnesswouldIwanttoreproachmyselffor？Anditwasn\'tthe\'bestIcould,\'either。ItwasthebestANYBODYcould！Iwasgivin\'himachancetoshowwhatwasinhimandmakeamanofhimself——andherehegoesandgets\'nervousdyspepsia\'onme！\"
Hewenttotheold—fashionedgas—fixture,turnedoutthelight,andmutteredhiswaymoroselyintobed。
\"What？\"saidhiswife,crossly,botheredbyasubsequentmumbling。
\"Morelikehook—worm,Isaid,\"heexplained,speakinglouder。\"Idon\'tknowwhattodowithhim！\"
BeginningatthebeginningandlearningfromthegroundupwasalongcourseforBibbsatthesanitarium,withmilkand\"zwieback\"asthebasisofinstruction;andthemonthsweremanyandtiresomebeforehewasconsiderednearenoughgraduationtogoforawalkleaningonanurseandacane。Theseandsubsequentmonthssawtheplanning,thebuilding,andthecompletionoftheNewHouse;anditwastothatabodeofBignessthatBibbswasbroughtwhenthecane,withoutthenurse,wasfoundsufficienttohissupport。
Edithmethimatthestation。\"Well,well,Bibbs！\"shesaid,ashecameslowlythroughthegates,thelastofallthetravelersfromthattrain。Shegavehishandabrisklittleshake,avertinghereyesafteraquickglanceathim,andturningatoncetowardthepassagetothestreet。\"Doyouthinktheyoughtto\'veletyoucome？Youcertainlydon\'tlookwell！\"
\"ButIcertainlydolookbetter,\"hereturned,inavoiceasslowashisgait;
adrawlthatwasanecessity,forwhenBibbstriedtospeakquicklyhestammered。\"Uptoaboutamonthagoittooktwopeopletoseeme。Theyhadtogetmeinalinebetween\'em！\"
Edithdidnotturnhereyesdirectlytowardhimagain,afterherfirstquickglance;andherexpression,inspiteofher,showedafaint,troubleddistaste,thelookofahealthypersonpressedbysomeobligationofbusinesstovisita\"bad\"wardinahospital。Shewasnineteen,fairandslim,withsmall,unequalfeatures,butaprettinessofcolorandabrilliancyofeyesthatcreatedatotalimpressioncloseuponbeauty。Hermovementswereeagerandrestless:therewassomethingabouther,askindoldladiessay,thatwasverysweet;andtherewassomethingthatwashurriedandbreathless。ThiswasnewtoBibbs;itwasaperceptiblechangesincehehadlastseenher,andhebentuponherasteady,whimsicalscrutinyastheystoodatthecurb,waitingforanautomobileacrossthestreettodisengageitselffromthetraffic。
\"That\'sthenewcar,\"shesaid。\"Everything\'snew。We\'vegotfournow,besidesJim\'s。Roscoe\'sgottwo。\"
\"Edith,youlook——\"hebegan,andpaused。
\"Oh,WE\'reallwell,\"shesaid,briskly;andthen,asifsomethinginhistonehadcaughtherassignificant,\"Well,HOWdoIlook,Bibbs？\"
\"Youlook——\"Hepausedagain,takinginthefulllengthofher——hertrimbrownshoes,herscant,tapering,roughskirt,andhercoatofbrownandgreen,herlonggreentippetandhermadlittleroughhatinthemadmode——
allsuitedtotheOctoberday。
\"HowdoIlook？\"sheinsisted。
\"Youlook,\"heanswered,ashisexaminationendeduponanincrustedwatchofplatinumandenamelatherwrist,\"youlook——expensive！\"Thatwasasubstituteforwhatheintendedtosay,forherconstraintandpreoccupation,manifestedparticularlyinherkeepingherdirectglanceawayfromhim,didnotseemtogranttheprivilegeofimpulsiveintimacies。
\"IexpectIam！\"shelaughed,andsidelongcaughtthedirectionofhisglance。
\"OfcourseIoughtn\'ttowearitinthedaytime——it\'saneveningthing,forthetheater——bymydaywrist—watchisoutofgear。BobbyLamhornbrokeityesterday;he\'saregularrowdysometimes。DoyouwantClaustohelpyouin？\"
\"Ohno,\"saidBibbs。\"I\'malive。\"Andafterafitofpantingsubsequenttohisclimbingintothecarunaided,headded,\"Ofcourse,IhavetoTELL
people！\"
\"Weonlygotyourtelegramthismorning,\"shesaid,astheybegantomoverapidlythroughthe\"wholesaledistrict\"neighboringthestation。\"Mothersaidshe\'dhardlyexpectedyouthismonth。\"
\"Theyseemedtobethroughwithmeupthereinthecountry,\"heexplained,gently。\"Atleasttheysaidtheywere,andtheywouldn\'tkeepmeanylonger,becausesomanyreallysickpeoplewantedtogetin。Theytoldmetogohome——andIdidn\'thaveanyplaceelsetogo。It\'llbeallright,Edith;I\'llsitinthewoodsheduntilafterdarkeveryday。\"
\"Pshaw！\"Shelaughednervously。\"Ofcoursewe\'reallofusgladtohaveyouback。\"
\"Yes？\"hesaid。\"Father？\"
\"Ofcourse！Didn\'thewriteandtellyoutocomehome？\"Shedidnotturntohimwiththequestion。Allthewhilesherodewithherfacedirectlyforward。
\"No,\"hesaid;\"fatherhasn\'twritten。\"
Sheflushedalittle。\"IexpectIoughtto\'vewrittensometime,oroneoftheboys——\"
\"Ohno;thatwasallright。\"
\"Youcan\'tthinkhowbusywe\'veallbeenthisyear,Bibbs。Ioftenplannedtowrite——andthen,justasIwasgoingto,somethingwouldturnup。AndI\'msureit\'sbeenjustthesamewaywithJimandRoscoe。Ofcourseweknewmammawaswritingoftenand——\"
\"Ofcourse！\"hesaid,readily。\"There\'sachunkofcoalfallenonyourglove,Edith。Betterflickitoffbeforeitsmears。Myword！I\'dalmostforgottenhowsootyitishere。\"
\"We\'vebeenhavingverybrightweatherthismonth——forus。\"Sheblewtheflakeofsootintotheair,seemingrelieved。
Helookedupatthedingysky,whereinhungthedisconsolatesunlikeacoldtinpannailedupinasmoke—housebysomelunatic,foradecoration。\"Yes,\"
saidBibbs。\"It\'sverygay。\"Afewmomentslater,astheypassedacorner,\"Aren\'twegoinghome？\"heasked。
\"Why,yes！\"Didyouwanttogosomewhereelsefirst？\"
\"No。Yournewdriver\'stakingusoutoftheway,isn\'the？\"
\"No。Thisisright。We\'regoingstraighthome。\"
\"Butwe\'vepassedthecorner。Wealwaysturned——\"
\"Goodgracious！\"shecried。\"Didn\'tyouknowwe\'dmoved？Didn\'tyouknowwewereintheNewHouse？\"
\"Why,no！\"saidBibbs。\"Areyou？\"
\"We\'vebeenthereamonth！Goodgracious！Didn\'tyouknow——\"Shebrokeoff,flushingagain,andthenwentonhastily:\"Ofcourse,mamma\'sneverbeensobusyinherlife;weALLhaven\'thadtimetodoanythingbutkeeponthehop。
Mammacouldn\'tevencometothestationto—day。Papa\'sgotsomeofhisbusinessfriendsandpeoplefromaroundtheOLD—houseneighborhoodcomingto—nightforabigdinnerand\'house—warming\'——dreadfulkindofpeople——butmamma\'sgotitallonherhands。She\'sneversatdownaMINUTE;andifshedid,papawouldhaveherupagainbefore——\"
\"Ofcourse,\"saidBibbs。\"Doyoulikethenewplace,Edith？\"
\"Idon\'tlikesomeofthethingsfatherWOULDhaveinit,butit\'sthefinesthouseintown,andthatoughttobegoodenoughforme！PapaboughtonethingIlike——aviewoftheBayofNaplesinoilthat\'sperfectlybeautiful;it\'sthefirstthingyouseeasyoucomeinthefronthall,andit\'selevenfeetlong。ButhewouldhavethatoldfruitpicturewehadintheMurphyStreethousehungupinthenewdining—room。Yourememberit——atableandawatermelonslicedopen,andalotofrouged—lookingapplesandsomeshinylemons,withtwodeadprairie—chickensonachair？Heboughtitatafurniture—storeyearsandyearsago,andheclaimsit\'safinerpicturethananytheysawinthemuseums,thattimehetookmammatoEurope。Butit\'shorriblyoutofdatetohavethosethingsindining—rooms,andIcaughtBobbyLamhorngigglingatit;andSibylmadefunofit,too,withBobby,andthentoldpapasheagreedwithhimaboutitsbeingsuchafinething,andsaidhedidjustrighttoinsistonhavingitwherehewantedit。Shemakesmetired！
Sibyl！\"
Edith\'sfirstconstraintwithherbrother,amountingalmosttoawkwardness,vanishedwiththistheme,thoughshestillkeptherfullgazealwaystothefront,evenintheextremeardorofherdenunciationofhersister—in—law。
\"SIBYL！\"sherepeated,withsuchheatandvigorthatthenameseemedtostrikefireonherlips。\"I\'dliketoknowwhyRoscoecouldn\'thavemarriedsomebodyfromHEREthatwouldhavedoneussomegood！HecouldhavegotinwithBobbyLamhornyearsagojustaswellasnow,andBobby\'dhaveintroducedhimtothenicestgirlsintown,butinsteadofthathehadtogoandpickupthisSibylRink！ImetsomeawfullynicepeoplefromhertownwhenmammaandIwereatAtlanticCity,lastspring,andnotonehadeverheardoftheRinks！NotevenHEARDof\'em！\"
\"IthoughtyouweregreatfriendswithSibyl,\"Bibbssaid。
\"UptothetimeIfoundherout！\"thesisterreturned,withcontinuingvehemence。\"I\'vefoundoutsomethingsaboutMrs。RoscoeSheridanlately——\"
\"It\'sonlylately？\"
\"Well——\"Edithhesitated,herlipssettingprimly。\"Ofcourse,IalwaysdidseethatshenevercaredthesnapofherlittlefingeraboutROSCOE！\"
\"Itseems,\"saidBibbs,inlaconicprotest,\"thatshemarriedhim。\"
Thesisteremittedashrillcry,tobeinterpretedascontemptuouslaughter,and,inheremotion,spoketooimpulsively:\"Why,she\'dhavemarriedYOU！\"
\"No,no,\"hesaid;\"shecouldn\'tbethatbad！\"
\"Ididn\'tmean——\"shebegan,distressed。\"Ionlymeant——Ididn\'tmean——\"
\"Nevermind,Edith,\"heconsoledher。\"Yousee,shecouldn\'thavemarriedme,becauseIdidn\'tknowher;andbesides,ifshe\'sasmercenaryasallthatshe\'dhavebeentooclever。Theheaddoctorevenhadtolendmethemoneyformytickethome。\"
\"Ididn\'tmeananythingunpleasantaboutYOU,\"Edithbabbled。\"IonlymeantI
thoughtshewasthekindofgirlwhowassosimplycrazytomarrysomebodyshe\'dhavemarriedanybodythataskedher。\"
\"Yes,yes,\"saidBibbs,\"it\'sallstraight。\"And,perceivingthathissister\'sexpressionwasthatofapersonwhoseadroitnesshassetmattersprefectlytorights,hechuckledsilently。
\"Roscoe\'sperfectlylovelytoher,\"shecontinued,amomentlater。\"Toolovely！Ifhe\'dwakeupalittleandlaydownthelaw,someday,likeaMAN,Iguessshe\'drespecthimmoreandlearntobehaveherself！\"
\"\'Behave\'？\"
\"Oh,well,Imeanshe\'ssoinsincere,\"saidEdith,characteristicallyevasivewhenitcametostatingtheverypointtowhichshehadled,andinthisnotuniqueofhersex。
Bibbscontentedhimselfwithanon—committalgesture。\"Businessiscrawlinguptheoldstreets,\"hesaid,hislong,tremuloushandindicatingavastystructureincourseoferection。\"Theboarding—housescomefirstandthenthe——\"
\"Thatisn\'tforshops,\"sheinformedhim。\"That\'sanewinvestmentofpapa\'s——the\'SheridanApartments。\'\"
\"Well,well,\"hemurmured。\"Isupposed\'Sheridan\'wasalmostwellenoughknownherealready。\"
\"Oh,we\'rewellenoughknownABOUT！\"shesaid,impatiently。\"Iguessthereisn\'taman,woman,child,orniggerbabyintownthatdoesn\'tknowwhoweare。Butwearen\'tinwiththerightpeople。\"