the turmoil-第24部分
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thoughtfully down the path to the old picket gate。 She was unconscious of
the approach of the pedestrian from the north； and did not see him until she
had opened the gate and he was almost beside her。 Then she looked up； and as
she saw him she started visibly。 And if this thing had happened to Robert
Lamhorn； he would have had a thought far beyond the horizon of faint…hearted
Bibbs's thoughts。 Lamhorn； indeed； would have spoken his thought。 He would
have said：
〃You jumped because you were thinking of me！〃
Mary was the picture of a lady flustered。 She stood with one hand closing
the gate behind her； and she had turned to go in the direction Bibbs was
walking。 There appeared to be nothing for it but that they should walk
together； at least as far as the New House。 But Bibbs had paused in his slow
stride； and there elapsed an instant before either spoke or movedit was no
longer than that； and yet it sufficed for each to seem to say； by look and
attitude； 〃Why； it's YOU！〃
Then they both spoke at once； each hurriedly pronouncing the other's name as
if about to deliver a message of importance。 Then both came to a stop
simultaneously； but Bibbs made a heroic effort； and as they began to walk on
together he contrived to find his voice。
〃IIhate a frozen fish myself；〃 he said。 〃I think three miles was too
long for you to put up with one。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 she cried； turning to him a glowing face from which
restraint and embarrassment had suddenly fled。 〃Mr。 Sheridan； you're lovely
to put it that way。 But it's always the girl's place to say it's turning
cooler！ I ought to have been the one to show that we didn't know each other
well enough not to say SOMETHING！ It was an imposition for me to have made
you bring me home； and after I went into the house I decided I should have
walked。 Besides； it wasn't three miles to the car…line。 I never thought of
it！〃
〃No；〃 said Bibbs； earnestly。 〃I didn't； either。 I might have said something
if I'd thought of anything。 I'm talking now； though； I must remember that；
and not worry about it later。 I think I'm talking； though it doesn't sound
intelligent even to me。 I made up my mind that if I ever met you again I'd
turn on my voice and keep it going； no mater what it said。 I〃
She interrupted him with laughter； and Mary Vertrees's laugh was one which
Bibbs's father had declared； after the house…warming； 〃a cripple would crawl
five miles to hear。〃 And at the merry lilting of it Bibbs's father's son
took heart to forget some of his trepidation。 〃I'll be any kind of idiot；〃
he said； 〃if you'll laugh at me some more。 It won't be difficult for me。〃
She did； and Bibbs's cheeks showed a little actual color； which Mary
perceived。 It recalled to her； by contrast； her careless and irritated
description of him to her mother just after she had seen him for the first
time。 〃Rather tragic and altogether impossible。〃 It seemed to her now that
she must have been blind。
They had passed the New House without either of them showingor
possessingany consciousness that it had been the destination of one of
them。
〃I'll keep on talking；〃 Bibbs continued； cheerfully； 〃and you keep on
laughing。 I'm amounting to something in the world this afternoon。 I'm
making a noise； and that makes you make music。 Don't be bothered by my
bleating out such things as that。 I'm really frightened； and that makes me
bleat anything。 I'm frightened about two things： I'm afraid of what I'll
think of myself later if I don't keep talkingtalking now； I mean and I'm
afraid of what I'll think of myself if I do。 And besides these two things；
I'm frightened； anyhow。 I don't remember talking as much as this more than
once or twice in my life。 I suppose it was always in me to do it； though；
the first time I met any one who didn't know me well enough not to listen。〃
〃But you're not really talking to me；〃 said Mary。 〃You're just thinking
aloud。〃
〃No；〃 he returned； gravely。 〃I'm not thinking at all； I'm only making vocal
sounds because I believe it's more mannerly。 I seem to be the subject of
what little meaning they possess； and I'd like to change it； but I don't know
how。 I haven't any experience in talking； and I don't know how to manage
it。〃
〃You needn't change the subject on my account； Mr。 Sheridan；〃 she said。 〃Not
even if you really talked about yourself。〃 She turned her face toward him as
she spoke； and Bibbs caught his breath； he was pathetically amazed by the
look she gave him。 It was a glowing look； warmly friendly and understanding；
and； what almost shocked him； it was an eagerly interested look。 Bibbs was
not accustomed to anything like that。
〃IyouII'm〃 he stammered； and the faint color in his cheeks grew
almost vivid。
She was still looking at him； and she saw the strange radiance that came into
his face。 There was something about him； too； that explained how 〃queer〃
many people might think him； but he did not seem 〃queer〃 to Mary Vertrees； he
seemed the most quaintly natural person she had ever met。
He waited； and became coherent。 〃YOU say something now；〃 he said。 〃I don't
even belong in the chorus； and here I am； trying to sing the funny man's
solo！ You〃
〃No；〃 she interrupted。 〃I'd rather play your accompaniment。〃
〃I'll stop and listen to it； then。〃
〃Perhaps〃 she began； but after pausing thoughtfully she made a gesture with
her muff； indicating a large brick church which they were approaching。 〃Do
you see that church； Mr。 Sheridan？〃
〃I suppose I could；〃 he answered in simple truthfulness； looking at her。
〃But I don't want to。 Once； when I was ill； the nurse told me I'd better say
anything that was on my mind； and I got the habit。 The other reason I don't
want to see the church is that I have a feeling it's where you're going； and
where I'll be sent back。〃
She shook her head in cheery negation。 〃Not unless you want to be。 Would
you like to come with me？〃
〃Whywhyyes；〃 he said。 〃Anywhere！〃 And again it was apparent that he
spoke in simple truthfulness。
〃Then comeif you care for organ music。 The organist is an old friend of
mine； and sometimes he plays for me。 He's a dear old man。 He had a degree
from Bonn； and was a professor afterward； but he gave up everything for
music。 That's he； waiting in the doorway。 He looks like Beethoven； doesn't
he？ I think he knows that； perhaps； and enjoys it a little。 I hope so。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bibbs； as they reached the church steps。 〃I think Beethoven
would like it； too。 It must be pleasant to look like other people。〃
〃I haven't kept you？〃 Mary said to the organist。
〃No； no；〃 he answered； heartily。 〃I would not mind so only you should shooer
come！〃
〃This is Mr。 Sheridan； Dr。 Kraft。 He has come to listen with me。〃
The organist looked bluntly surprised。 〃Iss that SO？〃 he exclaimed。 〃Well；
I am glad if you wish him； and if he can stant my liddle playink。 He iss
musician himself； then； of course。〃
〃No；〃 said Bibbs； as the three entered the church together。 〃II played
theI tried to play〃 Fortunately he checked himself； he had been about to
offer the information that he had failed to master the jews'…harp in his
boyhood。 〃No； I'm not a musician；〃 he contented himself with saying。
〃What？〃 Dr。 Kraft's surprise increased。 〃Young man； you are fortunate！ I
play for Miss Vertrees； she comes always alone。 You are the first。 You are
the first one EVER！〃
They had reached the head of the central aisle； and as the organist finished
speaking Bibbs stopped short； turning to look at Mary Vertrees in a dazed way
that was not of her preceiving； for； though she stopped as he did； her gaze
followed the organist； who was walking away from them toward the front of the
church； shaking his white Beethovian mane roguishly。
〃It's false pretenses on my part；〃 Bibbs said。 〃You mean to be kind to the
sick； but I'm not an invalid any more。 I'm so well I'm going back to work in
a few days。 I'd better leave before he begins to play； hadn't I？〃
〃No；〃 said Mary； beginning to walk forward。 〃Not unless you don't like great
music。〃
He followed her to a seat about half…way up the aisle while Dr。 Kraft
ascended to the organ。 It was an enormous one； the procession of pipes
ranging from long； starveling whistles to thundering fat guns； they covered
all the rear wall of the church； and the organist's figure； reaching its high
perch； looked like that of some Lilliputian magician ludicrously daring the
attempt to conrol a monster certain to overwhelm him。
〃This afternoon some Handel！〃 he turned to shout。
Mary nodded。 〃Will you like that？〃 she asked Bibbs。
〃I don't know。 I never heard any except 'Largo。' I don't know anything
about music。 I don't even know how to pretend I do。 If I knew enough to
pretend； I would。〃
〃No；〃 said Mary； looking at him and smiling faintly； 〃you wouldn't。〃
She turned away as a great sound began to swim and tremble in the air； the
hugh empty space of the church filled with it； and the two people listening
filled with it； the universe seemed to fill and thrill with it。 The two sat
intensely still； the great sound all round about them； while the church grew
dusky； and only the organist's lamp made a tiny star of light。 His white
head moved from side to side beneath it rhythmically； or lunged and recovered
with the fierceness of a duelist thrusting； but he was magnificently the
master of his giant； and it sang to his magic as he bade it。
Bibbs was swept away upon that mighty singing。 Such a thing was wholly
unknown to him； there had been no music in his meager life。 Unlike the tale；
it was the Princess Bedrulbudour who had brought him to the enchanted cave；
and thatfor Bibbswas wha
