the turmoil-第39部分

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！



objecting　to　the　children　being　taught　anything　except　what　would　help　them　to

make　money。　　You　said　it　was　wasting　the　taxes。　　You　want　them　taught　to　make

a　living；　but　not　to　live。　　When　I　was　a　little　boy　this　wasn't　an　ugly　town；

now　it's　hideous。　What's　the　use　of　being　big　just　to　be　hideous？　　I　mean　I

don't　think　all　this　has　meant　really　going　aheadit's　just　been　getting

bigger　and　dirtier　and　noisier。　　Wasn't　the　whole　country　happier　and　in　many

ways　wiser　when　it　was　smaller　and　cleaner　and　quieter　and　kinder？　　I　know　you

think　I'm　an　utter　fool；　father；　but；　after　all；　though；　aren't　business　and

politics　just　the　housekeeping　part　of　life？　　And　wouldn't　you　despise　a　woman

that　not　only　made　her　housekeeping　her　ambition；　but　did　it　so　noisily　and

dirtily　that　the　whole　neighborhood　was　in　a　continual　turmoil　over　it？　　And

supposed　she　talked　and　thought　about　her　housekeeping　all　the　time；　and　was

always　having　additions　built　to　her　house　when　she　couldn't　keep　clean　what

she　already　had；　and　suppose；　with　it　all；　she　made　the　house　altogether

unpeaceful　and　unlivable〃



〃Just　one　minute！〃　　Sheridan　interrupted；　adding；　with　terrible　courtesy；　〃If

you　will　permit　me？　　Have　you　ever　been　right　about　anything？〃



〃I　don't　quite〃



〃I　ask　the　simple　question：　Have　you　ever　been　right　about　anything　whatever

in　the　course　of　your　life？　　Have　you　ever　been　right　upon　any　subject　or

question　you've　thought　about　and　talked　about？　　Can　you　mention　one　single

time　when　you　were　proved　to　be　right？〃



He　was　flourishing　the　bandaged　hand　as　he　spoke；　but　Bibbs　said　only；　〃If

I've　always　been　wrong　before；　surely　there's　more　chance　that　I'm　right　about

this。　　It　seems　reasonable　to　suppose　something　would　be　due　to　bring　up　my

average。〃



〃Yes；　I　thought　you　wouldn't　see　the　point。　　And　there's　another　you　probably

couldn't　see；　but　I'll　take　the　liberty　to　mention　it。　　You　been　balkin'　all

your　life。　　Pretty　much　everything　I　ever　wanted　you　to　do；　you'd　let　out　SOME

kind　of　a　holler；　like　you　are　nowand　yet　I　can't　seem　to　remember　once　when

you　didn't　have　to　lay　down　and　do　what　I　said。　But　go　on　with　your　remarks

about　our　city　and　the　business　of　this　country。　　Go　on！〃



〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　part　of　it；〃　said　Bibbs；　with　unwonted　decision。　　〃I

want　to　keep　to　myself；　and　I'm　doing　it　now。　　I　couldn't；　if　I　went　down

there　with　you。　　I'd　be　swallowed　into　it。　　I　don't　care　for　money　enought

to〃



〃No；〃　his　father　interrupted；　still　dangerously　quiet。　　〃You've　never　had　to

earn　a　living。　　Anybody　could　tell　that　by　what　you　say。　　Now；　let　me　remind

you：　you're　sleepin'　in　a　pretty　good　bed；　you're　eatin'　pretty　fair　food；

you're　wearin'　pretty　fine　clothes。　　Just　suppose　one　o'　these　noisy

housekeepersme；　for　instancedecided　to　let　you　do　your　own　housekeepin'。

May　I　ask　what　your　proposition　would　be？〃



〃I'm　earning　nine　dollars　a　week；〃　said　Bibbs；　sturdily。　　〃It's　enough。　　I

shouldn't　mind　at　all。〃



〃Who's　payin'　you　that　nine　dollars　a　week？〃



〃My　work！〃　Bibbs　answered。　　〃And　I've　done　so　well　on　that　clipping…machine　I

believe　I　could　work　up　to　fifteen　or　even　twenty　a　week　at　another　job。　　I

could　be　a　fair　plumber　in　a　few　months；　I'm　sure。　I'd　rather　have　a　trade

than　be　in　businessI　should；　infinitely！〃



〃You　better　set　about　learnin'　one　pretty　dam'　quick！〃　　But　Sheridan　struggled

with　his　temper　and　again　was　partially　successful　in　controlling　it。　　〃You

better　learn　a　trade　over　Sunday；　because　you're　either　goin'　down　with　me　to

my　office　Monday　morningoryou　can　go　to　plumbing！〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Bibbs；　gently。　　〃I　can　get　along。〃



Sheridan　raised　his　hands　sardonically；　as　in　prayer。　　〃O　God；〃　he　said；　〃this

boy　was　crazy　enough　before　he　began　to　earn　his　nine　dollars　a　week；　and　now

his　money's　gone　to　his　head！　　Can't　You　do　nothin'　for　him？〃　　Then　he　flung

his　hands　apart；　palms　outward；　in　a　furious　gesture　of　dismissal。　　〃Get　out

o'　this　room！　　You　got　a　skull　that's　thicker'n　a　whale's　thigh…bone；　but　it's

cracked　spang　all　the　way　across！　　You　hated　the　machine…shop　so　bad　when　I

sent　you　there；　you　went　and　stayed　sick　for　over　two　yearsand　now；　when　I

offer　to　take　you　out　of　it　and　give　you　the　mint；　you　holler　for　the　shop

like　a　calf　for　its　mammy！　　You're　cracked！　　Oh；　but　I　got　a　fine　layout　here！

One　son　died；　one　quit；　and　one's　a　loon！　　The　loon's　all　I　got　left！　　H。　P。

Ellersly's　wife　had　a　crazy　brother；　and　they　undertook　to　keep　him　at　the

house。　　First　morning　he　was　there　he　walked　straight　though　a　ten…dollar

plate…glass　window　out　into　the　yard。　　He　says；　'Oh；　look　at　the　pretty

dandelion！'　　That's　what　you're　doin'！　　You　want　to　spend　your　life　sayin'；

'Oh；　look　at　the　pretty　dandelion！'　and　you　don't　care　a　tinker's　dam'　what

you　bust！　　Well；　mister；　loon　or　no　loon；　cracked　and　crazy　or　whatever　you

are；　I'll　take　you　with　me　Monday　morning；　and　I'll　work　you　and　learn

youyes；　and　I'll　lam　you；　if　I　got　tountil　I've　made　something　out　of　you

that's　fit　to　be　called　a　business　man！　　I'll　keep　at　you　while　I'm　able　to

stand；　and　if　I　have　to　lay　down　to　die　I'll　be　whisperin'　at　you　till　they

get　the　embalmin'…fluid　into　me！　　Now　go　on；　and　don't　let　me　hear　from　you

again　till　you　can　come　and　tell　me　you've　waked　up；　you　poor；　pitiful；

dandelion…pickin'　SLEEP…WALKER！〃



Bibbs　gave　him　a　queer　look。　　There　was　something　like　reproach　in　it；　for

once；　but　there　was　more　than　thathe　seemed　to　be　startled　by　his　father's

last　word。





There　was　sleet　that　evening；　with　a　whopping　wind；　but　neither　this　storm　nor

that　other　which　so　imminently　threatened　him　held　place　in　the　consciousness

of　Bibbs　Sheridan　when　he　came　once　more　to　the　presence　of　Mary。　　All　was

right　in　his　world　has　he　sat　with　her；　reading　Maurice　Maeterlinck's　Alladine

and　Palomides。　　The　sorrowful　light　of　the　gas…jet　might　have　been　May　morning

sunshine　flashing　amber　and　rose　through　the　glowing　windows　of　the

Sainte…Chapelle；　it　was　so　bright　for　Bibbs。　　And　while　the　zinc…eater　held

out　to　bring　him　such　golden　nights　as　these；　all　the　king's　horses　and　all

the　king's　men　might　not　serve　to　break　the　spell。



Bibbs　read　slowly；　but　in　a　reasonable　manner；　as　if　he　were　talking；　and

Mary；　looking　at　him　steadily　from　beneath　her　curved　fingers；　appeared　to

discover　no　fault。　　It　had　grown　to　be　her　habit　to　look　at　him　whenever　there

was　an　opportunity。　　It　may　be　said；　in　truth；　that　while　they　were　together；

and　it　was　light；　she　looked　at　him　all　the　time。



When　he　came　to　the　end　of　Alladine　and　Palomides　they　were　silent　a　little

while；　considering　together；　then　he　turned　back　the　pages　and　said：　　〃There's

something　I　want　to　read　over。　　This：



　　　　　　　You　would　think　I　threw　a　window　open　on　the　dawn。。。She　has　a　soul

　　　　　　　that　can　be　seen　around　herthat　takes　you　in　its　arms　like　an

　　　　　　　ailing　child　and　without　saying　anything　to　you　consoles　you　for

　　　　　　　everything。。。。　　I　shall　never　understand　it　all。　　I　do　not　know

　　　　　　　how　it　can　all　be；　but　my　knees　bend　in　spite　of　me　when　I　speak

　　　　　　　of　it　。。。



He　stopped　and　looked　at　her。



〃You　boy！〃　said　Mary；　not　very　clearly。



〃Oh　yes；〃　he　returned。　　〃But　it's　trueespecially　my　knees！〃



〃You　boy！〃　she　murmured　again；　blushing　charmingly。　　〃You　might　read　another

line　over。　　The　first　time　I　ever　saw　you；　Bibbs；　you　were　looking　into　a

mirror。　　Do　it　again。　　But　you　needn't　read　itI　can　give　it　to　you：　〃A

little　Greek　slave　that　came　from　the　heart　of　Arcady！〃



〃I！　　I'm　one　of　the　hands　at　the　Pump　Worksand　going　to　stay　one；　unless　I

have　to　decide　to　study　plumbing。〃



〃No。〃　　She　shook　her　head。　　〃You　love　and　want　what's　beautiful　and　delicate

and　serene；　it's　really　art　that　you　want　in　your　life；　and　have　always

wanted。　　You　seemed　to　me；　from　the　first；　the　most　wistful　person　I　had　ever

known；　and　that's　what　you　were　wistful　for。〃



Bibbs　looked　doubtful　and　more　wistful　than　ever；　but　after　a　moment　or　two

the　matter　seemed　to　clarify　itself　to　him。　　〃Why；　no；〃　he　said；　〃I　wanted

something　else　more　than　that。　　I　wanted　you。〃



〃And　here　I　am！〃　she　laughed；　completely　understanding。　〃I　think　we're　like

those　two　in　The　Cloister　and　the　Hearth。　　I'm　just　the　rough　Burgundian

cross…bow　man；　Denys；　who　followed　that　gentle　Gerard　and　told　everybody　that

the　devil　was　dead。〃



〃He　isn't；　though；〃　said　Bibbs；　as　a　hoarse　little　bell　in　the　next　room　began

a　series　of　snappings　which　proved　to　be　ten；　upon　count。　　〃He　gets　into　the

clock　whenever　I'm　with　you。〃　　And；　sighing　deeply；　he　rose　to　go。



〃You're　always　very　prompt　about　leaving　me。〃



〃II　try　to　be；〃　he　said。　　〃It　isn't　easy　to　be　careful　not　to　risk

everything　by　giving　myself　a　little　more　at　a　time。　　If　I　ever　saw　you　look

tired〃



〃Have　you　ever？〃



〃Not　yet。　　You　always　lookyou　always　look〃



〃How？〃



〃Care…free。　　That's　it。　　Except　when　you　feel　sorry　for　me　about　something；

you　always　have　that　splendid　look。　　It　puts　courage　into　people　to　see　it。

If　I　had　a　struggle　to　face　I'd　keep　remembering　that　lookand　I'd　never　give

up！　　It's　a　brave　look；　too；　as　though　gaiety　might　be　a　kind　of　gallantry　on

your　part；　and　yet　I　don't　quite　understand　why　it　should　be；　either。〃　　He

smiled　quizzically；　looking　down　upon　her。　　〃Mary；　you　haven't　a　'secret

sorrow；'　have　you？〃



For　answer　she　only　laughed。



〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　can't　imagine　you　with　a　care　in　the　world。　　I　think　that's

why　you　were　so　kind　to　meyou　have　nothing　but　happiness　in　your　own　life；

and　so　you　could　spare　time　to　make　my　troubles　turn　to　happiness；　too。　　But

there's　one　little　time　in　the　twenty…four　hours　when　I'm　not　happy。　　It's

now；　when　I　have　to　say　good　night。　　I　feel　dismal　every　time　it　comesand

then；　when　I've　left　the　house；　there's　a　bad　little　blankness；　a　black　void；

as　though　I　were　t