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of them when he laughed； his grizzled hair was thick； and as unruly as a farm
laborer's； his chest was deep and big beneath its vast facade of starched
white linen； where little diamonds twinkled； circling three large pearls； his
hands were stubby and strong； and he used them freely in gestures of marked
picturesqueness； and； though he had grown fat at chin and waist and wrist； he
had not lost the look of readiness and activity。
He dominated the table； shouting jocular questions and railleries at every
one。 His idea was that when people were having a good time they were noisy；
and his own additions to the hubbub increased his pleasure； and； of course；
met the warmest encouragement from his guests。 Edith had discovered that he
had very foggy notions of the difference between a band and an orchestra； and
when it was made clear to him he had held out for a band until Edith
threatened tears； but the size of the orchestra they hired consoled him； and
he had now no regrets in the matter。
He kept time to the music continuallywith his feet； or pounding on the table
with his fist； and sometimes with spoon or knife upon his plate or a glass；
without permitting these side…products to interfere with the real business of
eating and shouting。
〃Tell 'em to play 'Nancy Lee'！〃 he would bellow down the length of the table
to his wife； while the musicians were in the midst of the 〃Toreador〃 song；
perhaps。 〃Ask that fellow if they don't know 'Nancy Lee'！〃 And when the
leader would shake his head apologetically in answer to an obedient shriek
from Mrs。 Sheridan； the 〃Toreador〃 continuing vehemently； Sheridan would roar
half…remembered fragments of 〃Nancy Lee；〃 naturally mingling some Bizet with
the air of that uxorious tribute。
〃Oh； there she stands and waves her hands while I'm away！ 〃A sail…er's wife a
sail…er's star should be！ Yo ho； oh； oh！ 〃Oh； Nancy； Nancy； Nancy Lee！ Oh；
Na…hancy Lee！〃
〃HAY； there； old lady！〃 he would bellow。 〃Tell 'em to play 'In the Gloaming。'
In the gloaming； oh； my darling； la…la…lum…teeWell； if they don't know that；
what's the matter with 'Larboard Watch； Ahoy'？ THAT'S good music！ That's the
kind o' music I like！ Come on； now！ Mrs。 Callin； get 'em singin' down in
your part o' the table。 What's the matter you folks down there； anyway？
Larboard watch； ahoy！〃
〃What joy he feels； asta…tum…dum…tee…dee…dum steals。 La…a…r…board watch；
ahoy！〃
No external bubbling contributed to this effervescence； the Sheridans' table
had never borne wine； and； more because of timidity about it than conviction；
it bore none now； though 〃mineral waters〃 were copiously poured from bottles
wrapped； for some reason； in napkins； and proved wholly satisfactory to almost
all of the guests。 And certainly no wine could have inspired more turbulent
good spirits in the host。 Not even Bibbs was an alloy in this night's
happiness； for； as Mrs。 Sheridan had said； he had 〃plans for Bibbs〃plans
which were going to straighten out some things that had gone wrong。
So he pounded the table and boomed his echoes of old songs； and then；
forgetting these； would renew his friendly railleries； or perhaps； turning to
Mary Vertrees； who sat near him； round the corner of the table at his right；
he would become autobiographical。 Gentlemen less naive than he had paid her
that tribute； for she was a girl who inspired the autobiographical impulse in
every man who met herit needed but the sight of her。
The dinner seemed； somehow； to center about Mary Vertrees and the jocund host
as a play centers about its hero and heroine； they were the rubicund king and
the starry princess of this spectaclethey paid court to each other； and
everybody paid court to them。 Down near the sugar Pump Works； where Bibbs
sat； there was audible speculation and admiration。 〃Wonder who that lady
ismakin' such a hit with the old man。〃 〃Must be some heiress。〃 〃Heiress？
Golly； I guess I could stand it to marry rich； then！〃
Edith and Sibyl were radiant： at first they had watched Miss Vertrees with an
almost haggard anxiety； wondering what disasterous effect Sheridan's pastoral
gaietiesand other thingswould have upon her； but she seemed delighted with
everything； and with him most of all。 She treated him as if he were some
delicious； foolish old joke that she understood perfectly； laughing at him
almost violently when he braggedprobably his first experience of that kind
in his life。 It enchanted him。
As he proclaimed to the table； she had 〃a way with her。〃 She had； indeed； as
Roscoe Sheridan； upon her right； discovered just after the feast began。 Since
his marriage three years before； no lady had bestowed upon him so protracted a
full view of brilliant eyes； and； with the look； his lovely neighbor saidand
it was her first speech to him
〃I hope you're very susceptible； Mr。 Sheridan！〃
Honest Roscoe was taken aback； and 〃Why？〃 was all he managed to say。
She repeated the look deliberately； which was noted； with a mystification
equal to his own； by his sister across the table。 No one； reflected Edith；
could image Mary Vertrees the sort of girl who would 〃really flirt〃 with
married menshe was obviously the 〃opposite of all that。〃 Edith defined her
as a 〃thoroughbred；〃 a 〃nice girl〃； and the look given to Roscoe was
astounding。 Roscoe's wife saw it； too； and she was another whom it puzzled
though not because its recipient was married。
〃Because！〃 said Mary Vertrees； replying to Roscoe's monosyllable。 〃And also
because we're next…door neighbors at table； and it's dull times ahead for both
of us if we don't get along。〃
Roscoe was a literal young man； all stocks and bonds； and he had been brought
up to believe that when a man married he 〃married and settled down。〃 It was
〃all right；〃 he felt； for a man as old as his father to pay florid compliments
to as pretty a girl as this Miss Vertrees； but for himself〃a young married
man〃it wouldn't do； and it wouldn't even be quite moral。 He knew that young
married people might have friendships； like his wife's for Lamhorn； but Sibyl
and Lamhorn never 〃flirted〃they were always very matter…of…fact with each
other。 Roscoe would have been troubled if Sibyl had ever told Lamhorn she
hoped he was susceptible。
〃Yeswe're neighbors；〃 he said； awkwardly。
〃Next…door neighbors in houses； too；〃 she added。
〃No； not exactly。 I live across the street。〃
〃Why； no！〃 she exclaimed； and seemed startled。 〃Your mother told me this
afternoon that you lived at home。〃
〃Yes； of course I live at home。 I built that new house across the street。〃
〃But you〃 she paused； confused； and then slowly a deep color came into her
cheek。 〃But I understood〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃my wife and I lived with the old folks the first year； but
that's all。 Edith and Jim live with them； of course。〃
〃II see；〃 she said； the deep color still deepening as she turned from him
and saw； written upon a card before the ge