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〃II see；〃 she said； the deep color still deepening as she turned from him
and saw； written upon a card before the gentleman at her left the name； 〃Mr。
James Sheridan； Jr。〃 And from that moment Roscoe had little enough cause for
wondering what he ought to reply to her disturbing coquetries。
Mr。 James Sheridan had been anxiously waiting for the dazzling visitor to 〃get
through with old Roscoe；〃 as he thought of it； and give a bachelor a chance。
〃Old Roscoe〃 was the younger； but he had always been the steady wheel…horse of
the family。 Jim was 〃steady〃 enough； but was considered livelier than Roscoe；
which in truth is not saying much for Jim's liveliness。 As their father
habitually boasted； both brothers were 〃capable； hard…working young business
men；〃 and the principal difference between them was merely that which resulted
from Jim's being still a bachelor。 Physically they were of the same type：
dark of eyes and of hair； fresh…colored and thick…set； and though Roscoe was
several inches taller than Jim； neither was of the height； breadth； or depth
of the father。 Both wore young business men's mustaches； and either could
have sat for the tailor…shop lithographs of young business men wearing 〃rich
suitings in dark mixtures。〃
Jim； approving warmly of his neighbor's profile； perceived her access of
color； which increased his approbation。 〃What's that old Roscoe saying to
you； Miss Vertrees？〃 he asked。 〃These young married men are mighty forward
nowadays； but you mustn't let 'em make you blush。〃
〃Am I blushing？〃 she said。 〃Are you sure？〃 And with that she gave him ample
opportunity to make sure； repeating with interest the look wasted upon Roscoe。
〃I think you must be mistaken；〃 she continued。 〃I think it's your brother who
is blushing。 I've thrown him into confusion。〃
〃How？〃
She laughed； and then； leaning to him a little； said in a tone as confidential
as she could make it； under cover of the uproar。 〃By trying to begin with him
a courtship I meant for YOU！〃
This might well be a style new to Jim； and it was。 He supposed it a
nonsensical form of badinage； and yet it took his breath。 He realized that he
wished what she said to be the literal truth； and he was instantly snared by
that realization。
〃By George！〃 he said。 〃I guess you're the kind of girl that can say anything
yes； and get away with it； too！〃
She laughed againin her way； so that he could not tell whether she was
laughing at him or at herself or at the nonsense she was talking； and she
said： 〃But you see I don't care whether I get away with it or not。 I wish
you'd tell me frankly if you think I've got a change to get away with YOU？〃
〃More like if you've got a chance to get away FROM me！〃 Jim was inspired to
reply。 〃Not one in the world； especially after beginning by making fun of me
like that。〃
〃I mightn't be so much in fun as you think；〃 she said； regarding him with
sudden gravity。
〃Well；〃 said Jim； in simple honesty； 〃you're a funny girl！〃
Her gravity continued an instant longer。 〃I may not turn out to be funny for
YOU。〃
〃So long as you turn out to be anything at all for me； I expect I can manage
to be satisfied。〃 And with that； to his own surprise； it was his turn to
blush； whereupon she laughed again。
〃Yes；〃 he said； plaintively； not wholly lacking intuition； 〃I can see you're
the sort of girl that would laugh the minute you see a man really means
anything！〃
〃'Laugh'！〃 she cried； gaily。 〃Why； it might be a matter of life and death！
But if you want tragedy； I'd better put the question at once； considering the
mistake I made with your brother。〃
Jim was dazed。 She seemed to be playing a little game of mockery and nonsense
with him； but he had glimpses of a flashing danger in it； he was but too
sensible of being outclassed； and had somewhere a consciousness that he could
never quite know this giddy and alluring lady； no matter how long it pleased
her to play with him。 But he mightily wanted her to keep on playing with him。
〃Put what question？〃 he said； breathlessly。
〃As you are a new neighbor of mine and of my family；〃 she returned； speaking
slowly and with a cross…examiner's severity； 〃I think it would be well for me
to know at once whether you are already walking out with any young lady or
not。 Mr。 Sheridan； think well！ Are you spoken for？〃
〃Not yet；〃 he gasped。 〃Are you？〃
〃NO！〃 she cried； and with that they both laughed again； and the pastime
proceeded； increasing both in its gaiety and in its gravity。
Observing its continuance； Mr。 Robert Lamhorn； opposite； turned from a lively
conversation with Edith and remarked covertly to Sibyl that Miss Vertrees was
〃starting rather picturesquely with Jim。〃 And he added； languidly； 〃Do you
suppose she WOULD？〃
For the moment Sibyl gave no sign of having heard him； but seemed interested
in the clasp of a long 〃rope〃 of pearls； a loop of which she was allowing to
swing from her fingers； resting her elbow upon the table and following with
her eyes the twinkle of diamonds and platinum in the clasp at the end of the
loop。 She wore many jewels。 She was pretty； but hers was not the kind of
prettiness to be loaded with too sumptuous accessories； and jeweled
head…dresses are dangerousthey may emphasize the wrongness of the wearer。
〃I said Miss Vertrees seems to be starting pretty strong with Jim；〃 repeated
Mr。 Lamhorn。
〃I heard you。〃 There was a latent discontent always somewhere in her eyes； no
matter what she threw upon the surface of cover it； and just now she did not
care to cover it； she looked sullen。 〃Starting any stronger than you did with
Edith？〃 she inquired。
〃Oh； keep the peace！〃 he said； crossly。 〃That's off； of course。〃
〃You haven't been making her see it this eveningprecisely；〃 said Sibyl；
looking at him steadily。 〃You've talked to her for〃
〃For Heaven's sake；〃 he begged； 〃keep the peace！〃
〃Well； what have you just been doing？！〃
〃SH！〃 he said。 〃Listen to your father…in…law。〃
Sheridan was booming and braying louder than ever； the orchestra having begun
to play 〃The Rosary；〃 to his vast content。
〃I COUNT THEM OVER； LA…LA…TUM…TEE…DUM；〃 he roared； beating the measures with
his fork。 〃EACH HOUR A PEARL； EACH PEARL TEE…DUM…TUM…DUMWhat's the matter
with all you folks？ Why'n't you SING？ Miss Vertrees； I bet a thousand
dollars YOU sing！ Why'n't〃
〃Mr。 Sheridan；〃 she said； turning cheerfully from the ardent Jim； 〃you don't
know what you interrupted！ Your son isn't used to my rough ways； and my
soldier's wooing frightens him； but I think he was about to say something
important。〃
〃I'll say something important to him if he doesn't！〃 the father threatened；
more delighted with her than ever。 〃By gosh！ if I was his ageor a widower
right NOW〃
〃Oh； wait！〃 cried Mary。 〃If they'd only make less noice！ I want Mrs。
Sheridan to hear。〃
〃She'd say the same；〃 he