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stoker of a foundry furnace； it will not be found to recommend him to the
approbation of his superiors。 For a profession adapted solely to the pursuit
of happiness in thinking； I would choose that of an invalid： his money is
time and he may spend it on Olympus。 It will not suffice to be an amateur
invalid。 To my way of thinking； the perfect practitioner must be to all
outward purposes already dead if he is to begin the perfect enjoyment of
life。 His serenity must not be disturbed by rumors of recovery； he must lie
serene in his long chair in the sunshine。 The world must be on the other side
of the wall； and the wall must be so thick and so high that he cannot hear
the roaring of the furnace fires and the screaming of the whistles。 Peace
Having read so far as the word 〃peace；〃 Bibbs suffered an interruption
interesting as a coincidence of contrast。 High voices sounded in the hall
just outside his door； and it became evident that a woman's quarrel was in
progress； the parties to it having begun it in Edith's room； and continuing
it vehemently as they came out into the hall。
〃Yes； you BETTER go home！〃 Bibbs heard his sister vociferating； shrilly。 〃You
better go home and keep your mind a little more on your HUSBAND！〃
〃Edie； Edie！〃 he heard his mother remonstrating； as peacemaker。
〃You see here！〃 This was Sibyl； and her voice was both acrid and tremulous。
〃Don't you talk to me that way！ I came here to tell Mother Sheridan what I'd
heard； and to let her tell Father Sheridan if she thought she ought to； and I
did it for your own good。〃
〃Yes； you did！〃 And Edith's gibing laughter tooted loudly。 〃Yes； you did！
YOU didn't have any other reason！ OH no！ YOU don't want to break it up
between Bobby Lamhorn and me because〃
〃Edie； Edie！ Now； now！〃
〃Oh； hush up； mamma！ I'd like to know； then； if she says her new friends
tell her he's got such a reputation that he oughtn't to come here； what about
his not going to HER house。 How〃
〃I've explained that to Mother Sheridan。〃 Sibyl's voice indicated that she
was descending the stairs。 〃Married people are not the same。 Some things
that should be shielded from a young girl〃
This seemed to have no very soothing effect upon Edith。 〃'Shielded from a
young girl'！〃 she shrilled。 〃You seem pretty willing to be the shield！ You
look out Roscoe doesn't notice what kind of a shield you are！〃
Sibyl's answer was inaudible； but Mrs。 Sheridan's flurried attempts at
pacification were renewed。 〃Now； Edie； Edie； she means it for your good； and
you'd oughtn't to〃
〃Oh； hush up； mamma； and let me alone！ If you dare tell papa〃
〃Now； now！ I'm not going to tell him to…day； and maybe〃
〃You've got to promise NEVER to tell him！〃 the girl cried； passionately。
〃Well； we'll see。 You just come back in your own room； and we'll〃
〃No！ I WON'T 'talk it over'！ Stop pulling me！ Let me ALONE！〃 And Edith；
flinging herself violently upon Bibbs's door； jerked it open； swung round it
into the room； slammed the door behind her； and threw herself； face down；
upon the bed in such a riot of emotion that she had no perception of Bibbs's
presence in the room。 Gasping and sobbing in a passion of tears； she beat
the coverlet and pillows with her clenched fists。 〃Sneak！〃 she babbled aloud。
〃Sneak！ Snake…in…the…grass！ Cat！〃
Bibbs saw that she did not know he was there； and he went softly toward the
door； hoping to get away before she became aware of him； but some sound of
his movement reached her； and she sat up； startled； facing him。
〃Bibbs！ I thought I saw you go out awhile ago。〃
〃Yes。 I came back； though。 I'm sorry〃
〃Did you hear me quarreling with Sibyl？〃
〃Only what you said in the hall。 You lie down again； Edith。 I'm going out。〃
〃No； don't go。〃 She applied a handkerchief to her eyes； emitted a sob； and
repeated her request。 〃Don't go。 I don't mind you； you're quiet； anyhow。
Mamma's so fussy； and never gets anywhere。 I don't mind you at all； but I
wish you'd sit down。〃
〃All right。〃 And he returned to his chair beside the trunk。 〃Go ahead and
cry all you want； Edith；〃 he said。 〃No harm in that！〃
〃Sibyl told mammaOH！〃 she began； choking。 〃Mary Vertrees had mamma and
Sibyl and I to tea； one afternoon two weeks or so ago； and she had some women
there that Sibyl's been crazy to get in with； and she just laid herself out
to make a hit with 'em； and she's been running after 'em ever since； and now
she comes over here and says THEY say Bobby Lamhorn is so bad that； even
though they like his family； none of the nice people in town would let him in
their houses。 In the first place； it's a falsehood； and I don't believe a
word of it； and in the second place I know the reason she did it； and； what's
more； she KNOWS I know it！ I won't SAY what it isnot yetbecause papa and
all of you would think I'm as crazy as she is snaky； and Roscoe's such a fool
he'd probably quit speaking to me。 But it's true！ Just you watch her；
that's all I ask。 Just you watch that woman。 You'll see！〃
As it happened； Bibbs was literally watching 〃that woman。〃 Glancing from the
window； he saw Sibyl pause upon the pavement in front of the old house next
door。 She stood a moment； in deep thought； then walked quickly up the path
to the door； undoubtedly with the intention of calling。 But he did not
mention this to his sister； who； after delivering herself of a rather vague
jeremiad upon the subject of her sister…in…law's treacheries； departed to her
own chamber； leaving him to his speculations。 The chief of these concerned
the social elasticities of women。 Sibyl had just been a participant in a
violent scene； she had suffered hot insult of a kind that could not fail to
set her quivering with resentment； and yet she elected to betake herself to
the presence of people whom she knew no more than 〃formally。〃 Bibbs
marveled。 Surely； he reflected； some traces of emotion must linger upon
Sibyl's face or in her manner； she could not have ironed it all quite out in
the three or four minutes it took her to reach the Vertreeses' door。
And in this he was not mistaken； for Mary Vertrees was at that moment
wondering what internal excitement Mrs。 Roscoe Sheridan was striving to
master。 But Sibyl had no idea that she was allowing herself to exhibit
anything except the gaiety which she conceived proper to the manner of a
casual caller。 She was wholly intent upon fulfilling the sudden purpose that
brought her； and she was no more self…conscious than she was finely
intelligent。 For Sibyl Sheridan belonged to a type Scriptural in its
antiquity。 She was merely the idle and half…educated intriguer who may and
does delude men； of course； and the best and dullest of her own sex as well；
finding invariably strong supporters among these latter。 It is a type that
has wrought some damage in the world and w