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finding invariably strong supporters among these latter。 It is a type that
has wrought some damage in the world and would have wrought greater； save for
the check put upon its power by intelligent women and by its own 〃lack of
perspective；〃 for it is a type that never sees itself。 Sibyl followed her
impulses with no reflection or questionit was like a hound on the gallop
after a master on horseback。 She had not even the instinct to stop and
consider her effect。 If she wished to make a certain impression she believed
that she made it。 She believed that she was believed。
〃My mother asked me to say that she was sorry she couldn't come down；〃 Mary
said； when they were seated。
Sibyl ran the scale of a cooing simulance of laughter； which she had been
brought up to consider the polite thing to do after a remark addressed to her
by any person with whom she was not on familiar terms。 It was intended
partly as a courtesy and partly as the foundation for an impression of
sweetness。
〃Just thought I'd fly in a minute；〃 she said； continuing the cooing to
relieve the last doubt of her gentiality。 〃I thought I'd just behave like
REAL country neighbors。 We are almost out in the country； so far from
down…town； aren't we？ And it seemed such a LOVELY day！ I wanted to tell you
how much I enjoyed meeting those nice people at tea that afternoon。 You see；
coming here a bride and never having lived here before； I've had to depend on
my husband's friends almost entirely； and I really 've known scarcely
anybody。 Mr。 Sheridan has been so engrossed in business ever since he was a
mere boy； why； of course〃
She paused； with the air of having completed an explanation。
〃Of course；〃 said Mary； sympathetically accepting it。
〃Yes。 I've been seeing quite a lot of the Kittersbys since that afternoon；〃
Sibyl went on。 〃They're really delightful people。 Indeed they are！ Yes〃
She stopped with unconscious abruptness； her mind plainly wandering to
another matter； and Mary perceived that she had come upon a definite errand。
Moreover； a tensing of Sibyl's eyelids； in that moment of abstraction as she
looked aside from her hostess； indicated that the errand was a serious one
for the caller and easily to be connected with the slight but perceptible
agitation underlying her assumption of cheerful ease。 There was a
restlessnes of breathing； a restlessness of hands。
〃Mrs。 Kittersby and her daughter were chatting about some to the people here
in town the other day；〃 said Sibyl； repeating the cooing and protracting it。
〃They said something that took ME by surprise！ We were talking about our
mutual friend； Mr。 Robert Lamhorn〃
Mary interrupted her promptly。 〃Do you mean 'mutual' to include my mother
and me？〃 she asked。
〃Why； yes； the Kittersbys and you and all of us Sheridans； I mean。〃
〃No；〃 said Mary。 〃We shouldn't consider Mr。 Robert Lamhorn a friend of
ours。〃
To her surprise； Sibyl nodded eagerly； as if greatly pleased。 〃That's just
the way Mrs。 Kittersby talked！〃 she cried； with a vehemence that made Mary
stare。 〃Yes； and I hear that's the way ALL you old families here speak of
him！〃
Mary looked aside； but otherwise she was able to maintain her composure。 〃I
had the impression he was a friend of yours；〃 she said； adding； hastily； 〃and
your husband's〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said the caller； absently。 〃He is； certainly。 A man's reputation
for a little gaiety oughtn't to make a great difference to married people； of
course。 It's where young girls are in question。 THEN it may be very； very
dangerous。 There are a great many things safe and proper for married people
that might be awf'ly imprudent for a young girl。 Don't you agree； Miss
Vertrees？〃
〃I don't know；〃 returned the frank Mary。 〃Do you mean that you intend to
remain a friend of Mr。 Lamhorn's； but disapprove of Miss Sheridan's doing
so？〃
〃That's it exactly！〃 was the naive and ardent response of Sibyl。 〃What I
feel about it is that a man with his reputation isn't at all suitable for
Edith； and the family ought to be made to understand it。 I tell you；〃 she
cried； with a sudden access of vehemence； 〃her father ought to put his foot
down！〃
Her eyes flashed with a green spark； something seemed to leap out and then
retreat； but not before Mary had caught a glimpse of it； as one might catch a
glimpse of a thing darting forth and then scuttling back into hiding under a
bush。
〃Of course；〃 said Sibyl； much more composedly； 〃I hardly need say that it's
entirely on Edith's account that I'm worried about this。 I'm as fond of
Edith as if she was really my sister； and I can't help fretting about it。 It
would break my heart to have Edith's life spoiled。〃
This tune was off the key； to Mary's ear。 Sibyl tried to sing with pathos；
but she flatted。
And when a lady receives a call from another who suffers under the stress of
some feeling which she wishes to conceal； there is not uncommonly developed a
phenomenon of duality comparable to the effect obtained by placing two
mirrors opposite each other； one clear and the other flawed。 In this case；
particularly； Sibyl had an imperfect consciousness of Mary。 The Mary
Vertrees that she saw was merely something to be cozened to her own frantic
purposea Mary Vertrees who was incapable of penetrating that purpose。
Sibyl sat there believing that she was projecting the image of herself that
she desired to project； never dreaming that with every word； every look； and
every gesture she was more and more fully disclosing the pitiable truth to
the clear eyes of Mary。 And the Sibyl that Mary saw was an overdressed
woman； in manner half rustic； and in mind as shallow as a pan； but possessed
by emotions that appeared to be strongperhaps even violent。 What those
emotions were Mary had not guessed； but she began to suspect。
〃And Edith's life WOULD be spoiled；〃 Sibyl continued。 〃It would be a
dreadful thing for the whole family。 She's the very apple of Father
Sheridan's eye； and he's as proud of her as he is of Jim and Roscoe。 It
would be a horrible thing for him to have her marry a man like Robert
Lamhorn； but he doesn't KNOW anything about him； and if somebody doesn't tell
him； what I'm most afraid of is that Edith might get his consent and hurry on
the wedding before he finds out； and then it would be too late。 You see；
Miss Vertrees； it's very difficult for me to decide just what it's my duty to
do。〃
〃I see；〃 said Mary； looking at her thoughtfully； 〃Does Miss Sheridan seem
toto care very much about him？〃
〃He's deliberately fascinated her；〃 returned the visitor； beginning to
breathe quickly and heavily。 〃Oh； she wasn't difficult！ She knew she wasn't
in right in this town； and she was crazy to meet the people that were； and
she thought he was one of 'em。 But that was only the start that made it easy
for himand he didn