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not care who falls with it。 It does not choose who shall be upon its roof
and who shall not。 Silence CAN be golden？ Yes。 But perhaps if a woman
of the world should find herself by accident sitting beside a man for the
length of time it must necessarily take two slow old horses to jog three
miles； she might expect that man to say something of some sort！ Even if she
thought him a feeble hypochondriac； even if she had heard from others that he
was a disappointment to his own people； even if she had seen for herself that
he was a useless and irritating encumbrance everywhere； she might expect him
at least to speakshe might expect him to open his mouth and try to make
sounds； if he only barked。 If he did not even try； but sat every step of the
way as dumb as a frozen fish； she might THINK him a frozen fish。 And she
might be right。 She might be right if she thought him about as pleasant a
companion asas Bildad the Shuhite！
Bibbs closed his note…book； replacing it in his trunk。 Then； after a period
of melancholy contemplation； he undressed； put on a dressing…gown and
slippers； and went softly out into the hallto his father's door。 Upon the
floor was a tray which Bibbs had sent George； earlier in the evening； to
place upon a table in Sheridan's roombut the food was untouched。 Bibbs
stood listening outside the door for several minutes。 There came no sound
from within； and he went back to his own room and to bed。
In the morning he woke to a state of being hitherto unknown in his
experience。 Sometimes in the process of waking there is a little pause
sleep has gone； but coherent thought has not begun。 It is a curious
half…void； a glimpse of aphasia； and although the person experiencing it may
not know for that instant his own name or age or sex； he may be acutely
conscious of depression or elation。 It is the moment； as we say； before we
〃remember〃； and for the first time in Bibbs's life it came to him bringing a
vague happiness。 He woke to a sense of new riches； he had the feeling of a
boy waking to a birthday。 But when the next moment brought him his memory；
he found nothing that could explain his exhilaration。 On the contrary； under
the circumstances it seemed grotesquely unwarranted。 However； it was a brief
visitation and was gone before he had finished dressing。 It left a little
trail； the pleased recollection of it and the puzzle of it； which remained
unsolved。 And； in fact； waking happily in the morning is not usually the
result of a drive home from a funeral。 No wonder the sequence evaded Bibbs
Sheridan！
His father had gone when he came down…stairs。 〃Went on down to 's office；
jes' same；〃 Jackson informed him。 〃Came sat breakfas'…table； all by 'mself；
eat nothin'。 George bring nice breakfas'； but he di'n' eat a thing。 Yessuh；
went on down…town； jes' same he yoosta do。 Yessuh； I reckon putty much
ev'y…thing goin' go on same as it yoosta do。〃
It struck Bibbs that Jackson was right。 The day passed as other days had
passed。 Mrs。 Sheridan and Edith were in black； and Mrs。 Sheridan cried a
little； now and then； but no other external difference was to be seen。 Edith
was quiet； but not noticeably depressed； and at lunch proved herself able to
argue with her mother upon the propriety of receiving calls in the earliest
stages of 〃mourning。〃 Lunch was as usualfor Jim and his father had always
lunched down…townand the afternoon was as usual。 Bibbs went for his drive；
and his mother went with him； as she sometimes did when the weather was
pleasant。 Altogether； the usualness of things was rather startling to Bibbs。
During the drive Mrs。 Sheridan talked fragmentarily of Jim's childhood。 〃But
you wouldn't remember about that；〃 she said； after narrating an episode。
〃You were too little。 He was always a good boy； just like that。 And he'd
save whatever papa gave him； and put it in the bank。 I reckon it 'll just
about kill your father to put somebody in his place as president of the
Realty Company； Bibbs。 I know he can't move Roscoe over； he told me last
week he'd already put as much on Roscoe as any one man could handle and not
go crazy。 Oh； it's a pity〃 She stopped to wipe her eyes。 〃It's a pity
you didn't run more with Jim； Bibbs； and kind o' pick up his ways。 Think
what it'd meant to papa now！ You never did run with either Roscoe or Jim any；
even before you got sick。 Of course； you were younger； but it always DID
seem queerand you three bein' brothers like that。 I don't believe I ever
saw you and Jim sit down together for a good talk in my life。〃
〃Mother； I've been away so long；〃 Bibbs returned； gently。 〃And since I came
home I〃
〃Oh； I ain't reproachin' you； Bibbs；〃 she said。 〃Jim ain't been home much of
an evening since you got backwhat with his work and callin' and goin' to
the theater and places； and often not even at the house for dinner。 Right
the evening before he got hurt he had his dinner at some miser'ble rest'rant
down by the Pump Works； he was so set on overseein' the night work and
gettin' everything finished up right to the minute he told papa he would。 I
reckon you might 'a' put in more time with Jim if there'd been more
opportunity； Bibbs。 I expect you feel almost as if you scarcely really knew
him right well。〃
〃I suppose I really didn't； mother。 He was busy； you see； and I hadn't much
to say about the things that interested him； because I don't know much about
them。〃
〃It's a pity！ Oh； it's a pity！〃 she moaned。 〃And you'll have to learn to
know about 'em NOW； Bibbs！ I haven't said much to you； because I felt it was
all between your father and you； but I honestly do believe it will just kill
him if he has to have any more trouble on top of all this！ You mustn't LET
him； Bibbsyou mustn't！ You don't know how he's grieved over you； and now
he can't stand any morehe just can't！ Whatever he says for you to do； you
DO it； Bibbs； you DO it！ I want you to promise me you will。〃
〃I would if I could；〃 he said； sorrowfully。
〃No； no！ Why can't you？〃 she cried； clutching his arm。 〃He wants you to go
back to the machine…shop and〃
〃And'like it！〃 said Bibbs。
〃Yes； that's itto go in a cheerful spirit。 Dr。 Gurney said it wouldn't
hurt you if you went in a cheerful spiritthe doctor said that himself；
Bibbs。 So why can't you do it？ Can't you do that much for your father？ You
ought to think what he's done for YOU。 You got a beautiful house to live in；
you got automobiles to ride in； you got fur coats and warm clothes； you been
taken care of all your life。 And you don't KNOW how he worked for the money
to give all these things to you！ You don't DREAM what he had to go through
and what he risked when we were startin' out in life； and you never WILL
know！ And now this blow has fallen on him out of a clear sky； and you make
it out to be a hardship to do like he wants you to！ And al