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perhaps？〃
〃You don't know anybody that knows the family。〃
〃Yes。 That iswell； in a way； of course； one OF the family。 That Mrs。
Roscoe Sheridan is not athat is； she's rather a pleasant…faced little
woman； I think； and of course rather ordinary。 I think she is interested
aboutthat is； of course； she'd be anxious to be more intimate with Mary；
naturally。 She's always looking over here from her house； she was looking
out the window this afternoon when Mary went out； I noticedthough I don't
think Mary saw her。 I'm sure she wouldn't think it out of place toto be
frank about matters。 She called the other day； and Mary must rather like
hershe said that evening that the call had done her good。 Don't you think
it might be wise？〃
〃Wise？ I don't know。 I feel the whole matter is impossible。〃
〃Yes； so do I；〃 she returned； promptly。 〃It isn't really a thing we should
be considering seriously； of course。 Still〃
〃I should say not！ But possibly〃
Thus they skirmished up and down the field； but before they turned the lights
out and went up…stairs it was thoroughly understood between them that Mrs。
Vertrees should seek the earliest opportunity to obtain definite information
from Sibyl Sheridan concerning the mental and physical status of Bibbs。 And
if he were subject to attacks of lunacy； the unhappy pair decided to prevent
the sacrifice they supposed their daughter intended to make of herself。
Altogether； if there were spiteful ghosts in the old house that night；
eavesdropping upon the woeful comedy； they must have died anew of laughter！
Mrs。 Vertrees's opportunity occurred the very next afternoon。 Darkness had
fallen； and the piano…movers had come。 They were carrying the piano down the
front steps； and Mrs。 Vertrees was standing in the open doorway behind them；
preparing to withdraw； when she heard a sharp exclamation； and Mrs。 Roscoe
Sheridan； bareheaded； emerged from the shadow into the light of the doorway。
〃Good gracious！〃 she cried。 〃It did give me a fright！〃
〃It's Mrs。 Sheridan； isn't it？〃 Mrs。 Vertrees was perplexed by this informal
appearance； but she reflected that it might be providential。 〃Won't you come
in？〃
〃No。 Oh no； thank you！〃 Sibyl panted； pressing her hand to her side。 〃You
don't know what a fright you've given me！ And it was nothing but your
piano！〃 She laughed shrilly。 〃You know； since our tragedy coming so
suddenly the other day； you have no idea how upset I've beenalmost
hysterical！ And I just glanced out of the window； a minute or so ago； and
saw your door wide open and black figures of men against the light； carrying
something heavy； and I almost fainted。 You see； it was just the way it
looked when I saw them bringing my poor brother…in…law in； next door； only
such a few short days ago。 And I thought I'd seen your daughter start for a
drive with Bibbs Sheridan in a car about three o'clockandThey aren't back
yet； are they？〃
〃No。 Good heavens！〃
〃And the only thing I could think of was that something must have happened to
them； and I just dashed overand it was only your PIANO！〃 She broke into
laughter again。 〃I suppose you're just sending it somewhere to be repaired；
aren't you？〃
〃It'sit's being taken down…town；〃 said Mrs。 Vertrees。 〃Won't you come in
and make me a little visit。 I was SO sorry； the other day； that I wasah〃
She stopped inconsequently； then repeated her invitation。 〃Won't you come
in？ I'd really〃
〃Thank you； but I must be running back。 My husband usually gets home about
this time； and I make a little point of it always to be there。〃
〃That's very sweet。〃 Mrs。 Vertrees descended the steps and walked toward the
street with Sibyl。 〃It's quite balmy for so late in November； isn't it？
Almost like a May evening。〃
〃I'm afraid Miss Vertrees will miss her piano；〃 said Sibyl； watching the
instrument disappear into the big van at the curb。 〃She plays wonderfully；
Mrs。 Kittersby tells me。〃
〃Yes； she plays very well。 One of your relatives came to hear her yesterday；
after dinner； and I think she played all evening for him。〃
〃You mean Bibbs？〃 asked Sibyl。
〃Thethe youngest Mr。 Sheridan。 Yes。 He's very musical； isn't he？〃
〃I never heard of it。 But I shouldn't think it would matter much whether he
was or not； if he could get Miss Vertrees to play to him。 Does your daughter
expect the piano back soon？〃
〃II believe not immediately。 Mr。 Sheridan came last evening to hear her
play because she had arranged with thethat is； it was to be removed this
afternoon。 He seems almost well again。〃
〃Yes。〃 Sibyl nodded。 〃His father's going to try to start him to work。〃
〃He seems very delicate；〃 said Mrs。 Vertrees。 〃I shouldn't think he would be
able to stand a great deal； either physically or〃 She paused and then
added； glowing with the sense of her own adroitness〃or mentally。〃
〃Oh； mentally Bibbs is all right；〃 said Sibyl； in an odd voice。
〃Entirely？〃 Mrs。 Vertrees asked； breathlessly。
〃Yes； entirely。〃
〃But has he ALWAYS been？〃 This question came with the same anxious
eagerness。
〃Certainly。 He had a long siege of nervous dyspepsia； but he's over it。〃
〃And you think〃
〃Bibbs is all right。 You needn't wor〃 Sibyl choked； and pressed her
handkerchief to her mouth。 〃Good night； Mrs。 Vertrees；〃 she said； hurriedly；
as the head…lights of an automobile swung round the corner above； sending a
brightening glare toward the edge of the pavement where the two ladies were
standing。
〃Won't you come in？〃 urged Mrs。 Vertrees； cordially； hearing the sound of a
cheerful voice out of the darkness beyond the approaching glare。 〃Do！
There's Mary now； and she〃
But Sibyl was half…way across the street。 〃No； thanks；〃 she called。 〃I
hope she won't miss her piano！〃 And she ran into her own house and plunged
headlong upon a leather divan in the hall； holding her handkerchief over her
mouth。
The noise of her tumultuous entrance was evidently startling in the quiet
house； for upon the bang of the door there followed the crash of a decanter；
dropped upon the floor of the dining…room at the end of the hall； and； after
a rumble of indistinct profanity； Roscoe came forth； holding a dripping
napkin in his hand。
〃What's your excitement？〃 he demanded。 〃What do you find to go into
hysterics over？ Another death in the family？〃
〃Oh； it's funny！ she gasped。 〃Those old frost…bitten people！ I guess
THEY'RE getting their come…upance！〃 Lying prone； she elevated her feet in
the air； clapped her heels together repeatedly； in an ecstasy。
〃Come through； come through！〃 said her husband； crossly。 〃What you been up
to？〃
〃Me？〃 she cried； dropping her feet and swinging around to face him。
〃Nothing。 It's them！ Those Vertreeses！〃 She wiped her eyes。 〃They've had
to sell their piano！〃
〃Well； what of