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〃Nothing。 It's them！ Those Vertreeses！〃 She wiped her eyes。 〃They've had
to sell their piano！〃
〃Well； what of it？〃
〃That Mrs。 Kittersby told me all about 'em a week ago；〃 said Sibyl。 〃They've
been hard up for a long time； and she says as long ago as last winter she
knew that girl got a pair of walking…shoes re…soled and patched； because she
got it done the same place Mrs。 Kittersby's cook had HERS！ And the night of
the house…warming I kind of got suspicious； myself。 She didn't have one
single piece of any kind of real jewelry； and you could see her dress was an
old one done over。 Men can't tell those things； and you all made a big fuss
over her； but I thought she looked a sight； myself！ Of course； EDITH was
crazy to have her； and〃
〃Well； well？〃 he urged； impatiently。
〃Well； I'm TELLING you！ Mrs。 Kittersby says they haven't got a THING！ Just
absolutely NOTHINGand they don't know anywhere to turn！ The family's all
died out but them； and all the relatives they got are very distant； and live
East and scarcely know 'em。 She says the whole town's been wondering what
WOULD become of 'em。 The girl had plenty chances to marry up to a year or so
ago； but she was so indifferent she scared the men off； and the ones that had
wanted to went and married other girls。 Gracious！ they were lucky！ Marry
HER？ The man that found himself tied up to THAT girl〃
〃Terrible funny； terrible funny！〃 said Roscoe； with sarcasm。 〃It's so funny
I broke a cut…glass decanter and spilled a quart of〃
〃Wait！〃 she begged。 〃You'll see。 I was sitting by the window a little while
ago； and I saw a big wagon drive up across the street and some men go into
the house。 It was too dark to make out much； and for a minute I got the idea
they were moving outthe house has been foreclosed on； Mrs。 Kittersby says。
It seemed funny； too； because I knew that girl was out riding with Bibbs。
Well； I thought I'd see； so I slipped overand it was their PIANO！ They'd
sold it and were trying to sneak it out after dark； so nobody'd catch on！〃
Again she gave way to her enjoyment； but resumed； as her husband seemed about
to interrupt the narrative。 〃Wait a minute； can't you？ The old lady was
superintending； and she gave it all away。 I sized her up for one of those
old churchy people that tell all kinds of lies except when it comes to so
many words； and then they can't。 She might just as well told me outright！
Yes； they'd sold it； and I hope they'll pay some of their debts。 They owe
everybody； and last week a coal…dealer made an awful fuss at the door with
Mr。 Vertrees。 Their cook told our upstairs girl； and she said she didn't
know WHEN she'd seen any money； herself！ Did you ever hear of such a case as
that girl in you LIFE？〃
〃What girl？ Their cook？〃
〃That Vertrees girl！ Don't you see they looked on our coming up into this
neighborhood as their last chance？ They were just going down and out； and
here bobs up the green； rich Sheridan family！ So they doll the girl up in
her old things； made over； and send her out to get a Sheridan she's GOT to
get one！ And she just goes in blind； and she tries it on first with YOU。
You remember； she just plain TOLD you she was going to mash you； and then she
found out you were the married one； and turned right square around to Jim and
carried him off his feet。 Oh； Jim was landedthere's no doubt about THAT！
But Jim was lucky； he didn't live to STAY landed； and it's a good thing for
him！〃 Sibyl's mirth had vanished； and she spoke with virulent rapidity。
〃Well； she couldn't get you； because you were married； and she couldn't get
Jim； because Jim died。 And there they were； dead broke！ Do you know what
she did？ Do you know what she's DOING？〃
〃No； I don't；〃 said Roscoe； gruffly。
Sibyl's voice rose and culminated in a scream of renewed hilarity。 〃BIBBS！
She waited in the grave…yard； and drove home with him from JIM'S FUNERAL！
Never spoke to him before！ Jim wasn't COLD！〃
She rocked herself back and forth upon the divan。 〃Bibbs！〃 she shrieked。
〃Bibbs！ Roscoe； THINK of it！ BIBBS！〃
He stared unsympathetically； but her mirth was unabated for all that。 〃And
yesterday；〃 she continued； between paroxysms〃yesterday she came out of the
housejust as he was passing。 She must have been looking outwaiting for
the chance； I saw the old lady watching at the window！ And she got him there
last nightto 'PLAY' to him； the old lady gave that away！ And to…day she
made him take her out in a machine！ And the cream of it is that they didn't
even know whether he was INSANE or notthey thought maybe he was； but she
went after him just the same！ The old lady set herself to pump me about it
to…day。 BIBBS！ Oh； my Lord！ BIBBS！〃
But Roscoe looked grim。 〃So it's funny to you； is it？ It sounds kind of
pitiful to me。 I should think it would to a woman； too。〃
〃Oh； it might；〃 she returned； sobering。 〃It might； if those people weren't
such frozen…faced smart Alecks。 If they'd had the decency to come down off
the perch a little I probably wouldn't think it was funny； but to see 'em sit
up on their pedestal all the time they're eating dirt well； I think it's
funny！ That girl sits up as if she was Queen Elizabeth； and expects people
to wallow on the ground before her until they get near enough for her to give
'em a good kick with her old patched shoesoh； she'd do THAT； all
right！and then she powders up and goes out to mashBIBBS SHERIDAN！〃
〃Look here；〃 said Roscoe； heavily； 〃I don't care about that one way or
another。 If you're through； I got something I want to talk to you about。 I
was going to； that day just before we heard about Jim。〃
At this Sibyl stiffened quickly； her eyes became intensely bright。 〃What is
it？〃
〃Well；〃 he began； frowning； 〃what I was going to say then〃 He broke off；
and； becoming conscious that he was still holding the wet napkin in his hand；
threw it pettishly into a corner。 〃I never expected I'd have to say anything
like this to anybody I MARRIED； but I was going to ask you what was the
matter between you and Lamhorn。〃
Sibyl uttered a sharp monosyllable。 〃Well？〃
〃I felt the time had come for me to know about it；〃 he went on。 〃You never
told me anything〃
〃You never asked；〃 she interposed； curtly。
〃Well； we'd got in a way of not talking much；〃 said Roscoe。 〃It looks to me
now as if we'd pretty much lost the run of each other the way a good many
people do。 I don't say it wasn't my fault。 I was up early and down to work
all day； and I'd come home tired at night； and want to go to bed soon as I'd
got the paper readunless there was some good musical show in town。 Well；
you seemed all right until here lately； the last month or so； I began to see
something was wrong。 I couldn't help seeing it。〃
〃Wrong？〃 she said。 〃What like？〃
〃You changed； you didn't look the sa