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loafers in the world if each man found the thing that he could do best； but
the only work I happen to want to do is uselessso I have to give it up。
To…morrow I'll be a day…laborer。〃
〃What is it likeexactly？〃
〃I get up at six；〃 he said。 〃I have a lunch…basket to carry with me； which is
aristocratic and no advantage。 The other workmen have tin buckets； and tin
buckets are better。 I leave the house at six…thirty； and I'm at work in my
overalls at seven。 I have an hour off at noon； and work again from one till
five。〃
〃But the work itself？〃
〃It wasn't muscularly exhaustingnot at all。 They couldn't give me a heavier
job because I wasn't good enough。〃
〃But what will you do？ I want to know。〃
〃When I left；〃 said Bibbs； 〃I was 'on' what they call over there a
'clipping…machine；' in one of the 'by…products' departments； and that's what
I'll be sent back to。〃
〃But what is it？〃 she insisted。
Bibbs explained。 〃It's very simple and very easy。 I feed long strips of zinc
into a pair of steel jaws； and the jaws bite the zinc into little circles。
All I have to do is to see that the strip goes into the jaws at a certain
angleand yet I was a very bad hand at it。〃
He had kept his voice cheerful as he spoke； but he had grown a shade paler；
and there was a latent anguish deep in his eyes。 He may have known it and
wished her not to see it； for he turned away。
〃You do that all day long？〃 she asked； and as he nodded； 〃It seems
incredible！〃 she exclaimed。 〃YOU feeding a strip of zinc into a machine nine
hours a day！ No wonder〃 She broke off； and then； after a keen glance at
his face； she said： 〃I should think you WOULD have been a 'bad hand at it'！〃
He laughed ruefully。 〃I think it's the noise； though I'm ashamed to say it。
You see； it's a very powerful machine； and there's a sort of rhythmical
crashinga crash every time the jaws bite off a circle。〃
〃How often is that？〃
〃The thing should make about sixty…eight disks a minutea little more than
one a second。〃
〃And you're close to it？〃
〃Oh； the workman has to sit in its lap；〃 he said； turning to her more gaily。
〃The others don't mind 。 You see； it's something wrong with me。 I have an
idiotic way of flinching from the confounded thingI flinch and duck a little
every time the crash comes； and I couldn't get over it。 I was a treat to the
other workmen in that room； they'll be glad to see me back。 They used to
laugh at me all day long。〃
Mary's gaze was averted from Bibbs now； she sat with her elbow resting on the
arm of the chair； her lifted hand pressed against her cheek。 She was staring
at the wall； and her eyes had a burning brightness in them。
〃It doesn't seem possible any one could do that to you；〃 she said； in a low
voice。 〃No。 He's not kind。 He ought to be proud to help you to the leisure
to write books； it should be his greatest privilege to have them published for
you〃
〃Can't you SEE him？〃 Bibbs interrupted； a faint ripple of hilarity in his
voice。 〃If he could understand what you're sayingand if you can imagine his
taking such a notion； he's have had R。 T。 Bloss put up posters all over the
country： 'Read B。 Sheridan。 Read the Poet with a Punch！' No。 It's just as
well he never got theBut what's the use？ I've never written anything worth
printing； and I never shall。〃
〃You could！〃 she said。
〃That's because you've never seen the poor little things I've tried to do。〃
〃You wouldn't let me； but I KNOW you could！ Ah； it's a pity！〃
〃It isn't；〃 said BIBBS； honestly。 〃I never couldbut you're the kindest lady
in this world； Miss Vertrees。〃
She gave him a flashing glance； and it was as kind as he said she was。 〃That
sounds wrong；〃 she said； impulsively。 〃I mean 'Miss Vertrees。' I've thought
of you by your first name ever since I met you。 Wouldn't you rather call me
'Mary'？〃
Bibbs was dazzled； he drew a long； deep breath and did not speak。
〃Wouldn't you？〃 she asked； without a trace of coquetry。
〃If I CAN！〃 he said； in a low voice。
〃Ah； that's very pretty！〃 she laughed。 〃You're such an honest person； it's
pleasant to have you gallant sometimes； by way of variety。〃 She became grave
again immediately。 〃I hear myself laughing as if it were some one else。 It
sounds like laughter on the eve of a great calamity。〃 She got up restlessly；
crossed the room and leaned against the wall； facing him。 〃You've GOT to go
back to that place？〃
He nodded。
〃And the other time you did it〃
〃Just over it；〃 said Bibbs。 〃Two years。 But I don't mind the prospect of a
repetition so much as〃
〃So much as what？〃 she prompted； as he stopped。
Bibbs looked up at her shyly。 〃I want to say it； butbut I come to a dead
balk when I try。 I〃
〃Go on。 Say it； whatever it is；〃 she bade him。 〃You wouldn't know how to say
anything I shouldn't like。〃
〃I doubt if you'd either like or dislike what I want to say；〃 he returned；
moving uncomfortably in his chair and looking at his feethe seemed to feel
awkward； thoroughly。 〃You see； all my lifeuntil I met youif I ever felt
like saying anything； I wrote it instead。 Saying things is a new trick for
me； and thiswell； it's just this： I used to feel as if I hadn't ever had
any sort of a life at all。 I'd never been of use to anything or anybody； and
I'd never had anything； myself； except a kind of haphazard thinking。 But now
it's differentI'm still of no use to anybody； and I don't see any prospect
of being useful； but I have had something for myself。 I've had a beautiful
and happy experience； and it makes my life seem to beI mean I'm glad I've
lived it！ That's all； it's your letting me be near you sometimes； as you
have； this strange； beautiful； happy little while！〃
He did not once look up； and reached silence； at the end of what he had to
say； with his eyes still awkwardly regarding his feet。 She did not speak； but
a soft rustling of her garments let him know that she had gone back to her
chair again。 The house was still； the shabby old room was so quiet that the
sound of a creaking in the wall seemed sharp and loud。
And yet； when Mary spoke at last； her voice was barely audible。 〃If you think
it has beenhappyto be friends with meyou'd want toto make it last。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bibbs； as faintly。
〃You'd want to go on being my friend as long as we live； wouldn't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 he gulped。
〃But you make that kind of speech to me because you think it's over。〃
He tried to evade her。 〃Oh； a day…laborer can't come in his overalls〃
〃No；〃 she interrupted； with a sudden sharpness。 〃You said what you did
because you think the shop's going to kill you。〃
〃No； no！〃
〃Yes； you do think that！〃 She rose to her feet again and came and stood
before him。 〃Or you think it's going to send you back to the sanitarium。
Don't deny it； Bibbs。 There！ See how easily I call you that！ You see I'm a
friend； or