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last block or so； and passed ahead during the removal of the soot。 〃There！〃
said the elderly wife。 〃You're always wrong when you begin guessing about
strangers。 Those two young people aren't honeymooners at allthey've been
married for years。 A blind man could see that。〃
〃I wish I did know who threw that soot on you；〃 said Bibbs； looking up at the
neighboring chimneys； as they went on。 〃They arrest children for throwing
snowballs at the street…cars； but〃
〃But they don't arrest the street…cars for shaking all the pictures in the
houses crooked every time they go by。 Nor for the uproar they make。 I wonder
what's the cost in nerves for the noise of the city each year。 Yes； we pay the
price for living in a 'growing town；' whether we have money to pay or none。〃
〃Who is it gets the pay？〃 said Bibbs。
〃Not I！〃 she laughed。
〃Nobody gets it。 There isn't any pay； there's only money。 And only some of
the men down…town get much of that。 That's what my father wants me to get。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； smiling to him； and nodding。 〃And you don't want it； and you
don't need it。〃
〃But you don't think I'm a sleep…walker； Mary？〃 He had told her of his
father's new plans for him； though he had not described the vigor and
picturesqueness of their setting forth。 〃You think I'm right？〃
〃A thousand times！〃 she cried。 〃There aren't so many happy people in this
world； I thinkand you say you've found what makes you happy。 If it's a
dreamkeep it！〃
〃The thought of going down thereinto the money shuffleI hate it as I never
hated the shop！〃 he said。 〃I hate it！ And the city itself； the city that the
money shuffle has madejust look at it！ Look at it in winter。 The snow's
tried hard to make the ugliness bearable； but the ugliness is winning； it's
making the snow hideous； the snow's getting dirty on top； and it's foul
underneath with the dirt and disease of the unclean street。 And the dirt and
the ugliness and the rush and the noise aren't the worst of it； it's what the
dirt and ugliness and rush and noise MEANthat's the worst！ The outward
things are insufferable； but they're only the expression of a spirita blind
enbryo of a spirit； not yet a souloh； just greed！ And this 'go ahead'
nonsense！ Oughtn't it all to be a fellowship？ I shouldn't want to get ahead
if I couldI'd want to help the other fellow to keep up with me。〃
〃I read something the other day and remembered it for you；〃 said Mary。 〃It was
something Burne…Jones said of a picture he was going to paint： 'In the first
picture I shall make a man walking in the street of a great city； full of all
kinds of happy life： children； and lovers walking； and ladies leaning from the
windows all down great lengths of street leading to the city walls； and there
the gates are wide open； letting in a space of green field and cornfield in
harvest； and all round his head a great rain of swirling autumn leaves blowing
from a lttle walled graveyard。〃
〃And if I painted；〃 Bibbs returned； 〃I'd paint a lady walking in the street of
a great city； full of all kinds of uproarious and futile life children being
taught only how to make money； and lovers hurrying to get richer； and ladies
who'd given up trying to wash their windows clean； and the gates of the city
wide open； letting in slums and slaughter…houses and freight…yards； and all
round this lady's head a great rain of swirling soot〃 He paused； adding；
thoughtfully： 〃And yet I believe I'm glad that soot got on your cheek。 It was
just as if I were your brother the way you gave me your handkerchief to rub
it off for you。 Still； Edith never〃
〃Didn't she？〃 said Mary； as he paused again。
〃No。 And I〃 He contented himself with shaking his head instead of offering
more definite information。 Then he realized that they were passing the New
House； and he sighed profoundly。 〃Mary； our walk's almost over。〃
She looked as blank。 〃So it is； Bibbs。〃
They said no more until they came to her gate。 As they drifted slowly to a
stop； the door of Roscoe's house opened； and Roscoe came out with Sibyl； who
was startlingly pale。 She seemed little enfeebled by her illness； however；
walking rather quickly at her husband's side and not taking his arm。 The two
crossed the street without appearing to see Mary and her companion； and
entering the New House； were lost to sight。 Mary gazed after them gravely；
but Bibbs； looking at Mary； did not see them。
〃Mary；〃 he said； 〃you seem very serious。 Is anything bothering you？〃
〃No； Bibbs。〃 And she gave him a bright； quick look that made him instantly
unreasonably happy。
〃I know you want to go in〃 he began。
〃No。 I don't want to。〃
〃I mustn't keep you standing her； and I mustn't go in with youbutI just
wanted to sayI've seemed very stupid to myself this morning； grumbling about
soot and all thatwhile all the time IMary； I think it's been the very
happiest of all the hours you've given me。 I do。 And I don't know just
whybut it's seemed to me that it was one I'd always remember。 And you；〃 he
added； falteringly； 〃you look soso beautiful to…day！〃
〃It must have been the soot on my cheek； Bibbs。〃
〃Mary； will you tell me something？〃 he asked。
〃I think I will。〃
〃It's something I've had a lot of theories about； but none of them ever just
fits。 You used to wear furs in the fall； but now it's so much colder； you
don'tyou never wear them at all any more。 Why don't you？〃
Her eyes fell for a moment； and she grew red。 Then she looked up gaily。
〃Bibbs； if I tell you the answer will you promise not to ask any more
questions？〃
〃Yes。 Why did you stop wearing them？〃
〃Because I found I'd be warmer without them！〃 She caught his hand quickly in
her own for an instant； laughed into his eyes； and ran into the house。
It is the consoling attribute of unused books that their decorative warmth
will so often make even a ready…made library the actual 〃living…room〃 of a
family to whom the shelved volumes are indeed sealed。 Thus it was with
Sheridan； who read nothing except newspapers； business letters； and figures；
who looked upon books as he looked upon bric…a…brac or crocheting when he
was at home； and not abed or eating； he was in the library。
He stood in the many…colored light of the stained…glass window at the far end
of the long room； when Roscoe and his wife came in； and he exhaled a
solemnity。 His deference to the Sabbath was manifest； as always； in the
length of his coat and the closeness of his Saturday…night shave； and his
expression； to match this religious pomp； was more than Sabbatical； but the
most dismaying of his demonstrations was his keeping his hand in his sling。
Sibyl advanced to the middle of the room and halted there； not looking at him；
but down at her muff； in which； it could be seen； her hands were nervously
moving。 Roscoe went to a chair in another part of the room。 There was a
deadly silence。
But Sibyl fo