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moving。 Roscoe went to a chair in another part of the room。 There was a
deadly silence。
But Sibyl found a shaky voice； after an interval of gulping； though she was
unable to lift her eyes； and the darkling lids continued to veil them。 She
spoke hurriedly； like an ungifted child reciting something committed to
memory； but her sincerity was none the less evident for that。
〃Father Sheridan； you and mother Sheridan have always been so kind to me； and
I would hate to have you think I don't appreciate it； from the way I acted。
I've come to tell you I am sorry for the way I did that night； and to say I
know as well as anybody the way I behaved； and it will never happen again；
because it's been a pretty hard lesson； and when we come back； some day； I
hope you'll see that you've got a daughter…in…law you never need to be ashamed
of again。 I want to ask you to excuse me for the way I did； and I can say I
haven't any feelings toward Edith now； but only wish her happiness and good in
her new life。 I thank you for all your kindness to me； and I know I made a
poor return for it； but if you can overlook the way I behaved I know I would
feel a good deal happierand I know Roscoe would； too。 I wish to promise not
to be as foolish in the future； and the same error would never occur again to
make us all so unhappy； if you can be charitable enought to excuse it this
time。〃
He looked steadily at her without replying； and she stood before him； never
lifting her eyes； motionless； save where the moving fur proved the agitation
of her hands within the muff。
〃All right；〃 he said at last。
She looked up then with vast relief； though there was a revelation of heavy
tears when the eyelids lifted。
〃Thank you；〃 she said。 〃There's something elseabout something differentI
want to say to you； but I want mother Sheridan to hear it； too。〃
〃She's up…stairs in her room；〃 said Sheridan。 〃Roscoe〃
Sibyl interrupted。 She had just seen Bibbs pass through the hall and begin to
ascend the stairs； and in a flash she instinctively perceived the chance for
precisely the effect she wanted。
〃No； let me go；〃 she said。 〃I want to speak to her a minute first； anyway。〃
And she went away quickly； gaining the top of the stairs in time to see Bibbs
enter his room and close the door。 Sibyl knew that Bibbs； in his room； had
overheard her quarrel with Edith in the hall outside； for bitter Edith；
thinking the more to shame her； had subsequently informed her of the
circumstance。 Sibyl had just remembered this； and with the recollection there
had flashed the thoughtout of her own experience that people are often
much more deeply impressed by words they overhear than by words directly
addressed to them。 Sibyl intended to make it impossible for Bibbs not to
overhear。 She did not hesitateher heart was hot with the old sore； and she
believed wholly in the justice of her cause and in the truth of what she was
going to say。 Fate was virtuous at times； it had delivered into her hands the
girl who had affronted her。
Mrs。 Sheridan was in her own room。 The approach of Sibyl and Roscoe had
driven her from the library； for she had miscalculated her husband's mood； and
she felt that if he used his injured hand as a mark of emphasis again； in her
presence； she would （as she thought of it） 〃have a fit right there。〃 She
heard Sibyl's step； and pretended to be putting a touch to her hair before a
mirror。
〃I was just coming down；〃 she said； as the door opened。
〃Yes； he wants you to；〃 said Sibyl。 〃It's all right； mother Sheridan。 He's
forgiven me。〃
Mrs。 Sheridan sniffed instantly； tears appeared。 She kissed her
daughter…in…law's cheek； then； in silence； regarded the mirror afresh； wiped
her eyes； and applied powder。
〃And I hope Edith will be happy；〃 Sibyl added； inciting more applications of
Mrs。 Sheridan's handkerchief and powder。
〃Yes； yes；〃 murmured the good woman。 〃We mustn't make the worst of things。〃
〃Well； there was something else I had to say； and he wants you to hear it；
too；〃 said Sibyl。 〃We better go down； mother Sheridan。〃
She led the way； Mrs。 Sheridan following obediently； but when they came to a
spot close by Bibbs's door； Sibyl stopped。 〃I want to tell you about it
first；〃 she said； abruptly。 〃It isn't a secret； of course； in any way； it's
something the whole family has to know； and the sooner the whole family knows
it the better。 It's something it wouldn't be RIGHT for us ALL not to
understand； and of course father Sheridan most of all。 But I want to just
kind of go over it first with you； it 'll kind of help me to see I got it all
stratight。 I haven't got any reason for saying it except the good of the
family； and it's nothing to me； one way or the other； of course； except for
that。 I oughtn't to 've behaved the way I did that night； and it seems to me
if there's anything I can do to help the family； I ought to； because it would
help show I felt the right way。 Well； what I want to do is to tell this so's
to keep the family from being made a fool of。 I don't want to see the family
just made use of and twisted around her finger by somebody that's got no more
heart than so much ice； and just as sure to bring troubles in the long run
asas Edith's mistake is。 Well； then； this is the way it is。 I'll just tell
you how it looks to me and see if it don't strike you the same way。〃
Within the room； Bibbs； much annoyed； tapped his ear with his pencil。 He
wished they wouldn't stand talking near his door when he was trying to write。
He had just taken from his trunk the manuscript of a poem begun the preceding
Sunday afternoon； and he had some ideas he wanted to fix upon paper before
they maliciously seized the first opportunity to vanish； for they were but
gossamer。 Bibbs was pleased with the beginnings of his poem； and if he could
carry it through he meant to dare greatly with it he would venture it upon
an editor。 For he had his plan of life now： his day would be of manual labor
and thinkinghe could think of his friend and he could think in cadences for
poems； to the crashing of the strong machineand if his father turned him out
of home and out of the Works； he would work elsewhere and live elsewhere。 His
father had the right； and it mattered very little to Bibbshe faced the
prospect of a working…man's lodging…house without trepidation。 He could find
a washstand to write upon； he thought； and every evening when he left Mary he
would write a little； and he would write on holidays and on Sundayson
Sundays in the afternoon。 In a lodging…house； at least he wouldn't be
interrupted by his sister…in…law's choosing the immediate vicinity of his door
for conversations evidently important to herself； but merely disturbing to
him。 He frowned plaintively； wishing he could think of some polite way of
asking her to go away。 But； as she went on； he started violently； dropping
manuscript and pencil upon the floor。