Butasthemantelclockstruckwheezilysixtherewastherattleofanouterdoor,andarichandbeautifulpealoflaughterwentringingthroughthehouse。ThuscheerfullydidMaryVertreesheraldherreturnwithhermotherfromtheirexpeditionamongthebarbarians。
　　Shecamerushingintothelibraryandthrewherselfintoadeepchairbythehearth,laughingsouncontrollablythattearswereinhereyes。Mrs。Vertreesfolloweddecorously,nomirthabouther;onthecontrary,shelookedvaguelydisturbed,asifshehadeatensomethingnotquitecertaintoagreewithher,andregrettedit。
　　"Papa！Oh,oh！"AndMissVertreeswasfaintoapplyahandkerchiefuponhereyes。"I'mSOgladyoumadeusgo！Iwouldn'thavemissedit——"
　　Mrs。Vertreesshookherhead。"IsupposeI'mverydull,"shesaid,gently。"I
　　didn'tseeanythingamusing。They'remostordinary,andthehouseisaltogetherinbadtaste,butweanticipatedthat,and——"
　　"Papa！"Marycried,breakingin。"TheyaskedustoDINNER！"
　　"What！"
　　"AndI'mGOING！"sheshouted,andwasseizedwithfreshparoxysms。"Thinkofit！Neverintheirhousebefore;nevermetanyofthembutthedaughter——andjustBARELYmether——"
　　"Whataboutyou？"interrruptedMr。Vertrees,turningsharplyuponhiswife。
　　Shemadealittlefaceasifpositivenowthatwhatshehadeatenwouldnotagreewithher。"Icouldn't！"shesaid。"I——"
　　"Yes,that'sjust——justthewayshe——shelookedwhentheyaskedher！"criedMary,choking。"Andthenshe——sherealizedit,andtriedtoturnitintoacough,andshedidn'tknowhow,anditsoundedlike——likeasqueal！"
　　"Isuppose,"saidMrs。Vertrees,muchinjured,"thatMarywillhaveanuproarioustimeatmyfuneral。Shemakesfunof——"
　　Maryjumpedupinstantlyandkissedher;thenshewenttothemanteland,leaninganelbowuponit,gazedthoughtfullyatthebuckleofhershoe,twinklinginthefirelight。
　　"THEYdidn'tnoticeanything,"shesaid。"Sofarastheywereconcerned,mamma,itwasoneofthefinestcoughsyouevercoughed。"
　　"Whowere'they'？"askedherfather。"Whomdidyousee？"
　　"Onlythemotheranddaughter,"Maryanswered。"Mrs。Sheridanisdumpyandrustly;andMissSheridanisprettyandpushing——dressesbythefashionmagazinesandtalksaboutNewYorkpeoplethathavetheirpicturesin'em。Shetutorsthemother,butnotverysuccessfully——partlybecauseherownfoundationistooflimsyandpartlybecauseshebegantoolate。They'vegotanenormousMoorofpaintedplasterorsomethinginthehall,andthegirlevidentlythoughtitwastohercreditthatsheselectedit！"
　　"Theyhaveoil—paintings,too,"addedMrs。Vertrees,withaglanceofgentlepriceattheLandseers。"I'vealwaysthoughtoil—paintingsinaprivatehousetheworstoftaste。"
　　"Oh,ifoneownedaRaphaeloraTitian！"saidMr。Vertrees,finishingtheimplication,notinwords,butwithawaveofhishand。"Goon,Mary。Noneoftherestofthemcamein？Youdidn'tmeetMr。Sheridanor——"Hepausedandadjustedalumpofcoalinthefiredelicatelywiththepoker。"Oroneofthesons？"
　　Mary'sglancecrossedhis,atthat,withaflashofuttercomprehension。Heturnedinstantlyaway,butshehadbeguntolaughagain。
　　"No,"shesaid,"nooneexceptthewomen,butmammainquiredaboutthesonsthoroughly！"
　　"Mary！"Mrs。Vertreesprotested。
　　"Oh,mostadroitly,too！"laughedthegirl。"Onlyshecouldn'thelpunconsciouslyturningtolookatme——whenshedidit！"
　　"MaryVertrees！"
　　"Nevermind,mamma！Mrs。SheridanandMissSheridanneitherofTHEMcouldhelpunconsiouslyturningtolookatme——speculatively——atthesametime！Theyallthreekeptlookingatmeandtalkingabouttheoldestson,Mr。JamesSheridan,Junior。Mrs。Sheridansaidhisfatherisveryanxious'togetJimtomarryandsettledown,'andsheassuredmethat'Jimisrightcultivated。'
　　Anotherofthesons,theyoungestone,caughtmelookinginthewindowthisafternoon;buttheydidn'tseemtoconsiderhimquiteoneofthemselves,somehow,thoughMrs。Sheridanmentionedthatacoupleofyearsorsoagohehadbeen'rightsick,'andhadbeentosomecureorother。Theyseemedrelievedtobringthesubjectbackto'Jim'andhisvirtues——andtolookatme！Theotherbrotheristhemiddleone,Roscoe;he'stheonethatownsthenewhouseacrossthestreet,wherethatyoungblack—sheepoftheLamhorns,Robert,goessooften。Isawashort,darkyoungmanstandingontheporchwithRobertLamhorntheretheotherday,soIsupposethatwasRoscoe。'Jim'
　　stilllurksinthemists,butIshallmeethimto—night。Papa——"Shesteppednearertohimsothathehadtofaceher,andhiseyesweretroubledashedid。Theremayhavebeenatroubledeepwithinherown,butshekepttheirsurfacemerrywithlaughter。"Papa,Bibbsistheyoungestone'sname,andBibbs——tothebestofourinformation——isalunatic。Roscoeismarried。
　　Papa,doesithavetobeJim？"
　　"Mary！"Mrs。Vertreescried,sharply。"You'reoutrageous！That'saperfectlyhorriblewayoftalking！"
　　"Well,I'mclosetotwenty—four,"saidMary,turningtoher。"Ihaven'tbeenabletolikeanybodyyetthat'saskedmetomarryhim,andmaybeInevershall。UntilayearorsoagoI'vehadeverythingIeverwantedinmylife——youandpapagaveitalltome——andit'sabouttimeIbegantopayback。
　　Unfortunately,Idon'tkowhowtodoanything——butsomething'sgottobedone。"
　　"Butyouneedn'ttalkofitlikeTHAT！"insistedthemother,plaintively。
　　"It'snot——it'snot——"
　　"No,it'snot,"saidMary。"Iknowthat！"
　　"Howdidtheyhappentoaskyoutodinner？"Mr。Vertreesinquired,uneasily。
　　"'Stextrawdn'rything！"
　　"Climbers'hospitality,"Marydefinedit。"Weweresoverycordialandeasy！
　　IthinkMrs。Sheridanherselfmighthavedoneitjustasanykindoldwomanonafarmmightaskaneighbor,butitwasMissSheridanwhodidit。Sheplayedarounditawhile;youcouldseeshewantedto——she'sinadreadfulhurrytogetintothings——andIfanciedshehadanideaitmightimpressthatLamhornboytofindusthereto—night。It'sasortofhouse—warmingdinner,andtheytalkedaboutitandtalkedaboutit——andthenthegirlgothercourageupandblurtedouttheinvitation。Andmamma——"HereMarywasoncemoreavictimtoincorrigiblemerriment。"Mammatriedtosayyes,andCOULDN'T！Sheswallowedandsquealed——Imeanyoucoughed,dear！Andthen,papa,shesaidthatyouandshehadpromisedtogotoalectureattheEmersonClubto—night,butthatherdaughterwouldbedelightedtocometotheBigShow！SothereIam,andthere'sMr。JimSheridan——andthere'stheclock。Dinner'satseven—thirty！"
　　Andsheranoutoftheroom,scoopingupherfallenfurswithagestureofflyinggraceasshesped。
　　Whenshecamedown,attwentymunutesafterseven,herfatherstoodinthehall,atthefootofthestairs,waitingtobeherescortthroughthedark。Helookedupandwatchedherasshedescended,andhisgazewasfondandproud——andprofoundlydisturbed。Butshesmiledandnoddedgaily,and,whenshereachedthefloor,putahandonhisshoulder。
　　"Atleastnoonecouldsuspectmeto—night,"shesaid。"ILOOKrich,don'tI,papa？"
　　Shedid。Shehadalookthatworshipfulgirlfriendsbravelycalled"regal。"
　　Aheadtallerthanherfather,shewasasstraightandjauntilypoisedasaboyathlete;andherbrownhairandherbrowneyeswerelikehermother's,butfortherestshewentbacktosomestrongerandlivelierancestorthaneitherofherparents。
　　"Don'tIlooktoorichtobesuspected？"sheinsisted。
　　"Youlookeverythingbeautiful,Mary,"hesaid,huskily。
　　"Andmydress？"Shethrewopenherdarkvelvetcloak,showingasplendorofwhiteandsilver。"AnythingbetteratNicenextwinter,doyouthink？"Shelaughed,shroudingherglitteringfigureinthecloakagain。"Twoyearsold,andnoonewoulddreamit！Ididitover。"
　　"Youcandoanything,Mary。"
　　Therewasacurioushumilityinhistone,andsomethingmore——asignificancenotveiledandyetabysmallyapologetic。Itwasasifhesuggestedsomethingtoherandbeggedherforgivenessinthesamebreath。
　　Anduponthat,forthemoment,shebecameasseriousashe。Sheliftedherhandfromhisshoulderandthensetitbackmorefirmly,sothatheshouldfeelthereassuranceofitspressure。
　　"Don'tworry,"shesaid,inalowvoiceandgravely。"Iknowexactlywhatyouwantmetodo。"
　　Itwasabraveandlustrousbanquet;andanoisyone,too,becausetherewasanorchestraamongsomeplantsatoneendofthelongdining—room,andafterapreliminarystiffnesstheguestswereimpelledtoconverse——necessarilyatthetopsoftheirvoices。Thewholecompanyoffiftysatatagreatoblongtable,improvisedfortheoccasionbycarpenters;but,notbetrayingitselfasanimprovisation,itseemedapermanentcontinentofdamaskandlace,withshoresofcrystalandsilverrunninguptospreadinggrovesoforchidsandliliesandwhiteroses——aninhabitedcontinent,evidently,fortherewerethreemarvelous,gleamingbuildings:oneinthecenterandoneateachend,whitemiracleswroughtbysomeinspiredcraftsmaninsculpturalicing。Theyweremodelsinminiature,andtheyrepresentedtheSheridanBuilding,theSheridanApartments,andthePumpWorks。Nearlyalltheguestsrecognizedthemwithouthavingtobetoldwhattheywere,andpronouncedthelikenessessuperb。
　　Thearrangementofthetablewasvisablybaronial。AttheheadsatthegreatThane,withtheflowerofhisfamilyandoftheguestsabouthim;thenoneachsidecametheneighborsofthe"old"house,gradingdowntovassalsandretainers——superintendents,cashiers,headsofdepartments,andthelike——atthefoot,wheretheThane'sladytookherplaceasaconsolationforthelessimportant。Here,too,amongthethrallsandbondmen,satBibbsSheridan,ameekBanquo,wonderinghowanybodycouldlookathimandeat。
　　Nevertheless,therewasavast,continuouseating,forthesewerewholesomefolkwhounderstoodthatdinnermeantsomethingintendedforintroductionintothesystembymeansofanapertureintheface,devisedbynatureforthatexpresspurpose。Andbesides,nobodylookedatBibbs。
　　Hewasbettercontenttobelefttohimself;hisvoicewasnotstrongenoughtomakeitselfheardoverthehubbubwithoutanexhaustingeffort,andthetalkthatwentonabouthimwastoofastandtoofragmentaryforhisdrawltokeeppacewithit。Sohefeltrelievedwheneachofhisneighborsinturn,afterapoliteinquiryabouthishealth,turnedtoseeklivelierreponsesinotherdirections。Forthetalkwentonwiththeeating,incessantly。Itroseoverthethrobbingoftheorchestraandtheclatterandclinkingofsilverandchinaandglass,andtherewasamightybabble。
　　"Yes,sir！Startedwithoutadollar。"……"Yellowflouncesontheoverskirt——"……"Isays,'Wilkie,yourdepartment'sgottogobiggerthisyear,'Isays。"……"Fifteenpercent。turnoverinthirty—oneweeks。"……
　　"Oneofthebigestmeninthebigest——"……"Thewifesaysshe'llhavetoletoutmypantsifmyappetite——"……"Say,didyouseethatstatueofaTurkinthehall？OneofthefinestthingsIever——"……"Notadollar,notanickel,notoneredcentdoyougetouto'me,'Isays,andsoheupsand——"……"Yes,thebabymakesfour,they'velostnow。"……"Well,theygottheirraise,andtheywentinbig。"……"Yes,sir！Notadollartohisname,andlookatwhat——"……"Youwait！Thepopulationofthistown'sgoin'tohitthemillionmarkbeforeshestops。"……"Well,ifyoucanshowmeabiggerdealthan——"
　　AndthroughtheintersticesofthisclamoringBibbscouldhearthecontinualboomingofhisfather'sheavyvoice,andoncehecaughtthesentence,"Yes,younglady,that'sjustwhatdiditforme,andthat'sjustwhat'lldoitformyboys——theygottomaketwobladeso'grassgrowwhereonegrewbefore！"Itwashisfamiliarflourish,anoldstorytoBibbs,andnowjoviallydeclaimedfortheedificationofMaryVertrees。
　　ItwasagreatnightforSheridan——theverycrestofhiswave。HesatthereknowinghimselfThaneandmasterbyhisownendeavor;andhisbig,smooth,redfacegrewmoreandmoreradiantwithgoodwillandwiththesimplest,happiest,mostboy—likevanity。Hewasthepictureofhealth,ofgoodcheer,andofpoweronaholiday。Hehadthirtyteeth,nonebought,andshowedmostofthemwhenhelaughed;hisgrizzledhairwasthick,andasunrulyasafarmlaborer's;hischestwasdeepandbigbeneathitsvastfacadeofstarchedwhitelinen,wherelittlediamondstwinkled,circlingthreelargepearls;hishandswerestubbyandstrong,andheusedthemfreelyingesturesofmarkedpicturesqueness;and,thoughhehadgrownfatatchinandwaistandwrist,hehadnotlostthelookofreadinessandactivity。
　　Hedominatedthetable,shoutingjocularquestionsandrailleriesateveryone。Hisideawasthatwhenpeoplewerehavingagoodtimetheywerenoisy;
　　andhisownadditionstothehubbubincreasedhispleasure,and,ofcourse,metthewarmestencouragementfromhisguests。Edithhaddiscoveredthathehadveryfoggynotionsofthedifferencebetweenabandandanorchestra,andwhenitwasmadecleartohimhehadheldoutforabanduntilEdiththreatenedtears;butthesizeoftheorchestratheyhiredconsoledhim,andhehadnownoregretsinthematter。
　　Hekepttimetothemusiccontinually——withhisfeet,orpoundingonthetablewithhisfist,andsometimeswithspoonorknifeuponhisplateoraglass,withoutpermittingtheseside—productstointerferewiththerealbusinessofeatingandshouting。
　　"Tell'emtoplay'NancyLee'！"hewouldbellowdownthelengthofthetabletohiswife,whilethemusicianswereinthemidstofthe"Toreador"song,perhaps。"Askthatfellowiftheydon'tknow'NancyLee'！"AndwhentheleaderwouldshakehisheadapologeticallyinanswertoanobedientshriekfromMrs。Sheridan,the"Toreador"continuingvehemently,Sheridanwouldroarhalf—rememberedfragmentsof"NancyLee,"naturallyminglingsomeBizetwiththeairofthatuxorioustribute。
　　"Oh,thereshestandsandwavesherhandswhileI'maway！"Asail—er'swifeasail—er'sstarshouldbe！Yoho,oh,oh！"Oh,Nancy,Nancy,NancyLee！Oh,Na—hancyLee！"
　　"HAY,there,oldlady！"hewouldbellow。"Tell'emtoplay'IntheGloaming。'
　　Inthegloaming,oh,mydarling,la—la—lum—tee——Well,iftheydon'tknowthat,what'sthematterwith'LarboardWatch,Ahoy'？THAT'Sgoodmusic！That'sthekindo'musicIlike！Comeon,now！Mrs。Callin,get'emsingin'downinyourparto'thetable。What'sthematteryoufolksdownthere,anyway？
　　Larboardwatch,ahoy！"
　　"Whatjoyhefeels,as——ta—tum—dum—tee—dee—dumsteals。La—a—r—boardwatch,ahoy！"
　　Noexternalbubblingcontributedtothiseffervescence;theSheridans'tablehadneverbornewine,and,morebecauseoftimidityaboutitthanconviction,itborenonenow;though"mineralwaters"werecopiouslypouredfrombottleswrapped,forsomereason,innapkins,andprovedwhollysatisfactorytoalmostalloftheguests。Andcertainlynowinecouldhaveinspiredmoreturbulentgoodspiritsinthehost。NotevenBibbswasanalloyinthisnight'shappiness,for,asMrs。Sheridanhadsaid,hehad"plansforBibbs"——planswhichweregoingtostraightenoutsomethingsthathadgonewrong。
　　Sohepoundedthetableandboomedhisechoesofoldsongs,andthen,forgettingthese,wouldrenewhisfriendlyrailleries,orperhaps,turningtoMaryVertrees,whosatnearhim,roundthecornerofthetableathisright,hewouldbecomeautobiographical。Gentlemenlessnaivethanhehadpaidherthattribute,forshewasagirlwhoinspiredtheautobiographicalimpulseineverymanwhomether——itneededbutthesightofher。
　　Thedinnerseemed,somehow,tocenteraboutMaryVertreesandthejocundhostasaplaycentersaboutitsheroandheroine;theyweretherubicundkingandthestarryprincessofthisspectacle——theypaidcourttoeachother,andeverybodypaidcourttothem。DownnearthesugarPumpWorks,whereBibbssat,therewasaudiblespeculationandadmiration。"Wonderwhothatladyis——makin'suchahitwiththeoldman。""Mustbesomeheiress。""Heiress？
　　Golly,IguessIcouldstandittomarryrich,then！"
　　EdithandSibylwereradiant:atfirsttheyhadwatchedMissVertreeswithanalmosthaggardanxiety,wonderingwhatdisasterouseffectSheridan'spastoralgaieties——andotherthings——wouldhaveuponher,butsheseemeddelightedwitheverything,andwithhimmostofall。Shetreatedhimasifheweresomedelicious,foolisholdjokethatsheunderstoodperfectly,laughingathimalmostviolentlywhenhebragged——probablyhisfirstexperienceofthatkindinhislife。Itenchantedhim。
　　Asheproclaimedtothetable,shehad"awaywithher。"Shehad,indeed,asRoscoeSheridan,uponherright,discoveredjustafterthefeastbegan。Sincehismarriagethreeyearsbefore,noladyhadbestoweduponhimsoprotractedafullviewofbrillianteyes;and,withthelook,hislovelyneighborsaid——anditwasherfirstspeechtohim——
　　"Ihopeyou'reverysusceptible,Mr。Sheridan！"
　　HonestRoscoewastakenaback,and"Why？"wasallhemanagedtosay。
　　Sherepeatedthelookdeliberately,whichwasnoted,withamystificationequaltohisown,byhissisteracrossthetable。Noone,reflectedEdith,couldimageMaryVertreesthesortofgirlwhowould"reallyflirt"withmarriedmen——shewasobviouslythe"oppositeofallthat。"Edithdefinedherasa"thoroughbred,"a"nicegirl";andthelookgiventoRoscoewasastounding。Roscoe'swifesawit,too,andshewasanotherwhomitpuzzled——thoughnotbecauseitsrecipientwasmarried。
　　"Because！"saidMaryVertrees,replyingtoRoscoe'smonosyllable。"Andalsobecausewe'renext—doorneighborsattable,andit'sdulltimesaheadforbothofusifwedon'tgetalong。"
　　Roscoewasaliteralyoungman,allstocksandbonds,andhehadbeenbroughtuptobelievethatwhenamanmarriedhe"marriedandsettleddown。"Itwas"allright,"hefelt,foramanasoldashisfathertopayfloridcomplimentstoasprettyagirlasthisMissVertrees,butforhimself——"ayoungmarriedman"——itwouldn'tdo;anditwouldn'tevenbequitemoral。Heknewthatyoungmarriedpeoplemighthavefriendships,likehiswife'sforLamhorn;butSibylandLamhornnever"flirted"——theywerealwaysverymatter—of—factwitheachother。RoscoewouldhavebeentroubledifSibylhadevertoldLamhornshehopedhewassusceptible。
　　"Yes——we'reneighbors,"hesaid,awkwardly。
　　"Next—doorneighborsinhouses,too,"sheadded。
　　"No,notexactly。Iliveacrossthestreet。"
　　"Why,no！"sheexclaimed,andseemedstartled。"Yourmothertoldmethisafternoonthatyoulivedathome。"
　　"Yes,ofcourseIliveathome。Ibuiltthatnewhouseacrossthestreet。"
　　"Butyou——"shepaused,confused,andthenslowlyadeepcolorcameintohercheek。"ButIunderstood——"
　　"No,"hesaid;"mywifeandIlivedwiththeoldfolksthefirstyear,butthat'sall。EdithandJimlivewiththem,ofcourse。"
　　"I——Isee,"shesaid,thedeepcolorstilldeepeningassheturnedfromhimandsaw,writtenuponacardbeforethegentlemanatherleftthename,"Mr。
　　JamesSheridan,Jr。"AndfromthatmomentRoscoehadlittleenoughcauseforwonderingwhatheoughttoreplytoherdisturbingcoquetries。
　　Mr。JamesSheridanhadbeenanxiouslywaitingforthedazzlingvisitorto"getthroughwitholdRoscoe,"ashethoughtofit,andgiveabachelorachance。
　　"OldRoscoe"wastheyounger,buthehadalwaysbeenthesteadywheel—horseofthefamily。Jimwas"steady"enough,butwasconsideredlivelierthanRoscoe,whichintruthisnotsayingmuchforJim'sliveliness。Astheirfatherhabituallyboasted,bothbrotherswere"capable,hard—workingyoungbusinessmen,"andtheprincipaldifferencebetweenthemwasmerelythatwhichresultedfromJim'sbeingstillabachelor。Physicallytheywereofthesametype:
　　darkofeyesandofhair,fresh—coloredandthick—set,andthoughRoscoewasseveralinchestallerthanJim,neitherwasoftheheight,breadth,ordepthofthefather。Bothworeyoungbusinessmen'smustaches,andeithercouldhavesatforthetailor—shoplithographsofyoungbusinessmenwearing"richsuitingsindarkmixtures。"
　　Jim,approvingwarmlyofhisneighbor'sprofile,perceivedheraccessofcolor,whichincreasedhisapprobation。"What'sthatoldRoscoesayingtoyou,MissVertrees？"heasked。"Theseyoungmarriedmenaremightyforwardnowadays,butyoumustn'tlet'emmakeyoublush。"
　　"AmIblushing？"shesaid。"Areyousure？"Andwiththatshegavehimampleopportunitytomakesure,repeatingwithinterestthelookwasteduponRoscoe。
　　"Ithinkyoumustbemistaken,"shecontinued。"Ithinkit'syourbrotherwhoisblushing。I'vethrownhimintoconfusion。"
　　"How？"
　　Shelaughed,andthen,leaningtohimalittle,saidinatoneasconfidentialasshecouldmakeit,undercoveroftheuproar。"BytryingtobeginwithhimacourtshipImeantforYOU！"
　　ThismightwellbeastylenewtoJim;anditwas。Hesupposeditanonsensicalformofbadinage,andyetittookhisbreath。Herealizedthathewishedwhatshesaidtobetheliteraltruth,andhewasinstantlysnaredbythatrealization。
　　"ByGeorge！"hesaid。"Iguessyou'rethekindofgirlthatcansayanything——yes,andgetawaywithit,too！"
　　Shelaughedagain——inherway,sothathecouldnottellwhethershewaslaughingathimoratherselforatthenonsenseshewastalking;andshesaid:"ButyouseeIdon'tcarewhetherIgetawaywithitornot。Iwishyou'dtellmefranklyifyouthinkI'vegotachangetogetawaywithYOU？"
　　"Morelikeifyou'vegotachancetogetawayFROMme！"Jimwasinspiredtoreply。"Notoneintheworld,especiallyafterbeginningbymakingfunofmelikethat。"
　　"Imightn'tbesomuchinfunasyouthink,"shesaid,regardinghimwithsuddengravity。
　　"Well,"saidJim,insimplehonesty,"you'reafunnygirl！"
　　Hergravitycontinuedaninstantlonger。"ImaynotturnouttobefunnyforYOU。"
　　"Solongasyouturnouttobeanythingatallforme,IexpectIcanmanagetobesatisfied。"Andwiththat,tohisownsurprise,itwashisturntoblush,whereuponshelaughedagain。
　　"Yes,"hesaid,plaintively,notwhollylackingintuition,"Icanseeyou'rethesortofgirlthatwouldlaughtheminuteyouseeamanreallymeansanything！"
　　"'Laugh'！"shecried,gaily。"Why,itmightbeamatteroflifeanddeath！
　　Butifyouwanttragedy,I'dbetterputthequestionatonce,consideringthemistakeImadewithyourbrother。"
　　Jimwasdazed。Sheseemedtobeplayingalittlegameofmockeryandnonsensewithhim,buthehadglimpsesofaflashingdangerinit;hewasbuttoosensibleofbeingoutclassed,andhadsomewhereaconsciousnessthathecouldneverquiteknowthisgiddyandalluringlady,nomatterhowlongitpleasedhertoplaywithhim。Buthemightilywantedhertokeeponplayingwithhim。
　　"Putwhatquestion？"hesaid,breathlessly。
　　"Asyouareanewneighborofmineandofmyfamily,"shereturned,speakingslowlyandwithacross—examiner'sseverity,"Ithinkitwouldbewellformetoknowatoncewhetheryouarealreadywalkingoutwithanyyoungladyornot。Mr。Sheridan,thinkwell！Areyouspokenfor？"
　　"Notyet,"hegasped。"Areyou？"
　　"NO！"shecried,andwiththattheybothlaughedagain;andthepastimeproceeded,increasingbothinitsgaietyandinitsgravity。
　　Observingitscontinuance,Mr。RobertLamhorn,opposite,turnedfromalivelyconversationwithEdithandremarkedcovertlytoSibylthatMissVertreeswas"startingratherpicturesquelywithJim。"Andheadded,languidly,"DoyousupposesheWOULD？"
　　ForthemomentSibylgavenosignofhavingheardhim,butseemedinterestedintheclaspofalong"rope"ofpearls,aloopofwhichshewasallowingtoswingfromherfingers,restingherelbowuponthetableandfollowingwithhereyesthetwinkleofdiamondsandplatinumintheclaspattheendoftheloop。Sheworemanyjewels。Shewaspretty,butherswasnotthekindofprettinesstobeloadedwithtoosumptuousaccessories,andjeweledhead—dressesaredangerous——theymayemphasizethewrongnessofthewearer。
　　"IsaidMissVertreesseemstobestartingprettystrongwithJim,"repeatedMr。Lamhorn。
　　"Iheardyou。"Therewasalatentdiscontentalwayssomewhereinhereyes,nomatterwhatshethrewuponthesurfaceofcoverit,andjustnowshedidnotcaretocoverit;shelookedsullen。"StartinganystrongerthanyoudidwithEdith？"sheinquired。
　　"Oh,keepthepeace！"hesaid,crossly。"That'soff,ofcourse。"
　　"Youhaven'tbeenmakingherseeitthisevening——precisely,"saidSibyl,lookingathimsteadily。"You'vetalkedtoherfor——"
　　"ForHeaven'ssake,"hebegged,"keepthepeace！"
　　"Well,whathaveyoujustbeendoing？！"
　　"SH！"hesaid。"Listentoyourfather—in—law。"
　　Sheridanwasboomingandbrayinglouderthanever,theorchestrahavingbeguntoplay"TheRosary,"tohisvastcontent。
　　"ICOUNTTHEMOVER,LA—LA—TUM—TEE—DUM,"heroared,beatingthemeasureswithhisfork。"EACHHOURAPEARL,EACHPEARLTEE—DUM—TUM—DUM——What'sthematterwithallyoufolks？Why'n'tyouSING？MissVertrees,IbetathousanddollarsYOUsing！Why'n't——"
　　"Mr。Sheridan,"shesaid,turningcheerfullyfromtheardentJim,"youdon'tknowwhatyouinterrupted！Yoursonisn'tusedtomyroughways,andmysoldier'swooingfrightenshim,butIthinkhewasabouttosaysomethingimportant。"
　　"I'llsaysomethingimportanttohimifhedoesn't！"thefatherthreatened,moredelightedwithherthanever。"Bygosh！ifIwashisage——orawidowerrightNOW——"
　　"Oh,wait！"criedMary。"Ifthey'donlymakelessnoice！IwantMrs。
　　Sheridantohear。"
　　"She'dsaythesame,"heshouted。"She'dtellmeIwasmightyslowifI
　　couldn'tgetaheado'Jim。Why,whenIwashisage——"
　　"Youmustlistentoyourfather,"Maryinterrupted,turningtoJim,whohadgrownreadagain。"He'sgoingtotellushow,whenhewasyourage,hemadethosetwobladesofgrassgrowoutofateacup——andyoucouldseeforyourselfhedidn'tgetthemoutofhissleeve！"
　　AtthatSheridanpoundedthetabletillitjumped。"Lookhere,younglady！"
　　heroared。"Someo'thesedaysI'meithergoin'toslapyou——orI'mgoin'tokissyou！"
　　Edithlookedaghast;shewasafraidthiswasindeed"tooawful,"butMaryVertreesburstintoringinglaughter。
　　"Both！"shecried。"Both！Theonetomakemeforgettheother！"
　　"Butwhich——"hebegan,andthensuddenlygaveforthsuchstentoriantrumpetingsofmirththatforoncethewholetablestoppedtolisten。"Jim,"
　　heroared,"ifyoudon'tproposetothatgirlto—nightI'llsendyoubacktothemachine—shopwithBibbs！"
　　AndBibbs——downamongtheretainersbythesugarPumpWorks,andwatchingMaryVertreesasaraggedboyinthestreetmightwatcharichlittlegirlinagarden——Bibbsheard。Heheard——andheknewwhathisfather'splanswerenow。