 Chapter 13 of the Turmoil. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.librivox.org. Recording by Jonathan Burchard, May 2009. The Turmoil, Volume 1 of the Growth Trilogy by Booth Tarkington, Chapter 13. Bibbs went home pondering. He did not understand why Sibyl had laughed. The laughter itself had been spontaneous and beyond suspicion, but it seemed to him that she had only affected the effort to suppress it, and that she wished it to be significant. Significant of what? And why had she wished to impress upon him the fact of her overwhelming amusement? He found no answer, but she had succeeded in disturbing him, and he wished that he had not encountered her. At home, uncles, aunts, and cousins from out of town were wandering about the house, several mournfully admiring the Bay of Naples and others occupied with the Moor and the plumbing, while they waited for trains. Edith and her mother had retired to some upper fastness, but Bibbs interviewed Jackson and had the various groups of relatives summon to the dining room for food. One great uncle, old Gideon Sheridan from Boonville, could not be found, and Bibbs went in search of him. He ransacked the house, discovering the missing antique at last by accident. Passing his father's closed door on tiptoe, Bibbs heard a murmurous sound and paused to listen. The sound proved to be a quavering and rickety voice, monotonously bleeding. The Lord giveth, and the Lord ticketh away. We got to remember that. We got to remember that. I'm a-gittin' along, James, I'm a-gittin' along, and I've seen of many of them go, two daughters and a son the Lord give me, and he has taken all away, for the Lord giveth, and the Lord ticketh away. Remember the words of Bill Dad the Shoehite, James. Bill Dad the Shoehite says, he shall have neither son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. Bill Dad the Shoehite, Bibbs opened the door softly. His father was lying upon the bed in his underclothes, but faced downward, and Uncle Gideon sat nearby, swinging backward and forward in a rocking chair, stroking his long white beard and gazing at the ceiling as he talked. Bibbs beckoned to him urgently, but Uncle Gideon paid no attention. Bill Dad the Shoehite spake, and his says, if thy children have sinned against him and he have cast them away, there was a muffled explosion beneath the floor, and the windows rattled. The figure lying faced downward on the bed did not move, but Uncle Gideon leaped from his chair. My God! he cried. What's that? There came a second explosion, and Uncle Gideon ran out into the hall. Bibbs went to the head of the great staircase, and looking down, discovered the source of the disturbance. Gideon's grandson, a boy of fourteen, had brought his camera to the funeral and was taking flashlights of the moor. Uncle Gideon, reassured by Bibbs' explanation, would have returned to finish his quotation from Bill Dad the Shoehite, but Bibbs detained him, and after a little argument persuaded him to descend to the dining room, wither Bibbs followed after closing the door of his father's room. He kept his eye on Gideon after dinner, diplomatically preventing several attempts on the part of that comforted to reassend the stairs, and it was a relief to Bib when George announced that an automobile was waiting to convey the ancient man and his grandson to their train. They were the last to leave, and when they had gone, Bibbs went sighing to his own room. He stretched himself wearily upon the bed, but presently rose, went to the window, and looked for a long time at the darkened house where Mary Virtries lived. Then he opened his trunk, took there from a small notebook, half filled with fragmentary scribblings, and began to write. Laughter after a funeral. In the darkened house, in the direction people will laugh at anything, and at nothing. The band plays a dirge on the way to the cemetery, but when it turns back, and the morning carriages are out of hearing, it strikes up, Darktown is out tonight. That is natural, but there are women whose laughter is like the wearing of whips. Why is it that certain kinds of laughter seem to spoil something hidden away from the laughter? If they do not know of it, and have never seen it, beauty is not out of place among gravestones. It is not out of place anywhere. But a woman who has been betrothed to a man would not look beautiful at his funeral. A woman might look beautiful, though, at the funeral of a man she had known and liked. And in that case, too, she would probably not want to talk if she drove home from the cemetery with his brother. Nor would she want the brother to talk. Silence is usually either stupid or timid, but for a man who stammered if he tries to talk fast, so slowly when he doesn't stammer, that nobody has time to listen to him, silence is advisable. Nevertheless, too much silence is open to suspicion. It may be reticence, or it may be a vacuum. It may be dignity, or it may be false teeth. Sometimes an imperceptible odor will become perceptible in a small enclosure, such as a closed carriage. The ghost of gasoline rising from a lady's glove might be sweeter to the man riding beside her than all the sense of arcady in spring. It depends on the lady, but there are. Three miles may be three hundred miles, or it may be three feet. When it is three feet, you have not time to say a great deal before you reach the end of it. Still, it may be that one should begin to speak. No one could help wishing to stay in a world that holds some of the people that are in this world. There are some so wonderful you do not understand how the dead could die. How could they let themselves? A falling building does not care who falls with it. It does not choose who shall be upon its roof and who shall not. Silence can be golden, yes, but perhaps if a woman of the world should find herself by accident sitting beside a man for the length of time it must necessarily take two slow old horses to jog three miles, she might expect that man to say something of some sort. Even if she thought him a feeble hypochondriac, even if she had heard from others that he was a disappointment to his own people, even if she had seen for herself that he was a useless and irritating encumbrance everywhere, she might expect him at least to speak. She might expect him to open his mouth and try to make sounds if he only barked, if he did not even try, but sat every step of the way as dumb as a frozen fish, she might think him a frozen fish, and she might be right. She might be right if she thought him about as pleasant a companion as as Bill Dad, the shoe height. Bibbs closed his notebook, replacing it in his trunk. Then, after a period of melancholy contemplation, he undressed, put on a dressing gown and slippers, and went softly out into the hall to his father's door. Upon the floor was a tray which Bibbs had sent George earlier in the evening to place upon a table in Sheridan's room. But the food was untouched. Bibbs stood listening outside the door for several minutes. There came no sound from within, and he went back to his own room and to bed. In the morning he woke to a state of being either too unknown in his experience. Sometimes in the process of waking there is a little pause. Sleep is gone, but coherent thought has not begun. It is a curious half void, a glimpse of aphasia, and although the person experiencing it may not know for that instant his own name or age or sex, he may be acutely conscious of depression or elation. It is the moment, as we say, before we remember, and for the first time in Bibbs's life being a vague happiness. He woke to a sense of new riches. He had the feeling of a boy waking to a birthday. But when the next moment brought him his memory, he found nothing that could explain his exhilaration. On the contrary, under the circumstances it seemed gross-tesquely unwarranted. However, it was a brief visitation and was gone before he had finished dressing. It left a little trail, the pleased recollection of it, and the puzzle of it, which remained unsolved. In fact, waking happily in the morning is not usually the result of a drive home from a funeral. No wonder the sequence evaded Bibbs Sheridan. His father had gone when he came downstairs. Went on down to office just same, Jackson informed him. Came sat breakfast table all by himself, ate nothing. George bring nice breakfast, but didn't need a thing. Yesa went on downtown, same as he used to do. Yesa, I reckon, it struck Bibbs that Jackson was right. The day passed as other days had passed. Mrs. Sheridan and Edith were in black, and Mrs. Sheridan cried a little now and then, but no other external difference was to be seen. Edith was quiet, but not noticeably depressed, and at lunch proved herself able to argue with her mother upon the propriety of receiving calls in the earliest stages of mourning. Lunch was as usual, for Jim and his father had always lunched downtown, and the afternoon was as usual. Bibbs went for his drive, and his mother went with him, as she sometimes did when the weather was pleasant. Altogether, the usualness of things was rather startling to Bibbs. During the drive, Mrs. Sheridan talked fragmentarily of Jim's childhood. But she wouldn't remember about that, she said after narrating an episode, you were too little. He was always a good boy, just like that, and he'd save whatever papa gave him to make. I reckon it'll just about kill your father to put somebody in his place as president of the realty company, Bibbs. I know he can't move Roscoe over. He told me last week he'd already put as much on Roscoe as any one man could handle and not go crazy. Oh, it's a pity. She stopped to wipe her eyes. It's a pity you didn't run more with Jim, Bibbs, and kind of pick up his ways. Think what it'd mean to papa now. Of course, you were younger, but it always did seem queer, and you three being brothers like that. I don't believe I ever saw you and Jim sit down together for a good talk in my life. Mother, I've been away so long, Bibbs returned gently, and since I came home, I ain't reproaching you, Bibbs, she said. Jim ain't been home much of an evening since you got back, and what with his work and Colin and going to the theater in places right the evening before he got hurt. He had his dinner at some miserable restaurant down by the Pump Works. He was so set on overseeing the night work and getting everything finished up right to the minute he told papa he would. I reckon you might have put in more time with Jim if there'd been more opportunity, Bibbs. I expect you feel almost as if you scarcely knew him right well. I suppose I really didn't, mother. He was busy, you see, and I hadn't much to say about the things that interested him because I didn't know much about them. It's a pity. Oh, it's a pity, she moaned. And you'll have to learn to know about him now, Bibbs. I haven't said much to you because I felt it was all between your father and you, but I honestly do believe it will just kill him if he has to have any more trouble on top of all this. You mustn't let him, Bibbs. You mustn't. You don't know how he's grieved over you, and now he can't stand anymore. He just can't. Whatever he says for you to do, you do it, Bibbs. You do it. I want you to promise me you will. I would if I could, he said sorrowfully. No, no, why can't you, she cried, clutching his arm. He wants you to go back to the machine shop and like it, said Bibbs. Yes, that's it, to go in a cheerful spirit. Dr. Gurney said it wouldn't hurt you if you went in a cheerful spirit. The doctor said that himself, Bibbs, so why can't you do it? Well, can't you do that much for your father? You ought to think what he's done for you. You got a beautiful house to live in. You got automobiles to ride in. You got fur coats and warm clothes you've been taken care of all your life, and you don't know how he worked for the money to give all those things to you. You don't dream what he had to go through and what he risked when we were starting out in life, and you never will know. And now this blow has fallen on him out of a clear sky, and you make it out to be a hardship to do like he wants you to. And all on earth he asks is for you to go back to the work in a cheerful spirit so it won't hurt you. That's all he asks. Look, Bibbs, we're getting back near home. But before we get there, I want you to promise me that you'll do what he asked you to. Promise me. In her earnestness she cleared away her black veil that she might see him better, and it blew out on the smoky wind. He readjusted it for her before he spoke. I'll go back in his cheerful spirit as I can, mother, he said. There she exclaimed, satisfied. That's a good boy. That's all I wanted you to say. Don't give me any credit, he said ruefully. There isn't anything else for me to do. Now don't begin talking that way. No, no, he soothed her. We'll have to begin to make the spirit a cheerful one. We may. They were turning into their own driveway as he spoke, and he glanced at the house next door. Mary Virtries was visible in the twilight standing upon the front steps, bareheaded. The door opened behind her. She bowed gravely. We may. What? Asked Mrs. Sheridan, with a slide in patience. What is it, mother? You said, we may, and didn't finish what you were saying. Did I? said Bibbs Blankley. Well, what were we saying? Of all the queer boys she cried, you always were, always. You haven't forgot what you just promised me, have you? You answered as the car stopped. No, the spirit will be as cheerful as the flesh will let it, mother. It won't do to behave like his voice was low and in her movement to descend from the car she failed to hear his final words. Behave like who, Bibbs? Nothing, but she was fretful in her grief. You said it wouldn't do to behave like somebody. Behave like who? It was just nonsense, he explained, turning to go in. An obscure person I don't think much of lately. Oh, she repeated, and upon his yielding to her petulant insistence she made up her mind that the only thing to do was to tell Dr. Gurney about it. Like, Bill Dad the shoe hyped was what Bibbs said. End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of The Term Oil This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org The Term Oil Volume 1 of the Growth Trilogy by Booth Tarkington Chapter 14 The outward usualness of things continued after dinner. It was Sheridan's custom to read the evening paper beside the fire in the library while his wife sitting nearby either sewed from old habit or allowed herself to be repeatedly baffled by one of the simpler forms of solitaire. Tonight she did neither, but sat in her customary chair gazing at the fire while Sheridan let the unfolded paper rest upon his lap, though now and then he lifted it as if to read and let it fall back upon his knees again. Bibbs came in noiselessly and sat in a corner doing nothing and from a reception room across the hall an indistinct vocal murmur became just audible at intervals. Once when this murmur grew louder under stress of some irrepressible merriment Edith's voice could be heard Bobby aren't you awful and Sheridan Glath said his wife appealingly. She rose at once and went into the reception room. There was a flurry of whispering and the sound of tiptoeing in the hall. Edith and her suitor changing quarters to a more distant room. Mrs. Sheridan returned to her chair in the library they won't bother you anymore papa she said in a comforting voice she told me at lunch he'd phoned he wanted to come up this evening I said I thought he'd better wait a few days but she said she'd already told him he could she paused then added rather guiltily I got kind of an ocean maybe Roscoe don't like him as much as he used to maybe you better ask Roscoe papa and as Sheridan nodded solemnly she concluded in haste don't say I said to I might be wrong about it anyway he nodded again and they sat for some time in a silence which Mrs. Sheridan broke with a little sniff having fallen into a reverie that brought tears that Ms. Versaries was a good girl she said she was alright her husband had no difficulty in following her train of thought for he nodded once more affirmatively did you how did you fix it about the the realty company she faltered did you he rose heavily helping himself to his feet by the arms of his chair I fixed it I moved Cantwell up and put Johnston in Cantwell's place and split up Johnston's work among the four men with salaries high enough to take it he went to her put his hand upon her shoulder and drew a long audible tremulous breath it's my bedtime mama I'm going up he dropped the hand from her shoulder and moved slowly away but when he reached the door he stopped and spoke again without turning to look at her the realty company will go right on just the same he said it's like sand mama it puts me in mind of children playing in a sand pile one of them sticks his finger in the sand and makes a hole and another of them will pat the place with his hand and all the little grains of sand run in and fill it up and settle against one another and then right away it's flat on top again and you can't tell there was ever a hole there the realty company will go on alright mama there ain't anything anywhere I reckon that wouldn't go right on just the same and he passed out slowly into the hall then they heard his heavy tread upon the stairs Mrs. Sheridan rising to follow him turned a piteous face to her son it's so forlone she said chokingly that's the first time he spoke since he came in the house this evening I know it must have hurt him to hear Edith laughing with that lamb horn right the very first evening this way she oughtn't have done it she just seems to lose her head over him and it scares me you heard what Sybil said the other day and you heard what what Edith said to Sybil Bibs finished the sentence for her we can't have any trouble of that kind she wailed oh it looks as if moving up to this new house had brought us awful bad luck it scares me she put both her hands to her face Bibs, Bibs if you only wasn't so queer if you could only be a kind of dependable son I don't know what we're all coming to and weeping she followed her husband Bibs gazed for a while at the fire then he rose abruptly like a man who has come to a decision and briskly sought the room it was called the smoking room where Edith sat with Mr. Lambhorn they looked up in no welcoming manner at Bibs's entrance and moved their chairs to a less conspicuous adjacency good evening, said Bibs pleasantly and he seated himself in a leather easy chair near them what is it? asked Edith plainly astonished nothing, he returned smiling she frowned did you want something? she asked nothing in the world father and mother have gone upstairs I shan't be going up for several hours and there didn't seem to be anybody left for me to chat with except you and Mr. Lambhorn chat with? she echoed incredulously I can talk about almost anything said Bibs with an air of genial politeness it doesn't matter to me I don't know much about business if that's what you happen to be talking about but you aren't in business are you Mr. Lambhorn not now, returned Lambhorn shortly I'm not either said Bibs it was getting cloudier than usual I noticed it was dark and there was wind from the southwest rain tomorrow I shouldn't be surprised he seemed to feel that he had begun a conversation the support of which now had become the pleasurable duty of other parties and he sat expectantly looking first at his sister then at Lambhorn as if implying that it was their turn to speak Edith returned his gaze with a mixture of astonishment and increasing anger while Mr. Lambhorn was obviously disturbed though Bibs had been as considered as possible in presenting the weather as a topic Bibs had perceived that Lambhorn had nothing in his mind at any time except personalities he could talk about people and he could make love Bibs, wishing to be courteous, offered the weather Lambhorn refused it and concluded from Bib's luxurious attitude in the leather chair that this half crazy brother was a permanent fixture for the rest of the evening there was not reason to hope that he would move and Lambhorn found himself in danger of looking silly I was just going he said, rising oh no Edith cried sharply yes, good night, I think got too bad, said Bibs genially walking to the door with a visitor while Edith stood staring as the two disappeared in the hall she heard Bibs offering to help Lambhorn with his overcoat and the latter rather curtly declining assistance these episodes of departure being followed by the closing of the outer door she ran into the hall what's the matter with you, she cried furiously, what do you mean how did you dare come in there when you knew her voice broke, she made a gesture of rage and despair and ran up the stairs sobbing she fled to her mother's room and when Bibs came up a few minutes later, Mrs. Sheridan met him at his door oh, Bibs she said shaking her head woefully you oughtn't to distress your sister she says you drove that young man right out of the house, you ought to be more considerate Bibs smiled faintly noting that Edith's door was open with Edith's naive shadow motionless across its threshold yes, he said, he doesn't appear to be much of a man's man he ran at just a glimpse of one Edith's shadow moved, her voice came wavering, you call yourself one so he answered, I said just a glimpse of one, I didn't claim but her door slammed angrily and he turned to his mother there, he said sighing that's almost the first time in my life I ever tried to be a man of action mother and I succeeded perfectly in what I tried to do, as a consequence I feel like a horse thief you heard her feelings she groaned, you must have gone at it too rough Bibs he looked upon her wanly that's my trouble mother, he murmured I'm a plain blunt fellow I have rough ways and I'm a rough man for once, she perceived some meaning in his queerness, hush your nonsense she said goodnaturally the astral of a troubled smile appearing you go to bed, he kissed her and obeyed Edith gave him a cold greeting the next morning at the breakfast table you mustn't do that under a misapprehension he warned her, when they were alone do what under a what? she asked, speak to me I came into the smoking room last night on purpose, he told her gravely I have a prejudice against that young man she laughed I guess you think it means a great deal who you have prejudices against in Marquery she adopted the manner of one who implores Bibs for pity's sake promise me don't use your influence with Papa against him and she laughed louder listen he said with peculiar earnestness I'll tell you now because I've decided I'm one of the family and then as if the earnestness were too heavy for him to carry it further he continued in his usual tone I'm drunk with power Edith what do you want to tell me she demanded brusquely lamb horn made love to civil he said Edith hooded she did to him because you overheard that spat between us the other day when I the same as accused her of it and said something like that to you afterwards no he said gravely I know how? I was there one day a week ago with Roscoe and I heard Sybil and lamb horn Edith screamed with laughter you were with Roscoe and you heard lamb horn making love to Sybil no I heard them quarreling you're funnier than ever did she cried you say he made love to her because you heard them quarreling that's it if you want to know what's between people you can by the way they quarrel you'll kill me bibs what were they quarreling about nothing that's how I knew people who quarrel over nothing it's always certain Edith stopped laughing abruptly but continued her mockery you ought to know you've had so much experience yourself I haven't any Edith he said my life has been about as exciting as an incubator chickens but I look out through the glass at things well then she said if you look out through the glass you must know what effect such stuff would have upon me she rose visibly agitated what if it was true she demanded bitterly what if it was true a hundred times over you sit there with your silly face half ready to giggle and half ready to sniffle stories like that about Sybil picking on Bobby Lamhorn and worrying him to death and you think it matters to me what if I already knew about their quarreling what if I understood why she she broke off with a violent gesture a sweep of her arm extended at full length as if she hurled something to the ground do you think a girl that really cared for a man would pay any attention to that or to you bibs Sheridan he looked at her steadily and his gaze was as keen as it was steady she met it with unwavering pride finally he nodded slowly as if she had spoken and he meant to agree with what she said ah yes he said I won't come into the smoking room again I'm sorry Edith nobody can make you see anything now you'll never see until you see for yourself the rest of us will do better to keep out of it especially me that's sensible she responded curtly you're most surprising of all you're sensible bibs yes he sighed I'm a dull dog shake hands and forgive me Edith thawing so far as to smile she underwent this brief ceremony and George appeared summoning bibs to the library Dr. Gurney was waiting there he announced and bibs gave his sister a shy but friendly touch upon the shoulder as a compliment to the handshaking and left her Dr. Gurney was sitting by the log fire alone in the room and nearly glanced over his shoulder when his patient came in he was not over 50 in spite of Sheridan's habitual old Doc Gurney he was gray however almost as thin as bibs and nearly always he looked drowsy your father telephoned me yesterday afternoon bibs he said not rising wants me to look you over again come around here in front of me between me and the fire I want to see if I can see through you you mean you're too sleepy to move return bibs complying I think you'll notice that I'm getting worse taking on about 12 pounds said Gurney 13 maybe 12 well it won't do the doctor rubbed his eyelids you're so much better I'll have to use some machinery on you before we can know just where you are you come down to my place this afternoon walk down all the way I suppose you know why your father wants to know bibs nodded machine shop still hate it bibs nodded again don't blame you the doctor grunted yes I expect it'll make a lump in your gizzard again well what do you say shall I tell him you've got the old lump there yet you still want to write do you what's the use bibs said smiling roofily my kind of writing yes the doctor agreed I suppose if you broke away and lived on roots and berries until you began to attract the favorable attention of editors you might be able to hope for an income of four or five hundred dollars a year by the time you're 50 that's about it bibs murmured of course I know what you want to do said Gurney drowsily you don't hate the machine shop only you hate the whole show the noise and jar and dirt the scramble the whole blooming craze to get on you'd like to go somewhere in Alan Gears or to Terra Mina perhaps and Baskona Balcony smelling flowers and writing sonnets you'd grow fat on it and have a delicate little life all to yourself well what do you say I can lie like 60 bibs shall I tell your father he'll lose another of his boys if you don't go to Sicily I don't want to go to Sicily said bibs I want to stay right here the doctors drowsiness disappeared for a moment and he gave his patient a sharp glance it's a risk he said I think you'll find you're so much better he'll send you back to the shop pretty quick something's got a hold of you lately you're not quite so lackadaisical as you used to be but I warn you I think the shop will knock you just as it did before and perhaps even harder bibs he rose shook himself and rubbed his eyelids well when we go over you this afternoon what are we going to say about it tell him I'm ready said bibs looking at the floor oh no gurney left not quite yet but you may be almost we'll see don't forget I said to walk down and when the examination was concluded that afternoon the doctor informed bibs that the result was much too satisfactory to be pleasing here's a new situation for a one act virus he said gloomily to his next patient when bibs had gone doctor tells a man he's well and that's his death sentence likely damn funny world bibs decided to walk home though gurney had not instructed him upon this point in fact gurney seemed to have no more instructions on any point so discouraging was the young man's improvement it was a dingy afternoon and the smoke was evident not only to bibs's sight but to his nostrils though most of the pedestrians were so saturated with the smell they could no longer detect it nearly all of them walked hurriedly to intend upon their destinations to be more than half aware of the wayside they wore the expressions of people under a vague yet constant strain they were all lightly powdered inside and out with fine dust and grit from the hard paved streets and they were unaware of that also they did not even notice that they saw the smoke though the thickened air was like a shrouding mist and when bibs passed the new Sheridan apartments now almost completed he observed that the marble of the vestibule was already streaky with soot like his gloves which were new that recalled to him the faint odor of gasoline in the coupe on the way from his brother's funeral and this incited a train of thought which continued till he reached the vicinity of his home his route was by a street parallel to that on which the new house fronted and in his preoccupation he walked a block farther than he intended so that having crossed to his own street he approached the new house from the north and as he came to the corner of Mr. Vertry's lot Mr. Vertry's daughter emerged from the front door and walked thoughtfully down the path to the old picket gate she was unconscious of the approach of the pedestrian from the north and did not see him until she had opened the gate and he was almost beside her then she looked up and as she saw him she started visibly and if this thing had happened to Robert Lamhorn he would have had a thought far beyond the horizon of faint hearted bibs's thoughts Lamhorn indeed would have spoken his thought he would have said you jumped because you were thinking of me end of chapter 14 chapter 15 of the turmoil this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org the turmoil volume 1 of the growth trilogy by Booth Tarkington chapter 15 Mary was the picture of a lady flustered she stood with one hand closing the gate behind her and she had turned to go in the direction bibs was walking there appeared to be nothing for it but that they should walk together at least as far as the new house but bibs had paused in his slow stride and there elapsed an instant before either spoke or moved it was no longer than that and yet it sufficed for each to seem to say by look and attitude then they both spake at once each hurriedly pronouncing the other's name as if about to deliver a message of importance they came to a stop simultaneously but bibs made a heroic effort and as they began to walk on together he can drive to find his voice I hate a frozen fish myself he said I think three miles was too long for you to put up with one good gracious she cried turning to him a glowing face from which restraint and embarrassment had suddenly fled Mr. Sheridan, you're lovely to put it that way but it's always the girl's place to say it's turning cooler I ought to have been the one to show that we didn't know each other well enough not to say something it was an imposition for me to have made you bring me home and after I went into the house I decided I should have walked besides it wasn't three miles to the car line I never thought of it no said bibs earnestly I didn't either I'm talking now though I must remember that and not worry about it later I think I'm talking though it doesn't sound intelligent even to me I made up my mind that if I ever met you again I'd turn on my voice and keep it going no matter what I said she interrupted him with laughter and Mary Vertries's laugh was one which bibs father had declared after the housewarming a cripple would crawl five miles to here and at the merry lilting of it took heart to forget some of his trepidation I'll be any kind of idiot he said if you'll laugh at me some more it won't be difficult for me she did and bibs' cheeks showed a little actual color which Mary perceived it recalled to her by contrast her careless and irritated description of him to her mother just after she had seen him for the first time rather tragic and altogether impossible it seemed to her now that she must have been blind they had passed the new house without either of them showing or possessing any consciousness that had been the destination of one of them I'll keep on talking bibs continued cheerfully and you keep on laughing I'm amounting to something in the world this afternoon I'm making a noise and that makes you make music don't be bothered by my bleeding out such things as that I'm really frightened and that makes me bleed anything I'm frightened about two things I think of myself later if I don't keep talking talking now I mean and I'm afraid of when I'll think of myself if I do and besides those two things I'm frightened anyhow I don't remember talking as much as this more than once or twice in my life I suppose it was always in me to do it though the first time I met anyone who didn't know me well enough not to listen but you're not really talking to me said Mary you're just thinking aloud no he returned gravely thinking at all I'm only making vocal sounds because I believe it's more mannerly I seem to be the subject of what little meaning they possess and I'd like to change it but I don't know how I haven't any experience in talking and I don't know how to manage it you needn't change the subject on my account Mr. Sheridan she said not even if you really talked about yourself she turned her face toward him as she spoke and bibs caught his breath he was pathetically amazed by the look he gave him it was a glowing look warmly friendly and understanding and what almost shocked him it was an eagerly interested look bibs was not accustomed to anything like that I you I I'm he stammered and the faint color in his cheeks grew almost vivid she was still looking at him and she saw the strange radiance that came into his face there was something about him too that explained how queer many people might think him when he did not seem queer to marry virtues he seemed the most quaintly natural person she had ever met he waited and became coherent you say something now he said I don't even belong in the chorus and here I am trying to sing the funny man solo you know she interrupted I'd rather play your accompaniment I'll stop and listen to it then perhaps she began but after pausing thoughtfully she made a gesture with her muff indicating a large brick church which they were approaching do you see that church Mr. Sheridan I suppose I could he answered in simple truthfulness looking at her but I don't want to once when I was ill the nurse told me I'd better say anything that was on my mind and I got the habit the other reason I don't want to see the church is that I have a feeling it's where you're going and where I'll be sent back she shook her head in cheery negation not unless you want to be would you like to come with me why yes he said anywhere and again it was apparent that he spoke in simple truthfulness then come if you care for organ music the organist is an old friend of mine and sometimes he plays for me he's a dear old man he had a degree from Bond and was a professor afterward but he gave up everything for music that's he waiting in the doorway looks like Beethoven doesn't he I think he knows that perhaps and enjoys it a little I hope so yes said bibs as they reach the church steps I think Beethoven would like it too it must be pleasant to look like other people I haven't kept you Mary said to the organist no no he answered heartily I would not mind so only you should sure come this is Mr. Sheridan Dr. Kraft he has come to listen with me the organist looked bluntly surprised is that so he exclaimed well I am glad if you wish him and if he can stand to my little plank he is a musician himself then of course no said bibs as the three entered the church together I I played the I tried to play fortunately he checked himself he had been about to offer the information that he had failed to master the Jews harp in his boyhood no I'm not a musician he contented himself with saying what Dr. Kraft's surprise increased young man you are fortunate I play for Ms. Virturies she comes always alone you are the first you are the first one ever they had reached the head of the central aisle and as the organist finished speaking bibs stopped short turning to look at Mary Virturies in a dazed way that was not of her perceiving for though she stopped as she did her gaze followed the organist who is walking away from them toward the front of the church shaking his white Beethoven main roguishly it's false pretenses on my part bibs said you mean to be kind to the sick but I'm not an invalid anymore I'm so well I'm going back to work in a few days I better leave before he begins to play hadn't I no said Mary beginning to walk forward not unless you don't like great music he followed her to a seat about half way up the aisle while Dr. Kraft ascended to the organ it was an enormous one the procession of pipes ranging from long starvelling whistles to thundering fat guns they covered all the rear wall of the church and the organist's figure reaching its high perch looked like that of some Liliputian magician ludicrously daring the attempt to control a monster certain to overwhelm him this afternoon some handle he turned to shout Mary nodded will you like that she asked bibs I don't know I never heard any except Largo I don't know anything about music I don't even know how to pretend I do if I knew enough to pretend I would no said Mary looking at him and smiling faintly you wouldn't she turned away as a great sound began to swim and tremble in the air the huge empty space of the church filled with it and the two people listening filled with it the universe seemed to fill and thrill with it the two sat intensely still the great sound all round about them while the church grew dusky and only the organist's lamp made a tiny star of light his whitehead moved from side to side beneath it rhythmically or lunged and recovered with the fierceness of a duelist thrusting but he was magnificently the master of his giant and it sang to his magic as he bated bibs was swept away upon that mighty singing such a thing was wholly unknown to him there had been no music in his meager life unlike the tale, it was the Princess Badrilbadour who had brought him to the enchanted cave and that, for bibs, was what made its magic daising it seemed to him a long, long time since he had been walking home drearily from Dr. Gurney's office it seemed to him that he had set out upon a happy journey since then and that he had reached another planet where Mary Virtries and he sat alone together listening to a vast choir ring of invisible soldiers and holy angels there were armies of voices about them singing praise and thanksgiving and yet they were alone it was incredible that the walls of a church were not the boundaries of the universe to remain so forever incredible that there was a smoky street just yonder where housemaids were bringing in evening papers from front steps and where children were taking their last spins on roller skates before being hailed indoors for dinner he had a curious sense of communication with his new friend he knew it could not be so and yet he felt as if all the time he spoke to her saying you hear this strain you hear that strain you know the dream that these sounds bring to me and it seemed to him as though she answered continually I hear, I hear that strain and I hear the new one that you are hearing now I know the dream that these sounds bring to you yes, yes, I hear it all we hear together and though the church grew so dim that all was mysterious shadow except the vague planes of the windows and the organist light with the white head moving beneath it bibs had no consciousness that the girl sitting beside him had grown shadowy he seemed to see her as plainly as ever in the darkness though he did not look at her and all the mighty chanting of the organ's multitudinous voices that afternoon seemed to bibs to be coercing of her and interpreting her singing her thoughts and singing for him the world of humble gratitude that was in his heart because she was so kind to him it all meant Mary End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of The Term Oil This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Bologna Times The Term Oil Volume 1 of the Growth Trilogy by Booth Tarkington Chapter 16 But when she asked him what it meant on their homeward way he was silent they had come a few paces from the church without speaking walking slowly I'll tell you what it meant to me, she said as he did not immediately reply almost any music of hondles always means one thing above all others to me courage that's it it makes cowardice of whining seem so infinitesimal it makes most things in our hustling little lives seem infinitesimal Yes, he said it seems odd doesn't it the people downtown are hurrying to trains hanging to straps and trolley cars waltzing every way to get home feed and sleep so they can get downtown tomorrow and yet there isn't anything down there worth getting to they're like servants trudging to keep the house going and believing the drudgery itself is the great thing they make so much noise and fuss and dirt they forget that the house was meant to live in the housework has to be done but the people who do it have been so overpaid that they're confused and worshiped the housework they're overpaid and yet poor things they haven't anything that a chicken can't have of course when the world gets to paying its wages sensibly that will be different do you mean communism? she asked and she made their slow pace a little slower they had only three blocks to go whatever the word is I only mean that things don't look very sensible now especially to a man that wants to keep out of him and can't communism? well at least any decent sport would say it's fair for all the strong runners to start from the same mark and give the weak ones a fair distance ahead so that all can run something like even on the stretch and wouldn't it be pleasant really if they could all cross the wedding line together? who really enjoys beating anybody if he sees the beaten man's face? the only way we can enjoy getting ahead of other people nowadays is by forgetting what the other people feel and that he added is nothing of what the music meant to me you see if I keep talking about what it didn't mean I can keep from telling you what it didn't mean didn't it mean courage to you too? a little she asked triumph and praise were in it and somehow those things mean courage to me yes they were all there bib said I don't know the name of what he played I shouldn't think it would matter much the man that makes the music must leave it to you what it can mean to you and the name he puts to it can't make much difference except to himself and people very much like him I suppose I suppose that's true though I'd never thought of it like that I imagine music must make feelings and paint pictures in the minds of the people who hear it bibs went on musingly according to their own natures as much as according to the music itself the musician might compose something and play it wanting you to think of the holy grail and some people who heard it would think of a prayer meeting and some would think of how good they were in themselves and a boy might think of himself at the head of a solemn procession carrying a banner and riding a white horse and then if there were some jubilant passages in the music he'd think of a circus they had reached her gate and she set her hand upon it but did not open it bibs felt that this was almost the kindness of her kindnesses not to be prompt in leaving him after all she said you didn't tell me whether you liked it no I didn't need to no that's true and I didn't need to ask I knew but you said you were trying to keep from telling me what it did mean I can't keep from telling it any longer he said the music meant to me it means the kindness of you kindness? how? you thought I was a sort of lonely tramp and sick no she said decidedly I thought perhaps you'd like to hear Dr. Kraft play and you did it's curious it seemed to me that it was you who were playing Mary laughed hi I strum piano a little Chopin Greg Chaminade you wouldn't listen bibs drew a deep breath I'm frightened again he said in an unsteady voice I'm afraid you'll think I'm pushing but he paused and the words sank to a murmur oh if you want me to play for you she said yes gladly it will be merely absurd after what you heard this afternoon I play like a hundred thousand other girls and I like it I'm glad when anyone's willing to listen and if you she stopped checking by a sudden recollection and laughing ruefully but my piano won't be here after tonight I I'm sending it away tomorrow I'm afraid that if you'd like me to play to you you'd have to come this evening he'll let me he cried certainly if you care to if I could play he said if I could play like that old man in the church I could thank you ah but you haven't heard me play I know you like this afternoon but yes said bibs it was the greatest happiness I've ever known it was too dark to see his face but his voice held such plain honesty and he spoke with such complete unconsciousness of saying anything especially significant that she knew it was the truth for a moment she was non-plus then she opened the gate and went in you'll come after dinner then yes he said not moving would you mind if I stood here until time to come in she had reached the steps and at that she turned offering him the responsive laughter and a gay gesture of her muff toward the lighted windows of the new house as though bidding him to run home to his dinner that night bibs sat writing in his notebook music can come into a blank life and fill it everything that is beautiful is music if you can listen there is no gracefulness like that of a graceful woman at a grand piano there is a swimming loveliness of line that seems to merge with the running of the sound and you seem, as you watched her to see what you are hearing and to hear what you are seeing there are women who make you think of pine woods coming down to a sparkling sea the air about such a woman is bracing and when she is near you you feel strong and ambitious you forget that the world doesn't like you you think that perhaps you are a great fellow after all then you come away and feel like a boy who has fallen in love with his Sunday school teacher you'll be whipped for it and ought to be there are women who make you think of Diana crowned with the moon but they do not have the Greek profile I do not believe Helen of Troy had a Greek profile they would not have fought about her her nose had been quite that long the Greek nose is not the adorable nose the adorable nose is about an eighth of an inch shorter much of the music of Wagner it appears is not suitable to the piano Wagner was a composer who could interpret into music such things as the primitive impulses of humanity he could have made a machine shop into music but not if he had to work in it Wagner was always dealing in immensities a machine shop would have put a majestic lump and so grand a gizzard as that there is a mystery about pianos it seems sometimes they have to be sent away that is how some people speak of the penitentiary sent away is a euphemism or sent to prison but pianos are not sent to prison and they are not sent to the tuner the tuner is sent to them why are pianos sent away and where sometimes a glorious day shines into the most ordinary and useless life happiness and beauty come caroling out of the air into the gloomy house of that life as if some stray angel just happened to perch on the roof tree resting and singing and the night after such a day is lustrous with the memory of it music and beauty and kindness those are the three greatest things God can give us to bring them all in one day to one who expected nothing ah the heart that received them should be as humble as it is thankful but it is hard to be a humble one one is so rich with new memories it is impossible to be humble after a day of glory yes the adorable nose is more than an eighth of an inch shorter than the greek nose it is a full quarter of an inch shorter there are women who will be kinder to a sick tramp than to a conquering hero but the sick tramp had better remember that's what he is take care, take care humbles the word end of chapter 16 chapter 17 of the term oil this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org the term oil, volume one of the growth trilogy by Booth Tarkington, chapter 17 that mystery about pianos which troubled Bibbs had been a mystery to Mr. Virtries and it was being explained to him at about the time Bibbs scribbled the reference to it in his notes Mary had gone upstairs upon Bibbs' departure at 10 o'clock and Mr. and Mrs. Virtries sat until after midnight in the library talking and in all that time they found not one cheerful topic but became more depressed with everything and with every phrase of everything that they discussed no extraordinary state of affairs in a family which has always held up its head only to arrive in the end at a point where all it can do is look on helplessly at the process of its own financial dissolution for that was the point which this despairing couple reached they could do nothing except look on and talk about it they were only vaporing and they knew it she needn't to have done that about her piano vapored Mr. Virtries we could have managed somehow without it at least she ought to have consulted me and if she insisted I could have arranged the details with the the dealer she thought that it might be annoying for you Mrs. Virtries explained really she planned for you not to know about it although they had removed until after tomorrow that is but I decided to mention it you see she didn't even tell me about it until this morning she has another idea too I'm afraid it's well he urged as she found it difficult to go on her other idea is that is it was I think it can be avoided of course it was about her furs no he exclaimed quickly I won't have it you must see to that I'd rather not talk to her about it but you mustn't let her I'll try not his wife promised of course they're very handsome all the more reason for her to keep them he returned irritably we're not that far gone I think perhaps not yet Mrs. Virtries said she seems to be troubled about the the coal matter and about Tilly of course the piano will take care of something like those for a while and I don't like it I gave her the piano to play on not to you mustn't be distressed about it in one way she said comfortingly she arranged with the with the purchaser that the men will come for it about a half after five in the afternoon the days are so short now it's really quite winter oh yes he agreed mootily so far as that goes people have a right to move a piece of furniture without stirring up the neighbors I suppose even by daylight our neighbors are paying much attention just now though I hear Sheridan was back in his office early the morning after the funeral Mrs. Virtries made a little sound of commiseration I don't believe that was because he wasn't suffering though I'm sure it was only because he felt his business was so important Mary told me he seemed wrapped up in his son succeeding and that was what he bragged about most he isn't vulgar in his boasting I understand he doesn't talk a great deal about his actual money though there was something about blades of grass that I didn't comprehend I think he meant something about his energy but perhaps not no his bragging usually seemed to be not so much of a personal vein glory as about his family and the greatness of this city greatness of this city Mr. Virtries echoed with dull bitterness it's nothing but a call hole I suppose it looks great to the man who has the luck to make it work for him I suppose it looks great to any young man too starting out to make his fortune out of it the fellows that get what they want out of it say it's great and everybody else gets the habit but you have a different point of view if it's the city that got what it wanted out of you of course Sheridan says it's great Mrs. Virtries seemed unaware of this unusual outburst I believe she began timidly he doesn't boast of that is I understand he has never seemed so interested in the the other one her husband's face was dark but at that a heavier shadow fell upon it he looked more haggard than before the other one he repeated averting his eyes you mean you mean the third son the one that was here this evening yes the the youngest she returned her voice so feeble it was almost a whisper and then neither of them spoke for several long minutes nor did I look at the other during that silence at last Mr. Virtries contrived to cough but not convincingly what what was it Mary said about him out in the hall when she came in this afternoon I heard you asking her something about him but she answered in such a low voice I didn't happen to catch it she she didn't say much all she said was this I asked her if she had enjoyed her walk with him and she said he's the most wistful creature I've ever known well that was all he is wistful looking and so fragile though he doesn't seem quite so much so lately I was watching Mary from the window when she went out today and he joined her and if I hadn't known about him I'd have thought he had quite an interesting face if you hadn't known about him known what oh nothing of course she said hurriedly nothing definite that is Mary said decidedly long ago that he's not at all insane as we thought at first only well of course it is odd their attitude about him I suppose it's some nervous trouble that makes him perhaps a little queer at times so that he can't apply himself to anything or perhaps does odd things but after all of course we only have an impression about it we don't know that is positively I she paused then went on I didn't know just how to ask that is I didn't mention it to Mary I didn't I the poor lady floundered pitifully concluding with a mumble so soon after after the shock I don't think I've caught more than a glimpse of him said Mr. Vertries I wouldn't know him if I saw him but your impression of him is he broke off suddenly springing to his feet in agitation I can't imagine her oh no he gasped and he began to pace the floor a half-witted epileptic no no she cried he may be all right we oh it's horrible I can't he threw himself back into his chair again sweeping his hands across his face then letting them fall limply at his sides Mrs. Vertries was tremulous you mustn't give way so she said inspired for once almost a direct discourse whatever Mary might think of doing it wouldn't be on her own account it would be on ours but if we should should consider it then it wouldn't be our own account it isn't because we think of ourselves oh god no he groaned not for us we can go to the poor house but Mary can't be a stenographer sighing Mrs. Vertries resumed her obliqueness of course she murmured it all seems very premature speculating about such things but I had a queer sort of feeling that she seemed quite interested in this she almost said in this one but checked herself in this young man it's natural of course she is always so strong and well and he is he seems to be that is rather appealing to the sympathies yes he agreed bitterly precisely the sympathies perhaps she faltered perhaps you might feel easier if I could have a little talk with someone with whom I had thought of not going about it too brusquely of course but perhaps just waiting for his name to be mentioned if I happened to be talking with somebody that knew the family and then I might find a chance to say that I was sorry to hear he'd been ill so much and something of that kind perhaps you don't know anybody that knows the family yes that is well in a way of course one of the family that Mrs. Roscoe Sheridan is not a that is she's rather a pleasant face little woman I think and of course rather ordinary I think she is interested about that is of course she'd be anxious to be more intimate with Mary naturally she's always looking over here from her house she was looking out the window this afternoon when Mary went out I noticed though I don't think Mary saw her I'm sure she wouldn't think it out of place to be frank about matters she called the other day and Mary must rather like her she said that evening that the call had done her good don't you think it might be wise wise I don't know I feel the whole matter is impossible yes so do I she returned promptly it isn't really a thing we should be considering seriously of course still I should say not but possibly thus they skirmished up and down the field but before they turned the lights out and went upstairs it was thoroughly understood between them that Mrs. Vertree should seek the earliest opportunity to obtain definite information from Sybil Sheridan concerning the mental and physical status of bibs and if he were subject to a tax of lunacy the unhappy pair decided to prevent the sacrifice they supposed their daughter intended to make of herself altogether if there were spiteful ghosts in the old house that night eavesdropping upon the woeful comedy they must have died anew of laughter Mrs. Vertree's opportunity occurred the very next afternoon darkness had fallen and the piano movers had come they were carrying the piano down the front steps and Mrs. Vertree's was standing in the open doorway behind them preparing to withdraw when she heard a sharp exclamation and Mrs. Roscoe Sheridan bareheaded emerged from the shadow into the light of the doorway good gracious she cried it did give me a fright it's Mrs. Sheridan isn't it Mrs. Vertree's was perplexed by this informal appearance but she reflected that it might be providential won't you come in no oh no thank you Sybil Panted pressing her hand to her side you don't know what a fright you've given me and it was nothing but your piano she laughed shrilly you know since our tragedy coming so suddenly the other day you have no idea how upset I've been almost hysterical and I just glanced out of the window a minute or so ago and saw your door wide open and black figures have been against the light carrying something heavy and I almost fainted you see it was just the way it looked when I saw them bringing my poor brother-in-law in next door only such a few short days ago and I thought I'd seen your daughter start for a drive with Bib Sheridan in a car about three o'clock and they aren't back yet are they no good heavens and the only thing I could think of was that something must have happened to them and I just dashed over and it was only your piano she broke into laughter again I suppose you're just sending it somewhere to be repaired aren't you it's it's being taken downtown said Mrs. Vertree's won't you come in and make me a little visit I was so sorry the other day that I was um she stopped inconsequently then repeated her invitation won't you come in I'd really thank you but I must be running back my husband usually gets home about this time and I make a little point of it always to be there that's very sweet Mrs. Vertree's descended the steps and walked toward the street with Sybil it's quite balmy for so late in November isn't it almost like a May evening I'm afraid Mrs. Vertree's will miss her piano said Sybil watching the instrument disappear into the big van at the curb she plays wonderfully Mrs. Kittersby tells me yes she plays very well one of your relatives came to hear her yesterday after dinner and I think she played all evening for him you mean Bibbs asks Sybil the youngest Mr. Sheridan yes he's very musical isn't he I never heard of it but I shouldn't think it would matter much whether he was or not if he could get Mrs. Vertree's to play to him does your daughter expect the piano back soon I believe not immediately Mr. Sheridan came last evening to hear her play because she had arranged with the that is it was to be removed this afternoon he seems almost well again yes Sybil nodded his father's going to try to start him to work he seems very delicate said Mrs. Vertree's I shouldn't think he would be able to stand a great deal either physically or she paused and then added glowing with the sense of her own adroitness or mentally oh mentally Bibbs is alright said Sybil in an odd voice entirely Mrs. Vertree's asked breathlessly yes entirely but has he always been this question came with the same anxious eagerness certainly he had a long siege of nervous dyspepsia but he's over it Bibbs is alright Sybil choked and pressed her handkerchief to her mouth good night Mrs. Vertree she said hurriedly as the headlights of an automobile swung around the corner above sending a brightening glare toward the edge of the pavement where the two ladies were standing won't you come in urged Mrs. Vertree's cordially hearing the sound of a cheerful voice out of the darkness beyond the approaching glare do there's Mary now and she but Sybil was half way across the street and next she called I hope she won't miss her piano and she ran into her own house and pledged headlong upon a leather divan in the hall holding her handkerchief over her mouth the noise of her tumultuous entrance was evidently startling in the quiet house for upon the bang of the door there followed the crash of a decanter dropped upon the floor of the dining room at the end of the hall and after a rumble of indistinct profanity Roscoe came forth holding napkin in his hand what's your excitement he demanded what do you find to go into hysterics over another death in the family oh it's funny she gasped those old frostbitten people I guess they're getting their comeuppance line prone she elevated her feet in the air clapped her heels together repeatedly in an ecstasy come through come through said her husband crossley what you've been up to me she cried dropping her feet swinging around to face him nothing it's them those vertrizes she wiped her eyes they've had to sell their piano well what of it that mrs. Kittersby told me all about him a week ago said cybil 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 resold and patched because she got it done at the same place mrs. Kittersby cook had hers and the night of the housewarming herself 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 aside 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 nothing and they don't know anywhere to turn the families all died out but them and all the relatives they got are very distant and live east and scarcely know them she says the whole town has been wondering what would become of them the girl had plenty of 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 terribly funny terribly 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 out the house has been foreclosed on mrs. Kittersby says it seemed funny too because I knew that girl was out riding with bibs well I thought I'd see so I slipped over and 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 super intending 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 yes they'd sold it and I hope they'll pay some of their debts and last week a co-dealer made an awful fuss at the door with mr. virtries 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 your life what girl their cook that virtries girl don't you see they're looking on our coming up into this neighborhood as their last chance they were just going down and out and here Bob's up the green rich Sheridan family so they dolled 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 landed there's no doubt about that but Jim was lucky he didn't live they 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 bibs she's waited in the graveyard 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 devan bibs she shrieked bibs Roscoe think of it bibs he stared unsympathetically but her mirth was unabated for all that and yesterday she continued between paroxysms yesterday she came out of the house just as he was passing she must have been looking out waiting for the chance I saw the old lady watching at the window and she got him there last night to play to him the old lady gave that away and today 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 not they thought maybe he was but she went after him just the same the old lady said herself to pump me about it today bibs oh my lord bibs 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 face smart Alex if they'd have the decency to come down off the perch a little I probably wouldn't think it was funny but to see him 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 him a good kick with her old patch shoes oh she do that all right then then she powders up and goes out to mash bibs 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 civil stiffen 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 petishly 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 the matter was between you and lamb horn Sybil 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 as soon as I'd got the paper read unless there was some good musical show in town well you seemed alright 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 same you were all strung up and excited and fidgety you got to looking peek it and run down now then lamb horn had been going with us a good while but I noticed that not long ago you got to peeking on him about every little thing he did you got to quarreling with him when I was there and when I wasn't I could see you'd been quarreling whenever I came in and he was here Sibyl breathing quickly yes when it injures my wife's health he returned with a quick lift of his eyes to hers you began to run down just about the time you began falling out with him he stepped close to her see here Sibyl I'm going to know what it means oh you are she snapped you're trembling he said gravely yes I'm angry enough to do more than tremble you'll find go on that was all I was going to say the other day he said I'm going to ask you yes that was all you're going to say the other day yes what else have you to say tonight tonight he replied with grim swiftness I want to know why you keep telephoning him you want to see him since he stopped coming here she made a long low sound of comprehension before she said and what else did Edith want you to ask me I want to know what you say over the telephone to lamb horn he said fiercely is that all Edith told you to ask me you saw her when you stopped in there on your way home this evening didn't you didn't she tell you then what I said over the telephone to Mr. lamb horn no she didn't he vociferated his voice growing louder she said you tell your wife to stop telephoning Robert lamb horn to come and see her because he isn't going to do it that's what she said and I want to know what it means I intend a maid appeared at the lower end of the hall dinner is ready she said and giving the troubled pair one glance went to merely into the dining room Roscoe disregarded the interruption I intend to know exactly what has been going on he declared I mean to know just what Sybil jumped up almost touching him standing face to face with him oh you do she cried shrilly you mean to know just what's what do you you listen to your sister insinuating ugly things about your wife and then you come home making a scene before the servants and humiliating me in their presence do you suppose that Irish girl didn't hear every word you said you go in there and eat your dinner alone go on go on eat your dinner alone because I won't eat with you and she broke away from the detaining grass he sought to fasten upon her and dashed up the stairway panting he heard the door of her room slam overhead and the sharp click of the key in the lock end of chapter 17 chapter 18 of the turmoil this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org recording by Jonathan Burchard June 2009 the turmoil volume one of the growth trilogy by Booth Tarkington chapter 18 at 7 o'clock on the last morning of that month Sheridan passing through the upper hall on his way to descend the stairs for breakfast found a couple of scribbled sheets of note paper lying on the floor a window had been open in Bibb's room the evening before he had left his notebook on the sill and the sheets were loose the door was open and when Bibb's came in and closed it he did not notice that the two sheets had blown out into the hall Sheridan recognized the handwriting and put the sheets in his coat pocket intending to give them to George or Jackson to return to the owner but he forgot and carried them downtown with him at noon he found himself alone in his office and having a little leisure remembered the bits of manuscript took them out and glanced at them a glance was enough to reveal that they were not a pistolary Sheridan would have not read a private letter that came into his possession in that way though in a matter of business he might have felt it his duty to take advantage of an opportunity afforded in any manner whatsoever having satisfied himself that Bibb's scribblings were only a sample of the kind of writing his son preferred to the machine shop he decided innocently enough that he would be justified in reading them it appears that a lady will not pleasantly upon some windy generalization of a companion and will wear the most agreeable expression of accepting it as the law and then days afterward when the thing is a mummy to its promulgator she will inquire out of a clear sky why did you say that people downtown have nothing in life that a chicken hasn't what did you mean and she may say it in a manner that makes a sensible reply very difficult you will be so full of wonder that she remembered so seriously yet what does the rooster lack he has food and shelter he is warm in winter his wives raise not one fine family for him but dozens he has a clear sky over him he breathes sweet air he walks in his April orchard under a roof of flowers he must die violently perhaps but quickly might as his cancer a better way the rooster's wives and children must die are those of might as immortal his life is shorter than the life of might as but might as his life is only a sixth as long as that of the Galapagos tortoise the worthy money worker takes his vacation so that he may refresh himself anew for the hard work of getting nothing that the rooster doesn't get the office building has an elevator the rooster flies up to the bow might as has a machine to take him to his work the rooster finds his worm under foot the businessman feels a pressure sometimes without knowing why and sits late at wine after the day's labor next morning he curses his head because it interferes with the work he swears never to relieve that pressure again the rooster has no pressure and no wine this difference is in his favor the rooster is a dependent he depends upon the farmer and the weather might as is a dependent he depends upon the farmer and the weather the rooster thinks only of the moment might as provides for tomorrow what does he provide for tomorrow nothing that the rooster will not have without providing the rooster and the prosperous worker they were born, they grub, they love they grub and love grubbing they grub and they die neither knows beauty, neither knows knowledge and after all when might as dies and the rooster dies there is one thing might as has had and rooster has not might as has had the excitement of accumulating what he has grubbed and that has been his life and his love and his God he cannot take that God with him when he dies I wonder if the worthy gods are those we can take with us might as must teach all to be as might as the young must be raised in his religion the manuscript ended there and Sheridan was not anxious for more he crumpled the sheets into a ball depositing it with vigor beside him then rising he consulted a cyclopedia of names which a book agent had somehow sold to him years before a volume now first put to use for the location of Midas having read the legend Sheridan walked up and down the spacious office exhaling the breath of contempt damn fool he mumbled but this was no new thought nor was the contrariness of bibs notes a surprise to him and presently he dismissed the matter from his mind he felt very lonely and this was daily his hardest hour for a long time he and Jim had lunch together habitually Roscoe preferred a club luncheon but Jim and his father almost always went to a small restaurant near the Sheridan building where they spent 20 minutes in the consumption of food and 20 in talk with cigars Jim came for his father every day at 5 minutes after 12 and Sheridan was again in his office at 4 1 but now that Jim no longer came Sheridan remained alone in his office he had not gone out to lunch since Jim's death nor did he have anything sent to him he fasted until evening it was the time he missed Jim personally the most the voice and eyes and handshake all brisk and alert all business like but these things were not the keenest in Sheridan's grief his sense of loss went far deeper Roscoe was dependable a steady old wheel horse and that was a great comfort but it was in Jim that Sheridan had most happily perceived his own likeness Jim was the one who would have been surest to keep the great property growing greater year by year Sheridan had fallen asleep night after night picturing what the growth would be under Jim he had believed that Jim was absolutely certain to be one of the biggest men in the country well it was all up to Roscoe now that reminded him of a question he had in mind to ask Roscoe it was a question Sheridan considered of no present importance but his wife had suggested it though vaguely and he had meant to speak to Roscoe about it however Roscoe had not come into his father's office for several days and when Sheridan had seen his son at home there had been no opportunity he waited until the greater part of his day's work was over toward 4 o'clock and then went down to Roscoe's office which was on a lower floor he found several men waiting for his business interviews in an outer room of the series Roscoe occupied and he supposed that he would find his son busy with others and that his question would have to be postponed but when he entered the door marked RC Sheridan Private Roscoe was there alone he was sitting with his back to the door his feet on a windowsill and he did not turn as his father opened the door some pretty good men out there waiting to see you my boy said Sheridan how's the matter nothing Roscoe answered indistinctly not moving well I guess that's alright too I let him wait sometimes myself I just wanted to ask you a question but I expect it will keep if you're working something out in your mind Roscoe made no reply and his father who had turned to the door paused with his hand on the knob staring curiously at the motionless figure in the chair usually the son seemed pleased and eager to leave the office you're alright ain't you said Sheridan not sick are you no Sheridan was puzzled then abruptly he decided to ask his question I wanted to talk to you about that young lamb horn he said I guess your mother thinks he's coming to see Edith pretty often and you know him longer than any of us so I won't said Roscoe thickly I won't say a damn thing about him Sheridan uttered an exclamation and walked quickly to a position near the window where he could see his son's face Roscoe's eyes were bloodshot and vacuous his hair was disordered his mouth was distorted and he was deathly pale the father stood aghast by George he muttered my name said Roscoe can't help that blank astonishment was Sheridan's first sensation probably nothing in the world could have more amazed him to find Roscoe the steady old wheel horse in this condition how'd you get this way he demanded you caught cold and took too much for it for reply Roscoe laughed hoarsely cold I've been drinking all time lately first you notice it by George cried Sheridan I thought I'd smelled it on you a good deal lately but I wouldn't have believed you take more and was good for you to see you like a common hog Roscoe chuckled and threw out his right arm in a meaningless gesture hog he repeated chuckling yes a hog said Sheridan angrily in business hours I don't object to anybody's taking a drink if he wants to out of business hours nor if a man keeps his work right up to the scratch I wouldn't be the one to baste him if he got a good and drunk once in two three years maybe it ain't my way I let it alone but I never believed in forcing my way on a grown up son in moral matters I guess I was wrong you think them men out there are waiting to talk business with a drunkard you think you can come to your office and do business drunk by George I wonder how often this has been happening and me not onto it I'll have a look over your books tomorrow and all Roscoe stumbled to his feet laughing wildly and stood swaying contriving to hold himself in a position by clutching the back of the heavy chair in which he had been sitting who hurrah he cried smile principles to be drunker all you want to outside business hours don't forgot shake let nothing interfere business hours business that's it you're right father drink die let everything go to hell but don't let enter here business Sheridan had seized the telephone upon Roscoe's desk and was calling his own office overhead Abercrombie come down to my son Roscoe's suite and get rid of some gentlemen that are waiting there to see him in room 214 there's Maples and Shermer and a couple of fellows on the Kinsey business tell him something's come up I have to go over with Roscoe and tell him to come back day after tomorrow at 2 you needn't come in to let me know they're gone we don't want to be disturbed tell Paulie to call my house and send Klaus down here with a closed car we may have to go out tell him to hustle and call me at Roscoe's room as soon as the car gets here it's all Roscoe had laughed bitterly out of this monologue drunk in business hours that's awful mustn't do such thing mustn't get drunk mustn't gamble, mustn't kill anybody not in business hours alright any other time kill anybody you want to as long as taint in business hours fine mustn't have any trouble till interfere with business keep your trouble at home don't bring into office my interfere business have funerals on Sunday my interfere business don't let your wife interfere business keep all your trouble and your meanness in your tragedy keep them all for home use if you got to die go on die at home don't die around the office my interfere business Sheridan picked up a newspaper from Roscoe's desk and sat down with his back to his son affecting to read Roscoe seemed to be unaware of his father's significant posture you know I think I think Bibbs only won the family any intelligence at all won't work and didn't get married Jim worked and he got killed I worked and I got married look at me just look at me I ask you fine dustrous young businessman what was happening to me fine he lifted his hand from the sustaining chair in a deplorable gesture and immediately losing his balance he walked across the chair and carried him to the floor with a crash remaining prostrate for several minutes during which Sheridan did not relax his apparent attention to the paper he did not even look around at the sound of Roscoe's fall Roscoe slowly climbed to an upright position pulling himself up by holding to the chair he was slightly sobered outwardly having progressed in the prostrate interval to a state of befuddlement less volatile he held his left hand what you asked me a while ago he said nothing yes you did what was it nothing you better sit down you asked me what I thought about lamb horn you did ask me that well I won't tell you I won't say damn word about him the telephone bell tinkled Sheridan placed the receiver to his ear he said right now then he got Roscoe's coat and hat from a closet and brought them to his son get into this coat he said you're going home all right Roscoe murmured obediently they went out into the main hall by a side door not passing through the outer office and Sheridan waited for an empty elevator stopped it and told the operator to take on no more passengers until they reached the ground floor Roscoe walked out of the building and 20 minutes later walked into his own house in the same manner neither he nor his father having spoken a word in the interval Sheridan did not go in with him he went home and to his own room without meeting any of his family but as he passed Bibb's door he heard from within the sound of a cheerful young voice humming jubilant fragments of song who looks a mustang in the eye with a leap from the ground to the saddle in a bound and away and away hi-yay it was the first time in Sheridan's life that he had ever detected any musical symptom whatever in Bibb's he had never even heard him whistle and it seemed the last touch of irony that the useless fool should be married today to Sheridan it was Tom a bedlam singing while the house burned and he did not tarry to enjoy the melody but went into his own room and locked the door end of chapter 18 chapter 19 of the term oil this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the term oil volume one of the growth trilogy by Booth Tarkington chapter 19 he emerged only upon a second summons to dinner two hours later and came to the table so white and silent that his wife made her anxiety manifest and was but partially reassured by his explanation that his lunch had disagreed with him a little presently however he spoke effectively Bibb's whose appetite had become hearty was helping himself to a second breast of capon from white jacket salver here's another difference between Midas and chicken Sheridan remarked grimly Midas can eat rooster but rooster can't eat Midas I reckon you overlooked that Midas looks to me like he had the advantage there Bibb's retained enough presence of mind to transfer the capon breast to his plate without dropping it and to respond yes he crows over it having returned his antagonist fire in this fashion he blushed for he could blush distinctly now and his mother looked upon him with pleasure thought the reference to Midas and roosters was of course jargon to her did you ever see anybody improve the way that child has she explained I declare Bibb sometimes lately you look right handsome he's got to be such a god about Edith giggled I found something of his on the floor upstairs this morning before anybody was upset Sheridan I reckon if people lose things in this house and expect to get him back they better get up as soon as I do what was it he lost asked Edith he knows his father returned seems to me like I forgot to bring it home with me I looked it over thought probably it was something pretty important belong into a busy man like him he effected to search his pockets what did I do with it now oh yes seems to me like I remember leaving it down at the office in the waste basket good place for it Bibbs murmured still read Sheridan gave him a grin perhaps pretty soon you'll be getting up early enough to find things before I do it was a threat and Bebs repeated the substance of it later in the evening to Mary Virtress they had come to know each other that well my times here at last he said as they sat together in the melancholy gaslight of the room which had been denuded of its piano that removal had left an emptiness so distressing to Mr. Emmys' Virtress that neither of them had crossed the threshold since the dark day but the gaslight though from a single jet shed no melancholy upon Bibbs nor could any room seem bearer that knew the glowing presence of Mary he spoke lightly not sadly yes it's come I've shirked and put off but I can't shirk and put off any longer it's really my part to go to him at least it would save my face he means what he says and the times come to serve my sentence hard labor for life I think Mary shook her head I don't think so he's too kind you think my father's kind and Bibbs stared at her yes I'm sure of it I felt that he has a great brave heart it's only that he has to be kind in his own way because he can't understand any other way ah yes said Bibbs if that's what you mean by kind she looked at him gravely earnest concern in her friendly eyes it's going to be pretty hard for you isn't it oh self pity he returns this has been just the last flicker of revolt nobody minds work if he likes the kind of work there'd be no loafers in this world each man found the thing that he could do best but the only work I happen to want to do is useless so I have to give it up tomorrow I'll be a day laborer what is it like exactly 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 ten buckets and ten 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 exhausting not 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 there a clipping machine in one of the byproducts departments and that's what I'll be sent back to do but what is it she insisted babes 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 angle and 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 at his face she said I should think you would have been a bad hand at it he laughed rootfully 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 crashing a crash every time the jaw bite off the circle but how often is that the thing should make about 68 discs a minute a little more than one a second and you're close to it 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 that confounded thing I flinch and duck a little every time the crash comes and I couldn't get over it I was a treat to the other workman 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 bibs 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 anyone 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 bibs interrupted a faint ripple of hilarity in his voice if he could understand what you're saying and if you could imagine his taking such a notion he'd have had R.T. Blas 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 the but 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 it's a pity it isn't said bibs honestly I never could but you're the kindest lady in the world Miss Virtress 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 Virtress I thought of you by your first name ever since I met you wouldn't you rather call me Mary I was puzzled he drew a long deep breath and did not speak wouldn't you she asked without a trace of coca-tree 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 someone else it sounds like laughter on the eve of a great calamity he wrapped 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 bibs two years but I don't mind the prospect of repetition so much as so much as what she prompt as he's dopped bibs looked at her shyly I want to say it but I come to a deadbuck when I try I go on say it whatever it is she beat 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 feet he seemed to feel awkward thoroughly you see all my life until I met you if I ever felt like saying anything I wrote it instead saying things is a new trick for me and this well 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 different I'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 be I mean I'm glad I've lived I'm glad I've lived it that's all you're letting me be near you sometimes as you have this strange beautiful happy little while he did not once look up and reach 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 wrestling 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 been happy to be friends with me you'd want to to make it last yes said Bebs as faintly you'd want to go on being my friend as long as we live wouldn't you yes he gulped 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 as stood before him or you think it's going to send you back to the sanitarium don't deny it Bebs there see how easily I can call you that you see I'm a friend or I couldn't do it well if you meant what you said and you did mean it I know it you're not going to go back to the sanitarium the shop shan't hurt you it shan't and now Bebs looked up she stood before him straight and tall splendid in generous strength her eyes shining and wet if I mean that much to you she cried they can't harm you go back to the shop but come to me when your day's work is done let the machine crash they're 68 times a minute but remember each crash that deafens you is that much nearer the evening and me he stumbles to his feet you say he gasped every evening dear Bebs he could only stare bewildered every evening I want you they shan't hurt you again and she held out her hand to him warm in his tremulous clasp if I could I'd go and feed the strips of zinc to the machine with you she said but all day long I'll send my thoughts to you you must keep remembering that your friend stands beside you and when the work is done won't the night make up for the day light seemed to glow from her he was blinded by that radiance of kindness but all he could say was huskily to think you're there with me standing beside the old zinc eater and they laughed and looked at each other and at last Bebs found what it meant not to be alone in the world he had a friend end of chapter 19 chapter 20 of the turmoil this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the turmoil volume 1 of the growth trilogy by Booth Tarkington chapter 20 when he came into the house a few minutes later he found his father sitting alone by the library fire Bebs went in and stood before him I'm cured father he said when do I go back to the shop I'm ready the desolate and grim old man did not relax I was sitting up to give you a last chance to say something like that I reckon it's about time I just wanted to see if you'd have manhood enough not to make me take you over there by the collar last night I made up my mind I'd give you just one more day well you got to it before I did pretty close to the 11th hour alright start tomorrow it's the first of the month think you can get up in time 6 o'clock Bebs responded briskly and I want to tell you I went in in a cheerful spirit as you said I'll go and I'll like it that's your lookout his father grunted they'll put you back on the clipping machine you get $9 a week more than I'm worth to said Bebs cheerfully that reminds me I didn't mean you by Midas in that nonsense I'd been writing I meant makes a hell of a lot of difference what you meant you didn't know good night father good night the sound of the young man's footsteps ascending the stairs became inaudible and the house was quiet but presently as Sheridan sat staring angrily at the fire the shuffling of a pair of slippers could be heard descending and Mrs. Sheridan made her appearance her oblique expression and the state of her toilet being those of a person who unsuccessfully to sleep on one side has got up to look for burglars papa she exclaimed drowsily why didn't you go to bed it must be going on 11 o'clock she yawned and seated herself near him stretching at her hands to the fire what's the matter she asked sleep and anxiety striving sluggishly with each other in her voice I knew you were worried all dinner time you got something new on your mind besides Jim's being taken away like he was what's worrying you now papa nothing she jeered feebly and tell me that you set up to see bibs didn't you he starts in at the shop again tomorrow morning said Sheridan just the same as he did before just precisely how long you going to keep him at it papa she asked timidly until he knows something the unhappy mind struck his palms together then got to his feet and began to pace the room as was his want when he talked he'll go back to the machine he couldn't learn to tend properly in the six months he was there and he'll stick to it till he does learn it do you suppose that Lumix ever asked himself why I want him to learn it no and I ain't going to tell him either when he went there I had him set on that simplest machine we got and he's stuck there how much prospect would there be of his learning to run the whole business if he can't run the easiest machine in it I sent him there to make him thorough and what happened he didn't like it that boy's whole life there's been a setting up of something mulesh that's against everything I want him to do I don't know what it is to be worked out of him now labor ain't any more a simple question than what it was when we were young my idea is that outside of union troubles the man that can manage working men is the man that's been one himself well I set bibs to learn the men and to learn the business and he set himself to balk on the first job that's what he did and the box lasted close on to three years if he box again I'm just done with him I feel like I'm pretty near done with everything anyhow I knew there was something else said mrs. Sheridan blinking over Ayon you better let it go tell tomorrow and get to bed now lest you tell me I suppose something happened to Roscoe he said then what I have to look forward to then what could I depend on to hold things together alumics that hasn't learned how to push a strip of zinc along a groove Roscoe she on you needn't worry about Roscoe papa he's the strongest child we had I never did know anybody keep better health than he does I don't believe he's even had a cold in five years you better go up to bed papa suppose something did happen to him though you don't know what it means keeping property together these days just keeping it alive let alone making it grow the way I do I've seen too many estates hacked away in chunks big and little I tell you when a man dies the wolves come out of the woods pack after pack to see what they can tear off for themselves and the dead man's children ain't on the job night and day everything he built will get carried off carried off I've seen a big fortune behave like an ash barrel in a cyclone there wasn't even a dust heap left to tell where it stood I've seen it time and again a man's coming to me I don't seem like I deserved it no man ever tried harder to raise his boys right than like I have I planned and planned and planned how to bring him up to be guards to drive the wolves off and how to be builders to build and build bigger I tell you this business life is no fool's job nowadays a man's got to have eyes in the back of his head you hear talk sometimes it'd make you think the millennium had come but right the next breath you learn about the great unrest you bet there's a great unrest there ain't any man alive smart enough to see what it's going to do to us in the end nor wet day it's got to set bus loose but it's frothing and bubbling in the boiler this country's been filling up with it from all over the world for a good many years and the old camp meeting days are dead and done with church ain't what it used to be nothing's what it used to be everything's turned up from the bottom to out in the air there's an awful ruction going on and you gotta keep hopping if you're gonna keep your balance on the top of it and as schemers they run like bugs on the bottom of a board after any piece of money they hear is loose full of schemes and crooked schemes the full ones are the most and the worst you gotta fight to keep your money after you've made it and the woods are full of mighty industrious men that's got only one motto get the other fellow's money before he gets yours and when a man's built as I have and then he's built good and strong and made good things grow and prosper those are the fellows that lay for the chance to slide in and sneak the benefit of it and put their names to it and what's the use of my having ever been born if such a thing as that is gonna happen and what's the use of my having worked my life and sold into my business if it's all going to be dispersed and scattered as soon as I'm in the ground and I'm down the long room gesticulating little regarding the troubled and drowsy figure by the fireside his throat rumbled thunderously the words came with stormy bitterness you think this is a time for young men to be lying on beds of ease I tell you there never was such a time before there never was such opportunity the sluggered is despoiled while he sleeps yes by George if a man lays down they'll eat him before he waits but the live man can build straight up till he touches the sky this is the businessman's day it used to be the soldier's day and the statesman's day but this is ours and it ain't a sunny to go fishing it's turmoil, turmoil and you gotta go out and live and breathe it and make it yourself or you'll be a dead man walking around dreaming you're alive and that's what my son Bibbs has been doing all his life and what he'd rather do now than go out and do his part by me and if anything happens to Rothko oh do stop worrying over such nonsense Mrs. Sheridan interrupted irritated into sharp wakefulness for the moment there isn't anything going to happen to Rothko and you're just tormenting yourself about nothing aren't you ever going to bed Sheridan halted alright mama he said with a vast sigh let's go up and he snapped off the electric light leaving only the rosy glow of the fire did you speak to Rothko she yawned rising lopsidiously in her drowsiness did you mention what I told you the other evening no I will tomorrow but Rothko did not come down town the next day nor the next nor did Sheridan see fit to enter his son's house he waited then on the fourth day of the month Rothko walked into his father's office at nine in the morning when Sheridan happened to be alone they told me downstairs you'd left word you wanted to see me sit down said Sheridan rising Rothko sat his father walked close to him sniffed suspiciously and then walked away smiling bitterly he exclaimed still at it yes said Rothko I had a couple of drinks this morning what about it I reckon I better adopt some decent young man as father returned I'd bring bibs up here and put him in your place if he was fit I would better do it Rothko ascended sullenly when did you begin this thing I always did drink a little ever since I grew up that is leave that talk out you know what I mean well I don't know as I ever had too much in office hours until the other day Sheridan began cutting it's a lie I've had Ray Wills up from your office he didn't want to give you away but I put the hooks into him and he came through you were drunk twice before and couldn't work you've been leaving your office for drinks every few hours for the last three weeks I've been over your books offices way behind you haven't done any work to count in a month alright said Rothko drooping under the torture it's all true what are you going to do about it Rothko's head was sunk between his shoulders I can't stand very much talk about it father he said pleadingly no Sheridan cried neither can I what do you think it means to me he dropped into the chair at his big desk running I can't stand to talk about it anymore and you can stand to listen but I'm going to find out what's the matter with you and I'm going to straighten you out Rothko shook his head helplessly you can't straighten me out see here said Sheridan can you go back to your office and stay sober today while I get my work done or will I have to hire a couple of Huskies to follow you around and knock the whiskey out of your hand if they see you trying to take it you needn't worry about that said Rothko looking up with a faint resentment I'm not drinking because I've got a thirst well what have you got nothing nothing you can do anything about nothing I tell you we'll see about that said Sheridan harshly now I can't fool with you today and you've got to get out of that chair and get out of my office you bring your wife to dinner tomorrow you didn't come last Sunday but you come tomorrow I'll talk this out with you when the women folks are working the phonograph after dinner you can keep sober till then you better be sure because I'm going to send Abercrombie down to your office every little while and he'll let me know Rothko paused at the door you told Abercrombie about it he asked told him and Sheridan laughed hideously do you suppose there's an elevator boy in the whole damn building that ate onto you Rothko settled his hat down over his eyes and went out end of chapter 20