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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。 Vertrees was perplexed by this informal
appearance； but she reflected that it might be providential。 〃Won't you come
in？〃
〃No。 Oh no； thank you！〃 Sibyl 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 beenalmost
hysterical！ And I just glanced out of the window； a minute or so ago； and
saw your door wide open and black figures of men 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 Bibbs Sheridan in a car about three o'clockandThey 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 overand 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'sit's being taken down…town；〃 said Mrs。 Vertrees。 〃Won't you come in
and make me a little visit。 I was SO sorry； the other day； that I wasah〃
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。 Vertrees descended the steps and walked toward the
street with Sibyl。 〃It's quite balmy for so late in November； isn't it？
Almost like a May evening。〃
〃I'm afraid Miss Vertrees will miss her piano；〃 said Sibyl； 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？〃 asked Sibyl。
〃Thethe 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 Miss Vertrees to play to him。 Does your daughter
expect the piano back soon？〃
〃II believe not immediately。 Mr。 Sheridan came last evening to hear her
play because she had arranged with thethat is； it was to be removed this
afternoon。 He seems almost well again。〃
〃Yes。〃 Sibyl nodded。 〃His father's going to try to start him to work。〃
〃He seems very delicate；〃 said Mrs。 Vertrees。 〃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 all right；〃 said Sibyl； in an odd voice。
〃Entirely？〃 Mrs。 Vertrees 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。〃
〃And you think〃
〃Bibbs is all right。 You needn't wor〃 Sibyl choked； and pressed her
handkerchief to her mouth。 〃Good night； Mrs。 Vertrees；〃 she said； hurriedly；
as the head…lights of an automobile swung round 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。 Vertrees； cordially； hearing the sound of a
cheerful voice out of the darkness beyond the approaching glare。 〃Do！
There's Mary now； and she〃
But Sibyl was half…way across the street。 〃No； thanks；〃 she called。 〃I
hope she won't miss her piano！〃 And she ran into her own house and plunged
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 a dripping
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 frost…bitten people！ I guess
THEY'RE getting their come…upance！〃 Lying prone； she elevated her feet in
the air； clapped her heels together repeatedly； in an ecstasy。
〃Come through； come through！〃 said her husband； crossly。 〃What you been up
to？〃
〃Me？〃 she cried； dropping her feet and swinging around to face him。
〃Nothing。 It's them！ Those Vertreeses！〃 She wiped her eyes。 〃They've had
to sell their piano！〃
〃Well； what of it？〃
〃That Mrs。 Kittersby told me all about 'em a week ago；〃 said Sibyl。 〃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 re…soled and patched； because she
got it done the same place Mrs。 Kittersby's cook had HERS！ And the night of
the house…warming I kind of got suspicious； myself。 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 a sight； 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 NOTHINGand they don't know anywhere to turn！ The family's all
died out but them； and all the relatives they got are very distant； and live
East and scarcely know 'em。 She says the whole town's been wondering what
WOULD become of 'em。 The girl had plenty 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〃
〃Terrible funny； terrible 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 outthe house has been foreclosed on； Mrs。 Kittersby says。
It seemed funny； too； because I knew that girl was out riding with Bibbs。
Well； I thought I'd see； so I slipped overand 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
superintending； 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 outright！
Yes； they'd sold it； and I hope they'll pay some of their debts。 They owe
everybody； and last week a coal…dealer made an awful fuss at the door with
Mr。 Vertrees。 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 you LIFE？〃
〃What girl？ Their cook？〃
〃That Vertrees girl！ Don't you see they looked on our coming up into this
neighborhood as their last chance？ They were just going down and out； and
here bobs up the green； rich Sheridan family！ So they doll 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 landedthere's no doubt about THAT！
But Jim was lucky； he didn't live to STAY 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。 〃BIBBS！
She waited in the grave…yard； and drove home with him from JIM'S FUNERAL！
Never spoke t