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the first time a resemblance to his father。
She watched them。 In the middle of the street Bibbs had to step ahead of his
father； and the two were separated。 But the reckless passing of a truck；
beyond the second line of rails； frightened a group of country women who were
in course of passage； they were just in front of Bibbs； and shoved backward
upon him violently。 To extricate himself from them he stepped back； directly
in front of a moving trolley…carno place for absent…mindedness； but Bibbs
was still absorbed in thoughts concerned with what he had been saying to his
father。 There were shrieks and yells； Bibbs looked the wrong wayand then
Mary saw the heavy figure of Sheridan plunge straight forward in front of the
car。 With absolute disregard of his own life； he hurled himself at Bibbs like
a football…player shunting off an opponent； and to Mary it seemed that they
both went down together。 But that was all she could seeautomobiles； trucks；
and wagons closed in between。 She made out that the trolley…car stopped
jerkily； and she saw a policeman breaking his way through the instantly
condensing crowd； while the traffic came to a standstill； and people stood up
in automobiles or climbed upon the hubs and tires of wheels； not to miss a
chance of seeing anything horrible。
Mary tried to get through； it was impossible。 Other policemen came to help
the first； and in a minute or two the traffic was in motion again。 The crowd
became pliant； dispersingthere was no figure upon the ground； and no
ambulance came。 But one of the policemen was detained by the clinging and
beseeching of a gloved hand。
〃What IS the matter； lady？〃
〃Where are they？〃 Mary cried。
〃Who？ Ole man Sheridan？ I reckon HE wasn't much hurt！〃
〃His SON〃
〃Was that who the other one was？ I seen him knock himoh； he's not bad off；
I guess； lady。 The ole man got him out of the way all right。 The fender
shoved the ole man around some； but I reckon he only got shook up。 They both
went on in the Sheridan Building without any help。 Excuse me； lady。〃
Sheridan and Bibbs； in fact； were at that moment in the elevator； ascending。
〃Whisk…broom up in the office；〃 Sheridan was saying。 〃You got to look out on
those corners nowadays； I tell you。 I don't know I got any call to blow；
thoughbecause I tried to cross after you did。 That's how I happened to run
into you。 Well； you want remember to look out after this。 We were talkin'
about Murtrie's askin' sixty…eight thousand flat for that ninety…nine…year
lease。 It's his lookout if he'd rather take it that way； and I don't know
but〃
〃No；〃 said Bibbs； emphatically； as the elevator stopped； 〃he won't get it。 Not
from Us； he won't； and I'll show you why。 I can convince you in five
minutes。〃 He followed his father into the office anteroomand convinced him。
Then； having been diligently brushed by a youth of color； Bibbs went into his
own room and closed the door。
He was more shaken than he had allowed his father to perceive； and his side
was sore where Sheridan had struck him。 He desired to be alone； he wanted to
rub himself and； for once； to do some useless thinking again。 He knew that his
father had not 〃happened〃 to run into him； he knew that Sheridan had
instantlyand instinctivelyproved that he held his own life of no account
whatever compared to that of his son and heir。 Bibbs had been unable to speak
of that； or to seem to know it； for Sheridan； just as instinctively； had swept
the matter asideas of no importance； since all was wellreverting
immediately to business。
Bibbs began to think intently of his father。 He perceived； as he had never
perceived before； the shadowing of something enormous and indomitableand
lawless； not to be daunted by the will of nature's very self； laughing at the
lightning and at wounds and mutilation； conquering； irresistibleand blindly
noble。 For the first time in his life Bibbs began to understand the meaning
of being truly this man's son。
He would be the more truly his son henceforth； though； as Sheridan said； Bibbs
had not come down…town with him meanly or half…heartedly。 He had given his
word because he had wanted the money； simply； for Mary Vertrees in her need。
And he shivered with horror of himself； thinking how he had gone to her to
offer it； asking her to marry himwith his head on his breast in shameful
fear that she would accept him！ He had not known her； the knowing had lost
her to him； and this had been his real awakening； for he knew now how deep had
been that slumber wherein he dreamily celebrated the superiority of
〃friendship〃！ The sleep…walker had wakened to bitter knowledge of love and
life； finding himself a failure in both。 He had made a burnt offering of his
dreams； and the sacrifice had been an unforgivable hurt to Mary。 All that was
left for him was the work he had not chosen； but at least he would not fail in
that； though it was indeed no more than 〃dust in his mouth。〃 If there had
been anything 〃to work for 〃
He went to the window； raised it； and let in the uproar of the streets below。
He looked down at the blurred； hurrying swarmsand he looked across； over the
roofs with their panting jets of vapor； into the vast； foggy heart of the
smoke。 Dizzy traceries of steel were rising dimly against it； chattering with
steel on steel； and screeching in steam； while tiny figures of men walked on
threads in the dull sky。 Buildings would overtop the Sheridan。 Bigness was
being served。
But what for？ The old question came to Bibbs with a new despair。 Here； where
his eyes fell； had once been green fields and running brooks； and how had the
kind earth been despoiled and disfigured！ The pioneers had begun the work；
but in their old age their orators had said for them that they had toiled and
risked and sacrificed that their posterity might live in peace and wisdom；
enjoying the fruits of the earth。 Well； their posterity was hereand there
was only turmoil。 Where was the promised land？ It had been promised by the
soldiers of all the wars； it had been promised to this generation by the
pioneers； but here was the very posterity to whom it had been promised；
toiling and risking and sacrificing in turnfor what？
The harsh roar of the city came in through the open window； continuously
beating upon Bibbs's ear until he began to distinguish a pulsation in it a
broken and irregular cadence。 It seemed to him that it was like a titanic
voice； discordant； hoarse； rustily metallicthe voice of the god； Bigness。
And the voice summoned Bibbs as it summoned all its servants。
〃Come and work！〃 it seemed to yell。 〃Come and work for Me； all men！ By your
youth and your hope I summon you！ By your age and your despair I sommon you
to work for Me yet a little； with what strength you have。 By your love of
home I summon you！ By your love of woman I summon you！ By your hope of
children I summon you！
〃You shall be blind slaves of Mine； blind to everything but Me； you Master and
Driver！ For your reward you shall gaze only upon my ugliness。 You shall give
your toil and your lives； you shall go mad for love and worship of my
ugliness！ You shall perish still worshipping Me； and your children shall
perish knowing no other god！〃
And then； as Bibbs closed the window down tight； he heard his father's voice
booming in the next room； he could not distinguish the words； but the tone was
exultantand there came the THUMP！ THUMP！ of the maimed hand。 Bibbs guessed
that Sheridan was bragging of the city and of Bigness to some visitor from
out…of…town。
And he thought how truly Sheridan was the high priest of Bigness。 But with
the old； old thought again；； 〃What for？〃 Bibbs caught a glimmer of far； faint
light。 He saw that Sheridan had all his life struggled and conquered； and
must all his life go on struggling and inevitably conquering； as part of a
vast impulse not his own。 Sheridan served blindlybut was the impulse blind？
Bibbs asked himself if it was not he who had been in the greater hurry； after
all。 The kiln must be fired before the vase is glazed； and the Acropolis was
not crowned with marble in a day。
Then the voice came to him again； but there was a strain in it as of some hugh
music struggling to be born of the turmoil。 〃Ugly I am；〃 it seemed to say to
him； 〃but never forget that I AM a god！〃 And the voice grew in sonorousness
and in dignity。 〃The highest should serve； but so long as you worship me for
my own sake I will not serve you。 It is man who makes me ugly； by his worship
of me。 If man would let me serve him； I should be beautiful！〃
Looking once more from the window； Bibbs sculptured for himselfin the vague
contortions of the smoke and fog above the roofsa giganitc figure with feet
pedestaled upon the great buildings and shoulders disappearing in the clouds；
a colossus of steel and wholly blackened with soot。 But Bibbs carried his