Of course, you were younger; but it
always DID seem queer--and you three bein' 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--"
"Oh, I ain't reproachin' you, Bibbs," she said. "Jim ain't been home
much of an evening since you got back--what with his work and callin'
and goin' to the theater and places, and often not even at the house
for dinner. Right the evening before he got hurt he had his dinner
at some miser'ble rest'rant down by the Pump Works, he was so set on
overseein' the night work and gettin' everything finished up right to
the minute he told papa he would. I reckon you might 'a' put in more
time with Jim if there'd been more opportunity, Bibbs. I expect you
feel almost as if you scarcely really 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
don'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 'em 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 any more
--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.
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