Bibbs heard that I'd tried to make your oldest son care for me because I was poor, and so Bibbs came and asked me to marry him--because he was sorry for me.

And I CAN'T see him any more," she cried in distress.

"I CAN'T!" Sheridan cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"You mean because he thought that about you ?" "No, no! What he thought was TRUE!" "Well--you mean he was so much in--you mean he thought so much of you--" The words were inconceivably awkward upon Sheridan's tongue; he seemed to be in doubt even about pronouncing them, but after a ghastly pause he bravely repeated them.

"You mean he thought so much of you that you just couldn't stand him around ?" "NO! He was sorry for me.