And then something happened that made my situation infinitely worse before it was any better.
The spring had come on early and I had much to do.

I was buying machinery.

The mowers that I had ordered were soon to be delivered and I had need to be in town almost daily.

There were always loafers about the streets; and among them, not infrequently, the McCall boys or Lamborn.
Reverdy had told me that Lamborn had been talking in the barber shop, saying that I was living in a state of adultery with my nigger sister.
At the same time I knew, and Reverdy knew, that Lamborn was trying to get Zoe to meet him.

He had sent her a note to that effect, which Zoe had turned over to me.