I--" "Wha'd he say ?" "He said, 'Oh, hell!'" answered Bibbs, mildly.
"Yes, I reckon he would!" Sheridan swung away from the desk.

"I reckon he certainly would! And I got plenty sympathy with him right now, myself!" "It's the same answer, then ?" Bibbs's voice was serious, almost tremulous.
"Damnation!" Sheridan roared.

"Did you ever hear the word Prosperity, you ninny?
Did you ever hear the word Ambition?
Did you ever hear the word PROGRESS ?" He flung himself into a chair after the outburst, his big chest surging, his throat tumultuous with gutteral incoherences.

"Now then," he said, huskily, when the anguish had somewhat abated, "what do you want to do ?" "Sir ?" "What do you WANT to do, I said." Taken by surprise, Bibbs stammered.

"What--what do--I--what--" "If I'd let you do exactly what you had the whim for, what would you do ?" Bibbs looked startled; then timidity overwhelmed him--a profound shyness.