Quentin pushed Dilsey away. She looked at Jason. Her mouth was red. She picked up her glass of water and swung her arm back, looking at Jason. Dilsey caught her arm. They fought. The glass broke on the table, and the water ran into the table. Quentin was running.
'Mother's sick again.' Caddy said.
'Sho she is.' Dilsey said. 'Weather like this make anybody sick. When you going to get done eating, boy.'
Goddam you, Quentin said. Goddam you. We could hear her running on the stairs. We went to the library.
Caddy gave me the cushion, and I could look at the cushion and the mirror and the fire.
'We must be quiet while Quentin's studying.' Father said. 'What are you doing, Jason.'
'Nothing.' Jason said.
'Suppose you come over here to do it, then.' Father said.
Jason came out of the corner.
'What are you chewing.' Father said.
'Nothing. ' Jason said.
'He's chewing paper again.' Caddy said.
'Come here, Jason.' Father said.
Jason threw into the fire. It hissed, uncurled, turning black. Then it was gray. Then it was gone. Caddy and Father and Jason were in Mother's chair. Jason's eyes were puffed shut and his mouth moved, like tasting. Caddy's head was on Father's shoulder. Her hair was like fire, and little points of fire were in her eyes, and I went and Father lifted me into the chair too, and Caddy held me. She smelled like trees.
She smelled like trees. In the corner it was dark, but I could see the window. I squatted there, holding the slipper. I couldn't see it, but my hands saw it, and I could hear it getting night, and my hands saw the slipper but I couldn't see myself but my hands could see the slipper, and I squatted there, hearing it getting dark.
Here you is, Luster said. Look what I got. He showed it to me. You know where I got it. Miss Quentin give it to me. I knowed they couldn't keep me out. What you doing, off in here. I thought you done slipped back out doors. Aint you done enough moaning and slobbering today, without hiding off in this here empty room, mumbling and taking on. Come on here to bed, so I can get up there before it starts. I cant fool with you all night tonight. Just let them horns toot the first toot and I done gone.
We didn't go to our room.
'This is where we have the measles.' Caddy said. 'Why do we have to sleep in here tonight.'
'What you care where you sleep.' Dilsey said. She shut the door and sat down and began to undress me. Jason began to cry. 'Hush.' Dilsey said.
'I want to sleep with Damuddy.' Jason said.
'She's sick.' Caddy said. 'You can sleep with her when she gets well. Cant he, Dilsey.'
'Hush, now.' Dilsey said. Jason hushed.
'Our nighties are here, and everything.' Caddy said. 'It's like moving.'
'And you better get into them.' Dilsey said. 'You be unbuttoning Jason.
Caddy unbuttoned Jason. He began to cry.
'You want to get whipped.' Dilsey said. Jason hushed.
Quentin, Mother said in the hall.
What, Quentin said beyond the wall. We heard Mother lock the door. She looked in our door and came in and stooped over the bed and kissed me on the forehead.
When you get him to bed, go and ask Dilsey if she objects to my having a hot water bottle, Mother said. Tell her that if she does, I'll try to get along without it. Tell her I just want to know.
Yessum, Luster said. Come on. Get your pants off.
Quentin and Versh came in. Quentin had his face turned away. 'What are you crying for.' Caddy said.
'Hush.' Dilsey said. 'You all get undressed, now. You can go on home, Versh.'
I got undressed and I looked at myself and I began to cry. Hush, Luster said. Looking for them aint going to do no good. They're gone. You keep on like this, and we aint going have you no more birthday. He put my gown on. I hushed, and then Luster stopped, his head toward the window. Then he went to the window and looked out. He came back and took my arm. Here she come, he said. Be quiet, now. We went to the window and looked out. It came out of Quentin's window and climbed across into the tree. We watched the tree shaking. The shaking went down the tree, then it came out and we watched it go away across the grass. Then we couldn't see it. Come on, Luster said. There now. Hear them horns. You get in that bed while my foots
