the woman-haters-第12节

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could　holler　and　make　fun。　　Not　much！　　I　drove　way　round　the　other
way；　up　the　back　road；　and　unloaded　him　at　Henry's　house。　　I
cal'lated　to　leave　him　with　Aunt　Olivethat's　Henry's　sister；
keepin'　house　for　himbut　she'd　gone　out　to　sewin'　circle；　and
there　wa'n't　nobody　to　home。　　The　side　door　was　unlocked；　so　I
lugged　that　box　into　the　settin'　room　and　left　it　there。　　Pretty
nigh　broke　my　back；　and　that　everlastin'　Job　hollered　so　I　thought
the　whole　town　would　hear　him　and　come　runnin'　to　stop　the　murderin'
that　they'd　cal'late　was　bein'　done。　　But　there　ain't　no　nigh
neighbors；　and　those　that　are　nighest　ain't　on　speakin'　terms　with
Henry；　ruther　have　him　murdered　than　not；　I　shouldn't　wonder。　　So　I
left　Job　in　his　box　in　the　settin'　room　and　cleared　out。〃

The　substitute　assistant　smiled　delightedly。

〃Good　enough！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　a　pleasant　surprise　for　friend
Henry　or　his　housekeeper。〃

〃Ho；　ho！　ain't　it！　　I　rather　guess　'twill　be　Henry　himself　that's
surprised　fust。　　Aunt　Olive　never　leaves　sewin'　circle　till　the　last
bit　of　supper's　eat　upshe's　got　some　of　her　brother's　stinginess
in　her　make…upso　I　cal'late　Henry'll　get　home　afore　she　does。　　I
shouldn't　wonder；〃　with　an　exuberant　chuckle；　〃if　that　settin'　room'
was　some　stirred　up　when　he　sees　it。　　The　pup　had　loosened　the　box
cover　afore　I　left。　　Ho；　ho！〃

〃But　won't　he　send　the　dog　back　here　again？〃

〃No；　he　won't。　　I　left　a　note　for　him　on　the　table。　　There　was
consider'ble　ginger　in　every　line　of　it。　　No；　Job　won't　be　sent
here；　no　matter　what　becomes　of　him。　　And　if　anything　SHOULD　be
broke　in　that　settin'　roomwell；　there　was　SOME　damage　done　to　our
kitchen。　　No；　I　guess　Henry　G。　and　me　are　square。　　He　won't　make　any
fuss；　he　wants　to　keep　our　trade；　you　see。〃

It　was　a　true　prophecy。　　The　storekeeper　made　no　trouble；　and　Job
remained　at　Eastboro　until　a　foray　on　a　neighbor's　chickens　resulted
in　his　removal　from　this　vale　of　tears。　　Neither　the　lightkeeper　nor
his　helper　ever　saw　him　again；　and　when　Seth　next　visited　the　store
and　solicitously　inquired　concerning　the　pup's　health；　Henry　G。
merely　looked　foolish　and　changed　the　subject。

But　the　dog's　short　sojourn　at　the　Twin…Lights　had　served　to　solve
one　mystery；　that　of　Atkins's　daily　excursions　to　Pounddug　Slough。
He　went　there　to　work　on　the　old　schooner；　the　Daisy　M。　　Seth　made
no　more　disclosures　concerning　his　past　lifethat　remained　a
secretbut　he　did　suggest　his　helper's　going　to　inspect　the
schooner。　　〃Just　walk　across　and　look　her　over；〃　he　said。　　〃I'd　like
to　know　what　you　think　of　her。　　See　if　I　ain't　makin'　a　pretty　good
job　out　of　nothin'。　　FOR　nothin'；　of　course；〃　he　added；　gloomily；
〃but　it　keeps　me　from　thinkin'　too　much。　　Go　and　see　her；　that's　a
good　feller。〃

So　the　young　man　did　go。　　He　climbed　aboard　the　stranded　crafta
forlorn　picture　she　made；　lying　on　her　side　in　the　mudand　was
surprised　to　find　how　much　had　been　manufactured　〃out　of　nothing。〃
Her　seams；　those　which　the　sun　had　opened；　were　caulked　neatly；　her
deck　was　clean　and　white；　she　was　partially　rigged；　with　new　and　old
canvas　and　ropes；　and　to　his　landsman's　eyes　she　looked　almost　fit
for　sea。　　But　when　he　said　as　much　to　Seth；　the　latter　laughed
scornfully。

〃Fit　for　nothin'；〃　scoffed　the　lightkeeper。　　〃I　could　make　her　fit；
maybe；　if　I　wanted　to　spend　money　enough；　but　I　don't。　　I　can't　get
at　her　starboard　side；　that's　down　in　the　mud；　and　I　cal'late　she'd
leak　like　a　skimmer。　　She's　only　got　a　fores'l　and　a　jib；　and　the
jib's　only　a　little　one　that　used　to　belong　to　a　thirty…foot　sloop。
Her　anchor's　gone；　and　I　wouldn't　trust　her　main　topmast　to　carry
anything　bigger'n　a　handkerchief；　nor　that　in　a　breeze　no　more
powerful　than　a　canary　bird's　breath。　　And；　as　I　told　you；　it　would
take　a　tide　like　a　flood　to　float　her。　　No；　she's　no　good；　and　never
will　be；　but；〃　with　a　sigh；　〃I　get　a　little　fun　fussin'　over　her。〃

〃Erby　the　way；〃　he　added；　a　little　later；　〃of　course　you　won't
mention　to　nobody　what　I　told　you　aboutabout　my　bein'　a　fishin'
skipper　once。　　Not　that　anybody　ever　comes　here　for　you　to　mention
it　to；　but　I　wouldn't　want　。　。　。　　You　see；　nobody　in　Eastboro　or
anywheres　on　the　Cape　knows　where　I　come　from；　and　so　。　。　　。　　Oh；
all　right；　all　right。　　I　know　you　ain't　the　kind　to　talk。　　Mind　our
own　business；　that's　the　motto　you　and　me　cruise　under；　hey？〃

Yet；　although　the　conversation　in　the　substitute　assistant's　room
was　not　again　referred　to　by　either；　it　had　the　effect　of　making　the
oddly　assorted　pair　a　bit　closer　in　their　companionship。　　The　mutual
trust　was　strengthened　by　the　lightkeeper's　half　confidence　and
Brown's　sympathetic　reception　of　it。　　Each　was　lonely；　each　had
moments　when　he　felt　he　must　express　his　hidden　feelings　to　some
one；　and；　though　neither　recognized　the　fact；　it　was　certain　that
the　time　was　coming　when　all　mysteries　would　be　mysteries　no　longer。
And　one　day　occurred　a　series　of　ridiculous　happenings　which；
bidding　fair　at　first　to　end　in　a　quarrel　the　relationship　between
the　two；　instead　revealed　in　both　a　kindred　trait　that　removed　the
last　barrier。

At　a　little　before　ten　on　this　particular　morning；　Brown；　busy　in
the　kitchen；　heard　vigorous　language　outside。　　It　was　Atkins　who　was
speaking；　and　the　assistant　wondered　who　on　earth　he　could　be
talking　to。　　A　glance　around　the　doorpost　showed　that　he　was；
apparently；　talking　to　himselfat　least；　there　was　no　other　human
being　to　be　seen。　　He　held　in　his　hand　a　battered　pair　of　marine
glasses　and　occasionally　he　peered　through　them。　　Each　time　he　did
so　his　soliloquy　became　more　animated　and　profane。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　demanded　Brown；　emerging　from　the　house。

〃Matter？〃　repeated　Seth。　　〃Matter　enough！　　Here！　take　a　squint
through　them　glasses　and　tell　me　who's　in　that　buggy　comin'　yonder？〃

The　buggy；　a　black　dot　far　down　the　sandy　road　leading　from　the
village；　was　rocking　and　dipping　over　the　dunes。　　The　assistant　took
the　glasses；　adjusted　them；　and　looked　as　directed。

〃Why！〃　he　said　slowly；　〃there　are　three　people　in　that　buggy。　　A
manand〃

〃And　two　women；　that's　what　I　thought。　　Dum　idiots　comin'　over　to
picnic　and　spend　the　day；　sure's　taxes。　　And　they'll　want　to　be
showed　round　the　lights　and　everywheres；　and　they'll　ask　more'n
forty　million　questions。　　Consarn　the　luck！〃

Brown　looked　troubled。　　He　had　no　desire　to　meet　strangers。

〃How　do　you　know　they're　coming　here？〃　he　asked。　　The　answer　was
conclusive。

〃Because；〃　snarled　Seth；　〃as　I　should　think　you'd　know　by　this　time；
there　ain't　no　other　place　round　here　they　COULD　come　to。〃

A　moment　later；　he　added；　〃Well；　you'll　have　to　show　'em　round。〃

〃I　will？〃

〃Sartin。　　That's　part　of　the　assistant　keeper's　job。〃

He　chuckled　as　he　said　it。　　That　chuckle　grated　on　the　young　man's
nerves。

〃I'm　not　the　assistant；〃　he　declared　cheerfully。

〃You　ain't？　　What　are　you　then？〃

〃Oh；　just　a　helper。　　I　don't　get　any　wages。　　You've　told　me
yourself；　over　and　over；　that　I　have　no　regular　standing　here。　　And；
according　to　the　government　rules；　those　you've　got　posted　in　the
kitchen；　the　lightkeeper　is　obliged　to　show　visitors　about。　　I
wouldn't　break　the　rules　for　the　world。　　Good　morning。　　Think　I'll
go　down　to　the　beach。〃

He　stalked　away　whistling。　　Atkins；　his　face　flaming；　roared　after
him　a　profane　opinion　concerning　his　actions。　　Then　he　went　into　the
kitchen；　slamming　the　door　with　a　bang。

Some　twenty　minutes　later　the　helper　heard　his　name　shouted　from　the
top　of　the　bluff。

〃Mr。　Brown！　　I　say！　　Ahoy　there；　Mr。　Brown！　　Come　up　here　a　minute；
won't　ye？〃

Brown　clambered　up　the　path。　　A　little　man；　with　grey　throat
whiskers；　and　wearing　an　antiquated　straw　hat；　the　edge　of　the　brim
trimmed　with　black　braid；　was　standing　waiting　for　him。

〃Sorry　to　trouble　you；　Mr。　Brown；〃　stammered　the　little　man；　〃but
you　be　Mr。　Brown；　ain't　you？〃

〃I　am。　　Yes。〃

〃Well；　I　cal'lated　you　was。　　My　name's　Stover；　Abijah　Stover。　　I
live　over　to　Trumet。　　Me　and　my　wife　drove　over　for　a　sort　of　picnic
like。　　We've　got　her　cousin；　Mrs。　Sophia　Hains；　along。　　Sophi's　a
widow　from　Boston；　and　she　ain't　never　seen　a　lighthouse　afore。　　I
know　Seth　Atkins　slightly；　and　I　was　cal'latin'　he'd　show　us　around；
but　bein'　as　he's　so　sick〃

〃Sick？　　Is　Mr。　Atkins　sick？〃

〃Why；　yes。　　Didn't　you　know　it？　　He's　in　the　bedroom　there　groanin'
somethin'　terrible。　　He　told　me　not　to　say　nothin'　to　the　women
folks；　but　to　hail　you；　and　you'd　look　out　for　us。　　Didn't　you　know
he　was　laid　up？　　Why；　he〃

Brown　did　not　wait　to　hear　more。　　He　strode　to　the　house；　with　Mr。
Stover　at　his　heels。　　On　his　way　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　buggy；
the　horse　dozing　between　the　shafts。　　On　the　seat　of　the　buggy　were
two　women；　one　plump　and　round…faced；　the　other　thin　and　gaunt。

Mr。　Stover　panted　behind　him。

〃Say；　Mr。　Brown；〃　he　whispered；　as　they　entered　the　kitchen；　〃don't
tell　my　wife　nor　Sophi　about　Seth's　bein'　sick。　　Better　not　say　a
word　to　them　about　it。〃

The　tone　in　which　this　was　spoken　made　the　substitute　assistant
curious。

〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。

〃'Causewell；　'cause　Hannah's　hobby　is　sick　folks；　as　you　might
say。　　If　there's　a　cat　in　the　n