the woman-haters-第14节

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a　gurgle；　a　choking　yell；　and　high　upon　the　salty　air　enveloping
Eastboro　Twin…Lights　rose　the　voice　of　Mr。　Seth　Atkins；　expressing
his　opinion　of　the　〃Stomach　Balm〃　and　those　who　administered　it。

John　Brown　darted　out　of　the　kitchen；　dodged　around　the　corner　of
the　house；　tiptoed　past　the　bench　by　the　bluff；　where　Mr。　Stover　sat
gloomily　meditating；　and　ran　lightly　down　the　path　to　the　creek　and
the　wharf。　　The　boathouse　at　the　end　of　the　wharf　offered　a
convenient　refuge。　　Into　the　building　he　darted；　closed　the　door
behind　him；　and　collapsed　upon　a　heap　of　fish　nets。

At　three…thirty　that　afternoon；　Mr。　Atkins；　apparently　quite
recovered；　was　sitting　in　the　kitchen　rocker；　reading　a　last　week's
newspaper；　one　of　a　number　procured　on　his　most　recent　trip　to　the
village。　　The　Stovers　and　their　guest　had　departed。　　Their　buggy　was
out　of　sight　beyond　the　dunes。　　A　slight　noise　startled　the
lightkeeper；　and　he　looked　up。　　His　helper　was　standing　in　the
doorway；　upon　his　face　an　expression　of　intense　and　delighted
surprise。

〃What？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Brown。　　〃What？　　Is　it　really　you？〃

Seth　put　down　the　paper　and　nodded。

〃Um…hm；〃　he　observed　drily；　〃it's　really　me。〃

〃Up？　and　WELL？〃　queried　Brown。

〃Um…hm。　　Pretty　well；　considerin'；　thank　you。　　Been　for　a　stroll　up
Washin'ton　Street；　have　you？　　Or　a　little　walk　on　the　Common；　maybe？〃

The　elaborate　sarcasm　of　these　questions　was　intended　to　be
withering。　　Mr。　Brown；　however；　did　not　wither。　　Neither　did　he
blush。

〃I　have　been；〃　he　said；　〃down　at　the　boathouse。　　I　knew　you　were　in
safe　hands　and　well　looked　after；　so　I　went　away。　　I　couldn't　remain
here　and　hear　you　suffer。〃

〃Hum！　HEAR　me　suffer；　hey？　　Much　obliged；　I'm　sure。　　What　have　you
been　doin'　there　all　this　time？　　I　hoped　you　wasthat　is；　I　begun
to　be　afraid　you　was　dead。　　Thought　your　sympathy　for　me　had　been
too　much　for　you；　maybe。〃

Brown　mournfully　shook　his　head。　　〃It　wasalmost；〃　he　said；
solemnly。　　〃I　think　I　dropped　asleep。　　I　was　quite　overcome。〃

〃Hum！　　Better　take　a　dose　of　that　'Stomach　Balm；'　hadn't　you？
That'll　liven　you　up；　I'll　guarantee。〃

〃No；　thank　you。　　The　sight　of　you；　well　and　strong　again；　is　all　the
medicine　I　need。　　We　must　keep　the　'Balm'　in　case　you　have　another
attack。　　By　the　way；　I　notice　the　dinner　dishes　haven't　been　washed。
I'll　do　them　at　once。　　I　know　you　must　be　tired；　after　your　illness
and　the　exertion　of　showing　your　guests　about　the　lights。〃

Atkins　did　not　answer；　although　he　seemed　to　want　to　very　much。
However；　he　made　no　objection　when　his　helper；　rolling　up　his
sleeves；　turned　to　the　sink　and　the　dish　washing。

Seth　was　silent　all　the　rest　of　the　afternoon　and　during　supper。
But　that　evening；　as　Brown　sat　on　the　bench　outside；　Atkins　joined
him。

〃Hello！〃　said　Seth；　as　cheerfully　as　if　nothing　had　happened。

〃Hello！〃　replied　the　assistant；　shortly。　　He　had　been　thinking　once
more；　and　his　thoughts　were　not　pleasant。

〃I　s'pose　you　cal'late；〃　began　Atkins；　〃that　maybe　I've　got　a　grudge
against　you　on　account　of　this　mornin'　and　that　'Balm'　and　such。　　I
ain't。〃

〃That's　good。　　I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃

〃Yes。　　After　the　fust　dose　of　that　stufffor　thunder　sakes　WHAT　did
you　put　in　it？I　was　about　ready　to　murder　you；　but　I've　got　over
that。　　I　don't　blame　you　for　gettin'　even。　　We　are　even；　you　know。〃

〃I'm　satisfied；　if　you　are。〃

〃I　be。　　But　what　I　don't　understand　is　why　you　didn't　want　to　show
them　folks　around。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　I　had　my　reasons；　such　as　they　were。　　Why　didn't
you　want　to　do　it　yourself？〃

Seth　crossed　his　legs　and　was　silent　for　a　moment　or　two。　　Then　he
spoke　firmly　and　as　if　his　mind　was　made　up。

〃Young　feller；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　realize　it　or
not；　and　perhaps　I　shouldn't　be　the　one　to　mention　itbut　you're
under　some　obligations　to　me。〃

His　companion　nodded。　　〃I　realize　that；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　but　maybe　you　don't　realize　the　amount　of　the　obligations。
I'm　riskin'　my　job　keepin'　you　here。　　If　it　wa'n't　for　the
superintendent　bein'　such　a　friend　of　mine；　there'd　have　been　a
reg'lar　assistant　keeper　app'inted　long　ago。　　The　gov'ment　don't
pick　up　its　lightkeepers　same　as　you　would　farm　hands。　　There's
civil　service　to　be　gone　through；　and　the　like　of　that。　　But　you
wanted　to　stay；　and　I've　kept　you；　riskin'　my　own　job；　as　I　said。
And　now　I　cal'late　we'd　better　have　a　plain　understandin'。　　You've
got　to　know　just　what　your　job　is。　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you。〃

He　stopped；　as　if　to　let　this　sink　in。　　Brown　nodded　again。　　〃All
right；〃　he　observed；　carelessly；　〃go　on　and　tell　me；　I'm　listening。〃

〃Your　job　around　the　lights　you　know　already；　part　of　it。　　But
there's　somethin'　else。　　Whenever　men　folks　come　here；　I'll　do　my
share　of　showin'　the　place　off。　　But　when　women　comewomen；　you
understandyou've　got　to　be　guide。　　I'll　forgive　you　to…day's
doin's。　　I　tried　to　play　a　joke　on　you；　and　you　evened　it　up　with　a
better　one　on　me。　　That's　all　right。　　But；　after　this；　showin'　the
lights　to　females　is　your　job；　and　you've　got　to　do　itor　get　out。
No　hard　feelin's　at　all；　and　I'd　really　hate　to　lose　you；　but　THAT'S
got　to　be　as　I　say。〃

He　rose；　evidently　considering　the　affair　settled。　　Brown　caught　his
coat　and　pulled　him　back　to　the　bench。

〃Wait；　Atkins；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　grateful　to　you　for　your　kindness；　I
like　you　and　I'd　like　to　please　you；　but　if　what　you　say　is　final；
thenas　they　used　to　say　in　some　play　or　other'I　guess　you'll
have　to　hire　another　boy。'〃

〃What？　　You　mean　you'll　quit？〃

〃Rather　than　do　thatyes。〃

〃But　why？〃

〃For　reasons；　as　I　told　you。　　By　the　way；　you　haven't　told　me　why
you　object　to　acting　as　guide　tofemales。〃

〃Because　they　are　females。　　They're　women；　darn　'em！〃

Before　his　helper　could　comment　on　this　declaration；　it　was
repeated。　　The　lightkeeper　shook　both　his　big　fists　in　the　air。

〃Darn　'em！　　Darn　all　the　women！〃　shouted　Seth　Atkins。

〃Amen；〃　said　John　Brown；　devoutly。

Seth's　fists　dropped　into　his　lap。　　〃What？〃　he　cried；　〃what　did　you
say？〃

〃I　said　Amen。〃

〃Butbut　。　。　。　why　。　。　。　you　didn't　mean　it！〃

〃Didn't　I？〃　bitterly。　　〃Humph！〃

Seth　breathed　heavily；　started　to　speak　once　more；　closed　his　lips
on　the　words；　rose；　walked　away　a　few　paces；　returned；　and　sat　down。

〃John　Brown；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃if　you're　jokin'；　the　powers
forgive　you；　for　I　won't。　　If　you　ain't；　II　。　。　。　　See　here；　do
you　remember　what　you　asked　me　that　night　when　you　struck　me　for　the
assistant　keeper's　job？　　You　asked　me　if　I　was　married？〃

Brown　assented　wonderingly。　　〃Why；　yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　believe　I　did。〃

〃You　did。　　And　I　ain't　been　so　shook　up　for　many　a　day。　　Young
feller；　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you　what　no　other　man　in　Ostable　County
knows。　　I　AM　married。　　I've　got　a　wife　livin'。〃


CHAPTER　VII

OUT　OF　THE　BAG


〃I'm　married；　and　I've　got　a　wife　livin'；〃　continued　Seth；　adding
hurriedly　and　fiercely；　〃don't　you　say　nothin'　to　me！　　Don't　you　put
me　out。　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you！　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you　all　of　it
all；　by　time！　　I　am；　if　I　die　for　it。〃

He　was　speaking　so　rapidly　that　the　words　were　jumbled　together。　　He
knocked　his　hat　from　his　forehead　with　a　blow　of　his　fist　and
actually　panted　for　breath。　　Brown　had　never　before　seen　him　in　this
condition。

〃Hold　on！　　Wait；〃　he　cried。　　〃Atkins；　you　needn't　do　this；　you
mustn't。　　I　am　asking　no　questions。　　We　agreed　to〃

〃Hush　up！〃　　Seth　waved　both　hands　in　the　air。　　〃DON'T　you　talk！　　Let
me　get　this　off　my　chest。　　Good　heavens　alive；　I've　been　smotherin'
myself　with　it　for　years；　and；　now　I've　got　started；　I'll　blow　off
steam　or　my　b'iler'll　bust。　　I'm　GOIN'　to　tell　you。　　You　listen

〃Yes；　sir；　I'm　a　married　man；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　wa'n't　always
married；　you　understand。　　I　used　to　be　single　once。　　Once　I　was
single；　see？〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Brown；　repressing　a　smile。

Seth　was　not　aware　that　there　was　anything　humorous　in　his　statement。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　was　single　andand　happy；　by　jiminy！　　I　was
skipper　of　a　mack'rel　schooner　down　Cape　Ann　way；　never　mind　where；
and　Seth　Atkins　is　only　part　of　my　name；　never　mind　that；　neither。
I　sailed　that　schooner　and　I　run　that　schoonerI　RUN　her；　and　when
I　said　'boo'　all　hands　aboard　jumped；　I　tell　you。　　When　I've　got
salt　water　underneath　me；　I'm　a　man。　　But　I　told　you　that　afore。

〃However；　this　is　what　I　didn't　tell　you　nor　nobody　else　in　this
part　of　the　state：　I　stayed　single　till　I　got　to　be　past　forty。
Everybody　set　me　down　as　an　old　bach。　　Then　I　met　a　woman；　yes；　sir；
I　met　a　woman。〃

He　made　this　assertion　as　if　it　was　something　remarkable。　　His
companion　on　the　bench　made　no　comment。

〃She　was　a　widow　woman；〃　went　on　Seth；　〃and　she　had　a　little
property　left　her　by　her　first　husband。　　Owned　a　house　and　land；　she
did；　and　had　some　money　in　the　bank。　　Some　folks　cal'lated　I　married
her　for　that；　but　they　cal'lated　wrong。　　I　wanted　her　for　herself。
And　I　got　her。　　Her　name　was　Emeline。　　I　always　thought　Emeline　was
a　sort　of　pretty　name。〃

He　sighed。　　Brown　observed　that　Emeline　was　a　very　pretty　name；
indeed。

〃Um…hm。　　That's　what　I　thought；　and　Emeline　was　a　real　pretty　woman；
for　her　age　and　heftshe　was　fleshy。　　She　had　some　conside