the woman-haters-第16节

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that　inventor　knew　she　didn't　like　it；　and　so　he　rubbed　it　in　every
time　I　made　a　slip。　　'Twas　just　one　of　his　little　ways；　he　had　a
million　of　'em。

〃But　I　tried　once　more。　　'Emeline；'　I　says；　'I'm　home。　　Can't　you
speak　to　me？'

〃Then　she　looked　at　me。　　'Yes；　Seth；'　says　she；　'I　see　you　are
home。'

〃'At　last；'　put　in　brother…in…law；　'〃There　is　no　place　like　home〃
when　the　other　places　are　shut　up。'　　And　he　laughed　again。

〃'Stop；　Bennie；'　says　Emeline；　and　he　stopped。　　That　was　another　of
his　little　waysto　do　anything　she　asked　him。　　Then　she　turned　to　me。

〃'Seth；'　she　asks；　'where　have　you　been？'

〃'Oh；　down　street；'　says　I；　casual。　　'It's　turrible　warm　out。'

〃She　never　paid　no　attention　to　the　weather　signals。　　'Where　'bouts
down　street？'　she　wanted　to　know。

〃'Oh；　down　to　the　store；'　I　says。

〃'You　go　to　the　store　a　good　deal；　don't　you；'　says　she。　　Bennie　D。
chuckled；　and　then　begged　her　pardon。　　That　chuckle　stirred　my　mad
up。

〃'I　go　where　folks　seem　to　be　glad　to　see　me；'　I　says。　　'Where　they
treat　me　as　if　I　was　somebody。'

〃'So　you　was　at　the　store　the　whole　evenin'？'　she　asks。

〃'Course　I　was；'　says　I。　　'Where　else　would　I　be？'

〃She　looked　at　me　hard；　and　her　face　sort　of　set。　　She　didn't
answer；　but　took　up　the　sewin'　in　her　lap　and　went　to　work　on　it。　　I
remember　she　dropped　it　once；　and　Bennie　D。　jumped　to　pick　it　up　for
her；　quick　as　a　wink。　　I　set　down　in　the　rockin'　chair　and　took　the
Gloucester　paper。　　But　I　didn't　really　read。　　The　clock　ticked　and
ticked；　and　'twas　so　still　you　could　hear　every　stroke　of　the
pendulum。　　Finally；　I　couldn't　stand　it　no　longer。

〃'What　on　earth　is　the　matter？'　I　sings　out。　　'What　have　I　done　this
time？　　Don't　you　WANT　me　to　go　to　the　store？　　Is　that　it？'

〃She　put　down　her　sewin'。　　'Seth；'　says　she；　quiet　but　awful　cold；
'I　want　you　to　go　anywheres　that　you　want　to　go。　　I　never'll　stand
in　your　way。　　But　I　want　you　tell　the　truth　about　it　afterwards。'

〃'The　truth？'　says　I。　　'Don't　I　always　tell　you　the　truth？'

〃'No；'　says　she。　　'You've　lied　to　me　tonight。　　You've　been　callin'
on　the　Christy　woman；　and　you　know　it。'

〃Well；　you　could　have　knocked　me　down　with　a　baby's　rattle。　　I'd
forgot　all　about　that　fool　Sarah　Ann。　　I　cal'late　I　turned　nineteen
different　shades　of　red；　and　for　a　minute　I　couldn't　think　of　a　word
to　say。　　And　Bennie　D。　smiled；　wicked　as　the　Old　Harry　himself。

〃'Howhow　did　youhow　do　you　know　I　see　Sarah　Ann　Christy？'　I
hollered　out；　soon's　I　could　get　my　breath。

〃'Because　you　were　seen　there；'　says　she。

〃'Who　see　me？'

〃'I　did；'　says　she。　　'I　went　down　street　myself；　on　an　errand；　and；
bein'　as　you　weren't　here　to　go　with　me；　Bennie　was　good　enough　to
go。　　It　ain't　pleasant　for　a　woman　to　go　out　alone　after　dark；　and
and　I　have　never　been　used　to　it；'　she　says。

〃That　kind　of　hurt　me　and　pricked　my　conscience；　as　you　may　say。

〃'You　know　I'd　been　tickled　to　death　to　go　with　you；　Emeline；'　I
says。　　'Any　time；　you　know　it。　　But　you　never　asked　me　to　go　with
you。'

〃'How　long　has　it　been　since　you　asked　to　go　with　me？'　she　says。

〃'Do　you　really　want　me　to　go　anywheres；　Emeline？'　says　I；　eager。
'Do　you？　　I　s'posed　you　didn't。　　If　you'd　asked'

〃'Why　should　I　always　do　the　askin'？　　Must　a　wife　always　ask　her
husband？　　Doesn't　the　husband　ever　do　anything　on　his　own
responsibility？　　Seth；　I　married　you　because　I　thought　you　was　a
strong；　self…reliant　man；　who　would　advise　me　and　protect　me　and'

〃That　cussed　inventor　bust　into　the　talk　right　here。　　I　cal'late　he
thought　twas　time。

〃'Excuse　me；　sister；'　he　says；　'don't　humiliate　yourself　afore　him。
Remember　you　and　me　saw　him　tonight；　saw　him　with　our　own　eyes；
settin'　on　a　dark　piazza　with　another　woman。　　Drinkin'　with　her　and'

〃'Drinkin'！'　I　yells。

〃'Yes；　drinkin'；'　says　he；　solemn。　　'I　don't　wonder　you　are　ashamed
of　it。'

〃'Ashamed！　　I　ain't　ashamed。'

〃'You　hear　that；　sister？　　NOW　I　hope　you're　convinced。'

〃''Twa'n't　nothin'　but　lemonade　I　was　drinkin'；'　I　hollers；　pretty
nigh　crazy。　　'She　asked　me　to　stop　and　have　a　glass　'cause　'twas　so
hot。　　And　as　for　callin'　on　her；　I　wa'n't。　　I　was　just　passin'　by；
and　she　sings　out　what　a　dreadful　night　'twas；　and　I　said　'twas；
too；　and　she　says　won't　I　have　somethin'　cold　to　drink。　　That's　all
there　was　to　it。'

〃Afore　Emeline　could　answer；　Bennie　comes　back　at　me　again。

〃'Perhaps　you'll　tell　us　this　was　the　first　time　you　have　visited
her；'　he　purrs。

〃Well；　that　was　a　sockdolager；　'cause　twa'n't　the　first　time。　　I
don't　know　how　many　times　'twas。　　I　never　kept　no　account　of　'em。
Too　glad　to　get　away　from　her　everlastin'　tongue…clackin'。　　But　when
'twas　put　right　up　to　me　this　way；　II　declare　I　was　all　fussed　up。
I　felt　sick　and　I　guess　I　looked　so。　　Emeline　was　lookin'　at　me　and
seemin'ly　waitin'　for　me　to　say　somethin'；　yet　I　couldn't　say　it。
And　Bennie　D。　laughed；　quiet　but　wicked。

〃That　laugh　fixed　me。　　I　swung　round　and　lit　into　him。

〃'You　mind　your　own　business；'　I　roars。　　'Ain't　you　ashamed；　makin'
trouble　with　a　man's　wife　in　his　own　house？'

〃'I　was　under　the　impression　the　house　belonged　to　my　sister…in…
law；'　he　says。　　And　again　I　was　knocked　off　my　pins。

〃'You　great　big　loafer！'　I　yelled　at　him；　'settin'　here　doin'
nothin'　but　raisin'　the　divil　generally！　　II'

〃He　jumped　as　if　I'd　stuck　a　brad…awl　into　him。　　The　shocked
expression　came　across　his　face　again；　and　he　runs　to　Emeline　and
takes　her　arm。

〃'Sister；　sister；'　he　says；　quick；　but　gentle；　'this　is　no　place　for
you。　　Language　like　that　is　。　。　。　there！　there！　don't　you　think
you'd　better　leave　the　room？'

〃She　didn't　go。　　As　I　remember　it　now；　it　keeps　comin'　back　to　me
that　she　didn't　go。　　She　just　stood　still　and　looked　at　me。　　And
then　she　says：　'Seth；　why　did　you　lie　to　me？'

'I　didn't　lie；'　I　shouts。　　'I　forgot；　I　tell　you。　　I　never　thought
that　windmill　of　a　Christy　woman　was　enough　importance　to　remember。
I　didn't　lie　to　youI　never　did。　　Oh；　Emeline；　you　know　I　didn't。
What's　the　matter　with　you　and　me；　anyway？　　We　used　to　be　all　right
and　now　we're　all　wrong。'

〃'One　of　us　is；'　says　Bennie　D。　　That　was　the　final　straw　that
choked　the　camel。

〃'Yes；'　I　says　to　him；　'that's　right；　one　of　us　is；　and　I　don't　know
which。　　But　I　know　this：　you　and　I　can't　stay　together　in　this　house
any　longer。'

〃I　can　see　that　room　now；　as　'twas　when　I　said　that。　　Us　three
lookin'　at　each　other；　and　the　clock　a…tickin'；　and　everything　else
still　as　still。　　I　choked；　but　I　kept　on。

〃'I　mean　it；'　I　says。　　'Either　you　clear　out　of　this　house　or　I　do。'

〃And；　while　the　words　was　on　my　lips；　again　it　came　to　me　strong
that　it　wa'n't　really　my　house　at　all。　　I　turned　to　my　wife。

〃'Emeline；'　says　I；　'it's　got　to　be。　　You　must　tell　him　to　go；　or
else'

〃She'd　been　lookin'　at　me　again　with　that　kind　of　queer　look　in　her
eyes；　almost　a　hopeful　look；　seem's　if　'twas；　and　yet　it　couldn't
have　been；　of　course。　　Now　she　drawed　a　long　breath。

〃'I　can't　tell　him　to　go；　Seth；'　says　she。　　'I　promised　to　give　him
a　home　as　long　as　I　had　one。'

〃I　set　my　jaws　together。　　'All　right；'　I　says；　'then　I'M　goin'。
Good　by。'

〃And　I　went。　　Yes；　sir；　I　went。　　Just　as　I　was；　without　any　hat　or
dunnage　of　any　kind。　　When　I　slammed　the　back　door　it　seemed　as　if　I
heard　her　sing　out　my　name。　　I　waited；　but　I　guess　I　was　mistaken；
for　she　didn't　call　it　again。　　Andand　I　never　set　eyes　on　her
since。　　No；　sir；　not　once。〃

The　lightkeeper　stopped。　　John　Brown　said　nothing；　but　he　laid　a
hand　sympathetically　on　the　older　man's　shoulder。　　Seth　shuddered；
straightened；　and　went　on。

〃I　cleared　out　of　that　town　that　very　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Walked
clear　into　Gloucester；　put　up　at　a　tavern　there　till　mornin'；　and
then　took　the　cars　to　Boston。　　I　cal'lated　fust　that　I'd　ship　as
mate　or　somethin'　on　a　foreign　voyage；　but　I　couldn't；　somehow　I
couldn't　bring　myself　to　do　it。　　You　see；　I'd　promised　her　I
wouldn't　ever　go　to　sea　again；　and　sowell；　I　was　a　dum　idiot；　I
s'pose；　but　I　wouldn't　break　the　promise。　　I　knew　the　superintendent
of　lighthouses　in　this　district；　and　I'd　been　an　assistant　keeper
when　I　was　younger。　　I　told　him　my　yarn；　and　he　told　me　about　this
job。　　I　changed　my　name；　passed　the　examination　and　come　directly
here。　　And　here　I've　stayed　ever　since。〃

He　paused　again。　　Brown　ventured　to　ask　another　question。

〃And　yourand　the　lady？〃　he　asked。　　〃Where　is　she？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　Livin'　in　her　house　back　there　on　Cape　Ann；　I
s'pose。　　She　was；　last　I　knew。　　I　never　ask　no　questions。　　I　want　to
forgetto　forget；　by　time！　。　。　。　　Hi　hum！　。　。　。　　Well；　now　you　know
what　nobody　this　side　of　Boston　knows。　　And　you　can　understand　why
I'm　willin'　to　be　buried　alive　down　here。　　'Cause　a　woman　wrecked　my
life；　I'm　done　with　women；　and　to　this　forsaken　hole　no　women
scarcely　ever　come。　　But；　when　they　DO　come；　you　must　understand
that　I　expect　you　to　show　'em　round。　　After　hearin'　what　I've　been
through；　I　guess　you'll　be　willin'　to　do　that　much　for　me。〃

He　rose；　evidently　considering　the　affair　settled。　　Brown　stroked
his　chin。

〃I'm　sorry；　Atkins；〃　he　observed；　slowly；　〃and　I　certainly　do
sympathize　with　you。　　Butbut；　as　I　said