the woman-haters-第18节

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but　keep　away　from　the　narrer　part　of　the　crick。〃

Swimming　was　good　fun；　and　walking；　on　pleasant　days；　was　an　aid　in
shaking　off　depression；　but；　in　spite　of　his　denials　and　his
attempts　at　appearing　contented；　the　substitute　assistant　realized
that　he　was　far　from　that　happy　condition。　　He　did　not　want　to　meet
people；　least　of　all　people　of　his　own　station　in　lifehis　former
station。　　Atkins　was　a　fine　chap；　in　his　way；　but　。　。　。　　Brown　was
lonely　。　。　。　and　when　one　is　lonely；　one　thinks　of　what　might　have
been；　and；　perhaps；　regrets。　　Regrets；　unavailing　regrets；　are　the
poorest　companions　possible。

The　lightkeeper；　too；　seemed　lonely；　which；　considering　his　years　of
experience　in　his　present　situation；　was　odd。　　He　explained　his
loneliness　one　evening　by　observing　that　he　cal'lated　he　missed　the
painting　chaps。

〃What　painting　chaps？〃　asked　Brown。

〃Oh；　them　two　young　fellers　that　always　used　to　come　to　the　cottage
what　you　call　the　bungalowacross　the　cove　there；　the　ones　I　told
you　about。　　They　was　real　friendly；　sociable　young　chaps；　and　I　kind
of　liked　to　have　'em　runnin'　in　and　out。　　Seems　queer　to　have　it
July；　and　they　not　here　to　hail　me　and　come　over　to　borrow　stuff。
And　they　was　forever　settin'　around　under　white　sunshades；　sloppin'
paint　onto　paper。　　I　most　wish　they　hadn't　gone　to　Europe。　　I
cal'late　you'd　have　liked　'em；　too。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　the　helper；　doubtfully。

〃Oh；　you　would；　no　perhaps　about　it。　　It　don't　seem　right　to　see　the
bungalow　all　shuttered　up　and　deserted　this　time　of　year。　　You'd
have　liked　to　meet　them　young　painters；　they　was　your　kind。〃

〃Yes；　I　know。　　Perhaps　that's　why　I　shouldn't　like　to　meet　them。〃

〃Hey？　。　。　。　　Oh；　yes；　yes；　I　see。　　I　never　thought　of　that。　　But
'tain't　likely　they'd　know　you；　they　hailed　from　Boston；　not　New
York。〃

〃How　did　you　know　I　came　from　New　York？　　I　didn't　tell　you　that。〃

〃No；　you　didn't；　that's　a　fact。　　But；　you　said　you　left　the　city
where　you　lived　and　came　to　Boston；　so　I　sort　of　guessed　New　York。
But　that's　all　right；　I　don't　know　and　I　don't　care。　　Names　and
places　you　and　me　might　just　as　well　not　tell；　even　to　each　other。
If　we　don't　tell　them；　we　can　answer　'don't　know'　to　questions　and
tell　the　truth；　hey？〃

One　morning　about　a　week　later；　Brown；　his　dish　washing　and　sweeping
done；　was　busy　in　the　light…room　at　the　top　of　the　right　hand　tower；
polishing　the　brass　of　the　lantern。　　The　curtains　were　drawn　on　the
landward　side；　and　those　toward　the　sea　open。　　Seth；　having　finished
his　night　watching　and　breakfast；　was　audibly　asleep　in　the　house。
Brown　rubbed　and　polished　leisurely；　his　thoughts　far　away；　and　a
frown　on　his　face。　　For　the　thousandth　time　that　week　he　decided
that　he　was　a　loafer　and　a　vagabond；　and　that　it　would　have　been
much　better　for　himself；　and　creation　generally；　if　he　had　never
risen　after　the　plunge　over　the　steamer's　rail。

He　pulled　the　cloth　cover　over　the　glittering　lantern　and　descended
the　iron　stair　to　the　ground　floor。　　When　he　emerged　into　the　open
air；　he　heard　a　sound　which　made　him　start　and　listen。　　The　sound
was　the　distant　rattle　of　wheels　from　the　direction　of　the　village。
Was　another　〃picnic〃　coming？　　He　walked　briskly　to　the　corner　of　the
house　and　peered　down　the　winding　road。　　A　carriage　was　in　sight
certainly；　but　it　was　going；　not　coming。　　He　watched　it　move　further
away　each　moment。　　Someonenot　the　grocer　or　a　tradesmanwas
driving　to　the　village。　　But　where　had　he　been；　and　who　was　he？　　Not
Seth；　for　Seth　was　asleephe　could　hear　him。

The　driver　of　the　carriage；　whoever　he　was；　had　not　visited　the
lights。　　And；　as　Atkins　had　said；　there　was　nowhere　else　to　go　on
that　road。　　Brown；　puzzled；　looked　about　him；　at　the　sea；　the
lights；　the　house；　the　creek；　the　cove；　the　bluff　on　the　other　side
of　the　cove；　the　bungalowah！　the　bungalow！

For　the　door　of　the　bungalow　was　open；　and　one　or　two　of　the
shutters　were　down。　　The　carriage　had　brought　some　person　or　persons
to　the　bungalow　and　left　them　there。　　Instantly；　of　course；　Brown
thought　of　the　artists　from　Boston。　　Probably　they　had　changed　their
minds　and　decided　to　summer　at　Eastboro　after　all。　　His　frown
deepened。

Then；　from　across　the　cove；　from　the　bungalow；　came　a　shrill　scream；
a　feminine　scream。　　The　assistant　started；　scarcely　believing　his
ears。　　Before　he　could　gather　his　wits；　a　stout　woman；　with　a
checked　apron　in　her　hand；　rushed　out　of　the　bungalow　door；　looked
about；　saw　him；　and　waved　the　apron　like　a　flag。

〃Hi！〃　she　screamed。　　〃Hi；　you！　　Mr。　Lighthouseman！　come　quick！　do
please　come　here　quick　and　help　us！〃

There　was　but　one　thing　to　do；　and　Brown　did　it　instinctively。　　He
raced　through　the　beach　grass；　down　the　hill；　in　obedience　to　the
call。　　As　he　ran；　he　wondered　who　on　earth　the　stout　woman　could　be。
Seth　had　said　that　the　artists　did　their　own　housekeeping。

〃Hurry　up！〃　shrieked　the　stout　woman；　dancing　an　elephantine
fandango　in　front　of　the　bungalow。　　〃Come　ON！〃

To　run　around　the　shore　line　of　the　cove　would　have　taken　a　good
deal　of　time。　　However；　had　the　tide　been　at　flood　there　would　have
been　no　other　wayexcepting　by　boatto　reach　the　cottage。　　But　the
tide　was　out；　and　the　narrowest　portion　of　the　creek；　the　stream
connecting　the　cove　with　the　ocean；　was　but　knee　deep。　　Through　the
water　splashed　the　substitute　assistant　and　clambered　up　the　bank
beyond。

〃Quick！〃　screamed　the　woman。　　〃They'll　eat　us　alive！〃

〃Who？　　What？〃　panted　Brown。

〃Wasps！　　They're　in　there！　　The　room's　full　of　'em。　　If　there's　one
thing　on　earth　I'm　scart　of；　it's　。　。　。　　Don't　stop　to　talk！　　Go　IN！〃

She　indicated　the　door　of　a　room　adjoining　the　living　room　of　the
little　cottage。　　From　behind　the　door　came　sounds　of　upsetting
furniture　and　sharp　slaps。　　Evidently　the　artists　were　having　a
lively　time。　　But　they　must　be　curious　chaps　to　be　afraid　of　wasps。
Brown　opened　the　door　and　entered；　partly　of　his　own　volition；
partly　because　he　was　pushed　by　the　stout　woman。　　Then　he　gasped　in
astonishment。

The　wasps　were　there；　dozens　of　them；　and　they　had　built　a　nest　in
the　upper　corner　of　the　room。　　But　they　were　not　the　astonishing
part　of　the　picture。　　A　young　woman　was　there；　also；　a　young　woman
with　dark　hair　and　eyes；　the　sleeves　of　a　white　shirtwaist　rolled
above　her　elbows；　and　a　wet　towel　in　her　right　hand。　　She　was
skipping　lightly　about　the　room；　slapping　frantically　at　the　humming
insects。

〃Mrs。　Bascom；〃　she　panted；　〃don't　stand　there　screaming。　　Get
another　towel　and〃

Then　she　turned　and　saw　Brown。　　For　an　instant　she；　too；　seemed
astonished。　　But　only　for　an　instant。

〃Oh；　I'm　so　glad　you　came！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Here！　take　this！　you
must　hit　quick　and　HARD。〃

〃This〃　was　the　towel。　　The　assistant　took　it　mechanically。　　The
young　lady　did　not　wait　to　give　further　orders。　　She　rushed　out　of
the　room　and　shut　the　door。　　Brown　was　alone　with　the　wasps；　and
they　were　lively　company。　　When；　at　last；　the　battle　was　over；　the
last　wasp　was　dead；　the　nest　was　a　crumpled　gray　heap　over　in　the
corner；　and　the　assistant's　brow　was　ornamented　with　four　red　and
smarting　punctures；　which　promised　to　shortly　become　picturesque　and
painful　lumps。　　Rubbing　these　absently　with　one　hand；　and　bearing
the　towel　in　the　other；　he　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out　into　the
adjoining　room。

The　two　women　were　awaiting　him。　　He　found　them　standing　directly　in
front　of　him　as　he　emerged。

〃Have　youhave　you　killed　them？〃　begged　the　younger　of　the　pair。

〃Be　they　all　dead？〃　demanded　the　other。

Brown　nodded　solemnly。　　〃I　guess　so；〃　he　said。　　〃They　seem　to　be。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　so　glad！〃　cried　the　dark　haired　girl。　　〃I'mweare　so
much　obliged　to　you。〃

〃If　there's　any　critters　on　earth；〃　declared　the　stout　woman；　〃that
I　can't　stand；　it's　wasps　and　hornets　and　such。　　Mice；　I　don't　mind〃

〃I　do；〃　interrupted　her　companion　with　emphasis。

〃But　when　I　walked　into　that　room　and　seen　that　nest　in　the　corner　I
was　pretty　nigh　knocked　overand；〃　she　added；　〃it　takes　consider'ble
to　do　that　to　ME。〃

The　assistant　looked　at　her。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　absently；　〃I　should
think　it　might。　　That　is；　I　meanII　beg　your　pardon。〃

He　paused　and　wiped　his　forehead　with　the　towel。　　The　young　lady
burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter；　in　which　the　stout　woman　joined。　　The
laugh　was　so　infectious　that　even　Brown　was　obliged　to　smile。

〃I　apologize；〃　he　stammered。　　〃I　didn't　mean　that　exactly　as　it
sounded。　　I'm　not　responsible　mentallyyetI　guess。〃

〃I　don't　wonder。〃　　It　was　the　stout　woman　who　answered。　　The　girl
had　turned　away　and　was　looking　out　the　window；　her　shoulders　shook。
〃I　shouldn't　think　you　would　be。　　Hauled　in　bodily；　as　you　might
say；　and　shut　up　in　a　room　to　fight　wasps！　　And　by　folks　you　never
saw　afore　and　don't　know　from　Adam！　　You　needn't　apologize。　　I'd
forgive　you　if　you　said　somethin'　a　good　deal　worse'n　that。　　I'm
long　past　the　age　where　I'm　sensitive　about　my　weight；　thank
goodness。〃

〃And　we　ARE　so　much　obliged　to　you。〃　　The　girl　was　facing　him　once
more；　and　she　was　serious；　though　the　corners　of　her　mouth　still
twitched。　　〃The　whole　affair　is　perfectly　ridiculous；〃　she　said；
〃but　Mrs。　Bascom　was　frighte