the woman-haters-第19节

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twitched。　　〃The　whole　affair　is　perfectly　ridiculous；〃　she　said；
〃but　Mrs。　Bascom　was　frightened　and　so　was　Iwhen　I　had　time　to
realize　it。　　Thank　you　again。〃

〃You're　quite　welcome；　I'm　sure。　　No　trouble　at　all。〃

The　assistant　turned　to　go。　　His　brain　was　beginning　to　regain　a
little　of　its　normal　poise；　and　he　was　dimly　conscious　that　he　had
been　absent　from　duty　quite　long　enough。

〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　know　who　'tis　you've　helped；〃　observed　the
stout　woman。　　〃And；　considerin'　that　we're　likely　to　be　next…door
neighbors　for　a　spell；　I　cal'late　introductions　are　the　proper
thing。　　My　name's　Bascom。　　I'm　housekeeper　for　Miss　Ruth　Graham。
This　is　Miss　Graham。〃

The　young　lady　offered　a　hand。　　Brown　took　it。

〃Graham？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Where？〃　　Then；　remembering　a　portion　of
what　Seth　had　told　him；　he　added；　〃I　see！　thethe　artist？〃

〃My　brother　is　an　artist。　　He　and　his　friend；　Mr。　Hamilton；　own　this
bungalow。　　They　are　abroad　this　summer；　and　I　am　going　to　camp　here
for　a　few　weeksMrs。　Bascom　and　I。　　I　paint　a　little；　too；　but　only
for　fun。〃

Brown　murmured　a　conventionality　concerning　his　delight　at　meeting
the　pair；　and　once　more　headed　for　the　door。　　But　Mrs。　Bascom's
curiosity　would　not　permit　him　to　escape　so　easily。

〃I　thought；〃　she　said；　〃when　I　see　you　standin'　over　there　by　the
lights；　that　you　must　be　one　of　the　keepers。　　Not　the　head　keeperI
knew　you　wa'n't　himbut　an　assistant；　maybe。　　But　I　guess　you're
only　a　visitor；　MisterMister？〃

〃Brown。〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Brown。　　I　guess　you　ain't　no　keeper；　are　you？〃

〃I　am　the　assistant　keeper　at　present。　　Yes。〃

〃You　don't　say！〃　　Mrs。　Bascom　looked　surprised。　　So；　too；　did　Miss
Graham。　　〃You　don't　look　like　a　lighthouse　keeper；〃　continued　the
former。　　〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　your　clothes！〃　noticing　the　young　man's
embarrassed　glance　at　his　wet　and　far　from　immaculate　garments。　　〃I
mean　the　way　you　talk　and　act。　　You　ain't　been　here　long；　have　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃Just　come　this　summer？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　thought　so。　　You　ain't　a　Cape　Codder？〃

〃No。〃

〃I　was　sure　you　wa'n't。　　Where　DO　you　come　from？〃

Brown　hesitated。　　Miss　Graham；　noticing　his　hesitation；　hastened　to
end　the　inquisition。

〃Mr。　Brown　can't　stop　to　answer　questions；　Mrs。　Bascom；〃　she　said。
〃I'm　sure　he　wants　to　get　back　to　his　work。　　Good　morning；　Mr。
Brown。　　No　doubt　we　shall　see　each　other　often；　being　the　only
neighbors　in　sight。　　Call　againdo。　　I　solemnly　promise　that　you
shall　have　to　fight　no　more　wasps。〃

〃Say！〃　　The　stout　woman　took　a　step　forward。　　〃Speakin'　of　wasps　。　。　。
stand　still　a　minute；　Mr。　Brown；　won't　you。　　What's　them　lumps　on
your　forehead？　　Why；　I　do　believe　you've　been　bit。　　You　have；　sure
and　sartin！〃

Miss　Graham　was　very　much　concerned。　　〃Oh；　no！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I
hope　not。　　Let　me　see。〃

〃No；　indeed！〃　　The　assistant　was　on　the　step　by　this　time　and　moving
rapidly。　　〃Nothing　at　all。　　No　consequence。　　Good　morning。〃

He　almost　ran　down　the　hill　and　crossed　the　creek　at　the　wading
place。　　As　he　splashed　through；　the　voice　of　the　housekeeper　reached
his　ears。

〃Cold　mud's　the　best　thing；〃　she　screamed。　　〃Put　it　on　thick。　　It
takes　out　the　smart。　　Good　and　thick；　mind！〃

For　the　next　hour　or　two　the　lightkeeper's　helper　moved　about　his
household　tasks　in　a　curious　frame　of　mind。　　He　was　thoroughly
angryor　thought　he　wasand　very　much　disturbed。　　Neighbors　of　any
kind　were　likely　to　be　a　confounded　nuisance；　but　two　women！
Heavens！　　And　the　stout　woman　was　sure　to　be　running　in　for　calls
and　to　borrow　things。　　As　for　the　other；　she　seemed　a　nice　girl
enough；　but　he　never　wanted　to　see　another　girl；　nice　or　otherwise。
Her　eyes　were　pretty；　so　was　her　hair；　but　what　of　it？　　Oh；　hang　the
luck！　　Just　here　he　banged　his　swollen　forehead　on　the　sharp　edge　of
the　door；　and　found　relief　in　profanity。

Seth　Atkins　was　profane；　also；　when　he　heard　the　news。　　Brown　said
nothing　until　his　superior　discovered　with　his　own　eyes　that　the
bungalow　was　open。　　Then；　in　answer　to　the　lightkeeper's　questions；
came　the　disclosure　of　the　truth。

〃Women！〃　roared　Seth。　　〃You　say　there's　two　WOMEN　goin'　to　live
there？　　By　Judas！　　I　don't　believe　it！〃

〃Go　and　see　for　yourself；　then；〃　was　the　brusque　answer。

〃I　sha'n't；　neither。　　Who　told　you？〃

〃They　did。〃

〃They　DID？　　Was　you　there？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　for？　　I　thought　you　swore　never　to　go　nigh　a　woman　again。〃

〃I　did；　butwell；　it　wasn't　my　fault。　　I〃

〃Yes？　　Go　on。〃

〃I　went　because　I　couldn't　help　myself。　　Went　to　help　some　one　else；
in　fact。　　I　expected　to　find　Graham　and　that　other　artist。　　But〃

〃Well；　go　ON。〃

〃I　was　stung；〃　said　Mr。　Brown；　gloomily；　and　rubbed　his　forehead。


CHAPTER　IX

THE　BUNGALOW　GIRL


During　the　following　day　the　occupants　of　the　lightkeeper's　dwelling
saw　little　or　nothing　of　the　newcomers　at　the　bungalow。　　Brown；　his
forehead　resembling　a　section　of　a　relief　map　of　the　Rocky
Mountains；　remained　indoors　as　much　as　possible；　working　when　there
was　anything　to　do；　and　reading　back…number　magazines　when　there　was
not。　　Seth　went；　as　usual；　to　his　room　soon　after　noon。　　His
slumbers　must；　however；　have　been　fitful　ones；　for　several　times　the
substitute　assistant；　turning　quickly；　saw　the　bedroom　door　swing
silently　shut。　　The　third　time　that　this　happened　he　ran　to　the　door
and　threw　it　open　in　season　to　catch　Mr。　Atkins　in　an　undignified
dive　for　the　bed。　　A　tremendous　snore　followed　the　dive。　　The　young
man　regarded　him　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　during　which　the
snores　continued。　　Then　he　shook　his　head。

〃Humph！〃　he　soliloquized；　〃I　must　'phone　for　the　doctor　at　once。
Either　the　doctor　or　the　superintendent。　　If　he　has　developed　that
habit；　he　isn't　fit　for　this　job。〃

He　turned　away。　　The　slumberer　stirred　uneasily；　rolled　over；　opened
one　eye；　and　sat　up。

〃Hi！〃　he　called。　　〃Come　back　here！　　Where　you　goin'？〃

Brown　returned；　looking　surprised　and　anxious。

〃Oh！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃are　you　awake？〃

〃Course　I'm　awake！　　What　a　fool　question　that　is。　　Think　I'm　settin'
up　here　and　talkin'　in　my　sleep？〃

〃Well；　I　didn't　know。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　know？　　And；　see　here！　what　did　you　mean　by　sayin'
you　was　goin'　to　'phone　the　doctor　or　the　superintendent；　one　or
t'other？　　Yes；　you　said　it。　　I　heard　you。〃

〃Oh；　no！　you　didn't。〃

〃Tell　you　I　did。　　Heard　you　with　my　own　ears。〃

〃But　how　could　you？　　You　weren't　awake。〃

〃Course　I　was　awake！　　Couldn't　have　heard　you　unless　I　was；　could　I？
What　ails　you？　　Them　stings　go　clear　through　to　your　brains；　did
they？〃

Again　Brown　shook　his　head。

〃This　is　dreadful！〃　he　murmured。　　〃He　walks　in　his　sleep；　and　snores
when　he's　awake。　　I　MUST　call　the　doctor。〃

〃Whatwhat〃　　The　lightkeeper's　wrath　was　interfering　with　his
utterance。　　He　swung　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed　and　sputtered
incoherently。

〃Be　calm；　Atkins；〃　coaxed　the　assistant。　　〃Don't　complicate　your
diseases　by　adding　heart　trouble。　　Three　times　today　I've　caught　you
peeping　at　me　through　the　crack　of　that　door。　　Within　fifteen
seconds　of　the　last　peep　I　find　you　snoring。　　Therefore；　I　say〃

〃Aw；　belay！　　I　was　onlyonly　just　lookin'　out　to　see　what　time　it
was。〃

〃But　you　must　have　done　it　in　your　sleep；　because〃

〃I　never。　　I　was　wide　awake　as　you　be。〃

〃But　why　did　you　snore？　　You　couldn't　have　fallen　asleep　between　the
door　and　the　bed。　　And　you　hadn't　quite　reached　the　bed　when　I　got
here。〃

〃IIIAw；　shut　up！〃

Brown　smiled　blandly。　　〃I　will；〃　he　said；　〃provided　you　promise　to
keep　this　door　shut　and　don't　do　any　more　spying。〃

〃Spyin'？　　What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Just　what　I　said。　　You　and　I　had　a　discussion　concerning　that　same
practice　when　I　fell　over　the　bank　at　the　Slough　a　while　ago。　　I　was
not　spying　then；　but　you　thought　I　was；　and　you　didn't　like　it。　　Now
I　think　you　are；　and　I　don't　like　it。〃

〃Whwhatwhat　would　I　be　spyin'　on　you　for？　　Whwhat　reason　would
I　have　for　doin'　it？〃

〃No　good　reason；　because　I　have　no　intention　of　visiting　our　new
neighborsnone　whatever。　　That　being　understood；　perhaps　you'll
shut　the　door　and　keep　it　shut。〃

Seth　looked　sheepish　and　guilty。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　〃I　beg　your　pardon。
But　I　couldn't　help　feelin'　kind　of　uneasy。　　II　ought　to　know
better；　I　s'pose；　but；　with　a　young；　good…lookin'　girl　landed
unexpected　right　next　to　us；　II〃

〃How　did　you　know　she　was　good…looking？　　I　didn't　mention　her
looks。〃

〃No；　you　didn't；　butbut　。　。　。　　John　Brown；　I've　been　young　myself；
and　I　know　that　at　your　age　most　ANY　girl's　good…lookin'。　　There！〃

He　delivered　this　bit　of　wisdom　with　emphasis　and　a　savage　nod　of
the　head。　　Brown　had　no　answer　ready；　that　is；　no　relevant　answer。

〃You　go　to　bed　and　shut　the　door；〃　he　repeated；　turning　to　go。

〃All　right；　I　will。　　But　don't　you　forget　our　agreement。〃

〃I　have　no　intention　of　forgetting　it。〃

〃What　ARE　you　goin'　to　do？〃

〃Do？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　what　are　you　goin'　to　do　now　that　things　down　here's
changed；　and　you　and　me　ain't　alone；　same　as　we　was？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I'm　not　sure　that　I　sha'n't　leaveclear　out。〃

〃What？　　Clear　out？　　Run　away　and　leave　me　alone　toto　。　。　。　　By
time！　　I　didn't　think　you　was　a　deserte