the woman-haters-第20节

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

The　substitute　assistant　laughed　bitterly。　　〃You　needn't　worry；〃　he
said。　　〃I　couldn't　go　far；　even　if　I　wanted　to。　　I　haven't　any
money。〃

〃That's　so。〃　　Seth　was　evidently　relieved。　　〃All　right；〃　he
observed；　〃don't　you　worry。　　'Twon't　be　but　a　couple　of　months
anyway；　and　we'll　fight　it　through　together。　　But　ain't　it　a　shame！
Ain't　it　an　everlastin'　shame　that　this　had　to　happen　just　as　we'd
come　to　understand　each　other　and　was　so　contented　and　friendly！
Well；　there's　only　one　thing　to　do；　that's　to　make　the　best　of　it
for　us　and　the　worst　for　them。　　We'll　keep　to　ourselves　and　pay　no
attention　to　em　no　more'n　if　they　wa'n't　there。　　We'll　forget　'em
altogether；　hey？　。　。　。　　I　say　we'll　forget　'em　altogether；　won't　we？〃

Brown's　answer　was　short　and　sharp。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　and　slammed　the　door　behind　him。　　Seth　slowly　shook
his　head　before　he　laid　it　on　the　pillow。　　He　was　not　entirely　easy
in　his　mind；　even　yet。

However；　there　was　no　more　spying；　and　the　lightkeeper　did　not
mention　the　bungalow　tenants　when　he　appeared　at　supper　time。　　After
the　meal　he　bolted　to　the　lights；　and　was　on　watch　in　the　tower　when
his　helper　retired。

Early　the　next　afternoon　Brown　descended　the　path　to　the　boathouse。
He　had　omitted　his　swim　the　day　before。　　Now；　however；　he　intended
to　have　it。　　Simply　because　those　female　nuisances　had　seen　fit　to
intrude　where　they　had　no　business　was　no　reason　why　he　should
resign　all　pleasure。　　He　gave　a　quick　glance　upward　at　the　opposite
bank　as　he　reached　the　wharf。　　There　was　no　sign　of　life　about　the
bungalow。

He　entered　the　boathouse；　undressed；　and　donned　his　bathing　suit。
In　a　few　minutes　he　was　ready；　and；　emerging　upon　the　wharf；　walked
briskly　back　along　the　shore　of　the　creek　to　where　it　widened　into
the　cove。　　There　he　plunged　in；　and　was　soon　luxuriating　in　the
cool；　clear　water。

He　swam　with　long；　confident　strokes；　those　of　a　practiced　swimmer。
This　was　worth　while。　　It　was　the　one　place　where　he　could　forget
that　he　was　no　longer　the　only　son　of　a　wealthy　father；　heir　to　a
respected　namewhich　was　NOT　Browna　young　man　with　all　sorts　of
brilliant　prospects；　could　forget　that　he　was　now　a　disinherited
vagabond；　a　loafer　who　had　been　unable　to　secure　a　respectable
position；　an　outcast。　　He　swam　and　dove　and　splashed；　rejoicing　in
his　strength　and　youth　and　the　freedom　of　all　outdoors。

Then；　as　he　lay　lazily　paddling　in　deep　water；　he　heard　the　rattle
of　gravel　on　the　steep　bank　of　the　other　side　of　the　cove。　　Looking
up；　he　saw；　to　his　huge　disgust；　a　female　figure　in　a　trim　bathing
suit　descending　the　bluff　from　the　bungalow。　　It　was　the　girl　who
had　left　him　to　fight　the　wasps。　　Her　dark　hair　was　covered　with　a
jauntily　tied　colored　handkerchief；　and；　against　the　yellow　sand　of
the　bluff；　she　made　a　very　pretty　picture。　　Not　that　Brown　was
interested；　but　she　did；　nevertheless。

She　saw　him　and　waved　a　hand。　　〃Good　morning；〃　she　called。
〃Beautiful　day　for　a　swim；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　growled　the　young　man；　brusquely。　　He　turned　and　began　to
swim　in　the　opposite　direction；　up　the　cove。　　The　girl　looked　after
him；　raised　a　puzzled　eyebrow；　and　then；　with　a　shrug；　waded　into
the　water。　　The　next　time　the　assistant　looked　at　her；　she　was
swimming　with　long；　sweeping　strokes　down　the　narrow　creek　to　the
bend　and　the　deep　hole　at　the　end　of　the　wharf。　　Round　that　bend　and
through　that　hole　the　tide　whirled；　like　a　rapid；　out　into　the
miniature　bay　behind　Black　Man's　Point。　　It　was　against　that　tide
that　Seth　Atkins　had　warned　him。

And　the　girl　was　swimming　directly　toward　the　dangerous　narrows。
Brown　growled　an　exclamation　of　disgust。　　He　had　no　mind　to　continue
the　acquaintance；　and　yet　he　couldn't　permit　her　to　do　that。

〃Miss　Graham！〃　he　called。　　〃Oh；　Miss　Graham！〃

She　heard　him；　but　did　not　stop。

〃Yes？〃　she　called　in　answer；　continuing　to　swim。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　mustn't〃　shouted　Brown。　　Then　he　remembered　that　he　must　not
shout。　　Shouting　might　awaken　the　lightkeeper；　and　the　latter　would
misunderstand　the　situation；　of　course。　　So　he　cut　his　warning　to
one　word。

〃Wait！〃　he　called；　and　began　swimming　toward　her。　　She　did　not　come
to　meet　him；　but　merely　ceased　swimming　and　turned　on　her　back　to
float。　　And；　floating；　the　tide　would　carry　her　on　almost　as　rapidly
as　if　she　assisted　it。　　That　tide　did　not　need　any　assistance。
Brown　swung　on　his　side　and　settled　into　the　racing　stroke；　the
stroke　which　had　won　him　cups　at　the　athletic　club。

He　reached　her　in　a　time　so　short　that　she　was　surprised　into　an
admiring　comment。

〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　CAN　swim！〃

He　did　not　thank　her　for　the　compliment。　　There　was　no　time　for
that；　even　if　he　had　felt　like　it。

〃You　shouldn't　be　here；〃　he　said　sharply。

She　looked　at　him。

〃Why；　what　do　you　mean？〃　she　demanded。

〃It　isn't　safe。　　A　little　farther；　and　the　tide　would　carry　you　out
to　sea。　　Come　back；　back　up　to　the　cove　at　once。〃

He　expected　her　to　ask　more　questions；　but　she　did　not。　　Instead　she
turned　and　struck　out　in　silence。　　Against　the　tide；　even　there；　the
pull　was　tremendous。

〃Shall　I　help　you？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　I　can　make　it。〃

And　she　did。　　It　was　his　turn　to　be　surprised　into　admiration。

〃By　Jove！〃　he　panted；　as　they　swung　into　the　quiet　water　of　the　cove
and　stood　erect　in　the　shallows；　〃that　was　great！　　You　are　a　good
swimmer。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　answered；　breathlessly。　　〃It　WAS　a　tug；　wasn't　it？
Thank　you　for　warning　me。　　Now　tell　me　about　the　dangerous　places；
please。〃

He　told　her；　repeating　Seth's　tales　of　the　tide's　strength。

〃But　it　is　safe　enough　here？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　yes！　perfectly　safe　anywhere　this　side　of　the　narrow　partthe
creek。〃

〃I'm　so　glad。　　This　water　is　glorious；　and　I　began　to　be　afraid　I
should　have　to　give　it　up。〃

〃The　creek；　and　even　the　bay　itself　are　safe　enough　at　flood；〃　he
went　on。　　〃I　often　go　there　then。　　When　the　tide　is　coming　in　it　is
all　right　even　for〃

He　paused。　　She　finished　the　sentence　for　him。　　〃Even　for　a　girl；
you　were　going　to　say。〃　　She　waded　forward　to　where　the　shoal　ended
and　the　deeper　part　began。　　There　she　turned　to　look　at　him　over　her
shoulder。

〃I'm　going　to　that　beach　over　there；〃　she　said；　pointing　across　the
cove。　　〃Do　you　want　to　race？〃

Without　waiting　to　see　whether　he　did　or　not；　she　struck　out　for　the
beach。　　And；　without　stopping　to　consider　why　he　did　it；　the　young
man　followed　her。

The　race　was　not　so　one…sided。　　Brown　won　it　by　some　yards；　but　he
had　to　work　hard。　　His　competitor　did　not　give　up　when　she　found
herself　falling　behind；　but　was　game　to　the　end。

〃Well；〃　she　gasped；　〃you　beat　me；　didn't　you？　　I　never　could　get
that　side　stroke；　and　it's　ever　so　much　faster。〃

〃It's　simple　enough。　　Just　a　knack。　　I'll　teach　you　if　you　like。〃

〃Will　you？　　That's　splendid。〃

〃You　are　the　strongest　swimmer；　Miss　Graham；　for　a　girl；　that　I　ever
saw。　　You　must　have　practiced　a　great　deal。〃

〃Yes；　Horacemy　brothertaught　me。　　He　is　a　splendid　swimmer；　one
of　the　very　best。〃

〃Horace　Graham？　　Why；　you　don't　mean　Horace　Graham　of　the　Harvard
Athletic？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。　　He　is　my　brother。　　But　how　。　。　。　　Do　you　know　him？〃

The　surprise　in　her　tone　was　evident。　　Brown　bit　his　lip。　　He
remembered　that　Cape　Cod　lightkeepers'　helpers　were　not；　as　a　usual
thing；　supposed　to　be　widely　acquainted　in　college　athletic　circles。

〃I　have　met　him；〃　he　stammered。

〃But　where〃　she　began；　and　then；　〃why；　of　course！　you　met　him
here。　　I　forgot　that　he　has　been　your　neighbor　for　three　summers。〃

The　assistant　had　forgotten　it；　too；　but　he　was　thankful　for　the
reminder。

〃Yes。　　Yes；　certainly；〃　he　said。　　She　regarded　him　with　a　puzzled
look。

〃It's　odd　he　didn't　mention　you；〃　she　observed。　　〃He　has　told　me　a
great　deal　about　the　bungalow；　and　the　sea　views；　and　the　loneliness
and　the　quaintness　of　it　all。　　That　was　what　made　me　wish　to　spend　a
month　down　here　and　experience　it　myself。　　And　he　has　often　spoken；〃
with　an　irrepressible　smile；　〃of　yourof　the　lightkeeper；　Mr。
Atkins。　　That　is　his　name；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　want　to　meet　him。　　Horace　said　he　waswell；　rather　odd；　but；
when　you　knew　him；　a　fine　fellow　and　full　of　dry　humor。　　I'm　sure　I
should　like　him。〃

Brown　smiled；　alsoand　broadly。　　He　mentally　pictured　Seth's
reception　of　the　news　that　he　was　〃liked〃　by　the　young　lady　across
the　cove。　　And　then　it　occurred　to　him；　with　startling　suddenness；
that　he　had　been　conversing　very　familiarly　with　that　young　lady；
notwithstanding　the　solemn　interchange　of　vows　between　the
lightkeeper　and　himself。

〃I　must　be　going；〃　he　said　hastily；　〃good　morning；　Miss　Graham。〃

He　waded　to　the　shore　and　strode　rapidly　back　toward　the　boathouse。
His　companion　called　after　him。

〃I　shall　expect　you　to…morrow　afternoon；〃　she　said。　　〃You've
promised　to　teach　me　that　side　stroke；　remember。〃

Brown　dressed　in　a　great　hurry　and　climbed　the　path　to　the　lights　at
the　double　quick。　　All　was　safe　and　serene　in　the　house；　and　he
breathed　more　freely。　　Atkins　was　sound　asleep；　really　asleep；　in
the　bed