the woman-haters-第21节

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breathed　more　freely。　　Atkins　was　sound　asleep；　really　asleep；　in
the　bedroom；　and　when　he　emerged　he　was　evidently　quite　unaware　of
his　helper's　unpremeditated　treason。　　Brown's　conscience　pricked
him；　however；　and　he　went　to　bed　that　night　vowing　over　and　over
that　he　would　be　more　careful　thereafter。　　He　would　take　care　not　to
meet　the　Graham　girl　again。　　Having　reached　this　decision；　there
remained　nothing　but　to　put　her　out　of　his　mind　entirely；　which　he
succeeded　in　doing　at　a　quarter　after　eleven；　when　he　fell　asleep。
Even　then　she　was　not　entirely　absent；　for　he　dreamed　a　ridiculous
dream　about　her。

Next　day　he　did　not　go　for　a　swim；　but　remained　in　the　house。　　Seth；
at　supper；　demanded　to　know　what　ailed　him。

〃You're　as　mum　as　the　oldest　inhabitant　of　a　deaf　and　dumb　asylum；〃
was　the　lightkeeper's　comment。　　〃And　ugly　as　a　bull　in　fly　time。
What　ails　you？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃Humph！　better　take　somethin'　for　it；　seems　to　me。　　Little　'Stomach
Balm；'　hey？　　No？　　Well；　GO　to　bed！　　Your　room's　enough　sight
better'n　your　company　just　now。〃

The　helper's　ill　nature　was　in　evidence　again　at　breakfast　time。
Seth　endeavored　to　joke　him　out　of　it；　but；　not　succeeding；　and
finding　his　best　jokes　received　with　groans　instead　of　laughter；
gave　it　up　in　disgust　and　retired。　　The　young　man　cleared　the　table；
piled　the　dishes　in　the　sink；　heated　a　kettleful　of　water　and　began
the　day's　drudgery；　drudgery　which　he　once　thought　was　fun。

Why　had　he　had　the　ill　luck　to　fall　overboard　from　that　steamer。　　Or
why　didn't　he　drown　when　he　did　fall　overboard？　　Then　he　would　have
been　comfortably　dead；　at　all　events。　　Why　hadn't　he　stayed　in　New
York　or　Boston　or　somewhere　and　kept　on　trying　for　a　position；　for
workany　kind　of　work？　　He　might　have　starved　while　trying；　but
people　who　were　starving　were　self…respecting；　and　when　they　met
other　peoplefor　instance；　sisters　of　fellows　they　used　to　know
had　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of　and　needn't　lieunless　they　wanted　to。
He　was　a　common　loafer；　under　a　false　name；　down　on　a　sandheap
washing　dishes。　　At　this　point　he　dropped　one　of　the　dishesa
plateand　broke　it。

〃Dn！〃　observed　John　Brown；　under　his　breath；　but　with　enthusiasm。

He　stooped　to　pick　up　the　fragments　of　the　plate；　and；　rising　once
more　to　an　erect　position；　found　himself　facing　Miss　Ruth　Graham。
She　was　standing　in　the　doorway。

〃Don't　mind　me；　please；〃　she　said。　　〃No　doubt　I　should　feel　the　same
way　if　it　were　my　plate。〃

The　young　man's　first　move；　after　recovery；　was　to　make　sure　that
the　door　between　the　kitchen　and　the　hall　leading　to　the
lightkeeper's　bedroom　was　shut。　　It　was；　fortunately。　　The　young
lady　watched　him　in　silence；　though　her　eyes　were　shining。

〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Brown；〃　she　observed；　gravely。

The　assistant　murmured　a　good　morning；　from　force　of　habit。

〃There's　another　piece　you　haven't　picked　up；〃　continued　the
visitor；　pointing。

Brown　picked　up　the　piece。

〃Is　Mr。　Atkins　in？〃　inquired　the　girl。

〃Yes；　he'she's　in。〃

〃May　I　see　him；　please？〃

〃II〃

〃If　he's　busy；　I　can　wait。〃　　She　seated　herself　in　a　chair。　　〃Don't
let　me　interrupt　you；〃　she　continued。　　〃You　were　busy；　too；　weren't
you？〃

〃I　was　washing　dishes；〃　declared　Brown；　savagely。

〃Oh！〃

〃Yes。　　Washing　and　sweeping　and　doing　scrubwoman's　work　are　my
regular　employments。〃

〃Indeed！　　Then　I'm　just　in　time　to　help。　　Is　this　the　dish　towel？〃
regarding　it　dubiously。

〃It　is；　but　I　don't　need　any　help；　thank　you。〃

〃Of　course　you　do。　　Everyone　is　glad　to　be　helped　at　doing　dishes。
I　may　as　well　make　myself　useful　while　I'm　waiting　for　Mr。　Atkins。〃

She　picked　up　a　platter　and　proceeded　to　wipe　it；　quite　as　a　matter
of　course。　　Brown；　swearing　inwardly；　turned　fiercely　to　the　suds。

〃Did　you　wish　to　see　Atkins　on　particular　business？〃　he　asked；　a
moment　later。

〃Oh；　no；　I　wanted　to　make　his　acquaintance；　that's　all。　　Horace　told
me　so　many　interesting　things　about　him。　　By　the　way；　was　it　last
summer；　or　the　summer　before；　that　you　met　my　brother　here？〃

No　answer。　　Miss　Graham　repeated　her　question。　　〃Was　it　last　summer
or　the　summer　before？〃　she　asked。

〃OherI　don't　remember。　　Last　summer；　I　think。〃

〃Why；　you　must　remember。　　How　could　any　one　forget　anything　that
happened　down　here？　　So　few　things　do　happen；　I　should　say。　　So　you
met　him　last　summer？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Hum！　that's　odd。〃

〃Shall　I　call　Atkins？　　He's　in　his　room。〃

〃I　say　it　is　odd；　because；　when　Mrs。　Bascom　and　I　first　met　you；　you
told　us　this　was　your　first　summer　here。〃

There　wasn't　any　answer　to　this；　at　least　the　assistant　could　think
of　none　at　the　moment。

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　call　Atkins？〃　he　asked；　sharply。　　〃He's　asleep；
but　I　can　wake　him。〃

〃Oh！　he's　asleep。　　Now　I　understand　why　you　whisper　even　when　you
swthat　is；　when　you　break　a　plate。　　You　were　afraid　of　waking
him。　　How　considerate　you　are。〃

Brown　put　down　the　dishcloth。　　〃It　isn't　altogether　consideration
for　himor　for　myself；〃　he　said　grimly。　　〃I　didn't　care　to　wake　him
unless　you　took　the　responsibility。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because；　Miss　Graham；　Seth　Atkins　took　the　position　of　lightkeeper
here　almost　for　the　sole　reason　that　no　women　ever　came　here。　　Mr。
Atkins　is　a　woman…hater　of　the　most　rabid　type。　　I'll　wake　him　up　if
you　wish；　but　I　won't　be　responsible　for　the　consequences。〃

The　young　lady　stared　at　him　in　surprise；　delighted　surprise
apparently；　judging　by　the　expression　of　her　face。

〃A　woman…hater？〃　she　repeated。　　〃Is　he　really？〃

〃He　is。〃　　Mr。　Brown　neglected　to　add　that　he　also　had　declared
himself　a　member　of　the　same　fraternity。　　Perhaps　he　thought　it　was
not　necessary。

〃A　woman…hater！〃　　Miss　Graham　fairly　bubbled　with　mischievous　joy。
〃Oh；　jolly！　now　I'm　CRAZY　to　meet　him！〃

The　assistant　moved　toward　the　hall　door。　　〃Very　good！〃　he　observed
with　grim　determination。　　〃I　think　he'll　cure　your　lunacy。〃

His　hand　was　outstretched　toward　the　latch；　when　the　young　lady
spoke　again。

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　she　said。　　〃Perhaps　I　had　better　not　wake　him　now。〃

〃Just　as　you　say。　　The　pleasure　isor　will　beentirely　mine；　I
assure　you。〃

〃Noo。　　On　the　whole；　I　think　I'll　wait　until　later。　　I　may　call
again。　　Good　morning。〃

She　moved　across　the　threshold。　　Then；　standing　on　the　mica　slab
which　was　the　step　to　the　kitchen　door；　she　turned　to　say：

〃You　didn't　swim　yesterday。〃

〃Noo。　　II　was　busy。〃

〃I　see。〃

She　paused；　as　if　expecting　him　to　say　something　further　on　the
subject。　　He　was　silent。　　Her　manner　changed。

〃Good　morning；〃　she　said；　coldly；　and　walked　off。　　The　assistant
watched　her　as　she　descended　the　path　to　the　cove；　but　she　did　not
once　look　back。　　Brown　threw　himself　into　a　chair。　　He　had　never
hated　anyone　as　thoroughly　as　he　hated　himself　at　the　moment。

〃What　a　cheerful　liar　she　must　think　I　am；〃　he　reflected。　　〃She
caught　me　in　that　fool　yarn　about　meeting　her　brother　here　last
summer；　and　now；　after　deliberately　promising　to　teach　her　that
stroke；　I　don't　go　near　her。　　What　a　miserable　liar　she　must　think　I
am！　　And　I　guess　I　am。　　By　George；　I　can't　be　such　a　cad。　　I've　got
to　make　good　somehow。　　I　must　give　her　ONE　lesson。　　I　must。〃

The　tide　served　for　bathing　about　three　that　afternoon。　　At　ten
minutes　before　that　hour　the　substitute　assistant　keeper　of　Eastboro
Twin…Lights　tiptoed　silently　to　the　bedroom　of　his　superior　and
peeped　in。　　Seth　was　snoring　peacefully。　　Brown　stealthily　withdrew。
At　three；　precisely；　he　emerged　from　the　boathouse　on　the　wharf；
clad　in　his　bathing　suit。

Fifteen　minutes　after　three；　Seth　Atkins；　in　his　stocking　feet　and
with　suspicion　in　his　eye；　crept　along　the　path　to　the　edge　of　the
bluff。　　Crouching　behind　a　convenient　sand　dune　he　raised　his　head
and　peered　over　it。

Below　him　was　the　cove；　its　pleasant　waters　a　smooth；　deep　blue；
streaked　and　bordered　with　pale　green。　　But　the　water　itself　did　not
interest　Seth。　　In　that　water　was　his　helper；　John　Brown；　of　nowhere
in　particular；　John　Brown；　the　hater　of　females；　busily　engaged　in
teaching　a　young　woman　to　swim。

Atkins　watched　this　animated　picture　for　some　minutes。　　Then；
carefully　crawling　back　up　to　the　path　until　he　was　well　out　of
possible　sight　from　the　cove；　he　rose　to　his　feet；　raised　both
hands；　and　shook　their　clenched　fists　above　his　head。

〃The　liar！〃　grated　Mr。　Atkins；　between　his　teeth。　　〃The　traitor！
The　young　blackguard！　　After　tellin'　me　that　he　。　。　。　　And　after　my
doin'　everything　for　him　that　。　。　。　　Oh；　by　Judas；　wait！　only　wait
till　he　comes　back！　　I'LL　l'arn　him！　　I'LL　show　him！　　Oh；　by　jiminy
crimps！〃

He　strode　toward　the　doorway　of　the　kitchen。　　There　he　stopped
short。　　A　woman　was　seated　in　the　kitchen　rocker；　a　stout　woman；
with　her　back　toward　him。　　The　room；　in　contrast　to　the　bright
sunshine　without；　was　shadowy；　and　Seth；　for　an　instant；　could　see
her　but　indistinctly。　　However；　he　knew　who　she　must　bethe
housekeeper　at　the　bungalow〃Basket〃　or　〃Biscuit〃　his　helper　had
said　was　her　name；　as　near　as　he　could　remember　it。　　The　lightkeeper
ground　his　teeth。　　Another　female！　　Well；　he　would　teach　this　one　a
few　things！

He　stepped　across　the　threshold。

〃Ma'am；〃　he　began；　sharply；　〃perhaps　you'll