the woman-haters-第25节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


kitchen；　but　the　consciousness　of　guilt　was　too　strong。　　He　felt
mean　and　traitorous；　a　Benedict　Arnold　on　a　small　scale。　　He　had
certainly　treated　Atkins　shabbily；　Atkins；　the　man　who　trusted　him
and　believed　in　him；　whom　he　had　loftily　reproved　for　〃spying〃　and
then　betrayed。　　Yet；　in　a　way　his　treason；　so　far；　had　been
unavoidable。　　He　had　promisedhad　even　OFFERED　to　teach　the　Graham
girl　the　〃side　stroke。〃　　He　had　not　meant　to　make　such　an　offer　or
promise；　but　Fate　had　tricked　him　into　it；　and　he　could　not；　as　a
gentleman；　back　out　altogether。　　He　had　been　compelled　to　give　her
one　lesson。　　But　he　need　not　give　her　another。　　He　need　not　meet　her
again。　　He　would　not。　　He　would　keep　the　agreement　with　Seth　and
forget　the　tenants　of　the　bungalow　altogether。　　Good　old　Atkins！
Good　old　Seth；　the　woman…hater！　　How　true　he　was　to　his　creed；　the
creed　which　he；　Brown；　had　so　lately　professed。　　It　was　a　good
creed；　too。　　Women　were　at　the　bottom　of　all　the　world's　troubles。
They　deserved　to　be　hated。　　He　would　never；　never

〃Well；　by　George！〃　he　exclaimed　aloud。

He　was　looking　once　more　at　the　lightkeeper's　big　leather　boots。
One　of　them　was　lying　on　its　side；　and　the　upturned　sole　and　heel
were　thickly　coated　with　blue　clay。　　He　crossed　the　room；　picked　up
the　boots　and　examined　them。　　Each　was　smeared　with　the　clay。　　He
put　them　down　again；　shook　his　head；　wandered　over　to　the　rocking…
chair　and　sat　down。

Seth　had　cleaned　and　greased　those　boots　before　he　went　to　bed　the
day　before；　Brown　had　seen　him　doing　it。　　He　had　put　them　on　after
supper；　just　before　going　on　watch；　the　substitute　assistant　had
seen　him　do　that；　also。　　Therefore；　the　clay　must　have　been　acquired
sometime　during　the　evening　or　night　just　past。　　And　certainly　there
was　no　clay　at　the　〃top　of　the　lighthouse；〃　or　anywhere　in　the
neighborhood　except　at　one　spotthe　salt　marsh　at　the　inner　end　of
the　cove。　　Seth　must　have　visited　that　marsh　in　the　nighttime。　　But
why？　　And；　if　he　had　done　so；　why　did　he　not　mention　the　fact？　　And；
now　that　the　helper　thought　of　it；　why　had　he　been　so　agitated　at
the　casual　remark　concerning　wading？　　What　was　he　up　to？　　Now　that
the　Daisy　M。　and　story　of　the　wife　were　no　longer　secrets；　what　had
Seth　Atkins　to　conceal？

Brown　thought　and　guessed　and　surmised；　but　guesses　and　surmises
were　fruitless。　　He　finished　his　dishwashing　and　began　another　of
the　loathed　housekeeping　tasks；　that　of　rummaging　the　pantry　and
seeing　what　eatables　were　available　for　his　luncheon　and　the　evening
meal。

He　spread　the　various　odds　and　ends　on　the　kitchen　table；
preparatory　to　taking　account　of　stock。　　A　part　of　a　slab　of　bacon；
a　salt　codfish；　some　cold　clam　fritters；　a　few　molasses　cookies；　and
half　a　loaf　of　bread。　　He　had　gotten　thus　far　in　the　inventory　when
a　shadow　darkened　the　doorway。　　He　turned　and　saw　Mrs。　Bascom；　the
bungalow　housekeeper。

〃Good　mornin'；〃　said　Mrs。　Bascom。

Brown　answered　coldly。　　Why　on　earth　was　it　always　his　luck　to　be
present　when　these　female　nuisances　made　their　appearance？　　And　why
couldn't　they　let　him　alone；　just　as　he　had　determined　to　let　them
alonein　the　future？　　Of　course　he　was　glad　that　the　caller　was　not
Miss　Graham；　but　this　one　was　bad　enough。

〃Morning；〃　he　grunted；　and　took　another　dish；　this　one　containing　a
section　of　dry　and　ancient　cake；　Seth's　manufacture；　from　the
pantry。

〃What　you　doin'？　　Gettin'　breakfast　this　time　of　day？〃　asked　the
housekeeper；　entering　the　kitchen。　　She　had　a　small　bowl　in　her
hand。

〃No；〃　replied　Brown。

〃Dinner；　then？　　Pretty　early　for　that；　ain't　it？〃

〃I　am　not　getting　either　breakfast　or　dinneror　supper；　madam；〃
replied　the　helper；　with　emphasis。　　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for
you？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　but　there　is。　　I　come　over　hopin'　you　might。
How's　the　stings？〃

〃The　what？〃

〃The　wasp　bites。〃

〃They're　all；　right；　thank　you。〃

〃You're　welcome；　I'm　sure。　　Did　you　put　the　cold　mud　on　'em；　same　as
I　told　you　to？〃

〃No。　。　。　。　　What　was　it　you　wanted？〃

Mrs。　Bascom　looked　about　for　a　seat。　　The　rocker　was　at　the　opposite
side　of　the　room；　and　the　other　chair　contained　a　garment　belonging
to　Mr。　Atkins；　one　which　that　gentleman；　with　characteristic
disregard　of　the　conventionalities；　had　discarded　before　leaving　the
kitchen　and　had　forgotten　to　take　with　him。　　The　lady　picked　up　the
garment；　looked　at　it；　and　sat　down　in　the　chair。

〃Your　boss　is　to　bed；　I　s'pose　likely？〃　she　asked。

〃You　mean　Mr。　Atkins？　　I　suppose　likely　he　is。〃

〃Um。　　I　judged　he　was　by〃with　a　glance　at　the　garment　which　she
still　held〃the　looks　of　things。　　What　in　the　world　ARE　you　doin'
cleanin'　house？〃

The　young　man　sighed　wearily。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said　with　forced　resignation；
〃something　of　that　sort。〃

〃Seein'　what　there　was　to　eat；　I　guess。〃

〃You　guess　right。　　You　said　you　had　an　errand；　I　think。〃

〃Did　I？　　Well；　I　come　to　see　if　I　couldn't　。　。　。　　What's　that　stuff？
Cake？〃

She　rose；　picked　up　a　slice　of　the　dry　cake；　broke　it　between　her
fingers；　smelled　of　it；　and　replaced　it　on　the　plate。

〃'Tis　cake；　ain't　it？〃　she　observed；　〃or　it　was；　sometime　or　other。
Who　made　it？　　You？〃

〃No。〃

〃Oh；　your　boss；　Mr。erAtkins；　hey？〃

〃Yes。　　Considering　that　there　are　only　two　of　us　here；　and　I　didn't
make　it；　it　would　seem　pretty　certain　that　he　must　have。〃

〃Yes；　I　guess　that's　right；　unless　'twas　some　that　washed　ashore
from　Noah's　Ark；　and　it's　too　dry　for　that。　　What　on　earth　are
these？〃　picking　up　one　of　the　molasses　cookies；　〃stove　lids？〃

Brown　grinned；　in　spite　of　his　annoyance。

〃Those　are　supposed　to　be　cookies；〃　he　admitted。

〃Are　they？　　Yes；　yes。　　Mr。　Atkins　responsible　for　them？〃

〃Noo。　　I'm　afraid　those　are　one　of　my　experiments；　under　Mr。
Atkins's　directions　and　orders。　　I'm　rather　proud　of　those　cookies；
myself。〃

〃You'd　ought　to　be。　　There；　there！〃　with　a　smile；　〃I　guess　you　think
I'm　pretty　free　with　my　criticism　and　remarks；　don't　you？　　You　must
excuse　me。　　Housekeepin''specially　the　cookin'　partis　my　hobby；
as　you　might　say；　and　I　was　interested　to　see　how　a　couple　of　men
got　along　with　the　job。　　I　mustn't　set　around　and　keep　you　from　your
work。　　You　might　want　to　make　some　more　cookies；　or　somethin'。〃

The　substitute　assistant　laughed　aloud。　　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　it；〃
he　said；　〃but　I　shall　be　glad　to　make　the　attempt　if　it　would　afford
you　amusement。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　laughed；　too。　　〃I　guess　you're　better　natured　than　I
thought　you　was；〃　she　observed。　　〃It　might　amuse　me　some；　I　will
admit；　but　I　ain't　got　the　time。　　I　came　to　borrow　some　butter；　if
you've　got　any　to　spare。　　Down　here　we're　as　far　from　supplies　as
the　feller　that　run　the　Ark　I　was　mentionin'；　old　Noah　himself。〃

Brown　took　the　bowl　from　her　hands　and　went　to　the　pantry　to　get　the
butter。　　When　he　turned　again　she　was　standing　by　the　door；　one　hand
hidden　beneath　her　apron。　　She　took　the　bowl　with　the　other。

〃Much　obliged；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　fetch　this　back　soon's　the　grocery
cart　comes。　　Miss　Graham　made　arrangements　to　have　him　drive　across
every　Saturday。　　Or；　rather；　I　arranged　for　it　myself。　　Her　head's
too　full　of　paintin'　and　scenery　to　think　of　much　else。　　I　tell　her
you　can't　eat　an　ile　paintin'unless　you're　born　a　goat。　　Good…by。〃

She　went　away。　　Brown　chuckled　and　went　on　with　his　account　of
stock。

Seth　〃turned　out〃　rather　early　that　day。　　At　half　past　one　he
appeared　in　the　kitchen；　partially　dressed。

〃Where　in　time　is　my　shirt？〃　he　demanded　impatiently。

〃Your　what？〃

〃My　shirt。　　I　thought　I　took　it　off　out　here。　　Could　have　sworn　I
did。　　Guess　likely　I　didn't；　though。　　Must　be　gettin'　absent…
minded。〃

He　was　on　his　way　back　to　the　bedroom　when　his　helper　called。

〃You　did　take　it　off　out　here；〃　he　cried。　　〃It　was　on　that　chair
there。　　I　remember　seeing　it。　　Probably　it　has　fallen　on　the　floor
somewhere。〃

Atkins　returned；　grumbling　that　the　kitchen　floor　was　a　〃healthy
place　to　heave　a　shirt。〃

〃Where　is　it？〃　he　asked　after　a　hurried　search。　　〃I　can't　find　it
nowheres。　　Didn't　put　it　in　the　fire；　did　ye？〃

〃Of　course　I　didn't。　　I　saw　it。　。　。　。　　Why；　I　remember　that　woman's
picking　it　up　when　she　sat　down。〃

〃Woman？　　What　woman？〃

〃That　BaskinBuskinwhatever　her　name　is。　　The　housekeeper　at　the
bungalow。〃

〃Was　sheHERE？〃　　Seth's　question　was　almost　a　shout。　　His　helper
stared　at　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃she　was。　　She　came　to　borrow　some　butter。〃

〃Toto　borrowbutter？〃

〃Why；　yes。　　You　didn't　think　I　invited　her　in　for　a　morning　call；
did　you？　　Don't　act　as　if　you　had　been　struck　by　lightning。　　It's
not　so　very　serious。　　We've　got　to　expect　some　trouble　of　that　kind。
I　got　rid　of　her　as　soon　as　I　could。〃

〃Youyou　did？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。　　You　should　thank　me。　　I　am　on　duty　during　the　day；　and
I　suppose　most　of　that　sort　of　thing　will　fall　on　me。　　You're　lucky。
Our　neighbors　aren't　likely　to　make　many　calls　after　dark。　。　。　。
What's　the　matter　now？　　Why　are　you　looking　at　me　like　that？〃

Seth　walked　to　the　door　and　leaned　against　the　post。　　Brown　repeated
his　question。　　〃What　IS　the　matter？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　act　just　as　you
did　when　I　first　happened　into　this　forsakthis　place。　　If　you've
got　any　more　hi