the woman-haters-第28节

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helper's　chamber　door。　　When　he　came　back　to　the　kitchen；　shutting
the　living…room　door　carefully　behind　him；　Mrs。　Bascom　was　standing
on　the　sill。　　She　started　when　she　saw　him。

〃Land　sakes！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You？　　I　cal'lated；　of　course；　you　was
abed　and　asleep。〃

The　lightkeeper　waved　his　hands。

〃S…sh…h！〃　he　whispered。

〃What　shall　I　s…sh…h　about？　　Your　young　man's　gone　somewhere；　I
s'pose；　else　you　wouldn't　be　here。〃

〃No；　he　ain't。　　He's　turned　in；　tired　out。〃

〃Oh；　then　I　guess　I'd　better　go　back　home。　　'Twas　him　I　expected　to
see；　else；　of　course；　I　shouldn't　have　come。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　that；〃　with　a　sigh。　　〃Where's　your　boss；　Miss　Graham？〃

〃She's　gone　for　a　walk　along　shore。　　I　came　over　toto　bring　back
them　eggs　I　borrowed。〃

〃Did　you？　　Where　are　they？〃

The　housekeeper　seemed　embarrassed；　and　her　plump　cheeks　reddened。

〃II　declare　I　forgot　to　bring　'em　after　all；〃　she　stammered。

〃I　want　to　know。　　That's　funny。　　You　don't　oftenthat　is；　you
didn't　use　to　forget　things　hardly　ever；　Emeline。〃

〃Hum！　you　remember　a　lot；　don't　you。〃

〃I　remember　more'n　you　think　I　do；　Emeline。〃

〃That's　enough　of　that；　Seth。　　Remember　what　I　told　you　last　time　we
saw　each　other。〃

〃Oh；　all　right；　all　right。　　I　ain't　rakin'　up　bygones。　　I　s'pose　I
deserve　all　I'm　gettin'。〃

〃I　s'pose　you　do。　　Well；　long's　I　forgot　the　eggs　I　guess　I　might　as
well　be　trottin'　back。　。　。　。　　Youyou've　been　all　rightyou　and
Mr。　Brown；　I　meanfor　the　last　few　days；　while　the　storm　was　goin'
on？〃

〃Um…h'm；〃　gloomily。　　〃How　about　you　two　over　to　the　bungalow？
You've　kept　dry　and　snug；　I　judge。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　didn't　know　but　you　might　be　kind　of　nervous　and　scart　when　'twas
blowin'。　　All　alone　so。〃

〃Humph！　　I've　got　used　to　bein'　alone。　　As　for　Miss　Ruth；　I　don't
think　she's　scart　of　anythin'。〃

〃Well；　I　was　sort　of　nervous　about　you；　if　you　wa'n't　about
yourself。　　'Twas　consider'ble　of　a　gale　of　wind。　　I　thought　one
spell　I'd　blow　out　of　the　top　of　the　tower。〃

〃So　did　I。　　I　could　see　your　shadow　movin'　'round　up　there　once　in　a
while。　　What　made　you　come　out　on　the　gallery　in　the　worst　of　it
night　afore　last？〃

〃Oh；　the　birds　was　smashin'　themselves　to　pieces　against　the　glass
same　as　they　always　do　in　a　storm；　and　I　。　。　。　　But　say！　'twas　after
twelve　when　I　came　out。　　How'd　you　come　to　see　me？　　What　was　your
doin'　up　that　time　of　night？〃

Mrs。　Bascom's　color　deepened。　　She　seemed　put　out　by　the　question。

〃So　much　racket　a　body　couldn't　sleep；〃　she　explained　sharply。　　〃I
thought　the　shingles　would　lift　right　off　the　roof。〃

〃But　you　wa'n't　lookin'　at　the　shingles。　　You　was　lookin'　at　the
lighthouses；　you　jest　said　so。　　Emeline；　was　you　lookin'　for　me？
Was　you　worried　about　me？〃

He　bent　forward　eagerly。

〃Hush！〃　she　said；　〃you'll　wake　up　the　other　woman…hater。〃

〃I　don't　care。　　I　don't　care　if　I　wake　up　all　creation。　　Emeline；　I
believe　you　was　worried　about　me；　same　as　I　was　about　you。　　More'n
that；〃　he　added；　conviction　and　exultation　in　his　tone；　〃I　don't
believe　'twas　eggs　that　fetched　you　here　this　mornin'　at　all。　　I
believe　you　came　to　find　out　if　weif　I　was　all　right。　　Didn't　you？〃

〃I　didn't　come　to　SEE　you；　be　sure　of　that；〃　with　emphatic　scorn。

〃I　know。　　But　you　was　goin'　to　see　Brown　and　find　out　from　him。
Answer　me。　　Answer　me　now；　didn't〃

She　stepped　toward　the　door。　　He　extended　an　arm　and　held　her　back。

〃You　answer　me；〃　he　commanded。

She　tried　to　pass　him；　but　his　arm　was　like　an　iron　bar。　　She
hesitated　a　moment　and　then　laughed　nervously。

〃You　certainly　have　took　to　orderin'　folks　round　since　the　old
days；〃　she　said。　　〃Why；　yes；　then；　I　did　come　to　find　out　if　you
hadn't　got　cold；　or　somethin'。　　You're　such　a　child　and　I'm　such　a
soft…headed　fool　I　couldn't　help　it；　I　cal'late？〃

〃Emeline；　s'pose　I　had　got　cold。　　S'pose　you　found　I　was　sickwhat
then？〃

〃Whywhy；　then　I　guess　likely　I'd　have　seen　the　doctor　on　my　way
through　Eastboro。　　I　shall　be　goin'　that　way　to…morrer　when　I　leave
here。〃

〃When　you　leave　here？　　What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Just　what　I　say。　　Miss　Graham's　goin'　to　Boston　to…morrer；　and　I'm
goin'　with　heras　far　as　the　city。〃

〃Butbut　you're　comin'　back！〃

〃What　should　I　come　back　here　for？　　My　summer　job's　over。　　If　you
want　to　know；　my　principal　reason　for　comin'　here　this　mornin'　was
to　say　good…byto　Mr。　Brown；　of　course。〃

Seth's　arm　dropped。　　He　leaned　heavily　against　the　doorpost。

〃You're　goin'　away！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃You're　goin'　away！　　Where？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　Back　home；　I　s'pose。　　Though　what　I'll　do　when　I　get
there　I　don't　know。　　I've　sold　the　house；　so　I　don't　exactly　know
where　I'll　put　up。　　But　I　guess　I'll　find　a　place。〃

〃You've　sold　your　house？　　The　house　we　used　to　live　in？〃

〃Yes。　　The　man　that's　been　hirin'　it　has　bought　it。　　I'm　glad；　for　I
need　the　money。　　So　good…by；　Seth。　　'Tain't　likely　we'll　meet　again
in　this　life。〃

She　started　toward　the　door　once　more；　and　this　time　he　was　too
greatly　disturbed　and　shaken　by　what　she　had　told　him　to　detain　her。
At　the　threshhold　she　turned　and　looked　at　him。

〃Good…by；　Seth；〃　she　said　again。　　〃I　hope　you'll　be　happy。　　And；〃
with　a　half　smile；　〃if　I　was　you　I'd　stay　keepin'　lights；　it；　or
somethin'　else；　has　improved　you　a　whole　lot。　　Good…by。〃

Then　he　sprang　forward。　　〃Emeline；〃　he　cried；　〃Emeline；　wait。　　You
mustn't　go。　　I　can't　let　you　go　this　way。　　I　。　。　。　　What's　that？〃

〃That〃　was　the　sound　of　horse's　feet　and　the　rattle　of　wheels。　　The
lightkeeper　ran　to　the　window。

〃It's　Henry　G。's　grocery　cart；〃　he　said。　　〃I　cal'late　he's　fetchin'
some　truck　I　ordered　last　week。　　Do　you　want　him　to　see　you　here？〃

〃I　don't　care。　　He　don't　know　but　what　you　and　me　are　the　best　of
friends。　　Yet；　I　don't　know。　　Maybe　it's　just　as　well　he　don't　see
me；　then　there'll　be　no　excuse　for　talk。　　I'll　step　inside　and　wait。〃

She　returned　to　the　kitchen；　and　Seth　went　out　to　meet　the　wagon。
Its　driver　was　the　boy　who　had　brought　the　flypaper　and　〃Job。〃

〃Hello；〃　hailed　the　youngster；　pulling　in　his　steed；　〃how　be　you；
Mr。　Atkins？　　I've　got　some　of　them　things　you　ordered。　　The　rest
ain't　come　from　Boston　yet。　　Soon's　they　do；　Henry　G。'll　send　'em
down。　　How　you　feelin'　these　days？　　Ain't　bought　no　more　dogs；　have
you？〃

Seth　curtly　replied　that　he　〃wa'n't　speculatin'　in　dogs　to　no　great
extent　any　more；〃　and　took　the　packages　which　the　boy　handed　him。
With　them　was　a　bundle　of　newspapers　and　an　accumulation　of　mail
matter。

〃I　fetched　the　mail　for　the　bungalow；　too；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃There's
two　or　three　letters　for　that　Graham　girl　and　one　for　Mrs。　Bascom。
She's　housekeeper　there；　you　know。〃

〃Yes。　　Here；　you　might's　well　leave　their　mail　along　with　mine。
I'll　see　it's　delivered；　all　right。〃

〃Will　you？　　Much　obliged。　　Goin'　to　take　it　over　yourself？　　Better
look　out；　hadn't　you？　　That　Graham　girl's　a　peach；　all　the　fellers
at　the　store's　talkin'　about　her。　　Seems　a　pity　she's　wastin'　her
sassiety　on　a　woman…hater　like　you；　that's　what　they　say。　　You　ain't
gettin'　over　your　female　hate；　are　you？　　Haw；　haw！〃

Mr。　Atkins　regarded　his　questioner　with　stern　disapproval。

〃There's　some　thingssuch　as　chronic　sassinesssome　folks　never
get　over；〃　he　observed　caustically。　　〃Though　when　green　hides　are
too　fresh　they　can　be　tanned；　don't　forget　that；　young　feller。　　Any
more　chatty　remarks　you've　got　to　heave　over？　　No？　　Well；　all　right；
then　I'd　be　trottin'　back　home　if　I　was　you。　　Henry　G。'll　have　to
shut　up　shop　if　you　deprive　him　of　your　valuable　services　too　long。
Good　day　to　you。〃

The　driver；　somewhat　abashed；　gathered　up　the　reins。　　〃I　didn't　mean
to　make　you　mad；〃　he　observed。　　〃Anything　in　our　line　you　want　to
order？〃

〃No。　　I'm　cal'latin'　to　go　to　the　village　myself　this　afternoon；　and
if　I　want　any　more　groceries　I'll　order　'em　then。　　As　for　makin'　me
madwell；　don't　you　flatter　yourself。　　A　moskeeter　can　pester　me；
but　he　don't　make　me　mad　but　onceand　his　funeral's　held　right
afterwards。　　Now　trot　along　and　keep　in　the　shade　much　as　you　can。
You're　so　fresh　the　sun　might　spile　you。〃

The　boy；　looking　rather　foolish；　laughed　and　drove　out　of　the　yard。
Seth；　his　arms　full；　went　back　to　the　kitchen。　　He　dumped　the
packages　and　newspapers　on　the　table　and　began　sorting　the　letters。

〃Here　you　are；　Emeline；〃　he　said。　　〃Here's　Miss　Graham's　mail　and
somethin'　for　you。〃

〃For　me？〃　　The　housekeeper　was　surprised。　　〃A　letter　for　me！　　What
is　it；　I　wonder？　　Somethin'　about　sellin'　the　house　maybe。〃

She　took　the　letter　from　him　and　turned　to　the　light　before　opening
it。　　Seth　sat　down　in　the　rocker　and　began　inspecting　his　own
assortment　of　circulars　and　papers。　　Suddenly　he　heard　a　sound　from
his　companion。　　Glancing　up　he　saw　that　she　was　leaning　against　the
doorpost；　the　open　letter　in　her　hand；　and　on　her　face　an　expression
which　caused　him　to　spring　from　his　chair。

〃What　is　it；　Emeline？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Any　bad　news？〃

She　scarcely　noticed　him　until　he　spoke　again。　　Then　she　shook　her
head。

〃No；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃Nothin'　butbut　what　I　might　have
expected。〃

〃But　what　is　it？　　It　is　bad　news。　　Can't　I　help　you？　　Please　let　me；
if　I　can。　　II'd　like　to。〃

She　looked