the woman-haters-第30节

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too；　was　a　matter　of　no　importance。　　Seth　himself　was　of　no
importance；　neither　was　he。　　There　was　but　one　important　person　in
the　whole　world；　and　she　was　strolling　along　the　bluff　path　at　that
moment。　　Therefore　he　left　his　seat　on　the　bench；　hurried　down　the
slope　to　the　inner　end　of　the　cove；　noting　absently　that　the　tide　of
the　previous　night　must　have　been　unusually　high；　climbed　to　the
bungalow；　turned　the　corner；　and　walked　slowly　in　the　direction　of
the　trim　figure　in　the　blue　suit；　which　was　walking；　even　more
slowly；　just　ahead　of　him。

It　may　be　gathered　that　John　Brown's　feelings　concerning　the
opposite　sex　had　changed。　　They　had；　and　he　had　changed　in　other
ways；　also。　　How　much　of　a　change　had　taken　place　he　did　not　himself
realize；　until　this　very　afternoon。　　He　did　not　realize　it　even　then
until；　after　he　and　the　girl　in　blue　had　met；　and　the　customary
expressions　of　surprise　at　their　casual　meeting　had　been　exchanged；
the　young　lady　seated　herself　on　a　dune　overlooking　the　tumbling　sea
and　observed　thoughtfully：

〃I　shall　miss　all　this〃with　a　wave　of　her　hand　toward　the　waves
〃next　week；　when　I　am　back　again　in　the　city。〃

Brown's　cap　was　in　his　hand　as　she　began　to　speak。　　After　she　had
finished　he　stooped　to　pick　up　the　cap；　which　had　fallen　to　the
ground。

〃You　are　going　awaynext　week？〃　he　said　slowly。

〃We　are　going　to…morrow。　　I　shall　remain　in　Boston　for　a　few　days。
Then　I　shall　visit　a　friend　in　the　Berkshires。　　After　that　I　may
join　my　brother　in　Europe；　I'm　not　sure　as　to　that。〃

〃To…morrow？〃

〃Yes！〃

There　was　another　one　of　those　embarrassing　intervals　of　silence
which　of　late　seemed　to　occur　so　often　in　their　conversation。　　Miss
Graham；　as　usual；　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃Mr。　Brown；〃　she　began。　　The　substitute　assistant　interrupted　her。

〃Please　don't　call　me　that；〃　he　blurted　involuntarily。　　〃Itoh；
confound　it；　it　isn't　my　name！〃

She　should　have　been　very　much　surprised。　　He　expected　her　to　be。
Instead　she　answered　quite　calmly。

〃I　know　it；〃　she　said。

〃You　DO？〃

〃Yes。　　You　are　'Russ'　Brooks；　aren't　you？〃

Russell　Brooks；　alias　John　Brown；　dropped　his　cap　again；　but　did　not
pick　it　up。　　He　swallowed　hard。

〃How　on　earth　did　you　know　that？〃　he　asked　as　soon　as　he　could　say
anything。

〃Oh；　it　was　simple　enough。　　I　didn't　really　know；　I　only　guessed。
You　weren't　a　real　lightkeeper；　that　was　plain。　　And　you　weren't
used　to　washing　dishes　or　doing　houseworkthat；〃　with　the
irrepressible　curl　of　the　corners　of　her　lips；　〃was　just　as　plain。
When　you　told　me　that　fib　about　meeting　my　brother　here　last　summer
I　was　sure　you　had　met　him　somewhere；　probably　at　college。　　So　in　my
next　letter　to　him　I　described　you　as　well　as　I　could；　mentioned
that　you　were　as　good　or　a　better　swimmer　than　he；　and　asked　for
particulars。　　He　answered　that　the　only　fellow　he　could　think　of　who
fitted　your　description　was　'Russ'　BrooksRussell；　I　supposeof
New　York；　though　what　Russ　Brooks　was　doing　as　lightkeeper's
assistant　at　Eastboro　Twin…Lights　he　DIDN'T　know。　　Neither　did　I。
But　then；　THAT　was　not　my　business。〃

The　substitute　assistant　did　not　answer：　he　could　not；　on　such　short
notice。

〃So；〃　continued　the　girl；　〃I　felt　almost　as　if　I　had　known　you　for　a
long　time。　　You　and　Horace　were　such　good　friends　at　college；　and　he
had　often　told　me　of　you。　　I　was　very　glad　to　meet　you　in　real　life；
especially　here；　where　I　had　no　one　but　Mrs。　Bascom　to　talk　to；　Mr。
Atkins；　by　reason　of　his　aversion　to　my　unfortunate　sex；　being
barred。〃

Mr。　Brown'sor　Mr。　Brooks'next　speech　harked　back　to　her　previous
one。

〃I'll　tell　you　while　I'm　here；〃　he　began。

〃You　needn't；　unless　you　wish；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　no　right　to
know〃adding；　with　characteristic　femininity；　〃though　I'm　dying
to。〃

〃But　I　want　you　to　know。　　As　I　told　Atkins　when　I　first　came；　I
haven't　murdered　anyone　and　I　haven't　stolen　anything。　　I'm　not　a
crook　running　from　justice。　　I'm　just　a　plain　idiot　who　fell
overboard　from　a　steamer　and〃bitterly〃hadn't　the　good　luck　to
drown。〃

She　made　no　comment；　and　he　began　his　story；　telling　it　much　as　he
had　told　it　to　the　lightkeeper。

〃There！〃　he　said　in　conclusion；　〃that's　the　whole　fool　business。
That's　why　I'm　here。　　No　need　to　ask　what　you　think　of　it；　I
suppose。〃

She　was　silent；　gazing　at　the　breakers。　　He　drew　his　own　conclusions
from　her　silence。

〃I　see；〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　I　admit　it。　　I'm　a　low　down　chump。　　Still；
if　I　had　it　to　do　over　again；　I　should　do　pretty　much　the　same。　　A
few　things　differently；　but　in　general　the　very　same。〃

〃What　would　you　do　differently？〃　she　asked；　still　without　looking　at
him。

〃For　one　thing；　I　wouldn't　run　away。　　I'd　stay　and　face　the　music。
Earn　my　living　or　starve。〃

〃And　now　you're　going　to　stay　here？〃

〃No　longer　than　I　can　help。　　If　I　get　the　appointment　as　assistant
keeper　I'll　begin　to　save　every　cent　I　can。　　Just　as　soon　as　I　get
enough　to　warrant　risking　it　I'll　head　for　Boston　once　more　and
begin　the　earning　or　starving　process。　　And；〃　with　a　snap　of　his
jaws；　〃I　don't　intend　to　starve。〃

〃You　won't　go　back　to　your　father？〃

〃If　he　sees　fit　to　beg　my　pardon　and　acknowledge　that　I　was　right
not　otherwise。　　And　he　must　do　it　of　his　own　accord。　　I　told　him
that　when　I　walked　out　of　his　office。　　It　was　my　contribution　to　our
fond　farewell。　　His　was　that　he　would　see　me　damned　first。　　Possibly
he　may。〃

She　smiled。

〃You　must　have　been　a　charming　pair　of　pepper　pots；〃　she　observed。
〃And　the　young　ladywhat　of　her？〃

〃She　knows　that　I　am　fired；　cut　off　even　without　the　usual　shilling。
That　will　be　quite　sufficient　for　her；　I　think。〃

〃How　do　you　know　it　will？　　How　do　you　know　she　might　not　have　been
willing　to　wait　while　you　earned　that　living　you　are　so　sure　is
coming？〃

〃Wait？　　She　wait　for　me？　　Ann　Davidson　wait　for　a　man　without　a　cent
while　he　tried　to　earn　a　good　many　dollars？　　Humph！　you　amuse　me。〃

〃Why　not？　　You　didn't　give　her　a　chance。　　You　calmly　took　it　for
granted　that　she　wanted　only　money　and　social　position　and　you
walked　off　and　left　her。　　How　do　you　know　she　wouldn't　have　liked
you　better　for　telling　her　just　how　you　felt。　　If　a　girl　really
cared　for　a　man　it　seems　to　me　that　she　would　be　willing　to　wait　for
him；　years　and　years　if　it　were　necessary；　provided　that；　during
that　time；　he　was　trying　his　best　for　her。〃

〃Butbutshe　isn't　that　kind　of　a　girl。〃

〃How　do　you　know？　　You　didn't　put　her　to　the　test。　　You　owed　her
that。　　It　seems　to　me　you　owe　it　to　her　now。〃

The　answer　to　this　was　on　his　tongue。　　It　was　ready　behind　his
closed　lips；　eager　to　burst　forth。　　That　he　didn't　love　the　Davidson
girl；　never　had　loved　her。　　That　during　the　past　month　he　had　come
to　realize　there　was　but　one　woman　in　the　wide　world　for　him。　　And
did　that　woman　mean　what　she　said　about　waiting　yearsand　years
provided　she　cared？　　And　did　she　care？

He　didn't　utter　one　word　of　this。　　He　wanted　to；　but　it　seemed　so
preposterous。　　Such　an　idiotic；　outrageous　thing　to　ask。　　Yet　it　is
probable　that　he　would　have　asked　it　if　the　young　lady　had　given　him
the　chance。　　But　she　did　not；　after　a　sidelong　glance　at　his　face；
she　hurriedly　rose　from　the　rock　and　announced　that　she　must　be
getting　back　to　the　house。

〃I　have　some　packing　to　do；〃　she　explained；　〃and；　besides；　I　think
it　is　going　to　rain。〃

〃But；　Miss　Graham；　I〃

A　big　drop　of　rain　splashing　upon　his　shoe　confirmed　the　weather
prophecy。　　She　began　to　walk　briskly　toward　the　bungalow；　and　he
walked　at　her　side。

〃Another　storm；〃　she　said。　　〃I　should　think　the　one　we　have　just
passed　through　was　sufficient　for　a　while。　　I　hope　Mrs。　Bascom　won't
get　wet。〃

〃She　has　gone　to　the　village；　hasn't　she？〃

〃Yes。　　She　has　received　some　message　or　otherI　don't　know　how　it
camewhich　sent　her　off　in　a　hurry。　　A　livery　carriage　came　for
her。　　She　will　be　back　before　night。〃

〃Atkins　has　gone；　too。　　He　had　some　errands；　I　believe。　　I　can't
make　out　what　has　come　over　him　of　late。　　He　has　changed　greatly。
He　used　to　be　so　jolly　and　good…humored；　except　when　female
picnickers　came。　　Now　he　is　as　solemn　as　an　owl。　　When　he　went　away
he　scarcely　spoke　a　word。　　I　thought　he　seemed　to　be　in　trouble；　but
when　I　asked　him；　he　shut　me　up　so　promptly　that　I　didn't　press　the
matter。〃

〃Did　he？　　That's　odd。　　Mrs。　Bascom　seemed　to　be　in　trouble；　too。　　I
thought　she　had　been　crying　when　she　came　out　of　her　room　to　go　to
the　carriage。　　She　denied　it；　but　her　eyes　looked　red。　　What　can　be
the　matter？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Nor　I。　　Mr。erBrooks　　Or　shall　I　still　call　you　'Brown'？〃

〃No。　　Brown　is　dead；　drowned。　　Let　him　stay　so。〃

〃Very　well。　　Mr。　Brooks；　has　it　occurred　to　you　that　your　Mr。　Atkins
is　a　peculiar　character？　　That　he　acts　peculiarly？〃

〃He　has　acted　peculiarly　ever　since　I　knew　him。　　But　to　what
particular　peculiarity　do　you　refer？〃

〃His　queer　behavior。　　Several　times　I　have　seen　himI　am　almost
sure　it　was　hehiding　or　crouching　behind　the　sand　hills　at　the
rear　of　our　bungalow。〃

〃You　have？　　Why；　I〃

He　hesitated。　　Before　he　could　go　on　or　she　continue；　the　rain　came
in　a　deluge。　　They　reached　the　porch　just　in　time。

〃Well；　I'm　safe　and　reasona