by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第13节
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and a sense of favor。 Occasionally Mr。 Abner Nott； in a practical relapse；
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raged against the derelicts； and talked of dispossessing them； or even
dismantling his tenement； but he was easily placated by a compliment to
the 〃dear old ship；〃 or an effort made by some tenant to idealize his
apartment。 A photographer who had ingeniously utilized the forecastle for
a gallery （accessible from the bows in the next street）； paid no further
tribute than a portrait of the pretty face of Rosey Nott。 The superstitious
reverence in which Abner Nott held his monstrous fancy was naturally
enhanced by his purely bucolic exaggeration of its real functions and its
native element。 〃This yer keel has sailed； and sailed； and sailed；〃 he would
explain with some incongruity of illustration； 〃in a bee line； makin' tracks
for days runnin'。 I reckon more storms and blizzards hez tackled her then
you ken shake a stick at。 She's stampeded whales afore now； and sloshed
round with pirates and freebooters in and outer the Spanish Main； and
across lots from Marcelleys where she was rared。 And yer she sits
peaceful…like just ez if she'd never been outer a pertater patch； and hadn't
ploughed the sea with fo'sails and studdin' sails and them things cavortin'
round her masts。〃
Abner Nott's enthusiasm was shared by his daughter； but with more
imagination； and an intelligence stimulated by the scant literature of her
father's emigrant wagon and the few books found on the cabin shelves。
But to her the strange shell she inhabited suggested more of the great
world than the rude； chaotic civilization she saw from the cabin windows
or met in the persons of her father's lodgers。 Shut up for days in this quaint
tenement； she had seen it change from the enchanted playground of her
childish fancy to the theatre of her active maidenhood； but without losing
her ideal romance in it。 She had translated its history in her own way； read
its quaint nautical hieroglyphics after her own fashion； and possessed
herself of its secrets。 She had in fancy made voyages in it to foreign lands；
had heard the accents of a softer tongue on its decks； and on summer
nights； from the roof of the quarter…deck； had seen mellower constellations
take the place of the hard metallic glitter of the Californian skies。
Sometimes； in her isolation； the long； cylindrical vault she inhabited
seemed； like some vast sea…shell； to become musical with the murmurings
of the distant sea。 So completely had it taken the place of the usual
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instincts of feminine youth that she had forgotten she was pretty； or that
her dresses were old in fashion and scant in quantity。 After the first
surprise of admiration her father's lodgers ceased to follow the abstracted
nymph except with their eyes；partly respecting her spiritual shyness；
partly respecting the jealous supervision of the paternal Nott。 She seldom
penetrated the crowded centre of the growing city； her rare excursions
were confined to the old ranch at Petaluma； whence she brought flowers
and plants； and even extemporized a hanging…garden on the quarter…deck。
It was still raining； and the wind； which had increased to a gale； was
dashing the drops against the slanting cabin windows with a sound like
spray when Mr。 Abner Nott sat before a table seriously engaged with his
accounts。 For it was 〃steamer night；〃as that momentous day of reckoning
before the sailing of the regular mail steamer was briefly known to
commercial San Francisco；and Mr。 Nott was subject at such times to
severely practical relapses。 A swinging light seemed to bring into greater
relief that peculiar encased casket…like security of the low…timbered；
tightly…fitting apartment； with its toy…like utilities of space； and made the
pretty oval face of Rosey Nott appear a characteristic ornament。 The
sliding door of the cabin communicated with the main deck； now roofed in
and partitioned off so as to form a small passage that led to the open
starboard gangway； where a narrow； inclosed staircase built on the ship's
side took the place of the ship's ladder under her counter； and opened in
the street。
A dash of rain against the window caused Rosey to lift her eyes from
her book。
〃It's much nicer here than at the ranch； father；〃 she said coaxingly；
〃even leaving alone its being a beautiful ship instead of a shanty； the wind
don't whistle through the cracks and blow out the candle when you're
reading； nor the rain spoil your things hung up against the wall。 And you
look more like a gentleman sitting in his ownshipyou know； looking
over his bills and getting ready to give his orders。〃
Vague and general as Miss Rosey's compliment was； it had its full
effect upon her father； who was at times dimly conscious of his hopeless
rusticity and its incongruity with his surroundings。 〃Yes；〃 he said
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awkwardly； with a slight relaxation of his aggressive attitude； 〃yes； in
course it's more bang…up style； but it don't payRoseyit don't pay。 Yer's
the Pontiac that oughter be bringin' in； ez rents go； at least three hundred a
month； don't make her taxes。 I bin thinkin' seriously of sellin' her。〃
As Rosey knew her father had experienced this serious contemplation
on the first of every month for the last two years； and cheerfully ignored it
the next day； she only said； 〃I'm sure the vacant rooms and lofts are all
rented； father。〃
〃That's it；〃 returned Mr。 Nott thoughtfully； plucking at his bushy
whiskers with his fingers and thumb as if he were removing dead and
sapless incumbranees in their growth； 〃that's just what it is them's ez in it
themselves don't pay； and them ez haz left their goodsthe goods don't pay。
The feller ez stored them iron sugar kettles in the forehold； after trying to
get me to make another advance on 'em； sez he believes he'll have to
sacrifice 'em to me after all； and only begs I'd give him a chance of buying
back the half of 'em ten years from now； at double what I advanced him。
The chap that left them five hundred cases of hair dye 'tween decks and
then skipped out to Sacramento； met me the other day in the street and
advised me to use a bottle ez an advertisement； or try it on the starn of the
Pontiac for fire…proof paint。 That foolishness ez all he's good for。 And yet
thar might be suthin' in the paint； if a feller had nigger luck。 Ther's that
New York chap ez bought up them damaged boxes of plug terbaker for
fifty dollars a thousand； and sold 'em for foundations for that new building
in Sansome Street at a thousand clear profit。 It's all luck； Rosey。〃
The girl's eyes had wandered again to the pages of her book。 Perhaps
she was already familiar with the text of her father's monologue。 But
recognizing an additional querulousness in his voice； she laid the book
aside and patiently folded her hands in her lap。
〃That's rightfor I've suthin' to tell ye。 The fact is Sleight wants to buy
the Pontiac out and out just ez she stands with the two fifty vara lots she
stands on。〃
〃Sleight wants to buy her？ Sleight？〃 echoed Rosey incredulously。
〃You bet！ Sleightthe big financier； the smartest man in 'Frisco。〃
〃What does he want to buy her for？〃 asked Rosey； knitting her pretty
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brows。
The apparently simple question suddenly puzzled Mr。 Nott。 He
glanced feebly at his daughter's face； and frowned in vacant irritation。
〃That's so；〃 he said； drawing a long breath； 〃there's suthin' in that。〃
