the make-believe man(说服者)-第3节
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followed him。 I had an uncontrollable desire to again look at the girl
with the golden…rod hair。 I did not mean that she should see me。 Never
before had I done such a thing。 But never before had I seen any one who
had moved me so strangely。 Seeking her； I walked the length of the main
saloon and back again； but could not find her。 The delay gave me time to
see that my conduct was impertinent。 The very fact that she was so
lovely to look upon should have been her protection。 It afforded me no
excuse to follow and spy upon her。 With this thought； I hastily returned
to the upper deck to bury myself in my book。 If it did not serve to keep
my mind from the young lady； at least I would prevent my eyes from
causing her annoyance。
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I was about to take the chair that the young man had left vacant when
Kinney objected。
〃He was very much interested in our conversation；〃 Kinney said； 〃and
he may return。〃
I had not noticed any eagerness on the part of the young man to talk to
Kinney or to listen to him； but I did not sit down。
〃I should not be surprised a bit；〃 said Kinney； 〃if that young man is no
end of a swell。 He is a Harvard man； and his manner was most polite。
That；〃 explained Kinney； 〃is one way you can always tell a real swell。
They're not high and mighty with you。 Their social position is so secure
that they can do as they like。 For instance； did you notice that he smoked
a pipe？〃
I said I had not noticed it。
For his holiday Kinney had purchased a box of cigars of a quality
more expensive than those he can usually afford。 He was smoking one of
them at the moment； and； as it grew less； had been carefully moving the
gold band with which it was encircled from the lighted end。 But as he
spoke he regarded it apparently with distaste； and then dropped it
overboard。
〃Keep my chair；〃 he said； rising。 〃I am going to my cabin to get my
pipe。〃 I sat down and fastened my eyes upon my book； but neither did I
understand what I was reading nor see the printed page。 Instead； before
my eyes； confusing and blinding me； was the lovely； radiant face of the
beautiful lady。 In perplexity I looked up； and found her standing not two
feet from me。 Something pulled me out of my chair。 Something made
me move it toward her。 I lifted my hat and backed away。 But the eyes
of the lovely lady halted me。
To my perplexity； her face expressed both surprise and pleasure。 It was
as though either she thought she knew me； or that I reminded her of some
man she did know。 Were the latter the case； he must have been a friend；
for the way in which she looked at me was kind。 And there was； besides；
the expression of surprise and as though something she saw pleased her。
Maybe it was the quickness with which I had offered my chair。 Still
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
looking at me； she pointed to one of the sky…scrapers。
〃Could you tell me；〃 she asked； 〃the name of that building？〃 Had her
question not proved it； her voice would have told me not only that she was
a stranger； but that she was Irish。 It was particularly soft； low； and
vibrant。 It made the commonplace question she asked sound as though
she had sung it。 I told her the name of the building； and that farther
uptown； as she would see when we moved into midstream； there was
another still taller。 She listened； regarding me brightly； as though
interested； but before her I was embarrassed； and； fearing I intruded； I
again made a movement to go away。 With another question she stopped
me。 I could see no reason for her doing so； but it was almost as though
she had asked the question only to detain me。
〃What is that odd boat；〃 she said； 〃pumping water into the river？〃
I explained that it was a fire…boat testing her hose…lines； and then as we
moved into the channel I gained courage； and found myself pointing out
the Statue of Liberty； Governors Island； and the Brooklyn Bridge。 The
fact that it was a stranger who was talking did not seem to disturb her。 I
cannot tell how she conveyed the idea； but I soon felt that she felt； no
matter what unconventional thing she chose to do； people would not be
rude； or misunderstand。
I considered telling her my name。 At first it seemed that that would
be more polite。 Then I saw to do so would be forcing myself upon her；
that she was interested in me only as a guide to New York Harbor。
When we passed the Brooklyn Navy Yard I talked so much and so
eagerly of the battle…ships at anchor there that the lady must have thought I
had followed the sea； for she asked： 〃Are you a sailorman？〃
It was the first question that was in any way personal。
〃I used to sail a catboat；〃 I said。
My answer seemed to puzzle her； and she frowned。 Then she
laughed delightedly； like one having made a discovery。
〃You don't say 'sailorman；'〃 she said。 〃What do you ask； over here；
when you want to know if a man is in the navy？〃
She spoke as though we were talking a different language。
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〃We ask if he is in the navy；〃 I answered。
She laughed again at that； quite as though I had said something clever。
〃And you are not？〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃I am in Joyce & Carboy's office。 I am a stenographer。〃
Again my answer seemed both to puzzle and to surprise her。 She
regarded me doubtfully。 I could see that she thought； for some reason； I
was misleading her。
〃In an office？〃 she repeated。 Then； as though she had caught me； she
said： 〃How do you keep so fit？〃 She asked the question directly； as a
man would have asked it； and as she spoke I was conscious that her eyes
were measuring me and my shoulders； as though she were wondering to
what weight I could strip。
〃It's only lately I've worked in an office；〃 I said。 〃Before that I
always worked out…of…doors； oystering and clamming and； in the fall；
scalloping。 And in the summer I played ball on a hotel nine。〃
I saw that to the beautiful lady my explanation carried no meaning
whatsoever； but before I could explain； the young man with whom she had
come on board walked toward us。
Neither did he appear to find in her talking to a stranger anything
embarrassing。 He halted and smiled。 His smile was pleasant； but
entirely vague。 In the few minutes I was with him； I learned that it was
no sign that he was secretly pleased。 It was merely his expression。 It
was as though a photographer had said： 〃Smile； please；〃 and he had
smiled。
When he joined us； out of deference to the young lady I raised my hat；
but the youth did not seem to think that outward show of respect was
necessary； and kept his hands in his pockets。 Neither did he cease
smoking。 His first remark to the lovely lady somewhat startled me。
〃Have you got a brass bed in your room？〃 he asked。 The beautiful
lady said she had。
〃So've I；〃 said the young man。 〃They do you rather well； don't they？
And it's only three dollars。 How much is that？〃
〃Four times three would be twelve；〃 said the lady。 〃Twelve
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shillings。〃
The young man was smoking a cigarette in a long amber cigarette…
holder。 I never had seen one so long。 He examined the end of his
cigarette…holder； and； apparently surpri
