the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第29节
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chair which the Captain wheeled out from the corner。
The abashed mariner stood up against the wall； twirling his tarpaulin
in his two hands and looking extremely silly。 He made a poor show in a
gentleman's drawing…room； but what a fellow he had been in his day； when
the gale blew great guns and the topsails wanted reefing！ I thought of him
with the Mexican squadron off Vera Cruz； where；
'The rushing battle…bolt sung from the three…decker out of the
foam；〃
and he didn't seem awkward or ignoble to me； for all his shyness。
As Sailor Ben declined to sit down； the Captain did not resume his seat；
so we three stood in a constrained manner until my grandfather went to the
door and called to Kitty to bring in a decanter of Madeira and two glasses。
〃My grandson； here； has talked so much about you；〃 said the Captain；
pleasantly； 〃that you seem quite like an old acquaintance to me。〃
〃Thankee； sir； thankee；〃 returned Sailor Ben； looking as guilty as if he
had been detected in picking a pocket。
〃And I'm very glad to see you； Mr。…Mr。…〃
〃Sailor Ben；〃 suggested that worthy。
〃Mr。 Sailor Ben；〃 added the Captain； smiling。 〃Tom； open the door；
there's Kitty with the glasses。〃
I opened the door； and Kitty entered the room bringing the things on a
waiter； which she was about to set on the table； when suddenly she uttered
a loud shriek； the decanter and glasses fell with a crash to the floor； and
Kitty； as white as a sheet； was seen flying through the hall。
〃It's his wraith！ It's his wraith！〃' we heard Kitty shrieking in the
kitchen。
My grandfather and I turned with amazement to Sailor Ben。 His eyes
were standing out of his head like a lobster's。
〃It's my own little Irish lass！〃 shouted the sailor； and he darted into the
hall after her。
Even then we scarcely caught the meaning of his words； but when we
saw Sailor Ben and Kitty sobbing on each other's shoulder in the kitchen；
we understood it all。
〃I begs your honor's parden； sir；〃 said Sailor Ben； lifting his tear…
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stained face above Kitty's tumbled hair； 〃I begs your honor's parden for
kicking up a rumpus in the house； but it's my own little Irish lass as I lost
so long ago！〃
〃Heaven preserve us！〃 cried the Captain； blowing his nose violently…a
transparent ruse to hide his emotion。
Miss Abigail was in an upper chamber； sweeping； but on hearing the
unusual racket below； she scented an accident and came ambling
downstairs with a bottle of the infallible hot…drops in her hand。 Nothing
but the firmness of my grandfather prevented her from giving Sailor Ben a
table…spoonful on the spot。 But when she learned what had come about…
that this was Kitty's husband； that Kitty Collins wasn't Kitty Collins now；
but Mrs。 Benjamin Watson of Nantucket…the good soul sat down on the
meal…chest and sobbed as if…to quote from Captain Nutter…as if a husband
of her own had turned up！
A happier set of people than we were never met together in a dingy
kitchen or anywhere else。 The Captain ordered a fresh decanter of Madeira；
and made all hands； excepting myself； drink a cup to the return of 〃the
prodigal sea…son；〃 as he persisted in calling Sailor Ben。
After the first flush of joy and surprise was over Kitty grew silent and
constrained。 Now and then she fixed her eyes thoughtfully on her husband。
Why had he deserted her all these years？ What right had he to look for a
welcome from one he had treated so cruelly？ She had been true to him； but
had he been true to her？ Sailor Ben must have guessed what was passing
in her mind； for presently he took her hand and said… 〃Well； lass； it's a long
yarn； but you shall have it all in good time。 It was my hard luck as made
us part company； an' no will of mine； for I loved you dear。〃
Kitty brightened up immediately； needing no other assurance of Sailor
Ben's faithfulness。
When his hour had expired； we walked with him down to the wharf；
where the Captain held a consultation with the mate； which resulted in an
extension of Mr。 Watson's leave of absence； and afterwards in his
discharge from his ship。 We then went to the 〃Mariner's Home〃 to engage
a room for him； as he wouldn't hear of accepting the hospitalities of the
Nutter House。
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〃You see； I'm only an uneddicated man；〃 he remarked to my
grandfather； by way of explanation。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Sixteen
In Which Sailor Ben Spins a Yarn
Of course we were all very curious to learn what had befallen Sailor
Ben that morning long ago； when he bade his little bride goodby and
disappeared so mysteriously。
After tea； that same evening； we assembled around the table in the
kitchen…the only place where Sailor Ben felt at home3/4to hear what he
had to say for himself。
The candles were snuffed； and a pitcher of foaming nut…brown ale was
set at the elbow of the speaker； who was evidently embarrassed by the
respectability of his audience； consisting of Captain Nutter； Miss Abigail；
myself； and Kitty； whose face shone with happiness like one of the
polished tin platters on the dresser。
〃Well； my hearties；〃 commenced Sailor Ben…then he stopped short and
turned very red； as it struck him that maybe this was not quite the proper
way to address a dignitary like the Captain and a severe elderly lady like
Miss Abigail Nutter； who sat bolt upright staring at him as she would have
stared at the Tycoon of Japan himself。
〃I ain't much of a hand at spinnin' a yarn；〃 remarked Sailor Ben；
apologetically； 〃'specially when the yarn is all about a man as has made a
fool of hisself； an' 'specially when that man's name is Benjamin Watson。〃
〃Bravo！〃 cried Captain Nutter； rapping on the table encouragingly。
〃Thankee； sir； thankee。 I go back to the time when Kitty an' me was
livin' in lodgin's by the dock in New York。 We was as happy； sir； as two
porpusses； which they toil not neither do they spin。 But when I seed the
money gittin' low in the locker…Kitty's starboard stockin'； savin' your
presence； marm…I got down…hearted like； seem' as I should be obleeged to
ship agin； for it didn't seem as I could do much ashore。 An' then the sea
was my nat'ral spear of action。 I wasn't exactly born on it； look you； but I
fell into it the fust time I was let out arter my birth。 My mother slipped her
cable for a heavenly port afore I was old enough to hail her； so I larnt to
look on the ocean for a sort of step…mother…an' a precious hard one she has
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been to me。
〃The idee of leavin' Kitty so soon arter our marriage went agin my
grain considerable。 I cruised along the docks for some…thin' to do in the
way of stevedore： an' though I picked up a stray job here and there； I didn't
am enough to buy ship…bisket for a rat； let alone feedin' two human
mouths。 There wasn't nothin' honest I wouldn't have turned a hand to； but
the 'longshoremen gobbled up all the work； an' a outsider like me didn't
stand a show。
〃Things got from bad to worse； the month's rent took all our cash
except a dollar or so； an' the sky looked kind o' squally fore an' aft。 Well； I
set out one mornin'…that identical unlucky mornin'…determined to come
back an' toss some pay into Kitty's lap； if I had to sell my jacket for it。 I
spied a brig unloadin' coal at pier No。 47…how well I remembers it！ I hailed
the mate； an' offered myself for a coal…heaver。 But I wasn't wanted； as he
told me civilly enough； which was better treatment than usual。 As I turned
off rather glum I was signalled by one of them sleek； smooth…spoken
rascals with a white hat an' a weed on it； as is always goi
