the portygee-第26节

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for　one　thing；　and　it　makes　him　nervous。〃

Albert's　uneasiness　grew。　　When　his　grandfather's　speech　became
sarcastic　and　nautical；　the　young　man　had　usually　found　that　there
was　trouble　coming　for　somebody。

〃II'm　sorry　Laban　had　to　stay　so　late；〃　he　stammered。　　〃I　should
have　been　glad　to　stay　and　help　him；　but　he　didn't　ask　me。〃

〃No…o。　　Well；　it　may　possibly　be　that　he　cal'lated　he　was　carryin'
about　all　your　help　that　the　craft　would　stand；　as　'twas。　　Any　more
might　sink　her。　　See　here；　young　feller〃　　Captain　Zelotes　dropped
his　quiet　sarcasm　and　spoke　sharp　and　brisk：　　〃See　here；〃　he　said；
〃do　you　realize　that　this　sheet　of　paper　I've　got　here　is　what
stands　for　a　day's　work　done　by　you　yesterday？　　And　on　this　sheet
there　was　no　less　than　four　silly　mistakes　that　a　child　ten　years
old　hadn't　ought　to　make；　that　an　able…bodied　idiot　hadn't　ought　to
make。　　But　YOU　made　'em；　and　they　kept　Labe　Keeler　here　till　three
o'clock　this　mornin'。　　Now　what　have　you　got　to　say　for　yourself？〃

As　a　matter　of　fact；　Albert　had　very　little　to　say；　except　that　he
was　sorry；　and　that　his　grandfather　evidently　did　not　consider
worth　the　saying。　　He　waved　the　protestation　aside。

〃Sorry！〃　he　repeated　impatiently。　　〃Of　course　you're　sorry；　though
even　at　that　I　ain't　sure　you're　sorry　enough。　　Labe　was　sorry；
too；　I　don't　doubt；　when　his　bedtime　went　by　and　he　kept　runnin'
afoul　of　one　of　your　mistakes　after　another。　　I'm　sorry；　darned
sorry；　to　find　out　that　you　can　make　such　blunders　after　three
years　on　board　here　under　such　teachin'　as　you've　had。　　But　bein'
sorry　don't　help　any　to　speak　of。　　Any　fool　can　be　sorry　for　his
foolishness；　but　if　that's　all；　it　don't　help　a　whole　lot。　　Is
bein'　sorry　the　best　excuse　you've　got　to　offer？　　What　made　you
make　the　mistakes　in　the　first　place？〃

Albert's　face　was　darkly　red　under　the　lash　of　his　grandfather's
tongue。　　Captain　Zelotes　and　he　had　had　disagreements　and　verbal
encounters　before；　but　never　since　they　had　been　together　had　the
captain　spoken　like　this。　　And　the　young　fellow　was　no　longer
seventeen；　he　was　twenty。　　The　flush　began　to　fade　from　his　cheeks
and　the　pallor　which　meant　the　rise　of　the　Speranza　temper　took　its
place。

〃What　made　you　make　such　fool　blunders？〃　repeated　the　captain。
〃You　knew　better；　didn't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　sullenly；　〃I　suppose　I　did。〃

〃You　know　mighty　well　you　did。　　And　as　nigh　as　I　can　larn　from　what
I　got　out　of　Labanwhich　wasn't　much；　I　had　to　pump　it　out　of　him
word　by　wordthis　ain't　the　first　set　of　mistakes　you've　made。
You　make　'em　right　along。　　If　it　wasn't　for　him　helpin'　you　out　and
coverin'　up　your　mistakes；　this　firm　would　be　in　hot　water　with　its
customers　two…thirds　of　the　time　and　the　books　would　be　fust…rate
as　a　puzzle；　somethin'　to　use　for　a　guessin'　match；　but　plaguey
little　good　as　straight　accounts　of　a　goin'　concern。　　Now　what
makes　you　act　this　way？　　Eh？　　What　makes　you？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　See　here；　Grandfather〃

〃Hold　on　a　minute。　　You　don't　know；　eh？　　Well；　I　know。　　It　ain't
because　you　ain't　smart　enough　to　keep　a　set　of　books　and　keep　'em
well。　　I　don't　expect　you　to　be　a　Labe　Keeler；　there　ain't　many
bookkeepers　like　him　on　this　earth。　　But　I　do　know　you're　smart
enough　to　keep　my　books　and　keep　'em　as　they'd　ought　to　be；　if　you
want　to　keep　'em。　　The　trouble　with　you　is　that　you　don't　want　to。
You've　got　too　much　of　your　good…for…nothin〃　　Captain　Lote　pulled
up　short；　cleared　his　throat；　and　went　on：　　〃You've　got　too　much
'poet'　in　you；〃　he　declared；　〃that's　what's　the　matter。〃

Albert　leaned　forward。　　〃That　wasn't　what　you　were　going　to　say；〃
he　said　quickly。　　〃You　were　going　to　say　that　I　had　too　much　of　my
father　in　me。〃

It　was　the　captain's　turn　to　redden。　　〃Eh？〃　he　stammered。　　〃Why；
II　　How　do　you　know　what　I　was　goin'　to　say？〃

〃Because　I　do。　　You　say　it　all　the　time。　　Or；　if　you　don't　say　it；
you　look　it。　　There　is　hardly　a　day　that　I　don't　catch　you　looking
at　me　as　if　you　were　expecting　me　to　commit　murder　or　do　some
outrageous　thing　or　other。　　And　I　know；　too；　that　it　is　all　because
I'm　my　father's　son。　　Well；　that's　all　right；　feel　that　way　about
me　if　you　want　to；　I　can't　help　it。〃

〃Here；　here；　Al！　　Hold　on！　　Don't〃

〃I　won't　hold　on。　　And　I　tell　you　this：　I　hate　this　work　here。　　You
say　I　don't　want　to　keep　books。　　Well；　I　don't。　　I'm　sorry　I　made
the　errors　yesterday　and　put　Keeler　to　so　much　trouble；　but　I'll
probably　make　more。　　No；〃　with　a　sudden　outburst　of　determination；
〃I　won't　make　any　more。　　I　won't；　because　I'm　not　going　to　keep
books　any　more。　　I'm　through。〃

Captain　Zelotes　leaned　back　in　his　chair。

〃You're　what？〃　he　asked　slowly。

〃I'm　through。　　I'll　never　work　in　this　office　another　day。　　I'm
through。〃

The　captain's　brows　drew　together　as　he　stared　steadily　at　his
grandson。　　He　slowly　tugged　at　his　beard。

〃Humph！〃　he　grunted；　after　a　moment。　　〃So　you're　through；　eh？
Goin'　to　quit　and　go　somewheres　else；　you　mean？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Um…hm。　　I　see。　　Where　are　you　goin'　to　go？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　But　I'm　not　going　to　make　a　fool　of　myself　at　this
job　any　longer。　　I　can't　keep　books；　and　I　won't　keep　them。　　I　hate
business。　　I'm　no　good　at　it。　　And　I　won't　stay　here。〃

〃I　see。　　I　see。　　Well；　if　you　won't　keep　on　in　business；　what　will
you　do　for　a　livin'？　　Write　poetry？〃

〃Perhaps。〃

〃Um…m。　　Be　kind　of　slim　livin'；　won't　it？　　You've　been　writin'
poetry　for　about　a　year　and　a　half；　as　I　recollect；　and　so　far
you've　made　ten　dollars。〃

〃That's　all　right。　　If　I　don't　make　it　I　may　starve；　as　you　are
always　saying　that　writers　do。　　But；　starve　or　not；　I　shan't　ask
YOU　to　take　care　of　me。〃

〃I've　taken　care　of　you　for　three　years　or　so。〃

〃Yes。　　But　you　did　it　becausebecause　　Well；　I　don't　know　why
you　did；　exactly；　but　you　won't　have　to　do　it　any　longer。　　I'm
through。〃

The　captain　still　stared　steadily；　and　what　he　saw　in　the　dark　eyes
which　flashed　defiance　back　at　him　seemed　to　trouble　him　a　little。
His　tugs　at　his　beard　became　more　strenuous。

〃Humph！〃　he　muttered。　　〃Humph！　。　。　。　　Well；　Al；　of　course　I　can't
make　you　stay　by　main　force。　　Perhaps　I　couldyou　ain't　of　age
yetbut　I　shan't。　　And　you　want　to　quit　the　ship　altogether；　do
you？〃

〃If　you　mean　this　officeyes；　I　do。〃

〃I　see；　I　see。　　Want　to　quit　South　Harniss　and　your　grandmother
and　Racheland　Labeand　Helenand　all　the　rest　of　'em？〃

〃Not　particularly。　　But　I　shall　have　to；　of　course。〃

〃Yes。　。　。　。　　Um…hm。　。　。　。　　Yes。　　Have　you　thought　how　your
grandmother's　liable　to　feel　when　she　hears　you　are　goin'　to　clear
out　and　leave　her？〃

Albert　had　not　thought　in　that　way；　but　he　did　now。　　His　tone　was　a
trifle　less　combative　as　he　answered。

〃She'll　be　sorry　at　first；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃but　she'll　get
over　it。〃

〃Um…hm。　　Maybe　she　will。　　You　can　get　over　'most　anything　in　time
'MOST　anything。　　Well；　and　how　about　me？　　How　do　you　think　I'll
feel？〃

Albert's　chin　lifted。　　〃You！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　you'll　be　mighty
glad　of　it。〃

Captain　Zelotes　picked　up　the　pencil　stump　and　twirled　it　in　his
fingers。　　〃Shall　I？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　think　I　will；　do　you？〃

〃Of　course　you　will。　　You　don't　like　me；　and　never　did。〃

〃So　I've　heard　you　say。　　Well；　boy；　don't　you　cal'late　I　like　you
at　least　as　much　as　you　like　me？〃

〃No。　　What　do　you　mean？　　I　like　you　well　enough。　　That　is；　I　should
if　you　gave　me　half　a　chance。　　But　you　don't　do　it。　　You　hate　me
because　my　father〃

The　captain　interrupted。　　His　big　palm　struck　the　desk。

〃DON'T　say　that　again！〃　he　commanded。　　〃Look　here；　if　I　hated　you
do　you　suppose　I'd　be　talkin'　to　you　like　this？　　If　I　hated　you　do
you　cal'late　I'd　argue　when　you　gave　me　notice？　　Not　by　a　jugful！
No　man　ever　came　to　me　and　said　he　was　goin'　to　quit　and　had　me　beg
him　to　stay。　　If　we　was　at　sea　he　stayed　until　we　made　port；　then
he　WENT；　and　he　didn't　hang　around　waitin'　for　a　boat　to　take　him
ashore　neither。　　I　don't　hate　you；　son。　　I'd　ask　nothin'　better
than　a　chance　to　like　you；　but　you　won't　give　it　to　me。〃

Albert's　eyes　and　mouth　opened。

〃_I_　won't　give　YOU　a　chance？〃　he　repeated。

〃Sartin。　　DO　you　give　me　one？　　I　ask　you　to　keep　these　books　of
mine。　　You　could　keep　'em　A　Number　One。　　You're　smart　enough　to　do
it。　　But　you　won't。　　You　let　'em　go　to　thunder　and　waste　your　time
makin'　up　fool　poetry　and　such　stuff。〃

〃But　I　like　writing；　and　I　don't　like　keeping　books。〃

〃Keepin'　books　is　a　part　of　l'arnin'　the　business；　and　business　is
the　way　you're　goin'　to　get　your　livin'　by　and　by。〃

〃No；　it　isn't。　　I　am　going　to　be　a　writer。〃

〃Now　DON'T　say　that　silly　thing　again！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃

〃I　shall　say　it　because　it　is　true。〃

〃Look　here；　boy：　　When　I　tell　you　or　anybody　else　in　this　office　to
do　or　not　to　do　a　thing；　I　expect　'em　to　obey　orders。　　And　I　tell
you　not　to　talk　any　more　of　that　foolishness　about　bein'　a　writer。
D'you　understand？〃

〃Yes；　of　course　I　understand。〃

〃All　right；　then；　that　much　is　settled。　。　。　。　　Here！　　Where　are　you
goin'？〃

Albert　had　turned　and　was　on　his　way　out　of　the　office。　　He　stopped
and　answered　over　his　shoulder；　〃I'm　going　home；〃　he　said。

〃Goin'　HOME？　　Why；　you　came　from　home　not　more　than　an　h