the portygee-第69节

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Rachel　smiled　grimly。　　〃Well；　let's　talk　about　nice　things；〃　she
said。　　〃Oh；　Issy　Price　was　here　this　forenoon；　Cap'n　Lote　sent　him
over　from　the　office　on　an　errand；　and　he　said　he　saw　you　and　Mr。
Kendall　goin'　down　street　together　just　as　he　was　comin'　along。　　He
hollered　at　you；　but　you　didn't　hear　him。　　'Cordin'　to　Issachar's
tell；　you　was　luggin'　a　basket　with　Jonah's　whale　in　it；　or
somethin'　like　that。〃

Albert　described　his　encounter　with　the　minister。　　Rachel　was　much
interested。

〃Oh；　so　you　saw　Helen；〃　she　said。　　〃Well；　I　guess　she　was　surprised
to　see　you。〃

〃Not　more　than　I　was　to　see　her。　　I　didn't　know　she　was　in　town。
Not　a　soul　had　mentioned　ityou　nor　Grandfather　nor　Grandmother。〃

The　housekeeper　answered　without　turning　her　head。　　〃Guess　we　had
so　many　things　to　talk　about　we　forgot　it；〃　she　said。　　〃Yes；　she's
been　here　over　a　week　now。　　High　time；　from　what　I　hear。　　The　poor
old　parson　has　failed　consider'ble　and　Maria　Price's　housekeepin'
and　cookin'　is　enough　to　make　a　well　man　sickor　wish　he　was。　　But
he'll　be　looked　after　now。　　Helen　will　look　after　him。　　She's　the
most　capable　girl　there　is　in　Ostable　County。　　Did　she　tell　you
about　what　she　done　in　the　Red　Cross　and　the　hospitals？〃

〃She　said　something　about　it；　not　very　much。〃

〃Um…hm。　　She　wouldn't；　bein'　Helen　Kendall。　　But　the　Red　Cross
folks　said　enough；　and　they're　sayin'　it　yet。　　Why〃

She　went　on　to　tell　of　Helen's　work　in　the　Red　Cross　depots　and　in
the　camp；　and　hospitals。　　It　was　an　inspiring　story。

〃There　they　was；〃　said　Rachel；　〃the　poor　things；　just　boys　most　of
'em；　dyin'　of　that　dreadful　influenza　like　rats；　as　you　might　say。
And；　of　course　it's　dreadful　catchin'；　and　a　good　many　was　more
afraid　of　it　than　they　would　have　been　of　bullets；　enough　sight。
But　Helen　Kendall　wa'n't　afraidno；　siree！　　Why〃

And　so　on。　　Albert　listened；　hearing　most　of　it；　but　losing　some　as
his　thoughts　wandered　back　to　the　Helen　he　had　known　as　a　boy　and
the　Helen　he　had　met　that　forenoon。　　Her　face；　as　she　had　welcomed
him　at　the　parsonage　doorit　was　surprising　how　clearly　it　showed
before　his　mind's　eye。　　He　had　thought　at　first　that　she　had　not
changed　in　appearance。　　That　was　not　quite　trueshe　had　changed　a
little；　but　it　was　merely　the　fulfillment　of　a　promise；　that　was
all。　　Her　eyes；　her　smile　above　a　hospital　bedhe　could　imagine
what　they　must　have　seemed　like　to　a　lonely；　homesick　boy　wrestling
with　the　〃flu。〃

〃And；　don't　talk！〃　he　heard　the　housekeeper　say；　as　he　drifted　out
of　his　reverie；　〃if　she　wa'n't　popular　around　that　hospital；　around
both　hospitals；　fur's　that　goes！　　The　patients　idolized　her；　and
the　other　nurses　they　loved　her；　and　the　doctors〃

〃Did　they　love　her；　too？〃　Albert　asked；　with　a　smile；　as　she
hesitated。

She　laughed。　　〃Some　of　'em　did；　I　cal'late；〃　she　answered。　　〃You
see；　I　got　most　of　my　news　about　it　all　from　Bessie　Ryder；
Cornelius　Ryder's　niece；　lives　up　on　the　road　to　the　Center；　you
used　to　know　her；　Albert。　　Bessie　was　nursin'　in　that　same
hospital；　the　one　Helen　was　at　first。　　'Cordin'　to　her；　there　was
some　doctor　or　officer　tryin'　to　shine　up　to　Helen　most　of　the
time。　　When　she　was　at　Eastview；　so　Bessie　heard；　there　was　a　real
big…bug　in　the　Army；　a　sort　of　Admiral　or　Commodore　amongst　the
doctors　he　was；　and　HE　was　trottin'　after　her；　or　would　have　been
if　she'd　let　him。　　'Course　you　have　to　make　some　allowances　for
Bessieshe　wouldn't　be　a　Ryder　if　she　didn't　take　so　many　words　to
say　so　little　that　the　truth　gets　stretched　pretty　thin　afore　she
finishedbut　there　must　have　been　SOMETHIN'　in　it。　　And　all　about
her　bein'　such　a　wonderful　nurse　and　doin'　so　much　for　the　Red
Cross　I　KNOW　is　true。　。　。　。　　Eh？　　Did　you　say　anything；　Albert？〃

Albert　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　Rachel；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　didn't
speak。〃

〃I　thought　I　heard　you　or　somebody　say　somethin'。　　I　　Why；　Laban
Keeler；　what　are　you　doin'　away　from　your　desk　this　time　in　the
afternoon？〃

Laban　grinned　as　he　entered　the　kitchen。

〃Did　I　hear　you　say　you　thought　you　heard　somebody　sayin'　somethin'；
Rachel？〃　he　inquired。　　〃That's　queer；　ain't　it？　　Seemed　to　me　_I_
heard　somebody　sayin'　somethin'　as　I　come　up　the　path　just　now。
Seemed　as　if　they　was　sayin'　it　right　here　in　the　kitchen；　too。
'Twasn't　your　voice；　Albert；　and　it　couldn't　have　been　Rachel's；
'cause　she　NEVER　talks'specially　to　you。　　It's　too　bad；　the
prejudice　she's　got　against　you；　Albert；〃　he　added；　with　a　wink。
〃Um…hm；　too　badyes；　'tisyes；　yes。〃

Mrs。　Ellis　sniffed。

〃And　that's　what　the　newspapers　in　war　time　used　to　callerer
oh；　dear；　what　was　it？camelseems's　if　'twas　somethin'　about　a
camel〃

〃Camouflage？〃　suggested　Albert。

〃That's　it。　　All　that　talk　about　me　is　just　camouflage　to　save　him
answerin'　my　question。　　But　he's　goin'　to　answer　it。　　What　are　you
doin'　away　from　the　office　this　time　in　the　afternoon；　I　want　to
know？〃

Mr。　Keeler　perched　his　small　figure　on　the　corner　of　the　kitchen
table。

〃Well；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　Rachel；〃　he　said　solemnly。　　〃I'm　here
to　do　what　the　folks　in　books　call　demand　an　explanation。　　You　and
I；　Rachel；　are　just　as　good　as　engaged　to　be　married；　ain't　we？
I've　been　keepin'　company　with　you　for　the　last　twenty；　forty　or
sixty　years；　some　such　spell　as　that。　　Now；　just　as　I'm　gettin'
used　to　it　and　beginnin'　to　consider　it　a　settled　arrangement；　as
you　may　say；　I　come　into　this　house　and　find　you　shut　up　in　the
kitchen　with　another　man。　　Now；　what〃

The　housekeeper　advanced　toward　him　with　the　dripping　dishcloth。

〃Laban　Keeler；〃　she　threatened；　〃if　you　don't　stop　your　foolishness
and　answer　my　question；　I　declare　I'll〃

Laban　slid　from　his　perch　and　retired　behind　the　table。

〃Another　man；〃　he　repeated。　　〃And　SOME　folksnot　many；　of　course；
but　somemight　be　crazy　enough　to　say　he　was　a　better…lookin'　man
than　I　am。　　Now；　bein'　ragin'　jealous；　　All　right；　Rachel；　all
right；　I　surrender。　　Don't　hit　me　with　all　those　soapsuds。　　I　don't
want　to　go　back　to　the　office　foamin'　at　the　mouth。　　The　reason　I'm
here　is　that　I　had　to　go　down　street　to　see　about　the　sheathin'　for
the　Red　Men's　lodge　room。　　Issy　took　the　order；　but　he　wasn't　real
sure　whether　'twas　sheathin'　or　scantlin'　they　wanted；　so　I　told
Cap'n　Lote　I'd　run　down　myself　and　straighten　it　out。　　On　the　way
back　I　saw　you　two　through　the　window　and　I　thought　I'd　drop　in　and
worry　you。　　So　here　I　am。〃

Mrs。　Ellis　nodded。　　〃Yes；〃　she　sniffed。　　〃And　all　that　camel
camel　　Oh；　DEAR；　what　DOES　ail　me？　　All　that　camel　　No　use；
I've　forgot　it　again。〃

〃Never　mind；　Rachel；〃　said　Mr。　Keeler　consolingly。　　〃All　theer
menagerie　was　just　that　and　nothin'　more。　　Oh；　by　the　way；　Al；〃　he
added；　〃speakin'　of　camelsdon't　you　think　I've　done　pretty　well
to　go　so　long　without　anyerliquid　nourishment？　　Not　a　drop
since　you　and　I　enlisted　together。　。　。　。　　Oh；　she　knows　about　it
now；〃　he　added；　with　a　jerk　of　his　head　in　the　housekeeper's
direction。　　〃I　felt　'twas　fairly　safe　and　settled；　so　I　told　her。
I　told　her。　　Yes；　yes；　yes。　　Um…hm；　so　I　did。〃

Albert　turned　to　the　lady。

〃You　should　be　very　proud　of　him；　Rachel；〃　he　said　seriously。　　〃I
think　I　realize　a　little　something　of　the　fight　he　has　made；　and　it
is　bully。　　You　should　be　proud　of　him。〃

Rachel　looked　down　at　the　little　man。

〃I　am；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　guess　likely　he　knows　it。〃

Laban　smiled。　　〃The　folks　in　Washington　are　doin'　their　best　to
help　me　out；〃　he　said。　　〃They're　goin'　to　take　the　stuff　away　from
everybody　so's　to　make　sure　_I_　don't　get　any　more。　　They'll
probably　put　up　a　monument　to　me　for　startin'　the　thing；　don't　you
think　they　will；　Al？　　Eh？　　Don't　you；　now？〃

Albert　and　he　walked　up　the　road　together。　　Laban　told　a　little
more　of　his　battle　with　John　Barleycorn。

〃I　had　half　a　dozen　spells　when　I　had　to　set　my　teeth；　those　I've
got　left；　and　hang　on；〃　he　said。　　〃And　the　hangin'…on　wa'n't　as
easy　as　stickin'　to　fly…paper；　neither。　　Honest；　though；　I　think
the　hardest　was　when　the　news　came　that　you　was　alive；　Al。　　II
just　wanted　to　start　in　and　celebrate。　　Wanted　to　whoop　her　up；　I
did。〃　　He　paused　a　moment　and　then　added；　〃I　tried　whoopin'　on
sass'parilla　and　vanilla　sody；　but　'twa'n't　satisfactory。　　Couldn't
seem　to　raise　a　real　loud　whisper；　let　alone　a　whoop。　　No；　I
couldn'tno；　no。〃

Albert　laughed　and　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　　〃You're　all　right；
Labe；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　know　you；　and　I　say　so。〃

Laban　slowly　shook　his　head。　　His　smile；　as　he　answered；　was　rather
pathetic。

〃I'm　a　long；　long　ways　from　bein'　all　right；　Al；〃　he　said。　　〃A　long
ways　from　that；　I　am。　　If　I'd　made　my　fight　thirty　year　ago；　I
might　have　been　nigher　to　amountin'　to　somethin'。　。　。　。　　Oh；　well；
for　Rachel's　sake　I'm　glad　I've　made　it　now。　　She's　stuck　to　me
when　everybody　would　have　praised　her　for　chuckin'　me　to　Tophet。　　I
was　readin'　one　of　Thackeray's　books　t'other　nightHenry　Esmond；
'twas；　you've　read　it；　Al；　of　course；　I　was　readin'　it　t'other
night　for　the　ninety…ninth　time　or　thereabouts；　and　I　run　across
the　place　where　it　says　it's　strange　what　a　man　can　do　and　a　woman
still　keep　thinkin'　he's　an　angel。　　That's　true；　too；　Al。　　Not；〃
with　the　return　of　the　slight　smile；