the portygee-第40部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


family　so　far　that's　done　the　objectin'。　。　。　。　　Your　cigar's　gone
out。　　Have　another　light；　won't　you？〃

The　visitor　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　thank　you；　not　now；〃　he　said
hastily；　placing　the　defunct　cigar　carefully　on　the　captain's　desk。
〃I　won't　smoke　for　the　minute。　　So　you　want　me　to　begin　the
talking；　do　you？　　It　seems　to　me　I　have　begun　it。　　I　told　you　that
I　do　not　like　the　idea　of　my　daughter's　being　engaged　toto　say
nothing　of　marryingyour　grandson。　　My　wife　likes　it　even　less
than　I　do。　　That　is　enough　of　a　statement　to　begin　with；　isn't　it？〃

〃Why；　no；　not　exactly；　if　you'll　excuse　my　sayin'　so。　　Your
daughter　herselfhow　does　she　feel　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　she　is　enthusiastic；　naturally。　　She　appears　to　be　suffering
from　temporary　insanity　on　the　subject。〃

〃She　don't　seem　to　think　it's　quite　aserpreposterous；　and
ridiculous　and　outrageousand　Lord　knows　what　allas　your　wife
does；　eh？〃

〃No。　　I　say；　Snow；　I　hope　you're　not　too　deeply　offended　by　what
my　wife　wrote　you。　　I　judge　you　are　quoting　from　her　letter　and
apparently　she　piled　it　on　red…hot。　　You'll　have　to　excuse　her；　she
was　almost　wild　all　day　yesterday。　　I'll　ask　your　pardon　on　her
behalf。〃

〃Sho；　sho！　　No　need；　Mr。　Fosdick；　no　need　at　all。　　I　know　what
women　are；　even　the　easy…goin'　kind；　when　they've　got　steam　up。
I've　got　a　wifeand　I　had　a　daughter。　　But；　gettin'　back　on　the
course　again；　you　think　your　daughter's　crazy　because　she　wants　to
marry　my　grandson。　　Is　that　it？〃

〃Why；　no；　I　wouldn't　say　that；　exactly。　　Of　course；　I　wouldn't　say
that。〃

〃But；　you　see；　you　did　say　it。　　However；　we'll　leave　that　to　one
side　for　a　spell。　　What　objectionwhat　real　objection　is　there　to
those　two　marryin'my　grandson　and　your　daughterprovided　that
they　care　for　each　other　as　they'd　ought　to？〃

Mr。　Fosdick's　expression　changed　slightly。　　His　tone；　as　he　replied
to　the　question；　was　colder　and　his　manner　less　cordial。

〃I　don't　know　that　it　is　worth　while　answering　that　in　detail；〃　he
said；　after　an　instant's　pause。　　〃Frankly；　Captain　Snow；　I　had
rather　hoped　you　would　see；　for　yourself；　the　reasons　why　such　a
marriage　wouldn't　be　desirable。　　If　you　don't　see　them；　if　you　are
backing　up　your　grandson　in　his　business；　whywell；　there　is　no
use　in　our　discussing　the　matter　any　further；　is　there？　　We　should
only　lose　our　tempers　and　not　gain　much。　　So　we　had　better　end　it
now；　I　think。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet。　　Captain　Zelotes；　leaning　forward；　held　up　a
protesting　hand。

〃Nownow；　Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he　said　earnestly；　〃I　don't　want　you　to
misunderstand　me。　　And　I'm　sorry　if　what　I　said　has　made　you　mad。〃

Fosdick　smiled。　　〃Oh；　I'm　not　mad；〃　he　answered　cheerfully。　　〃I
make　it　a　rule　in　all　my　business　dealings　not　to　get　mad；　or；　more
especially；　not　to　let　the　other　fellow　know　that　I'm　getting　that
way。　　My　temper　hasn't　a　ruffle　in　it　just　now；　and　I　am　leaving
merely　because　I　want　it　to　remain　smooth。　　I　judge　that　you　and　I
aren't　going　to　agree。　　All　right；　then　we'll　differ；　but　we'll
differ　without　a　fight；　that's　all。　　Good　afternoon；　Captain。〃

But　Captain　Lote's　hand　still　remained　uplifted。

〃Mr。　Fosdick；〃　he　said。　　〃just　a　minute　nowjust　a　minute。　　You
never　have　met　Albert；　my　grandson；　have　you？　　Never　even　seen　him；
maybe？〃

〃No；　but　I　intend　to　meet　him　and　talk　with　him　before　I　leave
South　Harniss。　　He　was　one　of　the　two　people　I　came　here　to　meet。〃

〃And　I　was　the　other；　eh？　　Um…hm。　。　。　。　　I　see。　　You　think　you've
found　out　where　I　stand　and　now　you'll　size　him　up。　　Honest；　Mr。
Fosdick；　I　。　。　。　　Humph！　　Mind　if　I　tell　you　a　little　story？
'Twon't　take　long。　　When　I　was　a　little　shaver；　me　and　my　granddad；
the　first　Cap'n　Lote　Snowthere's　been　two　sincewere　great
chums。　　When　he　was　home　from　sea　he　and　I　stuck　together　like　hot
pitch　and　oakum。　　One　day　we　were　sittin'　out　in　the　front　yard　of
his　houseit's　mine；　nowwatchin'　a　hoptoad　catch　flies。　　You've
seen　a　toad　catch　flies；　haven't　you；　Mr。　Fosdick？　　Mr。　Toad　sits
there；　lookin'　half　asleep　and　as　pious　and　demure　as　a　pickpocket
at　camp…meetin'；　until　a　fly　comes　along　and　gets　too　near。　　Then；
Zip！　out　shoots　about　six　inches　of　toad　tongue　and　that　fly's　been
asked　in　to　dinner。　　Well；　granddad　and　I　sat　lookin'　at　our
particular　toad　when　along　came　a　bumble…bee　and　lighted　on　a
honeysuckle　blossom　right　in　front　of　the　critter。　　The　toad　didn't
take　time　to　think　it　over；　all　he　saw　was　a　square　meal；　and　his
tongue　flashed　out　and　nailed　that　bumble…bee　and　snapped　it　into
the　pantry。　　In　about　a　half　second；　though；　there　was　a　change。
The　pantry　had　been　emptied；　the　bumble…bee　was　on　his　way　again；
and　Mr。　Toad　was　on　his；　hoppin'　lively　and　huntin'　forwell；　for
ice　water　or　somethin'　coolin'；　I　guess　likely。　　Granddad　tapped　me
on　the　shoulder。　　'Sonny；'　says　he；　'there's　a　lesson　for　you。
That　hoptoad　didn't　wait　to　make　sure　that　bumble…bee　was　good　to
eat；　he　took　it　for　granted；　and　was　sorry　afterward。　　It　don't　pay
to　jump　at　conclusions；　son；'　he　says。　　'Some　conclusions　are　like
that　bumble…bee's；　they　have　stings　in　'em。'〃

Captain　Lote；　having　finished　his　story；　felt　in　his　pocket　for
a　match。　　Fosdick；　for　an　instant；　appeared　puzzled。　　Then　he
laughed。

〃I　see；〃　he　said。　　〃You　think　I　made　too　quick　a　jump　when　I
concluded　you　were　backing　your　grandson　in　this　affair。　　All
right；　I'm　glad　to　hear　it。　　What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　sit　down
again　and　listen？〃

He　resumed　his　seat　as　he　asked　the　question。　　Captain　Zelotes
nodded。

〃If　you　don't　mind；〃　he　answered。　　〃You　see；　you　misunderstood　me；
Mr。　Fosdick。　　I　didn't　mean　any　more　than　what　I　said　when　I　asked
you　what　real　objection　there　was；　in　your　opinion　to　Albert's
marryin'　yourerMadeline；　that's　her　name；　I　believe。　　Seems　to
me　the　way　for　us　to　get　to　an　understandin'you　and　Iis　to　find
out　just　how　the　situation　looks　to　each　of　us。　　When　we've　found
out　that；　we'll　know　how　nigh　we　come　to　agreein'　or　disagreein'
and　can　act　accordin'。　　Sounds　reasonable；　don't　it？〃

Fosdick　nodded　in　his　turn。　　〃Perfectly；〃　he　admitted。　　〃Well；　ask
your　questions；　and　I'll　answer　them。　　After　that　perhaps　I'll　ask
some　myself。　　Go　ahead。〃

〃I　have　gone　ahead。　　I've　asked　one　already。〃

〃Yes；　but　it　is　such　a　general　question。　　There　may　be　so　many
objections。〃

〃I　see。　　All　right；　then　I'll　ask　some：　　What　do　the　lawyers　call
'em？Atlantic？　　Pacific？　　I've　got　itI'll　ask　some　specific
questions。　　Here's　one。　　Do　you　object　to　Al　personally？　　To　his
character？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　We　know　nothing　about　his　character。　　Very　likely　he
may　be　a　young　saint。〃

〃Well；　he　ain't；　so　we'll　let　that　slide。　　He's　a　good　boy；　though；
so　far　as　I've　ever　been　able　to　find　out。　　Is　it　his　looks？
You've　never　seen　him；　but　your　wife　has。　　Don't　she　like　his
looks？〃

〃She　hasn't　mentioned　his　looks　to　me。〃

〃Is　it　his　money？　　He　hasn't　got　any　of　his　own。〃

〃We…ell；　of　course　that　does　count　a　little　bit。　　Madeline　is　our
only　child；　and　naturally　we　should　prefer　to　have　her　pick　out　a
husband　with　a　dollar　or　so　in　reserve。〃

〃Um…hm。　　Al's　twenty…one；　Mr。　Fosdick。　　When　I　was　twenty…one　I　had
some　put　by；　but　not　much。　　I　presume　likely　'twas　different　with
you；　maybe。　　Probably　you　were　pretty　well　fixed。〃

Fosdick　laughed　aloud。　　〃You　make　a　good　cross…examiner；　Snow；〃　he
observed。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　when　I　was　twenty…one　I　was
assistant　bookkeeper　in　a　New　Haven　broker's　office。　　I　didn't　have
a　cent　except　my　salary；　and　I　had　that　only　for　the　first　five
days　in　the　week。〃

〃However；　you　got　married？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。　　More　fool　I！　　If　I　had　known　anything；　I　should　have
waited　five　years　at　least。　　I　didn't　have　any　one　to　tell　me　so。
My　father　and　mother　were　both　dead。〃

〃Think　you'd　have　listened　to　'em　if　they　had　been　alive　and　had
told　you？　　However；　however；　that's　all　to　one　side。　　Well；
Albert's　havin'　no　money　to　speak　of　is　an　objectionand　a　good
honest　one　from　your　point　of　view。　　His　prospects　here　in　this
business　of　mine　are　fair；　and　he　is　doin'　better　at　it　than　he
was；　so　he　may　make　a　comf'table　livin'a　comf'table　South　Harniss
livin'；　that　isby　and　by。〃

〃Oh；　he　is　with　you；　then？　　Oh；　yes；　I　remember　my　wife　said　he
worked　in　your　office。　　But　she　said　more　about　his　being　some　sort
of　aa　poet；　wasn't　it？〃

For　the　first　time　since　the　interview　began　the　captain　looked　ill
at　ease　and　embarrassed。

〃Thunderation！〃　he　exclaimed　testily；　〃you　mustn't　pay　attention　to
that。　　He　does　make　up　poetry'　pieceseron　the　side；　as　you
might　say；　but　I　keep　hopin'　all　the　time　he'll　grow　out　of　it；
give　him　time。　　It　'ain't　his　regular　job；　you　mustn't　think　'tis。〃

The　visitor　laughed　again。　　〃I'm　glad　of　that；〃　he　said；　〃both　for
your　sake　and　mine。　　I　judge　that　you　and　I；　Snow；　are　in　complete
agreement　as　far　as　our　opinion　of　poetry　and　that　sort　of　stuff　is
concerned。　　Of　course　I'm　not　condemning　all　poetry；　you　understand。
Longfellow　and　Tennyson　and　the　regular　poets　are　all　right。　　You
understand　what　I'm　getting　at？〃

〃Sartin。　　I　used　to　know　'Down　went　the　R'yal　George　with　all　her
crew　complete；'　and　a　lot　more。　　Used　to　say　'em　over　to　myself
when　I　first　went　to　sea　and　stood　watch　alone　nights。　　But　they
were　different；　you　know；　theythey〃

〃Sure！　　My　wifewhy；　I　give　you　my　word　that　my　own　wife　and　her
set　go　perfectly　daffy　over　chaps　who　write　stuff　that　rhymes　and
that　the　papers　are　printing　columns　about。　　Snow；　if　this　grandson
of　yours　was　a　genuine　press…touted；　women's　club　poet　instead　of　a
would…bewell；　I　don't　know　what　might　happen。　　In　that　case　she
might　be　as　strong　FOR　this　engagement　as　she　is　now　against　it。〃

He　paused；　seeming　a　bit　ashamed　of　his　own　heat。　　Captain　Zelotes；
however；　regarded　him　with　more　approval　than　he　had　yet　shown。

〃It's　been　my　observation　that　women　are　likely　to　get　off　the
course　chasin'　false　signals　like　that；〃　he　observed。　　〃When　a　man
begins　lettin'　his　hair　and　his　mouth　run　wild　together　seems　as　if
the　combination　had　an　attraction　for　a　good　many　women　folks。　　Al
keeps　his　hair　cut；　though；　I'll　say　that　for　him；〃　he　added。　　〃It
curls　some；　but　it　ain't　long。　　I　wouldn't　have