the woman-haters-第11部分

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bit　of　supper's　eat　upshe's　got　some　of　her　brother's　stinginess
in　her　make…upso　I　cal'late　Henry'll　get　home　afore　she　does。　　I
shouldn't　wonder；〃　with　an　exuberant　chuckle；　〃if　that　settin'　room'
was　some　stirred　up　when　he　sees　it。　　The　pup　had　loosened　the　box
cover　afore　I　left。　　Ho；　ho！〃

〃But　won't　he　send　the　dog　back　here　again？〃

〃No；　he　won't。　　I　left　a　note　for　him　on　the　table。　　There　was
consider'ble　ginger　in　every　line　of　it。　　No；　Job　won't　be　sent
here；　no　matter　what　becomes　of　him。　　And　if　anything　SHOULD　be
broke　in　that　settin'　roomwell；　there　was　SOME　damage　done　to　our
kitchen。　　No；　I　guess　Henry　G。　and　me　are　square。　　He　won't　make　any
fuss；　he　wants　to　keep　our　trade；　you　see。〃

It　was　a　true　prophecy。　　The　storekeeper　made　no　trouble；　and　Job
remained　at　Eastboro　until　a　foray　on　a　neighbor's　chickens　resulted
in　his　removal　from　this　vale　of　tears。　　Neither　the　lightkeeper　nor
his　helper　ever　saw　him　again；　and　when　Seth　next　visited　the　store
and　solicitously　inquired　concerning　the　pup's　health；　Henry　G。
merely　looked　foolish　and　changed　the　subject。

But　the　dog's　short　sojourn　at　the　Twin…Lights　had　served　to　solve
one　mystery；　that　of　Atkins's　daily　excursions　to　Pounddug　Slough。
He　went　there　to　work　on　the　old　schooner；　the　Daisy　M。　　Seth　made
no　more　disclosures　concerning　his　past　lifethat　remained　a
secretbut　he　did　suggest　his　helper's　going　to　inspect　the
schooner。　　〃Just　walk　across　and　look　her　over；〃　he　said。　　〃I'd　like
to　know　what　you　think　of　her。　　See　if　I　ain't　makin'　a　pretty　good
job　out　of　nothin'。　　FOR　nothin'；　of　course；〃　he　added；　gloomily；
〃but　it　keeps　me　from　thinkin'　too　much。　　Go　and　see　her；　that's　a
good　feller。〃

So　the　young　man　did　go。　　He　climbed　aboard　the　stranded　crafta
forlorn　picture　she　made；　lying　on　her　side　in　the　mudand　was
surprised　to　find　how　much　had　been　manufactured　〃out　of　nothing。〃
Her　seams；　those　which　the　sun　had　opened；　were　caulked　neatly；　her
deck　was　clean　and　white；　she　was　partially　rigged；　with　new　and　old
canvas　and　ropes；　and　to　his　landsman's　eyes　she　looked　almost　fit
for　sea。　　But　when　he　said　as　much　to　Seth；　the　latter　laughed
scornfully。

〃Fit　for　nothin'；〃　scoffed　the　lightkeeper。　　〃I　could　make　her　fit；
maybe；　if　I　wanted　to　spend　money　enough；　but　I　don't。　　I　can't　get
at　her　starboard　side；　that's　down　in　the　mud；　and　I　cal'late　she'd
leak　like　a　skimmer。　　She's　only　got　a　fores'l　and　a　jib；　and　the
jib's　only　a　little　one　that　used　to　belong　to　a　thirty…foot　sloop。
Her　anchor's　gone；　and　I　wouldn't　trust　her　main　topmast　to　carry
anything　bigger'n　a　handkerchief；　nor　that　in　a　breeze　no　more
powerful　than　a　canary　bird's　breath。　　And；　as　I　told　you；　it　would
take　a　tide　like　a　flood　to　float　her。　　No；　she's　no　good；　and　never
will　be；　but；〃　with　a　sigh；　〃I　get　a　little　fun　fussin'　over　her。〃

〃Erby　the　way；〃　he　added；　a　little　later；　〃of　course　you　won't
mention　to　nobody　what　I　told　you　aboutabout　my　bein'　a　fishin'
skipper　once。　　Not　that　anybody　ever　comes　here　for　you　to　mention
it　to；　but　I　wouldn't　want　。　。　。　　You　see；　nobody　in　Eastboro　or
anywheres　on　the　Cape　knows　where　I　come　from；　and　so　。　。　　。　　Oh；
all　right；　all　right。　　I　know　you　ain't　the　kind　to　talk。　　Mind　our
own　business；　that's　the　motto　you　and　me　cruise　under；　hey？〃

Yet；　although　the　conversation　in　the　substitute　assistant's　room
was　not　again　referred　to　by　either；　it　had　the　effect　of　making　the
oddly　assorted　pair　a　bit　closer　in　their　companionship。　　The　mutual
trust　was　strengthened　by　the　lightkeeper's　half　confidence　and
Brown's　sympathetic　reception　of　it。　　Each　was　lonely；　each　had
moments　when　he　felt　he　must　express　his　hidden　feelings　to　some
one；　and；　though　neither　recognized　the　fact；　it　was　certain　that
the　time　was　coming　when　all　mysteries　would　be　mysteries　no　longer。
And　one　day　occurred　a　series　of　ridiculous　happenings　which；
bidding　fair　at　first　to　end　in　a　quarrel　the　relationship　between
the　two；　instead　revealed　in　both　a　kindred　trait　that　removed　the
last　barrier。

At　a　little　before　ten　on　this　particular　morning；　Brown；　busy　in
the　kitchen；　heard　vigorous　language　outside。　　It　was　Atkins　who　was
speaking；　and　the　assistant　wondered　who　on　earth　he　could　be
talking　to。　　A　glance　around　the　doorpost　showed　that　he　was；
apparently；　talking　to　himselfat　least；　there　was　no　other　human
being　to　be　seen。　　He　held　in　his　hand　a　battered　pair　of　marine
glasses　and　occasionally　he　peered　through　them。　　Each　time　he　did
so　his　soliloquy　became　more　animated　and　profane。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　demanded　Brown；　emerging　from　the　house。

〃Matter？〃　repeated　Seth。　　〃Matter　enough！　　Here！　take　a　squint
through　them　glasses　and　tell　me　who's　in　that　buggy　comin'　yonder？〃

The　buggy；　a　black　dot　far　down　the　sandy　road　leading　from　the
village；　was　rocking　and　dipping　over　the　dunes。　　The　assistant　took
the　glasses；　adjusted　them；　and　looked　as　directed。

〃Why！〃　he　said　slowly；　〃there　are　three　people　in　that　buggy。　　A
manand〃

〃And　two　women；　that's　what　I　thought。　　Dum　idiots　comin'　over　to
picnic　and　spend　the　day；　sure's　taxes。　　And　they'll　want　to　be
showed　round　the　lights　and　everywheres；　and　they'll　ask　more'n
forty　million　questions。　　Consarn　the　luck！〃

Brown　looked　troubled。　　He　had　no　desire　to　meet　strangers。

〃How　do　you　know　they're　coming　here？〃　he　asked。　　The　answer　was
conclusive。

〃Because；〃　snarled　Seth；　〃as　I　should　think　you'd　know　by　this　time；
there　ain't　no　other　place　round　here　they　COULD　come　to。〃

A　moment　later；　he　added；　〃Well；　you'll　have　to　show　'em　round。〃

〃I　will？〃

〃Sartin。　　That's　part　of　the　assistant　keeper's　job。〃

He　chuckled　as　he　said　it。　　That　chuckle　grated　on　the　young　man's
nerves。

〃I'm　not　the　assistant；〃　he　declared　cheerfully。

〃You　ain't？　　What　are　you　then？〃

〃Oh；　just　a　helper。　　I　don't　get　any　wages。　　You've　told　me
yourself；　over　and　over；　that　I　have　no　regular　standing　here。　　And；
according　to　the　government　rules；　those　you've　got　posted　in　the
kitchen；　the　lightkeeper　is　obliged　to　show　visitors　about。　　I
wouldn't　break　the　rules　for　the　world。　　Good　morning。　　Think　I'll
go　down　to　the　beach。〃

He　stalked　away　whistling。　　Atkins；　his　face　flaming；　roared　after
him　a　profane　opinion　concerning　his　actions。　　Then　he　went　into　the
kitchen；　slamming　the　door　with　a　bang。

Some　twenty　minutes　later　the　helper　heard　his　name　shouted　from　the
top　of　the　bluff。

〃Mr。　Brown！　　I　say！　　Ahoy　there；　Mr。　Brown！　　Come　up　here　a　minute；
won't　ye？〃

Brown　clambered　up　the　path。　　A　little　man；　with　grey　throat
whiskers；　and　wearing　an　antiquated　straw　hat；　the　edge　of　the　brim
trimmed　with　black　braid；　was　standing　waiting　for　him。

〃Sorry　to　trouble　you；　Mr。　Brown；〃　stammered　the　little　man；　〃but
you　be　Mr。　Brown；　ain't　you？〃

〃I　am。　　Yes。〃

〃Well；　I　cal'lated　you　was。　　My　name's　Stover；　Abijah　Stover。　　I
live　over　to　Trumet。　　Me　and　my　wife　drove　over　for　a　sort　of　picnic
like。　　We've　got　her　cousin；　Mrs。　Sophia　Hains；　along。　　Sophi's　a
widow　from　Boston；　and　she　ain't　never　seen　a　lighthouse　afore。　　I
know　Seth　Atkins　slightly；　and　I　was　cal'latin'　he'd　show　us　around；
but　bein'　as　he's　so　sick〃

〃Sick？　　Is　Mr。　Atkins　sick？〃

〃Why；　yes。　　Didn't　you　know　it？　　He's　in　the　bedroom　there　groanin'
somethin'　terrible。　　He　told　me　not　to　say　nothin'　to　the　women
folks；　but　to　hail　you；　and　you'd　look　out　for　us。　　Didn't　you　know
he　was　laid　up？　　Why；　he〃

Brown　did　not　wait　to　hear　more。　　He　strode　to　the　house；　with　Mr。
Stover　at　his　heels。　　On　his　way　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　buggy；
the　horse　dozing　between　the　shafts。　　On　the　seat　of　the　buggy　were
two　women；　one　plump　and　round…faced；　the　other　thin　and　gaunt。

Mr。　Stover　panted　behind　him。

〃Say；　Mr。　Brown；〃　he　whispered；　as　they　entered　the　kitchen；　〃don't
tell　my　wife　nor　Sophi　about　Seth's　bein'　sick。　　Better　not　say　a
word　to　them　about　it。〃

The　tone　in　which　this　was　spoken　made　the　substitute　assistant
curious。

〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。

〃'Causewell；　'cause　Hannah's　hobby　is　sick　folks；　as　you　might
say。　　If　there's　a　cat　in　the　neighborhood　that's　ailin'　she's
always　dosin'　of　it　up　and　fixin'　medicine　for　it；　and　the　like　of
that。　　And　Sophi's　one　of　them　'New　Thoughters'　and　don't　believe
anybody's　got　any　right　to　be　sick。　　The　two　of　'em　ain't　done
nothin'　but　argue　and　row　over　diseases　and　imagination　and
medicines　ever　since　Sophi　got　here。　　If　they　knew　Seth　was　laid　up；
I　honestly　believe　they'd　drop　picnic　and　everythin'　and　start
fightin'　over　whether　he　was　really　sick　or　just　thought　he　was。
And　I　sort　of　figgered　on　havin'　a　quiet　day　off。〃

Brown　found　the　lightkeeper　stretched　on　the　bed　in　his　room。　　He
was　dressed；　with　the　exception　of　coat　and　boots；　and　when　the
young　man　entered　he　groaned　feebly。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　demanded　the　alarmed　helper。

〃Oh；　my！〃　groaned　Seth。　　〃Oh；　my！〃

〃Are　you　in　pain？　　What　is　it？　　Shall　I　'phone　for　the　doctor？〃

〃No；　no。　　No　use　gettin'　the　doctor。　　I'll　be　all　right　by　and　by。
It's　one　of　my　attacks。　　I　have　'em　every　once　in　a　while。　　Just　let
me　alone；　and　let　me　lay　here　without　bein'　disturbed；　then　I'll　get
better；　I　guess。〃

〃But　it's　so　sudden！〃

〃I　know。　　They　always　come　on　that　way。　　Now　run　along；　like　a　good
feller；　and　leave　me　to　my　suff'rin's。　　O…oh；　dear！〃

Much　troubled；　Brown　turned　to　the　door。　　As　he　was　going　out　he
happened　to　look　back。　　The　dresser　stood　against　the　wall　beyond
the　bed；　and　in　its　mirror　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　face　of　the
sick　man。　　On　that　face；　which　should　have　been　distorted　with
agony；　was　a　broad　grin。

Brown　found　the　little　Stover　man　waiting　for　him　in　the　kitchen。

〃Be　you　ready？〃　he　asked。

〃Ready？〃　repeated　Brown；　absently。　　〃Ready　for　what？〃

〃Why；　to　show　us　round　the　lights。　　Sophi；　she　ain't　never　seen　one
afore。　　Atkins　said　that；　bein'　as　he　wasn't　able　to　leave　his　bed；
you'd　show　us　around。〃

〃He　did；　hey？〃

〃Yes。　　He　said　you'd　be　glad　to。〃

〃Hum！〃　　Mr。　Brown's　tone　was　that　of　one　upon　whom；　out　of　darkness；
a　light　has　suddenly　burst。　　〃I　see；〃　he　mused；　thoughtfully。　　〃Yes；
yes。　　I　see。〃

For　a　minute