the woman-haters-第13部分

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against　you　on　account　of　this　mornin'　and　that　'Balm'　and　such。　　I
ain't。〃

〃That's　good。　　I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃

〃Yes。　　After　the　fust　dose　of　that　stufffor　thunder　sakes　WHAT　did
you　put　in　it？I　was　about　ready　to　murder　you；　but　I've　got　over
that。　　I　don't　blame　you　for　gettin'　even。　　We　are　even；　you　know。〃

〃I'm　satisfied；　if　you　are。〃

〃I　be。　　But　what　I　don't　understand　is　why　you　didn't　want　to　show
them　folks　around。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　I　had　my　reasons；　such　as　they　were。　　Why　didn't
you　want　to　do　it　yourself？〃

Seth　crossed　his　legs　and　was　silent　for　a　moment　or　two。　　Then　he
spoke　firmly　and　as　if　his　mind　was　made　up。

〃Young　feller；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　realize　it　or
not；　and　perhaps　I　shouldn't　be　the　one　to　mention　itbut　you're
under　some　obligations　to　me。〃

His　companion　nodded。　　〃I　realize　that；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　but　maybe　you　don't　realize　the　amount　of　the　obligations。
I'm　riskin'　my　job　keepin'　you　here。　　If　it　wa'n't　for　the
superintendent　bein'　such　a　friend　of　mine；　there'd　have　been　a
reg'lar　assistant　keeper　app'inted　long　ago。　　The　gov'ment　don't
pick　up　its　lightkeepers　same　as　you　would　farm　hands。　　There's
civil　service　to　be　gone　through；　and　the　like　of　that。　　But　you
wanted　to　stay；　and　I've　kept　you；　riskin'　my　own　job；　as　I　said。
And　now　I　cal'late　we'd　better　have　a　plain　understandin'。　　You've
got　to　know　just　what　your　job　is。　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you。〃

He　stopped；　as　if　to　let　this　sink　in。　　Brown　nodded　again。　　〃All
right；〃　he　observed；　carelessly；　〃go　on　and　tell　me；　I'm　listening。〃

〃Your　job　around　the　lights　you　know　already；　part　of　it。　　But
there's　somethin'　else。　　Whenever　men　folks　come　here；　I'll　do　my
share　of　showin'　the　place　off。　　But　when　women　comewomen；　you
understandyou've　got　to　be　guide。　　I'll　forgive　you　to…day's
doin's。　　I　tried　to　play　a　joke　on　you；　and　you　evened　it　up　with　a
better　one　on　me。　　That's　all　right。　　But；　after　this；　showin'　the
lights　to　females　is　your　job；　and　you've　got　to　do　itor　get　out。
No　hard　feelin's　at　all；　and　I'd　really　hate　to　lose　you；　but　THAT'S
got　to　be　as　I　say。〃

He　rose；　evidently　considering　the　affair　settled。　　Brown　caught　his
coat　and　pulled　him　back　to　the　bench。

〃Wait；　Atkins；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　grateful　to　you　for　your　kindness；　I
like　you　and　I'd　like　to　please　you；　but　if　what　you　say　is　final；
thenas　they　used　to　say　in　some　play　or　other'I　guess　you'll
have　to　hire　another　boy。'〃

〃What？　　You　mean　you'll　quit？〃

〃Rather　than　do　thatyes。〃

〃But　why？〃

〃For　reasons；　as　I　told　you。　　By　the　way；　you　haven't　told　me　why
you　object　to　acting　as　guide　tofemales。〃

〃Because　they　are　females。　　They're　women；　darn　'em！〃

Before　his　helper　could　comment　on　this　declaration；　it　was
repeated。　　The　lightkeeper　shook　both　his　big　fists　in　the　air。

〃Darn　'em！　　Darn　all　the　women！〃　shouted　Seth　Atkins。

〃Amen；〃　said　John　Brown；　devoutly。

Seth's　fists　dropped　into　his　lap。　　〃What？〃　he　cried；　〃what　did　you
say？〃

〃I　said　Amen。〃

〃Butbut　。　。　。　why　。　。　。　you　didn't　mean　it！〃

〃Didn't　I？〃　bitterly。　　〃Humph！〃

Seth　breathed　heavily；　started　to　speak　once　more；　closed　his　lips
on　the　words；　rose；　walked　away　a　few　paces；　returned；　and　sat　down。

〃John　Brown；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃if　you're　jokin'；　the　powers
forgive　you；　for　I　won't。　　If　you　ain't；　II　。　。　。　　See　here；　do
you　remember　what　you　asked　me　that　night　when　you　struck　me　for　the
assistant　keeper's　job？　　You　asked　me　if　I　was　married？〃

Brown　assented　wonderingly。　　〃Why；　yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　believe　I　did。〃

〃You　did。　　And　I　ain't　been　so　shook　up　for　many　a　day。　　Young
feller；　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you　what　no　other　man　in　Ostable　County
knows。　　I　AM　married。　　I've　got　a　wife　livin'。〃


CHAPTER　VII

OUT　OF　THE　BAG


〃I'm　married；　and　I've　got　a　wife　livin'；〃　continued　Seth；　adding
hurriedly　and　fiercely；　〃don't　you　say　nothin'　to　me！　　Don't　you　put
me　out。　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you！　　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you　all　of　it
all；　by　time！　　I　am；　if　I　die　for　it。〃

He　was　speaking　so　rapidly　that　the　words　were　jumbled　together。　　He
knocked　his　hat　from　his　forehead　with　a　blow　of　his　fist　and
actually　panted　for　breath。　　Brown　had　never　before　seen　him　in　this
condition。

〃Hold　on！　　Wait；〃　he　cried。　　〃Atkins；　you　needn't　do　this；　you
mustn't。　　I　am　asking　no　questions。　　We　agreed　to〃

〃Hush　up！〃　　Seth　waved　both　hands　in　the　air。　　〃DON'T　you　talk！　　Let
me　get　this　off　my　chest。　　Good　heavens　alive；　I've　been　smotherin'
myself　with　it　for　years；　and；　now　I've　got　started；　I'll　blow　off
steam　or　my　b'iler'll　bust。　　I'm　GOIN'　to　tell　you。　　You　listen

〃Yes；　sir；　I'm　a　married　man；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　wa'n't　always
married；　you　understand。　　I　used　to　be　single　once。　　Once　I　was
single；　see？〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Brown；　repressing　a　smile。

Seth　was　not　aware　that　there　was　anything　humorous　in　his　statement。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　was　single　andand　happy；　by　jiminy！　　I　was
skipper　of　a　mack'rel　schooner　down　Cape　Ann　way；　never　mind　where；
and　Seth　Atkins　is　only　part　of　my　name；　never　mind　that；　neither。
I　sailed　that　schooner　and　I　run　that　schoonerI　RUN　her；　and　when
I　said　'boo'　all　hands　aboard　jumped；　I　tell　you。　　When　I've　got
salt　water　underneath　me；　I'm　a　man。　　But　I　told　you　that　afore。

〃However；　this　is　what　I　didn't　tell　you　nor　nobody　else　in　this
part　of　the　state：　I　stayed　single　till　I　got　to　be　past　forty。
Everybody　set　me　down　as　an　old　bach。　　Then　I　met　a　woman；　yes；　sir；
I　met　a　woman。〃

He　made　this　assertion　as　if　it　was　something　remarkable。　　His
companion　on　the　bench　made　no　comment。

〃She　was　a　widow　woman；〃　went　on　Seth；　〃and　she　had　a　little
property　left　her　by　her　first　husband。　　Owned　a　house　and　land；　she
did；　and　had　some　money　in　the　bank。　　Some　folks　cal'lated　I　married
her　for　that；　but　they　cal'lated　wrong。　　I　wanted　her　for　herself。
And　I　got　her。　　Her　name　was　Emeline。　　I　always　thought　Emeline　was
a　sort　of　pretty　name。〃

He　sighed。　　Brown　observed　that　Emeline　was　a　very　pretty　name；
indeed。

〃Um…hm。　　That's　what　I　thought；　and　Emeline　was　a　real　pretty　woman；
for　her　age　and　heftshe　was　fleshy。　　She　had　some　consider'ble
prejudice　against　my　goin'　to　sea；　so　I　agreed　to　stay　on　shore　a
spell　and　farm　it；　as　you　might　say。　　We　lived　in　the　house　she
owned　and　was　real　happy　together。　　She　bossed　me　around　a　good
deal；　but　I　didn't　mind　bein'　bossed　by　her。　　'Twas　a　change；　you
see；　for　I'd　always　been　used　to　bossin'　other　folks。　　So　I　humored
her。　　And；　bein'　on　land　made　me　lose　mymy　grip　or　somethin'；
'cause　I　seemed　to　forget　how　to　boss。　　But　we　was　happy；　and　then
then　Bennie　D。　come。　　Consarn　him！〃

His　teeth　shut　with　a　snap；　and　he　struck　his　knee　with　his　fist。
〃Consarn　him！　〃　he　repeated；　and　was　silent。

The　substitute　assistant　ventured　to　jog　his　memory。

〃Who　was　Bennie　D。？〃　he　asked。

〃What？　　Hey？　　Bennie　D。？　　Oh；　he　was　her　brother…in…law；　her
husband's　brother　from　up　Boston　way。　　He　was　a　geniusat　least；　he
said　he　wasand　an　inventor。　　The　only　invention　I　ever　could　l'arn
he'd　invented　to　a　finish　was　how　to　live　without　workin'；　but　he'd
got　that　brought　to　a　science。　　However；　he　was　forever　fussin'　over
some　kind　of　machine　that　was　sartin　sure　to　give　power　to　the
universe；　when　'twas　done；　and　Emeline's　husbandhis　name　was
Abnerthought　the　world　and　all　of　him。　　'Fore　he　died　he　made
Emeline　promise　to　always　be　kind　to　Bennie　D。；　and　she　said　she
would。　　Abner　left　him　a　little　money；　and　he　spent　it　travelin'
'for　his　health。'　　I　don't　know　where　he　traveled　to；　but；　wherever
'twas；　the　health　must　have　been　there。　　He　was　the　healthiest
critter　ever　I　seeand　the　laziest。

〃Well；　his　travels　bein'　over；　down　he　comes　to　make　his　sister…in…
law　a　little　visit。　　And　he　stays　on　and　stays　on。　　He　never　took　no
shine　to　meI　judge　he　figgered　I　hadn't　no　business　sharin'
Abner's　propertyand　I　never　took　to　him；　much。

〃Emeline　noticed　Bennie　D。　and　me　wa'n't　fallin'　on　each　other's
necks　any　to　speak　of；　and　it　troubled　her。　　She　blamed　me　for　it。
Said　Bennie　was　a　genius；　and　geniuses　had　sensitive　natures　and　had
to　be　treated　with　consideration　and　different　from　other　folks。
And　that　promise　to　Abner　weighed　on　her　conscience；　I　cal'late。
Anyhow；　she　petted　that　blame　inventor；　and　it　made　me　mad。　　And　yet
I　didn't　say　muchnot　so　much　as　I'd　ought　to；　I　guess。　　And　Bennie
D。　was　always　heavin'　out　little　side　remarks　about　Emeline's　bein'
fitted　for　better　things　than　she　was　gettin'；　and　how；　when　his
invention　was　'perfected；'　HE'D　see　that　she　didn't　slave　herself　to
death；　and　so　on　and　so　on。　　And　he　had　consider'ble　to　say　about
folks　tryin'　to　farm　when　they　didn't　know　a　cucumber　from　a
watermelon；　and　how　'farmin''　was　a　good　excuse　for　doin'　nothin'；
and　such。　　And　I　didn't　have　any　good　answer　to　that；　'cause　I　do
know　more　about　seaweed　than　I　do　cucumbers；　and　the　farm　wasn't
payin'　and　I　knew　it。

〃If　he'd　said　these　things　right　out　plain；　I　guess　likely　I'd　have
give　him　what　he　deserved。　　But　he　didn't；　he　just　hinted　and　smiled
and　acted　superior　and　pityin'。　　And　if　I　got　mad　and　hove　out　a
little　sailor　talk　by　accident；　he'd　look　as　sorry　and　shocked　as
the　Come…Outer　parson　does　when　there's　a　baby　born　to　a
Universalist　family。　　He'd　get　up　and　shut　the　door；　as　if　he　was
scart　the　neighbors'　morals　would　sufferthough　the　only　neighbor
within　hearin'　was　an　old　critter　that　used　to　run　a　billiard　saloon
in　Gloucester；　and　HIS　morals　had　been　put　out　of　their　misery　forty
years　aforeand　he'd　suggest　that　Emeline　better　leave　the　room；
maybe。　　And　then　I'd　feel　ashamed　and　wouldn't　know　what　to　do；　and
'twould　end；　more'n　likely；　by　my　leavin'　it　myself。

〃You　can　see　how　matters　was　driftin'。　　I　could　see　plain　enough；
and　I　cal'late　Emeline　could；　tooI'll　give　her　credit　for　that。
She　didn't　begin　to　look　as　happy　as　she　had；　and　that　made　me　feel
worse　than　ever。　　One　time；　I　found　her　cryin'　in　the　wash　room；　and
I　went　up　and　put　my　arm　round　her。

〃'Emeline；'　I　says；　'don't；　please　don't。　　Don't　cry。　　I　know　I
ain't　the　husband　I'd　ought　to　be　to　you；　but　I'm　doin'　my　best。
I'm　tryin'　to　do　it。