the woman-haters-第21部分

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We　ain't　even　got　the　same　names。　　We're　strangers；　far's　folks
know；　and　we　can　stay　strangers。〃

〃Butbut　to　see　each　other　every　day　and〃

〃Why　not？　　We've　seen　each　other　often　enough　so　that　the　sight
won't　be　so　wonderful。　　And　we'll　keep　our　bein'　married　a　secret。
I　sha'n't　boast　of　it；　for　one。〃

〃Butbut　to　SEE　each　other〃

〃Well；　we　needn't　see　each　other　much。　　Why；　we　needn't　see　each
other　any；　unless　I　have　to　run　over　to　borrer　somethin'；　same　as
neighbors　have　to　every　once　in　a　while。　　I　can　guess　what's
troublin'　you；　it's　young　Brown。　　You've　told　him　you're　a　woman…
hater；　haven't　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　have。〃

〃Humph！　　Is　he　one；　too？〃

The　lightkeeper's　mouth　was　twisted　with　a　violent　emotion。　　He
remembered　his　view　of　that　afternoon's　swimming　lesson。

〃He　said　he　was；〃　he　snarled。　　〃He　pretends　he　is。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　smiled。　　〃I　want　to　know；〃　she　said。　　〃Umph！　　I
thought　。　。　。　　However；　it's　no　matter。　　Perhaps　he　is。　　Anyhow
he　can　pretend　to　be　and　you　can　pretend　to　believe　him。　　That'll
be　the　easiest　way；　I　guess。　　Of　course；〃　she　added；　〃I　ain't　tellin'
you　what　to　do　with　any　idea　that　you'll　do　it　because　I　say　so。
The　time　for　that　is　all　past　and　gone。　　But　it　seems　to　me　that；
for　once　in　my　life；　I'd　be　man　enough　to　stick　it　out。　　I　wouldn't
run　away　again。〃

Seth　did　not　answer。　　He　scowled　and　stared　at　the　circle　of　lantern
light　on　the　stone　floor。　　Mrs。　Bascom　rose　from　her　seat　on　the
stairs。

〃Well；〃　she　observed；　〃I　must　be　gettin'　back　to　the　house　if　I　want
to　get　any　sleep　to…night。　　I　doubt　if　I　get　much；　for　a　body　don't
get　over　a　shock；　such　as　I've　had；　in　a　minute。　　But　I'm　goin'　to
get　over　it　and　I'm　goin'　to　stay　right　here　and　do　my　work；　I'm
goin'　to　go　through　with　what　seems　to　be　my　duty；　no　matter　how
hard　it　is。　　I've　done　it　afore；　and　I'll　do　it　again。　　I've
promised；　and　I　keep　my　promises。　　Good　night。〃

She　started　toward　the　door。　　Her　husband　sprang　from　the　oil
barrel。

〃Hold　on；〃　he　cried；　〃you　wait　a　minute。　　I've　got　somethin'　to
say。〃

She　shook　her　head。　　〃I　can't　wait；〃　she　said；　〃I've　got　to　go。〃

〃No；　you　ain't；　neither。　　You　can　stay　a　spell　longer；　if　you　want
to。〃

〃Perhaps；　but　I　don't　want　to。〃

〃Why　not？　　What　are　you　afraid　of？〃

〃Afraid！　　I　don't　know　as　I'm　afraid　of　anythingthat　is；〃　with　a
contemptuous　sniff；　〃nothin'　I　see　around　here。〃

〃Then　what　are　YOU　runnin'　away　for？〃

This　was　putting　the　matter　in　a　new　light。　　Mrs。　Bascom　regarded
her　husband　with　wrathful　amazement；　which　slowly　changed　to　an
amused　smile。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　think　I'm　runnin'　away；　why〃

〃I　don't　see　what　else　'tis。　　If　I　ain't　scart　to　have　you　here；　I
don't　see　why　you　should　be　scart　to　stay。　　Set　down　on　them　stairs
again；　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃

The　lady　hesitated　an　instant　and　then　returned　to　her　former　seat。
Seth　went　back　to　his　barrel。

〃Emeline；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　stay　here　on　my　job。〃

She　looked　surprised；　but　she　nodded。

〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it；〃　she　said。　　〃I'm　glad　you've　got　that　much
spunk。〃

〃Yup；　well；　I　have。　　I　came　down　here　to　get　clear　of　everybody；
women　most　of　all。　　Now　the　one　woman　thatthat〃

〃That　you　'specially　wanted　to　get　clear　of〃

〃No！　　No！　that　ain't　the　truth；　and　you　know　it。　　She　set　out　to
get　clear　of　meand　I　let　her　have　her　way；　same　as　I　done　in
everything　else。〃

〃She　didn't　set　out　to　get　clear　of　you。〃

〃She　did。〃

〃No；　she　didn't。〃

〃I　say　she　did。〃

Mrs。　Bascom　rose　once　more。　　Seth　Bascom；〃　she　declared；　〃if　all　you
wanted　me　to　stay　here　for　is　to　be　one　of　a　pair　of　katydids；
hollerin'　at　each　other；　I'm　goin'。　　I'm　no　bug；　I'm　a　woman。〃

〃Emeline；　you　set　down。　　You've　hove　out　a　whole　lot　of　hints　about
my　not　bein'　a　man　because　I　run　away　from　your　house。　　Do　you　think
I'd　have　been　more　of　a　man　if　I'd　stayed　in　it？　　Stayed　there　and
been　a　yaller　dog　to　be　kicked　out　of　one　corner　and　into　another　by
you　andand　that　brother…in…law　of　yours。　　That's　all　I　wasa　dog。〃

〃Humph！　if　a　dog's　the　right　breedand　big　enoughit's　his　own
fault　if　he's　kicked　twice。〃

〃Not　if　he　cares　more　for　his　master　than　he　does　for　himself
'taint。〃

〃Why；　yes；　it　is。　　He　can　make　his　master　respect　him　by　provin'　he
ain't　the　kind　of　dog　to　kick。　　And　maybe　one　of　his　mastershis
real　master；　for　he　hadn't　ought　to　have　but　onemight　be　needin'
the　right　kind　of　watchdog　around　the　house。　　Might　be　in　trouble
herhimself；　I　mean；　and　be　hopin'　and　prayin'　for　the　dog　to
protect　herhim；　I　should　say。　　And　then　the〃

〃Emeline；　what　are　you　talkin'　about？〃

〃Oh；　nothin'；　nothin'。　　Seth；　what's　the　use　of　us　two　settin'　here
at　twelve　o'clock　at　night　and　quarrelin'　over　what's　past　and
settled？　　I　sha'n't　do　it；　for　one。　　I　don't　want　to　quarrel　with
you。〃

Seth　sighed。　　〃And　I　don't　want　to　quarrel　with　you；　Emeline；〃　he
agreed。　　〃As　you　say；　there's　no　sense　in　it。　　Dear！　dear！　this；
when　you　come　to　think　of　it；　is　the　queerest　thing　altogether　that
ever　was　in　the　world；　I　guess。　　Us　two　had　all　creation　to　roam
'round　in；　and　we　landed　at　Eastboro　Twin…Lights。　　It　seems　almost
as　if　Providence　done　it；　for　some　purpose　or　other。〃

〃Yes；　or　the　other　critter；　for　HIS　purposes。　　How　did　you　ever　come
to　be　keeper　of　a　light；　Seth？〃

〃WhywhyI　don't　know。　　I　used　to　be　in　the　service；　'fore　I　went
to　sea　much。　　You　remember　I　told　you　I　did。　　And　I　sort　of　drifted
down　here。　　I　didn't　care　much　what　became　of　me；　and　I　wanted　a
lonesome　hole　to　hide　in；　and　this　filled　the　bill。　　I've　been　here
ever　since　I　leftleftwhere　I　used　to　be。　　But；　Emeline；　how　did
YOU　come　here？　　You　answered　an　advertisement；　you　told　me；　but
why？〃

〃'Cause　I　wanted　to　do　somethin'　to　earn　my　livin'。　　I　was　alone；
and　I　rented　my　house　and　boarded。　　But　boardin'　ain't　much　comfort；
'specially　when　you　board　where　everybody　knows　you；　and　knows　your
story。　　So　I〃

〃Wait　a　minute。　　You　was　alone；　you　say？　　Where　waswas　HE？〃

〃He？〃

〃Yes。　　You　know　who　I　mean。〃

He　would　not　speak　the　hated　name。　　His　wife　spoke　it　for　him。

〃Bennie？〃　she　asked。　　〃Oh；　he　ain't　been　with　me　for　'most　two　year
now。　　Hehe　went　away。　　He's　in　New　York　now。　　And　I　was　alone　and
I　saw　Miss　Graham's　advertisement　for　a　housekeeper　and　answered　it。
I　needed　the　money　and〃

〃Hold　on！　　You　needed　the　money？　　Why；　you　had　money。〃

〃Abner　left　me　a　little；　but　it　didn't　last　forever。　　And〃

〃You　had　more'n　a　little。　　I　wrote　to　bank　folks　there　and　turned
over　my　account　to　you。　　And　I　sent　'em　a　power　of　attorney　turnin'
over　some　stocksyou　know　what　they　wasto　you；　too。　　I　done　that
soon's　I　got　to　Boston。　　Didn't　they　tell　you？〃

〃Yes；　they　told　me。〃

〃Well；　then；　that　ought　to　have　helped　along。〃

〃You　don't　s'pose　I　took　it；　do　you？〃

〃Whywhy　not？〃

〃Why　not！　　Do　you　s'pose　I'd　use　the　money　that　belonged　to　the
husband　that　run　off　and　left　me？　　I　ain't　that　kind　of　a　woman。
The　money　and　stocks　are　at　the　bank　yet；　I　s'pose；　anyhow　they're
there　for　all　of　me。〃

The　lightkeeper's　mouth　opened　and　stayed　open　for　seconds　before　he
could　use　it　as　a　talking　machine。　　He　could　scarcely　believe　what
he　had　heard。

〃Butbut　I　wanted　you　to　have　it；〃　he　gasped。　　〃I　left　it　for　you。〃

〃Well；　I　didn't　take　it；　'tain't　likely！〃　with　fiery　indignation。
〃Did　you　think　I　could　be　bought　off　like　aa　meanoh；　I　don't
know　what？〃

〃Butbut　I　left　it　at　the　bankfor　you。　　Whatwhat'll　I　do　with
it？〃

〃I　don't　know；　I'm　sure。　　You　might　give　it　to　Sarah　Ann　Christy；　I
wouldn't　wonder　if　she　was　less　particular　than　I　be。〃

Seth's　guns　were　spiked；　for　the　moment。　　He　felt　the　blood　rush　to
face；　and　his　fists；　as　he　brandished　them　in　the　air；　trembled。

〃IIyouyou〃　he　stammered。　　〃IIyou　think　I〃

He　knew　that　his　companion　would　regard　his　agitation　as　an　evidence
of　conscious　guilt；　and　this　knowledge　did　not　help　to　calm　him。　　He
strode　up　and　down　the　floor。

〃Look　out；〃　said　Mrs。　Bascom；　coldly；　〃you'll　kick　over　the
lantern。〃

Her　husband　stopped　in　his　stride。　　〃Darn　the　lantern！〃　he　shouted。

〃S…sh…sh！　you'll　wake　up　the　Brown　man。〃

This　warning　was　more　effective。　　But　Seth　was　still　furious。

〃Emeline　Bascom；〃　he　snarled；　shaking　his　forefinger　in　her　face；
〃you've　said　over　and　over　that　I　wa'n't　a　man。　　You　have；　haven't
you？〃

She　was　looking　at　his　shirt　cuff；　then　but　a　few　inches　from　her
nose。

〃Who　sewed　on　that　button？〃　she　asked。

This　was　so　unexpected　that　his　wrath　was；　for　the　instant；
displaced　by　astonishment。

〃What？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　button？〃

〃That　one　on　your　shirt　sleeve。　　Who　sewed　it　on？〃

〃Why；　I　did；　of　course。　　What　a　crazy　question　that　is！〃

She　smiled。　　〃I　guessed　you　did；〃　she　said。　　〃Nobody　but　a　man　would
sew　a　white　button　on　a　white　shirtor　one　that　was　white　once
with　black　thread。〃

He　looked　at　the　button　and　then　at　her。　　His　anger　returned。

〃You　said　I　wa'n't　a　man；　didn't　you？〃　he　demanded。

〃Yes；　I　did。　　But　I'll　have　to　take　part　of　it　back。　　You're　half　a
man　anyhow；　that　sewin'　proves　it。〃

〃Huh！　　I　want　to　know。　　Well；　maybe　I　ain't　a　man；　maybe　I'm　only
half　a　one。　　But　I　ain't　a　fool！　　I　ain't　a　fool！〃

She　sighed　wearily。　　〃Well；　all　right；〃　she　admitted。　　〃I　sha'n't
argue　it。〃

〃You　needn't。　　I　ain'tor　anyhow　I　ain't　an　EVERLASTIN'　fool。　　And
nobody　but　the　everlastin'est　of　all　fools　would　chase　Sarah　Ann
Christy。　　I　didn't。　　That　whole　business　was　just　one　of　youryour
Bennie　D。's　lies。　　You　know　that；　too。〃

〃I　know　some　one　lied；　I　heard　'em。　　They　denied　seein'　Sarah　Ann；
and　I　saw　'em　with　herwith　my　own　eyes　I　saw　'em。　。　。　。　　But
there；　there；〃　she　added；　〃this　is　enough　of　such　talk。　　I'm　goin'
now。〃

〃I　didn't　lie；　I　forgot。〃

〃All　right；　then；　you　forgot。　　I　ain't　jealous；　Seth。　　I　wa'n't　even
jealous　then。　　Even　then　I　give　you　a　chance；　and　you　didn't　take
ityou　'forgot'　instead。　　I'm　goin'　back　to　the　bungalow；　but　afore
I　go　let's　understand　this：　you're　to　stay　here　at　the　lights；　and　I
stay　where　I　am　as　housekeeper。　　We　don't　see　each　other　any　oftener
than　we　have　to；　and　then　only　when　nobody　else　is　around。　　We　won't
let　my　Miss　Graham　nor　your　Brown　nor　anybody　kn