the woman-haters-第5部分

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It's　about　that　assistant　of　yours；　the　chap　who　left　a　day　or　two
before　I　drifted　in。　　What　were　his　duties？　　What　did　he　have　to　do
when　he　was　here？〃

〃Wa…al；〃　drawled　Seth　with　sarcasm；　resuming　his　seat　on　the　bench；
〃he　was　SUPPOSED　to　do　consider'ble　many　things。　　Stand　watch　and
watch　with　me；　and　scrub　brass　and　clean　up　around；　and　sweep　and
wash　dishes　andandwell；　make　himself　gen'rally　useful。　　Them　was
the　duties　he　was　supposed　to　have。　　What　he　done　was　diff'rent。
Pesky　loafer！　　Why？〃

〃That's　what　I'm　going　to　tell　you。　　Have　they　appointed　his
successor　yet？　　Have　you　got　any　one　to　take　his　place？〃

〃No。　　Fact　is；　I'd　ought　to　have　telegraphed　right　off　to　the　Board；
but　I　ain't。　　I　was　so　glad　to　see　the　last　of　him　that　I　kept
puttin'　it　off。　　I'll　do　it　tomorrer。〃

〃Perhaps　you　won't　need　to。〃

〃Course　I'll　need　to！　　Why　not？　　Got　to　have　somebody　to　help。
That's　rules　and　regulations；　and；　besides；　I　can't　keep　awake　day
and　night；　too。　　What　makes　you　think　I　won't　need　to？〃

The　young　man　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。　　Rising；　he　laid　a
hand　on　his　companion's　shoulder。

〃Because　you've　got　an　assistant　right　here　on　the　premises；〃　he
said。　　〃Delivered　by　the　Atlantic　express　right　at　your　door。　　Far
be　it　from　me　to　toot　my　horn；　Mr。　Atkins；　or　to　proclaim　my　merits
from　the　housetops。　　But；　speaking　as　one　discerning　person　to
another；　when　it　comes　to　an　A1；　first　chop　lightkeeper's　assistant；
I　ask：　'What's　the　matter　with　yours　truly；　John　Brown？'〃

Seth's　reply　was　not　in　words。　　The　hand　holding　his　pipe　fell　limp
upon　his　lap；　and　he　stared　at　the　speaker。　　The　latter；　entirely
unabashed；　waved　an　airy　gesture；　and　continued。

〃I　repeat；〃　he　said；　〃'What's　the　matter　with　John　Brown？'　　And　echo
answers；　'He's　all　right！'　　I　am　a　candidate　for　the　position　of
assistant　keeper　at　Eastboro　Twin…Lights。〃

〃YOU？〃

〃Me。〃

〃Butbutaw；　go　on！　　You're　foolin'。〃

〃Not　a　fool。　　I　mean　it。　　I　am　here。　　I'm　green；　but　in　the　sunshine
of　your　experience　I　agree　to　ripen　rapidly。　　I　can　wash　dishes
you've　seen　me。　　I　believe　I　could　scrub　brass　and　sweep。〃

〃You　wantin'　to　be　assistant　at　a　place　like　this！　　YOU！　an
edicated；　able　young　chap；　that's　been　used　to　valets　and　servants
and〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？　　How　do　you　know　I've　been　used　to　those
things？〃

〃'Cause；　as　I　hinted　to　you　a　spell　ago；　I　ain't　altogether　a　dum
fool。　　I　can　put　two　and　two　together　and　make　four；　without　having
the　example　done　for　me　on　a　blackboard。　　You're　a　rich　man's　son；
you've　been　used　to　sassiety　and　city　ways　and　good　clothes。　　YOU
wantin'　to　put　in　your　days　and　nights　in　a　forsaken　hole　like　this！
Nonsense！　　Get　out！〃

But　Mr。　Brown　refused　to　get　out。

〃No　nonsense　about　it；〃　he　declared。　　〃It　is　the　hand　of　Fate。　　With
the　whole　broadside　of　Cape　Cod　to　land　upon；　why　was　I　washed
ashore　just　at　this　particular　spot？　　Answer：Because　at　this　spot；
at　this　time；　Eastboro　Twin…Lights　needed　an　assistant　keeper。　　I
like　the　spot。　　It　is　beautiful。　　'Far　from　the　madding　crowd's
ignoble　strife。'　　With　your　permission；　I'll　stay　here。　　The　leopard
may　or　may　not　change　his　spots；　but　I　sha'n't。　　I　like　this　one　and
here　I　stay。　　Yes；　I　mean　it。　　I　stayas　your　assistant。　　Come；
what　do　you　say？　　Is　it　a　go？〃

The　lightkeeper　rose　once　more。　　〃I'm　goin'　on　watch；〃　he　said　with
decision。　　〃You　turn　in。　　You'll　feel　better　in　the　mornin'。〃

He　started　towards　the　tower。　　But　John　Brown　sprang　from　the　bench
and　followed　him。

〃Not　until　you've　answered　my　question；〃　he　declared。　　〃AM　I　to　be
your　assistant？〃

〃No；　course　you　ain't。　　It's　dum　foolishness。　　Besides；　I　ain't　got
the　say；　the　government　hires　its　own　keepers。〃

〃But　you　can　square　the　government。　　That　will　be　easy。　　Why；〃　with
a　modest　gesture；　〃look　what　the　government　is　getting。　　It　will
jump　at　the　chance。　　Atkins；　you　must　say　yes。〃

〃I　sha'n't；　neither。　　Let　go　of　my　arm。　　It's　blame　foolishness；　I
tell　you。　　Why；〃　impatiently；　〃course　it's　foolishness！　　I　don't
know　the　first　thing　about　you。〃

〃What　of　it？　　I　don't　know　anything　about　you；　either。〃

Again　the　lightkeeper　seemed　unaccountably　agitated。　　He　stopped　in
his　stride　and　whirled　to　face　his　companion。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　he　demanded　fiercely。　　Before　the　young
man　could　reply；　he　turned　again；　strode　to　the　door　of　the　light；
flung　it　open；　and　disappeared　within。　　The　door　closed　behind　him
with　a　thunderous　bang。

John　Brown　gazed　after　him　in　bewilderment。　　Then　he　shrugged　his
shoulders　and　returned　to　the　bench。

The　surf　at　the　foot　of　the　bluff　grumbled　and　chuckled　wickedly；　as
if　it　knew　all　of　poor　humanity's　secrets　and　found　a　cynic's
enjoyment　in　the　knowledge。


CHAPTER　IV

THE　COMING　OF　JOB


The　next　morning　Seth　was　gloomy　and　uncommunicative。　　At　the
breakfast　table；　when　Brown　glanced　up　from　his　plate；　he　several
times　caught　the　lightkeeper　looking　intently　at　him　with　the
distrustful；　half…suspicious　gaze　of　the　night　before。　　Though　quite
aware　of　this　scrutiny；　he　made　no　comment　upon　it　until　the　meal
was　nearly　over；　then　he　observed　suddenly：

〃It's　all　right；　you　needn't。〃

〃Needn't　what？〃　demanded　Atkins；　in　astonishment。

〃Look　at　me　as　if　you　expected　me　to　explode　at　any　minute。　　I
sha'n't。　　I'm　not　loaded。〃

Seth　colored；　under　his　coat　of　sunburn；　and　seemed　embarrassed。

〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talkin'　about；〃　he　stammered。　　〃Have　the
moskeeters　affected　YOUR　brains？〃

〃No。　　My　brains；　such　as　they　are；　are　all　right；　and　I　want　to　keep
them　so。　　That's　why　I　request　you　not　to　look　at　me　in　that　way。〃

〃How　was　I　lookin'　at　you？　　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。　　You　are　wondering　how　much　I　know。　　I　don't　know
anything　and　I'm　not　curious。　　That's　the　truth。　　Now　why　not　let　it
go　at　that？〃

〃See　here；　young　feller；　I〃

〃No；　you　see　here。　　I'm　not　an　Old　Sleuth；　I　haven't　any　ambitions
that　way。　　I　don't　know　anything　about　youwhat　you've　been；　what
you've　done〃

〃Done！〃　　Seth　leaned　across　the　table　so　suddenly　that　he　upset　his
chair。　　〃Done？〃　he　cried；　〃what　do　you　mean　by　that？　　Who　said　I'd
done　anything？　　It's　a　lie。〃

〃What　is　a　lie？〃

〃Whywhyerwhatever　they　said！〃

〃Who　said？〃

〃Why；　the　ones　thatthat　said　what　you　said　they　said。〃

〃I　didn't　say　anyone　had　said　anything。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　mean　byby　hintin'？　　Hey？　　What　do　you　mean　by
it？〃

He　brandished　a　clenched　fist　over　the　breakfast　dishes。　　Brown
leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　closed　his　eyes。

〃Call　me　when　the　patient　recovers　his　senses；〃　he　drawled　wearily。
〃This　delirium　is　painful　to　a　sensitive　nature。〃

Atkins's　fist　wavered　in　mid…air；　opened；　and　was　drawn　across　its
owner's　forehead。

〃Well；　by　jiminy！〃　exclaimed　the　lightkeeper　with　emphasis；　〃this
isis　。　。　。　　I　guess　I　BE　crazy。　　If　I　ain't；　you　are。　　Would　you
mind　tellin'　me　what　in　time　you　mean　by　THAT？〃

〃It　is　not　the　mosquitoes；〃　continued　his　companion；　in　apparent
soliloquy；　〃there　are　no　mosquitoes　at　present。　　It　must　be　the
other　thing；　of　course。　　But　so　early　in　the　morning；　and　so
violent。　　Alcohol　is〃

〃SHUT　UP！〃　　It　was　not　a　request；　but　an　order。　　Brown　opened　his
eyes。

〃You　were　addressing　me？〃　he　asked；　blandly。　〃Yes？〃

〃Addressin'　you！　　For　thunder　sakes；　who　else　would　I　be　ad　。　。　。
There！　there！　　Now　I　cal'late　you're　hintin'　that　I'm　drunk。　　I
ain't。〃

〃Indeed？〃

〃Yes；　indeed。　　And　I　ain't　out　of　my　headnot　yet；　though　keepin'
company　with　a　Bedlamite　may　have　some　effect；　I　shouldn't　wonder。
Mr。　John　Brownif　that's　your　name；　which　I　doubtyou　listen　to
me。〃

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Seth　Atkinsif　that　is　your　name；　which　I　neither
doubt　nor　believe；　not　being　particularly　interestedI'm　listening。
Proceed。〃

〃You　told　me　last　night　that　you　wanted　the　job　of　assistant　keeper
here　at　these　lights。　　Course　you　didn't　mean　it。〃

〃I　did。〃

〃You　DID！　。　。　。　　Well；　YOU　must　be　drunk　or　loony。〃

〃I'm　neither。　　And　I　meant　it。　　I　want　the　job。〃

Seth　looked　at　him；　and　he　looked　at　Seth。　　At　length　the
lightkeeper　spoke　again。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　slowly；　〃I　don't　understand　it　at　all；　but　never
mind。　　Whatever　happens；　we've　got　to　understand　each　other。　　Mind　I
don't　say　the　job's　yours；　even　if　we　do；　but　we　can't　even　think　of
it　unless　we　understand　each　other　plain。　　To　begin　with；　I　want　to
tell　you　that　I　ain't　done　nothin'　that's　crooked；　nor　wicked；　nor
nothin'　but　what　I　think　is　right　and　what　I'd　do　over　again。　　Do
you　believe　that？〃

〃Certainly。　　As　I　told　you；　I'm　not　interested；　but　I'll　believe　it
with　pleasure　if　you　wish　me　to。〃

〃I　don't　wish　nothin'。　　You've　GOT　to　believe　it。　　And　whether　you
stay　here　ten　minutes　or　ten　years　you've　got　to　mind　your　own
business。　　I　won't　have　any　hints　or　questions　about　mefrom　you
nor　nobody　else。　　'Mind　your　own　business；'　that's　the　motto　of
Eastboro　Twin…Lights；　while　I'm　boss　of　'em。　　If　you　don't　like　it
well；　the　village　is　only　five　mile　off；　and　I'll　p'int　out　the　road
to　you。〃

He　delivered　this　ultimatum　with　extraordinary　energy。　　Then　he
reached　for　his　overturned　chair；　set　it　on　its　legs；　and　threw
himself　into　it。　　〃Well；〃　he　demanded；　after　a　moment；　〃what　do　you
say　to　that？〃

〃Hurrah！〃　replied　Mr。　Brown　cheerfully。

〃Hurrah？　　For　the　land　sakes！　。　。　。　　Say；　CAN'T　you　talk　sensible；
if　you　try　real　hard　and　set　your　mind　to　it？　　What　is　there　to
hurrah　about？〃

〃Everything。　　The　whole　situation。　　Atkins；〃　Brown　leaned　forward
now　and　spoke　with　earnestness；　〃I　like　your　motto。　　It　suits　me。
'Mind　your　own　business'　suits　me　down　to　the　ground。　　It　proves
that　you　and　I　were　made　to　work　together　in　a　place　just　like
this。〃

〃Does；　hey？　　I　want　to　know！〃

〃You　do　know。　　Why；　just　think：　each　of　us　has　pleaded　'not　guilty。'
We've　done　nothingwe're　entirely　innocentand　we　want　to　forget
it。　　I　agree　not　to　ask　you　how　old　you　are；　nor　why　you　wear　your
brand　of　whiskers；　nor　how　you　like　them；　nornor　anything。　　I
agree　not　to　ask　questions　at　all。〃

〃Humph！　but　you　asked　some　last　night。〃

〃Purely　by　accident。　　You　didn't　answer　them。　　You　asked　me　some；
also；　if　you　will　remember；